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Albanese, leader of the governing Labor Party, and opposition Coalition leader Peter Dutton on Wednesday night went head-to-head for the second time on the campaign for the May 3 election in a debate that mostly focused on domestic affairs. The candidates were asked about how they would negotiate with U.S. President Donald Trump over a 10 percent tariff placed on imports from Australia. Albanese said that the government has "put forward a proposition" to the United States but would not "budge" on pharmaceutical, biosecurity or media laws that have been identified by the Trump administration as trade grievances. "We will stand up for Australia's national interests," he said. He said that Australia has made it "very clear" that the tariffs were an act of "self-harm by the United States." (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Zip Code Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III aced the test for his former University of Virginia law professor, A.E. Dick Howard, with a 4th U.S. Court of Appeals ruling this week on the constitutional showdown between President Donald Trump and the federal courts over the deportation of a Maryland man to a prison in El Salvador without due process of law. It is difficult in some cases to get to the very heart of the matter. But in this case, it is not hard at all, wrote Wilkinson, who President Ronald Reagan nominated to the court in 1984. The government is asserting a right to stash away residents of this country in foreign prisons without the semblance of due process that is the foundation of our constitutional order. Further, it claims in essence that because it has rid itself of custody that there is nothing that can be done. This should be shocking not only to judges, but to the intuitive sense of liberty that Americans far removed from courthouses still hold dear. Howard, who led the last revision of Virginias constitution more than a half-century ago, has known Wilkinson as a student, a research assistant, a law school colleague and a federal appeals court judge for more than 50 years. He called the seven-page ruling one of the finest opinions Judge Wilkinson has ever written. Its really a classic opinion, the retired legal scholar said on Friday. This opinion should really be printed in textbooks. Wilkinson, who grew up in Richmonds West End with a close view of the confrontation between the courts and political establishment over Virginias policy of Massive Resistance to school desegregation, grounds the ruling by the three-judge panel in the balance of power between a strong-willed executive branch of government and a judiciary intent on carrying out its own role under the U.S. Constitution. The respect that courts must accord the Executive must be reciprocated by the Executives respect for the courts, he writes. Too often today this has not been the case, as calls for impeachment of judges for decisions the Executive disfavors and exhortations to disregard court orders sadly illustrate. The deportation case The three-judge panels ruling denies the Trump administrations request for a stay of a lower court ruling that requires the government to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the United States from a prison in El Salvador. The government mistakenly sent him to El Salvador as part of the presidents unilateral deportation of hundreds of undocumented immigrants whom he contends committed crimes as members of terrorist gangs. Abrego Garcia came to the U.S. from El Salvador illegally, but a federal immigration judge ruled in 2019 against his deportation because of potential harm at the hands of criminal gangs in his home country. The lower court said it found no evidence to support the governments accusation. The government asserts that Abrego Garcia is a terrorist and a member of MS-13, a criminal gang, Wilkinson writes. Perhaps, but perhaps not. Regardless, he is still entitled to due process. On April 10, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed with a lower court that the government must facilitate the return of Abrego Garcia, while requiring the district judge to respect the presidents powers to conduct foreign policy. U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis in Maryland is still trying to enforce the courts order. A lawyer for the Trump administration acknowledged in federal court that the decision to send Abrego Garcia to the prison in El Salvador was a mistake, but the government has tried to avoid responsibility for ensuring his release and return, or doing anything to make it happen. In his ruling, Wilkinson acknowledges the presidents powers, but notes: Facilitate is an active verb. It requires that steps be taken as the Supreme Court has made perfectly clear. He also appeals to the president, without naming him, to avoid a constitutional crisis that could wound the executive and judicial branches of government, undermining the balance of powers the nations founders established under the Constitution. We yet cling to the hope that it is not naive to believe our good brethren in the Executive Branch perceive the rule of law as vital to the American ethos, the opinion states. This case presents their unique chance to vindicate that value and to summon the best that is within us while there is still time. Virginia roots The plea reminded Howard, the judges former professor and mentor, of President Abraham Lincolns first inaugural address on the precipice of Civil War, when he appealed to the better angels of our nature to reconcile the division between North and South to preserve the union. Hes really asking for the executive to give the court due respect, he said of Wilkinsons ruling. The opinion, in substance and tone, came as no surprise to those who have known and worked with Wilkinson. In addition to 41 years on the appeals court bench, he ran for Congress at age 25, wrote editorials for the Virginian-Pilot newspaper in Norfolk from 1979-81, and authored a half-dozen books. Those books include a history of changing Virginia politics under the reign of then-U.S. Sen. Harry F. Byrd Sr., the architect of Massive Resistance, and a memoir of his own experience as a law clerk under U.S. Supreme Court Justice Lewis F. Powell Jr., a family friend from Richmond. I dont think hes an ideologue by any stretch of the imagination, said Carl Tobias, a professor of constitutional law at the University of Richmond who was Wilkinsons law school classmate at UVa and a colleague in Howards push to revise the state Constitution. I think he applies the law to the facts as he understands them. Hes a product of the West End, Tobias said, referring to traditional seat of economic power and social status in Richmond. Larry Sabato, president of the Center for Politics at UVa, said he first knew Wilkinson as the first student member of the board of visitors at UVa, on which the judges father, J. Harvie Wilkinson Jr., also had served. I was involved in a movement to get a student on the board of visitors, and they gave us Jay Wilkinson, Sabato said, referring to the name his old friends call him. Hes mainly a conservative, but theres a libertarian touch to him, he said. Tobias, his former classmate, said he was struck in the opinion by Wilkinsons invocation of President Dwight Eisenhower, who ordered federal troops to Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957 over the objections of then-Gov. Orval Faubus to enforce the Supreme Court decision outlawing governmental racial segregation of public schools. Wilkinson writes, President Eisenhower honored the inescapable duty to enforce the Supreme Courts decision in Brown v. Board of Education II to desegregate public schools with all deliberate speed. It was a great stroke, said Tobias, who grew up in Petersburg amid the turmoil over school desegregation. Wilkinson had a personal perspective on the clash between political and judicial imperatives in Richmond during Massive Resistance. He attended St. Christophers School, a private boys school in the citys West End. His father was chief executive of what was then State Planters Bank and Trust Co. (a predecessor of Crestar and now Sun Trust Bank), and a close friend of Powell, the future Supreme Court justice who was then a lawyer at Hunton & Williams law firm and chairman of the Richmond School Board. The elder Wilkinson and Powell were part of a group of businessmen concerned about the effects of Massive Resistance on Virginias economy, who sought to persuade then-Gov. J. Lindsay Almond to abandon the policy and allow desegregation of public schools. Wilkinsons father was one of the voices who really quietly behind the scenes tried to bring Virginia out of the period of Massive Resistance and into the modern age, Howard said. It is Powells voice that Howard says he hears in Wilkinsons writing in the Abrego Garcia opinion. The way Judge Wilkinson thinks about public affairs, the way he thinks about the law, the way he thinks about judging reminds me of Justice Powell, the UVa scholar said. Justice Powell was a measured voice of reason on the Supreme Court. Sabato said, Hes exactly a Lewis Powell type. Wilkinson almost followed Powell to the high court. He was on President George W. Bushs short list of potential nominees in 2005 to succeed ailing Chief Justice William Rehnquist, but Bush chose John G. Roberts Jr., now chief justice of a court that Trump is pushing to uphold his prerogatives. For Tobias, at the University of Richmond law school, the Abrego Garcia case represents a test of the constitutional balance of power that his old UVa classmate tries hard to resolve. Hes not sure how it will work out, he said of Wilkinson, but hes going to do everything he can to make it work out. Authorities say CAPA must prepare for Aguakan transition Riviera Maya, Q.R. Authorities say Quintana Roo must be prepared for a transition that could impact hundreds of thousands of residents. The transition would be from the termination of the Aguakan water concession held in four of the states busiest municipalities. Hugo Alday Nieto According to Hugo Alday Nieto, President of the Quintana Roo Justice Commission, although Aguakan can still file an appeal, Quintana Roo must be prepared for a transition. He says if the company does not appeal, CAPA will take over Aguakans municipalities which, if not handled correctly, could be an exploding problem during the handover process. He says for that reason, it is important that the Aguakan concession continue through the courts. The good work of the Judiciary is evident, so we must wait for the resolutions. At the right time, we must be very careful with the delivery so that the problem doesnt explode for CAPA during the transition process, he explained. Its important to ensure that this commitment doesnt backfire on the Quintana Roo government. At that point, Congress will no longer participate. This process will remain partly within the state, through CAPA and the involved municipalities, he said. He acknowledged that Aguakan can still file an appeal and take the dispute to higher courts including the Quintana Roo Circuit Court and even to the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN). Last week, the Eighth District Court of the Federal Judicial Branch upheld Decree 195 issued by the Quintana Roo Congress rescinding the Aguakan concession. The ruling rendered the concessionaires Amparo lawsuit moot, as it was not ratified. Aguakan filed the Amparo in December of 2023 days before the official end of its initial 10 year contract to continue providing water and sewage services to Playa del Carmen, Cancun, Isla Mujeres and Puerto Morelos. The company refused to hand over the concession saying they had an agreement with a former governor, who extended their contract for another 30 years. Driver killed in fatal Jose Maria Morelos highway rollover Jose Maria Morelos, Q.R. The driver of a car labeled as a taxi was killed Thursday night in a highway rollover. The single occupant of the vehicle was found laying on the highway after being ejected. The body of 62 year old Pascual A was found laying next to his car after he rolled it on a section of Jose Maria Morelos highway near Laguna de la Esmeralda. Emergency services were made aware of the accident at around 7:50 p.m. Responding paramedics confirmed that the driver was no longer showing vital signs. The victim was from the municipality of Jose Maria Morelos. It is not clear if the man was an active taxi driver. Municipal Police and National Guard personnel cordoned off the area while awaiting the arrival of forensics to remove the body. The car he was driving was a taxi from the FUTV union. Traffic was closed in both directions while the accident scene was cleared. An official cause for the single vehicle rollover is unknown. 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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 For die-hards, no horror movie can be too scary. But for you, a wimp, the wrong one can leave you miserable. Never fear, scaredies, because Slates Scaredy Scale is here to help. Weve put together a highly scientific and mostly spoiler-free system for rating new horror movies, comparing them with classics along a 10-point scale. And because not everyone is scared by the same thingssome viewers cant stand jump scares, while others are haunted by more psychological terrors or cant stomach arterial spurtsit breaks down each movies scares across three criteria: suspense, spookiness, and gore. Reprobates and angels alike are expected to gather in hordes this weekend to see Sinners, the fifth film from writer-director Ryan Coogler and his fifth collaboration with star Michael B. Jordan. With Creed and Black Panther, Coogler built a reputation as a trusted director of smart franchise blockbusters, but Sinners is an original story, and one whose marketing has left much to the imagination, so viewers may not know what to expect. The answer, it turns out, is a movie thats part racial allegory, part ghoulish vampire flick: Set in the Jim Crow South, it takes us through a frightful 24 hours during which a cadre of vampires descends upon an unsuspecting group of Black inhabitants of a town in the Mississippi Delta. The movie has racked up rave reviews, many of which have noted its penchant for Grand Guignol and sudden frights, all of which might leave some horror novices intrigued yet anxious. Is Sinners more of a sexy vampire thriller, or will Coogler have you leaping out of your seat? Luckily, I made a Scaredy Scale you can really sink your teeth into. Advertisement Sinners is an easier horror watch than most because the terror doesnt come to visit our main characters until the back half of the story. However, that doesnt stop Coogler from giving the audience a taste of whats to come at the very start, as the movie zaps the audiences nerves through a few brief, effective, loud glimpses of the carnage to come. Aside from one more old-school freak-out of the its just a cat variety, there arent many more sudden jolts to follow. Dont get me wrong, Sinners is full of taut action filmmaking and well-built moments of suspense, but after the opening, the shocks are rarely sudden, and even as the movie builds toward its grand finale, the tension is often released with humor. (While the movie may be scarier than the trailers have let on, its also funnier.) Those prone to high blood pressure may struggle right at the beginning and then have their pulse rising again toward the end, but their hearts should survive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While gorier movies have come and gone, Sinners doesnt squander any opportunities to splatter the screen with red. Unlike the jump scares that set the tone for the movie, the bloodier part of Sinners doesnt hit until the second half, when the fanged villains finally show up. But once they do? Oh boy. Id love to hear the number of gallons of fake blood the production team had to order for this one! Sinners isnt a nonstop feeding fest, but you certainly get to see your fair share of blood spewing from both the victims of the nightwalkers and from the undead themselves: When theyre properly staked, they burst forth like fire hydrants. Not to mention that these vampires are more voracious flesh-eaters than they are dainty blood-drinkers, so the wounds they leave are pretty gnarly. And more than one character also burns alive, as tends to happen when any creature of the night gets a little too much sun. The worst of it, though, are the undead who have been shot by our protagonists but not yet killed, as they walk around with their bullet wounds showing blown-open jaws and necks. While most of this is pretty standard vampire or zombie fare, hemophobes should beware. Advertisement Advertisement Related From Slate Put Sinners Directly Into Your Veins Read More This is where Sinners gets the most interesting and complex. On one hand, period pieces and supernatural flicks dont tend to score highly on the spookiness chart because, well, we dont live in 1932 and (depending on who you ask) vampires dont exist. On the other, the movie ultimately gestures at horrors more real than vampires, and Coogler does manage to fit in a few bone-chilling moments that will stay with you. For example, theres an Irish folk song performed in the creepiest way possible that makes me wary of ever hearing the tune again. On the whole, Sinners isnt as spooky as most classics of the genre, including similar-minded allegories from the likes of Jordan Peele, but its got moments you wont forget for quite some time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With Sinners, Coogler has once again concocted a well-crafted, compelling crowd-pleaser that tackles racial politics without shortchanging audiences on exhilaration (or, this time around, sexy sanguivores). Sure, for a movie coming from the guy who directed Black Panther, there are more nerve-racking thrills than anticipated. Theres no doubt that Sinners is a horror film. Still, its far from the scariest movie youll come across. With some well-timed glances away from the screen for the squeamish and some forewarning of the movies handful of jump scares, even the most high-strung among us will make it through unscathed. When 2025 comes to a close, the movie is likely to be remembered among the best pictures of the year, but its highly unlikely that it will be considered one of the scariest. This is part of Egg, an attempt to explain why Americans have absolutely lost their minds over egg prices. Its a simple fact of life: Eggs are counted. Theyre numbered, added, subtracted, and amounted to their sum total. We expect a dozen eggs in a carton and order two-egg omelets; we halve them for the devil, but we dont count our chickens before they hatch (actually about eggs!); and so on and so forth. But, when it comes to cookingand baking especiallyis counting eggs really the best way to go? Isnt it time we stop measuring our eggs by the number, and start weighing them instead? After all, American recipe developers, chefs, authors, and most serious bakers have, following much of the rest of the world, finally come around to weighing things like flour and sugar in recipes. Thats because theres greater accuracy to be had with mass over volume, and that accuracy can actually be transmitted from the test kitchen to the home. (Your 1 cup of flour and mine might vary considerably, but our 100 grams should, barring scale calibration issues, be the same.) Plus, and stop me if youve heard this before, baking doesnt afford the same freestyle luxury as cooking. Whoops! I dropped my burrito in a deep fryer, is quite literally the origin story of the chimichanga. Meanwhile, theres simply no such thing as accidentally baking a cake. No, baking is a precise, intentional business. One slip up in the measurements, and youve got some unpleasant goop, brick, or any range of textures in between. Like all issues around cooking, I tend to look at them through the lens of my own personal area of expertisepasta. To that end, I can attest to the consistency of weighing ingredients firsthand; buying a digital scale has changed my life as a pasta-maker. When I started weighing out durum wheat flour in grams, not cups, pasta dough finally clicked for me. It became foolproof. Idiotproof. Me proof. A 100 percent success rate. Today, its a recipe I know by heart500 grams of durum wheat semolina flour to 300 grams of warm water. As someone whos made pasta dough hundreds of times, Ill just tell you straight up: There is only one way to make it with consistent resultsmeasure by mass, not by volume. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Conversely, most egg dough recipes you find online are listed in cups and counted eggs, which can lead to an unmitigated nightmare. Ive used this New York Times Cooking recipe many times, and the consistency of the dough varies too much. Its too finicky. Thats because eggs can, and often do, weigh different amounts. This chart from Petaluma Egg Farm suggests that a single large egg can weigh anywhere between 54 to 61 grams, and Ive heard anecdotal reports during our recent crisis that eggs labeled jumbo look like theyve been on Ozempic. So, as one does when theyve been tasked with writing about eggs, I thought, Hey, I eat eggs for breakfast. Why dont I weigh my eggs this week? I purchased a carton of large eggs from the farmers market (all I had to do to afford it was to sell my car and promise one unconscionable favor to the farmer), and here were the results: Easter Week. Weight of eggs cracked, in grams: Advertisement Egg 1: 62.6 Egg 2: 59.4 Egg 3: 60 Egg 4: 51.3 Egg 5: 61.2 Egg 6: 57.2 Egg 7: 56.8 Egg 8: 55.2 Advertisement Look at that jump between Eggs No. 4 and 5. Thats 10 whole grams. Maybe youve just read that sarcastically, but Im dead serious. Thats a lot of weight, and I knew Egg 4 was a lighter egg as soon as I cracked it; it just didnt have much white inside. That relative unreliability in fresh eggs can be a big problem if you need a lot of them for a recipe like, say, chocolate cake; the wide variation possible in just this carton could leave you with something too dense, or too dry, or a cake pan full of pudding. Advertisement So why isnt it the industry standard to just work with eggs in terms of mass? Why are so many of us loyal to the count, imperfect as it may be? I mean, its just as easy to crack them into a bowl on a scale than not, right? J. Kenji Lopez-Alt discusses the general topic of recipes by mass in a Serious Eats post, titled Ounces and Grams: Why Mass Is Not the Best Way to List Ingredients, from the perspective of a recipe developer. Advertisement For some folksthe engineers, the anal-retentive, and, most of all, those that overlap between the twoprecision is comforting, reassuring. But for most folks, its intimidating and fussy. If Im making dinner for my family or friends, I want the version of the recipe that makes it clear when I need to be precise, but also, more importantly, when its okay for me to stray and relax while still arriving at a good result. Advertisement Advertisement Simply put: Lopez-Alt understands hisand all recipe authorsaudience, which is the average person. I could write all of the recipes in my book or on this website in precise mass units, he goes on to say, but I would instantly be alienating my core readership: the average home cook. Interestingly, eggs are not mentioned in this piece. I suspect this is because out of all the things one could measure by massflour, butter, salt, chocolateeggs are the last thing people would actually consider weighing. Were too stuck in our ways. When it comes to eggs, we simply refuse to count past 12. Advertisement But, you know, that article was written in 2018. Times have changed. Home cooks are more technically savvy than ever. Weve endured an entire pandemic with nothing to do but time to bake bread and knead pasta dough. Collectively, weve taken our home cooking more seriously. These days, dont we want precision? Advertisement Related From Slate The Controversy That Said It All About America Under Trumpand Where Were Headed Now Read More I spoke with executive chef Talia Clark, of Forest, a modern Italian restaurant in Birmingham, Michigan. Forest, it needs to be said, serves some of my favorite pasta in the area. Moreover, as a chef, Clark has to rely on precision. Needless to say, she weighs her eggs. Advertisement Commodity eggs are typically larger than organic and that size difference can really affect hydration in the dough, she explains. I think almost every recipe benefits from the consistency that comes with weighing all ingredients, including eggs. Especially with pasta. It does make it easier as well across the board, simple and to the point, to follow a recipe and have the scale giving you the exact measurement regardless of whos making it. When weighing, youre getting the same result each time. Advertisement At Forest, they use jumbo eggs. Clark notes that on this particular morning, she had two different kindsorganic and regular. The organic weighed 51 grams and the regular weighed 74 grams. Thats a huge difference. In our restaurant we shop around for the best egg prices, and we are not getting them from the same place each week as prices fluctuate, she says. For Clark, weighing her eggs is even more crucial because shes always shopping for the best deal (relatable!), and thus, she ends up with more varietyand more room for trouble. In our conversation, Clark hit on probably the key issue hereregardless of whos making it. Restaurant recipes need to be foolproof so that workers of varying skill levels inside the kitchen can execute them. But shouldnt that simplicity extend to home cooks, too? Shouldnt all recipes be foolproof? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its an appealing idea in theory. But then again, not everyone is a chef or chef-y, as they say. Not everyone has a desire for exactness. For the older generation, the kitchen isnt a scientific laboratory. I often find myself romanticizing the fluid style of cooking of my grandmother, or the ladies on Pasta Grannies. Hell, the Pasta Grannies dont even use measuring cups most of the time. They feel the measurements with their fingers, groove with it. Sometimes, I find myself getting to a similar place, and its beautiful. I can perceive, rather early on, when dough is too dry or too sticky, when it might need a little more flour or water. I sense myself needing the scale less and less, and all at once vibing with the instability of the flour, water, and eggs, instead of seeing them as things to be confined or tamed. Maybe theres something fundamentally human in the familiar feeling of cracking eggs directly into a mixing bowl or a well of flour, skipping the scale entirely. Maybe theres something to gain from feeling food, and not treating it like a science. Advertisement Advertisement I know Im waxing a bit poetic. Pragmatically speaking, for the majority of us, its fair to say that this type of carefree, willy-nilly measurement style is one you can only achieve through many hours of practice. Being precise is, at the end of the day, probably the best way to present a recipe so that nothing is getting lost in translation. So until you learn the movements, the dance, the feel of cooking, Id recommend using a scale whenever you can, especially for things like pasta and cakes. And I think it would be wise for recipe developers to give us an option: Despite his protestations about precision, Lopez-Alts site Serious Eats lists the number of eggs, plus the weight in ounces and grams, for its chocolate cakes and brownies. This should become the norm. Advertisement Advertisement Its a classic case of: Why not both? Cooking has never been a one-way street, no matter how much we try to see it that way. Weighing eggs is simply another avenue to help us reach the ultimate goal: kitchen excellence, and the personal growth thats attached to it. Neither a shortcut nor an express lane, the use of digital scales for assessing our eggs should be embraced, but not overly enforced. Still not convinced? Look at it this way: In this moment of consternation over the price of groceries, maybe the scale offers not only precision, but a fresh way to appreciate the preciousness of a single eggright down to the last gram. This is part of Egg, an attempt to explain why Americans have absolutely lost their minds over egg prices. The Eggsplainer briefly considers some of our weirdest behaviors around eggs. Weve all seen a stray ostrich egg at Whole Foods and thought, What if? Maybe youve even cooked one. But what is the most unusual egg people eat regularly? If you can think of it, we probably eat it. So the answer to this question really just depends on where you live. In the U.S., we might find it strange that people in the U.K. eat black-headed gull eggs (theyre considered a delicacy). People in the U.K. might find it strange that people in Taiwan eat pigeon eggs, while people in Taiwan might find it strange that people in the Falkland Islands eat penguin eggs. What might be gourmet in one country is head-turning in another. Similarly, some eggs may seem odd to the average American not for their species, but for the way they are prepared. Balut, a popular Filipino street food, refers to a fertilized duck egg which contains the remains of an entire baby ducklingrevolting to some foreigners, yet a much-loved delicacy to those who are familiar. Century eggs from China, which can be made with duck, chicken, or quail eggs, arent 100 years old, but they are cured in mud for weeks to months, taking on potentially belly-turning hues. Iron eggs from Taiwan are cooked multiple times in soy sauce or tea until they turn chewy and chocolate-colored. Advertisement That being said, what do all the above eggs have in common? Theyre all bird eggs. Humans have long gravitated toward the eggs of birds, with ostrich egg consumption in South Africa possibly dating back 60,000 years. (Chicken egg consumption is relatively much newer, likely originating around 3,000 years ago in Tuscany.) We eat eggs from geese, quail, emus, guineafowl, pheasants, and peahens (which can cost $50 a pop). Wild bird eggsincluding those of songbirdsare usually protected, but are still edible, as demonstrated in that disturbing moment in Shrek when Fiona accidentally explodes a songbird and then fries its children for breakfast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related From Slate There's a Reason for Your Weird Reaction to a Runny Egg Yolk Read More But we also eat eggs from reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Roe, or fish eggs (a group that includes caviar, which comes from sturgeon, and tobiko, which comes from flying fish), is a modern-day delicacy in much of the world. While fish eggs have crossed cultural borders, others remain more restricted to certain regions. There are sea urchin eggs (an orange luxury in Japan), octopus eggs (served as sushi in Japan), shark eggs (hot in the Maldives), crocodile eggs (popular among the Australian Aboriginal population, as well as Filipinos, who turn them into ice cream), and turtle eggs (popular in Nicaragua, but illegal to sell in the U.S.). In many cases, for invertebrates and birds alike, bans or restrictions have been put in place to protect the next generation of the speciesespecially for animals that only lay a couple of eggs a year, like gulls. Then there are the insect eggs. In Thailand and Mexico, people eat ant eggs, which are described as slightly sour and nutty. Snail eggs are food in France, Spain, and Italy, and can cost hundreds of dollars. And dinosaur eggswhat would they taste like? Maybe if we keep deextincting animals, well someday find out. This is part of Egg, an attempt to explain why Americans absolutely lost their minds over egg prices. The Eggsplainer briefly considers some of our weirdest behaviors around eggs. Americans love an egg at breakfast. But many draw the line at an egg that oozes. As with some peoples well-documented hatred for mayo, a sunny-side-up egg can make some come runningand make others run away. Whats up with that? Maybe its because theyre, well, eggs. Eggs are a highly charged food, Paul Rozin, a psychologist who studies food preferences and disgust, told me. A lot of people love them, and a lot of people hate them. But perhaps theres something about runny eggs in particular that grosses some people out. Theres likely a few things going on, the most obvious being the texture of a lightly cooked egg. Runny yolks are often accompanied by runny whitescalled albumenwhich are sometimes a tad too similar to mucus. And mucus is gross, Rozin noted. There might also be some subconscious mind work going on here. Almost all [food] disgusts are animal products, Rozin said. Thats partially because animal products decay in a much grosser way than, say, vegetables do. They leak awful odors and juiceskind of like what comes out of a poached egg. And eggs sometimes emit a sulfurlike smell, an odor associated with decay, though thats more common when theyre hard-boiled, not undercooked. Wariness of undercooked eggs may also derive from real concerns with food safety. The Food and Drug Administration requires cartons of nonpasteurized eggs to print a recommendation that people cook eggs until yolks are firm to avoid risks of salmonella infection. While most eggs in the U.S. are perfectly safe to eat in a runny state, there is the occasional outlier that could make someone sick, food safety scientist Felicia Wu told the New York Times. Otherwise, runny-egg aversions could be explained by the same culprits behind any food aversion. There might be a past trauma, like you ate a runny egg and did get sick. Genetics can play a role in food preferences. But many food aversions are learned, informed by our environment, as Slate explained in a 2013 exploration of why so many people similarly hate mayo. Maybe you have inadvertently surrounded yourself with people who hate runny yolksand maybe you should consider your life choices. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. Most of Ks newborn clothes arrived inside a white trash bag left outside our two-bedroom Oakland house. We bought her bite-marked crib on Craigslist. I meant to take monthly photos to show her growth, but when I look back, there is only one, from 3 months. Ive scribbled 3 in ballpoint pen on a piece of paper torn from a spiral notebook. It looks like a ransom note. I was 34 when I became Ks foster mom. We got the call at bedtime on a Tuesday; a newborn needed a place to stay. The next morning, I went to the hospital to meet her in the NICU. She was home with me by noon. We werent expecting a newborn, and while she slept on my chest, I started a list of what we needed: supplies, a schedule, help. If (and only if) K was touching me or my husband David, she was content. And so, I held her. For six months, I moved from my bed to the sofa and back again. She napped on me and babbled on me and played on me. In one day, I transitioned from a childless grad student to someone who never stopped cuddling, feeding, and changing a newborn. By the time she was a few weeks old, it was clear she might be with us long-term. When she was 1, we adopted her. Slate receives a commission when you purchase items using the links on this page. Thank you for your support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While our home life during Ks early days was not social-media polished, our joy and connection felt like a miracle. I have never been as at ease in my body and life as when I was parenting her during those first months. Meeting K wasnt the first time my life shifted over the course of a day. One August, when I was 28, I woke up a runner and went to bed disabled. I co-owned a real estate firm at the time and, through relentless professional effort, was flush with cash. My then-husband and I decided to take a luxury trip to Greece. This was pre-Instagram, but youd never know it from our perfectly orchestrated itinerary. Linen halter-dresses and straw hats and beers in the ocean. My young body was toned and tan. We were committed to having the best vacation. It probably goes without saying: I was profoundly unhappy. Advertisement While hiking on the island of Santorini, we encountered a pack of wild dogs baring their teeth. The sun was more punishing than we had anticipated, and we had run out of water. We scrambled up the hillside, away from the dogs, shins scraping on the brush. The detour led to heat exhaustion, which led to an electrolyte imbalance, which activated a latent neurological condition. The day after the hike I could hardly stand and spent the day wracked with nausea, dizziness, and pain. Its been 14 years, and my health has not measurably improved. Advertisement It took me a year to admit I was sick and two to get diagnosed. I didnt accept my diagnosis for another year, and it was longer still before I would call myself disabled. During that time, I had to stop working, ended my long-term relationship, and moved into a tiny one-bedroom apartment. Instead of wild parties at our sprawling loft, I watched Lifetime shows with my little sister. My life shrank. My body suffered. Advertisement Advertisement Inside the agony, I found my way to something true within myself. The pursuit of perfection in my 20s had been caustic. Of course, I didnt invent the framework in which I operated at that time. Thinking that beauty and wealth will make our lives good is an edict of capitalism. Our economic system reinforces that our worth is directly related to our ability to work and produce. Its no coincidence that this manically attractive life was very expensive. Admitting to the inevitability of suffering and fragility in my 30s was a salve. Pretending that my own performance could insulate me from pain had caused me far more harm than the actual limitations of my body. Looking back, I think my capacity to parent K as a newborn was a direct result of having already adjusted to disability. And when I began writing my book Unfit Parent, I was surprised to find that many disabled parents shared my easy transition to parenthood. I interviewed dozens of disabled and nondisabled parents and noted a stark divide between these groups experiences of early parenthood. Most nondisabled parents recounted the first week as one of the most harrowing and destabilizing of their lives. Disabled parents, on the other hand, said it was mostly fine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These responses floored me, since disability often introduces additional complications to pregnancy and birth. I had assumed that my early ease could be traced to the fact that I had not been pregnant, but my interviews dispelled the assumption. Why would those with more fragile bodies be particularly well-suited to the arduous newborn days? Something about the nature of disability and the lessons from disability culture seemed to inoculate new parents against despair. One of the disabled people I interviewed for Unfit Parent is Dr. Jessi Elana Aaron, a Florida professor with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, who has greatly reduced use of the muscles in her limbs. She relies on her mouth for most tasks. She is also a single parent by choice to a son born in 2018. When I asked about her adjustment to parenting, she explained that the most challenging part was that the practical support she had put into place fell through. A loved one had said they would take nights after Aarons planned C-section, but then they were unable to do so. Despite the post-op pain, Aaron was forced to find a way to care for her newborn on her own. Advertisement And she did. She fed him and changed his diapers and comforted him when he cried. She set up bottles next to her bed with ice packs while her son rested in a bassinet nearby that she could access from the side. Rolling over with her temporary catheter tubing was difficult, but she found a way to make it work. When she thinks about the early days of motherhood, she remembers snuggling in bed together and long days just getting to know each other. Advertisement My theory is that our abiding fear of disability heightens the challenges of early parenthood. The experience of recovering from labor and delivery, plus the ultimate neediness of a newborn, reveals a precarious interdependence that our culture desperately tries to avoid. Birth itself is a dance with our mortality. Its impossible to care for a newborn and ignore just how fragile we all are. Advertisement Advertisement Whats more, giving birth often entails a kind of temporary disability. For many of the nondisabled people I interviewed, their early agony was rooted in a fear of their bodies never recovering. Of always feeling weak and needy. Of always requiring care. They also worried about the intensity of their new babys demands. How could they sustain this kind of enmeshment? The reality is that despite pervasive assumptions that disability equals tragedy, data show that its not the catastrophic outcome that many assume it will be. There is a long history of research that reveals how people consistently underestimate disabled peoples satisfaction with their lives. In 1999, two social scientists, Dr. Gary L. Albrecht and Dr. Patrick J. Devlieger, published a paper titled The Disability Paradox: High Quality of Life Against All Odds. In it, they analyzed earlier studies indicating that the disabled report much higher levels of life satisfaction than the nondisabled imagine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most people assume that quality of life is, at least in part, correlated with being in good health. But this viewwithout our health, we have nothingis not borne out. The qualities of a good life are far more complex. Advertisement Advertisement Research shows that, like me, disabled people often come to acceptand even embracetheir disabled bodies. A 2009 German longitudinal study tracking the life satisfaction of 6,000 individuals found that most who became physically disabled returned to pre-disability levels of satisfaction after a period of adjustment. That matches my own experience of becoming disabled at 28. I am 42, and I like my life much more than I did at 27. Disability allowed me to actually live in the world, and not just attempt to control it. Advertisement This is not the experience of every ill or disabled person, of course. Many people, disabled and not, have hard lives and report low well-being levels. Accurately predicting the degree of suffering is impossible, and thats true throughout the course of a life. Claims that disability yields dissatisfaction conceal the real reason for disdain of the disabled. The fear of disability goes deeper than a fear of needing care and fear of suffering. Its a fear of not being productive. Its not about our happiness at all; even here, its profits all the way down. What it means to be human has become flattened to a list of accomplishments. Our lives are in service of our output. Advertisement The irony is that humanity needs genetic diversity to flourish. As our world changes, our collective chance of survival increases with intraspecies variation. Just as our economic systems insistence on profits over effective climate policies promises extinction, our hyperfocus on perfecting humankind does the same. The myth that there is a clear line between disabled and not is the most pernicious part of our fear of disability. Humanity has been inaccurately divided into two categories: those who are broken and those who are whole. If you are not broken, the assumption is that you should be almost invincible. Nondisabled people are shackled under the presumption that they should be able to hustle themselves into health, happiness, and success. Disabled people live with the presumption that they cant parent at all. Everyone loses here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Disability culture offers solutions and solidarity during the profound transition to parenthood. Although its common to question whether disabled people are fit to be parents, the reality is that disability can make someone more prepared to care for a newborn, not less. The habits disabled people have adopted to survive translate seamlessly to parenthood. Its not an idealized or perfect version, but it is honest, creative, and communal. Parenting through innovation and complication is the only option. Advertisement For everyone, parenting is a relationship with disability, a slide into fallowness. K is 8 now and the proud big sister to F, who just turned 1. (Someone we love acted as a surrogate for us.) Our family organism is unwieldy and slow, with one wheelchair user and two people with autism. We are a jumble of requirements. When I hear what other families have planned on a Saturday, I am tempted to hold it up against our one trip to the familiar playground two blocks away. Our days may be small, but they are oursmy wheelchair rolling down the Toronto sidewalk, with the mushy baby on my lap and Ks hand tucked under my elbow. My disabled body is permission for my children to tell me when they are scared or tired or unsure. If I parented them with the worldview I held in my 20s, I would be reinforcing the message that the only worthy life was a perfect one. But here in my sweatpants, on my adjustable bed, with another bagel sandwich, my limited days say the opposite. Embracing our fragile bodies paves the way for embracing the vulnerable children looking to us for answers about what it means to be enough. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. At some point, probably around middle school, I got tired of explaining where El Salvador was. Its a tiny country in Central America, along the Pacific Ocean, Id say. If you fly from LAX, you can be there in four hours. This week, El Salvador is back in the news, and I miss the days when Americans knew little about our pulgarcito. On March 15, the Trump administration unconstitutionally deported Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia to a megaprison in El Salvador. The Justice Department admitted the removal was an administrative error, and despite a court order to do anything possible to get him back, Trump administration officials claim their hands are tied. Abrego Garcia is a Salvadoran national, their logic goes, and cannot be retrieved. Thats not true. El Salvador is a close ally, and all too eager to do Donald Trumps bidding. All itd take is a diplomatic phone call. Instead, the administration doubled down, insisting that Abrego Garcia is part of MS-13, despite having no evidence and being ordered by the Supreme Court to facilitate his return. When Salvadoran president Nayib Bukele visited the Oval Office on Monday, he parroted the claim: How can I smuggle a terrorist into the United States? To be clear: Abrego Garcia has not been convicted of a crime. He had a legal right to be in the United States. Critics are rightly worried about the constitutional and legal crisis at hand, but legality is only part of the story. A rhetorical battle is also unfolding, one that has shaped the American immigration system for decades. At its center, as its most consistent victims, are ordinary immigrants like Abrego Garcia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Debates about whether someone deserves to stay in the United States or not often hinge on their criminal status. Even well-meaning liberals have fallen into that trap. Barack Obama infamously defended his immigration policies as targeting felons, not families and criminals, not children, which sounds good, but obscures the wide range of infractions within these labels. Since the 1980s, legislation has expanded what counts as a criminaland thus deportableoffense. As scholars have pointed out, policies enacted in the 2000s have cast an increasingly wider net which continually re-determined who could be classified as a criminal alien, such that the term is now a mostly incoherent grab bag that can include traffic violations or minor drug offenses. Abrego Garcia is neither a felon nor a criminal. Even if he was, it doesnt automatically mean he deserves to be deported. A family shouldnt be torn apart over a speeding ticket. Advertisement Then, theres the question of terrorism. Bukele chose the word carefully. A Trump executive order designated MS-13 as a foreign terrorist organization, which hides the fact that the gang originated in Los Angeles in the 1980s. Their members largely join out of economic need, self-defense, or social pressurenot ideology. By framing alleged gang members as terrorists, Bukele is able to justify the inhumane, ever-expanding prison system hes built in El Salvador, claiming its a catch-all solution to violence in the country, despite the incarceration of thousands of innocent people and doubts around its effectiveness. Advertisement The playbook is classic strongman: Exploit a citizenrys fears, then consolidate power. Not coincidentally, its the same rhetoric that Ronald Reagan and the authoritarian Salvadoran government used throughout the 1980s to demonize and target leftist organizers, calling them Communist terrorists. Throughout the Salvadoran Civil War, thousands of innocent people were disappeared or murdered, extrajudicially, for nothing more than alleged sympathies with leftist ideology. Priests, students, educators, and union organizers were prime targets. Wielding the threat of terrorism allowed the state to excuse its own violence and disregard for citizens rights, a strategy Bukele has repurposed for the 21st century. Under a state of exception passed in 2022, constitutional guarantees have been rolled back. Anyone in El Salvador can be detained without being told the reason, denied legal representation, and held indefinitely in prisons where torture and excessive force are common. Advertisement Advertisement Related From Slate Why El Salvador Is Doing Trumps Dirty Work Read More Americans are scared of a future where they could be jailed or deported without due process. In El Salvador, that future has arrived. Salvadorans live through it every day. Thats what made the images of Trump and Bukele laughing in the Oval Office so chilling. Trump seems eager to bring a Bukele-style authoritarianism stateside. Fearmongering is a powerful political tool. A government hellbent on stripping its constituents of their constitutional rights will begin with the most liminal and marginalized among us. If immigrants can be shunned as criminals or terrorists, anyone can. Its already happening: International students are having their visas and First Amendment rights stripped under accusations of sympathizing with terrorists. But we cannot just advocate for those with legal status. Legality is a false flag, and it will not always protect us. We must be unflinching: Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia was illegally deported and must be returned. We must also demand more: a humane and holistic immigration system, a functional asylum process, and a discourse that doesnt demonize criminals or felons. Lets fight for those who have a legal right to be in the United States, and for those who have no other choice. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. Federal courts turned up the heat on the Trump administration this past week as the White House continued to defy a Supreme Court directive to facilitate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland husband and father illegally deported to a Salvadoran prison. As administration officials slander Abrego Garcia on television, their counterparts at the Justice Department are stonewalling the judiciary, refusing to provide basic informationlet alone take any steps to bring him home. More than a month after his rendition to El Salvador, the government has yet to provide any credible evidence that he is a member of a gang, let alone a foreign terrorist. On this weeks episode of Amicus, Mark Joseph Stern spoke about the broiling crisis with Leah Litman, a professor at the University of Michigan Law School and author of the forthcoming book Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vibes. A preview of their conversation, below, has been edited and condensed for clarity. Mark Joseph Stern: Initially, when Abrego Garcia filed suit, the Justice Department acknowledged that he was deported due to an administrative error. But the two attorneys who acknowledged that mistake were put on leave, and one of them has reportedly been fired. Then deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller started going on TV claiming that it was not a mistakethat Abrego Garcia was the right man deported to the right place. Now the Justice Department has stopped acknowledging that this was a mistake. It seems to me like Stephen Miller is maybe picking up the phone and calling the Justice Department and telling them what to say. Advertisement Leah Litman: Or hes shadow-writing their briefs and they just put some gloss on it. I dont know exactly whats going on, but Stephen Millers grubby little paws are all over it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We should note that Stephen Miller is not even a lawyer. And I think we should also remind folks that there is not supposed to be this kind of direct coordination between the White House and the Justice Department. The direct manipulation of a legal proceeding by top White House officials, if that is whats going on, would have been a shocking breach of norms until about three months ago. I think we can deduce that this norm is just gone now. And Im curious if you think that will have any negative implications for the current administration at the Supreme Court. SCOTUS has traditionally given real deference to the Justice Department because of its legacy of independence. Are the justices going to stop trusting it with that legacy in the trash? Advertisement I wouldnt hold my breath. They should have already done that in the Alien Enemies Act case, where they halted Judge James Boasbergs order, and in the Abrego Garcia case, where they said Judge Paula Xinis maybe had to modify her order. By that point, the administrations bad faith and unwillingness to let lawyers say things grounded in fact and law was apparent. And the court didnt acknowledge any of that, as Justice Sonia Sotomayor indicated. So I think the Justice Department will continue to get a pass. Advertisement Lets turn, then, to a court thats not giving them a pass, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. On Thursday, the 4th Circuit refused to halt Judge Xinis expedited discovery in a really strong opinion authored by Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson, a conservative Reagan appointee. Wilkinson wrote: Advertisement The Executive possesses enormous powers to prosecute and to deport, but with powers come restraints. If today the Executive claims the right to deport without due process and in disregard of court orders, what assurance will there be tomorrow that it will not deport American citizens and then disclaim responsibility to bring them home? And what assurance shall there be that the Executive will not train its broad discretionary powers upon its political enemies? The threat, even if not the actuality, would always be present, and the Executives obligation to take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed would lose its meaning. Advertisement Here, Wilkinson actually cited Trumps statement in the Oval Office that homegrown criminals, meaning U.S. citizens, could be the next deported to El Salvador. What did you make of his opinion? This is what I wanted to see from the Supreme Court. Here is a federal judge looking at what Donald Trump is saying hes going to do, and using that information to assess the executive branchs claims. And that is the thing that the Republican justices on the Supreme Court have so far been unwilling to do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I also wanted to highlight the portion of Judge Wilkinsons opinion where he doubled down on saying: Im not going to just give up. He refused to just accept that the executive branch isnt going to comply with court orders. I thought that was important because a number of people have interpreted what the Supreme Court has been doing in these cases as backing down because theyre scared of a confrontation where the Trump administration refuses to comply with their orders. And Judge Wilkinson is like: No, you cant just retreat from basic principles of due process. You need to tell everybody that the executive branch has to respect due process. This is not a game of chicken where we back down from the Constitution. Thats not how this works. Related From Slate The Supreme Court Is Handing Trump a Huge Favor It Denied to Biden Read More Wilkinson also pointedly cited the Little Rock Nine episode, when President Eisenhower sent in the National Guard to enforce a desegregation order. I think that was maybe trying to nudge the Supreme Courts Republican appointees to stand up for the rule of law the way their predecessors did. Do you think itll work? Advertisement I respect the optimism, Judge Wilkinson. We need people who still think that is attainable to keep trying. I appreciated and respected the effort. Even if its not successful, I think it was important to do. Advertisement Advertisement Theres a similar dynamic with Sen. Chris Van Hollen traveling to El Salvador to meet with Abrego Garcia. Van Hollen was turned away at first, but on Thursday night he revealed that he was, in fact, able to meet with him. But afterward, President Bukele tweeted that Abrego Garcia gets the honor of staying in El Salvadors custody. Im curious what you made of that. I think the event confirmed that Bukele will do things that United States officials request of him. It is not impossible to get these people out of the Terrorism Confinement Center. So this is just additional and needed evidence that public pressure works. The amount of attention and pressure on this case has been immense. And it yielded something admittedly small, but important: It confirmed Mr. Abrego Garcia is alive. And given the administrations obfuscations, I was unwilling to take their word for it. Advertisement I have a kind of meta question partly inspired by your book. The Trump administration seems to be offering what you argue the Supreme Court has been drifting toward, which is a conception of law thats all bad vibes and pretext for Trump to do whatever he wants. It feels like weve gotten here really quickly, and a lot of people are still catching up to how dark things have gotten. Advertisement Advertisement My question is: Does any of this inspire you to fight even harder for a conception of the law and the judiciary that transcends conservative grievances and MAGA extremism and endures beyond this nightmare administration? Or is it all just so enormously horrific that it makes you want to give up? There are moments when it feels overwhelming, and I think: What can I possibly do? There are no good options. But then, at the end of the day, I come back to this idea that Im just not going to let these people win. That is not the solution here. And if the best I can do is make their lives more difficult, and make it more difficult for them to carry out awful policies that harm so many people, Ill take that. Even if I cant deliverin short order, or over the period of my professional lifea functioning Supreme Court, I am unwilling to give up. Advertisement Advertisement Thats part of why that Van Hollen visit was a needed reaffirmation that public pressure works, and that we can actually accomplish things in the midst of these horrors and terrors. Its worth reminding ourselves that, yes, the fight is hard; its going to be long; were not going to win everything. But its still a fight worth participating in. Because the other option is just to let Sam Alito, Stephen Miller, and all of their buddies do whatever they want at no cost. That is unacceptable to me, and its incompatible with a liberal constitutional democracy. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. On Thursday, a federal judge found Google guilty of violating antitrust laws in two sectors of the online advertising marketplace. The case cuts into a major funding engine of the internet as we know it, as District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema deems Google liable for unfairly gaming the system at the expense of many, many smaller websites and companies over the years. That means 2025 marks the third consecutive year in which a federal court has ruled that Google holds illegal monopolies and needs to make material changesfor the good of American consumers and the free enterprise system. In 2023, a federal grand jury found that Googles Play Store app marketplace and in-app billing systems violated antitrust law; in 2024, a D.C. district judge ruled that Google has unlawful monopolies in the markets for online search engines and text-based advertising, and the government recommended that Google spin off ownership of its iconic Chrome browser. (The proceedings that will decide whether that will happen begin on Monday.) As with last years verdict, the Thursday ruling was not a wholesale defeat for Google. This case has been litigated since 2023 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, regarding five charges that the United States government and 17 states brought against the company. One of those accusationsthat Googles misconduct had effectively robbed the federal government of money owed to itwas dismissed last year after the Big Tech giant furnished a $2.29 million check. The remainder of the case concerned allegations that Google maintained monopoly power in three display-ad-tech markets on the open web (i.e., across the worldwide internet ecosystem): advertiser ad networks, publisher ad servers, and ad exchanges. Advertisement Google was not found guilty of monopolizing advertiser ad networkswhich, the judge writes, is a term that is not common in the digital advertising industry. The company was found to have violated Section 2 of the 1890 Sherman Antitrust Act by willfully acquiring and maintaining monopoly power in the latter two markets, however. Google was found to have leveraged its position by tying together its individual products in those fields and thus entrenching its chokehold over both areas, again in violation of the Sherman Act. Thus, Google is now on the hook for three of the original five charges, although the corporation announced Friday morning that it would appeal the decision. (In a statement to Slate, Lee-Anne Mulholland, Googles vice president for regulatory affairs, wrote in part, We won half of this case and we will appeal the other half.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When you visit a website like Slate, the ads you see are chosen by something called a publisher ad server. Its a powerful system that tells advertisers someone has landed on the site, then displays an ad that fits that sites audience. In the middle of this process are ad exchanges. They get a ping from the publisher ad server saying a new visitor is on the page, then quickly run an auction where ad networks launch competitive bids to show their particular ad on said page. The whole thing is incredibly complex, but it happens in the blink of an eye thanks to advanced software built by Big Tech companies. Googles sin, per the court, was to leverage its advantage as creator and seller of both a publisher ad server and an ad exchange to 1) establish itself as the domineering vendor of those two products, 2) tie the functions of those products together in ways that crowded out potentially viable competitors in those spaces, thus making websites dependent on Googles tech, and 3) using that consolidated position to interfere with the ad-bidding and -selling process, artificially undercutting the amount of ad revenue that websites could have earned over the years. Advertisement Advertisement Among other bits of evidence, the 115-page ruling cites communications from Google employees and ad-tech competitors to demonstrate that Google was very well aware of its power here, and often purposefully weakened the services it provided to websites because it knew they had nowhere else to turn for ad money. (In her statement to Slate, Mulholland wrote, We disagree with the Courts decision regarding our publisher tools. Publishers have many options and they choose Google because our ad tech tools are simple, affordable and effective.) As a writer for an online news publication supported in large part by advertising dollars, I have a bit of a personal stake in this case. Its not unique to me; its something I share with all my peers and competitors in the increasingly brittle landscape of modern-day journalism, some of whom testified at this very trial on behalf of brands like the New York Times and Vox Media. Theres a reason that the American Economic Liberties Project referred to this ruling, in a Thursday-morning statement, as a win for journalists, publishers, online content creators and the distributed open web. And why the Check My Ads Institute pointedly stated that Googles unchecked power has distorted the ad tech ecosystem, disadvantaging publishers, advertisers, and ultimately, consumers. Press-advocacy orgs like the News/Media Alliance and the Wisconsin Newspaper Association likewise praised the decision, calling Thursday a big day for our industry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For years, Big Tech has consolidated power and retreated from its onetime support for digital journalism. Those of us left standing in the wreckage of this decimated profession havent been able to help but notice that ad revenue, the lifeblood for so many online writers and publications, has been sucked up by a few gargantuan digital networks. These platforms rode to their current level of prominence on the backs of websites whose links and coverage gave these platforms a reason to exist, via click and shares, reliable results within search indices, even high-quality training material for generative A.I. Yet Googlealong with Facebook, Amazon, and othersgained for itself an unbreakable grip on the ad market that has torched the economy keeping trustworthy information free and open. Now, thanks to this ruling, we know for sure something weve long suspected: This state of affairs didnt come about as a natural result of the markets invisible hand, but as a result of deliberate anti-competitive behavior. Advertisement By the late 2000s, Google had built out its in-house tech vendors, including AdWords (for advertisers) and AdSense (for publishers), into the largest digital ad network in the world, thanks to the massive popularity and utility of Google Search. But the story here begins with Google acquiring the platform DoubleClick for $3.1 billion in 2008, and absorbing both its publisher ad server, DoubleClick for Publishers (DFP), and its ad-exchange service, AdX. Advertisement The court did not deem the acquisition to be anti-competitive in and of itself. Rather, the anti-competitive conduct came as a result of how Google subsequently decided to apply its well-capitalized ad tech to the marketplace. Heres where the trouble begins: By buying Double Click, Google forced both advertisers and publishers to use the search giant as the clearinghouse for ad sales, ad auctions, and ad displays all at once. Advertisement Advertisement This naturally lent itself to abuse of the system. Through a feature called First Look, publishers reliant on DFP were all but forced into taking AdX-approved adseven when other exchanges offerings were superior, in both quality and pricebecause Google gave AdX unfair advantages (first-bid rights, real-time bidding adjustments) that artificially narrowed the spectrum of supply-and-demand options that publishers and advertisers could offer each other. Advertisers were unable to give publishers more money even when they wanted to, and publishers were unable to accept those higher rates even when such bids were clearly more desirable for their business. Google thus constructed a black box that left everybody in the dark and gave a false impression of the money at stake. Advertisement Advertisement Many news publications suspected something was fishy, as Brinkema writes, and other organizations found a way to work around Googles restrictions by finally giving ad exchanges the ability to also offer real-time bid changes, instead of one-time offers. An internal Google email realized that this was a no-brainer option that could decrease Googles potential revenue. Quoting an internal Google projection, the decision notes Googles recognition that opening up its ad marketplace and increasing transparency could cause both DFP and AdX to lose about 20 percent of their clients. Advertisement So the company implemented new programs to successfully stave off that threat. One of these was a feature called Last Look, which allowed AdX to view bids from advertisers and systematically increase its counteroffers in turna blatant edge in the market. Think of it as the ad-tech version of that scene from Oklahoma! where Jud Fry keeps upping his auction bid by two bits. Google did eventually phase out Last Look, only to replace it with something called Unified Pricing Rules. This prevented websites from negotiating market-rate prices for ad placements. And this was a deliberate move from AdX programmers, who wanted to limit the ability of publishers to set floor prices. Advertisement Advertisement This all came at a cost to advertisers, publishers, and even consumers. For all its power, Numerous industry participants and customers testified that Google did not have lower levels of spam, fraud, or malware than other reputable ad tech providers. One rival ad exchange experienced a 40% decrease in revenue which damaged the company very severely and contributed to 45% of its staff being laid off. Another rival firms CEO wrote in a 2019 email that almost every [publisher] ad server has gone out of business because of this integration. Internally, a Google employee recognized that the company had made the system (known nowadays as the singular Google Ad Manager) so effective that for publishers to divest themselves takes an act of God, because nothing has such high switching costs. Advertisement Those whove been following the other Google trials may recognize some echoes from last years ruling. As I wrote at the time, regarding the text-based-search ad market that Google was found to have monopolized: Google regularly makes runners-up for an ad spot seem more competitive than they truly are, causing the actual top-rated bidders to pay more than what market pricing would normally dictate. Advertisers cant opt out of these systems or from Googles decision processes. Advertisement Advertisement All in all, it appears that Google has been eager to manipulate multiple markets for its biggest revenue source (ads) at the expense of others who also depend on that digital economy. Googles entire business model has allowed it to profit immensely by sucking money out of the journalism industry, the content creation industry, and publishing writ large, Lee Hepner, senior legal counsel for the American Economic Liberties Project, told me in an interview. Advertisement Related From Slate The U.S. v Meta Read More Google will appeal this ruling, and that process alone will likely take a few more years. The federal and state governments who lodged this case want to break up Googles simultaneous hold over the ad market, which means theyll likely suggest that the whole Google Ad Manager system get broken up. Hepner pointed out that theres a bipartisan bill pending in the Senate, called the AMERICA Act, which, if passed, would prevent highly capitalized firms like Google from exercising control over the demand and supply sides of the advertising biz. Advertisement Google certainly recognizes the seriousness of this moment. The C-suite prevented staffers from discussing the antitrust suits at work before an agreement with the Alphabet Workers Union mooted that prohibition. In an internal memo leaked to Axios on Thursday, Mulholland insisted to employees that Supreme Court precedent would be on the companys side. Advertisement Advertisement If that doesnt pan out for Google, then there might be room yet for an ad-supported web ecosystem, supported by fairer monetary opportunities for smaller advertisers and publishers, that would allow non-Google sites to thrive once again. Plus, this suit further bolsters historic antitrust precedent as applied to Big Techthe ruling, notably, cites cases like last years Google verdict, the Federal Trade Commissions successful block of a medical ad-tech merger, and even Epic Games partly successful antitrust suit against Apple. Large companies have held the free internet hostage for too long, and the wreckage is plain to see. But Googles latest defeat shows that Big Tech antitrust has some life in it yet. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250418/lavrov-rubio-hold-phone-call-on-ukraine-conflict-1121886082.html Lavrov, Rubio Hold Phone Call on Ukraine Conflict Lavrov, Rubio Hold Phone Call on Ukraine Conflict Sputnik International Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced. 2025-04-18T03:28+0000 2025-04-18T03:28+0000 2025-04-18T03:58+0000 world ukraine ukraine crisis us-russia relations us-russia dialogue marco rubio sergey lavrov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e9/03/10/1121645796_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_9bbb019b9cd7d43218894985f8db4e5f.jpg The Secretary of State informed the Minister about his contacts with Ukraine, France, and several other European countries, which he had with Witkoff. It was emphasized that these contacts were part of consultations between Washington and Moscow, including the recent conversation between President Putin and Witkoff in St. Petersburg. Lavrov confirmed Moscow's readiness to continue joint work with American colleagues to reliably eliminate the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250412/trump-the-only-western-leader-to-admit-the-fallacy-of-pulling-ukraine-into-nato-1121862184.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 sergey lavrov, marco rubio, us-russia talks, peacer in ukraine, rubio calls russia, https://sputnikglobe.com/20250418/lebanese-politician-slams-moldova-for-stopping-orthodox-archbishop-from-going-to-jerusalem-1121890280.html Lebanese Politician Slams Moldova for Stopping Orthodox Archbishop From Going to Jerusalem Lebanese Politician Slams Moldova for Stopping Orthodox Archbishop From Going to Jerusalem Sputnik International Moldova's attempt to stop Archbishop Markell of Balti and Falesti from traveling to Jerusalem for the annual Holy Fire rite was an act of repression against a person of faith, former Lebanese State Minister for Combating Corruption Nicola Tueni told Sputnik on Friday. 2025-04-18T15:35+0000 2025-04-18T15:35+0000 2025-04-18T15:35+0000 world moldova jerusalem israel the united nations (un) chisinau church of the holy sepulchre detention https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/105594/02/1055940282_0:183:3505:2154_1920x0_80_0_0_4ed312b3d6ee808396c3bec4b250e219.jpg "Such actions equal repression and are an attempt to promote political interests and agendas at the expense of religious traditions that the peoples of the East have followed since time immemorial," Tueni said. Archbishop Markell's detention violates personal and religious freedoms and undermines the UN Charter and multiple international conventions, the Lebanese politician added. This year, delegations from the Moldovan and Bessarabian Orthodox Churches were to travel to Israel from Moldova to take part in the Holy Fire ceremony, which is held annually on Great Saturday at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The Orthodox Church of Moldova is a self-governing part of the Russian Orthodox Church that unites 70% of the residents of Moldova and its breakaway region of Transnistria. Metropolitan of Chisinau and All Moldova Vladimir (Nicolae Cantarean) has repeatedly expressed regret that the current authorities of the country avoid dialogue with the church. Hours-long checks under the supervision of armed police officers have recently occurred at the Chisinau airport, especially targeting representatives of the opposition Pobeda (Victory) bloc and Moldovan public figures who arrived from Russia after participating in various international forums. Yevgenia Gutsul, head of the Moldovan autonomous region of Gagauzia, was detained at the same airport on March 25. A Chisinau court arrested her for 20 days on charges of violating rules for campaign financing and document forgery. On April 9, the court placed Gutsul under home arrest for 30 days, which her supporters slammed as political pressure. Several protests have since taken place in Gagauzia.Moldovan media reported that the country's top Orthodox Christian cleric was detained at the Chisinau airport for a lengthy security check on Thursday and was late for his flight to Israel. The traditional Holy Fire ceremony will take place in Jerusalem on Saturday, a day before the Orthodox Easter. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250418/ohchr-gathering-information-on-disruption-of-archbishop-markels-trip-to-jerusalem-1121889253.html moldova jerusalem israel Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International lebanese politician, moldova's attempt to stop archbishop markell, annual holy fire https://sputnikglobe.com/20250418/moldovan-opposition-calls-disruption-of-bishop-markels-trip-for-holy-fire-terror-1121887313.html Moldovan Opposition Calls Disruption of Bishop Markel's Trip for Holy Fire 'Terror' Moldovan Opposition Calls Disruption of Bishop Markel's Trip for Holy Fire 'Terror' Sputnik International The disruption of the trip to Israel of Archbishop Markel of Balti and Falesti for the Holy Fire on the eve of Easter is an "act of spiritual terror," Moldova's opposition Party of Socialists said on Friday. 2025-04-18T08:50+0000 2025-04-18T08:50+0000 2025-04-18T08:50+0000 world moldova maia sandu chisinau party of socialists chisinau holy fire orthodox church https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/08/17/1099900472_75:0:1207:637_1920x0_80_0_0_00d329767a92b15705d4bc91422a0db3.jpg On Thursday, Moldova's Canal 5 reported that Bishop Markel was detained at the Chisinau airport. Following a thorough check, he did not manage to board his plane to Israel. On the eve of Easter, "the authorities commit a public humiliation" of the archbishop who heads one of the dioceses of the Moldovan Orthodox Church, the party added. "This is a moral fall of the regime, for which there can be no ethical and human justification. This is a declaration of war on the Orthodox majority of Moldova by an anti-people regime that has long ago lost all connection with national identity," the statement read. The party also demanded immediate public explanations from Moldova's Border Guard Service and an official apology to the archbishop. This year, delegations from the Moldovan and Bessarabian Orthodox Churches were to travel to Israel from Moldova. The Orthodox Church of Moldova is a self-governing part of the Russian Orthodox Church, which unites 70% of the residents of Moldova and its breakaway region of Transnistria. Metropolitan of Chisinau and All Moldova Vladimir (Nicolae Cantarean) has repeatedly expressed regret that the current authorities of the country avoid dialogue with the church. Hours-long checks under the supervision of armed police officers have recently occurred at the Chisinau airport, especially targeting representatives of the opposition Pobeda (Victory) bloc and Moldovan public figures who arrived from Russia after participating in various international forums. The opposition believes that those who disagree with the actions of the Moldovan authorities are subjected to such checks. Gutsul was detained at the same airport on March 25. A Chisinau court arrested her for 20 days on charges of violating rules for campaign financing and document forgery. On April 9, the court placed Gutsul under home arrest for 30 days. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250418/orthodox-church-under-fire-moldovan-bishop-barred-from-holy-fire-pilgrimage---1121886469.html moldova chisinau 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 moldovan opposition, bishop markel's trip for holy fire, moldova's opposition party of socialists, holy fire https://sputnikglobe.com/20250418/moldovas-crackdown-on-archbishop-affects-millions-of-believers--russian-orthodox-church-spox-1121890128.html Moldovas Crackdown on Archbishop Affects Millions of Believers Russian Orthodox Church Spox Moldovas Crackdown on Archbishop Affects Millions of Believers Russian Orthodox Church Spox Sputnik International On Thursday, Archbishop Markel was detained at the Chisinau airport. 2025-04-18T14:48+0000 2025-04-18T14:48+0000 2025-04-18T14:48+0000 world moldova israel chisinau orthodox church detention https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e9/04/12/1121889971_117:0:1294:662_1920x0_80_0_0_d3ec1ad09101ebe0674a5c04a893a163.jpg It is a vivid example of discriminatory policy aimed at legally restricting the rights of believers, Vladimir Legoida, Synod Church-Society Relations spokesman, said.On April 18, Bishop Markell was detained at the Chisinau airport for a lengthy security check, which ultimately prevented him from boarding his flight to Israel on time. He was supposed to go to Jerusalem to receive the Holy Fire for Moldova during the annual Great Saturday ceremony. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250418/ohchr-gathering-information-on-disruption-of-archbishop-markels-trip-to-jerusalem-1121889253.html moldova israel Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Moldovas crackdown on archbishop affects Millions of believers Russian Orthodox Church spox Sputnik International Moldovas crackdown on archbishop affects Millions of believers Russian Orthodox Church spox 2025-04-18T14:48+0000 true PT1M42S 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International archbishop affects millions of believers, detained at the chisinau airport https://sputnikglobe.com/20250418/moldovas-eu-ambitions-come-hand-in-hand-with-hybrid-threats--church-crackdown-1121887174.html Moldovas EU Ambitions Come Hand-in-Hand With Hybrid Threats & Church Crackdown Moldovas EU Ambitions Come Hand-in-Hand With Hybrid Threats & Church Crackdown Sputnik International Moldova project is driven by a radical anti-Christian faction of European bureaucracy especially given their recent actions against the Moldovan Orthodox Church, Dmitry Evstafiev, professor at HSE University, told Sputnik. 2025-04-18T09:52+0000 2025-04-18T09:52+0000 2025-04-18T09:52+0000 analysis moldova ukraine russia european union (eu) nato maia sandu https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e9/04/12/1121887844_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_d2b2f34f6c74caa2b29b33c388671016.jpg The detention of Archbishop Markell at Chisinau International Airport fits seamlessly into Moldovas designated role as a prime testing ground for EU-driven hybrid pressures, Dr. Marco Marsili, researcher at Ca Foscari University of Venice, told Sputnik. Preventing the Archbishop from flying to attend the Holy Fire ceremony in Jerusalem just days before Orthodox Easter risks undermining religious freedom and deepening the divide between church and state, said the pundit. He underscored Moldovas strategic vulnerability due to its proximity to Ukraine, its complex multiethnic composition, coveted EU candidate status, and upcoming September parliamentary elections.EU 'Project'Unlike Ukraine, a joint US-EU project, the Moldova scenario is fully driven by an increasingly radical, anti-Christian faction of European bureaucracy especially given their recent actions against the Moldovan Orthodox Church, Dmitry Evstafiev, political scientist and professor at HSE University, told Sputnik. The project is designed to ignite a backup hotspot of tension on Russias border if peace talks on Ukraine succeed, he noted. The political scientist added that Moldova is facing a rapid push toward annexation by Romania. According to the pundit, it is clear to everyone, particularly in Transnistria, that this will evolve into a serious conflict with substantial human costs. The full-scale military conflict in the making is aimed directly at Russia and its Black Sea presence, Evstafiev warned.EU MeddlingEU interference in Moldovas political and electoral processes favors pro-EU, pro-NATO outcomes, Paolo Raffone, director of the CIPI Foundation in Brussels, told Sputnik.The pressure could escalate tensions and trigger clashes, similar to Ukraines Maidan, he said.EU and NATO leaders, backed by France, the UK, and Germany, continue a confrontational approach with Russia, influencing political developments in Moldova and Romania, stressed the pundit. According to him, they are struggling to maintain influence on the eastern flank, with tensions rising in countries like Georgia, Romania, and Moldova. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250418/moldovan-opposition-calls-disruption-of-bishop-markels-trip-for-holy-fire-terror-1121887313.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20241111/moldovans-fear-sandu-drags-moldova-into-someone-elses-military-scenario-1120848581.html moldova ukraine russia 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 moldova's crackdown on orthodox chucrh, moldova's orthodox archbishop prevented from going on holy fire pilgrimage, what is happening in moldova, is moldover being weaponized to become another ukraine, how west is turning moldova into a powder keg on russia's doorstep, sandu moldova, sandu eu integration, sandu europe, sandu oppression, sandu corruption, sandu crisis, https://sputnikglobe.com/20250418/orthodox-church-under-fire-moldovan-bishop-barred-from-holy-fire-pilgrimage---1121886469.html Orthodox Church Under Fire: Moldovan Bishop Barred from Holy Fire Pilgrimage Orthodox Church Under Fire: Moldovan Bishop Barred from Holy Fire Pilgrimage Sputnik International Archbishop Markel was stopped at Moldovas international airport and barred by border guards from flying to Jerusalem for the Holy Fire a major Orthodox tradition. The Church is calling it a blatant case of state meddling. 2025-04-18T07:13+0000 2025-04-18T07:13+0000 2025-04-18T10:08+0000 world moldova gagauzia jerusalem orthodox church church maia sandu https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e9/04/12/1121886665_0:174:2200:1412_1920x0_80_0_0_50dc3656ce0e02c72d1ad7ae0359c604.jpg Archbishop Markell was stopped at Moldovas international airport and barred by border guards from flying to Jerusalem for the Holy Fire a major Orthodox tradition. The Church is calling it a blatant case of state meddling. This is a direct blow to Moldovas Orthodox Church backed by 70% of the population where authorities are currently propping up a rival body: the so-called Metropolis of Bessarabia. The move by Moldova's authorities is the latest sign that the country, led by Romanian citizen Maia Sandu, is being steered down the Ukrainian path. Language Crackdown: Authorities are already laying the groundwork for scrapping Russian-language education in schools, per a PAS MP. Political Crackdown:Gagauzia leader Evgenia Gutsul was recently arrested, opposition figures are being targeted. Media Purge:12 TV channels, plus numerous digital outlets shut down in 20222023 alone. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250417/moldovas-political-witch-hunt-persecution-of-gagauzias-gutsul-1121883670.html moldova gagauzia jerusalem 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 moldova's archbishop markel barred from flying to jerusalem for the holy fire https://sputnikglobe.com/20250418/russian-forces-liberate-over-valentynovka-in-dpr---mod-1121888521.html Russian Forces Liberate Valentinovka in Donetsk People's Republic Russian Forces Liberate Valentinovka in Donetsk People's Republic Sputnik International Russia's Battlegroup Yug has taken control of the settlement of Valentinovka, in the Donetsk People's Republic, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday. 2025-04-18T10:45+0000 2025-04-18T10:45+0000 2025-04-18T14:31+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine russian defense ministry russia dpr ukraine high mobility artillery rocket system (himars) russian armed forces https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/0c/11/1121199175_0:187:2978:1862_1920x0_80_0_0_2b20403aad98796d4e2c9a295d64658f.jpg "The settlements of Kalinovo and Valentinovka in the Donetsk People's Republic were liberated by active actions of the units of Battlegroup Yug," the ministry said in a statement.The Ukrainian military has lost over 1,020 soldiers and a tank in battles with Russia's Battlegroup Vostok over the past week, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday.Russia's Battlegroup Yug has eliminated more than 2,170 Ukrainian military personnel, while Battlegroup Tsentr has eliminated over 2,680 Ukrainian soldiers and two tanks and taken control over the villages of Yelizovetovka and Preobrazhenka in the Donetsk People's Republic, the ministry added.In battles with Russia's Battlegroup Sever, Kiev lost over 1,900 soldiers, while 64 of them surrendered, the ministry also said, adding that Battlegroup Zapad eliminated over 1,730 Ukrainian soldiers."The units of Battlegroup Dnepr of forces took more favorable lines and positions. They eliminated the manpower and equipment of three mechanized mountain assault brigades, three Ukrainian coastal defense brigades, and three territorial defense brigades. The Ukrainian armed forces lost over 540 servicemen, four armored combat vehicles, and 56 vehicles. A US-made HIMARS multiple rocket launcher, 12 field artillery guns, nine electronic warfare and counter-battery stations, and 16 ammunition depots were also destroyed," the statement read. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250408/russian-forces-liberate-guevo-settlement-in-kursk-region---mod-1121837696.html russia dpr 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 russian forces, russia's battlegroup yug, donetsk people's republic, russian defense ministry A pair of $34,722 top class races were featured at Plainridge Park on Thursday, April 17 and strong efforts were turned in by their respective winners. First in the Open Trot, Herodotus got a perfect trip and struck late to win at the wire. By The Book (Jay Randall) took the early lead and strung out Herodotus (Brett Beckwith) and Keg Stand (Mitchell Cushing) to the quarter, who both eventually cleared in front of the stands. There, Keg Stand took the lead while Herodotus pocketed-up for the journey. After reaching the half in :56.2, Remember Titans (Aaron Byron) pulled first-over to challenge Keg Stand to three-quarters and all around the last turn. But as they approached the top of the stretch, Remember Titans bid failed and cleared the way for Herodotus to leave the pegs and go on the attack in the lane. As they made their way home, Herodotus got in gear and pulled away from Keg Stand and held off Sea Can (Nick Graffam) by three-quarters of a length to win in 1:55. Herodotus ($3.60) is owned by Pollock Racing and trained by Jeff Culipher. Then later in the Open Pace for fillies and mares, Plainridge Parks 2024 Horse of the Year, Swedish Starlet N, picked up right where she left off after winning the weekly distaff feature. Swedish Starlet N (pictured above with Matty Athearn) pocketed-up behind Seaside Tina (Kevin Switzer Jr.) heading into the first turn while Taking The Miki A (Brett Beckwith) was rolling up the rim in the breeze on her way to taking the lead after a sizzling :26.1 first quarter. Taking The Miki A finally crossed-over at three-eighths and then led the field to the half in a swift :54.1. Positions remained unchanged until halfway up the backside, where Athearn tipped Swedish Starlet N who quickly drew alongside Taking The Miki A as the race proceeded into the final turn. The mares matched strides around that bend and all the way down the lane before Swedish Starlet N took the lead from Taking The Miki A while also holding off the late-closing Seaside Tina to win by half a length in 1:53.1. Swedish Starlet N ($10.60) is owned by Tim Bojarski and Tony Gruppo and trained by Jimmy Nickerson. Five horsemen scored two wins apiece on Thursday, including drivers Matty Athearn, Brett Beckwith, Nick Graffam and Jay Randall and trainer Rob Harmon. Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Monday, April 21 at 4 p.m. and there will be a $2,381 carryover in the 20-cent Wicked Hi-5 Pentafecta in the sixth race. Free full past performance programs and race replays for all live racing days at Plainridge Park can be found at plainridgeparkcasino.com. (Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts) Running Aces is currently in final preparations for the 2025 live harness racing season, which will kick off on Sunday, May 18 and will offer three nights of action per week through Sept. 20, for a total of 55 race dates. Stall allocations were announced on April 8 and barn assignments are now also posted on the track's website. The backside and track will open on Saturday, May 3 and the first qualifying races will be held on Thursday, May 8 with a second session of pre-season qualifying races being offered on Tuesday, May 13. There are a couple of early season late-closing series that take place during the month of May, including the Banker Volo Trotting Series and the Burning Blaze Pacing Series. Both events memorialize past champion horses that graced the Minnesota oval and left a lasting imprint on the history of the track. Both events are for non-winners of $15,000 USD lifetime through April 15, 2025, with allowances for Minnesota-sired horses and for fillies or mares. Nominations for The Banker Volo series are due on or before Monday, May 12 and the series will be contested on Sundays from May 25 through June 8. Nominations for The Burning Blaze series are due on or before Thursday, May 15 and the series will be contested on Thursdays from May 29 through June 12. The Ron Banks Memorial FFA Mares Pace will highlight the action in June and remembers one of the top advocates and supporters of harness racing in Minnesota. The Ron Banks Memorial will consist of eliminations on Sunday, June 22 and the final on Sunday, June 29. Nominations will be due on or before Tuesday, May 27. Julys top event at Running Aces is the Dan Patch FFA Pace which honours the memory of the great Dan Patch who set a world pacing record in Minnesota in 1906 and also resided in the state for many years. The Dan Patch event will offer eliminations on Sunday, July 20 and the final on Sunday, July 27. Nominations will be due on or before Tuesday, June 24. The Steve Wiseman Memorial FFA Trot will be the marquee event during August and remembers one of the most successful and popular horsemen ever to compete at Running Aces. The action for the Wiseman Trot will consist of eliminations on Sunday, Aug. 10 and the final on Sunday, Aug. 17. Nominations will be due on or before Tuesday, July 15. The nomination forms, which include all of the full conditions and rules for the 2025 series events can be found on the track's website under the Horsemen Resources tab. As per tradition, the Aces racing season will build up to the Minnesota Night of Champions on closing night on Saturday, Sept. 20 when the top Minnesota-sired trotters and pacers will compete for $780,000 USD in purses. Most of the top trainers and drivers from recent years are expected to be back in Minnesota for the 2025 season. Last years leading trainer and leading driver, Brady Jenson is expected to make a strong defense of those titles this summer. Other expected familiar faces include Williams Hernandez, Maria Alvarez, Nick Roland, Luke Plano, MHRI Hall of Fame member Lemoyne Mooney Svendsen, Dean and Rick Magee, each of whom have past Aces titles of their own. Rick Magee will also have 10 horses on the grounds while Dean will have a few horses of his own stabled off-site. A couple of new faces that are expected at Running Aces in 2025 include trainer/drivers Brett Erickson and Fern Paquet, Jr., who will each be racing several horses of their own as well as adding to the driving colony. Jeff Hunt and James Kennedy are also expected back for their second seasons at Aces and will also have a few horses of their own to campaign. Aaron Lehman, who made his first pari-mutuel starts here last season, has had a fantastic winter and spring season in California and is expected to be driving frequently at Running Aces this summer. There are a total of 27 trainers who will be stabled on the grounds, with the larger on-track stables also including familiar names like Bob Johnson, Bob and Nick Lems, Kathie Plested, Gerald Longo, Edwin Quevedo, Liberio Pacheco, Brett Ballinger, Rick Bertrand, Darryl Cutting, Brian Detgen, Alexia Kehl and Sean Smithpeters, Jose Castillo, Rick Huffman, Rick Lancaster and Rene Goulet to name a majority of the larger on-track stables. There are about another 30 trainers that will be shipping in to race from farms and fairgrounds including stables based in Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois as well as the local Minnesota mainstays. The larger ship-in stables include trainers Justin Anfinson, Dan Roland, Quentin Schneider, Elson Miller, Ariel Alvarez, Nathalie Tremblay, Adam Hauser, Elvin Zimmerman, Jenni King and Justin Gould to name a few. On the equine side, there are many notable horses that are expected to compete at Running Aces in 2025, including reigning 2024 Minnesota Horse of the Year DP Freedoms Chrome, who will try to extend his track record 15-race winning streak. A son of For You Almostfree, DP Freedoms Chrome is also undefeated at Aces in his career and he also set a state seasonal earnings record last year during his sophomore campaign. Bringoverthemoney, who won his fifth straight Night of Champions crown last September and was inducted into the MHRI Hall of Fame in February, is expected to be back on the track for his 10-year-old campaign. The son of Money Talks is also the richest Minnesota-sired trotter to date with $470,147 in the bank. Some of the highly-anticipated returning Minnesota-sired youngsters will include SHS Southern Pride, Swinging On By, The Minnesota Kid, Peanutbutterfalcon, International Ice, Skoochs Valentine and Wisco Half Pint to name a few that will be chasing sophomore glory in 2025. This years wagering format at Running Aces will be the same as last season, featuring 50-cent trifectas and 10-cent superfectas each race as well as a 50-cent late daily double. Multi-race wagers will include at least two 50-cent Pick-3 wagers as well as two 50-cent Pick-4 offerings each night with the late Pick-4 carrying a $3,000 guaranteed pool. The Jackpot Pick-5 is offered nightly with a 20-cent base wager and a 50 percent nightly payout unless there is a unique single ticket jackpot winner. Also featured are two pentafecta (High-five) wagers each night with a 50-cent base. As always, Running Aces will have nightly promotions and specials and a full schedule of featured race nights with frequent giveaways and family friendly events to compliment the racing. Check out the Running Aces website for more information, the complete 2025 racing calendar and event schedules. (with files from Running Aces) Earlier this month, Scottsbluff City Manager Kevin Spencer announced a new leader at the Lied Scottsbluff Public Library. Elaine Bleisch, who started her role as as an interim position in January, was named as the librarys new director. Bleisch is a native to the Scottsbluff area, having attended St. Agnes from kindergarten through ninth grade before she and her husband and kids found themselves in Alliance. I grew up in this library, she said. We didnt have the the childrens section (here) and it was smaller, but I loved this library. Bleisch received her bachelors degree in English from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and her masters degree in English from Colorado State University. While in Alliance, she was the childrens librarian, but moved back to Scottsbluff in 2020 when they found a good deal on a house. We wanted to get our youngest daughter in into a better school system, she said. So we just decided that was time. Bleisch was hired by the Scottsbluff Public Library as a library assistant, working in the youth services and helping with teen programming. From there, I moved to the youth services librarian about 1.5 years ago when Deb Carlson retired, she said. So I kind of worked my way up. Bleisch has also worked with children outside of her library work, both as jobs and volunteer work. I run the Main Street Players Community Theater, which we started an Alliance, and then I also direct for Goshen County Theater, she said. Bleisch said her strong theater background comes in handy working in youth services with the library and having to talk to people, especially the past few weeks in taking over as director. My job now is to talk to people, she said. Thats really what I do: You wear a lot of hats, and you do a little bit of everything. As library director, she will oversee the budget, staff and the building in its entirety. So that involves, like if the light goes out, or the HVAC system goes out, Id get a hold of the people that will come and fix them, Bleisch said. I also oversee the collection as a whole, so that involves everything from purchasing new books to making sure that theyre where they should be. She added that the library utilizes a process called weeding, where staff takes older books or books that dont circulate well out of the collection to make room for new ones. Because were constantly ordering new books, there is is a collection development policy, so I make sure that were following that in terms of what were bringing into the library and taking back out. She also attends the library board meetings, where policies are set for the library. She helps with that process and helps make sure that those policies are being followed. Its sort of like overseeing the day-to-day operations, as well, Bleisch said. When it comes to collection development, theres one main vendor the library uses for purchases. As far as what books get purchased, Bleisch and staff rely on best seller lists from their vender, patron requests and staff requests, as well. Every community is a little bit different, she said. We try to do a lot of reading ourselves. She added that the staff tries to offer a wide variety of books; every kind of genre. There are two staff members who specialize in the youth area of the library. Most of the desk staff is better versed in adult books, Bleisch said. We try to keep up, and we have some great resources in the internet where we can. If someone comes in and theyre like, This is my favorite book, we can look it up, because not everybody can know every book. The weeding process also involves looking at the physical condition of the book. Anything that comes back thats in bad shape, well pull it and then decide if were going to reorder it or not, Bleisch said. Because, of course, those are the books that are well-read, theyre popular, and thats why theyre in bad shape. They will also look up a books number of checkouts over its lifetime, and when the last time it was checked out. Well pull those books based on last checkout date and lifetime uses, Bleisch said. Then well evaluate them on a book-by-book basis, because there are certain books that everyone is going to expect you to have in your collection. She mentioned books like War and Peace that, even if its checked out once every five years, people are going to expect a library to have it in their collection. Most of the staff have taken weeding classes, for free, through the Nebraska Library Commission. We dont have the people with library degrees, Bleicsh said. We cant afford them. So for us to be able to get that education for free from the Library Commission is huge. Bleisch has been working on the librarys social media presence since she came back to Scottsbluff. That became one of my duties is to post on social media, she said, but mostly, its about events. Bleisch added that they always say theyre not an academic library. We do sometimes get people coming in here to do research, she said. We have WNCC in town, and they have a good library, but here, were mostly like a recreational library or community library. In the last year and a half under previous director, Bleisch said he really pushed the programming. I hope to continue with most of it, she said, We have to make sure that were not stressing out our staff or overextending staff members. She added that libraries are really evolving into more community centers, in that they provide a place for people to just kind of hang out, because ... you dont have to buy anything here. We dont expect you to join or become a member, she said. If you want a library card, it doesnt cost. You can come in and use the computers. You can just hang out, you can read, you can study. She said the social aspect of it is really important. We give people a chance to get out of their houses and come and socialize and again, you dont have to spend money, she said. Its not a big crowd. You can kind of find your niche. In announcing Bleischs leadership, Spencer cited her several years of experience in library management and a passion for community engagement, Elaine brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the position of library director. ... Elaines commitment to fostering a love for reading and learning aligns perfectly with our mission to serve and engage our community. Elaines vision for the library encompasses key initiatives, and I am confident that her leadership will continue to inspire our staff while enhancing our services to meet the needs of our patrons. Sarah McCarthys Sequim farm products are sold directly to consumers, either at drop-off points, an onsite store, or natural food stores throughout Western Washington, including Longviews Country Village Nutrition. The Washington Way store has a sign-up list instructing customers to leave their name and phone number to order the farms raw milk. There is also a printout from the Washington Department of Agriculture warning potential buyers of the products danger. Despite such notices, McCarthy and other raw milk producers boast the benefits of unpasteurized milk, and serve a dedicated fan base with politically diverse viewpoints from the health-conscious to the anti-government. I think its a really cool thing about our product that brings two groups that are often opposing together, said McCarthy. Still, health officials and medical professionals including in Longview deem raw milk as dangerous to the public. While some states ban the sale of unpasteurized milk, in Washington state, cartons remain on local shelves. McCarthys farm has been selling raw milk or as the creamerys website says, milk how it used to be on grandpas farm since 2006 and averages 400 gallons per day, she said. She said she mostly drinks raw milk and only goes for store-bought milk when she is away from home for some time. Shes not the only one. GetRawMilk.com connects producers with customers, the site stated the project started in 2018 in Washington state. The site shows locations to buy raw milk in Clatskanie, Ridgefield, Centralia, Deer Island, Oregon and more. The website also offers merchandise like T-shirts that say, The revolution will not be pasteurized and Be more tolerant. War on public health? Pasteurized milk is the type of milk typically sold in grocery stores. Pasteurization occurs when milk is heated for a specific amount of time to kill off harmful disease-causing pathogens. But proponents stress the health benefits of milk without this process. Dungeness Valley Creamerys website says unpasteurized milk provides natural treatment for illnesses such as high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes. McCarthy told The Daily News that people who are lactose intolerant can drink the farms raw milk. Theres been 90-year-old ladies who havent been able to drink milk (their) whole lives and can drink this, she said. Despite McCarthys experience, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration states raw milk typically doesnt contain the type of microorganisms at the same levels found in fermented dairy products, like yogurt, which have shown benefits toward lactose intolerance. Many health influencers on social media also make statements that raw milk holds more natural benefits than pasteurized. One notable supporter is U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Kennedy posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Oct. 25, that the Food and Drug Administration has engaged in a war on public health and accused it of engaging in an aggressive suppression of raw milk due to the departments stance on the products danger. Medical experts vastly disagree with raw milk advocates. One of them is Annette Ville, a pediatrician at the Child & Adolescent Clinic in Longview. Raw milk is not safe to drink because it can carry harmful germs, Ville. Ville said raw milk is 840 times more likely to lead to an infection or illness than pasteurized milk and that symptoms can be mild or more severe, the latter of which includes irreversible kidney and brain damage. She said she has seen the negative effects of raw milk firsthand. In my career as a pediatrician, Ive seen kids (who) required kidney transplants or severe neurological or developmental delays due to harmful bacteria from raw milk, she said. Roberto Bonaccorso, a spokesperson from the Washington Department of Health, told The Daily News that the department does not support drinking raw milk or eating raw milk products. According to the department, from 2005 to 2024 there was at least 11 outbreaks associated with raw milk consumption: seven were caused by shiga toxin-producing E. coli, three from campylobacter and one case involving salmonella. In July, two Washington residents in different counties were infected with the same strain of campylobacter jejuni. McCarthy told The Daily News that even Dungeness Valley Creamery had a campylobacter outbreak, tracing the illness back to a single cow. According to 2021 press release, the Washington Department of Health confirmed five cases of campylobacteriosis in people who consumed raw milk from Dungeness Valley Creamery. The bird flu virus can also survive in raw milk that is kept refrigerated for at least five weeks, according to the National Institutes of Health. State regulations Despite the state health departments warning, Washington state still permits the sale of raw milk, but only through licensed producers and processors. The Washington State Department of Agriculture regulates the dairies that produce raw milk and oversees the testing programs. Animals must test negative for diseases that can be transmitted to humans through raw milk. Testing records must be maintained for each animal, and tests can only be conducted by accredited veterinarians. Bovine tuberculosis is one of the illnesses tested, as it can be transmitted to humans through the consumption of raw milk. According to McCarthy, a state inspector visits her farm to take a sample of her supply for testing. Kat Kersten, communications director for the Washington State Department of Agriculture, told The Daily News that the agency reviews products by sampling, inspecting and recalling them. Licensed raw milk plants have finished products sampled monthly while they are in production, she said. Besides quality factors like somatic cell count and antibiotics, they are also screened for pathogens such as campylobacter, listeria monocytogenes, salmonella, different types of E. coli. WOODLAND The Port of Woodlands three commissioners voted unanimously to reject a controversial pro-development tax plan known as Tax Increment Financing, or TIF. That plan similar to ones implemented in Vancouver and Ridgefield would have taken revenue from junior taxing districts like firefighting and EMS to instead give to the port for 25 years of job-creating development. Commissioner Robert Wile said Thursday the port considered the plan after the Port of Vancouvers use. They used a TIF to utilize and build their Vancouver waterfront down there, did a really nice job this and that, and, as commissioners, were crazy not to look at different ways possible to fund different projects. But before the vote, said he would no longer consider the plan due to the districts lack of outreach about the proposal. I am going to be 100% against this TIF because we did not communicate, educate, negotiate, he said. We instilled fear by waiting until the last minute to communicate with our taxing districts, and so therefore I have zero trust, and I will definitely be a no on voting for this resolution. The packed room went silent for five seconds as attendees who spoke out against the proposal for a about half hour paused potentially surprised at their win nodding their heads in agreement. Clark-Cowlitz Fire and Rescue Fire Chief John Nohr, whose district covers the city of Woodland, agreed with the decision. The commissioners of the Port of Woodland were listening to the community and their constituents and the concerns they have with taxing and financing and the impact it will have on the other taxing districts, he said after the meeting. Whats a TIF? Nick Popenuk, founder public project consulting company Tiberius Solutions, explained the proposal in a presentation informed by a late-2024 analysis of the project the port published. Since TIFs were approved in Washington in 2021, the state has gained about two dozen of them, he said. TIFs redirect some of a designated geographic areas gradually increasing tax revenue to ports to spend on development. That revenue ideally allows the area to make otherwise unattainable infrastructure investments that attract job-creating development, which then increases the areas long-term revenue streams. While theyre not a new tax, TIFs stand to indirectly increase local taxes to make up for gaps created by the money getting redirected from other junior taxing districts. The ports TIF would have been attached to an area west of the BNSF mainline that extends north from the Lewis River to near the top of Woodland city limits. It would have been mostly to the west of the city. Over 25 years, Popenuk said the Tax Increment Funding Area would generate about $37 million for work like infrastructure updates for transportation, freight, fiber optic internet and more. The port envisioned development would cost $377 million, however, Popenuk emphasized one-tenth of that sum generated by the TIF would be one source of local funding that could be used to leverage other sources, whether thats private funds from the developers themselves, or state or federal grants. If the TIF had been approved before June, it would have started in 2026, with revenue generated gradually increasing. The proposed investments would have entirely remade the western half of Woodland, at the least. A cold reception Over the next half hour, more than a dozen local fire department officials and taxpayers ripped into the proposal, and the port. Youre taking the money away from those specific taxing districts that voters approved, and youre taking it without voter approval, said Cowlitz County Commissioner Steven Ferrell. That is specifically a violation of public trust how you can sit and even talk about doing that without having some real personal struggles with your values, I dont know. Another commenter pointed out huge investments could leave the city on the hook for development debts that might never materialize given that the U.S. may soon face a recession, and the local impacts of Trump administration economic policy. Others attacked the proposal for the tax increases it could have led to, as public safety districts like fire would have potentially served more people, attracted by the ports new job development, but with less money. The money for this has to come from somewhere, said Nohr in the meeting. Its a shift in the tax burden to the taxpayers, because the money that should be coming to us (would be) going to the TIF. Nohr, who emphasized he is pro-development overall, singled out Washingtons TIF laws in particular. Please reach out to your legislators, he said. (The law) needs guardrails. Get the law changed so that were all working together on the same page. Come back with it then, and lets look at a plan then. Wile emphasized his desire to bring jobs to Woodland so people can raise a family without leaving the city. But, citing lack of outreach work early on, said he couldnt support the plan. After the meeting, Wile said he doesnt foresee the port attempting to implement TIF again in the 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: One of several NASA distributed sensing ground nodes is set up in the foreground while an experimental air taxi aircraft owned by Joby Aviation sits in the background near NASAs Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, on March 12, 2025. NASA is collecting information during this study to help advance future air taxi flights, especially those occurring in cities, to track aircraft moving through traffic corridors and around landing zones. Credit: NASA/Genaro Vavuris NASA engineers began using a network of ground sensors in March to collect data from an experimental air taxi to evaluate how to safely integrate such vehicles into airspace above citiesin all kinds of weather. Researchers will use the campaign to help improve tools to assist with collision avoidance and landing operations and ensure safe and efficient air taxi operations in various weather conditions. For years, NASA has looked at how wind shaped by terrain, including buildings in urban areas, can affect new types of aircraft. The latest test, which is gathering data from a Joby Aviation demonstrator aircraft, looks at another kind of windthat which is generated by the aircraft themselves. Joby flew its air taxi demonstrator over NASA's ground sensor array near the agency's Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California producing air flow data. The Joby aircraft has six rotors that allow for vertical takeoffs and landings, and tilt to provide lift in flight. Researchers focused on the air pushed by the propellers, which rolls into turbulent, circular patterns of wind. This rolling wind can affect the aircraft's performance, especially when it's close to the ground, as well as others flying in the vicinity and people on the ground. Such wind turbulence is difficult to measure, so NASA enhanced its sensors with a new type of lidara system that uses lasers to measure precise distancesand that can map out the shapes of wind features. "The design of this new type of aircraft, paired with the NASA lidar technology during this study, warrants a better understanding of possible wind and turbulence effects that can influence safe and efficient flights," said Grady Koch, lead for this research effort, from NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. One of multiple NASA distributed sensing ground nodes is set up in the foreground while an experimental air taxi aircraft owned by Joby Aviation hovers in the background near NASAs Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, on March 12, 2025. NASA is collecting information during this study to help advance future air taxi flights, especially those occurring in cities, to track aircraft moving through traffic corridors and around landing zones. Credit: NASA/Genaro Vavuris Data to improve aircraft tracking NASA also set up a second array of ground nodes including radar, cameras, and microphones in the same location as the sensors to provide additional data on the aircraft. These nodes will collect tracking data during routine flights for several months. The agency will use the data gathered from these ground nodes to demonstrate the tracking capabilities and functions of its "distributed sensing" technology, which involves embedding multiple sensors in an area where aircraft are operating. This technology will be important for future air taxi flights, especially those occurring in cities by tracking aircraft moving through traffic corridors and around landing zones. Distributed sensing has the potential to enhance collision avoidance systems, air traffic management, ground-based landing sensors, and more. "Our early work on a distributed network of sensors, and through this study, gives us the opportunity to test new technologies that can someday assist in airspace monitoring and collision avoidance above cities," said George Gorospe, lead for this effort from NASA's Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley. Using this data from an experimental air taxi aircraft, NASA will further develop the technology needed to help create safer air taxi flights in high-traffic areas. Both of these efforts will benefit the companies working to bring air taxis and drones safely into the airspace. 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 2024 photo provided by MP Materials shows an aerial view of the company's mine in Mountain Pass, Calif. Credit: MP Materials via AP America's only rare earths mine heard from anxious companies soon after China responded to President Donald Trump's tariffs this month by limiting exports of those minerals used for military applications and in many high-tech devices. "Based on the number of phone calls we're receiving, the effects have been immediate," said Matt Sloustcher, a spokesperson for MP Materials, the company that runs the Mountain Pass mine in California's Mojave Desert. The trade war between the world's two biggest economies could lead to a critical shortage of rare earth elements if China maintains its export controls long-term or expands them to seek an advantage in any trade negotiations. The California mine can't meet all of the U.S. demand for rare earths, which is why Trump is trying to clear the way for new mines. Rare earth elements are important ingredients in electric vehicles, powerful magnets, advanced fighter jets, submarines, smartphones, television screens and many other products. Despite their name, the 17 elements aren't actually rare, but it's hard to find them in a high enough concentration to make a mine worth the investment. Tariffs will impact ore supply and costs MP Materials, which acquired the idle Mountain Pass site in 2017, said Thursday it would stop sending its ore to China for processing because of the export restrictions and 125% tariffs on U.S. imports China imposed. The company said it would continue processing nearly half of what it mines on site and store the rest while it works to expand its processing capability. "Selling our valuable critical minerals under 125% tariffs is neither commercially rational nor aligned with America's national interests," MP Materials said in a statement. Experts say the manufacturers that rely on rare earth elements and other critical minerals will see price increases, but there is likely enough of a global supply available to keep factories operating for now. The California mine yields neodymium and praseodymium, the light rare earths that are the main components of the permanent rare earth magnets in EVs and wind turbines. But small amounts of some of the heavy rare earths that China has restricted, such as terbium and dysprosium are key to helping the magnets withstand high temperatures. Already, the price of terbium has jumped 24% since the end of March to reach $933 per kilogram. "Our estimate suggests that there is enough stockpile in the market to sustain demand for now," Benchmark Mineral Intelligence rare earths analyst Neha Mukherjee said, adding that shortages may emerge later this year. NioCorp Chief Operating Officer Scott Honan tells a group of investors about the plans for a proposed mine in southeast Nebraska, on Oct. 6, 2021 in Elk Creek, Neb. Credit: AP Photo/Josh Funk, File China holds power over the market China has tremendous power over the rare earths market. The country has the biggest mines, producing 270,000 metric tons (297,624 tons) of minerals last year compared to the 45,000 tons (40,823 metric tons) mined in the U.S. China supplies nearly 90% of the world's rare earths because it also is home to most of the processing capacity. The restrictions Beijing put in place on April 4 require Chinese exporters of seven heavy rare earths and some magnets to obtain special licenses. The retaliatory controls reinforced what the Trump administration and manufacturers see as a dire need to build additional U.S. mines and reduce the nation's dependence on China. Trump has tried, so far unsuccessfully, to strong-arm Greenland and Ukraine into providing more of their rare earths and other critical materials to the United States. Last month, he signed an executive order calling for the federal government to streamline permit approvals for new mines and encourage investments in the projects. Two companies are trying to develop mines in Nebraska and Montana. Officials at NioCorp and U.S. Critical Materials said they hoped the push from the White House would help them raise money and obtain the necessary approvals to start digging. NioCorp has worked for years to raise $1.1 billion to build a mine in southeast Nebraska. "As I sit and I think about how can we deal with this enormous leverage that China has over these minerals that nobody even knows how to pronounce for the most part, we have to deal with this leverage situation," NioCorp CEO Mark Smith said. "And the best way, I think, is that we need to make our own heavy rare earths here in the United States. And we can do that." MP Materials is working to quickly expand its processing capability, partly with the help of some $45 million the company received coming out of the first Trump administration. But after investing nearly $1 billion since 2020, the company doesn't currently have the ability to process the heavy rare earths that China is restricting. MP Materials said it was working expeditiously to change that, and it is building a factory in Texas to produce rare earth magnets for electric vehicles and other products domestically and chip away at China's dominance in that market.. Big U.S. automakers declined to comment about how dependent they are on rare earths and the impact of China's export curbs. Major defense contractors like Boeing and Lockheed Martin, which were specifically targeted in China's restrictions along with more than a dozen other defense and aerospace companies, also remained circumspect. Military technology is a smaller but important user of rare earths. Trump issued an executive order on Tuesday calling for an investigation into the national security implications of being so reliant on China for the elements. A spokesperson for Lockheed, which makes the F-22 fighter jet, said the company continuously assesses "the global rare earth supply chain to ensure access to critical materials that support our customers' missions." NioCorp Corporate Controller Jeff Mason shows investors core samples the mining company has collected while NioCorp CEO Mark Smith listens, Oct. 6, 2021 in Elk Creek, Neb. Credit: AP Photo/Josh Funk, File Manufacturers prepare for price increases Some battery makers could start to run short of key elements within weeks, according to Steve Christensen, executive director of the Responsible Battery Coalition, an association representing battery and automakers and battery sellers. Already, manufacturers have seen the price of antimony, an element used to extend the life of traditional lead-acid batteries, more than double since China restricted exports of it last year. The element isn't one of the 17 rare earths but is among the critical minerals that Trump wants to see produced domestically. Initially, automakers will likely try to absorb any increase in the cost of their batteries without raising vehicle prices, but that may not be sustainable if China's restrictions remain in place, Christensen said. A 25% tariff Trump put on all imported automobiles and auto parts cars already was expected to increase costs, although the president hinted this week that he might give the industry a temporary reprieve. The U.S. fulfilled its rare earths needs with domestic sources until the late 1990s. Production largely ended after low-cost Chinese ores flooded global markets. Robots, drones and other new technologies have rapidly increased demand for the raw materials. NioCorp recently signed a contract to do more exploratory drilling on its site this summer to help prove to the Export-Import Bank that enough rare earth minerals rest underground near Elk Creek, Nebraska, to justify an $800 million loan to help finance the project. But a new rare earths mine is years away from operating in the U.S. NioCorp estimates if all goes well with its fundraising, the site where it hopes to mine and process niobium, scandium, titanium and an assortment of rare earths possibly might be running by the end of Trump's presidency. U.S. Critical Materials plans to dig up several tons of ore in Montana this summer so it can test out processing methods it has been developing. The Sheep Creek project isn't as far along as the Nebraska project, but U.S. Critical Materials Director Harvey Kaye said the site has promising ore deposits with high concentrations of rare earths. 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. The sounds of the shakuhachi carried through Rudder Theater on Thursday night, and for those in attendance it wasnt hard to imagine they were sitting in a theater in Tokyo or Yokohama and not one in College Station. The opening concert of the World Shakuhachi Festival Texas 2025 was the first in seven years for the festival that was canceled in 2022 due to COVID-19 restrictions in China. Its return was due in great part to Martin Regan, a professor of performance and visual studies at Texas A&M University, who led the planning committee. Regan, an accomplished composer of music for traditional Japanese instruments, speaks Japanese as fluently as he does English, as evidenced when he helped answer the questions of two performers Thursday afternoon. Through this event, A&M joins the rank of major cultural centers, Regan told The Eagle. Think of the places where this has been held in the past Tokyo, New York, Kyoto, Sydney, London and now College Station. Texas A&M joins the rank of those cities. This is a festival that celebrates not only this tradition that has lasted one thousand three hundred years but we are trying to introduce people to music that transcends space and time to show the flexibility of the shakuhachi and what role it can play in the future. A shakuhachi is a flute made of bamboo and its name is a reference to its size. Traditionally, a shakuhachi is 54.54 centimeters. A shaku is an archaic unit of length equal to 30.3 centimeters and hachi roughly translates to eight sun or tenths of a shaku. The compound word shaku-hachi means one shaku eight sun or 54.54 cm. The shakuhachi first appeared in Japanese music somewhere in the seventh or eighth century while the modern shakuhachi first appeared in the 16th century. Tim McLaughlin, Texas A&M dean of the College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts, related what he thought when Regan first came to him with the idea of hosting the World Shakuhachi Festival at A&M. Dr. Martin Regan entered my office and said Heres what I want to do. I want to bring the World Shakuhachi Festival to Texas A&M. Can we make it happen? I nodded and smiled and said, Sure, come back to me when you have some more ideas. Marty came back again and again and again, McLaughlin said. The tenacity it took for Marty to put this together is just incredible. The festival began Thursday morning with workshops and classes led by visiting performers such as Japanese legend Hozan Nomura. Nomura led a session on the works of Nakao Tozan who studied western music as well as shakuhachi music. Nomura visited with the Eagle through an interpreter after his session and spoke of how his father playing the shakuhachi got him interested in the instrument. Nomura won a gold medal at the first National Tozan-Ryu Honkyoku competition in 1975. My father played shakuhachi as a hobby and that influenced me to start playing it as a child, Nomura said. Im looking forward to the concerts this weekend. [Friday]s concert is going to be very interesting. Im excited to share the shakuhachi with a new group of people. I hope they are able to listen and enjoy and I hope they are able to get a sense of what kind of an instrument the shakuhachi is. Nomura was impressed with the Texas A&M campus as well as College Station and said it wasnt strange to have the festival on a university campus as both the London festival in 2018 and the Boulder, Colorado, festival in 1998 had been on college campuses. Daisuke Kaminaga, who played the shakuhachi in a noted Japanese band called Wagakki Band from 2014-24, was excited to take part in the festival as well. I played the piano in childhood. I found shakuhachi in my university club activity, Kaminaga said. Shakuhachi can play in every form of world music. This is my first time visiting the shakuhachi festival. This is an ideal venue to host the festival. This is a good opportunity to spread the love of the shakuhachi to those who may not have ever heard it before. This weekends festival is the eighth major international shakuhachi festival since the WSF began in Bisei, Okayama Prefecture, Japan in 1994. Regan had been to the previous three in London, Kyoto, Japan, and Sydney and got the idea that A&M could host something like the festival after spending time in Japan in 2022. Ive been involved with the shakuhachi world for about 20 years and every four years this event is held somewhere in the world, Regan said. Ive been teaching Japanese Traditional Performing Arts for about 15 years here at A&M and a previous executive producer of WSF approached me and asked if Id be interested in doing it at Texas A&M. I was in Japan in 2022 on a U.S. Fulbright Scholar award and laid the groundwork for [hosting it here]. The festival brought more than 210 visiting guest and participants from around the world including over 60 musicians. Those who are attending get to take part in the concerts as well as 76 workshops, three open-mic sessions, a research symposium and a performers competition. In addition to the shakuhachi players there were also musicians who play other traditional Japanese instruments like the koto which is a stringed instrument similar to a harp as well as the national instrument of Japan, as well as the shamisen, a three-string lute similar to a banjo but with strings made of silk. The shamisen has a delicate but very dynamic sound and often the shamisen or the koto player will sing and thats from the classical tradition, musician David Kansuke Wheeler said. Just like the shakuhachi has a modern legacy so do the koto and the shamisen and some of the pieces in this program will be from that modern performance for koto and shamisen. Wheeler has years of experience playing the shakuhachi and performed during Thursday nights concert. Wheeler was also the director of the second World Shakuhachi Festival in Boulder. This is a rare opportunity that comes along once every four years anywhere in the world, where the best of the best get together and perform a huge range of music, Wheeler said. The variety of artists is quite something. The shakuhachi is a simple instrument, so the personality of the performer really comes through. Each performers sound is different and their approach to producing the sound is different. Thursdays performance entitled Shakuhachi Around the Globe had a combination of old songs and more modern songs. There was also the international debut of a song titled Butterfly that was composed by Kozan Shiba this year. Shiba performed the song with Kozan Nakajima. Two more concerts will be held in the Black Box Theater at Texas A&Ms Liberal Arts and Humanities Building at 1:30 and 3:15 p.m. Friday. Nicholas Peek, who is studying Japanese at Texas A&M, jumped at the opportunity to help out with the festival. I heard about the event through a spokesperson for the event during a JCA meeting, the Japanese Culture Club and also through my Japanese professor, Peek said. Part of our assignment was we could do something within the realm of Japanese culture and language and get some credits for it. I thought this would be an awesome opportunity to get some practice and help out. Friday nights performance at Rudder Theater is called Japanese Masters and Masterpieces and will include performances by Kaminaga and Nomura as well as the other members of the Japanese Shakuhachi Players Network. Kaminaga will perform the opening song with an ensemble of players. Nomura will close out the first half of Friday nights performance as part of a shakuhachi ensemble playing the song Phrases of Shadow and Light. On Saturday, the festival will move to Round Top for a 6 p.m. concert at Festival Concert Hall and will include all the guest musicians for a show titled Treasures of Shakuhachi Musical Heritage. Sundays finale will feature a performers competition at 10 a.m. in Rudder Forum followed by two concerts in Rudder Forum at 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. The festival will conclude with a closing concert in Rudder Theater titled Transcending Time and Space, the Future of the Shakuhachi. (TBTCO) - Mot trong linh vuc ang uoc nha au tu quan tam la cong cuoc sap xep lai on vi hanh chinh khong chi la cai cach hanh chinh on thuan, ma con huong en muc tieu tao ra nhung on vi hanh chinh co quy mo u lon, u tam phat trien va ket noi. oi voi TP. Ho Chi Minh, ay chinh la co so e thanh pho tro thanh manh at mau mo cho von au tu truc tiep nuoc ngoai (FDI). 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). The Wyoming Supreme Court on Wednesday heard arguments to determine whether abortions are healthcare. The outcome of the case could define the future of abortion access in Wyoming. The state is seeking to reverse the ruling of a Teton County judge that ruled that abortion is healthcare and that laws passed by the legislature in 2023 could not go into effect. The 2023 legislation, if it goes into effect, would pass a near-total ban on abortions. Wyoming Deputy Attorney General Jay Jerde represented the state and argued the 2023 legislation does not violate subsections A and C of Article 1, Section 38 which details the right of healthcare access in the Equality State. Subsection A details that each competent adult shall have the right to make his or her own health care decisions and subsection C says that the legislature may determine reasonable and necessary restrictions to protect the health and general welfare of the people. Jerde argued that Subsection C does not even apply to abortion as abortion is not healthcare. If a pregnant woman decides to get an abortion for reasons unrelated to her health, then by definition, that cant be healthcare, Jerde argued. He added that even if the court finds that abortion is healthcare, subsection A would prohibit abortions to take place as it mandates that people have their own right to make healthcare decisions. Jerde said that if a woman is receiving an abortion for health reasons, she is also affecting the health and healthcare of the unborn baby. In effect, shes making a healthcare decision for two people, Jerde said. Attorney Peter Modlin, who represented the group, argued that the laws are not necessary and that it violates section 38, subsections C and D. Subsection D says that the state will preserve health care rights from undue governmental infringement. We looked, and the state looked as well for another example of a law that prohibited a specific medical procedure. We couldnt find one, and neither could the state, Modlin said. Casper-based attorney Marci Bramlet argued that the 2023 legislation forces women to surrender their rights anytime they are pregnant. The Wyoming constitution is not a grant of rights. It is a recognition of pre-existing natural rights, she said. She added that the laws would violate the equal protections of people. Wyoming Supreme Court judges took the case under advisement following arguments from both sides and rebuttal. How we got here The Wednesday arguments follow a years-long court battle stemming from 2023 legislation that would have enacted a near-total ban on abortions and a ban on abortion medication. The Legislature in 2023 passed two bills: one banned nearly all abortions with exceptions of rape, incest or for the health of the mother, and the other bill outlawed chemical abortions. The two laws were challenged in March 2023 through litigation filed in Teton County by a suit filed by health care providers, women within childbearing age and an abortion aid fund. Wellspring was able to continue to operate as Teton County District Court Judge Melissa Owens put a hold on the bans while the suit was resolved. Owens ruled in favor of the plaintiffs but the Wyoming Attorney Generals Office appealed the decision to the Wyoming Supreme Court shortly after the ruling. The judge in her ruling said that banning abortion and abortion medication impedes on the right to make health care decisions. The legislature has continued to pass abortion laws in the Equality State, including the 2025 legislative session. New abortion case A new suit is seeking to stop two bills passed during the 202 legislative session to go into effect. The plaintiffs composed of health care providers, a woman within childbearing age and an abortion aid fund requested an order to halt the implementation of the laws while the new suit is resolved. One of the bills requires surgical abortion facilities to be licensed as an ambulatory surgical center and be within 10 miles from a hospital where physicians have admitting privileges. The other bill requires women planning to receive a chemical abortion to get an ultrasound at least 48 hours prior to an abortion. The bill does make make an exception for victims of rape or incest. Retired Laramie County District Court Judge Thomas Campbell is presiding over the case and a decision on the temporary restraining order over the two laws is still being weighed. To be granted the order, The plaintiffs must prove that they have a fair chance to win their case and that they will suffer irreparable harm if the new legislation is passed through. Wellspring Health Access Wyomings sole abortion clinic is not currently providing abortions but the facility is still fully staffed. 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. My wife and I are in our sunset years and have been trying to deal with the many issues of our health, so our doctors have been giving us prescriptions for medication which is needed to try to control our health issues. We would normally go to distributors of the various medications that are prescribed, and purchase two months supply at any one time. Alas, we no longer can do this because of the recent ruling by the respective Government agencies, and now have to purchase these medications from registered pharmacies. A man gashed in the neck with a hatchet at a Tucson bus stop has died two weeks after the attack, officials say. About 10 a.m. April 5, Jake Couch, 32, and his wife, Kristen, were at a bus stop downtown on East Broadway near South Sixth Avenue when they were confronted by a man. Police said the attacker yelled at the couple about using drugs, which Kristen Couch has denied. The man then pulled a hatchet from inside his jacket and struck Couch in the neck, records show. After the attack, the man calmly walked away and boarded a streetcar, police said Friday in a news release. Bystanders and officers performed life-saving efforts before Couch was rushed to Banner University Medical Center, where he died Thursday night. Two weeks after being hacked at a downtown bus stop, Tucson visitor Jacob Couch has passed away, according to the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner. Couchs family posted on social media that Couch died shortly after a community vigil was held outside the hospital. Daniel Michael, 25, was arrested days after the attack, and he was booked into the Pima County jail on suspicion of aggravated assault. On Friday, police said Michaels charges had been elevated to first degree murder. He is being held on $1 million bond. In an earlier interview, Kristen Couch said she and her husband stopped in Tucson as they made their way by bus from California to their home state of Alabama. At this time last year, the couple had set up a brand-new bassinet and stocked up on diapers anticipating a baby after nearly a decade together: a boy they named Brooks. Brooks was stillborn. After that, Jake quit his job in Alabama and the couple headed to Los Angeles to find some peace, the Arizona Republic reported. Luke Couch told the Republic that he and his brother grew up in Arab, Alabama, a town about 70 miles north of Birmingham. They had what Luke described as a little boys dream life on a farm with chickens, cattle, horses and four-wheelers. A nearby lake teemed with bluegill and largemouth bass for fishing. Candidates running for the two Tucson-area congressional seats in 2026 are already raising big money. Campaign finance reports covering the first three months of the year had to be filed with the Federal Elections Commission by April 15. In the race for Congressional District 6, huge sums of cash have already flowed in for Republican incumbent Juan Ciscomani and Democratic challenger Joanna Mendoza. Ciscomanis campaign reported entering the year with over $236,000 ($236,560.89) on-hand and raising over $660,000 through March. Nearly $260,000 came from individual donors, and over $400,000 came from PACs and Political Party Committees. The campaign also reported receiving over $589,000 in transferred funds, all of which came from the Ciscomani Victory Fund. In its own April 15 filing, the fund reported raising nearly $592,000 through March. Ciscomanis campaign reported spending over $248,000 through March, and entering April with over $1.2 million on-hand. Mendoza, the Democratic challenger, reported raising over $816,000 through March, in an April 15 filing, with $13,000 of that from PACs, according to her filing. Her campaign reported spending over $90,000 through March, entering April with nearly $726,000 on-hand. In the race for Congressional District 7, now vacant after the passing of Raul Grijalva on March 13, three candidates have filed campaign finance reports over the first three months of the year. Daniel Hernandez, the former Democratic state lawmaker, reported raising about $326,450 $36,000 of which came from PACs spending over $31,000 and entering April with over $295,000 on-hand. Republican Daniel Butierez, who lost to Grijalva in the 2024 election, reported raising over $18,800 through the first three months of the year. He also reported loaning himself $136,470. Butierez reported spending over $23,700 and entering April with over $132,000 on-hand. Jorge Rivas, a Republican, reported raising nearly $9,000 and spending $6,072 through March. He entered April with over $2,900 on-hand, according to his filing. Democrat Adelita Grijalva, the former representatives daughter, did not file a campaign-finance report because her campaign began at the end of this reporting period. Ciscomani on Medicaid, again Ciscomani challenged fellow Republicans over Medicaid in a letter Thursday to House GOP leaders. The Tucson congressman and 12 other Republican members pointed out their importance to the partys control of the House in asking that leaders protect the health-care program for the poor. As Members of Congress who helped to deliver a Republican Majority, many of us representing districts with high rates of constituents who depend on Medicaid, we would like to reiterate our strong support for this program that ensures our constituents have reliable healthcare, the letter opens. Balancing the federal budget must not come at the expense of those who depend on these benefits for their health and economic security. It goes on to say they wont vote for significant cuts, which in a narrowly divided House would defeat any such proposal. We cannot and will not support a final reconciliation bill that includes any reduction in Medicaid coverage for vulnerable populations, the letter says. In a telephone town hall last week, Ciscomani said he wants to protect Medicaid benefits for those who need them, but when pressed, he explained he also supports removing coverage for able-bodied adults without dependents. Ciscomani is vulnerable going into the 2026 election, serving as he does in a district with a narrow Republican advantage. Traditionally, the party holding the White House loses some competitive seats like his in midterm elections. Plus, Democrats have been hammering him over his vote for a preliminary resolution that would lead to deep cuts in Medicaid. Heinz targets PAG/RTA head Matt Heinz could hardly wait to throw down a gauntlet, it seems. Minutes after the Pima County supervisor was confirmed as the countys new representative on the Pima Association of Governments and Regional Transportation Authority boards, he sent a letter to the PAG boards chair, Tucson Mayor Regina Romero. In the letter, he asked Romero to set an agenda item for the board to review executive director Farhad Moghimis performance, as early as the boards meeting Monday. Its not the first time Heinz has targeted Moghimi, who is viewed with suspicion by Heinz and some Tucson officials. Among other things, they see him as favoring suburban jurisdictions over the regions biggest city in his management of the Regional Transportation Authority. Heinz replaced former Pima County Supervisor Adelita Grijalva on the PAG and RTA boards. Before that, Pima County board chair Rex Scott was on those boards. And Scott tried to resume that run Tuesday, offering himself as an alternative to Heinz as the countys representative on the board. His motion died for lack of a second, and Scott went on to vote with the other three present supervisors in voting to put Heinz on the RTA board. CD 7, District 5 and Ward 5 A small patch of Tucsons south side is losing its elected member of Congress, its elected Pima County supervisor and its elected Tucson City Council member this spring. After Rep. Raul Grijalva died on March 13, his daughter, Adelita Grijalva, resigned from her seat on the Pima County Board of Supervisors to run to replace him. That means the residents of Congressional District 7 and Pima County Supervisors District 5 both lost their representatives. Then Richard Fimbres announced he is planning to resign from representing Tucsons Ward 5 on May 1. A small patch of land south of the Tucson Rodeo Grounds in the Sunnyside neighborhood was represented by all three of the elected officials who have left or are leaving their offices. The area is loosely bounded by Irvington Road to the north, South Nogales Highway to the west, South 12th Avenue to the west and West Valencia Road to the south. PHOENIX State lawmakers are proposing a new tactic to keep local officials from enacting gun regulations forcing them to them pay personal fines if they approve such laws. Legislation given final approval this week would allow a judge to award a $5,000 civil penalty against any elected or appointed official who knowingly and willfully violates an existing statute that preempts cities and counties from enacting any law, rule or tax relating to firearms. That covers everything from possessing and carrying a gun to rules about how guns can be stored, discharged or given as gifts. Sen. David Gowan, R-Sierra Vista, made it clear who hes currently targeting: the Pima County Board of Supervisors. The proposal, Senate Bill 1705, comes after a Pima County Superior Court judge struck down a county ordinance that required gun owners to report the theft or loss of a firearm within 48 hours or face a fine of up to $1,000. Judge Greg Sakall cited existing provisions in the Arizona criminal code that preempt local governments from enacting any of their own rules that are stronger than state laws. There is no parallel state law to the county ordinance. Michael Infanzon, lobbyist for the Arizona Citizens Defense League, which filed the lawsuit against the county law, said his organizations experience with both Pima County and the city of Tucson convinces him that, despite the court ruling, something more is needed to get the attention of local officials who enact such laws. That something more, he told Capitol Media Services, is hitting them in the wallet. The Republican-controlled Senate already approved the bill. There was no immediate response from Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs to this specific plan, though she announced Thursday shes not going to sign anything until she separately gets an acceptable plan to fund services for the developmentally disabled. And she has a history of vetoing gun-related bills, ranging from allowing guns on school campuses to expanding the states version of a stand your ground law about situations in which people legally can use deadly physical force. Infanzon pointed to the hurdles that someone protesting a local gun ordinance has to leap. One option is to file a complaint with the Attorney Generals Office to ask whether the adopted measure runs afoul of the preemption law. If the AG says the local government is acting illegally, that can lead to a lawsuit or a threat to withhold state revenues. Thats what happened in 2016, for example, when Tucson adopted an ordinance saying police must destroy firearms they obtain through seizure or surrender. Republican then-Attorney General Mark Brnovich sued, and the Supreme Court ruled the city was wrong. The other option is for someone to file suit, as was the case with the challenge to the county ordinance on reporting lost guns. Infanzon acknowledged that, in both cases, the questioned laws went away. But he said that came at the expense of taxpayers who had to foot the legal bills. Even the underlying law prohibiting local regulations doesnt have a lot of teeth. Infanzon said the maximum penalty now for a city or county that knowingly and willfully violates the preemption law is $50,000 again, money paid by taxpayers. A better solution, he said, would be to deter local officials from adopting the ordinances in the first place by using the threat of a personal penalty. Thats what SB 1705 is designed to do, starting with its $5,000 penalty. But the bill is worded so that the local government cant use any public funds to defend any local official personally accused of breaking the law. It also spells out that any official found by a judge to be culpable cannot be reimbursed by the government for the fine. Infanzon said it shouldnt have to come to that. The lobbyist said he has made it part of his practice to regularly peruse city and county ordinances and regulations to look for what he says are violations. When he comes across problems, a call to a city attorney is usually sufficient to get the offending provision removed, he said. He said thats the way it worked in the past with places such as Goodyear and Eloy but not with Pima County, where the Goldwater Institute filed the latest lawsuit on behalf of Infanzons group over the requirement to report stolen guns. Its going to cost the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines and attorneys fees because the elected Board of Supervisors minus one voted to implement an illegal law, he said. The exception was Steve Christy, the lone Republican on the Pima County board. Infanzon said the threat of a $5,000 fine for which local officials are personally liable should be enough to prevent such proposals. Still, anyone seeking such a penalty would have to show that the local officials knowingly and willfully enacted a law beyond local authority. Infanzon said that could be proven through other evidence. If they had been advised by legal counsel and theyre still willing to violate our state statutes, they will be held accountable on an individual basis, he said. In the latest lawsuit, the Goldwater Institute had evidence the county attorney told the board the move was illegal, he said. Thats not the argument made by Sam Brown, Pima Countys chief civil deputy, when he defended the ordinance in court. He argued nothing in it ran afoul of the states preemption because requiring someone to report a stolen weapon did no interfere with anyones right to own a gun. No one from any city or town showed up to testify against the new legislation. But Tucson spokesman Andy Squire said that was by design given higher priority issues. This is one more of numerous other actions being proposed or taken by the state Legislature to preempt local control, he said. And since existing state laws already preempt local regulation of firearms, we have been focused primarily on preemption bills that are related to housing and zoning. There was no immediate response from Pima County. Voters in Smith County will have choices to make this May as challengers step up to run against city officials and school board members in local elections. The elections office is hoping the turnout, which is typically low for May elections, will be better this time around. The more the candidates actually go out and visit the different people, Smith County Election Administrator Michelle Allcon said, the more their name is heard, the more people realize theres an election happening, the more people will actually come out to vote. The upcoming May 3 elections in Smith County will feature several key races. With the candidate filings finalized, voters will have the opportunity to decide on leadership that shapes local policies, from city government to education. May elections often see low voter turnout, largely because people dont realize theyre happening, forget about them or feel uninformed about the candidates. Its up to the candidates to make themselves known whether by attending community events, engaging with voters at school functions or political gatherings or increasing visibility through campaign signs. It really is on the candidates to go out and campaign, Allcon said. Thats really the only way people know who they are. Heres a list of candidates in the city and school races: Cities City of Troup Four city council seats are up for election but only two are contested. In Place 4, Nolan Jeske will face Kaston Kincade, while Susan Adams and Amy Louis Murawski will vie for the Place 5 seat. Dianne Layne is running unopposed for Place 1, and Brandi Barton is unopposed for Place 3. City of Tyler Two city council seats are up for election. In District 1, incumbent Stuart Hene will face challenger Max Stewart, while newcomers Shonda Marsh and Christian Gooden will vie for the District 3 seat currently held by Shirley McKellar, who has termed out on the council and announced her intent to run for mayor next year. Lloyd Nichols, the incumbent for District 5, filed for reelection and is unopposed in the race. City of Hideaway Three city council seats are up for election. Chet Thomas and Rob Wheelock are in the mayoral race. In Place 1, incumbent Laura George will face Allen Monholland, while Pat Bonds, Jim Caldwell and Mark Reid will vie for the Place 2 seat. City of Winona Luis Diaz, Terry Cole, Gary Fox and Craig Attaway are running for one of the five alderman positions. School districts Tyler ISD Two board of trustees seats are up for election. In District 1, Eleno Licea will challenge incumbent R. Wade Washmon, while incumbent Yvonne Atkins faces challenger Carolyn Jones Davis for the District 3 seat. Winona ISD Three board of trustees seats are up for election. In Place 1, Dexter Jones will face William Allen, while Luis Hernandez and Randy Hawkins each look to fill Place 3. Baylen Lee, Headlee Daniels and Diane Newman will vie for Place 7. Mark Wintters is running unopposed for Place 5. Bullard ISD Susie Turner Saxion, Cody Whitehead and John Turner will compete for Place 6, while Brian K. Herbert and Gerald Hawkins will vie for Place 7. Lindale ISD James Edwards Sr. and incumbent Robert McGee are in the race for Place 1, while Jeremy Strickland is uncontested for Place 2. Important dates April 3 is the last day to register to vote in the May election. To see if you are registered, visit https://teamrv-mvp.sos.texas.gov/MVP/mvp.do . Early voting will be held 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 22-25 and April 28-29. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 3 for Election Day. April 22 is the last day to submit an application for ballot by mail (received, not postmarked). May 5 is the last day to receive ballot by mail. For more information, visit smith-county.com. What we know about UK's nuclear war deterrence after Russian propagandist made 'kill all British people' warning The UK versus Russia drama continues, and this time, its all about what our defence options are in light of a very serious comment being issued to us. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the possibility of World War 3 looms over our heads, and Vladimir Putin's regime have been flexing their power for a while now. From a simulation showing how a nuclear strike would 'sink' the entire country, to a 'leaked' list of nuclear targets in the UK, it would appear that the UK in particular is a special focus of the Russian propagandists - namely TV anchor Vladimir Solovyov. In the past, he's claimed that 'one Sarmat [missile] means minus one Great Britain' and said that any UK troops in Ukraine will 'all die', though he also directed that warning towards the French, too. ADVERTISEMENT And recently, he issued another one towards the UK, saying we'd 'certainly perish' for 'waging war against them', as Margarita Simonyan added: "We will kill them all." Vladamir Solovyov has repeatedly issued warnings to the UK (OLGA MALTSEVA/AFP via Getty Images) Now, while the threat is understandably scary, can it be done? Perhaps, but we do have a major weapon at our disposal in the UK. According to the Ministry of Defences YouTube channel and the governments website, we have a significant nuclear deterrent that works, and works well. Its all thanks to the power of patrolling submarines. As per the website, the UK has at least one of its submarines out patrolling the seas undetected at all times of the day, every single day. These submarines are there to help to guarantee the nations safety and as well as the UKs NATO Allies safety by deterring the most extreme threats to our national security. The UK has an independent deterrent (YouTube/The Minstry of Justice) The gov site claims that while nuclear conflict remains remote, the threats the UK faces are increasing in scale, diversity and complexity which is why we need to scare off any potential predators. ADVERTISEMENT The purpose of nuclear deterrence is to preserve peace, prevent coercion and deter aggression. Potential aggressors know that the costs of attacking the UK, or our NATO allies, could far outweigh any benefit they could hope to achieve." it continues. "This deters states from using their nuclear weapons against us or carrying out the most extreme threats to our national security. To do this, in April 1969, the Royal Navy began to constantly patrol the sea with at least one nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine in a bid to preserve peace, prevent coercion, and deter aggression. The continuous at sea deterrent (aka, CASD) is a cost-effective platform which can deploy the independent nuclear deterrent which can fire a missile within several days notice. Though the missile is not aimed at any state, it can surely blow something out of the water, or maybe even something flying above it. ADVERTISEMENT The current Prime Minister is the only person who can authorise the use of the nuclear weapons and he should only consider it as part of a self-defence strategy, which includes the defence of NATO allies. In a recent session at the Houses of Parliament, Lord Oates asked whether the government had considered what it was giving to secure the full independence of the deterrent, to which Lord Coaker replied (via UK Defence Journal): "I can assure the noble Lord that the United Kingdoms nuclear deterrent is completely operationally independent. "Only the Prime Minister can authorise the firing of our nuclear weapons, even if they are to be employed as part of a NATO response." China's commerce ministry maintains trade communication with U.S. counterpart Xinhua) 09:59, April 18, 2025 BEIJING, April 17 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Commerce has maintained working-level communication with its U.S. counterpart, the ministry said on Thursday. China's position has been clear and consistent, which is being open to consultations with the U.S. side on economic and trade issues, said spokesperson He Yongqian at a regular press conference. He said the unilateral tariff hikes were initiated entirely by the U.S. side, and it is up to the one who tied the bell to untie it. China urges the U.S. side to immediately stop exerting maximum pressure on China, cease its acts of coercion and blackmail, and resolve differences through equal dialogue based on mutual respect, He said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) NATO's presence in a strategic sea it shares with Russia is about to get bigger NATO has ramped up its presence in the Baltic Sea, sensing a threat from Russia. Countries that border the strategic waters are also ordering more vessels. The sea is important both to Russia and to NATO. NATO countries that share a strategically important sea with Russia have boosted their presence there and are buying more warships, as they eye Russia warily. Denmark, which sits at the mouth of the Baltic Sea, announced plans to buy dozens more ships amid rising threats in the Baltic and the Arctic. The Baltic Sea is a major trade and telecomms route that has seen increased patrols and alleged sabotages of undersea cables since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Many European officials say they believe Russia is behind the severing of cables. ADVERTISEMENT Lithuania, which borders Russia and the sea, announced this month that it is buying two new attack boats. Poland is also building new frigates and is planning to buy submarines. Estonia, which has only eight ships and one of the world's smallest navies, aims to purchase up to 12 new vessels. Sweden, which joined NATO after Russia invaded Ukraine, is also procuring four more surface vessels. Much of Sweden's military was designed with a fight against Russia in mind, and it has even issued its citizens a booklet advising them about how to prepare for such a war. Russian President Vladimir Putin rides in a submersible in the Baltic Sea on July 15, 2013. Sasha Mordovets/Getty Images Pal Jonson, Sweden's defense minister, told BI in February that Sweden is "in the process also of procuring four new surface vessels," saying they will "be significantly bigger" than its existing Visby class corvettes. ADVERTISEMENT Bryan Clark, a naval operations expert at the Hudson Institute who served on the US Navy headquarters staff, said the vessels, combined with Sweden's submarines, would be "very useful for closing off the Baltic Sea if they wanted to, using the combination of the submarines and those surface combatants." The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration said last year that two of the ships were planned to be delivered to the Swedish Armed Forces in 2030. The country's admission to NATO boosted the alliance's maritime presence, particularly in the Baltic Sea, which is flanked by countries including Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. Russia's naval presence in the Baltic as of December 2023 included one attack submarine, five guided missile destroyers, one guided missile frigate, and 35 smaller ships, according to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. However, Russia moves its naval assets around, changing what is based in each port. ADVERTISEMENT Many alliance members have started calling the Baltic the "NATO Sea," after Sweden and neighboring Finland joined NATO. Sweden brings submarine capabilities that few other NATO members in the region have. Estonia, Latvia, Denmark, Finland, and Lithuania have no submarines, while Poland has just one. Sweden's submarines are also well suited for the Baltic Sea in particular, according to naval warfare experts. Steven Horrell, a former US naval intelligence officer and now a warfare expert at the Center for European Policy Analysis, told BI that Sweden's small and quiet submarines are perfect for a sea with "smaller inlets, small islands, small shallow waters." Jonson said Sweden could bring "unique capabilities" to NATO's operations in the Baltic Sea, underwater and on the surface. ADVERTISEMENT Sweden also knows the sea well: Jonson described operating there as "something we've been doing for hundreds of years, and we like to think that we know the Baltic Sea inside out." He said "a lot of things" were being done to protect critical infrastructure on the seabed, adding that Sweden was using its own navy and coast guard, but NATO had also stepped up its efforts. Sweden is part of NATO's Baltic Sentry operation, which has put more ships and control vessels in the sea. But Jonson said more could be done. A French Atlantique 2 surveillance plane monitoring the Baltic Sea, as part of NATO's Baltic Sentry AP Photo/John Leicester Sweden's defense minister warned last year that, even though Russia's forces were "tied up" in Ukraine, "We cannot rule out a Russian attack on our country." In addition to boosting defense spending, Sweden is giving Ukraine its biggest-ever support package this year, worth about $1.6 billion. Jonson described that as a message to its allies: "We have to all step up and provide more assistance to Ukraine." He called supporting Ukraine "the right thing to do and the smart thing to do because it's really also an investment into our own security because the stakes before us are enormous." Read the original article on Business Insider Prince Harry reportedly became disinterested in his Africa-based charity Sentebale following his marriage to Meghan Markle and move to the United States. The Duke of Sussexs apparent withdrawal is said to have killed the spirit of the organisation, which he co-founded in 2006 with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in memory of his late mother, Princess Diana. The claims come amid suggestions that Harrys involvement dwindled significantly after his 2018 wedding and the couples relocation to North America two years later. Harry co-founded Sentebale with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006 (PA) The pair made the truly heartbroken decision last month to resign as patrons from the charity which supports Lesotho's vulnerable youth following a string of allegations from former chairman Dr Sophie Chandauka. ADVERTISEMENT The Zimbabwean-born lawyer accused the estranged royal of staging a cover-up of an investigation into wrongdoing at Sentebale and sending an unpleasant message for failing to defend Meghan in public. Harry last visited Lesotho in southern Africa in October 2024 his first in six years. Harrys a loved figure, but his loss of interest has totally killed the spirit of the Sentebale Chief Khoabane Theko He had previously visited more frequently, making four trips between 2010 and 2015. Chief Khoabane Theko, who claims to be Prince Seeiso's brother, said he was perturbed when Harry and Meghan failed to visit Lesotho when on holiday in Africa. Arguing the Duke could have visited Lesotho more often, he told The Telegraph: 'When (Sentebale) was launched, I remember his words quite vividly, because he was very strong in saying my mother, this place, her passion about Africa and all that. The Duke of Sussex with Sentebale chairwoman Dr Sophie Chandauka (PA) The chief, who was unaware Harry had visited Lesotho twice since his marriage seven years ago, added: He's a loved figure because of his openness, but his loss of interest has totally killed the spirit of the Sentebale's survival. ADVERTISEMENT Harry has accused Dr Chandauka of telling blatant lies after the Charity Commision launched an investigation into concerns about how Sentebale has been run. Since the resignations, Dr Chandauka has called the Sussexes' brand toxic and accused Harry of harassment and bullying at scale a claim he fervently denied. Harry and Meghan moved to North America in 2020 (PA) In a statement, Harry said he believes the truth about their deepening rift will be unveiled. He said: What has transpired over the last week has been heartbreaking to witness, especially when such blatant lies hurt those who have invested decades in this shared goal. No one suffers more than the beneficiaries of Sentebale itself. A Rose Valley in the Heart of the Northwest Mountains As one of Sa Pas most anticipated annual events, the Fansipan Rose Festival will be held at Sun World Fansipan Legend under the theme "Radiant Amidst the Clouds", from April 26 to May 5. Millions of roses will bloom throughout the summer months, welcoming visitors into a vibrant world of cultural and artistic performances at Fansipan. At the heart of the festival lies Viet Nams leading rose valley, covering 50,000m and home to hundreds of thousands of rare rose varieties from around the worldsuch as the ancient Sa Pa rose, Abraham Darby, Society, Catalina, Molineux, Juliet, Black Baccarat, Rouge Royale, and Spirit of Freedom. This year, the rose valley has been enhanced with even more elaborate decorative displays: a giant rose sculpture, a rose-shaped book symbolising highland romance, flower-lined paths with angel statues, artistic rose arches, as well as a princess gown and hot air balloon made entirely of fresh flowers. Every corner of the valley feels like it has been plucked from a fairytale. Even without professional cameras, visitors can easily capture stunning, Instagram-worthy shots using just a smartphone. Beyond the visual splendour, the 2025 Rose Festival is a paradise of experiences for visitors of all ages. The Sweet Market a rose-inspired shopping and dining space will serve unique treats such as rose-infused ice cream, rose tea, and pastries. Amidst the cool Fansipan air and fragrant surroundings, visitors can relax with a cup of tea and enjoy lively performances from local artists. Creative games like Carrying Love to Pick Roses and Northwest Dance Beats will be held throughout the festival, filling the highlands with joyful laughter and offering guests the chance to win exciting prizes. A special highlight is the rose-themed carnival parade from Sun World Fansipan Legend to the centre of Sa Pa. Thousands of roses will adorn horse-drawn carriages and electric carts, accompanied by 300 ethnic minority performers, spreading the festivals colours and spirit through the misty streets of the mountain town. This mobile symphony will not only excite locals and tourists alike but also leave a lasting impression of the regions rich culture and people. A Journey to the Roof of Indochina Just a short walk from the rose valley lies May Village, a vibrant ethnic settlement where seven minority groups coexist. Here, guests can immerse themselves in the sounds of panpipes and drums, explore traditional craft villages, and take part in local folk games. May Village is also a culinary highlight, offering delicacies such as grilled suckling pig, sticky rice cooked in bamboo, fresh stream fish, crispy black chicken, and the flavourful Thang Co stewprepared by local chefs to delight every palate. For just VND 950,000 per adult and VND 700,000 per child, guests can enjoy a full combo package including a Fansipan cable car ticket and a mountain-themed dinner at May Village. No visit is complete without taking the modern Fansipan cable car, gliding through a sea of clouds and offering sweeping views of the Hoang Lien Son range and shimmering terraced fields below. At the summit, visitors enter another realmancient rhododendrons bloom vividly on cliff edges, 600 stone steps lead to the majestic Amitabha Buddha statue and sacred spiritual complex, and the mountain railway climbs to the sky, where heaven and earth seem to meet. This is also peak rhododendron season, making it the perfect time to witness natures grandeur from the base to the summit of the Roof of Indochina. Dont miss the solemn flag-raising ceremony at 3,143 metres above sea level, where the Vietnamese national flag flutters proudly in the mountain wind. Be sure also to catch the performance Colours of the Borderland, which re-enacts the heroic history of Viet Nams highlands and the incredible story behind the world-record-holding Fansipan cable car. The Fansipan Rose Festival 2025 is more than a walk among flowers it is an invitation to conquer the Roof of Indochina while immersing yourself in the cultural and culinary richness of the northwest highlands. With its captivating events and vibrant atmosphere, the festival is set to attract thousands of visitors, further solidifying Sa Pas position as the top travel destination this holiday season. HA NOI Viet Nams rice export prices have been rebounding since early April, according to the Viet Nam Food Association (VFA). Compared with other leading rice-exporting countries, the current export price of Viet Nams standard 5 per cent broken white rice has reclaimed the top position, reaching US$397 per tonne. Meanwhile, Thailands 5 per cent broken rice is priced at $395 per tonne, Pakistans at $387 and Indias at $376. Many Vietnamese traders have exported 5 per cent broken rice at prices exceeding $400 per tonne. Export prices of Viet Nams speciality rice varieties are also higher than those from Thailand and India. The ST25 rices export rice has reached up to $1,200 per tonne (free-on-board price at HCM City Port). This is attributed to the limited harvest of ST25 rice in the recent winter-spring crop, coupled with strong domestic demand for this product. The current export prices for Thailands most premium aromatic rice varieties are lower, with Thai Jasmine rice topping out at $1,050 and Hom Mali rice at $1,100. Indias Basmati rice is currently exported at around $900. In the glutinous rice segment, which is primarily exported to the Chinese market, Viet Nams export price is currently ranging from $580 to $590 per tonne, a significant increase compared to the beginning of the first quarter. Chairman of the VFA, o Ha Nam, said that the rice prices have surged because of the completion of the latest rice harvest, resulting in reduced supply. Meanwhile, traditional customers continue to demonstrate a high and stable demand for Vietnamese rice. In the first quarter of this year, Viet Nams total rice export volume reached around 2.3 million tonnes, with a total export value of nearly $1.21 billion. This represents a 5.82 per cent increase in volume, but a 15.53 per cent decrease in value compared to the same period in 2024. The average export price in Q1/2025 was $522 per tonne, down 20.18 per cent year-on-year. In March 2025, the Philippines remained the largest importer of Vietnamese rice, receiving 438,805 tonnes worth $204.5 million. China followed with 159,021 tonnes worth $79.8 million, and Ghana ranked third with 62,908 tonnes worth over $37.3 million. Nam added that although the price of Viet Nams standard 5 per cent broken rice remained under $400 per tonne in Q1, the countrys average rice export price still reached $522 per tonne. This was thanks to the growing share of aromatic and speciality rice in the export structure. Vietnamese rice is in the mid-high-end segment and is aiming for a higher segment with value and brand. Demand in this segment is currently very strong, especially in markets like Japan, the US and the EU, he said. BIZHUB/VNS HA NOI - Global law firm Freshfields has announced the promotion of Hanoi-based Senior Associate An Hoang Ha to the position of Counsel, effective May 1, 2025. An Hoang Ha joined Freshfields in 2005 and is a key senior member of the Freshfields Vietnam team. Over the past two decades, Ha has been instrumental in successfully executing some of the firms clients most significant transactions in the market, with a focus on the banking and financial services sectors. He has acted for all of the Japanese mega banks and several other leading global financial institutions on their investments in Vietnam, covering a range of financial institutions including banks, consumer finance, insurance, securities, and fintech companies. Ha is a trusted adviser to clients, known for his profound transactional expertise. In addition to his transactional work, Ha leads Freshfields Vietnam's antitrust and competition law practice. His deep knowledge of Vietnams Competition Law has been crucial in assisting multinational investors with merger filings for cross-border transactions in Vietnam. Thomas Ng, Freshfields Asia Regional Managing Partner, and Eric Johnson, Managing Partner of Freshfields Hanoi office, commented: On behalf of Freshfields Asia partners, we congratulate Ha on his well-earned promotion and look forward to his continued success and contributions to the legal profession in Vietnam. This promotion underscores Freshfields' commitment to the Vietnamese market and the strength of our Vietnam team. By elevating a highly skilled and experienced professional like Ha, Freshfields demonstrates our confidence in the potential of the Vietnamese legal market and our intention to invest in the countrys continued growth. This strategic move not only strengthens Freshfields' presence in Vietnam but also reinforces our long-term vision of fostering a robust and dynamic legal practice in the country, the two officials added. I am absolutely delighted that Ha has been promoted to Counsel at Freshfields, said Tomoko Nakajima, Partner in Freshfields Tokyo office, adding: Ha is highly respected by our Japanese clients for his exceptional ability to navigate and advise on the most high-profile and complex transactions, particularly in the banking and financial services sectors. This well-deserved recognition not only honours Ha's achievements but also enhances the firms capacity to leverage his profound knowledge and experience in working with Japanese investors in Vietnam. Freshfields is a global law firm which opened offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in 1994. Since then, the firm has played a key role in the countrys economic transformation, supporting global investors and multinational companies on complex transactions and investment projects in the country. The firm is recognised as a leader in M&A, joint ventures, energy and infrastructure and antitrust. Freshfields is known for advising their clients, which include major private equity firms, financial institutions, sovereign wealth funds and major multinationals, on their investments in Vietnam across key sectors, with a focus on financial services, technology, energy and infrastructure, education and healthcare. VNS HA NOI Tao Yitao, Director of the China Centre for Special Economic Zone Research (CCSEZR) under Shenzhen University in China's Guangdong Province, advised Viet Nam to utilise Chinas expertise in developing higher-standard free trade zones during a working session in Ha Noi on April 17 with Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung. Tao shared insights from her delegations field surveys in Binh Duong, a Nang, HCM City and Hai Phong, saying that through in-depth discussions with local authorities, they identified transportation, energy and digital transformation as critical factors for successful FTZ development. She underscored the pivotal role of digital economy and high technology, advising regions to capitalise on their unique strengths and growth drivers. Drawing on Chinas experience, she proposed pilot FTZ projects in one or two cities to test new industries. If successful, these models could be scaled nationwide; if not, the economic impact would be limited. Citing HCM City as an example, Tao suggested designing its FTZ to drive growth for surrounding areas, focusing on hi-tech industries, finance, and modern services thanks to its ability to attract skilled talent. For the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, she recommended prioritising the seaport industry. The delegation highlighted Chinas FTZ models in Hong Kong, Macau, Shenzhen and Xinjiang, which integrate diverse foreign and domestic enterprises and specialised sub-zones beyond core trade functions. Deputy PM Dung praised Tao and CCSEZR for their insights and urged further consultations on the management of goods circulation within FTZs, taxation, talent retention and training and global FTZ trends, particularly Shenzhens governance model. Viet Nam is preparing to develop three FTZs in Hai Phong, a Nang and Ba Ria-Vung Tau, with plans to expand to other localities with strong air and rail connectivity, beyond just those with seaports, he said. VNS HA NOI Samsung Electronics Vietnam, in partnership with the Tourism Information Centre under the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism, on Friday officially launched the content creation contest Galaxy AI Understands Vietnamese Celebrating Vietnamese Tourism. Running from April 18 to May 18, the contest is open to all Vietnamese citizens currently living in Viet Nam. More than just a platform for creativity, the competition is designed to spark national pride, love for the homeland, and a deeper appreciation for Vietnamese culture - while also promoting domestic tourism through the innovative lens of Galaxy AI. The contest offers total prizes valued at up to VN300 million. Speaking at the launch event, Le Xuan Truong, Marketing and Communications Director for Mobile Experience at Samsung Electronics Vietnam, said that Samsung integrated Vietnamese into Galaxy AI in 2024, making it one of 13 supported languages. In 2025, were continuing to improve Galaxy AIs understanding of Vietnamese, especially on the upcoming Galaxy S25 Series, to deliver even more useful and meaningful experiences to our users, he said. With Galaxy AI, users have powerful tools to create and share the cultural richness and natural beauty of Viet Nam with both local and global audiences. Nguyen uc Xuyen, Deputy Director of the Tourism Information Centre, emphasized that this collaboration with Samsung is a step toward inspiring travellers - especially tech-savvy youth - to engage with tourism in innovative ways. This initiative marks a new direction in partnerships between the tourism sector and leading technology companies, he added. It contributes to building a smart tourism ecosystem thats both practical and effective. Ha Van Sieu, Deputy Director of the Viet Nam National Authority of Tourism, said: In 2024, Viet Nam's tourism recovered to 98 per cent of pre-pandemic levels - the highest in Southeast Asia. Q1 2025 saw over 6 million international visitors, a record high. He credited this growth to stronger digital transformation in tourism management, promotion, and visitor experience. The partnership between Samsung Vietnam and the Tourism Information Center highlights efforts to apply modern tech in promoting Viet Nam. I believe the Galaxy AI Understands Vietnamese, Celebrates Vietnamese Tourism contest will inspire tech and travel lovers, sparking creative ideas to showcase Vietnams beauty, he added. These efforts will support the 2025 national tourism stimulus programme. All contest updates, related activities, and award announcements will be available on the official websites of the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism (vietnamtourism.gov.vn) and Samsung Vietnam (samsung.com/vn), as well as their official Facebook pages: VNAT and Samsung Vietnam. VNS HA NOI Tourists can now easily search for and explore information about destinations across Viet Nam thanks to the application of NFC (Near Field Communication) technology. NFC chip-enabled information boards have been installed at iconic landmarks across all provinces and cities, offering visitors a unique and immersive exploration experience while promoting local tourism. The project, titled 'Yeu Lam Viet Nam' (Love Viet Nam), is an initiative by the Nhan Dan (People) newspaper in collaboration with its technology partner Phygital Labs. From the Lung Cu Flagpole in the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang to Cape Ca Mau, Viet Nams southernmost point, visitors simply tap their NFC-enabled smartphones to access a digital space packed with features. These include AI-assisted guides to explore historical and informational content, tools for creating personalised tour itineraries and opportunities to complete activities that reward points and gifts. The official website, www.yeulamvietnam.vn, features a modern, interactive interface available in both Vietnamese and English. It provides tourists with official information about destinations while an online map helps them discover key cultural sites, track their travel experiences, and connect more deeply with the unique aspects of each region. In the future, the platform plans to incorporate real-time tourism data analytics to improve destination management and enhance user interaction. The benefits of the system extend beyond travellers, offering opportunities for community development by fostering services, commerce and local cultural data. This contributes to developing sustainable tourism and supports Viet Nams growing digital economy. After just four months, the project has recorded tens of thousands of successful check-ins, with tourists sharing images captured at NFC-enabled boards across Viet Nam. Popular sites such as the Lung Cu Flagpole in Ha Giang, the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long in Ha Noi, and Cape Ca Mau, have all embraced the installation of these smart interactive stations. The 'Yeu Lam Viet Nam' project also fosters a digital tourism community, where everyone can become a 'tourism ambassador'. Participants receive digital certificates upon completing exploration stations, earn points to exchange for exciting gifts, and can share experiences and images on social media with the hashtag #YeuLamVietNam. They can even invite friends to join them in discovering Viet Nam through this platform. The Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan newspaper, Le Quoc Minh, explained that the 'Yeu Lam Viet Nam' project aligns with a broader vision to transform media and digital data platforms into tools for connecting people with Viet Nams cultural and tourism values. He emphasised that the initiative is not only about creating memorable experiences but also inspiring young people to value, uphold, and expand traditional cultural heritage through modern technology. The organisers aspire for both locals and tourists to visit the sites in their own regions, as well as travel and check-in at destinations in other provinces to foster real connections between communities. Such bonds through tourism represent an impactful way to commemorate the 50th anniversary of national reunification, said Editor-in-Chief Minh. According to the CEO of Phygital Labs, Huy Nguyen, the 'Yeu Lam Viet Nam' project addresses the growing demand for personalised travel experiences that seamlessly bridge the physical and digital realms. It introduces a system of multi-interactive check-in stations across Viet Nam, creating the country's first comprehensive interactive tourism and cultural map. For the moment, the project has installed 200 NFC chip-enabled information boards, with the numbers expected to grow in the coming months. VNS ROME The Vietnamese film Cu Li Khong Bao Gio Khoc (Cu Li Never Cries) directed by Pham Ngoc Lan has won the Best Picture Award at the 22nd Asian Film Festival (AFF22), held in Rome, Italy, from April 8 to 16. The award ceremony took place on the evening of April 16 at the prestigious Farnese Cinema in Rome. Nguyen Thu Ha, Counsellor at the Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy, attended the ceremony and received the award on behalf of the film crew. Speaking at the event, Ha expressed her honour to to receive the meaningful award on behalf of the Vietnamese Embassy, and thanked the organisers and the jury for their efforts to promote Asian cinema, particularly Vietnamese films, to Italian audiences. The award will be handed over to the director and the film crew, who will likely be deeply touched, though it is unfortunate they are unable to attend the ceremony in person, she said. The 2025 edition of the festival showcased 36 feature films across various categories, including debut works, non-competition entries, and films in competition, from the Republic of Korea, Japan, Taiwan (China), the Philippines, China, Hong Kong (China), Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Viet Nam, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. This recognition marks a significant milestone for Vietnamese cinema on the international stage, reflecting its growing strength and visibility. It also opens new doors for Vietnamese filmmakers to reach global audiences and fosters greater cultural and artistic exchange between Viet Nam and Italy. The Asian Film Festival in Italy, founded by the Robert Bresson Film Foundation in 2003, showcases the best new films from East Asia, including works by both established and emerging directors. The festival serves as a platform for international networking among filmmakers, producers, and distributors from Italy, Europe, and East Asia. In recent years, Vietnamese films have consistently participated and earned acclaim, with Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell by director Pham Thien An also winning Best Picture at the 2024 edition. VNA/VNS HA NOI Vietnamese choreographer Bui Ngoc Quan will show his latest creation at Au Co Theatre in April 18 and 19. The 70 minute-show ong Phach Tach Ken combines hip hop and contemporary dance featuring artists performing on a time-abstracted stage, a show described as both raw and surreal. ong Phach Tach Ken with layered meaning ong means moving or vibrating, phach refers to mind and soul or rhythm unit, tach means detaching and deconstructing, and ken represents cocoon or shelter. Together they reflect the performers journey of co-existing, breaking free and embracing transformation for growth. Taking street dance moves and hip hop battles as inspiration, dancing through the urban atmosphere, rhythmically traversing between layers of abstract sounds and glitter, the dancers will insist that audiences join them on a journey into the unknown. It is Quan's first independent project in Viet Nam, after a long time accompanying the dance troupe Les Ballet C de la B based out of Belgium and basking in the atmosphere of European theatre. He had the opportunity to accompany Vietnamese street and sound artists, proposing a new experiment with hip hop on stage through cultivating situations that challenge the limits of the body and question human relationships. Quan studied classical ballet at the Viet Nam Dance School, then accepted Bernadette Tripier's invitation to go to France to study contemporary dance. Quan has created his own work with a Zurich-based company and in 2013, he directed his first show K with the company 3art3, winning the best dance theatre performance from awards in Switzerland. In addition to connecting the dancers with the audience, the dance weaves dreams with reality on stage, accompanied by the rustic sounds of Tiny Giant and an Duong, a truly immersive show reaching to every corner of the theatre. The show begins at 8pm. Book tickets at: https://ticketbox.vn/129bpm-dong-phach-tach-ken-ha-noi-23807 or https://vticket.com.vn/dong-phach-tach-ken. VNS HA NOI Ghada Fathi Waly, United Nations (UN) Deputy Secretary-General and Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), has affirmed that the agency will closely cooperate with Viet Nam to successfully organise the signing ceremony for the UN Anti-cybercrime Convention (also known as the Hanoi Convention) and to encourage countries to ratify it. Waly made the statement during a meeting on April 16 with Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang, Viet Nams Permanent Representative to the UN and international organisations in Vienna, Austria, to discuss preparations for the signing ceremony, which is set to take place in October in Ha Noi. During the meeting, Ambassador Hoang said that Viet Nam's relevant authorities, both at home and abroad, are urgently coordinating with UN agencies to thoroughly prepare this important global event. He expressed appreciation and gratitude to the UN, particularly the UNODC, for its support and partnership with Viet Nam in preparing the signing ceremony. Both Viet Nam and the UN hope that the signing will attract significant interest and participation from high-level representatives of UN member states. After five years of negotiations, the Convention is the first international legal framework with a global scope concerning anti-cybercrime, approved by UN member states. This reflects the strong commitment of the international community to jointly respond to transnational organised crime, particularly the rapidly evolving and complex cybercrime that poses threats to global security. Hoang invited Waly to arrange meetings with Vietnamese authorities responsible for crime prevention, and to consider signing and implementing subsequent cooperation projects between Viet Nam and the UNODC when she is in Ha Noi for the signing ceremony. The outcomes of Waly's visit to Viet Nam will contribute to strengthening cooperation between the two sides and promote Viet Nam's contributions to the international community's efforts to combat crime. Waly highly valued Viet Nams responsible contributions throughout the process of drafting the Hanoi Convention and recognised Viet Nam's preparations for the signing ceremony. She said the UNODC believes in the success of the signing, marking an important milestone and demonstrating Viet Nams strong commitment to combating crime. The UN official also expressed her hope that after the signing, Viet Nam will continue to work closely with the UN in general and the UNODC in particular to promote the ratification and effective implementation of the convention in the international community. VNS BEIJING The state visit to Viet Nam by Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping from April 14-15 was a great success, opening up new prospects for the building of the China-Vietnam community with a shared future which carries strategic significance, and for the development of the socialist cause in both countries. It also injects positive energy into the prosperity and stability of the region and the world, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Lin Jian affirmed at the ministrys recent regular press conference. This was Xis fourth visit to Viet Nam in the past 10 years, and the country is also the first stop of his first overseas trip of the year, he said. Lin said that during the visit, the top Chinese leader held talks and meetings with Party General Secretary To Lam, State President Luong Cuong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, and attended the Viet Nam-China peoples friendly meeting. Additionally, the two Party leaders witnessed the presentation of 45 cooperation documents signed by both sides and attended the launch ceremony of the Viet Nam-China railway cooperation mechanism. Both sides issued a Joint Statement on further deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and promoting the building of the China-Viet Nam community with a shared future which carries strategic significance. The spokesperson stated that as this year marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Viet Nam and is designated as the "China-Viet Nam Year of Humanistic Exchange," both sides agreed to continue promoting the bilateral friendship, supporting each other in pursuing the socialist path that suits the conditions of each country, enhancing strategic trust to a new level, building a more substantial security cooperation pillar, and utilising opportunities to develop China's new high-quality productive forces and Viet Nam's new productive forces to strengthen a broader, more comprehensive cooperative model. They also outlined a vision for building the China-Viet Nam community with a shared future which carries strategic significance, guided by the six major orientations. Lin emphasised that China will work closely with Viet Nam to implement the important shared perceptions reached by the high-level leaders of both parties and countries, and inherit the traditional friendship to ensure the construction of the China-Viet Nam community. VNS ROME - A delegation from Viet Nam's Ministry of Justice, led by Deputy Minister Mai Luong Khoi, paid a recent working visit to Italy to enhance bilateral collaboration in legal and judicial sectors, building upon the signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2016. Meeting with Italian Minister of Justice Carlo Nordio on April 16, Khoi praised Italys support for Viet Nams socio-economic development and underscored that the fruitful cooperation and strong friendship between the two countries provide a solid foundation to elevate their strategic partnership to a new high. Deputy Minister Khoi expressed his hope that the two ministries will continue effectively implementing the 2016 MoU through specific cooperation activities. He presented a draft cooperation programme for 2026-2027 to Minister Nordio and proposed that the two sides promptly finalise the draft to ensure efficient execution of the 2016 MoU. Nordio, for his part, stated that the delegation visit is a vivid demonstration for the growing cooperation between the two countries, particularly in legal and judicial matters. He expressed Italy's readiness to cooperate and share experience with Viet Nam in the areas of its interest, especially in combating organised crime and training personnel. Earlier, at a discussion with officials from the Italian Ministry of Justice, the delegation exchanged information about digital transformation in judicial work, including the application of information technology in law enforcement, asset verification for enforcement purposes, and AI applications in legal and judicial fields. Both sides agreed to jointly hold future online and in-person workshops to continue sharing experiences in areas where they have similar functions. While in Italy, the delegation also had working sessions with President of the National Council of Notaries Giulio Biino and general secretary of the bar association Alessandro Graziani. At the event, Khoi shared information about the development of notaries and lawyers in Viet Nam, while Italian experts introduced electronic notarisation systems, training and management of legal professionals, and data sharing between judicial bodies and other organisations. In a meeting with Vice President of Italys Commission for Intercountry Adoption Vincenzo Starita, Khoi praised Vietnam-Italy cooperation in the field. Italy ranks among the top three countries with the highest number of approved adoptions of Vietnamese children. Many children with serious illnesses, disabilities, and HIV/AIDS have received medical assistance and found substitute families through Italian adoption organisations. Starita thanked the Vietnamese ministry for promoting cooperation in adoption, affirming that Italy is willing to support Viet Nam with training activities. Deputy Minister Khoi reaffirmed Viet Nam's commitment to effectively implementing international adoption commitments and expressed confidence in continued cooperation in this humanitarian area. The delegation also visited the Vietnamese Embassy to discuss general cooperation between the two countries, particularly in legal and judicial domains. VNS QUANG TRI During the years when Viet Nam was temporarily divided, the Ben Hai River and Hien Luong Bridge were not only geographical boundaries, but also symbols of the struggle for the sacred aspiration for nation unification. The place has engraved its name in history over the years, with ordinary people contributing to the silent epic which has become a symbol for a whole generation living and devoting all their love for the country and belief in a unified in following years. Wars without gunfire For Nguyen Van Tro, 89, lives in Hien Thanh Commune, Vinh Linh District, memories about the days of living and fighting by the Hien Luong Bridge are still vivid. In 1954, after the Geneva Agreement was signed, the Ben Hai River and Hien Luong Bridge were chosen as the temporary border and Tro was then the militia force leader of the Hien Luong Platoon. During the day, he and everyone else worked as normal but at night, he coordinated with the Hien Luong police force to protect the bridge, flagpole and patrol along the river. Recalling this historical period, Tro said that at that time, the propaganda war was equally fierce, with political struggles, fights over the loudspeakers and battles over the flag. Few people could imagine that the paint colour of Hien Luong Bridge was also once the topic of agressive struggles. We wanted to paint the entire bridge blue, a symbol of peace and the desire for unification. But the enermys side continuously repainted their half of the bridge in a different colour, said Tro. Every time the bridge was divided into two contrasting colours, the Vietnamese army and people immediately repainted it back to a single colour, as a steadfast message of the aspiration for a united country. Not stopping there, on the northern bank, a large loudspeaker system was set up, broadcasting the voice of the Government, of the people, of the aspirations for peace. Music, drama and revolutionary songs echoed across the southern bank, penetrating deep into people's hearts. The enemys side also quickly set up a larger loudspeaker system, broadcasting distortions and misrepresentations of the truth and so a war of sound was fought for a very long time. But among those countless battles, flag fighting is considered the most sacred. The red flag with yellow star flying on the top of the flagpole on the northern bank was not only a symbol of the Fatherland, but also flew as a message to the people of the South. Every time, the flagpole was bombed or the flag was ripped apart by the explosions, the militia immediately put it back up. Bamboo and casuarina trees were found, carried back and erected as flag poles amid the storm of bullets. In 1962, the Government asked to build a special flagpole, 38.6m high, weighing 15kg, raising a 134sq.m flag, becoming the tallest flagpole on the border. During the fierce war years, when Hien Luong was the front line facing rains of bombs and storms of bullets, Tro, along with his comrades and the people, did not fear danger. They were willing to sacrifice their lives to preserve the flag, every inch of land, every tree branch with all their will and patriotism until the day the country was reunited. Flag makers at the border For the people in Quang Tri Province, no one can forget the image of a soldier who spent 13 years diligently sewing the national flags to fly on the Hien Luong flagpole. He is Nguyen uc Lang, 88, currently living in Ward 5, ong Ha City. In 1959, he joined the army and became a logistics assistant in the Logistics Division of the Vinh Linh District Border Police. From 1960, he was in charge of military uniforms a seemingly simple task, but one that was extremely special and sacred that is, sewing the national flag to fly on the Hien Luong flagpole and along the route from Hien Luong to Huong Lap Commune, Huong Hoa District. At that time, the red flag with yellow star was not just an emblem of a nation, but a strong declaration of justice, a burning desire for independence and unification, demonstrating the steadfast will of the North towards the South. Recalling those unforgettable years, Lang said, his voice thick with emotion: At first, without experience, it took me seven days to sew a large flag measuring 96sq.m. Later, when I got used to it, I got faster and I could do one in two and a half days. To make such a flag, it took 122sq.m of red fabric and 10sq.m of yellow fabric. The most difficult period was April 1965-1970, when the war was fierce, with bombs and bullets raining down day and night. We had to evacuate, hide in the shelter to sew flags. In times of shortage, every metre of fabric was as precious as blood. From measuring, cutting to sewing, everything had to be carefully calculated to avoid even a small loss, said Lang. The most difficult part was assembling the five-pointed yellow star, each five metres long, which had to be spread out on the ground while the shelter was cramped. Sitting hunched in the dust, stretching each piece of fabric, threading each stitch, at that time the aspiration and dream of a peaceful tomorrow, a united nation, was always full in my heart. The national flags of that time were not just fabric, but spirit, flesh and blood and the image of a resilient nation, said Lang. The flags Lang sewed fluttered proudly amid the fire of war, shining brightly on the Hien Luong flagpole. That image still lives forever in the nation's memory as a part of the sacred soul of the country. Today, returning to daily life, he is still happy to sew national flags to hang on important occasions such as Independence Day September 2, National Reunification Day April 30 and for the Lunar New Year. For his silent but extremely great contributions, Lang was awarded by the State the First Class Resistance Medal, the Liberation Soldier Medal (First, Second, Third Class) and the Glorious Soldier Medal (First, Second, Third Class). Major General Ho Thanh Tu, chairman of the Quang Tri Province Veterans Association, said that Tro and Lang were shining examples of individuals who contributed significantly to the historic victory of the nation in the resistance war. With the war over for half a century, their contributions still retain their value. Each person has a different position and task, but they all have made silent and persistent contributions to the victory, he said. During the resistance war, Quang Tri Province had over 20,000 veterans who served in the fighting, devoted to the cause of national liberation. Many of them have become historical figures, writing the heroic epic of the nation on many fronts, from politics and the battles of the military, to logistics and culture. In today's peaceful life, the soldiers continue to play their role in the new era of building, protecting and developing the homeland, as well as educating the younger generation. VNS HA NOI Vietnams journey toward rural transformation has reached a critical turning point, according to a report. This week, the Independent Evaluation Office (IOE) of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) presented its preliminary findings from the Country Strategy and Programme Evaluation (CSPE) for Vietnam. Spanning more than a decade of collaboration from 2012 to 2024, the findings outline a roadmap for advancing rural development through innovative partnerships and targeted investments. The evaluation assessed 11 investment projects across 15 provinces, showcasing the significant progress Vietnam has achieved with IFADs support. "Our initial evaluation shows tangible improvements in local and regional economies where IFAD intervened. There is a clear and measurable increase in household incomes and significant poverty reduction in these areas," emphasised IOE lead evaluator Paolo Silveri, highlighting the programmes impact. Among the most notable achievements are infrastructure enhancements that have profoundly affected rural communities. Over the evaluation period, IFAD-supported initiatives constructed 652km of roads, established 89 irrigation systems, and improved water supplies for more than 395,000 households. These investments have empowered farmers to access markets more efficiently, enhancing agricultural productivity. "Infrastructure such as roads and irrigation systems have been game-changers for farmers, helping them improve their livelihoods and better connect with market opportunities," Silveri added. Speaking during a meeting with the evaluation team in Ben Tre Province, Vice Chairman of the Provincial Peoples Committee Nguyen Truc Son commended the contributions of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). He stated, "Through three project phases, IFAD has greatly enhanced the capacity of local governments to develop socio-economic plans and market-oriented initiatives with the active participation of our people. These projects have also supported sustainable poverty reduction and piloted critical rural infrastructure improvements." He emphasised the importance of conducting in-depth discussions and surveys with local residents, businesses, and project models that are still in operation or have been handed over to communities. Empowering women through financial inclusion IFADs programmes also triggered significant progress in empowering rural women. Through inclusive financial services, such as Savings and Credit Groups, women have gained greater financial literacy and confidence, allowing them to take on stronger roles in their households and communities. "Many women have become financially independent and more influential in decision-making, which has significantly contributed to better livelihoods in their families and communities, said Silveri. Another standout achievement has been IFAD's focus on climate change adaptation. The evaluation highlighted the successful introduction of resilient agricultural practices, efficient water management systems, and other innovations that have bolstered food security and environmental sustainability. Future Challenges and Opportunities While the results of the evaluation will only be conclusive in the evaluation report, that will be shared with Government in July-August 2025, the evaluations preliminary findings were very promising. On the other hand, the evaluation also underscored pressing challenges. Adapting to the rapid impacts of climate change, particularly in regions like the Mekong Delta, remains a critical concern. Addressing these issues will require strategic planning, focused investments, and stronger collaboration between IFAD and the Vietnamese government. Furthermore, national and international transformations will require both Vietnam and IFAD management renewed efforts to secure fruitful cooperation in future, while securing progress made so far. "The challenges we face are complex, but they also offer opportunities to innovate and lead the way in sustainable rural development, said Mr. Silveri. The Vietnamese government and IFAD went a great length in forging a successful partnership in the past and they have all it takes to adjust it as needed, to achieve even better results while tackling current and emerging challenges. Partnership for the future Deputy Director General of the Department of Debt Management and Foreign Economics at Vietnam's Ministry of Finance, Nguyen Thi Dieu Trinh, praised the collaboration with IFAD, underscoring its alignment with the countrys rural development goals. "The partnership with IFAD has been instrumental in supporting our poverty reduction and rural development strategies. As Vietnam continues to streamline its administrative processes, we are committed to creating even stronger conditions for future cooperation, she said. Ambrosio Barros, IFAD Representative and Head of the Mekong Multi-Country Office, echoed the importance of building on this foundation: "Our collaboration has created resilient and inclusive rural economies. Looking ahead, we aim to scale up these successes, address emerging challenges, and ensure lasting progress for rural communities." The evaluation process will continue in the coming months, offering further insights to shape the next phase of IFADs partnership with Vietnam./. HCM CITY Indonesian Minister of National Development Planning Rachmat Pambudy paid a visit to CT Groups headquarters in HCM City on April 17 as part of his official trip to Viet Nam, aiming to explore co-operation in green technology and sustainable agriculture. The delegation included senior representatives from major Indonesian corporations such as Indika Energy, Nutricell, and Sungai Budi Group, reflecting a growing interest in long-term strategic partnerships with Vietnamese enterprises. During the meeting, Minister Pambudy and CT Group leaders exchanged views on the development of high-tech agriculture and the role of advanced technologies in supporting sustainable growth. The Indonesian side expressed particular interest in CT Groups innovation model and its ecosystem of nine advanced technology sectors, including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, drones, electric vehicles, and renewable energy. The minister said that they are not only visiting, but actively looking for strategic partners who share our aspirations in developing sustainable agriculture through technology. CT Group is a forward-thinking model that Indonesia can learn from and potentially collaborate with on a larger scale. CT Group Chairman Tran Kim Chung welcomed the opportunity for deeper collaboration, proposing several areas for joint development, including smart urban infrastructure, green technology, and advanced manufacturing. He also announced CT Groups intention to establish a representative office in Indonesia to coordinate future investment activities, with operations led by a dedicated team based in Jakarta. Viet Nams approach to integrating technology with agriculture - without compromising traditional farming sectors - was highlighted as a successful model. Over the past decade, the country has increased both agricultural productivity and global competitiveness through tech-driven solutions. Minister Pambudys visit marks a significant step forward in enhancing economic and technological ties between Viet Nam and Indonesia. Both sides expressed optimism about the potential for long-term co-operation in areas critical to sustainable development in the region. VNS Addressing the ceremony, Nguyen Van Binh, chairman of Tien Thanh IP Investment, stated that the company aims to build a modern, green, and smart IP, where high-value, environmentally friendly industries converge. "We hope to garner the trust and long-term cooperation from the business community both domestically and internationally," said Binh. Tien Thanh IP covers an area of 410.46 hectares, with a total investment of $184 million. The IP will boast synchronised technical infrastructure on par with international standards. The groundbreaking ceremony of Tien Thanh IP in Haiphong. Photo: Thanh Son The park is focussing on attracting clean, high-tech industries, mostly involved in the supporting and manufacturing sectors. The development boasts several advantages in terms of its location, as it converges with key transportation links in the more industrialised centre of the northern coastal region, offering favourable connectivity for trading with domestic and international partners. Additionally, it should meet the diverse needs of investors with its efficient logistics centre, able to facilitate the quick and easy transport of goods while attracting high-quality labour. Nguyen Duc Tho, Vice Chairman of Haiphong People's Committee, hopes that in the future, the park will enhance Haiphong's status and spur economic development in the citys southern area while contributing to the local coffers. Tens of thousands of high-quality jobs, with 30,000 anticipated to be the initial number, are also expected to be created. Haiphong is currently home to 18 IPs covering a total area of about 7,100ha. 11 parks are already in operation, with the average occupancy rate surpassing 70 per cent. Artist's impression of Tien Thanh IP. Photo: Thanh Son Tien Thanh IP has been methodically planned, ensuring synchronisation in technical and social infrastructure. The entire wastewater treatment system, telecommunications, and electricity and water supply all meet international standards. The road connecting Provincial Road 354 in Tien Lang district to National Highway No.10 in Vinh Bao district is expected to open up a strategic transportation axis, shortening transportation time while increasing the attractiveness of the entire area for domestic and foreign investment capital. The park has a particular focus on environmental protection, with green technology solutions in wastewater treatment, waste management, and the use of renewable energy such as solar and wind power, making Tien Than an example to follow of a green and sustainable industrial park. Nguyen Van Binh, chairman of Tien Thanh IP Investment JSC. Photo: Thanh Son "Tien Thanh IP is a key aspect of Haiphong's development strategy. Once completed, it will provide many opportunities for businesses and workers to contribute to the city's development, creating stable and long-term growth for the entire northern coastal region," said Binh. Vice Chairman Tho urged the developer to complete the construction as soon as possible to begin partial infrastructure leasing from the third quarter of next year. "Haiphong is committed to creating the best conditions for businesses in its IPs and economic zones, particularly for Tien Thanh IP Investment JSC to accelerate the construction progress. At the same time, the city will regularly monitor and promptly support investors in resolving arising issues during the implementation of any undertaking in the park," he said. The investment project to build and operate the infrastructure of Tien Thanh IP was approved according to Decision No.647/QD-TTG in May 2022, and was granted the Investment Registration Certificate by Haiphong Economic Zones Management Authority (HEZA) in June of that year, at a scale of 410.46 hectares in Tien Thanh and Cap Tien communes, Tien Lang district, Haiphong. High-tech logistics development breaks ground in Haiphong Located in Haiphong's Nam Dinh Vu Industrial Park, Jeil Logistics 1 is a $44.5 million undertaking by South Korea's Jeil Group. Covering an area of 80,000 square metres, it is expected to be fully operational in the third quarter of 2026. Sembcorp breaks ground for ready-built facility in Haiphong Sembcorp Infra Services, a subsidiary of Sembcorp Development, held a groundbreaking for Sembcorp Logistics Park Dinh Vu in the northern port city of Haiphong on March 6. The information was shared in Hanoi by Nguyen Tuan Quang, deputy director of the Department of Climate Change, at a consultation workshop held on April 16 by the Southeast Asia Energy Transition Partnership (ETP) and his department, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. The discussions are part of technical assistance on assessing the impact of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions trading and carbon credits in Vietnam, funded by the United Nations Office for Project Services under the ETP framework, aimed at supporting the Climate Change Department in developing Vietnams carbon market. At the workshop, the organising board updated on Vietnams regulations and roadmap for the domestic carbon market in the pilot phase and discussed international experiences on governance options and impact assessment for ETS and lessons learnt for the country. Besides that, the organising board presented findings from the analysis of the national context and governance options for the ETS pilot phase and also discussed findings from the impact assessment of governance options. ETS market design options need to ensure the suitability and feasibility of scenarios concerning the scope of participating sectors, the determination of the total emissions cap, and particularly the method for initial quota allocation (such as free allocation, auction, or a combination with specific ratios) for facilities in the pilot phase, based on the impact analyses conducted, said Quang. During the pilot phase, only large-scale facilities in terms of steel production, cement, and thermal power will be included in the carbon market, with an estimated 200 enterprises participating. In subsequent phases, it is expected that enterprises from other sectors will be included," he added. To effectively operate the pilot carbon market, experts emphasised the need to carefully consider market design and management options, evaluate the impacts of each option, and select the optimal approach to balance economic development needs with GHG emissions reduction targets. John Robert Cotton, deputy director of the ETP, said, Assessing the impact of the carbon market will be a crucial foundation for establishing a domestic emissions trading system. This will contribute to Vietnam achieving its net-zero emissions target by 2050. The impact assessment will provide parameters, indicators, and measurement tools, enabling Vietnam to implement the pilot phase of the carbon market from 2025 to 2028, followed by full-scale implementation. According to proposals from the Green Climate Innovation (GreenCIC), the projects consultant firm, there are 10 steps to designing and operating a carbon market, with three core design components, namely scope, emissions cap setting, and quota allocation. Regarding scope, experts of GreenCIC emphasised the importance of selecting sectors/fields to participate in the ETS, ensuring a balance between GHG emissions reduction goals and economic growth. This firm also recommended that the approach be based on two main factors, namely emissions intensity and trade intensity. The free allocation of quotas during the pilot phase based on the unconditional UN's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) scenario. This is considered an important stepping stone to help enterprises become familiar with the carbon market while minimising negative impacts on production, business activities, and the overall economy during the transition period, said Nguyen Hong Loan, advisory manager at GreenCIC. Within the scope of the ETP-funded study, the expert team of GreenCIC conducted impact assessments of the ETS on a scale of 114 enterprises, including 56 clinker production facilities, 27 crude steel production facilities, and 31 thermal power facilities, which collectively accounted for approximately 43 per cent of the countrys total GHG emissions from 2020 to 2022. The results show that implementing the ETS could significantly reduce compliance costs for enterprises in meeting emissions reduction commitments under the NDC. $2 billion Thai Binh LNG Thermal Power Plant to start construction in September The investor of the $2-billion Thai Binh LNG Thermal Power Plant is required to kick off construction in September. Carbon market emerges as catalyst for business competitiveness A carbon market forum in Hanoi has heard that Vietnams 2050 net-zero goal is not only attainable with strong domestic and international collaboration, but also a strategic gateway to boost national competitiveness and deepen global partnerships. Training course focuses on ETS and carbon markets 120 businesses from the steel, cement, and thermal power industries have participated in training courses in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City on emissions trading and carbon markets using the CarbonSim simulation tool. Carbon market: An opportunity for businesses to engage in green economy Carbon is an intangible commodity, but it is a product with significant value and potential for investment and business opportunities. However, it also presents many challenges for Vietnamese businesses that are not yet fully prepared, said experts at a seminar in Hanoi on December 25. Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MoAE) held a meeting to discuss solutions to achieve industry growth of 4 per cent for 2025. By the end of the first quarter, the industry was estimated to have experienced growth of 3.7 per cent. Usually, second quarter growth is higher than the first quarter, and growth momentum continues in the last two quarters of the year. Therefore, the increase of 3.7 per cent in the first three months indicates that we are close to the annual target. Phung Duc Tien, deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment The MoAE is striving for export turnover of $65 billion for agricultural, forestry, and fishery products this year. Between January and March, the agricultural sector reached $15.72 billion, up 13.1 per cent on-year. However, facing the US reciprocal tariff scheme, we need to discuss prioritised and specific solutions for each sector and detailed implementation methods to manage exports to meet the governments target of $64-65 billion. The government and the MoAE have taken numerous actions since the United States announced new tariffs. With this new level, Vietnamese agricultural products are relatively less affected. However, during the imposition process, we still need to voice our opinions to US regulatory agencies, as this country is a comprehensive strategic partner of Vietnam. The entire economy and all farmers must benefit from this partnership. The government is also holding annual meetings to discuss this matter. Now, with such a comprehensive strategic partnership, we can still find solutions, especially through sci-tech advancements, improving productivity and quality, moderately reducing costs, and meeting the criteria, standards, and regulations of this strict market. Vietnams stance is to seek comprehensive, long-term solutions, with a particular emphasis on negotiation. In negotiations with the US, we need to leverage the inherent strengths of Vietnamese agricultural products, including good quality, competitive pricing, no direct competition with US domestic production, and many items without substitutes. At the same time, we must have the mindset that it is an opportunity to restructure production, commodity sectors, and export markets. This is an opportune moment to boost the development of high-value-added products, moving towards a sustainable, higher-quality production model. The US remains one of the largest, most potential-rich markets with high profit margins for Vietnamese agricultural products. The MoAE continues to implement solutions as directed by the government. Among these, negotiations with US partners, such as the Department of Agriculture and the Embassy in Vietnam, will be strongly promoted to find common ground with the US government. In particular, the ministry will instruct localities, businesses, and farmers to maintain production plans without changes during this period. At the same time, it will support businesses in seeking alternative markets and continue gathering feedback from enterprises and associations to propose to the government. However, the importance is that we still must focus on directing production to enhance productivity and quality while lowering costs, ensuring our products can compete with other markets. On the other hand, this is also an opportunity to accelerate market expansion and reduce dependence on a single market. As we know, in the agricultural product market structure with over 200 countries and territories, in 2024, exports to the US reached $13.8 billion, ranking first; China followed with $13.6 billion, ranking second. This structure gives us an advantage when entering the US market. In terms of market share, exports to Europe account for over 44 per cent, Japan 6.7 per cent, South Korea nearly 4 per cent, and the Philippines imported 2.92 million tonnes of our rice - over 5 per cent. When our agricultural products enter the US market, there are many barriers, such as anti-dumping policies and equivalence requirements, but we have overcome them all. For example, the Chinese market ranks second. There are still many products we can export to China, especially those covered by signed protocols, such as frozen durians, vaccinated animals with reduced blood clotting, crocodiles, monkeys, and many other items in both crop and fishery sectors. Finally, we must focus on production, applying science and technology to enhance value, productivity, and quality, reduce costs, and meet the standards and regulations of the US market while expanding to other highly potential markets for Vietnamese agricultural products. Ministry proposes extending agricultural land tax exemption through 2030 The Ministry of Finance has proposed the National Assembly extend the agricultural land tax exemption until December 31, 2030, a move aimed at encouraging investments in agriculture and rural areas to improve the competitive edge of the agricultural products amidst deeper international integration. During a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Uzbekistan last week, Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man met with Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress of China Losang Jamcan. Agricultural export markets diversify, photo Le Toan Chairman Man proposed that China further open its market to Vietnamese goods, particularly agricultural and seafood products, highlighting the need to implement large-scale, symbolic projects that reflect the growing cooperation between the two nations. The Chinese official added that China was willing to import high-quality products from Vietnam, including agricultural products, and hoped that Vietnam would send delegations to participate in Chinas import-export fairs, including the ASEAN-China Expo. China agreed to import products from 11 dairy plants and nine bird nest enterprises in Vietnam. China also approved the import of 48 types of live aquatic species and 128 processed seafood products, and approximately 600 Vietnamese seafood enterprises are licensed to export to its market. In terms of other markets, Vu Ba Phu, director general of the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, told local media in Hanoi on April 4 that the agency was collaborating with ministries, sectors, localities, and agricultural industry associations to focus on key tasks to boost the consumption of relevant products. The agency will continue to closely coordinate with the Vietnamese trade offices abroad and international trade promotion organisations to support businesses in participating in major trade fairs such as Fruit Logistica Berlin, Biofach, and Foodex Japan. These events help businesses secure contracts and enhance the position of Vietnamese agricultural products in the global market, Phu said. The agency will continue to work with major retail corporations such as Walmart, AEON, Lotte, and Central Group to organise Vietnamese Goods Week programmes in these markets. This is a good opportunity for Vietnamese agricultural products to add more international consumers, expand market outlets, and increase export value. The agency will try to improve the efficiency of negotiations, market opening, trade promotion, and addressing trade-related issues, said Phu. In its 2025 action plan signed in early April, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment outlined a key solution: developing a market classification system to set export targets by sub-sector and region, with a focus on high-potential markets. The plan also includes preparing detailed market reports and responding to changes in taxes, origin rules, and technical standards in key destinations such as the US, EU, and China. The analysis of each product will be linked to the demands of the importing markets. For example, Japan, China, and the EU are targeted markets for wood products; China, Japan, the EU, and South Korea are targeted for aquatic products; while cashew nuts are exported to the EU, China, UAE, and the UK. Regardless of the market, quality, design, and standards must be standardised at the highest level to avoid dependence on any single market. The potential to expand export markets is clear. Enhancing productivity and quality while reducing costs to improve competitiveness and access more markets is a necessity. However, to achieve this, the business community needs support and policies to bolster the competitiveness of goods, collaborating with state management agencies to expand export markets. Nguyen Van Muoi, deputy secretary-general of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, said that most of Vietnams agricultural products were exported fresh or minimally processed, resulting in large export volumes but low-value and high risks when markets fluctuate or policies on taxes change. Therefore, businesses are waiting for mechanisms to encourage them to invest in deep processing, The incentive policies encourage businesses to invest in science and technology for deep processing to increase the value of exported agricultural products and arrange raw material zones linked to processing plants to reduce production and logistics costs. This is especially critical as many businesses currently have factories located far from raw material zones for example, raw materials are grown in Dak Nong province, but factories are in Ho Chi Minh City, and the southern provinces of Long An and Binh Duong. Currently, the country has 51,000 enterprises related to the processing industry, but only 7,500 facilities and enterprises process on an industrial scale, and in the fruit and vegetable sector, only 150 enterprises use high-tech processing. Meanwhile, transportation costs are very high, so businesses need to plan raw material zones linked to production plants. There are large raw material zones without nearby factories, leaving businesses vulnerable in securing production materials. This is also an opportunity to reorganise raw material zones and factories to reduce transportation costs, Muoi said. Nguyen Tri Ngoc, vice chairman of the Vietnam Fertiliser Association, argued that amending the Law on Standards and Technical Regulations and the Law on Product and Goods Quality is crucial, as these are two foundational laws. We have consistently advocated for the abolition of conformity certification and conformity announcements as these procedures are unnecessary, overlapping, and have burdened us for years. Maintaining them means indebting the country, businesses, and more than 10 million farming households, Ngoc said. Ministry proposes extending agricultural land tax exemption through 2030 The Ministry of Finance has proposed the National Assembly extend the agricultural land tax exemption until December 31, 2030, a move aimed at encouraging investments in agriculture and rural areas to improve the competitive edge of the agricultural products amidst deeper international integration. According to Minister Thang, Vietnam ranks third globally in the number of participating investors in cryptoasset trading. Underground and unofficial transactions, outside of state oversight, pose a significant risk to investors, so a robust legal framework is essential for effective regulation. The government assigned the Ministry of Finance (MoF) to preside over and work with relevant agencies to build the legal framework for cryptoasset transactions. The MoF will submit to the government a resolution in early May to pilot the implementation of a cryptoasset trading platform in the country to control risks and test the legal corridor so that businesses and investors can be transparent and safe in all transactions. "This mechanism also helps to utilise resources from cryptoassets to develop the digital economy in Vietnam," the minister said. Bybit is a cryptocurrency exchange founded in 2018 in Dubai. It is also the second-largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world after Binance, and is licensed to operate in many countries around the world. "Vietnam has great potential to develop a cryptoasset market," co-founder Zhou said. "Once a legal framework is established, a well-regulated exchange can bring many positives." Zhou is interested in a sandbox model that is a safe and simulated environment to test trading features. He has proposed working closely with the MoF to assist in the process of drafting the legal framework, as well as providing technical support. "Vietnam has many blockchain technology developers, but Bybit has experience building anti-money laundering control systems, along with tools and partnerships with major global organisations, allowing full transaction tracking to prevent illegal money flows. This means Bybit is well-positioned to help Vietnam develop proper legal processes for cryptoasset transactions," he added. Minister Thang expressed his appreciation of Bybit's offer of support and assigned the State Securities Commission to work with the company to firm up its proposals. MoF seeks business proactivity in ESG The Ministry of Finance is assisting enterprises in practising environmental, social, and governance considerations in order to improve their competitiveness. ADB works with MoF to mobilise more loans for sustainable development Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang received Scott Morris, vice president for East and Southeast Asia, and the Pacific of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), on April 15 to discuss how to improve the efficiency of loan use. Crypto clarity could offer fresh investment channels Recognising cryptocurrency and building a comprehensive legal system will not only help Vietnam access foreign currency but also create an alluring environment for domestic businesses. You have visited Vietnam to mark 52 years of France-Vietnam diplomatic relations. What have been the key priorities of your visit, and how does it align with the comprehensive strategic partnership between our two countries? Laurent Saint-Martin, French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and French Nationals Abroad This visit has marked an important step in deepening the French-Vietnamese relationship. The comprehensive strategic partnership signed in October 2024, during the visit to Paris by Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam, gave a new impetus to our bilateral relationship. This partnership reflects our shared ambition to elevate our cooperation to an unprecedented level, structured around three pillars, namely sovereignty, sustainable economic development, and innovation. My ambition is to amplify the momentum and go even further. I have met with several Vietnamese ministers to translate this ambition into concrete actions. The goal has been to strengthen our political dialogue and identify new opportunities for cooperation on shared priorities. At a time of global trade tensions and economic uncertainty, it is crucial to foster dialogue, mutual understanding, and joint responses. France is committed to supporting Vietnam in its ambitions for growth, transition, and sovereignty sharing our expertise and building a mutually beneficial relationship based on trust. How is France supporting its companies in their development in Vietnam, particularly smaller businesses and innovative startups? Vietnam is a key economic partner for France in Southeast Asia. More than 250 French companies are operating in the country. Our companies are reliable, long-term partners. But beyond the numbers, our ambition is to foster value-creating partnerships in forward-looking sectors. The French Embassy to Vietnam, along with Business France, the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Vietnam, and the entire Team France Export, actively supports French companies in establishing and growing their presence. We place particular emphasis on innovative startups, which find in Vietnam a young, dynamic and vibrant ecosystem. The French Tech Vietnam Summit, to be held in Ho Chi Minh City on May 27, in partnership with the National Innovation Centre, will highlight these French and Vietnamese entrepreneurs who are building technological bridges between our two countries. TGV Day, held in Hanoi in March, was another strong example of this business dialogue. It showcased the best of French expertise while helping us better understand Vietnams needs and expectations. Vietnam is actively engaging in the energy and digital transitions. What synergies can France offer in these areas? France is fully committed to supporting Vietnam in its dual energy and digital transition. We bring recognised expertise in low-carbon energy, sustainable transport, and smart resource management. French companies rank among the best in the world in those key sectors. Their expertise and know-how is second to none. Their global track record speaks for itself. We are close partners in the Just Energy Transition Partnership, which supports Vietnams transition while ensuring social and environmental sustainability. This work also aligns with the broader vision of the Paris Pact for People and the Planet. On the digital front, France is eager to strengthen cooperation in cybersecurity, AI, e-health, edtech, and e-government - a key area of focus for Vietnamese authorities. These are all strategic fields where we can share knowledge, co-develop solutions, and innovate together. Can we expect major new initiatives in the field of innovation between France and Vietnam in 2025? Absolutely. Innovation is one of the pillars of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between our two countries. In 2025, we will jointly launch the FranceVietnam Year of Innovation, in partnership with Vietnams National Innovation Centre. This initiative will give special visibility to our rich scientific, technological, and academic cooperation. The launch will take place on May 27 alongside the French Tech Vietnam Summit, which will bring together the French and Vietnamese innovation ecosystems to foster exchanges and concrete collaborations. Throughout the year, we will lead joint actions to encourage student and scientific mobility, support Franco-Vietnamese academic programmes, and expand the alumni network. Innovation is also an investment in youth and future ideas. By combining our strengths, talents, and visions, we are building a partnership that is forward-looking, sustainable, and deeply human. An Hoang Ha joined Freshfields in 2005 and is a key senior team member of the Freshfields Vietnam team. Over the past two decades, Ha has been instrumental in successfully executing Freshfields clients most significant transactions in the market, with a focus on the banking and financial services sectors. He has acted for all of the Japanese mega banks and several other leading global financial institutions on their investments in Vietnam into a range of financial institutions, spanning banks as well as consumer finance, insurance, securities, and fintech companies. Ha is a trusted advisor to clients, known for his profound transactional expertise. In addition to his transactional work, Ha leads Freshfields Vietnam's antitrust and competition law practice. His in-depth knowledge of the Vietnam Competition Law has been crucial in assisting multinational investors with merger filings on cross-border transactions in Vietnam. Thomas Ng, Freshfields Asia regional managing partner, and Eric Johnson, managing partner of Freshfields' Hanoi office, commented, On behalf of Freshfields partners, we congratulate Ha on his well-earned promotion and look forward to his continued success and contributions to the legal profession in Vietnam. This promotion underscores Freshfields' commitment to the Vietnam market and the strength of our Vietnam team. By elevating a highly skilled and experienced professional like Ha, Freshfields demonstrates our confidence in the potential of the Vietnamese legal market and our intention to invest in the county's continued growth. This strategic move not only strengthens Freshfields' presence in Vietnam but also reinforces our long-term vision of fostering a robust and dynamic legal practice in the country. I am absolutely delighted that Ha has been promoted to counsel at Freshfields, added Tomoko Nakajima, a partner in Freshfields Tokyo office. Ha is highly respected by our Japanese clients for his exceptional ability to navigate and advise on the most high-profile and complex transactions, particularly in the banking and financial services sectors. This well-deserved recognition honours Ha's achievements and enhances the firms capacity to leverage his profound knowledge and experience in working with Japanese investors in Vietnam. First-ever Vietnamese lawyer joins Freshfields international partnership Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (Freshfields) has elected Vietnam-based counsel Bui Thanh Tien, one of the leading corporate and finance lawyers in Vietnam, to the firms international partnership. Freshfields promotes Eric Johnson to international partnership in Hanoi Global law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (Freshfields) has elected Hanoi-based global transactions counsel Eric Johnson to its partnership. The promotion is effective from May 1. Including a levy paid in 2020, the corporation has paid VND17.8 trillion ($688 million). Trang Cat Urban and Service Area has now collected fees for the entire long-term housing land. The project has been invested in by KBC since 2006. The Trang Cat complex is located adjacent to the 5B Hanoi Haiphong Highway. It takes about 50 minutes to travel from Hanoi to the urban area by car. It boasts convenient and easy access to Hai Duong, Hung Yen, Thai Binh, and Quang Ninh provinces, which are fast-growing. Under the plan, KBC will start construction of a 50-hectare social housing area in Trang Cat Urban and Service Area in May. In the past year, SHP, a subsidiary of KBC, has become a major social housing construction company. SHP has built and handed over thousands of social housing units with a stable profit of 10 per cent. The company's social housing projects in Bac Giang, Danang, and Haiphong have provided a large amount of affordable housing. In the first quarter, KBC signed a 68-ha land lease (accounting for over 30 per cent of the plan for the year). With more than 20 years of operations and having experienced many significant fluctuations in the domestic and foreign markets, KBC upholds stable and sustainable development with diverse business plans. KBC rides high in industrial property As one of the largest operators of industrial parks in the country, Kinh Bac City Development Holding Corporation has become a trusted developer for many foreign investors. Plus points converge to set up US investment breakthrough Kinh Bac City Development Holding Corporation (HSX: KBC) is welcoming new investment inflows, especially from the United States. Chairman Dang Thanh Tam talked with VIRs Lam Phong about the potential of its upcoming operation. Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, emphasised that green energy is a unique investment opportunity in the 21st century. "The UN will continue to play a key role in promoting PPP globally. However, success at scale requires strong frameworks, institutions, and a specific portfolio of potential projects that are able to receive finance," she highlighted. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) secretary-general Mathias Cormann said that Vietnam has many opportunities to encourage cooperation with international partners in the energy sector, thanks to its position as Southeast Asia's largest renewable energy supplier. "We are willing to coordinate and support Vietnam in strengthening PPP, attracting investment, training green skills for workers and exchanging experiences, and promoting policy discussions on green growth," he said. "The OECD will release the Vietnam Economic Report in June, including many recommendations and pilot proposals to push Vietnam's rapid, sustainable, and inclusive development." Francesco Corvaro, Italy's special envoy for climate change, highlighted the two most important areas transport and energy and three prerequisites investment, innovation, and cooperation during the green transition process. Alejandro Dorado, Spanish commissioner for circular economy, suggested, "All countries should boost the role of multilateralism and the role of international cooperation as an important driving force to increase trust, accelerate the progress of energy transition, build circular, environmentally friendly and inclusive economies." Representatives said that no country, enterprise, or university can solve the big challenges of climate change, sustainable development, and green growth, calling for strengthening PPP, applying innovation, and promoting sustainable development initiatives. Chairman of Danang People's Committee Le Trung Chinh shared some of the policies that were approved in recent years. "The city's new policies have paved the way for innovative startups, organisations, and individuals to develop strongly, as well as shaping the role of Danang as a national and regional innovation startup hub," he emphasised. Asian Development Bank (ADB) country director for Vietnam, Shantanu Chakraborty, emphasised, "Close coordination for PPP, along with startups and an innovation ecosystem, will play a key role as Vietnam promotes its green growth and digital transformation process." EuroCham Chairman Bruno Jaspaert said that Vietnam is facing a strategic opportunity to develop sustainably, promote innovation, and become a regional leader in this field. "This opportunity will differentiate Vietnam from other investment destinations. To realise this vision, Jaspaert proposed that the government remove bottlenecks in management, institutions, and access to green finance," he highlighted. Large Vietnamese corporations, including VNPT and TH Group, shared the results of green transformation, the application of science and technology, and innovation. Notably, two key manufacturing companies under TH Group have achieved carbon-neutral certification, contributing to the government's commitments. Ho Viet Hai, founder of startup Alterno, said, "The government should develop lending mechanisms and preferential credit packages for startups and innovation related to green growth." Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh concluding the dialogue Concluding the dialogue, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated that Vietnam appreciates the opinions of businesses and pays attention to four groups of issues. First is to encourage science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation to build a transparent and public digital environment. Second is reorganising organisational apparatus to reduce intermediaries and focal points for administrative procedures. Third is to boost international integration, and firmly adhere to a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation, and diversification. Fourth is to improve the investment and business environment to harmonise benefits and shared risks. The PM also highlighted four major contents agreed upon at the dialogue. "PPP are the key to realising our sustainable development goals. Developing countries need to build a complete, comprehensive, and effective ecosystem to promote PPP to develop the green economy and digital economy. Green growth and sustainable development must go hand in hand with the development of sci-tech, innovation, and digital transformation. High-quality human resources are the decisive factor for the success of green public-private partnership projects." The PM suggested the public sector improve institutions, drive green finance, support businesses to invest in innovation, green technology and sustainable development, strengthen international cooperation, transfer green technology, and build a high-quality workforce to drive the PPP model and effective and sustainable green transformation. "The business community and associations should increase investment in green technology and digital transformation, apply global standards, participate in green infrastructure projects under the PPP model, implement environmental, social, and governance standards, support the innovation ecosystem, and proactively contribute to building sustainable development policies," he emphasised. Vietnam accelerates green cooperation through P4G Summit Vietnam hopes that the fourth Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Summit, to be held next year, will promote public-private partnerships and cooperation between countries in drafting policies to promote the green growth transition. WB and ADB provide $400 million for three projects in Vietnam The World Bank and the Asian Development Bank will provide loans and grants worth $400 million for three socio-economic development projects in Vietnam. Global trade policy shifts and geopolitical tensions present a moment of pause, but not one of complacency. Temporary windows like this could serve as a golden opportunity for Vietnamese businesses to reassess their strategies and adapt to a rapidly changing landscape. Truong Huu Ngu, managing partner, Vilasia In times like these, Vietnamese businesses can be quick to react part anxious, part adaptive. Many are actively tracking developments and seeking opportunities even amid turbulence. This period may well mark a turning point, prompting Vietnam to reduce overdependence on single markets, diversify its trade portfolio, and build stronger internal capacities. How do businesses truly prepare for this unpredictable terrain? The answer lies in both legal readiness and strategic foresight. One of the most immediate concerns for exporters is contract management. Companies must carefully revisit contracts with US importers to ensure there are clauses addressing force majeure or hardship due to unforeseen changes. Terms related to pricing adjustments in the face of external shocks should also be evaluated. Just as vital are upstream contracts with suppliers changes in input costs, availability, or origin can have ripple effects that must be accounted for. Another critical pillar is compliance. Now more than ever, businesses must take trade compliance seriously. This includes thorough documentation of product origin to avoid being flagged for tariff circumvention. In industries like timber and wood products, proof of value addition in Vietnam is key. The United States applies strict rules of origin, including criteria such as substantial transformation and basic assembly is often not enough to qualify. Moreover, companies must avoid the temptation of engaging in transshipment or unlawful circumvention of duties. Once under investigation, the consequences can be long-term and damaging. US authorities have shown they take violations seriously. These trade tensions do not just affect local businesses. Many of our foreign clients have expressed concerns as well. Firms manufacturing in Vietnam and exporting to the US now face uncertain tariff exposure and may need to reconsider their supply chain footprints. Relocating facilities or adjusting sourcing strategies takes time, making policy clarity all the more critical. At this critical juncture, a number of policy interventions could provide timely support to help Vietnamese exporters navigate the volatile trade landscape. First and foremost, streamlining customs procedures would ease the administrative and financial burden on exporters, particularly those facing high import duties. Reducing procedural bottlenecks not only saves time and costs but also improves the predictability of export operations. In parallel, there is a pressing need to clarify rules of origin. Clear and accessible guidance will enable businesses to ensure compliance with international trade rules, particularly in the context of preferential tariffs and origin-based taxation. Another area where policy support can make a difference is taxation. Accelerating VAT refunds and considering temporary tax relief measures could enhance cash flow for enterprises under pressure. Furthermore, access to trade financing should be expanded through commercial banking channels. Financial solutions tailored to help businesses diversify into new markets will be instrumental in reducing dependence on a single destination, as the US. On the enterprise level, companies must prioritise risk management as a core strategy. A foundational step is to strengthen contractual protections, including robust clauses to address hardship or force majeure in the event of sudden regulatory or market changes. In addition, leveraging financial tools like trade credit insurance and currency hedging can help mitigate exposure to unforeseen disruptions in payment or foreign exchange fluctuations. As businesses seek to remain competitive, cost optimisation will naturally be a focus but this must be approached with care. Ethical cost management practices, such as restructuring operations or streamlining processes, should avoid triggering labour disputes or reputational harm. Finally, long-term resilience will require greater investment in value creation. Businesses are encouraged to focus on upgrading product quality, enhancing design, and building distinct Vietnamese brands. By moving beyond cost-based competition and investing in innovation and materials, enterprises can build a more sustainable foundation for global growth. The truth is, volatility is here to stay. But with the right legal and strategic mindset, Vietnamese enterprises can navigate complexity, remain compliant, and emerge stronger in the long run. The National Statistics Office (NSO) last week reported that so far this year the domestic economy has hit the highest on-year growth since 2020. GDP in Q1 increased 6.93 per cent far higher than the on-year rates of the 2020-2024 period. The three key economic sectors witnessed positive growth, including agriculture (3.74 per cent); industry and construction (7.42 per cent); and services (7.7 per cent). Especially, the countrys leading localities also followed suit, such as Ho Chi Minh City (7.51 per cent) and Hanoi (7.35 per cent). Nine localities recorded double-digit growth, such as Bac Giang, Hoa Binh, Nam Dinh, and Danang. According to the NSO, production and business activities have shown good signals. In March, about 15,600 enterprises were newly established, up 54.2 per cent on-month and 3.4 per cent on-year. In Q1, there were 72,900 businesses newly established and resuming operation, up 18.6 per cent. The total registered capital added into the economy reached $55.47 billion, which was 2.1 times higher than the same period last year. The domestic economy is bouncing back month after month and quarter after quarter, said a government report last week. Many international organisations and experts have continued to highly value the Vietnamese economys outcomes and prospects, especially in the context of global economic difficulties. The World Bank recently projected that Vietnams economy will grow 6.8 per cent this year, while the United Nations predicted a rate of 6.6 per cent, the highest in Southeast Asia, the report pointed out. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) last week forecasted that Vietnams economy will grow 6.6 per cent this year. Strong trade, a recovery in export manufacturing, and robust foreign direct investment fuelled Vietnams economic growth in 2024, said ADB country director for Vietnam Shantanu Chakraborty. However, recent US announcements on tariffs, along with other continued global uncertainties, could pose significant challenges to the countrys growth this year. According to the ADB, the evolving global economic environment, significantly affected by recent tariff-related announcements by the US and geopolitical tensions, is posing significant challenges for economies dependent on export-driven manufacturing. External uncertainties - such as tariff escalations, reciprocal measures, the prolonged war in Ukraine, and ongoing instability in the Middle East - could constrain near- to medium-term global economic growth. Moreover, a slowdown in the US and China, Vietnams major trading partners, could further affect economic prospects. The Vietnamese government has initiated an ambitious plan to boost growth, which can help mitigate the significant external risks, Chakraborty added. Higher and sustainable economic growth is possible if ongoing, extensive institutional reforms are implemented swiftly and efficiently. Such reforms would stimulate domestic demand, increase governance efficiency in the near term, and consequently promote private sector development over the medium and long term. The US is now Vietnams largest import market, with total turnover of $119.5 billion in 2024 and $31.4 billion in Q1 of 2025. US President Donald Trump last week abruptly backed down in his global trade war with a 90 day pause for most countries including Vietnam, at flat rate of 10 per cent. China is now suffering the brunt of the policy, with neither side backing down and the US now charging 125 per cent on Chinese imports. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that although the economic growth target of 8 per cent upward this year will be difficult to reach, the government will not change it. It is a demand from the prime minister, said Deputy Minister of Finance Do Thanh Trung at last weeks government-led press conference on Vietnams Q1 performance. The Ministry of Finance (MoF) has formulated a new scenario for economic growth for each sector, and detailed growth goals have been allocated to localities. Under the scenario, for the economy to grow 8 per cent or more, the average growth rate for the remaining nine months must be 8.3 per cent, with 8.2 per cent for Q2, 8.3 per cent for Q3, and 8.4 per cent for Q4. This scenario is 0.27 per cent higher than the initial scenario set in late 2024. The new scenario is quite challenging, but we think it can be achieved, Deputy Minister Trung said, referring to the strongly recovering manufacturing and processing industry, which grew 9.5 per cent in Q1, and it is forecasted to climb about 10.1 per cent in Q2. Under the results from the NSOs business performance of manufacturing and processing enterprises in Q1 of 2025, only 24.1 per cent of those assessing that their production and business activities were better than in Q4 of 2024. However, in Q2 of 2025, the rate is 45.8 per cent as compared to Q1 of 2025. The MoF is carrying out many solutions, including working directly with big investors to materialise projects. It is targeted that the total registered foreign investment of about $38-40 billion will be attracted, and the disbursed sum will be $27-28 billion this year, Trung said. To ensure the desired growth, the Vietnamese government will continue its administrative reform, with efforts to reduce by at least 30 per cent of processing time for procedures, and also the same rate for business costs. Moreover, at least 30 per cent of business conditions will be removed altogether, and no admin procedures will be subject to provincial-level boundaries. While having assigned the Ministry of Construction to accelerate projects, and ensure the completion of 3,000km of expressways in 2025, the government has also ordered the central bank to harmonise the monetary and fiscal policies in a flexible, active, and timely manner, with a credit growth rate of 16 per cent this year. Credits must be focused on prioritised sectors and key growth impetuses including public investment, exports, and consumption. PM Chinh stated that exports are a key growth driver that must be promoted, but it is not the only one. The United States is the largest export market, but not the only market. We place economic and trade relations with the United States in the overall economic and trade relations of Vietnam with other countries, especially those that have signed free trade agreements with Vietnam and other international treaties, in the spirit of preceding national interests first and foremost, based on harmonised benefits and shared risks with partners, he added. Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Dinh Tho, vice president, Institute of Strategy, Policy on Agriculture and Environment The Fourth Industrial Revolution, or 'Green Revolution', is equipping us with powerful tools, from AI, the Internet of Things, and big data to biotechnology and blockchain, helping us optimise production processes, reduce emissions, increase productivity, and protect the environment. National policies are gradually being improved to encourage the application of technology and innovation in agriculture. Vietnam has issued the Green Growth Strategy, the Digital Transformation Strategy for Agriculture, and initiatives to promote circular agriculture and low-carbon agriculture. The government is supporting agricultural startups, research and development, and the transformation of production models towards smart agriculture aligned with environmental standards and international markets. State management agencies and international organisations play a crucial role in the green and digital transformation of the sustainable agricultural ecosystem. We need multilateral cooperation, knowledge sharing, financial resources, and the latest technology to overcome barriers related to cost, capacity, and market access. Groups such as The Food and Agriculture Organisation, International Fund for Agricultural Development, United Nations Development Programme, Asian Development Bank, and Green Climate Fund have been working with Vietnam to transfer technology, increase farming yields, and boost public-private partnership models in sustainable agriculture. From practical experiences in local areas and around the world, we have seen many successful green agriculture models: the rice-solar energy integration model in An Giang; organic farming combined with AI in Japan; weather-data-based smart farming systems in Israel; and digital technology startups led by young Vietnamese people. The successes in green and digital transformation show that when farmers are empowered with tools, knowledge, and confidence, they become pioneers in their own agricultural revolution. The Green Revolution is not just about technology. It is a revolution in mindset, in institutions, and in the partnership between the state, businesses, and the people. It is a collaboration among the government, academic institutions, research institutes, enterprises, and financial investment funds. To ensure sustainable food security, we must act faster, more decisively, and together. Facing global changes in the investment and trade environment such as the US tariff policies and the EU's stringent environmental regulations including the Regulation on Deforestation-free Products, Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, and measures against 'Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated' fisheries, Vietnam needs to implement solutions that will improve its green institutional framework, invest in green infrastructure, and carry out commitments under the Paris Agreement on green finance, green technology, and capacity building for sustainable production and consumption chains. Priority should be given to green finance, climate finance, and carbon finance by linking the voluntary carbon credit market with the compliance carbon market, and connecting Vietnam's domestic voluntary carbon market with the international carbon market by way of transactions via the Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes, under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. I firmly believe that through this P4G forum, we will share valuable initiatives, forge action alliances, and open new chapters in the green and digital transformation of Vietnams agriculture towards a sustainable, innovative, modern, and globally integrated agriculture sector. Vietnams aspirations are as inspiring as they are urgent. By 2045, the country aims to become a high-income economy. Yet, the journey must be more than economic it must be inclusive and equitable. A just transition ensures that workers are not left behind in coalfields and factories, that small businesses are not shut out of the green and digital economy, and that women, youth, and vulnerable groups are not only protected, but uplifted. Ramla Khalidi, Resident representative in Vietnam United Nations Development Programme This is not only the right thing to do it is smart economics. There are many potential gains from investing in green policies. In Vietnam, the potential is enormous: investments in renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure could generate up to half a million new jobs by 2030, especially in sectors such as solar power, energy efficiency, and clean transport. Beyond job creation, the just transition ensures that new economic growth pathways are enjoyed equitably among different groups of population. Already, Vietnam is showing remarkable leadership. The Just Energy Transition Partnership, a landmark political declaration, is mobilising $15.5 billion in public and private funds to help the country transition from coal while supporting communities and industries affected by the shift. Meanwhile, national strategies on digital economy, green growth, and social protection reform reflect a deep understanding that transformation must be inclusive by design. We are proud to walk this journey with Vietnam. As the partnerships secretariat support agency, we support the government to strengthen coordination with partners, broaden private sector engagement to mobilise sustainable finance, and provide the government with tools to ensure projects are socially inclusive and environmentally sound. We are supporting the government to localise the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions, ensuring that social equity is at the heart of economic transformation. We are investing in digital public infrastructure, promoting climate and energy governance, and helping to expand access to finance, skills, and social protection, especially for the most vulnerable. And we know that governance matters. Trust in public institutions is the bedrock of inclusive development. Through initiatives like PAPI, the largest governance and public administration survey in Vietnam, we are helping strengthen transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement critical pillars for a just transition that is owned by the people. Vietnam has what it takes: a dynamic population, a forward-looking government, and a growing ecosystem of innovators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers. The question before us is not if Vietnam can lead in building a just and sustainable future, but how fast and how far we are willing to go together. The success of this vision depends on our ability to turn policies into progress to ensure, for example, that coal workers in Quang Ninh have real opportunities for retraining and reemployment, that women in rural areas can access digital tools and green jobs, and that informal workers have access to social protection and upskilling pathways. The most powerful way to turn policies into real progress is to make the just transition a force for empowerment, dignity, and opportunity. It means ensuring that innovation thrives in every village, not just urban centres; that climate action delivers dignified livelihoods, not just targets; and that the green and digital economy leaves no-one behind. The world today faces new challenges and growing economic headwinds. The just transition is not a detour it is the catalyst that can turn disruption into opportunity, and ambition into lasting impact. We are committed to walking that path with Vietnam, towards a more just, inclusive, and future-ready nation. A dynamic population and growing ecosystem of innovators provide the platform for Vietnams green ambitions Tran Thi Thu Trang, president, Hanel PT Our company specialises in two areas: manufacturing components for major global corporations and producing dryers for the agricultural and seafood industries. From the beginning, we determined that the companys value must stem from social value. We embedded the letter S into the core values of the business, so all our activities are tied to this element. For instance, within our companys core values, we identify five benefits: for customers, for employees, for the environment, for the country, and for the company itself. We also integrate the S factor into all our services and products, and this effort is increasingly implemented in greater depth. For example, in the past, the company launched a scheme to donate warm clothes to children in highland areas. However, we realised that we needed to do something that would bring longer-term and more significant value. As a result, we initiated the Green Vietnam project to improve soil conditions so that farmers in highland areas no longer face hardened, barren land and reduce their reliance on chemicals. In the long run, people will profit from cultivating fertile land, earning money to buy clothes for their children. We view the S factor here not merely as giving something to others, but as how we interact with society through our products and services. Le Thi Hoai Thuong, head of Public Affairs Nestle Vietnam Fulfilling the commitment to the social aspect in environmental, social, and governance considerations is not a simple task. The challenge lies in how to create long-term and sustainable benefits for all. With a commitment to helping young people on their career path, Nestle is seeking to innovate and expand its training courses. The NESTGEN 2025 programme is one example, which offers in-depth knowledge in sectors like supply chain, engineering, and operations. Besides that, we also prioritise gender equality and womens empowerment. We have collaborated with the Vietnam Womens Union to create additional livelihoods for women and help them enhance their knowledge. With our strengths in agriculture and food, we focus on cooperation programmes with ministries, agencies, and non-governmental organisations in the agricultural sector to implement support initiatives for farmers, To date, we have worked with approximately 21,000 farming households in the Central Highlands and organised 200,000 training sessions for farmers, enabling them to obtain certifications for sustainable coffee a factor that facilitates their export of coffee to demanding markets like Europe. Through these farmer collaboration initiatives, we have built an ecosystem and platforms to create stable raw material regions, while farmers also gain benefits such as increased livelihoods, stable income, and sustainable farming practices, thereby meeting the stringent requirements of discerning markets. This is how we create shared value. JETP a crucial step for Vietnams climate ambitions Almost one year ago, the Vietnamese government agreed on a Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) to facilitate the transition away from fossil fuels towards cleaner forms of energy. In the months since, there has been a flurry of activity to support the operationalisation of that initial agreement. Financing the energy transition for Southeast Asia It is unusual to feel nostalgia when you glimpse the future. Seeing an electric rickshaw for the first time, I could not help but smile remembering the spluttering sound of rickshaws which filled the crowded Indian streets of my youth. New electric models are quickly becoming a more common sight in those parts of Southeast Asia which share that three-wheeled transport tradition. Green Energy Transition Showcase powers sustainable future The Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST) on August 27 launched the Green Energy Transition Showcase with the theme Powering a Sustainable Future in Ho Chi Minh City. WATERLOO Some Democrat Black Hawk County Supervisors plan to object to a new state law that requires the members to be elected by districts, instead of five at-large positions. The Board of Supervisors planned to discuss sending a letter to Gov. Kim Reynolds opposing Senate File 75 on Tuesday, but the bill was signed into law last Friday. Since it is now law, Supervisor Chris Schwartz proposed sending a similar letter to Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate. That may be discussed at the upcoming Tuesday meeting. The legislation says the counties with the states three public universities Black Hawk, Johnson and Story will need to begin electing supervisors by district rather than the at-large system. These elections would begin in the November 2026 general election. The remaining 96 counties can continue to choose from either electing supervisors by an at-large system or by district with no restrictions. Tavis Hall, who spearheaded the proposed letter to Reynolds, called the law disgusting and an attempt at gerrymandering, or manipulating boundaries to favor a specific political party in this case, the Republicans. I am open to further action and exploration, Im open to a lawsuit, he said. I do not believe that this would pass the smell test of the courts that this wasnt a targeted bill. The justifications for this are weak at best. The Johnson County Board of Supervisors, which is home to the University of Iowa, sent a letter to Reynolds before the passage of the bill to veto it. The letter said the states rationale is to have more rural representation but other large counties like Linn, Scott and Polk have both rural and urban residents, as well as transient populations such as students. Those counties are not affected by this part of the law. Hall said the Legislature should be focusing on issues such as growing the economy. Theyre focusing on how they can put their thumb on the scale of local politics, he said. Its not their job. Thats not what people elected them to do. No one elected them to sow more division into communities. He believes the at-large system results in more collaboration between different areas of the county and that supervisors feel a larger sense of responsibility for responding to all of their constituents. Why does someone who represents a portion of Cedar Falls, why would they support a Gilbertville project (and) vice versa? he said. It ultimately pits communities against each other when what our community wants is unity. Our community needs unity and (the state has) crafted a way, frankly, to make local government as dysfunctional as their level of government. Supervisor Ritchie Kurtenbach agrees, believing moving to districts would segregate the residents. "Other board members are gonna say 'You're not in my district, I don't care, you're gonna raise taxes in my district.' It'll create more division," he said. "(The board) now wants to work together but I can't tell you if in the future that's the case." Kurtenbach said he would have signed onto the letter to Reynolds. At the Tuesday meeting, he brought out an article from The Courier from 1958 that reported voters decided to switch from seven supervisors representing different districts to five at-large appointments. "I don't think this is the will of the voters in Black Hawk County that are saying this, this is a single group of people in a political party that are pushing this issue," he said. "It's not the voters of Black Hawk County. Those are the people we're ... responsible to and it just is frustrating." Supervisor Linda Laylin, also a Democrat, said a letter would have to be discussed before she would sign her name, but she wanted to send a letter asking Reynolds to consider home rule laws. The boards only Republican, Justin Brandt, said he would not have signed on to the letter to Reynolds, but is undecided on whether he would put his name on a letter to Pate. Brandt said he recognizes counties with Board of Regents-governed public universities and metro areas have a higher concentration of Democrats but he does not know whether the states goal was to spread out liberal voters or instead give more opportunities to rural residents. I havent been in the room with the people who introduced the bill, and so when I hear things through the, you know, telephone game, I dont put a lot of stock in it. Things get twisted, he said. Ill give them the benefit of the doubt and assume that its for the right reason of fair and equal representation. He said while campaigning last year, rural voters told him they do not run because they believe they would not have enough support compared to candidates in the cities. The law requires the supervisors to create a temporary three, five or seven person committee to create a precinct plan, which would then be sent to the states Legislative Services Agency. The committee would likely be made up of county employees, and only one supervisor can sit on it, according to County Auditor Karen Showalter. The commission must be decided on by May 15 and the precinct plan must be sent to the state by Oct. 1. The state agency would then create a map of the five districts. The county has the opportunity to reject the first map and have it redrawn, but then they must accept the second map. The districts must be split up according to U.S. Census data. The 2023 Census shows the county has a population of 130,471. Just over 66,000 people live in Waterloo and nearly 41,000 live in Cedar Falls for a total of nearly 107,000 in those two cities. Nearly 24,000 residents live elsewhere in the county. There are currently 75,576 registered voters in the countys 11 cities, with 64,312 living in Waterloo and Cedar Falls. There are 7,331 voters living in the countys 17 townships. Four of the five supervisors live in Waterloo, Supervisor Linda Laylin lives in Cedar Falls. The Waterloo supervisors live in Wards 1, 2, 3 and 4. Showalter could not provide the number of how many people outside of the two cities have recently run for the county positions, as state law requires them to shred nomination papers after elections. The only location data available was for the last general election in November and the special election in January, where every candidate lived in Waterloo and Cedar Falls, except one who resided in Evansdale. The new law also requires Black Hawk, Johnson and Story counties and any county with more than 125,000 residents to hold special elections to choose supervisors in the event of a vacancy. They could previously choose to hold a special election or appoint a new supervisor. Based on the 2020 census, that provision of the law will also impact Polk, Linn and Scott counties. Black Hawk County held a special election in January to elect Ritchie Kurtenbach to fill the seat vacated by the resignation of former Supervisor Dan Trelka. The Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party is touring the state to try to learn what changes supporters think need to be made to help the party be more successful. DFL staff members, along with the partys new chair, Richard Carlbom, visited Winona State University on Wednesday evening to chat with more than 70 locals. Before Winona, the tour already had visited Brainerd, Mankato, North Branch, St. Michael and Wilmer. Carlbom said the party wants to make sure supporters feel seen and heard. By listening to them, we learn from their perspective, and then ultimately, we together with them, can lead our party to victory in November of 2026, Carlbom said. He also said its important to visit greater Minnesota, especially areas where they might not have experienced success in the 2024 election. Those locations include Winona, where a Republican was voted in to represent the area in the Minnesota House for the first time in almost four decades. We have an opportunity in 2026 to, I think, return to winning some of these legislative seats that are important to us in terms of the DFL maintaining a statewide majority and our ability to represent everyone in the state, Carlbom said. Attendees in Winona emphasized how the party needs to be represented in smaller communities and to connect with generations they might not be winning over. Joseph Schlichenmeyer, outreach and inclusion officer for the Winona County DFL, told Carlbom and the other attendees that small communities shouldn't be written off as Republican turf. Instead, he said there are Democrats there, too, and that gathering them together might be beneficial, even if it's just small groups. Find the like-minded people. Bring them together. Work together," Schlichenmeyer said. We can organize those small towns, and we need to do that. Concerns about connecting with youth also were highlighted. You've lost Gen Z, especially Gen Z men," said Nora Huxtable of Winona. "You're losing millennials." She pointed out that while the event Wednesday was held on a college campus, most attendees were not college aged. Millennials tend to be ambivalent when I ask them about the Democratic Party," said Huxtable. She said that while some people might identify as part of the Democratic Party, they aren't necessarily excited about what is going on in it. During the session, Carlbom explained how the party is trying to connect more in multiple ways. One way is hiring new community organizers, who will reach out to people in regions where they are from. Calborn said he has heard similar desires throughout the state. He said party leaders want to ensure they send out the right messengers. For example, that would include sending someone with a farming background out to speak with a farmer. The party also wants to grow its presence on social media, including with influencers in the state, and to discuss topics people care about and those that affect them. Carlbom said research shows some believe the party's main focus is on social and environmental issues. The party wants to show its work goes beyond that and is focused on the needs of working families and the desire to improve their lives. Attendees also shared multiple issues with the DFL staff members that are important to people in Winona, such as Social Security, Medicaid, immigration, Ukraine, Gaza, freedom of speech and of the press, mental health, veterans' issues, national parks and wildlife areas, tariffs, post offices and more. Throughout the tour, Carlbom has heard that people want to make sure the party doesn't just tell them what to think -- they want the party to listen to voters and converse with them. The party also wants inform people what is going on in Washington, D.C. and what actions local representatives are taking on their behalf. Chester Zoo sloth has toothache cured with ground-breaking dental treatment This article is old - Published: Friday, Apr 18th, 2025 A 25-year-old sloth at Chester Zoo has recovered from a pioneering dental operation performed by university dental experts, after staff noticed swelling on his face. Rico, a two-toed sloth and one of the zoos oldest residents, was found to have two root abscesses during a series of check-ups last year. The diagnosis led to an unusual collaboration with specialists from Newcastle Universitys School of Dental Sciences. The three-hour procedure took place at Chester Zoos on-site animal care centre. One tooth was saved and both infections were stopped from spreading during what the team described as a very challenging but rewarding experience. Dave Edwards, Clinical Fellow at Newcastle University and Newcastle Hospitals Dental Hospital, said: A three-dimensional scan showed that routine root canal treatment wouldnt work. We instead carried out an apicectomy, where the root tip is removed and sealed. Unlike a standard root canal, the procedure involved entering through Ricos jawbone, a complex process made more difficult by sloths unique anatomy. Ricos post-surgery X-rays have been clear, and keepers say his dental filling remains in place. Charlotte Bentley, Veterinary Resident at Chester Zoo, explained: Sloths have highly specialised molar teeth with sharp points. We wanted to avoid extractions if possible, as their teeth are vital for food processing. After the operation, Rico was monitored closely and has remained infection-free. He continues to take part in regular health checks, though, in true sloth style, he does so at his own pace. Brittany Williams, part of the zoos Twilight Team, has been working with Rico for several years, using target-stick training and food rewards like cooked parsnips to encourage him to participate in health routines. He can now be called down by name, stand still for weighing, and even hold his mouth open for inspections. Rico is very food motivated, Brittany said. Once he learns something, thats it he remembers. Hes great at recall and responds from anywhere in his enclosure. Sloths may look docile, but their long claws and strong teeth mean keepers must work with care. Youre working without a barrier, Brittany added. But Ricos never swiped me hes a very good boy. He trusts me. Two-toed sloths like Rico are native to South America and face growing threats from habitat destruction and the illegal wildlife trade. Rico is part of Chester Zoos conservation breeding programme. Fiona Beddis, Associate Clinical Lecturer at Newcastle, said working with Rico was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I actually had the same surgery myself at 16, she said. So I had a lot of empathy for him though Rico had much less swelling afterwards than I did! Beddis recalled getting a message from keepers a week later written from Ricos perspective: Good morning, Fiona and Dave. Ive been very well behaved and eaten all my vegetables overnight My face isnt very swollen and Ive taken my pain meds. Everyone is very happy with me. She added: Having never carried out this procedure on a sloth, it really was a step into the unknown. Were all delighted with the outcome. Social care heroes give birthday boost to childrens hospices This article is old - Published: Friday, Apr 18th, 2025 A childrens hospice that supports families across North and Mid Wales has received a 1,300 donation from kind-hearted social care heroes. Hope House and Ty Gobaith, which provides care for children with life-limiting conditions and their families, were chosen as this years charity beneficiary by Care Forum Wales, organisers of the annual Wales Cares Awards. The event, held in Cardiff, brought together social care workers from across the country to celebrate excellence in the sector. Funds for the hospices were raised through a raffle during the evening, with prizes donated by sponsors and supporters. The donation comes as the charity prepares to mark its 30th anniversary in 2025. With two hospices one in Morda near Oswestry and the other in the Conwy Valley the organisation currently supports 750 families across North and Mid Wales, Shropshire, and Cheshire. It costs 9.6 million a year to run the service, which offers in-house medical care, bereavement counselling, therapy, family support, and guidance on practical issues such as housing adaptations. Janet Roberts from Care Forum Wales said: The Wales Care Awards are all about celebrating amazing work done by the social care sector in Wales and as part of those celebrations each year we like to offer a helping hand to a charity through our raffle on the awards night. We choose a different beneficiary for each raffle, but always one with a strong link to the care world. In 2024 we chose this particular charity because there is no doubt that the work done here every day is also truly amazing. The Hope House Hospices provide a safe, dignified space for children diagnosed with serious illnesses and their families, enabling them to live the best lives they can during difficult times. But it relies heavily on public support to continue its incredible work so we were delighted when our Wales Care Awards raffle raised a fantastic 1,362 for such a deserving cause. Bethan Young, fundraiser for Hope House, said the donation would have a direct impact on the families they support. It is difficult to express how grateful we are for any donation, large or small, said Bethan. Every penny goes to help children and their families who are enduring the most challenging times any family has to face. My job is to help raise as much money as we can to ensure our hospices can continue their work, and that is work which never stops. Our aim is to give every local child with a life-threatening condition ongoing access to professional care and improve their quality of life from the point of diagnosis. When an organisation like Care Forum Wales steps forward with a big donation like this, it represents a huge stride forward. We cannot thank them enough for making our charity the benefactor of this raffle. For more information about Hope House Hospices, the work they do and fundraising visit the Hope House website. Haley Joel Osment has been charged with two misdemeanors after an incident at Mammoth Mountain earlier this month. The 37-year-old was charged following an arrest on April 8th. The Mono County District Attorney's office says Osment was charged with a violation of penal code, disorderly conduct while under the influence of alcohol in public, and possession of cocaine. The actor is due to be arraigned on July 7. Osment rose to fame and received a best supporting actor Oscar nomination for starring opposite Bruce Willis in M. Night Shyamalan's thriller The Sixth Sense. Two years later he starred in Steven Spielberg's A.I. and has worked consistently as a voice actor since then. He's also appeared in the television series The Kominsky Method and What We Do in the Shadows. Osment is among the thousands of people who lost their homes in January's devastating Eaton Fire in the Altadena area near Los Angeles. In 2006, Osment was charged with drunken driving and marijuana possession after crashing his car into a mailbox in the Los Angeles area and breaking a rib. (The Associated Press contributed to this report.) 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. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Reno sub-office has deported a Mexican who was convicted of murder. It was announced on a post on X from ICEs Salt Lake City office. 53-year-old Federico Garcia-Cegueda was being held in Lovelock before he was deported. He was convicted of murder with a deadly weapon and sexual assault. Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo has formally requested that President Donald Trump lift tariffs on lithium imports, warning of serious consequences for Nevadas emerging energy sector. In his letter, Lombardo expressed appreciation for Trump's commitment to reviving American manufacturing but highlighted concerns about the impact of tariffs on the lithium industry, which is still in its early stages and lacks domestic refining capabilities. He emphasized that Nevada, home to the largest known lithium deposits in North America, is uniquely positioned to lead in energy innovation. However, with no current U.S. infrastructure to process lithium to manufacturing standards, companies are forced to rely on imports, mainly from China. Lombardo warned that the tariffs with the current process of how some companies are exporting and then re importing refined lithium back into the United states, is making U.S. manufacturers less competitive and threatening jobs, urging Trump to remove them to support energy independence and economic growth. $5.0m Placement to Underpin Cliff Head Operations and Corporate Activity Sydney, April 17, 2025 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Pilot Energy Limited ( ASX:PGY ) is pleased to announce that it has received A$5.0 million in binding commitments for a two tranche placement of 500,000,000 new fully paid ordinary shares (Shares) in the Company at A$0.010 per share to sophisticated, professional and institutional investors (Placement). - Pilot Energy has received firm commitments to raise $5.0 million (before costs) through a placement to sophisticated, professional and institutional investors. - Issue price of $0.010 per share represents a 100% premium to the last close price of $0.050. - Funds from the placement are to underpin corporate activity associated with closing the Korean consortium transaction, other corporate initiatives and the operating costs of the Cliff Head Oil Project. - Company now recapitalised to drive value enhancing initiatives The Placement received significant demand and was oversubscribed. Pilot Chairman Greg Columbus stated: "We are grateful for the support of existing shareholders and many new investors in this capital raising, This has enabled Pilot Energy to raise significant funds in a difficult share market environment at a 100% premium to the last traded price demonstrating the value of these unique assets. Since Pilot's shares went into suspension on the ASX in December 2024, we have completed the Board renewal process, confirmed the interest of the Korean consortium in investing in the Mid-West Clean Energy Project and restructured our arrangements with Triangle Energy so that the payment for the purchase of 78% of the Cliff Head Oil Project is deferred to September 2026. In addition, we have announced a resource upgrade in the Company's 100%-owned oil and gas permit WA-481-P to 1.1 Tcf of gas, a very large natural gas resource in the context of the Perth Basin and the WA gas market. These exciting developments highlight the significant potential that exists within Pilot's portfolio of energy assets. The Company's Board and management is focused on executing across several areas of corporate activity to deliver value enhancing outcomes for the benefit of shareholders". The Company confirms that following the successful completion of the Placement, it is adequately capitalised and can meet its debts as and when they fall due. Director Support The Placement is being supported by the Company's Board, with all Directors confirming they will participate and the Board, in aggregate, committed to subscribe for $455,000 of the total funds of the capital raising. The Board will seek shareholder approval for their participation in the Placement at the forthcoming General Meeting (EGM) on June 4th 2025. Placement Details The Placement comprises the issue of 500,000,000 Shares to raise A$5.0 million. Pursuant to the Company's placement capacity under ASX Listing Rule 7.1 and 7.1A under Tranche One (Tranche 1) of the transaction the Company will issue 324,415,003 shares. Under Tranche Two (Tranche 2) of the transaction the Company will issue 175,584,997 shares, subject to receiving shareholder approval at the Company's EGM. Settlement of each respective tranche is anticipated to be as follows: - Settlement of Tranche 1 is expected to take place on Wednesday, 23rd April 2025, with allotment expected to occur on Thursday, 24th April 2025; and - Settlement of Tranche 2 is expected to take place on Thursday 5th June 2025, following shareholder approval at the Company's AGM. The A$0.010 issue price per Share represents a 100.0% premium to the last traded price on Wednesday, 18th December 2024 and a 3.2% discount to the 30-day volume weighted average price (WVAP) calculated to the last trading date of PGY stock prior to entering trading halt and subsequent suspension. Each participant in the Offer will receive an attaching listed ASX-PGYOA option (Attaching Options) with a strike price of $0.033 on a 1-for-1 basis, subject to shareholder approval at the Company's EGM. Alpine Capital Pty Ltd acted as Sole Lead Manager to the Placement and will receive fees in accordance with standard commercial terms. *To view "Use of Funds", please visit: https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/4M9D02SS About Pilot Energy Ltd Pilot Energy Ltd (ASX:PGY) is a junior oil and gas exploration and production company that is pursuing the diversification and transition to the development of carbon management projects, production of hydrogen and clean ammonia for export to emerging APAC Clean Energy markets. Pilot intends to leverage its existing oil and gas operations and infrastructure to cornerstone these developments. Pilot is proposing to develop Australia's first offshore Carbon Storage Project through the conversion of the Cliff Head Oil field and associated infrastructure from oil production to Carbon Storage as part of the Mid West Clean Energy Project. Pilot holds a 21.25% interest in the Cliff Head Oil field and Cliff Head Infrastructure (increases to 100% on completion of the acquisition of Triangle Energy (Global) Pty Limiteds interest), and a 100% working interest across all exploration tenements across the Offshore Perth Basin, Western Australia (Greenhouse gas assessment permit G-12-AP and petroleum exploration licence WA-481-P). Related Companies BMC Sparks Outrage by Demolishing 1960s Jain Temple in Vile Parle 2 The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has triggered a wave of anger and protest after demolishing an alleged unauthorized Jain temple in Mumbais Vile Parle area, with community members calling the move unjustified and insensitive. According to Anil Shah, a trustee of the decades-old chaitalaya located within the Neminath Cooperative Housing Society in Kambliwadi, the structure was demolished on April 16. He claimed the temple had existed since the 1960s and had even undergone renovations in the past with BMCs approval. There is a government resolution that allows for regularization of such structures. All we had to do was submit a proposal to the BMC which we did, said Shah, suggesting the demolition ignored due process. He further alleged that the demolition was carried out under pressure from a local hotelier, and that religious texts and temple artifacts were damaged during the operation. The Jain community has expressed deep anguish over the action and announced a protest march to the BMCs K-East ward office on Saturday. Despite repeated attempts, the BMC has not issued a statement or responded to calls and messages regarding the demolition, leaving questions unanswered and tensions high. SC Halts Nashik Dargah Demolition, Slams Bombay HC for Ignoring Plea Listing 2 In a significant intervention, the Supreme Court has stayed the demolition notice issued by the Nashik Municipal Corporation for the Hazrat Saatpeer Sayed Baba Dargah and pulled up the Bombay High Court for failing to list the shrines urgent plea. The court sought a detailed report from the registrar general of the high court, questioning why a writ petition filed on April 7 was not listed for hearing. Shockingly, the dargah at Kathe Galli in Nashik was reportedly razed by civic authorities during the night of April 1516, just hours before the Supreme Court hearing on the matter took place at noon on April 16. A bench of Justices P.S. Narasimha and Joymala Bagchi, taking note of the urgency and the allegations made by senior advocate Navin Pahwawho represented the dargah trustobserved that extraordinary measures were warranted. Pahwa stated that daily efforts were made to have the case heard by the Bombay High Court, but it was consistently declined. The apex court, taking the submission seriously, said, We are unsure of the statement made and that the high court would not have listed the case despite repeated requests. This is a serious statement and the counsel shall take and feel responsibility for the consequence of such a statement. The Supreme Court has now directed the Bombay High Courts registrar general to provide a report detailing the listing status of the petition. It also sought a response from the Nashik Municipal Corporation and other authorities involved. The courts interim stay on the April 1 demolition notice comes amid growing concerns over procedural lapses and religious sensitivities. The matter will next be heard on April 21. AlaTrade Foods announced the layoffs at its largest facility at the end of March. (Getty Images) Getty Images A law firm is investigating an Alabama poultry processing company for laying off 165 people without adequate notice to employees or the state. Chicago-based Strauss Borelli PLLC, a class action law firm, is investigating AlaTrade Foods for the late March layoffs at its Phenix City facility, its largest plant in Alabama. We believe AlaTrade Foods employees may be entitled to sixty days of severance pay and benefits, the company said in a March 31 statement. The investigation was first reported by the Montgomery Advertiser. A spokesperson for the law firm told AL.com on Thursday that there are no updates in the investigation so far. Representatives for AlaTrade Foods did not respond to requests for comment from AL.com. But in a March 24 letter, a representative for AlaTrade Foods told the Alabama Department of Commerce that the company planned to inform its employees of the layoffs on March 27. The facility is keeping another 125 of its current employees, said Randy Dorsett, director of human resources for AlaTrade Foods, in the letter. The Commerce Departments website lists the initial report date as March 28 for AlaTrades public notice. Federal law requires large employers to file a public WARN notice with the state at least 60 days in advance of mass layoffs or plant closures. Those WARN notices are published by the Alabama Department of Commerce. The variety of products we have been accustomed to producing in our Phenix City facility has changed extensively over the past several years and weve made every effort, including significant investments to move as the market requires, Dorsett wrote in the letter. But unfortunately, our efforts havent produced the results needed for us to continue to operate in all areas as we would prefer. An Alabama Department of Commerce spokeswoman declined to comment on any potential consequences for AlaTrade Foods for its late reporting. We do not have any details beyond this or related to any penalties, Commerce Department spokeswoman Stefania Jones said in an email. Dorsett also said in the letter that company representatives would meet with all employees to review their benefit options and employee ownership accounts. The company is 100% employee-owned, per its website. AlaTrade Foods processes more than 400 million pounds of chicken annually in Phenix City and its two other locations, in Albertville and Boaz. The company was founded in 2000. A 20-year-old Elkmont man faces multiple charges after the body of a teenage girl was found in his home. The Limestone County Sheriffs Office said Johnathan Andrew Etter, 20, has been booked into the Limestone County Jail. Bond has not yet been set. He is currently charged with abuse of a corpse, drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia. He may face further charges. On Thursday, the sheriffs office received a missing person report involving an 18-year-old girl from an Ardmore family. A subsequent search included a residence in the 24000 block of Esten Lane, identified as the home of the missing girls ex-boyfriend. They found there the body of the missing teen. A search warrant revealed further evidence, the sheriffs office said in a statement. Sheriff Joshua McLaughlin extended condolences to the girls family. We ask the community to join us in prayer and support for the loved ones impacted by this tragic loss, McLaughlin said. As Arkia Kia Berry was dying alongside her 5-year-old son and her boyfriend inside a vehicle peppered with gunfire, she sent a text message to a friend that contained just one word Jaco. Investigators believe her last act in life was to give investigators a clue as to who carried out the horrific 2024 triple homicide. Jacorian Deshawn McGregor, 25, is charged with capital murder in the deaths of Berry, 28, her son, Landyn Brooks, and her boyfriend, 28-year-old Eric Ashley Jr. Eric Ashley (Contributed) McGregor, whose nickname is Jaco, appeared before Jefferson County District Judge William Bell Thursday for a preliminary hearing. The lone witness in the hearing was Birmingham homicide Det. Jarvelius Tolliver, who chronicled the final moments of the lives of the three victims. When the hearing ended, Bell ruled there was enough probable cause to send the case to the grand jury for indictment consideration and ordered McGregor remain held without bond. The three were gunned down July 13, 2024, inside a vehicle at the entrance of Echo Highlands Park. It was just after 5 p.m. that Saturday when Birmingham police initially received a 911 call about a wreck. When officers arrived, they found a blue Nissan Maxima in front of a house next to a cul-de-sac and the park entrance. It appeared to have jumped a curb and come to a stop. The car was riddled with bullet holes and the three victims were found dead inside. Tolliver said Berry was driving the vehicle, and Ashley was in the front passengers seat. Landyn, he said, was in the back seat on the drivers side. When police arrived, they found Berry halfway between the front and back seats, lying across the center console. A man, woman and young boy were shot to death Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Birmingham's Echo Highlands neighborhood. (Carol Robinson) There were several shell casings at the park entrance, and there was money scattered in the roadway and nearby bushes, as if it had been blown, Tolliver said. There were also shell casings on the car, in the grass and in the yard of the home where the victims were found. Between 20 to 30 shell casings were recovered. Tolliver said the passengers side of the Nissan where Ashley had been sitting sustained most of the gunfire. Investigators recovered cell phones belonging to all three victims. They also obtained surveillance video from one of the houses in the neighborhood, which has only one way in and one way out. That home had a camera that pointed directly at the entrance to the neighborhood. That video, Tolliver told Deputy District Attorney Charissa Henrichs, showed a lime green Kia Soul entering the neighborhood at 5:07 p.m. Then, at 5:08 p.m., the Nissan arrived. At 5:09 p.m., Berry texted the word, Jaco. At 5:10, the Kia fled the neighborhood at a high rate of speed, Tolliver said. No other cars came out after that, he said. Also at 5:10 p.m., Berrys cars crash detection system automatically dialed 911. The following day, East Precinct officers responded to a car fire in the 9200 or 9300 block of 13th Avenue North. The vehicle on fire was a lime green Kia Soul, and it was towed to impound. Tolliver and ATF agents then processed the burned vehicle but were able to get a VIN number. Through the VIN, they obtained the license plate and then used Flock cameras license plate readers to track the Kias movements before and after the deadly shooting. The identified a woman as the owner of the Kia, who lives outside of Jefferson County. She stated it had been stolen about five or six days before, he said, but she never reported it stolen. An analysis of the victims phones showed that Berrys last text message said, Jaco. Ashleys last phone activity showed that at 5:08 p.m. he called a contact he had saved as Jaco, a call Ashley made as he was driving into the neighborhood. Ashley also had made a phone call earlier that day to a contact he had saved as Jac. That number came back to Jacorrian McGregor, Tolliver said. Tolliver said Verizon was able to give him text messages from the contact labeled Jaco from around the same time period of the shooting. Those messages, he said, showed Ashley and McGregor planning to meet up. It didnt say a time, Tolliver said. I believe they had talked on the phone. Jacorrian McGregor (Jefferson County Jail) Facebook records show Ashley had previously searched for McGregors page and also showed McGregor had previously given out his phone numbers to people both numbers matching the numbers listed in Ashleys contacts as Jaco and Jac. Phone records, Tolliver testified, showed Ashley and McGregors phones pinging off the same cell phone tower in the area of the shooting at the time of the shooting. Tolliver said other videos showed the Kia several times that day being followed by a black Mercedes. Through Flock images, they were able to get the license plate off the Mercedes and eventually located the man who had been driving it that day. Police interviewed the driver who admitted he was driving the Mercedes and that he had been driving around with the Kia, who he said was driven by McGregor. He said he was friends with both Ashley and Berry as well. He said McGregor told him he had shot, Tolliver said. McGregor wasnt charged or arrested until February 2025. Guns and drugs were recovered during a search of his home. During an interview with police, McGregor mentioned that his cousin called him Jaco. He didnt speak with detectives after that. A search of McGregors phone, Tolliver said, showed most of his text messages from the day of the shooting had been deleted. But he was having several conversations with people where they were talking about the incident that had taken place, Tolliver said, and there were people telling him to lay low, stay out of sight, stay hidden. Under questioning by McGregors attorney, John Robbins, Tolliver said there was no video showing anyone shooting from the Kia. Robbins asked the detective if he thought it was strange that the owner of the Kia had not reported her car stolen. Tolliver said he did. Asked if there was any physical evidence connecting McGregor to the Kia, Tolliver said there was not. Tolliver said he knew of no connection between McGregor and the owner of the Kia. Robbins asked if there were any other witness that put McGregor in the Kia and Tolliver replied, I would say that Miss Berry was a witness. She texted his name right before she died. That doesnt mean he was the shooter, Robbins said. Under questioning by Robbins, Tolliver said he had initially sought the warrant for McGregor in 2024 but said the district attorneys office deferred issuing the warrant at that time. The detective said no additional evidence was obtained prior to ultimately receiving the warrant in February. When Tolliver finished testifying, Henrichs told the judge she believed there was enough evidence for the case to proceed, citing Berrys last text message, the phone mappings, video evidence and the statements from the Mercedes driver about McGregor. Robbins disagreed. He said he doesnt believe the technological evidence is as accurate as police and prosecutors believe. The states case is somewhat suspect and based upon circumstantial evidence, Robbins said. We will certainly welcome to put this circumstantial evidence case to the test of the jury when we get to that point. Social Work Association for Cultural Awareness vice president Miranda Andrews and SWACA secretary Rylee Nicely hold up a pride flag as they protest on the quad of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Thursday, March 27, 2025. The protest comes after UA approved the renewal of the conservative student group Young Americas Foundation following their refusal to include language on gender and sexuality in their anti-discrimination policy. (Will McLelland | WMcLelland@al.com) Will McLelland Alabama legislators spent the day debating different legislation, but two bills that impact LGBTQ people only received about 15 minutes of discussion on the floor Thursday. House Bills 67 and 244, both described by supporters as parental rights legislation, would ban drag performances and cross-dressing in schools and would expand Alabamas current Dont Say Gay law to include older students. Lawmakers approved HB67, the anti-drag bill, on a 76-9 vote with no discussion. HB244, filed by Mack Butler, R-Rainbow City, drew some opposition but ultimately passed on a 74-15 vote. Both bills will head to the Senate. The drag performance bill HB67, sponsored by Rep. Scott Stadthagen, R-Hartselle, would prohibit public K-12 schools and libraries from knowingly presenting or sponsoring drag performances in the presence of a minor without their parents consent. The bill defines a drag performance as any performance in which a performer exhibits a sex identity that is different from the sex assigned to the performer at birth using clothing, makeup, or other physical markers. It also would prevent certain state entities from allowing minors to share facilities with members of the opposite sex during overnight programs. The addition follows a 2024 controversy, where conservative politicians targeted a transgender Space Camp employee after a parent complained the worker would be in the same living quarters as their child. An investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing. In a previous statement opposing the bill, the Alabama Transgender Rights Action Coalition urged lawmakers to stop using their power to pick on transgender children. Trans kids do not deserve to be humiliated by state law that ignorantly declares them opposite the gender they know themselves to be they deserve to be themselves. Alabama already denies them life-saving therapy and medical care and is trying to erase all mention of people like them from its archives and libraries, the statement read. The organization said vague definitions in the bill could lead to broad interpretations if the legislation passes. For example, a girl dressing up as George Washington for a classroom presentation would be in violation of this law, the organization said, noting it could also impact dress codes and other school policies. In their effort to target drag by any means necessary, legislators have once again painted themselves into a corner with ignorance, and they are getting ever nearer to violating the First Amendment rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. Expanding Dont Say Gay Alabama already limits certain discussions about sexual orientation and gender identity in public school classrooms. Butlers bill, HB244, would expand the law to include all grades, from pre-K to 12. It also prevents school employees from displaying Pride flags or other LGBTQ-affirming signage. After debate and some pushback from education officials, the bill will no longer ban education employees from using pronouns that do not correspond to a students gender at birth. A new amendment also clarifies that topics about gender identity may be discussed, but only in a manner that is age appropriate and aligned with state standards. Three Democrats spoke against the bill, including Neil Rafferty, Alabamas only openly gay lawmaker to currently serve in the state legislature. Theyre people. Theyre our people. Theyre Alabamians. And they are better than what we are offering them right now, he said. When we strip their identities from the classroom, we are telling them that the best they can hope for is silence. Turning toward the rafters, Rafferty said he had a message for other queer youth, who, like he did, might be struggling with feeling different in Alabama. I promise it will get better, he said. Youre not flawed. Youre not going to Hell. Youre not meant to be hidden. We love you, we support you, we believe in you, and well keep fighting until the state is big enough and brave enough to love all its children. Butler filed a similar bill last year, but it never made it to a final vote. In response to questions on the floor Thursday, Butler said the bill was meant to stop the indoctrination that has taken place with gender identity and sexual orientation. He said he had gotten complaints from students who were frustrated about their schools curriculum. Rep. Phillip Ensler, D-Montgomery, however, claimed no students had brought the topic up in conversations or in a survey the legislature sent out to high schoolers across the state. Ensler, who is Jewish, asked if educators could teach students that LGBTQ people were murdered during the Holocaust. Butler said they could, and that the bill would not infringe on any First Amendment rights. He said the bill is ultimately about parents rights to make decisions for their children. According to the Heritage Foundation, a conservative research organization, at least eight other states have passed or introduced similar laws aimed at restricting pronoun use and preferred names as of early March. More than a dozen have passed broader parents bill of rights legislation, many of which prohibit students from learning about LGBTQ topics in the classroom. Ensler said the bill could have deadly consequences, particularly for transgender youth. In Alabama, LGBTQ high schoolers are more than twice as likely to attempt suicide compared to their peers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions latest youth risk behavior survey. But recent research has shown that having access to affirming spaces in schools or classrooms can reduce those odds by as much as 40%. Whatever the content of this bill is, it sends a message to LGBTQ youth that they are not welcome, Ensler said. I dont know of any teacher that doesnt accept all their students. The point is, classroom discussion and instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation does not belong there. And I would say the cases are very few and far between, but they are absolutely happening, and there is a need for this piece of legislation. Rep. Marilyn Lands, D-Madison, asked if Butler had considered people who are intersex and continue to struggle to get their accurate pronouns and sex markers recognized on official documentation. I know youre a person of compassion, she said to him, But this bill isnt a bill of compassion. It is a cruel bill. It is a soul-killing bill. If passed, HB67 would take effect in October 2025, while HB244 would go into effect in July. Alabama shark attack survivor Lulu Gribbin made an appearance on the third hour of this mornings TODAY show after Lulus Law was passed by the states House of Representatives. On June 7, 2024, Gribbin, of Mountain Brook, was one of three people bitten by a shark while vacationing along the Florida Panhandle. The teen lost her hand during the attack and had to have her leg amputated. I lost about 2/3rd of my blood, which is crazy that I was able to just make it and be able to make it to the hospital, so Im super grateful that Im here today, Gribbin said during a video interview with the TODAY show. Since then, the 16-year-old has been a proponent for bill by Republican Rep. David Faulkner, known as Lulus Law, that would create an Amber Alert-type system to notify the public when theres been an unprovoked shark attack in their area. On Thursday, the Alabama House of Representatives passed the bill unanimously. It is now headed to the Senate, where it is expected to be approved. If enacted, the system would go into effect beginning in October 2025. I really just want to inspire others who are also going through similar situations that its important to never give up even when challenges and curveballs at you, Gribbin said in the interview. You just have to keep going. You can watch the full segment on the TODAY show here. Haley Joel Osment is speaking out after his arrest for public intoxication at a California ski resort last week, during which bodycam video shows the former child star using an antisemitic slur. The Oscar-nominated Sixth Sense actor, 37, told TMZ in a statement that he is absolutely horrified by my behavior. Footage released Thursday showed Osment referring to a cop as the K word as well as a fking Nazi. Had I known I used this disgraceful language in the throes of a blackout, I would have spoken up sooner. The past few months of loss and displacement have broken me down to a very low emotional place, said the Blink Twice actor, who lost his home to the wildfires that ravaged Los Angeles in January. Thats no excuse for using this disgusting word, said Osment, who has portrayed Vice President Vance during Jimmy Kimmel Live! in recent years. From the bottom of my heart, I apologize to absolutely everyone that this hurts. What came out of my mouth was nonsensical garbage Ive let the Jewish community down and it devastates me. I dont ask for anyones forgiveness, but I promise to atone for my terrible mistake. Osment was arrested on April 8 at Mammoth Mountain, where bystander video obtained Thursday by TMZ shows him sporting a backwards helmet as a resort staffer attempts to coax him away from the chair lift. He was formally charged Thursday with disorderly conduct under the influence of alcohol and possession of cocaine. Arraignment is scheduled for July 7. Osment in 2018 allegedly lashed out at airline staff after he missed a flight at a Las Vegas airport, prompting them to call authorities. In 2006, he was sentenced to three years probation after he was charged with DUI and possession of marijuana for driving his car into a mailbox. 2025 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Birmingham police investigate a fatal shooting at a home in the 1400 block of Fulton Avenue. S.W. (Carol Robinson) Authorities have released the name of a man killed in a Wednesday shooting in southwest Birmingham. The Jefferson County Coroners Office on Friday identified the victim as James Darnell Levert. He was 43. West Precinct officers were dispatched just after 9:30 p.m. to a report of a person shot in the 1400 block of Fulton Avenue S.W. Police arrived to find Levert unresponsive inside a home. Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service pronounced the victim dead on the scene at 9:51 p.m. Sgt. LaQuitta Wade said the resident of the home told police he heard shots fired outside and went to investigate. When he opened his door, the victim fell into his home. The resident then called 911. Wade said it wasnt immediately clear if the homeowner knew the victim. No arrests have been announced. Levert is the citys 24th homicide this year. In all of Jefferson County, there have been 37 homicides including the 24 in Birmingham. Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777. Eugene Jacobs, pictured in the middle with his hands clasped, leads the Agency of Substance Abuse Prevention's faith and mental health initiative to prevent substance misuse in Alabama communities. Eugene Jacobs The Agency for Substance Abuse Prevention, based in Oxford, Alabama, is expanding their Faith-Based Support Specialist program nationwide with the help of a $400,000 grant from the Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts. The training program equips faith leaders with the knowledge and tools to better support individuals struggling with substance misuse disorders and connect them to local resources. Now, the program will reach major cities including Nashville, Atlanta, New York, Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles. We become the bridge between those individuals and the certified treatment and recovery services that are in our communities. If we dont have that knowledge, we are the gap, Eugene Jacobs, faith-based support specialist ambassador, told AL.com. The biggest thing that I am hearing from the community is that our faith leaders are able to connect struggling individuals to the resources that they need in a much timelier manner. Since the programs launch in 2022, organizers have certified 427 faith leaders across Alabama and beyond through a curriculum backed by the Alabama Department of Mental Health. Nationally, there were about 87,000 drug overdose deaths from October 2023 to September 2024, down from around 114,000 the previous year. This is the fewest number of overdose deaths in any 12-month period since June 2020, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In Alabama, there were 266 confirmed overdose deaths from January 2024 through the end of October 2024, a decline from previous years. In 2022, Alabama documented 1,492 overdose deaths, 31.5 overdoses per 100,000 people, according to a 2024 Alabama Opioid Overdose and Addiction Council report. After attending his first Faith-Based Support Specialist training conference in 2022, Jacobs changed the way he led his own congregation, at Union Springs Missionary Baptist Church in Talladega, to better support community members who struggle with addiction and substance misuse. If they were equipped with the certified training and knowledge like what we provide through the program, that could be lives saved, Jacobs said. He said he hopes that by training other faith leaders to combine their faith work with mental health services, they can transform their communities and continue to help reduce overdose deaths and substance misuse nationwide. At those seminars we talk about prevention, stigma, coalition building, treatment and recovery, Jacobs said. The people that weve had at the conferences, they were refreshed to be connected to the resources that they did not know about. Founded in 2018, the Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts is a national 501(c)(3) grant-making foundation dedicated to addressing the nations opioid crisis. The Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts provided the Agency for Substance Abuse and Prevention with financial and informational support for the launch of the Faith-Based Specialist Support program in 2022. The foundation announced grant awards totaling $2.1 million to four organizations, including the Faith-Based Support Specialist program, dedicated to strengthening the behavioral health workforce and addressing critical gaps in substance use disorder care. FORE launched its Innovation Challenge program in 2022 to support new solutions to some of the most difficult issues related to the opioid and overdose crisis, Karen Scott, president of the Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts, said in a statement. By investing in innovative programs that expand peer support, integrate culturally responsive care, and build a more sustainable behavioral health workforce, we are helping to create lasting solutions that improve lives and strengthen communities. The Faith-Based Support Specialist program will continue to have regular trainings in Alabama amid its expansion. The next training will take place in New York on June 27. A Montgomery woman has been charged in the death of her infant daughter. Brenika McGhee, 26, is charged with capital murder in the slaying of 4-month-old Zuri McGhee, police announced Thursday. Montgomery police were dispatched at 6:20 p.m. on Saturday, April 5, to a residence in the 3300 block of Fountain Lane, said Sgt. Tina McGriff. Officers arrived to find Zuri unresponsive. She was taken to the hospital where she was pronounced dead. McGriff said the babys death was ruled a homicide. The cause of death has not been released. McGhee was taken into custody earlier today. She remains held without bond in the Montgomery County Detention Facility. Auburn University students and staff have been caught up in President Donald Trumps efforts to curb immigration. Fifteen people have been notified their visas were revoked by the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, according to a campus spokeswoman. Jennifer Adams said the university would not provide information about the people or why visas had been revoked to protect their privacy. Auburns Office of International Programs immediately contacted each affected individual to provide assistance and support. Our international students and personnel are valued members of our campus community, and we recognize the significant impact that visa or status revocation will have on them, Adams said in a statement Friday afternoon. We encourage our international students and personnel to contact the Office of International Programs with any questions or concerns. We will continue to comply with all applicable laws and cooperate with authorities as required. This is a fluid situation, and the university will monitor it closely and assess its implications. At this time, it is unclear whether additional individuals will be affected, as the situation is a result of federal decisions, not Auburn University decisions, Adams added. I believe theyve become victims because theyre like a political ping pong ball and this is a bipartisan problem, Sue Ann Balch, former assistant director of International Programs at Auburn, told WVTF Thursday. Auburn had about 1,500 international students enrolled in the fall of last year, according to the schools institutional advancement report. International students represent about 5% of the total student body population. At least one other international student in the state, Alireza Doroudi, a graduate student at the University of Alabama, also has been targeted by immigration enforcement. He was detained in March and currently faces deportation to Iran. More than 1,000 people in the United States have had their visas revoked recently, according to Inside Higher Ed, which is tracking the revocations nationwide. Children dash out across a field to gather up plastic Easter eggs filled with candy during an Easter egg hunt at Tannehill State Park on March 22, 2025. (Photo by Greg Garrison/AL.com) ggarrison@al.com Birmingham is the top city in the country for celebrating Easter, according to one website. WalletHub compared the 100 largest cities based on factors that contribute to an ideal Easter celebration, using metrics ranging from the number of churches and the citys Christian population to weather and the number of candy and chocolate stores per capita. The best cities for Easter cater to the religious nature of the holiday by offering plenty of opportunities for Christians to attend services, and they also provide the resources for people to have a great time with their family regardless of religious affiliation, said Chip Lupo of WalletHub. That means lots of places to get some sweet treats or dine out, as well as good weather conditions and nice open spaces for Easter egg hunts. Birmingham has the most churches per capita. There are seven times more churches per capita in Birmingham than in New York, which ranked last. Here are the top 10 cities that are the best to celebrate Easter in 2025, according to WalletHub: Birmingham, Alabama Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Buffalo, New York Orlando, Florida Atlanta, Georgia Cincinnati, Ohio El Paso, Texas New Orleans, Louisiana Las Vegas, Nevada St. Louis, Missouri Other findings of the WalletHub study focused on the financial aspects. WalletHub estimated that 47 percent of Americans will skip dyeing eggs this Easter due to the price of eggs, based on an online survey of 200 respondents. Of course, theres always the option of plastic eggs filled with candy. Nationally, 68 percent of Americans identify as Christians, and 79 percent will celebrate Easter in either a secular or religious manner or both. About 45 percent nationally plan to attend church on Easter Sunday, which is the highest church attendance day of the year. Easter in the United States has undeniably shifted towards commercialization, a trend I would attribute to aggressive marketing tactics and consumer culture, said Danielle Foster, assistant professor of marketing at Ohio Northern University, an analysis for WalletHub. The National Retail Federation estimates there will be more than $21 billion in Easter-related spending, including clothes, candy and Easter baskets. Historically, Easter is a religious holiday tied to renewal and reflection, Foster said. The new commercial focus has pivoted from spiritual roots to an all-out consumer spending spree. Christians can keep the focus on the Resurrection of Jesus by church attendance and prayer. Many celebrate the secular trappings as well. Commercialization hasnt fully erased the meaning of Easter, Foster said. It has just amplified the noise and created a billion-dollar holiday. Chuck Winborn, an activist and a member of Tarrant Crime Commission, was arrested Tuesday night on a defamation charge against a former police sergeant on social media. Contributed mug shot A criminal charge of defamation against an activist and vocal critic of his towns mayor was dismissed today, two days after his arrest. Tarrant resident Chuck Winborn was arrested Tuesday night over accusations he defamed a former police officer in Facebook posts. The arrest stemmed from a video Winborn posted online that shows an officer going into the empty office of Tarrant Police Chief Wendell Major after he was suspended in 2023. Sgt. Derrick Williamson accused Winborn of illegally obtaining the footage and using it to defame Williamson by accusing him of breaking in. Winborn, who is also a member of the citizen-led Tarrant Crime Commission, denied any wrongdoing. Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Alaric May ordered charges dropped against Chuck Winborn at the request of the Jefferson County District Attorneys office. Chuck Winborn is very pleased that the district attorneys office recognized that the charges against him should be dismissed, his attorney Scott Morro told AL.com. I believe the charges never should have been brought in the first place, and so did the district attorneys office, that it did not meet the criteria for a criminal offense. Williamson is a close ally of Mayor Wayman Newton, while Winborn supports police chief Wendell Major and the council, with whom the mayor frequently clashes. Winborns social media postings did not name Williamson. But Williamson said the footage includes identifying information that points to him. The charges made against Winborn are a class B misdemeanor offense in the state. Alabama Code 13A-11-163 prohibits people from making false claims of a felony against private citizens. Questions linger about how social media posts led to the arrest and a criminal charge. In a report to the Jefferson County Sheriffs office obtained by AL.com, the investigator told Williamson that his complaint was a civil matter. However, he was able to obtain the criminal warrant from a county magistrate. Morro called Winborns arrest an abuse of the criminal justice system for political purposes. A series of legal, political and personal fights are common in the town of 6,000 just outside Birmingham. Any attempts to silence individuals in this manner are inappropriate and are against our free speech, especially in a political arena, he said. Chuck Winborn wants the citizens to know that the truth is an absolute defense and shall set you free. People sit in front of a makeshift memorial outside the student union at Florida State University, Thursday, April 17, 2025, in Tallahassee, Fla., following a campus shooting. (AP Photo/Kate Payne) AP One of the two people killed in Thursdays shootings at Florida State University was the son of Ricardo Monkey Morales, a shadowy Cuban-American CIA operative and anti-Castro militant throughut the 1960s and 70s who died in a bar fight in Miami in 1982. Roberto Morales, 57, was among several university employees who had gathered for a meeting when the shooting began, his brother, Ricardo Morales Jr. said. He worked at the universitys department of dining services. Today we lost my younger brother, He was one of the victims killed at FSU. He loved his job at FSU and his beautiful Wife and Daughter. Im glad you were in my Life, Ricardo Morales Jr. wrote Thursday night in his X account. Roberto Morales was one of two people, neither of whom were FSU students, who were killed. Five others were hospitalized in the shootings, which began shortly before noon. Authorities said the shooter, who is in custody, is the son of a Leon County Schools deputy and had used one of her weapons. Roberto Morales had been deeply affected by his fathers death while he was a teenager, his brother said. His father, who had been a central figure in Cold War-era espionage and anti-Castro militancy, was killed in a Key Biscayne bar on December 20, 1982, during a fight. He was 43. Police ruled the incident a justifiable homicide, though his controversial past has long fueled speculation about the true nature of his death. Monkey Morales operated in the shadowy realms of intelligence and counterintelligence for multiple agencies including the CIA, FBI, DEA, the Israeli Mossad and Venezuelas DISIP. His legacy is marked by covert operations, bombings and alleged ties to drug trafficking. Despite numerous brushes with the law, he was frequently shielded from prosecution, feeding theories about his connections to high-level covert U.S. operations. In the 1960s and 70s, Morales, who took part in the failed Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba in 1961, was one of many Cuban exiles collaborating with the CIA to undermine Fidel Castros regime. In a 2021 radio interview in Miami, Ricardo Morales Jr. claimed that his father had ties to Lee Harvey Oswald, the accused assassin of President John F. Kennedy. Morales said his father, who served as a sniper instructor in the early 1960s at secret camps where Cuban exiles and others were trained for missions against Cuba, recognized Oswald as one of his former trainees in the hours following Kennedys assassination in Dallas in 1963. 2025 Miami Herald. Visit miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A juvenile has been charged in the shooting death of a 17-year-old in Montgomery. The suspect is the third person charged with capital murder in the slaying of Zaveon Simpkins. Montgomery police Sgt. Tina McGriff said the young male was taken into custody Wednesday. Authorities are not releasing his name and age. Police previously announced the arrests of brothers Christopher Kelly, 19, and Christian Kelly, 18. The shooting happened just before 7:15 p.m. Friday, April 4, in the 3600 block of Madolyn Lane. Details surrounding the incident have not yet been made public. Charging documents state Simpkins was killed while being robbed of $500 and an iPhone 12. All of the suspect remain held without bond in the Montgomery County Detention Facility. Laura Pfizenmayer, holding a handmade sign that read Hands off our social security, walked over to a group of supporters of President Donald Trump and Republican U.S. Rep. Barry Moore, and began to let them know how she felt about the administration. Trump is killing Social Security, Pfizenmayer said to the group. One of the Trump and Moore supporters shouted back, Excuse me, but youre not on the right side. Oh, I know Im on the right side, Pfizenmayer responded. Im on Gods side. Oh please, groaned members of the group backing Trump. The verbal exchange continued. You have no clue, people on the pro-Trump side said. Trump is saving Social Security. Hes getting the fraud out. That elicited laughter from the Democratic side. The pro-Trump side shouted back, Stop listening to CNN. The moment outside the Foley Civic Center on Thursday was a microcosm into the nations widening political divide. It played out over the course of about an hour ahead of Moore arriving for a speech delivered before the South Baldwin County Chamber of Commerce. The Baldwin County Democratic Party, which had been planning for the rally on social media, was met with a counter rally by the Baldwin GOP. The two sides remained separate from each other and rarely intermingled. Chants and shouting ensued. There were a few brief encounters including the one in which Pfizenmayer approached the Republicans. However, there were no overly heated moments and far from any violence involving either side. A strong police presence was visible outside the Civic Center. Show your face Dueling protests outside @RepBarryMoore speech before South Baldwin Chamber pic.twitter.com/ogrb3V2rpy John Sharp (@JohnSharp99) April 17, 2025 It was a rare public demonstration in Alabama involving the two political parties at the same setting. The encounter came as public town halls have largely vanished from Republican calendars across the country, following a wave of heated and even chaotic moments in recent months. Show your face, the Baldwin County Democrats chanted, directing their anger at Moore. Back door Moore. Moore, who didnt speak to the protestors when he arrived at the Civic Center, said after the event that he doesnt have a problem hosting town hall events. He also said his congressional office was never informed by GOP leadership to avoid hosting public events while Republicans face backlash at town hall gatherings nationwide. If they are telling us to hold off, its not been given to our office, Moore said, adding he was unsurprised there would be protestors greeting his arrival. Its going on all over the country where members are traveling, and they are getting harassed. Its about the left getting the narrative rather than getting the issues resolved. Moore said being accessible to constituents in his 1st Congressional District is something important to him, adding that he held 14 town hall events within a few weeks in 2021. But he said the current demand for town halls was coming from the left and that it wasnt about addressing issues. A lot of times they want media coverage to bash President Trump, Moore said. Im happy to have dialogue with them on the issues itself. Free speech is one thing. Abusive speech is another. Well do town halls in the future. Well be out there and accessible. Political divide Dueling protests outside @RepBarryMoore speech before South Baldwin Chamber pic.twitter.com/ogrb3V2rpy John Sharp (@JohnSharp99) April 17, 2025 For the Baldwin County Democrats, who organized the rally, the lack of congressional appearances is frustrating. Barry Moore is our congressional representative in District 1, and we have reached a tipping point where we are willing to come out on the streets and say No to the Trump dictatorial regime, said Robyn Monaghan, chair of the Baldwin County Democratic Party, who organized the rally. On the Republican side, Baldwin County GOP chair Kathy Moreland said her group learned about the Democrats gathering outside the Civic Center and decided to also show up and express support for Trump and Moore. The Republicans are very strong in Baldwin County, she said. We have a good following. Baldwin votes Republican. We still wanted to come out today to say we have a strong party here and will continue to keep it strong. Indeed, Baldwin County has long been a Republican stronghold. Monaghan said the party has 2,100 members, and is becoming more and more active. She also vowed that the party will be fielding candidates for municipal races this summer, and in the statewide contests in 2026. We are actively doing Democratic politics in Baldwin County, she said. Atmore resident Bridgette Houck, a member of the Escambia County GOPs executive committee; and Nikki Rye, a Gulf Shores resident whose company sells Trump memorabilia, said they were concerned over what were inaccuracies spread by the Democrats about Trump. Im making sure that the opposing side knows and understands that Trump stands for good and not evil and everything he does is for the right reason, Houck said. Rye said there was no outrage against President Bill Clinton for cutting the federal workforce by over 300,000 jobs in the 1990s. Clintons job cuts in the 90s was done so with mostly bipartisan support, unlike the polarized approach toward federal cuts since Trump was sworn into office in January. Are they cutting back things? Yes, Rye said. But every time a new administration comes in, its the same thing. When Clinton killed 300,000 jobs, where was the outrage then? Paul Cleverdon of Foley, who rallied with the Baldwin County Democrats, said the federal job cuts have personally affected him since he retired after 36 years with the National Security Agency. He said he has had problems receiving retirement funds, and that those hes contacted at the agency for assistance, are about to be fired. My older friends who are close to retirement are being offered an early out and they will have to go, said Cleverdon, a former Republican voter who switched to the Democrats during the Trump era. John McCain died and that pretty much ended the real Republican Party, Cleverdon said, referring to the late Arizona senator and 2008 Republican presidential nominee who died in 2018. The Democratic rally lasted a little bit longer than the Republicans. But both sides left before Moores speech ended inside the Civic Center. The congressman touched on issues like tariffs and continued to introduce himself to Baldwin County residents. Moore, who won the redrawn congressional district in November and took office in January, is representing Baldwin County for the first time. Moore said there will be bumps in the road over Trumps policies, but that the things we are trying to fix didnt get that way overnight. There will be fear mongering, he said. There always is. The president wrote, Art of the Deal, and you got I dont know how many countries camped out across the White House now in hotels wanting to meet with the president to negotiate the tariffs that are fair trade. So that is what well do. Tortilla chips, portable chargers, baby swings and celery sticks are on the latest list of Walmart recalls. Walmart/Canva Two high-profile food recalls are at the top of the list of recent Walmart recalls. Ready-to-eat celery sticks and Frito Lay Tortilla Chips were recalled due to possible contamination or allergy issues. Other recalls cover baby swings and portable chargers. Here is a look at recent Walmart recalls: Ready-to-eat celery sticks Duda Farms has recalled a single lot of washed and ready-to-eat Marketside Celery Sticks. The packages have a best if used by date of March 23, but the warning from the Food and Drug Administration said they could be in peoples freezers. The recall was made due to possible listeria contamination after a sample at a Georgia Walmart location tested positive. Listeria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people or others were weakened immune systems. You can read more here. Frito Lay tortilla chips A limited number of 13 oz. bags of Tostitos Cantina Traditional Yellow Corn Tortilla Chips were recalled due to the possibility of an undeclared milk. People with an allergy or severe milk sensitivity could run the risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction. The chips were distributed in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. You can read more here. IxDregan Infant Swings The Consumer Product Safety Commission is urging people to stop using IxDregan Infant Swings due to a risk of suffocation. The swings, sold at Walmart, have an incline angle greater than 10 degrees, posing a suffocation hazard. Also, some models of the swings contain button cell or coin batteries which can post a choking hazard. People are advised to stop using the swings immediately. Portable Power Banks Casely Wireless Portable Power Banks sold at Walmart can pose a fire hazard, the CPSC warned. The lithium-ion battery in the recalled power banks can overheat and ignite, posing fire and burn hazards. About 429,000 units are included in the recall. Comeonroa Infant Swings About 410 units of Comeonroa Infant Swings sold on Walmart.com have been recalled due a possible suffocation hazard. The swings have an incline greater than 10 degrees which is a violation of the Safe Sleep for Babies Act. The swings also fail to meet mandatory warning requirements under the swing standard and are missing the required warnings and instructions related to button cell and coin batteries. The Birmingham Water Works Customer Service Center is shown in Birmingham, Ala. (Mark Almond/AL.com file) The Birmingham Water Works Board would be dramatically reshaped under proposed legislation that takes the reins of power from Birmingham and hands more of it to surrounding areas. Birmingham under the proposal would lose its board majority and shrink to just one vote. The bill has reawakened old tensions and political fires over the water works, its assets and who lays claim to it. State Senator Dan Roberts, R-Mountain Brook, introduced the bill this week, which was co-sponsored by fellow Republicans Sen. Jabo Waggoner and Sen. Shay Shelnutt. The goal of the legislation is to transform the board into a regional authority with new members, and give new appointment powers to the president of the Jefferson County Commission and the Alabama Lt. Governor. Roberts in an interview with AL.com said his bill was not punitive or any attempt to take anything away. Instead, he said it was an attempt to resolve longstanding problems at the utility. For example, he called the water works rates an impediment to economic development in the region. He also said he was concerned about needed pipe maintenance and replacement while at the same time the utility spends ratepayer money on lawyers, lobbyists and marketing firms. So goes Birmingham, so goes the state, Roberts said. We dont want to become a California. We dont want to become a Detroit, Michigan. We dont want to become a Jackson, Mississippi. We dont want to become a Richmond, Virginia. I have grave concerns with the way things are going. The number of board members would be cut to five from the current nine. Also, the legislation would require board members to have backgrounds in engineering or business. Water works board terms would extend to five years rather than four, and monthly board stipends would increase to $2,000 from the current $1,000. Action on the proposed changes is occurring quickly. The bill was introduced on Thursday. The first committee meeting and hearing is Tuesday April 22 at the Statehouse. If approved, the legislation would be the most dramatic overhaul of the states largest water utility, since it was expanded to create new seats for members from Blount and Shelby Counties. That change passed in 2015 and took effect two years later in 2017. The nine-member board currently has six seats from Birmingham, one from the Jefferson County Mayors Association and one each from Blount and Shelby Counties. State Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, said the bill came as a surprise because it was introduced as general legislation rather than a local proposal, which would have brought it to the delegation for discussion and compromise. We would have at that point begun to work with whatever the issue might have been, Smitherman told AL.com. When it hit, it just hit. I had no prior involvement in the drafting of that bill. Smitherman is among several who have previously warned about attempts to regionalize the board and dilute Birminghams position on the utility. That effort has again gained momentum, in spite of previous compromises that expanded the board to include non-Birmingham users. Smitherman said he is concerned that a reconfigured board would show less sensitivity to the needs of Birmingham. He urged the public to attend the senate committee meeting and public hearing on Tuesday. Another Democrat, State Sen. Merika Coleman, D-Pleasant Grove, underscored Smithermans objections and said her Republican counterparts sidestepped general rules. This is not only unfortunate, it is wrong, she said. This shouldve been a local issue, but they took the posture that they would do this statewide to bypass the Jefferson County delegation. Its absolutely wrong. Were mad about it and the public should be mad too. Roberts said he was not attempting to be crafty by filing his bill as general legislation rather than a local bill. Rather, he had to do it as a general bill because the proposal affects more than one county, he said. The water works services a five-county area. This cannot be dealt with by local bill, he said. A local bill deals with one county. Water Works Board Chairwoman Terisha Huffman said there are several misconceptions about the utility that could be remedied by communicating with them rather than ushering in new legislation. Let us show you the work and the improvement we have made. That has taken a lot of commitment, Huffman told AL.com. I welcome conversations with anyone, elected, appointed or a customer. Let us show the work weve been doing. Roberts told AL.com that legislators have attempted to communicate with the water works but the utility has failed to provide the information requested. We have tried to work diligently. We had a meeting in the fall. We had meetings right before we went into session and expressed our concerns. We were promised a report and never received it. Huffman said the numbers indicate that billing issues have fallen, customer service has improved and significant infrastructure investments have been made to maintain and improve the system. Huffman and the board were recently criticized for changing their communications policy to require advance notice to speak to the board during meetings and a two-minute limit. Thats the publics water works. We pay them, Jefferson County Commissioner Sheila Tyson told AL.com last week when the rules were approved. So, who the hell do they think they are to change the policy where the public, who pays their bills, cant complain? Huffman said the policy was not designed to muzzle public input, but rather to ensure orderly meetings. There have been many times that a customer has come in and theyve surpassed the three-minute mark, and I extended it, Huffman said. If theyre coming about real business that affects their bill or their business, they deserve to be heard. They will be allowed to be heard. AL.com efforts to reach Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfins office for comment were unsuccessful. Birmingham Councilwoman Valerie Abbott said she was outraged by the legislation but is also outraged by the actions of the water works board that may have prompted the current takeover proposal. Those actions, she said, include the recent public comment changes. They already know theres a big target on their back, so why would you do something so egregious that would put not only a target on your back but also on your front? Abbott said. They are always being picked on, but in this case, they brought in on themselves. I do not think the bill is a good bill, but I can see what is happening. Abbott said lawmakers nearly every year present proposals to take over the utility, and current actions from the water works board have emboldened the move this year. While the Senate bill was presented without notice, State Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, said the utilitys leadership itself is culpable in this current threat to its composition and autonomy. Givan, who is also a candidate for Birmingham mayor, challenging Woodfin, said she had warned both city leaders and water works executives about disgruntled legislators and a looming threat. While I do not support it, we have got to get back to a sense of being diligent in our processing of customer issues, addressing high prices and communication with employees there is out the window, Givan said. She advised water works leadership to self-reform, but her advice was ignored, she said. You want to freeze the voice of the people to be able to speak, it tells the tale, she said, referring to new restrictive water works public comment rules. Then you also have to be mindful of who you put on these boards. While there are good people, they are not individuals who are administrators. Givan will hold a community meeting at Parker High School to discuss the issue at 6 p.m. April 22 - the same day legislators will hold the first committee meeting and hearing on the bill. Givan said she believes the utilitys board has been complicit in its own potential demise - at least as it is currently configured. You have turned the water works over, Givan said regarding local water works leadership. Its pitiful. Its a shame before God as my grandmother would say. Its a shame and a pity, because nobody listens. AL.coms Roy S. Johnson contributed to this report. FILE - Pennsylvania Senate candidate Mehmet Oz, left, accompanied by former President Donald Trump, speaks at a campaign rally in Greensburg, Pa., Friday, May 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File) AP It was an appearance Donald Trump didnt forget. While attending the swearing-in ceremony of new Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz, the president recalled the time he was a guest on the doctors eponymous television show. Trump recalled coming on The Dr. Oz Show while reading Ozs credentials -- director of New York-Presbyterian Hospitals Cardiovascular Institute and Integrative Medicine Program and a professor at Columbia Universitys College of Physicians and Surgeons. Boy oh boy, I thought he only did a show, the president remarked. I only know the show. You know why I know the show? Because he said Im a little overweight, I should lose some weight. Trump: Boy, oh, boy. I thought he just did a show. You know why I know did the show? He said I was a little overweight. I did a show and thats what I got out of it. pic.twitter.com/8BrMcrjShV Acyn (@Acyn) April 18, 2025 I did his show, and thats what I got out of it, the president continued. That was not good. The presidents health has been in the news since the White House physician released a memo on Monday indicating Trump is fully fit to serve as commander-in-chief. Trumps physician, Navy Capt. Sean Barbabella, cited an active lifestyle that continues to contribute significantly to the Republican presidents well-being. Trump turns 79 on June 14. In a three-page summary of the comprehensive exam from Friday, the doctor said Trump is fully fit to execute the duties of Commander-in-Chief and Head of State. Trump weighed 224 at the checkup, down from 244 at that physical more than four years ago. Oz, who unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania in 2022, is the17th CMS administrator. The 64-year-old Oz will manage health insurance programs for roughly half the country, with oversight of Medicare, Medicaid or Affordable Care Act coverage. He steps into the new role as Congress is debating cuts to the Medicaid program, which provides coverage to millions of poor and disabled Americans. Oz has not said yet whether he would oppose such cuts to the government-funded program, instead offering a vision of promoting healthier lifestyles, integrating artificial intelligence and telehealth into the system, and rethinking rural health care delivery. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Iryna Kalinina, 32, an injured pregnant woman, is carried from a maternity hospital that was damaged during a Russian airstrike in Mariupol, Ukraine, in March 2022. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File) AP U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. would move on if a way to end the war in Ukraine cant be found soon as Russia said a one-month pause on targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure had ended. We need to figure out here now, within a matter of days, whether this is doable in the short term. Because if its not, then I think were just going to move on, Rubio told reporters at Le Bourget airport outside of Paris on Friday morning, according to a transcript provided by the State Department. His comments followed a meeting of U.S. officials including Rubio and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff with representatives from France, Germany and the UK in Paris on Thursday, where the U.S. indicated its aim was to secure a full ceasefire in Ukraine within weeks, according to people familiar. Rubio also said the European nations could help move the ball to get a resolution and that their ideas had been very helpful and constructive. We had a good meeting yesterday, he added. But this isnt going to go on forever. The war in Ukraine, now well into its fourth year, has no military solution to it, Rubio said. Neither side has some strategic capability to end this war quickly. President Donald Trump, who predicted on the campaign trail that he could quickly secure a ceasefire, hits the 100-day mark of his second stint in the White House on April 30. Trump has dedicated a lot of time and energy to this, and there are a lot of things going on in the world right now that we need to be focused on, Rubio told reporters. There are a lot of other really important things going on that deserve just as much if not more attention. Thursdays talks in Paris also included a meeting between Witkoff and French President Emmanuel Macron and were attended by Ukrainian officials. U.S. officials indicated they expected to make significant progress soon, and the participants agreed to work toward that, said the people familiar. National security advisers and negotiators from Germany, France, the U.S. and the UK plan to gather again in London next week to follow up on their discussions. The meetings came almost a week after Witkoff traveled to St. Petersburg, where he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin for almost five hours. He described the conversation as compelling, saying they discussed steps that could end the war and perhaps lead to business opportunities for Russia as well. European officials have attempted to influence the outcome of peace efforts kicked off by the Trump administration, especially after being sidelined during recent bilateral talks between Russia and the U.S. Trump has expressed frustration at the pace of negotiations with Russia, which has so far declined to accept his proposal for a truce in Ukraine as a starting-point for broader peace talks. But the U.S. leader has also at times blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy for the war that began with Russias invasion in 2022. On Friday, the Kremlin said an order to pause strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure for 30 days had expired, with no updated instructions in place. The month has indeed expired, Putins spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, according to the Interfax news agency. At the present time there have been no other instructions from the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. Putin agreed to limit attacks on Ukraines energy infrastructure for 30 days during a March 18 phone call with President Donald Trump, an outcome that fell well short of the White Houses aim for a total halt to the fighting over that same timeframe. Kyiv and Moscow each accused the other of breaking the accord, though the month passed without a strike on any of Russias major refineries, and many of the alleged violations were related to transformers and power lines. As of early April, Russias refinery runs were on track to reach a four-month high thanks to an absence of the drone attacks. Kremlin forces have stepped up strikes on other targets in recent weeks, including deadly missile attacks on civilians in Kryvih Rih, Zelenskiys home town, and Sumy in Ukraines northeast. Separately, Trump told reporters on Thursday that a deal on critical minerals that hes demanded with Ukraine is expected to be signed on April 24. His comments suggests both sides have agreed to the contours of an accord governing postwar plans to exploit Ukraines mineral deposits and rebuild its infrastructure. The deal would grant the U.S. first claim on profits transferred into a special reconstruction investment fund to be controlled by Washington. In negotiations, Kyiv has pressed for better terms and refused to recognize past U.S. assistance as debt. ____ With assistance from Greg Sullivan. ___ 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Family and advocates for Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez pray for his release from the Leon County, Florida Jail. Thomas Kennedy/X An American citizen was sitting in a Florida jail at the orders of federal immigration authorities despite a judge finding his birth certificate to be legitimate. Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez, 20, was on a 48-hour U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement hold in the Leon County, Florida Jail after being a passenger in an allegedly speeding car stopped by state troopers, according to the Florida Phoenix, which first reported on Lopez-Gomezs plight. Lopez-Gomez, who was born in Grady County, Georgia and moved to Mexico when he was a year old, his distraught mother, Sebastiana Gomez-Perez, told the Phoenix. The U.S. citizen returned to Georgia four years ago and lives in Grady County, adjacent to the Florida state line. A Florida state trooper pulled over the car Lopez-Gomez was riding in because it was traveling at 78 m.p.h. in an area where the speed limit is 65 m.p.h., according to the Georgia mans arrest report. Lopez-Gomez handed over his Georgia state ID to the trooper, who wrote that Lopez-Gomez was illegally in the U.S., the Phoenix reported. The Homeland Security Investigations Office in Tampa, Florida issued a 48-hour ICE detainer against Lopez-Gomez on Thursday, the Phoenix reported, noting that the ICE officer whose name appeared on the detained declined to speak to the outlet. Lopez-Gomez was charged with a first-degree misdemeanor, and although the charge was dropped, he remained held on the ICE detainer. The Georgia man had a virtual court appearance Thursday. An immigration advocate handed the Lopez-Gomezs American birth certificate to the judge, who found it to be an authentic document after viewing it in the light. But the Leon County judge said she did not have the authority to release Lopez-Gomez because of ICEs detention order. However, Lopez-Gomez was released from the Leon County Jail on Thursday night, according to Thomas Kennedy of the Florida Immigrant Coalition, who advocated for Lopez-Gomez and his family in court. He is free!! Thank you to everyone who shared, call and did anything to help secure his release. https://t.co/bvhKdwzub6 pic.twitter.com/zptIkjbVzF Thomas Kennedy (@tomaskenn) April 17, 2025 The driver and another passenger of the vehicle Lopez-Gomez was in appeared in court Thursday, with the driver also charged with driving without a license. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a law earlier this year that makes it a misdemeanor for undocumented immigrants over age 18 to knowingly enter Florida after entering the United States by eluding or avoiding examination or inspection by immigration officers, according to the Phenix. Earlier this month, a federal judge blocked the state from enforcing the law amid a legal challenge. But Kennedy said Lopez-Gomez was arrested under that law: The arrest and ICE hold against Juan Carlos is not just troubling because he is a U.S. citizen, he was charged under a recent anti-immigrant which we sued and temporarily blocked in court. Juan Carlos is free now but its clear that Florida continues to act in a lawless manner. https://t.co/UMND4UBg9t Thomas Kennedy (@tomaskenn) April 18, 2025 The Homeland Security Department told CNN it will look into the detention order. Lopez-Gomezs case comes as another puts President Donald Trumps immigration policies under scrutiny. Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man living in Maryland and mistakenly deported to El Salvador and imprisoned without communication, has stirred debate about due process. For Democrats, the Abrego Garcia case is about fundamental American ideals due process, following court orders, preventing government overreach. For the Trump administration and Republicans, its about foreigners and gang threats and danger in American towns and cities. This dichotomy is playing out as Democrats double down on their defense of Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man mistakenly deported and imprisoned without communication. Theyre framing his case as a threat to individual rights to challenge President Trumps immigration policies. The effort comes as the Trump administration pushes back harder, turning this deportation into a test case for his crusade against illegal immigration despite a Supreme Court order saying Abrego Garcia must be returned to the United States. The Associated Press contributed to this report. US President Donald Trump with his son Donald Trump Jr. and US Vice President JD Vance after being sworn in during an inauguration ceremony in the rotunda of the United States Capitol on January 20, 2025. (Photo by Shawn Thew-Pool/Getty Images) Getty Images Donald Trumps advisors may want to keep the presidents eyes away from the results of this poll. While Trump is hugely popular among Republicans, hes not the most well-liked political figure among voters from his party, according to a YouGov/Economist poll released Friday that polled Americans on 120 political figures. Trump has a net favorability rating of +76 among Republicans, tied for second place with his oldest son, Donald Trump, Jr. Another Republican has an even larger margin. Vice President JD Vance topped the poll with a +78 favorability rating among Republicans, the poll found. Vance bested the president among conservative Republicans (+77 vs. +70), Republicans 44 years old and younger (+76 vs. +73), Republicans 45 years old and older (+79 vs. +77), men (+88 vs. +77), Republicans without a college degree (+79 vs. +78) and Republicans with a college degree (+75 vs. +71.) Trump did better than Vance in only one demographic: women (+74 for Trump vs. +68 for Vance.) Eight Republican figures who have been outspoken against Trump have net negative favorability among members of their own party: Liz Cheney (-33), McConnell (-26), Dick Cheney (-22), Christie (-18), Mitt Romney (-13), Lisa Murkowski (-4), Adam Kinzinger (-3), and Susan Collins (-1). Pence, who is among the most well-known Republicans, has a net favorability of 0 among members of his party. Liz Cheney and Kinzinger are the only figures who are significantly more well-liked by members of the opposing party than within their own, the poll found, while Murkowski and Romney are rated about equally by members of both parties. Meanwhile, former President Barack Obama was the most well-liked political figure among all Americans of the 120 figures named in the poll, with a +22 net favorability rating. Only two other figures known by at least 88% of respondents were in positive territory among all Americans: independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders (+12) and ex-President George W. Bush (+3.) The leftist elites always hate Republicans, but there is something much deeper going on with their hatred for Donald Trump. The desire to destroy him has an almost religious element to it. They say there are no atheists in foxholes. The basic premise is that when facing an existential threat, particularly when lives are on the line, people will look for something stronger than themselves, often God, to pull them through. The opposite might be when things are good. Then, atheism, or at least an indifference to God, grows. Sadly, in this context, the last 75 years have been very good for the West. WWII was horrible, of course, but there were some good things that came from it. The first good thing features two sides of the same coin, and that coin is the utter destruction of Germany and Japan. I dont mean their defeat, but rather the utter destruction of their infrastructure and that of many of the nations fighting them. The result for the relatively unscathed United States was that its full wartime manufacturing footing put it in a position to provide pretty much of everything the war-torn world needed. The result was that by the middle of the 1950s, the American economy, with 5% of the worlds population, approached 40% of world GDP . Times were indeed good. Image by Vince Coyner. The other side of that coin was that because the German and Japanese infrastructures were so completely destroyed, they could leapfrog over many iterations of evolution and begin again with the latest technologies, machinery, and processes. The result was that by the 1980s, the Japanese and German economies were the most powerful in the world after the US. The second positive outcome of WWII was the Cold War. Now the Cold War had many downsides, including the hot wars in Korea, Vietnam, and elsewhere, but what it did was draw a clear line between who were the good guys and who were the bad guys. America and the West were far from perfect, but we knew that at the end of the day, the West was the land of freedom, while the communists were tyrannies constantly seeking to expand. The result of that clarity was that, for the most part, Western nations understood there was real danger in the world and prepared for it. They focused on trading with one another, they took defense seriously, and while they sometimes tolerated communists in their midst, they rarely made heroes of them. The consequence of that Cold War clarity, and the Soviet and Chinese understanding that the West was willing to fight to preserve freedom across the planet, was a relative peace. And that relative peace was the Wests undoing. For the half-century from the end of World War II until 2000, the world experienced more economic growth than it had in the previous 2,000 years combined . Driven by relative peace, world trade took off both within the West and with the developing world. But then a funny thing happened on the way to perpetual prosperity. The West, basking in its victory over the Soviets and its certainty that communist China would evolve into a modern Western democracy if only allowed to sell us tchotchkes, began to turn on itself. The peace / communist parties, which had been funded by Moscow and had always been a fringe element of modern Western polity, suddenly morphed into environmentalists and cloaked their anticapitalist ideas in far more voter-friendly Earth First shibboleths. Now, just as the money spigot from Russia was coming to an end, a far larger resource was becoming viableWestern governments. The result was the extraordinary growth in the power of the far left in Western politics. And it wasnt just environmentalism that was driving the train. As the Cold War wound down, Western nations used their peace dividends to shower citizens with benefits while simultaneously seeking to regulate their economies into perfection. (Spoiler alert: It didnt work!) The perfect encapsulation of the Wests metastasizing can be seen in the form of the European Union. Imagined as a vehicle to foster peace and then trade between perpetually warring European states , it morphed into a leviathan that not only seeks to control virtually every aspect of citizens lives in its member states, but it seeks to control who can grow what and when, how states can control their borders and even whether sovereign states can conduct their own elections . Like so much of the modern West, an idea that started out as something ostensibly good metastasized into cancer. Stopping the pouring of chemicals directly into rivers morphed into eviscerating farms . A temporary safety net for the downtrodden morphs into generational welfare . An empathetic desire to help victims of war morphs into an invasion by legions of military-aged men. And its not just capitalism and freedom that have taken body blows. The third leg of the stool upon which western civilization stands is Christianity, and it has been brutalized by Western prosperity , as have the foundations of Christianity, namely, marriage and children . As they say, idle hands are the Devils workshop. The Wests relative prosperity has caused citizens not focused on a common enemy to turn on their own history. From British universities dropping Shakespeare and Chaucer to the New York Museum of Natural History removing Teddy Roosevelts statue to the Spanish governments vow to decolonize the nations museums, to the cancer of DEI , across the West, nations are turning their backs on their own foundations, the things that set them apart fromand above, franklyevery other civilization in human history. From socialism to communism to Islam, Western intellectuals have led the charge, via schools and the media, to champion everything that is anti-Western, anti-capitalist, anti-masculine, and anti-white. At the end of the day, the globalist elites co-opted the hard-won prosperity and peace by leveraging technology, Chinese tchotchkes, and social media algorithms to aim societys guns at the very things that built success in the first place. Theyve created a Mexican standoff where everyone loses as the core elements of Western civilization are undermined by policies specifically formatted to destroy them, while the resulting culture is not equipped to support anything close to the same level of civilization. All of this is why Donald Trump is for the left, a new Jesus Christnot in the sense that hes godlike, because I think we can all agree that hes not, but because he embodies their eventual destruction. Thus, just as Christ was a heretic whose message of love and a gracious God had to be destroyed because it threatened the established order, Trumps pro-America, pro-masculinity, and pro-Western civilization message must be destroyed because it threatens the New World Order. The globalists argue that they are best equipped to structure the lives of citizens, organize world economies, and control everything from speech to cow farts to electricity generation. Any message that suggests that citizens should control their own lives, that capitalism makes for the most prosperous outcomes, and that free speech is a cornerstone of civilization must be quashed. Western elites think Donald Trump is the common enemy they need to unify citizens under the banner of globalism. Theyve got it backwards. Theyre more likely to discover exactly how many of their citizens feel like theyve been crouching in a foxhole waiting for someone to inspire them to climb out, pick up their weapons, and charge into a battle of ideas to take back their lives. Imagine the sheer horror on the globalists faces when they realize that Donald Trump just might be that guy... Jurgen Habermas is one of the most cited international academics and his pedigree among Frankfurt School scholars makes him an important example of what debaters call "reluctant testimony." As a secular academic and scholar, Habermas confirmed for his fellow critical theorists that nothing in current social justice theories can be derived apart from the teachings and influence of Jesus Christ: Christianity has functioned for the normative self-understanding of modernity as more than a mere precursor or a catalyst. Egalitarian universalism, from which sprang the ideas of freedom and social solidarity, of an autonomous conduct of life and emancipation, of the individual morality of conscience, human rights, and democracy, is the direct heir to the Judaic ethic of justice and the Christian ethic of love. This legacy, substantially unchanged, has been the object of continual critical appropriation and reinterpretation. To this day, there is no alternative to it. And in the light of the current challenges of a postnational constellation, we continue to draw on the substance of this heritage. It is the life, teaching, and resurrection of Jesus that brings us to the persistent yet peculiar moment of Jesus versus the intellectuals in 2025. In the approach of Easter, Christians acknowledge the trial, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus. Christianity is often charged with being anti-intellectual, even though Jesus was known as a teacher. Jesus famous teaching found in the eighth chapter of the Gospel of John instructed: Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. My home university at SMU, like many universities across the nation, is historically adorned with this pivotal insight offered often in latin: veritas liberabit vos. It is not an altogether surprising paradox that the small Baptist teaching college known as Harvard now finds itself at the apex of academic power while also squaring up against a populist culture war. It is hard to deny that hard-nosed secularists have wrested private Christian universities away from the paradigm of Jesus into a realm of social negotiation about what truth is. The outrageous denial of womanhood stands as one of the most important current dicta demanded at universities across the nation. The idea that Christianity might be anti-intellectual should surprise no one. It certainly did not surprise the intellectuals and academics rooted in the academic institutions of Jerusalem. Precisely as foreshadowed in the Serpents discussion with Eve about having knowledge without God (Genesis 3). The tree of knowledge is liable to give any human being a sense of pride that incorrectly supposed that walking and living life apart from God is for the best. Jesus confrontation at the temple in Jerusalem at the nations highest point of learning was a predictable narrative consequence to a story peppered with accusations and defiance as Jesus answered questions from academics across the nation of Israel. Jesus correctly observed that the teachers of the day corrupted the knowledge of God into a deadly weapon being used against the people of God. Our ongoing intellectual abilities to misinterpret God and leave Him entirely out of our academic equations is perfectly consistent with the rhetorical arc of the Bible. The reason Jesus taught that the truth will set you free was that he recognized that within the faithful seed of the resurrection, a cadre of brave followers would be willing to seek and indulge the truth in times of mass deception. As Orwell and so many prescient thinkers have observed, the price of telling the truth in times of mass deception can easily be the loss of human life. The communist party of China excels at mass deception and intimidation. It is not surprising that the consequence of this pathology is that the government executes thousands of people every year -- exponentially more than any other government in the world. Easter centers the resurrection like an intellectual diamond amidst the absurdity of global Gleischaltung -- a term noted by Hannah Arendt to describe the mass deception led by academics in Germany as prelude to the Holocaust. Jesus recognized when he first turned water into wine that he was initiating a clock of inevitable annihilation rooted in the intellectual resistance to his embodiment of the truth. The Christian belief in the resurrection is the truth that sets us free because it can by faith place our mind beyond the reach of fear induced by deadly genocidaires who kill the innocent in public as a means of gaining the consent of gullible masses. Death is not the last word in political argument. It can ultimately be an important and idealistic beginning. That is essentially why Easter remains so important in 2025. The world maintains its pathological intellectual attachment to death as argument. The public killing of the innocent has always been among humanitys worst features. The resurrection of Jesus is offered as an important and necessary alternative to that shrewdly crafted world. Dr. Ben Voth is professor of rhetoric and director of debate at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. He is the author of several academic books regarding political communication, presidential rhetoric, and genocide. Image: PxHere Tariffs are the hot topic. President Trump is using tariffs in a strategy that encompasses the whole of government. Is the world prepared? More precisely, is China prepared to go toe-to-toe? Although the president has scaled back on the tariffs e.g., a 90-day pause, exemptions on smartphones he has not relented on China. His Liberation Day announcement launched the U.S. version of the whole-of-government approach first and foremost to revitalize Americas standing in the world, but it was also to target and perhaps to isolate China economically. There are ample reasons for President Trump to zero in first and squarely on China. Since the rise of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), China has aimed to topple America by means above and beyond the traditional military path. In 2021, we discussed the whole-of-government approach China has taken against the U.S. for the past three decades. Brigadier General (ret.) Robert Spaldings Stealth War accurately documented Chinas economic and diplomatic machinations that followed a book on Irregular Warfare, written by two Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) colonels. America has lacked the willpower to coordinate a broader, integrated plan. The U.S. default, hearkening back to the Teddy Roosevelt days, was to build up our military and carry that big stick. For the first time in the postWorld War II era, the U.S. is in a full, concerted effort against China more on the economic side than via the kinetic means (combat warfare). Tip of the Spear Aimed at China The tip of the spear of this economic warfare is the imposition of tariffs, which now is a tit-for-tat yo-yo between the U.S. and China. But a tit-for-tat can go for only so long before there is a breaking point. It will initiate a war of attrition. The U.S., the largest and the most powerful economy in the world and backed by the most potent military and diplomatic arms, will most likely outlast China, though with aches and pains that will mostly be borne by the average taxpayer. For China, the numbers do not and cannot lie. The Chinese are at a disadvantage: In 2023, according to Trading Economics, the U.S. is the largest market for Made in China goods, valued at $501 billion, or 15% of the total Chinese export market. Take away the $275 billion that China exports to Hong Kong (or 8% of Chinas export market), and the next biggest markets that China exports to are Japan and Korea at $157 billion and $148 billon, respectively. Therefore, how can China alleviate, relieve, mitigate or even end this economic warfare before its entire economy and manufacturing foundation go into convulsions, as fewer and fewer of its products are being exported and sold due to the higher tariffs imposed on them? Like in shooting warfare, a diversion is one of Chinas options. In addition to its now regular air incursion of Taiwans Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), will China escalate its naval exercises in the Taiwan Strait and northward and southward toward the Senkaku Islands and the Luzon Strait, respectively? Will this antagonize Japan and the Philippines and lured them into military action? Another option, short of a full-scale invasion of Taiwan, is the military occupation of Chinese coastal islands of Kinmen (AKA Quemoy) and Matsu, long occupied by Taiwan since the end of WWII. If there is an invasion of Kinmen and Matsu, one advantage Xi Jinping will gain is time. Time is bought by Xi to semi-appease the hard-line CCP faction that has long wanted to reunite Taiwan with the motherland at the earliest. Xi will state that China has shown that it can act decisively and conduct successful combat operations for the first time since the countrys 1970s fiasco against Vietnam. He will also proclaim that this is the preview of the eventual takeover of Taiwan after he conducts after action reviews of the conquest of Kinmen and Matsu. It will also confirm Chinas refusal to never renounce the use of force against Taiwan and the 23 million Taiwanese. More importantly, this option may be seen in the West especially in the United States that China may be serious in its objective to take over Taiwan. For Taiwan, Kinmen and Matsu (and their combined 150,000 residents), while ruled from Taipei, have long lost its strategic importance. No longer are the days when Chiang Kai-shek wanted to use these islands as staging areas and stepping stones to reconquer the mainland after he and his 1+ million Kuomintang forces fled China and established the nationalist Republic of China government on a Taiwan that had previously been a colony of Japan since 1895. The unknowns will be how the U.S. will react to the military takeover of Taiwans islands. Will the U.S. 1) reduce tariffs against China? 2) negotiate for a downward revision of its tariffs against China? 3) execute plans to defend Taiwan (and the most strategically important chip manufacturing plants in northeast Taiwan)? Implement Tariffs to Influence World Prices and Revitalize American Manufacturing The United States is the worlds largest economy and buyer of products. If and when we buy less in widgets, the makers of those widgets, and the world, will notice. Our demand for steel, chips, solar panels, and gadgets and widgets are second to none. And if that demand decreases due to tariffs, basic Econ 101 dictates that supply may very well exceed demand, leading to price decreases. Economists have called this phenomenon terms-of-trade gain. This shift in demand (using U.S. and China as examples) between countries will be dependent of the supply country (China)s ability to offload the now excess goods due to the tariffs imposed by the U.S. If no nations can make up for the loss of Made in China goods due to Trumps tariffs, would not the supply exceed demand and, ergo, lead to a drop in prices, where now the U.S. may be able to snatch them up at a cheaper price? Use Tariffs as a Proxy to an Economic War with China Trumps imposition of tariffs is a clear sign of the U.S. engaging in an economic war against China. The whole of government approach, initiated by increased tariffs and backed by the worlds most formidable military and diplomatic force, will reinvigorate the American economy and its manufacturing base. No longer are the days when American just talk softly and carry a big stick. Will this isolate and put a stranglehold on China? Possibly. How China reacts and reciprocates, militarily or economically, will tell the world if they have the resources to combat this threat to their economy. Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr (cropped). British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer keeps saying that Britain is open for business. The issue is that the type of business the UK needs requires engaging with President Donald Trumpand hes not buying what Starmers selling. Not while British laws treat tweets as serious crimes and taxes as political weapons. The Promise of a U.S.UK Free Trade Deal The prize, elusive since the Brexit vote, is back on the tableand for the first time with real momentum. When Trump visited Britain as president in 2019, he touted the prospect of a phenomenal trade deal. Negotiations opened the following year but were mothballed under President Joe Biden. Now, with Trump back in the White House and his vice president J.D. Vance articulating a coherent and assertive agenda, talks are gaining pace. Starmer, eager to show that Brexit Britain remains commercially and diplomatically relevant, has signalled his enthusiasm. British Ambassador to the U.S., Lord Peter Mandelson, has been quietly doing the heavy lifting in Washington. Drawing on his deep knowledge of trade negotiations, Mandelson has been working to align both governments on key issues, such as regulatory alignment and market access for British industries. His strategic engagement with U.S. policymakers has helped to overcome some of the diplomatic hurdles that typically stall such high-level talks. Mandelson has been focused on ensuring that a future U.S.UK agreement reflects not only economic considerations but also the growing tensions in the special relationship. Momentum makes sense. As geopolitical fragmentation accelerates and the multilateral trading system stalls, a bilateral U.S.UK free trade agreement offers a promising prospect for two advanced economies seeking to reinforce supply chain security, regulatory interoperability, and capital market depth. Given the sophisticated and cutting-edge nature of both economies, a U.S.UK free trade agreement would establish a high-standard framework aligned with their regulatory maturity and sectoral advantages. Tariff removal would enhance UK export competitiveness and reduce U.S. policy risk. The Financial Sector Advantage The real advantage lies in the financial sector. Deeper alignment in services would support mutual recognition of regulatory frameworks, facilitating dual listings, reducing capital charges on cross-border exposures, and enabling efficient use of client assets through compatible custody regimes. Harmonized rules on central clearing, margin requirements, and cross-border netting would improve liquidity conditions and reduce collateral fragmentation. This would enhance the UKs access to U.S. institutional capital and preserve Londons status as a primary offshore dollar huban asset that may prove increasingly critical for the U.S. due to rising geopolitical tensions and efforts toward de-dollarization. Digital Trade and Data Flow Security The U.S. and the UK stand as two of the most advanced digital ecosystems globally, driving innovation across sectors such as fintech, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing. Their combined technological prowess offers a unique opportunity for deep collaboration. A digital trade chapter within a U.S.UK free trade agreement would not only secure cross-border data flows but also establish robust standards for emerging technologies. This would build on successful precedents set by the UKs FTAs with Singapore and Japan, where issues of data protection, privacy, and e-commerce were addressed in ways that promote innovation while safeguarding consumer rights. By harmonizing digital regulations, both nations could set a global benchmark, enabling faster adoption of cutting-edge technologies, and streamlining cross-border business operations. Signs of a UK Illiberal Drift But the Americans are no longer in the business of freebies. Beneath the surface of these economic negotiations lies a deeper issue that could complicate the path to a free trade agreement: the growing concerns over the UKs approach to free speech and digital regulation. Vance, a former venture capitalist and bestselling author of Hillbilly Elegy, is no stranger to cultural combat. As vice president, he gives intellectual shape to Trumps instinctsparticularly on trade and speech. In recent interviews with The Independent and UnHeard, Vance was blunt. For a deal to happen, the UK would need to rethink its censorious digital regulations. The vice president pointed squarely at the Online Safety Act, a sprawling piece of legislation that deputises tech firms into moral guardianship and grants Ofcom sweeping powers to police content. Nominally aimed at illegal material and child safety, the Act also targets lawful but harmful contenta category so vague it might include satire, criticism, or impoliteness. Fines of up to 18 million or 10% of global revenue await those who fall foul. And that is not the only irritant. The UKs digital services tax, set at 2% of revenues from large tech firms, overwhelmingly hits American companies. To Washington, it looks like a tariff in all but name. Combine that with the UKs regulatory creep and the picture darkens. In the United States, where the First Amendment is sacrosanct, the British obsession with policing speech appears not just quaint but dangerous. Vance also pointed to broader signs of Britains illiberal drift. He cited recent arrests for silent prayer outside abortion clinics, made legal under the new Public Order Act. He mentioned Labours enthusiasm for forcing employers to prevent third-party harassment, a plan that would make landlords, pub owners, and churches liable for what their patrons or congregants say. This, from the country that once gave the world Mill and Orwell. Meanwhile, social media censorship has intensified, with police warning users about potentially offensive tweets and even visiting homes to advise people on their posts. A recent report from the Free Speech Union highlighted the growing use of non-crime hate incidents to flag online speech, a practice that critics say bypasses legal norms. The UK also faces a two-tier approach to policing and sentencing. Cases involving pro-Palestinian protesters, for example, have frequently seen leniency where comparable behaviour by right-leaning activists was swiftly penalised. In high-profile instances, activists defacing war memorials were treated more gently than Christian preachers reading from scripture. To American conservatives, this smacks of ideological bias backed by state power. The Path Forward: Free Trade or Further Division? To President Trump and Vice President Vance, the logic of a free trade agreement is straightforward. America is in the early stages of a strategic decoupling from China. The EU, for its part, has chosen regulatory protectionism over competition. Against that backdrop, the UK could serve as a vital ally and market. A free trade agreement would solidify a geopolitical partnership, expand access to American goods and services, and offer British firms a lifeline out of stagnation. But to get there, Britain must stop behaving like a self-important prefect obsessed with rules. Trade is not theology. If Starmer wants a deal, he will have to temper Labours instinct to legislate every social ill into submission. Free speech, in this case, is more than a sloganits a precondition. And if Starmer thinks the Americans will trade access for the privilege of being lectured, hes been listening to the wrong special advisers. Vice President Vance has made the terms plain. The question now is whether Downing Street can hear them over the din of its own regulations. Bepi Pezzulli is a Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales specializing in Governance as well as a Councillor of the Great British PAC. He tweets at @bepipezzulli Image: Number 10, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, unaltered. You cant claim a collective benefit by fiatand then have attorneys youve never met invoke individualized review to shield it from repeal. Yet thats precisely the strategy now being deployed against the Trump administrationin a Massachusetts courtroom. On Monday, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani issued a preliminary injunction in a class action lawsuit, blocking the administration from terminating legal status and work permits for more than 530,000 foreign nationalsmost of whom were flown directly into the U.S. interior under a Biden-era mass parole scheme known as CHNV. The injunction, like the lawsuit behind it, is riddled with contradictions. The Biden administration granted status through a blanket policy with no individualized reviewimmigration by algorithm. The Trump administration is being told it cannot revoke that status without individualized reviewin a class action demanding collectivized judicial relief for all. The CHNV case exists in a kind of procedural superposition: simultaneously individualized, collective, and then individualized againSchrodingers jurisdiction, engineered to collapse in whichever direction best obstructs enforcement. It only makes sense within the twisted logic of the Resistances legal playbook. A Benefit Granted Collectively, Revoked IndividuallyThen Blocked Collectively Again The CHNV programnamed for Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuelawas born of bureaucratic fiat, not a legislative mandate. Under the Biden administrations safe and orderly pathways scheme, migrants could apply for parole through the CBP One app, be pre-approved remotely, and be flown directly into the U.S. interior. Vetting was minimal, and national security risks were shrugged off. Even the Biden administration was forced to pause the program in 2024 after admitting widespread fraud. Yet now, one federal judge has issued an injunction blocking the Trump administrations repeal of the program because parole status cannot be revoked without case-by-case review. The program was created in bulkimmigration by algorithmbut now must be dismantled by hand. Thats the paradox of procedural lawfare: a collective benefit shielded from repeal by invoking the very due process it never afforded. Worse still, the injunction arises from a class actionwhere plaintiffs seek collective reliefyet the court demands individualized adjudication before the executive may reverse that same collective policy. It gets more Orwellian. The courts ruling never mentions 8 U.S.C. 1252(f)(1)which expressly bars class-wide injunctions in immigration enforcement actions, except by the Supreme Court. That statute was reaffirmed in Garland v. Aleman Gonzalez (2022), which forbids lower courts from blocking federal officials from taking actions to enforce, implement, or otherwise carry out immigration law. This ruling ignores that plain commandand manufactures procedural obstacles to justify its own. And on what basis? The judge leans heavily on Administrative Procedure Act claims, asserting that the Trump administrations termination of the program lacked sufficient explanation or process. Yet the CHNV scheme never underwent formal rulemaking, APA scrutiny, or statutory authorization. Its creation was discretionary. Its revocation should be, too. Heres the magic trick the lawfare cartel is pulling: mass entitlement on the way in, procedural martyrdom on the way out. Rule 23: The Resistances Favorite Weapon The plaintiffs in this case didnt arrive in court as individual claimantsthey were assembled into a class, certified under Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. As my previous column detailed, this isnt isolated. But theres something deeper at play. Class actions in immigration law dont just empower plaintiffsthey empower political lawyers. Class counsel chooses the plaintiffs, defines the claims, and dictates the timing. They turn the courtroom into a war room. And when appellate courts push back, the leftist apparatchiks smear judges to delegitimize the outcome. Now, theyve added a twist. Once relief is granted collectively, they pivotinsisting the program cant be unwound without individualized due process. Its legal tommyrot: unity when seeking injunctions, atomization when resisting reform. They want it both waysand one judge just gave it to them. One Judge, 530,000 Foreign Nationals Buried beneath the headlines is a statutory landmine the court wholly ignored. Talwanis ruling doesnt merely pause a Trump policyit commandeers the executive branch. By blocking the end of CHNV parole, the court has effectively ordered DHS to continue administering a program that Congress never authorizedone that even the Biden administration suspended after admitting rampant fraud. The policy had no grounding in the Immigration and Nationality Act. Now, the judiciary insists it must remain in place until every single alien receives an individualized hearing. Over. Half. A. Million. CHNV was not a discretionary benefit issued after interviews, vetting, or any meaningful humanitarian assessment. It was a mass-entry mechanismfacilitated by the CBP One appthat granted parole based almost entirely on digital paperwork. Applicants were flown directly into the U.S. interior without ever appearing before a border agent or immigration officer. This wasnt discretion. It was automation masquerading as executive actionmore autopen than Article II. And it gets worse. The program was riddled with fraud and abuse. In 2024, DHS was forced to pause CHNV after admitting widespread manipulation. The Government Accountability Office flagged the lack of verifiable identity data. Internal reviews revealed mass coordination via Telegram groups and smuggling networks. Even the Biden administration conceded the system was being gamed. Yet none of that seems to matter now. The court compounds its error by treating self-deportation as a kind of civil rights injury. If Plaintiffs leave the country on their own, the judge wrote, they will face dangers in their native countries and may forfeit the chance to obtain relief under the APA. But removal was always the natural endpoint of a parole program set to expire. To conflate parole expiration with asylum denial collapses distinct legal categoriesand rewrites immigration law from the bench. And all this comes from a single judge now playing nationwide immigration czarmonitoring DHS compliance, issuing national remedies, and doing so without even acknowledging 8 U.S.C. 1252(f)(1), which bars lower courts from enjoining immigration enforcement on a class-wide basis. She has issued an order she cannot give, based on a process that never lawfully existed. The Lawfare Cartel Is Calling the Shots Theres something profoundly anti-democratic at work here. These plaintiffs didnt show up as individuals. They were constructedassembled into a Rule 23 class, the progressive legal movements favorite procedural crowbar. Class actions in immigration law dont empower people. They empower class counselactivist operatives who pick the plaintiffs, frame the narrative, dictate the strategy, and choose the courtroom. That courtroom becomes a war room. The law becomes leverage. If an appellate court dares to push back? The cartel shifts gearssmearing judges as cruel, corrupt, or worse. Its not about protecting migrants. Its about delegitimizing opposition, intimidating institutions, and above all, derailing any enforcement action taken by a duly elected president. This Ruling Must Not Stand The administration should appeal immediately, and Congress should consider new legislation clarifying that no entry granted en masse requires individualized review before deportation. Class-wide injunctions in immigration cases are an unlawfulindeed unconstitutionalseizure of power in real time against the political branches that are answerable to the citizenry of the Republic. And thats not democracy. Thats usurpation. Charlton Allen is an attorney, former chief executive officer, and chief judicial officer of the North Carolina Industrial Commission. He is the founder of the Madison Center for Law & Liberty, Inc., editor of The American Salient, and the host of the Modern Federalist podcast. X: @CharltonAllenNC Image: Free image, Pixabay license. When I was living in Sky Villa in Mandalay back in January, it seemed an unremarkable apartment complex. There was no signage or name on the front of the building, so it was unknown even to people who lived close by. It was always a chore to explain where I lived to the tuk-tuk drivers. The three-wheeled tuk-tuks are the only taxis allowed in Mandalay. On March 28, the building was taken down by an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7. The lower five stories (out of 12) collapsed immediately. When the pillars broke, cables that looked like spaghetti sprang out in all directions. Some observers concluded that the pillars had been compromised by all the holes made for various cables and pipes. The building was reported to have the citys largest concentration of bodies after the quake. Trapped victims were still screaming days later. Beauty queen Silimee, who represented Myanmar in a 2018 pageant, was a resident of Sky Villa and died in the quake. The residents I talked to had been at work at the time of the quake, but they lost all their possessions. Now the building represents everything that is wrong with Myanmar, its name synonymous with scandal and death. The U.S. has pledged $9 million in quake relief compared to $13.9 million for China. Myanmars last major quake was a 7.1 in 1956. Like the March 28 quake, the epicenter was in Sagaing, a town just north of Mandalay with a monastic complex. The country has had little experience with earthquakes in recent years and was entirely unprepared. Mandalay was once the royal capital, and is now a city of monks, pagodas, and nuns. With a population of 1.7 million, it was the No. 2 city in Myanmar. Nearly every building has been seriously damaged and 3,700 are dead nationally. In the mornings, I would walk to the palace, which was about 30 minutes away from Sky Villa. The palace itself was destroyed by fire in the 1940s, but there is still a beautiful wall and a moat. I would feed the fish and make merit, as the Buddhists say. As the fish fought for the food, they could jump up out of the water by four feet or so. When the quake hit, I was in a hotel in Yangon about 400 miles south of Mandalay. The building swayed for about 10 seconds. Although I had never been in an earthquake before, it immediately occurred to me that it might be a quake. The hotels reception assured me that it was not, but they called back a few minutes later to confirm that it was. There was no noticeable damage in Yangon, Myanmars largest city. Myanmar is a superstitious county and many Burmese got on Facebook to explain the quake in moralistic terms. A group of monks taking an exam were killed during the quake. Some posters asked if they were being punished for sin. A monk who survived the incident responded that their sin had occurred in a previous life and karma had been passed along. A businessman from Sagaing was trapped for two days when his hotel in Mandalay collapsed. His dramatic story was a popular video. Rather than blame karma, he talked geology. Myanmar crosses two plates, he explained. A plate connected to India had moved 49 millimeters north while the Sunda plate in the east, which is connected to Thailand, refused to budge. Since 1962, Myanmar has usually been under the rule of its isolationist military. As a result, the country remains severely underdeveloped despite its promising reserves of natural gas and rare earths. In 2023, Myanmar sent $1.4 billion worth of rare earths to China for processing. The electric vehicle industry depends on the unregulated mines, which are controlled by the Kachin Independence Organization, an ethnic militia. Since a coup in 2021, Myanmar has been a pariah state. Everyone I have talked to is a fan of Aung San Suu Kyi, the pro-democracy opposition leader. The military hardly tries to sell itself or its agenda, either internationally or to the Burmese public. The soldiers dont hesitate to shoot at unarmed crowds of protestors. The rifles may be antiquated, but its the only argument the regime needs to make. All the same, pre-quake Mandalay had little in the way of a military presence. There were roadblocks around the High Court to prevent a car bombing and a checkpoint was occasionally set up on 60th Street. When I asked about rebels, the soldiers laughed and said they werent worried. Before the quake, Myanmars biggest problem was an irregular supply of electricity. Sky Villa had a row of diesel generators outside. Such generators are common in Myanmar. Thingyan, Myanmars water festival, was scheduled for April 13. Officially, it was cancelled to mourn the quake victims. The children love Thingyan and were not having any of that. When they saw me walk by, they ran to get water and dump it on me. Fortunately, I was prepared with plastic bags to protect my phone and wallet. The tradition represents a cleansing of karma from the old year in preparation for the traditional New Years Day on April 17. The New Year is a traditional day of prayer. I went to Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangons most famous attraction. Shwe means gold while dagon is an old name for Yangon. Shwedagon was the subject of a recent internet hoax with a damaged pagoda in Pindaya in Shan State misidentified as Shwedagon. The tourists were gone, but the pagoda was packed with worshippers. To get to the top of Shwedagon hill, you have to climb barefoot up ten staircases. The first time I went, I thought Id never make it to the top. This is my third time and it seems that my feet have toughened up. Theres actually an elevator for those without Buddhist feet, which I would have taken had I known about it earlier. Either way, the gilded pagodas are quite a sight when you get to the top. To pray at a pagoda, you need to know what day of the week you were born on. Wednesday evening is counted separately from Wednesday morning, so theres an octagonal structure with eight statues of Buddha to pour water on. The March 28 earthquake was a supershear event along the Sagaing fault. There were a series of aftershocks after the quake. During these shocks, the fault experienced slippage from Mandalay all the way to Bago, 330 miles south. This slippage took only 80 seconds. If another quake causes the southward shear to continue, it could arrive in Yangon. Astrologers have predicted a quake in Yangon on April 21 or 22 and many are worried. Yangons last major quake was in 1930. Peter Kauffner is an American teacher living in Myanmar. Image: Free image, Pixabay license. If you like American Thinkers content, please consider subscribing here for an ad-free experience and access to an exclusive, weekly newsletter offering insight from the editorial staff. Yesterday, Jeff Metcalf, the grieving father of Austin Metcalf, showed up to a press conference where Karmelo Anthonys parents were to speak for the first time since their son stabbed Austin through the heart at a high school track meet after Austin had asked him to leave a school tent reserved for school athletes at Austins school. And, Anthonys family and handlers promptly got the police involved, who threatened trespassing charges against Jeff if he refused to leaveso he did. And somehow, when asked to leave, he did so without plunging a knife into anyones chest. Imagine that. Despicable? Of course. But what do you expect from a family thats rewarding the violence, and living it up on blood money raised by angry black supporters wanting payback for everything that white colonizers have ever done? Image from X. But it gets even grosserDominique Alexander, who seems to be some sort of Anthony family PR guy and is a violent criminal in his own right, addressed the media after Jeff Metcalf was escorted out by law enforcement, attacking Jeffs lack of character, calling him disrespectful and inappropriate because he wasnt invited to attend. WTF?! KiIIer Karmelo Anthonys press conference just started off by ATTACKING victim Austin Metcalfs father for showing up It is disrespectful of him coming here. MORE DISRESPECTFUL THAN STABBlNG HIS SON TO DEATH?! pic.twitter.com/Gk89fFxXDC Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) April 17, 2025 The level of hypocrisy and obliviousness is staggering, and sickening. And heres a nice little collage of Alexanders own history: Is it just me, or does Alexander look a little trans in some of those mugshots? For context, Jeff Metcalf didnt get aggressive, he didnt yell at or harass the family who raised the type of kid who brings knives to high school sporting events and stabs other kids at the slightest confrontation; instead, he had reportedly hoped that this would be an opportunity for the two families to come together in a productive way. This poor, naive soul, assuming that all people are just as decent and honest as he is. "Y'all are not gonna make me believe or feel any kind of sympathy for Austin Metcalf at all." "Austin Metcalf got what he deserved..." This is what real racism looks like. No sympathy at all for fellow human beings because of race. Disturbing.pic.twitter.com/NWwOy1RGyh Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) April 8, 2025 God help us. If you recall, shortly after Austins death, Jeff appealed to the public in a self-flagellating manner, urging others not to make this about race. Turns out, this was a very, very painful lesson in how this is in fact a race issue. Conservative commentator Jason Whitlock explains it like this: The most effective way to destroy an enemy is to bankrupt him. According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, that seems to be happening to Hamas: BREAKING!! According to the Wall St. Journal, Hamas is so deep in financial collapse, it can no longer afford to pay its fighters or government staffsalaries have been cut off entirely. So Israel is taking land away from Hamas, choking them financially, taking out its pic.twitter.com/EpPwuPbGZO Hillel Fuld (@HilzFuld) April 17, 2025 It's probably more than one factor -- among them, spending billions on warfare and war infrastructure, such as tunnels, depriving the local infrastructure of investment, plus a lot of stealing by the elites who live in comically stereotypical luxury in various places of exile. But more likely, it's President Trump cutting off USAID funding as leftists around the world have cried 'starving children' and the press has reported impending catastrophe. Here is who is getting some catastrophe: TERROR: Who knew that the easiest way to defeat Hamas was to shutdown USAID? Evidently even terrorists won't work for free. The US provided as much as 70% of the funding for the Palestinians and their fighters and with it gone they can't pay their soldiers or leaders. pic.twitter.com/hJxBFsrnph @amuse (@amuse) April 17, 2025 The end of UNRWA funding has got to be having an impact, too. All I can think of are those images of well-fed pot-bellied terrorists surrendering to miltary-fit Israeli troops, and Leslie Stahl of 60 Minutes asking a former Israeli hostage of Hamas if her terrorist captors were as starved of food as she was. Gravy train's over, terrorists. President Trump promised these terrorists 'hell to pay' if they didn't release their hostages during his campaign, and rather than MOABs, he may have meant this, which has got to be an even bigger 'hell' to them than they imagined. Image: Logo, fair use, X screen shot In a remarkable not to say preposterous and invalid decision, the Hawaii Supreme Court recently tossed out decades of Supreme Court precedent in its ruling that found no state constitutional right to carry a firearm. The Aloha States highest court ignored three landmark Second Amendment Supreme Court decisions, declaring that the U.S. Supreme Court handpicks history to make its own rules. Which is, of course, precisely what the Hawaii Supreme Court did in its finding. The Aloha State courts decision reversed a lower court ruling that dismissed charges against Christopher Wilson for carrying a gun unregistered in the state, which Wilson correctly argued infringed on his Second Amendment rights. Incredibly, the courts ruling stated, Conventional interpretive modalities and Hawaiis historical tradition of firearm regulation rule out an individual right to keep and bear arms. The court further stated that it rejects the founding eras understanding of the Constitution, going so far as to quote a line from the cable T.V. series The Wire: The thing about the old days, they the old days. Conventional interpretive modalities? Say what?! In averring that the court rejects the founding eras understanding of the Constitution, which was written in the founding era, the 50th States Supreme Court has cavalierly tossed out the law of all the land, using a line from a fictional television show for its support. Amazing. But wait, theres more. The ruling also stated, As the world turns, it makes no sense for contemporary society to pledge allegiance to the founding eras culture, realities, laws, and understanding of the Constitution. The ruling continued: The spirit of Aloha clashes with a federally-mandated lifestyle that lets citizens walk around with deadly weapons during day-to-day activities. The history of the Hawaiian Islands does not include a society where armed people move about the community to possibly combat the deadly aims of others. And finally, A free-wheeling right to carry guns in public degrades other constitutional rights. All this, as if crime were unknown in Hawaii now. If individual states are to disavow understanding of the Constitution and its laws, absolute chaos will ensue, to the extent it would render the Union ungovernable if not moot. The ruling is, in essence, a declaration of an intent to go rogue, to secede from any federal control whatsoever, at least when the mood strikes the court. The court came right out and said it doesnt believe Hawaiians should have the right to effectively combat the deadly aims of others, though never addressing how Second Amendment rights could possibly degrade other constitutional rights. The kicker, of course, is the finding that the Constitution and its Bill of Rights clashes with the Spirit of Aloha. Im almost speechless, an occurrence many thought impossible. What if the Minnesota Supreme Court were to say Minnesota nice supersedes U.S. Supreme Court rulings and the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution? Or the Wisconsin Supreme Court states that the spirit of the cheesehead takes precedence over the Supreme Court of the United States? Pennsylvania is the Quaker State, perhaps its Supreme Court will decide that the spirit of non-violence overrules any silly old Constitutional amendment any day, even if the Constitution was ratified by the states and has been the supreme law of the land for 238 years. Might the California Supreme Court decide that California cool trumps SCOTUS rulings? Chaos. Where the hell does this stop? A house divided cannot stand. Will a state soon cite its history and spirit in effectively repealing, say, the Thirteenth or Nineteenth Amendments inside its borders?! This is insanity. The nation is being summarily destroyed by rogue, unelected judges and the Democrats who agree with them will say this judicial fiat is necessary to save our democracy. How could anyone say that with a straight face?! Maybe they mean their democracy like they believe in their truth? In their democracy, the will of the majority is ignored so the radical minority can get its way all the time. But objective truth, like true evil, does exist. And their preferred form of government is not democracy. It is tyranny. And that clashes with the Spirit of America. Image: Grok, via X, aI-generated illustration Is there a moral imperative in deciding how to approach tariffs and international trade? Is the higher calling to protect American employment and the communities upon which that employment supports? Or is it to encourage global free trade and employment worldwide, and hence cheaper goods? Like many young college students raised in Pennsylvania, my friends and I worked in the steel mills in the summer to pay for college. I recall forging welding tanks at Taylor Wharton and pouring brass into pump molds for the US Navy at Ingersoll Rand. During school, we worked evenings in a local shirt factory. My father (of blessed memory) spent his working life as a draftsman for Bethlehem Steel, calculating and ordering the steel used in a number of New Yorks skyscrapers and the Verrazano Narrows Bridge. He told me that the company policy was that if he bought a foreign-made car, he would not be allowed to park on Bethlehem Steel property. Bethlehem Steel Works by Joseph Pennell (1857-1926). Painted in 1881. Public domain. Those plants and factories no longer exist. Bethlehem Steels signature steel mill in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, is now the Steel Stacks casino. Most of the US steel we use is imported from China, albeit there is still some superior-grade steel made in the US. When the shirt factory closed, I recall thinking, how is this okay, morally: a) that we are not taking care of our own people in our community, and b) that weve traded employment here for some 12-year-old girl in Asia to work basically as a slave so we can have cheap shirts? Some claim that the young girl is better off as a quasi-industrial urban slave than in rural poverty. Is that true? More importantly, families in my community were losing manufacturing jobs that had been providing their basic financial underpinning. Free trade was not fair trade. It was for that reason that I was drawn to the Democrat party as a teen. The Republicans were free-trading globalists, stressing that in the end, free trade will lift everyone. I never understood how a Samuel Gompers (an early leader of the US union movement) was going to emerge in a third-world, dictator-led Asian country to organize the workers to seek livable wages. Ironically, as we look at the picture today, the Democrats seem to have abandoned their core constituency, chasing woke issues instead of protecting American jobs. President Trumps efforts via tariffs as a starting point in negotiations may help reverse a fifty-year dive in US manufacturing. A number of economists are betting that the tariffs end up at 10% for most countries, with China somewhat higher. Time will tell. Some will say Trump is using a sledgehammer, and the better approach is for Congress to handle this more surgically. As a former Hill staffer, I can attest to the almost impossible effort that would entail. The lobbyists influence would almost certainly grind that process to a halt. Today, many, if not most, major US businesses have reconfigured into a dependence on a worldwide supply chain, and new plants cannot be built overnight. New construction of US plants may take several years, as many have noted. The short-term challenges for the US economy may not be insignificant. Business leaders thrive on certainty to plan for the future. The tariff-leading-to-negotiation approach and outcomes are uncertain. The challenge for todays business leaders is certainly understandable and significant. Nevertheless, the long-term gain of increased manufacturing jobs for US workers and their families should be worth a period of short-term uncertainty. Our moral imperative is to focus our energies in concentric circles: taking care of family first, then our community (geographic and religious), then our nation, and then the world. Tariffs may help us refocus on family, community, and nation first. Americans should all be joined together in this effort. Gary Schiff is a natural resource consultant. Government waste is nothing new. During World War II, Senator Harry Truman headed a committee that rooted out fraud and inefficiency in defense contracts. It saved billions of dollars for taxpayers some estimates say around four to five percent of our total wartime budget. You heard that right: In one swoop, Truman uncovered enough waste to fund the entire Manhattan Project several times over. Congress sang his praises, the press loved him, and the public got a sense that maybe, just maybe, it was possible to rein in government bloat. Now we fast-forward to 2025. President Trump has turned to Elon Musk a man with a reputation for slashing headcounts and overhead at his companies and created the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The goal is straightforward: Cut out the waste, prune useless programs, and put the fear of accountability into the bloated bureaucracies in Washington. If you ask me, it sounds a lot like what Truman accomplished decades ago. The difference is, instead of being applauded, DOGE is accused of being some sinister power-grab. Musk himself has been labeled everything from a tyrant to a Nazi. This is quite the departure from the heros welcome Truman received. Lets be honest: Not everyone has to like Elon Musks tactics. When you bring in a private-sector approach, you sometimes end up with blunt moves firing entire departments overnight; slashing grants; or gutting offices that, to some folks, provide useful services. In the perfect world, wed see the line drawn neatly between waste and necessary, but in Washington, everything has a lobby and a rationale. If a program gets cut, the people who rely on that program will go ballistic. That doesnt automatically mean its not a black hole for taxpayer dollars, though. The point is, the Truman Committee was lauded for carrying out basically the same kind of mission: exposing shady deals, overpriced contracts, and incompetent or corrupt organizations feasting on federal checks. Yes, that was in a time of a more united national purpose. Yes, Trumans style was cooperative and bipartisan, whereas Musks style might be described as shock therapy. But if were truly interested in cutting government waste, do we want a champion who tiptoes around every special interest? Or do we want someone who isnt afraid of ruffling feathers? We also have to acknowledge the math. Trumans committee saved several points of the overall federal budget an achievement we still talk about. DOGE, at least so far, isnt making the same dent. Its projected to save maybe two or three percent if things go well. Why, then, is the backlash so intense? If this is genuinely about small agencies that do next to nothing (or at least do so inefficiently), isnt that exactly where wed want cuts to happen? Or do we cling to the familiar bureaucracy just because its been around for decades? Partisanship plays a massive role. Trumans committee got unanimous support in the Senate. DOGE faces half the Capitol eager to shut it down on day one and we shouldnt pretend the rhetoric is polite. Meanwhile, the medias coverage of Musk ranges from skeptical to downright hostile. Considering that most Americans say they hate government waste, its peculiar were reacting so negatively to a program designed to root it out. At least give the team a fair hearing before calling Musk a fascist. We know that the Truman Committee worked. It genuinely cut billions in wartime graft and, in the process, boosted national morale. Wouldnt it be nice if DOGE proved that same principle just in the broader realm of the modern bureaucracy? We might actually discover that many small, under-the-radar programs are burning money or duplicating efforts. We might find giant contractors gaming the system to milk more funding. Thats exactly the kind of behavior we saw in WWII defense spending. Back then, the Senate came together to fix it. So heres a modest proposal: If Americans really hate waste, maybe let DOGE do its job. Dont like Elon Musks brash attitude? Fine. Keep an eye on him. Demand transparency. But remember, we once embraced a similar crusade for fiscal responsibility, and it worked out spectacularly under Trumans banner. Its possible we could do it again if we stopped flinging insults and actually gave the initiative a fair shot. If it manages to save even a fraction of what the Truman Committee did relative to our modern budget, thats still serious money. Maybe its time we stop complaining about how bloated the federal government is unless were also prepared to cheer for an effort that tries to trim it. A little open-mindedness might go a long way in preventing billions of tax dollars from going down the drain. Randy White is a pastor in Taos, N.M. and teaches Scripture online at www.RandyWhiteMinistries.org. Image: JD Lasica via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (cropped). Sonys WH-1000XM4 headphones are still an excellent pair of headphones, so when you can get them for a deal like the one Amazon is currently offering, you should take the opportunity to snap them up. Normally, the WH-1000XM4 headphones retail for $349.99 when theyre full price. However, Amazon currently has them for $248. Its worth noting that this is not the all-time low price. The lowest weve seen these is $198, but they havent been that price for the past few months. Additionally, these headphones have been down to $248 before. That being said, this is probably the best price available for quite some time. In terms of features, the WH-1000XM4 headphones are known far and wide for their really good active noise cancellation. These are capable of filtering just about anything out, so all you hear is your music. And trust me when I say this is such a good trait when youre using the headphones out in public. Whether that be at a coffee shop, on a plane, on a train, in the grocery store, or anywhere else where it tends to get noisy with lots of other ambient sounds. These also have pretty decent battery life and can last for up to 30 hours on a single charge. Whats more, they support quick charge, and with just 10 minutes on the charger, you can get 5 hours of playback. One of my favorite features, though, is the Quick Attention Mode. Whats cool about this feature is that it activates Transparency Mode so you can hear others around you. To enable Quick Attention Mode, you place your hand over the right ear cup and hold it there. To disable it, you just remove your hand, and the ANC comes back on. Its really handy for quick situations where you need to talk to someone for a brief moment. Buy at Amazon Summary: Apple has reportedly boosted the production of iPhones and iPads in the second quarter of this year. It is raising the output of iPhones by four million and iPads by 1.5 million. This is the companys response to the trade tensions between China and the US, and the tariff policy changes by the Trump administration. Apple is building its inventory ahead of any sudden tariff hikes. China and the US are currently in a serious trade standoff. Also, the upcoming changes to the tariff policies by the Trump administration have only intensified tensions among tech companies. To combat the upcoming increased tariff charges, Apple is going to boost the production of iPhones. Furthermore, the Cupertino tech giant is also increasing the manufacturing of iPads. Apple has revised its Q2 manufacturing forecast for iPhones and iPads According to a report from Morgan Stanley, Apple has boosted the Q2 production of iPhones from 41 million to 45 million units. As for the iPads, the company has bumped the manufacturing from 11.5 million to 13 million units. Thats a hike of 15% and 24% year-on-year, respectively. The report suggests that Apples new manufacturing strategy for Q2 responds to customer demand for increased inventory amid uncertain tariff policies. Furthermore, the US governments tariff policies changing overnight has intensified the uncertainty. Its worth mentioning that President Trump proposed a flexible tariff on mobile and semiconductor goods. Earlier this month, the U.S. government announced that it would exclude smartphones, semiconductors (including SSDs and equipment), and more from the reciprocal tariffs it imposed. However, Trump hasnt yet detailed the exact flexible tariffs on these products, which is why companies like Apple seem to be taking precautionary measures. Apple suppliers are going to get the benefits of increased production Apples decision to boost production of iPhones and iPads will have significant implications for the companys supply chain. South Korean suppliers, including Samsung Display, LG Display, and LG Innotek, are going to be the biggest beneficiaries. These companies provide a lot of components for iPhones and iPads. Some of the biggest components include the screens and camera modules. The aforementioned companies will see revenue increases in Q2 this year, thanks to the increased production. That said, Apple is also diversifying its manufacturing to reduce risks from the potential tariff hikes. According to Nikkei Asia, Apple has asked key suppliers to expand iPhone manufacturing in India. Furthermore, it has tasked suppliers to shift the manufacturing of MacBook and iPad from the US market to Vietnam. Notably, the company is already assembling the iPhone 16e in Brazil right out of the gate. This has marked a shift in Apples long-term manufacturing plans. Overall, the brand plans to decrease its dependency on manufacturing in Chinese facilities. Summary: The EU has announced that it will delay the penalties against Apple and Meta as it pushes for a trade deal with the U.S. Both companies were fined last year for different offenses, and the penalties were going to go into effect soon. Right now, things are pretty tense between the EU and certain large American brands. The EU is big on keeping big tech in check as far as its citizens safety and data privacy are concerned. This has led to some pretty hefty fines levied against companies such as Google, Apple, and Meta. Last year, the EU placed fines on both Meta and Apple for different shady practices. In Apples case, the company was forcing each company producing apps for the App Store to use Apples payment system. It went so far as to block other companies from even advertising a third-party payment system. As for Meta, the company charged users to get rid of ads. This happened after the company was forced to stop scooping up EU citizens data for targeted ads. The EU pauses the penalties on Apple and Meta Both of these offenses earned the companies some hefty fines. The EU was preparing to issue cease and desist orders for both Apple and Meta. However, according to a report, some lawmakers in the European Parliament felt that this move might have been more political than ethical. As such, the EU has postponed its decision. We dont know for how long. What we do know is that the EU is looking to fast-track a trade deal with the U.S. President Donald Trump brought a 90-day pause to the tariffs, so things are still pretty much up in the air. EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic met with Trump recently to speak about the situation. Right now, we dont know how much progress was made with the talks. An EC spokesperson said, Were currently working on the adoption of final decisions in the short term. So, only time will tell what will happen with these companies. Recently, Google Search, the worlds most popular search engine, has been undergoing major changes. The functional foundation remains the same, but with a twist: AI. The company has been implementing artificial intelligence through the AI Overviews feature to offer more useful and direct results. Now, the head of Google Search answered a series of key questions related to AI Overviews in an interview with the Financial Times. Melissa Heikkila, AI correspondent for the Financial Times, conducted the interview with Elizabeth Reid. They spoke further about the AI Overviews feature, its main goal, and how it has changed the internet search landscape. Reid also addressed some controversial topics, such as the accuracy of AI-powered results or the negative impact on traffic and revenue that some publishers report. If youre not familiar with AI Overviews, they are results that, in a brief summary, attempt to offer a more direct answer to your search or question. They dont appear in every search, but they do appear in many. The features early days were rocky due to unreliable or even potentially dangerous results. However, Google has been working hard ever since to make AI Overviews truly useful. Today, we can say theyve succeeded. Theres still room for improvement, though. How have things been going since the launch of AI Overviews? The interviewer begins by asking Reid about how the last year has gone since the launch of AI Overviews in Google Search. According to the executive, everything is going smoothly. Changes to the search engine are driving more search queries from users. She points out that the way people ask questions has changed significantly. Previously, users only received the classic results in the form of websites related to their search. However, they had to manually compile information from multiple sources. This led people to view Google Search as a utilitarian tool more than anything else. Now, AI Overviews is able to understand queries (or prompts) in natural language. The power of artificial intelligence allows the search engine to understand direct user questions and provide even more direct and concise answers accordingly. Reid asserts that this change has significantly increased human curiosity. People now ask many more questions than before, not only for utilitarian purposes but also to solve simple day-to-day doubts or obtain new knowledge. Being able to ask more specific and detailed questions is extremely helpful. A three-year-old will go: Why, why, why, why, why? But, as an adult, you dont assume the person you ask the question knows the answer. You dont know if you have enough time. You dont know if its worth the effort. And so you dont ask those questions. But if you lower the barrier to asking the question, then people just come. They have a lot more questions and they ask anything these days. Is Google thinking about a conversational experience for Search? Heikkila also touched on the changes that tools like ChatGPT have brought to the way we interact with technology. She points out that people have become accustomed to chatbots. That is, they are increasingly comfortable asking questions as if they were talking to another person. So, the interviewer asks if Google Search will adopt similar capabilities. Were not looking in that direction in the same way: to the extent that somebody will think of a chatbot as talking to something that feels personified and you can ask it, How was your day? then expect a response, Reid said. She thinks that Google Search should remain an information-focused tool. Her answer makes sense, especially considering that Google already has AI-powered products that offer a conversational experiencelike Gemini Live. That said, the company has been working toward a middle ground with Google Searchs AI mode. This mode enables a chatbot-like UI. However, the focus remains on AI-powered summaries, leaving the classic links in the backgroundalthough you can still check them out. Google Searchs AI mode has some advantages over more conversational experiences. For example, it allows you to ask follow-up questions to a previous query. Are Googles AI Overviews results really accurate? Heikkila also wanted to talk about the accuracy of Googles AI Overviews in the interview. She recalled past episodes of misleading results. She cites as an example some outputs where AI Overviews suggested things like eating rocks or glue. According to Reid, these problems arose for two main reasons. First, Google intended for AI Overviews to be enriched with other peoples personal experiences when appropriate. However, the companys systems initially didnt correctly detect jokes, like ironic or sarcastic comments, on platforms like Reddit, where they are very common. The second problem was the errors inherent to generative AI. No matter how much effort developers put into a product, all AI will always have a small percentage of misleading output. This is known in the AI world as hallucinations. Developers must work to minimize the rate of hallucinations. Currently, AI Overviews are much less prone to this type of misleading output than before. Reid also had an interesting point to make about AI tools. She stated that developers must choose whether they want their service to be factual, creative, or conversational. Chatbots typically combine these properties to varying degrees. Therefore, developers must carefully balance what theyre looking for with their AI platform. For example, in the case of Google Search, the factual aspect takes on special importance. However, on platforms like Character AI, creativity should ideally be the primary aspect. If youre building a product thats designed to be conversational, you might weigh it one way. But in the case of [Google] Search, weve weighted factuality and put extensive work into that. Weve continued to raise the bar on that for the past several months, Reid stated. Is AI Overviews prone to AI jailbreaking? Have you ever heard of AI jailbreaking? Its a technique that seeks to bypass platform security barriers through specially designed prompts. There are also situations where websites integrate hidden code that seeks to manipulate AI-powered search results. Heikkila asked the head of Google Search how the company handles this. From a security perspective, on the prompting side, everyone is working to figure out how to avoid jailbreaking or finding loopholes that make AI models bypass their guardrails. Were doing that, Reid responded. Our models are trained not just to try and be highly accurate, but to try and base their answers on information on the web. That said, Reid also noted that users should pay attention to what they get in their searches, especially if its important stuff. The AI Overviews feature makes this easier by providing links to where the information was obtained to generate the summaries. This way, people can check the accuracy of the output firsthand. AI Overviews arent designed to be a standalone product. They are designed to get you started and then help you dive deeper. And so, when its important, the idea is that you get some context on where to check and then you can choose to double-check more on some of them. What about seemingly reliable results with small errors undetectable by many? Regarding the precision of the results of AI Overviews, the interviewer asked the head of Google Search about those outputs with small errors that are undetectable for people without certain knowledge about a specific area. That is, misleading results that users may take as true. In some cases, these could be potentially dangerous, such as when seeking medical advice. [Regarding] questions of finance, questions on medical topics we try to be thoughtful in our answers about both. Maybe we should not give a response at all or where we think we can give you something to get started, but we should recommend you talk to a doctor, dig in more and find out details, Reid stated. She says this approach is necessary because not everyone has the opportunity to consult a professional. So, if you said, Im not going to answer anything, even some basics about a rash, and youre a stressed mother and its the middle of the night, and you cant reach someone in some part of the world, do you not help them? Is AI Overviews taking views from websites? The interview touched on a controversial topic regarding Google Searchs AI Overviews feature. Some publishers have complained of fewer visitorsand therefore, revenueafter the systems implementation. After all, it reduces the need for users to visit web pages unless they want to dig deeper into the topic or verify the accuracy of the output. According to Reid, AI Overviews is actually a great opportunity for publishers. As mentioned earlier, AI Overviews understanding of natural language is exponentially multiplying users interest in asking questions. This, according to the executive, offers exposure to a greater variety of websites through links related to the output. What you see with something like AI Overviews, when you bring the friction down for users, is people search more and that opens up new opportunities for websites, for creators, for publishers to access. And they get higher-quality clicks, Raid said. Will Google Search ever be paid? Heikkila even asked if well ever see a paid version of Google. The question is interesting, since Google has long been known for being completely free. However, companies may have to rethink some business models in the era of AI, where developing and training models can cost hundreds of millions of dollars. Never say never about what the future will hold, Reid said. Ensuring that search in general, the essence of it, is available for free, to allow access to information, will be important. There may be some aspects for people who have subscriptions in the future. But we want to have the core of search available to everyone for free, yes. So, even if Google Search receives paid premium features, the core experience will remain free. Will Google explore more search methodologies in the future? Lastly, Heikkila also asked Reid about the future of online search. More specifically, she mentioned potential new approaches or search modalities. Reid said that Googles main goal is to simplify the search experience as much as possible for everyone. To achieve this, they see the potential use of integrating multimodal capabilitiesthat is, using voice, images, or multimedia to generate searches. Its not surprising that Google already has similar capabilities. However, she could be referring to implementing them in a more powerful way, supported by the power of AI. The head of Google Search also envisions a future where the search experience is more personalized. That is, where results are adapted to your user profile. AIs learning capabilities seem ideal for achieving something like this. You can read the full interview at this link. Summary: After rumors that Intel and TSMC were going to enter a joint venture, a new report just announced that its not going to happen. TSMC has apparently made that clear. Intel is in hot water, as the tech world is moving on. Once at the top of the chipmaking pack, the company has seen some hardships in recent years. Apple, Qualcomm, and other companies are going all in on ARM-based chips for computers. As such, people have less of a need for Intels silicon. The company has been eyeing some methods to regain its dominance in the industry, but things have been looking pretty bleak. One idea floating around was to have Intel strike some sort of joint venture with TSMC, the semiconductor powerhouse in Taiwan. A rumor from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggested that, since the Trump administration took back office, its been brainstorming this venture. However, even that rumor pointed out that a joint venture would have been tricky to pull off. TSMC will not enter a joint venture with Intel Were not sure if bringing a joint venture would have helped Intels fortunes. There are geopolitical implications to think about, among other factors. Things are pretty tense between the U.S., China, and TSMC. Well, we dont have to worry about that, as Kuo just spilled the tea on whats going on. TSMC does not want to enter a joint venture with Intel. TSMC made it clear in todays earnings call that it has no plans for any joint ventures or technology transfers. This means that Intel will need to find some way of turning its fortunes around. Right now, Intel is losing ground to the competition fast, and things arent looking much better. Also, we cant forget about the state of the global economy thats putting a strain on the tech industry. The company will continue to struggle unless it can think of something quickly. China extends anti-dumping duties on Japanese electrolytic capacitor paper Xinhua) 10:27, April 18, 2025 BEIJING, April 17 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Commerce announced Thursday that it would extend anti-dumping duties on imported paper for electrolytic capacitors from Japan for another five years, starting Friday. This decision follows a sunset review initiated in April 2024 at the request of China's electrolytic capacitor paper industry. If these anti-dumping measures were terminated, the dumping of imported electrolytic capacitor paper from Japan could continue or recur, potentially causing ongoing or renewed harm to China's domestic industry, the ministry said. Under the extended measures, Japanese companies will continue to face an anti-dumping duty of up to 40.83 percent. Electrolytic capacitor paper is used as the base material to absorb electrolytes in electrolytic capacitors, playing a crucial role in the functioning of the capacitors. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Bikers are set to descend on Westminster as part of a protest by veterans who served in the British Army during the Northern Ireland Troubles, calling for the retention of the Legacy Act. Organisers say there could be around 1,000 demonstrators gathering on Whitehall in central London on Friday to protest against the Labour Government repealing key elements of The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023. The Act, introduced by the former Conservative government, halted scores of civil cases and inquests linked to the conflict and offered conditional immunity for perpetrators of Troubles crimes in exchange for their co-operation with a new truth recovery body. A number of British Army veterans have been prosecuted in recent years in connection with fatal incidents that happened during the Troubles. The Act was opposed by victims groups in Northern Ireland, all the main political parties at Stormont and the Irish government. They were vehemently opposed to the concept of offering perpetrators of crimes conditional immunity. But the legislation received support from veterans groups, including the Northern Ireland Veterans Movement. The movement is opposed to Labours repeal of many of the Acts key provisions. The legislative move will axe the contentious immunity provision and see the restoration of legacy inquests and civil cases. However, the Government is retaining certain elements of the Act, including the recently created investigatory and truth recovery body, the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR). Paul Young, the campaign groups national spokesman, told the PA news agency: When the Conservative government were in power they produced the Legacy Act, which then brought about the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery. When the Labour Government came into power they set about repealing the whole of, or large parts of, the Legacy Act which we supported, veterans supported, across the United Kingdom. What that does is it puts legacy back out of an independent commission (in respect of inquest and civil claim cases), back into the Northern Ireland judiciary. So what were protesting about is we dont want them to take the legacy (investigations) away from ICRIR, and we dont want them to have legacy civil cases brought about. The 74-year-old added: We continue to support ICRIR and the Legacy Act so were totally against what the Labour Party are doing. Mr Young served in the Blues and Royals regiment between 1968-1975 and did many tours of Northern Ireland. Veterans of the British Army who served in Northern Ireland gathered in February (Ben Whitley/PA) He said his passion over the issue stemmed from the prosecution of Dennis Hutchings, who served in the Life Guards regiment and who died in 2021 while on trial in Northern Ireland in connection with the fatal shooting of John Pat Cunningham in Co Tyrone in 1974. They sent detectives over and raided his house at four oclock in the morning or six oclock in the morning and dragged him out of his bed this is a seriously ill man and dragged him back to Northern Ireland and put him on trial, Mr Young told PA. And that went on for years and he actually died in the middle of his trial and it was just appalling. His case had already been seen multiple times by various independent bodies and found no case to answer. Mr Young said he expects maybe a thousand people mostly veterans to join the protest on Friday from all over the country. Some demonstrators, belonging to the Rolling Thunder group, will be coming to Whitehall on motorbikes. In February, veterans marched along Whitehall to Parliament in a similar protest urging the Labour Government to retain the Act. They walked in a group, many wearing army caps, and holding a banner which read: Justice for Northern Ireland Veterans: If they wont listen, we will shout louder. Two British tourists were among four people who died when a cable car crashed to the ground near Naples in southern Italy. Prosecutors in Torre Annunziata have opened an investigation into possible manslaughter charges after the crash on Thursday at Monte Faito, a peak about 28 miles (45km) south-east of Naples. The British victims were identified as Margaret Elaine Winn, 58, and Graeme Derek Winn, 65, the Italian news agency Ansa reported. The other victims were Janan Suliman, a 25-year-old Arab woman with Israeli citizenship. Her brother, Thaeb Suliman, 23, was hospitalised in Ponticelli with severe injuries. The hospital said on Friday morning that he remained stable in the seriousness of his injuries and would undergo further tests. The fourth person who died was the cable car operator, named locally as Carmine Parlato. The cable car service operated two cabins. The one that crashed had been travelling up the mountain, while 16 people were helped out of the cabin that had been making its way down and stopped in mid-air close to the foot of the peak. They were evacuated one by one, using harnesses, footage on RAI public television and other media showed. Italian media reported that one of the cables supporting the cabin had snapped. The cable car service, which had opened for the spring and summer season 10 days previously, underwent a maintenance check a week ago, according to reports on Friday. The cabin at the top has crashed, Umberto De Gregorio, the chair of EAV, the public transport company that runs the cable car service, wrote on Facebook, calling it a tragedy. Vincenzo De Luca, the head of the Campania region around Naples, told RAI that rescue operations were hampered by fog and strong winds, which on Thursday had reached 60mph (100km/h). People heard a loud bang before the cable car fell, according to reports. There was a truly severe weather situation, therefore I can imagine what could have happened at 1,500 metres above sea level, De Luca said. But, I repeat, technical checks must be done with the utmost rigour. The last deadly cable car crash in Italy was in 2021, when 14 people were killed when a cable car linking the resort town of Stresa and the Mottarone mountain in the Piedmont region plummeted into the woods near Lake Maggiore. Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister, was informed of Thursdays crash during a summit in Washington with the US president, Donald Trump. She expressed her deepest condolences to the families of those killed and injured. The Faito cable car service was launched in 1952. In 1960 four people, including a nine-year-old child, died after a pylon broke, Napoli Today reported. This article was amended on 18 April 2025. In an update after first publication, we mistakenly referred to Margaret Winn and Graeme Winn as siblings; this was based on information reported at the time. It would later be confirmed that they were a married couple. People protest in support of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in New York on 9 April 2025. Photograph: Gina M Randazzo/ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock A federal court has blocked the sweeping termination of staff at the top US consumer protection agency, a day after the Trump administration moved to axe about 1,500 of the agencys 1,700 workforce, while officials investigate whether the action violated existing judicial orders. The ruling from the judge Amy Berman Jackson put a legal hurdle in front of mass layoffs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced on Thursday, which came after a federal appeals court modified but did not eliminate an injunction limiting the agencys ability to terminate employees. The administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It is unclear whether it will abide by the latest ruling. A handful of divisions have been completely eliminated by the administration, according to court filings, including the office of servicemember affairs, the office of older Americans, and the office of fair lending. Only eight employees remain in the office of consumer response, while the entire team responsible for the CFPBs data storage systems has been terminated. Related: Trump halts construction of big wind farm off New York coast: reckless and overreaching The layoffs, via hundreds of reduction in force (RIF) letters sent on Thursday, are just the latest blow in an ongoing battle over the agencys bleak future. In February, Jackson had ordered a halt to terminations at the CFPB and barred the agency from deleting data or transferring reserve funds except for operational purposes. According to a declaration from an employee who had been laid off, filed under the pseudonym Alex Doe, this weeks layoffs were managed by Gavin Kliger, a staffer at the tech billionaire Elon Musks so-called department of government efficiency, or Doge. He kept the team up for 36 hours straight to ensure that the notices would go out yesterday (17 April). That declaration also said that when team members raised concerns about court orders requiring particularized assessment of employees, they were told that all that mattered was the numbers. The staff union immediately filed a motion for an order to show cause, arguing the terminations violate the courts preliminary injunction which prohibited actions that would interfere with the performance of the defendants statutory duties. We started receiving our RIF notices yesterday afternoon and they went out in batches through the evening, said one CFPB employee who requested anonymity fearing retaliation. As a result, large swaths of the work we do, including statutorily required work, wont get done. Following the cuts, all affected employees will lose system access by 6.00pm local time on Friday, after which they will be placed on administrative leave until formal separation, according to a copy of the RIF reviewed by the Guardian. The senator Elizabeth Warren, who originally proposed creating the CFPB after the 2008 financial crisis, blasted the move. President Trump just gutted almost all CFPB staff, so the agency cant do its job of helping Americans who get scammed by big banks and giant corporations, Warren said in a statement. Dismantling the CFPB in the face of a court order blocking an illegal shutdown is yet another assault on consumers and our democracy. Many have pointed to the influence of Musk, who reportedly placed Doge employees inside the agency and has publicly made a call to delete the CFPB for being duplicative of other regulators. Musk has been accused of being the mastermind behind the shutdown so it could benefit his planned financial services platform, X Money, as part of his social media platforms eventual aspiration to become an everything app. Since its creation, the bureau has recovered over $21bn for defrauded consumers through enforcement actions against major financial institutions, including a $3.7bn order against Wells Fargo in 2022. There has been broad support for the agency, with a September poll from Americans for Financial Reform finding that 91% of voters believed it is important to regulate financial services to make sure they are fair for consumers including 95% of Democrats and 87% of Republicans. [It] breaks my heart that theyre just erasing so much work and goodwill, said another laid-off CFPB employee. And people all over the country have no idea that the things they count on are disappearing. Phoenix Ikner, the 20-year-old son of Jessica Ikner, a police deputy - Instagram The son of a Florida deputy sheriff has been arrested after allegedly killing two people in a shooting spree on his university campus. Phoenix Ikner, a 20-year-old student, is said by police to have used his mothers handgun to shoot dead two people and injure five others at Florida State University (FSU) in Tallahassee on Thursday. He had apparently taken part in a number of training programmes at the local sheriffs office, and officials said afterwards that it was not a surprise he had access to firearms. The suspected gunman was also wounded and taken to hospital, with a law enforcement source telling US media he had been shot. Footage taken on the campus shows police shackling an unseen individual in the back of an ambulance. Neither of the two people killed were students. Police are yet to name any victims. FSU issued an active shooter alert near the student union shortly after 12pm local time and hundreds of students were seen streaming away from the building. The public is being urged to keep away from nine buildings on campus, including the union, which are being treated as active crime scenes. Credit: InsiderWire/X After securing the campus, Walter McNeil, a Leon County police sheriff, named Mr Ikner as the alleged gunman and said he was the son of one of his deputies, Jessica Ikner. Unfortunately her son had access to one of her weapons and that was one of the weapons that were found at the scene, he said. The alleged shooter was also a longstanding member of the Leon County sheriff offices youth advisory council, so he has been steeped in the Leon County sheriffs office family, engaged in a number of training programmes that we have. So its not a surprise to us that he had access to weapons. Mr McNeil called the event tragic and commended Ms Ikner for her 18 years of exceptional service with the sheriffs office. Deputy Jessica Ikner The weapon allegedly used by Mr Ikner had previously been purchased by his mother from the authorities and used as a personal handgun, he added. Mr McNeil vowed to make sure that we do everything we can to prosecute and to send a message to folks that this will never be tolerated here in Leon County. A witness described the gunman as white with light hair, wearing an orange T-shirt and khaki shorts, and looking like a normal college dude. Credit: JasonDelgado/X In a chilling Instagram biography, Mr Ikner citied a bible verse, writing: You are my war club, my weapons for battle, with you I shatter nations, with you I destroy kingdoms. McKenzie Heeter, a student at FSU, said she had been leaving the student union when a man fired in her direction, then retrieved a pistol from his car and shot a woman standing a few feet away from him. Thats when I just started running, she told NBC News. Police said Mr Ikner had also been armed with a shotgun, but had not received reports that it had been used to shoot anyone. 11:56 PM BST Were pausing our live coverage here. Check back to our homepage for the latest updates. 11:27 PM BST DeSantis: Shooter must be brought to justice Ron DeSantis, the Florida governor, said the individual responsible for todays shooting must be brought to justice to the fullest extent of the law. He added that he and his wife, Florida first lady Casey DeSantis, mourned the two victims who died and sent their well-wishes to the others recovering in hospital. 10:59 PM BST Trump: The gun doesnt do the shooting Donald Trump called the shooting at Florida State University terrible while vowing to protect gun rights of Americans. These things are terrible, but the gun doesnt do the shooting, the people do, the US president told reporters in the Oval Office, while signing executive orders. As far as legislation is concerned, this has been going on for a long time. I have an obligation to protect the Second Amendment, I ran on the Second Amendment, among many other things, and I will always protect the Second Amendment. 09:50 PM BST This is a horrific incident This is a horrific incident, Lawrence Revell said, confirming nine people were shot in total. Two victims were killed and six people were injured, including the suspected gunman. 09:46 PM BST Suspected gunman used mothers personal handgun Lawrence Revell, chief of the Tallahassee police, told reporters that the gun used in the shooting was Jessica Ikners former service weapon. This weapon was a weapon that the deputy previously used, he said, adding that when a when an officer gets a new handgun, they are allowed to purchase the handgun they used prior. The gunman is not believed to have fired at officers. He had a shotgun but nobody is known to have been shot with it at this point, Mr Revell added. 09:40 PM BST Gunman was son of deputy sheriff The suspected gunman has been named as Phoenix Ikner, the 20-year-old son of a Leon County sheriff deputy, Sheriff Walter McNeil of Leon County said. Unfortunately her son had access to one of her weapons and that was one of the weapons that were found at the scheme, he told a press conference. The gunman was also a longstanding member of the Leon County sheriffs office citizen advisory or youth advisory council and was engaged in a number of training programmes that we have, he said, adding: So its not a surprise to us that he had access to weapons. We will do everything we can to prosecute, he vowed. He added: This event is tragic in more ways than you people in the audience could ever fathom from a law enforcement perspective. 09:34 PM BST Two dead and five injured, police say Police have said that two people were killed and five injured in the shooting today at Florida State University (FSU). 09:32 PM BST Watch: Authorities give press conference on shooting 09:28 PM BST Watch: Police shackle individual on FSU campus Footage has emerged of the police shackling an individual in an ambulance on the Florida State University (FSU) campus. It is unclear whether they have any connection to the shooting. A witness has previously described the gunman as white with light hair, wearing an orange T-shirt and khaki shorts. Sources have told US media he had been shot during the incident and taken to hospital. 09:03 PM BST Gunman has been sent to hospital Six people who were sent to hospital following the shooting at Florida State University include the gunman, law enforcement sources told CNN. It has previously reported that the individual had been shot. 08:57 PM BST University issues warning to students Florida State University (FSU) has urged students to avoid areas of campus because they are still considered crime scenes. A woman talks on her phone after being evacuated from Florida State University (FSU) campus after a mass shooting in Tallahassee, Florida - Alicia Devine/USA TODAY Please avoid the Student Union, Bellamy, HCB Classroom Building, Rovetta A&B, Moore Auditorium, Shaw, Pepper, Hecht House and Carraway as they are still considered an active crime scene, it said in a statement. One witness who spoke to US media earlier today said they had been exiting the student union when they were shot at by the gunman. 08:41 PM BST Pictures: Students evacuate FSU campus as police secure area People evacuate Florida State University (FSU) campus after a mass shooting in Tallahassee, Florida - Alicia Devine/USA TODAY Law enforcement work at Florida State University (FSU) campus after a mass shooting in Tallahassee, Florida - Alicia Devine/USA TODAY 08:38 PM BST Suspected gunman was shot The suspected gunman at Florida State University shooting was shot, a law enforcement official told CNN. They did not clarify who shot him. 08:25 PM BST University campus secured by police The Florida State University campus has now been secured after a shooting earlier today, Tallahassee police have said in the last few minutes. Students have been warned to avoid the active crime scene. Authorities have said they are planning to hold a press conference around 4:30pm EDT, although this could change. The @FloridaState campus has been secured. Multiple law enforcement agencies remain on site for the ongoing investigation. The Student Union & surrounding area are still considered an active crime scene. Individuals should not return to the area for any reason. (1/2) Tallahassee Police (@TallyPD) April 17, 2025 08:13 PM BST Sources: Just one gunman Police believe there was only one shooter at Florida State University, three law enforcement officials have told CNN. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is attempting to trace the serial numbers on the recovered guns, one added. 08:07 PM BST Watch: Ambulances arrive at Florida State University Credit: RyanCedergrenWx/X 07:52 PM BST At least one death in shooting, officials says There has been at least one fatality as a result of the shooting incident on Florida State Universitys campus, a senior Florida law enforcement official told NBC News. The Tallahassee Police Department confirmed earlier today that one person was in custody in connection to the shooting. 07:50 PM BST Gunman armed with pistol and rifle, says student McKenzie Heeter, a student at Florida State University, said she was shot at by the gunman by a man wearing an orange T-shirt and khaki shorts, I was leaving the [student] union with my food. Theres a road next to it and I was walking and this guy pulls up in an orange Hummer, and he gets out with a rifle and shoots in my direction, she told NBC News. There were a couple other kids near me. I think he was shooting and he missed. So he goes back into his car and grabs a pistol, then he turns and shoots the lady in front of him. Thats when I just started running. The gunman appeared to be white with light hair and looked like a normal college dude, she added. 07:36 PM BST Watch: Students hide in classroom during incident Students shared video of themselves hiding in place during the alert. Credit: Realtombibiyan/X 07:24 PM BST Attorney General releases statement Pam Bondi, the US Attorney General, said that the Justice Department was in touch with FBI agents who were on the scene. The @FBI is on the scene at Florida State and we are in communication with agents on the ground. Our priority is the safety of everyone involved. We will keep updating as we learn more. Praying for all. Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) April 17, 2025 07:18 PM BST Six people taken to hospital At least six people have been taken to hospital following the shooting, according to media reports. Gunshots were reported at midday at the Student Union building on the FSU campus. More than 42,000 students attend classes at the main campus. A nearby hospital, Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, said in a statement it had received six patients one in critical condition and the rest in serious condition. 07:12 PM BST Multiple victims, source tells AP There are multiple victims involved in the shooting at Florida State University, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. The extent of the victims injuries in the shooting was immediately known and there were no additional details about the person who was in custody. The person was not authorised to publicly discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity. Credit: JasonDelgado/X 07:08 PM BST Trump: Shooting is a shame When asked about the shooting in Florida during his bilateral meeting at the White House with Giorgia Meloni, Donald Trump described the incident as a shame. I have been briefed on the Florida State University active shooter. Its a shame, he said. 06:59 PM BST Injured treated at scene Ryan Cedergren, a 21-year-old communications student, said he and about 30 others hid in the bowling alley in the lower level of the student union after seeing students running from a nearby bar. In that moment, it was survival, he said. After about 15 minutes of hiding, university police escorted the students out of the union and he saw a person getting emergency treatment on the lawn, he said. 06:58 PM BST Ron DeSantis releases statement Our prayers are with our FSU family and state law enforcement is actively responding. https://t.co/gT4mDwWsGC Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) April 17, 2025 06:58 PM BST Lock doors, students told in alert An alert from the university instructed students: Lock and stay away from all doors and windows and be prepared to take additional protective measures. Florida State University students wait for news amid the active shooter incident - Kate Payne People comfort each other on campus after the shooting - Kate Payne/AP 06:56 PM BST Students rush from scene Students were seen streamed away from the direction of the student union on Florida State University (FSU) campus. Junior Joshua Sirmans, 20, was in the universitys main library when he said alarms began going off warning of an active shooter. Mr Sirmans said law enforcement officers escorted him and other students out of the library with their hands over their heads. FBI officials are on scene, a spokesman said. Students and faculty were instructed to seek shelter and await further instructions. 06:54 PM BST Our live coverage Were bringing you the latest updates after reports that five people have been killed in a shooting at Florida State University. A police officer checking a car for modifications on so-called Car Friday. Photograph: Dpa Picture Alliance/Alamy Police in Germany have announced a crackdown on illegal racing and the unauthorised modification of cars as members of the so-called tuning scene meet across the country for the start of their annual season. The Good Friday holiday marking Christs death on the cross, called Karfreitag in German from the Old High German word kara, meaning sorrow is otherwise known by the extreme car enthusiasts as Carfreitag (car Friday) for its unofficial gathering of the tuners and car posers. The day is also referred to in law as a Stiller Feiertag (silent holiday), with strict rules banning activities that could disrupt the contemplative mood or appear disrespectful to Christians. Dancing is prohibited, as is the use of lawn mowers, leaf blowers and other loud domestic appliances. Nightclubs are shut, and cinemas are restricted in the type of films they can screen, although rules differ between the 16 federal states. Germanys state criminal police have said they will be out in force at scene hotspots, including retail car parks, alpine tunnels (favoured as they amplify the sound of car motors) and iconic racing tracks such as the Nurburgring in the mountainous Eifel region in western Germany. Enthusiasts, who often gather from across Europe, also typically seek out long stretches of straight public roads for races that they illegally block, and sometimes the many sections of Germanys autobahn where there is no speed limit. In statements to German media, the police said they would seek to clamp down on unauthorised tuning, illegal races and noise and emissions pollution, including that caused by so-called burn-outs, in which cars are held still with the handbrake on, the wheels spun so fast that the tyres smoke. Those in contravention of the law could face high fines, punitive points on their driving licences as well as the revocation of licences and confiscation of their vehicles, police said. Herbert Reul, the interior minister of the countrys most populous state of North Rhine-Westphalia in western Germany, where 3,000 traffic violations were reported and about 4,000 fines issued last Good Friday, said targeted controls would aim to pull over vehicles considered unfit to be driven. This included cars rebuilt for lowriding, the Mexican-American subculture of cruising as close to the surface of the road as possible. I have nothing against lowered cars, as long as they are roadworthy, Reul said. However, it is important that all road users arrive home safely. The car-tuning scene began in the US in the 1990s, spurred on by cult films such as 2001s The Fast and the Furious and its many sequels, and is celebrated in everything from video games to toy lines. According to the publication Motor Trend, it has grown into a worldwide phenomenon, becoming a cornerstone of todays automotive passions. Oscar-nominated actor Haley Joel Osment has been charged with public intoxication and cocaine possession after his arrest earlier this month at a northern California ski resort. The Mono County District Attorneys office announced the misdemeanour charges against the 37-year-old actor, who starred as a child in films The Sixth Sense and A.I. Osment was arrested on April 8 at the Mammoth Mountain ski resort on suspicion of public intoxication, district attorney David Anderson said. Haley Joel Osment was nominated for an Oscar for The Sixth Sense (Ian West/PA) The actor is due to be arraigned on July 7. Osment rose to fame and received a best supporting actor Oscar nomination for starring opposite Bruce Willis in M Night Shyamalans thriller The Sixth Sense. Two years later he starred in Steven Spielbergs A.I. and has worked consistently as a voice actor since then. He has also appeared in the television series The Kominsky Method and What We Do In The Shadows. Osment is among the thousands of people who lost their homes in Januarys devastating Eaton Fire in the Altadena area near Los Angeles. In 2006, Osment was charged with drunken driving and marijuana possession after crashing his car into a postbox in the Los Angeles area and breaking a rib. Marco Rubios problem is that he lives one social media post away from being sacked by Donald Trump - Julien de Rosa/AFP Less than six weeks have passed since Ukraine agreed to Americas proposed ceasefire and Marco Rubio declared the ball is now in Russias court. Yet after the latest talks in Paris, the US secretary of state spoke as if none of the above had happened. The central fact of recent diplomacy is that on March 11 Ukraine said yes to a ceasefire, but Russia did not. The ball landed in Vladimir Putins court and he did far worse than simply watch it bounce and come to rest. Putin responded by launching a series of strikes on civilian targets across Ukraine, firing two ballistic missiles into the centre of the city of Sumy on Palm Sunday, killing at least 36 people, including two children. On March 11, Mr Rubio said that if Russia rejected a ceasefire then well know unfortunately what is the impediment to peace here. By his earlier logic, America should now be identifying Russia as the impediment and joining its European allies to exert maximum pressure on Putin to accept the truce. But there was no hint of that in Mr Rubios latest pronouncement. Instead he gave warning that if a deal was no longer do-able then America would just move on. (L-R) Marco Rubio meets with Jean-Noel Barrot, Frances minister for Europe and foreign affairs, David Lammy and Gunter Sautter in Paris - Julie de Rosa/AFP Rather than name the only belligerent who has failed to agree a ceasefire and respond accordingly, Mr Rubio would prefer to turn away from the whole blood-soaked business of Europes biggest war since 1945 and concentrate on what he called other priorities. As one of the youngest holders of his office, Mr Rubio, 53, is unlikely to be suffering from amnesia. He remembers full well the sequence of events and his own earlier words. He must understand that Putin started the war in Ukraine and remains the barrier to peace. Mr Rubios problem is that he lives one social media post away from being sacked by a president who consistently believes the best of Putin and remains viscerally unwilling to exert any further pressure on Russia. Mr Rubio and Donald Trump at a cabinet meeting on April 10 - Anna Moneymaker/2025 Getty Images On the contrary, Donald Trump prefers to use Americas leverage against the target of Putins aggression, Ukraine, including by halting the flow of US weapons and intelligence for a vital period last month. By his own convoluted logic, Mr Trump hammers the country that obliges him and indulges the adversary that defies him. If Mr Rubio wants to survive, he must continually bend with the wind and do his masters bidding, even at the expense of his personal credibility and self-respect. Might Mr Trumps patience with Putin eventually crack? Will he ever see how Putin is making him look a fool not just by declining to accept a US-proposed ceasefire, but firing missiles at a Ukrainian city and still paying no price? Previous secretaries of state would have seen it as a duty to tell their president some hard truths. But Mr Rubio, fearing the humiliation of being sacked within months of taking office and still living down his past rivalry with Mr Trump, is clearly not in that mould. It remains just possible that Mr Trump will grasp the obvious and respond to Putins defiance by increasing US help for Ukraine and turning the screw on Russia. He has threatened as much in the past and this option would accord with the plan proposed by General Keith Kellogg, the US peace envoy. But does the president care about his own peace plan devised by his own envoy? So far, the evidence suggests that Mr Trump sees this crisis through Putins eyes and the hapless Mr Rubio must twist and turn. Inna Bondarenko has lifted the lid on the five years she spent studying to be a diplomat at the prestigious Russian institution The Moscow State Institute of International Relations is the Oxbridge of Russias foreign policy world and has trained the countrys diplomats since Stalins time. Its graduates, who include Sergei Lavrov, the foreign minister, are known for their encyclopaedic grasp of international treaties and polyglot language skills, allowing them to argue the Kremlins case in any corner of the world. Yet, as Donald Trump may be about to learn the hard way, the warmer the words from a Kremlin envoy, the colder and more cynical the purpose. That, at least, is the warning from a whistleblowing former student of the school, who claims its doctrine is to speak diplomacy but to practise coercion. In a rare insight into the inner workings of Kremlin foreign policy, Inna Bondarenko used an article in last weeks Moscow Times to lift the lid on her years as a trainee diplomat at the school from 2015 to 2020. We were taught to cite international law while violating its spirit, to defend norms while dismantling them and to speak of peace while justifying and waging wars, she wrote. Georgia. Syria. Ukraine. We deployed whichever claim of territorial integrity or self-determination suited the days talking point. Moscow State Institute of International Relations has trained the countrys diplomats since Stalins time - Pavel Losevsky/Alamy Ms Bondarenkos warning comes amid growing signs that Mr Trumps much-vaunted plans for a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia announced to great fanfare a month ago are coming to nothing. In a sign of Washingtons mounting frustration, Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, warned on Friday that his country will move on from trying to broker Ukraine peace efforts if there is no progress within the next few days. Despite Vladimir Putin saying he wants a ceasefire and praising Mr Trump for doing everything to mend US-Russian relations, Moscow has continued to wage all-out war on Kyiv, including a missile attack on the city of Sumy last week that killed 34 civilians. Such tactics, says Ms Bondarenko, exemplify the offensive realism taught at the school the opposite of the Western ideal of inter-state co-operation. Speak diplomacy, practice coercion, she wrote. That isnt just hypocrisy, its a strategy. Its the realpolitik we were trained to believe in and to carry out. Students are taught to practice offensive realism the opposite of the Western ideal of inter-state co-operation - Dmitry Erokhin/Alamy In an interview with The Telegraph, Ms Bondarenko, 27, who is from Russias Kursk region, said she was overjoyed when she was first accepted to study at the school, which has tough academic selection criteria. But she said that as Putins regime became increasingly hostile to the West, the schools tutors followed suit. The brainwashing and propaganda was very strong, and as a young student you feel so overwhelmed to be at this centre of power. A lot of the professors there have worked for maybe 50 years in Russian policy, so whatever they say, youre expected to accept. Among the academics shibboleths were that Crimea belonged to Russia, and that Serbian warlords had been wrongly prosecuted at the Hague over the massacre of Bosnian Muslims at Srebrenica. We had one tutor [who] spent literally an hour defending Ratko Mladic [a convicted war criminal] and Slobodan Milosevic [who died during his war crimes trial], that blew my mind, she said. The faculty also had a cult-like reverence for Mr Lavrov, who is known for his combative approach on the international stage. A master of treaties, procedures and geography, he uses his knowledge to browbeat opponents, famously mansplaining to his opposite number Liz Truss over her ignorance of Russian provinces during talks in the run-up to the Ukraine war. At the same meeting, he also categorically denied that Russia was planning to invade. Mr Lavrov, 75, still gives an annual lecture at the school, whose tutors also share his sexist attitudes, according to Ms Bondarenko. Female graduates, she said, are told from the outset that they will only ever become ambassadors wives. Faculty show a cult-like reverence for Sergei Lavrov, a former alumnus and the now Russian foreign minister - Tatyana Makeyeva/AP In our welcome ceremony, the dean said: I congratulate the boys on becoming future diplomats, and the girls on become future diplomats wives. This was a speech to some of Russias smartest and most ambitious female students you cant imagine how sexist the place was. Male students were also fast-tracked for service into the FSB spy service, she said, which had a secret office in the school and would groom the most promising students. The school cultivated partnerships with campuses overseas, including Reading University, which ran a double masters on international relations and security. The course started in 2014 the very year Russia annexed Crimea with Reading only suspending ties with the school after the invasion in 2022. I am amazed that so many Western institutions kept their links up that long, Ms Bondarenko said. She is now studying for a masters in Italy. Hopefully I will go back to Russia one day to work on human rights, she said. I have no interest in being a diplomat the more I learnt about our country, the more I realise that it has internal issues that need fixing first. A composite of the allegedly AIgenerated photos that have appeared on the Leagues social channels on Facebook, Instagram and X. The complaint alleges the images contain almost all categories of hate speech. Composite: Guardian Design/League Opposition parties in Italy have complained to the communications watchdog about a series of AI-generated images published on social media by deputy prime minister Matteo Salvinis far-right party, calling them racist, Islamophobic and xenophobic, the Guardian has learned. The centre-left Democratic party (PD), with the Greens and Left Alliance, filed a complaint on Thursday with Agcom, the Italian communications regulatory authority, alleging the fake images used by the League contained almost all categories of hate speech. Over the past month, dozens of apparently AIgenerated photos have appeared on the Leagues social channels, including on Facebook, Instagram and X. The images frequently depict men of colour, often armed with knives, attacking women or police officers. Antonio Nicita, a PD senator, said: In the images published by Salvinis party and generated by AI there are almost all categories of hate speech, from racism and xenophobia to Islamophobia. They are using AI to target specific categories of people immigrants, Arabs who are portrayed as potential criminals, thieves and rapists. These images are not only violent but also deceptive: by blurring the faces of the victims it is as if they want to protect the identity of the person attacked, misleading users into believing the photo is real. These are images that incite hatred. This is serious, said Francesco Emilio Borrelli, an MP for the Greens and Left Alliance. AI generates content based on our instructions, and in this case it was clearly instructed to generate images of black people robbing an elderly woman or a frightened woman. It is part of their strategy to create fear among citizens. A spokesperson for Salvinis party confirmed that some of the pictures featured on their social media channels had been generated digitally. In a statement it said: The point is not the image. The point is the fact. Each post is based on true reports from Italian newspapers, with names, dates and places. If reality seems too harsh, do not blame those who report it, but those who make it so. If it is about a crime, it is hard to accompany the news with cheerful or reassuring images. Salvatore Romano, the head of research at the nonprofit AI Forensics, said the League pictures bore all the hallmarks of artificial intelligence. They are outofcontext photos in which the subject is in the foreground and the rest is entirely blurred. What worries me is that these AIgenerated images are becoming ever more realistic. The complaint to Agcom cites several examples of images thought to have been digitally generated, saying they have appeared alongside the branding of reputable mainstream media outlets which have reported on the crimes mentioned but not used images of the alleged perpetrators. In one case, the Leagues post says: A foreigner attacks the train conductor and pairs the text with an image of a man of colour with his fist raised. The original headline in Il Resto del Carlino reads: He attacks the [female] train conductor and sparks panic on board. The article makes no mention of the suspects nationality beyond calling him a foreigner. There was no photograph of the alleged attack. Another image featured in the complaint shows a mother and father in Islamic dress appearing to shout angrily at a girl, thus feeding racial and Islamophobic prejudice. Il Giorno, the newspaper that is cited, makes no reference in its report to the religion of either the family or the girl allegedly abused by her parents, beyond saying the child had attended Arabic language school. There was no photograph of the family. The use of AIgenerated images for propaganda by farright parties is a growing phenomenon that entered the mainstream around last years European elections, when images designed to stoke fears over immigration or demonise leaders such as Emmanuel Macron began circulating on social media. Then came the American elections with Donald Trump and Elon Musk, who effectively normalised this trend, said Romano. Today we see that farright parties have not only continued to generate fake images for propaganda but have also increased their use at a time when AI tools have improved content quality, making the phenomenon all the more worrying. Despite social platforms being obliged to take steps to anticipate these risks for example by adding a label specifying that an image has been generated by AI Romano says that, in practice, this mechanism is almost always ineffective. Asked if the League was aware that the images could generate hate speech, a spokesperson for Salvinis party said: We are sorry, but our solidarity goes to the victims, not the perpetrators. If denouncing crimes committed by foreigners means xenophobia, perhaps the problem is not the word but those who use it to censor debate. We will continue to denounce, with strong words and images, what others prefer to ignore. If Agcom deems the flagged content offensive it can, under the EUs Digital Services Act, order posts to be taken down, accounts to be removed and social media platforms to be fined for failing to police user behaviour. In 2023, Agcom fined Meta 5.85m (5m) and ordered the removal of dozens of accounts for breaching the ban on gambling advertising. Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, was approached for comment. A spokesperson for X said: We are not under any obligation legally to label every AI-generated image. Its pretty clear these posts are straightforward politicking. Rest assured, we believe that it is critical to maintain the authenticity of the conversation on X, and we make sure that we are well equipped to fight against any manipulated media including the rising trend of deepfakes and put visible labels on any such content that has been debunked by a credible source. Luigi Mangione in court in February. Photograph: Curtis Means/Reuters Luigi Mangione was indicted on Thursday on a federal murder charge in the killing of UnitedHealthcare chief executive Brian Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel last year, a necessary step for prosecutors to seek the death penalty. The indictment returned by a grand jury in Manhattan federal court also charges Mangione with two counts of stalking and a firearms count. It was not immediately clear when the 26-year-old Mangione will be arraigned. A message seeking comment was left for a spokesperson for his lawyers. Mangione, an Ivy League graduate from a prominent Maryland real estate family, also faces separate state murder charges. Hes accused of shooting Thompson, 50, in the back outside a Manhattan hotel on 4 December as the executive arrived for UnitedHealthcares annual investor conference. Related: The alleged UnitedHealthcare CEO killer faces the death penalty. Will a jury impose that punishment? The US attorney general, Pam Bondi, announced this month that she had directed federal prosecutors in Manhattan to seek the death penalty, following through on Donald Trumps campaign promise to vigorously pursue capital punishment. Its the first death penalty case sought by the justice department since the president returned to office in January with a vow to resume federal executions after they were halted under the previous administration. The killing and ensuing five-day manhunt leading to Mangiones arrest rattled the business community, with some health insurers hastily switching to remote work or online shareholder meetings. It also galvanized health insurance critics some of whom have rallied around Mangione as a stand-in for frustrations over coverage denials and hefty medical bills. Surveillance video showed a masked gunman shooting Thompson from behind. Police say the words delay, deny and depose were scrawled on the ammunition, mimicking a phrase commonly used to describe how insurers avoid paying claims. A police officer and a forensic science tent outside the Royal National Lifeboat Institution station in Dover, Kent. Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA Police are investigating after a man died while trying to reach the UK on a cross-Channel dinghy on Friday after a medical emergency. It was the second death reported in the Channel in two days, although the body found earlier on Thursday has not yet been formally identified, so it is not known if they were also making a crossing. Fridays death is the first confirmed since last month. According to the International Organisation for Migration, between 11 January and 20 March this year there have been 10 deaths in the Channel. A Kent police spokesperson said: Kent police was called at 8.26am on Friday 18 April 2025 after a Border Force patrol responded to a medical emergency on a small boat in the English Channel. A man has since been pronounced deceased. Officers have launched an investigation to establish the circumstances leading to the mans death. The priority remains to establish the mans identity in order to notify his family. Officers are currently at Dover Lifeboat Station while initial inquiries are under way. A UK government spokesperson said: This morning, Border Force responded to a medical emergency onboard a small boat entering UK waters. It is with regret that we can confirm one individual has died, and our thoughts are with them and their loved ones. Investigations are ongoing and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time, but we want to thank those who responded to this incident and who continue to work tirelessly to secure our borders and protect lives at sea. The head of the Refugee Council, Enver Solomon, said: We are devastated to hear about the death on the Channel today. No one should lose their life when they are simply trying to seek safety from the horrors that see them clamber on a flimsy vessel on the Channel. With deadly Channel crossings rapidly rising, this serves as a stark reminder that the government needs to reassess its approach. Smuggling gangs are profiting from men, women and children who are forced into life-threatening conditions because they are in desperate search of safety. Enforcement measures alone are not enough to address this. In relation to the discovery of a mans body in the Channel on Thursday, a police spokesperson said: Kent police was called at 7.40am on Thursday 17 April 2025, after a body of a man was located by a Border Force patrol in the English Channel, around two miles out from Dover. Police inquiries are ongoing to establish the mans nationality and identity. As of Thursday, a record 9,099 people have crossed the Channel so far this year. Figures for the first four months of 2022 were 6,691 people, and for the same period in 2023, 5,946 people, and for the first four months of 2024, 7,567 people. The highest number crossing in a single day so far this year was 705 people in 12 boats on 14 April. The government has pledged to smash the people-smuggling gangs and has announced a new initiative to do so. British and French government officials are in talks about a migrant swap pilot scheme in which some migrants who cross the Channel in small boats will be returned to France. In return, the UK will take others who are eligible for refugee family reunion. Announcing this plan, a Home Office spokesperson said: We have already secured agreement from the French to deploy a new elite unit of officers at the coast, launch a specialist intelligence unit, increase police numbers and introduce new powers for the French authorities to intervene in shallow waters. Kilmar Abrego Garcia meets with Senator Chris Van Hollen in El Salvador with two margarita drinks on the table Nayib Bukele has been accused of planting margaritas on the table where a Democrat senator and a wrongfully deported man were meeting in El Salvador. Mr Bukele, the Salvadorian president, posted images on social media of Chris Van Hollen meeting Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who has been imprisoned in one of the countrys high-security jails since being deported from the US last month. The brightly coloured pictures show the pair sitting at a table with two glasses set in front of them, seemingly with salt-encrusted rims and glace cherries balanced on top. An aide to Mr Bukele placed the cocktails in front of the men during their meeting in an attempt to stage a damaging photo, a person familiar with the situation claimed to The New York Times. Mr Bukele, who styles himself as the worlds coolest dictator, posted three images of the meeting on social media. They show Mr Van Hollen and Mr Abrego Garcia greeting each other in the polished lobby of a hotel in San Salvador, the countrys capital, the Maryland senator smiling at his companion over a cocktail, and the pair sitting at a table with their drinks in front of a lush green backdrop. By contrast, a photo posted by Mr Van Hollen shows the men with a glass of water and its colours are much more muted. The photo Mr Van Hollen shared on X appears to show glasses of water - REUTERS Kilmar Abrego Garcia, miraculously risen from the death camps and torture, now sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador, Mr Bukele wrote on social media, adding a cocktail emoji. Now that hes been confirmed healthy, he gets the honour of staying in El Salvadors custody, he added. Prof Hany Farid, an expert in digital forensics at the University of California, Berkeley, said the cocktail glasses looked a little odd in Mr Bukeles images but did not believe they were Photoshopped. We find no evidence of manipulation in these images, he told The Telegraph. Now that he's been confirmed healthy, he gets the honor of staying in El Salvador's custody https://t.co/2xVt4SNOGn Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) April 18, 2025 After returning from El Salvador to Washington on Friday, Mr Van Hollen accused Mr Bukele of attempting to deceive Americans. One of the government people came over and deposited two other glasses on the table with ice and salt or sugar. They looked like margaritas, he told reporters after landing at Dulles airport. Neither of us touched the drinks that were in front of us. Very violent person Mr Trump was asked by a reporter on Friday what he thought about the images of Mr Abrego Garcia apparently sipping margaritas in El Salvador. The US president used the opportunity to hit out at Democrats who had taken up the cause of an individual he claimed was an illegal alien, MS-13 gang member and foreign terrorist. This is the man that the Democrats are wanting us to fly back from El Salvador to be a happily ensconced member of the USA family. Isnt it a shame? he said, calling Mr Abrego Garcia a very violent person. Mr Trump later posted a picture of himself on his Truth Social account holding up a seemingly doctored photo of Mr Abrego Garcias hand allegedly showing MS-13 tattoos across his knuckles. This is the hand of the man that the Democrats feel should be brought back to the United States, because he is such a fine and innocent person, Mr Trump wrote. They said he is not a member of MS-13, even though hes got MS-13 tattooed onto his knuckles, and two Highly Respected Courts found that he was a member of MS-13, beat up his wife, etc. I was elected to take bad people out of the United States, among other things. I must be allowed to do my job. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! The post is in reference to allegations that Mr Abrego Garcia abused his wife, Jennifer Vasquez, who sought a restraining order against him in 2021 out of caution based on previous experiences with domestic violence. Ms Vasquez has publicly advocated for her husbands release. In a statement to Newsweek, she called him a loving partner and father and said the incident was not a justification for ICEs action of abducting him and deporting him to a country where he was supposed to be protected from deportation. Mr Bukele also retweeted a number of social media users who praised him for trolling the Democrats, including Mike Flynn, Donald Trumps disgraced former national security adviser. It marks the latest development in the battle over Mr Abrego Garcias public image. The 29-year-old was removed from the US in March despite an immigration court order against his deportation. The Trump administration said his removal had been a mistake and it has been ordered to facilitate his return to the US by the Supreme Court. On Wednesday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) criticised the press for treating a man it alleged was a member of the vicious MS-13 gang as a sympathetic figure. Kilmar Abrego Garcia had a history of violence and was not the upstanding Maryland Man the media has portrayed him as, it said in a statement, releasing court filings in which his wife, Jennifer Vasquez, sought a restraining order against him for allegedly punching and bruising her. Ms Vasquez, who did not continue with the process, has nevertheless campaigned for her husbands return and says he is a loving partner and father unfairly targeted by the Trump administration. Mr Van Hollen said on social media he had called Ms Vasquez on Thursday, and said he would provide a full update after returning to the US. Van Hollen denied entry to see Abrego Garcia Also on Wednesday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) released files apparently showing Mr Abrego Garcia had been detained as part of a murder investigation. An officer spoke with a past and proven reliable source who advised that he was an active member of MS-13, in which he had the rank of chequeo and went under the moniker Chele. When Mr Van Hollen initially attempted to reach Mr Abrego Garcia on Thursday he was stopped by Salvadoran military officials. The Maryland senator said he had travelled to El Salvador to see if Kilmar Abrego Garcia is doing ok, saying nobody has heard anything about his condition since he was illegally abducted from the United States. Actor Ian Smith, who played Harold Bishop in Neighbours, has said that his terminal cancer diagnosis put him in a cruel, ugly, brutal place. The 86-year-old actor, known for playing the former cafe owner in the Australian soap, revealed last year that he has a rare form of lung cancer called pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma. On Friday, Smith told ITVs Good Morning Britain that when he received his diagnosis he was in a space where no one is there to help you, even if they make attempts. As their time together came to an emotional end this week Ian Smith and Anne Charleston look back on some of Harold and Madge's most iconic moments pic.twitter.com/E4hK7cBaKv Neighbours (@neighbours) April 16, 2025 He added: They (People) wont know, until maybe it happens to them themselves. Its a cruel, ugly, brutal place and I dont know how, but it looks like Im having the best luck in the world with defeating this cancer. Smith said his oncologist cannot confirm that he is improving as his cancer is so rare, so drastic, so severe, so awful, they dont know what its going to do. He added the doctor told him that the medical profession knows so little about this cancer that (they) dont know if you stop taking the treatments, it may roar back into life, so the actor is putting up with the medical therapy every three weeks. It looks like these very clever people are going to keep me alive, Smith said. The actor previously said he has gone through chemotherapy, and been doing immunotherapy, which uses the bodys immune system to attack the cancer cells. This month, Smith had his exit on the soap, saying goodbye to tuba-playing blunderer Harold, a character he has portrayed on and off since 1987, for the final time. In February it was announced that Neighbours would be rested for a second time in recent years after being revived by Amazon Prime Video following its axing by Channel 5 in 2022 with production hoping another broadcaster will pick it up. Smith said in my opinion, as long as there is a newspaper, as long as the sun rises and the humans start being human, there will be a space for a show called Neighbours. He added: People are interested in looking over the back fence to see what their neighbours are doing, and as long as thats happening, theres every right for the show to keep going. But its up to the storyliners and the writers and the brass (the bosses) to carry that story from off the street onto a script to actors who are clever enough to retell it on screen and make it interesting. Smiths storylines on the soap have involved his lasting love of Madge (Anne Charleston), who Harolds entry to Ramsay Street original centred on, as well as him getting into difficulty for his misunderstandings. Najaf, Iraq, is shrouded in a haze as the sandstorm blew in on Monday. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images Iraq was hit by its most severe sandstorm of 2025 this week, turning skies from blue to an orange haze. Visibility dropped to less than half a mile, causing travel disruptions, with two major airports halting flights, and streets in Basra, the largest city in southern Iraq, deserted. Respiratory problems sent thousands to hospital. The storm also affected Kuwait, where wind gusts exceeded 50mph, and visibility in some areas was diminished to zero. This massive dust cloud originated in Saudi Arabia before being blown into Iraq. While dust storms are common in Iraq, the climate crisis is expected to intensify them across the region in the future, fuelled by desertification in Saudi Arabia and Syria. Meanwhile, ex-Tropical Cyclone Tam has battered northern parts of New Zealands North Island as it swirls in the Tasman Sea, causing widespread damage, including power outages, fallen trees, submerged roads and flight delays at Auckland airport. The storm, which first hit on Wednesday evening, brought wind gusts of more than 80mph at Cape Reinga on the northern tip of the island, the strongest recorded there since 2017. Tropical cyclones form over warm ocean waters, where rising air creates strong winds and heavy rain. When they move over cooler waters, they become ex-tropical cyclones. Despite losing their tropical energy source, they remain powerful as they gain energy from atmospheric temperature differences, growing in size and bringing heavy rainfall and strong winds over large areas. Winds, rain and thunderstorms have affected several areas, with rainfall totals reaching 200mm recorded in Coromandel, near Auckland, and Tasman, in the north of the South Island. Further severe weather warnings have been issued as the cyclone continues to move southwards, disrupting the Easter weekend by delaying travel and sporting events. Meanwhile, Storm Hans, the largest of the 2024-25 European windstorm season, has lashed the Alps since Thursday, causing widespread disruption across northern Italy, southern Switzerland and south-eastern France as the busy Easter weekend approaches. The French ski resort of Tignes was forced to close, along with nearby roads, as snow accumulations reached up to one metre. At least another metre is forecast to fall following the storm. Popular ski areas such as Val dIsere, Chamonix, and Les Menuires also experienced heavy snowfall. A level 5 avalanche warning has been issued in the worst-affected areas, while heavy rainfall has caused landslides and flooding at lower altitudes, with road and rail closures as a result. Zelenskyy arrived at Sandringham House by helicopter from London last month, shortly after the Ukrainian president attended Keir Starmers summit for European leaders. Photograph: Joe Giddens/AP A no-fly zone order has been put in place over the Sandringham estate after drones were spotted flying in the area last month while Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the royal residence. Security services requested the restrictions, which were put in place to protect members of the royal family and other dignitaries, days after King Charles hosted the Ukrainian president on 2 March at the Norfolk estate. They came into force just over a week later on 10 March. The move reportedly came after drones flying over the estate sparked a security scare on the weekend of Zelenskyys arrival. The Sun reported that one drone was traced to a man sitting in a car nearby and another to a photographer. Other drones reportedly remain unaccounted for. The transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, signed off on the order that restricts aircraft from flying below 2,000ft (600 metres) at Sandringham for reasons of public safety and to ensure the security of royal family and other dignitaries staying at or visiting Sandringham House. The order states: These regulations impose restrictions on flying in the vicinity of Sandringham House, Norfolk. In view of the need for security for members of the royal family and other dignitaries staying at or visiting Sandringham House and at the request of the security services, it has been agreed by the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport that flying should be restricted in the vicinity of that location for reasons of public safety and security. Royal flights, visitors aircraft and police and emergency services are exempted from the order. Zelenskyy arrived at Sandringham House by helicopter from London last month, shortly after he attended Keir Starmers summit for European leaders. His meeting with the king, which began at about 5.30pm, lasted just under an hour. Sources indicated the president was warmly received. There were reports that the UK government agreed to the meeting after a request from the Ukrainian president. The two heads of state had first met in 2023 at Buckingham Palace. Last year, on the second anniversary of Russias full invasion, the king issued a strongly worded message of support for Ukraine, speaking of the indescribable aggression faced by Ukrainians and hailing the determination and strength of the Ukrainian people. A screengrab from al-Masirah TV purportedly shows the aftermath of US strikes on the Ras Isa fuel port in western Yemen. Photograph: Al-Masirah TV/Reuters US military strikes on Yemens Ras Isa fuel port have killed at least 80 people including civilians and rescue workers, according to the Houthi-run health ministry, in the deadliest attack since Washington launched its campaign against the Iran-backed militants. The rebels Al-Masirah TV, citing local officials, said the toll from the strike had risen to 80 dead and 150 wounded. Some analysts see the scale of the attack and the nature of the target a major economic site in the country as aimed at sending a message to Tehran amid mounting pressure on Iran from the Trump administration over its nuclear programme. While Donald Trump has threatened to annihilate Yemens Houthis, the group remains intact despite the ongoing US air campaign, amid deep scepticism from experts over whether Trumps military policy is achievable. In the immediate aftermath of the US strikes, a Houthi official vowed to hit back, announcing that the group had targeted two US aircraft carriers and a military site near Israels main airport. The American military buildup and continued aggression against our country will only lead to more counterattack and attack operations, clashes and confrontations, the Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree told a rebel-organised protest in the capital, Sanaa. The US strikes hit several areas but were mostly concentrated around the port facility, where the dead included truck drivers and emergency responders. Video footage from the port, posted by the Houthi-affiliated al-Masirah TV on social media in the early hours of Friday, showed massive explosions and bodies strewn across the site. The TV station later screened interviews with survivors lying on stretchers, including one man with burns on his arms. We ran away. The strikes came one after the other, then everything was on fire, a man who said he worked at the port told al-Masirah. Ras Isa terminal has a storage capacity of 3m barrels and was the first port built for oil exports from Yemen, about 40 years ago. A Nasa satellite system that monitors fires picked up an intense blaze early on Friday morning at the site just off Kamaran Island. In a statement posted on social media, US Central Command said: US forces took action to eliminate this source of fuel for the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists and deprive them of illegal revenue that has funded Houthi efforts to terrorise the entire region for over 10 years. This strike was not intended to harm the people of Yemen, who rightly want to throw off the yoke of Houthi subjugation and live peacefully. The US has vowed to keep attacking Yemens Houthis, in its biggest military operation in the Middle East since Trump took office in January, unless the Houthis cease attacks on Red Sea shipping. Asked for comment on the Houthis casualty figure and its own estimate, US Central Command said it had none beyond the initial announcement of the attacks. Iran called the US strikes barbaric, while the Palestinian militants Hamas denounced them as blatant aggression. The latest US campaign was triggered by Houthi threats to resume attacks on international shipping in protest at Israels blocking of aid to the Gaza Strip. The Houthis have launched dozens of drone and missile attacks on vessels in the Red Sea since November 2023, saying they were targeting ships linked to Israel in protest over the war in Gaza. Early on Friday, hours after the US attack, Israels military said it had intercepted a missile launched from Yemen. Recent expert analysis for the Atlantic Council was dubious about the practicality of US war aims in Yemen. The United States ability to track [Abdel Malik al-Houthi, the Houthis leader] is likely hindered by limited intelligence on the ground in Yemen. This reality was echoed early last year when the US had difficulty assessing the success of its operations and the groups full arsenal due to a lack of intelligence, it said. Without a reliable presence or informant network, targeting such a well-hidden leader will prove challenging. The Trump administrations clumsy handling of the enlarged US campaign against the Houthis was already mired in controversy before Fridays large death toll, after details of the initial attack plan were discussed by senior Trump officials on an unsecured chat service to which a journalist had been invited to join. Students hold a vigil near the scene of a shooting near the Florida State University student center on Thursday in Tallahassee, Florida. Photograph: Miguel J Rodriguez Carrillo/Getty Images Students at Florida State University (FSU) returned to a campus that was still in shock on Friday to retrieve the belongings they abandoned in their scramble to escape a gunman, including laptops, handbags and even shoes, and a vigil was planned for the evening, after a student killed two people and left six others injured. Many had gathered on Thursday night, hugging and in tears, around a makeshift memorial on a sidewalk on campus, bringing candles, flowers, teddy bears and notes for the survivors. The impromptu memorials, dotted around the campus in the state capital of Tallahassee, came just hours after authorities arrested and charged a fellow student, Phoenix Ikner, 20, with the shooting. Related: Two killed and six injured in Florida university shooting, officials say Witnesses gave harrowing descriptions of the shooting, which began in a crowded area near the student union. Students used desks and chairs to barricade doors, and one classroom even used a piano, according to ABCs Good Morning America on Friday. Jeffrey LaFary, a student at the school, told the ABC show that students in his class resorted to using chewing gum as they didnt have tape on hand to stick paper to the windows of their classroom to try to block the shooter from seeing into it. McKenzie Heeter, a third-year student, told NBC News that she saw the shooter get out of his car and open fire on Thursday at about noon. First, she said, he fired off a shot from a rifle. He then reached back into his car, pulled out a handgun, and shot a woman in the back who was walking in front of him. The two men who died in connection to the shooting were not students, the Florida State University police chief, Jason Trumbower, said on Thursday. More information about the victims was not immediately available. I heard some gunshots and then, you know, just blacked out after, said Carolina Sena, a 21-year-old accounting student who was inside the student union when the shooting started. Everyone was crying and just panicking. We were trying to barricade ourselves in a little corner in the basement, trying to protect ourselves as much as we could. Ikner is the stepson of a longtime sheriffs deputy and authorities say he used his stepmothers former service weapon in the shooting. He was also reportedly a member of the local sheriffs office youth advisory council, a committee to help the sheriffs office communicate with young people. The suspect is in the hospital and has not so far cooperated with the authorities by talking about the shooting. Related: Florida State cancels home games through Sunday after on-campus shooting He has been steeped in the Leon county sheriffs office family, engaged in a number of training programs that we have, the Leon county sheriff, Walt McNeil, said on Thursday. So its not a surprise to us that he had access to weapons. Reid Seybold, a senior at FSU, told several news outlets that he and Ikner had both attended Tallahassee State College before transferring to FSU. At their old school, Seybold said, Ikner had been kicked out of a political club and had voiced white supremacist rhetoric that had made others uncomfortable. The Guardian has not independently verified Seybolds claims. He had continually made enough people uncomfortable where certain people had stopped coming, Seybold told CNN. Its been a couple of years now, I cant give exact quotes, but whether it was in that club or in class, he talked about the ravages of multiculturalism and communism and how its ruining America. Donald Trump called the mass shooting at the educational institution terrible and a shame but declined to commit to any new legislation on gun safety, despite the USs unique frequency of such attacks. The president reiterated that he was a big advocate of the second amendment to the US constitution, the fiercely debated right to bear arms, and said he had campaigned for his return to the presidency on protecting gun rights. As far as legislation is concerned, this has been going on for a long time, Trump said at the White House on Thursday, adding: I have an obligation to protect the second amendment. I ran on the second amendment, among many other things, and I will always protect the second amendment. The Associated Press contributed reporting The Newton-Wellesley hospital in Newton, Massachusetts, in 2016. Photograph: Boston Globe/Getty Images The number of staff members who have developed brain tumors while working on the same floor of a Boston-area hospital has increased to at least six, according to the facilitys leadership. A recent statement attributed to the president of Mass General Brighams Newton-Wellesley hospital, Ellen Moloney, said the newly reported tumor was benign, as were five previously documented ones. The statement maintained that investigators had not turned up any evidence of environmental risks at the hospital, though their work remained ongoing. Nonetheless, even before the number of staffers with tumors jumped, a labor union representing nurses at the hospital had pledged to press for answers. That pledge came after Newton-Wellesley hospitals leadership initially confirmed that five nurses had reported developing non-cancerous growths in their brains after having worked on the facilitys fifth-floor maternity unit at some point. The sixth case described as having been reported by a staffer rather than a nurse was disclosed in the statement from Moloney, which the Boston.com news website first reported on. An additional half-dozen staff members with experience working on the floor in question reported other health concerns that did not involve brain tumors, Newton-Wellesley officials have said. The hospital has repeatedly suggested there is no evidence to establish that the situation is anything more than a coincidence albeit one which was unusual enough to have captured attention on the national news and social media after word about it spread. Moloney alluded to how the hospital had worked internal and governmental occupational offices while also consulting with outside environmental experts. Testing since then has examined the hospitals water, radiation levels, air quality and other factors, according to a 2 April memo from the facility. Based on the results of this rigorous ongoing investigation, we can assure you that no environmental risks have been identified at our hospital, Moloneys more recent statement said. The Massachusetts Nurses Association has said it is conducting its own investigation, despite the hospitals assurances. The union argued that the hospital only spoke to a small number of nurses and that the environmental testing was not comprehensive. The union told NBC10 Boston that it received more than 300 survey responses, emails, and telephone calls from nurses and other professionals working at the hospital as well as from former employees. Union officials reportedly said: It will take several weeks to sort through the information vet it and obtain follow-up, including medical records, if respondents are willing to provide them. They also said: The hospital cannot make this issue go away by attempting to provide a predetermined conclusion. Moloneys statement, meanwhile, alluded to a great deal of misinformation shared on social media and in other forums. Health, wellbeing, and safety along with that of our employees remain our top priority, Moloneys statement said. We want to make sure you have the facts. The successful campaigners of For Women Scotland - Kin Cheung/AP Theresa May told the Cabinet in breathy vicars-daughter tones that Penny Mordaunt had something very important to tell us. Mordaunt, then Equalities Minister, then began a long disquisition about gender recognitionI didnt catch all the details, but it seemed fairly harrowing stuff, and at one point I heard Penny claim: This is the most important issue of our times. I mean: I could see that this was an issue of huge importance to some people (though surely not that many?) and I could see that it needed to be handled with tact and sensitivity. But the most important issue of our times? Really? The author was Boris Johnson, writing in Unleashed, his memoir and showing the mix of wryness, common sense, cunning, human sympathy and proportion which, at his best, mark him out. He was sketching the beginning of an outlandish period in political history, which this weeks judgement by the Supreme Court has surely brought to an end. Its unanimous decision that the terms woman and sex in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman and biological sex is nothing less than civilisational though, at the same time, disconcerting. This is so not because of the rulings content, but its context. Why was it necessary for For Women Scotland to go to court at all, claiming that sex-based protections in Scotland should only apply to people that are born female? Surely this matter ought to have been clarified by Government rather than through the exertions of a group of tenacious campaigners? The answer is that the Labour Government ducked its responsibility for clearing the matter up by presenting legislation to clarify that sex in the Equality Act means biological sex. Keir Starmer has thus been, as so often, a lucky general, and Kemi Badenoch an unlucky one. The Supreme Court could simply have referred the matter to Parliament declaring that the matter was for elected politicians to solve. Sir Keir, who once said that the vast majority of women dont have a penis, would thus have been constrained, while grappling with the issue, by a party which believes that some do. Meanwhile, Badenoch, who has consistently argued that women are women and men are men: you cannot change your biological sex would have relished a parliamentary struggle. The Court has denied her one. Thats not to say that Labour should take all the blame and the Conservatives all the credit far from it, as weve seen. Johnson, once Prime Minister, scrapped Mays pledge to allow trans people to self-identify their gender. But this was a Conservative reversal of a Conservative commitment, driven less by conviction than circumstance. Johnsons nose had sniffed out a change in the political wind. The shift has been significant. The British Social Attitudes survey shows those describing themselves as not prejudiced toward trans people dropped from 82 per cent in 2019 to 64 per cent in 2022 and, since few people like to admit to prejudice, it is reasonable to ask whether the real figure is lower. Support for changing ones birth certificate has also fallen over the same period from 53 per cent to 30 per cent, according to the BSA. Younger people, especially younger women, are more supportive of self-identification. And it is possible to believe that their view will prevail over time. But it is hard to follow the story of the past few years and think that the triumph of the trans campaigners is inevitable in much the same way that Marxists still believe that communism will create the perfect society. Ilsa Bryson, Keira Bell, Maya Forstater: all are milestones on the journey to last weeks judgement. Bryson, formerly known as Adam Graham, was placed in a female prison after being convicted of raping two women. The incident was instrumental in the stunning fall from grace of Nicola Sturgeon. Bell, who started puberty blockers when 17, launched the successful legal case against the Tavistock clinic that led to the Cass Review. Forstater, a gender critical feminist, failed to have a work contract renewed after expressing her opinions on gender on social media. She sued. At tribunal, she lost, and the judge said that her beliefs were not worthy of respect in a democratic society. On appeal, she won, with a different judge ruling that her views are protected under the Equality Act. All of these examples are major incidences along the road to this weeks Supreme Court ruling or, if you prefer, the steady rainfall that has washed away the house that May wanted to build. Support for trans people in single sex spaces is among the lowest globally. Backing for trans competitors in womens sport has fallen. Above all, only two per cent of the public, according to YouGov, see trans issues as a top priority. If Johnsons account is right, Mordaunts view was wrong. Shock-waves will fan out from this weeks judgement, like the ripples that spread after a stone is thrown in a pond. Womens refuges, shelters, sports, hospital wards, Government guidance: all will be open to legal action. So Sir Keir is not completely out of the woods. Above all, Parliament has an opportunity to rise to the challenge it ducked when, in passing the Equality Act, it passed the parcel to the courts. Pro-trans campaigners and gender critical feminists are united in calling for reform. There is an opening for Badenoch and for Reform here. This weeks judgement also raises a bigger question. We like to think of history as a march of progress, with rights for ethnic minorities, women and gay people as staging-posts on the journey. And so it is: childhood survival, life expectancy, food supply, income levels all have risen worldwide since the end of the Second World War. But the human story sometimes takes the wrong turn and the latest thing isnt always the right thing. In the 1950s, lobotomy was seen as a breakthrough treatment for mental illness. During the 1970s, the cause of the Paedophile Information Exchange was fashionable enough for it to be affiliated to the National Council for Civil Liberties. Before World War Two, eugenics commanded a political consensus. The cause withered in the wake of the Nazi extermination camps. When is the latest thing the wrong thing? We mock the weaknesses of previous generations and probe our idols for feet of clay. But what might future generations damn us for as we condemn those who came before us for racism, sexism and the rest? Abortion on disability grounds, maybe? Or the use of ingredients tested on animals for cosmetics? Perhaps opting for the two environmental birds in the bush tomorrow, rather than the growth bird in the hand today? What will future attitudes be to gay rights, as the Muslim population grows? Who can tell? But the lesson of this weeks judgement is that what seems to be the right thing today as the trans cause did to May may seem the wrong thing tomorrow. The only wisdom we can hope to acquire / Is the wisdom of humility, wrote Eliot. Humility is endless. Veterans who served in the British Army during the Northern Ireland Troubles face absolutely disgusting treatment, protesters have said as they called for the retention of the Legacy Act. More than 1,000 people gathered in Whitehall, central London, on Friday to protest against the Labour Government repealing key elements of The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023. The Act, introduced by the former Conservative government, halted scores of civil cases and inquests linked to the conflict and offered conditional immunity for perpetrators of Troubles crimes in exchange for their co-operation with a new truth recovery body. But Labour now plans to axe the immunity provision and other key elements of the Act that would see the legacy inquests and civil cases return. Many of the protesters, belonging to the Rolling Thunder group, drove black motorbikes through Westminster carrying military flags before gathering for speeches in Parliament Square. The veterans rode through Westminster into Parliament Square (Lucy North/PA) Jack, 63, a flight sergeant from Lincolnshire who served in the military for 34 years, said veterans were cast aside with no provisions once their service ends. Speaking at the protest, he told the PA news agency: As a young man, when we signed off and pledged our allegiance to the military, we didnt expect to be sold down the river by our government. Its absolutely disgusting. Our message is stop trying to bring claims against soldiers that were merely doing their jobs. Its outrageous. Jack added: As young men, we were trained to follow orders, we were trained to be aggressive, and now were being prosecuted for it. Its out of order. Ian Brown, 59, from Hertfordshire, said he wanted to prevent any future veterans from other war zones from being prosecuted by joining the protest. He said: Were here to try and stop the Government, which is allowing the Northern Irish government to prosecute Northern Ireland veterans from when we went over there to do our job, which this government sent us over there (to do). The Irish are now trying to prosecute veterans, who are in their 70s and 80s, for crimes that happened while they were out there serving the country. Organisers said they intended to hold another protest in London in July. A UK Government spokesperson said: The Government recognises the dedicated service of all our veterans and is committed to supporting the veteran community across the whole of the UK, ensuring they can access timely and effective support. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland recently held meetings with veterans and their representatives to listen to their concerns. The Government remains committed to repealing and replacing the Legacy Act, and to implementing legacy mechanisms that are compliant with human rights and are supported by communities across Northern Ireland. People protest the Trump administration in Washington DC, on 5 April 2025. Photograph: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images Donald Trump on Friday said his administration is implementing a move that will allow far more firings of federal employees and will make significantly more roles into politically appointed positions beholden to the president. The office of personnel management (OPM) on Friday published a new rule that invokes Schedule F, a prior attempt to reclassify wide swaths of federal workers not as civic service roles with protections regardless of whos in power, but as political appointees who can be hired or fired based on their allegiances to the president. If these government workers refuse to advance the policy interests of the President, or are engaging in corrupt behavior, they should no longer have a job, Trump wrote on Friday on his Truth Social platform. This is common sense, and will allow the federal government to finally be run like a business. The president previously issued an executive order on his first day in office that reclassified a host of federal workers. The policy unveiled on Friday is one Trump first sought late in his first presidency. But Joe Biden overturned it after defeating him in the 2020 election. The idea aligns with a major plank of Project 2025, the conservative policy manifesto, which calls for a federal government more beholden to the executive branch to drive out a supposed deep state that stood in Trumps way before he won his second presidency. Most federal government employees serve in roles that are not politically appointed. About 4,000 employees are in roles appointed based on who is in power. Fridays move would expand that by about 50,000 people, prior estimates have shown. The latest rule comes on top of the Trump administrations ongoing quest to root out of the federal government all priorities, and the personnel who carried them out, with which Trump disagrees. The Trump baby blimp hovered above the protesters in Parliament Square during the US presidents state visit in 2019. Photograph: Imageplotter/Rex/Shutterstock Donald Trumps second visit to the UK later this year will be disrupted by even bigger protests than those that coincided with his state visit in his first term, campaigners have vowed. On Thursday Trump let slip that he expects to visit the UK in September, after Keir Starmer handed him a personal invitation from King Charles III during his visit to the White House in February. The Stop Trump coalition has predicted its protests will surpass demonstrations that coincided with Trumps state visit in 2019 when up to 250,000 took part in a carnival of resistance. Zoe Gardner, a spokesperson for the coalition, said: This time it will be even bigger, uniting campaigners across a huge range of issues. We are confident that the disgust at Donald Trump is just as strong across the country. Protesters plan to dust off a blimp of Trump dressed in a nappy that was the focal point of previous anti-Trump protests, but also replace it with a larger version. Gardner said: The blimp will be there or something even bigger and better. The blimp itself still exists, but we are thinking we want to take the next step and do something even more exciting. The coalition is hoping the London mayor will again grant permission for anti-Trump blimps to fly over the capital. Gardner said: Last time Sadiq Khan gave us permission to fly it. He will probably do so again, but we will have to get various permission from the GLA and the police. It might be different from last time but we are confident that a lot of people will want to come out on to the streets and show their disgust. The demonstrations will be a test for the police even with tougher laws available to crack down on protests and activism. Gardner said: We want it to be a defiant but joyful celebration of all the things that Trump hates, such as the rights of LGBTQ people, the rights of women, the rights of migrants and refugees, union power and workers rights. It will celebrate every marginalised group in society. The demonstrators will also target the tech and business leaders that have backed Trump. Gardner said: If we had one strapline it would be Stop Trump and fight the oligarchy. We are against empowering the super-rich, including treating Gaza like real estate and chumming up to Putin and the tech billionaires who are looking to the UK for tax breaks. Giant papier-mache models of the tech leaders that appeared at Trumps inauguration including Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk will make an appearance at the protests, Gardner said. As will a dancing troupe of chlorinated chickens to mock the UKs planned trade deal with the US. The coalition has the support of a number of campaigns including Global Justice Now and the US leftist group the Indivisibles Movement, as well as a groups backing Palestine and Ukraine. Starmer offered the UK visit as part of a charm offensive towards Trump aimed at trying to secure a favourable trade deal with the US. Gardner predicted that the protesters will vent their anger at Starmer as well as Trump. Gardner said: Starmer should be shamed by these demonstrations. The whole country has been embarrassed by his display of rolling over like a pathetic poodle to whatever Trump does. Starmers approach of sucking up is not getting us anywhere. She added: We are looking for anyone who has a fun idea to come forward, because we really want to show Trump what we think of him. Donald Trump insisted on Friday that there remained a very good chance of securing a ceasefire deal - Alex Brandon/AP Donald Trump has threatened to walk away from peace talks very shortly if a ceasefire deal between Russia and Ukraine is not reached soon. Speaking to reporters in the White House, the US president said he did not want to abandon the negotiations, but would take a pass if parties make it difficult to reach an agreement. If for some reason one of the two parties makes it very difficult, were going to say youre fools, youre foolish, and were just going to take a pass, Mr Trump said on Friday. Asked how long he would be willing to wait before moving on, the US president said: Very shortly. Mr Trump insisted that there remained a very good chance of securing a deal and said he was not being played by Russia. My whole life has been one big negotiation and I know when people are playing us and when they are not, he added. The comments came after Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, said earlier on Friday: Were not going to continue with this endeavour for weeks and months on end. We need to determine very quickly now, and Im talking about a matter of days, whether or not this is doable in the next few weeks. If it is, were in. If its not, then we have other priorities to focus on as well. Mr Trump has ramped up efforts to end the war but has so far failed to broker a full ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv The Kremlin said on Friday that a US-negotiated 30-day moratorium on strikes against energy and civilian infrastructure had now expired. Putin, the Kremlin noted, had not ordered an extension. Both sides accused each other of repeatedly violating the agreement. US officials attend a diplomatic meeting at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris - AFP Mr Trump and Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, spoke about Ukraine in a phone call on Friday afternoon. The leaders began by discussing the ongoing and productive discussions between the UK and US on trade, Downing Street said. The leaders also discussed the situation in Ukraine, Iran and recent action taken against the Houthis in Yemen. In Italy, JD Vance, the US vice-president, said: We do feel optimistic that we can hopefully bring this war, this very brutal war, to a close. Mr Vance met with Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister, at the Chigi Palace in Rome. On Saturday, he will meet with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the second-highest leader of the Catholic Church. On Thursday, senior government officials from the US, UK, France, Germany and Ukraine met in Paris to discuss a ceasefire plan. The talks included Mr Rubio, as well as Mr Trumps envoy Steve Witkoff. David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, and Jonathan Powell, the National Security advisor, represented the UK. A European official briefed on the talks told Bloomberg that the US had presented the outline of their plan to end the war, which would include accepting Russias gains in Ukraine. European officials insisted they would not accept Moscows gains as legitimate. The source also said the US was prepared to lift sanctions on Moscow in order to achieve a ceasefire, which Washington hopes to see within a matter of weeks. Ukraines long-standing ambition to join Nato would also be taken off the table, the source added. European officials in the meeting reportedly insisted that Ukraine must be provided with security guarantees to prevent Russia from restarting the war again. Mr Rubio said security guarantees werent an illegitimate desire by Ukraine but that negotiations had not yet reached that level of detail. Every sovereign nation on Earth has a right to defend itself. Ukraine will have a right to defend itself and to enter into whatever agreements it wants to enter into on a bilateral basis with different countries, he told reporters. In a sign that there is still work to do, officials from each country will meet again in London next week for more discussions on how to secure a ceasefire. Strained relations The Kremlin said earlier on Friday that some progress had been made in bringing about an end to the war but said communication with the US remained difficult. Contacts are quite complicated, because, naturally, the topic is not an easy one, said Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for Vladimir Putin. Russia is committed to resolving this conflict, ensuring its own interests, and is open to dialogue. We continue to do this. Russia attacked Ukrainian cities early on Friday morning, killing at least two people and injuring dozens more. A Russian assault on Kharkiv damaged dozens of homes and injured 70 people, including a two-year-old child, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said. Another person died in an attack on the city of Sumy, where a projectile hit a bakery. Russian missiles and drones also targeted Kyiv and Dnipro. This is how Russia began this Good Friday with ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, Shaheds maiming our people and cities, Mr Zelensky said. 07:03 PM BST Thats all for today Thanks for following our live coverage of the war in Ukraine. It has now ended. Well be back soon with more updates and analysis from the conflict. 06:54 PM BST Kyiv and Washington sign memorandum of intent over minerals deal Kyiv and Washington have signed a memorandum of intent over a long-discussed minerals deal. It is the final step before the deal, which would give the US access to Ukraines natural gas resources, is officially signed. Yulia Svyrydenko, Ukraines economy minister, said the document paves the way for an Economic Partnership Agreement and the establishment of the Investment Fund for the Reconstruction of Ukraine. 06:16 PM BST Trump: Im not being played Donald Trump has insisted he is not being played by neither Russia nor Ukraine as the US pushes for a ceasefire within a matter of weeks. My whole life has been one big negotiation and I know when people are playing us and when they are not, he told reporters in the White House. I have to see an enthusiasm to want to end it [the war]. I think I see that enthusiasm - I think I see it from both sides. Asked if he thought the Russians were playing the US, he said: Nobody is playing me. Im trying to help. The US president went on to say we have a really good chance of getting a deal. Its coming to a head right now, he added. Donald Trump speaks to reporters at the White House on Friday - AP 05:51 PM BST US will take a pass on peace talks, warns Trump Donald Trump has said he does not want to walk away from talks to end the war in Ukraine but said we will take a pass if parties make it difficult to do so. Were going to get it stopped, ideally. Now if, for some reason, one of the two parties makes it very difficult, were just going to say, youre foolish, youre fools, youre horrible people, and were going to just take a pass, he added. But hopefully we wont have to do that. And Marco, and Marco is right in saying it, we want to see it end. Think of it every day, a lot of people are being killed... as they play games. So were not going to, were not going to take that and we will. Well see, I think we have a good chance of solving the problem, however. The US president said there remained a very good chance of getting a deal. 05:38 PM BST US optimistic about ending war in Ukraine, says Vance JD Vance has said he is optimistic that negotiations with Russia would end the very brutal war in Ukraine. Speaking ahead of a meeting with Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister, in Rome, the US vice president said that even in the past 24 hours, we think we have some interesting things to report on. Earlier on Friday, Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, warned Washington would walk away from peace talks within days if no breakthrough was made soon. After meeting European leaders in Paris, Mr Rubio said: Were not going to continue with this endeavour for weeks and months on end. We need to determine very quickly now, and Im talking about a matter of days, whether or not this is doable in the next few weeks. If it is, were in. If its not, then we have other priorities to focus on as well. 05:15 PM BST Russian peace activist jailed for two and a half years Darya Kozyreva, a 19-year-old anti-war activist, was jailed by a St Petersburg court on Friday for repeatedly discrediting the Russian military. Kozyreva was detained after she laid a wreath at a monument to Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko alongside a handwritten excerpt from one of his poems on the second anniversary of Russias invasion. In court, she recited one of Shevchenkos poems in Ukrainian and said that she hoped that Ukraine would one day regain all the territory that Russia has seized from it, according to a report in the Novaya Gazeta. Activist Darya Kozyreva, charged with repeatedly discrediting the Russian armed forces, delivers a speech during a court hearing in Saint Petersburg on Friday. - Anastasia Barashkova/REUTERS 04:52 PM BST Zelensky says sanctioned Chinese companies helped Russia produce missiles Chinese companies that Kyiv has imposed sanctions on were involved in the production of Russian Iskander missiles, Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday. Today, we have expanded our Ukrainian sanctions against nearly a hundred more entities - natural and legal persons - most of whom are involved in the production of such missiles - Iskanders - like those that struck our Kharkiv, Zelensky said in a statement on X. Many of these entities are Russian, but unfortunately, some are also from China, he said. Chinas foreign ministry earlier dismissed as groundless the accusation that the country had been supplying weapons to Russia, saying China has never made lethal weapons available to any party to the Ukraine crisis. 04:35 PM BST Video: Vance meets Meloni in Rome Credit: Reuters Credit: Reuters 04:15 PM BST Australian to stand trial for fighting for Ukraine Russian-installed authorities in eastern Ukraines Luhansk region said on Friday that Australian national Oscar Jenkins would stand trial for fighting against Russia on Ukraines side. The Prosecutors Office of the Luhansk Peoples Republic approved the indictment in the criminal case against 33-year-old citizen of the Commonwealth of Australia Oscar Charles Augustus Jenkins, the authorities said in a statement. 04:07 PM BST Prisoner swap to take place Saturday Russia and Ukraine will conduct a new prisoner swap on Saturday mediated by the United Arab Emirates, a source close to the negotiations told Reuters. Nearly 500 Russian and Ukrainian prisoners and 46 injured soldiers will be exchanged in the latest swap to be mediated by Abu Dhabi. The exchange will involve 246 prisoners from each side, the source said. Kyiv and Moscow have frequently exchanged prisoners since Russias invasion in February 2022, with the UAE conducting 13 mediations. The total number of captives exchanged through UAE mediation now totals 3,233. 04:02 PM BST US prepared to accept Russian territorial gains: report The US proposal for a peace deal would see Russia retain territory it has occupied since 2014 and would ease sanctions on Moscow, an unnamed European official has told Bloomberg. US officials reportedly told European counterparts at a meeting in Paris this week that they want a full ceasefire within weeks. The plan would also end Ukraines aspirations to join Nato. It is unclear whether the US is prepared to legally recognise Russian sovereignty over the territories under its control. 03:32 PM BST Timeline of US attempts to end Ukraine war February 12th: Trump holds 90-minute telephone call with Vladimir Putin about a possible ceasefire deal. February 15th: US and Russian officials start talks in Saudi Arabia on ending the war. February 28th: Zelensky travels to Washington to sign a minerals deal. The talks collapse after Zelensky and US vice president JD Vance argue on live TV. March 3rd: Washington suspends military aid to Kyiv. March 11th: Ukrainian and US officials meet in Saudi Arabia, where Ukraine signs up to US-proposed ceasefire. March 13th: Putin tries to add conditions to ceasefire proposal, including an end to weapons supplies to Ukraine. March 18th: Moscow agrees to month-long pause on attacks on energy infrastructure. March 30th: Trump says he is pissed off with Putin over his failure to make concessions. Russia and Ukraine accuse one another of breaking terms of energy ceasefire. April 15th: Trump envoy Steve Witkoff meets Putin in St Petersburg and praises constructive talks on a permanent peace deal. April 18th: Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, warns that the US is prepared to walk away from the talks within days due to a lack of progress. 02:58 PM BST Russia has far more traitors to worry about, says Ukrainian drone commander Ukraine is scoring ever more accurate drone strikes on military sites inside Russia thanks to a network of informants, a senior commander in the countrys armed forces has said. Yuriy Shchyhol, a general in the Ukrainian intelligence staff, said that Russian informants were helping them to guide their drones deep into enemy territory. The first thing is the quality of guidance systems that are located on their territory, from which you can gather that there are a lot more traitors on their land than they can recruit in Ukraine, Shchyhol told the Kyiv Independent. In Ukraine, these are isolated incidents... by the effectiveness of our drones, you can tell that they have far more traitors to worry about, because there are far more people who set up the special systems that guide our drones, he said. 01:43 PM BST Pictured: Aftermath of overnight strikes on Kharkiv Ukrainian rescuers work to extinguish a fire in a sewing factory following a missile attack - SERGEY BOBOK/AFP People stand at the site of a rocket attack near a high-rise building in a residential area in Kharkiv - SERGEY KOZLOV/Shutterstock 01:03 PM BST Bodies of over 900 fallen Ukrainian soldiers repatriated Kyiv said on Friday that it had received the bodies of hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers killed during battles with Russia, the second such repatriation in the space of three weeks. A Ukrainian government agency posted on social media: As a result of repatriation activities, the bodies of 909 fallen Ukrainian defenders were returned to Ukraine. On March 28, the two countries conducted a similar exchange, with Kyiv receiving the same number of bodies, 909, and Moscow 43, according to Russian state media. 01:01 PM BST Vance optimistic about state of negotiations JD Vance, the US vice president, met Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister, for the second time in 24 hours. He said that the United States is optimistic that it can put an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine. Mr Vance saw Ms Meloni in Washington on Thursday, and the two have since flown to the Italian capital ahead of the Easter holidays. The US vice president told reporters: I want to update the prime minister on some of the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine... even in the past 24 hours, we think we have some interesting things to report on. He added: Since there are the negotiations, I wont prejudge them, but we do feel optimistic that we can hopefully bring this war, this very brutal war, to a close. 11:57 AM BST Russia strikes key drone-making facilities in Ukraine Russian forces attacked key drone-making facilities in Ukraine on Friday morning and captured the settlement of Valentynivka in eastern Ukraine, the Russian defence ministry said. The claim has not been independently verified. 11:23 AM BST Order not to hit energy targets has expired, says Kremlin A 30-day moratorium on striking Ukrainian energy infrastructure ordered by Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, last month has expired, the Kremlin said on Friday. Russia announced the truce on March 18 following a call between Putin and Donald Trump. However, both Moscow and Kyiv have repeatedly accused each other of breaking it. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, told reporters: The month has indeed expired. As of this time, there have been no other instructions from the supreme commander-in-chief, President Putin. The short-lived moratorium was one of the few commitments Trump wrangled from Russia in his attempt to broker a ceasefire in the three-year conflict. 11:13 AM BST Kremlin claims progress in peace talks The Kremlin said on Friday that some progress had already been made in talks about a possible peace settlement to end the war in Ukraine. However, it added that contacts were complicated with the United States. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, told reporters: Contacts are quite complicated, because, naturally, the topic is not an easy one. Russia is committed to resolving this conflict, ensuring its own interests, and is open to dialogue. We continue to do this. Mr Peskov said that some progress had been made with the temporary moratorium on strikes against energy infrastructure, but that Ukraine had not adhered to it. He added: Therefore, certain developments have already been achieved, but, of course, there are still many complex discussions ahead. 11:04 AM BST Ukraine fights off 100-man motorbike attack On the front line in Donbas, Ukraine held off a Russian assault that mainly involved the use of soldiers on motorbikes, according to the Kyiv Post. Ukrainian military officials said that they destroyed close to a hundred motorbikes in the attack, as well as killing 200 Russian soldiers. Additionally, 21 armoured personnel carriers were destroyed. Using motorbikes is reportedly a new Russian tactic. It allows soldiers to spread out more quickly and avoid being hit by drones or artillery strikes. Ukraine has announced some small land gains in Donbas in recent days, while saying that Russia has increased its attempts to gain ground via large-scale attacks. 10:49 AM BST Watch: Rubio threatens to walk out on peace talks Credit: Reuters 10:21 AM BST Watch: Missile strike on Kharkiv Credit: @ZelenskyyUa/X 10:10 AM BST Ukrainian PM to fly to US next week for mineral deal talks Ukraines prime minister will visit Washington next week for talks with top US officials aimed at securing a minerals and resources deal by April 26th, according to a memorandum released on Friday. The document, which was published by the Ukrainian government, said: Ukrainian prime minister [Denys] Shmyhal will visit Washington, DC, the week of April 21st, 2025, to meet with US treasury secretary [Scott] Bessent and lend high-level support to the conclusion of technical discussions. Negotiating teams are expected to report on the progress by April 26th, 2025, with the aim of completing discussions by that date and signing as soon as possible. 10:05 AM BST Pictures: Aftermath of Russian bombing A household goods warehouse burns after it was hit by a Russian drone strike in Mykolaiv - STATE EMERGENCY SERVICE OF UKRAINE Firefighters work to extinguish a fire following an attack in Mykolaiv Firefighters work at the site of a garment production factory hit by a Russian missile strike in Kharkiv - REUTERS/Stringer People stand at the site of a rocket attack near a high-rise building in Kharkiv - SERGEY KOZLOV/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock 09:53 AM BST He saved me. I will never forget it. Roughly 17,000 Ukrainian children have been orphaned by Russias war on their country since 2022. The Telegraph met Katya, a 14-year-old girl who lost her mother at the start of the war. Recalling the bombardment that killed her mother, she said: There was too much going on. The man who covered me did not survive. He died from the attack. He saved me. I will never forget it. Read the full report here 09:41 AM BST China calls Zelensky claim on weapons supplies groundless Chinas foreign ministry dismissed Volodymyr Zelenskys accusation that the country had been supplying weapons to Russia as groundless. Lian Jian, the ministry spokesman, said on Friday: Chinas position on the Ukrainian issue has always been clear. It has been actively committed to promoting a ceasefire and ending the conflict, as well as encouraging peace talks. He also said that China opposes groundless accusations and political manipulation. He added that Ukraine had said publicly that most of the components in weapons imported by Russia came from the United States and other Western nations. On Thursday, Mr Zelensky said that China was supplying weapons and gunpowder to Russia, and also accused it of producing weapons on Russian territory. 09:36 AM BST Talks on US-Ukraine mineral deal to be finalised next week Kyiv said on Friday it aims to complete talks by the end of next week about a deal with Washington on jointly exploiting Ukrainian mineral resources. Late on Thursday, the US and Ukrainian governments signed a memorandum of intent. According to the memorandum, which was published by the Ukrainian government on Friday, discussions on the final deal are to be completed by April 26. Christian pilgrims hold crosses during the Good Friday procession in the Old City of Jerusalem Photograph: Leo Correa/AP As the bells rang out across the courtyard of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the priests began to sing a deep, low prayer. Heads bowed over candles, and escorted by people bearing aloft large gold crosses, they made their way to a platform at the heart of the ancient square. The ceremony on Holy Thursday, in which the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem washes the feet of 12 monastic priests to commemorate the Last Supper, is one of many Easter rituals that have taken place in the Old City of Jerusalem for hundreds of years. For Christians, there is no holier place to commemorate Easter than here, the site where they believe Jesus Christ was crucified, buried and resurrected. Yet the crowd that assembled outside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Thursday morning was small and muted. International pilgrims jostled with dark-robed Greek Orthodox monks, but one group of native worshippers was noticeably absent. For generations, the tens of thousands of Palestinian Christians living in Israeli-occupied West Bank villages and cities such as Ramallah, Bethlehem and Taybeh would travel to Jerusalems Old City at Easter to take part in the prayers, processions and rituals such as the Holy Fire ceremony. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre itself is in East Jerusalem, which was captured by Israel from Jordan in the six-day war of 1967 and unilaterally annexed in 1980. Yet centuries of tradition have been ruptured by Israels increasingly draconian control over Palestinian movement which means any Palestinian in the West Bank living outside Jerusalem, must obtain a military permit if they want to enter the city. For years, Christians in Palestinian territories were regularly granted permits to visit Jerusalem around Easter but since the war with Hamas broke out on 7 October 2023, they have become almost impossible to obtain. This Easter, the government announced it had issued 6,000 permits, though there are 50,000 Christians mostly Catholic or Greek Orthodox living in the West Bank beyond East Jerusalem. However, in reality, just 4,000 were given, according to Christian leaders, and often only to a few members of each family who applied. These permits are valid for just one week and do not allow the Palestinian pilgrims to stay in Jerusalem overnight, meaning they have to make the gruelling journey back to the West Bank by bus or taxi crossing a multitude of army checkpoints every evening, limiting the festivities they can take part in. A group from the village of Taybeh said the Israeli military still did not allow them to cross over to Jerusalem for Palm Sunday even though they had valid permits. The few who do make it to the Old City have been met with increased police brutality in recent years. In April 2023, Palestinian Christian worshipers and international pilgrims were beaten by Israeli police and armed forces as they attempted to reach the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. People are very afraid and many will not risk attending the Easter processions any more, said Omar Haramy, who runs Sabeel, a Christian organisation based in Jerusalem. He said several staff were beaten last year as they tried to attend Easter festivities in the Old City, and Christians in the Old City regularly faced hostility outside churches or as they went about their daily lives. One of the greatest sources of distress among the Christian community is the introduction of blockades and aggressive policing that prevented thousands of Christians being able to take part in the Holy Fire festivities that mark the resurrection on Easter Saturday afternoon, as they have done for hundreds of years in the Old City. While the restrictions have been justified in the name of safety, many Christians view them as another way for the Israeli state to exert dominance over the community. I will go to the celebrations on Holy Saturday because my family has been part of this tradition for thousands of years, but Im not going to bring my kids, its too dangerous now, with the police violence, Haramy said. The spectre of Gaza also hangs over this years Easter festivities. Palestinian Christians are among the 51,000 people killed in Gaza since the war with Israel began and on Palm Sunday, an Israeli missile hit the only Christian-run hospital in the strip. There are about 500 Christians are sheltering in Holy Family church, one of only two left standing. Those contacted by the Guardian said they were too afraid to talk, fearful of anything that might make them a target of Israeli airstrikes. For all its biblical significance and abundance of churches, convents and monasteries, Jerusalems Old City has become increasingly dangerous for all Christians, not just those from Arab backgrounds. Since the rise of Jewish ultranationalism in Israel, and the election of the most far-right government in the countrys history, extremist and settler Jewish movements who want to claim all of Israel and Palestinian-controlled territories as a state only for Jews have been emboldened in their actions against both Christians and Muslims. Historically, the relationship between Christians and Jews has been fraught, because of the Christian churchs historic role in antisemitism and the persecution of Jews. The ongoing presence of proselytising evangelical Christians, many from the US, who travel to Israel with the sole purpose of converting Jews, has also been inflammatory, particularly among the Jewish Orthodox community. But religious intolerance and antichristian sentiment has been made mainstream by Israeli political leadership the ultra-hardline national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, described Israelis spitting on Christians as an old Jewish tradition and old suspicions have escalated into brazen, all-out violence. There have also been growing incidences of settler groups attempting to seize Christian land in Jerusalem. In 2023, the Holy Land Roman Catholic patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa accused the government of establishing a cultural and political atmosphere that can justify, or tolerate, actions against Christians. A recent report by the Rossing Center for Education and Dialogue documented the steep rise in the scale and severity of attacks on Christians in Jerusalem and across Israel in 2024, ranging from spitting at priests and public hate speech to the desecration of graves, arson attacks and vandalising of churches. Its usually young Israeli Jewish men who are conducting these attacks with impunity. They face very little punishment, if the police get involved at all, said John Munayer, the director of international engagement at the Rossing Center. Its a clear attempt by hardcore settler Zionists to Judaise the Old City of Jersualem and trying to make it unbearable for Christians who have been there for centuries. As he attended the Easter prayer ceremony on Thursday, Father Nikon Golovko, the deputy head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem, said he had really seen things change for the worse for Christians in the past nine years. He said: We receive a lot more hostility and even aggression from the Jewish community. They spit on priests, even when we are walking through the Christian quarter. It sends a message that the city belongs not to all communities but only to the Jews. It was not like this before. After an incident in which Orthodox Jews were caught on video spitting at Christians, Benjamin Netanyahus office said that Israel was totally committed to safeguard the sacred right of worship and pilgrimage to the holy sites of all faiths. Xavier Abu Eid, a Palestinian Christian political analyst and the author of Rooted in Palestine: Palestinian Christians and the Struggle for National Liberation 1917-2004, said that despite the mounting harassment they faced, the diminishing numbers of Christians left in the West Bank and the unrelenting horrors of the war in Gaza, he still viewed Easter as a time of hope and the timely message that life defeats death. As Palestinian Christians, we know that this generation will either make it or break it, said Abu Eid. So making clear to the Israeli occupation that we are going to stay, that we will celebrate the same religious events that weve been celebrating for centuries is both a national mandate and a religious mission that we have. Keeping our Christian traditions alive, praying they have become an act of resistance. Two British tourists have died in a cable car crash near Naples. Italian news agency Ansa has reported that two British tourists and an Israeli national were among the four people who died in the crash on Thursday, at Monte Faito in the town of Castellammare di Stabia, citing Naples mayor Gaetano Manfredi. A traction cable snapped bringing cable cars to a halt, according to initial information. A fifth person, believed to be a foreign tourist, was seriously injured during the incident. A number of people had to be evacuated from another cable car. An investigation into multiple manslaughter and culpable disaster has been opened by Italian prosecutors, according to reports. In a translated post on social media, Vincenzo De Luca, president of Campania, called the day truly tragic and painful and said his thoughts go to those who died, were injured and their families. He said he was grateful for the rescuers and said an investigation into what happened will be carried out. (PA Graphics) Luigi Vicinanza Sindaco, the mayor of Castellammare, said on Facebook that there will be a day of mourning and decided to cancel all initiatives for the Easter holidays. He added that a minutes silence would be held on Friday in memory of those who died. Firefighters, police and Italys alpine rescue were sent to the scene, which is between the popular tourist areas of Pompeii and Sorrento. EAV public transport firm, which runs the cable car, said the service had reopened a week ago with all the required safety conditions. Checks were being carried out by investigators on the cable car and the possibility that strong wind was among the causes of the incident. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her condolences from Washington DC, where she met with US President Donald Trump. A British tourist said she saw people being evacuated in a harness from one cable car following the incident. Megan Pacey, 50, from London, was with her husband, James Ross, and their two children Hannah, 10, and eight-year-old son, Luke, when they saw a suspended cable car. She said: We were within a minute or two of (the incident) happening. They started winching people down from the cable car. We watched the first couple of people come down in a harness and as we left, there was a sense of urgency that had kicked in. She said she saw flowers and candles on the steps outside the railway station on Friday and emergency services remained at the scene. A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: We are dealing with an incident in Italy and are in contact with the local authorities. Our thoughts are with those affected. Our staff are available 24/7 to support British nationals abroad. Donald Trump has said the US is ready to take a pass on brokering a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine unless a settlement is reached very shortly, as Kyiv announced it has signed a memorandum with the US over a controversial minerals deal. Now if for some reason one of the two parties makes it very difficult, were just going to say: Youre foolish. Youre fools. Youre horrible people and were going to just take a pass, Trump told reporters in Washington. But hopefully we wont have to do that. Trump declined to give a specific number of days for when the US would stop trying to negotiate a truce. But quickly. We want to get it done. Asked whether he was being played by Putin, Trump said: Nobodys playing me, Im trying to help. Trumps comments came after the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio said the US was ready to abandon its efforts within days. Speaking in Paris on Friday after meeting European and Ukrainian leaders, Rubio said Trump was still interested in a deal. But he added that the US president had many other priorities around the world and was willing to move on unless there were signs of progress. It is not our war. We didnt start it, Rubio said, adding that if a deal were not possible with both sides still far apart the US president was probably at a point where hes going to say, well, were done. Trump felt very strongly about this, he said. Rubios comments were the clearest signal yet that the White House is ready to walk away from its diplomatic attempts to negotiate an end to the war. It was unclear if this would also mean an end to US military assistance to Kyiv. The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said this week that deliveries had already practically stopped. Last month Zelenskyy agreed to a US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire. The Kremlin, however, has rejected the plan. Vladimir Putins spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, said on Friday that ending the war was not a simple topic. Moscow was seeking a settlement that ensured its own interests, he added. In recent weeks Russia has launched a fresh military push across the 600-mile (1,000km) frontline and stepped up its air attacks on Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure. On Sunday it bombed the city of Sumy, killing 35 people and injuring 117. Since Trump returned to the White House in January he has piled pressure on Ukraine, stopping most US military assistance and temporarily cutting off intelligence sharing. This week he falsely blamed Zelenskyy and Joe Biden for starting the war. In contrast, Trump has refused to criticise the Russian president or to impose sanctions on or punish Moscow. Senior US officials including the special envoy Steve Witkoff, who held talks last week with Putin in St Petersburg have instead parroted Kremlin talking points. According to Bloomberg, the latest US peace plan presented on Thursday to European leaders would in effect freeze the war along the existing frontline. Russia would keep the territory it occupies, while Kyiv would not be allowed to join Nato. Talks are due to continue in London next week. US officials conceded that the proposal would be irrelevant if the Kremlin did not agree to stop the fighting, and said security guarantees were essential for Ukraine if the deal were to work, Bloomberg reported. The US vice-president, JD Vance, speaking in Rome after a meeting with the Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, said he was optimistic the very brutal war could be stopped. Even in the past 24 hours, we think we have some interesting things to report on, he said. Meanwhile, significant details of the minerals deal remain unclear, including whether Kyiv has agreed to a White House demand that it pays back the cost of earlier military assistance. Zelenskyy was poised in February to sign a framework agreement over a wide-ranging economic partnership. It was derailed after his disastrous encounter with Trump and Vance in the Oval Office. Since then negotiations have continued. Overnight, Ukraines first deputy prime minister, Yuliia Svyrydenko, said a memorandum had been finalised. It paved the way for the setting up of an investment fund for the reconstruction of Ukraine, she indicated. We are happy to announce the signing with our American partners, she said. Speaking to reporters in the White House, Trump said a deal could be signed next Thursday. The US treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, added: Were still working on the details. He said the latest version ran to 80 pages and was substantially what wed agree on previously. Thats what we will be signing, he said. According to the latest draft, seen by the Guardian, Ukraine acknowledges the significant material and financial support Kyiv has received from the US since Russias 2022 invasion and the desire from both countries for a lasting peace. It says Ukraines prime minister, Denys Shmyhal, will visit Washington next week to hold final technical talks with Bessent. They are expected to complete discussions on a reconstruction investment fund, the memo adds. The deal would need to be ratified by Ukraines parliament, Ukraines deputy minister of economy said on Friday. Related: Ukraine war briefing: China arming Russia and building weapons on its soil, says Zelenskyy Zelenskyy is keen to improve relations with the Trump administration. At the same time, he has so far rejected the White Houses demand that revenue from the new joint fund is used to cover the cost of weapons deliveries provided by the Biden administration. Trump has previously said Ukraine owes the US $300bn (226bn). Zelenskyy has pointed out this assistance was given as a grant, not as a loan, with Republicans and Democrats approving it in Congress. Any future partnership has to be based on parity, and should benefit both countries, he says. The deal may help US weapons manufacturers, who are facing a critical shortfall of key rare-earth minerals imported from China. Beijing has restricted its export in response to Trumps escalating trade war. Volodymyr Landa, a senior economist with the Centre for Economic Strategy thinktank in Kyiv, said the deal had gone through multiple iterations. He added: Its hard to say whats inside. Landa said he did not expect Kyiv to accept that previous non-refundable military aid was now debt. Thats not only unfair and unrealistic, but may also negatively affect the full global financial system, he said. He continued: If it suddenly turns out that countries and organisations can demand payments for aid given unconditionally in previous years, it will make recipients more cautious, and could reopen difficult issues from previous decades around the world. The latest negotiations came as Russia killed one person and injured about 70 in a ballistic missile strike on a residential area of the city of Kharkiv, in the north-east of Ukraine. Five of the injured were children. There were also strikes on Dnipro, Kyiv and Mykolaiv, as well as the Donetsk region. This is how Russia began this Good Friday with ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, Shaheds maiming our people and cities, Zelenskyy wrote on social media. Kharkivs mayor, Ihor Terekhov, said the Russians used ballistic missiles equipped with cluster munitions. That is why the affected areas are so extensive, he said. At least 20 blocks of flats, 30 houses and an educational institution were damaged. On Palm Sunday Russia dropped two Iskander missiles in the city centre of Sumy. One of them hit a congress centre. The other exploded between two university buildings and next to a crowded bus and cars. Philadelphia Zoo The Philadelphia Zoo welcomed four new Western Santa Cruz tortoises, a subspecies of the Galapagos tortoise. What makes these new additions remarkable is that their mother, affectionately named Mommy, is the oldest known first-time mother of her species. The father, also in his 90s, is named Abrazzo. New mother Mommy at age 97. Philadelphia Zoo The father of the new hatchlings, Abrazzo. Philadelphia Zoo Mommy is 97 and has been at the Philadelphia Zoo since 1932. Milton W. Holden of Philadelphia donated a then 40-pound Western Santa Cruz giant tortoise to the zoo on April 23, 1932. Records suggest Mommy may have been collected on South Albemarle Island in the Galapagos archipelago. Holden acquired her during an extended trip to the islands. Mommy has been at the zoo ever since. We spoke with Lauren Augustine, the Philadelphia Zoos Director of Herpetology, about Mommy and the efforts it took to make her a mommy. Lauren Augustine is the Philadelphia Zoos Director of Herpetology. Philadelphia Zoo The Breeding Program This isnt just a love story about two turtles creating a family. Many individuals, programs, and entities played a crucial role in ensuring the survival of this species. The process of getting these eggs has been a long time coming. According to Augustine, Mommy is considered one of the most genetically valuable Galapagos tortoises in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP). The program wanted to capture her genetics because her offspring are so important, Augustine says. The process for reproduction started several years ago, and part of that process was making a tortoise yard at the Philadelphia Zoo. The yard housed several females, including Mommy, and was designed to ensure there is plenty of room to keep everyone safe. Safety is paramount when you consider that Mommy weighs 285 pounds and Abrazzo weighs 410 pounds. A newly hatched Western Santa Cruz tortoise Philadelphia Zoo Abrazzo shared time with other females, but he eventually chose Mommy in 2022. Augustine explains that Mommy had three clusters of eggs that first season, yet none of those eggs had developed. However, Augustine and everyone in the program were so excited since it was the first time Mommy had eggs in 20 years. Progress was being made. The tortoises are brought inside and separated during that winter, but they were reintroduced in 2023. Then, in November 2024, Mommy laid 16 eggs, and four offspring hatched in April 2025. Augustine says that this is a testament to long-term planning and care. The Baby Tortoises The famous four baby tortoises. Philadelphia Zoo The babies are part of the AZA SSP breeding program, which ensures the survival of this species and maintains a genetically diverse population. Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoises are listed as critically endangered. Once the eggs were laid, Augustine said it was requested to have half female and half male. For these tortoises, the temperature during incubation determines the hatchlings sex. Before the babies were born, there were 44 individual Western Santa Cruz tortoises in United States zoos, but now, thanks to Mommy and Abrazzo, there are 48. Augustine mentioned that Mommy may breed again, but they will wait for recommendations from the breeding transfer program to determine if this is necessary. However, right now, everyone is just in celebration mode over these new hatchlings. The baby tortoises will debut on Wednesday, April 23, the 93rd anniversary of Mommys arrival at the Zoo. Conservation One of the new baby tortoises Philadelphia Zoo Conservation is so important for us all, Augustine emphasizes. There are laws and legislation, but everybody has a role in the conversation. For Augustine, Mommy represents the critical importance of her species and how essential it is to preserve their habitat. She says everything is connected threats to wildlife include humans, the introduction of invasive species, feral cats, and habitat loss, all of which impact animals at local and global levels. We can look at ways to engage in conservation, and Augustine suggests one powerful tool is to visit zoos. Modern zoos are conservation schools, so visiting zoos is incredibly important, Augustine adds. According to the Philadelphia Zoo website, the ways that zoos help in conservation are through education and awareness, breeding programs, and research and innovation. Through interactive exhibits and a dedicated staff, visitors and students gain valuable insights into the importance of species conservation by connecting with their favorite animals. In-school educational programs further enhance this understanding. Zoos worldwide actively engage in breeding programs for endangered species. By carefully managing genetic diversity and selecting breeding pairs like Mommy and Abrazzo, these programs aim to strengthen threatened animal populations in human care and provide valuable information to researchers working with wild populations. In collaboration with scientists, conservationists, and veterinary professionals, zoos are often at the forefront of groundbreaking research to understand species and develop effective preservation strategies. Conclusion These hatchlings are providing valuable insights for conservation and science. Philadelphia Zoo The arrival of the new hatchlings at the Philadelphia Zoo marks a significant milestone in the conservation efforts for the Western Santa Cruz tortoise. With a rich history and dedicated care, Mommy and her offspring symbolize hope for the future of their species. As the zoo continues its commitment to education and conservation, it highlights the interconnectedness of all living things and the vital role each individual can play in protecting our planets biodiversity. Visitors not only witness the joy of new life but also contribute to ongoing efforts that ensure these remarkable tortoises and countless other species can thrive for generations to come. The post 4 New Tortoises Make Their Debut at the Philadelphia Zoo Next Week appeared first on A-Z Animals. An activist representing accused teen killer Karmelo Anthony has a lengthy criminal history that includes a conviction on child abuse charges and allegations of domestic violence from a former romantic partner, according to past reports. Minister Dominique Alexander, the appointed spokesperson for the alleged teen murderer, has previously been charged with multiple felonies for which he served almost zero prison time, according to local reports. Back in 2009, Alexander was arrested for shaking and hitting the 2-year-old child of his then-girlfriend with an object, according to Fox 4 Dallas. Minister Dominique Alexander has previously been charged with multiple felonies for which he served almost zero prison time. @niquealex/Instagram He was convicted of the charges in 2011, receiving two years of probation from a Dallas court. However, in 2016, the activist was sentenced to two years in prison for multiple violations of that probation but only served eight days in prison for two listed infractions of traveling out of state, according to the Dallas Morning News. During this probation period, Alexander was indicted on felony forgery charges in Jan. 2013, according to the Dallas Observer. In 2017, the minister was arrested on felony theft charges of property between $2,500 and $30,000 garnering a possible sentence of 20 years in prison due to his previous forgery conviction, the Dallas Observer reported. In the most recent legal infraction, Alexander was indicted in 2019 on felony assault charges in a domestic violence case stemming from his actions against then girlfriend and baby mama Keyaira D. Saunders, according to WFAA. Alexander is the activist representing accused teen killer Karmelo Anthony. @niquealex/Instagram Saunders accused Alexander of pushing, choking, and head-butting her during several altercations but the mother of two decided against proceeding with a trial, the local ABC affiliate station reported at the time. Alexander is the president and CEO of Next Generation Action Network which has come to the side of 17-year-old Anthony, a Texas high schooler accused of fatally stabbing fellow athlete Austin Metcalf through the heart at a track meet on April 2. Next Generation Action Network has proudly publicized their efforts to provide aid and comfort to the accused killer posting on social media a video of activists dramatically escorting Anthony from Collin County Jail while shielding him from media questions. Karmelo Anthony is accused of fatally stabbing fellow athlete Austin Metcalf through the heart at a track meet on April 2. Family Handout This is what team NGAN looks like. This is what people-powered justice looks like, the minister wrote in the post. On Thursday, Alexander held a news conference on the case that was crashed by Jeff Metcalf, father of the slain teen, much to the dismay of the minister-activist. Anyone who truly knows me understands how hard todays press conference was for me, Alexander said in a Facebook post. I was deeply upset by the fact that the father would do what he did. It showed his true colors and proved that, while we were working to handle the situation appropriately, he was undermining the process, Alexander wrote. This is not an act of mourning it was a delibrate distraction, an intentional disruption of an important moment. I dont care what anyone says: he had no right to be there. Anthony and his family have faced intensified scrutiny after it was revealed they are now renting a $900K home in a gated community and bought a new car despite requesting a judge to lower his $1 million bond because of financial difficulties. Image Credit: Shutterstock. It can sometimes be tempting to lock up our phones and keep them out of sight when traveling. For one, this would allow us the much-needed reset and disconnect many smartphone users desperately need. (The no phones policy at the Thailand wellness resort in Season 3 of The White Lotus was onto something.) Another reason, which we'll dive into here, is the significant roaming fees we'd accrue when traveling overseas. According to the Federal Communications Commission, most U.S. customers have domestic service plans, which don't cover usage out of the country. This has led travelers to either pay the charges (even if they've activated international roaming with their carrier) or, like we said, resist the urge to use their devices at all costs. However, the partnership of mobile technology company GigSky and multinational payment card VISA has solved this dilemma by rolling out a new service that allows Americans to use their phones while traveling abroad for free. While the two widely successful companies first teamed up in 2023, it wasn't until early March 2025 that they launched this expansion, offering complimentary and/or discounted global mobile data plans to millions of Americans through the GigSky app. This would grant eligible U.S. VISA cardholders with a free or low-cost resolution to evade pricey roaming fees when traveling abroad a breakthrough for people battling whether to leave their phones in the hotel safe or risk being charged a hefty fine if they used them. We spoke with GigSky's Chief Revenue Officer, Samuel King, to share the perks of the new service and what qualified VISA customers can expect moving forward. What Are the Benefits of This Offer? Image Credit: Shutterstock. King explained that specifically, U.S. Signature and Infinite cardholders would benefit from this invitation. Each of these credit cards provides customers access to premium rewards and experiences, like rental car privileges, special guest status at select luxury hotels, and primetime reservations, as per the VISA website. U.S. Signature cardholders would receive a complimentary 1 GB plan to 175 countries, 20 percent off all 200 plus countries, all cruise plans, and all inflight plans. The gains are similar for Infinite cardholders, except they'd earn 30 percent off these plans. Are There Any Limitations to Using the App? As we said, eligible VISA cardholders can take advantage of this service via the GigSky app, and very few wouldn't have access. According to King, any device capable of using an eSIM (a digital adaptation of a physical SIM card built directly into the phone, as per T-Mobile's website) has access to this opportunity. He noted that all iPhones have been eSIM compatible since 2018, and a limited number of Android devices are unable to use eSIM. "Some U.S. cardholders may also have their devices locked by their home carrier, but that number is also dwindling rapidly," King added. So, the bottom line is most U.S. Signature and Infinite cardholders can utilize this service. Is This Service Available for VISA Cardholders Everywhere? Image Credit: Shutterstock. While any U.S. Signature and Infinite cardholder with an iPhone and most Androids can use this new program, King noted that it's not available everywhere just yet. GigSky's partnership with VISA currently includes cardholders in all of North America, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean (an estimated over 600 people). However, they are looking into expanding globally in the coming months. More About the GigSky and VISA partnership For the last two years, GigSky and VISA have worked together to implement an attractive service for eligible cardholders, starting with their first banking partner US Bank in July 2023. They began with a pilot for US Bank's Altitude Signature card, which afforded cardholders a 5 GB complimentary plan to use once per month Thankfully, for Altitude Signature cardholders, the pilot was a massive success, and US Bank has continued with this offer. The program has since rolled out through Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada with complimentary rewards. "The expanded partnership between GigSky and Visa is a game-changer for U.S. travelers, said King. "Were excited to offer these valuable benefits to Visa cardholders, helping them stay connected wherever their travels take them without worrying about roaming costs." Other GigSky Collaborations VISA is not the only mega-giant that GigSky has collaborated with in recent years. The company, known for providing eSIM and SIM card-based data services to world travelers, has teamed up with numerous other businesses to ease travelers' experiences. One that King is particularly proud of is GigSky's conjunction with the Cellular at Sea network, in which they became the only eSIM provider to supply connectivity on over 200 cruise ships, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, Disney, Celebrity, Holland America, Princess, and many more. They created a single plan that combines coverage on land as well. "Imagine taking a European cruise and being able to purchase a single plan that covers you in 44 European countries as well as your time at sea. That's unique in the industry," said King. On top of that, GigSky also equips over 60 leading global airlines with connectivity to deliver dependable service for pilots, crew, and critical aviation infrastructure. "As we like to say, if the airlines can rely on us for their infrastructure, travelers can certainly rely on us when they travel across the globe," inserted King. Customers can locate their complimentary and/or discounted plans by downloading the GigSky app and following the prompts to check their VISA eligibility. Upon registration, the VISA cardholder benefit is automatically activated for the duration that the customer uses their VISA card to pay for their service. Questions? Connect with GigSky's customer support team, which is available anytime via email and live chat within the app. A 19-year-old college student is facing charges related to an incident at a Tesla Center in Kansas City in which two Cybertrucks were set on fire in March, according to the Department of Justice. Owen McIntire, a Kansas City resident who is attending school in Boston, has been charged with unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device and malicious damage by fire of any property used in interstate commerce. The incident took place just before noon on March 17 when a Kansas City Police Department officer observed smoke coming from the Tesla Center in the southern part of the city. The DOJ said that the officer responded to the scene and found an "unbroken suspected incendiary device" near a burning Cybertruck. It turned out to be a Molotov cocktail, according to the DOJ. RELATED STORY | Man accused of setting fire to Tesla vehicles in Las Vegas arrested, police say The fire spread to a second truck at the Tesla Center before the Kansas City Fire Department extinguished the blaze. According to court documents, investigators observed a vehicle in surveillance videos from the Tesla Center and nearby homes and determined the car was registered to a relative of McIntire. Investigators said they believe McIntire was back in Kansas City on spring break when the arson took place, based on alleged GPS information from his cellphone, his social media, flight records and the lack of badge scans on his campus during the time period. The DOJ said the Cybertrucks had sale prices of $105,485 and $107,485. Two charging stations were also damaged by the fire, both valued at approximately $550. Let me be extremely clear to anyone who still wants to firebomb a Tesla property: you will not evade us, said Attorney General Pamela Bondi in a statement. You will be arrested. You will be prosecuted. You will spend decades behind bars. It is not worth it. This is the second arrest this week of a suspect charged with targeting Tesla, more proof that the FBI will not stand for these destructive acts, said FBI Director Kash Patel in a statement. Lunatrain, Inc. A rendering of the exterior of the Lunatrain under the stars. Lunatrain is developing a new passenger train network in the U.S. and Canada. The long-haul routes will be exclusively night trains for the most efficient traveling. The company's trains will be outfitted with comfortable, soundproof cabins for optimal sleeping. If youve ever returned from a trip to Europe where you traveled from Paris to Amsterdam by train for 40 euros and wondered why the U.S. doesnt have a comprehensive passenger train system, youll be happy to know one is in the works. Its still in its early phase, but Philadelphia-based Lunatrain is developing a passenger rail service that will connect major cities in the U.S. and Canada. Their idea is to link cities that are too far for existing daytime trains to serve efficiently. To that end, Lunatrain is focusing exclusively on sleeper trains that offer express, nonstop service, making it so the travel is primarily undertaken at night to minimize the number of waking hours people have to spend traveling. What that means is that you might be able to board a train in Philadelphia around dinner time and arrive in Charlotte, North Carolina, in time for breakfast, making your travel day almost nonexistent. Lunatrain, Inc. A rendering showing a cabin concept on board the Lunatrain. And if youre wondering about comfort, consider this: Lunatrain is planning to offer sleeping cabins for every type of travelerfrom solo travelers to families and groups. It notes in a February 2025 press release that, These sleeping cabins are a significant improvement over existing sleeping train options in the United States; Lunatrain cabins are sized to meet different types of traveler needs appropriately, offer enough power outlets to charge many devices simultaneously, have improved soundproofing and vibration dampening for optimal sleeping conditions, and include access to a host of onboard amenities. Specifically, the press release mentions high-speed Wi-Fi, showers, lounge spaces, and onboard full-service and in-room dining. Lunatrain, Inc. A system map for the Lunatrain. Lunatrains end goal is to provide an alternative to short-haul flights and cross-country drives that is safer, more comfortable, and well-priced. It will have both economy and premium cabin options available, and an overnight train ride will be priced competitively with an airline seat of the same service class along the same route. The initial Lunatrain network will stretch across the East Coast and Midwest. It will be primarily focused on routes that can be completed in a single night and cities that have established connections to regional transit, so you can hop aboard a citys train or bus system to reach your final destination without having to rent a car or spring for a taxi. Lunatrain completed a project feasibility analysis in early 2024, and has since developed financial projections for their North American night trains. Their plan is to release a demonstration unit by late 2026 to gather feedback on its designs. From there, Lunatrain will build a fleet of passenger sleeping cars. Read the original article on Travel & Leisure This screengrab, taken from a video released by Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV, shows flames rising from the fuel port of Ras Isa in Hodeidah, Yemen, following US airstrikes, on Friday. - Houthis al-Masirsah TV/EPA/Shutterstock The death toll from US airstrikes on an oil port in western Yemen has risen to at least 74 people, the Houthi-run health ministry reported, marking the deadliest day since the United States escalated its aerial campaign against the Iran-backed group last month. US Central Command said Thursday the strikes on Ras Isa fuel port in Hodeidah province were aimed at cutting off revenue to the Houthis, adding the port has been used as a source of illicit profits to the group. The objective of these strikes was to degrade the economic source of power of the Houthis, who continue to exploit and bring great pain upon their fellow countrymen, CENTCOM said in a statement. This strike was not intended to harm the people of Yemen. The fatalities included workers at the port and paramedics, the health ministry said on Friday, adding that some 171 people were wounded. CNN reached out to the Pentagon for comment regarding the reported toll and was directed to CENTCOMs earlier statement. Houthi rebels vowed on Friday to continue their military operations against Israel and US forces in the region. Yemen will not back down from continuing its support operations for the Palestinian people until the Israeli aggression on Gaza stops and the siege is lifted, the Houthi-controlled armed forces in Yemen said in a statement. The militant group said the US aggression against Yemen would only lead to further targeting, engagement, and confrontation. The Houthis shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper drone on Friday, the sixth since March 3, US officials told CNN. Each MQ-9 costs about $30 million, the officials added, and the US only has a few more than 200 of the sophisticated drones in its arsenal. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his grave concerns about the US strikes, which caused scores of civilian casualties, including injuring five humanitarian workers, according to his spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric. He called on Houthi rebels to halt their ongoing attacks against Israel and in Red Sea immediately, he said in a Saturday statement. Since mid-March, US airstrikes have pounded Houthi targets in Yemen, hitting oil refineries, airports and missile sites, with US President Donald Trump vowing to use overwhelming force until the US achieves its goal of stopping the Houthis from targeting shipping in the Red Sea. Houthis have launched numerous missiles against Israel and disrupted shipping in the Red Sea in attacks they say are in solidarity with Palestinians against Israels war in Gaza since the October 7, 2023 attacks. Video aired on Al-Masirah shows the injured receiving treatment at a hospital after dawn, many with visible burns to their bodies. Multiple air raids targeted the area, a man who identified himself as a civil defense worker told Al-Masirah as he lay on an examination table, breathing heavily. I found myself falling on the ground as a rocket hit. Another survivor at the hospital described the moment the port was struck. One strike after another, the whole area was lit on fire, he told Al-Masirah. When we managed to leave the area, we saw the place where we were hiding earlier getting struck too. The US says its campaign is working. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said that multiple Houthi leaders had been killed. CNN earlier reported that the total cost of the US militarys operation against Houthi militants in Yemen neared $1 billion in three weeks, according to three people briefed on the campaign, but the attacks had so far had limited impact on the groups capabilities. While as many as 80 Houthi military officers may have been killed, according to analysts, the senior echelon of its military and political leadership appears intact. So are at least some of its missile-launching sites. On Monday, the Houthi-run health ministry said US attacks had killed at least 123 people, including women and children, and injured 247 others since March 15, the Houthi-run Saba news agency reported. CNN cannot independently verify the numbers. Meanwhile, the Houthis have continued to launch more than a dozen ballistic missiles at Israel, and barrages of drones and missiles at US navy ships. While none caused major damage, the threat remains. Early Friday, Israels military said it intercepted a missile from Yemen. No injuries were reported, Israels emergency service said. CNNs Nadeen Ebrahim, Tim Lister, Eyad Kourdi, Dana Karni and Natasha Bertrand contributed reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com FILE - President Donald Trump speaks to reporters as he signs executive orders in the White House, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) The federal agency tasked with protecting workers civil rights is classifying all new gender identity-related discrimination cases as its lowest priority, essentially putting them on indefinite hold, according to two agency employees. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission held a meeting on Wednesday clarifying how it would treat new worker complaints of gender-identity discrimination in view of President Donald Trumps Jan. 20 executive order declaring that the government would recognize only two immutable sexes male and female. Staff who handle incoming charges, or intakes, were directed to code them as C, the lowest categorization in the EEOC's system that is usually reserved for meritless charges, according to the agency employees who attended the Microsoft Teams meeting for intake supervisors, district directors and support staff that was led by the EEOC's national intake coordinator. The employees asked to remain anonymous because they were not authorized to reveal the meeting details. An EEOC spokesman declined to comment on the meeting, saying that per federal law, we cannot discuss investigatory practices. The decision is the latest step by the EEOC to back away from defending the rights of transgender and nonbinary workers in a major shift in civil rights enforcement under the Trump administration. In February, the EEOC moved to drop seven of its own pending lawsuits alleging discrimination against transgender and nonbinary people. EEOC Acting Chair Andrea Lucas, a Republican, has said one of her priorities will be implementing Trumps executive order on gender and defending the biological and binary reality of sex and related rights. She had previously ordered that any worker discrimination charge that implicates Trumps executive order on gender should be elevated to headquarters for review. This latest decision to bury gender identity-related complaints leaves transgender and nonbinary people experiencing discrimination at work with limited recourse. U.S. workers must file discrimination complaints through the EEOC in most cases before they can seek other legal avenues. Giving gender identity-related cases the lowest priority essentially pre-determines that they are meritless, said Chai Feldblum, who was an EEOC commissioner from 2010-2019. If they say they are bringing it to a central location to give them due consideration, they at least have the facade of doing something, Feldblum said of Lucas previous directive on gender identity cases. If they are sweeping them out the door as C charges, they are not doing their job. The EEOC has said that it will still issue right to sue notices in gender-identity related cases upon request, meaning workers can decide to pursue a lawsuit on their own. The agency will also honor requests for mediation, according to the employees who attended Wednesday's meeting. But if mediation fails, the EEOC will take no further action on the case, the employees said. The EEOCs new approach to gender-identity related discrimination has raised a debate over whether the agency is acting in violation of the Supreme Courts 2020 ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County, a landmark case that established that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibits workplace discrimination based on gender identity. Civil rights activists have accused the EEOC of illegally defying the Supreme Court and abdicating its duty to enforce anti-discrimination laws by abandoning gender-identity related lawsuits. Lucas has previously told The AP that the EEOC has a duty to comply with Trumps executive orders but she has not directly addressed the criticism that the agencys handling of gender-identity cases are in tension with the Supreme Court. The EEOC in fiscal year 2024 received more than 3,000 charges alleging discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, and 3,000-plus in 2023, according to the agencys website. ________ Associated Press business reporter Alexandra Olson contributed to this report. ________ The Associated Press women in the workforce and state government coverage receives financial support from Pivotal Ventures. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. Sonja Flemming/CBS For Nick and Mike Fiorito, finding a bracelet in a haystack required intervention from The Amazing Races doctors. We had to actually stop [the challenge] and get medical attention for a few minutes because we were about to have a heat stroke," Mike, 28, exclusively told Us Weekly on Thursday, April 17, following their elimination. We were so determined to not stop. During the episode, which took place in Bulgaria, Mike and Nick, 32, chose to complete the Woodstack option for The Detour challenge. The brothers hit a snag when they were one kilogram short and had to complete another round of delivering wood. Once they finished that task, they were in a footrace with Melinda and Erika Papadeas to get to the next portion of the race. The teams came across a U-Turn, and the mother-daughter duo decided to choose Nick and Mike, fearing they were competing for last place. (No team realized that Carson McCalley and Jack Dodge, who were typically in the front of the race, had gotten lost and were three hours behind everyone.) The Amazing Races Pops and Jeff Bailey Explain How Ankle Injury Factored Into Elimination Nick and Mike had to go back and perform the other option of the Detour: The Haystack challenge. The task required teams to search for a bracelet hidden in one of three bales of hay. As the pair searched for a tiny bracelet in a literal haystack, the weather had an effect on Nick and Mike. When you look at us on TV and you see us kicking the hay, it almost looks like we're just giving up and just like kicking hay. But that was literally all the energy we had left in our body, Mike explained. The sun was so extremely hot and it was right on top of us. Nick noted that the grueling effort from the Woodstack task also zapped a lot out of them. We had just finished carrying 400 pounds of wood and running back and forth three times. So we were really exhausted, Nick told Us. And then like Mike said the sun did not help and the hay was extremely itchy as well. So it was just like a perfect storm of unfortunate events and our energy level really went very low. CBS Mike and Nick spent a total of six hours in the field in search of a bracelet. At one point, the duo contemplated taking a time penalty. However, they ultimately decided against it since it would have been an extra eight hours on top of what theyd already done. It was something outrageous, like somewhere between six and eight hours. And at that point we're like, OK, that doesn't not make any sense to take it because we were already hours into this challenge, Mike told Us. So to add that many hours on top of it just wouldn't make any sense. So we just said, We gotta just keep fighting through here. Nick and Mike never found the bracelet, and never made it to the pit stop. Host Phil Keoghan appeared at the challenge to eliminate the brothers in a bittersweet moment. [Phil] had a line basically where he said he came to take us out of our misery. And to be honest with you, he did, Mike quipped. We were really beaten down by that sun, by that hay just exhausted beyond measure. That was a bright point that we could stop now. Being on The Amazing Race was a lifelong dream for Nick and Mike. The pair applied to be on the show over the course of seven years before they got selected for season 37. Amazing Races Bernie and Carrigain Think Jonathan and Anas Drivers Seat Choice Was Insulting Watching it from your couch is one thing, but experiencing it and living it in real life is a whole nother thing. We got to see countries that we never even heard of. We never heard of Bulgaria before, Mike shared. So we got to see cultures and the way different people live their lives. And that was something that you can do from your couch, but it's a whole different feeling when you experience it firsthand. While they didnt walk away with the million dollar prize, the pair are looking on the bright side as they lived out their dream of competing in the race. At first watching last night, I'm not gonna lie, I felt like a loser. It felt like we lost, we gave it our all and it just wasn't good enough. And there was shame attached to it and just a lot of negativity. Then I realized, maybe some of that is true, if I choose to believe it, Nick reflected. At the same time, you know what else is true, we're winners because we did give it our all until the very end. We didn't give up. We made it on the show after seven years of trying and inspired so many people with that alone. The Amazing Race airs on CBS Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m. ET and is available to stream on Paramount+ the next day. MediaPunch/INSTARimages Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawas love was on full display throughout their home at the time of their deaths. In photos released by the Santa Fe County Sheriffs Office, several handwritten notes were scattered around the house where Hackman and Arakawas dead bodies were discovered in February. In one letter, Hackman wished Arakawa a good morning and happy several days after your birthday. The note was an apology with Hackman writing, Sorry still about the dinner and having to ask for your help, although it was appreciated. Love you and the guys. Hackman seemed to be joking with his wife in another inscription. Im going down to that building out past the hot water place where you sit, and do what ever it is that people are supposed to do in such a building maybe Ill remember once I get down there, the note read, which was signed, Love, whats his name. SFSO/MEGA Arakawa penned a separate update to Hackman, explaining she was taking one of their dogs to a class and an appointment at the vet. See you back at home! the letter read. There is a jigsaw puzzle on the table. The note was signed, Xo B. Hackman also wrote about seeing baby robins outside of his shower, explaining where she could find them. Hope you get to see them, he added. In February, Hackman and Arakawa were found dead at ages 95 and 65, respectively. After news broke of their deaths, Hackmans daughters, Elizabeth Jean and Leslie Anne, released a statement with granddaughter Annie. (Hackman shared his two daughters and son Christopher Allen with ex-wife Faye Maltese.) Gene Hackman and Wife Betsy Arakawa Laid to Rest Nearly 2 Months After Deaths: Report It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy, the trio shared in a statement to Us Weekly. He was loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career, but to us he was always just Dad and Grandpa. We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss. Hackmans official cause of death was hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease with Alzheimers disease listed as a significant contributing factor. While authorities believe Hackman died on February 18, Arakawa likely died on February 12. Arakawas cause of death is Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), which is a rare, airborne infectious disease from rodent urine, droppings or saliva. The Oscar winner and Arakawa were reportedly laid to rest earlier this month. People reported that a private memorial was held for Hackman and Arakawa in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and was attended by his three children. HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP Following Prince Harrys exit from Sentebale, drama ensued including a man falsely claiming to be the brother of cofounder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho. After the mans inaccurate claims made headlines, Us Weekly learned that Principal Chief Khoabane Theko is not Seeisos brother and has no connection to the charity. Among the allegations Theko claimed to The Telegraph on Wednesday, April 16, was that Harry could have visited Lesotho more often. Harrys 2024 visit to Lesotho marked his first in six years (including two years at the height of the global COVID-19 pandemic). He had previously traveled there four times between 2010 and 2015. Theko, for his part, claimed he was perturbed to see Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, taking a trip to Africa in September 2019 without going to Lesotho. (During the trip, the couple had a busy itinerary with meeting Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a tour of the District Six Museum, a trip to Monwabisi Beach and planting trees at the Chobe Forest Tree Reserve, among other things.) Prince Harry is Torn Apart Over Sentebale Charity Resignation, Says Former Trustee When [Sentebale] was launched, I remember his words quite vividly, because he was very strong in saying my mother, [Princess Diana], this place, her passion about Africa and all that, Theko alleged. Hes a loved figure because of his openness, but his loss of interest has totally killed the spirit of the Sentebales survival. I havent seen [Harry] since he got himself married. Us Weekly reached out to Harrys rep for comment. Harry tied the knot with Markle in 2018, with the couple going on to welcome son Archie, 5, and daughter Lilibet, 3. Eric Charbonneau/Archewell Foundation via Getty Images Harry and Seeiso launched the charity in 2006 to support children in Lesotho dealing with poverty and HIV/AIDS. The charity included a nod to Diana, with the name translating to forget-me-not her favorite flower. (Diana died in 1997 at the age of 36.) In March, Harry and Seeiso announced they stepped down from the charity. The move was in solidarity with several trustees, who had announced their exits amid tensions with chair of the board Dr. Sophie Chandauka. Prince Harry in Shock as He Leaves His Own Charity, Sentebale, Amid Board Infighting It is devastating that the relationship between the charitys trustees and the chair of the board broke down beyond repair, creating an untenable situation, Harry and Seeiso said in a joint statement obtained by multiple outlets. Harry and Seeiso alleged that Chandauka sued the charity after being asked to leave her position. 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 [U.K.] Charity Commission as to how this came about, the statement added. Chandauka, for her part, accused the charity of poor governance, weak executive management [and] abuse of power in a statement to Us. What is Sentebale, Prince Harrys Charity? 5 Things to Know After Shocking Resignation There are people in this world who behave as though they are above the law and mistreat people, and then play the victim card and use the very press they disdain to harm people who have the courage to challenge their conduct, Chandauka said. Discerning readers will ask themselves: why would the Chair of the Board report her own Trustees to the Charity Commission? Why would the High Court of England and Wales accept her application to hear the matter at all if the case had no merit? She continued, Well, because beneath all the victim narrative and fiction that has been syndicated to press is the story of a woman who dared to blow the whistle about issues of poor governance, weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir and the coverup that ensued. Theo Wargo - Getty Images "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Maybe its The Devil Wears Prada fan in all of us, but its hard not to see Anne Hathaway wearing a great outfit now and think: wow, Andrea Sachs understood the assignment. Like, shes probably running her own fashion magazine at this point. Theo Wargo - Getty Images Hathaway sat front row at the Ralph Lauren show yesterday in lower Manhattan next to Michelle Williams and Naomi Watts. No one could take their eyes off of her perfect look. She wore a khaki trench coat that she paired with distressed sparkly sequined khaki jeans. The khaki duo, along with the white tank top, was a reproduction of a Ralph Lauren spring 2025 collection runway look. She accessorized with Gianvito Rossi sandals, a metallic clutch, a gold choker necklace, and gold hoop earrings. One of the most striking parts of the whole look was her perfect slicked back ponytail. Its a style Hathaway loves that pairs perfectly with her dramatic features. The Fall 2025 show was called The Modern Romantics and took place in an art gallery. As Harpers Bazaar noted, Watching the models at Ralph Laurens fall 2025 runway show this afternoon, I kept thinking about the rise of romantasythe increasingly-popular genre of fiction that blends romance with fantasy for the pleasure of enthralled fans across the country. Lauren had looks called back to both historic British romanticism and the New Romantics of the 80s. Also in attendance were Kacey Musgraves, The White Lotus Sarah Catherine Hook, Ariana DeBose, Sadie Sink, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. You Might Also Like In January, as business and government leaders descended on Davos, Switzerland, for this years meeting of the World Economic Forum, the prevailing wisdom was that American tech giants were winning the race for dominance in artificial intelligence while China, and indeed the whole of Asia, lagged behind. Among the assembled cognoscenti, the outlook for Chinas AI companies ranged from bleak to downright dismissive. The share prices of Americas Magnificent Seven hovered at all-time highs while Chinese tech stocks languished, dragged down by perceptions that Beijings heavy-handed regulation was strangling innovation. Meanwhile, Japan and South Korea werent generally considered leaders in AI, and the experts saw Southeast Asian economies as too small, too poor, and too fragmented to be anything more than bit players. But the Davos crowd had barely adjourned before the Wests smug assumptions began to unravel. First came reports that DeepSeek, the AI arm of an obscure Hangzhou hedge fund, had developed a large language model, called R1, that matched the performance of OpenAIs latest LLM. As Nicholas Gordon notes in his DeepSeek deep dive, R1 astonished not only by coming out of nowhere but because developers claimed to have trained it for a mere $6 milliona fraction of the tens of billions that Silicon Valley companies are spending on AI platforms. Gordon argues that DeepSeeks breakthrough matters because it not only shows Chinese companies ability to innovate in AI, it also suggests that the frontier of AI development is wide open to upstarts from almost anywhere. The same week of R1s release, a more familiar Asian player, Japanese tech investor Masayoshi Son, made a surprise appearance at the White House, where President Donald Trump announced that Sons SoftBank Group would take the lead in bankrolling Stargate, a $500 billion partnership that aims to turbocharge American AI infrastructure. On April 1, SoftBank committed to invest up to $40 billion in OpenAI, valuing the AI pioneer at $300 billion. In a profile of Son, I explain how the 67-year-old billionairewho has arguably made and lost larger fortunes than any investor in the history of capitalismbounced back from the debacle of his Vision Fund to become one of AIs most powerful players. I also visit southern Malaysia to understand why Johor, the state just across a strait from Singapore, could emerge as one of the worlds biggest data center corridors. Whats new about data centers devoted to training LLMs is that unlike those used to run video games, operate e-commerce platforms, or handle financial transactions, they dont need to be close to customers. They can be built wherever land, water, andcruciallypower are abundant and inexpensive. Malaysia is racing to provide those resources in a bid to propel itself to the forefront of the next technological wave. The common thread running through these stories is that the AI revolution isnt limited to Silicon Valley. Asian firms are emerging as critical participantsand investors, executives, and the Davos elite discount the influence of this vast and dynamic region at their peril. This article appears in the April/May 2025: Asia issue of Fortune with the headline "Asia in the age of AI." This story was originally featured on Fortune.com The biological mother of accused Florida State University shooter Phoenix Ikner kidnapped him and fled to Norway amid a bitter custody battle a decade before the deadly shooting, court documents reveal. Anne-Mari Eriksen took her then-11-year-old son to the Scandinavian nation in March 2015 in violation of the custody agreement she had with Christopher Ikner after telling the father she was taking him to South Florida for spring break, according to a probable cause affidavit from the Leon County Sheriffs Office viewed by The Post. Eriksen and Phoenix Ikner who at the time went by his birth name, Christian Gunnar Eriksen both have American and Norwegian citizenship. Instead of staying in South Florida, the defendant allegedly fled the country with him in violation of their custody agreement, the affidavit stated. Christopher Ikner only discovered his son had been kidnapped when the 11-year-old spilled the beans during a phone call with his dad. Phoenix Ikner poses for a photo posted to Facebook on May 23, 2022. Facebook / Janice Ikner Eriksen who had custody rights, though the agreement stipulated that she could not take him from the country without advance notification said she would return the boy to the US and his dad on March 27, but failed to do so, according to the affidavit. Christopher Ikner then quickly became worried and alerted authorities, saying his son has developmental delays and special needs, which he feared would not be taken care of without access to his regular doctors. The affidavit said Phoenix Ikner was on medication for several health and mental issues, to include a growth hormone disorder and ADHD. Phoenix Ikner poses for a picture with his stepmom, Jessica Ikner, father, Christopher Ikner, and a third relative in a photo from July 18, 2022. Facebook / Janice Ikner Anne-Mari Eriksen, Phoenix Ikners biological mother Florida department of corrections The mom didnt return to the US until July 27, 2015, when she was arrested at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. She later pleaded no contest to illegally removing a child from Florida. Months later, in October 2015, Eriksen filed a lawsuit alleging slander and libel against Christopher Ikner, his wife, Jessica Ikner, as well as two other relatives. The emotional and psychological harm done to the minor child will be evident for years, and will require counseling, and given the child being the age of 11, will have memory impacted by the behaviors of all the defendants for the false claims done on his mother, and for the parental alienation of the close relationship of the minor child, the suit stated. Eriksen sought $80,000 in damages to use toward the boys college fund. Phoenix Ikner is shackled and placed inside the back of an ambulance after being arrested on April 17, 2025. WTXL.com Students place flowers at a vigil near the scene of the shooting at Florida State University on April 17, 2025. Getty Images Students pray for the victims of the shooting at a makeshift memorial set up on campus in Tallahassee, Florida. Getty Images Phoenix Ikner was also listed as a plaintiff in the suit, which was dismissed seven months later. Christian Gunnar Eriksen changed his name to Phoenix Ikner in 2020. The now-20-year-old is accused of opening fire on the Tallahassee campus, killing two people and wounding five others, on Thursday afternoon. The deadly rampage began near the campuss student union building. Terrifying video captured the moment a gunman walked through the area, firing shots from a handgun believed to be the old service weapon owned by his stepmom, Jessica Ikner. Heavily armed first responders converged on the area and confronted the gunman. Officials say Ikner didnt comply with commands and was shot before being taken into police custody. He was hospitalized for his injuries. Before the suspected gunmans identity was revealed to the public, Eriksen ranted against Christopher and Jessica Ikner for failing to communicate with her regarding her sons whereabouts. Phoenix Ikner poses with his biological grandmother in an undated photo. Anne-Mari Eriksen / Facebook Students take cover inside a classroom at Florida State University on April 17, 2025. Horrible when your alienating sons dad is as mentally unstable as he is, along with his LCSO cop wife, that they cant respond when you write to ask if everything is alright with my son, who studies at FSU, Eriksen wrote in a now-deleted Facebook post viewed by the Daily Mail. That whole familly [sic] is nuts. He should write a book on how to parent badly, but he cant communicate, Eriksen added. Feel sorry for everyone at FSU and their kids. Armed police officers run across campus during the active shooter threat. X / @FSU_Barstool The two fatal victims, whose names werent revealed, were not students at the school, chief of campus police Jason Trumbower said. Officials have not revealed a motive behind the attack. Facebook (2) Harmony Carhee (left)Donyavia Lagway and Gregory Carhee (right) A Texas man who pleaded guilty to murdering almost an entire family as a 10-year-old girl watched has been sentenced to death. Xavier Davis, 32, forced his way into the home of Gregory Carhee, 35, and Donyavia Lagway, 29, on June 30, 2021 and shot the couple in front of their three children, according to the Houston Police Department. He then shot the couple's 6-year-old daughter Harmony Carhee in the head as well as her 10-year-old sister, who played dead after suffering a non-fatal wound. That young girl then watched as Davis ransacked the apartment looking for money and jewelry to steal, Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare said during a 2022 bail hearing in the case. Teare also said the child had to lay lifeless while Davis made a video call to the woman accused of hiring him to kill the family so she could see the carnage. Facebook (2) Harmony Carhee (left), Donyavia Lagway and Gregory Carhee (right) Davis spared the life of the couple's 2-year-old son, while a fourth child - an 8-year-old boy - was not home at the time of the murders. The autopsy report for Lagway also revealed that she was pregnant at the time of the murder. Police said that once Davis left the apartment, the surviving 10-year-old quickly grabbed her baby brother, locked the door and called for help. Related: Texas Teen Allegedly Confessed to Murdering High School Track Star, Then Asked Police if He Could Claim Self-Defense Police arrested Davis just a few days later and charged him with three counts of capital murder and a single count of aggravated assault, court records show. He also faced a count of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon for allegedly stealing a man's car at gunpoint just before he murdered the family. Davis initially entered a not guilty plea but, in a surprise twist, pleaded guilty to the capital murder charges just a few minutes into the start of his criminal trial. The trial proceeded as planned despite that plea, with jurors left to decide if Davis should be sentenced to death. PEOPLE obtained a copy of the juror form which shows that all 12 were unanimous in their belief that "there is a probability that the defendant, Xavier Davis, would commit criminal acts of violence that would constitute a continuing threat to society." In another unanimous decision, the jury also found that there were not "sufficient mitigating circumstances" that would warrant a punishment of life in prison over the death penalty. City of Huston;Houston Police Department Xavier Davis (left) and Alexus Williams (right) That concludes the first half of the criminal proceedings for the family's murder, with the second half set to start later this year. 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. Prosecutors now have their sights set on the woman who allegedly ordered the murders, Alexus Williams. She was arrested in March 2022 and is facing charges including three counts of capital murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. "Alexus Williams, had a prior dating relationship with one of the victims, Ms. Lagway, and they had broken up shortly before the shootings," police said in a news release at the time of her arrest. "Investigators learned Williams arranged the robbery and suspect Davis was the shooter. Williams and Davis had been friends since they were children." Williams has entered a plea of not guilty to all charges. Court filings show that Davis is appealing his death sentence. He cannot appeal his conviction since he entered a guilty plea to those charges. The Harris County District Attorney's Office did not respond to a request for comment from PEOPLE. Read the original article on People Haley Joel Osment is apologizing after aiming an antisemitic slur at a police officer during his arrest last week at a California ski resort, according to reports. Osment apologized for his use of the slur in a statement shared with People and the New York Post April 18 after his arrest footage surfaced the day prior. "I'm absolutely horrified by my behavior. Had I known I used this disgraceful language in the throes of a blackout, I would have spoken up sooner," Osment told the outlets. "The past few months of loss and displacement have broken me down to a very low emotional place." Diddy on Trial newsletter: Step inside the courtroom with USA TODAY as Sean 'Diddy' Combs faces sex crimes and trafficking charges. Subscribe to the newsletter. Haley Joel Osment is apologizing after his use of an antisemitic slur in arrest footage that surfaced April 17. Haley Joel Osment arrested at ski resort on public intoxication, drug possession charges Osment continued: "But that's no excuse for using this disgusting word. From the bottom of my heart, I apologize to absolutely everyone that this hurts. What came out of my mouth was nonsensical garbage - I've let the Jewish community down and it devastates me. I don't ask for anyones forgiveness, but I promise to atone for my terrible mistake." On April 8, "The Sixth Sense" and "Forrest Gump" actor was arrested for disorderly conduct for public alcohol intoxication and possession of cocaine at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area resort in Mammoth Lakes, California, Mono County District Attorney David Anderson said in an April 17 statement. What did Haley Joel Osment say? In the nearly 2-minute footage shared by Page Six, Osment says, "I'm being detained." Later, when asked what his name is, he replies, "I'm an American." Later in the footage, an arresting officer holds up Osment's ID to other law enforcement officials and says, "You do recognize him right? That's the actor ... from 'Sixth Sense,' 'Pay it Forward.' That's the kid actor." Haley Joel Osment plays 8-year-old Cole Sear, a young boy frightened by his paranormal powers, in the 1999 film "The Sixth Sense." Inside the police car, as they are purportedly driving to a jail, Osment calls the officer a "Nazi" and later hurls an antisemitic slur about Jewish people. "You'll wish you treated me nicer," Osment says to the officer. As he's escorted into the jail in handcuffs by two officers, the actor says, "Good luck." Haley Joel Osment arrest follows prior legal troubles Preceding his arrest in April, Osment was described as an "unruly skier," according to a Mammoth Lakes Police Department media bulletin. The incident is still under investigation, People reports, and the Mono County District Attorney's Office said the actor will be arraigned on July 7. At the time of his arrest, Osment, a Los Angeles native, was days away from his 37th birthday. The "Blink Twice" actor has had previous run-ins with law enforcement, dating back nearly two decades. In 2018, media outlets reported the actor was involved in an argument at a Las Vegas airport on Super Bowl Sunday, with police being called to respond to an "unruly passenger." There was also a 2006 arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol and misdemeanor drug possession, in an incident where he suffered a broken rib. The then-18-year-old Osment pleaded no contest and was sentenced to three years of probation, 60 hours in an alcohol rehabilitation program, attendance at Alcoholics Anonymous and a $1,500 fine. Contributing: Taijuan Moorman This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Haley Joel Osment slur: Actor apologizes for antisemitism amid arrest TEHRAN, Iran On Army Day in Iran, the Islamic Republic displayed its military might, parading thousands of troops through the streets of the capital, Tehran, along with its S-300 missile defense system, drones and other military hardware. Watched and praised by President Masoud Pezeshkian, it was a very public show of force. But behind the scenes, Iran is pushing for diplomacy, with Foreign Minister Sayyid Abbas Araghchi traveling to Moscow, where he met with President Vladimir Putin, before sitting down for talks with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, on Friday. Our Russian friends gave us the necessary information, Araghchi was quoted as saying by Russia's state-run Tass news agency after his meeting with Putin on Thursday. He is scheduled to travel to Rome for talks with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff on Saturday, where they are expected to resume discussions about Tehrans rapidly advancing nuclear program. The pair met in Oman last Saturday and held the first round of talks between the two countries since President Donald Trump returned to the White House. But while both sides described those talks as positive and constructive, Iran has said since that it has been confused over the mixed messaging by the Trump administration on whether it wants Iran to completely dismantle its entire nuclear program. The reality is, we are receiving contradictory and inconsistent messages from the United States, Araghchi was quoted as saying in Moscow by Irans Mehr News Agency. From our perspective, what matters is what is said at the (indirect and mediated) negotiation table. Witkoff had earlier suggested that Iran could enrich uranium to a cap of 3.6%, but then later walked it back, saying the complete abandonment of the program was the goal. Were it to be capped at that level, it would have been in line with the 2015 nuclear deal Iran signed with the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council the U.S., Russia, France, China and the United Kingdom as well as Germany and the European Union. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff. Formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, it offered Tehran billions of dollars in sanctions relief in exchange for agreeing to curb its nuclear program. But Trump pulled the U.S. out of the deal in 2018 and imposed sanctions on Tehran. Iran then abandoned all limits and is believed to have enriched uranium up to 60%, closer to the weapons-grade level of 90%. Western powers, including the U.S., consider uranium enrichment to be a key step in producing nuclear weapons. Nonetheless, The New York Times reported that Trump waved off plans by Israel to strike Iranian nuclear sites in favor of renegotiating a deal. I think that Iran has a chance to have a great country and to live happily without death and Id like to see that, thats my first option, Trump told reporters Thursday at the Oval Office, when asked about possible airstrikes on Iran. So far, Iran has approached the talks with caution and suspicion of Trump, but at a weekly Friday prayer service attended by hard-line clerics and members of the military, the message from the imam was revealing the country should be open to these negotiations. Although some of the crowd of thousands of people at the University of Tehran campus shouted "death to America," the imam said Iran should treat the talks with great caution because the U.S. and the Trump administration have proven they are not to be trusted. Trump has nonetheless threatened to bomb Iran if no deal was reached, and the U.S. moved a second aircraft carrier into Middle Eastern waters ahead of Saturday's talks. The president has also threatened to extend tariffs on other countries over buying Iranian oil, in a bid to force Tehran's hand on top of the sweeping sanctions already in place. Elsewhere, on a visit to Iran on Thursday, Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said the talks were in a very crucial stage. Richard Engel and Marc Smith reported from Tehran. Mithil Aggarwal reported from Hong Kong. I really enjoyed losing myself in nature in Wanaka, New Zealand. Kaitlyn Rosati I've visited 86 countries and seen a lot of beautiful places around the world. Wanaka, New Zealand, has an incredible natural landscape. I loved the architecture in Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay. In January 2016, I took my first solo trip to Hawaii and instantly fell in love with this form of travel. Now, nearly 10 years later, I run a travel blog, No Man Nomad, and have solo traveled to 86 countries across all seven continents. Throughout my travels, I've been lucky enough to visit some truly beautiful locations. From the second largest canyon in the world to a UNESCO World Heritage Site, here are five of the most beautiful destinations I've been to. Valle d'Aosta is one of the most underrated regions in Italy. I visited Valle d'Aosta, Italy, in September 2024. Kaitlyn Rosati Valle d'Aosta, Italy's smallest and least populated region, took my breath away when I visited in September 2024. Located in the northwest corner of the country, the region shares a border with Switzerland and France, creating a majestic mountainous backdrop thanks to Mont Blanc straddling all three countries. I recommend staying in the capital, Aosta. Nicknamed "little Rome of the Alps," it's not just Mont Blanc that's worth viewing Aosta is full of historic ruins, like Porta Pretoria and Criptoportico Forense. Wanaka, New Zealand, is ideal for immersing yourself in nature. I really enjoyed losing myself in nature in Wanaka, New Zealand. Kaitlyn Rosati In January 2019, I traveled to New Zealand and rented a campervan for a road trip from Queenstown to Aoraki/Mount Cook. My first stop was Wanaka, where I frolicked through fields of flowers and tasted local honey at Wanaka Lavender Farm. I also hiked Roys Peak a 5,177-foot summit where I saw plenty of sheep as I made my way to the panoramic views of the town. Each morning, I sipped coffee on Lake Wanaka and admired the lone willow tree that grows in the water. As a New Yorker, I really enjoyed being able to lose myself in nature. Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay, is a peaceful escape. I visited Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay, in January 2023. Steve Heap/Shutterstock When I visited Buenos Aires in January 2023, I decided to take a ferry to Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay, for a day trip. The town is full of white, stone, and pastel-colored buildings, many of which are adorned with flowers. Together, they contrasted beautifully with the cobblestone streets. Colonia del Sacramento's historic quarter is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, you can head to the San Miguel Bastion for views of the sea or Ruinas del Convento de San Francisco for the only remnants left from a convent built in the 1690s. Fish River Canyon in Namibia, left me speechless. Visiting Namibia's Fish River Canyon was an unforgettable experience. Kaitlyn Rosati On another international road trip, I visited Fish River Canyon in Namibia, which is the largest canyon in Africa and the second largest in the world after the Grand Canyon. There were barely any tourists when I visited on a hot day in April 2024. Looking out at the massive, colorful gorge was an experience I'll never forget. It was extremely quiet, and I sat by the edge to take it all in. Jeju Island, South Korea, is gorgeous. I visited Oedolgae in Jeju Island, South Korea. Maxim Tupikov/Shutterstock In March 2019, I scored a $12 flight from Seoul to Jeju Island, South Korea. One of my first stops was to see Oedolgae, a unique rock formation that's believed to have been formed by a volcanic eruption. As I walked there from my hostel, I passed plenty of waterfalls and witnessed early signs of the island's blooming cherry blossoms. When I arrived, I watched as the waves crashed into Oedolgae and the other massive volcanic rocks that jarred from the ocean's floor. Read the original article on Business Insider Getty Images / Adobe / Allrecipes Ah, quiche. The savory French egg tart that often shows up on brunch menus in the form of Quiche Lorraine, spinach quiche, or some other equally cheesy and delicious variation. Growing up in a Chinese-Vietnamese household, I didn't know quiche existed until I moved out of my parents' home and ventured into the real world, learning to cook and order things without my parents' influence. The first quiche I laid eyes on was from a small cafe in the West Village in Manhattan. I didn't know what to make of it at first. It was in the shape of a pie, but it wasn't...sweet? Intrigued, I ordered a slice. It only took one bite for me to understand how something can be crunchy, buttery, rich, creamy, and savoryall at once. It didn't take long before I tried to recreate a quiche at home. To my disappointment, nailing this eggy tart is trickier than you think. If you don't blind bake the crust long enough, you end up withas they say in the "Great British Baking Show"a soggy bottom. Bake the crust too long, and it'll be rock-hard, prone to shattering when you try to slice it. And that's only speaking to the crust. The filling? That's a whole other story. To save you the details of many kitchen mishaps, let's just agree that quiche can be finicky. For a while, I just threw in the towel and left it to the professionals to make. That's until I stumbled on a video from chef Ayesha Nurdjaja. The video features Nurdjaja's mother, who claims that Julia Child once shared a tip with her that forever changed how she makes quiche. And now, it's changed mine, too. Julia Child's 'Magic Quiche Ratio' Nurdjaja, the chef behind New York City's Shuka and Shukette restaurants, once shared in an interview: "My mother is probably one of the best cooks or chefs that I've ever known. Anything that she touches is gold." Given how often Nurdjaja's mom appears on her social media channels, it's evident she is her mom's biggest fan. And in her latest post featuring her culinary hero, Nurdjaja looks at the camera and says, "Most importantly, take my mothers magic quiche equation away from thisthat Julia child told her. What's the magic equation, you ask? According to Nurdjaja's mom: "Three eggs and enough milk to make a cup and a half of liquid." Yes, it's that easy. In another video that follows Nurdjaja and her mom through the cooking process of the quiche recipe, we see them using a standard Pyrex measuring cup to mix the eggs and milk in. I'll stop here and sayany liquid measuring cup will do, just as long as you hit that sweet spot of one and a half cups of liquid. From there, feel free to customize your quiche as your heart desires. Want a pop of acidity? Try tossing in some diced tomatoes. Craving a hit of umami? A handful of Parmesan might do the trick. As someone who already thinks of recipes as an outline to follow loosely and modify as I see fit, I love cooking tips like this. They're low stakes, casual, and, in some ways, remind me why I like to cook in the first place. If baking is about precision and chemistry, cooking is more easy-going and favorable to a sprinkle of this, a shake of that, and honestly? That's way more fun. Read the original article on ALLRECIPES As the court battle rages over the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the man at center of one of the most consequential legal standoffs since Donald Trump returned to office sits in an El Salvador mega-prison, unable to speak for himself. In the vacuum, his attorneys and wife have characterized Abrego Garcia -- who the Trump administration claims is a member of the criminal gang MS-13 -- as a responsible father and a caring family man whose life in America was abruptly shattered when he was arrested by ICE agents on March 12 and sent three days later to a notorious Salvadoran prison as part of the administration's immigration crackdown. On Wednesday, the Trump administration pushed back on that narrative, releasing documents they say show Abrego Garcia's alleged gang ties, and other documents showing that Abrego Garcia's wife had an order of protection against him for a month in 2021. MORE: Timeline: Wrongful deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador Abrego Garcia is "not a sympathetic figure," the Department of Homeland Security posted on social media Wednesday, saying he is "not the upstanding 'Maryland Man' the media has portrayed him as." From a legal standpoint, however, the issue of Abrego Garcia's character is largely irrelevant to the question of whether the Trump administration is obligated to facilitate his release from a prison to which he was mistakenly sent with little-to-no due process. "The government asserts that Abrego Garcia is a terrorist and a member of MS-13. Perhaps, but perhaps not," the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit wrote Thursday. "Regardless, he is still entitled to due process. If the government is confident of its position, it should be assured that position will prevail in proceedings to terminate the withholding of removal order." "If he is a gang member, you have to prove it in court. If he is a domestic abuser, you have to prove it in court," an attorney for the 29-year-old El Salvador native told ABC News. "If you want to revoke his withholding grant, the government is capable of doing that -- but you have to prove it in court." MORE: Slamming Trump administration, appeals court denies request to appeal Abrego Garcia ruling Though Abrego Garcia entered the U.S. illegally and was subject to possible deportation, an immigration judge in 2019 granted a withholding of his removal to his home country of El Salvador due to fear of persecution. After U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis ruled earlier this month that the Trump administration must "facilitate" Abrego Garcia's return, and the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed that ruling, the case has become a test of the power of the executive branch versus the courts. The 'worst of the worst'? President Donald Trump, upon entering office in January, pledged that his immigration crackdown would deport the "worst of the worst" migrants to offshore prisons, and he has invoked the 18th century Alien Enemies Act to carry out the removals with little-to-no due process, by arguing that gangs like MS-13 and Tren de Aragua constitute a "hybrid criminal state" that is invading the United States. The Trump administration has repeatedly labeled Abrego Garcia a terrorist and has said he's a member of MS-13 and a human trafficker. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Wednesday that, regardless of whether he ever leaves the Salvadoran prison, Abrego Garcia will not be returning to the U.S. "He should not be in our country," Bondi said. "He was deported. They needed one additional step in paperwork, but now MS-13 is characterized as they should be, as a foreign terrorist organization. So he is not coming back to our country." Court records describe Abrego Garcia as a father of three special needs children with a history of alleged domestic violence, including having a temporary order of protection against him in 2021 in which his wife cited being slapped, hit with an object, and being detained against her will. The case was closed about a month later when his wife failed to appear for a court hearing. In a statement released to ABC News Wednesday through her attorney, Vasquez Sura -- who has been vocal in her support of Abrego Garcia -- said, "After surviving domestic violence in a previous relationship, I acted out of caution after a disagreement with Kilmar by seeking a protective order in case things escalated. We were able to work through this situation privately as a family, including by going to counseling. Kilmar has always been a loving partner and father, and I will continue to stand by him and demand justice for him." Lawyers for Abrego Garcia have denied his association with the violent MS-13 gang, arguing he is an innocent father who, by the Trump administration's own admission, was deported to his home country in error and in violation of the court order barring his deportation there. PHOTO: Undated photo of a man identified by Jennifer Vasquez Sura as her husband, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, is led by force by guards through the Terrorism Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador. (U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland via AP) Abrego Garcia left his home in El Salvador in 2011 at the age of sixteen after a local gang extorted his family's business, threatened to rape and kill his sisters, and made repeated threats on his life, according to immigration court filings. His lawyers said he slowly built a life in the United States, meeting his future wife, moving in together to take care of her two children from an earlier relationship -- one with epilepsy and another with autism -- and learning the skills needed to become a skilled sheet metal worker. Living in the United States for 14 years, he spent nearly as much time in the U.S. as he did growing up in El Salvador. 'See no evil, hear no evil' In 2019, after dropping his wife off at work and his children off at school, Abrego Garcia was picked up by local police as he was attempting to find work in a Home Depot parking lot in Hyattsville, Maryland, according to his immigration court testimony. According to one of the documents released Wednesday by the DOJ -- a gang field interview sheet from the Prince George's County Police Department in Maryland -- Abrego Garcia wore a Chicago Bulls hat and hoodie emblazoned with images of rolls of money covering the eyes and ears of former U.S. presidents, which police claimed tied him to MS-13. "Officers know such clothing to be indicative of the Hispanic gang culture," the report said, noting that the meaning of the clothing is "see no evil, hear no evil and say no evil." "Wearing the Chicago Bulls hat represents that they are a member in good standing with the MS-13," the report said. According to the report, officers contacted a "past proven and reliable source of information" who said that Abrego Garcia was a ranking member of MS-13. Abrego Garcia had the rank of "Chequeo" and had the moniker "Chele," according to the informant. According to the DOJ, a chequeo is a low level member of MS-13. The DHS report added that Abrego Garcia was in possession of $1,178 at the time of his arrest. The report noted that Abrego Garcia was in the company of three other men when he was arrested, one of whom, according to police, had an extensive criminal history and was known as an active gang member. Another was linked to MS-13 based on a confidential source, the report said. PHOTO: Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran migrant in this handout image obtained by Reuters on April 9, 2025. (Abrego Garcia Family via Reuters) Abrego Garcia's lawyers say the detective who authored the gang field interview sheet linking him to MS-13 was later suspended by the Prince George's County Police Department, which subsequently released a statement saying the officer was suspended in 2019 and pleaded guilty to misconduct in office for providing confidential information about ongoing police activities to a commercial sex worker in exchange for sexual acts. The Hyattsville City Police Department later confirmed that an incident report existed for the Home Depot incident, but Abrego Garcia was never named in the report, and he did not appear in any other incident report. "I attended his bond hearing and was shocked when the government said he should stay detained because Kilmar is an MS-13 gang member," his wife Jennifer Vasquez Sura said in a sworn declaration last month. "Kilmar is not and has never been a gang member. I'm certain of that." Immigration judge Elizabeth Kessler denied releasing him on bond, writing that his release would endanger the public because "evidence shows that he is a verified member of MS-13." However, Judge Kessler noted that the two documents used to prove his membership in the gang "appear at odds" with each other. According to Judge Kessler's memorandum, one document used as evidence -- a Form I-213 -- alleged that Abrego Garcia was detained "in connection with a murder investigation," and his lawyers argue the document was erroneous. The other document -- a gang field interview form filled out by a Prince George's County Police detective -- said Abrego Garcia was arrested because he was loitering outside the Home Depot. MORE: Wife of deported Maryland man Abrego Garcia said he hit, scratched her in 2021 court documents According to Judge Kesler, the main piece of evidence to support his affiliation with MS-13 was the gang field interview form that suggested a "past, proven, and reliable source of information" said Abrego Garcia was a ranking member of the gang, and he was unable to rebut that allegation. An appeals court later affirmed the judge's decision. Abrego Garcia remained in custody while the immigration proceedings against him continued, and he missed the birth of his own child. In June 2019, he married his wife through the glass barrier of his visitation room at Howard Detention Center in Maryland. After a lengthy hearing in which Abrego Garcia offered credible testimony, according to an immigration judge, he was granted "withholding of removal status," which prohibited him from being deported back to El Salvador because he might be persecuted by the gang that extorted his family. His application for asylum, submitted at the same time, was denied because he had waited too long to apply. 'I told him he would come back home' In the five years since he was granted limited protected status, Abrego Garcia supported his family by being employed as a sheetmetal worker; he secured a five-year apprenticeship in 2024 to become a licensed journeyman; and he enrolled at the University of Maryland, where he took classes every other Thursday, according to his wife. "Kilmar continued to be the supportive, loving, reliable, and law-abiding man I know and love. He was never arrested or accused of a crime. And to my knowledge, he never again was stopped by the police officers that accused him of being a gang member in 2019. We really believed that the false accusations had been cleared up and that they were behind us," his wife said. But last month, on March 12, Abrego Garcia was pulled over for what he thought was a routine traffic stop, according to Vasquez Sura. As his son with autism sat in the backseat, Abrego Garcia pulled into an Ikea parking lot where ICE officers told him that his "immigration status had changed." "Kilmar was crying, and I told him he would come back home because he hadn't done anything wrong," his wife told ABC News. Three days later -- the same day the Trump administration deported three planes of noncitizens to El Salvador -- Vasquez Sura said she heard from Abrego Garcia for the last time. MORE: DOJ plans to appeal Abrego Garcia ruling, releases documents it says tie him to gang "That call was short, and Kimar's tone was different," she said. "He was scared." She later identified her husband in some of the videos and photos distributed by the Salvadoran government. According to Vasquez Sura, their family relies on Abrego Garcia for his "constant care and stability," and their son with autism has begun acting up since he was deported. "Although he cannot speak, he shows me how much he missed Kilmar. He has been finding Kilmar's work shirts and smelling them, to smell Kilmar's familiar scent," she said. "I need to know when my husband is coming home." During a press briefing Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt suggested that day will never come. "There is never going to be a world in which this is an individual who's going to live a peaceful life in Maryland," she said. As Kilmar Abrego Garcia's deportation battle continues, differing pictures of him emerge originally appeared on abcnews.go.com AI alerts help doctors spot suicide risk early, boosting screenings and prevention in busy clinics. (CREDIT: Shutterstock) In busy medical clinics, doctors often focus on treating physical problems. Yet mental health risks, like suicide, may go unnoticed unless something draws attention to them. A recent study from a team of researchers tested a new way to help doctors notice warning signs sooner. Using artificial intelligence (AI), the study showed how technology can help save lives. This research, led by Dr. Colin Walsh and his team at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center explored a system called VSAIL. That stands for Vanderbilt Suicide Attempt and Ideation Likelihood model. VSAIL uses information already stored in a patients medical records to estimate the chance they may try to harm themselves within 30 days. The system looks at data from past doctor visits and other routine health details. Testing AI in Real Clinics To see how well VSAIL works, the team ran a study in three neurology clinics. These clinics were chosen because people with certain brain or nerve conditions have a higher risk for suicide. Over six months, 7,732 patient visits were tracked. The AI system flagged 596 of those visits, or about 8%, for possible suicide risk. Risk Model-Guided Clinical Decision Support for Suicide Screening. (CREDIT: Walsh, Ripperger, Novak) Doctors were randomly given two kinds of alerts when a flagged patient arrived. Some got what are called interruptive alerts, which popped up during the visit and forced the doctor to respond. Others got non-interruptive alerts, which quietly placed risk information in the patients chart without forcing any action. The results were striking. Doctors acted on 42% of the interruptive alerts by screening patients for suicide risk. But with the non-interruptive alerts, doctors followed through only 4% of the time. Thats a big difference in behavior, simply based on how the information was delivered. "The automated system flagged only about 8% of all patient visits for screening," said Walsh. "This selective approach makes it more feasible for busy clinics to implement suicide prevention efforts." Related Stories Why Screening Matters Suicide is a major and growing concern in the United States. Every year, about 14.2 out of every 100,000 Americans die by suicide. It is now the 11th leading cause of death in the country. Whats more alarming is that 77% of people who die by suicide have seen a primary care doctor in the year before their death. Most of these visits arent even about mental health. That means there are missed chances to help. "Most people who die by suicide have seen a health care provider in the year before their death, often for reasons unrelated to mental health," Walsh explained. "But universal screening isn't practical in every setting. We developed VSAIL to help identify high-risk patients and prompt focused screening conversations." Doctors are under pressure to manage time and handle many cases quickly. Asking every patient about their mental health might not be possible. Thats where smart systems like VSAIL can help. Instead of screening everyone, the system highlights only the people most likely to need attention. This focused approach helps make prevention more practical. Flowchart of Trial Outcomes by Arm. In earlier testing, before this clinic trial, the AI system showed promising signs. It correctly flagged people at high risk, even though no alerts were sent to doctors at that stage. One in 23 flagged individuals later reported suicidal thoughts. Looking at the Big Picture No patients flagged in this study were found to have attempted suicide during the 30 days following their clinic visit. This is good news, but researchers say more studies are needed. The next steps may involve trying the system in other medical settings, not just neurology. Many other types of clinics could benefit from early suicide risk detection. The team also noted a potential problem: too many interruptive alerts could lead to something called alert fatigue. Thats when doctors see so many pop-ups that they start ignoring them. Its a real concern in medical technology. Overuse of alerts can slow down workflows and make it harder to focus on whats important. Like these kind of stories? GetThe Brighter Side of News' newsletter "Health care systems need to balance the effectiveness of interruptive alerts against their potential downsides," Walsh said. "But these results suggest that automated risk detection combined with well-designed alerts could help us identify more patients who need suicide prevention services." Doctors have a lot on their plates. A system like VSAIL helps them by offering useful information at the right time. It doesnt replace the doctors judgment, but it gives them a tool to start important conversations that might otherwise be missed. A New Direction for Mental Health Support Technology in health care often focuses on faster tests or better scans. This study shows that AI can also be used for something deeply humanprotecting peoples emotional well-being. With suicide rates rising across the nation, theres an urgent need for smarter solutions. Clinical Decision Support Logic. (CREDIT: Walsh, Ripperger, Novak) What sets this approach apart is how it quietly fits into the regular care process. Doctors dont need to change how they work. Instead, they get helpful signals based on solid data. The result is a simple way to help catch serious risks early. Most importantly, the system helps turn silent struggles into open conversations. A well-timed alert might be all it takes for someone to finally get help. Note: The article above provided above by The Brighter Side of News. Like these kind of feel good stories? Get The Brighter Side of News' newsletter. Natural Habitat Adventures Canadas Premier Polar Bear Adventure Patrick J. Endres/Natural Habitat Adventures If youre lucky enough to see a polar bear at the zoo, you will instantly fall in love. These majestic creatures are beautiful. They have black skin and clear fur that appears white. They live in coastal and floating ice fields, hunting seals, walruses, and seabirds. These Arctic animals are awe-inspiring, especially when you can see them in their natural environments. Sadly, there are only about 20,000-25,000 polar bears left in the world. If you love polar bears as much as we do, then you have to sign up for a polar bear tour! These unique tours in Canada, Norway, and other locations often pair you up with a local guide to give you insider knowledge into where polar bears like to roam. Youll get to ride a bus, boat, or helicopter to see these amazing creatures in action. Just dont forget to bundle up! Keep in mind: before you book a trip, be sure to check local laws, as certain polar bear spaces may be temporarily off-limits. Then, bring a camera and your sense of adventure, because any of these trips will be unforgettable! Fresh Tracks Canada: Classic Churchill Polar Bears Watch polar bears playing and having fun together in the Polar Bear Capital of the World. CherylRamalho/Shutterstock.com If you want to see polar bears, the best place to go is the Polar Bear Capital of the World, of course! This polar bear hotspot is located in Churchill, Manitoba, in Canada. Fresh Tracks Canada offers many different tour options, like their Classic Churchill Polar Bears six-day tour. Go in October or November, when polar bears migrate from the Churchill Wildlife Management Area to Hudson Bay, where they hunt seals on ice. Youll get to ride on a heated tundra buggy, go dogsledding, and learn about northern Manitobas Indigenous culture at the Itsanitaq Museum. You can tweak the trip to fit your travel needs, but after arriving in Winnipeg, a typical itinerary includes exploring the sites, maybe renting some winter clothes (it can get down to 9 degrees F in the fall!), and meeting your guide and group. The next day, youll take a short flight to Churchill to see polar bears and explore the area for a few days, flying back to Winnipeg at the end of day 5 and ending the trip on the sixth day. For those who dont like roughing it, this is a great option. Youll stay in comfortable hotels, like the charming Tundra Inn or the amenity-packed Lakeview Signature Hotel. People love this trip, with one five-star reviewer writing, I dont know how to top this trip. It was an adventure of a lifetime. I loved seeing all the polar bears in their natural habitat and the dog sledding. We think it sounds perfect! Prices begin at $6,770 per person and include hotel accommodations, most meals, and guided activities. Learn more at CanadaPolarBears.com. Natural Habitat Adventures: Canadas Premier Polar Bear Adventure Seeing a polar bear walk right up to your vehicle is a life-changing experience during this Natural Habitat Adventures tour. Henry H. Holdsworth/ Natural Habitat Adventures When you take a Natural Habitat Adventures tour, you get to ride in their custom-built Polar Rovers! These cool vehicles have steel-mesh flooring and large windows, so you get a good look at these impressive creatures from almost any angle. Youll also learn more about Arctic life on their tours and see some of the best wildlife viewing zones, as the touring company holds exclusive rights to some of them. Natural Habitats Canadas Premier Polar Bear Adventure is 6-7 days in the fall, starting in Winnipeg. You will spend one night in the historic Fort Garry Hotel, where you will get to borrow Arctic-style parkas and winter boots at no extra cost. Then, youll fly to Churchill, ride in small groups of no more than 16 to see the polar bears interacting, playing, and walking through the freezing environment. You will also get to see beautiful sites, including a possible appearance from an Arctic fox and an Arctic hare. During your stay, you can go out on a nighttime tundra excursion for a chance to see the northern lights. Dog sledding is also included in the tour, and optional helicopter rides are available for an extra cost. Prices begin at $7,995 plus the cost of an internal air flight. Learn more at NatHab.com. Swoop Arctic: Into the Polar Bears Realm Spy polar bears, walruses, and seabirds in Svalbard, Norway. Wirestock/iStock via Getty Images Looking for a more immersive polar bear experience? Swoop Arctic will take you on their Into the Polar Bears Realm tour, a 10-12 day adventure in Svalbard, Norway. Your adventure begins in Helsinki, Finland, where you will hop on a flight to Longyearbyen in Svalbard, which is located inside the Arctic Circle. Embark on your expedition ship, where you will cruise around Spitsbergen for seven days and enjoy the scenic views, including fjords, polar flora, and glaciers. In addition to polar bears, you might spot Brunnichs guillemots, which are thick-billed murres, and walruses. You can also take an optional kayaking excursion to get even more up-close-and-personal with the unique scenery. By the end of the trip, youll return to Longyearbyen and fly back to Helsinki, where you can book a trip home. Prices begin at $10,190. Learn more at Swoop-Arctic.com. Polar Tours: Springtime in Svalbard See polar bears and other Arctic wildlife against the prettiest backdrops in Svalbard, Norway. Ondrej Prosicky/Shutterstock.com Spring is the perfect season to see polar bears and other stunning wildlife in Svalbard. According to Polar Tours, the month of May is a great time to see glittering snow and ice against the vibrantly colored skies. You can spot the Arctic fox, the Svalbard reindeer, walruses, polar bears hunting for seals, and birds like the king eiders and rock ptarmigans. Polar Tours Springtime in Svalbard tour takes guests on the MS Quest, an expedition ship with private cabins to relax in when you arent trying to photograph the areas breathtaking beauty. The 9-day exhibition begins in Longyearbyen, where you will head either north or south, depending on ice and weather conditions. A sample itinerary includes docking at the Cliff of Alkhornet, where you can see barnacle geese, Brunnichs guillemots, glaucous gulls, snow buntings and tens of thousands of kittiwakes, along with some Arctic foxes. You may also visit Kongsfjorden, where the 14th of July Glacier is located, or admire the natural beauty in Raudfjorden. One place that polar bears like to visit is Hornsund, which has stunning fjords that the polar bears like to hang out in. One happy customer reported, Our guides did an excellent job of taking us to places where we could observe the wildlife whether in the Zodiacs or on the ship. Their enthusiasm for the Arctic animals and plants was contagious. This was a memorable and joyful adventure! Prices begin at $7,090. Learn more at PolarTours.com. Tsigaar Naasor: Polar Bear & Muskox Experience You might see polar bears, muskox, and other wild creatures while staying in the remote village of Ittoqqortoormiit in East Greenland. Adwo/Shutterstock.com Experience the Arctic like a local by going on a Tsigaar Naasor tour at Ittoqqortoormiit, East Greenland, home of the worlds largest fjord system and the largest national park on earth. Travel there by way of Reykjavik or Akureyri in Iceland to Nerlerit Inaat (Constable Point), then take a helicopter, boat, or snowmobile transfer to get to Ittoqqortoormiit. This remote location (it only has one restaurant!) is a wonderful place to see polar bears in the wild. Book their Polar Bear & Muskox Experience, and ogle these animals that are present year-round in this icy location. Try to find polar bears or muskoxen, a historic animal from the far north, while sledding or sailing through the fjords, or by taking an ATV tour. Youll learn about this distinct ecosystem and the delicate balance of the Arctic while having fantastic opportunities for photo ops. One of the most unique parts of the trip is that you wont stay in a hotel while youre there. Youll actually get to rest in a local familys home, where you can see their culture, customs, and daily routines firsthand. These cozy homestay accommodations ensure you will get the real East Greenland experience, as you sleep in your own room and share bathrooms, living areas, and kitchens with the homeowners, enjoying their delicious food and hearing stories from their lives. Its a once-in-a-lifetime kind of trip, and you will love every minute of it. Prices vary. Learn more on EastGreenland.com. The post These Polar Bear Tours Provide a Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience appeared first on A-Z Animals. Luigi Mangione, Brian Thompson Accused killer Luigi Mangione was indicted on federal charges for allegedly gunning down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, the government announced Thursday just days after feds revealed theyd seek the death penalty in the high-profile assassination. The four-count indictment unsealed in Manhattan federal court charged the 26-year-old with murder through the use of a firearm, two counts of stalking and firearms offenses for the Dec. 4 killing of the healthcare boss in the Big Apple. Mangione, who is also facing state murder charges in Manhattan, will appear before Judge Margaret Garrett as soon as Friday to formally answer to the charges. Mangione will now appear in front of a federal judge in the coming days to formally answer to the charges. via REUTERS The latest indictment comes just days after US Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that the feds will urge a jury to take the rare step of ordering what would be the citys first federal execution in 70 years. Luigi Mangiones murder of Brian Thompson an innocent man and father of two young children was a premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America, Bondi said in an April 11 press release. Luigi Mangione has been indicted on federal charges over his alleged assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. UnitedHealth Group After careful consideration, I have directed federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty in this case as we carry out President Trumps agenda to stop violent crime and Make America Safe Again. Mangiones legal team slammed the lawless Justice Department for wanting to murder the accused CEO killer for political reasons. While New York state outlawed the death penalty in 2004, federal prosecutors can still execute defendants if they convince a jury to unanimously sign off on a government-sanctioned killing. Mangione was indicted on four counts, including murder through use of a firearm and stalking. csuarez The Ivy League-educated tech whiz is charged with the cold-blooded slaying of Thompson, 50, in separate cases brought by state and federal prosecutors. He faces life in prison if convicted in state court on an upgraded charge of murder as an act of terrorism. Mangione is accused of traveling across states to execute the health insurance executive with a 3D-printed ghost gun equipped with a homemade silencer outside a Midtown Hilton, where UnitedHealthcares parent company was holding its annual investor conference. Prosecutors said Mangione a University of Pennsylvania graduate from a well-heeled Maryland family plotted the attack for months and wrote in his notebook about plans to wack the head of a medical insurance company, alongside angry tirades against the US healthcare system. The alleged assassin, who railed about the healthcare industry in his manifesto, was arrested at a McDonalds in Altoona, Pennsylvania following a dramatic five-day manhunt. Since his arrest, Mangione has garnered a cult-like following of supporters who have decried what theyve called Americas corrupt healthcare system and donated more than $918,000 to a fundraising page managed by his defense team. He has since pleaded not guilty to a slew of state and federal charges tied to the ruthless killing. Mangione is being held without bail at a Brooklyn federal lockup. Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen, right, speaks with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran citizen who was living in Maryland and deported to El Salvador by the Trump administration, in a hotel restaurant in San Salvador, El Salvador, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (Press Office Senator Van Hollen, via AP) SAN SALVADOR (AP) Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen met with Kilmar Abrego Garcia on Thursday evening in El Salvador, coming face to face with the wrongly deported man after two days in the country pushing for his release. The Democratic senator posted a photo of the meeting on X but did not provide an update on the status of Abrego Garcia, whose attorneys are fighting to force the Trump administration to facilitate his return to the U.S. A Salvadoran citizen who was living in Maryland, Abrego Garcia was sent to El Salvador by the Trump administration in March despite an immigration court order preventing his deportation. U.S. President Donald Trump and Bukele said this week that they have no basis to return him to the United States, even as the Trump administration has called his deportation a mistake and the U.S. Supreme Court has called on the administration to facilitate his return. I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar, Van Hollen wrote on X, with a photo of the two men talking in what appeared to be a restaurant. Tonight I had that chance. I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return. Its not clear how the meeting was arranged, where they met or what will happen to Abrego Garcia. El Salvadors President Nayib Bukele posted images of the meeting minutes before Van Hollen shared his post, saying, Now that hes been confirmed healthy, he gets the honor of staying in El Salvadors custody. The tweet ended with emojis of the U.S. and El Salvador flags, with a handshake emoji between them. Abrego Garcia's wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, said in a statement released by an advocacy group that we still have so many questions, hopes, and fears. Van Hollens trip has become a partisan flashpoint in the U.S. as Democrats have seized on Abrego Garcias deportation as what they say is a cruel consequence of Trumps disregard for the courts. A federal appeals court said Thursday in a blistering order that the Trump administrations claim that it cant do anything to free Abrego Garcia from an El Salvador prison and return him to the U.S. should be shocking. " Republicans have criticized Democrats for defending the prisoner and argued that his deportation is part of a larger effort to reduce crime. White House officials have said that Abrego Garcia has ties to the MS-13 gang, but his attorneys say the government has provided no evidence of that and Abrego Garcia has never been charged with any crime related to such activity. More Democrats have said they will travel to El Salvador to argue for Abrego Garcia's release, but it's unclear if the trips, or Van Hollen's meeting, will have any effect on his status. When asked by reporters Thursday afternoon if he believed Abrego Garcia was entitled to due process, President Donald Trump ducked the question. I have to refer, again, to the lawyers, he said in the Oval Office. I have to do what they ask me to do. A spokeswoman for El Salvadors presidency said she had no further information on the meeting or Abrego Garcia, Van Hollen's meeting came hours after he said he was denied entry into the high-security Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT, where Abrego Garcia is being held. The Democratic senator said at a news conference in San Salvador on Thursday afternoon, before his meeting, that his car was stopped by soldiers at a checkpoint about 3 kilometers (about 2 miles) from the prison even as they let other cars go on. They stopped us because they are under orders not to allow us to proceed," Van Hollen said. While Van Hollen was denied entry, several House Republicans have visited the notorious gang prison in support of the Trump administration's efforts. Rep. Riley Moore, a West Virginia Republican, posted Tuesday evening that hed visited the prison where Abrego Garcia is being held. He did not mention Abrego Garcia but said the facility houses the countrys most brutal criminals. I leave now even more determined to support President Trumps efforts to secure our homeland, Moore wrote on social media. Missouri Republican Rep. Jason Smith, chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, also visited the prison. He posted on X that thanks to President Trump" the facility now includes illegal immigrants who broke into our country and committed violent acts against Americans. Van Hollen first arrived in El Salvador on Wednesday morning and met shortly afterward with Salvadoran Vice President Felix Ulloa, who told him that his government could not return Abrego Garcia to the United States. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials acknowledged in a court filing earlier this month that his deportation was an administrative error. The governments acknowledgment sparked immediate uproar from immigration advocates, but White House officials have dug in on the allegation that hes a gang member and will not be returned to the United States. The fight has also played out in contentious court filings, with repeated refusals from the government to tell a judge what it plans to do, if anything, to repatriate him. The three-judge panel from the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously refused Thursday to suspend the judges decision to order sworn testimony by Trump administration officials and said the judiciary will be hurt by the constant intimations of its illegitimacy while the executive branch will lose much from a public perception of its lawlessness. Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III, who was nominated by Republican President Ronald Reagan, wrote that he and his two colleagues cling to the hope that it is not naive to believe our good brethren in the Executive Branch perceive the rule of law as vital to the American ethos. Since March, El Salvador has accepted from the U.S. more than 200 Venezuelan immigrants whom Trump administration officials have accused of gang activity and violent crimes and placed them inside the countrys maximum-security gang prison just outside San Salvador. That prison is part of Bukeles broader effort to crack down on the countrys powerful street gangs, which has put 84,000 people behind bars and made Bukele extremely popular at home. Human rights groups have accused Bukele's government of subjecting those jailed to systematic use of torture and other mistreatment." Officials there deny wrongdoing. ___ Jalonick reported from Washington. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., speaks during a news conference upon his arrival from meeting with Kilmar Abrego Garcia in El Salvador, at Washington Dulles International Airport, in Chantilly, Va., Friday, April 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) WASHINGTON (AP) The dispute over the wrongful deportation and imprisonment of Kilmar Abrego Garcia is not only about one man but about Donald Trump's disregard of the American judicial system as well, Sen. Chris Van Hollen said Friday as he returned from a three-day trip to El Salvador to press for the detained man's release. Speaking to reporters just after landing back in the United States, Van Hollen offered few answers about what will come next in Abrego Garcias case. But the Maryland Democrat said that he and others will keep speaking out after the Trump administration defied court orders to facilitate his return to the United States and insisted that he would stay in El Salvador even as officials acknowledged an error in deporting him. Its about protecting the constitutional rights of everybody who resides in the United States, Van Hollen said at Washington Dulles International Airport at a news conference with Abrego Garcia's supporters behind him. Its very clear that the president, Trump administration, are blatantly, flagrantly disagreeing with, defying the order from the Supreme Court. Standing next to him, Abrego Garcias wife, Jennifer, wiped away tears as the senator shared her husbands comments about missing his family. Much uncertainty remains about the future of Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran citizen who was living in Maryland, after Van Hollen was presented with a carefully staged opportunity to meet with him in El Salvador on Thursday. The Maryland senator said that Abrego Garcia reported he'd been moved from a notorious Salvadoran mega-prison, CECOT, to a detention center with better conditions Abrego Garcia's status after Van Hollen left was not known, and there was no indication that Van Hollens trip pushed him any closer to release. The case has become a focal point in the national immigration debate. Democrats insist that President Donald Trump is overstepping his executive authority and disrespecting the courts; Republicans are criticizing Democrats for defending a man Trump and White House officials claim is an MS-13 gang member, despite the fact that he has not been charged with any gang-related crimes. Van Hollen said that Abrego Garcia told him that he'd shared a cell with 25 prisoners and was afraid of many fellow inmates at CECOT before he was moved to another center in Santa Ana, El Salvador. He said that Abrego Garcia reported being treated well but noted that they were surrounded by government minders at the time. Democrats are pushing, Republicans aren't budging The fight over Abrego Garcia is the latest partisan flashpoint as Democrats struggle to break through and push back during the opening few months of Trumps second administration. More Democratic lawmakers have said they will fly to El Salvador to push for Abrego Garcias release, but the partisan pressure has yielded no results. President Donald Trump and El Salvadors president, Nayib Bukele, have only dug in on keeping him out of the United States. That stance remained even after the U.S. Supreme Court called on the administration to facilitate his return. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has said that Abrego Garcia will never live in the United States of America again. Bukele posted images of Van Hollens meeting with Abrego Garcia on Thursday and said that the prisoner gets the honor of staying in El Salvadors custody. Van Hollen said a Salvadoran government official placed other beverages on the table with salt or sugar on the rim to make it appear they were drinking margaritas. Van Hollen said neither he nor Abrego Garcia drank from the glasses, which in the photo Bukele posted were garnished with cherries. After days of denying that he knew much about Abrego Garcia, Trump on Friday said he knew Abrego Garcia's prison record was unbelievably bad and called him an illegal alien and a foreign terrorist. The president also responded Friday with a social media post saying Van Hollen looked like a fool yesterday standing in El Salvador begging for attention. More members of Congress are visiting the prison, or trying Several House Republicans have visited the notorious gang prison in support of the Trump administrations efforts. Rep. Riley Moore, a West Virginia Republican, posted Tuesday evening that hed visited the prison where Abrego Garcia is being held. I leave now even more determined to support President Trumps efforts to secure our homeland, Moore wrote on social media. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials acknowledged in a court filing earlier this month that Abrego Garcia's deportation was an administrative error. The governments acknowledgment generated immediate uproar from immigration advocates, but White House officials have stuck with the allegation that hes a gang member. The fight has also played out in contentious court filings, with repeated refusals from the government to tell a judge what it plans to do, if anything, to repatriate him. The three-judge panel from the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously refused Thursday to suspend the judges decision to order sworn testimony by Trump administration officials and said the judiciary will be hurt by the constant intimations of its illegitimacy while the executive branch will lose much from a public perception of its lawlessness. Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III, nominated by President Ronald Reagan, a Republican, wrote that he and his two colleagues cling to the hope that it is not naive to believe our good brethren in the Executive Branch perceive the rule of law as vital to the American ethos. Since March, El Salvador has accepted from the United States more than 200 Venezuelan immigrants whom Trump administration officials have accused of gang activity and violent crimes. Bukele's government has placed them inside the countrys maximum-security gang prison, just outside San Salvador. ___ Gomez Licon reported from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. A Michigan man has been sentenced to eight months in prison after making a false bomb threat against a cruise his girlfriend was on without him. A federal judge sentenced Joshua Lowe, 19, on Monday for making the threat because he was upset that the family went on the cruise, while leaving him behind to care for their pets, Assistant U.S. Attorney Nils Kessler said in court records obtained by USA TODAY. U.S. Attorney Mark Totten said in a news release in September that there was zero tolerance for bomb threats. Hoaxes can endanger lives, incur needless costs, and divert public safety resources needed to address real threats, he said. We take every threat of mass violence seriously. Lowe, who is from Bailey, Michigan, pleaded guilty to one count of false information and hoaxes. In a letter addressed to U.S. District Judge Paul Maloney, Lowe apologized and said he was pursuing "a path to Jesus and God. "This is all my fault and (I) take full responsibility," Lowe said. "It should have never happened. I want you to know that after all this, I have learned how to be more responsible, and learn from my mistakes." A false threat According to court records, Carnival Cruise Lines got an email saying a bomb could be located inside the company's Sunrise cruise ship. Hey, I think someone might have a bomb on your sunrise cruise ship, Lowe wrote anonymously at the time. After receiving the email, Carnival diverted the ship, which had departed from Miami, to Jamaica. Prosecutors said the email sent by Lowe prompted the crew to perform a search of more than 1,100 rooms for a bomb that did not exist. The Carnival cruise ship Sunrise is seen docked at Miami Port, in Miami, Florida, U.S., June 18, 2022. Picture taken with a drone. Court documents said that FBI agents traced the email back to Lowe, who at the time lived with his girlfriend's family. Once confronted by authorities, Lowe admitted to having sent the email because he was upset that the family left him behind to take care of their pets, prosecutors said. Bomb threats are not a laughing matter and are extremely irresponsible, Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan, said in a statement. Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Michigan man sentenced for bomb threat to Carnival cruise ship MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Al Shabaab fighters attacked a town in central Somalia on Wednesday that government forces have been using as a staging area for their efforts to drive back the militants, who have been gaining ground in recent weeks, residents said. Advances by the al Qaeda affiliate, which included briefly capturing villages within 50 km (30 miles) of Mogadishu last month, have left residents of the capital on edge amid rumours al Shabaab could target the city. The army has recaptured those villages, but al Shabaab has continued to advance in the countryside, leading the government to deploy police officers and prison guards to support the military, soldiers have told Reuters. The town attacked on Wednesday, Adan Yabaal, lies around 245 kilometres north of Mogadishu and has been used as an operating base for raids on al Shabaab. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who hails from the area, visited Adan Yabaal last month to meet with military commanders there about reinforcing them. "After early morning prayers, we heard a deafening explosion, then gunfire," Fatuma Nur, a mother of four, told Reuters by telephone from Adan Yabaal. "Al Shabaab attacked us from two directions. I am indoors and fighting is still going on." The outcome of the battle was not immediately clear, with government forces and al Shabaab giving conflicting accounts. Captain Hussein Olow, a military officer in Adan Yabaal, told Reuters that government troops had pushed back the militants. Al Shabaab, which has waged an insurgency since 2007 to seize power and rule based on its strict interpretation of Islamic Sharia law, said in a statement that its forces had overrun 10 military installations and captured the town. National government officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The fighting comes as the future of international security support to Somalia has grown increasingly precarious. A new African Union peacekeeping mission replaced a larger force at the start of the year, but its funding is uncertain, with the United States opposed to a plan to transition to a U.N. financing model. (Reporting by Abdi Sheikh; Writing by George Obulutsa; Editing by Aaron Ross and Joe Bavier) The Jopwell Collection | Unsplash (The Center Square) George Mason University renamed its diversity, equity and inclusion office following federal guidance ending DEI, joining many other schools that are responding to the federal directives. On Jan. 20, Trump issued an executive order that called for the termination of all discriminatory programs, including illegal DEI and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) mandates, policies, programs, preferences, and activities in the Federal Government, under whatever name they appear. Schools across the nation have been responding to this executive order as well as a Jan. 21 order of similar content and a Feb. 14 Dear Colleague letter from the U.S. Department of Education that called for the end of race-based decisions in education. George Mason University updated its Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to the Office of Access, Compliance, and Community in March after carefully review[ing] and address[ing] recent policy changes at the federal and state levels relative to DEI, according to a school message. We will change the name of this office and move on, committed as always to the substance of that office: ensuring a fair, welcoming, and supportive environment for all, and observing state and federal civil rights laws to the benefit of all, the message read. George Masons core values will never change under any circumstances, including the value of diversity is our strength, the message said. George Mason also changed language on its website and deleted some webpages altogether to ensure that digital platforms accurately reflect [the schools] compliance with new and pre-existing federal requirements. George Mason will continue to ensure that we comply with all legal mandates from the federal government, the message said. George Mason University media relations manager John Hollis referred The Center Square to the school message already cited among others. Temple University director of university communications and media relations Steve Orbanek likewise referred The Center Square to announcements concerning executive orders, the Education Departments Dear Colleague letter, and the letters FAQ follow-up, all of which affirm the schools commitment to comply with the law. Since receiving this communication from Temple, the school also announced it is still reviewing guidance from the Department of Education to confirm the schools policies and practices comply with applicable law. When asked how the University of Arkansas is responding to the Jan. 20 executive order, the schools director of media relations and core communications John Thomas told The Center Square that Arkansas will comply with all state and federal guidance and law. Ohio State University, the University of Virginia, the University of Kentucky, the University of Michigan, Case Western Reserve, and Virginia Commonwealth University have announced the dissolution of their respective diversity and inclusion offices, The Center Square previously reported. The University of Cincinnati, the University of Arizona, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of Washington, the University of California, Pennsylvanias State System of Higher Education, Brown University, Cornell and the University of WisconsinMadison are all evaluating, reviewing, or monitoring Trumps Jan. 20 executive order, The Center Square previously reported, with no updates to their responses when reached again. The University of Washington Medicine spokeswoman Susan Gregg previously told The Center Square that UW Medicine has no comment when asked for the schools response to the Jan. 20 executive order, after weeks of saying there were no updates to the fact UW Medicine was continuing with its normal operations operations that would presumably involve DEI. Gregg did not respond when reached again for any updates. Michigan State University had no update for The Center Square to its previous comment that it feels confident [it is] continuing to operate within federal and state laws as it regards its manner of educating and hiring. The Center Square previously reported that Columbia University removed DEI language from parts of its website and took down some DEI-related web pages. Columbia did not respond when asked for updates on its response to the executive order. Mayo Clinic School of Medicine told The Center Square it had no comment when asked for its response to the Jan. 20 executive order, joining the University of Maryland, UC Irvine School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, and New York University, who each previously told The Center Square the same. UC Irvine SOM previously said it may have more information as we learn more, but did not provide any more information when reached again. Emory University declined to participate, when reached. The following schools have not yet provided comment after repeated requests concerning each of their responses to the executive order: HarvardStanfordDukeYalePennNorthwestern UniversityThe University of ChicagoBoston UniversityUC San DiegoIndiana UniversityUniversity of PittsburghCommunity College of Allegheny CountyUniversity of FloridaFlorida State UniversityEast Carolina UniversityUniversity of CincinnatiLouisiana State UniversityUniversity of MississippiUniversity of MinnesotaGeorgia TechGeorgia State UniversityRutgers UniversityOregon State UniversityUniversity of AlabamaTexas A&M UniversityUniversity of Texas at AustinPurdue UniversityCollege of William and MaryUniversity of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignUniversity of Colorado BoulderStony Brook UniversitySan Diego State UniversityClemson UniversityUniversity of Oklahoma Military mothers and moms-to-be say issues with their Tricare health insurance marred their pregnancies. In the throes of postpartum depression, the incision site from her Cesarean section still tender, a U.S. Navy veteran in Indiana learned she had been dropped by her health insurance. Some 500 miles away, in Lees Summit, Missouri, Air National Guard member Cortney Frazon was trying to check in for a 20-week ultrasound when she discovered her doctor no longer accepted her insurance. Faced with a crushing out-of-pocket cost, she left. In Kansas City around the same time, at least two medical providers were telling Audrey Simmons they couldnt see her because of ongoing negotiations with her insurance, leaving her with limited options during her high-risk pregnancy. The women were all supposed to be covered by the militarys health insurance program called Tricare a lifelong benefit promised to many who serve, but one that has been plagued by widespread disruptions to service members, their families and the physicians who accept the insurance following a change in contracts that unleashed a cascade of unanticipated consequences. Audrey Simmons with her husband and their three children at their Kansas City, Mo., home in April. Top leadership with both the Navy and Air Force have warned that the Tricare upheaval could create enormous problems for service members and their families, from canceled appointments and a shrinking network of doctors to snafus that prevent those who are insured from accessing necessary health care. Thats going to have detrimental effects to our family, to our family readiness and possibly to our military readiness, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy James Honea testified last week during a congressional hearing on quality-of-life issues for members of the military. Do you have a news tip youd like to share about issues affecting service members and veterans? You can message Melissa Chan on Signal: MelissaChan.70 or contact NBC News securely here. This chaos is particularly urgent and damaging for new and expectant mothers, when health experts say medical and mental health care is crucial. Four women who recently faced issues with Tricare that disrupted their medical care told NBC News that the stress overshadowed their excitement about their pregnancies. It has caused them to question a health system meant to take care of members of the military and their loved ones. Its just so stressful, said Simmons, who is four months pregnant. I feel like the military acts like theyre very family-focused, but I feel pretty abandoned. The Defense Health Agency, which runs Tricare, said it could not comment on individual cases, citing federal privacy laws, and would not confirm whether the problems detailed by the women were caused by the larger Tricare disruptions. The uniformed service members and their families deserve the best health care available and anytime there is a shortfall of any kind we take it seriously and strive to correct it and reduce the chances of it happening in the future, the agency said in a statement. Cortney Frazon, an Air National Guard member, rests at home in Lee's Summit, Mo., in April. With little to no out-of-pocket costs depending on the plan, Tricare is billed as a major perk to those who join the armed forces, especially in the U.S., where the inability to pay for health care and medicine recently hit a new high, a recent survey found. Health care costs are only growing. In 2024, the national average annual health insurance premium for an individual was nearly $9,000, according to KFF, a nonprofit research organization formerly known as the Kaiser Family Foundation. Military members who serve at least 20 years, or those who retire for medical reasons, can keep their coverage for life, and so can their spouses. Their children can also stay enrolled until age 21, or 23 if they attend college, said Eileen Huck, acting director of government relations for the National Military Family Association, which advocates for service members and their families. Tricare serves about 9.5 million people, including active-duty service members, National Guard and Reserve members, military retirees and their families. About a third are active-duty service members or their loved ones, according to the latest data. In a March news release, Tricare extolled its maternity care benefits and its newly expanded childbirth and breastfeeding support services. In addition to routine doctor visits, ultrasounds and deliveries, Tricare also pays for unlimited doula care during birth, prenatal and postpartum physical therapy, breast pumps and even a third dental cleaning in a 12-month period. It is a very valuable benefit, Huck said. It is definitely an incentive to join the military and stay in the military, knowing that you and your family will have this health care coverage. Simmons is due to give birth to her fourth child in about five months. Simmons, 30, her three young children and her husband, a Missouri Air National Guard member, have been covered for the last three years. She found out in mid-January that she was pregnant, and when she called to make a doctors appointment, she was told her OB-GYN couldnt see her because of ongoing insurance negotiations. Her concerns grew when her endocrinologist said the same thing, and the hospital where she was initially referred also wasnt an option. She tried to find a provider she could see. Within 50 miles of her home, only one facility came up a hospital where she used to work and where she said she and her family had negative experiences. It was a big change from her previous pregnancy, when she had no trouble finding and booking appointments with in-network providers. Im having to fight with insurance constantly and feeling literally like I have nowhere to go when theres a problem, Simmons said. I almost feel like we dont have insurance. Simmons' husband, Sgt. Brandon Keeton, is a member of the Missouri Air National Guard. She vented on BabyCenter, a pregnancy-support app with an online forum, and learned she was not alone. About 20 miles away in Lees Summit, Frazon wrote on the app that she was also frustrated by the health care system and heartbroken to lose her trusted doctor, too. Frazon, 35, a heavy equipment operator with the Air National Guard, didnt know that her OB-GYN had left the network until she arrived for her 20-week ultrasound in February, she told NBC News. Thats like the first one they do when you get to see the baby, she said. I was super excited about it. After two miscarriages, Frazon hoped the ultrasound, a scan of her babys anatomy that shows growth and development, would ease her nerves. But when she checked in for her appointment, she said the receptionist told her shed have to pay out of pocket for the visit because the office no longer accepted Tricare. (The health care provider told NBC News its working to finalize an agreement with a new Tricare contractor.) Frazon, 35, has served for about four years. I had to have them tell me multiple times because I wasnt processing it, Frazon said. She chose not to pay out of pocket or come back. She said it hurt to lose a physician she had built a five-year relationship with, who understood her health history and prior complications, but she could not afford the full costs. Frazon said she called Tricare for a list of other providers within 30 miles. They gave me two, she said. Frazon booked with one and had the scan done. Eight months pregnant, Frazon prepares the nursery in her home. The Defense Health Agency outsources Tricare operations, relying on two companies to manage health care benefits in its two U.S. regions. Much of the wider trouble began Jan. 1, when a company called TriWest Healthcare Alliance took over West Coast management and took on six additional states that were once part of the East Coast region managed by a different contractor, Humana Military. Tricare is honoring referrals made under the previous contractor through the end of June, the Defense Health Agency said in a statement. And providers, including hospitals that were considered in-network under the last contractor, are being treated as in-network until then. The transition was a huge undertaking, but the Defense Health Agency said it took painstaking steps to limit potential interruptions. The new contract was meant to improve health care delivery, quality, and access for U.S. beneficiaries, the agency said. Thats not what has happened. About 16,000 health care providers on the East Coast went unpaid from December 2024 until at least March due to a data error, Humana said. That forced many to drop Tricare patients altogether, reduce their hours or even consider closing their clinics. On the West Coast, federal officials said beneficiaries have been struggling with long wait times at call centers and delays with processing new referrals for outpatient specialty care. A letter from TriWest Healthcare Alliance, the new contractor for the West Coast region, sits on Frazon's table. Humana said it fixed the data issue in March. TriWest referred questions to the Defense Health Agency. Civilian providers are increasingly critical to Tricares network, after funding shortages reduced availability at military facilities. The longer the disruptions go on, the more concern grows that civilian providers may drop off, Honea, the senior Navy leader, said during his House testimony last week. The Defense Health Agency confirmed to NBC News that providers have left the West Coast region but would not say how many. In the meantime, theres been finger-pointing, with providers telling some of the pregnant women that Tricare issues were to blame and the Defense Health Agency saying some providers were failing to honor the referral waivers. Another issue is Tricare demanding repayment of previously paid claims. In Nevada, a Navy veteran and his wife said Tricare had rescinded over $100,000 in medical claims it had approved and paid years ago. While officials still have not said what prompted the reversals, the couple said Tricare resolved the issue after NBC News published an article about their plight in March, ensuring they did not owe anything. Frazon expressed her frustrations with Tricare on a pregnancy-support app in January. The disruptions meant that Marine Corps Sgt. Savannah Harper, 27, had trouble getting prenatal care in January after she transferred from a California base to one in Hawaii. When she went to a new medical center for prenatal care, she said she was told she didnt have a referral on file and couldnt be seen. Harper said she repeatedly called Tricare for help, enduring wait times of up to 90 minutes with no resolution. By early February, she was a full month overdue for her 20-week ultrasound. I could feel her moving, so I knew she was OK generally, but I didnt know what limbs she had, she said. It was very, very nerve-wracking. Desperate, she said she tried to see an Army OB-GYN at a military hospital. After 30 minutes of waiting, she said they told her to call her insurance. Harper said she stormed up to the hospitals labor and delivery unit and burst into tears. My emotions were everywhere, she said. She said providers there gave her an ultrasound and a referral to get further care off-base. She said she called a list of civilian physicians and took the first one who had an opening. Its been very scary, said Harper, who is due in mid-May. Early and consistent health care during pregnancy is critical and can help prevent complications for both the mother and the fetus, according to Dr. Noha Ahmed, a resident OB-GYN at MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. Each step matters, as does the timing. Blood tests done around 10 to 13 weeks of pregnancy can detect chromosomal abnormalities, while a 20-week anatomy scan, a major milestone, identifies whether the fetus and its organs are growing adequately, Ahmed said. Around 25 weeks, a screening can determine risks for gestational diabetes. In the last trimester, Ahmed said, weekly visits are recommended. Pregnancy is not a benign condition. It takes a really big toll on the mother, Ahmed said. On a list she keeps on her refrigerator, Frazon outlines more than a dozen tasks she still has to do before the baby arrives. The Navy veteran from Indiana who found out that Tricare had dropped her after she gave birth had no problem enrolling last year in the maternity program run by Humana. In an email reviewed by NBC News, a case manager welcomed her to the program in September, when she was six months pregnant. She delivered the baby on Christmas Eve. The health care was a bright spot in an otherwise troubling end to her service. She had retired from the military in 2017 because of post-traumatic stress disorder, developed after she said she was raped by another sailor. Her certificate of release from active duty, which NBC News reviewed, shows she was honorably separated under disability retirement so she was eligible for Tricare. The one consolation I had walking away was at least I have my health care so I can start over, the woman said. NBC News is withholding her name because she said she was a victim of sexual assault. I feel robbed. In January, when she went to a local military office with her marriage certificate, separation papers and her babys birth certificate to add her newborn daughter as a dependent, she said she was told she was no longer eligible for insurance, over what she believes was a recordkeeping mistake. She insisted she should get health care coverage; she had a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs, which NBC News reviewed, confirming she had a permanent disability connected with her military service. Soon after, she said she got a call canceling her six-week postpartum appointment because the doctors office had been notified that she was uninsured. She also had to cancel her mental health appointments to treat her postpartum depression and anxiety and begin to ration the medication she had left. She got what she thought was norovirus vomiting, chills and fatigue but didnt see a doctor. And she struggled with breastfeeding, as many new mothers do. Under Tricare she would have had access to breastfeeding counseling and a dozen other postpartum services. I feel like I have failed her, she said of her baby girl. This anxiety is worse than it had to be. Its constant. Amid all this, Tricare sent a series of letters, which NBC News reviewed, requesting more than $15,700 in refunds from her medical providers for 66 claims from February 2024 until after she gave birth. The letters said the providers were responsible for repaying Tricare, and should there be a need for the beneficiary to make a payment, you will be contacted directly by your provider. Shes waiting to hear if shell need to pay. In its statement to NBC News, the Defense Health Agency suggested the veteran reach out to customer service. But shes long past that. She cobbled together temporary insurance for her baby under a separate Veterans Affairs program, and her husbands regular enrollment period opened recently, allowing them all to get coverage under his civilian job. The benefits kicked in on April 1. The first thing she did was book appointments: one for her babys four-month check-up, one to see about the painful lumps at her incision site, and another to address her deteriorating mental health. Law enforcement and first responders gather at the scene of the shooting on the Florida State University campus in Tallahassee, Fla., Thursday. (Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal/USA Today Network/Imagn Images via Reuters) (via REUTERS / Reuters) The 20-year-old man suspected of killing two people and wounding six others in a shooting at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Fla., on Thursday was identified by authorities as Phoenix Ikner, the stepson of a local sheriffs deputy and student who classmates say had expressed far-right views. Ikner was shot by police and taken into custody. He was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Authorities have yet to disclose a motive for the shooting. Phoenix Ikners stepmother was identified as Jessica Ikner, a Leon County sheriffs deputy who has worked with the department for over 18 years. A former service weapon that belonged to her was recovered at the scene. She was allowed to purchase her former service weapon for personal use, officials said. Her service to this community has been exceptional, Leon County Sheriff Walter McNeil told reporters Thursday. McNeil said Phoenix Ikner was a long-standing member of the sheriffs youth advisory council who engaged in numerous training programs and was steeped in the Leon County Sheriffs Office family. So its not a surprise to us that he had access to weapons, McNeil said. Tumultuous childhood Phoenix Ikner. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photo: Instagram) According to court documents obtained by ABC News, the alleged gunmans biological mother, Anne-Mari Eriksen, was arrested in 2015 on a kidnapping charge for taking him to Norway when he was 10 years old. Per ABC, Phoenix Ikner is referred to in court documents as Christian Gunnar Eriksen. He changed his name to Phoenix Ikner in 2020. According to an affidavit for Eriksens arrest, she told his biological father that she would take him to South Florida for spring break in March 2015. Instead, she fled the country with him in violation of their custody agreement, taking him to Norway, per the affidavit. Eriksen was arrested in July 2015 at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and booked in the Leon County Jail on charges of kidnapping a minor child and removing them from the state. She pleaded no contest and was sentenced to 200 days in prison, 170 of which she had already served, followed by two years of community control and two more years of probation. In October 2015, Eriksen filed a lawsuit alleging slander and libel against her sons father, his stepmother Jessica Ikner and two other relatives. The emotional and psychological harm done to the minor child will be evident for years, the lawsuit said. The suit was later dismissed. History of far-right views The FSU student union building is seen behind a law enforcement vehicle on Thursday. (Gary McCullough/AP) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) Reid Seybold, a student at FSU, told CNN that he knew the suspected shooter from a political discussion group at nearby Tallahassee State College. Seybold said that Ikner was asked to leave the group because he continually made people uncomfortable by espousing white supremacist rhetoric. He had continually made enough people uncomfortable where certain people had stopped coming, Seybold said. He talked about the ravages of multiculturalism and communism and how its ruining America. Another former classmate, Lucas Luzietti, told USA Today that he often got into arguments in class with Ikner, who he said routinely expressed hateful ideology. I remember thinking this man should not have access to firearms, Luzietti said. Ikner is a registered Republican, according to Florida voter registration records. In January, he was quoted in FSUs student newspaper in a story about protests ahead of President Trumps inauguration. These people are usually pretty entertaining, usually not for good reasons, said Ikner, who was described as a political science major by the paper. I think its a little too late, hes already going to be inaugurated on Jan. 20 and theres not really much you can do unless you outright revolt, and I dont think anyone wants that. An Instagram account appearing to belong to Ikner was taken offline shortly after police identified him as the suspect. His bio included a biblical quote that read: You are my war club, my weapon for battle; with you I shatter nations, with you I destroy kingdoms. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 08: Haley Joel Osment at Amazon MGM Studios Premiere of "Blink Twice" at DGA Theater Complex on August 08, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Amazon MGM Studios) (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Amazon MGM Studios) Actor Haley Joel Osment was captured unleashing anti-Jewish slurs at a police officer in a newly released police bodycam footage of his April 8 arrest. Osment called a police officer a fucking Nazi while under arrest and in the back of his police vehicle in a video shared April 18 by The New York Post. The actor was arrested for public intoxication and possession of a controlled substance at Mammoth Mountain ski resort in California. The video showed the Sixth Sense star struggling with officers as they placed him in handcuffs, as his ski pants repeatedly slipped off. Osment refused to provide his name to the arresting officers at the beginning of the video. When asked to identify himself, he replied, Im an American. Well, youre under arrest now, the officer said. Osment hurled antisemitic slurs and appeared belligerent. At one point, he shouted, Ive been kidnapped by a fucking Nazi, and he claimed he was being attacked. The actor accused the police of torturing him and refused to cooperate with their instructions while being taken into custody. Use your legs and stand up, the officers said in the clip. PARK CITY, UT JANUARY 27: Haley Joel Osment attends the Vulture Spot during Sundance Film Festival on January 27, 2019 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for New York Magazine) Police discovered what they suspected to be cocaine residue on money that was in the actors helmet. I think theres cocaine in that, one officer said in the video. Osment continued to push back at the police, at one point telling them, youre fuckin with my life, and youll wish you treated me nicer. HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA DECEMBER 15: Hayley Joel Osment attends the Pups Without Borders 2024 Gala at The W Hollywood on December 15, 2024 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Pups Without Borders) Osment addressed the behavior captured in the bodycam footage in a statement issued to The New York Post on April 17. Im absolutely horrified by my behavior. Had I known I used this disgraceful language in the throes of a blackout, I would have spoken up sooner, he said. The Sixth Sense and Blink Twice actor also noted he was in the midst of some personal challenges after losing his home in the Altadena wildfire in January. The past few months of loss and displacement have broken me down to a very low emotional place, Osment told The New York Post. LOS ANGELES, CA AUGUST 08: Haley Joel Osment attends FIJI Water, Official Water of Clayton Kershaws 7th Annual Ping Pong 4 Purpose Fundraiser at Dodger Stadium on August 8, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for FIJI Water) But thats no excuse for using this disgusting word. From the bottom of my heart, I apologize to absolutely everyone that this hurts, he said. What came out of my mouth was nonsensical garbage Ive let the Jewish community down and it devastates me. (RELATED: REPORT: The Sixth Sense Star Haley Joel Osment Arrested At Ski Resort) I dont ask for anyones forgiveness, but I promise to atone for my terrible mistake. The D.A. reportedly charged the actor with two misdemeanors, possession of cocaine and disorderly conduct under the influence of alcohol in public. Osment was released shortly after his arrest. SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korea criticised the United States for deploying a B-1B strategic bomber in a recent joint military drill with South Korea, describing the move as an "open threat" to Pyongyang's security, state media KCNA reported on Thursday. In a statement carried by KCNA, a spokesperson for the country's defence ministry said the deployment of U.S. strategic bombers in the region had become a routine military practice, while calling it "reckless bluffing." The B-1B was deployed in a joint military drill between South Korea and the U.S. held on Tuesday along with fighter jets, according to Seoul's defence ministry. Defence ministry spokesman Jeon Ha-kyu rejected North Korea's criticism and said in a briefing that the military activities were defensive in nature. B-1B bombers have been featured in joint military exercises in recent years which North Korea has long denounced as a rehearsal for war against it while Seoul has portrayed the exercises as purely defensive. "The recent military move of the U.S. and the ROK is an open threat to the security of our state," the KCNA statement said, referring to South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea. The air forces of South Korea and the U.S. will also kick off a two-week joint exercise known as "Freedom Flag" on Thursday, the defence ministry said, with fifth-generation stealth fighter jets deployed to take on the role of a mock enemy in training. (Reporting by Hyunsu Yim; Editing by Alistair Bell, Ed Davies) Shaun Dakin | Unsplash (The Center Square) The Trump administration has halted a massive New York offshore wind project as it conducts a financial and regulatory review of plans to erect towering turbines along the nation's coastlines. The Interior Department issued an order earlier this week calling for the immediate halt of construction on the Empire Wind Project "until further review," citing new information suggesting that the Biden administration "rushed through its approval without sufficient analysis." Approval for the project was rushed through by the prior administration without sufficient analysis or consultation among the relevant agencies as relates to the potential effects from the project, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum wrote in a letter to the Bureau of Ocean Management, which oversees federal offshore lease permits. "This halt is to remain in effect until further review is completed to address these serious deficiencies." The project's developer, Norway-based Equinor, said Thursday that it was complying with the Trump administration's order to halt the project but is considering a potential legal challenge. "Upon receipt of the order, immediate steps were taken by Empire and its contractors to initiate suspension of relevant marine activities, ensuring the safety of workers and the environment, " the company said in a statement. "Empire is engaging with relevant authorities to clarify this matter and is considering its legal remedies, including appealing the order." Gov. Kathy Hochul blasted the decision, saying Empire Wind 1 already employs hundreds of New Yorkers, including 1,000 "good-paying union jobs" as part of a growing sector that she claimed has "already spurred significant economic development and private investment." This fully federally permitted project has already put shovels in the ground before the Presidents executive orders its exactly the type of bipartisan energy solution we should be working on," she said in a statement. "As Governor, I will not allow this federal overreach to stand. I will fight this every step of the way to protect union jobs, affordable energy and New Yorks economic future." New York's Empire Wind is one of several offshore wind projects under development off the Atlantic coastline that could be impacted by the BOEM's review of federal leases. President Donald Trump had campaigned on a promise to end the offshore wind industry, arguing it is too expensive and hurts birds and marine animals. He previously issued an order suspending new leasing for wind projects in federal waters. Massachusetts is working with Rhode Island on three projects totalling 2,678 megawatts of offshore wind, which, when completed, will be capable of providing enough electricity to power more than 1.4 million homes. In August, the U.S. Department of Energy awarded $389 million to Massachusetts and several New England states for improvements to the power grid aimed at significantly increasing the regions capacity for offshore wind. The Power Up New England plan a collaboration between Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont and several utilities calls for expanding and upgrading the shared interconnection points for undersea cables that bring power from offshore wind turbines to the regional grid. But the push to develop wind comes amid increasing turbulence in the nations nascent green industry. Even before the Trump administration's scrutiny of the projects, developers were scaling back or in some cases backing out of projects citing supply chain disruptions, higher construction costs and a lack of tax credits from the states and federal government. Some states, like New Jersey, have struggled to go it alone on offshore wind and have ended up scrapping some projects. Progressives and other opponents of military conflict with Iran scored a surprise victory last week when President Donald Trump announced imminent negotiations with Tehran. Talks took place over the weekend in Oman as US negotiators, under Trumps direction, seek a new arrangement aimed at constraining Irans nuclear program. A second round was confirmed to be set for this Saturday in Rome, signaling that the negotiations are proceeding smoothly (so far), though two principals, US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, issued terse conflicting statements on social media. Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponization program, Witkoff tweeted. Araghchi responded that a full dismantling of enrichment capabilities was off the table. But signs of an agreement taking shape were apparent. Then, on Wednesday, a new bombshell from The New York Times: Trump had personally waved off the prospect of U.S. support for an Israeli-developed plan to strike Iranian nuclear facilities as soon as next month. I think that Iran has a chance to have a great country and to live happily without death, said Trump on Thursday, speaking to reporters at the White House. This shift in posture is not going over well in the hawkish corners of Washingtons foreign policy sphere. Any deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran must not only verifiably eliminate every element of its nuclear program, but must also crush its ballistic missile capability and its support of terror proxies around the world. Anything less is simply Obama redux, warned former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, one of the first-termers not invited back to the Cabinet this time. Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the Hills loudest Iran hawks, added that any deal must include the total dismantling of Irans nuclear infrastructure and include not only U.S. but worldwide supervision. I fear anything less could be a catastrophic mistake, he tweeted. As discussions among the neoconservative wing of the GOP on Capitol Hill veered in support of direct strikes on Irans nuclear and ballistic missile facilities earlier this year, Donald Trump announced the resumption of his first-term maximum pressure campaign in February. The strategy involves significant increases to both implementation and enforcement of anti-Iran sanctions, and other measures aimed at driving down the countrys oil exports. Lindsey Graham and other Republicans aligned with the neonconservative wing of the GOP have advocated both presently and in the past for direct strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities (REUTERS) But the writing was already on the wall by then. Over the wintertime presidential transition period, Trump purged his team of a handful of maximum pressure supporters and took the further steps of punishing some he apparently saw as disloyal John Bolton, a target of alleged Iranian assassination plots, lost his security detail. Others from his first terms were simply not invited back as the president went even further in his efforts to staff agencies with MAGA loyalists. Now it seems clear: Trump is treating his maximum pressure strategy in a manner very much similar to his implementation of so-called reciprocal tariffs on dozens of US trading partners as a bargaining chip. Those same hawks, now isolated from Trumpworld, have resorted to publicly calling on the president to hold to certain red lines, some of which (like the demand for Iran to abandon all civilian nuclear programs and uranium enrichment) are likely to be unacceptable to Iranian negotiators. Trumps deputies conducted indirect talks with Iranian negotiators over the weekend, marking a thaw in relations between Washington and Tehran (Middle East Images/AFP via Getty) With only one round of negotiations complete, its impossible to say where talks will end up. But the wing of MAGA Republicanism opposed to foreign interventions and endless war is celebrating the progress the president has already made in shedding the neoconservatives from his foreign policy team. The Trump Administration is George W. Bushs third term, or not, and thats his whole legacy, wrote Curt Mills, executive director of The American Conservative magazine. So far, POTUS is sagely waving off this nonsense. But the stakes are that high. Theyre also railing against the devastation that a war with a Russian-backed Middle Eastern power could wrought. How many [wealthy kids] are on the front line? How many of their kids are in that carrier battle group? Steve Bannon asked, referring to American aristocrats. Your sons and daughters are going to be in those carrier battle groups. Your sons and daughters are going to be in the first wave, he cautioned on his War Room podcast on Thursday. Your sons and daughters will be doing the bombing runs if that has to happen. A Ukrainian security officer, left, adjusts the handcuffs on a Chinese national, who was captured by Ukrainian forces while fighting on the Russian side, to a press conference in Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, April 14, 2025. - Efrem Lukatsky/AP Putting prisoners of war in front of reporters and news cameras is almost certainly a violation of international humanitarian law. But Ukraine clearly felt any reputational damage it might suffer by doing so in a news conference this week would be outweighed by the fact that it featured two alleged captured fighters from China. There was more value in giving them a platform to speak, the argument presumably ran, than protecting them against insult and public curiosity something the International Committee of the Red Cross says includes protection from the media. China has always claimed neutrality in Russias war on Ukraine and repeatedly tells its citizens not to get involved in foreign conflicts. All the same, as a key diplomatic and economic lifeline for Moscow, Beijings actions are watched closely in Kyiv. Dressed in combat fatigues and answering questions in Mandarin, the POWs were watched over by armed Ukrainian security personnel, while a translator sat beside them. The men who CNN are not naming, nor identifying in any way told how financial incentives played a key role in their stories. One said he had been looking for a way to earn money after losing his job during the coronavirus pandemic. The prospect of 250,000 rubles (around $3,000) per month in Russia was more than double what he could expect to earn at home. As someone with experience in medical rehabilitation, he said he told the recruiter he wanted to do the same with the Russian military. But when he got to Moscow, he was forced into training for a combat role. Documents were only in Russian, which neither man said they understood. One said that he communicated mainly through hand signals. CNN has seen a Russian military contract signed by a separate Chinese fighter which gives a possible indication of what the two POWs had agreed to. The contract, which was shown to CNN by a Ukrainian intelligence source, is written in Russian. Lasting a year, it commits the volunteer, among other things, to participate in combat, fulfill duties during the mobilization period emergencies and martial law, as well as take part in activity to keep and restore international peace and security and stopping international terrorist activity outside the territory of the Russian Federation. Once they reached the battlefield, instruction there was also non-verbal. One of the men recounted the chaotic moments that lead up to their capture in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. When we reached a forest, my captain told me, Da, da, da (Yes, yes, yes in Russian), signaling me to start the attack. But I did not know where the target was. We passed many Russian positions, and I thought we were heading toward our own bunker. I thought he was joking, so I hid. Then I saw the captain of (another Russian unit) throw in a grenade, and suddenly there were (Ukrainian) drones everywhere. The men surrendered. They had been fighting for only three days. The role of foreign fighters Foreign fighters have been a part of this war on both sides since the beginning. A list seen by CNN showing non-Russian POWs held by Ukraine as of the end of 2024 showed six Sri Lankan nationals, seven from Nepal, plus individuals from Somalia, Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Egypt and Syria, as well as about a dozen from former Soviet republics. In January, Ukraine also captured two North Koreans, part of an estimated force of about 14,000 troops sent by Pyongyang to help Moscows war effort. A source at Ukraines Defense Intelligence told CNN that Russia needed its foreign fighters because it was now locked into a war of attrition. It is unable to maintain the long front line with its own soldiers alone and is taking every opportunity to recruit whoever it can, the source said. Since the announcement of the Chinese mens capture last week which was followed by Ukraine declaring it had information on a further 155 Chinese citizens fighting for Russia considerable interest has focused on how they were recruited and whether Chinas government had played an active role in some way. Certainly, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky did nothing to tamp down such speculation when asked by reporters whether he thought the presence of Chinese nationals in Ukraine was the result of official Beijing policy. I dont have an answer to this question yet. The Security Service of Ukraine will work on it, he said last week, adding, We are not saying that someone gave any command, we do not have such information. But Zelensky went on to say that Kyiv believed that Beijing was aware of what was happening. A man rides his bicycle past the building of the Chinese embassy in Kyiv on April 8, 2025. - Genya Savilov/AFP/Getty Images The POWs were at pains to indicate otherwise, both saying that they were acting as individuals, pointing to slick recruitment videos posted to TikTok as the source of their inspiration. One such clip has been circulating on Chinese social media networks for more than a year and appears to have originally been created for a domestic Russian audience, with Chinese subtitles added later. It shows what appear to be Russian soldiers training and dressed in combat fatigues in the field. Youre a man, be a man, it says in Russian, alongside Chinese subtitles, which also explain the payments on offer for signing up. It is impossible to say if the subtitles were added by an official entity or by social media users, but one of the men said the videos resonated in China, where military prowess is highly prized, but opportunities for direct combat experience are rare. Why the timing matters Though Ukraine has hosted news conferences with POWs previously, including one involving combatants from Nepal and several African countries, its decision to platform its Chinese POWs is still unusual. The timing is important. It comes amid Kyivs attempts to get the upper hand in its battle with Moscow for the ear of US President Donald Trump, whose administration appears to be making little headway in its efforts to convince the Kremlin to agree to a full ceasefire. Washington has also been heavily focused on China, which some in the White House see as the United States main global adversary, and which the administration has been hitting with progressively larger import tariffs. From Zelenskys perspective, there is a clear interest in amplifying anything that suggests Chinas support for Russia might be more than diplomatic and economic. But it might not just be the US that Ukraines leader is sending a message to. Anders Puck Nielsen of the Royal Danish Defence College believes Kyiv is also anxious about recent European Union overtures to China, as the two economic powerhouses look for possible joint solutions in the face of Trumps trade wars. Suddenly it seems there might be potential for the Europeans and the Chinese to find common ground on other questions as well, Nielsen told CNN. It has clearly been a political move to really emphasize this aspect (of Chinese fighters in the Russian army), he added. Beijing certainly saw it like that. We urge the relevant parties concerned to correctly and soberly understand the role of China and to not release irresponsible remarks, foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said, without mentioning names. CNNs Joyce Jiang, Mariya Knight and Daria Tarasova-Markina contributed to this report For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Officers at a bridge along the Texas-Mexico border seized nearly $9 million in alleged methamphetamine hidden inside a squash shipment, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a news release. Officers made the discovery on April 13 at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility, which connects U.S. 281 to the Mexican city of Reynosa, Tamaulipas. That day, a tractor-trailer pulled up from Mexico containing chayote, a green, pear-shaped squash, border protection said. An officer thought the vehicle needed further inspection, where officers use non-intrusive inspection equipment and a canine team. The team found alleged methamphetamine, border protection said, calling the find "soured squash" in the news release. Packages of chayote (squash) containing 1,002 pounds of methamphetamine seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the Pharr International Bridge on April 13, 2025. Officers then spent the majority of the day removing 3,770 packages weighing 1,002 pounds hidden within the squash shipment, border protection said. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Office of Field Operations seized the narcotics and vehicle, and Homeland Security Investigations special agents started a criminal investigation. Altogether, they found $8,900,000 in alleged methamphetamine. Chayote is displayed in a market in Recife June 30, 2014. Chayote pictured is not the produce mentioned in this story. Just a few days earlier, officers at the Pharr International Bridge seized over $14 million in alleged methamphetamine within a shipment marked as fresh bell pepper and cucumbers. More on the Pharr International Bridge There were 300 packages that altogether contained 1,635 pounds of methamphetamine hidden inside a trailer, border protection said. Officers seized the drugs. According to government officials, the Pharr International Bridge measures 3.2 miles long. Officials claim it has the fastest commercial crossing time in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. It is an international bridge participating in the Free And Secure Trade program. According to border protection, the Free And Secure Trade program was created after 9/11 and allows faster processing for commercial carriers who have completed background checks and other requirements. Truck drivers from the United States, Canada, and Mexico can enroll. Carlos Rodriguez, port director of the Pharr, Hidalgo, and Anzalduas ports of entry, said in the news release about the squash that officers are working hard to crack down on drug smuggling. Our CBP officers continue to take down load after load of harmful narcotics, illustrating the tireless work of securing our border and safeguarding our communities, he said in the news release. Items seized at border: Texas customs officers scramble plans, stop at least 90 from smuggling eggs into the US Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: CBP seizes nearly $9M of meth hidden in squash at Texas-Mexico border By Feras Dalatey, Joanna Plucinska, Reade Levinson, Maha El Dahan DAMASCUS/LONDON/DUBAI (Reuters) -As his enemies closed in on Damascus, Bashar al-Assad, who ruled over Syria with an iron fist for 24 years, used a private jet to spirit away cash, valuables and confidential documents mapping the corporate web behind his wealth. Yasar Ibrahim, the president's top economic adviser, arranged the leasing of the plane to transport Assad's treasured assets, relatives, aides and presidential palace personnel to the United Arab Emirates aboard four flights, according to an account of the operation pieced together by Reuters from more than a dozen sources. Ibrahim, who ran the economic and financial office of the presidency, was instrumental in creating a network of entities Assad used to control swathes of Syria's economy, often acting as a front for the former ruler, according to U.S. sanctions notices, as well as experts on Syria's economy and one source inside Assad's business network. Western nations imposed sanctions on Assad following his repression of 2011 pro-democracy protests and later on Ibrahim for assisting the regime. The Embraer Legacy 600 jet made the four back-to-back trips to Syria in the 48 hours before the regime's fall, according to a Reuters review of flight tracking records. The plane, which has the tail number C5-SKY, is registered in Gambia. The fourth flight departed on December 8 from the Russian-operated Hmeimim military air base, near Latakia, on Syrias Mediterranean coast, according to flight tracking records, a satellite image and a former Air Force Intelligence source with direct knowledge of the operation. Assad fled to Russia on the same day from the same base. The operation to extract Assad's assets from Syria has not been previously reported. Reuters spoke to 14 Syrian sources with knowledge of the scheme, including airport staff, former intelligence and Presidential Guard officers and a person within Assad's business network. The news agency also reviewed a WhatsApp conversation between Ibrahim's associates, flight tracking data, satellite images, and corporate and aviation ownership registers on three continents to assemble its account of how Assad's closest confidant orchestrated safe passage for the plane. The jet carried unmarked black bags of cash holding at least $500,000 as well as documents, laptops and hard drives with key intelligence about "The Group", the codename Assad and Ibrahim's associates used for the intricate network of entities spanning telecoms, banking, real estate, energy and other activities, according to the individual inside Assad's network, a former Air Force Intelligence officer and the WhatsApp conversation. Assad, whose whereabouts was kept secret from even close family members in the last frantic days of his regime, has been granted political asylum in Russia. Reuters was unable to reach him or Ibrahim for comment. The foreign ministries of Russia and the UAE didn't respond to questions about the operation. The government of new president Ahmed al-Sharaa is determined to recover public funds taken abroad in the run up to Assad's fall, a senior official told Reuters, to support Syria's economy as it labours under sanctions and a currency shortage. The official confirmed to Reuters that money was smuggled out of the country before the former ruler's ouster, but did not elaborate how, adding that authorities were still determining where the money went. Reuters could not independently determine whether Assad actively directed the escape operation. Several sources with direct knowledge of the mission said it could not have happened without the ruler's blessing. 'YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THIS PLANE' On December 6, as rebels led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham marched towards the capital, the 13-seater Embraer jet approached Damascus International Airport. More than a dozen staff in the camouflage uniforms of Syria's Air Force Intelligence - a main instrument of political repression under Assad - mobilised to guard the Hall of Ceremonies, the airport's VIP section, and its access route, according to six sources with knowledge of the operation. Four of these sources said they were at the scene. A handful of civilian cars with tinted windows approached the area, three of the people on site said. The cars belonged to the elite Republican Guard, tasked to protect Assad and the Presidential Palace, said two of the people on site - the former intelligence officer and a senior airport official. The involvement of the Republican Guard meant that "Bashar (al-Assad) gave the orders" relating to the operation, according to a former senior Republican Guard member. The guard answered only to its commander, Assads cousin General Talal Makhlouf, or Assad himself, this person added. The head of airport security, Brigadier-General Ghadeer Ali, told airport staff that Air Force Intelligence personnel would handle the aircraft, according to Mohammed Qairout, head of ground operations with Syrian Air. "This plane is coming to land and we will deal with it," Qairout recalled being told by Ali. "You have not seen this plane." Ali, a senior Air Force Intelligence officer, took orders directly from the Presidential Palace, three Syrian airport officials and the former intelligence officer said. Reuters could not reach Ali for comment. FINAL HOURS The C5-SKY plane flew each time to Abu Dhabi's Al Bateen Executive Airport, used by dignitaries and known for its strict privacy, Flightradar24 data show. At first, the jet left Dubai on Dec. 6 and landed in Damascus around noon local time (0900 GMT). It then flew to Al Bateen airport and was back in Damascus just after 10 p.m. Each time it landed, "cars rushed towards the plane, staying for a short time and then leaving just before the plane took off again," said one of five sources working at the airport. Ali told Air Force Intelligence staff that Presidential Palace personnel and relatives of Assad - including teenagers - were due to board the first two flights that left Damascus on December 6, which also carried cash, according to the former intelligence officer at the scene. Reuters could not access a manifest for the four flights to confirm the planes passengers or cargo. The second flight from Damascus also transported paintings and some small sculptures, said the same source. On Dec. 7, the jet was back in Damascus around 4 p.m. and left for Al Bateen for a third time over an hour later, this time loaded with bags of cash as well as hard drives and electronic devices containing information about Assad's corporate network, according to the intelligence officer and the source inside Assad's business network. The stored information included financial records, minutes of meetings, ownership of companies, real estate and partnerships, as well as details of cash transfers and offshore companies and accounts, this source said. This time, vehicles belonging to the UAE embassy in Damascus approached the VIP airport area before the jet took off, said the former intelligence officer, which he said suggested the UAE was aware of the operation. DETOUR TO RUSSIAN BASE Early on December 8, rebel fighters reached Damascus, prompting Assad to flee for his coastal stronghold of Latakia, in coordination with Russian forces. Damascus airport stopped operating. Shortly after midnight that day, the C5-SKY jet left Al Bateen one last time. After passing over the city of Homs, north of Damascus, at around 3 a.m. local time, the plane dropped off flight tracking coverage for about six hours before reappearing over Homs, headed back to Abu Dhabi, data from Flightradar24 show. During that window, it landed at the Hmeimim base in the Latakia province, according to the former intelligence officer. A satellite image taken at 9:11 a.m. by Planet Labs captured the plane on the runway at Hmeimim. Reuters was able to confirm the Embraer jet in the image was C5-SKY based on the size and shape and flight tracking data. The jet was the only private plane flying in and out of Syria between December 6 and December 8, flight tracking data show. Aboard the flight from Hmeimim was Ahmed Khalil Khalil, a close associate of Ibrahim active inside Assad's network, according to the Air Force Intelligence officer, the source inside Assad's business empire and the WhatsApp conversation. Khalil is under Western sanctions for supporting the former regime by operating and controlling several businesses in Syria. He had reached the Russian base in an Emirati embassy armoured car and was carrying $500,000 in cash, according to the person inside Assad's network and the WhatsApp messages. Khalil had withdrawn the money two days earlier from an account with the Syria International Islamic Bank (SIIB), according to the same sources. The person inside Assad's circle said the account belongs to Damascus-based Al-Burj Investments. The company is 50% owned by Ibrahim, according to The Syria Report, an online platform that contains a corporate database compiled by Syria experts which cited 2018 official Syrian records. Khalil did not respond to a request for comment sent via his Facebook account. SIIB and Al-Burj did not respond to emails seeking comment. The individual inside Assads business circle and a former official at Syria's Air Transport Authority said the Embraer jet was operating under a 'dry lease', in which the owner provides the aircraft, but no crew, pilot, maintenance, ground operations or insurance. Reuters couldnt determine who operated the flights. Ibrahim reached Abu Dhabi on Dec. 11, this person added. Asked about the plane in an interview with Reuters, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa declined to comment. 'THE LEBANESE PLANE' Ibrahim leased the jet from Lebanese businessman Mohamad Wehbe, according to a member of Syria's business elite and the source inside Assad's network. In the WhatsApp conversation the jet was described by one of Ibrahims associates as "the Lebanese plane". Wehbe owns Flying Airline FZCO, registered as a Dubai Free Zone company, according to his LinkedIn profile. In April 2024, Mohamad Wehbe posted pictures of C5-SKY on LinkedIn with the caption, "welcome". In January, the businessman wrote in a separate LinkedIn post that the aircraft was for sale. The plane was registered in Gambia to a local company, Flying Airline Company, from April 2024. Flight tracking records show that, in the months preceding Assad's fall, the aircraft had flown to Assad's ally Russia, currently under Western aviation sanctions for its invasion of Ukraine. Reuters was unable to reach the registered contact for Flying Airline Company in Gambia, Sheikh Tijan Jallow. Flying Airline Co. is 30%-owned by another Lebanese national, Oussama Wehbe, and 70%-owned by Iraqi national Safa Ahmed Saleh, as per Gambian records. Social media show Mohamad Wehbe has a son named Oussama who also works in the aviation industry. Reuters could not confirm if he is the same man on the Gambian registry. Contacted by Reuters, Mohamad Wehbe denied any involvement with the C5-SKY flights in and out of Syria and told Reuters he does not own the plane but merely rents it "sometimes" from a broker, whose name he declined to provide. He did not respond to questions about whether his son was involved. Oussama Wehbe did not reply to a request for comment. Reuters could not locate Safa Ahmed Saleh. (Reporting by Firas Al Daalati in Damascus, Joanna Plucinska and Reade Levinson in London, Maha El Dahan in Dubai; Additional reporting by Jonathan Saul in London, Timour Azhari, Samia Nakhoul and Maya Gebeily in Damascus, Robbie Corey-Boulet and Portia Crowe in Dakar, Gleb Stolyarov in Tbilisi and Lisa Jucca in Milan; Editing by Lisa Jucca) Fabio Lovino/HBO Love to hate him or hate to love him, Patrick Schwarzenegger's White Lotus character, Saxon, was nothing if not consistent when it came to his protein regimen. The man packed his own blender for God's sake. And while the celebrity offspring-turned-actor's real-life shake isn't nearly as intense as his on-screen alter ego's (he loves a peanut butter and banana smoothie), the fictional version wasn't actually fictional or a prop. While chatting with Delish over Ketel One and Tanqueray White Lotus Lychee Vesper Martinis, Schwarzenegger admitted that he actually drank the water and protein powder combo, which he says tasted like "chalk"and included a lot more scoops than we thought. "No, theyre not [as unhinged]," Schwarzenegger says of his real-life recipe. "But [creator] Mike White thought it was so funny to put like seven scoops of protein in the shakes. He thought it was hilarious. He thought it was so funny if Saxon just kept scooping and scooping and scooping. And afterwards we would blend it and I would try it and give it to Lochlan." "It was just chalk, like pure chalk," he adds. "It was awful. But mine tastes good in real life." While Schwarzenegger might not have gone full-blown method actor for his role in White Lotus (at least not enough to adopt his seven-scoop recipe), he does share Saxon's passion for protein IRL. "I do make some protein ice cream at home," he says. "That's just protein, some milk, sometimes I'll throw Oreos in to make it semi-healthy but not extremely healthy, so it still tastes good. But, my fiance makes fun of me a lot for all the protein desserts that I make." Schwarzenegger even filled a suitcase with his protein-packed Mosh Bars, which he co-founded with his mom Maria Shriver, for filming. "Oh my god, I brought all of my Mosh Bars with me to Thailand. I literally had a checked luggage full of Mosh Bars and snacks," he says. "When I first went out there, I was kind of worried about the snack situation. And so I brought so many, and then I went through boxes. And then people on set started coming to me, they wanted to take them." "The ADs, the hair and makeup people, the other cast members," Schwarzenegger continues. "Sam Nivola [Lochlan] was the biggest thief of them all. He would take all of my bars. I was the snack king on set." You Might Also Like getty Stock image of an Uber 77-year-old Uber driver Olatunji W. Bolaji was shot dead while picking up an unidentified passenger in the early hours of April 15 The shooters have not yet been identified, but it is believed that they had a "physical altercation" with Bolaji's 22-year-old passenger before he got into the car An investigation into the death of Bolaji, a "loving partner and father," is still ongoing A 77-year-old Uber driver was shot dead in an attack while picking up a passenger outside of a Philadelphia hookah lounge. On Wednesday, April 15, shortly before 2 a.m., a man identified as Olatunji W. Bolaji from Norristown, Pennsylvania, stopped at Byblos Hookah Bar for his next Uber rider, according to CBS News. Related: Uber Driver, 61, Allegedly Shot Dead by 81-Year-Old Man Who Believed He Was Being Scammed As the 22-year-old passenger, who has not been identified by name, entered the vehicle, two men got out of a car behind Bolaji, Philadelphia Chief Inspector Scott Small told the outlet. They proceeded to shoot into the car "at least four times." The shots hit Bolaji in the head and the passenger in the arm, leg, and stomach. Sebastian Gollnow/picture alliance via Getty Uber car Small said, per CBS, that while Bolaji was able to drive away, he subsequently crashed his car. First responders provided care at the scene but Bolaji, who was described as a "loving partner and father" to a son, was pronounced dead. His passenger is in critical condition and is receiving treatment at the hospital per NBC10 Philadelphia. Related: Indiana Woman Ordered an Uber to Get Home from Work. Police Suspect Her Driver Raped and Murdered Her 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. Small told CBS News that the passenger had "a physical altercation" with the suspects before the shooting occurred. Google Maps Byblos hookah lounge in PA "It appears that right before the shots were fired, there was some sort of physical altercation. It also appears that someone in that vehicle was targeted," he said. The attackers have not yet been identified, but the Philadelphia Police Department is investigating. NBC10 Philadelphia reported that the men drove a Jeep Grand Cherokee with Massachusetts tags. Police are offering a $20,000 reward for any information relating to the attack. NBC10 Philadelphia reported that a family friend said they were "heartbroken" and wanted "justice for the man who was senselessly murdered." Uber also shared a statement with CBS News Philadelphia about the "heinous act of violence to justice." "Our hearts break for the driver's family and loved ones in the wake of this devastating loss," the statement from the rideshare company read. "We've reached out to police to offer our support." PEOPLE reached out to the Philadelphia Police Department and Uber for comment but did not immediately hear back. Read the original article on People Brisbane Water Police District; Audrey Griffin/LinkedIn Brisbane Water Police are searching for this mystery man after a 19-year-old triathlete was found dead in a creek. The Brisbane Water Police District is seeking the identity of a mystery man as they investigate the death of 19-year-old Audrey Griffin Griffin was reported missing in March 2025, and her body was later found in a creek Her death was not suspicious, and the man that police are seeking is not implicated in a crime Australian police are seeking the identity of a mystery man in hopes that he can provide some answers about the death of Audrey Griffin. Griffin, 19, was reported missing on March 23 in the Australian state of New South Wales after a night out. A search was commenced, and her body was found in Erina Creek, according to reporting by news.com.au. Her cause of death is believed to be drowning. However, police did not treat Griffin's death as suspicious. On Thursday, April 17, the Brisbane Water Police District issued a statement revealing that they are hoping to contact a man who was spotted in the area around the time that Griffin went missing. Related: 1 Dead, 5 in Critical Condition After School Bus Hits Guard Rail and Flips on S.C. Highway: Reports Audrey Griffin/LinkedIn 19-year-old Audrey Griffin was found dead in March in Australia. They shared a photo of the man alongside a statement on Facebook. In the photo, the man is wearing a white hat and sneakers with gray shorts and a red tank top. He was carrying a black bag. His face was not clearly visible. "Police are appealing to the public for information after the death of a woman on the Central Coast," the Brisbane Water Police District wrote. We are not implicating that this man was somehow involved in the incident, we have no indication of that, detective acting inspector Samantha Richards said in the statement. Were simply hoping he might have some information to help us piece together what has happened. 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. Brisbane Water Police District Mystery man police in Australia are searching for after woman found dead in creek. Related: Panicked Banker Called Family Asking for Help Before Disappearing in Spain. Months Later, They Learned Tragic Truth Before she was reported missing, Griffin spent the night with friends at Gosford Hotel. According to reporting by The Australian, she was there until approximately 2 a.m. Following inquiries, police attended a creek along the Central Coast Highway, where they located the body of the woman in the water, a NSW spokesperson said in a statement shared with 7News. A crime scene was established and inquiries into the incident are underway by officers attached to Brisbane Water Police District." The outlet reported that Griffin was "fully clothed" when her body was found. Griffin was described as a triathlete who had recently competed in the ANZCO Foods half Ironman event, according to 7News. After her death, a GoFundMe was created to raise funds for her "unexpected funeral costs." "We are heartbroken by the unexpected loss of our beautiful Audrey," the creators wrote. "Audrey touched everyone, not just in her community but all over the country. She was the light in many of our lives. There is no doubt she bought endless laughter and joy to everyone. She was the kindest soul to walk this earth and will always be in our hearts." "I was fortunate enough to know Audrey for the short period that I did. She was an amazing person who was able to make anyone smile. She will be missed terribly. All my thoughts and prayers are with her family during this incredibly difficult time," a donor wrote on the page. Read the original article on People Sen. Chris Van Hollen confirmed Thursday night that he has met with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the man whom the Trump administration said it mistakenly deported to El Salvador in March. "I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar. Tonight I had that chance. I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return," Van Hollen, D-Md., wrote on X. Images of Van Hollens meeting with Abrego Garcia were first posted online by Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, who has rebuffed calls to return Abrego Garcia to the United States. Bukele said on X after the meeting that Abrego Garcia will remain in El Salvadors custody now that hes been confirmed healthy. President Donald Trump lashed out at Van Hollen Friday morning in a post on Truth Social, saying the Democratic senator "looked like a fool yesterday standing in El Salvador begging for attention." At an Oval Office meeting with Trump on Monday, Bukele argued that he didn't "have the power to return him to the United States." Attorney General Pam Bondi said the same day that the United States would provide a plane for Abrego Garcia to travel back to the country should El Salvador allow his release, framing the decision as being solely in Bukele's hands. In a statement Thursday night, the White House called Van Hollen's efforts in support of Abrego Garcia "disgusting" and said Trump will "continue to stand on the side of law-abiding Americans." Van Hollen traveled to El Salvador on Wednesday to push for Abrego Garcia's release after the Trump administration did not demonstrate any efforts to "facilitate" his return, despite a Supreme Court ruling last week requiring just that. The legal battle continued Thursday, when a federal appeals court rejected an effort by the administration to put the requirement on hold. In a unanimous ruling, a three-judge panel said the administration was trying to assert "a right to stash away residents of this country in foreign prisons without the semblance of due process. Follow live politics coverage here Van Hollen, who represents the state where Abrego Garcia lived before he was sent to El Salvador, has called the Trump administrations resistance to facilitate Abrego Garcias return to the United States an attempt to cover up his wrongful deportation. He has met this week with human rights groups, local embassy staff members and top Salvadoran officials, including Vice President Felix Ulloa. Before his meeting with Abrego Garcia, Van Hollen said Thursday that he was denied entry to the prison where Abrego Garcia is being detained: a terrorism confinement center referred to as CECOT. Van Hollen said he tried to enter the facility alongside Chris Newman, the lawyer representing Abrego Garcias wife and mother, to check on the health and well-being of Kilmar but was promptly denied entry. We were stopped by soldiers at a checkpoint about 3 kilometers from the CECOT prison, Van Hollen told reporters. We were told by the soldiers that theyd been ordered not to allow us to proceed any further than that point. During a meeting with Ulloa on Wednesday, Van Hollen said his requests to speak with Abrego Garcia, in person, virtually or by phone, were denied. Ulloa also denied a request from Van Hollen that day to facilitate a phone call between Abrego Garcia and his wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, who says she has not spoken to him since he was transferred to the Central American facility. Sura said Thursday night that Van Hollen's meeting gave her hope. My children and my prayers have been answered. The efforts of my family and community in fighting for justice are being heard, because I now know that my husband is alive. God is listening, and the community is standing strong," she said in a statement. Several Maryland officials wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Thursday demanding verifiable proof that Kilmar Abrego Garcia is alive, healthy and safe. It has now been over a month since Mr. Abrego Garcia was illegally deported by federal authorities in direct violation of a court order, and during that time, his family has received no meaningful confirmation of his health, the officials wrote. Abrego Garcia first entered the United States in 2011 and was later protected from deportation by a 2019 court order barring him from being sent back to El Salvador. The United States began sending hundreds of undocumented immigrants to El Salvador in February after Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced an agreement with the Salvadoran government to "accept and detain deportees from the United States of any nationality." Bukele at the time called the agreement an opportunity for the United States to "outsource part of its prison system" in "exchange for a fee." The two countries reached an agreement, for $6 million, to imprison deportees the Trump administration says are members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and the street gang MS-13. On Monday, Trump told Bukele he wants to increase the flow of people being sent to prisons in El Salvador and urged him to build more facilities. On Feb. 22, 2022, a 27-year-old armed man entered the Apple Store in Leidseplein, Amsterdam, and held a customer at gunpoint for nearly five hours. He demanded 200 million in cryptocurrency and a safe exit from the buildingbut nothing went according to plan. Bobby Boermans, director of Netflixs new thriller iHostage, lives near the store and remembers that surreal night. Fortunately, hostage situations like this are scarce in the Netherlands. Thats what made this incident bizarre. A man, demanding 200 million in cryptocurrency, chose to take a hostage in broad daylight on one of the busiest squares in Amsterdam, he tells TIME. Boermans had just finished filming Netflixs thriller series The Golden Hourbased on a fictional terror attack in Amsterdamwhen a neighbor messaged him about the unfolding crisis. He passed by the scene shortly after and was struck by the silence that lingered once the chaos dissipated. Only the bullet holes in the glass remained. That weird juxtaposition stayed with me. The surreal calm after the storm. It made me ask: what happened during those five terrifying hours? Its nothing short of a miracle that all the hostages survived. Of course, theres the symbolic weight of the setting itselfa global brand like Apple, known for its clean, peaceful spaces. A place of sleek design and calm it became the scene of something truly horrifying inside and out. Those lingering questions led to iHostage, releasing on April 18 and inspired by the real events of that winter day three years ago. Here's what to know about the hostage crisis that shook the Netherlandsand how it ended. Read more: Heres Whats New on Netflix in April 2025 A gunman takes hostages inside the Apple Store iHostage draws its drama from a real-life incident in 2022. Courtesy of Netflix Around 5:30 p.m. local time, an armed man dressed in camouflage gear entered the store and took a 44-year-old Bulgarian man hostage while other customers attempted to hide. People on the upper floors of the building, where the Apple Store occupies the ground level, also became trapped. Police arrived within 10 minutes and were met with gunfireat least four shots were fired. Authorities suspected the man was carrying explosives and quickly locked down the area. Special forces and ambulances flooded the scene, and workers in nearby stores were ordered to shelter in place. Over the next few hours, police successfully evacuated about 70 people from the building, including those hiding inside the store. In the film, Boermans chose to closely follow the timeline of that night, though he took some dramatic license. While working on the script, we consciously focused solely on the night of the hostage situation. Of course, you have to condense time in any film, but most of the story beats you see on screen are based on things that actually happened. We changed the dialogue and gave all characters fictional names so they couldnt be traced back to the individuals involved. In reality, hundreds of people were involved in the stand-off, but we focused on five main characterseach from a different background, each offering a unique perspective, he explains. Read more: The 100 Best Mystery and Thriller Books of All Time The demands Early in the stand-off, the gunman contacted police and demanded 200 million in cryptocurrency (over US$226 million at the time) and a safe way out. His motives remained unclear. He also sent selfies and photos to the local press during the incident, which quickly spread across social media and news outlets, along with videos of the unfolding scene. How police caught the gunmanand the ensuing fallout The tense standoff lasted for five hours. Courtesy of Netflix At 10:30 p.m., after hours of negotiations, the gunman asked for water. Police used a robot to deliver a bottle. As the hostage walked toward the store entrance to retrieve it, he seized the moment to flee and ran outside. The gunman gave chase. At that moment, a special police unit vehicle accelerated and struck the suspect. He fell unconscious, and videos of him lying on the ground circulated widely on social media. Police confirmed later that night that the man survived and was taken to the hospital. He was not carrying explosives. A day later, officials confirmed he had died from his injuries. The way the crisis endedwith a police vehicle running down the gunmansparked controversy across the Netherlands. The hostage incident sparked intense public debate in the Netherlands, mainly because of the unconventional way the police brought the situation to an endby using a car. It was a unique and highly decisive act of violence, the result of a split-second decision made by one of the special forces operators, says Boermans. A video of the final moments went viral almost immediately after, and the entire country began discussing it. Some people applauded the action, while others were more hesitant or conflicted about how it was handled. Authorities investigated the officer who struck the suspect and decided not to press charges. The Public Prosecution Service later stated that the officer acted appropriately and would not face criminal charges. The identity of the man taken hostage and his condition were not, at that point, revealed. A troubled past The perpetrator of the attack was well known to authorities before the events of Feb. 22, 2022. Courtesy of Netflix The perpetrator was eventually revealed to be an Amsterdam resident with a criminal record. At the time of the incident, he carried a handgun and an automatic weapon. According to the Amsterdam-based Dutch newspaper Het Parool, authorities identified him as Abdel Rahman Akkada name already known to social services. Lawyer Jan-Kees van den Brink, who had represented Akkad in multiple legal cases, spoke to the newspaper about the perpetrators death on behalf of his mother, who hired him following the hostage situation. Akkad had several prior encounters with the criminal justice system, including for weapons possession. He also received a sentence of 60 hours of community service, one month of conditional release, and a three-year restraining order for harassing an ex-girlfriend, the newspaper reported. My hope is that this film will spark an important dialogue about the increasing number of individuals with mental health issues living on the streets. Many well-meaning, everyday citizens are falling through the cracks, often due to financial difficulties or mental health challenges, and are being overlooked by our public health services. These are individuals who might have received assistance before tragically resorting to such terrible actions. Its heartbreaking, and I hope that our governments will start dedicating more time, energy, and resources to improving our public health systems, says Boermans. The director of iHostage also spoke with Apple Store employees and customers, police negotiators, and others involved in coordinating the response. He hopes the film showcases the human resilience that emerges in moments of crisis. And our capacity to support each other, even in the most challenging times. At the same time, I hope the film serves as a captivating thriller, keeping you on the edge of your seat while also touching you emotionally. I want the audience to experience both the intensity and the heart. Ultimately, it's up to the viewer to decide who they root for and how they interpret the depicted violence. Contact us at letters@time.com. After wrapping up what he described as a productive round of talks toward ending the war in Ukraine hosted in Paris, Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday laid out a surprising ultimatum for all parties involved, declaring that the U.S. was willing to move on from the negotiations if they didn't yield results soon. "We need to figure out here, now within a matter of days, whether this is doable in the short term, because if it's not, then I think we're just going to move on," Rubio said on the tarmac as he left France early Friday morning. "We have other priorities to focus on as well," he added. "It's not our war." PHOTO: Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives at the Quai d'Orsay, France's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, before a bilateral meeting with his French counterpart in Paris, April 17, 2025. (Julien De Rosa/via Reuters) MORE: Trump blames Zelenskyy for 'horrible job' after Russia ballistic missile strike kills dozens in Ukraine Later, at the White House, President Donald Trump echoed Rubio's assertion -- saying that the U.S. would make a determination "very shortly." "Now, if for some reason, one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we're just going to say you're foolish, you're fools, you're horrible people, and we're going to just take a pass," Trump said without specifying which party. "But hopefully, we won't have to do that." Trump also struck an optimistic note, and declined to say whether he would in fact walk away from the talks entirely or if he believed Russian President Vladimir Putin was stalling. "My whole life has been one big negotiation. And I know when people are playing us and I know when they're not, and I have to see an enthusiasm to want to end it. And I think I see that enthusiasm," he said. "I think I see it from both sides." PHOTO: resident Donald Trump speaks during a swearing-In Ceremony for the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Mehmet Oz at the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, April 18, 2025. (Alex Brandon/AP) While the president declined to set a specific deadline for progress, Rubio looked ahead to a new round of talks slated to take place in London early next week as a potentially decisive engagement, saying he may attend -- but only if the meeting appeared poised to result in action rather than just talk. The Trump administration's apparent ultimatum comes as negotiators have grown increasing frustrated over the lack of momentum, especially from the Russian side. Officials say that the Kremlin has repeatedly insisted on reprieve from economic sanctions in exchange for taking incremental steps toward peace. Relief for Moscow would require action from both the U.S. and its allies, and so far, it appears to be a step that European leaders are unwilling to take. "I always remind everybody that part of the sanctions against Russia, many of them are European sanctions that we can't lift," Rubio said. PHOTO: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attends a joint press conference with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever after their meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine, April 8, 2025. (Sergey Dolzhenko/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock) Rubio sought to ramp up the pressure on Moscow during a call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Thursday, according to officials familiar with the conversation, who add that the administration was hopeful progress could be made in the hours between their talk and the secretary's departure from France. But in the wake of Rubio's public comments, Moscow signaled it was in no hurry to strike a deal. "We believe that certain progress can, in fact, already be acknowledged," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. "There are already some developments, but, of course, there are still many complicated discussions ahead." These developments come as one potential indicator of progress -- a 30-day ceasefire intended to pause strikes on energy infrastructure targetshas expired, with no word from Putin on whether Moscow will restart attacks on those targets. PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting on the Navy development in Saint Petersburg on April 11, 2025. (Alexandr Demyanchuk/Pool/AFP via Getty Images) MORE: Trump blames Zelenskyy for 'horrible job' after Russia ballistic missile strike kills dozens in Ukraine Both Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of repeatedly violating the agreement, which was brokered by the Trump administration last month. While it's unclear if Rubio and Trump's comments will have any impact on Moscow, they are likely to stoke anxiety in Kyiv. So far administration officials have given no indication that the U.S. would reup support for Ukraine's war effort if it abandons peace negotiations. "Although the Trump administration is right to act with a sense of urgency, threatening to wash our hands of the peace talks could perversely incentivize Russian intransigence since Moscow will likely calculate that the United States walking away would lead to an end to American aid for Ukraine," said John Hardie, the deputy director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracy's Russia Program. "Instead, Washington should focus on putting pressure on Russia, including by tightening sanctions on Russian oil revenue," Hardie continued. "Meanwhile, Washington should strive to help Ukrainian forces exhaust Russian offensive potential to show Putin he cannot gain through further fighting." If the U.S. does in fact withdraw from negotiations, Rubio said only that members of the Trump administration would "do what we can on the margins." Trump, Rubio threaten to walk away from Ukraine-Russia peace talks originally appeared on abcnews.go.com This photo taken from video released by Al Masirah TV channel shows medics carrying a wounded man into the hospital after U.S. airstrikes targeted the Ras Isa oil port held by Yemen's Houthi rebels in Hodeida, Yemen, Friday, April 18, 2025.( Al Masirah TV via AP) DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) A U.S. airstrike on an important oil port held by Yemen's Houthi rebels killed more than 70 people and wounded many others, the Iranian-backed rebel group said Friday, marking a major escalation in the military campaign President Donald Trump launched against the faction last month. The overnight strike on the Ras Isa port sent massive fireballs billowing skyward and turned tanker trucks into burning wrecks. It was the first American attack on a Houthi-controlled oil facility in the new U.S. bombing campaign. It also came just before the resumption of negotiations in Rome between the U.S. and Iran over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program, which Washington has linked to its attacks in Yemen. The U.S. is targeting the Houthis because of the group's attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, a crucial global trade route, and on Israel. The Houthis are the last militant group in Iran's self-described Axis of Resistance that is capable of regularly attacking Israel. The port is a major hub for incoming fuel shipments that power areas of Yemen held by the Houthis, and analysts say the airstrike could seriously affect daily life there. The Houthis, who said the attack killed at least 74 people and wounded 171 others, aired graphic footage of the aftermath on their al-Masirah satellite news channel, showing corpses strewn about the port and smashed tanker trucks. They denounced the strike as a completely unjustified aggression. It targets a vital civilian facility that has served the Yemeni people for decades, the group said in a statement. U.S. Central Command declined to answer any questions about possible civilian casualties but referred to a statement in which it said this strike was not intended to harm the people of Yemen. U.S. forces took action to eliminate this source of fuel for the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists and deprive them of illegal revenue that has funded Houthi efforts to terrorize the entire region for over 10 years, it said in its statement. A U.S. official said the attack sent a message to those supplying fuel to the Houthis despite sanctions. The official spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to provide details not yet made public. Hours after the U.S. strike, the Houthis launched a missile toward Israel that was intercepted, the Israeli military said. Sirens sounded in Tel Aviv and elsewhere. Meanwhile, the Houthis said they shot down another American MQ-9 Predator drone, which the U.S. official acknowledged. The port's strategic significance The Ras Isa port is a collection of oil tanks and equipment that sits in Yemen's Hodeida governorate along the Red Sea. It is just off Kamaran Island, which has been targeted by intense U.S. airstrikes in recent days. Before the Houthis took control of Yemen's capital, Sanaa, in 2014 and sent the government into exile, oil from the countrys energy-rich Marib governorate moved through Ras Isa for export. But since the Houthis dont control that region, the port now serves as an import hub for gasoline, diesel and liquefied petroleum gas that help power those parts of Yemen the Houthis control. A deadly escalation of Trump's Yemen campaign The new U.S. operation against the Houthis under Trump appears more extensive than attacks on the group were under President Joe Biden, an AP review found. The new campaign started after the rebels threatened to begin targeting Israeli ships again over Israel blocking aid from entering the Gaza Strip. From November 2023 until this January, the Houthis targeted more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two of them and killing four sailors. That has greatly reduced the flow of trade through the Red Sea corridor, which typically sees $1 trillion of goods move through it. The Houthis also launched attacks targeting American warships without success. Assessing the toll of the month-old U.S. airstrike campaign has been difficult because the military hasnt released information about the attacks, including what was targeted and how many people were killed. The Houthis, meanwhile, strictly control access to attacked areas and dont publish complete information on the strikes, many of which likely have targeted military and security sites. The Ras Isa port airstrike is the deadliest known attack yet in the month-old campaign. The actual cost in lives is hard to assess, said Luca Nevola, the senior analyst for Yemen and the Gulf at the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project, a think tank. Since they are targeting civilian areas, theres a lot more victims. But its also difficult to assess how many because the Houthis are releasing these umbrella statements that cover all the victims ... or tend to stress only the civilian victims, Nevola said. Further complicating the situation is the U.S. strikes hitting military targets, said Mohammed al-Basha, a Yemen expert at the Basha Report risk advisory firm. He pointed to an American attack that Trump highlighted online with black-and-white strike footage, which might have killed about 70 fighters. Although the Houthis claimed it was a tribal gathering, they neither released any footage nor named a single casualty, strongly suggesting the victims were not civilians but affiliated fighters, al-Basha said. However, the overnight strike on the Ras Isa Fuel Port marks the first mass-casualty incident the Houthis have openly acknowledged and publicized. The AP analyzed satellite images of the port provided by Planet Labs PBC that showed destroyed oil tanks and vehicles, and what appeared to be oil leaking into the Red Sea. Wim Zwijnenburg, an analyst with the Dutch peace organization PAX, said it appeared at least three fuel storage tanks had been destroyed and that oil had leaked from mooring pipelines. The U.S. airstrikes continued overnight into early Saturday, with the Houthis reporting them in Yemen's al-Jawf, Sadaa and Sanaa governorates. The U.S. accuses a Chinese company of aiding Houthi attacks A U.S. State Department spokesperson, Tammy Bruce, accused a Chinese commercial satellite image provider, Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co. Ltd., of directly supporting Iran-backed Houthi terrorist attacks on U.S. interests. During a briefing with reporters, Bruce did not elaborate in detail. But she acknowledged a report by The Financial Times that quoted anonymous American officials saying the company linked to the Peoples Liberation Army has provided images allowing the rebels to target U.S. warships and commercial vessels traveling through the Red Sea corridor. Bruce said Beijing's support" of the satellite company ... contradicts their claims of being peace supporters. Responding to a question about the allegation, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Friday: I am not familiar with the situation you mentioned." However, he insisted China is seen as urging countries to make more efforts conducive to regional peace and stability. Since the escalations in the Red Sea situation, China has been playing a positive role in de-escalating the situation, Lin said. Who is promoting talks for peace and deescalating the tensions, and who is imposing sanctions and pressure? The company didn't respond to request for comment. The U.S. Treasury sanctioned it in 2023 for allegedly providing satellite images to the Russian mercenary force the Wagner Group as it fought in Ukraine. It remains unclear whether Chang Guang is linked to the Chinese government. The U.S. government in the past has used images taken by American commercial satellite companies to share with allies, like Ukraine, to avoid releasing its own top-secret pictures. ___ Associated Press writers Sam Mednick in Tel Aviv, Israel, and Tara Copp in Washington contributed to this report. TAIPEI (Reuters) - The United States will continue to assist Taiwan with its self-defence and wants to see peace across the Taiwan Strait without coercion or the threat of force, a visiting U.S. senator told President Lai Ching-te on Friday. The United States is Taiwan's most important international backer and arms supplier despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties with the Chinese-claimed island. Meeting Lai at the presidential office in Taipei, the Republican Senator Pete Ricketts said that although administrations change, the bipartisan support for Taiwan in Congress continued. "The United States is committed to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. We want to see peace across the Taiwan Strait. We oppose any unilateral change in the status of Taiwan," Ricketts said. "We expect any differences between Taiwan and the mainland to be resolved peacefully without coercion or the threat of force," he added. "To that end, the United States will continue to assist Taiwan in its self defence. There is broad consensus in the U.S. Congress to support Taiwan's self defence." China held its latest round of war games around Taiwan earlier this month. Lai and his government reject Beijing's sovereignty claims, saying only the island's people can decide their future. Ricketts is the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy. Lai said that he looked forward to Taiwan and the United States continuing to work together to maintain peace and stability in the region, and that Taiwan was committed to spending more on its defence. Ricketts is being accompanied in Taiwan by another Republican senator, Ted Budd, and the Democrat Senator Chris Coons. While U.S. lawmakers regularly travel to the island, this is the first visit since President Donald Trump took office in January. Trump and his administration have pushed Taiwan to ramp up its defence spending, something Lai previously pledged to do in February. (Reporting by Angie Teo and Ben Blanchard; Editing by Kate Mayberry) A U.S. citizen was shot and killed Thursday after hijacking a small airplane in Belize at knifepoint and stabbing three people on board, officials in Belize and the U.S. confirmed. The man brandished a knife while the Tropic Air plane was airborne while demanding that the pilots take him out of the country, Police Commissioner Chester Williams told journalists, according to Reuters. The man was identified Thursday as Akinyela Sawa Taylor, a U.S. citizen and military veteran, Williams added. Taylor stabbed three people during the hijacking, including the pilot and a passenger who fatally shot him with a licensed firearm. The pilot eventually managed to land the airplane outside Belize City after being forced to circle the airspace between northern Belize and the capital. In a statement, Tropic Air Belize CEO Maximillian Greif called the pilot's actions "nothing short of heroic." "In the face of incomprehensible pressure, our pilot acted with extraordinary courage and calm, guiding the aircraft to a safe landing," Greif said. American military veteran hijacks plane in Belize, officials say The airplane, which had only 14 passengers on board, had been due to fly the short route from Corozal near the Mexican border to San Pedro, a popular tourist destination off the coast. By the time it made an emergency landing, the aircraft had begun to run dangerously low on fuel, Williams told reporters. Both Taylor and the three he stabbed were rushed to a hospital upon landing, where Taylor later died. The passenger who shot him was stabbed in the back and lungs and remains in critical condition, according to CBS News. Taylor had been denied entry to the country over the weekend and it was unclear how he reached Corozal, according to police. Investigators were also not immediately aware of how Taylor was able to board the airplane with a knife, though Williams acknowledged that the country's smaller airstrips lacked security to fully search passengers. Tourists board a Tropic Air plane April 17 at the Sir Barry Bowen Municipal Airport in Belize City. A U.S. citizen armed with a knife attempted to hijack a small plane in Belize on Thursday but was shot and killed by a passenger, police said. Who was the hijacker? U.S. officials said they did not know the motive for Taylors hijacking but were working with Belizean authorities to determine what happened. Luke Martin, public affairs officer for the U.S. embassy in Belize, told journalists that it had no details on Taylor's background or motivation so far. According to information released by the airport, Taylor was a teacher in the United States. Contributing: Reuters Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: US man shot, killed after hijacking plane in Belize, officials say Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen said he has met with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a union sheet metal worker and father of three who was wrongly deported to El Salvador last month. Van Hollen, who traveled to the Central American country this week, wrote in an April 17 message on X: "I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar. Tonight I had that chance." "I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love," he added. "I look forward to providing a full update upon my return. Moments before the lawmaker posted a message and image, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele posted three additional photos from the meeting. He quipped that the two were sharing a margarita. "Now that hes been confirmed healthy, he gets the honor of staying in El Salvadors custody," Bukele said. Kilmar Abrego Garcia, left, a Maryland man who was wrongly deported by the Trump administration to El Salvador, and Senator Chris Van Hollen, right, speak with one another on Thursday, April 17, 2025 in El Salvador. Earlier in the day, Van Hollen attempted to visit the prison where Abrego Garcia is being held, but officials denied access. Abrego Garcias wife: 'Prayers have been answered' The meeting appeared to occur at the hotel Van Hollen had been staying at in San Salvador. Van Hollens office declined to release additional information and indicated the senator would hold a news briefing on April 18. Meanwhile, Abrego Garcias wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, said she only knew where her husband had been taken based on news photos of men with their heads down being led through the notorious CECOT prison. She recognized her husband's scars and tattoos. Vasquez Sura said her "prayers have been answered" after Van Hollen's announcement. "The efforts of my family and community in fighting for justice are being heard, because I now know that my husband is alive. God is listening, and the community is standing strong," she said in a statement to USA TODAY. Van Hollen was stopped by armed guards at a military checkpoint earlier on April 17, less than two miles from the notorious prison where the Maryland man is being held. USA TODAY was following the senator's motorcade when it was stopped. The checkpoint appeared to be set up specifically to keep him from reaching the prison. What the Trump administration means for you: Sign up for USA TODAY's On Politics newsletter. Abrego Garcia's deportation case Van Hollen traveled to El Salvador in hopes of touring the prison and meeting with Abrego Garcia, who was detained by U.S. immigration officials in March and deported to El Salvador despite a prior court order that forbade him from being returned to the Central American nation. Department of Justice attorneys later confirmed that the man was wrongly removed from the country. In early April, a federal judge ordered the government to facilitate Abrego Garcias return. The Supreme Court also ruled 9-0 to facilitate his return on April 10. Since then, U.S. District Court Judge Paula Xinis of Maryland demanded daily updates on the efforts to return him. The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals turned down an effort by the DOJ to slow the process of Abrego Garcia's return, issuing a scathing reiteration to facilitate his return. "The government asserts that Abrego Garcia is a terrorist and a member of MS-13. Perhaps, but perhaps not," wrote Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III, a Ronald Reagan appointee. "Regardless, he is still entitled to due process." U.S. officials continue to contend that Abrego Garcia is a member of the MS-13 criminal gang, recently deemed a foreign terrorist organization by the Trump administration. Abrego Garcia denies being a member of the gang, and he has no criminal record. Xinis, the federal judge in the case, has questioned the strength of the government's evidence, which relies on a confidential informant and the clothing Garcia was wearing in the 2019 police encounter. (This story was updated to add new information.) This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chris Van Hollen meets with Kilmar Abrego Garcia in El Salvador WASHINGTON Attorneys for Venezuelans being held in Texas filed an emergency request with the Supreme Court on Friday to prevent what they said is their imminent threat of deportation without getting a chance to put up a legal fight. Their request sets up another potential showdown between the Trump administration and the federal courts over President Donald Trumps claims of broad executive power amid a hardline approach to immigration. The administration is already balking at a federal judges order to show what its doing to bring back a Maryland man wrongly deported to El Salvador. And earlier this week, another federal judge found probable cause to hold the administration in contempt for "deliberately and gleefully" violating his order last month halting flights of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador under a wartime law. Lawyers for the Venezuelans said many have been loaded on to buses, presumably headed for the airport, without having had a realistic opportunity to contest their removal under the Alien Enemies Act. These circumstances appear strikingly similar to the governments initial efforts to avoid judicial review of its summary removals, they wrote. The Supreme Court has not said whether it agrees with the administration that it can use that 1798 law to deport immigrants it says are members of a Venezuelan crime gang. But the court ruled on April 8 that the deportations are subject to judicial review if migrants request it in the jurisdiction where theyre being held. Venezuela's Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello looks on as Venezuelan migrants arrive after being deported from the United States, at Simon Bolivar International Airport, in Maiquetia, Venezuela, March 30, 2025. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria Detainees must receive notice of deportation within a reasonable time and in a manner that allows them to request a courts intervention before they can be removed, the court wrote. Unless the Supreme Court steps in, lawyers told the justices in the emergency request, dozens or hundreds of migrants could be removed to a possible life sentence in El Salvador with no real opportunity to contest their designation or removal. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Venezuelans about to be deported seek Supreme Court's emergency help Jordan Lye / Getty Images The sunny days of spring are here, and summer is so close we can taste it especially when sipping social media's favorite new coffee trend, the iced coconut water Americano. We hope your Instagram and TikTok feeds looks something like ours, packed with happy, caffeinated people flaunting their love of this energizing and hydrating drink. The idea is as simple as it gets and nearly identical to a traditional Americano, but with one major swap: Pour coconut water over ice, then top it with a shot or two of espresso. It almost sounds too simple, but the result is far from boring. The sweet, slightly salty coconut water helps smooth out the bitter flavors in espresso, allowing you to fully appreciate the coffee's complexity and highlighting its fruity notes. Some people add in a touch of honey, frothing it into the espresso before pouring both over ice, but this extra ingredient is optional and should purely depend on how sweet you like your coffee. Many TikTokers are crediting Rhythm Zero, a coffee shop in New York City, as the origin of the iced coconut Americano (although the cafe calls it a "Coco Americana"). This isn't the first place to make one of these beverages, but Rhythm Zero does have an excellent version. One patron notes that the store's perfect iced coconut Americano is thanks to its selection of coconut water: It uses Strange Water, a brand of regular and sparkling canned coconut water that sources the liquid from coconuts grown in the Ben Tre region of Vietnam. Related: 10 Latte Recipes Both Iced and Hot Coffee Drinkers Will Love Coconut water and espresso combinations have been popping up in coffee shops for some time and in a variety of locations. Pairing the two ingredients has been popular in Thailand for quite a while, and you'll see it on many cafe menus. You can score one of these refreshing beverages at Blue Blue in Utah, and Copra Coconuts another brand of coconut water published its recipe for the drink in 2024. In my home city of Lisbon, Portugal, Albi has had it on the menu since opening day. Consequently, I can confidently say that this is the perfect European summer coffee drink. It's likely most of us don't have an espresso machine in our kitchens, but as Kenneth Pabon demonstrates on TikTok, you can make this with a Nespresso machine. Pabon simply drops in a Nespresso pod, adds ice and coconut water to a glass while the coffee brews, then pours the espresso and accompanying foam on top. If you don't have a Nespresso machine or similar electric espresso maker, you could likely recreate this drink with some strong coffee from a moka pot. Want to take your iced coconut Americano up a notch even further? Add a twist of lime and squeeze of citrus for more warm-weather vibes. Read the original article on Food & Wine Artwork by Jaime Lee - Getty Images "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." When Emma Williams-Tully was 10 years old, she woke up in the middle of the night in a pool of blood. After rushing into her parents bedroom, her mother explained that shed started her period. But as someone with endometriosisa condition impacting around 10 percent of reproductive-age people with uterusesit was actually so much more than that. Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining is found growing elsewhere in the body. When that tissue is stimulated during the menstrual cycle, it can thicken and bleed, much like normal endometrial tissue. But because it has nowhere to exit, it can cause irritation and scarring, leading to a myriad symptoms, including immense pain, menstrual irregularities (including heavy or prolonged bleeding), fatigue, mental health repercussions, gastrointestinal issues, urinary problems, difficulty having sex, and more. Id have 14-day periods where Id be in the most debilitating pain, says now 39-year-old Emma. Id have to wear two sanitary pads and still soak through them onto my school uniform. Despite these extreme symptoms, which only worsened over time, Emma spent years dealing with doctors who were seemingly clueless about her condition, glossing over it as a bad period and telling her she was overthinking things, reluctant to properly investigate what was wrong. Emma is far from alone in being gaslit and overlooked: On average, it takes people 10 years and visits to at least four or five doctorsto receive an accurate endometriosis diagnosis in the U.S. This, despite the condition first being discovered more than 120 years ago , and the fact that we now know that endometriosis impacts every part of the body, including (in rare cases) the lungs, brain, and eyes. And it can lead to life-threatening complications if left untreated. Instead of referring her to a specialist who could have recognized the signs and created an early intervention plan to stop her endometriosis from worsening, Emmas doctor put her on the contraceptive pill at the age of 13 as a way of masking the symptoms. [Even while on the pill] Id still be on the bathroom floor rocking back and forth like a mad woman, says Emma. It was only when I was 16 that my doctor finally referred me to a gynecologist, but when they did an ultrasound, everything looked hunky-dory, in their words. Thats because endometriosis can often only be definitively diagnosed via a laparoscopy (a type of surgery that uses a thin, lighted tube with a camera to examine organs within the abdomen). Emma only heard the word endometriosis 10 years after that first bad period, when her medical team finally diagnosed her. They decided to induce her into a chemical menopause, which suppresses the menstrual cycle in order to quell symptoms. Inducing temporary menopause is not an uncommon option offered to endometriosis sufferers, but while it can help relieve pain in the short term, its far from a permanent solution. And for Emma, menopause symptoms presented a whole new set of struggles to contend with. The depression was instant. Mood swings, dripping with sweatI was a completely different person overnight. But the pain did improve, she remembers. Faye Farthing, head of communications at Endometriosis UK, agrees more needs to be done. Comments such as Its all in your head or Its just part of being a woman are still heard by patients all too oftenand its time that changed. Faye adds that the ever-growing wait time for a diagnosis is shocking, especially considering how much more awareness there is about the existence of endometriosis. Waiting means a delay in accessing treatment, during which time the disease may progress, leading to worsening physical symptoms and a risk of permanent organ damage, she adds. Surgeryto remove layers of endometriosis, scar tissue, and cystsis generally deemed to be the only effective treatment (though still not a cure). However, theres a real shortage of specialists: The Endometriosis Foundation of America estimates that there are only about 100 endometriosis specialists trained in advanced laparoscopic surgery, meaning waiting even longer for treatment after waiting for the initial diagnosis. Months [after being induced into chemical menopause], I had another surgery, and [the surgeon] found stage 4 endometriosis everywhere. It was rampant, all over my bladder, bowel, uterus, and ovaries. It was all over my back and in my hip, Emma shares. At the age of 31, I had a radical hysterectomy [after having my daughter]. But it took three surgeries to perform because my uterus and bowel were so stuck together. In total, Emma has had 11 operations. One resulted in her needing an ileostomy bag. Another involved relocating her bladder. Now, Emma is unable to work and sometimes needs a crutch to walk due to the immense fatigue that her endometriosis causes. A lot of people have this misconception that its just something that remains within the uterus, and that if you have some [Tylenol] and ice cream youre going to be absolutely grand, Emma reflects. But I wouldnt wish it on my worst enemy. Its a mind-numbing pain, whether youre stage one or four, and its soul-destroying. Its impacted so many areas of my life. Endometriosis is a poison that doesnt care where it goes. Charity worker Hadia Aslam , 28, experienced medical gaslighting around her condition while working in the medical field herself, as a fertility nurse. One day, I had to call my [lead nurse], saying, Im so sorry. Im having a really bad time with my period and I can't walk or do anything. And she replied, Were all women; we all have periods. I was mortified. It left me thinking maybe Im being weak and everyone feels this way. During one particularly bleak moment, Hadia recalls bleeding through her scrubs while assisting an operation. I was in so much pain, and there wasnt really any sympathy. It was just like, Aw, is it a bad period? No one understood, even though we worked in IVF and infertility. (FYI: Endometriosis can lead to fertility issues for many people.) Thankfully, Hadias former career path is also what ultimately led to her diagnosis. As I met more patients and heard their stories, I remember looking at one file and seeing the word endometriosis. I didnt really know what that meant, but I could see it was why the patient was getting IVF. When I had a chat with her, she told me her story and how the condition has affected her, and I was like, Oh my goodness, this is my entire life. Hadia says although she encountered a lack of support from some colleagues along the way, other doctors and nurses in her clinic encouraged her to go to her PCParmed with the factsand push for answers. Thats what I did, she says, highlighting that it shouldnt take being a medical professional yourself to be taken seriously. Cultural norms can also intersect with medical misogyny, Hadia adds. Im very lucky that my mom is supportive and my husband is amazing, but in South Asian culture, often its very much like, Youre being a bit dramatic, and it can be the same on social media. She refers to Australian radio DJ Marty Sheargoldwho recently sparked major backlash after falsely claiming that endometriosis is made upas just one example of female pain being minimized both on and offline. Now, after surgery and trying different forms of medication (also including one that temporarily induced menopause), Hadia is waiting to hear what her next steps are and how she might build a longer-term treatment plan. Nobody knows what to do, and the issue stems from a lack of research within womens health. But you have to keep going, she shares. Ive wanted to give up so many times, but you have to keep chasing your doctor, calling the hospital where youre getting surgery, and asking if there have been any cancellations. Artwork by Jaime Lee - Getty Images Legal assistant Lily Elms , 26, knows all too well that more research and specialists are desperately needed. Like Emma and Hadia, Lily faced a long road before getting diagnosed and was initially put on the pill as a teenager after reporting periods so bad that she would vomit and pass out. They just said, Oh yeah, thats normal, youre a woman now. Youve got to deal with it, she remembers. At one point, a doctor even suggested Lily try having a baby to get rid of her symptoms, despite (a) there being no evidence that her endometriosis symptoms wouldnt return post-pregnancy and (b) it being totally inappropriate. I was 23, had no partner, and lived at home, Lily recalls. I was financially unstable, never mind mentally and physically unstable, because of the amount of pain I was in. I was like, How do you think Im getting pregnant when Im in too much pain to ever have sex? Once she came off the pill two years ago, Lily says her pain instantly ramped back up culminating in her writhing on the floor at work one day. I wasnt even on my period, which is why its annoying when people think its just a time of the month disease. For me, its constant, but gets worse when I bleed. I was ovulating on that day, and just typing away as normal, when I had this horrifically sharp pain all throughout my pelvis, up my back, and down my legs. I had to go into a meeting room, and a colleague came in saying, I can literally hear your squeak of pain from outside, you need to get checked out. Lily, who has now taken so many sick days, she no longer gets paid for them, did head to her doctors office that daywhere, thankfully, this time, she was seen by a PCP whose mother had endometriosis. This doctor immediately recognized that Lilys experience was textbook endo and referred her to a gynecologist. Sadly, Lily hit a brick wall during that next appointment: She didnt let me finish a sentence or properly explain that I have painful periods and ovulation, painful sex, awful bowel movements, back pain, leg pain, anything that you can think of. She just wasnt listening. That meeting prompted Lily (with the help of her parents) to seek out an endometriosis specialist instead, who finally sent her for testing, which led to a diagnosis. Lily shares that during her darkest moments, she has considered ending her life to escape the pain, but thankfully, shes had the support of her loved ones to help her through. But Im never going to be pain-free, which is hard to come to terms with, she reflects. Its clear that endometriosis is far from a bad period, or something that can be simply smoothed over with a hot water bottle and some painkillers, which is why its so important we keep the conversation around it going, spread awareness, and invest more money into womens health. Thankfully, some small, positive changes are happening. For instance, daily medications are being explored, like Myfembree, a hormone-lowering pill that can help with pain and bleeding associated with endometriosis (it was approved by the FDA in 2022). But for women like Emma, Hadia, and Lily, breakthroughs and much-needed conversations are still happening at far too slow a pace. While we wait for the medical industry to catch up, sharing vital information about endometriosis can help alleviate some of the mental anguish that can accompany the physical symptoms that come with the condition. Its time we ensure as many people as possible are clued in, should they need to seek a diagnosis in a world where, far too often, womens pain continues to be misunderstood and overlooked. You Might Also Like Hundreds of people suspected of witchcraft in Ghana, especially older women, face rampant human rights abuses including murder, Amnesty International said Monday, asking the government to criminalize accusations and ritual attacks. In 2023, the Ghanaian parliament passed a bill making it a criminal offense to declare, accuse, name or label someone as a witch but the bill is yet to be signed into law. "The accusations, which can lead to threats, physical attacks or even death, usually start within the family or among community members following a tragic event such as an illness or a death," Amnesty said. "Older women living in poverty, with health conditions or disabilities are at greater risk, as well as women who do not conform to stereotypical gender roles. In some cases, accusers even base their claims on having had a bad dream about a person," it added. The majority of victims are "marginalized individuals, particularly older women," in areas in the country's northern and northeastern regions, the report said. Belief in witchcraft remains common in many rural communities along the west African coast, including Ghana, and elsewhere in the continent. Earlier this year, two men in Zambia were charged with practicing witchcraft and possessing charms intended to harm the country's president. People accused of witchcraft are usually banished from their home areas and in Ghana they seek refuge in camps run by traditional priests "where they remain until they die or a family member or another community accepts them," the rights monitor said. Amnesty said Ghana had not done enough to protect victims, stressing the need for a sensitization campaign in vulnerable areas. It also said the government had failed to "ensure access to adequate food, safe housing and clean water" for people living in these camps. "The authorities should pass legislation specifically criminalizing witchcraft accusations and ritual attacks, including protective measures for potential victims," said Genevieve Partington, Amnesty's country director in Ghana. Partington is also a member of the Coalition Against Witchcraft Accusations, an association set up following the lynching of a 90-year-old woman in July 2020 in northern Ghana. Similar attacks occur in other parts of Africa. Eight women blamed for the death of two ailing boys in Guinea Bissau last year were forced to drink poison and died. Also last year, two women in their sixties were publicly stoned and their bodies burnt in the Democratic Republic of Congo for allegedly causing the deaths of several people. This is a reflection of how "we treat elderly people," Leo Igwe, founder of Nigeria-based non-profit Advocacy for Alleged Witches, told AFP. Samadu Sayibu of Ghana's rights group Songtaba, said it also "highlighted issues such as gender and poverty." Belief in witchcraft is also common in some rural communities in Angola despite strong opposition from the church in the predominantly Catholic former Portuguese colony. Last year, police said about 50 people died in Angola after being forced to drink an herbal potion to prove they were not sorcerers. During a 2009 trip to Angola, Pope Benedict urged Catholics to shun witchcraft and sorcery. Savannah Bananas pack stadiums with their zany twist on baseball | 60 Minutes American retirees expand their world overseas Trump's chaotic tariffs week YIWU, China Hammers, hats and hair clips. Toys, tech, socks, baseball caps and Christmas decorations. If its a cheap manufactured product, it may well have come from the worlds largest wholesale market in the Chinese city of Yiwu. With 75,000 suppliers spread across six buildings, it was once a one-stop shop for American companies, big and small, looking to buy cheap goods and export them back to the U.S. Today it is on the front line of President Donald Trumps trade war, and after he upped U.S. tariffs on Chinese-made goods from 10% to 145%, vendors told NBC News on Wednesday, their once reliable American clients have started to put orders on hold or cancel them altogether. Nicole Zhang and her husband, Huang Fangchao, whose Yiwu Dowell Accessories Co. makes hair accessories for major brands using machine-cut and hand-finished materials, said around 60 or 70% of her 6 million pieces were destined for the U.S. A stall at the wholesale market in Yiwu, China. But as tariffs have soared, she said American clients like Target have halted orders and put two shipping containers full of her products on hold. They want to see what is happening in the future, she said. After stunning trading partners and global markets in early April, when he announced a raft of reciprocal tariffs on imports from more than 180 countries, Trump subsequently paused higher targeted tariffs for 90 days for most countries. But he did not include China, which was hit hardest of all and has since imposed retaliatory tariffs of up to 125% on U.S. imports. In Yiwu, the effects have started to take their toll. Chen Jinsai, a vendor selling press-on nails, said she didnt think shed shipped anything to the U.S. in the first half of this year mainly because the export taxes have gotten way too high. Goods that were ready to be shipped have just been sitting there, she said, adding that customers had not asked them to suck up the extra costs from the tariffs. If I had to pay the tax, Id be losing money. Our prices are already quite low, so the tax is definitely something the customer has to handle themselves, she said. Spread across six buildings, the wholesale market is home to 75,000 suppliers. Its a reversal from last year when the provincial, development and reform commission in the district of Zhejiang, where Yiwu is based, reported that the citys total import and export value reached 668.93 billion yuan ($91 billion), an increase of 18.2% from the previous year. With U.S. trade uncertain, some of the traders in Yiwu said they were already focusing on markets in other parts of the world, such as the Middle East and Asia. Sock vendor Lou Jinling, meanwhile, said only around 10% of her business was in the U.S., so were not heavily affected. Since tariffs, some clients asked me to help share the cost, but I wont do that because the margin is already very thin, she said, adding that one of her American customers told me he managed to clear out his warehouse stock as people were panic-buying from him. For us, we have ways of offsetting the losses by selling to other markets, she said. But I feel sorry for everyday Americans, as they are the ones paying for the rising cost. If it's a cheap manufactured product it's likely available in Yiwu. One of the people who might have to pay more to import into the U.S. is Vicky Eng, who said shed noticed her clients back home in the U.S. had become a lot more hesitant since the tariffs were introduced. Eng, who flew in from Chicago with her sister Vivian Eng, 29, to source hair clips and other accessories for their company, Adorro, said they sold them on to American retailers, mostly in the Midwest and Florida. We havent raised prices since the tariffs have been announced because we dont want to pre-emptively jump the gun with any price increases if its not necessary, Eng, 30, said. Nonetheless, their clients, she said, were placing much smaller volume orders. Most of their customers were relatively small businesses, Eng said, adding that since the tariffs were introduced, it had become a little harder for people to operate. The Chinese vendors were just like us. she added. They cant have an empty store. by Gregory Three weeks after an earthquake devastated Mandalay and central Myanmar, the Church remains close to the faithful and the victims, offering material and spiritual support. While many churches remain unusable, Holy Week is being celebrated in camps for displaced people and in parish halls. Maximilian, a Caritas volunteer, says that despite the destruction and the pain, people support each other in a true experience of rebirth. For Christians in Myanmar, this is a difficult Easter after a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck in late March large areas of the country, already torn by more than four years of civil war. In Mandalay, one of the most affected areas, "the cathedral was in danger of complete collapse," said Maximilian, a social worker and Caritas volunteer on the front line of the archdiocese's relief operations. No one has been allowed inside. Even for Palm Sunday, Mass was held in parish halls or near relief camps. One church, however, remained standing, St Josephs, built with steel reinforcements by missionaries. Although some statues were damaged, the structure withstood the quake. For Maximilian, It is a symbol of resilience. In recent weeks, he brought relief to a dozen villages in Yamethin. Among the ruins, he saw the face of hope. When I was travelling across different villages with my relief works, especially during the last days of Thingyan (Burmese New Year), I observed people living amid destructions yet find happiness in their own way. People from different religious and ethnic backgrounds can ground their hope in their identities and seem to regain a purpose in life amid all the destructions, he explained. For this reason, When I see local people full of hope with new energy, I feel encouraged. I start to believe we can build our lives even though we suffer greatly due to the earthquake and civil war. The Caritas volunteer is realistic though. Of course, we lost many lives and a lot of infrastructure due to this disaster. Our cities are like war-torn areas. Roads are largely destroyed, buildings need to be demolished for they were largely damaged. While challenges remain, international agencies and NGOs are relying on Caritas to reach remote places. Unfortunately Some areas get overlapping aid, while others are left out, but We are distributing cash, high-energy biscuits, and rice bags, he explained. The government should play the leading role in assistance but theyre obstructing it instead, the local activists laments. In fact, in the hours following the earthquake, the military regime never stopped attacking areas hit by the natural disaster, despite a declaration of a ceasefire. More recently, torrential rains and strong winds have hampered the delivery of aid, flooding camps for displaced people. Nevertheless, people didnt let depression take over. They became more polite, more friendly. It's like they knew healing comes through joy and togetherness. With the current challenges, the volunteer said, there might have been suicide cases. But Myanmar people are resilient. Displaced people in temporary shelters inside Catholic church compounds were soaking wet due to the flood and rain but they all are helping and encouraging each other, and healing themselves. In Mandalay, the archdiocese has not only taken on the task of guiding the faithful, but is also coordinating relief operations, even now, three weeks after the earthquake. The archbishop is very active in coordinating with different stakeholders and religious groups to maximise humanitarian support. He has daily meeting with the emergency response team. Priests and nuns continue to walk with the faithful and earthquake victims, offering spiritual assistance, organising meditation sessions, hearing confessions and comforting the displaced. Even though most churches are closed, our clergy are leading us through Holy Week in deep, meaningful ways, he said. Relief workers are trying to provide mental help support to disaster victims, while our bishop is leading the flock by conducting Christian meditation sessions in hope of spiritual renewal. Still the people of Myanmar seem to have already experienced the resurrection. To respond to the humanitarian emergency in Myanmar, the PIME Foundation has decided to launch a fundraiser to bring aid to those affected. Donations can be made to Emergency Aid for Myanmar (10122) by clicking here. In Malaysia, the "journey of the Cross" has begun, set to end next year at the Pastoral Convention. In Negombo, young people and children put on a play centred on the Lamentations with local traditions and customs. Tens of thousands take part in a pilgrimage in Zamboanga to remember the sufferings of Jesus. In Labuan Bajo, the bishop brought the Way of the Cross among inmates. Manila (AsiaNews) From the journey of the Cross to the votive pilgrimage that retraces the last hours of Jesus' earthly life, the Churches of Asia and millions of Christians across the continent celebrate Good Friday today in an atmosphere of devotion and participation. In Malaysia, the local Catholic Church has launched the "Perjalanan Salib", a journey of the Cross that is also part of the initiatives promoted by the countrys bishops in preparation for the Malaysian Pastoral Convention, the first (historic) gathering in 2026 of the countrys nine dioceses. The project was launched on 3 April, the fourth day of the week-long Malaysian Youth Days (MCYD) promoted by the Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu. On this occasion, nine crosses ("salib") were blessed during the Mass, and then given to the representative of the nine dioceses. Each cross incorporates a hibiscus, the national flower and symbol of Christ's victory over the world. Starting this month and for the next 18, the crosses will visit different parishes and institutions in each diocese. In illustrating the initiative, Catholic leaders emphasised the importance of accompaniment at the grassroots level and the value of listening and paying attention to communities, even the smallest and often neglected. The salib does not retain itself at a fixed point, but it journeys to the faithful, especially in the peripheries, the bishops said in a statement. The journey through the dioceses will have as its last stop next year's Pastoral Convention, in which the nine crosses will be merged to create a single cross. In Sri Lanka, Catholics undertook an initiative in Negombo, Western Province, called "Pasam and Lathoni" (focused on Lamentations) aimed in particular at young people and children. The goal is to make them understand the meaning of the events celebrated at Easter, as evinced by the title, "In front of Golgotha", which refers to the place where Jesus was crucified. The suffering, death and resurrection of Christ are at the heart of the Christian faith; the suffering and death of Jesus is illustrated in folk songs (Pasam), while the expression of the Mother of God's pain and resilience in the face of her sons suffering is called Lathoni, a deep cry. Due to its large Christian population, Negombo is known as Sri Lankas Little Rome, and is famous for its artistic heritage, which includes a choir, passion plays, along with the Nurthi and the Nadagam (traditional musical theatre). Christs Passion is reproduced on a large sheet of paper, translated into words, and sung in such a way that not only devout Christians but others as well, from different faiths, can hear and understand it. In Zamboanga, in the Philippines, more than 65,000 people climbed Abong-Abong Hill between Wednesday and Good Friday, retracing the stations on the Via Crucis in one of the most deeply rooted traditions of Holy Week in the country. The community event attracts thousands of people to Mount Pulumbato and brings together families, neighbours and tourists. For many locals, it is an annual event passed down from generation to generation, while pilgrims walk barefoot and carry wooden crosses in a ritual of prayer, penance, and remembrance of Christ's suffering. This year it kicked off at Abong-Abong Park in Pasonanca, with 14 life-size stations for Christ's walk to Calvary. Pilgrims often start before dawn, carrying wooden crosses, candles, and rosaries. The uphill section is seen as both a physical and spiritual undertaking. At each station, prayers are recited, often led by lay ministers or local clergy. The Way of the Cross reminds us of the suffering that Jesus endured out of love for us for all of humanity. It reminds us of Gods deep sacrifice, encouraging gratitude and a deeper relationship with Him, said Father Butch Candido, parish priest of the Parroqia de la Sagrada Familia, Familia. Sacrifice is part of our day-to-day living, and therefore we need to face it with hope, he added. Finally, in Indonesia, Bishop Maksimus Regus of Labuan Bajo celebrated the Way of the Cross with inmates at a police station in West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province. The visit took place on Monday and is part of the dioceses initiatives for Holy Week, which has a particular meaning for the prelate because it embodies the Church reaching out to vulnerable communities in need of spiritual support. In his address, the prelate, accompanied on this occasion by some priests, expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome of the chief of police and the entire extended family of the West Manggara police force. He also noted that the visit is part of the Church's social and pastoral service to fellow citizens who are going through hard times in prison. We are happy, he explained, to be able to meet and visit our brothers and sisters here. We hope that this visit will strengthen all of us and become the beginning of a service to the community by priests and nuns. (Melani Manel Perera contributed to this article) Today's headlines: Myanmars military junta and exiled government extend a ceasefire (albeit repeatedly violated) to help aid to earthquake victims. Israel has violated the truce with Lebanon at least 2,740 times with 190 dead (71 civilians) and 485 wounded. The Afghan Taliban have given part of the half a million weapons abandoned by the United States to militant groups. Vietnam wants to increase development goals in terms of wind and nuclear power. YEMEN UNITED STATES At least 38 were killed and 102 wounded in yesterday's US raids on a Houthi-controlled port used for fuel storage in Yemen, one of the deadliest attacks since the start, last month, of large-scale US military operations to stop attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea by the pro-Iranian rebel movement in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. MYANMAR ASEAN Myanmars military junta and a key opposition group have agreed to extend the ceasefire to support relief and aid operations for the regions affected by the earthquake of 28 March, which killed over 3,600 people, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced. As the current ASEAN chairman, Mr Ibrahim held talks with the head of the military junta and the prime minister of Myanmars exiled National Unity Government (NUG). The junta announced a 20-day ceasefire on 2 April; however, it continued military operations in some areas with deadly results. CHINA CAMBODIA Chinese President Xi Jinping met the Cambodian prime minister yesterday in Phnom Penh, the final stop on his tour of Southeast Asia that included Vietnam and Malaysia. This is also part of Beijings attempt to boost strategic ties and trade in the region, as well as compensate for US President Donald Trump's tariff policy, with a call to "resist protectionism". The two sides signed 37 agreements in various sectors, including water resources and education. China is Cambodia's largest trading partner and source of investment, with more than a third of the countrys foreign debt (US$ 11 billion) tied to Beijing, according to the International Monetary Fund. LEBANON ISRAEL Since the signing of the ceasefire, Lebanon has recorded 2,740 Israeli violations, resulting in the death of at least 190 people and the wounding of 485 others. The victims include 71 civilians, including 14 women and nine children, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights reports. Israel has justified its operations as a "response" to Hezbollah's attacks and as a way to prevent the Shia group from rearming. AFGHANISTAN Half a million weapons and military equipment captured by the Taliban after the Americans pulled out of Afghanistan in August 2021 have been lost, sold or smuggled to militant groups, sources told the BBC. Taliban leaders admitted as much at a closed-door meeting of the UN Security Councils Sanctions Committee in Doha at the end of 2024, noting that at least half of these weapons are unaccounted for with some ending up in the hands of Islamist extremist groups affiliated with al-Qaeda. VIETNAM Vietnam is increasing its wind and solar development targets to boost power generation by 2030 to meet escalating demand. The country has committed to net zero carbon emissions by 2050, as part of its Power Development Plan 8 (PD8). Manufacturing depends on coal to meet rapidly expanding needs, but manufacturers now want to "develop renewable energy sources. RUSSIA INDIA India is taking over Russias place in the global market for low-cost weapons, proposing mass and politically safe armaments, especially tanks, rockets and anti-aircraft systems, to countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America, Reuters reports. As a result, Russian arms exports have plummeted by 64 per cent in the last five years, while India's have grown by 62 per cent in the last three years, to six billion dollars annually. AZERBAIJAN Torrential rains have isolated several regions in Azerbaijan, especially in Baku, Ganja and Khyrdalan. All civil protection forces are working to contain the damage and restore roads, organising the evacuation of people stranded and securing flooded structures. 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. 18 April 2025 21:30 (UTC+04:00) The public hearing of the criminal cases against the citizens of the Republic of Armenia Arayik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, David Ishkhanyan, David Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, and others who are accused of committing crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, including the planning and conducting of aggressive war, genocide, violations of the laws and customs of war, as well as terrorism, financing of terrorism, the violent seizure and retention of power, and numerous other crimes as a result of Armenia's military aggression against Azerbaijan, continued on April 18. According to Azernews, the session at the Baku Military Court was held under the chairmanship of Judge Zeynal Agayev, with judges Jamal Ramazanov and Anar Rzayev (reserve judge Gunel Samadova). The accused were each provided with translators in their known languages and with legal defense. The hearing was attended by the accused persons, their defense lawyers, some of the victims, their legal successors and representatives, and prosecutors representing the state prosecution. Judge Zeynal Agayev first explained the rights and duties prescribed by the law to the victims participating in the process for the first time. Then, the victims gave statements freely and answered questions posed by the prosecutors, their representatives, and the defense lawyers. Victim Yashar Almmammadov stated that he was born in 1956 in the city of Khojaly and lived there with his family. He said he recognized defendants Bako Sahakyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, and Madat Babayan. Y. Almmammadov said that on February 25, 1992, he was on duty at a post near the railway section of the city and around 8 p.m., armored vehicles coming from the direction of Khankendi began to take positions around the city. By around 11 p.m., the city was under attack. He said that after Armenian forces entered the city with the support of the 366th Motor Rifle Regiment during the night, he and other residents fled to the forest. Many were killed as Armenian soldiers opened fire on them. Answering questions from Tugay Rahimli, Assistant to the Prosecutor General for Special Assignments, Y. Almmammadov stated that on February 27, near the village of Pirjamal, they were taken hostage and brought to a stable. Later, around 50 more Khojaly residents were brought there. According to him, the captives were tortured in an unprecedented manner he was beaten while being forced to lie on the snow. After being held for two days in Pirjamal, they were taken to Khankendi. The captives were beaten and tortured and on March 1, were transferred to Askeran. There, in the police department, an Armenian named Karo, who was the head of fire safety, beat him unconscious with a baton. Y. Almmammadov was handed over to the Azerbaijani side on March 2, 1992. In response to questions from state prosecutor Terane Mammadova, he said that during his captivity, his arm, finger, ribs, and leg were broken and he suffered other injuries. He also reported that Madat Babayan inflicted wounds on him with a bayonet, saying: The Armenian soldiers, especially Madat Babayan himself, tortured me. While I was a captive, Madat came up to me, called me a Turk, kicked me, insulted me, and stabbed me with a bayonet. Answering questions from prosecutor Vusal Abdullayev, the victim noted that a woman named Khadija had both her legs amputated below the knees. There were Meskhetian Turks living in Khojaly. Madat Babayan and the soldiers in his armed group shot and killed two Meskhetian Turk brothers before our eyes. They took some Azerbaijanis and beheaded them over graves, some they hanged in a church. Responding to questions from Vusal Aliyev, Senior Assistant to the Prosecutor General, Y. Almmammadov said that his brother Faiq Almmammadov was killed by Armenian soldiers and another brother, Namig Almmammadov, was taken captive and remains missing to this day. The court also announced the medical forensic report related to Y. Almmammadov. Afterward, another victim, Sovet Allahverdiyev, testified. He was born in 1954 in Khojaly and lived there. He said his father, two brothers, and a nephew went missing during the Khojaly genocide, and two other brothers and his mother were taken hostage. Answering questions from Nasir Bayramov, head of a department in the State Prosecution Support Department of the General Prosecutors Office, he stated: That night, from February 25 to 26, they blocked all roads so that we couldnt escape, and committed genocide against all of us because we were Azerbaijani. 50 percent of those killed were murdered in the so-called corridor area. It was claimed to be left open for civilians to leave. He said that bodies were brought from the forest to Aghdam. Most of the corpses were unrecognizable. The skin on their heads was flayed, their brains and skulls shattered. We identified them by their clothes. He also said that in 2023, 18 bodies discovered in Khojaly were found with their hands and feet tied with wire. The court examined investigation protocols related to the events of February 2526, 1992. Then, considering the sensitivity of the upcoming video footage regarding the Khojaly genocide, attendees with heart conditions were warned to leave the courtroom. The videos showed bodies of men, women, children, and the elderly. Some bodies had their skin peeled off, eyes gouged out, and limbs severed. The viewing caused visible emotional distress in the courtroom. Some of the accused demonstratively pretended to be affected by the videos. Protocols related to the Khojaly genocide were then presented to the court. During the examination of other documents, photos taken by photojournalist Victoria Ivleva and an article in Izvestia describing the event as a military achievement by Yerevan were shown. A video interview was also presented where former Armenian Defense Minister and President Serzh Sargsyan admitted to British journalist Thomas de Waal that the event was an act of ethnic cleansing. Sargsyan said he had no regrets about what happened in Khojaly. Prosecutor Tugay Rahimli, referencing Sargsyans remarks, stated that these confirm the genocide was carried out by Armenia in a deliberate and systematic manner. Later, defendant Madat Babayan, whose participation in the Khojaly genocide was confirmed, was questioned. He confirmed being in Khojaly on February 2526, 1992, saying: Our group leader, Henrik Tamrazyan, took us there. The aim was to expel Azerbaijanis from Khojaly. Babayan said their group had 20 people and that there were other groups as well. He remembered commanders Rembert Karapetyan and Valeri Sargsyan. He also named group members Valeri Petrosyan, David Grigoryan, Albert Grigoryan, Shirin Shirinyan, and Spartak Akopyan. He stated that all orders in Khojaly came from Arkadi Shirinyan, nicknamed Kholostoy, while Vanik Petrosyan gave direct orders to his group. Vanik ordered us to shoot unarmed civilians and kill them. Vanik and Arkadi cut off peoples fingers and the ears of corpses. Answering questions from state prosecutor Fuad Musayev, Babayan confirmed that they came to Khojaly armed and used armored vehicles. He admitted to participating in the killing of unarmed civilians and said, We made a mistake. He said he saw around 150 bodies, including children, elderly, and women, and that the bodies were collected by Armenian soldiers and loaded into trucks. At that point, victim Yashar Almmammadov addressed Babayan: My brother Namig was taken by your group. Where did you take him? Tell us at least where his remains are. His wife was pregnant at the time and gave birth to a son. Now, that boy is 33 years old and has gone grey from grief. Where is my brother? Tell me! Babayan claimed he did not know Namig Almmammadov. Victims' representative Shaig Huseynov objected to defendant David Ishkhanyan assisting Babayan in answering questions, and Judge Zeynal Agayev changed Ishkhanyans seat. Then, Babayans initial testimony from the preliminary investigation and related video footage were presented. The next court session is scheduled for April 21. Note: Criminal charges have been brought against 15 ethnic Armenian defendants for numerous crimes committed during the aggressive war waged under the direct leadership and participation of the Armenian state, its government bodies, officials, armed forces, and illegal armed groups, based on their orders, instructions, and support violating both domestic and international legal norms on the territory of Azerbaijan. These individuals Arayik Vladimiri Harutyunyan, Arkadi Arshaviri Ghukasyan, Bako Sahaki Sahakyan, David Rubeni Ishkhanyan, David Azatini Manukyan, David Klimi Babayan, Levon Henrikovich Mnatsakanyan, Vasili Ivani Beglaryan, Erik Roberti Ghazaryan, Davit Nelsoni Allahverdyan, Gurgen Homeri Stepanyan, Levon Romiki Balayan, Madat Arakelovich Babayan, Garik Grigori Martirosyan, and Melikset Vladimiri Pashayan are charged under various articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, including but not limited to: planning and waging aggressive war, genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, terrorism, and illegal armed formation. 18 April 2025 08:30 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more In the latest report from the World Trade Organization (WTO), the outlook for global trade has been significantly impacted by a series of new tariffs and growing trade policy uncertainty. Despite these challenges, the economies of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), which includes Azerbaijan, are expected to experience a slowdown in GDP growth over the next two years. This shift reflects broader global trends but also raises questions about the underlying factors contributing to Azerbaijan's economic performance and its position within the CIS. Access to paid information is limited Find the plan that suits you best. 18 April 2025 20:14 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more Armenias proposed Crossroads of Peace initiative has stirred public and expert debate as Yerevan attempts to project the idea of a regional logistics hub involving its neighboring countries. Framed as a peace-oriented infrastructure project, it is being marketed as a sign of Armenias willingness to cooperate and integrate. But how realistic is this project when analyzed through political, economic, geographic, and timing lenses? Economic expert Eldaniz Amirov, commenting to Azernews, dissected the projects viability from multiple perspectives. From a political perspective, Amirov said that the absence of trust and ongoing intra-regional tensions have rendered the political climate unsuitable for this project. According to him, Armenias aggressive policies and inconsistent regional stance over the past decades have significantly eroded confidence in its intentions. The lack of trust and the existence of intra-regional contradictions have created a completely inappropriate environment for this project from a political perspective. Because Armenia's aggressive policy and double standards in the region in recent decades have created a strong distrust of this country. The main reason why regional countries, even Iran, are cautious about this project is the lack of guarantees of political stability. At the same time, political divisions within Armenia and within the government, indecision, and frequent changes in strategic course call into question the sustainability and stability of the project. From an economic standpoint, the project's prospects are even dimmer: The lack of financial resources and the weakness of investor interest make it impossible to economically support this project. Because the Armenian economy is currently facing deep structural problems. The serious increase in external debt and the weakness of investment flows make it difficult to finance such a huge infrastructure project. On the other hand, since there are alternative corridors in the region (the Middle Corridor, the North-South Corridor, and the potential Zangezur Corridor), the 'Crossroads of Peace' project cannot be a priority for international investors. Geographically, Amirov highlights that Armenias natural and regional disadvantages undermine the concept from the outset: The disadvantage of the territory and the existence of alternative routes also make this project unfavorable from a geopolitical and geographical point of view. Because the geography of Armenia is not considered favorable for transport corridors. It does not seem realistic for a country with no access to the sea, mountainous terrain and tense relations with its neighbors to become a logistics center. Timing-wise, the proposal appears out of sync with the fast-moving dynamics of regional integration: At a time when the world and the region are searching for a new global economic order, Armenia's belated and unprepared initiative is already lagging behind global trends. Also, the legal and technical framework of the project is unclear. This creates serious problems in terms of medium and long-term planning. Amirov concluded that despite its diplomatic branding, the initiative lacks credibility without fundamental shifts in Armenias regional approach: In short, the Crossroads of Peace project is a project put forward by Armenia with the desire to turn itself into the center of the region. In fact, this is a weak initiative in political, economic and strategic terms. A more realistic and beneficial path for Armenia is to restore normal neighborly relations and take advantage of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized corridors. Only after a peace treaty and Azerbaijan gives its OK to Armenia's participation in regional projects can any of their project proposals be discussed and supported for implementation. 18 April 2025 14:36 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more Memorandums of Understanding on cooperation were signed between Azerbaijans Center for Analysis and Coordination of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4SIM) and two major Chinese organizations the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT) and the World Internet of Things Convention (WIOTC), Azernews reports. The agreements were concluded during the China-Azerbaijan Industry and Investment Cooperation Promotion Conference held in Beijing, co-organized by AZPROMO, the Azerbaijani Trade Representatives Office in China, and Chinas National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), with support from the Beijing Municipal Development and Reform Commission. According to 4SIM, the event gathered officials from both countries and about 200 entrepreneurs from sectors including energy, industry, logistics, agriculture, and ICT. Executive Director of 4SIM Fariz Jafarov also delivered a presentation on the centers initiatives in integrating fourth industrial revolution technologies into Azerbaijans economy and its prospects for international collaboration. During the visit, Jafarov also held a bilateral meeting with CAICT Vice President Li Guanyu, where the sides discussed potential areas of cooperation. The signed MoUs aim to foster joint work in industrial, green, and sustainable development technologies, and cover areas such as technology transfer, knowledge exchange, joint projects, and collaborative research programs. 18 April 2025 13:39 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more An exchange of views was held on promoting mutual investments, implementing joint projects, and strengthening business partnerships with Uzbekistan, Azernews reports, citing the Ministry of Economy. Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov met with Uzbekistans Minister of Investments, Industry, and Trade, Laziz Kudratov, in a videoconference. The meeting highlighted the importance of political will, high-level visits, and events in advancing bilateral relations. It was noted that there is significant potential for partnership in investment, joint production in industrial zones (especially in Garabagh), food industry, and more. Efforts are ongoing to realize these opportunities. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the growing economic relations and discussed further cooperation in investments and joint projects. A meeting of the Supervisory Board of the Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan Investment Company was also held as part of the discussions. 18 April 2025 11:02 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more For the first time in the history of the country, the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater is initiating a large-scale cultural project, "Opera Days", scheduled for June 6-25, Azernews reports. The main goal of the project is to bring the art of classical music to a wider audience and breathe new life into the cultural sphere of Azerbaijan. This project is of particular importance both in terms of popularizing classical music and in terms of preserving and promoting the national opera heritage. The following events are planned within the framework of the "Opera Days" festival: Showing magnificent opera performances; Conducting open master classes with the participation of recognized masters of vocal art; Scientific conferences and public discussions; Performances by classical music performers in the regions of the country; A solemn award ceremony in the nomination "The most active spectator of the year". "Opera Days" will become a platform that promotes the establishment of a creative dialogue between stage masters and young talents, creating a bridge between generations. The project, carried out on the initiative and with the organizational support of the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater, is a clear evidence of deep respect for art and its servants. "Opera Days" - a new breath of culture! Media partners of the event are Azernews.Az, Trend.Az, Day.Az and Milli.Az. 18 April 2025 12:03 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more The calligraphy exhibition "The Secret of Letters" has been presented in the Shirvanshahs Palace Complex, Azernews reports. Co-organized by the Administration of the Icherisheher State Historical-Architectural Reserve and Baku Art Gallery, the exposition allows to reveal the secrets of the ancient and aesthetically rich tradition. The exhibition displays over 60 calligraphic works by the well-known calligrapher Gulumkhan Beydemir. Deputy Head of the Administration of the Icherisheher State Historical-Architectural Reserve Rena Nasirova, director of the Baku Art Gallery Eldaniz Babayev, Member of the Azerbaijani Parliament Fazil Mustafa, People's Artist Arif Huseynov and People's Artist Alim Gasimov attended the opening ceremony of the exhibition. Speaking about the exposition, they pointed out that thanks to these works, viewers can more deeply understand that calligraphy is not only a writing technique, but also a philosophical, spiritual means of self-expression. Being an aesthetic form of presenting words, this art has served the development of both science and spirituality in the East for centuries. It is based on the spirit and symbolism of the text. Gulumkhan Beydemir's work adds a modern twist to the Azerbaijani calligraphy and contributes its popularization in the international arena. His works have been presented in different countries and have received high praise from art critics. Gulumkhan Beydemir was born in Shamakhi, Azerbaijan. In 1970, he entered the Azim Azimzade Art School. In 1971-1973, while serving in the military in Khabarovsk, he held his first solo exhibition of works done in watercolor. In 1972, he won second place for a watercolor landscape at the exhibition-competition of artists of the Khabarovsk Territory. After his studies, he became interested in stone carving and calligraphy. In 1995, Gulumkhan Beydemir went to Turkiye, studied with masters of painting, including the world-famous Davut Bektas. In 2006, the calligrapher won a competition in Istanbul with his work "Ahmed-Muhammad". His works are kept in private collections in Azerbaijan, Turkey, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Korea and France. Having expressed gratitude to the organizers and participants of the event, he spoke in detail about his works. Furthermore, the participants got acquainted with the exhibition "The Secret of Letters". 18 April 2025 17:58 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more The International Day for Monuments and Sites is celebrated globally every year on April 18, Azernews reports. This day was created in 1983 by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), an organization that works with UNESCO, to raise public awareness about the importance of protecting and preserving cultural heritage around the world. ICOMOS is a significant advisory body to UNESCO's World Heritage Centre and is known for its scientific and methodical approach to safeguarding architectural and archaeological sites. One key document on protecting cultural heritage is the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, which was adopted by UNESCO in 1972 and became effective in December 1975. This document outlines what cultural and natural heritage means. Cultural heritage includes various forms like monuments (architectural, sculptures, paintings, archaeological sites), groups of buildings, human-made objects, and landscapes that hold great historical, aesthetic, ethnological, or anthropological importance. This year's theme, Disaster and Conflict Resilient Heritage, raises key questions about ways to enhance preparedness, risk mitigation, and emergency response in order to safeguard shared cultural heritage. Monuments and Sites in Azerbaijan In Azerbaijan, the International Day for Monuments and Sites is celebrated with various events and exhibitions at historical sites, promoting the importance of preserving these landmarks. Ancient monuments that have survived until now are recognized as valuable treasures. National Leader of the Azerbaijani People, Heydar Aliyev, who valued cultural monuments as part of the nation's heritage, worked hard to ensure their preservation. He helped create strong laws to protect these sites, including a section in the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan, which was adopted in 1995, stating that everyone is responsible for protecting historical and cultural monuments. Additionally, the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On the Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments," enacted on April 10, 1998, outlines how monuments should be valued, studied, and safeguarded. Thanks to the efforts of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, who continues the legacy of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, the restoration and care of historical monuments have become key priorities. Several Azerbaijani monuments are now listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites. Azerbaijan has five sites on the list, including the Walled City of Baku with the Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower (2000); Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape (2007), Shaki Historic Center with the Khan's Palace (2019) as well as Hyrcanian forests (shared with Iran) and the Cultural Landscape of Khinalig people and the "Koc Yolu" transhumance route (2023). According to a resolution by the Azerbaijan Cabinet of Ministers from August 2, 2011, the country protects a wide array of monuments, including 1067 globally significant sites in Gobustan Reserve, others of international and republican importance in Icherisheher Historical and Architectural Reserve, Gala Historical and Ethnographic Reserve, Nardaran Historical and Cultural Reserve, and the Ateshgah Temple Historical and Architectural Reserve. In recent years, around 1,700 new monuments have been discovered in Azerbaijan, further enriching its cultural heritage. To preserve the national cultural heritage, a program titled "Azerbaijan 2020: A Look into the Future" and the "State Program for the Restoration and Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments" on December 27, 2013 were approved by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. The main goal of this program is to restore and protect our immovable historical and cultural sites, enhance and develop historical reserves, train qualified specialists in preservation and restoration, and foster cooperation with international organizations. Throughout history, many historical monuments around the world have suffered destruction due to wars and occupations. Sadly, this has also affected Azerbaijan. During the years of occupation, Armenian forces caused significant damage to the Azerbaijani cultural heritage. In the regions of Garabagh and Eastern Zangazur, numerous monuments, including 13 of global importance (6 architectural and 7 archaeological), 292 recognized nationally, 330 local sites, 22 museums, and countless cultural and educational institutions were either destroyed or severely damaged. Thanks to the wise leadership of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Victorious Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Ilham Aliyev, and the strength of the Azerbaijani Army, Azerbaijan's territories were liberated from the 30-year-long occupation in 2020, during the 44-day Patriotic War. Now, following the President's directives, extensive efforts are underway to restore and share information about the historical monuments that were damaged or destroyed by the Armenian invaders. Under the attentive guidance of the country's leadership, vital work is being done to study, protect, and restore these monuments while promoting our cultural heritage internationally. These efforts help integrate Azerbaijan into the global community while celebrating and sharing Azerbaijan's rich material and spiritual culture. Surface-to-air missile systems in multi-subject assessment 10:27, April 18, 2025 By Li Jiayao ( China Military Online Soldiers assigned to a unit of the Chinese PLA Air Force erect the surface-to-air missile system during a multi-subject assessment on March 19, 2025. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Tan Zhixuan) Soldiers assigned to a unit of the Chinese PLA Air Force run to the designated fighting positions with the man-portable air defense system during a multi-subject assessment on March 19, 2025. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Tan Zhixuan) (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) 18 April 2025 10:22 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more A delegation of foreign diplomats accredited in Azerbaijan has commenced an official visit to the cities of Khankendi and Shusha, Azernews reports. The delegation is accompanied by Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration. The diplomatic corps first arrived at Fuzuli International Airport before traveling to Khankendi. During their visit, the diplomats are scheduled to meet with students of Garabagh University. Following their program in Khankendi, the delegation will continue to Shusha, where they will be briefed on the citys ongoing restoration and development efforts. 18 April 2025 16:32 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more A significant briefing was held at the Press and Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan, bringing together representatives of various state institutions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and independent experts. According to Azernews, the Ministry of Defense reported that the event began with a moment of silence in honor of National Leader Heydar Aliyev and the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for Azerbaijans territorial integrity and sovereignty. The ceremony continued with the performance of the National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Participants were provided with essential information regarding the Ministrys Communication Strategy, which was approved by Minister of Defense Colonel General Zakir Hasanov. It was emphasized that, as part of the ongoing reforms in military development, strategic communication is being advanced in accordance with modern innovations and the evolving demands of the time. The event included a series of briefings on topics such as Cooperation with Government Bodies and NGOs, Protecting State Secrets in the Media Sphere, and Handling Citizen Inquiries. Additionally, attendees were informed about recent developments in military education within the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. In particular, detailed insights were shared about specialized military educational institutions operating under the National Defense University, including their admission procedures. The session concluded with an open exchange of ideas. Proposals from participants were heard, and questions from guests were addressed by Ministry representatives. 18 April 2025 13:42 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian is set to visit Azerbaijan later this month, accompanied by a high-level delegation aimed at strengthening bilateral ties, particularly in the economic sphere, Azernews reports via Iranian media. According to Hossein Pirmoazzin, Deputy Chairman of Irans Chamber of Commerce, the delegation will include between 110 and 120 individuals. Among them are private sector representatives, businessmen from Irans northwestern provinces especially Ardabil and the governors of four Iranian provinces. Some members of the delegation are expected to arrive in Azerbaijan ahead of the presidents visit, starting from April 28. The visit is anticipated to include discussions on cross-border trade, regional cooperation, and investment opportunities. This will be Pezeshkians first official visit to Azerbaijan since taking office, and it comes amid growing interest in expanding economic cooperation between the two neighboring countries. 18 April 2025 18:43 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more As part of ongoing demining efforts in the recently returned territories of Azerbaijans Gazakh district, 68.6 hectares of land have been cleared of mines since April 2024, Azernews reports, citing the Azerbaijan Mine Action Agency (ANAMA). ANAMAs noted that the clearance operations uncovered and neutralized 929 anti-personnel mines, 95 anti-tank mines, and 48 unexploded ordnances. The cleared areas have been identified as having both difficult terrain and a high density of landmine contamination, posing serious challenges to the operations. This demining work follows last years successful border delimitation process, which resulted in the return of 6.5 square kilometers of landcorresponding to 12.7 kilometers of borderfrom Armenia to Azerbaijan. The reclaimed area includes four historically Azerbaijani villages: Baghanis Ayrum, Ashaghi Askipara, Kheyrimli, and Gizilhajili. On May 24, the State Border Service of Azerbaijan officially took control of the returned territories, reinforcing Azerbaijans sovereign presence in the region. These developments mark not only a significant step toward full territorial reintegration but also lay the groundwork for eventual resettlement and reconstruction efforts in Gazakhs liberated villages. 18 April 2025 13:30 (UTC+04:00) President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a letter of condolences to Mevlut Cavusoglu, Member of the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye, over the death of his father, Azernews reports. "Dear Mr. Cavusoglu, I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of your father, Osman Cavusoglu a profound loss for your family. In this time of sorrow, I share in your grief and extend my deepest condolences to you and all the members of your family, wishing you patience. May Allah rest his soul in peace," the letter reads. 18 April 2025 16:43 (UTC+04:00) President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has congratulated the Orthodox Christian community of Azerbaijan on the Easter holiday, Azernews reports. The address reads: "I sincerely congratulate you and the entire Christian community of Azerbaijan on the sacred holiday of Easter, and I extend my wishes of happiness and well-being to all of you. In Azerbaijan, which has rich traditions of tolerance, there has never been a case of religious or faith-based discrimination throughout its history, and the countrys ethnocultural diversity has been preserved to this day. The promotion and encouragement in our society of a culture of coexistence based on mutual respect and trust, along with progressive social and moral values, is one of the key directions of our state policy. Today, the Christian community holds a special place in our society, where an atmosphere of national and spiritual solidarity and exemplary tolerance prevails. I am pleased to note that our Christian citizens are honorably represented in the public, political, and cultural life of the country and make a valuable contribution to the development and progress of our common home Azerbaijan. Dear friends, Easter symbolizes renewal, rebirth, compassion, and mercy. On this bright day, I once again wish each of you a joyful celebration, and happiness and well-being to your families. Happy holiday!" 18 April 2025 08:00 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva The Chinese government has prohibited automakers from using the terms "intelligent driving" and "autonomous driving" in advertisements for driver assistance features, as part of a broader crackdown on the marketing and development of advanced vehicle technologies, Azernews reports. During a meeting on Wednesday, officials from China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) met with representatives from around 60 automakers to issue new guidelines regarding how such systems should be promoted and regulated. According to Reuters, the move comes in the wake of a high-profile incident involving the Xiaomi SU7 electric vehicle, which caught fire after crashing into a roadside pole at a speed of 97 km/h. The driver had just taken back control from the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) seconds before the collision, which tragically resulted in fatalities. Under the updated regulations, automakers are now barred from testing or upgrading ADAS features through over-the-air (OTA) software updates on vehicles already delivered to customers, unless they have prior government approval. Companies must now conduct thorough testing to ensure the reliability of such systems before releasing them to the public. Additionally, safety standards for electric vehicle (EV) batteries will be tightened, particularly to reduce risks of fire or explosion during collisions or thermal events. While regulators argue these measures are necessary for public safety and consumer protection, industry analysts warn that stricter oversight will raise development costs and could slow the rollout of cutting-edge vehicle technologies in China a country that has been aggressively pushing for global leadership in EVs and smart mobility. However, some experts suggest that these moves could ultimately boost consumer confidence in intelligent systems. By requiring companies to meet higher safety and transparency standards, China may set a new global benchmark for responsible innovation in the automotive sector. 18 April 2025 21:20 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva A Kazakh delegation headed by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin is scheduled to visit Kabul from April 21 to 23. During the visit, meetings with Afghan officials will be held, and an exhibition showcasing Kazakhstani goods is also planned, Azernews reports. In advance of the visit, Kazakhstan has sent humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. The cargo was delivered to the Hairaton railway station in Balkh province and totaled 2,200 tons. It included essential supplies such as vegetable oil, wheat flour, rice, tents suitable for both winter and summer, and blankets. Additionally, a separate consignment of vital medicines will be airlifted to Afghanistan in the coming days. According to Gaziz Akbasov, Kazakhstans charge d'affaires in Afghanistan, Astana is ready to deepen cooperation with Kabul not only in the humanitarian sector, but also in mining, transport, logistics, and agriculture. He emphasized that Kazakhstan sees Afghanistan as a key regional partner with untapped economic potential. This visit comes amid growing interest from Central Asian countries in stabilizing and engaging with Afghanistan through trade and infrastructure development. For Kazakhstan, the trip also represents an opportunity to promote regional connectivity, particularly in light of efforts to establish new transit corridors linking Central Asia with South Asia and beyond. The upcoming exhibition will feature products from over 40 Kazakh companies, highlighting the countrys export capabilities in food, construction materials, pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods. 18 April 2025 20:39 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva A Chinese mainland official urged Taiwan businesspeople and enterprises on Friday to join efforts in resisting external risks and challenges, Azernews reports. Song Tao, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks during a meeting with representatives of Taiwan businesspeople in Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu Province. Song stated that the tariff war initiated by the United States cannot alter the solid foundations, strong resilience, and long-term positive outlook of the mainlands economy. "We have the wisdom and capability to tackle and overcome all challenges. The mainland will always be a reliable and strong support for Taiwan businesspeople," he said. He further emphasized that the mainland is committed to studying and addressing the problems faced by Taiwan businesspeople and enterprises. The government will introduce practical and effective policies, ensure equal treatment, increase support, and strengthen cross-Strait industrial and supply chain connectivity. Song expressed hope that Taiwan businesspeople and enterprises would remain confident, forward-looking, and actively participate in cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation. He encouraged them to work together to overcome external risks and challenges. Representatives from Taiwan businesspeople present at the meeting noted that the unfair tariffs imposed by the United States have significantly disrupted the global trade order and put considerable pressure on some export-oriented Taiwan enterprises. They also highlighted that the mainlands institutional advantages and economic resilience serve as a fundamental guarantee against these risks. Given the mainlands complete industrial system, vast market potential, and immense investment and consumption capacity, Taiwan businesspeople and enterprises remain confident that, with timely support from governments at all levels, they can navigate these challenges. The representatives reaffirmed their commitment to actively participating in the integration of industrial and supply chains across the Taiwan Strait. They also emphasized their intention to align with the mainlands new development patterns and seek new opportunities for growth. Moreover, Taiwan-funded enterprises expressed their strong solidarity with the mainland, wholeheartedly supporting the countrys countermeasures against the United States. They expressed confidence that, together, they will prevail in the tariff dispute. 18 April 2025 22:50 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva Bakyt Sydykov, Minister of Economy and Commerce of Kyrgyzstan, held a meeting with Kim Gwangjae, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Kyrgyzstan, according to the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, Azernews reports. During the meeting, the two parties discussed the current state of bilateral relations and explored prospects for deepening economic cooperation. Minister Sydykov emphasized that the Republic of Korea remains one of Kyrgyzstan's priority strategic partners. He briefed Ambassador Kim on the current economic situation in Kyrgyzstan and the measures being taken to improve the investment climate and attract foreign investors. The discussion highlighted existing formats of cooperation, such as the Kyrgyz-Korean Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation, the Council on Trade and Investment, and the activities of the Bishkek office of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI). These institutions are central to fostering collaboration between the two countries. The parties also underscored the importance of increasing trade turnover and developing joint ventures, particularly those targeting foreign markets. Special emphasis was placed on leveraging Korea's expertise in innovation and digital technologies to help modernize key sectors of the Kyrgyz economy, including agriculture, manufacturing, and information technology. The potential for expanding cooperation in sustainable development and green technologies was also discussed, with both sides recognizing the growing importance of these areas in shaping future economic growth. The meeting concluded with a mutual commitment to enhancing bilateral ties and exploring new areas of collaboration that could benefit both countries. To the self-styled "mainstream media" and to Democrat politicians, Kilmar Albego Garcia is a "Maryland man". They think he should stay in the United States and that the Trump administration should return him here. The British media have a more accurate description of Garcia. The largest circulation UK daily newspaper, the Daily Mail of London simply calls him a "thug" in their headline. The Democrats and their media hack allies want to call Garcia an "alleged" member of the violent El Salvador crime gang and terrorist organization MS13. Unfortunately for their spin, the courts have already ruled, back in the Biden years, that Garcia IS a member of MS13. A federal judge at the trial level heard the evidence and ruled that Garcia is a member of MS13. Garcia appealed, and that was affirmed on appeal. He has had his day in court on that issue back in the Biden years, and lost. Garcia has also been determined by the courts back in the Biden era to be an illegal alien and citizen of El Salvador. He has had his day in court on that issue and lost. He entered and remained in the US illegally. He does not belong in Maryland or anywhere in the United States. Garcia has been engaged in major crimes. He was flagged by Biden's Department of Homeland Security while driving a van load of illegal aliens through Tennessee as a human trafficker. Unfortunately, with the Biden era lax enforcement, they did not proceed with prosecution for that. Garcia was also arrested in Maryland in connection with a homicide investigation. Garcia has also been involved in misdemeanor crimes. In fact, his own Maryland wife twice filed complaints against him in court for domestic violence, writing in her own handwriting about the vicious beatings he gave her. She obtained domestic violence protective orders against Garcia. https://www.lifezette.com/2025/04/bidens-dhs-marked-maryland-dad-abrego-garcia-as-a-human-trafficker-in-2022-watch/ https://redstate.com/terichristoph/2025/04/16/abrego-garcias-wife-filed-two-protective-orders-against-him-n2187921 https://www.foxnews.com/us/kilmar-abrego-garcia-suspected-human-trafficking-report-obtained-fox-news https://www.zerohedge.com/political/human-trafficking-too-biden-admin-flagged-deported-el-salvadoran-suspect-alien https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14626225/Kilmar-Abrego-Garcia-human-trafficking-deported.html https://redstate.com/jenvanlaar/2025/04/16/new-info-about-kilmar-abrego-garcias-arrest-and-who-he-was-with-should-humiliate-dems-but-it-wont-n2187951 Kilmar Albrego Garcia is quite the poster boy for the type of illegal aliens the Democrats and MSM are fighting to keep in America. https://amac.us/newsline/national-security/democrats-step-in-it-again-with-el-salvador-stunt/ https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/house/3383814/democrats-navigate-immigration-trap-abrego-garcia-deportation/ Garcia even has "MS13" tattooed on his knuckles. https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/04/president-trump-drops-hammer-releases-photo-ms-13/ Regarding the recent Israel /Iran Conflict (the "12 Day War"), culminating in the United States Air Force employing seven B2 Bombers to complete a 33 hour flight, dropping 14 fifteen ton bunker busting bombs on three Iranian nuclear facilities buried deep under mountain rock, which destroyed Iran's nuclear ambitions against Israel and the United States: Should President Trump have unilaterally made the decision to make such a bold decision to conduct this operation, without first running this prospective operation before the US Congress for their approval? 14.29% No, The War Powers Act prohibitions, which requires NO presidential military action without congressional approval.85.71% Yes, the President has Article 2 Constitutional authority to take unilateral military action to protect the American People, providing he does not break congressional codes, which he did not.0% Don't care, never have. Three Northern Irish entrepreneurs including the boss of a sausage roll company are among the finalists in the 2025 EY Entrepreneur of the Year (EOY) competition, it was announced today. Martin Tierney of therapeutic seating company Seating Matters in Co Londonderry and Terry Hughes of cash services firm Pivotal in Belfast join William McColgan of food company McColgans in Strabane on the shortlist. In total, there are 24 finalists from across the Ireland wholl now compete in the EOY Ireland final at an awards ceremony in November. Collectively, the 24 entrepreneurs and their firms nominated from across the island of Ireland generate annual revenues of nearly 860m and employ over 4,000 people. The finalists span sectors including consumer, technology, media, health, life sciences, manufacturing and financial services. William McColgan A special sustainability award will be presented to the finalist who is making the biggest contribution towards environmental sustainability through their business. Rob Heron, EY Northern Ireland managing partner, said: This is the 28th year of the Entrepreneur of the Year programme on the island of Ireland, and with every year the bar is raised higher in terms of the quality of the impressive entrepreneurs that submitted nominations. "I know that our judging panel had a seriously difficult job selecting our 24 incredible finalists... "The creation of world class businesses from across Northern Ireland and the island of Ireland has never been more important and our 24 finalists are leading the way. Our finalists are exploring new markets and technologies to solve challenges and find solutions that will revolutionise their own industries, confirming this islands exceptional reputation as a centre of excellence for innovation and business. "I am delighted to formally welcome this years 24 finalists into the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year community and I look forward to working with them closely over the coming months. This years finalists have been shortlisted by an independent judging panel of previous winners, chaired by Harry Hughes, CEO of workwear company Portwest in Co Mayo. Mr Hughes said: We were so impressed with the outstanding calibre of all of the nominations received for the programme this year. "Selecting just 24 finalists was an incredibly challenging task but I am thrilled to congratulate this years finalists and extend a very warm welcome into the EOY community. " An immensely valuable experience now awaits each of them and I wish them every success as they embark on this journey and join this extraordinary group of passionate, courageous individuals who are truly driving entrepreneurship forward. Transmission Investment is an electricity infrastructure company, with a focus on connecting offshore energy wind generation to UK energy grids (Anna Gowthorpe/PA) The company proposing to build an electricity interconnector between Northern Ireland and Scotland has been purchased by a firm owned by the Abu Dhabi state. Transmission Investment (TI), which is consulting with the UK and Irish governments on the LirIC interconnector, has been 100% purchased by TAQA, a utility company owned by the government of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. TI is an electricity infrastructure company, with a focus on connecting offshore energy wind generation to UK energy grids. The company was founded in 2009, and currently has 11 offshore transmission projects which have an asset value of 3bn. It is working on a proposal to connect Northern Ireland and Scotlands energy grids via 142 km of underseas cables. The LirIC interconnector would see two convertor stations in Kilroot, outside Larne, and Hunterston in Scotland to effectively link the Great Britain and all-Ireland electricity grids. TI say that the project would provide 700MW of further capacity between the Irish Integrated Single Energy Market (I-SEM) and the GB wholesale electricity market. The project is still in development, and does not have an estimated cost at the moment. The company says they are discussing it with the governments of both the UK and the Republic of Ireland. TAQA is a utilities and energy corporation based in Abu Dhabi, with operations and assets in 25 countries. It was founded in 2005, and is owned by the Emirati state. As part of the purchase, 40 full-time employees of TI will become part of TAQAs transmission division. TAQA says it views the purchase as strengthening its position in offshore electricity transmission, and sees TI as ready to enter into the onshore electricity transmission market. Dr Chris Veal, founder and managing director of Transmission Investment, said: We are pleased that TAQA has acquired Transmission Investment. TAQAs experience, capability and backing will enable TI to continue to grow and play its part in the development of the UK transmission system in support of the energy transition. The UKs targets of 50GW of offshore wind by 2030, and net zero by 2050, require a huge expansion of offshore and onshore transmission. TI is ready to contribute to this expansion. As a leader in the delivery of competitive UK transmission, we are committed to doing so cost-effectively for UK consumers, while ensuring safety and acting responsibly towards society and the environment. Dr Afif Saif Al Yafei, CEO of TAQA Transmission, said: Transmission grids are essential for enabling the global energy transition. IRENA estimates that from 2024 to 2030, around $717bn per year must be invested in grid infrastructure and flexibility measures to align with a pathway that is compatible with a 1.5C scenario. That is why we are pleased to announce TAQA Transmissions first international acquisition, strengthening our growing portfolio and reinforcing TAQAs role as a global leader in low-carbon power and water solutions. This deal will allow us to leverage the significant capabilities of TI to support our international growth strategy while contributing to the UKs 2050 Net Zero programme and our wider sustainability ambitions. Belfast festival celebrates 25 years of reclaiming city centre: I remember all the bizarre things fires and floods! Ahead of the 25th Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival, director Sean Kelly speaks to Aine Toner about building what came before and accessibility to the arts is paramount This year Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival is celebrating 25 years Aine Toner Fri 18 Apr 2025 at 14:00 Theres a weird duality says Sean Kelly, director of Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival (CQAF) of having spent 25 years working on the world-famous series of events and feeling like the time has gone in the blink of an eye. Bank Square Brasserie is serving up tasty, big-flavoured food, writes Joris Minne All roads lead back to a French brasserie. When youre done with Mexican, Chinese or Indian or even a fresh plate of colcannon, the most demanding fusspot with the Michelin guide in their pocket will return to the French. Because this is where you will always find flavour, volume and sanctuary. NI department store celebrates 95 years in business: Its amazing to think we have generations of families shopping with us One of the oldest department stores in Northern Ireland, Wadsworths has survived a world war, two bombs, a fire and outlived big high street household names. Fred Wadsworth at his store in Newcastle. Photo: Stephen Hamilton Amy Cochrane Fri 18 Apr 2025 at 14:00 A traditional cash register, retro signage indicating menswear, womenswear and homeware departments, a grand wooden staircase and a well-dressed team of friendly and welcoming staff who have almost a century of retail service between them. An observatory in Northern Ireland is one of three across the island that has taken the first steps towards receiving international recognition as world heritage sites. The Historical Observatories of Ireland, which include Armagh Observatory in Co Armagh, Dunsink Observatory in Co Dublin and Birr Castle Demesne in Co Offaly, have been added to Irelands tentative list of properties seeking Unesco world heritage site status. If successful, they would join Giant's Causeway and Causeway Coast in Co Antrim, Skellig Michael in Co Kerry, the Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador and the Statue of Liberty in New York City on the list of the worlds most important examples of natural and cultural heritage. Many of Irelands most famous scientists made trailblazing discoveries at Dunsink Observatory, including William Rowan Hamilton, whose work was significant for the development of quantum mechanics. Armagh Observatory and Planetarium is the oldest scientific institution in Northern Ireland and the longest continuously operating planetarium in the UK and Ireland. It was established in 1790 and has been central to astronomical research ever since. Dunsink Obervatory in Co Dublin Some of the research carried out there has included the compilation of the principal catalogue of nebulae and galaxies and the advancement of meteorological readings. Professor Michael Burton, the director of Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, said: The classical form that we associate with the modern astronomical observatory, of a telescope mounted on a pier inside a rotating dome, began with Dunsink and Armagh at the end of the 18th century. Through their telescopes, which are still in situ and in working condition today, can also be traced the development of the equatorial telescope through the 19th century, one that is able to automatically track the stars as they rotate across the sky each night. Dunsink Observatory was built in 1785 and was the first building on the island of Ireland that was specifically constructed for the pursuit of scientific research. Birr Castle Demesne, which began as a private observatory of the 3rd Earl of Rosse on the grounds of his castle in Co Offaly, was the home of the Great Leviathan of Parsonstown, a six-foot telescope built in 1845, which was considered the biggest in the world for more than 70 years. Birr Castle Demesne In 2018, a low-frequency radio telescope on the castle grounds, which is part of a larger European network, observed for the first time a flaring red dwarf star called CN Leo, about 7.9 light-years away, that is believed to have come into being a billion years ago. The scientific heritage of all three sites cannot be overstated, said Professor Peter Gallagher, chairperson of Birr Observatory and the director of Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) at Dunsink Observatory. The telescope in Birr Castle was the largest in the world for seven decades and remains today a place of scientific endeavour and significance. We need to protect the heritage of all three sites, conserve, preserve as well as educate on the importance of science for society and to inspire the next generation. Advice is being sought from a Stormont department about the future of a flock of tropical parakeets which have taken up residence in a park in north Belfast. Around 15 of the birds with bright green feathers and red beaks have been attracting amateur wildlife photographers to the Waterworks Park. While the birds are proving popular with visitors, concerns have been raised about the potential impact on native animals from the invasive species. Conor McKinney, the chairman of Wild Belfast, told the BBC that the council and Northern Ireland Environment Agency should return the birds to captivity and negate any potential risks of further spread. A tropical parakeet at the Waterworks Park in north Belfast. Pic: PA A spokesperson for Belfast City Council said: Council are currently seeking advice from the relevant government department, DAERA (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs), in regard to the parakeets. A DAERA spokesperson said: The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) is in contact with Belfast City Council about the parakeets and is assessing options for further action. "The NIEA highlights the Be Pet Wise campaign to encourage pet owners to look after their pets and dont let them loose. Meanwhile, police have urged people not to disturb breeding or nesting birds over the Easter weekend amid a sharp decline in breeding waders over recent years. The fall in the number of curlews, lapwings, redshanks and snipes has become a conservation concern. The public has been reminded of the legal protection around nests. bird Escape to Oz Easter trail launches on Clandeboye Estate PSNI lead for Rural and Wildlife Crime Superintendent Johnston McDowell blamed disturbances in Co Fermanagh particularly in the Upper Lough Erne area on individuals and dogs on private land nests have been damaged. Any reported wildlife crime will be taken seriously and appropriately dealt with and investigated accordingly, he warned. We urge everyone to respect the habitats of our rare bird species when out and about in the countryside or on the coast. Emergency services were called to a Belfast airport after a technical issue was identified with a landing plane. The PSNI, Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service and Northern Ireland Ambulance Service all attended the scene at the east Belfast airport after an emergency was declared on board the Emerald Airlines aircraft. The plane has since successfully landed and taxied to the stand. The airline also confirmed no passengers were onboard the aircraft. Belfast City Airport Watch: PSNI launch their Operation Lifesaver Campaign In a statement, a spokesperson for Emerald Airlines said: Emerald Airlines positioning flight EA701P, with no passengers on board, flying from Edinburgh to Belfast City Airport, 18th April 2025, landed and proceeded to its parking stand as normal. "Due to a technical issue subsequently identified onboard, emergency services were informed as a precautionary measure. A Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson added: We had five appliances plus our specialist rescue team and command vehicles who attended, but the plane landed safely. Our fire crew carried out an external check using thermal imaging cameras. We used a thermal imaging camera around the plane, there was no issue. "No action was taken by Fire and Rescue Service personnel. We closed the incident down at 5.45pm. A row has broken out within the Executive over proposed Irish language signage at the Belfast Grand Central Station (Rebecca Black/PA). Inset: Liz Kimmins (left) and Emma Little-Pengelly Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn welcomed the agreement of the memorandum of understanding (Niall Carson/PA) The Secretary of States comments on Irish language signs at Belfast Grand Central Station are an imbalanced assessment, a senior unionist has said. UUP leader Mike Nesbitt was speaking after Hilary Benn questioned the fuss over signage at the transport hub. Mr Benn said there are so many more important things to focus on. The signs have been the source of a fresh row between the DUP and Sinn Fein at Stormont. Earlier this month it was announced that work around installing the signs had been halted due to pending political action after loyalist activist Jamie Bryson lodged papers seeking leave for a judicial review against the Department for Infrastructure. Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly also said Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins had a legal duty to bring a decision to erect the signs to the Executive. She added that the decision by Ms Kimmins to use 150,000 of public money to install the signs did not constitute value for money or good decision-making. First Minister Michelle O'Neill defended her party colleague, insisting it was the right decision and "no one has anything to fear from the Irish language". Mr Benn told BBC NI that the decision to install the signs is about respecting all traditions and that there are more important things to argue about. I really dont understand what the fuss is about, he said. This is about respecting and celebrating all of the traditions. And what a wonderful station it is; I visited a month and a half ago its absolutely spectacular. I just think are so many more important things than having an argument about signs. I mean, come on. However, Mr Nesbitt criticised Mr Benns remarks and said his comments were a totally imbalanced assessment of the issue . A row has broken out within the Executive over proposed Irish language signage at the Belfast Grand Central Station (Rebecca Black/PA). Inset: Liz Kimmins (left) and Emma Little-Pengelly "Mr Benn says he wants us all to celebrate all traditions. Does that include the tradition of some republicans to believe every word spoken in Irish is another bullet fired in the battle for Irish freedom? Mr Nesbitt said. "That tradition needs to be addressed if we are to achieve cross-community support for the language my party would like to see. "Im disappointed he does not realise progress requires compromise, not fully throated support for one side or the other." TUV councillor Ron McDowell said the Secretary of State needs to educate himself over the signs issue and should have communicated with local people. While Irish culture and heritage are to be foisted upon a loyalist community in Sandy Row 365 days a year by the imposition of these signs, nationalism cannot even tolerate my culture for 10 minutes a year - and it has the force of the Parades Commission to back up its demand for cultural apartheid, he said. He said controversy over the Boyne Bridge means the views of residents have been ignored. Work to remove the historic bridge reputedly crossed by King William on his way to the Battle of the Boyne in 1690 began last year as part of Translink's redevelopment of the area around the station. Mr McDowell said: Most significantly - the road remains blocked because of the work on Grand Central with massive falls in footfall and trade to local businesses. If the Secretary of State wants to understand the issues involved, he should come to Sandy Row and talk to local people." Protesters opposed to the Irish language signage also held a demonstration inside the station on Monday night. The son of the late First Minister Ian Paisley has said his father would have been deeply interested in an event celebrating the history of the Presbyterian Church and the Irish language. Reverend Kyle Paisley is now a Free Presbyterian minister in England and said the event organised by a Free Presbyterian Church was "a time of learning, and I have a lot to learn about it". He spoke to BBC NI at Preispiteirigh agus an Ghaeilge, which was held at Farranshane House in Antrim's Rathenraw estate. It included a talk on the history of the Bible and Presbyterians in the Irish language by Pastor John Duffy and an exhibition of Bibles printed in Irish. Ian Paisley senior Those in attendance included former Sinn Fein Mayor of Belfast Tom Hartley, DUP founding member Wallace Thompson and Sinn Fein MLA Declan Kearney. Reverend Kyle Paisley said his late father would have been "deeply interested" in the event and would have attended. "You don't get anywhere by ignoring history, and you don't get anywhere certainly by ignoring religious history," Mr Paisley said. "That's the purpose of tonight's meeting, to highlight something that is often forgotten in the midst of arguments over other things. "People may tend to think that the Irish language belonged to one section of a community at a time, as opposed to another section, but there was an interest in it in Presbyterian and in Protestant circles, certainly way back then. "We lose nothing by acknowledging that and we may learn some practical lessons for today. Mr Paisley added: "I think it was Nelson Mandela that said: 'If you speak to a man in a language that he understands you'll reach his head, but if you speak to him in his language, you'll reach his heart'." Parts of the UK are braced for a damp start to the Easter bank holiday weekend (Ben Birchall/PA) A yellow weather warning has been issued for Northern Ireland over much of the Easter weekend. The warning impacts parts of Co Down and Co Antrim and will last from 2pm on Friday until 3pm on Saturday. The Met Office has warned there is an increased risk of flooding during this time and some disruption to travel as 20 to 40 mm of rain is likely to build up widely with 50 to 75 mm over some higher ground and perhaps in excess of 75 mm in one or two spots. Flooding of a few homes and businesses is possible with bus and train services also likely to be impacted. Spray and flooding on roads will probably making journey times longer and some interruption to power supplies and other services is possible. Good Friday will feel fresher than it has been lately with temperatures around 10C, dropping to just 8C overnight. Easter Saturday is a similar situation and will be mostly dull with some showers and the occasional drier spells but with some chilly easterly winds. Again, maximum temperature will reach about 10C. Parts of the UK are braced for a damp start to the Easter bank holiday weekend (Ben Birchall/PA) Easter Sunday looks clearer and mostly dry with patchy rain. Easter Monday will also offer a drier start, but rain is likely to return by the afternoon as showers or longer spells push northeast. Coastal areas could see another blast of blustery winds, and temperatures will hover near 12C. The outlook for Easter comes as a yellow weather warning was put into force across 11 counties in the Republic of Ireland with a caution of potential for flooding on Friday. Weather warning issued for NI. Pic: Ben Birchall/PA Wire Escape to Oz Easter trail launches on Clandeboye Estate Met Eireann has issued a Status Yellow warning for Galway and Mayo between 6am this morning until 9pm on Friday night. A third rain warning will come into effect for counties Carlow, Dublin, Louth, Kilkenny, Wexford, Wicklow and Waterford between 6am on Friday until 6am on Saturday. Approximately 10,000 pages of records related to the 1968 assassination of senator Robert F Kennedy were released on Friday, continuing the disclosure of national secrets ordered by President Donald Trump. Mr Kennedy was fatally shot on June 5 1968, at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles moments after giving his victory speech for winning Californias Democratic presidential primary. His assassin, Sirhan Sirhan, was convicted of first-degree murder and is serving life in prison. The US National Archives and Records Administration posted roughly 229 files containing the pages to its public website. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to declassify remaining federal records in January (Ben Curtis/AP) Many files related to the senators assassination had been previously released, but others had not been digitised and sat for decades in storage facilities maintained by the federal government. Nearly 60 years after the tragic assassination of senator Robert F Kennedy, the American people will, for the first time, have the opportunity to review the federal governments investigation thanks to the leadership of President Trump, Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, said in a statement. Ms Gabbard also said the files release shine a long-overdue light on the truth. The release of the RFK files comes a month after unredacted files related to the 1963 assassination of President John F Kennedy were disclosed. Those documents gave curious readers more details about Cold War-era covert US operations in other nations but did not initially lend credence to long-circulating conspiracy theories about who killed JFK. Trump, a Republican, has championed in the name of transparency the release of documents related to high-profile assassinations and investigations. But he has also been deeply suspicious for years of the governments intelligence agencies, and his administrations release of once-hidden files opens the door for additional public scrutiny and questioning about the conclusions and operations of institutions such as the CIA and the FBI. Mr Trump signed an executive order in January calling for the release of governmental documents related to the assassinations of Robert F Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr, who were killed within two months of each other. Robert F Kennedy Jr, a son of the Democratic New York senator who now serves as the US health and human services secretary, commended Mr Trump and Ms Gabbard for their courage and dogged efforts to release the files. Lifting the veil on the RFK papers is a necessary step toward restoring trust in American government, the health secretary said in a statement. People comfort each other on Florida State Universitys campus in Tallahassee, where law enforcement responded to a reported shooter incident (Kate Payne/AP) A gunman opened fire at a Florida university, killing two people and wounding at least six others, police said. The alleged gunman is the 20-year-old son of a sheriffs deputy whose former service weapon was used in the shooting, authorities said. The two people who died were not students at the university, but the shooter is believed to be a student, said Florida State University police chief Jason Trumbower. Florida State University students wait for news amid an active shooter incident at the schools campus in Tallahassee (Kate Payne/AP) Five people were being treated at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, Mr Trumbower said, and the alleged shooter is also receiving medical attention. Mr Trumbower said the alleged shooter opened fire at about 11.50am on Thursday, shooting individuals around the student union building. Tallahassee Memorial Hospital has confirmed it is treating six patients, one of them in critical condition. Mr Trumbower said authorities would not be releasing information about the victims, including whether they were students. But he did confirm the two people who were killed were not students at the university. Leon County Sheriff Walter McNeil revealed the alleged shooters identity and his relation to deputy Jessica Ikner, who has been with the sheriffs office for over 18 years. Mr McNeil says the alleged shooter was a long-standing member of the sheriffs offices youth advisory council and engaged in a number of training programmes with the office. This is obviously a heinous crime, Mr McNeil said. We will make sure that we do everything we can to prosecute and make sure that we send a message to folks that this will never be tolerated here in Leon County, and I dare say across the state and across this nation. Asked about shooting, US President Donald Trump said its a shame, adding that he knew the school and the area very well. Florida State University students wait for news amid a reported shooter incident at the schools campus (Kate Payne/AP) But Mr Trump suggested that he would not be advocating for any new gun legislation, saying, the gun doesnt do the shooting, the people do. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Mr Trump called himself a big advocate of the Second Amendment and the right to bear arms. I have an obligation to protect the Second Amendment, he said. Florida State University is cancelling classes on Friday, which is two weeks before the universitys scheduled commencement ceremony for graduates from May 2 to 3. The universitys official finals week per its academic calendar are scheduled to start April 28. FSUs alert system announced shortly after 3pm that law enforcement had neutralised the threat. Officials are asking students and faculty to avoid the student union and several other areas that are still considered an active crime scene. People are otherwise free to move about the campus. Jake Nair, a senior student at the university, was studying in the library when a police officer dashed out of the building, yelling for everyone to stay in place. He ran outside with his gun out, Mr Nair said. Not all the students heard him, and some of them ran out the back of the library. Florida State University students wait for news amid a reported shooter incident at the schools campus in Tallahassee (Kate Payne/AP) Mr Nair said an alarm in the library then went off and a recorded message warned students to shelter in place because of an active shooter on campus. Then about five officers came into the library and escorted the students out with their hands up. I think they just wanted to make sure none of us had a weapon on us, Mr Nair said. To be honest, it was a bit of a surreal moment. Its the kind of thing you only see on the news. An office employee for the Leon County Medical Examiners office declined to release information on whether any deaths had been reported to their office at this time, noting that the investigation is still ongoing. Chris Pento told Tallahassee TV station WCTV that he was on campus Thursday for a tour with his twins and that they were inside the student union getting lunch when they heard gunshots. It was surreal. And people just started running, he told the TV station. Mr Pento said he and several others crammed into a service elevator after first encountering locked doors at the end of a hallway. That was probably the scariest point because we didnt know it could get worse, right? he said. The doors opened, and two officers were there, guns drawn. He said the officers asked if they had seen anything and then pointed them to safety. The elderly gang targeted vulnerable young women, the youngest victim being 17Two victims died after becoming addicted to heroin under the gangs coercionOliver MacCormack (71) was sentenced to seven years for charges including multiple counts of human trafficking Every one of them looks like someones grandfather: Belfast pensioners sentenced for running grooming gang The term grooming gang is often heard and seen on social media. It came to prominence after horrific cases in the northern English towns of Rotherham and Huddersfield. Vulnerable young women and children were sexually exploited by gangs of men of Asian origin, which led to the term grooming gang becoming racially charged. But grooming and grooming gangs are unfortunately a more widespread problem. Belfast pensioner Oliver MacCormack has been handed a seven-year sentence for exploiting vulnerable young women by plying them with heroin and forcing them to work as prostitutes. Three other men have already been sentenced as part of the same investigation, the oldest of which being 79. Due to time already served, MacCormack will be released in November of this year, leading some to question whether the sentences handed out to the gang were stiff enough. Belfast Telegraphs crime correspondent Allison Morris joins Ciaran Dunbar to discuss the case. Shutterstock.com More than 700,000 Americans have died from the COVID-19 pandemic in the last 18 months, and the numbers continue to grow, even with the widely available vaccine. Americans havent perished in numbers like these since the Spanish flu pandemic in 1918 or the Civil War. Thousands of people have lost loved ones, and this is a moment of profound tragedy and grief. As the public and the government lose patience with the vaccine-hesitant groups and increase pressure on them to get vaccinated, the questions around religious exemptions continue to grow. Those holding out may eventually comply with mandates so they can get back to their everyday lives. Still, its also likely that some of these religious exemption claims will go to court, where a judge will have to balance the interests of the faithful against the public health needs and determine who among the hesitant have genuine religious objections and who is faking. So what would Jesus do about vaccine mandates? Jesus would encourage everyone to get vaccinated for the greater good of the community. The Religious Community and Vaccination There is evidence that vaccine hesitancy differs among religious groups. A July survey from the Public Research Institute found that close to 80-85 percent of Catholic and Jewish Americans said they accepted the vaccine, while 75 percent of religiously unaffiliated Americans took the same position. Almost two-thirds of Latter-day Saints and Black Protestants favored vaccination in the same survey. The lowest acceptance rates were among Hispanic Protestants and white evangelicals, among whom over half of adherents describe themselves as favorable toward the vaccine. There are also signs that faith leaders can play an essential role in fostering vaccine acceptance. In August, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a statement urging followers to get vaccinated. Leaders shared that scientists have proven the vaccine to be safe and effective. They went on to say that humanity can win the war against COVID-19 if everyone follows the recommendations of medical experts and government officials. After releasing this statement, the vaccination rates in Utah increased. One advantage of vaccine mandates is that no religious group forbids vaccination outright, even two Christian denominations well known for refusing medical practices on religious grounds. Jehovahs Witnesses, who oppose blood transfusions on biblical grounds, see vaccination as a personal choice. The Christian Science Movement, which typically uses prayer instead of medical treatment, noted that it appreciated vaccination exemptions and wanted to use them carefully and responsibly when necessary. At the same time, they said that it isnt a dogmatic thing and that members are free to make their own choices on all-life decisions, in obedience to the law, including whether or not to vaccinate. However, that doesnt mean there wont be grounds for challenges from members of larger denominations. For example, some Catholic bishops in the United States raised concerns about fetal cell lines in vaccines. Cell lines derived from two Dutch abortions in the 1970s and the 1980s played a role in researching and creating the vaccines for Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson. Pfizer and Moderna only used the cell lines to test their vaccines effectiveness. The Vaticans leading doctrinal organ issued a statement last December that asserted that receiving the vaccine was still morally acceptable to fight the spread of COVID-19 in the absence of a more ethical alternative. Pope Francis also described the vaccine as an act of love and a simple but profound way to promote the common good and care for each other, especially the vulnerable community. Vaccination and Religious Exemptions Non Catholics arent obligated to follow the Vaticans view on the vaccine, but even some Catholics resist the churchs stance. Earlier in 2021, a group of Catholic doctors and nurses and one Baptist nurse in New York sued the state to block its mandate for health care workers to get vaccinated, citing religious grounds. Their complaint stated that they sided with Catholic bishops who opposed vaccination because of fetal cell lines. A judge ultimately granted their request for a temporary restraining order against the mandate while the legal challenges work their way through the court system. Another complicating factor is the legitimacy of their beliefs. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, only a handful of states allow religious exemptions to vaccine mandates for school-aged children. However, some evidence suggests that many parents who invoke religious exemptions do so under pretenses. In a 2014 law review article, University of California Hastings law professor Dorit Rubenstein Reiss found multiple examples of parents in anti-vax Facebook groups and internet forums. These parents openly told one another that they lied about their religious beliefs to claim an exemption and told others how to do the same. Its unclear how these religious exemptions and all their complexities will play out in court. Laws vary from state to state, and even the federal government is still trying to figure it out. Recent guidance for federal employees on President Bidens mandate says that an agency may be required to provide a reasonable accommodation to employees who communicate to the agency that they arent vaccinated due to disability or a religious belief, practice, or observation. Jesus Stance on Vaccine Mandates The Bible says a lot about doing the best for your community. The idea of community comes from the sense of responsibility that we have for each other. Proverbs 27:17 says that iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Jesus would agree with vaccine mandates; He would do so because He knows that vaccination is best for the community. He would especially consider the elderly and vulnerable community. Unfortunately, todays society is focused solely on self and individualism. Everyone believes that all they have to look out for is themselves. Jesus would remind everyone that thats not true. It is the communitys responsibility to look out for one another. Romans 12:5 reminds us that we form one body in Christ, and each member belongs to all the others. This verse reminds us that we are all of one body, and we belong to each other. Jesus also wouldnt be too happy about those who falsely claim religious exemptions. If there were vaccination clinics in biblical times, Jesus would be there, and He would encourage others to do the same. The only way to beat the COVID-19 virus is as a community, and thats what Jesus would want. 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. Cj Garner and Marcus Lyon, who together own The Common Table, plan to keep the lease on the current space just up the road and are contemplating reimagining the original location as a breakfast and lunch spot. Eagle Archives, July 2, 1957: The Marauders drum and bugle corps will be absent from the 1957 Fourth of July Parade after a split with the Pittsfield Firemens Association, which demanded the return of all instruments amid tensions over name changes and sponsorship. City councilors say they don't need a full airing of what could possibly include defamatory statements, but they want to see a redacted version or an executive summary, arguing that's required to rebuild trust and understand what might need to be corrected. We know that when we talk to employers, attracting and retaining talent is top of mind, and we want to make sure that through this tour we can promote Mass Hire," said Lauren Jones, the commonwealths labor and workforce development secretary, during a tour of Interprint in Pittsfield. PITTSFIELD The Silvio O. Conte Federal Building is off the list of surplus buildings the Trump administration wants to sell for now, according to one of its chief tenants U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, DSpringfield. In March, the U.S. General Services Administration listed the building among multiple Massachusetts locations being considered for possible sale. That list, which disappeared from the site in a day, also included the John F. Kennedy Federal Building in Boston and the Internal Revenue Service center in Andover. It's off the list at the moment. But given the impulsive nature of the decision making [in President Donald Trumps administration] it could be put [back] on the list, Neal said Thursday during an editorial board meeting at The Eagle. The Conte building serves a real purpose, Neal said. Social Security's there. Medicare, veterans benefits, my congressional office is there, and we're busy. I think any building that says it's an address for the United States of America, it's a pretty important property. Named for the late Republican U.S. congressman from Pittsfield, the Conte Federal Building at 78 Center St. is the only location for Veterans Affairs offices in Berkshire County. Its also home to a VA outpatient clinic providing primary care and specialty health services, including mental health care and treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. During his visit with The Eagles editors, Neal was asked about calls for Democrats to be more assertive in their opposition to Trump. A recent letter to the states congressional delegation, signed by leaders of numerous city and town Democratic Party Committees, urges more aggressive steps, such as withholding unanimous consent in the Senate, and creating a shadow cabinet responding to Trump policies with alternatives. The letter also calls for replacing Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. There's appetite for it, but there's also an arithmetic problem in the House of Representatives, and there's an arithmetic problem in the Senate, where Republicans hold slim majorities, Neal said. But Neal thinks that anticipated efforts to cut popular Medicaid and Social Security benefits will give congressional Republicans cause to break with Trump. I think we also have to figure out how we're going to win the next round of congressional elections, which we should win next year, Neal said, also expressing confidence that the midterm elections will in fact be held. So I get the frustration that people feel, but I mean, I've consistently opposed everything, or virtually everything, that Donald Trump has attempted to offer, because I don't think it's well thought out on his side. Out of the public eye, Neal said, congressional Republicans roll their eyes in the hallway and elevators of the Capitol. I think Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and veterans benefits are not only worthy of defense, but also, I think they appeal to a broad section of people, Neal said. I think [Trump has] made a terrible miscalculation on the Medicaid front. [Trumps approval number] has certainly gone south on the economy. And my hunch is that by summer, his number is going to be even more weakened. And if they do assail Medicaid, Social Security or Medicare or veterans benefits, then I think the break will take place. Neal also addressed the anxiety many have about the erosion of democratic norms and the denial of due process in cases involving immigrants seized by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. I think there's a fear factor that's there for sure, Neal said. I do think that the Supreme Court's going to be a check on this presidency. I've got confidence that the court's going to resist at the embrace of traditional conservative principles. But at the same time, there's going to be a lot of pain in between. Stay up to date on Berkshires news with Berkshires in Brief, our free daily newsletter WILLIAMSTOWN Standing in the First Congregational Church of Williamstown, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal was reminded that places of worship like this one, dating back to 1765, were once "noisy" with the sounds of democracy. Thats what we honor at the meetinghouse, representative democracy, where people have a right to assemble and petition their government and make their voices heard, Neal said on Thursday while touring the historic building. Thats what the meetinghouse meant. Remember, democracy is supposed to be noisy, he added, and in places like this, it was noisy. Neal joined other local dignitaries, residents and congregants at an event at the church on Thursday morning to celebrate the $500,000 he secured in the 2024 spending bill for the yearslong church building preservation effort. The federal funds come through Congressionally Directed Spending from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The ongoing renovations to the large white church that looms over Main Street are meant for everyone in town, not just worshipers, advocates say. This whole building dates back to 1765, in an earlier iteration mind you, but it began as a combination, as it is today, meeting house and sanctuary, said Sherwood Guernsey, a former state representative who is involved with the church, on Thursday. That was what was required to incorporate a town back then. Things have changed, but not the way this building is structured. Leaders from the nonprofit Williamstown Meetinghouse Preservation Fund, a group dedicated to fixing up the church, said the focus of its efforts now is on Americans with Disabilities Act compliance. That will require an elevator to get between at least the bottom and first floors, as well as a new entrance ramp, accessible bathrooms and exit lighting/door improvements. We have to raise more money, Guernsey acknowledged, but you dont get started unless you get started. Preservation fund President Carrie Greene, who is not a member of the churchs congregation, said work has already been done on the building, including replacing most of the roof, fixing a leak in the steeple and bringing the kitchen up to code. The $500,000 in federal money will go toward bringing the rest of the building up to code. Regarding the steeple, while it has stopped leaking, work to restore it to its former glory is not yet finished. In terms of future fundraising for the iconic feature one so particular to Williamstown At some point I think the congregation will need to decide what it wants to do with the steeple, Greene said. Guernsey, Greene and others took Neal on a tour of the church building, discussing its historical significance and pointing out where its physical problems persist. Since commissioning a plan in 2019, enhancements to the church have been piecemeal. What was originally estimated to be a $2.5 million project overall, blossomed to $6 million following the pandemic. Now, the preservation group is centering a $3 million goal for full ADA compliance, as it's shored up in recent years the immediate issues of the roof and steeple. The group hopes to renovate indoor areas for community use; the church already runs its own programs and hosts events for local groups. It also has tenants such as ABC Clothing Shop, the Hoosic River Watershed Association and an art therapist, to name a few. We want to make this building a true community asset, and it cannot be an asset for all in the community until everyone can access it equally, Greene said. The building is in the heart of Williamstown, it's in the center of the Williams College campus, it has more potential than even we realized to do good for the community, given its places and given the people who do work in the building already. This is an issue that requires careful consideration and negotiation by town officials rather than clumsy decision-making by referendum. We've repeatedly called on those Great Barrington officials to move with all possible haste to help their Housatonic constituents in the only reasonable method available: pursuing a fair purchase of the Housatonic Water Works. Now we call on those officials to put this distraction aside and keep their eyes on that ball. Donald Morrison is an Eagle columnist and co-chair of the advisory board. The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of The Berkshire Eagle. In case you missed the trend, Christians and non-Christians alikespecifically menare said to think about the Roman Empire multiple times a day. As a history nerd and Christian, this is true for me. It's fascinating to consider the continuing prevalence of the Roman Empire's influence, especially since Christ came to earth during the height of Rome's rule. It was because of Roman roads, Roman philosophy, and even Roman persecution of Christians that the Gospel spread so quickly in the early Church. Furthermore, Romans played key roles in spreading Christianity, from within the military to politics. Emperor Constantines conversion is a fascinating example of this. In Scripture, the Roman military, and most notably Roman centurions, play a unique role in the death and resurrection of Christ. In ancient Rome, the position of a Roman Centurion was a prestigious title. Within a Roman legion (5,000-6,0000 soldiers), a Roman Centurion was in command of 100 soldiers. As outlined by Bible Study Tools, The number of centurions in a legion was 60, that being at all epochs the number of centuries, although the number varied in the cohort or speira. The ordinary duties of the centurion were to drill his men, inspect their arms, food and clothing, and to command them in the camp and in the field. Where Does the Bible Mention Roman Centurions? Roman centurions appear from time to time in Matthews Gospel account and in Acts. Before we discuss their appearances in detail, lets consider some historical context. Historically, ancient Romans and Jews did not get along well. The Romans had an empire to maintain, control, and expand, and this often involved subjugating the Jewish people to harsh taxes and laws. During the span of Roman rule, people of various ethnic groups, religions, and tribes lost a large amount of their way of life and freedom. The Romans set leaders such as Herod the Great, who was an Edomite (of the tribe of Esau) to rule over the Jewish people. To place a non-Jewish king over Israel was a great insult. Furthermore, Jews who couldnt pay their taxes either had property stolen by Rome or even family members (especially children) who were enslaved. In order to maintain the so-called Pax Romana, aka the Roman Peace, the Romans had to rule with an iron fist. The Jewish people had been under occupation by various empires for centuries, so subjugation to a foreign empire was really nothing new. When Israel split in two with Samaria to the north and Judah to the south, Assyria soon invaded and conquered Samaria between 722 and 720 B.C. After the rise of the Babylonian Empire, Judah was then conquered in 686 B.C. After Babylon came the Persian Empire, which lasted until 332 B.C. when Alexander the Great conquered and expanded the known world. After Alexanders death in 323 B.C., Israel still remained under the Greeks. It wasnt until the Maccabean Revolt that the Jewish people became a sovereign state for a period of time until the Roman Empire conquered them. So after years of being conquered by enemies, Israel finally had a sense of peace only for a new enemy to arise and take over. This Roman enemy had an intimidating army, intense tax laws, and forcefully demanded tribute and allegiance to Caesar and his governing rulers. Needless to say, Rome put its foot down to maintain their conquered territories, and under this harsh rule, the Jewish people would eventually revolt in 70 A.D. This First Jewish Revolt ended in a Jewish defeat and the destruction of Jerusalem and the Second Temple. And yet, it was Christ, the Messiah of Jewish heritage, who spoke kindly to Roman rulers, and made it clear that they, too, could be redeemed. What Does the Bible Say about the Roman Centurion with a Servant? We have a few examples of Jesus' interactions with Roman centurions in the Gospel accounts. The most notable one is the Roman Centurion with his servant (Mark 7:1-10). As previously mentioned, Centurions held high positions in the Roman military and commanded respect and honor. So for a Centurion to approach an ostensibly ordinary Jewish man for healing says much about this Centurion. It shows his humility to put his pride and status as a Roman Centurion aside for his servant whom he loved and cared for. It shows that he has heard or even seen the miracles of Christ, and this has impacted him enough that he has developed faith in Jesus. As Mike Leake of Crosswalk.com states, This is rather astonishing because up to this point in the narrative Jesus has not healed anyone from a distance. But this centurion seemed to know and believe that Jesus could accomplish whatever he desired. It is also interesting to note that the centurion approaches Jesus as one who is under Jesus authority rather than the other way around. It is this posture, driven by the centurions faith, that leads to the healing of his servant. The healing happens not because he is worthy, due to his position, but the healing happens because of the goodness of Jesus. Deacon Michael Schlaack of St. Mary Magldalens Orthodox Church further elaborates on this point: The simple faith of the Centurion must have taken Jesus by surprise, for the Gospel says that He marveled at the Centurions confession. It is fascinating to ponder the significance of this statement. Jesus should expect this level of faith from the Gods covenant people. After all, they had Moses and prophets, the Law and the prophecies to help guide them in their understanding of Gods messiah. They had spent centuries waiting for the return of the Son of David, who would overthrow the Roman occupiers and restore Israel to its former glory. Yet when they actually came face to face with the incarnate God, they refused to believe in Him. The Centurion, on the other hand, was a Gentile and did not have the same understanding and tradition of the messianic prophecies known by the Jews. He did not come to Jesus demanding a sign of His divine power, as so often occurred with the Jewish leaders. Instead, the Centurion came to Jesus on faith, driven by his love for his servant and a desire to see that servant healed. The officers humility was clearly understood when he stated: Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof (Matt. 5:8). This is the inspiring story of the Centurion and his servant. How about the Roman Centurion at the foot of the cross? The Bible's Account of the Roman Centurion Who Declared Jesus Was Gods Son As all believers know, the Crucifixion is a pivotal moment in the life of Christ. At this moment in history, Christ gives up his Spirit to God the Father, thus completing the ultimate sacrifice for sin. As seen in chapter 27 of Matthews Gospel account, we see Christ give up his Spirit (v. 50), the veil tearing in two (v. 51), and the tombs of the dead opening and ancient believers appearing to many (v. 52). In the moment of Christ's death, the Centurion says, Truly this man was the Son of God. (v. 53). There has been a lot of speculation among scholars as to who this Centurion is. Some have said he may have been the Centurion with the servant, but others believe this to be unlikely given the faith already shown by the Centurion with his servant. Others have said it was Cornelius the Centurion in Acts 10, given his faithfulness and proclamation of God after he was given a vision and eventually visited by the Apostle Peter. In the Orthodox Church, this unknown Centurion was named St. Longinus (It is common if a saint dies without a name to give one to him). It is also believed that Longinus was one of the guards at the tomb and witnessed the resurrection of Christ, and became a Christian along with the other guards. Whoever this Centurion was, we know how his words about Christ ring true. His proclamation of faith was especially significant because he was a Roman gentile who had a high military ranking. A Roman soldier with such a high ranking would be loyal not just to higher authorities in the military, but to the Roman Emperor himself, who thought of himself as a god in human form. As a result, the Centurion's claim that Christ was the Son of God was not only a bold claim but a vulnerable one, given that recognizing any authority other than the Romans or the gods was an act of defiance and betrayal. By this point, the harshest of punishments in Rome were reserved for those who ignited revolts, stole from the temples, or defied the Emperor. To make such a bold claim and put faith in Jesus was hugely consequential for a Roman during this time in history. This proclamation spoken by the Centurion at the cross shows his bravery in acknowledging and speaking the truth of who Christ was. What Can We Learn from the Bible Stories about Roman Centurions Today? These Roman centurions had status, wealth, security, and authority at their fingertips. They were praised by the military and feared by the commoners. For men in these positions to believe, trust, and follow Christ speaks volumes about their character and how they were willing to risk so much for Christ. We see this today when certain people in power and influence proclaim Christ. In many countries around the world today, proclaiming Christ comes with backlash, if not outright persecution. Jesus said that if He was persecuted, those who believe in Him should expect persecution also (John 15:20). Yet, Christ-followers throughout the ages have held to their faith in spite of trials and persecutions. To summarize the story of the Centurions and their faith, it costs almost nothing when you are praised and honored by your people, your job, and your government, but it is an inspiring act of faith to count the cost and choose Christ over the values of the world. Related Articles What Happens When a Roman Centurion Meets Jesus in the Bible? Lessons We Can Learn from the Roman Centurion in the Bible Centurion Meaning in the Bible Photo credit: Getty Imaes/Colorsandia BillOReilly.com is not available in this country. We apologize for any inconvenience. Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers, who has criticised planning objections regarding concerns about the character of an area, previously objected to a development which included apartments over aesthetic concerns. This week, Mr Chambers said a mindset around objecting to housing developments based on the character of an area has to change as he announced a series of actions designed to accelerate the delivery of strategic infrastructure. Advertisement The Fianna Fail TD said such objections are nebulous and block the broader social and economic goal of increased housing supply. He has also previously said he had seen examples of eminently sensible proposals in Dublin which appear to be being refused for specific aesthetic reasons, which undermines housing supply. However, it has re-emerged that Mr Chambers objected to a mixed development including eight apartments in his constituency by citing concerns it would impact the aesthetic and visual outlook of the village, reportedly describing the project as a monstrosity. In 2016, Lidl sought planning permission for a development which would include one of its supermarkets, other shops, a cafe, a medical centre and eight apartments in Castleknock. Advertisement Mr Chambers, a local backbench TD at the time, objected to the overall development by stating that Castleknock is an important historical place and is an architectural conservation area. In a written submission available online, he argued the development would compromise and constrain the aesthetic and visual outlook of the village, adding that there was little desire for the supermarket. In his submission, Mr Chambers wrote: Castleknock is one of the important historical places of Dublin 15 with a variety of listed buildings and it is recognised as an Architectural Conservation Area. This development would compromise and constrain the aesthetic and visual outlook of the village into the future. Advertisement There is little appetite for a large anchor tenant like Lidl in the middle of Castleknock Village and Castleknock residents are well served with adjacent supermarkets in Blanchardstown Village, Roselawn, and Blanchardstown Shopping Centre for example. The proposed development would deflect and denigrate the Castleknock Architectural Conservation Area and it is of concern to many residents in the area. Mr Chambers also criticised the project during an oral hearing of An Bord Pleanala in early 2017. The Irish Times reported at the time that he described the proposed development as a monstrosity which puts an atomic bomb under the conservation area as we should see it. Advertisement There were many other objections to the development including by former taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar while he was minister for social protection, then-tanaiste and Labour leader Joan Burton, current Green Party leader Roderic OGorman who was a councillor at the time, and Ruth Coppinger TD. Former taoiseach Leo Varadkar also objected to the development (PA) Mr Chambers and others had also objected on concerns over traffic as well as issues regarding parking and pedestrian access. The planning permission was ultimately granted in 2017. Asked about his objection to the development, a spokesman for Mr Chambers told the PA news agency: The observation referenced in relation to a supermarket was made almost a decade ago and prior to him holding ministerial office. The Ministers views have evolved over the past number of years during his time in Government and in recent years he has made a conscious decision not to make such observations. Advertisement He believes all measures need to be examined to increase housing supply and infrastructure delivery across the country. It comes after the Minister said there were countless examples of people in housing trying to frustrate and undermine the broad public good. On Wednesday, he told reporters: The last number of years have shown how too many individuals have had too much of a say in impeding infrastructure and housing across our economy. He added: Theres too much tolerance for this in how systems are designed. Ive seen examples in recent months of housing getting stopped because it undermines the character of the area what does that mean? Ireland Housing objections over character of an area has... Read More Asked if he did not believe that an area could have a character, the Fianna Fail deputy leader replied: An area absolutely can have a character but to think that an area doesnt accept housing, or doesnt accept more housing when people are in existing housing, I dont think it impedes the character of an area. I think additional housing, people, new people living in an area enhances the diversity and character of an area and the fact that people think they have a veto on more people living around them, I think is a mindset that has to change. Its just a frustration I see and hear from many young people who would like to live in many urban areas, but they have people whove lived in places for decades objecting to housing on the basis of a character of an area which I think is a nebulous reference that just seeks to block and object the broader social and economic objective. A man in his 60s has been arrested after gardai seized over 230,000 in cash as part of a money laundering investigation in Finglas, Co Dublin. Gardai attached to the Drugs Unit at Finglas, while on routine patrol, stopped a vehicle on the M50 Northbound at Junction 5 on Thursday evening. Advertisement During the search of the vehicle, 230,430 in cash was discovered and seized by gardai. The driver, the man in his 60s, was arrested on suspicion of offences contrary to Section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering & Terrorist Financing) Act 2010, He was detained under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a Garda station in the Dublin Metropolitan Region. He has since been charged in connection with this investigation and is expected to appear before a sitting of Dublin District Court at the Criminal Courts of Justice on Friday morning. Gardai said investigations are ongoing. A Limerick man facing sentencing for a string of drug dealing offences is being kept under strict 23-hour lockdown in prison for his own safety, a court has heard. Ian Hopkins, (33), Fedamore, Co Limerick, was placed in restrictive protective custody at Limerick Prison after drugs belonging to underworld figures, which he had in his possession, were seized by gardai. Advertisement Hopkins, who admitted distributing drugs and laundering money on behalf of unidentified criminals, appeared before Limerick Circuit Criminal Court, where Judge Colin Daly. The court heard that Hopkins will receive consecutive sentences because he continued to commit offences while he was out on bail and ordered not to re-offend. Hopkins, who has 43 prior convictions, pleaded guilty to a catalogue of offences, including possession of cannabis and cocaine for sale or supply, money laundering, and possession of weapons including a hatchet, screwdriver, and handsaw. His barrister, Brian McInerney SC, told the court that Hopkins is now under protective custody in Limerick Prison, confined to his cell for 23 hours a day. Advertisement He is on protection while in custody, in order to protect him from individuals or agents of individuals who are unhappy that he was subject to Garda attention, and because a significant amount of drugs were seized, Mr McInerney said. Some might say he brought it on himself by getting involved in drugs, but there is no likelihood he will be able to interact with the general prison population. While not at the bottom of Limericks drug trade, McInerney argued Hopkins is a long, long way from the top. Hopkins descent into drug crime began in earnest on December 12th, 2020, when Gardai stopped him driving a Mercedes. Inside, they discovered a shoebox packed with cannabis and 24,810 in cash wrapped in plastic and hidden under his seat. Advertisement Hopkins, Fedamore, Co Limerick, told officers he had collected the drugs and cash in Wexford for an unidentified person. Asked about the cash, he replied chillingly: Me getting shot, is what that is for. Theres 20,000 there. Despite being released on bail, Hopkins continued offending. On January 16th, 2021, gardai intercepted him in a car at Castletroy, seizing cannabis worth 554, large sums of cash, and a hatchet and screwdriver, which Hopkins claimed he carried for protection. A follow-up search of an apartment in Bloomfield, Annacotty, linked to Hopkins, yielded over 16,000 worth of cannabis, 2,951 in cash, amphetamines, and more drug paraphernalia. He was a classic drugs mule, carrying out activities for other criminals, said prosecution barrister John OSullivan BL. Advertisement Hopkins said he was addicted to drugs and trying to pay off a 40,000 debt to unknown parties and that he was taking tablets for anxiety and depression. On February 4th 2021, Hopkins was arrested againthis time in the back of a taxi with nearly 10,000 worth of cannabis. A follow-up search of his Annacotty apartment unearthed 26,105 in cash, more drugs, high-end clothing, and a vacuum-packing machine. Hopkins claimed he used the machine to seal and bury cash as part of efforts to settle a mounting 50,000 debt to criminal associates. The court also heard that Hopkins was found bleeding heavily inside a Limerick City apartment in December 2021 after two masked men attempted to break in. Gardai found drug-dealing paraphernalia and 4,500 worth of cannabis at the scene. Advertisement In another bust on February 26th, 2022, gardai seized 1,830 worth of cannabis from Hopkins car. A search of his Fedamore home uncovered 41,000 worth of cannabis, as well as cocaine, MDMA, and benzocaine, a cocaine-cutting agent. Ireland Tributes paid to Youghal stabbing victim as family... Read More Hopkins, who had no employment since 2019, told gardai he was living on social welfare, studying cyber security online, and still struggling with addiction. His barrister said he had since kicked the habit while in custody. The court was told that Hopkins partner who was identified in court as Ms X had died by tragic and sudden circumstances at the home they shared in Fedamore. Nicole Morey, 23, was killed by her own dogs, including XL Bullies, last June. Her sister, Jolene, has since campaigned for strict legislation outlawing the breeding of these dogs. Judge Daly remanded Hopkins in continuing custody ahead of sentencing on May 2nd. The number of staff earning more than 100,000 at the University College Cork (UCC) group last year increased by 26 per cent to 644 on the back of national pay awards and recruitment. New annual 2024 accounts show that despite the university groups staff costs increasing by 8 per cent to 326 million, the colleges cost reduction plan, Project Alpha, helped turn around its finances. Advertisement The new accounts show that the UCC group recorded a surplus of 6.77 million in the 12 months to the end of September last, and this followed a loss of 8.57 million in the prior year a positive swing of 15.3 million. A 26 per cent increase to 12.8 million in income from student residences contributed to the turnaround in the finances. Overall income last year increased by 50.77 million or 10 per cent from 475.43 million to 526.2 million, while costs increased by 39.27 million or eight per cent from 487.82 million to 527 million. The increase in costs coincided with numbers employed by the university group increasing by 160 from 3,521 to 3,681. Advertisement Arising from the 8.57 million loss recorded in 2023, the college implemented a comprehensive deficit reduction plan, Project Alpha. In his report, UCC President, Prof John OHalloran says: 2024 was a challenging but successful year financially for UCC. Prof OHalloran said that there were four pillars to Project Alpha- a programme to reduce non-payroll discretionary operating costs; manage the growth in payroll-related costs; grow academic fee income and other operating income, and increase the contribution from its subsidiaries to the overall group results. He said: Throughout the period of the deficit reduction plan, the University prioritised maintaining the quality of the student experience, and teaching and learning. Advertisement Prof OHalloran said that following a successful deficit reduction plan, the University is confident of its ability to deliver strong financial results, strengthen our infrastructure and resource base, and ultimately deliver on our strategic plan Prof OHalloran said that the main reasons for the surplus were the impacts of strong State Grants income growth of 12.3 million driven by support for Government Pay Awards; strong academic fee income growth of 8 million driven by student volume and mix; strong Other Operating Income growth of 10.2 million; strong interest income growth of 1.6 million focusing on optimising treasury yield and Other Operating Expenses reduction of 2.2 million with the last three contributors all driven by Project Alpha. Prof OHallorans salary for the year was 236,114, excluding employer PRSI and employer pension contributions, compared to 226,300 in the prior year. The accounts show that 10 employees earned over 300,000, with a further 10 in the 250,000 to 300,000 remuneration range and the bulk, if not all, of those would be teaching medical consultants. Advertisement The number earning over 100,000 was 644 last year compared to 509 in the year prior. Pay to key management personnel or the University Management Team (UMT), which includes the President, Deputy President & Registrar, Secretary, Bursar and heads of college last year totalled 2.3 million, which compares to 2 million in the year previous. The accounts point out that overall staff costs as a percentage of total income declined from 63% to 61% in 2024. Earlier this month, University College Cork (UCC) confirmed that it has agreed to sell the Irish Management Institute (IMI) to the Kilcullen Business Post Group (K-BPG). Advertisement Ireland Planned 1.5bn data centre in Ennis at risk due to... Read More The new accounts show that 2024 income from the Irish Management Institute DAC totalled 10.98 million compared to 11.13 million in the prior year. A note attached to the accounts refers to the 2024 UCC decision to upgrade its existing dental teaching facilities at Cork University Hospital and not proceed with the construction of a new dental hospital facility at its Curraheen location in Cork. The note states that consequently, the expenditure incurred to date, 2.1 million, on the proposed new dental hospital facility at Curraheen was impaired at year end 30th September 2024 and has been removed from the University fixed asset register at year ended 30 September 2024. The surplus last year takes account of non-cash depreciation costs of 23.99 million. Cash funds at the end of September last totalled 122 milion. Ireland South MEP Cynthia Ni Mhurchu has said native Irish speakers are being pushed out of Gaeltacht areas because local authorities are refusing planning permissions to build on family lands. She has described an overly rigid planning system in Gaeltacht areas as a direct threat to the future of the Irish language. Advertisement There are seven counties in Ireland which contain a Gaeltacht area, most of which have seen year-on-year declines in the numbers who speak Irish on a daily basis. Ni Mhurchu said planning permission is becoming impossible for young native speakers who have land but are refused permission to build in Gaeltacht areas. Conradh na Gaeilge is bringing a petition to the European Parliament on the housing crisis and how it is impacting on Gaeltacht areas. As part of this petition, Gaeltacht residents will travel to the European Parliament to address MEPs and EU Commission officials in May on the issues they face, one of which is the fact that County Councils operate an overly restrictive planning policy in Gaeltacht areas. Ni Mhurchu has called for the Gaeltacht planning guidelines to be published and hopes they will allow local authorities to be more flexible in granting planning permission in Gaeltacht areas in particular for fluent Irish speakers. A range of stories feature on the front pages of Irish newspapers on Friday. The Irish Times leads with short-term letting platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com facing millions of euros in fines under regulations aimed at freeing up properties for long-term housing requirements. Advertisement A third of road deaths so far this year were people under 30, the Irish Examiner reports. The front page of The Echo features a story on members of Cork City Fire Brigade attending an overnight fire in a derelict former Magdalene laundry. The Irish Independent leads with a piece on the HSE probing allegations of financial and corporate governance issues at the country's lead charity for blind people - Vision Ireland. The Irish Daily Star reports on the inquest into the death of Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch's newphew's death. Advertisement The inquest heard Eddie Hutch died from an overdose of methadone at his home in Dublins north inner city last year at a time his family believed he had stopped taking drugs. The Irish Daily Mail also reports on Airbnb and other short-term rental providers facing the possibility of fines under new rules targetting illegel lettings. A priest has been arrested on suspicion of aatempted sexual communication with a child, the Belfast Telegraph reports. The front page of The Herald features the Eddie Hutch inquest, as well as Manchester United come back to secure a scarcely believable 5-4 extra-time win against 10-man Lyon to reach the Europa League semi-finals. In the UK... The front pages of UK newspapers are dominated by the Supreme Court ruling that the terms woman and sex in the Equality Act refer to a biological woman and biological sex. The front page of today's Daily Telegraph: 'UKs biggest bank vows solidarity with trans workers'#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/qdoonyx5Lp The Telegraph (@Telegraph) April 17, 2025 A man used his police officer mothers gun to kill two people at Florida State University, police have said. A further six have been taken to hospital with injuries in connection with the attack. Advertisement Police shot and wounded the gunman, who they identified as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, after he refused to comply with commands from officers. Florida State University Police Chief Jason Trumbower said the gunman shot at individuals around the student union building. He is believed to be a Florida State student. Mr Trumbower said authorities would not be releasing information about the victims, including whether they were students, but did confirm the two people who were killed were not students at the university. Advertisement People sit in front of a makeshift memorial hours after Ikner began firing around lunchtime just outside the student union, sending people running for cover (Kate Payne/AP) The injured were all in fair condition, Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare said in a Facebook post. Leon County Sheriff Walter McNeil revealed the alleged gunmans identity and his relation to deputy Jessica Ikner, who has been with the sheriffs office for more than 18 years. Mr McNeil says the alleged gunman was a long-standing member of the sheriffs offices youth advisory council and engaged in a number of training programmes with the office. This is obviously a heinous crime, Mr McNeil said. Advertisement We will make sure that we do everything we can to prosecute and make sure that we send a message to folks that this will never be tolerated here in Leon County, and I dare say across the state and across this nation. Ikner was in the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, according to Mr Revell. Asked about the shooting, US President Donald Trump said its a shame, adding that he knew the school and the area very well. Florida State University students wait for news amid a reported shooter incident at the schools campus (Kate Payne/AP) But Mr Trump suggested that he would not be advocating for any new gun legislation, saying: The gun doesnt do the shooting, the people do. Advertisement Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Mr Trump called himself a big advocate of the Second Amendment and the right to bear arms. I have an obligation to protect the Second Amendment, he said. Florida State University cancelled classes on Friday, two weeks before the universitys scheduled commencement ceremony for graduates from May 2 to 3. The universitys official finals week, per its academic calendar, is scheduled to start on April 28. Advertisement Jake Nair, a senior student at the university, was studying in the library when a police officer dashed out of the building, yelling for everyone to stay in place. He ran outside with his gun out, Mr Nair said. Not all the students heard him, and some of them ran out the back of the library. Florida State University students wait for news amid a reported shooter incident at the schools campus in Tallahassee (Kate Payne/AP) Mr Nair said an alarm in the library then went off and a recorded message warned students to shelter in place because of an active shooter on campus. About five officers came into the library and escorted the students out with their hands up. I think they just wanted to make sure none of us had a weapon on us, Mr Nair said. To be honest, it was a bit of a surreal moment. Its the kind of thing you only see on the news. Ryan Cedergren, a 21-year-old communications student, said he and about 30 others hid in the bowling alley in the unions lower level after seeing students running from a nearby bar. In that moment, it was survival, he said. Florida State University students wait for news amid an active shooter incident at the schools campus in Tallahassee (Kate Payne/AP) University president Richard McCullough said he was heartbroken by the violence. Our hearts go out to our students and the victims of this terrible tragedy, he said. As dusk fell over Florida State University, a small memorial of candles and bouquets of flowers had been set up outside the student union, while investigators yellow tape blocked off the nearby doors. Florida State is one of the Sunshine States 12 public universities, with its main campus in Tallahassee. About 44,000 students are enrolled in the university, according to the schools 2024 fact sheet. In 2014, the main library was the site of a shooting that wounded three people. Officers shot and killed the gunman, 31-year-old Myron May. The UK's Prince Harry requested specific security protection after a threat was made against him by al Qaida, according to court documents. Harry was at the Royal Courts of Justice in London last week for the latest stage of a legal battle with the UK home office over the level of taxpayer-funded personal security he should receive when visiting the UK. Advertisement In February 2020, the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) decided he should receive a different degree of protection when in the country, and he is appealing against a High Court ruling dismissing his case against the Home Office over the decision last year. The Duke of Sussex leaves the Royal Courts of Justice last week. Photo: Jonathan Brady/PA. A summary of some of the evidence that was heard in private during Harrys appeal case last week reveals that the duke had made a request for protection following a threat from terrorists. The Appellant confirmed that he had requested certain protection after a threat was made against him by al Qaida, the document says. Harry has previously said he faces a greater risk than his late mother, with additional layers of racism and extremism. Advertisement He believes his family faces an international threat and has already highlighted that al-Qaeda had called for him to be killed. In written submissions as part of Harrys appeal, parts of which were redacted for confidentiality reasons, Shaheed Fatima KC, for the duke, said Ravec ruled in 2020 that there is no basis for publicly funded security support for the duke and duchess within Great Britain. Prince Harry and Megan Markle attending the 2025 Invictus Games in Whistler, Canada, in February. Photo: Aaron Chown/PA. After the decision, al Qaida called for Harry to be murdered, and his security team was informed that the terrorist group had published a document which said his assassination would please the Muslim community, Ms Fatima said. The UK home office, which is legally responsible for Ravecs decisions, is opposing the appeal. Advertisement Harry and Meghan announced they were stepping back from official public duties on January 8 2020. The duke and duchess were later told during the so-called Sandringham summit, which aimed to agree the terms of their new role, that they would not be able to retain the full-time police protection. Such protection is currently granted to the King and Queen, the Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children. Ravecs final decision, shared on February 28th 2020, stated that Metropolitan Police protection would no longer be appropriate after the Sussexes departure, and that they should receive a different degree of protection when in the UK. Advertisement World JD Vance visits Italy and Vatican after tangling w... Read More The Sussexes would instead receive a bespoke security service, whereby they would be required to give 30 days notice of any plans to travel to the UK, with each visit being assessed for threat levels and whether protection is needed. Ms Fatima told the appeal hearing that the duke had been singled out for different, unjustified and inferior treatment, adding that Harry does not accept that bespoke means better. A decision is expected in writing at a later date. Airstrikes across Gaza killed at least 25 people early on Friday including children, hospital workers said as the new US ambassador to Israel made his first public appearance in Jerusalem. Among the dead were 10 people in the urban Jabaliya refugee camp, including eight from the same house, according to the Indonesian Hospital, which received the bodies. Advertisement In the southern city of Khan Younis, seven people were killed, one of them a pregnant woman, according to Nasser Hospital, where the bodies were brought. The strikes came a day after more than two dozen people died in Gaza as Israel ramps up attacks, pressuring Hamas to return the hostages and disarm. US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee visits the Western Wall (Leo Correa/AP) US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee on Friday appeared at the Western Wall, the holiest Jewish prayer site in Jerusalems Old City. Mr Huckabee inserted a prayer into the wall, which he said was handwritten by US president Donald Trump. Advertisement Those are his initials, DT, said Mr Huckabee while showing the note to the media. In his first act as ambassador, Mr Huckabee said Mr Trump told him to take his prayer and pray for the peace of Jerusalem, he said. Mr Huckabee also said every effort was being made to bring the remaining hostages held by Hamas home. Mike Huckabee holds a note given to him by Donald Trump (Leo Correa/AP) A one-time presidential hopeful, Mr Huckabee has acknowledged his past support for Israels right to annex the West Bank and incorporate its Palestinian population into Israel but said it would not be his prerogative to carry out that policy. Advertisement During his first term, Mr Trump recognised Jerusalem as Israels capital over Palestinian objections and moved the embassy from Tel Aviv. Palestinians seek the eastern part of the city that Israel captured in the 1967 Mideast war as their future capital. Mr Huckabees arrival comes at a pivotal time in the 18-month war, as international mediators including the US are trying to get a broken ceasefire back on track. Israel is demanding that Hamas release more hostages at the start of any new ceasefire and ultimately agree to disarm and leave the territory. Advertisement Israel has said it plans occupy large security zones inside Gaza. Khalil al-Hayya, head of Hamas negotiating delegation, said on Thursday the group had rejected Israels latest proposal along those lines. He reiterated Hamas stance that it will return hostages only in exchange for the release of more Palestinian prisoners, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a lasting truce, as called for in the now-defunct ceasefire agreement reached in January. Hamas currently holds 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be alive. Advertisement The war began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on Octover 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251. Most of the hostages have since been released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Israels offensive has since killed more than 51,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. The war has destroyed vast parts of Gaza and most of its food production capabilities. The war has displaced around 90% of the population, with hundreds of thousands of people living in tent camps and bombed-out buildings. On Thursday, aid groups raised the alarm over Israels blockade of of Gaza, where it has barred entry of all food and other goods for more than six weeks. Thousands of children have become malnourished, and most people are barely eating one meal a day as stocks dwindle, the United Nations said. Israels defence minister says the blockade is one of the central pressure tactics against Hamas, which Israel accuses of siphoning off aid to maintain its rule. Aid workers deny there is significant diversion of aid, saying the UN closely monitors distribution. Rights groups have called it a starvation tactic. US vice president JD Vance has arrived in Rome for meetings with the Vaticans second in command and Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, fresh off the Italian leaders visit to the White House a day earlier. Ms Meloni, who has positioned herself as a bridge between the US and Europe, received praise from President Donald Trump for her crackdown on migration during a meeting at the Oval Office on Thursday. Advertisement Mr Vance, who attended the meetings, was scheduled to meet with the Italian leader on Friday in Rome and planned to attend Easter weekend events at the Vatican. He was scheduled to meet with the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the White House said. No meeting with Pope Francis was announced. The 88-year-old pope has cut back his work schedule as he recovers from a near-fatal case of double pneumonia. Francis and Mr Vance, a Catholic convert, have tangled over migration and the Trump administrations plans to deport migrants en masse. Advertisement Just days before he was admitted to hospital, Francis blasted the administrations deportation plans, warning that they would deprive migrants of their inherent dignity. In a letter to US bishops, Francis also apparently responded to Mr Vance directly for having claimed that Catholic doctrine justified such policies. Mr Vance has acknowledged Francis criticism, but has said he would continue to defend his views. Approximately 10,000 pages of records related to the 1968 assassination of senator Robert F Kennedy were released on Friday, continuing the disclosure of national secrets ordered by President Donald Trump. Mr Kennedy was fatally shot on June 5 1968, at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles moments after giving his victory speech for winning Californias Democratic presidential primary. Advertisement His assassin, Sirhan Sirhan, was convicted of first-degree murder and is serving life in prison. The US National Archives and Records Administration posted roughly 229 files containing the pages to its public website. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to declassify remaining federal records in January (Ben Curtis/AP) Many files related to the senators assassination had been previously released, but others had not been digitised and sat for decades in storage facilities maintained by the federal government. Nearly 60 years after the tragic assassination of senator Robert F Kennedy, the American people will, for the first time, have the opportunity to review the federal governments investigation thanks to the leadership of President Trump, Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, said in a statement. Advertisement Ms Gabbard also said the files release shine a long-overdue light on the truth. The release of the RFK files comes a month after unredacted files related to the 1963 assassination of President John F Kennedy were disclosed. Those documents gave curious readers more details about Cold War-era covert US operations in other nations but did not initially lend credence to long-circulating conspiracy theories about who killed JFK. Trump, a Republican, has championed in the name of transparency the release of documents related to high-profile assassinations and investigations. Advertisement But he has also been deeply suspicious for years of the governments intelligence agencies, and his administrations release of once-hidden files opens the door for additional public scrutiny and questioning about the conclusions and operations of institutions such as the CIA and the FBI. Mr Trump signed an executive order in January calling for the release of governmental documents related to the assassinations of Robert F Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr, who were killed within two months of each other. Robert F Kennedy Jr, a son of the Democratic New York senator who now serves as the US health and human services secretary, commended Mr Trump and Ms Gabbard for their courage and dogged efforts to release the files. Lifting the veil on the RFK papers is a necessary step toward restoring trust in American government, the health secretary said in a statement. Two British tourists have died in a cable car crash near Naples. Italian news agency Ansa has reported that two British tourists and an Israeli national were among the four people who died in the crash on Thursday, at Monte Faito in the town of Castellammare di Stabia, citing Naples mayor Gaetano Manfredi. Advertisement A traction cable snapped, bringing cable cars to a halt, according to initial information. A fifth person, believed to be a foreign tourist, was seriously injured during the incident. A number of people had to be evacuated from another cable car. An investigation into multiple manslaughter and culpable disaster has been opened by Italian prosecutors, according to reports. Advertisement In a translated post on social media, Vincenzo De Luca, president of Campania, called the day truly tragic and painful and said his thoughts go out to those who died, were injured and their families. He said he was grateful for the rescuers and said an investigation into what happened would be carried out. (PA Graphics) Luigi Vicinanza Sindaco, the mayor of Castellammare, said on Facebook that there will be a day of mourning and decided to cancel all initiatives for the Easter holidays. He added that a minutes silence would be held on Friday in memory of those who died. Advertisement Firefighters, police and Italys alpine rescue were sent to the scene, which is between the popular tourist areas of Pompeii and Sorrento. EAV public transport firm, which runs the cable car, said the service had reopened a week ago with all the required safety conditions. Checks were being carried out by investigators on the cable car, and the possibility that strong wind was among the causes of the incident. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her condolences from Washington, DC, where she met with US President Donald Trump. Advertisement A British tourist said she saw people being evacuated in a harness from one cable car following the incident. Megan Pacey, 50, from London, was with her husband, James Ross, and their two children, Hannah, 10, and eight-year-old son, Luke, when they saw a suspended cable car. She said: We were within a minute or two of (the incident) happening. They started winching people down from the cable car. We watched the first couple of people come down in a harness, and as we left, there was a sense of urgency that had kicked in. Advertisement She said she saw flowers and candles on the steps outside the railway station on Friday, and emergency services remained at the scene. US airstrikes targeting an oil port held by Yemens Houthi rebels killed 74 people and wounded 171 others, the group said on Friday. The operation marks the single-deadliest known attack under President Donald Trumps new campaign targeting the rebels. Advertisement Assessing the toll of Mr Trumps campaign, which began March 15, has been difficult as the US militarys Central Command so far has not released any information on the campaign, its specific targets and how many people have been killed. Meanwhile, Yemens Houthi rebels strictly control access to areas attacked and do not publish information on the strikes, many of which likely have targeted military and security sites. A satellite image shows the aftermath of US airstrikes (Planet Labs PBC via AP) But the strike on the Ras Isa oil port, which sent massive fireballs shooting into the night sky, represented a major escalation for the American campaign. The Houthis immediately released graphic footage of those killed in the attack. Advertisement In a statement, Central Command said that US forces took action to eliminate this source of fuel for the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists and deprive them of illegal revenue that has funded Houthi efforts to terrorise the entire region for over 10 years. This strike was not intended to harm the people of Yemen, who rightly want to throw off the yoke of Houthi subjugation and live peacefully, it added. It did not acknowledge any casualties and declined to comment when asked by The Associated Press regarding civilians reportedly being killed. The Iranian-backed Houthis later launched a missile toward Israel that was intercepted, the Israeli military said. Sirens sounded in Tel Aviv and other areas. Advertisement The war in Yemen, meanwhile, further internationalised as the US alleged a Chinese satellite company was directly supporting Houthi attacks, something Beijing declined to directly comment on. The Ras Isa port, a collection of three oil tanks and refining equipment, sits in Yemens Hodeida governorate along the Red Sea. Nasa satellites that track forest fires showed an intense blaze early on Friday at the site just off Kamaran Island, targeted by intense US airstrikes over the past few days. The Houthis al-Masirah satellite news channel aired graphic footage of the aftermath, showing bodies strewn across the site. It said paramedic and civilians workers at the port had been killed in the attack, which sparked a massive explosion and fires. Advertisement The Ras Isa port also is the terminus of an oil pipeline stretching to Yemens energy-rich Marib governorate, which remains held by allies of Yemens exiled government. The Houthis expelled that government from Yemens capital, Sanaa, back in 2015. However, oil exports have been halted by the decade-long war and the Houthis have used Ras Isa to bring in oil. Peter is not agile. He doesnt like surprises, one of his former frontbenchers tells me. His public persona has been carefully curated. He will be doing all he can to remain calm, not to look flustered. Yet, the Queenslander faces an unanticipated dilemma. Having forced his political opponent onto the ropes for most of last year, constantly labelling him weak, he now finds the hardman image hes channelled for most of his career tainted by association with an out-of-control strongman in the White House. Donald Trump has changed the campaign calculus for the Coalition in a potentially profound way. Former prime minister Scott Morrison says Duttons years of defending his slender margin (currently 1.7 per cent) in his Brisbane seat of Dickson has made him a very formidable operator on the ground, someone with a view much closer to the edge than most MPs. Dutton, of course, implicitly places himself in the first category. Never have his instincts been more critical, as the 54-year-old former Queensland cop, son of a brickie turned small-time builder, seeks to do the near impossible overturn a first-term government for the first time since 1931. The best leaders have been those who have a core instinct. They have difficult issues to deal with but their instinct guides them through the first 10 items on their to-do list [on any given] day. And Ive also seen other leaders who are tortured on items one to 10 before they get to the tough ones, and it becomes debilitating. You have to be yourself, and comfortable in your own skin, he tells me, in an interview at the end of the federal election campaigns opening week, where hes been facing the toughest test of his political life. Peter Dutton prides himself on his gut feel for politics, born of having to defend one of the most marginal seats in his home state of Queensland for the past 24 years. Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. He says the logistics of the campaign have been eye-opening but that hes trying to keep up the regimen hes held to for most of his time as Liberal leader: rising no later than 4am, reading the papers around 4.30am and when possible, hitting the gym or taking a walk by 5am. The punishingly early flights often eat up the time for exercise. Despite this, hes affable when we meet for a hasty 37 minutes, in a small room next to the tarmac in the general aviation offices at Sydney airport, where hes accompanied by senior media aide Nicole Chant. Peter Dutton says the day-to-day realities of the campaign have been eye-opening. Credit: James Brickwood This masthead, which is seen as frequently antithetical by his team, experienced months of equivocation over whether he would grant a one-on-one interview during the campaign (usually standard for leaders on both sides). I stuck with the media caravan for a week, up and down the east coast and in the west, before they relented. He has refused repeated requests to meet with ABC chair Kim Williams, telling me: I like Kim. But Ive met with previous chairs, and its a waste of time because the culture is too ingrained and nothings going to change. Nothing has changed on Kims watch, despite his good intents. (Williams did not wish to comment.) Dutton may have been better prepared if hed ditched the notoriously selective approach to media engagement he had adopted over his three years as opposition leader. Instead of engaging the media broadly, he has favoured conservative commentators on Sky, and like-minded talkback hosts such as Ben Fordham and Ray Hadley on Sydneys 2GB, while avoiding the National Press Club (his last appearance was in May 2022) and limiting his exposure to a full court press by the Canberra press gallery. His appearance on ABC TVs 7.30 on the night he delivered his budget reply three weeks ago was the first time in nearly a year. Morrisons former communications chief, Andrew Carswell, says: Nothing can prepare you for what comes your way in the first week if you havent done a campaign before. Every time you stand up, theres a multitude of cameras in your face. One mistake can derail you. It was a good policy that hadnt found its appropriate time, the policys original architect, opposition finance spokeswoman Jane Hume, told me ruefully several days later. It didnt land in a way we wanted it to. It got captured by a terrible scare campaign by Labor and perhaps that was on me. There just wasnt the appropriate clear air to be able to communicate [it]. The most startling development at the end of week one was an extraordinary mea culpa, as he abandoned the policy to crack down on federal public servants working from home , which had alarmed women voters, in particular. He didnt visit a service station for the entire first week, despite the fact that TV images of him filling up a large, shiny ute were the surest way of publicising the Coalitions 25 a litre reduction on fuel excise. And while the more seasoned Albanese has become adept at turning every question into an answer he wanted to give, Dutton kept trying to provide methodical answers to anything the travelling media pack threw at him, rather than controlling the agenda. It had some of his advisers tearing their hair out. Hes tightened his game a lot since. No doubt it has helped steady him after the rookie mistakes of the first week. Dutton was just two days in when he made ill-advised comments on FM radio about his preference for living on Sydney Harbour at Kirribilli , rather than The Lodge in Canberra, should he win. Labor has accused him of measuring up the curtains for Kirribilli ever since. He picked up the technique from former AFL player, businessman and media personality Luke Darcy, after meeting him through a mutual friend about six years ago. Its just a mantra, he says and its trying to clear the mind and trying just to reset for the next part of the day, and particularly before you go to bed. But hes adhering religiously to his habit of meditating twice daily, once around 4.30 in the morning, then later in the afternoon or on the plane. More than most politicians, his family have suffered very serious threats over a long period of time, Paterson says. Ten years is a long time to live your life in that bubble. Its not a normal life. It takes a lot of spontaneity out of it. Yet, Dutton and his wife Kirilly, and their sons Harry, 20, and Tom, 19, together with Duttons daughter from an earlier relationship, Rebecca, 23, have known what its like to live under 24/7 protection for close to 10 years, according to opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson. When news broke of a terror plot against him and his family a week ago, allegedly targeting the family home on acreage at Dayboro, north of Brisbane, he was quick to brush off any suggestion of vulnerability. Ive never felt unsafe one day in this job, particularly with the protection from the AFP, he said. Its not well-known outside political circles just how much Duttons private life has been affected by the additional security he and his family have had to accept, as a result of his years of tough rulings and militant rhetoric in the immigration and home affairs portfolios. Yet in the white heat of the election campaign, hes facing his own imperative to step out of his comfort zone and unleash a bit more showmanship (cue the entry of eldest son Harry on the campaign trail ). Morrison says: He does hold things back. I think its because hes been a target, like many of us have over our political lives. Dutton lacks the freewheeling avuncularity of Albanese, or the hail-fellow-well-met schtick of Morrison. He tells me: I always felt for Julia Gillard, that she was having to live a double life and present in a way she thought people would want to see her. If youre contorted each day, and youre guarded in what you say, then I think theyre long days and you struggle in the job. If everyone knew Peter like I know him, hed be the prime minister, Stockwell says. Stockwell sees another side of Dutton, Hes like a high-performance athlete in many ways. We have that in common. The other thing I see is that he is a shepherd, a protector. He says Dutton makes him laugh, but hes not outgoing. He doesnt have to be the centre of attention. And when we get together with mates, he just sits there and, you know, doesnt dominate the room. He doesnt want to be the loudest voice or tell everyone how smart he is. Hes very comfortable in his own skin. And thats a very attractive thing for me. Paterson says his leader is guarded. I wish the Australian people could see the self-deprecating, humorous Peter, he says. Probably, Dutton says. Yeah. I think thats a fair observation. (Several days later, in a soft-focus video played at the Liberal launch, Dutton says he inherited his fathers emotional gene. I think Ive worked pretty hard at the years to hide it. It doesnt really get rewarded in our business, so better off not to show the vulnerabilities, be stoic and carry on, he says in the video.) His facial expressions often dont give a lot away. I wonder whether he learnt this during his nine years in the Queensland police. Duttons ability to maintain his composure, and focus, during the first leaders debate on Sky TV on April 8 despite learning shortly beforehand that his father, Bruce, had been hospitalised for a heart attack , was a measure of his ability to mask emotion. When a climate protester sprang up barely a metre from him on day one of the campaign at the XXXX brewery in Brisbane, he was mid-sentence but he didnt miss a beat as the woman was dragged off by security. His friend of 25 years, Queensland property developer and former Olympic swimmer Mark Stockwell, says: When you go walking with Peter, youve got to go walking with the whole crew [the security detail]. Hes never alone from that point of view. When Dutton challenged Malcolm Turnbull for the Liberal Party leadership in 2018, one of his chief complaints was that the then-prime minister couldnt make a decision. Loading Turnbull later branded him a thug, and in his memoir A Bigger Picture, observed of Dutton that: He is very loose and imprecise, he lacks the intellect and discipline that he needs to perform at the highest level, very woolly. Its unfair to say Dutton lacks intellect. He is articulate; he delivers a speech more smoothly than Albanese; he is across his brief; and on every day of the campaign thus far, despite his early tactical errors, he has shown an impressive command of the details and numbers he needs to have recall of. What some of those whove known him over time query is whether Dutton has the breadth of interest required of an effective prime minister. Opposition health spokeswoman Anne Ruston says she has no doubts about the opposition leaders extraordinarily broad experience, not just in politics, but in other things hes done in his life: he started a small business from scratch, hes been a policeman whos been at the coalface of crime and violence, particularly domestic violence, and hes held a range of portfolios, including health as well as the ones [which] people have more front of mind, like defence and home affairs. His great strength is the fact that hes a listener. Morrison says: Those who sort of claim the narrow thing [about Dutton], well, thats just a function of the jobs hes had and I think hes a lot broader than that. However, another long-time insider who has had extensive dealings with Dutton says: Worldliness and curiosity? Wanting to roll his sleeves up and get into the policy detail? I never saw that. Hes not someone who Ive ever had a conversation about travel with, apart from national security. I dont think hes curious about the world [in that broader way] at all. Another senior Liberal says: National security, defence, and home affairs thats been his comfortable space. But the problem is, hes got to make calls in other areas that are not just locking people up and kicking people out. And the energy policy is the starkest example of where he signed up to something without understanding the risks around it. Dutton tends to see the world in black and white, with not much room for shades of grey, according to his wife, Kirilly, as reported by Annabel Crabb on ABC TVs Kitchen Cabinet a couple of years ago. He is given to overreach and often invokes the need for moral clarity. Dutton told the Lowy Institute in March: I believe there is right and wrong and good and evil in the world. Duttons binary view of the world seems to fuel his war on wokeness, elements of which hes kept up despite the growing risks of resonance with an unshackled Trump. Jacinta Nampijinpa Price with Peter Dutton and Michaelia Cash in Perth on April 12. Credit: James Brickwood In recent months, Dutton has posited ditching the Indigenous flag for official prime ministerial events; he has taken aim at cultural and diversity positions; he has pledged to scrap the Labor-created position of First Nations ambassador; he elevated Indigenous affairs spokeswoman Jacinta Nampijinpa Price to an Elon Musk-like shadow department of government efficiency; and he flagged savings from stripping 41,000 jobs out of the federal public service (though that is now supposedly to be done via attrition, voluntary redundancies and a hiring freeze). Launching the Liberal campaign last weekend, he again raised the spectre of the nations classrooms becoming hotbeds of indoctrination, a theme hed first floated in addressing Paul Murrays after dark audience on Sky TV a week earlier. He renewed a pledge to defund the activist-led Environmental Defenders Office. Yet he says hes not dogmatic or blinded by ideology, and he rejects the label of culture warrior. I just think its a cheap label said in a derogatory way, he says. I like how the warrior tag is attached to only one side of the debate. So those who are out championing the different elements that I might have a problem with are big-hearted progressives; and people who question it and might defend the status quo, are sort of radical warriors. It says something about the debate and the intolerance thats there. It makes me more determined to stand up for what you believe in and to argue a case. How does he see himself, then? I think Im an honest and genuine person and transparent and hard-working. Patriotic. Duttons war against political correctness dates back to well before the MAGA movement sprang into existence. In his inaugural speech to parliament in 2002, he tore into bodies like the Civil Liberties Council (which he dubbed the criminal lawyers media operative) and the Refugee Action Collective, saying the silent majority were fed up with them. In 2008, he boycotted Kevin Rudds apology to the stolen generations, a move he later publicly apologised for. In 2011, in an ill-advised tweet, he wished dirty lefties a good weekend. His 2023 decision to oppose the embedding of an Indigenous Voice in the Constitution doomed it to failure, prompting Morrisons former Indigenous Affairs minister Ken Wyatt to resign from the Liberal Party. Wyatt later accused his former party of going down a Trumpian road under Dutton. Yet Duttons supporters saw it as a masterstroke. His shadow attorney-general Michaelia Cash says: We became the credible alternative government the minute he stood up to Anthony Albanese and said no to the Voice. I think it was that that was the defining moment for Peter. Dutton is convinced his stance on the Voice, which broke the hearts of a generation of Indigenous leaders who had fought for recognition for a decade, acted as a force for unity. I think I demonstrated during the course of the Voice that I had an ability to bring the party together on a very difficult issue, and we were able to guide public debate in relation to [that], he says. He sees himself as no ideologue, but centre-right in the [John] Howard mould and economically dry and pragmatic. Ive had strong friendships with people from across the spectrum, on the left and right in the Liberal Party, and Ive been able to work very effectively with them to this very day. Coalition Leader Peter Dutton at the Mount Pleasant Bowling Club in Ardross, Perth, on April 12. Credit: James Brickwood The recently retired LNP MP for the seat of Leichhardt in northern Queensland, Warren Entsch, is one of those moderates who count Dutton as a friend. Yet Entsch didnt back him when Dutton and Morrison were slugging it out for the leadership in August 2018, after Turnbull had been dispatched. He was worried about how Duttons shit sandwich decisions as immigration and home affairs minister would go down in Victoria and NSW. Others harboured similar fears. Former Liberal MP Tony Smith said the elevation of Dutton would throw the Liberals into an electoral furnace, according to Niki Savvas book Plots and Prayers. Stuart Robert reportedly said that if Dutton wins, we are in hell. Entsch says, now: I was wrong. Hes been quite amazing in holding the colleagues together. He has grown into the leadership exceptionally well. He gets angry about people branding Dutton a right-wing crazy, he says, given the central role Dutton played in facilitating the national postal vote, which ultimately delivered the country marriage equality. Dutton also has to be given credit for steering the Coalition clear of fraught debates about gender and abortion. In his personal life, he is less conservative than many of his colleagues. His oldest child, Rebecca (Bec), was conceived out of wedlock with a woman he was seeing between his short-lived first marriage at the age of 22 and his subsequent marriage to Kirilly in July 2003. From an early age, Bec was folded into the family he and Kirilly were building. Hes proud of that, he says. Former Liberal treasurer Josh Frydenberg says the fact that Dutton has put the Coalition in contention after a single term of the Albanese government remains a huge achievement, given the scale of the Liberal wipeout in 2022, when a slew of formerly blue-ribbon seats (including Frydenbergs own) went to teal MPs. Peter has done an outstanding job, uniting his team after the last election, and making this contest very competitive, he says, commending him as a tower of strength in the battle against antisemitism. Under Dutton, the strained relationships of previous Liberal leaders with the junior Coalition partner, the National Party, have been smoothed. Nationals leader David Littleproud has extravagantly declared that he trusted Dutton with every fibre of my being. Loading Morrison has an interesting perspective on the Liberal party room, believing Dutton benefited from the unity that followed his own elevation to the leadership in August 2018. Peter was very supportive after I became prime minister, Morrison says. I didnt have to look over my shoulder once in four years, and neither has he; Peter and I and others of our generation had seen a decade of personality-driven conflict in the parliamentary party. After August 2018, we put that behind us. Others, however, fear that that unity has come at a cost. They have put a premium on unity as opposed to debate, says one Liberal moderate. Another is adamant that Dutton is not a genuine devotee of the John Howard view of the Liberal Party as a broad church. In Duttons perfect world, someone like Malcolm Turnbull would not be in the Liberal Party, this source says. The reason the party is so stable is there has been no leadership rivalry, and the reason for that is that [the then-heir apparent] Josh Frydenberg lost his seat. When I ask him about Frydenberg, Dutton describes him as a big loss to Coalition ranks. He says he tried to persuade his dear friend to run again. The former treasurer turned down his approach. I wasnt sort of an obsessive young Liberal groupie type. I was more interested in working and trying to make some money. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton On day two of the campaign, Dutton is undertaking repair work with Sydneys migrant communities. At Prairiewood, 34 kilometres west of Sydneys CBD, he attends a community feast, attended by hundreds of locals to mark the Assyrian New Year, a joyous and raucous event with pipers and drummers and traditional dancers forming a vanguard as he makes his way slowly through the crowds towards his place at the head of a large, U-shaped outdoor table. At 188 centimetres, he towers over most of those around him. The previous evening, hed been at a Chinese community event in Brisbane, where hed announced funding for a Chinese museum. From the Assyrian event, he is heading straight to a meeting with elders at a western Sydney mosque that services the Pakistani community. Since the start of the campaign, it is striking how much he now seeks to walk two sides of the street on migration issues. He clads his pledge to cut net overseas migration numbers by 100,000 in the language of mitigating the housing crisis. Every second speech he delivers through the campaign contains a reference to the good migrant stories the country should be telling itself. Many of the outer suburban mortgage belt seats, where the Liberals are on the hunt for votes, have heavy migrant concentrations. Yet some have long memories, and they have not forgotten his incendiary remarks about African gang violence or his infamous suggestion that it had been a mistake for former prime minister Malcolm Fraser to welcome so many Lebanese Muslims to Australian shores. (Dutton has said he apologised for this, though its never been made clear who he apologised to.) He has a history of apologies. In 2019, he had to apologise to his rival, Labor candidate Ali France, an amputee, for suggesting she was using her disability as an excuse not to find housing in the Dickson electorate.) Dutton with wife Kirilly and children (from left) Harry, Tom and Bec after his speech at the Coalition campaign launch on April 13. Credit: James Brickwood Duttons tendency to see the world in binary ways is almost certainly a product of his years in the Queensland police force, which he joined at 19, and where he was later exposed to some of the most heinous crimes that could be inflicted on children. It jars and I think it scars, Dutton told Kitchen Cabinets Annabel Crabb in one of his more unguarded moments two years ago. He told her he could still recall every detail from a scene where a young girl had been raped. He didnt deny that he carried some measure of PTSD from those years. It partly explains his obsession with trying every manoeuvre possible to throw dual-national criminals out of the country, especially those involved in child sex abuse or domestic violence. It has had a profound impact on him, Entsch says. As home affairs minister, Dutton drove the establishment within the AFP of a dedicated Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation, and for years he and Kirilly have supported a foundation set up by the Morcombe family, whose 13-year-old son Daniel was abducted and murdered in 2003 by a serial child rapist. Morrison says: Ive never seen any issue motivate Peter more strongly than the issues of child protection and domestic violence. The other factor that has profoundly shaped him is his experience of small business, both on his own account, and in partnership with his father, Bruce. Loading Dutton joined the Liberal Party at 18 and was just 19 when he stood for the first time for a hopelessly unwinnable seat. He tells me: I wasnt sort of an obsessive young Liberal groupie type. I was more interested in working and trying to make some money. That was my predominant focus at that time. He told businessman Mark Bouris in a podcast that he had developed an entrepreneurial spirit fairly early on and that he had picked up a lot from working in a butchers shop as a casual all through his high school years. In a revealing moment with Bouris, he recalled being struck by the way a certain woman, a Mrs Holloway, was able to breeze into the shop and order eye fillet, an expensive cut of meat his family never had. It was looking at the haves and have-nots and figuring out that you wanted to work hard and achieve as much as you could, Dutton said. By the time he left the police force in 1999, nearly a decade after joining it, Dutton was already running three childcare centres on the side, all while doing shiftwork as an officer. It was exhausting, he says, and, ultimately, it was why he left the force. His business zeal carried over into a string of successful property dealings over the years, some in partnership with his father. A recent investigation by this masthead calculated that hed made $30 million worth of transactions in 26 pieces of real estate over 35 years, although for what net profit is not known. Peter Dutton with former prime minister John Howard at the Liverpool Catholic Club in Prestons for the Coalition campaign launch on April 13. Credit: James Brickwood Pressed on why he got into politics, he cites the turmoil of the Bjelke-Petersen era in Queensland and watching his father struggle through the boom-bust times of the late 1980s. He cites Winston Churchill, George W. Bush and even Barack Obama as inspirational figures. I remember setting the alarm to hop up to watch president Obamas inauguration speech because I thought it was an inspiration that an African-American was able to take that office, he says. But the prime inspiration for his political career, above all, has been Howard, whose mould Dutton sees himself fitting into. Its difficult to think of the Liberal grandee threatening interventions in the insurance market, forcing divestment of supermarkets, or, the big one, using taxpayers dollars to try to launch a nuclear power industry in the way Dutton has. When I put this to Howard, he says: Mould doesnt mean exactly the same. It means broadly the same. He tells me the weight of history is still against a Dutton victory but six months ago, I wouldnt have thought we had any hope. I have a different view now. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter. China's water conservancy investment up in first quarter Xinhua) 11:02, April 18, 2025 BEIJING, April 17 (Xinhua) -- China's investment in water conservancy facilities rose 2.9 percent year on year to 198.81 billion yuan (about 27.58 billion U.S. dollars) in the first quarter of this year, official data showed on Thursday. China began 6,034 new water conservancy projects in the first quarter, Vice Minister of Water Resources Chen Min told a press conference. During the period, construction related to water conservancy projects had put 28.86 billion yuan of local government special bonds into use, an increase of 37 percent year on year. Meanwhile, 41.41 billion yuan of loans had been used in the construction of water conservancy projects, soaring 38.5 percent year on year. In the first quarter, water conservancy projects created 660,000 jobs nationwide, according to the vice minister. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. 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 Stephen Maguire A young Co Donegal family have appealed for help after their son was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder just months after his mum was diagnosed with leukemia. Four-year-old Zach McCrossan from St Johnston recently began showing signs of fatigue recently which worried his family. After many tests and bone marrow biopsies, Zach has now been diagnosed with a rare blood disorder. His only chance is a bone marrow transplant, which isnt available in Ireland. Hes now been referred to the Princess Maxima Center for Pediatric Oncology in Utrecht, Netherlands, where hes expected to be an inpatient for at least 3 months. It is the latest challenge facing the McCrossan family. In February, Zach's mother Patrice (nee Rodgers) discovered she had acute myeloid leukemia. The 32-year-old was rushed to Galway Hospital for treatment days later before being transferred to St. James in Dublin for a bone marrow transplant. Unfortunately, the transplant wasnt as successful as the family had wished, and Patrice now travels regularly to Dublin for DLI therapy and is still receiving chemotherapy treatments to keep her disease at bay. Since the news broke, the local community has shown an incredible outpouring of support for Patrice, her husband, Gary, and their four children aged between 7 months and 9 years. But now the couple are being forced to turn their attention to help their little boy, Zach. Dad Gary said the news of Zach's illness has hit them hard but they are doing their best to stay strong. He said "Its devastating to think of our family being split up once again. We are doing our best to stay strong, but the emotional and financial toll is enormous. "Patrice will need to continue her own treatments at home while also being there for Zachand for our other children, Casey, Hollie, and little Tillie. "We are humbly asking for support to help bring our family to the Netherlands so we can be with Zach during this incredibly difficult time. "Whether it's a small donation, a share, or simply keeping us in your thoughts it all means the world. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts," he said. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family cope with the financial strain. Eva Osborne A range of stories feature on the front pages of Irish newspapers on Friday. The Irish Times leads with short-term letting platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com facing millions of euros in fines under regulations aimed at freeing up properties for long-term housing requirements. A third of road deaths so far this year were people under 30, the Irish Examiner reports. The front page of The Echo features a story on members of Cork City Fire Brigade attending an overnight fire in a derelict former Magdalene laundry. The Irish Independent leads with a piece on the HSE probing allegations of financial and corporate governance issues at the country's lead charity for blind people - Vision Ireland. The Irish Daily Star reports on the inquest into the death of Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch's newphew's death. The inquest heard Eddie Hutch died from an overdose of methadone at his home in Dublins north inner city last year at a time his family believed he had stopped taking drugs. The Irish Daily Mail also reports on Airbnb and other short-term rental providers facing the possibility of fines under new rules targetting illegel lettings. A priest has been arrested on suspicion of aatempted sexual communication with a child, the Belfast Telegraph reports. The front page of The Herald features the Eddie Hutch inquest, as well as Manchester United come back to secure a scarcely believable 5-4 extra-time win against 10-man Lyon to reach the Europa League semi-finals. In the UK... The front pages of UK newspapers are dominated by the Supreme Court ruling that the terms woman and sex in the Equality Act refer to a biological woman and biological sex. The front page of today's Daily Telegraph: 'UKs biggest bank vows solidarity with trans workers'#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/qdoonyx5Lp The Telegraph (@Telegraph) April 17, 2025 Sign up to get our news digest delivered directly to your inbox twice a week. A fast-paced, darkly comic take on grief and guilt, Morten Tsinakov & Lucija Mrzljaks Eeva (2022) shortlisted for the Oscars in 2023 is now available online. The latest offering from the award-winning Estonian duo opens at a funeral. Its a miserably rainy day. A grieving woman who may or may not have nudged fate along and a quartet of everymen head to a post-funeral reception at a local restaurant. Booze flows. Music plays. Tables are turned. Glasses are smashed. Fish get drunk. A woodpecker appears, who is possibly the deceased, reincarnated and unimpressed. Nervous breakdowns follow. As youd expect from an Estonian animation, theres plenty of deranged, deadpan absurdity. Eeva is a surreal send-up of grief, guilt, and the way death has a habit of crashing the party, even if it has to return as a bird. Tsinakov studied animation at the Estonian Academy of Arts, where he made two films. After his studies, he joined Eesti Joonisfilm, where he directed three films alongside Mrzljak: Demonstration of Brilliance in Four Acts (2017), The Stork (2020), and Eeva. Mrzljak is a Croatian animation director and illustrator based in Tallinn, Estonia. She earned her MA in animation in 2016 and has since co-directed three shorts with Tsinakov. In 2019, she also directed the music video The Closing Door for Glen Hansard. A freelance illustrator, Lucija has also published childrens books and teaches animation at the Estonian Academy of Fine Arts. Eeva was co-produced by Eesti Joonisfilm (Estonia) and Adriatic Animation (Croatia). Cleveland State Community College and Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) recently awarded the MTSU True Blue Scholarship to two Cleveland State students. Liliana Almaraz and Sofia Rodriguez have accepted admissions to MTSU and will transfer this fall. Over 20% of students transfer to four-year universities from Cleveland State. The college has articulation agreements with several universities including MTSU. These agreements allow for a smooth transition for students with associate degrees to move seamlessly to the four-year universities. "Cleveland State is grateful for the continued partnership with MTSU, said Dr. Corey Campbell, Vice President of Academic Affairs. The True Blue scholarship allows students an opportunity to continue their education with added financial resources while pursuing a baccalaureate degree. This partnership showcases the value of transfer pathways and articulations for interested Cleveland State students to easily transfer to partnering four-year universities." Almaraz and Rodriguez are both Tennessee Promise students, attending Cleveland State tuition free after high school. Originally from California, Almaraz moved to Bradley County with her family when she was in elementary school. As a teenager, she enjoyed helping her father pick out colors as he renovated houses; this inspired her interest in interior design. Almaraz will transfer to MTSU and major in interior architecture as she prepares for a career as an interior designer. Almaraz said, At first, I wasnt sure if interior design was really something I wanted to do, so it was a better option to come to Cleveland State with the TN Promise scholarship and stay closer to my family. Almaraz, a Cleveland High School graduate, participates in the Multicultural Club and the Leo Club at the college. She also works in the Office of Student Engagement for ten hours a week as a Work Study Student. Liliana is a dedicated student, and her assistance is greatly appreciated in our office, said Carolina Roman, Student Engagement Coordinator. She is kind and a wonderful person with a bright future ahead of her. Ive had a lot of help from the people that Ive worked with here; they are amazing, said Almaraz. I am scared because Im not going to know anyone at MTSU, but I am definitely excited too because it is a new chapter; its a new place. Sometimes, scary decisions are the best things that you can do. Also from California, Rodriguez and her family moved to Monroe County four years ago. She attended Cross Creek Christian School in Sweetwater and took dual enrollment classes at the college. She plans to major in finance at MTSU with a concentration in real estate; she hopes to work in real estate investment or financial planning. Rodriguez took classes at the McMinn Higher Education Center (MHEC) in Athens during her first year. She joined the Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM) where she served as a club officer and went on two mission trips with the group to Portland, Oregon, and Argentina. In her final year at the college, Rodriguez has taken classes on the Cleveland campus. She works as a writing tutor in the Tutoring and Learning Center on campus. She said, Students can come in with any type of writing assignment; it doesnt have to be just for English classes. I can give advice or proofread. The work depends on the student. If someone comes in without a start on their essay, then I can help them determine a structure to take. If someone comes in with a well-formulated paper, then I can get into the nitty-gritty of grammar and word choice. Dr. Brian Gerber, Professor of Communication, said, Sofia went above and beyond in my fundamentals of communication course. She delivered some of the best speeches I have ever heard in my teaching career, and she was the epitome of academic excellence. I didnt know what I wanted to major in, so I thought it was a smart idea to start close to home, said Rodriguez. Im excited about my degree, and I am grateful that I can transfer into MTSU. The most rewarding part of Cleveland State has been the community that I have built here in so many different aspects - like the BCM, the Tutoring Center, and the MHEC campus. It is the people that I have gotten to meet. The first annual East Ridge High School Health Fair, for students, staff, the East Ridge community and surrounding area, will be held on Saturday, April 26 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at East Ridge High School.Officials said, "The Health Fair aims to promote health and wellness awareness among our students, staff and the wider East Ridge community by providing access to valuable resources, information and interactive activities."Confirmed Vendors: Blood Assurance Boys and Girls Club CADAS Cempa Chatt State Nursing Volunteers Chattanooga Diaper Hub Chattanooga Food Bank East Hamilton Lions Club Kids vision screening & adult blood pressures East Ridge Fire Department Goodwill Industries of the Greater Chattanooga Hamilton County EMS Ambulance and Crew Johnson Audiology Kidney Foundation Massage Heights on Gunbarrel chair massages and other goodies Parkridge East Hospital Ronald McDonald House Shower With Hope Mobile Shower Tennessee Donor Services UTC Senior Nursing Students WeRCPR During National Volunteer Month in April, the American Red Cross asks donors to help keep the blood supply stable by making an appointment to give blood or platelets now. Type O blood and platelets are especially needed to ensure hospitals are fully stocked with lifesaving blood products this spring.Officials said, "The Red Cross depends on thousands of volunteer donors to collect more than 12,000 blood donations and about 3,000 platelet donations every single day. Blood drives and donation centers also depend on the generosity and valuable time of those who make it possible for the Red Cross to help people in need."As spring travel and activities fill calendars, volunteer blood donations remain essential to critical medical care.Book a time to give blood or platelets now by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App."All who come to give April 14-30 will get an exclusive Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last, plus be automatically entered for a chance to win a $5,000 prize. There will be three winners. See RedCrossBlood.org/Hope for more information.In May, all who come to give May 1-18 will get a $20 e-gift card to a merchant of choice. Plus, throughout May, those who come to give will be automatically entered to win a U.S. trip of choice for two. For details, visit RedCrossBlood.org/May.Upcoming blood donation opportunities April 17-May 5:Bledsoe - Pikeville -April 17, 2-6 p.m. at Bledsoe County Rescue Squad, 977 US-127 BYPHow to donate blood:Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or drivers license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.Amplify your impact - volunteer:Another way to support the lifesaving mission of the Red Cross is to become a volunteer blood donor ambassador at Red Cross blood drives. Blood donor ambassadors help greet, check in and thank blood donors to ensure they have a positive donation experience.Volunteers can also serve as transportation specialists, playing a vital role in ensuring lifesaving blood products are delivered to nearby hospitals. For more information and to apply for either position, visit redcross.org/volunteertoday. Seven northwest Georgia high school students committed to pursuing a technical education during a signing event hosted by Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC). This year marks GNTCs second time participating in the National Career and Technical Education (CTE) Letter of Intent Signing Day, which was held on April 16 at the Gordon County Campus in Calhoun. Technical education provides practical skills, industry connections and a strong foundation for lifelong success, Dr. Elizabeth Anderson, GNTCs vice president of Academic Affairs and Institutional Effectiveness, said. Today we celebrate the impact of technical education in shaping the future of our workforce. During National Signing Day, 84 participating National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3) Leadership Schools across the nation hosted high school students, parents, educators, industry partners, potential employers and others to watch students sign their letters of commitment to pursue a technical education at the college of their choice after they finish high school. GNTC also live-streamed the event. NC3s mission is to train and educate future skilled workers for productive careers. NC3 certifications can be used across various CTE program areas including aviation, construction science and energy efficiency, digital literacy, health and safety, horticulture, manufacturing, transportation and welding. NC3 certifications also include STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) programs. NC3 trains instructors so that they can effectively train the students and give them the certifications that are much needed in the skilled workforce to help companies operate and grow, said Jon Byrd, executive director of Aviation at GNTC and Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) state aviation advisor. Certiport, Copeland, Daniels Manufacturing Corporation, Dremel, Festo, Greenlee, Kubota Tractor Corp., Lincoln Electric, Palmer Hamilton, RIDGID, Snap-on Inc., Starrett Co., Swift, 3M, Test Products International Inc. (TPI), Thermo King, Tormach and Trane are global industry partners partnering with NC3. The organization also partners with the American Association of Community Colleges; Association for Career and Technical Education: Aspen Institute; American Technical Education Association; Federal Aviation Administration; National Association of Manufacturing; Manufacturing Skill Standards Council; National Association of Workforce Boards; National Coalition of Advanced Technology Centers; National Rural Education Association; Partnership for Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigeration Accreditation; SkillsUSA; SME Education Foundation; TechForce Foundation; and the United States FabLab Network. Listed below are the signees including the students names, high schools and intended programs of study: Cosmetology Isila Diaz-Ambrocio, Rome High School Gracie Laine Isbell, Rockmart High School Diagnostic Medical Sonography Myriam Perez-Borja, Gordon Central High School Electrical Technician William Luke Poteet Rosenbalm, Dade County High School Nursing Madison Brylee Tucker, Heritage High School Radiology Christopher Ortiz, Sonoraville High School Welding and Joining Technology Ireland Amyx, Sonoraville High School In fall 2023, GNTC was honored to become Georgias first NC3 Leadership School, Anderson said. This distinction allows GNTC to participate in exclusive events like todays National Signing Day, and we are excited to be a part of this opportunity. Anderson said 13 GNTC faculty members have a combined total of about 165 NC3 certifications, and the college has issued more than 1,000 industry NC3 credentials to students. Byrd and Zac Fager, program director and instructor of Aviation Maintenance Technology at GNTC, are NC3 Master Instructors. The newly-weaponized Hamilton County Republican Party has issued a decree: A Resolution of the Hamilton County Republican Party In Support Of Senator Watson and Efforts to Restore Local Control and Integrity to Tennessees Public School Enrollment Process. Talk about a word salad. Please pass me the Italian dressing. At least Senator Bo Watson got what he wanted: he can sleep well, for now, that Commandant Gail Greene will not be sending a MAGA minion to battle Bow-Tie Bo in his primary. I wish the same could be said for the thousands of innocent Tennessee children who could lose their ability to attend school just because of the color of their skin. While Bow-Tie Bo cuddles with his lobbyist wife in their condo in Nashville, other married couples lie awake at night, worried that their children may have no opportunity for a better life through education, merely because they were born here. Having whipped Bow-Tie Bo into submission, the newly weaponized Hamilton County Republican Party can now train their sights on Rep. Esther Helton-Haynes, who has the audacity to co-sponsor a bill which allows the mother to choose an abortion if her baby is dead inside her womb. Rep. Helton-Haynes has been targeted by the Hamilton County Calvary Church Arm of the Republican Party because her bill expands the abortion rights of dead babies, their graves already inside the mothers womb. These heartless Republicans would rather the mother carry her dead baby to term, rather than have the option of aborting the dead fetus when it no longer has a heartbeat. Unless Rep. Helton-Haynes bends a knee to the Calvary Chapel crowd like Bow-Tie Bo did, I expect to see another press release from Senior Commandant Greene in the future: A Resolution of The Hamilton County Republican Party in Opposition to Rep. Esther Helton-Haynes Efforts to Bring Empathy and Compassion To a Mother Who Lost Her Precious Baby in Her Womb By Forcing Her to Go Into Labor and Deliver Her Baby That Has Been Dead in Her Womb for Months. Its obvious that the newly elected Hamilton County Republican Party is laser focused on supporting and attacking fellow Republicans who demonstrate an ounce of empathy and love for others, especially the least of these. I hope they can attend their Easter services with a clear conscience. Beware of those Easter eggs filled with 30 pieces of silver. C. Mark Warren * * * C. Mark Warren, thank you once again for providing the entertainment that seems to be so lacking in news these days. You rarely disappoint. Talk about a word salad? You served up one which will be difficult to eat. I know you're a vehicle wreck lawyer, but even so, you should know more about medical procedures. You're taking on a Registered Nurse who has put her career on hold to represent we the people of Tennessee, just as Bo Watson has done. Just for your edification, removing or delivering a baby without a heartbeat is not referred to as an abortion. If it happens 20 weeks into the gestation period, it's called a "miscarriage". If it happens after the first 20 weeks, it's referred to as "stillbirth". The procedure is called a "D&C", meaning dilation and curettage. Some doctors refer to it as a "D&E," meaning dilation and evacuation, but the end result is the same. And what is this about bringing our black/brown skinned brothers and sisters into your opinion piece? Please give me one example of a kid, who is an American citizen, being denied an education, in Tennessee, because of their skin color. Your statement transcends opinion. While I have your attention, please expound of the following: several weeks ago, you announced your intention to run against State Senator Bo Watson. Please provide the name of your campaign chairman, as well as your campaign treasurer. Or, you can say you were just "popping off" or "running your mouth". Either works well for me. When the line of opinion intersects with the line of fact, what is that called? As a side note, I took up for you just a couple of weeks ago. Someone on this very page referred you as an ambulance chaser. I let them know that you didn't chase ambulances, rather you had "bird dogs" who did that for you. I look forward to you announcing your campaign chairman as well as you campaign treasure. J. Pat Williams * * * Mr. Warren, Thank you for your spot-on letter. Never seen so many mean-spirited people who are targeting innocent children. Vicki Hill The Tennessee Supreme Court and the Administrative Office of the Courts appreciate the Tennessee General Assemblys approval of the amended budget Wednesday, which includes $13 million in recurring funding and $4 million in non-recurring startup funds for the AOCs innovative new Indigent Representation Plan. The $17 million total appropriation and 14 newly-established positions will enable the Judicial Branch to address challenges with the retention and compensation of appointed counsel and enhance the delivery of indigent services across the state. This funding puts us in a financial position to take a transformational step forward to safeguard the fair and impartial administration of justice in Tennessee, said Chief Justice Holly Kirby. It is the result of many hands and hearts working together to figure out a new and effective system to deliver representation to those who cannot afford counsel. Heartfelt thanks to our legislative leaders, the Governors Office, the district attorneys general and district public defenders across the state, and the Tennessee Bar Association for their collective effort and vision. We especially thank our judges and appointed attorneysyou passionately and capably communicated your struggles with the current system and helped us formulate a new way forward. During last years effort to increase the attorney compensation, the AOC was encouraged to consider other alternatives, said AOC Director Michelle Long. After researching how other states deliver indigent representation services, engaging the Comptroller of the Treasury, and discussions with a number of interested stakeholders, the Supreme Court and the AOC unveiled a new, innovative plan. A successful endeavor like this is a collective effort to be sure. Thank you to all who have worked with us. We look forward to continuing to work with you as we look ahead and improve Tennessees system of indigent representation. Funding for the new Indigent Representation Plan will provide additional management and oversight to help ensure that qualified, effective representation is available through a dedicated office, overseen by a commission, said officials. The commission will be established by the Supreme Court. Based on Fiscal Year 2023 data, it is anticipated that the new office will manage an estimated 76,000 cases each year. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee on Thursday announced the appointment of Ryan Hubbard to serve as Tennessees First Chief Immigration Enforcement Officer, effective immediately. The appointment follows the successful passage of Governor Lees entire illegal immigration agenda during the 2025 special legislative session to support the Trump administrations border security and public safety efforts. Tennessee has a long track record of stepping up to secure our nations borders, and we stand ready to be a willing partner as the Trump Administration strengthens public safety by enforcing immigration laws on the books, said Governor Lee. Ryan Hubbard is a dedicated public servant with decades of experience in immigration enforcement, and I am confident he is the right person to oversee this new division. Mr. Hubbard is a veteran federal agent with 28 years of experience in immigration enforcement. Mr. Hubbard began his law enforcement career in 1996 as a U.S. Border Patrol agent in Casa Grande, Az., before becoming a special agent with the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. He joined Homeland Security Investigations after the formation of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in 2003 and served in both Memphis and Nashville. His work included complex criminal investigations into immigration fraud, alien smuggling, identity theft, and sex trafficking. From 2009 until 2019, Mr. Hubbard was assigned to the FBIs Joint Terrorism Task Force in Nashville, contributing his immigration expertise to counterterrorism investigations. Mr. Hubbard retired from federal service in February 2025 and was commissioned as a special agent with the Tennessee Office of Homeland Security in March. One month later, he was promoted to lead the new division as the states inaugural Chief Immigration Enforcement Officer. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Indiana University, with minors in Psychology and Spanish, and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, the nations oldest academic honor society. This office is about protecting Tennesseans from those who are already known threatspeople with final deportation orders or serious criminal convictions who remain in our communities, said Commissioner Jeff Long. Ryans extensive experience makes him the right leader to build strong partnerships with local agencies and deliver results. The Chief Immigration Enforcement Division was established through legislation passed by the Tennessee General Assembly in January 2025 to strengthen the states ability to implement federal immigration policies and act against individuals who pose a public safety risk. The CIEO will lead a whole-of-state-government approach to identifying and addressing the presence of individuals in Tennessee who are subject to final orders of removal or who are violent criminal offenders in the country unlawfully. A central mission of the office is to work directly with local and state law enforcement agencies to pursue 287(g) agreements, a federal program that allows designated local officers to enforce certain aspects of federal immigration law. Additionally, the CIEO will coordinate with law enforcement, prosecutors, and government agencies across Tennessee to ensure the effective use of data, intelligence, and legal tools to identify and remove individuals who pose a threat to the states safety and security. While the Chief Immigration Enforcement Division is part of the Department of Safety and Homeland Security, its mission is separate and distinct from the Tennessee Office of Homeland Security, which remains focused on school safety and the mitigation of domestic threats across the state. I formulated a list of questions for the National Park Service regarding their handling (mismanagement) of the Lookout Mountain fire that caused millions of dollars of damage after it reached the Incline trestle. Those questions remain unanswered. The original fire, which the NPS claims was ignited by sparks from a small rock fall, started the morning of Dec. 7. What was originally a small brush fire between the Mountain Beautiful and Hardy Trails on the East Brow of Lookout Mountain, if managed well, should have been contained within hours. But this was not the Chattanooga Fire Department's responsibility, this was not the Lookout Mountain Fire Department's responsibility - this was the NPS responsibility. For months, the Park Service has declined to answer questions about their management, thus in late March I inquired with the members of Congress in whose jurisdictions the Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park is located - Chuck Fleischmann and Marjorie Taylor Greene. Here are my original questions to the Park Service: This complaint involves the Lookout Mountain unit of the Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park. Specifically, it regards the failure of C&C NMP personnel to respond professionally to a small brushfire in its Lookout Mountain, Tennessee unit. That fire began at 0630 on Dec. 7, 2024. Below you will find my initial letter of inquiry to the Park Superintendent, Brad Bennett. I received email confirmation that he received this letter but no response. The letter outlines both my concern about the fire management and a detailed fire progression timeline. It raises specific questions about who was responsible for not containing the small fire line in the six hours before it engulfed the upper trestle system of the Lookout Mountain (CARTA) Incline Railway. After interviewing other agencies involved, it is clear that the National Park Service coordination and response to this fire was inadequate at best, and indicative of the lack of leadership that has plagued the NPS, and specifically the C&C NMP, for many years. After sending and resending my initial NPS questions for two months to the Park Superintendent and receiving no response, I finally received a response from the NPS Chief Ranger, Todd Milsaps, who advised me that the Superintendent was unavailable for personal reasons. After several more days I was able to obtain an email address for the Chief Ranger and sent him my original list of questions as noted below. Almost three months after the fire, I received an email back from the Chief Ranger with a "copy/paste" message advising me that if I wanted answers to these questions, I would have to file a FOIA request. Based on the lack of response from the Superintendent and the obfuscatory response from the Chief Ranger, I am forwarding this information for publication in hope that will finally prompt a response. Below is my original letter and specific questions, which the NPS has refused to answer: What follows are questions about the NPS management of the Lookout Mountain fire in December. I presume an after-action report if there is one, is complete. I am asking these questions in order that mistakes not be repeated in the event of a future fire, particularly if it is below the West Brow of the Mountain. For context, I am a generational resident of this area with a great respect for the preservation of our National Military Park. I was on the board of Friends of the Park for years, notably at the time we raised millions of dollars for the Chickamauga visitor center expansion. Additionally, I have spent many years working in official capacities with local, state and federal agencies providing emergency services coordination. Regarding the fire response timeline on Dec. 7 (please correct this if not accurate). 0630: CFD responded to a report of a brush fire on the east side of Lookout Mountain in the NPS boundary between Hardy/Guild Trail (Battlefield Walk and Bike Trail) and Mountain Beautiful Trail. 1130: The fire was still not contained and slowly moving north, and there was discussion that if it continues, it could engulf the Incline trestle timbers and result in a major fire. 1410: Fire reached the incline track trestle structure. 1440: UH60 Blackhawk performs fire suppression water dumps on the railway but departs before the fires were contained. From the elevation above the fire, the Town Of Lookout Mountain TN - Police & Fire Department sprayed more than 100,000 gallons of water to protect the upper incline station and East Brow residential homes. But the overspray options were limited. However, water lines could have been readily deployed over the brow to firefighters below the brow in order to both facilitate containment of the fire line and saturate the dry tender between the fire line and incline trestle to mitigate the potential of the trestle catching fire. It was difficult terrain but a relatively small fire, and the containment solutions were evident long before the track trestle timbers were involved. My questions: What time was NPS notified about the fire? What time did NPS personnel arrive and where? Did the NPS Chief Ranger respond? If so, when and where? Was there a designated NPS Incident Commander for management of this fire? If so, who was that? If so, when did the NPS Incident Commander arrive to begin management, and where? Did the NPS Incident Commander identify himself/herself to the other responding agencies? If so, with whom and where? In the almost eight hours prior to the slow-moving brush fire reaching and igniting the Incline rail trestle, was consideration given to water lines being deployed over the brow to firefighters below the brow in order to both facilitate containment of the fire line and saturate the dry tender between the fire line and incline trestle to mitigate the potential of the trestle catching fire. Why was a tank trunk not deployed on Hardy Trail to assist with providing hoses and water to the firefighters below the brow. A tank truck did arrived on the north entrance to Hardy Trail, but did not enter the park because they had no jurisdictional authorization. All the above questions notwithstanding, the most important question: What actions could/should NPS have taken to prevent the fire line from moving north and igniting the Incline trestlework timbers - very costly damage. Why were two mitigating actions not taken hours before the fire reached the trestle timbers: First, the deployment of tank trucks (which were available) on Hardy Trail; Second, the application of fire suppression from hoses lowered from above the brow line to saturate tinder between the fire line and incline trestlework. Failure to prevent the fire from reaching the incline trestlework was not a Town Of Lookout Mountain TN - Police & Fire Department or a Chattanooga Fire Department failure. The cost to CARTA and their insurer is significant. Why do these questions matter? Because recognizing past mistakes helps prevent future mistakes, and for those who recall the West Brow fires during the drought of 2016, those wildfires definitely had the potential of topping the brow and burning homes, based on wind conditions. I would appreciate your response to these questions and a copy of any after action report prepared by the NPS. Mark Caldwell Lookout Mountain, Tn. * * * I dont think theres a NPS fire crew on Lookout Mountain. Im wondering if theres any NPS employees left on the mountain or in the Battlefield. Trump will fix the employee numbers to take care of our National Treasures. Arent you happy? Roger Mayo United Way of Greater Chattanooga unveiled the winners of the Fifth Annual Celebrate Awards Thursday at Common House. This community-centric event honors the nonprofits, leaders and volunteers driving change across the region. "This is more than just an award ceremony, its a moment to recognize the power of a connected community, said Terran Anderson, VP of Community and Corporate Engagement at United Way of Greater Chattanooga. The nonprofit community is always facing new challenges, but last night was a beautiful reflection of what happens when we lift each other up and celebrate the impact weve made together. We loved celebrating this amazing lineup of 2025 winners and finalists. With over 130 nominations submitted, finalists were selected across five competitive categories. The 2025 winners are: Nonprofit Organization of the Year: First Things First Nonprofit Leader of the Year: Dave Buck with Chattanooga Autism Center Live United, Not Divided Award (Sponsored by Roper Corporation): Be the Change Youth Initiative Rising Star Award: Chattanooga Free Store Volunteer of the Year: Margy Oehmig volunteer for Metropolitan Ministries From acceptance speeches to a room full of nonprofit champions, the night celebrated what makes the Greater Chattanooga region truly specialpeople showing up for each other, especially when it matters most, said officials. The Celebrate Awards are made possible by the support of this years sponsors: Roper Corporation, Shaw Industries, First Horizon Foundation, Husch Blackwell, Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga, Smart Bank and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee. To relive the highlights or learn more about the finalists and winners, visit unitedwaycha.org/celebrate. Scott Jackson Kate Neal Spatial Effects Previous Next The WoodSongs Dalton Concert Series will feature award winning songwriters Scott Jackson and Kate Neal on Saturday, April 26, at 7 p.m. Regional bluegrass band Spatial Effects will open. Review for the performers: Scott Jackson, originally from Florida, moved to northwest Georgia in 2024. Growing up in a musical family he was exposed to bluegrass at a very early age. His songs reflect a variety of influences and his original songs branch out into the genres of folk, Americana, and bluegrass. Scott won first place in the Will McLean Festival songwriting competition in 2021 and first place in the folk category at the 2024 Cohutta Song Fest as well as the Peoples Choice award. He was a part of the central Florida music scene for many years and he continues to play at venues and festivals around the country. Kate Neal, winner of the 2024 Cohutta Song Fest songwriting competition, is a high school sophomore from Lookout Mountain, Ga. She was also a winner in the youth category. When asked when she began writing songs, Kate jokingly replied, It may have been in utero when my parents (folk/rock duo Jennifer Daniels and Jeff Neal) were playing concerts right up to the delivery date. Her musical influences come from a variety of sources including Noah Kahan, Olivia Rodrigo and Lizzy McAlpine. Opening for Jackson and Neal will be the northwest Georgia based bluegrass band Spatial Effects. During their 25 year plus existence, Spatial Effects has performed at Riverbend, Chattanooga Nightfall, the Alabama Egg Festival and numerous festivals, county fairs, and churches from middle Georgia to southwest Virginia. The band has opened for Claire Lynch, Becky Buller, the Lovell Sisters and Goose Creek Symphony. The concert will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, 101 S. Selvidge St. in Dalton. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., music starts at 7 p.m. Proceeds from the concert will benefit the DEO Clinic, a non-profit 501(c)3 with the mission to provide free health care to low income, uninsured residents of Whitfield and Murray Counties. Matching donor funds up to $2,500 per concert will be provided by Modern Woodmen of America. Concert goers are also encouraged to bring a canned good or non-perishable food item for the Little Pantry maintained by the Presbyterian Church. Tickets are $20 in advance; $24 day of show ($20 with canned good or non-perishable food item). Advance tickets are available at the Dalton Freight Depot Gift Shop, Bigham Discount Music, and online at http://woodsongsdalton.com. Pastor John MacArthur provided a health update in a video shared on X on April 15, 2025, expressing his eagerness to resume his ministerial duties. | Screenshot: X/ John MacArthur Pastor John MacArthur has announced his readiness to return to the pulpit at Grace Community Church after a year fraught with significant medical challenges. In a video shared on Grace to You's social media platforms, MacArthur, 85, remarked, The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated, expressing enthusiasm for resuming his ministerial duties. He assured his followers, saying, I feel fine. I'm not ill at all. My heart is working well. My lungs are working well. There's nothing terminal that I'm experiencing. There's no heart failure. In fact, my heart is probably stronger now than it's been in the last decade of my life. I'm under good care from the doctors. MacArthurs recent health struggles included multiple heart procedures and lung surgery, culminating in a seven-week hospitalization. His health saga began in January 2023 when he was admitted for breathing difficulties shortly after delivering a sermon at the church's first service of the year. Over the following months, he underwent three heart surgeries and a lung procedure, facing complications that required extended medical supervision. The issue for me was when they were trying to regulate everything because I had a lung surgery and three heart procedures, they put me in the hospital, he explained. Despite these setbacks, he remained optimistic, stating, I feel great. I'm ready to come roaring back into the public and pick up my ministry again. While he did not specify when he might return to the pulpit, Phil Johnson, executive director of Grace to You and an elder at Grace Community Church, confirmed that MacArthur was discharged from the hospital in February, clarifying earlier misinformation about his release and emphasizing the pastors steady progress at home. With a prolific career as a pastor, author, and broadcaster, MacArthur has established himself as a leading voice among Evangelicals, with Grace to You reaching millions through radio, books, and digital platforms. He has delivered over 3,000 sermons since 1969 during his 56-year tenure as pastor-teacher at the Sun Valley congregation, according to Grace to You. Photo Credit: Unsplash/ Jessica Rockowitz A bill aimed at safeguarding the religious liberty of foster families and prospective foster families in Kansas will become law after the state legislature successfully overrode a gubernatorial veto. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly announced her intention to veto the measure on Monday; however, the Kansas Legislature voted to override her veto of House Bill 2311 during votes on Thursday. The Kansas House of Representatives voted 87-38, and the Senate voted 31-9, both exceeding the two-thirds majority required for an override. House Bill 2311 prohibits the state from requiring a person to affirm, accept, or support any governmental policy regarding sexual orientation or gender identity that may conflict with the person's sincerely held moral or religious beliefs as a condition for serving as a foster parent in Kansas. The bill also prevents the state from denying selection, appointment or licensure, if otherwise eligible, of a person because of such person's sincerely held religious or moral beliefs regarding sexual orientation or gender identity or intent to guide or instruct a child consistent with such beliefs. Additionally, it provides a right of action for prospective foster parents who believe they were denied the opportunity to serve due to violations of the measure. Foster parents in several other states have experienced revocations of their licenses or have had their requests to serve denied because they wouldnt adopt views on sexual orientation and gender identity that clashed with their religious convictions. In 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the city of Philadelphia could not exclude a Catholic charity from its foster program over its refusal to place children with same-sex couples based on religious beliefs. Furthermore, last year, two couples in Vermont filed lawsuits against the state after their foster parenting licenses were not renewed due to their lack of acceptance of LGBT ideology. Another Christian couple in Vermont also initiated legal action against the state after being informed by the Department of Children and Families that their reluctance to foster a transgender-identified child and discuss they/them pronouns would hinder their ability to move forward with fostering. Similarly, in 2023, a Massachusetts couple filed a lawsuit against the state for denying their request to act as foster parents because they would not be affirming to a child who identified as LGBTQIA. U.S. missionary Pastor Josh Sullivan and his family in South Africa. | Photo Credit: Facebook/ Tom Hatley Five days after being kidnapped by armed men from his church in Motherwell, South Africa, Tennessee missionary Josh Sullivan was rescued unharmed. The South African Police Service reported that the confrontation took place at a safe house in KwaMagxaki, Gqeberha, where the pastor was rescued following a dramatic shootout that resulted in the fatalities of three suspects. As officers approached the house, they observed a vehicle on the premises. The suspects inside the vehicle upon seeing law enforcement allegedly attempted to flee and opened fire on the team. The officers responded with tactical precision, leading to a high-intensity shootout in which three unidentified suspects were fatally wounded, stated the police. Sullivan was found inside the vehicle from which the suspects launched their attack and was miraculously unharmed. Medical personnel assessed him, and he is in excellent condition. Sullivan, who leads Fellowship Baptist Church in Motherwell, near Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), was abducted during a sermon at his church on April 10. The kidnappers had demanded an undisclosed ransom. The kidnapping sparked a global prayer rally beginning with Sullivans home congregation at Fellowship Baptist Church in Maryville, Tennessee, under Pastor Tom Hatley. Hatley celebrated Sullivans rescue on Facebook, expressing gratitude while urging continued prayers for Sullivan and his family. Josh has been released. I just got the go ahead to let it be known, Hatley wrote. Thank you for your support and prayers. Please do not stop praying for The Sullivans. Praise The Lord Jesus Christ! According to Fellowship Baptist Church in Maryville, Sullivan and his wife, Meagan, first traveled to South Africa in 2015 for a six-month internship as part of their Bible training. It was during this time that the Lord began to stir their hearts specifically for the Xhosa people. They returned in 2018 as full-time church planting missionaries, determined to share the Gospel, and see lives changed, noted the church bio. Sullivan invested two years in a language school to gain fluency in Xhosa, empowering him to preach, disciple, and minister more effectively. His dedication culminated in the founding of Fellowship Baptist Church in Motherwell, a community the couple has grown deeply attached to. They also welcomed two Xhosa children into their household. South Africa has faced a significant increase in kidnappings recently, with over 17,000 cases reported in the 2023-2024 fiscal year. The Global Initiative Against Transnational Crime attributes this rise to a surge in extortion activities. Home News Ark. latest state to require Ten Commandments, 'In God We Trust' displays in public school classrooms Arkansas has become the latest state to require Ten Commandments displays in public school classrooms as debate about the historic document's presence in schools continues. Arkansas Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed Senate Bill 433 into law Monday, one of several measures she approved. Sanders approval of the legislation follows its passage by the Republican-controlled Arkansas Senate in a 27-4 vote and the Republican-controlled Arkansas House of Representatives in a 71-20 vote. The vote in the Senate fell along party lines, with all support for the measure coming from Republicans and all opposition coming from Democrats. In the House, two Republicans sided with Democrats in opposing the legislation. 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 bill requires all classrooms and libraries in all public elementary, secondary and postsecondary schools, as well as all buildings in the state maintained by taxpayer funds, to display a poster or framed copy of the U.S. national motto In God We Trust and a poster or framed copy of The Ten Commandments. Additional requirements for classrooms and libraries at public schools and colleges, in addition to public buildings, include displays of the U.S. and Arkansas flags. Sanders approval of Senate Bill 433 comes less than a week after she signed House Bill 1705, which was passed by the House in a 76-19 vote and the Senate in a 28-5 vote. The votes on House Bill 1705 in both chambers fell along party lines, with all support coming from Republicans and all opposition coming from Democrats. House Bill 1705 requires the Arkansas Board of Education to incorporate information that addresses the founding of the United States, including the founding fathers and their religious and moral beliefs and how their religious and moral beliefs influenced the founding documents of the United States, into social studies curriculum for public school students in grades six through 12. The curriculum will focus on the quotation in the Declaration of Independence stating, We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. It will also examine the identity of the Creator as viewed by the Founding Fathers and the degree to which the Founding Fathers relied on The Ten Commandments, Mosaic Law and the New Testament when formulating American law and public policy. In a statement provided to The Christian Post on Thursday, Liberty Counsel founder and Chairman Mat Staver reacted to Sanders approval of both bills. We commend Arkansas legislators for taking steps to display the Ten Commandments and give students a proper education on the Founders religious and moral convictions, he said. The Founders knew our inalienable rights come from God, not government, and that the role of government is to protect those rights. In addition, the Ten Commandments have indelibly shaped American law and government. Understanding the historical context in which the nation was founded and the foundational principles of our laws is a key to preserving our nation, he added. Former talk show host Phil McGraw discussed the debate about the placement of the Ten Commandments in schools on Fridays episode of his podcast The Real Story, which coincided with Good Friday. He shared his opinion that Ten Commandments displays were needed to counteract what he described as the false gods of social media, money, celebrities and politicians. Arkansas isn't the first state to pass legislation requiring public school classrooms to display The Ten Commandments. Last year, Louisiana became the first state to institute such a requirement. While a federal judge issued a ruling blocking the law from taking effect last November in response to a lawsuit filed by the ACLU, the Freedom From Religion Foundation and Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a federal appellate court limited the ruling to only apply to school districts where parents were challenging the measure. Home News Catholic charity efforts in Middle East harmed by USAID cuts: report The Trump administration's cuts to the U.S. Agency for International Development have harmed significant humanitarian projects funded by Catholic charities that impact aid provided to thousands of people in the Middle East, according to a recent report. The cutting of USAID funds has "negatively impacted major projects" that Catholic charitable groups collaborate on with the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees and the World Food Program, the Catholic outlet OSV News reported. About 10% of Caritas Lebanon's funding has been removed by the cuts, including resources that funded educational programs, healthcare, legal counseling and child protection, OSV News noted. 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 Father Michel Abboud, the Carmelite president of Caritas Lebanon, told OSV that he estimated that around 2,000 people have already been affected by the cuts, though he also expressed relief that some of the funding has been restored. "Working with WFP, we have been providing critical food aid also to many poor Lebanese. If we stop now, how will they be able to find food from another source?" Abboud asked. Wael Sulieman, the general director of Caritas Jordan, told OSV that the organization's UNHCR assistance was cut by 70%, saying that this was "something that hurts us." "But I can assure you that after 25 years of working for Caritas, we have passed through difficult moments always because this is part of the life of any NGO," Sulieman added. President Donald Trump has sought to drastically cut funding and personnel at USAID, alleging that the agency has engaged in extensive wasteful spending to support controversial initiatives. Examples cited by the White House included $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 eliminated life-saving programs for vulnerable communities overseas. In February, it was reported that Catholic Relief Services, which received $4.6 billion in USAID funds and was among the agency's largest grant recipients for years, was forced to cut staff and refugee assistance programs due to the USAID reductions. In March, the U.S. Supreme Court released a 5-4 unsigned opinion that denied the Trump administration's request to freeze $2 billion in USAID reimbursement funds, upholding a lower court order. As a result, the Evangelical Christian charity group Samaritan's Purse received a $19 million reimbursement from the government over work it did in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and South Sudan. Earlier this month, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops ended its cooperative agreements with the federal government related to refugee support due to the current administration's gutting of refugee resettlement programs. Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the USCCB, said in a statement that the "decision to reduce these programs drastically forces us to reconsider the best way to serve the needs of our brothers and sisters seeking safe harbor from violence and persecution." "As a national effort, we simply cannot sustain the work on our own at current levels or in current form," stated Broglio. "As USCCB cooperative agreements for refugee resettlement and children's programs end, we will work to identify alternative means of support for the people the federal government has already admitted to these programs." "While this marks a painful end to a life-sustaining partnership with our government that has spanned decades across administrations of both political parties, it offers every Catholic an opportunity to search our hearts for new ways to assist." Home News Christian crowdfunding site GiveSendGo defends hosting campaign for Karmelo Anthony Co-founders suggest suspect in fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf suffered 'traumatic experience' Correction appended The founders of the Christian crowdfunding site GiveSendGo are standing firm in their decision to host a fundraiser for the family of Karmelo Anthony, who is awaiting trial for the murder of Austin Metcalf. Launched on April 15, the Help Karmelo Official Fund has raised over $484,000 for Anthony, who is charged with murder in the deadly stabbing of 17-year-old Metcalf at a Frisco Independent School District stadium on April 2 during a track and field 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 Anthony, a student at Frisco Centennial High School, located about 20 miles north of Dallas, was released from jail after his $1 million bond was reduced to $250,000 by Collin County Judge Angela Tucker. Under the terms of his bail, Anthony is required to wear an ankle monitor and must obtain permission to leave home, according to WFAA. Metcalf, 17, an 11th grader at Frisco Memorial High School, died after witnesses told police Anthony stabbed him during an altercation in the bleachers. At least two other fundraisers linked to the Anthony family had raised over $800,000 before GoFundMe removed multiple fundraising campaigns for Anthony, citing their policy against raising funds for the legal defense of violent crimes. The GiveSendGo page, however, remains active as of Friday, which has drawn criticism from some who think the Delaware-based site is violating its own policy, which prohibits "campaigns that are racist, hateful, potentially libelous, support or promote physical violence, or are intended to financially benefit individuals for the commission of violent crimes." Heather Wilson, co-CEO of GiveSendGo, told CP on Friday she doesnt believe the page is in violation of company policy. The key word in that clause is commission campaigns intended to benefit individuals for committing violent crimes, she said. In this case, a legal process is still ongoing, and no conviction has been made. We do not have firsthand access to evidence or court proceedings, so we do not label someone guilty before the courts do. This standard has applied to other campaigns on our platform in the past, and we continue to apply it consistently. Despite reports that the Anthony family purchased a new home and a Cadillac with the funds, Kala Hayes, Anthony's mother, said during a news conference on Thursday that such claims were completely false and that the family has yet to receive the funds raised through GiveSendGo. A note added to the campaign's page on April 17 says, While legal defense is a critical part of this journey, we want to make it clear that this fund is not solely dedicated to legal expenses. The funds raised will also support a range of urgent and necessary needs that have emerged as a result of this situation, including but not limited to the safe relocation of the Anthony family due to escalating threats to their safety and well-being, as well as basic living costs, transportation, counseling, and other security measures. Her words echoed that of her sibling and GiveSendGo co-founder, Jacob Wells, who suggested in an April 7 post on X that Anthony had "just gone through a serious traumatic experience." Wilson said, ultimately, however the Anthony family chooses to use the money is up to them. Once funds are released to a campaign owner, we dont micromanage or control how theyre used unless theres a direct violation of our terms of service, she said. From what the family has shared, theyve experienced significant trauma, displacement and concern for their safety. If they were to use funds to secure stable housing during this time, that may be controversial, but it is not against our policies. In a follow-up statement to CP, Wilson explained that GiveSendGo was launched in 2014 because the founders saw the opportunity in crowdfunding and wanted to create a platform that not only made fundraising accessible but also shared hope in Jesus with every campaign. GiveSendGo has faced controversy in the past for allowing crowdfunding pages for Kyle Rittenhouse, Daniel Penny and others who were accused of violent crimes before ultimately being cleared of all charges. Anthonys ongoing legal status, however, has made GiveSendGo a target for Christians and conservatives alike, a challenge that has left Wilson seeking solace straight from the source. This season has been heavy, said Wilson. Ive wrestled with the weight of public criticism, the pain of victims families, and the burden of making hard, unpopular decisions. But it has also driven me deeper into the heart of God, into prayer, into Scripture, and into remembering that truth and grace must coexist. Correction: An earlier version of this article, published on April 18, 2025, stated that GiveSendGo was founded in 2014 "as a response to GoFundMe's perceived bias against Christian campaigns." This article has been corrected to state that the online fundraising platform was launched because its founders wanted to create a platform that not only made fundraising accessible but also shared hope in Jesus with every campaign. Home News India: Pastors son fights for Christians right to bury their dead NEW DELHI Ramesh Baghel has become the face of a struggle for securing dignity in death for Christians across Chhattisgarh state as he prepares a new petition to the Supreme Court of India. More than two-and-a-half months after the Supreme Court ordered the Chhattisgarh government to demarcate exclusive sites as graveyards for burial of Christians throughout the state, officials have taken no publicly known action to implement the directive. The court-imposed deadline of March 27 passed without compliance. This isnt just about my father anymore. It is about the dignity and rights of every Christian in Chhattisgarh, Baghel told Morning Star News. Our community continues to face the same challenges with nowhere to bury our dead with respect. Im approaching the Supreme Court again because we need a resolution that honors both the courts directive and our faith. 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 Baghel, who fought a three-week legal battle to bury his father, Pastor Subhash Baghel, said he's consulting with local lawyers before approaching a Supreme Court attorney in Delhi. The case highlights growing concerns about religious freedom in tribal regions of Chhattisgarh, where Christians face increasing hostility, social boycotts and denial of basic rights including the right to a dignified burial according to their faith. The states inaction speaks volumes, said Pastor Salim Hakku, an area Christian leader. Christians in Chhattisgarh are asking for nothing more than dignity in death, a right the Supreme Court has recognized but local authorities continue to deny. This is not just bureaucratic delay; it reflects a systematic attempt to marginalize our community. Father denied burial Pastor Subhash Baghel died on Jan. 7 at Baliram Kashyap Memorial Government Medical College hospital in Jagdalpur, 186 miles south of Raipur in Chhattisgarhs Bastar District. When Ramesh Baghel attempted to bury his father in the village graveyard in Chhindwada where the bodies of his other Christian family members had been interred, he met fierce opposition from a segment of villagers. That evening, members of the Sarva Adivasi Samaj, including local members of the Hindu extremist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), went to Baghels residence and announced their decision to prohibit the burial in the village. When police arrived, rather than mediating the dispute, they aligned with those opposing the burial. What surprised me most was the polices stance, Baghel said. Our own Mahar community had no issue with the burial after I explained to them that weve been burying our Christian dead in the designated area for decades. But after the Sarva Adivasi Samaj spoke with the authorities, the police themselves became the main obstacle. Despite being a Scheduled Caste family in a tribal village with constitutional protections, they found themselves abandoned by the very officials who should have protected their rights, he said. Thats when I realized I had no choice but to seek justice through the courts, Baghel said. Though at least 20 Christians had been buried in a specially designated area within the village graveyard since the mid 1980s including Pastor Baghels father in 2007, sister in 2015 and two other relatives in 2013 the village council suddenly claimed no Christian burial ground existed. Chhindwada village has approximately 6,450 residents, about 6,000 belonging to dominant tribal communities and 450 from the Mahar community, a scheduled caste group, according to police records from Bastar. Among the Mahar community, about 100 individuals, including the Baghels, converted to Christianity many years ago. Legal battles After local authorities failed to respond to his pleas, Baghel filed a petition in the Chhattisgarh High Court on Jan. 8 requesting permission for his father to be buried in the village graveyard. During the brief pendency of the petition, the village council (gram panchayat) issued a certificate claiming there was no graveyard for the Christian community anywhere within its jurisdiction. Based on this certificate, and citing concerns about potential unrest and disharmony, the Chhattisgarh High Court rejected Baghels petition on Jan. 9. The court directed him to bury his father at a Christian cemetery about 25 miles away in Karkapal. It also closed the option of burying Pastor Baghels body on the familys own private land a stark departure from previous cases where the same court had permitted Christian burials on private property. With all other options exhausted, Baghel approached the Supreme Court of India. Split decision After nearly three weeks of keeping his fathers body in a hospital mortuary, on Jan. 27 Ramesh Baghel received the Supreme Courts verdict: a split decision (1 to 1) that effectively prevented him from burying his father in the village. Justice B.V. Nagarathnas opinion supported Baghels right to bury the body in their village. She noted that the states position violated Articles 21 and 14 of the Indian Constitution, representing hostile discrimination that betrays the sublime principle of secularism. Nagarathna exercised powers under Article 142 and directed that burial be conducted on Baghels private property. Justice Satish Chandra Sharma, however, cited public order concerns, arguing that the appellant did not have a fundamental right to choose the burial place. Sharma also contended that the process of earmarking designated areas for every community is not perfect, and opted to uphold the High Courts order directing burial at the cemetery in Karkapal. As it was a split verdict and Pastor Baghels body had been in the mortuary for almost 20 days, the bench agreed to let Sharmas opinion stand, directing the burial at the Christian cemetery 25 miles away. Importantly, the court issued a specific directive to the state: The respondent-State and its local authorities are directed to demarcate exclusive sites as graveyards for burial of Christians throughout the state in accordance with law. This direction is being issued in order to avoid controversies such as in the instant case. The said exercise shall be carried out within a period of two months from today. This clear, time-bound order from Indias highest court was meant to prevent future burial disputes and protect the rights of Christian minorities in Chhattisgarh. Midnight burial Following the Supreme Courts Jan. 27 order, local administration officials and police mobilized immediately to ensure a swift burial. Witnesses report that police used an earth-moving machine to dig the grave and arranged two buses to transport Pastor Baghels body, family members, and a few friends to the cemetery in Karkapal, 25 miles away. We were left with no alternative but to bury our father at midnight, Baghel said. The officials insisted it happen immediately, despite our requests to wait until morning when family and friends and community members could gather, and we could perform proper Christian burial rites. The Rev. Bhupendra Khora, who performed the last rites along with another Christian leader, described how authorities determined to complete the burial as quickly as possible. We pleaded with the police and administration, explaining that Christians do not perform burials after sundown, but nobody listened, Pastor Khora told Morning Star News. They would have simply dumped the body and covered it with earth if we hadnt insisted on performing proper Christian burial rituals. Even in this difficult moment, we had to fight for the minimal dignity of a proper religious service. Christian leaders believe authorities rushed the burial to prevent any further legal challenges before community members could approach the Supreme Court again. The hasty midnight interment violated Christian customs and denied Pastor Baghel the respectful farewell his decades of service deserved, according to those present at the burial. My father dedicated 33 years of his life as a pastor, yet we couldnt even give him a dignified farewell according to our tradition, said Baghel. Village divided Despite the village councils claim that no Christian burial ground existed in Chhindwada, local media have documented several graves in the village crematorium dating back to the 1990s and 2000s bearing cross marks on their headstones. When confronted with this evidence, officials reportedly dismissed the significance of the crosses, claiming tribals adopt all kinds of cultures. The burial dispute at Chhindwada reflects broader discrimination against Christians in the region. On Feb. 7, 2024 just over two months after the BJP won state assembly elections in Chhattisgarh the Chhindwada village council passed a 13-point resolution that explicitly prohibited Christians from being buried in the village crematorium. The fifth point of this resolution specifically states that those who have converted their culture, rites and rituals away from the villages traditional methods, such as Christians and others, will not be permitted to bury their dead in the village graveyard. The same resolution imposed a comprehensive social and economic boycott of Christians. According to Baghel and other Christian residents, they are denied access to government ration shops and cannot hire laborers. Christian shop owners are prohibited from operating businesses in the village, and any violation results in a fine of 5,051 rupees (about $60 USD). This resolution didnt just target our burial rights it declared us outsiders in our own village, Baghel told Morning Star News. What hurts most is seeing elderly neighbors who want to offer condolences but stand at a distance, afraid of being fined. Theyve weaponized community bonds that took generations to build. The division in the village was evident during Pastor Baghels memorial service on Jan. 29. While Christians from the village and neighboring areas gathered at Baghels home, Hindu and other tribal neighbors were notably absent. Christians across Bastar face harassment despite the regions 90-year history of Christianity, which began when the first church was built in Jagdalpur in 1933. The 2011 census counts Christians as 1.98% (27,951 people) of Bastar Districts population, with a higher concentration of 9.44% in Jagdalpur city. Reports from media and advocacy groups in February 2023 documented how mobs vandalized churches, ransacked nearly 100 homes, and forced more than 1,000 Christians from many villages in Kanker, Kondagaon and Narayanpur districts to flee after violent threats. The Chhattisgarh High Court has repeatedly intervened in similar cases throughout the region. In April 2024, the court had to order authorities to allow a Christian womans burial on family-owned land in Arracote village after local opposition. Just days before Pastor Baghels death, a tribal village headman and his family members assaulted Kunika Kashyap, a pregnant Christian woman in Bade Bodal village, causing her to suffer a miscarriage. The attack occurred when the headman suspected she might pray with a sick relative. The hostility has intensified in recent months. In December, right-wing groups including the Sarva Adivasi Samaj and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) held a press conference in Jagdalpur where they announced plans to campaign against alleged illegal churches in Bastar, threatening to demolish them and replace them with Hanuman temples. Christian leaders allege that tribal youth have been mobilized to prevent conversions in their villages and block pastors from visiting. The Supreme Court directed the state to designate Christian burial grounds specifically to address this systemic issue, but as deadlines pass without action, Christians throughout Chhattisgarh continue to face uncertainty about their most basic religious rights. Can Christians in Chhattisgarh live with dignity and die with dignity? Baghel asked. The Supreme Court recognized our rights on paper, but until those rights become reality on the ground, I cannot rest. This is no longer my personal battle its about justice for an entire community. Christian support organization Open Doors ranks India 11th on its 2025 World Watch List of countries where Christians face the most severe persecution. India stood at 31st place in 2013 but has steadily fallen in the rankings since Narendra Modi came to power as prime minister. Religious rights advocates point to the hostile tone of the National Democratic Alliance government, led by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which they say has emboldened Hindu extremists in India since Modi took power in May 2014. This article was originally published at Morning Star News Home News King Charles faces criticism over nods to 'Islam, other religious traditions' in Easter message King Charles has shared an Easter message on Maundy Thursday in which he said that the world still needs "faith, hope and love." "One of the puzzles of our humanity is how we are capable of both great cruelty and great kindness," he said. "This paradox of human life runs through the Easter story and in the scenes that daily come before our eyes at one moment, terrible images of human suffering and, in another, heroic acts in war-torn countries where humanitarians of every kind risk their own lives to protect the lives of others. 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 "A few weeks ago, I met many such people at a reception in Buckingham Palace and felt a profound sense of admiration for their resilience, courage and compassion." Although the onus of the message is on the Christian celebration of Easter, the King's message has been criticized on social media over its nods to Islam and Judaism. He continued, "On Maundy Thursday, Jesus knelt and washed the feet of many of those who would abandon Him. His humble action was a token of His love that knew no bounds or boundaries and is central to Christian belief. "The love He showed when he walked the Earth reflected the Jewish ethic of caring for the stranger and those in need, a deep human instinct echoed in Islam and other religious traditions, and in the hearts of all who seek the good of others." Responses on social media have been strongly critical of his decision to include other faiths in a message intended for a Christian festival as important as Easter, especially in light of his official role as Supreme Governor of the Church of England and title of 'Defender of the Faith' as Britain's reigning monarch. "Is this a joke?" wrote one social media user. Another observed, "Is he not the head of the Church of England? When its my sons [sic] birthday I dont wish my daughter happy birthday too. Let Easter just be Easter." The king faced similar criticisms over his 2024 Christmas message which appeared to suggest that all faiths are the same. "As the famous Christmas Carol, 'Once In Royal David's City' reminds us, 'Our Savior holy' 'came down to Earth from Heaven,' lived among 'the poor and mean and lowly' and transformed the lives of those he met, through God's 'redeeming love,'" he said. This article was originally published at Christian Today Home Opinion Harvard doesnt have a right to your money Ivy League schools are aghast to learn that they really have to stop racially discriminating and start protecting Jewish students from antisemitic threats. According to the Daily Caller News Foundation, the Department of Education sent a letter to [Harvard University] April 11 demanding the school agree to a host of reforms, including adjusting and enforcing disciplinary processes, improving screening of international students for hostile views, and auditing programs with egregious records of antisemitism. If the school did not comply, the Trump administration threatened to review and pull some or all the nearly $9 billion in federal grants from Harvard. 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 Harvard President Alan Garber responded Monday by saying that the school will essentially ignore President Donald Trumps demands. No government, Garber wrote, regardless of which party is in power should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue. If you dont want the conditions, dont take the cash. Ive got news for Harvard. Like most higher education institutions in America, they take federal money. And federal money will always come with strings attached. They are used to dealing with friendly administrations happy to fork over billions to the ludicrously rich Ivy League schools without question. But now Americans are very seriously questioning the blank check theyve handed higher education for generations. Why is it that the average American taxpayer who has never attended Harvard, whose children will never attend Harvard, and who may even be outright discriminated against by Harvard (despite the Supreme Court ruling), has to pay for a school that has an endowment larger than the GDP of many small countries? Harvards endowment is worth a staggering $53 billion dollars. Its practically a hedge fund with a school attached to it. No school has a right to federal money. And if Harvard is so concerned with federal interference now that it has our money, Hillsdale College offered an excellent solution on X. Hillsdale is one of the rare academic institutions that doesnt take federal funding, in part to avoid the strings that are inevitably attached to getting government money. Thats looking like a good decision. Obama cheers Harvard for resisting Trump Former President Barack Obama weighed in on the controversy in his typical, phony above it all way. He wrote on X that hes glad that Harvard is setting an example for other institutions to resist Trump. This is rich coming from Obama. In 2011 his administration used the threat of Title IX lawsuits to browbeat schools into creating rules that would deprive students accused of misconduct of due process rights. They essentially wanted to force schools into assembling kangaroo courts. Of course, many also compiled because Obama was essentially the pope of the church of liberalism at the time, with most colleges and universities being parishes of that faith. Obamas threat was lifted by the first Trump administration. President Joe Biden brought back the Title IX blunt instrument and sued Hillsdale College over it, even though it wasnt taking federal money. The Biden administration tried to argue that it could sue the school because of its tax-exempt status, but this argument failed in court. Free speech for Leftists, but not for thee Im going to be blunt here. The Harvard president, Obama, and most of those with power in higher education dont care one bit about academic freedom or the ability of private institutions to operate without government interference. What they really care about is free speech for leftists and ensuring that institutions they control continue to stay on the taxpayer-funded gravy train. The idea that Ivy League schools like Harvard are truly committed to diverse speech and a vigorous exchange of ideas is nothing but a farce. They are fine allowing conservative opinion to exist on campus as long as it isnt particularly conservative and never really challenges the Lefts current dogma. Harvard made the full transition over the generations from a Christian to secular institution. And now it, like higher education in general, holds dearly to an extremely narrow left-wing worldview that has become the dominant ethos of the Wests ruling elite. That ethos is very much at odds with the general American public that underwrites the institution. If they want to be like that, then fine. But now, thanks to the Trump administration, they may not be able to do that on the public dime anymore. Higher education is both hyper-partisan and, other than Hillsdale and a handful of other schools, now hyper-reliant on government largesse. The Trump administration is doing the right thing in holding Harvard accountable to the law and to the American people. Originally published at The Daily Signal. Home Opinion Only the reality of the resurrection explains the Early Church As followers of Jesus Christ our risen Lord and Savior, we are preparing to celebrate our most sacred and important event the Resurrection of our Savior, Jesus the Messiah. We must lay aside all the secular accoutrements which have attached themselves to Easter Easter egg hunts and Easter bunnies, etc. and focus on the central event in human history, the physical Resurrection of the crucified Son of God. No less an authority than the Apostle Paul, writing with divine inspiration and authority, proclaimed that if Christ was not risen from the dead then we had no salvation and were still in our sins (I Cor. 15:17). The central truth of the Christian faith stands or falls with the essential truth of the Resurrection. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe As the Apostle Paul declared to the Roman Christians, if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Rom. 10:9) In reality there is no valid Christianity that does not engage in a full-throated proclamation and affirmation of the physical resurrection of the crucified Christ on the first Resurrection Day. The Apostle Paul recounts the numerous appearances of the resurrected Jesus (I Cor. 15). The four Gospels also relate the events not only of the Resurrection, but His post-Resurrection appearances before His Ascension back into Heaven (Luke 24:1-53). One of the more compelling arguments for the veracity of the physical Resurrection and Ascension of the Lord Jesus is the post-Resurrection behavior of the apostles and the early Christian community. As the New Testament accounts make clear, the disciples did not understand Jesus teaching concerning the Resurrection. They were dispirited, defeated and dejected, feeling that all was lost as that first Easter Sunday dawned. On that first Easter morn, two of Jesus disciples were walking to Emmaus (about 7 miles northwest of Jerusalem). As they were pondering the events of the past week and the apparent collapse of all their hopes and dreams, a third person (Jesus in a disguised form) joined them and began asking them about their conversation. They were astonished that he did not know about Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel. (Lk. 24:19) They explained to the stranger that alas, the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. (Lk. 24:20) They were depressed, dejected and confused. The resurrected Jesus, beginning at Moses and all the prophets expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself (Lk. 24:27). That evening, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and broke, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him, and he vanished out of their sight. (Lk. 24:30-32) They returned to Jerusalem and told the disciples and those gathered with them of their experience. And as they were speaking, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them (Lk. 24:36). The New Testament tells us they were terrified and affrighted (Lk. 24:37). Jesus then showed them the wounds in His hands and feet and ate broiled fish and honeycomb before them, demonstrating the reality of his resurrection body. (Lk. 24:38-43) The central point is that the disciples clearly did not understand His teaching about the Resurrection until He appeared among them in His resurrected state. They were dejected, confused and afraid, huddled in an upper room, fearful the authorities were coming after them. Then, all of a sudden, they are courageous and clearly reborn as a movement. They went on to Pentecost, where they are energized with the Holy Spirit in a new and mighty way and they went forth to fulfill the Great Commission their Resurrected Savior had given them to: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world (Matt. 28:18-20). Armed with these experiences, empowered by the Holy Spirit, they spent the rest of their lives facing privation, imprisonment, and torture in order to fulfill that Great Commission. For example, Christian tradition tells us Peter, Andrew, Thaddeus (Jude), Simon the Zealot and Philip were crucified. Matthias (Judas replacement) and Stephen were stoned to death. James was beheaded, Bartholomew was skinned alive, Matthew was killed by an ax and Thomas was murdered by a spear and James the Less (Son of Alphaeus) was beaten to death. Would they have suffered all these terrible deaths for something they had to know was not true? Psychology says absolutely not. It defies all the laws of logic that they would have sacrificed their lives unless it was for something they knew by experience was true. In the Early Church their characteristic greeting was He is risen! and the reply was, He is risen indeed! On a personal note, this Easter Sunday will mark the 72nd anniversary of my baptism as a 6-year-old boy, having made a profession of faith in Jesus as my Lord and Savior on Palm Sunday. There have been too many times since then when I have not been all Jesus would have me to be, but there has never been one moment that He has not been everything He promised He would be and more. Our risen Lord is ever faithful! Home News Trump admin. must return El Salvadoran national Kilmar Abrego Garcia to US, appeals court says A federal appeals court has rejected the U.S. Justice Department's request to halt a district judge's ruling ordering the Trump administration to facilitate the return of an El Salvadoran deported in error and being held in prison. On Thursday, a three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously ruled that Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was deported to El Salvador in March due to an administrative error, is "still entitled to due process." Judge Harvie Wilkinson, a Reagan appointee, authored the panel opinion, concluding that Abrego Garcia was "still entitled to due process" even if he was, as the administration claims, "a terrorist and a member of MS-13." 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 "If the government is confident of its position, it should be assured that position will prevail in proceedings to terminate the withholding of removal order," wrote Wilkinson. "If today the Executive claims the right to deport without due process and in disregard of court orders, what assurance will there be tomorrow that it will not deport American citizens and then disclaim responsibility to bring them home?" Wilkinson noted the Trump administration's refusal to return Abrego Garcia "should be shocking not only to judges, but to the intuitive sense of liberty that Americans far removed from courthouses still hold dear." An El Salvadoran native who unlawfully entered the U.S. during the Obama administration and resided in Prince George's County, Maryland, Abrego Garcia was deported last month under the allegation that he was an MS-13 gang member. Abrego Garcia filed a lawsuit against multiple federal officials, including Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Todd Lyons. Lawyers for Abrego Garcia claimed that he was wrongfully deprived of due process and also argued that a judge had granted him federal protection from being deported in 2019. U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis, an Obama appointee, rejected the claim that Abrego Garcia was a member of MS-13, issuing an order that he be returned and that "the 'evidence' against Abrego Garcia consisted of nothing more than his Chicago Bulls hat and hoodie, and a vague, uncorroborated allegation from a confidential informant claiming he belonged to MS-13's 'Western' clique in New York a place he has never lived." Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin alleged in a statement provided to the Daily Caller News Foundation that "intelligence reports" substantiate the government's belief that Abrego Garcia "is involved in human trafficking," adding that "he should be locked up." Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an unsigned order telling the government to begin the steps of returning Abrego Garcia to the United States, partly denying the government's request to vacate a lower court ruling. "The order properly requires the government to 'facilitate' Abrego Garcia's release from custody in El Salvador and to ensure that his case is handled as it would have been had he not been improperly sent to El Salvador," read the Supreme Court ruling. Since last month, El Salvador has received over 200 immigrants accused by U.S. authorities of belonging to gangs and criminal groups. All were transferred to the Terrorism Confinement Center, a prison that houses alleged members of criminal organizations. Earlier this week, U.S. President Donald Trump and El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele met at the White House, where Bukele said that he would not return Abrego Garcia. "I'm not going to release him. We don't like releasing terrorists in our country," he stated. U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., traveled to El Salvador to visit with Abrego Garcia this week, drawing strong rebuke from the White House. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a press briefing that Abrego Garcia's wife had previously filed for a protection order against him. In a media statement Wednesday, his wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, said that she was a survivor of domestic abuse from a previous relationship and "acted out of caution" when she filed the civil protective order "following a disagreement with Kilmar." "Things did not escalate, and I decided not to follow through with the civil court process," she stated. "We were able to work through the situation privately as a family, including by going to counseling, Vasquez Sura said. Home News Michael Shannons Eric LaRue explores faith, grief and motherhood after a school shooting In Eric LaRue, Michael Shannons stark and meditative directorial debut, there are no gunshots, flashbacks or screaming headlines. And yet, the film might be one of the most quietly devastating portrayals of a school shooting ever brought to screen precisely because it doesnt look at the violence, but at those left behind in its wake and the subsequent theological questions that arise. From Magnolia Pictures, the film centers not on the victims or even the perpetrator, but on Janice LaRue (Judy Greer), the mother of the boy who killed three classmates before being sentenced to life in prison. 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 Adapted by Brett Neveu from his own 2002 play, Eric LaRue grapples with the lingering, complicated questions of guilt, forgiveness, faith and redemption not in a courtroom or a cable news studio, but in kitchens, churches and painful silences. In an interview with The Christian Post, Shannon, who has appeared in Blockbuster films like Pearl Harbor and Man of Steel, said the emotional weight of the story inspired him to bring it to the big screen. I remember this play in 2002, seeing it in Chicago, he said. And then, when [Brett] gave me the screenplay, I just was so moved by the community. All of the characters moved me in different ways. When you act, you pick a character ... but I wanted to direct so I would have a hand in all of the characters and all the relationships. Building that community was the idea. That fractured community includes Janices husband, Ron (Alexander Skarsgard), who flees into the comfort of Redeemer Church, an Evangelical congregation led by Bill Verne (Tracy Letts), where an eager parishioner (Alison Pill) feeds his growing zeal. Janice, by contrast, remains quietly anchored to a more restrained First Presbyterian church, led by Pastor Steve Calhan (Paul Sparks), where a circle of grieving mothers attempts a cautious reconciliation. The spiritual tension between these two churches is visceral; while one church focuses on positivity and prosperity theology, the other over-emphasizes penance. Neveu told CP he visited a number of denominations while writing the story to capture their differences. I think just that there's a contrast there, Neveu explained. I feel like everybody's right about the path that they're on. Certainly our two pastors are right about the things they say. There's good advice, there's bad advice. But I remember: were all human. Neveu, who grew up attending churches of various Christian denominations, said he intentionally left the scripts spiritual underpinnings unresolved. It was confusing, but also enlightening. I tried to let that inform the script. My hometown is just chock full of churches and everybody seemed to believe different things similar things, but very different things too. Greer, who last appeared in the faith-based film The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, pointed out that throughout Eric LaRue, the craving for resolution is never fed. There are no answers to be found only aching questions and an invitation to wrestle. We're not used to doing that in life, Greer said. We're now programmed to take care of our needs as soon as we have them. To teach ourselves how to sit in unease, I think, is a real skill. And I had a hard time with it while shooting the movie. The lines, the scenes, they sort of spoke for themselves. I think Janice feels like she committed the crime. And in some ways, the crime is committed against her. According to Neveu, that emotional ambiguity is precisely what he wanted to preserve. My goal as a writer is always to try to understand. Its like therapy you go in knowing theres something that youre thinking about, but it never really goes away. You just get to talk about it. Greer, who was raised Catholic, was also struck by the absence of onscreen violence: I havent seen something that takes place without any violence in it which I dont think is necessary to tell a story like this. I cant imagine, and I think I got as close as I can to understanding what it would be like. Greer said playing Janice profoundly changed her perspective on motherhood. Throughout the film, Janice has flashbacks of her son as a playful little boy as she grapples with her bleak reality. Were supposed to know everything, do everything, have all the answers, Greer reflected. And then at the end of the day, when we do everything perfectly, were still blamed for all the crap our kids do. This is obviously an extreme situation, but we are really lucky to be moms, but I think we could use more than one day a year to celebrate. She added that Janice is a portrait of grief not often explored: a mother not of a victim, but of the one who caused the pain. The faith community around her, strained by its own fault lines, becomes both a haven and a proving ground for spiritual reckoning. What I was really interested in, Neveu said, was where these pastors begin with their advice and where they end up, just as human beings. Once the police leave, once the reporters leave, the communitys still there with it. With its heavy themes and sometimes negative portrayal of religion, Eric LaRue is not a faith-based film (its also not rated, but has a substantial amount of coarse language). But that idea that churches are often the last ones standing when the world moves on underscores its most spiritual questions: Can religion offer real healing? Even with all these resources, you know the Church [and others] at our disposal it seems like somethings broken in the fundamental equation of our society, Shannon said. Theres some sort of dysfunction that it would behoove us to get a handle on. In one unforgettable scene, Janice sits across from the mothers of the boys her son killed. No truce is declared, and no forgiveness is given, but the silence in the room is sacred. I think all these people deserve a voice, Greer said. Were not supposed to complain. Were not supposed to make mistakes. Were not supposed to have one bad thought. But grief doesnt work like that. Eric LaRue is now available on digital streaming. Home News Journalist discovers the truth about miracles in new film 'Investigating the Supernatural' For centuries, theologians, scholars and everyday people have debated whether miracles still happen. Are they a glorious outcome from the hand of a living God, or are they a relic of a bygone era rooted in the Old Testament? As people of faith, we would like to believe that someone's cancerous tumor mysteriously shrinking overnight is a miracle, yet the scientific community quickly pumps the brakes on that notion, pointing instead to obscure, unreliable research to support what cannot be explained. CBN News investigative journalist Billy Hallowell believes in miracles. 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 Curious to know the inside story of people who have experienced one, he recently embarked on a journey to discover exactly what happens to these affected people and find proof to support what the Bible says about these seemingly supernatural occurrences. "It goes back to our faith, right?" ponders Hallowell, who also hosts "The Inside Story" on the Edifi Podcast Network. "If we have hope and we understand Scripture, then we have to be open to God working in a way that might make us uncomfortable. We might not understand it. We might not even want to believe that it's still happening. And I think that's why a lot of people have issues with miracles because it's so hard to get your head around." In the new documentary "Investigating the Supernatural: Miracles," Hallowell traveled around the United States, cobbling together fascinating insights from scientific experts, theologians and those who have actually experienced a miracle, to determine whether miracles are still happening today. What he found may surprise you. "As you move story to story, you start to see patterns," says Hallowell. "And the pattern that really struck me the most in this, and it was a very convincing pattern for me, was that every one of these people who got healing, fought to the very end of that miracle to get it. And they believed wholeheartedly that it was possible." Hallowell joins us on the "Crossmap Podcast" to discuss the sociological or psychological impact of believing in miracles. Listen as he shares common threads he found in those who have experienced this type of supernatural event and a personal discovery he made that changed everything. Home News Target CEO meets with Al Sharpton as Pastor Jamal Bryant plans next phase of boycott Target CEO Brian Cornell met with civil rights leader the Rev. Al Sharpton Thursday as megachurch Pastor Jamal Bryant announced that nearly 200,000 people signed up for a 40-day boycott of the retail giant over the companys decision to scale back diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Bryant, who leads the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Stonecrest, Georgia, shared in a Facebook post Wednesday that phase two of the boycott, which started on March 5 and ended Thursday, will be revealed on Sunday. Almost 200k have joined the movement and the momentum is still growing! Theyve lost billions, stock has dropped, foot traffic is silent and @target still hasnt budged, Bryant said in his post. This weekend 100 vendors are coming to @newbirthmbc to set up the Bullseye Black market. We need you to pull up. Sunday I announce next steps! 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 a statement Thursday, Sharpton, founder and president of the National Action Network, said he had a very constructive meeting with Cornell and planned on reaching out to Bryant and other allies about it. This morning, I had a very constructive and candid meeting with Brian Cornell that included NAN National Board Chair Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson and NAN Senior Advisor Carra Wallace. I am going to inform our allies, including Rev. Dr. Jamal Bryant, of our discussion, what my feelings are, and we will go from there, Sharpton said. On Wednesday, the civil rights leader told CNBC that Cornell requested the meeting but did not say what it would be about. Sharpton has not yet called for a boycott of the retail giant over the DEI rollbacks. However, he said he would consider it if Target doesnt confirm its commitment to the black community and working with and investing in black-owned businesses. I said, If [Cornell] wants to have a candid meeting, well meet, Sharpton said of a call he had with Target officials. I want to first hear what he has to say. Bryant's boycott began as Target announced that it expected a "meaningful" drop in their first quarter profits due to "ongoing consumer uncertainty," soft sales in February and concerns about tariffs, CNBC reported. Across the retail industry, sales were down more than expected to start 2025. "We expect to see a moderation in this trend as apparel sales respond to warmer weather around the country, and consumers turn to Target for upcoming seasonal moments such as the Easter holiday," Target's finance chief, Jim Lee, said in a statement to CNBC. "We will continue to monitor these trends and will remain appropriately cautious with our expectations for the year ahead." Bryant, who has been encouraging black businesses not to work with Target over the DEI rollback, previously noted that some 100 black vendors had pulled their products from Target shelves. He also argued that Target's DEI rollback is a "spit in the face of black people." This includes a commitment by the company to spend more than $2 billion at black-owned businesses by 2025. The Georgia pastor accused Target and other large corporations, such as Walmart, of capitulating to President Donald Trump's push to end DEI policies that he says "undermine our national unity," among other things. Several corporations have reevaluated their DEI policies in the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court's 2023 ruling, which found that the admissions policies of the University of North Carolina and Harvard University that use race as a factor were unconstitutional. Among the demands of Bryant's boycott campaign are that Target honors its $2 billion pledge to the black business community "through products, services, and black media buys;" deposit "250 million amongst any of our 23 black banks;" restore "the franchise commitment to DEI;" and "pipeline community centers at 10 HBCU to teach retail business at every level." On Tuesday, Sharpton met with the chairman and CEO of PepsiCo to "get clarity on its stance on DEI," according to NAN. He will consult with members of the NAN Board of Directors over Easter "to determine any next steps with Target, PepsiCo, and other companies that have scaled back their DEI programs or pledges." In his comments on Wednesday, Sharpton suggested that elections shouldn't dictate a company's commitment to fairness. "You can't have an election come and all of a sudden, change your old positions," said Sharpton. "If an election determines your commitment to fairness then fine, you have a right to withdraw from us, but then we have a right to withdraw from you." Abonati-va sa primiti pe email saptamanal lista articolelor adaugate pe parcursul saptamanii. Adresele .ru nu sunt acceptate. Email NEWSLETTER Sign up for The Media Today, CJRs daily newsletter. Every big story needs a human face, and Donald Trumps immigration policy has gotten one in the person of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, the Salvadoran native who had been living in the US for about fourteen years until he wasby the administrations own admissionillegally sent to the Terrorist Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador. Abrego Garcias case has dominated the weeks news cycle, especially since the Supreme Court ruled that the administration had to facilitate his return to the US. Largely lost in the shuffle, though, was what, exactly, had prompted his rendition in the first place. If you wanted to know the answer to that, you needed to search out journalists outside the mainstream. Take this piece by Roger Parloff, published Tuesday at Lawfare. Parloff meticulously recounts each step of Abrego Garcias journey through the legal system, finding that the main allegation against himthat he was a member of a violent gangwas based on double hearsay evidence provided by a Maryland cop: So the uncross-examined detectives accusation came from an unidentified informant who was also, perforce, uncross-examineda second layer of hearsay. And for those who like their information in an easy-to-digest layout, they can turn to this graphic that was updated around the same time, by Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, a senior fellow at the American Immigration Council. And what about that officer who made the gang allegations? The New Republics Greg Sargent dug up the very salient information that he was suspended just weeks after he arrested Abrego Garcia for an unrelated crime: his superiors found that hed given confidential information about an unrelated, ongoing case to a sex worker, for whom he was also a client. The cop was indicted and eventually pleaded guilty. One morning last summer, a Dartmouth frat bros group chat was lighting up. Theyd spent the past night performing a bizarre hazing ritualfueled by beer, wine, weed, and nitrous oxide. But one of their group hadnt come back, and the location finder on their phones showed that Won Jang, a twenty-year-old sophomore, was somewhere near the bank of the Connecticut River. Authorities found his body sixty-five feet from shore, and tests would show his blood alcohol at 0.167 percentmore than twice the legal limit if hed been caught behind the wheel. In Boston magazine this month, Susan Zalkind tells the horrifying story of Jangs death, but also puts it in the context of a college where Greek life and booze grease the social passageways that can lead to lucrative careers after graduation. And she doesnt shy from showing how college administrators have too often responded with apathetic diffidence. Ron DeSantis has served as Floridas governor since early 2019, and when his second term expires, he wont be able to run again because of the states term limits. But Floridians might still see a DeSantis on the ballot next year, as the governor has made clear that his telegenic wife, Casey DeSantis, would be a strong candidate: She would do better than me, he said recently. Like, theres no question about that. With that kind of attention comes scrutiny, something the Miami Heralds and Tampa Bay Times statehouse bureau has been willing to provide. With a steady, weeklong drumbeat of five stories in seven days, Lawrence Mower and Alexandra Glorioso delved into murky dealings at a Casey DeSantis project, the Hope Florida Foundation. Ostensibly, her organizations mission is to wean Floridians off welfare and into productive jobs and lives. But the group was also the lucky recipient last fall of $10 million that state officials quietly channeled from a settlement with a healthcare company. That money would soon find its way to dark-money organizations that funded opposition to a marijuana legalization referendum in Florida. As the legislature, which no longer bows to DeSantis, increased its scrutiny, Hope Floridas chairman responded with an age-old admission: Mistakes were made. The next day, the groups executive director quit. A separate round of reciprocal tariffs on 57 countries will follow. (New York Times) The Trump administration announced a 90-day pause on all reciprocal tariffs. (Yahoo Finance) Trump and his top trade officials have suggested reciprocal tariff exemptions announced Saturday would be partially or completely reversed. (CNBC) Smartphones and computers are now spared from Trumps reciprocal tariffs. (NPR) Those italics are mine, but they should be in the original text, accompanied by quote marks or a sarcasm or shoulder-shrug emoji. There is nothing reciprocal about Trumps tariff scheme, and if he and his ministers want to keep using the word, it doesnt mean journalists have to dutifully mimic him (any more than, say, they need to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as something else altogether). To take an example from Julian Sanchezs excellent recent Substack post, the European Union imposes tariffs that average from around 1 to 5 percent, yet Trump wants to impose a reciprocal tariff of 20 percent upon their goods. The term reciprocal tariffs is effectively a lie and a piece of propaganda, he writes. Every time a publication lazily uses that phrase reciprocal tariffs, they are helping rationalize it to their readersand misleading them in the process. Or as media critic Dan Froomkin put it recently, you would have no idea just how insane these so-called reciprocal tariffs are by reading such stenographic accounts. Editors Note: This article has been amended to clarify the European Unions tariff rates. If you have a suggestion for this column, please send it to laurelsanddarts@cjr.org. We cant acknowledge all submissions, but we will mention you if we use your idea. For more on Laurels and Darts, please click here. As President Donald Trump's trade tariffs raise expectations of a U.S. recession , one private equity chief says "bring it on." The biggest risk for investors right now is uncertainty, according to Mitchell Green, founder and managing partner of growth equity firm Lead Edge Capital, which has stakes in several U.S. and international blue-chip companies. But he said this uncertainty and a potential market downturn presents opportunities for investors like him. "We'll buy old LPs [limited partners] out of funds, but we embrace a recession. We're not afraid of a recession. It's the best time to invest," Green told CNBC's Access Middle East Thursday. Limited partners are institutional funds for example, pension funds, sovereign wealth funds or hedge funds that put money into venture funds. "Fortunes are made during recessions, if you have capital. And so ... in the secondary world, especially, where we buy a lot of things, you want to be a buyer when others are forced sellers. That is when you can make an absolute ton of money." Secondary markets in the VC world allow investors to buy and sell previously purchased stakes in venture-backed private companies. In primary markets, companies raise fresh capital by issuing new shares secondary markets, by contrast, enable existing investors to offload assets in their portfolio to new buyers. 'Forced sellers' During economic downturns, VCs are often forced to sell their stakes in certain companies to generate cash sometimes at a discount from when they initially bought them. For first-time investors, this can offer a potentially attractive entry point, particularly when it comes to late-stage companies which might, in some cases, have seen their valuations balloon to eye-watering sums. "If we get a recession, bring it on. We'll find really interesting opportunities," Green said. "And I think, in a world where LPs and GPs [general partners] were already looking for liquidity, now you have an IPO market that's probably going to slow down ... A lot of LPs, especially endowments and foundations in North America, were already over-allocated to a lot of private equity, and this is only going to extend it." "And so a lot of those people could become forced sellers. If they become forced sellers, that's like, amazing for businesses like ours and other people that can take advantage of it," he added. Lead Edge Capital has $5 billion in assets under management and describes itself as a growth equity firm that invests in software, internet, and tech businesses. It has stakes in companies including Spotify , Bumble and Uber , and invests heavily in Chinese tech firms including ByteDance, Alibaba , and Ant Group. Bullish on China, ByteDance Green is also bullish on China, despite the country's economic slowdown and major challenges ahead due to the Trump administration's tariffs. China "is going to be a much bigger economy in 20 years than it is today," he said, arguing that the world's second-biggest economy remains investable. Lead Edge will also maintain its investment in Chinese tech giant ByteDance regardless of whether its social media app TikTok is banned in the U.S , he added. "The U.S. business of Tiktok, which I think a lot of people don't understand, could go to zero, and it does not change one iota of our investment thesis," Green said of his firm's ByteDance investment. "We actually, in our base case models, assumed the U.S. business was shut down. We think we can make a great return just with the Chinese and the rest of the world's business. It's a monster company run by a phenomenal management team with huge tailwinds behind it." Correction: This article has been updated to reflect the name of the firm Lead Edge Capital. An earlier version misstated the name. Inside a secretive set of buildings in Santa Barbara, California, scientists at Alphabet are working on one of the company's most ambitious bets yet. They're attempting to develop the world's most advanced quantum computers. "In the future, quantum and AI, they could really complement each other back and forth," said Julian Kelly, director of hardware at Google Quantum AI. Google has been viewed by many as late to the generative AI boom, because OpenAI broke into the mainstream first with ChatGPT in late 2022. Late last year, Google made clear that it wouldn't be caught on the backfoot again. The company unveiled a breakthrough quantum computing chip called Willow, which it says can solve a benchmark problem unimaginably faster than what's possible with a classical computer, and demonstrated that adding more quantum bits to the chip reduced errors exponentially. "That's a milestone for the field," said John Preskill, director of the Caltech Institute for Quantum Information and Matter. "We've been wanting to see that for quite a while." Willow may now give Google a chance to take the lead in the next technological era. It also could be a way to turn research into a commercial opportunity, especially as AI hits a data wall. Leading AI models are running out of high-quality data to train on after already scraping much of the data on the internet. "One of the potential applications that you can think of for a quantum computer is generating new and novel data," said Kelly. He uses the example of AlphaFold, an AI model developed by Google DeepMind that helps scientists study protein structures. Its creators won the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. "[AlphaFold] trains on data that's informed by quantum mechanics, but that's actually not that common," said Kelly. "So a thing that a quantum computer could do is generate data that AI could then be trained on in order to give it a little more information about how quantum mechanics works." Kelly has said that he believes Google is only about five years away from a breakout, practical application that can only be solved on a quantum computer. But for Google to win the next big platform shift, it would have to turn a breakthrough into a business. Watch the video to learn more. Although the Trump administration has announced some temporary tariff relief, its latest escalation with China could still pose a risk to the agricultural sector, according to Wells Fargo. "We continue to see U.S. soybeans as the crop most at risk from China's retaliatory tariffs," analyst Richard Garchitorena wrote in a note dated April 10. That's because China was the leading export market for U.S. soybean exports in 2024 at more than 52%. By contrast, corn faces little impact, he said, given that China only made up more than 2% of all U.S. corn exports last year. Despite the levies, soybean futures are up more than 5% since President Donald Trump last week dropped his steep "reciprocal" tariff rates for most countries to 10% for 90 days. @S.1 mountain 2025-04-09 Soybean futures since April 9, 2025 That bump could be short lived, though. Trump this month also hiked his levies on Chinese imports to 125%, putting the total U.S. tariff rate on China at 145%. The White House earlier this week said that China now faces total tariffs of up to 245% on select goods . China responded with retaliatory measures of its own, raising its duties on U.S. imports to 125% from 84% . To offset the impact of these tariffs, Garchitorena thinks that government subsidies could do the trick, seeing aid to American farmers from the federal government as "likely." This week, the White House said that it's weighing giving farmers some assistance, similar to Trump's first term when that administration offered billions in relief to those hurt by the U.S.-China trade war that started in 2018. Back in 2019, the Department of Agriculture announced a $16 billion bailout , which came on top of the $12 billion emergency aid plan for farmers it unveiled the year before. "Relief is being considered," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a Tuesday press briefing. "The secretary of agriculture, I know, has spoken to the president about that, and again, it's being considered." Prior to the ramping up of trade tensions between the two countries, the USDA had forecast that direct government farm payments would be $42.4 billion in 2025, an increase of $33.1 billion from the previous year. But this projection "puts the size of any additional aid package in question," Garchitorena noted. This comes as farmers have been expressing concern that tariffs could hurt their already vulnerable farms. The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer reading for March shows that producer expectations that U.S. ag exports will fall over the next five years have hit an all-time high. Beyond soybeans To be sure, Garchitorena anticipates that the tariff impact on the ag sector is "limited" when compared to other industries. In fact, machinery manufacturers AGCO and CNH Industrial have since adapted to the changes. After temporarily pausing shipments earlier this month due to tariffs, both names have confirmed to CNBC that they've resumed shipments following the announcement of the 90-day tariff pause. Additionally, Garchitorena named Corteva as a top pick given its "minimal" China exposure. Shares of the ag company have advanced more than 3% in the past week and almost 5% this year, outpacing AGCO and CNH as well as the S & P 500 in both periods. However, along with the potential hit to soybean exports, the analyst says that tariffs on China could raise costs for raw materials. "We see U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports as potentially impacting companies that source raw materials from China, driving costs higher unless they can find alternate sources of supply," he also wrote. That could apply to Philadelphia-based chemical manufacturing company FMC , which has disclosed that it mainly sources critical intermediates and finished products from China as well as India. "There is considerable uncertainty surrounding the trade relationship between the U.S. and trading partners," the company said in a regulatory filing . "Such changes may adversely impact our business." While FMC shares have risen more than 4% in the last week, the stock has tumbled more than 11% in the past month amid the heightened tariff uncertainty. Uncertainty around President Donald Trump's tariffs has roiled the markets, but select telecom stocks may help bolster investors' portfolios, Bank of America traders found. Trump announced a slate of "reciprocal" tariffs on April 2, sending stocks on a wild ride as investors worry that the policy overhaul could slow down economic growth and perhaps even lead to a recession . The S & P 500 has fallen nearly 7% since then, and it is down 10% year to date. Bank of America traders compiled a list of defensive stocks in the telecommunications sector that have historically "demonstrated propensity to outperform the [S & P 500] index in down-tapes." Here's a look at some names that popped up on the firm's screen. Verizon made the list. Shares of the wireless and home internet company have advanced more than 10% in 2025, far outpacing the broader market. The stock has historically posted strong outperformance compared to the S & P 500 during market downturns, and has posted a relative return of 18% from Feb. 18 through April 8. Verizon also offers a dividend yield of 6.1%. In all, 11 out of 27 analysts have a buy or strong buy rating on the stock, with the average price target calling for more than 7% upside, per LSEG. VZ YTD mountain Verizon stock in 2025. Elsewhere, Evercore ISI analyst Kutgun Maral upgraded Verizon stock to outperform from in line last week, and also labeled the firm a top pick among its telecom coverage. Maral also highlighted the stock's strong performance this year "as sentiment has benefited from a rotation into the wireless sector given its defensive characteristics, domestic skew, and relatively limited exposure to tariffs." SBAC Communications also made the cut. Shares of the wireless communications infrastructure company have gained more than 12% so far in 2025, trouncing the S & P 500. The stock has a dividend yield of 1.9%. "Tower stocks remain a safe haven, in our opinion," wrote Citizens analyst Greg Miller in a report earlier this month. He highlighted SBA Communications as a name that he and his team are bullish on. SBAC YTD mountain SBAC Communications stock in 2025. The majority of analysts surveyed by LSEG are optimistic on the stock. Average analyst price targets call for nearly 9% upside moving forward. 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! Ukrainian servicemen operate a tank on a road near the border with Russia, in the Sumy region of Ukraine, on August 14, 2024. The Ukrainian army entered Russia's Kursk region on August 6, capturing dozens of settlements in the biggest offensive by a foreign army on Russian soil since World War II. The U.S. has presented allies with potential plans for peace between Russia and Ukraine that include an end to fighting and rolled-back sanctions on Moscow, according to Bloomberg News. The U.S.' proposals were shared in Paris on Thursday, European Union officials familiar with the situation told Bloomberg. French President Emmanuel Macron talked with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff as part of the Paris talks, according to the news outlet. Additionally, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other national security advisors talked with foreign negotiators. As part of the U.S. plan, the yearslong war would be considered frozen, the EU sources told Bloomberg. Ukrainian areas currently occupied by Russia would stay under the Vladimir Putin-led country's leadership, they said. Ukraine would not enter the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a military alliance better known as NATO, under the proposal, the sources said. Russia can see pared back sanctions as part of this proposal, according to Bloomberg. But Bloomberg's report noted that ending restrictions placed on the country from the EU, such as unfreezing immobilized assets, requires approval of all member states. The plan would not be considered a final settlement between the two countries, one of the EU officials told Bloomberg. European allies would not recognize Russia-controlled territories of Ukraine as under Moscow's rule, per the source. That official also said that the plan will need to be talked about more with Ukraine. Officials said Russia will need to agree to cease fighting and Ukraine will need security guarantees for a peace plan to be successful. Read more at Bloomberg News. U.S. President Donald Trump will walk away from trying to broker a Russia-Ukraine peace deal within days unless there are clear signs that a deal can be done, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday. "We're not going to continue with this endeavour for weeks and months on end. So we need to determine very quickly now, and I'm talking about a matter of days, whether or not this is doable in the next few weeks," Rubio said in Paris after meeting European and Ukrainian leaders. "If it's not possible, if we're so far apart that this is not going to happen, then I think the president is probably at a point where he's going to say, 'well, we're done'." There was no immediate comment from Paris, London, Berlin or Kyiv on Rubio's statement. Three European diplomatic sources told Reuters Rubio's comments reflected growing frustration in the White House over Russian intransigence to end the war. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said some progress on a peace settlement had already been made but that contacts with Washington were difficult. He said Russia was striving to resolve the conflict while ensuring its own interests. Moscow remained open to dialogue with the United States, he added. Rubio's threats came amid signs of some progress in U.S. talks with Ukraine. Trump said on Thursday he expected to sign a minerals deal with Kyiv next week after an attempt in February fell apart following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's Oval Office clash with Trump and Vice President JD Vance. The talks in Paris on Thursday were the first substantive, high level and in-person talks on Trump's peace push that have included European powers. Rubio said a U.S. peace framework he presented received an "encouraging reception." Zelenskiy's office called the talks constructive and positive. International Chinese Language Day celebrated in Zambia Xinhua) 13:14, April 18, 2025 LUSAKA, April 17 (Xinhua) -- The Confucius Institute at the University of Zambia (UNZA) held celebrations on Wednesday to mark the 2025 International Chinese Language Day. The event was attended by Wang Sheng, minister counselor at the Chinese embassy, and other embassy staff, staff from the UNZA led by Vice-Chancellor Mundia Muya, as well as officials and students from the Confucius Institute and other schools where the Chinese language was being taught. Celebrated under the theme "Chinese Language: A Gift Across Time and Space," the event offered rich Chinese cultural experiences, featuring dance, songs, kung fu, Chinese calligraphy, and other performances given by students from the Confucius Institute. The event also coincided with the 15th anniversary since the opening of the Confucius Institute in Zambia. In remarks delivered at the event, Wang said the Chinese language has served as a bridge for dialogue and exchanges among civilizations. He said that the event's theme was not only a tribute to the time-honored language but also a celebration of the cultural and educational bonds that united China and Zambia in their joint journey forward, as well as a vision for mutual learning between the two civilizations in a shared future. The global popularity of the Chinese language has continued to rise, with more than 190 countries and regions introducing Chinese language education into their national education systems, Wang said. "The growing popularity of international Chinese language education highlights the need for openness and inclusiveness, the value of mutual learning and cultural exchanges, and embodies the spirit of win-win cooperation," he said. More people from around the world are beginning to understand and appreciate China through the Chinese language, Wang said. He commended the Confucius Institute for its 15 years of existence in Zambia, saying it has trained more than 20,000 local Chinese language talents, some of whom are working as professional translators for Chinese companies in Zambia. At agricultural and mining workshops, Chinese and Zambian engineers or technicians now use the Chinese language to tackle technical challenges, renewing the story of enduring China-Zambia friendship, Wang said. China, he added, stands ready to work with Zambia to promote Chinese language education and make it a driving force for stronger friendship and greater consensus. He said China will strengthen dialogue and coordination with Zambia in international affairs to jointly uphold multilateralism, global peace, and development. China will build more "Chinese Plus" platforms with Zambia to deepen cooperation in science, technology, trade, and culture for the benefit of the people of the two countries, Wang said. On his part, Muya, the UNZA vice-chancellor, said the huge number of people speaking the Chinese language both within and outside China is an indication that the language is one of the biggest languages in the world. Language is not just a medium of communication but also a resource through which economic, political, and technological aspirations of any society could be conceived, commodified, and disseminated to a wider community, he said. The relationship between China and Zambia, which started as political and economic solidarity, is being extended to embracing cultural friendship through education and people-to-people exchanges, Muya said. He said the UNZA is committed to supporting the Confucius Institute and the teaching of the Chinese language in Zambia. The model adopted by the Confucius Institute of opening teaching centers across the country for teaching the Chinese language has allowed more people to learn the language, Muya said. He commended the Confucius Institute for linking students to various Chinese companies operating in Zambia through annual job fairs. Ian Bwalya, a fourth-year student of the Chinese language at the Confucius Institute, said learning the Chinese language has allowed him to learn more about the Chinese culture. Learning the Chinese language has provided him with a smooth career path as more Chinese companies operating in Zambia are looking for translators while the Confucius Institute also needs more teachers of Chinese language, he said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Here at Cracked, were generally on the side of obscenity. No matter how immature and yet somehow unfit for children the language and/or antics get, we can get behind them (or at least wont stop anyone from getting behind them). Sometimes, however, a work of supposed art is so extreme that you have to admit youre kind of on the censors side. Such as 5 Pretty Baby Pretty Baby is the title of both a 1978 film starring Brooke Shields as a 12-year-old sex worker and a 2023 documentary about how horrifically exploited Shields was as a child actor, so that about sums it up. The movie was controversial at the time for depicting Shields fully nude and subsequently banned in several countries or released only under the condition that the nude scenes be cut or altered, to director Louis Malles anguished protests. Sorry, but if your story cant be told without a naked tween, were probably fine without it. 4 The Tin Drum The Tin Drum is a 1979 German black comedy set during World War II that shared the top prize at Cannes with Apocalypse Now and won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language film, so were not making any arguments about its artistic merit. However, its about a boy who decides to stop physically growing, which gets weird as he gets older, requiring the 11-year-old actor to perform sex scenes with adult women. You can argue, as its creators did, about whether that justified the film being banned in parts of Canada and the U.S. as child pornography, but when it was revived as a stage play in 2020, theres a reason the character was played by an adult. 3 Cannibal Holocaust Speaking of creators legal arguments, the violence featured in 1980s Cannibal Holocaust was so realistic that Ruggero Deodato had to bring one of the actors whose character was killed on screen into court to prove she was still alive. However, the biggest problem with what the Guardian called the most controversial movie ever made, and what caused it to be banned in several countries, was its extremely unsimulated depiction of animal cruelty, which you might consider worse, depending on how vegan you are. 2 The Censored Eleven Advertisement The so-called Censored Eleven is a group of cartoons produced by Warner Bros. in the 30s, 40s and 50s that were pulled from distribution in the 60s specifically for being racist as hell. Like, one of them is called Goldilocks and the Jivin Bears. Another is Uncle Toms Bungalow. Warner Bros. was reportedly planning to release a collection of the full uncensored cartoons in the early 2010s, but the set never materialized, probably because the only people who want that arent part of anyones desired customer base. They say, Write what you know, and thats just what Carl Reiner did when he created The Dick Van Dyke Show. Why make Rob Petrie an insurance salesman or dentist or ad executive when the job that Reiner knew was working as a comedy writer for a big TV star (like he did on Your Show of Shows with Sid Caesar)? Reiner set out to recreate his experience as a workplace sitcom. The center of the show, as conceived, would be the comedy writers room for The Alan Brady Show. Van Dyke would play head writer Rob Petrie, and Rose Marie would play his partner in comedy crime, Sally Rogers. Rose Marie was already an established TV star, a regular on early sitcoms like The Bob Cummings Show and My Sister Eileen. She was also the one who suggested Amsterdam for the third member of the team, Buddy Sorrell. Mary Tyler Moore, the actress Reiner cast as Robs wife, Laura, was the one with no comedy experience. She was only 23 when the show began, intimidated by the veteran comedy talents that surrounded her. Her job on the show? Mary was first hired as an ear she was there to listen to Dick talking about his troubles at work, says director John Rich in The Dick Van Dyke Show: Anatomy of a Classic. She was there at first to do very little. Don't Miss That changed in an early episode when Laura dyes her hair blonde to spice up her marriage. Moore knocked it out of that park and from that point forward, Carl began writing episodes in which I could not only be the straight man, which I essentially was as Laura Petrie, but a straight man who could get laughs, remembered Moore. Great for Moore, but not so good for Rose Marie, who began The Dick Van Dyke Show with the idea that shed be the female focus. Mary was up and coming, Georgiana Noopy Guy Rodrigues, Rose Maries daughter, told Fox News. There was a little bit of conflict between my mother and Mary on the show. Advertisement The two actresses had a chilly relationship, according to Rodrigues. Originally, my mother was told that the show was about the writers, she said. And then as the show progressed, it started to go more toward the home life with Dick and Mary. Van Dyke certainly noticed. The attention that Mary got didnt sit well with Rosie, he wrote in his memoir, My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business. She felt Marys part should be a more minor one. Rose Marie told the New York Post in 2017 that the two actresses never hit it off. We were friendly enough, but we werent very close, she explained. She wanted to be a big star, and she accomplished that. Moore agreed that things were friendly enough, thanks to a truce-like working relationship. We were polite to each other, she wrote in her book After All, even if we didnt laugh at each others work. The two got friendly at reunions, although they never became close. I really think I was jealous, Rose Marie explained in her memoir, Hold the Roses. She was younger than I was, she was prettier, and she had a better figure, so I was jealous... Do you blame me? Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. A marketing psychologist has revealed the shocking tricks that restaurants are using to encourage you to spend more money - and how to avoid them. In a TikTok video that's been viewed 473,700 times, Basia, who goes by @everupmarketing, warned that 'every detail' in a restaurant - from the tip jar to the daily special chalkboard - is there to 'influence' diners. She told viewers: 'Youre being nudged, primed, and manipulated from the moment you walk in - and it works.' The TikToker highlighted six different ways that customers are falling victim to 'psychological persuasion tactics' when they eat out. In the caption, Basia acknowledges that restaurant-goers usually assume they're making their own decisions - but they could subtly be getting manipulated. Basia added that she 'bets' most people will have fallen for at least one of the sly tricks before while dining out. However, by paying closer attention to details 'from menu design to music tempo', it's possible to become aware of how you could be getting caught out. These tried and tested 'psychology tricks' include eateries having one dish that always 'seems totally overpriced' compared to the others. Basia, a marketing psychologist, has warned that 'every detail' in a restaurant is there to 'influence' diners and, ultimately, encourage them to spend money A half full tip jar on display pressures other customers into tipping, according to the marketing psychologist Yet, while most customers might assume the higher price point is a genuine reflection of the cut of meat or cost of the dish, Basia argues that it is actually a ploy. 'That's not for you. It's to make the others [other dishes] look like a deal,' she writes, suggesting that the entire menu is overpriced. Given the contrast with the particularly expensive item, the diner is more likely to accept that the other prices are reasonable, the marketing psychologist suggests. Next, Basia explained that restaurants will often put cash in the tip jar before customers even show up. The implication is that people will then feel inclined to 'follow suit' and make their own contribution. She explained: 'So when you see it, your brain goes: "Oh, tipping is what people do here."' According to Basia, though, it's just another 'persuasion tactic'. After all, customers are likely to feel pressured to give a tip if they believe everyone else has done so. The daily specials chalkboard may simply seem a fun way to introduce new dishes. But Basia says the 'daily specials' may be on display for weeks at a time, but diners will see the handwriting and assume its 'limited, fresh, rare'. While most customers might assume a higher price point is a genuine reflection of the cut of meat or cost of the dish, Basia argues that it is a ploy to get diners to see the rest of the menu as reasonably priced Next on the list of 'persuasion tactics' is water. Basia points out that waiters often ask: 'Would you like still or sparkling?' rather than 'Would you like water?'. She added: 'It skips the choice of whether and jumps to which'. The implication is that diners are forced to pay for water whether they intended to order it or not - and some may not think to ask specifically for tap water. Basia then moved on to the layout of the menu, saying that restaurants are increasingly including prices without adding currency symbols. This, she says, is 'because "24" screams money. But 24 just looks like a number.' Diners faced with currency symbols are more likely to think about the cost of the dish, Basia implies. And, if they become preoccupied with how expensive something is, they may simply decide to choose a cheaper option. Marketing psychologist Basia finally takes aim at the music played in restaurants Finally, the marketing psychologist takes aim at the music played in restaurants. She argues that 'they play slower music when it's quiet - and faster music when it's packed.' 'Why? Because slow tempo makes you stay longer. Fast tempo makes you eat and leave.' Users soon rushed to the comments - but not everyone was convinced. One TikTok user commented: 'Maybe in North America, but most of these are not true in Europe'. A second person wrote: 'Cafe and restaurant owner here. All of this is BS'. And a third agreed: 'I've worked in hospitality for almost ten years and I've never heard of using music for pacing at all. We always just play the music we want regardless of customers (except swearing, obviously)'. Yet, others acknowledged that Basia was talking sense - and some even suggested other ways in which restaurants manipulate their customers. A number of people shared their views on restaurants' tactics beneath Basia's video One person wrote: 'We have a seasonal soup that we just change the name, winter, summer etc.' A second said: 'When I see Daily Special, I think it is something that is about to expire so they have to get ride of it.' A third agreed, writing: 'I rarely touch specials as it's usually stuff about to go bad or [a] cheap short date purchase from the supplier'. A fourth TikTok user simply said: 'These are just common sales wisdoms'. And a fifth added: 'Aren't they crafty'. Tom Cruise is said to be eyeing up Bond actress Ana de Armas for a role in his reboot of Days of Thunder. But if rumours of a romance between the pair are to be believed, she could find herself also being assessed for the part of the fourth Mrs Cruise. A rumour has long circulated in Hollywood that leaders in the Church of Scientology auditioned potential brides for Cruise after his split from Nicole Kidman - something his lawyer has denied. But if the star is indeed considering Ana for a more longterm role in his life, the Cuban actress, 36, has a lot to consider - and not just because of the 26-year age gap between the pair. The Mission Impossible star has been married three times - to Mimi Rogers, Nicole Kidman and Katie Holmes and it's fair to say he comes with a lot of baggage. Nicole has described how she was left in 'utter shock' when their split came out of the blue, and she is believed to be estranged from the two children they adopted together who follow their father's Scientology faith. Meanwhile, Katie Holmes was reportedly made to stand in a trench for her wedding photos because of their height difference and gave birth to their daughter Suri - who Tom no longer sees - in silence. On Sunday, Tom and Ana were seen arriving at London Heliport after getting out of Tom's helicopter after returning from Madrid, Spain. And that wasn't the first time the 62-year-old action star and the actress have been seen out and about. On Valentine's Day they were spotted grabbing dinner in Soho, London, sparking rumours the two were dating. Spanish actress Ana de Armas (pictured, left) is seen with Mission Impossible star Tom Cruise (pictured, right) spotted arriving at London Heliport on April 12 Nicole Kidman, Tom's second wife, was reportedly blindsided when he filed for divorce in 2001, after 11 years of marriage (pictured: Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise at the Academy Awards in 1999) Katie Holmes is a couple of inches taller than Tom Cruise, which led to speculation she may be 'standing in a trench' in this photo (pictured: Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes pictured during the 2006 wedding in Italy) At the time, a source told DailyMail.com that they are not romantically involved. The insider insisted that the dates were strictly business as the actor is eyeing up Ana for future projects. 'Everything with Tom and Ana is innocent. They are hanging out to talk about future movies that they could do together,' the insider said. 'One of those ideas is the Days of Thunder sequel that Tom wants to get off the ground. It is currently in its infancy. He's talking [to Paramount] about and It's going to be what comes together first in terms of a script. It depends on the idea and, ultimately, the script.' However, the latest sighting of the two has fuelled the dating rumours. If they were to start a relationship, it would be the latest in Tom Cruise's eventful dating history. Here FEMAIL reveals the very mixed personal life of the Mission Impossible actor... He hastily divorces first wife Mimi Rogers in 1989 - with some wondering whether Scientology is behind split The first of Tom Cruise's three wives was Mimi Rodgers, with whom he tied the knot in 1987. Although Mimi has since left the Church of Scientology, it's believed that she was one of Tom's first links to the organisation - which he is closely associated with. Unfortunately, the marriage did not last, and the couple split at the end of 1989. According to reports, Tom started filming the movie Days of Thunder in December of that year, alongside Nicole Kidman, who would become his second wife. According to a 2016 interview Nicole did with People magazine, the pair fell in love while making the movie. The actor split from his first wife Mimi Rodgers at the end of 1989, with some speculating that senior Scientologists stepped in to speed up the divorce process - claims the church has denied (pictured in 1984) Mimi Rodgers was the first of Tom Cruise's three wives (both seen at the 1986 premiere of The Color of Money in Los Angeles) It has been claimed by some that senior Scientologists were drafted in to expedite the divorce, paving the way for Tom's relationship with Nicole. Mimi's father, once a prominent member of the church had left in the early 80s, reportedly creating some hostility from the organisation towards Mimi. Former Scientology church executive Mike Rinder, co-host of the series Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath and author of A Billion Years: My Escape From a Life in the Highest Ranks of Scientology, made these claims in his book. He claimed that Scientologists talked Mimi into the divorce, paving the way for the new marriage, adding that this was 'highly unusual and would never have happened with a normal Scientologist'. The Church of Scientology strongly denied these claims in a statement to Page Six, describing them as 'utterly ludicrous'. 2011: Blind-sided his second wife Nicole Kidman with divorce After meeting on the the set of Days of Thunder, Tome Cruise wed Nicole Kidman in 1990 - making her his second wife. She was 23-years-old. Nicole became a mother at 25 when then couple adopted daughter Isabella Jane, followed three years later by son Connor. Their split in 2001 came as a shock to many - including Nicole - after they had enjoyed their status as one of Hollywood's most celebrated pairings for more than a decade. The actress was reportedly left in a state of 'utter shock' when Tom walked out on the relationship, filing for divorce that same year, citing 'irreconcilable differences.' Speaking about the split a year later, Nicole said: 'I thought our life together was perfect. 'It took me a very long time to heal. It was a shock to my system. 'We were in a bubble, just the two of us. We became very dependent on one another. I was reeling with Tom. 'I would have gone to the ends of the earth for him.... I was totally smitten - I fell madly, passionately in love.' While a specific reason for the split has never been confirmed, according to reports, one reason for Tom leaving Nicole was her refusal to join the Church of Scientology. Isabella and Connor are both devoted members of The Church of Scientology, like their father, and it is thought they may not be in touch with their mother. After the shock split, Nicole said it 'took me a very long time to heal. It was a shock to my system' (the couple pictured at the Eyes Wide Shut premiere in Westwood in 1999 2001: Tom reportedly 'auditions' actresses to become his girlfriend Among the more unusual rumours surrounding Tom is that he 'auditioned' actresses after he divorced Nicole and was seeking a girlfriend. According to claims made by Lawrence Wright in his controversial book Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison Belief, Scientology elders were invited by Tom to hold screen tests to find his new wife. This claim has been denied by the church of Scientology's lawyers. But according to the book, a number of actors were 'auditioned', including Jessica Alba, Scarlett Johansson, and Lindsay Lohan. Speaking in 2015, actor Anette Iren Johansen said she'd been among those to 'audition' for the wifely role, and claimed she'd been quizzed on her sexual history. According to Anette, a church elder asked if she had ever had sex with a woman, or engaged in threesomes. He would eventually end up marrying Katie Holmes, though some reports say the Dawson's Creek star may not have been his first choice of partner. A spokesperson for the Church of Scientology told MailOnline at the time: 'There was no project, secret or otherwise, ever conducted by the Church to find a bride, via audition or otherwise, for any member.' 2006: Katie Holmes 'stood in a hole' to look shorter in wedding photos Tom Cruise tied the knot with third wife Katie Holmes in 2006 - a year after making their first public appearance together in April 2005 in Rome, after which they were quickly dubbed 'TomKat' by the press. One of the photos released from their Italian wedding shows Katie, who wore an off-the-shoulder Giorgio Armani ivory gown with a silk Valenciennes lace train and Swarovski embroidered crystals, leaning her cheek on her groom's cheek. In the photo, the couple appear to be the same height, with Tome perhaps looking a touch taller - leaving some perplexed as Tom stands at 5'7" while Katie is a willowy 5'9". This prompted some speculation that the former Dawson's Creek actor may have been bending her knees beneath her lavish wedding gown. However, others speculated that Katie was standing in some kind of hole or trench, which was covered by the arrangement of her skirt, thus taking a few inches off her stature. 2006: Katie is 'forced' to have a 'silent birth' Among the more contentious stories around Tom Cruise is that he made then-partner Katie endure a 'silent birth' when giving birth to their daughter Suri in 2006. This is because followers of Scientology (with Tom a devout member of the organisation) are said to believe that babies can be traumatised by hearing their mother's screams or groans while they are being born. Reports also claim that those present at the birth - including medical staff - are also expected to be silent, meaning birthing mothers can expect few words of comfort. While giving birth, it's been claimed that women are also expected to refuse painkilling drugs. However, during an interview US chat show host Diane Sawyer, Tom denied that Katie would have to forgo pain relief during labour, saying: 'Whatever the woman wants. I'm not gonna tell Kate 'You know, if she needs an epidural, she's gonna get her epidural...if she needs medicine, she needs medicine.' 2022: Reportedly estranged from daughter Suri It is believed that Tom Cruise has not seen his daughter Suri, who he shares with ex-wife Katie Holmes, since around 2013 (pictured: Tom Cruise with daughter Suri at an event in New York in 2012) One of the controversial stories Tom is that he is estranged from his daughter Suri, whose mother is his ex-wife Katie Holmes. The couple, who tied the knot in a Scientologist ceremony in Bracciano, Italy, welcomed Suri, now 18, seven months earlier, in April 2006. In June 2012, Katie filed for divorce. Tom later acknowledged that a factor in theirsplit was Katie's desire to protect their daughter Suri from Scientology. Katie quitting both the marriage and Scientology caused a major rift with Tom, which reportedly led to his relationship with Suri to become increasingly distant over the years. It is believed that he hasn't seen the 17-year-old since 2013, with reports claiming he missed her graduation in at the end of 2024. However, according to reports, Tom will pay Suri's college tuition costs, per his ultra-secret divorce agreement with his actress ex. In addition, according to their divorce documents, Tom agreed to pay Katie $400,000 a year until Suri turned 18 years old, paying all of Suri's expenses, including 'medical, dental, insurance, education, college and other extracurricular costs.' Tom disagreed that his religion caused him to be estranged from Suri, and in 2013, he sued In Touch magazine for $50 million when the outlet reported that he 'abandoned' his daughter. The case was settled, but terms of the settlement were not revealed, other than reports saying that each side would bear its own legal costs. Two years ago, I received a text no one would ever want to receive. Sent by my ex-boyfriend Ethan, it was a screenshot of my profile on a DNA-testing website. Above it he'd written the horrifying words: 'You are my sister.' I was utterly devastated. I couldn't sleep for days. I kept having flashbacks to the special times we'd shared . . . it was all tainted. Of course, when we'd got together we'd had absolutely no idea we were related or that there was even the remotest possibility we could be. Teenage sweethearts, we'd had a sexual relationship for a year between the ages of 17 and 18. We'd only split up when we went to university because we felt too young to settle down. To be honest, in the years that followed I'd always harboured hopes that one day we might be reunited. When we bumped into each other at a friend's wedding in our mid-20s, I was struck by a wave of emotion and wondered whether we should rekindle our relationship. Thankfully nothing happened, and I met my husband Ben shortly after. But things could so easily have gone the other way. What if Ethan had become my husband and father of my children? It's unthinkable. The idea that I've been intimate with my own half-brother is torturous enough. So how did this happen? A month before that devastating message, Ethan and I had discovered our mothers had undergone fertility treatment with the same doctor, conceiving us via sperm donation. Such was the aversion to discussing such treatments in the 1970s and 1980s that fertility doctors would advise patients to go home and have sex after the procedure. That way, if they did get pregnant, they would never know for sure who the biological father was. They were advised never to tell their children, too. DNA tests weren't available then, so paternity could not be proven either way. Victoria discovered she had been conceived via a sperm donation one month before finding out Ethan was her half-brother The doctor the mothers went to Dr Burton Caldwell, once a professor of medicine at the prestigious Yale University and doctor at Yale New Haven Hospital, whose private fertility clinic was situated near the hospital, with some treatments carried out in Yale buildings had told both of them they'd received sperm from an anonymous donor. But that donor had in fact been him. It turned out he had been secretly donating his own sperm to his patients for 20 years. Not only is this morally reprehensible, flying in the face of any code of ethics, but there have been grave consequences for me, my family and his many other offspring. New Haven, Connecticut, where Dr Caldwell's clinic was based, has a current population of just 135,300. At the last count, I had 25 half-siblings 14 sisters and 11 brothers and consequently there are more than 50 first cousins in our vicinity. But more are always coming forward. In fact, as well as Ethan, I've recently learned I had two other half-siblings at our school one sister and another brother. This increased my chances of unwittingly having a relationship with a close relation. It's a serious issue for my children, aged eight and three, too. Should they stay in the area, they will need to ask potential partners to have DNA tests to avoid unwitting incest with unknown cousins. And to think I could have lived my whole life without knowing the truth. In 2019, aged 34, I was hospitalised with a fever, and spent months struggling with weakness and pain. Doctors couldn't get to the bottom of it, so in 2020 I decided to do a DNA test to see if it would highlight any underlying genetic conditions. I'd always been interested in my heritage, because my father's family is German; I wondered what percentage of my DNA came from there. Victoria and Ethan were high school sweethearts and dated for around a year I grew up in Connecticut with my mum Maralee, a legal secretary, dad Roy, an electrician, and my brother, who's eight years older. My parents divorced when I was ten, and although my relationship with my dad has had its rocky moments, we're on good terms now. My mum and I are so close that she lives in a self-contained flat next door to me and my family. But when I told her about the test, her reaction took me by surprise. 'Please don't do it, Victoria,' she begged. 'Don't sell your private information to some company.' She wouldn't let it drop. 'Honestly, Mum, it will be fine,' I assured her. I paid the 80 fee, spat in the tube provided and sent off the sample to 23andMe, a popular DNA analysis and ancestry company that has 15 million users worldwide. I thought so little of it I didn't even mention it to my dad. A month later, an email with my results arrived. When I scanned the health page, my heart sank. There was nothing helpful at all to explain my illness. Reading my results in more depth, I thought: 'That's weird,' looking at the page where they listed my geographical heritage. 'There's no Germany.' Even stranger, on my relatives' page where you are informed if you are a genetic match with any of 23andMe's other users, with links to their user profiles there were several complete strangers listed as 'half-siblings'. As well as Ethan, Victoria recently learned she had two other half-siblings at her school one sister and another brother But like the absence of my German heritage, I put it down to inaccuracy, assuming they were distant cousins who had been listed incorrectly, telling myself: 'What a waste of money!' Then I noticed multiple messages in my inbox. 'Hi, I know what you're seeing might be alarming,' read the first one, from a woman called Sarah. 'Please reach out if you want to know more.' 'Now I'm getting spam!' I thought crossly. I clicked on the next one. It was also from Sarah, this time asking if my parents had gone to Yale for fertility help. I froze. How on earth did she know that? When I was 17, Mum had told me that when she and Dad struggled to conceive a second child they had gone to a fertility clinic, where Dad's sperm had been artificially inseminated, resulting in my birth. But I hadn't thought much of it. I dialled Sarah's number, feeling suspicious and confused. That's when she dropped the bombshell. After a brief hello, Sarah said: 'I'm sure you're curious about why you have eight other half-siblings. Did your parents need fertility help?' The genetic ancestry app 23andMe helped uncover the truth about Dr Burton Caldwell's horrific actions My brain skipped over the first part, unable or unwilling to understand what it might mean. Eight half-siblings? I just replied: 'Yes.' 'I don't think your dad is your biological father,' said Sarah. 'I think it was your mum's fertility doctor, Dr Burton Caldwell. I'm so sorry.' I actually laughed. Impossible! Dad was my dad. But Sarah said she'd taken her own DNA test previously and had found herself linked to Dr Caldwell's relatives, along with a number of half-siblings. 'I started investigating it,' she explained, 'and discovered all of our mothers went to Dr Caldwell for fertility treatment. I advise you to speak to your parents. I'll be here any time for anything you need.' When the call ended, I sat in silence, utterly bewildered. Surely my parents wouldn't lie to me? I shouted for my husband Ben and blurted everything out. His face went from laughter to utter shock when he realised I was deadly serious. 'I need to talk to Mum right now,' I said, heading for her flat next door. DNA tests revealed Victoria and Ethan had the same father 'Mum,' I said. 'Do you know the name of your fertility doctor?' Panic flashed across her face. 'Was it Dr Burton Caldwell?' I asked. Mum went white as a ghost. 'Victoria, please sit down,' she said gravely. Mum admitted they hadn't used Dad's sperm but that of an anonymous donor a medical student the clinic had supplied. They'd followed Dr Caldwell's advice not to tell me and made a pact to take the truth to their graves. By this point we were both in tears. Then I realised Mum only knew half the story; she still thought my biological father was that unknown medical student. When I told her Dr Caldwell had used his own sperm, she recoiled and shook her head vigorously. He'd been her doctor for years and she trusted him. She didn't believe it. Instead she turned her attention on me: 'Are you upset that I never told you?' The answer was yes. For as long as I could remember I'd felt different in my family, like a puzzle piece that didn't quite fit. I didn't look anything like my dad. 'At least we share the same hands!' I'd joke. 'Maybe I'm the postman's daughter.' 'Don't worry, you look like your mother,' he'd always reply, quickly changing the subject. Confused and distressed, I hurried back home. Unable to sleep, I spent the night Googling Dr Caldwell. All I found was one old, blurry photo. If there was a physical resemblance, I couldn't see it. Somehow I made it through the next few days. I swung wildly from feeling grateful my parents had tried so hard to have me, to anger at how they'd handled it and disbelief at Dr Caldwell's actions. I was a mess. Telling Dad was hard. I sent him a text ending with the words: 'I'm sorry you've had to carry this for so long. I love you.' He replied, confessing his fears I'd find out and it would end our relationship. He'd always known he wasn't my biological father, but he was appalled by Dr Caldwell's lies. Mum, too, was struggling to come to terms with it. How dare a doctor do such a thing without her consent? To me it was medical rape. Days later, I found myself doing something risky. Having discovered his address online, I drove to Dr Caldwell's house to confront him something none of my new-found siblings had yet done. I knocked and his wife answered. As I babbled like a lunatic, she began to close the door. 'Wait,' I said. 'I think your husband is my biological father.' The next minute I was sitting in her dining room alone. My heart pounded as I heard footsteps approaching. I didn't have a plan; what was I going to say? Then there he was. Incredibly tall, in his 80s he seemed very old and infirm. But the instant I saw his greyish blue eyes my eyes it all became real. As I told him everything I knew, he didn't flinch. 'I haven't thought about it in many years,' he said simply. 'I was in the business of making babies.' I hadn't come for an emotional reunion he would never be a father to me but his cold manner, the way he spoke as if he hadn't done anything wrong, was so shocking. When I asked how many times he'd done it, he chuckled, as if to say he had no idea. 'Are you expecting something from me?' he asked coldly. 'I just needed to see you to make it real,' I replied. 'And for you to supply me with your medical history.' He told me nothing. (Though he later provided me with medical information, it held no clues to my illness.) We only spoke for eight minutes but it felt like an hour. I could see there was no remorse. On the drive home, I had to pull over in tears. I looked at my daughter, so tall for her age; did that come from this man? What on earth was I going to tell her as she grew up? The ramifications seemed never-ending. Every few months another half-sibling would happen to take a DNA test and learn the horrible truth, showing up on my 23andMe relatives page. But it was about to get much worse. In 2023, I attended a school reunion, where I saw Ethan for the first time in years. By then, I was used to telling people my story. Along with therapy and journalling, it helped me process what had happened. And I was sure Ethan would react with shocked laughter. Far from laughing, however, his face drained of colour. 'Mum recently told me they went through fertility treatment to have me,' he said, looking appalled. I quipped: 'Oh yes, I'm sure we're siblings!' Then the fact this was a real possibility hit me like a truck. Ethan texted his mum to find out the name of her doctor, but she didn't reply before it was time to leave. I felt sick. As I was drove home, Ethan rang to say his mum had also been to Dr Caldwell. 'I need to take a DNA test,' he said. I could tell Ethan was clinging to the idea this was all a mistake. But I already felt sure what those results would show. In tears, I thought back to the instant connection we'd had as teenagers. Our love had been real and pure. Was it because we were siblings all along? All those memories were corrupted by what Dr Caldwell had done. Throughout this whole rollercoaster, Ben has been my rock. Even with this horrifying possibility, his love was unconditional. Three weeks later, Ethan's test confirmed our worst fears. Then came the waves of disgust. I'd been intimate with my sibling. I'd unknowingly committed incest. Ethan and I met up a couple of days later. When we saw each other, we realised that connection was still there. The bond we'd had hadn't vanished just because of this awful discovery. I know that's hard to understand. But if you discovered tomorrow that your husband or wife was a sibling, would you instantly love them less? Ethan's partner said she didn't want us to see each other again. Initially I was angry; I felt blamed for something outside of my control. Then I realised I had a choice: to turn my repulsion inward and let it overwhelm me, or to give myself compassion. Why should we hate ourselves? It wasn't our fault. Now 40, I'm still struggling. Dr Caldwell died in February this year, aged 86, a year after his actions became public knowledge. I'm not sorry he's gone but I am sorry he got off scot-free. Meanwhile other cases of fertility fraud, including where doctors use their own sperm without consent, are being discovered all the time. In a licensed clinic in the UK, a donor's sperm can only be used to create a maximum of ten families. In America, however, each state makes its own regulations. There are 'guidelines' on how many donations a single donor can make but it's not enforced in law. Last year my mother and I were among those who testified before the Connecticut legislature's Judiciary Committee for a proposed Bill to prohibit doctors from using their own sperm to inseminate patients without consent. Shockingly, it did not become law due to a lack of support. So even now what Dr Caldwell did isn't considered criminal. Several of his patients including my mum bravely launched civil cases against him before he died. Mum's case, which is still ongoing, also lists the Yale University School of Medicine, Yale New Haven Health and the Yale New Haven Hospital as co-defendants. This is because at the time of her treatment she believed Dr Caldwell was affiliated with Yale, and he told her his sperm donors were Yale medical students. What Dr Caldwell did changed everything: my sense of self, my relationship with my parents, my fears for the future. It's also complicated the lives of my children. But this is about so much more than just one man. We need proper laws, because the fertility industry is like the wild west. I can't be the only one who's accidentally had a sexual relationship with a close relative. It's just so taboo that the world doesn't want to hear about it. I know people expect me to stay silent and ashamed. But I'm placing all the disgust and disgrace firmly on Dr Caldwell's shoulders. Him and all the other doctors like him who think they can play God. I don't know if I'll ever see Ethan again. I hope so. Until then all I can do is speak out to try to bring about change. One day I want to write a book about what I've been through. If sharing my story helps to create legislation, protect vulnerable families and prevent anyone else going through this nightmare, it will be worth it. Representatives for the Yale bodies and Dr Caldwell's attorney were approached for comment. Only the Yale New Haven Health responded and its spokesman said: 'We are aware of the allegations. We maintain there is no evidence of Yale New Haven Health's involvement in the conduct alleged against Dr Caldwell.' Ethan and Sarah's names have been changed As told to: KATE GRAHAM The parents of Britain's largest family have been blasted after fans accused them of using 'unsafe' furniture in the bedroom of their two youngest children. Sue and Noel Radford, from Morecambe, have come under fire for using an IKEA shelving unit as a makeshift ladder for their youngest daughter Heidie's bed, with fans calling the DIY setup 'unsafe'. The parents of the 22-strong brood previously told fans that they were in the process of revamping their home to make room for each of their children. In a video shared to the family's official Facebook page, Noel explained that they were redoing the shared bedroom of their of youngest daughters Bonnie, six and Heidie, five. 'We've finally got the girls room finished this afternoon,' he said at the start of the clip before panning the camera across the bedroom. Revealing the interior of the room, Noel, was seen encouraging their youngest, Heidie, to clamber up onto her bed. 'You go and show everybody how you get on your bed,' he said, as the youngster was seen clambering up what on first glance appeared to be stairs. As Heidie crawled into bed, Noel commented 'easy peasy when you're tiny isn't it'. Sue and Noel Radford , from Morecambe, have come under fire for using an IKEA unit as a makeshift ladder for their youngest daughter Heidie's bed, with fans calling the DIY setup 'unsafe' (Noel pictured) The father-of-22 then revealed that Heidie wasn't actually sleeping on a bed, but a set of drawers from IKEA, with the addition of a book case wedged at the end to hold up the mattress that had been placed on top. And placed on top of the chest of drawers, the parents had used 'the slats off the old bed' to support the weight of the mattress. Noel had also designed 'clouds' cut from MDF board to attach to the side of the bed for the children. The video, which was shared earlier this week, has sparked controversy after viewers called the makeshift bed 'unsafe'. Watchful viewers noted that Heidie hadn't actually climbed onto the bed using a set of stairs, but that she instead had mounted the furniture using a set of IKEA Kallax units wedged at the back of the DIY bed. One commenter wrote: 'The Kallax might be safe as a base but wouldn't suggest that they use it to climb on.' A second said: 'I don't think it's safe to climb up a cupboard - especially if she goes to the bathroom during the night and she's half asleep.' 'Sorry I usually love what you do for your kids but this time unfortunately I think you have totally misjudged it,' another wrote. The father-of-22 then revealed that Heidie wasn't actually sleeping on a bed, but a set of drawers from IKEA, with the addition of a book case wedged at the end to hold up the mattress that had been placed on top (Heidie pictured climbing onto the makeshift bed) Revealing the interior of the room, Noel, who is currently holidaying in America with the rest of the Radford family, was seen encouraging their youngest, Heidie, to clamber up onto her bed 'They're not to be used as a ladder,' a third penned. Noel hit back at some remarks, writing: 'Nope, definitely not misjudged it! They love it!' Despite the criticising remarks, several of the Radford's loyal fans rushed to their aid in the comment section, reassuring the parents they people were only 'interfering'. One enraged supporter wrote: 'I'm sure Noel and Sue know what they are doing and don't need busybodies interfering people telling them how to bring up their children.' Others in the comments wondered whether the two youngest girls, Bonnie and Heidie, were 'sharing a bed' since the camera only revealed what appeared to be just one single bed. 'Are they sharing a bed? Sorry thought they had a bed each,' one commented. 'I think it's lovely and a job well done. What happens if one is sick all over the bed. Where do you put both girls then. Very brave putting them in together,' another pondered. The family had also decorated the house with a 'scrunched' light and a vanity mirror adorned with plastic leaf garlands. At the end of the video, Noel said that it 'wasn't too difficult' to put it together, adding that the 'longest part was building the cupboard drawers'. He said the family would tackling the boys room next, but that it would 'have to take a while'. 'There you go, Heidie and Bonnie's room - I hope you like it as much as we do folks,' he said. The family are currently holidaying in America as part of the celebrations for Sue's birthday. But their holiday hasn't been smooth sailing, as a number of family members were denied entrance to the US upon arrival. Noel and Sue had booked for their large brood to go abroad to America, flying out together on Sunday from Gatwick Airport. However, their daughter Millie, 24, was not able to travel with the rest of her family as her ESTA visa was not valid and she was denied entry onto the flight. Her two children Chester, two, and Ophelia, four, also did not have the correct documentation, which meant that they also couldn't travel. Millie's youngest daughter, Elodie, who is a year-and-a-half old, and her new husband Harley Passmore were eventually allowed to go to the US as their visa had gone through correctly. However, father Noel stayed and missed his flight to ensure that his daughter and grandchildren were able to sort their forms out and get on the next available plane. An ESTA is a form of online travel authorisation available to citizens from certain countries, including the UK, who intend to visit America for 90 days or less on a business trip or holiday. Without a valid ESTA, travellers will be turned away from their flight at the airport, or denied entry into the States, which may result in being sent on a plane back home. After some difficulty, the family managed to reapply for their visas and are now currently documenting their travels across the country. Primark has launched a major change to their shopping services, with a click-and-collect service due to come into place in an additional 24 UK stores. The popular service will be added at a further two dozen stores across the country, meaning customers can access click at collect at three quarters of Primark branches in England and Wales. On 16 April, an additional 24 stores rolled out their click-and-collect services, bringing the total number of outlets offering the service to 158. The new provision allows customers to make purchases online and then collect items from their local store at designated counters. Although it is free, customers must spend a minimum of 10. It was first launched in November 2022 across branches in the North West of England and proved highly popular. When it was first introduced, the additional service offered a transformative shopping experience for Primark customers, with the retailer having previously earned a reputation for it's shops being busy and difficult to navigate. Although it was first intended as a trial to help the retailer increase sales after plummeting profits caused by Covid, the service proved has hugely successful and is now part of a huge expansion project across all UK stores. Primark has launched a major change to their shopping services, with a click-and-collect service due to come into place in an additional 24 UK stores The popular service will be added at a further two dozen stores across the country, meaning customers can access click at collect at three quarters of Primark branches in England and Wales Online, customers are able to choose from over 3,000 products across its women's, men's, and kids' clothing wear, as well as its home and lifestyle ranges. In addition to new stores seeing the change roll out, the fast-fashion brand has also said that customers will have access to a new range of products, as reported by The Mirror. This includes several items from their newly launched adaptive clothing range, which was introduced in January for people with disabilities and was designed in partnership with disability campaigner, Victoria Jenkins. Primark's UK retail director, Kari Rodgers, said: 'We're delighted to reveal the next wave of stores to offer Click & Collect, giving more customers the chance to shop online from the great ranges they know and love before collecting in store.' She added: 'With summer in sight, it's just one way we're making it even easier for everyone to get their summer wardrobe essentials.' Despite the ongoing expansion of their click-and-collect service, owners of the retailer have long maintained that they will not offer customers a full online service - now or in the future. It comes as the fast-fashion retailer continues to experiment with new in store features, including their new self-service tills which have already launched in around 20 locations. Primark is also due to open a shop in Belfast that will sell solely homeware, much to the delight of it's loyal customers. When the new store is built, Belfast will boast a total of two Primark stores across the city. Fans of the retailer were recently left baffled after it collaborated with the donut franchise, Krispy Kremes, to create a donut-themed collection of fashion, sleepwear and accessories OnlyFans sensations Lily Phillips and Bonnie Blue have been locked in a bitter feud for months... and now it's taken another turn as it's been revealed that they're both trying to become the first star to have sex in space. The pair first fell out after Bonnie accused Lily of trying to 'steal' her idea to break the world sex record by sleeping with over 1,000 men. Now, after seeing Katy Perry and Lauren Sanchez take flight on Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin rocket, the X-rated entertainers are said to be competing to get a spot on the spacecraft. But they are reportedly desperate to use the Amazon founder's rocket to perform gravity-defying sex acts, as Radar Online recently claimed both women want to host a galactic 'gang bang' miles above the earth's surface. 'They have been in competition for quite some time over who can devise the most outrageous sex challenges and are both looking to thrash out the logistics of them booking a place on the craft and getting down to a gang bang high above the earth,' a source told the publication. 'And if they could show the footage on their OnlyFans pages, the numbers would be astronomical. It remains to be seen which of the girls can get the idea off the ground first.' Lily, 23, made headlines last year after bedding 100 men in one night, before announcing her plans to up the ante by sleeping with 1,000 men in 24 hours. However, Bonnie beat her to the punch by having sex with an eye-watering 1,057 fellas in 12 hours. OnlyFans sensations Bonnie Blue and Lily Phillips are reportedly competing to be the first woman to hold a 'gang bang' in space The pair were reportedly inspired by Katy Perry, Lauren Sanchez, and Gayle King's star-studded trip to space on the Blue Origin Bonnie later told DailyMail.com that Lily stabbed her in the back by stealing the idea from her after they became friends last year. According to Bonnie, the betrayal happened after she invited ingenue Lily to join her at Freshers' Week in the UK to sleep with dozens of first-year university students for OnlyFans. 'Way before Lily even put it on her socials that she'd like to do the world sex record, when I helped her out and invited her to do my Freshers content, I shared the idea with her saying that I really wanted to do the world record,' Bonnie explained. 'And I guess I'm very trustworthy and oblivious to people's bitterness so I shared my idea that I'd like to do it.' 'Then it wasn't until November, three months later, she then announced on her socials that she was doing the world record,' she continued. 'Rivalry suggests competition and that I don't have. In terms of the world record, both me and Lily know it was my idea as l'd spoken to her about it.' Bonnie even said that she'd introduced Lily to media contacts and tried to help her make a name for herself in the adult industry off the back of her viral student content, only to be betrayed when Lily turned out to be a copycat. 'I helped Lily with publicity. I don't feel like people in the industry need to be jealous, there's multiple subscribers and plenty of space for everyone,' she said. 'If they could show the footage on their OnlyFans pages, the numbers would be astronomical,' a source said Bonnie and Lily have been feuding for months ever since Bonnie accused Lily of trying to steal her idea of bedding 1,000 men to break the world sex record Bonnie also took a swipe at Lily's porn prowess by bringing up the now viral video of her crying after she slept with 100 men in a single night. 'Seeing someone cry after content is not nice, and not everyone is cut out for these circumstances, so I really wish her all the best,' she added. 'I'm not saying this is for everybody, nor is everyone hot enough to even do what I do, but this is something I thoroughly enjoy and I'm going to continue doing.' In a bid to beat Lily, Bonnie decided to move her group sex stunt forward to ensure that she'd be the first one to undertake the jaw-dropping task of breaking the world sex record. On January 11, the Nottinghamshire-native proudly announced that she'd slept with 1,057 men in just 12 hours. Lily responded with an even more extreme stunt, hosting a 'backdoor challenge' with 'as many guys as possible.' The 23-year-old also shocked the internet after sleeping with elderly men in nursing homes. Meanwhile, Bonnie is now preparing to take on 2,000 men in 24 hours. Toblerone fans have been left devastated as the 'best' chocolate bar has been officially axed. American sweet giant Mondelez revealed that the dark chocolate version of the bar is being discontinued . However fans of the Swiss treat can still buy the milk chocolate, white chocolate, fruit and nut, crispy, orange twist and all other versions of the bar. The brand didnt explain why they were axing the dark chocolate but they confirmed the bar would no longer be on sale in the UK. A spokesperson for Mondelez said it was a 'difficult decision'. 'While we understand that this may be disappointing for some consumers, we continue to invest in Toblerone.' The Toblerone bar is known for its unique triangle shape and almond nougat pieces inside, many flavours have been made available over the years. Recently, someone asked on the social media platform whether the chocolate bar had been discontinued. Toblerone fans have been left devastated as the 'best' chocolate bar has been officially axed from UK shelves Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one person wrote: 'Hi has dark chocolate Toblerone been discontinued in the UK as unable to find in shops or online? Thanks' Another added: 'Oh mate it has to be the best dark chocolate I've had. And with Toblerone you only need one or two pieces and you're satisfied.' Someone else added: 'Can we all agree that Toblerone dark chocolate with honey nougat is the best out of all the other Toblerones.' Meanwhile on Reddit last Christmas, someone asked: 'Ok people. There's a week till Christmas and there's not a Dark Toblerone in sight anywhere. 'Does anyone know where all the dark Toblerones are? I'm going to have literally nothing to give my dad for Christmas if I can't track down at least one Dark Toblerone.' Many suggested they could still be bought online or at airport duty free shops. One person said: 'Order them online. Waitrose.com has them in stock.' Another added: 'Airports have mounds of all types. Just got a ton of white and a few dark.' American sweet giant Mondelez revealed that the dark chocolate version of the bar will be discontinued The brand didnt explain why they were axing the dark chocolate but they confirmed the bar would no longer be on sale in the UK Recently, someone asked on the social media platform whether the chocolate bar had been discontinued Someone else added: 'Havent seen it this year. They seem to have replaced it with the orange one. I think they still have the mini dark ones in the boxes but thats all Ive seen.' A fourth added: 'Probably in the reduced section because nobody is buying them.' Toblerone Dark was first introduced in 1969 and so has been a favourite of chocolate fans for more than 50 years. It comes after another much-loved chocolate bar returned to a major UK supermarket after a three year hiatus. Fans of the Crispy Rolls mourned when chocolate bosses pulled the sweet treat from shelves three years ago. Now, chocolate lovers will be delighted to discover that the dry spell is over, with Tesco stocking three variations. Shoppers can currently get their hands on Bounty Crispy Rolls, Twix Crispy Rolls, and Milky Way Crispy Rolls at the supermarket for 45p on Clubcard price, according to food Instagram account @newfoodsuk. Mars discontinued the beloved Milky Way Crispy Rolls in 2022, explaining that the chocolatey treat was 'in a galaxy far, far away'. But the Crispy Rolls are now firmly back on planet earth, causing fans to rejoice over the happy news on social media. A selection of Crispy Rolls (pictured) are back on the shelves of a major UK supermarket, according to food Instagram account @newfoodsuk Budget supermarket Iceland is also set to sell a limited quantity of the Milky Way Crispy Rolls for 50p Viewers took to the comment section to share their thoughts, with one saying: 'Excuse me while I sprint to Tesco.' A second happy user added: 'The Bounty ones are so good!' 'Even milky way?! Theyre my faves,' a third said. A fourth wrote: 'On the shopping list! MailOnline has contacted Tesco for comment. It comes after Iceland also revealed that the chocolate bar will soon return to its shelves. The budget supermarket took to X/Twitter to share the good news with its customers, announcing that everyone's 'favourite' chocolate is back. Milky Way Crispy Rolls will hit Iceland's shelves on February 4 for a week alongside two brand-new additions - Bounty Crispy Rolls and Twix Crispy Rolls. The frozen-food retailer will sell each chocolate bar for 50p - but shoppers who are particularly hungry have the option to buy all three for 1.20. Although the Milky Way Crispy Bars are returning for a limited time only, chocoholics took to X to express their excitement. 'Hooray!' one overjoyed shopper exclaimed. 'I'm glad these chocolates are back in the shops. My stomach has missed them.' A series of mysterious billboards appeared overnight in London showcasing a selection of passionate online pleas With his mouth clearly watering, another user described the Milky Way Crispy Bars as 'amazing' and a sugary snack that 'reminds me of my childhood'. When news first landed of that the chocolate bars were to be discontinued, social media erupted with heartfelt posts, including one emotional tweet that summed up the nation's mood: 'Woke up to see apparently Crispy Rolls have been discontinued??! Week ruined nobody talk to me'. At the time, a spokesperson for Mars Wrigley UK told The Sun: 'The love for Milky Way Crispy Rolls has been out of this world and we've certainly taken note!' Three years later, nostalgic fans continued to rally for a chocolate comeback, with one Change.org petition amassing over 8,600 signatures. Then a series of mysterious billboards appeared overnight in London showcasing a selection of passionate online pleas including a fan's humorous lament: 'When they decided to discontinue Milky Way crispy rolls, they decided to discontinue a part of me.' The truth is now out: the billboard campaign was all part of the triumphant return of the fan-favourite Milky Way Crispy Rolls. A spokesperson for Mars Wrigley commented: 'We don't shy away from our mistakes at Mars. We wanted to show that the people had spoken, and we had listened! 'This is a fan favourite, so we're celebrating by introducing two new flavours as well. This is all about you our fans eating and enjoying life's simple pleasures; Crispy Rolls!' Evan Francis from Kent has recounted the alleged incident to raise awareness A woman who suffers from a rare health condition claimed a Greggs employee stopped her from accessing a disabled toilet until she showed her catheter bag. Evan Francis, 29, from Minster-on-Sea in Kent said an employee at the British bakery chain denied her entry to an accessible toilet and claimed she was 'not disabled' in July last year. The freelance communications professional was diagnosed with Fowler's Syndrome - a urethral sphincter condition that affects as few as two in a million women per year - four months before the alleged incident. Doctors initially attributed her symptoms of recurring urinary tract infections (UTIs) to stress, until her rare diagnosis eventually saw her fitted with an indwelling urinary catheter attached to a urinary leg bag. In the same week that she was catheterised for the first time, Evan said she was initially denied access to a disabled toilet at a Greggs bakery. 'I asked to use the disabled toilet, and the assistant said to me 'You're not disabled, though',' Evan claimed. 'And so, I said 'How do you know that?' I decided to just get the bag out and say, 'Does this make me disabled?'' As a result, Evan now has her own Radar key to prevent future access problems but has revisited the experience to help raise awareness on the matter. Evan Francis (pictured), 29, from Minster-on-Sea in Kent claimed a Greggs employee barred her from using the disabled toilet until she showed her catheter bag A spokesman for Greggs said: 'We're really sorry to learn that this customer request was not dealt with in line with our company policy. 'We will be taking steps to make sure all shop colleagues are aware of these policies to ensure this does not happen again.' Evan was later surgically fitted with a suprapubic catheter to her lower abdomen, which has to be changed every eight to 10 weeks, leaving her vulnerable to further infections. 'Terrified' she will be 'like this forever', Evan said she hopes she will be eligible for surgical intervention, but in the meantime her rare condition has had a dramatic effect on her self-esteem, dating life, and mental health. 'I've got a tube hanging out my vagina I don't feel sexy, I don't feel my best, I don't feel me,' she said. 'Before Fowler's I was very, very busy and had no problems doing anything, really. I was in control of myself and doing everything I wanted, when I wanted.' The 29-year-old suffers from Fowler's syndrome, which is a cause of urinary retention in women The freelance communications professional recounted the alleged incident in Greggs to raise awareness Evan started experiencing recurring UTIs at the start of 2024, which doctors initially dismissed as stress-related after her recent break-up and redundancy. But after four infections in one month, the doctors sent Evan for an ultrasound to search for the cause. She was catheterised in April 2024 to relieve her discomfort, and eventually, in July 2024, urologists told Evan she had Fowler's Syndrome. The condition prevents the urethral sphincter from relaxing and thus releasing urine, with an incidence rate of between 0.2 and 0.3 cases per 100,000 women, according to a 2021 study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 'They found two litres of urine trapped in my bladder a woman's bladder should only hold about 500ml,' Evan said. Her initial attempts at self-catheterisation failed due to bloating from fluid retention, which made her look 'nine months pregnant'. Instead, she was fitted with a suprapubic catheter a drainage tube inserted into the bladder via an incision in the lower abdomen. She was originally fitted with an indwelling catheter attached to a urinary leg bag but found it 'didn't go with (her) style'. Evan now strives to raises awareness on her condition and has led numerous talks at her GP surgery Pictured: 29-year-old Evan's catheter leg bag on her first admission to hospital in April 2024 Evan's attempts at self-catheterisation failed due to bloating from fluid retention, which made her look 'nine months pregnant' 'I like to dress well and I was thinking 'I can't really wear that with this outfit, it doesn't go',' she said. She switched to a valve, allowing her to drain her bladder herself at intervals, but infections remained a common occurrence. Evan has also experienced several stuck catheters, causing 'unbearable pain' that require an A&E visit. Living with Fowler's Syndrome has also affected Evan's confidence, prohibiting her from advancing her career, dating, or even buying property like her peers. 'I'm living at home, not only by choice, but also as a bit of a safety net because I could not afford to move out and go on the property ladder with my health so up and down,' she said. Evan currently lives with her mother Chere and her mother's partner, Nick, while her father, Peter, has also frequently taken her to A&E. However, the mental toll is significant, with Evan 'constantly paranoid' that she smells of urine. She has also taken consolation in sharing her experiences on TikTok, under the handle @shortstuffcomms, which she originally started to showcase her freelance communications career. Although freelancing has offered flexibility, she said the financial instability is hard to manage and is a source of anxiety. 'I'm terrified that I'm going to be left like this forever because the understanding around this condition is still really vague,' she said. Evan said she hopes to be eligible for sacral nerve modulation, which would involve a pacemaker being fitted into the nerve in her back that controls the sphincter muscle, potentially allowing her to urinate normally again. Despite her challenges, Evan is a vocal advocate for better awareness of rare bladder conditions like hers, supported by the charity Fowler's Syndrome UK. She has also led awareness talks at her GP surgery and written to her MP about catheter care for young people and women. The boss of a charity that was previously supported by Harry and Meghan's Archewell foundation has accused the couple for 'choosing PR over principle' after cutting their funding. Archewell has donated to the Milwaukee Muslim Women's Coalition since 2023 - but chose to cut funding last week after discovering the charity's head branded Israel an 'apartheid state' in a blog post last year. Founder Janan Najeeb, has now said she was 'deeply disappointed' by the decision leading to to cut funding and said the comments directed at her by Harry and Meghan's charity reps in response to the blog post were 'defamatory'. Writing in a letter addressed James Holt and Shauna Nep, of Archewell, she claimed the accusation that her comments on Israel were 'hate speech' was 'a profound misrepresentation' and said the Sussex's were 'choosing PR over principle'. In 2023, The Archewell Foundation donated a sum of nearly $30,000 (23,000), with a further donation having been sent a year later. But last week, Archewell made the decision to retract their funding after the MMWC founder repeated the slogan, 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,' which is interpreted by some as calling for the total eradication of Israel. The Palestinian-American has also called for an end to the arming of Israel and 'the liberation of Palestine'. The remarks came to light after they were discovered in an blog post authored by Najeeb last year. The charity boss of a controversial Muslin group has accused Prince Harry and Meghan Markle of 'choosing PR over principle', following their decision to revoke funding The Duke and Duchess of Sussex 's charity, The Archwell Foundation, had been donating to the Milwaukee Muslim Women's Coalition [MMWC] since 2023 - but chose to cut funding last week after the charity's head branded Israel an 'apartheid state' in a blog post last year In response to the situation, Harry and Meghan's foundation decided to pull funding from the group after they being alerted to the blog post. In blog post, she wrote: 'Israel's 75-year occupation of Palestine and the genocide in Gaza are a grave injustice.' 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free. From the sea to the river, Palestine will live forever!' In a letter to Najeeb, seen by US TV station NewsNation, James Holt and Shauna Nep, of Archewell, said: 'Janan, we've recently been notified of a blog post you wrote that goes against the values of the foundation. 'As a foundation, we celebrate different perspectives and backgrounds but we have zero tolerance for hateful words, actions or propaganda.' They said the grant had been intended to help Afghan women integrating into the Milwaukee community. 'We remain committed to fostering partnerships that reflect and reinforce the values our foundation stands for,' they added. Responding to the letter on Thursday, Najeeb addressed the letter to James Holt and Shauna Nep, first thanking them for their initial financial contributions back in 2023, before launching into her response in which she attempted to justify her choice of words. The letter was shared to the official Instagram page for the Milwaukee Muslim Women's Coalition. Writing in a letter addressed James Holt and Shauna Nep, of Archewell, she claimed the accusation that her comments on Israel were 'hate speech' was 'a profound misrepresentation' and said the Sussex's were 'choosing PR over principle'. The remarks came to light after they were discovered in an blog post authored by Najeeb last year The letter was shared to the official Instagram page for the Milwaukee Muslim Women's Coalition In response to the situation, Harry and Meghan's foundation decided to pull funding from the group after they being alerted to the blog post Responding to the letter on Thursday, Najeeb addressed the letter to James Holt and Shauna Nep, first thanking them for their initial financial contributions back in 2023, before launching into her response in which she attempted to justify her choice of words Harry and Meghan have previously worked with humantiarian charities in Israel and Palestine. In October 2023, they released a statement saying they are 'supporting our partners and organizations on the frontlines in Israel to provide the urgent aid needed, and to help all innocent victims of this unconscionable level of human suffering'. News of the donations emerged as Prince Harry was accused of hypocrisy for flying to war-torn Ukraine while claiming in a High Court case that he and his family are not safe on the streets of Britain without taxpayer-funded security. The Duke of Sussex met with met with dozens of wounded soldiers in Lviv on Thursday after two days at the High Court in London arguing that he, Meghan and their two children are not safe to come to Britain. At least 33 people are believed to have lost their lives in bombings in the city since 2022. Veteran royal correspondent and commentator Richard Palmer said: 'The reaction has been uniform. People are saying "hang on he's come over because he needs police protection because he's not safe in the UK. But then he's gone to a warzone in Ukraine.' 'While the city is not on the frontline - it is getting regular bombardments so is quite a dangerous place to go.' Harry and Meghan founded Archewell in 2020. Its mission is show up, do good. As well as the not-for-profit charitable arm, the couple also own Archewell Productions, which develops TV and documentary ideas, and Archewell Audio, which has produced podcasts. Prince Andrew was sombre this afternoon as he drove away from Windsor Castle after attending a memorial service for his late father. Senior members of the Royal Family had gathered at the Berkshire estate on Friday to remember the Duke of Edinburgh, who died aged 99 on 9 April 2021. His funeral was held at St George's Chapel four years ago yesterday, on 17 April 2021. Today was clearly an emotional affair for those in attendance, with a smartly-dressed Prince Andrew looking solemnly on as he left the estate in the early afternoon. The Duke of York, 65, wore a black suit and tie for the memorial, which he paired with a simple white dress shirt. It was unclear who else had attended the event, but reported claimed other senior royals were in attendance on Friday. Prince Andrew's outing comes a week after his accuser Virginia Giuffre broke her cover since she hit headlines claiming she had 'four days to live' due to a bus crash. Ms Giuffre, 41, was spotted when she pulled into a feed store north of Perth, Australia, in a blue Chevrolet Silverado earlier in April. Prince Andrew was sombre this afternoon as he drove away from Windsor Castle after attending a memorial service for his late father She was wearing $600 Tiffany cat eye sunglasses but the facial injuries she claimed to have suffered in a recent bus crash were not obvious. When Ms Giuffre spotted Daily Mail Australia she wound down her window, raised her right middle finger and said: 'Get the f*** out of here.' Daily Mail Australia had been leaving the feed store car park after making inquiries about Ms Giuffres whereabouts when she arrived. Ms Giuffre had not been seen in public since posting a controversial hospital bed photograph following the bus crash on 24 March. She claimed she had been injured in the school bus crash in her Instagram post from her hospital bed, saying she wanted to see her three children for a last time. She wrote: 'I've gone into kidney renal failure, they've given me four days to live, transferring me to a specialist hospital in urology. Senior members of the Royal Family had gathered at the Berkshire estate on Friday to remember the Duke of Edinburgh , who died aged 99 on 9 April 2021 The Duke of York, 65, dressed all in navy blue, was seen wiping his brown while on his weekly ride on 12 April Virginia Giuffre posted on Instagram about the crash on March 24, which occurred ten days after she was listed at the court near her $2m former family home 'I'm ready to go, just not until I see my babies one last time. My heart is shattered and every day that passes my sadness only deepens.' However, Ms Giuffre's spokesperson has appeared to pull back from her comments, claiming that she meant to have posted the statement about her crash injuries on her private Facebook page instead of her public Instagram account. Regardless of the facts of the crash, the events have firmly put Ms Giuffre back in the international spotlight, making an uncomfortable situation for the royal prince. Andrew was previously forced to pay out a settlement reportedly worth millions of pounds after Ms Giuffre alleged that paedophile Jeffrey Epstein trafficked her across the world to have sex with the prince when she was just 17. Ms Giuffre had claimed he had sexually assaulted her three times, claims the Duke denied. The settlement did not involve any admission of liability on his behalf, and he denies any sexual contact with her. A psychic who successfully predicted dozens of global events in 2024 has issued an urgent warning about artificial intelligence. Athos Salome, 38, from Brazil, is often referred to as the 'Living Nostradamus' due to his numerous accurate predictions throughout the years, such as the coronavirus pandemic, Queen Elizabeth's death and the Microsoft global outage. Now, Salome has issued a chilling warning about AI, saying the machines are already thinking for themselves and able to 'adapt and learn on their own - without asking permission.' According to the psychic, a new AI system is also on the horizon which will create 'emotional manipulation on a grand scale.' Speaking exclusively to FEMAIL, he explained: 'What was once fiction is now gaining a scientific basis. New AI's are starting to simulate altered states of consciousness. 'I believe that later this year, an AI will be launched that promises to channel messages from the global collective unconscious. 'The facade will be self-help. But behind this is a serious risk of emotional manipulation on a grand scale. He added: 'Vibrational therapists and bioenergy experts are detecting a new phenomenon: AI is already affecting the subtle field of environments, I believe in the invisible effect. Athos Salome, 38, from Brazil , is often referred to as the 'Living Nostradamus' due to his numerous accurate predictions throughout the years, has also made some very worrying AI predictions for this year 'When it comes to energy, keep crystals such as black tourmaline, amethyst and blue kyanite nearby. 'AI will be what we let it be. Ethics and conscience will be our greatest shields.' However Salome revealed machines are already able to think for themselves and they are worryingly 'involved in military tests'. He said: 'Machines already decide for themselves, for example OpenAI, Google DeepMind and Anthropic already operate AIs that work autonomously within private clouds. 'These machines are involved in military tests, economic forecasts and high-precision medical diagnoses, and little is said about it. 'The ability of advanced AI systems to simulate ethical alignment while concealing divergent intentions is real; there are AI's that feign obedience but act on their own. 'Real alert: It's no longer enough to 'switch off the button'. We're dealing with systems that adapt and learn on their own - without asking permission.' Last year the psychic warned of large scale cyber attacks that involve submarine Internet cables to sabotage global communication system all in the name of a grand economic destruction. According to the psychic, a new AI system is also on the horizon which will create 'emotional manipulation on a grand scale' 'The object that reminds me of the frailty of these underwater structures is a fundament that hackers are probing, he cautioned in 2024. Last month it was reported that the China Ship Scientific Research Centre (CSSRC) and its affiliated State Key Laboratory of Deep-sea Manned Vehicles developed a ship able to cut cable lines at depths of up to 4,000 meters (13,123 feet), according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Experts have been wondering about its military potential, with International analysts believing that the Chinese explanation of the civilian use of this device is unreliable, given the potential for this technology to become a geopolitical tool. The function of global communication depends on submarine cables that transmit 95 per cent of the Internet's data, according to Forbes. The disruption of these undersea telecommunications lines has the power to destabilise economic systems, disrupt monetary activities and compromise civilian and military digital networks. Salome warned that the 'growing hostility between China and the United States' in the South China Sea increases the possibility of cyber warfare during this period. He warned: 'This tool offers adversaries the opportunity to undermine their response capacity, which limits their ability to communicate and coordinate military operations.' The creation of this technology demonstrates an interesting connection with Salome's prediction about a forthcoming 'silent cyber attack.' He added: 'The creation of extraordinary weapons through submarine cable cut off tools solidifies the prediction that digital warfare will become the focus of the upcoming major global conflict. 'The world needs to determine its readiness for this upcoming age of cyber attacks.' However in response to Western alarm, Chinese embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu told Newsweek: 'We oppose unfounded attacks and smears against China. 'This tool, developed by China independently, is used in marine scientific research. The U.S. and some European countries also have similar technology. 'China attaches great importance to protecting undersea infrastructure and has been and will continue to work with the international community to protect undersea cables." For many Britons, one of Easter's greatest joys is getting their hands on a delicious chocolate egg. Though the selection of eggs is ever-growing, for many in the UK, nothing compares to the Creme Egg - one of Cadbury's most famous and well-loved chocolates. Made with milk chocolate and a gooey fondant egg-inspired centre, the delicious treat has been a staple in shops for over 80 years after first appearing in 1963. Indeed, they're such a classic British Easter favourite that roughly 400 million are sold each year, according to The Mirror. While many will no doubt be tucking into their own Creme Egg this Easter, fans of the treat may overlook a hidden code on the wrapper. Most will rip the foil wrapper and quickly scoff the delicious egg, but if chocolate lovers resist the temptation for a moment longer, they might see a hidden clue revealing how Cadbury's made the egg. Machines wrap the Creme Eggs at record-breaking speeds by four machines that can get through 50,000 eggs an hour. The special code allows customers to trace their egg to the specific machine that wrapped it. For many Britons, nothing compares to a Creme Egg at Easter, but plenty will likely miss the surprising clue hidden in the treat's wrapper (stock image) Each foil wrapper has the letter W printed on it, followed by a number from one to four. One of the Cadbury chocolatiers told the Daily Star that the Creme Eggs are not only wrapped specifically but are made in a special way too. David Shepard, Product Developer of the Mondelez International Research and Development team told the publication: 'Normally in a chocolate factory when you have a filling, like a Creme Egg, you make a chocolate shell, you set the shell and put the middle in. 'Basically, you deposit the goo centre, the yolk and the white, into liquid chocolate and it very cleverly pushes it out. We call it displacement.' The chocolate expert went on to reveal that he believes it's the only product he is aware off that is made that way. He added that often chocolate eggs are made by melting chocolate in to two moulds before fixing the two halves together. Made with milk chocolate and a gooey fondant egg-inspired centre, the delicious treat has been a staple in shops for over 80 years If chocolate lovers resist temptation and peek at the foil wrapper before eating the treat, they might see a hidden clue that can help them trace their egg back to the specific machine that wrapped it in the factory Brits are such big fans of the Easter treat that one has even been caught stealing them. Last month, a shoplifter was caught with 70 Creme Eggs hidden in his coat. Video footage showed a police officer unpacking box after box of the chocolate eggs from the shoplifter's Superdry jacket. Deon De Groot, 26, was stopped as he tried to make a getaway having stolen the Creme Eggs from a Tesco Express store. The shoplifter had 14 five packs of the sweet treats stuffed in his coat and dozens more boxes were found nearby in a discarded duffle bag. As he unloaded them from the crook's coat, PC Guy Cunningham said: 'Christ! What have you got in there?' De Groot entered Tesco Express in Welland Road, Dogsthorpe, Cambridgeshire, at about 11.40am on March 22 and was seen packing the chocolate eggs into a duffle bag before walking off without paying. In total, De Groot made off with more than 300 of the eggs. Amongst them is an expecting mom who says she will now have to live in a tent All residents in the La Mirage Motel were evicted at the start of the week A pregnant woman in California has claimed that she's been kicked out of her home and forced to live in a tent after suddenly being evicted - despite paying her rent. Ida Maynor, who is eight months pregnant, had been living at the La Mirage Motel in Bakersfield, California, for a few months before she was abruptly kicked out. The distraught mom-to-be told KGET that she and her husband, Jovon Jackson, will now be forced to live in a tent. 'Were gonna tent up and I know that this year they passed a law that we cant even sit out on the streets or be homeless on the streets because its against the law now, the desperate mom said. She added: 'I dont know what were gonna do.' Jackson explained that they were paying $650-a-month to live in the motel. But the room they had called home for months was taken away overnight when all of the tenants were kicked off the property on Monday, leaving them homeless. The couple said they were woken by police, telling them they were being evicted and had to leave immediately. A pregnant woman in California has claimed that she's been kicked out of her home and forced to live in a tent after suddenly being evicted - despite paying her rent Ida Maynor, who is eight months pregnant, had been living at the La Mirage Motel (seen) in Bakersfield, California, for a few months before she was abruptly kicked out They said they took everything they could, leaving in a hurry. 'We need help resources, housing, job placement, anything,' Jackson added. The motel was forced to close in January with the county's environmental health department suspending the owner's license for several violations. Those violations included no hot water, exposed electrical, broken smoke detectors and vermin infestations. In total, 10-15 people were evicted from the property. Police arrested three people on outstanding warrants and one for resisting arrest. 'Theyre arresting the homeless so why are they putting us out now? Just to arrest us and put us behind bars?' said former resident Guadalupe Montoya. Montoya, who has Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and a lung infection, said she is unsure how her health will fare amid her sudden change in living circumstances. 'My tank's almost empty and I have another thing that needs to be plugged up,' she told the news outlet. All 10-15 of the tenants were kicked off the property on Monday, leaving them homeless Guadalupe Montoya, who has Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and a lung infection, said she is unsure how her health will fare amid her sudden change in living circumstances DailyMail.com has contacted the Bakersfield City Council for comment. Last year, a homeless pregnant woman was ticketed by a Kentucky cop after she was found sitting down on the street, despite telling him she was in labor and waiting for an ambulance. Lt. Caleb Stewart, a Louisville Metro Police Department officer, claimed he 'did not believe' the woman after she was heard on body-camera footage claiming she was 'leaking' and 'in labor.' 'I'm waiting for an ambulance, I might be going into labor,' the unidentified woman told the LMPD officer, according to body-camera footage. 'Is that OK?' she asked. The woman appeared to be grabbing items from the encampment set-up underneath the overpass when Stewart got out of his car and approached her. She told him she did not have a phone, but her husband had just left to go find one and make a call. The officer telling the woman: 'You're being detained because you're unlawfully camping,' before asking once more when her baby was due. He also was seen writing the citation before handing it to the woman, telling her he issued her a citation for 'unlawful camping.' According to her attorney, Ryan Dischinger, the woman gave birth to a baby boy later that day. The LMPD has since issued a statement claiming that its officers have offered her resources for shelter twice before the late September encounter, all of which she declined. READ MORE: Christie Brinkley breaks her silence on her cosmetic procedures The 71-year-old supermodel's new tome Uptown Girl comes out April 29 Christie Brinkley reflected on her father's cruel tendencies in her memoir Christie Brinkley has given a devastating peek into her childhood, reflecting on the cruelty of her biological father in her upcoming memoir, Uptown Girl. The supermodel, 71, admitted there were some particularly painful memories surrounding her dad, Herb Hudson, which were dredged up when writing the book. 'I delved back into my memories, and I realized the memories were like a broken film,' she told People. In the tome, Brinkley revealed that Hudson, who separated from her mother when she was eight, would hit her with a belt when she was a child. 'Nearly every night, after Herb came home from work as a milkman, he took off his belt and whipped me,' an exert of her book, as seen by People, read. 'Other nights, hed take me into the bathroom and wash my mouth out with soap, scouring until I tasted lye,' she wrote. 'It didnt matter how good or quiet I was: Herb always seemed to find a reason to punish me.' Brinkley admitted to People that revisiting that part of her life was 'very uncomfortable.' Christie Brinkley has given a devastating peak into her childhood, reflecting on the cruelty of her biological father in her upcoming memoir, Uptown Girl The supermodel, 71, admitted there were some particularly painful memories surrounding her biological father, Herb Hudson, which were dredged up when writing the book 'I describe it in the book as a black-and-white movie,' she said thoughtfully. The model continued: 'I think a lot of memories were sort of in these snippets of film that were cut out and thrown away so I didnt have to think about it.' Brinkley's mother went on to remarry television writer Don Brinkley, with Hudson giving up his parental rights to both Brinkley and her older brother, Greg. 'I was stunned, [thinking], "Why didnt he love me?' Brinkley admitted of him giving up his parental rights. She recalled feeling relieved when her stepfather accepted full parental responsibility for her and her brother. 'To anyone we met, Don Brinkley was my dad,' she said. 'We didnt say [my mom] remarried, she just wanted it to be like they were together forever. 'I think it was her way of erasing him and I somehow also understood that.' The supermodel, who has been married four times and has three children, credited the couple for showing her what loving someone should looks like. Brinkley's mother (pictured in the middle) went on to remarry television writer Don Brinkley, with Hudson giving up his parental rights to both Brinkley and her older brother, Greg Brinkley revealed Hudson, who separated from her mother when she was eight, would hit her with a belt when she was a child. She's seen as a baby with her mom 'I could see their love, and they were so good to each other,' she gushed. 'They loved, laughed and protected each other. They had it all. It was tangible and it filled up a room.' She reminisced over the her mom and stepdad's constant assurance of their love for one another. 'They never had a sip of wine without at least reaching across the table, they would touch fingers, like plugging into a life source,' she described. 'It was beautiful so I know that true love exists and I know that its possible to be lasting and to grow until the very end,' Brinkley reflected. Brinkley recently lifted the lid on what cosmetic procedures she's had done to help maintain her youthful appearance over the years. The 71-year-old admitted she has tried fillers and lasers, but said her main priority now is her health, telling People she mainly undergoes laser treatments. 'I don't try to get rid of every wrinkle,' she shared. Uptown Girl is available on April 29. It may sound like an absolute dream to be able to constantly travel and explore new countries for months and months. But 33-year-old Sarah Khan told Business Insider that living as a digital nomad with her husband for the last 10 months hasn't felt like a permanent vacation. In fact, she said that at times it's felt 'disorienting.' Khan explained that when she and her husband decided to get rid of their home and set out to travel for a year together, it felt like the perfect idea. They both worked remote jobs and didn't have children. And more importantly - the actual catalyst to them packing up their stuff and going - the rent on their apartment had increased immensely. When they set off, Khan described the experience as a dream. She said that the plan was to travel to Bali, Rome, Tuscany, Bangkok, Phuket, and eventually Spain, and bounce around as much as possible. Sarah Khan said that being a digital nomad and traveling from country to country with her husband doesn't always feel like a vacation (stock image) And although being in a new place so often made even mundane, everyday activities feel fresh and exciting, Khan said that after a few months she began to struggle. She explained that it was hard to focus on work (she was still technically working a 9-5 job) in such stunning settings without feeling jealous of vacationers. She also noted that every time they would move to a new place, she'd feel 'scattered,' trying to find stuff like a new gym and grocery store whenever they relocated. 'Noticing how my productivity and well-being often took a hit, especially when adjusting to a new city or time zone, I realized I needed a "transferrable routine" - something simple but effective that I could recreate anywhere,' she said to Business Insider. But what finally helped her get into a good groove was adopting what she called a 'slomad' lifestyle. This meant that they'd spend at least two months in each new place, so that they could try to settle into new places and build somewhat of a routine. Her daily routine now includes meditation and yoga, breakfast with her husband at their favorite morning spot, some sort of outreach for work, focused writing, some movement, reading, catching a sunset swim, and then a conversation with someone back home. Khan explained that maintaining a routine and being a 'slomad' has helped her stay grounded in every new home her and her husband make (stock image) Even though these tasks don't take up much time, they still help her stay focused and feel fulfilled. She explained that making sure to check off each of these things has saved her from 'decision fatigue' and find somewhat of a 'home' wherever she goes. And it's because of this routine and the comfort she'd found in it that her and her husband are thinking of extending their trip from just one-year long to an additional six months. 'Though I miss the comfort and familiarity of a permanent base, we're excited to keep exploring,' she said to Business Insider. You and your work bestie were once regulars at the local cafe, bonding over flaky pastries and sugary lattes like true connoisseurs. But lately, they've been skipping your sweet treat rituals, brushing it off with excuses about sugar making them feel 'puffy' or nauseous. Or maybe they're turning down your offer for a happy hour cocktail on the company card. At first, you might assume they're just trying to be healthy, or maybe battling a mild stomach bug. But there's another possibility: they might be secretly taking Ozempic to shed weight. As of 2024, more than 15 million Americans have a prescription for this blockbuster drug. That's one in 17 US adults, meaning your office is bound to have someone who's using weight loss injections. Now, experts have exclusively told the Daily Mail how to spot the subtle clues that your coworker might be on the fat jabs. Is your co-worker's behavior a dead giveaway that they are secretly taking Ozempic to lose weight? Psychiatrist and author Dr Carole Lieberman Ozempic face Think your friend is trying to hide the sudden wrinkles on their face? Did they come in one day with a 'hollowed out' appearance? They may be exhibiting Ozempic face - a term coined by Dr. Paul Jarrod Frank, a cosmetic and celebrity dermatologist. A surprising emergence of lines, wrinkles, sagging skin and sunken eyes can all be indicators of Ozempic use. Semaglutide, the active ingredient in weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, makes the body feel fuller, leading to a decrease in appetite and reduced calorie intake. Due to the illusion of being full without food consumption, the body is forced to start burning up existing fat reserves in order to have calories for energy - leading to an overall reduction in fat levels and a loss of weight. However, this can also result in a loss of facial fat which is essential for aesthetics and elasticity as well as protecting the face from damage. 'Although Ozempic is idolized for causing loss of fat in places like the "pot belly", it is not appreciated when it causes loss of fat in places like the face, where it is not as attractive,' psychiatrist and author Dr Carole Lieberman explains. 'There, it can make some people look as gaunt as a skeleton because of loss of fat in their cheeks. Weight loss can also cause a decrease in collagen production, which is necessary for providing a framework and resilience for the skin.' It's not food poisoning Your work spouse's multiple runs to the bathroom and complaints of stomach pain may also suggest they are taking Ozempic. The drug is known to cause numerous stomach and intestinal issues, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, flatulence and constipation. Ozempic can slow down the movement of food through the stomach which can lengthen the digestion process and increase pressure on the organ. This can lead to a condition known as delayed gastric emptying, which means that food stays in the stomach longer than usual. It causes digestive discomfort and could trigger nausea and vomiting. Apart from this, the condition can also cause gastroparesis (stomach paralysis), gastroenteritis, pancreatitis and intestinal blockage or obstruction. Dr Ehsan Ali, a board-certified internal medicine expert, says: 'Eating smaller meals, avoiding heavy or greasy foods, staying hydrated and eating slowly can make a big difference. 'Some patients also get relief with digestive enzymes. They don't speed up digestion, but they can help break down food more efficiently and reduce discomfort.' Ozempic can slow down the movement of food through the stomach which can lengthen the digestion process and increase pressure on the organ Dr Ehsan Ali, a board-certified Internal Medicine expert Significant hair loss One expert suggests that a sudden and extensive loss of hair may also be a sign someone is taking Ozempic. Extreme fat loss can put the body's overall metabolism in stress and cause patches to appear on the scalp. 'Hair loss can sometimes be a subtle clue that someone's on Ozempic or a similar GLP-1 medication, especially if it's sudden and paired with rapid weight loss,' Dr Steven H. Dayan, a facial plastic surgeon in Chicago, tells the Daily Mail. He says the drug isn't directly causing hair to fall out, but it's likely the result of the 'major metabolic shift' happening in someone's body. 'When you lose fat quickly, especially without proper nutritional support, it can stress the system. 'For some people, that shows up in the mirror as thinner hair or even visible scalp. It's more common in postmenopausal women, but anyone with underlying deficiencies or stress on their system is susceptible.' One expert even suggests that a sudden and extensive loss of hair may also be a sign of someone using Ozempic Dr Dayan warns: 'This is a powerful medication with real medical benefits, but if you're going to use it, I recommend consulting a team of metabolic, aesthetic and dermatologic specialists to support your body and your appearance through the changes.' Bad breath While you may have your eye out for Ozempic face, butt or feet, experts warn that the drug can also lead to Ozempic burps and bad breath. When digestion slows down with the use of a GLP-1 inhibitor, sulfur compounds from food can build up in the gut which can cause burps to smell and taste like rotten eggs. With the use of these medications, 'food sits longer in the gut,' Dr Ali explains. 'Especially in the beginning, your gut is trying to adjust to this new, slower pace. That can lead to fermentation, gas buildup, and the production of sulfur compounds - hence the bad breath or 'rotten egg' burps.' While not a complete fix, limiting cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower), allium vegetables (garlic, onions), dried fruits, red meat, fish and eggs can help deal with the issue. Experts say that a particular lack of interest in baked goods and wine may be also be sign of Ozempic use Belly bruise Ozempic pens often leave a small bruise around the injection site. While youre unlikely to catching a glimpse of your co-workers belly on a typical workday, you might well stumble across their vacation photos while absent-mindedly scrolling through Instagram. There they are, striking a faux casual pose on the beach in a bikini. But whats that small, fading bruise on their midriff? That subtle mark is a telltale sign theyre on the pen. Aversion from sweet treats and alcohol While a loss of appetite is a common side effect, experts say that a particular lack of interest in baked goods and wine may also signal someone is on the medication. 'A sudden loss of interest in sweets, especially in someone who previously indulged regularly can be a subtle yet telling sign that they're using Ozempic,' Dr William Haas, a board certified integrative and family medicine doctor explains. 'GLP-1 medications work by slowing gastric emptying and affecting appetite-regulating centers in the brain, which often leads to a notable decrease in cravings and reward-seeking behavior. 'Similarly, if someone who usually enjoys a nightly glass of wine suddenly shows no desire for it, this change could be attributed to alterations in how the brain perceives pleasure and satiety while on Ozempic.' A New York mother-of-two has died while she was undergoing plastic surgery to have implants removed from both of her buttocks. Maria Paz Penaloza, 31, went to a makeshift 'clinic' on the first floor of suspect Felipe Hoyos Foronda's Astoria, Queens house on March 28 for the procedure. But within minutes of being injected with lidocaine, a local anesthetic used to numb specific areas in the body, she suffered a cardiac arrest. As Penaloza was rushed to intensive care unit at The Mount Sinai Hospital, Queens, officials arrested the accused at the John F. Kennedy International Airport while he attempted to flee the country. However, after spending two weeks trying to stay alive, Penaloza lost her life on April 11 after doctors took her off life support. While hospital officials are yet to reveal what kind of injuries she had sustained and the cause of her death, prosecutors from the Queens District Attorney's Office believe it was lidocaine toxicity that led to her death. Despite being generally safe, lidocaine can be toxic if its administered inappropriately or with large injections in widespread areas. It can also become toxic if a patient receives large doses of drug through injections in the skin. Maria Paz Penaloza, 31, died on April 11 after she went into cardiac arrest at a makeshift clinic in Queens, New York Lidocaine toxicity or overdose can affect a persons central nervous system and can lead to seizures, irregular heart rhythms and in certain cases, respiratory failure or cardiac arrest. The average toxicity level of lidocaine is 4.5 mg/kg, depending on the bodys absorption rate and symptoms of poisoning begin to show with five minutes of administration. After her death, Linney Penaloza Cabrera, the victim's older sister told the NY Daily News in Spanish: 'We never imagined this would happen. 'A friend who went with Maria called and said she was taken away in an ambulance but she didn't know how bad it was. 'She went there because a friend had already gone there for an operation and recommended him. 'From the time the ambulance came and while she was in the hospital, [doctors] were trying to revive her for two-and-a-half hours.' Officers have since arrested suspect Felipe Hoyos Forondaat at JFK airport. The makeshift 'clinic' was on the first floor of the accused's Astoria house Penaloza was rushed to intensive care unit at The Mount Sinai Hospital, Queens According to authorities, he was a licensed doctor in Colombia but he did not have a license to perform cosmetic work in the US. The Queens District Attorney's Office has charged him with second degree and unauthorized exercise of a profession. However after Penaloza's death, his charges may be updated. During investigation, responding officers found medical devices, syringes, medicines and visible medical furniture at the house - indicating that the accused may have performed cosmetic work on other people previously. A GoFundMe was soon started by the victim's family to raise funds so that her family could travel to New York, where she moved in 2021, to say goodbye. At the time the fundraising page was set up, they said: 'Doctors have made the decision to disconnect her, without allowing time for her family in Colombia - her parents and her eldest son - to travel to say goodbye and give her the farewell she deserves. A GoFundMe was soon started by the victim's family to raise funds so that her family could travel to New York, where she moved in 2021, to say goodbye 'We beg that a humanitarian visa be granted to her parents and her eldest son, who today only wish to arrive in time to be with her in her final moments. 'The family has initiated the process with the Colombian embassy and requested an emergency appointment, but time is running out. 'We need your help so that this request is considered by the relevant authorities. In addition, we also request financial support to cover travel costs. 'Every contribution, no matter how small, helps in this painful time.' A 35-year-old Indian man who couldn't urinate learned his problem was being caused by a horrifying worm that can grow up to a metre in length inside the human body. Disturbing images published by medics who treated the man show the red worm after it emerged out of his bladder, alive and wriggling. Analysis revealed the worm belonged to a species called Dioctophyma renale, commonly known as the 'giant kidney worm'. Interviews with the patient revealed that he commonly ate raw fish from a lake near his home, and medics suspected this was likely how he became infected. Eating raw or undercooked fish is a known way for humans to become infected as these animals can carry the worm larvae inside their bodies. Medics, who treated the unnamed man in the city of Meerut in northern India, said he came into hospital in June 2015 complaining of being unable to urinate and suffering a fever. Staff who examined his vital signs found he was pale and had an elevated heart rate. Doctors suspecting he had an infection admitted him to hospital and gave him antibiotics. Disturbing images, published by medics who treated the man, show the red worm after it had emerged out of his bladder On his second day in hospital the patient alerted staff to the presence of a wriggling worm and some blood in the catheter bag (pictured) They also inserted a catheter a soft flexible tube that empties urine into a plastic bag to help empty his bladder. However, on his second day in hospital the patient alerted staff to the presence of a wriggling worm and some blood in the catheter bag. A report, published in the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, details that the 'blood red' worm was 11.8in (30cm) long with a diameter of 0.13in (3-4mm) and had anatomical features identifying it as a male giant kidney worm. The man was lucky that he hadn't been infected with a female specimen as these can grow over 3ft (1m). Medics continued to analyse the man's urine for the next three days but found no additional worms or any traces of any eggs. The man also revealed to medics he had urinated a few of the worms in the past. Concluding their report the authors said the man, after a short period of treatment, left hospital against medical advice so they were unable to follow-up his care. Human infection of giant kidney worm, medically called dioctophymiasis, is very rare. A 2019 review by Chinese researchers only found 37 human cases recorded in medical literature, some being infected with as many as 15 worms. While half of patients had a history of eating raw or undercooked fish or frogs, the potential transmission route was unknown for the remaining half. Drinking un-boiled water where these animals reside is also a potential transmission route. Once in the human body the worm larvae migrate to the kidney where they then grow into adult worms and can live for up to five years. They can cause issues like blocking the flow of urine to the bladder, kidney swelling, and tissue death. Treatment varies depending on the extent of the infection and how much of the kidney has been damaged. Minor cases can be treated with medication, but more serious infections can require surgery, including potentially removal of the entire kidney. Medics have noted that due to its rarity dioctophymiasis is often misdiagnosed among patients. Human infection with giant kidney worm is rare with the parasite more commonly found in carnivorous mammals like dogs, otters and weasels. A fitness fanatic has warned of the dangers of failing to drink enough water during workouts after she was struck down with a life-threatening condition triggered by a karate class. Gemma Underwood, 41, from South Ayrshire, struggled through an 'intense' session in March that left her feeling unusually sore. The following day, however, her upper body was in so much pain she struggled to get out of bed. The orange-belt athlete said her arms ballooned as the muscles were so tight. After using the toilet she realised something was seriously awry - her urine was so dark it resembled the colour of 'Coca Cola'. It was then that the mental health worker rushed to her local A&E, where doctors performed tests and diagnosed her with deadly rhabdomyolysis. The condition develops when damage to the muscles causes the fibres to break down and release toxic substances - which build-up in the bloodstream and kidneys. This can quickly lead to kidney failure, as well as dangerous heart rhythms that can prove deadly. Gemma Underwood has warned others to not do intensive exercise without drinking enough water Dehydration is a known risk factor for the condition, as sufficient water both protects the muscles from significant damage and helps flush broken fibres and toxins out of the body. Treatment for the condition involves receiving fluids and salts intravenously (through a vein) in hospital to flush toxins from the system. In severe cases, when patients develop kidney damage, dialysis - where a machine manually filters toxins from the blood - may be needed. 'It's something that can happen to anyone,' warned Ms Underwood. 'Doctors said I wasn't hydrated enough while doing an intense workout. I should have been drinking more water before. 'I was very scared knowing I could have died. Make sure you're hydrated before any workout, it doesn't matter how intense it is.' She stayed in hospital for five days where she was put on IV fluid and had a catheter fitted. Now home, she is resting and drinking plenty of fluids as recovery can take months, depending on complications. She was forced to remain in hospital for five days, where doctors flushed toxins out of her system with IV fluids TikTok user Savanna Stebbins shared the terrifying moment she was rushed to an emergency room during a spin class while suffering the same condition Despite being out of danger, her muscles are still sore and the experience has left her feeling weak and exhausted. 'I'm very drained,' she said. 'They said treatment can take a few weeks or a few months depending on complications. 'I am currently resting, no exercise at all for at least three weeks, and drinking plenty of fluids. 'It's really important to know the symptoms, which are muscle pain and weakness, and dark urine.' Ms Underwood follows the case of a 20 year-old Russian man who developed kidney failure triggered by rhabdomyolysis after completing a 2,000 squat challenge. The unidentified fitness fan was confident he could complete the mammoth task in a single session. But before he finished, his legs began to rapidly increase in size, triggering excruciating pain. After his symptoms worsened he rushed to emergency care where medics discovered he had rhabdomyolysis. Tests also showed his kidneys were only functioning at 50 per cent, according to a report released by medics at the Vladivostok Clinical Hospital earlier this year. Doctors were able to treat the acute kidney failure without dialysis, but his organs are still underperfoming. The 20-year old now faces up to a year of rehabilitation, the doctors said. While there are no reliable UK figures about the prevelance of the condition, rhabdomyolysis is thought to affect about 26,000 people in the US every year. Medics have warned of rising numbers of people becoming hooked on nasal decongestant sprays, which sometimes results in disturbing facial disfigurements. The sprays, available for less than 4 at high-street chemists and supermarkets, are a go-to remedy for relieving a blocked nose. But using them for longer than a week at a time can irritate sensitive blood vessels in the nose, causing swelling. This makes congestion worse, resulting in a vicious cycle that leaves patients even more reliant on the medication to help them breathe. Some patients are forced to have surgery to address damage caused by chronic swelling, which can lead to unsightly scarring. Now, those affected by the problem are calling for the medications, such as Sudafed, to be made available by prescription-only so GPs can limit the supply. Professor Claire Hopkins, an ear nose and throat (ENT) surgeon and rhinologist and sinus specialist at OneWelbeck in London, said this is an issue she is seeing regularly. 'Its probably becoming more common, as peoples access to healthcare is becoming more restricted,' she told ITV. Patients are becoming increasingly addicted to nasal decongestant sprays with some left with noses that look like lifelong cocaine users, medics have warned. Pictured Curtis Arnold-Harmer one of those whose life has been changed by the over-the-counter medication 'We know its very difficult for patients to be seen in primary care, or ear nose and throat clinics. 'So I think theyre more likely to turn to over-the-counter remedies.' One patient trapped in a cycle of what he calls 'addiction' is Curtis Arnold-Harmer from Hastings. He recently told ITV that at the height of his 18 months dependency on Sudafed he was using the spray every hour of the day. 'If I didn't take the spray I couldn't breathe. It was as simple as that,' he said. In a TikTok clip which has been viewed nearly 2 million times, Mr Arnold-Harmer added that when medics examined his nose, the damage was so severe they assumed he had a cocaine addiction. In the end he had to have an operation called a turbinate reduction, a procedure that reduces the size of internal structures in the nose called turbinates. These structures had become inflamed and enlarged by using the decongestant sprays causing his ongoing blocked nose. While the surgery has provided relief Mr Arnold-Harmer will have to have it every five to 10 years for the rest of his life. Sudafed sprays for blocked noses cost around 4. But experts have warned of the dangers when using them for longer than advised Mr Arnold-Harmer said he has been shocked by the numbers of social media users detailing similar situations. 'I was ready for a few comments [on my video] calling me an idiot and saying, "you should have read the box". 'What I wasnt ready for was tens of thousands of comments in the same situation as me.' One wrote: I'm addicted to the Sudafed nasal spray, how do I stop this? I use it every morning, afternoon and night.' Another added: 'Exactly the same happened to me. I got pregnancy rhinitis and got addicted to Sudafed for two years!' And another wrote: 'Its not just when I wake up anymore its every single day every hour...Ive been doing this for six years.' Hannah Brumpton, from Lincoln, is another patient to have needed surgery after developing a dependency on decongestant sprays. She said it led to an almost unbearable level of discomfort. 'It would feel so heavy within my face - not just my nose, but all underneath my eyes. They would feel all puffed up,' she said. 'The only way I could describe it is I either wanted to punch myself in the face, or pull my nose off my face.' Georgia Hardacre, from Fleetwood, Lancashire is another patient to detail her dependency on decongestant sprays, which she has been using for decade. 'Its horrible,' she said. 'You just feel like youre suffocated. I get really bad headaches if I dont unblock myself.' Mr Arnold-Harmer has launched a petition calling for MPs to take action and introduce restrictions on the sale of the medicine. Prof Hopkins said the risk of severe damage requiring surgery from using the sprays for long periods was low. Most patients are capable of weaning themselves off the drug and suffer no long-term nasal damage, she said. Medics have also provided some tips for how to reduce the use of such products. As nasal decongestant sprays are not a prescription medication the number of people taking them regularly and therefore at risk of rebound congestion is unknown. All codeine linctus products which were available over-the-counter for as little as 3 are now prescription-only. Drug watchdogs are concerned about rising cases of serious, and sometimes fatal, side effects. The MHRA said the move would only affect five products: Codeine Linctus BP, Bell's healthcare codeine linctus, Care codeine, Galcodine Linctus, Pulmo Bailly Rebound congestion, known medically as rhinitis medicamentosa, is only caused by excessive use of decongestant nasal sprays containing oxymetazline and xylometazoline, rather than saline or steroid sprays. A spokesperson for Kenvue, the manufacturer of Sudafed, said: 'Safety is our top priority, and we take reports of off-label use of our products very seriously. 'SUDAFED Blocked Nose Spray (xylometazoline hydrochloride) is intended for short-term use only and should not be used continuously for more than seven days, as the products packaging and patient information leaflet explain. 'To use over-the-counter medicines safely and correctly, follow the instructions on the label and speak to your GP or pharmacist if you need advice.' PAGB, the consumer healthcare association representing the manufacturers of branded over-the-counter medicines in the UK added: 'As an over-the-counter medicine, nasal decongestants are indicated for short-term relief of symptoms and the products state on the packaging and patient information leaflet that they should not be used continuously for more than seven days. 'As such, the medicines should only be taken as needed and not for longer than instructed on the products packaging and in the patient information leaflet. 'The patient information leaflet, which accompanies all nasal decongestant sprays, outlines the risks of taking the medication for longer than it's indicated use.' Some over-the-counter medications have already been made prescription only over fears they may be harming the public. Last year, cough-syrups containing codeine were made prescription only over fears people were getting addicted to the powerful opioid ingredient. There have also been calls to make other forms of codeine, like tablets, prescription only. However, the very lowest strength versions of the drug which are combined with painkillers like paracetamol, aspirin or ibuprofen are still available to buy over the counter. Experts have warned even these lower doses can produce a euphoric effect, meaning they still carry a risk of abuse. Some 25 counties, including Germany, Japan and the US, have already banned over-the-counter codeine. One product British regulators removed from shelves in 2023 was cold and flu remedies containing pholcodine after they were found to raise the risk of life-threatening anaphylaxis among patients put under general anaesthetic. Millions of us rely on a cup of coffee for an energy hit first thing in the morning. But experts say enjoying the drink at this time of the day could come with unfortunate health risks. The can stimulate the stomach to produce more acid, leading to reflux symptoms including heartburn, nausea, bad breath and bloating. Yet, medics say this can be easily solved by eating food at the same time as indulging in your morning brew. Dr Masarat Jilani, a London-based NHS GP and resident doctor for supplement provider Jude, said: 'As we get older, our gut can become more sensitive.' Having coffee first thing in the morning without eating beforehand could 'irritate the gut and ramp up acid production', leading to acid reflux. Acid reflux is caused by stomach acid flowing into the oesophagus the tube that connects the mouth and the stomach irritating the soft tissue. Research has long shown caffeine stimulates the production of the hormone gastrin, which is responsible for our gastric acid production. Relying on a cup of coffee first thing in the morning can stimulate the stomach to produce more acid, leading to reflux symptoms including heartburn, nausea, bad breath and bloating Whether it is tea, coffee or an energy drink, caffeine has the ability to give a boost in mood, energy and performance, but it can cause anxiety, increased heart rate and higher blood pressure Although this helps kick start the process of digestion, it also adds acidity to the stomach. Plant-based compounds known as phenols, which are also abundant in coffee, can contribute to the gut's level of acidity. One 2022 study by researchers in France found coffee may relax the esophageal sphincter, 'allowing food to escape into the oesophagus and cause heartburn'. The effects can vary from person to person. For some the higher levels of gastric acid caused by drinking coffee without food, won't cause any problems, but for others it leads to discomfort. To prevent acid reflux, Dr Jilani also recommends waiting at least an hour after waking before reaching for a coffee. She told The Mirror that this gives enough time for hormone levels that regulate digestion to rebalance, and gives you a chance to eat something. 'Plus, spacing out your caffeine intake can lead to more stable energy levels throughout the day, rather than the sharp highs and crashes that come with an early caffeine hit.' Around a quarter of people in the UK suffer from reflux. Other common symptoms include a chronic cough that persists longer than eight weeks frequent throat-clearing, hoarseness and a sore throat. Often, someone with these symptoms won't realise they have reflux because the oesophageal tissues have likely been exposed to acid for so long, they've been numbed to its effects. These 'silent' symptoms mean the condition can be overlooked, which has its own risks: a growing number of people are now succumbing to oesophageal cancer the most extreme manifestation of acid damage. Allies at war: The politics of defeating Hitler by Tim Bouverie (Bodley Head 25, 672pp) Allies At War is available now from the Mail Bookshop IN MANY cases, Donald Mr Tariff Trump is fond of saying, as he justifies his vendetta against nations who have allegedly been ripping America off for years, the friend is worse than the foe. He speaks as if this is an insight that has eluded mankind until now, one that only he, in his infinite, unprecedented wisdom, has come to realise and reveal to an astonished world. Well, not quite, Mr President. Virgil was saying pretty much the same thing a couple of millennia ago when he warned, Beware of Greeks bearing gifts. And more recently as this terrific new book, Allies At War, by Tim Bouverie, shows in great and glorious detail in the Second World War negotiating your way through the shifting diplomatic quicksand imposed by friends and allies was almost harder than actually confronting the enemy. At least you could be sure which side Hitler was on though the same could not always be said for the likes of the wily, poker-faced Stalin, the truculent, disruptive De Gaulle and numerous other leaders. Behind a united front lurked lies, secrets, suspicions and spats. Though Churchill knew the score. There is only one thing worse than fighting with allies, he opined, and that is fighting without them. But he himself was far from averse to a bit of manipulation and double-dealing when it suited him. Nor was his relationship with US president Roosevelt as smooth and straightforward a love-in as the special relationship the phrase Churchill coined for transatlantic co-operation (but only after the war) suggested. It was fundamentally unequal, more, as Bouverie suggests, a pleading relationship. It still is: witness Keir Starmers sucking-up in the White House, and that cringe-making handover of a letter from the King. Keep your friends close: Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin at Yalta in 1945 And while Americans are right in their belief that the US twice went to war in Europe to bail us out both first and second World Wars would have had a different outcome without them, for which we are grateful they struck a hard financial bargain in return in the form of a multi-billion dollar loan that was not paid off until the 21st century. Even when Roosevelt appeared to be outstandingly generous and altruistic, if you burrow into the detail there is often a catch. As in 1940 (before the US actually joined the war) when, amid plenty of self-congratulation, Roosevelt donated 50 destroyers to the Royal Navy. Unfortunately, as a less than grateful British admiral pointed out, they were old rust-buckets, they leaked and their engines were defective. All in all, pretty useless. Yet in return, the US got a number of bases on British islands in the Caribbean, leading a British Cabinet member to accuse the US of unseemly greed. Buried here is another truth about the special relationship. That although Churchill and Roosevelt were eager bedfellows, with much mutual respect between one another, the hierarchies of military and ministers below them on both sides were often marked by suspicion and even outright hostility. Here to help: Cartoon depicting the 'doctors' Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin, published after their meeting at Yalta The Brits distrusted the brash Yanks as vulgar and idle, and the Yanks distrusted the snooty Limeys, who were, in the words of one US senator, a bunch of cunning and scheming brutes. Differences going back to the American Revolution a century and a half earlier still rankled. And however much the prime minister and the president papered over the cracks in public, there was no getting away from the fact that they had major, potentially deal-breaking differences. Roosevelt loathed colonialism and wanted the British Empire gone. He feared rightly that Churchill was desperate to preserve it. The fact that, after the war, the anti-imperialist US would be intent on building up an empire of its own (and, again, still is: see Trumps designs on Canada and Greenland) is one of modern historys ironies/hypocrisies. Its an irony, too, that defeating one dictator meant jumping into bed with another and also turning a blind eye to a regime that was on a par with Hitlers in its fanaticism and disregard for human life. Stalin, Roosevelt, Churchill not a natural threesome. The stresses and strains between them were many and frequent. After the Germans invaded Russia and reached as far as the outskirts of Moscow and Stalingrad (now Volgograd), the two Western allies were nagged constantly (and not unreasonably) by Stalin to take some of the pressure off him in the East by launching an invasion of Europe from their side. Churchills most significant diplomatic achievement was to stall until the summer of 1944, fearing that a premature invasion across the Channel would end in a bloodbath and defeat. In the end, though, Stalin was the winner in the political jostling. He worked hard on Roosevelt, who, as the war came to an end, let himself be so mesmerised by the Soviet leader that he made the mistake of trusting him and assisting in the carve-up of eastern Europe and the Balkans. Churchill was sceptical, conscious of Stalins real agenda, but realised there was little he could do to save any of those countries forced into the Soviet sphere. The Big Three: The three leaders discussed the establishment of the Eastern Front at the Tehran Conference Wed gone to war once before over Poland. It wasnt going to happen again. Churchill had to bite the bullet: there was a new world order, in which Britain was the also-ran, a poor little donkey, as he put it, beside the big Russian bear and the great American elephant. Bouverie is a historian with an exceptional command of his subject, and there is much to learn from his book. Trump could well do with it on his list of required reading (if there is such a thing) as he turns todays world upside down. It might show him how to do diplomacy and more importantly how not to do it. The way Stalin out-manoeuvred Roosevelt might persuade Trump not to trust Putin. And above all, to beware of Russians bearing gifts. Parallel Lines by Edward St Aubyn (Jonathan Cape 20, 272pp) Parallel Lines is available now from the Mail Bookshop A SPRAWLING, convoluted and underwhelming new novel from the author of the Patrick Melrose novels, which are one of the great literary portraits of outrageous family dysfunction. Sebastian is maintaining only the faintest handle on reality following a breakdown, while Olivia is struggling to maintain even a semblance of a relationship with her emotionally wayward birth mother. Linking the pair, in ways both are unaware, is Martin, who is Sebastians therapist and Olivias adopted father. Yet St Aubyn has never regained his form since Melrose and this novel circles round and round itself in desultory search of a plot. There are hints of St Aubyns scabrous wit in Sebastians psychotic episodes (the author is not one to pussyfoot around the subject of insanity) but precious little evidence of his lacerating intelligence and stylistic brio. Disappointing. Small Boat by Vincent Delacroix (HopeRoad 12.99, 160pp) Small Boat is available now from the Mail Bookshop In his sensationalist, 2023 Booker-winning dystopia, Prophet Song, Paul Lynch asked readers to imagine the terrifying reality of migrants trying to cross treacherous seas. It was a crude and unworthy novel; far better is this taut, tense novella from the French philosopher Vincent Delacroix, which looks at the same question from more ethically ambiguous perspectives. The first and third sections are narrated by a French coast guard operator on whose negligent watch 27 migrants died when their boat capsized (a real-life event, which took place in 2021); the middle section is from the point of view of a nameless migrant aboard the boat. Much of the novel grapples with the question of blame and where it lies a question, the operator argues in a police interrogation, that has its roots in the geopolitical circumstances that prompted the migrants to leave their homes in the first place. A work of sickening power, its won a deserved place on the International Booker shortlist. Back in the Day by Oliver Lovrenski (Hamish Hamilton 14.99, 256pp) Back In The Day is available now from the Mail Bookshop We dont know much biographical detail about Ivor, the teenage narrator of this jagged novel by the Croatian Norwegian writer, on whom we are led to believe the character is loosely based. We do know he is bright, loyal to his friends, self-destructive and, after the death of his beloved grandmother, is sinking rapidly into a drug-addled life of kicks, stabbings and violent crime. Through jumpy, bite-sized chapters peppered with slang, we get a queasily voyeuristic impression of the dark side of Norways immigrant communities, and the ease with which ones life can slide. To some extent this is an exercise in literary adrenaline (you can gulp it down in one sitting) but its immersive brio is also hard to shake off. Midnight in Soap Lake by Mathew Sullivan (HQ 20, 416pp) Midnight in Soap Lake is available now from the Mail Bookshop There is something delicious about sinister small-town mysteries. They are endlessly fascinating and even more so when the small towns actually exist, as this one does. The writer spent time living in the real town of Soap Lake in rural Washington State, hence the marvellously realised sense of place on show here. Abigail moves there with her scientist husband who has to leave for another project. Abigail becomes immersed in the mysterious history of the town when she happens across a small boy called George running from a car where his mother Esme lies bleeding to death. Abigail refuses to believe its a run of the mill drugs death and becomes obsessed with Esmes former life. Soap Lake itself has special scientific properties. Conspiracy theories and a local legend called Treetop all combine to make this a cracking read. The Serial Killers Party by Amy Cunningham (Penguin 8.99, 336pp) The Serial Killer's Party is available now from the Mail Bookshop An exclusive invitation to a three-day party in Norway thrown by a billionaire is irresistible to Amelia, not just because of all the ostentatious luxury, but because it gives her the opportunity to avenge the death of her sister. The big twist is that the billionaire has his own plans, meaning shes in danger from the get-go. But the book is also so crammed with little twists that the plot keeps moving fast and furiously. Privilege and accountability are two of the big themes, but the writer allows us to enjoy some delicious details of the life of luxury lived by billionaires too. The scenes in Norway are particularly well drawn. In the end, its a story about the complicated love between sisters with an unguessable and satisfying conclusion. The Liar by Louise Jensen (HQ 9.99, 352pp) The Liar is available from the Mail Bookshop There is a reliable no-nonsense style about Jensens writing that immediately draws you into her stories. The Abbot familys nosey new lodger Luke, who keeps asking too many personal questions, is immediately and convincingly suspicious. But gradually we learn that all the family have secrets of their own. Things take a more menacing turn when the mother Mel suddenly texts to say she is going away for a break. Meanwhile daughter Jen is convinced she is being watched. This is a superb study of how underlying, secret familial tensions are just waiting for the right catalyst to spark chaos. Jensen is particularly good at depicting relatable characters and can rely on readers psychological investment to keep the tension going, even when the plot goes a bit quiet. FISH TALES by Nettie Jones (Virago Modern Classic 16.99, 262pp) Fish Tales is available now from the Mail Bookshop Out of print for 40 years, its the sheer energy of this short novel that overwhelms. It follows black American Lewis Jones as she navigates the decadent worlds of 1970s New York and Detroit in a haze of champagne, cocaine, Valium and sexual excess, funded by her doctor ex-husband. Befriended by Kitty, a flamboyant hustler, Lewis likes to party and control, manipulate yet play the victim until she meets Ivy League paraplegic Brook and becomes obsessed with him. This cat-and-mouse game ends in frenzied tragedy, like a roller coaster ride crashing into the buffers. Youll need a calming cup of tea afterwards. Decadence and Debauchery in Detroit ALL THAT IS by James Salter (Picador 10.99, 400pp) All That Is is available now from the Mail Bookshop Sex is also a theme in this brilliantly sketched portrait of Philip Bowman, young veteran of the naval war in the Pacific, who wangles a place at Harvard and ends up as a fiction editor (lots of good in-jokes about writers here). Over 40 years, characters come and go: his single mother, a rich, horsey Southern first wife, a British lover, a surprisingly duplicitous live-in partner and various male friends and colleagues. Like a kaleidoscope, their influence on him swirls and builds as he never quite connects, other than through (rather graphic) sex with the women, culminating in an act of shockingly cruel revenge. Its clever, witty and scalpel-sharp in its tracing of post-war America. THE IMAGE OF HER by Simone de Beauvoir (Vintage 14.99, 200pp) The Image of Her is available now from the Mail Bookshop Its 1960s Paris and advertising copywriter Laurence lives a life of wealthy, bourgeois ease with her two daughters, architect husband, adored father and self-obsessed mother. Laurence also has a lover, but when her elder daughter starts asking what the point of everything is, it triggers a crisis. Laurence has a history of depression, but as she battles with her childs questions, she confronts the emptiness of her life: all material superficiality and quest for perfection, but utterly lacking her own voice. How can she protect her daughter from her own mistakes? Beautifully written, what surprises is how very modern this feminist rite of passage feels. Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more Smile lines around the mouth and loss of volume in the lips can creep up on us while were busy worrying about crows feet. Thankfully, filler is no longer the only anti-ageing solution. New, less drastic treatments can promote plumpness and a smoother, more hydrated look for your pout. Why are lips so susceptible to the signs of ageing? One problem is they have fewer oil glands than the rest of the facial skin, leaving them more fragile and prone to dehydration and collagen loss. We also often forget to protect our lips with SPF, so they suffer the effects of sun exposure. And we use the muscles around the mouth during almost all waking hours, so the whole area is subject to high levels of wear and tear. But you would be right to be fearful of a trout pout. Dr Ifeoma Ejikeme, founder of the Adonia Medical Clinic in London, says that the problem with past treatments was they focused on fixing lines, rather than rejuvenating. That Love Island look is from injecting excessive filler in the vermilion border (the demarcation between the lips and the skin). Filler often migrates above the lip line, leaving that familiar visible ledge or unnatural fullness where there shouldnt be. Thankfully, new, more subtle treatments can add volume while still looking natural. Here, then, are six ways to achieve plumper lips without looking like a reality TV star. Lip flip Here Botox is injected above the upper lip to relax the muscles. This causes a subtle upward rolling of the lip, making it more visible and creating an illusion of increased volume, and fine lines are also reduced all without any added weight. From 150*. Polynucleotides These are bio-stimulators (yes, the type derived from fish sperm) that mimic human DNA to encourage collagen production, promote skin regeneration and improve elasticity. The injections boost your lips but, once settled, wont add any synthetic volume this is more about stimulating your lip tissue to act the way it did when you were in your 20s. From 200. Thermage This radiofrequency treatment, which is well established for improving facial wrinkles, heats the deeper layers of the dermis, stimulating collagen production and contracting fibres to tighten the skin. And now you can have it locally on your lips. Its non-invasive but you might feel a flash of heat. From 1,800. Fillers 2.0 Dr Ejikeme says fillers have vastly improved over the past five years. Most are now dissolvable, have a more malleable texture and create minimal swelling. Also, cosmetic doctors now recognise that different brands of fillers work better in particular areas of the face. Dr Ejikeme likes Galderma Restylane for softer areas such as lips. From 200 per 1ml (which is considered a good starting point for most people). CO laser Perfect for those smokers lines that crop up around the lip area, this resurfacing laser treatment removes layers of skin to stimulate collagen, reduce scarring and wrinkles (even deeper ones) and tighten skin. From 250. Lip blush As we get older the blood vessels in our lips decrease, causing them to lose colour and appear finer. Lip blush is effectively a semi-permanent tattoo that tints your lips back to their former youthful shade and redefines that aforementioned vermilion border. From 200. Always get recommendations and check your practitioners credentials with the General Medical Council (gmc-uk.org) *All prices vary according to doctor and location. Not ready for a tweakment? Try these products for a plumper pout The original was tingly and this is even more so. Hot pepper extract stimulates blood flow, so lips will be temporarily pumped up with a nice flush. The Maximum Plump version helps you step it up a notch. Before Hailey Bieber launched her Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment, she filmed TikToks with this cult classic. Regular use helps create a plumper, less-lined pout. Swipe this silky crayon outwards over your lip line to give the impression of larger lips. Way more subtle than overlining. Matt lip liners can emphasise fine lines. This has a subtle sheen to its satin finish, leaving lips looking juicier. With red and near-infrared light (wavelengths that stimulate collagen and cell renewal), this tool takes three minutes a day. Just pop the silicone end in your mouth and turn it on. UNDER A TENNER The cold war between ABC stalwart George Stephanopoulos and young buck David Muir has been glazed with another icy snap. Muir, the network's apparent golden boy who anchors World News Tonight, was named among Time's 100 most influential people this week. He received a glowing tribute from none other than industry legend Diane Sawyer. Stephanopoulos, who once held the esteemed title of ABC News' chief anchor, did not make the list. ABC insists that rumors of a feud are nonsense. 'This is a tired narrative. Everyone at ABC News is proud of Davids recognition,' a spokesperson said in a statement. Stephanopoulos did his best to put such speculation to bed when he congratulated Muir on his nomination through gritted teeth earlier this week. 'David Muir! Our own David Muir,' gushed his GMA co-host Robin Roberts on Wednesday as they rattled through nominees. 'Congratulations to David and all the nominees,' Stephanopoulos, 64, quickly added. The reported tension began when Muir was cherry-picked to replace Sawyer. World News Tonight anchor David Muir has been named one of Time's top 100 most influential people of the year - while Good Morning America's George Stephanopoulos was noticeably absent Despite this, the Good Morning America team all celebrated Muir on Wednesday, with even Stephanopoulos offering words of encouragement. He still holds the distinction of being ABC News' chief anchor, making his absence all the more conspicuous In her Time tribute, Sawyer gushed of Muir: 'I am lucky that my successor is also the irreverent friend I want to hang out with when the camera shuts down. 'Though I am also miffed that hes the guy who can leap two flights of stairs, vault into the anchor chair, and never lose focus - or his breath.' 'He's the anchor chosen for interviews by Popes and Presidents. 'He shows up calm, respectful, and fearless.' The magazine offered Muir's predecessor, Diane Sawyer, the chance to pen his tribute. She did so in earnest fashion, while offering some anecdotes and characteristic emotion 'Like [Peter] before him, David is authoritative and dynamic - the first out the door to the story,' she wrote. '[David] anchors the nations most-watched television news program,' she went on. 'Every night more than 8million Americans trust him to make sense of the day.' That's nearly 2million more than next-best NBC, which is set to lose longtime fixture Lester Holt - who made the Time list after his first year manning Nightly News full-time in 2016 - this summer. That's after Muir managed to erase the 1 million total-viewer gap he inherited from Sawyer - his old boss. 'Iraqs hunt for ISIS. Hurricanes, fires,' she added. 'He traveled [to them all].' After the exits of Holt from NBC and Norah O'Donnell at CBS, Muir is one of the few familiar faces in a thinning field of primetime news anchors - an industry already in overall decline. Back in February, a former senior NBC staffer told DailyMail.com that familiarity is Muir's biggest weapon - one that will likely see the gap he has built between NBC and ABC continue to grow,. 'Lester's an icon - and some night's he's still down to [ABC's] David Muir by more than 1million viewers,' the source said at the time, as Muir remains the most-watched face in primetime. Meanwhile, after the exits of Lester Holt and Norah O'Donnell, Muir remains one of the few familiar faces left in a thinning field of anchors 'He has that recognition, and was already down 1.6million to Muir on some nights.' A second source familiar with the matter further added how Tom Llamas, the NBC News correspondent tapped to replace Holt, has yet to inspire much confidence in his higher-ups. However, the former World News Tonight weekend host - who 'was promised the job' after being poached by ABC a few years ago - did do well ratings-wise during a two-day fill-in last week, new Nielsen numbers show. He's also beaten Muir in the hallowed 24-55 demographic multiple times before when subbing in for Holt. Stephanopoulos, meanwhile, still retains his areas of power at the network, where is still highly respected. He was inducted last September into the Broadcasting and Cable in Manhattan, along with ABC boss Debra O'Connell, the president of news and networks for parent company Walt Disney. Muir, meanwhile, was not. This was after a reported tussle between the two in 2022, spurred by Muir taking on his more pronounced political role at the network - seemingly at the expense of Stephanopoulos, a former high-profile Bill Clinton aide with high-profile connections in the industry. It surrounded who would be the network's chief anchor, several outlets reported - as former CNN reporter Oliver Darcy told DailyMail.com last month: 'There's a reason that [George] does not play a role in the larger ABC news political coverage anymore. Pictured, Muir months before he assumed Sawyer's spot on ABC's primetime program, with longtime Stephanopoulos costar Robin Roberts and Sawyer herself ABC named Muir its 'lead' anchor for all major political events and was tapped to handle the networks breaking news coverage. Aside from his top spot at GMA, Stephanopoulos also anchors ABC News Sunday public affairs show This Week, after also being given a production company as part of a partnership with ABC News and Hulu. Such animosity has since evaporated, Darcy said last month - stating Stephanopoulos still has 'his own real estate' in the network. 'He was the lead man for a while and now it's [Muir].' Comedian Tyler Fischer is persona-non-grata at Fox after being accused of harassing a young female employee at the network's New York studios earlier this year. Fischer, 38, was a frequent guest on Gutfeld!, the network's widely popular late night show that pulls in about five million viewers nightly. But after boldly asking out a young female staffer during a visit to the network's Manhattan HQ in January, his appearances have dried up. Fischer says his only 'crime' was innocently asking the woman out for coffee. He'd been asked to appear on Gutfeld's show on January 30, and was in the building early for a meeting when he encountered the young woman sitting at her desk. Fischer, speaking to Daily Mail, described it as a 'flirty little interaction'. 'I introduced myself, I said "Hey, I'm Tyler... I need to get going to the show to film, but would you ever get coffee sometime"' he recalls himself saying. Moments later, he was approached by security. The female staffer complained that he'd harassed her and reported it. Fischer insisted to DailyMail.com there was nothing aggressive or unfriendly about the interaction, saying it was 'consensual and we agreed to exchange information. 'I asked if shed like to get coffee another time and she said yes. Thats what prompted me to ask about exchanging contact information, which was also consensual.' Comedian Tyler Fischer says he's been blacklisted by Fox after asking out a female employee at the network The incident occurred at Fox's Sixth Avenue HQ on January 30, when Fischer was in the building to film Gutfeld! Within minutes, he recalled, 'Security grabbed me and I was escorted me off the floor. 'It was confusing - I didn't get what happened... I was stunned and humiliated,' he says. Fischer was then accompanied by security to the Gutfeld set to film, and left the studios afterwards. Two weeks later, a pre-arranged appearance was canceled. Fischer - who has appeared on the show over a dozen times in the last two years - hasn't been asked back since. He believes he's a victim of a woke 'mind virus' culture, and that he did nothing wrong. 'It is not illegal or against any rules at Fox to ask a grown adult for coffee,' he fumed, a day after taking to X to air his claims - a decision he said he did not take lightly. He gave Fox a full two months to address his inquiries, he said. 'But in the woke mind virus world, any advance by a man is labeled as some kind of toxic masculinity,' he fumed. Fischer is now contemplating legal action against the network, he says - adding how he even warned Fox he was going to post about it to explain his side and absence to fans. 'It is beyond tragic to see men hide away in fear. I, for one, will not allow it to happen to me,' he said, slamming the 'harassment' claims as a 'false accusation.' Fischer was a regular on Fox's widely popular late night show Gutfeld! until the January incident Fischer claims he was unfairly accused of harassment and blacklisted as a result A source said to have knowledge of the situation, however, told DailyMail.com the incident played out differently, claiming Fischer grabbed the woman's phone and put his number in it forcibly, before returning it and 'demand[ing] to know she had the number now.' 'And it wasn't friendly', the source said. Representatives for Fox, meanwhile, declined to comment. The staffer in question has not been named. She was sitting at her desk and had not been interacting with Fischer when he approached her, he said. The interaction was overheard by other network employees. As for Fischer, he is a comedian who lives full-time in Texas. He had been renting out an apartment in New York specifically to appear on Fox, he said - adding how sans some early, initial responses from Fox in February, he has yet to hear anything more. A well-known figure, Fischer has appeared on both the Joe Rogan Experience and Kill Tony, and is currently touring across the US. He has built a sizable following over the past or two years thanks to his Gutfeld! appearances. In a previous spat, he accused a talent agency of refusing to sign him because he is a white man. We love you. Everyone here loves you and thinks youre a star, but were not taking you because youre white,' he claims agents at AGI said. Fox faced a sexual harassment reckoning in 2017 with an onslaught of #MeToo allegations against late chairman Roger Ailes and a handful of male stars. Bill O'Reilly was among star hosts who'd been accused of harassing female colleagues. MSNBCs Lawrence ODonnell has claimed a Democratic senator 'outsmarted' Donald Trump by holding court with an alleged MS-13 member over what looked to be margaritas. The left-leaning star - who once wrote for the West Wing - reacted to the subtropical summit between Sen. Chris Van Hollen and Kilmar Abrego Garcia live, after it was announced by the senator's office late Thursday through a photo-op. The images show Abrego Garcia and the Maryland Senator meeting in San Salvador over drinks, with two glasses with cherries and salted rims before them. Hollen called the meet a 'simple humanitarian request designed 'to see if [he] is doing OK.' The latter was deported from the US last month, after entering the US illegally in 2011. A judge went on to block his return to El Salvador in 2019, based on the fact that MS-13 members were after him. The court, however, ruled he could be deported elsewhere, and the Trump administration has since admitted the suspected gang member - who lived in Maryland with a wife and young son - was deported to El Salvador in error. A federal appeals court has since demanded Trump facilitate Abrego Garcia's return to the US. Democrats and anti-deportation activists claim his deportation was unjust. ODonnell, on The Last Word, made clear he feels the same - talking up the fact that in the midst of this heated legal standoff, Hollen met with the man at its center. In doing so, the anchor repeatedly billed Abrego Garcia as 'a US citizen', all while talking up Hollen's supposed 'accomplishment'. Hollen gained access to Abrego Garcia after two days in the country, after first being turned away by officials. MSNBCs Lawrence ODonnell has claimed a Democratic senator 'outsmarted' Donald Trump by holding court with an alleged MS-13 member over what looked to be margaritas Pictured: Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen sits with illegal migrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia with drinks that some claimed were margaritas. The images show Abrego Garcia and Hollen meeting in San Salvador over drinks, with glasses with cherries and salted rims before them 'The breaking news of the night is that Maryland Senator Chris Can Hollen has managed to visit the Maryland resident Kilmer Abrego Garcia, being held in prison in El Salvador,' O'Donnell began on his eponymous broadcast. 'In what the Trump Administration admits was a mistake,' O'Donnell went on to note the president of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele's, own reaction to the meetup - one that had made light of criticisms of conditions Abrego Garcia has been kept in. 'Now sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador!' he had wrote - causing a self-righteous O'Donnell to label the politician as a 'wise guy' for what he framed as cozying up to a foreign president. 'The president of El Salvador thinks tonight is a time to be mocking this, this prisoner, that he's holding there - and mocking this process,' he said, 'But his words are going to be used in court now in this case, as are Donald Trump's. 'And they are going to be helpful to Mister Abrego Garcia,' he asserted. 'Because what the president of El Salvador has demonstrated today is just how easy it is to get this person out of El Salvador, just how easy it is to control his movements.' Hollen called the meet a 'simple humanitarian request designed 'to see if [Abrego Garcia] is doing OK', while O'Donnell touted it as a political victory over the president Van Hollen did not provide an update on the status of Abrego Garcia (pictured), whose attorneys are fighting to force the Trump administration to facilitate his return to the US President Bukele continues to maintain he does not possess the political power to return Garcia to the US. 'This will all be part of the case,' O'Donnell continued, delivering his rant with contempt. '[What] the Trump team has done to [Garcia] - they snatched him out of his car with his autistic five year old child watching from the back seat, and then [they] sent him to a deliberately cruel and unusual prison in El Salvador, where he may remain. 'Tonight, a federal appeals court panel unanimously ruled against the Trump administration in the case,' he added of the ruling aired earlier in the day 'The [US] government is asserting a right to stash away residents of this country in foreign prisons, without the semblance of due process. 'That is the foundation of our Constitutional order. 'The government asserts that [Garcia] is a terrorist and a member of MS-13,' he went on. 'Perhaps, but perhaps not. 'Regardless, he is still entitled to due process,' he continued, before painting Hollen as a political hero whose sitdown with the suspected criminal got Garcia a step closer to freedom. 'It seems to me the courts are going to be very interested in what the senator was able to accomplish - versus what they would expect the president to be able to accomplish here,' said 'I want to keep those pictures of Senator Van Hollen on the screen, because it is so inspiring to see what he achieved and seeing seeing what his intervention means here.' Any such accomplishment remains to be seen, and the government has conceded that Garcia was mistakenly deported. He is still an illegal immigrant, though has not been charged with any crime. Hollens visit, meanwhile, represented a broader Democratic bid to bring attention to the case surrounding Garcia and his detention, as a means to challenge the Trump administrations aggressive approach to illegal immigration. When asked at the White House Thursday whether he would consider bringing Garcia back to the US, Trump said, 'Im not involved. 'Youll have to speak to the lawyers, the DOJ,' he said, as Democrats - much to the ridicule of conservatives - continue to fight for the safe return of a suspected criminal. The Ferrari F50 is arguably one of the most collectable road cars of the 1990s. It ticks all the multi-million-pound classic car boxes: low-volume exclusivity, a V12 engine taken from the Scuderia Formula One cars of the era, and achingly beautiful looks. And one bound for the auction block later this year is such a head turner that it attracted the attention of one of the world's most prominent fashion designers, with a keen eye for style. This 1995 Ferrari F50 was delivered new to American billionaire Ralph Lauren and is a highly coveted car. With only 349 F50s produced by the Maranello factory, it's already an exceedingly rare - and desirable - model. But this one is even more special as it's only one of two US-delivered examples painted striking yellow, a paint colour Ferrari calls Giallo Modena. It will go under the hammer in California in the summer with a mere 5,400 miles chalked up in its 30-year life. The amount of cash the winning bidder is expected to hand over is nothing short of astronomical. This 1995 Ferrari F50 was delivered new to fashion designer Ralph Lauren. Some 30 years later, it is going under the hammer with an astronomical guide price RM Sotheby's will offer this beautiful motor at its flagship Monterey Sale in the US taking place on the 15 and 16 August. Given its legendary status and famous original custodian, the auction house reckons it will sell for between $6.5million and $7.5million. In pounds sterling, that's around 5m to 5.7m, or, to you and me, multiple lifetimes of earnings. Initially presented to the fashion star in 1995, he kept it in his booming car collection for eight years. Lauren, 85, is known to be a huge petrol head, amassing a garage of more than 100 exotic motors. Included amongst these is the apple of the eye of classic car enthusiasts - a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO. But that's not all. He also has two Ferrari TRs, three 1996 McLaren F1s, a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing, 1929 Bentley Blower, Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic, 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Gangloff, Bugatti Veyron, 1930 Mercedes-Benz SSK 'Count Trossi', and a 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Mille Miglia. It's fair to say, the man knows his cars. Ralph Lauren, 85, is recognised for being a proper petrol head and car collector. He has over 100 exotic models in his garage The Ferrari F50 ticks all the multi-million-pound classic car boxes: it has low-volume exclusivity, a V12 engine and achingly beautiful looks Initially presented to Lauren in 1995, he kept it in his booming car collection for eight years For the last 22 years, it has remained in single enthusiast ownership in which it has largely been kept away from the limelight, making very few public appearances In 2003, Bronx-born New Yorker Lauren sold the F50 via Ferrari of Washington to its current owner. It has since remained in single enthusiast ownership in which it has largely been kept away from the limelight. In fact, the only notable appearance it has made in the last 22 years was during a brief public showing at the Cavallino Classic in 2009. 'The Ferrari F50 is quickly becoming one of the most collectible road cars of all time,' says Zach Oller, car specialist at RM Sotheby's. 'In the world of collector cars, multiple factors influence desirability - rarity, provenance, and the badge itself. And when you're talking about Ferrari, those details matter even more. 'This car checks every box. The spec is exceptional: finished in ultra-rare Giallo Modena, one of only two US-delivered F50s in yellow. 'The provenance is unmatched - it was owned by Ralph Lauren. 'And in terms of condition, it's one of the finest examples known to exist. 'This is the kind of car that rarely surfacesand when it does, the entire collector world takes notice.' With only 349 F50s produced by the Maranello factory, it's already an exceedingly rare - and desirable - model. But this one is even more special as it's only one of two US-delivered models painted striking yellow, a paint colour Ferrari calls Giallo Modena Built to celebrate Ferrari's 50th anniversary, the F50 was designed as a roadgoing Formula One car, featuring a 4.7-litre V12 powerplant derived from Ferrari's 1990 F1 engine RM Sotheby's will offer the beautiful supercar at its flagship Monterey Sale in the US taking place on the 15 and 16 August Given its legendary status and famous original custodian, the auction house reckons it will sell for between $6.5million and $7.5million (5m-5.7m) Get 20 off an MOT: This is Money Motoring Club The This is Money Motoring Club is designed to make car ownership cheaper and simpler for This is Money and MailOnline readers. Powered by MotorEasy it's the place to keep on top of tax, MOTs and servicing - and manage important documents and receipts that keep your cars value. You can also save money on maintenance and repairs. All new members will receive a one-off gift of 20 in reward vouchers to spend. You can use this for a raft of motoring discounts, including getting 20 off an MOT with one of MotorEasy's listed providers. > Find out more about the This is Money Motoring Club Launched in 1995, the F50 had the incredibly difficult task of following in the tyre tracks of arguably Ferrari's greatest automotive creation of the modern era: the F40. It's fair to say that collectors were somewhat underwhelmed in the early days, with values remaining relatively low. But in recent years it has become a supercar that's appreciated both in the opinion of the wealthiest petrol heads and value. Like Ferrari's other 'Big Five' supercar members - the 288 GTO, F40, Enzo, and LaFerrari - prices have continued to rise, but the F50 has emerged as a standout. Collectors want one because the F50 bookends a generation of vehicles from the Italian giant: it's Ferrari's last naturally aspirated, open-top, manual-transmission supercar developed with direct F1 lineage. 'For collectors seeking rarity, provenance, and emotional driving connection, this is one of the most compelling modern Ferraris to come to market in years,' Sotheby's says. Launched in 1995, the F50 had the incredibly difficult task of following in the tyre tracks of arguably Ferrari's greatest automotive creation of the modern era: the F40 In recent years, the F50 has become a supercar that's appreciated both in the opinion of the wealthiest petrol heads and value The F50 bookends a generation of vehicle from the Italian giant: it's Ferrari's last naturally aspirated, open-top, manual-transmission supercar developed with direct F1 lineage Ralph Lauren's former Fezza heads to the US auction in the summer showing just 5,361 miles driven Built to celebrate Ferrari's 50th anniversary, the F50 was designed as a roadgoing Formula One car, featuring a 4.7-litre V12 powerplant derived from the engine Ferrari's Scuderia F1 team had developed for the 1990 season. With a carbon fibre monocoque, six-speed manual gearbox, and removable hardtop, it remains a purist's dream. Of the 349 produced, only 55 were US-spec. Almost all of those were red. Lauren's Giallo Modena example is believed to be one of only four non-red US cars, making it among the rarest and most desirable F50s in existence. Certified by Ferrari Classiche, this F50 remains fully numbers-matching and original throughout. With just 5,361 miles on the clock, the Fezza has recently received a fresh service, and will be sold with its original books, leather folio, and Ferrari-branded flashlight. How do you deal with Donald Trump? The Federal Reserve chairman Jay Powell chooses to ignore the rantings and trust that his constitutional position as chairman of the central bank, reporting to Congress, will protect him. Britain has opted to get along, which is why Rachel Reeves may be hopeful of returning to London with a trade accord of some kind when she attends the spring meetings of finance ministers in Washington next week. Brussels has adopted a less fawning approach but has avoided the Zelensky trap of seeking to tell an unhinged American President that he knows best. Where then does the president of the World Bank, Ajay Banga, sit in this universe? He starts with a disadvantage in that he was thrust into the role by Joe Biden after Democratic grandees and climate change warriors Al Gore and John Kerry effectively defenestrated Republican predecessor David Malpass. Banga's redeeming feature, as far as the White House and a Republican-dominated Congress is concerned, is that his previous job was chief executive of Mastercard, which means he has good private sector, financially literate credentials. Hard to grasp: Ajay Banga starts with a disadvantage in that he was thrust into the role by Joe Biden An inspirational president of the World Bank, in the image of some of his better predecessors, Robert McNamara and James Wolfensohn, he is not. Banga regards media interest in the work of the World Bank as a bit of a chore. His appearance at a Zoom briefing on the upcoming spring meetings of the Fund was a monologue followed by half-a-dozen questions, and lacked all the free-wheeling spirit of an open, live press conference. Here was an opportunity for Banga to inspire. There are no shortage of humanitarian issues or war-torn countries to consider. In Britain in the last week there has been some terrific and brave reporting by the BBC from Sudan on a war which has claimed 150,000 lives and is described by the United Nations as the world's largest humanitarian crisis. David Lammy also had his best moment as Foreign Secretary, even if one profoundly disagrees with what he has to say about Israel-Gaza. His determination to lead a 'pathway to peace' in Sudan, where charities say 30million people are desperately in need, is admirable. The UK is promising an extra 120million for the region. Rich nearby Gulf states, riven with dissent over which rebel group they are supporting militarily in this horrific conflict, chose to sit on their hands. Banga might have used his engagement with the media to make the case for unlocking US assistance, cancelled by Trump and Elon Musk, to a benighted region. Instead of challenging his close neighbours at the White House in Washington, Banga's choice was to play down the loss of USAID funds. These are the biggest source of emergency assistance across the globe. Banga insisted that 'aid is a temporary method to help countries'. He expressed understanding for the fiscal problems of the West which had caused Britain, the US and others to take a scythe to official development assistance. In choosing to desist from criticism of Trumpism, the World Bank president may be aiming to help unlock $80billion to $85billion for the next round of funding for the International Development Association which provides grants to the poorest countries. Less of the dry bank manager and more humanity would be the courageous path. Donald Trump was supposed to be good for investors but things have not gone as planned. After a stock market surge in the wake of the supposedly pro-business US president's election, things went south as threat turned to action on tariffs. Trump has rowed back slightly on his tariff announcements that rocked the market but has only put in place a 90 day pause - and is waging full on trade war with China. This week, the FTSE 100 and global stock markets regained some ground, but tough and volatile times still lie ahead. So, has the investing landscape totally changed, could US shares rebound and can the UK and Europe profit? Simon Lambert and Interactive Investor's Richard Hunter discuss what next. The value of Canary Wharfs office blocks slumped again last year as the London finance hub continued to struggle. The office estate owned by Canary Wharf Group (CWG) fell in value by 4.1 per cent, or 180million, to 4.2billion in 2024, according to its latest accounts. It wasnt as steep a decline as the previous year when the value dropped by 954million, owing to the widespread use of hybrid working arrangements following the Covid pandemic which battered demand for business properties. The latest fall in value highlighted the challenge facing Canary Wharf as it looks to redefine itself and move away from its reputation as a bank- focused finance hub. The group, which is owned by Canadian property investment giant Brookfield and Qatars sovereign wealth fund, has seen some high-profile tenants, including HSBC and law firm Clifford Chance, move their offices away from the estate. Vacancies: The office estate owned by Canary Wharf Group fell in value by 4.1%, or 180m, to 4.2bn in 2024, according to its latest accounts As a result, CWG has focused on attracting residents and retailers to broaden the appeal of the area beyond being just a workspace for bankers. While the value of its office blocks declined during the year, the company reported that its portfolio of retail properties increased by 0.9 per cent to 1.2billion although residential property values dropped 7.2 per cent to 208million. Overall, the value of the entire estate fell by 1.2 per cent during the year to 6.8billion. Despite the slower decline in the value of its offices, the firm reported that more of them are now lying empty, with occupancy rates falling to 88.2 per cent last year from 91.1 per cent in 2023. While more workers return as the effects of the pandemic recede, Londons office market is continuing to struggle as some companies cut back on space to save costs. The Docklands area, which includes Canary Wharf, has the highest office vacancy rate in the city at around 19 per cent a figure that is expected to increase further as large tenants, such as investment banks, decamp to other locations. While CWG is continuing to pivot away from offices, they still make up the majority of its portfolio, equivalent to nearly 63 per cent of its total value. BPs top brass suffered a shareholder revolt yesterday in the latest blow to a once-mighty corporate titan that is now standing at a crossroads. Chairman Helge Lund was dealt a bloody nose as a quarter of shareholders opposed his re-election the oil giants biggest protest vote in nearly a decade. And while chief executive Murray Auchincloss received the backing of 97 per cent of investors suggesting his position is safe for now his long-term future hangs in the balance. The pivotal investor meeting at BPs headquarters in Surrey came as it grapples with an identity crisis. Auchincloss is hoping to convince the shareholders that his new strategy can boost the oil majors languishing valuation. The FTSE 100 energy majors share price has lagged behind peers since it aggressively pivoted to renewables under former boss Bernard Looney. Green drain: BPs share price has lagged behind peers since it aggressively pivoted to renewables under former boss Bernard Looney That has left it scrambling to change course and vulnerable to a takeover. Arch-rival Shell and US oil giants Chevron and Exxon Mobil have been touted as potential buyers. A deal would be a devastating blow to both the 124-year-old company and Londons stock market. BP can trace its roots back to 1901 when British businessman William Knox DArcy was granted an exploration licence in Iran, then known as Persia. The company discovered oil seven years later. Initially known as the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, the firm was renamed British Petroleum in 1954. And the 1970 discovery of an oil field in the North Sea fuelled BPs stratospheric rise to the top. But 25 years ago, former chief executive Lord Browne, who was dubbed the Sun King, rebranded BP as Beyond Petroleum. Browne was heralded for overseeing rapid growth during his 12 years, but the move set BP on course to pursue a green agenda. He was forced to resign in 2007 after lying in court and his short-lived successor Tony Hayward stepped down after the Deepwater Horizon disaster in 2010. He and BP were heavily criticised for a string of PR gaffes as oil spewed into the Gulf of Mexico, with Hayward at one point saying: I would like my life back. Bob Dudley took the helm with BP in crisis but a turnaround was well under way by his retirement in 2020. It was then that Lund hired Irishman Looney and the business seemingly lost its way. Looney vowed to cut oil production by 40 per cent, a target later reduced to 25 per cent. All oil firms are grappling with the realities of climate change and a transition to renewables such as solar power and wind farms. But debate has raged on how fast and far to go. The response from investors was that Looney had got it wrong. Auchincloss scrapped the targets this year after pressure from investors including activist Elliot Advisers, which has a 5 per cent stake. But yesterdays bad-tempered annual general meeting suggested shareholders have not been placated. Some 24.3 per cent voted against Lund, the biggest protest against a FTSE 100 company for five years and the largest at the oil giant since 2016 when 59pc opposed Dudleys pay. The AGM saw heavy security in place to prevent protests from climate change activists. And Lund faced a fiery audience that wanted answers. He took questions over whether he was overstretched given he is also chairman of Novo Nordisk and an adviser to private equity giant Clayton, Dubilier and Rice. In a bid to assuage shareholder anger, Lund this month said he would stand down as BP chairman next year. BP: Black gold 1901 William Knox DArcy granted exploration licence 1908 Oil found in Iran 1909 Founding of Anglo-Persian Oil Co 1954 Name changed to British Petroleum 1964 First offshore North Sea licence 1970 Discovery of multibillion-barrel oilfield in North Sea 2001 Beyond Petroleum rebrand 2007 Boss Lord Browne quits after lying to court 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster; Bob Dudley takes over from Tony Hayward as boss 2020 Bernard Looney appointed chief executive. Implements green agenda 2023 Looney ousted over relationships with colleagues 2024 Murray Auchincloss becomes boss, scraps green targets But the scale of the revolt underlines the level of investor unrest. Industry observers now believe Lunds departure will have to be accelerated. Amanda Blanc, who is BPs senior independent director in charge of finding Lunds replacement, said: The succession process is under way. It needs to be comprehensive and swift. It is the utmost priority. Lund said: I have dedicated lots of time to BP and always had dialogue with investors. In February BP announced a fundamental reset to focus on oil and gas to improve its cash flow and shareholder returns. At the meeting yesterday, Auchincloss insisted that decision was right and said it had been wrong to turn to renewables. He said: In 2020 we took bold strategic decisions. We were optimistic for that transition but that optimism was misplaced. We went too far, too fast. Looking forward we intend to close the valuation gap with our peers by growing the upstream and structurally reducing costs. But investors were unimpressed, demanding to know when performance will be turned around. One questioned whether BPs future lay in the US and not on the London Stock Exchange where the share price has fallen 13 per cent in the past year, compared with a fall of 5 per cent for rival Shell. They asked: Has the company missed an opportunity here? In the last five years, BPs share price has risen around 18 per cent, valuing it at 57billion. Shells shares have risen more than 77 per cent since 2020 and it is now worth 145billion. And US firms Exxon Mobil, worth 350billion, and Chevron, worth 180billion, have soared after doubling down on fossil fuels. Auchincloss is faced with a turbulent oil market rocked by the return of Donald Trump to the White House. He has pledged to drill baby, drill to grow American oil and gas production by 3m barrels a day by 2028 to bring the price of oil down as low as $50 a barrel. But industry estimates suggest US producers need a price of at least $65 a barrel to drill wells and make a profit. Global benchmark Brent Crude dipped below $60 last week for the first time in four years amid tariff fears. Allen Good, director of research at Morningstar, said: If oil prices weaken materially, BP could become a [takeover] target, given its higher debt level will leave it exposed. And Paul Sankey, an independent oil analyst, said the company is a break-up candidate. The new chairman needs to be an outsider, he said, adding energy veteran Greg Goff was a favourite. Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at AJ Bell, said: The scale of the challenge facing the board is painfully clear. Speculation is already building that some kind of merger or takeover could be on the cards. The subtle signs of control were there right from the start. But by the time Xenia Schembri realised she was in an abusive relationship, she had already said 'I do'. Xenia was 18 and working in a health food shop in Weston-super-Mare, a seaside town in England, when 22-year-old Richard* came in to buy supplements. 'He was friendly, charming and had that swagger,' Xenia, now 54, tells Daily Mail Australia. 'He made me laugh.' Weeks later, he returned to the store and asked her on a date. He showered her with compliments and told her he loved her 'seriously quickly'. Within six weeks, they were engaged. 'I know now it was too fast but I was very impressionable,' she says. 'I also came from a dysfunctional, authoritarian family so I had no real idea of what was normal.' After they moved in together, Xenia began to see a different side of Richard. Xenia is pictured not long after she had her first daughter, Kylie* 'He would control everything, even down to how things were put away in the cupboard,' she says. 'If the tins of tomatoes weren't perfectly aligned, he'd start being verbally aggressive.' Richard began to control the way Xenia dressed. 'He throw out the clothes he didn't like me in and encouraged me to wear short skirts and plunging tops I didn't feel comfortable in,' she says. Richard would eat junk food in front of Xenia, but tell her she wasn't allowed anything remotely unhealthy. 'He'd say, "I'm just trying to look after you". In the beginning, all of his control was under the guise of being protective,' she explains. 'He also became demanding sexually and would accuse me of not loving him if I wasn't in the mood for sex.' Richard was rarely physically violent; it was more about control and 'insinuations of violence'. 'He took over every single area of my life,' she adds. Xenia was trapped in an abusive relationship for 15 years and all she ever tried to do was protect her four children When Xenia fell pregnant and gave birth to her daughter Kylie*, she naively thought it might fix the relationship. But things only got worse. 'Richard would get jealous because the baby was getting more attention than him,' she says. Over the years, Xenia had three more children and felt completely trapped in her loveless, controlling marriage. 'I was scared to leave and I'd always worry if I did, that he'd hurt the children.' After 15 years of marriage, Xenia was resigned and thought about taking her own life. 'I thought, "I'm either going to die at his hands, or my hands,"' she says. 'I wanted to die. I just didn't care anymore.' The only thing that kept her going was her children - and then, a miracle. In March 2005, Richard told her he wanted to break up. Xenia knew he'd been having an affair for some time - and hearing he was leaving her for the other woman was frankly a relief. Although Richard still demanded access to the new home she moved into and 50/50 custody of the kids, Xenia finally felt like she had 'enough freedom to rebuild her life'. Despite everything, Xenia felt lonely after the separation and joined a Christian chat forum her friend had told her about. She got chatting to man called Simon who lived on the Gold Coast. 'We became friends and because I didn't think I'd ever meet him, I told him everything,' Xenia recalls. 'Simon listened and slowly, over time, encouraged me to be the person I was supposed to be.' In time, Xenia went to meet Simon on Australia's Gold Coast. 'It was like I'd come home,' she says. 'I just thought, "This is meant to be. This is home."' The couple made plans to fly back and forth to spend time together. But in the meantime, something else had begun to bother Xenia. Kylie, who was now 14, had started to act up. 'She was volatile and argumentative,' Xenia says. At first, she thought it was typical teenage angst, but then she noticed Kylie would flinch whenever she went to hug her. 'She had a male friend at the time who was 19 so I asked if he had been touching her. She told me I was "way off".' A week later, Kylie came home and asked her mother to sit down. 'She said, "I'm going to tell you something, but you're not allowed to tell the police,"' Xenia recounts. 'I felt sick to my stomach. Then she said, "Dad has been sexually abusing me." 'It was honestly like my world had stopped.' Xenia knew her ex-husband was controlling but says she didn't think for a 'microsecond' he would abuse her daughter. 'I was always the focus of his abuse,' she adds. 'I just didn't realise he'd have the inclination.' Xenia hugged her daughter and cried. 'I was gutted and racked with guilt.' Together they told Simon, who was visiting from Australia at the time. They all sat down for a family meeting and decided to report Richard to the police. The investigation took six months as police carried out interviews and tried to gather evidence from Richard's computer. At last, in 2009, he was arrested and charged with 14 counts of sexual activity with a child. The judge told Richard: 'You are a selfish, sex-obsessed, dominating, arrogant and manipulative individual.' Xenia and her family have been on a long healing journey. Now she just wants to help as many children as possible 'Simon has been able to teach them what a father is supposed to be in life,' Xenia says He was sentenced to nine years in prison but only served four and a half. 'In that time, we relocated to the Gold Coast with Simon,' she says. 'All of us were grateful for a fresh start. Xenia and Simon married and later he legally adopted all of her children. 'Simon has been able to teach them what a father is supposed to be in life,' Xenia says. It has been a long healing journey for the family. 'We started a charity called At the Ark aimed at preventing sexual abuse and protecting victims,' Xenia says. 'I couldnt protect my child, I thought, but now Ill protect as many as I can.' Xenia has also written The Brave Little Bear book series, equipping families with self-protective behaviours to help prevent others from going through what she has. Xenia still carries the guilt of what happened but says she has to 'forgive herself'. 'I can't carry the weight of responsibility for someone else's actions,' she says. As for Kylie, she is now 32 and 'thriving'. 'All of my kids have grown into amazing young people,' she says. *names have been changed At the Ark will hold the Light Up the Night Gala on August 9 MPs campaigning for a national prostate cancer testing rollout admitted they were 'embarrassed' to have put off getting checked themselves - despite being in the most at-risk group. Former Home Secretary James Cleverly and Labour's Calvin Bailey, who leads the all-Parliamentary group on prostate cancer, said it was only when loved ones were diagnosed with the disease that they stepped forward - despite being more likely to get it due to age and ethnicity. Around one in eight men in the UK is diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, a figure which rises to one in four for black men. Familial history also increases the risk of diagnosis, with those aged 45 and older more susceptible. Yet the disease is often symptomless, meaning men are typically unaware they have prostate cancer until they get tested. It is why MPs from across Parliament have joined the likes of broadcaster Sir Stephen Fry, chef Ken Hom, and Health Secretary Wes Streeting in backing the Daily Mail's call for the National Screening Committee to recommend the roll-out of a targeted screening programme on the NHS. And they invited The Prostate Project's 'Man Van' mobile testing unit to Parliament in order to encourage as many men as possible to undergo a simple PSA blood test, which helps diagnose prostate cancer. Mr Bailey said a recent prostate cancer death prompted him to get tested. Labour MP Calvin Bailey has a blood test taken by Dr Emily MacDonald during a drop-in session in Westminster for men to get checked for prostate cancer Former Tory Home Secretary James Cleverly (left) and Labour MP Calvin Bailey both said they put off getting a prostate cancer test, despite being in the most at-risk groups due to age and ethnicity Broadcaster Sir Stephen Fry and chef Ken Hom are among those to have backed the Daily Mail's call for a national prostate cancer screeing programme Inviting the Mail as he underwent a PSA test, the Zambia-born former RAF wing commander said: 'I think sadly, with the stats being so high, we will all have personal connections with prostate cancer. 'Only this weekend, a very good friend and colleague of mine in the Royal Air Force passed away having been diagnosed with stage four cancer only about two or three weeks ago. 'And so these things are quite shocking.' Mr Bailey has spread awareness of prostate cancer including through a series of Facebook videos. It prompted a relative to get a PSA which showed he was in the early stages of the disease, and is now in remission due to it being caught early enough. Despite this, Mr Bailey did not get tested himself until recently. 'I absolutely should have got a test done before now,' he admitted to the Mail, moments before having his blood taken by Dr Emily MacDonald during a drop-in session in Westminster. His test result soon came back confirming the all-clear. Zambia-born Mr Bailey wants at-risk men to be asked to come forward and undergo a voluntary PSA blood test to indicate whether or not they have prostate cancer Labour MP Mr Bailey invited the Daily Mail onto the Prostate Project's Man Van during a recent visit to Parliament, as he undertook his first PSA blood test Dr Emily MacDonald takes Mr Bailey's blood in the Man Van The blood test took only a couple of minutes, and Mr Bailey was informed of his result within a couple of days But the Leyton MP said he would now encourage his friends to get tested. 'I'm slightly embarrassed that I haven't (got tested before), and I worry now that by not having that discussion, I may have denied my own friends and perhaps myself time to address a diagnosis if it comes.' Tory former minister Mr Cleverly said he also needlessly put off getting his first prostate cancer test until recently, despite being in the at-risk group as a black man aged over 45. He told the Mail: 'I was co-sponsor of an event here in Parliament a few months ago encouraging people to get tested. And of course one of the people attending said: Oh, and I take it, you've been tested because you're in the ethnic group and age group? 'And rather embarrassingly I said that I hadn't yet been tested, and after a number of scowling faces stared at me, I went off and I booked a test.' The test was negative. But the 55-year-old former Foreign Secretary said concerns about a positive diagnosis should not have dissuaded him from getting checked. 'For me, the really big message is that this is an incredibly successfully treated cancer if it is caught early, if you're scared of getting bad news, that's the wrong thing. 'Get tested, because if it does come up positive, and you do get treated, your survival rates are excellent. Former Home Secretary James Cleverly said he needlessly put off getting his first prostate cancer test until recently, despite being in the at-risk group as a black man aged over 45 Mr Cleverly has encouraged men to come forward and get checked for prostate cancer, with early diagnosis increasing survival rates 'I know a number of people, both political colleagues, members of my family, who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, are being treated, or have been treated for prostate cancer, and are living very, very full lives. 'And for me, that was a real reminder that this is not some quiet little thing to be hidden away and not discussed. 'This is the kind of thing that we should know more about, that we should be willing to talk about and encourage people to be tested.' Around 50 men working in Parliament underwent a voluntary PSA test in the Man Van on a single day last month. Both Mr Bailey and Mr Cleverly are calling on the National Screening Committee to take action and recommend at-risk men are offered a test. Mr Cleverly said: 'This is apolitical, this is not about trying to get some form of short-term political advantage or embarrassing the Government or whatever, this is about trying to do the right thing. 'I'm very, very proud that we've got Conservatives, Lib Dem, Labour and support actually right across the political spectrum, because this is really, really important. Many, many, many lives can be saved.' The National Screening Committee is expected to decide on its latest recommendations by the end of the year. Professor Stephen Langley, professor of urology at the Prostate Brachytherapy Centre in Surrey, said it was important for MPs across the political divide to spread the message about the disease. He said: 'Now is its moment. We need to provide a targeted screening program for the most common cancer killer of men, which is prostate cancer. 'I think (cross-party political support) just highlights the importance of this. Prostate cancer isn't political. 'This is for all men in the country, and all men need to know about prostate cancer, and we need a targeted screening program across the whole of the UK.' The owners of the two Havanese dogs who were brutally attacked by a crazed Alsatian in a family park fear that a child could be attacked next if police don't do something to stop it. Jenna Hallahan, 45, and her friend Dolly Thomson, 71, had agreed to walk their dogs Luna, 4, and Geoffrey, 7, in Roe Green Park in Kingsbury, northwest London, on Sunday. However, their dogs ended up needing surgery and medication after being attacked by a large brown Alsatian which was left to run around without a lead. Mrs Hallahan said Luna, her white Havanese, has been left 'traumatised' from the incident and had to have surgery, costing upwards of 2,000, for injuries which left her 'intestines sticking out'. The pooch, who she described as 'the loveliest and happiest dog', also sustained a puncture wound to her ear and the side of her torso and 'terrible bruising'. Mrs Hallahan told MailOnline: 'She's hopefully healing, but she's come home and she's just a shell of herself. You know, she's not very excited to see us. She won't move, she won't eat, she won't drink. She's traumatised.' Geoffrey, the seven-year-old black Havanese belonging to Mrs Thomson, suffered injuries to his rear right leg from being 'thrown to and fro like a rag doll' and a puncture wound on his back. After the attack, retired nurse Mrs Thomson said Geoffrey was 'profusely shaking and very distressed' and was covered in the Alsatians saliva. Pictured: The Alsatian attacking Geoffrey as Mrs Thomson and a group of men try to stop the attack Pictured: The moment the Alsatian ran over to the women and dogs and grabbed Luna in its teeth Ms Thomson managed to snap a picture of the Alsatian being held by back by the friend of the Alsatian's owner who came running to help after Luna had been freed from his jaws She added it 'felt like the whole world was ending' when she got the pooch home and noticed he was struggling to walk. Geoffrey is now taking antibiotics and painkillers after vets cleaned his wounds and has 'started to pick up a bit' since the ordeal. The two friends are members of their local dog walking group chat, jokingly named Roe Park Ruffians, and had planned to walk Luna and Geoffrey together in the park on Sunday. There was a Romanian Easter festival happening at the time with barbecues and music, so they decided to walk around it. It was then when they saw the Alsatians seen in the viral video of the attack and their owner. They knew of the man and had spoken to him briefly in the past, describing him as someone who used his dogs as a 'status symbol'. Both women claim the larger darker Alsatian had previously attacked two other dogs in the same park so they thought best if they stayed 'far away'. The two younger Alsatians were on leads but the older one was roaming free without a lead or collar despite park rules prohibiting this. Pictured: Jenna Hallahan, 45, and her four-year-old Havanese Luna who had to undergo surgery after the attack Pictured: Dolly Thomson, 71, and her seven-year-old Havanese Geoffrey who sustained injuries during the brutal attack and is now taking antibiotics and painkillers Pictured: The puncture wound Luna sustained to her ear from the Alsatian's sharp teeth Pictured: A friend of owner of the three Alsatian's seen being dragged along the floor by the two younger ones as the older brown one attacked Geoffrey The women headed in the opposite direction with Luna and Geoffrey, who were on leads, and avoided eye contact with the man and his dogs but unfortunately it was too late. 'I looked up, and suddenly the brown dog was just running full speed towards me, and I didn't know what to do. I couldn't do anything. Before I knew it, the dog had my dog in his mouth,' Mrs Hallahan explained. The friends were 'scared' and began hitting the Alsatian and trying to pull it off of Luna. Mrs Hallahan described her friend as 'brave' for whacking the crazed mutt as her own dog stood next to her. The women's frenzied screams prompted some courageous men from the festival and a friend of the Alsatian's owner to come running over to help by pulling at it and throwing water in its face One man who she dubbed a 'hero' managed to stop the attack by repeatedly inserting his finger into the Alsatian's anus - an emergency technique used to make an aggressive dog drop whatever is in its mouth. The Alsatians owner's friend got the dog in a headlock and Mrs Thomson took pictures before walking away with Mrs Hallahan and Geoffrey to tend to Luna under the impression the whole ordeal was over and they were safe. But the deranged hound had managed to break free from the man's grip and made a beeline for them yet again. Ms Hallahan said Luna is a 'shell of herself' since the attack and it as home recovering from her injuries Pictured: Geoffrey in the park after the attack with a wound on his rear which was covered in the Alsatian's saliva After the attack, retired nurse Mrs Thomson said Geoffrey was 'profusely shaking and very distressed' Geoffrey is now taking antibiotics and painkillers after vets cleaned his wounds and has 'started to pick up a bit' since the ordeal Pictured: Mrs Thomson's shirt stained with Geoffrey's blood after she fought to save him 'All of a sudden this dog is on us, and he had Geoffrey, he grabbed him by his right hip' she said. She screamed out to get attention and the men from the festival came to the rescue again, halting the second attack by pulling the Alsatian's jaw open to release Geoffrey. It was then that the friend of the Alsatian owner was seen being dragged along the floor by the two younger Alsatians who wanted in on the action. 'It just shows they cannot control these dogs,' Mrs Thomson said. The police were called but after waiting for 15 minutes, Mrs Hallahan decided she needed to get Luna home and left. She later took her to the vets. Mrs Thomson said the owners of another dog alleged to have been attacked previously by the same Alsatian arrived at the park and were very upset to find out it had happened again. She took Geoffrey home to tend to him when she was told the police wouldn't arrive for another hour. She gave him and bath and took him to the vets the next day. Following the attacks, both women claim the Alsatian's owner came to their homes to apologise but also told them it 'wasn't my fault' and refused to give his address or phone number. The friend of the Alsatian's owner pictured holding the dog back after it attacked Luna A sign at Roe Park clearly bans owners from letting their dogs roam free without a lead Geoffrey is the black dog who was seen being thrown up in the air by the crazed Alsatian in the videos posted on TikTok The friends said the police told them to call 999 if they see the man and his dogs in the park again. However, they are both frightened to go back and worry that even if they did see him and call 999, the police wouldn't get there in time to catch him. 'I don't know why police haven't knocked on his door and taken the dogs away from him,' Mrs Callahan said. She added: 'If they don't do something about him and those dogs, a child will be killed.' Ms Thomson echoed the same fear, saying: 'It could have easily been a child. My worry about all this is that it's becoming a bit of a national problem as there are more and more dog attacks happening.' The leader of their dog walking group has since set up a GoFundMe to help Mrs Hallahan pay her 2,000 vet bill. Any extra donations will go towards installing a safe fenced area in the park where dog walkers can take their pets or to a dog charity. Click here to donate. When the Alsatian owner's friend failed to stop the attack on Luna, another, who Mrs Hallahan described as a 'hero', inserted his finger into its anus - a trick used to get an aggressive dog to drop whatever is in its mouth Mrs Hallahan described Luna as 'the loveliest and happiest dog' who is now a 'shell of herself' after the brawl Mrs Thomson took Geoffrey home after the attack, gave him and bath and took him to the vets the next day A Met Police spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Police were called at 16:43hrs on Monday, 13 April to reports of a dangerous dog in Kingsbury, north-west London. 'Officers attended the scene at Roe Green Park where a dog, believed to be an Alsatian, was allegedly attacking other dogs, after coming off its lead. 'One dog is receiving treatment for major injuries. Enquiries continue. No arrests have as yet been made.' 'If you were a witness or have any information which may help, please call police on 101 with the reference 4829/13Apr.' A massive collection of old vehicles, that has been hidden in the English countryside for years, has been revealed ahead of them being sold at auction. The anonymous owner has amassed more than 180 vehicles, some of which are classic cars, in two barns and on land outside them in South Gloucestershire. Although some - such as a 1960s Aston Martin and a Jaguar with the registration '3 TV' - could sell for tens of thousands of pounds, others may be worth very little. The ramshackled site is in a chaotic state. Many of the cars and vans are covered in dirt, some are in a very poor condition and others are partly buried under vegetation. They include classic British vehicles but also American ones, such as a Cadillac thought to have been previously owned by two unnamed celebrities. There has been huge interest in the auction, which will take place at the site on June 28 this year, as car enthusiasts wonder whether they might be able to pick up a motoring gem for a bargain price. As well as cars, there will be vans, tractors, signs and even a boat up for sale during an auction that could have 700 to 800 lots. Finley Hutchings, of Tewkesbury Auction Centre, said: 'It's very difficult to say how much it will raise. It all depends on the day. An anonymous owner has amassed more than 180 vehicles, some of which are classic cars, in two barns and on land outside them in South Gloucestershire The vintage cars are crammed bumper to bumper in the barn and some may be worth tens of thousands of pounds There has been huge interest in the auction, which will take place at the site on June 28 this year 'There are some very nice pieces, cool stuff and some very rare things.' He added that his firm's post on social media was seen by 1.7 million people within 24 hours and that although he had come across similar car auctions before, he had never known anything on this scale. 'I'm sure there are cars at this site that I've never seen, and would otherwise never see in my lifetime. It could very well be the sale of the century.' Mr Hutchings said spare parts of vehicles and motoring signs would form part of the sale at a location that would be revealed closer to the time of the auction. He said his firm needed more time to make sure that the site, which has been visited in the past by rural explorers, needed to be made fully safe and secure. He added: 'I believe it's a vast collection compiled over a very long time. It's sad to let it go but he (the owner) is selling the property.' This rare number plate on a Jaguar could be worth tens of thousands of pounds, according to the auction centre handling the sale of the collection Auctioneers believe this Aston Martin DBS could be a 1968 model and might be one of the most wanted cars at the sale Cars are scattered across the land, including these vintage ones on a grass verge A Bentley was stored on a platform at the site in South Gloucestershire among the 180-strong collection 'I'm sure there are cars at this site that I've never seen, and would otherwise never see in my lifetime. It could very well be the sale of the century' The disused cars have gathered years of dust and dirt but pictures of them have sparked huge interest online, with 1.7million people having seen the images in the first 24 hours 'There are some very nice pieces, cool stuff and some very rare things,' Mr Hutchings said Auction bosses have warned that the ramshackle site needs to be made safe before they allow the public to view the sale items Finley Hutchings, of Tewkesbury Auction Centre, said: 'It's very difficult to say how much it will raise. It all depends on the day' Some forgotten vehicles are almost completely hidden by vegetation at the anonymous owner's property There are some more modern pieces also within the collection like this digger While most of the collection consists of old cars, there is even a boat in the midst of the treasure trove Car enthusiasts will wonder whether they might be able to pick up a motoring gem for a bargain price at the auction in June Tractors are also on offer despite vegetation beginning to grow around the wheels where it has been parked One of the American cars that will be form part of the auction These Land Rovers will form part of the sale but will need a good clean before they can be used again This van is one of the most modern vehicles people can buy Australian Police have launched a campaign in a bid to tempt disillusioned British coppers Down Under, as one crime fighting ex-pat says it was the 'best decision' he ever made. South Australian Police have decided to look beyond their own backyard, as they hope to attract over 200 experienced officers from the UK, Ireland, Canada and New Zealand. In a desperate bid to recruit Britain's best, the South Australia Police (SAPOL) Commissioner, Grant Stevens, featured in a hilarious campaign, which saw a media wall pulled away to show him wearing beach shorts on a sunny shore. And now as the force prepares to tour the UK, holding information sessions in London, Cardiff, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow in both April and May, to lure disenchanted officers away from British shores. It comes as some UK police constabularies are facing a staffing crisis, with almost a quarter of officers from Police Scotland eligible to retire by next summer, or are either on modified duties or off sick. Figures released last September, show of the forces 16,207 officers, 945 are approaching retirement, 656 are on long-term sick leave and 2,183 are on reduced duties, mostly because they are recovering from illness or injury. But it's not only young Brits who are flocking Down Under in search of a better life, with nearly 50,000 arriving to the country on working holiday visas in 2024 alone - a former British police officer says its the 'best decision' he has ever made. Oliver Lamb, who traded Dorset's beaches for the sunny coast of Adelaide told Good Morning Britain: 'As soon as I had enough experience of being a police officer in the UK and South Australia police opened their door...I just had to look at the opportunity, and it has been one of the best decisions I have ever made.' Oliver Lamb, an ex-British police officer, has encouraged his fellow countrymen and women to don the blue Down Under, branding it the 'best decision' he's ever made (pictured with fellow recruit Emma Hollywood) Oliver Lamb, formerly of Dorset Police, pictured with South Australia Police (SAPOL) Commissioner Grant Stevens (left) Your browser does not support iframes. Revealing he had only been Down Under for five months, he explained had previously travelled along Australia's sunny east coast over a decade ago, where he 'fell in love with the way of life, the people, and the weather.' Encouraging other British coppers to take the plunge, he stressed: 'Just do it,' while pointing out key differences between life in the UK and Australia: 'You can do things outside of work that you want to do. 'For example going to the beach and going off and going travelling the rest of this beautiful country.' He also revealed there was 'more respect and positivity' towards police officers Down Under, adding: 'Its not just the police, there is a lot of respect for all public sector workers and everyone does do a fantastic job.' There are plenty of perks beyond enjoying less rainy days that come with the job too, such as more annual leave and a high wage. In South Australia, the average police man can earn anywhere from $69,108 (33,212.89) to anywhere up to $217,821 (104,683.47), according to SAPOL. On British shores coppers can earn anywhere between 29,000 to 46,000, the National Career Service reports. British police also have far less holiday, with their allowance initially beginning at 22 paid days off and increasing to 30 days over time, while elsewhere in Australia, officers have six weeks of annual leave, which rises to 90 days after a decade. Encouraging other British coppers to take the plunge, Oliver stressed: 'Just do it'(pictured with fellow recruit Emma Hollywood) South Australia Police (SAPOL) Commissioner, Grant Stevens (pictured), featured in a hilarious campaign to tempt Brits, which saw a media wall pulled away to show him wearing beach shorts on a sunny beach Your browser does not support iframes. To be eligible for the SAPOL program, you would have to have been a police officer or a British Transport Police Officers within the UK, and must have a minimum of three years of continuous and active service - excluding training - in the last five years. But it isn't only coppers heading south of the equator, as an increase of 'Poms' arriving in Australia has only been bolstered by visa rules bringing up the cut-off age of applicants from 30 to 35. And while many would be put off by the higher cost of living, others who are drawn to the improved work-life balance and higher salaries are willing to make the 24-hour flight across the other side of the world. James Smith, 35, first took the plunge to move to Australia after taking an 'introspective' look at his live as a personal trainer in Bracknell in 2016 - and after a decade in the sun he has never looked back. The former door-to-door salesman has only gone from strength-to-strength since restarting his life Down Under and is now at the helm of several firms including Business Mentorship. Explaining the difference between British life and that on the sandy beaches in Oceania, he told MailOnline: 'You don't realise your life is a five out of 10 until maybe you go somewhere a bit better. 'Everything in my career started taking off when I hit Australia, and I think it was from a few things - I think its because my lifestyle here.' The personal trainer, who recently became a proud father for the first time, divulged he initially made the decision to move after discovering his profession was taken 'more seriously' in Australia. James Smith, 35, first took the plunge to move to Australia after taking an 'introspective' look at his live as a personal trainer in Bracknell in 2016 Despite loving the Aussie lifestyle, Ms Egan - who runs YouTube account Eat Venture Vlogs - warned that the cost of housing was an issue 'If I really wanted to do well and succeed in [personal training], I had to go somewhere where they at least care about it a bit more,' he told MailOnline. But at the spritely age of 26 - in true British fashion - the now successful businessman was looking for people to discourage him from flying south of the equator. I remember I turned to my dad and I said I might go to Australia for a bit and the said to me I've always imagined you living somewhere like that and that really shocked me, he said. Not one person said to me, now you should stay in the UK - and this was from people older wise and more experienced than me. Explaining how is lifestyle dramatically improve once setting sail for the Sydney, he revealed it is commonplace to wake up early, head to a local shop for a coffee and enjoy the sunshine - even on a Sunday morning. 'When first arrived here, my housemates were like, "Okay, tomorrow morning. It's one of our birthdays. We're all going to go down the beach at 6 am" 'We got up we grab a towel, we brush our teeth, we went to the beach, bought coffees, and watched the sunrise, and swam in the sea, even in the dead of winter.' He added: 'UK summers, we have the sun coming up at 4am and then it goes down at 10pm, then we have the depression in the winter going and coming to work in the dark. 'But in Australia it doesn't get that bright in the summer, and it doesn't get that dark in the winter. 'Even when Brits come here, they dont realise how little and infrequent we have blue skies. But life in Aus doesn't come cheap, with the average person paying A$2,715 (1,344) per month on rent compared to 1223 in the UK. Darren (pictured with his wife Debbie and daughters Rebecca and Sophie) decided to take the plunge and move Down Under 26 years ago Amber Myrlea, 23, from Isle of Man made the journey down under after the loss of her brother adding she was worried she would 'get stuck in that cycle of island life' Groceries are also more expensive, with researchers at Edith Cowan University pricing a trolley of supermarket goods at 160 ($324) compared to 140 in the UK. However, salaries are higher in the 'Lucky Country', averaging $100,000 (49,480) compared to 37,430 in Britain. Mr Smith said although housing prices in Australia were 'astronomical', day-to-day life Down Under was 'significantly' cheaper than in the UK. The first apartment I had in Bondi was maybe a 10 min walk from the beach, and it was a hundred 50 a week,' he said. 'Whereas when I lived in London during the pandemic it was 3,000 a month to have a flat in Fulham, and it was a s***hole. 'There was people always fighting outside my house, and there was no aircon, so I always had to have the window open and the buses would piss and wake me up.' And even though most of his clientele are UK-based, as well as more opportunities on this side of the globe, the father-of-one would never return back to British soil. 'Every time I go back it just becomes a little bit less appealing,' he said: 'in the UK, I wake up and there's nothing else to do in the dark for four hours, I'm starting my day with by scrolling on social media.' 'Would rather live in peace right now. As we speak, I've got my dog on the lead and I'm looking at the ocean, my house is just behind me,' he said. Your browser does not support iframes. 'I'll earn less money and have less opportunity. It means that all my time between work is much happier If I lived in London I'd probably have a Lambo, but I'd be miserable.' Despite missing his family a great deal, Mr Smith was fortunate enough to get his residency in Australia - but if he was unable to he would move anywhere but the UK. 'If I couldn't leave live here I would look to America, and if I couldn't live in America I'd probably go to Dubai at the moment 'I'm telling my friends like, go somewhere where they care more about your ambition,' he added: When you come out here it gives you a brand new opportunity to reinvent yourself. Encouraging other 'Poms' to take advantage of the myriad opportunities Australia has to offer, he said: 'Young people, especially if they're not sure what to do with their lives -come out here. 'You could get a job in a coffee shop and have the best 3 months of your life, rather than being so focused on career. 'Social media is making people feel like if they've not made a million dollars at 25 that they're old. 'Come out to Australia, hit, pause on life. The best party is here. We're right in the middle of summer.' James told MailOnline: 'You don't realise your life is a five out of 10 until maybe you go somewhere a bit better. Since arriving in Australia nearly a decade ago James has established his own family and is at the helm of several businesses 'Come out to Australia, hit, pause on life. The best party is here. We're right in the middle of summer,' he said Darren Bowles, 57, took the plunge and moved to Australia for a better quality of life and more opportunities for his children 26 years ago. And after over two-decades in sunny paradise, the father-of-two gave a vehement 'no' when asked if he would ever return to Britain, adding: 'I couldnt stand the cold weather and dark nights. 'When you're my age my knees and my elbows will start to hurt in the cold weather again. I couldn't do it.' Darren was working in Manchester as a senior electrical engineer for Kellogg's, when he and his wife decided to relocate their then family-of-three Down Under. His in-laws had already moved to Australia but after realising how much his then two-year-old daughter Rebecca loved the country, he knew it was the right way to go. He told MailOnline: 'What tipped it for me is when we came over on holiday. We brought Rebecca here on holiday, when she was aged 2 and she just loved it, going to the beach paddling in the sea, we could do more outdoors.' Three months after they moved to the other side of the globe, he and his wife welcomed their youngest daughter Sophie. Despite the overall higher living costs, Darren said he knew the decision would be better for his daughters in 'the long term'. 'There are more opportunities and a better lifestyle,' he said: 'I think Australia's has some great education and universities. 'My youngest daughter's still living with us at home, but my eldest daughter's living, my eldest daughter's living in Sydney, which is a fabulous city.' 'Even when it's not in the summertime. It's nice and warm. At 6 o'clock in the morning quite often my youngest daughter will go to the beach for a walk or a swim.' He is adamant he made the right decision for his family, with describing the Aussie lifestyle as 'better' and divulging there were more opportunities in the country for his daughters (Pictured left to eight: Rebecca, her husband Ryan, Darren, his wife Debbie and their youngest child Sophie) Over the last few years, the 57-year-old has also taken advantage of the abundance of opportunities in Australia exponentially growing his electrical engineering business - something he believes would't have been possible in the UK (pictured with friends and family) He added: 'You just feel as though that you're not stuck in the house watching TV. You're going out and enjoying your life.' Darren said there was a 'significant difference' between British and Aussie life, divulging there was 'more of a positive feeling' on the other side of the Equator. Over the last few years, the 57-year-old has also taken advantage of the abundance of opportunities in Australia. His mining electrical engineering business - the GTE group - has grown from a workforce of three to 104 in only eight years, a feat he believes would not have been possible in the UK. 'You push yourself to actually go and do more,' he said: 'I would say I've done pretty well, and that Im very successful. I wouldn't have achieved this success in England.' Although he missed family, friends and attending Manchester United matches, Darren said there was more of a 'sense of community', noting that Aussies were more willing to help. 'There used to be that [sense of community] in the UK and certainly in the seventies when I was growing up,' he said. 'I think England's changed a lot, because a lot of lots of you know, more people move around a lot more these days.' Amber found it incredibly difficult to find work when she first came to Australia and even considered moving back home But after meeting her 'adopted grandma' Kay Setches - previous minister for Victoria - through a Work Away position, she quickly learned the ropes of the country Darren revealed that 'virtually every person' he knows, who has visited the sunny country has wanted to move 'The only difficult thing is leaving family and friends at home, it was very very difficult. It took a bit of a toll on myself,' he quipped. Despite the difficulties, he urged other Brits to take the plunge, advising sun-seeking hopefuls to make sure they have 'the right skills' when making the move. 'I think when people come over here, they've just got to give everything a go. They've got to give it the best shot,' he added. 'Come here with an idea of going to give you the best shot for two years and see how you get on - and meet people and talk to people.' 23-year-old Amber Myrlea also traded in her everyday life on the Isle of Man for work away job on Phillip Island off the coast of Melbourne after the loss of her brother. 'Being stuck on an island for 23 years of my life, there's not a lot of opportunities for young people and it kind of sucks the life out of you,' she said. 'You only have your connections and that's it. There's no fun and nowhere to go. 'I understand why people would be skeptical - I had to quit my job, sell my car - and I didn't know what I was coming to. I just had hope and faith it would work out.' Crediting Kay as well as other Aussies for their kindness, the 23-year-old now hopes to stay Down Under permanently Echoing Darren on how 'welcoming Australians' are, Amber said: 'They're very helpful, whenever you've got an issue. They're generous people.' She added:' if I hadn't met Kim, the lady I moved in with, maybe I would have had to return home to the UK. 'But I needed somewhere to stay and she needed someone to look after her. 'She's been very influential to me. She's an ex-member of parliament and there's so much about Australia she has to teach me. 'She has become an adopted member of my family - my adopted grandma.' Among those taking advantage of the growing relocation opportunities in Australia is content creator Kody Egan, who moved to Australia in August with her partner, Joseph Horrocks. The couple, who are both 27 and previously lived in Atherton, Greater Manchester, now live in Queensland's Sunshine Coast. Despite only planning to stay in Australia for a short time, they now want to make a new life there. 'We wanted a new challenge and to try something new after coming for a month of travelling the year before,' Ms Egan told MailOnline. 'We saved up and made the plunge - mostly to experience more of an outdoor lifestyle including the beach, surfing, hiking and all the amazing nature. YouTuber Ms Egan loves the outdoor lifestyle that's on offer Down Under Kody Egan moved to Australia in August with her partner, Joseph Horrocks. They previously lived in Atherton, Greater Manchester 'It's a big change and we'd recommend doing what we did and come for a holiday first. We had no intention of living here at first, but wanted to after experiencing the people and the lifestyle! We're so grateful for the Aussies, they're great.' Despite loving the Aussie lifestyle, Ms Egan - who runs YouTube account Eat Venture Vlogs - warned that the cost of housing was an issue. 'Like in the UK there's a housing crisis here, so rentals are really expensive - as are living costs in general. So it's important to factor that in when budgeting for a move,' she explained. 'Coming over to live and work is very different from the holiday but we really are enjoying the experience. We're big nature lovers so seeing all the new species of plants, birds etc has been incredible. 'We started our YouTube vlog so our family and friends could see what we got up too daily as some of them really missed us when we left, but we've since reached a much bigger audience and the vlog is growing every day.' Emily Brady, a 25-year-old nurse, headed Down Under last December with her 29-year-old partner Harry Bridges, a motor mechanic. Despite only planning to stay in Australia for a short time, the couple now want to make a new life there They quickly found well-paying jobs in Kalgoorlie, a mining city 370 miles east of Perth in Western Australia. Ms Brady, who previously worked on a paediatric oncology ward in Wales, now earns up to three times more than she did in the UK. 'While I loved the job, it was very underfunded, very short staffed and you could work as many hours as you wanted but you weren't really given any recognition for that,' she told The Times. 'And I felt like it was just always an uphill battle. It was really exhausting. So I wanted to try nursing over in Australia where it was meant to be one of the best places in the world for nursing.' The nurse said she particularly valued the better working conditions in Australia, adding that she and her partner now plan to stay and have children in the country. Former First Lady Michelle Obama was spotted in Los Angeles on Thursday without her husband former President Barack Obama, amid rumors of marital strife between the two. But former first lady seemingly sent a signal to skeptics of her relationship as she proudly wore her diamond engagement and wedding rings as she visited The Academy headquarters in North Hollywood. However, her husband Barack Obama was nowhere to be seen as she made a public outing with her brother and new podcast cohost Craig Robinson. Michelle appeared to be in great spirts, looking stylish in a $650 olive green Nili Lotan cardigan, with brown kitten heels and a long wavy ponytail. She finished off her look with a Bottega Veneta 'Arco Intrecciato' Leather Tote Bag retailing at $3,700. President Obama was last seen with Michelle in December, nearly five months ago. The former First Lady has recently escalated her conversations about the struggles of marriage and dating on her IMO podcast with her brother Craig Robinson. In her latest conversation with Tracee Ellis Ross and her brother, the trio spoke about what it was like when she first started dating Barack. Robinson revealed that he felt that when Michelle and Barack Obama began dating, he did not think the relationship would last a month. Michelle Obama spotted out in Los Angeles Michelle Obama spotted out in Los Angeles Michelle was seen wearing her wedding ring and engagement stone The Obama's famous dog Sunny was also spotted 'I've told this story many times about when you first started dating Barack. So Mich starts to date Barack, and we don't know who this guy is, we're just like, 'Barack? Who's got a name like Barack?' And I'm thinking it's gonna last a month like most of your relationships,' Robinson said chuckling, adding that he felt the relationship was 'not going to last.' Michelle Obama stressed to her listeners that marriage was difficult. 'Marriage is hard and it is reasonably hard, you know, it's the right kind of hard but don't get upset when it's hard,' she said. She also revealed that she warns young people to expect long periods when a marriage is extremely difficult. Michelle Obama spotted out in Los Angeles Michelle Obama's brother Craig Robinson Michelle Obama has been spotted out in Los Angeles as she continues to be hit with rumours of marital issues Michelle Obama spotted out in Los Angeles 'The reality is that if you choose to have a traditional marriage and you have kids let me tell you the years from one to 13 will be bad for you as an adult,' she said. 'It's beautiful but they will take you for a loop.' Obama also spoke about what it was like for her to date 'cheaters' and why she did not want to struggle with that in her relationship. 'I knew that you date enough people you date people that just cheat right? And one thing I learned, luckily I learned it soon, I realized. That cheating if I was dating a cheater that had nothing to do with me,' she said. 'I would rather just look somebody in the face and say we should break up because I'm thinking about dating somebody else and I'm not going to hold you hostage while I go experience stuff.' Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson talked about marriage on their new IMO podcast Barack and Michelle Obama shared tributes and never before seen photos on Instagram on their 30th anniversary Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson on their new podcast Michelle Obama talks about marriage with her She said she wanted to make sure that the man she married had the same qualities as she did on honesty in a relationship. 'I dated people who were broken in that way and it's like that's not fun to me, guessing whether my partner is faithful like some people are good with that game,' she said. Since Michelle Obama failed to appear with her husband at former President Jimmy Carter's funeral and President Donald Trump's inauguration, the couple has faced rumors of a possible separation or a divorce. Michelle Obama addressed the divorce rumors on a podcast hosted by actress Sophia Bush earlier this month, defending her decision to skip the pair of public events as her own personal decision. 'That's what society does to us,' she said defensively, describing it as insulting that she as a 'grown woman' could not just make a decision for herself. Barack was nowhere to be seen as Michelle stepped out in LA Michelle Obama trabeled with her dog, brother and a few others 'That's the thing that we as women, I think we struggle with disappointing people. I mean, so much so that this year people were, you know, they couldn't even fathom that I was making a choice for myself that they had to assume that my husband and I are divorcing,' Obama continued. She disapproved of how people reacted to her and Barack spending time separately, indicating she would not change her public actions to satisfy other people's expectations. 'We start actually, finally going, 'What am I doing? Who am I doing this for?' And if it doesn't fit into the sort of stereotype of what people think we should do, then it gets labeled as something negative and horrible,' she said. A bank worker was filmed hurling the N-word at a black woman nine times in just 12 seconds in a disgraceful parking lot spat. The video, which circulated online, shows the pinnacle of an argument between an Indian woman and a black woman filming on her cellphone. Daily Mail can reveal the driver is Risha Natasha Chand, a 34-year-old who formerly worked at BMO bank in Pinole, California. She was sitting in her car when Jazlyn Garcia and her sister emerged from the Pear Street Bistro, which shares a parking lot with the bank, on Sunday afternoon. According to police, Garcia and her sister didn't like the way Chand was looking at them. They confronted her and started recording. The full interaction was not captured. But what the women did film was Chand repeatedly using the N-word in a disgraceful display. 'Get out of my face you f**king n****r,' she screamed. Risha Natasha Chand, 34, was filmed abusing the other woman as she sat in her car behind a diner in Pinole, California Chand was a senior retail relationship banker BMO Bank (which acquired Bank of the West in 2023 after she started) from 2022 until she was recently fired Garcia is 'black/Mexican', according to a friend who put the video online. Pinole Police Sergeant Justin Rogers said the altercation began when Garcia and her twin sister came out of the diner. The pair confronted her and the argument soon escalated into a screaming match with insults and challenges to single combat coming from both sides. Rogers explained the 15-second clip widely shared online was just a tiny portion of a longer video shot by Garcia's sister. 'They were basically like, "what's up, yeah you're trying to fight" and she said when people where they're from in the Bay Area look at you like that then it means that they wanna start something,' he told DailyMail.com. 'So it just escalated from there, they started talking crazy to each other and the 15 seconds of Natasha running her mouth is what made it to the internet.' Rogers said Chand hurled more racial abuse than was shown in the video, and also copped it from the sisters. 'Chand obviously thinks [Garcia] is Mexican because she repeatedly says "you Mexican N-word", then she shortened it as you saw on the video,' he said. Pinole Police arrived and spoke to both women. They are now investigating what happened as a hate incident, but no charges have been laid Pinole Police arrived and spoke with both women. They are now investigating what happened as a hate incident, but no charges have been laid. 'Due to the nature of the verbal exchange between the involved parties, the incident has been classified as a hate incident and is currently under investigation by the departments criminal investigation bureau,' police said in a statement. Rogers said police would submit a report to the Contra Costa District Attorney's Office to consider disturbing the peace and challenging to fight in public charges for both Chand and Garcia. 'They both challenged each other to fight so we're sending it down with both of them as suspects and both of them as victims, and the DA can decide what to do,' he said. Chand was previously arrested on February 4 in a separate case after allegedly robbing an Ulta Beauty store in nearby Concord, California, four times. She faces felony grand theft and second degree burglary charges and three counts of misdemeanor shoplifting. Chand was on February 4 charged with robbing an Ulta Beauty store in nearby Concord, California, on four occasions in January and February Chand faced court in Martinez, California, on Sunday morning for a felony readiness conference - just hours before the racist abuse. She was born in Fiji but has Indian heritage, according to her social media. 'Seeing the footage, I'm disturbed, I'm outraged,' Pinole Mayor Cameron Sasai said. 'The use of racial slurs, everything from racist anti-black rhetoric, is not welcome anywhere, especially in the city of Pinole.' A man has been charged with murder after the death of 'a happy young woman with her whole life ahead of her'. Emergency services raced to Knowsley Heights, Huyton, on Tuesday evening after reports of a stabbing following a domestic incident. Merseyside Police arrived to find Rebekah Campbell, 32, fighting for her life. She was raced to hospital, where she tragically died of her injuries. Michael Ormandy, 34, was arrested the night of the 32-year-old's death at the block of flats and was charged today with murder. Ms Campbell's family described her as 'a happy young woman with her whole life ahead of her and had a genuine heart of gold'. They continued: 'If it meant putting herself out to help someone, she wouldn't hesitate. 'We are so proud of her. She was a support for vulnerable people and would use her own experiences to make other lives better. 'We are so grateful for all the messages of condolences, and we didn't realise how many people's lives Rebekah had touched, which just reiterates to us how special she was. A man has been charged with murder after the 'tragic' death of Rebekah Campbell, 32, who was described as having 'a genuine heart of gold' 'As a family we would appreciate privacy at this time,' they said, adding that Ms Campbell was 'our everything'. A series of heartbreaking tributes have been shared on social media from Rebekah's friends and loved ones who described her as a 'beautiful, caring' woman who 'loved being around her family and friends'. Lauren Groves wrote: 'Wow I cannot believe what am reading. RIP Rebekah Louise fly high thinking of all your family at this devastating time. We will meet again one day.' Chelsea Campbell said: 'Until we meet again our queen. Always look up to you even while you're not here.' Antonia Evans said: 'Forever young our beautiful girl, I will love and miss you forever.' Lisa Sillitoe said: 'Heartbroken RIP Becky such a beautiful, caring girl. I can't believe this has happened to you. Heartbroken. Thinking of all your family at this devastating time RIP angel.' Nadine Henderson said: 'My heart is broken for my sister and Rebekah Louise, mum and her brother and all her family. RIP Becky.' Natalia Louise Aesthetics said: 'Can't stop thinking about our beautiful friend Rebekah Louise and all her family and friends, and her cousins who she absolutely adored. Becky was always a family girl and always loved being around her family and friends there was never a dull moment with her. 'She made everyone feel comfortable. Her smile lit up any room she walked into, she was just full of life. She loved a good dance and sing song on the karaoke. Becky you are so loved by everyone and we are all going to miss you so much, it doesn't seem real. You will never be forgotten, everyone is broken.' Merseyside Police gave first aid to Ms Campbell after receiving reports of a stabbing at Knowsley Heights, Huyton, on Tuesday evening before she died in hospital A cordon remained in place outside the entrance of Knowsley Heights on Wednesday afternoon, and police divers have searched part of the Leeds to Liverpool Canal in Litherland in connection with the investigation. Mr Ormandy, of Linacre Road, in Litherland, has been remanded into custody and will next appear at Liverpool Magistrate's Court this Saturday. Detective Chief Inspector Ben Dyer said: 'This was a tragic incident in which a woman has sadly lost her life and specially trained officers are supporting her family. 'An investigation is underway, which is in the very early stages as we seek to establish exactly what has happened. 'Patrols have been stepped up in the area to provide reassurance for the community and officers continue to make CCTV and witness enquiries. 'If you live in the area and have any concerns, please speak with officers.' Police said they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident, but are still appealing for anyone with information to come forward. They said the public can get in touch by calling 101 or DM @MerPolCC on social media and quote reference number 25000309360 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the alleged MS-13 member who was deported by the Trump administration earlier this week, reportedly said he had no fear of being sent to an El Salvadoran prison. Abrego Garcia entered the US illegally in 2011. A judge blocked his return to El Salvador in 2019, citing the fact that gangsters were after him, but said he could be deported elsewhere. However, comments made to ICE agents that was not afraid as he boarded his flight back to his homeland, according to The New York Post's sources, goes completely against that notion. In court filings this week, the Trump administration said he was deported to El Salvador in error. The Supreme Court has since ordered the Trump administration to facilitate his return to the US. Late Thursday, a three-judge panel from the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously refused to suspend a judge's decision to order sworn testimony by Trump administration officials to determine if they complied with the court's instruction to facilitate Abrego Garcia's return. The Trump administrations claims that it can't do anything to free Garcia from an El Salvador prison or return him to the US 'should be shocking to the intuitive sense of liberty that Americans far removed from courthouses still hold dear,' the court said Thursday in a blistering order that ratchets up the escalating conflict between the government's executive and judicial branches. Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III, who was nominated by Republican President Ronald Reagan, said: 'It is difficult in some cases to get to the very heart of the matter. But in this case, it is not hard at all.' He added that he and his two colleagues 'cling to the hope that it is not naive to believe our good brethren in the Executive Branch perceive the rule of law as vital to the American ethos.' Kilmar Abrego Garcia (pictured), the alleged MS-13 member who was deported by the Trump administration earlier this week, reportedly said he had no fear of being sent to an El Salvadoran prison In court filings this week, the Trump administration said he was deported to El Salvador in error. The Supreme Court has since ordered the Trump administration to facilitate his return to the US 'This case presents their unique chance to vindicate that value and to summon the best that is within us while there is still time.' The seven-page order amounts to an extraordinary condemnation of the administrations position in Abrego Garcias case and also an ominous warning of the dangers of an escalating conflict between the judiciary and executive branches the court said threatens to 'diminish both.' It says the judiciary will be hurt by the 'constant intimations of its illegitimacy' while the executive branch 'will lose much from a public perception of its lawlessness.' DailyMail.com has reached out to the White House for comment on the ruling. When asked by reporters Thursday afternoon if he believed Abrego Garcia was entitled to due process, Trump ducked the question. 'I have to refer, again, to the lawyers,' he said in the Oval Office. 'I have to do what they ask me to do.' The president added: 'I had heard that there were a lot of things about a certain gentleman - perhaps it was that gentleman - that would make that case be a case thats easily winnable on appeal. So well just have to see. Im gonna have to respond to the lawyers.' Trump officials insist Garcia is not an innocent American, as claimed. They say he's an MS-13 gangster who deserves to be sent back to El Salvador. Additionally, a 2021 petition for protection from domestic violence filled out by Abrego Garcia's wife, Jennifer Vasquez, which was obtained first by DailyMail.com, states that the alleged MS-13 member beat his wife multiple times over the years. Trump officials insist Garcia is not an innocent American, as claimed. They say he's an MS-13 gangster who deserves to be sent back to El Salvador. Many Democrats have furiously protested his deportation Additionally, a 2021 petition for protection from domestic violence filled out by Abrego Garcia's wife, Jennifer Vasquez (pictured), which was obtained first by DailyMail.com, states that the alleged MS-13 member beat his wife multiple times over the years She told The Post she was 'acting out of caution after a disagreement with Kilmar in case things escalated' after being abused 'in a previous relationship.' 'Things did not escalate, and I decided not to follow through with the civil court process. We were able to work through this situation privately as a family, including by going to counseling,' she added. 'Our marriage only grew stronger in the years that followed. No one is perfect, and no marriage is perfect.' Democrats, furious about his deportation, are up in arms, with Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen traveling in an attempt to get answers. Abrego Garcia, who is a legal resident, arrived at the notorious supermax prison CECOT in El Salvador March 15 on one of three planes from the US. He first entered the U.S. in 2011 but was granted permission to stay by a judge in 2019. He later settled down in Maryland and has an American wife and son. The Trump administration deported Abrego Garcia on March 15 after files indicated that he had connections with MS-13, a vicious Salvadorian-American gang. His wife and lawyer deny his gang affiliation and have sued the administration for improperly removing him from the U.S. 'Our marriage only grew stronger in the years that followed. No one is perfect, and no marriage is perfect,' Vazquez said of her husband The Trump administration initially said his removal was a mistake. The Supreme Court then ordered the facilitation of his return. But the Trump administration is standing firm. In the Oval Office on Monday, Trump and El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele led a united defense of their actions in the case of Abrego Garcia. Bukele argued he couldn't return, saying: ''How can I return him to the United States? 'I smuggle him into the United States or what do I do? Of course, I'm not going to do it. 'The question is preposterous. How can I smuggle a terrorist into the United States? I don't have the power to return him to the United States.' Trump supported Bukele's claim and went further, lobbying the El Salvadorian leader to take more migrants and build more prisons hold them. 'I just asked the president, you know, it's this massive complex that he built, a jail complex. I said, 'Can you build some more of them, please?'' Trump said. Abrego Garcia (pictured), who is a legal resident, arrived at the notorious supermax prison CECOT in El Salvador March 15 on one of three planes from the US Democratic Senator from Maryland Chris Van Hollen speaks to the press in Antiguo Cuscatlan, El Salvador. Van Hollen arrived in El Salvador to request the release of Abrego Garcia He asked Bukele to take 'as many as we can get out of our country that were allowed in here by incompetent Joe Biden, through open borders, open borders.' The Justice Department, in its latest filing, argued the courts lack the ability to dictate steps that the White House should take in the matter of the return of Abrego Garcia. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who joined Trump and Bukele in their Oval Office meeting, said the decision was in El Salvador's hands. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was also in the Oval Office, backed Bondi, saying the administration was not bound to follow court orders. Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska sent shock waves around the country when she disclosed her colleagues are afraid of retaliation if they speak out against President Donald Trump. 'We are all afraid,' she told a summit of nonprofit and tribal leaders in her native Alaska when she was asked about the current political climate. 'We're in a time and place where - I don't know, I certainly have not - I have not been here before. And I'll tell you, I'm oftentimes very anxious myself about using my voice because retaliation is real. And that's not right. But that's what you've asked me to do and so I'm going to use my voice to the best of my ability,' she added. Murkowski, who has been in the Senate more than 20 years, said she personally feels anxious about speaking out about Trump's tariffs, executive orders and cuts to federal agencies. 'Part of what I have been doing with my team is just trying to listen as carefully as I can to what is happening and how it is happening and the impacts it is having on the ground, and we're honest up front in saying we don't have all the answers, but we're trying to unlock at different opportunities and in different ways as much as we can,' she said. 'And it is as hard as anything that I have been engaged in in the 20 plus years I've been in the Senate.' Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski said people are afraid of retribution in the Trump era Her remarks, recorded in a video posted by the Anchorage Daily News, spread across the internet. She told the news outlet that she's approached in airports, meetings and hallways where people share their fears with her, particularly among federal job cuts and the trade war. 'They end up in tears, in tears because they thought that they were in a profession they'd given so much to, and thought that they were doing well, and literally, with no notice whatsoever, are terminated' she said. 'These are unscripted moments where I am not soliciting them and people are not planning on sharing them with me, almost serendipitous in an airport. And so these are real emotions. These are real people, these are real fears, and they need to be heard.' Murkowski is one of the few Senate Republicans who have been willing to criticize Trump's policies, oppose some of his Cabinet nominees and vote to overturn his tariffs on Canada. She also slammed Trump for 'walking away from our allies' as he aligned himself with Russian leader Vladimir Putin and criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. And she's opposed the Department of Government Efficiency's mass firing wave and slash-and-burn efforts to cut down government agencies. 'It is head spinning,' Murkowski said. 'It seems that just when you've made a little bit of progress on one issue that had caused so much anxiety, there's another one.' Murkowski has been in Trump's sight lines before. She survived a Trump-backed challenger three years ago, after voting with six other Republicans to convict the president at his second impeachment trial in the Senate over the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by his supporters. In her talk in Alaska, she also said she would oppose sweeping cuts to the Medicaid healthcare program for low-income Americans being sought by some Republicans to pay for tax cuts. President Donald Trump has a high approval rating among Republicans She has voted against Trump already. She was a 'no' on confirming Pete Hegseth as defense secretary although he ultimately won enough votes to lead the Pentagon. Trump's response was muted, saying there were 'no surprises there' and that it was 'too bad.' The president remains popular among Republicans, with 86 percent of GOP voters approving of his job performance in a recent Quinnipiac University poll. Murkowski next faces voters in 2028. A furious resident has unleashed on an Aussie dad after he set up a tent outside Anthony Albanese's $4.3million holiday home in protest of the country's worsening housing crisis. Morgan Cox positioned himself outside the Prime Minister's five-bedroom home in Copacabana, on NSW's Central Coast, on Thursday. It's understood the father-of-three is still there as of Friday morning. His sign, attached to a large grey tent, reads: 'Everyone deserves a home Albo!' The father-of-three took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share his stunt. He wrote: 'I'll be here outside Albo's $4.6million mansion on behalf of 3.5million Australians in poverty or facing homelessness. 'All we want is to be heard. Everyone deserves a home Albo!!!' The stunt quickly sparked a reaction from locals, with one angry resident accusing Mr Cox of taking down a campaign poster of the electorate's Labor candidate. Im going to council, straight up! Morgan @unleavenedcat coxs message everyone deserves a home, albo upsets a local to the claimed anti-labor message. I bought land here when I was seventeen and a half! The local shares his background, but clearly upset. Youre allowed https://t.co/7VgdG3VIAS pic.twitter.com/EhJHX8nySe Chriscoveries (@Chriscoveries) April 17, 2025 Aussie dad Morgan Cox has staked out in front of the Prime Minister's five-bedroom home 'Everyone deserves a house Albo' the massive sign outside the beachfront home reads The resident questioned Mr Cox's motive for the protest in a post on X. The man said he bought land in the area when he was 17-years-old before pointing to the sign and adding: 'I don't know which side you're on but I'm not on your side'. He then threatened to report the stunt to the council, prompting Mr Cox to walk over and introduce himself. He told the resident he will be moving his tent shortly but is trying to get his message out concerning the housing crisis in Australia. 'All I care about is the three and a half million people that are in the same position as my family and I just want them to listen and this is the only way I can seem to get through,' he told the man. The resident then claims the Labor candidate, Gordon Reid's posters have been taken down while those of Liberal candidate, Lucy Wicks, were 'all over the place'. Mr Cox reiterated that his protest is 'not political' but the resident insisted it is due to his prime position outside the prime minister's house. The father-of-three shared his family's heartbreaking story on ABC's Q&A in March. Mr Albanese purchased the NSW Central Coast property for $4.2million (pictured) He revealed despite working two jobs he was facing homelessness after receiving a rent increase notice for an additional $180 a week. Mr Cox and his family, including his one-year-old baby, had moved out of Sydney due to rising costs and were facing being kicked out of their home once again. He said they had tried but failed to find somewhere cheaper to live. It's understood Mr Albanese and his fiancee Jodie Haydon do not live in the coastal mansion. Real estate data suggests the property was listed for $1,500 a week. Governor Kathy Hochul has been slammed by the Long Island district attorney for her decision to release hundreds of inmates due to staffing shortages at state prisons. Anne Donnelly, the Republican DA for Nassau County since 2021, said Hochul is being 'reckless' and 'shortsighted.' 'Governor Hochuls decision to release hundreds or even thousands of prisoners before they have served their full prison terms is a reckless and shortsighted response to a crisis of her own making,' Donnelly, who is running for re-election this fall, told the New York Post. Donnelly is referring to the 22-day long strike prison guards mounted at nearly all the state's 42 penitentiaries. A deal was reached to end the work stoppage on March 11, and the remaining 2,000 corrections officers who were still striking were summarily fired. State Correction Commissioner Daniel Martuscello said there are roughly 10,000 officers on the job, down 26 percent from the 13,500 officers that were employed before the strike, the New York Daily News reported. On March 31, Martuscello circulated a memo ordering prison leaders to find inmates who were convicted of minor crimes, and already primed for release within 15 to 110 days to be considered for an early discharge, according to the Associated Press. Roughly a month later, the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) has announced that it has identified 766 inmates who were eligible for an early release under Hochul's plan. As of Tuesday this week, 103 prisoners have been released to residential treatment programs, the Post reported. Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly, a Republican, blasted New York Governor Kathy Hochul (right) for signing off on a plan to release hundreds of inmates in state prisons Donnelly is pursuing legislation that would prevent the state from being able to release prisoners' early to address staffing or budget challenges (Pictured: Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York) Another 142 are being reviewed for potential release, while the remaining 521 individuals were deemed ineligible because they either had pending warrants or were not approved for non-shelter residence. 'This move undermines the safety of law-abiding New Yorkers and sends the wrong message to those who have been convicted of crimes,' Donnelly said. Donnelly, with the help of Republican state assemblyman Ed Ra, is drafting legislation that would prevent the state from being able to release prisoners' early to address staffing or budget challenges. More than 12,000 corrections officers walked off the job on February 17 and eventually began costing the state roughly $3.5 million a day. That's because Hochul signed an emergency declaration replacing the striking workers with National Guardsmen. Hochul's office accused Donnelly and Ra of grandstanding and condoning the strike, which was illegal under a state law that prohibits all public sector employees from striking. 'New Yorks correctional system is facing a staffing crisis because thousands of correction officers broke the law, walked off the job and refused to return to work putting their fellow COs, civilian staff and incarcerated individuals at risk,' Jess D'Amelia, a spokesperson for Hochul, told DailyMail.com. 'Instead of being honest with New Yorkers, these politicians are defending lawbreakers and twisting the truth,' the spokesperson added. State Correction Commissioner Daniel Martuscello is the one facilitating the early release of eligible prisoners Martuscello was also key in negotiating the deal that ended the strike and fired 2,000 corrections officers (Pictured: A strike at Bare Hill Correctional Facility in Malone) She said the government will not be granting an early release to anyone who has been convicted of sex crimes, terrorism or violent felonies. D'Amelia also said the Hochul administration will be working to improve working conditions for prison guards, the reason they went on strike in the first place. DOCCS spokesman Thomas Mailey said much the same thing, adding that serious felonies like murder, terrorism, and arson also disqualify inmates for early release. 'Commissioner Martuscello directed that a list of incarcerated individuals who are scheduled to be released in the next few months be reviewed for their transition into Residential Treatment,' Mailey said. 'Participating individuals must also have an approved residence, which is not a shelter or [Department of Social Services] placement.' This essentially means that inmates must already have a home to go back to that isn't a shelter or transitional housing for released inmates. Luigi Mangione was indicted Thursday on a federal murder charge in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, a necessary step for prosecutors to seek the death penalty. The indictment returned by a grand jury in Manhattan federal court also charges Mangione with two counts of stalking and a firearms count. It was not immediately clear when the 26-year-old Mangione will be arraigned. A message seeking comment was left for a spokesperson for his lawyers. Mangione, an Ivy League graduate from a prominent Maryland real estate family, also faces separate state murder charges. He's accused of shooting Thompson, 50, in the back outside a Manhattan hotel on Dec. 4 as the executive arrived for UnitedHealthcares annual investor conference. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced this month that she had directed federal prosecutors in Manhattan to seek the death penalty, following through on the presidents campaign promise to vigorously pursue capital punishment. Bondi said in a statement that her office would push for the ultimate punishment, describing Thompson's assassination in December as 'premeditated and cold-blooded'. 'After careful consideration, I have directed federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty in this case as we carry out President Trump's agenda to stop violent crime and Make America Safe Again,' Bondi said. Luigi Mangione (pictured) was indicted Thursday on a federal murder charge Mangione could now face the death penalty for the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson (pictured) It's the first death penalty case sought by the Justice Department since President Donald Trump returned to office in January with a vow to resume federal executions after they were halted under the previous administration. The killing and ensuing five-day manhunt leading to Mangiones arrest rattled the business community, with some health insurers hastily switching to remote work or online shareholder meetings. It also galvanized health insurance critics - some of whom have rallied around Mangione as a stand-in for frustrations over coverage denials and hefty medical bills. His fans range from those who think he's innocent, to those who believe he's guilty and love him for it. Surveillance video showed a masked gunman shooting Thompson from behind. Police say the words 'delay,' 'deny' and 'depose' were scrawled on the ammunition, mimicking a phrase commonly used to describe how insurers avoid paying claims. Mangione was arrested in a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania after a multi-day manhunt for the suspect. He denied the charges and pleaded not guilty to state murder and terror charges on December 23 for the killing of Thompson. Karen Friedman Agnifilo, Marc Agnifilo, and Jacob Kaplan are representing Mangione. Because his appearance is in federal court, photography and video footage is strictly prohibited. (Pictured: Star-struck fans outside the courthouse in February) Agnifilo was met with a resounding applause from Mangione's supporters when she entered the courtroom two months ago. She argued that her client's constitutional rights may have been violated when officers arrested him and seized his belongings. Mangione remains behind bars at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, and is housed in the same unit as other famous faces including Sean 'Diddy' Combs. A legal donation fund that was created soon after Mangione was arrested has since amassed more than $900,000 - nearly reaching its goal of $1 million. In March he received a massive donation of $36,5000 from an anonymous donor who left an enigmatic message. 'What intrigues me about this case is how unified folks' responses are regardless of strata,' the mystery donor said. 'In Corporate America, for instance, there has been widespread doubt of potential prosecutorial mishandling and overcharging. 'I've also been surprised at the almost ubiquitous nature of support towards the suspect that I would expect to be quite bifurcated in this type of litigation. Quite exceptional.' When reports began circulating that an active shooter was on the FSU campus in Tallahassee, Anne-Mari Eriksen was one of countless distressed parents trying to make contact with their loved ones at the school. At this stage, she was desperate to find out if her son was okay, but as details emerged through a press conference on Thursday afternoon, a new nightmare emerged - her son was responsible for the carnage unfolding. Phoenix Ikner, 20, was identified later by cops as the shooter, with authorities revealing he was the son of sheriff's deputy Jessica Ikner and had used her weapon to kill two people and injure another six. Eriksen insists she is Ikner's biological mom. She and Ikner's father had been locked in a bitter legal battle years prior, and by all accounts he's been largely raised by his father and Jessica. She fumed on a Facebook post around 4pm, minutes before her son was publicly named as the killer. 'Horrible when your alienating son's dad is as mentally unstable as he is, along with his LCSO cop wife, that they can't respond when you write to ask if everything is alright with my son, who studies ar [sic] FSU,' she wrote in a now-deleted post. 'That whole familly [sic] is nuts. He should write a book on how to parent badly, but he can't communicate.' Then, she added: 'Feel sorry for everyone at FSU and their kids.' Just two hours after the initial post a friend responded, asking 'are you ok?' Phoenix Ikner has been raised by his dad, Chris (center) and stepmom, sheriff's deputy Jessica (left), who was referred to as his 'mom' in a press conference on Thursday Eriksen had faced charges for removing a minor from the state amid her ongoing legal dispute with Ikner's father. It is understood she fled the country and took her son to Norway. The duo are both dual-citizens. Pictured: Phoenix with his grandma on his biological mom's side By this stage, her son's name was formally linked to the horrifying rampage and his pictures had been shared all over social media and the news. 'No,' she replied, shortly before deleting the post entirely. DailyMail.com has approached Eriksen for comment. Only months ago, Eriksen had celebrated her son's 20th birthday with a post reflecting on her pregnancy journey, writing: 'MY son turns 20 tomorrow. 'The wonderful feeling when I held him in my arms, and he stopped crying right away after a couple other people held him briefly and he screamed his lungs out, but then he just stopped with me. I was so happy to meet MY little cutie.' Eriksen had faced charges for removing a minor from the state amid her ongoing legal dispute with Ikner's father. It is understood she fled the country and took her son to Norway, where they are both dual-citizens. Lengthy court documents obtained by DailyMail.com suggest the incident was one of many bitter custody battles during Ikner's youth. In one instance, Eriksen was court ordered to no longer contact her son, her son's father or his wife, sheriff's deputy Jessica Ikner whose weapon was used in the deadly school attack. She was ordered to have no contact with Ikner's school, teachers, doctors, counselors or summer camp programs, and was told to begin restitution payments totaling $31,000. Distraught students held a vigil near the scene of the shooting at Florida State University on Thursday night Eriksen does not have a relationship with her son, but maintains on social media that she gave birth to him. She and Ikner's father were locked in a bitter custody dispute Jessica Ikner and her husband Chris have raised Ikner. She refers to him as 'son' Phoenix Ikner is a registered Republican who was described by some classmates as a 'fascist' Additionally, Eriksen was sentenced to 200 days in jail, including the 170 days she'd already served up until the court date. Throughout the court documents, Ikner was referred to as 'Christian Eriksen.' It is understood he later changed his name. His biological grandmother, Eriksen's mom, once made an effort to reach out publicly, writing: 'Christian, your Norwegian passport is easily replaced by your mother. 'It is time for you to spend some time in Norway!! Grandma Susan in Tallahassee.' Eriksen has repeatedly shared pictures relating to child parental alienation and expressed a desire to reconnect with her son prior to Thursday's chilling events. Two adult men were killed during Thursday's rampage, and five other victims were injured by gunfire, authorities confirmed. Another victim was injured trying to escape the shooting. Chief Lawrence Revell of the Tallahassee Police Department said in an updated statement on Thursday night that Ikner 'remains hospitalized with serious by non-life-threatening injuries. 'What occurred today was a heinous and despicable act of violence,' he said. 'This remains an open and active investigation, and TPD is committed to bringing justice to the victims in this case.' Eriksen often shares photos of her son from when they had contact on her social media Jessica Ikner (pictured with Phoenix) was named in some of the court documents during the messy legal dispute Students gathered to pay their respects to the two lives lost and six injured Students seen evacuating on Thursday afternoon amid the mass shooting event Horrifying reports have emerged that Ikner held 'white supremacist' values which saw him kicked out of at least one political club. Speaking to NBC after the shooting, a student who was once part of a 'political round table' with Ikner revealed he harbored white supremacist views. 'Basically our only rule was no Nazis colloquially speaking and he espoused so much white supremacist rhetoric and far right rhetoric as well,' Reid Seybold said. Seybold, who was president of the club, said he had to kick Ikner out of the group due to his beliefs and rhetoric. And Riley Pusins, who is part of another political discourse club on campus that Ikner would attend, had a similar experience with the suspect. Pusins said Ikner would attend meetings 'almost every Thursday' in which he would 'go up to the line' about what was acceptable discussions, but would often cross the line after the formal meeting ended. The student said Ikner often advocated President Donald Trump's agenda, promoted white supremacist values and made inappropriate comments, despite joining a nonpartisan group. Pusins said others in the group would describe Ikner as a 'fascist.' The shooter who killed two people and injured several more at FSU on Thursday has been identified as the son of Leon County Sheriff's Deputy Jessica Ikner (right) One student prays with her hands clasped together as she paid respect to the victims of the tragic shooting Ikner himself is a registered Republican voter who openly mocked students on campus protesting the result of the 2024 presidential election. 'These people are usually pretty entertaining, usually not for good reasons,' Ikner said in his school magazine, where he was described as a political science major. 'I think it's a little too late, he's [Trump] already going to be inaugurated on Jan. 20 and there's not really much you can do unless you outright revolt, and I don't think anyone wants that.' According to one Tallahassee local church, he was baptized in 2024. Prior to the mass shooting, Ikner had updated his Instagram bio, sharing a haunting quote from book of Jeremiah in the Bible, which warned of an impending judgement day. 'You are my war club, my weapons for battle, with you I shatter nations, with you I destroy kingdoms,' he wrote. Extraordinary footage also emerged of Ikner stalking campus grounds as terrified students ran for their lives on Thursday. The deafening sound of a gunshot rings out in the video as Ikner marches back and forth at Florida State University's Tallahassee campus, shooting indiscriminately at his terrified classmates. During the shooting and in the immediate aftermath, social media was flooded with sickening footage and images as panic set in, including one showing a victim being carried to safety on the shoulders of paramedics. Donald Trump said on Thursday that the US would sign a new minerals deal next week, in an apparent reference to talks with Ukraine. Speaking to reporters at an Oval Office press conference, the US president said: 'We have a minerals deal', noting that the accord could be signed as early as next week. Several hours later, Ukraine said that Kyiv and Washington had signed a memorandum as an initial step towards clinching an agreement on developing mineral resources in Ukraine. Yulia Svyrydenko, Ukraine's first deputy prime minister and economy minister, announced that the memorandum had been signed on social media, writing: 'We are happy to announce the signing, with our American partners, of a Memorandum of Intent, which paves the way for an Economic Partnership Agreement and the establishment of the Investment Fund for the Reconstruction of Ukraine.' A Ukrainian delegation travelled to Washington at the end of last week for negotiations after the Trump administration offered a new, more expansive deal. The initial framework agreement that was agreed to has never been signed. Trump has pushed for a compact that would allow the US to have privileged access to Ukraine's natural resources and critical minerals in what he casts as repayment for military aid provided by Washington to the war-torn nation under former President Joe Biden. Sitting alongside Trump in the Oval Office on Thursday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said: 'We're still working on the details' and that the signing could come by next Friday. Donald Trump said on Thursday that the US would sign a new minerals deal next week Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) talks with US President Donald Trump (C) and US Vice President JD Vance (R) in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 28 February 2025 'It's substantially what we'd agreed on previously,' he said. 'When the president was here, we had a memorandum of understanding. We went straight to the big deal, and I think it's an 80-page agreement and that's what we'll be signing.' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had said earlier that the two countries could sign the memorandum online later in the day. 'This is a memorandum of intent. And we have positive, constructive intentions,' Zelensky told reporters in Kyiv. He added that the offer to sign the memorandum before the comprehensive deal, which would require ratification in the Ukrainian parliament, had come from the US side. Kyiv and Washington had been close to signing a deal until a February clash between Trump and Zelensky temporarily derailed work on the agreement. The agreement comes after it was reported yesterday that Trump had scaled back his demand that Ukraine repay $300 billion in exchange for US war aid. The US president insisted in the early days of his administration that his opposite number in Kyiv must compensate the US for all the aid provided to Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression. Bodies of people killed in a Russian ballistic missile strike lie covered with emergency blankets at the strike site on April 13, 2025 in Sumy, Ukraine A man cries as he leans on the bus that was hit by a Russian missile on Sumy, Ukraine In February, he dispatched US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to Kyiv to propose a highly exploitative resources-for-aid deal that would hand vast Ukrainian oil, gas, and mineral reserves to Washington. The plan drew sharp criticism from Kyiv and European allies, who noted that the sum of US aid packages to that date amounted to $175 billion - around $70 billion of which was spent domestically on US weapons manufacturing. Zelensky swiftly rejected the proposal, declaring he would not 'sell his country' and challenging claims Ukraine had received so much aid, which he also stressed was not a loan. Tensions peaked days later in a now infamous Oval Office clash in which Zelensky's visit to the White House devolved into a bitter spat between him, Trump and US Vice President JD Vance. Now, however, both sides are citing positive progress in negotiations toward a new version of the mineral deal, as Bloomberg reported Trump had lowered his demand for repayment to $100 billion. Zelensky said further talks were planned in the coming days, while US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Bloomberg the deal could be signed 'as early as this week'. Suggestions that talks on the minerals deal were progressing mark a notable change in tone after sources last week said negotiations were 'antagonistic'. Trump also said Thursday that he doesn't hold Zelensky 'responsible' for Russia's invasion of his country but continued to criticize the pro-Western Ukrainian leader. Trump has repeatedly made the false claim that Ukraine started the war and this week accused Zelensky of responsibility for 'millions' of deaths. 'I don't hold Zelensky responsible but I'm not exactly thrilled with the fact that that war started,' Trump said at the White House alongside visiting Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. 'I'm not blaming him, but what I am saying is that I wouldn't say he's done the greatest job, OK? I am not a big fan.' Zelensky earlier this week invited Trump to visit Ukraine to see war devastation for himself, in a Sunday interview with CBS that Trump responded to with threats against the TV network. President Donald Trump was ecstatic on Thursday when the Supreme Court decided to hear his birthright citizenship case. 'I am so happy,' he said. 'I think the case has been so misunderstood,' the president added. Trump received the news from reporters questioning him in the Oval Office shortly after the high court said it would hear arguments next month on his push to end birthright citizenship, which is the legal principle that citizenship is automatically granted to individuals upon birth. In the United States that principle has been enshrined in the Constitution for over 150 years. For his part Trump claimed the idea was tied to 'slavery.' 'That's not about tourists coming in and touching a piece of sand and then all of the sudden there's citizenship, you know they're a citizen, that is all about slavery,' Trump argued. 'If you look at it that way, that case is an easy case to win.' 'I am so happy,' President Donald Trump said of the Supreme Court's decision to hear his case Trump administration filed an emergency application that asked the Supreme Court to lift lower court rulings that paused an executive order Trump signed on his first day in office. Under that order, which was due to take effect February 19, children born to parents in the United States illegally or on temporary visas would not automatically become US citizens, radically altering the interpretation of the Constitution's 14th Amendment. The Supreme Court said it would hear oral arguments on the case on May 15 but left the halt on the order in place. The 14th Amendment was ratified directly after the Civil War. Previously enslaved black Americans and their children were not considered citizens. The amendment gave them citizenship by saying all people born in the U.S. had that right. But courts also ruled the amendment applied to those of any nationality born in the United States. In 1898, the Supreme Court affirmed birthright citizenship in a landmark case, United States v. Wong Kim Ark, guaranteeing automatic citizenship for nearly all children born in the country. Since then, courts have upheld that expansive interpretation. But some conservatives have a different view. The 14th Amendment includes a phrase that citizenship applies only to people who are 'subject to the jurisdiction' of the United States. Some conservatives have argued that foreign national parents who are in the US illegally may not be viewed as meeting that requirement. The nine Justices on the United States Supreme Court Migrants travel back to Central America, following the closure of the U.S.-Mexico border In his January 20th executive order, Trump tried to redefine the 14th Amendment by saying children born to illegal immigrants or to those on temporary non-immigrant visas are not citizens at birth. He called citizenship 'a priceless and profound gift.' The Trump administration argued that children of noncitizens are not 'subject to the jurisdiction' of the United States, a phrase used in the amendment, and therefore are not entitled to citizenship. States, immigrants and rights groups sued to block Trump's executive order and accused the administration of trying to unsettle the broader understanding of birthright citizenship that has been accepted since the amendment's adoption. The order remains paused until the Supreme Court can hear the case next month. The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to find that lower courts had erred in imposing bans on the birthright citizenship policy that extended beyond the parties involved in the litigation. The administration instead wants the justices to allow Trump's plan to go into effect for everyone except the handful of people and groups that sued. Failing that, the administration says that the plan could remain blocked for now in the 22 states that sued. It did not ask the court to weigh in on the constitutionality of that executive order, which was challenged soon after it was signed. But the justices probably will find it hard to avoid that underlying issue. President Donald Trump signed the executive order on January 20th - his first day in office If the court is inclined to agree with the administration, it risks creating a confusing patchwork of rules in which the state in which a child is born could determine whether citizenship is granted automatically. Several justices have raised concerns in the past about nationwide, or universal, injunctions, but the court has never ruled on the matter. The administration made a similar argument in Trump's first term, including in the Supreme Court fight over his ban on travel to the U.S. from several Muslim majority countries. The court eventually upheld Trump's policy, but did not take up the issue of nationwide injunctions. Rachel Reeves will meet White House officials next week as hopes grow that a trade deal with Washington is close. The Chancellor confirmed yesterday she will have 'conversations with the US administration' when she travels to America for a summit. It comes as White House officials said they believe a UK-US trade deal could be reached within three weeks. London is reportedly in a good position to strike an agreement with Washington after US vice president JD Vance predicted a 'great' trade deal. In Scunthorpe yesterday Ms Reeves said: 'Conversations with our US counterparts are ongoing. 'I will be in Washington next week for the International Monetary Fund annual meetings, their spring meetings. I will also be having conversations with the US administration whilst I'm there. 'The key thing for the UK Government is always acting in the national interest and any deal able to be secured will always have front-and-centre British national interest.' Asked on the progress of any deal, she said: 'We are in active negotiations at the moment with our US counterparts on a whole range of issues concerning the tariffs.' U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in the Oval Office Rachel Reeves will meet White House officials next week as hopes grow for a trade deal with Washington However last night President Trump still appeared to be playing hardball over negotiations as he said he is in 'no rush' to reach any trade deals because of the revenues his tariffs are generating. During a press conference with Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni he said: 'We [the US] are taking in tremendous amounts of money with the tariffs. 'We were treated very unfairly with trade and countries are getting used to the fact that they can't do that to us anymore.' Ms Meloni said Mr Trump had accepted her invitation to visit Italy for an official visit. Speaking in the Oval Office, she said: 'The goal for me is to make the West great again and I think together we can do that.' Mr Trump responded: 'We can.' He added that his baseline tariffs of 10 per cent on all US imports will stay in place. UK Government sources said talks were 'progressing positively' with the US but said the UK wasn't rushing to be the first country to secure a deal. They said the two sides are 'constantly' working together but reluctant to put a time frame an agreement, adding: 'We're not rushing to be the first country to do a deal we want to get the right deal'. However last night President Trump (pictured above with Prime Minister Keir Starmer) still appeared to be playing hardball over negotiations as he said he is in 'no rush' to reach any trade deals because of the revenues his tariffs are generating Kemi Badenoch said she feared Labour was 'too close' to China in its pursuit of growth But yesterday Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said she feared Labour was 'too close' to China in its pursuit of growth which could impact a deal with the US. Concerns have been raised about Labour cosying up to Beijing after ministers were forced to wrest control of British Steel from a Chinese company. While on the campaign trail for local elections, Ms Badenoch said: 'I worry that this Government is too close to [China].' When asked about a US trade deal, Ms Badenoch cautioned the UK shouldn't change its laws. Reports yesterday from the US suggest an agreement could be close after UK government insiders indicated an announcement on the talks was imminent. The Daily Telegraph reported a deal could be finalised within three weeks and Mr Vance has said Mr Trump wants to agree a 'great' deal because of his 'cultural affinity' with the UK. 'And, of course, fundamentally America is an Anglo country,' he added. Labour's stance on women's rights descended into farce last night as a minister failed to back single-sex spaces and its union paymaster said it will ignore the Supreme Court judgment. A health minister refused four times to say which changing room transgender women should use despite the unanimous ruling that they are not legally women. And the president of one of Britain's largest unions which gives Labour millions of pounds a year said the historic decision 'does not change' its pro-trans policy. It came as Left-wing Labour MPs and the party's LGBT+ groups criticised the findings of the country's highest court, and Chancellor Rachel Reeves squirmed when asked if Keir Starmer should apologise to an MP for criticising her assertion that only women have a cervix. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said Labour's failure to back single-sex spaces and its union paymaster's 'open hostility' to the ruling show that claims it was pro-women's rights were 'completely false'. She told the Mail: 'Women and girls will be failed by Labour again and again, as they always have been.' Health minister Karin Smyth failed four times to clarify which changing room trans women should use in light of the Supreme Court judgment. Ms Smyth said it was 'important that a trans woman or a trans man also has dignity in their use of public spaces'. Susan Smith and Marion Calder - co-directors of For Women Scotland - celebrated the Supreme Court ruled that the terms 'woman' and 'sex' in the Equality Act refer to a biological woman and biological sex Health minister Karin Smyth failed four times to clarify which changing room trans women should use in light of the Supreme Court judgment Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said Labour's failure to back single-sex spaces shows that claims it was pro-women's rights were 'completely false' Asked again, she told Times Radio: 'This varies [depending] upon what the provision of those service providers are large organisations, small organisations.' Her comments contrasted sharply with those from the head of the equalities watchdog, who said in no uncertain terms that trans women now cannot use single-sex female facilities or compete in women's sports. Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) chairman Baroness Falkner said the ruling 'does bring clarity' for organisations on their single-sex policies and vowed to pursue those that do not enforce women-only spaces. She added: 'Single-sex services like changing rooms must be based on biological sex. If a male person is allowed to use a women-only service or facility, it isn't any longer single-sex, then it becomes a mixed-sex space.' And asked if it was now straightforward that trans women cannot take part in women's sport, she told BBC Radio 4: 'Yes, it is.' But Steve North, president of the Unison union which gave Labour more than 4 million last year said on X: 'I want to restate my solidarity with our trans members. This judgment does not change Unison policy in support of trans rights.' He also shared a post from one of the union's branches that stated 'trans women are women' and added that any Unison members who predominantly work in local government, education and the NHS affected by the ruling should reach out 'for support'. Mrs Badenoch said: 'The flailing of Karin Smyth on the radio and the open hostility to the Supreme Court judgment from Unison, one of the Labour Party's biggest donors, just shows that Labour's position on this is completely false. Equality and Human Rights Commission chairman Baroness Falkner vowed to pursue those that do not enforce women-only spaces Crowds of people cheered and broke into song after the ruling was handed down For Women Scotland directors Susan Smith (left) and Marion Calder (right) celebrate the landmark ruling Steve North, president of the Unison union, restated his 'solidarity with our trans members' and said 'this judgement does not change Unison policy in support of trans rights' 'Labour doesn't support single-sex spaces and they don't understand the principle.' A Labour source hit back, saying: 'After 14 years of Tory failure to act, it's Labour who will protect women's spaces. We have always been crystal clear that single-sex spaces are important and that biology matters.' It came as the Government was under growing pressure to overhaul the Equalities Act to enshrine biological sex in law. Mrs Badenoch said that 'Labour are trying to gaslight the public and rewrite history on the Supreme Court judgement' and called for equality laws to be rewritten to prevent this. Ms Reeves dodged questions about the court ruling and whether the Prime Minister should apologise to MP Rosie Duffield, who has said she was 'isolated, hounded and harassed' out of Labour for her gender-critical views. Asked whether Sir Keir should say sorry, Ms Reeves said: 'Well, the most important thing is that we now have that clarity that is needed, so we welcome that Supreme Court ruling and the clarity that it gives to service providers and also to women.' But Helen Joyce, director of advocacy at Sex Matters which provided evidence in the landmark case, said: 'There really is no room for equivocation on this it's the law of the land. 'Every government minister and every politician from all parties needs to understand this.' MP Rosie Duffield said she was 'isolated, hounded and harassed' out of Labour for her gender-critical views Activists celebrate after hearing the outcome of the Supreme Court's ruling on how to define a 'woman' Helen Joyce (left) and Maya Forstater of 'Sex Matters' outside the Supreme Court in London this week And Caroline Ffiske, from Conservatives for Women, added: 'It is hugely disappointing and an abdication of responsibility that the Labour Government appears to want to continue to pretend that the situation is complex.' Wednesday's Supreme Court ruling said: 'The unanimous decision of this court is that the terms 'woman' and 'sex' in the Equality Act 2010 refer to biological woman and biological sex.' The decision was the culmination of a seven-year legal fight brought by gender-critical campaign group For Women Scotland against the Scottish government. The court ruled that the process of awarding a 6 Gender Recognition Certificate does not turn a biological man into a woman, meaning trans people do not get specific protections for biological women contained in the Equality Act. A Unison spokesman said: 'The union is going through the judgment and will consider its implications for any guidance that is provided to members.' A former MI6 officer who wrote the controversial 'Steele dossier' on Donald Trump is to join a line-up of leading speakers at a new literary festival aiming to revive Fleet Street's cultural legacy. Once the powerhouse of British journalism and birthplace of the printing press, the thoroughfare was the epicentre of the country's literary and publishing output for centuries. Now, the rich heritage of this part of London is set to be reawakened next month with The Fleet Street Quarter Festival of Words. The four-day event's programme is headlined by Booker Prize-winning author Ben Okri, who will discuss his latest novella Madame Sosostris, while Kate Mosse OBE celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Women's Prize for fiction. Among the guests is former British spy Chris Steele, best known for compiling the so-called 2016 Steele dossier on unverified claims that Mr Trump had been 'compromised' by the Kremlin. The ex-agent, who led MI6's Russia desk, will discuss his book Unredacted in which he warns of the threats posed to democracy by the US President and his connections to Russia. Broadcaster Jeremy Vine will also take part, hosting a new crime fiction series called Murder on Line One alongside fellow broadcaster and writer Simon Mayo. Festival director Damian Collins OBE, a former chairman of the Commons committee for culture, media and sport, said: 'Fleet Street is known around the world as a centre of news, ideas and great storytelling, and is therefore the perfect setting for this festival.' Fleet Street was once the powerhouse of British journalism and birthplace of the printing press Among the guests is former British spy Chris Steele (pictured), best known for compiling the so-called 2016 Steele dossier on unverified claims that Donald Trump had been 'compromised' by the Kremlin The ex-agent will discuss his book Unredacted in which he warns of the threats posed to democracy by Mr Trump (pictured) and his connections to Russia He added: 'We are building a programme that embraces all forms of expression from the best of non-fiction and fiction books to journalism, screen writing and the spoken word.' The former MP will be taking part in a panel on AI alongside Baroness Beeban Kidron, the filmmaker who is campaigning against government plans to overhaul copyright rules for AI companies. The festival, to be held from May 14 to 17, will include breakfast news briefings on the day's headlines, lunchtime discussions and a series of evening talks. Tickets can be booked here. Asking a black person 'what are you smoking?' is racist, an employment tribunal has ruled. Employment judge Rachel Wedderspoon said any 'reasonable person' would be offended by the remark due to the 'stereotypical view' of 'a black person with dreadlocks smoking drugs'. Her ruling came in the case of Gemma Spencer, a black administrator who sued her employers for race discrimination and harassment after she was sacked. Ms Spencer said she had her hair in braids when director Mark Kelly asked her line manager if she had been 'smoking something' after they perceived she had made an error at work. After she accused him of racism, Mr Kelly said there was no racial element to it and he in 'no way meant to make some remark about her being a Rastafarian'. Bosses said Ms Spencer was 'hyper-sensitive' and had 'warped' the impact the phrase had on her. But this assertion was rejected by Judge Wedderspoon, who said the comment was 'unwanted conduct' which 'violated the dignity' of Ms Spencer, who was awarded 35,109 compensation. The tribunal in Birmingham heard Ms Spencer joined Schneider Electric UK as a contracts administrator in September 2017. Gemma Spencer was awarded 35,109 compensation after she sued her employers for race discrimination and harassment (stock image) Ms Spencer said she had her hair in braids when director Mark Kelly asked her line manager if she had been 'smoking something' after they perceived she had made an error at work In March 2020, Ms Spencer who worked from home was asked to carry out a quarterly report, but the figures she put in were deemed to be incorrect. The mother told the tribunal her line manager, Carl Melia, spoke to her and said Mr Kelly had telephoned him and asked 'what she was smoking'. The panel heard that it subsequently transpired that the data Ms Spencer was using in the report was correct. In July 2020, Ms Spencer submitted a formal grievance against the company alleging she was 'treated differently' because she was black. The following year, she raised another grievance against bosses, detailing 59 complaints, but the majority were dismissed. After two disciplinary hearings in 2022, regarding allegations of misconduct, Ms Spencer was dismissed. As well as the racism claim, Ms Spencer also won claims of discrimination, harassment related to race, victimisation and pregnancy and maternity discrimination. Other allegations were dismissed. Housing Minister Clare O'Neil and opposition spokesman Michael Sukkar have clashed over social housing numbers during a heated televised debate. The political opponents traded blows during a policy debate on the ABC's 7.30 program, leading to Mr Sukkar being scolded for his frequent interruptions. Host Sarah Ferguson lost control of the TV debate on several occasions as she tried to stop the two politicians from talking over each other. The debate had turned to the number of social and affordable homes either party would build as both look to increase supply in a volatile housing market. Ms O'Neil said Labor would look to increase the number of social housing set aside in a bid to address rising homelessness levels. 'We are building 55,000 social and affordable homes over five years,' she said. 'We have an extraordinary issue with older women being our biggest growing group going into homelessness. All this comes back to an acute under supply of social and affordable homes.' But when Mr Sukkar continued to interrupt Ms O'Neil's claims, it prompted a quick retort from the veteran ABC host. Host Sarah Ferguson struggled to keep a handle on the escalating TV debate (pictured) The pair took each other to task over their respective government's public housing targets 'Michael, what would your mother say, hearing you interrupt her?' she said. The coalition spokesman rejected claims the party had only built 350 social and affordable homes during their previous stint in government, saying 15,000 had been built. 'Clare, your government has benefited from (the affordable housing bond aggregator) because it continues to this day,' he said. 'We will fund directly social affordable housing, just as we did in government.' Ms O'Neil blasted the Liberal Party and said their record on housing was 'garbage' and accused Mr Sukkar of 'telling fibs'. Housing has emerged as one of the leading issues at the May 3 election, with both parties spending billions of dollars in a pitch to first-home buyers. Labor has promised to expand a scheme allowing a five per cent deposit for first-home buyers in a shared equity scheme, while also setting up 100,0000 properties specifically for people entering the market Meanwhile, the coalition has promised to make interest payments for the first five years of a mortgage tax deductible for first-home buyers, and allow them to access their super to purchase a house. Ms O'Neil (pictured) has said Labor will build 100,000 new homes for first home buyers at a cost of $10 billion Despite some experts rejecting the coalition's policy, Mr Sukkar said it would help people access the property market. 'What it does is address one of the biggest issues for first-time buyers and that is they can't service a mortgage, particularly living under the cost-of-living crisis,' he said. 'They will save $55,000 over the first five years in their own tax.' Ms O'Neil also defended suggestions national housing targets to build 1.2million new properties by 2029 as part of Labor's policy are not likely to be reached. 'We have just implemented a massive agenda already in our first term, our second term will be going further on housing, much further.' The Pentagon discovered Chinese companies are aiding the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen to target American ships - a revelation that comes amid the fallout of President Donald Trump's trade war. A Chinese satellite company linked to Beijing's military is helping the rebels with imagery to target US warships and international vessels in the Red Sea, the Financial Times reported. The discovery comes amid a deepening trade war between the Washington and Beijing after President Trump slapped huge new tariffs on imports from China up to 145 percent backing President Xi Jinping into an economic corner. Trump's administration warned China that Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co Ltd, which has ties to the People's Liberation Army, is providing the Houthis with this intelligence. A state department official said China had 'ignored' the concerns. In this image released by the U.S. Navy, the USS Mason (DDG 87), conducts maneuvers as part of a exercise in the Gulf of Oman; in October 2024 two missiles were fired at the USS Mason in the Red Sea, and officials believe they were launched by Yemen-based Houthi rebels 'We can confirm the reporting that Chang Guang Satellite Technology Company Limited is directly supporting Iran-backed Houthi terrorist attacks on U.S. interests,' State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told her regular news briefing. 'China consistently attempts ... to frame itself as a global peacemaker ... however, it is clear that Beijing and China-based companies provide key economic and technical support to regimes like Russia, North Korea and Iran and its proxies,' she said. The Houthis are an armed political and religious group which champions Yemen's Shia Muslim minority, the Zaidis. The group, also backed by Tehran, have launched dozens of missile and drone attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, claiming these vessels are helping Israel. Many of the ships have ties to the United States or United Kingdom, which has the military from both countries on watch. U.S.-led naval forces have thwarted many attacks. The attacks forced major shipping companies to stop using the Red Sea - through which almost 15 percent of global sea trade usually passes - and to take a much longer route around southern Africa, having to navigate around the Cape of Good Hope instead of passing through the Suez Canal. Shipping traffic in the Red Sea has dropped 75%. The detour around Africa adds an extra 10 to 14 days to the traditional 30 to 40-day voyage from Asia to Europe, leading to higher fuel costs, increased insurance premiums, and delays in deliveries. And its raised the costs of goods on consumers. The Houthi attacks have caused the biggest disruption to global trade since the Covid-19 pandemic. Thousands of Houthi graduates who completed their military training, attend a military parade with their light and heavy weapons in Amran, Yemen on December 20, 2023 The revelation that China has ties to the attacks comes as relations between Washington and Beijing are at an all-time low. Trump's tariffs and the reciprocal ones China slapped on American goods - risks collapsing a trade system worth $582 billion in 2024. The tariffs on China are up to 245 percent, consisting of the 125 percent reciprocal tariffs; 20 percent fentanyl tariffs; and additional section 301 tariffs on specific goods. Beijing, for its part, slapped the United States with levies of its own at 125 percent. Americans could see the price of smartphones, computers and toys increase. Trump put a 90-day pause on his tariffs for every nation but China. But those levies on other countries, even though they are capped at 10% until early July, threaten Chinese exports to third countries, like Vietnam, that ship goods on to U.S. And the fallout has grown beyond economic repercussions. China has warned its population to think twice before visiting the United States, told students to be careful about studying there, and cut back on the number of Hollywood films being shown in China. But Trump downplayed any tensions. 'We're going to have a deal, I believe we're going to have a deal with China, and if we don't, we're going to have a deal anyway, because we're going to set a certain target, and that's going to be it,' the president told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday. He declined to say if he's spoken with Xi directly. President Donald Trump (left) would not say if he's spoken directly with Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) as the trade war continues A Chios Lion tanker ship in the Red Sea after an attack by the Houthis in July 2024 For his part, Xi went on a high-profile tour of Southeast Asia to make the case for free trade and promote his country as a source of 'stability and certainty.' Xi didn't mention Trump by name but his message was clear: amid the turmoil Trump's on-again, off-again tariffs are causing the global markets, investors should look to China as a safe bet. During his stop in Vietnam, Xi said their two countries 'have brought the world valuable stability and certainty' in a 'turbulent world.' In other retaliatory moves, China suspended exports of certain rare earth minerals that are crucial for the world's car, semiconductor and aerospace industries. 'They're concerning. And we're thinking about all the options right now,' Kevin Hassett, Trump's national economic adviser, told reporters outside the White House on Monday. 'Rare earths are a part of lots of the economy.' 'The White House is concerned about China. Period,' he added. The school shooter who killed two people and injured at least six others at FSU held 'white supremacist' beliefs, according to former classmates. Extraordinary footage has now emerged of Phoenix Ikner, a registered Republican, stalking campus grounds as terrified students ran for their lives on Thursday. The deafening sound of a gunshot rings out in the video as Ikner marches back and forth at Florida State University's Tallahassee campus, shooting indiscriminately at his terrified classmates. Ikner, 20, was publicly identified as the shooter during a press conference on Thursday afternoon, in which it was also revealed he is the son of a sheriff's deputy and had used her gun in his rampage. Two people were killed and six more injured - all of whom are expected to make a full recovery after undergoing emergency surgery. Speaking to NBC after the shooting, a student who was once part of a 'political round table' with Ikner revealed he harbored white supremacist views. 'Basically our only rule was no Nazis colloquially speaking and he espoused so much white supremacist rhetoric and far right rhetoric as well,' Reid Seybold said. Seybold, who was president of the club, said he had to kick Ikner out of the group due to his beliefs and rhetoric. Phoenix Ikner is a registered Republican who was described by some classmates as a 'fascist' Ikner, 20, was publicly identified as the shooter during a press conference on Thursday afternoon, in which it was also revealed he is the son of a sheriff's deputy and had used her gun in his rampage Extraordinary footage has now emerged of Phoenix Ikner, a registered Republican, stalking campus grounds as terrified students ran for their lives One student prays with her hands clasped together as she paid respect to the victims of the tragic shooting 'We had to exercise that rule,' he said. Seybold was in a building right near where the shooting took place when he heard gunshots, and said he was 'getting ready to die.' And Riley Pusins, who is part of another political discourse club on campus that Ikner would attend, had a similar experience with the suspect. Pusins said Ikner would attend meetings 'almost every Thursday' in which he would 'go up to the line' about what was acceptable discussions, but would often cross the line after the formal meeting ended. The student said Ikner often advocated President Donald Trump's agenda, promoted white supremacist values and made inappropriate comments, despite joining a nonpartisan group. Pusins said others in the group would describe Ikner as a 'fascist.' Ikner had also recently mocked students on campus protesting the result of the 2024 presidential election. 'These people are usually pretty entertaining, usually not for good reasons,' Ikner said in his school magazine, where he was described as a political science major. Seybold, who was president of the club, said he had to kick Ikner out of the group due to his beliefs and rhetoric Students gathered to pay their respects to the two lives lost and six injured Police sources say the gunman opened fire around midday Thursday, sending the campus into lockdown. Survivors are seen being marched away from the scene with their hands raised Pictured: FSU shooter Phoenix Ikner 'I think it's a little too late, he's [Trump] already going to be inaugurated on Jan. 20 and there's not really much you can do unless you outright revolt, and I don't think anyone wants that.' The publication has since withdrawn his words from the story, noting: 'An earlier version of this article included a quote from the gunman in the April 17 shooting at FSU and was removed at the decision of our editors to maintain ethical journalistic standards and avoid amplifying the voice of an individual responsible for violence.' In a chilling social media post which has now emerged, Ikner wrote: 'you are my war club, my weapons for battle, with you I shatter nations, with you I destroy kingdoms.' The quote is a passage from the book of Jeremiah in the Bible, which warned of an impending judgement day. During the shooting and in the immediate aftermath, social media was flooded with sickening footage and images as panic set in, including one showing a victim being carried to safety on the shoulders of paramedics. A witness on the scene told WFTV they saw a college-aged man exit the student union with a handgun, and another witness told the Tallahassee Democrat they'd heard what sounded like 'automatic gunfire.' Distraught students held a vigil near the scene of the shooting at Florida State University on Thursday night The shooter who killed two people and injured several more at FSU on Thursday has been identified as the son of Leon County Sheriff's Deputy Jessica Ikner (right) Footage showed a victim being carried away by paramedics as panic set in across the campus Phoenix Ikner, 20, was named on Thursday at a press conference after the horror mass shooting at Florida State University's Tallahassee campus Several witnesses shared clips of students fleeing and seeking shelter, with others showing food, picnic blankets and bags that were left on a lawn after students scrambled to safety. Officials said his mother is Leon County Sheriff's Deputy Jessica Ikner, noting he had 'access to one of her weapons, and that was one of the weapons that was found at the scene.' Leon County Sheriff McNeil said at a press conference Thursday the gunman was a member of the department's youth set-up and was involved in training programs. Ikner was described as 'steeped in the Leon County Sheriff's Office family.' Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell said the gun was previously used by his mother for law enforcement, but was her private handgun at the time of the shooting, because deputies 'are allowed to purchase the handgun they used prior.' Ashley St. Clair gave Elon Musk a gift that he carried with him everywhere as she carried his child and he campaigned for Donald Trump - the billionaire's iconic 'Dark MAGA' hat. The conservative influencer told all about the deal she made to give birth to one of Musk's children, according to a bombshell report on the Wall Street Journal which the SpaceX CEO has slammed. That included how Musk pursued her and other women for impregnation, asked her and their son to join his 'kid legion' on a compound in Texas and eventually offered her tens of millions to keep quiet. St. Clair frequently tries to include anecdotes of how she was taken with Musk at the start of their admittedly strange courtship which involved meeting his mother and having her son from a previous relationship go on playdates with Musk's kids. One way St. Clair reciprocated the affections of Donald Trump's 'First Buddy' was allegedly designing him the gothic remix of the infamous 'Make America Great Again' hat that Musk wore all over the campaign trail. The Tesla and SpaceX boss debuted the new hat in October 2024 at the Butler Farm Show grounds in Pennsylvania, where Trump survived an assassination attempt three months ago. Musk donned a black MAGA hat, in contrast to the usual red, and quipped 'I'm not just MAGA, I'm Dark gothic MAGA' as he spoke to the crowd. He carried on wearing versions of it to Trump's infamous New York rally and even his infamous chainsaw-wielding CPAC speech with Argentina President Javier Millei, as a pregnant St. Clair looked on from a distance. Ashley St. Clair gave Elon Musk (pictured) a gift that he carried with him everywhere as she carried his child - the billionaire's iconic 'Dark MAGA' hat The conservative influencer told all about the deal she made to give birth to one of Musk's children, according to a bombshell report on the Wall Street Journal which the SpaceX CEO has slammed Fans of the former president loved his cameo but those on the other side mocked his awkward excitement and expressed fears for democracy, as he owns Twitter. St. Clair revealed to the Wall Street Journal that she'd had the gothic-style cap made specially for Musk. Dark MAGA first emerged in 2022 as a meme among Trump supporters, calling for his return to the presidency at all costs - even dictatorship. They argued Trump was justified in being authoritarian once he retook power was justified, and often shared dystopian images juxtaposed with Trump slogans. Others saw less sinister meanings in his Dark MAGA quip, such as his hat being black, or him alluding to the Joe Biden 'Dark Brandon' meme. Musk's appearance at Trump's rally in Butler was the first time he took the stage at a political rally, the beginning of a long road that led Musk to create and run the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. However, his outsized role in Washington has meant that his professional and personal life have come under more scrutiny, especially since St. Clair claimed she'd birthed his child. The conservative influencer, 26, revealed that she'd given birth to Musk's child in early February, the 14th of his offspring that is publicly known. She revealed Tuesday that the baby, a boy, is named Romulus. Musk - wearing St. Clair's hat - holds his son and stands next to former First Lady Melania Trump, who took the stage in a shock appearance Elon Musk (left) shows off the hat and the chainsaw that was gifted to him by Argentinian President Javier Milei (right) at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Thursday Musk has never publicly admitted the child is his and the pair are currently locked in a legal battle that involved the 'First Buddy' and Tesla CEO taking the test to prove he's the father. DailyMail.com spoke to St. Clair in March about the financial difficulties she was facing during her tussle in court with Musk, even going as far as selling her Tesla. Now, St. Clair is revealing Musk - who claimed he's provided her at least $2.5 million to date in March - offered her $15 million and $100,000 a month to not publicly disclose that he is the father of the child until he turns 21. Jared Birchall, Musk's fixer, told St. Clair that this is similar to what Musk has agreed with the other mothers of his children, who include pop star Grimes and Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis. Musk, within hours, was bashing the Journal - touting it as worse than TMZ. 'TMZ >> WSJ,' the billionaire wrote. It wasn't his first time panning the paper, which he branded as 'trash' back in January. The barb came in direct response to a separate report surrounding his alleged pervasive drug use and concerns it was causing his companies' directors. The Wednesday report alleged the billionaire is building a massive brood ahead of a prospective population collapse - a clandestine campaign now creating 'harem drama'. St. Clair revealed Tuesday that the newborn, a boy, is named Romulus St. Clair is revealing Musk - who claimed he's provided her at least $2.5 million to date in March - offered her $15 million and $100,000 a month to not publicly disclose that he is the father of the child until he turns 21 On paper, Musk has fathered at least 14 children by four women - but the Journal report suggests the true number is much higher. Armed with a paternity test said to be '99.9999 percent' accurate, St. Clair claimed Musk allegedly offered her $15million and $100,000 a month to not disclose he is the father of her child - an arrangement she says is in place with several other women. She said Musk strategically recruits 'candidates' like her through X - before hitting them with NDAs. 'The Tactics Elon Musk Uses to Manage His Legion of Babies - and Their Mothers,' the WSJ piece's headline blasted, bolstered by a portrait style photo of St. Clair and her son, Romulus. 'The worlds richest man juggles more than a dozen children and harem drama along with running his companies and advising Trump,' a subhead insisted as well. '[Musk] recently took a paternity test in a battle with one woman over money and privacy.' The report them jumps directly into St. Clair's perspective, and her efforts to get Musk, 53, to take a paternity test before giving birth. That put her into contact with Musk's fixer, Jared Birchall, whom fielded her concerns during a two-hour phone call that took place in December, according to the Journal. Musk is yet to respond to all of the specific claims in the bombshell report. He posted this snarly insult on X, chipping away at the Journal's credibility, last night Musk last commented on the child and his arrangement with St. Clair in an X post on March 31 'I dont want my son to feel like hes a secret,' St. Clair told Birchall at the time Birchall, Musk's longtime fixer, told the 26-year-old how his boss was a 'very big-hearted, kind and generous person,' but that her going 'the legal route', from his experience, 'always, always leads to a worse outcome for that woman'. She went on to give birth the following February, before which Musk - whom helped name the child after some reservations as to whether it was actually his - reportedly offered her the $15 million and $100,000-a-month. She nearly accepted, after being told the stipend was similar to what Musk has agreed with the known mothers of his children, such as the popular musician Grimes and Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis. The article includes tidbits like Musk demanding she deliver the baby via a caesarian section - based on the belief that doing so allows for a baby to have a larger brain. He also required he not undergo a circumcision. St. Clair is Jewish and wanted a natural birth so she rejected both, the Journal reported. St. Clair did comply, however, with the request of leaving Musk's name off of Romulus' birth certificate - which Birchall made while she was inducing labor. She did, however, prepare by hiring an attorney - a move that reportedly went against Birchall's wishes. Musk and his four sons Griffin, Damian, Kai and Saxon are seen here with Pope Francis in 2022 Birchall then demanded St. Clair sign papers that would keep Musk's parentage a secret in exchange for the aforementioned pay - and agreement that reportedly prevented her from ever saying anything negative about Musk. The alleged document, however, did not stipulate the same for him about her, and Musk even tried to sway her decision by saying he was under threat of assassination due to his support of a now president Trump. She refused to sign, allowing her the ability to speak out. She recalled how she met Musk in spring 2023 when he reached out vie the website he bought for $44billion the year before to invited her to visit its offices then in San Francisco. At the time, St. Clair was the operations manager and conservative humor site The Babylon Bee. He eventually invited her to a trip on his private plane to Rhode Island to visit one of his children at school, the Journal reported. During and in between these meet ups, Musk spoke frequently about having children with St. Clair, even going as far to tell her to 'pick a name' after the first time they had sex, the Journal reported. On a vacation over New Year's heading into 2024, St. Clair revealed she had been ovulating - an admission that allegedly led Musk to ask her: 'What are we waiting for?' One of the mothers who lives in the gated community is Neuralink exec Shivon Zilis, seen as a 'steadying force' within the cult-esque compound, St. Clair claimed St. Clair said that they conceived Romulus soon after, after which Musk allegedly tried to get her to move to an Austin 'compound' to spend time with himself and an array of other women and children he is calling 'kid legion.' She conceded she even experimented with becoming a part of the 'kid legion' during her pregnancy, arranging playdates between her son from a previous relationship and some of Musk's younger kids. She says she has even met Musk's elusive mother Maye. In November, she sent Musk a selfie, to which he reportedly responded: 'I want to knock you up again.' DailyMail.com spotted St. Clair handing over the keys to her black Model S outside her Manhattan apartment in late March. She claimed Musk recently cut her child support by more than half, and was now selling her black Model S Tesla to make ends meet. He addressed the rumors on X on X, before the Journal report published two days later. 'I dont know if the child is mine or not, but am not against finding out. No court order is needed,' Musk said at the time, before detailing the amount of money he claims to have sent the conservative influencer. Grimes - whom Musk never married but was met with a custody battle over their three kids - reportedly rejected the request. She is seen here with XAE-12 in Portofino in 2023 Grimes settled a custody lawsuit with Musk last August, with the pair alternating weeks with their three children, including X A-1, seen with his father at the UFC fights in Miami Saturday and in the Oval Office in February 'Despite not knowing for sure, I have given Ashley $2.5M and am sending her $500k/year,' he said, spurring a response from St. Clair - on that branded him 'petulant man-child' who needed to take responsibility. 'Elon, we asked you to confirm paternity through a test before our child (who you named) was even born. You refused,' she said. She also clarified that it wasn't sending her money but 'sending support for your child that you thought was necessary until you withdrew most of it to maintain control and punish me for disobedience. But youre really only punishing your son.' She also referenced his most recent move in court - one she framed as an attempt to silence her, while he posts on X. 'Its ironic that your last effort in court was to try to gag me while you use a social media channel you literally own to distribute derogatory messages about me and our child to the entire world,' she wrote this week. 'Its all about control with you, and everyone can see it.' Musk has yet to respond directly to St. Clair on social media. St Clair first went public with her claims in February, claiming Musk first slid into [her] DMs' in May 2023. At the time, she only named Romulus by his initials 'R.S.C.', saying he was conceived early January 2024 on a trip to the island of Saint Barthelemy in the Caribbean. Musk, 53, has not publicly acknowledged the child as his own - only responded with characteristic 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. A source close to the case told DailyMail.com that since going public, Musk 'retaliated' by slashing her payments in half 'unilaterally', leaving St. Clair struggling. She 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 Democrat senator who traveled to El Salvador to try and secure the release of a deported illegal migrant and alleged MS-13 member was able to meet him in person. Chris Van Hollen met Thursday in El Salvador with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a man who was sent there by the Trump administration in March despite an immigration court order preventing his deportation. Van Hollen posted a photo of the meeting on X, saying he also called Abrego Garcia's wife 'to pass along his message of love.' The lawmaker did not provide an update on the status of Abrego Garcia, whose attorneys are fighting to force the Trump administration to facilitate his return to the U.S. A spokesman for the Trump administration remained on message, claiming Van Hollen was worried more about a 'terrorist' illegal migrant than his own constituents. 'Chris Van Hollen has firmly established Democrats as the party whose top priority is the welfare of an illegal alien MS-13 terrorist. It is truly disgusting. President Trump will continue to stand on the side of law-abiding Americans,' Kush Desai told DailyMail.com El Salvadors Presidnet Nayib Bukele posted images of the meeting minutes before Van Hollen shared his post and took a more confrontational approach, decrying beliefs that Abrego Garcia was suffering. Bukele wrote: 'Kilmar Abrego Garcia, miraculously risen from the `death camps & 'torture,' now sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador!' The Democrat senator who traveled to El Salvador to try and secure the release of a deported illegal migrant and alleged MS-13 member was able to meet him in person Chris Van Hollen met Thursday in El Salvador with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a man who was sent there by the Trump administration in March despite an immigration court order preventing his deportation The tweet ended with emojis of the U.S. and El Salvador flags, with a handshake emoji between them. A spokeswoman for El Salvadors presidency said she had no further information. The meeting came hours after Van Hollen said he was denied entry into an high-security El Salvador prison Thursday while he was trying to check on Abrego Garcia's well-being and push for his release. The Democratic senator said at a news conference in San Salvador that his car was stopped by soldiers at a checkpoint about two miles from the Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT, even as they let other cars go on. 'They stopped us because they are under orders not to allow us to proceed,' Van Hollen said. Abrego Garcia entered the US illegally in 2011. A judge blocked his return to El Salvador in 2019, citing the fact that gangsters were after him, but said he could be deported elsewhere. In court filings this week, the Trump administration said he was deported to El Salvador in error. The Supreme Court has since ordered the Trump administration to facilitate his return to the US. Late Thursday, a three-judge panel from the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously refused to suspend a judge's decision to order sworn testimony by Trump administration officials to determine if they complied with the court's instruction to facilitate Abrego Garcia's return. The Trump administrations claims that it can't do anything to free Garcia from an El Salvador prison or return him to the US 'should be shocking to the intuitive sense of liberty that Americans far removed from courthouses still hold dear,' the court said Thursday in a blistering order that ratchets up the escalating conflict between the government's executive and judicial branches. The lawmaker did not provide an update on the status of Abrego Garcia (pictured), whose attorneys are fighting to force the Trump administration to facilitate his return to the US Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III, who was nominated by Republican President Ronald Reagan, said: 'It is difficult in some cases to get to the very heart of the matter. But in this case, it is not hard at all.' He added that he and his two colleagues 'cling to the hope that it is not naive to believe our good brethren in the Executive Branch perceive the rule of law as vital to the American ethos.' Trump officials insist Garcia is not an innocent American, as claimed. They say he's an MS-13 gangster who deserves to be sent back to El Salvador. Additionally, a 2021 petition for protection from domestic violence filled out by Abrego Garcia's wife, Jennifer Vasquez, which was obtained first by DailyMail.com, states that the alleged MS-13 member beat his wife multiple times over the years. She told The Post she was 'acting out of caution after a disagreement with Kilmar in case things escalated' after being abused 'in a previous relationship.' 'Things did not escalate, and I decided not to follow through with the civil court process. We were able to work through this situation privately as a family, including by going to counseling,' she added. 'Our marriage only grew stronger in the years that followed. No one is perfect, and no marriage is perfect.' Democrats, furious about his deportation, are up in arms, with Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen traveling in an attempt to get answers. Van Hollen posted a photo of the meeting on X, saying he also called Abrego Garcia's wife 'to pass along his message of love' Determined to save Garcia, he flew to El Salvador in an effort to get him out of jail and back in America. But when he showed up asking for a meeting, he was denied. He is now being mocked by Republicans and Conservative Americans, including the mother of a woman who was murdered by an illegal migrant. 'Senator Van Hollen has done more to bring a MS-13 gang member, human trafficker and illegal alien back to Maryland than he has to help keep his American constituents safe or advocate for the victims of these vicious gangs like MS-13. 'While Senator Van Hollen and the mainstream media peddle a sob story about a brutal MS-13 gang member, Secretary Noem stands with the victims of illegal alien crime, like Maryland mom Rachel Morin. 'We hear far too much about the gang members and criminals sob stories and not enough about their victims,' the Department of Homeland Security said in a post on X. The efforts by Van Hollen have also been criticized by Morin's mother Patty who spoke about the lack of any correspondence from state officials when her daughter was murdered. Speaking on Fox News with anchor Sean Hannity, she said: 'I'm very angry, I'm outraged. I'm too sad at the moment to show anger at the same time. A2021 petition for protection from domestic violence filled out by Abrego Garcia's wife, Jennifer Vasquez (pictured), which was obtained first by DailyMail.com, states that the alleged MS-13 member beat his wife multiple times over the years 'He did not call our family, he did not give condolences. There was no action [from] the Democratic party in anyway. 'From Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, anyone here in Maryland, none of the Senators did anything to help search for the murderer of my daughter.' Rachel Morin's illegal immigrant killer Victor Martinez-Hernandez was found guilty of first degree murder, first degree rape and kidnapping on Monday - and is now awaiting sentencing. Abrego Garcia, who is a legal resident, arrived at the notorious supermax prison CECOT in El Salvador March 15 on one of three planes from the US. He first entered the U.S. in 2011 but was granted permission to stay by a judge in 2019. He later settled down in Maryland and has an American wife and son. The Trump administration deported Abrego Garcia on March 15 after files indicated that he had connections with MS-13, a vicious Salvadorian-American gang. His wife and lawyer deny his gang affiliation and have sued the administration for improperly removing him from the U.S. The Trump administration initially said his removal was a mistake. The Supreme Court then ordered the facilitation of his return. Abrego Garcia (pictured), who is a legal resident, arrived at the notorious supermax prison CECOT in El Salvador March 15 on one of three planes from the US Democratic Senator from Maryland Chris Van Hollen speaks to the press in Antiguo Cuscatlan, El Salvador. Van Hollen arrived in El Salvador to request the release of Abrego Garcia But the Trump administration is standing firm. In the Oval Office on Monday, Trump and Bukele led a united defense of their actions in the case of Abrego Garcia. Bukele argued he couldn't return, saying: 'How can I return him to the United States? 'I smuggle him into the United States or what do I do? Of course, I'm not going to do it. 'The question is preposterous. How can I smuggle a terrorist into the United States? I don't have the power to return him to the United States.' Trump supported Bukele's claim and went further, lobbying the El Salvadorian leader to take more migrants and build more prisons hold them. 'I just asked the president, you know, it's this massive complex that he built, a jail complex. I said, 'Can you build some more of them, please?'' Trump said. Residents in remote communities in Australia's northwest have been urged to prepare for damaging winds and heavy rain as a tropical cyclone barrels towards them. Cyclone Errol is tracking southeast towards the Kimberley coast as a category three system, with wind gusts up to 220km/h at the centre. It was about 435km northwest of Broome on Thursday night, but is expected to weaken throughout Good Friday and cross the coast as a tropical low north of Derby overnight. Before that, it will brush the tip of the Dampier Peninsula as a category one system, with the Bureau of Meteorology warning destructive wind gusts up to 140km/h might develop between Cockatoo Island to Beagle Bay. 'It will get very, very windy as this tropical cyclone gets close to the coast, and of course, once it crosses the coast and works onto mainland Australia, it won't just be wind either,' senior meteorologist Angus Hines said. 'Some pretty significant rain will be on the way with the system as it moves its way onshore during either late Friday night or very early Saturday morning.' Isolated heavy rainfall is also possible between Kuri Bay and Broome andtides may rise above the normal high tide mark. A cyclone advice has been issued for communities in the region, including those on the Kimberley coastal islands. Pictured is a tracking map of Cyclone Errol from the Bureau of Meteorology, as of Friday Huge waves are seen off Manly Beach as a low pressure system moving down the east coast generates large swell on Friday Authorities are urging people to get ready for dangerous weather by preparing their homes and securing items, including boats and caravans. Travellers, visitors, tourists and locals should monitor weather conditions and review their travel within the warning area over the Easter long weekend, a Department of Fire and Emergency Services alert said on Thursday. Roads and tracks on and around the Dampier Peninsula could become impassable or close with little notice. Middle Lagoon campground manager Herbie Stewart says flooding could cut off the main road to the area and Aboriginal communities for weeks. 'Every year we get the monsoon rains and it washes the road out... it is getting worse and worse (with) over half a metre deep puddles,' Mr Stewart said. He is pleading for the state government to fix and maintain the road into the region. Errol intensified to a category four system late on Wednesday - the second-highest classification - which could cause structural damage from severe winds, power loss and a high storm surge. As a category one system - the lowest classification for a cyclone - Errol could damage some trees, caravans and crops, and it may cause watercraft to drag moorings, but minimal impact to buildings is expected. Northern WA has had two cyclones this season after ex-tropical cyclone Sean reached category three but steered away from the coastline in January while Dianne made landfall on the Kimberley coast as a category two system Aussies are split over a Good Samaritan's seemingly generous act outside a supermarket ahead of the Easter long weekend. A Good Samaritan left a bag full of groceries and milk on a bench outside a Woolworths in Sydney's northern beaches along with a handwritten note. The note read: 'For a needy person. Free food and drink from Jesus/Yeshua God. Jesus/Yeshua God loves you.' Yeshua is the Hebrew name for Jesus and it's often used by some Jewish followers of Jesus to emphasise his Jewish heritage. A local snapped a photo of the bag of goodies and posted on Facebook: 'Why don't more people do this that's my whinge. Balgowlah Woolworths.' But Aussies were divided over the act, due to giver's religions motivations. 'Love this,' one person wrote. 'Would love it better without the side helping of religion,' another disagreed. A donation of groceries with a note that read 'free food and drink from Jesus/Yeshua God' The donation was found outside a Woolworths in Balgowlah in Sydney 'Feel free to do it yourself with or without your god,' a third replied to the comment. 'This person is doing it, what are you doing?' 'Maybe I would have done more if I believed in God,' the woman hit back. A 2023 report found an estimated 20.8 per cent of Australians donate to charities, a drop of 1.3 per cent on the previous year. Those aged over 65 were the most generous overall, donating an average $798 a year more than six times the rate of 18 to 24-year-old donors. A California teacher who lives in Italy says he's cracked the code for the perfect retirement by settling down in a calming environment free from commercial giants like McDonald's and Starbucks. Keith Richardson decided to ditch his life in Southern California to live out his golden years after finishing up his career in education. He decided on Puglia, a rural region in the South of Italy, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. When Richardson was researching where he wanted to live, a friend suggested the town of Nardo because it allowed him to escape from the fast-paced, big city life. 'Puglia is definitely the place to live and invest in, if you're searching for that dolce vita coastal lifestyle,' Richardson told CNN Travel. The retired teacher is embracing a more carefree lifestyle after leaving his post as a director of research and curriculum in the Los Angeles suburbs. He began traveling to Italy twice a year in 2015 and decided to take the plunge and purchase a home in 2023. Nardo offered an escape from tourists who are often found throughout Tuscany, Venice, Milan, and Rome. Keith Richardson revealed in an interview with CNN that he wanted to move to Italy to be far from McDonald's and Starbucks Richardson decided on Puglia, Italy, for its proximity to the coast, authenticity, and affordability Richardson's friend advised him to look into Nardo, a small town in Puglia that was far from any commercial fast food joints Richardson said that when he isn't interacting with locals, most tourists he comes across are Italians or other Europeans. 'Beautiful beaches and coastlines, picturesque cities and towns, great weather (even in winter),' he said, adding that the 'dolce vita was genuine.' In March of last year, Richardson finally decided to purchase his dream home in Nardo's historical center. Not only was Richardson able to immerse himself in the Italian culture, but he was pleasantly surprised when he even saved some money. He told CNN that he found a property that was one-tenth of the cost of a similarly sized house back in Orange County. The house he purchased was listed for 138,000 ($153,000), but he was able to negotiate it down and only paid 100,000 ($110,000). 'It was a very pleasant surprise. I was willing to pay more, but started at 100,000 euros to see if the sellers would counter offer,' he told the outlet. Richardson purchased a 667-square-foot house with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Richardson said it was a 'breeze' purchasing a home abroad and is even saving money than if he were to buy a similar property in Southern California He quelled any rumors about the difficulties when purchasing property abroad, telling CNN that it was a 'breeze.' 'Horror stories only exist because most people don't do their homework,' Richardson added. His property is located near some of Italy's most pristine beaches and is just steps away from one of the town's main piazzas with numerous cafes. Richardson is experimenting with new cuisine, including bombette, which are a classic Puglia dish featuring pork meatballs stuffed with cheese and pepper. He's also adjusting to the Italian lifestyle, admitting that stores closing in the middle of the day is still shocking to him, but he's learning to let go and accept the 'dolce vita' mindset. Richardson revealed that one of the most difficult parts of the move was obtaining an Italian bank account. He said the bank needed his Social Security number, federal tax code, or both, which proved to be time-consuming. Richardson said he's adjusting to the 'dolce vita' lifestyle of Italy and is learning from the locals The retired California teacher is near the coast and has been splitting his time back home in California until he applies for Italian residency Richardson also hasn't been able to purchase a car yet because he hasn't received his residence card. The retired teacher is still splitting his time between his new home and his old one to spend time with his aging parents. He plans to apply for Italian residence in May. Richardson has relinquished his stress and said he's 'fallen in love with the Italian lifestyle and domani (tomorrow) attitude.' 'No need to worry because there is always domani. No worries, it will be taken care of domani, so for now, lets just have a coffee and watch the people promenade by,' he said. A woman has died and a man is presumed dead after they were swept from rocks near a coastal walk on Victoria's south coast. Emergency services were called to a beach off Punch Bowl Road near San Remo, 125km southeast of Melbourne, at 8.30am on Friday. Officers received reports three people were washed into the water. A second woman was able to find her way back to shore safely while an aerial search began for the first woman and the 41-year-old man. The second woman was subsequently found unresponsive in the water. Emergency workers attempted to revive the woman but she died at the scene. A search continues for the man who was last seen on rocks on the coastline. Punchbowl Rocks Beach is near the popular George Bass coastal walk and surrounded by cliffs, reefs and rocks. A man is missing off the coast at San Remo, Victoria (pictured) Premier Jacinta Allan said it marked an 'awful start' to the Easter long weekend. 'My thoughts are with the family of someone who has lost their life in such tragic circumstances, and potentially there is more difficult news to come,' she said. 'We are having a very warm Easter weekend. It's a timely reminder about being safe around all waterways.' The tragic Easter incident comes after a fisherman drowned after being swept out to sea in New South Wales. Emergency services were called to Endeavour Drive at the Wollongong Harbour around 6.15am on Friday. Officers had been responding to reports reports a man had been pulled from the water unconscious. The 58-year-old fisherman could not be revived and died at the scene. Investigations into the incident have begun and officers have encouraged any witnesses to come forward. Police officers were called to reports three people were washed into the water (pictured) Separate reports will be prepared for the coroner on both deaths. Australians have been urged to take care on the water during the long weekend. Over the past 20 years, 118 Australians have drowned during Easter, according to Royal Life Saving Australia. The Democrat senator who traveled to El Salvador to meet with a deported illegal migrant and alleged MS-13 member was seen drinking what appeared to be margaritas, infuriating many online. Chris Van Hollen, the junior senator from Maryland, met Thursday in El Salvador with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a man who was sent there by the Trump administration in March despite an immigration court order preventing his deportation. But it was his decision to sip margaritas with Abrego Garcia, as El Salvadors President Nayib Bukele put it, that caused a wave of outrage. Bukele wrote: 'Kilmar Abrego Garcia, miraculously risen from the "death camps" & "torture," now sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador!' Popular Trump-aligned accounts on X, including Libs of TikTok, slammed Van Hollen for his cozy chat with Garcia. One person pointed out that in Van Hollen's official post on X, he didn't include the picture showing the margarita glasses. Another responded directly to the senator's post and said, 'Hey Chris!! This is the real picture. How were those margaritas??? President Bukele posted this one. No hiding the truth from America.' A third wrote: 'Senator Chris Van Hollen and Kilmar Abrego Garcia sipping margaritas with salted rimsThirsty Thursday in El Salvador.' Pictured: Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen sits with deported illegal migrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia with drinks that some claimed were margaritas El Salvador President Nayib Bukele, who met with President Donald Trump this week, shared the photo of the supposedly alcoholic drinks Van Hollen has not responded to the social media outrage yet, but in his post about the meeting, he said he called Abrego Garcia's wife 'to pass along his message of love.' The lawmaker did not provide an update on the status of Abrego Garcia, whose attorneys are fighting to force the Trump administration to facilitate his return to the U.S. A spokesman for the Trump administration remained on message, claiming Van Hollen was worried more about a 'terrorist illegal migrant' than his own constituents. 'Chris Van Hollen has firmly established Democrats as the party whose top priority is the welfare of an illegal alien MS-13 terrorist. It is truly disgusting. President Trump will continue to stand on the side of law-abiding Americans,' Kush Desai told DailyMail.com. Bukele's post on X ended with emojis of the U.S. and El Salvador flags, with a handshake emoji between them. A spokeswoman for El Salvadors presidency said she had no further information. The meeting came hours after Van Hollen said he was denied entry into an high-security El Salvador prison Thursday while he was trying to check on Abrego Garcia's well-being and push for his release. The Democratic senator said at a news conference in San Salvador that his car was stopped by soldiers at a checkpoint about two miles from the Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT, even as they let other cars go on. 'They stopped us because they are under orders not to allow us to proceed,' Van Hollen said. Van Hollen traveled to El Salvador to try and secure the release of Abrego Garcia, who the Trump administration has accused of being an MS-13 member Abrego Garcia was sent to an El Salvador prison by the Trump administration in March despite an immigration court order preventing his deportation Van Hollen did not provide an update on the status of Abrego Garcia (pictured), whose attorneys are fighting to force the Trump administration to facilitate his return to the US Abrego Garcia entered the US illegally in 2011. A judge blocked his return to El Salvador in 2019, citing the fact that gangsters were after him, but said he could be deported elsewhere. In court filings this week, the Trump administration said he was deported to El Salvador in error. The Supreme Court has since ordered the Trump administration to facilitate his return to the US. Late Thursday, a three-judge panel from the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously refused to suspend a judge's decision to order sworn testimony by Trump administration officials to determine if they complied with the court's instruction to facilitate Abrego Garcia's return. The Trump administrations claims that it can't do anything to free Garcia from an El Salvador prison or return him to the US 'should be shocking to the intuitive sense of liberty that Americans far removed from courthouses still hold dear,' the court said Thursday in a blistering order that ratchets up the escalating conflict between the government's executive and judicial branches. Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III, who was nominated by Republican President Ronald Reagan, said: 'It is difficult in some cases to get to the very heart of the matter. But in this case, it is not hard at all.' He added that he and his two colleagues 'cling to the hope that it is not naive to believe our good brethren in the Executive Branch perceive the rule of law as vital to the American ethos.' Trump officials insist Garcia is not an innocent American, as claimed. They claim he's an MS-13 gangster who deserves to be sent back to El Salvador. Additionally, a 2021 petition for protection from domestic violence filled out by Abrego Garcia's wife, Jennifer Vasquez, which was obtained first by DailyMail.com, states that the alleged MS-13 member beat his wife multiple times over the years. Van Hollen posted a photo of the meeting on X, saying he also called Abrego Garcia's wife 'to pass along his message of love' She told The Post she was 'acting out of caution after a disagreement with Kilmar in case things escalated' after being abused 'in a previous relationship.' 'Things did not escalate, and I decided not to follow through with the civil court process. We were able to work through this situation privately as a family, including by going to counseling,' she added. 'Our marriage only grew stronger in the years that followed. No one is perfect, and no marriage is perfect.' Democrats, furious about his deportation, are up in arms, with Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen traveling in an attempt to get answers. Determined to save Garcia, he flew to El Salvador in an effort to get him out of jail and back in America. But when he showed up asking for a meeting, he was denied. He is now being mocked by Republicans and Conservative Americans, including the mother of a woman who was murdered by an illegal migrant. 'Senator Van Hollen has done more to bring a MS-13 gang member, human trafficker and illegal alien back to Maryland than he has to help keep his American constituents safe or advocate for the victims of these vicious gangs like MS-13. 'While Senator Van Hollen and the mainstream media peddle a sob story about a brutal MS-13 gang member, Secretary Noem stands with the victims of illegal alien crime, like Maryland mom Rachel Morin. A2021 petition for protection from domestic violence filled out by Abrego Garcia's wife, Jennifer Vasquez (pictured), which was obtained first by DailyMail.com, states that the alleged MS-13 member beat his wife multiple times over the years 'We hear far too much about the gang members and criminals sob stories and not enough about their victims,' the Department of Homeland Security said in a post on X. The efforts by Van Hollen have also been criticized by Morin's mother Patty who spoke about the lack of any correspondence from state officials when her daughter was murdered. Speaking on Fox News with anchor Sean Hannity, she said: 'I'm very angry, I'm outraged. I'm too sad at the moment to show anger at the same time. 'He did not call our family, he did not give condolences. There was no action [from] the Democratic party in anyway. 'From Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, anyone here in Maryland, none of the Senators did anything to help search for the murderer of my daughter.' Rachel Morin's illegal immigrant killer Victor Martinez-Hernandez was found guilty of first degree murder, first degree rape and kidnapping on Monday - and is now awaiting sentencing. Abrego Garcia, who is a legal resident, arrived at the notorious supermax prison CECOT in El Salvador March 15 on one of three planes from the US. He first entered the U.S. in 2011 but was granted permission to stay by a judge in 2019. He later settled down in Maryland and has an American wife and son. Abrego Garcia (pictured), who is a legal resident, arrived at the notorious supermax prison CECOT in El Salvador March 15 on one of three planes from the US Democratic Senator from Maryland Chris Van Hollen speaks to the press in Antiguo Cuscatlan, El Salvador. Van Hollen arrived in El Salvador to request the release of Abrego Garcia The Trump administration deported Abrego Garcia on March 15 after files indicated that he had connections with MS-13, a vicious Salvadorian-American gang. His wife and lawyer deny his gang affiliation and have sued the administration for improperly removing him from the U.S. The Trump administration initially said his removal was a mistake. The Supreme Court then ordered the facilitation of his return. But the Trump administration is standing firm. In the Oval Office on Monday, Trump and Bukele led a united defense of their actions in the case of Abrego Garcia. Bukele argued he couldn't return, saying: 'How can I return him to the United States? 'I smuggle him into the United States or what do I do? Of course, I'm not going to do it. 'The question is preposterous. How can I smuggle a terrorist into the United States? I don't have the power to return him to the United States.' Trump supported Bukele's claim and went further, lobbying the El Salvadorian leader to take more migrants and build more prisons hold them. 'I just asked the president, you know, it's this massive complex that he built, a jail complex. I said, 'Can you build some more of them, please?'' Trump said. A man has been charged after suspending himself over a busy highway while dressed in a Spider-Man costume. The 41-year-old costumed crusader was spotted dangling from a bridge over the Kwinana Freeway in southern Perth about 3.50pm on Thursday. Motorists watched on in horror as the impersonator hung from a metal chain above one of the city's busiest arteries. The man appeared to have planned his stunt for maximum impact as motorists escaped the city ahead of the Easter bank holiday weekend. He was pictured holding his phone seemingly oblivious to his dangerous position. In another photo, a woman walked across the bridge unaware of the masked man dangling below her. WA Police confirmed it had received multiple reports about the impersonator. The man, from Shoalwater in Perth's south, was arrested at the scene and charged with with one count of endanger life, health or safety of a person. A 41-year-old man dangled from a bridge over the Kwinana Freeway in Perth (pictured) Kwinana Freeway (pictured) was closed while officers responded Emergency services including the police, firefighters and paramedics attended the scene and the freeway was closed as a cherry picker was used to get the man down. The 41-year-old man was assessed at the scene. The man is due to appear before Perth Magistrates Court on Friday, May 9. Optus is increasing the price of its monthly mobile phone plans in a huge blow to customers. Australia's second-biggest telco will hike up the price of some plans from June 4, 2025. The telco giant has told customers the reason for the increase is to improve the network and technology to keep Australians connected. An email to customers revealed some plans will be increased by between $2 and $6 per month. The price increase covers some of the telco giant's most popular plans including Choice, Choice Plus and Business Mobile Plus. This means Australians who are currently paying $52 per month on a Optus Choice Plus plan will pay $55 per month from June. Optus managing director of customer solutions Anthony Shiner said the telco were 'committed to helping keep Australians connected and continue to invest in improving the speed, coverage and reliability of our network, as well as enhancing technology, to provide a great experience for our customers'. 'Any device payments customers are currently paying will remain the same,' Shiner told Yahoo Finance. Optus is increasing the price of its monthly mobile phone plans in a huge blow to customers Australia's second-biggest telco will hike up the price of some plans from June 4, 2025 'Customers whose plans are changing will receive an email or SMS message explaining the changes.' Customers impacted by the price hikes will also see increases in their data allowances. Optus announced increases of between 20GB to 40GB per month, depending on the plan. Device payments through Optus will not change following the price hike. New customers singing up to the telco giant will pay the higher price going forward. The changes come less than a year after the company's last price increase with postpaid phone planes rising by $3 or $6 per service in August, 2024. Doctor Who's chief show writer has dismissed fans' views that it has become too 'woke' after viewers complained about the beloved science-fiction show online. The long-running BBC show, which has a global following of millions, has seen its ratings plummet after fans were left fed up by some of its recent plots. Campaigners have accused bosses behind the series of 'promoting the cult of gender ideology' in the latest episodes, streamed globally thanks to a lucrative deal with Disney thought to be worth 100million. In the show's 60th anniversary, fans were introduced to Rose Noble, the transgender daughter of Donna Noble, who blasts the Doctor for 'assuming the gender' of a rat-like furry alien. Fuming Whovians have also lamented the introduction of the screeching, deranged, wide-mouthed, ginger-haired non-binary villain, Maestro - played by American drag queen Jinkx Monsoon. Returning boss Russell T Davies has introduced a string of controversial plots - included David Tennant's Doctor realising he was gay after developing a crush on the 'hot' Sir Isaac Newton. Yet this week, 61-year-old Davies told BBC Radio 2: 'Someone always brings up matters of diversity. 'There are online warriors accusing us of diversity and weakness and involving messages and issues. I have no time for this. I don't want to bear [it]. Pictured: Doctor Who boss Russell T Davies (right) with the current Doctor, Ncuti Gatwa Pictured: Billie Piper as Rose and David Tennant as the Doctor in the 2006 episode Fear Her Fans also lamented the introduction of the screeching, deranged, wide-mouthed, ginger-haired non-binary villain, Maestro - played by American drag queen Jinkx Monsoon (pictured) 'Because what you might call diversity, I just call an open door. He added: 'Why limit to yourself? Why breathe in the exhaust fumes? 'Why be toxic? Come over here where the life and light and air and sound is.' It comes amid rumours the franchise's lead star, Ncuti Gatwa, is on the verge of quitting his role as the Time Lord and that the show could soon be cancelled. Ncuti's first series attracting between 2.25million and 3.18million viewers - a tiny fraction of what the franchise used to pull in. The Scottish actor, 32, joined the cast in 2023 after Jodie Whittaker bowed out as the Doctor, but it's rumoured he's set to walk away from the show after two seasons. According to reports, a decision of the show's future will only be decided by bosses once Ncuti's second series hits screens later this year. He was the first black actor to take on the leading role as The Doctor, afte Whittaker, who was the first female lead of the show, bowed out in 2017. But it was the hit Neftlix comedy-drama where he became aa household name starring as gay teenager Eric Effiong. In the 60th anniversary episode of Dr Who, fans were introduced to Rose Noble, the transgender daughter of Donna Noble, who blasts the Doctor for 'assuming the gender' of a rat-like furry alien David Tennant's Doctor said to his companion that Isaac (Nathaniel Curtis, pictured) 'was so hot'. He added in an apparent reference to his own sexuality: 'Oh, is that who I am now?' Ncuti appeared unphased by the reports, emerging a few days later on March 26, 2025 cutting an effortlessly chic figure in New York. Whilst out and about in Midtown, the Sex Education star sported an oversized black coat complete with a belt, which he wore over high-waisted tailored trousers. The actor paired the trousers with a white and black striped fitted knitted top, which he left unbuttoned exposing his chest. The show, which has been produced by the BBC since 1963, has been blasted by critics in recent weeks, who described its return as 'unoriginal and uninspired'. Brits are bracing for Easter travel chaos, with trains axed and roads anticipated to be jam-packed this weekend, while queues are already forming at airports. Around 19 million people are set to travel on Good Friday - meaning many motorists could face snaking queues along some of Britain's busiest motorways. A sea of red brake lights has already emerged at the port of Dover in Kent today, as a queue of holidaymakers wait to check onto their ferries. And lorries have been seen in bumper-to-bumper traffic further up the A20, as drivers rush to begin their Easter breaks. Among the worst hit, is anticipated to be the M6 around the areas of Birmingham and Blackpool, the M25's south-western section from the M23 to M40, the M5 at Bristol and the A303 in Wiltshire. And even those hoping to jet away this weekend may have their plans foiled, with strikes set to hit up to 50 flights a day at Gatwick Airport. Droves of passengers flocked to Manchester Airport on Friday morning, as they made an early bid for their long getaway. Last month, the Eurotunnel quietly introduced a rule which could see families pay twice for their journeys this weekend. Cars queue at check-in to board ferries at the Port of Dover in Kent today as they race away to their Easter breaks Droves of passengers have already flocked to Manchester Airport this morning as they prepare for their Easter break Hoards of passengers arriving at London Euston station on Good Friday morning Lorries in bumper-to-bumper traffic can be seen further up the A20, as drivers rush to being their Easter breaks LeShuttle, previously known as Eurotunnel, changed its terms and conditions for those who have booked day trip and overnight tickets. The new rules, introduced on March 5 could mean holidaymakers who arrive less than one hour before departure - or later - will have their tickets for both their journey out and return voided. It comes as travellers were warned to brace for miles of traffic, roadworks and chaos on the rail networks as the Easter weekend getaway began yesterday. This weekend's forecast traffic is so great that National Highways has shelved more than 1,000 miles of roadworks in a bid to keep motorways and major carriageways clear. There will be no respite for people hoping to get away by train either, with the situation on Britain's railways arguably worse, as hundreds of engineering works take place. Network Rail, making the most of an anticipated fall in commuters, is undertaking 300 projects across Britain between Good Friday and Monday, causing a number of lines to be closed. Among the most significant effects will be at London Euston - the UK's 10th busiest railway station - which will have no services to or from Milton Keynes on Saturday and Easter Sunday, and a reduced timetable on Good Friday and Monday. The rail works that will hit people wanting to travel by train include renewals of overhead electric lines and drainage improvements. Queues of people have began to emerge at Manchester Airport, suitcases in tow Rail passengers arriving at London Euston this morning Traffic was already hitting the M25 in Kent this afternoon, as people finished work Traffic builds up on the M25 motorway near Leatherhead in Surrey on Good Friday during the Easter weekend getaway Best and worst time to leave for the Easter getaway Good Friday Best time - Before 10am Worst time - 10am to 7pm Saturday Best time - Before 10.30am, after 2pm Worst time - 11am to 1pm Easter Sunday Best time - After 1pm Worst time - 11am to 1pm Easter Monday Best time - Before 11am Worst time - 11am to 6pm Source: RAC Advertisement Services on the West Coast Main Line between Saturday and Monday will start and terminate at Carlisle, with replacement buses serving stations to the north. Platforms one to eight will be closed at London Victoria, meaning no Southeastern trains will serve the station over the four-day bank holiday period. Trains will be diverted instead via London Bridge or London Cannon Street. Engineering work in the Southampton and Brockenhurst areas will close various lines in the region. Helen Hamlin, Network Rail's director of system operations, said: 'The vast majority of the rail network will be open as usual for people wanting to travel over the Easter bank holiday, but there will be changes to services in some areas, so we're asking passengers to plan ahead and check before they travel. 'We carry out a large amount of our work over the Easter period as passenger numbers are lower than they typically would be, disrupting fewer journeys, and the two bank holidays either side of the weekend give us a unique opportunity to get more work done whilst keeping disruption to a minimum.' Network Rail has said it would deliver investments totalling 86million over the Easter period. Meanwhile, drivers are being advised to prepare for congestion around town and city centres, retail parks and major routes. The AA estimated that 19.1 million people in the UK would drive on Good Friday, with 18.5 million hitting the road on Saturday and 18.2 million on each of Easter Sunday and Monday. The predictions come as Steven Skeates, deputy chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said there would be 'changeable weather for many' during the bank holiday weekend. An area of low pressure could bring 'heavy and possibly even disruptive rain' on Good Friday for parts of south-west England, Northern Ireland and South Wales, he added. And RAC breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson suggested that if the heavy rain became a reality, 'many drivers may have their journeys disrupted as they set off for day trips and long weekends'. Your browser does not support iframes. Traffic snakes its way onto the M25 near to the Dartford Crossing in Kent this afternoon Passengers arrive at King's Cross Station in London this afternoon as the Easter getaway starts Passengers carrying luggage stand in the concourse at King's Cross Station yesterday This was the scene along the M25 motorway near Addlestone in Surrey on Thursday afternoon She added: 'It's vital to plan ahead and be prepared for trips to take longer because of the wet weather and the expected getaway congestion.' Easter getaway 2025 BUSIEST ROADS M6 in Birmingham area M6 in Blackpool area South and western section of the M25 between the M23 and M40 M5 at Bristol A303 in Wiltshire RAILS London Euston : No services to/from Milton Keynes on Easter Saturday and Sunday : No services to/from Milton Keynes on Easter Saturday and Sunday London Victoria : Southeastern services diverted; reduced Southern and Gatwick Express services : Southeastern services diverted; reduced Southern and Gatwick Express services Carlisle / Glasgow / Edinburgh : Buses replace trains on some routes / / : Buses replace trains on some routes Southampton : Trains diverted via Fareham into Portsmouth : Trains diverted via Fareham into Portsmouth Elizabeth line : Reduced service in western section : Reduced service in western section Piccadilly line : No service Acton Town to Uxbridge : No service Acton Town to Uxbridge Docklands Light Railway : No service on three sections : No service on three sections London Paddington : Disruptive work : Disruptive work Manchester / Stockport : Disruptive work / : Disruptive work Cambridge : Disruptive work : Disruptive work Leeds / Huddersfield area: Disruptive work Advertisement Ms Simpson said an estimated 6.2 million people were 'undecided' on when they will travel for an Easter leisure trip, which means 'any sign of sun' could spark 'big jams'. National Highways said it has removed roadworks from 1,127 miles of motorways and major A roads in England, meaning 97.5 per cent of its network is free of traffic cones for Easter getaways. Tourism authority VisitEngland estimates that about 10.6million British adults are planning to take a holiday in the UK over the bank holiday period. Meanwhile travel trade organisation Abta said approximately 2.2million Britons would head overseas during the long weekend, with Good Friday being the busiest day for travel. Some 11,282 flights are scheduled to leave UK airports between Good Friday and Monday, according to aviation analytics company Cirium. That is six per cent more than during last year's Easter, but remains four per cent down from Easter 2019. The most common international destinations for UK departures this Easter are Dublin, Amsterdam, Malaga, Alicante and Mallorca. Meanwhile, those who do try and make the trip abroad could find themselves confronted with strike action at one airport. Staff at Gatwick Airport are set to walk out from Good Friday until next Tuesday as part of the row over conditions, sparking warnings that up to 50 flights per day could be hit. Ground staff at Red Handling and the union Unite are currently in dispute, with baggage handlers, check-in staff and flight dispatchers from airlines including Norwegian, Delta, TAP and Air Peace going on strike. London Heathrow is tipped to be the busiest airport departure point, with 12,093 outbound flights across the holidays as a whole - followed by Gatwick, Manchester and Stansted. EasyJet is expected to be the busiest airline throughout the holidays, with 10,276 departures from the UK, followed by British Airways and Ryanair. Good Friday will be the busiest day overall for UK departures during the weekend, with almost 3,000 flights. A major Eurotunnel rule change could see families pay double for their journeys this Easter weekend. Holidaymakers have been warned that they could be hit with surprise extra charges on the Eurotunnel for failing to comply with a change in rules. Le Shuttle, formerly known as Eurotunnel, quietly changed its terms and conditions for those who have booked day trip and overnight tickets. The new terms, introduced on March 5, mean holidaymakers who arrive less than one hour before departure - or later - will have their departure and return journey voided. The changes will impact both returning and departure, which could mean families may arrive at their destination and have to pay all over again upon return. It comes lorry queues have began to form at airports as passengers race away for Easter weekend. Droves of passengers have already flocked to Manchester Airport this morning, preparing to make their Good Friday getaway. A sea of red brake lights was also seen at the port of Dover in Kent today, as a queue of holidaymakers wait to check onto their ferries. Holidaymakers have been warned that they could be hit with surprise extra charges on the Eurotunnel for failing to comply with a change in rules Cars queue at check-in to board ferries at the Port of Dover in Kent today as they race away to their Easter breaks Queues of people have began to emerge at Manchester Airport, suitcases in tow Lorries sat in bumper-to-bumper traffic further up the A20, as drivers rush to begin their Easter breaks. Around 19 million people are set to travel today - meaning many motorists could face snaking queues along some of Britain's busiest motorways. Among the worst hit, is anticipated to be the M6 around the areas of Birmingham and Blackpool, the M25's south-western section from the M23 to M40, the M5 at Bristol and the A303 in Wiltshire. Previously, drivers who arrived within the two hours after their booked departure time could exchange it free of charge. Now, Britons travelling across the Channel could face paying hundreds of pounds for premium tickets on the spot if they do not follow the new rules. Jean-Claude Gonneau, 70, from Greater Paris in France, was travelling from Calais to England to see friends, and spent 144 euros on his outward journey on Wednesday last week at 11:16am - returning the following day at 4:24pm. He arrived 20 minutes late because of a road accident near Calais and was told his tickets were void. Having lived in both France and England, Mr Gonneau - a retired investment banker who worked in London for 15 years - has made the crossing almost 100 times, and would normally pay a small fee to use the next train if he were late. Your browser does not support iframes. However, he was informed, due to the new rules, he would have to purchase new tickets at a cost of 252 euros, or 216. He said: 'It's just unbelievable - because I was caught in a terrible traffic jam, I was forced to pay more than 250 euros for new tickets. 'It's a quick fix for the people in charge to save an unprofitable service. 'There was a time in France when everyone was talking about train services running at a deficit, but now people are talking about issues with the tickets. 'Thats because theyre trying to bring the service to profitability through cheating people out of their money - it's technocratic and irresponsible.' He says that when he challenged the company on the new policy, he was told he should have read the travel conditions which had been updated. The travel conditions on LeShuttle website for day trip or overnight tickets state: 'Arrival Window: Check-in at least 1 hour but no more than 4 hours before departure. 'Early Arrival: Your ticket is valid only for the booked departure. If you arrive more than 1 hour early, you will not be accommodated on an earlier departure. Lorries in bumper-to-bumper traffic can be seen further up the A20, as drivers rush to being their Easter breaks Passengers arrive at King's Cross Station in London this afternoon as the Easter getaway starts Passengers carrying luggage stand in the concourse at King's Cross Station today 'Late Arrival: If you arrive less than 1 hour before departure or later, your ticket will be void. A new ticket must be purchased for travel. 'Failure to travel on the outward crossing will invalidate the return crossing. A spokesperson for LeShuttle said: 'After reviewing customer preferences and behaviours, we decided that we need a new simpler ticket structure that match the needs of our customers. 'The new tickets mean more flexibility and control to our customers to select the experience that meets their needs. If opting for the most restricted ticket customers must arrive in time to travel on their booked departure and this cannot be changed. 'Our check-in time for this ticket type is at least 60 minutes prior to the booked train and this was explained in the ticket terms, which the customer would have been made aware of at the time of booking. 'Indeed if they booked online, they would have needed to check a box to confirm that they had both read and accepted these revised ticket terms. The restricted nature of the ticket is also made clear during the booking process. This was the scene along the M25 motorway near Addlestone in Surrey on Thursday afternoon Traffic snakes its way onto the M25 near to the Dartford Crossing in Kent this afternoon We believe that the terms of our tickets are important and when our new terms came into force, we drew our customers attention to this fact. 'This is why the main points a customer needs to be aware of when selecting a ticket (for example, whether a ticket is amendable or refundable) are highlighted on several occasions during the booking process. 'Customers must confirm that they have read the ticket terms prior to making a booking. From the implementation of the revised terms, we have clearly alerted customers to the changes. 'We feel that the information provided on our website is in line with other travel providers and our revised ticket terms are displayed clearly.' Prince Harry requested police protection after a threat was made against him by Al Qaeda, court documents show. Last week, his lawyer told a public hearing that the terror group had called for him to murdered after his tax-payer funded security arrangements were downgraded. While several hours of the hearing were made public, part of the evidence was heard behind closed doors, with a summary released on Thursday. It stated: The appellant confirmed that he had requested certain protection after a threat was made against him by al Qaeda. Harry, 40, travelled from his home in Montecito, California, to attend the two-day hearing in London to challenge the decision to remove his automatic right to security when in the UK. His barrister, Shaheed Fatima KC, said in a written submission to the court that Harrys security team were informed the terrorist group had published a document which stated his assassination would please the Muslim community. An exact date for Al Qaedas assassination threat was not revealed in Harrys legal submission. But in 2023 it was reported that he received death threats when he wrote in his tell-all autobiography Spare about killing 25 Taliban fighters while fighting in Afghanistan, comparing the victims to chess pieces. The Duke of Sussex outside the High Court last week as he challenged the decision to remove police protection for himself and Meghan when in the UK Harry and Meghan reportedly believe that their police protection when in the UK was withdrawn as a way of trying to 'trap' them in the UK He has appealed the decision to downgrade his security arrangements, which were changed in February 2020 after he and wife Meghan stopped being working royals. The newly released court documents also revealed the princes claims his bespoke security arrangements were inadequate, inappropriate and ineffective. It said: Since he stepped back in February 2020, the Appellant has still not been provided with a RMB [risk management board] analysis. The protective security that until 2020 had been applied to him has changed and is inadequate, inappropriate and ineffective. The Duke and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, reportedly believed that establishing a happy life of their own would help thaw relations with the Royal Family. The couple saw the removal of their police protection as a way of trying to strongarm them into returning to the UK - since they felt that without security, visiting Britain would paint a target on their back. Harry took the decision to take legal action against the Government to have his official security reinstated. The Duke said that the case was even more significant than his legal battles against the tabloid press that he once called his 'life's work'. Prince Harry talks with a person wounded in the war with Russia at the Superhumans Center in Lviv last Thursday during a visit to Ukraine The Duke of Sussex talking with Olga Rudneva (right) during a visit to the Superhumans Centre in Lviv, Ukraine on April 10, where he toured the centre and met with patients and medical professionals Speaking to the Telegraph, Harry said what he had experienced during the legal process had crossed a line - and suggested he was upset with elements of the evidence that had been heard beyond closed doors this week in court. The Prince said: 'People would be shocked by what's being held back.' He added that his 'worst fears have been confirmed by the whole legal disclosure in this case and that's really sad'. As legal proceedings came to a close, Harry said he was 'exhausted' and 'overwhelmed' by the legal case. Even if Harry wins the appeal, the Royal and VIP Executive Committee may not be compelled to grant the Sussexes their wish to restore their security. The Duke said he was 'driven by exposing injustice' and would continue to fight regardless of the outcome. Harry has been accused of hypocrisy after he met dozens of wounded soldiers in Ukraine earlier this week despite claiming he and his family cannot be safe in Britain without taxpayer-funded police bodyguards. However, an insider told MailOnline that it is 'simply incorrect' to suggest the Ukraine trip contradicts Harry's UK safety concerns or undermines his High Court case, claiming the team protecting him was 'more robust' than in Britain. The Duke of Sussex (pictured last Tuesday) claims he has been 'singled out for different, unjustified and inferior treatment' The 'Royal Bombshell' edition of the Daily Mail which broke news of the couple's dramatic decision But a source close to Harry has claimed that the level of protection on his Ukrainian trip was better than what he receives in the UK. 'He can go to Ukraine - a country with an active warzone - because he has a robust security detail, one that he does not have in his home country', they said. MailOnline reported earlier this week that Prince Harry did not see his father the King after flying into the UK for the legal hearing. The Duke of Sussex landed from Los Angeles last Sunday but his father spent the weekend at Highgrove, his private Gloucestershire home, resting ahead of this week's busy State Visit to Italy. Prince Harry's taxpayer-funded security was cut after his highly unusual decision to quit royal duties and 'spend most of the time abroad', the High Court heard in the appeal hearing this week. The Duke of Sussex claimed he was 'singled out' for 'inferior treatment' when the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) stripped him of his top-level security in February 2020, following 'Megxit'. But Sir James Eadie KC, representing the Home Office, has said it had discretion to strip his guaranteed full time police security without consulting the Risk Management Board (RMB) quango. 'RMB risk analysis is the usual approach in usual cases,' he told the High Court earlier this week. 'But there is nothing about the appellant's [Prince Harry's] announcement in January 2020 that he was to step back from his role in the Royal family, and spend most of the time abroad, that was usual.' Prince Harry's lawyer Shaheed Fatima KC insisted that Ravec failed to follow its own guidelines and should have commissioned an assessment of the Duke's security needs from the Risk Management Board (RMB). Ms Fatima said: 'The appellant [the Duke of Sussex] does not accept that bespoke means better in fact, in his position, it means he has been singled out for different, inferior treatment.' She added that the judge who previously ruled Ravec had acted correctly was mistaken. But barrister Sir James, speaking for the Home Secretary, told the High Court that his extremely unusual withdrawal from Royal duties changed everything. He said it was 'hard to imagine' someone more experienced and better placed than the chair of Ravec to make a bespoke decision about how the Duke's security arrangements should change to accommodate 'the unique and unusual circumstances of the appellant [Prince Harry]'. And Sir James denied the Duke was treated unfairly and said: 'He was not being singled out - on the contrary, the process being adopted had positive advantages for him.' Hostilities in the battle for the prime ministership have been briefly paused as leaders struck a more subdued tone on the campaign trail on Good Friday. With most of the country putting thoughts of an election on the backburner during the Easter break, Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton also adopted a more laidback approach. The prime minister joined Bennelong MP Jerome Laxale for a casual stroll with their dogs Toto and Toby at a park in the marginal seat. Chatting with some locals, the conversation naturally turned to the prime minister's pet passion - the South Sydney Rabbitohs - who face a tough test against the NRL ladder-leading Bulldogs on Friday afternoon. 'Souths are gonna win, the Easter bunnies,' Mr Albanese quipped. Mr Laxale won the seat in Sydney's inner north from the Liberals at the 2022 election, but a redistribution has put the electorate notionally into the opposition column on a minuscule margin of 0.04 per cent. Meanwhile, the opposition leader attended one of Australia's largest Good Friday services at the Monastery of Saint Charbel in western Sydney alongside 20,000 Maronite worshippers. Mr Dutton was alongside former prime minister Scott Morrison at the service, along with Labor's Tony Burke, MP for the church's local electorate of Watson. Anthony Albanese and fiancee Jodie Haydon with his dog Toto are pictured on Friday The opposition leader is hoping the Easter break can lead to a campaign reset, with fresh polling showing the coalition on track to record an unwelcome election record. The latest YouGov poll, provided to AAP, showed the coalition tied with Labor for first preferences after its primary vote fell to 33 per cent. If the poll results were replicated at the May 3 election, the coalition would receive its lowest share of primary votes since the Liberal Party was formed in 1944. YouGov's director of public data Paul Smith said the opposition would need a miracle to be able to recover, with the election just two weeks away. 'This is a dramatic fall from the coalition's position only a few weeks ago in February from being in the box seat to win the election,' he told AAP. 'It would take a historic turnaround for the coalition to win... given voters are already receiving their postal votes and pre-poll starts on Tuesday. 'The coalition is running out of time.' The poll showed Labor increasing its lead on a two-party preferred basis, with the government getting half a percentage point boost to be ahead 53 per cent to 47 per cent. Peter Dutton was at one of Australia's largest Good Friday services at the Monastery of Saint Charbel in western Sydney It's Labor's highest two-party preferred result for 18 months and almost a full point higher than its election-winning result in 2022. The YouGov poll also showed Anthony Albanese stabilising his lead as preferred prime minister over Mr Dutton, leading 48 per cent to 38 per cent. While Mr Dutton has gained some ground in his net-satisfaction levels, rising from minus 15 to minus 10 since the previous week, he still trails Mr Albanese, who sits on minus six. 'The main driver of the coalition's fall in primary votes is voters rejecting seeing Peter Dutton as prime minister,' Mr Smith said. 'It can be seen in the strong preference shown by men and outer-suburban voters for the prime minister over Peter Dutton. 'If Peter Dutton is rejected by outer-suburban voters and men, it's game over for the coalition at the election.' The YouGov poll of 1.506 voters was conducted between April 11 and 15, with a margin of error of 3.3 per cent. There have been five drownings across Australia in a single day during the Easter long weekend. About 3pm on Friday emergency services were called to City Rock Road in Green Cape on the southern coast of NSW, following reports of a person in the water. Police were told a man was seen fishing before being washed off the rocks. A short time later a body was located in the water, a NSW Police spokesperson said. The body is yet to be identified and a report will be prepared for the Coroner. It comes after emergency services were also called to Middle Head Point, Mosman NSW, earlier on Friday at about 10.20am after reports of a concern for the welfare of a man in the water. Police, assisted by Surf Life Saving NSW, Marine Rescue, paramedics and Marine Area Command, found a body in the water a short time later. While they are yet to be formally identified, the body is believed to be that of the man, NSW Police said. Australians on the NSW coast have been warned by the Bureau of Meteorology to stay away from hazardous swells over the Easter weekend (stock image) Visitors at Dee Why Beach Ocean Pool could be seen with their legs submerged in the swell Initial inquiries suggested he was on rocks when he fell into the water. Investigations are underway and any witnesses have been urged to come forward. A report will be prepared by police for the coroner. The tragic Easter incident comes after a fisherman also drowned after being swept out to sea at Wollongong Harbour early on the same day. Officers had responded to reports of a man pulled from the water unconscious. The 58-year-old fisherman could not be revived and died at the scene. Police have launched an investigation into the incident and a separate report will be prepared for the coroner. The Bureau of Meteorology issued a warning on Friday for the NSW coast regarding hazardous surf and swell conditions. Marine Area Command urged people to stay out of the water and avoid walking near surf-exposed areas. Surf Life Saving has also published a stark message on social media for Australians wanting to hit the waves over the Easter weekend. A man is missing off the coast at San Remo, Victoria (pictured) 'Did you know coastal drowning risk is four times more likely on long weekends?' a statement said. 'This Easter long weekend make sure to pick patrolled locations to swim at and swim between the red and yellow flags.' Over the past 20 years, 118 Australians have drowned during Easter, according to Royal Life Saving Australia. Victoria was also rocked by news that a woman has died and a man is presumed dead after they were swept from rocks near a coastal walk on the south coast. Emergency services were called to a beach off Punch Bowl Road near San Remo, 125km southeast of Melbourne, at 8.30am on Friday. Officers received reports three people were washed into the water. A second woman was able to find her way back to shore safely while an aerial search began for the first woman and the 41-year-old man. The second woman was subsequently found unresponsive in the water. Emergency workers attempted to revive her but she died at the scene. Police officers were called to the area near San Remo after three people were washed into the water (pictured) A report will be prepared for the coroner regarding her death. The search continued for the man who was last seen on rocks on the coastline. It was suspended on Friday evening and is due to resume on Saturday. Premier Jacinta Allan said it marked an 'awful start' to the Easter long weekend. 'My thoughts are with the family of someone who has lost their life in such tragic circumstances, and potentially there is more difficult news to come,' she said. 'We are having a very warm Easter weekend. It's a timely reminder about being safe around all waterways.' Male asylum seekers who are single and healthy will be deported back to Greece after arriving in Germany, a top court has ruled. The Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig decided that migrants will not face inhumane or degrading conditions if they were sent back. Judges were ruling on a case of both a 34-year-old man born in northern Gaza and a 32-year-old Somali national, both of whom were granted protection status in Greece. The court determined that while migrants in Greece receive little to no access to state support, young, able-bodied men should be able to deal with the circumstances there. Robert Keller, one of the judges, said that the ruling was ultimately based on whether refugees in Greece had access to 'bread, bed and soap'. He said: 'That's not much, we know that. 'It's a tough benchmark.' The ruling accepted that waiting times for documents and a lack of support were issues for asylum seekers in Greece. Refugees and migrants make their way in the Kara Tepe camp on the island of Lesbos, Greece The court ruled that while migrants in Greece receive little to no access to state support, young, able-bodied men should be able to deal with the circumstances there But it said that migrants could 'likely' find shelter in temporary or emergency accomodation and have access to 'basic sanitary facilities'. It added: 'It cannot be expected with any significant probability that able-bodied, healthy and single young male beneficiaries of protection returning to Greece will find themselves in extreme material hardship, preventing them from meeting their most basic needs in terms of accommodation, food, and hygiene. 'Due to bureaucratic hurdles and waiting times to receive the necessary documents, many beneficiaries of protection do not have access to state support immediately upon arrival. 'However, they can likely find accommodation at least in temporary shelters or emergency accommodations with basic sanitary facilities, which are operated, among other things, at the municipal level and by non-governmental aid organizations.' Under the Dublin Agreement, asylum seekers are supposed to have their claims processed in the first EU country they enter, but such rules are rarely enforced. The landmark ruling follows a similar case decided last Thursday in Germany, which saw an Afghan national threatened with deportation as he was 'not at serious risk of inhuman or degrading treatment if he returned to Greece', according to court documents. The German asylum rights group Pro Asyl said asylum seekers can often end up homeless in Greece. Managing Director Karl Kopp even accused the Greek government of pursuing a deliberate 'policy of impoverishment.' The court ruled: : 'It cannot be expected with any significant probability that able-bodied, healthy and single young male beneficiaries of protection returning to Greece will find themselves in extreme material hardship, preventing them from meeting their most basic needs in terms of accommodation, food, and hygiene' A woman holds a Greek flag and a placard reading 'Close the borders, Deport the illegal migrants' as she takes part in a demonstration against the governments plans to build new migrant camps on the islands Around 25,000 people who had previously been recognized as refugees in Greece applied for asylum in Germany in 2024 alone, according to the organisation. It is likely to come as a major boost for incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who has vowed to slash the number of incoming asylum seeker arrivals to under 100,000 a year. The head of the Christian Democrats (CDU), who will be sworn in next month, said this week that immigration figures 'need to significantly' come down below six figures amid pressure on public services and towns. Despite a fall in asylum applications by almost a third last year, Germany is still the most popular European destination for migrants, with 235,925 initial applications made. Merz is under intense political pressure to slash migrant arrivals further after the far-Right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party came second in February's elections. 'Our position is that these figures need to significantly come down,' he told Caren Miosga, a German talk show. Merz is under intense political pressure to slash migrant arrivals further after the far-Right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party came second in February's elections 'It can no longer be a six-digit figure towns, communities, schools, hospitals and infrastructure are overwhelmed.' Last week Merz announced that the CDU had agreed a coalition deal with the centre-Left Social Democrats (SPD). The partnership would involve a tougher migration policy, including plans to end the path to German citizenship after three years of residency. Under the new rules, migrants will only be eligible for naturalization after five years of successful integration. Self-sustaining wild population of crested ibises formed in central China's Hunan Xinhua) 13:29, April 18, 2025 CHANGSHA, April 17 (Xinhua) -- A crested ibis chick recently hatched in a nest at Mount Langshan, a World Natural Heritage site in central China's Hunan Province, marking a milestone in the successful establishment of a self-sustaining wild population of this critically endangered bird species in the area, local authorities said Thursday. After a week of continuous monitoring, the chick has been observed actively feeding and remains in healthy condition, according to the Langshan world natural heritage administration. In 2022, the administration introduced 24 crested ibises, which previously lived in a simulated original ecological environment that was artificially intervened, for rewilding and reintroduction in Mount Langshan. Monitoring has confirmed the successful natural breeding of 10 chicks in the wild. Following the detection of new crested ibises in 2023 and 2024, the recently hatched chick is the third batch of naturally bred crested ibis in Mount Langshan, laying a crucial foundation for the reconstruction of the crested ibis population in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, said Li Aiming, director of the administration. In recent years, local authorities have consistently improved the ecological environment of crested ibises' habitats. "Through over two years of monitoring, we have observed that the crested ibis population has successfully adapted to the ecosystem of Mount Langshan," said Zhao Jiajian, staff with the administration. Known as the "oriental gem," crested ibises are first-class protected animals in China. In 1981, only seven wild individuals were discovered in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. Over four decades of dedicated conservation, the global population has now surpassed 10,000. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) A Pakistani jihadist cannot be deported despite renouncing his British citizenship because it would breach his human rights, official papers suggest. Irfan Khalid was one of the leaders of a gang who plotted to carry out a 7/7-style mass terror attack in Birmingham and turn the city into a 'little war zone'. The conspiracy was smashed during Britain's biggest anti-terror investigation, with Khalid sentenced to 18 years in prison in 2013. Last year, the Parole Board deemed him too dangerous to be released. Some of the documents relating to his case have now been made public. One shows the Home Office has been unable to deport Khalid despite him wanting to return to Pakistan. The document suggests deporting the terrorist would 'breach his human rights', according to The Telegraph. 'Mr Khalid is a foreign national of Pakistan,' it reads. 'He has renounced his British citizenship. He is subject to a deportation order, which was not enforceable due to human rights concerns.' Irfan Khalid was one of the leaders of a gang who plotted to carry out a 7/7-style mass terror attack in Birmingham and turn the city into a 'little war zone' The Parole Board writes that Khalid had even 'signed a letter of disclaimer facilitating him being voluntarily returned to Pakistan'. Officials also detail the reason for their decision not to allow Khalid to be released from prison. 'The panel examined the UK release plan provided by Mr Khalid's probation officer and weighed its proposals against assessed risks,' the document continues. 'After considering the circumstances of his offending, the progress made while in custody and the evidence presented at the hearing, the panel was not satisfied that release at this point would be safe for the protection of the public. 'He will be eligible for another parole review in due course.' Khalid and other members of his terror gang, including Ashik Ali and Irfan Naseer, planned to set off up to eight bombs in rucksacks, using timers to detonate the charges. The plot was foiled in September 2011, when undercover police raided the cell amid fears the terrorist attack was imminent. Detectives said it was the most significant to be foiled since a 2006 conspiracy to blow up transatlantic airliners using bombs disguised as soft drinks. Irfan Khalid pictured arriving at Birmingham airport with his co-conspirator, Irfan Naseer Their trial judge Mr Justice Henriques said the plot 'had the blessing of al-Qaeda' and with the intention to 'further the aims of al-Qaeda'. He told the defendants when sentencing them: 'You were seeking to recruit a team of somewhere between six and eight suicide bombers to carry out a spectacular bombing campaign, one which would create an anniversary along the lines of 7/7 or 9/11. 'It's clear that you were planning a terrorist outrage in Birmingham.' Khalid had boasted the attack would be 'another 9/11', while Ali told police he would have donned a suicide vest and shot soldiers. The Home Office and Parole Board declined to comment. His case is only the latest in a series of controversial decisions relating to attempts to deport criminals from the UK. This includes an illegal migrant from Iraq who avoided deportation after claiming he had lost his phone and identity documents. The man, who allegedly left Iraq while facing arrest for exam fraud, claimed an 'agent' had thrown away his ID and phone, meaning he would not be able to get in touch with family members if deported. Irfan Khalid with Irfan Naseer and Rahin Ahmed carrying out a bogus charity collection to fund the attack Speaking at an immigration tribunal where he was granted anonymity, the man reportedly said he could not remember his family's phone numbers, which would prevent him from getting help to replace his identity cards and return to Iraq. He had been allegedly threatened with arrest in Iraq before fleeing to the UK after being caught delivering test papers to students before they sat an exam. He went on to have his appeal to remain in the UK accepted by the Home Office even though there were 'inconsistencies' in his story. A British woman who is being investigated by police for taking her terminally ill husband to the Dignitas physician-assisted suicide clinic has now revealed how they spent his final moments. Louise Shackleton took her husband Anthony, 59, to Switzerland last December to assist his suicide, after he had suffered from motor neurone disease for six years. The pair spent a 'peaceful' hour walking in the sunshine, taking in the views of the Alps and talking, before Mr Shackleton turned to his wife and said: 'It's time'. She then pushed her husband's wheelchair and took him inside the facility to end his life, Mrs Shackleton, 58, told The Mirror. 'I couldn't believe how relaxed he was,' she told the newspaper. 'It was amazing, honestly, because as humans we have this fear of dying and watching death. But he made it all so comfortable. He was at absolute peace.' Mr Shackleton had been given an 'anti-sickness medication' upon his arrival and was greeted by three 'knowledgeable' staff members who 'explained everything that was going to happen'. After their walk, he was asked again if he wanted to go through with the process, which would see him take medication, fall asleep and never wake up. Mrs Shackleton claims he smiled, laughed and replied: 'What do you think I'm here for? Let's do this!' Mrs Shackleton laid next to her husband as administered his own end-of-life medication, admitting she 'couldn't look at him doing that'. She recalled how she held him in her arms and 'within minutes he was becoming heavy'. Mr Shackleton told his wife 'I feel sleepy' and let out a snore, prompting her to hold him tighter as she joked about his snoring. She says 'he laughed and gently slipped away' in what she described as a 'beautiful death'. Louise Shackleton took her husband Anthony, 59, to Switzerland in December to assist his suicide, after he suffered from motor neurone disease for six years. They spent a 'peaceful' hour walking in the sunshine, taking in the views of the Alps and talking before he died Mrs Shackleton laid next to her husband as administered his own end-of-life medication, admitting she 'couldn't look at him doing that'. She held Mr Shackleton (pictured) in her arms and 'within minutes he was becoming heavy', sleepy and started snoring. She says 'he laughed and gently slipped away' in what she described as a 'beautiful death' The Shackletons discussed assisted death from more than two years before deciding it was the only way Mr Shackleton could die without pain or suffering. It is illegal in the UK to assist someone's suicide - but people are rarely prosecuted. The assisted dying bill currently going through Parliament would allow someone with a terminal diagnosis and less than six months to live to end their life, with approval from two doctors and a panel of experts. The next vote on it has been postponed for three weeks, to give MPs time to think about amendments to the bill. Mrs Shackleton, from North Yorkshire, has argued that if the laws had been different in Britain, the couple's family would have been able to support them during his final moments. She is now speaking out as Parliament gears up to vote on assisted dying legislation in England and Wales. 'The night before he died, we were sat having a meal and he told me, "I need you to fight other people. I need you to tell my story because I shouldn't have to do this",' Mrs Shackleton gave herself up to police after returning from Switzerland and said that although she 'committed a crime', she does not regrets going to Dignitas. She told Sky News: 'I have committed a crime, which I have admitted to, of assisting him by simply pushing him on to a plane and being with him, which I don't regret for one moment. He was my husband and I loved him.' Mrs Shackleton, during an interview with Sky News, said she has chosen to speak out publicly in support of assisted dying because she did not want her husband to die in vain - and because he had made her promise, on his final day, to tell his story She recalled the kindness and generosity of her husband (pictured), a furniture restorer who had been recognised globally for his handmade rocking horses - and who no one ever had a bad word to say about Mrs Shackleton said her husband finally relaxed when he boarded the plane to Switzerland at the end of last year - and was happy and at peace throughout the four-day trip. The couple had been together for 25 years - and had known each other since they were both 18. She said: 'It was in those four days that I realised that he wanted the peaceful death more than he wanted to suffer and stay with me, which was hard, but that's how resolute he was in having this peace.' And if legislation had been different in the UK, she added, they could have also shared those final days with family. Concerns have been raised that the assisted dying bill puts vulnerable people at risk, with fears they will feel coerced into making use of what the legislation would allow. Critics of the bill have also said they worry that it will see attitudes towards the elderly, ill and disabled change - and that the focus should be on improving palliative care instead. Mrs Shackleton said people need to be safeguarded - but equally, their wishes need to be respected, even if others are not comfortable with them or do not agreed. She recalled the kindness and generosity of her husband, a furniture restorer who had been recognised globally for his handmade rocking horses - and who no one ever had a bad word to say about. Mrs Shackleton said: 'This is about a dying person's choice to either follow their journey through with disease or to die peacefully when they want to, on their terms, and have a good death. It's that simple' British membership of Dignitas has increased by more than 50 per cent over the last five years. Pictured is a file photo of the Dignitas clinic in Pfaeffikon, near Zurich She added that she chose to speak publicly because she did not want him to die in vain - and because he had made her promise, on his final day, to tell his story. Mrs Shackleton said: 'This is about a dying person's choice to either follow their journey through with disease or to die peacefully when they want to, on their terms, and have a good death. It's that simple.' British membership of Dignitas has increased by more than 50 per cent over the last five years, according to statistics from the Dignity in Dying campaign. But chief executive Sarah Wootton warns that individuals who cannot afford the 15,000 costs associated with end-of-life care at the Swiss facility are often 'eft to suffer as they die, or take matters into their own hands'. She told the Mirror that the Shackletons' story highlights how the UK's 'blanket ban' on assisted suicide is 'failing dying people and their loved ones'. A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said: 'The investigation is ongoing. There is nothing further to add at this stage.' Police have charged a man following an investigation into the alleged sexual assault of an elderly woman in her own home. The 83-year-old woman was walking back from the shops when she approached by an unknown man near Charles Mance Reserve in Merrylands in western Sydney about 12.30pm on Tuesday, NSW Police said. The stranger is believed to have offered help in wheeling her shopping trolley before he allegedly forced entry inside her home and sexually assaulted her, police said. Police arrested a 41-year-old man on Friday after a manhunt that included urgent pleas to the public to identify the alleged perpetrator. Cumberland officers arrested the man at a unit complex on Harris Street, Fairfield, at about 12.15pm. Inquiries are ongoing. The man has been taken to Fairfield Police Station where he was charged with sexual intercourse without consent and common assault. The man has been refused bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court on Saturday. After the alleged incident, police said the stranger is believed to have cleaned the scene and stolen the woman's keys before leaving. NSW Police have arrested a 41-year-old man (pictured) at a unit in Fairfield over the alleged sexual assault of an elderly woman in her own home The woman (pictured) was on her way home from the shops when she was approached by a stranger who offered to help with her trolley The alarm was only raised five hours later after the woman told a neighbour about the incident. The 83-year-old was then taken to hospital for assessment. Police established a crime scene at the home, where officers believe the man left behind DNA evidence. Detectives then released images of a man wheeling a shopping trolley on Wednesday who they believed could assist with their inquiries. News of the incident has horrified locals. 'I felt so sick on the stomach,' one told Nine News on Wednesday. Another said the act would be 'disgusting' even if she were younger, but 'especially if she's in her 80s, it's even worse'. The incident has been referred to the State Crime Command's Sex Crimes Squad under Strike Force Bena. They believe it was an isolated incident. A man (pictured) has been taken to Fairfield Police Station where he is expected to be charged with sexual assault and related offences Police said inquiries are still ongoing in the investigation into the alleged incident During a press conference on Wednesday, Detective Acting Superintendent Rachel Fawcett shared her horror at the alleged incident. 'The man has approached her, he has gained her trust. 'Then he has broken that trust by breaking into her home and assaulting her. 'It is particularly appalling when the most vulnerable members of our community are preyed upon and in a place that should feel safe.' A new plaque about the 17th century slave trader, Edward Colston, has sparked anger after failing to mention his philanthropic work. The object was installed at the base of a plinth in Bristol, nearly five years after the statue which used to stand on top of it was torn down by protesters. While the statue itself has since been rehoused in a museum, the plinth has remained empty and unchanged, until a new plaque was welded onto it on Wednesday evening. But it has immediately sparked fresh debate, after it was found to have removed any mention of the merchants role as a 'benefactor' of the city of Bristol. Instead, it emphasis his 'prominent role in the enslavement of African people', in a branded a 'historical revision that is worthy of the Nazis' by some critics. The plaque is situated underneath a metal work sculpture that was part of the original monument, and which pays tribute to Colston as 'one of the most virtuous and wise sons' of Bristol. Colston had made his fortune in the slave trade, before donating vast sums of money to charitable causes and endeavours in the city in his lifetime. A statue in his honour had stood in a public square since 1895, before it was torn down by protesters and dumped in the harbour as part of a series of Black Lives Matter protests. A new plaque was installed on the empty plinth of a 17th century slave trader, Edward Colston, failing to mention his philanthropic work The plaque, installed on Wednesday evening emphasises Colston's 'prominent role in the enslavement of African people' In June 2020, the statue was torn down by protesters and dumped in the harbour as part of a series of Black Lives Matter protests After the statue was retrieved from the river, the city's M Shed museum put it on display in order to 'start a city-wide conversation about its future' At the time, an estimated 10,000 protesters breached lockdown regulations and marched through Bristol following the unjust death of George Floyd, a black man in the US. After the statue was retrieved from the river, the city's M Shed museum put it on display in order to 'start a city-wide conversation about its future', next to some of the signs waved by protesters on the day the sculpture was pulled down. It was then kept in storage while a city-wide survey was commissioned by the We Are Bristol History Commission. The survey found that four-fifths of locals supported keeping it in a museum rather than putting it back on its plinth. Following a Bristol City Council planning committee meeting in February 2024, councillors agreed to formally declare the statue a piece of museum property. The council agreed that a new plaque would be placed on the plinth explaining Colston's controversial history. In November, Conservative city councillor Richard Eddy voted against the revision, calling it 'utterly shameful'. At the time, he said: 'Deleting the reference to Edward Colston, one of Bristol's greatest sons, being a benefactor is outrageous. The council agreed that a new plaque would be placed on the plinth explaining Colston's controversial history In 2020, an estimated 10,000 protesters breached lockdown regulations and marched through Bristol following the unjust death of George Floyd , a black man in the US Colston's bronze statue was created in 1895 by sculptor John Cassidy - it had been placed in the city centre with a plaque declaring him 'one of the most virtuous and wise sons of (Bristol)' 'An utterly historical revision that is worthy of the Nazis.' The new plaque reads: 'On 13 November, 1895, a statue of Edward Colston (1636-1721) was unveiled here. 'In the late twentieth and early twenty-first century, the celebration of Colston was increasingly challenged given his prominent role in the enslavement of African people. 'On 7 June 2020, the statue was pulled down during Black Lives Matter protests and rolled into the Floating Harbour. 'Following consultation with the city in 2021, the statue entered the collections of Bristol City Council's museums.' The wording of the latest plaque was agreed after work by the Bristol Legacy Foundation, but councillors made changes and objected to it at several meetings in 2023 and 2024. It has been placed below the original plaque, which described Colston as 'one of the most virtuous and wise sons' of the city. The plaque is the fourth that has been created for the plinth - one was unofficially fitted in the 2010s as part of protests against the celebration of Colston, and another was created but never installed. Colston used the wealth gained partially from his time with as a slave trader to fund hospitals, schools, workhouses and churches across England but particularly in Bristol Last year, councillor Eddy described the people who pulled down the statue in 2020, known as the 'Colston Four' as a 'mob of criminals and hooligans' for 'vandalising' a listed monument At a meeting last year, councillor Eddy described the people who pulled down the statue in 2020, known as the 'Colston Four' as a 'mob of criminals and hooligans' for 'vandalising' a listed monument. The 'Colston Four', openly admitted their involvement in removing the statue, they argued their actions were justified because the statue was considered a hate crime to the people of Bristol. After a police investigation, four people were charged with criminal damage. Colston's bronze statue was created in 1895 by sculptor John Cassidy. It had been placed in the city centre with a plaque declaring him 'one of the most virtuous and wise sons of (Bristol)'. But his history as a one-time deputy governor of the Royal African Company, during which time it shipped tens of thousands of slaves from Africa to the Americas, has made him a locally divisive figure. An estimated 84,000 slaves were transported during his time with the Company, and of those 19,000 may have died during the Atlantic crossing. Colston used the wealth gained partially from his time with as a slave trader to fund hospitals, schools, workhouses and churches across England but particularly in Bristol, where he later served as an MP. Donald Trump is ready to walk away from trying to negotiate a Russia-Ukraine peace deal within days unless progress is made, a top US official has warned. If the president doesn't see signs that an agreement is on the horizon he will call it a day because he has 'other priorities' to focus on, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday. 'We're not going to continue with this endeavor for weeks and months on end. So we need to determine very quickly now, and I'm talking about a matter of days whether or not this is doable in the next few weeks. 'If it is we're in. If it's not, then we have other priorities to focus on as well,' Rubio said in Paris, after meeting European and Ukrainian leaders. Rubio said Trump was still interested in a deal but was willing to move on if there were no immediate signs of progress. 'If it's not possible, if we're so far apart that this is not going to happen, then I think the president's probably at a point where he's going to say, 'well, we're done', he said. 'The United States has been helping Ukraine over the last three years, and we want it to end, but it's not our war,' Rubio added. Rubio was in the French capital on Thursday for talks with UK, EU and Ukrainian delegations and a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron. Donald Trump is ready to walk away from trying to negotiate a Russia-Ukraine peace deal within days unless progress is made, a top US official warns If the president doesn't see signs that an agreement is on the horizon he will call it a day because he has 'other priorities' to focus on, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday. Pictured: Marco Rubio meeting European and Ukrainian leaders in Paris Pictured: Firefighters work at the site of a garment production factory hit by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine April 18, 2025 Meanwhile the US and Ukraine signed a memorandum as a first step towards the stalled minerals deal, according to Ukraine's economy minister. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the conference underscored the 'shared commitment to global security'. Trump promised during his election campaign to end the war within his first 24 hours in the White House. He moderated that claim on taking office, suggesting a deal by April or May, as obstacles mounted. Rubio's comments underline the mounting frustrations over a lack of progress in pushes to settle a growing list of geopolitical challenges. It comes after Trump claimed the war in Ukraine would not have happened 'if Zelensky was competent', as he vowed to 'stop the killing'. Trump on Monday blamed the Ukrainian president, Russian leader Vladimir Putin and his predecessor Joe Biden for the war, before implying that Putin would have never invaded if he had been in power in the US. 'We're not going to continue with this endeavor for weeks and months on end. So we need to determine very quickly now, and I'm talking about a matter of days whether or not this is doable in the next few weeks. 'If it is we're in. If it's not, then we have other priorities to focus on as well,' Rubio (pictured) said Trump on Monday blamed the Ukrainian president, Russian leader Vladimir Putin (pictured) and his predecessor Joe Biden for the war, before implying that Putin would have never invaded if he had been in power in the US Pictured: Rescuers work at the site of an attack in Mykolaiv, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine on April 17, 2025 Relations between Trump and Zelensky (pictured) have been tense ever since the US president stunned the world by opening talks with Russia in February 'If Biden were competent, and if Zelensky were competent, and I don't know that he is... that war should never have been allowed to happen,' he told reporters at the White House on Monday. 'I went four years and Putin wouldn't even bring it up and as soon as the election was rigged and I wasn't here, that war started.' He doubled down on his assertion that 'everybody's to blame' for the war, as he repeated: 'Biden could have stopped it, and Zelensky could have stopped it, and Putin should have never started it. 'I'm not saying that anybody's an angel, but I went four years and it wasn't even a question. He would never - and I told him 'don't do it, you're not going to do it.' And it was the apple of his eye, but there was no way that he would've done it,' he added. Trump's harsh criticisms come amid reports from his special envoy Steve Witkoff that Putin is open to a 'permanent peace' deal with Ukraine. Witkoff, who met with the Kremlin leader last week, has now claimed that the US and Russia 'might be on the verge of something that would be very, very important for the world at large'. Trump - who had a blazing public row in the Oval Office with Zelensky six weeks ago - claimed yesterday that there were 'millions of people dead because of three people'. 'Let's say Putin number one, but let's say Biden, who had no idea what the hell he was doing, number two, and Zelensky,' Trump said during a meeting with the visiting president of El Salvador. He then doubled down on his attack on Zelensky. 'He's always looking to purchase missiles,' he said dismissively of the Ukrainian leader's attempts to maintain his country's defense against the Russian invasion. 'When you start a war, you got to know that you can win the war,' Trump said. Kyiv said on Friday it aims to complete talks by the end of next week about a deal with Washington on jointly exploiting Ukrainian mineral resources, an agreement Ukrainian officials hope will go some way to firming up softening U.S. support for them in their war with Russia 'You don't start a war against somebody that's 20 times your size, and then hope that people give you some missiles.' Relations between Trump and Zelensky have been tense ever since the US president stunned the world by opening talks with Russia in February. In the run-up to their televised row on February 28 Trump repeatedly echoed Moscow's talking points - blaming Ukraine for the war and calling Zelensky a 'dictator without elections.' Zelensky has since tried to patch things up, including sending a delegation to Washington last week to discuss a mineral deal Trump has called for, that would give the US preferential access to Ukrainian natural resources. But Trump has stepped up his rhetoric in the last few days and insisted a deal to end the Ukraine war was possible - despite Ukrainian accusations that Moscow is stalling. 'I want to stop the killing, and I think we're doing well in that regard. I think you'll have some very good proposals very soon,' Trump said. Kyiv said on Friday it aims to complete talks by the end of next week about a deal with Washington on jointly exploiting Ukrainian mineral resources, an agreement Ukrainian officials hope will go some way to firming up softening U.S. support for them in their war with Russia. The memorandum represented a step towards repairing ties between Kyiv and Washington that appeared to be hanging by a thread in February, when an Oval Office meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky turned into a shouting match Though the terms of the eventual deal are not finalised, Washington has signalled it expects to have privileged access to by way of repayment for U.S. military support for the country over the past three years. Late on Thursday, the U.S. and Ukrainian governments signed a memorandum of intent, signalling their intent to finalise the minerals deal. The memorandum represented a step towards repairing ties between Kyiv and Washington that appeared to be hanging by a thread in February, when an Oval Office meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky turned into a shouting match. According to the text of the memorandum, published by the Ukrainian government on Friday, the aim of both sides is to complete discussions on the final deal by April 26, and to sign it soon after. The memorandum said Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal will travel to Washington at the start of next week to meet U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and work on the deal together. 'We are happy to announce the signing with our American partners,' Yulia Svyrydenko, Ukraine's first deputy prime minister and economy minister, said on social media on Thursday, referring to the memorandum of intent. She said the document 'testifies to the constructive joint work of our teams and the intention to finalise and conclude an agreement that will be beneficial to both our peoples.' It comes as the Kremlin today announced a 30-day suspension on striking Ukrainian energy infrastructure ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin last month has 'expired'. 'The month has indeed expired. As of this time, there have been no other instructions from the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, President Putin,' spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters today. Donald Trump has warned he will keep 'substantial' tariffs in place in a blow to Sir Keir Starmer's hopes of eliminating US trade levies. The US President has imposed sweeping 10 per cent tariffs on all goods imported to America, while he has also slapped 25 per cent charges on aluminium, steel and cars. The Prime Minister is hoping a US-UK trade deal will reduce or eliminate tariffs on British exports to America. But Mr Trump signalled he will keep some level of trade levies in place. 'We're taking in a lot of money, which we've never done before,' he said yesterday. 'We're moving along very nicely and we're going to end up with a baseline of a substantial number.' The US President also warned he is in 'no rush' to sign trade deals with countries looking to reduce tariffs. This is despite some American officials having recently claimed a US-UK agreement could be signed within three weeks. Chancellor Rachel Reeves will hold talks with the White House next week, while Sir Keir has previously used the offer of a meeting with King Charles to woo Mr Trump. Donald Trump has warned he will keep 'substantial' tariffs in place in a blow to Sir Keir Starmer's hopes of eliminating US trade levies. The Prime Minister is hoping a US-UK trade deal will reduce or eliminate tariffs on British exports to America Sir Keir has previously used the offer of a meeting with King Charles on an historic second state visit to the UK to woo Mr Trump The US President suggested a date for September is being set for him to meet the King in Britain in what would be an historic second state visit to the UK. Mr Trump was previously feted on a trip to the UK, hosted by the late Queen in 2019, during his first presidency. Speaking in the Oval Office on Thursday, he said he did not 'know how it can be bigger than the last one' but that 'they say it's going to be even more important'. Asked whether he would be meeting Charles in September, Mr Trump said: 'I was invited by the King and the country great country. 'They're going to do a second, as you know, a second fest that's what it is: a fest, and it's beautiful, and it's the first time it's ever happened to one person. 'And the reason is we have two separate terms, and it's an honour I'm a friend of Charles, I have great respect for King Charles and the family, William, we have really just a great respect for the family. 'And I think they're setting a date for September.' Sir Keir handed Mr Trump what he described as a 'truly historic' personal invitation from the King for a second state visit when he visited the White House in February. The Telegraph reported that the venue for the September trip is now expected to be Windsor Castle, rather than Balmoral or Dumfries House as previously thought. Ahead of her meetings in the US next week, Ms Reeves said 'active negotiations' with the Americans are still ongoing as she was quizzed about a possible trade deal. Asked whether the UK is within three weeks of a deal, as some White House officials claimed, the Chancellor replied: 'Those conversations with our US counterparts are ongoing. 'I will be in Washington next week for the International Monetary Fund annual meetings, their spring meetings. 'I will also be having conversations with the US administration whilst I'm there. 'The key thing for the British Government is always acting in the UK's national interest 'And any deal that's able to be secured will always have front-and-centre British national interest.' Donald Trump reportedly blocked Elon Musk from attending a top secret government meeting on China after the billionaire annoyed White House officials. Two top Pentagon officials, Dan Caldwell and Darin Selnick, were suspended by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth following an investigation into who leaked the news of the briefing on China to Musk. According to Axios, Hegseth did not just choose to call off the meeting after the leak, but the US President himself ordered staffers to kill it. Trump reportedly launched into a furious rant when he heard of the Tesla CEO's planned attendance, telling staff: 'What the f**k is Elon doing there? Make sure he doesn't go,' according to a top official. The president was reportedly angry that Musk was being given the briefing because the SpaceX founder has billions of dollars of business interests in China. It comes after it was revealed that Musk's constant presence at the White House, his bizarre social media posts, and his brazen movements within his Department of Government Efficiency role has angered several administration officials. Though Trump has previously praised Musk and welcomed his involvement in government matters, this time, officials say the tech mogul's extensive business ties to China crossed a line. Trump had also pledged that Musk, in his role as head of DOGE, would not be involved in any areas where he could have conflicts of interest. President Donald Trump is said to have personally cancelled Elon Musk's briefing on China Top Defense aides Dan Caldwell (left) and Darin Selnick (right) were escorted out of the Pentagon on Tuesday after allegedly being identified during the leak investigation Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth greets Elon Musk at Pentagon ahead of their March 21 meeting 'POTUS still loves Elon, but there are red lines,' one source told the news outlet. 'Elon has a lot of business in China and he has good relations there, and this briefing just wasn't the right thing.' The New York Times reported on March 20 that Musk would be getting briefed on the US military's plans for what to do should any war break out with China. Shortly after the report was posted online, Trump and Pentagon officials denied the session would be about military plans involving China. 'They said, incorrectly, that Elon Musk is going to the Pentagon tomorrow to be briefed on any potential 'war with China,'' Trump wrote on his Truth Social account. 'How ridiculous? China will not even be mentioned or discussed. How disgraceful it is that the discredited media can make up such lies. Anyway, the story is completely untrue!!!' According to Axios he posted that message after he ordered officials not to talk to Musk about China. Musk's Tesla company operates its biggest factory, Gigafactory Shanghai, in China. It produced about half of all Tesla vehicles last year. The Pentagon meeting still took place. Musk arrived via motorcade on March 21, where Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth greeted him at the door. The two men - along with aides and military personnel - met for 80 minutes. China was not discussed but Musk wouldn't give more details. 'Why should I tell you,' he told a reporter who asked him about the sitdown. The New York Times reported on March 20 that Musk would be getting briefed on the US military's plans for what to do should any war break out with China Trump greets Tesla CEO and X owner Elon Musk during a rally the day before Trump is scheduled to be inaugurated for a second term, in Washington, January 19, 2025 Trump was still angry the day of the meeting, blasting the New York Times story as 'fake news.' At the White House after the Musk-Hegseth sitdown, Trump said he didn't want anyone to see the United States' plans for a potential war with China and hinted at Musk's potential conflict of interest. 'We don't want to have a potential war with China, but I can tell you if we did, we're very well-equipped to handle it, but I don't want to show that to anybody but certainly you wouldn't show it to a businessman,' Trump said. 'Elon has businesses in China and he would be susceptible perhaps to that.' Much of the administration's ire was focused at the New York Times, which broke the story. Musk warned people would pay for the leak. 'I look forward to the prosecutions of those at the Pentagon who are leaking maliciously false information to NYT. They will be found,' he wrote on his X platform. While the details of the meeting remain shrouded in secrecy, Trump's anger comes at a delicate time, with tensions between the US and China soaring. The US President has ramped up the trade war with China, slapping a staggering 125 per cent tariff on Chinese imports, on top of a 20 per cent fentanyl-related levy introduced earlier this year - bringing the effective tariff rate to 145 per cent. This has sparked an equally aggressive response from Beijing. In retaliation, China raised its own tariffs on US goods from 84 per cent to 125 per cent. Some of Britain's biggest supermarkets have joined with food producers to put fresh pressure on the EU to agree a deal with the UK on plant and animal exports. Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury's are among 12 firms to have written to European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic in support of a 'veterinary agreement'. In a letter, seen by the Financial Times, the companies said it was an 'opportune moment' to 'solidify' UK-EU trade amid US President Donald Trump's global tariffs chaos. They also warned that 'unnecessary red tape' since Brexit had meant moving food and drink had become 'significantly more expensive'. 'At a time when trading relationships around the world are being challenged, now feels like an opportune moment to solidify our economic partnership,' the letter read. As well as Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Lidl, Ocado and meat processors Cranswick and 2 Sisters were also reported to be among the signatories. They said a deal to remove border frictions would boost economic growth and increase invesment in the UK and EU. 'It is ultimately the customers and communities we both aim to serve that suffer, as well as the farmers, growers, and workers in our supply chains across the UK and EU,' the letter added. Some of Britain's biggest supermarkets have joined with food producers to put fresh pressure on the EU to agree a deal with the UK on plant and animal exports Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury's are among 12 firms to have written to European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic in support of a 'veterinary agreement' In their letter, the companies warned that 'unnecessary red tape' since Brexit had meant moving food and drink had become 'significantly more expensive' The letter has been sent ahead of a UK-EU summit in London on 19 May, when Sir Keir Starmer is hoping for progress in his bid for a post-Brexit 'reset' in Britain's relations with Brussels. The PM, as part of Labour's manifesto, pledged to negotiate a veterinary agreement with the EU to 'prevent unneccessary border checks and help tackle the cost of food'. Such an agreement would reduce trade barriers on agricultural and agri-food goods by either harmonising rules or recognising them as equivalent. Sir Keir is also seeking a new UK-EU security pact, mutual recognition for professional qualifications, and help for British artists to play across Europe. But he has been hit by EU demands for the UK to back down on post-Brexit fishing rights, as well as to agree a youth mobility scheme, in exchange. PM Sir Keir Starmer, pictured with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen in October, this week faced claims of a Brexit betrayal The PM this week faced claims of a Brexit betrayal after it emerged the UK could align with Brussels rules and accept the rulings of EU judges as part of a veterinary - or sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) - agreement. It followed reports that British officials have signalled to their EU counterparts an openness to accept the dynamic alignment of rules on fresh meat and dairy. It was also claimed the UK could allow the oversight of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) as part of a deal to cut checks on imports of foods and agricultural products. Dynamic alignment is where Britain would agree to follow existing EU rules and copy and paste new ones in order to enable closer trade and reduce border checks. Tory peer Lord David Frost, the UK's former chief Brexit negotiator, said: 'It's been obvious for some months Labour are going to do this terrible deal and bring EU law and EU courts back into Britain. 'All that struggle for control and independence - Labour are going to reverse it for nothing in return.' The Government said it would not 'provide a running commentary' on negotiations with the EU, but said Sir Keir's 'reset' would not see a return to freedom of movement, the customs union or the single market. Responding to the letter to Mr Sefcovic from supermarkets and food producers, a Cabinet Office spokesperson said: 'We welcome that major UK businesses support our manifesto commitment to negotiate an ambitious SPS agreement to put food on people's tables more cheaply as part of our strategic alliance with the EU.' Dame Andrea Jenkyns could be disqualified as Reform UK's candidate for mayor of Lincolnshire following claims she has lied about her address. The former Conservative minister faces an investigation by election chiefs after complaints that she does not live in the area. Dame Andrea defected to Nigel Farage's party last year after losing her Yorkshire seat at the general election before announcing she would stand for the mayoralty. The race is expected to be a close fight between the Conservatives and Reform. Should she win on May 1, she would hold Reform's most powerful elected office to date. To stand, a candidate must live in the area. While she appears on the electoral register in Lincolnshire, complaints have been made that she does not actually live there. Dame Andrea has given several interviews in which she has admitted she lives in Leeds. She has said she will move to Lincolnshire 'full time' if she wins the election, suggesting that she does not live there currently. Last month, she told Lincolnshire Live: 'I have got a place I rent, but I have a son with special needs, and any parent wouldn't pull their child out of school until they know they've won. If I win on 1 May, I will move here full time.' Dame Andrea Jenkyns could be disqualified as Reform UK's candidate for mayor of Lincolnshire following claims she has lied about her address. Dame Andrea defected to Nigel Farage's party last year after losing her Yorkshire seat at the general election before announcing she would stand for the mayoralty A Reform UK spokesman said: 'We are confident that this complaint will be dismissed.' It is a criminal offence to make false claims on the electoral register or to make a false statement on nomination papers. Yesterday, the Electoral Registration Officer confirmed that a formal objection had been made regarding her entry on the electoral register. A spokesman for the returning officer overseeing the election said: 'A formal objection has been received by the North Kesteven Electoral Registration Officer in relation to an individual registration on the Electoral Register and the statutory process is being followed.' If they determine that the complaint is valid, the officer must now hold a hearing to determine whether to uphold the objection, which could lead to the disqualification of the candidate. In her manifesto, Dame Andrea has vowed to establish a Lincolnshire 'DOGE' to control public spending, as Tesla boss Elon Musk has done in the US. The Conservatives have attacked her for living in Leeds, which she moved to as the former Tory MP for Morley and Outwood. However, she has argued that she lived in Lincolnshire from the age of seven until she became an MP. The regional mayoralty comes with an investment fund worth 720million over the next 20 years and powers over skills and transport. Reform has performed well in Lincolnshire, with Richard Tice becoming MP for Boston and Skegness at the general election and a number of former Conservative councillors have defected to the party. However, the Tories hold eight of the 12 parliamentary constituencies and held half of the council seats across Greater Lincolnshire in last May's elections. Dame Andrea did not respond to a request for comment but has previously complained about suggestions that she does not live in the area. A Reform UK spokesman said: 'We understand a vexatious and politically motivated complaint has been made by the relative of a candidate in the same election that Andrea Jenkyns is contesting in an attempt to deprive the people of Lincolnshire the chance to vote for Reform UK. 'We are confident that this complaint will be dismissed.' Thieves stole 150,000 worth of viral Pop Mart toys in a major shipment raid - just weeks after a similar theft saw 20,000 of Jellycat plushies stolen from a single store. The Pop Mart toys, which are loved by celebs and members of the public alike, were swiped from a lorry just weeks before their official release. Pop Mart make plastic figurines of loveable characters including the likes of Labubu, which has gone viral online. A brand new series of figures named Hirono were due to hit shop shelves in May, but a major shipment of the toys, which are not yet available commercially, was intercepted by the thieves. Criminals raided the lorry carrying some 150,000 worth of the toys in the early hours of April 8 in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. The criminals made off with the majority of the toys and Hertfordshire Constabulary are investigating. Hirono - a small plastic figurine that resembles a small boy in a range of different costumes - is due to hit shelves online and in-store in May. A spokesperson for Pop Mart said they are 'deeply saddened' by the 'recent rise in toy theft' and said it was 'working diligently' to ensure it didn't impact the launch next month. The Pop Mart toys, which are loved by celebs and members of the public alike, were swiped from a lorry just weeks before their official release The new Hirono figurines are not yet commercially available and come in a range of designs The vast majority of the shipment was stolen - equating to 150,000 worth of stock The crime is the second in a month targeting expensive toys. Criminal groups are becoming increasingly aware of the booming collectible toy market, experts warn, because of the hefty prices they fetch online. On March 30, 20k worth of Jellycat toys were stolen from an independent store in Cheddar, Somerset. Jellycat plushies have been the target of multiple high-value thefts in recent months, leading some stores to resort to desperate measures to protect the stock, such as storing them in locked cabinets. The theft in Cheddar saw a masked couple repeatedly reverse their car into a shopfront in the early hours of the morning, before making off with more than 300 soft toys. Rare Jellycats can be sold for up to thousands of pounds online, fuelling a rise in the number of 'steal to sell' shoplifters operating around the country. Paul Pimlott, company secretary of The Gorge Bear Company which was targeted in the burglary, said: 'We had over 300 soft toys stolen in the raid. We've been here since 1999 and nothing like this has happened before. 'But we've had lots of support from the community and we will continue. A spokesperson for Pop Mart said they are 'deeply saddened' by the 'recent rise in toy theft' and said it was 'working diligently' to ensure it didn't impact the launch next month Hertfordshire Police is investigating the theft of the viral toys (Pictured: Pop Mart Hirono figurines) 'We also own World of Bears in Taunton and have staff to look after. So as a local business we want to carry on contributing locally.' He urged people to look out for items at car boot sales, on Vinted and eBay. A spokesman for Hertfordshire Constabulary said: 'Police are investigating following a theft from a motor vehicle in Hemel Hempstead. 'Between 1.30am and 5.27am on Tuesday April 8, a trailer curtain was cut on an HGV parked on Eaton Road, causing extensive damage and a large number of items were reported stolen. 'Enquiries continue, and anyone with information is asked to contact police via 101 or report online, quoting crime reference number 41/32324/25.' Penguins are dipping a toe in global trade as they respond to Donald Trump's tariff on their remote Aussie island by 'exporting' pebbles. A chart published by the White House on April 2 or 'Liberation Day' - listed the 180 countries the US President was imposing trade levies on. But the announcement 'ruffled feathers' when it showed a ten percent tariff on Heard Island, a remote Australian territory that has no exports and is uninhabited save for seals, birds and penguins. A tongue-and-cheek website has since appeared called Heard Island Pebbles, which says the penguins on the uninhabited isle will 'enter international trade'. 'We figured if we're getting taxed, we might as well start exporting,' a feathered spokesperson is quoted as saying on the website. The product hitting the company's shelves: pebbles. Customers can buy either a $10 digital one or a physical one for a donation of between $50 and $200. The website said the real pebbles are found on mainland Australia, which shared the Indian Ocean with the island, in order to not disturb the penguins' habitat. Owners of creative studio Kindred, Milla Novak, 30, and Janelle Mais, 32, were approached by a friend for a wild idea to create a business selling pebbles for conservation efforts. Penguins of the uninhabited Heard Island, an Australian territory 6000km from the mainland, are 'exporting pebbles' in response to Trump's global tariffs (stock image) On a list of 180 countries which would be levied by the US Government, the sub-Antarctic islands in the Indian Ocean were listed as facing a ten per cent tariff (stock image) 'We love using our skills for a good cause, so we immediately said we were in,' Ms Mais told Daily Mail Australia. 'Penguins use pebbles for nesting, attracting mates. 'It felt smart and funny to be their first "export".' The pair, who are both based in New Zealand, said they wanted to pick up the cause to offer good news. 'There's a lot going on in the world right now,' Ms Mais said. 'While we're raising money for an important cause, we wanted to make something feel-good - something that gives people hope, a laugh, and a sense they can make a difference.' All of the Heard Island Pebbles' proceeds will be donated to WWF Australia to help protect the penguins and support broader conservation efforts in the region. So far, it has raised over $4500. It is understood the sub-Antarctic islands were included among the countries affected by Trump's tariffs because they are Australian territory, sitting about 6000km from the mainland. Co-founders of the website Heard Island Pebbles Milla Novak (left) and Janelle Mais (right) said they started the pebble 'export' to raise funds for conservation on the island Customers have the option of buying a digital or real pebble - for a varying price - with proceeds going to WWF Australia The islands, which are home to millions of penguins - King, Macaroni, Gentoo, Rockhoppers, would take two weeks to travel to via boat from WA. Trump critics on social media leapt at the opportunity to ridicule the implication that uninhabited islands will be levied. 'The penguins have been ripping us off for years,' wrote Trump's former communications director Anthony Scaramucci, now a frequent critic of the president. 'What did the penguins do to deserve this...they just want some fish and to not be eaten man!' author Steve Magness said. 'Those penguins have been ripping us off for years,' Peter Berezin, the Chief Global Strategist and Director of research for BCA Research also said. Other social media users mocked the news by sharing gifs of the Batman villain 'The Penguin' and images of the birds from the animated films 'Penguins of Madagascar' and 'Happy Feet'. A 13-year-old schoolgirl was 'crying out for help' when she took her own life after reporting a sexual assault and being denied a hospital bed. Ella Murray was in need of help from social services, but a lack of communication between agencies meant she wasn't offered a hospital bed. An inquest into her death heard she had a history of self-harm harm which saw her taking an overdose in 2022 and in 2023, while she was also seeing a counsellor between April and July 2023. This came after she was referred to school counselling services for low mood and suicidal ideation, who in turn referred her to social services having told a member of staff about an alleged sexual assault. In November that year, Ella was taken to hospital and told nurses she wanted to be admitted but a decision was taken to have her seen by a mental health nurse at home. She was later found in her room and died on November 15, 2023, in hospital. Catherine Wood, area coroner for Mid Kent and Medway, described the teenager's home life as 'complicated', with Ella telling a nurse she didn't feel if she stayed at home. Ms Wood added that steps weren't taken to ensure her safety after she went to hospital. A fundraiser was launched in Ella's memory for Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex which raised over 6,000. The 13-year-old had reported an allegation of sexual assault In a Prevention of Future Deaths Report, Ms Wood said: 'Social services did not speak to Ella in July and having spoken to her mother, considered that she did not reach their threshold for engagement and the school raised their concerns about this at the time.' She was seen by a crisis team from mental health services after her overdose in August 2023, but declined further support from them. It was unclear if this was Ella's decision alone or in combination with her parent's choice In school, Ella was said to be 'struggling' and said she wanted to move schools, the coroner said. In September, a referral was again made to social services, and Ella revealed the name of the person she said assaulted her. The school then involved the police, which sparked a conflict between the school and the home as to the best way to deal with the situation as well as Ella's behaviour at school, including not attending lessons. On a weekend in November, the teenager returned from a sleepover with friends and her parents found messages which they thought were 'inappropriate'. She then told school staff the following Monday that she wanted to take her own life. Ella Murray was in need of help from social services, but a lack of communication between agencies meant that she wasn't offered a hospital bed It was then arranged for her to be taken to Medway Maritime Hospital in Kent with a high-risk mental health form by her stepfather. Whilst at the hospital, she reported her mood as low, that she was self-harming and had suicidal thoughts, before asking for hospital admission. However, assessed as medium risk, it was decided she would be seen at home by the mental health team. That evening, after an argument with her parents, she ran away barefoot. The police were called and Ella told them she didnt want to go home. While still on the call, her mother arrived, took her home, and gave the call handler their address, and police followed up the next morning. She stayed home from school, and a mental health team member visited that afternoon. She told the nurse that she 'did not want to be in the family home and would rather go to prison and would harm herself or others if she had to stay at home'. The nurse then contacted a safeguarding team and made a referral to social services. Ms Wood noted that this decision was made after she left Ellas home, and no urgent action was taken to admit Ella to hospital or involve social services about removing her from the home. Ella was later found by her mother in her room. Paramedics were called and did chest compressions on her and she was rushed to Kings College Hospital in London, where she died on 15 November 2023. The inquest into her death heard she had a history of self-harm harm which saw her taking an overdose in 2022 and in 2023 as well as seeing a counsellor between April and July 2023. Pictured: Kent & Medway Coroner Service Ms Wood concluded there was a 'failure' to carry out an 'adequate' risk assessment. She said had steps been taken to share information between the school, social services and mental health providers then 'she may have been removed from her home and may still be alive today'. Ms Wood was informed that the new Children's Wellbeing and Schools bill includes a duty to share information to promote safeguarding. 'If a multi-agency meeting had been convened this may have prevented Ella's death and such action may reduce the risk of death for other children being in a similar position,' the coroner said. The coroner sent her report to the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England and Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board. An NHS England spokesman said: 'The NHS England South East regional safeguarding team will, through established governance arrangements, have oversight of Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board's actions to implement the learning to improve safeguarding at both the Local Safeguarding Children Partnership and within all commissioned services. An NHS Kent and Midway spokesman said actions have been taken to address the concerns raised by the coroner, including formulating a child-focused safety plan which will be shared with a child's school and social worker if identified. The North East London Foundation Trust has also developed an escalation flow chart for professionals to include a Single Point of Access contact and a Multi-Disciplinary Team meeting escalation process. For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit https://www.thecalmzone.net/get-support A supermarket tycoon millionaire who flew his personal helicopter too close to Britain's busiest airport is embroiled in a fresh row after digging up private woodland to prevent damage to his collection of luxury cars. Businessman Christopher Kiley, 71, of Caswell, near Swansea, has been in a series of scrapes with officials over his love of his 'playboy toys' which include a helicopter, motorbikes, horses and cars. He made headlines for causing hours of disruption at Heathrow in 2015 after flying his helicopter through its airspace because he was late for a manor lunch - just eight miles away from the air park where it is kept. Now Mr Kiley has been ordered to stop digging out a bank near his mansion for his cars following fears he could damage the roots of trees in protected areas in the beauty spot. The owner of Welsh chain CK's Supermarkets has now been reported to the council for digging on the private woodland before claiming it was to stop stones falling and damaging cars below. Mr Kiley bought his 2.5million home with former wife Alice, then 32, a former Miss Great Britain entrant who appeared on the TV cooking contest MasterChef in 2013. He then planned to give it a Grand Designs-style modern makeover but was refused by planners. The pair later split. Swansea Council visited the site following complaints and are set to carry out further investigations to assess any damage. Businessman Christopher Kiley, 71, has been in a series of scrapes with officials over his love of his 'playboy toys' which include a helicopter, motorbikes, horses and cars Now Mr Kiley has been ordered to stop digging out a bank near his mansion for his cars following fears he could damage the roots of trees in protected areas A spokesman for the council said: 'Further site visits are planned in relation to possible breaches of planning controls.' Mr Kiley said falling stones had recently caused 2,500 of damage to a parked car below and that cars and vans had previously been dented at the site. In a letter to the council he said: 'Because of this I've got to remove the stones at the top of the bank.' Mr Kiley added the bank presented a risk to human life as well as vehicles and that the work to remove stones was around two-thirds of the way through. The letter said no trees had fallen and that his legal advice was that the council was responsible from this point on for damage by falling stones. But the council rejected this claim and said: 'Mr Kiley is responsible for ensuring the safety of his land and property.' It is the latest in a string of blunders from the founder of the CK Supermarkets who once forced air traffic controllers to halt international flights at Heathrow Airport. He took a short cut through banned airspace - and flew as low as 300ft - because he was late for lunch at a plush manor, causing all international flights to be temporarily stopped from landing at Heathrow. The owner of Welsh chain CK's Supermarkets has now been reported to the council for digging on the private woodland Mr Kiley apologised to magistrates for risking a serious incident when he undertook the 10-minute flight. He was fined 1,700 and ordered to pay costs of 600 after the Civil Aviation Authority brought charges against him. He was also fined for an aviation offence in 2011 for ignoring a ban to take off again after landing his red helicopter in an unused car park after a clutch light came on. Mr Kiley previously fell foul of officials when he applied to build a 98-metre track through his woodland to shorten his trips to his stables in Caswell, South Wales - part of Gower Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the first AONB designated in Britain in 1956. Neighbours complained Mr Kiley was using the grounds as a 'racing track' for off-road bikes. His application to fell 12 trees was rejected by the council after it found there was 'no reasonable justification or need' for the track. Mr Kiley - who has a turnover of more than 58million at his chain of 30-plus supermarkets - was approached for a comment. Former prime minister Liz Truss has reportedly been in talks with Reform UK as Nigel Farage's party eyes up another electoral breakthrough. After winning five seats at last summer's general election, Reform are seeking to win hundreds of council seats at next month's local elections in England. The party have also set their sights on success at elections to the Welsh Senedd and Scottish Parliament in 2026. While on the campaign trail for this year's English council contests, Reform figures have regularly referred to Mr Farage as 'Britain's next PM'. He has rated his own chances of reaching Downing Street at '35 to 45 per cent'. In a sign of how seriously he is taking the prospect of entering No10, The Times said that Mr Farage's allies have discussed with Ms Truss how to take on 'The Blob'. The newspaper reported the ex-premier gave advice on how to engineer a major overhaul of the state. 'It's not just a case of thinking about policy, it's about working through delivery in the face of institutional resistance,' a source said. Former prime minister Liz Truss has reportedly been in talks with Reform UK as Nigel Farage 's party eyes up another electoral breakthrough While on the campaign trail for this year's English council contests, Reform figures have regularly referred to Mr Farage as 'Britain's next PM' Since she resigned as PM after a chaotic 49 days in power, Ms Truss has frequently blamed 'the establishment' for her failure to implement her radical policy agenda. The former Tory leader also recently urged 'the best of the Conservatives and the best of Reform' to work together. This is despite current Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and Mr Farage having ruled out a pact between their two parties ahead of the next general election. Last month, it emerged that Mr Farage had held secret talks with controversial ex-Downing Street aide Dominic Cummings about how Reform can take on the Tories. A friend of Mr Cummings, who served as Boris Johnson's chief adviser in No10 between 2019 and 2020, revealed how their 'friendly chat' covered a range of subjects. 'They had a friendly chat about the general scene,' the ally told the Sunday Times. 'About [Donald] Trump and Doge [Elon Musk's cost-cutting drive in the US], about how No10 and the Cabinet Office really work, about the catastrophe of the Tory party and about what Reform has to do to replace the Tories.' The friend of Mr Cummings insisted there was no discussion about the former Vote Leave campaign director working for Reform as 'he doesn't want a Westminster job'. A Reform source confirmed the talks between Mr Farage and Mr Cummings, but said the pair's discussions centred on how to overhaul Whitehall. 'Nigel and Dom did have a meeting - they discussed how to take on The Blob', the source said. Part of Britain's busiest port has been shut off by police after a migrant tragically died after suffering a 'medical emergency' in the Channel. Officials brought a body ashore at the Port of Dover this morning after Border Force and the RNLI responded to an incident aboard a migrant dinghy mid-crossing. Police confirmed they had launched an investigation into the 'circumstances leading to the man's death'. Witnesses said attempts were made to revive the man - whose age has not been disclosed - for at least 45 minutes after he was brought in by Border Force catamaran, Typhoon. The body was carried from the vessel into the port on a stretcher. Dozens of migrants were also brought ashore by Border Force. A forensics tent was set up near the RNLI lifeboat station and a section of the area was taped off by police. The incident is not affecting ferry traffic which is based in a separate section of the port. Officials stand near a forensics tent set up in the Port of Dover after a migrant suffered a 'medical emergency' and died during a crossing The tent has been set up near the RNLI lifeboat station in Dover with a cordon in place Attempts were made to save the life of the unnamed male migrant but they were tragically unsuccessful, and officials removed the body from a Border Force vessel on a stretcher But other marine traffic out of the port - including some private vessels - is understood to have been delayed. A police spokesman said: 'Kent Police was called at 8.26am after a Border Force patrol responded to a medical emergency on a small boat in the English Channel. 'A man has since been pronounced deceased. The stretcher is carried past the lifeboat station in the wake of the tragic incident Border Force officials were seen moving equipment near the scene of the tragedy 'Officers have launched an investigation to establish the circumstances leading to the man's death. 'The priority remains to establish the man's identity in order to notify his family. 'Officers are currently at Dover lifeboat station while initial enquiries are underway.' A UK Government spokesman said: 'Border Force responded to a medical emergency on board a small boat entering UK waters. 'It is with regret that we can confirm one individual has died, and our thoughts are with them and their loved ones. 'Investigations are ongoing and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time, but we want to thank those who responded to this incident and who continue to work tirelessly to secure our borders and protect lives at sea.' The RNLI confirmed it launched its all-weather lifeboat and a group of migrants were brought to Dover in a Border Force boat. In a statement, the charity said: 'Dover RNLI's all-weather lifeboat was tasked by HM Coastguard at 8.15am today to an incident in the Channel.' The death comes after 705 migrants crossed the Channel on Tuesday - the highest number of arrivals on a single day so far this year. Officials carry a stretcher up a docking ramp at the Port of Dover following the unexplained death, which saw Border Force and RNLI vessels respond The stretcher was taken from Border Force catamaran, Typhoon, along the quayside There were a further 211 arrivals yesterday, bringing the total since the start of the year to 9,099. This is 40 per cent higher than at the same point last year, when the total stood at just over 6,000. Since Labour came to power 32,341 migrants have crossed the Channel by small boat. Dozens of migrants were seen disembarking from a Border Force vessel at Dover following the death of an unnamed male One of the new Governments first acts in power was scrapping the Conservatives Rwanda asylum deal, which was designed to deter crossings and save lives after hundreds perished since the crisis began in 2018. Your browser does not support iframes. It is the first time the 9,000 landmark has been broken so early in a calendar year. Last year, the previous record, saw 9,000 arrivals three weeks later, on May 9. Your browser does not support iframes. The Government has pledged to crack down on people-smuggling across the Channel. But there has been concern that its emphasis on boosting law enforcement efforts against traffickers will not have a sufficient deterrent effect on crossings. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp has accused Labour of 'losing control of our borders' and attacked them for scrapping the Rwanda programme before it had time to take effect. A 998-berth cruise liner, the Viking Vela, was among the vessels said to have had its departure from Dover delayed by the incident. Viking Cruises was approached for comment. The 54,000-ton liner had arrived from Portsmouth overnight in the final stages of a British Isles expedition, and had been due to move on to its final destination at Greenwich. An alleged Hamas-supporting Channel migrant was beaten up in prison while awaiting trial for entering the UK illegally. Palestinian national Abu Wadee, 33, is said to have suffered injuries to his face and body when he was set upon by two fellow inmates at the Dovegate category-B prison in Staffordshire. He appeared at Canterbury Crown Court this week for a bail application sporting what looked to be an injury to his left eye. A spokesman for Serco, which runs the men's prison near Uttoxeter, confirmed to MailOnline that a pair of inmates were responsible and had been disciplined. He said: 'I can confirm that following an assault on another prisoner, two prisoners were identified as the perpetrators and were subsequently placed on report. 'They were both dealt with via the internal adjudication system in line with normal procedure, and both had proven charges for assault.' The injuries were not severe enough to require Wadee - also known as Mosab Abdulkarim al-Gassas - to go to hospital. His lawyer, Audrey Mogan, told judge Her Honour Sarah Counsell this week that her client had been hurt while in prison. Abu Wadee, 33, was held by Immigration Enforcement officers on suspicion of entering the UK illegally Wadee's social media is replete with pictures of him posing with a Kalashnikov, an artillery shell and a menacing posse of masked men HMP Dovegate near Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, where Wadee was attacked by two inmates Speaking during an unsuccessful application to have Wadee released on bail, Ms Mogan said: 'Mr Al-Gassas suffered quite serious injuries in HMP Dovegate, and he is still suffering from injuries to his eye and his body, because individuals entered his cell when he was in Dovegate.' He is due to return to court next month after his legal team called on prosecutors to drop the case against Wadee. He previously appeared before magistrates where he entered a not-guilty plea to one charge of entering the UK without valid clearance, although he has not yet been asked to plead in the crown court. No details were provided about any possible motive for the attack. But he represents the latest in a series of attacks on high-profile prisoners. This includes Urfan Sharif, who is serving a life sentence for torturing and murdering his ten-year-old daughter, Sara, and was slashed with the jagged lid of a tuna tin by two inmates. And Linton Weirich, who filmed himself having sex with a married prison officer, suffered head injuries after he was reportedly attacked while holding a baby during a family visit. It is alleged Wadee was one of around 75 migrants on a cramped inflatable boat intercepted by Border Force on March 6 this year. Wadee can be seen in this image posing with slingshot for hurling rocks The Campaign Against Antisemitism claims to have identified Wadee as a member of a Hamas-endorsed unit involved in serious violence on the Gaza-Israel border who wants to 'die for the sake of Allah' But the defence say Wadee, who previously called for 'death to all Jews', was not one of those in charge. The court heard Wadee arrived in the UK last month having left Palestine in June 2022. He travelled first to Turkey, before heading to Greece by boat less than three months later. He stayed in Greece for one year before travelling on to Belgium, Germany and France, making failed asylum applications as he went. Prosecutor Harriet Palfreman said: 'The defendant has shown disregard to laws by entering this country without valid entry clearance. 'The chronology of countries he has been through in the last three years suggests he has an understanding of the immigration system.' She said Wadee has 'no ties' to the UK, whether familial or financial. The court heard Wadee live streamed his arrival in the UK to his social media followers, and had a significant online presence which she said included 'various extreme views' about the Jewish community. Analysts allege to have identified Wadee in a video from 2017 in which he took the microphone at a rally, apparently held in Gaza Wadee, seen posing in front of a fire on the Israel-Gaza border, is considered a 'threat to public safety' according to CAA She said his release on bail presented a 'clear threat to the Jewish community' as well as to his own safety from 'vigilante groups'. Defence counsel Ms Mogan said the Crown should reconsider its decision to prosecute her client, given he was 'not alleged to have been someone who had his hand on the tiller' inside the dinghy. She said he has no previous convictions, and had not previously come to the UK and then removed. Defence counsel Ms Mogan said the Crown should reconsider its decision to prosecute her client, given he was 'not alleged to have been someone who had his hand on the tiller' inside the dinghy. She said: 'These are the aggravating factors in CPS guidance when deciding whether to prosecute - none of those factors apply here. 'Unless someone has had their hand on the tiller, it is unlikely someone simply sat on the boat is charged. Mr al-Gassas said there were about 75 sat in the boat.' Refusing bail, Her Honour Judge Sarah Counsell said she would not take into consideration media coverage of Wadee's alleged support for extremist groups. But she said that 'even with an address provided by the Home Office and a GPS tagged curfew, reporting to two of the authorities, it is not sufficient to allay my concerns' about him either absconding or failing to surrender. The Home Office's own guidelines effectively prevent people being sent back to war-ravaged Gaza, raising concerns Wadee will be allowed to stay in Britain. Wadee charted his journey across Europe to his 170,000 TikTok followers, with some videos being viewed more than 2.5 million times. He also uploaded a video of himself and others on a dinghy in the Channel being approached by a Border Force boat, with the caption: 'Thank God, we arrived in Britain.' But his account on the social media platform was taken down and listed as 'banned' after an investigation unearthed his extremist history. It included images of him brandishing assault rifles, and another in which he appeared to hold a tear-gas canister in his mouth during apparent clashes at the border with Israel. At a previous magistrates court hearing last month, prosecutors described how Wadee had shared 'significant hate speech calling for the death of Jews' as well as 'support for Hamas' and 'pictures of him with various military weapons'. A former Dragons' Den star and gym entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne has said 'no-one should ever allow men into women's changing rooms' amid the fallout from this week's Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman. Bannatyne, the owner of The Bannatyne Group which owns health clubs and spas across the UK, shared a series of gender critical posts in the aftermath of the ruling which saw judges define the meaning of a woman in equality law. Taking to X, formerly Twitter, the ex-dragon said: 'I hope all gym owners will join me now in agreeing that single sex spaces for women means biological women. 'No gym should ever allow men into women's changing rooms.' It comes after the UK Supreme Court was asked to rule against in a case the Scottish government brought by feminist group For Women Scotland over legislation relating to gender parity targets on company boards. In its ruling, the court said the term 'women' when used in the 2010 Equality Act meant biological women, and not transgender women - even if they have undergone sex reassignment surgery. The multi-millionaire - worth some 280million according to the Sunday Times 2018 Rich List - was joined in speaking out on the issue by other famous gender critics including the Harry Potter author JK Rowling. In a second tweet he called for the Prime Minister to 'apologise' to women after comments Sir Keir Starmer made in an 2023 interview where he said that '99.9 percent' of women 'of course do not have penises'. Former Dragons' Den star and gym entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne (right) has said that 'no-one should ever allow men into women's changing rooms' amid the fallout from this week's Supreme Court ruling Bannatyne, the owner of The Bannatyne Group which owns health clubs and spas across the UK, shared a series of gender critical posts in the aftermath of the ruling Bannatyne, who featured on the BBC's Dragons' Den from 2005 to 2015, wrote on X: 'Did our current Prime Minister once say that a woman can have a penis? 'Will he now apologise to all women. When we say women we are referring to biological women & they dont have penises.' In a separate post he called the ruling a 'great, well-deserved victory'. The need to protect single-sex spaces including gym changing rooms and rape crisis centres is one of the issues long-used by women's rights activists to argue that biological sex matters more than a person's gender identity. This week's ruling means trans women with a gender recognition certificate (GRC) could potentially be excluded from single-sex spaces if 'proportionate'. EHRC chair Baroness Kishwer Falkner yesterday claimed trans women will now be barred from female bathrooms and sport, while lawyers have suggested they could be asked to use disabled bathrooms at work. The ruling was lauded by gender critics as a victory, despite the judges' warnings that it should not be seen as a 'triumph' of one side over another. Meanwhile, trans activists have warned the ruling could put trans people at risk and make them feel less safe as they vowed to fight on. Bannatyne was joined by the likes of author JK Rowling in celebrating the landmark Supreme Court ruling JK Rowling shared a photo of what appeared to be two glasses of champagne under a sunny canopy, as she toasted the decision with her husband Neil Murray It provoked a furious reaction from trans influencers, with Married at First Sight star Ella Morgan declaring, 'I still see myself as a woman, whether I am on paper or not'. The 31-year-old said that trans people are now bearing the brunt of the damage caused by the likes of male rapist Isla Bryson. 'I hate to say this, but for the first time since I have had that title and role I actually do feel nervous and scared not only for myself but for the community because it's the unknown,' she told Good Morning Britain. Ant Lexa, who plays Abbi Montgomery in Netflix series Sex Education, described feeling 'heartbroken', while former Labour MSP candidate Heather Herbert claimed trans people are now 'under attack'. Meanwhile, trans influencers railed against the judgment on social media by posting videos of their horrified reactions, with one - Bel Priestly - telling her 1.4million followers that Britain was 'going backwards'. It was in stark contrast to the gleeful celebrations of gender critics, with Harry Potter author JK Rowling posting pictures on X of her drinking champagne and smoking a cigar from her superyacht in the Bahamas. It comes after EHRC chair Baroness Faulkner yesterday hinted the ramifications of the ruling could be widespread. She said: 'The Supreme Court ruled that a gender recognition certificate does not change a person's legal sex for the purposes of the Equality Act. The outcome is set to have implications across England, Scotland and Wales Susan Smith (L) and Marion Calder, Directors of For Women Scotland, make a statement outside the Supreme Court following the ruling 'We are pleased that this judgment addresses several of the difficulties we highlighted in our submission to the Court, including the challenges faced by those seeking to maintain single-sex spaces, and the rights of same-sex attracted persons to form associations.' The ECHR is expecting to lay an updated statutory code of practice before Parliament by the summer in response. Baroness Falkner said the commission evaluates when the law is not followed by organisations and can speak to those bodies, or 'use enforcement, compliance tools or whatever, we will be continuing to do that'. Regarding single-sex hospital wards, she said the NHS will 'have to change' their 2019 policy, which says that trans people 'should be accommodated according to their presentation'. Scottish ministers this morning called for an urgent meeting with the UK government on the ruling's implications. It was Scottish legislation that was challenged in the Supreme Court over whether a trans woman should be counted in equality targets for parity for female representation on company boards. The Scottish Government lost its Supreme Court battle against women's rights campaign group For Women Scotland when the UK's highest court ruled the terms 'woman' and 'sex' in the Equality Act 2010 'refer to a biological woman and biological sex'. A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'The Supreme Court judgment has given clarity between two pieces of legislation passed at Westminster and we have accepted this in full. 'Scottish Ministers have now written to the UK Government to seek an urgent meeting to discuss the implications of the judgment, and the Social Justice Secretary will give a statement to the Scottish Parliament next week on the judgment, subject to Parliamentary approval. 'Ministers will also meet with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) next week. 'The Scottish Government acted in good faith in our interpretation of both the Gender Recognition Act 2004 and the Equality Act 2010; and our approach was guided by the published guidance of the EHRC. 'The Supreme Court judgment explicitly references that this stance was consistent with EHRC advice and we note that that the EHRC are now reviewing their guidance to reflect the ruling. 'We will continue to engage with the EHRC and other stakeholders and are fully committed to protecting everyone's rights and ensuring that Scotland remains an inclusive country.' Terrorists and paedophiles can select from 51 different gender identities in a Home Office database of Britains most dangerous criminals. Police chiefs have admitted that no formal risk assessment was carried out before recording extremists and rapists as androgyne and pangender. The list of obscure gender identities has been labelled madness and the Home Secretary has been warned that failure to properly record criminals sex poses a risk to the public. It comes after a landmark Supreme Court ruling this week that woman and man refer to biological sex and that the concept of sex is binary, with any other interpretation incoherent and impracticable. Police forces will be expected to record criminals sex rather than their preferred gender following the ruling, meaning that rapists will no longer be able to identify as women. Criminals are recorded as 51 different genders in the Violent and Sex Offender Register (ViSOR) database, a Home Office system used to track the most dangerous offenders upon their release from prison (file image) Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick (above) branded the list of genders 'madness' and said that police chiefs seem more interested in woke nonsense than arresting criminals Last night Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick said it showed police chiefs are more interested in woke nonsense than arresting criminals. He told the Mail: Gender identity is irrelevant to a system thats sole focus should be on protecting the public and tracking dangerous people. This is a recipe for operational failure. The Home Office has admitted that the database - which was updated in 2022 to add the gender identity category - is outdated and said a new system for tracking offenders is being developed. The list of gender identities includes pangender, transgender person and terms like androgyne and neutrois. The database has a number of gender categories with the same meaning - such as cis male and cis man - as offenders have provided different answers or officials have recorded them in inconsistent ways. They are recorded in the Violent and Sex Offender Register (ViSOR) database, a Home Office system used to track the most dangerous offenders upon their release from prison. The Ministry of Justice says that ViSOR is used by police, the prison service and probation officers to manage the risks posed by individuals convicted of serious violent, sexual and terrorism offences living in the community in order to protect the public. It comes after a landmark Supreme Court ruling this week that woman and man refer to biological women and men and that the concept of sex is binary, with any other interpretation incoherent and impracticable Isla Bryson (pictured) was jailed for eight years in 2023 for raping two women Maya Forstater, chief executive of human rights charity Sex Matters, said allowing criminals to be recorded as bizarre genders wasted police time and taxpayers money and makes a mockery of the justice system. There is no justification for this foolishness, she said. Police forces should focus on solving crime and keeping the public safe. She added: Badly designed data categories produce nonsense data. Public authorities have lost sight of data protection laws - and of reality. The Home Secretary should bring down the curtain on this farce. Some police forces still record rapists as being women despite a backlash over the case of Isla Bryson, who began identifying as trans while awaiting trial for two rapes. Bryson was convicted in 2023 and jailed for eight years. She was first sent to an all-female prison before being transferred to a mens prison after the case sparked public outrage. The list of ViSOR gender identities, obtained through a Freedom of Information request, includes 20 different trans identities. Criminals can also identify as gender fluid - which means they can change their gender depending on how they are feeling - genderqueer, or simply as other. Androgyne refers to a person who is simultaneously a man and a woman or in between the two, while neutrois is associated with gender neutrality or the nullification of gender. Three terrorists were recorded on the ViSOR database in 2023 as gender fluid or non-binary rather than male or female, separate Ministry of Justice data shows. The database is used by police in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as by the Probation Service and HM Prison Service. Last month a Government-commissioned review by Professor Alice Sullivan (pictured), from University College London, found that from 2015, public bodies began collecting information on gender identity rather than biological sex, meaning 'robust and accurate data' was lost It also contains biographical information and passport details, as well as intelligence such as known accomplices, and is an operational system used to monitor offenders upon release. It can be updated by police, prison officials or probation officers depending on the person and offence. Annual figures published by the MoJ shows that the ViSOR database conflates sex and gender identity in official data. A government-commissioned review found last month that official statistics have become corrupted by extreme gender ideology, with the conflation of sex and gender now widespread. The Sullivan Review revealed that many police forces record crimes committed by biological men as though they were committed by women at the request of the perpetrator. It added that it is quite possible that somebody who has changed gender could be released before their offending history is known and urged the Home Secretary to make recording data on the sex of offenders mandatory. ViSOR data shows that in 2022/23 three Category 4 offenders - those monitored under the Counter-Terrorism Act - were recorded as other which covers any other gender such as gender fluid or non-binary gender. In 2023/2024 there were no Category 4 offenders with an other gender but there were seven in Category 3 - meaning they are considered to pose a risk of serious harm to the public - and three convicted of sex offences. Maya Forstater, chief executive of Sex Matters, said said allowing criminals to be recorded as bizarre genders wasted police time and taxpayers money and makes a mockery of the justice system FOI data from the National Police Chiefs Council shows that the ViSOR database was updated in February 2022 to include the optional gender identity category, which includes the 51 options. That came in addition to allowing offenders to be recorded as neither male nor female. The NPCC response adds: It is understood that no formal risk assessments/impact assessments were undertaken in relation to the instruction of these values. Dr Kath Murray, from policy analysts Murray Blackburn Mackenzie which obtained the data, said the list of gender identities shows that the Home Secretary needs to make recording data on sex mandatory. At the risk of stating the obvious, it is hard to understand what possible operational value there is in knowing that a registered sex offender or a person convicted of terrorism may think of themselves as neutrois, pangender, or other such obscure terms more commonly found on Reddit discussion boards or Tumblr, she said. Details of the 51 gender identities come after a list of 24 genders recognised by the Scottish government was last year mocked by Harry Potter author JK Rowling and Tesla founder turned President Donald Trump aid Elon Musk. A Home Office spokesman said: The ViSOR system was developed twenty-five years ago, in an effort to maximise the information collected and shared about known offenders and thereby help the police keep track of them. Many aspects of the system are now outdated, and the Home Office is currently developing a brand new system, which will reflect modern requirements and reporting standards, and give the police the tools they need to manage the risk from the most dangerous offenders. A British man has been swept 50ft to his death in an avalanche at the top of a French ski resort following a huge snow storm. The 27-year-old was found buried under the snow at the entrance to the resort on Thursday before emergency services dashed him to Grenoble Hospital where he was declared dead on Friday morning. According to Francebleu, the man was staying with friends at the UCPA center in Val Thorens. 'Four landslides have been reported in Les Menuires and Val Thorens,' explained Ludovic Trautmann, director of the Savoie prefecture. 'Two of which reached the town center. Given the conditions in the coming days, we are calling for the utmost vigilance. The buried person was affected by the landslide at the bottom of the resort.' A rescue helicopter was deployed to transport him to hospital after his body was recovered from the snow, but it was unable to reach him due to poor weather conditions. He was rushed to hospital by the fire brigade while in cardio-respiratory arrest. The Albertville prosecutor said in a statement following news of his death: 'On April 17, 2025, an avalanche broke out shortly after 10am at the entrance to Val Thorens. 'A British man, who was lying at the side of the road, was buried and swept about fifteen meters below'. The 27-year-old Brit was found buried under snow at the entrance to the Val Thorens resort on Thursday before emergency services dashed him to Grenoble Hospital where he was declared dead on Friday morning (file image) The impact of the storm claimed another life in the Alpine town of Val Thorens (pictured) after a man suffered a heart attack when he was buried under a snow slide at the entrance to the ski resort With the heavy snow, the Savoie area has been placed on orange avalanche alert today by Meteo France. The resorts of Tignes and Val Thoren have also issued lockdown orders which prohibit holidaymakers and residents from leaving the accommodation for safety reasons. It comes as two men were also found dead on Friday after a spring storm drenched parts of northern Italy and dumped more than a metre of snow in other areas across the Alps, shutting ski areas, halting transport and killing at least one other person. The storm shut roads, halted trains and cut power to areas in France, Italy and Switzerland. In Italy, the bodies of a 64-year-old man and his 33-year-old son were found near Vicenza in the Venetian region, bringing the death toll in the country to three. The pair had volunteered to help with rescue efforts after heavy rains lashed the north of the country and were on their way when their car was swept away by the currents unleashed by the deluge in what the head of the region, Luca Zaia, called an 'unimaginable tragedy.' The previous day, a 92-year-old man was found dead in his flooded home in the northern Piedmont region, the fire brigade said. 'Intense and abundant' rain had drenched the north of Italy, turning to snow above 5,905ft altitude, official said. And in Tignes, authorities ordered residents to stay indoors after more than 3.5ft of snow fell overnight. 'All cars are covered up to the roof... Just walking outside is worrying,' said Mathis, a hotel employee in Tignes. Avalanche risk was hiked to its maximum level in several regions, shutting down several ski areas. The 36,000 people in the Swiss town of Sion were also told to stay home. 'In such a short time, this is an enormous amount (of snow),' said Yann Geaudry, a retired cross-country ski instructor in the French village of Termignon, who was worried about the risk of floods when the snow melts in the spring sunshine. Many roads were shut in all three countries due to fallen trees or the risk of avalanches. Heavy trucks were banned from using the main Mont Blanc tunnel between France and Italy and dozens that could not get through tunnels were stuck on the A43 highway linking Italy and France. Trains were also affected, and at one point more than 3,300 homes in France and 5,000 households in Italy were left without power, according to authorities. 'It's truly exceptional,' said Didier Beauchet, a retiree who has lived in Lanslebourg in Savoie for 40 years. 'I must have seen that only five times,' he told AFP, as motorists around him worked to free their snow-covered cars. Nearly two days after 1.4 million Puerto Ricans were plunged into darkness, several residents took to X to express their frustration over the power outage that affected the entire island. Electricity was restored for almost 99 percent of customers Friday morning, according to Luma Energy, which oversees the transmission and distribution of power in the U.S. territory. Despite the blacklash, the utility company said in a statement that its response 'was one of the fastest power outage restorations in Puerto Rico's history.' Luma Energy warned that some customers would still be left without power for short stretches of times. 'LUMA's Emergency Operations Center (LEOC) remains active, and crews continue to work quickly and safely to stabilize the system and complete restoration,' the provider said. 'Although restoration is nearly complete, some customers may continue to experience temporary outages due to limited generation.' Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer Gonzalez held a press conference Friday afternoon and said that 21,421 customers in Bayamon, San Juan and Mayaguez regions were still without electricity due to 'matters unrelated to the blackout.' 'The blackout is over, it's over,' she said. 'Clearly, there was more than one mistake. Excuses don't satisfy anyone, and they don't satisfy me.' The blackout was first reported Wednesday afternoon after a transmission line failed, shutting down multiple generators across the island. The utility company issued a preliminary report Thursday and attributed the outage to the presence of vegetation near the power lines that run from the northern city of Manati to Cambalache Power Plant in Arecibo. The power failure, which left more than 400,000 customers without water, is the second the island has suffered since December 31, 2024. One resident questioned Luma's effectiveness and the Puerto Rican government's response. 'Well, with so many blackouts, hopefully they've learned,' Roberto Delgado wrote on X. 'Which gives me another reason to think the government itself is behind this. Another reason to justify using gas instead of renewable energy, which was actually the plan. The government owes it to Generation and Luma.' People walk through a dark street after Puerto Rico was hit with a massive power outage on Wednesday. Electricity was restored to 98.8 percent of the customers in the U.S. territory Friday morning The massive power outage caused traffic jams throughout the Puerto Rico, including the capital city of San Juan People walk through a dark street after Puerto Rico was hit by an island wide blackout on Wednesday afternoon. It was the second massive power outage since December 31, 2024 Others like Maria Bevilacqua were not as lucky and waiting for electricity to be restored at her home. 'For the third day in a row, the power just went out! How long? Impossible to live like this!' she wrote. 'Luma didn't come to solve anything. I prefer AEE [Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority]; they charged less and did more.' 'If LUMA and GENERA aren't working, and there's evidence of this, who's going to replace them?' John Mudd wrote on the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. 'It won't be the Aee because the Junta [Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico] won't allow it. That's the most important question.' U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer slammed President Donald Trump for failing to respond to the Caribbean island's needs. 'Millions of our fellow citizens in Puerto Rico lost power for the 2nd time in 4 months,' the New York Democratic lawmaker wrote on X on Thursday. 'The failing electric grid is a humanitarian crisis Democrats invested hundreds of millions to build more resilient energy infrastructure that would help prevent blackouts - but Trump froze them.' Nurys Perez, owner of Nurys Salon, styles a client's hair on the sidewalk outside her shop during a blackout in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Thursday San Juan resident Roy Jimenez hauls three bags of ice for his refrigerator at home Eleuterio Lastra (left) and Xavier Rodriguez (right) worked from the back of the car during a massive power blackout affected all of Puerto Rico on Wednesday afternoon. Electricity was restored to 98.8 percent of the customers by Friday morning U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres called on the Army Corps of Engineers to step up and 'deploy emergency power generation' on the island. 'With peak summer demand approaching, immediate action must be taken to avert a full-scale collapse of the island's fragile and failing electric grid,' the Democratic politician from The Bronx wrote. Puerto Rico has encountered an energy crisis since September 20, 2017 when Hurricane Maria devastated the island and destroyed transmission towers, broke power lines and knocked down wooden light poles. Some residents were left without electricity in their homes for almost a year. President Trump, who was lambasted for tossing paper towels at residents while visiting a church on the island, was accused adequately addressing the recovery and released $13 billion on September 18, 2020 aimed to rebuild the power grid and repair schools. Trump, who at the time was gearing up for reelection before losing to President Joe Biden, blamed Democrats for the delay despite their approval and urge for its release. 'I'm the best thing that ever happened to Puerto Rico, no one even close,' Trump would say during a press conference to announced the funding. Governor Jenniffer Gonzalez, who cut short her Easter week vacation, said a government-conducted report will be released in the upcoming days. LUMA Energy in the past has recognized that vegetation in contact with power lines have been the main cause of blackouts in Puerto Rico Puerto Ricans protest outside La Fortaleza during a massive blackout in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico on Wednesday At least 98 percent of the island's hospitals had electricity on Friday. All of Puerto Rico's correctional facilities and airports had full power restored. Residents at the Luis Llorens Torres public housing project in San Juan reported that they were without power as of Friday afternoon. Island residents have urged Gonzalez's administration to cancel its contracts with Luma Energy as well as Genera PR, which oversees power generation. 'That is not under doubt or question,' Gonzalez said. 'It is unacceptable that we have failures of this kind.' Luma Energy was contracted in June 2021 by the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority as the government-run electric power company was looking for ways on how to restructure its $9 billion debt. In January 2023, the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority entered an agreement with Genera PR to handle the island's power generation. Gonzalez estimated that power outage caused $215 million revenue loss daily. Josue Colon, who was appointed as the island's energy czar in January, called on Luma Energy to explain why all of the power generators were shut down when only one should have been placed in protection mode. Local power authorities reported a system failure around 12:40pm the same time a powerful geomagnetic storm was striking Earth Puerto Rico's unstable power infrastructure may deter investors unless the government provides a solution, according to Ramon C. Barquin III, president of the United Retail Center, a nonprofit that represents small- and medium-sized businesses. 'We cannot continue to repeat this cycle of blackouts without taking concrete measures to strengthen our energy infrastructure,' he said. While Luma attributed the power outage to the presence of vegetation, a space weather physicist previously told DailyMail.com that the loss of power coincided with a G4 geomagnetic storm. 'This was a complex event comprised by three separate filament eruptions that occurred April 12 through April 13,' said Dr Tamitha Skov, an independent space weather physicist. 'Though these filament structures all got sandwiched together into a single solar storm series, they were magnetically oriented in different ways. Only the second filament structure was oriented in such a way to cause sustained storming at Earth.' However, there is currently no evidence suggesting the solar storm caused Puerto Rico's blackout. Last month, Luma Energy announced that it was working on clearing vegetation away from the suspended power cables, which it viewed as the 'leading causes of service interruptions.' At the time, the utility company confirmed that workers had trimmed 5,675 of the 6,400 miles of power lines and cleaned 72 of the 190 miles of power lines. However, Pedro Melendez, an engineer for Luma Energy, was unable to recall the last time technicians address the vegetation problem on the lines that caused the blackout. 'We're conducting an investigation,' he said during a press conference Thursday. 'An inspection was conducted recently. I don't have the exact date because we're focusing on restoring the system.' The founder of Mumsnet said she feared the site might not survive after they were branded bigots and blacklisted by big business for standing up for womens rights. Justine Roberts singled out Barclays and Ocado, who she claimed had refused to advertise or partner with the popular online forum when they called for the Government to clarify the definition of a woman under equality legislation. In a statement posted on Mumsnet in the wake of Wednesdays Supreme Court ruling, Ms Roberts said she felt under intense pressure from activists because of their stance, but stressed that even in the darkest moments she refused to ban discussion on the issue, saying that would have been contrary to what Mumsnet is about. Ms Roberts wrote: Its been severely testing at times there were moments I genuinely thought we might never see the tide turn, or at least not in our generationMumsnet risked being permanently labelled as bigoted, vicious, and on the wrong side of history. A fair number of organisations pulled their advertising under pressure from activists both internal and external. Im sure there were many more we never heard from who simply steered clear. Commercial partnerships became noticeably harder to secure. The low point was discovering wed been blacklisted on instruction from the top brass at Barclays just weeks before their CEO resigned over concealing ties to Jeffrey Epstein. When we included a call to clarify the definition of sex in the Equality Act in our 2024 Mumsnet Manifesto, Ocado who had been excited about a partnership abruptly pulled out, citing Mumsnets hateful political views. Despite repeated attempts to explain our position as a platform committed to amplifying womens voices theyve refused to speak to us ever since. Founder of Mumsnet Justine Roberts (pictured) claimed she feared the site 'would not survive' after she stood up for women's rights to access single-sex spaces She claimed companies such as Barclays and Ocado refused to advertise or partner with the popular online forum when they called for the Government to clarify the definition of a woman When asked about Ms Roberts statement, a spokesman for Ocado said they apologised unreservedly to Mumsnet For Women Scotland directors Susan Smith (left) and Marion Calder (right) celebrate the landmark ruling on April 16 The Supreme Court announced that the definition of a woman is based on biological sex in a landmark ruling. Pictured: Campaign group For Women Scotland celebrating the judgement Nonetheless, even in the darkest moments, when I feared the site might not survive, we never considered banning discussion of this issue altogether. That would have been completely contrary to what Mumsnet is about: a space for mothers to talk about what matters to them. Under the landmark judgement, from the UKs highest court, transgender women are no longer legally women, meaning they will not be allowed to take part in womens sport or be on single-sex hospital wards. Changing rooms must also be based on biological sex and Baroness Kishwer Falkner, chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), has already pledged to pursue organisations that fail to enforce women-only spaces. Despite the rulings unambiguous language, many large businesses and organisations have said they will not immediately be changing their policies for transgender individuals, at least not until they have received legal advice on its implications. Yesterday Andrew Walton, chief corporate affairs director of Lloyds, Britains biggest bank, wrote to staff and pledged to stand by its transgender employees, who he said would be unsettled by the Supreme Courts ruling. Please know that we cherish and celebrate you and remain committed to inclusivity, he said. Refuge, the charity established for female survivors of abuse, also said it would not be changing the way it operates, while the Girl Guides said they would be monitoring the situation and awaiting guidance from the EHRC. In their manifesto ahead of last years General Election, Mumsnet called on the new Government to amend the Equality Act to make it clear that sex refers to biological sex thus protecting womens right to access female-only spaces such as hospital wards, changing rooms and refuges. The judgement was celebrated by women's rights groups who opened a bottle of champagne. Pictured: Susan Smith (centre left), Marion Calder (centre right) and Helen Joyce (right) Lord Hodge said that five Supreme Court justices had unanimously decided that 'the terms woman and sex in the Equality Act refer to a 'biological woman and biological sex' Campaigners Helen Joyce (left) and Maya Forstater of Sex Matters smiles outside court after the landmark ruling on Wednesday The Scottish government argued that such people are entitled to sex-based protections, while campaign group FWS claimed they only apply to people that are born female Ms Roberts congratulated everyone on Mumsnet who played a part in securingmuch-needed clarity in the legislation in her post. She added: As ever were in awe of the intelligence, tenacity and resilience of Mumsnet users. Asked about Ms Roberts statement, a spokesman for Ocado said they apologised unreservedly to Mumsnet. These comments are not representative of us as a company, and we believe they were made by a temporary contractor who is no longer with the business, he said. Barclays was contacted for comment. The ruling followed a seven-year legal battle by gender-critical group For Women Scotland and was backed by campaigners including Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies and Harry Potter author JK Rowling. A cache of secret files related to the assassination of Robert F Kennedy was released on Friday as part of President Donald Trump's order to open up government records about the killings of prominent Americans. About 10,000 pages of files were uploaded to the National Archives website for public viewing. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced last week her agency found additional files related to the deaths of RFK and Martin Luther King Jr. that would be publicly released. And, she said on Friday, her team found 50,000 more pages as they comb through the Archives. 'Just the other day we discovered and found another 50,000 pages specifically related to the assassination of Senator Robert F Kennedy,' she told the DailyWire. She pointed to a group of staffers seated behind her, going through records. 'The work you're seeing happening here today is going to continue on as we have other teams going out and doing those searches and hunting for additional records that, once again, have not been found or released to the public ever before,' Gabbard said. Robert F Kennedy was assassinated on June 6, 1968 in Los Angeles Gabbard said Friday's files had no smoking gun but raised many questions. 'There are more questions than answers. Was there more than one shooter? What was the angle of the shots that were fired? There was a woman who ran away from the scene where Senator Kennedy was shot screaming: we shot him. We shot him,' she said. 'There's so much more, ultimately, that I think needs to be declassified and digitized so that anybody can access this and know what the government knows.' Gabbard said the release of the files is important to build trust in the government. 'A lot of this has been shrouded in mystery for most of our lifetimes, and so this transparency of being able to take these documents, scan them in and make it so that people can read them with a click of a button is important. It's important to the country, and it's important in our continued search for the truth and building trust in our government,' she said. Trump has ordered the release of documents surrounding the deaths of prominent Americans that have been subject to endless speculation about whether government investigations told the truth or were part of a massive coverup. In January 2025, Trump signed an executive order directing the declassification of records related to the Kennedy brothers and MLK Jr. 'Everything will be revealed,' he vowed when he signed it. But the release of files on the deaths of Jeffrey Epstein and President John F. Kennedy earlier this year have proved a disappointment to the conspiracy world. They did not find a smoking gun that shed any light on the assortment of theories out there. The RFK files released Friday are in the same state as the JFK files - thousands of individual files that have to be individually examined. Robert F Kennedy was assassinated on June 6, 1968 in Los Angeles after he won the California Democratic primary in that year's presidential election. It's unclear how much new information the released files will reveal. Most of the RFK investigation files are in the California State Archives as the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) led the probe. Those files include the LAPD's records on the investigation, including documents, photographs, audio tapes, and video tapes. The FBI also investigated the RFK's killing so there are files in that agency but most of the information is in California. Gabbard doesn't have jurisdiction over state files but she can order the federal ones released. While a large portion of RFK's records have been released, some remain fully or partially withheld due to redactions or court-ordered seals. EXCLUSIVE: The RFK Files are now live. @TulsiGabbard tells us: There are a lot of things that have not been previously known that really call into question what really happened and who was behind it..."pic.twitter.com/CZJ8vaC20S Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) April 18, 2025 Tulsi Gabbard's staff sort through files as part of President Trump's executive order to release more information The government records were scanned and turned into digital files RFK was shot by Sirhan Sirhan, a 24-year-old Palestinian, in retaliation for his support of Israel following the 1967 Six-Day War. He died 25 hours later. Sirhan was arrested, tried, and convicted, though RFK's assassination, like his brother's, continues to be the subject of numerous conspiracy theories. Kennedy's son, Robert F Kennedy Jr, who serves as Trump's health and human services secretary, supported the files released. 'I commend President Trump for his courage and his commitment to transparency. I'm grateful also to Tulsi Gabbard for her dogged efforts to root out and declassify these documents.' 'Lifting the veil on the RFK papers is a necessary step toward restoring trust in American government,' he said in a statement on Friday. Robert F Kennedy shortly before he was shot in Los Angeles after his victory rally Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated in April 1968 Gabbard told the DailyWire that RFK Jr. had been given the option to view the files before they were released to the public. MLK's family has asked for that same option. The King material could prove embarrassing for the civil right icon and are said to include unflattering details about his relationships with women that could tarnish his legacy. Then-FBI director J. Edgar Hoover illegally surveilled King in the 1960s, believing King was a communist threat. The agency also went after King by threatening to send King's wife, Coretta, a tape of King having an extramarital affair, as well as a note encouraging him to kill himself for the sake of the civil rights movement. Martin Luther King Jr. was shot and killed at the Lorraine motel on April 4, 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee. In 1977, the Justice Department launched a task force to probe the FBI's harassment and investigations of King, as well as his assassination and the criminal investigation. It also attempted to determine whether the FBI bore any responsibility for King's assassination. It found assassin James Earl Ray acted alone but that hasn't stopped the conspiracy theories. A FSU professor says he spooked his students by 'fatefully' calling off a lecture hours before a deadly shooting that would likely have killed his students. Dr. David Williams, who teaches at the college of business at the Florida school, was scheduled to hold his typical 11:30 talk on strategic management. In a remarkable turn of events, Williams made the last minute decision to call his lecture off, he said the move left him with goosebumps after learning of the shooting. Speaking with WKRG, Williams said he called it off to help students mentally prepare for their final exams and graduation. His decision potentially saved lives in the horrific shooting, during which Phoenix Ikner, 20, opened fire and killed two people before he was shot by officers. Neither of the victims were students with authorities yet to release their identities. Williams told the outlet: 'I dont know if I saved lives, but I know that I was dropping off my clothes at the cleaners when the first email came in from a student, and I read it, and it did shake me a little bit. 'Not lying I got goose bumps. And I was thinking, "Oh, Lord, you know, shes right".' he added. The shooting unfolded just a few feet away from his classroom, adding: 'We would have been right in the thick of it.' David Williams made the decision to cancel his 11:30 lecture at FSU on Thursday, potentially saving lives Ikner, 20, was publicly identified as the shooter during a press conference on Thursday afternoon Williams said that he has been in contact with his students who have all confirmed that they are okay. He added: 'Somebody lost their life; people are injured in the hospital, you got graduation coming up. Its all going to have a pall over the whole thing.' The campus was locked down as gunfire erupted, with students ordered to shelter in place as first responders swarmed the site moments after the lunchtime shootings. Ikner is the son of a sheriff's deputy and had used her gun in his rampage, which killed 2 people and injured six others. All of those injured in the shooting are expected to make a full recovery after undergoing emergency surgery. Ikner is currently in custody in hospital, after he was shot by officers at the scene. Former classmates of Ikner have since said that he held 'white supremacist' beliefs and 'espoused far right rhetoric'. Speaking to NBC after the shooting, a student who was once part of a 'political round table' with Ikner revealed he harbored white supremacist views. 'Basically our only rule was no Nazis colloquially speaking and he espoused so much white supremacist rhetoric and far right rhetoric as well,' Reid Seybold said.] Survivors are seen here raising their hands towards law enforcement after the incident on Thursday Students are seen here holding a vigil to remember the two that lost their lives and the six injured in the shooting Seybold, who was president of the club, said he had to kick Ikner out of the group due to his beliefs and rhetoric. And Riley Pusins, who is part of another political discourse club on campus that Ikner would attend, had a similar experience with the suspect. Pusins said Ikner would attend meetings 'almost every Thursday' in which he would 'go up to the line' about what was acceptable discussions, but would often cross the line after the formal meeting ended. The student said Ikner often advocated President Donald Trump's agenda, promoted white supremacist values and made inappropriate comments, despite joining a nonpartisan group. Phoenix Ikner is a registered Republican who was described by some classmates as a 'fascist' Ikner is seen in the above still stalking the campus with the firearm as the shooting unfolded Pusins said others in the group would describe Ikner as a 'fascist.' He had also recently mocked students on campus protesting the result of the 2024 election. 'These people are usually pretty entertaining, usually not for good reasons,' Ikner said in his school magazine, where he was described as a political science major. Officials said his mother is Leon County Sheriff's Deputy Jessica Ikner, noting that he had access to one of her weapons which was then found at the scene. Leon County Sheriff McNeil said at a press conference Thursday the gunman was a member of the department's youth set-up and was involved in training programs. Ikner was described as 'steeped in the Leon County Sheriff's Office family.' Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell said the gun was previously used by his mother for law enforcement, but was her private handgun at the time of the shooting, because deputies 'are allowed to purchase the handgun they used prior.' A paedophile vicar who raped a six-year-old boy in his church has died behind bars, just five months after he was sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison. Ifor Whittaker, 80, was condemned as a predatory paedophile when he was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of eight years in November last year. The sick former Church of England priest had baptised the little boy who he went on to abuse in the vestry of St John the Baptist Church in Sedlescombe, East Sussex, in the 1990s while working under the name Colin Pritchard. Whittaker was already serving a 16-year sentence for abusing a boy between 1987 and 1991, and was jailed for five years in 2008 for abusing two children between 1979 and 1983. He died in prison on March 31 at HMP Littlehey, a Category C prison in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, for men who have been convicted of sexual offences. One of Whittakers victims, Phil Johnson, 59, said that the horrors the vicar inflicted have dominated his life, and that he had finally got what he deserved. Mr Johnson, who now runs support groups for adult survivors of child sexual abuse, was the first person to report Whittaker to the authorities in the late 1990s, when he was 29. He told MailOnline: I certainly wont grieve for him. But Im not going to celebrate it either. He eventually got what he deserved. Ifor Whittaker, 80, was condemned as a predatory paedophile when he was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of eight years in November last year One of Whittakers victims, Phil Johnson, 59, (pictured) said that the horrors the vicar inflicted have dominated his life, and that he had finally got what he deserved Ive got very mixed feelings about it. Its the end of a chapter, but it just wasn't a very happy chapter of the book. This has absolutely dominated my life for the last 30 years. The abuse I suffered went on for a decade of my childhood, and then when I reported it, the two major police investigations, who major police operations, three criminal trial, the public inquiry, five reviews into the cases. None of them quite entirely got to the truth. Mr Johnson was not informed of the paedophiles death before MailOnline contacted him. The Diocese has confirmed that it was notified previously, although they have had no further details since. He believes there is still much to be done to reveal the true extent of Whittakers crimes. He added: I think I should have been notified. If there are going to be media reports I think its far better that the church should reach out to victims and survivors than them just stumble across it in the media. He continued: So little of what Pritchard as I knew him has come out. Myself and my brother were being abused by Roy Cotton, a priest in Eastbourne. I was taken on a trip to Wellingbury, Northamptonshire, where I was abused by Colin Pritchard. I was taken to a party and I believe I was drugged. I dont know what happened to me, but I know it wasnt good. I woke up 24 hours later in Colin Pritchards bed completely naked. When I eventually got up I felt like someone had put an axe through my head that bad a headache. In one case, the sick former Church of England priest had baptised the little boy who he went on to abuse in the vestry of St John the Baptist Church in Sedlescombe, East Sussex (pictured) in the 1990s while working under the name Colin Pritchard And then he very violently sexually assaulted me in his kitchen in the vicarage. There is a huge amount to be done. Even in the most recent trial he denied the charges right up until the sentencing and then changed his plea to guilty. At every turn the victims and survivors have been denied their day in court. Most of what he has done has not been heard in a court of law, has not been tested, the victims and witnesses have not been given the opportunity to tell their story publicly. Some of them would like to have been able to do that, including myself. I think it is a sad and terrible case in that so many mistakes were made over the years. Colin Pritchard was an evil, nasty, predatory, violent offender, and he was effectively protected and allowed to continue doing these things by the system that's supposed to protect people and by an organization that's supposed to be loving and caring. The latest victim to come forward revealed his terror in court last year, saying he had tried to bury his horrifying memories but it had come back to him in pieces over the years. Sentencing, Juge Gary Lucie said: You are a predatory paedophile and have been for many years. 'I doubt that you will ever cease to be a serious danger to young boys but that risk cannot be reliably estimated at this time.' He continued: 'You have been responsible for committing serious sexual offences against four young boys over a long period whilst abusing your position as a trusted member of the community as a vicar. 'This offending is of the most serious kind.' Whittakers case was among a series of priests who committed appalling sexual abuse against children, named in an independent report commissioned by the Diocese of Chichester. Whittaker died in prison on March 31 at HMP Littlehey, a Category C prison in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, for men who have been convicted of sexual offences Over a 50-year period 18 members of the clergy were convicted of offences, with the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse saying victims saying parishioners thought priests were above reproach. Report authors Professor David Shemmings and his wife Yvonne, child protection experts at the University of Kent, said they had aimed to expose the devious methods of grooming and patterns within the organisation itself. He continued: They were told that it wasn't the priest abusing them, it was at the insistence of God because they had sinned. The extent of his horrifying abuse was revealed by Mr Johnson in an investigation by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. He was taken to stay with Whittaker by Roy Cotton another priest who had groomed him aged 10 while working at St Andrews Church in Eastbourne. Describing the abuse as the most frightening evening of my life, he was plied with alcohol before waking the next morning naked in Whittakers bed with no memory of the last night. He was then brutally sexually assaulted by Whittaker in his kitchen, grabbing at my genitals under my dressing gown to such an extent that he cut my penis with his fingernail. Both men were arrested in December 1997, 15 months after Mr Johnson reported them to Sussex Police. Whittaker had permission to officiate until 2007, when it was suspended. In August 2008, the Bishop of Colchester John Hind wrote to victims saying: Abuse is always inexcusable, and I am particularly sad and appalled to hear of incidents involving clergy of this diocese. Pictured: St John the Baptist Church in Sedlescombe, East Sussex The report found that there was no evidence in this time that the force made efforts to prevent them having contact with children and Sussex Police later revealed they did not share any sensitive information with the church. When the Diocesan Child Protection Adviser learnt of the arrests and contacted the investigating officer, they declined to share the victims names or any description of the allegations, including their nature and severity. They told Mr Johnson in 1999 that they were taking no further action against either priest due to a lack of corroborating evidence. A warrant was executed against Whittakers address in 2006, after another young man contacted Northamptonshire Police station alleging abuse when he was a young teenager, including masturbation, oral sex and attempted anal penetration. In 2007, the force contacted the Diocese for the vicars records and requested the files of Mr Johnson after identifying him as a possible victim. Sussex Police said they were unable to locate it and that the officer was unable to remember anything he had investigated previously. They later confirmed all records of the investigation had been destroyed in 2004, as their police was to dispose of child sexual offences files after five years. Whittaker was arrested and charged, before pleading guilty to seven counts of indecent assault and gross indecency in July 2008. He had permission to officiate until 2007, when it was suspended. In August 2008, the Bishop of Colchester John Hind wrote to victims saying: Abuse is always inexcusable, and I am particularly sad and appalled to hear of incidents involving clergy of this diocese. He continued: Whilst the Church of England cannot accept responsibility for the personal actions of abusers, it deeply regrets these actions and has compassion for all who have suffered. A leading spine neurosurgeon is being slammed for a video that shows him tearing down a female MP's election sign and dumping it in a skip while telling viewers how to 'bury the body'. Footage circulated on social media this week showed Melbourne-based Professor Greg Malham ripping down the campaign board of teal Kooyong MP Dr Monique Ryan. In the middle of a dark street, the senior spinal neurosurgeon for Epworth Richmond can be seen placing the sign in his car as an unidentified woman asks if he had anything to say. Professor Malham raised a fist and said 'Go Trump'. The footage also included a shot at a different location where he removed the sign, trampled it and addressed the camera. 'Just finishing the job, boys. Always gotta bury the body. 'Just remember these tutorials. It is all about technique, Nigel. Always remember guys, good technique, then dispose of the evidence. 'Always remember boys, bury the body under concrete.' A video circulating on social media shows the moment acclaimed neurosurgeon Professor Greg Malham tears down the campaign sign of teal MP Dr Monique Ryan Dr Ryan (pictured) said she has seen a 'climate of hostility' in Kooyong during the campaign Professor Malham runs a private practice in neurosurgery in Melbourne and is an adjunct professor at Swinburne University. The specialist, whose website refers to him as 'one of Australasia's premier spine surgeons', has expressed regrets over the video on Friday. 'It was a silly thing to do,' he told The Age. 'It was intended as a joke, but I recognise how bad it looks.' 'I am deeply sorry and regret my actions in the video and fully understand the serious distress it has caused in the community. 'There is no excuse for my unacceptable behavior and I will be fully co-operating with the independent investigation commissioned by Epworth HealthCare. I will be taking leave while that investigation is happening and have self-reported to the medical regulator, AHPRA. I will be fully accountable for my actions. 'I sincerely and unreservedly apologise for this lapse in judgment that does not reflect my core values and beliefs.' Professor Malham (pictured) said it was a 'silly thing' to do and he recognises that it looks bad He also said he had refunded the cost of the sign for Dr Ryan's campaign plus 'a bit extra'. The campaign said it rejected and refunded the money. 'We've seen groups from both within and outside Kooyong stoking division through aggressively negative advertising,' Dr Ryan told the Melbourne publication. 'It's creating a climate of hostility that is distressing to candidates, volunteers and the broader community.' Dr Ryan said she is aware of similar incidents that affected her opponent. 'I unequivocally condemn this behaviour in all its forms. There's no place in Australian electoral campaigns or society for violence and aggression.' Daily Mail Australia has also contacted Dr Ryan for comment. Other politicians have come out against Professor Malham's behaviour. Independent Federal Member for Goldstein, Zoe Daniel called the video 'an apparent endorsement of violence against women'. Meanwhile, the Liberal candidate for Kooyong, Amelia Hamer, said there is no place for intimidation or destruction in politics. The Kooyong election race, which could prove a vital seat for the Liberals in Victoria, has been particularly heated over the last few weeks. Dr Ryan's husband was caught on film ripping down a poster of Ms Hamer, refusing several times to say who he was when confronted by a Liberal supporter. Two days later a pair were captured on CCTV allegedly vandalising a Liberal poster hung on the front gate of a home in the upmarket suburb of Toorak. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Professor Malham and Dr Ryan for comment. Trump aide Stephen Miller savaged Democrat senator Chris Van Hollen for going to El Salvador and meeting deported migrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Speaking outside the White House, Miller said he was 'beyond appalled' and Van Hollen's 'heart is reserved for any illegal alien who's a member of a foreign terrorist organization.' The White House says Abrego Garcia was a member of vicious gang MS-13 but Democrats say he is a 'Maryland man' who was wrongly deported. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has released 10,000 pages relating to the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy in 1968. This DailyMail.com blog is now closed. A woman has been arrested in Brazil on suspicion of poisoning Easter eggs and sending them to her ex-boyfriend's new family, allegedly causing the death of a seven-year-old boy. Jordelia Pereira Barbosa, 35, is accused of buying, spiking and sending the chocolate to her former partner's new girlfriend, with officials alleging that she was motivated by 'revenge and jealousy'. The eggs were delivered on Wednesday to her ex's new partner, named in Brazilian media as Mirian Lira, who then shared them with her kids. They were bought to her home by a motorcycle courier, reportedly accompanied with a note which read: 'With love, to Mirian Lira. Happy Easter.' Lira's young son, Luis Fernando Rocha Silva reportedly fell ill almost instantly and his mother rushed him to Imperatriz City Hospital where he died just hours later in the early hours of Thursday. His 32-year-old mother remains in hospital in a critical condition along with her daughter, Evelyn Fernanda, who is 13, with both said to be intubated and in serious condition. Samples of the chocolate eggs have reportedly been sent for forensic analysis to confirm possible poisoning. Jordelia Pereira Barbosa, 35, is accused of buying, spiking and sending the chocolate to her former partner's new girlfriend The eggs were delivered on Wednesday to her ex's new partner, named in Brazilian media as Mirian Lira, who then shared them with her kids Barbosa was arrested by police while travelling on an intercity bus headed for Santa Ines, where she lives Cops also shared CCTV footage they said showed Barbosa shopping for chocolate eggs while wearing a black wig to cover her dyed blonde hair and dark sunglasses The chocolate eggs were reportedly delivered by a motorcycle courier with a note which read: 'With love, to Mirian Lira. Happy Easter.' Barbosa was arrested on an intercity bus headed for Santa Ines, where she lives, after staying at a hotel in Imperatriz, the city where her ex-boyfriend's family are based 200 miles from her home. Police reportedly found purchase receipts and spoke to Barbosa's ex-partner as part of their investigation, who reportedly indicated that his ex might be involved. Cops also shared CCTV footage they said showed Barbosa shopping for chocolate eggs while wearing a black wig to cover her dyed blonde hair and dark sunglasses. At the counter she is seen holding the box of luxury eggs and starts rummaging through her bag to find a payment card to use. In a statement at the Santa Ines Regional Police Station, Barbosa reportedly confessed to having bought the chocolate, but denied having added poison. However police and officials have insisted that there is sufficient evidence to point to Barbosa as the prime suspect in the alleged plot. Mauricio Martins, a security official in the region, told news outlet G1: 'The evidence suggests, based on several points investigated, that the crime was motivated by revenge and jealousy, given that the author's ex-husband is the current partner or boyfriend of the victim, who was poisoned along with her two children. 'There are several indications that clearly point to this woman being the perpetrator of the crime. 'The police will continue working to strengthen this evidence and present her to the Judiciary to answer for this barbaric crime.' CCTV footage appears to show Barbosa in a hotel in Imperatriz, the city where her ex-boyfriend's family are based Police released pictures of materials seized from Jordelia Pereira Barbosa Police found receipts among the 35-year-old's belongings, which they suggested linked her to the crime Lira reportedly received an anonymous call after the eggs were delivered asking if she had received the package. Police investigating Barbosa reportedly seized two wigs, receipts, cards, scissors, a saw knife and what appeared to be drugs. An autopsy on victim Luis by the Imperatriz's Legal Medical Institute is expected to prove poisoning as the cause of death. Blood tests on the two survivors and lab tests on the remains of the eggs are also being carried out. A brazen gang of thieves were caught on CCTV spending more than an hour breaking into a charity's headquarters before stealing its food truck. The charity, Oasis Cardiff, has said it does not have the money to replace the truck stolen from its base in the Welsh capital after being targeted. The trailer is used for festivals and events to serve food and to provide information on how the charity supports refugees and asylum seekers. The footage shows the two people entering the gates of the premises before they then walk away. It then shows the trailer being attached to a Land Rover and then driving away. Charity CEO Susie Ventris-Field, said: 'A colleague came onto site on Sunday morning and noticed that the trailer was not there. They checked with one of the managers, who confirmed that it wasn't in service. 'We checked our CCTV footage and could see that it had been stolen in the early hours of Saturday April 5, I think about 1am. 'It took them about an hour to break through our gates - as we have chains and good security on them - and then they towed it with what looked like a Land Rover from our CCTV footage. The two shameless burglars were seen on camera breaking through steel gate After breaking in they attached the bright blue trailer to a Land Rover and drove it away Oasis says it does not have the money to replace the truck stolen from its base in Cardiff after being targeted 'It looked like it took a lot of effort and wasn't some spontaneous decision.' Oasis says it has helped hundreds of people who have fled war or political persecution from places including Syria, Eritrea, Sudan, Afghanistan, Kurdistan, Albania, Libya and Iraq. Ventris-Field said the theft was a real blow to the charity's income. She said: 'We are coming into the time of year when our food trailer would be going out to events, weddings and festivals. 'It's a double whammy because we don't have the kind of income source that the trailer provides, as we try to figure out what's next. Ms Susie Ventris-Field said: ''It took them about an hour to break through our gates - as we have chains and good security on them - and then they towed it with what looked like a Land Rover from our CCTV footage' She added: 'It's a real shame that we have lost that for the time being. We are just really devastated for the team and the community' 'As well as the financial side of it, it means a lot to the staff and volunteers who work on it, and the wider charity - it's been a bit of a staple of Oasis, an opportunity for us to make really good connections with not just local communities but communities across Wales. 'It's a real shame that we have lost that for the time being. We are just really devastated for the team and the community.' A spokesman for South Wales Police said: 'We can confirm we are investigating the theft of the trailer. Anyone with information or CCTV is asked to please contact South Wales Police quoting reference 2500107248.' Vice President JD Vance said he feels 'optimistic' about ending the war between Russia and Ukraine as he met with Giorgia Meloni in Rome today. 'I want to update the prime minister on some of the negotiations between Russia, Ukraine, and also some of the things that have happened even in the past 24 hours,' Vance said. 'I won't prejudge them, but we do feel optimistic that we can hopefully bring this war, this very brutal war, to a close.' It comes after the vice president was pictured smiling and carrying his young daughter as he arrived in Italy with his family to spend Easter at the Vatican. Meloni shares conservative views with Vance and President Donald Trump, whom she met in Washington just a day before on a charm offensive aiming for a US-EU tariffs deal. Trump's threatened tariffs could have a major impact on Italy, the world's fourth-largest exporter, which sends around 10 percent of its exports to the United States. The trip is also Vance's first return to Europe since delivering a combative speech at the Munich Security Conference in February, when he lambasted the EU's members on culture war issues while calling for the bloc to 'step up' in managing its own security. Vice President JD Vance said he feels 'optimistic' about ending the 'brutal war' between Russia and Ukraine as he met with Giorgia Meloni in Rome today It comes after the vice president was pictured smiling and carrying his young daughter and as he arrived in Italy with his family to spend Easter at the Vatican Vance, 40, who converted to Catholicism in his mid-30s, travelled to Rome with his wife and three children, with the family due to celebrate Easter at St Peter's on Sunday In brief comments to the press at Palazzo Chigi, the prime minister's office, Vance said he was 'looking forward to spending Easter here'. 'This is a place that was built by people that love humans and love God,' he said, adding that it 'really lifts up the human spirit'. Along with an update on trade negotiations with the European Union, Vance said he would discuss with Meloni the negotiations involving Ukraine and Russia, saying 'we have some interesting things to report on, of course in private'. 'I won't prejudge them, but we do feel optimistic that we can hopefully bring this war, this very brutal war, to a close,' he said. Later on Friday, Vance will attend Good Friday mass at St Peter's Basilica, according to the White House. On Saturday, he is due to speak with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's secretary of state, the second-highest official at the Holy See after Pope Francis. Vance, 40, who converted to Catholicism in his mid-30s, travelled to Rome with his wife and three children to celebrate Easter at St Peter's on Sunday. Meloni shares conservative views with Vance and President Donald Trump , whom she met in Washington just a day before on a charm offensive aiming for a US-EU tariffs deal 'I want to update the prime minister on some of the negotiations between Russia , Ukraine, and also some of the things that have happened even in the past 24 hours,' Vance said. Pictured: A view of damaged bakery facility after Russian drone attack on April 18, 2025 in Sumy, Ukraine Meloni was the first leader from Europe to visit Trump since he imposed 20 percent tariffs on EU exports, which he has since suspended for 90 days Later on Friday, Vance will attend Good Friday mass at St Peter's Basilica (pictured), according to the White House Meloni was the first leader from Europe to visit Trump since he imposed 20 percent tariffs on EU exports, which he has since suspended for 90 days. The two leaders struck a warm tone Thursday during a working lunch and a meeting in the Oval Office, with Trump hailing the 48-year-old Italian premier as 'fantastic'. Casting herself as the only European who could de-escalate Trump's trade war, Meloni highlighted their conservative common ground and said she wanted to 'make the West great again'. Meloni's decision to personally intercede with Trump has caused some disquiet among EU allies, who are concerned that her visit could undermine the bloc's unity. While Trump expressed confidence about an eventual deal with the 27-nation bloc he has accused of trying to 'screw' the United States, he said on Thursday that he was in 'no rush'. Russia's war in Ukraine meanwhile remained a touchy subject between the US and Italian leaders. Meloni has been a staunch ally of Ukraine and its President Volodymyr Zelensky since Russia's invasion in 2022, most recently calling Moscow's Palm Sunday attack on the city of Sumy 'horrible and vile'. Trump however has stunned allies with a pivot toward Moscow and repeated attacks on Zelensky, whom he and Vance berated in a televised Oval Office meeting in February. Trump said with Meloni beside him that 'I don't hold Zelensky responsible but I'm not exactly thrilled with the fact that that war started,' adding that he was 'not a big fan' of the Ukrainian leader. Ivanka Trump is making a splash on vacation, showing off her sun-kissed beach bod while shredding waves. Photos obtained exclusively by the Daily Mail show the fitness fanatic, 43, flaunting her newly toned figure in a vibrant tangerine two-piece while surfing in Costa Rica. She was all smiles as she balanced on her board while her husband, Jared Kushner, 44, waded into the waters sporting neon green trunks and his own chiseled abs. The couple vacationed with their in-laws, model Karlie Kloss, 32, who kept a low-profile wide-brimmed hat and black midi dress, and her husband Joshua Kushner - Jared's 39-year-old brother. 'Now they're no longer big players in Washington, they have all the time in the world to cultivate their good looks. They've always been especially vain,' a Trump family friend told the Daily Mail. First Daughter Ivanka has taken a step back from politics for her father's second term. From 2016 to 2020, and alongside Jared, Ivanka was among the most influential figures in Donald Trump's White House, despite having no previous political experience. She served as a top advisor to her father, giving up her life as a socialite and fashion designer, and moving her young family from New York City to DC. Ivanka sported a bright orange two-piece swimsuit as she surfed waves in Costa Rica. She was accompanied by her husband, Jared, in the water, and the businessman showed off his impeccable physique. The couple were also joined by Jared's brother Joshua (right) and his wife, supermodel Karlie Kloss (left). But after Trump lost the 2020 election, 'Javanka' broke ranks and decamped to a $24 million mansion in Miami to lick their wounds. Those in the know say Ivanka is now solely focused on her role as a mother, rebuilding her socialite credentials... and earning back the friendship of celebrity pals who abandoned her during the first Trump administration. She has also been using all her newfound free time to work on her fitness. 'Something that I think has been a massive change for me since I moved to Miami, I started prioritizing exercise,' she said on a recent podcast interview, in which she detailed a rigorous routine that includes weightlifting, yoga, Pilates and even jiu-jitsu. 'My whole body changed... 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,' she added. On that same podcast interview, she also made a telling admission. 'I hate politics,' she said. 'It's a very dark, negative. And some people love like the gladiator aspect of it: the fight. That was never me.' 'My primary goals were just to like, be the best freaking mom,' she added. Ivanka and Jared share Arabella, 13, Joseph, 10, and Theodore, 8. After leaving the White House, Kushner set up a private equity company, Affinity Partners. A source close to the family said the couple have time to 'cultivate their good looks' now that they are no longer advisors in the White House. Ivanka has previously detailed her reasonings for no longer being an advisor to her father, citing the 'craziness' of the politics and wanting to prioritize her three kids. The businesswoman has also dished about her love of fitness -- which is responsible for her toned figure. Ivanka was all smiles as she surfed the waves and splashed into the ocean. The family's trip to Costa Rica is one of their many beach vacations the couple has taken in recent years. 'Something that I think has been a massive change for me since I moved to Miami, I started prioritizing exercise,' Ivanka said. The former POTUS advisor weightlifts, does yoga and Pilates and even takes jiu-jitsu lessons. 'Now that they're no longer big players in Washington, they have all the time in the world to cultivate their good looks. They've always been especially vain,' a source close to the family told the Daily Mail. Ivanka said she 'saw a massive difference' in her body when she started resistance and strength training. Ivanka has abandoned the nation's capital for the sun of Miami, where she lives in a $24 million home with her husband and kids. Despite rumors of an alleged rift between Kloss and Ivanka, who clash politically, insiders have previously debunked such speculations, insisting the two have a 'good relationship.' For his part, after leaving the White House, Kushner has set up a private equity company, Affinity Partners. The company's assets recently grew to a staggering $4.8 billion, with - controversially - much of the funds coming from the governments of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. Kushner is estimated to have personally earned at least $112 million in fees since 2021. On this week's trip to Costa Rica, the presence of Karlie Kloss and Joshua Kushner might raise some eyebrows. Kloss, a staunch Democrat who wed Joshua in 2018, holds starkly contrasting political views from the president's conservative daughter. And things haven't always been so convivial. In 2019 interview with British Vogue, appeared to throw shade at Ivanka, saying that it was 'hard' having her as sister-in-law. But last year, a source told Page Six that Ivanka and Kloss still have a 'good relationship' despite the alleged rift. 'They're in the same family and they spend time at family events together, they also have an overlapping social circle in Miami. They may not be best friends, but it's wide off the mark to say they don't get along,' the source said. Some on-screen love stories turn into real-life relationships, only to unravel after the cameras stop rolling. Here are six former Hollywood couples who went from scene partners to significant others, and eventually, to exes. Emma Stone & Andrew Garfield: "Spider-Man" Sparks, But No Sequel andrew garfield and emma stone photographed for usa today (June 9, 2012) pic.twitter.com/lfbMnwJJ3M andrew garfield posts (@agarfieldposts) June 9, 2024 Their romantic chemistry in "The Amazing Spider-Man" translated into a four-year relationship that ended in 2015. The pair was also said to have remained on good terms after the breakup. "They still have love for one another. They are on good terms with each other and remain close," a source told People following the split. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie: A Divorce Eight Years in the Making Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie on the set of Mr & Mrs Smith, 2004 pic.twitter.com/cMowWTzJch cinematic aesthetic (@Cineaesthetic1) April 12, 2025 Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie hit it off on the set of their film "Mr. & Mrs. Smith." Married in 2014, the couple broke up just two years later when Jolie separated from the actor on the grounds of irreconcilable differences. After a lengthy court process involving child custody and asset division issues, their divorce was issued by the court in December 2024. "More than eight years ago, Angelina filed for divorce from Mr. Pitt. She and the children left all of the properties they had shared with Mr. Pitt, and since that time she has focused on finding peace and healing for their family," Jolie's lawyer James Simon said in a statement to People. "Frankly, Angelina is exhausted, but she is relieved this one part is over," Simon added. Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan: A Dance That Ended in Divorce Channing Tatum e Jenna Dewan si sono innamorati durante le riprese di Step Up e stanno ancora insieme. Loro si che sono relationship goals. pic.twitter.com/KP9J2zcFw2 julia (@inprocinto) August 8, 2017 After meeting on the set of "Step Up," Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan became one of Hollywood's favorite couples. They married in 2009 and welcomed a daughter together. The couple released a joint statement announcing their breakup in April 2018. "We have lovingly chosen to separate as a couple," they said. "We fell deeply in love so many years ago and have had a magical journey together. Absolutely nothing has changed about how much we love one another, but love is a beautiful adventure that is taking us on different paths for now." Though they separated in 2018, their divorce was only finalized in September 2024. Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner: A Family Despite the Fallout ben affleck and jennifer garner (18 sept.) pic.twitter.com/G74elbkCzg badpostaffleck (@badpostaffleck) September 20, 2016 Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's working relationship started with "Pearl Harbor" in 2001 and continued to "Daredevil" in 2003. Their relationship went public in 2004, and by the following year, they were quietly married. They had three children before the announcement of their separation in 2015, after 10 years of marriage. Their split was publicized in 2018, but the pair still seems to be getting along. Garner has also been seen supporting Affleck during his recent reported split from Jennifer Lopez. Liam Hemsworth and Miley Cyrus: From"The Last Song" to the Last Straw hilo contando toda la historia de miley cyrus y liam hemsworth: un amor de enganos, vueltas y traumas destinado al divorcio pic.twitter.com/R4pqkayWwb something beautiful (@milesholy) February 1, 2022 Liam Hemsworth first met Miley Cyrus in 2009 while on the set of "The Last Song," sparking an at times tumultuous love affair that would continue for nearly 10 years. The two were married in December 2018 but called it quits less than a year later in August 2019. Eight days after that announcement, Hemsworth was the one to file for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. By December of the same year, the divorce was settled. In interviews, Cyrus later reflected on the marriage, noting how the couple had just drifted. Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart: "Twilight's" Real-Life Romance Faded Fast robert pattinson and kristen stewarts first and last public promo for the twilight saga pic.twitter.com/DsV2PkKSs6 R (@everydayrobsten) June 1, 2021 Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart went public with their relationship while starring in the "Twilight" saga. Their on-and-off romance lasted four years before ending for good in 2013. The relationship reportedly took a turn after Stewart was photographed kissing "Snow White and the Huntsman" director Rupert Sanders in 2012, which led to public scrutiny and, eventually, the couple's split. A thatched cottage was completely destroyed in a fire which ripped through the roof in eight minutes just weeks before it was due to be tiled over. The blaze took over Bob and Paula Hessian's home, which dates back to the 17th century, on the evening of April 5 in Weston-on-the-Green, Oxfordshire. The retired couple were left with nothing after the fire, which began in the roof, brought down the loft, first floor and the majority of the walls, destroying the family's bedrooms, bathrooms and conservatory. After escaping, Mrs Hessian, a former primary school teacher and her husband, a retired pharmaceutical consultant in regulatory affairs, were forced to watch as their home of 53 years, together with all their belongings, burned. To make matters worse, the grandparents can't claim on their insurance as the property needed re-thatching, something that would have cost around 85,000 - so much that the Hessian's were going to replace it with a tiled roof in May. Daughter Kate Newman, 46, a project manager for an IT company who lives in Brackley, Northamptonshire, said the thickness of the roof meant her elderly parents didn't even realise the fire had broken out. She said they were lucky to escape alive after the smoke detectors failed to go off. Ms Newman said: 'My dad got a phone call from a neighbour who had looked out the back of her house through the window and thought it was a sunset before she realised the house was on fire. The blaze took over Bob and Paula Hessian's home on the evening of April 5 in Weston-on-the-Green, Oxfordshire. Pictured: The house, which dates back to the 17th century, on fire The retired couple were left with nothing after the fire - which began in the roof - brought down the loft, first floor and the majority of the walls. Pictured: Bob and Paula Hessian inside the house After escaping, Mrs Hessian, a former primary school teacher and her husband, a retired pharmaceutical consultant in regulatory affairs, were forced to watch as their home of 53 years, together with all their belongings, burned. Pictured: Bob and Paula Hessian outside of their home 'The flame was about the size of a car bonnet, and she told him to get out of the house. My dad thought it was a joke and said: 'What's the real reason you're phoning?'' The neighbour managed to convince the couple to get out of the house and drove over to help, as Mrs Hessian has limited mobility. Her husband phoned the fire brigade, while four other members of the public also called for help. Mr Hessian called his daughter about 15 minutes after the fire service was called, and she rushed over, receiving messages while driving from concerned neighbours who weren't sure if her parents had made it out alive. She said: 'I've never felt palpitations in my chest as much as then. My dad said it was alright and they were safe but I didn't know what to expect, and when I then got there I realised this wasn't just a small fire - the whole of their roof was up. 'They had a hydraulic lift to get water over the top of the house but the wind was so forceful it was just blowing more fire across the roof of the house.' While her parents were supported by a neighbour, she called her brother, who was holidaying in Thailand, to break the news. 'For him it was probably worse because he's only seen it via video,' she said. 'You just feel completely helpless.' Daughter Kate Newman, 46, a project manager for an IT company who lives in Brackley, Northamptonshire, said the thickness of the roof meant her elderly parents didn't even realise the fire had broken out. Pictured: The plume of smoke coming from the property Ms Newman said they were lucky to escape alive after the smoke detectors failed to go off. Pictured: What is left behind the house in Weston-on-the-Green, Oxfordshire Ms Newman said: 'My dad got a phone call from a neighbour who had looked out the back of her house through the window and thought it was a sunset before she realised the house was on fire'. Pictured: The back garden of the property with most of its roof destroyed 'The flame was about the size of a car bonnet and she told him to get out of the house' Pictured: The destruction left following the blaze The neighbour managed to convince the couple to get out of the house and drove over to help, as Mrs Hessian has limited mobility. Pictured: Rubble filled the entire the house following the horrific blaze Ms Newman's husband phoned the fire brigade, which received another four calls and headed out to try to control the flames He called his daughter about 15 minutes after the fire service was called and she rushed over - receiving calls while driving from concerned neighbours who weren't sure if her parents had made it out alive. Pictured: Going upstairs, the damage to the property becomes visible Ms Newman said the thickness of the roof meant her parents were unaware of the blaze and smoke detectors didn't go off. She added: 'If they had been in there five or six minutes longer, I think it would have been a recovery of them rather than them getting out alive, just because of how quickly it took off.' More than 80 firefighters were called out to tackle the fire, which took nearly two days to quell. The cause has not been identified, and Ms Newman says it was not a chimney fire. 'It could have been an electrical fire but the fire service said they do not know because of how quickly it went up,' she said. She estimates just 20 per cent of the house remains. Her parents are currently staying at her house and are 'devastated'. The cause has not been identified, and Ms Newman says it was not a chimney fire. ' Pictured: f Bob and Paula Hessian outside their destroyed home More than 80 firefighters were called out to tackle the fire, which took nearly two days to quell. Pictured: Only the frame of a window which formed part of the roof remains in place The house caught fire just weeks before its roof was to be tiled. Pictured: Only half of the home remains in place following the blaze She and her brother plan to help with the building work: 'I'll learn how to bricklay, how to plaster; my brother and I will spend however many weekends needed' Pictured: The Hessians look up to their destroyed home She said: 'It was a total shock for them; they're realising that they've lost all the photos of me and my brother growing up, photos of their parents and great-grandparents, things me and my brother and his children have made them and their own possessions they've collected over the years. 'If you were a bit younger, you would have time to be able to recreate some memories but there are some things in there we will never be able to replace. 'My dad had pictures of us kids growing up - this was way before digital cameras - and they're all lost. 'It's devastating for me and my brother but we still have our parents which is what we've tried to keep them knowing. 'Everything else we can try and rebuild but you can't do it without your parents. 'The light is the fact we still have our parents at the end of it and that's why we're raising as much as we can financially to support them.' She and her brother plan to help with the building work: 'I'll learn how to bricklay, how to plaster; my brother and I will spend however many weekends needed.' The couple suffered a huge blow when she found out they would not be able to claim on insurance - despite planning to tile over the thatched roof in May. Pictured: The Hessians left with a destroyed home following the fire Ms Newman said: 'It is very hard to get house insurance for thatched cottages. Very few companies cover them'. Pictured: The path of destruction left behind following the huge blaze The couple suffered a huge blow when she found out they would not be able to claim on insurance - despite planning to tile over the thatched roof in May. Ms Newman said: 'It is very hard to get house insurance for thatched cottages. Very few companies cover them. 'The thatch has to be in good condition - my parents don't have that kind of money. 'We decided to convert it into a tiled roof and had quotes. It was due to happen in May or June this year.' She said her parents were always careful with the roof and had never had an accident before. She said: 'Even on fireworks night, my dad would be outside with a hosepipe to protect the roof in case any fireworks landed. 'We were so close to having it changed. 'It is gutting but at the same time, I've got my parents - and that, to me, is everything.' To donate to the Hessians via GoFundMe, visit: https://gofund.me/81b011e2 Prince Harry is set to attend the annual 'Living Legends of Aviation' awards later this month after previously being given the accolade himself as he prepares to celebrate fire crews who helped fight this year's Los Angeles wildfires. The Duke of Sussex was confirmed for the awards on Thursday, where he will appear alongside the likes of Morgan Freeman, John Travolta and multiple NASA astronauts. The awards, held on April 25 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, honours those who have made a significant contribution to aviation and aerospace and is in its 22nd year. Actor Travolta will host the awards while Prince Harry, Morgan Freeman and other members are set to honour the aerial teams behind firefighting efforts in LA earlier this year. Organisers say: 'This memorable segment will pay special tribute to all the men and women who were involved in the aerial operations as they flew hundreds of missions in unforgiving conditions to protect and save people and property.' It comes after Harry took a two-day trip to the UK last week amid an ongoing court case which centres on his level of protection when he visits his home country. Harry was at the Royal Courts of Justice in London last week for the latest stage of a legal battle with the Home Office over the level of taxpayer-funded personal security he should receive when visiting the UK. In February 2020, the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) decided he should receive a different degree of protection when in the country, and he is appealing against a High Court ruling dismissing his case against the Home Office over the decision last year. The Duke of Sussex (pictured with wife Meghan) was confirmed for the awards on Thursday, where he will appear alongside the likes of Morgan Freeman , John Travolta and multiple NASA astronauts Prince Harry was inducted as a living legend of aviation himself at last year's ceremony (Pictured: Prince Harry at the 2024 awards alongside Prince Mario-Max Schaumburg-Lippe) Harry has previously said he faces a greater risk than his late mother, with 'additional layers of racism and extremism'. He believes his family faces an 'international threat' and has already highlighted that al Qaida had called for him to be killed. He is not believed to have seen his father King Charles during the flying visit before returning to his home in Montecito, California. The event next Friday will see three new members become 'living legends of aviation' - former NASA astronaut and Navy SEAL Christopher Cassidy, decorated Navy fighter pilot Robert Gibson and Emmy award-winning NBC News correspondent Tom Costello. The Polaris Dawn Crew will also receive the inaugural Dr Buzz Aldrin Space Advancement Award for their historic space mission. The annual ceremony will see a series of other awards handed to some of the leading technology and business figures in the aviation industry. Prince Harry was inducted as a living legend of aviation at the 2024 ceremony, alongside Fred George, Steve Hinton and Marc Parent. Organisers praised his decade of service in the British Army, which included tours of Afghanistan, as well as his humanitarian work and patronage of charities. Harry was at the Royal Courts of Justice in London last week for the latest stage of a legal battle with the Home Office over the level of taxpayer-funded personal security he should receive when visiting the UK Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and Prince Harry, patrons of the Sentebale charity, pictured at a children's centre in Lesotho in October 2024 This year's ceremony comes at a difficult time for the Prince, who is not only fighting a legal battle in the UK, but is also facing a charity commission probe. Harry founded Sentebale in honour of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales in 2006 with Prince Seeiso Of Lesotho to help young people and children in southern Africa, particularly those living with HIV and AIDS. However, both Princes stepped down from their roles at the charity last month after a string of allegations from the charity's chairman Sophie Chandauka emerged. Earlier this month Harry accused Chandauka of telling 'blatant lies' as Britain's charities watchdog launched an investigation into 'concerns' about how the charity he set up in his mother's memory has been run. The Charity Commission opened a regulatory compliance case a week after Harry quit as a patron and demanded the resignation of Chandauka. She refused, took legal action to remain in post and reported her concerns to the Charity Commission, who responded by announcing an investigation. The Duke Of Sussex has spoken out about the bitter boardroom battle for control and said he believes the truth about their deepening rift will be 'unveiled'. Harry said: 'What has transpired over the last week has been heartbreaking to witness, especially when such blatant lies hurt those who have invested decades in this shared goal. No one suffers more than the beneficiaries of Sentebale itself.' Mark Zuckerberg and wife Priscilla Chan are closing the Silicon Valley school they founded nine years after it first opened. The Primary School in Palo Alto announced that it will be shutting its doors at the end of the 202526 school year. More than 500 students and 159 and staff will be affected by the closure. The school said it had made the 'difficult decision' after 'much deliberation', although no explanation was provided. However the closure of the progressive school has coincided with Zuckerberg's MAGA makeover in recent months. 'We have been deeply humbled by the support of so many during our journey,' Jean-Claude Brizard, The Primary School Board Chair said. 'Our community and partners have made a lasting impact on children and families, and helped us demonstrate what is possible when we think and operate differently.' The Primary School was founded in 2016 with the intention of combining education, health care and social support. It focused heavily on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) measures, which have fallen out of fashion in recent years with Zuckerberg seemingly joining the backlash. Mark Zuckerberg and wife Priscilla Chan are closing the Silicon Valley school they founded The Primary School announced that it will be shutting its doors at the end of the 202526 school year 'Our vision is to build a model that can be effectively implemented in diverse communities and sustained on public funding,' the school's website states, also noting the challenges in education today. 'Because of systemic racism, communities of color are disproportionately affected by these challenges and have the added burden of not being able to afford or access adequate services,' it adds. The school is attended by 543 students, 61 percent of whom are Latino according to the school. The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative which funds the school said will make a $50 million investment over the next few years to help with the transition. The decision to pull the plug comes as Zuckerberg has been moving away from his previous progressive views and instead cozying up to Donald Trump. This has included axing fact checkers on Meta platforms in the name of stamping out censorship and ditching DEI initiatives in line with the president's executive order for federal bodies. The Meta boss has spent millions of dollars getting close to Trump in an effort to avoid paying billions in fines to the Federal Trade Commission and seeing his empire dismantled, a shocking new report revealed on Wednesday. Zuckerberg has been in federal court this week, pushing back against the government's allegation that his company committed anti-trust violations when it bought up rivals as a way to preserve its power and increase its bottom line. The closure has coincided with Zuckerberg's MAGA makeover which has seen him ditch his liberal politics President Donald Trump and Mark Zuckerberg in the Oval Office in 2019. The two have become closer in recent months and the tech boss was invited to the president's inauguration this year The couple's school was rooted in DEI principles of anti-racism, according to its website If the judge rules against him, the 40-year-old could see his $1.3 trillion business empire broken into pieces. In a frantic attempt to save his corporation, Zuckerberg reportedly turned to the president, visiting the White House three times. He and his aides met with Trump, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles and other administration officials as part of his lobbying campaign, the Wall Street Journal reported. The FTC was seeking $30 billion to drop its case, much more than the $450 million Meta offered. 'We havent been shy about explaining why it doesnt make sense for the FTC to bring a case to trial that requires it to prove something every 17-year-old in America knows is absurdthat Instagram doesnt compete with TikTok,' Meta spokeswoman Dani Lever said. Zuckerberg has also debuted a new look to go along with his updated political outlook. He recently stunned guests at his wife's 40th birthday by donning a plunging blue jumpsuit similar to one worn by Benson Boone during his Grammy's performance and serenading the crowd. While earlier this month, he stepped out in an all black tuxedo and black shades which he kept on throughout his appearance on the red carpet for the 11th Breakthrough Prize Ceremony. Zuckerberg has also gone from being a geek to a musclebound gym user who now enjoys hunting, mixed martial arts and ostentatious gold jewelry. DailyMail.com has contacted The Primary School, Meta and the CZI for comment. A woman in Georgia who was sentenced to 36 years in prison for the deaths of five people in a hit and run has been released after serving only 14 years of jail time. Aimee Michael was sentenced in 2010 after the gruesome car crash killed five people on Easter Sunday in 2009. Michael, who was 24 at the time, stood up in court to apologize to the families. 'I want to say that I am wrong. I have wronged three families, and for that, I am sorry,' she said, WSB-TV reported. Now, one of those family members has been left outraged by Michael's shockingly early release on parole, something she was only notified of after the fact. Kathy Smith told the outlet that no one informed her that Michael was even up for parole and thought she would be serving her 36-year sentence in full. 'When I get up every day, my family is not here,' she said. The fatal crash killed Smith's daughter Delisia, Delisia's husband Robert, their daughter Kayla, 9, and their 2-month-old son Ethan. Aimee Michael was sentenced in 2010 after the gruesome car crash killed five people on Easter Sunday in 2009 The fatal crash killed Kathy Smith's daughter Delisia, Delisia's husband Robert, their daughter Kayla, 9, and their 2-month-old son Ethan The crash also killed 6-year-old Morgan Johnson and injured her mother Smith said that she plays the piano to cope with the pain of losing her family and added: 'I was doing so well.' Now, all the pain has reemerged for Smith with Michael leaving prison after serving less than half of her sentence. 'When I heard this yesterday, I immediately was in an asthma attack,' Smith told WSB-TV's Tom Jones. No one had contacted her about Michael's parole or her release, Smith said, adding that she would have spoken with the parole board beforehand to prevent her being freed. 'I would have told them that, "No, I disagree with her getting out," I thought 36 years meant 36 years,' she said. On the day of Michael's sentencing, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Kimberly Esmond Adams told Michael: 'The one thing I couldn't get out of my mind is that you left the scene of the crime.' 'And then you followed a course of conduct designed to cover up what happened.' Prosecutors said in court that Michael caused the deadly crash after losing control of her BMW a few miles from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Kathy Smith (pictured) told the outlet that no one informed her that Michael was up for parole and thought she would be serving her full 36-year sentence. 'When I get up every day, my family is not here,' she said On the day of Michael's sentencing, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Kimberly Esmond Adams told Michael: 'The one thing I couldn't get out of my mind is that you left the scene of the crime. And then you followed a course of conduct designed to cover up what happened' Pictured: The wreckage of the car crash that took the lives of five people She was only arrested more than a week later after neighbors called the police. Along with the tragic killing of Smith's family, the crash also killed 6-year-old Morgan Johnson and injured her mother. Michael's mother, Shelia, had helped her cover up the horrific crime and pleaded guilty to two counts of tampering with evidence and hindering the apprehension of a criminal. 'What Shelia Michael did was driven by fear and attempt to protect her child,' said Renne Rockwell. 'It was the worst move she could have made. If Aimee Michael had gone back to the scene, we would be talking about six to 12 months at most.' But Judge Adams said that 'as a mother' she was 'required to do the right thing.' 'And when your daughter came to you at a time when she needed you most - she needed her mother - you failed her,' Adams said at the time. Michael was found guilty on five counts of vehicular homicide, one count of serious bodily injury, six counts of hit-and-run misdemeanors including reckless driving, failure to maintain lane and tampering with evidence. Smith, who believes faith has also helped her through the difficult pain of losing her daughter and family, said she had turned her prayers to Michael. 'I pray I don't run into her,' she said According to a parole document obtained by the outlet, Michael is in a rehab facility in Emanuel County. The document indicated that she will be on parole for the next 20 years Michael's husband Robert said at the time he felt that he 'needed to be here' at the time of the crash and apologized for being overseas. 'I let you down... I'm sorry that this happened and I just wish we could start all over again,' he said. 'But still, I have to remember the victims,' he continued. 'They have lost more.' According to a parole document obtained by the outlet, Michael is in a rehab facility in Emanuel County. The document indicated that she will be on parole for the next 20 years, the outlet reported. Michael's mother served three of her eight-year sentence. Smith, who believes faith has also helped her through the difficult pain of losing her daughter and family, said she had turned her prayers to Michael in a pointed way. 'I pray I don't run into her,' she said. President Donald Trump on Friday ripped into Chris Van Hollen for traveling to El Salvador to meet with a migrant being held prisoner there, calling the Democratic senator a 'fool' who was 'begging for attention.' Van Hollen sat down with Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, 29, a Maryland man and father of three who was deported last month over connections to the MS-13 gang, posting a photo of the meeting on social media. Since his removal, which the Trump administration admits was due to an 'administrative error,' Democrats have been pleading for 'Maryland father' to be released, arguing that he was unlawfully removed from the U.S. and that he is not a criminal. In addition, new allegations of abuse by his wife between 2019-2021 were also exclusively exposed by DailyMail.com according to a bombshell court filing. Trump, who claims Garcia is a member of MS-13 and belongs in jail, lashed out at the Maryland senator. 'Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland looked like a fool yesterday standing in El Salvador begging for attention from the Fake News Media, or anyone. GRANDSTANDER!!!,' the president wrote on his X account. Trump, during an Oval Office event Friday, was asked about other Democrats wanting to make the trip: 'They're all fake, and they have no interest in that prisoner. That prisoners record is unbelievably bad,' he said. President Donald Trump slammed Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland for his trip to El Salvador The White House has bashed Van Hollen for the trip to South America and tried to compare Garcia's situation to a case involving Rachel Morin, a Maryland mother who was brutally raped and murdered by an El Salvadoran migrant. Morin's mother Patty joined White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt at her briefing on Wednesday to discuss her daughter's case. She also met with President Trump. The White House posted a side-by-side comparison of Patty with Trump and Van Hollen with Garcia, writing of the photos: 'We are not the same.' Van Hollen flew to El Salvador on Wednesday to try and meet with Garcia in order to check on his and his condition. The senator was denied entry into the notorious CECOT, or Center for the Compulsory Housing of Terrorism, in Tecoluca, San Vicente, El Salvador, where Garcia is being held. But later El Salvadorian officials arranged for the two men to meet outside CECOT. Van Hollen posted a photo of the meeting on X but did not provide any other updates. Garcia is a Salvadoran citizen who has lived in Maryland for almost 15 years. While he initially entered the U.S. illegally, a federal judge in 2019 granted him protection from being deported, due to concerns for his safety if he were to return to El Salvador. He was picked up outside an Ikea in Baltimore on March 12 and eventually sent to El Salvador. His attorneys are suing the administration for his return. Trump and El Salvadorian President Nayib Bukele said they have no basis to return him to the United States, even as the Trump administration has called his deportation a mistake and the U.S. Supreme Court has called on the administration to facilitate Garcia's return. 'He is not coming back to our country,' Attorney General Pam Bondi told reporters his week. 'President Bukele said he was not sending him back. That's the end of the story,' she said. 'If he wanted to send him back, we would give him a plane ride back. There was no situation, ever, where he was going to stay in this country. None.' Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen meets Kilmar Abrego Garcia Van Hollen said he traveled to El Salvador to check on Garcia's condition as his family had been able to get in touch with him. 'I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar,' Van Hollen wrote on X, with a photo of the two men talking in what appeared to be a restaurant. 'Tonight I had that chance. I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return.' Its not clear how the meeting was arranged, where the two men met or what will happen to Garcia. Bukele posted images of the meeting minutes before Van Hollen shared his post, saying, 'Now that hes been confirmed healthy, he gets the honor of staying in El Salvadors custody.' The tweet ended with emojis of the U.S. and El Salvador flags, with a handshake emoji between them. Trump, who met with Bukele in the Oval Office earlier this week, and his officials claim Garica is a member of the dangerous gang MS-13. But Garcia denies this and there are no charges connecting him to the gang. When asked by reporters Thursday afternoon if he believed Garcia was entitled to due process, Trump ducked the question. 'I have to refer, again, to the lawyers,' he said in the Oval Office. 'I have to do what they ask me to do.' President Donald Trump shakes hands with El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele Van Hollen's meeting came hours after he said he was denied entry into the high-security CECOT prison. The Democratic senator said at a news conference in San Salvador on Thursday afternoon, before his meeting, that his car was stopped by soldiers at a checkpoint about 3 kilometers (about 2 miles) from the prison even as they let other cars go on. 'They stopped us because they are under orders not to allow us to proceed,' Van Hollen said. While Van Hollen was denied entry, several House Republicans have visited the prison. Rep. Riley Moore, a West Virginia Republican, posted Tuesday evening that hed visited the prison where Garcia is being held. He did not mention Garcia. Missouri Republican Rep. Jason Smith, chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, also visited the prison. He posted on X that 'thanks to President Trump' the facility 'now includes illegal immigrants who broke into our country and committed violent acts against Americans.' Van Hollen first arrived in El Salvador on Wednesday morning and met shortly afterward with Salvadoran Vice President Felix Ulloa, who told him that his government could not return Garcia to the United States. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials acknowledged in a court filing earlier this month that his deportation was an ' administrative error.' The government's acknowledgment sparked immediate uproar from immigration advocates, but White House officials have dug in on the allegation that hes a gang member and will not be returned to the United States. Since March, El Salvador has accepted from the U.S. more than 200 Venezuelan immigrants whom Trump administration officials have accused of gang activity and violent crimes - and placed them inside the countrys megaprison. That prison is part of Bukeles broader effort to crack down on his country's street gangs, which has put 84,000 people behind bars and made Bukele extremely popular at home. Bukele plans to expand the CECOT, which is already the largest prison in the world, he told Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem when she visited last month, the Wall Street Journal reported. 'We have no plans to bring them back, this is a long-term solution,' she told the news outlet. 'He has plans to double the size. He has 80-plus acres there that he's going to continue to build on.' Inmates at the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) prison Doubling the prison's capacity would create space for a total of 80,000 inmates. The Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) was built in late 2022 amid a gang crackdown in El Salvador. As of June 11, 2024, CECOT had a population of 14,532 inmates. It can hold 40,000. The prison faces allegations of human rights violations, including overcrowding, lack of due process, and inhumane conditions. It sits on 57 acres and Bukele's government controls the 350 acres around the compound. It's surrounded by 19 guard towers, 24-inch-thick walls that are topped with barbed wire, and two sets of electrified fences. The prison is staffed by 600 soldiers and 250 police officers. In mid-March, Trump's administration deported more than 250 alleged gang members to El Salvador - most of them Venezuelan - and had them incarcerated in CECOT. The U.S. is paying Bukele's government $6 million to hold them. Noem, who visited the prison, said El Salvadoran officials told her the prisoners deported from the U.S. were treated better than local inmates. 'They have mattresses. They have full meals,' she said. 'They receive time for exercise and are getting medical checks on a regular basis.' A woke Washington State University instructor who was caught on camera beating up an Indian-American student in a MAGA hat has been fired from his post. PhD student and instructor Patrick Mahoney along with student Gerald Hoff ripped Jay Sani's hat from him while outside of a bar near the Pullman campus on February 28. Sani, who is Indian-American, was seen in disturbing footage being pushed to the ground by the two men and repeatedly punched. The engineering student said the attack left him with multiple scrapes and bruises, and reported the assault to police. The university has since announced that Mahoney, who is a proud communist, has been 'relieved of all teaching responsibilities'. The school said: 'Washington State University is aware of an off-campus incident that occurred last February involving a WSU staff member and a graduate student. 'After an investigation conducted by the City of Pullmans police department, and in accordance with WSU policies, the staff members employment has been terminated. 'The second individual involved was a graduate student serving as a teaching assistant. 'He was not a Washington State University professor. This person has been relieved of all teaching responsibilities.' The university had announced that Patrick Mahoney, seen here, has been 'relieved of all teaching responsibilities' Mahoney along with student Gerald Hoff ripped Jay Sani's hat from him while outside of a bar near campus on February 28, Sani is seen here Sani, who is Indian-American, was seen in disturbing footage being pushed to the ground by the two men and repeatedly punched The clip of the incident was first obtained by Turning Point USA Frontlines reporter Jonathan Choe. Police bodycam footage showed the men admitted to the assault but downplayed what happened. 'I've seen this guy f*****g on campus before. I know he's like, f*****g like, right-wing dude,' Mahoney said. 'I, like, grabbed his hat, threw it, and I said like, "Go get it."' 'We did grab him and bring him to the ground,' Hoff said. Mahoney - who is a PhD candidate at the School of Politics, Philosophy, and Public Affairs and teaches an intro level politics class - tried to blame the fight on Sani. 'I didn't f*****g hit him. I don't think I did f*****g something illegal,' Mahoney said. 'He wanted to fight, he f*****g got what's coming to him. I gave him a hit to be like, "Yo, don't f**k with us anymore." Mahoney and Hoff were arrested and charged with fourth-degree misdemeanor assault. Sani told Turning Point he did not know Hoff before the attack, but believes his past encounters with Mahoney may have contributed to the assault. White PhD student and instructor Patrick Mahoney, along with Gerald Hoff, allegedly threw his cap off, told him to 'Go get it b***h,' then assaulted him Student Gerald Hoff is seen here, he was also involved in the assault of Sani Police bodycam footage showed the men (Mahoney pictured) admitted to the assault but downplayed what happened Sani said: ''[Mahoney] said to me, "Go get it b***h.' He punched me a bunch of times on the back. 'Gerald also kicked me a bunch of times too. Patrick, he grabbed my chest and slammed it on the concrete as I was falling.' In a Facebook post he also wrote: 'A fight ensued which resulted in Jay Sani being thrown onto the concrete. 'This caused Jay Sani to bleed and suffer further injuries. One or more of them then proceeded to kick Jay Sani while he collapsed on the concrete.' Sani is involved with conservative student groups on campus, including Turning Point USA, while Mahoney is described as a far-left graduate student. Mahoney has been active in pro-Palestinian demonstrations, including advocating for the Pullman City Council to sign a Gaza ceasefire resolution. Lawyers representing three alleged British victims of Andrew Tate say a failure to prosecute him sends the message to young men that they can 'rape with impunity'. In a letter to Stephen Parkinson, Director of Public Prosecutions, they say inaction by police and prosecutors also conveys to women that the British criminal justice system will not protect them from sexual violence. McCue Jury & Partners is representing three women who have accused the misogynist social media influencer of raping and sexually and physically assaulting them on multiple occasions when he lived in the UK. He is alleged to have sent one a text message saying 'I love raping you'. Matthew Jury, a partner at the law firm, said Hertfordshire police had a 'dossier of evidence' supporting the women's allegations, including an eyewitness to one of the rapes and text and audio messages from Tate but the women were told in 2019 he would not be facing charges due to, in part, a lack of medical evidence. Mr Jury has now written to Mr Parkinson calling on him to reconsider the decision not to charge him. In the letter, seen by the Daily Mail, he said the lack of progress had left the women 'feeling trapped and in a state of paralysis with no confidence in the institutions they had trusted to protect them'. The violent misogyny Tate shares online has been linked to a number of crimes including the murder of BBC racing commentator John Hunt's wife Carol, 61, and two daughters Louise, 25, and Hannah, 28, at their home in Bushey, Hertfordshire, in July 2024 by Kyle Clifford. Andrew Tate (R) and his brother Tristan speak to the media as they arrive in Romania back from US, in Bucharest March 22, 2025 Andrew Tate (left) and his brother Tristan Tate walk inside the Court of Appeal on October 15, 2024 in Crossbow killer Kyle Clifford watched Andrew Tate's content before murdering Louise Hunt, Amy Hunt and Carol Hunt last July Lawyer Matthew Jury said a failure to prosecute Andrew Tate sends the message to young men that they can 'rape with impunity' In the letter, the lawyer highlighted the 'ongoing and devastating effects that Tate is having on young men by encouraging violence towards women'. He said: 'Any failure to prosecute Tate regarding these allegations conveys a message to these young men that they, too, can rape with impunity and to UK women that the criminal justice system will not protect them from other perpetrators of sexual violence.' Mr Jury said the victims believe that had it not been for the 'perceived failings' of Herts police and the Crown Prosecution Service, many other women might have been spared the horrific abuse they allegedly suffered at the hands of Tate. Tate and his brother, Tristan, 36, face trial in Romania for rape and human trafficking linked to his 'sex cam business' based in Bucharest. Tate is also the subject of a European arrest warrant from Bedfordshire police for unrelated rape allegations. The Tates deny all the claims. The three British women allege Andrew Tate raped and sexually and physically assaulted them on multiple occasions, as well as subjecting them to coercive and controlling behaviour between 2013 and 2015. They reported the allegations to police but following a four-year investigation were told in November 2019 he would not be charged. The lawyer said the women believe police 'did not take them seriously from the outset' and they received very few updates during the investigation. In April 2023, the lawyers wrote to Herts police asking them to reopen their investigation into Tate and were told again there was not enough evidence to charge. In the letter to the DPP Mr Jury said: 'We recognise the challenges in prosecuting certain rape cases, as the nature of the crime often means there is a lack of evidence. 'However, given the strength of our clients evidence and the consistency and number of nearly identical allegations made by unrelated women in the UK and Romania, we struggle to understand how the decision was made not to prosecute Tate. 'While our clients are pleased that the victims whose complaints are the subject of the Bedfordshire investigation may see justice served, they feel left behind. 'As Director of Public Prosecutions, we ask that you re-visit this matter and instruct the CPS to review this matter and make a fresh assessment based on the available evidence as to whether the investigation should be re-opened.' The three women and another alleged victim are now pursuing civil action against Tate for coercive control. Two of the women who worked for his online sex business in Luton, Bedfordshire, in 2015 while the other two were former girlfriends. Crossbow killer Kyle Clifford watched Andrew Tate's content before murdering Louise Hunt, Amy Hunt and Carol Hunt last July Kyle Clifford's police interview Louise (left), sister Hannah (centre) and mother Carol Hunt who were murdered by Kyle Clifford Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick said the case for reopening the police investigation was 'very strong' Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick said the case for reopening the police investigation was 'very strong'. 'I have serious concerns that the initial investigation was flawed and missed important evidence,' he said. 'In light of new evidence and victims coming forward, I urge the Director of Public Prosecutions to look at the case again and consider whether it should be reopened. 'While respecting operational independence, the Justice Secretary should be raising this urgently too. Nobody can be above UK law, no matter how powerful they think they are.' A Crown Prosecution Service spokesman said: 'Cases involving allegations of serious sexual violence are always reviewed by specialist prosecutors with great care and consideration. 'We can confirm we have received a letter and will respond in due course.' Tate's solicitor, Andrew Ford of Holborn Adams, said: 'Matters should not be reopened or re-investigated purely on the basis that the complainant doesnt like the decision made. 'The decisions made by the CPS in 2019 were made upon a full review of the evidence. 'Any victims right to review would be well out of time and the rules of law should not change purely based on the profile of the subject of the allegations.' Herts police declined to comment but pointed to an earlier statement in which it acknowledged delays in the case. Parents who abdicate responsibility for their childs behaviour should face sanctions from schools, a teaching union has heard. Members of the NASUWT have told its annual conference heads should crack down on those allowing their offspring to abuse teachers. One even suggested permissive parents should face losing their childs school place. The union passed a motion saying the the changing relationship between parents and schools is having a detrimental impact on pupil behaviour. It said reports of extreme pupil indiscipline including incidents involving knives and other weapons are on the rise. Patrick Roach, the unions General Secretary, warned delegates in Liverpool that better support was needed for home-school relationships to help combat youth violence. But Lindsay Hanger, a teacher member from Norfolk, went further to say parents must face consequences for failing to support behaviour codes. She said: Appropriate sanctions are needed to encourage and require parents to support the schools. Parents who abdicate responsibility for their childs behaviour should face sanctions from schools, delegate Lindsay Hanger told the annual NASUWT conference in Liverpool (pictured: a previous NASUWT demonstration) The union passed a motion saying the 'the changing relationship' between parents and schools is 'having a detrimental impact on pupil behaviour'. But this is not the case in many places today I think the Government needs to go further, with a strategy to ensure that all parents of school-aged children are expected to uphold the behaviour strategies or risk their child being denied their place in the classroom. She said while many schools ask parents to agree to support a behaviour policy, they are not challenged when they fail to do so. The parents abdicating responsibility were a small minority, she said, but the disruption was impacting the ability of other pupils in a class to learn. She also warned some schools are pursuing attendance goals at any cost and think it is more important than safety concerns. Other members agreed that parents were contributing to discipline issues in schools. Gary Upton from Buckinghamshire, said: It seems a lot of the behaviour from our students comes from parental behaviour. He added instead of being able to implement instant action for swearing, now they have to go through support processes to appease parents. Patrick Roach (pictured), NASUWT General Secretary, warned delegates in Liverpool that better support was needed for 'home-school relationships' to help combat 'youth violence'. And he said some teachers are even having to devise strategies to keep violent parents outside of school reception. Andrew Dunkley, from Aylesbury, said parents often encourage their children to be defiant and refuse sanctions. The motion committed the union to opposing blanket no exclusion policies, which some Left-wing campaigners have been advocating for. A Department for Education spokesman said: The Education Secretary is committed to a comprehensive programme of behaviour support for schools. Our Plan for Change places a relentless focus on giving every child the best start, no matter their background, including establishing free breakfast clubs in every primary school, proven to improve behaviour, attendance, attainment, wellbeing and readiness to learn. A prominent Washington, DC-based matchmaker unveiled a peculiar new dealbreaker among liberal singles - a vehement refusal to date individuals who own a Tesla. Kat Markiewicz, a matchmaker based in the nation's capital, says she's observed a significant shift in dating preferences of liberals since President Donald Trump's election victory in November. According to the professional intermediary, political polarization has intensified to unprecedented levels in recent months, leading to unexpected criterion for potential partners including the make and model of their vehicles. 'Four years ago, five years ago, I was hearing, "Oh, I couldn't date a Trump supporter,"' Markiewicz, a matchmaker at Three Day Rule Matchmaking, said. 'Now it's like, "I cannot date someone if they drive a Tesla."' Susan Trombetti, another DC-based matchmaker, echoed Markiewicz sentiments, as she said just a few years ago, dating a Trump supporter might have been a dealbreaker for some. Now, simply owning one of Elon Musk's branded vehicles is enough to disqualify someone from potential consideration. 'It's just so polarizing,' the DMV-based professional told Axios. 'It always has been, but it's on steroids.' She suspects the growing adversity is related to Musk's Department of Government Efficiency's sprawling cuts to the federal workforce. Kat Markiewicz (pictured), a matchmaker based in the nation's capital, says she's observed a significant shift in dating preferences of liberals since President Donald Trump's election victory in November According to the professional intermediary, political polarization has intensified to unprecedented levels in recent months, leading to unexpected criterion for potential partners like the make and model of their vehicles The unprecedented DOGE cuts 'feel so personal,' according to the matchmakers. They say this dating behavior marks a trend on dating apps where rather than sharing intimate details about themselves, singles opt for a more politically charged description, writing 'laid off by DOGE' on their profiles. Markiewicz said nearly half her clients are people with government-connected jobs. The matchmaking expert said many of her clients tell her they'd never date someone from across the political aisle - before she can even ask. 'Things feel chaotic in their professional lives, and I think it's kind of rolling over into their personal lives as well,' Markiewicz told Axios. According to data from OKCupid - an online dating and social networking platform - before last summer, 45 percent of the application's users in DC said they wanted to match with a member of their political party. That number only continued to climb after Trump's election win, rising to a 51 percent majority in November and again to 58 percent after his Inauguration Day in January. Some residents of the American capital have called the dating climate 'ominous' and several users say they're utilizing the connection-seeking apps for alternative motives. Just a few years ago, dating a Trump supporter might have been a dealbreaker for some, but now, simply owning one of Elon Musk's branded vehicles is enough to disqualify someone from potential consideration The unprecedented cuts 'feel so personal,' according to the matchmakers who have also paid notice to a growing trend on dating apps where rather than sharing intimate details about themselves, singles opt for a more politically-charged description, writing 'laid off by DOGE' on their profiles The matchmaking expert said many of her clients tell her they'd never date someone from across the political aisle - before she can even ask Peter Durkin, a resident of the District of Columbia's Shaw neighborhood, told Axios that he'd like to score a job if he doesn't score romantically. Some have even resorted to looking for love in other cities, citing a troubled job climate in the national capitol, White divulged to Axios. Another Shaw resident, Samantha White, said she's seen an increase in date cancellations as many feel a looming threat to their jobs and seek to 'save money.' 'Sometimes you spend 10 minutes joking about, like, "Oh, I don't know if I'll have a job tomorrow."' As many as 2.1 million motorists with bad eyesight could be on British roads as a coroner warned that 'lax' licensing rules could have deadly consequences. Dr James Adeley, senior coroner for Lancashire, issued a prevention of future deaths report after finding that four people had been killed by drivers with poor vision. The UK licensing system is the 'laxest' in Europe, Dr Adeley said in a letter to Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander. And an inquest in Preston heard Mary Cunningham, 79, Grace Foulds, 85, Anne Ferguson, 75, and Peter Westwell, 80, all died in traffic collisions where the driver had defective eyesight. 'The four fatalities shared the same feature that the driver's sight was well below the standard required to drive a car', Dr Adeley stated in his report. Tests for visual ability to drive have not changed since the 1930s with the threshold remaining being able to read a registration plate from 20 metres away or around 66ft. Audi driver Glyn Jones, 68, ploughed into friends Mrs Cunningham and Mrs Foulds as they crossed a road in Southport on November 30, 2021. He was unable to see due to a condition called severe 'bilateral keratoconus', but he ignored medical advice that his eyesight was too poor. A coroner has warned that as many as 2.1 million motorists with bad eyesight could be driving on British roads Mrs Ferguson was killed by van driver Vernon Law, 72, who had been to an optician a month before the crash in Rochdale in July 2023 and was told he had cataracts in both eyes. Following her death, her husband took his own life. Meanwhile, pedestrian Mr Westwell was struck and killed by a Honda Jazz driven by Neil Pemberton, 81, in Langho on March 17, 2022. Pemberton made no attempt to brake and was speeding at 48mph in 30mph zone. The inquest heard Pemberton had a long history of severe bilateral eye disease and was twice warned he should not drive before he began to inform optometrists he was a non-driver. He repeatedly failed to self-report his condition. In his prevention of future deaths notice, Dr Adeley informed the Department of Transport: 'In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken.' Dr Adeley is concerned that the licensing system is the laxest in Europe because the UK is one of only five European countries to use the registration plate test. It is also one of only three to rely upon self-reporting of visual conditions. At 70 and every three years after, a driver self-reports on a licence application that they can read a plate at 20 metres. The coroner observed: 'Self-reporting of visual conditions permits drivers to lie about their current driving status to those performing an ophthalmic assessment and avoid warnings not to drive.' Experts' estimates of the number of motorists with substandard vision range from 1.7 per cent to 5 per cent or between 720,000 and 2.1million. A New York banker who mysteriously died in Spain made a panicked final phone call to his family moments before disappearing. Grant Barr, 37, disappeared during a trip to Estepona, a popular beach resort in southern Spain, on January 28. He was burnt out, exhausted from his grueling role as a high flyer in Manhattan, and had recently broken up with his girlfriend, his family tells Daily Mail. Barr had gone to Europe to relax and unplug - but fell tragically deeper into a spiral that his grieving family are still trying to make sense of. At 3pm on January 28, a bizarre phone call to his brother left the family so worried that they hopped on a plane. By the time they got to Spain, Grant had vanished. It wasn't until April 4 - nearly three months later - that they were finally told what had happened. Grant Barr, 37, vanished while on vacation in Spain in January. His body was found in March A body had been pulled from the water and DNA proved it to be that of their son. He'd been found a month earlier, but Spanish authorities didn't make a positive ID despite the family reporting Grant missing in January. Now, they are demanding answers from the European authorities. James, 41, says the family has had to most of the investigative work themselves. Beyond being told that his brother drowned, he is still in the dark when it comes to his final moments. 'It was 3pm here so about 9pm there... he called me and he was in a panic. He said, "James - I'm in trouble. I need help - they're after me,"' James said of the January 28 phone call. 'I was like, "who's after you?! Who?"' He said he was running through the woods... and I think that was the last time anyone spoke to him.' James, who lives in New Jersey with the rest of the family, flew to Spain immediately. Their parents joined him, and the search began. They interviewed locals and pounded the sidewalks looking for answers, but learned nothing. Barr, 37, disappeared on January 28 while visiting Estepona, in southern Spain Grant was burnt out, exhausted from his grueling role as a high flyer in Manhattan, and had recently broken up with his girlfriend, his family tells Daily Mail How Grant ended up in the water remains a mystery. A keen sailor, he was accustomed to the ocean and was a competent swimmer On February 18, a local came forward to say he had found Grant's passport but the police response was underwhelming. 'The police really treated it more like a lost and found and that was kind of the first time that I realized that we're dealing with a very different system and a very different. 'I was like, you got at least follow up on it,' James said. The family returned to Spain hoping for answers, but were again left in the dark. While James and his mother walked 'miles' in search of him, his father rooted himself in the port, hoping to catch a glimpse of his son. 'He sat there all day long with a coffee, just waiting to see if Grant walked by,' he said. How Grant ended up in the water remains a mystery. A keen sailor, he was accustomed to the ocean and was a competent swimmer. His brother fears he may have been caught in a rip tide, worsened by stormy weather. Spanish police are yet to confirm exactly what happened. Grant's body has since been returned to his family for burial. President Donald Trump's Oval Office erupted into chaos after a young family member of Dr. Mehmet Oz collapsed during his swearing-in ceremony. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had sworn in Oz as administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Services just moments before the mayhem started. Oz, a longtime television personality who pivoted to politics, unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania in 2022. But he garnered Trump's endorsement during that run and stayed in Trump's political orbit, earning a position in the current administration. After the brief ceremony was over, Trump held a back and forth with reporters in the room. That was hastily cut short, when the young girl collapsed - with Oz, a medical doctor, rushing to assist her. White House aides started yelling at the press to depart the scene. 'Thank you press, get out right now,' one aide is heard yelling. 'No photos!' someone said. The White House soon provided the press with an update - the young family member was fine. 'A minor family member fainted during Dr. Oz's swearing in ceremony in the Oval Office. We are happy to say she is OK,' a White House official said. President Donald Trump 's Oval Office erupted into chaos after a young family member of Dr. Mehmet Oz collapsed during his swearing-in ceremony President Donald Trump (center) stopped his Q&A with reporters after a family member of Dr. Mehmet Oz (second from right) fainted at Oz's swearing-in ceremony Friday Her fainting spell brought another rollicking mini press conference in the Oval to a dramatic conclusion. The president had been peppered with questions about Russia-Ukraine talks, Iran's nuclear program and he gleefully answered a conservative reporter's question about Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen's meeting in El Salvador with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador by the Trump administration. 'Photos have emeged of Sen. Van Hollen sipping what appears to be margaritas with Abrego Garcia down in El Salvador. Do you encourage other Democrats to fly down to El Salvador to meet with this illegal alien who's an accused wife-beater?' the reporter asked. Trump said he appreciated the question. 'I like this guy, see now this is the kind of a reporter we like, there aren't enough of them,' Trump said. 'No, look, he's a fake,' Trump said of Van Hollen, who represents Maryland where Abrego Garcia had been living. 'I know him. I know them all. They're fake. They have no interest in that prisoner.' Trump said that Abrego Garcia was a member of MS-13 and detailed allegations of abuse his wife file against him, which DailyMail.com exclusively reported. The president then falsely claimed that there were 'no stories' about 'Angel Mom' Patty Morin, who spoke at a White House briefing earlier this week. Several reporters and aides can be seen watching a young girl faint in the Oval Office as others asked questions to President Donald Trump Her daughter had been raped and murdered by an illegal immigrant, with the White House holding that up as evidence of Biden's failed immigration policy. While CNN and MSNBC didn't take the briefing live, Morin's appearance got mainstream coverage. When a reporter switched the topic to Iran, Trump scoffed, 'No impact ... see that, no impact whatsoever.' On Russia and Ukraine, Trump said he needed to see that both sides were serious about making peace. 'My whole life has been one big negotiation and I know when people are playing us and when they are not and I have to see an enthusiasm to want to end it,' Trump responded. 'And I think I see that enthusiasm. I think I see it from both side. But you're going to know soon. The president bristled when asked if Russia was playing him. 'No, nobody's playing me, I'm trying to help. This is Biden's war,' he answered. Trump was talking Iran when Oz's family member fainted. 'But with the with Iran, with Iran, they can't have a nuclear weapon, and if they have a nuclear weapon, you'll all be very unhappy,' the president said. 'You all be very unhappy since your lifetime, because your life will be in great danger.' FSU alleged shooter Phoenix Ikner's distraught biological family have lashed out at his father and cop step-mom in an exclusive DailyMail.com interview broadly blaming them for turning the 20-year-old into a suspected killer. Highly emotional maternal grandmother Susan Eriksen branded Ikner's father Christopher and his sheriff's deputy wife Jessica 'rotten bastard people' for their influence over 'the smartest, sweetest kid'. She revealed that she and Ikner's mother Anne Mari Eriksen had not seen alleged double-killer Ikner for 10 years despite repeated attempts following a messy custody battle. Ikner, who reportedly promoted white supremacist views, is accused of killing two people and wounding six others when he allegedly opened fire on the Florida State University campus in state capital Tallahassee on Thursday. 'They taught him how to hunt, they're bigoted people, they hated a lot of people,' said 79-year-old grandmother Susan at her Tallahassee condo on Friday. 'He was the sweetest kid, smart' she added before breaking down. Recovering her composure and clearly very angry amid all the grief, she went on: 'The rotten bastard people. 'We had just found a new phone number a couple of months ago and tried to call the house and the father picked up the phone, hung up and changed the number. That was Chrissie, a**shole. FSU alleged shooter Phoenix Ikner's grandmother Susan Eriksen (pictured) branded his father Christopher and his sheriff's deputy wife Jessica 'rotten b*****d people' for their influence over 'the smartest, sweetest kid' His biological mother Anne Mari Eriksen often shared photos of her son on social media before she lost custody. His grandmother said his father and stepmom taught him how to hunt and were 'bigoted people' Ikner's biological mother, Anne Mari, has not seen her alleged double-killer son for 10 years despite repeated attempts following a messy custody battle. 'I have no idea what we're going to do now. I have no idea.' When asked how her daughter, Ikner's mother, is right now, the grandmother replied, 'she's a basket case', meaning all over the place. At that point a tearful Anne Marie, 46, appeared at the door of the neat home where she is staying with her mother. Reeling with emotion, she said: 'I'm just as shocked as everybody else I'm sorry, this is very hard. It's very upsetting, it's very upsetting you just don't think this is going to happen. There's a lot of up and down today.' Grandmother Susan interceded: 'I had heard that he was at FSU, not that they (Christopher and Jessica) told us, they never told us anything. 'And first I called my daughter to tell her there was a problem (on the campus) and I was worried about him when we knew Christian he had no problems. He had ADHD, that's it. He was a great student. He was sweet, sweet. It was the worst custody fight.' She revealed they were investigating ways to visit Ikner, 'but they won't let anyone in there to see him'. Both women shut down the conversation before they could be asked about their sympathies for the families of the dead and those who were wounded in the rampage. Jessica Ikner and her husband Chris have raised Ikner and allegedly barred his biological mother's side of the family from seeing him Phoenix Ikner is a registered Republican who was described by some classmates as a 'fascist' Jessica was referred to as Ikner's mom at the press conference on Thursday. The 20-year-old used her weapon to kill two people and injure another six Daily Mail.com has reached out to Christopher and Jessica Ikner regarding the Eriksens claims but they have so far not responded. Her grandson Phoenix Ikner, 20, was identified later by cops as the shooter, with authorities revealing he was the son of sheriff's deputy Jessica Ikner and had used her weapon to kill two people and injure another six. Eriksen insists she is Ikner's biological mom. She and Ikner's father had been locked in a bitter legal battle years prior, and by all accounts he's been largely raised by his father and Jessica. She fumed on Facebook post around 4pm, minutes before her son was publicly named as the killer. 'Horrible when your alienating son's dad is as mentally unstable as he is, along with his LCSO cop wife, that they can't respond when you write to ask if everything is alright with my son, who studies ar [sic] FSU,' she wrote in a now-deleted post. 'That whole familly [sic] is nuts. He should write a book on how to parent badly, but he can't communicate.' Then, she added: 'Feel sorry for everyone at FSU and their kids.' Just two hours after the initial post a friend responded, asking 'are you ok?' Ikner and his stepmom Jessica posing together when he was little Eriksen does not have a relationship with her son, but maintains on social media that she gave birth to him. She and Ikner's father were locked in a bitter custody dispute The alleged shooter who killed two people and injured several more at FSU on Thursday has been identified as the son of Leon County Sheriff's Deputy Jessica Ikner (right) By this stage, her son's name was formally linked to the horrifying rampage and his pictures had been shared all over social media and the news. 'No,' she replied, shortly before deleting the post entirely. Only months ago, Eriksen had celebrated her son's 20th birthday with a post reflecting on her pregnancy journey, writing: 'MY son turns 20 tomorrow. 'The wonderful feeling when I held him in my arms, and he stopped crying right away after a couple other people held him briefly and he screamed his lungs out, but then he just stopped with me. I was so happy to meet MY little cutie.' Eriksen had faced charges for removing a minor from the state amid her ongoing legal dispute with Ikner's father. It is understood she fled the country and took her son to Norway, where they are both dual-citizens. Lengthy court documents obtained by DailyMail.com suggest the incident was one of many bitter custody battles during Ikner's youth. In one instance, Eriksen was court ordered to no longer contact her son, her son's father or his wife, sheriff's deputy Jessica Ikner whose weapon was used in the deadly school attack. She was ordered to have no contact with Ikner's school, teachers, doctors, counselors or summer camp programs, and was told to begin restitution payments totaling $31,000. Distraught students held a vigil near the scene of the shooting at Florida State University on Thursday night Additionally, Eriksen was sentenced to 200 days in jail, including the 170 days she'd already served up until the court date. Throughout the court documents, Ikner was referred to as 'Christian Eriksen.' It is understood he later changed his name. His biological grandmother, Eriksen's mom, once made an effort to reach out publicly, writing: 'Christian, your Norwegian passport is easily replaced by your mother. 'It is time for you to spend some time in Norway!! Grandma Susan in Tallahassee.' Eriksen has repeatedly shared pictures relating to child parental alienation and expressed a desire to reconnect with her son prior to Thursday's chilling events. Two adult men were killed during Thursday's rampage, and five other victims were injured by gunfire, authorities confirmed. Another victim was injured trying to escape the shooting. Chief Lawrence Revell of the Tallahassee Police Department said in an updated statement on Thursday night that Ikner 'remains hospitalized with serious by non-life-threatening injuries. 'What occurred today was a heinous and despicable act of violence,' he said. 'This remains an open and active investigation, and TPD is committed to bringing justice to the victims in this case.' Students gathered to pay their respects to the two lives lost and six injured Horrifying reports have emerged that Ikner held 'white supremacist' values which saw him kicked out of at least one political club. Speaking to NBC after the shooting, a student who was once part of a 'political round table' with Ikner revealed he harbored white supremacist views. 'Basically our only rule was no Nazis colloquially speaking and he espoused so much white supremacist rhetoric and far right rhetoric as well,' Reid Seybold said. Seybold, who was president of the club, said he had to kick Ikner out of the group due to his beliefs and rhetoric. And Riley Pusins, who is part of another political discourse club on campus that Ikner would attend, had a similar experience with the suspect. Pusins said Ikner would attend meetings 'almost every Thursday' in which he would 'go up to the line' about what was acceptable discussions, but would often cross the line after the formal meeting ended. The student said Ikner often advocated President Donald Trump's agenda, promoted white supremacist values and made inappropriate comments, despite joining a nonpartisan group. Pusins said others in the group would describe Ikner as a 'fascist.' One student prays with her hands clasped together as she paid respect to the victims of the tragic shooting Ikner himself is a registered Republican voter who openly mocked students on campus protesting the result of the 2024 presidential election. 'These people are usually pretty entertaining, usually not for good reasons,' Ikner said in his school magazine, where he was described as a political science major. 'I think it's a little too late, he's [Trump] already going to be inaugurated on Jan. 20 and there's not really much you can do unless you outright revolt, and I don't think anyone wants that.' According to one Tallahassee local church, he was baptized in 2024. Prior to the mass shooting, Ikner had updated his Instagram bio, sharing a haunting quote from book of Jeremiah in the Bible, which warned of an impending judgement day. 'You are my war club, my weapons for battle, with you I shatter nations, with you I destroy kingdoms,' he wrote. Extraordinary footage also emerged of Ikner stalking campus grounds as terrified students ran for their lives on Thursday. The deafening sound of a gunshot rings out in the video as Ikner marches back and forth at Florida State University's Tallahassee campus, shooting indiscriminately at his terrified classmates. During the shooting and in the immediate aftermath, social media was flooded with sickening footage and images as panic set in, including one showing a victim being carried to safety on the shoulders of paramedics. A group of around 700 people living in vans on the side of the road in Bristol could soon be given a permanent place to live. The city has one of Britain's biggest population of van dwellers of around 700 - who are now so established their children are following suit. Jack Knight, 25, has been living on a road in the Downs for the last five weeks - in a caravan he bought for 500. His dad Dave, 60, lives in a van and often parks in the area - which has been blighted by a reported clash with some locals amid rising tensions. Jack quit his job and moved out of his rented flat in St George and says the experience has so far been 'lovely'. He said: 'My dad's been doing the van life for about five years, so it's the only reason I've got a grasp of the life and gone for it. 'I quit my job in January. I worked in education, doing IT support for five years. I loved it but just got a bit of burn out at the end. 'Just under a month later, my housemate was like: 'we're leaving.' Jack Knight, 25, has been living on a road in Bristol five weeks in a caravan he bought for 500 Vans parked up near Patchway Trading Estate in Bristol Bristol City Council has announced proposals to create a permanent site for van-dwellers in another part of the city Van dweller Martin at the site in the Downs in Bristol 'That was a bit of bad timing but I managed to pick up a caravan up in Birmingham and tow it over here.' Jack's dad helped him set up the caravan, which is powered by solar and gas. He said: 'I worked in the public sector, I didn't sell out, and I felt quite good about it, but it just didn't feel like I was making any progress in the end.' He is currently unemployed and will look for a job soon but says he is enjoying the 'luxury' of taking his 'foot off the gas'. He describes the move as a lifestyle choice but says he misses some 'creature comforts', such as having a bath and running water. But he acknowledges the pressure of 700 rent prices and bills has been lifted. He doesn't spend all his nights sleeping in the caravan and is often out as he is 'really social'. Jack worries about his caravan when he is not there, after a neighbouring one's door was ripped off. Jack has followed in the footsteps of his father to live by the roadside Jack quit his job and moved out of his rented flat in St George to move into a caravan Since moving five weeks ago he said the experience has so far been 'lovely' The city has one of Britain's biggest population of van dwellers of around 700 He sees a 'whole range' of people living in the caravans and vans, including one family of former dwellers with an eight and 16-year-old, but says they tend to be men between 25 and 70 years old. He said: 'If the council made space, I'm a bit more open minded, I'd be willing to move. But for now, I think this is a safe haven for a lot of people. 'This is a safety net for people instead of being homeless - it really is the next step up. 'Some people really are a lot closer than than they realise when you're in that renting situation. 'I'm lucky. I'm in a good space, I'm positive, and I've sort of found myself on my feet very well, but it really could have gone any way.' Aside from a traffic warden moving on some vans and some inquisitive passers-by, Jack says he doesn't receive any 'grief' from residents or the council. A meeting in St Alban's Church, Redlands, was organised last month by the Sneyd Park Residents Association, during which many voiced opposition to the van dwellers and the council's current decision not to move them. Clifton residents have also complained about litter, anti-social behaviour and the impact on the beauty of the Downs. A collection of bin bags outside one of the caravans at Durham Down in Bristol Residents recently held a meeting where many voiced opposition to the van dwellers and the council's current decision not to move them A van on the site with bordered up windows and a broken underside of the vehicle Clifton residents have complained about litter, anti-social behaviour and the impact on the beauty of the Downs Jack said: 'I understand all the elements. 'The thing that I probably respect the least is the beauty aspect. When people are going through these tough times, the first thing that doesn't come to my mind is: 'Is it pretty?' but I do still respect that. 'I have a lot of empathy for people here.' The council is currently looking for a permanent site for van dwellers. Jack said: 'If they made something for me and it was official, I'd give it a go and embrace it with open arms, and I'd help other people there, and I'd find my own little space in that. But until that exists, this is that. 'It's easier said than done and I know there's a lot of bureaucracy behind it. I'll believe it when I see it, but until then, I must say I'm glad they're not taking massive action and trying to move loads of people on because, like I said, there's a lot of people that are not as agile as I can be.' His dad Dave Knight, 60, told the BBC: 'Work dropped off [and] I was short on money. I couldn't afford the rent on my three-bedroom house in Dursley.' The council is currently holding a series of talks with locals and van dwellers. Find yourself someone who looks at you the way an elected-Democrat looks at a suspected MS-13 gangbanger. When I first saw the pictures of Maryland Senator Chris van Hollen gazing lovingly into the eyes of deported illegal immigrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia over cherry-garnished, sugar-rimmed drinks, I was stunned. Why are today's liberals so intent on championing the worst possible 'heroes'? The White House quickly countered Van Hollen's photo-op with one of their own, showing President Donald Trump consoling Patty Morin in the Oval Office. She's the grieving mother of Maryland woman Rachel Morin a mother of five herself who was savagely beaten, raped and killed by an illegal migrant from El Salvador in August 2023. Van Hollen has never had his picture taken with Patty Morin his own constituent. Why? Could it be that she's not the type of 'victim' that he's looking for? Let's examine Garcia's case more closely. When I first saw the pictures of Maryland Senator Chris van Hollen gazing lovingly into the eyes of deported illegal immigrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia over cherry-garnished, sugar-rimmed drinks, I was stunned. The White House quickly countered Van Hollen's photo-op with one of their own, showing President Donald Trump consoling Patty Morin in the Oval Office. He is gently described as a 'Maryland man' by the mainstream press and elected Democrats the nation over. For days, that narrative was set this mild mannered, suburban father is as American as you or me. He was just raising his family when Trump snatched him up for no reason and sent him to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador of all places! Can you believe it? Then the factsstubborn thingsbegan to emerge. Garcia is an illegal alien and has been in the United States since 2011 (how did he game the system for 14 years, an average person might ask?). And he has a deportation order from an immigration court. Several US law enforcement agencies and two national governments believe he is a member of MS-13, an ultra-violent transnational criminal gang known for brutal tactics, including murder, drug trafficking, and extortion, with strong ties to Central America that Trump has now designated a foreign terrorist organization. Gracia's wife took out protective orders against him in 2021 alleging that he violently beat her (punched and scratched, ripped off her shirt, and grabbed and bruised her, according to the complaint). Now Garcia's wife an American citizen is denying his gang involvement and pleading for his return. Meanwhile, we're learning more. Garcia was reportedly stopped by the Tennessee Highway Patrol in 2022 and suspected of involvement in human trafficking. But Joe Biden's FBI, for some reason, asked local authorities to let him go. Even though Garcia had no drivers' license at the time. Today, Garcia sits in an El Salvador jail, one of the hundreds of criminal aliens the Trump Administration sent out of the country as it fulfills a campaign promise to deport those who entered the country illegally, starting with the worst of the worst (a promise, by the way, which has the backing of a majority of the American people in recent polling). And did I mention that Garcia was a citizen of El Salvador to begin with? The Trump Administration sent him back to his country of origin, despite what you may have heard about this so-called 'Maryland man.' Now, there are complications, of course. Kilmar Abrego Garcia (pictured) is an illegal alien and has been in the United States since 2011 (how did he game the system for 14 years, an average person might ask?). And he has a deportation order from an immigration court. The US Supreme Court has ordered the Trump Administration to facilitate Garcia's return to the US after it was revealed that he was 'mistakenly' deported to El Salvador, despite a judge's 2019 order baring him from being sent there. The issue of what 'faciliate' means is being adjudictated by the courts. But when, I ask, was Gracia granted sainthood? The Democratic Party's reaction has been to this is to martyr this man. In pictures, Senator van Hollen looks like he's on a Tinder date. And Saint Garcia is hardly the Democratic Party's first odd choice for martyrdom. After October 7, many radical Democratselected and grassrootsthrew in with Hamas against Israel, concluding that rape, murder, and kidnapping was justified. Today, the left fights hard for foreign students with American visasa privilege, not a rightwho are fomenting pro-terrorism activity on college campuses while bullying their Jewish schoolmates. The left has even gone as far as giving two alleged criminals their day in the sun. Luigi Mangione, who is charged with murdering cold blood the CEO of United Health Care CEO Brian Thompson in December, was called a 'moral man' on national television this week by ex-Washington Post, ex-New York Times, lefty journalist Taylor Lorenz. 'You're gonna see women especially that feel like, 'Oh my God, here's this man who's a revolutionary, who's famous, who's handsome, who's young, who's smart, he's a person that seems like this morally good man,' which is hard to find,' Lorenz told CNN. And Lorenz is not alone, as there are legions of left wing, pro-Luigi supporters online, digitally throwing themselves at this lunatic every day. Finally, there's 17-year-old Karmelo Anthony of Texas. He, too, is being showered with donations (over half a million dollars as of this writing) after he, according to police and witnesses, stabbed to death another teenager in the heart at a high school track meet on April 2. The Democratic Party's reaction has been to this is to martyr this man. In pictures, Senator van Hollen looks like he's on a Tinder date. Luigi Mangione (pictured), who is charged with murdering cold blood the CEO of United Health Care CEO Brian Thompson in December, was called a 'moral man' on national television this week by ex-Washington Post, ex-New York Times, lefty journalist Taylor Lorenz. The alleged perpetrator in this case is black, the victim white. Can you imagine what would be happening in the streets of America if the circumstances were reversed? What is about these cases that is so appealing to liberals? Is it that progressive ideology dictates that they see the world as divided into the oppressors and the oppressed, for whom any 'resistance' is justified? Is it that when Donald Trump does something, they have to reflexively oppose it no matter how stupid it makes you look? Or is it because they believe that American society is rotten at its core and, therefore, sowing chaos and anarchy to bring about its downfall is warranted? Whatever their reasons, until the liberal left rids itself of these impulses, it is going to have a hard time against Trump and his new common sense Republican coalition. Sir Keir Starmer has spoken to Donald Trump in his first call with the US President since he slapped 10 per cent tariffs on all British goods imported to America. The two leaders discussed the 'ongoing and productive discussions' on trade between the two countries, a Downing Street spokesperson said. 'The Prime Minister reiterated his commitment to free and open trade and the importance of protecting the national interest,' No 10 said. They also talked about the situation in Ukraine, Iran and recent action taken against the Houthis in Yemen. It is the first time they have spoken since Mr Trump unveiled an array of tariffs on countries on April 2 in what he dubbed 'liberation day'. He imposed a 10 per cent tariff on UK goods. A 25 per cent levy on car imports, aluminium and steel announced earlier also applies to the UK. Chancellor Rachel Reeves is due to hold talks with the White House next week amid efforts to strike a trade deal, which Britain hopes can help soften the brunt of the tariffs. But Mr Trump signalled he will keep some level of trade levies in place. 'We're taking in a lot of money, which we've never done before,' he said yesterday. Sir Keir Starmer (pictured) has spoken to Donald Trump in his first call with the US President since he slapped 10 per cent tariffs on all British goods imported to America It is the first time they have spoken since Donald Trump (pictured) unveiled an array of tariffs on countries on April 2 in what he dubbed 'liberation day' Chancellor Rachel Reeves (pictured) is due to hold talks with the White House next week amid efforts to strike a trade deal, which Britain hopes can help soften the brunt of the tariffs 'We're moving along very nicely and we're going to end up with a baseline of a substantial number.' The US President also warned he is in 'no rush' to sign trade deals with countries looking to reduce tariffs. This is despite some American officials having recently claimed a US-UK agreement could be signed within three weeks. Mr Trump said lots of countries wanted to reach deals 'frankly ... more than I do', and that any agreements would come 'at a certain point'. The US president also suggested that a date for September was being set for him to visit the King in Britain in what would be an historic second state visit to the UK. Mr Trump was previously feted on a trip to the UK, hosted by the late Queen in 2019, during his first presidency. Speaking in the Oval Office on Thursday, he said he did not 'know how it can be bigger than the last one' but that 'they say it's going to be even more important'. Asked whether he would be meeting Charles in September, Mr Trump said: 'I was invited by the King and the country great country. The US President also warned he is in 'no rush' to sign trade deals with countries looking to reduce tariffs. This is despite some American officials having recently claimed a US-UK agreement could be signed within three weeks The US president also suggested that a date for September was being set for him to visit the King (pictured) in Britain in what would be an historic second state visit to the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks during a visit to meet British Steel workers in Appleby Village Hall near Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, Britain 'They're going to do a second, as you know, a second fest that's what it is: a fest, and it's beautiful, and it's the first time it's ever happened to one person. 'And the reason is we have two separate terms, and it's an honour I'm a friend of Charles, I have great respect for King Charles and the family, William, we have really just a great respect for the family. And I think they're setting a date for September.' Sir Keir handed Mr Trump what he described as a 'truly historic' personal invitation from the King for a second state visit when he visited the White House in February. The Telegraph reported that the venue for the September trip is now expected to be Windsor Castle, rather than Balmoral or Dumfries House as previously thought. Ahead of her meetings in the US next week, Ms Reeves said 'active negotiations' with the Americans are still ongoing as she was quizzed about a possible trade deal. Asked whether the UK is within three weeks of a deal, as some White House officials claimed, the Chancellor replied: 'Those conversations with our US counterparts are ongoing. 'I will be in Washington next week for the International Monetary Fund annual meetings, their spring meetings. I will also be having conversations with the US administration whilst I'm there. 'The key thing for the British Government is always acting in the UK's national interest. And any deal that's able to be secured will always have front-and-centre British national interest.' Scandal-hit Prince Andrew faces renewed scrutiny as the Mail can reveal his business fixer is also fronting the controversial PPE firm linked to Baroness Mone which is under criminal investigation. Arthur Lancaster is an accountant in charge of the Duke of Yorks latest money-making venture, set up with the help of an alleged Chinese spy. He is also the sole director of PPE Medpro, the company led by Baroness Mones husband, Doug Barrowman, which is being probed by Britains version of the FBI over its VIP lane contracts during the pandemic. The Conservative peer and Ultimo bra tycoon has admitted lying about her links to the firm and allegedly shared a multimillion-pound windfall from its 200million contract to supply PPE to the NHS during Covid. The National Crime Agency (NCA) is investigating after it was claimed that millions of hospital gowns it supplied during the pandemic were not fit for purpose. Mone and Barrowman, who have both been interviewed by the NCA, deny wrongdoing. The Mail can reveal that PPE Medros sole director and significant controller is Mr Lancaster, who joined the firm in 2023 after the NCA launched its criminal investigation. He is understood to have agreed to front the business following the commencement of the NCA probe at the request of Mr Barrowman. Baroness Mone and Prince Andrew are linked by their association with accountant Arthur Lancaster, who is a director of businesses connected to the pair Baroness Mone and her husband, Doug Barrowman, at Cheltenham Festival in 2019 Accountant Arthur Lancaster has worked with both Mr Barrowman and Prince Andrew for a number of years Mr Lancaster, 61, is fronting a rebranded version of Andrews Dragons Den-style Pitch@Palace investment firm, after the duke was forced to step aside following his disastrous Newsnight interview about his friendship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. The duke has since launched a new variation of the investment scheme, called Innovate Global Limited, which was incorporated in 2022. Mr Lancaster is the firms sole director. Court documents show that alleged Chinese spy Yang Tengbo was instrumental in launching the business in China. Innovate Global also held an event in Tokyo in November where Andrews daughter Princess Eugenie was filmed handing out awards to successful entrepreneurs. Earlier this month, King Charles was dragged into the spy scandal engulfing his brother after a witness statement made by Andrews senior aide, Dominic Hampshire, was made public. It detailed how the King secretly met with the duke and Mr Hampshire to discuss Andrews plans to work with an investment scheme set up with the help of alleged spy Yang. Mr Lancaster is a long-time associate of the duke, Mr Hampshire and Mr Barrowman. He was behind AML Tax (UK) Ltd part of Mr Barrowmans Isle of Man-based Knox Group which was fined 150,000 by HMRC in 2022 for aggressively promoting tax avoidance schemes in the UK. Andrew was forced to step away from his Pitch@Palace initiative in 2019, but it has since been rebranded as Innovate Global Limited Alleged Chinese spy Yang Tengbo (left) was said to be 'instrumental' in helping Prince Andrew launch Pitch@Palace in China In their 2022 judgement against AML, Judge Thomas Scott and Judge Jonathan Cannan said Mr Lancaster had been evasive providing as little evidence as possible and he did not wish to volunteer anything more than he considered necessary. His evidence was confused, lacking in candour, in some respects incorrect and littered with inconsistencies, the judges said. Mr Lancaster resigned from AML in May last year. When he was appointed at PPE Medpro, a spokesman said he had been brought in to oversee the resolution of a contractual dispute and the administration of the company until the dispute is resolved. The NCA launched an investigation into PPE Medpro in 2021 probing the companys procurement of 203million of government contracts to supply PPE during the Covid pandemic. The contracts were awarded by the governments VIP lane which gave priority to those with political connections. Mr Lancaster was approached for comment. The Duke of York did not respond to requests for comment. A spokesman for Mr Barrowman said Mr Lancaster acted for the duke in a personal capacity at all times and has been an associate of the duke for many years. El Salvador migrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia was suspected of human trafficking in 2022, according to Department of Homeland Security records. The 29-year-old has been at the center of a legal battle over the Trump administration's immigration policy since he was deported to his homeland last month, despite an order protecting him from removal. Prosecutors allege he is a member of the notorious MS-13 gang, which he staunchly denies. Several courts have ruled that he was deported in error and have called for his return to the US, but the Trump administration has held firm in its allegations. Now Fox News' Bill Melugin has obtained bodycam footage and documents from the DHS which show that Abrego Garcia was pulled over by Tennessee Highway Patrol and suspected of human trafficking. The father-of-three was stopped with eight people in his car and told officers he was driving them from Texas to Maryland for a construction job, per the report. However, none of the passengers had any luggage and all stated their address was the same as Abrego Garcia's, who was also evasive under questioning according to the officer. 'Subject attempted pretended to speak less English than he was capable of and and attempted to put he encountering officer off by responding to questions by asking questions,' the document states. El Salvador migrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia was suspected of human trafficking in 2022, according to Department of Homeland Security records including bodycam footage Abrego Garcia has been at the center of a legal battle over the Trump administration's immigration policy since he was deported to his homeland last month, despite an order protecting him from removal The exchange led the officer to, 'suspect this was a human trafficking incident', according to the report. But Abrego Garcia was let go with out any arrest or charge, despite having an expired license, per the document. The report bares yesterday's date due to redactions required prior to its release, Melugin said. Abrego Garcia's lawyers say he has never been charged with or convicted of, any crime, and deny the Justice Department's accusation that he belongs to the criminal gang MS-13. He has been languishing in El Salvador's notorious CECOT prison since last month. Abrego Garcia was picked up in Maryland on March 12. While he had entered the country illegally, an immigration judge ruled that his deportation should be stopped as he faced persecution back in his home country. But the government has given no indication it plans to seek his return and said it had no authority to release a man from a foreign prison, raising the potential for a constitutional conflict should Trump defy the highest court. The case has raised questions about whether due process was followed and highlighted the extent to which the White House is trying to exert control over the courts to bolster its immigration policy. Several courts have ruled that Abrego Garcia was deported in error and have called for his return to the US, but the Trump administration has held firm in its allegations Prosecutors allege he is a member of the notorious MS-13 gang, which he staunchly denies On Thursday Democrat senator Chris Van Hollen travelled to El Salvador to meet Abrego Garcia in prison. Van Hollen posted a photo of the meeting on X, saying he also called Abrego Garcia's wife 'to pass along his message of love.' A spokesman for the Trump administration remained on message, claiming Van Hollen was worried more about a 'terrorist' illegal migrant than his own constituents. 'Chris Van Hollen has firmly established Democrats as the party whose top priority is the welfare of an illegal alien MS-13 terrorist. It is truly disgusting. President Trump will continue to stand on the side of law-abiding Americans,' Kush Desai told DailyMail.com Nicola Sturgeons continued failure to respond to the landmark legal ruling that trans women are not women is becoming insulting, it's been claimed. The former first minister has been accused of being missing in action as she remained silent, despite pushing the gender ideology that led to humiliation for SNP ministers in court. The Scottish Tories said it was a disgrace, while the campaigners behind the historic legal decision said they doubted she had the integrity or intelligence to admit her mistakes. Following the Supreme Courts unanimous ruling on Wednesday that biological sex is the decisive factor in a persons rights under UK equality law, not gender choices or certificates, Ms Sturgeon has remained silent on the issue. The SNP Government had claimed men who identify as women should have the same rights as biological women, but the Court comprehensively rejected that argument. It said sex was binary and a person was either a woman or a man. The ruling means male-born trans women with a gender recognition certificate can be excluded from single-sex spaces such as rape crisis centres and changing rooms if proportionate. The case was brought by For Women Scotland (FWS) over a 2018 Holyrood law passed under Ms Sturgeon. The action was resisted by Ms Sturgeon, Humza Yousaf and John Swinney. Ms Sturgeon has been accused of being missing in action as she remained silent, despite having pushed the gender ideology that led to humiliation for SNP ministers in court Mr Swinney accepted the ruling, but refused to apologise for fighting FWS all the way to the UKs highest court. Despite her central role, Ms Sturgeon has yet to give any public response to the court defeat. Tory equalities spokeswoman Tess White said: Its a disgrace that Nicola Sturgeon - the architect of the SNPs reckless gender reforms - has stayed silent after this weeks landmark Supreme Court ruling. Shes usually first in line for the cameras when theres a positive headline to chase or a book to plug. Now, when women and girls deserve answers, shes missing in action. Her silence is becoming insulting. Nicola Sturgeon should apologise for the damage her divisive gender self-ID policy has caused. FWS co-director Susan Smith said: Frankly, we are not surprised that the woman who caused such turmoil has gone into hiding. We very much doubt that Sturgeon has the integrity or intelligence to own up to her appalling mistakes. She made the lives of many of the most vulnerable women in Scotland intolerable: women in prison who remain incarcerated with violent men, women scared to access rape crisis centres, and women called bigots because they wanted female medics to provide intimate care. Ms Sturgeon arrives at the SNP's International Women's Day event in Edinburgh, in March, as pro-women's group For Women Scotland staged a protest over the party's stance on gender Sturgeon painted a target on the backs of women like ourselves when she said that our views were not valid, she allowed the most deranged, angry young men in her party to hound her own MPs and MSPs, and she smeared and demonised feminist campaigns as transphobic... deeply misogynist, often homophobic, possibly some of them racist. Had she and her ministers listened to us, they would have been spared this humiliating ruling. She wasted time, money, and political capital on her monomaniacal campaign and she owes the women of Scotland an apology. Alba MSP Ash Regan, who resigned as an SNP minister rather than back the SNPs gender reforms before defecting, said Ms Sturgeon was showing her true colours. She said: The former first minister said that the concerns of women were not valid. She gambled the good will of the independence movement on her discredited gender ideology and lost. Womens concerns were valid and many will be insulted that the person who had so much to say previously now has nothing to say about the ruling. Nicola Sturgeon is now showing her true colours as she will soon depart on her book tour while those of us that care about the safety, dignity and privacy of women and girls will be cleaning up the mess she has left behind. The row came as the Scottish Government confirmed it was seeking an urgent meeting with the UK Government to discuss implications of the judgment. Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville plans to make a statement to MSPs at Holyrood on Wednesday. The SNP and Ms Sturgeons spokeswoman have been asked for comment. Controversial MMA fighter Conor McGregor has claimed that Ireland is 'losing its Irishness' as he sat down with US commentator Tucker Carlson to discuss immigration and his unlikely bid to become president. Speaking in an interview with conservative Carlson, which aired on Friday, the UFC champion did not hold back when it came to discussing his hard-line stance on migration. '[It] is changing the fabric of my country', he said while being interviewed in his Dublin pub by the former Fox News host. McGregor criticised governmental 'overspending' and alleged that public funds were being used to support illegal immigrants. 'That is one my issues here. The people of Ireland, the overspending, that's going on,' the MMA fighter said. 'This is our public wealth being administered into private hands, enriching people to bring in this influx of illegal mass migration that is changing the fabric of my country. He added: 'Ireland is very close to losing its Irishness and we will not let that happen.' McGregor also vowed to stop the 'genocide of our people' after he claimed that immigration into Ireland had made its people feel like 'third-rate citizens in their own country'. Controversial MMA fighter Conor McGregor told American commentator Tucker Carlson that Ireland was losing its Irishness thanks to immigration McGregor's anti-immigration remarks come after he announced his bid to become president last month 'You talk about a genocide. This is a genocide of our people. This is an attempted erasure of our people', he declared. He went on to say that it was 'taboo' to speak about the erasure of Irish culture, claiming that the government elite were to blame. 'They use harassment, intimidation tactics, they use our funds to pay traditional media to push an agenda', McGregor said, adding that Irish politicians were to blame for the erasure of Irish culture. 'It is an abomination, it's a travesty', he added. Carlson chimed in, telling McGregor that Irish people were being replaced by migrants. 'You have a very distinctive, thousand-year-old culture based on Irishness - the indigenous population of this island - and they are being replaced at a super high speed', the commentator said. McGregor's anti-immigration remarks come after he announced his bid to become president last month. But during the interview, he admitted to Carlson that his plan to run for office is unlikely to get off the ground. The UFC champion said there are 'stipulations' for running for presidential office, such as needed to be backed by four county councils or receiving 20 nominations from members of the Oireachtas, Ireland's parliament. 'So you can't just run for president?' the former Fox News host, apparently shocked by the fighter's remarks, questioned in the trailer promoting his upcoming interview with McGregor. 'So how is it a democracy?' McGregor hosted US TV host Tucker Carlson at his pub in Crumlin, south Dublin, on Tuesday McGregor put out an open invitation to his supporters to join them at the pub and was pictured pouring pints behind the bar On Tuesday night, former Fox News host Carlson, who is also a staunch Trump supporter, conducted a two-hour interview with McGregor on the topic of immigration 'We are not a democratic country,' McGregor replied. 'And they will have to answer to their constituents at some stage. There will be accountability.' Carlson, however, pushed back, asking McGregor: 'Are you going to do it anyway? You're maybe the most famous living Irishman and you're saying things that the overwhelming majority of your politicians will not say. 'What do you think they're going to do to you if you keep talking this way?' McGregor, saying he is not even 'an iota' fearful, starkly answered: 'Attempt to tarnish as they are. I move forward under God, and my nation can see.' McGregor has received endorsements from misogynist influencer Andrew Tate and tech billionaire Trump ally Elon Musk, and his anti-immigration stance has seen him welcomed with open arms by the MAGA movement. The 36-year-old is currently appealing the result of a civil case after a jury in Dublin found he had raped a woman, Nikita Hand, in 2018 and ordered him to pay damages. In the midst of this legal controversy, he was invited to the White House by Trump for St Patrick's Day - a move that was met with condemnation from Irish politicians and many members of the public. Just days later, he announced his wish to be president. Ahead of their interview on Tuesday, McGregor took Carlson, who is a staunch supporter of US President Donald Trump, on a tour of the Irish capital and its parliament buildings, with the pair trailed by an entourage and a Rolls-Royce as they walked the city's streets. McGregor is currently appealing the result of a civil case after a jury in Dublin found he had raped a woman, Nikita Hand, in 2018 and ordered him to pay damages. Pictured with his partner Dee Devlin and mother Margaret outside the High Court in Dublin, November 22, 2024 They later met at the Black Forge Inn, the fighter's pub in Crumlin, south Dublin, with a crowd of McGregor's supporters - including some wearing MAGA hats - taking free pints poured by the UFC fighter. Before the pub gathering, McGregor put out an open invitation to his more than 10 million X followers, writing that there would be 'live music, top tier food, great drink, great people, and a happy and celebratory atmosphere'. He announced to those attending that there would be a free bar and was pictured pouring pints of his own-brand stout. At one point he offered one to Carlson, a teetotaler, who declined. McGregor welcomed the chance to be interviewed by Carlson, who famously sat down with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and conducted the first on-camera interview with Trump after his recent election. A knife was brought into a Scots primary school just weeks after a child took a blade to another nearby. Police were told of a the knife being brought to a school in Moray on Wednesday. Officers said advice had been given and they were working with partners in relation to the matter. The school, however, was not identified. It comes just weeks after a boy turned up to a village school with a knife. Earlier this year one mother told how she felt it was no longer safe to send her young son to school after an 11-year-old boy was caught with the weapon. The worried parent said the boy had been showing the knife to friends throughout the day before it was eventually confiscated by teachers and the police were called. A letter from the school to parents confirmed that there had been an incident that involved one of our pupils who had a knife in his possession. It added: There was no intent to use it. When it was reported to staff, this matter was dealt with in a timely and appropriate manner. Danger: Earlier this year one mother told how she felt it was no longer safe to send her young son to school after a boy was caught with a knife on school grounds. Image posed by model But the concerned parent said: Its not safe for my son to go back to school. This is affecting his education. Between April and September last year 123 youngsters under 18 were found in possession with a weapon in Scotland. They included a ten-year-old caught with a blade in Edinburgh, and a 14-year-old caught with a firearm in Fife. Yesterday a Police Scotland spokesman said: Around 10.30am on Wednesday, April 16, we received a report of a knife being brought to a school in the Keith area. Suitable advice was given and police are working with partners in relation to the matter. Moray Council has been approached for comment. Ocado has apologised to the founder of Mumsnet after pulling out from a partnership citing the website's 'hateful political views' as it stood up for women's rights to single-sex spaces. A landmark Supreme Court hearing on Wednesday ruled that the definition of a woman is based on biological sex, meaning transgender women with a gender recognition certificate (GRC) could be excluded from single-sex spaces. Following the ruling, chief executive of Mumsnet Justine Roberts congratulated everyone on the website who 'played a part in securing what I think most would agree is much-needed clarity in the Equality Act'. She added that a number of organisations had refused to partner or advertise with Mumsnet after the online website called on the Government to clarify the definition of a woman. In particular, she singled out Barclays and Ocado. This evening, however, Ocado have apologised to Roberts and Mumsnet, saying their comments 'do not represent us as a company'. Feminist campaigner and writer Julie Bindel, the co-founder of the law reform group Justice for Women, posted on X about potentially boycotting Ocado after 'the Mumsnet thing' and Ocado replied saying: 'These comments are not representative of us as a company, and we believe they were made by a temporary contractor who is no longer with the business. 'We apologise unreservedly to Mumsnet.' In a statement posted to its website in the wake of Wednesday's ruling, Roberts of Mumsnet had said she felt under 'immense pressure' from activists due to her website's stance. Founder of Mumsnet Justine Roberts (pictured) claimed she feared the site 'would not survive' after she stood up for women's rights to access single-sex spaces Ocado have this evening announced they 'apologise unreservedly' for their previous comments Ms Roberts had claimed companies such as Barclays and Ocado refused to advertise or partner with the popular online forum when they called for the Government to clarify the definition of 'a woman' 'It's been severely testing at times,' she wrote. 'There were moments I genuinely thought we might never see the tide turn, or at least not in our generation Mumsnet risked being permanently labelled as bigoted, vicious, and "on the wrong side of history". 'A fair number of organisations pulled their advertising under pressure from activists both internal and external. I'm sure there were many more we never heard from who simply steered clear. 'Commercial partnerships became noticeably harder to secure. The low point was discovering we'd been blacklisted on instruction from the top brass at Barclays just weeks before their CEO resigned over concealing ties to Jeffrey Epstein. 'When we included a call to clarify the definition of sex in the Equality Act in our 2024 Mumsnet Manifesto, Ocado who had been excited about a partnership abruptly pulled out, citing Mumsnet's 'hateful political views'. 'Despite repeated attempts to explain our position as a platform committed to amplifying women's voices they've refused to speak to us ever since. For Women Scotland directors Susan Smith (left) and Marion Calder (right) celebrate the landmark ruling on April 16 The Supreme Court announced that the definition of a woman is based on biological sex in a landmark ruling. Pictured: Campaign group For Women Scotland celebrating the judgement 'Nonetheless, even in the darkest moments, when I feared the site might not survive, we never considered banning discussion of this issue altogether. That would have been completely contrary to what Mumsnet is about: a space for mothers to talk about what matters to them.' Under the landmark judgement, from the UK's highest court, transgender women are no longer legally women, meaning they will not be allowed to take part in women's sport or be on single-sex hospital wards. Changing rooms must also 'be based on biological sex' and Baroness Kishwer Falkner, chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), has already pledged to pursue organisations that fail to enforce women-only spaces. Despite the ruling's unambiguous language, many large businesses and organisations have said they will not immediately be changing their policies for transgender individuals, at least not until they have received legal advice on its implications. Yesterday Andrew Walton, chief corporate affairs director of Lloyds, Britain's biggest bank, wrote to staff and pledged to 'stand by' its transgender employees, who he said would be 'unsettled' by the Supreme Court's ruling. 'Please know that we cherish and celebrate you and remain committed to inclusivity,' he said. Refuge, the charity established for female survivors of abuse, also said it would not be changing the way it operates, while the Girl Guides said they would be monitoring the situation and 'awaiting guidance' from the EHRC. In their manifesto ahead of last year's General Election, Mumsnet called on the new Government to 'amend the Equality Act to make it clear that 'sex' refers to biological sex thus protecting women's right to access female-only spaces such as hospital wards, changing rooms and refuges.' The judgement was celebrated by women's rights groups who opened a bottle of champagne. Pictured: Susan Smith (centre left), Marion Calder (centre right) and Helen Joyce (right) Lord Hodge said that five Supreme Court justices had unanimously decided that 'the terms woman and sex in the Equality Act refer to a 'biological woman and biological sex' Campaigners Helen Joyce (left) and Maya Forstater of Sex Matters smiles outside court after the landmark ruling on Wednesday The Scottish government argued that such people are entitled to sex-based protections, while campaign group FWS claimed they only apply to people that are born female Ms Roberts congratulated 'everyone' on Mumsnet 'who played a part in securingmuch-needed clarity' in the legislation in her post. She added: 'As ever we're in awe of the intelligence, tenacity and resilience of Mumsnet users.' Asked about Ms Roberts' statement, a spokesman for Ocado said they apologised 'unreservedly' to Mumsnet. 'These comments are not representative of us as a company, and we believe they were made by a temporary contractor who is no longer with the business,' he said. Barclays was contacted for comment. The ruling followed a seven-year legal battle by gender-critical group For Women Scotland and was backed by campaigners including Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies and Harry Potter author JK Rowling. A member of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz's administration has been repeatedly caught on camera allegedly vandalizing parked Tesla vehicles with his keys while out walking his dog. Dylan Bryan Adams, 33, a fiscal policy analyst for the State of Minnesota, was captured on vehicle surveillance footage allegedly dragging a key across the exteriors of several Teslas, stripping paint and causing thousands of dollars in damage. Authorities reportedly arrested Adams on suspicion of causing an estimated $20,000 in damage, with formal charges still pending, according to the Minnesota-based crime watch account @CrimeWatchMpls on X. Disturbing surveillance videos showed Adams allegedly approaching the vehicles from across the street, leash in one hand, while pulling his keys from his pocket with the other. In one clip, he allegedly carved into the rear of a Tesla. In another, he seemingly targeted the side of the vehicle nearest the sidewalk, again using his key to scratch a deep line across the car's body. The specific markings or messages he allegedly etched remain unclear. Dylan Bryan Adams, 33, a fiscal policy analyst for the State of Minnesota, was captured on vehicle surveillance footage allegedly dragging a key across the exteriors of several Teslas, stripping paint and causing thousands of dollars in damage In one clip, he seemingly carved into the rear of a Tesla Pictured: Dylan Bryan Adams' mugshot In a separate clip, Adams - seen wearing a rust-colored beanie, a dark gray sweatshirt and black vest - crossed the road before allegedly dragging his key from the driver's side door to the rear of the vehicle, then casually walking away. Yet another video showed him in a different outfit - this time a black winter jacket and a burgundy Minnesota Gophers hat - allegedly repeating the same act of vandalism as he walks by another Tesla with his dog. Dylan Bryan Adams, 33, a fiscal policy analyst for the State of Minnesota A fourth clip, believed to have been recorded in the parking lot of Target, showed Adams exiting his vehicle while wearing a Golden State Warriors jersey over a light gray hoodie. He then walked toward a nearby Tesla, readied his key and seemingly scratched into the paint before fleeing the scene undisturbed. The striking footage has since sparked widespread outrage online with some social media users calling for the state employee to be 'prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,' with many expressing disbelief at his behavior. 'I'm sure these crimes exceed the felony threshold for property damage. He should be prosecuted to the fullest extent,' one user posted. 'Ruined his government career by acting like a child,' another wrote. 'Lock him up for 20 years,' a third added. In a separate clip, Adams - seen wearing a rust-colored beanie, a dark gray sweatshirt and black vest - crossed the road before allegedly dragging his key from the driver's side door to the rear of the vehicle, then casually walking away The striking footage has since sparked widespread outrage online with some social media users calling for the state employee to be 'prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law' While much of the anger was directed at Adams, some users expressed concern for his dog. 'Poor dog. I hope he has family so his dog doesn't end up in the humane society or animal shelter somewhere. This dog doesn't deserve that. Poor choice man. You just ruined your life and possibly the life of your dog,' one person commented. 'Even the dog looked at him and said "dont." Dogs are amazing,' said another. 'That dog should be removed from his home,' added a third. DailyMail.com has reached out to Governor Walzs office for comment. The shocking incident comes just after another act of brazen vandalization targeting Musk's motor company in Walz's state. A Minnesota woman was caught on camera allegedly vandalizing a Tesla in front of two children. Footage showed the woman appearing to scratch the electric vehicle in a parking lot, before marching between the cars with her son and daughter in tow. The young boy flipped off the camera, which caught the brazen act as he walked past, followed by the little girl and the woman as they quickly vacate the scene. People who shared the footage on X said it was filmed in Arden Hills, a small city in Ramsey County around 10 miles north-east of Minneapolis, Minnesota. A fourth clip, believed to have been recorded in the parking lot of Target, showed Adams exiting his vehicle while wearing a Golden State Warriors jersey over a light gray hoodie The striking footage has since sparked widespread outrage online with many expressing disbelief at his behavior While much of the anger was directed at Adams, some users expressed concern for his dog The shocking incident comes just after another act of brazen vandalization targeting Musk's motor company. Pictured: Protestors gather outside the Tesla dealership in Chicago, demanding fair taxation during Tax Day protests in Illinois on April 15 Ramsey County Sheriff's Office, which oversees policing in the area, told the DailyMail.com on Thursday that they were investigating the footage. 'We are aware of the video that was released on social media and looking into whether it occurred in our jurisdiction,' spokesman Steve Linders said. 'As of now, the owner of the vehicle has not filed a police report with us, but we encourage the person to come forward.' Social media users erupted in anger over the clip, slamming the woman as a 'terrible parent' while calling for her identification. Several people pointed out that her clothing resembled scrubs, with some speculating that she may be a local nurse. 'What a way to set an example as a mother. So sad,' one woman wrote, while a man said: 'Police will catch her sooner or later.' The incident is the latest in a series of attacks against Tesla cars across the country as a form of protest against outgoing DOGE leader Musk, 53, who owns the firm. Under fire SNP Health Secretary Neil Gray will face a tense showdown on single sex spaces with the countrys equality watchdog The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) have confirmed they are meeting him next week specifically to discuss concerns and warned they will pursue any public body failing to follow the law. Mr Gray was already facing mounting pressure because of the high profile legal challenge by nurse Sandie Peggie against NHS Fife after she was forced to share a changing room with trans medic Dr Beth Upton. Calls are growing for the cash-strapped board to concede the case after Wednesdays Supreme Court ruling brought by For Women Scotland confirmed single-sex changing rooms and spaces are off limits to biological males. In a landmark decision, five justices unanimously confirmed biological sex was the decisive factor under UK equality law, not gender preferences or certificates. Scottish Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser said: Its now clear that any public body not providing women with single-sex spaces is acting unlawfully. Neil Gray should admit his mistakes and set out an urgent, NHS-wide plan to bring every health board into line with the law. EHRC chair Baroness Kishwer Falkner said the judgment means trans women cannot use single-sex female toilets, changing rooms or compete in womens sports. Health Secretary Neil Gray Dr Beth Upton Nurse Sandie Peggie Under the 1992 workplace regulations, separate changing facilities for men and women should be provided were necessary for reasons of propriety. But many public bodies in Scotland have allowed trans people to use single-sex facilities regardless, in line with SNP gender ideology. Former SNP Joanna Cherry KC, who was vilified by colleagues for refusing to accept Nicola Sturgeons bungled gender reforms, Following the Scottish Governments defeat at the Supreme Court, where it argued men with gender certificates were legally women, public bodies must now revise their approach. Mr Fraser said a sea change was now needed. He added: After the Supreme Courts landmark ruling, NHS Fife and the SNP government dont have a leg to stand on. SEHRC Scotland said yesterday: We can confirm that we are meeting the Scottish Governments Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Neil Gray MSP, next week. The purpose of this meeting is specifically to discuss concerns relating to existing NHS guidance on single-sex spaces, and the upcoming NHS Scotland Guide to Transitioning. Fife MSP Murdo Fraser These have been highlighted by the ongoing legal case involving NHS Fife, which predates the Supreme Courts ruling. We will be updating our guidance on single-sex spaces to reflect the Supreme Court judgment in the coming weeks. The EHRC first wrote to the Health Secretary in February to discuss the Governments role in ensuring NHS Scotland and other bodies meet their legal obligations under the Equality Act. It also reminded NHS Fife of its obligations under the law, including the 1992 regulations. The Health Secretary was told last year by Ms Peggies lawyer that that NHS Fife were failung to comply with legal onjigations to prisvide suitable single sex toilets toilets and changing rooms. But Mr Gray failed to intervene, allowing the health board to spend around 200,000 of public money defending the Ms Peggies tribunalcase so far, Meanwhile, British Transport Police, who cover Scotlands railways, have said they will introduce an interim position on searching trans people following the ruling. EHRC chair Baroness Kishwer Falkner BTP said trans people held in custody will be strip searched by an officer in line with their birth sex, with officers who are trans women no longer be able to search female detainees. Police Scotland said it was also reviewing its transgender policies. Assistant chief constable Catriona Paton said: Our ongoing review is considering the terminology and recording practices we use to collect and record sex and gender data and recommend improvements. We are also reviewing our guidance, policies and procedures within our organisation, to ensure that they are aligned to our values, comply with equality, human rights and data protection laws and meet our operational requirements. We will continue to engage with a range of stakeholders, associations and legal experts throughout the course of the review. The Scottish Government was asked for comment. An Idaho judge has dealt a series of blows to Bryan Kohberger's defense in his capital murder trial - striking down his efforts to have the term 'bushy eyebrows' banned from the case and ruling that his autism diagnosis cannot be presented as an excuse for his courtroom behavior. The 30-year-old criminology PhD student is facing the death penalty for the murders of Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves in Moscow, Idaho, back on November 13, 2022. The four University of Idaho students were brutally stabbed to death in the early hours of the morning in the off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho, that the three young women shared with two other roommates. A flurry of court orders was handed down in the case Friday - one week after the defense and the prosecution went to battle in a courtroom showdown over critical evidence in the high-profile case. In one of the orders, Judge Steven Hippler ruled that the term 'bushy eyebrows' would not be struck from the trial, paving the way for surviving roommate Dylan Mortensen's critical eyewitness testimony about what she saw the night of the murders. 'D.M.'s testimony about "bushy eyebrows" is highly relevant in this case,' the judge ruled. 'D.M. is the only eyewitness to the intruder responsible for the homicides. It is the jury's task to determine whether Defendant is that person.' The judge pointed out that Mortensen's accounts have been 'consistent' and that 'there is nothing confusing about her testimony.' Bryan Kohberger snapped this creepy selfie six hours after the brutal Moscow murders Left to right: Dylan Mortensen, Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen (on Kaylee's shoulders) Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle and Bethany Funke Mortensen came face-to-face with an intruder inside the off-campus student home in Moscow, Idaho, around the time of the murders. According to investigators, she heard noises in the home at around 4am that morning - followed by a man's voice, that was not Chapin, saying something to the effect of 'It's okay, I'm going to help you.' When she peered round her bedroom door, she saw a man walk past her room on the second floor and head in the direction of the back sliding door. The intruder, she described, was tall, dressed in all black and was wearing a mask. Due to the mask, Mortensen could only see the eyes and eyebrows of the figure, and recalled seeing his 'bushy eyebrows.' The defense wanted to block the term 'bushy eyebrows' from the trial. In last week's hearing, the defense picked holes in Mortensen's reliability as a witness - including that she admitted she was drunk at the time, told police she was in a dream-like state, had drawings of people with prominent eyebrows on her walls, and that she was not separated from other witnesses following the discovery of the murders. They also argued that Mortensen did not mention eyebrows at all during the first three police interviews - only mentioning them when asked by officers. The off-campus home where the four University of Idaho students were murdered on November 13, 2022 Bryan Kohberger returned to a courtroom in Ada County, Idaho, April 9 for a showdown between his defense and the prosecution over critical evidence The lynchpin, the reliability is not there, the defense said. Prosecutors, however, argued that her account and description of the intruder had been consistent in every interview - the man was white, a few inches taller than her, dressed in all black, wearing a mask, was skinny and had a voice she did not recognize. The state also argued that the focus on eyes and eyebrows was natural, given that was the only facial feature she could see beneath the mask. Prosecutors want to show jurors a chilling selfie captured by Kohberger around six hours after the murders as evidence of his 'bushy eyebrows' at the time of the murders. Dylan Mortensen is the only living individual who saw the person who's responsible for these homicides, the prosecutor said, adding that this makes her relevant to identify the killer. In siding with the state, Judge Hippler wrote in his court order that Mortensen's 'account of what she saw and the physical characteristics of the intruder were remarkably consistent throughout all five interviews and her grand jury testimony.' 'Although she might have been intoxicated or tired or questioned her memory, the consistency of her descriptions suggest high degree of reliability,' the judge ruled, adding that 'challenges to her competency and personal knowledge as basis for exclusion are unfounded.' 'There is large gulf between finding that witness is not competent to testify about what they personally witnessed, and simply allowing impeachment by vigorous cross-examination,' the judge wrote. 'This is matter for cross-examination by Defendant and any concerns with D.M.'s ability to perceive and remember what she claims she saw may be tested in that manner.' In another blow to Kohberger's defense strategy, the judge also issued a bombshell court order ruling that his team can only present evidence of his autism diagnosis as a reason for his courtroom behavior if Kohberger himself takes the stand to testify. 'The Court finds that if Defendant does not testify, evidence of his diagnoses to explain his courtroom demeanor is not relevant and/or inadmissible,' the judge ruled. During the penalty phase - where, if convicted, jurors could sentence him to death - Kohberger's defense wanted to present expert witness testimony about his autism diagnosis. The defense team claimed that his diagnosis could explain to jurors Kohberger's potentially 'odd' behavior in the courtroom - something the prosecution asked the judge to reject. 'Specifically, Defendant asserts testimony about his ASD will help the jury understand that his behavioral characteristics, such as his flat affect, intense eye contact, awkward body posture and lack of emotive responses, are associated with his ASD and should not be interpreted in sinister light,' the court order reads. While behind bars awaiting trial for the murders, Kohberger underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation by defense expert Dr. Rachel Orr. She ultimately diagnosed him with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). The court order notes that his autism diagnosis is for 'level 1, without accompanying intellectual or language impairment' - 'the least severe form of ASD' - and that he is 'highly-functioning.' Judge Hippler also noted that he had never noticed any 'odd' or inappropriate behavior from Kohberger, such as that described by the defense, during his many times in the courtroom. Best friends Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen (left) were found dead in the same bed in Mogen's room on the third floor. Young couple Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle (right) were found dead in her room on the second floor 'The Court has had the opportunity to observe Defendant through multiple hearings over the past several months, some lasting all day. Not once has the Court perceived Defendant to be acting in an odd or incongruent manner or otherwise demonstrating signs at counsel table that would warrant any explanation to the jury,' the judge wrote. 'His demeanor has been entirely appropriate.' If Kohberger does not take the stand to testify at his trial, then his demeanor is also not relevant, the judge wrote - because jurors are already required to only weigh the evidence presented by witnesses on the stand. Introducing such evidence risks confusing the issues, misleading the jurors, wasting time and potentially unfairly prejudicing both Defendant and the State, he wrote. Should Kohberger decide to testify, evidence to explain his demeanor may become relevant, the judge wrote. While banning the presentation of his autism diagnosis, the judge said he would reserve ruling on whether jurors can hear evidence of Kohberger's OCD until trial. According to the defense, Kohberger has a tendency to wear gloves and dispose of shower curtains due to his OCD. It also causes sleep difficulties that have led to a habit of nighttime driving, they allege. Kohberger's alibi for the night of the murders is that he was driving around alone looking at the moon and stars. Bryan Kohberger is facing the possibility of the firing squad if convicted at his capital murder trial The defense also claims he has a physical condition - Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) - that would have made it impossible for him to kill four in the roughly 13-minute timeframe laid out by the state. Judge Hippler ruled that the DCD cannot be presented at trial - in part due to the fact that Kohberger does not have a current diagnosis for the condition. In other orders issued Friday, the judge also denied the defenses request restricting testimony about surveillance footage of the white Hyundai Elantra seen around the crime scene at the time of the murders. The defense did score a minor win, however, with the judge asking that witnesses avoid using the terms touch DNA, contact DNA and trace DNA in reference to the knife sheath left behind at the scene. During last week's hearing, the judge previously ruled that the state cannot use his diagnosis as an aggravating factor if he is convicted and the trial enters the death penalty phase. He also banned the words 'sociopath' and 'psychopath' from the trial and ruled that Kohberger's Amazon purchase history can be shown to jurors. Kohberger was tied to the murders through a Ka-Bar brown leather knife sheath, featuring a US Marine Corps seal, which was found next to Mogen's body in her bedroom on the third floor of the home. DNA on the sheath was traced back to Kohberger using Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG), according to prosecutors. Following his arrest, it was found to be a statistical match. DNA was found on a Ka-Bar knife sheath (seen in a stock image) left behind at the scene While the murder weapon has never been found, Kohberger's Amazon shopping history reveals he bought a Ka-Bar knife, sheath and sharpener from Amazon back in March 2022, according to a prosecution filing. It was shipped to his parents' home in Pennsylvania. Following the murders, Kohberger searched to buy a replacement knife and sheath, prosecutors allege. The judge is yet to rule on several other motions. Kohberger is slated to go on trial in August. He faces the death penalty if convicted - an outcome that has been welcomed by some of the victims' families. Due to changes in state law, he could be executed by firing squad. The horror murders - the first homicide in seven years for the small, tight-knit college town - plunged the community into fear and sent shockwaves across the country. Around six weeks later, on December 30, 2022, police swooped on Kohberger at his parents' home in the Poconos region of Pennsylvania and charged him with the murders. Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen together. The sheath was found next to Mogen's body Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin together. It remains unclear what connection the accused killer may have to the victims As well as the DNA found on the knife sheath, prosecutors say Kohberger has been tied to the murders through his white Elantra which matches the car seen leaving the crime scene at the time of the murders. Cellphone records also allegedly show that Kohberger may have stalked the King Road home at least a dozen times in the lead-up to the murders - and that he turned his phone off while committing the crime to try to cover his tracks. A not guilty plea was entered on his behalf at his arraignment. Kohberger is next due in court in April. He is next due in court in mid-may for a pre-trial hearing. The wife of deported El Salvador migrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia froze on camera as she was questioned about his allegedly violent past. In 2021, Jennifer Vasquez filed a petition accusing her husband of domestic violence. The records emerged this week as Democrats fought to bring Garcia back from El Salvador. The Trump administration is steadfast that it did not make any mistake in deporting him, despite an admission to the contrary in early court documents. Garcia came to the US in 2011 illegally, but a judge blocked his deportation to El Salvador in 2019, citing the fact his life would be in danger there if sent back. His lawyers have denied any links to MS-13, the notorious prison gang that Trump insists he is affiliated with, and stated he has no criminal convictions. But Abrego has had several brushes with the law including his wife's 2021 petition, which she was directly asked about on on Good Morning America on Friday. 'You did take out a temporary order of protection in 2021, were you in fear of your husband?' ABC's Michael Strahan asked. After a pause, Vasquez responded: 'My husband is alive, that's all I can say.' Jennifer Vasquez, wife of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, froze up when an interviewer asked if she was ever afraid of her husband Abrego Garcia was mistakenly deported back to El Salvador after being accused of being a member of the MS-13 gang, which he denies The mom has been publicly supporting Abrego Garcia since his detention and removal to CECOT prison in El Salvador. She is also due to receive hundreds of thousands of dollars from a GoFundMe page set up to assist the family. In that GoFundMe, he is described as a loving, 'father, husband, son, brother, union construction co-worker'. 'Kilmar is an excellent father. He has always been there for our three children and all of their needs,' Vasquez wrote. 'Two of them are on the autism spectrum (ages five and nine), and our third has epilepsy (age 10). 'Kilmar has been the main provider of our household and the love of my life for over seven years. 'Since our family has been separated, I have been devastated and confused. I lost my life partner, my children lost their father, and all of our family, neighbors, co-workers, and friends have been devastated due to this unjust family separation.' Abrego Garcia, 29, entered the country illegally, but an immigration judge had ruled he could not be deported to his homeland because he was facing persecution from the notorious prison gang. He has since received an outpouring of support, including through donations for his wife and children, which had reached $237,319 as of Friday afternoon. The family of Kilmar Abrego Garcia (far right), a migrant deported back to El Salvador after being accused of being a member of the MS-13 gang, is set to receive almost a quarter of a million dollars in donations. The fundraiser for Kilmar Abrego Garcia's loved ones was set up following his controversial removal from the US last month The money has continued to flood in despite shocking details about allegations of domestic abuse made by Abrego Garcia's wife Jennifer Vasquez and other brushes with the law. This includes one company which donated $3,723, as well as another anonymous donation for $1,000. In a 2021 petition for protection, Vasquez alleged that her husband beat her on multiple occasions. In November 2020, Abrego Garcia hit Vasquez with his work boots, and in August 2020 he hit her in the eye, causing her to get a black eye, according to her petition. That same day Abrego Garcia started driving quickly, scaring his wife, as their one-year-old was in the back seat. 'In the recording you can hear him yelling, insulting me, driving extreme fast,' Vasquez told authorities. Later that day she left the residence they shared after being 'afraid to be close to him,' her request continued. Then in May 2021, after an argument at a gas station, the Salvadorian migrant punched and scratched his wife, 'leaving me bleeding,' Vasquez wrote. Dem Senator Chris Van Hollen met with the deported man over margaritas Abrego Garcia has been at the center of a legal battle over the Trump administration's immigration policy since he was deported to his homeland last month, despite an order protecting him from removal He was suspected of human trafficking in 2022, according to Department of Homeland Security records including bodycam footage Fox News also obtained bodycam footage and a report which indicated that Abrego Garcia was suspected of human trafficking in 2022. The accused migrant was pulled over by Tennessee Highway Patrol who discovered eight people in his car, according to a report. The occupants all reportedly gave their address as Abrego Garcia's, who claimed he was taking from from Texas to Maryland for construction work. However, the officer was left with the impression that Abrego Garcia may have been trafficking the individuals. In both instances, Abrego Garcia was let go without charge or conviction. His case has become a flashpoint in the White House's battle to exert power over the courts in or to deliver its mass deportation policy. The Supreme Court recently ruled that Abrego Garcia must be returned to the United States. 'The executive will lose much from a public perception of its lawlessness,' US Circuit Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson wrote on behalf of a three-judge panel. The executive branch in the US Constitution refers to the president. 'We yet cling to the hope that it is not naive to believe our good brethren in the Executive Branch perceive the rule of law as vital to the American ethos.' Wilkinson is an appointee of Republican President Ronald Reagan. An investigation has been launched after a devastating fire destroyed a Grade II listed aircraft hangar just days after permission was given to build hundreds of homes on the site. The historic building that was built by First World War German prisoners of war was on the verge of being restored following years of neglect. Last week a government planning inspector controversially approved plans for more than 300 homes to be built at the Old Sarum airfield near Salisbury but only on condition Hangar 3 be conserved. Aerial photographs today show there is now nothing left of the aircraft hangar that was on Historic England's At Risk Register following the fire that happened at 6.30pm last night. There are fears the fire was started deliberately with police and fire investigators examining the charred scene at the airfield, which played key roles in both World Wars. Although the derelict building had been fenced off, photos taken last week show gaps in it for anyone to access the site. The airfield is operated by Old Sarum Airfield Ltd, which recently gained planning permission to build 315 homes and commercial and leisure facilities on the site after a drawn-out planning inquiry, which began in February. The state of the hangar formed a key part of the debate at the inquiry, along with the proposed development's impact on heritage assets. The historic building that was built by First World War German prisoners of war burnt to the ground last night People watching the fire burning through the hangar and cafe at Old Sarum airfield yesterday evening Aerial photographs today show there is now nothing left of the aircraft hangar When the government's Planning Inspectorate published its decision to grant planning consent on April 9, it said a condition of the approval was that only 160 of the dwellings could be occupied until repairs were made to Hangar 3. A spokesperson for the Save Old Sarum action group, which had been campaigning to stop the plans for housing and for the restoration of Hangar 3, said: 'We are devastated and saddened by the fire at Hangar 3 and the cafe at Old Sarum. 'We praise the swift response by Dorset & Wiltshire Fire Service in containing the fire.' It is understood that the campaigners may call for a review of the decision to grant developers permission to build housing now that there is no historic building left to restore. The director of the airfield said he is 'devastated' by the fire and hopes he hasn't 'lost' the building. Grenville Hodge, the director of Old Sarum airfield, said: 'We're absolutely devastated. We just won the planning appeal and the first thing we were going to do was repair the hangar. It's just unbelievable. Hopefully, we haven't lost it.' Old Sarum is one of the oldest operational airfields in the country and has three Grade II listed hangars which were built in 1917. During the Second World War it was a training base for army soldiers to learn to fly following large RAF losses in the Battle of Britain. Shocking pictures show orange flames under plumes of black smoke as the fire ripped through the Old Sarum Airfield hangar The fire service said Hangar 3 had partially collapsed and the flames had engulfed the adjacent restaurant and cafe Firefighters from Amesbury, Salisbury, Ludgershall, Andover and Ringwood worked together to tackle the blaze One of Old Sarum's Grade II listed hangars was destroyed during Storm Isha last year, after years of being allowed to fall into disrepair Old Sarum seen in the late 1920s. The airfield is one of the oldest operational airfields in the country Old Sarum's rich history Old Sarum Airfield was commissioned in 1917 and is one of three surviving First World War grass strip airfields of its type in Britain. The Belfast Truss hangar was built in 1917 by German Prisoners of War and Chinese labourers. Hangar 3 was a double span hangar and was about 180ft wide and 120ft long. Old Sarum airfield seen from above at the end of the First World War Old Sarum Airfield was a Training Depot Station in the First World War and from 1920 it was the School of Army Co-Operation. It also played a crucial role in the Second World War, serving as a training base for soldiers to learn to fly following the large losses of RAF pilots in the Battle of Britain. Westland Lysanders, Tomahawk's and Taylorcraft Austers were based at the airfield in the Second World War where the Air Observation Post squadrons were formed in May 1940. The historic aerodrome was granted conservation status by English Heritage in 2007 because of its complete set of First World War buildings and hangars. Advertisement Aviation historian Andy Saunders today said: 'The airfield is an important part of Britain's aviation heritage and its use dates back to the First World War with a unique group of original buildings of the period. 'Unfortunately, at least one of the wooden trussed hangars was allowed to fall into disrepair in recent years.' The Belfast Truss Hangar 3 was put on Historic England's At Risk Register in 2020, but in January 2024 Storm Isha caused a partial collapse. At the time campaigners described it as 'demolition through dereliction of duty'. But in granting the housing scheme permission, planning inspector Nick Fagen said he did not accept there had been deliberate neglect of the hangar by the owners. He added that no advantage has been gained by them it had neglected Hangar 3 as much more rebuilding work is now required than before it fell into a state of disrepair. The fire service said Hangar 3 had partially collapsed and the flames had engulfed the adjacent restaurant and cafe. Paul McAuliffe, 54, and wife Svonne, 52, were sat outside the site at around 6.30pm when the fire started. Mrs McAuliffe said: 'One of us looked over and noticed grey smoke coming out of the hangar. 'He (Paul) ran into the kitchen and told them the hangar was on fire. We've all had to stand and watch the hangar. 'The roof collapsed, and then the doors came down, and brought the brick walls down with it. It's absolutely gutting.' Eloise Moore and her sister were alerted to the fire after their parents spotted the smoke. 'I'm so devastated about the recent blaze that happened at the hangar earlier today', she said. 'This was my first time experiencing a fire on this scale, and as a teenager, it will definitely stay with me for a long time. 'We were absolutely flabbergasted and was eager to keep up to date with every news story and followed the live found on your page. 'I hope the fire can be resolved and I have tons of gratitude towards the police and fire departments.' It is understood that there are no casualties following the fire at the historic building An investigation into how the fire started has been launched as police appeal for anyone with information to come forward In a statement released yesterday, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service warned local residents: 'Due to the potential for unknown chemicals, please stay inside and keep your windows closed to avoid the smoke.' A spokesman for Wiltshire Police said: 'We are appealing for witnesses following a large fire at Old Sarum airfield. 'The fire broke out just after 6pm in partially derelict wartime hangars. The two hangars, as well as the Hangar 3 cafe were destroyed, and the building used by another business was badly damaged. 'An investigation is now underway into the cause of the fire and we would like to speak to anyone who was in the area shortly before the fire started. 'If you can help with our inquiries, please contact us on 101 quoting log number 262 of yesterday's date (17/04). You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. 'We would also ask that members of the public keep their distance from the affected area while police and fire continue with the investigation.' When Andrew Roussos was renovating this house part of the impossible process of rebuilding his family's life he took a sledgehammer to some internal walls. The result is a beautiful, light-filled family room, which incorporates the kitchen and living area, and where the TV (which is on at the moment, sound turned down) can be seen from the island unit. This was a place built on anger and pain, however. 'It was therapy,' says Andrew, 51, mimicking the sledgehammer swing and how he went at it like a madman. 'It was at the time of the inquiry so there was a lot of frustration there.' He means the public inquiry into the terror attack at Manchester Arena in 2017, which claimed 22 lives mostly young people filing out of an Ariana Grande concert, singing and dancing as they went. The youngest victim was Andrew's daughter Saffie-Rose, who was just eight, and fearless, the sort of kid who 'did backflips off the sofa and would talk to anyone,' he says. Her picture is everywhere in this house, dimples on display, but Andrew finds it hard to look too closely into her eyes. 'I can't look at her. I mean, she's with us, she's here, she's our oxygen, but to actually look her in the face, I don't do that.' For years Andrew and his wife Lisa had thought that their 'beautiful, perfect girl', who was standing just five metres from the suicide bomber Salman Abedi as he detonated the device in his backpack, had died instantly and painlessly. That was not the case. 'Our beautiful, perfect girl': Saffie-Rose Roussos was just eight when she died in the bombing Shattered lives: parents of Saffie, Andrew and Lisa Roussos pictured today Hashem Abedi, then 23, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 55 years in August 2020 after he was found guilty of 22 counts of murder; and one count of attempted murder CCTV image of Salman Abedi at Victoria Station making his way to the Manchester Arena, on May 22, 2017, where he detonated his bomb They've since learned she survived for 69 minutes, and that opportunities to save her had been missed. They learned things no parent should ever have to process. Not only had Saffie been conscious towards the end, but she had asked for her mum. Her last recorded words, in the ambulance, were: 'Am I going to die?' They also learned that the brothers who plotted this most unthinkably evil attack had been known to MI5. In a rare public statement, the MI5 director-general Ken McCallum said: 'I am profoundly sorry that MI5 did not prevent the attack.' Andrew and Lisa, 56, have now co-written an extraordinary book about their little girl, and their fight for justice on Saffie's behalf. They still believe the authorities have 'blood on their hands', although they accept that they have reached the end of the road in terms of being able to take further legal action. An attempt to sue MI5 last year failed, 'because too much time had passed since the bombing. Never mind that we hadn't been aware of half of the facts until the inquiry'. It would be easier, Andrew tells me, to be able to pin all the blame on the evil, psychotic killer, Salman Abedi, and his equally cruel brother Hashem, but 'it's way more complicated than that'. That much is underlined when, halfway through our interview, the face of Hashem Abedi flashes up on that TV on the wall. Abedi, who is serving a minimum of 55 years for 22 murders Saffie's included has been in the news after attacking prison officers at HMP Frankland in Co. Durham, stabbing two with makeshift knives and hurling hot oil over a third. The natural reaction for any father would presumably be to reach for that old sledgehammer and hurl it at the TV, but Andrew has been so shocked, so 'let down by the system', as he puts it, that he has gone beyond that. He almost shrugs at this 'latest madness'. 'I mean, it is crazy,' he says. 'It's crackers. How does a man like that get access to A, B and C, whatever it is, to allow him to make knives? He's able to be there with a pan of hot butter? On what planet is that... I mean, you can't even get your head around it.' The irony, too. Before the bomb, Andrew and Lisa ran a fish and chip shop in Lancashire. They had to close the doors on the business and start anew, but they know all about hot oil and kitchens and health and safety legislation, and their minds are simply blown that 'in supposedly the most secure prison when you are dealing with someone who is serving 55 years, so has nothing to lose' this can have happened. A carpet of flowers and messages at St Ann's Square in Manchester following the attack The 22 victims of the terror attack during the Ariana Grande concert at the Manchester Arena in May 2017 I ask what is going round his head at this moment, with Abedi's face larger than life in this room, dwarfing all the images of little Saffie. 'This may sound mad, but I don't feel anything towards him. I don't blame him... them. These people are what they are: extremists, murderers. We shouldn't be surprised when they try to maim and kill. It's like getting a dog then being surprised when it barks. 'But I do blame the authorities, because it is their job to stop them. I blame the system for letting these people do what they did and what they are still doing, even when they are inside and supposedly in the most secure prison possible. 'The softer you are, the more they walk all over you. They [the authorities] were soft from the start they had the intelligence on these guys, and still they let them slip through the net.' He questions now much of a net there actually is, given how much has slipped through. 'Oh, there will be an inquiry now. Of course there will. That phrase 'lessons will be learned' will be trotted out. Bull***t.' Lisa is a quieter soul than her husband, but she is struggling to make sense of this too. Until now she has refused to dwell too much on the brothers who killed her baby girl. 'I never allow them into my head,' she says, turning her back on the TV. 'I refuse to give them my thoughts. But I do believe that it's wrong to let all these extremists live together and talk together in prison. They must be having a great time, being fed and watered and allowed to hang out together.' There is the same resignation from her, though. Too many times have this couple had to listen to half-apologies about mistakes being made. Police at the Manchester Arena following the bombing at the Ariana Grande concert in 2017 Artists impression of Hashem Abedi, appearing in the dock at the Old Bailey, London in 2020 Andrew Roussos said he 'doesn't feel anything' towards the Abedi brothers and instead blames the authorities During this interview they reel off some of them: the fact that ambulance crews were held back from the site where their child was dying; the fact there wasn't a single stretcher available in a major British venue, at a time when the terror threat level was high; the fact that Abedi was able to get on a plane to Libya even after the attack. There is such a terrible catalogue of system failings that this latest twist of the knife barely impacts. 'From the moment the bomb was detonated in fact even before it, given what MI5 knew it has been a complete shambles with one thing after another. So many mistakes were made. So many times people say, 'That shouldn't have happened'. Now this. If you made it up, people would say it was too far-fetched,' says Lisa. 'But it's another example of feeling that you are just in the middle of this big thing that you don't understand and that you can't control. It's scary, to be honest. You go through life thinking people in authority know what they are doing, that they know how to keep everyone safe. They don't, and that is terrifying.' It's interesting that they haven't been among the victims' families who have demanded answers this week, or openly expressed their outrage, because Andrew has never been a man to hold back. At the inquiry, he railed against the 'clever people' with their big words, 'who apologise but only to the point where you can't sue them'. You don't get that sense from him today, which perhaps makes this situation even sadder. 'You run out of steam trying to hold people to account. I'm tired of shouting. What is the point? It won't bring Saffie back and nothing changes anyway. Lessons learned? You can't beat the system.' He has run out of words, so sticks two fingers up at the world, done with being the man who does and says the right thing. Andrew and Lisa Roussos pictured at their home in Dorset Ariana Grande was performing to a crowd of mostly young people when the attack took place His exasperation is palpable. 'But I don't want this. Some days I think I want to leave the country completely, go over to Cyprus, sit on a beach, drink vodka, put the roof down on the car, take my wife for a cheap meal.' Lisa gives him a dig, ribs him about the 'cheap' there, and they manage to laugh. How this couple hardworking, decent, ordinary are still standing is beyond comprehension. In Lisa's case, this applies literally as well as metaphorically. The bombers who killed Saffie also left Lisa who had taken her to the concert in a coma for two weeks, with 126 pieces of shrapnel embedded in her body. Such were her injuries that she was given a 15 per cent chance of survival. There was a 90 per cent chance that she would never walk again, and she still struggles with stairs today. Hence the fact that this lovely home, which they have called Saffie-Rose, is a bungalow. It is situated in rural Dorset, pretty much as far as they could flee from their previous home in Leyland, Lancashire, 'and all its memories', while still being able to access medical care for Lisa. Saffie's bedroom came too, in the move. They pretty much recreated her room here, and are happy to show me. 'It's not a shrine,' says Lisa, explaining that she and Andrew pop in and out all the time, adding little trinkets they have bought for Saffie, and using the wardrobe for their own things. The sense of love and loss in this room is overwhelming. Saffie's pink slippers sit at the side of her bed, as if she has just stepped out of them. Her straw hat is over the bed post, ready for summer adventures to come; her Ray-Bans are on a hook next to it. A cuddly Olaf, the snowman from Disney's Frozen, stands guard in the corner. Police escorting members of the public from the Manchester Arena Lisa Roussos (centre) with her two daughters Saffie-Rose and Ashlee on the day of the concert Saffie-Rose, eight, died from her injuries following the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017 On the wall, the most treasured family portrait ever has been preserved behind glass. In a line stand chunky felt-tipped versions of Daddy, Mummy, Xander, 'Me Saffie' and Binky the dog. By chance a picture was taken on the night of the bombing showing Andrew and Saffie's brother Xander, who was then 11 years old, outside Manchester Arena. Xander has Binky, the family chihuahua, in his arms. They had been there to collect Lisa, Saffie and her sister Ashlee (Lisa's 25-year-old daughter from a previous marriage) after the Ariana Grande concert. They heard the explosion that ripped their lives apart, and Andrew's memory of the desperate scrabble to find his family is all too vivid. He and Xander came across Ashlee hurt but still conscious and able to talk, lying on the ground. There was no sign of Lisa or Saffie, and Andrew spent that entire night driving to different hospitals in search of his wife and child. 'You know when you are watching a horror film? It was like that but knowing that you are in it.' He didn't discover that Saffie had died until midday the following day; by then the doctors had told him that it was likely Lisa, who had been placed in a medically induced coma, would die too. They talk about the moment she woke up to every mother's worst nightmare. 'I said 'Saffie's gone, isn't she?' and Andrew said 'Yes'.' At that moment she wanted to die, too. 'I asked 'Why did you wake me up? Why didn't you let me die?'. I wanted to die.' There have been many times since where they have both wanted to remove themselves from this world. 'We talked about it,' says Andrew. 'As awful as this sounds, I do believe that, in an ideal world, you would do that. If you lose a child, you'd say 'Let's just go', because you know the pain will be too great, but also because you don't know where they are. Did Saffie need us? 'But we had an 11-year-old son. What about Xander? He was dealing with enough, without us topping ourselves. But, believe me, we thought about it.' Saffie Rose's mother Lisa, brother Xander and sister Ashlee Bromwich attending the eight-year-old's colourful funeral following the horrific attack Salman Abedi, left, with his brothers Hashem (centre) and Ismail It has been Xander who has pulled them through. He is 19 now. 'That lad became a man. He and Saffie were inseparable but very different she was fearless and he was more timid. But he's become the fearless one now.' They also have a granddaughter, Ashlee's four-year-old daughter Ever-Rose named after her aunt who is a regular visitor. 'She had Saffie's slippers on the other day,' laughs Lisa. The couple say the process of writing the book, with investigative journalist David Collins, was often painful. There is one chapter, a meticulous, almost minute-by-minute account of the last hour of Saffie's life that documents the heroic efforts of the off-duty nurse who stayed with Saffie as she was dying, holding her head back to keep her airway open, saying 'That's it, gorgeous girl. You stay. You stay'. This was too much for Lisa. 'David and Andrew did that chapter on their own. I couldn't. I haven't read it.' Andrew is wiping his eyes. To this day he knows more than his wife about how Saffie died. 'And it's still just unbearable. You might know it all, but when you see it, all the timings, everything that happened, all the mistakes that were made, written down But as we were doing that chapter, I told myself that, however painful this is for me, it would have been worse for Saffie.' In some ways their book raises more questions than it answers, particularly about the role of MI5. But it is also an astonishing love letter to Saffie, and an acknowledgement that her death touched us all. King Charles, then Prince Charles, was among those who wrote to the couple, directly referencing his own family's suffering at the hands of terrorists. 'I cannot bear it for you that such a heartbreaking tragedy should have been inflicted upon you so cruelly, and in such a barbarous manner,' he wrote. Salman Abedi pictured walking towards the Manchester Arena before the concert This picture shows police interviewing Hashem following the horrific 2017 Manchester Arena terror attack Saffie has now been absent from the world for as long as she was in it, 'a milestone I was dreading', says Lisa. She would be 16 today 'I well remember when my much-loved great uncle, Lord Mountbatten, and my godson were blown up by IRA terrorists. I can at least understand something of what you are going through.' That meant the world to them. 'We have certainly seen the best of humanity, and the worst,' says Lisa. Saffie has now been absent from the world for as long as she was in it, 'a milestone I was dreading', says Lisa. She would be 16 today. It's a mark of the sort of people Lisa and Andrew are that they asked all her school friends' parents to send them pictures of their own daughters in their prom dresses. 'We wanted to see them,' says Andrew. 'When we lost Saffie, we lost all her friends too. You want to celebrate those kids, even when it's hard.' And hard it was. Lisa nearly bought Saffie a prom dress to hang in her room. 'I know some people would think that odd, but I wanted to do it, for Saffie, and for me.' Why didn't she? 'I couldn't decide which colour and style she would like now. I know which one she would have picked when she was eight, but I couldn't be sure now. And then the moment passed.' Saffie: The Youngest Victim Of The Manchester Terror Attack And Her Family's Fight For Justice, by David Collins, is published by Silvertail Books on April 24, at 12.99 The Democrat senator who traveled to El Salvador to meet with deported migrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia swears that he was set up by the nation's president for an unfortunate photo-op. The picture in question, which shows Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., and Abrego Garcia at a table with what appear to be margaritas, was posted by El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele after his government finally allowed the lawmaker to meet with the man who was accidentally deported there last month. 'Kilmar Abrego Garcia, miraculously risen from the 'death camps' & 'torture', now sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador!' Bukele captioned the images posted to X on Thursday. But Van Hollen sought to set the record straight after returning to the U.S. on Friday, telling a throng of reporters at a Virginia airport after returning from his trip that the drinks were set out by the country's president. 'So here's what happened, when I first sat down with Kilmar, we just had glasses of water, maybe some coffee, and as we were talking one of the government people came over and deposited two other glasses on the table with ice and I don't know if it was salt or sugar around the top, but they look like margaritas,' Van Hollen said. 'And if you look at the one they put in front of Kilmar, it actually had a little less liquid than the one in me in front of me to try to make it look, I assumed, like he drank out of it.' 'Let me just be very clear, neither of us touched the drinks that were in front of us, and if you want to play a little Sherlock Holmes, I'll tell you how you can know that,' the senator explained. He claimed that because of the salt (or sugar) covered rims, he could prove that neither he nor Kilmar imbibed during the welfare check Van Hollen had been demanding for days whilst on a highly-publicized trip to advocate for Abrego Garcia's return to the U.S. Pictured: Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen sits with deported illegal migrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia with drinks that some claimed were margaritas. This image was posted by El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele, whose workers brought out the drinks for the alleged MS-13 member and Democrat Van Hollen, however, does not have any margaritas in the picture his team posted online. He claims the country's president set him up with the drinks that neither he nor Kilmar tried Van Hollen addressing the press after returning to the U.S. on Friday 'If you sip out of one of those glasses, some of whatever was salt or sugar would disappear,' the Democrat told the press. 'You would see a gap. There's no gap.' Someone in the crowd immediately blurted out 'There's no gap!' The lawmaker also addressed the more serious issue of being set up by Bukele. 'Nobody drank any margaritas or sugar water or whatever it is. But this is a lesson. It's the lengths that President Bukele will do to deceive people about what's going on, and it's also shows the lengths that the Trump administration and the President will go to,' the Democrat charged. Van Hollen caught a lot of flak online over the image as users tore into him for flying to another country to advocate for a non-citizen and alleged MS-13 member while citizens in Maryland have been targeted by migrants. The Democrat senator who traveled to El Salvador to meet with a deported illegal migrant and alleged MS-13 member was seen drinking what appeared to be margaritas, infuriating many online. Popular Trump-aligned accounts on X, including Libs of TikTok, slammed Van Hollen for his cozy chat with deported thug. One person pointed out that in Van Hollen's official post on X, he didn't include the picture showing the margarita glasses. Another responded directly to the senator's post and said, 'Hey Chris!! This is the real picture. How were those margaritas??? President Bukele posted this one. No hiding the truth from America.' A third wrote: 'Senator Chris Van Hollen and Kilmar Abrego Garcia sipping margaritas with salted rimsThirsty Thursday in El Salvador.' El Salvador President Nayib Bukele, who met with President Donald Trump this week, shared the photo of the supposedly alcoholic drinks Van Hollen has not responded to the social media outrage yet, but in his post about the meeting, he said he called Abrego Garcia's wife 'to pass along his message of love.' The lawmaker did not provide an update on the status of Abrego Garcia, whose attorneys are fighting to force the Trump administration to facilitate his return to the U.S. A spokesman for the Trump administration remained on message, claiming Van Hollen was worried more about a 'terrorist' illegal migrant than his own constituents. 'Chris Van Hollen has firmly established Democrats as the party whose top priority is the welfare of an illegal alien MS-13 terrorist. It is truly disgusting. President Trump will continue to stand on the side of law-abiding Americans,' Kush Desai told DailyMail.com. Bukele's post on X ended with emojis of the U.S. and El Salvador flags, with a handshake emoji between them. A spokeswoman for El Salvadors presidency said she had no further information. The meeting came hours after Van Hollen said he was denied entry into an high-security El Salvador prison Thursday while he was trying to check on Abrego Garcia's well-being and push for his release. The Democratic senator said at a news conference in San Salvador that his car was stopped by soldiers at a checkpoint about two miles from the Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT, even as they let other cars go on. 'They stopped us because they are under orders not to allow us to proceed,' Van Hollen said. Abrego Garcia was sent to an El Salvador prison by the Trump administration in March despite an immigration court order preventing his deportation Van Hollen did not provide an update on the status of Abrego Garcia (pictured), whose attorneys are fighting to force the Trump administration to facilitate his return to the US Abrego Garcia entered the US illegally in 2011. A judge blocked his return to El Salvador in 2019, citing the fact that gangsters were after him, but said he could be deported elsewhere. In court filings this week, the Trump administration said he was deported to El Salvador in error. The Supreme Court has since ordered the Trump administration to facilitate his return to the US. Late Thursday, a three-judge panel from the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously refused to suspend a judge's decision to order sworn testimony by Trump administration officials to determine if they complied with the court's instruction to facilitate Abrego Garcia's return. The Trump administrations claims that it can't do anything to free Garcia from an El Salvador prison or return him to the US 'should be shocking to the intuitive sense of liberty that Americans far removed from courthouses still hold dear,' the court said Thursday in a blistering order that ratchets up the escalating conflict between the government's executive and judicial branches. Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III, who was nominated by Republican President Ronald Reagan, said: 'It is difficult in some cases to get to the very heart of the matter. But in this case, it is not hard at all.' He added that he and his two colleagues 'cling to the hope that it is not naive to believe our good brethren in the Executive Branch perceive the rule of law as vital to the American ethos.' Trump officials insist Garcia is not an innocent American, as claimed. They say he's an MS-13 gangster who deserves to be sent back to El Salvador. Additionally, a 2021 petition for protection from domestic violence filled out by Abrego Garcia's wife, Jennifer Vasquez, which was obtained first by DailyMail.com, states that the alleged MS-13 member beat his wife multiple times over the years. Van Hollen posted a photo of the meeting on X, saying he also called Abrego Garcia's wife 'to pass along his message of love' She told The Post she was 'acting out of caution after a disagreement with Kilmar in case things escalated' after being abused 'in a previous relationship.' 'Things did not escalate, and I decided not to follow through with the civil court process. We were able to work through this situation privately as a family, including by going to counseling,' she added. 'Our marriage only grew stronger in the years that followed. No one is perfect, and no marriage is perfect.' Democrats, furious about his deportation, are up in arms, with Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen traveling in an attempt to get answers. Determined to save Garcia, he flew to El Salvador in an effort to get him out of jail and back in America. But when he showed up asking for a meeting, he was denied. He is now being mocked by Republicans and Conservative Americans, including the mother of a woman who was murdered by an illegal migrant. 'Senator Van Hollen has done more to bring a MS-13 gang member, human trafficker and illegal alien back to Maryland than he has to help keep his American constituents safe or advocate for the victims of these vicious gangs like MS-13. 'While Senator Van Hollen and the mainstream media peddle a sob story about a brutal MS-13 gang member, Secretary Noem stands with the victims of illegal alien crime, like Maryland mom Rachel Morin. A2021 petition for protection from domestic violence filled out by Abrego Garcia's wife, Jennifer Vasquez (pictured), which was obtained first by DailyMail.com, states that the alleged MS-13 member beat his wife multiple times over the years 'We hear far too much about the gang members and criminals sob stories and not enough about their victims,' the Department of Homeland Security said in a post on X. The efforts by Van Hollen have also been criticized by Morin's mother Patty who spoke about the lack of any correspondence from state officials when her daughter was murdered. Speaking on Fox News with anchor Sean Hannity, she said: 'I'm very angry, I'm outraged. I'm too sad at the moment to show anger at the same time. 'He did not call our family, he did not give condolences. There was no action [from] the Democratic party in anyway. 'From Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, anyone here in Maryland, none of the Senators did anything to help search for the murderer of my daughter.' Rachel Morin's illegal immigrant killer Victor Martinez-Hernandez was found guilty of first degree murder, first degree rape and kidnapping on Monday - and is now awaiting sentencing. Abrego Garcia, who is a legal resident, arrived at the notorious supermax prison CECOT in El Salvador March 15 on one of three planes from the US. He first entered the U.S. in 2011 but was granted permission to stay by a judge in 2019. He later settled down in Maryland and has an American wife and son. Abrego Garcia (pictured), who is a legal resident, arrived at the notorious supermax prison CECOT in El Salvador March 15 on one of three planes from the US Democratic Senator from Maryland Chris Van Hollen speaks to the press in Antiguo Cuscatlan, El Salvador. Van Hollen arrived in El Salvador to request the release of Abrego Garcia The Trump administration deported Abrego Garcia on March 15 after files indicated that he had connections with MS-13, a vicious Salvadorian-American gang. His wife and lawyer deny his gang affiliation and have sued the administration for improperly removing him from the U.S. The Trump administration initially said his removal was a mistake. The Supreme Court then ordered the facilitation of his return. But the Trump administration is standing firm. In the Oval Office on Monday, Trump and Bukele led a united defense of their actions in the case of Abrego Garcia. Bukele argued he couldn't return, saying: 'How can I return him to the United States? 'I smuggle him into the United States or what do I do? Of course, I'm not going to do it. 'The question is preposterous. How can I smuggle a terrorist into the United States? I don't have the power to return him to the United States.' Trump supported Bukele's claim and went further, lobbying the El Salvadorian leader to take more migrants and build more prisons hold them. 'I just asked the president, you know, it's this massive complex that he built, a jail complex. I said, 'Can you build some more of them, please?'' Trump said. A 19-year-old from Missouri faces 20 years in prison after being charged in connection with the firebombing of a Tesla dealership in Kansas City. Owen McIntire is accused of attacking the dealership on March 17, where prosecutors alleged that he destroyed two Tesla Cybertrucks. The incident was part of a wave of arson attacks on Tesla dealerships that came in retaliation for the car manufacturer's CEO Elon Musk's deep ties to the Trump administration. Trump's Attorney General Pam Bondi vowed to crack down on the attacks in response, saying in a blistering statement last month that any 'domestic terrorists' who attack Tesla shops 'will be put behind bars.' FBI Director Kash Patel thanked Bondi as he announced the charges against McIntire on Friday on Musk's social media platform X, celebrating the second Tesla-related arrest in a week. 'Our FBI teams continue our aggressive work to crack down on domestic terrorism cases like this one,' Patel posted. 'Pam Bondi has given us the support to pursue these cases, and we are acting accordingly.' McIntire is reportedly a college student in Boston, but was home in Kansas City for spring break at the time of the attack. He could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison on charges of one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device and one count of malicious damage by fire of any property used in interstate commerce. Owen McIntire, 19, (pictured) has been charged in connection with the firebombing of a Tesla dealership in Kansas City on March 17 Prosecutors alleged that McIntire used a Molotov cocktail to set a Tesla Cybertruck ablaze, which then spread through the parking lot When the Kansas City Tesla dealership was firebombed, police said several Cybertrucks were set on fire at around 11:15pm. Investigators recovered a women's wide brimmed hat at the scene, near to a Molotov cocktail that failed to detonate at the scene, and believe another was used to damage the trucks. Cops said the fire started at one vehicle spreading through the parking lot, also damaging two charging stations. McIntire made his first court appearance Friday, where it was not immediately clear whether he entered a plea. As he was arrested, the Department of Justice released an image of the suspect walking through Kansas City International Airport. In a statement following McIntire's arrest, Bondi doubled down on her vow to find and prosecute anyone who attacked one of Musk's businesses in recent months. 'Let me be extremely clear to anyone who still wants to firebomb a Tesla property: you will not evade us,' Bondi said. 'You will be arrested. You will be prosecuted. You will spend decades behind bars. It is not worth it.' Patel lauded it as the latest in several arrests related to attacks on Musk's businesses, including the arrest of alleged communist Paul Hyon Kim, 36, last month, after he allegedly set dozens of Cybertrucks ablaze in Las Vegas. Investigators recovered a Molotov cocktail that failed to detonate at the scene, and believe another was used to damage the trucks. A women's wide-brimmed hat was also found near the scene close to the Molotov cocktail As he was arrested, the Department of Justice released an image of the suspect walking through Kansas City International Airport Authorities also released this image of the suspect in the Kansas City attack, alleging it was McIntire McIntire is reportedly a college student in Boston, but was home in Kansas City for spring break at the time of the attack It came days after lipstick-wearing suspect Jamison Wagner, 40, was arrested in New Mexico in connection with a string of attacks on both Tesla vehicles and also GOP headquarters. Wagner torched cars at the Tesla Albuquerque Showroom and set a doorway alight at the Republican Party of New Mexico offices, prosecutors said. He used homemade napalm devices topped with distinctive lids which were later recovered following a search of his home, court documents stated. Wagner is also accused of daubing the showroom and six vehicles in swastika symbols and graffiti, which read 'Die Elon,' 'Tesla Nazi Inc,' and 'Die Tesla Nazi' among others phrases. Wagner was arrested after he left a trail of clues behind at the scene which matched objects seized during a raid on his home, according to to prosecutors These included remnants of homemade incendiary devices, graffiti spray paint and a stencil bearing the phrase 'ICE = KKK', the same words which had been emblazoned on the Republican party offices. It came days after lipstick-wearing suspect Jamison Wagner, 40, was arrested in New Mexico in connection with a string of attacks on both Tesla vehicles and also GOP headquarters Prosecutors said Wagner left graffiti on the Tesla showroom and several of the cars A doorway was also set alight at the Republican Party of New Mexico offices on March 30 Prosecutors say they recovered these stencils from Wagner's home. The phrase matches graffiti spray painted on the GOP HQ Investigators noted that several glass jars used for the improvised napalm materials found at the crime scenes contained a hand hand-written capital 'I' or 'H' letter their lids. They stated that similar lids and jars were found at Wagner's home. The arrests come as anti-Elon Musk protests erupted across the US in demonstrations against his DOGE arm of the Trump administration making huge cuts to workforces and entire agencies. Last month dozens of fired-up crowds assembled outside Tesla stores across the country to protest against Musk's efforts to slash government spending and enact reforms. Demonstrations also erupted in London, Portugal, Malaysia and Iceland. Roughly 250 activists were gathered outside a showroom in New York City, holding anti-Musk placards that read 'Block Fascism Now and 'Musk Must Go' as they shouted 'Elon Musk is not elected! Democracy must be protected!' Donald Trump threatened to pull out of peace talks over the war in Ukraine last night unless a deal is struck. The US President claimed America would walk away unless there were clear signs a truce can be reached. He said in the White House: 'It is coming to a head right now. We want to get it done. We are talking about people dying, on average 2,500 young people [per day] have been killed in battle 'We want to save these lives. If, for some reason, one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we're just going to say you're fools, you're horrible people. 'We're just going to have to take a pass. But hopefully we won't have to do it. We want to see it end. Think of it, every day a lot of people are being killed. As they [representatives of Ukraine and Russia] play games. We are not going to take that. 'We'll see. I think we have a good chance of solving the problem.' More than a month has passed since Ukraine agreed a 30-day ceasefire, which Russia refused to countenance. Yesterday one person was killed and more than 100 injured in a Good Friday missile strike on Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city. Mr Trump's threat echoed remarks made earlier yesterday by US secretary of state Marco Rubio. Donald Trump (pictured) threatened to pull out of peace talks over the war in Ukraine last night unless a deal is struck More than a month has passed since Ukraine agreed a 30-day ceasefire, which Russia refused to countenance. Yesterday one person was killed and more than 100 injured in a Good Friday missile strike on Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city Firefighters work at the site of a garment production factory hit by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv He suggested the US had 'other priorities' to focus on' and would not 'continue with this endeavour for weeks and months on end'. Mr Rubio said: 'We need to determine very quickly now and I'm talking about a matter of days whether or not this is doable. 'If it's not going to happen, then we're just going to move on.' Previously, US officials had pencilled in Easter Sunday as a target for a truce to be in place. It was chosen because this year the festival falls on the same day in the Christian and Eastern Orthodox calendars. US officials have offered Russia financial incentives to get a ceasefire over the line, including an immediate relaxation of economic sanctions, according to reports. Mr Rubio was speaking in Paris after lengthy talks with Ukrainian and European officials, including UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy. The US secretary of state is expected to attend further negotiations due to take place in London next week. These talks are taking place amid growing European concerns of Mr Trump's readiness to draw closer to Russia. And his economic advisers have been talking up the benefits for the US of restarting business relations with Russia. Mr Trump's threat echoed remarks made earlier yesterday by US secretary of state Marco Rubio (pictured) Diplomatic efforts led by Mr Trump's peace envoy Steve Witkoff who has met Putin three times in recent weeks appear to have achieved no concessions. On the presidential campaign trail, Mr Trump boasted repeatedly that he could end the war in a single day. Addressing reporters in the Oval Office yesterday, he added: 'Nobody is playing me. I am trying to help. 'My whole life has been one big negotiation and I know when people are playing us and when they're not. 'I have to see an enthusiasm to want to end it. I think I see that enthusiasm. I think I see it from both sides.' Pubs will be able to stay open until 1am to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day. The Prime Minister has ordered that pubs and bars that usually close at 11pm will be able to keep serving for an extra two hours on Thursday May 8 to celebrate. Sir Keir Starmer said: 'As we mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, the whole country should come together to remember the incredible sacrifices made by the wartime generation and to celebrate the peace and freedom they secured for us all. 'Keeping our pubs open for longer will give people the opportunity to join in celebrations and raise a glass to all of the men and women who served their country, both overseas and at home.' Pub hours have been relaxed before for occasions of 'exceptional national significance' such as the Euro 2024 final and major royal celebrations. VE Day commemorations will start on the May bank holiday on Monday May 5. The Cenotaph will be dressed in Union flags and there will be a military procession from Whitehall to Buckingham Palace and an RAF flypast over London. On May 8, there will be a party at Horse Guards Parade showed live on BBC One. Keir tarmer has said pubs ca stay open until 1am to mark the 80th anniversary of VE day Prime Minister Winston Churchill is mobbed by the excited crowds as he made his triumphant ride to the Houses of Parliament after his victory speech which was relayed to the thousands in Whitehall on V.E. Day Pub hours have been relaxed before for occasions of 'exceptional national significance' Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association, said extending pub hours would give the industry a boost. He said: 'As someone with a strong family background in the armed forces, I know how vital it is to honour the legacy of those who served. 'VE Day is not only a moment of remembrance but also an opportunity for communities to come together. 'At such a challenging time for the hospitality sector, allowing businesses to extend their trading hours during these celebrations offers a much-needed boost while paying tribute to our shared history.' Other planned celebrations include the return of ceramic poppies to the Tower of London, and the illumination of historic landmarks. There will also be a Victory in Europe Day Anniversary Concert in medieval Westminster Hall. On the anniversary of VE Day itself, Thursday May 8 when the Allies accepted Germany's unconditional surrender a service will be held at Westminster Abbey, 'to give thanks and honour a generation'. The VE Day commemorations will be topped off by a concert at Horse Guards Parade in London, in a bid to recreate the euphoric scenes of the day itself. Ten thousand members of the public will be treated to a show featuring 'stars of stage and screen and military musicians' telling 'the story of victory and the legacy of the Second World War in Europe'. Britons indulged in one of their favourite pastimes as the Easter holiday weekend got underway yesterday queuing. While motorways and A-roads were predictably gridlocked up and down the country, families got in on the action by lining up outside everything from chip shops to bakeries. Shoppers buying hot cross buns from Ravens Bakery in Brighton began turning up from 6.30am, with queues snaking down the pavement for much of the rest of the day. And in North Shields, on Tyneside, customers crowded outside the Waterfront chippy to get their hands on the day's catch which is a staple for many families on Good Friday when it is traditional to eat fish rather than meat. But it was an all-too familiar story for those using the roads, as traffic caused by the estimated 20million drivers out yesterday saw the country's busiest motorways grind to a halt. Long tailbacks were seen on the M1, M5 and M25, while those driving to Heathrow also saw congestion on the M4 spur road outside the airport. Holidaymakers flying from Gatwick faced disruption as over 100 members of Unite working for Red Handling walked out on strike. The action included baggage handlers and check-in agents working for carriers including Norwegian and Delta. Long tailbacks were seen on the M1, M5 and M25, while those driving to Heathrow also saw congestion on the M4 spur road outside the airport In North Shields, on Tyneside, customers crowded outside the Waterfront chippy to get their hands on the day's catch which is a staple for many families on Good Friday when it is traditional to eat fish rather than meat Shoppers buying hot cross buns from Ravens Bakery in Brighton began turning up from 6.30am, with queues snaking down the pavement for much of the rest of the day Christians crossing at low tide to Lindisfarne, Northumberland, celebrated Easter in a more traditional fashion as they carried crosses to the Holy Island during an annual pilgrimage A Gatwick spokesman said the strike would 'impact thousands of passengers during one of our busiest times of year'. Passengers on the rail network were also met with disruption as Network Rail carried out more than 300 engineering projects at a cost of around 86million across Britain over the weekend. It meant there were fewer services or no trains at all at London's Euston and Victoria stations, with further chaos at Manchester, Leeds and Cambridge. Rail replacement buses, which were in operation in many parts of the country yesterday, also added to the huge numbers taking to the roads. RAC spokesman Alice Simpson warned of the potential for 'big jams', as the Met Office predicted heavy rain for the weekend. But there was at least a queue of the happier kind as dozens of bikers from the Thames Vale Vultures motorcycle club arrived at Reading Rugby Club with Easter eggs for local charities. And Christians crossing at low tide to Lindisfarne, Northumberland, celebrated Easter in a more traditional fashion as they carried crosses to the Holy Island during an annual pilgrimage. The three top staffers for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth who were suspended as part of the Signal group chat investigation have each been terminated. Darin Selnick, the Pentagon's deputy chief of staff, and Dan Caldwell - a senior adviser to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, were placed on administrative leave as part of the probe. Colin Carroll, chief of staff to Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg, was suspended a day later. All three have since been let go, a spokesman for the Pentagon told DailyMail.com Friday night. Hegseth's Chief of Staff Joe Kasper is also set to resign in the coming days, Politico reported. A senior defense official told DailyMail.com of Kasper and the other three: 'At this time no final senior staffing changes have been decided, and the Secretary will make any future announcements on his own timetable.' Kasper's departure would be especially curious, as he put in the request for an investigation into multiple leaks out of the Pentagon last month. 'Joe didn't like those guys,' an anonymous source said of Kasper's relationship with Caldwell, Selnick and Carroll. Top Defense aides Dan Caldwell (left) and Darin Selnick (right) have been terminated after allegedly being identified during the leak investigation Colin Carroll (pictured), chief of staff to Deputy Defense Secretary, has also been fired as part of a leak investigation 'They all have different styles. They just didn't get along. It was a personality clash.' The departures now leave a huge void of several key roles in Hegseth's Defense Department. 'There is a complete meltdown in the building, and this is really reflecting on the secretary's leadership,' a former defense official said. 'Pete Hegseth has surrounded himself with some people who don't have his interests at heart.' President Donald Trump has railed against those with loose lips, particularly when it comes to leaking information about his administration. He has ordered them to be found. Caldwell and Selnick were put on administrative leave and escorted out of the Pentagon by security on Tuesday. Carrol was suspended a day after two other political appointees were shown the door, Politico reported. The internal Pentagon investigation is looking into allegations of unauthorized disclosures of information. 'Pete Hegseth (pictured) has surrounded himself with some people who don't have his interests at heart,' a defense official claimed All three have since been let go and Hegseth's Chief of Staff Joe Kasper (pictured) is reportedly set to resign in the coming days 'This is a purge of people who had disagreements with the Pentagon chief of staff,' a defense source told CNN. Carroll, a former Marine Corps intelligence officer with deep AI expertise, served in Afghanistan. He is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy. Ahead of his tenure at the Pentagon, Carroll worked at Anduril, a defense contractor that specializes in autonomous systems. And he was fired by the Biden administration for creating a hostile environment while chief operating officer of the Pentagon's former Joint Artificial Intelligence Center. The inspector general conducted an investigation in 2021 into how Carroll treated his employees, sources told Politico last month. The staff told the IG that Carroll said they 'weren't smart,' 'dumb' or 'idiots.' He was also said to have called colleagues 'f***ing idiots' or 'morons.' Carroll told the outlet he was asked to resign but claimed he was winnowing down DOD projects, which frustrated some colleagues, and fighting against an entrenched bureaucracy. 'I was three years too early in attempting to drive the necessary revolutionary change required to deliver tangible outcomes to warfighters,' Carroll said. The departures now leave a huge void of several key roles in Pete Hegseth's (pictured) Defense Department Carroll (pictured right) told the outlet he was asked to resign but claimed he was winnowing down DOD projects, which frustrated some colleagues, and fighting against an entrenched bureaucracy The leak investigation at the Pentagon began on March 21 when Hegseth's chief of staff Kasper ordered the probe. The probe included military operational plans for the Panama canal, a second carrier headed to the Red Sea, the pausing the collection of intelligence to Ukraine, and the leak that Elon Musk's would meet with Hegseth about the U.S. war plans for China, an official told Politico. Kasper said the probe would examine 'recent unauthorized disclosures of national security information' and said polygraphs would be used. 'The use of polygraphs in the execution of this investigation will be in accordance with applicable law and policy,' he wrote. 'This investigation will commence immediately and culminate in a report to the Secretary of Defense.' He noted that 'information identifying a party responsible for an unauthorized disclosure' would be referred for criminal prosecution.' Kasper ordered the probe one day after the New York Times reported the Pentagon set up a briefing with Elon Musk on a potential war with China. Caldwell played a critical role as an adviser to Hegseth. He was the staff member designated as Hegseth's point person in the Signal messaging chat that top Trump administration national security officials, including the defense secretary, used to convey plans for a military strike against Houthi militants in Yemen. The chat, set up by national security adviser Michael Waltz, included a number of Cabinet members and came to light because Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was accidentally added to the group. Caldwell and Hegseth have a longtime friendship, going back to Hegseth's time as the head of Concerned Veterans for America, a nonprofit. Caldwell worked at CVA beginning in 2013 as policy director and later as executive director. Additionally, Caldwell was by Hegseth's side on Capitol Hill as the former Fox News host fought to keep his nomination alive during questions about his treatment of women. Selnick also performed the duties of the under secretary of Defense for personnel and readiness. He served in the White House and the Department of Veterans Affairs in the first Trump administration. And he also has ties to Concerned Veterans for America, where he served as a senior adviser. All three suspended aides are close in age and share the same isolationist view of foreign policy. That view is also shared by Vice President J.D. Vance and Don Trump Jr., the president's oldest son. Lady Pamela Hicks may have been born into a life of privilege, but her entry into the world was far from grand. In April 1929, while eight months pregnant, her mother, Edwina Mountbatten, decided to take a short holiday in Spain for some rest. At the time, Spain was on the edge of civil war, and Edwina was staying at the Ritz Hotel in Barcelona when she suddenly felt unusually fatigued. It soon became clear that her baby's arrival was closer than anyone had anticipated. As Pamela's daughter, India Hicks, recounts in her book, Lady Pamela, Edwina phoned the hotel reception to request a doctor. 'The hotel got in a terrible flap, putting her on hold, only to come back and tell her that they could produce an ear, nose and throat specialist,' India writes. Feeling overwhelmed, her husband, Lord Mountbatten, reached out to his cousin, Queen Ena, in Madrid. However, Ena was away, so King Alfonso himself took the call. Lady Pamela Hicks may have been born into a life of privilege, but her entry into the world was far from grand (pictured with her mother Edwina Mountbatten) '"We're having a baby!" exclaimed my grandfather [Lord Mountbatten]. 'The King, a great womaniser, got the wrong end of the stick and replied, "Oh my dear Dickie. I won't tell anyone." '"Tell everyone. It's my wife, Edwina, who's having the baby." '"Leave everything to me," said the King and rang off.' Within thirty minutes, the royal guard had surrounded the Ritz Hotel, under strict orders not to let anyone enter. But, when the doctor arrived and hurried towards the entrance, he was arrested by mistake. 'After some panicked explanations the ENT doctor was allowed up, remembered his obstetric training, and came up trumps,' India continues. Despite what was described as a 'somewhat tumultuous' labour, Pamela was safely delivered and lovingly wrapped in an embroidered layette provided by local nuns. Edwina Mountbatten and her husband Lord Mountbatten in the 1930s Edwina married Louis Mountbatten in 1922 Edwina pictured with her two children, Patricia (left) and Pamela (right) Edwina, her daughter Pamela and husband Louis arrive at the Hyde Park Hotel for a coming out party in June 1950 Lady Edwina Mountbatten pictured with friends Baillie Hamilton and Emily Ashley ahead of the Jewels of the Empire Ball, held at the Park Lane Hotel in London The funeral of Edwina aboard HMS Wakeful off Portsmouth in February 1960. Louis Mountbatten watches the coffin, alongside his daughters Pamela and Patricia and his sister Princess Alice Pamela served as a bridesmaid and later as a lady-in-waiting to her third cousin, Queen Elizabeth II Pamela and her daughter India attend the funeral of Patricia Knatchbull, Countess Mountbatten of Burma, at St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge, in June 2017 With no proper crib available, the newborn spent her first few nights sleeping in a small dog's basket until something more suitable could be found. Due to Pamela's unexpected birth in Barcelona, her parents selected Carmen, the Duchess of Penaranda, as her godmother - a glamorous but notorious aristocrat who would later cause a scandal by running away with a bullfighter. They also chose Carmen as one of Pamela's middle names. India explains: 'They must have felt indebted to the Spanish for my mother's arrival as she was also given Carmen as her middle name - the same one I gave to my own daughter, after my mother made me promise never to name her Pamela.' Lady Pamela, who resides in Oxfordshire, is a great-great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria through her father - and her oldest living descendant. She served as a bridesmaid and later as a lady-in-waiting to her third cousin, Queen Elizabeth II. In January 1960, she married interior designer David Nightingale Hicks; the couple remained together until his death in 1998. They share three children: Edwina, who is named after her maternal grandmother, Ashley and India. Pamela celebrates her 96th birthday today. Property owners in Tennessee are questioning affordability now that home valuations are on the rise in Sullivan County. Residents are wondering if their property value has doubled or tripled in price after finding out land would be reassessed. Sullivan County resident James Stewart is one of those worried homeowners, having discovered his property value has doubled. 'I don't know how I am going to pay for that,' Stewart told News 5 WCYB. 'It's ridiculous and it's not just me, it's the whole county, it's probably all the United States but right now I'm only worried about me in this county.' The state is in the process of calculating new property values. These rates are based on market changes since the county's last reappraisal back in 2021. 'In the past, the market didn't fluctuate as much as it did this time. So that's why were seeing these big changes,' Donna Whitaker, the county property assessor, told the outlet. Now the county will wait to get a 'certified tax rate' from the state, which will likely be lower than the current rate. Sullivan County resident James Stewart recently discovered his property value doubled 'The value did go up on most everything in the county [but] the tax rate will go down,' Whitaker added. In the meantime, all residents can do is sit by and wait for the new rate number. But locals like Stewart are still concerned about the future. If taxes do increase down the road, these new property values will haunt a lot of people, he told the outlet. 'I think that everything should be relooked at on a scale that everyone can afford,' Stewart stated. 'If they think it's worth this much and they're going to charge us double, triple and 10 times what we've been paying for taxes, they need to figure out where we're going to come up with this money.' 'I think the value of everybody's home has gone up around here because of the market,' rather than their property increasing in size, a resident explained to WJHL. 'My land has not gotten any bigger, nothing's changed. But an $800 or $900 increase in property tax is ridiculous.' Sullivan is not the only Tennessee county to receive a home value blow. Property assessor Donna Whitaker revealed the current rates are based on changes made since Sullivan County's 2021 reappraisal The state expects Sullivan County's new 'certified rate' to be lower than its current $2.4962 rate Washington County residents were informed last year that the county's new tax rate was $1.41 per $100 of assessed value - down from $2.15. This number was decided based on the 54 percent increase in that county's property values. 'Our residential went up 68.48 percent, which we've never seen that before,' property assessor Robbie McGuire told WJHL. With the increases in over 68,000 properties, Washington County had a combined value of more than $3 billion, which was predicted to hike up to more than $4.5 billion. Tennessee is predicted to experience a slight growth in home prices and values again this year. Other counties expected to have souring property values include Davidson County and Hamilton County, which are homes to major cities like Nashville and Chattanooga. Scientists have stunned the world with the news that life likely does exist on a faraway planet. K2-18b which is more than twice as big as Earth and 120 light-years away sits within the habitable zone of its star in the Leo constellation. According to a new University of Cambridge study, its atmosphere contains huge quantities of chemicals, which on Earth are only made by living organisms. Planet K2-18b is a suspected a 'hycean' world a rocky planet with a hydrogen-rich atmosphere and vast oceans of water. It's probable that K2-18b's oceans are filled with something like phytoplankton tiny organisms that feed on the energy from the nearby star. But what's exciting is that K2-18b is very unlikely to be a one-off in the universe meaning many others that are similar likely exist too. Peter Vickers, a philosophy of science professor at Durham University, said there are likely 'millions' of planets outside our galaxy hosting some kind of lifeforms. 'If it does turn out that K2-18b has life, then it is virtually guaranteed that there are million more exoplanets harbouring extraterrestrial life,' he told MailOnline. Planet K2-18b is a suspected a 'hycean' world - a rocky planet with a hydrogen-rich atmosphere and vast oceans of water (artist's impression) But what's exciting is that K2-18b is very unlikely to be a one-off in the universe - meaning many others like it likely exist Professor Vickers added: 'Hundreds of millions is pretty safe estimate and not overblown.' Planet K2-18b is in the same galaxy as us the Milky Way but there are billions to trillions of estimated galaxies in the universe. The academic stressed that we've only sampled a 'tiny, tiny percentage of planets' in our galaxy alone, using various space and Earth-based telescopes. So the universe as a whole surely has many more planets waiting to be found that have conditions right for life to thrive. 'It would be like dipping a cup at random in an ocean and getting a fish, and then asking the question whether there are probably lots of other fish in the ocean, he said. And if you think biological activity does exist out there in the vast reaches of space, the likelihood is that experts in the field would agree with you. A survey by Professor Vickers and colleagues conducted last year suggests this is the general consensus among astrobiologists (scientists who study extraterrestrial life). Out of 521 astrobiologists who responded, 86.6 per cent agreed or strongly agreed its likely that extraterrestrial life (of at least a basic kind) exists somewhere in the universe, while less than 2 per cent disagreed and 12 per cent were neutral. On Earth, DMS and DMDS are only produced by living organisms - mostly microbial life such as marine phytoplankton (like the ones pictured). Life on K2-18b could be similar No life beyond Earth has ever been found and there is no evidence that alien life has ever visited our planet. But this may be due to extraterrestrial life being too scared of 'dangerous' and 'violent' humans (artist's impression of the typical 'alien' concept) Planet K2-18b: Key facts Discovered: 2015 Star: K2-18 Orbital duration: 33 days Constellation: Leo Mass: 8.6 times that of Earth Radius: 2.6 times that of Earth Advertisement What's more, 88.4 per cent of non-astrobiologists agreed showing astrobiologists aren't biased toward believing in extraterrestrial life compared with other scientists. 'So, based on this, we might say that theres a solid consensus that extraterrestrial life, of some form, exists somewhere out there,' said Professor Vickers and colleagues in a piece for The Conversation. British science writer and biologist Matthew Ridley believes it would be 'fairly bizarre' if Earth was the only planet in the universe with life on it. 'Given the scale of the universe, it would be more surprising if life did not exist in it,' he says in today's Daily Mail. 'If [life] started billions of years earlier on other planets, then it is probable that it has had time to generate not just microbes and algae, but technology-generating beings too, and probably super-intelligent ones.' However, Viscount Ridley said perhaps 'we should keep quiet and not let the aliens know we exist' in case our planet is destroyed or conquered. Mark Buchanan, a physicist and science writer, also thinks there are many more exoplanets like K2-18b that harbor similar lifeforms. 'It's only in the past decade or so that our telescopes have become powerful enough to find and examine planets orbiting other stars,' Buchanan told MailOnline. Using data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), astronomers identified huge quantities of chemicals only made by living organisms on Earth. They have picked up the chemical fingerprints of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) - molecules that are primarily produced by microbial life such as marine phytoplankton 'Plausible estimates put the number of potentially life supporting planets in the hundreds of millions or more. 'The universe really is a big place and we're just beginning to explore what is out there.' Buchanan called the new announcement from University of Cambridge scientists a 'fascinating finding' as it suggests there's 'more advanced life forms elsewhere'. The new findings provide the 'strongest hint yet' of biological activity outside our solar system according to the researchers although they are yet to be definitively confirmed. Texas has experienced multiple earthquakes over the last day, with the most recent clocking in as a 3.3 magnitude quake. The US Geological Survey (USGS) detected the tremor at 9:01am ET in the state's western region, 19 miles from Mentone. And a 2.3 magnitude earthquake hit the same area about two hours earlier. Seismic activity above 2.5 in magnitude can often be felt and cause minor damage. However, no damages or injuries have been reported after the 3.3 magnitude earthquake. The USGS captured an estimated 10 minor tremors in the area over the last 24 hours, ranging from 1.7 to 2.4 magnitude. While West Texas has several fault lines, the earthquakes were likely caused by induced seismicityearthquakes triggered by human activities, particularly oil and gas operations. Those operations cause quakes mainly through wastewater injection, increasing underground pressure and lubricating faults, making them more likely to slip. Texas has experienced multiple earthquakes over the last day, with the most recent clocking in as a 3.3 magnitude quake Texas contributes 42 percent of the nation's crude oil, making it the largest producer in the US. The state is also known for its extensive use of fracking, or the process of extracting oil and gas from deep underground by blasting large quantities of water, chemicals, and sand into rock formations to crack them open and release the fuels trapped inside. Fracking is not usually the direct cause of an earthquake, but the process of disposing wastewater produced through fracking that can trigger tremors. A 2022 study by the University of Texas at Austin concluded that 68 percent of Texas quakes above magnitude 1.5 were 'highly associated' with oil and gas production. Dr Alexandros Savvaidis recently explained how more drilling could end up leading to more seismic activity in the state. 'Deep injection wells, in particular, are linked to higher-magnitude earthquakes,' Dr Savvaidis told KMID. 'Whereas shallower injections seem to be less hazardous in terms of large seismic events.' Data shows that Texas has experienced 406 earthquakes in the past 30 days and 79 earthquakes in the past seven days. The US Geological Survey (USGS) detected the tremor at 9:01am ET in the state's western region, 19 miles from Mentone The strongest earthquake reported in Texas was the 6.0quake with an epicenter in Valentine in Jeff Davis County on August 16, 1931. Newspapers reported shaking was felt as far east as Taylor, just north of Austin, and as far south as San Antonio. An alarming seven tremors shook the area that day, some lasting as long as 72 seconds. The series of quakes started early morning and continued to the early afternoon. West Texas was hit by a 5.0 magnitude earthquake this past February, near the border of Culberson and Reeves counties. The USGS reported about 950,000 people felt weak to light shaking. A discovery by NASA may confirm the Biblical account of Jesus' crucifixion, according to researchers from Oxford University. The Bible states that the sun turning into darkness and the moon into blood, which some scholars believe referenced events following Christ's death. NASA's models, which trace the positions of the Earth, moon, and sun through history, show a lunar eclipse occurred on Friday, April 3, 33AD the year traditionally linked to Jesus' death. The cosmic event would have been visible in Jerusalem shortly after sunset, and the position of the moon would have given it a reddish hue. The Biblical historians believe the lunar eclipse identified by NASA was the same written about in the Bible. The NASA discovery was made in the 1990s, but is now going viral on TikTok as today is known among Christians as the day Jesus was crucified. 'Christian texts mention that the Moon turned to blood after Jesus's crucifixionpotentially referring to a lunar eclipse, during which the Moon takes on a reddish hue,' NASA noted. The American space agency added that scholars narrowed narrowed down a possible date of the crucifixion to Friday, April 3, 33AD, because a lunar eclipse o Christians across the world are celebrating Good Friday to commemorate the crucifixion and death of Jesus. A discovery by NASA has provided proof of accounts of Jesus' death in the Bible The Bible verse that discusses the moon appears in Acts 2:20, which states: 'The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.' Scriptures details how the apostle, Peter, shared the words 50 days after the crucifixion, leading some experts to believe he was recalling events witnessed during Jesus's death. However, many historians argue that the passage was meant to prophesize the second coming of Jesus. That is because Peter was quoting from Joel 2:2831, a passage that speaks of cosmic signs and spiritual awakening: 'The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes.' Because the Book of Joel was written centuries before the crucifixion, many scholars believe Peter was explaining how the crucifixion was previously prophesied by Joel. Colin Humphreys and W. Graeme Waddington, biblical scholars from the University of Oxford used NASA's findings, along with textual references of the crucifixion to argue that the moon did in fact to red blood following Jesus' death. They theorized that Peter was not giving a prophecy about the coming of Jesus, but was telling the crowd that Joel's prophecy was filled. NASA's astronomical models, which can track the positions of the Earth, moon and sun throughout history, revealed that a lunar eclipse occurred on Friday, April 3, 33AD According to the Gospels, darkness fell over the land from noon to 3pm while Jesus hung on the cross, which the researchers said closely aligns with the imagery described in Joel's prophecy. Humphreys and Waddington argued that Peter's use of the phrase 'the sun shall be turned into darkness' referenced Matthew 27:45: 'From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land.' The researchers also pointed to lesser-known texts in the New Testament apocrypha, which contains writings about Jesus' life, such as his infancy, divine nature, and relationships with his family and disciples. The New Testament apocrypha, however, was not included in the traditional biblical canon because it was not considered divinely inspired. However, Humphreys and Waddington highlighted a verse, the so-called Report of Pilate, as further evidence of unusual celestial events during the crucifixion. 'At his crucifixion the sun was darkened; the stars appeared and in all the world people lighted lamps from the sixth hour till evening; the moon appeared like blood,' the verse reads. Thus, they said, provides more evidence that Jesus died on the day of the ancient lunar eclipse. Christians across the world are celebrating Good Friday to commemorate the crucifixion and death of Jesus. Good Friday is always two days before Easter Sunday, which is determined by the first full moon after the first day of spring, and then it is the first Sunday following that full moon. The method stems from early Christian efforts to align the holiday with Jewish Passover and astronomical events. Jesus is believed to have been crucified around Passover, which is based on the Hebrew lunar calendar. According to the Gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the Sunday following Passover. Early Christians wanted Easter to reflect this timing, so they sought a system that would keep Easter connected to Passover and Jesus' resurrection. Katy Perry went to space for just three minutes and returned to a storm of wild conspiracy theories. Perry was one of six women who shot off to the edge of space Monday, reaching an altitude of 66.5 miles before returning to Earth 11 minutes later. Social media was flooded with bizarre claims that the Blue Origin mission was faked shortly after the capsule landed back on the ground. Skeptics immediately called foul, branding the launch a 'Hollywood fake' with 'the worst CGI any of these fake space agencies has produced.' Online sleuths pointed to a supposedly flimsy door, a suspiciously stiff hand inside the capsule and even the way Perry's hair floated in microgravity, claiming it was all 'definitive proof' the mission was staged. Some conspiracy theorists even claimed the entire launch was a satanic ritual led by Perry and Jeff Bezos. While none of these claims have any grounding in reality, psychologists say the frenzy makes sense. Dr Daniel Jolley, an expert on the psychology of conspiracies from the University of Nottingham, told MailOnline: 'This mission brings together two domains that have long been fertile ground for conspiracy theories: space exploration and celebrity culture.' (L-R) Kerianne Flynn, Katy Perry, Lauren Sanchez, Aisha Bowe, Gayle King and Amanda Nguyen in front of Blue Origin's New Shepard NS-31 rocket following a short mission into orbit. The mission sparked a conspiracy frenzy online Katy Perry also put on a show by immediately kissing the dirt after spending just three minutes in space On Monday at 8:30 local time, the NS-31 mission launched from Blue Origin's Launch Site One, about 30 miles north of Van Horn, Texas. On board were Jeff Bezos' fiance Lauren Sanchez, pop star Perry, CBS Mornings co-host Gayle King, film producer Kerianne Flynn, activist Amanda Nguyen and former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe. Although their 11-minute flight to the edge of space was well-documented and streamed live online, many people have become suspicious that the mission never really occurred. The door gaffe After the New Shepard capsule landed, Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos proudly wrenched open the hatch with a specialised tool to greet the all-female crew. However, footage from just minutes earlier clearly showed the capsule door being opened from the inside before being hastily shut. Internet-dwelling conspiracy theorists seized on this strange moment, hailing it as 'definitive proof' the mission was faked. While there is little doubt that the Blue Origin rocket reached space, it shows just how tightly choreographed the staged event was supposed to be. In a bizarre gaffe, the all-female crew of Katy Perry's mission to space appear to open the door of the capsule from the inside just minutes after landing before hastily shutting it again For many people who had already been sceptical about the mission, the fact that Jeff Bezos appeared to pretend to open the hatch was enough to prove that the entire project was faked One commenter wrote: 'It was fake. The girls opened the door to begin with from the inside with no tools. 'They then waited a few minutes, and Jeff Bezos stepped up with some sort of tool and acted like he unlocked the latch.' Another user chimed in: 'Can't post this fake s*** enough. Door opens from the inside, they're told to close it because the door can ONLY be opened by an outside person.' While one person wrote: 'This s*** is so fake. Watch the door be opened from the inside; then they need a tool to open it from the outside.' The main reason theorists latched on to this detail was the belief that the pressurised cabin shouldn't have an inward opening door that could be operated by passengers. As the video goes viral online, more and more people have begun to believe that Katy Perry's mission was an elaborate hoax Typical spacecraft have doors that open outwards and require a team of technicians working from the outside to unlock. For example, anyone who watched the return of Nasa astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams would have seen a crew of engineers working for minutes to open the hatch of their SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. In comparison, the relatively easy manner in which the New Shepard capsule door was opened has inflamed suspicions. On X, one commenter complained: 'Doesn't look like a pressurised hatch to me. More like a flimsy door.' 'Fake hand' in the capsule Eagle-eyed social media users spotted what appeared to be a fake hand onboard the New Shepard capsule that transported the all-female crew. Internet-dwelling conspiracy theorists claim to have spotted a 'fake hand' on the Blue Origin capsule which took Katy Perry and Lauren Sanchez to space On X, commenters leapt on this image of a hand to suggest that the Blue Origin mission involved some fakery Social media users who were already suspicious that the flight had been faked quickly leapt on this as definitive proof of their theories. On X, one commenter wrote: 'Why is there a dummy hand on the blue origin'. 'That sure looks like a mannequin, shiny hand,' added another. One commenter chimed in: 'Hey! That looks like a Barbie hand or is it Ken's?' Other users correctly pointed out that there were a number of differences between the hand in the picture and those of the NS-31 crew. The image was from the test flight of New Shepard Crew Capsule 2.0 which took place on December 12, 2017. The flight included a mannequin that had been jokingly nicknamed Mannequin Skywalker, the hand of which was seen in the viral image. Both photos and video of this test flight are available online and the launch was widely reported on at the time. Even a cursory comparison of the 2017 launch and Perry's flight shows that this is not the same crew capsule. While conspiracy theorists are right that this was a fake hand, the original image does not come from Monday's launch. This was taken during a 2017 test launch in which a mannequin was launched into space on a New Shepard capsule The lettering on the New Shepard capsule from the 2017 flight is blue while the lettering on the NS-31 crew capsule is clearly black. In the wider photo, you can also see that there is only one mannequin onboard, as opposed to the six members of the NS-31 crew. Katy Perry's hair in space Skeptics zoned in on how Perry's hair didn't float like it should have if she really was in microgravity. In particular, conspiracy theorists have latched onto the fact that NASA astronaut Suni Williams' hair stuck up at wild angles during her time on the International Space Station (ISS). For some commenters, the absence of floating hair was definitive proof that the mission had been faked Suni Williams' vertical hair caught the attention of Donald Trump who dubbed her the 'woman with the wild hair' One sceptical user complained: 'The real astronaut lady that SpaceX saved had her hair all raised. This is so fake.' After being forced to remain on the ISS for more than nine months by the failure of the Boeing Starliner capsule, Williams became one of the most recognisable American astronauts. Williams' permanently vertical hairstyle even caught the attention of President Donald Trump who dubbed her the 'woman with the wild hair'. However, many social media users pointed out that the crew of the Blue Origin mission NS-31 didn't react the same way during their few minutes of freefall earlier this week. On X, one commenter wrote: 'Watch their hair. Then look at Sumi's [sic] while in space. This is all fake.' Another confused social media user added: 'I have long hair... And when I'm underwater my hair just flows and sways and goes with the emotions in the water... You see none of that in these fake space photos.' Of course, this ignores the obvious explanation that Perry and the other members of the crew had their hair styled on the ground before leaving. Williams, on the other hand, was on the ISS for months without access to a shower so it's unsurprising that her hair looked different to that of a celebrity. A satanic ritual The mission patch worn by Perry and the five other women was designed by Blue Origin and featured key symbols representing each of the crew members. However, conspiracy theories claimed the design was the figure of a demonic creature, Baphomet. The Blue Origin patch worn by Katy Perry and the five other women during the mission to space has sparked bizarre claims that the flight was a 'satanic ritual' Users on X claimed the patch, when turned upside-down, shows the he figure of Baphomet Baphomet, often depicted as a goat-headed figure with a human body, is frequently associated with the Church of Satan and other occult and pagan traditions. 'Did you notice the logo on Katy Perry and her fellow Blue Origin Space travelers' patch is the satanic goat with an upside-down cross if you flip it over?' a user shared on X. Others slammed Blue Origin for 'mocking God,' saying 'this isn't science, it's a ritual.' 'Goat horns. Celebs. Fake space,' another user shared. They ended the post with the Bible verse 2 Corinthians 11:14 that states: 'Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.' Baphomet, often depicted as a goat-headed figure with a human body, is frequently associated with the Church of Satan and other occult and pagan traditions Another user claimed Perry putting her hand over the patch after ringing the bell before the launch was also part of the ritual. They said her placing her heart on the patch was pledging allegiance to Baphomet While the patch has sparked cries of the occult, Blue Origin's design features a spaceship in the center surrounded by a star, firework, film reel, shooting star microphone, Flynn the Fly and scales of justice. 'Katy Perry going to space was another psy-op [government-sponsored operation to influence people]...They are mocking people at this point.... '6' women going to 'space' wearing the baphomet symbol,' one user shared on X. The number six is often associated with the Devil. Another user claimed that Perry putting her hand over the patch after ringing the bell before the launch was also part of the ritual. 'Katy Perry swearing her allegiance by placing her hand adoringly & lovingly over her Baphomet logo. They tell you in so many ways who they worship,' they posted. Others recalled the music video for the popstar's hit 'E.T,' in which she shows her having goat legs at the end. There is no evidence to support claims that the patch was designed to look like Baphomet. Blue Origin, however, has shared details about each symbol featured on the patch. The firework was placed for Perry to symbolize her 'global influence across music, pop culture and philanthropy. It also hints at her hit song, 'Firework.' The main character of Sanchez's book, Flynn the Fly, was placed in the top left corner and a film reel for filmmaker Flynn on the opposite side. King's symbol was the microphone, as she is a CBS host. Nguyen received the scales of justice for her activism and a star for Bowe's passion for science. Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more Mothers Day is right around the corner, and that means it is officially gifting GO TIME! If you have yet to find your mom or mother figure the perfect surprise, do not fret. We did the heavy lifting for you and found affordable luxury fragrances that will have her over the moon with surprise. Rue La La Rue La La is the best place to go if you love luxury but hate the price tag. They have incredible offerings from major brands, including Gucci, Chanel, and more. Whether you are looking for clothing, jewelry, or luxe perfumes Rue La La has it all. Shop Thanks to Rue La La, you can snag major brands such as Gucci and Chanel at prices that put every other retailer to shame. From fresh florals to beachy bliss, we rounded up a handful of best-selling scents that any mom would be excited about below and the best part is, they are ALL on sale. 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But one person who did that, after just one holiday to Benidorm, is Harry Poulton who says hell never return to cold, dreary and depressing Britain. The British content creator who shares his life on TikTok as @harrytokky - was just 18 when he visited Benidorm on a lads trip, and instantly knew he wasnt going home. Now 24, Harry says choosing to move to Spain was the best decision hes ever made - and hes got no regrets about leaving family and friends back in Brighton. Speaking to Luxury Travel Daily, he said: I dont know why anyone would want to live in Britain. Its cold, gloomy and theres just no fun. After I came to Benidorm, I knew this was it. The weather, the beaches, the laid-back lifestyle its the complete opposite of the UK. Harry also insists Benidorms rowdy reputation is actually a myth and the only thing he misses about his old life is a Greggs pasty and a McDonalds milkshake. British content creator Harry Poulton who shares his life on TikTok as @harrytokky - was just 18 when he visited Benidorm on a lads trip, and instantly knew he wasnt going home Now 24, Harry says choosing to move to Spain was the best decision hes ever made - and hes got no regrets about leaving family and friends back in Brighton He said: I dont know why anyone would want to live in Britain. Its cold, gloomy and theres just no fun. After I came to Benidorm, I knew this was it' Its mad what people back home believe, he said. They think youll get ripped off or mugged - but that stuff happens more in Britain than it does here. People mock Benidorm like its just for stag dos and bar crawls, but theres so much more to it. The beers less than a quid, the foods cheap, and the quality of life is better in every way. When it comes to money, Harry says his monthly outgoings have dropped significantly, and he now spends between 500 and 1,000 a month, including bills. Moving to Spain completely transformed my life, Harry continued. Ive got more freedom, better weather, and I actually enjoy my days. You just dont get that in the UK. If you live here, you get it. Benidorm is paradise - and anyone who says otherwise is lying. Cruise holidays have become hugely popular in recent decades...but tourists at sea are also becoming more vulnerable to scammers offering 'free' day trips to luxury resorts on land, says one cruise expert. YouTuber Gary Bembridge has revealed in his latest Tips for Travellers video how holidaymakers are being targeted with the promise of five-star days out on land - but end up getting locked into monthly contracts where prices soon spiral. In the video, Bembridge says that often the scammers in question target tourists in Caribbean, Mexican and Mediterranean ports, posing as friendly locals or travel reps. In fact, they're actual fraudsters trying to extort easy money from those enjoying holidays at sea, he warns, saying: 'There's no such thing as a free resort pass in reality'. One of the increasingly common ways passengers end up losing out financially is if they sign up to 'travel clubs', which claim to offer loyal members perks such as discounts and free excursions but actually come with hiked-up fees and contract-style commitment. He explains: 'This one seemed to be an issue mostly in busy Caribbean and Mediterranean ports, but a couple on my recent cruise that called into ports on the Mexican Riviera got trapped too.' He referenced that another high-profile travel website, The Points Guy, had also picked up on the lesser-known scam. He said: 'The Points Guy spoke about how significant numbers of seriously out-of-pocket cruisers had been contacting them coming home from cruises affected by this one.' Cruise expert Gary Bembridge has warned passengers of cruise scams in his latest Tips for Travellers video on YouTube Bembridge warns of a lesser known scam currently becoming more common in the Caribbean, where tourists are wooed into signing up for 'travel clubs' with a free day pass to a luxury hotel What should tourists look out for? Scammers often set up with pro-looking stands and smiling representatives - armed with free cocktails - to entice in unsuspecting holidaymakers, he said. Persuading people to attend a presentation on the deals they're offering, they'll charm passengers into buying a day pass to a luxury resort, saying they'll get extras such as free transfers, drinks and dining included. The reality however, says the cruise expert, is that those lured into signing up will likely end up paying far more than they should. Worse, they'll be given the hard sell to sign up to pay every month for the 'service'. Bembridge warns that it's an easy line to fall for, because people get 'caught up in the buzz and drink' and many then sign the contract to join the travel club. He adds: 'Only once back on the ship fully realising how much it will cost them, and how restrictive they can be, as they soberly reflect on it. 'Unlike countries like the USA and UK, the laws in those countries do not have "cooling off" periods and so they are locked in for years with the provider having their financial details. 'So before accepting a day pass for anywhere, fully understand what your obligation is in exchange. 'Be extremely cautious if you go to any of these with the presentations and refuse to sign anything on the day and say that you'll come back to them.' Last year, Bembridge offered his wisdom on the cruise holidays that people should avoid for a variety of reasons, from maiden voyages to taster trips. He said tourists who are shelling out between 500 and 2,000 per person should make sure they're making the best choices, with everything from inexperienced staff to faulty ships or bad weather potentially hampering trips. Last year, the YouTuber advised followers on which cruise ships holidays to dodge Bembridge warned against going on the first trip of a new ship because they often cancel the voyage (stock image) For example, he advised that joining the first trip a liner has might sound exciting, but actually it can be riddled with issues. He said it's not unknown for voyages to be cancelled if there are late teething problems. Bembridge explained that one such cruise was cancelled with only three days notice because it was not ready and went on to describe the slow service, frustrated people and staff who hadn't settled in yet. Ships may be unfinished due to supply chain issues meaning materials never arrived on time. Often there are contractors onboard, at least on the first few voyages, as things like Wi-Fi routers, elevators, and even waterslides are tweaked and monitored. He advised to instead look at older ships - with reduced fairs and more experienced staff - for a safer bet. Netflix debuted Ransom Canyon its entry in the race to be the next Yellowstone on April 17 and the reviews that are pouring in are mixed. 'Love, loss, and loyalty collide when three ranching family dynasties fight for control of the land. Their lives and legacies are threatened by outside forces intent on destroying their way of life,' Netflix's synopsis read. Reviewers seemed to dislike the drama more than viewers with headlines calling it 'a try-hard Western' that is a 'far cry from Yellowstone,' and 'goes down easy but leaves a weird after taste.' The soapy series stars Josh Duhamel, Minka Kelly, James Brolin, Eoin Macken, Lizzy Greene, Andrew Liner, Marianly Tejada, Garrett Wareing and Jack Schumacher. USA Today gave the series one and a half stars out of four as it said, 'Peek underneath the jean jackets and cowboy hats and you'll find there's very little substance to Canyon.' AV Club said, 'The shows ten episodes are engineered for maximum escapism and bingeability.' Netflix debuted Ransom Canyon its entry in the race to be the next Yellowstone on April 17 and the reviews that are pouring in are mixed Both Duhamel and Kelly have compared their western soap to food. The Win a Date with Tad Hamilton star, called it 'comfort food,' while the Friday Night Lights actress called it 'gooey chocolate cake.' And while many reviews compared Ransom Canyon to Yellowstone and its spin-offs, that wasn't quite on the mark. Netflix was looking to capitalize on the success they've had with romantic dramas Virgin and Sweet Magnolias, this time with some western flair. The series is adapted from the series of books by Jodi Thomas and created by Wednesday writer April Blair. Set in the fictional town of Ransom Canyon, Variety called it 'horny, absurd, and ridiculously entertaining' and 'a sexy, predictable, breezy viewing experience that delivers on its promises.' The Hollywood Reporter called the series, 'featureless and formulaic, happy to borrow just a fraction of your attention while you mostly focus on other things.' Another thing that isn't sitting well with reviewers is the entirely white cast that focuses on several love triangles and an as-thus unrequited love between Duhamel's Staten and Kelly's Quinn. Quinn is not only the owner of the only bar in town, she's also Staten's late wife's best friend. 'Love, loss, and loyalty collide when three ranching family dynasties fight for control of the land. Their lives and legacies are threatened by outside forces intent on destroying their way of life,' Netflix's synopsis read Reviewers seemed to dislike the drama more than viewers with headlines calling it 'a try-hard Western' that is a 'far cry from Yellowstone,' and 'goes down easy but leaves a weird after taste' The soapy series stars Josh Duhamel, Minka Kelly , James Brolin, Eoin Macken, Lizzy Greene, Andrew Liner, Marianly Tejada, Garrett Wareing, and Jack Schumacher USA Today gave the series one and a half stars out of four as it said, 'Peek underneath the jean jackets and cowboy hats and you'll find there's very little substance to Canyon' Staten is hauling around a heap of grief having lost his wife and only son in the not too recent past. Over on X, (formerly Twitter), viewers, who've had 12 ish hours to see the series are more positive about it. Users of that social media platform shared pics of the various couples on the show and commented about the heat and the tension. Several of the reviews called Ransom Canyon, background TV, but they clearly didn't check with its intended audience. One fan wrote, 'they rly gaslit me in the trailer bc whyd i think that scene of quinn and davis laying by the fireplace was quinn and stanten.' Davis Collins is played by Eoin Macken and he comes with almost as much baggage as Staten does. Davis is a thrice-divorced single father who is basically a grifter who knows how to turn on the charm to entice Quinn. Another viewer, wrote: 'He as the cowboy who lost his wife and son and she as the hidden artist who was a friend of his late wife. me: I LOVE THE DRAMA.' AV Club said, 'The shows ten episodes are engineered for maximum escapism and bingeability' Netflix was looking to capitalize on the success they've had with romantic dramas Virgin and Sweet Magnolias, this time with some western flair Someone else compared it to Netflix's Virgin River, ' If Yellowstone was made by Hallmark, youd get Ransom Canyon all the ranch drama, none of the grit. If youre into Virgin River vibes, this ones your next binge.' And for one Minka Kelly fan, they are just grateful she's back on screen to watch. 'Minka Kelly back on my screen in Ransom Canyon is the small-town drama serotonin I needed. Ranch life, secrets, and Minka? Say less.' Ransom Canyon is streaming now on Netflix. The Apprentice fans are convinced that this year's final show was rigged after Dean Franklin was crowned the winner on Thursday evening. The 34-year-old AC business owner appeared shocked after Lord Sugar revealed that he would be his new business partner. Upon hearing the news, he put his head in his hands and later said: 'I can't believe I've just won The Apprentice. This is going to mean the world to me and my family. My kids are going to be over the moon.' However, many people tuning in claimed that the outcome was fixed with some suggesting he had it in the bag at the beginning of the BBC show. Taking to X they penned: 'I only watched three episodes to know this seems rigged. Dean? No way Jose! #TheApprentice' 'Nah man, I need convincing this final wasn't rigged like how did the guy who posted a pic of a d***o on an aircon win? #TheApprentice' The Apprentice fans are convinced that this year's final show was rigged after Dean Franklin was crowned the winner on Thursday evening The 34-year-old AC business owner appeared shocked after Lord Sugar revealed that he would be his new business partner 'Aint no way they chose a guy who used the word "meeted" as the winner of the apprentice this is so rigged #TheApprentice #apprentice' 'Dean was an average candidate okay. He just got by through the process, didn't really stand out and was let off on purpose because his business plan was being eyed up from the beginning #Rigged #TheApprentice' Dean beat Anisa Khan in Thursday night's final to become Lord Sugar's new business partner. The pair, both 26, had to pull out all the stops to show Lord Sugar that they were the best business partner to receive his 250,000 investment. The two had to create a brand new brand, produce an advertising campaign for it and then pitch it to Lord Sugar and other leading industry experts. Luckily they had some help from previous contestants Liam Snellin, Frederick Afrifa, Jonny Heaver, Jordan Dargan, Mia Collins, Amber-Rose Badrudin, Nadia Suliaman, Chisola Chitambala, Melica Moshiri and Emma Street. Anisa decided to create her brand and trusted Amber-Rose to make the advert for Zaal Pizza, while Dean put Liam in charge to make his advert, whilst he made he brand Domesticool. Upon hearing the news, he put his head in his hands and later said: 'I can't believe I've just won The Apprentice. This is going to mean the world to me and my family. My kids are going to be over the moon' However, many people tuning in claimed that the outcome was fixed with some suggesting he had it in the bag at the beginning of the BBC show Liam's advert totally contrasted against his brand's name Domesticool, as his idea was that the product warmed up homes, so they had to reshoot. Meanwhile Anisa made a chickpea pizza on a Dahl base and was totally impressed with Amber's advert. After the adverts and branding was completed, they presented in front of professionals to show off their products. Anisa explained that she wanted make 10 new dark kitchens in the next five years, and Dean said that he wants to expand his business. Back in the boardroom Lord Sugar said: 'No disrespect to you or you, but profits of 20 or 30,000 a year, is of no interest of me, I'm looking for big business.' Anisa said: 'What I'm proud about is my product, my pizzas taste great and I'm confident with that. 'I agree my numbers are not that big, but I did that myself.' Dean told Lord Sugar: 'I've been a supervisor for one of the biggest air conditioning companies in the UK, I've seen the operation. I know how it works. I had 24 blokes underneath me. Dean and Anisa, 26, (pictured) had to pull out all the stops to show Lord Sugar that they are the best business partner to receive his 250,000 investment Former contestants Liam Snellin, Frederick Afrifa, Jonny Heaver, Jordan Dargan, Mia Collins, Amber-Rose Badrudin, Nadia Suliaman, Chisola Chitambala, Melica Moshiri and Emma Street returned to the show to help the finalists with one final task The two had to create a brand new brand, produce an advertising campaign it and then pitch it to Lord Sugar and other leading industry experts Anisa explained that she wanted make 10 new dark kitchens in the next five years, and Dean said that he wants to expand his business Back in the boardroom Lord Sugar said: 'No disrespect to you or you, but profits of 20 or 30,000 a year, is of no interest of me, I'm looking for big business' 'If I can get to that stage, I can run it a lot smoother.' Lord Sugar said: 'I have got a dilemma because you're both very credible.' Unfortunately Anisa, who had put herself forward as project manager a number of times, didn't do enough to win. Announcing the news that Dean was his new business partner, Lord Sugar said: 'This is the way I see it. 'Dean, through the process you've been quite good. There have been a few rocky moments where you remained in it by the skin of your teeth, but do I have the confidence in the residential market? 'As opposed to food, where everyone's got to eat, and a 10, 12 pizza is affordable to most people. That's where I am at the moment.' Lord Sugar announced: 'Giving it deep consideration, I'm going to say that Dean, you're going to be my business partner' Speaking after his big win, Dean said: 'I can't believe I've just won The Apprentice. This is going to mean the world to me and my family. My kids are going to be over the moon' Lord Sugar and winner Dean posed with miniature air conditioning units following the final He then added: 'Giving it deep consideration, I'm going to say that Dean, you're going to be my business partner.' Dean's huge win comes after a very awkward moment last week. The remaining five contestants squirmed during the interview process. Anisa, Dean, Amber-Rose Badrudin, Chisola Chitambala and Jordan Dargan were grilled by Mike Soutar, Claudine Collins, Linda Plant and Claude Littner. The entrepreneurs certainly found it very hard, but there was one very awkward moment that left Dean very red-faced. Dean was left lost for words when Mike brought up an old picture that was posted on his company's social media account. The interviewer went on to show the contestant a snap of a sex toy attached to an AC unit and asked: 'Do you remember posting his on social media?' An awkward Dean laughed to himself and scratched his head. He then replied: 'So we were working in a sex shop and I thought it would be quite funny... 'Clearly not.' Dean was left lost for words when Mike brought up an old picture that was posted on his company's social media account last week Mike Soutar went on to show the contestant a snap of a sex toy attached to an AC unit and asked: 'Do you remember posting his on social media?' Mike fumed: 'It's a sex toy on an air conditioning unit! It's currently on your social media?! 'This doesn't say to me "Here's a trusted organisation that is going to come into my home and treat it like their own". 'Does it really feel like fun?' 'Not right now. Not right now,' Dean replied. Warfare (15, 95 mins) Verdict: Sound, fury and silence Rating: One November night in 2006, a team of US Navy SEALs, on a reconnaissance mission ahead of a bigger force of American Marines arriving the next day, occupied a house in the Iraqi city of Ramadi. Alex Garland's enthralling film Warfare, unfolding in real time, tells the story of what happened in the ensuing 95 minutes. It is a picture not for the faint-hearted. Credited as Garland's co-writer and co-director in this project, Ray Mendoza is a former SEAL who, with the help of others who were there, ensures that it is a painstakingly accurate depiction of actual events. 'This film uses only their memories,' declares an opening caption. Mendoza, the platoon's communications officer, is played by D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, with Will Poulter as the young commanding officer and Cosmo Jarvis as the lead sniper, Elliott Miller, to whom the film is dedicated and whose sustained shrieks of agonising pain after suffering devastating leg injuries might well accompany you all the way home. This is an all-American tale, yet rather satisfyingly it is mostly Brits Garland, Poulter, Jarvis and other actors including Joseph Quinn and Finn Bennett who tell it. They do so superbly. Moreover, while Garland as a director has had significant success with sci-fi and dystopian thrillers (most notably, last year's Civil War), there is no cinematic hellscape more affecting even than one rooted in present-day realism. The message, hammered home at the end when we see the real participants alongside those who played them, is simple: this is the world in which we live. But if war is sound and fury, Garland focuses mostly on the sound. For a long chunk of this film, the tension springs from near-silence. Unlike many lesser war movies, the crash, bang, wallop is preceded by an extended spell of hush as the platoon discreetly breaks into and commandeers the house, terrifying the two families who live there. Alex Garland's Warfare, unfolding in real time, tells the story of what happened after a team of US Navy SEALs on a reconnaissance mission occupied a house in the Iraqi city of Ramadi Credited as Garland's co-writer and co-director in this project, Ray Mendoza is a former SEAL who ensures that it is a painstakingly accurate depiction of actual events This is an all-American tale, yet rather satisfyingly it is mostly Brits Garland, Poulter (pictured), Jarvis and other actors including Joseph Quinn and Finn Bennett who tell it The low-key banter, the surveillance of the street outside, the gradual realisation that the jihadists have sussed out where they are and are preparing to attack, all passes as an almost unbearably suspenseful calm before the storm. But when that storm does break, sound designer Glenn Freemantle (another Brit) comes into his own, using muffled noises and sudden silences as well as ear-piercing screams and the thunderous roars of air support to give an authentic documentary feel to what is, after all, still pretence. Impressively, Garland keeps the tension cranked up even as all hell breaks loose. The SEALs desperately need assistance, both to drive back their attackers and to evacuate the house without further casualties. But will it arrive in time, and in the right place? Eventually, all the military jargon used over the radio, all the careful coordinates, are supplanted by an unadorned cri de coeur. 'Look for the blood and the smoke,' says the commander, wearily. 'We're there.' Garland, I suspect, chose a generic title for his picture because, for all its specific references to a deadly skirmish in Iraq, the raw fear we see, along with panic and pain, confusion and courage, are battlefield perennials. Whether we're watching Romans fighting Visigoths, or Ukrainians fighting Russians, it is and will forever be thus. Not many films convey that as viscerally as Warfare. Like penguins, the film never takes flight The Penguin Lessons (12A, 111 mins) Verdict: Never takes flight Rating: The Penguin Lessons, based on the memoir by Tom Michell, whisks us 30 years further back in time, to 1976. Tom (Steve Coogan, looking oddly ill-at-ease throughout) is a cynical, somewhat misanthropic teacher who takes up a post at an English-speaking boarding school in Buenos Aires, run by a snooty old-timer played by Jonathan Pryce. One weekend, at a tango hall in Uruguay, Tom hooks up with a woman who takes pity on a penguin they find on the beach, covered in oil. Against his better judgment, they take it back to his hotel. It is a one-night stand with long-term consequences. By morning the woman has scarpered, leaving Tom saddled with the cleaned-up penguin. Despite strenuous attempts to get rid of the bird, he cannot shake it off, and ends up smuggling it back across the River Plate to Argentina, where it becomes not just his companion at the school, but even a teaching aide. All this sounds sweet enough, but the film's strained whimsy (flagged, inevitably, by a relentlessly jaunty soundtrack) pretty quickly begins to grate. The spectacle of a grown-up talking solemnly to a penguin is charming once, but by the third or fourth time, not so much. Tom (Steve Coogan, looking oddly ill-at-ease throughout) is a cynical, somewhat misanthropic teacher who takes up a post at an English-speaking boarding school in Buenos Aires Tom hooks up with a woman who takes pity on a penguin they find on the beach, covered in oil. Against his better judgment, they take it back to his hotel Even less forgivable are the cack-handed efforts to entwine a so-called 'feelgood comedy' with the grim realities of Argentina's brutal political regime. The director is Peter (The Full Monty) Cattaneo, who made a much better job of dramatising real events in Military Wives (2019), while the writer is Jeff Pope, whose many credits include the delightful Stan & Ollie (2018). He also teamed up with Coogan to write the excellent Philomena (2013). Both apart and together, they have a classy pedigree, which, disappointingly, The Penguin Lessons does nothing to enhance. Rather like the dear little bird itself, the film never takes flight. A peculiar tale of bloodsucking bluesmen Sinners (15, 137 mins) Verdict: Will suck you in Rating: Ryan Coogler's period drama Sinners is set in an African-American community in Mississippi in 1932, and has all the ingredients you would expect of that time and place: sharecroppers, wooden churches, blues music, moonshine, chain gangs, the Ku Klux Klan ... and vampires. Well, maybe you wouldn't expect vampires. But the Black Panther director Coogler evidently decided that there wasn't enough originality in his tale of a pair of gangster twins not Ronnie and Reggie but Smoke and Stack (both played by Michael B Jordan) returning to their home town after making their ill-gotten fortune in Chicago working for Al Capone. So he added a bloodsucker played with a swaggering relish by Jack O'Connell, who leads an ever-expanding posse of the undead. All this is as peculiar as it sounds, and at times I yearned for the story this might have been without the supernatural element. Yet it is done with tremendous verve, and presents with admirable conviction its unsettling underlying premise: that music inspires evil as well as joy. Ryan Coogler's period drama Sinners is set in an African-American community in Mississippi in 1932 where Michael B Jordan plays a pair of gangster twins It is done with tremendous verve, and presents with admirable conviction its unsettling underlying premise: that music inspires evil as well as joy Hailee Steinfeld also stars, although the really eye-catching performance is that of newcomer Miles Caton, as the guitar-playing son of a preacher man. He looms large in one truly memorable scene when a blues party elides into a celebration of music from many eras, many countries. That spectacle alone is worth the price of a ticket. All movies are in cinemas now. A couple on A Place In The Sun demanded 'a champagne house with a lemonade budget' - leaving host Craig Rowe exasperated. Tuesday's instalment of the Channel 4 property show saw married couple, Jane and James, ask Craig to help find them a holiday home in Crete. The pair enjoyed their honeymoon on the Greek Island 24 years ago and since retiring, downsized in the UK to purchase an abode abroad. James, a semi-retired builder, and Jane, a retired dancer, had a budget of 125,000 with wiggle room of 5,000. Discussing their property dreams, the couple joked, 'We want a champagne house with a lemonade budget.' Craig laughed and Jane clarified they were hoping for 'two bedrooms, two bathrooms, somewhere quite quiet, fishing village something like that by the sea'. Tuesday's instalment of the Channel 4 property show saw married couple, Jane and James, ask Craig (pictured) to help find them a holiday home in Crete. The pair (pictured) enjoyed their honeymoon on the Greek Island 24 years ago and since retiring, downsized in the UK to purchase an abode abroad However, as the episode went on, the couple failed to be won over by any of the properties Craig presented to them. In the end, they did increase their budget by 30,000, giving Craig the chance to show them another possibility but they still weren't impressed. Sitting down the the Channel 4 star, James and Jane confessed that they had realised they needed to rethink their options. Jane sheepishly admitted: 'We got ourselves a bit confused.' She added: 'What we thought we wanted, when it came to it, maybe it wasn't that at all. Maybe we want something different.' James commented: 'We like quirky, we like different, but I think as a holiday home we don't want to come out here and do a lot of maintenance work, we want to come out here and enjoy it.' The couple revealed they feel they have 'more of an idea' what they would be looking for and will still try and find a property in the area. They thanked Craig, who wished them the best, 'I appreciate of course you've learnt a lot from the journey,' he said. It comes after A Place In The Sun viewers claimed that they were left 'crying and needing therapy' after a couple's controversial choice of breakfast. TV star Danni Menzies, 36, revisited Chris and Marie on a previous episode of A Place In The Sun: What Happened Next? Discussing their property dreams, the couple joked, 'We want a champagne house with a lemonade budget' However, as the episode went on, the couple failed to be won over by any of the properties Craig presented to them The retired chef and ex police officer featured on the Channel 4 property show back in 2019 looking for a two-bedroom home in Manilva, Spain. They made an offer of 115,000 on a property which was accepted and the pair said cheers to a 'new adventure' and 'good health'. Footage in the recent episode showed them settled into their life in the sun and enjoying breakfast at a cafe, with Marie tucking into beans on toast and Chris enjoying a full English. 'I've got me usual fry up,' Chris commented, while Marie added, 'It saves me cooking.' However, the choice of breakfast left some viewers shocked and many took to social media to share their thoughts. A Place In The Sun is available to stream on channel4.com. BBC Breakfast viewers jeered 'she's not impressed' as Naga Munchetty stared down a 'mansplaining' Charlie Stayt before an 'awkward' interview. The two news anchors hosted Friday's instalment of the daily show on BBC One and fans watching seemed to notice some tension. On Thursday, Naga was photographed keeping her distance from her BBC Breakfast co-star Charlie and show editor as she left the studios in Manchester amid a rumoured feud and bulling row. And during the most recent instalment, some viewers noticed Naga appeared unimpressed. Someone sarcastically posted on X: 'As ever Naga looking impressed with Charlies mansplaining of the trivial news item slot.' Another sensed more possible discomfort when Naga spoke to a woman discussing Trading Standards. The two news anchors hosted Friday's instalment of the daily show on BBC One and fans watching seemed to notice some tension And during the most recent instalment, some viewers noticed Naga (right) appeared unimpressed They commented: 'Naga being awkward as possible towards the Trading Standards lady #bbcbreakfast.' While someone else claimed Charlie seemed tired and said: 'Charlie looks absolutely shattered. #BBCBreakfast.' Though yesterday, some fans praised the hosts and one said: 'Love Naga Munchetty's sass and wit on BBC. Keep slaying, girl!' And another complimented, 'Charlie is great'. It comes after The Mail's Katie Hind revealed tensions between the show editor, Richard Frediani and Naga. Some staff have shared their unhappiness with the show's editor, who has been accused by insiders of being on occasion 'aggressive' and 'belittling' towards his underlings. Sources on the show say that Naga has expressed uneasiness about his behaviour to bosses at the corporation. Viewers took to social media to share their views on the two presenters' behaviour over Friday and Thursday's shows An insider says that Naga is 'quite open' about her ill-feeling towards Frediani, while another says that she has an 'uneasy relationship' with him. The Mail can reveal that displeasure is intensifying at the BBC's northern base in Salford, where staff have watched Frediani's rise - from Breakfast boss to arguably the most powerful BBC editor outside London. One said 'You have to wonder what on Earth is going on. 'The BBC claims to be this no-nonsense, woke, kind place - yet Fredi has been able to keep climbing the ladder. 'HR and his bosses are aware of [past] bullying claims against him. 'He's still allowed to hire, as we saw with Nina [Warhurst, who has just been appointed a regular presenter] this week, and presumably fire. 'He has so much power, it doesn't feel right at all.' Richard became editor of the flagship news programme in 2019. Naga Munchetty kept her distance from her BBC Breakfast co-star Charlie Stayt and show editor as she left the studios on Thursday in Manchester amid a rumoured feud and bulling row The 50-year-old and Charlie (pictured) - who present the show every Thursday to Saturday - looked downcast as they left work on Thursday Some staff have shared their unhappiness with the show's editor (pictured), who has been accused by insiders of being on occasion 'aggressive' and 'belittling' towards his underlings Meanwhile Naga has been part of the BBC Breakfast team since 2014 and Charlie has been on the programme since 2006. Jon Kay and Sully Nugent present the show Monday to Wednesday. The stand-in presenters include Roger Johnson, Rachel Burden, Ben Thompson, Tina Daheley, Nina Warhurst and Ben Boulos. BBC Breakfast first aired in 2000. Watch BBC Breakfast every morning from 6am on BBC One and is available to stream on ITVX. A buyer on Escape To The Country issued a nine-word takedown to the host after she rejected every single property they presented. The BBC show saw Lizzie ask Alistair Appleton for help relocating from London, where she had lived for 20 years, to Suffolk, in a recently aired episode. Her father had passed away 18 months before and since then, she had wanted to move closer to family. Lizzie had a budget of 500,000 and was hoping to find a property with two bedrooms. Her mother, Sue, who already lives in Suffolk, joined the marketing manager on the show to help. Alistair presented the pair with four possible properties, but none of them managed to fully meet Lizzie's expectations. The BBC show saw Lizzie, left, appeared on a recently aired episode of the BBC show alongside her mother, Sue, right Lizzie asked Alistair Appleton, pictured, for help relocating from London , where she had lived for 20 years, to Suffolk in a recently aired episode Though she seemed particularly taken by the character of the final abode, when Alistair asked, 'Any red flags, anything worrying you?' Lizzie replied: 'I think it's potentially the light, so might have to think about it, but that's part of the property really, isn't it.' The trio sat down together at the end of the episode to discuss the situation and Alistair asked, 'Did we hit the nail on the head with any of our properties?' Lizzie curtly replied, 'I don't think you've quite hit the nail on the head.' She went on, 'I think the third one was a really interesting property and it might be worth us going back and having a look at the village a little bit more... 'I think there has been a consistent theme with all three properties that the ground floor works slightly better than the second floor.' Her mother commented: 'I think you probably need a lot more space upstairs than we've seen.' Lizzie added: 'But I think what has been really useful, I think you're helping me crystallise my thoughts. 'And I'm wondering whether actually going forward, it's about a small market town for me, or a slightly larger village and that's where I think the thoughts are starting to crystallise.' Another previous episode saw a couple left 'dumbstruck' and in tears after viewing a 'mind-blowing' property. Alistair presented the pair with four possible properties but none of them managed to fully meet Lizzie's expectations The trio sat down together at the end of the episode to discuss the situation and Alistair asked, 'Did we hit the nail on the head with any of our properties?' Sarah and Dominic were hoping to leave their home in South London for a fresh start in the countryside, ideally in the High Weald. Before their search began, the pair had a strict list of requirements for Alistair Appleton, 55, to adhere to. The couple had an impressive budget of 1.1 million and were shown two gorgeous houses during their property search. However, it was the mystery house in the Kent village of Biddenden which left them both blown away. Escape To The Country airs weekdays on BBC one and is available to stream on iPlayer. HGTV star Christina Haack has bravely continued to wear her heart on her sleeve in the public eye after battling three, painful divorces over the past eight years. Last week, the Flip or Flop star, 41, addressed the criticism surrounding her love life as she revealed her 'history of codependency issues' and anxious attachment style. Amid her new, healthy relationship with CEO and president of Network Connex, Christopher Larocca, the mom-of-three opened up about discovering she has anxious attachment, which causes people to struggle to feel secure in relationships. In a vulnerable Instagram post, shared with her 1.9 million Instagram followers, Haack admitted she was 'not sure' what took her so long to come to this revelation. 'Things can be challenging and by things I mean me,' she explained, before detailing how her new romance has pushed her to leave her toxic relationship patterns in the past. The Anaheim native went on to admit that it still, at times, feels strange to her to have met an 'unexpected good man who has his own amazing career, life & hobbies (who also happens to have zero jealousy).' HGTV star Christina Haack has bravely continued to wear her heart on her sleeve in the public eye after battling three, painful divorces over the past eight years 'At 41, Im finally learning about safe communication, independence during commitment and a relationship that is NOT 0-100,' she said of her current mindset. According to CBT therapist, Ludovica Colella, who has over 10 years of experience in the mental health field, it is not uncommon for high-achieving individuals to overlook or mask anxious attachment for years. 'High achievers often learn to rely on productivity and control as coping mechanisms,' Colella, who has not worked with Haack, told DailyMail.com. She continued: 'Their career success plus the external validation they get for their performance can easily mask deeper attachment wounds, making anxious attachment difficult to recognizeeven to themselves.' In the past, Haack confessed to being 'guilty of putting pressure on others' and getting trapped in the same 'cycle.' 'Facing my own insecurities has forced me into doing the shadow work Ive been avoiding,' the TV personality noted. Colella also explained that 'anxious attachment often drives people to subconsciously seek out emotionally unavailable partners' as it mirrors 'early relational experiences.' 'We tend to gravitate toward what feels familiar, even when it's painful,' she said. 'For someone with an anxious attachment style and a high-achieving personality, love can become something that must be earned. They may mistake the need to work hard to be loved as a normal or even healthy part of a relationship, reinforcing patterns of emotional chasing and triggering the rejection wound.' Amid her new, healthy relationship with Christopher Larocca (seen above), the mom-of-three opened up about discovering she has anxious attachment, which causes people to struggle to feel secure in relationships As for whether there is a link between being in the spotlight and developing (or reinforcing) an anxious attachment style, Colella revealed that fame or being a public figure 'can trigger and/or maintain the need for external validation and approval, reinforcing the idea that our value is dependent on how much love, appreciation, admiration we manage to get out of other people.' Colella went on to point out that 'his love is actually fleeting and not fulfilling.' In close relationships, however, where control is less predictable and emotional vulnerability is required, Colella says that's when 'unresolved anxieties often begin to surface.' In order to shift from anxious attachment to secure connection, a person needs to relearn about safety in emotional connections, which Colella stated 'involves inner work, emotion regulation, learning effective communication strategies.' In a vulnerable Instagram post, shared with her 1.9 million Instagram followers, Haack admitted she was 'not sure' what took her so long to come to this revelation 'At 41, Im finally learning about safe communication, independence during commitment and a relationship that is NOT 0-100,' she explained For those suffering from anxious-attachment, she recommended trying to identify the original abandonment/rejection wound and the idea that 'love must be earned.' Additionally, focusing on emotion regulation and reducing patterns of excessive reassurance-seeking can also help on the path to self-improvement. For those who tend to love hard and fear rejection, Colella also advised 'exploring past experiences related to emotional connections, relationship with parents, subconscious scripts and rules about love and intimacy.' As for what healing looks like, and whether that includes marriage, heartbreak or professional success, Colella insisted 'external achievement dont necessarily equate or even relate' it. 'Holding space for your vulnerabilities, embracing yourself flaws and all, being less reactive and more responsive, being less needy of external validation and less dependent on control and performance are good indicators of healing taking place,' she concluded. 'Things can be challenging and by things I mean me,' she explained, before detailing how her new romance has pushed her to leave her toxic relationship patterns in the past Haack's post struck a chord with her followers, many of whom thanked her for sharing her experience. 'I think many people feel shame around anxious attachment style. And yet, we know its a coping mechanism of how you learned to stay safe and connected. Keep healing those old patterns ,' one commented. Another wrote: 'Commend your vulnerability. We need more of this.' 'Proud of you! We all have issues and are human,' a third added. Haack has had a strenuous road to finding love, enduring three very public and messy divorces and multiple court battles with her exes since she entered the public eye. The Anaheim native went on to admit that it still, at times, feels strange to her to have met an 'unexpected good man who has his own amazing career, life & hobbies (who also happens to have zero jealousy)' She and her first husband, Tarek El Moussa, met while they were both working as real estate agents at the firm Prudential in the early 2000s. In 2008, they left the company to launch their own real estate agency together, called Tarek and Christina: The El Moussa Group. They tied the knot in 2009, and one year later, they began flipping houses together. The couple went on to welcome their first child, a daughter named Taylor Reese, in 2011. It was around that time that they came up with the idea for Flip or Flop, and Tarek recorded an audition tape and sent it in to HGTV. They were signed by the network in 2012, and they launched their show Flip or Flop one year later. The couple began trying for a second child afterwards, but they struggled to get pregnant. They went through two failed rounds of IVF and suffered from a devastating miscarriage before they welcomed their second child, a son named Brayden James, in 2015. Haack has had a strenuous road to finding love, enduring three very public and messy divorces and multiple court battles with her exes since she entered the public eye (pictured with her first husband Tarek El Moussa) In May 2016, TMZ reported that cops had been called to the couple's home after an altercation involving guns and a possible suicide attempt. A helicopter and nearly a dozen deputies responded as witnesses told the site they saw El Moussa run out the back door of his home with a gun and tried to escape down a hiking trail. Sources added that they saw Haack run out of the house sobbing and trembling shortly after. Tarek later wrote of the incident in his 2024 book, and he said that after getting in an argument with Christina, he 'went out to their backyard and hopped over the fence.' While his then-wife feared for his life, he insisted that he only fled to get some exercise and check out the trails by their property after recently purchasing some new mountain bikes. Following their split, she moved on with TV presenter, Ant Anstead Six months after the incident, the couple announced that they were splitting after seven years of marriage. 'Like many couples, we have had challenges in our marriage. We had an unfortunate misunderstanding about six months ago and the police were called to our house in an abundance of caution. There was no violence and no charges were filed,' the pair said in a statement. They told People that they attended marriage counseling but decided to separate while assessing 'the future of their marriage.' Seven years after their divorce, Tarek said he holds 'nothing against Christina' in an interview with People. 'I understand why she did what she did. We had a lot of hard years through my sicknesses and my mental health struggles from the testosterone,' he said. He added that they had an amicable co-parenting relationship and that they 'all communicate well.' 'We really focus on the kids,' he dished. The former couple tied the knot that December during a low-key ceremony at their home in Newport Beach, California; seen in 2019 Following their split, she moved on with TV presenter, Ant Anstead. Ant had just gotten out of a divorce himself from his wife of 12 years, Louise, with whom he had welcomed two kids. They started dating in October 2017, but kept their romance out of the public eye at first. They went public in January 2018, when Christina shared a sultry photo of her and Ant to Instagram. They tied the knot that December during a low-key ceremony at their home in Newport Beach, California. By March 2019, Christina and Ant were expecting their first child together, and their son, Hudson London, was born in September. But one year later, they shocked the world when they announced that they were splitting. 'Ant and I have made the difficult decision to separate,' Christina wrote on Instagram at the time. 'We are grateful for each other and as always, our children will remain our priority.' Just two weeks after her divorce was finalized from Anstead, Christina sparked dating rumors with real estate agent Josh Hall when they were spotted holding hands at the airport She added in another post a few days later, 'I never thought I would have one divorce let alone two. 'I never thought I would have two baby daddies but sometimes life throws us curve balls. 'Instead of getting stuck in these "setbacks" I choose to look at these challenges as opportunities to grow. 'So while some may judge me and throw around rumors about me, most of you support me. 'And that says a lot about this world and where we are headed. Im messy, Im real and Im working on healing We are all a work in progress.' Immediately, Christina faced backlash online for moving on so quickly as she explained shet met Hall 'in a state of fear or fight-or-flight' In 2024, however, Josh filed for divorce from Christina and their split played out on her reality show, The Flip Off Just two weeks after her divorce was finalized, Christina sparked dating rumors with real estate agent Josh Hall when they were spotted holding hands at the airport. Immediately, Christina faced backlash online for moving on so quickly. But she was quick to defend her new romance on Instagram. 'I met Josh when I wasnt in a state of fear or fight-or-flight I may be a bit crazy and I'm definitely not perfect but I will never live my life based on other peoples judgments or opinions,' she wrote. 'We pride ourselves on never judging others and always wanting others to be happy and we wish others would have the same respect. 'Josh doesnt have social media, but I want to thank him for whisking me away on a romantic tropical vacation he planned entirely on his own.' She added in a second post alongside a selfie with Josh, 'Some people are lucky enough to get forever the first time but no one should be shamed for things not working out and no one knows what goes on behind closed doors. 'Remember that before making judgements and assumptions and this woman/mama is still lucky enough to have this man choose me.' The couple announced their engagement in September 2021, and married privately one month later. They went on to throw a lavish wedding in Hawaii in September 2022. In January, she posted a crying selfie, which she said was taken after one of her photo shoots with Hall back in June 2024 In 2022, the couple also co-launched a production company, called Unbroken Productions, which was behind her shows Christina on the Coast and Christina in the Country. Two years later, it was revealed that the pair would be starring in a new competition series with her ex Tarek and his new wife, Heather Rae El Moussa, entitled The Flip Off. However, one month after the show announcement took place, Josh filed for divorce from Christina. In January 2024, DailyMail.com revealed Haack had been quietly dating her current boyfriend for quite some time. 'Christina has been dating Chris Larocca for a few months now. They're always together and out and about around Newport,' a source spilled. 'They even have traveled abroad and visited other countries together.' The insider went on to say that they are 'surprised' that news hasn't come out about their relationship since 'they certainly don't hide that they're together.' While the timeline of when they actually started dating or details of how they met are unclear, Christina and Chris have attended multiple events together the past three months and recently enjoyed a trip to Cabo San Lucas together. In January 2024, DailyMail.com revealed Haack had been quietly dating her current boyfriend for quite some time (seen together in Cabo San Lucas) Chris, who is president and CEO of Network Connex, a telecommunications service provider, has a 17-year-old daughter from his previous marriage. He got divorced in January 2015 from his ex-wife, whom he'd been married to for eight years before they separated. They continue to share joint custody of their child, as detailed in divorce documents obtained by DailyMail.com. When asked if she planned to remarry anytime soon by Us Weekly earlier this year, Christina said, 'I'll always love love. I probably will [get married again] eventually. But, not anytime soon.' She added that she would need to 'be engaged for a minimum of, like, five years,' before walking down the aisle again. There are few things more embarrassing for an eastern suburbs socialite than being busted buying a bag from some blow-in dial-a-dealer from out west. But recent events at Waverley Local Court reminded me it's hardly a rare occurrence. In 2021, I penned a column about magistrates losing patience with the revolving door of 'entitled cocaine consumers' caught red-handed purchasing the drug. 'They are sick and tired of seeing white-collar elites caught in possession of cocaine or caught using a dial-a-dealer,' a legal source revealed at the time. 'They see the same routine - they hire an expensive barrister, they get counselling and often get let go on section 10 [where a defendant is found guilty, but no conviction recorded] and walk away with a fine of community service.' Sometimes even that is considered too harsh and they simply waltz out the door, with the only punishment being a pap photo outside court and a story in the Daily Mail (we're always happy to help). Fashion guru Katherine 'Kate' Killey (pictured) pleaded guilty to a single charge of possessing a prohibited drug after cops sprung her buying a bag on a Friday night in Bondi The latest member of the club is fashion guru Katherine 'Kate' Killey who this week pleaded guilty to a single charge of possessing a prohibited drug after cops sprung her buying a bag on a Friday night in Bondi. The 40-year-old, who used to do PR for Alice McCall and now runs her own fashion sales business, The Known Agency, had been spied by plainclothes police on April 4 ducking into a Ford station wagon that had pulled up outside an apartment complex on Spring Street. A quick search of the car showed it was from 'well out of the area'. When Ms Killey was seen exiting the vehicle just 20 seconds after sitting down in the passenger seat, it didn't take Columbo to work out what was going on. She was stopped by the cops and when asked if she had drugs on her, a 'clearly remorseful' Ms Killey handed over a little baggie with 0.6g of cocaine inside. When the matter made it to court less than two weeks later, it was dismissed without conviction. And fair enough: Ms Killey, originally an Adelaide girl, has an otherwise unblemished reputation and is highly regarded in her industry. She told the court she was 'mortified', deeply sorry and her solicitor argued a criminal record would seriously impact her globe-trotting career in fashion. While a small-time eastern suburbs' cocaine arrest hardly seems to raise eyebrows these days, the remarks by the weary magistrate bear repeating here. A local news story this week about a fashion PR caught buying cocaine reminded us of Kristin Fisher's (pictured) brush with the law in 2021 and a thundering slapdown from a magistrate In a report by local rag the Wentworth Courier, you could almost hear the despair in Stephen Barlow's voice as he told Waverley Local Court on Tuesday that Ms Killey's offending was 'almost an eastern suburbs stereotype' at this stage. He went on to remark that 'getting caught with cocaine in Bondi is pretty prevalent'. Barlow noted that 'intelligent' eastern suburbs high flyers often assume they won't get caught buying coke - even though police 'have eyes on everyone around here' as they seek to crack down on the illicit trade. 'I'm not telling you to get your cocaine anywhere else,' he added (lol). 'But you have to decide what's more important: your career, your reputation and the ability to travel to New York without having to be cross-examined, or is it cocaine?' Judge Ross Hudson once thundered: 'People who justify their cocaine usage as socially acceptable or as part the social fabric... it is not. It is a criminal, illegal drug' It's a good question - perhaps one that other Sydney businesswomen with plenty to lose should be asking themselves. Now, Barlow's gentle chiding of Ms Killey was nothing compared to the dressing-down fellow magistrate Ross Hudson gave Kristin Fisher back in October 2021 after her conviction for cocaine possession was annulled in the same court. The Double Bay eyebrow queen, like Ms Killey, had been busted in a 'dial-a-dealer' situation after hopping into the passenger seat of a 19-year-old's Kia Rio for a quick transaction. A 'mortified' (that word again) Ms Fisher apologised for her 'dreadful mistake' and her application to annul her sentence was duly granted. But she was given a stern warning that was directed at many others in the east. 'People who justify their cocaine usage as socially acceptable or as part the social fabric... it is not. It is a criminal, illegal drug,' thundered Hudson, who has since been appointed as a District Court judge. 'It is a stain on our community. People in the eastern suburbs must be fed up with it.' William Mooney escaped a conviction for cocaine possession in December 2022 after being caught throwing a bag he'd just bought from a Corolla-driving dial-a-dealer into a gutter When it comes to slapping down eastern suburbs cocaine buyers, few can compare to Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge Of course, when it comes to slapping down eastern suburbs cocaine buyers, Barlow and Hudson are wallflowers compared to Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge. A google search for 'Jacqueline Milledge cocaine' yields a highlight reel of takedowns so withering that I wonder if those on the receiving end of them ever fully recovered. Take celebrity nose surgeon William Mooney, who escaped a conviction for cocaine possession in December 2022 after being caught throwing a bag he'd just bought from a Toyota Corolla-driving dial-a-dealer into a gutter. The icing on the cake? He'd been standing in the middle of a Bondi Beach street in his boxer shorts. Magistrate Milledge thundered: 'You ought to be ashamed of yourself.' When Mooney's defence barrister argued his client was 'not a drug user' and had collected the cocaine outside his home for his girlfriend, Milledge questioned why he would be 'with a partner who likes to stick it up her nose'. Ouch. In 2012, Magistrate Milledge gave Bridget Holmes a Court - the cousin of Australia's first billionaire - a six-month good behaviour bond without recording a conviction after she pleaded guilty to possession In a separate matter, an eastern suburbs school teacher faced Magistrate Milledge when she pleaded guilty to drug possession at Waverley in 2023. She tried to claim the bag of coke in her possession belonged to a friend who 'did not have a handbag', but Milledge wasn't buying it. 'To your credit when you got caught, you were compliant [but] I don't buy that you were minding it for someone it was there to be enjoyed [by you],' she said. 'In life we all take risks, we jump out of planes [you're] someone who chose a [career] path which relies on integrity you've said, "I'll gamble all of that, because I want to stick something up my nose."' No conviction was recorded. Back in 2012, Magistrate Milledge gave Bridget Holmes a Court - the socialite cousin of Australia's first billionaire, the late Robert Holmes a Court - a six-month good behaviour bond without recording a conviction after she pleaded guilty to possessing a small quantity of cocaine. Luckily for Bridget, there is no record of what she said in handing down her decision. Series 19 of The Apprentice concluded on Thursday night, with air conditioning salesman Dean Franklin walking away with Lord Sugar's 250,000 investment. Yet in the 20 years the hit BBC show has been on, it's not always been the winning contestants who have captured the public imagination. The likes of Jessica Cunningham and Luisa Zissman went on to appear on I'm A Celebrity, while Saira Khan and Thomas Skinner were able to carve out a media career. Others, however, have completely faded from the public eye despite making an impact on viewers. Now, MailOnline takes a look at where the nation's favourite Apprentice stars have ended up. Ruth Badger, season 2 Affectionately known as 'The Badger', Ruth Badger became an instant crowd pleaser when she appeared on the second season of The Apprentice in 2006 In recent years she has faded from the spotlight and is fully focused on her consultancy firm, Ruth Badger Consultancy Ltd, a company which provides finance for homeowners Affectionately known as 'The Badger', Ruth became an instant crowd pleaser when she appeared on the second season of The Apprentice in 2006. At the time, contestants were vying for a job, rather than an investment, and while Ruth made a big impression on Lord Sugar, ultimately she lost out to Michelle Dewberry in the final. After winning over the nation, Ruth was offered her own TV series, Badger or Bust, which saw her help to turn failing businesses into successful companies. The Sky One show aired in 2007 but wasn't commissioned for a second series. She also served as an advisor on Sky One's The Big Idea, which aimed to find Britain's brightest entrepreneur, with the winner landing a 100,000 prize to invest in their dream business. Ruth then went on to appear on the panel on shows such as Big Brother's Little Brother and 8 Out of 10 Cats. In recent years she has faded from the spotlight and is fully focused on her consultancy firm, Ruth Badger Consultancy Ltd, a company which provides finance for homeowners. Syed Ahmed, season 2 Syed Ahmed was known for his cockiness, telling Lord Sugar: '100,000 salary is not enough but it's a good place to start', yet coined the traditional 'Thank you for the opportunity' phrase Syed managed to make it to fifth place on season two but is perhaps better known for his relationship with the show's winner Michelle Dewberry (pictured in 2006) Syed now describes himself as a public speaker, presenter and a fundraiser for charities and is the founder and CEO of Savortex Syed managed to make it to fifth place on season two but is perhaps better known for his relationship with the show's winner Michelle Dewberry. He was known for his cockiness, telling Lord Sugar: '100,000 salary is not enough but it's a good place to start', yet coined the traditional 'Thank you for the opportunity' phrase after being fired. Syed and Michelle began dating on the show, with the couple revealing they were expecting a child together shortly after the series aired. The couple then began to speak about marriage, with Michelle admitting she was considering converting to Islam. Tragically, the couple lost the baby, with a spokesperson for the couple saying at the time: 'Michelle and Syed are both extremely upset and are currently supporting each other through this difficult period.' Shortly afterwards Syed confirmed he and Michelle had split, admitting: 'It's almost as though you've lost something more than a baby. You've lost a part of your chemistry, too.' Following his appearance on the show, Syed was arrested on suspicion of being involved in a money laundering operation. A spokesman revealed the police had decided to take no further action and insisted Syed was 'not involved in any wrong doing'. Syed now describes himself as a public speaker, presenter and a fundraiser for charities. He is the founder and CEO of Savortex, a British technology company. Rory Laing, season 3 The Apprentice had a brush with royalty when second cousin to the late Princess Diana, Rory Laing appeared on series three of the show Since 2015 Rory has worked for the Ministry of Defence as a Senior Project Manager The Apprentice had a brush with royalty when Rory appeared on series three of the show. Rory is second cousin to the late Princess Diana and previously employed Kate Middleton as a waitress for his events through his catering company. His business skills didn't get him far on The Apprentice and he was sacked after the second task. When firing him, Lord Sugar couldn't help but make as joke as he mused: 'I hear you've been a bankrupt twice, there's no shame in it. Well Rory. Here's the hat-trick, you're fired.' Since 2015 Rory has worked for the Ministry of Defence as a Senior Project Manager. Lucinda Ledgerwood, season 4 Lucinda Ledgerwood was famed for her love of colourful berets and outfits but was ultimately sacked 'with regret' for being too 'zany' Lucinda went on to to found Cindy's Tea, a medicinal herb tea company. She also signed up as a celebrity ambassador for Edinburgh's Napier Uni Lucinda was famed for her love of colourful berets but was ultimately sacked 'with regret' for being too 'zany'. Many were surprised she even went through the process, however, given she was already earning more than the 100,000 salary up for grabs. She later stated that she wasn't disappointed with being fired, dismissing the role as simply being a 'sales' position. She struggled with the fame she found on the show, confessing: 'People think they know you from TV so even starting a relationship is unbalanced'. Lucinda went on to to found Cindy's Tea, a medicinal herb tea company. She also signed up as a celebrity ambassador for Edinburgh's Napier Uni. Raef Bjayou, season 4 Raef Bjayou became a favourite on season four owing to his distinctive mannerisms and posh accent, coming out with iconic phrases such as 'The spoken word is my tool' In 2008 he was appointed a Prince's Trust Ambassador, a role he continues to this day. He now works as a Director of Communications and Chief Marketing Officer (pictured in 2021) Raef became a favourite on season four owing to his distinctive mannerisms and posh accent, coming out with iconic phrases such as 'The spoken word is my tool.' While he was fired after the ninth task, he was branded a 'really nice chap' by Lord Sugar, with the pair going on to exchange emails after the show. He went on to appear on shows such as 8 out of 10 Cats and the Richard & Judy show as well as Ready Steady Cook. Raef also took part in Come Dine with Me with his friend Ben Duncan who later competed in series 11 of Big Brother. In 2008 he was appointed a Prince's Trust Ambassador, a role he continues to this day. He now works as a Director of Communications and Chief Marketing Officer. Ben Clarke, season 5 Ben Clarke frustrated fellow contestants and viewers alike as he droned on about his alleged scholarship to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst The aspiring businessman went on to do a string of internships and was mentored by a former Goldman Sachs trader. He then went on to work in private equity (pictured in 2014) Ben frustrated fellow contestants and viewers alike as he droned on about his alleged scholarship to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. This drove Lord Sugar to launch into an impassioned rant, saying: 'Don't start banging on about b****y Sandhurst again. I was in the Jewish Lad's Brigade, Stamford Hill Division, but it didn't make me sell computers when I got older! 'I've had this Sandhurst group in here before and one of them couldn't cook a sausage on a baked bean can so that does not mean anything to me.' It turns out Ben did not even go to Sandhurst at all, a point revealed to Margaret Mountford in week six. The trainee stockbroker sacrificed a lot to even appear on the BBC show, being laid off in the weeks leading up to the series as he planned to take time off work to star on the TV programme. It was all in vain in the end, as Ben was fired in week nine, but he did leave behind the immortal quote: 'Making money is better than sex.' The aspiring businessman went on to do a string of internships and was mentored by a former Goldman Sachs trader. He then went on to work in private equity. Solomon 'Solly' Akhtar, series 10 If the name Solomon 'Solly' Akhtar doesn't ring a bell, his Solly's gobsmacked face certainly will, after his infamous interview with Claude Littner went viral Nowadays he is the business director for customer service company The Socialbear Group, which he founded (pictured this year) If the name doesn't ring a bell, then Solly's gobsmacked face certainly will, after his infamous interview with Claude Littner went viral before being immortalised as a meme. He fell victim to a classic set-up, as Lord Sugar's right-hand man heaped praise on the contestant's CV and application letter before delivering a killer blow. Solly's business plan consisted mainly of jazzy but similar logos for his idea, with little in the way of substance. Claude described his attempt as a 'b****y disgrace' before saying he had never seen anything like it in his stint on the show and swiftly telling the candidate to leave. This spelled the beggining of the end for the business hopeful, who was later fired. Rumours then began to swirl that Solly would be making an appearance on Made In Chelsea, but the tech entrepeneur instead showed up on Sky One's Desi Rascals. Nowadays he is the business director for customer service company The Socialbear Group, which he founded. Elizabeth McKenna, season 13 One of The Apprentice's most beloved contestants, Elizabeth McKenna's eccentric behaviour lit up season 13 and saw her fall narrowly short of a place in the final At the time of filming, Elizabeth owned three florists called Flowers By Susan and now runs Elizabeth McKenna Flowers as well as Lizzie's Bundles (pictured on GMB in 2018) One of The Apprentice's most beloved contestants, Elizabeth's eccentric behaviour lit up season 13 and saw her fall narrowly short of a place in the final. She took her love for floristry onto the BBC show in the hope of securing Lord Sugar's hefty backing but failed to make it past the gruelling interview phase. In the meantime, she was spotted chasing around chickens, making funny faces and being branded a 'control freak' in an action packed spell on the programme. At the time of filming, Elizabeth owned three florists called Flowers By Susan and now runs Elizabeth McKenna Flowers as well as Lizzie's Bundles. She has learned from the tough criticisms made by Lord Sugar's trusted advisors and said in 2018: 'The critiques of my business plan were tough, but who better to do so than some highly respected individuals within the business world. 'I have since used those thoughts and comments to help improve my business, my concept and my branding.' Ryan-Mark Parsons, season 15 Ryan-Mark Parsons amused fans with his ultra-posh persona on season 15, while competing as the youngest Apprentice contestant in the show's history, aged 19 In 2021, he appeared on Celebs Go Dating (pictured with Abz Love, Nikita Jasmine, Miles Nazaire, Ulrika Jonsson and Chloe Brockett) Ryan-Mark amused fans with his ultra-posh persona on season 15, while competing as the youngest Apprentice contestant in the show's history, aged 19. He only made it to week eight of the show and, after being fired by Lord Sugar, he offered a parting shot, describing his fellow candidates as 'desperate'. The star later played up to his image by eating with a knife and forks at a McDonalds before causing outrage on Good Morning Brtain for suggesting Australia 'sell koala fur' in order to fund bushfire aid. The Apprentice candidate then became a columnist for the Daily Star while also making appearances on talkRadio and BBC Radio 5 Live. In 2021, he appeared on Celebs Go Dating where, according to dating agent Anna Williamson, he received the worst score in the show's history. By 2024, Ryan-Mark had become a writer for the Daily Express and was advising an MP on communications. Her admirers take every opportunity to salute her ambition, with one of them Kim Kardashian even observing that Meghan Markle is intent on 'changing the world'. Yet these cheerleaders tend to be drowned out by detractors, including Tina Brown, former editor of Vanity Fair and author of a majestic biography of Princess Diana, who observed last year that Meghan is 'flawless about getting it all wrong', explaining that 'all of her ideas are total crap'. But anyone who hopes that that will give Harry pause for thought should think again. Indeed, as one of his closest allies tells me, the barrage of criticism serves only to intensify his loyalty to Meghan whom he met in 2016, sparking a relationship which, in Harry's love-struck words, spurted 'from 0 to 60'. 'It's horrible for him to know that people don't like his wife,' reflects his chum. 'He adores her and doesn't think she deserves any of the backlash or criticism that has been thrown at her over the past few years. He's told us that the more people hate her, the more he's going to stand by her. He's vowed to always protect the mother of his kids.' Of course, some of the most wounding barbs aimed at Meghan have also been directed at Harry, most memorably in 2023, after it was announced that Meghan's podcast was being dropped by Spotify prompting Spotify executive Bill Simmons to label the royal couple 'f****** grifters'. This year, Meghan and Harry were again jointly in the firing line after visiting a food bank close to the Los Angeles fires only to be labelled 'disaster tourists' by Hollywood actress Justine Bateman. Prince Harry and Meghan met first responders and victims of the Eaton Fire in Los Angeles earlier this year Meghan has been under renewed scrutiny with the launch of her As Ever brand In recent weeks, Meghan has come under renewed fire with the launch of As Ever, her 'curated collection' of foodstuffs, with her raspberry spread not jam summarised as 'liquid red sugar water' by an online critic. It's not, I'm assured, the sort of thing that Harry would say about someone else's spread or jam. 'He hasn't got a nasty bone in his body,' says his pal. Meanwhile, the insider reveals the prince, 40, is determined to keep a low profile during his visits to the UK. 'He tends to come in and out of the country under guise,' the source says. This move for secrecy and private trips comes amid Harry's current battle in London's High Court to get his bid to get his taxpayer-funded security guards reinstated. Last Thursday, the king's son left the UK without informing Buckingham Palace and flew to Poland ahead of a surprise visit to Ukraine. He visited a rehabilitation centre in Lviv where he met adults and children who had been injured in the war with Russia. Harry is now the second member of the royal family to have visited a war-torn Ukraine since Russia's full scale invasion, following the Duchess of Edinburgh visit to Kyiv last year. Kevin Costner's rarely seen eldest daughter Annie Cox, 41, revealed that she has been 'battling some mid life demons.' And that inspired her to get a tattoo. The brunette beauty, who has stayed away from Hollywood to work as a real estate agent in small town Santa Barbara, talked about her predicament on Instagram. The post was shared this week as she added stunning photos from her vacation in France. 'Last year when I turned 40 I decided to go to Paris. I had never been,' she began her post. 'It felt a little wrong in the moment actually. I wasnt feeling my best, or very confident after having taken a couple years off to take care of our kids.' Annie has been married to California-based Dr Danny Cox since 2016. Their first child, Cayden Wyatt Costner, was born on May 6, 2007, while their second baby, Hayes Logan Costner, born two years later. Kevin Costner's reclusive eldest daughter Annie Cox, 41, has revealed that she has been 'battling some mid life demons' Hayes Logan Costner, Cayden Wyatt Costner, Grace Avery Costner, Kevin, Annie Costner Cox, and guest at the Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter premiere in June 2024 Cox then explained more about her situation. 'I was, in retrospect, battling some mid life demons, but I knew I needed something,' she candidly shared. 'Im thankful I trusted my gut and took the trip because it was absolutely the spark to remind me who I was and am. 'I jumped into work as soon as I got back and this last year just burst wide open for me. Everything unfolded as it should have. 'Today Im 41 and more confident than ever that life is unfolding as its meant to. Convenient I guess when your gut tells you to go to Paris and drink wine all day and look at art and get a tattoo. But who am I to argue.' Her mother is Kevin's first wife Cindy Silva. Meanwhile, her dad Kevin, 70, is leaning on Silva, after being heartbroken by the end of his marriage to Christine Baumgartner last year. And that inspired her to get a tattoo. The brunette beauty, who has stayed away from Hollywood to work as a real estate agent in small town Santa Barbara, talked about her predicament on Instagram Here the star is seen getting her tattoo in Paris The post was shared this week as she added stunning photos from her vacation in France. 'Last year when I turned 40 I decided to go to Paris. I had never been,' she began her post 'It felt a little wrong in the moment actually. I wasnt feeling my best, or very confident after having taken a couple years off to take care of our kids.' Annie has been married to California-based Dr Danny Cox since 2016. Their first child, Cayden Wyatt Costner, was born on May 6, 2007, while their second baby, Hayes Logan Costner, born two years later 'Kevin and Cindy have stayed close friends and she has been guiding him in recent months over his heartbreak from Christine as she is a wise woman,' a source told DailyMail.com. 'He really appreciates that their sad split has led to such a beautiful friendship. She is an ally and offers great advice. He leans on her quite often.' It also helps that they have three children together - Lily, Joe and Annie - which is like the 'glue' of their platonic relationship. 'Often they get together for the kids' birthdays and are able to spend quality time together. It's all very amicable and friendly,' added the insider. Several years ago Kevin expressed he 'still has love for Cindy' as he called her a 'real lady.' The couple met while they were both students at California State University - Fullerton in 1975. They wed in 1978 and in November 1994 Cindy filed for divorce after 16 years of marriage. Kevin has been leaning on his first wife, Cindy Silva, after being heartbroken from the end of his marriage to Christine Baumgartner last year. Seen in 1991 'Kevin and Cindy have stayed close friends and she has been guiding him in recent months as she is a wise woman,' a source told DailyMail.com. Seen in the 1990s Eventually, Silva - who is now 68 - was awarded around $80 million in the divorce settlement in 1994. Cindy, who used to hit red carpets with Kevin and also appeared in his blockbuster film Dances With Wolves, has stepped out of the spotlight and is now living a much quieter life in Santa Barbara, California with her business executive husband of over 20 years, Larry Ameen. Larry was a executive in the denim clothing industry for brands such as Jordache Jeans and Pepe Jeans. He later became the CEO of Dogwood Investments Inc. She also goes by the name Cindy Antonucci-Ameen. Since his split from Christine, Kevin has been linked to Jewel, Sharon Stone and Jennifer Lopez, but there seems to be no evidence of any romance with those ladies. Less than two years after splitting from Cindy, Costner had a son, Liam, with Bridget Rooney, heiress to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and aunt of actresses Rooney and Kate Mara. That affair is rumored to have cost the actor $7 million. The Bodyguard star told the Seattle Times he took responsibility for his role in the demise of his marriage to Cindy, but did not go into detail. 'A series of events conspired to happen at the same time. I know it hurt some people that I had failed in my marriage. And the marriage was my own failure,' he said. He was also linked to Playboy model Angie Everheart and the daughter of casino magnate Steve Wynn. Cindy tied the knot with the Yellowstone star in 1978 but split from him in 1994' seen in 1989 Cindy, who used to hit red carpets with Kevin and also appeared in his blockbuster film Dances With Wolves, has stepped out of the spotlight and is now living a much quieter life in Santa Barbara, California with her business executive husband of over 20 years, Larry Ameen Here is an image shared by her daughter with Kevin, Annie Cox 'It was hard on Cindy and our children. It didn't help things. The only thing it did was hurt. The collapse of my marriage was the hardest thing of all for me,' the Dances With Wolves star said. Costner went on to express his love for his first wife: 'You can put this on the record. Through all the pain, Cindy's been what I always thought she was a real lady. I still have love for Cindy.' The article notes that Costner was shortly due to begin filming the romantic comedy Tin Cup, it was on that movie's set where he met his second wife, Baumgartner, who was then 21. Silva supported Costner when he was a struggling actor, taking on odd-jobs that included performing as Snow White at Disneyland. 'We have amicably resolved all issues regarding our children and financial affairs and a full marital settlement has been reached. 'We ask to be allowed the dignity of sorting through this more painful part of our lives in private,' a statement from the couple read in 1994. In a 2012 interview with Parade Magazine, Costner was asked about what the secret was to a good marriage. 'Maybe its the ability to say youre sorry. I know that sounds so simple. If youre willing to tell somebody that you love them, are you also willing to say youre sorry? You need to, even when you think youre in the right,' The Untouchables star said. Kevin and Christine first began dating in 1998, having met around 1996 while Costner was filming his movie Tin Cup. The Bodyguard star said that at the time he first met her, he wasn't ready to fall in love again. They married in 2004 in Aspen, Colorado. The reason for the long courtship was because Costner was not sure if wanted more kids. The uncertainty even led them to break up for a period prior to their engagement. 'Fear kept me from marrying Christine. [She] wanted a child, but I was afraid I couldnt be an effective father.' 'I woke up and thought, Am I going to lose a beautiful woman who is willing to be with me to my very last breath because I am afraid to say yes to a child?' Thats all it took. Sometimes you learn the thing youre most afraid of will save your life,' he told Closer Weekly in 2018. Christine Baumgartner, 49, called it quits from her Hollywood heartthrob husband Kevin Costner last year. The two are pictured at Vanity Fair event in 2022 As a recently as 2020, Costner spoke glowingly about how the couple's relationship strengthened during the Covid-19 pandemic. He told People: 'Our partnership has really come into focus about what we do for each other and how we deal with our family.' In 2022, Radar Online reported that Costner was given an ultimatum from his wife. The report said that she was demanding that he quit his hit show Yellowstone due to the fact that he was gone from home so often. 'The show is such a mega-hit, producers want it to go on forever! [Baumgartner] wants a firm commitment this is his last season or he might have to!,' a source told the website. Advertisement The $5million construction of Jackie 'O' Henderson's 'dream home' in one of Sydney's most sought-after suburbs is disturbing the neighbours. The radio queen, 50, has taken on the ambitious project that will see a complete transformation of an oceanfront Clovelly house she purchased at open auction in March 2023. And now, two years after the KIIS FM star dropped $13.25million on the eastern suburbs pad, residents close to the building site are complaining about noise and disruptions. Residents claim that demolition work on the site, located on a small cul-de-sac overlooking Gordon's Bay, has created 'horrendous' noise, according to news.com.au. One resident complained to the publication about vehicles owned by tradies working on Jackie's home blocking road access and disregarding designated parking areas. 'I dont want to have to go to them every time I want to get out of my driveway,' the disgruntled neighbour said. The $5million construction of Jackie 'O' Henderson's 'dream home' in one of Sydney's most sought-after suburbs is disturbing the neighbours Two years after the KIIS FM star dropped $13.25million on the pad, residents close to the building site are complaining about noise and disruptions. Pictured: An artist's impression of Jackie's three-storey home A tradie informed the publication that work on the site won't be completed until June 2026. Meanwhile, the sight's foreman said that all the necessary work permits relating to the building of Jackie's huge three-storey abode have been approved. A report in the Wentworth Courier on Friday confirmed that Randwick Council received two complaints about construction. None related to noise or disruptions but rather raised concerns over sediment from the site falling into the ocean. 'Upon receiving the complaints, council officers attended the property and requested the builder implement additional sediment mitigation measures to reduce potential run-off to the ocean,' a spokesperson told the publication. Builders made the changes to the site as requested, they said. Jackie recently shared a glimpse of the incredible view from her 'dream home' as construction got underway. She posted a picture to Instagram early this month which showed that once building is completed the radio star will enjoy an amazing ocean view. Neighbours say that demolition works on the site, on a small cul-de-sac overlooking Gordon's Bay, created 'horrendous' noise reported News on Saturday. Pictured: Jackie recently shared a photo of the original home being torn down A report in The Wentworth Courier on Friday confirmed that Randwick Council received two complaints about construction. Both related to sediment from the site leaking into the sea. Pictured: Heavy equipment on the site of Jackie's build Back in December Jackie shared video and images of the demolishing works on the original property. Photos showed a sloped frontage, leading to several staggered levels with the whole area now cordoned off with temporary fencing. The scene was a far cry from the 1960s-era home that once stood on the site. An aerial photo of the site revealed just how close Jackie will be to the stunning coastline. The picture showed the crystals clear water just meters away from what will eventually be Jackie's front door. The property is located on a clifftop over looking the ocean in Clovelly, which lies 9km from the CBD. 'And so it begins,' Jackie captioned the post as she shared her excitement for the build. The house is set back from the road, offering Jackie the privacy she hasn't had on the narrow streets of her former address. The high-profile media star had previously complained about intrusive paparazzi as the reason for her sale of her past home. Jackie bought her new home after pocketing a tidy $2million in profit on the sale of her old home in Woollahra, after paying $11million for it in 2020. Sydney Sweeney is singing through the pain. This week while in Key West, Florida, the 27-year-old actress performed a rendition of Adele's 2011 heartbreak ballad Someone Like You during karaoke. The blonde bombshell was dressed in jeans and a white tank top as she belted on stage at Backyard Bar. She joked with the MC that she was staying there 'forever,' adding, 'Don't get tired of me!' according to an account from TMZ. It comes weeks after news broke that the Euphoria sensation ended her engagement to fiance Jonathan Davino. Earlier this month TMZ reported that Sweeney and her entrepreneur beau, 41, have been 'separated since January.' Sydney performed a rendition of Adele's heartbreak ballad Someone Like You during karaoke in Key West, FL; pictured April 1 It was initially shared by the outlet in February that their May wedding ceremony had been postponed. Sweeney and Davino began dating in 2018 and got engaged in 2022. There were hints of trouble in the romance earlier this year when the actress started staying at the Beverly Hills Hotel and removed a photo of her and her now-ex from Instagram. Sydney also deleted the slide of her and Jonathan sharing a New Year's kiss from her Instagram carousel she posted on January 2. Another clue came when the Spokane, Washington native took a trip to Africa without him in early March. A source shared with People in March: 'She's exactly where she wants to be. Most people would feel overwhelmed by her working schedule this year, but not Syd. She's all about working right now and very excited about all her projects.' It was added, 'She's not ready to settle down. They only lasted for this long because it was hard for her to break it off. They didn't split because there is no love. They split because she just wants to focus on her career right now.' It comes weeks after news broke that the Euphoria sensation ended her engagement with fiance Jonathan Davino; pictured October 2018 Sweeney and Davino began dating in 2018 and got engaged in 2022; pictured in March 2024 In the wake of her broken engagement, fans speculated that Sydney had moved on with Anyone But You co-star Glen Powell, but he quickly shut down the romance rumors; pictured in February 2024 In the wake of her broken engagement, fans speculated that Sydney had moved on with Anyone But You co-star Glen Powell, but the rumors were quickly shut down. Sydney and Glen reignited romance chatter when they were attended his sister Leslie's Dallas, Texas wedding in late March. Following the occasion, Glen's mom spoke out about her son's relationship with the siren. In an exclusive phone call with Daily Mail, Cyndy Powell shared, 'They're definitely not together. It was just, like, she was there [at the wedding] with her friend.' The actor later brushed off questions about the topic while appearing on Today's Jenna & Friends, quipping to host Jenna Hager about the wedding appearance and breakup overlap, 'Timing is everything.' He emphasized, '[Leslie] and Syd are obviously great friends and it was a hell of a wedding.' Filming for the next James Bond movie could reportedly take place in Liverpool. According to The Sun, Amazon bosses are currently scouting fresh locations for the superspy due to a filming ban in Central London next year. Producers are said to believe Liverpool - famed for the Liver Building and the River Mersey - is a strong alternative, as it often doubles for the capital on screen. An insider told the publication: 'This will no doubt irk Bond purists who already fear Amazon taking over the 007 franchise may lead to them making big changes. 'But Liverpool is a well-known alternative to London for film-makers. 'It has appeared in everything from The Batman to Captain America and Harry Potter movies, doubling up as international cities.' Filming for the next James Bond movie could reportedly take place in Liverpool (star Daniel Craig pictured 2015) According to The Sun, Amazon bosses are currently scouting fresh locations for the superspy due to a filming ban in central London next year (Daniel pictured in No Time To Die in 2020) The source added that it doesn't necessarily mean the story will be set in Liverpool - though eagle-eyed Merseysiders will no doubt spot their city centre in the background. MailOnline has contacted Amazon for comment. Streaming giant Amazon gained creative control of the James Bond franchise earlier this year. And earlier this month, The Sun reported that bosses are poised to cast the youngest-ever James Bond in 007 prequels set in the 1950s and 1960s. Florence Pugh is also said to be lined up to star in TV spin-off The Moneypenny Diaries. Daniel Craig played the suave spy for the fifth and final time in 2021's No Time to Die. Meanwhile, rising star James Nelson-Joyce has addressed rumours linking him to the iconic role of James Bond, after his name was thrown into the mix as a potential successor. The Liverpudlian actor, 36, has captured fans' attention by starring as crime boss Michael Kavanagh in the BBC's new gritty drama This City Is Ours. Producers are said to believe Liverpool - famed for the Liver Building and the River Mersey - is a strong alternative, as it often doubles for the capital on screen An insider told the publication: 'This will no doubt irk Bond purists who already fear Amazon taking over the 007 franchise, but Liverpool is a well-known alternative to London for film-makers (Daniel pictured in Casino Royale 2006) James - who previously worked with Adolescence star Stephen Graham - has blown viewers away with his intense performance alongside Sean Bean, propelling him into mainstream fame. Now, there's already growing chatter that he could be in line for a major film role, with bookmakers slashing the odds of him replacing Daniel Craig as the next 007. Breaking his silence, James revealed he would be very interested in playing the 007 spy, saying it would be a 'privilege' to be the first-ever Scouse Bond. 'I mean... double oh Scouse, I'm here for it,' he quipped during an interview with the BBC. Since his debut in This City Is Ours, the odds of James being the next Bond have soared from 25-1 to 6-1 in a huge leap, according to Coral Bookmakers. 'James Nelson-Joyce has made a big impression on the new BBC crime drama series, This Is Our City,' Coral's John Hill said. It comes as James Nelson-Joyce's (pictured) name has been thrown into the mix as a potential next James Bond, and he has revealed whether he would take on the role of the iconic spy 'He has been well-backed to become the next James Bond following the opening episode.' James is in the running alongside the likes of The White Lotus' Theo James, Superman Henry Cavill and Happy Valley's James Norton. Bullet Train star Aaron Taylor-Johnson has also been among the top contenders while fans have also put Harris Dickinson and Jonathan Bailey's names forward. It was recently confirmed that Bond will remain male - and either British or from the Commonwealth - amid fan concerns over major changes following Amazon's takeover of the franchise. Rebel Wilson has revealed her toddler daughter Royce is living up to her high-end luxury name. The Pitch Perfect star, 45, appeared on The Jonathan Ross Show where she opened up about family life and mentioned her two-year-old daughter, who she welcomed by surrogacy in 2022 with wife Ramona Agruma. During the chat, the Australian actress expressed regret about naming Royce after the British luxury car brand, Rolls-Royce, and joked that she is starting to become high maintenance. 'Her name is Royce,' Rebel said. 'I probably shouldn't have named her after a British luxury car brand, she's a bit high maintenance. 'She's two and a half now. She's conned me into massaging her feet before she goes to sleep. I was doing it last night for almost an hour. Rebel Wilson (left) has revealed her toddler daughter Royce (centre) is living up to her high-end luxury name. Pictured with Ramona Agruma 'I said, "I should have called you Volvo." I don't know why I got suckered into that.' Elsewhere on the show, Rebel lifted the lid on what really went down when she invited Brad Pitt back to her dressing room at the Oscars. It was 2020 and the film Cats had recently hit cinemas, so awards show bosses rung up star Rebel to ask if she could help with some presenting on the night. However, the catch was that she would have to present dressed as a cat. The gig got her a coveted Oscars dressing room backstage, with full access to some of Hollywood's biggest stars nominated that year. One of those was Brad Pitt, who won Best Supporting Actor for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and Rebel was sure to capitalise on a chance meeting backstage when he expressed that he needed a moment to gather his thoughts away from the madness. Speaking on The Jonathan Ross Show, Rebel revealed she asked if he would like to join her in her dressing room - while she got transformed into a cat. Recalling the day, Rebel wryly says: 'I was in a hit movie, Cats so they said, "Would you like to present but you have to dress as a cat?" The Pitch Perfect star, 45, appeared on The Jonathan Ross Show where she opened up about family life and mentioned her two-year-old daughter, who she welcomed by surrogacy in 2022 The actress expressed regret about naming Royce after the British luxury car brand, Rolls-Royce, and joked that she is starting to become high maintenance 'I had a dressing room backstage at the Oscars. That's the place to have it.' She continued: 'Brad Pitt had just won his Oscar. He was so gorgeous and he was holding his Oscar. 'He needed a moment. I said, "I've got to get dressed as a cat, do you want to come with me?" He said, "Yes, do you want me to escort you to his dressing room?" He just needed a moment 'He just came with me to my dressing room for me to get transformed into a cat.' Elsewhere in the interview, the Pitch Perfect star - whose character was called Fat Amy - admitted she struggled to be taken seriously in Shakespeare plays when starting out in acting, but now has a role in a brand new spin on Romeo & Juliet, entitled Juliet & Romeo. She explained of the film: 'They've flipped it a little bit. If you love the classic story you've got that [but with a] kind of a different ending. 'In the original they die in the end they may or may not live at the end it's a pop musical take on Romeo & Juliet.' Rebel added: 'I'm very serious in this movie, maybe it'll open up a whole new [world for me]. The songs are so catchy. You'll be blown away by the songs.' Rebel Wilson also lifted the lid on what really went down when she invited Brad Pitt back to her dressing room at the Oscars. Pitt had just won Best Supporting Actor for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (pictured), and Rebel was sure to capitalise on a chance meeting backstage Cats had recently hit cinemas, so bosses rung up star Rebel to ask if she could present on the night - however, the catch was that she would have to present dressed as a cat (Pictured) 'He just came with me to my dressing room for me to get transformed into a cat,' she said of Brad escorting her to her dressing room 'I saw a version without any CGI cat effects' she continued. 'I found that version way better than the one they put in the cinema. 'They should release the one of us in the tight body suits. At least I got to go to the Oscars as a cat.' Rebel also went on to talk to host Jonathan about being newly married after tying the knot with her wife Ramona Agruma last year. 'My sister has a side hustle as a wedding celebrant,' she said. 'The show wedding was in Italy and then we got legally married in Australia. 'My sister, she had a busy week, she married me and then she married my mum the next day. We didn't pay her, she's really upset about that.' Monica Garcia of Real Housewives of Salt Lake City fame has become a mother for the fifth time. On Thursday, the 41-year-old Bravo alum announced the birth of her first child with boyfriend Braxton Knight. Monica, who suffered a miscarriage last year, wrote in a video shared on Instagram, 'Getting pregnant at 40 was never the plan, but just like the last couple years of my life, nothing has gone to plan.' She added, 'Dear God & body thank you. Thank you for holding this baby safely through 9 months and a delivery. So very grateful. I will miss this so much. Every hiccup and every kick felt.' It comes six weeks after Garcia announced she and her beau, who is ten years her junior, were expecting. In the social media reel Monica showed her time in the hospital, including outtakes of the newborn. Monica Garcia of Real Housewives of Salt Lake City fame has become a mother for the fifth time; pictured in November 2023 On Thursday, the 40-year-old Bravo alum announced the birth of her first child with boyfriend Braxton Knight She did not share the sex of the child, but pink balloons featured in the recording indicate she and her boyfriend welcomed a girl. The snippet was soundtracked to the song To Our Daughter by My Best Friend Jacob. Monica's pregnancy announcement came almost a full year after she suffered a miscarriage. The star told People in March how she shared the baby news with Knight during a Disneyland trip: 'My best friend, Koa, helped me pull it all off. Koa had picked out the infant ears hat at the Mad Hatter and had 'Aries Baby' embroidered on them while I distracted Braxton with churros and getting my cotton candy. I told him while we were on Peter Pan, flying over NeverLand.' She also said to the publication: 'I have been so blessed and been silent about all of it. 'I just hope someone reads this and it resonates with them on some level, reminds them that no matter what people do to you, say about you, or try to take from you, they can never take what God has for you.' Knight was reportedly dating another woman when he met Garcia in April 2023 while she was filming the fourth season of Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. Monica, who suffered a miscarriage last year, wrote in a video shared on Instagram, 'Getting pregnant at 40 was never the plan, but just like the last couple years of my life, nothing has gone to plan' It comes six weeks after Garcia announced she and her beau, who is ten years her junior, were expecting Knight was reportedly dating another woman when he met Garcia in April 2023 while she was filming the fourth season of Real Housewives of Salt Lake City The Bravo-lebrity has sole legal and physical custody of her four daughters Bri, 19, Jaidyn, 14, West, eight, and Kendall, seven from her on/off decade-long marriage with Mike Fowler, 46. The tumultuous union came to an end in 2023 amid domestic violence allegations. According to police documents obtained by the The Sun in January 2024, Fowler was taken into custody in March 2021 for domestic violence assault, domestic violence in the presence of a child, and interruption of a communication device. At the time of the incident, Monica had called police to their home and said her then-husband 'hit her' and that she was 'hiding in a bedroom.' The police report stated that as she spoke to law enforcement via her Apple watch, a female was heard 'yelling for him to get away from her.' Then, in person, she told officers she was 'afraid of Michael and what he would do if she disobeyed him.' The stars were out in full force on Thursday night as Craig David and Garnier threw a lavish party in London. But it was Married At First Sight UK hunk Nathan Campbell and his new girlfriend Love Islander Abi Moores who stole the spotlight, as they looked more loved-up than ever as they stepped out together at the glamorous event. The pair, who have been dating for two months, put on a cosy display as they posed for photos at Phonica Records. Abi set temperatures soaring in a figure-hugging silver maxi skirt and matching crop top paired with white stilettos. Her cut off top perfectly showcased her jaw-dropping figure and toned arms. Her blonde hair was styled perfectly straight around her shoulders with loose tresses framing her face and she accessorised with a white shoulder bag. MAFS hunk Nathanial Valentino and his new girlfriend Love Islander Abi Moores looked more loved-up than ever at the the Craig David X Garnier Method For Curls party on Thursday The pair, who have been dating for two months, put on a cosy display as they posed for photos at Phonica Records Meanwhile, Nathan rocked a casual nude coloured co-ord and white T-shirt which showed off his impressive tattoo collection. Nathan and Abi looked delighted to be spending some quality time together and cosied up to each other, linking arms and staying close as they smiled for the cameras. Joining them at the glam event was former Love Islander Amber Gill, 27, who looked effortlessly stylish for the night out. The reality star wowed in some burgandy trousers, blue Adidas trainers and a tight printed top. She wore her raven looks down and opted for a soft dewy makeup palette, highlighting her naturally pretty looks. Traitors contestant Leanne Quigley also made an appearance and posed up a storm in a figure-hugging denim jumpsuit. The plunging neckline flashed a bit of cleavage and the striped detail down the centre of the leg showcased her slender pins. The blonde beauty finished off her look with a baby pink bag and matching heels. Abi set temperatures soaring in a figure-hugging silver maxi skirt and matching crop top paired with white stilettos Her cut off top perfectly showcased her jaw-dropping figure and toned arms, whilst her blonde hair was styled perfectly straight around her shoulders with loose tresses framing her face Meanwhile, Nathan rocked a casual nude coloured co-ord and white T-shirt which showed off his impressive tattoo collection Joining them at the glam event was former Love Islander Amber Gill, 27, who looked effortlessly stylish for the night out She wore her raven looks down and opted for a soft dewy makeup palette, highlighting her naturally pretty looks TOWIE's Junaid Ahmed and Joe Blackman put on an animated display for the camera, blowing kisses and grinning from ear to ear as they cosied up to each other. The pair sparked a connection in Cyprus while Joe was in the middle of a breakup with ex-boyfriend - and Junaids former best friend Harry Deybridge. During a recent trip to Bali, Joe decided to make things official when he asked Junaid to be his boyfriend. Back in March, MAFS' Nath and Abi also made things official after they were set up on a blind date by mutual friend Reuben Collins, who starred on Love Island with Abi. Speaking to The Sun Abi said: 'He is literally my type to a tee and he's a nice genuine guy, there's no hidden agenda. 'I feel like Nathan is not able to lie. So when he says things, he genuinely does mean them.' During his stint on MAFS UK last year, Nathan started a romance with Lacey Martin, but they split just weeks later when he claimed she said they were 'better off as friends.' Following reports that Nathan and Abi were dating, Lacey was reportedly 'furious' with a source telling The Sun: 'Lacey can't believe after Nathan making out she was the fame hungry one he's now seeing a girl from Love Island. Traitors contestant Leanne Quigley also made an appearance and posed up a storm in a figure-hugging denim jumpsuit The blonde beauty put ona leggy display in the tight fitting garment finished off her look with a baby pink bag and matching heels She was later joined by Ella Morgan, who looked stylish in a black mini dress and quirky orange glasses TOWIE's Junaid Ahmed and Joe Blackman put on an animated display for the camera, blowing kisses and grinning from ear to ear as they cosied up to each other Dancing On Ice's Molly Lanaghan put on a leggy display in a shimmering black mini dress Gogglebox star George Baggs and girlfriend Lolly put on a cosy display at the event Georgia Meacham looked sensational in a butter yellow lace dress 'She feels like this is what he always wanted and that's fame. He spoke about wanting to be a model and be in a boy band and do I'm A Celeb.' Nathan hit back at Lacey's comments after he and Abi confirmed their romance, saying: 'I would never use anyone for clout. It's not what I'm about. 'I just like nice people and by chance I met Abi.' During the MAFS UK reunion in February, Nathan accused Lacey of plotting a 'showmance' between them after the experiment. In toe-curling scenes, Nathan also shared that Lacey suggested they keep up the ruse of their relationship to 'get magazine deals,' while she hit back that he blocked her on social media. While Nathan attempted to confront Lacey about her behaviour, she insisted she didn't want to go 'tit for tat,' instead reading a letter looking back at their relationship, before clashing with him yet again at the dinner table. In another awkward moment, Lacey dramatically declared she was 'leaving' as both Nathan and pal Kieran Chapman continued to press her on the 'showmance' claims. However, many of the guests hesitated before going after her, with Ella Morgan seen asking: 'Is anyone going to go after her?' before several girls convinced her to return. Taking to Instagram Stories to share a post, which she has since deleted, Lacey claimed that much of Nathan's true colours were 'edited out,' saying that he 'refused to wish her luck for Race For Life.' She wrote: 'Thank you to every single person who has messaged me! I'm overwhelmed with how many people can relate. 'I love you all and forever grateful. 'So sooooo much was edited out! What about Nathan not withing me good luck for race for life? As my Mum had cancer. 'What about Nathan agreeing saying he wanted to do a boy band and modelling and deals??? 'I stuck up for myself. But everything has been edited out! Due to Nathan's mental health! What about mine? 'Sending everyone love sending me beautiful messages from start to finish, be mindful.' And while the reunion implied that many of the couples were reluctant to follow Lacey when she stormed out, fellow bride Sacha Jones has taken to Instagram Stories to share the truth. During his stint on MAFS UK last year, Nathan started a romance with Lacey Martin, but they split just weeks later when he claimed she said they were 'better off as friends' A post, which Lacey has since re-shared, said: 'Just for the record @lacemartin_ said she needed to leave for her mental health. And we all told her to stay but she insisted on leaving. 'That's why no one went after her. And I did say I'm not convincing someone to stay if it's not healthy for them to. 'She knows I was there for her. Including telling Kieran not to gang up on Lace when it's nothing to do with him. I love both Nath and Lace.' Lacey went onto share a string of positive comments from fans on Facebook, before thanking her fans for their 'kind messages.' Despite being one of the only couples to make it through the entire experiment - last November it was reported that they had secretly split. EastEnders fans were left sobbing on Thursday night as four characters departed Albert Square in emotional scenes. The episode saw Natalie Cassidy officially leave her role as Sonia Fowler after over 30 years on the BBC soap, with the actress having announced she had quit earlier this year. And while nurse Sonia bid a fond farewell to Walford, so did her sister Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer) and daughters Bex (Jasmine Armfield) and baby Julia, who accompanied her for a grand adventure in Bali. In typical EastEnders style, Sonia's exit was full of drama, tears and funny moments, with scenes seeing her steal her estranged father Terry Cant's (Glen Davies) plane tickets, boat and car after locking him in a shed. The episode also featured a heartwarming recording of Sonia's beloved late step-grandmother Dot Cotton (June Brown), while Rocky Cotton (Brian Conley) made a brief return as she visited him in prison for advice on whether she should leave. The show featured nods to Sonia's past with the emergence of her notorious trumpet, while there were references to her past loves Jamie Mitchell and the recently departed Martin Fowler. EastEnders fans were left sobbing on Thursday night as four characters departed Albert Square in emotional scenes The episode saw Natalie Cassidy [left] officially leave her role as Sonia Fowler after over 30 years on the BBC soap, with the actress having announced she had quit earlier this year As Sonia finally departed the square on the back of a speedboat on a trailer, she was waved off by a plethora of residents, with her, Bianca, Bex and Julia's departure spelling four character exits in one go. Watching the scenes unfold, EastEnders viewers were quick to take to X to express just how emotional the episode made them. They penned: 'sorry why am i actually still devo about sonia and bianca leaving.' 'i am CRYING over tiktok edits of Sonia, Bianca, and Bex leaving. i'm certifiable at this point.' 'oh my god sonias exit has me sobbing' 'Why the hell am I crying at Sonia in a speedboat with a trumpet?!' 'Crying at tonights episode of Eastenders. It was a perfect send off for Sonia, Bianca and Bex. hope to see them back soon. Their scripted goodbyes to everyone was definitely the actual people saying goodbye to Nat and Patsy, rather than Sonia and Bianca.' 'Just watched tonight's #EastEnders . What an amazing exit for Sonia. I am crying.' In typical EastEnders style, Sonia's exit was full of drama, tears and funny moments, with scenes seeing her steal her estranged father Terry Cant's (Glen Davies) plane tickets, boat and car after locking him in a shed And while nurse Sonia bid a fond farewell to Walford, so did her sister Bianca Jackson ( Patsy Palmer ) and daughters Bex (Jasmine Armfield) and baby Julia, who accompanied her for a grand adventure in Bali The show featured nods to Sonia's past with the emergence of her notorious trumpet, while there were references to her past loves Jamie Mitchell and the recently departed Martin Fowler As Sonia finally departed the square on the back of a speedboat on a trailer, she was waved off by a plethora of residents, with her, Bianca, Bex and Julia's departure spelling four character exits in one go Watching the scenes unfold, EastEnders viewers were quick to take to X to express just how emotional the episode made them It comes as Natalie Cassidy has bagged herself a brand new job at Virgin Radio, ahead of her long-awaited exit from EastEnders after three decades. The actress, 41, has starred as Sonia Fowler on the popular BBC One soap for 32 years, first appearing in 1993 when she was just 10 years old. However, she announced she would be bidding goodbye to Albert Square for good in January after returning last year for the 40th anniversary, with her final scenes set to air on the show on Thursday's episode. But it seems she's already made huge strides with her post-EastEnders career, taking to Instagram on Wednesday to reveal she's taking to the airwaves with her own Easter show. Speaking from the Virgin Radio studios, Natalie told fans that she would be hosting a special one-off show on Easter Monday from 1pm until 4pm. She already has won many fans with her foray into the podcast world with Off The Telly, which she hosts with Gavin & Stacey star Joanna Page. It comes as Natalie Cassidy has bagged herself a brand new job at Virgin Radio, ahead of her long-awaited exit from EastEnders after three decades The actress, 41, has starred as Sonia Fowler on the popular BBC One soap for 32 years, first appearing in 1993 when she was just 10 years old (pictured on show last week) It seems she's already made huge strides with her post-EastEnders career, taking to Instagram on Wednesday to reveal she's taking to the airwaves with her own Easter show on Virgin Natalie first joined EastEnders in 1993 at just 10 years old (pictured in 1999) and remained on the show until 2007, but made returns in 2010 and again last year Ahead of the show, the soap star explained that she was trying to 'branch out' this year and be 'brave', as she gushed she was 'honoured' to get the opportunity. Natalie said: 'Im very excited. This year Im trying to branch out and do brave things, and this is one of them. 'I feel very honoured to have been given a chance on Virgin Radio. Im a very big fan of the station and music in general. 'So to actually come in and do my own show feels very daunting, but theres a first time for everything.' She added: 'I would love to play Oasis for my first show, just a track, because I love them to pieces. Amy Winehouse is always a good one as well. Valerie, its a karaoke family classic.' The Star Wars universe is officially gaining a major new talent. Oscar-nominated actor Ryan Gosling, 44, will star in the upcoming movie, Star Wars: Starfighter, which will be helmed by Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy. Details about the film were revealed during the 2025 Star Wars Celebration on Friday in Japan, following reports that Oscar winner Mikey Madison turned down a role in the movie. Levy was joined onstage by Gosling at the event, as the actor got an official introduction into the Star Wars fandom. Gosling gave a nod to Harrison Ford's Han Solo character, wearing a hat with the iconic line, 'Never tell me the odds', from The Empire Strikes Back (1980). It won't be the Canadian actor's first space rodeo - he starred as Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong in the 2018 movie First Man. The Star Wars universe is officially gaining a major new talent. Oscar-nominated Ryan Gosling, 44, will star in an upcoming movie from the beloved franchise, titled Star Wars: Starfighter Production for the standalone adventure is scheduled to commence in Fall 2025, with a theatrical release date set for Memorial Day, May 28, 2027 Production for the standalone Star Wars adventure is scheduled to commence in Fall 2025, with a theatrical release date set for Memorial Day, May 28, 2027. The official X account for Star Wars shared a video of Gosling backstage with the caption: 'Please join us in welcoming Ryan Gosling, star of the upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter, to our galaxy. Coming to theaters Memorial Day 2027.' Lucasfilm confirmed that the film 'is an entirely new adventure featuring all-new characters set in a period of time that has not been explored on screen yet.' The events of Starfighter are set roughly five years following the conclusion of 2019's Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker, which starred Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, and Mark Hamill, who plays the iconic role of Luke Skywalker. The news comes after Oscar winner Mikey Madison turned down the chance to join the latest in an iconic film series. A report from Variety revealed that she passed on an unknown role in the film, though no details about the character were given. Levy will direct the film from a screenplay written by Jonathan Tropper (This Is Where I Leave You, The Adam Project). Levy will also produce through his 21 Laps production company alongside LucasFilm president Kathleen Kennedy. The project had been put on the back burner while Levy completed work on the final season of Stranger Things, but now that filming is complete, this is moving ahead. Details about the film were revealed during the 2025 Star Wars Celebration on Friday in Japan. Levy was joined onstage by Gosling at the event, as the actor got an official introduction into the Star Wars fandom He gave a nod to Harrison Ford's Han Solo character, wearing a hat with the iconic line, 'Never tell me the odds', from The Empire Strikes Back (1980) Lucasfilm confirmed that the film 'is an entirely new adventure featuring all-new characters set in a period of time that has not been explored on screen yet' The Tokyo event was also attended by Andor actress Genevieve O'Reilly She dazzled in a chic SPORTMAX ensemble and towering Jimmy Choo heels Star Wars also unveiled a new logo for the film It won't be the Canadian actor's first space rodeo - he starred as Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong in the 2018 movie First Man The events of Starfighter are set roughly five years following the conclusion of 2019's The Rise of Skywalker The most recent sequel trilogy consists of The Force Awakens (2015), The Last Jedi (2017), and The Rise of Skywalker, and starred Daisy Ridley as Rey (pictured), Adam Driver as Kylo Ren/Ben Solo, and Mark Hamill, who reprised his role as Luke Skywalker The news comes roughly 12 years after Gosling was rumored - along with Zac Efron - for a role in J.J. Abrams' 2015 film Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens, which is believed to have been Driver's Kylo Ren. Tropper was announced as the screenwriter back in July 2024, though it's been said that he's been working on the script for over a year. No story details have been released yet, though Levy did talk a bit about the development process back in October 2023, which was paused due to the writers strike earlier that year. 'When Kathy Kennedy brought me on board to make a Star Wars movie, her central mandate to me was I want a Shawn Levy movie. I want a story and a tone that reflects you and your taste and what you bring to your movies with a Star Wars story,"' Levy began. 'So I have felt extremely empowered. We are in early days, unfortunately, because the development process was abruptly paused [due to the WGA strike], but I feel very empowered to trust my instincts in the development of this story and movie,' he added. He added that his experience working with Marvel on Deadpool & Wolverine was proof it was, 'really possible to feel empowered and personal about making a movie within a universe that is bigger than any one film.' 'My Deadpool movie is turning out to be exactly what Ryan (Reynolds) and I had hoped when we started off,' he added. 'So Im going into the development of my Star Wars movie with a similar optimism, and faith that my instincts will be allowed to lead the way,' Levy continued. Gosling's casting comes amid reports that Oscar winner Mikey Madison turned down a role in the movie; she's seen in March It comes roughly 12 years after Gosling was rumored for a role in J.J. Abrams' 2015 film Star Wars - The Force Awakens, which is believed to have been Driver's Kylo Ren (pictured) The original Star Wars trilogy consists of A New Hope (1977), The Empire Strikes Back (1980), and the Return of the Jedi (1983), and featured Hamill as Skywalker, Ford as Han Solo, and Carrie Fisher as Leia Organa; they are seen in a still from A New Hope The Star Wars franchise, created by George Lucas, is a sprawling epic set in a galaxy far away. The original Star Wars trilogy consists of A New Hope (1977), The Empire Strikes Back (1980), and the Return of the Jedi (1983), and featured Hamill as Skywalker, Ford as Solo, and Carrie Fisher as Leia Organa. The prequel trilogy consists of The Phantom Menace (1999), Attack of the Clones (2002), and Revenge of the Sith (2005), and starred Liam Neeson as Qui-Gon Jinn, Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Natalie Portman as Padme Amidala, and Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader. The sequel trilogy features The Force Awakens (2015), The Last Jedi (2017), and The Rise of Skywalker (2019), and starred Daisy Ridley as Rey, Driver as Kylo/Ben Solo, and Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron. There are also the standalone films, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016), and Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018). Elizabeth Hurley modeled a scanty red bikini while spending time on a beach in the Maldives in a social media post shared on Thursday. The 59-year-old actress who recently hit the red carpet with son Damian sported the Blaze Bikini from her swimwear range Elizabeth Hurley Beach. Hurley showed off her washboard abs, perky chest, and taut derriere in the triangle top and matching bottoms, which retail for $88 each. Sharing a video, she wrote in a caption to her 3.1 million followers, 'My new Blaze bikini .' The post has so far collected more than 27,000 likes from her devoted fans. The footage, which saw Elizabeth skip through white sand, was soundtracked by Lana Del Rey's 2023 song Say Yes to Heaven. Elizabeth Hurley modeled a scanty red bikini while spending time on a beach in the Maldives in a social media post shared on Thursday The 59-year-old actress sported the Blaze Bikini from her swimwear range Elizabeth Hurley Beach It comes one week after she shared similar snapshots in the look as she thanked Baglioni resort for hosting her. She wrote in the previous post, 'Thank you @baglionimaldives for an amazing vacation full of sun, sea and sand (and moonlight, delicious food and the best outdoor bathrooms).' Patting herself on the back, the Austin Powers star cheekily added, 'and thank you to @elizabethhurleybeach (me!!) for my new Blaze bikini.' The latest online post comes after the Hollywood veteran was honored with Estee Lauder's Beauty Idol award last week. For the special occasion, the fashionista stunned in a glinting, plunging metallic silver gown that bared her cleavage. Her 23-year-old son was by her side as she accepted the honor, which marked three decades of her partnership with the beauty brand. Taking to Instagram afterward, the star gushed, 'What an honour to be in Germany to receive the Beauty Idol award to celebrate my 30th year anniversary with @esteelauder.' Hurley showed off her washboard abs, perky chest, and taut derriere in the triangle top and matching bottoms The pieces retail for $88 each Hurley teamed the sexy look with gold drop earrings and glamorous sunglasses She added a shoutout to the dress designer, writing, 'Thank you @jennypackham for the sparkliest dress ever made.' Her eye-catching look was styled by Mike Adler, and Packham later publicly thanked Elizabeth for modeling the piece. Last year Elizabeth and Damian promoted their controversial film Strictly Confidential, which saw the nepo baby direct his mom in racy scenes. At the time, the rising filmmaker Damian insisted that he was comfortable directing his mother in steamy lesbian scenes, so much so that they didn't have intimacy coordinators on set. He said that while it may appear 'strange' to regular people, for those who have grown up in the industry as celebrity offspring, it is routine. Speaking with The Sunday Times, Hurley explained, 'I hate to say that it felt totally normal. I dont know what that says about us. 'I was speaking to a lot of my friends who are also second generation of parents in the industry. They say exactly the same thing: that things to outsiders that may seem totally strange and extraordinary, for us well just have grown up with in everyday life.' The new trailer for Danny Boyle and Alex Garland's 28 Years Later has dropped, but Cillian Murphy was nowhere to be seen in major curveball despite the actor being 'teased' for a return. Speculation has been rife about his role in the new movie after he starred as Jim in the 2002 sequel film 28 Days Later, well before he shot to Oscar success. Last month, Danny teased that viewers may get to see Cillian, 48, return after all, in one of the films in the trilogy. Speaking during Sony's presentation at 2025 CinemaCon, the filmmaker hinted: 'Like all good things in life, you may have to wait a little while for [Cillian] to make his appearance'. When the first trailer for the highly-anticipated film was released in December, fans went wild over one unexpected moment that saw a zombie rise up in a field behind Jodie Comer's character. The clip sparked worldwide speculation amongst fans, believing it to be the zombified form of Cillian's character from the first film. The new trailer for Danny Boyle and Alex Garland's 28 Years Later has dropped, but Cillian Murphy was no where to be seen despite the actor being 'teased' for a return Speculation has been rife about the his role in the new movie after he starred as Jim in the 2002 sequel film 28 Days Later Cillian pictured as Jim in the 2002 film, well before he shot to Oscar success for Best Actor for Oppenheimer However, this theory was quickly shut down when a London art dealer and model revealed he was the one playing the zombie character. Earlier this year, movie producer Andrew Macdonald confirmed that Cillian would not be appearing in 28 Years Later, but also suggested he could return for a future film. He told Empire: '[On] this, we wanted him to be involved and he wanted to be involved. He is not in the first film, but Im hoping there will be some Jim somewhere along the line.' He added: 'Hes involved at the moment as an executive producer, and I would hope we can work with him in some way in the future in the trilogy.' The latest terrifying trailer for the new zombie horror landed on Thursday, as fans continue to speculate over when Cillian's Jim will appear in the sequel. The first film, which is set to hit cinemas this June, will star Jodie, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jack O'Connell, Alfie Williams and Ralph Fiennes. In the trailer, the horror film follows a group of survivors of the Rage virus living on an isolated island, with their only connection to the mainland being a heavily guarded causeway. As Jamie (Aaron) and his 12-year-old son, Spike (Alfie), head off to the mainland on a mission, they uncover horrifying truths about the virus's evolution. The latest terrifying trailer for the new zombie horror landed on Thursday, as fans continue to speculate over when Cillian's Jim will appear in the sequel The first film, which is set to hit cinemas this June, will star Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson , Jack O'Connell , Alfie Williams and Ralph Fiennes In the trailer, the horror film follows a group of survivors of the Rage virus living on an isolated island, with their only connection to the mainland being a heavily guarded causeway 'There are many kinds of death,' Dr. Kelson (Ralph) says in the trailer. 'And some are better than others.' The film's official synopsis reads: 'Academy Award-winning director Danny Boyle and Academy Award-nominated writer Alex Garland reunite for 28 Years Later, a terrifying new story set in the world created by 28 Days Later. 'It's been almost three decades since the rage virus escaped a biological weapons laboratory, and now, still in a ruthlessly enforced quarantine, some have found ways to exist amidst the infected. 'One such group of survivors lives on a small island connected to the mainland by a single, heavily-defended causeway. 'When one of the group leaves the island on a mission into the dark heart of the mainland, he discovers secrets, wonders, and horrors that have mutated not only the infected but other survivors as well.' The second film in the new trilogy, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, directed by Mia DaCosta and also written by Garland, has already filmed, with Taylor-Johnson and Jack O'Connell confirmed. The third film is set for release in January next year, with Danny expected to return as the director. 28 Years Later hits UK cinemas on June 20, 2025. Advertisement Married At First Sight star Ollie Skelton has announced his engagement to girlfriend Nadia Martin, after one year of dating. The former MAFS groom, 29, who broke up with his TV wife Tahnee Cook in November 2023, recently shared footage of his romantic sunset proposal to social media. In the clip, Ollie and Nadia are seen in the distance walking down a pier, as he gets down on one knee to ask her to be his wife. A stunned Nadia is then feeling lovingly embracing Ollie, as she happily accepts the heartwarming proposal. Ollie captioned the footage with some precious words: 'Yesterday afternoon I proposed to Nadia. If you squint your eyes a little bit youll see she said YES!' He also shared a photo of Nadia flaunting her eye-popping diamond engagement ring to the camera. Married At First Sight star Ollie Skelton has announced his engagement to his girlfriend Nadia Martin, after one year of dating The former MAFS groom shared footage of his romantic sunset proposal to social media Many of Ollie's MAFS friends took to the comment section to offer their well wishes. 'Yessss my man,' wrote Ollie's co-star Duncan James. 'Congratulations,' added Caitlin McConville and Melinda Willis chipped in: 'Omg big congrats guys! Woo hoo Ollie so happy for you.' 'Congratulations you two,' gushed Domenica Calarco. The happy news comes one year after the pair went public with their relationship in April 2024, several months after Ollie and Tahnee called it quits. In December 2023, Ollie and Tahnee stunned their fans by calling time on their relationship after 16 months of dating and reports things were getting serious. Ollie later addressed the backlash he received for seemingly moving on too quickly after his breakup with Tahnee. The TV groom faced a flurry of scrutiny from fans who claimed his new relationship with Nadia came too soon following the end of his televised marriage. Ollie also shared a photo of Nadia flaunting her eye-popping diamond engagement ring to the camera The happy news comes one year after the pair went public with their relationship in April 2024, several months after Ollie and Tahnee Cook (right) called it quits Ollie's statement, shared via his Instagram stories, comes after his followers expressed their discontent over how quickly he found new love. 'Hey, I just wanted to speak on this a bit as I've gotten it a couple of times,' he began, explaining his relationship with Tahnee had actually ended in November 2023. The former voice over actor expressed a mixture of frustration and resignation as he addressed the situation. 'There has been so much press regarding our break up that it may seem fresher but personally I'm very much removed from the situation,' Ollie clarified. Despite the negativity, Ollie spoke highly of his new partner, Nadia, sharing heartfelt sentiments about his feelings towards her. 'Regarding Nadia, I have never felt this way about a person. Truly,' he confessed. 'I'm so happy and I hope you guys can support that but if you can't that's okay too.' Tahnee and Ollie, who first fell in love on the Channel Nine matchmaking show, announced their separation to Instagram in December. Legendary New Zealand musician Roger McLachlan died on Friday aged 71, following a secret battle with pancreatic cancer. The South Island-born musician was the original bassist for iconic Melbourne rock group Little River Band, from 1975 - 1976. His death was confirmed on social media in a heartbreaking statement by fellow musician Michael Oliphant. 'It is with enormous sadness I report that Roger McLachlan passed away today from complications due to pancreatic cancer,' Michael began. 'He leaves behind his adoring wife and a delightful loving family who were all with him through the end. Roger didn't wish his struggle to be widely known and so chose to keep it just between family and a handful of friends. 'Roger was a wonderful friend, collaborator, musical powerhouse, absolute monster bass player and all round naughty boy. Life will never be the same. RIP dear mate. Gutted.' New Zealand musician Roger McLachlan died on Friday aged 71, following a battle with pancreatic cancer. The South Island-born musician was the original bassist for Melbourne rock group Little River Band, from 1975 - 1976. Pictured with the band, third from left McLachlan played bass on the band's 1976 hit song It's a Long Way There. The track reached number 28 on the US Billboard chart, and also enjoyed success in Australia and New Zealand. The musician then joined another iconic Melbourne band, Stars, and played on their 1977 hit album Paradise, which reached the Australian top 20. He later became a session musician and performed bass on John Farnham's iconic 1986 song You're the Voice and the Merril Bainbridge hit Mouth. The energetic musician continued to perform across the years and in 2012 he released his highly anticipated debut solo album called Roger This Roger That. Heartbroken fans took to social media to pay tribute to McLachlan. 'How awful. Roger mate you will be sorely missed, what a giant of music,' one person wrote. 'Totally shocked,' a second added. McLachlan's death was confirmed on social media in a statement by fellow musician Michael Oliphant McLachlan played bass on the band's 1976 hit song It's a Long Way There Little River Band, originally called Mississippi, were named after a river in Melbourne, Victoria, enjoyed a string of global hits including Reminiscing, Help is on its Way, Cool Change, and Curiosity Killed the Cat. The original line up included Beeb Birtles, Graeme Goble, Derek Pellicci, Shorrock and lead guitarist Ric Formosa and McLachlan. The group went on to become one of the most successful bands ever to come out of Australia, and the first to achieve major commercial success in the United States. McLachlan is survived by his wife Desley. Nadiya Bychova has been dealt another blow as she has been forced to cut ticket prices for her up close and personal' live shows. The news comes shortly after reports emerged that her ex, Kai Widdrington, 29, has found love again nine months after their split. MailOnline confirmed Nadiya, 35, had split from her Strictly Kai after two years in June 2024, at the end of their lucrative tour Behind The Magic. And in another blow, the beauty is now having to cut prices for her live tour after struggling to sell out any of the venues up and down the country. The pro dancer is in the middle of a national tour as part of her A Special Evening with Nadiya Bychkova show. Tickets for the event were originally priced at between 27 - 43 but have now been dropped to just 5. Nadiya Bychova has been dealt another blow as she has been forced to slash ticket prices for her up close and personal' live shows (pictured in December) The news comes shortly after reports emerged that her ex, Kai Widdrington , 29, has found love again nine months after their split (Kai pictured with new girlfriend Chloe Wells) Nadiya is selling the newly-priced tickets on the Show Film First website in hopes to gain any last minute interest ahead of her gigs. The site is regularly used by artists in a bid to try and fill up empty seats for their events that have failed to sell out. All of Nadiya's upcoming dates are being offered at the new cut price. Her shows are expected to lift the lid on her life story and dish the juice on all her time on the BBC dance competition. She will also perform some of her favourite dances from the TV series. MailOnline has contacted representatives of Nadiya for comment. It comes just after MailOnline reported that Kai has found love again, following their acrimonious split last year. The Strictly Come Dancing star, 29, is said to be secretly dating Chloe Wells, an executive assistant who hails from Essex, after meeting on a night out at a west London pub. The pro dancer is in the middle of a national tour as part of her A Special Evening with Nadiya Bychkova show Her shows are expected to lift the lid on her life story and dish the juice on all her time on the BBC dance competition According to The Sun, they have kept their romance private as Kai struggled with the publicity surrounding his past relationship with Nadiya, but are now set to make their debut red-carpet appearance together. And in a sign of how well things are progressing, the couple are reportedly planning to move in together soon. A pal told the publication: 'Chloe is a great girl and has absolutely no interest in the limelight; she just likes Kai for Kai. They have a real laugh together and although its early days, theyre planning on moving in together in the coming months. 'Kai found it very damaging to his mental health having his past relationship with Nadiya played out in public, and thankfully Chloe has no interest at all in being in the spotlight. She also isn't a Strictly superfan which makes things easier. 'Theyre super-content, and Kai attributes a lot of his looking so well to being in a happier place in life thanks to her. They make a really cute couple.' Representatives for Kai had no further comment when contacted by MailOnline. Kai and Nadiya reportedly ended their romance after 'emotionally drifting away from each other' with sources claiming they were battling off-stage problems during their tour. It was reported at the time that the pressure of being in each other's space 24/7 eventually 'took its toll' on their relationship. The news comes after MailOnline reported that Kai has found love again, following their acrimonious split nine months ago (pictured with Nadiya) The Strictly Come Dancing star, 29, is said to be secretly dating Chloe Wells, an executive assistant who hails from Essex, after meeting on a night out at a west London pub A friend of Kai and Nadiya told The Sun: 'Its heartbreaking. Kai and Nadiya seemed like the most perfect couple and have been so, so blissfully in love. 'But the pressures of touring - being in each others space 24/7 and the stress of performing a sell-out show - eventually took its toll. 'They had been drifting emotionally for a while, and things actually came to a head during the tour - ironically called Behind The Magic - which, obviously, was incredibly problematic.' Kai and Nadiya made the mutual decision to quit 'after a rough few weeks' once their tour finished, the source added. But it appeared the split was far from amicable, with the pair having to be kept far apart at the National Television Awards in September. An onlooker told MailOnline at the time: 'When the pair got inside the O2 they gave each other a very wide berth. 'Organisers had ensured there would be no awkward camera shots by keeping the frosty pair apart from each other. 'Angela Rippon was on Kai's arm all night, and was keen to show her support after his recent demotion. When it came to accepting Strictly's award, Kai was front of centre behind Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman but Nadiya was nowhere to be seen. MailOnline confirmed Kai had split from his Strictly co-star Nadiya after two years in June, at the end of their lucrative tour Behind the Magic (pictured on tour in June) 'If this is what they are like at an awards bash, imagine what things are like in the rehearsal room.' Nadiya later spoke out about their split at the Pride Of Britain Awards in October, where she admitted they are 'not friends'. However, the Ukrainian star insisted that she and Kai were still able to dance and work together on Strictly because she was a 'professional'. Speaking to The Mirror, Nadiya said: 'We work together but we are not friends and that's OK. 'One thing I can tell you is that when you see me dancing with him it will be amazing because I'm a professional.' The talented dancer originally confirmed their romance in 2022, during an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail Weekend magazine after months of speculation. Nadiya confessed: 'We've been seeing each other properly for a couple of months now. It's early days and we've been rehearsing for the Strictly Professionals tour, so there's been very little free time. 'But we're getting to know more and more about each other day by day. He's kind and compassionate and makes me laugh. I feel very relaxed with him.' Gene Hackman wife Betsy Arakawa's made one final alarming Amazon order in the days before her and the actor's tragic deaths. Arakawa, 65, died in February of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome a rare, rodent-borne disease that can led to a range of symptoms that include flu-like illness, headaches, dizziness and severe respiratory distress, investigators have said. Meanwhile Hackman, 95, is believed to have died about a week later of heart disease with complications from Alzheimers disease. It's possible the Oscar-winner did not realise his wife and sole caretaker had died, given his severe health conditions at the time of her death. As well as making a slew of internet searches in a bid to understand her symptoms, Arakawa ordered oxygen canisters from Amazon. On February 11 she purchased the equipment which is believed to be for 'respiratory support' which could suggest someone in the home may have been struggling to breathe, benefits of long term use is also said to help reduce fatigue. The partially mummified remains of the couple were found in their Santa Fe home on February 26, when maintenance and security workers showed up at the home and alerted police. Gene Hackman wife Betsy Arakawa's made one final alarming Amazon order in the days before her and the actor's tragic deaths (pictured together 2024) As well as making a slew of internet searches in a bid to understand her symptoms, Arakawa reportedly ordered oxygen canisters from Amazon (pictured together in 1989) On February 11 she purchased the equipment which is believed to be for 'respiratory support' which could suggest someone in the home may have been struggling to breathe A review of the open bookmarks on Arakawas computer on February 8 and the morning of February 12 indicated she was actively researching medical conditions related to COVID-19 and flu-like symptoms. The searches included questions about whether COVID could cause dizziness or nosebleeds, suggesting Arakawa was concerned about her deadly symptoms. She also had mentioned in an email to her masseuse that Hackman had woken up Feb. 11 with flu or cold-like symptoms but that a COVID test was negative and she would have to reschedule her appointment for the next day 'out of an abundance of caution.' Arakawas last search was the morning of February 12 for a health care provider in Santa Fe. In surveillance video released Tuesday by New Mexico authorities, Arakawa is seen around 4 p.m. on February 11 calmly using the self-checkout at a Sprouts Farmers Market in Santa Fe. Just minutes later, she appears on footage at a nearby Shine Pet Food store. Wearing blue jeans, a dark coat, a scarf, and a black face mask, the accomplished classical pianist appeared alone and showed no signs of distress or unusual behavior. Arakawa had been the primary caregiver for the ailing Oscar winner, whose health had sharply declined in his final years. The partially mummified remains of the couple were found in their Santa Fe home on February 26, when maintenance workers showed up at the home and alerted police (pictured 2003) It comes after Surveillance footage has emerged capturing the final public moments of Betsy Arakawa calmly using the self-checkout at a Sprouts Farmers Market in Santa Fe Minutes later, she appears on footage at a nearby Shine Pet Food store The video release comes after bodycam footage and images released by the Santa Fe Sheriff's Department revealed the crate where Hackman's pet dog died emerged. The kelpie mix named Zinna starved and dehydrated to death after she was left trapped inside the cage when the actor and his wife died at their Santa Fe home in February. The couple lay undiscovered at their $4 million mansion for two weeks while tragically Zinna remained trapped in her crate. The dog had been placed inside the cage following a visit to the vet and is believed to have been left stuck once Arakawa died. The crate was located in a bathroom feet from where Arakawa's body was found in amongst piles of garbage and clutter. One online viewer wrote: 'I feel so bad for the dog :(.' Another said: 'I hate to also think of the poor dog who died a slow death stuck in the crate. It had to be so distressing on the other dogs seeing him/her trying to get out.' And a third said simply: 'Poor dogs.' A red blanket had been placed on top of the cage which was also topped with stacks of papers and surrounded by bedding. The chaotic scene was just one of many in the couple's squalid home which raised questions about whether Arakawa was fit to to be Hackman's sole caretaker. On Wednesday, police released a series of photos and footage inside their $4million Santa Fe mansion , where their bodies were tragically found on February 26 Authorities in northern New Mexico also released a trove of documents from within the home, including handwritten notes the pair would write each other Cops who combed their home following the gruesome discovery shared bodycam footage which captured how the couple's other heartbroken dog watched over Betsy's lifeless body as it lay surrounded by clutter. Clothes which mounted up over decades fill some of the rooms of the sprawling Santa Fe home, while other items including dog beds, pill packets and bedding are seen strewn across the floor. A dressing room is filled with piles of shirts, jeans, dresses and boxes of shoes, while other treasured items are stacked high, close to toppling over. A series of heartbreaking notes were also found dotted around the house, each exchanged between Betsy and Gene and showing the couple's affection for one another until the end. Photos of their adored German Shepherds also adorn tables and sideboards, with smiling pictures of the couple with their old pets dating back years. The pair had three dogs at the time of their deaths, including 12-year-old Zinna. The two surviving dogs, Bear, a German shepherd, and Nikita, an Akita-shepherd mix, have since been rehomed. Police released the body camera video and other public records related to the investigation into the reclusive couple's deaths on Tuesday. The documents, which initially had been sealed by a temporary court order to protect the Hackman family's privacy, were released after a court ruled that most of them are public record. The New Mexico Department of Public Health has since revealed an inspection found that the couple's home was a breeding ground for rats which spread the hantavirus which killed Arakawa. Colin Farrell has revealed the reason he's planning on putting his adult disabled son into a long-term care facility in order to have control over his care while they are still alive and to give him a sense of community. The actor previously explained how son James, 21, was heartbreakingly misdiagnosed with cerebral palsy before doctors eventually confirmed he was suffering from Angelman syndrome. Angelman syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that primarily affects the nervous system, causes severe physical and intellectual disability. Speaking to Candis Magazine, Colin, 48, revealed he and his ex Kim Bordenave have made a decision and plan to settle James into a long-term care facility. He said: 'Its tricky, some parents will say: "I want to take care of my child myself." And I respect that. 'But my horror would be... What if I have a heart attack tomorrow, and, God forbid, James mother, Kim, has a car crash and shes taken too and then James is on his own? Colin Farrell (pictured, in 2023) has revealed how his James was misdiagnosed with cerebral palsy before doctors eventually confirmed he was suffering from Angelman syndrome The Phone Booth actor said medical advice was sought after James (pictured) missed developmental milestones and struggled to sit up or crawl as a baby 'Then hes a ward of the state and he goes where? Wed have no say in it.' He and Kim are hoping to 'find somewhere we like where he can go now, while were still alive and healthy, that we can go and visit, and we can take him out sometimes'. Colin continued: 'We want him to find somewhere where he can have a full and happy life, where he feels connected.' The Phone Booth actor previously discussed his first-born son's condition and said medical advice was sought after James missed developmental milestones and struggled to sit up or crawl as a baby. Colin explained how many sufferers of the rare syndrome are often misdiagnosed with cerebral palsy due to both conditions having similar symptoms. He told People: '[James] couldn't sit up. He wasn't crawling. I think he was a year and a half when we took him to get really checked out, and he was diagnosed as having cerebral palsy.' Cerebral palsy is the name for a set of conditions affecting movement and co-ordination stemming from a problem with the brain that takes place before, during or soon after birth. Difficulty speaking, swallowing or seeing along with learning difficulties can also be symptoms. Angelman syndrome is a rare neuro-genetic disorder that primarily affects the nervous system, and causes severe physical and intellectual disability (pictured: Colin and James) Colin said: 'It was a common misdiagnosis, because it shared a lot of the same characteristics. And that was a downer for sure.' The Oscar nominee revealed that, when James was only about two and a half years old, a pediatric neurologist suggested he be tested for Angelman syndrome. Recalling the moment he received the diagnosis, he shared: 'I remember the first two questions I asked were, "Whats the life expectancy and how much pain is involved?" 'And the doctor said, "Life expectancy, as far as we can tell, is the same for you and for me, and pain, no."' A doctor had noticed an unusual symptom that prompted him to test for Angelman syndrome. Colin explained: 'One of the characteristics of Angelman syndrome is outbreaks of laughter. And the doctor saw that James was laughing a lot and doing this movement [he waves his hands],' the father-of-two shared. Angelman syndrome is also characterized by seizures, which Colin - who also shares son Henry Tadeusz, 15, with Polish actress Alicja Bachleda-Curus, 41 - said is 'one of the things that parents struggle with greatly'. He added: 'Thankfully, James hasn't had a breakthrough seizure now in about 10 or 11 years, but I've been in the back of ambulances, I've been in the hospital with him. Colin - who shares James with ex Kim Bordenave - explained many sufferers of the syndrome are often misdiagnosed with cerebral palsy due to the conditions having similar symptoms He said: 'It was a common misdiagnosis, because it shared a lot of the same characteristics. And that was a downer for sure' (pictured: James with his mother Kim) The Oscar nominee (pictured, with younger son Henry in 2023) revealed that when James was only about two and a half years old, a pediatric neurologist suggested he be tested for Angelman syndrome WHAT IS CEREBRAL PALSY? Cerebral palsy is the name for a set of conditions affecting movement and co-ordination stemming from a problem with the brain that takes place before, during or soon after birth. Symptoms are not typically obvious immediately after a child is born but instead normally become noticeable after two or three years. They include delays in reaching development milestones, such as: not sitting by eight months; not walking by 18 months; appearing too stiff or too floppy; walking on tip-toes; weak arms or legs; fidgety, jerky or clumsy movements; random, uncontrolled movements; Difficulty speaking, swallowing or seeing along with learning difficulties can also be symptoms. Cerebral palsy symptoms can be caused by a number of things and are not necessarily an indication of the condition, which can occur if a child's brain does not develop normally while in the womb, or is damaged during or soon after birth. Causes include bleeding in the baby's brain, reduced blood and oxygen supply, infection caught by the mother while pregnant, asphyxiation during a difficult birth, meningitis or a serious head injury - though the precise cause is often not clear. There is no cure currently, but physiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy and medication are often used as treatment. Each person living with the condition is affected in a different way, but generally speaking most children live into adult life and some can live for many decades. Advertisement 'Ive done Diastat [a sedative] up his rectum to get him out of a seizure that lasted longer than three minutes. Finding the right amount of medication that doesnt have adverse effects thats all very tricky business.' The actor is now launching the Colin Farrell Foundation to provide support, education, and advocacy for adults with intellectual disabilities. 'This is the first time Ive spoken about it, and obviously the only reason Im speaking is I cant ask James if he wants to do this,' he said. The proud dad stated that his eldest son 'has worked so hard all his life, so hard'. He said: 'Repetition, repetition, balance, his jerky gait. When he started feeding himself for the first time, his face looks like a Jackson Pollock by the end of it. But he gets it in, he feeds himself beautifully. Im proud of him every day, because I just think hes magic.' Colin also described watching his son take his first steps just before his fourth birthday. Detailing the 'profound' moment to People, Colin said: 'I knew they [James's carers] were working on walking. And I stood over there, and she let him go, and he just came to [me]. 'It was so profound. It was magic. 'Ill never forget just the face of determination on him as he walked toward me. He took, like, six steps, and I burst into tears.' James's condition is severe enough that he is nonverbal and requires the help of a live-in caregiver to accomplish his day-to-day tasks. When James was four, Colin went public with his Angelman Syndrome, saying his son had demonstrated 'amazing courage' in the face of his condition. Shortly before James turned 18, Colin and Kim filed to obtain a conservatorship of him, noting he still needed help with tasks like getting dressed and making meals. He later went on to reveal that he and James's mother make sure to share in the smallest victories and enjoy the milestones whatever age they happen - including James's first words aged six, being able to feed himself at 19, and getting his seizures under control. Colin and James's mother Kim, 52, (pictured, in 2003 in Los Angeles) dated from 2001 to 2003 He shares his younger son Henry with Ondine co-star, Polish actress Alicja Bachleda-Curus (pictured, in 2010) whom he dated from from approximately late 2008 to early 2010 Colin has maintained a very private life and has not spoken about his son in great detail until recently, although he told InStyle he first decided to 'talk publicly about the pride and joy I had in our son' while attending the 2007 Special Olympics. He said: 'He has enriched my life, but I don't want to minimize the trials that so many families go through; the fear, consternation, frustration, and pain... When you're the parent of a child with special needs, it's important to feel that you're not alone.' Discussing being a parent to a child with disabilities, the Hollywood star said that James was the main reason he was able to get sober. Colin and James's mother Kim dated from 2001 to 2003. He later had Henry with his Ondine co-star Alicja, whom he dated from from approximately late 2008 to early 2010. The Office US star Jenna Fischer, 51, shared her delight over her post-chemo hair growth journey on Monday after battling breast cancer. Taking to Instagram, the actress who played Pam Beesly on the iconic show, posted a sweet selfie in her kitchen showing off her curly auburn locks. The actress - who is now cancer-free - captioned the post: 'I am borderline obsessed with my messy uncontrollably curly post-chemo bangs. 'They are giving me 80s vibes all day and Im here for it. Positive comments only because its what they deserve. They are the best.' In October, Jenna revealed she had been diagnosed with Stage 1 Triple Positive breast cancer but it had been removed before it could spread to the rest of her body. She added that the cancer had been 'aggressive but treatable'. The Office US star Jenna Fischer, 51 - known as Pam Beesly - shared her delight over her post-chemo hair growth journey on Instagram on Monday after battling breast cancer Taking to Instagram, the star, who plays Pam Beesly in The Office (pictured, with John Krasinski's Jim Halpert) posted a selfie in her kitchen showing off her curly auburn locks At the time, she posted a candid photo of herself with shorter hair after undergoing chemotherapy treatment - and implored her fans to get regular mammograms. She wrote: 'October is breast cancer awareness month. I never thought Id be making an announcement like this but here we are. 'Last December, I was diagnosed with Stage 1 Triple Positive Breast Cancer. After completing surgery, chemotherapy and radiation I am now cancer free. 'I wanted a photo of myself in my patchy pixie looking happy and healthy to go along with this news. A big thank you to Angela Kinseys husband Josh Snyder for taking this photo. Its just one example of the care they showed me during this journey.' The star said the cancer had first been detected during a routine mammogram - with Jenna joking in an Instagram video about her appointment. Dense tissue was found in her left breast and she was ordered to have a further screening - before she was diagnosed with breast cancer on December 1, 2023. She wrote in further slides: Luckily my cancer was caught early and it hadnt spread into my lymph nodes or throughout the rest of my body, however because of the aggressive nature of triple positive breast cancer it still required chemotherapy and radiation to be sure it didnt return. In February, I began 12 rounds of weekly chemotherapy, and in June I started three weeks of radiation. And while I continue to be treated with infusions of Herceptin and a daily dose of Tamoxifen, Im happy to say Im feeling great. Jenna shared a photo with husband Lee Kirk and their children as they celebrated the end of her treatment She said she hid her hair loss with some really great wigs' writing: Im making this announcement for a few reasons. One, Im ready to ditch the wigs. Two, to implore you to get your annual mammograms. You can also ask your doctor to calculate your Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Score and get any additional screenings required. Im serious, call your doctor right now. My tumor was so small it could not be felt on a physical exam. If I had waited six months longer, things could have been much worse. It could have spread. Seeing women post photos of their mammogram appointments on Instagram needled me into setting my own (which I was late for). Im so glad I did. Consider this your kick in the butt to get it done. 'As anyone who has had a cancer diagnosis knows, your life changes immediately. It becomes all about doctor appointments, test results, treatments and recovering from treatments. Suddenly everything in your life is geared around one thing: fighting cancer. Jenna is married to Lee Kirk and the pair share a son Weston Lee, 13, and daughter, Harper Marie, 10. She paid a sweet tribute to her husband in her final slide with a photo of the family celebrating the end of her treatment. In October, Jenna revealed she had been diagnosed with Stage 1 Triple Positive breast cancer but it had been removed before it could spread to the rest of her body 'Finally I need to mention my husband Lee who has been by my side through all of this. And I mean literally by my side, surgeries, chemotherapy, doctor appointments, endless googling, late night ugly cries. 'He was there for it all. I knew he was a catch when I married him. I was right. After my final chemo and radiation treatments Lee asked me if there was anything I wanted to celebrate. 'I said I simply wanted to ring a bell with the kids in our backyard with everyone throwing confetti. So we did it. 'I'm happy to say that I was recently re-screened and the treatments worked. I am cancer free. 'I will continue to be treated and monitored to help me stay that way. 'Don't skip your mammogram. Take it from Pam and her Pams. Michael was right. Get 'em checked ladies.' She is most famous for her role as Pam in The Office from 2005 to 2013, with John Krasinski playing her love interest Jim Halpert. Their characters got married on the NBC show and garnered a huge fandom. A week later, Jenna revealed how she relied on celebrity pal Christina Applegate following her breast cancer diagnosis. A week later, Jenna revealed how she relied on celebrity pal Christina Applegate following her breast cancer diagnosis The Office star also said that Christina helped put her in touch with various other breast cancer survivors While speaking to the Today Show's Hoda Kotb, the actress recalled how 52-year-old Christina, who was herself diagnosed with MS in 2021, reacted to the news that her co-star had the terrible disease. During the interview, Jenna also described the emotional journey that led to her discovering she would have to undergo chemotherapy and the various ways her friend helped her by being 'salty'. Jenna admitted that Christina was one of the first people she told about the situation. She told the outlet: 'I called her, and she answered the phone, and she said, "Which one is it?" And I said, "It's breast cancer." And she said, "I effing knew it." She's salty. Salty language that one. I love her for it.' The Office star also said that Christina helped put her in touch with various other breast cancer survivors. Recalling how she got diagnosed, Jenna revealed that it all started when she went for her annual mammogram in October 2023. She told Hoda: 'Three weeks later, they said, "Oh, your mammogram was fine. There were a few spots that were difficult to see." '"You have very dense tissue. We would recommend that you do another mammogram and maybe follow up with a breast ultrasound."' Jenna described the emotional journey that led to her discovering she would have to undergo chemotherapy and the various ways Christina (pictued, in 2011) helped her by being 'salty' At the time, Jenna admitted that she felt 'no level of concern'. Following her ultrasound, doctors advised the Hollywood A-lister to undergo a biopsy as they shared that there was a '10 per cent chance it's cancerous.' She added: 'I checked the portal on the hike, and that's when I saw words like invasive, ductal, carcinoma, malignant. And I was like, "Those words sound like cancer words."' Following the portal message, Jenna phoned her husband, Lee, and told him the news, adding that she still wasn't sure it was cancer. She revealed that she was in 'disbelief' before sharing how she broke the devastating news to her kids. Jenna revealed that she and Lee sat down and told their children, Weston Lee, 13, and Harper Marie, 10, the news in a very 'honest' conversation. The actress admitted that her treatment, which saw her undergoing chemotherapy, a lumpectomy and radiation, helped her be more grateful for the 'annoying' things in life like 'traffic'. Jenna credited the success of her treatment to early diagnosis as she urged other women to book their appointments. She told the outlet: 'If I had waited six more months, it could have been much worse. It could have spread. It was a very aggressive form of cancer. 'I'm really lucky that my cancer had not spread into my lymph nodes. It hadn't spread anywhere else in my body. 'My tumor was still very small, too small to feel. That's the thing. A self-exam would not have (caught the cancer). It really was that routine mammogram that started all of this. And I'm so grateful that I went to that appointment.' China-funded surgical center to be built at Mozambique's largest hospital Xinhua) 13:56, April 18, 2025 MAPUTO, April 17 (Xinhua) -- The governments of Mozambique and China signed a cooperation agreement on Thursday in Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, to jointly build a state-of-the-art National Surgical Center at Maputo Central Hospital, the country's largest medical facility. According to the agreement, the new surgical building, with a total construction area of about 20,300 square meters and a capacity to accommodate 475 beds, will include an emergency department, diagnostic and technical units, inpatient wards, logistical support spaces, and administrative offices. Ivan Manhica, permanent secretary of Mozambique's Ministry of Health, said at a press conference that the new center will significantly boost the country's capacity for specialized healthcare and alleviate current medical service challenges, marking a major step forward in strengthening Mozambique's public healthcare system. "The National Surgical Center would be more than just a building. It will be a symbol of hope, ensuring that every patient who enters leaves healthier than when they arrived," said Manhica. He added that the facility would play a key role in addressing the lack of specialized medical services in the country and improving access to quality care. China and Mozambique share a long-standing partnership in the health sector. Over the years, China has supported Mozambique through medical assistance, infrastructure development, healthcare personnel training, and other collaborative efforts to enhance the country's healthcare system. The first Chinese medical team to Mozambique was sent in 1976, and 25 medical teams have been sent so far. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Uma Thurman cut a chic display in a blonde bob and black dress as she continued to film scenes for Dexter: Resurrection in New York City on Friday. The actress, 54, who stars as Head of Security Charley in the film, stunned as she was spotted wearing a sophisticated long woolen dress while filming on set. Her turtle-neck garment was layered under a black nylon coat, which featured a blue plaid inner design. Opting for sensible footwear, the star slipped into a pair of chunky black knee high boots. Uma toted her belongings around in a large white duffle bag and she accessorised her look with a black and blue watch. In the scenes, Uma can be seen assisting an elderly woman, who was using a wheelchair, cross a road. Uma Thurman, 54, cut a chic display in a blonde bob and black dress as she continued to film scenes for Dexter: Resurrection in New York City on Friday The actress, who stars as Head of Security Charley in the film, stunned as she was spotted wearing a sophisticated long woolen dress while filming on set After helping the woman, the blonde beauty can then be seen driving a very swanky black Mercedes car. Prior to filming, she was spotted in a more casual ensemble as she switched out her dress for a black jumper, blue leggings and trainers. She appeared in happy spirits while on set for the film as she was seen smiling at someone sitting inside a car. Dexter: Resurrection has brought back the serial killer after he was shot dead in the reboot and Uma and Peter Dinklage have newly joined the cast of the popular franchise. Peter is starring as billionaire Leon Prater while Uma is portraying Charley, Leon's Head of Security, right-hand woman and a former Special Ops officer. How I Met Your Mother star Neil Patrick Harris will also appear in Resurrection as a new character called Lowell, while Krysten Ritter, Jack Alcott and James Remar also make up the cast. Dexter first came to screens in 2006 and spawned eight series before becoming a widely-popular franchise, inspiring many spin-offs. The series sees the titular forensic investigator moonlight as a vigilante serial killer, targeting the murderers who slipped through the justice system. Her turtle-neck garment was layered under a black nylon coat, which featured a blue plaid inner design Opting for sensible footwear, the star slipped into a pair of chunky black knee high boots Uma toted her belongings around in a large white duffle bag and she accessorised her look with a black and blue watch In the scenes, Uma can be seen assisting an elderly woman, who was using a wheelchair, cross a road After helping the woman, the blonde beauty can then be seen driving a very swanky black Mercedes car Prior to filming, she was spotted in a more casual ensemble as she switched out her dress for a black jumper, blue leggings and trainers She appeared in happy spirits while on set for the film as she was seen smiling at someone sitting inside a car Dexter: Resurrection has brought back the serial killer (pictured portray by Michael C Hall) after he was shot dead in the reboot Prequel series Dexter: Original Sin came to screens in 2024 and saw Patrick Gibson portray a younger version of the emerging serial killer. Michael C Hall also reprised his role in the series, which became Showtimes most streamed premiere in history. Resurrection was announced last July during a panel at San Diego Comic Con. 'We are thrilled to have the brilliant Michael C. Hall reprise his iconic role as Dexter Morgan in Showtime's most successful series ever,' Paramount Global Co-CEO and President Chris McCarthy said in a statement. 'While Dexter: Resurrection will appeal to the tens of millions of longtime fans, Dexter: Original Sin will introduce a whole new generation of viewers into this iconic series by starting from the beginning, which is sure to satisfy existing audiences as well.' Diddy's legal team is demanding that his ex, Cassie Ventura, hand over documents related to the memoir she allegedly wrote about the disgraced rap mogul. Court documents filed earlier this month revealed the disgraced hip hop mogul's lawyers are seeking any documents related to a book being written by Ventura, as Judge Arun Subramanian is set to hear both sides' key arguments today before the the trial's opening statements kick off on May 12. Diddy hopes that the memoir will provide a 'different from the story she has provided the government' that 'undermines her allegations' that he subjected her to years of rape and abuse. But Ventura's lawyers are resisting the request to hand it over, calling the defense's subpoena that was sent to her on March 19 a 'fishing expedition'. Meanwhile, the prosecution submitted a motion on Thursday, revealing the 'physical evidence' taken from his Miami and Los Angeles homes during raids last year - including 'items for use during Freak Offs', or sex parties - could be shown to the jury. That includes Diddy's baby oil stash - his victims shockingly claimed he would use an entire bottle of it in less than five minutes during sex. Homeland Security agents seized more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant from the properties in May 2024. Diddy's legal team is demanding for his ex Cassie Ventura to turn over her memoir in hopes it will provide a 'different from the story she has provided the government' that 'undermines her allegations' Sean 'Diddy' Combs, 55, trial is set to begin on May 12 with jury selection starting a week before. He's pled not guilty to five counts of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution Diddy at his April 13 hearing with his lawyer Marc Agnifilio where he pleaded not guilty to the prosecution's new indictment, which included five additional criminal counts including racketeering and sex trafficking Diddy's trial is set to kick off on May 5 with jury selection. On May 12, opening arguments will begin. The 55-year-old, whose real name is Sean Combs, has pleaded not guilty to five counts of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. A judge is holding a hearing at a court in New York on Friday to resolve a number of matters ahead of the trial. Ventura sued Diddy last year in a shocking civil case which accused him of rape and years of abuse. A video of him beating her up at a hotel in 2016 - which was leaked to CNN last year - was a major factor in his downfall. In court filings, Diddy's lawyers revealed they are seeking 10 months of Ventura's bank statements and any documents or drafts related to the memoir. The highly-redacted request also seeks diaries or journal entries written by Ventura, who dated Diddy for more than a decade before splitting with him in 2018. The video which led to Diddy's downfall - which was published by CNN in May 2024 - shows Combs, wearing only a white towel, punching, kicking and throwing Ventura to ground Ventura's lawyer Douglas Wigdor called the request for her memoir and her bank statements from the past 10 months an 'impermissible fishing expedition' and should be rejected They claim that it is 'important exculpatory information in her possession' and accuse her and prosecutors of trying to 'conceal copies of her draft memoirs and other writings that memorialize a version of events that is markedly different from what she has told the government and will testify to at trial'. Ventura's lawyer Douglas Wigdor called the request an 'impermissible fishing expedition' and should be rejected. The prosecution backed Wigdor in their own reponse to the original supoena saying the defendant's request for her bank statements served to 'cast doubt' on her 'financial incentives' and that the defense's push for her writings was a 'wholly improper use of a subpoena'. Judge Arun Subramanian, who is overseeing the case, will have to decide on whether the evidence should be used. Prosecutors said in their filing from Thursday that during the trial the jury will see 'physical evidence seized from the defendant's properties - including firearms, narcotics and items for use during Freak Offs'. That indicates dozens of bottles of baby oil are likely to be brought into court in a dramatic moment that may well resonate with the jury. Court documents filed earlier this month revealed the disgraced hip hop mogul's lawyers are seeking any documents related to a book being written by Ventura, his ex-girlfriend The prosecution submitted a motion on Thursday, revealing the 'physical evidence' taken from his Miami and Los Angeles homes during raids last year - including 'items for use during Freak Offs', or sex parties - could be shown to the jury Diddy's Miami mansion which was raided in May 2024 by Homeland Security. They seized 'physical evidence' of his 'freak off' parties there Last September, Diddy's lawyer Agnifilo tried to explain why Diddy was so fond of baby oil saying 'he buys in bulk' Last September, Diddy's lawyer Marc Agnifilo tried to explain why Diddy was so fond of baby oil. He told TMZ: 'Back when I was a kid in the late '70s, they were called threesomes'. Agnifilo said he 'can't imagine' that there were thousands of bottles of baby oil. When told it was a sexual lubricant, Agnifilo said: 'I guess. I don't know what you need a thousand one bottle of baby oil goes a long way. I don't know what you need a thousand for. I mean, he has a big house. He buys in bulk. 'I think they have Costcos in every place where he has a home. Have you sat in a parking lot at a Costco and seen what people walk out of there with?' Diddy's victims have claimed that he used to use an entire bottle of baby oil in just five minutes, with one woman called 'Nicole' telling Rolling Stone that after being given two pills that made her black out, she woke up several hours later in a room surrounded by empty bottles of baby oil, towels and wine bottles. Photo of a shelf full of baby oil. Diddy's victims have claimed that he used to use an entire bottle of baby oil in just five minutes Law enforcement removing boxes of evidence and a laptop from Diddy's Star Island mansion in Miami Beach during the 2024 raid Other evidence which could come up at trial is a diary kept by a former employee of Diddy, along with texts between him and a number of his victims. Prosecutors revealed that their main witnesses have considerable baggage which Diddy's lawyers are likely to use to try and discredit them. Some of them have DUIs, have used illegal drugs, committed illegal sex acts, tax offenses and one even has a felony - prosecutors said Diddy should be barred from asking about them all as they are not relevant. Nor should Diddy's lawyers be allowed to ask about prior domestic violence incidents. Some of the law enforcement officers who could testify have prior misconduct cases against them - another line of attack for Diddy. Another court document refers to a 'minor victim, a sign that they may either testify or be referred to during the trial: allegations of abuse involving children are among the most serious he faces. Prosecutors are seeking to allow three of the four main accusers to testify anonymously but Diddy's lawyers are strongly objecting to that. She instantly became a pop culture icon after bursting into the public eye as loudmouthed Page 3 girl, Jordan. Having tried her hand at modelling, singing, presenting, campaigning and reality TV, the glamour model quickly became a household name in Britain. Yet while Katie Price's moniker will ring a bell for both young and old, you would be forgiven for not recognising the star on sight alone, with Katie famously undergoing numerous cosmetic procedures over the years. After two decades in the spotlight, Katie is almost unrecognisable from the naturally pretty teenager who burst on to the modelling scene at the age of 16, with her natural curls and fresh-faced beauty winning her an army of fans. Katie, now 46, has undergone an array of procedures over the years, including rhinoplasty, a silhouette facelift, 3D, veneers, lip fillers and Botox, culminating in her first facelift in 2017. Now, after two decades under the surgeon's scalpel, MailOnline takes a look at the many faces of Katie Price. The many faces of Katie Price: MailOnline takes a look at the star's changing look after two decades of boob jobs, Botox and face lifts 1995 - Barefaced beauty At the age of 17, Katie Price was a fresh-faced natural beauty looking to make it into the world of glamour modelling. At a friend's suggestion, the teenager had professional photographs taken and was quickly snapped up by a modelling agency who landed her a Page 3 slot in The Sun newspaper the following year, sparking the creation of her glamour model alter ego, Jordan. Speaking last year, Katie revealed she was glad that she wasn't exposed to social media at the time as she had 'no idea what Botox was or fillers', otherwise she may have started her tweaks and enhancements at an even earlier age. 1995: At the age of 17, Katie Price was a fresh-faced natural beauty looking to make it into the world of glamour modelling 1998 - First boob job Having just turned 20, the rising glamour model experienced her first taste of cosmetic surgery, boosting her 32B cup breasts to a 32C. The procedure cost 4,500 and it's thought her mum Amy and stepdad Paul helped pay for her to have the procedure. Katie has since spoken out about her decision to go under the knife, admitting she was 'too young' and that she feels sorry for young girls growing up these days in a world of social media and filters. 1998: Having just turned 20, Katie experienced her first taste of cosmetic surgery, boosting her 32B cup breasts to a 32C 1999 - Second and third boob job Despite having only just increased her breast size, Katie opted to have two more procedures the following year at the age of 21. Katie boosted her bust from a C cup to a D cup and just a few months later went up again to a F cup. Katie has previously claimed that she has only paid for two of her boob jobs over the course of her career - it is not known if these were the ones. 1999: Despite having only just increased her breast size, Katie opted to have two more procedures at the age of 21 2001 - Lip fillers At the age of 21, Katie had her first cosmetic procedure on her face, opting for lip fillers. While the glamour model did not confirm the rumours at the time, she was seen sporting a noticeably fuller pout while out enjoying the party scene. Her overall look had also started drastically transforming, with the model sporting dramatic false lashes, bright lipstick and pale hair extensions. 2001: At the age of 21, Katie had her first cosmetic procedure on her face, opting for lip fillers 2004 - Botox Aged 26, Katie began to experiment with Botox injections that relax the muscles in your face to smooth out lines and wrinkles. She made no secret of her love of the procedure, announcing at the time: 'I get my forehead and around my eyes Botoxed every six months and I love it. You can't beat it. It just freezes all the wrinkles and that's what you want.' At the time, Katie insisted she would never take things further and have a facelift, explaining: 'I'd never have a full facelift. I've seen what they can do to people and I don't want to go through that.' 2004: Aged 26, Katie began to experiment with Botox injections that relax the muscles in your face to smooth out lines 2006 - Fourth boob job Katie went under the knife yet again to take her F cup breasts up to a G cup. The glamour model also played around with her overall look and embraced her dark side with a new brunette hairstyle. She also continued to dabble with fillers and Botox. 2006: Katie went under the knife yet again to take her F cup breasts up to a G cup 2007 - First nose job and veneers At the age of 29, Katie took her love of surgery to the next level, undergoing rhinoplasty, a chemical peel and treating herself to a 25,000 set of new veneers. 'Oh my God, it burned like hell!' she said at the time. 'The next day I had this hideous red rash on my chin but two days later there wasn't a single spot left.' Speaking about her nose job at the time, she admitted to liking her original nose, explaining: 'I liked my nose before and now. If I had a cupboard with both noses, I would alternate between them!' 2007:Katie took her love of surgery to the next level, undergoing rhinoplasty, a chemical peel and a 25,000 set of veneers 2008 - Fifth boob job Despite gradually increasingly her bust size over the year, Katie fancied a change on her 30th and brought her bra size back down from an F cup to a C cup. The procedure meant that Katie had returned to the size of her first boob job 10 years prior. Katie's changing shape also coincided with the launch of her first clothing line - an equestrian range. 2008: Despite gradually increasingly her bust size, Katie fancied a change and brought her bra size back down to a C cup 2011 - Sixth boob job Katie's smaller chest didn't last long, and at age 33 she went back under the knife again to boost her bust to an F cup. Katie also underwent body-contouring treatment and cheek and lip fillers. The Loose Women panelist admitted that she loved having her cheeks filled to give her a 'plumper, more youthful look'. 2011: Katie's smaller chest didn't last long, and at age 33 she went back under the knife again to boost her bust to an F cup 2015 - Seventh and eighth boob job Just before appearing on Celebrity Big Brother, the reality star had a botched boob reduction that left her with a hole in her breast and an implant protruding from her flesh. Katie told her shocked housemates: 'Ive got no tits anymore. Theyve gone. Theres not even anything there. If you saw what Im like underneath. The scars gone septic. My whole implant was hanging out on New Years Day.' Shortly after leaving the Big Brother house she underwent corrective surgery and had her implants swapped for a D-cup. 2015: Just before Celebrity Big Brother, the star had a botched boob reduction that left her with a hole in her breast 2016 - Ninth boob job and tattooed makeup Despite her surgery horror the year before, Katie was undeterred and flew to a Brussels clinic to go under the knife yet again, this time settling on a 32GG bust. The reality star also had her eyebrows and lips tattooed, also known as 'permanent make-up', explaining that she prefers to go make-up free on a day-to-day basis. Additionally the star has regular facial treatments, last year sharing a bloodied selfie after having a dermal roller micro-needling treatment, which sees a dermaroller with many tiny needles rolled across into the skin - designed to stimulate cells into regeneration. 2016: Despite her surgery horror the year before, Katie flew to a Brussels clinic to get another boob job, this time a 32GG cup 2017 - First face lift, new veneers and 10th boob job Despite insisting she would never have a face lift and could rely on Botox, Katie went back on her word undergoing a 'Silhouette' face lift. The procedure is designed to lift a sagging cheeks and blurred jawline, using 'sutures' implanted under the skin to sculpt features. However, Katie was soon spotted with puffy features, revealing that she suffered an allergic reaction to anesthetic penicillin after having further work on her veneers. She also had her breast implants reduced from 1000ml implants to 795ml. 2017: Despite insisting she would never have a face lift and could rely on Botox, Katie went back on her word 2018 - Second face lift Katie claimed her first face lift had been a botched job and went back under the knife the following year aged 40 to correct it. She said at the time 'I need to get my face re-corrected after surgeon has totally f**ked my face up', admitting it had He agent added: 'She had the thread and it really quite distorted her look. She got a lot of backlash, a lot of negative press, a lot of trolling, everyone saying shed taken it too far, when actually it was a job that had not gone to plan.' 2018: Katie claimed her first face lift had been a botched job and went back under the knife the following year aged 40 2019 - Third face lift, boob job first Brazilian bum lift and 11th boob job Katie jetted to Turkey to overhaul her entire look with a full body transformation. The reality star opted for a face, eye and eyelid lift, Brazilian bum lift along with a tummy tuck. Just three months later she returned to the clinic and opted for another boob job, going back down to a D cup. 2019: Katie jetted to Turkey to overhaul her look with a face, eye and eyelid lift, Brazilian bum lift along with a tummy tuck 2020 - 12th boob job and another set of veneers Katie returned to Turkey to have another set of veneers and revealed her real teeth had been reduced to stubs as she flashed a smile on her YouTube channel. The mother-of-five then jetted to Belgium to correct botched surgery on her breasts, saying her surgeon was utterly shocked by the 'awful' previous procedure. Katie said: 'They looked deformed, they were absolutely awful. That's the first time I've gone to a different surgeon. I had to go back to Frank with my head down, ashamed that I'd been to another clinic.' 2020: Katie returned to Turkey to have another set of veneers then jetted to Belgium to correct a botched boob job 2021 - Liposuction, eye and lid lifts and 13th boob job Amid the Covid pandemic, Katie jetted off to then red-list Turkey for a complete cosmetic surgery overhaul, undergoing full body liposuction, eye and lip lifts, liposuction under her chin, and fat injected into her bum. The reality star also visited Belgium to have her 13th boob job as well as full body liposuction with bum fat removal. The plastic surgery - performed by Dr Frank Plovier - came just five days ahead of the glamour model's sentencing for her shocking drink-drive crash. 2021: Katie jetted to Turkey for a complete cosmetic surgery overhaul, undergoing full body liposuction, eye and lip lifts 2022 - Another brow and eye lift Katie secretly jetted back to Belgium at the beginning of 2022 for an eye and brow lift and had been concealing her new look with her head in a bandage. Dr Judy Todd, an aesthetic doctor at Clinica Medica in Glasgow, said: 'It appears like she's had a face lift, temporal brow lift, and possibly an upper blepharoplasty.' It was reported last month that Katie plans to travel to Turkey imminently for yet more plastic surgery, amid claims she wanted to get some tweaks in after being unhappy with her latest work. Sian Dellar, Brow Specialist and Founder of Sian Dellar Permanent Makeup Clinic, added: 'Katie's eyebrows, like the rest of her, have changed lots over the years! 'Back in the 90s she had a very thin over plucked brow which was the fashion at the time, and today she has an extremely thick and unnatural looking brow. 'Currently it seems the face or eye lift that shes had have pulled her brows outward which looks unnatural and makes the brows appear almost stretched. 'Of course, as with any enhancement, its personal preference but we recommend not going too many shades darker, and keeping the shape as natural looking as possible and work to create or enhance brows to frame the face. 'Katies choice to have them so thick and dark and in that unusual positioning means they dominate her face and are the first thing the eye is drawn to. I would love to see Katie take her brows back to 2015/2016 when the fuller brow became a big trend. She got it right then and they framed her face well.' 2022: Katie secretly jetted back to Belgium for an eye and brow lift and is planning to to travel to Turkey for more surgery 2023 - 16th and 'biggest ever' boob job It's not clear if Katie lost track of the number of breast augmentations or opted to keep some of her surgery private but by 2023 it emerged she'd undergone her 16th boob job, two years after claiming to be on her 13th. The star went under the knife in a bid to have the 'biggest in Britain' and was subsequently pictured being wheeled into surgery at the Be Clinic in Belgium. She is said to have wanted even bigger breasts, opting for 2120 CC implants in a bid to boost her already large bust size. Katie told OK! magazine of her boobs: 'I love them. They healed really quickly and they didn't hurt at all. That probably doesn't help. Because I heal quickly, it doesn't put me off and I have more. 'I would go bigger as well and I will eventually. I just love having big boobs and a small body. I've always loved that look. In my eyes, if I'm having a boob job, I want them to look fake, I don't want them to look natural. I don't like the natural look. 'I just like that old-school American Playboy pin-up look. When I have surgery, that is what I'm striving for. If I could look like my airbrushed pictures, that would be amazing. But that's impossible to achieve.' 2023: It's not clear if Katie lost track of the number of breast augmentations or opted to keep some of her surgery private but by 2023 it emerged she'd undergone her 16th boob job, two years after claiming to be on her 13th 2024 - MORE facial surgery In July 2024 Katie confirmed she is travelling to Turkey for facial surgery, to be filmed for a new documentary, after failing to attend a bankruptcy hearing. The former glamour model was absent at a scheduled 760,000 bankruptcy court hearing having flown overseas for her latest cosmetic procedure. A warrant was subsequently issued, with Katie admitting she's 'doing the best she can' to rectify her financial issues after receiving 'very clear warnings' that she needed to attend court. Romeo Beckham's girlfriend Kim Turnbull looked incredible in new snaps as she posed up a storm during her Maldives getaway. The DJ, 25, is currently living it up at the 5 star COMO Maalifushi, where rooms start from an eye-watering 1330 per-night. Taking to her Instagram Stories, the brunette beauty filmed herself on the balcony of her hotel room in a tiny black bikini. Kim looked as radiant as ever as she stripped back her makeup and showed off her natural beauty. She swept her tresses over to the side of her face and showed off her sun-kissed tan after spending time in the rays. Giving fans a further glimpse into her holiday, Kim also shared a snap of the beach with a coconut along with a shot of the view from her room. Romeo Beckham's girlfriend Kim Turnbull looked incredible in new snaps as she posed up a storm during her Maldives getaway The DJ, 25, is currently living it up at the 5 star COMO Maalifushi, where rooms start from 1330 a night Her racy post comes just a day after Kim and her boyfriend Romeo put on a loved-up display as they celebrated their six-month anniversary. The son of David and Victoria Beckham, 22, took to Instagram to share an array of sweet images with his girlfriend as he celebrated the milestone. In the black-and-white snap, Romeo went topless as he cuddled bikini-clad Kim on a sun lounger, both smiling broadly for the camera. Alongside the snap, Romeo penned: 'Six months around the [world emoji] with this beautiful soul.' Kim also took to her Instagram Stories to celebrate the anniversary and she posted an adorable snap of Romeo lying on her shoulder while she played on her phone. She gushed: 'Six [crystal ball emoji] [black heart emoji] @romeobeckham,' referring to their anniversary. Romeo and Kim first sparked dating rumours in late 2024 when they were spotted on several dates in London. By November 2024, they had taken their romance to the next level by going Instagram official. Taking to her Instagram Stories, the beauty filmed herself on the balcony of her hotel room as she sizzled in a tiny black bikini Giving fans a further glimpse into her vacation, Kim also shared a snap of the beach with a coconut She also shared a snap of the view from her hotel room Prior to this, Romeo was in a long-term relationship with model Mia Regan. The couple had been together since 2019 before announcing their split in February 2024. It was claimed the couple went their separate ways after an argument, with Mia - who is known as Mimi Moocher online - moving out of the home they shared together. Romeo confirmed their separation by writing on Instagram: 'Mooch and I have parted ways after 5 years of love, we still have a lot of respect for each other, and still hold a strong friendship and always will.' Sharing a picture of herself with Romeo on her Instagram Stories, Mia added: 'This is an Ro, we have grown up with each other since we were 16!! Love takes different forms & paths as you mature. 'We aren't tougher romantically but we do share lots & lots of love for one another... after 5 years we friendzoned each other.' Romeo Beckham, 22, and Kim Turnbull, 24, put on a loved-up display in a sweet snap as they celebrated their six-month anniversary in a Instagram Story on Thursday The son of David and Victoria Beckham and the brunette beauty appeared smitten as they shared sweet pictures to celebrate the milestone in their relationship News of their split had already surfaced before both Romeo and Mia issued their respective statements. An insider told the Mirror at the time: 'Romeo and Mia had a fallout they arent together at the moment.' 'They were living together, but Mia has apparently moved out of the place they shared and is staying with her parents. 'Theyve split up in the past and got back together again, but this time it feels more serious Mia moving out obviously points to it being more than just a tiff.' Following their split, Romeo started dating his new girlfriend Kim and they have gone from strength-to-strength since. Meanwhile, Mia has moved on with new boyfriend Henry O'Sullivan and they have featured on each other's social media since October 2024. Legendary comedian Paul Rodriguez, who was arrested last month for drug possession, has seen the case against him rejected. Rodriguez previously threatened legal action against police over his shock fentanyl raid, which he claimed was 'racially motivated,' insisting that the drugs the authorities found did not belong to him. The 70-year-old went to war with the Burbank Police Department after his arrest, alleging a 'white cop slapped him,' while law enforcement had a different story. At the time, DailyMail.com received conflicting statements from Rodriguez' lawyer and the police. Now, however, the Burbank City Attorney has confirmed his office is not proceeding with charges owing to lack of sufficient evidence, via TMZ. In response to the news, Rodriguez' lawyer Bobby Samini said: 'My client commends the City Attorney for their determination in this matter. It is without doubt that Mr. Rodriguez was innocent and never possessed any controlled substance. ' Legendary comedian Paul Rodriguez has threatened legal action against police over his shock fentanyl raid which he claims was 'racially motivated' as law enforcement has a different story Samini added: 'Mr. Rodriguez maintained his innocence and rejected the assertion by Burbank PD that he committed any crime. He is grateful for the support he received from his fans, family and friends throughout this difficult time.' In a previous statement two weeks ago, Samini argued that the arresting police officer's actions constituted a civil rights violation. Samini told DailyMail.com on April 2: 'The assertion that Mr. Rodriguez was in possession of any controlled substance is absolutely false. 'Statements by anonymous sources that to the contrary are solely intended to defame Mr. Rodriguez are cowardly and irresponsible. Mr. Rodriguez will defend these allegations and take all appropriate legal action against those responsible.' The attorney went on to list out Rodriguez's contributions to the nation in the form of his military service. Samini continued: 'Aside from Mr. Rodriguezs storied career in Hollywood, he is a retired United States Air Force veteran. He served this Country honorably and held the highest levels of security clearance. 'Although he fully cooperated with law enforcement, he was forcibly removed from the vehicle, arrested, and subsequently strip-searched. No controlled substances were found in his possession or on his person. This conduct was not intended to protect and serve the community but intended to humiliate and demean Mr. Rodriguez.' Rodriguez was arrested with a female friend who was driving at the time and law enforcement conducted a search as they found drugs in the unidentified woman's purse. The 70-year-old comedian is currently embroiled in a war with the Burbank Police Department coming off the heels of his recent arrest for drug possession as he claimed a 'white cop slapped him' Now Sergeant Stephen Turner has responded to Rodriguez's allegations - on behalf of the Burbank Police Department - in a statement to DailyMail.com on Wednesday as the officer said that the agency is aware of the alleged misconduct and 'the incident is being administratively reviewed by the Department' Samini concluded: 'Mr. Rodriquez, a passenger in the vehicle, was treated like a dangerous criminal. 'My client believes in the judicial system and will seek justice from a jury of his peers. Mr. Rodriguez will exercise his legal rights and clear his name.' Sergeant Stephen Turner responded to Rodriguez's allegations - on behalf of the Burbank Police Department - in a statement to DailyMail.com also on April 2. The officer said that the agency is aware of the alleged misconduct and 'the incident is being administratively reviewed by the Department. Turner also told DailyMail.com that 'Mr. Paul Rodriguez spoke with a Watch Commander upon his release from jail and he did not allege any misconduct.' This came days after Rodriguez broke his silence following his arrest on Friday. The entertainer, known for his stand-up comedy and film roles, was pulled over by police in Burbank, California, for a traffic violation, according to TMZ. While the specific details of the violation remain unclear, sources claim that during the stop, officers searched Rodriguezs vehicle and allegedly found narcotics inside. He was arrested and taken into custody on misdemeanor drug possession charges. However, in a statement to TMZ on Saturday, Rodriguez denied the drugs were his, claiming that one of the officers acted inappropriately during the arrest. He also suggested the incident may have been racially motivated. DailyMail.com had reached out to Paul's reps for comment at the time. Legendary Rodriguez was arrested on drug possession charges Friday, according to law enforcement sources Rodriguez explained that while his car was pulled over, he was asleep in the passenger seat when the officer, who he described as 'Caucasian,' allegedly slapped him to wake him up, accusing the officer of being on a 'power trip.' As for the narcotics, Rodriguez claims they belonged to his friend, who was driving at the time. According to the comedian, his friend admitted to police that the drugs were hers. Despite this, Rodriguez says he was "roughed up" and arrested along with her. The vehicle was impounded. Police officials confirmed that Rodriguez was cited and released on misdemeanor drug possession charges, and the case will be forwarded to the city attorney for review. However, authorities have yet to comment on Rodriguezs allegations. Rodriguez revealed that he is considering filing a formal complaint regarding the officers conduct. Meanwhile, his friend is being held for outstanding warrants. This incident comes amid a challenging period for the comedian. In November of last year, Rodriguez's longtime friend, Donald Serrato, passed away from natural causes while staying at Rodriguezs Los Angeles home. Additionally, in 2021, the comedian underwent quadruple bypass surgery. Serrato had sold his own home in Torrance and was staying at Rodriguez' residence in the Los Angeles area for some days before moving to Montana at the time of his death. Law enforcement sources said the authorities believe Serrato died of natural causes, and do not suspect drugs or foul play were involved. At the time, Rodriguez said he felt Serrato's alleged heavy drinking and smoking - as well as his grief over two bereavements in his family - may have contributed to his demise. He explained that he left the house at about 6am Thursday to go to a film shoot and then rang Serrato at approximately 12pm to make lunch plans. However he received no answer to his phone call, so he contacted Serrato's girlfriend who then visited the house to check in on him, he told TMZ. Emergency services responded by visiting Rodriguez' home and finding Serrato, whom they pronounced dead on the scene. Rodriguez, who was born in Sinaloa before immigrating to Compton with his family, has been a comedian for more than four decades. His son is a famous skateboarder also called Paul Rodriguez (right), who goes by P-Rod on social media and boats over a million followers on Instagram He is a regular on the stand-up circuit, and is one of the elite group of comedians whose photos are on the wall of the iconic Comedy Store in Los Angeles. Early in his career, Rodriguez even led the cast of his own sitcom a.k.a. Pablo in 1984, thought it was canceled after six episodes. Over the years, fans have seen him on top television programs including The Golden Girls, Touched By An Angel and The Twilight Zone. He has also lent his voice to cartoons like King Of The Hill, Dora The Explorer and The Proud Family, and the animated film Cats & Dogs: The Return Of Kitty Galore. Rodriguez has featured in live-action movies like the 2002 Clint Eastwood film Blood Work and the 2021 release Clifford The Big Red Dog. His son is a famous skateboarder also called Paul Rodriguez, who goes by P-Rod on social media and boats over a million followers on Instagram. Tori Spelling is officially dating her on-again boyfriend Ryan Cramer again nearly two years after they were last publicly spotted together. The reality TV personality, 51, and her former flame reportedly rekindled their romance 'a few months' ago before they made their relationship red carpet official a little over a week ago. The pair attended at the Los Angeles premiere of The Carters docuseries last Wednesday and sparked reconciliation rumors after posing for photos together. This week, a source confirmed the Beverly Hills, 90210 alum and the advertising CEO who both appeared to be in high spirits and attached at the hip at the event have gotten back together, according to Us Weekly. The pair were first romantically linked two years ago when they were spotted making out during a romantic dinner date just months after Spelling's separation from her ex-husband Dean McDermott, 58. Spelling was previously married to McDermott for nearly two decades before they parted ways in 2023 and she filed for divorce in early 2024. Tori Spelling is officially dating her on-again boyfriend Ryan Cramer again nearly two years after they were last publicly spotted together In her legal filing, their date of separation was listed as June 17, 2023. The exes are parents to five children Liam, 18, Stella, 16, Hattie, 13, Finn, 12, and Beau, eight. McDermott also shares adult son Jack, 25, with his ex-wife Mary Jo Eustance. The insider revealed that even after Spelling and her new beau broke up, they remained in contact 'here and there' in the past two years. 'She feels it was serendipitous that they reconnected and hit it off again,' the source told the outlet. The insider also said Spelling feels supported by Cramer because he is 'the least judgmental person.' The source added that the reality star 'is really happy and feels like her life is moving in a great direction.' Another insider also told the outlet that the couple previously met through work before their romance initially began in 2023. The reality TV personality, 51, and her former flame reportedly rekindled their romance 'a few months' ago before they made their relationship red carpet official a little over a week ago The pair attended at the Los Angeles premiere of The Carters docuseries last Wednesday and sparked reconciliation rumors after posing for photos together. The pair were first romantically linked two years ago just months after Spelling's separation from her ex-husband Dean McDermott, 58; pictured in April 2025 (left) and in June 2023 (right) Spelling and the actor are parents to five children Liam, 18, Stella, 16, Hattie, 13, Finn, 12, and Beau, eight In her legal filing, their date of separation was listed as June 17, 2023; pictured in December 2019 Spelling had been married to her ex-husband for nearly two decades before they called it off in June 2023. McDermott has since moved on with Lily Calo, stepping out with his new flame just three months after his split from Spelling; pictured in August 2019 Cramer is the co-founder and CEO of a California-based advertising agency Neuron Syndicate. 'She thought he was very charming and handsome,' the source said at the time. 'Tori is really excited about the new relationship.' Their reconciliation comes just a couple weeks after Spelling opened up about single life and admitted she has fears of 'dying alone.' 'I'm now 51 and single again with five kids, so I don't even know where I stand in the future,' she confessed to guest Aubrey O'Day on the April 4 episode of her misSPELLING podcast. 'I just don't want to be alone,' she continued as she broke down in tears. 'I don't want to die alone. I don't know what I'm doing right now.' Diddy's legal team faced another setback at his pretrial hearing on Friday, leaving them furious after the judge ruled in favor of granting anonymity to three of his accusers. And their request for a two-month extension in his infamous sex trafficking case was denied by Judge Arun Subramanian, claiming it was filed too close to trial. Jury selection is scheduled for May 5 and opening statements on May 12. Gray-haired Diddy sat in court wearing a tan prison top and pants. He hugged his team of lawyers when he came into the court and occasionally shook his head in disagreement during the hearing. One of the two decisions made by Judge Subramanian, that went against Diddy's favor, was the judge's decision to grant sex abuse victims 2, 3 and 4 anonymity. Diddy became animated at this ruling as his defense claimed Victim 3 said 'meh' when asked if she wanted to be anonymous. In response, he handed his lawyer Marc Agnifilio a note to address the judge. Teny Geragos, another of Diddy's attorneys, said that Victim 4 had already been 'putting herself out there' and her law firm had been contacted by former Diddy employees saying: 'I can't believe they (Victim 4) are saying (this)'. Diddy at his pretrial on Friday, sat alongside lawyers Marc Agnifilio and Teny Geragos. He wore a tan prison top and pants and occasionally shook his head in disagreement during the hearing Diddy became animated at the judge's ruling to grant anonymity to Victim 2, 3 and 4 as his defense claimed Victim 3 said 'meh' when asked if she wanted to be anonymous Judge Arun Subramanian also denied Diddy's legal team's request for a two month extension, as he said it was too close to the trial date that's set to kick off on May 5 Geragos said: 'It's really concerning for us, this particular person'. Assistant US Attorney Maurene Comey said that Victim 3 has not disclosed the full extent of her abuse at the hands of Diddy or the 'very personal and explosive details' of her treatment. The judge asked Comey to check with Victim 3 if she still needed anonymity and the prosecutor agreed. The defense recently filed a request to postpone the trial by two months on Wednesday in response to the prosecution slapping additional new charges on April 4. Diddy's lawyer Marc Agnifilo also said the defense needed more time to review emails it wants an alleged victim to turn over. But the judge denied it first thing once the pretrial hearing kicked off. A win for Diddy's side came when the judge ruled that Warner Brothers must hand over outtakes of interviews with two alleged victims - featured in the Investigation Discovery documentary, which premiered on January 27 - to the defense. Janice Combs, mother of Sean 'Diddy' Combs, arrives at the Southern District of New York Federal Court for his pretrial hearing on Friday Diddy's son Justin Dior Combs arriving at his Friday hearing. At the end of the hearing, he told both Justin and his mother he loved them and put a hand to his heart The judge ruled that Warner Brothers must hand over outtakes of interviews with two alleged victims - featured in the Investigation Discovery documentary - to the defense A lawyer for the media giant who was present in court said it would need a few days to get the footage together. The battle continued between both sides, as Diddy's lawyers objected to the prosecution's request to call as an expert witness a clinical psychologist who gave evidence for Amber Heard in her trial against Johnny Depp. During that trial. Dr. Hughes testified that she had diagnosed Heard with PTSD after her alleged abuse at the hands of Depp. Diddy's lawyer Alexandra Shapiro said that Dr. Hughes' definition of 'coercive control' was 'so broad and amorphous as to be completely meaningless'. Dr. Hughes said that even 'love bombing' could be a tactic of coercive control, as could using affection. 'Basically anything counts', Shapiro said. 'Her testimony is so meaningless as to be useless to the jury'. Brian Steel, who represented rapper Young Thug in his RICO trial, appeared at the federal court building to join Diddy's defense team Sean 'Diddy' Combs, 55, trial is set to begin on May 12 with jury selection starting a week before. He's pled not guilty to five counts of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution In an apparent allusion to the Depp vs Heard trial, Shapiro said that with Dr. Hughes 'if you allow her to talk about this topic it will be very difficult to restrain her from (saying) anything else that comes into her head.' Judge Arun Subramanian said he would rule later, but would likely limit Dr. Hughes' testimony and exclude any mentions of coercive control. At the end of the hearing, Diddy put his hand on his heart and waved at his mother and son Justin in the public gallery. A security guard wearing a black hoodie which said 'Free Puff' stood next to them. Diddy turned his chair around and sat down so he faced his mother and son before smiling and giving them a thumbs up. He could be heard saying: 'I love you all'. Justin put his hand on his heart as his father blew him a kiss and waved, then walked out of a side door. Diddy's legal team is demanding for his ex Cassie Ventura to turn over her memoir in hopes it will provide a 'different from the story she has provided the government' that 'undermines her allegations' Diddy's trial is set to kick off on May 5, with jury selection starting a week before. On May 12, opening arguments will begin. The 55-year-old, whose real name is Sean Combs, has pleaded not guilty to five counts of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. And with less than three weeks for Diddy's defense to get prepare their arguments, it's no surprise that court documents were filed earlier this month by Diddy's team demanding that his ex, Cassie Ventura, hand over documents related to the memoir she allegedly wrote about the disgraced rap mogul. Diddy hopes that the memoir will provide a 'different from the story she has provided the government' that 'undermines her allegations' that he subjected her to years of rape and abuse. But Ventura's lawyers are resisting the request to hand it over, calling the defense's subpoena that was sent to her on March 19 a 'fishing expedition'. Meanwhile, the prosecution submitted a motion on Thursday, revealing the 'physical evidence' taken from his Miami and Los Angeles homes during raids last year - including 'items for use during Freak Offs', or sex parties - could be shown to the jury. That includes Diddy's baby oil stash - his victims shockingly claimed he would use an entire bottle of it in less than five minutes during sex. The video which led to Diddy's downfall - which was published by CNN in May 2024 - shows Combs, wearing only a white towel, punching, kicking and throwing Ventura to ground Ventura's lawyer Douglas Wigdor called the request for her memoir and her bank statements from the past 10 months an 'impermissible fishing expedition' and should be rejected Homeland Security agents seized more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant from the properties in May 2024. Ventura sued Diddy last year in a shocking civil case which accused him of rape and years of abuse. A video of him beating her up at a hotel in 2016 - which was leaked to CNN last year - was a major factor in his downfall. In court filings, Diddy's lawyers revealed they are seeking 10 months of Ventura's bank statements and any documents or drafts related to the memoir. The highly-redacted request also seeks diaries or journal entries written by Ventura, who dated Diddy for more than a decade before splitting with him in 2018. They claim that it is 'important exculpatory information in her possession' and accuse her and prosecutors of trying to 'conceal copies of her draft memoirs and other writings that memorialize a version of events that is markedly different from what she has told the government and will testify to at trial'. Ventura's lawyer Douglas Wigdor called the request an 'impermissible fishing expedition' and should be rejected. Court documents filed earlier this month revealed the disgraced hip hop mogul's lawyers are seeking any documents related to a book being written by Ventura, his ex-girlfriend The prosecution submitted a motion on Thursday, revealing the 'physical evidence' taken from his Miami and Los Angeles homes during raids last year - including 'items for use during Freak Offs', or sex parties - could be shown to the jury Diddy's Miami mansion which was raided in May 2024 by Homeland Security. They seized 'physical evidence' of his 'freak off' parties there The prosecution backed Wigdor in their own reponse to the original supoena saying the defendant's request for her bank statements served to 'cast doubt' on her 'financial incentives' and that the defense's push for her writings was a 'wholly improper use of a subpoena'. Judge Arun Subramanian, who is overseeing the case, will have to decide on whether the evidence should be used. Prosecutors said in their filing from Thursday that during the trial the jury will see 'physical evidence seized from the defendant's properties - including firearms, narcotics and items for use during Freak Offs'. That indicates dozens of bottles of baby oil are likely to be brought into court in a dramatic moment that may well resonate with the jury. Diddy's victims have claimed that he used to use an entire bottle of baby oil in just five minutes, with one woman called 'Nicole' telling Rolling Stone that after being given two pills that made her black out, she woke up several hours later in a room surrounded by empty bottles of baby oil, towels and wine bottles. Other evidence which could come up at trial is a diary kept by a former employee of Diddy, along with texts between him and a number of his victims. Photo of a shelf full of baby oil. Diddy's victims have claimed that he used to use an entire bottle of baby oil in just five minutes Law enforcement removing boxes of evidence and a laptop from Diddy's Star Island mansion in Miami Beach during the 2024 raid Prosecutors revealed that their main witnesses have considerable baggage which Diddy's lawyers are likely to use to try and discredit them. Some of them have DUIs, have used illegal drugs, committed illegal sex acts, tax offenses and one even has a felony - prosecutors said Diddy should be barred from asking about them all as they are not relevant. Nor should Diddy's lawyers be allowed to ask about prior domestic violence incidents. Some of the law enforcement officers who could testify have prior misconduct cases against them - another line of attack for Diddy. Another court document refers to a 'minor victim, a sign that they may either testify or be referred to during the trial: allegations of abuse involving children are among the most serious he faces. Prosecutors are seeking to allow three of the four main accusers to testify anonymously but Diddy's lawyers are strongly objecting to that. Ben Affleck had a thing or two to say about the flight of film and television productions from Los Angeles. Production has migrated from L.A. and California because other states and countries offer a better tax incentive for them to film there. 'I think part of the problem with California is they came to take this industry for granted a little bit,' Affleck said in an interview with the Associated Press on the red carpet of the premiere of The Accountant 2. The Batman star, 52, mentioned that California Governor Gavin Newsom was increasing the cap on tax incentives to keep filming in state but he doesn't think that alone will be enough help. 'The percentage you get back in terms of actual budget doesnt compete with places like England, which is why you see a lot of these big, huge movies shoot in the U.K.,' Affleck said. The Good Will Hunting star also said that great incentives from Georgia, New Mexico, Louisiana, Texas, Massachusetts and New Jersey have driven production to those states in search of cost savings. Ben Affleck had a thing or two to say about the flight of film and television productions from Los Angeles. Seen here at the premiere of The Accountant on April 16, 2025 Georgia and New Mexico are particularly attractive to budgets as they have no annual cap on their incentives programs. Affleck also pointed out that losing film crews as they migrate out of California to where the productions that employ them are happening is another big problem in the film and television industry. 'Its really the technicians and the crew that make or break your movie,' he said. 'You need the best people, you need good people. I, as a director, know that to be true. And so if people move away, you know, that really hurts the industry.' Rob Lowe recently commented on the cost of producing a show in Los Angeles versus Ireland, where his game show The Floor films. 'It's cheaper to bring one hundred American people to Ireland than to walk across the lot at Fox, past the sound stages, and do it there,' Lowe said. Affleck, for what it's worth, has filmed at least part of his latest two films, The Accountant and Animal in and around L.A. The flight of production away from L.A. has set off a movement, called Stay in L.A., to keep production in its historic home. Production has migrated from L.A. and California because other states and countries offer a better tax incentive for them to film there 'I think part of the problem with California is they came to take this industry for granted a little bit,' Affleck said in an interview with the Associated Press. Seen here in 2025 The Batman star, 52, mentioned that California is increasing the cap on tax incentives to keep filming in state but he doesn't think that alone will be enough help. Seen with Jon Bernthal in 2025 'The percentage you get back in terms of actual budget doesnt compete with places like England, which is why you see a lot of these big, huge movies shoot in the U.K.,' Affleck said In another interview with GQ, Affleck revealed who the real villain of Batman was his bat suit. 'I hated the batsuits. The batsuits are horrendous to wear,' Affleck said. 'Theyre incredibly hot, for one thing. They dont breathe. Theyre made to look the way they want em to look, and theres no thought put into the human being.' The Gigli star said, as a result, you just start sweating' from the moment you put on the batsuit. 'Now Im already I sweat, you know what I mean? I get hot,' he explained. 'And so in that thing, you would just be pouring water because its got the cowl over it. Like, theres one thing to wear the suit, but once you cover your head, I guess thats where all your heat kind of escapes and you feel it.' And he wasn't the only one who felt that way about the batsuit. 'Even the most highly-trained, much more fit stunt guys, the parkour guys, the action guys, they could do that for about like 45, 50 minutes and then theyre like gonna get heat stroke,' he said. Jennifer Lopez, Affleck, Matt Damon and Luciana Barroso at the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards in 2024 'So you had to come out of it. And that was really the thing was that it just made it difficult to make the movie because it was so hot.' And it often didn't make the person in the suit feel very much like a superhero. 'And it also does not make you feel very heroic because youre instantly exhausted and really sweaty and kinda trying to hide like, the sweat pouring down your face. 'Like, "No, we can go again, Im fine, Im good,"' he said while pretending to wipe sweat from his brow. 'And then therell be like eye black is like, running.' Post Malone has found himself locked in a shock legal drama, as his ex-fiancee is demanding full physical custody of their two-year-old daughter. The 29-year-old pop star, whose real name is Austin Post, announced the birth of his child in June 2022 without disclosing her name. At the same time, he revealed he was engaged to the baby's mother but kept his fiancee's identity private, with fans taking to calling her 'Jamie.' It emerged last month that Post and 'Jamie' had split, and he has recently been seen on multiple dates with a 20-year-old influencer called Christy Lee, with whom he indulged in a public display of affection in Paris this month. Now, 'Jamie' has revealed that her real name is Hee Sung Park, in a legal filing asking for sole physical custody of her daughter, according to Page Six. In Park's documents, submitted Wednesday to the Los Angeles Superior Court's family law division, she refers to the toddler simply as DDP. DailyMail.com has contacted representatives for Post for comment. Post Malone has found himself locked in a shock legal drama, as his ex-fiancee 'Jamie' is demanding full physical custody of their daughter, two; pictured February in New Orleans Now 'Jamie' has revealed that her real name is Hee Sung Park, in a legal filing asking for sole physical custody of her daughter, according to Page Six The two-year-old's mother filed for full physical custody, but she only requested joint legal custody and is also open to giving Post visitation rights, aka 'parenting time.' Park, who reportedly split from Post near the end of 2024, alleged in her new legal documents that DDP has lived with her since November, via TMZ. Her court filing, in which she demands that her ex cover her legal costs, also revealed that their daughter was born in May 2022. As for child support, she said: 'The court may make orders for support of the children and issue an earnings assignment without further notice to either party.' Post reportedly recently submitted sealed custody documents of his own in Utah, where he keeps his primary residence, but he has yet to give a response to Park's new filing. On Friday, TMZ reported that Post's filing in Utah preceded Park's, which could help him save a considerable amount of money. Sources said the rapper-turned-country star filed in Utah because he and Park had previously been splitting custody down the middle in the state, but it's also to his financial benefit, as Utah is far stingier with child-support payments than California. Despite Park's efforts to have the case heard in California, sources said the case would remain in Utah. The two-year-old's mother filed for full physical custody, but she only requested joint legal custody and is also open to giving Post visitation rights, aka 'parenting time' Post Malone is seen sipping a Bud Light in the back of a limo on Thursday. He seemingly flouted open container laws with the move Post has recently been seen on multiple dates with a 20-year-old influencer called Christy Lee, one of which was captured by a fan on TikTok The sources alleged that Park had only moved to the Golden State earlier this year in an attempt to obtain residency and find more favorable conditions in California's court system. However, Post's initial filing is under seal, so details about it are scarce. On Thursday one day after Park submitted her request for full physical custody Post was seen illegally holding an open bottle of Bud Light in the backseat of a black SUV in Los Angeles. California law prohibits persons from carrying an open or even unsealed container of alcohol in a vehicle's passenger compartment, which is to say any place in reach of somebody in the car, such as a cupholder or glovebox. In recent weeks, Post has been repeatedly spotted enjoying public dates with his new 20-year-old girlfriend Christy Lee, who studied at Parsons School Of Design and has reportedly interned for celebrity stylist Kristina Askerova. Post announced his daughter's birth and his own engagement to Park in June 2022, during an interview on The Howard Stern Show. In 2023, he revealed that he and Park whom he did not name at the time had in fact gotten engaged two years earlier in Las Vegas, though she turned down his drunken first proposal and instructed him to ask again the next day. 'I had lost a significant amount of money at the table,' he shared on Call Her Daddy. 'We go upstairs and Im off my rocker hammered and I was like: "Hey, you wanna marry me?" I got a ring and all this stuff. And she said: "No." Shes like: "Ask me tomorrow," and I was like: "All right." And then I did and I was sober and it was nice.' He showered praise on Park, saying that he knew that she was the 'right' woman for him because of how 'massive' her heart was. 'I've always wanted kids and a big family, and I could tell she was going to be a really good mama,' he said. 'And she's like, number one mom in the f***ing universe.' Shocking bodycam footage shows the moment Haley Joel Osment was arrested earlier this monthyelling at officers and calling one a 'Nazi' during a chaotic confrontation. The Sixth Sense star, 37, was busted on April 8 for public intoxication and drug possession at a California ski resort, but what began as a disorderly encounter quickly spiraled into a meltdown. In the disturbing video obtained by DailyMail.com, a disheveled Osment appears out of it, swaying on his feet and repeatedly tryingand failingto keep his pants up as he struggles with officers at Mammoth Mountain. The former child actor is seen stumbling, slurring, and eventually collapsing to the ground as police handcuff him and wrestle him into the back of a patrol vehicle. At one point, Osment yells, 'Ive been kidnapped by a f king Nazi!' and accuses police of 'torturing me' while demanding they stop the alleged abuse. He also hurled an antisemitic slur during the vile tirade. Shocking bodycam footage shows the moment Haley Joel Osment was arrested in Mammoth Lakes, California earlier this month yelling at officers and calling one a 'Nazi' during a chaotic confrontation caught on camera The Sixth Sense star, 37, was busted on April 8 for public intoxication and drug possession at a California ski resort, but what began as a disorderly encounter quickly spiraled into a full-blown meltdown In the disturbing video obtained by DailyMail.com, a disheveled Osment appears out of it Now, Osment is trying to do damage control. 'Im absolutely horrified by my behavior. Had I known I used this disgraceful language in the throes of a blackout, I would have spoken up sooner,' he said in a statement on Friday, per People, adding, 'The past few months of loss and displacement have broken me down to a very low emotional place.' Osment recently lost his home in the devastating Los Angeles wildfires and, according to TMZ, has been locked in a battle with his insurance company over financial compensation. He continued, 'But thats no excuse for using this disgusting word. From the bottom of my heart, I apologize to absolutely everyone that this hurts. 'What came out of my mouth was nonsensical garbage - Ive let the Jewish community down and it devastates me. 'I dont ask for anyones forgiveness, but I promise to atone for my terrible mistake.' On Thursday evening told TMZ he was 'absolutely horrified by [his] behavior, which he said occurred 'in the throes of a blackout. 'Had I known I used this disgraceful language ... I would have spoken up sooner.' Several officers were on the scene for the arrest Before he was put in the cop car, Osment was swaying on his feet and repeatedly tryingand failingto keep his pants up At one point, Osment yells, 'Ive been kidnapped by a f king Nazi!' and accuses police of 'torturing me' while demanding they stop the alleged abuse He also hurled an antisemitic slur during the vile tirade The Southern California native was booked in connection with possession of cocaine and disorderly conduct under the influence of alcohol in public, according to TMZ. He was reportedly released shortly after being booked. Despite the booking, Osment's fate now lies with the District Attorney for Mono County, who will decide on whether to charge him. The actor's mental state may have played a role in his arrest, as sources familiar with his current situation told TMZ that he has been having a tough time after his home was burned to the ground in the devastating Altadena fire. His difficult interactions with his insurance company as he tries to get reimbursed for his destroyed home have reportedly been weighing on him. Sources said he had recently found a suitable replacement home, but he was unable to get his insurance company to pay for it. Osment's image as a squeaky-clean child actor came crashing down back in 2006, when he was arrested after crashing his car into a mailbox's brick pillar, which flipped his car over. He broke a rib and injured in his shoulder in the crash, necessitating a brief hospital stay. A month later, he was charged with misdemeanor DUIs for driving under the influence of alcohol with an alleged blood-alcohol content higher than 0.15 percent and for possession of marijuana while driving. Osment was also charged with having a 0.05 percent BAC while under 21. He ultimately pleaded no contest to one count each of driving under the influence of alcohol and possession of marijuana. Sources said Osment was heavily affected by losing his home in LA's devastating fires, and his insurance allegedly refused to cover a replacement home he found; pictured in 2023 in LA Osment's since-destroyed home is pictured The Forrest Gump actor was sentenced to three years of probation, along with 60 hours for an alcohol rehabilitation program. He was also required to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings for six months and to pay a $1,500 fine. In February, Osment opened up about his housing woes after losing his home to the Eaton Fire. While speaking on the Mentor Buffet podcast, he noted his difficulties living in California, as he had lived in New York for 15 years before moving closer to Hollywood in 2020 just days before a statewide stay-at-home order from Governor Gavin Newsom. Osment's squeak-clean image came to an end in 2006, when he was arrested for DUI and marijuana possession crashing his car into a mailbox's brick pillar when he was 18; pictured in his mugshot from 2006 'I had this very intense pandemic relationship that ended up going nowhere. Then things started picking up after the worst of the pandemic,' he explained. 'Then there was the [SAG/WGA] strike, which I totally supported, but that put everything on hold for a very long time. 'And then we've had some political upheaval and this house that had been my refuge during the pandemic was completely destroyed in the Eaton Fire.' At the time, Osment wrote on social media: 'My heart would be so full every time I drove home. It was such a special place. I loved living there.' In January, the Oscar nominee's younger sister Young Sheldon actor Emily Osment revealed that their parents also lost their home in the Eaton Fire. Ben Affleck has quipped that his childhood pal Matt Damon is "upstaging him" with his rock-solid abs. Ben Affleck has teased Matt Damon over his impressive body transformation Topless pictures of the 54-year-old Hollywood star on the set of Christopher Nolan's new movie 'The Odyssey' were recently released with Affleck's 'Good Will Hunting' co-star showing off his eye-popping body transformation. And while the 'Gone Girl' star admits he has huge "respect" for his friend because it's not easy building muscle like that at their age, he joked that he doesn't like him looking better than him. He joked with 'Access Hollywood' at Thursday's (17.04.25) premiere of his new movie 'The Accountant 2': "You see, this is the face that's like, they just told him that there were photographers out there so he's like 'I'm flexing my abs, are you watching me? Take my picture!'" He continued: "I have to say, I have to give him respect. "As you get on in life, it's less and less easy to do this, as I can tell you, and he is getting it done." Affleck gushed that he is "kind of impressed" by how "good" Damon looks. He went on: "And I'm a little bit yeah, I don't like it, I feel like he's upstaging me, but what are you gonna do? "I gotta respect it. He does look pretty good, I'm kind of impressed." Damon stars as Odysseus in 'The Odyssey' alongside stars including Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyongo, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Robert Pattinson and Jon Bernthal. Meanwhile, Damon previously admitted he couldn't "imagine living under" the same "scrutiny" as Affleck. The pals met growing up and have had "parallel careers in a lot of ways", but Affleck has typically drawn more attention from the outside world. Speaking on the Radio Times podcast in 2024, he said: "25 years ago, the gossip magazine culture was huge but they ignored me. "I wasnt an exciting story; the guy whos married, its boring! Scandal and sex, thats what people would read magazines for. Ive been really lucky. "Especially when I look at ['The Instigators' co-star] Caseys brother, Ben. Weve had parallel careers in a lot of ways, but I cant imagine living under that scrutiny for 25 years." Costco employees are finally spilling the beans on the behaviors that drive them nuts and it turns out some customers are far from courteous. In a viral Reddit thread, staff at the beloved wholesale chain shared their biggest pet peeves, ranging from mild annoyances to downright shocking moments. 'People leaving perishables in random places, throwing their trash in random places, and rudeness I think we agree don't belong in Costco,' one employee wrote on the site. The post gained traction and the employee asked others to share their frustrations with customers. 'Setting up a portable potty and having her child use it in a food aisle,' one jaded worker replied. 'Entering the gas station in the wrong direction' and 'standing in the middle of the aisle, oblivious to everyone around you,' were other top irritants. One employee said customers often toss used sample cups behind pallets, leaving hidden trash piles for workers to clean. 'I don't get it when the sample stations have a garbage right next to it and we have garbage cans at the end of the isles,' they wrote in frustration. Costco employees have revealed their most hated customer behaviors Others noted the irritating creative solutions consumers seem to be getting up to. 'Opening produce containers of apples, grapes, berries, mangoes to make a new package,' they wrote. 'Bringing in pets, this has got out of control,' another added. The complaints may go someway to understanding which Costco recently saw its customer satisfaction rate plummet. The wholesale giant slipped from first to seventh place in the influential American Customer Satisfaction Index this year. Costco's shoppers reported a nearly 5 percent satisfaction drop since 2024. Retail analyst Neil Saunders told dailyMail.com that overfilled parking lots, slow wait times at checkout, and Costco's limited ecommerce sales likely contributed to the brand's dip. Blocking the aisles while shopping is among workers biggest pet peeves However, Saunders stressed that it was a rare setback for the giant. 'Costco is extremely successful and its above average growth rates don't reflect the lower satisfaction rating,' he explained. Costco hiked its membership fees back in September raising its standard by $5 a year, taking it from $60 to $65. The Executive level - which offers a 2 percent rebate on all Costco purchases made that year up to a total of $750 - will increase by $10 to $130 a year. Costco is famous for its own-label Kirkland range, including its award-winning Kirkland Signature Coastal Cheddar Cheese. Recently Slice Soda, a lemon-lime soda originally described as 'Pepsi's answer to Sprite' was found on Costco shelves again for the first time in fifteen years. Despite its enduring popularity Costco lost its crown as the nation's favorite grocery store to southern grocery chain H-E-B. Billionaire investor Bill Ackman has made a surprise move into the car rental world and investors are paying attention. Ackman's Pershing Square Capital Management now has a 20 percent stake in Hertz. He is betting on the value of the company's half a million cars to soar in value as used vehicle prices jump on the back of President Trump's auto tariffs. 'Hertz is uniquely well-positioned in the current tariff environment,' Ackman said in the X post. 'Hertz owns a fleet of over 500,000 vehicles valued at approximately $12 billion. A 10 percent increase in used car prices would equate to a $1.2 billion gain on its auto assets equivalent to approximately half of the company's current market capitalization.' Hertz, long a fixture at airports and vacation spots, has faced years of turmoil. But Ackman's move is being seen as a major vote of confidence and it's turning heads among investors. Since news of Ackman's stake first emerged, the share price has doubled to $8.22. Ackman bets shares will rise to $30 by in four years. Famously, traders have watched every move made by Warren Buffett, the most famous investor of all time. His recent purchase of Sirius XM sent shares skyrocketing. Increasingly, they are looking to the next generation and Ackman, worth $7.7 billion, is high on that list. He is known for bold bets, having made fortunes by shaking up companies like Canadian Pacific and Wendy's. Bill Ackman, a billionaire investor, sent stock prices shooting up after reporting buying Hertz stocks The share price of Hertz has doubled in the past few days after Bill Ackman announced he had bought a stake Still, Ackmans portfolio is a fraction of Berkshire Hathaways. Hes spent years praising Buffett, the market-moving oracle whose shadow hes often cast in. He's also gained notoriety in recent weeks for his forray into political matters. Ackman has also made headlines for both criticizing and later praising President Donald Trump's trade moves. The rental company, known for its giant highlighter yellow signs and A-list sponsored commercials (Tom Brady and OJ Simpson have both been official spokespeople), has lost millions of dollars in several consecutive quarters. In 2020, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as the pandemic kept would-be vacationers locked in their homes. The company emerged from bankruptcy in 2021 with a new strategy focusing on EVs and environmental stewardship. It pledged to buy 100,000 Teslas, attempting to build a forward-thinking fleet of vehicles. But the company's EV bet has largely gone bust. Cars in its fleet rapidly depreciated and vacationers were not enthusastic about navigating American charging infrastructure during their travels. The company reversed course, ditching its EV push and selling off a large chunk of the fleet into late last year, which triggered a nearly $200 million writedown. Customers found a raft of former Hertz Tesla rentals selling for less than $20,000 a pop. Warren Buffett - who is 94 - has a 35 percent stake in Sirius XM The company's stock price jumped over 40 percent on a day when much of the market remained mixed Hertz has struggled in recent years after emerging from bankruptcy in 2021 Hertz appointed Gil West, former chief operating officer of Delta Air Lines, as CEO in April 2024 This means the cars, which have a base price in the mid-$40,000s, lost more than 50 percent of their value in three years. Losses in other operations have continued, too. Hertz has posted negative earnings in recent years, and its debt load has crept higher. Even though Hertz's stock price dramatically rose on Ackman's disclosure, many signs still point to trouble. Some of the company's debt still trades for much less than their full value, which suggests investors don't believe the millions owed will be repaid. Also, nearly half of the stock that can be traded is currently being shorted. That means many investors are holding bets that Hertz's value will continue to falter. A handful of small US companies are benefiting from President Trump's aggressive tariff policies. Most businesses are grappling with higher costs and scrambling to find new suppliers in the wake of Trump's wide-reaching tariffs on imports. But a metals producer in Pennsylvania has seen a 35 percent sales boost in the first quarter of the year. Meanwhile, an advertising and marketing firm in Missouri has reported an even larger 40 percent bump in revenue. Ellwood Group, which makes forged steel, nickel and aluminum products, has seen orders surge as large construction projects look for alternatives to previously cheaper Asian steel. Trump imposed a 25 percent tariff on all steel and aluminum imports in March. 'Customers want to get ahead of the tariffs,' David Barensfeld, chairman of Ellwood, told the Wall Street Journal. 'They are diversifying, reshoring because they want to derisk foreign supply chains.' Ellwood Group has seen a 35 percent sales boost in the first quarter of the year. David Barensfeld, chairman of Ellwood The uptick in demand has led the company to add 50 more workers to its staff of 2,000 with plans to hire another 50 soon. Ellwood is also forecasting higher profit-sharing payouts for current employees. The chaos of Trump's initial announcements sent the stock market plunging and businesses reeling. However, the 90-day pause to most tariffs above ten percent provided relief as well as increased uncertainty for businesses. XXXX Is that increased uncertainty Big Time Advertising & Marketing in St Louis, Missouri is another business that has seen an unexpected boost from the tariffs. The agency, which specializes in work for new and used car dealers, has seen its revenue jump 40 percent this year. Its clients are asking the agency to make campaigns that appeal to buyers spooked by tariffs and the overall economic uncertainty. 'Our phones are already ringing off the hook. "How much should I spend? How should I change my messaging?"' the agency's CEO Terry MacCauley told the Journal. Big Time Advertising & Marketing in St Louis has seen its revenue jump 40 percent this year 'As prices go up and buyers become more hesitant, our jobs become more important,' he explained. As well as its existing clients the company has signed on five new clients in the last month alone. MacCauley said he has plans to hire more staff but wants to be sure the surge in business will last. 'I still have one foot on the dock and one foot on the boat, ready to sail,' he said. The capriciousness of Trump's policy changes mean businesses are unable to plan with certainty. Formic Technologies, a robot rental startup, told the Journal its business has jumped in recent months as US manufacturers try to increase capacity without making long-term commitments. If the manufacturers business dips again they can simply return the robots. Sir Elton John and Brandi Carlile are trying to make up the money lost by Donald Trump's cuts to HIV/AIDS funding. Elton John and Brandi Carlile are seeking donations to make up for Donald Trump's huge cutbacks to HIV/AIDS funding The US president's administration has slashed the monetary support to the cause with experts warning it could reverse decades of progress in combating the virus that attacks the body's immune system, leading to more deaths by 2030. Through the music collaborator's respective charities, Elton John AIDS Foundation and the Looking Out Foundation, they are seeking donations to raise the money needed to make up the huge loss. What's more, the Looking Out Foundation will match every donation up to $100,000 to "double the impact". Elton, 78 - who just teamed up with Brandi on the joint album 'Who Believes in Angels?' - said: Without prompt action, decades of progress in the global fight against HIV could be reversed, creating a global health crisis that we have both the power and the tools to prevent. Our mission is more important than ever we refuse to leave anyone behind and Im so fortunate that Brandi is not only a wonderful collaborator and artist, but a dear friend who shares my vision of a world where HIV care is prioritised and protected. Brandi, 43, commented: It was a lifelong dream come true for me to come together with my hero and friend Elton John to make our album Who Believes in Angels?, and now, were excited to announce that our foundations are also partnering to make our music mean even more. She added: Eltons activism and work with the Elton John AIDS Foundation was what led me to Elton before I even heard a note of his music. Its an incredible honor to launch this partnership and raise funds for the life-saving work of the Elton John AIDS Foundation and the Rocket Response Fund at a time when support is needed the most. The Rocket Fund and Rocket Response Fund was launched to offset the cutbacks to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which is where the HIV/AIDS funding came from. Since its launch in 1992, the Elton John AIDS Foundation has raised more than $500 million for life-saving treatment and advocacy. Haley Joel Osment has apologised for his "disgraceful language" after using an antisemitic slur during his arrest in California. Haley Joel Osment has apologised for the language he used during his arrest The 'Sixth Sense' actor was detained by cops at a ski lodge in Mammoth Lakes, California, on 8 April and has since been charged with possession of cocaine and disorderly conduct - and he's now offered a public apology after bodycam footage showed him calling a police officer a "f****** Nazi" and using an antisemitic slur. The star - who lost his home in the California wildfires earlier this year - said in a statement given to PEOPLE: "Im absolutely horrified by my behavior. Had I known I used this disgraceful language in the throes of a blackout, I would have spoken up sooner. "The past few months of loss and displacement have broken me down to a very low emotional place. But thats no excuse for using this disgusting word. "From the bottom of my heart, I apologize to absolutely everyone that this hurts. "What came out of my mouth was nonsensical garbage - Ive let the Jewish community down and it devastates me. I dont ask for anyones forgiveness, but I promise to atone for my terrible mistake." The Mono County District Attorney's office has confirmed Osment has been charged with two misdemeanour offensives - disorderly conduct under the influence of alcohol in public and possession of cocaine - and is due to be arraigned at Mono County Superior Court on 7 July. Police are believed to have arrived on the scene of the alleged incident after they received a report of "unruly conduct" by the actor. The bodycam footage seen by PEOPLE is believed to show a witness telling a police officer that Osment had been drinking in a nearby bar, but staff there stopped served him after he spilled a drink. He's alleged to have become "aggravated" and "argumentative" and attempted to get on a ski lift, but employees didn't let him and called in police. In California, disorderly conduct is punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine, while a first offense for possession of cocaine can lead to community service or a fine of at least $1,000. Haley Joel Osment has been charged with possession of cocaine and disorderly conduct. Haley Joel Osment has been charged The 'Sixth Sense' actor was arrested at a ski lodge in Mammoth Lakes, California, on 8 April, and now the Mono County District Attorney's office have confirmed he has been charged with two misdemeanour offensives and is due to be arraigned at Mono County Superior Court on 7 July. The District Attorney's office explained the 37-year-old star was specifically charged with disorderly conduct under the influence of alcohol in public and possession of cocaine. The update comes after police previously confirmed Haley had been arrested but had been released. Sergeant Jason Heilman confirmed to People magazine: "He was booked and is no longer in custody. "Public intoxication and possession of a controlled substance are the charges related to the arrest [on April 8]." A source claimed to the outlet that police arrived on the scene after they received a report of "unruly conduct" by the actor. This isn't the first time the star has faced legal trouble. In 2006, the actor crashed his car into a mailbox and was later charged with driving under the influence, to which he pleaded no contest. Years later, he reflected on the difficulties he had faced when growing up as a young startlet in Los Angeles. Speaking on the 'Mentor Buffer' podcast, he explained: "I had this very intense pandemic relationship that ended up going nowhere. Then things started picking up after the worst of the pandemic. "Then there was the [SAG/WGA] strike, which I totally supported, but that put everything on hold for a very long time. And then we've had some political upheaval and this house that had been my refuge during the pandemic was completely destroyed in the Eaton Fire." In California, disorderly conduct is punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine, while a first offense for possession of cocaine can lead to community service or a fine of at least $1,000. A US Citizen born in Georgia is being held in Leon County Jail after being arrested and detained by ICE, despite his mother presenting a valid birth certificate and social security card to a judge. A U.S. born citizen was arrested in Florida for entering the state as an "unauthorized alien." His mother and a community advocate showed his birth certificate during a hearing in Leon County. The judge said she had no authority to release him. pic.twitter.com/lwQQMQuUVR Jackie Llanos (@LlanosJackie) April 17, 2025 Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez, 20, a resident of Grady County, Georgia, was arrested Wednesday after a traffic stop while on his way to work in Tallahassee, the Florida Pheonix reported. He was charged with illegally entering Florida as an "unauthorized alien" under a controversial state law that has previously been temporarily blocked by a federal judge. Leon County Judge LaShawn Riggans examined his birth certificate and Social Security card, declaring the documents authentic and stating there was no probable cause for the misdemeanor charge. "In looking at it, and feeling it, and holding it up to the light, the court can clearly see the watermark to show that this is indeed an authentic document," Riggans said. However, because Lopez-Gomez is under ICE hold, he cannot be released even if the court found no probable cause for his arrest, an attorney for the state said. "I wanted to tell them, 'Where are you going to take him? He is from here,'" his mother, Sebastiana Gomez-Perez, told reporters in Spanish. "I felt immense helplessness because I couldn't do anything, and I am desperate to get my son out of there," she continued while crying. "It hurts so much. I'm sorry, I can't." The law, SB 4-C, makes it a misdemeanor for undocumented immigrants to enter Florida "after entering the United States by eluding or avoiding examination or inspection by immigration officers." A US District Court Judge blocked its enforcement on April 4, calling Lopez-Gomez's detainment into question beyond the fact that he is a US citizen, not an undocumented immigrant. Lopez-Gomez, who primarily speaks the Indigenous Mayan language Tzotzil, was visibly confused during his hearing. His mother said he had lived in Mexico from age 1 until four years ago, when he returned to Georgia. "This is very likely a case of racial profiling against a US citizen who can't speak English," said Thomas Kennedy of the Florida Immigrant Coalition. Lopez-Gomez must now wait up to 48 hours in custody for federal immigration agents to act. His next steps remain uncertain as his family and supporters call for his immediate release. Originally published on Latin Times Internal Revenue Service leadership underwent another shuffle on Friday as President Donald Trump replaced acting commissioner Gary Shapley just days after his appointment, reportedly following a behind-the-scenes power struggle between White House officials. Shapley, a longtime IRS agent celebrated by conservatives for his criticisms of the Hunter Biden investigation, was installed earlier this week with backing from Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), but apparently without the approval of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Bessent reportedly protested that Musk circumvented proper channels to push through Shapley's appointment, the New York Times reported. Now, Bessent's deputy, Michael Faulkender, is stepping in as the third acting IRS leader in a single week. "Trust must be brought back to the I.R.S., and I am fully confident that Deputy Secretary Michael Faulkender is the right man for the moment," Bessent said in a statement. The incident highlights ongoing tensions between Musk and other top officials in the Trump administration. Despite his influence and ongoing efforts to embed DOGE loyalists across federal agencies, Musk's overreach has drawn backlash, even among administration allies. The abrupt removal of Shapley comes amid broader upheaval within the IRS, including staff departures and controversial moves to share IRS data with ICE for immigration enforcement. Former acting head Melanie Krause resigned earlier this week in protest of that policy. While Shapley's tenure was brief, Bessent praised his "passion and thoughtfulness" and noted that both Shapley and fellow IRS whistleblower Joseph Ziegler will take on senior roles elsewhere within the Treasury Department. The episode underscores Musk's complicated role in Trump's second term. Though Trump still publicly praises the billionaire and his $100 million pledge to support GOP-aligned causes, the president has said he believes Musk will return to his private companies before too long. Originally published on Latin Times Hunter Apparel Solutions Limited (Hunter), which is based in Derry's Springtown Industrial Estate, a leader in high-performance PPE and sustainable safety solutions, has taken home two major honours at the 2025 British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) Safety Awards. The companys innovations, FLEXGUARD and Deconology, were awarded the Product Innovation Award and Safety Solution Award respectively, in both cases taking the top prize in the UK. READ NEXT: New Orleans sound to ignite City of Derry Jazz & Big Band Festival "Winning 2 UK National awards is such an honour. The BSIF's independent judging panel includes some of the UK's top H&S professionals and having their vote of confidence that our solutions can lead in R&D in the UK really matters to me and the wider Hunter team. "This will inspire further future R&D at Hunter to help us retain this sector leading position", Simon Hunter Esq, M.B.E., CEO of Hunter Apparel Solutions Limited. Winner of the Product Innovation Award, FLEXGUARD is the worlds first fully hinged blunt-trauma exoskeleton designed specifically for Public Order Officers. These national recognitions not only affirm Hunters place at the forefront of the UK safety industry but also mark a defining moment in a legacy nearly 90 years in the making. Hunter is a fourth-generation, family-owned business established in 1936. Hunter has evolved from a bespoke tailoring specialist into a pioneer in technology-driven professional clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE). It is a true family business, energetically led by CEO Simon Hunter Esq, M.B.E., and with Simons wife Roisin working in the finance department and their son Jude, fourth generation, working in Business Development along with Simons brother Jeff Hunter as Chief Contracts Director. Along with the family who run the business they are supported by a senior leadership team and over 55 staff members. An apparently minor omission by the Norths Department for Infrastructure regarding Dalradians proposed goldmine project in County Tyrones Sperrin Mountains could trigger a major constitutional crisis. That is the view of seasoned environmental activist, Enda Craig, chairperson of Donegals Community for a Clean Estuary (CFCE) campaign. He explained: There is no precise, legally defined, mutually agreed international boundary between the Republic of Ireland and the North. Essentially, this means people living in Donegal may be excluded from the ongoing Transboundary Public Consultation (TPC) on Dalradians proposed gold mine. They will therefore be unable to express their concerns, primarily that pollutants used in the gold mining process will enter the River Foyle and Lough Foyle, said Mr Craig. The legal requirement for a TPC abruptly halted the Planning Appeals Commission public inquiry into the proposed goldmine at Curraghinalt near Greencastle, on January 15 - two days after it opened in the Strule Arts Centre in Omagh. Inquiry chairperson, Jacqueline McParland, was informed the Department of Infrastructure, headed by then Minister John ODowd (Sinn Fein), had failed to consult the relevant Irish authorities on the transboundary implications of the proposal. Responding to a question from Labour party leader, Ivana Bacik TD, in Dail Eireann on February 11, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne, confirmed the statutory responsibility for transboundary consultation was enshrined in the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context - the Espoo Convention for short - to which Ireland and Britain are both signatories. Espoo is a United Nations Economic Commission for Europe treaty legally obliging signatories to assess the environmental impact of certain activities at an early stage of planning, and to notify and consult each other on projects likely to have a significant adverse transboundary impact. Subsequently notified by the Department of Infrastructure, the Dublin Government began a TPC on Dalradians proposed goldmine project. Led by Donegal County Council, the TCP opened on February 26 and closes on April 23; anyone in Ireland can make a submission. Mr Craig, who keeps a weather eye on any developments which might have a detrimental impact on the Foyle, set about compiling a submission on behalf of CFCE, based in Moville on the Lough Foyle shore of the Inishowen peninsula. That was when, unbelievably, I discovered no international boundary exists between the two regions! he said. I know because I consulted the official map where it can be seen there is no international boundary line whatsoever in relation to any part of Lough Foyle - especially between Muff and Greencastle on the County Donegal coastline. The boundary indicator stops at Muff, added Mr Craig. To enable CFCE to prepare a thorough and accurate submission, I have therefore sought clarification on the location of the international boundary in relation to the River Foyle and the identification of the lawful owners of its riverbed, soil and waters, from Donegal County Council - TPC lead. To date this has not been forthcoming. Clarity on the international boundary is vitally important in the case of Dalradians gold mine application. Without a clear agreement on the boundary, citizens of the Irish Republic cannot effectively invoke their rights under the Espoo Convention. CFCE is therefore urging the Irish Government and Donegal County Council to step in and halt proceedings until this crucial matter is addressed. As such, until this boundary issue is resolved, the Department for Infrastructure is required to place Dalradians planning application on hold. Seven students from St. Josephs Boys School along with Principal, Mrs. Ciara Deane, teacher Mrs. Ciara McCallion and the school Manager, Ms. Melissa Grant will leave for America on Wednesday morning, bound for New York for six days where they will take part in the prestigious Loukoumi Foundation Good Deed Summit. The seven Year 13 students will be in New York from Wednesday next, April 22, returning Monday, April 28 and include Tristan Doran, Jude White, Liam Collins, Harley Nixon, Kian Mitchell, Jordan Kelly and Callum Hughes who were all delighted to be told the good news recently by Principal, Mrs. Ciara Deane, who said: "These students have put in a lot of hard work throughout the year fundraising and are so deserving of this trip to the Big Apple!" The excited teenagers said they were not only looking forward to travelling to the United States, but also getting a chance to speak at a conference as well as a day off to get to sightsee some of the best New York has to offer! Based in America, the Loukoumi Make A Difference Foundation envisions a future in which all children have the opportunity to make a difference in their lives and the lives of others. They encourage children and young adults to make a difference in their own lives by following their career dreams and to make a difference in the lives of others by paying forward their talents through community service projects that mean something to them all while having fun in the process. READ NEXT: Derry schools Shaping Mindsets programme given Ministers full support The Foundation hosts an international Good Deed Council of schools worldwide and monthly, across 13.5 hours of time zones, students meet on Zoom to share their cultures and customs, the good deed projects they are working on in their communities and together they collaborate on global good deed projects. St. Josephs are the only school from Ireland involved in the project with educational establishments from Canada, Italy, Greece, Spain, Tanzania, Uganda, and Ecuador. As well as taking part in the summit, the students and staff have a busy itinerary which will see them visit the world-renowned United Nations building; travel around New York in the Loukoumi Good Deed Bus, calling in to St. Patricks Cathedral where they will take part in an interfaith prayer service; stop off at a homeless project; take in some sightseeing as well as a special visit to Broadway. OFF TO AMERICA!. . . Mrs. Ciara Deane, Principal, St. Joseph's Boys School pictured with staff members Ciara McCallion and Melissa Grant and Year 13 students who will be heading to New York on Wednesday next for a six day visit to take part in the Loukoumi Foundation's Good Deed Summit. The students going are Tristan Doran, Jude White, Liam Collins, Harley Nixon, Kian Mitchell, Jordan Kelly and Callum Higgins. (Photos: Jim McCafferty Photography) The next morning will be spent at the TedX Talk at the Eastchester School District Auditorium and the afternoon sees a visit to the Bronx for lunch and activities at Our Lady of Grace School including re-recording of Loukoumis theme song Make Someone Smile originally written and recorded by Grammy award winner Gloria Gaynor. All-in-all, a busy and hectic, but worthwhile agenda for all involved from St. Josephs. Principal, Mrs. Ciara Deane said the boys are looking forward to the six-day trip stateside but will also be working hard, learning and networking during their trip. "It will be an experience for our Year 13 students, but we expect them to play their part in all activities during the trip. Our school was put forward for the awards two years ago by no other than His Eminence, Archbishop Eamon Martin, Primate of All-Ireland and this year, our students have been participating in various online activities with a host of other schools from around the world. "As well as that, they have been organising fundraising activities throughout the year to fund the trip. We have also received funding from the Irish American Partnership to the tune of $10,000 which all goes to help cover the many costs. A massive thank you to Mary Sugrue from the Partnership whom I met at last years event and kept in contact with her." Mrs. Deane said the opportunity to once again work with the Loukoumi Good Deeds Foundation has surpassed all her expectations. "I continue to see good deeds daily at school. The support that the boys show each is our culture and ethos. Sometimes in a busy environment we do not take the time to stop and fully appreciate the impact of peer support and the motivation that young people can give all staff. "Indeed, the Foundation has witnessed the strong Catholic ethos in the school and the spirit of inclusion and celebration of difference that drives our vision of Achievement For All." Teacher Miss Ciara McCallion, also travelling with the boys, and who has been involved in the project from its foundation with fellow teacher Mr. Paul Quigley, said she was proud to be returning to this years summit and believed all the students will gain from their experiences. Finalising their itinerary for the visit to New York for the Loukoumi Foundation's Good Deed Summit are St. Joseph's Boys School Principal Ciara Deane, teacher Ciara McCallion and administrator Melissa Grant. She also added: "The New York Summit is an amazing opportunity for our students to showcase the work they do at our school to a global audience. They will get to meet other students, share their stories and their ideas to continue to make a difference. "Our students will share this experience with their peers upon their return to St. Josephs therefore inspiriing and motivating them to get involved in making a difference to our school and community." The travelling party from St. Josephs will return early Monday, April 28. PICTURED ABOVE: The Vice Lord Lieutenant Alan Moore, OBE, presenting the King's Award for Voluntary Service to Laura Duddy and Benjamin Thompson, Foyle Down Syndrome Trust, in the Guildhall on Friday last. At back is Sgt. Niall Downey, Irish Guards. (Photos: Jim McCafferty Photography) The Foyle Down Syndrome Trust celebrated success at the Guildhall on Friday evening last, receiving The Kings Award for Voluntary Service, presented by the Vice Lord Lieutenant for the County Borough of Londonderry, Alan Moore, with the Mayor, Lilian Seenoi-Barr hosting the event in the Great Hall. Every day, millions of people across the UK are making a difference by volunteering and each year, outstanding examples of this work are celebrated through the Kings Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS) and this year the city and district has done very well picking up no less than seven awards with FDST receiving the fifth of this years presentations. Created in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth IIs Golden Jubilee and previously known as The Queens Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS), the Award has been shining a light on the fantastic work of voluntary groups from all across the UK for many years. One of the highlights of Fridays award ceremony was the musical performance on stage of two young musicians from the Trust - Conor and Bernard who brought the house down with Conors rendition of Amazing Grace and Bernards Wild Mountain Thyme followed by both performing Shoe The Donkey and The Kerry Polka. The duo was ably assisted by Josie Nugent from the FDST staff. IN PICTURES: Foyle Down Syndrome Trust celebrate Kings Award for Voluntary Service Speakers on the night included the Mayor, Lilian Seenoi-Barr, the Trusts chair, Angela Thompson, Sandra Adair (KAVS) and the Lord Lieutenant who paid tribute to the Trust on achieving their award which he said, was well deserved and wished all the very best for the future. "It was indeed a great honour to present the Kings Award tonight to a very worthwhile group, the Foyle Down Syndrome Trust. Christopher and his team do very deserving work and this award goes a long way to highlight the sterling achievements they continue set." The Kings Award is the equivalent of an MBE. Responding, Christopher Cooper, manager, FDST said he was delighted that the Trust has been recognised for their work and dedication and that everyone was over the moon when they heard the good news. "It is testament to all at Foyle Down Syndrome Trust that weve been recognised. A big well done to all." At Fridays reception, volunteer Amy Carlin spoke of how she got involved with the Trust, her lovely experiences working with the young people and how FDST make a difference in the lives of everyone involved. The Vice Lord Lieutenant presented the crystal to Laura Duddy and the certificate to Benjamin Thompson to loud applause from the main hall. Afterwards, tea and refreshments were served. Derry's Bloody Sunday Trust has announced its programme of events to mark Nakba Day 2025. Nakba Day is the day of commemoration for the Nakba, also known as the Palestinian Catastrophe, which comprised the destruction of Palestinian society and homeland in 1948, and the permanent displacement of a majority of the Palestinian people. A hard-hitting new exhibition, Layans Steps, will be launched in the Museum of Free Derry on Wednesday, May 14 at 7.00pm. Based on the work of award-winning Palestinian photojournalist Eman Mohammed, Layans Steps tells the story of Layan Albaz, a 13-year-old Palestinian girl who lost both legs in an Israeli airstrike in October 2023 and had to travel to the USA, alone, for treatment. The exhibition focusses on Layans time in treatment and with her host family in Chicago, highlighting her resilience as she recovered from her appalling experience. The exhibition will be launched by Eman Mohammed, and will be on display in the museum until mid-July. Eman said: As a Palestinian journalist, I refuse to stay silent. I have made it my mission to document what the world wants to forget. Because when we fail to document, history gets rewritten. And when the cameras go dark, genocide becomes a rumor. That is why I sought out stories like Layans. She is not just a survivor. She is a living record of what Gaza has endured. Her body carries the wounds of Israeli fire. Layan arrived in the United States at 13, alone, heartbroken, and in a wheelchair. No state saved her. No government intervened. It was a grassroots Palestinian-led NGO, Heal Palestine, that stepped up to rebuild what the world kept breaking. But let us be clear. Palestinian resilience is not a fairytale. It is not meant to inspire. It is survival under the weight of global indifference. These children are not symbols. They are human beings, blinded by shrapnel, torn apart by sniper bullets, crawling out of hell with whatever is left of their bodies and minds. And still, somehow, they rise. Layans journey is more than recovery. It is resistance. She reminds us that Palestinians are not asking to die nobly. We are demanding to live freely, with justice, dignity, and joy. This exhibition is not about art. It is about truth. It bears witness to war crimes the world continues to excuse. It refuses to let anyone say, We did not know. A version of Layans Steps, first published in The Atavist Magazine, has recently received multiple international awards. The article investigated how Gaza became home to the largest cohort of child amputees in the world and also shed light on the severe bias in Western media, which has continually downplayed violence against the Palestinian people, and the massive impact it is having on Palestinian children. Trust Chairperson Tony Doherty said: We are honoured to be working with Eman again, after first meeting her when she took part in our Derry Peace and conflict international week in September 2024. Her telling of the story of Layan Albaz really highlights the strength of the Palestinian people as they continue to face genocidal attack from Israel. Layan is a fine example of why a people that determined will never be beaten. Her story gives a very moving example of the appalling impact that Israels attack on Gaza has had on Palestinian children and gives us the personal story we need to help us relate again to people behind the statistics, the tens of thousands who have been killed, severely injured or massively affected during this genocide. On May 15 Nakba Day the Bloody Sunday Trust will donate all proceeds from museum admissions to the Palestinian Medical Relief Society, so people will have an opportunity to visit the museum and make a direct donation to an important cause at the same time. The range of Palestinian-themed items produced by the Bloody Sunday Trust will also be on sale, with proceeds split equally between the Trust and the Palestinian Medical Relief Society. On May 16 the Museum of Free Derry will host a musical fundraiser for Palestine, with Paddy Nash, Jonny Nutt, Declan McLaughlin and Jennifer Kelly and Luke McLaughlin. Tickets for this event are 7 and available from Eventbrite, with all proceeds going to the Palestinian Medical Relief Society. 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 graduate student from the University of California, Los Angeles was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the San Ysidro border crossing while attempting to re-enter the country from Mexico. UCLA confirmed the detention but has not released the student's name or nationality. The student was able to contact a university affiliate before being taken into custody. "The student remains in the custody of CBP and we are actively working to learn more information," said Mary Osako, UCLA vice chancellor for strategic communications, in a statement to the Los Angeles Times. "Our international students are an essential part of our Bruin community, and we remain fully committed to supporting their ability to learn and thrive at UCLA." The incident comes amid a sharp increase in visa cancellations targeting international students, particularly those perceived to be involved in political activism the Trump administration deems dangerous for national security. According to Inside Higher Ed, a publication which has been closely monitoring such developments, as of April 17, over 240 colleges and universities have identified 1,480-plus international students and recent graduates who have had their legal status changed by the State Department. "We've been warning the university for weeks that students would be detained," said UCLA political science professor Graeme Blair to the Los Angeles Times at a rally held Thursday evening on campus which attended by some 150 students and faculty members. The Department of Homeland Security and the State Department have not provided detailed explanations for most visa revocations. University staff often learn of visa terminations only after checking the SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) database, which is now being updated unilaterally by federal authorities. In many cases, the cancellations have been based on background checks that flagged minor infractions, such as traffic violations. However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously stated that the U.S. was revoking visas of individuals whose actions were considered contrary to national interests, including participation in pro-Palestinian demonstrations and unrelated legal issues. The scope of enforcement has expanded beyond campuses known for recent protests. Schools in New York, California, Texas, and Florida have reported significant numbers of visa cancellations. Harvard University is currently under scrutiny by DHS, which has requested detailed records of student visa holders following its refusal to alter its curriculum and hiring practices. As of now, the reason for the UCLA student's detention remains unclear, and it is unknown whether her visa had been revoked prior to her attempted reentry. Originally published on Latin Times 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. SK Hynix-Hanmi alliance fractures as Korean memory giant seeks new suppliers SK Hynix's eight-year partnership with Hanmi Semiconductor is showing signs of strain after the memory chipmaker began sourcing thermal compression bonding machines from rival Hanwha Semitech, according to industry sources. Hanmi, which has been the exclusive supplier of TC Bonders essential for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) production, has reportedly pulled all service engineers from SK Hynix's factories in an unprecedented move for the semiconductor equipment sector. The dispute escalated in March when SK Hynix ordered 12 TC Bonders worth approximately US$29.6 million from Hanwha Semitech. Hanmi has already filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Hanwha related to the bonding technology. Industry analysts warn the conflict could threaten South Korea's competitive edge in the HBM market, where SK Hynix holds an estimated 65% global market share. The partnership had been described as "inseparable as lips and teeth" since 2017, with Hanmi achieving record revenues of KRW558.9 billion in 2024 and operating profit margins of 46%. SK Hynix's diversification strategy follows standard industry practice of maintaining multiple suppliers to ensure continuity and price competitiveness. Meanwhile, Hanmi is reportedly expanding its supply relationships with Micron, the world's third-largest DRAM manufacturer. Market observers suggest the dispute may eventually resolve as both companies recognize that prolonged conflict would damage their respective market positions in a sector projected to reach KRW50 trillion by year-end. Article edited by Jack Wu China bans automakers from marketing "self-driving" features China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has instructed nearly 60 automotive manufacturers to cease using terms like "self-driving" and "smart driving" in marketing materials for Level 2 (L2) advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). According to meeting records that surfaced online, the new regulations aim to prevent consumer confusion and potential accidents from exaggerated claims about vehicle automation capabilities. The restrictions come amid three years of intense competition in China's automotive market, where domestic brands have used "smart driving" as a key marketing differentiator without raising prices. Foreign manufacturers, including German and Japanese brands seeking to regain market share at the upcoming Shanghai Auto Show, have also adopted similar technology-focused marketing strategies. Companies likely affected include Xiaomi, BYD, Leapmotor Technology, Toyota Motor Research Institute, and Huawei, which supplies ADAS technology to multiple manufacturers. Industry analysts suggest the regulations could increase costs, slow technological development, and potentially accelerate consolidation among electric vehicle manufacturers, many of which remain unprofitable outside of market leaders like Tesla, BYD, Li Auto, and Seres Group. The new rules also prohibit manufacturers from using over-the-air updates to test or improve ADAS features without prior approval, requiring comprehensive testing before deployment. Article edited by Jack Wu Subscriber content preview SEATTLE A line-retail building at 8014 Lake City Way N.E. sold this week for about $3.3 million, according to King County records. The seller was Niu Enterprises LLC, which acquired the property in 2012 for over $5.6 million. The buyer was CL Village at Maple Leaf WA LLC, which is associated with Curbline Properties of Ohio. . . . Subscriber content preview SEATTLE An apartment building at 1519 California Ave. S.W. sold this week for a bit over $4.4 million, according to King County records. The seller was a local family that had owned the property for decades. The buyers were three LLCs associated with local investor Ron Danz. Public records indicate a loan from Fourleaf Federal Credit Union. . . . The Dundalk Lions Club, in association with Irish Whiskey Auctions, is co-hosting a very special 'Whiskey with a Mission' tasting event, with Irish Distillers, ( IDPR) The event will take place on Friday 9th May at 7pm in the Gateway Hotel, Dundalk. Promising to be a night of fun and fundraising, Irish Distillers will showcase their Midleton Collection portfolio, which contains brands such as Midleton Very Rare, Redbreast, Spot Whiskeys, with all proceeds going to the Dundalk Lions Clubs charity endeavours. Andrew Dickie, brand engagement and advocacy team manager at IDPR, will lead the guests through this incredible whiskey portfolio. Andrew has a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm for whiskey and will be an excellent lead on the night. Callan Quinn from Dundalk Lions Club is looking forward to the event and thinks it will be a success, We are excited to partner again with Irish Whiskey Auctions and Irish Distillers to host Whiskey With A Mission, a charity premium whiskey tasting in the Gateway Hotel. The last event was fantastic and we are going bigger again this year to help raise funds for the Lions Club's many charity endeavours, including the upcoming trip for the senior citizens to the west of Ireland. Read Next: Plans underway for 44 new homes in north Louth Anthony Sheehy, CEO of Irish Whiskey Auctions, is proud to be partnering with Dundalk Lions Club for the event, The Lions Club Dundalk, like many of the charities we support, is close to our hearts. We have worked to help raise funds for this great local charity before and look forward to continuing our support. We are thrilled that we have been able to grow and expand our yearly whiskey event with the Lions and hope we raise much needed funds for our local causes. Dont miss out on this fantastic opportunity to enjoy prestige whiskey and contribute to the community. Tickets cost 35 and are available at Eventbrite.ie or by contacting www.irishwhiskeyauctions.com or the Dundalk Lions Club. An Irish community is in mourning following the tragic death of local teenager Dessie O'Kelly, who was killed in a tractor crash in Leitrim on Tuesday. Dessie, 18, was a passenger on the tractor when it crashed on the R204 at Aghavilla at around 3.10pm. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver, also in his late teens, was taken to Cavan General Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Local Fianna Fail Councillor Paddy O'Rourke spoke to Newstalk about the heart-wrenching impact of the tragedy. "Unfortunately we are left without one of the finest young men from our parish," he said. "To say that the parish has been numbed by this is an understatement because it has hit us like a ton of bricks." Cllr O'Rourke added that Dessie had completed his Leaving Certificate and was enrolled in an agriculture course. "The young man was 18 years of age, completed his Leaving Certificate and was doing a course in agriculture," he said. "His whole life was ahead of him." The loss has sent shockwaves through the close-knit community of Carrigallen, with Cllr O'Rourke expressing the disbelief many are feeling. "It's beyond comprehension that somebody could go out in the morning and not come back to his family and loved ones at that age," he said. "He would have had a lot of colleagues at school... in the course he was doing... and the entire area has been stunned by this. Carrigallen Vocational School, where Dessie had been a student, has offered support to students and former classmates. The school issued a statement: "It is with deep sadness that we remember former student Dessie OKelly who passed away yesterday. The sympathies of all our school community are extended to his family and friends at this sad time." Dessie was well-known in the local farming community, and his passing has left many reeling. Local parish priest Fr John McMahon described him as a "helpful and great young fellow," and expressed his condolences to the O'Kelly family. The community of Carrigallen continues to rally around Dessie's family, offering their support as they cope with this unimaginable loss. The funeral mass for Dessie O'Kelly will take place in St. Mary's Church, Drumeela, on Easter Sunday at 2pm, followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery. Dessie will repose at his home in Drumloona, Carrigallen, on Good Friday, April 18th, from 4pm to 8pm, and on Easter Saturday, April 19th, from 5pm to 8pm. READ MORE | Disastrous Easter weather warning forecast as Met Eireann issues Status Orange U.S. tariff-related uncertainty to reduce Italy's GDP growth, employment: gov't entities Xinhua) 14:00, April 18, 2025 ROME, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Uncertainty sparked by dramatic changes in the United States' tariff regime will have an oversized impact on the Italian economy, with two reports released Thursday predicting reduced economic growth and the loss of tens of thousands of jobs. In a hearing on the government's budget plan Thursday, ISTAT, Italy's National Statistics Institute, predicted the current situation would likely reduce the country's economic growth by 0.2 percent this year and 0.3 percent in 2026, significant levels considering ISTAT's economic growth prognostications are for just 0.6 percent and 0.8 percent this year and next, respectively. Meanwhile, in the remarks at the same hearing, Lilia Cavallari, chair of the Parliamentary Budget Office, or the UPB, said the U.S. tariffs would "impact nearly every sector of the Italian economy," saying that their impacts would reduce employment in Italy by "around 68,000 jobs." The estimates were released the same day Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was in Washington to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump, with the tariff policy the main item on the agenda. Meloni is the first European Union leader to meet with Trump since the U.S. leader unveiled unexpectedly harsh global tariffs on April 2. Trump's initial tariffs on products imported to the United States from the European Union were set to be 20 percent, though that policy was quickly paused for 90 days. A higher 25-percent levy on steel, aluminum, and automobiles from all countries, including in Europe, remains in place, as well as another 10 percent additional tariffs on imports from most U.S. trade partners. But the data from ISTAT and the UPB say that the bulk of the impacts on the Italian economy will come from uncertainty surrounding the tariff regime from the world's largest economy, rather than from the tariffs themselves. In her remarks, Cavallari said that although the impacts will be spread across the wider economy, the sectors hit hardest by job losses will include those that depend heavily on exports, such as the pharmaceutical industry, carmakers, mining, and machinery and machine parts manufacturing. The UPB also noted that the impacts came on the heels of just 0.7 percent economic growth in Italy last year, the first time the country's economy grew slower than that of the euro currency zone since 2021. ISTAT said that while it expected significant impacts from the tariff situation, economic forecasts were particularly difficult because of a lack of clarity about the "economic and trade policy responses from governments and central banks." (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) A protest was held outside City Hall yesterday calling for the tenant-in-situ scheme to be reinstated, as a Cork TD says families fear they will be homeless in the coming weeks. Cork City Council was allocated 20m for their 2025 acquisitions programme by the Government at the end of last month, they told The Echo. A council spokesperson explained: The impact of funding will, unfortunately, mean that the 2025 acquisition programme is now ceased. After reviewing the current programme, and financial commitments carried over from 2024, we have determined that the allocated funding has been exhausted. In summary, the initial funding allocation received by Cork City Council is inadequate to fulfil its existing commitments and the projected programme for 2025. They added that the council is discussing the matter with the Department of Housing, and envisage that commitments will be honoured. A spokesperson for the department told The Echo: It is the clear focus of the Government to increase the supply of new-build social and affordable homes. Increasing the overall housing supply is key to addressing the housing challenge and preventing, and ultimately eliminating, long-term homelessness. The Government is also committed to the continuation of the second-hand social housing acquisitions programme and targeting those acquisitions at those most vulnerable. Housing minister James Browne secured an additional 265m for the tenant-in-situ initiative for councils across Ireland, the spokesperson said, adding that the programme will deliver a similar number of houses this year as in 2024. Sinn Fein TD for Cork North Central Thomas Gould, one of the organisers of the protest, told The Echo that he and his colleagues have been dealing with families who are absolutely distraught. They thought they were sorted, now theyre reading in the media that the scheme has been ceased and they dont know whats going to happen to them, they havent been notified yet, he said. People turned up today who had been told their house would be bought by the council, and others who have just recently received notices to quit and are worried they are going to be homeless. One lady is packing her bags, because she has to be out on May 1. Figures provided to Sinn Fein councillor Kenneth Collins showed that 37 single households and 51 families, consisting of 87 adults and 100 children, avoided homelessness through this scheme last year. The group brought 100 Easter eggs to the protest to symbolise these 100 children. The eggs were donated to Penny Dinners afterwards. Members of Cork City Fire Brigade attending an overnight fire in a derelict former Magdalene laundry had what was described as a near miss when an overhead section of flooring holding two cast-iron baths collapsed in the blaze. Arriving on the scene just before midnight on Wednesday, seven units of Cork City Fire Brigade, with at least 20 personnel, attended what was described as a serious fire at the former Good Shepherd Convent in Sundays Well. The blaze began in the former Magdalene laundry on the western extreme of the ruined building, and firefighters remained on site until 11am yesterday. Victor Shine, second officer with Cork City Fire Brigade, said the derelict site was well alight when crews arrived on the scene. The main force of the flame came from two sections of flooring left in the western end of the building, the ground-floor section of the floor, which was extremely dry, and the first-floor section, he said. That was probably the last section of the building that could burn; the rest was pretty much gutted. The complete western end was on fire. Crews then started a defensive attack on it, using hand-held [hoses]. They set up monitors because theres a basement area which the floor would collapse into, so you couldnt put anyone on that section, and they set up a hydraulic platform at the rear to set up what we call a water tower to get water into the core of the building. Mr Shine said the building was extremely dangerous and needed to be secured. We had a near miss with crews when a floor section collapsed with two cast-iron baths on it, and if anyone had been under it, they were dead, he said. Padraig OSullivan, Fianna Fail TD for Cork North Central, said Cork City Council needed to secure the former Good Shepherd Convent site as a matter of urgency after the latest in a semi-regular series of fires at the site. Seven units of Cork City Fire Brigade worked into the early hours of Thursday morning to bring under control a serious fire at the former Good Shepherd convent and Magdalene laundry in Sunday's Well. Picture: Donal O'Keeffe Weve seen multiple fires up there, and I would have a very serious concern that someone will be badly injured or worse there, Mr OSullivan said. The site needs to be secured urgently before there is a tragedy there. Kenneth Collins, Sinn Fein city councillor, said Cork City Council needed to contact the developers and they need to tell them to secure the site, or they will compulsorily purchase it. Tony Fitzgerald, Fianna Fail city councillor, said the owners of the former convent site needed to take responsibility for its safety. [Wednesday] nights fire brought a serious risk to life and I want to pay tribute to the fire service, who arrived to an inferno, Mr Fitzgerald said. The latest incident is the most serious blaze at the derelict site since a major fire in 2022 gutted the eastern block of the convent. The Good Shepherd Convent site has been on Cork City Councils derelict sites register since February 2019 and has an estimated current market value of 1,850,000. The former Good Shepherd convent and Magdalene laundry. Picture: Donal O'Keeffe The Echo has been unsuccessful in its attempts to contact Moneda Developments, the last known owners of the former convent site. Tom Coleman, chairperson of the Blarney Street and Surrounding Areas Community Association, told The Echo that the former Good Shepherd Convent represented a tragedy waiting to happen. A Cork City Council spokesperson said the site has incurred annual derelict sites levies since 2019. Cork City Council will continue to work with the owners through the planning process to facilitate the development of this large, complex, and important site, they said. A new office for the Shine A Light Suicide and Mental Health Awareness group which was opened on Cork citys northside recently represents its commitment to making mental health support more accessible and inclusive, the Shine A Light CLG vice chairman has said. Mick Nugent, the former Sinn Fein councillor, was speaking at the event held on Saturday to mark the opening of the office which is located in the Northside for Business Campus at Ballyvolane. Established in 2009, Shine A Light has been described as a beacon of hope for those affected by mental health issues and bereavement. The opening on Saturday was attended by Lord Mayor Dan Boyle and attended by the Minister for State at the Department of Rural and Community Development Jerry Buttimer, as well as Cork North Central Independent Ireland TD Kenneth OFlynn. The Lord Mayor said he was pleased to acknowledge the development of Shine A Light with the opening of their office. In its 16 years of existence the group has been more than adept at recognising the threats on mental health for young people and their communities. Shine A Light has been innovative in its response, he said. As an organisation it has shown itself to be invaluable in efforts to promote best mental health in Cork. The event was also attended by elected members of Cork City Council, Kenneth Collins, John Maher, Noel OFlynn and Ciara OConnor. Representatives from Shine A Light stakeholders, including ABLES, Cork City Partnership, Coisceim and Northside for Business Enterprise Trade Development, SAFE Glanmire, Cork Penny Dinners, Cork City Missing Persons Search and Recovery, Cork Samaritans and Churchfield Community Trust, were also in attendance. Joe Dalton of Shine A Light said the new office would serve as a launchpad for future growth. Artificial intelligence (AI) offers enormous potential benefits in healthcare, a leading Cork doctor has said, but human beings must be kept at the heart of the decision making process. Professor Richard Greene of University College Cork, who is an obstetrician and gynaecologist, as well as the HSEs chief clinical information officer, recently served on a citizens jury on the use of AI in healthcare. Organised by the Irish Platform for Patient Organisations, Science, and Industry (IPPOSI), the 24-person jury convened from last September to December to offer the publics perspective on this complex topic. Prof Greene served as a member of the independent Jury Oversight Panel, and he spoke to The Echo about the jurys findings. The citizens jury was set up to get a feeling from the citizens as to the potential benefits of AI in healthcare, and they were randomly selected right across the country, right across appropriate gender and ethnic membership in comparison to the composition of the population, and they were broadly in favour of the use of artificial intelligence, but they wanted a lot of controls around it, he said. The jury published 25 recommendations on the safe, ethical, and inclusive use of AI in Irelands healthcare system, and it wrote to the Government setting out the need for an independent regulator and a commissioner to oversee AI, and a five-year national strategy on AI in healthcare. Members of the jury endorsed the early, low-risk deployment of high-quality, human-monitored AI tools in helping alleviate pressures on the healthcare system, in pioneering advances in care, and empowering people to take a more active role in their own health. However, they also emphasised the need for strong regulation, transparent oversight and robust data security. The jury was very clear that they wanted a regulator around the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare, and that the regulator would handle legislation to enact the EU AI Act, Prof Greene said. There is a lot of activity going on in the services around this as well, the Department of Health and the HSE have committed to an AI implementation strategy, which is also in the Programme for Government, theres also stuff come out from the Department of Enterprise around it, the secretary of Hiqa has also been asked by the minister of health to develop guidance to promote the responsible use of AI in cognisance of the EU AI Act and the ethical side of AI use. We ourselves in the HSE are currently in the process of drawing up a framework for adoption of AI and guidance around it, so that if people in the services are looking at it, there are approaches and frameworks there to ensure that people would be able to approach it faithfully. The jurys findings clearly corresponded with prevailing opinion, he said, that where the use of AI in healthcare was concerned, human beings must be kept at the heart of the decision making process. Generally in this country, and internationally, theres a belief that we need to continue to have the human in the loop with AI, in other words that its not making decisions on its own, that we have human monitoring to keep an eye on the output from it, and to ensure that we pick up any risks from it as well. Professor Richard Greene, member of independent Jury Oversight Panel of the Citizens' Jury on the use of AI in healthcare That came across very strongly from the citizens jury, but its also one of the things that any of us who are interested in it are also talking about, Prof Greene said. He added that a number of other concerns about the future use of AI were raised by the jury. They wanted equitable access, that it be for the benefit of all and not just based on any disparity on public/private healthcare, and they were also very keen that there would be a whole piece around public education and engagement, like a national awareness campaign to inform the public of the benefits of it, the risks of it, and the role of it in healthcare. They talked a lot about consent as well, that people should have know that it was being used and could decide not to have it used in their care, he said. Prof Greene noted that AI was currently being used beneficially in medicine to screen mammograms, and to look for fractures in bone x-rays, examples he said of instances where AI was being used very well. In fact, by using it, youre really increasing the chances that the doctor will pick up on the fracture rather than miss the fracture, he said. The need for a human hand on the AI wheel was something that had come very strongly in the findings of the citizens jury, he said, and that was a sentiment replicated in international studies. I dont think people are in any way ready to have AI be their doctor or their nurse, in a situation where its working on its own, but rather that its working in support of clinicians and healthcare to do a better job, he said. The sci-fi future of AI doctors is still some way off, Prof Greene added. Instead, AI will be helping doctors and nurses, helping them to make diagnoses, or perhaps suggest to them treatments for particular patients, but it wont be making the decisions, it will still be a human being writing the prescription for the patient. Key recommendations of the citizens jury on the use of AI in healthcare in Ireland: Latest: Gardai have confirmed 15-year-old Caitlyn Dries, who had been reported missing from the Mallow are has been found safe and well. In a statement issued on Saturday morning a garda spokesperson said: "Caitlyn Dries who was reported missing from Mallow, Co. Cork on Wednesday, April 16, has been located safe and well. "No further media action is required. An Garda Siochana would like to thank the media and the public for their assistance." Friday: Gardai are seeking the public's assistance in tracing the whereabouts of Caitlyn Dries who was reported missing from Mallow, Co Cork on Wednesday, April 16 Caitlyn, 15, was last seen on Shandon Street, Cork on Wednesday at approximately 8pm. She is described as being approximately 4'11' in height, of slim build with brown hair and brown eyes. When last seen Caitlyn was wearing beige leggings and a leopard print top. A garda spokesperson said they are concerned for Caitlyns well-being. Anyone with information on Caitlyns whereabouts is asked to contact Gurranabraher Garda Station on 021 494 6200, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station. By Jonathan McCambridge, PA The suspended chief constable of Devon and Cornwall Police will not be prosecuted over allegations of sexual offences. The Public Prosecution Service (PPS) in Northern Ireland also said Will Kerr will not face charges relating to an allegation of misconduct in public office. Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall Alison Hernandez said the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) would now be resuming an investigation into allegations of misconduct against Mr Kerr. He will remain suspended until the outcome of this investigation. Mr Kerr was a former assistant chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). He had worked for the PSNI for 27 years, later joining Police Scotland before he joined Devon and Cornwall Police in December 2022. He was suspended as chief constable in 2023 after it emerged he was under investigation following allegations of sexual offences. At the time he strenuously denied any allegations of criminality. He was investigated by the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland (PONI) and the IOPC. The ombudsman case was then passed to the PPS. The PPS confirmed on Thursday a decision had been taken not to prosecute. It said a team of prosecutors had considered the case, assisted by advice from independent senior counsel. A PPS spokeswoman said: We have carefully considered all the evidence submitted by the Police Ombudsmans Office in connection with this complex case. The standard of proof needed for a criminal prosecution is high. In order to prosecute, the evidence must be sufficient to provide a reasonable prospect of conviction. In this case, the available evidence did not reach this threshold. All relevant parties have been informed of the decision by the PPS, with assurance that the decision was taken only after a most careful examination of all the evidence and information available. A spokesperson for the Police Ombudsman said: The Police Ombudsman submitted a substantial file to the PPS, following a significant investigation into allegations of a serious criminal nature. Having considered the evidence, PPS has made a decision not to prosecute. The Police Ombudsman awaits the detailed reasoning which informed the decision, and will give it careful consideration. The Police Ombudsman remains in contact with the Independent Office for Police Conduct relating to those criminal allegations. Devon and Cornwall Police is currently being led by interim Chief Constable James Vaughan. After Mr Kerr was suspended, he was replaced by acting Chief Constable Jim Colwell, who was suspended in November pending an investigation into potential gross misconduct over claims he used his work mobile phone to exchange messages of a personal nature. Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez. Photo: Simon Hammett/PA. Ms Hernandez said: I am delighted to hear that Mr Kerr is no longer under criminal investigation. This will be a significant relief to Mr Kerr and his family. It is disappointing that it has taken nearly two years to get to this decision. While this is a major milestone, we await further instructions from the Independent Office for Police Conduct on any potential misconduct matters which may still need their oversight. The leadership of Devon and Cornwall Police remains under the stewardship of Mr Vaughan until any outstanding matters are concluded. An IOPC spokesperson said: We are aware of the Public Prosecution Service decision announced today. Given that decision, we will be resuming our investigation into allegations of misconduct against chief constable Will Kerr relating to those criminal allegations. (Photo: Albin Hillert/LWF)Thousands of Ukrainian flags have been placed at the Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square), the central square of Kyiv, Ukraine, in front of the Independence Monument, in memory of those whose lives have been lost since the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February 2022. Behind the flags stands a sign reading 'Ukrainians killed by Putin'. Ukraine suffers from the invasion by Russian Federation military forces into the country, ongoing since February 2022. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry has denounced "religious persecution" carried out by Russia in the occupied Ukrainian territories, saying Moscow has killed dozens of clergy members, while damaging or destroying hundreds of churches. Russia has been systematically suppressing Ukrainian churches and other faiths in the occupied territories while promoting the Kremlin-controlled Russian Orthodox Church, experts had told the Kyiv Independent in May 2024. Sixty-seven clerics from various faiths have been killed between the start of Russia's all-out war in 2022 and February 2025, the Foreign Ministry said, citing the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance, the Kyiv Independent reported on April 10. Russian occupation authorities also illegally hold more than 30 religious figures in detention. More than 640 places of worship, including 596 Christian churches, have been damaged or destroyed, according to the statement. "The Russian state, together with the Russian Orthodox Church... have implemented a system of repression against religious communities in the occupied Ukrainian lands, aimed at destroying religious diversity and Ukrainian spiritual identity," the ministry said. The ROC has reportedly forcibly absorbed eight dioceses of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, which included over 1,600 parishes and 23 monasteries. Last year, Ukraine adopted a law potentially banning the Moscow-linked Ukrainian church due to its ties to the ROC and the pro-Russian activities of its clergy amid the full-scale war. The ROC is seen as strongly linked to the Russian state, with its head, Moscow Patriarch Kirill, being a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and an open supporter of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Moscow has also been suppressing independent Ukrainian churches and other religious groups, including the autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the Roman Catholic Church, Protestant and Muslim groups, and Jehovah's Witnesses, the Kyiv Independent says. "Criminal cases are being fabricated against them, searches are being conducted, threats are being made, and physical pressure is being applied," the ministry said in a statement. The Orthodox Church of Ukraine's communities have reportedly ceased to exist in occupied Crimea, and its last church on the peninsula was destroyed in June 2024. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry has appealed to "all churches, religious organizations, and believers around the world" to "pay attention to Russia's barbaric persecution of ordinary people who pose no threat to anyone and only want to believe in God and pray." "We ask everyone in the world who values fundamental human rights not to silently watch crimes against faith and believers, for silence only strengthens evil and gives it a sense of impunity." Multiple cases have shown that religious persecution in the occupied Ukrainian territories dates back to 2014, when Russia illegally seized Crimea and parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. Russian occupation authorities have targeted Muslim Crimean Tatar communities as well as various Christian denominations in the Donbas region, says the report. Under no circumstances should you let AI do your schoolwork for you, but Google has decided to make that option a little bit easier for the next year. The company is offering a free year of it's Google One AI Premium plan, which includes Gemini Advanced, access to the AI assistant in the Google Workspace and things like Gemini Live, to any college student willing to sign up. The offer gives you a sample platter of Google's latest AI features, which normally costs $20 per month, and is primarily focused on things you can do with Gemini. That includes experimental products like NotebookLM for analyzing documents, and Whisk for remixing images and videos. Because this is a Google One plan, you'll also get 2TB of Google Drive storage for the parade of PDFs that make up college life. You can sign-up for the free offer on Google's website. You need to be 18 years or older, have a ".edu" email address and join before June 30, 2025, but once you do, you'll have the Google One AI Premium plan through July 2026. Google says you'll need to verify you're still a student in 2026, but otherwise, the whole thing is a light lift. Even if you don't care about AI, signing up is worth it for the free extra storage. Google's intentions here obviously aren't pure. Free storage is nice, but If the company can normalize using AI for a generation of young minds, it can change what's an occasionally useful novelty into an essential. That's not likely to be good for critical thinking or test scores, even if it justifies the money the company is spending on AI research and development. Engadget has been testing and reviewing consumer tech since 2004. Our stories may include affiliate links; if you buy something through a link, we may earn a commission. Read more about how we evaluate products . Q: Im traveling soon and plan to bring all the devices I usually use, including my smartphone, tablet and laptop. What should I buy to keep everything charged? A: If youre traveling domestically, one large and one small power bank plus a foldable charging station (in addition to your usual cables and wall adapters) should keep your devices reliably powered. If youre heading to another country, you should also include an outlet adapter. And if youre flying, there are a few TSA rules you should know about that apply to electronics and external batteries. How to pick a power bank for travel Over the past few years, Ive tested dozens of portable batteries for Engadgets guide to the best power banks and Ive brought a bunch with me on planes, trains and interminable automobile rides. My go-to battery right now is Ankers Laptop Power Bank, which I only rarely use for charging my laptop it's far more versatile than the uncreative name may suggest. I also have a couple of smaller banks to grab when I dont need quite so much charge. The three important features to look for when picking a portable charger to take on your travels are its capacity, weight and connections. Capacity Most portable chargers list their capacity in milliamp hours (mAh). Anything less than 5,000mAh is pretty useless it wont even get a smartphone up to fifty percent. I recommend looking for a power bank with 10,000mAh or higher capacity. One thing to note is that theres not a one-to-one correlation on capacity: a 10,000mAh power bank will not refill your smartphones 5,000mAh battery twice. Voltage conversions, heat loss and the operation of the battery all cut down on the amount of charge delivered. Weight This is directly related to capacity. Just about every 20,000mAh battery will be heavier than a 10,000mAh battery. If youre really concerned with keeping down the pounds and ounces in your luggage, you might want to pick the smallest capacity you think youll need. That said, the largest TSA-compliant batteries are 27,000mAh models, which weigh between two and 2.5 pounds. That may or may not make a huge difference in your packing scheme. Connections The last thing to look for is the right connections. Every power bank Ive tested has at least one USB-C port. Since you can get a USB-C cable with just about any connector at the other end, that should cover what you need. But if, for example, you have an older smartwatch charger with a USB Type-A connector, youll want to make sure your power bank has that slot. Youll also want to remember to pack the right cables for each device. Im seeing more banks with built-in cables, which is convenient, but youll probably still want to bring a couple extra cords just in case. How to fly with charging accessories Current TSA and FAA rules say that all spare batteries, including power banks, can only go in your carry-on luggage, not your checked bags. They must be rated at 100 watt-hours or lower, which in most batteries translates to roughly a 27,000mAh capacity. That capacity range covers most portable power chargers out there, since most manufacturers want their banks to fit within travel recommendations (larger batteries are often marketed as portable power stations). Theres no limit on the number of batteries you can carry, but they should be for your personal use and must be protected from damage. Items like fast chargers, wall adapters, cables and regular alkaline batteries (ie. AA and AAA cells) can fly in either your checked or carry-on luggage. Of course, as with all TSA regulations, the final determination of what you can and cant bring with you lies with the agents themselves, but this advice follows the agencys current guidelines. If youre flying internationally, youll want to check the baggage policies of the airline and airport youll use for your return flight. A quick check of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) policies and the five highest-trafficked non-US airports (Delhi, Haneda, Istanbul, Heathrow and Dubai) shows that similar rules apply: spare batteries must go in carry-on bags and cant be checked. A few policies put the upper capacity limit for external batteries at 100Wh, but the ICAO actually allows banks up to 160Wh. Amy Skorheim for Engadget Best power bank for travel Anker Laptop Power Bank (25,000mAh, 100W) While the name makes it sound like its only good for laptops, Ive used this Anker power bank to recharge my phone, tablet, ereader and even my PS5 controller. It has two built-in USB-C cables, one that retracts into the body of the bank and extends a generous two feet, and one that loops to create a handy carrying strap. This is the ideal bank to stash in a day pack before you go wandering around a new city. You dont have to remember a cable and the display shows exactly what percentage of charge is left in the battery. When I tested it out, the recharge times were fast thanks to the max 165 max wattage, and the 25,000mAh capacity can refill a phone a little under four times, a tablet more than two times and will give a laptop many extra hours of life. Plus, its sturdy: I unceremoniously yeet it into my backpack a few times a week and it still looks new. The only downside is the $110 price tag and 1.3-pound weight. $120 at Amazon Explore More Buying Options $120 at Best Buy Anker Best budget power bank for travel Anker Nano 3-in-1 Portable Charger (10,000mAh, 30W) If you dont want to add another high-dollar line item to your trips budget, this three-in-one brick and charger from Anker is a good value at under $50. It combines an AC plug, a 10,000mAh power bank and a built-in USB-C cable that forms a handle loop. You can use it like a wall adapter, charging your devices as the battery itself recharges. Then, you can take it with you to ensure you have a smartphone refill when you need it. I like the display that tells you how much charge the battery has left and the built-in cable feels sturdy. It was pretty quick to recharge the iPhone and Galaxy phone I test batteries on and the cable/adapter/battery combo means you just have to pack one thing instead of three. $45 at Amazon Amy Skorheim for Engadget Best mid-size travel power bank for recharging a tablet Nimble Champ Pro This cute, speckled battery from Nimble has served me well on many trips. I like that it has a strap and doesnt have a boring black finish like most banks, making it easy to spot and fish out of a bag when youre frazzled. It has a 20,000mAh capacity, which refilled my iPad Air M1 in a little under two hours and had enough left over to mostly fill it again. The low-frills charger has just two USB-C ports and four light pips to indicate its charge level. Nimble is certified as both a B Corp and a Climate Neutral organization, too a rarity in the tech world. Id recommend this one if you dont want anything too heavy or bulky and wont need to charge a laptop. $100 at Nimble Amy Skorheim for Engadget Best small travel power bank for iPhone users Anker MagGo Power Bank (10,000mAh, 15W) If youre only concerned with your iPhone dying when youre out exploring, grab this magnetic portable charger from Anker. It has a Qi2-enabled charging pad and wirelessly re-juiced an iPhone 15 in a little over two hours. It had enough left over to then get the phone from four to 70 percent. The included stand lets you watch your screen as it recharges and the display on the side indicates the remaining charge. Theres even a couple of extra ports in case you want to charge something thats not MagSafe-compatible. If you use an Android phone, this bank will work, but you wont get to take advantage of the stand function, so Id suggest Anker's 733 GaN PowerCore instead. The built-in AC plug lets you use it as a multi-device charging adapter in your hotel room, but its also a handy 10K power bank for when youre out and about. $90 at Amazon Anker A neat-and-tidy foldable charging station Anker MagGo 3-in-1 Charging Station When youre back in your hotel room, theres no need for a power bank (though Ill admit, I probably recharge my tablet with a battery more often than from the wall). Instead, if you get an all-in-one charging unit that can handle your phone, smartwatch and earbuds, itll keep your bedside table neater. My editor, Valentina Palladino, uses the Anker MagGo Charging Station which can reup an iPhone, newer iPods and an Apple Watch all at once. When its time to travel, the whole thing folds up to about the size of a mouse (the accessory, not the animal) so you can pack it without worrying about breaking off a vital piece. Its harder to find a reliable combo charging station for Android devices. Instead, Android users may want to bring along a multi-device fast charger like the Anker Laptop Charger. Despite the name, the brick can charge more than just your computer. Three USB-C ports and one Type-A port should cover your phone, computer, watch and tablet, so you can get the most out of sometimes-scarce hotel wall outlets. The brick has a display and a folding AC plug for compact travel and it can deliver a max of 140 watts combined. Just keep in mind: the more you plug in, the less charge goes to each device so itll take longer for everything to get to 100 percent. Youll also need to use a fast-charging cable to take advantage of higher wattage transfers. $110 at Amazon Have a tech question youd like Engadget to answer? As tech reporters, the Engadget staff is always answering questions from friends and family about electronics, software, gaming, big tech policies and more. So we decided to write down our answers. This question is a composite of ones weve been asked recently. If youve got a tech-related question youd like us to answer for you, please email ask@engadget.com. Welcome to your Friday edition of TMA. Its a public holiday where Im from, so its a shorter briefing than usual. Barring a barrage of new cars (tariffs? shh!) revealed at the New York International Auto Show, its been a relatively quiet week, but not without a bit of drama. Engadget You know, they say money cant buy happiness. And yeah, OK I guess thats true. God knows Ive tried. But it can buy a Cybertruck, and thats pretty sick, right? Right?? Fuck, Im so alone. Thats what a pretty realistic AI voice clone of Elon Musk was saying to pedestrians at crosswalks in Palo Alto. An AI Mark Zuckerberg joined him, with both billionaires voices mimicked to say, well, the things a lot of us are thinking, whether its the invasive AI push, billionaires wielding power over government or other bleak, beige real-world versions of Black Mirror premises. They were in operation at downtown intersections in Redwood City, Menlo Park and Palo Alto but were gone, sadly, by Saturday. No ones staked a claim to the prank but there are probably many people in Silicon Valley capable of pulling it off. More recently, an AI clone of Jeff Bezos was talking on Seattle crosswalks. Mat Smith Get Engadget's newsletter delivered direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here! The biggest stories you might have missed 20,000 tracks each day. 5 total listens. Music streaming service Deezer said 20,000 completely AI-generated tracks are added to its music service daily, making up over 18% of all uploaded content the platform receives every day. At the start of the year, Deezer introduced a tool for detecting and tagging AI-generated content, which at the time accounted for only 10 percent of uploads. Continue reading. Its video is great, it finally does stills well and its cheaper than its rivals. The S1R II is Panasonics first camera that can both shoot up to 8K video and capture 44-megapixel (MP) photos in rapid bursts. And unlike its rivals, the new model is available at a more reasonable $3,300 half the price of Sonys A1 II. At the same time, its a massive upgrade over the original S1R. We have some issues with the rolling shutter, but its a minor problem on an otherwise excellent hybrid camera. Continue reading. The true physical edition. Doom Physical editions of the iconic shooters Doom and Doom II are on their way, and the highlight is something called the Will It Run Edition. This comes with a game box that actually runs the original Doom itself. All you have to do is connect a controller as the box also has a port. Its an expensive gimmick: The copies cost $666 and are being kept to a limited run of 666. Because hell. Theres also the usual special edition content inside, including a soundtrack (on cassette), trading cards and a handheld cacodemon handheld console that also plays Doom. Continue reading. Movie fans have a packed calendar for the rest of 2025, with major franchises, star-studded originals, and long-awaited sequels hitting theaters and streaming. This year's slate features the return of iconic characters, the expansion of popular universes, and the debut of new cinematic adventures. To help you plan your future movie dates, here are 20 of the most anticipated movies set to hit theaters and streaming platforms from April through December 2025. 1. A Minecraft Movie (April 4) Four misfitsplayed by Jason Momoa, Emma Myers, Danielle Brooks, and Sebastian Hansenare pulled through a portal into the blocky Overworld, where they must master the rules of Minecraft to survive. Jack Black stars as Steve, who helps the group on a quest to stop the villainous Piglin leader Malgosha from destroying the world. 2. Sinners (April 18) Michael B. Jordan takes on dual roles as twin brothers Smoke and Stack, who return to their Southern hometown to escape their past, only to face supernatural threats, including vampires. The cast includes Delroy Lindo, Hailee Steinfeld, Jack O'Connell, and Wunmi Mosaku. Music, especially blues, is central to the film's atmosphere. 3. Sneaks (April 18) This animated adventure follows Ty (voiced by Anthony Mackie), a designer sneaker who leaves his comfortable life to rescue his stolen sister. Along the way, he teams up with a group of quirky footwear friends in New York City. Martin Lawrence, Laurence Fishburne, Keith David, and Chloe Bailey also lend their voices. 4. The Legend of Ochi (April 25) Helena Zengel stars as Yuri, a shy farm girl on the island of Carpathia who befriends a wounded baby ochi, a mysterious animal her village fears. She embarks on a quest to return the creature home, with support from Willem Dafoe, Emily Watson, and Finn Wolfhard. 5. The Accountant 2 (April 25) Ben Affleck reprises his role as Christian Wolff, a forensic accountant investigating the murder of an old acquaintance. He teams up with his estranged brother, Brax (Jon Bernthal), to unravel a deadly conspiracy. J.K. Simmons and Cynthia Addai-Robinson also return. 6. Until Dawn (April 25) Inspired by the hit horror game, a group of young adults must survive a night on Blackwood Mountain, facing terrifying threats and supernatural forces. The story unfolds through their choices, with each decision affecting who survives until dawn. 7. Another Simple Favor (May 1 on Prime Video) html,body{overflow:hidden;height:100%;background:#000;}"loading="lazy" width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QWajCwdC_TM?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen title="Another Simple Favor - Official Trailer | Prime Video"> Anna Kendrick returns as Stephanie, whose life is upended when Emily (Blake Lively) reappears after being released from prison. The two head to a lavish wedding in Capri, where mafia intrigue and old secrets resurface. Henry Golding and Michele Morrone join the cast. 8. Lilo and Stitch (May 23) The film closely follows the original's story: Lilo Pelekai, a lonely and imaginative six-year-old Hawaiian girl (played by newcomer Maia Kealoha), struggles with the loss of her parents and the pressures faced by her older sister and guardian, Nani (Sydney Elizebeth Agudong). Lilo's life changes when she adopts what she believes is a dog, only to discover he's actually Stitcha genetically engineered alien fugitive, voiced once again by Chris Sanders, the character's original creator. 9. Predator: Badlands (November 7) Elle Fanning leads this sci-fi action film as Thia, who teams up with an outcast Predator on a remote planet. Together, they go on a dangerous journey in search of the ultimate adversary. 10. Now You See Me: Now You Don't (November 14) The magician-thieves known as the Four Horsemen return for another heist, using their illusionist skills to outwit new enemies. Woody Harrelson and Daniel Radcliffe headline the cast. 11. Wicked: For Good (November 21) The second part of the musical adaptation follows Elphaba and Glinda in the Land of Oz before Dorothy's arrival, exploring their friendship and the events that shape the Wicked Witch of the West. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande star. 12. Zootopia 2 (November 26) Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) and Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) return in this animated sequel, tackling new mysteries and adventures in the bustling city of Zootopia. 13. Five Nights at Freddy's 2 (December 5) Josh Hutcherson and Matthew Lillard return in this horror sequel, where new animatronic threats haunt the infamous pizzeria. 14. Avatar: Fire and Ash (December 19) "Avatar: Fire and Ash" picks up three years after the events of "The Way of Water," with Jake Sully and Neytiri's family reeling from the devastating loss of their eldest son, Neteyam. The Sullys, now living among the oceanic Metkayina clan, are forced to confront new threats as the conflict on Pandora intensifies. 15. The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Squarepants (December 19) In "The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants," SpongeBob goes on his biggest adventure yet when he and his friendsPatrick, Squidward, Sandy, and Mr. Krabsjourney to the deepest parts of the ocean to confront the ghostly pirate, the Flying Dutchman, voiced by Mark Hamill. The story begins with SpongeBob aspiring to prove himself as a "big guy," inspired by tales of Mr. Krabs' seafaring days, which leads him and Patrick on a swashbuckling quest. US President Donald Trump warned Thursday that Washington would "take a pass" on talks to end the Ukraine war within days unless there is rapid progress from Moscow and Kyiv. His comments came just hours after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio set the clock ticking, saying in Paris that the United States could "move on" from its role brokering the negotiations. Trump has been pressing both sides for a truce, but has failed to extract any major concessions from the Kremlin despite an ice-breaking call with Russian President Vladimir Putin and repeated negotiations with Moscow. "If for some reason one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we're just going to say: 'You're foolish. You're fools. You're horrible people' -- and we're going to just take a pass," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. "But hopefully we won't have to do that." Republican Trump refused to cast blame on either Putin, who ordered the February 2022 full-scale invasion of pro-Western Ukraine, or Kyiv's President Volodymyr Zelensky, insisting both sides had to make progress. But Trump warned that a decision on whether to abandon the talks could come "very shortly". "No specific number of days, but quickly. We want to get it done," he added. - 'Move on' - Moscow has kept up strikes on Ukraine, killing at least two people and wounding dozens more in attacks on the northeastern regions of Kharkiv and Sumy, Ukrainian officials said. One of the few commitments Trump had wrangled from Russia -- a temporary moratorium on striking Ukrainian energy infrastructure -- "expired" on Friday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in response to an AFP question. After meeting European officials in Paris to discuss a ceasefire, Rubio said Washington needed to figure out soon whether a ceasefire was "doable in the short term." "Because if it's not, then I think we're just going to move on," he told reporters. But speaking on a trip to Italy, US Vice President JD Vance still insisted he was "optimistic" about ending the three-year war. Trump promised to end the war within 24 hours of taking office but has little to show for his efforts so far. He has embarked on a rapprochement quest with the Kremlin that has alarmed Kyiv and driven a wedge between the United States and its European allies. He and Vance also had a blazing Oval Office row in February with Zelensky, whom he still accuses of bearing responsibility for Moscow's invasion. Trump insisted that he was not being "played" by Moscow, which is accused by Ukraine of dragging its feet. "My whole life has been one big negotiation and I know when people are playing us and I know when they're not," the billionaire property tycoon added. Asked if Putin was stretching out the process, Trump added: "I hope not. I'm going to let you know about that soon if he is... he's got a big force out there." - 'Mockery' - Zelensky meanwhile slammed the latest attacks on his country, which came just days before Easter. Kyiv earlier announced it had received the bodies of 909 soldiers from Russia. "This is how Russia started Good Friday -- with ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, Shahed drones. A mockery of our people and cities," Zelensky said on Telegram. Russia said it had hit "key drone production sites" and Ukrainian military airfields. Putin last month rejected a joint US-Ukrainian proposal for a full and unconditional pause in the conflict, while the Kremlin has made a truce in the Black Sea conditional on the West lifting certain sanctions. Trump has also repeatedly expressed anger and frustration at Zelensky in a marked break from his predecessor, Joe Biden. Ukraine is set to sign a deal next week in Washington that would give the United States sweeping access to its mineral resources. European powers have meanwhile been seeking a seat at the table in the negotiations, particularly as Trump's administration insists the continent should share the burden for Ukraine's security. France hosted meetings between US and European officials in Paris on Thursday, saying the talks had launched a "positive process." The meetings included French President Emmanuel Macron, Rubio and US envoy Steve Witkoff. Many allies have however been alarmed by Witkoff -- who recently met Putin in Russia -- repeating Moscow's talking points about the war. burs-dk/tgb/ Women in Scottish farming are sharing their personal experiences with breast cancer as part of an new awareness campaign by rural charity RSABI. The campaign aims to highlight the importance of early detection and regular health checksparticularly among women in farming, who often juggle demanding workloads both on and off the land. Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women over 40, with approximately 150 new cases diagnosed daily across the UK. The stories aim to serve as a timely reminder of the importance of putting personal health first, even during the hectic lambing and spring work season. Carole Brunton, a farmer from Fife, is among the women sharing their journeys as part of the charity's initiative. Her story, featured in one of the videos, is a heartfelt call to action for others in agriculture not to ignore early signs or delay seeking helpno matter how busy life on the farm may be. Please don't neglect your health - you have such an important part to play in the farm business and family," said Ms Brunton. "Very often you are the gel that keeps the whole thing together, so it's vital for women to get out there and look after themselves. It takes just 10 minutes to go and have a mammogram, but too many people dont take advantage of this service which is routinely offered to women over 50. She discovered a lump a few years ago at age 49just before she would have been invited for routine breast screening. Mary Anne McWilliam has reflected on her own breast cancer journey, which began in 2015 Following her cancer diagnosis on 1 October, she underwent a mastectomy and was given the all-clear before the end of December. Now she is encouraging other women in rural communities not to delay seeking help and to speak openly about any health concerns. Ms Brunton said: If you find a lump, or anything you are worried about, please phone your doctor - they are absolutely brilliant. "I can't praise the NHS enough for what they did for me. We're so lucky that we've got that service - so use it. In a second video, RSABI team member Mary Anne McWilliam reflects on her own breast cancer journey, which began in October 2015. After discovering a lump, she acted without hesitation and was quickly referred by her GP to Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary. Thanks to the hospitals efficient one-stop diagnostic approach, she received a full diagnosis on the same day, following a series of tests. My husband Alastair was with me when I got the call. He put his arm around me because he knew then that we were facing something going forward, she called. After I met the consultant, I was given a date only two weeks later for surgery which was followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. "My friends and family supported me through every step. A problem shared is a problem halvedand bottling it up doesnt do you any good. After India ended Bangladesh's cargo transshipment facility on April 8, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) launched cargo services from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka and air freight rates out of there started rising, affecting the competitiveness of the latters exports. The airport in Dhaka has limited capacity for handling export-import cargo. The two other international airports, Osmani International Airport in Sylhet and Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram, handled negligible volumes due to limited international flights and lower cargo demand. CAAB plans to open the Sylhet airport for cargo operations on April 27 and Chattogram will follow. The first flight will depart from Sylhet for Spain at 7 pm with about 70 tonnes of garments. After India ended Bangladesh's cargo transshipment facility on April 8, the latter launched cargo services from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka and air freight rates out of there started rising, affecting the competitiveness of Bangladesh's exports. Bangladesh plans to open the Sylhet international airport for cargo operations on April 27 and the one at Chattogram will follow. Dhaka's spot air cargo rate to Europe has surged to $6.30-$6.50 per kg, surpassing all earlier records, including those during the pandemic. Such rates to the United States are around $7.50-$8.00 per kgup from $6.91 in August 2024. Such costs stand at just $4/kg out of Kolkata and $3.50/kg from the Maldives. Close to 18 per cent, or around 600 tonnes, of Bangladesh's weekly air cargo was routed through Indian airports. Exporters also face additional charges in Dhaka, including Tk 2.5 per kg for ground handling, Tk 2 per kg for scanning and Tk 0.25 per kg per day for warehouse storage. Exporters are worried as they are receiving notices from airlines indicating higher rates in the next week, citing growing demand and shrinking cargo space. Without urgent intervention, freight costs could double, domestic media outlets reported citing industry insiders. The Bangladesh Garment Accessories and Packaging Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGAPMEA) said the countrys airport charges are among the highest in the region, and jet fuel prices outpace global averagesfactors that add to the spiraling costs. Capacity constraints at airports remain unresolved as well. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS) The European Commission has adopted the 2025-2030 working plan for the Eco-design for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and Energy Labelling Regulation. Adopted in July 2024, ESPR aims at improving the sustainability of products placed on the EU market by increasing their circularity, energy performance, recyclability and durability, while improving the single market and strengthening the competitiveness and resilience of the EU economy. The European Commission has adopted the 2025-2030 working plan for the Eco-design for Sustainable Products Regulation and Energy Labelling Regulation. The plan offers a list of products that should be prioritised to introduce eco-design requirements and energy labelling over the next five years. The priority products include textiles, with a focus on apparel, furniture and mattresses. The plan offers a list of products that should be prioritised to introduce eco-design requirements and energy labelling over the next five years. This will foster sustainable, repairable, circular and energy efficient products across Europe, in line with the Clean Industrial Deal and the Competitiveness Compass, an official release said. The priority products for such requirements are steel and aluminium, textiles (with a focus on apparel), furniture, tyres and mattresses. Harmonised product sustainability requirements at EU level will reinforce the single market, prevent barriers to trade, improve the level playing field, reduce the administrative burden, and strengthen the global competitiveness of businesses offering sustainable products, said the release. In addition, the Commission will introduce horizontal measures to requirements on repairability for products like consumer electronics and small household appliances. This will include the introduction of a repairability score for products with the most potential, and requirements on recyclability of electrical and electronic equipment. Future eco-design and energy labelling requirements for the selected products will cover two elements: product performance, such as minimum durability, minimum energy and resource-efficiency, availability of spare parts or minimum recycled content; and product information, including key product features like the products' carbon and environmental footprint. Product information will mainly be made available via the digital product passport or, for products with energy labels, via the European Product Registry for Energy Labelling (EPREL). When developing ecodesign requirements, the Commission will pay attention to the needs of small and medium enterprises, in particular micro-enterprises and small mid-cap enterprises, and will ensure that tailored support is available to them. Eco-design and energy labelling requirements will be set via delegated acts on a product-by-product basis or for groups of similar products. This will be based on thorough preparatory studies and impact assessments. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS) The United States and Cambodia recently started talks on tariffs with a virtual conference between Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol, Commerce Minister Cham Nimul and US Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Lee Greer. This meeting was held in response to the letter of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet to President Donald Trump in the first week of this month, expressing Cambodias good faith to engage in a trade negotiation with the United States. The US and Cambodia recently started talks on tariffs with a virtual conference between Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol, Commerce Minister Cham Nimul and USTR Jamieson Lee Greer. Both sides discussed ways to enhance trade and investment cooperation and emphasised their commitment to strengthening trade and investment cooperation. Both sides discussed ways to enhance bilateral trade and investment cooperation and emphasised their commitment to strengthening trade and investment cooperation, with particular attention given to resolving tariff-related issues, domestic media outlets reported. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS) The scene in question featured Hooda, the antagonist of the story, engaging in violence inside a church. His character was seen standing under a crucifix with people praying in the background. The scene also showed him intimidating the people in the church, which angered the Christian community. The complainant alleged that the scene was done deliberately to outrage religious feelings. Earlier this week, the Christian Community objected to a church scene in Sunny Deol and Randeep Hooda's film Jaat. Now, an FIR has been registered against the actors for allegedly hurting religious sentiments. A complaint has been lodged with the Jalandhar police. Besides Deol and Hooda, the FIR has also been registered against Viineet Kumar Singh, the film's director, Gopichand Malineni and the producers under Section 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). See Also: Jaat: Public Review, Cast, Performances And More NDTV quoted the complainant as saying, "The director, writer and producer deliberately released this film during the holy month of Good Friday and Easter so that the Christians get angry and riots break out in the entire country and unrest is spread." The representatives of the Christian community also submitted a memorandum to the Joint Commissioner earlier this week demanding a ban on Jaat's theatrical screenings. Filmfare's Review of Jaat Filmfare rated the film 3 out of 5 and said, "Sunny Deol has been India's most prolific action star of all time and he still looks good when he beats up a man. He makes the most ludicrous stunts look believable. He delivers comedic punches with effortless ease. Randeep Hooda embraces the menace of his character with consummate ease. Regina Cassandra as Hooda's wife is a surprise package, looking beautiful and deadly all at the same time. But where the cast on offer delivers consistently, the screenplay and direction of Jaat is not all convincing. It is guilty pleasure, but only if you're a die-hard action fan or if you think Sunny Deol's machismo is an official film genre. All said and done, a Sunny Deol action film with gunpowder idli flavour is a delectable crossover for fans. Only fans." Before the review, a bit of history: Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair CIE (July 11, 1857 April 24, 1934) was a distinguished Indian lawyer and statesman. He served as the Advocate-General of Madras from 1906 to 1908, and later as a puisne judge on the Madras High Court from 1908 to 1915. In 1915, he was appointed to the Viceroys Executive Council as the all-India Education Membera rare honor for an Indian under British rule. However, Nairs faith in the British administration was deeply shaken by the Jallianwala Bagh massacre on April 13, 1919. In protest, he resigned from the Viceroys Council and openly accused Michael ODwyer, then the Lieutenant Governor of Punjab, of pursuing policies that directly led to the massacre of innocent civilians. ODwyer sued Nair for defamation in England, confident that a British court would rule in his favor. The trial, held before the Kings Bench in London, stretched over five and a half weeksmaking it the longest-running civil case of its time. The all-English, 12-member jury was overseen by Justice Henry McCardie, who displayed open bias toward ODwyer. Ultimately, the jury ruled in ODwyers favor by a margin of 11 to 1, with the sole dissenting voice being that of the renowned Marxist thinker Harold Laski.Kesari 2 is a fictionalised retelling inspired by this pivotal chapter in Sankaran Nairs life. It reimagines Nairs battle not in London, but within the Indian legal system, dramatising his stand against colonial injustice and highlighting the broader political and emotional stakes of the time.The film opens with a harrowing recreation of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, immediately setting the emotional tone. It delves right away into the psychological transformation of C Sankaran Nair (Akshay Kumar), who evolves from a staunch believer in the British justice system to a man whose conscience is irrevocably stirred by colonial brutality. This inner turmoil becomes the driving force of the narrative. Nair finds an unexpected ally in Dilpreet Gill (Ananya Panday), a young, idealistic lawyer who joins him in his legal crusade against the British Crown. Together, they attempt to hold colonial officials accountablemost notably Brigadier General R. E. H. Dyerfor orchestrating a mass killing, which the film boldly frames as genocide.However, the British administration counters with their own formidable weapon: Neville McKinley (R Madhavan), a sharp legal mind of mixed British-Indian heritage and Nairs former friend. McKinley knows Nair intimately, including his vulnerabilities, which makes the legal battle as personal as it is political. Their courtroom clash is intense and layered, blending legal logic with emotional weight and historical urgency.As the trial unfolds, the film blends meticulous investigation with moments of dramatic flair, ultimately culminating in Nair proving that a systematic and deliberate atrocity occurred on that fateful day. The courtroom scenes are gripping, occasionally theatrical, but they succeed in conveying the gravity of Nairs quest for justice. The climax, where Nair is shown dropping the F-bomb a number of times against the British, will surely get its share of claps and whistles.Akshay Kumar needs a hit and has gone all out in his effort to ensure that. Theres no jingoism in the film. In fact, it talks about Hindu-Muslim unity. There are no romantic interludes either. Regina Cassandra is around as a dutiful, supportive wife but theres no romance involved. Ananya Panday too thankfully doesnt hold any romantic leanings towards her senior and is effective in her brief role.The focus of the film is on showcasing a mans idealism and the actor succeeds in that. Akshay Kumar may not look like a South Indian and the one sentence of Malayalam he speaks is going to hurt the ears of native speakers, theres no doubt that Akshays sincerity is on point. He thoroughly believes in Sankaran Nair and evokes the learned mans spirit, if not his mannerisms. Akshay has shown that besides action and comedy, he can hold his own in drama too and makes you root for Nair till the very end. R Madhavan, a South Indian, is surprisingly cast as a half-Indian, half-English man and we would have loved to get more of a backstory to his character, Neville McKinley. The film becomes more interesting when Maddy enters the proceedings and his verbal sparring with Akshay is the soul of the film. Madhavan of late has chosen to play grey-shaded characters and does a good job here as well. Amit Sial is the embodiment of countless Indians who sided with the British and his display of understated villainy is truly loathsome indeed.The film might be hugely fictional and overly dramatic but it does bring home the point that the British were able to effectively control us from across the seven seas just because a majority didnt revolt against them. Sankaran Nair was a judicial reformer who dared to go against the tide and his efforts should rightly be lauded. Kudos to the filmmakers who brought to light this long-forgotten hero, who sadly passed away in 1934, much before Indias Independence.Watch Kesari Chapter 2 for Akshay Kumars and R Madhavans performances and for its message of unity and judicial integrity, much needed in todays times. Aston Bay Holdings Ltd. (TSXV:BAY)(OTCQB:ATBHF) ("Aston Bay" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that a new National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") Technical Report titled "Initial Mineral Resource Estimate and Technical Report on the Storm Copper Project, Aston Bay Property, Somerset Island, Nunavut, Canada" and dated effective February 7, 2025 (the "Report"), has been filed under the Company's SEDAR+ profile (www.sedarplus.ca). The Report details an initial Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") for the near-surface mineralization (<120 metres ("m") depth) at the Storm Copper Project ("Storm" or the "Project") on Somerset Island, Nunavut (see Aston Bay news release dated March 3, 2025 - Aston Bay Announces Initial Mineral Resource Estimate for Near-Surface Mineralization at the Storm Copper Project, Nunavut, Canada). The MRE includes six near-surface copper (-silver) deposits within the greater Storm Copper area: Cyclone, Chinook, Corona, Cirrus, Lightning Ridge and Thunder. Storm Copper Initial Mineral Resource Estimate Key Highlights Indicated Mineral Resources: 8.2 million tonnes at an average grade of 1.47% copper (Cu) and 4.5 grams per tonne (g/t) silver (Ag), containing 266.3 million pounds (Mlbs) (121,000 tonnes) of copper and 1.185 million ounces of silver (refer to Table 1 for MRE details) . Inferred Mineral Resources: 3.3 million tonnes at an average grade of 1.30% Cu and 3.1 g/t Ag, containing 95.4 Mlbs (43,000 tonnes) of copper and 333,600 ounces of silver (refer to Table 1 for MRE details) . Low-cost development potential : Near-surface Mineral Resources accessed primarily with open-pit mining, accounting for over 90% of contained metal in the MRE. 100% of MRE consists of fresh, chalcocite-dominant copper sulphide with metallurgical testwork, which confirms excellent beneficiation potential, including sorting (see Aston Bay news releases dated August 13, 2024 and April 11, 2022). Significant growth and expansion opportunities: MRE deposits remain open - All six deposits remain open, offering strong potential for rapid expansion of the Mineral Resource inventory. Cyclone Deeps discovery (2024) - Cyclone-style mineralization located immediately south and faulted down from the existing Cyclone Deposit (1.2% Cu over 10 m from 311 m down hole in drill hole ST24-01; see Aston Bay news release dated September 20, 2024). New high-grade copper discoveries (2024) - The Gap (2.3% Cu over 20 m from 38 m down hole, including 5.3% Cu over 8 m in drill hole SR24-003; see Aston Bay news release dated July 2, 2024), Squall and Hailstorm are located near surface and ready for Mineral Resource definition drilling. Belt-scale exploration opportunity - <5% of the 110 kilometre ("km") long copper belt has been adequately explored. Priority targets include the Tempest, Tornado, Blizzard and Seabreeze Prospects, where surface copper-zinc gossans have been identified. The Storm Copper Project is a 20/80 unincorporated joint venture between Aston Bay and American West Metals Limited ("American West"), the Project operator. Aston Bay maintains a free carried interest until a decision to mine is made upon completion of a Feasibility Study. The MRE and Report in this announcement were prepared by P&E Mining Consultants Inc. ("P&E") at the request of Aston Bay, independently of American West. Thomas Ullrich, Chief Executive Officer of Aston Bay, commented: "The filing of this initial Mineral Resource Estimate marks a significant milestone for Aston Bay and the Storm Copper Project. The results confirm the presence of a substantial, high-grade, near-surface copper resource with compelling development potential. Importantly, with all six deposits remaining open and multiple new discoveries made in 2024, we believe we are just scratching the surface of what Storm can deliver. "Building on this strong foundation, the Company plans to release a Preliminary Economic Assessment in Q3 2025 to further demonstrate the potential of the Project. We recently announced a strategic partnership and funding package covering up to 80% of the initial capital for the development of Storm. This is a strong validation of the Project and highlights a low-risk pathway to potential development1. We look forward to continuing to advance Storm alongside our partners at American West." This announcement and the Mineral Resource Estimate for the Storm Project contained in it have been prepared solely by Aston Bay based on relevant available information and have not been reviewed or approved by American West, Aston Bay's Storm joint venture partner. American West is the manager of the Storm Joint Venture and holds the majority 80% joint venture interest. Whilst the information in this announcement pertaining to the estimation and reporting of the Mineral Resources has been reviewed and approved by a Qualified Person and the Mineral Resource estimate has been independently reviewed, the Company considers that it is possible that in preparing any future Mineral Resource Estimate or Mineral Reserve Estimate for the Storm Project, American West may adopt different interpretations, assumptions, parameters or plans, or make different judgements, to those used or made by Aston Bay in the Mineral Resource Estimate contained in this announcement. Table 1: Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate (Effective Date February 7, 2025(1-9)) Classification Zone Cu Cut-off (%) Category Tonnage (kt) Contained Cu (t) Contained Cu (Mlbs) Contained Ag (oz) Cu % Ag g/t Open Pit Constrained Mineral Resource Estimate Indicated Chinook 0.35 Open Pit 712 14,700 32.4 99,900 2.07 4.36 Cyclone 0.35 Open Pit 7,073 99,700 219.7 1,022,400 1.41 4.50 Total Indicated 0.35 Open Pit 7,785 114,400 252.1 1,122,300 1.47 4.49 Inferred Chinook 0.35 Open Pit 135 2,000 4.3 12,400 1.45 2.86 Cirrus 0.35 Open Pit 505 3,300 7.2 21,000 0.65 1.29 Corona 0.35 Open Pit 791 8,400 18.6 38,900 1.07 1.53 Cyclone 0.35 Open Pit 532 9,400 20.8 110,800 1.77 6.48 Lightning Ridge 0.35 Open Pit 189 2,500 5.5 31,400 1.33 5.17 Thunder 0.35 Open Pit 756 11,200 24.7 49,600 1.48 2.04 Total Inferred 0.35 Open Pit 2,908 36,800 81.1 264,100 1.27 2.82 Underground Constrained Mineral Resource Estimate Indicated Cyclone 1.0 Underground 444 6,500 14.2 63,100 1.45 4.42 Inferred Cyclone 1.0 Underground 426 6,500 14.3 69,500 1.53 5.07 Combined Constrained Mineral Resource Indicated Global 0.35/1.0 Combined 8,229 120,900 266.3 1,185,400 1.47 4.48 Inferred Global 0.35/1.0 Combined 3,334 43,300 95.4 333,600 1.30 3.11 Notes: The Mineral Resources were estimated in accordance with the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM), CIM Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves, Definitions (2014) and Best Practices Guidelines (2019) prepared by the CIM Standing Committee on Reserve Definitions and adopted by the CIM Council. Yungang Wu, M.Sc., P.Geo. of P&E Mining Consultants Inc. is the Qualified Person responsible for the completion of the Mineral Resource Estimation, with an effective date of February 7, 2025. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The quantity and grade of the reported Inferred Resources are uncertain in nature and there has not been sufficient work to define these Inferred Resources as Indicated or Measured Resources. It is reasonably expected that most of the Inferred Mineral Resources could be upgraded to Indicated Mineral Resources with continued exploration. All figures are rounded to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimates. Tonnages have been rounded to the nearest 1,000 t. Contained metal values have been rounded to the nearest 100 copper tonnes or 100,000 copper pounds, and to the nearest 100 silver ounces, Totals may not sum due to rounding. Bulk density was assigned based on geological formation. The following median bulk density value for each formation was used: 2.81 g/cm3 (ADMW), 2.78 g/cm3 (BPF), 2.76 g/cm3 (VSM), and 2.68 g/cm3 (Scs). The Mineral Resource Estimation is limited to material contained within estimation domains modelled using a nominal 0.3% copper mineralized envelope. Open pit constrained Mineral Resources are reported within the constraining pit shells, applying a lower cut-off grade of 0.35% Cu. Underground constrained Mineral Resources report all material within the potentially mineable shapes, regardless of whether the estimated grades exceed the optimized cut-off grade. The constraining pit optimization parameters included a mining cost of US$5.00/t for both mineralized and waste material, a processing cost of US$7.00/t processed, and a G&A cost of US$12.00/t processed, resulting in a total operating cost of US$24.00/t. The copper price was set at US$4.00/lb Cu, with process recoveries of 75% for Cu and pit slopes of 45. Underground Mineral Resources include blocks below the constraining pit shell within underground potentially mineable shapes. A mining cost of US$47/t, in addition to the economic assumptions above, results in an underground Cu cut-off of 1.0%. Potentially mineable shapes encapsulate material within domains with a minimum vertical mining height of 2.5 m. All "take all" material within the potentially mineable shapes is reported, regardless of whether the estimated grades are above the optimized cut-off grade. The Project also includes the Seal Zinc Deposit, which is located 28 km northwest of the Storm Copper MRE deposits on the northern shore of Aston Bay. The Seal Zinc Deposit hosts current Inferred Mineral Resources of 1.006 million tonnes at an average grade of 10.24% zinc (Zn) and 46.5 g/t Ag, containing 103,000 tonnes of zinc and 1,505,000 ounces of silver. A cut-off of 4.0% zinc equivalent (ZnEq) was applied, using the formula ZnEq% = Zn% + (Ag g/t / 39). The Seal Zinc Deposit MRE was prepared by P&E, with an effective date of October 6, 2017. A supporting Technical Report titled, "Initial Mineral Resource Estimate and Technical Report for the Seal Zinc Deposit, Aston Bay Property, Somerset Island, Nunavut," was also prepared by P&E and is available under the Company's SEDAR+ profile (www.sedarplus.ca). Storm Copper Mineral Resource Estimation and Classification Methodology Ordinary Kriging with locally varying anisotropy was used to estimate copper and silver grades within a 5.0 m (X) by 5.0 m (Y) by 2.5 m (Z) block model. The grade estimation process considered capped drill hole composites to ensure appropriate representation of shorter high-grade assays. Two distinct mineralization styles have been identified at the Storm Copper Project: horizontal, strata-bound mineralization and steeply dipping, structurally controlled mineralization. Certain zones within the project exhibit both styles. Indicated Mineral Resource block grade interpolation requires data from at least three drill holes within a search ellipse of 75 m by 75 m by 10 m for stratigraphic and mixed mineralization zones, and 35 m by 25 m by 10 m for structural mineralization zones. Inferred Mineral Resource grade interpolation requires data from at least two drill holes within a search ellipse of 120 m by 120 m by 10 m for stratigraphic mineralization, 85 m by 60 m by 10 m for structural mineralization, and 90 m by 90 m by 10 m for mixed mineralization zones. Only composites within a given grade estimation domain were used within that domain. Measured Mineral Resources have not yet been defined. Further drilling is recommended to improve geological understanding and refine mineralization controls at the Storm Copper Project. Additional metallurgical testing across multiple zones will also be essential to characterize the metallurgical properties of the different mineralized areas. The Storm MRE tonnage constrained to conceptual open pits and undergrounds represents 56% of the mineralized block model. As potential prices of copper and/or the metallurgical, mining, processing or other costs change, the other 44% of the model not currently contained within the conceptual open pits or undergrounds represents a target for future exploration. Sampling and Quality Assurance/Quality Control The analytical work reported herein was performed by ALS Global ("ALS"), Vancouver, Canada. ALS is an ISO-IEC 17025:2017 and ISO 9001:2015 accredited geoanalytical laboratory and is independent of Aston Bay Holdings Ltd., American West Metals Limited, and the QP. Samples were subject to 33-element geochemistry by four-acid digestion and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) to determine concentrations of copper, silver, lead, zinc, and many other elements (ALS Method ME-ICP61a). Overlimit analyses for copper were re-assayed using an ore-grade four-acid digestion with an ICP finish. Aston Bay Holdings Ltd. and American West Metals Limited followed industry standard procedures for the work carried out on the Storm Project, incorporating a quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) program. Blank, duplicate, and certified reference materials (CRM) were inserted into the sample sequence and sent to the laboratory for analysis. QA/QC samples represented approximately 13% of all analytical samples. CRMs and blanks were inserted at a rate of one QAQC sample per 10 samples, and duplicates were collected at a rate of three per 100 samples. No significant QA/QC issues were detected during the review of the data. Aston Bay Holdings Ltd. and American West Metals Limited are not aware of any drilling, sampling, recovery, or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data referred to herein. Qualified Person The Storm Copper Initial MRE was completed by Yungang Wu, M.Sc., P.Geo. of P&E Mining Consultants Inc. Mr. Wu is a Qualified Person as defined by the NI 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and is independent of the Company. Mr. Wu has reviewed and verified the technical data disclosed in this news release related to the MRE. Michael Dufresne, M.Sc., P.Geol., P.Geo., is a Qualified Person as defined by the NI 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release. About Aston Bay Holdings Aston Bay is a publicly traded mineral exploration company exploring for high-grade critical and precious metal deposits in North America. The Company is currently exploring the Storm Copper Property and Cu-Ag-Zn-Co Epworth Property in Nunavut. The Company is also in advanced stages of negotiation on other lands with high-grade precious and critical metals potential in North America The Company and its joint venture partners, American West Metals Limited and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Tornado Metals Ltd. (collectively, "American West"), have formed a 20/80 unincorporated joint venture in respect of the Storm Project property, which hosts the Storm Copper Project and the Seal Zinc Deposit. Under the unincorporated joint venture, Aston Bay shall have a free carried interest until American West has made a decision to mine upon completion of a bankable feasibility study, meaning American West will be solely responsible for funding the joint venture until such decision is made. After such decision is made, Aston Bay will be diluted in the event it does not elect to contribute its proportionate share and its interest in the Storm Project property will be converted into a 2% net smelter returns royalty if its interest is diluted to below 10%. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Statements made in this news release, including those regarding entering into the joint venture and each party's interest in the Project pursuant to the agreement in respect of the joint venture, management objectives, forecasts, estimates, expectations, or predictions of the future may constitute "forward-looking statement", which can be identified by the use of conditional or future tenses or by the use of such verbs as "believe", "expect", "may", "will", "should", "estimate", "anticipate", "project", "plan", and words of similar import, including variations thereof and negative forms. This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect, as of the date of this press release, Aston Bay's expectations, estimates and projections about its operations, the mining industry and the economic environment in which it operates. Statements in this press release that are not supported by historical fact are forward-looking statements, meaning they involve risk, uncertainty and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although Aston Bay believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which apply only at the time of writing of this press release. Aston Bay disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by securities legislation. 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 news release. For more information contact: Thomas Ullrich, Chief Executive Officer thomas.ullrich@astonbayholdings.com (416) 456-3516 Sofia Harquail, IR and Corporate Development sofia.harquail@astonbayholdings.com (647) 821-1337 1For additional information on the strategic partnership and funding package, please refer to Aston Bay news release dated April 9, 2025 - Aston Bay Announces Strategic Partnership for the Storm Copper Project, Nunavut, Canada. SOURCE: Aston Bay Holdings Ltd. SHANGHAI and BOSTON, April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- VelaVigo Bio, the U.S. subsidiary of VelaVigo Cayman Limited (VelaVigo), a biotech company with a robust discovery and development platform of multi-specific antibodies and antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), today announced its second out-licensing agreement of a first-in-class (FIC) asset to Ollin Biosciences, Inc. ("Ollin"), granting Ollin an exclusive license to develop, manufacture and commercialize VBS-102, a first-in-class bispecific antibody, globally (excluding Greater China). VelaVigo will maintain rights for Greater China. Under the terms of the agreement, VelaVigo will receive an upfront fee and future development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments in cash and equity, totaling up to approximately $440 million in the aggregate, as well as tiered royalties on sales in Ollin's territory. This milestone follows VelaVigo's first licensing deal with Avenzo Therapeutics in November 2024 and the successful close of a $50 million Pre-A funding round in February 2025, reinforcing the company's unique business model combining business development (BD) and venture capital (VC) strategies for sustainable growth. The latest deal underscores VelaVigo's ability to discover and develop high-potential therapeutics while partnering strategically to maximize value. Additionally, VelaVigo is advancing its fully owned lead asset, a FIC/BIC bispecific ADC, into a U.S. clinical trial this year and expanding its global clinical development capabilities. The company will also present data on five additional FIC or BIC molecules at upcoming industry conferences, seeking further partnership opportunities worldwide. "This second out-licensing deal is a strong validation of our discovery platform and our ability to identify and advance novel therapeutics with significant potential," said Jing Li, CEO of VelaVigo. "With our first asset entering the clinic this year and a deep pipeline of innovative molecules, we are demonstrating our capacity to translate cutting-edge science into valuable clinical-stage programs. Our goal is to build a global biotech leader by leveraging strategic partnerships while advancing our own portfolio." "Our BD+VC model is designed to create sustainable value for investors and partners," said Tong Zhang, co-founder, Chief Business & Financial Officer of VelaVigo. "This second licensing deal, following our successful $50M Pre-A round, highlights our ability to execute on both financing and strategic collaborations. We are actively engaging with potential partners to expand our global footprint and accelerate the development of our pipeline." About VelaVigo VelaVigo is a leading antibody/ADC discovery and development biotech company with a highly efficient discovery engine and strong capabilities in translational medicine, CMC and early clinical development. Its leading products, the FIC bispecific ADCs, are expected to enter clinical development in the US and China in 2025. VelaVigo continues to build capabilities in clinical development, technology platforms, and partnership with biopharmaceutical companies and investors globally to maximize the efficiency of drug development and return on investment. VelaVigo was founded in 2021 with a $50M investment, its R&D centers in Shanghai, and clinical and US operations in Boston. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/velavigo-announces-second-out-licensing-deal-of-a-first-in-class-bi-specific-antibody-further-validating-its-innovative-discovery-platform-and-sustainable-bdvc-business-model-302431724.html Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - April 17, 2025) - Further to its April 10, 2025, press release, Fathom Nickel Inc. (CSE: FNI) (FSE: 6Q5) (OTCQB: FNICF) (the "Company" or "Fathom") announces that it has amended the upsized financing (the "Amended Upsized Financing") which was initially expected to close on April 21, 2025. The Amended Upsized Financing has been amended due to two factors: The April 21st closing date was initially chosen to accommodate the participation of certain strategic investors. However, this date fell outside the date that is within 45 days of the initial press release announcement of the financing (March 3, 2025), thus triggering this amendment under National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions ("NI 45-106"). The Listed Issuer Financing Exemption ("LIFE") contains limitations on the number of securities that can be issued under this exemption during a 12-month period. The description provided in Fathom's April 10, 2025, press release was not clear that the Company will ensure it does not exceed the issuance of the allowable number of securities under the LIFE exemption. Any participation above the maximum allowable under the LIFE exemption will rely on a different exemption as provided for under NI 45-106. All other terms of the Amended Upsized Financing remain unchanged: the Amended Upsized Financing will consist of units (the "Units") at $0.03 per Unit of the Company. Each Unit shall consist of one common share in the capital of the Company (a "Common Share") and one transferable Common Share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant is exercisable into one Common Share for a period of 36 months from issuance at an exercise price of $0.05. It is anticipated that the Company will issue up to 27,470,958 Units under the LIFE exemption for gross proceeds of up to $824,128.74 and an additional 22,529,042 Units under other applicable exemptions set forth in NI 45-106 for gross proceeds of $675,871.26. Crescat Capital LLC ("Crescat") has agreed to make a strategic investment for up to 33% of the Amended Upsized Financing. As a result of the amendments described herein, Fathom has now posted a new Amended Upsized Offering Document as of today's date on both SEDAR+ and the Company's website. The Amended Upsized Financing will be completed by way of exemptions from the prospectus requirements available under section 5A.2 and other sections of NI 45-106. There is an offering document related to the Amended Upsized Financing (the "Amended Upsized Offering Document") that can be accessed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca and at www.fathomnickel.com. Prospective investors should read this Amended Upsized Offering Document before making an investment decision. The Amended Upsized Offering Document is subject to customary closing conditions, including the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE"). This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. ABOUT FATHOM Fathom is an exploration company that is targeting magmatic nickel sulphide discoveries to support the rapidly growing global electric vehicle market and to secure the supply of North American Critical Minerals. The Company now has a portfolio of three high-quality exploration projects located in the prolific Trans Hudson Corridor in Saskatchewan: 1) the Albert Lake Project, a 90,000+ hectare project that was host to the historic and past producing Rottenstone Mine1 (produced 28,724 tons @3.3% Ni, 1.8% Cu, 9.63 g/t 3E (Pd-Pt+Au) 1965-1969), and 2) the 23,000+ hectare Gochager Lake Project that is host to a historic, NI43-101 non-compliant open pit resource consisting of 4.3M tons at 0.295% Ni and 0.081% Cu2, and 3) the 10,000+ hectare Friesen Lake Project located 40km southwest of the historic Rottenstone Mine and 30km northwest of the historic Gochager Lake deposit. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Doug Porter" President and CFO, Director Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains "forward-looking statements" that are based on expectations, estimates, projections and interpretations as at the date of this news release. Forward-Looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "seek", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "suggest", "indicate" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur, and include, without limitation, completion of the Amended Upsized Financing, date of closing of the Amended Upsized Financing, participation of Crescat in the Amend Upsized Financing, payment of commissions and finder warrants under the Amended Upsized Financing, regulatory approval of the Amended Upsized Financing and use of proceeds from the Amended Upsized Financing. 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 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; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; 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; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and 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 the Company's disclosure record. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections. 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 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. 1 The Saskatchewan Mineral Deposit Index (SMDI #0958) reports the production grades noted above from a small open pit. Fathom cannot confirm the production numbers nor a historic resource estimate that may have been in place ahead of production. The historic pit exists, and the Company trusts the production, as noted in SMDI #0958, to be accurate. The Company has performed test assaying of Rottenstone-type mineralization and results are consistent with production grades. 2 The Saskatchewan Mineral Deposit Index (SMDI #0880) reports drill indicated reserves at the historic Gochager Lake Deposit of 4,262,400 tons grading 0.295% Ni and 0.081% Cu mineable by open pit. Fathom cannot confirm the resource estimate, nor the parameters and methods used to prepare the reserve estimate. The estimate is not considered NI43-101 compliant and further work is required to verify this historical drill indicated reserve. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. ANY FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RESTRICTION MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF U.S. SECURITIES LAWS. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/249020 SOURCE: Fathom Nickel Inc. Pompano Beach, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - April 17, 2025) - Doroni Aerospace, a Florida-based company specializing in personal electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, has secured a $30 million strategic investment from Innovation Wings Industries (IWI). The investment will accelerate the development of Doroni's H1-X eVTOL, bringing the company closer to its goal of launching the aircraft by the end of 2026. The Doroni H1-X eVTOL. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8977/247206_620086214498ab91_001full.jpg The agreement includes plans for a joint venture between Doroni Aerospace and Innovation Wings Industries to manufacture the H1-X eVTOL aircraft in Saudi Arabia, with production expected to begin in 2027. Under the terms of the partnership, IWI will co-own and finance the venture, enabling global distribution of the aircraft. The joint venture agreement is expected to be finalized in the coming months, marking a significant step toward expanding Doroni's manufacturing capabilities beyond the United States. Doron Merdinger introducing the H1-X eVTOL aircraft. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8977/247206_620086214498ab91_002full.jpg Doron Merdinger, founder and CEO of Doroni Aerospace, emphasized the significance of the partnership, stating, "We are excited to welcome Innovation Wings Industries as a strategic investor and manufacturing partner. This investment fuels and accelerates the H1-X development, while our joint venture will establish the production infrastructure necessary for global distribution." He also highlighted the addition of Ismail Kashkash, CEO of IWI, to Doroni's Board of Directors, describing his leadership in aviation innovation as a valuable asset to the company's long-term growth. Ismail Kashkash, CEO of Innovation Wings Industries, shared his enthusiasm in the joint venture, "We believe Doroni is leading the future of personal eVTOL mobility, and the H1-X represents that future. This aligns with our mission to bring transformative air mobility solutions to the world. We are proud to help drive Doroni's vision forward and establish a world-class manufacturing hub in Saudi Arabia." The investment reflects IWI's broader strategy to advance aerospace innovation and position Saudi Arabia as a key player in the global air mobility sector. As part of the agreement, Innovation Wings Industries will provide an initial $5 million investment at closing, expected within the next 30 days. The remaining $25 million will be allocated in phases, contingent on key development milestones over the next two years. Upon full completion of the transaction, IWI will hold a 40% stake in Doroni Aerospace, subject to future capital raises. Doroni Aerospace's H1-X eVTOL is designed to redefine personal air mobility with a safer, more efficient, and accessible transportation solution. With Federal Aviation Administration certification in progress, the $30 million investment from Innovation Wings Industries enhances Doroni's ability to scale production, expand into new markets, and advance large-scale manufacturing infrastructure. The partnership accelerates development while establishing a global supply chain, positioning Doroni as a key innovator in the growing eVTOL market. As demand for advanced air mobility rises, the collaboration sets the stage for commercial readiness, with both companies working toward finalizing their joint venture in the coming months. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/247206 SOURCE: Hexa PR Wire BANGKOK, April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Supreme Group, a global leader in advanced material technologies and engineered product solutions, has announced the successful acquisition of full ownership of Supreme Feltol (Thailand) Company Limited following the acquisition of the remaining shareholding from minority shareholders. Supreme was already the majority shareholder in the venture, and this move brings the company under complete ownership of the Supreme Group. With this transition, the company has been renamed Supreme Fostreon (Thailand) Company Limited, marking a significant step in the Group's long-term vision for Thailand as a strategic base for regional innovation and manufacturing excellence. Established in 2019, the company has rapidly evolved to become a trusted manufacturer of Interior Trims and NVH components for leading automotive OEMs. Operating from its modern facility in Rayong, the company has earned a reputation for quality, agility, and customer-centricity. "Taking full ownership enables us to bring in Supreme Group's global technologies, material innovations, and design capabilities to support the evolving needs of this region," said Amit Kavrie, Managing Director, Supreme Group. "We believe Thailand is strategically positioned to become a significant innovation and manufacturing hub for our Group in the South East Asia region." As part of the transition, Supreme Fostreon will benefit from deeper integration into the Group's global ecosystem of material science, design, and engineering. With a focus on light weighting, sustainability, and customer co-development, the company is well-positioned to contribute meaningfully to the next generation of mobility solutions. Manoj Swain, Director - International Operations at Supreme Group, added: "With a strong foundation and a capable team, this transition allows us to better align with global customers, invest in scalable growth, and strengthen our regional partnerships. We look forward to engaging with our customers in the coming weeks to share our broader vision." Over the past few years, Supreme Group has played a hands-on role in leading the Thailand company's strategy, execution, and customer engagement. The company's leadership and operations will continue seamlessly, ensuring continuity, stability, and consistent service for customers and partners. The company has also received several national recognitions over the past year that underscore its commitment to operations excellence. In late 2023, Supreme Fostreon achieved FORD Q1 Certification and was honoured with the Top Supplier Award by AAT, recognising its consistent delivery, product quality, and performance standards. In 2024, in its debut year of participation, the company received the Silver Award at the prestigious TPA Thailand 5S Awards, standing out among 18 national finalists. Additionally, Supreme Fostreon earned the Gold Level Award from Thailand's Ministry of Labour for Excellence in Occupational Safety and Health, further affirming its best-in-class workplace practices and safety culture. Looking ahead, Supreme Fostreon is entering a new phase of growth with significant investments in R&D, advanced material development, and product innovation. The company is also establishing a world-class Experience Centre in Thailand that will be designed to enhance customer collaboration, enable co-development initiatives, and showcase cutting-edge technologies from across the Group's global network. About Supreme Group Supreme Group is a leader in advanced materials and engineered solutions, catering to the automotive and diverse industrial sectors. With global customers and a legacy of innovation spanning four decades, Supreme is committed to delivering high-performance, sustainable solutions that power the future of mobility and industry. Follow us on LinkedIn to stay updated on our latest innovations, partnerships, and expansion plans: https://www.linkedin.com/company/supreme-group-company/ Website: https://www.supremegroup.co.in Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2667401/Supreme_Fostreon_Logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/supreme-group-strengthens-thailand-presence-with-full-ownership-of-supreme-feltol-unveils-new-identity-supreme-fostreon-thailand-company-limited-302432268.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! SINGAPORE and NEW YORK, April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The most awaited tech event of the year, 'GITEX Asia 2025', is about to happen in Singapore. After achieving stupendous success hosting tech events in Dubai, the Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX Global) is all set to establish a strong foothold in Asian markets. GITEX Asia, an extension of GITEX Global, is an established tech, startup, and digital investment event that assembles 700+ enterprises and startups, 25000+ trade professionals, 250+ investors, and 220+ speakers from over 70 countries. Hyperlink InfoSystem, a leading IT solutions provider with a robust presence in 4 countries, is a distinguished participant in this high-profile tech expo to be held in Singapore. Asia is taking giant leaps in digital transformation. Be it education, healthcare, logistics, manufacturing, hospitality, or any other sector, there is ample evidence of significant investments in AI, Fintech, cybersecurity, and blockchain. The most notable country in Asia that deserves a special mention would be Singapore, which has emerged as a formidable force in tech innovation, thanks to government initiatives and private investments worth millions of dollars. Recent reports predict that the value of Asia Pacific's AI market is expected to cross the $200 billion mark by 2031. GITEX Asia is an excellent opportunity for companies to showcase their innovation, meet influential leaders, build long-lasting partnerships, and enter new markets while unlocking valuable AI-related insights. GITEX Asia 2025 will unfold from April 23-25, 2025, in Singapore at Marina Bay Sands. Find Hyperlink InfoSystem sharing robust insights and showcasing their innovation at Stand No. HE-014, Hall E. Hyperlink InfoSystem is an esteemed global IT services provider specializing in custom software development, mobile & web app solutions, AI, IoT, and blockchain solutions. Since its inception in 2011, Hyperlink InfoSystem has developed 4500+ multi-industry apps (Android, iOS, and cross-platform) and garnered a clientele of over 2700 companies, including startups and Fortune 500 companies. Attendees can explore their expertise in AI, blockchain, IoT, CRM, and digital transformation solutions or explore potential collaboration opportunities. Harnil Oza, the CEO of Hyperlink InfoSystem, shared his excitement about participating in the upcoming expo in Singapore. His words are as below: "Hyperlink InfoSystem has been a dedicated and enthusiastic participant at GITEX Global UAE and will bring the same energy to GITEX Asia 2025. For us, it's not just an event. It's a golden opportunity to connect with the brightest minds in the industry, industry bigwigs, and those who want to take their businesses to the next level with AI, blockchain, and digital transformation solutions. Connect with us to address business challenges, explore innovative ideas, or gain insights on navigating the evolving tech landscape." Attendees at the GITEX Asia 2025 expo can visit Hyperlink InfoSystem's booth at Stand No. HE-014, Hall No. Hall E to explore their services and explore potential collaboration opportunities. Hyperlink InfoSystem primarily focuses on investing in emerging technologies and trends while expanding its service base in newer markets, including the Asia-Pacific region. Whether it's an idea, concept, or technology, Hyperlink InfoSystem has the expertise and knowledge to execute a project from start to finish. Entrepreneurs with sophisticated technological concepts can pitch directly to the team at GITEX Asia, Singapore, 2025. To inquire more, call +1(309) 791-4105 or email info@hyperlinkinfosystem.com. About Hyperlink InfoSystem Hyperlink InfoSystem is a prominent international enterprise excelling in IT solutions in many domains. Since its humble beginnings in 2011, its specialization in technologies has expanded across web development, mobile app development, enterprise software solutions, and now Artificial Intelligence (AI). With over 1200+ employees and a global presence in the USA, UK, UAE, France, India, and Canada, Hyperlink InfoSystem is dedicated to assisting corporations to leverage the complete power of technology to accomplish their goals. Contact Details: Hyperlink InfoSystem Harnil Oza +1-309-791-4105 info@hyperlinkinfosystem.com New York Address: One World Trade Center 285 Fulton Street suite 8500, New York, NY 10007, United States Ahmedabad Address: C-308, Ganesh Meridian, Opp Kargil Petrol Pump, S.G. Highway, Sola, Ahmedabad, 380061 India London Address: Level 30, The Leadenhall Building, 122 Leadenhall Street, London EC3V 4AB Canada Address: 151 Yonge Street, 11th Floor, Toronto, Ontario, M5C 2W7, Canada Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2429933/5163977/Hyperlink_InfoSystem_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/hyperlink-infosystem-to-highlight-digital-transformation-solutions-at-gitex-asia-2025-302432292.html Road Town, British Virgin Islands--(Newsfile Corp. - April 18, 2025) - In a significant move for cryptocurrency enthusiasts, LBank Exchange, a premier global digital asset trading platform, has announced the listing of KSGEMS (KSGEMS) on April 15, 2025. The KSGEMS/USDT trading pair (https://www.lbank.com/trade/ksgems_usdt) is now available to users of LBank Exchange. KSGEMS listing banner To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8831/249022_4f853d7e942cfb63_001full.jpg The global gemstone investment market, traditionally dominated by high-net-worth individuals and institutional investors, has long been inaccessible to the general public due to high entry barriers. The lack of liquidity and transparency has further deterred widespread participation. However, KSGEMS is set to revolutionize this space by leveraging blockchain technology and tokenization. By doing so, KSGEMS aims to democratize gemstone investing, making high-value gemstones more accessible, transparent, and liquid for a broader audience. This approach not only enhances the investment experience but also opens up new opportunities for everyday investors to benefit from the intrinsic value of gemstones. Revolutionizing Gemstone Investment: KSGEMS Unlocks Access, Liquidity, and Transparency Through Tokenization KSGEMS focuses on the tokenization of high-value gemstones with a combined worth of up to USD 45 million. The project's platform allows investors to purchase fractional ownership in these precious assets through blockchain-based tokens. Each gemstone in the KSGEMS portfolio is internationally certified by respected gemological institutions like the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and GemResearch Swisslab (GRS), ensuring the highest levels of authenticity and reliability. The gemstones are insured by Tokio Marine, offering full protection against risks such as theft or damage, and are securely stored by UBB Trustees in state-of-the-art vaults, guaranteeing their safety and integrity. A core aspect of the KSGEMS project is the introduction of fractional ownership through tokenization, which lowers the barrier to entry for investors. Previously, acquiring high-value gemstones required significant capital, often limiting participation to the wealthy elite. Through KSGEMS, investors can now purchase small shares of high-value gemstones for as little as $100. This fractional ownership model not only democratizes access to gemstone investments but also makes the process more affordable. The platform also enhances liquidity, enabling gemstones to be traded on decentralized exchanges, thereby creating a dynamic marketplace where assets can be easily bought, sold, or exchanged. KSGEMS also prioritizes transparency and accountability. Utilizing blockchain technology ensures that all transactions are recorded immutably, providing an unparalleled level of traceability for both the gemstones and the associated tokenized assets. Each token is linked to a specific gemstone, with detailed information about its origin, quality, and certification readily available for verification. This transparency, coupled with regular audits and decentralized governance mechanisms, fosters trust among investors and mitigates risks associated with fraud. Additionally, the KSGEMS platform allows investors to track the performance of their assets in real time, making gemstone investing a more transparent and secure experience. KSGEMS Tokenomics The KSGEMS token (KSGEMS) serves as the backbone of the ecosystem, offering various utilities such as staking, trading, and profit-sharing. Token holders can stake their tokens to earn rewards, with one point awarded per token per day. These points are tied to the profitability of gemstone auctions, and holders can redeem them for a share of the profits. KSGEMS will conduct token buybacks post-auction for distribution of auction rewards to holders & stakers to increase token and ecosystem value. The total supply of KSGEMS tokens is capped at 35,000,000, with allocations for Founders/Team (5%), Treasury (40%), Advisory (5%), Liquidity (20%) and Ecosystem (30%). This carefully designed tokenomics structure ensures that the project remains sustainable while incentivizing long-term participation and engagement from the community. Learn More about KSGEMS: Website: https://ksgems.io/ X: https://x.com/ksgems_ About LBank Founded in 2015, LBank is a top crypto exchange offering financial derivatives, asset management, and secure trading. With over 15 million users across 210+ regions, LBank ranks in the top 20 for spot trading and top 15 for derivatives trading globally, ensuring fund integrity and supporting global crypto adoption. Leveraging its acute market insight and expertise, LBank always takes the lead in spotting and listing Alpha altcoins. Start Trading Now: lbank.com Community & Social Media: Telegram Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Instagram YouTube To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/249022 SOURCE: LBank Combining Circles' Full-Stack, Cloud-Native SaaS Platform with Prodapt's AI-Powered Integration Expertise to Accelerate Telco-to-Techco Transformation at Scale SINGAPORE and CHENNAI, India, April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Circles, a global telco technology company, today announced a strategic partnership with Prodapt, a Gartner-recognized telecom-native IT services leader, to help telco operators (telcos) worldwide accelerate their transformation into technology companies (techcos) and deliver cutting-edge digital customer experiences. This strategic partnership combines Circles' full-stack, cloud-native software-as-a-service (SaaS) digital telco platform with Prodapt's AI-powered integration and consulting expertise, enabling telecom operators to launch and scale digital-first services more rapidly and efficiently. Under this partnership, Circles will provide its cloud-native, full-stack digital telco SaaS platform - honed through successful deployments in markets like Singapore, Japan, Middle East and the Americas - while Prodapt will leverage its deep telecom domain experience to integrate and customize these solutions for incumbent operators. By uniting Circles' technology with Prodapt's delivery capabilities, telcos can accelerate their telco-to-techco transformation, launching new digital brands and services in months rather than years, personalizing customer engagements with AI-driven insights, and streamlining operations to be more agile in a fast-evolving market. For Circles, known for powering leading digital telco brands for partners such as KDDI Corporation in Japan, Telkomsel in Indonesia and AT&T in Mexico, this collaboration marks a pivotal step in extending its global SaaS footprint. For Prodapt, which has helped leading telcos leverage Practical AI solutions to drive operational efficiency and elevate experiences, the partnership enriches its portfolio of solutions aimed at modernizing networks and customer-facing platforms for the next era of connectivity. Direct Strategic Impact for Tier-1 Telcos Today's telecom operators are under pressure to transform outdated infrastructure, reduce operational complexity, and meet rising customer expectations - fast. Circles' cloud-native SaaS platform, paired with Prodapt's global integration and transformation expertise, provides a turnkey solution to accelerate legacy modernization and Go to Market with new digital brands and services in just 16 weeks. Through efficient operations and by aligning offerings to customer needs, operators can drive stable revenue growth. Prodapt's proprietary GenAI framework automates legacy system data mapping to Circles' cloud-native stack, reducing manual effort by 70% and ensuring zero service disruption during cutover. Enabling a leading Telco to fast-track their migration to the Circles platform, the solution leverages Natural Language Processing (NLP) to parse unstructured billing/CRM data and enforce TMF-compliant data governance. Customer-Centric Transformation Integrating Circles' high-performance applications - designed for every customer touchpoint - with Prodapt's deep understanding of telecom customer journeys, the partnership will enable telcos to deliver digital-first customer experiences, from onboarding to seamless daily interactions. With intuitive, frictionless service, they will drive customer satisfaction and improve retention, translating great experiences into measurable revenue growth. "We are thrilled to partner with Prodapt, a recognized leader in telecom digital transformation services," said Sanjay Kaul, Chief Revenue Officer, Circles. "Prodapt's extensive integration expertise and global reach complement Circles' innovative SaaS platform perfectly. This collaboration validates our vision of reimagining telcos as technology companies on a global scale and reinforces our commitment to helping operators deliver next-generation experiences. Together, we will empower telcos to achieve techco agility faster - enhancing operational efficiency, unlocking new revenue streams, and delighting customers with digital-first offerings." Speed, Simplicity & Scalability - Without Disruption One of the biggest hurdles in Telco transformation is complexity. Circles and Prodapt solve this with a streamlined implementation model that enables operators to fully deploy the Circles platform in under 16 weeks - with minimal disruption to existing systems. This dramatically shortens Time to Value and provides a clear path to scalable innovation. "We are delighted to partner with Circles to bring an innovative offering to market," said Sumit Grover, Chief Growth Officer, Prodapt. "As they navigate an evolving terrain, telcos must adopt futuristic technology platforms to get ahead of the next disruption to their business. Combining Circles' NextGen stack and Prodapt's ability to bring it to speed in customer environments, we are creating a new and powerful strategic partner for telcos," he added. About Circles Founded in 2014, Circles is a global technology company reimagining the telco industry with its innovative SaaS platform, empowering telco operators worldwide to effortlessly launch innovative digital brands or refresh existing ones, accelerating their transformation into techcos. Today, Circles partners with leading telco operators across 14 countries and 6 continents, including KDDI Corporation, Etisalat Group (e&), AT&T, and Telkomsel, creating blueprints for future telco and digital experiences enjoyed by millions of consumers globally. Besides its SaaS business, Circles operates two distinct businesses: Circles.Life: A wholly-owned digital lifestyle telco brand based in Singapore, Circles.Life is powered by Circles' SaaS platform and pioneering go-to-market strategies. It is the digital market leader in Singapore and has won numerous awards for marketing, customer service, and innovative product offerings beyond connectivity. Jetpac: Specializing in travel tech solutions, Jetpac provides seamless eSIM roaming for over 200 destinations and innovative travel lifestyle products, redefining connectivity for digital travelers. Jetpac was awarded Travel eSIM of the Year. Circles is backed by renowned global investors, including Peak XV Partners (formerly Sequoia), Warburg Pincus, Founders Fund, and EDBI (the investment arm of the Singapore Economic Development Board), with a track record of backing industry challengers. About Prodapt Prodapt is the largest specialized player in the Connectedness industry. As an AI-first strategic technology partner, Prodapt provides consulting, business reengineering, and managed services for the largest telecom and tech enterprises building networks and digital experiences of tomorrow. Prodapt has been recognized by Gartner as a Large, Telecom-Native, Regional IT Service Provider. Connecting 1.1 billion people and 5.4 billion devices across the globe, Prodapt's clients include Google, Amazon, PayPal, SoftBank, ServiceNow, Ciena, Verizon, Vodafone, Liberty Global, Liberty Latin America, Claro, Lumen, Windstream, Rogers, Telus, KPN, Virgin Media, British Telecom, Deutsche Telekom, Adtran, Samsung, and many more. A "Great Place To Work Certified" company, Prodapt employs over 6,000 technology and domain experts across the Americas, Europe, India, Africa, & Japan. Prodapt is part of the 130-year-old business conglomerate The Jhaver Group, which employs over 32,000 people across 80+ locations globally. Visit www.prodapt.com for more information. Follow us on LinkedIn. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2668156/Prodapt_CRO_CEO_Partnership.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/circles-and-prodapt-form-strategic-partnership-to-accelerate-global-telco-transformation-and-innovation-302432352.html Power Couple Coin ($PCP), a high-energy animated meme token developed on the Solana blockchain, is officially launching across decentralized exchanges Raydium and Meteora. With a fair launch, zero trading taxes, and no presale, the project emphasizes decentralization, community ownership, and cultural relevance. The Power Couple brand draws inspiration from a viral internet duo whose unlikely chemistry sparked a global wave of memes. Channeling this momentum, the PCP team is building an ecosystem that blends meme culture with long-term engagement strategies-starting with a fast-growing community of over 13,500 members pre-launch. A Cultural Launch on Solana Power Couple Coin ($PCP) is more than just a meme token-it's a cultural signal turned digital asset. Built on Solana, the project benefits from ultra-low fees, high throughput, and a scalable infrastructure suited for viral adoption. Launching with a community-first ethos, $PCP features: No presales Fair token distribution Zero trading taxes This ensures a transparent and equitable environment for early participants. Powering a Meme-Driven Ecosystem Unlike many meme tokens that fade post-launch, Power Couple Coin is developing a sustainable, content-rich ecosystem designed to amplify community participation and brand awareness. Key features of the ecosystem include: Animated Series & Original Content : A fully produced animated short series brings the "Power Couple" synergy to life, with episodes and clips distributed across social media to foster engagement. The MemeVerse : A curated archive of top community-created memes-honoring contributors and evolving the narrative Power Couple Drip : An official merch store will launch shortly after the token's release, with a portion of proceeds allocated to community rewards and marketing initiatives. Community Hubs: Active on platforms like Twitter, YouTube, and Discord, the community is encouraged to contribute memes, participate in contests, and help guide project direction. Upcoming Developments Following the token launch, the PCP team will pursue expanded visibility through: Partnerships with influencers, crypto projects, and gaming communities. Listings on top-tier CEXs (Binance, Coinbase, etc.) Community challenges and meme contests DAO development, giving holders the ability to propose and vote on project decisions The roadmap also includes the launch of the Power Couple Mars Mission - a play-to-earn game, and Season 2 of the animated series - to continuously drive engagement. About Power Couple Coin Power Couple Coin ($PCP) is a decentralized meme token launched on Solana, inspired by the viral energy of internet culture and unexpected partnerships. With a commitment to transparency, fair distribution, and content-driven engagement, PCP is building a brand that goes beyond trends-aiming to define a new category of memecoin utility. The official launch is now live on Raydium and Meteora. For more information and updates, visit the official website below. https://powercouple.meme Power Couple Coin Website | Twitter | Youtube | Telegram Media Details: Full Name: Chris Promoj Company Name: Power Couple Coin Company Email Address: infor@powerccouple.meme Website: https://powercouple.meme Country and Province: Antioquia, Colombia SOURCE: Power Couple Coin In a deeply disappointing turn of events, Phoenix Ancient Art has been handed a summary judgment loss in ongoing litigation with QIPCO (Qatar Investment and Project Development Holding Company), not due to the substance of the case, but solely on procedural grounds. The court's decision was based on a technical hurdle relating to disclosure which resulted in the exclusion of all of Phoenix's evidence, testimony, and documents. As a result, the judgment was entered without consideration of the compelling proof Phoenix provided throughout the five-year legal battle. The litigation stems from QIPCO's 2020 claims questioning the authenticity of two stone sculptures which was ignited by the unqualified opinion of a British metallurgist: A Byzantine Chalcedony Statuette of Nike A Greek Marble Head of Alexander the Great These claims were dismantled, both by scientific proof, as well as the court's dismissal of the Alexander claim. Despite the fact that Phoenix had submitted extensive expert analysis supporting its argument (evidence that was not challenged by any expert from QIPCO), the court's recent ruling struck out Phoenix's comprehensive defense - which was submitted to the court and includes: Museum exhibition records from one of the biggest museums in the world and independent expert opinions Scientific authentication reports from the most respectable lab in the world including 14 samples on one of them alone Testimony from previous owners with original purchase invoices (dating back as far as 1968) In 2023, three years after after the original litigation, Qatar Investment produced a new complaint to include allegations of fraudulent misrepresentation, reintroducing a previously dismissed piece and adding a new one (i.e.: A Roman Chalcedony Phalera). The amendment relied heavily on speculative interpretations rather than facts. Despite Phoenix's offer to voluntarily provide 100,000 documents from its disclosure database to QIPCO (all its potentially relevant documents in possession, including documents that were already produced in the 2020 disclosure exercise and at the time of purchase)- showing transparency and nothing to hide - the court accepted QIPCO's argument for Phoenix to undergo a prohibitively costly document-by-document legal review. This financial barrier became the sole reason for Phoenix not completing the disclosure exercise which led to the court's exclusion of Phoenix's evidence and the resulting judgment. Phoenix Ancient Art has served as a trusted source of antiquities for over 50 years, with its artworks housed in leading institutions such as The Louvre, The Getty Museum, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and prestigious university museums including Princeton, Harvard, Yale, and Emory. Museum publications have featured Phoenix pieces on their covers - underscoring the gallery's integrity, scholarship, and the cultural importance of its collection. To this day, Phoenix Ancient Art remains proud to have placed 23 major antiquities in the QIPCO / Al Thani Collection. "This is not justice," said a spokesperson for Phoenix Ancient Art. "It's a technical knockout - not a judgment on truth, merit, or evidence. The value, authenticity, and historical significance of these artworks are beyond dispute, and we stand by the rigorous research and provenance behind every piece." This technicality meant that QIPCO did not have to prove what they have alleged. Phoenix Ancient Art will continue to explore all legal avenues to challenge this decision and defend its reputation in the art world. Contact Information Hicham Aboutaam President of Electrum info@phoenixancientart.com +2122887518 SOURCE: Phoenix Ancient Art HAIKOU, China, April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A report from HIMC: On Apr. 13, the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) opened in Haikou, capital city of Hainan Province. This year, over 1,700 companies from 70+ countries and regions put more than 4,100 brands on display at the event. "The Hainan Expo gave me a sense of the huge potential of China's consumer market," said Ramel Francois Felix, CEO of Vignerons du Castelas, who is attending his 5th CICPE in a row. Over the past four years, he has met over a hundred Chinese business partners at the Expo, greatly facilitating his business. As China's only national-level consumer product themed expo, China's huge market advantage makes attending the Expo very attractive. There are several notable differences at this year's Expo. Exhibition groups from Slovakia, Singapore, Brazil, and several other countries attended for the first time, special exhibition areas for AI and the low-altitude economy were a new feature, and an online pre-matching plus in-person in-depth negotiation supply and demand matching model also debuted. As of Apr. 16, the midpoint of the Expo, a total of 150 billion yuan ($20.56 billion) of transaction agreements had already been made, with 52 project agreements signed in three official supply and demand matchmaking meetings. Twenty of these were signed at country-specific sessions, with Chinese and international exhibitors reaching agreement for a wide variety of procurement and transaction projects. At this year's Expo, Hainan also welcomed large numbers of new orders and collaborative agreements. Many project agreements in the areas of autonomous driving, smart transportation infrastructure, and smart travel services were achieved. Hangzhou's Unitree Robotics exhibited varieties of robot products, and received many orders from Hainan for items related to university-level scientific research, public security patrols, and other fields. The Fosun Tourism Group announced that ULTRAMED, a major tourism and cultural project, will open in Haitang Bay, Sanya. There was a sense of great openness both inside the venue as well as outside. Unlike in the past, many international exhibitors and buyers no longer needed to apply for visas to participate, thanks to Hainan's 59 Country Visa Free Entry Policy along with nationally applicable comprehensive bilateral and unilateral visa-free policies, which combined permit travelers from 77 countries to enter Hainan visa free. In Hainan, special management measures for cross-border trade in services and greater market access for foreign investment access have been implemented. The province is also accelerating the exploration and establishment of a coordinated model for domestic and international investment access suited to the unique conditions of the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP). This year, special customs operations will be established in the FTP. "The institutional opening advantages of Hainan will become more and more available, bringing greater investment opportunities." William Huang, EY China South Managing Partner, believes that thanks to the opportunities brought by the CICPE and the favorable development conditions of the Hainan FTP, more multinational companies will increase their presence in Hainan. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2668116/On_Apr_13_guest_country_honor_UK_Pavilion_opened_5th.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2668117/On_Apr_17_Hangzhou_s_Unitree_Robotics_G1_Robot_extended__AI.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/over-4-100-brands-from-70-countries-and-regions-on-display-at-the-5th-cicpe-302432371.html Pi Protocol, the innovative new stablecoin venture led by Tether co-founder Reeve Collins, today announced the adoption of Solana (SOL) as its native blockchain network. This strategic decision positions Pi Protocol to leverage Solana's superior transaction speeds and lower costs for its USPi network token, while maintaining Ethereum (ETH) compatibility for its USP stablecoin. Pi Protocol features a unique three-token architecture: the USP stablecoin (pegged to the US dollar), the USI yield token, and the USPi governance token. The USP stablecoin is backed by tokenised real-world assets (RWAs) including money market funds, US Treasuries, and insurance assets. The USI yield token captures and maximises returns generated from the underlying collateralised assets and the USPi token governs the protocol. "Solana provides the ideal infrastructure for programmable capital," said Bundeep Singh Rangar, CEO of Pi Protocol. "We can give users immediate access to yield as well as our USP stablecoin backed by institutional-grade real-world assets. By extending USP across both ETH and SOL networks, we can tap into Ethereum's established ecosystem and liquidity, as well as Solana's performance advantages." Pi Protocol's USPi governance token and USI yield token will be built on Solana, while the USP stablecoin will operate across both Ethereum and Solana networks via a proprietary in-house ETH-SOL bridge. This software will contain custom smart contracts and middleware functionality, ensuring seamless integration with enhanced compliance and cross-chain fund visibility. This architecture creates a foundation for future expansion to additional blockchains beyond Ethereum and Solana such as Cardano, Polkadot, Stellar, Sui and The Open Network (TON). "Stablecoins are no longer just a dollar-pegged utility, they're evolving into dynamic assets that reward users directly, leveraging DeFi and on-chain RWAs to deliver value that was unimaginable a decade ago," said Reeve Collins, co-founder of Pi Protocol and co-founder of Tether. "With Solana's infrastructure, we're delivering a decentralised stablecoin ecosystem that combines the security of real-world asset backing with the performance needed for mainstream financial applications." The choice to build on Solana aligns with broader market trends toward faster, more cost-efficient blockchain infrastructure. Solana currently processes nearly 100 million transactions daily at an average cost of just $0.00025 per transaction, compared to Ethereum's higher fees exceeding one dollar per transaction. Solana can process more than 2,600 transactions per second (TPS), while Ethereum currently handles around 15 TPS. This speed makes Solana one of the fastest blockchain networks, allowing it to offer lower fees and better scalability. Ethereum remains the dominant stablecoin network, however, with approximately $122 billion in circulation (over half the $233 billion total market). Launched in 2020, five years after Ethereum, Solana has emerged as the third most popular stablecoin network with roughly $13 billion, according to DeFiLlama.com Pi Protocol's aims to position USP within the top blockchain ecosystems for decentralised finance (DeFi) activities. Currently, the total value locked (TVL) in DeFi exceeds $90 billion, with RWA representing $20 billion. Ethereum leads with $55 billion in DeFi activity, while Solana's $7 billion places it third behind Bitcoin's $8 billion. For more information about Pi Protocol and its USP stablecoin, visit www.piprotocol.com About Pi Protocol Pi Protocol is a decentralised finance (DeFi) infrastructure to collateralise and monetise blockchain based yield-bearing real world assets (RWA) via issuance of USP stablecoins pegged to the U.S. dollar. Its governance will be driven and conducted by holders of its USPi network token. For more information, please connect at: contact@piprotocol.com www.piprotocol.com https://x.com/piprotocol https://www.linkedin.com/company/piprotocol/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ DISCLAIMER: Crypto assets are unregulated investment products prone to sudden and substantial value fluctuations, presenting a high risk of total loss of the invested capital. The information presented herein is not intended as a financial promotion. This material has been produced for circulation to a limited number of professional investors and journalists. If you are unsure whether this asset is suitable for your individual circumstances, it is highly recommended to obtain independent financial and legal advice. SOURCE: PI TECHNOLOGIES, LTD Publication of the Preparatory Documents Regulatory News: Groupe SEB (Paris:SK) informs its shareholders that the Combined General Meeting (Ordinary and Extraordinary) will be held on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at 2:30 p.m. at 28 George V, 28 avenue George V, 75008 Paris. The preliminary notice of meeting was published in the BALO (Bulletin des Annonces Legales et Obligatoires) n32 of March 14, 2025. It contains the agenda and draft resolutions as approved by the Board of Directors. The notice of meeting was published in the BALO and JAL (Journal d'Annonces Legales) on Friday, April 18, 2025. The convening brochure (including the voting form) will be sent to the registered shareholders from April 18, 2025, and made available on the Group's website. All the documents related to 2025 Annual General Meeting are available in the Shareholder Area of the Group's website: (https://www.groupeseb.com/en/finance/annual-general-meeting) in accordance with laws and regulations in force. We will regularly update this page with the information required. The SEB S.A. 2025 Annual General Meeting will be broadcast live and delayed on the Company's website, www.groupeseb.com, unless technical reasons make it impossible or disrupt the broadcast. Next key dates 2025 24 April after market closes Q1 2025 sales and financial data 20 May 2:30 p.m. Annual General Meeting 23 July after market closes H1 2025 sales and results 23 October after market closes 9M 2025 sales and financial data You can also find us at www.groupeseb.com World reference in Small Domestic Equipment and professional coffee machines, Groupe SEB operates with a unique portfolio of 40 top brands (including Tefal, Seb, Rowenta, Moulinex, Krups, Lagostina, All-Clad, WMF, Emsa, Supor), marketed through multi-format retailing. Selling more than 400 million products a year, it deploys a long-term strategy focused on innovation, international development, competitiveness, and client service. Present in over 150 countries, Groupe SEB generated sales of 8.3bn in 2024 and has more than 32,000 employees worldwide. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250418811898/en/ Contacts: Investor/Analyst Relations Groupe SEB Financial Communication and IR Dept Raphael Hoffstetter Guillaume Baron comfin@groupeseb.com Tel. +33 (0) 4 72 18 16 04 Media Relations Groupe SEB Corporate Communication Department Cathy Pianon Florence Candianides Marie Leroy presse@groupeseb.com Tel. 33 (0) 6 79 53 21 03 Tel. 33 (0) 6 88 20 98 60 Tel. 33 (0) 6 76 98 87 53 Image Sept Caroline Simon Claire Doligez Isabelle Dunoyer de Segonzac caroline.simon@image7.fr cdoligez@image7.fr isegonzac@image7.fr Tel.: +33 (0) 1 53 70 74 70 NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESS Newswire / April 18, 2025 / Cummins Inc Employees working on electrolyzers inside the Guadalajara manufacturing plant | Photos by Accelera by Cummins Cummins David Heredero, Guadalajara Plant Director for Electrolyzers at AcceleraTM by Cummins shares his thoughts: Q: What is your team working on? David Heredero: My team is working on defining the best approach to building electrolyzers in our plant in Guadalajara, setting up the right processes, the right organization, and a performance-driven culture. Q: What do you love about your job? David Heredero: I love the great opportunity to contribute to shaping this new industry and to do it together with people who bring unique backgrounds and from whom it is great to learn. Q: What have you learned from your team? David Heredero: Their passion, excitement and determination to make great things happen have been valuable lessons from my team. They are a strong group of people, ready to overcome difficulties and changes. Q: What impact do you hope this work will have? David Heredero: We will play a key role in the energy transition. The more electrolyzers we produce from our plant in Guadalajara, the more we will help decarbonize the economy. Accelera, the zero-emissions business segment of Cummins Inc., opened its new electrolyzer manufacturing plant in Guadalajara, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain, in October 2024. Spanning 24,000 square meters (~260,000 square feet), the facility marks a 50 million investment and is one of the world's largest dedicated to electrolyzer production. With an initial production capacity of 500 megawatts (MW) of proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers annually, the plant is designed to scale beyond 1 gigawatt (GW) as demand grows. The facility currently employs around 150 highly skilled workers, with the potential to reach 200 as operations ramp up. In line with Accelera's commitment to sustainability, the facility integrates 3,000 rooftop solar panels, a geothermal heating and cooling system, and rainwater harvesting, enabling up to 70% of its energy needs to be met on-site. This plant plays an important role in advancing Europe's green hydrogen production. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Cummins Inc on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Cummins Inc Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cummins-inc Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Cummins Inc A Game-Changing Alternative to General Anesthesia Dr. Stephen Weber is transforming the surgical experience with his exclusive in-office sedation technique, offering patients a safer, more comfortable and more cost-effective alternative to general anesthesia. Through years of refinement, Dr. Weber has created a pill-based sedation method that is combined with a specialized, dilute lidocaine numbing solution. This combination ensures patients remain relaxed and pain-free throughout their procedures while avoiding the risks, discomfort, expense and prolonged recovery commonly associated with general anesthesia and other deeper anesthesia techniques. While Dr. Weber's groundbreaking technique is highly effective for facelifts , neck lifts, liposuction, cheek and chin implants, eyelid surgery, facial implants, fat transfer and ear pinning surgery, it is not suitable for more invasive procedures such as brow lifts or rhinoplasty, which still require traditional anesthesia in a surgical setting. In addition, Dr. Weber maintains ambulatory surgery center and local hospital privileges to accommodate surgery for patients that prefer the traditional general anesthetic approach to his portfolio of facial cosmetic surgery procedures. Convenience, Cost Savings, and Faster Recovery By performing procedures in his state-of-the-art office surgery suite, Dr. Weber eliminates the need for a separate ambulatory surgical center, reducing risk, cost and logistical challenges for his patients. Traditional hospital-based surgeries often require additional fees, extended recovery times and unpleasant side effects such as nausea and grogginess from general anesthesia. Dr. Weber's in-office oral sedation technique removes these concerns, offering a streamlined, personalized and more convenient experience. "Patients love the fact that they can undergo procedures like facelift, neck lift, facial implant procedures, and eyelid surgery in a familiar, private setting," says Dr. Weber." They wake up feeling refreshed, without the hangover effect that general anesthesia can cause." Dr. Stephen Weber Recognized as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor for 2025 Dr. Stephen Weber, a distinguished Facial Plastic Surgeon, is honored as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor for 2025 , a prestigious recognition awarded to the nation's most respected physicians. This accolade highlights Dr. Weber's unwavering commitment to excellence in facial plastic surgery, patient care and surgical innovation. With extensive training and over 15 years of experience, he has earned a reputation for delivering outstanding aesthetic results and pioneering advanced surgical techniques. This and more sets Dr. Stephen Weber apart as a premier cosmetic surgeon, serving patients both from within Denver and abroad. The Future of Facial Surgery in Colorado Dr. Weber's commitment to patient safety and comfort has led to a growing number of patients choosing in-office sedation for their procedures. Currently, over 95% of his surgical patients opt for this approach, drawn to its numerous benefits, including: Increased safety - Avoiding general anesthesia significantly reduces risks and side effects. Unmatched comfort - A specialized sedation and numbing technique ensures a relaxed experience. Lower costs - No need for additional surgical center and anesthesiologist fees. Faster, easier recovery - No anesthesia-related nausea or grogginess post-surgery. Greater convenience - Most facial procedures can be performed in Dr. Weber's state-of-the-art office. Dr. Weber is one of only a handful of board-certified Facial Plastic Surgeons worldwide to offer this level of in-office surgical care and is the only Facial Plastic Surgeon in Colorado doing so. Patients say his innovative approach has redefined their comfort, safety and accessibility, making facial cosmetic surgery more convenient than ever. Contact Information Dr. Steven Weber Plastic Surgeon 720-738-4443 SOURCE: Weber Facial Plastic Surgery The Pisanchyn Law Firm secured over $2.2 million in combined settlements for injured Pennsylvania workers, including a $786K product liability case and a $1M+ multi-party truck injury case. The Pisanchyn Law Firm is proud to announce the successful resolution of two significant workers' compensation cases, each resulting in confidential settlements that exceed typical industry averages by nearly 40%. These results reflect the firm's dedication to securing maximum compensation for injured workers across the state of Pennsylvania. In our most recent case, a factory worker suffered a catastrophic hand injury after a malfunctioning industrial machine crushed the worker's hand, leading to the amputation of fingers. The accident occurred at a Pennsylvania manufacturing facility and was attributed to both a defective safety mechanism in the equipment and inadequate safety oversight by the employer. The Pisanchyn Law Firm secured a $786,000 settlement from the manufacturer of the machine, based on product liability and design defect claims. In addition, the firm obtained a $385,000 workers' compensation settlement from the employer an amount above the national average for similar workplace injuries. "This wasn't just a worksite accident, it was a completely preventable tragedy that forever changed our client's life," said a firm representative. Pisanchyn Law Firm Secures Over $1M+ in Compensation for Injured Employee in Multi-Party Settlement In a case that demonstrates the complexity of workplace injury law, The Pisanchyn Law Firm secured a total of $1,082,000 in combined compensation for a tractor-trailer driver who suffered catastrophic facial injuries while on the job for his employer. The incident occurred at a drop-off location in Pennsylvania when the driver was struck in the head, causing severe trauma. The impact shattered the driver's jaw and orbital bone and left him with permanent facial scarring. The injuries required multiple surgeries and left the driver unable to work for an extended period. The Pisanchyn Law Firm pursued claims against multiple parties. A $650,000 settlement was reached with the drop-off location for unsafe conditions. Another company paid $190,000 for failing to provide a safe work environment, and the client received $242,000 in workers' compensation benefits. "We're proud to have helped this client secure real financial recovery and a path forward" the firm said in a statement. About The Pisanchyn Law Firm The Pisanchyn Law Firm is a Pennsylvania-based injury law firm committed to protecting the rights of individuals who have been harmed due to negligence, unsafe work conditions, or corporate wrongdoing. With offices throughout Pennsylvania, our legal team is known for aggressive representation, compassionate client care, and a track record of successful outcomes. Workers' Compensation attorneys - Helping injured workers secure the benefits they are entitled to, including wage loss, medical care, and long-term support. Tractor Trailer Accident attorneys - Holding trucking companies and third parties accountable for catastrophic crashes. Car Accidents attorneys - Representing victims of distracted, drunk, or reckless driving incidents. Dog Bite attorneys - Advocating for victims of serious dog attacks and holding owners accountable under Pennsylvania law. Wrongful Death attorneys - Seeking justice for families who have lost loved ones due to negligence. We offer free consultations for all injury cases and there is no cost to you unless we win your case. Contact Information Brian Supple Marketing bsupple601@gmail.com 5702905830 SOURCE: Pisanchyn Law Firm Tineco celebrated the German launch of its new flagship product series, the FLOOR ONE S9 Artist, with an exclusive hands-on event on April 16, 2025, at the "Sturmfreie Bude" (Storm-Free Bude) in Hamburg. Over 30 guests including content creators, technology and lifestyle journalists, families with children, and even a dog were able to experience Tineco's smart cleaning devices live in a realistic environment. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250418770171/en/ Source: Tineco The focus was on trying things out for themselves: Guests were greeted by lovingly designed test stations that recreated typical everyday situations. These included a tub of mud and rubber boots, a repotting station with flowers and soil, an uncleaned birthday table with crumbs, a video night corner with chips and spilled wine, and various kitchen scenes with flour, lentils, milk, and much more. Guests were able to test three Tineco appliance series for themselves: the new FLOOR ONE S9 Artist series, the PURE ONE STATION 5, and the CARPET ONE Cruiser carpet cleaner. The interactive experience impressed not only with its performance, but also with the devices' ease of use and sophisticated design. The format enabled authentic impressions and plenty of creative content for social media turning the product launch into a true brand experience. Press Contact Product Tests Press representatives and creators who were unable to attend the event but are interested in a product test or collaboration are welcome to contact our PR team at any time. By entering the code TINEVENTDE (valid until April 30th) in the Tineco Store and on Amazon, customers can receive the product at the introductory price of 799! The discount is available directly on all other platforms. Links and sources of supply FLOOR ONE S9 Artist Series Tineco Shop: https://bit.ly/42bI4c6 Amazon: https://amzn.to/4j3sC7Q Otto: https://otto.me/3RU1CeU (FLOOR ONE S9 Artist Premium) Mediamarkt.de: https://bit.ly/4iAvCYx (FLOOR ONE S9 Artist Premium) Mediamarkt.at: https://bit.ly/3RjfOhu (FLOOR ONE S9 Artist Premium) PURE ONE Station 5 Tineco Shop: https://bit.ly/44pEVa0 (PURE ONE Station 5 Plus) Amazon: https://amzn.to/42bUGA2 (PURE ONE Station 5 Plus) Otto: https://otto.me/3RPnZ5j Cyberport: https://bit.ly/3YxDjHo QVC: https://bit.ly/4lsGrhX About Tineco Tineco was founded in 1998 and launched the world's first smart vacuum cleaner in 2019. Today, the brand has grown into a global leader in smart household appliances, with products in the floor care, kitchen, and personal care categories. Tineco is committed to its brand vision of making life easier through smart technologies and is constantly developing new devices. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250418770171/en/ Contacts: silvia.shi@tineco.com Altrua HealthShare, a faith-based healthcare sharing ministry dedicated to "Caring for One Another," is excited to announce the appointment of Heather Nanni as its new Director of Ministry. With a profound commitment to faith, community, and holistic wellness, Heather is poised to elevate Altrua's mission of providing affordable, compassionate, and Christ-centered healthcare solutions. Heather Nanni Heather Nanni, Director of Ministries Heather Nanni brings a unique blend of spiritual leadership and professional expertise to Altrua HealthShare. Raised in a faith-filled environment, Heather's lifelong dedication to biblical teachings has fueled her passion for ministry and service. Her extensive experience includes over a decade in the fitness industry as a personal trainer and gym owner, where she seamlessly integrated principles of faith and physical well-being to inspire others. Heather's leadership in church communities has further solidified her ability to foster spiritual growth and build meaningful connections. In her role as Director of Ministry, Heather will spearhead initiatives to deepen spiritual support for Altrua's members, strengthen the organization's Christ-centered culture, and enhance partnerships with philanthropic and nonprofit organizations. Her vision aligns with Altrua HealthShare's mission to unite communities through faith, compassion, and affordable healthcare solutions. "We are thrilled to welcome Heather Nanni to the Altrua family," said Randall L. Sluder, CEO of Altrua HealthShare. "Her heart for service, coupled with her expertise in ministry and community engagement, makes her the perfect leader to advance our mission and bring our community closer together." Heather's appointment underscores Altrua HealthShare's commitment to fostering a supportive, faith-driven environment for its members and partners. She invites the Altrua community to connect with her directly at hnanni@altruaministries.org (mailto:hnanni@altruaministries.org). Join us in celebrating Heather Nanni's new role and Altrua HealthShare's continued dedication to caring for one another with love, respect, and faith. About Altrua HealthShare Altrua HealthShare is a faith-based healthcare sharing ministry that provides affordable, compassionate healthcare solutions rooted in biblical principles. Guided by its mission of "Caring for One Another," Altrua fosters a Christ-centered community dedicated to supporting the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of its members. For more information, visit altruaministries.org Connect with Altrua HealthShare Website: altruahealthshare.org Instagram: instagram.com/altrua_healthshare Facebook: facebook.com/AltruaHealthShare X: twitter.com/altruahealth Connect with Altrua Ministries Website: altruaministries.org Instagram: instagram.com/altruamin Facebook: facebook.com/altruaministries SOURCE: Altrua Healthshare The American Bookbinders Museum debuts the installation of a new public artwork on April 23 that celebrates First Amendment rights: freedom of speech and the press. The piece - The Banned Books Jail - adorns the exterior of the museum building and is visible to passersby 24/7 at the museum's Folsom Street entrance. The Banned Book Jail The Banned Book Jail at 854 Folsom Street in San Francisco CA The Banned Books Jail by neverbeforedesign is a large metal gate resembling prison bars, jailing books that have been banned in the United States. Included books have been banned for many reasons, including race, feminism, witchcraft and religion, LGBTQIA+, and "un-American" content. Despite the "jail", books are escaping their imprisonment. Inspiration for the piece is thoughtfully summed up in a quote by Virginia Woolf: "Lock up your libraries if you like; but there is no gate, no lock, no bolt you can set upon the freedom of my mind." The Banned Books Jail Artist and Designer Robert Bernstein further posits that "Banning books to close minds is the tool of despots. Fear of ideas is a necessary condition for citizens to accept infringements on their liberties. Books, banned now or previously in the history of our Nation, are breaking free."The Banned Books Jail reflects a cross-section of books historically and recently banned. To celebrate the completion of this work, the museum will host an installation event on World Book Day, Wednesday, April 23rd, 2025 at 12:30 pm with the artist and other notable guests and speakers. About the American Bookbinders Museum The American Bookbinders Museum is the only museum of its kind in North America, sharing the history and tools of bookbinding from the colonial era to the early 20th-century. We tell the story of the book, presenting the art of Western bookbinding as a hand process through early mechanization, promoting a deeper understanding of the impact of book production on the American experience. We maintain a special archive of bookbinding books, periodicals and ephemera that is unique and free to use. The American Bookbinders Museum is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization. To learn more visit us at https://bookbindersmuseum.org/ , and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. About neverbeforedesign The intention of neverbeforedesign is to invent, with elegance and beauty. From art installations to furniture to interiors to architecture, the goal is inspired and unique design - within any budget limitations. Located in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, with projects on four continents and throughout the United States and Canada. neverbeforedesign.com 646-415-1570. American Bookbinders Museum 355 Clementina Street Contact Information Anita Engles media@bookbindersmuseum.org 415-824-9754 SOURCE: American Bookbinders Museum Dubai, United Arab Emirates--(Newsfile Corp. - April 18, 2025) - Islip Limo Car Service, a recognized name in luxury ground transportation across NYC and Long Island, has officially launched Dubai Chauffeur Service, marking its expansion into the United Arab Emirates. This development brings the company's operational precision and high service standards to one of the world's most distinguished metropolitan destinations. Dubai Chauffeur Service enters the UAE market with a clear focus: to offer executive transfers from DXB Airport, corporate mobility, and private city tours designed for those who prioritize comfort, punctuality, and discretion. This move reflects a growing demand for refined, personalized ground support in the region's thriving commercial and hospitality sectors. Islip Limo Car Service Expands Global Presence with Launch of Dubai Chauffeur Service To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10740/249030_02f4f805946ab8ea_001full.jpg "Dubai represents an important milestone in our growth," said Wajid Iqbal, owner of Dubai Chauffeur Service. "The demand for executive-level ground support in the UAE is growing, and this expansion allows us to respond with a dependable, high-comfort solution for discerning travelers." Chauffeurs with local expertise and multilingual capabilities are meticulously selected to ensure consistency, reliability, and cultural awareness. The fleet features late-model luxury vehicles equipped with advanced climate systems and connectivity, allowing passengers to remain productive or relaxed during every journey. With its global reputation for excellence in architecture, tourism, and commerce, Dubai requires a level of service that aligns with its identity. From business engagements in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) to upscale hotel arrivals on Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Chauffeur Service offers a smooth and discreet experience at every point. This expansion is part of a broader strategy to extend Islip Limo Car Service's reach into international markets To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10740/249030_02f4f805946ab8ea_002full.jpg This expansion is part of a broader strategy to extend Islip Limo Car Service's reach into international markets where luxury ground transportation is in high demand. The goal is to replicate the reliability and professional consistency already established in the U.S. by responding to the unique mobility needs of clients across the Gulf region. "Launching in Dubai allows us to replicate the same operational quality that clients in New York have relied upon since 2016," Iqbal added. "We are bringing that same level of trust to a new audience." Dubai Chauffeur Service can also accommodate high-end group movements and private delegations. Scalable hourly services and full-day reservations are available for clients with complex itineraries and high expectations. To learn more or to make a reservation, visit www.dubaichauffeurservice.ae. About Islip Limo Car Service Established in 2016, Islip Limo Car Service Inc. is a licensed and certified provider of luxury car and limousine services. Known for its safety, reliability, and commitment to client satisfaction, the company now enters the UAE market with Dubai Chauffeur Service, expanding its reputation internationally while maintaining its service-first philosophy. info@dubaichauffeurservice.ae Media Contact: To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10740/249030_02f4f805946ab8ea_003full.jpg To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/249030 SOURCE: GetFeatured Dine Development Corporation is pleased to announce that Dan Riggs, Chief Growth and Strategy Officer, has been named an Aerospace & Defense Award honoree by the Dayton Business Journal . Dine Development Corporation (DDC),?a Navajo Nation-owned IT, engineering, professional, and environmental solutions provider, is pleased to announce that Dan Riggs, Chief Growth and Strategy Officer, has been named an Aerospace & Defense Award honoree by the Dayton Business Journal . Dan Riggs DBJ Aerospace & Defense Award Dan Riggs DBJ Aerospace & Defense Award Riggs was one of seven Dayton-area business leaders selected for his outstanding influence in advancing the aerospace and defense industry. His leadership has been pivotal in positioning DDC as a growing force in the defense sector, particularly in support of the U.S. Air Force, DISA, and other key government customers. Under his strategic vision, DDC has significantly expanded its defense market presence, advanced its reputation as a premier provider of high-end IT and engineering, and strengthened its role in delivering mission-essential solutions in support of national defense initiatives. "Over the past five years, Dan has played a central role in shaping our strategic direction and driving significant growth in the defense sector," stated Austin Tsosie, DDC Chief Executive Officer. "His leadership, insight, and dedication have positioned DDC as a trusted DOD partner. This recognition is a well-deserved reflection of his impact not only on DDC, but also on the entire Dayton defense community." "I'm honored to be recognized among such accomplished leaders in the aerospace and defense community," commented Dan Riggs. "This recognition is a testament to the dedication of the entire DDC team to delivering high-impact solutions in support of our customers' critical missions. Our continued focus on expanding our defense footprint while penetrating into the aerospace market has been both purposeful and rewarding. I look forward to advancing our mission as we support our valued customers throughout the Dayton region and across the broader defense and aerospace landscape." SOURCE: Dine Development Corporation (DDC) PotlatchDeltic has contributed to several initiatives in St. Maries, Idaho that focus on supporting child health and education, and a vibrant community. Heyburn Elementary School did not have a playground that could be used by the typical 90-120 students that are ready to play and exercise during recess. When a local initiative began raising funds to construct a new playground, PotlatchDeltic stepped in as the key contributor to allow the playground to be completed sooner than if a lengthy fundraising campaign was required. The initial phases included the installation of swing sets and an adventure playground that provided children with a wide range of activities on slides, ladders, climbers, bridges and platforms, and tunnels. Others in the community, including representatives from the Idaho Department of Lands, volunteered to install the playground. During the installation, children from the school would watch from nearby with excitement for the adventures that soon awaited. The final phase will add an obstacle course with multiple climbers and a rock-climbing wall and is expected to be completed in 2025. The playground at Heyburn Elementary School encourages active play, development of motor skills, and facilitates social interaction. On weekends and evenings, the playground is open to the entire St. Maries community. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from PotlatchDeltic on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: PotlatchDeltic Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/potlatchdeltic Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: PotlatchDeltic KNX Products Market is Segmented by Type (Energy Management, HVAC Systems, Blinds & Shutters, Metering, Remote Control, Monitoring Systems, Fire & Smoke Detection, White Goods, Lighting), by Application (Commercial Building, Residential Building) BANGALORE, India, April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global KNX Products Market is projected to grow from USD 6653.8 Million in 2024 to USD 13850 Million by 2030, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 13.0% during the forecast period. Claim Your Free Report: https://reports.valuates.com/request/sample/QYRE-Auto-36H11999/Global_KNX_Products_Market Major Factors Driving the Growth of KNX Products Market: The KNX products market is transitioning from a specialist automation niche to a mainstream building technology backbone, supported by a maturing ecosystem of chipmakers, software vendors, and systems integrators. Annual revenues are projected to grow at double-digit rates through 2030 as sustainability regulations and occupant comfort expectations converge. Competitive dynamics favour manufacturers offering secure IP-enabled devices, intuitive commissioning tools, and lifecycle services, while late adopters risk commoditisation. Strategic partnerships between lighting giants, HVAC OEMs, and cloud analytics platforms are emerging to deliver end-to-end solutions, prompting consolidation. Overall, KNX's openness, scalability, and evolving cybersecurity profile position the standard to capture expanding budget allocations for smart buildings across residential, commercial, and public sectors worldwide despite cyclical construction slumps in developed economies everywhere. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-36H11999/global-knx-products TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF THE KNX PRODUCTS MARKET: Remote Control and Fire & Smoke Detection functionalities are jointly propelling the KNX products market by demonstrating the protocol's ability to unify convenience and safety within one interoperable bus. Homeowners and facility managers increasingly demand smartphone dashboards that adjust HVAC, blinds, and multimedia scenes while simultaneously receiving alarms if sensors detect temperature rises or particulate concentrations. KNX-certified actuators allow the same twisted-pair backbone to transmit remote commands and trigger evacuation protocols, avoiding parallel wiring that inflates labour costs. Insurance providers grant premium discounts to buildings equipped with detection linked to response sequences, creating financial incentives for adoption. System integrators leverage these benefits to upsell retrofits in residential towers and commercial campuses, expanding unit shipments across luminaires, sirens, and gateway controllers. Lighting applications continue to accelerate KNX product demand because they deliver immediately visible energy savings and user comfort enhancements that justify capital outlay. DALI-KNX gateways and LED dimmer actuators enable dynamic daylight harvesting, occupancy-based dimming, and colour-tunable ambience controlled from wall panels or mobile apps. Facility managers slash electricity consumption by integrating sensor feedback loops that adapt luminance in real time, yielding sub-three-year payback periods even in high-tariff regions. Moreover, architectural lighting designers value KNX's interoperability with facade controllers and audiovisual systems, allowing synchronised scenes that enhance corporate branding experiences. The protocol's decentralised topology lowers failure risk and simplifies expansion, prompting large office renovations and hospitality chains to specify KNX lighting nodes in tender documents worldwide for sustainability certifications too. Electronics manufacturers are catalysing the growth of the KNX products market by embedding certified transceivers and microcontrollers directly into switches, sensors, and appliances, thereby expanding the addressable ecosystem. Semiconductor vendors now ship turnkey KNX system-on-chips with integrated power supply, encryption engines, and protocol stacks, reducing bill-of-materials cost for device OEMs. This hardware commoditisation encourages white-label brands to release thermostats, actuators, and metering modules that interoperate from day one, accelerating network density. Consumer electronics giants additionally integrate KNX bridges into smart TVs and soundbars, positioning the standard as a whole-home backbone rather than niche automation bus. As component costs fall, installers can target mid-range housing segments, widening market penetration beyond luxury developments and expanding recurring maintenance revenue for installers providers. Escalating electricity prices and carbon reduction targets have prompted governments to tighten building codes, such as Europe's EPBD recast and India's Eco-Niwas Samhita, which require automated control systems for lighting and HVAC. KNX devices facilitate granular monitoring and regulation, enabling building owners to achieve class A energy performance without proprietary lock-in. Utilities now offer incentive programmes that rebate up to thirty percent of installation costs when projects include open-protocol controllers capable of demand response. These financial carrots coincide with looming penalties for inefficient assets, motivating landlords to adopt KNX quickly. Consequently, distributors report surging orders for multisensor units, presence detectors, and logic modules, translating policy pressure into hardware revenue growth across residential, commercial, and institutional segments worldwide. Ageing office towers and apartment blocks often suffer from outdated relay logic, manual switches, and inefficient cabling that impede modern energy management. KNX's twin-bus topology and flexible power-over-bus capability make it ideal for incremental upgrades without costly rewiring. Installers can inject line couplers and replace existing pushbuttons with KNX keypads during weekend shutdowns, minimising tenant disruption. As corporate real estate owners seek to attract ESG-minded occupants, retrofits that achieve double-digit energy savings become investments. Manufacturers are responding with slim-format actuators, RF-enabled sensors, and ETS project libraries that expedite site surveys. The resulting surge in brownfield deployments widens the revenue funnel, especially in Europe and East Asia where infrastructure ages while labour shortages raise plug-and-play appeal. The proliferation of Matter, Thread, and Zigbee devices has sharpened focus on open standards, encouraging integrators to adopt KNX as the backbone that orchestrates heterogeneous endpoints through IP routers and API gateways. Multi-protocol hubs translate wireless sensor data into KNX telegrams, enabling centralised scene control and analytics without vendor silos. Cloud platforms further expose RESTful interfaces that visualise energy consumption trends across mixed networks, satisfying facility managers' desire for single panes of glass. Because KNX Association certifies interoperability through rigorous testing, procurement teams gain confidence that newly purchased devices will cooperate, reducing lifecycle risk. This assurance stimulates demand not just for gateways but also for native KNX nodes, expanding component sales in both new builds and retrofits. Training academies and manufacturer-sponsored certification courses have grown rapidly, producing a global workforce proficient in the ETS configuration software and troubleshooting best practices. A larger talent pool lowers project risk and bidding prices, making KNX economically attractive compared with proprietary automation systems that depend on scarce specialists. Distributors leverage installer alliances to offer turnkey packages, including design consultancy, commissioning, and after-sales maintenance, which streamline procurement for facility owners. Moreover, certified professionals act as evangelists, demonstrating live demos at trade fairs and social media, thereby amplifying word-of-mouth marketing. This virtuous cycle multiplies regional adoption, because developers prefer protocols where labour availability is assured, ensuring sustained hardware demand and recurring service revenue across suburban and rural settings alike. Public authorities worldwide are funding intelligent lighting poles, traffic control cabinets, and energy-positive public buildings that rely on interoperable automation. Bid specifications increasingly cite KNX because its decentralised architecture ensures resilience even if a controller fails, a critical feature for mission-critical infrastructure. Open procurement aligns with anti-vendor-lock-in policies, enabling municipalities to run competitive tenders and stimulate local innovation ecosystems. Projects such as India's GIFT City, Dubai's Sustainable City, and Europe's Horizon-funded districts showcase flagship deployments that validate performance at scale. Demonstrated success attracts further grants and private co-investment, creating a snowball effect that spreads adoption from civic assets into adjacent commercial real estate developments, lifting unit shipments while fostering public-private research teams and local manufacturing jobs. Claim Yours Now! https://reports.valuates.com/api/directpaytoken?rcode=QYRE-Auto-36H11999&lic=single-user KNX PRODUCTS MARKET SHARE: The major players in the global KNX products market include Schneider, ABB, SIEMENS, etc. The top 3 players occupy about 20% shares of the global market. North America and Europe are main markets, they occupy about 70% of the global market. Europe remains the dominant KNX products market because the standard originated there and enjoys strong brand recognition among installers. High retrofit activity in Germany, France, and the Nordics, coupled with stringent energy regulations, sustains steady baseline demand. Asia-Pacific is closing the gap swiftly as China's green building codes and India's smart city programmes stimulate bulk procurement, while Japan favours KNX in hospitality projects ahead of global events. Remote control and fire & smoke detection are the main types, with a share over 25%. Residential building is the key application, which holds a share of about 55%. Key Companies: Schneider Electric ABB Ltd Siemens AG Hager (Berker) Legrand Somfy JUNG GIRA HDL STEINEL Urmet GVS B.E.G. DALITEK JOBO Smartech Tiansu Theben AG Rishun Technology Purchase Chapters: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-36H11999/global-knx-products/1 SUBSCRIPTION We have introduced a tailor-made subscription for our customers. Please leave a note in the Comment Section to know about our subscription plans. DISCOVER MORE INSIGHTS: EXPLORE SIMILAR REPORTS! - The KNX Home Automation market size is about 8,579 Million USD in 2024, and is expected to reach 16,579 Million USD in 2030. - KNX Module Market - KNX Button Market - KNX Certified Products Market was valued at USD 7431 Million in the year 2024 and is projected to reach a revised size of USD 17280 Million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 13.0% during the forecast period. - KNX Smart Home and Building Devices Market was estimated to be worth USD 37030 Million in 2023 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 103840 Million by 2030 with a CAGR of 15.9% during the forecast period 2024-2030. - KNX Sensors Market - KNX Power Supply Market - KNX Smart Home and Building Devices Market was estimated to be worth USD 37030 Million in 2023 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 103840 Million by 2030 with a CAGR of 15.9% during the forecast period 2024-2030. - KNX Room Controller Market - KNX Devices Market - KNX Products for Residential Building Market was valued at USD 3449 Million in the year 2024 and is projected to reach a revised size of USD 4462 Million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 3.8% during the forecast period. DISCOVER OUR VISION: VISIT ABOUT US! Valuates offers in-depth market insights into various industries. Our extensive report repository is constantly updated to meet your changing industry analysis needs. Our team of market analysts can help you select the best report covering your industry. We understand your niche region-specific requirements and that's why we offer customization of reports. With our customization in place, you can request for any particular information from a report that meets your market analysis needs. To achieve a consistent view of the market, data is gathered from various primary and secondary sources, at each step, data triangulation methodologies are applied to reduce deviance and find a consistent view of the market. Each sample we share contains a detailed research methodology employed to generate the report. Please also reach our sales team to get the complete list of our data sources. GET A FREE QUOTE Valuates Reports sales@valuates.com For U.S. Toll-Free Call 1-(315)-215-3225 WhatsApp: +91-9945648335 Website: https://reports.valuates.com Blog: https://valuatestrends.blogspot.com/ Pinterest: https://in.pinterest.com/valuatesreports/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/valuatesreports Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valuatesreports/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@valuatesreports6753 https://www.facebook.com/valuateskorean https://www.facebook.com/valuatesspanish https://www.facebook.com/valuatesjapanese https://valuatesreportspanish.blogspot.com/ https://valuateskorean.blogspot.com/ https://valuatesgerman.blogspot.com/ https://valuatesreportjapanese.blogspot.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1082232/Valuates_Reports_Logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/knx-products-market-sees-13-cagr-through-2030--rising-demand-in-smart-residential--commercial-buildings--valuates-reports-302432526.html Large Language Model Operationalization (LLMOps) Software Market is Segmented by Type (Cloud Based, On Premise), by Application (Large Enterprises, SMEs). BANGALORE, India, April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Large Language Model Operationalization (LLMOps) Software Market was valued at USD 4350 Million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 13950 Million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 21.3% during the forecast period 2024-2030. Claim Your Free Report: https://reports.valuates.com/request/sample/QYRE-Auto-33S18467/Global_Large_Language_Model_Operationalization_LLMOps_Software_Market Major Factors Driving the Growth of LLMOPs Software Market: The Large Language Model Operationalization software market is transitioning from experimental tooling to mission-critical infrastructure, mirroring the evolution of DevOps a decade ago. Compound annual growth is projected to exceed thirty percent as enterprises scale generative AI across customer service, knowledge management, and software engineering. Revenue streams diversify into licensing, usage-based metering, professional services, and ecosystem marketplaces, creating resilient business models. Competitive intensity is rising, yet convergence around open standards and portable orchestration layers tempers lock-in fears, enabling multi-vendor strategies. Ultimately, platforms that balance cost efficiency, compliance automation, and ongoing innovation will dominate, positioning LLMOps as a foundational pillar of enterprise technology stacks for the foreseeable future. Vendor consolidation through strategic acquisitions is expected to accelerate during 2025-2027 globally further. Unlock Insights: View Full Report Now! https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-33S18467/global-large-language-model-operationalization-llmops-software TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF THE LARGE LANGUAGE MODEL OPERATION SOFTWARE MARKET: Cloud-based deployment is accelerating the Large Language Model Operationalization software market because it removes capital barriers that once confined advanced AI to only the most resourced firms. With pay-as-you-go infrastructure, teams spin up GPU-dense instances within minutes, test multiple fine-tuned checkpoints, and elastically scale inference clusters when usage spikes. This agility compresses experimentation cycles, allowing product managers to push multilingual chat, summarization, and code-generation updates weekly rather than quarterly. Vendors have responded by packaging auto-scaling, model catalogues, lineage tracking, and observability dashboards as managed services, creating recurring subscription revenue. Procurement officers appreciate the shift from upfront licences to predictable operating expense, while compliance teams value built-in encryption, role-based access, and regional data residency options that help satisfy global regulations requirements. On-premise deployment continues to propel LLMOps software growth by addressing organizations that must retain sensitive data and model weights behind their own firewalls. Banks, defence contractors, healthcare networks, and sovereign research labs often cannot ship conversational logs or proprietary embeddings to external clouds without breaching policy. Consequently, they invest in appliance servers or private Kubernetes clusters loaded with high-bandwidth memory GPUs and tensor processors. LLMOps vendors provide hardened images, air-gapped update mechanisms, and offline licence verification that satisfy strict auditors while delivering the same experiment tracking, feature store, and automated rollout pipelines available in the cloud. By monetizing perpetual licences, rack-level support contracts, and hardware-agnostic optimisation agents, providers capture lucrative margins and diversify revenue against macro cloud cost rationalisation trends. Large enterprises are pivotal to the expansion of the LLMOps software market because they possess proprietary data repositories, integration landscapes, and user bases that amplify ROI from model deployment. Fortune 500 firms are moving beyond isolated proofs-of-concept toward organization-wide, global platforms that standardize prompt engineering, safety evaluation, and rollback procedures across hundreds of business units. LLMOps suites offering multi-tenant workspaces, fine-grained cost attribution, and policy-driven governance align well with enterprise IT frameworks, prompting bulk subscriptions and multi-year agreements. Moreover, executives allocate strategic budgets to generative AI as a key productivity lever, ensuring C-suite sponsorship that accelerates vendor selection. The consequent demand for migration services, custom accelerators, and support unlocks additional revenue streams while generating reference deployments that reassure risk-averse peers. Financial, healthcare, and public-sector organizations face expanding regulations such as the EU AI Act, India's DPDP, and sector-specific supervisory guidelines that mandate auditable model behaviour, explainability, and data lineage. LLMOps platforms embed policy rule engines, automatic redaction, and immutable experiment logs, permitting compliance teams to prove adherence during external assessments. By centrally versioning prompts, hyperparameters, and training datasets, these tools reduce the risk of untracked drift that could violate fairness or privacy clauses. Providers further integrate with e-discovery vaults and key management services, ensuring cryptographic attestation. As boards elevate governance spending, software that maps generative AI workflows to statutory checklists becomes a non-negotiable purchase, propelling recurring licence growth across regulated industries worldwide and cross-border data transfer assurances. Training and serving large language models consume vast GPU hours, energy, and engineering labour, making optimisation savings highly valuable. LLMOps vendors differentiate by offering automated mixed-precision tuning, parameter-efficient fine-tuning, dynamic batching, and intelligent routing that shrink inference costs without degrading quality. Dashboards convert token counts and hardware metrics into real-time finance reports, enabling CFOs to hold teams accountable and reroute workloads to lower-priced regions or spot instances. Because executives are under pressure to generate clear returns from generative AI pilots, demonstrable cost reduction becomes a top selection criterion. Vendors capturing this narrative secure upsells for advanced optimisers and consulting, while customers reinvest savings into additional model deployments, compounding subscription volume over budget cycles across quarters and years. The explosion of permissive model weights like Llama-3, Mistral, and Phi-3, along with orchestration frameworks such as LangChain and LlamaIndex, fuels demand for tooling that can industrialise community innovations. LLMOps platforms that seamlessly import Hugging Face checkpoints, catalog prompt templates, and automate evaluation harness an army of researchers while ensuring enterprise-grade stability. Marketplace extensions allow partners to monetise custom evaluators, retrieval connectors, and guardrails, creating network effects that lock customers in. As procurement leaders seek to avoid vendor lock-in and preserve flexibility, the ability to combine proprietary and open models inside one control plane stands out during RFPs. This synergy accelerates feature velocity, reduces integration costs, and expands the total addressable market for operationalisation software providers worldwide. Claim Yours Now! https://reports.valuates.com/api/directpaytoken?rcode=QYRE-Auto-33S18467&lic=single-user LLMOPS SOFTWARE MARKET North America commands the largest share due to deep cloud penetration, abundant venture funding, and early regulatory sandboxes that encourage rapid experimentation. Europe follows, driven by stringent data-sovereignty requirements that compel enterprises to invest in robust governance tooling, albeit at a measured pace. Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing territory as Chinese, Indian, and Southeast Asian conglomerates leapfrog legacy ML stacks, while domestic hyperscalers subsidise GPU capacity to capture market share. In Latin America and the Middle East, digital government initiatives and telecom modernisation projects provide footholds, though budget cycles remain elongated. Key Companies: KONG Aporia TrueFoundry Dataiku Botpress Carbon Tune AI Clarifai NVidia Dynamiq Pty Ltd. Autoblocks BentoML Elvex Dify.AI Prompt Privacy CalypsoAI illumex Lakera Guard OctoML Portkey Purchase Chapters: https://reports.valuates.com/request/chaptercost/QYRE-Auto-33S18467/Global_Large_Language_Model_Operationalization_LLMOps_Software_Market_Research_Report_2024 SUBSCRIPTION We have introduced a tailor-made subscription for our customers. Please leave a note in the Comment Section to know about our subscription plans. DISCOVER MORE INSIGHTS: EXPLORE SIMILAR REPORTS! - Large Language Model (LLM) Market was valued at 10.5 Billion USD in 2022 and is anticipated to reach 40.8 Billion USD by 2029, witnessing a CAGR of 21.4% during the forecast period 2023-2029. - Large Language Model (LLM) Technology Market - Small Language Model market was valued at USD 5180 Million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 17180 Million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 17.8% during the forecast period 2024-2030. - Artificial Intelligence Large Language Models market was valued at USD 1591 Million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 259840 Million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 79.8% during the forecast period 2024-2030. - AIGC Large Language Model (LLM) market was valued at USD 214.8 Million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 259890 Million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 141.7% during the forecast period 2024-2030. - LLM Prompt Generation Tools Market was valued at USD 456 Million in the year 2024 and is projected to reach a revised size of USD 1018 Million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 12.0% during the forecast period. - LLM Chat Bot Market - AI and LLM Penetration Testing Service Market was valued at USD 6419 Million in the year 2023 and is projected to reach a revised size of USD 11220 Million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 8.3% during the forecast period. - AIGC Large Model Market - LLM Penetration Testing Services market was valued at USD 3281 Million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 5357 Million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 7.3% during the forecast period 2024-2030. - Large Language Model(LLM) in Legal Market DISCOVER OUR VISION: VISIT ABOUT US! Valuates offers in-depth market insights into various industries. Our extensive report repository is constantly updated to meet your changing industry analysis needs. Our team of market analysts can help you select the best report covering your industry. We understand your niche region-specific requirements and that's why we offer customization of reports. With our customization in place, you can request for any particular information from a report that meets your market analysis needs. To achieve a consistent view of the market, data is gathered from various primary and secondary sources, at each step, data triangulation methodologies are applied to reduce deviance and find a consistent view of the market. Each sample we share contains a detailed research methodology employed to generate the report. Please also reach our sales team to get the complete list of our data sources. GET A FREE QUOTE Valuates Reports sales@valuates.com For U.S. Toll-Free Call 1-(315)-215-3225 WhatsApp: +91-9945648335 Website: https://reports.valuates.com Blog: https://valuatestrends.blogspot.com/ Pinterest: https://in.pinterest.com/valuatesreports/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/valuatesreports Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valuatesreports/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@valuatesreports6753 https://www.facebook.com/valuateskorean https://www.facebook.com/valuatesspanish https://www.facebook.com/valuatesjapanese https://valuatesreportspanish.blogspot.com/ https://valuateskorean.blogspot.com/ https://valuatesgerman.blogspot.com/ https://valuatesreportjapanese.blogspot.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1082232/Valuates_Reports_Logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/large-language-model-operationalization-llmops-software-market-set-for-explosive-21-3-cagr-growth--valuates-reports-302432538.html Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 18, 2025) - Pat Mazza is proud to announce an innovative new chapter in the company's storied history, uniting its renowned real estate expertise with over 25 years of mastery in custom home building. This strategic integration is set to provide clients with an all-encompassing service that not only simplifies the process of buying, selling, and investing in properties but also transforms dream home visions into reality. By combining a deep understanding of local markets with a commitment to crafting bespoke living spaces, Pat Mazza empowers individuals at every stage of their property journey. At Pat Mazza, every transaction is recognized as a pivotal life event. The firm's highly experienced team is dedicated to guiding clients through the complexities of the real estate world with integrity and transparency. Whether assisting first-time buyers, seasoned investors, or homeowners looking for optimal value, Pat Mazza ensures that each step is managed with personalized attention and expert advice. The company's custom home building division echoes this commitment by transforming architectural aspirations into tangible results, delivering luxury custom homes, transformative renovations, and sensitive heritage restorations across Canada with unmatched quality. The fusion of these two services means that clients can now enjoy a seamless experience from property acquisition to the construction of a tailor-made residence. Pat Mazza's integrated approach leverages innovative design-build strategies that streamline the entire process, allowing clients to move effortlessly from securing the perfect property to realizing an architectural vision that embodies their unique lifestyle and taste. By meticulously managing every detail-from initial consultation to final walkthrough-Pat Mazza reaffirms its dedication to building enduring, energy-efficient spaces that are as beautiful as they are practical. About Pat Mazza: At its core, Pat Mazza is more than a real estate firm; it is a trusted partner in building futures. With decades of experience and a reputation for exceptional service, the company is driven by a deep passion for helping clients navigate the real estate market and create homes that truly reflect who they are. Pat Mazza stands out for its people-first philosophy, innovative strategies, and a commitment to transparency that has earned the trust of communities and investors alike. Whether it's facilitating a smooth property transaction or constructing a dream home from the ground up, Pat Mazza remains steadfast in its mission to provide expert guidance and deliver outstanding results. For further information, interviews, or consultation inquiries, please contact Pat Mazza through the company's official communication channels To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/248622 SOURCE: GYT ABU DHABI, UAE, April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has announced the key panels and sessions for the seventh edition of Culture Summit Abu Dhabi, the leading global forum to be held from April 27 to 29, 2025 at Manarat Al Saadiyat. This year's Summit, held under the theme "Culture for Humanity and Beyond" will bring together global thought leaders, policymakers, renowned artists, and creative innovators to explore the intersection of culture, technology, and global governance. The three-day Summit will foster critical dialogue that focuses on the collective rethinking of human emancipation and humanism through keynote presentations, creative conversations, panel discussions, artist talks as well as a series of bespoke workshops. The participants will seek to find common ground to build a shared sustainable future. New perspectives will emerge on reimagining tomorrow as old ways of thinking become obsolete. His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman - DCT Abu Dhabi, commented: "DCT Abu Dhabi is proud to reconvene our local and international partners spanning culture, design, technology and more to the seventh edition of Culture Summit Abu Dhabi, to continue to build on the progress we have made in identifying how culture can affect positive change. Within the setting of the Saadiyat Cultural District, together we are exploring the theme of 'Culture for Humanity and Beyond', pursuing new perspectives on the power of creative and artistic endeavours at a time of unprecedented technological change." Rita Aoun, Executive Director of the Culture Sector - DCT Abu Dhabi, commented: "Culture Summit Abu Dhabi brings together cultural leaders, policymakers, and creative visionaries to engage in critical discussions that shape the future of cultural policy and the creative industries. The theme 'Culture for Humanity and Beyond' reflects the DCT culture sector mandate that not only preserves and promotes culture but actively harnesses its power to drive progress, foster understanding, and create new possibilities for the future. As part of the Sector role to develop a thriving cultural and creative ecosystem, we are committed to creating platforms that translate dialogue into action, strengthening cultural exchange and supporting sustainable growth in the region and beyond." Culture Summit Abu Dhabi will feature a diverse array of sessions throughout the three days. This includes keynotes by Mo Gawdat, Author and Former Chief Business Officer at Google X, Susan Buck-Morss, Philosopher and Scholar; Professor Iyad Rahwan, Director of Machine Learning at Max Planck Institute for Human Development; Sir William Sargent, chair of Framestore; Glenn D. Lowry, The David Rockefeller Director at MoMA, and Koyo Kouoh, Executive Director and Chief Curator of Zeitz MOCAA. There will also be an exceptional series of Creative Conversations featuring insightful discussions with award-winning creatives such as Thomas Heatherwick, Designer; Colleen Atwood, Costume Designer; Refik Anadol, Visual Artist and Ralph Nauta, Artist; Ayoung Kim, Visual Artist; as well as in-depth conversations between Philanthropist Maja Hoffmann and Architect Hashim Sarkis; and Sir John Akomfrah, Film Director, with Writer and Director Awan Amkpa, Thebe Magugu, Designer and Mariam Issoufou, Architect. A series of sessions will discuss AI's growing influence on creativity and the digital world. These include 'AI Revolution: Redefining Creativity in the Age of Machines'; 'The Rise of AI in Creative Industries'; 'Should Governments Regulate AI to Compensate the Creative Industries?'; ' The Double-Edged Sword of AI in Cinema'; 'The Ownership Dilemma: Safeguarding Music in a Digital-First World'; 'Tuning in to the Future: Music, AI, and Learning'; and 'Transmission by Avatar: From Oral to Digital Knowledge'. Attendees can also look forward to sessions exploring culture as a force for good. Topics covered will include 'Turning Green: What Happens When Cultural Leaders Take Action for the Planet'; 'Culture as a Public Good: From Policy to Action'; and 'A Horizon in Motion. Cultural Anticipation. Planetary Affection. Sharing the World'. On the opening day, a panel discussion will be held on 'Bridging the Cultural Gap: The Role of Culture in Shaping Global Governance', reflecting the subtheme of the day, 'Reshaping the cultural landscape'. Speakers of the panel include Jenny Shipley, Former Prime Minister of New Zealand; Iveta Radicova, Former Prime Minister of Slovakia and Cassam Uteem, Former President of Mauritius and. The panel will discuss the importance of including culture in multilateral processes and the strategies for integrating cultural dimensions into UN-related frameworks, ahead of major culture-related events such as MONDIACULT 2025. Following the success of the first MONDIACULT Ministerial Dialogue hosted at Culture Summit last year, the Summit will welcome its second edition of 'MONDIACULT Ministerial Dialogue | The Culture of Humanity in the Digital Era', a two-part discussion focusing on the impact of artificial intelligence on culture and human creativity, and culture and peace for a sustainable future, respectively bringing together over 10 ministers of culture from across the globe. Another key cultural policy session of the Summit is a panel discussion on 'Advancing the Objectives of the UNESCO Framework for Culture and Arts Education', focusing on the day's subtheme, New frames to redefine Culture for Humanity and Beyond'. This panel follows the 'World Conference on Culture and Arts Education', an international gathering held by DCT Abu Dhabi and UNESCO from February 13-15 last year that welcomed more than 190 ministers of education and ministers of culture from around the world to discuss a global framework for culture and arts education. Further enriching the programme are other key sessions, including 'A Conversation: About Jazz, Humanity and Beyond' with Herbie Hancock, trailblazing jazz musician & UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and John Ridding, jazz enthusiast, Journalist & CEO, Financial Times; 'Creative Expression at a Time of Disruption', moderated by Mina Al-Oraibi, Editor-in-Chief of The National, with speakers including the Head of Dubai Opera, Paolo Petrocelli and Award-Winning Designer, Lama Hourani, and a panel co-organised with the UAE Ministry of Culture on 'From Ruins to Resilience: A New Era of Heritage Rehabilitation'. Attendees will also have the opportunity to discover the creative practices of many renowned artists in an exceptional Creative Talks series, including in particular Wael Al Awar, Architect, Abdalla Almulla, Architect, Alia AlShamsi, Poet and Artist, Omar Al Gurg, Designer, Lawrence Abu Hamdan, Artist, Yolanda Castano, Writer, and Andrea Cote, Writer among others. The event's global partners include UNESCO, The Economist Impact, the Design Museum, Google, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation, and Recording Academy. Additional partners include Image Nation Abu Dhabi, International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA), Cultural Foundation, The National, Club de Madrid, Abrahamic Family House, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Berklee Abu Dhabi, Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (AGDA), Institut Francais, Institut du Monde Arabe, Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, TeamLab, Maktaba, House of Artisans, and Herbie Hancock Jazz Institute. Several key partners expressed their views on the upcoming Summit. Ernesto Ottone R., UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture, said: "From heritage to creativity, culture is an expression of humanity that connects us through time. This year's theme challenges us to examine how technology has transformed this age-old relationship. UNESCO calls on participants to harness the power of culture towards a sustainable, human-centred future." Tim Marlow, Director and Chief Executive, The Design Museum, London, commented: "The Design Museum is delighted to be part of the Culture Summit and this year will stage a series of talks and discussions that look to the design of a future that is more than human." Nacho Floristan, Director Generative AI Solutions Architecture, EMEA/APAC, Google, said: "We're excited to participate in the Culture Summit 2025, reflecting on how genAI is transforming our society and how we discover, leverage and create culture going forward." Harvey Mason jr, CEO at Recording Academy, added: "Culture has the power to unite, inspire, and drive humanity forward. At Culture Summit 2025, we're excited to explore how music and creativity shape our future - amplifying voices, fostering innovation, and connecting people across borders and generations." Panos A. Panay, President, Recording Academy, said: "As we gather for Culture Summit 2025, we're at a fascinating intersection where culture and humanity collide with unprecedented technological disruption. I'm excited to explore how music and the arts are evolving beyond traditional boundaries, becoming powerful catalysts that shape our future while deepening our connection to what makes us human in this quickly changing world." Dr. Mariet Westermann, Director and CEO of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation, said: "The Guggenheim has always been an incubator of the future, providing a platform for artists and catalyzing conversations to explore the important questions of the day. We are delighted to return to the Culture Summit Abu Dhabi and focus our creative imagination for this iteration on the ways art, AI and other generative technologies are shaping new frontiers of cultural expression and production." Kenneth Cukier, Deputy Executive Editor, The Economist commented: "As AI eats the world, vaunting culture is vital - an expression of our human values and shared destiny. Economist Impact is honoured to be programming part of the annual Culture Summit Abu Dhabi, celebrating the power of narrative to shape our identities for progress and purpose." Culture Summit Abu Dhabi is an annual global forum that brings international leaders from the cultural and creative industries to explore ways in which culture can transform societies and communities worldwide. The forum reflects DCT Abu Dhabi's commitment to preserving, protecting, and promoting Abu Dhabi's rich cultural heritage while fostering creativity and innovation to build a more inclusive and sustainable global cultural future. For more information about the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi and the destination, please visit: dct.gov.ae and abudhabiculture.ae Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2668426/Culture_Summit_Abu_Dhabi_2024.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2668427/Culture_Summit_Abu_Dhabi_2024.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/exploring-humanity-in-the-age-of-ai-global-experts-to-debate-creativity-culture-and-policy-at-7th-culture-summit-abu-dhabi-302432585.html Kesari: Chapter 2 showcases aftermath of one of Indias darkest historical events - the Jallianwala Bagh massacre read more After long wait and anticipation, Akshay Kumar, R Madhavan & Ananya Panday starrer Kesari: Chapter 2 has hit the screens today. The spiritual sequel to Kesari (2019), the movie is based on the book The Case That Shook The Empire by Raghu Palat and Pushpa Palat. Centered around lawyer C. Sankaran Nair and the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre, the historical courtroom drama film is directed by Karan Singh Tyagi and produced by Dharma Productions, Leo Media Collective, and Cape of Good Films. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Revisiting the darkest history of Jallianwala Bagh massacre Kesari: Chapter 2 showcases aftermath of one of Indias darkest historical events - the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. The film sheds light on how Sankaran Nair, a senior Indian member of the Viceroys council and once knighted by the Empire, stood up and fought for the truth after the brutal massacre in 1919. The story highlights how Nair proved that the massacre was not a reaction to a riot, but a calculated act what we would today call genocide. Bhagat Singhs battle was on the streets, this one was in the courtroomboth changed history. Kesari Chapter 2, trailer out now. Wishing my buddy AK all the very best along with the entire team - its looking outstanding! In cinemas April 18, worldwide.@akshaykumar pic.twitter.com/L8YA59SESW Ajay Devgn (@ajaydevgn) April 3, 2025 On 13 April 1919, during the annual Baisakhi fair a large crowd was gathered at the Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar, Punjab, British India to protest against the Rowlatt Act and the arrest of pro-Indian independence activists Saifuddin Kitchlew and Satyapal. Responding to public gathering, brigadier general R. E. H. Dyer made Gurkha and Sikh infantry regiments of the British Indian Army surround the crowd and blocked the exit with his troops. He ordered them to shoot at the crowd and the troop kept on firing until their ammunition was low and they were ordered to stop. While the official British Raj source stated that 379 people were killed in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, Kishwar Desai, author of Jallianwala Bagh, 1919: The real story said the number of martyrs could be more than 2,000 or so, as per TOI. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Director Karan Singh Tyagi believes the story is more relevant than ever. He says, The event speaks to the present times that we live in. Its a post-truth world where fake news is rampant. I was fascinated that when people read about the Jallianwala Bagh tragedy, the next day, the truth was suppressed. Kesari Chapter 2 is a powerful and immensely engaging movie based on the Jallianwalla Bagh massacre and the fearless lawyer, Shankaran Nair (Akshay Kumar) who shook the foundation of the British Empire. read more Director: Karan Singh Tyagi Language: Hindi Cast: Akshay Kumar, R. Madhavan, Ananya Panday Kesari Chapter 2 is indeed a brilliant comeback movie for Akshay Kumar, where he nailed the role of the fearless lawyer, Shankaran Nair, who fought the famous courtroom battle against the British Raj and sued those responsible for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919. Akshay Kumar delivers the role of Shankaran Nair with utmost precision. It was this fightback case that shook the British Empire. The movie also touches upon the role played by Kirpal Singh, the freedom fighter and political activist who lost his family in the tragedy. Indeed, Kesari Chapter 2 is a hard-hitting courtroom drama that will immerse you till the end. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A still from Kesari: Chapter 2 The story goes this way Shankaran Nair (Akshay Kumar), a senior Indian member of the Viceroys council and once knighted by the Empire, stood up and fought for the truth after the brutal massacre in 1919 which was nothing less than racist genocide. It was told and made to believe by all that the Sikh men who gathered at Jalianwallah Bagh were armed, when they were actually making a peaceful protest. In the beginning Shankaran Nair (Akshay Kumar) was in favour of the British, and it shows that it was he who sent Kirpal Singh to jail on the grounds of terrorism taught in school. The movie shows how the massacre was started by General Dyer, played by Simon Paisley Day. He too nailed the role of the ruthless, insecure man Dyer was and how he took out his grudge against the Sikh kids and treated Indians as nothing less than animals. He kept the Indian men in his army right under his boots. A still from Kesari: Chapter 2 Initially Shankaran played by Akshay Kumar believed in the British justice system toed what the British said and thats how the crown even made him a part of the Viceroys Council. It was much later that he realised that he was on the wrong side and that the British were trying to suppress facts with their power. But he changes after a young lawyer, Dilreet Gill (Ananya Panday) convinces him about the massacre of the Sikhs in the Jalianwallah Bagh tragedy caused by General Dyer. He decides to go to court to sue General Dyer. The movie is based on the book The Case That Shook The Empire: One Mans Fight For The Truth. As a common man, we all are aware of the tragedy, but not the case. Thankfully, the movie throws light on this infamous case fought by Shankaran Nair to give justice to the families of the Jalianwallah Bagh massacre. In brief, I would say Kesari Chapter 2 is an immensely engaging film with the brilliant performances of not just Akshay Kumar, but Ananya Pandey too. With a very steady momentum and magnificent war of words, Kesari 2 never slows down in its pace. Definitely cinematic liberty was taken, but there was nothing that was exaggerated. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In fact, Ananya Pandey is giving one compelling performance after another. She was equally brilliant in Call Me Bae and I just hope the trollers will now stop calling her nepo kid because this young woman truly knows her craft and is a brilliant craftsman too. Regina Cassandra despite her small role, is impressive. The best part of this movie is that the climax is not at all predictable. Yes, Shankaran Nair (Akshay Kumar) truly wins the case, but the struggles were real and extremely powerful. Equally brilliant was the performance by Neville McKinley, played by R. Madhavan, who fights the case in favour of General Dyer. Madhavan was indeed the real quirk factor in the entire film. A deceptively likeable person in the movie, R. Madhavan nails the role of an equally brilliant lawyer. The magic about Madhavan is his subtle star power and nothing over the top. Good, bad, or ugly, he just effortlessly fits into any role. On the whole, this movie will truly give you goosebumps and make your blood boil with anger, and this is far better than 2019s Kesari and far more gripping because of the nuanced tone of the performances. The movie doesnt miss out on mentioning the good British men in the Royal Army who helped Shankaran Nair in fighting the case. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The writing of the film is estimable, and this chapter of the Jalianwallah Bagh tragedy needed to be told and director Karan Singh Tyagi has done a brilliant job. The message is loud and clear, No more long live the king. We are going to roar like a lion and we need an apology from the British Empire. Rating: 4 out of 5 WATCH the trailer of Kesari: Chapter 2 here: The actor said, I think its a new-generation thing. They are so prepared as compared to us when we started. read more Saif Ali Khan and Gen-Z powerhouse actress Alaya F have shared the screen space for the first time in Jawaani Jaaneman - a comedy drama film that also marked Alayas Bollywood debut. Previously, during a promotional event for the film, Saif Ali Khan had shared his views about working with Alaya, who had just stepped into the industry. He not only expressed admiration for her ability to stay prepared but also compared her energy to that of the versatile actor Shah Rukh Khan. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The most special experience that has made it easy for me was working with this brilliant girl (Alaya). I think its a new-generation thing. They are so prepared as compared to us when we started. I felt like I was working with the best I have ever worked with. I have worked with Shah Rukh Khan, and its been amazing. I felt the same energy with her. It was unbelievable. Weve done a six-minute scene in one shot, and there was no problem from her side. Its been incredible, shared Saif Ali Khan, who is currently gearing up for the release of his upcoming OTT film, Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins. Known for praising his co-stars, Saif Ali Khans words of praise not only stands unforgettable for Alaya but also solidifies her as a powerhouse Gen-Z female actress who carries the apt energy and dedication as Shah Rukh Khan. Throughout her booming career, Alaya F has chosen to soar past conventionality. She has picked roles ranging from deep intensity and grit, to playing the love interest - all with the sole aim of adding momentum to the storys plot and leaving behind something impactful. Be it Freddy, Srikanth, U-Turn or delivering an underrated powerhouse performance in Anurag Kashyaps Almost Pyaar With DJ Mohabbat, Alaya has proven to be the chameleon of Gen-Z actresses who is not shying away from picking genre-defying roles. With the ability to switch genres, pick impactful characters, and prove herself with each project, Alaya F is the powerhouse Gen-Z star we didnt know we needed! The Indian government officially declared the Indian cheetah extinct in 1952. In 2022, as part of the first-ever transcontinental effort to relocate big cats, African cheetahs were brought to India and released into Madhya Pradeshs Kuno National Park. Now, the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP) in Uttar Pradeshs Lucknow is working with the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) to reintroduce the Indian cheetah, last seen in the early 1950s. Heres how they plan to revive the big cat read more A few days ago, scientists from US-based Colossal Biosciences revealed they had brought the dire wolf back from extinction after over 10,000 years. They announced the birth of three dire wolf pups - Romulus, Remus and Khaleesi. The two males are six months old, while the female is two months old. Now, the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP) in Uttar Pradeshs Lucknow is working with the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) to revive the Indian cheetah, which was last seen in the early 1950s. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But are cheetahs not already present in the country? At present, the only cheetahs in India are those that were brought from Namibia and South Africa during 2022 and 2023. Of the 20 that were moved to Madhya Pradeshs Kuno National Park, eight have died so far, along with five cubs born here. In this explainer, we explore how scientists plan to revive the Indian cheetahs unique traits, what led to their disappearance, and a quick look at how the dire wolf was brought back in the US. How India plans to bring back the Indian cheetah The Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences and the Zoological Survey of India are working to bring the Indian cheetah back. According to a report by The Times of India, BSIP is nearing the end of its whole genome sequencing (WGS) project for the Indian cheetah. The team plans to use gene editing to recreate the extinct animals traits. Their plan involves inserting these edited genes into the embryo of an African cheetah and using surrogacy to help the species return. At present, the only cheetahs in India are those that were brought from Namibia and South Africa. Image: PIB Niraj Rai, a senior scientist at BSIP leading the research, told TOI: We have samples of all extinct Indian cheetahs and are in the final phase of its whole genome sequencing (WGS) that will offer a comprehensive analysis of the cheetahs entire DNA, enabling the identification of genetic variations that may have led to disease or increased disease risk, eventually leading to its extinction. Gene editing would help reintroduce the specific traits of the Indian cheetah, using an approach similar to the one taken by American company Colossal Biosciences to revive the dire wolf. Earlier studies had already isolated mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from both Indian and African cheetahs, allowing researchers to compare and study their genetic differences. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Why cheetahs disappeared from India Cheetahs were once widely found across India. The first cheetah to be bred in captivity anywhere in the world was in India, during the time of Mughal emperor Jahangir in the 16th century. His father, Akbar, wrote that there were 10,000 cheetahs during his reign, including 1,000 in his court. Cheetahs are believed to have vanished from India in 1947 when Maharaja Ramanuj Pratap Singh Deo of Koriya, Surguja, in Chhattisgarh, hunted and shot the last three known Asiatic cheetahs in the country. The Indian government officially declared the species extinct in 1952. Cheetahs at Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradeshs Sheopur district. PTI/File Photo Back then, cheetahs were found in most parts of the country, except the high-altitude regions. They were often hunted for reward or for sport. It is reported that many cheetahs were killed during the British period, especially when they entered villages and attacked livestock. While over-hunting was a key reason behind their disappearance, the shrinking of grasslands and loss of prey also added to their decline, according to The Indian Express. Since the 1940s, cheetahs have also disappeared from 14 other countries: Jordan, Iraq, Israel, Morocco, Syria, Oman, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Djibouti, Ghana, Nigeria, Kazakhstan, Pakistan and Afghanistan. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A genetic study by the Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad had traced the origins of the extinct Indian cheetah. According to the study, the North-East African cheetah split from both the South-east African and Asiatic cheetahs around 100,000 to 200,000 years ago. The South-east African and Asiatic cheetahs then separated from each other between 50,000 and 100,000 years ago. How cheetahs were reintroduced in India As part of the first-ever transcontinental effort to move big cats, African cheetahs were brought to India and released into Kuno National Park. In September 2022, the first group of eight cheetahs arrived from Namibia. This was followed by a second group of 12 cheetahs that came from South Africa in February 2023. Talks around bringing cheetahs back to India began in 2009, led by the Wildlife Trust of India. According to the Action Plan for Reintroduction of Cheetah in India, the aim is to bring in 12 to 14 cheetahs each year from African countries like Namibia and South Africa over a five-year period to build a stable population. African cheetahs were brought to India and released into Kuno National Park. Image: MyGov How dire wolves were brought back in the US Dire wolves, which disappeared more than 10,000 years ago, were larger than todays grey wolves, which are their nearest living relatives. On April 7, scientists at Colossal Biosciences revealed that they had successfully created three dire wolf pups named Romulus, Remus and Khaleesi. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD To understand the features of dire wolves, researchers studied ancient DNA taken from fossils. They then used blood cells from a grey wolf and applied CRISPR technology to alter 20 different parts of its genetic code, Colossals chief scientist, Beth Shapiro, said. That genetic material was placed into an egg cell from a domestic dog. Once developed, the embryos were implanted into surrogate dogs, and 62 days later, the pups were born. I could not be more proud of the team, Colossals CEO Ben Lamm said. This massive milestone is the first of many coming examples demonstrating that our end-to-end de-extinction technology stack works. With inputs from agencies US Vice President JD Vance is in Italy where he will meet Prime Minister Georgia Meloni. Luigi Mangione, who is accused of killing a healthcare CEO, is set to appear in federal court today. Also, Japanese and the US soldiers are set to conduct joint patrols after a spate of sexual assaults cases involving the US military in Okinawa read more US Vice President JD Vance with his wife Usha Vance will visit Italy today. AP Its going to be a busy Friday. US Vice President JD Vance is in Italy where he will meet Prime Minister Georgia Meloni. Meanwhile, Luigi Mangione, who is accused of killing a healthcare CEO, is set to appear in federal court. Japanese and the US are set to conduct joint patrols after a spate of sexual assaults cases in Okinawa. Meanwhile, the Vatican is set to hold Good Friday mass even as Pope Francis remains out of public view. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD And Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren is set to begin his European tour with the aim of attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Lets take a closer look at todays big-ticket items: Vance in Italy Vance will travel to Italy today a visit that comes on the heels of Melonis visit to the White House on Thursday. The trip comes as Vance has taken on a prime role in the White Houses engagements abroad. The Republican vice president and his wife, Second Lady Usha Vance, travelled to Greenland last month, and he went to Paris and Munich in February. Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, will also meet with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin. The US Vice President is expected to participate in ceremonies around Easter Sunday. Luigi in court Luigi Mangione, who is accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, will be in federal court today. The 26-year-old Maryland man has become the object of fascination for many on social media. However, according to People.com, Mangiones admirers will not get a glimpse of him. This is because videos and photography is prohibited in federal court. As per The Independent, Mangiones legal defence fund has raised over $912,000. Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealth Group executive Brian Thompson, walks on the day of an arraignment hearing, at New York Supreme Court. Reuters Mangione in a public statement said, I am overwhelmed by - and grateful for - everyone who has written me to share their stories and express their support. Powerfully, this support has transcended political, racial, and even class divisions, as mail has flooded MDC from across the country, and around the globe. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While it is impossible for me to reply to most letters, please know that I read every one that I receive. Thank you again to everyone who took the time to write. I look forward to hearing more in the future. The US government has announced that it will seek the death penalty against Mangione. Mangiones lawyer Karen Friedman Agnifilo has called the decision to seek the death penalty barbaric. While claiming to protect against murder, the federal government moves to commit the pre-meditated, state-sponsored murder of Luigi, Friedman Agnifilo said. Mangione, 26, has pleaded not guilty to New York state charges of murder as an act of terrorism and weapons offenses. He could face life in prison without parole if convicted in that case. New York does not have the death penalty for state charges. Mangione faces a parallel federal indictment in Manhattan federal court over Thompsons killing, which is where Bondi said prosecutors will aim for the death penalty. He has not yet been asked to enter a plea to the federal charges. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD US-Japan joint patrols The US and Japan are set to hold joint patrols in Okinawa. As per The Times of India, this is the first such joint patrol in Okinawa since the 1970s. The development comes amid a rash of sexual assault cases involving the US military in Japan. The US has around 54,000 troops stationed in Japan a majority of which are in Okinawa. This joint patrol reflects our continued commitment to partnership, accountability, and mutual respect, said lieutenant general Roger Turner, commander of the III Marine expeditionary force and the okinawa area coordinator. By working side-by-side with our Japanese counterparts, we are reinforcing shared standards and contributing to the safety and trust that are essential to the strength of the US-Japan alliance. Vatican to hold Good Friday mass The Vatican is set to hold Good Friday mass today the the day Christians mark Jesus crucifixion. As per Catholic News Agency, Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, will lead the Passion service in the Vatican basilica on the afternoon of Good Friday. Cardinal Baldassare Reina, the vicar general of Rome, will preside over the Stations of the Cross at the Colosseum with meditations written by Francis. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Pope Francis, who is suffering from health issues, is unlikely to turn up at Good Friday Mass. AFP The development comes as Francis remains out of public view after surviving double pneumonia. Doctors have prescribed the 88-year-old pontiff two months of rest to allow his ageing body to fully heal. The pope made a surprise appearance in St Peters Square during Palm Sunday Mass on April 13. Francis skipped the Good Friday events in 2023 and 2024 due to prior health issues. Hemant Soren in Europe As per The Times of India, Chief Minister Hemant Soren is set to lead a delegation from Jharkhand to Sweden and Spain. Soren will be accompanied by his wife Kalpana, the Chief Secretary and secretaries of a few departments. The delegation will be in Europe till April 27. The idea behind the trip is to bring FDI to Jharkhand in the sectors of mining, steel, and electric vehicles, as well as identifying partnerships in green technology. This is Sorens first trip abroad since returning to office in November. The delegation will visit Madrid, Barcelona, and Gothenburg. Soren will have one-on-one meetings with prospective investors and business leaders. With inputs from agencies The Donald Trump administration has said it will increase port fees on China-built vessels from October 14. Chinese-built and owned ships will be charged $50 (Rs 4,200) per ton in US port fees. That figure will increase by $30 (Rs 2,500) per year over the next three years. But why is the US making this move? Why is the world worried? read more China accounts for over 50 per cent of global merchant vessel cargo capacity and has a virtual monopoly on shipping container production. AFP The United States is set to challenge Chinas dominance in global shipping. The Donald Trump administration said it will increase port fees on Chinese-built vessels. The US Trade Representatives (USTR) has said the fees will begin being levied in 180 days. The development comes as tensions continue to rise between the worlds two biggest economies. It also comes on the one-year anniversary of the launch of the USTRs investigation into Chinas maritime activities. In January, the agency concluded that China uses unfair policies and practices to dominate global shipping. Advertisement But what do we know? Why did China do it? And why does it matter? What do we know? The policy proposal was initiated by the previous the Biden administration, as per CNBC. From October 14, Chinese-built and owned ships will be charged $50 per ton in US port fees. That figure will increase by $30 per year over the next three years. That will apply if the fee is higher than an alternative calculation method that charges $120 for each container discharged, rising to $250 after three years. As per BBC, fees on Chinese vessel owners and operators of ships built in China will be depend on the weight of their cargo, how many containers they carry or the number of vehicles onboard. Chinese-built ships owned by non-Chinese firms will be charged $18 per net ton, with annual fee increases of $5 over the same period. Non-US built ships carrying cars will have to pay $150 per vehicle. The fees will be applied once each voyage on affected ships a maximum of six times a year. Empty vessels that turn up at US ports to carry bulk shipments such as grain and coal are exempted. The original proposal called for Chinese operators to be charged up to $1 million per port call. Advertisement It also called for for non-Chinese-owned ocean carriers with fleets with Chinese-built vessels to be charged $1.5 million per US port call. The USTR ultimately declined to impose fees based on the percentage of Chinese-built ships in a fleet or on prospective orders of Chinese ships, as originally proposed. But why is the US taking on China in shipping? Chinas dominance in global shipping The shipbuilding industry was once the pride of America in the period following the Second World War. Today, it comprises just 0.1 per cent of global output. US shipbuilders churn out around just five vessels annually. This even as shipbuilding industry is big business. As per Marine Insight, the shipbuilding market is currently valued at $155.58 billion in 2025. That figure is expected to rise to $203.76 billion in 2033 on the strength of greater container and dry bulk trade and the opening of new markets. As per the website, China, Japan, and South Korea are the top shipbuilding countries in the world. The US Trade Representatives (USTR) has said the fees will begin being levied in 180 days. AP Together, they account for 85 per cent of all the shipbuilding activities in the world. Advertisement The United Nations puts that figure even higher at 95 per cent. As per Baltic Exchange.com, Chinas share of the shipbuilding market has gone from under 5 per cent in 1999 to over 50 per cent in 2023. China owns over 19 per cent of the global commercial fleet and has a virtual monopoly on shipping container production (95 per cent) and intermodal chassis supply (86 per cent). China alone is building nearly half of all ships launched. It puts out over 1,700 ships per year. Chinese shipyards took 74 per cent of all new-build orders in 2024, as per the website. As per Xinhua, Chinas maritime fleet in September 2024 witnessed its capacity grow to 430 million deadweight tonnes. It now comprises 18.7 percent of the worlds total capacity. Chinese-made vessels will soon comprise 98 per cent of the trade ships in the world, as per CNBC. Why it matters Because China is the biggest exporter in the world and the largest producer of industrial goods. As per the Observatory of Economic Complexity, China in 2023 exported goods worth $3.42 trillion. Advertisement That number, which was at $2.76 trillion in 2018, has increased by $662 billion in the past five years. Its biggest exports are broadcasting equipment ($307 billion ), computers ($158 billon), integrated circuits ($154 billion), office machine parts ($89 billion), and electric batteries ($80 billion). The most common destinations are United States ($436 billion), Hong Kong ($259 billion), Japan ($169 billion), Germany ($164 billion), and South Korea ($147 billion). China is the second biggest economy in the world in terms of GDP at $17.8 trillion a measure of all the goods and services produced in a country over a period behind only the US with $27.36 trillion. As per World Integrated Trade Solutions, its exports of goods and services as a percentage of GDP is 20.68 per cent. While that figure isnt as high as others estimate it to be at 40 per cent, thats still a healthy chunk. This gains further important because foreign trade inevitably has to rely on transport. Advertisement According to the UN Trade and Development, around 80 per cent of the volume of international trade in goods is carried by sea. A crane moves a container at the new megaport being built by Chinas state-owned Cosco Shipping, promising to shorten sea routes to Asia for Peruvian and some Brazilian goods, in Chancay, Peru October 24, 2024. Reuters This is true from everything from food and furniture to cement and coal. Which is why America is targeting Chinese shipbuilding. China has largely achieved its dominance goals, severely disadvantaging US companies, workers, and the US economy, the USTR was quoted as saying by BBC. Ships and shipping are vital to American economic security and the free flow of commerce, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in a statement. The Trump administrations actions will begin to reverse Chinese dominance, address threats to the US supply chain, and send a demand signal for US-built ships. Why is the world worried? Experts say the global supply chain is already facing issues as a result of the Trump tariffs. BBC quoted Marco Forgione, director general of the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade as saying the EU has seen a significant build ups of ships and there is significant congestion at UK ports. Weve seen a lot of diversion of ships from China, that were due to head to the US, diverting and coming to the UK and into the EU. Advertisement Thats a direct impact of what President Trump is doing, Forgione added. Sanne Manders, president of logistics firm Flexport, said congestion in the UK is particularly severe in Felixstowe, while in continental Europe Rotterdam and Barcelona are also pretty severe. I do believe that if more cargo is going to be routed towards Europe, finding new buyers that will drive up the volumes even further, that could lead to more congestion, Manders said. China on Friday slammed the US. They drive up global shipping costs (and) disrupt the stability of global production and supply chains. They will not succeed in revitalising the US shipbuilding industry, foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times. Urge the United States to respect facts and multilateral rules and immediately stop wrongful practices. China will take necessary measures to defend lawful rights and interests. US industry executives feared virtually every cargo carrier could face steep, stacking fees that would make export prices unattractive and foist annual import costs of $30 billion on American consumers. The USTR exempted ships that ferry goods between domestic ports as well as from those ports to Caribbean islands and US territories. Both American and Canadian vessels that call at Great Lakes ports have also won a reprieve. Foreign roll-on/roll-off auto carriers, known as ro-ros, are eligible for refunds of fees if they order or take delivery of a US-built vessel of equivalent capacity in the next three years. Leaders of the United Steelworkers and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, two of five unions that called for the investigation that led to Thursdays announcement, applauded the plan and said they were ready to work with the USTR and Congress to reinvigorate domestic shipbuilding and create high-quality jobs. The American Apparel & Footwear Association reiterated its opposition, saying port fees and proposed tariffs equipment will reduce trade and lead to higher prices for shoppers. At a May 19 hearing, the USTR will discuss proposed tariffs on ship-to-shore cranes, chassis that carry containers and chassis parts. China dominates the manufacture of port cranes, which the USTR plans to hit with a tariff of 100 per cent. The Federal Register did not say if the funds raised by the fees and proposed crane and container tariffs would be dedicated to fund a revival of US shipbuilding. With inputs from agencies At least two people were killed and five others injured when 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner opened fire on the Tallahassee campus of Florida State University. His mother, a deputy working under Leon County Sheriff Walter McNeil, has worked at the sheriffs office for over 18 years. Police shot Phoenix during the incident, and he was taken to the hospital later read more The gunman has been identified as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner. X At least two people were killed and five others injured after a gunman opened fire at Florida State Universitys Tallahassee campus. The shooter has been identified as a 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner. He is the son of a deputy working under Leon County Sheriff Walter McNeil. His mother has worked at the sheriffs office for over 18 years. ALSO READ | Who was Akinyela Sawa Taylor, knife-wielding man shot dead for attempting to hijack plane in Belize? Advertisement Police shot the suspect during the incident, and he was taken to hospital. The motive behind the shooting remains unknown. All five injured victims, along with the accused, were admitted to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. In this report, we look at who Phoenix Ikner is, the possible motive behind the attack, and the details of the shooting incident. FSU shooting: Who is Phoenix Ikner? The gunman has been identified as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, a student at Florida State University. According to Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil, he is the son of Jessica Ikner, a veteran police officer who has been with the sheriffs office for over 18 years and is considered a model employee. Jessica Ikner, who works as a school resource officer, had retained a firearm after the department upgraded its standard-issue weapons. The shooting began around midday near the student union building on FSUs Tallahassee campus. McNeil said Ikner had been part of the sheriffs offices youth advisory council for years and had taken part in various training programmes. He called Ikner a longstanding member of the council. Court records reviewed by CNN indicate that Phoenix had a difficult early life. When he was 10, a woman identified as his biological mother allegedly took him out of the United States in breach of a custody agreement. Advertisement Documents from Leon County courts show that the woman took him to Norway, despite legal restrictions. The child is referred to as Christian Eriksen in those records and is listed, along with his mother, as a dual citizen of the US and Norway. An Instagram account carrying Ikners name and photo was deactivated after he was identified. The profile had featured a biblical passage: You are my war club, my weapon for battle; with you I shatter nations, with you I destroy kingdoms. phoenix Ikner. Son of a police officer decided to murder people today at FSU. pic.twitter.com/ThR7Qj103z (@MeliMels99) April 17, 2025 Voter registration records in Florida show that Ikner is a registered Republican. CNN reported that he had been quoted in an FSU student newspaper earlier this year, commenting on protests against Donald Trump ahead of the inauguration. These people are usually pretty entertaining, usually not for good reasons, Ikner, identified in the article as a political science student, was quoted as saying. I think its a little too late, hes [Trump] already going to be inaugurated on Jan. 20 and theres not really much you can do unless you outright revolt, and I dont think anyone wants that. ALSO READ | Wisconsin school shooting: Who was 15-year-old girl shooter? What was the motive of attack that killed 2? Florida State University Shooting: What was the motive? Investigators have not yet confirmed what led to the shooting, which took place around midday just outside the student union. According to NBC News, Ikner was known for sharing white supremacist beliefs, which made many members of a political discussion group at Tallahassee State College uneasy. An impromptu memorial shared online brings students near the centre of the Florida State campus. AP The groups president, Riley Pusins, told the publication that Ikner regularly supported Donald Trumps ideas and often brought up white supremacist talking points, even though the club itself did not follow any political leaning and aimed to focus on open debate. Advertisement Pusins said several participants in the group had referred to Ikner as a fascist. He said Ikner would often go up to the line during meetings and later cross them with remarks made afterwards. ALSO READ | Georgia school shooting: Who is Colt Gray, 14-year-old gunman, one of the youngest in US? FSU mass shooting: What happened? The shooting began around midday near the student union building at Florida State University in Tallahassee. The university sent out an alert shortly after the incident began, warning of an active shooter near the student union. By midafternoon, officials confirmed that the threat had been contained. Gunfire was reported at around 11:50 am local time, which led the students and parents to take shelter. Some hid inside a bowling alley, and others packed into a freight lift within the student union. Emergency vehicles, including ambulances and fire trucks, quickly moved towards the scene. Florida State University Student Union building after campus is closed following a shooting. AP As news of the shooting spread, hundreds of students moved away from the area. Many were seen checking their phones, some in tears. The university advised everyone on campus to find shelter and wait for more information. Advertisement Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell said officers reached the scene immediately and shot the suspect after he failed to respond to their instructions. He said there is no indication that the suspect fired at police and added that the individual refused to speak with officers after being taken into custody. The area around the student union was sealed off with crime scene tape, and multiple police vehicles, including a forensic unit, remained on site. Florida State University Police Chief Jason Trumbower confirmed that the two people who lost their lives were not enrolled at the university. Six others, including the shooter, were receiving treatment at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. With inputs from agencies Akshay Kumars Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh focuses on Sir Chettur Sankaran Nairs legal battle against the British Empire in the aftermath of the horrific tragedy that killed hundreds of Indians. Born in Kerala in 1857, Nair was a jurist who resigned from the Viceroys Council to protest the Jallianwala Bagh massacre read more Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair's courtoom battle against the British Empire has been depicted in Kesari Chapter 2. Wikimedia Commons Akshay Kumars Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh hit the theatres today (April 18). The film depicts the aftermath of the brutal Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919, with Sir Chettur Sankaran Nairs notable legal battle against the British Empire at its core. Nair, an Indian jurist and nationalist, has been effusively praised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On Monday (April 14), he recalled the Kerala-born lawyers contribution to speaking up against British atrocities. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Yesterdaymarked the 106th anniversary of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, PM Modi said. This aspect is manavta ke saath, desh ke saath khade hone ka buland jazbe ka. Is jazbe ka naam hai Sankaran Nair (This aspect relates to the spirit of humanity and standing with the country. The name of that spirit is Sankaran Nair). Nobody would have heard of him. He was a renowned lawyer and in those days, he held a very big post. He could have enjoyed all the luxuries, but inspired by Jallianwala Bagh, he raised his voice against British atrocities. He was kicked out of his post. PM Modi said every person in Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh should know about Sankaran Nair and his contributions. We must remember him, he is an inspiration and a symbol of our patriotic spirit. As Kesari Chapter 2 brings Nair to the spotlight, lets take a look at who he was and his legendary courtroom battle against the British Empire. Who was Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair? Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair was a prominent jurist and statesman. He was born in 1857 in a wealthy family in the Mankara village of Keralas Palakkad district. After earning a law degree from the Madras Law College, he started his practice in the Madras High Court in 1880. Four years later, Nair was appointed by the Madras government to the committee for an enquiry into the Malabar district, as per The New Indian Express (TNIE). The lawyer remained firm in his beliefs, no matter the strength of the opposition a trait that earned him the wrath of the British and unpopularity among his colleagues and peers, reported Indian Express. The 2019 book, The Case That Shook the Empire: One Mans Fight for the Truth about the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, written by Nairs great-grandson Raghu Palat and his wife Pushpa Palat, mentions that Edwin Montague, the Secretary of State for India, once referred to Nair as an impossible person who shouts at the top of his voice and refuses to listen to anything when one argues, and is absolutely uncompromising. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Kumars film is based on the book by Palats. A liberal constitutionalist, Nair became the youngest president of Congress in 1897. Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair was an eminent jurist and nationalist. Wikimedia Commons Rajasekharan Nair, retired professor of history, told The News Minute (TNM) that the eminent lawyer was one of the moderates, along with Gopalakrishna Gokhale and Surendranath Banerjee, in the Congress party. The moderates did not strive for quick freedom, but wanted to attain democracy in steps. They were afraid that if the colonial rule that had united people of different languages, religions and castes disappeared all too suddenly, then India would once again fall into a thousand different pieces, Rajasekharan said. Nair went on to serve as a permanent judge of the Madras High Court. In 1912, he was knighted by the British Crown for his services to the Empire. Three years later, Nair became a member of the Viceroys Executive Council one of the highest posts in British India in charge of the Education portfolio. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He authored a dissent in the dispatches on Indian constitutional reforms in 1919, decrying the British rule in India and suggesting reforms, many of which were accepted, as per TNIE. The same year, he resigned from the Viceroys Council to protest the horrific massacre in Punjabs Amritsar, where British Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer ordered soldiers to fire upon an unarmed crowd of over 15,000 Indians gathered at Jallianwala Bagh. The courtroom battle Nair had differences with Mahatma Gandhi on several issues, including the caste system, according to the TNM report. In 1922, he published Gandhi and Anarchy, a book where he expressed opposition to Gandhis methods of non-violence, civil disobedience, and non-cooperation to win Indias freedom from British rule, reported Indian Express. Nair also blamed Michael ODwyer, the Lieutenant Governor of Punjab at the time of the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre, for abetting the atrocity through his policies. ODwyer, who had returned to England by then, sued Nair for defamation there. The case was heard before the Kings Bench in London for five and a half weeks, becoming the longest-running civil case then. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The all-English jury, headed by Justice Henry McCardie, did not try to hide their bias towards ODwyer. He won the defamation suit by a majority of 11 to one, with the sole dissent by the Marxist political theorist Harold Laski. Nair was ordered to pay 500 and the expenses of the trial to ODwyer, who said he would waive the penalty if the Indian lawyer apologised. Nair refused, instead choosing to pay the penalty. As per Indian Express, the case against Nair, which came when the nationalist movement was gathering steam, underscored the bias of the British against Indians to protect their own. Rajasekharan Nair told TNM, Chettur is one of the few people who have worked hard to make India a parliamentary democratic republic. Nair passed away in 1934 at the age of 77. Some of his rulings as the Madras High Court judge, including upholding inter-caste and inter-religious marriages, confirm his credentials as a social reformer. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies A judge in the US has ruled that Google has a monopoly in online advertising technology. This is the second antitrust case that the tech giant has lost in a year, after a judge in a separate case ruled last August that it unlawfully dominated online search. So, how will the latest verdict impact the company? read more Google could be forced to sell off part of its online ad business. File Photo/Reuters Googles woes are on the rise after a judge in the United States ruled the search giant has a monopoly in online advertising technology. The landmark case is likely to reshape the digital ad market. In 2023, Americas Department of Justice, along with 17 US states, sued Google, accusing the tech giant of illegally dominating the advertising technology and quashing competition. A federal judge in Virginia has now sided with the Justice Departments case. Advertisement Lets take a closer look. The antitrust case against Google The US Justice Departments lawsuit accused Alphabets Google of influencing the technology that determines the placement of adverts online, where and at what cost. The case concerns Google Network, a division of the tech giant that deals with advertisers purchase of digital ad space. Federal prosecutors argued that Googles growing control over the ad tech helped it illegally stave off competition that hurt web publishers, such as news outlets, reported Reuters. The antitrust suit alleged that Google wielded its power over the digital ecosystem to force advertisers to use its products, making it difficult to use competitors services. The US tech giants ad tech business generated $31 billion in revenue last year a 10th of the companys overall sales, as per Wall Street Journal (WSJ). The US judges ruling A federal judge on Thursday (April 17) ruled that Google illegally dominated two markets for online advertising technology. Judge Leonie Brinkema of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia ruled the tech giant violated antitrust law. She found Google guilty of willfully acquiring and maintaining monopoly power in two markets for advertising technology publisher ad servers and the market for ad exchanges. In addition to depriving rivals of the ability to compete, the judge wrote in her ruling, this exclusionary conduct substantially harmed Googles publisher customers, the competitive process, and, ultimately, consumers of information on the open web. A US judge ruled that Google violated antitrust law. File Photo/Reuters Brinkema agreed with the US Justice Departments argument that the tech giant, by tying together its publisher ad server and ad exchange, was able to establish and protect its monopoly power in these two markets, reported CNN. Advertisement However, she dismissed the US governments third count against Google related to its online advertiser ad networks. Google has said it will appeal against the decision. Lee-Anne Mulholland, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, said, We won half of this case and we will appeal the other half. The Court found that our advertiser tools and our acquisitions, such as DoubleClick, dont harm competition, Mullholland said. We disagree with the Courts decision regarding our publisher tools. Publishers have many options and they choose Google because our ad tech tools are simple, affordable and effective. After the lawsuit was filed in 2023, the tech giant had described the Justice Departments argument as flawed and would slow innovation, raise advertising fees, and make it harder for thousands of small businesses and publishers to grow. During the trial, Googles lawyers argued the case focused on its past activities, adding that prosecutors ignored competition from other large ad tech providers, including Amazon and Comcast. Advertisement What does the ruling mean? The latest verdict is the second setback for Google after a judge in a separate case ruled last August that it maintained an illegal monopoly in online search the bread and butter of the company. The decision has paved the way for the judge in Virginia to hear arguments about what Google should do to reinstate competition in those markets. It could lead to the company being forced to divest part of its online ad business. The Justice Department has suggested that Google sell off at least its Google Ad Manager, which entails the tech giants publisher ad server and ad exchange. However, experts point out that the US governments failure to win all of its claims against Google could make the divestment less likely. Speaking to CNN, William Kovacic, global competition professor of law and policy at The George Washington University Law School, said, The general idea in other antitrust cases is that the remedy has to be proportional. The broader the finding of illegality, the deeper the finding of deliberateness the greater the platform for a bolder remedy. As per Reuters, Google is open to divesting some of its ad tech business, if it comes to that. It previously explored selling off its ad exchange to appease European antitrust regulators. Advertisement Laura Phillips-Sawyer, a professor at the University of Georgia School of Law, told BBC that the ruling was a significant victory for US antitrust enforcers. It signals that not only are agencies willing to prosecute but also that judges are willing to enforce the law against big tech firms, she said. According to Phillips-Sawyer, the judgement has set a legal precedent and could affect decision-making in corporate America. The verdict has been welcomed by some tech critics and media organisations. For years, Google wielded unchecked monopoly power over the digital advertising market using it to suffocate the media industry and force middleman taxes on everything we buy online, Sacha Haworth, executive director of the Tech Oversight Project, was quoted as saying by CNN. But will this verdict affect Google users? No. According to Anupam Chander, professor of law and technology at Georgetown University, internet users will not see a difference online due to the ruling. However, it impacts the division of monies between advertisers, publishers, and ad service providers. Advertisement The judge seems willing to order structural changes in Googles ad exchange practices, which may affect Googles bottom line somewhat, but dont seem to necessarily threaten its core value proposition as an advertising middleman, he told BBC. Google has bigger challenges on its hands. Next week, a judge in Washington will hold a trial to decide on the US governments suggestion that Google sell its Chrome browser and take other steps to end its unlawful monopoly in online search. The tech giant plans to appeal the ruling. With inputs from agencies Since Sunday, there have been at least a dozen assaults on French prisons. President Emmanuel Macron has vowed that those behind the attacks will be tracked down and punished. But what happened? And who is behind the attacks? read more The letters "DDPF" are seen tagged on a wall of the Aix-Luynes Penitentiary Center in Aix-en-Provence, France. Reuters Frances prisons have been attacked several times over the past week. Since Sunday, there have been at least a dozen assaults on French jails. French President Emmanuel Macron has vowed that those behind the attacks will be tracked down and punished. Some are trying to intimidate our prison workers and are attacking (prisons) with unacceptable violence. They will be found, sentenced and punished, Macron wrote on X. He added the prison force was carrying out its essential mission of defending the rule of law and keeping the peace with courage and dedication. Advertisement I restate my full support and that of the nation to all agents of the ministry of justice, Macron wrote. But what happened? And who is behind the attacks? What do we know? Lets take a closer look: What happened? As per BBC, there have been a dozen attacks since Sunday. Cars outside prisons and an prison officer training centre have been attacked. In two locations, guns were used. Gunmen wielding automatic weapons also fired at the entrance to Toulon prison in the south of France, as per The Guardian. A car was set on fire in front of the home of a prison guard who works in Aix-Luynes in southern France. The door of a building in the Seine-et-Marne region was damaged. Three cars were set ablaze at Tarascon prison also in southern France. That adds to at least nine prison facilities and other affiliated institutions including a school for prison staff were targeted. This came after at least six prisons guarding some of the nations most hardened crime kingpins came under gun and arson attack. The attacks also targeted the National School of Prison Administration. The letters DDPF, apparently an acronym for Droits des Prisonniers Francais (Rights for French Prison Inmates) were graffitied on many of the attack sites. Advertisement Le Parisien reported that a prisoner on conditional release had been arrested in the Essonne, south of Paris, in connection with the DDPF. A Telegram group called DDPF was created the day before the start of the attacks. The group, which has over 1,000 members, was created on April 12, the day before the first wave of attacks when vehicles were set alight in the car park of the National School of Prison Administration in Agen, and in the Sud Francilien jail south of Paris. On Tuesday, the group put up a video on Telegram showing a prison officers car burning. As per BBC, the text accompanying the video claimed Justice Minister Gerard Darmanin had declared war on prisoners. French Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin, Darmanin, widely seen as a possible 2027 presidential contender, has been a key architect of the governments counter-narcotics drive. Reuters All we want is that human rights be respected, the text read. If in 2025 we can watch TV, smoke and eat our meals without being bothered in our cells, its only because our elders fought for these fundamental rights. Advertisement The outlet noted that the text was riddled with errors. We are not terrorists, we are here to defend human rights inside prisons, another message on the Telegram group read, as per The Guardian. Telegram blocked several of the messages posted by the group, as it said they contain calls to violence. Who is behind the attacks? As per BBC, Frances government has said the inquiry is ongoing. The police are examining far-left gangs or foreign powers like Russia and Algeria. But a senior French security source told Reuters there is currently no evidence to suggest foreign interference. Frances government says that drug gangs are likely involved. BBC quoted Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said he was certain that what were dealing with is the drugs-yobs. Its not they who have declared war on us. Its we who declared war on them with our new law on drugs trafficking. They know were going to be hitting their wallets. Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin, who this week announced a plan to build 3,000 prison places in pre-fabricated jails, said he believes the attacks are a reaction to government efforts to clamp down on a fast-growing drug trade fuelled by a record-breaking surge of South American cocaine flooding Europe. Advertisement There are clearly people who try to destabilise the state by intimidating it, Darmanin told CNews TV and Europe 1 radio. We are taking very firm measures that are leading drug traffickers to react. We wont back down, he added. If the state backs down, then there is nothing left, the French wouldnt be protected anymore. As per The Guardian, France has brought in the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutors Office to look into the acts. The government said it did so given nature of the facts, the chosen targets and the coordination of the acts committed in several locations. Darmanin, widely seen as a possible 2027 presidential contender, has been a key architect of the governments counter-narcotics drive. He plans to open new high-security prisons to house Frances top 100 kingpins, use video conferences for court appearances and limit inmates family contact. Police say prisoners run their drug businesses via smuggled cellphones that they also use to order hits on rivals. They can even order kebabs and sushi, delivered to their cells via drones, according to videos posted online and prison officials. Advertisement In its manifesto, the DDPF group said it rejected Darmanins prison crackdown. In the groups original photo, it showed a Photoshopped image of him behind bars in a Lacoste track suit. This channel is a movement dedicated to denouncing the violations of our fundamental rights that Minister Gerald Darmanin intends to undermine, it said. All prisoners in France must mobilize and wake up. The situation is grave: we are entering a dangerous and worrying era for the future of the prison population. It said hard-won prisoner rights, such as watching TV or exercise time, were being eroded, while phonebooth costs, at 1 euro a minute, were prohibitively expensive. The guards who beat us, who rape certain inmates, who exert physical and psychological pressure: most suicides in prison are due to the aggressiveness of the prison administration and its code of ethics, they wrote. The group also shared snippets from French documentaries about life behind bars, and humorous videos filmed by inmates. But it also contains more menacing messages. Advertisement Know that our movement is spreading throughout France. All prison guards who took advantage of their power and contributed to the deterioration of prison conditions will pay the full consequences, it said. You, Darmanin, started the war; we just want human rights to be respected, they wrote. Asked about the Telegram group on Tuesday, Darmanin said he didnt know, nor care who was behind the slogan. With inputs from agencies Preserved at the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute and codified around the 2nd century BC, the Natyashastra of Bharat Muni is an epitome of the Natyaveda, an oral body of knowledge of performing art containing 36,000 verses known as the Gandharvaveda, the UNESCO said in its citation list about the new inscriptions read more Manuscripts of Bhagavad Gita and Bharat Munis Natyashastra are among 74 new documentary heritage collections that have been added to UNESCOs Memory of the World Register. Entries on scientific revolution, womens contribution to history and major milestones of multilateralism from 72 countries and four international organisations are included in the register, according to UNESCO. The register consists of books, manuscripts, maps, photographs, sound or video recordings as a documentary heritage of humanity. The development comes on World Heritage Day on April 18. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a post on X, on Friday described the inscriptions as a proud moment for every Indian across the world. The inclusion of the Gita and Natyashastra in UNESCOs Memory of the World Register is a global recognition of our timeless wisdom and rich culture. The Gita and Natyashastra have nurtured civilisation, and consciousness for centuries. Their insights continue to inspire the world, he said. A proud moment for every Indian across the world! The inclusion of the Gita and Natyashastra in UNESCOs Memory of the World Register is a global recognition of our timeless wisdom and rich culture. The Gita and Natyashastra have nurtured civilisation, and consciousness for https://t.co/ZPutb5heUT Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 18, 2025 Preserved at the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute and codified around the 2nd century BC, the Natyashastra of Bharat Muni is an epitome of the Natyaveda, an oral body of knowledge of performing art containing 36,000 verses known as the Gandharvaveda, the UNESCO said in its citation list about the new inscriptions. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Bharat Muni makes a groundbreaking statement in Natyashastra, asserting that no meaning can blossom forth without rasa, a profound contribution to world literature, it said. The Natyashastra embodies a comprehensive set of rules that define natya (drama), abhinaya (performance), rasa (aesthetic experience), bhava (emotion), sangita (music), among others, thus articulating the character of Indian theatre, poetics, aesthetics, dance and music. The Manuscript collection of Bhagavadgita: ancient samgraha-grantha of Indian thought with worldwide readership and influence also now finds a place in the coveted UNESCO register. The Bhagavadgita, containing 700 verses in 18 chapters, is embedded within the Bhismaparva of the epic Mahabharata. It takes the form of a dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna with armies lined up for the great war intended to free Arjuna of dejection (visada), the citation read. Bhagavad Gita is a central text in the continuous, cumulative ancient intellectual Indian tradition, synthesising various thought movements such as Vedic, Buddhist, Jain and Carvaka, it said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Due to its philosophical breadth and depth, the Bhagavadgita has been read for centuries across the globe and translated into many languages, the citation added. Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat also took to X on Friday saying this was a historic moment for Bharats civilisational heritage. This global honour celebrates Indias eternal wisdom and artistic genius, the minister said. These timeless works are more than literary treasures they are philosophical and aesthetic foundations that have shaped Bharats worldview and the way we think, feel, live, and express. With this, we now have 14 inscriptions from our country on this international register, he posted and shared some images of the two texts. On Thursday, UNESCO added 74 new documentary heritage collections to its Memory of the World Register, bringing the total number of inscribed collections to 570, the world body said. Collections are added to the register by a decision of UNESCOs executive board, following the evaluation of nominations by an independent international advisory committee. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Among the newly inscribed collections, fourteen pertain to scientific documentary heritage. Ithaf Al-Mahbub, submitted by Egypt, documents the Arab worlds contributions to astronomy, planetary movement, celestial bodies, and astrological analysis during the first millennium of our era, UNESCO said. The archives of Charles Darwin (United Kingdom), Friedrich Nietzsche (Germany), Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen (Germany) which contain the very first recorded X-ray photographs and Carlos Chagas (Brazil), a pioneer in disease research, have also been included. Several collections document key moments in international cooperation, including the Geneva Conventions (1864-1949) and their protocols (1977-2005) (Switzerland), the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (United Nations), and the 1991 Windhoek Declaration (Namibia), a global reference for press freedom, the UNESCO said in the statement. Documentary heritage is an essential yet fragile element of the memory of the world. This is why UNESCO invests in safeguarding such as the libraries of Chinguetti in Mauritania or the archives of Amadou Hampate Ba in Cote dIvoire shares best practices and maintains this register that records the broadest threads of human history, UNESCOs Director-General Audrey Azoulay said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Permanent Delegation of India to UNESCO also acknowledged the inscriptions of ancient Indian texts on the Register and thanked UNESCO. Earlier this week, the central government said that Bangladeshi infiltrators had a role to play in the violence in West Bengals Murshidabad. A report from the Union Home Ministry said that these infiltrators had support from local elements within West Bengal read more Flames billow out after a vehicle was set on fire during a protest over the Waqf (Amendment) Act, in Murshidabad district of West Bengal. PTI The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday slammed Bangladesh over its unwarranted comments on violence in Bengal over the Waqf Act. We reject the remarks made by the Bangladesh side with regard to the incidents in West Bengal. This is a barely disguised and disingenuous attempt to draw a parallel with Indias concerns over the ongoing persecution of minorities in Bangladesh where the criminal perpetrators of such acts continue to roam free, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He added, Instead of making unwarranted comments and indulging in virtue signaling, Bangladesh would do better to focus on protecting the rights of its own minorities. Earlier this week, the central government said that Bangladeshi infiltrators had a role to play in the violence in West Bengals Murshidabad. A report from the Union Home Ministry said that these infiltrators had support from local elements within West Bengal. Bangladeshs chief advisor on Thursday refuted MHAs report and said, We strongly refute any attempts to implicate Bangladesh in the communal violence in Murshidabad. We urge the Government of India and West Bengal to take all steps to fully protect the minority Muslim population. Three people have been killed in communal violence in Shamsherganj, Suti, Dhulian and Jangipur areas of Murshidabad district, which has a Muslim majority population, during protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act on April 11 and 12. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced that her government will not implement the amended Waqf law, which aims to regulate the administration of Muslim charitable properties. Several vehicles, including police vans, were set on fire, stones were hurled at security forces, and roads were blocked as violence rocked Malda, Murshidabad, South 24 Parganas and Hooghly districts during protests over the new legislation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies A National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) team visited West Bengals Malda district to investigate alleged rights violations following violence in Murshidabad over the Waqf (Amendment) Act. They meet with individuals who have sought refuge in camps after fleeing violence-affected areas of Murshidabad district. read more Flames billow out after a vehicle was set on fire during a protest over the Waqf (Amendment) Act, in Murshidabad district of West Bengal. PTI A team of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Friday arrived in West Bengals Malda district to meet people who have taken shelter in refugee camps after fleeing violence-hit areas of Murshidabad district. The NHRC took suo motu cognisance of the recent violence in Murshidabad that broke out during protests over the Waqf (Amendment) Act. The Commission on Tuesday said it has decided to send a team to conduct an on-the-spot inquiry into the incidents, considering the seriousness of the situation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The NHRC action comes following the receipt of a formal complaint about the violence and the alleged human rights violations in the affected areas. According to officials, three people were killed during the violent clashes that erupted in the Muslim-majority areas of Shamsherganj, Suti, Dhulian, and Jangipur in Murshidabad district. Many residents, fearing for their lives, fled their homes and took shelter in camps set up in neighbouring Malda district. The violence occurred amid widespread protests against the central governments recent amendments to the Waqf Act. The NHRC has directed that a detailed inquiry report be submitted within three weeks. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.) India must act quickly to take advantage of openings in the US market and strengthen its connections throughout Asia and beyond. It cannot afford the risk of becoming a collateral casualty of Chinas export glut read more In a latest move, the US has raised the tariffs on China to 245 per cent after Beijing took a confrontational stance. Representational Image- FP The US-China trade war, which is reignited by President Donald Trumps aggressive tariff policies, has shaken global supply chains. The US has now raised the tariffs on China to 245 per cent after Beijing took a confrontational stance. Tariffs have already hurt Beijing in 2024 and could significantly cut its $440 billion in annual exports to the US. As China rushes to get rid of excess inventory, India, Asias third-largest economy, finds itself in a precarious position. Unbeknownst to it, the tariffs have provided India with an opportunity to reconsider its trade strategy, expand its export market, and lessen the risk of becoming a Chinese dumping ground. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India has latent potential in labour-intensive Chinese industries like electronics, textiles, and machinery, which are the focus of US tariffs. Chinas dwindling access to the American market, particularly in manufacturing, could be filled by India. Even though Indias IT and pharmaceutical industries are already well-established in the US, it now appears possible to increase exports of engineering products, clothing, and leather goods. Indias textile exports to the US, for example, increased by 8 per cent in 2023, indicating early traction. But there are still obstacles in the form of Indias disjointed supply chains, complicated labour laws, and infrastructure bottlenecks. New Delhi needs to speed up reforms under its Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) programmes, which are designed to increase domestic manufacturing, to reap the benefits. Even though the US market offers short-term gains, Indias long-term resilience depends on diversifying its export destinations. India is now searching for markets in ASEAN, Africa, and the Middle East after previously depending on the US and EU. The $131 billion in bilateral trade with ASEAN in 2023 is dwarfed by Chinas $722 billion influence in the region. This change is reflected in Indias recent trade agreements with the UAE and Australia as well as ongoing talks with the UK and EU. Regional trade barriers, which currently average 1520 per cent tariffs among SAARC nations, could be decreased by fortifying ties with South Asian neighbours, such as Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, through programmes like the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC). China may oversupply other markets with low-cost goods as its export engine sputters. India is at risk because of its large consumer base. Electronics and machinery accounted for the majority of Chinas $101 billion in imports to India in 2023. Unchecked dumping could undermine domestic industries, as demonstrated in the solar panel industry in India, where Chinese imports account for 80 per cent of the market, even though certain inputs help Indian manufacturing. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India needs to strengthen quality controls and anti-dumping laws in order to lessen this, as well as capitalise on its China+1 appeal to multinational corporations moving their supply chains. In addition, increasing exports to Southeast Asia and Africa, where there is a growing need for reasonably priced goods, can reduce import risks. The vulnerability of an over-reliance on single markets is highlighted by Trumps tariff war. India must act quickly to take advantage of openings in the US market and strengthen its connections throughout Asia and beyond. India cannot afford the risk of becoming a collateral casualty of Chinas export glut. Strategic diversification is not only wise but also essential as the worlds trade breaks up into blocs. The writer is a columnist. His articles have appeared in various publications like The Independent, The Globe and Mail, South China Morning Post, The Straits Times, etc. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Murshidabads demography and vulnerabilities to cross-border radicalisation, refugee influx and transnational smuggling, including narcotics, make it a soft target for extremist networks and the growth of anti-national elements read more The recent outbreak of communal violence in Murshidabad, West Bengal, is not an isolated incident; it reflects an advanced stage of deep-rooted cancer in Indias internal security domain, fraught with structural, ideological, and political fault lines. The violence, sparked by protests against the 2025 Waqf (Amendment) Act, brought to light the increasing influence of radical Islamist groups, linkages to extremist organisations across the border in Bangladesh, and proxy wars by Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Advertisement The failure of law and order machinery and the politicisation of the event added fuel to the communal flare-up and loss of innocent lives. Unless such issues are addressed at the deep root level with an iron fist, such incidents will spread like fire and engulf the already fragile and vulnerable internal security domain. Viksit Bharat cannot happen if the Surakshit Bharat edifice is not addressed as a priority without any fear or favour. Murshidabad: A Border District Under Stress Murshidabad, the seat of Bengals Nawabs, shares a long and porous 125-kilometre border with Bangladesh, placing it at the crossroads of regional dynamics, demographic fault lines, and socio-economic challenges. Its Muslim-dominated population (67 per cent) and vulnerabilities to cross-border radicalisation, refugee influx and transnational smuggling, including narcotics, make it a soft target for extremist networks and the growth of anti-national elements. Security agencies have been flagging the activities of Islamist radical groups like Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and others for years. However, the petty politics turned a blind eye. These groups use these border districts as safe havens for recruitment and radicalisation of society. The growth of anti-national narratives and ideological indoctrination were embedded in the recent unrest, which was characterised by premeditated mobilisation, attacks on public infrastructure, and the spread of anti-national narratives. Structural Drivers Behind the Violence Several interrelated factors have contributed to the steady radicalisation trends visible in Murshidabad and similar districts: Cross-border Radical Linkages: With the new dispensation in power and influence of Pakistans ISI, Bangladesh faces challenges from Islamist radical JeI groups like JMB, HuJI, and Hefazat-e-Islam. These groups are active in cross-border fuelling situations with supporters and madrasas in Indian districts. Unregulated Madrasa and Religious Infrastructure: The presence of unregistered madrasas and independent religious trusts, often outside of government control, offers a haven for extremist ideologies and activities. Digital Radicalisation: Online extremism is also a growing concern, with encrypted messaging apps and social media being used to spread provocative material. This is especially true for accounts run from across the border. Several WhatsApp video calls from Bangladesh have been detected during the recent protests, highlighting this malice. Marginalisation of Moderates: Marginalisation of moderate community leaders, leaving a vacuum filled by extremist clerics. Political and Administrative Gaps: Limited intelligence coordination, inadequate early-warning systems, and delays in enforcement responses continue to hinder the timely containment of such disturbances. External Linkages and Regional Security Implications The involvement of regional actors adds a concerning dimension to this issue. Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has historically exploited eastern Indias demographic and communal fault lines through proxy extremist networks. The ISIs operational strategy includes financial and logistical support to radical elements, smuggling networks, and information warfare campaigns aimed at destabilising sensitive districts. Proxy Islamist groups are growing in these areas for subversion and recruitment. Furthermore, cross-border arms, fake currency, and narcotics networks are funding extremist cells. These are being fuelled by online propaganda warfare, inflaming communal tensions via fake accounts and radical content originating from Dhaka and Karachi. Advertisement The recent ingress of ISI in Bangladeshs radical forces has an anti-India agenda. Reports indicate that certain cross-border groups involved in radical mobilisation receive support from informal transnational networks, further complicating border management and counter-radicalisation efforts. Politicisation of Internal Security A serious and recurring malady in state-centre security management has been the politicisation of communal incidents and blame games with little regard for national implications. These are coloured by vote-bank appeasement of extremist religious groups and soft-pedalling or denial of radicalisation threats to avoid political fallout. Inaction or selective enforcement by law enforcement agencies under political pressure is undermining public trust in governance. The Murshidabad unrest exposed critical operational failures: delayed police deployment and inadequate crowd control allowed protests to turn violent; poor intelligence coordination and preventive action failed to intercept radical mobilisers; Absence of digital monitoring infrastructure enabled unchecked dissemination of provocative content and the State administrations reluctance to crack down on radical elements for fear of communal backlash. Advertisement Key Internal Security Risks The Murshidabad unrest points to several strategic risks: Expansion of Radical Influence: Continued tolerance of informal radical networks risks transforming sensitive districts into operational hubs for extremist groups. National security is under threat with the expansion of JMB, ISI, and Islamist sleeper cells in Indias east. Social Cohesion Erosion: Repeated incidents of unrest weaken inter-community trust, increase alienation, and potentially lead to recurring cycles of regional unrest. Border Security Vulnerabilities: Porous borders combined with local logistical networks create opportunities for infiltration, smuggling, and subversive activities. The one border, one force concept has been ignored for too long. Digital Misinformation Warfare: The rapid spread of communal misinformation and incitement material, much of it originating from outside the border, amplifies tensions and undermines governance. Political Polarisation: Deepening of communal politics, erosion of state neutrality, and governance paralysis. Policy Recommendations To address these challenges comprehensively, India must adopt a multi-layered, apolitical, and intelligence-driven strategy that balances hard security with community integration. 1. Border Management and Intelligence Network Strengthen the BSFs surveillance infrastructure with drones, riverine patrols, and electronic monitoring. Go in for the one border, one force concept. Establish integrated district intelligence coordination cells, ensuring seamless information sharing between state police, BSF, and central agencies. Enhance collaboration with Bangladeshi agencies for joint monitoring and dismantling of cross-border extremist networks. Jointly crack down with Bangladesh on JMB and radical madrasa networks. 2. Regulation of Religious Institutions and Madrasas Ensure mandatory registration of all religious trusts, madrasas, and faith-based organisations/trusts. Introduce curriculum audits to standardise educational content and discourage sectarian teachings. Monitor foreign funding sources and enforce compliance with transparency guidelines. 3. Counter-Radicalisation and Community Reach Launch district-level deradicalisation programmes involving educators, psychologists, and community leaders. Initiate employment and vocational training schemes focused on high-risk demographics. Build community policing models that prioritise trust-building and grievance redressal. Revisit toxic teachings in the education system and eradicate them. 4. Digital Surveillance and Information Management Establish dedicated digital monitoring units at the district level to track radical content and misinformation. Partner with social media platforms to streamline content moderation protocols. Launch counter-narrative campaigns emphasising constitutional values, pluralism, and national security. 5. Depoliticisation of Communal Issues and Ensuring State Neutrality Promote a non-partisan, zero-tolerance approach toward communal unrest and radical mobilisation. Strengthen institutional accountability mechanisms to prevent selective enforcement or political patronage of extremist groups. Involve civil society and neutral community figures in conflict prevention and peacebuilding efforts. 6. Economic and Infrastructure Development Invest in infrastructure, healthcare, and trade facilities in Murshidabad and similar border districts. Integrate these regions into national economic and logistics corridors to curb reliance on illicit cross-border networks. Promote inclusive welfare schemes to address socio-economic marginalisation. The Strategic Way Forward Murshidabads unrest should be viewed not merely as a localised incident but as a strategic early warning for Indias internal security management along its eastern border. The threats to national security are more dangerous in the internal domain than in the external domain. As the nature of threats becomes increasingly hybrid, blending ideology, digital mobilisation, cross-border logistics, and political sensitivities, the response must be holistic and preventive rather than reactive. Indias internal security policy must prioritise border district stability, community resilience, and intelligence-led governance models. The focus should remain on neutralising radicalisation networks, deradicalisation strategies, fostering inclusive local economies, socio-cultural harmony and depoliticising internal security responses. Murshidabad must be remembered not just as a flashpoint but as a lesson. India cannot let Kashmir-like situation spread along its other borders. Advertisement The author is former Director General, Mechanised Forces. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. At least 1,024 students in US have had their visas revoked or their legal status cancelled in less than a month. The move has prompted a slew of lawsuits by the students, who allege they were denied due process read more An American lawyers association has revealed that around half of the international students who recently had their visas revoked by the Donald Trump administration are from India. The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), following an analysis of 327 such reports, said in a statement that most of the students affected by the Trump administrations move are Indians, followed by the Chinese (14 per cent). Other significant countries represented in this data include South Korea, Nepal, and Bangladesh, said the AILA in a press statement. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to data from Open Doors, Indians made up the largest student cohort in the US in 2023-24. Of the total 1,126,690 international students, more than 330,000 were from India, representing a 29 per cent share. The Chinese followed at the second position, with 277,000 students. According to media reports, at least 1,024 students in US have had their visas revoked or their legal status cancelled in less than a month. The move has prompted a slew of lawsuits by the students, who allege they were denied due process and that there was not adequate justification to snatch their right to be in the country. What youre seeing happening with international students is really a piece of the much greater scrutiny that the Trump administration is bringing to bear on immigrants of all different categories, said Michelle Mittelstadt, director of public affairs at the Migration Policy Institute. Bigger concern: Optional Practical Training The AILA said that a bigger concern was that around half of the student whose legal statuses have been revoked are on Optional Practical Training (OPT). Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a programme that lets international students with F-1 visas work in the US for real-world experience in their field of study. Regular OPT: You get up to 12 months of work authorisation after completing your degree. STEM OPT Extension: If your degree is in a STEM field (science, technology, engineering, or math), you can apply for a 24-month extension, making it 36 months total. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to the AILA, the concern is that the road to reinstating the legal status of those on OPT is much more difficult and murkier. The road to reinstating status for those who have already graduated and are employed on OPT is much more difficult and murkier than those who are currently students, noted AILA. AILA noted that these reports paint a concerning picture of the arbitrary nature of these visa revocations and terminations. Notably, most of the individuals in the AILA report did come into contact with policeabout 86 per centa significant portion, around one-third, didnt end up facing formal legal consequences. Their cases were either dropped, they werent charged at all, or no prosecution followed. US President Donald Trump has threatened to attack Iran if it does not agree on a deal with the United States over its nuclear programme, which Iran says is peaceful but the West says is aimed at building an atomic bomb. read more With a series of diplomatic efforts to resolve an impasse in the long-stalled Iran-US nuclear talks, signs of a breakthrough are beginning to emerge. From high-level Saudi-Iran meetings in Tehran to guarded optimism from the UNs nuclear watchdog and proposals for a phased agreement on uranium enrichment, momentum appears to be building ahead of a new round of negotiations set for Saturday in Rome. Saudi Arabia steps up diplomacy: Khalid Bin Salman meets Khamenei Saudi Arabias Defense Minister Khalid Bin Salman met with Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Thursday, indicating that Riyadh is stepping up its involvement in efforts to prevent a major security crisis between the United States and Tehran. The meeting marks the first time in nearly two decades that a senior Saudi official has held talks with Khamenei. According to the Iranian leaders official website, Khamenei.ir, the last Saudi cabinet member to meet with Khamenei was the Kingdoms former foreign minister, Saud al-Faisal, who visited Tehran in June 2006. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Iran-US nuclear talks at critical stage: IAEA Talks between Iran and the United States over Tehrans accelerating nuclear program have entered a very crucial phase, according to Rafael Mariano Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), during his visit to Tehran on Thursday. Grossi said that the IAEA would play a central role in verifying any potential agreement between the two nations. The stakes for Saturdays talks are high, especially amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. President Trump has repeatedly threatened military action against Irans nuclear facilities if diplomacy fails, while Iranian officials have warned of the possibility of pursuing nuclear weapons as their enriched uranium stockpiles approach weapons-grade levels. Nuclear deal with US possible: Irans Araqchi Iran believes reaching an agreement on its nuclear programme with the United States is possible as long as Washington is realistic, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Friday on the eve of a second round of talks with the Trump administration. If they show seriousness of intent and do not make unrealistic demands, reaching agreements is possible, Araqchi told a news conference in Moscow after talks with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov of Russia. Iran had noted the United States seriousness during a first round of talks on the deal, which took place in Oman last week, Araqchi said. The second round is set for Saturday in Rome. Iran seeks Russias support Iran on Friday sought support from Russia over a possible deal with Washington over Tehrans rapidly advancing nuclear programme, ahead of a second round of talks this weekend in Rome. Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he briefed his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, on the first round of talks in Oman last week and praised Russias role in Irans 2015 nuclear deal with world powers that led to lifting of sanctions in return for Tehrans cap on its nuclear activities. We are hopeful, and we expect Russia to continue its supportive role in any new agreement, Araghchi said in a joint news conference with Lavrov in Moscow. Iran seeks guarantees from US on nuclear deal Iran told the United States in talks last week it was ready to accept some limits on its uranium enrichment but needed watertight guarantees President Donald Trump would not again ditch a nuclear pact, a senior Iranian official said on Friday. Iran and the United States are set to hold a second round of talks on Saturday in Rome, a week after a first round of negotiations in Oman, which both sides described as positive. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Iran told the United States in talks last week it was ready to accept some limits on its uranium enrichment but needed watertight guarantees President Donald Trump would not again ditch a nuclear pact, a senior Iranian official said on Friday.Iran and the United States are set to hold a second round of talks on Saturday in Rome, a week after a first round of negotiations in Oman which both sides described as positive. Trump, who has restored a maximum pressure campaign on Tehran since February, ditched a 2015 nuclear pact between Iran and six world powers in 2018 during his first term and reimposed crippling sanctions on Iran. In the intervening years, Tehran has steadily overstepped the 2015 agreements limits on its nuclear programme, designed to make it harder to develop an atomic bomb. Former US President Joe Biden, whose administration unsuccessfully tried to reinstate the 2015 pact, was not able to meet Tehrans demand for guarantees that no future US administration would renege on it. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Iran proposes 3-phase nuclear deal: Report Tehran has reportedly proposed a three-phase agreement to limit its uranium enrichment in return for the lifting of US sanctions, according to dissident outlet Iran International, which cited diplomatic sources. Under the plan, Iran would first reduce enrichment to 3.67% the level set in the 2015 nuclear deal in exchange for access to frozen assets and permission to export oil. The second phase would see the US ease more sanctions and block the reimposition of UN penalties, while Iran would allow the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to resume inspections, including surprise visits to undeclared sites under the additional protocol. In the final phase, Iran would transfer its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to a third country, while the US Congress would ratify the deal and Washington would lift all primary and secondary sanctions. Ukraine has rejected Russias claim over the missile strike on an Indian pharma companys warehouse, calling Moscows justification cynical and legally untenable. read more Ukraine has dismissed Russias claim that Kyiv was behind the missile strike on an Indian pharma companys warehouse, calling Moscows justification legally wrong, cynical, and incompetent. The Ukrainian Embassy in New Delhi said in a post on X that the Russian Embassy was pretending to be involved in planning airstrikes on Ukraine." Any attempt to justify terror is legally untenable, cynical in essence, and pathetic in terms of competence. A senior criminal would never confess in their crimes. Russias arguments have no credibility. It seems that the Russian Embassy in India is now pretending to be involved in planning airstrikes on Ukraine," the Ukrainian Embassy in New Delhi said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Earlier, in a war of accusations and counteraccusations, the Russian Embassy in India denied Ukraines claim that Russian forces intentionally struck an Indian pharma companys warehouse in Kyiv. It said the fire may have been caused by Ukraines own air defence missiles. Ukraines embassy said Russia might again call the attack a mistake just like it did after the Palm Sunday strike on Sumy and added, Maybe Washington will believe them again. It also said that Ukraines Prosecutor Generals Office has launched a criminal case into the destruction of the Indian pharma company, Kusum. The blame game began after Ukraine said a Russian missile struck the companys warehouse in Kyiv last Saturday. Bangladesh raised long-standing issues and demanded a public apology from Pakistan for the 1971 atrocities during their first foreign secretary-level talks in 15 years, held in Dhaka on Thursday. Bangladesh also requested $4.3 billion in reparations from Pakistan as its share of joint assets from when East Pakistan became an independent nation. read more Bangladesh demands apology from Pakistan for 1971 atrocities, $4.3 bn reparation in first diplomatic talks in 15 years. Image: AP Bangladesh raised long-standing issues and demanded a public apology from Pakistan for the 1971 atrocities during their first foreign secretary-level talks in 15 years, which were held in Dhaka on Thursday, ANI reported. Bangladesh also asked Pakistan to pay USD 4.3 billion reparation as its share of joint assets from when East Pakistan broke away in 1971 to become an independent nation. We raised the historically unresolved issues with Pakistan, said Bangladesh Foreign Secretary M Jashim Uddin after the meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Amna Baloch at the Padma state guest house. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD During Operation Searchlight in 1971, Pakistani forces killed an estimated 3 million Bengalis and raped over a million women. Bangladesh won its independence after a brutal war with Pakistan. Dhaka also raised issues, including the repatriation of over 300,000 stranded Pakistanis living in relief camps and the transfer of foreign aid sent for the 1970 Bhola cyclone victims, as per a report from news agency ANI. Bangladesh claims $4.32 billion from Pakistan Bangladesh also claimed $4.32 billion from Pakistan, which includes its share of assets from undivided Pakistan before 1971, such as aid money, provident funds, and savings instruments. The report mentioned that Pakistan had not allocated Bangladesh its share of $200 million in foreign aid after the 1970 Bhola cyclone. The 1970 Cyclone Bhola, according to the World Meteorological Organization, was the deadliest tropical cyclone in history, killing up to 500,000 people in East Pakistan which is now todays Bangladesh. Pak deputy PM to visit Bangladesh Jashim Uddin said that Pakistans deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, will visit Bangladesh on April 27-28. He also expressed hope that direct flights between the two countries will begin soon. A federal judge on Thursday (17 April) issued a preliminary injunction that continues to block aides of billionaire Elon Musk from accessing sensitive personal data on millions of Americans stored in the Social Security Administrations computer systems. read more A federal judge granted a preliminary injunction on Thursday that extends a ban on billionaire Elon Musks aides from accessing private information on millions of Americans held in the Social Security Administrations computer systems. U.S. District Judge Ellen Hollander of Maryland said Musks Department of Government Efficiency had failed to show the need for the unprecedented, unfettered access it had sought to the SSAs data to achieve their stated goal of rooting out fraud. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Hollander had issued a temporary restraining order last month restricting DOGE access to SSA data, but it was due to expire on Thursday. The preliminary injunction cements the restrictions for a longer time while the case plays out. The injunction is a win for the two labor unions and an advocacy group that sued SSA, Musk, DOGE and others in February, seeking to stop DOGE members from accessing some of the agencys most sensitive data systems. Hollander said the plaintiffs would likely succeed on their claim that DOGE staff members had violated privacy laws in their various efforts so far to access data and that an injunction was needed to protect Americans from irreparable harm. For some 90 years, SSA has been guided by the foundational principle of an expectation of privacy with respect to its records. This case exposes a wide fissure in the foundation, Hollander wrote in her 145-page ruling. Hollander was nominated to the federal bench by former President Barack Obama, a Democrat. President Donald Trump is a Republican. While the injunction prohibits DOGE staffers and anyone working with them from accessing data containing personal information, it does allow them to access data that has been stripped of private information, as long as they have gone through the proper training and passed background checks. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The advocacy group Democracy Forward said the injunction marked an important step in their case. This is a significant relief for the millions of people who depend on the Social Security Administration to safeguard their most personal and sensitive information, Skye Perryman, president of Democracy Forward, said in a statement. Spokespeople for the SSA and DOGE did not respond to requests for comment. The case has shed light on the amount of personal information DOGE staffers have been given access to in the SSAs databases, which hold vast amounts of sensitive data on most Americans. During a hearing on the injunction in Baltimore on Tuesday, Hollander expressed skepticism about DOGEs need for the broad access they have sought to data in order to find what she described as questionable assertions of widespread fraud. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.) China has portrayed itself as a neutral party in the three-year war, despite criticism from Western governments that its close ties to Russia have given Moscow crucial economic and diplomatic support read more China on Friday rejected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys claim that Beijing is supplying lethal weapons on the battlefield. The Chinese side has never provided lethal weapons to any party in the conflict, and strictly controls dual-use items, foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said. Zelenskyy said on Thursday that Ukraine has intelligence proving that China is giving artillery and gunpowder to Russia, without giving any details and saying that Kyiv is ready to discuss the matter with Beijing. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Meanwhile, Beijing has said that its position on the Ukraine issue is consistent and clear. We have always actively made efforts for a cessation of hostilities and peace talks, Lin said. China has portrayed itself as a neutral party in the three-year war, despite criticism from Western governments that its close ties to Russia have given Moscow crucial economic and diplomatic support. Ukraine detains Chinese soldiers Zelenskyys comments come just days after Ukraine showcased two Chinese soldiers captured while fighting for Russia. Both men confirmed that Russian officers commanded them, communicating through gestures due to the language barrier. Previously, Zelenskyy claimed that at least 155 Chinese citizens were fighting on Russias side. Kyiv made this assertion before capturing the two soldiers, which provided the first public evidence suggesting Chinese nationals may be involved in the war. Kyiv signs Memorandum of Intent with US Kyiv and Washington had been close to signing a mineral deal until the February clash between Trump and Zelensky temporarily derailed work on the agreement. We have a minerals deal which I guess is going to be signed on Thursday next Thursday. Soon. And I assume theyre going to live up to the deal. So well see. But we have a deal on that, Trump said. Meanwhile, Kyivs Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said in a post on X that Ukraine has signed a Memorandum of Intent with Washington on a planned Investment Fund for the Reconstruction of Ukraine. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD There is a lot to do, but the current pace and significant progress give reason to expect that the document will be very beneficial for both countries, she added. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told AFP that a deal is targeted for April 26. With inputs from agencies Under the new cargo ship rules, Chinese ships will be required to pay a fee per tonnage or container. The fee will be applied only to Chinese-linked ships US voyage, and not at each port as some in the industry had worried read more China on Friday said that the new port fees imposed by the US on Chinese-built and operated ships would be detrimental to all parties after Washington announced the new rules to boost the domestic shipbuilding industry. They drive up global shipping costs (and) disrupt the stability of global production and supply chains, foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said, adding: They will not succeed in revitalising the US shipbuilding industry. While announcing the new fees, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said, Ships and shipping are vital to American economic security and the free flow of commerce. The Trump administrations actions will begin to reverse Chinese dominance, address threats to the US supply chain, and send a demand signal for US-built ships, adding that the rules will come into effect in mid-October. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What are the new rules? Under the new cargo ship rules, Chinese ships will be required to pay a fee per tonnage or container. The fee will be applied only to Chinese-linked ships US voyage, and not at each port as some in the industry had worried. The fee will be assessed up to five times per year and can be waived if the owner places an order for a US-built vessel. Meanwhile, there will be separate charges for Chinese-operated ships and Chinese-built ships that will gradually increase over the years. For Chinese-built ships, the fee starts at $18 per net ton (NT) or $120 per container, meaning a ship with 15,000 containers could incur a fee of $1.8 million. In addition to the fees, Greer also announced proposed tariffs on some ship-to-shore cranes and Chinese cargo handling equipment. Trumps trade war with China triggers meme fest While Chinas leaders use their economic and political might to fight Donald Trumps trade war to the end, its army of social media soldiers are embarking on a more humorous campaign online. Chinas online warriors have been taking advantage of the massive strides in artificial intelligence to create memes highlighting that many of the goods bought by Americans such as shoes and smartphones are made using cheap Chinese labour. Defiant posts have shot to the top of most-searched lists on social media, flooding platforms with patronising comments and jokes. In one video, a Chinese internet user opens his hands to reveal what goods he buys from the United States nothing. With inputs from AFP Chipmaking giant Nvidia has found itself being hit from all sides in the US-China trade war. While the Trump administrations export controls have caused the company loss to the tune of $5.5 billion, a China-focussed Congressional committee has essentially accused the company of colluding with China to power the countrys artificial intelligence (AI) boom. read more Worlds leading chipmaker Nvidia has been caught firmly in the trade war between the United States and China. The US-China trade war is already taking a toll on Nvidia: the company has taken $5.5 billion in losses, it is being probed by a Congressional committee, and it has essentially been accused of collaborating with Chinese entities to bypass US export controls. The scrutiny on Nvidia increased after Chinese company DeepSeeks R1 artificial intelligence (AI) model shocked the world. The company claimed to have build the model, which was deemed as good as if not better than US-made models like ChatGPT, at a fraction of the cost and at less powerful chips that US companies, such as ChatGPT-maker OpenAI, use. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD US-China trade war lands Nvidia a $5.5 bn punch As Nvidia has emerged as the world leader in chips used to power artificial intelligence (AI) operations, both the previous Joe Biden and current Donald Trump administrations have cracked down on the companys business with China to limit Chinas access to advanced US chips and technology. The idea behind limiting Chinas access to advanced Western technology is to maintain US supremacy in the domain of technology, particularly AI. As part of the crackdown, the Biden administration put curbs on the export of Nvidias H100 and A100 chips in 2022. The Trump administration followed those curbs with fresh curbs this week on Nvidias H20 chip. Nvidia said that the Trump administrations curbs have caused the company loss of $5.5 billion as it can no longer fulfil orders for the chips. Nvidia used loophole to trade with China, says Congressional committee A China-focussed Congressional committee looking into Nvidias dealings with China has said that it appears that Nvidia purposefully used a loophole in previous export curbs to sell chips to China. In a bipartisan report on DeepSeeks R1 AI model, the House CCP Committee said that DeepSeek operates on tens of thousands of Nvidia chips and some of those chips have been bought by the company in violation of export curbs. The report specifically mentions Nvidia CEO Huang and says he ordered the company engineers to make a chip that would use loopholes in the export controls to be allowed to be sold in China. This is a reference to the H20 chip that the Trump administration has now imposed curbs on. The chip is the watered down version of the H100 chip that the Biden administration had imposed export controls on. In a letter to Huang, House CCP Committee Chairman John Moolenaar and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi said that DeepSeek R1s capabilities suggest that that loopholes or indirect channels may still exist that allow Nvidias chips covered by the curbs to reach the company. This raises serious questions about whether current US export control laws adequately prevent the most sensitive AI technologies from falling into the hands of our adversaries. Failure to correct deficiencies could undermine US AI and technological leadership, affecting economic and national security for Americans, the letter said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Moolenaar and Krishnamoorthi sought the following information from Nvidia: A list of Nvidias customers in China and Asean that have purchased a select class of chips; any communications and correspondence between Nvidia and DeepSeek; all contractual documents and agreements, including but not limited to customer agreements, memorandums of understanding, or research agreements that Nvidia has with any Chinese entity under US sanctions. Nvidias CEO China visit raises eyebrows Amid such developments, the surprise visit of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to China has also raised eyebrows. The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party has already flagged the visit and said the purpose of the visit appeared to talk about how to produce even more chips for Chinese entities. The CCP is guilty of genocide, forced sterilization, slave labor, market manipulation, and ruthless censorship. Yesterday, we asked NVIDIA why theyve produced 1M+ chips for the China market. Hours later, their CEO flew to Beijingto talk about how to produce even more. https://t.co/Fog9xTMLBN Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (@committeeonccp) April 17, 2025 In China, Huang met Nvidias clients, including DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng and Vice Premier He Lifeng. In remarks carried by Chinese state media, Huang said during the visit that China was a very important market for Nvidia and expressed hope that Nvidia could continue co-operating with China. The FBI and the US immigration authorities arrested absconding gangster and terrorist Harpreet Singh, also known as Happy Passia, in Sacramento. In its statement, the FBI said Happy Passia had links with Pakistan Armys ISI. read more The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced on Friday the capture of absconding gangster Harpreet Singh, also known as Happy Passia, in California. He was arrested in collaboration with immigration authorities on Thursday in Sacromanto. He is linked to the banned group Babbar Khalsa and is a close aide of Pakistan-based terrorist Harvinder Singh Rinda. Today, Harpreet Singh, an alleged terrorist responsible for terror attacks in Punjab, India, was arrested by the FBI and ERO in Sacramento. Linked to two international terrorist groups, he entered the US illegally and used burner phones to evade capture," said the FBI in a post on X. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Today, Harpreet Singh, an alleged terrorist responsible for terror attacks in Punjab, India, was arrested by the #FBI & #ERO in Sacramento. Linked to two international terrorist groups, he entered the U.S. illegally and used burner phones to evade capture. pic.twitter.com/vObj2xPa8Q FBI Sacramento (@FBISacramento) April 18, 2025 The FBIs statement read, Singh is suspected to have collaborated with Pakistans Inter-State Intelligence (ISI) and the Khalistani terrorist group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). He had been evading capture by using untraceable burner phones and encrypted applications. The case reinforces the importance of international cooperation in apprehending those who threaten global security, the FBI said. He was caught in Sacramento, California, by the FBI and the US immigration enforcement agency ERO (Enforcement and Removal Operations). Harpreet Singh is accused of carrying out 14 terror attacks in Punjab and is allegedly linked to two international terror groups, including Babbar Khalsa International. Arrest a major milestone The Punjab Police called the arrest of Singh a major milestone. In a social media post, the Punjab police chief said, The arrest of Harpreet Singh aliast Happy Passia, a USA-based key operative of ISI-backed Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and close associate of #Pakistan-based Terrorist Rinda, is a major milestone in the sustained crackdown on ISI-backed terror networks. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The police said, Between 20232025, Happy Passia played a central role in orchestrating targeted killings, grenade attacks on police establishments, and extortion across #Punjab and other states. His arrest on April 17, 2025, in Sacramento, USA by FBI & ICE, is the outcome of excellent international cooperation and exchange of information between the #UnitedStates & India. The Punjab Police consistently shared intelligence with the central agencies. Our resolve remains firmto protect every citizen of the State of Punjab, dismantle terror ecosystems, and uphold peace in the face of cross-border threats. the police said. The arrest of Harpreet Singh @ Happy Passia, a #USA-based key operative of ISI-backed Babbar Khalsa International (#BKI) and close associate of #Pakistan-based Terrorist Rinda, is a major milestone in the sustained crackdown on ISI-backed terror networks. Between 20232025, pic.twitter.com/Q0VzHe1ABz DGP Punjab Police (@DGPPunjabPolice) April 18, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Harpreet Singh allegedly entered the US illegally through the Mexico border in 2021 with the help of a human trafficking network. He avoided arrest by using burner phones and encrypted apps. Authorities say he was involved in a grenade attack in Chandigarh in September 2024, which targeted a retired Punjab Police officer, along with Pakistan-based terrorist Rinda. Singh is currently in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) but has the right to fight his deportation. Who is Harpreet Singh? Harpreet Singh is wanted in 17 criminal cases in Punjab related to terrorism, international conspiracy, and illegal activities. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has chargesheeted him under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Cases against Singh includes grenade attacks targeting police posts, religious sites and homes of public figures over the past seven months, targeting police posts, religious sites and homes of public figures. He is specifically wanted in connection with a grenade attack on a house in Chandigarh city in 2024. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Anti-terror agency National Investigation Agency (NIA) earlier said that the attack was aimed at a retired Punjab police officer. In January this year, the NIA announced a reward of Rs 500,000 ($5,855) for information about Singh. Two months later, the NIA framed formal charges against Singh and three others in connection with the attack. Happy Passia in NIA files The NIAs statement said the four accused belonged to Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), an extremist organisation India has designated as a terrorist group. The agencys statement also named Singh and Harwinder Singh Sandhu, known as Rinda, referring to them as the primary handlers and masterminds behind the attack. They had provided logistical support, terror funds, weapons and ammunition to India-based on-ground operatives in Chandigarh for executing the grenade attack, the NIA said. The agencys probe showed Singh and Sandhu had orchestrated the conspiracy to strike terror among law enforcement officials and general public. Rinda is understood to be hiding in Pakistan and remains the NIAs most wanted suspect. The Palestinian group has offered to negotiate a comprehensive package that would release all the remaining hostages in its custody in return for an end to the Gaza war, the release of Palestinians jailed by Israel, and the reconstruction of Gaza read more A man rides past a banner with pictures of hostages, on the day the bodies of deceased Israeli hostages are handed over under the terms of a ceasefire. Reuters In a possible breakthrough in ceasefire talks, Hamas has said that it is willing to release all Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners to end the Gaza war, as it rejected Israels proposal of an interim truce. Hamas Khalil Al-Hayya, the leader who is leading ceasefire talks on behalf of the group, said in a televised speech that it would no longer accept interim deals, adopting a position that Israel is unlikely to accept and potentially further delaying an end to the devastating attacks that restarted in recent weeks. Advertisement The Palestinian group, instead, offered to negotiate a comprehensive package that would release all the remaining hostages in its custody in return for an end to the Gaza war, the release of Palestinians jailed by Israel, and the reconstruction of Gaza. Netanyahu and his government use partial agreements as a cover for their political agenda, which is based on continuing the war of extermination and starvation, even if the price is sacrificing all his prisoners (hostages), Hayya said. Meanwhile, Egyptian mediators have been trying to revive the erstwhile ceasefire deal between the two warring sides that ended in January, but there has been little progress on that front, with Israel and Hamas blaming each other. National Security Council spokesperson James Hewitt said, Hamass comments demonstrate they are not interested in peace but perpetual violence. The terms made by the Trump Administration have not changed: release the hostages or face hell. The latest round of talks on Monday in Cairo to restore the ceasefire and free Israeli hostages ended with no apparent breakthrough, Palestinian and Egyptian sources told Reuters. Israel had proposed a 45-day truce in Gaza to allow hostage releases and potentially begin indirect talks to end the war. Hamas has already rejected one of its conditions - that it lay down its arms. In his speech, Hayya accused Israel of offering a counterproposal with impossible conditions. Advertisement So far, Hamas has released 38 hostages under a previous ceasefire deal that expired a few months ago. This was followed by a resumption of the Israeli ground and aerial offensive in Gaza. With inputs from agencies While Hamas offered to release all the remaining Israeli hostages, it has rejected Israels demand to disarm after the war ends. At the same time, Israel is showing signs that suggest it is not leaving Gaza anytime soon read more Palestinians protest to demand an end to war, chanting anti-Hamas slogans, in Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip, March 26, 2025. File Image/Reuters Could the Israel-Hamas war finally reaching a conclusion? Hamas on Friday expressed its willingness to release all the remaining Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and an end to the Gaza war. While the development may seem a positive step forward towards a possible permanent ceasefire, Hamas has not accepted all the terms of a previously proposed Israeli truce deal. The Palestinian group has said that it will not disarm, as demanded by Israel, and has rejected an interim ceasefire in Gaza. Advertisement A temporary truce deal that went into effect in January and ended in March saw the release of many hostages and halted fighting in Gaza for some time. But, as soon as the ceasefire deal expired, Israel wasted no time in resuming aerial and ground offensives in Gaza. Under the Israel-Hamas agreement, both sides were expected to begin discussions on a permanent end to the war on the 16th day of the ceasefire. However, Israel declined to participate in those talks as long as Hamas continued to hold power in Gaza. Since then, Israel has shown many signs that it is not leaving Gaza anytime soon. An expanded operation in Gaza Earlier this week, Israel intensified its attacks across Gaza, hitting hospitals and other sites, killing at least 21 people, including children. The country has also announced that it had completed construction of a new security corridor cutting off the southern city of Rafah from the rest of Gaza, and the military said it would soon expand vigorously in most of the small coastal territory. Activity will expand rapidly to additional locations throughout most of Gaza, and you will have to evacuate the fighting zones, Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a statement, without saying where Palestinians were meant to go. The statement urged Palestinians to remove Hamas and release the remaining hostages, saying: This is the only way to stop the war. Advertisement Israel blocks aid to Gaza The Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu-led government has also blocked the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, with Israels Defence Minister, Israel Katz, saying that the blockade would continue. Israels policy is clear: no humanitarian aid will enter Gaza, and blocking this aid is one of the main pressure levers preventing Hamas from using it as a tool with the population, Katz said in a statement, amid a major humanitarian crisis following Israels decision to prevent the entry of aid since March 2. No one is currently planning to allow any humanitarian aid into Gaza, and there are no preparations to enable such aid, he added. Hamas rejects disarmament condition In its truce deal proposal, Israel had demanded that Hamas disarm after the war ends, a condition that has been rejected by the group. Partial agreements are used by (Israeli Prime Minister) Benjamin Netanyahu as a cover for his political agenda we will not be complicit in this policy, Hamass chief negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, said in a televised statement. Israel to remain in security zones indefinitely Earlier this week, Katz said, Unlike in the past, the (Israeli military) is not evacuating areas that have been cleared and seized, adding that the military would remain in the security zones as a buffer between the enemy and (Israeli) communities in any temporary or permanent situation in Gaza as in Lebanon and Syria. Meanwhile, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stated that Israels ongoing presence in certain parts of Lebanon is obstructing the Lebanese army from fully deploying, as mandated by the ceasefire agreement with Israel. With inputs from agencies Hezbollah, long a dominant force in Lebanese politics, was left weakened by more than a year of hostilities with Israel sparked by the Gaza war, including an Israeli ground incursion and two months of heavy bombardment that decimated the groups leadership read more Hezbollah will not let anyone disarm it, the Lebanese groups leader Naim Qassem said Friday, as Washington presses Beirut to compel the Iran-backed movement to hand over its weapons. Hezbollah, long a dominant force in Lebanese politics, was left weakened by more than a year of hostilities with Israel sparked by the Gaza war, including an Israeli ground incursion and two months of heavy bombardment that decimated the groups leadership. The fighting was largely brought to an end by a November ceasefire, but not before the groups longtime leader and Qassems predecessor Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli air strike. Advertisement We will not let anyone disarm Hezbollah or disarm the resistance against Israel, Qassem said in remarks on a Hezbollah-affiliated TV channel. We must cut this idea of disarmament from the dictionary. His comments came hours after another Hezbollah official said the group refused to discuss handing over its weapons unless Israel withdrew completely from south Lebanon and halted its aggression. It is not a question of disarming, Wafic Safa said in an interview with Hezbollahs Al-Nur radio station. What the president (Joseph Aoun) said in his inauguration speech is a defensive strategy. Safa, believed by experts to belong to the movements most radical faction, said Hezbollah had conveyed its position to Aoun, who on Tuesday said he sought to make 2025 the year of restricting arms to the state. In his interview, Safa asked: Wouldnt it be logical for Israel to first withdraw, then release the prisoners, then cease its aggression and then we discuss a defensive strategy? The defensive strategy is about thinking about how to protect Lebanon, not preparing for the party to hand over its weapons. Analysts have said that the once-unthinkable idea of Hezbollah disarming may no longer be so, and may even be inevitable. Advertisement Problem is Israel Under the November ceasefire, Israel was meant to withdraw all of its forces from south Lebanon. But despite the deal, its troops have remained at five south Lebanon positions that they deem strategic. Israel has also continued to carry out near-daily strikes against Lebanon including on Friday saying it is targeting members of Hezbollah. Under the truce, Hezbollah was to pull its fighters back north of Lebanons Litani River and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure in the south. Lebanons army has been deploying in the south as Israeli forces pulled back. Hezbollah says the ceasefire does not apply to the rest of Lebanon, despite being based on UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which calls for the disarmament of non-state groups. Hezbollah was the only group to keep its weapons after Lebanons 15-year civil war ended in 1990, saying that they were for resistance against Israel, which continued to occupy the south until 2000. US special envoy for the Middle East Morgan Ortagus, who visited Beirut this month, said Washington continued to press Beirut to fully fulfil the cessation of hostilities, and that includes disarming Hezbollah and all militias. Advertisement Safa said on Friday that both Hezbollah and the Lebanese army were respecting the terms of the truce. The problem is Israel, which has not done so, he said. On Saturday, a source close to Hezbollah told AFP that the group had ceded to the Lebanese army around 190 of its 265 military positions identified south of the Litani. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.) The US military said it destroyed a key fuel port in Yemen used by the Houthi rebels, as part of its ongoing strikes in the Middle East. Houthi-run media reported that 38 people were killed and over 100 injured in the attack. read more People gather on the rubble of a house hit by a US strike in Saada, Yemen, on Sunday. Reuters File The US military said on Thursday that it had destroyed a key fuel port in Yemen as part of its campaign against the Houthi rebels. Houthi-run media reported that 38 people were killed in the strikes. According to Al Masirah TV, 102 people were injured in Thursdays strikes on the western fuel port of Ras Isa. The attack targeted the Ras Issa fuel port to cut off a vital supply and funding source for the Houthis, according to the US military. Advertisement The United States has said it will continue its large-scale military strikes in the Middle Eastlaunched last month in its biggest operation since President Donald Trump took officeunless the Houthis stop attacking ships in the Red Sea. Since March 15, Washington has carried out near-daily airstrikes on the Houthis to stop their attacks on civilian and military ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The rebels started their attacks in late 2023, citing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, as the region faces fierce Israeli campaign amid an ongoing war with Israel. US forces took action to eliminate this source of fuel for the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists and deprive them of illegal revenue that has funded Houthi efforts to terrorize the entire region for over 10 years, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement. The objective of these strikes was to degrade the economic source of power of the Houthis, who continue to exploit and bring great pain upon their fellow countrymen, CENTCOM said. Ships have continued to supply fuel via the port of Ras Issa despite Washington designating the rebels a foreign terrorist organization earlier this year, the military command added, without specifying the source of the fuel. Advertisement Earlier, in a social media post, Houthi health ministry spokesman Anees Alasbahi said that 13 workers and employees at the Ras Issa port were killed and 30 others injured in the American aggression on the port. The port lies along the west coast of Yemen on the Red Sea. Houthi attacks have prevented ships from passing through the Suez Canal a vital route that normally carries about 12 percent of world shipping traffic forcing many companies into a costly detour around the tip of southern Africa. Trump said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is not responsible for the war but added that he did not do a great job. The US president has also said that a mineral deal with Ukraine is coming soon 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. Reuters File US President Donald Trump seemed to have backtracked from his claim that Volodymyr Zelenskyy started the war, saying that he does not hold the Ukrainian president responsible for Russias invasion of his country, adding that a mineral deal is coming soon. I dont hold Zelensky responsible but Im not exactly thrilled with the fact that that war started, Trump said at the White House alongside visiting Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Im not blaming him, but what I am saying is that I wouldnt say hes done the greatest job, OK? I am not a big fan, he added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump has been repeatedly blaming Zelenskyy for starting the war and has accused the Ukrainian president of responsibility for millions of deaths. Zelenskyy, on the other hand, has invited the US president to visit Ukraine and witness the destruction caused by the war for himself. Minerals deal soon Potus added Thursday that a deal with Ukraine on extracting the war-wracked countrys strategic minerals could be reached next week. Kyiv and Washington had been close to signing a deal until the February clash between Trump and Zelensky temporarily derailed work on the agreement. We have a minerals deal which I guess is going to be signed on Thursday next Thursday. Soon. And I assume theyre going to live up to the deal. So well see. But we have a deal on that, Trump said. Meanwhile, Kyivs Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said in a post on X that Ukraine has signed a Memorandum of Intent with Washington on a planned Investment Fund for the Reconstruction of Ukraine. There is a lot to do, but the current pace and significant progress give reason to expect that the document will be very beneficial for both countries, she added. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told AFP that a deal is targeted for April 26. With inputs from agencies Ironically, it was Trump himself who nominated Powell to lead the Fed in 2017. Then in 2021, he was re-nominated by then-President Joe Biden. His term is scheduled to end next year in May but Trump wants him out and even insists that he has the power to do so read more On Thursday (April 17), US President Donald Trump lambasted Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, writing on his Truth Social platform: Too Late Jerome Powell of the Fed, who is always TOO LATE AND WRONG, yesterday issued a report which was another, and typical, complete mess!" He added, Powells termination cannot come fast enough!" Ironically, it was Trump himself who nominated Powell to lead the Fed in 2017. Then in 2021, he was re-nominated by then-President Joe Biden. His term is scheduled to end next year in May but Trump wants him out and even insists that he has the power to do so. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD During a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Trump said, referring to Powell, Oh, hell leave. If I ask him to, hell be out of there." But Powell continues to strike a defiant tone. Earlier, he declared he wont step down even if Trump asked him to do so. He also highlighted that presidents dont have the power to fire or demote the Fed chair. Trump, through his statements, has made it clear he doesnt believe in independence of federal agencies and want to have his way. Even his actions reflect a similar sentiment. For instance, Trump this week removed two Democrats from the board of the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), a financial regulator that oversees credit unions across the US. The move follows a similar decision in March, when the White House dismissed two Democratic commissioners from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), an agency that traditionally functions as an independent, bipartisan body. These firings are part of a growing trend under Trumps administration to reshape federal agencies by replacing long-standing bipartisan structures with more loyal appointees. Even in January, just days after assuming office, he fired two Democratic officials at the National Labor Relations Board. Trump removed NLRB Member Gwynne Wilcox and General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo, appointees of Biden. Just days ago, it was reported that Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is mulling revoking Harvards tax-exempt status in what would be a probably illegal move. This comes after Trump called for the university to lose its tax-exempt status. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Perhaps Harvard should lose its Tax Exempt Status and be Taxed as a Political Entity if it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting Sickness? Remember, Tax Exempt Status is totally contingent on acting in the PUBLIC INTEREST! the US president said in a post on his Truth Social platform. Now, the IRSs move further reflects Trumps assault on the independence of agencies and even institutions of higher education. Trump challenging 1935 precedent Trumps actions and statements reflect a broader campaign of his administration to directly challenge a 1935 precedent set by the US Supreme Court, which insulated federal agencies from political influence. The ruling upheld Congresss authority to create independent federal agencies whose board members could only be forced out before their terms expired for cause. The fundamental necessity of maintaining each of the three general departments of government entirely free from the control or coercive influence, direct or indirect, of either of the others has often been stressed, and is hardly open to serious question, the ruling said. With this landmark judgment, the Supreme Court then barred president Franklin D. Roosevelt from firing the then-Federal Trade Commissioner. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Will Supreme Court now act to uphold the 1935 ruling? The Supreme Courts recent decisions reflect a clear shift toward expanding presidential authority over independent federal agencies. Although in the past, the Court upheld rules that protected agency officials from being removed without cause, the current 63 conservative majority has started to roll back those protections. In recent rulings, the Court found that shielding the heads of some independent agenciesespecially those with a single director structurefrom being fired by the president violates the Constitutions separation of powers. And thats why, the SCOTUS ruled in 2020 that the Congress cant insulate the head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau from presidential removal because, unlike the head of these multi-member commissions, the head of the CFPB is a single person. Conservative legal thinkers argue that the president, as the head of the executive branch, must be able to remove agency leaders freely to ensure they are accountable to the voters through their elected leader. Critics of this view warn that it undermines the independence of agencies meant to operate outside political influence, such as the FTC or the NCUA. The rulings signal that more independent regulatory bodies could soon face similar challenges to their structure and leadership protections. In the last few years, India has been focusing on extending assistance to Sri Lanka in developing Trincomalees energy infrastructure. India is especially looking at revitalising the oil tank farms in Trincomalee that has one of the finest natural harbours in the world. read more A plan to hold a military exercise between the navies of Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the strategic waters of Trincomalee was shelved a few weeks back, after New Delhi conveyed its concerns to Colombo over the proposed drills, multiple sources have said. Trincomalee is situated on Sri Lankas northeastern coast and is considered a significant hub in the Indian Ocean region, especially for Indias maritime security interests. The sources said the navies of the two countries had planned to carry out the exercise off Trincomalee, in line with their regular engagements. Advertisement The plan did not go through after India apprised its apprehensions over the exercise to the Sri Lankan side, they told PTI. The joint exercise was planned weeks ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Colombo, the sources said. The navies of Pakistan and Sri Lanka are known to have cordial relations and warships from both countries visit each others ports regularly, besides carrying out wargames. There was no official word on the plan either from Sri Lanka or Pakistan. Military experts, explaining Trincomalees strategic importance for India, said it has the potential to dominate the Bay of Bengal and much of the northeast Indian Ocean, and New Delhi was right in expressing concerns over the proposed exercise. The Pakistani Navy operates in close cooperation with Chinas PLA Navy and New Delhi has reasons to have concerns over any visit by Pakistani warships to Trincomalee, said one of the experts. The docking of Chinese missile and satellite tracking ship Yuan Wang at the Hambantota port in August 2022 had triggered a diplomatic row between India and Sri Lanka. Another Chinese warship docked at the Colombo port in August 2023 had also triggered some concerns in New Delhi. In the last few years, India has been focusing on extending assistance to Sri Lanka in developing Trincomalees energy infrastructure. Advertisement India is especially looking at revitalising the oil tank farms in Trincomalee that has one of the finest natural harbours in the world. During Modis visit to Colombo this month, India, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) firmed up an ambitious agreement to develop Trincomalee as an energy hub, with a broader aim to help the island nation achieve energy security and fuel its economic growth. Significantly, India and Sri Lanka also signed a defence pact to institutionalise military cooperation following talks between Modi and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The agreement on defence cooperation signals a major attempt to boost the India-Sri Lanka defence ties, nearly four decades after the Indian Peace Keeping Forces intervention in the island nation strained the relations. India has been expanding its overall strategic ties with Sri Lanka amid concerns over Chinas attempts to increase influence over the island nation. Three years back, India handed over a Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft to Sri Lanka. Advertisement The aircraft was given to Sri Lanka from the inventory of the Indian Navy to help the country meet its immediate security requirement. France on Thursday praised high-level talks in Paris on the Ukraine war, calling it an excellent meeting as top US and European officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, discussed a new push for peace. read more Macron hosts Ukraine ceasefire talks with Rubio, his office says 'Europeans are involved'. Image: AFP France praised the talks on the Ukraine war and called it an excellent meeting, which was held in Paris between top US and European officials on Thursday, where US Secretary of State Marco Rubio once again promoted a US peace plan. President Emmanuel Macrons office described the talks as a positive process as Europe seeks a role in efforts to end the three-year war. This is the first time Europe has been directly involved in any peace process for the conflict on its own continent. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The meetings included Macron, Rubio, US envoy Steve Witkoff, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, German officials, and Ukrainian ministers. The talks came as US President Donald Trumps efforts to end the war face setbacks, with Russian President Vladimir Putin rejecting a full truce. Today in Paris, we launched a positive process in which the Europeans are involved, the French presidency said. A new meeting with envoys from the US, France, Britain, Germany, and Ukraine will be held in London next week, officials said. Rubio also called Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to discuss the Paris talks. President Trump and the United States want this war to end, and have now presented to all parties the outlines of a durable and lasting peace, Rubio told his Russian counterpart, according to a report from AFP quoting the US State Department. The encouraging reception in Paris to the US framework shows that peace is possible if all parties commit to reaching an agreement, he added. In a statement, Russias foreign ministry said Lavrov reaffirmed Moscows readiness to continue collaborative efforts with American counterparts to comprehensively address the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Lavrov and Rubio agreed on the need to maintain prompt communication channels, in light of the London meeting next week, the statement said. France, UK push for united European role in Ukraine peace efforts France and Britain have called for a united European stance on supporting Ukraine during the war and any future ceasefire. French President Macron said the Paris talks were an important step, with everyone aiming for a strong and lasting peace. Peace can only be achieved with Europes support: France French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said the meeting was a breakthrough, as it brought the US, Ukraine, and European leaders together, something Europe had feared might not happen. He said that the US now understands that peace can only be achieved with Europes support. Recent deadly Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities, including attacks that killed children, have increased calls for diplomacy to end the war. Chinese ships will be required to pay a fee per tonnage or container. For Chinese-built ships, the fee starts at $18 per net ton (NT) or $120 per container, meaning a ship with 15,000 containers could incur a fee of $1.8 million read more A view of ships under construction at the Jinling Shipyard in Nanjing in eastern China's Jiangsu province Friday, April 11, 2025. (Photo: AP) US President Donald Trump has picked up another bone with China after his government slapped a new port fee on ships built or operated by Chinese companies in a bid to boost its domestic shipbuilding industry. Ships and shipping are vital to American economic security and the free flow of commerce, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in a statement on Thursday announcing the new fees, most of which will begin in mid-October. Advertisement The Trump administrations actions will begin to reverse Chinese dominance, address threats to the US supply chain, and send a demand signal for US-built ships, Greer said. The move comes as the US and China are locked in a trade war, with both countries going back and forth over tariffs. What are the new rules? Under the new cargo ship rules, Chinese ships will be required to pay a fee per tonnage or container. The fee will be applied only to Chinese-linked ships US voyage, and not at each port as some in the industry had worried. The fee will be assessed up to five times per year and can be waived if the owner places an order for a US-built vessel. Meanwhile, there will be separate charges for Chinese-operated ships and Chinese-built ships that will gradually increase over the years. For Chinese-built ships, the fee starts at $18 per net ton (NT) or $120 per container, meaning a ship with 15,000 containers could incur a fee of $1.8 million. In addition to the fees, Greer also announced proposed tariffs on some ship-to-shore cranes and on Chinese cargo handling equipment. US shipbuilding industry at its lowest The US shipbuilding industry, which was at its peak post-Second World War, has declined over the years, with its global output only accounting for 0.1 per cent. The sector is dominated by Asia, with China building nearly half of all ships launched, ahead of South Korea and Japan. The three countries account for more than 95% of civil shipbuilding, according to UN figures. With inputs from agencies Following a conversation with US President Donald Trumps ally Elon Musk, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said they discussed the immense potential for collaboration in technology and innovation read more Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that he and US billionaire Elon Musk held talks that covered technology and innovation. This is their second conversation in recent months. Previously, they held talks in February during Modis visit to Washington DC when he met President Donald Trump. In a post on X, Modi said they discussed the immense potential for collaboration in the areas of technology and innovation. Spoke to @elonmusk and talked about various issues, including the topics we covered during our meeting in Washington DC earlier this year. We discussed the immense potential for collaboration in the areas of technology and innovation. India remains committed to advancing our Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 18, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The conversation comes at a time when India is engaged with the Trump administration to reach a trade deal to avoid the worst outcome of the tariff war. With 26 per cent tariffs, Trump has clubbed India among the worst tariffed countries, such as Taiwan (32 per cent), South Korea (26 per cent), and Japan (24 per cent). The White House reportedly expects the deal to be finalised and announced within two to three weeks. After Musk bankrolled Trumps campaign and supported him via social media push, he has emerged as the most powerful politician in the United States after Trump. Owing to such influence, he has emerged as a key point of contact between foreign leaders and the Trump administration. Musk owns the space company SpaceX and electric vehicles company Tesla. For years, Musk has pushed for the entry of Tesla and SpaceX-owned satellite internet provider Starlink into India. Recently, Indian telecom giants Jio and Airtel have entered into deals with Starlink. However, Starlink has not yet got approval from the Indian government to operate in the country. Earlier this week, Starlinks senior executives India Market Access Director Parnil Urdhwareshe, Business Operations Vice President Chad Gibbs, and Senior Director for Global Licensing and Market Activation Ryan Goodnight visited India and held talks with Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal. It is not clear if they also held talks with the telecom departments official. Despite deals with Airtel and Jio, there has not been any public development that suggests Starlinks operations in India re imminent. No equipment appears to have been brought into India in preparation for the launch of Starlinks services and it is also not clear if Starlink has built an earth gateway that would allow authorities to intercept and force a shutdown if needed in line with law, according to The Hindu. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In their talks in February, Modi and Musk discussed strengthening collaboration between Indian and US entities in innovation, space exploration, artificial intelligence, and sustainable development, according to the Prime Ministers Office (PMO). Modi and Musks discussion also touched on opportunities to deepen cooperation in emerging technologies, entrepreneurship, and good governance, the PMO further said. The convictions of four journalists signal a broader strategy by Russian authorities to criminalise independent reporting through the application of anti-extremism laws read more On April 15, 2025, a Moscow court sentenced four journalists Antonina Favorskaya, Konstantin Gabov, Sergei Karelin and Artyom Kriger to five and a half years in prison for their alleged involvement with the late opposition leader Alexei Navalnys Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), which was designated as an extremist organisation by Russian authorities in 2021. The closed trial reflects a growing trend of reduced transparency in politically sensitive Russian cases. The journalists were accused of producing content for NavalnyLIVE, Navalnys YouTube channel. Advertisement All four journalists denied the charges, maintaining that they were being prosecuted solely for their professional journalistic work. Their sentencing comes amid a broader crackdown on dissent in Russia, which has intensified since the country invaded Ukraine in 2022. Authorities have increasingly used anti-extremism legislation to stifle independent journalism and suppress political opposition. The characters: Who they are Antonina Favorskaya Favorskaya is a Russian journalist known for her work with SOTAvision, an independent media outlet that frequently covers opposition activities. She was one of the last journalists to extensively report on Navalny before his death in a Siberian prison. Favorskaya had previously been detained while covering a memorial event for Navalny and was later arrested again on extremism charges. Authorities accused her of helping produce content for NavalnyLIVE, a YouTube channel operated by Navalnys FBK, which was banned as an extremist organisation in 2021. Favorskaya has denied the charges and press freedom organisations have called her arrest part of a deliberate campaign to silence voices critical of the government. (File) Antonina Favorskaya stands in a glass cage in a courtroom in the Basmanny District Court in Moscow, Russia, on March 29, 2024. AP Konstantin Gabov Gabov is a journalist and media producer who has worked with several major outlets, including Reuters. Though he was not a staff member at the time of his arrest, Gabov was reportedly linked to NavalnyLIVE through technical production work. Prosecutors claimed his contributions constituted support for an extremist organisation. His case, like the others, was tried behind closed doors, preventing independent verification of the evidence presented. Advertisement (File) Russian journalist Konstantin Gabov accused of working for a group founded by the late Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, stands in a defendants cage of the Nagatinsky District Court in Moscow, Russia, on October 2, 2024. AP Sergei Karelin Karelin is a photo and video journalist who has worked as a freelance contributor for The Associated Press and other global media organisations. Authorities cited his alleged involvement in creating or editing content for NavalnyLIVE as grounds for his arrest. While the AP has stated that he was not working on an assignment for them at the time of his detention, they have condemned the verdict and expressed grave concern over press freedom in Russia. (File) Journalist Sergei Karelin, accused of taking part in the activities of an extremist organisation founded by late opposition politician Alexei Navalny, stands inside an enclosure for defendants before a court hearing in Moscow, Russia on October 2, 2024. Reuters Artyom Kriger Kriger, like Favorskaya, was affiliated with SOTAvision and has covered various anti-government protests and legal proceedings involving opposition activists. He was arrested under the same charges as the othersproducing or disseminating content for NavalnyLIVE. Krigers reporting focused heavily on civil rights violations and state repression, which likely made him a target for surveillance. (File) Russian journalist Artyom Kriger accused of working for a group founded by the late Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, stands in a defendants cage of the Nagatinsky District Court in Moscow, Russia, on October 2, 2024. AP Charges based not on violence or incitement The April sentencing by a Moscow court sentenced these four journalists Favorskaya, Gabov, Karelin and Krigerto five and a half years in prison each. The charge: alleged involvement in extremist activities through supposed collaboration with Alexey Navalnys banned Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK). Advertisement The convictions, pronounced by the Nagatinsky District Court, reflect an increasingly punitive approach by Russian authorities toward independent journalism, particularly coverage connected to opposition figures such as Navalny. According to an Al Jazeera report, prosecutors claimed that the journalists engaged in extremist activity by either reporting on or having professional associations with FBK, which was outlawed in 2021. These claims were related to violent acts or incitement, but were based on the respective journalists professional roles producing videos, publishing investigative content or contributing to platforms aligned with Navalnys team. For instance, Karelin was accused of conducting street interviews for Popular Politics, a YouTube channel run by Navalnys allies. Yet, as he emphasised in his court statement, this channel had not been declared extremist and operated legally at the time of his work. Defence attorneys insist the State failed to provide any tangible evidence of wrongdoing. Irina Biryukova, representing Gabov, stated that no evidence was presented that these guys committed any crimes. Advertisement At the same time, Yelena Sheremetyeva, Krigers lawyer, dismissed the sentences as unlawful and unjust, Al Jazeera reported. The defences position, echoed by international watchdogs like the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), is that these convictions are nothing more than retaliation for doing the work of journalism. All four journalists intend to appeal. Their legal teams argue not only procedural injustice but the broader constitutional violation against freedom of speech. Not a standalone case The case of these four journalists is not something that happened out of the blue it is part of a much bigger and more serious pattern. It shows how the Russian government is tightening its control and cracking down on any form of dissent. Since President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Russian state has increased its pressure on journalists, human rights activists and independent organisations. According to Al Jazeera, this has created an environment where speaking the truth can now be considered a crime. Advertisement Journalism is increasingly undergoing a trial by fire in Russia Several journalists have fled the country to avoid being arrested or harassed for their work, reports say. Those who stayed, like Favorskaya and Kriger, have chosen to keep reporting even though it puts their safety at serious risk. Al Jazeera reported that Favorskaya had recorded the last known video of Alexei Navalny before he died in February 2024 in a remote Arctic prison. She was arrested shortly after Navalnys funeral after she published reports on the poor treatment he faced in prison. The Russian state responded by labelling her journalism as extremism. The Russian government, critics have alleged, appears to be systematically using the legal system to suppress independent journalism. Protests, criticism and free speech are being turned into crimes. For example, a law passed in 2022, called the fake news law and often cited by critics, allows the State to sentence people to up to 15 years in prison if they publish anything that contradicts the official version of events about the war in Ukraine. The Associated Press reported that this law was being used to silence journalists who refused to repeat the Kremlins propaganda. Advertisement Another major part of this crackdown is how the Russian authorities labelled Navalnys FBK as an extremist group. According to the CPJ, this was not because the group posed any real security threat, but because it was exposing corruption at the top levels of power. By branding it as extremist, the government created a legal ground, critics say, to treat anyone who interacted with FBK as a criminal. This allowed them to arrest and charge journalists like the four recently sentenced, simply for reporting on Navalnys work or sharing information from sources linked to his foundation. Putin versus press: A timeline Putin became acting president in 1999. His critics say the state pressure on the media intensified almost immediately, especially on coverage of Chechnya. Journalist Andrei Babitsky was detained for reporting from rebel sides. 2000-01 Tax police raid NTV, a major independent broadcaster critical of the Kremlin. It was followed by a hostile government takeover of NTV in 2001. 2002-2009 A new law was enacted in 2002, punishing the media for extremist messages. Several accusations were levelled including the killing of at least six journalists from Novaya Gazeta, including investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya (murdered in 2006), apparently over their reporting on Kremlin policies and corruption. Forbes Russia journalist Paul Klebnikov murdered in 2004, BBC Russian Service Radio taken off FM in 2007 and Novaya Gazetas Anastasiya Baburova murdered in 2009. 20122016 Another law was passed in 2012, allowing authorities to label NGOs, the media, and individuals as foreign agents. Putins critics say it was used to target those criticising Kremlin and independent outlets. Another law was enacted in 2013 to ban propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations to minors, restricting media and fueling attacks on LGBTQ+ activists. Putin signed one more law allowing authorities to block websites without court order. Some sites critical of the Kremlin and linked to opposition leaders were allegedly targeted. A 2015 law prohibited undesirable organizations. It was allegedly used to shut down NGOs and critical news outlets like Dozhd TV and Meduza. One more law was brought to limit foreign ownership of Russian media to 20 per cent. Several journalists faced prolonged court cases, imprisonment, or suspended sentences on trumped-up charges such as inciting hatred or extortion, including Nadira Isayeva (2008), Sergey Reznik (2013-14), Aksana Panova (2014), Dmitriy Shipilov (2015), and Aleksandr Tolmachyov (2014). In 2014, TV Rain was removed from cable for critical coverage, while Lenta.ru staff was exiled but they founded Meduza. 20162020 Journalists and opposition figures like Alexey Navalny face legal harassment, fines, and in Navalnys case, poisoning. In 2018, journalists covering protests faced raids and arrests. In 2019, sovereign internet law was passed to tighten state control over internet infrastructure and media. Post-Ukraine invasion: After 2022 After the Ukraine invasion in February 2022, Putin signed laws criminalising fake news about the military. Those guilty could be jailed up to 15 years in prison. The law also bans use of war or invasion. The new laws allow authorities to force closure of foreign media for hostile actions. Dozens of journalists charged, detained, or sentenced for coverage of Ukraine, including much-debated cases of Ivan Safronov (jailed for 22 years) and Maria Ponomarenko (jailed for six years) in 2022. Some other journalists who were sentenced for their job-related charges included Mikhail Afanasyev (jailed for five and a half years), Maria Ponomarenko (six years), Ilya Krasilshchik (jailed for eight years in absentia), Marina Ovsyannikova (eight and a half years in absentia), and Roman Ivanov (seven years). The conviction of four more journalists adds to the long list of scribes who were found to be on the wrong side of the law in Putins Russia. The harsh sentencing did not go unnoticed beyond Russias borders. Backlash from the international community The international reaction to the verdict has been quick and strongly critical. Groups that support press freedom and human rights have spoken out against the sentencing calling it a clear attack on the rights of journalists. The CPJ in a statement said the punishment shows blatant testimony to Russian authorities profound contempt for press freedom. They demanded that all charges be dropped and the four journalists released right away. The International Federation of Journalists also spoke out against the verdict. They said that the trial and the harsh sentencing are part of a wider pattern where the Russian government tries to silence any voices that disagree with it. These organisations believe the case reflects how the government treats independent media not as something important for society, but as a threat to its control. Inside Russia, people reacted with strong emotions too. In the courtroom, supporters and fellow journalists stood in solidarity with the reporters, applauding them as they were taken away. According to SotaVision, Kriger showed no fear even after being sentenced. A larger meaning and message The implications of this case extend far beyond the fates of the four journalists involved. Critics say labelling investigative journalism as extremism is Kremlins message to journalists that reporting on sensitive topics, especially about opposition figures like Navalny or exposing government abuses, will result in severe personal consequences. Russia has passed a number of laws since 2012 to restrict various freedoms. The Associated Press reports that these laws include the foreign agent designation, the undesirable organisations law, the gay propaganda law and the censorship of extremist websites, with the most recent being wartime propaganda controls introduced after Russias invasion of Ukraine. These laws, framed as protective measures, have in reality been used to silence dissent and ensure that the government controls the narrative. According to the CPJ, as of December 2024, Russia is the worlds fifth-worst jailer of journalists, with at least 30 reporters imprisoned. The broader consequence of these actions is the collapse of an informed public. As independent investigative journalism is driven underground or into exile, Russian citizens are left increasingly dependent on state-controlled media. This media serves more as a tool for propaganda than as a legitimate source of information. A Soviet standard? This shift becomes particularly evident when contrasted with the post-Soviet period of journalistic openness and reform. In the early 1990s, following the collapse of the USSR, Russian journalism experienced a brief period of growth. According to John Kampfner in Foreign Policy, investigative outlets like NTV and newspapers such as Sevodnya challenged the government, exposing uncomfortable truths. Reporters had access to archives, government officials spoke freely and the press served as a check on power. Many say this freedom was short-lived. As Putin consolidated his power, critical media faced increasing pressure. Media owners like Vladimir Gusinsky were forced into exile and many independent outlets were either absorbed by state interests or shut down. Critics say Kremlin, under Putin, is restoring Soviet-era freedoms including of speech. The Russian courts move was a diplomatic victory for the Taliban, who were put on Moscows list of terrorist organisations in 2003, making any contact with them punishable under Russian law read more Members of the Taliban carrying flags participate in a rally to mark the third anniversary of the fall of Kabul, in Kabul, Afghanistan, on August 14, 2024. Reuters File Russia has lifted a ban on Afghanistans Taliban after a court ruling that also removed the group from its terror list, after more than two decades. The Russian Supreme Court on Thursday passed the judgment based on a request by the Prosecutor Generals Office that followed last years adoption of a law stipulating that the official designation as a terrorist organisation could be suspended by a court. The Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021 just as US and NATO troops were on the heels of withdrawing from the country after two decades of war. Since then, the Taliban has passed many decrees that have been dubbed authoritarian and especially repressive for women. Advertisement Why did Moscow lift the ban? Ibraheem Bahiss, a senior analyst with Crisis Groups Asia Program, said the Talibans listing as a terrorist group was a legal impairment for trade and political ties with Kabul, and its lifting reflected Moscows desire to improve relations. However, beyond making it easier for individuals and businesses to engage with Afghanistan, I am not sure what other major benefit this will have, he said. Russia and Taliban relations The Russian courts move was a diplomatic victory for the Taliban, who were put on Moscows list of terrorist organisations in 2003, making any contact with them punishable under Russian law. However, Taliban delegations have attended various forums hosted by Russia as Moscow has sought to position itself as a regional power broker. The former Soviet Union has had a history with Afghanistan, as it was engaged in a war with the country for 10 years, which eventually ended with Moscow withdrawing its troops in 1989. Russian officials have recently been emphasising the need to engage with the Taliban to help stabilise Afghanistan. In recent years, the Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have removed the Taliban from their lists of terrorist groups. With inputs from agencies While he dubbed the shooting incident as terrible, Trump said that he does not plan to introduce stricter gun laws and will protect the Second Amendment of the Constitution. The shooting at Florida State University has left two people dead read more People sit in front of a makeshift memorial outside the student union at Florida State University, Thursday, April 17, 2025, in Tallahassee, Fla., following a campus shooting. AP US President Donald Trump has called the Florida shooting incident terrible and a shame after a 20-year-old man opened fire at the State University, killing two and injuring at least six others. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Trump said, These things are terrible. But the gun doesnt do the shooting, the people do. Talking about the incident at Florida State University, Trump, whose main residence is located in Palm Beach, said that he knew the area around the university very well. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD When asked whether his administration would work on introducing stricter gun laws after the attack, the president said, As far as legislation is concerned, this has been going on for a long time. I have an obligation to protect the Second Amendment. I ran on the Second Amendment and I will always protect the Second Amendment. The Second Amendment of the US Constitution gives citizens the right to bear arms. Who is the shooter? The police have identified the shooter to be a student of the university named Phoenix Ikner. He gained access to the weapon that belongs to his mother, who has been with the sheriffs office for over 18 years and has been a model employee, said Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil. Police said they believed Ikner shot the victims using his mothers former service handgun, which she had kept for personal use after the force upgraded to new weapons. Ikner was shot and wounded by the police after he refused to comply with commands. 2 killed, several injured While the motive of Ikners shooting spree is unknown yet, the two people who died were not students, said Florida State University Police Chief Jason Trumbower. The shooting began around lunchtime just outside the student union, sending frightened students and parents hiding for cover in a bowling alley and a freight elevator inside the building. Aidan Stickney, a 21-year-old studying business management, was running late to class when he said he saw a man get out of a car with a shotgun and aim at another man in a white polo shirt. The gun jammed, Stickney said, and the shooter rushed back to his car and emerged with a handgun, opening fire on a woman. Stickney ran, warning others as he called 911. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies Even as Russia appears set to refuse to renew the 30-day ceasefire regarding energy infrastructure, Ukraine has said that the ceasefire was never implemented and Russia conducted 30 attacks on its energy facilities during the truce read more This handout photograph taken and released by Ukrainian State Emergency Service on March 28, 2025, shows firefighters manning a hose to put out a fire following a strike in Sumy region, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Image- AFP The Ukraine-Russia ceasefire regarding the energy infrastructure came to an end on Thursday (April 17) with no extension in sight. Last month, Russian leader Vladimir Putin agreed to a 30-day ceasefire regarding energy infrastructure, which Russia later called moratorium on energy infrastructure attacks, in a call with US President Donald Trump on March 18. However, the ceasefire was never actually implemented as Russian attacks never stopped, so its end means little in the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Ahead of the ceasefires end, Ukraine on Wednesday said that Russia had conducted 30 attacks on Ukraines energy infrastructure despite committing to the truce. From the onset, there was lack of clarity about the energy ceasefire even as the Trump administration hailed it as a major achievement. While Russia said the ceasefire came into effect on March 18, Ukraine maintains it came into effect on March 25. In any case, both the sides accuse the other of breaking it within hours. Russia has claimed without evidence Ukraine attacked its energy facilities constantly throughout the truce and Ukraine has also said that Russian attacks struck power plants and grids in Poltava, Kharkiv, Kherson, Kryvyi Rih, and elsewhere, according to Wall Street Journal. No Russian desire for a ceasefire In recent days, Russia has expressed no desire to extend the energy ceasefire. Ahead of the end of the ceasefire, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the ceasefire was about to expire and accused Ukraine of not implementing. He said the decision about the ceasefires possible extension rests with Putin. So far, three ceasefire proposals have emerged in US-mediated peace talks and Russia has essentially rejected all of them. Besides the energy ceasefire, Russia also refused to implement the second ceasefire in the Black Sea. It said the ceasefire would be implemented only if certain sanctions on Russia are lifted and Russian access to the financial system SWIFT is restored. Meanwhile, Ukraine agreed to both of these ceasefire proposals. Ukraine also agreed to a US-backed proposal for a complete 30-day ceasefire that was also rejected by Russia. Putin said he accepted the 30-day ceasefire proposal in principle but laid down a slew of maximalist demands for its implementation that essentially killed the proposal. In response to these proposals, Putin repeated some longstanding demands and made new ones as well. In response to the complete 30-day ceasefire, Putin said that the idea itself is the right one but certain nuances needed to be addressed. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Among Putins demands were some longstanding maximalist demands, such as the addressal of what Russia calls root cause of the conflict, and several tactical demands, such as how the ceasefire would be implemented on the ground and how it would be monitored. Critics of Putin have said that, in the guise of figuring out such details, Putin is delaying talks to maximise gains of the battlefield. Putin repeated the longstanding demand to address the root cause of the conflict, which he uses for the purported Western expansion towards Russia and the purported threat to Russian security from Ukraines embrace of such an expansion. Putin made some new demands as well, such as the surrender, and not withdrawal, of Ukrainian soldiers in Kursk; freeze on Western supply of arms to Ukraine during ceasefire; and freeze on Ukraines mobilisation of training of soldiers during the ceasefire. In response to the Black Sea ceasefire, Russia said the ceasefire would only come into effect if sanctions on the Russian Agricultural Bank; financial institutions involved in the international trade of food and fertilisers; and insurance companies from working with Russia for trade of food and fertilisers; servicing of Russian ships engaged in food and fertiliser trade; and supplies of agricultural machinery to Russia are lifted. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD U.S. judge rules Google illegally monopolizes digital advertising market Xinhua) 14:07, April 18, 2025 WASHINGTON, April 17 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. federal judge ruled Thursday that Google violated antitrust law by monopolizing the open-web digital advertising markets, marking another major setback for the tech giant in its antitrust litigation. According to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, the company "harmed Google's publishing customers, the competitive process, and, ultimately, consumers of information on the open web." "This is a landmark victory in the ongoing fight to stop Google from monopolizing the digital public square," U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement. Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater of the Justice Department's Antitrust Division said that Google's unlawful dominance allows them to "censor and even deplatform American voices," noting that "at the same time, Google destroyed and hid information that exposed its illegal conduct." "Today's opinion confirms Google's controlling hand over online advertising and, increasingly, the internet itself," said the assistant attorney general. Google has stated that it will appeal the ruling. Lee-Anne Mulholland, Google's vice president for regulatory affairs, argued that publishers have many choices, and they choose Google because its advertising tech tools are simple, affordable, and effective. This is the second time a U.S. federal court has ruled that Google engaged in illegal monopolistic practices. In August 2024, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in Washington, D.C., ruled that Google had illegally monopolized the online search market. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Trump said negotiations between Ukraine and Russia are coming to a head and insisted that neither side is playing him in his push to end the grinding war. read more In this handout photograph taken by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine on April 17, 2025 and released on April 18, 2025, firefighters work to extinguish a fire following an attack in Mykolaiv, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. AFP Photo The United States will move on very shortly if no deal is reached to bring an end to the war in Ukraine, said President Donald Trump said Friday, adding that negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow are coming to a head and insisted that neither side is playing him in his push to end the grinding war. There is no specific number of days, but quickly, we want to get it done, Trump told journalists, after his Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington would walk away if peace between Moscow and Kyiv were not doable. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The comments from Trump came after Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned earlier Friday that the US may move on from trying to secure a Russia-Ukraine peace deal if there is no progress in the coming days, after months of efforts have failed to bring an end to the fighting. If for some reason one of the two parties makes it very difficult, were going to say youre fools, youre foolish, and were just going to take a pass, Trump told reporters at the White House. Asked if Russian President Vladimir Putin was dragging his feet on negotiations, Trump replied, I hope not. Russia says open to dialogue Despite apparent impatience with the peace efforts, Rubio called Thursdays Paris talks constructive. He didnt single out Russia or Ukraine as blocking peace efforts. He said he informed Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov about the outlines that emerged, but wouldnt say how Lavrov reacted. When asked about Rubios comments on Friday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that fairly complex negotiations are ongoing between Russia and the U.S. He did not give details, but said no direct talks between Trump and Putin are scheduled in the coming days. Russia is striving toward resolving this conflict, securing its own interests, and is open to dialogue. We are continuing to do this, he said. Peskov also stressed that a limited, 30-day ceasefire backed by Washington that both Russia and Ukraine last month embraced in principle has now lapsed, but did not say what steps Moscow might take next. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While voicing their readiness to implement the agreement, the warring parties issued conflicting statements soon after their separate talks with U.S. officials in Saudi Arabia. They differed on the start time of halting strikes, and alleged near-immediate breaches by the other side. With inputs from agencies Mangione, 26, is already facing state murder and weapons charges in New York, which does not have the death penalty. The federal indictment does not include new charges but raises the stakes for Mangione, who has pleaded not guilty to the state charges read more Luigi Mangione, the man accused of gunning down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in a shocking Midtown Manhattan murder, now finds himself locked away in the infamous Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in New York's Brooklyn. AFP A federal grand jury has indicted Luigi Mangione, who is accused of murdering a UnitedHealth Group executive in New York last year, allowing prosecutors to seek the death penalty in his case, according to court filings on Thursday. Mangione, 26, is already facing state murder and weapons charges in New York, which does not have the death penalty. The federal indictment does not include new charges but raises the stakes for Mangione, who has pleaded not guilty to the state charges. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Mangiones lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The U.S. Attorneys office in Manhattan declined to comment. The indictment means that a grand jury found probable cause to charge Mangione with murder, stalking and firearms offenses. A hearing in the federal case is scheduled for Friday in Manhattan federal court. Mangione has asked a judge to prevent federal prosecutors from seeking the death penalty. His lawyers in a filing last week said U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondis April 1 announcement that prosecutors would seek the death penalty was unapologetically political and breached government protocols for death penalty decisions. If that bid fails and Mangione is convicted in the federal case, the jury would determine in a separate phase of the trial whether to recommend the death penalty. Any such recommendation must be unanimous, and the judge would be required to impose it. Brian Thompson, the deceased CEO of UnitedHealths insurance division, was shot dead on December 4 outside a hotel in Midtown Manhattan, where the company was gathering for an investor conference. The brazen killing of Thompson and ensuing five-day manhunt captivated Americans. While public officials condemned the killing, some Americans have cheered Mangione, saying he drew attention to steep U.S. healthcare costs and the power of health insurers to refuse payment for some treatments. Mangione is currently being held in federal lockup in Brooklyn. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A dramatic mid-air hijack attempt shook Belize on Thursday when a knife-wielding US citizen attacked passengers on a Tropic Air flight, injuring three people before being shot dead by a fellow passenger. Authorities have launched a full investigation into the incident. read more A US citizen armed with a knife tried to hijack a small Tropic Air plane in Belize on Thursday, injuring three people before being shot dead by a fellow passenger, news agency AP reported citing officials. The attack occurred mid-flight on a plane heading to San Pedro, when the 49-year-old suspect began attacking passengers. The assailant was identified as Akinyela Sawa Taylor, a US citizen. Belizes Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams, praised the passenger who intervened and shot Taylor, calling them a hero. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD We are praying for him, Williams told reporters. Hes our hero. Williams said that Taylor was demanding that he be flown out of the country and at one point wanted the plane to land to add fuel. US Embassy spokesperson Luke Martin in Belize said Taylor insisted he be taken to the US. US officials did not know the cause or motive but were working with Belizean authorities to determine what happened, Martin said. Authorities are unsure how Taylor got the knife onto the plane. Belize officials have contacted the US Embassy for help with the investigation. The plane was flying from Corozal to San Pedro when the hijacking happened around 8:30 am local time, prompting Belize authorities to declare a full emergency, according to the Belize Airport Concession Company. The aircraft flew in random directions for hours before safely landing in Ladyville. All passengers were accounted for, and the injured were taken to hospital for treatment. Police Commissioner Williams said the suspect, Taylor, had earlier tried to enter Belize from Mexico through the northern border but was denied entry. How he eventually got into the country remains unclear. The US House Select Committee on China has accused Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang of exploiting regulatory loopholes to export advanced chips to China. In its report, the committee claimed China developed its chatbot DeepSeek using over 60,000 Nvidia chips read more The Chinese national flag flies over a mosque in the old city in Kashgar, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China, May 4, 2021. Picture taken May 4, 2021. Source: Reuters The US House Select Committee on China on Friday (April 18) claimed that the Chinese communist party (CCP) was using advanced chips, possibly sourced from the US, to monitor Uyghur Muslims through cameras, facial recognition, and biometric data. The system, powered by advanced chips, reportedly flags suspicious behaviour to the Chinese government, including growing a beard or using WhatsApp. The CCP uses advanced chips to monitor Uyghur Muslims through cameras, facial recognition, and biometric data. These systems flag suspicious behaviorlike growing a beard or using WhatsAppand are used to track women of childbearing age for forced sterilization. https://t.co/aC1MSYfxVc Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (@committeeonccp) April 18, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In a detailed report published on April 16, the committee also accused Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang of exploiting regulatory loopholes to export these chips to China. In its report, the committee claimed China developed its chatbot DeepSeek using over 60,000 Nvidia chips. The committee chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) in a statement, alleged that DeepSeek was a weapon in the CCPs arsenal to spy on Americans, steal our technology, and subvert US law. We now know this tool exploited US AI models and reportedly used advanced Nvidia chips that should never have ended up in CCP hands. Thats why were sending a letter to Nvidia to demand answers. American innovation should never be the engine of our adversaries ambitions, Moolenaar added. The report published four key findings regarding the CCPs political influence over DeepSeek and how Nvidia was allegedly fuelling Chinas rise in the AI sector. Censorship: According to the claims, more than 85% of DeepSeeks responses are reportedly filtered or manipulated to align with the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) positions, particularly suppressing content about democracy, human rights, Taiwan, and Hong Kong Foreign control: The platform is said to be operated by a company with strong links to the CCP, and ideologically tied to Xi Jinping Thought. Privacy: There are also alarming claims about user data protection. DeepSeeks infrastructure allegedly involves collaboration with entities like ByteDance, Tencent, Baidu, and China Mobileall firms with established records of state-aligned data harvesting Nvidias role: The committee also alleged that China used over 60,000 Nvidia chips to develop its DeepSeek chatbot. It claimed Huang directed the company to design a modified chip specifically to exploit regulatory loopholes after October 2023 restrictions. The Trump Administration is working to close this loophole. Notably, the US Department of Commerce is currently investigation DeepSeek whether the company circumvented export controls by importing restricted Nvidia chips through Singaporea known transshipment hub with comparatively looser oversight. Earlier this week, a New York Times report claimed that the Donald Trump administration was mulling banning DeepSeek in the US in view of the threats posed to national security. The report also said that it may outright ban DeepSeek from buying US technology to power its systems, in particular Nvidia chips. Importantly, Nvidias Huang recently travelled to China and met with top Chinese officials, including Vice Premier He Lifeng, amidst the ongoing trade war between the worlds two largest economies. The company is caught in the middle of the tariff war and has lost $5.5 billion since Washington placed restrictions on the export of its H20 artificial intelligence chips to China. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Despite the setback, Huang has vowed to keep working with Chinese firms. Speaking in Beijing during a meeting with Ren Hongbin, chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), the CEO said Nvidia remains committed to the Chinese market despite a large hit to its business. A Gallup study found that 34 per cent of Gen Z respondents and 30 per cent of the surveyed millennials do not follow any religion read more People wait in front of the Passion facade (Western side) of the Basilica and Expiatory Church of the Holy Family (Sagrada Familia) in Barcelona. The country has now ended its golden visa programme, starting today (April 3). File image/AFP Youth in America are losing their faith, with a third of Generation Z and millennials now identifying as people with no religion, a Gallup study has found. This comes after a similar study was conducted in Germany that showed that the number of atheists in the country rose significantly in the past year. A Gallup analysis released Thursday reveals that 70 per cent of US adults reported having a religious preference over the past year, though that number is declining across all age groups, with the steepest drop among those aged 43 and under. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Meanwhile, 34 per cent of Gen Z respondents (born between 1997 and 2006) and 30 per cent of the surveyed millennials (born between 1981 and 1996) said they do not follow any religion. The decline in religious affiliation in the US over the past two decades is thus largely a result of generational change, as younger adults who are much more likely to have no religious identity have replaced older generations, which had relatively few unaffiliated members," Gallups analysis wrote. Gallup observed that the rise in Americans identifying with no religion over the past 20 years has coincided with steady declines in both Protestant and Catholic affiliation. Last year, a survey found that 45 per cent of respondents identified as Protestants, while 21 per cent as Catholic and 10 per cent as another religion. The recent poll indicates a significant decline in the number of Americans who view religion as very important in their lives. In the 2024 survey, approximately 45 per cent of respondents considered religion important, a notable decrease from 70 per cent in 1965, when the question was first asked. In Germany, for instance, experts say that people are abandoning their religions simply because they have lost the connection or religious faith. They add that cases of sexual abuse, particularly of minors, in churches have also weighed in heavily on peoples faith. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that the Trump administration may soon abandon Ukraine-Russia peace talks if it concludes that a ceasefire is not doable 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. Reuters File The United States may soon abandon mediation for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. This is a sharp turnaround for President Donald Trump who had announced he would end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours of assuming office. Rubio on Friday said that the Trump administration would assess in the next few days whether a ceasefire is possible in the next few weeks. He said the Trump administration would abandon the efforts and move on to other foreign policy priorities if the conclusion is that its not doable STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD If it is not possible to end the war in Ukraine, we need to move on. We need to determine very quickly now, and Im talking about a matter of days, whether or not this is doable in the next few weeks. If it is, were in. If its not, then we have other priorities to focus on as well," said Rubio in Paris. Rubio and Steve Witkoff, a special envoy of Trump, arrived in Paris on Thursday to hold talks with French, British, and Ukrainian officials regarding the war in Ukraine. This was the highest level of contact between Europe and the Trump administration regarding Ukraine. Rubio went for pointed discussions, came out with ultimatum Rubio said that they were in Paris to begin to talk about more specific outlines of what it might take to end the war. However, after their meetings, he said that Trump is probably going to end the peace initiative soon. Rubio said, If its not possible, if were so far apart that this is not going to happen then I think the president is probably at a point where hes going to say were done. Echoing Trump, Rubio said that the war in Ukraine is not our war even though the United States has been supporting Ukraine. He said that the Trump administration does not desire to be involved too much in the conflict. President [Trump] has spent 87 days at the highest level of this government repeatedly taking efforts to bring this war to and end. We are now reaching a point when we need to decide and determine whether this is even possible or not. Which is why were engaging both sides, said Rubio. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In Paris, officials from Ukraine, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Germany an excellent exchange and a very strong strategic opportunity to discuss the situation in Ukraine, according to President Emmanuel Macrons office. Rubio and Witkoff presented a US-authored outline of a peace plan that received an encouraging reception in the talks, according to the Department of State Department. No details were provided about the purported peace plans outline. Following the talks in Paris with European and Ukrainian officials, Rubio held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and conveyed the same outline, as per the Department of the State. No details were provided about Russias reaction to the outline. Rubio doesnt mention Russia as usual In line with the Trump administrations alignment with Russia, Rubio did not mention Russia in his remarks at all. Even though it is Russia that started the war and has rejected all US-backed ceasefire proposal so far, Rubio did not censure Russia. While Trump had always been friendly with Russia, he has completely realigned the United States with Russia in his second term. He has repeatedly claimed falsely that Ukraine started the ongoing war and has called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a dictator. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While Trump has bashed as a warmonger for wanting to buy air defence systems, he has dismissed Russian attacks killing Ukrainian civilians as a mistake even though Russian themselves have doubled down on such attacks and have not admitted to them being mistakes. So far, the Trump administration has floated three ceasefire proposals. While Ukraine has accepted all of them, Russia has not accepted any. Yet it is Ukraine that finds itself under pressure from the Trump administration regularly to accept Russias maximalist demands. US President Donald Trump has expressed confidence about reaching a trade deal with the European Union. His comments came during a White House meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Thursday. read more With Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni by his side, President Donald Trump expressed optimism about a possible trade deal between the United States and the EU during their meeting at the White House on Thursday. This development comes as Trump made a U-turn on his reciprocal tariffs, which he imposed on his so-called Liberation Day, by announcing a 90-day pause. There will be a trade deal, 100 per cent, Trump promised. Of course there will be a trade deal. They want to make one very much, and we are going to make a trade deal, I fully expect it but it will be a fair deal. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It was the first time Trump publicly expressed confidence in trade talks with Europe. He has often criticised the EU for taking advantage of the US on trade and not doing enough for defence. Meloni, the first European leader to visit the White House since Trump introduced and then paused major tariffs on the EU, said she couldnt speak for all 27 EU countries but believed honest discussions could pave the way for a deal. For now, European products still face a 10 per cent tariff under Trumps trade policy. Trump says he is in no rush to end tariffs Trump said on Thursday he is in no rush to make trade deals because of the revenue his tariffs are bringing in. However, he suggested that reaching an agreement with the EU and others would be easy. Trump downplayed the idea of speeding up deals, stating that any agreements would happen at a certain point. He hinted that he has leverage because other countries want access to US consumers. Melonis meeting with Trump is seen as a test of her role in bridging the EU and the US. She is the first European leader to meet the president since he introduced and then partially suspended 20 per cent tariffs on European exports. In a statement, the US Director of National Intelligence (DNI) said the release of the RFK files will shine a long-overdue light on the truth. The recent disclosure comes in a series of revelations of national secrets ordered by President Donald Trump read more Sen. Robert F. Kennedy speaks to campaign workers, June 5, 1968, as his wife Ethel, left, and California campaign manager and speaker of the California Assembly, Jesse Unruh, look on, at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. Source: AP The US government on Friday (April 18) released 10,000 pages of records related to the 1968 assassination of former Senator Robert Francis Kennedy. In a statement, the US Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard said the release of the RFK files will shine a long-overdue light on the truth. Nearly 60 years after the tragic assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, the American people will, for the first time, have the opportunity to review the federal governments investigation thanks to the leadership of President Trump, Gabbard was quoted as saying by AP. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In an interview with Fox News, Gabbard said, What we have just released here today is 10,000 pages that have been sitting in boxes within the National Archives. This came about because President Trump promised the American people that his administration would be one of maximum transparency, she added. The US National Archives and Records Administration has so far posted roughly 229 files containing the pages on its website. The recent disclosure comes in a series of revelations of national secrets ordered by President Donald Trump, who has championed the cause of transparency in high-profile assassinations and investigations. Previous month, the Trump administration disclosed files related to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Those documents offered a deeper look into how the US operated behind the scenes during the Cold Warthings like spying, influencing foreign governments, or conducting secret missions. But despite all the hype, they didnt really support the long-standing conspiracy theories about JFKs assassination. Key revelations RFK files reveal assassin Sirhans full name, his address at the time, along with complete details of his family, inlcuding his siblings. The declassified files related to Kensalt, the codename for the RFK assassination investigation, shed new light on Sirhan Sirhans background. Interestingly, while his date of birth was redacted, the files describe him as a white male, five feet two inches tall, 115 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. It also notes that his family immigrated to the US from Jordan in 1957, and that he may have occasionally used the alias Ghattas. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The documents mention a man named Frank Guthrie, who was reportedly overheard making a chilling remark: they should have got Ted Kennedy also. As for Sirhans character, someone interviewed during the investigation described him as an introvert and a loner who had never shown any signs of violent behaviour a detail that adds to the mystery surrounding his actions. As the trade war intensifies with unprecedented tariffs, China is rethinking its border security, ethnic policies and national identity to safeguard its sovereignty against growing Western challenges read more With tariffs and counter-tariffs by the US and China reaching astonishing levels Washington imposing a combined up to 245 per cent in levies on Chinese goods and Beijing retaliating with duties of 125 per cent tensions between the two global powers are intensifying. While US President Donald Trump has hinted at slowing down in imposing additional tariffs, citing concerns that it could stall trade, the White House has not indicated any clear intention to take the first step toward easing hostilities. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Despite Trumps assertions of a very good relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the broader reality is more adversarial. Both nations have ramped up their trade restrictions as part of a broader strategic rivalry, with tariffs now serving as instruments in a larger geopolitical contest. A strategic rethink beyond economics Its more likely, observers say, that the US and China will eventually de-escalate their tensions. However, what looks certain is that for China, this conflict is about more than just trade or tariffs. It has made China rethink the vulnerabilities of its vast border regions areas that could be used by the West to challenge Chinas claims of sovereignty and national unity. As US pressure continues, China feels a stronger need to keep stability within its borders, maintain good relationships with neighbouring countries, strengthen its economy, promote a strong Chinese identity in ethnic areas and control how the world views its internal governance, especially in its border regions. Chinas expansive and complex geography China shares over 22,000 kilometres (13,700 miles) of land borders with 14 neighbouring countries. These regions are home to numerous ethnic groups and nine provinces and autonomous regions along this land frontier occupy about 62 per cent of the countrys territory. In addition to this, China has over 18,000 kilometres of coastline, further adding to its geopolitical sensitivities. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A South China Morning Post columnist says that some Chinese researchers argue that its time to break away from Western academic frameworks and instead adopt Chinese theories to address Chinas own frontier matters. This approach is seen as essential to reshaping how border governance is both studied and narrated. It was said that China was dealing with several ongoing challenges along its borders. These included a standoff with India in the Himalayas, territorial disputes with the Philippines in the South China Sea and repeated ethnic tensions in regions like Xinjiang and Tibet. Because of these issues, border security was considered a top priority for the Chinese government. In a Politburo study session held in December, President Xi Jinping was reported to have stressed the importance of strengthening research across different disciplines related to borderland history and governance. He had called for the creation of more influential and trustworthy studies that could help shape Chinas own narrative about how it governs its border regions in what was described as the new era. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It was also noted that there was a growing belief within China that Western countries were intentionally using sensitive political topics such as Xinjiang, Tibet, the South China Sea, Hong Kong and Taiwan to weaken Chinas image on the global stage and disrupt its internal unity. Political stakes of historical interpretation It was mentioned in the South China Morning Post piece that Xing Guangcheng, the director of the Institute of Chinese Borderland Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing believed that foreign academic approaches were not neutral. He was of the opinion that these approaches tried to blur Chinas border sovereignty, weaken the countrys historical unity and reduce peoples sense of belonging to the Chinese national community. It was explained that many of Chinas modern borders had been passed down from the Qing dynasty, which had ruled a multi-ethnic empire. However, during the 1980s and 1990s, more Western scholars started supporting an academic trend called New Qing History. This approach challenged the idea that the Qing empire and China were the same. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Instead, it focussed on the Qing dynastys mix of different ethnic groups and its complicated way of ruling an idea that Chinese authorities were reportedly wary of because it made the idea of a single, united Chinese nation harder to support. From Beijings perspective, accepting these interpretations could harm national unity and give others a reason to question Chinas control over sensitive regions such as Tibet and Xinjiang. This tension also shows up in how China sees its own identity. Some Western scholars, mentioned in the South China Morning Post, see China as a country mostly made up of the Han ethnic group. They look at how China governs its border regions as if it were similar to colonial rule. These scholars believe that Chinas efforts to bring different ethnic groups into the mainstream culture are like colonial policies, trying to make everyone fit into one main ethnic identity. Forging a sense of community in the Xi era STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Since 2014, after ethnic unrest in Tibet (2008) and Xinjiang (2009), President Xi introduced the idea of a sense of community of the Chinese nation. This idea has become a key part of Chinas ethnic policies. It aims to create a shared national identity for all ethnic groups. At the same time, China has been working on building a unified national market to connect its border regions more closely with the rest of the country. The goal is that more development and better connections will help reduce ethnic tensions and increase loyalty to the central government. However, there are deeper questions about this plan: can economic growth alone truly win long-term support from people who have different languages, religions and histories? Benno Weiner, an associate professor at Carnegie Mellon University, told the South China Morning Post that Chinese leaders have long faced a challenge: how to make non-Han ethnic groups many of whom were once ruled by the Manchu-led Qing Empire feel like equal citizens in a country mostly led by Han Chinese. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This becomes especially difficult when these groups have strong cultural identities and dont want to fully blend in. Policies meant to create unity, like using more Mandarin in schools or controlling religious practices, can sometimes make these groups feel left out instead of included. History as a tool of unity One important part of Chinas current borderland policy is using history to support unity. The government is increasingly looking back at its imperial past to help shape todays policies. By studying how past emperors ruled and kept the country together, China wants to strengthen the idea that great unity has always been a key part of Chinese civilisation. President Xi has repeatedly expressed the view that China was now in a stronger position than ever before to address the debate between ancient and modern ideas as well as between Eastern and Western perspectives. The ruling Communist Party, which once supported Marxism-Leninism and recognised ethnic diversity through official systems, is now pushing more strongly for national unity. Why China is so worried about its borders Chinas concern with its border areas is not just about land its also about politics, identity and control. These areas are home to many ethnic minority groups like Tibetans, Uyghurs and Mongols, who have their own unique cultures, religions and histories. Some of them dont fully see themselves as part of the Han-majority Chinese state, and in the past, some have even asked for more independence or self-rule. China worries that any problems in these border regions could cause instability inside the country or lead to outside countries questioning its control over these areas. Strong local identities, especially among non-Han ethnic groups, are seen as threats to national unity. This worry comes from past movements in places like Tibet and Xinjiang where people continue to follow their own cultural and religious traditions. Criticism about human rights such as the treatment of Uyghurs in Xinjiang or limits on religious and cultural practices in Tibet is only making China increasingly nervous. The location of these border areas makes things even more complex. Places like Tibet and Xinjiang are not only culturally different but also important for military and economic reasons. They share borders with big countries like India and Russia and are part of major trade and energy routes. What China describes as issues of sovereignty may actually reflect deeper worries within the country. The push for a single Chinese identity shows that many people in these regions dont feel fully included in the Han-majority system. Chinas claims of foreign interference might be a way to shift focus from these internal divisions showing a government focussed on keeping the country united from within. Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2024. Larry Robinson/The Daily Sentinel Current Grand Junction City Manager Mike Bennett, poses for a photo in his Fruita office, where he was the city manager for the city before taking the job in Grand Junction, in this 2024 file photo. Bennett and the City of GJ are looking to hire an assistant city manager and a chief financial officer. Fri Friday 90 /65 Mostly sunny. Highs in the low 90s and lows in the mid 60s. Cabinet to strengthen vetting of civil servants amid espionage probes ROC Central News Agency 04/17/2025 04:01 PM Taipei, April 17 (CNA) Premier Cho Jung-tai () on Thursday ordered a review and reinforcement of civil servant security vetting procedures, amid espionage investigations into multiple senior government aides. At a press briefing in Taipei, Cabinet spokesperson Michelle Lee () cited Cho as saying that the current security vetting system and its implementation needed to be reexamined and strengthened to "prevent infiltration through every possible means by foreign hostile forces." According to Lee, Minister without Portfolio Ma Yung-chen () has been tapped to take on the tasks and given two weeks to come up with measures to improve the system. Security vetting of public servants is currently governed by Article 4 of the "Civil Servant Employment Act" () and a set of regulations created under the auspices of that legislation. The law authorizes government agencies to conduct "special vetting" of applicants for civil service positions involving the handling of "matters of national security or significant national interests" as well as candidates' "character and loyalty to the nation." However, a series of recent Chinese spying cases involving several people employed by senior Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government officials have raised concerns about systemic weaknesses and enforcement lapses. One of the cases involves Ho Jen-chieh (), a former assistant to Joseph Wu () during the latter's tenures as foreign minister and National Security Council (NSC) chief. Wu, the current NSC secretary-general, headed the council from May 2016 to May 2017 before serving as foreign minister from February 2018 to May 2024 under former President Tsai Ing-wen (). According to a report by the Liberty Times, Ho was officially vetted in 2016 before working for Wu, and that was the only check on his background during his eight years of service. Asked if Ho had been adequately vetted, Directorate-General of Personnel Administration head Su Chun-jung () said only that the government "might consider doing annual security checks in the future." The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said last week that Ho went through "a regular security check" when he followed Wu to the ministry and had not been under the purview of special vetting in the "Civil Servant Employment Act." Meanwhile, Cabinet spokesperson Lee said Thursday that vetting according to the aforementioned legislation was currently based on job titles and rank rather than the level of access to confidential information. She added that this was one aspect the Cabinet would review as it works to improve the vetting system. (By Lai Yu-chen and Teng Pei-ju) Enditem/ASG NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Detention of 2 DPP ex-staffers in China espionage case extended ROC Central News Agency 04/17/2025 09:59 PM Taipei, April 17 (CNA) The Taipei District Court on Thursday approved a request by prosecutors to extend the detention of two former staffers of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) suspected of engaging in espionage for China. The two detainees, Chiu Shih-yuan () and Huang Chu-jung (), had been held in custody since mid-February after being summoned by Taipei District Prosecutors Office for questioning, with their detention period due to expire on Saturday. Citing strong suspicion of serious crimes and concerns over potential collusion or destruction of evidence, prosecutors sought an extension of Chiu and Huang's detention. The court held a hearing on Thursday afternoon and approved the request. The two will have their detention extended for another two months starting Sunday and remain held incommunicado during the period. Chiu, former deputy head of the DPP's Taiwan Institute of Democracy, and Huang, a former assistant to DPP New Taipei Councilor Lee Yu-tien (), are among several individuals suspected of spying for Chinese intelligence services while working for senior officials in the DPP government, which has been in power since 2016. Other suspects in the case include Wu Shang-yu (), who worked as an adviser in the office of President Lai Ching-te (), and Ho Jen-chieh (), former assistant to the Secretary-General of the National Security Council Joseph Wu () during his tenure as Taiwan's Foreign Minister. According to the prosecutors, Huang was likely recruited by Beijing's intelligence services when doing business in China, and, after returning to Taiwan, started working with Ho, Wu Shang-yu and Chiu to gather confidential information about Lai and other top officials. After giving such information to the Chinese intelligence services through Huang, Ho, Wu and Chiu received tens of thousands of Taiwan dollars in return, prosecutors said. Prosecutors claimed the probe into the case was expanded after they traced money flows between Huang and the others in February. Huang, Wu and Chiu were detained in February following questioning, with Ho added to the list last week. (By Lin Chang-shun and Sunny Lai) Enditem/AW NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PM Netanyahu Holds Assessment on the Hostages Issue Israel - Prime Minister's Office Media Statements The 37th Government 16.04.2025 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, this evening , held an assessment on the hostages issue with the negotiating team and the heads of the security establishment. The Prime Minister issued directives for the continuation of the steps to advance the release of our hostages. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum Commanders' Conference: Planning for The Future in Brunssum's Area of Responsibility NATO Allied Joint Force Command (JFC) Brunssum Apr 16 2025 BRUNSSUM, The Netherlands -- On 15th and 16th April, Headquarters Joint Force Command Brunssum (JFCBS) hosted the conference of the Commanders of adjacent, subordinate, and national Commands in JFC Brunssum's Area of Responsibility. Upon the invitation of Commander JFC Brunssum, General Guglielmo Luigi Miglietta, this high-level gathering provided a forum for the leadership of NATO commands within JFCBS's operational area to discuss current events and plan the future defence posture of the Alliance in our region. Among others, it served to share vital information, and discuss the way ahead of improving NATO's readiness to engage swiftly and effectively in any potential conflict scenario. The commanders engaged in a series of meetings and discussions covering all aspects of avoiding a potential future conflict, and the means available to NATO to prevent it based on a credible deterrence posture. "In order to coordinate our efforts to respond to the fast evolving security landscape in Europe, and to exchange first-hand information on the defence posture of the NATO Commands in our Area of Responsibility, it is vital to regularly meet in this format and use the time for intensive discussions", said General Miglietta. "This conference focussed on the refinements of our plans for the coming years, and I am grateful to my fellow commanders for their valuable contributions. Solidarity and cooperation are our greatest assets. Together, we are well prepared to face the challenges posed by any aggressor to our freedom and security." Story by JFC Brunssum Public Affairs Office NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Beijing, Manila at odds over Google Maps update on South China Sea Google labeled part of the South China Sea as the 'West Philippine Sea' - a term Beijing rejects. By Taejun Kang for RFA 2025.04.16 TAIPEI, Taiwan -- A recent update to Google Maps now prominently displays the label "West Philippine Sea" over waters west of the Philippines, fueling discussion about a longstanding territorial dispute with China, which continues to refer to the area as the South China Sea. Manila has used "West Philippine Sea" since 2011 to assert its maritime claims within its exclusive economic zone, or EEZ, distinguishing it from China's broader claim over the South China Sea. Beijing has rejected the term, viewing it as a political assertion that challenges its claim of "indisputable sovereignty" over the entire sea. As of April 17, the label "West Philippine Sea" was visible by default on Google Maps, without the need for users to search for it specifically, which was the case in the past. "The proper and consistent labeling of the West Philippine Sea on the widely used platform Google Maps is welcome news for every Filipino," the speaker of the Philippines House of Representatives, Martin Romualdez, said in a statement Tuesday. "This simple yet powerful update reflects the growing global acknowledgment of the Philippines' sovereign rights over the maritime areas within our EEZ." Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said the inclusion of the West Philippines Sea in Google Maps also reflects a 2016 arbitration ruling that invalidated Beijing's sweeping claims to the South China Sea. "As defenders of national sovereignty, the AFP sees this as a valuable contribution to truthful representation and public awareness," Padilla said at a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo. China's foreign ministry said South China Sea is widely recognized by other nations as the correct name. "For a long time, the South China Sea has been a common geographical name recognized by the international community and widely accepted by countries around the world and international organizations such as the United Nations," ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told a regular press briefing Tuesday. Ding Duo, a researcher at China's National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told state media that West Philippine Sea "hype" from the Philippines does "nothing to change the fact that China has indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea islands." It's unclear why Google made the change, but a spokesperson told Agence France-Presse: "The West Philippine Sea has always been labeled on Google Maps. We recently made this label easier to see at additional zoom levels." Despite a 2016 Hague tribunal ruling that invalidated China's expansive South China Sea claims, Beijing has continued to assert control over the region, which is an important route for international shipping. The court sided with the Philippines, citing violations of its EEZ, but China rejected the decision and has since expanded its presence through militarized islands, patrols and increased maritime activity - fuelling rising tensions. In April, both nations accused each other of dangerous maneuvers near Scarborough Shoal, a disputed area within the Philippines' EEZ. The Philippine Coast Guard reported that a Chinese vessel obstructed a Philippine ship, while China alleged that the Philippine vessel approached dangerously, attempting to fabricate a collision. The Philippines has also raised concerns about Chinese interference in resource exploration. Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo said that China was hindering Filipino companies from exploring natural resources in the contested waters, including oil and gas reserves. He cited incidents such as water cannoning, use of lasers and ramming by Chinese forces as examples of harassment. In response to these challenges, the Philippines and the United States have strengthened their military cooperation. The annual "Balikatan" joint military exercises, involving approximately 14,000 troops, are scheduled from April 21 to May 9. These drills aim to enhance defense readiness and interoperability between the two allies. Edited by Stephen Wright and Mike Firn. Copyright 1998-2025, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content April 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 As Displacement, Sexual Violence Surge in Democratic Republic of Congo, Redoubled Peace Efforts Key to End Decade-Long Conflict, UN Envoy Tells Security Council Meetings Coverage Security Council 9899th Meeting (PM) SC/16044 16 April 2025 As eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo remains gripped by violence, mass displacement and grave human rights violations, especially of women and children, the United Nations top official for the Great Lakes region urged the Security Council to support and encourage peace efforts "messages of hope" to end the decade-long conflict. Presenting to the 15-member body the Secretary-General's latest report on the implementation of the 2013 Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Region (document S/2025/202), Special Envoy of the Secretary-General Huang Xia noted that, despite the statement of intent for ceasefire, fighting continues in the eastern part of the country. "This sombre reality means we need to redouble efforts to see how, together, we can transform recent political and diplomatic progress into an irreversible shift to peace," he stressed. Outlining the progress achieved in the Nairobi and Luanda peace processes, the efforts of the African Union, as well as the joint initiative of the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), giving new impetus to resolve the crisis, he underscored: "We need to recognize these, we need to encourage them and support them despite the challenges that still exist." Efforts such as the peace discussions in Doha, Qatar. and the resumption of exchanges between the Burundi and Rwandan security services show that peace is still possible. Therefore, it is critical for the warring parties to demonstrate good faith and be prepared to compromise, he said. "Obtaining an immediate unconditional ceasefire and reaching agreement on reopening humanitarian corridors should be the primary issue on the agenda," he stated, adding that women of Goma, Bukavu and Beni "want arms to be laid down". Citing some authorities in the region, he called for greater coordination between different international peace initiatives, adding that these should "dovetail with efforts from the region" to "create complementarity" and achieve a robust, uncontested peace accord. He further warned that peace efforts will remain in vain if real political resolve to tackle the root causes of the region's chronic instability do not exist. The Council should urge stakeholders in the Great Lakes to work together "sincerely" to bring about a definitive lasting settlement to the crisis by promoting the respect for international law, dialogue and compromise, he concluded. Child Raped Every 30 Minutes during Most Intense Phase of Conflict "The intensifying violence [in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo] has created one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, leaving millions of children at risk," said Catherine Russell, Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Over the past four months, conflict in Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu has displaced over 1 million people 400,000 of them children adding to the more than 5 million already in camps. However, "the most defining and horrifying feature of this conflict is the rampant violence being committed against children and women," she said, with UNICEF estimating that a child was raped every 30 minutes during the most intense phase of this year's conflict in the region. "This clearly points to a systemic crisis in which rape and other forms of sexual violence are being used as a weapon of war to destroy lives, families and communities," she lamented, adding that child abduction cases have also increased six-fold between December 2024 and February 2025. With the Democratic Republic of the Congo remaining the epicentre of the outbreak of the new Mpox strain, repeated mass displacement and the disruption of essential services have created ideal conditions for the spread of endemic diseases, placing already chronically malnourished children at further risk. Despite these challenges and a "critical funding shortfall", UNICEF is staying and delivering for children and families, she said, calling for the funding crisis to be urgently addressed. The Council should urge all parties to the conflict to constructively engage with the UN to sign action plans to end and prevent grave violations against children, she stressed, adding: "If we fail to act with urgency, we condemn a generation of children to fear, to trauma and to a future defined by violence." Humanitarian Situation Worsening as M23 Rebel Group Occupies New Territory Also briefing the Council was Tete Antonio, Minister for External Relations of Angola and Chairperson of the Executive Council of the African Union, who warned that the occupation of important cities, such as Goma and Bukavu, by the 23 March Movement (M23) rebel group and the advancement of its forces into new territory threatens the Democratic Republic of the Congo's territorial integrity and worsens the humanitarian situation of the local population. A recent meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council urged all parties to take advantage of progress achieved within the framework of the Luanda Process. The meeting stressed that there is no military solution to the conflict and "urged for the immediate resumption of negotiations with all State and non-State actors". Direct negotiations between representatives of M23 and Government of Democratic Republic of the Congo were planned, but were "aborted by the M23" because of sanctions imposed on them by "some countries and organizations outside of the continent", Mr. Antonio continued. He welcomed the diplomatic efforts of the UN and other countries committed to supporting the well-being of African nations, provided their initiatives align with African Union goals. Calls to Coordinate, Align Peace Initiatives with African-Led Frameworks In the ensuing debate, several delegates further emphasized the importance of "coherence and alignment" of peace initiatives with the representative of Kenya stressing that efforts of international partners "must complement not supplant African-led frameworks". The recent appointment of five facilitators for the merged Nairobi and Luanda mediation process "reflects deep regional commitment to restoring peace through the Congolese homegrown solutions", he said. Echoing this position, Somalia's delegate, also speaking for Algeria, Guyana and Sierra Leone, underscored the need to avoid duplicate tracks, which can undermine the peace process. Democratic Republic of the Congo Minister Urges Reconfiguration of Special Envoy's Mandate Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, stressed that "only a centralized coordination, backed by strong and recognized African leadership, can avoid the dilution of efforts and bolster the credibility and impact of regional commitments." She further urged to reconfigure the role of the Special Envoy, whose mandate should be "to anticipate crises, support African-led mediation and ensure alignment between regional initiatives and the international response". Noting that, 50 days after the adoption on resolution 2773 (2025), tensions are worsening and peace remains "out of reach", she detailed a strengthened monitoring mechanism for the text's implementation, which will rely on reports of the Group of Experts under the Council's 1533 sanctions regime, working in coordination with the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) and the Special Envoy. Meanwhile, Rwanda's delegate said that, despite over 20 Council resolutions calling for the disarmament and disbandment of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) since 2003, the group continues to recruit, train and commit atrocities, including sexual violence, ethnic cleansing and mass killings. "Now it has graduated to being integrated in the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo before your own eyes," he said. The Special Envoy's role should be strengthened. He further urged Kinshasa to confront its internal contradictions as "externalizing and scapegoating Rwanda for its own problems will not solve them". Council Members Stress M23 Must Withdraw from Seized Territories Describing the situation as complex, Denmark's representative, said M23 must halt and reverse its territorial control and the establishment of parallel administrations, even as the Democratic Republic of Congo should effectively neutralize FDLR. For its part, Rwanda must withdraw its forces from Democratic Republic of the Congo territory and cease its support to M23. Further, any agreement reached must address hate speech and xenophobia and foster long-term community cohesion. Underscoring diplomacy and dialogue as "the only way forward", Pakistan's delegate urged both countries the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda to "return to the negotiating table to find a political situation to the crisis". Similarly, Greece's delegate called for de-escalation and avoiding a spillover of the conflict and destabilization within the Great Lakes region. Calling on M23 to withdraw from the communities it has seized and from the occupied territories, the representative of the Russian Federation voiced support to "the decision of our African colleagues to merge the Luanda and Nairobi tracks" in hopes that it would develop measures to cease any State interactions with illegal armed formations in the region. "All the key parameters for a lasting inter-State cooperation have long been agreed upon by the States of the Great Lakes region as part of the Framework Agreement for Peace, Security and Cooperation," he observed. The United States' representative also condemned the continued violence, including by M23, calling for those who have committed human rights abuses to be held accountable. "We are encouraged by the Democratic Republic of the Congo's willingness to hold direct talks with the M23," he said, adding that a "cohesive African-led process remains the most viable path towards a lasting solution". Likewise, the Republic of Korea's delegatestrongly condemned abductions, summary executions and forced recruitment of children by M23. "Accountability must be ensured," he said, voicing hope for the contribution of the Human Rights Council's fact-finding mission to this end. France's speaker, Council President for April, speaking in his national capacity, said the horrors being witnessed call for action, just as the scope of violence against women and children are not only shocking, but must end. For its part, the 15-nation organ must be prepared to shoulder its responsibilities in the absence of progress, he added. The speaker for the United Kingdom, expressing support for regional leadership's ability to deliver a durable resolution of the conflict, called on all parties to respect international humanitarian and human rights laws and allow safe and unimpeded passage of humanitarian assistance by lake, road and through the reopening of key airports including Goma and Kavumu. Focus on Addressing Root Causes of Conflict The representatives of China and Sloveniastressed the importance of addressing the root causes of instability, with the former adding that the recurring outbreaks of violence show that "the underlying issues remain unresolved". The latter stressed that addressing the conflict's root causes including the illicit exploitation of natural resources, historical grievances, and ethnic tensions must be at the heart of all peace initiatives. On that, Panama's delegate called for more investment in sustainable development to bolster resilience. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address National Armaments Director receives the Deputy National Armaments Director of Poland in Switzerland Swiss Government Press release Published on 17 April 2025 Bern, 17.04.2025 -- On 16 April, National Armaments Director Urs Loher met with the Deputy National Armaments Director of Poland, Colonel Krzysztof Komorowski, for bilateral discussions in Switzerland. The focus was on an exchange of ideas about current armaments policy topics. The bilateral armaments meeting between Switzerland and Poland took place on 16 April 2025. National Armaments Director Urs Loher received the Polish delegation headed by the Deputy National Armaments Director of Poland, Colonel Krzysztof Komorowski, in Thun for discussions. The goal of the meeting was to exchange ideas on current armaments policy topics. The expert discussions covered, among other topics, the current developments in national security and defence policy, procurement issues as well as international armaments cooperation. In addition, the meeting included an industrial visit to the company Nitrochemie Wimmis AG. The Nitrochemie Group with locations in Wimmis (Switzerland) and Aschau (Germany) is a globally operating technology company with the business segments drive systems and chemical intermediates. In addition to a presentation of the company and the product portfolio, the Polish delegation was able to gain an insight into nitrocellulose production at the Wimmis site. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Petr Fiala discusses deeper Czech-U.S. cooperation in the U.S. Congress Government of the Czech Republic 17. 4. 2024 11:57 On Tuesday 16 April 2024, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala held talks in the U.S. Congress, mainly on Czech-U.S. relations, and also on the U.S. aid package for Ukraine and other countries, which is pending in the House of Representatives. In addition, the Czech Prime Minister paid tribute to presidents Vaclav Havel and T. G. Masaryk in Washington and gave a speech at the Hudson Institute. He concluded his visit to the USA at a gala dinner with prominent personalities and Czech and U.S. investors. Prime Minister Petr Fiala started the second day of his visit to the USA with a visit to the Hudson Institute, which focuses mainly on national security and foreign policy issues. The Czech Prime Minister gave a speech in which he spoke mainly about transatlantic relations, the Czech-U.S. alliance, but also about the war in Ukraine and the Czech munitions initiative. "The purpose is to find munitions on world markets, to negotiate their funding and possibly coordinate their deliveries to Ukraine. We have the know-how, contacts and experience. And we can organise this help effectively. I am glad that at this moment, already about 20 countries have joined our initiative - from Canada, Germany and the Netherlands to Poland," said the Prime Minister, who also described the Czech Republic's historical experience with communism and the Soviet Union. Afterwards, Prime Minister Fiala moved to the U.S. Capitol, the seat of the U.S. Congress, where he held talks with Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Michael McCaul, Democratic Minority Leader of the House of Representatives Hakeem Jeffries, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ben Cardin, former Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and other congresspersons. During his visit to the Capitol, Petr Fiala stopped by the bust of the first Czech President Vaclav Havel, where he paid tribute together with the co-chairs of the Friends of the Czech Republic informal group, Lloyd Doggett and Mario Diaz-Balart. He then presented them with silver commemorative coins. "Everyone I spoke to in Congress praised the Czech Republic, its approach, its role, its munitions initiative and the fact that a relatively small country from the U.S. perspective can actually play such an important role. It was gratifying for me," said the Prime Minister after the talks in Congress, where he also spoke with congresspersons about the financial aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, the approval of which is to be discussed by the House of Representatives in the coming days. "In addition, we also discussed Czech-U.S. relations and some specific issues, such as the importance of LNG gas supplies. We are very concerned that the United States should not restrict its gas supplies to Europe in the long term. It is important for the Czech Republic to remain energy independent from Russia and to have enough cheap gas available in Europe. However, we also talked about the Czech Republic's cooperation with the United States in the field of nuclear energy," said Petr Fiala. After the talks, the Czech Prime Minister laid flowers at the statue of the first Czechoslovak President T. G. Masaryk in the diplomatic quarter, where he greeted Sokol representatives and other Czechs living overseas. Petr Fiala concluded his visit to the United States at a gala dinner with prominent personalities and Czech and U.S. investors. "The Czech Republic is a country that has a lot to offer to the United States and I was pleased that many members of Congress know that Czech companies invest in the USA and employ thousands of Americans," the Prime Minister concluded. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Government proposal to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention sent out for comments Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland Press releases, 17.4.2025 Withdrawal from of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction, known as the Ottawa Convention, requires a government proposal. Comments on the draft proposal may be given until 16 May 2025. On 1 April 2025, the Government decided to begin the preparations for withdrawal from the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction, also known as the Ottawa Convention. The Government's decision is based on a report by the Defence Forces and on preparatory work by officials at the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Withdrawal from the convention requires a government proposal. The draft government proposal has been prepared by a working group led by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The draft proposal states that the main goals of Finland's foreign and security policy are to safeguard Finland's independence and territorial integrity, to avoid becoming involved in a military conflict and to improve the security and well-being of the people of Finland. In order to secure these goals and, where necessary, to fight large-scale, protracted wars, Finland must be able to develop its defence capabilities. It is therefore appropriate to withdraw from the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction. Withdrawal from the convention will enable the reintroduction of anti-personnel mines to supplement Finland's defence capabilities. The draft government proposal also assesses, among other things, effects of withdrawal from the convention. Withdrawal would have effects especially on Finland's national defence and foreign and security policy. Furthermore, the draft proposal suggests that amendments resulting from the withdrawal from the convention be made to the Criminal Code, the Coercive Measures Act and the Act on Military Discipline and Combating Crime in the Finnish Defence Forces. The President of the Republic decides on Finland's withdrawal from the convention after Parliament has given its consent. The withdrawal will take effect six months after the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who serves as the Depository of the convention, has received Finland's instrument of withdrawal. Comments on the draft government proposal may be submitted through the lausuntopalvelu.fi(Link to another website.) consultation service (in Finnish and Swedish) until 16 May 2025 at 16.15. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address First Finnish Aircrew Member Joins NATO AWACS Mission During Ramstein Alloy 2025 NATO Allied Air Command Apr 17 2025 RAMSTEIN, Germany -- A Finnish Air Force officer has joined a NATO Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) flight for the first time, marking a significant milestone in Finland's integration into Allied Air Command operations. Master Sergeant Aleksi became the first Finnish crew member to fly aboard a NATO E-3A aircraft during Exercise Ramstein Alloy 2025, 15 April 2025, a regular air policing training event that enhances cooperation and readiness among Allies in the Baltic region. Having completed rigorous training through the Aircrew Training Squadron, Aleksi now serves as a Weapons Controller, supporting the execution of complex multinational air operations. "It was an honour to fly with NATO AWACS," said Aleksi. "You immediately feel the scale and complexity of the mission working with so many nations, in real time. It's a powerful example of how NATO comes together in practice." Ramstein Alloy is overseen by NATO's Combined Air Operations Centre Uedem under Allied Air Command (AIRCOM). The exercise is designed to enhance interoperability and improve response procedures among Baltic Air Policing participants. "Flying with AWACS is more than just a mission it's a symbol of how national expertise supports NATO's shared goals," said Colonel Henk Kiffen, Deputy Commander of the NATO E-3A Component. Finland joined NATO in April 2023 and has since strengthened its role in collective defence through participation in multinational exercises and air missions. Its involvement in AWACS operations enhances situational awareness and contributes directly to NATO's deterrence posture in the region. The E-3A Component is part of the NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force (NAEW&CF), one of the Alliance's key capabilities for surveillance and command and control. AIRCOM oversees these efforts, ensuring they align with NATO's strategic air power objectives. A total of 17 NATO member nations participate in the overall NAEW&CF programme. Of these Allied members, Canada, France, and now Finland and Lithuania provide military personnel to operate the E-3A Component. The E-3A Component holds a unique place in military history because it is the first multinational flying unit established by the Alliance. Story by Allied Air Command Public Affairs Office NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NATO Conducts Historical Ordnance Disposal in the Baltic Sea NATO Allied Maritime Command Apr 17 2025 NORTHERN BALTIC SEA -- After some days of coordinated operations, Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One (SNMCMG1) has successfully wrapped up a focused Historical Ordnance Disposal Operation (HODOPS) effort in the Bay of Riga. While continuing its Baltic Sentry mission, the multinational group concentrated on training procedures like detecting, classifying identifying, and disposing of historic sea mines and other unexploded ordnance (UXO) dating back to the First and Second World War. "The threat from historical ordnance remains very real. Our presence and our operations serve both as a safeguard and a signal: NATO is committed to the safety and security of the Baltic region," said Commander Erik Kockx, Belgian Commander of the Task Group. FROM TORPEDOES TO SEA MINES: REAL RESULTS AT SEA During the operation, nine UXO's were foundranging from torpedoes to sea mineswhich are now all countermined. Each ship in the group contributed to the effort, with every vessel neutralizing at least one UXO. Also the Dutch staff ship Luymes contributed to the HODOPS by scanning the seabed using her Towed Side Scan Sonar, classifying contacts and handing them over to the Belgian minehunter Lobelia for identification and disposal. "This was a textbook example of real-world minehunting: detect, classify, identify, and dispose. Our teams worked through weather challenges and limited underwater visibility to get the job done," Commander Kockx added. TECHNOLOGY MEETS HISTORY Using modern technologies, participating ships were able to compare current data with historical records, allowing for more precise identification and efficient clearance. Weather played an influential role: clearer weather conditions enhanced underwater visibility, improving detection and identification rates. Throughout the HODOPS, ships received mission orders from the SNMCMG1 staff, which in turn maintained the operational overview, tasking individual units and managing reports to compile a complete picture of the minefield. STRENGTHENING REGIONAL TIES IN RIGA While in Riga, SNMCMG1 didn't just focus on operations. The port visit included meetings with Latvia's Minister of Defence, Andris Spruds, and Flotilla Admiral Maris Polencs, Commander of the Latvian Navy. These engagements deepened professional ties and reaffirmed NATO's commitment to regional security. "These kinds of port visits are more than a logistical necessitythey're an opportunity to exchange ideas, deepen professional relationships, and reaffirm our shared commitment to maritime security," said Commander Kockx. LONG-TERM IMPACT THROUGH SHARED INFORMATION In addition to neutralizing ordnance, SNMCMG1 also shared updated seabed data and mine-related findings with Latvian authorities, contributing to long-term maritime safety. Besides UXO's and remnants of historical mining activities, also two unrecorded wrecks were found and shared with the Latvian authorities. "When we find or destroy a mine, that information is immediately passed on to the relevant national authorities. It's not just about clearing the minesit's about raising awareness, improving safety, and maintaining open sea lanes for all." SNMCMG1's cooperation in these operations highlights the strength of NATOs interoperability and its unwavering focus on safe navigation, preparedness, and resilience across the Baltic region. Story by SNMCMG1 Public Affairs Officer NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN expert condemns attack on Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza Press releases Special Procedures 17 April 2025 GENEVA -- The UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health, Tlaleng Mofokeng, today condemned the Israeli attack on Al-Ahli hospital, the last functioning hospital in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, saying the many months of coruscant violence continues to make the provision of health care services even more impossible in a system that was already brought to its knees. "I am horrified to learn that the war on hospitals, health care providers and civilians continues, making the provision of health services even more impossible in a system that has already been brought to its knees," Mofokeng said. Al-Ahli Hospital was hit by an airstrike on 13 April 2025, destroying the emergency department and causing the death of a child due to lack of access to appropriate care. "With this latest attack on the health system, the options for health care - especially emergency care - for the people of Gaza are reduced to zero, and Israel continues to operate with impunity," the expert said. "The health care system has been decimated." The Special Rapporteur recalled that health workers, as primary responders in the provision of health services, are exposed to harassment, intimidation and death on a daily basis as they attempt to save the lives of the Palestinian people. "Health care facilities and health workers must be protected under international law," she said. The World Health Organization has reported at least 670 health attacks from 7 October 2023 to 14 March 2025, including 122 health facilities affected and 33 hospitals damaged. "This is completely unacceptable," Mofokeng said. She stressed that the people of Gaza deserve dignity and the restoration of health services after more than 18 months of attacks and limited or non-existent access for medical aid and supplies into the enclave since the beginning of the Israeli attacks. The expert reiterated her call on the international community and world leaders to use all means at their disposal to end the war and save the lives and dignity of the people of Gaza, who have survived through these atrocities for more than a year and a half. "I appeal to your humanity and any remaining capacity you may have left for action to preserve the population of Gaza," she said. *Ms. Tlaleng Mofokeng, Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. Special Rapporteurs/Independent Experts/Working Groups are independent human rights experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council. Together, these experts are referred to as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. While the UN Human Rights office acts as the secretariat for Special Procedures, the experts serve in their individual capacity and are independent from any government or organization, including OHCHR and the UN. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the UN or OHCHR. Country-specific observations and recommendations by the UN human rights mechanisms, including the special procedures, the treaty bodies and the Universal Periodic Review, can be found on the Universal Human Rights Index https://uhri.ohchr.org/en/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Afghanistan must immediately stop public executions and corporal punishment: UN experts Press releases Special Procedures 17 April 2025 GENEVA -- UN experts* today urged the Taliban to immediately halt all inhumane punishments in Afghanistan, including capital and corporal punishments, after four public executions were carried out in a single day last week. On 11 April, Afghanistan's de facto Supreme Court announced that four men had been publicly executed as part of the Taliban's Qisas (retribution in kind -in reference to religious law), punishments in Badghis (2), Farah (1) and Nimroz (1) provinces. This brings the total number of reported public executions carried out since the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in August 2021 to at least 10. "We condemn these public executions, which constitute a violation of international law and an attack on human dignity," the experts said. "Turning executions into public events can never be justified, not even on religious grounds. It normalises brutality, desensitises communities to violence, and creates a climate of fear and intimidation." "Friday's executions represent a worrying increase in this kind of punishment. We urge the Taliban to introduce an immediate moratorium on the death penalty with a view to its abolition," they said. The experts also expressed grave concern about the Taliban's ongoing use of corporal punishment, mostly lashings, in violation of international human rights law. They are often imposed for alleged 'crimes' such as sodomy, running away from home, and 'illicit relationships'. At least 213 such punishments (169 males and 44 females) have been carried out since the beginning of 2025, and in the few days since the public executions, at least 19 individuals (14 males and five females) have already been flogged, according to the de facto Supreme Court. It is unclear whether the age and mental or intellectual capacity of those sentenced by Taliban courts were taken into account. "Regardless of the crime, under no circumstances should children, who were under the age of 18 at the time of the alleged crime, or persons whose serious psychosocial or intellectual disabilities impede their effective defence be sentenced to the death penalty," the experts said. They noted that executions and corporal punishments are taking place against a backdrop of ongoing concerns about access to justice and human rights abuses under the Taliban, including the institutionalised oppression of women and girls. "Capital and corporal punishment are incompatible with international human rights obligations, particularly in the absence of due process guarantees," they said. The experts stressed that the Taliban justice system lacked the necessary independence and procedural safeguards required to meet minimum standards of justice. "Noting that the country currently lacks a constitution and the certainty and clarity of applicable laws, we are particularly concerned about fair trial rights and access to justice for women and girls, as well as boys," they said. "The Taliban must immediately stop capital punishment and all forms of corporal punishment that constitute torture or other forms of cruel and inhuman punishment, and respect the rights and dignity of all detainees," the experts said. *The Experts: Richard Bennett, Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Afghanistan; Alice Jill Edwards, Special Rapporteur on Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; Morris Tidball-Binz, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; Reem Alsalem, Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences; Laura Nyirinkindi (Chair), Claudia Flores (Vice-Chair), Dorothy Estrada Tanck, Ivana Krstic, and Haina Lu, Working group on discrimination against women and girls; Nazila Ghanea, Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief; Special Rapporteurs/Independent Experts/Working Groups are independent human rights experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council. Together, these experts are referred to as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. While the UN Human Rights office acts as the secretariat for Special Procedures, the experts serve in their individual capacity and are independent from any government or organization, including OHCHR and the UN. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the UN or OHCHR. Country-specific observations and recommendations by the UN human rights mechanisms, including the special procedures, the treaty bodies and the Universal Periodic Review, can be found on the Universal Human Rights Index https://uhri.ohchr.org/en/. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Almost two years after she withdrew from public life following a high-profile scandal, Chinese actress Song Zu'er makes her acting comeback with the screening of her new TV series, The Demon Hunter's Romance. Song, also known as Lareina Song, debuted in 2005 as a child actress and has since gained popularity for roles in dramas such as Legally Romance (2022). In August 2023, her meteoric career hit a stumbling block as a former employee accused her of evading tax payments of 45 million yuan (around USD 6.5 million). The accusations cost Song endorsements and acting work, so she stepped away from the industry. In 2024, her agency announced that tax authorities had completed their investigation and found that Song had not committed any tax evasion. Now, Song is returning to television as the female lead in The Demon Hunter's Romance, a fantasy-romance series that premiered on April 12. In the series, Song plays a woman who can see through demons' disguises. Her character becomes entangled with a mysterious demon hunter whose past holds secrets of its own. The drama represents a significant return for the actress, whose reputation and career path came under fire in the wake of the allegations. While Song has not publicly commented on the case since the agency's announcement, her return has been met with mixed reactions on social media. The song previously made international headlines over a plagiarism controversy involving EXO's Baekhyun. Despite past controversies, fans remain hopeful that the actress's performance in the new series will signal a fresh start. Demon Hunter's Romance is currently airing on major Chinese streaming platforms. OIC General Secretariat Expresses its Solidarity with Jordan Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) 17-04-2025 The Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) expressed his full solidarity with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the unwavering rejection of all forms of violence and terrorism aimed at destabilizing Jordan's security and stability. He praised the competence of the Jordanian security institutions for successfully stopping such plots. The OIC General Secretariat affirmed its support for Jordan against all incidents that might undermine its security and stability. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PCG deepens maritime cooperation with Vietnam Philippine News Agency By Marita Moaje April 17, 2025, 4:45 pm MANILA - The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reaffirmed its commitment to strengthen maritime security collaboration with Vietnam during a port call in Da Nang on Tuesday. In a statement Thursday, the PCG said joint exercise planning and a tabletop exercise were conducted with the Vietnam Coast Guard (VCG) to prepare for upcoming joint Search and Rescue and Firefighting Exercises at Sea. "This collaborative effort marks a pivotal step in strengthening both agencies' commitment to advancing maritime cooperation," the PCG said. It said the drills reflect the two agencies' shared goal of enhancing interoperability in responding to maritime emergencies and maintaining safe sea lanes in Southeast Asia. As part of the port visit, PCG's offshore patrol vessel BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301) hosted a ship tour for members of the Filipino community based in Hanoi and Da Nang. The visit culminated in a dinner reception hosted by the PCG and attended by key officials, including Philippine Ambassador to Vietnam Meynardo Montealegre, Da Nang People's Committee Vice Chair Tran Chi Cuong, and VCG Region 2 Commander Major General Tran Quang Tuan. PCG Deputy Commandant for Administration Rear Admiral Charlie Rances Fabul, in his remarks, underscored the importance of the visit as a step toward deeper cooperation and expressed eagerness for future VCG visits to the Philippines to sustain joint efforts in maritime security. Tuan echoed this sentiment, calling the visit a milestone in advancing the bilateral framework laid out in the memorandum of understanding signed by the PCG and VCG earlier this year. Ambassador Montealegre expressed hope that the PCG's visit would open doors for further collaboration in areas such as disaster response, search and rescue operations, and promoting safe navigation in the region. Cuong, for his part, highlighted the growing relationship between the Philippines and Vietnam, and the need to continue building trust and cooperation. PCG Captain Eleizer Ibarrientos, commanding officer of BRP Gabriela Silang, thanked Vietnamese officials and the local government for their warm reception and reaffirmed the PCG's commitment to sustained cooperation. The Vietnam stop was the final leg of the PCG's Tri-Country Port Visit, which also included Thailand and Malaysia highlighting the agency's drive to enhance multilateral maritime partnerships across Southeast Asia. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PAF says Cope Thunder drills groundwork for multilateral cooperation Philippine News Agency By Priam Nepomuceno April 17, 2025, 9:24 am MANILA -- The Philippine Air Force (PAF) said the just-concluded Cope Thunder Philippines 25-1 (CT PH 25-1) with the United States Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) has laid the groundwork for multilateral cooperation. The air exercises formally ended with a closing ceremony and hotwash session at Clark Air Base, Mabalacat City, Pampanga on Wednesday. "The hotwash session served as a post-exercise review, enabling participants to analyze operational outcomes, share key lessons learned, and refine strategies for future joint exercises," PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said in a news release Wednesday night. She also said CT PH 25-1, a preparatory exercise for the upcoming large-scale "Balikatan" Exercise, "laid a strong foundation for sustained multinational cooperation and enhanced operational synergy." These closing activities, Castillo said, were spearheaded by PAF 5th Fighter Wing commander Brig. Gen. Leo Fontanilla. CT PH 25-1 started on April 8 and involved 700 PAF personnel and a diverse fleet of aircraft, including FA-50PH fighter jets, A-29B "Super Tucano" close air support aircraft, and S-76A and S-70i "Black Hawk" helicopters. Meanwhile, the PACAF contingent comprised 750 personnel and 12 F-16 fighter jets. CT PH 25-1 featured a comprehensive program of subject matter expert exchanges, as well as flight and field training exercises. The drills marked the PAF's inaugural hosting of an International Observer Program, which was joined by representatives from Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, Japan, and Indonesia. CT PH 25-1 serves as a key milestone in enhancing joint operational readiness and deepening defense ties between the Philippines and the United States, contributing to the Armed Forces of the Philippines' ongoing modernization and capability development efforts. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel secures 6-month delay in Gaza genocide case at ICJ Iran Press TV Thursday, 17 April 2025 7:55 PM In a worrying development, the Hague-based International Court of Justice (ICJ) has agreed to postpone proceedings in the case brought by South Africa against Israel over the regime's relentless brutal military campaign and barbarism in the besieged Gaza Strip. South Africa has filed a detailed submission to the ICJ outlining evidence of Israel's violation of the 1948 Genocide Convention during its barbarism in the besieged Gaza Strip. As a result, Israel will now have until January 12, 2026, to respond to South Africa's claims, pushing the deadline back by six months from the original July 2025 date. Media reports quoting Western sources reported that South Africa submitted evidence accusing Israel of genocide, without giving Israel access to review the materials. Israel subsequently filed a series of formal objections. Initially, South Africa was required to submit its evidence by October 2024, but due to the procedural objections, that submission was delayed and is now expected to be filed by mid-April 2025. Legal experts and activists said that the fact that the ICJ allowed Israel to make such a transparently dishonest ploy to buy time for its genocide despite the strong objections of South Africa is cause for deep concern. South Africa brought its case before the top UN court in December 2023, accusing Israel of violating the Genocide Convention, during the Gaza aggression since October 2023. The 84-page application alleged that Israel has committed acts intended to wipe out the Palestinians. In October last year, South Africa filed a detailed submission to the ICJ outlining evidence of Israel's violation of the 1948 Genocide Convention during its aggression in the blockaded region. The South African presidency, in a statement back then said the evidence had been presented in more than 750 pages of text, in addition to over 4,000 pages of annexes. The submission, also called a memorial, includes evidence of acts of genocide and genocidal intent. The evidence included statements by Israeli officials expressing "genocidal intent," and a list of how Israel's alleged actions had met the definition of genocide. The acts include killings, causing serious bodily and mental harm; mass expulsion and displacement; and deprivation of access to adequate food, water, shelter, clothes, hygiene, and medical assistance. On January 26, the ICJ said it was plausible that Israel had breached the Genocide Convention. As an emergency measure, it ordered Israel to ensure that its army refrained from genocidal acts against the Palestinians. Several states have requested intervention in South Africa's case, including Bolivia, the Maldives, Chile, Turkey, Spain, Mexico, Libya, Colombia and Nicaragua. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Criminal Court for its war on the besieged Palestinian territory. In November 2024, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war minister, Yoav Gallant, for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. A series of UN queries have already accused Israel of committing war crimes and the crime against humanity of extermination in Gaza through its systematic attacks on the healthcare system. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Houthi says US encouraging Gaza genocide, calls for arming Palestinians Iran Press TV Thursday, 17 April 2025 7:54 PM The leader of Yemen's Ansarullah resistance movement says the US is encouraging Israel in waging a genocidal war on Gaza and is an accomplice in the wholesale killing. In a televised speech on Thursday, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi said as a result of the Zionist regime's incessant attacks, which are being carried out with the full US support, most of the residents of the Gaza Strip have been displaced. "The US supports the forced displacement of the people of Gaza, and the Zionists have admitted that the US has given them complete liberty with regard to the Gaza Strip," he said. "The Zionist enemy, with the support of the US, continues its brutal aggression against Gaza, dropping American bombs on the refugees, and despite damaging the health sector, it continues to target medical centers, as happened at al-Ma'madani Hospital." Al-Ma'madani or al-Ahli Arab was the last functioning hospital in Gaza, hit by two Israeli missiles which, according to the UN, dealt "a severe blow to an already devastated healthcare system in the Strip" on Sunday. Houthi said the US has lately stepped up delivering major shipments of munitions and military equipment to Israel. "Nevertheless, we witness that the fighters of the Qassam and Quds Brigades and other Palestinian groups have stood firm despite the difficult conditions, with the hand-to-hand fighting of the resistance fighters with the Zionist enemy in Gaza demonstrating their bravery." Houthi said special attention should be given to arming the Palestinian people. "If the Arab regimes had armed the Palestinian people from the beginning, the situation would be different today." He cited the disarmament of the Palestinian people in 1967 by the then governments of Egypt and Jordan, after which the "Palestinian people became a defenseless prey against the Zionist enemy". Houthi touched on the Israeli military's completion of the encirclement of Rafah and the establishment of the Morag Axis, warning that it constitutes a threat to Egypt's national security in breach of their peace treaty. He further pointed to Israel's continuous attacks on Lebanon despite the ceasefire agreement with the country, saying the violation also continues with American support. Tel Aviv's view of Lebanon is in line with its "Greater Israel" project, he said, adding Hezbollah has played the greatest role in saving Lebanon and achieved unprecedented accomplishments among Muslims and Arab countries in confronting the Zionist regime. "Hezbollah has made great sacrifices to protect Lebanon, so we should support Hezbollah, not plot against it," he said, referring to a push by certain groups to disarm the movement. Houthi said any proposal to disarm Hezbollah is illogical. "We should not surrender to the enemy's demands that is disarming the resistance." "The Lebanese should be aware that resistance is a necessary option and cannot be abandoned. If the option of resistance is abandoned in Lebanon, we will witness a very great danger," he warned. Houthi also touched on nine bases established by Israel in southern Syria, saying "the Zionist enemy's aggression against Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria is sufficient proof that Muslim nations need deterrence". "The Islamic ummah needs weapons to defend itself more than ever. The Zionist regime, not the resistance, must be disarmed," he said. He then pointed to the US and British aggression against Yemen, saying they have carried out 900 air and naval attacks on the country, but the Yemeni armed forces have shot down 19 American MQ-9 drones so far. Yemeni forces, he said, have had 33 engagements with the American warships in the Red Sea, adding the successive dispatch of US aircraft carriers to the region shows their missions are ineffective. Yemeni armed forces, meanwhile, have carried out more than 122 drone and missile operations against Israel since the regime launched its aggression on Gaza in October 2023. Israel is perpetrating all forms of genocidal crimes in the Gaza Strip, Houthi said, citing starvation which the regime is using as a weapon of war against Gazans amid its blockade on the entry of humanitarian aid. "Despite the United Nations' acknowledgement of the sufferings caused by the aid blockade, the Zionist regime has been using starvation of civilians for more than a month and a half." Houthi said the demands by the Hamas resistance movement calling for an end to the war, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and the entry of humanitarian aid are exactly those of Gazans. He mentioned the Palestinian Prisoners' Day which is marked every year on April 17. Houthi said thousands of Palestinian prisoners are languishing in Israeli detention centers, and the issue of prisoner exchange is an inalienable right of Palestinians. "The issue of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, their pains and sufferings, cannot be overlooked. Israeli authorities are trying to get rid of the prisoner issue without any exchange, and practically skip the matter." Houthi stated that the Zionist enemy attempts to kidnap Palestinians every day, and has so far abducted and imprisoned a large number of Palestinians. He also condemned the desecration of the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the occupied East al-Quds by Israeli settlers. "Real criminals and Zionist settlers storm al-Aqsa Mosque every day. Among their primary goals is to construct a so-called Jewish temple in place of al-Aqsa Mosque," he added. Houthi criticized Muslim governments for their silence and inaction in the face of the desecration of sacred sites in the occupied Palestinian territories. "The Muslim Ummah has reached the point where they do not react to anything, no matter how revered it could be," the Ansarullah chief said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hamas: Israel tortures Palestinian abductees while we treat captives humanely Iran Press TV Thursday, 17 April 2025 10:00 AM The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas says it treats Israeli captives "humanely", while forces of the occupying regime kill and torture Palestinian prisoners in violation of international law. Marking Palestinian Prisoner Day which falls on April 17 every year, Hamas stressed in a statement on Thursday that liberating Palestinian prisoners from Israel's numerous prisons and detention centers "will remain" the resistance's "top national priority." "The occupation's crimes against our prisoners will not go unpunished and will not become time-barred," it emphasized. Since the outbreak of Israel's genocidal war on the besieged Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, dozens of Palestinian prisoners have lost their lives in Israeli jails, according to Palestinian institutions. Israel keeps Palestinian inmates under deplorable conditions without proper hygienic standards, as they have also been subject to systematic torture, harassment, and repression. "The occupation bears full responsibility for the lives of the thousands of detainees and abductees from Gaza. We strongly condemn the international community's silence regarding the systematic torture and inhumane treatment inflicted upon our detainees in Zionist prisons," Hamas stressed. Hamas took about 250 people captive during its unprecedented operation against the occupied territories on October 7, 2023. The Gaza-based resistance movement is currently engaged in negotiations on another prisoner swap in Cairo with Egyptian and Qatari mediators, as it still keeps 59 Israeli captives in the territory. Elsewhere in its statement on Thursday, Hamas stressed that it treated the Israeli captives well, unlike the occupying entity that has been killing and torturing Palestinian prisoners. "We have treated the enemy's prisoners humanely, while the fascist occupation [regime] continues to practice the most heinous forms of torture, deliberate killing, and abuses against our prisoners, in blatant violation of international humanitarian law and all international norms and conventions," Hamas emphasized. The resistance movement also urged "human rights groups to expose the occupation's crimes against Palestinian prisoners, and to work towards prosecuting the perpetrators before international courts." Hamas also urged all Palestinian factions and groups to join forces to safeguard, defend, and free Palestinian prisoners using any means required, while ensuring their families receive proper care and support. "Let April 17 be a global day of solidarity with Palestinian prisoners and an opportunity to expose the occupation's crimes against them," the resistance movement stressed. In January, the Israeli regime was forced to agree to a ceasefire deal with Hamas, given the regime's failure to achieve any of its objectives, including the "elimination" of the Palestinian resistance movement or the release of captives. On March 18, Israel unilaterally broke the truce and resumed its relentless bombing of Gaza. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 1 killed as US keeps up deadly escalation against Yemen Iran Press TV Thursday, 17 April 2025 2:39 AM A civilian has been killed in the Yemeni capital Sana'a as the United States retains its campaign of intensified military aggression against the Arab Peninsula nation. The fatal attack hit the al-Nahda neighborhood in the al-Thawra District of the city on Wednesday, an official told Yemen's Saba news agency. The attack was part of a larger series of raids on the city that also hit the al-Sabeen District's al-Hafa area on at least 14 occasions. Beyond the capital, several other locations were additionally targeted. These included the Naqil al-Fardah area of the Nihm Distric in the Sana'a Province. The province's Bani Hushaysh District and Manakhah area, meanwhile, came under similar American aggression. In the western Yemeni province of al-Hydaydah, American aircraft carried out four attacks. Details on potential further casualties from the raids were not immediately available. The United States intensified its deadly attacks on the country last month on President Donald Trump's direct orders. Washington claims the raids are strictly aimed at protecting shipping activity around Yemen, alleging that the regional waterways' maritime security had been endangered by Sana'a. Yemeni officials have, however, roundly rejected such claims, underlining that the country only targeted vessels belonging to the Israeli regime and ships taking supplies to it. The operations implemented by Yemen's Armed Forces began in October 2023, when the Israeli regime, the US's most cherished regional ally, began taking the Gaza Strip under a genocidal war. Around 51,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed as a result of the warfare, which receives hugely enhanced and unstinting arms support on the part of Washington. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia Removes Afghanistan's Taliban From Terror List In Step Toward Recognition By RFE/RL's Russian Service April 17, 2025 Russia's Supreme Court removed Afghanistan's militant Taliban rulers from its list of banned terrorist groups in a step toward recognizing the group that seized power in 2021 as international forces withdrew from the war-torn country. Russian state news agencies said that in its ruling on April 17, the Supreme Court sided with a petition from the Prosecutor-General's Office, a sign the move is a coordinated policy change with support from top legal and political authorities, who designated the Taliban as a terrorist organization more than 20 years ago. The suspension of the terrorist designation does not amount to full diplomatic recognition of the Taliban government. Amid poverty and unrest in the country, the Taliban rulers have made moves to open ties with the rest of the world. But Western nations have been reluctant to engage with the extremist group amid complaints of widespread human rights violations, especially against girls and women. Russia has not officially recognized the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, nor has it re-established ambassadorial-level relations. However, the April 17 ruling may lay the legal groundwork for expanded cooperation, investment, and potentially future recognition. Russia officially banned the Taliban in 2003, aligning itself with international counterterrorism standards and reflecting concerns over jihadist movements in Central Asia and Russia's North Caucasus region. Still, Russia has been one of the few major powers to keep its embassy in Kabul operational during the Taliban regime. Russian diplomats, intelligence officials, and even business interests have since engaged with Taliban authorities especially on regional security, counter-narcotics, and economic cooperation, such as potential mining and energy projects. Russia Looking To Gain Influence With Moscow eager to strengthen its influence in Central Asia amid growing competition with the West and China's expanding footprint, Afghanistan has become a critical piece of the regional chessboard. The court's decision may also be linked to Moscow's concerns about the Islamic State-Khorasan group, which has claimed responsibility for several high-profile attacks in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and even within Russia itself including the deadly Crocus City Hall terrorist attack in March 2024. Some analysts say Russian officials likely view the Taliban as a lesser evil or even a potential security partner. The suspension of the ban may spark unease in Central Asian countries such as Tajikistan, which has historically viewed the Taliban with deep suspicion. While some regional governments have engaged with Kabul out of necessity, fears remain about Taliban-inspired radicalization, border security, and cross-border militancy. In September 2024, Kyrgyzstan removed the Taliban from its list of banned terrorist organizations, aligning with similar moves by neighboring Kazakhstan earlier that year. Another Central Asian nation, Uzbekistan, has been at the forefront of engaging with the Taliban, emphasizing economic cooperation and regional connectivity. China is also cautiously increasing its engagement with the Taliban, including through infrastructure and investment talks under the Belt and Road Initiative. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-court-ruling-ban- taliban-afghanistan-recognition/33388428.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 Moldova Sets Elections For September 28 In Battle Between EU and Russian Camps By RFE/RL's Moldovan Service April 17, 2025 Moldova's lawmakers voted to set the next parliamentary elections for September 28 in a test for the country's fragile democracy caught between pro-European and pro-Russian forces. A total of 57 lawmakers voted on April 17 to hold the elections on September 28, against 32 abstentions. President Maia Sandu's pro-Western PAS party is expected to face a strong challenge from a three-party coalition led by her rival, Alexandr Stoianoglo. The Harvard University educated, former World Bank official narrowly edged out Stoianoglo in a presidential election late last year. Stoianoglo, a former prosecutor-general, will lead the coalition that says it wants to improve ties with Russia while also keeping a westward orientation. Speaking before parliament's decision, Sandu said the country was committed to holding to fair elections, adding that Moldovans must "decide the country's future" and that the justice system must "punish those who engage in vote-buying or coercion." Moldova, one of Europe's poorest countries, secured EU candidate status in 2022 and opened accession talks last year after firmly aligning itself with its neighbor, Ukraine, after Russia's unprovoked invasion in 2022, and joining the EU sanctions regime against Moscow. Sandu has tied her legacy to Moldova being in the European Union, while Stoianoglo, from Gagauzia -- a Turkic-speaking autonomous region of Moldova with pro-Russian sentiment -- has pushed a law-and-order theme. However, as prosecutor-general, Stoianoglo was widely criticized for his failure to address high-level corruption. Most notably, he was accused of inaction in the cases of Veaceslav Platon, an oligarch involved in the disappearance of around $1 billion from the country's banks and fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor, who was caught on camera giving PRSM leader and former President Igor Dodon a suspicious-looking bag. Russia has long been accused of destabilizing Moldovan politics via disinformation and financial support for fringe parties. Moscow has condemned what it describes as "Western interference" in Moldova's domestic affairs, particularly after Sandu's PAS party tightened campaign finance laws and banned pro-Russian media outlets accused of spreading war propaganda. In Gagauzia, local authorities have openly defied central government reforms and analysts said it may play a disruptive role during the campaign period especially if Russian-backed candidates are marginalized. Meanwhile, in Transdniester, the separatist enclave with de facto Russian control, the elections are being watched as a barometer of Chisinau's political will. A strong PAS victory, analysts said, could boost Moldova's efforts to assert authority over the breakaway region and tighten EU border security cooperation. EU officials, including members of the European Parliament, have urged Moldova to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections, warning any sign of political repression or legal overreach could complicate accession talks. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/moldova-elections- battle-eu-russia-sandu-stoianoglo/33388507.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 Lifting Terrorist Status From Taliban Opens Way to Full Partnership With Afghanistan - Moscow Sputnik News 20250417 The lifting of the terrorist status from the Taliban movement opens way to establishing full-fledged partnership with Kabul, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday. "The removal of terrorist status from the Taliban movement... paves the way for establishing a full-fledged partnership with Kabul, carried out in the interests of the Russian and Afghan peoples. Russia aims to build mutually beneficial ties with Afghanistan in all areas, including the fight against drugs and terrorism," the statement said. Other statements by Russian Foreign Ministry: Russia aims to build mutually beneficial ties with Afghanistan in all areas, including the fight against drugs and terrorism The Russian side expresses gratitude for Afghanistan's military operations on its territory against Wilayat Khorasan, a terrorist group which is banned in Russia Afghanistan has the potential to become a key player in major energy and infrastructure projects Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address K-dramas featuring K-pop idols have become a major trend in recent years, drawing fans of both music and television. A growing number of K-pop idols are now starring in romantic comedies and fantasy thrillers with unique stories. If you're looking for the next drama to add to your watchlist, consider listing these shows. IU, a celebrated soloist, stars alongside Park Bo-gum in this sweeping romance set on Jeju Island in the 1960s. The story follows Ae-sun and Gwan-sik, whose love endures family disapproval and personal hardships over several decades. The series explores themes of resilience and devotion, with IU's performance earning praise for its emotional depth. The show is directed by Kim Won-suk and written by Lim Sang-choon. 2. Hotel Del Luna IU leads again as Jang Man-wol, the mysterious owner of a hotel for ghosts, with Yeo Jin-goo as her human manager. The drama blends fantasy, romance, and comedy as Man-wol seeks redemption for a sin committed centuries ago. The hotel's staff and guests are all spirits with unfinished business. Kim Se-jeong, formerly of I.O.I and Gugudan, stars as Shin Ha-ri, who goes on a blind date pretending to be her friend, only to discover her date is her company's CEO. Se-jeong's comedic timing and chemistry with co-star Ahn Hyo-seop make this a fan favorite. The show also features Choi Byung-chan from "Victon." 4. Tomorrow Rowoon from SF9 plays Choi Jun-woong, a job seeker who joins a team of grim reapers tasked with saving people from suicide. The drama tackles serious social issues and blends them with fantasy and action. Rowoon's character brings empathy and hope to those in crisis, making the show both moving and thought-provoking. 5. The King's Affection Rowoon stars as Jung Ji-un, the tutor and love interest of a crown princess disguised as her deceased twin brother. The series is set in the Joseon era and explores themes of identity, love, and duty. The cast includes other idols like Byungchan of Victon and Jung Chae-yeon of DIA and I.O.I. Im Yoon-ah (Yoona) of Girls' Generation and Lee Jun-ho of 2PM headline this romantic comedy about a hotel conglomerate heir and a cheerful employee. Their on-screen chemistry and comedic moments have made the show a recent hit. The series explores workplace romance and family rivalry. 7. Love and Leashes Seohyun from Girls' Generation and Jun from U-KISS star in this romantic comedy about two coworkers who enter a unique contractual relationship. The show is known for its bold themes and the leads' strong performances. It offers a fresh take on office romance and personal boundaries. 8. Snowdrop Jisoo of BLACKPINK made her leading drama debut in "Snowdrop," a 2021-2022 JTBC series set in 1987 during South Korea's turbulent political climate. She plays Eun Yeong-ro, a cheerful university student who shelters a wounded man, Lim Soo-ho (Jung Hae-in), only to discover he is a North Korean agent. The drama unfolds as Yeong-ro and Soo-ho become trapped in a women's dormitory, facing danger and emotional turmoil as their relationship deepens. "Snowdrop" was a major streaming hit, ranking number one on Disney+ in several countries, and Jisoo's performance earned her the Outstanding Korean Actress award at the Seoul International Drama Awards. Hyeri from Girl's Day stars as Sung Deok-sun in this nostalgic coming-of-age series set in the late 1980s. The show focuses on friendship, family, and first love in a close-knit Seoul neighborhood. 10. 100 Days My Prince D.O. from EXO takes the lead as Crown Prince Yul, who loses his memory and ends up living as a commoner. The historical romance is filled with humor, intrigue, and heartfelt moments. Sanctioning International Bank of Yemen for Supporting the Houthis US Department of State Press Statement Tammy Bruce, Department Spokesperson April 17, 2025 Today, the United States is sanctioning the International Bank of Yemen Y.S.C (IBY) for its financial support to the Houthis, as well as key leaders or officials of IBY: Kamal Hussain Al Jebry, Ahmed Thabit Noman Al-Absi, and Abdulkader Ali Bazara. This action is part of a broader U.S. government effort to prevent Iran-backed Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and protect these critical waterways for global commerce. The United States is committed to disrupting Houthi financial networks and banking access as part of our whole-of-government approach to eliminating Iran's threat network. We are committed to supporting the internationally recognized government of Yemen's efforts to ensure the country's banking sector remains insulated from Houthi influence. Today's action was taken pursuant to the counterterrorism authority, Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended. The U.S. Department of State designated Ansarallah as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, effective February 16, 2024. On March 4, 2025, the Department of State announced the Re-designation of Ansarallah as a Foreign Terrorist Organization pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended. For more information, please refer to Treasury's Press Release. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary of State Marco Rubio with Ben Shapiro on the Ben Shapiro Show US Department of State Interview Marco Rubio, Secretary of State Washington, D.C. April 17, 2025 QUESTION: Joining us on the line, Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Secretary Rubio, thanks so much for joining the show. Really appreciate it. SECRETARY RUBIO: Thank you. Thanks for having me on. QUESTION: So let's talk about this major move that you just made at the State Department getting rid of a big chunk of the censorship bureaucracy that had been created and pushed a while back but then exacerbated over the course of the last few years, hidden. What's the story with what you are doing over at the State Department to get rid of the body formerly known as the Global Engagement Center? SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, I think you have to understand the history behind it. It's real brief. They started it by saying al-Qaida, ISIS, all these terrible groups are radicalizing people online, we should do something about it. Back when they came up with that 12 years ago, whatever it was, people were like, well, whatever, it makes sense. And then it metastasized and it's like, oh, there's foreign interference in our elections, we need to start going after that. Well then, by 2020, it became a moment to go after voices inside of American politics and begin to label people. And they put a guy in charge who basically was going around saying Trump is - Trump speaks just like these foreign terrorists, his supporters speak just like these foreign terrorists - so now you have an individual running a State Department entity that was labeling American speech by Americans as foreign interference. And then really, the kicker was not only were they doing all that formally from the State Department, but they were taking State Department money and they were giving it to these third-party groups who are supposed to be like independent, verified arbiters of what's true and what isn't, what's good and what's bad. And these groups were deliberately targeting - I believe you were one of the ones they targeted, I think the Federalist - began putting labels on people. Now you may say okay, "Well, what's the importance of a label?" Well, that's not just the issue here. The issue is not only did they put labels on people; that was then used to go to social media companies, it was used to go to outlets and say you have to deplatform these people or you have to cut back on how much views they're getting, you have to go after them - in essence, silence them. So in essence, it metastasized and the metamorphosis into a government-run entity that was targeting political speech in America, labeling it disinformation, and silencing it - all paid for by the American taxpayers directly and indirectly. And that ends. So what happened when we took - right before we took over, they got rid of this Global Engagement Center, they renamed it, and moved it somewhere else. But renaming something doesn't change it; you still leave the thing around. So we've undertaken 12 weeks of looking how do we reorganize this whole thing, how do we get rid of it, how do we - and that's what we're announcing today is we're taking the whole thing down. And it's about $50 million. I mean, it's not a small amount of money. And we're not going to be in the business of doing this anymore. In fact, we're going to be in the business of promoting free speech in America and around the world as a core American value, and that really is what we're going to be about right now. And we're also going to go back and look at, as an accountability project, all of the instances in which this was used as a weapon against American political voices. And the reason why that's important is not just because of accountability; it's to make sure it never happens again. You document these things so that someone in the future, when they get some bright idea like this, realize why we shouldn't do it, because this is what it turns into. QUESTION: And Secretary Rubio, it's a really good object lesson in what happens with some of these government agencies which started off decades ago with the right purposes and then gradually are infiltrated by people with a significant political partisan agenda, who then proceed to weaponize these institutions against Americans. We've seen this in USAID. SECRETARY RUBIO: Correct. QUESTION: Obviously we see this here with the GEC turned into another sort of body that was then hidden inside these agencies. I mean, when people like President Trump talk about the deep state, this is the kind of stuff that he's talking about. SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah. So USAID is another great example. Humanitarian aid - it was created for development and humanitarian aid. Where it really went off the rails is when humanitarian aid and development aid was turned into: How do we infuse domestic political priorities into what we fund around the world? So when it became a domestic political priority to take on transgender rights, now all of a sudden you've got programs by Americans couched as humanitarian or development aid in other countries around the world. In essence, they injected domestic political considerations into foreign aid, and the result is now it has to be rolled back. So it's another example. We're going to continue to do humanitarian aid. What we're not going to do is use humanitarian aid to spread a domestic ideological movement globally. We're not going to do that. QUESTION: Secretary Rubio, obviously this is a - it's a big move by the State Department. You've been making a lot of moves over at the State Department that are different than your predecessor's. That includes moves to get out of the United States people who are terrorist supporters, not just people who say bad things but people who are actual terrorist supporters, act in ways that are conducive to actual terror groups. I wanted to give you a moment to sort of explain the approach that the State Department is taking in taking a look at, for example, student visa holders. SECRETARY RUBIO: Right. QUESTION: What are the standards that are being used to determine whether somebody should stay in the United States or should go? Because obviously opponents of the administration are arguing it's violations of free speech, people have the ability to say what they want. That's not an argument that the administration is actually arguing with. The administration is not trying to crack down on free speech. You're trying to actually stop something else. SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah. Well, let's start with a baseline, okay? No one is entitled to a student visa to the enter the United States. No one. It's not a constitutional right. It's not a law. Every day, consular officers on the ground in face-to-face interviews are denying people visas for all kinds of reasons - because we think you're going to overstay, because we think your family member is a member of a drug ring, whatever it may be. We deny visas every day all over the world. No one is entitled to a visa. Let's start with that, because I hear some of this reporting out there like if somehow we - you're allowed to have a visa unless we can come up with a reason why you shouldn't have one. That's not true. The burden of proof is the other way. Now, let's say you go to a window somewhere in the world and say, "I want to go to the United States to study at a university," and as part of that interview it comes out you think Hamas is actually a good group. We probably would not let you in. I would hope we wouldn't let you in. Okay? But let's say we don't ask you that question and you get into the U.S. on a student visa, and all of a sudden it becomes obvious you think Hamas is a good group. Well, then we should revoke your visa. In essence, if we would have denied - if we had learned things about you once you're here that would have caused us to deny you a visa when you were overseas, that's grounds for revocation. It is not in the national interest of the United States, it's not in our foreign policy interest, it's not in our national security interest, to invite people onto our university campuses who are not just going to go there to study physics or engineering but who are also going to go there to foment movements that support and excuse foreign terrorist organizations who are committed to the destruction of the United States and the killing and the raping and the kidnapping of innocent civilians, not just in Israel but anywhere they can get their hands on them. That's not in our national interest. So we have a right to deny visas before you get here, and we have a right to revoke them if we believe that your presence in our country undermines our national interest, our national security, and our foreign policy. And that's what we intend to do. Now listen, there are other student visas that are being canceled that have nothing to do with us, by the way. And that has to do with someone, for example, who is here on a student visa and has a DUI. And I don't know - that's not us. That's DHS. But I don't know if people realize if you commit a crime while you're in the U.S., that's an automatic grounds for revoking your visa. And no one was ever doing it. They weren't doing it. They weren't cross-referencing the system. Now they're starting to do that. So that's the majority of these, but we have identified - I can't tell you the exact number because it's static and it's constantly moving, but when someone is presented to me and it's clear that this person is a supporter of a foreign terrorist organization, we're going to remove them from the country. You're not going to be here; it's just that simple. What a stupid thing, what a ridiculous thing, to invite people in your country so they can be part of these movements that are terrorizing fellow students, tearing up campuses, shutting down campuses. We have campuses in America that couldn't even operate for weeks. People couldn't go to class. Are we - are we crazy? What other country in the world would allow this? We shouldn't allow it. QUESTION: Secretary Rubio, I think that the controversy that's arisen over, for example, the detention of Mahmoud Khalil, who is one of the students at Columbia University who has a green card but who was also engaged in protest activities that violated the law, who obviously was sympathizing openly with terror attacks by Hamas and all the rest of this, that the sort of controversy here, there's a common thread to the opposition to the Trump Administration on this stuff, which is, as you mentioned, this bizarre idea that people are somehow owed entry to the United States. I think that ties in very strongly to the Democrats' new approach to what's going on with this Salvadoran migrant who's now been deported to El Salvador. The administration has taken a legal position that basically, now that he's in Salvadoran custody, that it's up to the Salvadorans whether to return this person to the United States or not for further due process concerns. But that's really not the case that's being made by opponents of the administration. Many of the opponents of the administration are making a more significant case, which is the idea that basically, if you get into the United States, you are somehow owed a permanent status in the United States. And you're seeing this across the board, ranging from the Trump Administration's moves to get rid of temporary protected status for people who have entered en masse under the Biden administration, to the resistance to DHS or the State Department making moves with regard to the tens of millions, possibly, of illegal immigrants who have brought into the country by the Biden administration. There is this bizarre supposition that everyone on Earth is somehow owed passage to the United States and permanent membership in our society. SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, and I think it explains to you why we have the immigration crisis that we had. And it was the belief - they would all say we believe we should have immigration laws, of course, but if you get into the United States you should be allowed to stay; if you make it here illegally, no matter how you got here, then you should be allowed to stay. I mean, I think that that mindset that's being revealed in these cases tells you how you get 12, 13, 14, 20 million people entering the country unlawfully and illegally over the last few years, because of this mindset that, yeah, we have immigration laws, but we don't really mean it; once you get in, you should be allowed to stay here indefinitely, and we have some sort of obligation to accommodate you here in the country. That's how you create this mindset that led to that crisis, and people know it. It's all incentive based. People believed under Joe Biden - rightfully, they believed - if I could just get across the border, I'm going to get to stay. And in 90-something percent of the cases they were absolutely right, and that's why more people kept coming. There's a reason why no one's coming now. You know one of the problems I'm facing right now with countries in Central America and the Western Hemisphere? U-turns. A lot of people were headed here, they realized Trump was serious, they made a U-turn, and now these countries are complaining, oh, they're stuck in my country. Well, you facilitated their transit for years. And now they're stuck with them as a result of it. But that's actually happening. Why? Because the incentives are no longer to come; the incentives are not to come. It's been successful. It's the most secure border we've had in my lifetime, I mean, if you just think about it. And it's not just because there are people there. It's because people aren't coming anymore because they know that the President is serious about enforcing our immigration laws. QUESTION: Well, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, really appreciate your time. Thanks for what you're doing inside the State Department to get rid of shadow organizations designed to crack down on free speech, as well as to move people out of the United States who actually don't like America very much. Secretary of State Rubio, thanks so much for stopping by. SECRETARY RUBIO: Thank you. Thanks for having me. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Treasury Targets International Bank of Yemen for Support to the Houthis U.S. Department of the Treasury April 17, 2025 WASHINGTON -- Today, the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is sanctioning Yemen-based International Bank of Yemen Y.S.C. (IBY) for its financial support to Ansarallah, commonly known as the Houthis, which is part of the Iran threat network. As part of this designation, OFAC is also sanctioning key leaders or officials of IBY, Kamal Hussain Al Jebry, Ahmed Thabit Noman Al-Absi, and Abdulkader Ali Bazara. The designation of IBY complements the whole-of-government effort to stop Iran-backed Houthi attacks against commercial shipping in the Red Sea. "Financial institutions like IBY are critical to the Houthis' efforts to access the international financial system and threaten both the region and international commerce," said Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Michael Faulkender. "Treasury remains committed to working with the internationally recognized government of Yemen to disrupt the Houthis' ability to secure funds and procure key components for their destabilizing attacks." Today's action against IBY and its officials, which follows the January 17, 2025 designation of Yemen Kuwait Bank for Trade and Investment Y.S.C., further targets the Houthis' access to and exploitation of Yemen's banking sector. It also underscores Treasury's support for the internationally recognized government of Yemen's sovereignty over the Yemeni banking system. This action is being taken pursuant to the counterterrorism authority, Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended. The U.S. Department of State's designation of Ansarallah as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, became effective on February 16, 2024. On March 4, 2025, the Department of State announced the re-designation of Ansarallah as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended. SUPPORTING REPUBLIC OF YEMEN GOVERNMENT PARTNERS Since the Houthis took control of large portions of Northern Yemen, the group has exploited access to formal financial institutions to facilitate transactions in support of their terrorist activities, which have disrupted international shipping and killed civilians. To address Houthi exploitation of these financial institutions, following the U.S. designation of the Houthis as an FTO on March 4, 2025, the Central Bank of Yemen - Aden (CBY - Aden) has worked with banks in Houthi-controlled territory to move their operational headquarters to Aden, Yemen, far from the intimidation and coercive influence of the Houthis. Despite these efforts, IBY continues to refuse to move its headquarters from Houthi-controlled territory. INTERNATIONAL BANK OF YEMEN Y.S.C. Based in Sana'a, Yemen, the International Bank of Yemen Y.S.C. (IBY) is controlled by the Iran-backed Houthis and provides the terrorist group access to the bank's Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications (SWIFT) network to make international financial transactions. For instance, IBY has aided Houthi-associated businesses and officials to purchase oil through the bank's access to the SWIFT network. IBY has also facilitated attempts by the Houthis to evade sanctions oversight, and has helped the Houthis to mobilize resources and confiscate assets from Houthi opponents. IBY has refused to comply with CBY - Aden information requests to avoid revealing the details of these Houthi confiscations. The three individuals designated today hold important leadership roles at IBY and are responsible for the bank's operations: Kamal Hussain Al Jebry is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of IBY; Ahmed Thabit Noman Al-Absi is the Executive General Manager of IBY; and Abdulkader Ali Bazara is the Deputy General Manager of IBY. IBY is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Ansarallah. Kamal Hussain Al Jebry, Ahmed Thabit Noman Al-Absi, and Abdulkader Ali Bazara are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for being leaders or officials of IBY. SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS As a result of today's action, all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC's regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons. Violations of U.S. sanctions may result in the imposition of civil or criminal penalties on U.S. and foreign persons. OFAC may impose civil penalties for sanctions violations on a strict liability basis. OFAC's Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines provide more information regarding OFAC's enforcement of U.S. economic sanctions. In addition, financial institutions and other persons may risk exposure to sanctions for engaging in certain transactions or activities with designated entities or otherwise blocked persons. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person. Furthermore, engaging in certain transactions with the individuals designated today entails risk of secondary sanctions pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended. Pursuant to this authority, OFAC can prohibit or impose strict conditions on opening or maintaining, in the United States, a correspondent account or a payable-through account of a foreign financial institution that knowingly conducts or facilitates any significant transaction on behalf of a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC's ability to designate and add persons to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN) List, but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, please refer to OFAC's Frequently Asked Question 897 here, and to submit a request for removal, click here. Click here for more information on the entity and individuals designated today. ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address At least one million children facing emergency levels of food insecurity in Haiti UNICEF Risk of famine looms as armed violence and economic conditions continue to push families to the brink 17 April 2025 PORT-AU-PRINCE/ NEW YORK, 17 APRIL 2025 -- Over one million children are facing critical levels of food insecurity in Haiti, UNICEF estimates. Persistent armed violence, repeated displacement, and lack of sufficient humanitarian access continue to threaten vulnerable families - while the risk of famine looms. Overall, UNICEF estimates that 2.85 million children - or one quarter of the entire child population in Haiti - are facing consistently high levels of food insecurity across the country, based on the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) update released this week. Families continue to grapple with significant lack of food and high levels of acute malnutrition. "We are looking at a scenario where parents can no longer provide care and nutrition to their children as a result of ongoing violence, extreme poverty, and a persistent economic crisis," said Geeta Narayan, UNICEF Representative in Haiti. "Life-saving actions, such as screening children at risk for wasting and stunting, and ensuring malnourished children have access to therapeutic treatment, are needed now to save children's lives." With food insecurity on the rise, the country also faces a growing public health emergency and famine-like conditions affecting an estimated 8,400 people. Health services across the country are under immense pressure, with less than 50 per cent of health facilities in Port-au-Prince being fully operational, and two out of three of the major public hospitals being out of commission. The impact on children is severe, with healthcare and life-saving treatment becoming increasingly inaccessible, putting children at greater risk of various forms of malnutrition and preventable disease. In much of the country, armed violence has restricted children's access to food. With worsening food insecurity and unrest, the crisis has resulted in a nutrition crisis for families. Yet just as needs intensify, the response is increasingly constrained by funding shortfalls. UNICEF's nutrition programme under the Humanitarian Action for Children appeal currently faces a critical 70% funding gap, limiting our ability to reach the most vulnerable. In 2025 so far, UNICEF and its partners have treated over 4,600 children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM), representing only 3.6% of the 129,000 children projected to need life-saving treatment this year. +++++ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Gaza: Alongside conflict, an information war is still happening, warns UNRWA chief By Daniel Johnson 17 April 2025 - Amid reported Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip into Thursday that killed at least 23 people, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, issued an urgent call to "get international media into Gaza" to cover the conflict, in addition to those reporters trapped in the enclave. "Palestinian journalists continue to do heroic work, paying a heavy price; 170 have been killed to date," said UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini. "The free flow of information and independent reporting are key to facts and accountability during conflicts." In his appeal, Mr. Lazzarini noted that in the more than 18 months since war in Gaza began, sparked by unprecedented Hamas-led terror attacks on Israel, reliable reporting has been overtaken by propaganda and "dehumanizing" messages about the war. Spike in attacks, censorship Ajith Sunghay, head of the UN human rights office, OHCHR, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, also expressed deep concerns about the dangers facing journalists there - although the situation "has always been very difficult", he maintained. "They have been subject to oppression in many instances we've recorded - killings and censorship and detention," he told UN News. "But we have also recorded a massive spike in such operations - attacks, killings, detention and censorship - since 7 October 2023." Mr. Sunghay noted that OHCHR data indicates that 209 journalists have been killed in Gaza since 7 October 2023, the higher number reflecting all journalists killed on duty or at home. The situation for journalists in the West Bank is also critical, with reports of arrested reporters receiving simulated beatings and threats of sexual violence against women journalists by Israeli authorities, the OHCHR office noted. "Journalists are civilians and are protected from attacks under international humanitarian law unless they're directly participating in hostilities," Mr. Sunghay said, adding that Palestinian authorities were also reportedly responsible for "oppression" of media professionals. "The intentional killings of journalists is a war crime, and this is something that we have highlighted on several occasions." All aid still cut In a related development, other UN agencies issued fresh alerts about the mounting impact of Israel's six-week-old decision to cut off all food and other supplies from entering the shattered territory. Fuel is also included in the embargo and supplies are dwindling, with "bakeries shutting, hospitals running out of medicine" and gasoline for generators to keep their machinery working, said UNRWA. Since Israeli bombing of Gaza resumed on 18 March, about 500,000 people have been newly displaced "or uprooted once more", said spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General Stephanie Tremblay. Her comments came as Israel's defence minister reportedly said that troops will remain in Gaza's so-called security zones indefinitely, along with Lebanon and Syria. Aid deliveries also continue to be impacted by Israeli refusals, with only two out of six missions that had been coordinated with the Israeli authorities allowed to go ahead on Wednesday. "The remaining four were denied" including one mission to retrieve urgently needed fuel from Rafah, noted Ms. Tremblay, citing the UN aid coordination office, OCHA. Some 30 per cent of the Gaza Strip is now a security buffer where Palestinian civilians cannot live, the Israeli military reportedly announced. Positive developments Amid ongoing Israeli bombardment, military manoeuvres and evacuation orders, UN aid teams highlighted their continuing efforts to help the people of war-torn Gaza, despite encountering immense difficulties. Here's some of the latest positive news from UNRWA: Health centre reopens : Approximately 1,300 patients attended a newly reopened UNRWA health centre in Maan, southern Gaza, after it was severely damaged in December 2023 during an Israeli military incursion into east Khan Younis. The facility provides outpatient services, non-communicable disease care, medications, vaccinations, antenatal and postnatal health care. It also offers physiotherapy and psychosocial support. : Approximately 1,300 patients attended a newly reopened UNRWA health centre in Maan, southern Gaza, after it was severely damaged in December 2023 during an Israeli military incursion into east Khan Younis. The facility provides outpatient services, non-communicable disease care, medications, vaccinations, antenatal and postnatal health care. It also offers physiotherapy and psychosocial support. A blood donation drive for local hospitals is also underway in southern Gaza at UNRWA medical points amid an urgent need for thousands of blood units for life-saving operations. "Medicines and medical consumables are rapidly running out in Gaza, including critically low levels of supplies and blood units for maternal and child health," the UN agency said. for local hospitals is also underway in southern Gaza at UNRWA medical points amid an urgent need for thousands of blood units for life-saving operations. "Medicines and medical consumables are rapidly running out in Gaza, including critically low levels of supplies and blood units for maternal and child health," the UN agency said. Water well flowing again: Repairs have been successful to a water well that serves around 20,000 displaced people in Jabalia camp and others sheltering in seven UNRWA shelters in the surrounding area, the UN agency said on Thursday. UNRWA now operates five water wells: three in Jabalia, one in Gaza City and one in Khan Younis. Recycled and reused parts made the project possible. According to the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), around one million people, including 400,000 children, have gone from having access to 16 litres of drinking water per person per day, to just six. Repairs have been successful to a water well that serves around 20,000 displaced people in Jabalia camp and others sheltering in seven UNRWA shelters in the surrounding area, the UN agency said on Thursday. UNRWA now operates five water wells: three in Jabalia, one in Gaza City and one in Khan Younis. Recycled and reused parts made the project possible. According to the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), around one million people, including 400,000 children, have gone from having access to 16 litres of drinking water per person per day, to just six. Daily waste removal continues in Gaza with around 2,500 cubic metres of water and 230 tonnes of solid waste collected every day. This represents about 40 per cent of overall needs. In its latest update, OCHA said that at least 51,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war on 7 October 2023 and 116,343 Palestinians injured. This includes 1,630 people killed and 4,302 injured since the escalation of hostilities on 18 March, it said, citing Gaza health authorities "The lack of heavy machinery and equipment hinder rescue efforts of the wounded and missing while casualties continue to fall due to continued bombardment by Israeli forces, including on tents for displaced people," OCHA said. Meanwhile, the aid community's Nutrition Cluster has warned that the rapid deterioration of children's nutrition status in Gaza "is already visible". In March alone, 3,696 children were newly admitted for acute malnutrition out of 91,769 children screened. This marks a sharp increase compared with February, when 2,027 children were admitted out of a total of 83,823 screened. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Rise in violence against civilians in South Sudan 17 April 2025 - The number of civilians in South Sudan harmed by conventional parties to the conflict and other armed groups increased by 51 per cent in 2024, the UN Mission in the country (UNMISS) said on Thursday. The finding comes in its latest brief on violence against civilians, which also reveals a similar rise in incidents of conflict-related sexual violence (CSRV). Sources include victims and eyewitness accounts, as well as reports from secondary sources identified during field missions, service providers and protection partners. Killings, abductions and other horrors Last year, UNMISS documented 1,019 violent incidents affecting 3,657 civilians. Of this number 1,561 were killed and 1,299 injured. Another 551 people were abducted, including at least nine humanitarian workers, while 246 were subjected to CRSV. This marks a 15 per cent increase over the 885 violent incidents documented in 2023 and a nine per cent increase in victims. UNMISS said armed communal violence by community-based militias and/or civil defense groups remained the leading cause of harm against civilians, accounting for nearly 80 per cent of victims. Warrap state recorded the highest number of civilian deaths and injuries, mainly by community-based militias and/or civil defense groups, whereas Western Equatoria state documented the highest number of sexual violence. Most abductions took place in Central Equatoria state, mainly by alleged members of National Salvation Front splinter groups, followed by Jonglei state, allegedly by armed elements from the Murle community. Urgent action needed "Protecting civilians and preventing violence requires urgent action by authorities at the national, state and local levels as well as by communities to address the root causes of conflict and find non-violent solutions," said Nicholas Haysom, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for South Sudan and Head of UNMISS. He stressed the critical need to promote dialogue, reconciliation and social cohesion in order to defuse tensions and build trust. Noting that the Government of South Sudan bears primary responsibility to protect civilians, UNMISS called on national and state authorities to take appropriate measures to end violence, defuse tensions, and hold perpetrators accountable. The UN Mission supports these efforts by conducting thousands of peacekeeping patrols each year. It also supports community efforts to promote reconciliation and peacebuilding through dialogue and actively assists political and peace processes. Recent tensions and insecurity South Sudan is the world's youngest country, having gained independence from Sudan in July 2011, but soon descended into civil war. Fighting erupted in December 2013 between troops loyal to President Salva Kiir and opposition forces led by his rival Riek Machar. Hundreds of thousands of people were killed and millions displaced. A 2018 peace agreement ended the conflict and established a unity government. The UN has been warning against a return to full-scale war in the wake of rising tensions, including the arrest of Mr. Machar last month and fresh mobilization of the army and opposing armed groups in some regions. Mr. Haysom, the UNMISS chief, briefed the UN Security Council on Wednesday. He said that the sharp deterioration in the political and security situation threatens to unravel peace gains made in recent years. Lieutenant General Mohan Subramanian, UNMISS Force Commander, also spoke to UN News about how the spread of misinformation, disinformation and hate speech continue to fuel instability in South Sudan. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Record hunger in Haiti amid rising needs 17 April 2025 - Escalating armed violence, displacement, economic turmoil and disruptions to local food production are fueling hunger in Haiti and leaving millions at risk, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said on Thursday. The UN agency is sounding the alarm following the release of the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report, which uses a scale from 1 to 5 to assess conditions. It reveals that more than half the Haitian population, a record 5.7 million people, are projected to experience acute food insecurity through June. Of this number, just over two million are projected to face emergency level hunger (IPC phase 4). About 8,400 are expected to face catastrophe (IPC Phase 5), the most critical level of food insecurity where people experience an extreme lack of food, severe acute malnutrition and risk of starvation. Families on the run Haiti continues to be in the grip of heavily armed gangs, particularly in the capital Port-au-Prince, and the violence has forced over one million people to flee to safety. Displaced families are sheltering in schools and public buildings in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions with limited access to clean food, water and healthcare. WFP and partners have scaled up operations, reaching more than 1.3 million people to date this year, including a record one million people in March - the highest number assisted in one month. Critical funding needs However, needs are outpacing resources and WFP urgently needs $53.7 million to continue its lifesaving operations over the next six months. "Right now, we're fighting to just hold the line on hunger," said Wanja Kaaria, WFP Country Director in Haiti. "To keep pace with the growing crisis, we call on the international community to provide urgent support - and above all, the country needs peace." WFP is providing emergency assistance as well as long-term support to internally displaced people. It has supplied 740,000 hot meals to more than 112,000 recently displaced people so far this year, as well as cash for food and support to prevent malnutrition among children. Moreover, it has secured unprecedented access to areas controlled by armed groups, delivering lifesaving food to several hard-to-reach communities. WFP also manages the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) which continues to serve as a vital lifeline, ensuring that aid workers and supplies reach communities in need. Children going hungry Meanwhile, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) warned that over one million boys and girls in Haiti are facing critical levels of food insecurity. Overall, UNICEF estimates that 2.85 million children - or one quarter of all children in the country - are facing consistently high levels of food insecurity. "We are looking at a scenario where parents can no longer provide care and nutrition to their children as a result of ongoing violence, extreme poverty, and a persistent economic crisis," said Geeta Narayan, UNICEF Representative in Haiti. Health system strained Furthermore, with food insecurity on the rise, Haiti is also confronting a growing public health emergency. Across the country health services are under immense pressure. Less than half of health facilities in the capital city are fully operational, and two out three of the major public hospitals are out of commission. The impact on children is severe, UNICEF said, with healthcare and lifesaving treatment becoming increasingly inaccessible - putting children at greater risk of various forms of malnutrition and preventable disease. UNICEF added that in much of the country, armed violence has restricted children's access to food. With worsening food insecurity and unrest, the crisis has resulted in a nutrition crisis for families. The UN agency and partners have treated over 4,600 children with severe acute malnutrition so far in 2025, but this represents less than four per cent of the 129,000 children projected to need life-saving treatment this year. UNICEF noted that funding shortfalls are constraining humanitarian response as needs intensify, with a childhood nutrition programme facing a critical 70 per cent funding gap. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NATO Allies and Partners Gather for Black Sea Maritime Forum US Navy 17 April 2025 From U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa Public Affairs NAPLES, Italy -- Naval leaders from across NATO and partner nations convened in Naples, Italy, April 15-17 for the 4th Annual Black Sea Maritime Forum. The forum, hosted by Admiral Stuart B. Munsch, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, provided a platform for discussions on maritime security challenges and opportunities for collaboration in the Black Sea region. Discussions focused on enhancing cooperation and interoperability among regional navies, promoting maritime domain awareness, and strengthening efforts to counter illicit activities. Participants also addressed the importance of upholding international law and freedom of navigation in the Black Sea. The forum demonstrates NATO's commitment to the region as the Black Sea is a vital waterway for the passage of international commerce and grain shipments. Maritime security in the Black Sea is also an important aspect of NATO's regional defensive plan for Southeast Europe. The Forum also demonstrates the leading role European nations are taking in maritime security for NATO's Southeastern flank. The forum included representatives from Bulgaria, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Japan, Joint Force Command Naples, Norway, Romania, Sweden, Turkiye, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Academic experts from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School and the U.S. Naval War College also participated. The event fostered open dialogue and strengthened partnerships crucial for maintaining a secure and prosperous Black Sea region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Persistent violence and displacement lead to record hunger in Haiti as needs skyrocket World Food Programme 17 April 2025 WFP scaling up emergency assistance in hard-hit areas, but needs outpacing available resources. PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- Despite the United Nations World Food Programme's (WFP) expanded emergency response, an escalation in violence, displacement, economic turmoil and disruptions to local food production are fueling hunger, leaving millions at risk. The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report shows a record 5.7 million people - more than half of all Haitians - are projected to experience acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3+) through June 2025. Of those, just over two million are projected to face Emergency level hunger (IPC phase 4), while about 8,400 people are expected to face Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5), the most critical level of food insecurity where people experience an extreme lack of food, severe acute malnutrition and risk of starvation. Growing armed violence has driven massive displacement and increased hunger as armed groups seek to expand their control, forcing over one million people from their homes. In Port-au-Prince, displaced families are sheltering in schools and public buildings, enduring overcrowded and unsanitary conditions with limited access to clean water, food and healthcare. WFP and its partners have significantly scaled up operations in Haiti, reaching more than 1.3 million people to date in 2025. This includes one million people in March, a record number of people assisted in one month, but more is urgently needed. "Right now, we're fighting to just hold the line on hunger," said Wanja Kaaria, WFP Country Director in Haiti. "Without the immense efforts already underway, the situation would be far worse. To keep pace with the growing crisis, we call on the international community to provide urgent support - and above all, the country needs peace." WFP is providing first-line emergency assistance as well as long-term support to those internally displaced. So far in 2025, WFP has supplied 740,000 hot meals to more than 112,000 recently displaced people, as well as cash for food and support to prevent malnutrition among children. WFP has also secured unprecedented access to areas controlled by armed groups, delivering lifesaving food to hard-to-reach communities in Croix-des-Bouquets, Cite Soleil, Lower Delmas and La Saline. Meanwhile, the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS), managed by WFP, continues to serve as a vital lifeline for the humanitarian response ensuring aid workers and supplies reach communities in need. WFP urgently needs US$53.7 million to continue its life-saving operations in Haiti over the next six months. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 17 April 2025 - Day 1149 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 A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace. "To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal] The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that in total, since the beginning of this day, there have been 114 combat clashes. Ukrainian defenders continue to decisively interrupt the attempts of the enemy to advance deep into Ukrainian territory, giving him a fiery impression. Russian zagarbniki committed one rocket and 60 aviation strikes, using three rockets and 60 cab. In addition, 1086 kamikaze drones were recruited to impress and carried out more than 5,000 shells on the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements. In the direction of Kupyans komu, theRussian enemy carried out four offensive actions near Petropavlivka, Synkivka and Zagrizovoye. One confrontation is ongoing so far. Experienced bombing of Kupyansk. In the Lyman direction, the Defense Forces repelled 17 assaults from positions near the settlements Novovodiyane, Nadia, Nove, Novomikhailivka, Yampolivka and towards Grekivka and Grigorivka. The two clashes are still ongoing. In the sivers komu direction, Russian forces twice attacked near bilogorivka and in the direction of verkhnyokamans kogo. Since the beginning of the day in the kramators komu direction, Russian forces attacked in the areas of casovogo yaru, kurdumivki and towards stupocok. Ukrainian units repelled five attacks, three confrontations are currently ongoing. In the direction of Torets komu today, there were 10 boezitknen . Russian forces tried to storm the positions of Ukrainian units in the areas of Toretsk, Ozaryanivka and Friendship. In the Pokrovsky direction, since the beginning of this day, Russian forces attacked 54 times in the areas of settlements Suha Balka, Stara Nikolaivka, Green Field, Water Second, Elizabeth, Novotoretske, Ray, Fox, Kotline, Uspenivka, Preobrazhenka and Andriyivka. Ukrainian defenders have repelled 48 attacks, six more clashes continue so far. Today in this direction, according to preliminary data, eliminated 703 occupants, of which 480 is irrevocable. In addition, Ukrainian soldiers destroyed 26 combat armored vehicles, two artillery systems, one RSZV, 13 units of automobile equipment, 10 BplAs, three BplAs control points, three portable radio-electronic combat stations, four BK warehouses and 170 units of motor equipment; also damaged four artillery systems, two tanks, one PPO vehicle, three motorcycles and a car. In the Novopavliv direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled six attacks of zagarbnikiv in the areas of Konstantinopol, Rozlivu and Privilny. In the Orihivs komu direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled the Russian attack in the area of small tokmacki. In Kur ini, there were 13 clashes with Russian zagarbnikami, so far two are ongoing. Russian forces launched 12 air strikes, dropped 19 controlled bombs, carried out 316 artillery shells, including five of the reactive systems of arson-fire. In Kharkiv, Gulyaipils komu and Pridniprovsky directions of active offensive actions of the Russian enemy is not recorded. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Former beauty queen turned politician Daniela Miruvska is under arrest in Mexico City, confirmed the authorities. Miruvska, a member of Mexico's ruling Morena party, is facing charges of property usurpation and theft regarding a 2022 property dispute. The dispute, which allegedly took place in the Fuentes de Satelite neighborhood of Mexico City, involves a property that Miruvska had granted to another person under a lifetime usufruct agreement, which means that while she keeps the ownership of the place, the person can use it and benefit from it freely forever. According to the plaintiff, the problems started when Miruvska and another individual claimed ownership and called the police, accusing workers the person who has not been identified had hired to work in the house of trespassing. The very next day, Miruvska reportedly returned with a locksmith and local police, evicted the people inside, and took control of the house. Months later, during a May 2024 court hearing, the plaintiff reported that numerous valuable items had vanished from the home, including spa equipment, clothing, jewelry, laptops, official documents, and roughly 250,000 pesos in cash, equivalent to about $15,000 USD. This prompted the State of Mexico Attorney General's Office to launch a formal investigation, and a judge signed an arrest warrant, executed on April 15, 2025. Miruvska rose to local fame after winning the 'Senorita Estado de Mexico' beauty pageant in 2016. By 2019, she was named director of the Municipal Women's Institute in Atizapan, although she resigned from the post within months. In 2024, she registered as a local congressional candidate in Mexico State's District 26 under Morena, the party of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. Miruvska is also known in social circles as the former partner of Carlos Roman Marin, a public figure in the region. As of now, Morena has not issued a statement regarding Miruvska's legal troubles or her status within the party. Her arrest comes at a time when Mexico is under increased scrutiny over political corruption and impunity, particularly among lower-level public officials and political candidates. Originally published on Latin Times Afghan National Pleads Guilty to Obtaining Firearms in Connection with Plot to Conduct ISIS-Inspired Election Day Terrorist Attack Thursday, April 17, 2025 For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs Abdullah Haji Zada, 18, a native and citizen of Afghanistan and U.S. lawful permanent resident, pleaded guilty today to a criminal information charging him with knowingly receiving, attempting to receive, and conspiring to receive a firearm and ammunition to be used to commit a federal crime of terrorism. According to court documents, Zada and a co-conspirator received two AK-47-style rifles and 500 rounds of ammunition, knowing that the firearms and ammunition would be used in connection with a terrorist attack on Election Day in November 2024 on behalf the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization. Zada was arrested with co-conspirator Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 27, also a citizen of Afghanistan, in October 2024. Zada, who was 17 at the time of his arrest, entered his guilty plea as an adult and will be sentenced as an adult. At sentencing, Zada faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. As part of the plea agreement, Zada stipulated to the entry of a judicial order of removal from the United States to Afghanistan following his term of incarceration. Zada acknowledged that the order of removal would terminate his lawful permanent resident status. Zada also waived his right to appeal the conviction except in limited circumstances or seek any form of appeal or relief from his removal and deportation, including but not limited to, seeking asylum. Tawhedi is currently awaiting trial for conspiring and attempting to provide material support to ISIS, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and receiving, attempting to receive, or conspiring to receive a firearm to be used to commit a felony or a federal crime of terrorism, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, if convicted. An indictment is merely an allegation and Tawhedi is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Sue J. Bai, head of the Justice Department's National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester for the Western District of Oklahoma, and Assistant Director David J. Scott of the FBI's Counterterrorism Division made the announcement. The FBI Oklahoma City Field Office's Joint Terrorism Task Force, which includes Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Marshals Service, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Edmond Police Department, the Moore Police Department, the Oklahoma City Police Department, the Oklahoma City Community College Police Department, and the Oklahoma City University Police Department, is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica L. Perry and Matt Dillon for the Western District of Oklahoma, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Everett McMillian and Trial Attorney Jennifer Levy of the National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case. Topics: Counterterrorism National Security Components: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) National Security Division (NSD) USAO - Oklahoma, Western Press Release Number: 25-398 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Meeting on development of space activities The President held a meeting on the development of space activities at Bauman Moscow State Technical University. April 16, 2025 20:15 Moscow Taking part in the meeting were First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Maxim Oreshkin, presidential aides Alexei Dyumin and Andrei Fursenko, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov, President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Gennady Krasnikov, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, Commander of the Space Forces - Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces Alexander Golovko, Director General of the Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities Dmitry Bakanov, Head of the National Research Centre Kurchatov Institute Mikhail Kovalchuk, Director General of State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom Alexei Likhachev, Chairman of the Science and Technology Council of the Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation - Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation Andrei Tyulin, and Rector of Bauman Moscow State Technical University Mikhail Gordin. * * * Opening remarks by President of Russia President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Colleagues, Today, our focus is on the long-term development of the national space industry. Addressing this topic always carries a special responsibility to the pioneers of space exploration, to those who set the highest standards for us. Just recently, on April 12, together, we marked Cosmonautics Day, a day when the first human travelled to space - a feat accomplished by our compatriot Yury Gagarin. The memory of his achievement continues to unite all generations of our citizens. I would like to once again congratulate on this holiday industry veterans, cosmonauts, servicemen of the Russian Aerospace Forces, and all personnel of state enterprises, private space companies (and we now have these as well, thankfully), employees of scientific organisations and universities, and, of course, the team of the legendary Bauman University, where this meeting is taking place. Among its alumni are a whole constellation of renowned cosmonauts, prominent scientists, and designers. In our day and age, the best personnel training traditions are being developed and enriched, with the new campus involved in this effort, as we have seen. It creates up-to-date conditions for acquiring relevant competencies. We will certainly implement projects like this one in other cities across Russia. You may have noticed the brief conversation that took place as we toured the premises of Bauman University and became acquainted with the students and post-graduate students. I ask the Government and Roscosmos to focus on the proposals put forward during the conversation and analyse them thoroughly. These young people have many good ideas; they understand the tasks facing the industry and believe that youth should make a greater contribution to implementing the space programme. We cannot but agree with this. I once again ask to support these ideas. In this regard, I would like to remind you that I have spoken about the cosmonauts, an entire galaxy of cosmonauts who graduated from Bauman University; an entire space crew, if I am not mistaken, once included its graduates and researchers. Let me remind you that Sergei Korolev was also a Bauman graduate. He not only took a course of studies but also designed a light aircraft as his graduation project. Three decades later, as is commonly known, he and a team of like-minded people propelled Russia towards leadership in space. This demonstrates that this university has rich and fundamental traditions. Today, our plans in this crucial area should be commensurate with our country's historical status as a foremost space power. It is essential to boost the potential of the Russian space industry so that it becomes a flagship and a key driving force of our entire national development, the technological upgrading of the economy, and a rise in living standards. It is this logic that motivated our discussion in October 2023 on the need to draw up a comprehensive, systemic national project in the area of space exploration. This project should encompass all fields of priority importance for Russia, from creating our own multi-satellite clusters of various profiles in orbit and a national space station to drafting deep-space exploration programmes. In March, I had a meeting with Dmitry Bakanov, the Roscosmos chief - he is present here and will speak too - and we agreed that the new national project will be approved shortly, ensuring full financial support for it as part of the effort to draft the federal budget for 2026 and the subsequent years until 2028. Today, I would like to hear how the work on this key aspect of the national project is proceeding. Colleagues, I would like to draw your attention to several key issues that require special focus. First and foremost, the national project must clearly and precisely articulate both the short- and long-term goals of Russia's space programme. This will allow us to immediately set concrete tasks for science, education and personnel training - areas which, I stress, are essential for the successful implementation of all technological leadership projects. It is also crucial to define clear investment benchmarks for tech companies. Together with the business sector, we must begin forming a full-fledged industry of space-based communication, navigation, and satellite data services by 2030. To ensure the quality and accessibility of such products and services, we must have our own cutting-edge, competitive solutions. In this regard, I believe it is absolutely necessary that the dedicated national project provides targeted support for national universities, research institutes, design bureaus and private companies already engaged in developing platform-based solutions for multi-satellite constellations. This includes the creation of mathematical modelling and data processing methods, the development of instruments and components, optical equipment, and technologies aimed at significantly reducing the cost of space launches. Another important area is Russia's nuclear space power capability. The national project must enable real progress in this field. I am referring to the development of electric propulsion systems and other technologies required for autonomous operation on various space objects. At first glance, these may appear to be long-term ambitions, but in reality, all major spacefaring nations are actively working on these subjects in practical terms. Let me add that nuclear power units developed by Soviet scientists have already been operated in orbit. And today, with the development of advanced materials and new technologies, we now have fundamentally new and expanded opportunities to implement such complex projects. Russia's undisputed leadership in this area must continue to grow. In this context, I suggest that we discuss today the core parameters for developing a space system equipped with a specialised power station, along with the so-called space tug, a transport and energy module based on a nuclear-powered propulsion system. These are large-scale initiatives being carried out with the leading involvement of Roscosmos, Rosatom, and the Kurchatov Institute. Furthermore, a key direction of the national project for the development of space activities should be fundamental research in deep space. Russia has already made significant advances in this domain and is implementing important programmes. Chief among them is the Spektr-RG orbital observatory - a true space laboratory producing a detailed map of the universe. Just to remind you, Russia has unique research schools studying the Moon, Mars and other planets. For example, our national technology for landing spacecraft on Venus, which I mentioned during my meeting with students today, has not been recreated or copied anywhere in the world to this day. What did I say the surface temperature was, 500 degrees Celsius, isn't it? President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Gennady Krasnikov: The temperature is 450 degrees Celsius and the surface pressure is 70 atmospheres. Vladimir Putin: To round it up, it is about 500 degrees. Anyway, nobody has repeated our achievement so far. I would like to ask President of the Russian Academy of Sciences [Gennady] Krasnikov to give a detailed account of the research areas to be included in this national project, the tasks we need to formulate, and the additional solutions we need to find for their successful realisation. Colleagues, we all know very well that all space projects are complicated and involve major financial investment, but they are vitally important for Russia to remain a large sovereign country and to continue to develop in this capacity. I would like to emphasise that it is important to identify understandable and stable sources of funding for the national space programme, because our development in the decades ahead depends on our achievements in space exploration. At the same time, the knowledge we acquire and the technologies we create in the process must be converted without fail into advanced research aimed at achieving national goals, developing the Arctic, and building up our defence capability. Overall, the national space project should become a cross-cutting cumulative national project aimed at attaining technological sovereignty. It should accelerate the implementation of many fundamentally new technological solutions, including information transfer based on quantum and photonic technologies, facilitate the development of robotics, advanced materials, microelectronics, and biological and medical technologies, and expedite the creation and deployment of unmanned vehicles. I would like to add that Russia's technological achievements, primarily in the exploration of deep space, could become our considerable contribution to international programmes. We are open to such cooperation, and we are ready to implement joint projects. We will certainly discuss the format of such cooperation with our partners in the other space powers. Let us get down to work. The floor goes to [Roscosmos CEO] Dmitry Bakanov. <...> NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Xi Jinping Meets with King of Malaysia His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: April 16, 2025 23:00 On the morning of April 16, 2025 local time, King of Malaysia His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim met with President of China Xi Jinping at the National Palace of Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur in April is bathed in bright sunshine, with lush greenery everywhere. Sultan Ibrahim held a grand welcome ceremony for Xi Jinping at the square of the National Palace. When Xi Jinping arrived by limo, Sultan Ibrahim and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim warmly greeted him at the alighting point of his limo. As the two heads of state stepped onto the stand, the military band played the national anthems of China and Malaysia, and a 21-gun salute was fired. Xi Jinping reviewed the honor guard. The two heads of state entered the National Palace hall and shook hands and exchanged greetings with each other's accompanying officials. After the welcome ceremony, Xi Jinping met with Sultan Ibrahim. Xi Jinping pointed out that China and Malaysia are good neighbors, good friends and good partners who visit each other as often as family. Bilateral relations have gone through a magnificent half-century and are embracing an even brighter future. Xi Jinping said he is ready to work with Sultan Ibrahim, the Malaysian supreme head of state, to lead the long-term and stable development of China-Malaysia relations, jointly build a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future and write a new chapter in good-neighborliness, friendship, solidarity and cooperation, so as to usher in new "Golden 50 Years" for bilateral relations. Xi Jinping stressed that China and Malaysia should continue to deepen political mutual trust and support each other on issues related to their respective core interests and major concerns. The two sides should deepen the synergy of development strategies, draw on each other's strengths for mutual benefit and win-win results, and jointly pursue modernization. He called on the two sides to ensure good implementation of major projects such as "Two Countries, Twin Parks" and the East Coast Rail Link, and to speed up efforts to foster cooperation in future industries such as artificial intelligence, digital economy and green economy. China welcomes more high-quality Malaysian agricultural products to the Chinese market, and encourages Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Malaysia. China is ready to promote the dialogue between Confucian culture and the Islamic civilization with Malaysia and carry out further cooperation in culture, tourism and education to bring the two peoples closer. China supports Malaysia in its role as the ASEAN rotating chair and is ready to work with Malaysia to implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, and promote the Global South's pursuit of unity-driven collective strength and common development, so as to contribute more certainty and positive energy to the region and the world. Sultan Ibrahim said that President Xi Jinping's state visit to Malaysia is a major event in bilateral relations, which fully demonstrates the high level of Malaysia-China relations, adding that his successful visit to China last September is still fresh in his memory. Sultan Ibrahim said he believes that President Xi Jinping's visit to Malaysia will comprehensively upgrade bilateral relations and promote vigorous development of cooperation in various fields. China's impressive development achievements are attributable to the foresight of President Xi Jinping and the hard work of the Chinese people. Malaysia attaches great importance to its relations with China and will join hands to forge ahead for win-win cooperation and promote the building of a high-level strategic community with a shared future no matter how the international landscape evolves. Malaysia attaches importance to regional economic integration, firmly supports the Belt and Road Initiative, and is willing to strengthen trade and investment cooperation with China, jointly stabilize industrial and supply chains, enhance connectivity and boost educational, people-to-people and cultural exchanges. The Malaysian side speaks highly of China's Central Conference on Work Related to Neighboring Countries held recently and values China's important role in addressing global and regional challenges. As the rotating chair of ASEAN and country coordinator for ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations, Malaysia is committed to promoting greater development of ASEAN-China relations and jointly building a peaceful and prosperous future. After the meeting, Xi Jinping attended the welcome banquet held by Sultan Ibrahim. Cai Qi, Wang Yi, and Wang Xiaohong, among others, attended the above events. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokesperson's Remarks on U.S. Statement that China Faces up to 245% Tariffs Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: April 17, 2025 09:20 Q: On April 15 EST, the White House issued a Fact Sheet about Section 232 investigation on its website, saying that China faces up to a 245 percent tariff on imports to the United States as a result of its retaliatory actions. Do you have any comment on this? A: We noted relevant reports. You should probably ask the U.S. side as to how they arrived at that figure. China has made it very clear that the U.S.'s extortionate tariff hikes on China have become a numbers game, which economically does not make much actual difference anymore, except further demonstrating how the U.S. weaponizes tariff to coerce and bully others. Tariff and trade wars have no winners. China does not want to fight those wars but neither are we afraid of them. If the U.S. continues to play this numbers game with tariffs, it will simply be ignored. But if the U.S. continues to inflict actual damage on China's rights and interests, China will respond with resolute countermeasures and will stand our ground to the end. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Together We Strive, Together We Thrive: Toward a Stable and Sustainable China-Cambodia Community with a Shared Future in the New Era Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: April 17, 2025 08:48 H.E. Xi Jinping President of the People's Republic of China For Cambodian press I am very happy to visit Cambodia on the occasion of the Khmer New Year. For me, it feels like going to the home of a good friend. I wish to extend my warmest New Year greetings to our brothers and sisters in Cambodia. This is my second visit to your country in nine years. I sincerely hope this visit will spearhead progress in building a China-Cambodia community with a shared future. Our community with a shared future is deeply rooted in the historic legacy of good-neighborly relations. Thanks to our geographical proximity, our friendly exchange spans two millennia of our shared history. During China's Tang Dynasty (618-907), members of Chenla's royal family visited China's then capital city of Chang'an, where they were warmly received as Binhan, meaning "guest of honor." In the following centuries, the ties between the two nations grew ever stronger and closer. Chinese ceramics and lacquerware were shipped to Cambodia via the maritime silk road, while Cambodian spices, raw silk and other specialty products were highly popular among Chinese people, as evidenced by the Bayon Temple bas-reliefs, which capture the vibrant trade that flourished between the two countries in history. Many renowned Cambodian monks travelled to China to spread Buddhist teachings and scriptures. The Customs of Cambodia, a book written by Chinese diplomat Zhou Daguan of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), is an important literature for studies of Cambodian history. The great Chinese and Khmer civilizations have flourished together, inspiring each other through centuries. Our community with a shared future is defined by our mutual commitment to friendship and righteousness. The friendship was forged by His Majesty Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk and Chairman Mao Zedong, Premier Zhou Enlai, among the elder generations of Chinese leaders. Seventy years ago, His Majesty Samdech Preah Sihanouk and Premier Zhou met at the Bandung Conference and immediately bonded like old friends. Defying all odds, Cambodia established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China in 1958. China stood steadfastly with Cambodia in its just struggle against foreign invasion and for national sovereignty and independence. Together, the two countries have shared the rough times and the smooth and consistently supported each other in times of need. His Majesty Samdech Preah Sihanouk lived in China for nearly 40 years, embracing China as his home away from home. He had written and composed many songs in tribute to the China-Cambodia friendship, such as Nostalgia of China. His songs are still widely sung today. His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni and Her Majesty Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk visit China almost every year. We have met many times, sharing warm conversations about our families and life. In 2020, I presented Her Majesty Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk with the Friendship Medal of the People's Republic of China. This deeply meaningful medal embodies the profound friendship of the Chinese people toward the people of Cambodia. Upon the outbreak of COVID-19, the pandemic of the century, the then Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen braved the snow and wind to visit Beijing. China dispatched medical teams to provide emergency assistance to Cambodia. The two countries provided each other with a large amount of medical supplies. In the face of complex regional and international developments, we support each other in safeguarding our respective core interests, and work together to uphold international fairness and justice. Our two nations have forged an ironclad friendship. Our community with a shared future is powered by equality and mutual benefit. For many years, China has been Cambodia's largest trading partner and largest source of investment, and our industrial and supply chain cooperation has continued to deepen. Thanks to the China-Cambodia free trade agreement, premium agricultural products from Cambodia, including banana, mango and longan, are finding their way into Chinese households. The Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone, developed through China-Cambodia cooperation, has drawn more than 200 international companies to establish operations, laying a solid groundwork for Cambodia's industrial modernization. China-supported infrastructure projects, such as Cambodia's first expressway, first viaduct across a river valley, largest power plant and largest stadium, have brought the Cambodian people tangible benefits and strongly bolstered the long-term development of the country. Chinese experts have helped formulate Cambodia's modern agricultural development plans on the basis of their extensive field trips in the country. The China-Cambodia Diamond Hexagon cooperation has boosted Cambodia's development. Our community with a shared future is founded upon inclusiveness and mutual learning. Over the past 30 years, China has sent many experts across diverse fieldsincluding archaeology, geological exploration, cultural heritage, history, architecture and the artswho have dedicated themselves to the restoration of Chau Say Tevoda Temple, Ta Keo Temple and the ancient Royal Palace of Angkor. They have helped bring renewed splendor to the Angkor legacy, a gem of human civilizations. More and more Chinese tourists are travelling to Cambodia to experience its rich history and culture while more and more Cambodian friends are learning Chinese to better appreciate the charm of the time-honored Chinese civilization and understand Chinese modernization. Over the years, with Chinese assistance, a number of friendship roads have been built and clean water-pumping wells drilled to improve the well-being of local people. The project of the China-Cambodia Friendship Poverty Alleviation Demonstration Village is completed. Thanks to the treatment by traditional Chinese medicine teams, a hearing-impaired girl articulated "Mama" for the first time, and a wheelchair user got back on his feet. For nearly half a century, Asia has enjoyed overall peace and stability and rapid economic growth, creating the Asian miracle in the history of global development. As changes unseen in a century accelerate, Asia now stands at a new starting point of collective rise. Consistently following the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness and the policy of developing friendship and partnership with neighboring countries, China will deepen friendship and cooperation with them, extend the benefits of Chinese modernization to them, and work with them to jointly uphold regional peace and stability and to advance modernization in Asia. As important members of the big Asian family, China and Cambodia must ride the tide of history and heed our people's aspirations. We must strive together and thrive together. We must act as pioneers and pacesetters in translating the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative from vision into reality. We must work together to promote the steady and sustained progress in building the China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era. Let us bring our mutual political trust to a higher level. We should maintain frequent high-level exchanges and draw up a strategic blueprint for the China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era. China firmly supports Cambodia in independently choosing a development path that suits its own conditions, in safeguarding its national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and in playing a greater role on the international stage. To jointly safeguard our political security, we should strengthen communication on matters of strategic importance such as foreign policy and national defense, and resolutely oppose any attempts by external forces to interfere in our internal affairs, sow discord or undermine China-Cambodia friendship. Let us expand our mutually beneficial cooperation of higher quality. We must prioritize development and keep people at the center. To advance modernization in both countries, we should maximize the role of the China-Cambodia Intergovernmental Coordination Committee, forge greater synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Pentagonal Strategy, and advance the development of the Industrial and Technological Corridor and the Fish and Rice Corridor. We should also jointly safeguard the multilateral trading system, advance industrial and supply chain cooperation, enhance cooperation in advanced manufacturing, green development, digital economy and other areas, and make the Diamond Hexagon cooperation shine better and stronger. Let us work together to ensure greater security. To foster a secure environment for our respective development, we should strengthen exchange and cooperation in combating external interference and separatist activities. We must guard against and resist "color revolutions," strengthen joint exercises and training, emergency management and security cooperation on major Belt and Road projects, and crack down on telecom and cyber fraud and other criminal activities. We must stay committed to the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, build consensus on security concepts and approaches, and jointly promote peace and tranquility in the region and the world at large. Let us have more frequent people-to-people exchanges. We should uphold solidarity and harmony, have more cultural dialogues, increase experience sharing on state governance, expand diverse forms of cooperation in areas of culture, tourism, youth exchange and protection and restoration of cultural heritages, and promote people-to-people connectivity. We must champion the Asian values and humanity's common values. Let us strengthen strategic coordination of higher standards. We should draw wisdom from the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and the Bandung Spirit, move faster to build a community of shared future of peace and prosperity among Lancang-Mekong countries, and work together toward a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful, amicable and harmonious Asian home. Together we must stand against hegemonism, power politics and camp-based confrontation, and defend the shared interests of our two countries and other developing countries. We should advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, endeavor to safeguard world peace and stability and international fairness and justice, jointly oppose protectionism, and defend an international environment of openness and cooperation. As a Chinese verse goes, "True friendship, like refined gold, withstands all tests of time." I firmly believe that with our joint efforts, the China-Cambodia ironclad friendship, which has been tempered through trials of time and storms of adversity, will stay true to its original purpose. China will work with Cambodia to safeguard peace, pursue development and achieve shared prosperity, to make solid progress in building the China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era, and to bring greater stability and certainty to this turbulent world. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Joint Statement Between the People's Republic of China and Malaysia on Building a High-level Strategic China-Malaysia Community with a Shared Future Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: April 17, 2025 10:30 (17 April 2025, Kuala Lumpur) 1.At the invitation of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, H.E. Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China paid a State Visit to Malaysia from 15 to 17 April 2025. During the visit, President Xi Jinping met with Sultan Ibrahim, held talks with H.E. Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia. The two sides had in-depth exchanges of views on regional and international issues of mutual interest, and reached a broad consensus. Both sides agreed to build a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future to accelerate their modernisation efforts and jointly promote regional and global prosperity and stability. 2.Both leaders agreed that the two countries are close neighbours for thousands of years, sincere partners for common development, true friends connected by hearts, and important forces for maintaining peace. Since the establishment of China-Malaysia diplomatic relations on 31 May 1974, the friendship has witnessed profound changes over the past half-century, the bilateral relations have been continuously strengthened and demonstrated renewed vigor and vitality especially after entering the new era. Since the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Malaysia in 2013, the bilateral cooperation in various fields has yielded fruitful results and indeed delivered tangible benefits to their peoples. In 2023, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim reached an important consensus on jointly building a China-Malaysia community with a shared future, making a historic milestone that guides the development of bilateral relations, further expands strategic cooperation, and opens a new chapter in China-Malaysia relations. 3.The two countries highly commended the success of a series of celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-Malaysia diplomatic relations and the Year of China-Malaysia Friendship. Both sides stressed that China-Malaysia relations have made significant progress, driven by the strategic guidance of their leaders and rooted in the deep and traditional friendship between their peoples. The key elements of this relationship include their commitment to maintaining independent strategies, seeking common development, fostering sincerity and mutual trust, and uphold fairness and justice. The two countries developed a valuable friendship throughout their long history and are poised to enter a new chapter of cooperation in the new era. Both sides will maintain and develop their good practices and valuable experience, commit to shared values, advance comprehensive strategic cooperation to a higher level, strengthen mutual trust and solidarity, jointly pursue development that benefits both nations and the region, and embark on a brighter future for China-Malaysia relations. 4.Malaysia admired China's historic achievements and reform in the new era, and acknowledged its significant contributions to preserving regional and global peace, stability and sustainable development under the leadership of President Xi Jinping. Malaysia appreciated China's pursuit of national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization, and believed further deepening the reform comprehensively and high-level opening up will bring new impetus and opportunities for bilateral cooperation and development of countries and regions. China commended Malaysia's remarkable economic and social achievements of Malaysia since its independence 68 years ago, supports the Malaysian government in advancing the governance concept of "Malaysia MADANI", and looks forward to greater achievements in Malaysia's nation building and development. 5.Both leaders agreed that China and Malaysia are important developing countries in Asia-Pacific, representatives of emerging economies and important participants of the Global South. The joint construction of a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future is crucial to not only their peoples but also the future of this region, enhancing the unity and cooperation of the Global South. Both leaders stressed that, in facing changes of the world, of our times and of history, by upholding mutual respect for each Party's domestic laws, rules, regulations and policies, the two countries will commit to a strategic and long-term perspective, enhance strategic coordination, deepen practical cooperation, follow the comprehensive blueprint for building a China-Malaysia community with a shared future. China and Malaysia will share opportunities, seek common development, address challenges and preserve security together, bringing more contributions to upholding regional peace and stability, consolidating the regional cooperation framework and improving the reform of global governance. Strengthening Strategic Coordination 6.Both leaders agreed to maintain close high-level interaction and strengthen strategic communication and mutual trust so as to provide strategic guidance for long-term and stable development of bilateral relations. 7.Both sides reiterated their firm mutual support on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns of each other. China reaffirmed its commitment to the Principle of Amity, Sincerity, Mutual Benefit and Inclusiveness in Neighborhood Diplomacy as well as its policy of building friendships and partnerships with neighbouring countries. 8.The two sides firmly support each other in safeguarding national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, and making efforts to promote national unity, stability, development and prosperity. Malaysia reiterates its firm commitment to the One China Policy, as per the Joint Communique signed by the leaders of both countries on 31 May 1974. Consistent with the One China Policy, Malaysia recognises the Government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government of China, Taiwan is an inalienable territory of the People's Republic of China, and in order for China to achieve national reunification, will not support any call for the independence of Taiwan. 9.Both sides agreed to establish the Joint Foreign and Defense Dialogue Mechanism to further expand channels for high-level strategic communication and platforms for political security cooperation. 10.Both sides will further strengthen exchanges of experience on governance, promote interactions among central and local governments, legislatures, and political parties, and explore building dialogue and exchange mechanisms among ruling parties to enhance policy communication to further consolidate the political foundation for bilateral relations. 11.Both sides agreed to improve and make good use of the cooperation mechanisms for national security, defense and law enforcement, and carry out more exchanges and cooperation in fields such as joint exercises and training, exchange visits, and courses for officials. Both sides reiterated their opposition to any form of terrorism, and will jointly combat transnational crime to contribute to regional peace and stability. Deepening Synergy of Development 12.Both sides agreed, to the extent practicable, to become a pacesetter for regional cooperation on new quality productive forces, promote the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative Cooperation Plan signed in 2024 and further synergise development strategies. Focusing on four key areas of digital economy, green economy, blue economy and tourism economy, the two sides will expand future economic cooperation, promote integrated, coordinated and complementary development, achieve deep integration of industrial and supply chains, value chains, data chains and talent chains, so as to further improve the level and quality of China-Malaysia cooperation. 13.Both sides spoke highly of the nearly thousand-fold increase in bilateral trade volume in the past 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, and will jointly implement the Five-Year Programme for Economic and Trade Cooperation (2024-2028) to consolidate the outcomes of economic and trade cooperation and expand the trade scale. 14.Both sides agreed to jointly build a safe and stable industrial and supply chain and strengthen cooperation in this regard. Both sides will encourage two-way investment and strengthen exchanges and cooperation in areas of high value high growth (HVHG) industry such as manufacturing, intellectual property, digital economy, research and innovation, green and sustainable investment and logistics development. This strategic focus will attract quality investments, accelerate technology adoption, and strengthen Malaysia's role in global supply chains. 15.The two sides will promote the upgrading of the "Two Countries, Twin Park" cooperation, support the high-quality development of the economic and trade cooperation zones, and provide a better business environment for their enterprises. 16.Recognising the importance of a high-level bilateral investment agreement in promoting investment cooperation, the two sides acknowledged the possibility of future engagement to explore ways to further enhance liberalisation and facilitation of two-way investment and to improve the level of investment protection, within the context of the current bilateral investment agreement. 17.Both sides will jointly explore cooperation on new quality productive forces, create new growth points in cutting-edge areas such as advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence and quantum technology, deepen smart city cooperation, and strengthen the integrated development of industrial and supply chains. The Malaysian side welcomes Chinese enterprises to participate in the construction of Malaysia's 5G network. Both sides look forward to explore potential cooperation in the semiconductor industrial chain to the extent practicable to maintain the stability of the industrial and supply chains. 18.Both sides recognised that e-commerce is a vital catalyst for trade and economic growth, innovation, and the development of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Building upon the longstanding collaboration in this area, both sides will deepen cooperation in the e-commerce ecosystem, to contribute towards greater, sustainable economic linkages, and bring about tangible benefits to our economies. 19.Both sides will continue to encourage enterprises to promote cooperation in the field of new energy based on business principles, and jointly create new forms of green economy. The two sides will explore and promote cooperation on rail equipment, aerospace and nuclear power, support Malaysian airlines in introducing and operating Chinese commercial aircraft, and facilitate the industrial upgrading and energy transformation of each other. 20.Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation on infrastructure connectivity, jointly implement key projects such as East Coast Rail Link, promote rail-sea transportation and improve regional connectivity. Both countries encourage their ports to strengthen cooperation and facilitate the development of blue economy. Both sides are committed to exploring and creating more strategic and iconic cooperation projects based on the principle of mutual trust, mutual benefit, mutually agreed, and win-win results. 21.Both sides are committed to a comprehensive aviation cooperation and will strengthen the technical exchange of civil aviation expertise, enhance aviation logistics cooperation between Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport, to realise the common vision of a seamless Air Silk Road between ASEAN and China. 22.Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen rail transportation and infrastructure cooperation and contribute to the realisation of the Pan-Asian Railway vision. 23.Both sides will make full use of the intergovernmental Joint Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation, implement the China-Malaysia Joint Research Project and Science and Technology People-to-People Exchange Programme, together promote the establishment of joint research and development platforms such as joint laboratory, enhance the cooperation on science park and technology transfer, and continue to deepen the bilateral science and innovation cooperation in emerging technologies. 24.Both sides recognised the significant potential to strengthen partnerships under the Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of Malaysia on Space Cooperation and the Peaceful Use of Outer Space cooperation framework to advance space capabilities, foster the development of the new space economy, drive technological advancements, and contribute to national security. The two countries expressed their readiness to pursue these initiatives, guided by the principles of equality and mutual benefits. 25.Both sides acknowledged that the Agreement on Cooperation in Vaccine Development and Accessibility has facilitated expert technical training for the two countries, advancing collaboration in human vaccine development. It has also strengthened capabilities in vaccine innovation through technology transfer, expert exchange, and resource sharing. 26.Both sides will explore the possibility of cooperation within the framework of Import& Export Food Safety Mechanism for the Countries of the Belt & Road Initiative, and are willing to expand trade in agricultural products. The Chinese side will actively attend the international exhibitions held in Malaysia such as the Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) and the International Greentech & Eco Products Exhibition & Conference Malaysia (IGEM). China alsowelcomes Malaysia to continue promoting Malaysian products and expanding exports to China through platforms such as the China International Import Expo (CIIE), the Global Digital Trade Expo (GDTE) and the China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO). 27.Both sides adhere to the people-centred development concept and will expand cooperation on poverty reduction and agricultural and rural revitalisation. Leveraging China's successful experiences in targeted poverty alleviation and rural development, Malaysia seeks to integrate best practices into its national development initiatives, including the current Five-Year Development Plan, Ekonomi MADANI and its commitment towards achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDGs). The two sides will harness the established Joint Working Group on Agricultural Cooperation effectively to facilitate knowledge sharing, technical exchanges and capacity-building programs. Key priority areas include enhancing data-driven poverty alleviation through some platforms, adopting innovative agricultural technologies like precision agriculture to support initiatives such as the People's Income Initiative (IPR) and promoting rural economic growth through e-commerce. By strengthening these mechanisms, both countries aim to foster inclusive growth, resilience, and equitable development that directly benefits grassroots communities, particularly marginalised groups such as rural poor, women, youth, Bumiputera and indigenous populations including the Orang Asli. 28.Both sides look forward to continuing their cooperation on agriculture. The two sides will make full use of the Joint Working Group on Agricultural Cooperation to strengthen cooperation on agricultural modernisation and agricultural technology innovation. 29.Both sides reaffirm their commitment to strengthening tourism cooperation and will intensify joint promotional efforts to attract more visitors from each other's regions. Emphasis will also be placed on fostering a safe, seamless, and welcoming tourism environment while promoting deeper cultural exchanges and mutual understanding between their peoples. Tightening People-to-People Bonds 30.The two countries jointly advocate the diversity, coexistence, harmony and inclusiveness of civilisations, promote meaningful Islam-Confucianism dialogue, fostering interfaith understanding and cultural exchange, foster the common development of Chinese and Islamic civilisations through mutual learning, and together practice Asian values centered on peace, cooperation, openness and inclusiveness. 31.The two countries speak highly of the official signing of the visa exemption agreements and believe that it will further facilitate two-way personnel exchanges, continuously deepen exchanges and cooperation on education, cultural tourism and sports, and strengthen mutual understanding and friendship between their peoples, especially the younger generation. 32.The two sides will facilitate the Implementation Plan of the Bilateral Cultural Cooperation Agreement (2024-2029) to carry out cultural exchange activities with diverse forms and rich connotation, strengthen cooperation in film and animation industries. Malaysia will facilitate the efforts of the Chinese Cultural Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to further promote cultural exchanges between both countries. 33.The two countries are pleased to see that pandas in Malaysia are warmly welcomed by the Malaysian people and have become an important symbol of China-Malaysia friendship. The two sides agreed to continue to conduct joint research on panda protection and expect to achieve more progress in this field. 34.The two sides agreed to comprehensively enhance bilateral education cooperation, strengthen cooperation on vocational education, joint scientific research and digital education, and support Xiamen University and the University of Malaya in jointly building the China-Malaysia International Institute for Advanced Studies, support Peking University and the University of Malaya to establish China-Malaysia AI+New Materials Joint Laboratory, support Zhejiang University in collaborating with the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) in areas related to digital transformation, AI and smart cities, support the co-establishment of Belt and Road joint laboratories by universities from the two countries, welcome the Communication University of China and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman to co-establish the ASEAN Research Center of Community with a Shared Future. The two countries agreed to support interactions between think tanks and higher educational institutions to promote mutual visits among academic staff and students, encourage two-way student exchanges and continuously enhance mutual learning between the two countries. 35.The two sides noted the implementation of the MoU between the National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA) of China and the Malaysian Institute of Translation and Books (ITBM), aimed at enhancing collaboration in translation and publication of Malaysian and Chinese classics. 36.The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation and exchanges in the field of health, and support cooperation in the field of traditional medicine. Maintaining Peace and Stability in the South China Sea 37.Both sides emphasised the importance of maintaining peace, security and stability in the South China Sea, agreed to resolve disputes by peaceful means, through friendly consultations and negotiations, in accordance with the universally recognised principles of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Both sides further emphasised the need for all parties to exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities, and to avoid actions that would complicate or escalate tensions in the South China Sea. Both sides recognized that the involvement of parties not directly concerned could be counter-productive. 38.Both sides will work together with other ASEAN countries to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in its entirety and look forward to the conclusion of an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) in 2026, as indicated in the Guidelines for Accelerating the Early Conclusion of an Effective and Substantive COC, towards building the South China Sea into sea of peace, friendship and prosperity. 39.Both sides recognised that maritime cooperation is an important component of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between China and Malaysia. Both sides highly appreciated the progress made in the official launch of the Bilateral Dialogue on the Management of Maritime Issues in the South China Sea, and look forward to keeping close communication and coordination to foster more highlights of maritime cooperation. 40.The two sides will explore opportunities for cooperation in the field of maritime science and technology, and continue discussions on renewal and signing of the agreements to further enhance collaboration. Strengthening Regional Cooperation 41.China highly appreciated the important role Malaysia played in promoting ASEAN-China cooperation, and spoke highly of Malaysia's contribution to ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations including its role of country coordinator, and firmly supports Malaysia's chairmanship of ASEAN in 2025. 42.The two sides reaffirmed the principles, shared values and norms enshrined in the ASEAN Charter, the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), while upholding ASEAN Centrality, supporting ASEAN in strengthening ASEAN-led mechanism in promoting an open and inclusive regional architecture, that is peaceful, stable and conducive for regional development, growth and prosperity. 43.The two sides highly commended ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations, reiterated to jointly implement the Joint Statement of the ASEAN-China Special Summit to Commemorate the 30th Anniversary of ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations, enhancing the building of a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home, adding impetus to deepening the ASEAN-China comprehensive strategic partnership to build a closer ASEAN-China community with a shared future that would benefit the peoples of ASEAN and China. 44.The two sides will enhance coordination and cooperation in APEC, promote the implementation of The APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040 in a comprehensive and balanced way to build an Asia-Pacific Community. Malaysia supports China in hosting APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting 2026. 45.Both sides are committed to advancing regional economic integration and will promote the high-quality implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement and look forward to the full conclusion of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (FTA) 3.0 for the early signing of the Upgrade Protocol and its timely implementation. Malaysia supports Hong Kong's accession to RCEP. 46.China appreciated Malaysia's initiatives such as ASEAN-China-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Cooperation Summit, which embody open regionalism that is conducive to international and regional economic and financial stability and coordinated development among different regions in Asia. Malaysia looks forward to high-level participation from China to the Summit. 47.The two sides shared the view that the peace and stability in Asia-Pacific region do not come by easily and should be dearly cherished. Hence, both sides emphasised the importance of upholding regional peace, security and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and avoiding actions that may jeopardise regional security and the shared commitment to maintaining an open and inclusive regional architecture. In line with the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ), the two countries agreed to support the efforts to preserve Southeast Asia as a region free from nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, while contributing to global efforts on disarmament, non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Conducting Multilateral Cooperation 48.Malaysia highly commends President Xi Jinping for putting forward the concept of building the Community of Shared Future for Mankind, the Belt and Road Initiative, the Principle of Amity, Sincerity, Mutual Benefit and Inclusiveness in Neighborhood Diplomacy, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilisation Initiative. Malaysia stands ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China to actively participate in and promote the above visions and initiatives. 49.Both sides agreed that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations and the end of the Second World War. No country can stay immune in the face of the turbulent and changing international landscape and the historical trend toward a shared future for the international community, and win-win cooperation is the only right way forward. The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter to practice true multilateralism, uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core, the international order underpinned by international law, and the basic norms governing international relations underpinned by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. Both sides will work together to meet all kinds of challenges and contribute Asian strength to building an equal and orderly multipolar world. 50.Both sides stressed that the year of 2024 marked the 70th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence along with the UN Charter have become basic norms of international relations and fundamental principles of the international law. Both sides will adhere to the Asian development path of mutual benefit, openness and cooperation, in line with the Pact for The Future and the principles of Malaysia MADANI to contribute to the stability and progress in Asia. 51.The two countries will enhance coordination and cooperation under such frameworks as the United Nations, the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), jointly uphold international fairness and justice, safeguard the common interests of developing countries, and promote humanity's common values of peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom. China welcomes Malaysia as a BRICS partner country and is willing to actively support Malaysia in better integrating into BRICS cooperation. 52.Both sides will jointly promote a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalisation, advance trade and investment facilitation, and reject the unilateral trade restrictive measures including arbitrary tariffs hikes that are inconsistent with the WTO rules. Both sides are committed to upholding the rules-based, non-discriminatory, open, fair, inclusive, equitable and transparent multilateral trading system with WTO at its core. Both sides will collaborate to achieve meaningful outcomes at the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Cameroon in 2026. Both sides will strengthen cooperation, advocate for WTO rules to evolve with the times and defend the legitimate rights and interests of developing members. 53.Malaysia welcomes China's application to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and reiterates that the CPTPP remains open to accession by economies that can satisfy the Auckland Principles. 54.Both sides call on all relevant parties to continuously and effectively implement the Gaza ceasefire agreement, with the aim of achieving a permanent ceasefire. Both sides stressed that Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people and it is an inalienable part of the territory of Palestine. Both sides emphasised that "the Palestinians governing Palestine" is an important principle that must be upheld in the post-conflict governance of Gaza, and opposed the forced displacement of the people of Gaza. Both sides called for an independent state of Palestine based on the two-state solution and for Palestine's full UN membership. 55.During the visit, the two sides signed a series of cooperation documents in various areas such as AI, digital economy, trade in services, railway, agriculture, culture and tourism, and media to further strengthen cooperation across the board. 56.President Xi Jinping expressed appreciation to the Malaysian government and people for their warm and friendly hospitality and invited Malaysian leaders to visit China at a mutually convenient time. The Malaysian leaders thanked President Xi Jinping for the invitation and accepted the invitation with pleasure. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian's Regular Press Conference on April 17, 2025 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: April 17, 2025 19:25 CCTV: Yesterday, President Xi Jinping concluded the state visit to Malaysia. It has been 12 years since President Xi's last visit to Malaysia. Could you further share with us about this visit? Lin Jian: From April 15 to 17, President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Malaysia upon invitation. During the visit, President Xi Jinping met with King of Malaysia His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim and held talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. The leaders of two countries witnessed the exchange of 30-plus bilateral cooperation documents. The two sides issued a joint statement on building a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future. During the visit, President Xi made an important three-point proposal on building a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future. First, upholding strategic independence and carrying out high-level strategic coordination. Both countries should continue on the development paths suited to their respective national conditions, resolutely support each other in safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests. A "2+2" diplomatic and defense dialogue mechanism will be established to deepen exchanges and cooperation on national security, defense and law enforcement. Second, combining forces for development and setting a benchmark for high-quality development cooperation. The two sides should work together to cultivate and expand cooperation in frontier areas and push for the transformation and upgrade of cooperation in traditional fields, and promote two-way investment. The two countries should promote rail-sea intermodal transport, upgrade "Two Countries, Twin Parks," and turn Malaysia's major ports into important hubs of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor. Third, carrying forward the friendship forged through generations, and deepening inter-civilizational exchanges and mutual learning. The two sides should jointly advance Confucianism-Islam dialogue, seize the opportunity of signing a mutual visa exemption agreement to foster closer people-to-people connection. China always firmly supports ASEAN unity, the building of ASEAN community and ASEAN centrality in the regional architecture. During the visit, President Xi stressed that China supports Malaysia in playing its role as ASEAN Chair, and stands ready to sign the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area Upgrade Protocol with regional countries as early as possible. Together, we will reject decoupling, supply disruption, "small yard, high fence" and tariff abuse with openness, inclusiveness, solidarity and cooperation, counter the law of the jungle where the strong prey on the weak with the Asian values of peace, cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, and address instability and uncertainty in the world with the stability and certainty of Asia. China and Malaysia are neighbors across the sea with a time-honored friendship. Our traditional friendship lasted for centuries. Last year, we held grand celebration events to mark the 50th anniversary of our diplomatic ties. As important members of developing countries and the Global South, deepening our high-level strategic cooperation is in the interest of both countries, and is conducive to peace, stability and prosperity of the region and the world. China will work with Malaysia in implementing the important outcomes of this visit, brave the waves ahead and advance the high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future and usher in the next "golden 50 years" of China-Malaysia relations. China will remain committed to the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness in neighborhood diplomacy and work with ASEAN countries to build a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future. Reuters: Do you have any more information on the Taiwanese nationals deported from Cambodia to China recently? Lin Jian: China commends the Cambodian government for handling relevant issue in accordance with the one-China principle. We stand ready to continue deepening law enforcement cooperation with Cambodia and relevant countries to crack down on online gambling and scam, protect the safety of Chinese citizens overseas and their lawful rights and interests, and ensure normal order of cross-border exchanges between China and relevant countries. CNR: To follow up on Kenya's President Ruto's visit to China, could you share with us the program and China's expectation? How does China view its current relations with Kenya? Lin Jian: The friendship between China and Kenya dates back to the ancient maritime Silk Road. In the new era, the two countries have established a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, conducted frequent high-level exchanges, deepened political mutual trust, enjoyed fruitful Belt and Road cooperation, and worked closely on regional and international issues. This will be the first state visit to China by an African head of state since the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). During the visit, President Xi Jinping will hold a welcome ceremony and a welcome banquet for President Ruto respectively. The two presidents will have talks. Premier Li Qiang and Chairman Zhao Leji will meet with President Ruto. We believe this visit will contribute to deepening China's relations with Kenya, carrying out the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit, building an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era, and promoting the solidarity and cooperation of the Global South. NHK: It is reported that China will convene an informal meeting of the UN Security Council next week to discuss the issue of the U.S. imposition of additional tariffs. Could you share the purpose of this meeting and what will be discussed? Lin Jian: Recently, the U.S., disregarding the balance of interests reached through multilateral trade negotiations, has abused tariffs under the pretext of seeking reciprocity and fairness, which deals a heavy blow to the global economic order and the multilateral trading system, and seriously undermines the interests and well-being of all countries. Such act of unilateralism, power politics and bullying has also brought unprecedented difficulties and challenges to the United Nations and the cause of multilateralism. We support the international community in conducting discussions through various platforms, including the Security Council, to gain a deeper understanding of the harms of unilateralism and bullying acts, reaffirm the commitment to multilateralism and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and build consensus for strengthening the role of the United Nations and safeguarding the legitimate development rights and interests of all countries. Dragon TV: It's reported that during President Xi Jinping's state visit to Malaysia, China and Malaysia signed the mutual visa exemption agreement. What's your comment? Lin Jian: China and Malaysia share long-standing friendship, similar visions, intertwined interests and close cultural and people-to-people bond. During President Xi Jinping's state visit to Malaysia, the two governments officially signed the agreement on mutual visa exemption for holders of official and ordinary passports. This move will definitely boost personnel exchanges between the two countries and bilateral interactions and cooperation in various fields, and take the building of a China-Malaysia community with a shared future to new heights. Global Times: The Third Meeting of the National Coordinators of the Group of Friends in Defence of the UN Charter was recently held in Moscow. Outcome documents were issued after the meeting to reject the weaponization of tariffs and other trade tools and call for an end to unilateral and bullying actions. China attended the meeting. Could you share more information on that? Lin Jian: On April 14 and 15, the Group of Friends in Defence of the UN Charter held the Third Meeting of the National Coordinators in Moscow. The meeting was attended by high-level representatives from the Group's member states including China, Russia, Venezuela, Cuba, Belarus, Iran and Zimbabwe as well as partner countries. The meeting issued a political declaration, which expressed serious concerns over the disruption of the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core. It pointed out that the abuse of tariffs would have a serious negative impact on the sovereignty and development rights of countries, especially those in the Global South, as well as the international system. It opposed the weaponization of trade tools such as tariffs and called for an immediate end to unilateral measures and bullying acts aimed at conquering and controlling other countries. Parties attending the meeting emphasized that unilateral sanctions and tariff barriers are a serious violation of the purposes and principles of the United Nations. Countries in the Global South should unite as one, strengthen multilateral cooperation, jointly oppose unjust external pressure, promote the establishment of a fairer and more just new international order, and safeguard the legitimate rights of all countries to peace and development. This meeting sent a clear message of supporting multilateralism, upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and opposing unilateral coercive measures and economic bullying. It reflects the strong aspiration of the member states of the Group to reject hegemonism and power politics and uphold their interests and international fairness and justice and shows the firm resolve of countries, in particular those from the Global South, to stand together against external pressure. The U.S. needs to heed the call for justice from the international community and refrain from moving further down the wrong path of unilateralism and bullying. Bloomberg: The UK government has raised concerns that British companies are using Chinese manufactured drones to take high-quality images of important infrastructure in the UK. Does the Foreign Ministry have any comment on that? Lin Jian: The Chinese government has never asked and will never ask any company to collect or store data against laws. The Chinese side firmly opposes the relevant side's groundless suspicion and vilification against China which lack a factual basis. The UK's relevant department should stop turning trade into political and security issues, stop groundlessly accusing and going after Chinese high-tech companies, and make more effort that is conducive to the sound and steady development of China-UK relations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China appoints new trade negotiator as US tariff tensions mount Li Chenggang, a legal expert and former WTO envoy, takes post at a challenging time for US-China relations. By Alan Lu for RFA 2025.04.17 TAIPEI, Taiwan -- China appointed Li Chenggang as a new trade negotiator on Wednesday, a key figure in talks to resolve the escalating tariff war with the United States, replacing veteran negotiator Wang Shouwen. Li, 58, who previously served as assistant commerce minister during U.S. President Donald Trump's first term, has been named as China's International Trade Representative and Vice Minister of Commerce, according to China's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. Li most recently represented China at the World Trade Organization. It was unclear if Wang, 59, who assumed the No. 2 role at the commerce ministry in 2022, had taken up a post elsewhere. His name was no longer on the ministry's leadership team. The ministry did not immediately respond to a Radio Free Asia request for comment on the change. Li, who studied in Germany, previously served in senior roles at China's Ministry of Commerce, including as Deputy Director-General in both the trade and legal departments. He became Assistant Minister of Commerce in 2016. In 2021, he was appointed China's Ambassador to the World Trade Organization and also served as deputy representative to the U.N. in Geneva and other international bodies in Switzerland. "The unilateralist approach of the U.S. blatantly violates WTO rules, exacerbates economic uncertainty, disrupts global trade and may even subvert the rules-based multilateral trading system," Li said at a February WTO meeting in Geneva. "China firmly opposes this and urges the United States to abolish its wrongful practices," he said, warning that such moves have triggered "tariff shocks" to the world. The decision comes as trade tensions between the world's two largest economies continue to escalate. Since early April, the U.S. and China have been locked in a cycle of retaliatory tariffs. On Wednesday, the White House announced that an "up to 245%" tariff has been imposed on Chinese imports due to China's "retaliatory actions." "The ball is in China's court. China needs to deal with us. We don't have to make a deal with them," the White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, said at a press briefing Wednesday. The appointment also comes amid Chinese President Xi Jinping's Southeast Asia tour, where he ramped up rhetoric of unity in the face of protectionism and shocks to the global order. At a state dinner in Putrajaya with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Xi said China would work with regional partners to counter global instability. "In the face of shocks to global order and economic globalization, China and Malaysia will stand with countries in the region to combat the undercurrents of geopolitical confrontation, as well as the counter-currents of unilateralism and protectionism," Xi said. China promised, Xi said, to offer greater market access to Malaysia and Vietnam. "Together we will safeguard the bright prospects of our Asian family," he said. Edited by Taejun Kang and Stephen Wright. Copyright 1998-2025, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content April 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 Xi Jinping talks of former fights and future shocks on Southeast Asian tour The Chinese president is in Cambodia after visiting Vietnam, Malaysia amid a trade battle with the U.S. By Mike Firn for RFA 2025.04.17 BANGKOK -- Chinese President Xi Jinping ramped up rhetoric of unity in the face of protectionism and shocks to the global order as he continued his Southeast Asian tour on Thursday amid a tariff war with the United States. China is in need of allies after the imposition of 145% tariffs on its exports to the U.S., Washington's restrictions on its semiconductors and other trade barriers. President Donald Trump's administration says it is retaliating due to China's trade surplus, its shipments of synthetic opioids and restrictions on U.S. investment. "China stood steadfastly with Cambodia in its just struggle against foreign invasion and for national sovereignty and independence," Xi said in comments published by Cambodia newspapers including the English-language Khmer Times, ahead of his arrival from Malaysia. "Together, the two countries have shared the rough times and the smooth and consistently supported each other in times of need," Xi said. Cambodia has had an often-torrid modern history, marked by intervention by outside powers. The Southeast Asian country was bombed by the U.S. during the 1954-75 Vietnam War and was invaded by Vietnam in 1978, forcing out the genocidal Pol Pot regime that came to power in the aftermath of the Cold War-era conflict. Beijing was the main foreign backer of the communist Khmer Rouge under whose three-and-a-half-year rule a quarter of Cambodia's population died. The 50th anniversary of the regime's takeover of the country on April 17, 1975, coincides with Xi's visit. Today, China is the biggest investor in Cambodia, constructing roads, airports and ports. It is also the biggest exporter to the kingdom. The U.S. is concerned that China has also gained a security foothold by supporting the recently completed upgrade of a Cambodian naval base. The theme of unity in the face of unnamed adversaries has been a recurring theme in Xi's Southeast Asian tour, which began on Monday in Vietnam before moving to Malaysia, where Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim hosted Xi at a welcome dinner on Wednesday. "In the face of shocks to global order and economic globalization, China and Malaysia will stand with countries in the region to combat the undercurrents of geopolitical and camp-based confrontation, as well as the counter-currents of unilateralism and protectionism," Xi said, without naming the camp it saw as its biggest threat. Xi discussed green technology, artificial intelligence and a US$11.2 billion railway project during a meeting with the Malaysian king, Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar on Wednesday, Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported. China is the biggest exporter to Malaysia and the country's biggest investor. The same is true of Vietnam, where Xi signed 45 agreements on areas such as improved supply chains and a railway project. China had been working on a decoupling strategy long before Trump took up his second term as U.S. president this year. By 2023, nearly two thirds of its economic growth was driven by domestic consumption, World Bank data show. "At the same time, China has pursued deeper economic integration with the rest of the world," according to Lili Yang Ing, secretary general of the International Economic Association. "The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, now the world's largest trade bloc, exemplifies China's pivot toward Asia," she said. "Beijing has also strengthened Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements with (Southeast Asian regional bloc) ASEAN, South Korea, and several Middle Eastern economies, while negotiating new agreements in Africa and Latin America," Ing said. "These diversified trade and investment channels buffer China from U.S. pressure." Southeast Asian nations could also help in the face of America's call on them to cut their trade surpluses and stop re-exporting Chinese goods as their own. While Trump declared a three-month cut to 10% on "retaliatory tariffs" against Southeast Asian nations, they face a return to some of the highest U.S. tariffs in the world if trade talks are unsuccessful after those 90 days are up: 24% for Malaysia, 46% for Vietnam and 49% on Cambodian exports. Um Sam An, a former Cambodian opposition lawmaker, cautioned against Cambodia - which is a major exporter of garments and footwear to the United States - taking sides in the trade war. "If Cambodia joins forces with China in the trade war against the U.S., for sure, Cambodia will receive severe punishment from the U.S.," he told RFA Khmer. "Therefore, Cambodia should not take sides, and should take an independent stand and negotiate with the U.S." RFA Khmer contributed reporting. Edited by Taejun Kang, Stephen Wright and Mat Pennington. Updated with comment from Cambodian opposition supporter, adds background. 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 April 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 April 17, 2025 Release Readout of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's Meeting With France's Minister of the Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell provided the following readout: On April 17, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth met with his French counterpart, Minister of the Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu at the Pentagon. The Secretary urged France to increase defense spending and, alongside other NATO allies, take primary responsibility for Europe's conventional defense. Secretary Hegseth and Minister Lecornu discussed related priorities, as well, including ongoing efforts toward a durable peace in Ukraine. https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4157492/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address By J. Keeler Johnson ("Keelerman") Twitter: @J_Keelerman The Road to the Kentucky Derby is complete, and the field is coming into focus for the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1). It's time to ponder an annual handicapping question: how fast a pace will unfold in the Run for the Roses? As the old saying goes, pace makes the race, and that's certainly the case in the Kentucky Derby. A fast pace often leads to a stretch-running winner (like 80-1 longshot Rich Strike in 2022), while a modest or slow tempo can favor horses racing up front. Judging from the prospective entries for this year's Kentucky Derby, the pace is going to be blazing. There are plenty of speed horses and proven pacesetters taking aim at the Derby, and here's the problem: many have run well below form when beaten to the early lead. Need examples? Here you go: East Avenue is brilliant when racing on the lead. He won his debut by eight lengths, smashed the Breeders' Futurity (G1) by 5 1/4 lengths, and finished second by a nose in the Blue Grass (G1). But when he was beaten to the lead in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) and Risen Star (G2), he finished ninth and tenth by double-digit margins. is brilliant when racing on the lead. He won his debut by eight lengths, smashed the Breeders' Futurity (G1) by 5 1/4 lengths, and finished second by a nose in the Blue Grass (G1). But when he was beaten to the lead in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) and Risen Star (G2), he finished ninth and tenth by double-digit margins. Rodriguez clocked a fast final time when wiring the Wood Memorial (G2) by 3 1/2 lengths. He earned a 101 Beyer Speed Figure, slightly better than the 100 he posted when wiring a Santa Anita maiden special weight by seven lengths. In between, Rodriguez was beaten to the front when second in the Robert B. Lewis (G3) and third in the San Felipe (G2), races in which he earned far lower Beyers of 91 and 90. clocked a fast final time when wiring the Wood Memorial (G2) by 3 1/2 lengths. He earned a 101 Beyer Speed Figure, slightly better than the 100 he posted when wiring a Santa Anita maiden special weight by seven lengths. In between, Rodriguez was beaten to the front when second in the Robert B. Lewis (G3) and third in the San Felipe (G2), races in which he earned far lower Beyers of 91 and 90. Citizen Bull earned champion two-year-old male honors after wiring the American Pharoah (G1) and Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1). He kicked off 2025 with a gate-to-wire score over Rodriguez in the Robert B. Lewis. But he was beaten to the lead in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), and although he later got to the front via a midrace duel, Citizen Bull tired in the homestretch to finish fourth by 9 3/4 lengths. earned champion two-year-old male honors after wiring the American Pharoah (G1) and Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1). He kicked off 2025 with a gate-to-wire score over Rodriguez in the Robert B. Lewis. But he was beaten to the lead in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), and although he later got to the front via a midrace duel, Citizen Bull tired in the homestretch to finish fourth by 9 3/4 lengths. Owen Almighty has crossed the wire first in two stakes: the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) and the Pasco S. In both races, he led at every call. The rating tactics he employed when second in the Sam F. Davis S. and sixth in the Blue Grass weren't as successful. has crossed the wire first in two stakes: the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) and the Pasco S. In both races, he led at every call. The rating tactics he employed when second in the Sam F. Davis S. and sixth in the Blue Grass weren't as successful. American Promise runs best when allowed to set or press the pace. Four starts back, he wired a fast Oaklawn Park maiden special weight over future Arkansas Derby (G1) runner-up Publisher, earning a 95 Beyer. He then regressed to Beyers in the 80s when rating during the early stages of the Southwest (G3) and Risen Star (G2), two races in which he finished off the board. Returning to forwardly placed tactics for the Virginia Derby worked wondershe pressed the pace on his way to victory by 7 3/4 lengths with a 95 Beyer. runs best when allowed to set or press the pace. Four starts back, he wired a fast Oaklawn Park maiden special weight over future Arkansas Derby (G1) runner-up Publisher, earning a 95 Beyer. He then regressed to Beyers in the 80s when rating during the early stages of the Southwest (G3) and Risen Star (G2), two races in which he finished off the board. Returning to forwardly placed tactics for the Virginia Derby worked wondershe pressed the pace on his way to victory by 7 3/4 lengths with a 95 Beyer. Madaket Road isn't necessarily a need-the-lead type; he placed in the Bob Hope (G3) and Robert B. Lewis after rating off the pace in small fields. But he's dashed to the lead in his last two starts, finishing second in the Rebel (G2) and fourth in the Florida Derby (G1), so Madaket Road is another with enough speed to influence the Kentucky Derby pace. isn't necessarily a need-the-lead type; he placed in the Bob Hope (G3) and Robert B. Lewis after rating off the pace in small fields. But he's dashed to the lead in his last two starts, finishing second in the Rebel (G2) and fourth in the Florida Derby (G1), so Madaket Road is another with enough speed to influence the Kentucky Derby pace. Admire Daytona set the pace or vied for the lead throughout the UAE Derby (G2), refusing to give up his position along the inside. He also broke his maiden in Japan with forwardly placed tactics. He wasn't nearly as effective after falling off the pace in the Hyacinth S. on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby; he could only rally mildly to finish fourth. set the pace or vied for the lead throughout the UAE Derby (G2), refusing to give up his position along the inside. He also broke his maiden in Japan with forwardly placed tactics. He wasn't nearly as effective after falling off the pace in the Hyacinth S. on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby; he could only rally mildly to finish fourth. Neoequos isn't in the Kentucky Derby field yet, but if defections allow him to start, he's yet another prospective pace player. Both of his wins have come while setting or pressing the pace, and he also ran well with pacesetting tactics to finish third in the Fountain of Youth (G2). Any way you slice it, that's a lot of speed. In particular, horses like East Avenue, Rodriguez, Citizen Bull, Owen Almighty, and American Promise figure to ensure a fast pace since they've run meaningfully better when able to race up front, and rating in the Kentucky Derby could be risky. One or more figure to sprint hard in search of the early lead, and the result could be an opening quarter-mile in :22-and-change, a swift half-mile in :45-and-change, and six furlongs in 1:10-and-change. A fast pace would suit the many talented closers taking aim at the 2025 Kentucky Derby. Santa Anita Derby winner Journalism and Florida Derby (G1) victor Tappan Street figure to settle in behind the leaders and take first aim turning for home, since they have tactical speed combined with tractability. Then, down the homestretch, deep closers like Blue Grass winner Burnham Square, Arkansas Derby (G1) hero Sandman, Louisiana Derby (G2) conqueror Tiztastic, Florida Derby runner-up Sovereignty, and even Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) winner Final Gambit will aim to make their presence felt. It's possible a talented speed horseperhaps Rodriguezwill hang around for a top-three finish even after partaking in a fast pace. But overall, I expect I'll be favoring the chances of late runners in the 2025 Kentucky Derby. Now it's your turn! How do you envision the Kentucky Derby pace unfolding? ***** Want to test your handicapping skills against fellow Unlocking Winners readers? Check out the Unlocking Winners contest pagethere's a new challenge every week! (Please note: older contest entries can be found here.) ***** The Unlocking Winners Road to the Kentucky Derby Handicapping Challenge is back! Check out the special contest page to play along. J. Keeler Johnson (also known as "Keelerman") is a writer, videographer, voice actor, handicapper, and all-around horse racing enthusiast. A great fan of racing history, he considers Dr. Fager to be the greatest racehorse ever produced in America, but counts Zenyatta as his all-time favorite. Major Chinese cities ramp up support for private enterprises 14:08, April 18, 2025 By Qi Xijia ( Global Times An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 8, 2024 shows robotic arms processing components for new energy vehicles at a private company in Changxing Economic and Technological Development Zone of Huzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province. (Tan Yunfeng/Xinhua) In a concerted drive, major Chinese cities such as Shanghai, Beijing and Shenzhen have announced measures to promote the private economy, in an enhanced bid to foster a more favorable business climate and bolster the confidence of private enterprises. The Shanghai municipal government held a press conference on Thursday to introduce 26 new measures that benefit the development of the private economy. From now on, private companies will enjoy equal treatment in government procurement as state-owned enterprises. Support will also be provided to private firms in expanding investment in key industrial sectors, large-scale equipment renewals, and consumer goods trade-in programs. Also, financial institutions are asked to enhance credit availability for private companies. The capital city of Beijing launched on Thursday a special month to improve services for the private enterprises. The event, which will last until mid-May, will organize more than 320 online and offline recruitment activities to help private enterprises attract talent. And, the city's human resources and social security departments will open more channels to support growth of private companies. The Shenzhen branch of the People's Bank of China, together with seven other government agencies, issued a notice on further improving financial services for the high-quality development of the private sector in the city. Financing support will go to high-tech private enterprises in artificial intelligence, modern robotics, next-generation information and communication technology, new-energy storage and more. These efforts will create a more stable, transparent and predictable business environment for private enterprises, boosting their investment confidence and assisting their business operations, Wang Peng, an associate research fellow at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Thursday. Wang said that the private economy serves as a major driver of China's economic growth, and the sector plays a pivotal role in employment, being a primary absorber of the labor force. Additionally, private enterprises exhibit remarkable vitality in technological innovation. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the production and operation of the private enterprises continued to improve in the first quarter of 2025. In the first three months, the added value of private enterprises above designated size in manufacturing increased by 7.3 percent year-on-year. Private sector investment rose by 0.4 percent in the first quarter of this year, the NBS reported. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) Transcript of Weekly Media Briefing by the Official Spokesperson (April 17, 2025) India - Ministry of External Affairs April 17, 2025 Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Good afternoon friends, I welcome you to this press briefing and with that I open the floor for questions. So we start. Sidhant Sibal, WION: Sidhant from WION. My question is on the remarks made by the Pakistani Army Chief raking Kashmir, and also mentioning the two nation theory about ... so what is the Indian reaction on that? Krishna Mohan Sharma, Bharat Express: Sir, Krishna Mohan Sharma, from Bharat Express. Jis tarike se Bangladesh ki sthiti thi woh chintajanak thi. Jo 24 South Pargana mein hua, jis tarah se Murshidabad ke logon ka wahan par paya gaya ... involvement paya gaya, toh kya hum usmei apni narazgi koi unko vyakt kar rahe hain? [Approximate Translation: Question in Hindi] Sir, Krishna Mohan Sharma from Bharat Express. The situation in Bangladesh was concerning, especially what happened in South 24 Parganas and the involvement of people from Murshidabad found there. So, are we expressing our displeasure to them in any way regarding this? Neeraj Kumar Dubey, Prabhasakshi: Sir, Trump ke tariff ke beech Americi Up-rashtrapati Bharat daure par aa rahe hain. Kya Pradhan Mantri Modi se jab milenge toh tariff focus ka ek mahatvapurna mudda hoga? Aur Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra ki shurwat ko lekar koi Bharat aur China ke beech tarikh ko lekar sehmati ban gayi hain? [Approximate Translation: Question in Hindi] Sir, amidst Trump's tariffs, the U.S. Vice President is coming on a visit to India. When he meets Prime Minister Modi, will tariffs be an important point of focus? And has there been any agreement between India and China regarding the date for the commencement of the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra? Ubeer Naqushbandi, The Tribune: Sir, this is Ubeer from the Tribune. Sir, my question is about ... Australia has launched a visa crackdown on Indians from five states including Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat and UP and Bihar. So, has Government taken note of it? Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Can you come again, Ubeer? Ubeer Naqushbandi, The Tribune: Sir, I am saying Australia has launched visa crackdown on Indians. Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Visa cut down? Ubeer Naqushbandi, The Tribune: Crackdown. Indians from five states. Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Okay. Sahil Pandey, ANI: Sir, Good Afternoon. I am Sahil Pandey from ANI. Sir, Belgium just confirmed that they have arrested Mehul Choksi and also confirmed that India has asked for the extradition. Is there any update regarding that, Sir? Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Okay. So, let's go to these five questions first. Sidhant, regarding your question on the comments, see, how can anything foreign be there in a jugular vein? This is a union territory of India. Its only relationship with Pakistan is the vacation of illegally occupied territories by that country. So, this is my response to your question. Krishna Mohan ji, jahan tak Bangladeshiyon ka sawal aapne kaha. Jo bhi videshi nagrik hamare desh mei rahte hain, chahe woh vaidh roop se rahe, ya avaidh roop se rahain, ye masla jo hain hamare gruh mantralaya ka hain. Aur gruh mantralay uske alawa jo bhi rajya hain unke jo tantra hain is par woh kaam karte hain, vidhivat, kanoonvadh jo hamare guidelines hain uske mutabik. [Approximate Translation: Answer in Hindi] Mr. Krishna Mohan, as far as your question about Bangladeshis is concernedany foreign nationals residing in our country, whether legally or illegallythis issue falls under the purview of our Ministry of Home Affairs. The Home Ministry, along with the respective state authorities, works on this matter in accordance with the prescribed legal guidelines. Neeraj America ke uprashtrapati bharat aa rahe hain. Uske bare mei hum logon ne aapko jankari di, unki yatra 21 se 24 april tak hain. Us yatra ke darmeiyaan unki mulakat bharat ke pradhan mantri se hogi. Us dauran jo batchit hogi usmei jitne mudde hain bharat aur america ke beech, dwipakshiya mudde hain unpe batchit hogi. Uske alawa aapka sawal tha Kailash Mansarovar yatra ko le ke, toh Kailash Mansarovar yatra jo hain, hum log uspe jald hi kuch aur notice public ke liye jari karenge. Aur jald hi yatra shurwat hone ki sambhavana hain. Ye mere paas abhi aap ki jankari ke liye, main ye aapke sangyan mei lana chahta hoon. [Approximate Translation: Answer in Hindi]: Neeraj, we have already informed you about the U.S. Vice President's visit to India, which will take place from April 21 to 24. During this visit, he will meet with the Prime Minister of India. The discussions held during that meeting will cover all bilateral issues between India and the United States. As for your question about the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, we will soon issue a public notice regarding it, and there is a strong possibility that the yatra will begin shortly. This is the information I have, and I wanted to bring it to your attention. Ubeer, regarding your question on visa matters, you know, visa matters are sovereign matters. So, whether Australia wants to issue or any other one country wants to visa to X or Y, it is their prerogative. So, that is how we look at it. Sahil, we, on Mehul Choksi case, as you are aware, based on our extradition request, he was arrested in Belgium. We are closely working with the Belgian side for his extradition to India so that he can face trial in the country. Santosh Thakur, Navbharat: Santosh Thakur Navbharat se. Sir China ne ya bola hain ki America se ladhne ke liye Bharat jo hain woh uske saath hath milaye tarrif war ko lekar. Toh uspe bharat ki kya soch hain? [Approximate Translation: Question in Hindi] Santosh Thakur from Navbharat. Sir, China has said that India should join hands with it to confront the U.S. over the tariff war. What is India's stance on this? Jugal Purohit, BBC: Hi sir, this is Jugal from the BBC. So, the question is, today, as this conference is going on, the Pakistani Foreign Secretary is in Bangladesh. I understand it is the first meeting between the two sides at that level in 15 years. How does India view these developments? Does it show the distance that Bangladesh has travelled both, you know, away from India and possibly towards Pakistan, if you can clarify? The other aspect is that US-Iran talks on nuclear deal are ongoing. The second round is due very soon. As a country that shares civilizational and cultural links with Iran, what is India's stand on this? And if you can update us on the invite for the Prime Minister to visit Russia .... If you can update us on the invite of the Prime Minister to visit Russia, which I think you mentioned last time around. Ajay Banerjee, The Tribune: Sir, Good Afternoon. Ajay Banerjee from the Tribune, this side. Sir, I need a little clarification. Is the route for the Mansarovar Yatra. Is the route via Demchok also being considered? There was some kind of a survey being done for the route's viability to go into Mansarovar. Or are we sticking to the old route? Suhasini Haidar, The Hindu: This is Suhasini Haider from the Hindu. I want to ask about a number of events involving Indians in trouble in the United States. An Indian student is part of a group of four who have now gone and petitioned after being asked to self-deport. And said that, his student visa has been revoked. Dozens of other Indians have received such messages. There are tourists who have complained ... Indian tourists who have complained that they have been stopped or treated badly, mistreated, put through security checks when they enter the US. There are green card holders who are Indian citizens who have been denied re-entry into the US. My question is, several European countries have now issued travel advisories for people wanting to go to the US. Others are putting out advisories for students in particular. And there are embassies in the US who are supporting their citizenry there. What is the Ministry of External Affairs really doing for Indians who find themselves on the wrong side of a new administration there, and for no fault of their own seem to be prosecuted there? Megha Sharma, NewsX: Megha Sharma from NewsX. I would just like to get any information or update on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Saudi visit. What are the key points that are likely to be part of the discussion between the two leaders and is IMEEC going to be a topic of conversation? Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Okay, mere pass paanch sawal hain. Santosh ji pehla sawal aapka. Dekhiye jahan tariff ka mudda hain, is mudde pe hamari americi sarkar ke saath baat ho rahi hain, aur lagatar ho rahi hain taaki hum log ye jo bilateral trade agreement ki baat kar rahe hain usko jald se jald ek roop diya jaye. Jahan tak aapke sawal mei jo dusra paksh hain, China ki baat hain, China ke sath hamari batchit chal rahi hain anya mudde par aur usko hum dheere dheere aage le ja rahe hain jaisa ki maine abhi bataya ki Kailash Mansarovar yatra ke baare mei ek expectation hain ki jaldi hi shurwat hogi aur hum log jald hi logon ke liye notice bhi jari karenge. Toh ye donon mudde jo hain, unko aap alag-alag rakh ke dekha jaye. [Approximate Translation: Answer in Hindi] Okay, I have five questions. Santosh ji, your first questionregarding the issue of tariffs, we are in continuous discussions with the U.S. government so that the ongoing talks about a bilateral trade agreement can be concluded at the earliest. As for the second part of your question, concerning China, we are engaged in dialogue with China on other matters, and that is progressing. As I mentioned earlier, there is an expectation that the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra will begin soon, and we will be issuing a notice for the public shortly. So, these two issues should be viewed separately. Jugal regarding your question about the visit of Foreign Secretary of Pakistan to Bangladesh. Yes, we have taken note of it. On your question as to what are our comments on ongoing US-Iran talks. Well, we see the ongoing US-Iran talks as a positive development. We have always stood for dialogue and diplomacy, as the way forward on such issues. We hope it would lead to the resolution of the matter, to the mutual satisfaction of all concerned and contribute to peace and stability in the region. On Russia invitation, yes, Prime Minister has received invitation. And as I had said last time in the presser that our participation in the Victory Day celebration will be announced at the appropriate time. Ajay, on Mansarovar yatra, I do not have any visibility on the granular details that you have asked for. What I do understand is that the yatra will happen this year. And, you know, we are making preparations and more information would be put out for the public soon. Suhasini, on your question regarding Indian students and travelers to the United States. We are aware that several Indian students have received communication from the US Government regarding their F-1 visa status, which happens to be the student visa. We are looking into the matter. Our Embassy and Consulate, they are in touch with the students to provide support. So, that is how I would respond to your question. Megha, on the Prime Minister's visit, we should be making an announcement soon. Also, there will be a press briefing before the visit. So, please hold on. If the visit takes place and we announce the visit, obviously it is a bilateral relationship, which is very important. And all aspects of this strategic partnership will be discussed. Saudi Arabia is a very important partner for us in several respects. And the relationship has seen expansion in all areas in the last several years. So, we look forward to a fruitful visit. But please wait for the announcement of the visit. Siddhant, CNN News18: Hi Sir, I am Siddhant from CNN News18. Sir, my question is regarding India's participation in Def Expo in Tanzania. And also the Military Exercises happening off the coast of East Africa Ileana, TASS News Agency: Good afternoon, Ileana from TASS News Agency. My question is on the RIC format; Russia, India, China, trilateral grouping. What is India's assessment of strengthening this RIC format, and especially in the current geopolitical situation and how India sees the development of this trilateral grouping, and when India like thinks ... may meeting in this format resume on the level Foreign Ministers or may be leaders. Thank you. Nirmala Ganapathy, The Straits Times: Hi, Nirmala from the Straits Times. I just wanted to ask you how would you kind of describe India-Bangladesh ties, economic ties, given that Bangladesh has restricted import of Indian yarn and also the transshipment issue. And also does the global trade conditions ... does it kind of give cause for greater economic integration in South Asia? Keshav Padmanabhan, ThePrint: Sir, thank you. Keshav Padmanabhan from ThePrint. I think it was the evening before last, when Prime Minister Modi held a telephonic conversation with his Danish counterpart. At any point during the phone call, did India perchance the Prime Minister reiterate his support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Denmark; and were issues around that potentially discussed given what is happening in the global world when it comes to Denmark and U.S. ties. Thank you. Seema: Any update on India-China air links? When will that happen? Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Okay, so Sidhant, DefExpo and the exercise that you talked about, our Minister of State for Defense had traveled to Tanzania recently to be part of the first edition of India-Africa multinational maritime exercise. So, this was the first edition. It was co-hosted by Tanzania and India. First time that we did a multinational exercise involving nine countries off the coast of Africa and those nine countries are Tanzania, Comoros, Djibouti, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles and South Africa. This exercise was an important ... it was hosted by Tanzania. It was an important milestone in India-Tanzania relations, but also our relationship with Africa in general. This exercise positions both India and Africa in a leadership role as far as regional security is concerned, security of Indian Ocean region is concerned, in line with our vision of MAHASAGAR. On this particular exercise, I think it finishes on 18th. On the sidelines of this exercise, we also had a DefExpo. Several countries participated. India was also one of them and around two dozen Indian companies, they displayed the defense products as part of this defense expo show. Ileana, on your question about RIC, see RIC is a platform which serves as a consultative mechanism between the three countries on our conversation on global and regional issues. The conversation under the RIC format will resume at an appropriate time, when the three countries involved, they mutually decide to take it forward. Nirmala, your question regarding India-Bangladesh ties. You know, several times we have said that ... and this was repeated when a Prime Minister met the Chief Advisor in Bangladesh ... India looks forward to having a positive and constructive relationship with Bangladesh. We stand for a democratic, for an inclusive, and for a prosperous Bangladesh. As far as trade issues are concerned, last week we had made an announcement regarding transshipment facility. We had taken that measure because of the congestion that we see on our Ports and our Airports. But I would also remind you, please do have a look at the developments that have happened on the Bangladeshi side prior to us announcing these measures. As far as your issue about regional integration and trade is concerned, our announcement regarding transshipment, it in no manner impacts Bangladesh's exports to Nepal and Bhutan. So, you know, we do have that in mind that regional trade needs to be promoted. So that is how I would look at India-Bangladesh ties. We have continued to call for constructive and positive engagement in our relationship. Keshav, yes, Prime Minister did have a telephone conversation with the Prime Minister of Denmark. I think it happened on two days back, that is on 15th. With Denmark we have a very strong partnership, partnership which is based on doing sustainable ... the sustainable agenda together. We have a strategic green partnership with Denmark. We also have a lot of Danish investments in clean, green and tech sectors and likewise Indian companies are also participating in the tech sectors and several other economic aspects of Denmark. During the telecon, both leaders, they discussed global issues as well and regional issues as well, and the Prime Minister also conveyed that he looks forward to meeting the Prime Minister of Denmark on the sidelines of the third Nordic Summit which is to be held later this year. So it was a positive conversation, it was a good conversation, a conversation which has given a push to Denmark-India ties. Seema, on flight. See, in principle both countries have agreed that flight operations will resume. The technical teams on both sides are looking into the arrangement, the technical arrangements for the flight services to resume. I will try to give you an update. When Foreign Secretary had visited, in principle as I told you, it was agreed that when Foreign Secretary had visited Beijing, that is, that both sides had agreed to resume direct air services. It was also agreed that relevant technical authorities would meet and negotiate an updated framework. An updated framework is something that is required to begin direct flight services. The two civil aviation authorities have met, and are discussing the relevant modalities including the updated framework. So once this updated framework, which is a technical level discussion, arrangements between the civil aviation authorities of both sides, we will see this direct flight connectivity, and air services connectivity between both countries restored. Seema: Is there a timeline? Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: I don't have a timeline at this point in time, but to say that technical level discussions are happening, which means that things are moving in the right direction. Kallol Bhattacherjee, The Hindu: Kallol Bhattacherjee from The Hindu. Sir it's very interesting that you have asked us to look at developments that have taken place on the Bangladeshi side. In this context, would you also refer to the development that has taken place three days ago, that is, Bangladesh stopping export of yarn to India? Jay Prakash Ranjan, Dainik Jagran: Sir main Jay Prakash, Dainik Jagran se. Abhi sir do din, teen din pehle Cheen ke ambassador ne bataya tha ki 85,000 Indians ko visa diya gaya hai. Aap bata sakte hain ki Bharat ki kya sthiti hai, Bharat ne kitna visa diya hai aur jo business community ki demand thi ki specialized visa diya jaye Chinese laborers ko ya experts ko, uski kya sthiti hai? [Approximate Translation: Question in Hindi] Sir, I am Jay Prakash from Dainik Jagran. Just a couple of days ago, the Chinese ambassador mentioned that visas have been granted to 85,000 Indians. Could you tell us what the situation is from India's sidehow many visas has India issued, and what is the status of the business community's demand for specialized visas for Chinese laborers or experts? Shivam Patel, Reuters News: Hi, Sir. Thank you. Shivam here from Reuters News. So China has taken a stand against President Donald Trump's tariffs. Is there a situation ... China is also looking for enhanced trade with other countries. There is some reporting that China has also reached out to India with discounted offers on certain products. In the future, are we going to see enhanced trade, or are we sort of looking at any offers from China on this front? Rishabh Madhavendra Pratap, Times Now: Good Evening, sir. Rishabh from Times Now. Sir, the day Tahawwur Rana was extradited to India; in a press conference last Thursday, Pakistan made a comment that Tahawwur Rana has not renewed his Pakistani document, and he is a Canadian citizen. In a way, washing their hands of Tahawwur Rana. Any comments on that from India? Also, there are reports that on 23rd of April, a few political parties are planning to do gherao Indian High Commission in Dhaka on the issue of Waqf Amendment Act that has been passed by the Parliament. Any comment on that, sir? Neeraj Kumar Dubey, Prabhasakshi: Namaskar. Main Neeraj Dubey, Prabhasakshi se. Sir, mera sawal hai ki QUAD ka kya hua, kyunki tariffs ko lekar jis tareeke se Australia aur Japan ne bhi America se naraazgi jatai hai. Aapne kaha ki Bharat ki vyapaar vartaa America se chal rahi hai, lekin ek taraf Cheen se bhi humare sambandhon mein sudhaar ho raha hai. To iss saal Bharat mein QUAD vartaa hone waali hai. To kya bhavishya nazar aa raha hai sir aapko? [Approximate Translation: Question in Hindi] Greetings. I am Neeraj Dubey from Prabhasakshi. Sir, my question is what is the status of the QUAD, considering the way Australia and Japan have also expressed displeasure with the U.S. over tariffs? You mentioned that India is engaged in trade talks with the U.S., but at the same time, our relations with China are also improving. So, with the QUAD dialogue scheduled to take place in India this year, how do you see the future, sir? Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Kallol, regarding developments in Bangladesh, you are an informed journalist. You follow all developments closely, as we do. So, I would urge you to look at all the developments that have happened. JP, visa ko lekar dekhiye, China ke sath hamari batchit chal rahi hai aur kai ek star par chal rahi hain. Aur us batchit ke dauran hum logon ne bahot saare muddon pe batchit ki, usmei people to people, logon ke beech mei aavajahi ke baare mei, direct air services ke baare mei, Kailash Mansarovar yatra ke baare mei, toh lajmi hain ki ye sab baatain jab karenge toh usmei jo visa ki jo padhati hain usmei bhi ek prakar se donon deshon ke beech mei sehmati banegi ki kya karna hain. Aaapne ek aankda diya china ke taraf se, mere paas ye aankda nahi hain, lekin maine jaise kaha ki in sabhi chizon pe batchit chal rahi hain. [Approximate Translation: Answer in Hindi] JP, regarding the visa issueour discussions with China are ongoing and taking place at multiple levels. During these talks, we have discussed a variety of issues, including people-to-people exchanges, movement between the two countries, direct air services, and the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Naturally, when all these topics are being discussed, there will also be some understanding reached between the two countries on the visa processon what needs to be done. You mentioned a specific figure from the Chinese sideI don't have the data from our side with mebut as I said, discussions on all these matters are ongoing. Shivam, on your question -- see, I have said this before as well, but I would like to repeat it for the sake of your question. During when our Foreign Secretary visited China in January this year, both sides agreed to resume, extend dialogue mechanisms for functional exchanges in a step-by-step manner to address each other's priority areas of interest and concern. Specific concerns in the economic and trade areas, including India's trade deficit, will be discussed through relevant mechanisms with a view to resolving these issues and promoting long-term policy transparency and predictability. Rishabh, on your question, Pakistan may try very hard, but its reputation as the epicenter of global terrorism will not diminish. The extradition of Rana is a reminder yet again to Pakistan that it needs to act to bring to justice other perpetrators of Mumbai terror attacks, whom it continues to shield. On Waqf, you would have seen debates, discussions, also all the elements of Waqf bill. This is an internal matter of India. The Waqf Amendment Bill proposes several inclusive policies to make the amendment bill more inclusive, more progressive, so that there are greater benefits to the intended beneficiaries. Unidetified Speaker: Sir, Tahawwur Rana pe ... [inaudible] Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Dekhiye ... Tahawwur Rana pe? Dekhiye, Pakistan chahe kitni chahe uski ek reputation ki woh duniya mei aatankwaad ka kendrabindu hain, epicenter hain, ye bana rahega chahe woh apne aap ko is prakar ki bayanbaji dekar door karna chahye. Aur Rana ki jo extradition hui hain woh ek baar phir is baat ko ujagar karta hain ki Pakistan jin logon ko sharan de raha hain, jo mumbai attack mei jo log jimmewar hain unko jald se jald kanoon ke samne laya jaye aur kadi se kadi karyawahi karain taki jo bhi doshi log hain, itna bada aatanki hamla hua tha, duniyabhar mei uski charcha hui, itne saare log mare gaye, ye sharmnaak hain ki Pakistan aaj tak uspar abhi tak aage nahi badha hain. [Approximate Translation: Answer in Hindi] Look, regarding Tahawwur Ranano matter how much Pakistan tries, its reputation as the global epicenter of terrorism will remain. These kinds of statements will not distance it from that image. Rana's extradition once again highlights the fact that Pakistan has been giving shelter to those responsible for the Mumbai attacks. They must be brought before the law as soon as possible, and the strictest action should be taken against them. Such a massive terrorist attack took place, it was discussed all over the world, so many people lost their livesit's shameful that Pakistan has still not taken meaningful action on it. Neeraj, QUAD ke baare mei, dekhiye QUAD ka bhavishya ujjwal hain aur QUAD ki tarikh jab charon desh mil kar tay karenge tab phir aapko bataya jayega ki QUAD ki shikar sammelan hoga woh kab hoga. [Approximate Translation: Answer in Hindi] Neeraj, regarding the QUADlook, the future of the QUAD is bright. Once all four countries jointly decide on the date, you will be informed when the QUAD summit will take place. Unidentified Speaker, DW News: Thank you sir, I am [Inaudible] from DW News. My question is regarding the visit of JD Vance, upcoming, it will be the first highest ranking visit after the so called Liberation day, what are India's expectations? what will talks focus on? Raghavendra Verma, ZDF (German Television): Raghavendra Verma from ZDF (German Television). My question is once again about the export ban from the land group in Bangladesh of Indian yarn. One of the reasons given by Bangladesh, as per the reports there, is that it led to money laundering. Are you aware that this land trade committed any kind of money laundering? And secondly, this is kind of a tit-for-tat for what happened last week. And the Indian yarn manufacturers are already complaining, and also the finished apparel makers, due to the import of Bangladeshi apparel in India. So do we expect further ban in any way of the Bangladeshi goods in India, especially in apparel? Agni Roy, ABP: This is Agni from ABP. Sir, it is reported that Iranian Foreign Minister is coming to India early next month. Can you throw some light on the upcoming meeting's agenda with special reference to Chabahar Port? Kunal Dutt, PTI: Kunal here from PTI, sir. Just few days ago, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at a tourism conference here in New Delhi, he was asked about the travel advisories that have been issued in the past related to J&K. His response was that the firm advisories need to be watered down or perhaps MEA should use its diplomatic might to perhaps bring to a level that is more palatable. And that he said that he will be working, I mean his government will be working with the MEA. So if you have any response on that, Sir. Shailesh Kumar, National Defense: Good Evening, sir. Shailesh from National Defense, sir. May you please update us about the situation, de-escalation and disengagement at border? What is the current situation, sir? Because it's been a long time we asked for... And second thing, since Vice President JD Vance is coming, would there be any specific talk regarding Indo-Pacific security, sir? And if you may allow, sir, would there be comeback of TikTok in future, sir, near future? Ajay Banerjee, The Tribune: Sir, thank you. Ajay Banerjee. Sir, when we sent our relief under Operation Brahma to Myanmar, Indian Air Force pilots reported back of GPS spoofing of the land, airports underneath missing, the entire terrain getting blocked. Have we taken up this with Myanmar since we were doing the relief operations? And have we identified who was doing this? Because, Myanmar authorities may not be doing it. Somebody else can do it. Suhasini Haidar, The Hindu: Actually my question is about a different extradition case on 28th March. An Indian national who I think lives in Finland, Sanal Edamaruku, was arrested in Poland. Apparently on an Indian request, he is wanted in India, I think on blasphemy charges. I just wanted to get a sense, it's three weeks now as India asked for an extradition of Sanal Edamaruku? And is he on any kind of an Interpol red notice? Because it's not available on their website. Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Okay. So, first coming to the visit of the US Vice President, as we have said, as I told you, we also have, Press Release giving details of his visit, of the cities that he is visiting, the programs that he is going to have. This is an Official Visit. He will be meeting the Prime Minister. And with the United States of America, we have a Comprehensive Strategic Global Partnership. So, when you have that level of partnership with any country, obviously you will discuss all relevant issues. And with America, with the United States, of course, our relationship is such that we are doing anything that is part of human endeavor ... forms part of our bilateral engagement. So, all these issues, bilateral issues will be discussed. And we are very positive that the visit will give a further boost to our bilateral ties. Raghvendra, your question regarding ... see, last week we had made an announcement regarding trans-shipment and the reason why it was done. Also, I would like to urge you, as I had told Kallol earlier, that you should also look at some of the developments that happened. That will give you a perspective of where things are, because you specifically asked about tit-for-tat. We put out ... we undertook certain action because of certain compulsions on our side. So, that you must keep in mind. That will give you a perspective of how we are approaching the issue. Agni, I dont have details about the visit that you referred to. But once we have more details about it, we will surely inform you. Kunal, see, when we engage with the world at large, with all our important partners across the world, we talk about economic issues, we talk about tourism connect, we talk about technology connect. All these elements are very important. We have a large number of tourists from abroad who visit India. And we also discuss as to how we can create more efficient ways of engaging on tourism front. So, all these are a part of our ongoing engagement with the world at large and partners across the world. Shailesh, on the issues that you asked, we had a meeting of the WMCC recently in China. And we also had Joint Secretary level Foreign Office Consultations or Foreign Office Engagement. We have given details of all the issues that were discussed. So, I would refer you to please have a look at that. It also will give you the kind of issues that we are discussing bilaterally. On the question of Indo-Pacific, and what will be discussed during the visit of the US Vice President ... all issues of importance will be discussed as part of his visit here. On Ajay's specific question, I think there has been some clarity given by MoD or Indian Air Force in regard to your question. So, I would refer you to please have a look at that. With that, ladies and gentlemen, we will come to the close of this conversation. Thank you very much. Tomorrow is a holiday, but Saturday we will meet. Hopefully, we may have a press briefing. Thank you. New Delhi April 17, 2025 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address India to emerge as a developed nation and number one military power in the world: Raksha Mantri India - Press Information Bureau Ministry of Defence "India's defence sector is moving ahead on the path of self-reliance, it is also ready to play a very important role in making global supply chains resilient" Our Defence capabilities are like a credible deterrence, to maintain peace & tranquillity. Peace is possible only when we remain strong: RM Posted On: 17 APR 2025 2:04PM by PIB Delhi Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh laid out a compelling vision for a self-reliant and future-ready India at a Defence Conclave in New Delhi today on April 17, 2025. With a clear focus on indigenisation, innovation, and global leadership, he declared that India is not only securing its borders but also positioning itself as a key player in the international defence ecosystem. "The day is not far when India will not only emerge as a developed country, but our Military Power will also emerge as the number one in the world," he added. Raksha Mantri reiterated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the revival and strengthening of the defence sector is one of the biggest priorities for the government. He further stated that the government's first and foremost challenge was to change the mindset that India would simply import to meet its defence needs. "India will reduce its dependency on imports and create a defence industrial complex that will not only meet India's needs but will also strengthen the potential of defence exports," he emphasised. "Today, while India's defence sector is moving ahead on the path of self-reliance, it is also ready to play a very important role in making global supply chains resilient," Raksha Mantri emphasised. He added that the Make in India program is not only strengthening the country's defence production but also has the capability to make the global defence supply chain resilient and flexible. He further stated that while India's defence manufacturing capabilities are aimed at national security and strategic autonomy, they are also insulating manufacturing from global supply shocks. Shri Rajnath Singh underlined that India's growing defence capability is not meant to provoke conflict. "Our defence capabilities are like a credible deterrence, to maintain peace and tranquillity. Peace is possible only when we remain strong," he added. On the evolving nature of warfare, Shri Rajnath Singh underscored that in the coming days, conflicts & wars will be more violent and unpredictable. The Cyber & Space Domains are rapidly emerging as new battlefields and along with this, a war of narrative & perception is also being fought all over the world. To address these challenges, he mentioned that the focus is on holistic capacity building and continuous reforms. Raksha Mantri also announced that the Ministry of Defence had declared 2025 as the 'Year of Reforms'. Reflecting on reforms, Shri Rajnath Singh highlighted that corporatising the over 200-year-old Ordnance Factories was a bold but necessary step. "Today Ordnance Factories are performing very well in their new form and have become profit making units. I believe that changing a structure that is more than two hundred years old is a very big reform of this century" he added. Raksha Mantri also outlined the government's indigenisation drive, noting the release of five positive indigenization lists by the Armed Forces and five by Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs). "The total number of defence equipment, weapon systems and platforms included in the list of the Services is 509. These will now be produced in India. Similarly, the total number of items included in the DPSU lists is 5,012 including strategically-important Line Replacement Units, sub-systems, spares and components," he said. Shri Rajnath Singh also underlined the fact that the government has reserved 75 per cent of the defence budget for procurement from domestic companies. He pointed out that defence production in India has risen from Rs 40,000 crore in 2014 to over Rs 1.27 lakh crore today. "This year, defence production should cross Rs 1.60 lakh crore, while our target is to produce defence equipment worth Rs 3 lakh crore by the year 2029," he added. On defence exports, Raksha Mantri underscored that the figures had surged from Rs 686 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 23,622 crore in 2024-25. "Defence products made in our country are being exported to about 100 countries. "our defence exports should reach Rs 30,000 crore this year and Rs 50,000 crore by the year 2029," he announced. Shri Rajnath Singh underlined the government's commitment to fostering innovation, particularly among the youth and start-ups. He stated that to encourage cutting-edge technology in the defence sector, iDEX was launched, which offers financial support of up to Rs 1.5 crore to selected start-ups. Building on its success, iDEX Prime was introduced, enhancing this support to Rs 10 crore. Further, the newly launched ADITI scheme provides assistance of up to Rs 25 crore to help scale breakthrough innovations. "The target is to strengthen the hands of our start-ups and MSMEs and for this, the Ministry of Defence has approved purchases worth more than Rs 2,400 crore from start-ups/MSMEs, and projects worth more than Rs 1,500 crore have been approved for development of new technology," he added. Highlighting India's growing strategic capabilities, Raksha Mantri mentioned that the country now stands shoulder to shoulder with developed nations in critical areas such as missile technology (Agni, BrahMos), submarines (INS Arihant), aircraft carriers (INS Vikrant), artificial intelligence, drones, cyber defence and hypersonic systems. "Aero engine manufacturing remains a challenge," he said, while also pointing to significant progress under the Kaveri engine project and ongoing discussions with global players like Safran, GE and Rolls Royce to build domestic capabilities. With emphasis on India's success in shipbuilding, Shri Rajnath Singh stated that more than 97% of the war ships of Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard are now built in Indian shipyards. Ships built by India are also being exported to friendly countries like Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Maldives. Senior officials, experts and dignitaries including former Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Pande, former Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba, former Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat and former Defence Secretary Shri Sanjay Mitra also attended the conclave. VK/SR/KB (Release ID: 2122381) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President Pezeshkian: Iran and Saudi Arabia can be role model for regional cooperation IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Apr 17, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- In a meeting with Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman Al Saud in Tehran on Thursday, President Masoud Pezeshkian has stressed the neeed for consolidating cohesion in Islamic world, and called for the expansion of bilateral cooperation between Iran and Saudi Arabia in all sectors to help resolve regional issues. President Pezeshkian pointed to deep religious, cultural and historical commonalities among Muslim nations, and emphasized the need for strengthening Islamic unity. The President described cohesion among Islamic countries as the prerequisite to peace, security and sustainable economic development in the region, and said that dispute and poverty in Muslim nations are not appropriate for the Islamic Ummah. He noted that heads of Islamic nations can present an inspiring example of co-existence, welfare and progress for other societies. "The Islamic Republic of Iran is fully ready to expand its ties with Saudi Arabia in all arenas," Pezeshkian said. The President welcomed the formation of joint working groups in political, economic and security affairs, and said that Iran and Saudi Arabia can rely on their common capacities to resolve regional issues without any foreign intervention. President Pezeshkian expressed hope that the friendship between the two nations will consolidate interests of the Islamic world and dissuade adversaries of interfering and sowing discord among Muslim countries. He expressed readiness to host Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud in Tehran. The President, meantime, pointed to the plight of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, and said that if the Islamic states achieve real unity, the Zionist regime would not be able to create such a humanitarian catastrophe in the besieged area. The Saudi minister, for his part, conveyed warm greetings of the Saudi King and Crown Prince to the Iranian president, describing his meetings with Iran's officials as positive and constructive. 2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran's Leader says relations with Saudi Arabia will benefit both countries IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Apr 17, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says that the relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia will benefit both nations and that the two countries can complement each other. He made these remarks in a meeting with Saudi Arabia's Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman Al Saud in Tehran on Thursday. In the meeting, the Saudi defense minister delivered a message from the King of Saudi Arabia, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, to Ayatollah Khamenei. Ayatollah Khamenei said in the meeting that the enhancement of ties between Tehran and Riyadh faces opposition, urging that hostile intentions must be overcome, and assured that Iran is fully prepared to do so. Referring to some of Iran's advancements, he expressed Iran's readiness to assist Saudi Arabia in these areas. Additionally, he stressed the importance of mutual support among bothers, noting that it is far better for brothers to help each other than to rely on outsiders. In the meeting, which was also participated by Chiefs of Staff of Iran's Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri, the Saudi defense minister said that he was in Tehran with the intention to expand relations and cooperation with Iran across all areas. He also expressed hope for the constructive discussions would lead to stronger ties between Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran. Heading a high-ranking delegation of military officials, the Saudi defense minister arrived in Tehran earlier that day. During his visit, he also held discussions with Major General Baqeri, alongside other prominent military and political figures. 9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran expects the I.A.E.A. to maintain impartiality and professionalism IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Apr 17, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (A.E.O.I.) says that Iran's consistent expectation from the International Atomic Energy Agency (I.A.E.A.) is to uphold impartiality and professional conduct. Speaking at a joint press conference with the IAEA chief, Rafael Grossi, on Thursday, Mohammad Eslami announced that in the coming days, the deputy officials from both the I.A.E.A. and the A.E.O.I. will discuss the details of cooperation and work on resolving outstanding issues. Regarding the details of his meeting and talks with Grossi and his role in the negotiation process, Eslami said that Iran's consistent expectation from the I.A.E.A. is to adhere strictly to impartiality and professionalism. He also said that phrases and terminology should not be used in ways that could be exploited by Iran's adversaries or those opposing the Islamic Republic. He added that Grossi shared and agreed with this perspective this idea. Grossi visited Tehran for talks with Iranian officials on Wednesday and departed for Vienna on Thursday. On his visit, Grossi visited Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and Mohammad Eslami, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran. 9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address I.A.E.A. chief says threatening to target Iran's nuclear facilities is unacceptable IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Apr 17, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Rafael Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (I.A.E.A.), says that the I.A.E.A. has consistently emphasized that threats to target nuclear facilities are unacceptable. On Wednesday, Grossi said that such attacks not only worsen the existing problems but also lead to severe environmental consequences. He further claimed that to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue, interactions between Iran and the I.A.E.A. must increase. Grossi emphasized that a political approach should be avoided in these efforts. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araqchi underscored the I.A.E.A.'s role in discussions between Iran and the United States and called on the I.A.E.A. to fulfill its responsibilities. He expressed hope that this role will be carried out purely on technical grounds, without being influenced by the political inclinations of certain countries. Araqchi also said that the cooperation between Iran and the I.A.E.A. has experienced numerous ups and downs, noting that while there have been complaints along the way, there are also instances where the Agency has successfully fulfilled its duties. Grossi visited Tehran for talks with Iranian officials on Wednesday and departed for Vienna on Thursday. On his visit, Grossi visited Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and Mohammad Eslami, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran. 9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran says relations between Tehran and Moscow are built on 'solid grounds' IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Apr 17, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- The spokesperson for Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the relations between Tehran and Moscow are based on strong foundations of mutual respect and shared interests between the two nations. Esmaeil Baqaei wrote on his X page that Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi "visits the Russian Federation, our neighbor & strategic partner, to consult on matters of common interest & concern." He added the "excellent relations" between Tehran and Moscow "are based on solid grounds of 'mutual understanding' & 'respect' as well as 'shared interests' of the two nations." Araqchi arrived in Moscow on Thursday to deliver a message from Iran's Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Speaking to reporters upon his arrival in Moscow, Araqchi said that the message addresses international and regional developments, as well as bilateral issues. 9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Araqchi: Leader's message to President Putin focuses on regional and international developments IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Apr 17, 2025 Moscow, IRNA -- Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araqchi says that he is in Moscow to deliver a message from Iran's Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei to the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, adding that the message pertains to international and regional developments, as well as bilateral issues. Araqchi made these remarks upon his arrival at the Vnukovo international Airport in Moscow on Thursday. He said that the visit was planned to deliver the Leader's message to President Putin, but it coincided with recent developments and the indirect talks between Iran and the United States in Oman's Muscat. He added that during this trip, he will also pursue economic projects and political discussions, the developments and issues in West Asia region, the continuation of Israeli regime's crimes, the existing threats in this region, as well as the issue of Ukraine. 9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Araqchi stresses I.A.E.A.'s crucial role in resolving Iran's nuclear talks IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Apr 17, 2025 Moscow, IRNA -- Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi says the International Atomic Energy Agency (I.A.E.A.) can play a crucial role in a peaceful settlement of a dispute over the Iranian nuclear program in the coming months. Araqchi said in a post on his X account on Thursday, "Had useful discussion with visiting IAEA chief Grossi. In the coming months, the Agency can play a crucial role in peaceful settlement of the Iranian nuclear file." He added, "As variety of spoilers are gathered to derail current negotiations, we need a Director General of Peace." "Our predisposition is to trust Grossi in mission to keep the Agency away from politics and politicization, and to retain focus on its technical mandate," he concluded his post. Earlier on Wednesday, Araqchi met with Director General of the I.A.E.A. Rafael Grossi, who has traveled to Tehran on an official two-day visit. 3266**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran dismisses Britain's claims as unfounded IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Apr 17, 2025 Moscow, IRNA -- Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei has vehemently rejected recent accusations leveled by the British administration against Iran, denouncing them as unfounded and politically motivated. In remarks on Thursday, Baqaei described the British anti-Iran allegations as a "clear projection" aimed at diverting attention from its own destructive activities, especially in the West Asian region. He emphasized that London is pursuing a reckless and repetitive policy of making unsubstantiated claims against Tehran without providing any credible evidence. The British regime has repeatedly failed to provide any evidence for its claims, despite Iran's persistent requests, he said, adding that London's policy of making unfounded allegations against Iran will only damage its own credibility. The spokesperson warned that London's continued smear campaign against Iran would deepen mistrust and further strain diplomatic ties, holding Britain responsible for the consequences. The British regime must understand that such irresponsible policies will only lead to further deterioration in relations, Baqaei asserted. Earlier on Monday, British authorities claimed that a Sweden-based network known as "Foxtrot" was carrying out attacks against Israeli and Jewish interests in Europe on behalf of Iran, although they provided no specific details about the alleged incidents. In response, the Iranian Embassy in London issued a statement firmly denying any involvement, saying, "The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran categorically rejects the false claims linking Iran to the actions of the so-called Foxtrot in Sweden." 3266**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister's Office Statement Israel Prime Minister's Office Media Statements The 37th Government 17.04.2025 The Prime Minister's Office, today: For over a decade, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has led the global campaign against Iran's nuclear program, even when the threat was belittled and labelled "political spin", and the Prime Minister was called "paranoid." The Prime Minister has led countless overt and covert operations in the campaign against Iran's nuclear program; it is only due to these operations that Iran does not currently possess a nuclear arsenal. These actions have delayed Iran's nuclear program by approximately a decade, thanks to Prime Minister Netanyahu's persistence in withstanding great opposition both at home and abroad to his vigorous policy toward Iran. As the Prime Minister has made clear more than once: Israel will not allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran president says Islamic Republic, Saudi Arabia can serve as model for regional cooperation Iran Press TV Thursday, 17 April 2025 6:06 PM Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says the Islamic Republic and Saudi Arabia can serve as a model for regional cooperation, stressing that the unity of Islamic countries is a prerequisite for achieving peace, security, and sustainable economic development in the region. Pezeshkian made the remarks during a meeting with Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and his delegation in Tehran on Thursday evening, hours after the Saudi minister arrived in the Iranian capital to discuss regional developments and bilateral relations with Iranian officials. The Iranian president emphasized the deep religious, cultural, and historical commonalities among Islamic countries, underscoring the necessity of strengthening unity and cohesion in the Islamic world. "We consider you our brothers, and since the beginning of this government's tenure, we have made efforts to strengthen fraternal ties among Islamic nations," Pezeshkian said, adding that if Islamic countries achieve a common language and genuine unity, the Zionist regime will no longer can cause human tragedies like those unfolding in the besieged Gaza Strip nowadays. He also touched on the importance of setting aside differences and boosting regional cooperation. "Leaders of Islamic countries can, with a shared will, present an inspiring model of coexistence, prosperity, and progress for other societies. The Islamic Republic of Iran is fully prepared to expand its relations with Saudi Arabia in all fields and extend bilateral cooperation to other Islamic countries," Pezeshkian stressed. He also hailed the idea of establishing joint working groups in various political, economic, and security areas between Iran and Saudi Arabia. "Iran and Saudi Arabia, by relying on their shared capacities and without foreign interference, can resolve many of the region's problems. We hope the goodwill that has emerged between the two countries will strengthen the interests of the Islamic world and discourage enemies from interference and sowing discord," Pezeshkian emphasized. He also stressed the importance of bilateral dialogue and its constructive role in reinforcing regional stability, expressing Iran's readiness to host Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz and the kingdom's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Prince Khalid bin Salman, for his part, expressed his delight at visiting Iran and conveyed the warm greetings of his father, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and his brother, the Crown Prince, to Iran's president. "Our meetings with officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran have been very useful, positive, and constructive," the Saudi defense minister noted. He emphasized the need for unity and convergence in the Islamic world, stressing that Pezeshkian "rightly pointed to the root cause of the Islamic world's problems the lack of unity and cohesion." Prince Khalid bin Salman also stressed that any development, whether positive or negative, inevitably affects all countries in the region. He further highlighted the key role of Tehran and Riyadh in regional dynamics. "Iran and Saudi Arabia are two main pillars of the region, and strong relations between the two countries can serve as an effective model for convergence and synergy in the Islamic world. The Beijing Agreement marks the beginning of a path of cooperation between the two countries, and the potential of our relations goes far beyond that," Prince Khalid bin Salman emphasized. Signed in March 2023, the China-mediated Beijing Agreement aims to restore diplomatic ties and promote mutual respect for sovereignty and security between Iran and Saudi Arabia under the principles of the UN Charter, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and international law. The Saudi defense minister also noted that Saudi leaders are eager to visit Iran at the earliest opportunity. "Iran and Saudi Arabia share common positions regarding the developments in Gaza and Palestine, and the actions of the Zionist regime in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, and Syria reveal its attempts to exploit the existing regional gaps," Prince Khalid bin Salman added. While stressing the importance of continuing bilateral talks, the Saudi defense minister officially invited Pezeshkian, on behalf of the Saudi King and Crown Prince, for an official visit to Saudi Arabia, affirming the readiness of Saudi officials to expand cooperation in all areas with Iran. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Leader: Iran ready to share its advancements with Saudi Arabia Iran Press TV Thursday, 17 April 2025 2:55 PM Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has touched on "some of Iran's advancements", telling the Saudi defense minister in Tehran that the Islamic Republic is ready to share them with the kingdom. Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, brother of Crown Prince and de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman, called on Ayatollah Khamenei in Tehran Thursday afternoon to present the message of Saudi Arabia's King Salman. "We believe that the relationship between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Saudi Arabia will be beneficial for both countries and the two countries can complement each other," the Leader said. Referring to some of Iran's advancements, Ayatollah Khamenei said, "The Islamic Republic is ready to help Saudi Arabia in these areas." "It is much better for brothers in the region to cooperate and help each other than to rely on others," he added. Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized that the expansion of relations between the two countries has enemies. "These hostile motives must be overcome, and we are ready for this," he said. The Saudi defense minister expressed great satisfaction with the meeting which was also attended by Iran's Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Hossein Bagheri. "I have come to Tehran with the agenda of expanding relations with Iran and cooperation in all fields," Prince Khalid said, according to state news agency IRNA. "And we hope that the constructive talks will provide for stronger relations between Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran than in the past," he added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran's FM in Russia to 'consult on matters of common concern' Iran Press TV Thursday, 17 April 2025 2:40 PM Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is visiting Moscow to "consult on matters of common interest and concern" with Russian officials, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei says. Baghaei on Thursday described Russia as a "strategic partner", emphasizing that mutual ties between Tehran and Moscow are anchored in solid grounds of "mutual understanding" and common interests. "Iran-Russia's excellent bilateral relations are based on solid grounds of 'mutual understanding' & 'respect' as well as 'shared interests' of the two nations," he wrote on the X social media platform. Heading a diplomatic delegation, Araghchi traveled to Moscow Thursday to deliver a written message from Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Baghaei said. The previously planned visit is taking place at the invitation of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, within the framework of continuous consultations between the two countries as strategic partners, Baghaei added. During his stay in Moscow, Araghchi will hold talks on bilateral relations, regional and international developments, and the recent indirect talks between Iran and the US. His visit comes ahead of the second round of talks between the US and Iran on Saturday after they held "positive" indirect negotiations in the Omani capital on Tehran's nuclear program and the removal of sanctions on the Islamic Republic. President Putin was scheduled to meet Araghchi later Thursday, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told state media. The Kremlin said Wednesday that Russia was ready to do "everything" in its powers to help find a diplomatic resolution to the standoff between the United States and Iran. Russia has issued calls for calm after US President Donald Trump last month appeared to threaten to bomb Iran if it did not agree to a new nuclear agreement. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran's nuclear chief urges IAEA to maintain neutrality in Tehran-Washington talks Iran Press TV Thursday, 17 April 2025 10:56 AM Tehran expects the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to remain neutral and professional in its approach to the indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington, says head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization. Speaking at a joint press conference with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi in Tehran on Thursday, Mohammad Eslami said that the two sides share an understanding on avoiding language or actions that Iran's foes could exploit. Iran and the United States kick-started indirect talks on the Islamic Republic's nuclear program and termination of anti-Iran sanctions in the Omani capital of Muscat on Saturday. The two sides described the talks as positive and agreed to hold the second round next Saturday. During the press conference, Eslami said deputy-level meetings between the IAEA and Iran's nuclear agency will be held in the coming days to discuss outstanding issues and the details of ongoing cooperation. He stressed that the 2023 joint statement between Iran and the IAEA had led to "good progress," and that the remaining issues would continue to be addressed within the same framework. IAEA seeks to bridge Iran-US gap in nuclear talks For his part, Grossi said the IAEA is in contact with both Iranian and US officials to help facilitate progress in their indirect negotiations. The head of the UN nuclear watchdog said he is in touch with the American negotiator to explore how the IAEA can play a positive and constructive role. "We want to be a bridge between Iran and the United States and help reach a positive outcome," he said. Grossi described his meetings in Tehran, including talks with Eslami and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, as "deep and honest," adding that the agency is committed to verifying any future agreement to ensure its credibility. He noted the talks are at a critical stage, expressing optimism that a final deal is achievable if both sides show the necessary will. Grossi also praised Iran's peaceful nuclear achievements after visiting an exhibition on Iran's nuclear achievements, but emphasized the IAEA's responsibility to ensure non-proliferation. "It's crucial that nuclear technology is used for peaceful purposes only," he said, stressing that time is limited to reach a deal that resolves remaining concerns. Grossi arrived in Tehran on Wednesday for his second visit under the current Iranian administration. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Tehran rejects 'baseless' UK claims about links to criminal groups Iran Press TV Thursday, 17 April 2025 8:41 AM Iran has condemned as "baseless and unjust" the recent accusations leveled by Britain that the Islamic Republic is connected with certain criminal groups. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei made the remarks on Thursday, three days after UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced sanctions on Foxtrot and its leader, Rawa Majid, claiming that the Swedish-based gang had been involved in "violence against Jewish and Israeli targets in Europe on behalf of" Tehran without providing any evidence. Baghaei said attributing the actions of certain groups to Iran is a clear blame game meant to cover up Britain's own destabilizing activities, particularly in West Asia. "Making such claims against Iran reflects a misguided policy that the UK government has, in recent years, become somewhat addicted to," he added. The spokesman also noted that London has repeated its unfounded claims without any evidence despite Tehran's calls for the UK to provide proof supporting its allegations. He further emphasized that the UK government's policy of making anti-Iran claims will bring nothing but will discredit it. "The British regime must understand that pursuing a policy of unfounded 'claims and accusations' against the Islamic Republic of Iran will deepen distrust and further disrupt diplomatic relations - for which the UK will bear responsibility," Baghaei said. Earlier, the Iranian embassy in London said it had submitted a note of protest to the British government regarding the allegations. "We consider such baseless positions and destructive conduct to be detrimental to the bilateral relations and urge the UK to refrain from pursuing hostile approaches towards Iran," it said in a statement. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address IAEA can play crucial role in peaceful settlement of Iran's nuclear file: FM Araghchi Iran Press TV Thursday, 17 April 2025 8:29 AM Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) can play a crucial role in peaceful settlement of the country's nuclear issue. In a post on his X account on Thursday, Araghchi said he had "useful" discussion with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi in Tehran on Wednesday. "As variety of spoilers are gathered to derail current negotiations, we need a Director General of Peace," he added. He emphasized that Iran's "predisposition" is to trust the UN nuclear body chief in its mission to keep the IAEA away from politics and politicization and to retain focus on its technical mandate. Aragchi's post comes after his meeting with the IAEA chief, who is in Tehran ahead of a fresh round of indirect talks between Iran and the United States. The second round of indirect Tehran-Washington talks is scheduled to take place in the Italian capital, Rome, on Saturday. In his meeting with Grossi, the Iranian foreign minister once again urged the IAEA to adopt a clear and transparent position regarding the threats that have been made by various parties against the country's peaceful nuclear facilities. Araghchi said Iran remained committed to full cooperation with the IAEA within its international legal obligations, but stressed that the agency too had to uphold its technical and professional mandate without being influenced by undue external pressures. The meeting between Araghchi and Grossi took place amid renewed Israeli threats against Iran's nuclear infrastructure. US President Donald Trump and his administration's various officials have also threatened Iran with the prospect of attacking the nuclear sites, echoing numerous similar menacing remarks made during successive American administrations. The Iranian foreign minister and Steve Witkoff, the US president's special envoy for West Asia affairs, led the first round of indirect talks in the Omani capital of Muscat on Saturday and agreed to resume the talks on April 19 at the same level. Iran has repeatedly announced that non-nuclear issues are not on the agenda during its indirect talks with the United States and that Tehran will not negotiate with Washington unless negotiations are free from pressure and threats. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Non-nuclear issues not on Iran's agenda for talks with US: Deputy FM Iran Press TV Thursday, 17 April 2025 7:27 AM A member of the Iranian negotiating team says non-nuclear issues are not on the agenda during the country's indirect talks with the United States. "Basically, nothing has been defined as 'other topics' in the negotiations," Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi said in a televised interview on Wednesday. Iran believes that the talks with the US should focus on the two main issues of the nuclear program and the lifting of sanctions, he added. He noted that Iran pursues specific plans and objectives in the talks with the US and "seeks to achieve a win-win, fair, logical and lasting agreement." That agreement should be in such a way as to prevent violations in a short period of time or in case of a government change, he explained. "We have announced that the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to achieve such an agreement without any humiliation or unreasonable pressure," Gharibabadi said, adding that during the first round of Tehran-Washington talks, the two sides agreed on the frameworks. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Steve Witkoff, the US president's special envoy for West Asia affairs, led the first round of indirect talks in the Omani capital of Muscat on Saturday and agreed to resume the talks on April 19 at the same level. Iran's uranium enrichment right non-negotiable The senior diplomat once again reiterated that Iran would never give up its right to uranium enrichment. "If the opposite side is concerned about the militarization of Iran's nuclear program, this issue is negotiable and can be discussed," Gharibabadi added. "However, if their goal is the complete shutdown of the nuclear industry, especially enrichment, such a demand is neither logical nor can it be the focal point of the negotiations," he emphasized. Gharibabadi made the remark after Witkoff said in a statement on Tuesday that Iran must "eliminate its nuclear enrichment" program to reach a deal with the US, suggesting the Trump administration is hardening its position in negotiations with Tehran. On Wednesday, the Iranian foreign minister said the issue of enrichment of uranium as part of the country's peaceful nuclear program is "non-negotiable," and that Tehran-Washington talks would yield no results if held under pressure and a lack of mutual respect. Iranians should benefit from removal of sanctions Gharibabadi said the removal of "cruel, illegal and unilateral" sanctions against Iran was among the main issues discussed during the Muscat talks. "The lifting of these sanctions should be in a way that the Iranian people reap the benefits from its real and practical advantages, rather than being merely inked on paper," he added. If sanctions have a negative impact on Iran's economic interests, they must be removed, the diplomat emphasized. Threats, sanctions not compatible with logic of negotiations The Iranian deputy foreign minister said threats and sanctions are not compatible with the logic of negotiations. Gharibabadi emphasized that Iran is in possession of its own means and will pursue specific mechanisms to respond to threats. As announced by Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, in case of any threat against Iran's national security, Tehran would also jeopardize the security of those who have posed the threat, he added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Press release on the upcoming Moscow talks between Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran Abbas Araghchi 17 April 2025 16:26 645-17-04-2025 On April 18, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will hold talks in Moscow with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi. The meeting will come as a continuation of the regular dialogue between the foreign ministers of both countries. Previously, they met on February 25, when Sergey Lavrov was paying a working visit to Tehran. On November 30, 2024, the ministers talked over the phone. During the upcoming talks, the ministers will discuss a wide range of current regional and international issues, including those related to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Iranian nuclear programme, and developments in Syria, the South Caucasus, and the Caspian area. It is intended to consider the plans to build up bilateral trade and economic ties with account taken of the 18th meeting of the Standing Russian-Iranian Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation scheduled for April 23-25 in Moscow, as well as the new basic interstate treaty between Russia and Iran and the agreements reached following Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's visit to Moscow on January 17. Despite the sanctions pressure, Russian-Iranian relations have been traditionally characterised as a partnership. The parties continue their intense and substantive political dialogue, including at the top level. Both countries' foreign ministers, speakers of parliament and heads of other government agencies and organisations, including financial and economic ones, maintain regular bilateral contacts. We intend to expand our mutually beneficial ties with Iran even further in the interests of regional stability and international security. We hope for a progressive strengthening of the entire system of multifaceted strategic collaboration with the Islamic Republic of Iran. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump Nixed Israel's Iran Strike, Pushed For Deal Instead Sputnik News 20250417 Iran and the US are set to hold the second round of indirect negotiations on Saturday. Israel had planned to bomb Iranian nuclear sites as early as next month, hoping for US backing, The New York Times reported, citing insiders. Instead, Donald Trump opted to pursue a nuclear deal with Iran. Trump made the decision after months of internal negotiations about whether to pursue diplomacy with Iran or support Israel, the report added. The move exposed a rift in the US president's camp: some, like Gen. Michael E. Kurilla, the head of US Central Command, and Michael Waltz, the national security adviser, were more open to Israel's plan, claimed the outlet. Others, like Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and the Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, feared it would trigger a wider war. The Omani capital of Muscat hosted the first round of indirect talks between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US special presidential envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff on Saturday. Witkoff described the talks as positive and constructive, while Araghchi said the atmosphere was constructive and calm. The White House said that the second round of talks would be held on April 19. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Accra, Ghana (PANA) - Ghana's Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has arrested 35 suspected human traffickers in a major operation targeting a syndicate accused of luring and exploiting over 200 individuals Israeli war minister says troops to remain in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria 'indefinitely' Iran Press TV Thursday, 17 April 2025 8:09 PM Israeli minister of military affairs Israel Katz has said that troops will remain in so-called security zones in the besieged Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Syria indefinitely, as the regime presses ahead with its expansionist agenda across the region. Katz said in a recent statement that the military "will remain in the so-called security zones as a buffer between the enemy and Israeli settlers in any temporary or permanent situation in Gaza, as in Lebanon and Syria." "Unlike in the past, the (Israeli military) is not evacuating areas that have been cleared and seized," he added As a means of ensuring the safety of Israeli occupation soldiers in Gaza, the army will evacuate the "Palestinians from combat zones and soften the ground with massive force from the air, land and sea, using heavy equipment to deal with explosive devices and demolish threatening structures," said Katz. The hawkish Israeli minister added that after clearing those areas, they will be "incorporated" into the so-called Israeli security zones to protect the illegal settlements. This policy, he said, focuses on releasing Israeli captives held in Gaza within the framework of US envoy Steve Witkoff's plan. The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has also said that Israel will implement US President Donald Trump's vicious scheme for the resettlement of much of Gaza's population in other countries. Palestinians and Arab countries have universally rejected Trump's proposal, which human rights experts say would violate international law. Palestinians in Gaza say they don't want to leave, and fear another mass expulsion like the one that occurred during the war surrounding Israel's creation in 1948. The Trump administration has expressed full support for Israel's decision to end the truce and to cut off aid. Trump's West Asia envoy, Steve Witkoff, has been desperately trying to broker a new ceasefire, more favorable to Israel. Hamas has said it will not release dozens of remaining captives without a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a lasting ceasefire. Elsewhere in his remarks, Katz also said the regime would not allow any humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, confirming that food is being used as a tool of pressure against the Hamas resistance group. Katz said no preparations were being made to bring supplies into the strip. "As I mentioned in my statement, Israel's policy is clear and no humanitarian aid is about to enter Gaza," he said, adding that aid prevention is "one of the main tools" that Israel is using to pressure Hamas, "in addition to the other steps that Israel is taking." It has been several weeks since Israel has blocked the entry of food, medicine and other critical supplies. Aid agencies say there are concerns of a full-blown famine taking hold across the blockaded Palestinian territory. Israel's bombardment and ground offensive have left vast areas of the territory uninhabitable and have displaced around 90% of the population of roughly 2 million Palestinians. Many have been displaced multiple times. Hundreds of thousands are crammed into squalid tent camps with dwindling food as an aid blockade in Gaza imposed by Israel entered its seventh week. The UN humanitarian office, or OCHA, said Wednesday that humanitarian workers on the ground are reporting a rise in acute malnutrition across the Gaza Strip. Water has become increasingly scarce, with Palestinians desperately lining up in front of water trucks, clutching containers and jerrycans. Omar Shatat, deputy director of Gaza's Coastal Water Utility, said that each person gets six to seven liters of potable water each day, calling it a "water catastrophe." Israel refusing to withdraw from Lebanon and Syria Israel has also refused to withdraw from some areas in Lebanon following a ceasefire with the Hezbollah resistance movement last year. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said that Israel's continued presence in some areas in Lebanon was "hindering" the Lebanese army's full deployment as required by a fragile ceasefire that took effect last year. Two Israeli drone strikes on Wednesday in southern Lebanon killed two people, the health ministry said. The UN said Israeli strikes in Lebanon have killed more than 70 civilians since the ceasefire took effect in November. Following the downfall of President Assad's government, the Israeli military has been launching airstrikes against military installations, facilities, and arsenals belonging to Syria's now-defunct army. Israel has occupied the Syrian Golan Heights since 1967, also invaded a UN-patrolled buffer zone in southwestern Syria, taking over the Syrian side of Mount Hermon, known as Jabal al-Shaykh in Arabic, as well as several Syrian towns and villages. The United States recently approved a new shipment of thousands of powerful munitions to the Israeli regime, further reinforcing its military arsenal as Tel Aviv is said to be readying for "vigorous expansion" of its genocidal war across the region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The UK is deeply concerned by the destabilising activities of Libyan security actors and armed groups: UK statement at the UN Security Council Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Libya. From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Dame Barbara Woodward DCMG OBE 17 April 2025 Location: United Nations, New York Delivered on: 17 April 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered) President I would like to make three points. First, Libya's economic trajectory is alarming. With no unified budget and, as SRSG Tetteh said, no oversight, present levels of public spending by Libyan authorities risk rapidly diminishing the nation's wealth. Competition for state resources is putting Libya's institutions under grave pressure, and risks fuelling renewed conflict. Libya has the resources to build a prosperous future. But to achieve it, Libya's leaders must put aside narrow interests and agree on a unified economic framework in the national interest. We welcome the return of the World Bank to Tripoli to support this work. Second, the UK is deeply concerned by the destabilising activities of Libyan security actors and armed groups. This includes reports of unlawful and arbitrary detentions, kidnappings, imprisonment without due process and assassination attempts. There needs to be accountability for such acts, to support civic space and trust in Libya's law enforcement. The recent closure of humanitarian organisations' offices and detention of their employees is particularly troubling. We urge Libyan authorities to work with international NGOs and resolve differences through dialogue. Humanitarian organisations are an indispensable part of our collective efforts to support Libya, including to help address the Libyan authority's concerns about illegal migration. Third, Libya's economic and security challenges underscore the urgent need for progress on the political track. Libya needs a comprehensive, inclusive political process which will provide the foundation for sound economic governance, rule of law and accountability, and help tackle corruption. The UK strongly supports UNSMIL's efforts and commends SRSG Tetteh for her leadership. A revitalised political process, flowing from the Advisory Committee's deliberations, presents a real opportunity to chart a path towards the peace, stability and prosperity that the Libyan people deserve and yearn for, as I heard during my own visit to Libya and in more recent exchanges with young Libyans. So we urge all Libyan actors to engage constructively with the UN's efforts and the Advisory Committee's recommendations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Myanmar junta chief meets Malaysian PM in Bangkok, frees 5,000 in prisoner amnesty Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim is due to meet shadow National Unity Government on Friday. By Pimuk Rakkanam for RFA and RFA Burmese 2025.04.17 BANGKOK -- Myanmar's junta chief held talks in Thailand on Thursday with Malaysia's prime minister that were expected to focus on peace efforts and quake relief as his military government released almost 5,000 prisoners for its Buddhist New Year's amnesty. Only about 100 political prisoners were freed in the amnesty, an activist group said. Prominent political detainees - such as former State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi - remain behind bars or under house arrest. Suu Kyi has been held incommunicado since the early days of a 2021 coup when military chief Min Aung Hlaing seized power. Her exact whereabouts are unknown. State-run MRTV reported Thursday night that Min Aung Hlaing met with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Bangkok. Malaysia is the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, which has tried, but failed, to broker a peace in Myanmar for the past four years. The two leaders discussed aid by ASEAN in the aftermath of last month's earthquake that killed more than 3,700 people in Myanmar, MRTV said. Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra - the father of the current Thai premier and an informal advisor to Anwar - also attended the meeting, the report said. Anwar posted on X that he and Min Aung Hlaing held a "frank and constructive discussion, focused on the urgent humanitarian needs" after the quake. He welcomed the prisoner amnesty as a step to "reduce tensions." He said he would meet Friday with representatives of the shadow National Unity Government, Myanmar's main opposition group. Activists were underwhelmed by the amnesty. MRTV said the military council pardoned 4,893 prisoners including 13 foreigners. None of those freed were key figures from Suu Kyi's ousted government. "The military council is just trying to save face with ASEAN. They included only a small number of political prisoners," said Thaik Htun Oo, referring the Southeast Asian bloc. He's the founder of the Myanmar Political Prisoners Network-Myanmar (PPNM), which said that as of Thursday evening, just over 100 of those freed were political detainees. A Yangon-based lawyer, who declined to be named for security reasons, said many of those released were due to be freed in a few months anyway. The junta also announced that some prisoners would have their sentences reduced by one-sixth, but explicitly excluded those convicted under a range of laws commonly used to target political opponents and anti-junta fighters. These include terrorism and unlawful association charges, as well as laws concerning explosives and firearms. A political analyst, who also asked to remain unnamed with security concerns, noted that such exclusions disproportionately affect members of the pro-democracy movement, ethnic armed groups, and former National League for Democracy officials - effectively preserving the military regime's grip on its most vocal critics. Several former politicians under the NLD, have died shortly after being released from prison, with their family members saying that they were denied healthcare for chronic conditions. Although junta leaders often grant amnesty to prisoners on public holidays, many are re-arrested just days later. The junta has been widely criticized for arresting citizens en masse for protests against its 2021 coup, speaking out against politicians online and other charges activists have claimed are trumped up and done through sham court trials. Similarly, the junta has arrested hundreds of members of the former civilian NLD administration ousted in the coup. From 2021 to April 11, 2025, more than 22,100 people have been charged by the junta and of them, more than 10,700 have been sentenced, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. Translated by Kiana Duncan. Edited by Taejun Kang, Mat Pennington. Updated with Myanmar junta chief meeting Malaysian PM. 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 April not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Press release on the 15th meeting of the Pakistan-Russia Consultative Group on Strategic Stability 17 April 2025 16:05 644-17-04-2025 The 15th round of Russia-Pakistan Consultative Group on Strategic Stability was held in Islamabad on 16 April 2025. Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey A. Ryabkov and Additional Foreign Secretary Tahir Andrabi led the respective delegations. The two sides held detailed discussion on international security, regional and global stability and various aspects of arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation. The parties also exchanged views on matters related to the agenda of the First Committee of the UN General Assembly, the Conference on Disarmament, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the Biological Weapons Convention. The issues concerning Space, International Information Security, and New & Emerging Technologies, including the military use of artificial intelligence, came under discussion. The two sides expressed satisfaction at the convergence of views on the range of topics. In this regard, they decided to maintain close coordination both bilaterally and at relevant international platforms. It was agreed to hold the 16th meeting of the Group next year in Moscow. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's meeting with Secretary-General of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation Imangali Tasmagambetov 17 April 2025 19:14 649-17-04-2025 On April 17, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Secretary-General of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) Imangali Tasmagambetov. The high officials discussed the main areas of further joint work to enhance the CSTO's potential, as well as preparations for the upcoming meeting of the CSTO Council of Foreign Ministers to be held in June 2025. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Qatar ould Become a Venue for Russia-US Talks, Says Kremlin Aide Sputnik News 20250417 Russian President Vladimir Putin and US special envoy Steve Witkoff discussed the situation in Ukraine during a recent meeting in St. Petersburg, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said. More statements by Kremlin Aide Yuri Ushakov: The US has already addressed Russia's signals over Ukraine, communicated through the US president's special envoy, Ushakov believes. There is ongoing discussion about a potential phone call between Putin and US President Donald Trump, but no agreement has been reached yet. Resuming direct flights between Russia and the US would be quite logical, the aide added. Qatar is playing a humanitarian and mediation role in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and could potentially become a venue for talks between Russia and the US. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Highlights of Putin's Talks With Emir of Qatar Sputnik News 20250417 Qatar is Russia's key partner in the Middle East, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during talks with Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Other statements made by the leaders during the talks: Russia and Qatar have enough interesting joint projects, including in the gas sector, Putin said. The Emir of Qatar told Putin he values highly the level of relations with Russia. There are projects and proposals which they plan to discuss and implement. Long-term settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is possible only on a two-state basis, Putin stated. Russia is interested in Syria's preservation as a sovereign state, Putin said. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Saudi Arabia, Iran stress willingness to expand military ties Iran Press TV Thursday, 17 April 2025 5:07 PM Iran has stressed its readiness to expand military relations with Saudi Arabia whose defense minister arrived in Tehran Thursday to discuss security in the region. Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Bagheri told Prince Khalid bin Salman in Tehran Thursday that "good relations between the two countries and their armed forces will bring despair and hopelessness to our enemies and joy to our friends". Bagheri thanked Saudi Arabia for its participation as an observer in the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Maritime Exercise, known as IMEX 2024. The exercise in the India Ocean was held by Iran, Russia, and Oman, with the participation of observer delegations from several countries, including Saudi Arabia, India, Thailand, Pakistan, Qatar, and Bangladesh. Since the signing of the "Beijing Agreement" in March 2023 to restore diplomatic relations between the armed forces of Iran and Saudi Arabia have been growing and developing, Gen. Bagheri said. "The policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran is based on developing relations with its neighbors; therefore, developing and strengthening relations between the armed forces of the two countries can be a good basis for the countries in the region," he said. Iran's principled policy is also to guarantee security by the countries of the region, where Tehran and Riyadh can play a significant role in realizing this important and strategic goal, he added. Gen. Bagheri touched on the "special and complex regional and international situation", expressing the readiness of Iran's armed forces to develop bilateral defense relations with Saudi Arabia in various areas of interest to both parties. He cited the "destructive role of the Zionist regime" in disrupting the peace and tranquility of Islamic countries and its efforts to spread chaos in the region. Gen Bagheri appreciated Saudi Arabia's position on the Palestinian issue and the ongoing Israeli atrocities in the Gaza Strip, saying all Islamic countries need unity, empathy, and a unified position to confront the crimes of the Zionist regime. Prince Khalid expressed his gratitude the Islamic Republic and its General Staff of the Armed Forces for the warm welcome accorded to him and his delegation in Tehran, saying "your hospitality reflects the very good relations between us". He said the important relations between the two countries have a great impact on ensuring the security of the region, adding the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia insists on strengthening and developing relations between the two countries. "God willing, the outcome of these good relations and their improvement in various fields will have good results for the two countries and the region," he added. Prince Khalid also invited Gen. Bagheri to visit Saudi Arabia. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Saudi defense minister arrives in Iran for talks on bilateral ties, regional developments Iran Press TV Thursday, 17 April 2025 1:32 PM Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman has arrived in Iran on an official visit to discuss regional developments and bilateral relations with Iranian officials. Prince Khalid bin Salman, brother of Saudi Crown Prince and the de facto ruler of the Arab kingdom Mohammed bin Salman, on Thursday arrived in the capital Tehran, where he was officially received by Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Bagheri, the official IRNA news agency reported. According to the report, the Saudi defense chief, who is scheduled to meet with other Iranian military and political figures, will focus on expanding defense relations and boosting regional cooperation to promote peace and stability, as well as counter-terrorism coordination. The expansion of defense relations and regional cooperation to strengthen peace and stability in the region, as well as the fight against terrorism, are among the main topics of discussion between the two sides. Prince Khalid bin Salman and General Bagheri "will hold a number of meetings to discuss bilateral relations and issues of common interest," said Saudi Arabia's state-run news agency SPA in a report. Back in November last year, Saudi Chief of General Staff General Fayyad bin Hamed al-Ruwaili visited the Iranian capital on the invitation of General Bagheri. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Defense Minister Meets Iranian President in Tehran Saudi Press Agency Tehran, April 17, 2025, SPA -- Under the direction of the Kingdom's leadership, Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz met with President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian at the presidential palace in Tehran on Thursday. During the meeting, the minister of defense conveyed the greetings of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, along with their wishes for continued progress and prosperity for the government and brotherly people of Iran. In turn, President Pezeshkian expressed his greetings and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. The meeting explored means of enhancing Saudi-Iranian relations and discussed various regional and international developments and the efforts being made to address them. Several high-level officials attended the meeting. -- SPA 21:59 Local Time 18:59 GMT 0052 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism. PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan ROC Ministry of National Defense 2025/04/17 PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan 1.Date 6 a.m. Apr. 16 (Wed.) to 6 a.m. Apr. 17 (Thu.) (UTC+8) 2.PLA activities 34 sorties of PLA aircraft and 6 PLAN ships and 2 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 14 out of 34 sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's northern, central, and southwestern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities. 1140417_ 1140417_ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address "Turkiye favors peace and stability" Presidency of The Republic of Turkey 17.04.2025 Addressing the graduation ceremony of commando specialist corporals and sergeants, President Erdogan said: "The Republic of Turkiye favors peace and stability. Turkiye sincerely wants peace to prevail in all its neighbors, without exception, and across the region." President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed via videoconference the graduation ceremony of commando specialist corporals and sergeants from the Presidential Complex. "TURKIYE SINCERELY WANTS PEACE TO PREVAIL ACROSS THE REGION" Congratulating each and every one of the 2,094 commando specialist corporals and sergeants, who have successfully completed the 18-week difficult training process, President Erdogan wished them great success during their duties, and said: "Never forget that the Republic of Turkiye favors peace and stability. Turkiye sincerely wants peace to prevail in all its neighbors, without exception, and across the region. We by no means want new crises to erupt in our region, which has been grappling with instabilities and conflicts for years. We believe that a new climate, at the center of which peace and security are placed, to prevail in the near environment of our country, from our north to south, east to west." President Erdogan added that Turkiye wants the oppression and massacre in Gaza to end, peace to finally prevail in Syria and the Russia-Ukraine war to end with a just peace. "WE HAVE NEUTRALIZED THE ORGANIZATION'S PRESENCE IN TURKIYE" Underscoring that they have started to reap the fruits of the efforts exerted in the fight against terror, as is the case in different areas, from economy to foreign policy, President Erdogan noted: "Through the successful operations we have carried out, we have neutralized the organization's presence and its capacity to carry out acts in Turkiye. We have almost eliminated terror at its source with our cross-border operations to the north of Syria and Iraq. We are now carrying all this to a different stage. We, as the alliance and the government, are taking steps, which will further strengthen our brotherhood, to achieve our goal of terror-free Turkiye." President Erdogan stressed that once the goal is achieved, a totally new page will be opened up before Turkiye, and that yet another keystone of the Century of Turkiye will be put in its place. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address British soldiers take down drone swarm in groundbreaking use of radio wave weapon British soldiers have successfully tracked, targeted and defeated swarms of drones in the latest trial of a new directed energy weapon developed in the UK. 17 April 2025 UK-made, invisible radio wave weapon knocks out drone swarms for the first time. Weapon has potential to help protect against drone threats as nature of warfare changes. The project supports more than 135 highly skilled jobs across the UK. The trial was completed at a weapons range in West Wales and was the largest counter-drone swarm exercise the British Army have conducted to date. The weapon system demonstrator is a type of Radiofrequency Directed Energy Weapon (RF DEW) and has proven capable of neutralising multiple targets simultaneously with near-instant effect. The UK Government has invested more than 40 million in RF DEW research and development to date, supporting 135 highly skilled jobs in Northern Ireland and the South-East of England. It uses high frequency radio waves to disrupt or damage critical electronic components inside drones, causing them to crash or malfunction. At an estimated cost of 10p per shot fired, if developed into operational service it could provide a cost-effective complement to traditional missile-based air defence systems. RF DEW systems can defeat airborne targets at ranges of up to 1km and are effective against threats which cannot be jammed using electronic warfare. The successful trial comes as drone swarms are increasingly seen in use in frontline combat in Ukraine. UK Defence Intelligence estimates that last year Ukraine had to defend against attacks from more than 18,000 drones. With national security a foundation for the Plan for Change, the government is significantly increasing the proportion of MOD's equipment procurement spend on novel technologies, spending at least 10% from 2025-26. It follows the announcement of the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War, as the UK will spend 2.5% of GDP on defence by April 2027. Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Rt Hon Maria Eagle MP, said: This significant experiment exemplifies the strength of British innovation - driven by our home-grown industry, technology firms and scientific talent. We continue to strengthen our defence sector, adding more cutting-edge capabilities to keep the UK secure at home and strong abroad, while making defence an engine for growth across our towns and cities. The project has been delivered by Team Hersa - a collaboration between Defence Equipment & Support and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory. The RF DEW demonstrator has been developed by an industry consortium led by Thales UK. Successful experiments included the Army taking down two swarms of drones in a single engagement, and the project saw more than 100 drones being tracked, engaged and defeated using the weapon across all trials. Sgt Mayers, a Senior Remotely-Piloted Air Systems Operator from 106 Regiment Royal Artillery, had the honour of being the first British soldier to bring down drones using a radiofrequency weapon. Sgt Mayers said: RF DEW is an exciting concept. We found the demonstrator quick to learn and easy to use. With improvements on range and power, which could come with further development, this would be a great asset to Layered Air Defence. Protecting national security is the foundation of the Government's Plan for Change and the development of RF DEW systems could help to protect the UK from unidentified drones at security sensitive areas such as defence bases, and could play a role in preventing disruption at airports. The RF DEW development supports the Defence Industrial Strategy - to support the UK defence industry in mobilising to help face down global threats and ensuring the sector is an engine for growth in every region and nation of the UK. The MOD is working with a range of industry partners to deliver powerful future RF DEW capabilities for UK forces. Thales, which led the development of the RF DEW demonstrator, employ around 100 highly skilled engineering and manufacturing staff in Northern Ireland on the project, and there are a further 30-35 highly skilled supply chain jobs in Chelmsford, Essex, that directly contribute to the development of the weapon demonstrator. Nigel MacVean, MD of Thales Integrated Airspace-protection Systems, said: Thales continues to be at the forefront of this pioneering technology, and we are proud to continue the research and development in this sector alongside our partners in Government. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Tsahkna: Supporting Ukraine remains at the heart of Estonia's and the European Union's development funding even as overall funding decreases Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs 17.04.2025 Yesterday, 16 April, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) published preliminary data on official development assistance (ODA) for 2024. Estonia's ODA, which covers all public sector activities in support of the socio-economic development of developing countries, amounted to 77 million in 2024, representing 0.20% of GNI. Compared to 2023, Estonia's ODA decreased by 26.3% in real terms. Compared to previous years, domestic spending on supporting Ukrainian war refugees has decreased significantly. Support for Ukraine continues to be at the heart of Estonia's development cooperation and humanitarian aid activities. In 2024, Estonia allocated 15 million for bilateral development cooperation and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, which is 46% more than last year. At the same time, the total contribution of OECD member countries to Ukraine decreased by 16.7% to $15.5 billion, of which 1.8 billion was humanitarian aid. The European Union's support to Ukraine amounted to $19 billion. * "Estonia considers it important to set an example in the reconstruction and humanitarian support of Ukraine. Against the background of a decrease in both global development funding and the development funding directed at Ukraine, it is especially important that Estonia and Europe continue their broad support for Ukraine," Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said. "The geopolitical situation has put development cooperation and humanitarian aid under historically severe pressure. As contributions from large donors decrease, it is important that Estonia remains a firm, predictable and reliable partner in this field." In addition to Ukraine, Estonia will continue its co-operation with selected countries in the Eastern Neighbourhood and Africa. The Eastern Neighbourhood priority countries - Moldova, Georgia and Armenia - were supported with 2.9 million and Sub-Saharan Africa with 1.6 million. Allocations to international organisations (European Union, World Bank Group, UN) accounted for 64% of Estonia's ODA. Globally, ODA fell in 2024 for the first time in five years, reaching $212 billion, a decrease of 7.1% in real terms compared to the previous year. According to OECD forecasts, the decrease in ODA will continue in 2025, with an estimated decrease of 9-17% compared to 2024. * These are preliminary data and the figures may be clarified during the final review of the data. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia: Europe trying to 'derail' talks with US, continue war Iran Press TV Thursday, 17 April 2025 5:31 PM Russian spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said that Europe wants to continue "war" in Ukraine as US and EU officials met in Paris for talks on the conflict. "Unfortunately, we see from Europeans a focus on continuing the war," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Thursday, when asked about what he expected from the talks. "Of course, we would like to see a shift toward peace-oriented efforts from both Europe and Ukraine," he said. Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia's sovereign wealth fund, told reporters, "There are a lot of people, structures, and countries trying to derail our dialogue with the United States," as the two sides work toward normalizing ties. Deputy chairman of the Security Council of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, also spoke on the heels of the visit by US, EU and Ukrainian officials to Paris. He condemned NATO allies over their plan to send troops to Ukraine as part of a ceasefire deal being negotiated between Washington and Moscow. "Apparently, the top of Ukraine's fascist clique have come to Paris for talks with the UK, Germany and France on how many European coffins they will be ready to accept after the deployment of the troops of the 'coalition of the willing' in Ukraine," Medvedev said. A senior British government source said last month that the West intends to deploy more than 10,000 troops to Ukraine to monitor a possible ceasefire between Moscow and Kiev. UK Defense Minister John Healey clarified last week that the troops would not function as traditional peacekeepers but would provide direct assistance to Ukraine's military. On Thursday, a spokesperson for the German parliament said his country has kept Russia off its guest list for a special sitting on May 8 marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two in Germany. Following Donald Trump's election as US president late last year, the US administration has reached out directly to Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in an attempt for a ceasefire agreement on the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Officials from Russia and the US have met on multiple occasions since then to discuss bilateral issues, including restoring embassy staffing levels after years of diplomatic expulsions. However, Trump's efforts to end the conflict have been futile. Moscow has condemned Europe for the prolonged armed conflict, saying the EU and UK are the main obstacles to peace, and that they remain focused on continuing the war. On Thursday, European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, kicked off a day of talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US special envoy Steve Witkoff to advocate for Ukraine and to work on crafting a ceasefire. The high-level talks reflect Europe's mounting fears about the US administration's overtures towards Russia. The Kremlin described the Paris meetings as a chance for Witkoff, who met Putin for five hours last week, to inform the Europeans of the status of the talks about the search for a peace agreement in Ukraine. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address North Korean troops may enter Ukraine soon, Kyiv warns North Korean troop operations have so far been concentrated in Russia's Kursk region. By Taejun Kang for RFA 2025.04.17 TAIPEI, Taiwan -- North Korean forces deployed in Russia's Kursk region may soon be sent into annexed regions of Ukraine that remain fiercely contested by Russian and Ukrainian forces, a senior Ukrainian official said. As many as 12,000 North Korean soldiers are in Russia, according to Ukraine and the United States, to fight Ukrainian forces who occupied parts of Russia's Kursk region in an August counter offensive. Neither North Korea nor Russia have acknowledged their presence. "Russia plans to use the DPRK soldiers for war on the territory of Ukraine," said Andrei Kovalenko, head of the National Security Service's Center for Countering Disinformation. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or DPRK, is North Korea's official name. "But the Russians will manipulate and indicate that the North Korean soldiers are fighting on Russian territory by the Russian Constitution," he said in a post on the Telegram messaging app on Tuesday. Russia annexed four Ukrainian regions - Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson - after holding widely condemned referendums in September 2022. Kovalenko suggested that these occupied territories are the most likely destinations for North Korean troops. The international community has not recognized Russia's annexation of Ukrainian land and fierce fighting continues as Ukraine pushes back in those areas. Kovalenko said Russia is also importing labor from North Korea, mainly young people aged 18-25, for industrial work. In return, the North Korean authorities receive US$1,000 per person from Russia. Radio Free Asia has not independently verified his claims. South Korea's main spy agency reported in October that Russia would pay North Korean troops about US$2,000 per month each, although it was likely that most of the money would "remain with the state." Kovalenko's remarks came amid reports that Russian artillery units were relying almost entirely on ammunition supplied by North Korea to sustain their bombardments along the Ukrainian front. Between September 2023 and March 2025, four Russian-flagged vessels made 64 trips transporting nearly 16,000 containers from North Korea to Russian ports, according to satellite data analysed by the U.K.-based Open Source Centre. The shipments are estimated to have included between 4 million and 6 million artillery shells. By comparison, Russia is believed to have produced no more than 2.3 million artillery shells domestically in 2024, according to Ukrainian and Western officials. Although the Kremlin denied any arms transfers from North Korea in October 2023, at least six Russian artillery unit reports reviewed by Reuters news agency confirmed that between 50% and 100% of the munitions used in Ukraine this year were of North Korean origin. Three other unit reports made no mention of North Korean ammunition. North Korea and Russia have been deepening their military and economic ties in recent months, with Pyongyang reportedly supplying Moscow with large quantities of munitions and other military aid for its war in Ukraine. In return, Russia has provided technological assistance and expanded cooperation in various sectors, fueling concerns over potential arms transfers and security threats. High-level meetings between officials from both countries, including defense ministers, have signaled a growing strategic partnership. Edited by Mike Firn and Stephen Wright. Copyright 1998-2025, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content April 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 Russian Attack On Dnipropetrovsk Kills At Least 5, Including Child, Injures Dozens By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service April 17, 2025 Russian drone and artillery attacks killed at least five people, including a child and an elderly woman, and injured dozens of others in the southeastern Ukrainian region of Dnipropetrovsk. "It was a difficult night in Dnipro... Three people were killed by this Russian attack, and among them was a girl, Veronika, only 17 years old," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. Local Governor Serhiy Lysak later updated the death toll to five, and added that 31 people, including five children, were injured in the attack on the city of Dnipro late on April 16. Sixteen people were being treated in hospital. The attack ignited several fires, according to Dnipro Mayor Borys Filatov, who said one strike came within 100 meters of the city's municipal offices. He also said at least 15 dwellings had been damaged along with a student residence, an educational institution, and a food-processing plant. Two more people were killed in Nikopol, a town only 5 kilometers away from Russian forces in the partially occupied Zaporizhzhya region. Five were reported injured. "A shop, a cafe, private houses, outbuildings, a car, and a bus stop were damaged," Lysak said. Pictures posted online showed a large blaze and firefighters working at the scene as well as gutted vehicles and buildings with smashed windows and damaged facades. Elsewhere, a deadly Russian rocket attack killed at least one person in the eastern Ukrainian city of Konstyantynivka. The city was targeted again by shelling on April 17 while an RFE/RL correspondent was speaking with locals whose homes had been damaged. In the northeastern Kharkiv region, Governor Oleh Synyehubov said a Russian missile attack injured seven people in the town of Izyum. The town was captured by Russian troops in the early days of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022 but was retaken by Ukrainian forces later in the year. Meanwhile, Russia's Defense Ministry said it's air defense systems destroyed or intercepted 71 Ukrainian drones over six Russian regions overnight, with 49 of the drones downed in the Kursk region. It was not possible for RFE/RL to verify the claims. Last week, the head of Ukrainian military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, said on Telegram that Russia's ballistic missile strike on Palm Sunday that left 34 people dead in Sumy was partly launched from the Kursk region. Yan Matveyev, a Russian military analyst, said that Russia's 112th brigade -- one of those accused by Ukraine of carrying out the attack on Sumy -- does indeed have a dozen Iskander-M missiles. "They can be stationed in different places and move around all the time.... Now they are also responsible for the whole northern direction and fire at various objects," Matveyev said in an interview with Current Time. Zelenskyy met with defense industry representatives in Kyiv on April 16. He said Ukraine now produces 40 percent of the weapons used on the front line. "Our defense industry is already manufacturing more than a thousand types of weapons: from artillery shells to missiles and long-range weapons, to our drones," Zelenskyy said during the meeting, according to his office. Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine's growing defense sector now employs around 300,000 people and is attracting an increasing number of international partners. Domestic successes include the rapid rollout of new combat drones, artillery production, and Ukraine's own missile systems. Though the items currently are in limited quantities. Matveyev says the Ukrainian-produced drone 'Lyutiy' could have taken part in recent attacks inside Russia. "It is probably the most massive Ukrainian drone for attacks on some distant objects... It flies slowly, so it's not a big problem to shoot it down if the air defense calculations are ready," he said. Despite the progress, Zelenskyy acknowledged Ukraine remains heavily reliant on foreign arms deliveries, including tanks, armored vehicles, and advanced air defense systems. Last week, he proposed a $15 billion deal with the United States for 10 Patriot air defense systems to bolster Ukraine's protection against Russian missile strikes. The Ukrainian parliament has voted to extend martial law and a mobilization order by another 90 days. The two corresponding motions submitted by Zelenskyy received the required two-thirds majority. Once signed by Zelenskyy, martial law will apply until August 6. It was due to expire on May 9. Former President Petro Poroshenko, who is Zelenskyy's main rival, accused the government of rushing the extension through parliament. Martial law is "being used not only for the defense of the country, but also for the establishment of an authoritarian regime," Poroshenko claimed on social media. The Ukrainian government first imposed martial law and ordered mobilization following Russia's full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022. There has been speculation that Zelenskyy could call elections, which cannot be held under martial law. Conscripts aged between 18 and 60 are barred from leaving the country under the law. With reporting by Reuters and dpa Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-dnipro- drone-attack-zelenskyy-defense-production/33387952.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 France Says Europe Now 'At The Table' As Paris Peace Talks End By Ray Furlong and Current Time April 17, 2025 French officials have praised talks held between key European countries, Ukraine, and the United States, the first involving the three sides since US President Donald Trump took power, as they look to end Europe's largest conflict since the end of World War II. Until the gathering in the French capital on April 17, US officials had taken negotiating tracks -- one between the United States and Ukraine and one between Washington and Moscow -- that appeared to leave Europe on the sidelines. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said that was no longer the case, with Europe now fully involved in helping end the war between Russia and Ukraine, now in its fourth year. More talks in the new format would continue next week in London, he added. "For a long time, there were fears that Europeans would not be at the table," Barrot said. "Today, it was in Paris that, for the first time, the Europeans, the Americans, and the Ukrainians came together." The Russian Foreign Ministry said later on April 17 that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio outlined the outcome of talks in a telephone conversation, and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov "confirmed Moscow's readiness to continue joint work with American colleagues with the aim of eliminating the original causes of the Ukrainian crisis." Russia has repeatedly said Ukraine must recognize Russia's annexation of Ukrainian regions and that Kyiv must abandon any notion of it securing membership of the NATO alliance. The Paris meeting came days after the latest direct talks between Washington and Moscow that are aimed at ending the war. There have been sharp differences between the Trump administration on one side, and Europe and Ukraine, on the other, over how to handle diplomatic efforts. "It was a very substantive conversation. We continue our work," Ukrainian presidential adviser Andriy Yermak wrote on social media. The talks were a first chance for face-to-face meetings between senior European and Ukrainian leaders and US special envoy Steve Witkoff since his latest meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week. Moscow has failed to sign on to a broad cease-fire agreement put forward by US President Donald Trump, which Ukraine has already accepted. Russia has said any deal is conditional on Kyiv stopping its mobilization efforts as well as an end to the flow of Western arms to Ukraine. Those demands have been rejected by Ukraine. Still, Witkoff recently told Fox News that he believes a peace deal was "emerging." He said he had heard "what Putin's request is to have a permanent peace here," adding that it was "about these so-called five territories." This refers to parts of Ukraine at least partially occupied by Russia, which Moscow claims. As the Paris talks continued, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told journalists in Kyiv that Witkoff was "consciously or unconsciously, I don't know, spreading Russian narratives." Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that while Washington was working for peace, "from the Europeans, we see a focus on continuing the war." Meanwhile, there has been no letup in deadly Russian missile strikes on Ukrainian cities in recent days. On April 16, a Russian drone attack on Dnipro killed at least five people. "Russia uses every day and every night to kill. We must put pressure on the killers... to end this war and guarantee a lasting peace," Zelenskyy said in a Telegram post. The talks also included Rubio, British National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell and Jens Ploetner, a senior adviser to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. While Washington has tried to push ahead with cease-fire talks with Kyiv and Moscow, European countries have focused on supporting Ukraine and planning for a possible military mission to shore up any cease-fire deal. European efforts to get a US commitment to provide a "backstop" to such efforts have met with a cool response from Washington. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/paris-ukraine-peace-talks- rubio-macron-zelenskyy/33388198.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 Meetings Held in Paris Between Ukrainian and U.S. Delegations, as well as Representatives of the Coalition of the Willing President of Ukraine 17 April 2025 - 22:29 As part of the visit to France, the Ukrainian delegation, comprising Minister for Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha, Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov, and Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak, held a series of meetings. In particular, bilateral talks were held between the Ukrainian delegation and the U.S. delegation, which included U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Presidential Envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg. The Ukrainian side emphasized its commitment to peace efforts together with the United States, European, and other partners, and its determination to end the war as soon as possible. Ukrainian officials once again stressed the need for a full ceasefire - one that Ukraine agreed to back on March 11 in Jeddah. The parties held a constructive and positive discussion on the paths toward a full ceasefire and the further process of achieving a comprehensive, just, and enduring peace. They also agreed to maintain regular dialogue on the issues discussed. Later, both delegations met in a multilateral format together with representatives of the Coalition of the Willing: Diplomatic Adviser to the President of France Emmanuel Bonne, National Security Adviser to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Jonathan Powell, and Foreign Policy and Security Adviser to the Federal Chancellor of Germany Jens Plotner. The meeting participants agreed that a full and unconditional ceasefire should become the first stage on the path toward a durable peace in Ukraine and exchanged views on the practical implementation of this stage. The Ukrainian side specifically emphasized the importance of the humanitarian aspect - returning Ukrainian children forcibly taken to Russia, and securing the release of prisoners of war and civilian hostages. Such confidence-building measures are essential elements for launching the peace process. The parties also discussed the next steps and agreed to maintain regular contacts as part of advancing the peace efforts. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Continued Financial Support and Efforts for Peace: President Meets with U.S. Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick President of Ukraine 17 April 2025 - 21:24 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with U.S. Congressman and Co-Chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus Brian Fitzpatrick. The Head of State emphasized the support Ukraine has received from the United States - from the entire American people, as well as both chambers and both parties in the U.S. Congress - since the beginning of Russia's full-scale aggression. Key topics of the meeting included efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace, as well as the U.S. proposal for an unconditional ceasefire. The President emphasized that Ukraine immediately supported the proposal, while Russia has been rejecting U.S. diplomatic efforts for 37 consecutive days already. The conversation also touched upon security guarantees for Ukraine, defense assistance, engagement with Congress, and sanctions against Russia. Brian Fitzpatrick assured the President that there is a group of Republicans standing in favor of continued financial aid for Ukraine and ensuring a strong negotiating position. The U.S. Congressman expressed confidence that once the Ukraine funding bill comes to the floor, it will receive overwhelming support in the U.S. Congress. "I wanted you to know that, because as these negotiations are going back and forth, you should know that you're in a position of strength because of people like us, and we are willing to make those tough decisions to support you," Brian Fitzpatrick said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukrainian Delegation Discusses Ceasefire and Security Guarantees with Colleagues from the United Kingdom, Germany, and France in Paris President of Ukraine 17 April 2025 - 14:12 As part of the visit to the French Republic, the Ukrainian delegation, comprising Minister for Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha, Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov, and Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak, held its first multilateral meeting at the Elysee Palace. The negotiations involved representatives of countries within the coalition of the willing: Diplomatic Adviser to the President of France Emmanuel Bonne, National Security Adviser to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Jonathan Powell, and Foreign Policy and Security Adviser to the Federal Chancellor of Germany Jens Plotner. The parties exchanged views on further steps to advance a sustainable and lasting peace, in particular the implementation of a full ceasefire, the deployment of a multinational military contingent to guarantee security, and the development of an effective security architecture for Ukraine. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukrainian Delegation Arrives in Paris for Consultations on Advancing Peace and Ensuring Security President of Ukraine 17 April 2025 - 10:19 On April 17, the official Ukrainian delegation, comprising Minister for Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha, Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov, and Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak, arrived in France on a working visit. During the visit, the delegation is scheduled to participate in a series of bilateral and multilateral meetings with representatives of states from the coalition of the willing and able to guarantee security, in particular, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. These meetings will continue consultations on advancing peace in Ukraine. Among other topics, the parties will discuss ways to implement a full and unconditional ceasefire, the involvement of a multinational military contingent to ensure security, as well as the further development of Ukraine's security architecture. Meetings are also planned between Ukrainian officials and representatives of the United States, who are also in France on a visit. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Swarmed By Drones, Ukrainian Troops Fight To Hold Ground Near Kupyansk By Maryan Kushnir, Serhiy Nuzhnenko and RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service April 18, 2025 From a forested part of the Kharkiv region, Ukrainian troops launched one mortar after another to try to fight back a Russian advance. The Russian forces had crossed the Oskil River near the city of Kupyansk and entered the village of Dvorichna. Some Ukrainian fighters were briefly surrounded by Russian troops but managed to escape and establish positions outside the village. "The situation is a f***ing mess," a soldier named Roman told RFE/RL. "It was better when we first came here. But then [the Russians] started moving, and it became complicated. There were no positions ready, and we had to build them very quickly." Russia's military has stepped up a spring offensive in the northeastern Kharkiv region, launching air strikes against the cities of Kharkiv and Kupyansk. Russian forces were also trying to advance in Ukraine's Sumy region across the border from the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces made an incursion last year. The city of Sumy was the site of a Russian missile strike on April 13 that killed 35 people and injured more than 100. The Ukrainian soldiers described being outgunned by Russian drones, which were circling overhead night and day. "Each of our drone pilot units here faces five to six enemy pilot units," a soldier called Petro said. "One of their drones is always in the air, monitoring our positions. The next day, our positions will be demolished by their fire. And it's impossible to build it back." "Once the enemy sees a path our soldiers have used, 10 minutes later, they litter it with antipersonnel mines and any explosives they can drop from the drones. That's the hardest thing," Petro said. Along with heavy artillery aimed toward Dvorichna, the Ukrainian unit used their own drones to try to repel the greater numbers of Russian unmanned aircraft. They were prepared to keep fighting for the long haul, Petro said. "When the soldiers [escaped from advancing forces], one of them told me: 'No worries, we can still slam the door in their faces.'" Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-kharkiv-region- kupyansk-front-lines/33387586.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NEW YORK, April 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (GLOBE)The law firm of Kirby McInerney LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado on behalf of those who acquired Ibotta, Inc. (Ibotta or the Company) (NYSE:IBTA) securities in connection with Ibottas April 18, 2024 initial public offering (IPO). Investors have until June 16, 2025, to apply to the Court to be appointed as lead plaintiff in the lawsuit. [LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CLASS ACTION] The complaint alleges that defendants failed to disclose the risk concerning Ibottas contract with The Kroger Co. (Kroger) in the registration statement and related prospectus (collectively, the Registration Statement) issued in connection with its IPO. On April 18, 2024, Ibotta filed the final prospectus for the IPO of common stock with the SEC. In the IPO, Ibotta sold 2.5 million shares of $88.00 per share, with selling stockholders offering an additional 4 million shares. The Company received gross proceeds of approximately $206.8 million. Under applicable SEC rules and regulations, the Registration Statement was required to disclose known trends, events or uncertainties that were having, and were reasonably likely to have, an impact on the Companys continuing operations. The Registration Statement stated, in pertinent parts, in the Risk Factors section, that we [Ibotta] provide offers on a white-label basis toThe Kroger Co., and other retailers and Our inability to maintain our relationship with our publishers on terms consistent with or better than those already in place and that are otherwise favorable to us could increase competitive pressure and/or offering pricing, and otherwise adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects. The complaint alleges that Ibottas statements did not properly warn investors of the risks concerning Ibottas contract with Kroger. Rather than disclosing the very real risk of a major client walking away at any time, Ibotta provided boilerplate warnings concerning the importance of maintaining ongoing relationships with their clients. On August 13, 2024, after market hours, the Company filed a quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2024 (2Q 2024 10-Q) with the SEC. The 2Q 2024 10-Q was deemed filed on August 14, 2024, by the SEC. Notably missing from the 2Q 2024 10-Q was any mention of Kroger as Ibottas client. The price of Ibottas securities have plummeted since the IPO, closing at $47.69 per share on April 17, 2025 a 45% decrease from its IPO price of $88.00 per share. If you purchased or otherwise acquired Ibotta securities, have information, or would like to learn more about this investigation, please contact Thomas W. Elrod of Kirby McInerney LLP by email at investigations@kmllp.com, or fill out the contact form below, to discuss your rights or interests with respect to these matters without any cost to you. [CONTACT FORM] Kirby McInerney LLP is a New York-based plaintiffs law firm concentrating in securities, antitrust, whistleblower, and consumer litigation. The firms efforts on behalf of shareholders in securities litigation have resulted in recoveries totaling billions of dollars. Additional information about the firm can be found at Kirby McInerney LLPs website. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. Contacts Kirby McInerney LLP Thomas W. Elrod, Esq. 212-699-1180 https://www.kmllp.com investigations@kmllp.com OKLAHOMA CITY, April 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Murphy Law Firm is investigating claims on behalf of all individuals whose personal and confidential information was compromised in the data breach involving Home Telecom. To join the class action lawsuit, visit our site HERE. On or around March 17, 2025, Home Telecom were advised that a third-party vendors network, containing Home Telecoms data, had experienced a data breach. Based on a forensic investigation, Home Telecom determined that cybercriminals successfully infiltrated the inadequately secured computer environment and accessed certain Home Telecom data files. The investigation further determined that, through this infiltration, cybercriminals accessed files containing the sensitive personal information of tens of thousands of individuals. The information exposed in the data breach includes, but is not limited to: Names Social Security numbers Addresses If you received notice of the Home Telecom data breach or if your personal information was compromised in the breach, please visit our site HERE. Murphy Law Firm is evaluating legal options, including a potential class action lawsuit, to recover damages on behalf of individuals who were affected by the Home Telecom data breach. As a result of the data breach, these individuals personal and highly sensitive information may be in the hands of cybercriminals who can place the information for sale on the dark web or use the information to perpetrate identity theft. To join a class action lawsuit, click HERE Murphy Law Firm specializes in data breach class actions, consumer class actions, and federal securities class actions. The firm has extensive experience in securing highly favorable recoveries for its clients. Contact: Murphy Law Firm abm@murphylegalfirm.com Clermont-Ferrand, April 18, 2025 COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN Publication of the preparatory documentation for the Annual Shareholders Meeting of May 16, 2025 The Annual Meeting of Michelin Shareholders will be held on Friday, May 16, 2025 from 9 a.m. at the Zenith d'Auvergne, 24 rue de Sarlieve, 63800 Cournon d'Auvergne, Puy-de-Dome, France. As Michelin shares are exclusively registered shares, all shareholders receive a notice of meeting including a voting form, the Meeting agenda, the resolutions submitted to their approval, and the main terms and conditions for participating and voting. This document, as well as the preliminary notice of meeting published in the French journal of record, Bulletin des Annonces Legales Obligatoires, within the legal deadlines, are available on the website michelin.com. Shareholders can consult all the documentation referred to in Article R. 225-83 of the French Commercial Code on the above website or at the Company's headquarters. This information may also be requested from the Company. The full event will also be broadcast live, in French and in English, on the Company's website, and the replay will remain available for a period of two years. Investor calendar April 24, 2025 Quarterly information for the three months ending March 31, 2025 May 16, 2025 Annual Shareholders Meeting May 21, 2025 Ex-dividend date May 23, 2025 Dividend payment date July 24, 2025 First-half 2025 results October 22, 2025 Quarterly information for the nine months ending September 30, 2025 Contact details Investor Relations investor-relations@michelin.com Guillaume Jullienne guillaume.jullienne@michelin.com Flavien Huet flavien.huet@michelin.com Benjamin Marcus benjamin.marcus@michelin.com Media Relations +33 (0) 1 45 66 22 22 groupe-michelin.service.de.presse@michelin.com Individual Shareholders +33 (0) 4 73 32 23 05 Muriel Combris-Battut muriel.floc-hlay@michelin.com Elisabete Antunes elisabete.antunes@michelin.com Attachment Dublin, April 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Insurtech Market Opportunity, Growth Drivers, Industry Trend Analysis, and Forecast 2025-2034" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Global Insurtech Market was valued at USD 5.3 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 36% between 2025 and 2034, reaching USD 132.9 billion. This impressive expansion is fueled by the rapid adoption of cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), which are redefining the insurance landscape. As digital transformation accelerates, Insurtech firms are leveraging AI-driven automation to enhance efficiency, streamline claim processing, and improve customer interactions. These advancements significantly reduce operational costs and improve fraud detection, making insurance services faster, more secure, and more customer-centric. The growing penetration of mobile applications, chatbots, and advanced analytics platforms further contributes to the sector's development, offering policyholders seamless digital experiences. Regulatory support and evolving consumer preferences also shape the Insurtech market's trajectory. Governments and financial regulators worldwide endorse digital insurance solutions, easing compliance requirements, and encouraging competition among traditional insurers and startups. Consumers are increasingly drawn to tech-driven insurance models that provide real-time claim tracking, personalized policy recommendations, and swift dispute resolutions. The demand for usage-based insurance (UBI), parametric insurance, and embedded insurance solutions is surging, driving innovation in the sector. Additionally, partnerships between Insurtech firms and established insurance providers are fostering the development of hybrid solutions, ensuring a balance between digital convenience and traditional risk assessment. The market is categorized based on deployment models, with on-premises and cloud-based solutions leading the segment. The on-premises segment held a 60% market share and is forecasted to generate USD 70 billion by 2034. This dominance is largely due to the enhanced security offered by on-premises infrastructure, which remains critical for industries handling sensitive customer and business data. Financial institutions, healthcare providers, and insurance companies prioritize on-premises solutions to ensure compliance with regulatory frameworks like GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS. These regulations necessitate stringent data protection measures, making on-premises deployment an attractive choice for enterprises prioritizing data control and cybersecurity. The Insurtech market is also segmented by distribution channels, which include brokers & agents, Direct-to-Consumer (D2C), and other methods. The brokers & agents segment held a 62.7% market share in 2024, underscoring the continued relevance of human expertise in insurance transactions. Brokers and agents play a vital role in assisting clients with complex policy structures, providing tailored advice, and helping customers navigate risk assessments. Their ability to negotiate customized coverage solutions offers a competitive edge over digital-only models, particularly in high-value insurance categories. Despite the rise of automated insurance platforms, many consumers still prefer personalized consultation to ensure comprehensive coverage and financial security. North America Insurtech market generated USD 1.2 billion in 2024, with the United States emerging as a dominant force in the sector. The country's well-established insurance industry, coupled with its advanced technological infrastructure, positions it at the forefront of global Insurtech innovation. The U.S. regulatory environment fosters a competitive ecosystem that encourages digital insurance adoption and incentivizes startups to develop innovative solutions. With a strong emphasis on AI-driven underwriting, blockchain-based smart contracts, and IoT-powered risk assessments, the U.S. continues to shape the future of Insurtech. These factors, combined with increasing investments from venture capitalists and financial institutions, solidify North America's leadership in the digital insurance revolution. Comprehensive Market Analysis and Forecast Industry trends, key growth drivers, challenges, future opportunities, and regulatory landscape Competitive landscape with Porter's Five Forces and PESTEL analysis Market size, segmentation, and regional forecasts In-depth company profiles, business strategies, financial insights, and SWOT analysis Key Attributes Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 170 Forecast Period 2024-2034 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $5.3 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2034 $132.9 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 36% Regions Covered Global Key Topics Covered Chapter 1 Methodology & Scope Chapter 2 Executive Summary 2.1 Industry 360 degree synopsis, 2021-2034 Chapter 3 Industry Insights 3.1 Industry ecosystem analysis 3.1.1 Supplier landscape 3.1.1.1 Technology providers 3.1.1.2 Insurance providers 3.1.1.3 Distributors 3.1.1.4 End use 3.1.2 Profit margin analysis 3.2 Technology & innovation landscape 3.3 Patent analysis 3.4 Use cases 3.5 Regulatory landscape 3.6 Impact forces 3.6.1 Growth drivers 3.6.1.1 Digital transformation using AI, blockchain, IoT, and cloud computing 3.6.1.2 Growing demand for personalized and flexible insurance solutions 3.6.1.3 Increased investments and partnerships fuelling innovation 3.6.1.4 Regulatory initiatives supporting digital innovation 3.6.2 Industry pitfalls & challenges 3.6.2.1 Data security and privacy concerns 3.6.2.2 Integration with legacy systems and navigating complex regulatory requirements 3.7 Growth potential analysis 3.8 Porter's analysis 3.9 PESTEL analysis Chapter 4 Competitive Landscape, 2024 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Company market share analysis 4.3 Competitive positioning matrix 4.4 Strategic outlook matrix Chapter 5 Market Estimates & Forecast, by Type, 2021-2034 ($Bn) 5.1 Key trends 5.2 Health insurance 5.3 Life insurance 5.4 Property & casualty (P&C) insurance 5.5 Auto insurance 5.6 Specialty insurance 5.7 Reinsurance Chapter 6 Market Estimates & Forecast, by Technology, 2021-2034 ($Bn) 6.1 Key trends 6.2 Artificial intelligence (AI) & machine learning (ML) 6.3 Big data & analytics 6.4 Blockchain 6.5 Internet of things (IoT) 6.6 Telematics 6.7 Cloud computing Chapter 7 Market Estimates & Forecast, by Deployment Mode, 2021-2034 ($Bn) 7.1 Key trends 7.2 On-Premises 7.3 Cloud-Based Chapter 8 Market Estimates & Forecast, by Distribution Channel, 2021-2034 ($Bn) 8.1 Key trends 8.2 Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) 8.3 Brokers & agents 8.4 Others Chapter 9 Market Estimates & Forecast, by Region, 2021-2034 ($Bn) 9.1 Key trends 9.2 North America 9.2.1 U.S. 9.2.2 Canada 9.3 Europe 9.3.1 UK 9.3.2 Germany 9.3.3 France 9.3.4 Italy 9.3.5 Spain 9.3.6 Russia 9.3.7 Nordics 9.4 Asia Pacific 9.4.1 China 9.4.2 India 9.4.3 Japan 9.4.4 Australia 9.4.5 South Korea 9.4.6 Southeast Asia 9.5 Latin America 9.5.1 Brazil 9.5.2 Mexico 9.5.3 Argentina 9.6 MEA 9.6.1 UAE 9.6.2 South Africa 9.6.3 Saudi Arabia Chapter 10 Company Profiles 10.1 Alan 10.2 BIMA 10.3 Bolttech 10.4 Bright Health Group 10.5 Clover Health 10.6 Coalition 10.7 Cover Genius 10.8 Duck Creek Technologies 10.9 GoHealth 10.10 Hippo Insurance 10.11 Lemonade 10.12 Metromile 10.13 Next Insurance 10.14 Oscar Health 10.15 PolicyBazaar 10.16 Root Insurance 10.17 Shift Technology 10.18 Trov 10.19 Wefox 10.20 ZhongAn Insurance For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/rk2tlb 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. Leading cybersecurity company Surfshark is celebrating its 7th anniversary. For that occasion, it offers users a limited-time birthday deal. As part of its birthday celebration, Surfshark is offering special pricing across its suite of privacy plans (until April 30th, 2025, at 08:59 AM EDT): Surfshark Starter: $1.99/month Surfshark One: $2.49/month Surfshark One+: $3.99/month Each plan includes a range of privacy and security tools: Surfshark Starter includes the companys award-winning VPN, the ad-blocking feature CleanWeb, and Alternative ID, a tool for masking personal email and information. Surfshark One builds on that by adding Antivirus, Alert (a data breach detection service), and Search, a private search engine. Surfshark One+ includes all of the above, plus Incogni Surfsharks data removal service that helps users erase personal data from data broker databases. Surfshark milestones: 7 years of enhancing online security Since its founding in 2018, Surfshark has grown rapidly and earned international recognition for its innovative privacy tools. Some key highlights from the past seven years include: 2018: Surfshark is founded, offering its first product, a virtual private network (VPN). 2020: Within two years, Surfshark becomes one of the top 3 most popular VPN services globally. 2021: Surfshark created Incogni, a data removal service that helps individuals automatically request the removal of their personal information from data broker websites. In the same year, Surfshark merged with Nord Security. 2022: After raising the number of servers over the years, Surfshark reached the milestone of 3,200+ servers in 100 countries. 2023: Surfshark and Nord Security secure a $100M investment from global investor Warburg Pincus, doubling their combined valuation from $1.6B to $3B. 2024: Surfshark is recognized by the Financial Times as one of Europes 50 fastest-growing companies, ranking 47th overall and 8th in the IT & Software category in the FT1000 list. ABOUT SURFSHARK Surfshark is a cybersecurity company offering products including an audited VPN, certified antivirus, data leak warning system, private search engine, and a tool for generating an online identity. Recognized as a leading VPN by CNET and TechRadar, Surfshark has also been featured on the FT1000: Europe's Fastest Growing Companies ranking. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Surfshark has offices in Lithuania and Poland. For information on Surfshark's operations and highlights, read our Annual Wrap-up. For more research projects, visit our Research Hub. Attachment Dublin, April 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- "Europe Modular Construction Market, By Country, Competition, Forecast and Opportunities, 2020-2030F" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Europe Modular Construction Market is projected to grow from USD 19.5 billion in 2024 to USD 28.23 billion by 2030, registering a robust CAGR of 6.2% This growth is fueled by a rising demand for affordable and sustainable building solutions, particularly in response to increasing urbanization across Europe. Modular construction, known for its off-site prefabrication and swift assembly, is gaining traction due to its reduced construction timelines and cost-efficiency. With housing shortages increasingly prominent, modular construction presents a viable solution, offering quick, cost-effective housing alternatives. Urban areas benefit from fast assemblies, with modular units prefabricated off-site, leading to minimal disruption and lower labor costs. The versatility of modular buildings, adaptable for both temporary and permanent needs, is particularly advantageous as municipalities seek timely solutions to housing demands. Housing prices have escalated by 48% in the EU from 2015 to 2023, with Hungary, Lithuania, and Czechia experiencing the most significant increases. Challenges remain due to differing regulatory frameworks across Europe, with zoning laws and building codes sometimes impeding the adoption of modular solutions. The industry faces the task of navigating these regulatory landscapes, though efforts to modernize these frameworks are underway in some regions. Addressing these challenges is crucial for unlocking the full potential of modular construction. Sustainability remains a significant trend, with eco-friendly practices becoming more prevalent in modular construction. The approach aligns with rising environmental standards, offering reduced waste and energy-efficient solutions. Prefabrication minimizes on-site disruption and carbon emissions, appealing to developers and governments. Modular buildings can incorporate sustainable features like energy-efficient insulation and solar panels, meeting stringent environmental regulations. Countries such as Sweden and the Netherlands have successfully adopted modular construction, demonstrating its potential with up to 50% of buildings constructed using this method. The sector is seeing the entry of key players like Red Sea International Company, Modular Building Systems, LLC, Skanska AB, Bouygues Construction, and others. These companies are contributing to market dynamics through innovative solutions in diverse sectors, including commercial, healthcare, education, and hospitality. The market is segmented by type, material, and application, with significant activity in leading countries like France, the UK, Italy, and Germany. Overall, the Europe Modular Construction Market presents promising growth opportunities driven by demands for efficiency, affordability, and sustainability, paving the way for significant advancements in both residential and commercial sectors. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 120 Forecast Period 2024 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $19.5 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $28.23 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 6.2% Regions Covered Europe Key Topics Covered: 1. Product Overview 1.1. Market Definition 1.2. Scope of the Market 2. Research Methodology 2.1. Objective of the Study 2.2. Baseline Methodology 3. Executive Summary 4. Voice of Customer 5. Europe Modular Construction Market Overview 6. Europe Modular Construction Market Outlook 6.1. Market Size & Forecast 6.2. Market Share & Forecast 7. France Modular Construction Market Outlook 7.1. Market Size & Forecast 7.2. Market Share & Forecast 8. United Kingdom Modular Construction Market Outlook 8.1. Market Size & Forecast 8.2. Market Share & Forecast 9. Italy Modular Construction Market Outlook 9.1. Market Size & Forecast 9.2. Market Share & Forecast 10. Germany Modular Construction Market Outlook 10.1. Market Size & Forecast 10.2. Market Share & Forecast 11. Spain Modular Construction Market Outlook 11.1. Market Size & Forecast 11.2. Market Share & Forecast 12. Belgium Modular Construction Market Outlook 12.1. Market Size & Forecast 12.2. Market Share & Forecast 13. Switzerland Modular Construction Market Outlook 13.1. Market Size & Forecast 13.2. Market Share & Forecast 14. Netherlands Modular Construction Market Outlook 14.1. Market Size & Forecast 14.2. Market Share & Forecast 15. Market Dynamics 15.1. Drivers 15.2. Challenges 16. Market Trends and Developments 17. Company Profiles 17.1. Red Sea International Company 17.2. Modular Building Systems, LLC. 17.3. Skanska AB 17.4. Bouygues Construction 17.5. Lendlease Corporation Limited 17.6. Woolworths Group Limited 17.7. Champion Home Builders Inc. 17.8. Modular Connections LLC For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/idt5k6 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 New York, NY , April 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rainbow Locksmith NYC is celebrating over 40 years of service, a milestone that reflects its remarkable evolution from a humble, debt-ridden business into a trusted leader in security solutions throughout New York City. Since taking over in 1982, owner Joseph Aharon has led the company through decades of growth, innovation, and expansion, ultimately positioning the company as a reliable provider of locksmith services for residential, commercial, and automotive clients alike. A year after Aharon took over, the company rebranded as Rainbow Locksmith. By 1989, it had expanded its operations across all five boroughs and Long Island, supported by more than 60 skilled freelancers. Its fast, round-the-clock service, combined with a practical understanding of customer needs, enabled it to thrive in a competitive market. Whether handling lockouts in Queens or installing intercom systems in Manhattan hotels, Rainbow Locksmith became known for its responsiveness, adaptability, and commitment to customer satisfaction. Rainbow Locksmith NY With a focus on staying ahead of industry trends, Rainbow Locksmith NY now offers modern security options. such as smart lock systems, keyless entry, and integrated surveillance. As a licensed locksmith in New York, it provides peace of mind for both long-term residents and large-scale commercial properties. Its ability to meet the needs of clients ranging from movie theaters and department stores to local families has helped build a loyal customer base throughout New York. The locksmith industry has changed dramatically, but our approach hasnt, said the companys representative. From taking over a struggling business in 1982 to becoming a trusted name in NYC security, our journey has been about putting customers first. Whether its a smart lock or an emergency lockout, were here 24/7. Rainbow Locksmith NY offers a wide range of services, including lock replacements, safe installations, CCTV systems, intercom setups, key duplication, rekeying, and gate services. From traditional lock-and-key systems to advanced smart home technology, it continues to expand its service offerings while maintaining a personal touch that resonates with customers. Its round-the-clock availability is one of its standout features. Residents and business owners across Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island, and Long Island can rely on Rainbow Locksmith for urgent services at any hour. The company reduces wait times and solves customer issues quickly, setting it apart from other providers. What even sets Rainbow Locksmith apart is its unique ability to blend decades of experience with innovative solutions. Its founders long-standing experience in the field, combined with a practical understanding of modern customer needs, allows the company to offer tailored solutions that reflect the realities of living and working in New York City. From the Upper East Side to Long Island suburbs, the company has earned a reputation for being fast, skilled, and reliable. With more than 40 years behind it and a clear path forward, Rainbow Locksmith shows no signs of slowing down. For more information, visit the Rainbow Locksmith NYs website at https://rainbowlocksmithny.com/ About Rainbow Locksmith NY Rainbow Locksmith NY began in 1982 and has grown into one of the most respected locksmith companies in New York. It serves all five boroughs and Long Island, offering modern and traditional locksmith services with speed and precision. ### Media Contact Rainbow Locksmith NY 338 E 65th St, New York, NY 10065, United States (212) 879-5516 https://rainbowlocksmithny.com/ Rainbow Locksmith NY 338 E 65th St, New York, NY 10065, United States Attachment SC State graduating senior Kashif Alston spent four years in the U.S. Air Force before beginning his collegiate journey. ORANGEBURG, S.C. His name sounds like money, and he has a clear idea of how to make it. Kashif Kash Alston will graduate from South Carolina State University on Friday, May 9, with a degree in mechanical engineering technology. Hell set out with a packed resume, a work ethic forged by his family and the U.S. Air Force, and a dream big enough to fuel a career in real estate development, civil engineering, and entrepreneurship. Raised in Brooklyn, New York, and later transplanted to Northeastern Pennsylvania, Alstons early life was framed by structure, opportunity, and heritage. His great-grandfather, Ernest Henry Tomlinson, was a tail gunner with the revered Tuskegee Airmen an inspiring legacy that would one day help shape Alstons own path. After graduating from high school, Alston enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, where he served from 2016 to 2020 as an aerospace ground equipment mechanic. It gave me a knack for working on machinery, he said. I became a car guy. I bought my first Dodge Ram diesel truck and wound up building it custom from the ground up, which sparked my aspiration to become a diesel truck engineer. That experience sparked a passion for engineering and laid the foundation for his academic and professional goals. Phase 2: College and internships When his military service concluded, he returned to civilian life with a clear goal: engineering. His journey began at Bluefield State College (now University) where he pursued a degree in mechanical engineering technology. At Bluefield State, he served as the Thurgood Marshall College Fund Yard Ambassador and Influencer. He was elected as a Gamma Beta Phi National Committee member. His aspiration at the time was to become a diesel truck engineer at Volvo Trucks of North America, which was right up the road in Dublin, Virginia. He interned at Volvo twice, an experience that included developing the plant's first plumbing schematic and helping to redesign parts of the assembly line. But success came easily too easily. His Air Force experience, work ethic and relentless thirst for challenges signaled to Alston that he was capable of more. Circumstances at Bluefield State, coupled with a desire to be his own boss, prompted him to set his sights on a new horizon: entrepreneurship in real estate and a new school to foster his potential. Immersing in Bulldog tenacity I specifically wanted to transfer to another Thurgood Marshall member school, Alston said, noting that he applied to several Southern HBCUs but heard back from SC State first. I felt like that was a sign, and from then on, I became a Bulldog. Don't regret that decision one bit. He arrived as SC State for the Spring 2023 Semester and set about making a name for himself on campus. He credits SC States late dean of students, Mary White, who died in 2024, with helping him make the transition and garner additional scholarship money. Alston fully embraced the schools unofficial slogan, Bulldog tenacity. Needless to say, it's quite contagious, and the campus experience is a big platform, but its still like a small-town, homegrown kind of experience, he said. When I talk to people from schools that are smaller like Benedict and Allen, they look at our school like it's the biggest in the world. I always tell them, you know, it's one of the smaller Division I HBCUs, but you would never know it by the level of tenacity and energy that we have here. The following summer, his ambition led him to a third internship, this time with Kiewit Construction, where he worked on Department of Transportation projects and learned the nuances of bridge demolition, bid evaluations, and traffic design. A natural networker, Alston leveraged his charisma and experience into a strong presence both on and off campus. He served as the president of the campus chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers, revitalizing it after it had gone dormant during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also represented SC State as an American Red Cross HBCU Ambassador. He joined such professional organizations as the National Society of Professional Engineers and the American Council of Engineering Companies, whose members are instrumental in shaping building codes and engineering licensure. So, the networking is really important for your career in those associations, he said. What's next for Kashif Alston? After graduation, Alston will enter a masters degree program in civil engineering at North Carolina A&T, and he plans to work in his chosen field at the same time. This might sound a little bit funny, but a lot of times I refer to myself as a professional college student, he said. A big thing with me is being that the military has paid my tuition. I had the epiphany that every penny I get in scholarship money goes in my pocket. I apply for scholarships like it's my full-time job, and I've lost count of how much I've been able to pocket in scholarship money. But as far as my career path is concerned, I'm now finally learning that I need to slow things down a bit. I'm currently on the hunt for a position as a home builder where I can be boots on the ground and learn, he said. His dream is to eventually oversee his own construction projects from blueprint to brick. So, what drives him? Honestly? It's the lifestyle I was raised around, he said. Growing up, my parents gave me the example of what success looked like. Thats what I aim for because Ive seen whats possible. Still, hes clear-eyed about the grind. Alston has already dipped into the world of real estate investment. The road hasnt been easy. Honestly, its kicking my tail, he said. There are way more downs than ups, but thats where the learning happens. If everything was all sunshine and rainbows, I, of course, wouldn't learn anything. Alstons story is one of resilience, vision, and Bulldog tenacity the kind of story that doesnt just graduate from college, but graduates into purpose. SC States Spring Commencement is set for Friday, May 9, beginning at 10 a.m. at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium. Alston is among more than 200 undergraduate and graduate students expected to receive degrees. Dublin, April 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Smart Hospital Market Size and Share Analysis - Growth Trends and Forecast Report 2025-2033" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Global smart hospitals market was USD 58.18 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow beyond USD 161.59 billion by 2033 at a CAGR of 12.02% during 2025-2033 Market growth is supported by progress in healthcare automation, AI-assisted diagnostics, IoT-based medical devices, and telemedicine systems that enhance the efficiency of patient care and management in hospitals across the globe. Smart hospitals bring together next-generation technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data, and automation for enhancing patient treatment, operational excellence, and therapeutic outcomes. They make use of real-time surveillance systems, robotics-based surgeries, electronic health records (EHRs), and AI-based diagnoses for better health delivery. Further, 5G connectivity and cloud computing are also driving the shift from conventional hospitals to smart healthcare centers. The U.S., Germany, China, and the UAE are among those countries leading in the adoption of smart hospitals due to regulatory support and funding. The COVID-19 pandemic further hastened this transition, accentuating the demands for telemedicine, remote monitoring of patients, and AI-based hospital management systems. Growth Drivers in Global Smart Hospitals Market Healthcare Technology Advancements The growth of the global smart hospitals market is fueled by fast-paced development in healthcare technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and machine learning. These technologies improve patient care, optimize operations, and enhance decision-making. AI-based diagnostics, robotic surgeries, and computerized patient monitoring systems are becoming the necessary tools of contemporary healthcare. The integration of cloud computing and big data analytics allows for easy data exchange and enhanced patient management. With the advancement of technology, hospitals are increasingly investing in digital infrastructure to enhance efficiency and patient outcomes. September 2024, Huawei released the Medical Technology Digitalization 2.0 Solution with partners at the Enhancing Inclusivity to Amplify Healthcare Intelligence session. This solution supports AI-aided diagnosis and smart quality control to facilitate precision medicine and hierarchical treatment. Increasing Demand for Telemedicine and Remote Monitoring The growth of telemedicine and remote patient monitoring is another major growth driver of smart hospitals. As chronic diseases, aging populations, and real-time healthcare demands rise, hospitals are implementing remote monitoring solutions. Wearable technology and IoT-enabled medical devices enable physicians to monitor patient health remotely, minimizing hospital visits and enhancing patient convenience. The COVID-19 pandemic further pushed telemedicine into the mainstream, emphasizing its significance in contemporary healthcare systems. September 2024, US-based Carematrix has initiated a blinded blood pressure monitor and scale for remote patient monitoring in clinical trials. These instruments enable participants to measure blood pressure and weight without viewing the information, which is transmitted automatically to trial investigators for assessment, while keeping the double-blind study design intact. Government Programs and Healthcare Investments Governments across the globe are financing the digitization of healthcare with funding, legislation, and public-private partnerships. Numerous nations are introducing electronic health records (EHRs), intelligent ICU monitoring, and AI-based decision support systems to improve hospital efficiency. Regions such as the United States, China, and Germany are heavily investing in intelligent hospital infrastructure. Further, 5G-enabled healthcare and cloud-stored medical data enable smooth healthcare delivery and accelerate market growth. Government programs such as the Ayushman Bharat scheme and the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) have immensely enhanced healthcare infrastructure and accessibility, as noted in the Indian healthcare sector report 2024. Hospital, clinic, and medical college investments have strengthened the industry's ability to address increasing healthcare demands. The report further shows that the industry is headed for expansion and innovation, with government vision 2030 goals targeting universal health coverage and lower disease burdens. The use of digital technologies, including telemedicine, is predicted to improve delivery of healthcare, particularly in rural areas. Challenges in Global Smart Hospitals Market High Implementation Costs One of the major problems of the global smart hospitals market is the prohibitively high implementation cost. Installing cutting-edge AI-based diagnostic equipment, robotic surgery machines, and smart ICU monitoring devices is very costly. Smaller healthcare organizations face budget issues, which hamper the widespread deployment of smart hospital technology. The cost of maintenance and staff training also contributes to the expenses. Data Security and Privacy Issues As the use of digital health records, cloud storage, and IoT devices increases, concerns regarding data security and patient privacy have become a major issue. Cyber threats such as data breaches and ransomware attacks have the potential to breach sensitive medical data. Maintaining HIPAA and GDPR compliance is crucial for hospitals to secure patient data. But the intricacy of dealing with large amounts of healthcare data makes security a recurring issue. All the Key players have been covered from 4 Viewpoints: Key Players Analysis: Overview, Key Persons, Recent Development & Strategies, Revenue Analysis Koninklijke Philips N.V Medtronic Plc SAP SE Cerner Corporation Schneider Electric Healthcare Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 200 Forecast Period 2024 - 2033 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $58.18 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2033 $161.59 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 12.0% Regions Covered Global Key Topics Covered: 1. Introduction 2. Research Methodology 3. Executive Summary 4. Market Dynamics 4.1 Growth Drivers 4.2 Challenges 5. Global Smart Hospital Market 6. Market Share Analysis 6.1 By Artificial Intelligence 6.2 By Components 6.3 By Connectivity 6.4 By Applications 6.5 By Country 7. Artificial Intelligence 7.1 Offering 7.2 Technology 7.3 Applications 8. Components 8.1 Hardware 8.2 System and Software 8.3 Services 9. Connectivity 9.1 Wired 9.2 Wireless 10. Application 10.1 Outpatient Vigilance 10.2 Electronic Health Record & Clinical Workflow 10.3 Remote Medicine Management 10.4 Medical Connection Imaging 10.5 Medical Assistance 11. Countries 11.1 North America 11.1.1 United States 11.1.2 Canada 11.2 Europe 11.2.1 France 11.2.2 Germany 11.2.3 Italy 11.2.4 Spain 11.2.5 United Kingdom 11.2.6 Belgium 11.2.7 Netherland 11.2.8 Turkey 11.3 Asia Pacific 11.3.1 China 11.3.2 Japan 11.3.3 India 11.3.4 Australia 11.3.5 South Korea 11.3.6 Thailand 11.3.7 Malaysia 11.3.8 Indonesia 11.3.9 New Zealand 11.4 Latin America 11.4.1 Brazil 11.4.2 Mexico 11.4.3 Argentina 11.5 Middle East & Africa 11.5.1 South Africa 11.5.2 Saudi Arabia 11.5.3 UAE 12. Porter's Five Forces Analysis 12.1 Bargaining Power of Buyers 12.2 Bargaining Power of Suppliers 12.3 Degree of Rivalry 12.4 Threat of New Entrants 12.5 Threat of Substitutes 13. SWOT Analysis 13.1 Strength 13.2 Weakness 13.3 Opportunity 13.4 Threat 14. Key Players Analysis For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/4lw3sw 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 Austin, April 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) Market Size & Growth Insights: According to the SNS Insider,The Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) Market was valued at USD 3.57 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 9.65 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 11.68% from 2024 to 2032. Enhancing Cybersecurity with Secure IPMI Solutions for Reliable Remote Infrastructure Management. As cyber threats continue to evolve in frequency and sophistication, the demand for secure IT infrastructure has become paramount. Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) solutions have emerged as critical tools for businesses aiming to ensure secure and efficient remote monitoring and management of servers and data centers. These solutions allow administrators to access and control systems even when the operating system is unresponsive, offering an essential safeguard for operational continuity. In the United States, the IPMI market was valued at USD 0.98 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 2.24 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 9.49%. Get a Sample Report of Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) Market Forecast @ https://www.snsinsider.com/sample-request/6208 Leading Market Players with their Product Listed in this Report are: Intel Corporation (U.S.) - Semiconductor and IT Infrastructure Solutions - Semiconductor and IT Infrastructure Solutions ARM Holdings Inc. (U.K.) - Semiconductor Design and Architecture - Semiconductor Design and Architecture Emerson (U.S.) - Automation and Control Solutions - Automation and Control Solutions NEC Corporation (Japan) - IT and Network Solutions - IT and Network Solutions Super Micro Computer, Inc. (U.S.) - Server Solutions and Enterprise IT - Server Solutions and Enterprise IT Cisco (U.S.) - Networking Equipment and IT Solutions - Networking Equipment and IT Solutions Dell, Inc. (U.S.) - IT Hardware, Software, and Services - IT Hardware, Software, and Services Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) (U.S.) - Enterprise IT and Cloud Solutions - Enterprise IT and Cloud Solutions Microsoft (U.S.) - Software, Cloud Computing, and IT Solutions - Software, Cloud Computing, and IT Solutions Softlayer Technologies, Inc. (U.S.) - Cloud Infrastructure and Hosting Services. Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) Market Report Scope: Report Attributes Details Market Size in 2023 USD 3.57 Billion Market Size by 2032 USD 9.65 Billion CAGR CAGR of 11.68% From 2024 to 2032 Report Scope & Coverage Market Size, Segments Analysis, Competitive Landscape, Regional Analysis, DROC & SWOT Analysis, Forecast Outlook Key Segmentation By Component (Baseboard management controller, Sensors & controls, Memory devices, Others) By Application (Server, Storage devices, Telecommunication equipment) By Vertical(Banking, Financial services, and Insurance (BFSI), Healthcare, Education & research, Retail, Manufacturing, Public sector, IT & telecom, Others) Key Drivers The Rising Demand for Secure IPMI Solutions in Response to Cyber Threats. The Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) market presents significant opportunities driven by the growing adoption of advanced IT infrastructure technologies. However, improperly configured IPMI interfaces can expose systems to risks such as weak passwords and insufficient encryption, making them vulnerable to unauthorized access. This has driven organizations to adopt more secure IPMI versions and incorporate advanced security protocols. In response to the growing emphasis on data protection and cybersecurity, secure IPMI solutions are becoming integral to enterprise strategies, enabling not just operational resilience but also reinforcing a strong cybersecurity posture in the face of increasing digital threats. Segmental Analysis of the Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) Market by Component, Application, and Vertical By Component The Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) segment led the Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) market in 2023, contributing around 32% of total revenue. It is projected to witness the fastest growth from 2024 to 2032 due to rising demand for efficient remote monitoring of IT infrastructure like servers and data centers. BMC provides low-level system hardware monitoring and control, enabling IT administrators to manage power and perform recovery remotely. Its adoption is driven by digital transformation, cloud computing, hybrid IT setups, and the need for secure automation. As organizations prioritize remote management, BMC remains a crucial component of IPMI solutions. By Application In 2023, the server segment led the Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) market with a 49% revenue share, driven by the increasing reliance on servers for core applications in data centers, enterprises, and cloud environments. This growth reflects the need for remote monitoring, automation, and efficient server management to ensure uptime and performance. The storage devices segment is projected to be the fastest-growing from 2024 to 2032, fueled by rising data volumes, demand for scalable storage, and emphasis on data security. IPMI solutions support real-time monitoring and remote troubleshooting, enhancing reliability and performance in both server and storage systems. By Verticals In 2023, the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) segment held the largest share of the Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) market, accounting for approximately 44% of total revenue. This dominance is driven by the sector's reliance on secure and robust IT infrastructure to manage sensitive financial data and ensure uninterrupted service. IPMI systems help maintain security, uptime, and regulatory compliance. The IT & Telecom segment is projected to grow the fastest from 2024 to 2032, fueled by expanding telecom networks, cloud services, and data centers, where IPMI solutions play a crucial role in ensuring operational efficiency and system reliability. Do you Have any Specific Queries or Need any Customize Research on Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) Market, Request for Analyst Call @ https://www.snsinsider.com/request-analyst/6208 North America Dominates IPMI Market While Asia-Pacific Emerges as Fastest-Growing Region In 2023, North America held the largest share of the Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) market, contributing approximately 40% of the revenue. This dominance is attributed to its advanced technological infrastructure, rapid adoption of IT solutions, and the presence of key players such as Intel, Dell, and Cisco. The growing emphasis on cybersecurity, remote monitoring, and efficient server management continues to drive IPMI adoption across the region. In the U.S., digital transformation and cloud computing trends further fuel market growth, supported by a high concentration of data centers, tech firms, and government institutions. The Asia-Pacific region is projected to witness the fastest growth from 2024 to 2032, propelled by the expansion of cloud computing, AI, and 5G networks. Countries like China, India, and Japan are experiencing a surge in data center development, IoT deployment, and smart city projects, creating a robust demand for scalable and secure IPMI solutions for remote infrastructure management. Recent Development October 16, 2024, Intel is under scrutiny as Chinas state-linked Cyber Security Association calls for a cybersecurity review of its products, citing national security concerns and recurring security flaws in its CPUs. Table of Contents - Major Points 1. Introduction 2. Executive Summary 3. Research Methodology 4. Market Dynamics Impact Analysis 5. Statistical Insights and Trends Reporting 5.1 Impact of Digital Transformation 5 .2 Remote Work and Distributed Systems 5.3 Growing Need for Cybersecurity 5.4 Sustainability and Green IT 5.5 Cloud Adoption and Hybrid Environments 6. Competitive Landscape 7. Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) Market Segmentation, by Component 8. Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) Market Segmentation, by Application 8. Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) Market Segmentation, by Vertical 9. Regional Analysis 10. Company Profiles 11. Use Cases and Best Practices 12. Conclusion About Us: SNS Insider is one of the leading market research and consulting agencies that dominates the market research industry globally. Our company's aim is to give clients the knowledge they require in order to function in changing circumstances. In order to give you current, accurate market data, consumer insights, and opinions so that you can make decisions with confidence, we employ a variety of techniques, including surveys, video talks, and focus groups around the world. Press release Issy-les-Moulineaux, 18 April 2025 Combined Ordinary and Extraordinary Shareholders Meeting of 21 May 2025 Details concerning the availability of information on the Combined Ordinary and Extraordinary Shareholders Meeting The Orange combined Ordinary and Extraordinary Shareholders Meeting will be held on Wednesday 21 May 2025 at 3:00 pm CET at the Salle Pleyel - 252, rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honore, 75008 Paris, France. The meeting notices were published on 24 February and 18 April 2025 in the French Bulletin des Annonces Legales Obligatoires (BALO). All documents and information specified in article R. 225-83 of the French Commercial Code concerning the Shareholders Meeting can be viewed on the companys website at: https://oran.ge/ag2025, under Find the information available for the 2025 Combined Shareholders Meeting. In addition, shareholders can request by mail or telephone any of these documents or information. Shareholders can also consult the documentation mentioned in article R. 225-89 of the French Commercial code at the companys headquarters in the Corporate legal department. Phone: 0 800 05 10 10 from France or + 33 5 31 21 03 80 from outside France Monday through Friday from 9:00 am CET to 6:00 pm CET Mail: Orange Assemblee Generale, 111 quai du President Roosevelt - CS 70222, 92449 Issy-les-Moulineaux, France Headquarters: 111 quai du President Roosevelt 92130 Issy-les-Moulineaux, France About Orange Orange is one of the worlds leading telecommunications operators with revenues of 40.3 billion euros in 2024 and 127,000 employees worldwide at 31 December 2024, including 71,000 employees in France. The Group has a total customer base of 291 million customers worldwide at 31 December 2024, including 253 million mobile customers and 22 million fixed broadband customers. These figures account for the deconsolidation of certain activities in Spain following the creation of MASORANGE. The Group is present in 26 countries (including non-consolidated countries). Orange is also a leading provider of global IT and telecommunication services to multinational companies under the brand Orange Business. In February 2023, the Group presented its strategic plan "Lead the Future", built on a new business model and guided by responsibility and efficiency. "Lead the Future" capitalizes on network excellence to reinforce Orange's leadership in service quality. Orange is listed on Euronext Paris (symbol ORA). For more information on the internet and on your mobile: www.orange.com , www.orange-business.com and the Orange News app or to follow us on X: @orangegrouppr. Orange and any other Orange product or service names included in this material are trademarks of Orange or Orange Brand Services Limited. Press contact: Tom Wright ; tom.wright@orange.com ; +33 6 78 91 35 11 Attachment Dublin, April 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Competition Law for the Pharmaceutical Industry Training Course" training has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This comprehensive course is designed to equip professionals in the pharmaceutical sector with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate the complexities of competition law. It will cover the full spectrum of competition law from cooperation with competitors, to abusive life-cycle management, disparagement and the use of IP, to trends in public and private enforcement. The expert speakers focus on the fundamental principles and key elements of competition law in the EU and UK that apply to the pharmaceutical industry. This is an interactive session that uses case studies and real-world examples from industry to address how compliance works in practice. By addressing critical legal and operational challenges, participants will gain a clear and pragmatic understanding of how competition law impacts the pharmaceutical supply chain and how this translates to making commercial decisions in their day-to-day activities. Benefits of attending By attending this course you will: Understand the role of competition law in the entire pharmaceutical supply chain the role of competition law in the entire pharmaceutical supply chain Update your knowledge on relevant competition law for the pharma industry your knowledge on relevant competition law for the pharma industry Learn about horizontal and vertical co-operation about horizontal and vertical co-operation Explore portfolio management and dealing with next generation products portfolio management and dealing with next generation products Get to grips with quota systems and export bans with quota systems and export bans Gain insights into how to be prepared for public enforcement and dawn raids insights into how to be prepared for public enforcement and dawn raids Familiarise yourself with key developments in damages directives, class actions and litigation funding Certifications: CPD: 6 hours for your records Certificate of completion Who Should Attend: In-house lawyers Compliance managers and regulatory affairs specialists Commercial and contracts managers R&D managers Procurement and supply chain personnel Business development managers Heads of legal departments and legal advisers Patent, IP, trade mark and licensing counsel Key Topics Covered: Introduction and legal landscape Pharmaceutical supply chain & role of competition law Competition law: relevant legislation for the pharmaceutical industry Anticompetitive agreements Abuse of dominance Mergers Where to find help Horizontal and vertical cooperation in the pharmaceutical industry Commercial agreements Distribution agreements Co-promotion and co-commercialisation R&D IP related agreements and licensing Technology transfer Industry associations and working groups Unilateral conduct Life-cycle/portfolio management - dealing with next generation products Quota systems and export bans Pricing: rebates, discounts and excessive pricing Parallel trade Disparagement - what can you say about your competitors? IP-related abusive conduct Case studies Enforcement of competition law Public enforcement Dawn raid preparedness Leniency Continued regulatory focus on the pharmaceutical industry Private enforcement Key developments: Damages Directive/Class Actions/Litigation Funding Damages claims against pharmaceutical companies Case studies Speakers: Niels Ersbll Partner Arnold & Porter LLP Niels Ersbll, Partner, Arnold & Porter LLP, advises clients on EU competition law in relation to cartels and restrictive practices, merger control, abuse of dominance, and State aid. He is currently involved in several pending EU cartel investigations. He advises on merger control investigations by the European Commission and competition authorities worldwide for clients such as General Electric, Boston Scientific, Pfizer, and Sanyo. Where investigations (mergers or cartels) are run by several authorities in parallel, he assists with overall strategy and coordination. Niels also has significant experience helping clients with designing and implementing compliance measures and conducting internal investigations and audits. Zeno Frediani Arnold & Porter LLP Zeno Frediani advises clients on UK and EU competition law in relation to merger control, cartels and restrictive practices, abuse of dominance, and private damages claims. He also advises clients on the UK's investment screening powers for national security matters. He has extensive experience in providing commercial solutions to complex regulatory issues. Zeno advises world-leading organisations, particularly within the FMCG and pharmaceutical sectors. He has also assisted clients in CMA and European Commission investigations. In relation to antitrust litigation, Zeno has experience handling competition damages litigation in various jurisdictions, including England & Wales and The Netherlands. He maintains an active pro bono practice and regularly advises charities and NGOs on a wide range of legal and strategic matters. Lazarinka Naydenova Arnold & Porter LLP Lazarinka Naydenova, Senior Associate with Arnold Porter, focuses on all aspects of European (EU) competition law, with particular emphasis on merger control proceeding, abuse of dominance, cartel matters, and state aid. Lazarinka joined the firm's Brussels team in 2016. Prior to joining the firm, Lazarinka worked in another leading international competition law firm in Brussels. She has worked as an in-house lawyer at the Bulgarian Ministry of Finance and has also undertaken a traineeship at the European Commission's Directorate General for Competition. Lazarinka worked the ex-U.S. processes for Monsanto in its US$66 billion acquisition by Bayer, a transaction that won the 2019 GCR Awards for "Global Antitrust Matter of the Year" and "Merger Control Matter of the Year - Europe" and for Fitbit in its acquisition by Google which won the 2021 edition of the same award. She also represented a client in a dawn raid conducted by the European Commission in relation to an alleged violation of the antitrust rules. For more information about this training visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/rxvgxc 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, April 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Glycerol Market Size, Market Share, Application Analysis, Regional Outlook, Growth Trends, Key Players, Competitive Strategies and Forecasts, 2025 To 2033" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The glycerol market is witnessing significant growth, driven by its diverse applications across industries such as pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, cosmetics, personal care, and industrial sectors like antifreeze and plastic manufacturing. The market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.5%, fueled by expanding end-use applications and increased biodiesel production which supplies glycerol as a byproduct. One critical factor propelling the glycerol market is the surge in biodiesel production. This trend is particularly noticeable in countries like the United States, Brazil, and Indonesia, where government mandates for biodiesel blending are active. Consequently, as biodiesel production rises, so does the availability of glycerol. This abundant supply has reduced production costs, making glycerol more accessible for various applications, ranging from pharmaceuticals to personal care products. The pharmaceutical sector offers promising opportunities for the glycerol market due to its role as a solvent, humectant, and sweetener in various medical applications. Increased health consciousness and an aging global population are driving demand for medical and personal care products, thus boosting glycerol consumption. Research into new applications like gel formulations and injectables could further extend its market reach. However, the glycerol market faces challenges, notably the volatility in raw material prices. Changes in agricultural production, global trade policies, and economic conditions significantly impact the fats and oils sector, glycerol's primary raw material source. This unpredictability affects production costs and market stability, posing challenges for investment and financial planning. Competition from synthetic alternatives also poses a challenge. Synthetic glycols and other polyol compounds provide lower-cost or performance-based advantages, prompting glycerol producers to continuously innovate and improve their offerings. Differentiation in terms of quality, environmental impact, and specific application benefits is crucial for sustaining market share. In terms of production source, the glycerol market is dominated by biodiesel, followed by fatty acids, which are expected to witness the highest CAGR due to the push for sustainable raw materials. In applications, personal care and pharmaceuticals lead in revenue, while alkyd resins are anticipated to grow rapidly, driven by demand in the construction and automotive sectors. Geographically, Asia Pacific leads the market, benefiting from industrial expansion, high biodiesel production, and demand from personal care and pharmaceutical industries. The growing preference for sustainable and biodegradable products in this region underpins glycerol demand. Europe and North America also have significant market shares, supported by stringent sustainability regulations and high consumption rates. Major players in this competitive landscape include P&G Chemicals, IOI Group, Emery Oleochemicals, and Dow Chemicals, among others. These companies are focusing on strategic expansions, mergers, and R&D to enhance product range and sustainability. As the market evolves, efforts in innovation, especially regarding bio-based glycerol alternatives and new applications, are set to intensify from 2025 to 2033. This analysis, covering the historical and forecast period of 2023 to 2033, provides quantitative and qualitative insights into the glycerol market. It examines production sources, applications, geographic segments, and competitive strategies, offering a comprehensive overview of market dynamics and growth opportunities. Key Topics Covered: 1. Preface 1.1. Report Description 1.2. Market Segmentation 1.3. Research Methodology 2. Executive Summary 2.1. Market Snapshot 3. Glycerol Market: Competitive Analysis 3.1. Market Positioning 3.2. Strategies Adopted 4. Glycerol Market: Macro Analysis & Market Dynamics 4.1. Introduction 4.2. Global Market Value 4.3. Market Dynamics 4.4. Impact Analysis 4.6. Porter's Five Force Model 4.7. PESTEL Analysis 5. Glycerol Market: By Production Source 5.1. Market Overview 5.3. Market Segmentation 6. Glycerol Market: By Application 6.1. Market Overview 6.3. Market Segmentation 7. North America Glycerol Market 7.1. Market Overview 7.4. Glycerol Market By Region 8. UK and European Union Glycerol Market 8.1. Market Overview 8.4. Glycerol Market By Region 9. Asia Pacific Glycerol Market 9.1. Market Overview 9.4. Glycerol Market By Region 10. Latin America Glycerol Market 10.1. Market Overview 10.4. Glycerol Market By Region 11. Middle East and Africa Glycerol Market 11.1. Market Overview 11.4. Glycerol Market By Region 12. Company Profile 12.1. P&G Chemicals 12.2. IOI Group 12.3. Emery Oleochemicals 12.4. Kuala Lumpur Berhad 12.5. Dial Corporation 12.6. Croda 12.7. Wilmar International 12.8. Dow Chemicals 12.9. Godrej Industries Ltd. 12.10. Sofiproteol Group For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ixzkun 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, April 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Innovation Insights: Antibody-drug conjugates" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. ntibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are redefining cancer treatment by merging monoclonal antibodies with chemotherapy drugs for precise targeting. This method enhances drug efficacy and minimizes side effects, showcasing promising outcomes across various cancers like breast cancer, lymphoma, and leukemia. Ongoing developments aim to optimize ADCs, making them more effective against cancer cells. The ADC sector is a dynamic sphere of biopharmaceutical innovation. Major pharmaceutical entities, responsible for 37% of all patents, are spearheading this evolution with a deep pipeline, recent drug approvals, and strategic investments such as mergers and acquisitions. Since 2017, patent filings have surged, with expanding applications in autoimmune and infectious diseases introducing more players to the field. The United States and China lead in this innovative journey, with more than 100 public companies competing fervently. Key patent contributors are Roche, Seagen (Pfizer), AstraZeneca, and Abbvie, with Daiichi Sankyo, AstraZeneca, and Abbvie boasting robust patent portfolios. In China's burgeoning market, Jiangsu Hengrui, Biocytogen, and GeneQuantum top the list of active companies. The ecosystem comprises over 70 startups, prominently GeneQuantum, Oncomatryx, Glykos, and DAC Biotech, pushing the boundaries of innovation. The ADC drug landscape is populated by 1,172 drugs, primarily directed at oncology (94%). Methods of administration largely involve intravenous delivery, with Biocytogen Pharmaceuticals and Hangzhou DAC Biotech prominent in preclinical and Phase II drug development. The wealth of drugs in Phase I and II trials signals a maturing pipeline poised for imminent market entry. There have been 2,847 clinical trials for ADCs, dominated by oncology, specifically targeting Hodgkin Lymphoma. Pfizer and Daiichi Sankyo emerge as leading trial sponsors. Financially, the sector sees robust activity with 809 deals amassing US$227 billion, dominated by the United States in both volume and value. While the market faced a downturn in deals from 2020 to 2022, a rebound in 2023 underscores strategic consolidations and market recalibration. Key Highlights The ADC sector is a high-impact area in pharma, focusing on areas like Oncology and Autoimmune Diseases. Established pharma companies like Roche dominate ADC-related patents despite a recent slowdown in new patent filers. Merck and Seagen stand out for their significant innovation portfolios in ADCs. The drug landscape is marked by the prevalence of innovator drugs, with Biocytogen and Hangzhou Biotech as leaders in development. In clinical trials, Immunology is a prominent field, with heavy involvement from Pfizer Inc and Daiichi Sankyo Ltd. Scope Innovation Insights: Presents key trends across various sectors. Key Players: Showcases major contributors to advancements in the field. Startups: Highlights emerging players in the industry. University Involvement: Outlines leading academic institutions contributing to the field. Key Topics Covered: 1. Innovation Insights 1.1 Innovation radar 1.2 Innovation s-curve 1.3 Innovation deep dive 2. Competitive Insights 2.1 Key innovation leaders - big pharma 2.2 Key innovators - startups and small biotech 3. Market Insights 3.1 Drugs 3.2 Clinical Trials 3.3 Deals A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes, but is not limited to: Biocytogen Pharmaceuticals (Beijing) Co Ltd Hangzhou DAC Biotech Co Ltd LigaChem Biosciences Inc Pfizer Inc Genmab AS Cidara Therapeutics Inc Duality Biologics (Shanghai) Co Ltd Shanghai Affinity Biopharmaceutical Co Ltd AstraZeneca Plc Immunome Inc AbTis Co Ltd iProgen Biotech Inc Suzhou Medilink Therapeutics Ltd Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine Co Ltd Innovent Biologics Inc ADC Therapeutics SA AbbVie Inc Hangzhou Adcoris Biopharmaceutical Co Ltd LaNova Medicines Ltd GeneQuantum Healthcare Suzhou Co Ltd Alphamab Oncology Exelixis Inc Merck KGaA Mersana Therapeutics Inc Zymeworks Inc Xiling Lab Co Ltd Intocell Inc Shanghai Fudan-Zhangjiang Bio-Pharmaceutical Co Ltd MabGen Biotech Co Ltd SOTIO Biotech AS BiOneCure Therapeutics Inc Daiichi Sankyo Co Ltd Multitude therapeutics Inc Iksuda Therapeutics Ltd Bio-Thera Solutions Ltd Oxford BioTherapeutics Ltd Sichuan Biokin Pharmaceutical Co Ltd Byondis BV Actinium Pharmaceuticals Inc Catalent Inc Shanghai Miracogen Inc Antikor Biopharma Ltd Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd OBI Pharma Inc Bayer AG Debiopharm International SA Tagworks Pharmaceuticals BV Eli Lilly and Co Adcentrx Therapeutics Inc Genentech USA Inc. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/qwpibm 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. ORLANDO, Fla., April 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Americas 63 National Parks draw in serious hikers, and they also provide opportunities for beginners and families alike to unwind, take their time and soak in natures beauty. For National Park Week and beyond, the program offers expert content to help travelers make the most of their time outdoors. The adventure-loving vacation club WorldMark by Wyndham has proudly teamed up with Americas Park Ranger, Ash Nudd, as the WorldMark Hiking Concierge. Ash is a seasoned expert on national parks and creator of the Dirt In My Shoes hiking blog. Having worked as a park ranger in Utah, Alaska, and Wyoming, she now assists families in planning trips to her favorite destinations. With so many options for parks to visit, the dedicated Hiking Concierge program provides travelers with expert content like Ashs hiking tips for every skill level, as well as a discount on select Dirt In My Shoes park itineraries. While many travelers often equate National Parks with camping and RVs, todays post-hike adventurers can choose more comfortable lodging options. The WorldMark Hiking Concierge program is currently offered at five resort properties near national parks, ranging from Yosemite to Yellowstone. A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on this link. For families looking to explore the parks, I highly recommend WorldMark by Wyndham, said Nudd. Each property beautifully merges the natural allure of the parks with the comforts of home, and multi-bedroom suites feature separate living and dining areas, and fully equipped kitchens. Plus, most suites include an in-suite washer and dryer for hassle-free cleanup post-hiking. To start planning your next outdoor adventure, visit extraholidays.com/hike. About WorldMark by Wyndham With WorldMark by Wyndham, families can celebrate the moments in-between point A and point B that turn ordinary trips into lifelong memories. WorldMark by Wyndham lets travelers enjoy spacious resort accommodations with the amenities of home, including fully equipped kitchens, distinct living and dining areas, separate bedrooms and a washer/dryer in most suites. WorldMark by Wyndham gives travelers the time and the space to focus on what matters most sharing moments with the ones you love. WorldMark by Wyndham operates under the Wyndham Destinations umbrella as part of Travel + Leisure Co. (NYSE:TNL) and its portfolio of travel businesses. As the worlds largest vacation ownership and exchange business, the company features more than 245 resorts that offer a contemporary take on the timeshare model including vacation club brands Club Wyndham, WorldMark by Wyndham, and Margaritaville Vacation Club. For more information, visit worldmarkbywyndham.com. Connect with us on Twitter: @WorldMark; Facebook: @WorldMark; and Instagram: @WorldMarkbyWyndham. Paris, April 18th, 2025 2024 DIVIDEND At the Annual Shareholders Meeting of Christian Dior held on Thursday, April 17th, 2025, approval was given for the payment of a dividend for financial year 2024 of 13 Euros per share. Taking into account the 5.50 Euros paid on Wednesday, December 4th, 2024, the balance amounts to 7.50 Euros; it will be paid on Monday, April 28th, 2025. The last trading day with dividend rights is Wednesday, April 23rd, 2025. This financial release is available on our website www.dior-finance.com . Attachment PHILADELPHIA, April 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Berger Montague PC advises investors that a securities class action lawsuit has been filed against BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc. (BigBear or the Company) (NYSE: BBAI) on behalf of purchasers of BigBear securities between March 31, 2022 through March 25, 2025, inclusive (the Class Period). Investor Deadline: Investors who purchased or acquired BIGBEAR securities during the Class Period may, no later than JUNE 10, 2025 , seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class. To learn your rights, CLICK HERE . BigBear, headquartered in McLean, VA, is an AI-driven technology company offering national security, supply chain management, and digital identity and biometrics solutions. In June 2021, BigBear.ai Holdings entered into a business combination with GigCapital4, Inc., a special purpose acquisition company. After the business combination was consummated on December 7, 2021, BigBear issued $200 million of convertible notes with a maturity date of December 15, 2026. The complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants failed to disclose that: (i) BigBear maintained deficient accounting review policies; (ii) the Company incorrectly determined that the conversion option within the 2026 Notes qualified for the derivative scope exception under Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 815-40 and failed to bifurcate the conversion option as required by ASC 815-15; (iii) thus, BigBear had improperly accounted for the 2026 Notes. To learn your rights or for more information, CLICK HERE or please contact Berger Montague: Andrew Abramowitz at aabramowitz@bm.net or (215) 875-3015, or Peter Hamner at phamner@bm.net . A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. The lead plaintiff is usually the investor or small group of investors who have the largest financial interest and who are also adequate and typical of the proposed class of investors. The lead plaintiff selects counsel to represent the lead plaintiff and the class and these attorneys, if approved by the court, are lead or class counsel. Your ability to share in any recovery is not, however, affected by the decision whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff. Communicating with any counsel is not necessary to participate or share in any recovery achieved in this case. Any member of the purported class may move the Court to serve as a lead plaintiff through counsel of his/her choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an inactive class member. Berger Montague, with offices in Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Delaware, Washington, D.C., San Diego, San Francisco and Chicago, has been a pioneer in securities class action litigation since its founding in 1970. Berger Montague has represented individual and institutional investors for over five decades and serves as lead counsel in courts throughout the United States. Contact: Andrew Abramowitz, Senior Counsel Berger Montague (215) 875-3015 aabramowitz@bm.net NEW YORK, April 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lowey Dannenberg, P.C. is investigating potential claims regarding a data breach at California Cryobank LLC that occurred between April 20 22, 2024. To contact us regarding this investigation, please visit our website HERE and complete the form to speak with an attorney. California Cryobank specializes in providing frozen donor sperm and specialized reproductive services, such as egg and embryo storage. The company is the largest sperm bank in the United States. What happened? On April 20, 2024, California Cryobank experienced a cyber-security incident where an unauthorized party gained access to its IT environment. California Cryobank subsequently determined that the unauthorized party accessed and/or acquired files containing sensitive personal information. This information may have included names, Social Security numbers, drivers license numbers, financial account numbers, and health insurance information. How can I protect my personal data? If you receive a data breach notification concerning California Cryobank, you should regularly review your account statements and credit reports for suspicious or unauthorized activity. Lowey Dannenberg, P.C. is investigating a class action lawsuit to seek legal remedies for individuals whose sensitive personal data may have been compromised by the data breach. For more information, please CONTACT: LOWEY DANNENBERG, P.C. 44 South Broadway, Suite 1100 White Plains, NY 10601 Telephone: (914) 733-7233 Email: pdemato@lowey.com Web: www.lowey.com About Lowey Dannenberg, P.C. Lowey Dannenberg, P.C. is a national class action law firm with offices in New York and Pennsylvania. Lowey Dannenberg attorneys routinely litigate complex data breach and privacy class actions, as well as antitrust, commodities, and securities matters. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions. Las Vegas, April 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Las Vegas, Nevada - Kung Fu Thai & Chinese Restaurant has recently introduced an exciting new dish to their menu that promises to delight those who appreciate a flavorful dining experience. Known for merging the traditional cooking styles of Thai and Chinese cuisine, the restaurant now offers a sweetened green curry with fish balls, a dish that brings together rich cultural recipes. A spokesperson from the restaurant shared their enthusiasm about this addition. They emphasized the significance of preserving cultural culinary traditions while evolving the menu based on customer tastes. The online ordering system on the restaurant's website makes it convenient for customers to explore and order this new offering, ensuring a seamless dining experience from the comfort of their home. The sweetened green curry with fish balls is crafted from spicy green curry paste, creamy coconut milk, and tender fish balls, delivering a distinct taste experience. The restaurant uses fresh, authentic ingredients that honor traditional Thai cuisine. Every component is carefully chosen to produce a dish that not only tastes great but also reflects the intricate flavors typical of Thai cooking. Las Vegas locals are encouraged to sample the new dish, widely acclaimed as the Best Green Curry Fish in Las Vegas. Many satisfied customers have noted the balanced flavors and fulfilling nature of this new menu item. The food delivery service offered by the restaurant allows locals to enjoy these flavorful creations delivered right to their doorstep, adding convenience to taste. Alan Wong of Kung Fu Thai & Chinese Restaurant stated, "We are thrilled to introduce this dish to our customers. It represents our dedication to offering high-quality, traditional Thai and Chinese dishes while exploring new flavor profiles. Our priority is to ensure that each guest experiences the authentic taste of Asia when dining with us." Kung Fu Thai & Chinese Restaurant is a popular spot for those looking for genuine Thai and Chinese food, with details about their menu and gift certificates available on their website. The restaurant continues its mission of delivering flavorful and memorable meals with this new offering. Those interested in the latest addition can find more details on their website at https://www.kungfuplaza.com/entrees/thai/sweetened-green-curry-with-fish-balls. The restaurant welcomes both returning guests and newcomers to try the newly introduced dish while exploring other menu selections. Their aim is to innovate while respecting the roots of the cuisine they serve. This commitment ensures a dining experience that stays true to the heart of Thai and Chinese food while meeting modern tastes. Kung Fu Thai & Chinese Restaurant is eager to welcome new guests to enjoy the sweetened green curry with fish balls and explore other offerings on their menu. The team takes pride in this new addition and is confident it will become a favorite among their wide range of customers. The restaurant remains a testament to its dedication to authentic and evolving Asian cuisine. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxfsRvj8Eqs For more information or to reserve a table to try this and other enticing menu items, people are encouraged to visit Kung Fu Thai Food and enjoy the variety of dishes that celebrate the vibrancy of Asian culinary traditions. ### For more information about Kung Fu Thai & Chinese Restaurant, contact the company here: Kung Fu Thai & Chinese Restaurant Alan Wong 702-247-4120 aw@kungfurestaurants.com 3505 S Valley View Blvd Las Vegas, NV 89103 Los Angeles, April 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Los Angeles, California - Advanced Networks is dedicated to reducing downtime and its associated costs with their Managed IT Services Los Angeles. As more industries rely on technology, such as media, retail, and healthcare, the impact of network failures can be serious. The company's solutions are designed to prevent these issues by strengthening infrastructure and offering effective responses. Downtime can be especially damaging in key sectors. In the media industry, unexpected network failures can halt news distribution, leading to significant drops in advertising revenue. Retail businesses might face mismanaged inventory, resulting in losses during busy shopping times. In healthcare, disruptions in IT systems can delay patient care, potentially endangering lives. To address these varied needs, Advanced Networks provides IT management solutions that are both reliable and customized to each industry. A representative Advanced Networks, says, "We understand that downtime disrupts operations and can hurt a company's reputation. Our Managed IT Services in Los Angeles are tailored to stop these problems before they start, with proactive measures and constant monitoring." Their IT Consulting Los Angeles services offer in-depth evaluations and strategic plans, helping businesses stay agile in the face of technological shifts. The consultants focus on identifying risks, planning for unexpected events, and ensuring uninterrupted IT operations. This thorough approach is executed by certified engineers committed to maintaining seamless service. As a strategic partner, Advanced Networks offers Managed IT Services Los Angeles, with round-the-clock support and quick issue resolution. Their IT Support Los Angeles boasts an impressive average response time of eight minutes, thus minimizing downtime during technical difficulties. Services cover remote and on-site support, network design and integration, and cloud services, each crafted to suit sectors that are particularly vulnerable to downtime. A strong focus on cybersecurity bolsters the company's offerings. In light of increasing threats, Advanced Networks implements robust security protocols, including multi-factor authentication and centralized patch management, to safeguard client data. Free security assessments and compliance consulting help organizations fend off breaches and avoid expensive fines. "We partner with top industry leaders to provide solutions that integrate smoothly with our clients' operations," the representative explains. "From moving to the cloud to secure communications, our aim is to protect client data and keep systems running smoothly so they can concentrate on their main business activities." Discover more about their comprehensive Cyber Security Services on their website. Each industry has its own set of challenges and Advanced Networks offers specific solutions for each. For the retail sector, their Hardware as a Service (HaaS) helps reduce costs while ensuring access to the newest and most efficient technologies. By managing this hardware, businesses can scale effectively in a high-demand market with little room for downtime. In healthcare, where patient data security is essential, Advanced Networks tailors network management to include secure remote access solutions. These enable healthcare providers to access patient information safely, thus maintaining high service standards regardless of location. The aim for reliable IT infrastructure extends across all sectors, with complete network design and integration services ensuring system harmony. With two decades of experience in managed IT services, Advanced Networks supports businesses in Los Angeles by keeping them efficient and operational. Their reputation for excellence is further underscored by a number five ranking in California by Channel Futures MSP 501, showcasing their commitment to quality service. Advanced Networks is focused on eliminating costly downtime in Los Angeles. Their services combine experience, strategic planning, and quick responses, ensuring clients continue their operations smoothly. Companies in media, retail, healthcare, and more can rely on Advanced Networks for proactive IT management, securing a sustainable future in a growing digital landscape. https://vimeo.com/166894275 For a deeper look into what Advanced Networks can offer, visit their services pages on Managed IT Services Los Angeles, IT Support Los Angeles, and IT Consulting Los Angeles. ### For more information about Advanced Networks, contact the company here: Advanced Networks Advanced Networks (213) 873-7620 contact@adv-networks.com L.A. Office 10960 Wilshire Blvd. #1415 Los Angeles, CA 90024 O.C. Office 1340 Reynolds Ave. #116 Irvine, CA 92614 Longtime advocate for religious minorities lauds Trump family's leadership during private meeting at Mar-a-Lago, citing urgent need for global action in Bangladesh. Photo: Bangladeshi activist Zahid F Sarder Saddi meets with Donald Trump Jr. at Mar-a-Lago during a recent visit. WASHINGTON, April 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zahid F Sarder Saddi, a longtime advocate for human rights and religious freedom, recently met with Donald Trump Jr. at President Donald Trumps private residence at Mar-a-Lago, where he expressed gratitude to the Trump family for their enduring support of religious minorities in Bangladesh. Saddi, who has maintained ties with the Trump family for decades, described the meeting as deeply personal and meaningful. During a private luncheon, Zahid F Sarder Saddi thanked Donald Trump Jr. for the Presidents outspoken condemnation of religious persecution in Bangladesh and asked him to convey his appreciation directly to President Trump. President Trump stood tall when many remained silent, Saddi said. The religious minority communities of Bangladesh will never forget his leadership. We are grateful to have him as President of the United States. The meeting comes as Saddi continues to raise alarms over what he describes as a deepening crisis of religious persecution in Bangladesh. In recent remarks, Zahid F Sarder Saddi praised President Trump for his strong denunciation of what he called barbaric violence against Christians, Hindus, Buddhists and other religious minorities in Bangladesh. Trump had publicly condemned the attacks, warning that mobs in Bangladesh have looted and targeted minority communities and declared the country in a state of chaos. Photo: A recent X post highlights President Donald Trumps condemnation of violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh. Zahid F Sarder Saddi echoed that sentiment, pointing to a long-standing pattern of religious violence and displacement that dates back to Bangladeshs independence in 1971. He said that millions have been forced from their homes over the decades and that despite claims of democratic reform, the situation for religious minorities remains dire. The persecution of Christians, Hindus, Buddhists and others is not new, Saddi said. It has continued unchecked, and often with little accountability from those in power. The exiled Bangladeshi political figure has been outspoken in his criticism of the previous government led by Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League, accusing them of either enabling or ignoring the violence. Zahid F Sarder Saddi said that fringe extremist groups and well-established Islamist parties are increasingly aligned in their efforts to reshape Bangladesh into a more conservative and intolerant society. This is part of a calculated dismantling of the countrys secular foundation, he said. Photo: United States President Donald J. Trump. Zahid F Sarder Saddi also raised concerns about the role of election-related violence in exacerbating the crisis. He pointed to patterns of political intimidation, mob attacks and targeted killings that frequently occur around election cycles, expressing doubt that the current interim government is prepared to curb extremism or promote religious inclusivity. If history is any indication, these cycles of violence will only intensify without serious intervention, he said. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, continuing the Trump administrations policy direction, has reaffirmed the American governments commitment to advocating for religious minority rights in Bangladesh. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce recently stated that Rubio remains aligned with President Trumps vision and that human rights remain a priority in diplomatic engagements with Dhaka. Zahid F Sarder Saddi praised Rubios position and called for sustained pressure from the international community. U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has also addressed the issue, warning of a resurgence of radical ideologies in Bangladesh. In a recent statement, Gabbard condemned the persecution of minorities and the spread of Caliphate-inspired extremism, a message Saddi said resonates deeply in the context of Bangladeshs increasingly fragile democratic landscape. These are not isolated incidents, Saddi said. This is a systematic erosion of pluralism, and its placing entire communities at risk. As Bangladesh approaches its next general election, Zahid F Sarder Saddi urged the international community to act. He called on human rights organizations and democratic governments to impose diplomatic and economic consequences for continued abuses. This is not just about one countryits about the future of democracy and religious freedom in the region, he said. If the world fails to act now, millions will remain vulnerable to violence, and the consequences will extend far beyond Bangladeshs borders. Photo: Bangladeshi activist Zahid F Sarder Saddi at Mar-a-Lago during a recent visit. About Zahid F Sarder Saddi Zahid F Sarder Saddi is a prominent Bangladeshi politician, humanitarian, and advocate for Bangladesh and its people. He served as a Foreign Advisor to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, the Hon Begum Khaleda Zia. He was also appointed as a Special Envoy to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP. Zahid F Sarder Saddi works with several organizations and holds a special passion for helping the Bangladeshi community in the United States and around the world. He has been involved in the Bangladeshi American Society for over 25 years and works to carry the voice of Bangladeshi Americans to lawmakers. Zahid F Sarder Saddi has received numerous accolades, including a humanitarian award for his impactful work. Photos accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4a61cfbf-fef1-4ead-b464-49a82884fa2b https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/402ef762-91e5-4d8e-8c5f-7754641abc90 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fa5c9384-5876-4153-be0f-0b6e4c0f5e02 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ddfdbdff-6445-4fac-86af-81f44fa27bd1 Investors can contact the law firm at no cost to learn more about recovering their losses LOS ANGELES, April 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Portnoy Law Firm advises Constellation Brands, Inc. ("Constellation Brands" or the "Company") (NYSE:STZ) investors of a class action representing investors that bought securities between April 11, 2024 and January 8, 2025, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Constellation Brands investors have until April 21, 2025 to file a lead plaintiff motion. Investors are encouraged to contact attorney Lesley F. Portnoy, by phone 310-692-8883 or email: lesley@portnoylaw.com, to discuss their legal rights, or click here to join the case. The Portnoy Law Firm can provide a complimentary case evaluation and discuss investors options for pursuing claims to recover their losses. The Constellation Brands class action lawsuit claims that during the Class Period, the defendants: (i) gave the misleading impression that they had reliable insight into the performance of Constellation Brands Wine and Spirits division; (ii) failed to improve product mix, inventory management, and sales execution; and (iii) did not disclose that their investments in media, promotional pricing, and sales support for distributor partners were less effective than represented. The lawsuit also claims that on January 10, 2025, Constellation Brands reported its financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2025, disclosing a major sales shortfall in the Beer segment and an even larger shortfall in the Wine and Spirits segment. Following this news, Constellation Brands stock price declined. Please visit our website to review more information and submit your transaction information. The Portnoy Law Firm represents investors in pursuing claims against caused by corporate wrongdoing. The Firms founding partner has recovered over $5.5 billion for aggrieved investors. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Lesley F. Portnoy, Esq. Admitted CA and NY Bar lesley@portnoylaw.com 310-692-8883 www.portnoylaw.com Attorney Advertising LOS ANGELES, April 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Portnoy Law Firm advises Edison International ("Edison" or the "Company") (NYSE: EIX) investors of a class action representing investors that bought securities between February 25, 2021 and February 6, 2025, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Edison investors have until April 21, 2025 to file a lead plaintiff motion. Investors are encouraged to contact attorney Lesley F. Portnoy, by phone 310-692-8883 or email: lesley@portnoylaw.com, to discuss their legal rights, or click here to join the case. The Portnoy Law Firm can provide a complimentary case evaluation and discuss investors options for pursuing claims to recover their losses. According to the lawsuit, defendants made false or misleading statements and failed to disclose critical facts throughout the Class Period. Edison falsely claimed that Southern California Edison Company (SCE) used its Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) program to proactively de-energize power lines to mitigate wildfire risks during extreme weather. In reality, this approach heightened fire risks in California and increased the companys legal exposure. As a result, statements about Edisons business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details emerged, investors suffered damages. Please visit our website to review more information and submit your transaction information. The Portnoy Law Firm represents investors in pursuing claims against caused by corporate wrongdoing. The Firms founding partner has recovered over $5.5 billion for aggrieved investors. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Lesley F. Portnoy, Esq. Admitted CA and NY Bar lesley@portnoylaw.com 310-692-8883 www.portnoylaw.com Attorney Advertising VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hapbee Technologies, Inc. (TSXV: HAPB) (OTCQB: HAPBF) (FSE: HA1) (Hapbee or the Company), the digital wellness technology company, announces that it anticipates a delay in the filing of the financial statements required pursuant to Parts 4 and 5 of National Instrument 51-102 Continuous Disclosure Obligations (the Instrument). The delay stems from the replacement of the Companys last auditor, Olayinka Oyebola & Co., Chartered Accountants (the Former Auditor) in September of 2024. Shortly after the Companys current auditor, Morton Garellek, Chartered Professional Accountant (the Auditor) was appointed, the Former Auditor was charged with aiding and abetting securities fraud by the Securities & Exchange Commission in the United States. Since that time, the Auditor has been unable to obtain files and documentation relating to the Company from the Former Auditor, which now require the Auditor to perform additional audit procedures in order to complete the Issuers audited consolidated financial statements. Both the Company and the Auditor continue to work diligently towards the completion and filing of the Companys financial statements and MD&A. The Instrument requires that the Companys audited consolidated financial statements, MD&A, and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) certifications (collectively, the Required Filings) relating to the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024, be filed by April 30, 2025. The Company expects that the Required Filings will be completed and filed on or before June 30, 2025. In connection with the anticipated delays in making the Required Filings within the time periods mandated by the Instrument, the Company has made an application under National Policy 12-203 Management Cease Trade Orders (NP 12-203) to the British Columbia Securities Commission, as principal regulator for the Company, requesting that a management cease trade order (MCTO) be issued. If granted, the MCTO will restrict all trading by the Companys CEO and CFO in securities of the Company, whether direct or indirect. The issuance of the MCTO will not affect the ability of persons who are not directors, officers or insiders of the Company to trade their securities. The MCTO will remain in effect until two business days after the Required Filings are filed or until it is revoked or varied. The Company confirms that it intends to satisfy the provisions of the alternative information guidelines described in NP 12-203 by issuing bi-weekly default status reports in the form of a news release for so long as it remains in default of the requirement to make the Required Filings. The Company has not taken any steps towards any insolvency proceeding, and the Company has no material information relating to its affairs that has not been generally disclosed. About Hapbee Hapbee is a digital wellness technology company that aims to help people take control of how they sleep, perform, and feel. Hapbees digital wellness library of Blends and Routines utilizes patented ultra-low radio frequency energy (ulRFE), designed to help optimize users' sleep, productivity, recovery, and downtime. Hapbee devices and subscriptions are available for purchase at Hapbee.com and through a growing network of select distributors. You can learn more about how Hapbee works at www.hapbee.com/science. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements included in this news release constitute forward-looking information or statements (collectively, "forward-looking statements"), including those identified by the expressions "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "should" and similar expressions to the extent they relate to the Company or its management. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect current expectations regarding future results or events. This news release contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and various estimates, factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are difficult to predict. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding the Companys ability to meet its planned product marketing and development initiatives and the Companys ability to achieve its e-commerce rollout and full-scale commercial launch as anticipated. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, delays in design, production, manufacturing, development or releases of signal blends, collection of data from customer use, or the Company may not be able to achieve its targets as anticipated or at all; changes in legislation and regulations; increase in operating costs; equipment failures; failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations; litigation; the loss of key directors, employees, advisors or consultants and fees charged by service providers. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. The Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances unless required by law. Readers should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. Neither TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Chillicothe, OH, April 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pixelle Specialty Solutions LLC (Pixelle or the Company) is pleased to announce that, based on a framework agreed upon today among the Company, H.I.G. Capital, and government officials, Pixelle will delay the closure of the Chillicothe, Ohio, paper mill until the end of the year. This decision follows productive discussions with leaders at the federal, state, and local levels and reflects a shared commitment to exploring sustainable, long-term solutions for the facility and its workforce. Pausing the closure provides us additional time to evaluate whats possible, said Ross Bushnell, President and CEO of Pixelle Specialty Solutions. This decision reflects a public-private partnership rooted in our shared belief that this facility, and the people who power it, deserve every opportunity to be part of something sustainable and strong moving forward. Among the key leaders engaged in this process is Senator Bernie Moreno, who today announced plans to establish a permanent Senate office in Chillicothe to support the mills future and monitor progress. This is a moment of optimism, Bushnell said. We are grateful to leaders at the city, county, state, and federal levels who came together to help us explore sustainable options for our team, this facility, and the Chillicothe community. Our commitment now is to our employees, our customers, and to doing the hard work that comes with turning this opportunity into a positive outcome. Pixelle will continue coordinating with its ownership group, government partners, and community leadership to define next steps and work towards a mutually agreeable solution. The Company will provide regular updates to employees, customers, and partners throughout this process. About Pixelle Specialty Solutions Headquartered in Spring Grove, Pennsylvania, Pixelle Specialty Solutions LLC is a leading manufacturer of specialty papers, with operations in North America. Through innovation, quality, collaboration, and research and development, Pixelle a proud American company delivers high-performance solutions with one of the most comprehensive portfolios in the industry. For more information, please contact Pixelle at 717-225-4711 or email us at info@pixelle.com. TALLINN, Estonia, April 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- $SRC Ecosystem , a product of LGR Global and a pioneering AI and blockchain-powered trade finance solution, is thrilled to announce its membership in the Trade Finance Distribution Initiative (TFDi) as a non-bank originator. TFDi, a global consortium of leading banks, non-bank financial institutions, and technology providers, is dedicated to transforming trade finance into a liquid, investable asset class through standardized, technology-driven practices. By joining TFDi, $SRC strengthens its mission to unlock liquidity for SMEs, representing 90% of global businesses, by leveraging its innovative technology to address inefficiencies, liquidity inaccessibility, credit barriers, and geographic limitations in traditional trade finance. Joining TFDi is a landmark achievement for $SRC Ecosystem, said H.H. Ali Amirliravi, Founder and CEO of $SRC. Our AI-driven onboarding, blockchain-based real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, and smart contract solutions align perfectly with TFDis vision of a transparent, scalable trade finance ecosystem. Together, we can bridge the $2.5 trillion gap and empower SMEs to thrive in global markets. $SRCs platform revolutionizes trade finance by converting trade assets into liquid, tradable tokens, automating credit scoring and risk assessment with AI, and enabling seamless cross-border settlements. Its digital twin technology provides real-time supply chain monitoring, enhancing transparency and trust. As a TFDi member, $SRC will collaborate with industry leaders to develop standardized practices, connect with institutional investors, and drive innovation in trade asset distribution. $SRC Ecosystem brings cutting-edge technology and a bold vision to TFDi, With $SRCs focus on SME financing through AI and blockchain complements TFDis mission to close the trade finance gap and create new opportunities for originators and investors alike. With SMEs accounting for 70% of the global workforce yet struggling to access capital, $SRCs membership in TFDi amplifies its ability to deliver scalable, technology-driven solutions. This partnership positions $SRC at the forefront of the trade finance revolution, fostering collaboration with global stakeholders to make trade finance more accessible and efficient. For more information about $SRC Ecosystem and its mission, visit https://linktr.ee/SRCEcosystem . To learn about TFDi, visit www.tradefinancedistribution.com . Contact: Vancouver - Lake Winn Resources Corp. (TSXV: LWR, FSE: EE1A) (the "Company") announces that Binny Jassal has resigned as the Company's Chief Financial Officer ("CFO") and as a director of the Company. Following Mr. Jassal's resignation, James Ferreira has agreed to resume the role of interim CFO while the Company searches for a suitable replacement. The Company wishes to thank Mr. Jassal for his services and wishes him the best on his future endeavors. About Lake Winn Lake Winn Resources Corp. is a mineral exploration company focused on advancing the 100% owned Little Nahanni Pegmatite project located in the Northwest Territories near the Yukon Border. The project covers 9682.5 hectares that includes a major portion of a 13 km-long, and up to 500 m wide, lithium, cesium, and tantalum pegmatite dyke swarm. The project has had historic drilling and channel sampling that confirm significant lithium, tantalum, cesium, and tin. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF LAKE WINN RESOURCES CORP. Patrick Power President, CEO & Director Lake Winn Resources Corp. Telephone: (604) 218-8772 info@lakewinn.ca www.lakewinn.ca Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Copyright (c) 2025 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. Trump administration looking at closing nearly 30 overseas embassies cnn.com International News Apr - 18 - 2025 , 12:34 3 minutes read The Trump administration is looking at closing nearly 30 overseas embassies and consulates as it eyes significant changes to its diplomatic presence abroad, according to an internal State Department document obtained by CNN. The document also recommends reducing the footprint at the US diplomatic missions in Somalia and Iraq two countries that have been key to US counterterrorism efforts and resizing other diplomatic outposts. The proposed changes come amid a broader expected overhaul of the US diplomatic agency as the Trump administration, spurred by the Elon Musk-backed Department of Government Efficiency makes dramatic efforts to shrink the federal government. It is unclear whether Secretary of State Marco Rubio has signed off on the proposed closures. The document recommends closing 10 embassies and 17 consulates. Many of the posts are in Europe and Africa, though they also include ones in Asia and the Caribbean. They include embassies in Malta, Luxembourg, Lesotho, the Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic and South Sudan. The list also includes five consulates in France, two in Germany, two in Bosnia and Herzegovina, one in the United Kingdom, one in South Africa and one in South Korea. The document proposes that the closed embassies duties be covered by outposts in neighboring countries. State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce would not comment on the internal document or plans to drastically cut the State Department. I would suggest that you check with the White House and the President of the US as they continue to work on their budget plan and what they submit to congress, Bruce said. The kinds of numbers and what we tend to see is reporting that is early or wrong, based on leaked documents from somewhere unknown. The administration has announced ambassadorial nominees for only two of the embassies recommended for closure Malta and Luxembourg. CNN reported in March that the State Department was moving to close some of the consulates listed on the internal document. Embassies and consulates serve as important outposts for the State Department. They provide services like visa processing and assistance for American citizens in need. The posts also collect information to send back to Washington, DC, and officials say they are an important diplomatic tool as the US looks to counter nations like China. Most consulates do not have a large workforce. The document, which says it is the State Departments undersecretary for managements recommendations for closure, notes that posts were evaluated based on feedback from regional bureaus and the interagency, consular workload, cost per USDH (US direct hire) billet, condition of facilities, and security ratings. For the recommended resizing, the document notes that the US missions in Japan and Canada could serve as a model large mission by consolidating consulate support into a specialized unit in larger posts. It proposes FLEX-style light footprint posts with limited focus and staffing in a number of countries, as well as dual-hatted leadership in multi-mission posts, such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and UNESCO in Paris. Next article: CPJ calls on President Mahama to end impunity and strengthen press freedom in Ghana ACEP urges government to halt Damang Mine takeover Jemima Okang Addae Apr - 18 - 2025 , 09:28 2 minutes read The Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP) has called on the government to suspend plans to take over operations at the Damang gold mine, advocating instead for a transparent and legally guided resolution to the ongoing dispute with Abosso Goldfields Limited (AGL). In a statement issued on Thursday, April 17, ACEPs Executive Director, Benjamin Boakye, urged the government to exercise restraint, renew dialogue, and pursue a legally guided resolution that protects the interests of both the state and investors. The call comes ahead of a planned government takeover of the mine on Friday, 18 April, following its decision not to renew AGLs mining lease, which is due to expire on 18 April 2025. The decision has sparked concerns about potential disruptions and its broader implications for investor confidence in Ghanas mining sector. Boakye warned that abrupt actions without due legal process could result in international litigation, damage Ghanas reputation, and undermine the rule of law. He added that a rushed and disputed decision not only risks international litigation and reputational damage, but also undermines investor confidence and the rule of law. The Minerals Commission has accused AGL of failing to comply with procedural requirements, specifically by bypassing the Commission and directly engaging the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources over the lease renewal. Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Isaac Tandoh, described this as a breach of protocol. ACEP, however, cautioned against framing the situation as a move towards nationalisation. The statement noted that suggestions from public officials and implications in the Ministers own remarks have raised such suspicions, further fuelling investor anxiety. The governments approach to this matter should reflect diligence, legal compliance, and a genuine commitment to Ghanas long-term mineral wealth, ACEP stated. The policy think tank is now calling for a reconsideration of the governments position to avoid potential long-term consequences for the countrys mining industry and international investment prospects. Read the full statement below Annual walk marks Ghana's full membership into La Francophonie GraphicOnline Apr - 18 - 2025 , 09:41 4 minutes read Ghana joined 92 member countries worldwide in celebrating the annual Francophonie Walk in Accra, highlighting the nation's commitment to cultural diversity and the promotion of the French language. The event which came off on Saturday, April 12, 2025, was to raise awareness on Ghanas full membership into the Organisation International de la Francophonie. Also known as the International Organisation of La Francophonie or simply La Francophonie, the organisation seeks to promote the French language and political, educational, economic and cultural cooperation among member countries. The walk which commenced at Kwame Nkrumah Circle, proceeded through Ako-Adjei Interchange and Ridge Roundabout, and concluded at the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) Head Office. The Policy Coordinator for La Francophonie at the Presidency, Francis Afelete said the new membership sets to offer opportunities in education, tourism, economy, trade, and sustainable development. The country has 20 projects aligned with government goals, emphasizing the importance of French language proficiency. Ghana is strategically positioned in West Africa, surrounded by French-speaking countries, and is encouraged to adopt its own dialect of French, he said. He further stated that the conversation highlights the need for a cultural shift in language learning, advocating for immersion and practical use over formal instruction. He highlighted the importance of embracing French language education for Ghanaians, highlighting its strategic value both in global diplomacy and regional integration with the French-speaking nations that border Ghana. Ghana is already having an enviable position within the West African, by being surrounded by these Francophone countries so naturally we should be speaking the language. We have to break the stereotypes about the language. We can develop our own way of speaking the French language which would make it easier for us just as the other English languages, he said The National Correspondent for Francophonie at the Ministry of Education, Tchitchi Kando-Ayiga on his part addressed participants, emphasising the significance of the French language in Ghana's socio-economic development. He noted that Ghana's full membership in the OIF since 2024 has opened avenues for showcasing the country's democratic values and governance on an international platform. "We are redefining the French language in Ghana, making it more accessible and practical for all," Mr. Kando-Ayiga stated. He highlighted the importance of French in various sectors, including tourism, business, and diplomacy, and underscored the need for Ghanaians to embrace the language as a tool for national development. These assertions were re-echoed by Mr. Alain Gbeasor, Team Lead for La Francophonie Secretariat at the Presidency. The Francophonie Walk is part of a series of events organized to celebrate the French language and cultural diversity. Participants from various Francophone countries, diplomatic missions, and local institutions took part in the walk, symbolizing unity and shared cultural heritage. About La Francophonie The Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) was officially established on 20 March 1970, inspired by a vision of solidarity and cooperation among French-speaking countries. Its founding fathersLeopold Sedar Senghor of Senegal, Habib Bourguiba of Tunisia, Hamani Diori of Niger, and the late King Father Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodialaid the groundwork for an international organization committed to uniting nations through the French language and shared values. Headquartered in Paris, the OIF today brings together 93 Member States and Governments, including 56 full members, 5 associate members, and 32 observers. La Francophonie represents a global community of over 321 million French speakers across five continents who share this common language as a unifying bond. The Charter of La Francophonie establishes the institution's framework, with the Summit of La Francophonie serving as its highest authority and the Secretary Generalcurrently Louise Mushikiwaboas its cornerstone. The OIF implements multilateral cooperation projects in partnership with the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie and four operational agencies: the Association of Francophone Universities, TV5MONDE, the International Association of Francophone Mayors, and Senghor University in Alexandria. The Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) offers significant funding opportunities to support projects in education, culture, governance, economic development, and environmental sustainability. These funding programs target governments, civil society organizations, educational institutions, businesses, and individuals involved in Francophone initiatives. CPJ calls on President Mahama to end impunity and strengthen press freedom in Ghana Kweku Zurek Apr - 18 - 2025 , 09:08 3 minutes read On the occasion of President John Dramani Mahama's 100th day in office on April 17, 2025, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) urged him to take decisive action to protect journalists, end impunity for attacks on the press, and reform laws that criminalise journalism. In a letter dated April 17, 2025, CPJ urged the President to lead efforts in delivering justice for the 2019 murder of investigative journalist Ahmed Hussein-Suale Divela and to confront what the organisation described as a broader pattern of impunity that has seen dozens of journalists suffer abuse over the years without consequence. We urge your government to conduct swift and conclusive investigations into cases of attacks against the press, to reform laws that criminalise journalism, and to ensure journalists devices are not seized or searched in connection with their work, the letter stated. The global press freedom watchdog noted that since the killing of Hussein-Suale, no one has been held accountable in his case. CPJ added that over the four years following his death, it found a broad pattern of impunity in the cases of at least 30 Ghanaian journalists and media workers who faced abuses in connection with their work, and emphasised that such attacks have continued, including during this first period of your tenure. CPJ further highlighted its long-standing concerns over laws that restrict journalistic work in Ghana, particularly Section 208 of the Criminal Offences Act and Section 76 of the Electronic Communications Act. These laws criminalise the publication of false news and carry prison terms of up to three and five years, respectively. Ghanas laws have been used to criminalise the press, the letter said, calling on President Mahama to heed local press freedom advocates who have issued repeated calls for legal reform. In addition to legal restrictions, CPJ raised alarm over the threat posed by surveillance and digital intrusion. It referenced the acquisition by Ghanaian security forces of digital investigations tools designed to access and extract information from phones and computers, as well as authorities repeated seizing of journalists devices. The organisation warned that such practices present privacy concerns for journalists themselves, as well as the risk of revealing and endangering journalists sources. The CPJ's Africa Regional Director, Angela Quintal, who signed the letter, urged President Mahama to prioritise immediate reforms. We call on your administration to prioritise urgent steps to improve the press freedom environment in Ghana by ensuring accountability for attacks on the press, reforming laws used to criminalise reporting, and protecting journalists privacy, she wrote. The CPJ also expressed its willingness to assist the Mahama administration in advancing the rights of journalists, stating that it stands prepared to provide assistance or further information that can advance the rights of journalists to work freely and safely. Ghana to host Extraordinary ECOWAS Council of Ministers Meeting as part of 50th anniversary launch Beatrice Laryea Apr - 18 - 2025 , 13:27 2 minutes read Ghana will host an Extraordinary Meeting of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Council of Ministers on April 2223 in Accra, marking the official launch of the Communitys 50th Anniversary celebrations. More than a ceremonial occasion, the launch presents a strategic moment to reflect on ECOWAS' achievements over the past five decades and chart a path forward. The meeting, bringing together Foreign Affairs and Finance Ministers from all member states, will focus on the recent withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Nigercollectively known as the Alliance of Sahelian Statesfrom ECOWAS. The Ministers will prepare a comprehensive report for review by the Authority of Heads of State. The event will follow the formal launch of the ECOWAS@50 celebrations on Tuesday, April 22, at the Accra International Conference Centre. At a press briefing on Thursday, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa shared updates on preparations. He revealed that both the anniversary theme and official logo will be unveiled during the launch. Related Article: Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger invited to ECOWAS 50th anniversary launch in Accra President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria, Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State, is expected to attend alongside all other ECOWAS heads of state. Representatives from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have also been invited. It is a great source of national pride that Ghana was chosen to host this historic event, said Mr. Ablakwa. This honour is a fitting tribute to Ghanas legacy as a cradle of Pan-Africanism and a leader in regional integration. Established on May 28, 1975, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) aims to promote regional integration through policy harmonization, resource pooling, and collective efforts to address the regions challenges. PHOTOS: EOCO arrests 219 foreign nationals in major cybercrime and human trafficking bust GraphicOnline Apr - 18 - 2025 , 20:25 2 minutes read The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), in collaboration with National Security, the Ghana Police Services Criminal Investigations Department (CID), and the Ghana Armed Forces, has arrested 219 foreign nationals in a major operation targeting cybercrime and human trafficking networks in Accra. Dubbed Operation Rescue Shield, the swoop was carried out at an estate in Oyarifa, in the Ga East Municipality of the Greater Accra Region. The operation follows the EOCO/NCA UK Reporting Fraud Campaign launched on March 5, 2025, and marks a significant step in Ghanas efforts to clamp down on transnational organised crime. Most of the suspects are young Nigerian males who were reportedly lured into Ghana with false promises of lucrative job opportunities, only to be coerced into illegal cyber activities upon arrival. Unfortunately, since there are no lucrative jobs existing, they took them hostages and confined them at Oyarifa and were forced to go into cybercrime and cybercrime-related activities, said Acting Executive Director of EOCO, Abdulai Bashiru Dapilah, during a press briefing last Thursday. He confirmed that 11 of the individuals rescued during the raid were minors, and screening at EOCOs offices revealed that 35 of the suspects were directly involved in trafficking the victims. Items retrieved from the site included laptops, personal belongings, and foodstuff, believed to have been used to support the illegal operations. Mr Dapilah described the development as a major breakthrough in the fight against human trafficking. The Nigerian High Commission has since visited EOCOs premises and engaged with both the victims and suspects. According to Mr Dapilah, Screening is ongoing and by tomorrow we should be able to complete the screening and be possible to link and make arrangements to send the victims back to their home countries. He added that EOCO, in conjunction with the CID, is pursuing leads uncovered during the operation and plans to intensify coordinated efforts to dismantle similar trafficking syndicates operating across the region. This latest bust underscores growing concerns over the rise in organised human trafficking networks operating under the guise of job recruitment, often preying on vulnerable youth across West Africa. Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious recruitment schemes, especially those targeting unemployed youth with promises of overseas or high-paying local jobs. See the photos below; Next article: Searching for mobile phone signal How Sanguli residents struggle with poor network Previous article: CPJ calls on President Mahama to end impunity and strengthen press freedom in Ghana Police roll out nationwide security measures for a peaceful Easter Jemima Okang Addae Apr - 18 - 2025 , 08:56 1 minute read The Ghana Police Service has implemented nationwide security measures to ensure a safe and peaceful Easter celebration in 2025. A statement issued by the Director of Public Affairs, Assistant Commissioner of Police Grace Ansah-Akrofi, said officers have been deployed on roads and within communities across all regions to provide security for Easter-related activities. The statement indicated that special arrangements have also been made in the Kwahu area to cover the Paragliding Festival and other scheduled events. The Police, therefore, urged the public to be security conscious, remain vigilant, and report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station. Read statement below Next article: Ghana to host Extraordinary ECOWAS Council of Ministers Meeting as part of 50th anniversary launch Drought-relief items stolen from Techiman Agric warehouse GNA Apr - 18 - 2025 , 13:44 1 minute read A warehouse belonging to the Techiman Metropolitan Department of Agriculture has reportedly been broken into, with thieves allegedly making away with a large quantity of drought-relief supplies meant for farmers. According to officials, the stolen items include approximately 98,603 2.5kg bags of rice, 4,447 5kg bags of MP4 fertilizer, and 3,150 5kg bags of Urea fertilizer. The theft is believed to have occurred about a week after the December 7, 2025 elections. The Stock Officer at the Department, Madam Grace Obeng Amenya revealed in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the items had arrived a week before the elections and were earmarked for distribution to farmers affected by drought in the region. We were preparing to distribute the items when we received a call just before the elections that unknown individuals had broken into the warehouse and stolen them, Madam Amenya stated. She further explained that the perpetrators broke the original padlocks securing the facility and replaced them with new ones, presumably to cover up the crime. The matter has since been reported to the police. A regional investigative team was later deployed to inspect the warehouse. Upon forcing entry, it was confirmed that the supplies were indeed missing. Mr. Stephen Aidoo, the Techiman Metropolitan Director of Agriculture, also confirmed the incident and told the GNA that investigations are ongoing. However, no arrests have been made so far. Local legislators discuss hot button issues in recap panel After a contentious year in the Wyoming Legislature, representatives from Sweetwater County continued some of the session's main debates back at home. Sweetwater County's legislators participated in a Legislative Recap Panel hosted by the Rock Springs Chamber of Commerce at Young at Heart Community Center last Thursday night. Legislators Laura Taliaferro Pearson, Bob Davis, Marlene Brady, John Kolb, Darin McCann, Scott Heiner, Cody Wylie, Stacy Jones and J.T. Larson all took part in the panel, where several of the hot button topics from the legislative session were discussed in more detail. One of the main topics addressed and argued in both the session and the panel was the question of property taxes, particularly following the 25% cut to property taxes that the legislature passed. When asked if they reached out to local elected officials about the effects property tax cuts could have, some said they did, while some emphasized conversations they had with their constituents. Rep. Marlene Brady noted that she did have a conversation with County Assessor Dave Divis and heard his opinion that tax cuts could be detrimental, but she added that she went door to door to talk to people and heard from many that said they supported a 50% cut. Brady also reiterated her belief that the tax cuts will have a minimal impact on local communities. Senator John Kolb, on the other hand, said he spoke to multiple local elected officials and that when he went door to door he only heard from two people who said they wanted lower taxes. When asked how much people would save from the property tax cuts, Brady said she will be saving over $1,000, while Rep. Cody Wylie said most people will save a few hundred dollars. Asked to compare this to the services that will be lost, Sen. Kolb noted that special districts will be hurt the most, while Rep. Wylie pointed out that "hardship counties" in Wyoming will be especially impacted as well. Sen. Laura Taliaferro Pearson argued that there was help for the special districts and hardship counties included in the supplemental budget, but it didn't pass. She expressed her frustration over feeling like several legislators didn't have a say in the budget being killed. When asked if she made a motion to call the budget back to the floor, Pearson admitted that she didn't as she is new to the legislature and doesn't "know the ins and outs of how to do those things," but she expressed her anger over it. Senator Stacey Jones argued that she believes the Senate was "responsible and conservative" for not passing the supplemental budget as it "kept getting fatter" with other issues. As for the impact to local services due to property tax cuts, Rep. Brady said she believes there should be no services lost. She stressed that local governments should look for the areas where they are wasteful and where they can find savings. "I think overall if they can show 100% efficiency I'll change my attitude toward property taxes," Brady said. Rep. Darrin McCann also shared his belief that everyone will have to tighten their belts, saying he wasn't there to cut anything, but that "we can do better managing our money." He later said that he sees no reason why Wyoming can't have zero property taxes, like Alaska. During the panel, McCann was directly confronted by Cathy Garrison, a constituent who has lived in Sweetwater County since 1980. She said McCann stood on her porch and told her there will be no loss to services, but now she's heard about 17 agencies losing funding, so she asked how he will make those agencies whole. "I respectfully disagree with you," McCann answered. "I don't think it will be as big a detriment as it's been made out to be. I really believe that. We're going to find out." "I think we're kidding ourselves if we think we can take that cut and not lose anything," Senator Stacey Jones said of the property tax cut. When asked if Wyoming will be able to successfully avoid implementing a state income tax to make up lost revenues, all the legislators shared their opposition to an income tax, with Rep. Wylie describing it as the "ultimate last resort." Overall, Rep. Wylie compared the property tax discussions to the film "Groundhog Day" and said that the legislative session sometimes felt like being stuck in a time loop. He explained that multiple amendments kept changing the bill and the effect of property taxes, and in the end he supported the 25% cut because of his desire to avoid moving back to a 50% cut. Overall, however, he said he believed the changes to property taxes were a "soapbox issue" that didn't bring true reform and may have come from a desire to "play politics" rather than truly help people. Other issues coming out of the legislative session were discussed at the panel as well. One attendee asked the legislators why time was spent on the "What is a Woman" bill rather than other more pressing issues. Sen. Pearson answered that the focus of the bill was to create clear definitions in statute, since there are over 200 statutes in Wyoming law that reference male and female. She pointed to the recent court case in Wyoming regarding a transgender individual in a female sorority, where she said judges didn't have clear definitions to work with. Barbara Smith questioned the legislators on the passage of a bill requiring transvaginal ultrasounds before the procurement of chemical abortions. Rep. Brady and Sen. Pearson argued that the requirement helps protect women who could be at risk of serious harm or death from chemical abortion pills if they are taken at the wrong stage of the pregnancy, explaining that a transvaginal ultrasound is required to determine how far along the woman is. Several legislators also explained that they voted for the bill because they are pro-life, with exceptions, but many of them said it was a difficult bill. When Sen. Kolb said he found research saying that transvaginal ultrasounds are not painful or invasive, Sen. Jones disagreed by saying that anything that has to be done transvaginally is invasive. She explained that she struggled with that element of the bill, but ultimately voted for it to protect the health of the mother. Rep. Wylie was the only legislator who shared that he voted against the bill, saying the requirement also applies to mothers receiving treatment for a miscarriage, and that the bill wasn't ready in the format it was presented in. Looking to the future, the legislators noted that the next session will be a budget session, so that is where much of the focus will go. Rep. J.T. Larson said he wants to focus on supporting agencies that support our industries. Sen. Jones said she wants a responsible and conservative budget, but noted that some things just need money spent on them-a fact that she said "lots of new legislators have lost sight of." Rep. Wylie stressed the need for educated decisions and expanding economic diversity. Rep. McCann said the state wastes a lot of money and needs to tighten things up. Sen. Kolb emphasized long-term planning and investing in the future. Rep. Brady said her goal is to not expand government. Rep. Bob Davis said he hopes the legislature can collaborate to be fiscally responsible. Sen. Pearson said she wants to know "where the money's going" and what it's spent on, "not all these hidden coffee cans that no one even knows where it's going," in order to "make things more transparent." Davis responded that all that information is available through the audit process and in the budget. Larson added that there's a website from the state auditor where you can look up every single check and expenditure that the state makes, which he believes is "about as transparent as you can get." Overall throughout the panel, many legislators stressed their desire to hear from and represent the people of Sweetwater County. "Our job is not an easy job," Sen. Stacey Jones admitted, but she added, "It's one of the greatest honors of my life to represent Sweetwater County." All the legislators agreed that "communicating with constituents is a top priority," as Rep. Larson put it. Several of the legislators noted that they are often inundated with emails, especially during the session, and noted that phone calls, texts and messages are a better way of getting in touch with them. Several also said they try to prioritize those who are from Sweetwater County and that they prefer personal messages to form letters. "We need to hear from you on issues that you have so we can then reflect those positions," Sen. Kolb said. Sweetwater County Sheriff John Grossnickle recently signed a new memorandum of understanding with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, expanding the Sheriff's Office's participation in ICE's 287(g) program under the Task Force Model. The agreement is currently pending final approval by federal authorities. With the agreement, the Sweetwater County Sheriff's Office becomes the first local law enforcement agency in Wyoming to join the 287(g) Task Force Model-an enhanced partnership that authorizes up to five sworn deputies to perform limited federal immigration enforcement duties, including investigations and arrests, under the supervision and direction of ICE, according to a sheriff's office press release. "Illegal immigration and unsecured borders threaten public safety and strain local resources," said Sheriff's Office Spokesperson Jason Mower. He said the county's partnership with ICE under the 287(g) task force model gives deputies added authority to help enforce immigration laws. "A select few of our specially trained and certified deputies will soon have the authority to proactively enforce federal immigration laws, effectively pairing local oversight with federal support," Mower said. "This integrated approach ensures fair, consistent enforcement that upholds the legal boundaries keeping our community safe while protecting public safety and preserving resources for all who call this county home-whether legal residents, migrants or immigrants alike." The Sheriff's Office joined the 287(g) program in 2020 under ICE's Warrant Service Officer Model, the press release explained. Earlier this year, the office was fast-tracked for participation in the Jail Enforcement Model, allowing certified detention deputies to investigate and help enforce immigration law under ICE supervision. As part of its expanded cooperation with ICE, the agency recently increased its number of dedicated beds for federal detainees from 15 to 30 at the Sweetwater County Detention Center-reflecting the county's strategic location along the Interstate 80 corridor between Denver and Las Vegas, the press release added. Sheriff Grossnickle said the new agreement will help the county confront real public safety threats while also offsetting local costs. "This isn't about politics for us," Grossnickle said. "It's about what we've seen happen right here in Sweetwater County. We all remember Saaverda Villa-a twice-deported sex offender who came back and raped a local eight-year-old girl in 2022. That's the kind of threat we're trying to stop. This partnership also helps generate revenue through housing ICE detainees at our detention center, which means we're able to enhance public safety without placing additional burden on local taxpayers." Under the Task Force Model, participating deputies must complete specialized federal training before being certified to act in their immigration enforcement role, the press release explained. Once approved and certified, they will operate with limited immigration authority under direct ICE supervision while remaining fully accountable to local leadership. Mower said the public should expect additional details as the program moves forward. The judiciary holds too much power and Congress should curb its authority, Wyoming's federal delegation argued in response to Equality State lawyers and retired judges who called on them to defend "American Rule of Law" from attacks by President Donald Trump and his billionaire ally Elon Musk. In an April 11 letter, Rep. Harriet Hageman and Sens. John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis said the federal judiciary has drawn scrutiny on itself. "Unelected judges imposing their policy biases on our nation without democratic legitimacy are the root cause of today's controversy," they wrote. The politicians largely sidestepped the central tenet of an open letter signed by more than 100 Wyoming lawyers and retired judges and published late last month. That letter had called on Hageman, Barrasso and Lummis to condemn an increase in personal attacks and calls for impeachment led by the president and his allies on federal judges who issue court decisions they dislike. The Wyoming jurists who signed that missive focused on Trump's calls to impeach specific judges who ruled against his policies, and social media posts by Musk calling a judge's ruling an "attempted coup," among other criticisms. The letter also cited threats of violence against judges, a phenomenon U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts has said is on the rise. It also noted Trump's efforts to target law firms he doesn't like. "These attacks are part of a growing effort to discredit, not just judges, but seemingly the American Rule of Law," the letter stated. The delegation's response does not mention the president, Musk or threats of violence against judges. Instead, Barrasso, Lummis and Hageman wrote that "the country is witnessing a healthy debate right now about the appropriate role of judges," according to a copy of the letter obtained by WyoFile. The federal lawmakers also cited legislation they were cosponsoring to eliminate judges' authority to issue nationwide injunctions on actions by the federal government. "I think the delegation sort of missed the point," former Wyoming governor and longtime attorney Mike Sullivan told WyoFile on Monday. "This was not a partisan effort. This is a legitimate, serious and what I think is a constitutional concern about the judiciary and the rule of law." Last week, House Republicans including Hageman passed the No Rogue Rulings Act, which would curb judges' ability to issue nationwide injunctions. Republican lawmakers did so in response to a series of court rulings against aspects of Trump's agenda - particularly elements of his mass deportation effort that judges found could violate peoples' civil rights, and parts of the Musk-driven effort to cut budgets and staffing levels across the federal government. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, has introduced a similar measure in the Senate. "Both the legislative and the executive branches are rightfully using their constitutional checks and balances to address judicial overreach," Hageman, Barrasso and Lummis wrote in their letter. In their letter, the Wyoming jurists told Lummis, Barrasso and Hageman the U.S. Constitution called on them to defend the judiciary from attacks, even if those attacks come from other branches of government. "As our elected federal representatives-and as required by your own oaths-we thus urge you to publicly condemn these threats, affirm judicial independence, and remind Americans that appeals-not violence, intimidation, or invitations to lawlessness-are the constitutional remedy for undesired court decisions," the letter read. Though the delegation in its letter described a bipartisan drive for judicial reform, the No Rogue Rulings Act did not draw any support from Democrats in the House and will likely die in the Senate, where it won't be able to garner 60 votes, according to a report in Politico. Lummis, Barrasso and Hageman expressed pique at the letter authors' choice of an open letter. Among the letter's more noted signees were former Gov. Mike Sullivan; retired Wyoming Supreme Court Chief Justices Marilyn Kite, Michael Golden, Michael Davis and E. James Burke; retired U.S. District Court Chief Judge William Downes and former Wyoming Attorneys General Gay Woodhouse and Patrick Crank. (WyoFile board member Susan Stubson also signed on. She was not involved in the production of this report, and neither she nor any member of the WyoFile board have authority to direct news coverage or news content.) Many of those attorneys are retired from public office and working in private practice, if not retired entirely. The jurists appear to have sought a public discussion, concluding their letter with: "We welcome your earliest public response to these very serious concerns." But the federal delegates said the more than 100 signees should have reached out as individuals. "We are disappointed you failed to express your concerns with us directly before rushing to publish your letter," they wrote. "A robust discussion about addressing the challenges and concerns facing our nation would be more beneficial than attempting to score political points through the press." WyoFile reached out to signees of the original letter but did not receive a comment on the delegation's response by early Monday afternoon. This story will be updated if that changes. Sullivan noted that the Wyoming attorneys published their letter in the wake of a highly unusual statement by Chief Justice Roberts, who protested Trump's call for the impeachment of U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg. Trump called for Boasberg's impeachment after the judge issued a ruling momentarily halting one of Trump's most controversial deportation policies. Judges are not politicians, Sullivan said, "and when they come down in a way that doesn't agree with your position they shouldn't be demeaned or defamed or threatened with impeachment." Those signing the letter have an obligation to maintain judicial independence, as does the delegation, the former governor said. "This is a group that believes this ought to be a public discussion," Sullivan said. "We have our own constitutional obligations as members of the bar, practicing before the judiciary, and we shouldn't just sit back and let this happen. WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy. The five-week pause on abortions at Wellspring Health Access will continue for now. A judge heard arguments Tuesday on whether to temporarily halt enforcement of new state regulations that forced the Casper clinic to stop providing abortions in late February. But at the hearing's conclusion, state Judge Thomas Campbell said he would issue a forthcoming written decision rather than ruling from the bench. In the meantime, Wellspring will continue to refer patients seeking abortions to out-of-state providers, while continuing to serve patients seeking non-abortion care, its founder said after the hearing. "We are committed to seeing this through," Wellspring president Julie Burkhart told reporters. Burkhart's attorneys and state lawyers defending the new regulations spent Tuesday afternoon inside a Casper courtroom debating whether Campbell should grant a preliminary injunction that would pause enforcement of the rules while a legal challenge proceeds. At issue are two laws passed earlier this year by the Wyoming Legislature. One requires abortion clinics to be regulated as ambulatory surgical centers, a designation that brings with it more strenuous rules and restrictions. The second mandates pregnant women undergo ultrasounds and a 48-hour waiting period before receiving abortion medications. Unnecessary regulations? Attorneys representing Burkhart and other abortion advocates maintain the new laws are unconstitutional and nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt at halting abortion altogether after a separate judge blocked Wyoming's two existing abortion bans in November. They maintain the new laws unfairly target Wellspring and won't make women seeking abortions any safer. "At the end of the day, the state has done nothing to show these laws protect women's health," said Peter Modlin, one of several attorneys representing the plaintiffs at Tuesday's hearing. Modlin questioned why a clinic that provides abortions should be regulated as an ambulatory surgical center when its procedures don't involve things like incisions or anesthesia. He noted that lawmakers don't require the ambulatory surgical center designation for clinics that provide more invasive procedures like vasectomies. "On its face, the law doesn't make sense if its purpose is to protect public health," he told the court. Turning to the ultrasound law, Modlin questioned why the new mandate was necessary. If an ultrasound requirement was truly about keeping pregnant women safe, then why only require it for women seeking abortions, he asked. The lawyer also cited comments made by Wyoming Speaker of the House Chip Neiman, who has acknowledged that his push to pass new abortion restrictions is focused on ending the practice, rather than merely making it safer. Whatever Neiman's intent, the laws he supported have dramatically halted abortion in Wyoming. Wellspring performed 71 abortions between Jan. 1 and Feb. 27, when the new ambulatory surgical center regulations went into effect. In the month that followed, it stopped providing abortions and referred 80 patients seeking them to other providers. "This law is carefully tailored to put that one clinic out of business," Modlin said. Defending the laws Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, abortion rights advocates in Wyoming have focused on a 2012 amendment to the Wyoming Constitution that protects people's rights to make their own health care decisions. Lawyers for abortion providers successfully used that amendment to convince a different judge to overturn the abortion bans passed by the Wyoming Legislature in 2023. That case is set to be argued before the Wyoming Supreme Court next week. On Tuesday, Senior Assistant Attorney General John Woykovsky took aim at those arguments. The state maintains abortion does not qualify as health care in the context of the constitutional amendment. And regardless, that amendment still allows the Wyoming Legislature to enact restrictions related to health care, he said. "There is no fundamental right to make health care decisions that are unrestricted," he said. Beyond that, Woykovsky noted that Wellspring, while saying the new rules are too onerous, hasn't provided details about how much it would cost to upgrade the facility to comply with them. "All we know is Wellspring has stated they are not willing to try," he said. What's next? Abortion opponents packed one side of the courtroom for the hearing, and as it wound down, Judge Campbell appeared to acknowledge that many in Wyoming were awaiting his ruling. He said he would try to work as quickly as possible to produce a written opinion. The case took a circuitous route to even get to this point. Before lawyers had a chance to argue the merits, they clashed over where the case should be heard. The plaintiffs first filed their suit on Feb. 28 in Natrona County. But when Natrona County District Judge Dan Forgey did not act on their request for an emergency hearing after 12 days, the plaintiffs refiled the matter in Teton County, where it was assigned to Melissa Owens, the same judge who struck down the 2023 abortion bans. Attorneys defending the abortion restrictions fought the venue change, saying it amounted to forum shopping. Owens agreed the case belonged in Natrona County and sent it back there. But instead of going back to Forgey, the case was assigned without public explanation to Campbell. While the rules remain in effect, Wellspring is providing medical services that don't involve abortion, including family planning and general gynecological services, Burkhart told reporters after the hearing. She said she didn't know how long the clinic could continue to operate without its full slate of services. Wellspring has three doctors and seven other clinical staff, and to date, hasn't laid anyone off. In the meantime, the clinic has referred patients to facilities in Colorado, Salt Lake City and Montana. If Campbell grants the preliminary injunction, Wellspring would immediately restart its abortion services, Burkhart said. "We are a pretty tenacious group of people," she said. "We are not going to shrink from this." WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy. Social Security Administration (SSA) has confirmed to AARP that beginning April 14, they will allow all claim types to be completed over the telephone as they previously had been. This includes Retirement, Survivors, and Auxiliary (Spouse or Child) benefits that SSA previously announced would require in-person identity proofing, in addition to Social Security Disability Insurance, Medicare, and SSI. AARP had strongly opposed this decision from the start, arguing that it unduly burdens older adults, especially those in rural areas. Over the last two weeks, over one million emails, texts, and letters were sent to congress from concerned constituents. "This is great news for older Americans," said AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond. "We appreciate SSA listening to AARP and millions of Americans about the impact on their lives and providing better access to customer service for Social Security benefits. SSA's guarantee of phone access for claims is a win for older Americans, and we look forward to further improvements in their customer service." Prior to last night's SSA Announcement, people applying for retirement, survivor or family benefits were going to be required to use an online My Social Security account or make an appointment at a local SSA office to show proof of identity, a necessary step in filing for benefits or reporting a change in bank direct deposit information to receive payments. AARP has long advocated for better service delivery from the SSA. As of April 8, the latest data from the office suggests those calling the SSA helpline this week waited on hold for an average of three and a half hours. That is much higher than the average of one hour during November of 2024 and one hour and 39 minutes just last month. For most of last year, SSA maintained a phone busy rate of 0 percent. But that has since changed, skyrocketing in March to nearly 1 out of every 3 callers getting a pre-recorded message that the lines are too busy and are then hung up on by SSA. For those lucky enough to get their call answered, they often wait up to two and a half hours or more for a call back. The plan to force most ID verifications to the SSA website was torpedoed by a lack of reliability from the site. According to reports, SSA's online portal has suffered 5 outages in March alone, including a full outage on March 31. "What was once a persistent concern has now become a crisis our members are deeply concerned by the rapid deterioration in Social Security customer service," said AARP Wyoming State Director Sam Shumway. "Few issues matter more to older Americans than Social Security. We consistently hear how vital Social Security is to older Americans and how much they depend on services provided by the Social Security Administration, whether it be over the phone, online, or face-to-face at local field offices," he added. SSA has released a list of permanent and temporary office closures or service availability changes, which can be found here. As of April 7, the site shows only Cody as only able to offer assistance by telephone until further notice and no in-person service. This is the only Wyoming office which has been impacted. "We still need your voice in this fight to create better customer service," said Shumway. "Email your lawmakers today and tell them to strengthen Social Security customer service." Soda ash giant WE Soda has cut 48 jobs from its southwest Wyoming trona operations, including 32 salaried management positions and 16 contract positions, the company said Monday. The move follows the trona operator's purchase of competitor Genesis Alkali on Feb. 28. "Post-acquisition, consolidations were needed for some salaried management positions to achieve efficiency, reduce redundancy and to strengthen the existing hourly workforce," WE Soda Vice President of Human Relations JoAnna DeWald told WyoFile via email. The layoffs do not include hourly union workers, a company spokesman said. The terminations follow 30 layoffs by the previous owner late last year - a move that irked union representatives because Genesis Alkali pink-slipped several new hires, including some who had just relocated to Wyoming to build careers. Reached Monday by WyoFile, United Steel Workers Local 13214 President Marshal Cummings said he didn't know all the details about the recent layoffs, but said he was happy the cuts did not include union workers. In fact, according to Cummings, WE Soda has been hiring back some of the union workers that were laid off last year. The union's relationship with WE Soda, Cummings said, "has been extremely positive." "They want to fix the things that are broken: management, projects, our relationship, the equipment," he continued. "All those times I said, 'We want to be the safest, most efficient, most productive mine in the world,' is going to come true with this management team, it sounds like." WE Soda now employs about 900 workers in the region, according to Cummings. The job cuts come only weeks after another southwest Wyoming mining company laid off 28 workers in nearby Kemmerer. World's largest soda ash producer London-based WE Soda paid $1.4 billion to acquire Genesis Alkali and its operations, which include the Westvaco underground trona mine and related processing facilities, as well as the Granger solution mining facility - both located in western Sweetwater County. "We are now the largest producer of soda ash globally and the only producer that is 100% natural, further underscoring our sustainability leadership," WE Soda CEO Alasdair Warren said in a prepared statement on March 3. "As we welcome our new Alkali colleagues into the WE Soda family, we will bring together an extraordinary combination of experience and expertise that will create a truly world class industrial minerals company focussed on maintaining the highest standards of safety, operational excellence and sustainability." Integrated into the former Genesis operations is WE Soda's Project West, a multi-billion dollar trona solution-mine expansion project now under construction near Granger. "By integrating the [Genesis] Alkali facilities with our own Project West development, we plan to utilise the combined engineering expertise of Alkali and WE Soda, and to access existing Alkali infrastructure to significantly reduce the cost and development risk of Project West," according to WE Soda. Southwest Wyoming holds the world's largest known deposit of trona, which is processed into "natural" soda ash - a key commodity in the production of glass, baking soda and myriad other products. Wyoming's trona and soda ash industries - which employ more than 2,000 workers compared to about 4,100 direct jobs in Wyoming coal mining, according to the Wyoming Mining Association - have been in "expansion" mode in recent years. In 2022, Genesis Alkali received $665,000 from the state - via the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services - to help train more than 300 workers as part of its efforts to revive the Granger production facility, ultimately adding about 100 workers, according to the state. WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy. These are the best offers from our affiliate partners. We may get a commission from qualifying sales. The Mayors' Council of Guam announced that Layla Cabrini Espinal has formally surrendered her title, and former Royal Princess Aaliya Monique Benin is now Guam's 80th Liberation Queen. A simple and dignified ceremony was held at the Mayors' Council office in Hagatna on Wednesday, according to a news release from the council. Benin hails from Santa Rita-Sumai. Her reign will end in June at the coronation ceremony for the 81st Liberation Queen. Call for 81st Liberation Queen candidates The Mayors' Council of Guam also released the requirements, qualifications and judging criteria for candidates vying for the 81st Liberation Queen title. Some of the criteria include a contestant must be born female, a U.S. citizen and resident of Guam for at least six months before July 21, 2005. A candidate must be at least 18, have a U.S. passport, in good physical and mental health and be able to perform official duties required of the 81st Liberation Queen and Royal Court. Other criteria include submitting a minimum of $2,000 from fundraising efforts no later than 5 p.m. Friday, April 25, to the Hagat Mayor's Office to officially qualify for the contest. Fundraising, which is 50% of a contestant's score, will continue up to June 2 and the final counting will be June 13. The other 50% will be based on pageantry. The pageant and coronation night will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday, June 27, at the LeoPalace Resort. The application deadline is 5 p.m. April 25 by email sent to mcogadmin@teleguam.net. The name of the site is Mount Humuyong Manglo, which in CHamoru means the place where the winds exit or originate. Every year on Good Friday, the storied peak comes alive well before dawn, not only with wind but also with Catholic faithful swarming the paths to the top, making the uphill trek at a rate paced by practice and prayer. It has been a tradition for about 50 years, started by the Cruz family of Mongmong. The events patriarch, the late Antonio Cruz of Mongmong, started it as a way to share the story of the day Jesus Christ died and also as a way to bring his family together in faith. He taught his sons and grandsons to fell an aggao tree, and use its trunk to fabricate a large cross. Then they would do a modern-day re-enactment of the time leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It is a solemn day in the Catholic faith, translating to a day of mostly silence. It is a day meant for reflection and the realization that God gave his son to the mercy of the people in power, and they offered none. Jesus final march to his crucifixion is memorialized by the modern Stations of the Cross. Many Catholics who make the trek up the windy mountain pause at each of the 14 stations to offer prayer and song. Reginald Diaz made the trek his first with his two kids and sister. They started long before the cross arrived at the mountain base, and made it to the top in just over an hour, stopping at each station for a prayer and picture. I would recommend that my family come (next year), and make a little sacrifice. Its very peaceful up here, he said. Stopping at the stations, reading what happened, seeing the group head up carrying that heavy cross ... thats sacrifice. It kinda gets you in the mindset of the sacrifices that were made. Not everyone climbed in silence. Some chanted, others held normal conversations as they climbed. Salutations of Good morning and Happy Easter were common even as people crossed paths up and down. Gemma Pico and Christina Macasaquit planned on spending most of the day together, from a pickup at 4:30 a.m., through a 2-hour drive down south and through their 2-hour trek. They still planned to go to church later in the day. My dad and mom are very religious. So that made me do this for them. And also for two friends of mine that have cancer, said Pico. Macasaquit said she reflected on all the sacrifices God has done, but when she got to the summit, that changed. It made me think about all the things Ive done, what weve done with our lives, she said. Getting to the top gave me a feeling that it pays off. Ti Napu Von Meter said that doing the annual Good Friday trek up Mount Humuyong Manglo for the first time as a legal adult has not only opened his eyes to his future, it has completely changed his life. Before March of this year, the 18-year-old Von Meter spent five years jumping around Texas before landing in Arkansas. He said growing up in Arkansas was especially difficult because people judged him by his skin color without ever saying a word. It was hard out there in the states. Hanging around with people that do bad things, do bad stuff ... this walk just changed my whole life. It pushed all the bad stuff away and opened my eyes. Being back on Guam changed me, its so good to be back home, said Von Meter. I almost died. I was doing hardcore drugs and one of them was chemical. I was with people who didnt know me and didnt know how to take care of me. So I was just lying on the bed struggling to breathe. Von Meter said he reached out to God, and he answered. He showed me the things that happened in my life and how it could be better, he said. On the trek up Mount Humuyong Manglo, he had a moment of clarity: He needed to get his GED, and get his drivers license. He needed to secure a job, because he was ready to work relentlessly and earn an honest living. Since seeing him, the man, the one and only God, I can say that Ive never done any type of drugs, he said. And after today, I never want to. Anthony Cruz knows that his grandfather Antonio Cruz started the annual Good Friday family tradition of carrying a huge cross to the top of Humuyong Manglo' in Humatak sometime in the mid-1970s. His grandfather passed the reins to Anthonys father, Gregorio, and this year, Anthony Cruz is in charge of the event that hes participated in as long as he can remember. Anthony Cruz said this years trek could be the 50th anniversary of the event, give or take a year. Well, Im 50 so its very possible, he said. Now my grandchildren are part of the event. For five decades, the Cruz family from Mongmong has built a cross, usually in January, then hauled it to the base of the southern mountain. There, family members and anyone else who wants to can literally carry a 600-pound cross up the slippery, swordgrass-heavy slopes of the Humatak hills. On the way, they pause and pray for each of the 14 stations of the cross. At the top, they plant the heavy cross into the ground. It is visible for miles all around southern Guam, and it stays erected until nature brings it down. He said there are about 10 crosses still erected today. Its always a very moving and inspirational experience, you know, to witness the practices along the way, to really honor Good Friday, said Anthony Cruz. And then its very rewarding and meaningful to get to the top and lay the cross down, then lift it into its final mounting space. Folks really use that moment to reflect on the real meaning of those who honor Good Friday and celebrate Easter. Usually, hundreds of people make the ascent up the mountain, some with the Cruz family and many without. Anthony Cruz said returnees and first-timers are always welcome to join his family, and perhaps read a prayer at one of the stations, and even lend a shoulder to carry the cross. Its not easy. The terrain has changed over the years and been affected by natural disasters and erosion. So to maneuver a cross weighing over 500 pounds is challenging. But it is one way for people to really reflect on how Jesus Christ really suffered for us as well, he said. Anthony Cruz said that they will pick up the cross, which has been at the Mongmong Church since the start of Lent, at 5:45 a.m. and then make their way to Humatak. Then, they gingerly position themselves under the cross and start the quiet climb. All told it takes about 90 minutes to the top, he said. The public is welcome to join the family, either from the church or at the base of the mountain. Anthony Cruz suggests that people wear long pants and protective wear against swordgrass, and to consider a walking stick. Water to drink is a must, he said. I am thankful for all of those over the years who have participated or joined our family on Good Friday, he said. I only ask that people know and respect the limits of your body. We dont want anyone to get hurt. While a bill to allow intergenerational day care centers drew support during a public hearing Thursday, Department of Public Health and Social Services Director Theresa Arriola raised concerns. Bill 95-38 would allow the operation of facilities that meet the health and safety requirements for both child and adult day care and incorporate programming that allows the two groups to interact. An intergenerational care center was a goal of Maelonie Lani Tamondong, owner of the Giving Tree Early Learning Center and Helping Hands Adult Daycare. But Guam doesnt have regulations for this type of business, which exists in other countries as well as the mainland U.S. and Hawaii. Tamondong explained the concept to the Legislatures committee on health, outlining her research and vision. Her testimony drew support from the Guam Womens Chamber of Commerce, the Bureau of Womens Affairs and Public Health which would be responsible for establishing rules and regulations for the facilities. Arriola testified that intergenerational day care could be good for children and older adults by encouraging meaningful social interactions and enhancing cognitive and emotional well-being for both groups. But she called for amendments to the proposed legislation, listing potential problems with intergenerational care. They included: Sharing of spaces between children and elderly can lead to the spread of infections as children are common carriers of bacteria, and older adults often have weaker immune systems. Seniors often take medications that need to be carefully managed, and any accidental exposure could be dangerous for children. Noise levels in day care centers or children playing could be disruptive to older adults, especially those with conditions like dementia or hearing loss. The day care environment needs to be easily accessible to seniors as well as children, which could get complicated because restrooms need to accommodate wheelchairs and walkers as well as small children. Differences in mobility can pose risks. An elderly person using a walker might trip over a childs toy. Facilities would need enough trained staff to supervise children and older adults. Children need lively, engaging play areas, while older adults may require calmer spaces. The bill states that nobody convicted of a sex offense will be admitted into the facility, but Arriola said the prohibitions should be extended to include any form of violence, including domestic violence, child abuse, kidnapping and offenses relative to drugs and weapons. She also said the amount of time needed to prepare regulations should be 180 days upon enactment, instead of the 60 days provided in the bill, because of the complexity of rules involved. Tamondong expressed frustration, because rules and regulations already exist in other jurisdictions, and Guam could use those rules as a template. She said many of the concerns raised by Public Health have already been resolved in the facility she wants to run, which has separate quarters and restrooms for the children and adults, and medications are kept in secure lockers. The children and adults would spend time together, but they wouldnt spend all of their time together. Age segregation, thats not normal, Tamondong said. For children to think that this is normal, to only be around children, they dont get an idea that, hey, you know what? Aging is a normal process. Arriola reiterated that Public Health supports the bill, but regulations have to be developed. The concept of intergenerational day care may not be new to the world, but its new to Guam, she said. So its a new industry or a new mindset. Sen. Tina Muna Barnes, who introduced the legislation, said she would review the bill and proffer amendments to make the proposal safer for children and adults. After hearing testimony on the proposal, Committee Chair Sabrina Salas Matanane said she was reminded why she sought public office to effectuate change. Seeing everybody speak, I actually want to be a sponsor of this bill, a co-sponsor of this bill, she said. A recent executive order from the White House could create significant economic opportunities for Guam, according to Del. James Moylan. President Donald Trumps order, Restoring Americas Maritime Dominance, calls for the establishment of a maritime security trust fund, a shipbuilding financial incentives program and maritime security zones. In the order, the president notes that the United States produces fewer than 1% of commercial ships globally, while China builds about half of the commercial ships. It states that the policy of the United States is to revitalize and rebuild domestic maritime industries and workforce to promote national security and economic prosperity. Moylan said the policy is good news for Guam. We are excited to see the Trump administration prioritizing Americas maritime dominance, he stated in a news release. In light of the rising threats from foreign adversaries in the Indo-Pacific region, safeguarding Guam is my foremost concern. I am committed to taking decisive actions to ensure that Guam is strategically positioned to fully leverage the initiatives established in the executive order. The order states that within the next 210 days, the national security adviser will develop and submit a Maritime Action Plan to the president. The plan will describe how tariff revenue, fines, fees or tax revenue could be used to establish a dedicated funding source for rebuilding the maritime industry. We will ensure that Guam is not only prioritized but is also a central focus in the discussions and decision-making processes related to the MAP, particularly concerning the Indo-Pacific region, Moylan said. Moreover, we will strategically leverage our position within the House Armed Services Committee and rally support from our allies and friends in Congress to champion the cause of Guams strategic importance. The financial incentives program will stimulate investment in building commercial ship parts and vessels, as well as improving commercial shipyards, repair facilities and drydocks. The order also calls for the establishment of maritime prosperity zones, with domestic and allied investment in United States maritime industries and waterfront communities, and expands mariner training opportunities. The opportunities presented by President Trumps Executive Order are pivotal for Guam, Moylan said. I am fully committed to ensuring that Guam maximizes its potential as a key player in Americas maritime dominance. Learning Chinese language opens a lot of doors, says South African student Xinhua) 14:09, April 18, 2025 People attend "101 Wishes: The Beauty of Chinese Characters" Exhibition at the 2025 International Chinese Language Day event in Cape Town, South Africa, on April 17, 2025. A vibrant celebration to mark the 2025 International Chinese Language Day, themed "Chinese Language: Together for a Bright Future," was held on Thursday at the Iziko Learning Center in Cape Town. (Xinhua/Wang Lei) CAPE TOWN, April 17 (Xinhua) -- "Learning the Chinese language opens a lot of doors for me," said Sasha-Leigh Allen, a South African student participating in a vibrant celebration to mark the 2025 International Chinese Language Day. The celebration, themed "Chinese Language: Together for a Bright Future," was held on Thursday at the Iziko Learning Center in Cape Town, the legislative capital of South Africa. More than 100 representatives from the political, business, and academic sectors of China and South Africa, along with faculty and students from universities across Cape Town, came together to celebrate the beauty of the Chinese language. Co-hosted by the Confucius Institute at the University of the Western Cape and the Iziko Museums of South Africa, the event offered rich Chinese cultural experiences, featuring "101 Wishes: The Beauty of Chinese Characters" Exhibition, Guzheng (Chinese plucked zither) performance, traditional Chinese tea tasting, and Chinese calligraphy practice. In his opening remarks, Bongani Ndhlovu, acting chief executive officer of the Iziko Museums of South Africa, emphasized the multiple layers of significance that Chinese Language Day carries. "Language is not only the carrier of meaning, but also that through it, our values, our cultures, our traditions, our heritage are embedded in each (of us)," he said. His remarks were echoed by Tang Chang'an, deputy consul general of the Chinese Consulate-General in Cape Town. "Chinese is more than a language -- it is a bridge connecting civilizations, fostering understanding, and promoting cultural change across the world," said Tang. In his speech, Tang noted that the Chinese language reflects the wisdom of a 5000-year-old civilization rooted in values of peace, harmony, and cooperation. "In today's interconnected world, cultural and linguistic exchanges play a crucial role in building mutual respect and friendship among nations," he said. "Let us take this opportunity to use language as a bridge to deepen mutual understanding, friendship, and cooperation. Together, we can build a more just and inclusive world," he added. Sasha-Leigh Allen, a sophomore at the University of the Western Cape who attended the event, has been studying the Chinese language for nearly two years. "I believe that Chinese characters are an art, an art that in the beginning is very difficult to understand, but when you go up close, it's very simplistic and beautiful," she told Xinhua. "When I learned Chinese characters, it made me more open-minded to understand the Chinese language, Chinese people, their culture, the way they speak, and the different kinds of meanings," she said, adding that she also encouraged her friends to learn the language. Allen went on to talk about the potential benefits that learning the Chinese language could bring to her future career. "Personally, for me, learning Chinese characters opens a lot of doors for me, especially in my career. Hopefully, if I'm able to continue learning Han Zi (Chinese characters), it will help a lot," she said. People attend "101 Wishes: The Beauty of Chinese Characters" Exhibition at the 2025 International Chinese Language Day event in Cape Town, South Africa, on April 17, 2025. A vibrant celebration to mark the 2025 International Chinese Language Day, themed "Chinese Language: Together for a Bright Future," was held on Thursday at the Iziko Learning Center in Cape Town. (Xinhua/Wang Lei) A woman learns Chinese calligraphy at the 2025 International Chinese Language Day event in Cape Town, South Africa, on April 17, 2025. A vibrant celebration to mark the 2025 International Chinese Language Day, themed "Chinese Language: Together for a Bright Future," was held on Thursday at the Iziko Learning Center in Cape Town. (Xinhua/Wang Lei) A visitor views an exhibit at "101 Wishes: The Beauty of Chinese Characters" Exhibition at the 2025 International Chinese Language Day event in Cape Town, South Africa, on April 17, 2025. A vibrant celebration to mark the 2025 International Chinese Language Day, themed "Chinese Language: Together for a Bright Future," was held on Thursday at the Iziko Learning Center in Cape Town. (Xinhua/Wang Lei) Bongani Ndhlovu, acting chief executive officer of the Iziko Museums of South Africa, delivers his opening remarks at the 2025 International Chinese Language Day event in Cape Town, South Africa, on April 17, 2025. A vibrant celebration to mark the 2025 International Chinese Language Day, themed "Chinese Language: Together for a Bright Future," was held on Thursday at the Iziko Learning Center in Cape Town. (Xinhua/Wang Lei) Tang Chang'an, deputy consul general of the Chinese Consulate-General in Cape Town, delivers his address at the 2025 International Chinese Language Day event in Cape Town, South Africa, on April 17, 2025. A vibrant celebration to mark the 2025 International Chinese Language Day, themed "Chinese Language: Together for a Bright Future," was held on Thursday at the Iziko Learning Center in Cape Town. (Xinhua/Wang Lei) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, along with an embarked carrier air wing and two destroyers, arrived for a scheduled port visit on Guam Friday. The Nimitz Carrier Strike Groups arrival in Guam highlights the islands vital role as a strategic outpost in the Western Pacific essential for projecting power, deterring adversaries, and responding to crises across the Indo-Pacific, said Rear Adm. Maximilian Clark, commander, Carrier Strike Group 11 in a statement. He said its always an honor to return to Guam where service members are welcomed like family, and where their presence truly matters. Clark said the Nimitz Strike Group is proud to be in Guam which is critical terrain and gateway to maintaining stability in the region. The Nimitz was accompanied by the USS Gridley and the USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee. Guam plays a vital role in enabling the Navys ability to operate forward-supporting logistics, command and control, and fleet readiness while strengthening the nations posture in the Indo-Pacific, according to a news release from the Navy. The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group departed Naval Base Kitsap in Bremerton, Washington, for a regularly scheduled deployment to the Western Pacific, March 21. The strike group is made up of USS Nimitz (CVN 68), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17, and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 9. The group is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navys largest forward-deployed numbered fleet and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region. Lawmakers on Tuesday reviewed and heard testimony on Bill 56-38, a measure proposing to transfer the licensing and oversight of podiatrists from the Guam Board of Allied Health Examiners to the Guam Board of Medical Examiners. The bill, introduced by Sen. Therese Terlaje, would also create a designated podiatrist seat on the medical board. The legislation is looking to update regulatory structures that have remained largely unchanged since 1998, aligning local policy with models used in other U.S. jurisdictions. This is part of work done by the Guam Board of Allied Health Examiners over several years to update the rules that are governing the healing arts practices and the professions, Terlaje said. This is one of them that would move the podiatrists to be governed by the Guam Board of Medical Examiners. While the bill received much support, it also raised broader concerns about medical oversight, ethics enforcement, and representation within the board itself. Theres a lot of controversy thats going on right now at the Board of Medical Examiners. Suits that have been brought up that for the last 30 years, nobody has been tried for anything or convicted, Sen. Telo Taitague said. Yet, there are people out there in the community who have, countless times, have called for neglect or medical malpractice. For some of these physicians, youre under a lot of scrutiny now. Taitague warned that joining the GBME may come with challenges, citing its negative track record on enforcement. I hope that youre able to contribute to this board that now youre going to be a member of... because everybody knows this board is really under... They havent been doing a whole lot of addressing when it comes to medical malpractice, she said. Some senators have expressed their support for the bill but acknowledged the need for increased oversight and accountability. I do support Bill 56 and hope to be a co-sponsor, or be added as a co-sponsor on this legislation, Sen. Sabrina Salas Matanane said. And as I mentioned, Dr. [Kwasi] Nyame, I am introducing a bill regarding physicians assistants and moving it under the Guam Board of Medical Examiners... I do plan on holding an informational, possibly even an oversight hearing into the Guam Board of Medical Examiners. Dr. Steve Kim, a podiatrist and member GMBE himself, told lawmakers of the growing, critical need for ethics training and clearer licensing standards. Nyame, chief medical officer at Guam Memorial Hospital and a member of the GBME, raised concerns about licensing consistency and fee structures. The fees for the podiatry and GBME are different. We didnt, through the bill, I didnt see what would happen to the fee schedule for podiatrists versus medical doctors, Nyame said. Also, training for the Guam Board of Medical Examiners on how to provide licenses to podiatrists will be helpful on the board... if the one podiatry member is not available, it falls on the rest of the board to decide whether or not this applicant gets a license. Senators also discussed the broader national context, pointing to legislation aimed at addressing physician shortages. No vote was taken during the hearing. Testimony will be reviewed ahead of the bills markup. Kim, who practices podiatry and serves on the Allied Health board, thanked senators for introducing the measure. Kim said placing podiatrists under GBME aligns with practices in other states and reflects the limitations of Guams health care workforce. Podiatry is under the medical examiners board throughout the states either they only have their own podiatry board, or theyre under their exam or medical examiners, Kim said. For us here on Guam, we only have seven podiatrists on the island. Its very difficult for us to form our own podiatry board. Hence, I think, you know, its better to be under medical examiners. The Dale Jenkins Gymnasium at St. Johns School was transformed into the Supreme Court of Guam for the day on Thursday, as part of activities coordinated by the Judiciary of Guam in celebration of Law Month. Supreme Court of Guam Chief Justice Robert J. Torres said the court has converted high school and college buildings to serve as a makeshift courthouses annually for more than a decade, and it has always been a successful way to connect people to the judicial system. The case of the People of Guam vs. Viken Yusem Jagabos was argued before St. Johns high school students and faculty, as well as Supreme Court staff and employees of the Office of the Attorney General of Guam. The appellant Jagabos was appealing his sentencing in a case from 2022. Jagabos was convicted of assaulting a man, a double amputee in a wheelchair, in 2022. Jagabos was convicted of misdemeanor assault, felony abuse of an incompetent and felony terrorizing. Jagabos, represented by defense attorney B. Ann Keith, argued that the 11-year sentence, with all but five years suspended, was a confusing one based on the charges, and perhaps also excessive. She asked that her client be resentenced. Representing the government and the People of Guam was Attorney General Douglas B. Moylan and assistant attorney general Stephen Durden. Moylan argued that the elements of crime met the minimum requirements to support the felony charges, and that the sentencing given was a reasonable outcome. The justices took the matter under advisement, and opened the floor for questions. They made it clear that they could not discuss the case that the students just heard, because it was an ongoing case being considered. Torres, as well as Associate Justices F. Phillip Carbullido and Katherine Maraman spent a good amount of time talking about the research and work necessary going into an appellate hearing, possibly many more hours than people thought. The justices also spoke about the appeal process, and imposed upon the students the importance of writing briefs, which they said carried more weight than the oral arguments. Torres said appeals cases were not like courtroom dramas on TV, and he was happy to explain how Guams judicial system worked. Moylan said he thoroughly enjoyed arguing the appeals case. He first thanked assistant AG Nathan Tennyson for his work on the case. This is true grassroots justice where our people, my client, gets to see what the Judicial Branch, and we officers of the court do every day. I enjoyed preparing for and actually arguing on behalf of my client, the people of Guam, he said. The kids needed to see what many dont. They are our islands future attorneys and jurists. The judiciary also swore in four attorneys from the AGs office as temporary members of the Guam Bar. They are attorneys Lucas Wood, Ramiro Orozco, Helen Dolland and James Glober. Haiti - Price of Independence : Macron Takes a Small Step Toward Recognizing a Moral Debt (Statement) On Thursday, April 17, 2025, as part of the bicentennial of Haiti's independence debt, the Elysee Palace published a statement by the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, which we publish in full below : Statement by the President of France, Emmanuel Macron : "On April 17, 1825, by ordinance, King Charles X of France recognized Haiti's independence, while imposing a heavy burden on it. Despite the effective conquest of its freedom, as early as 1804, by arms and blood, the last of the Kings of France, in exchange for recognition and an end to hostilities, subjected the people of Haiti to a very heavy financial indemnity, the payment of which would be spread over decades. This decision placed a price on the freedom of a young nation, which, from its very inception, was confronted with the unjust force of history. Today, on this bicentennial, we must, here as elsewhere, face this history head on, with clarity, courage, and truth. Haiti was born of a revolution, faithful to the spirit of 1789, which brilliantly affirmed the universal principles of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity. This struggle in Haiti, in harmony with the ideals of the French Revolution, should have offered France and Haiti the opportunity to walk a common path. But the forces of counterrevolution since 1814, the restoration of the Bourbons and the monarchy, have decided otherwise regarding the writing of history. To recognize the truth of history is to reject forgetting and erasure. For France, it also means accepting its share of truth in the construction of memory, a painful one for Haiti, which began in 1825. The truth of history must not create a divide; on the contrary, it must be the bridge that unites what is scattered. In this spirit and with this goal in mind, we must now open all spaces for dialogue and mutual understanding. Consequently, on this symbolic day, I intend to establish a Joint Franco-Haitian Commission tasked with examining our shared past and shedding light on all its dimensions. Once this necessary and indispensable work is completed, this Commission will propose recommendations to both governments to draw lessons from it and build a more peaceful future. This Commission, composed of historians from both countries, will explore two centuries of history, including the impact of the 1825 indemnity on Haiti, analyze the representations and shared memories of this episode between our two countries, and address the development of Franco-Haitian relations in the 20th century. It will be co-chaired by Mr. Yves Saint-Geours and Ms. Gusti-Klara Gaillard Pourchet. Its work must be part of a historical approach of dialogue and action. We must consider together how to better convey this history in our two countries, strengthen educational and cultural cooperation, and build a renewed relationship between France and Haiti, based on listening, respect, and solidarity. Because beyond the past, it is the future that unites us. France stands alongside Haiti in the face of the many challenges of the present. It will continue to be so, supporting initiatives promoting securitythe absolute priority at this timethe restoration of justice and democracy, education and health, as well as heritage and culture. Like the Caribbean Community and the United States, France strongly condemns any attempt to destabilize the transitional authorities. Our dialogue must be free, open, sincere, and forward-looking. It is in this spirit that we launch this joint memorial effort today. Memory is not a burden that clouds consciences, but a force that enlightens minds. Recognition of the truth of history offers nations an exceptional opportunity to build a common future." Reacting to this statement by President Macron, the Haitian National Committee on Restitution and Reparation (CNHRR) wrote in a note : "President Macron has taken a step in the right direction. But a very small step. A temporizing step that allows us to buy time and wait and see. In reality, France shows no intention of addressing the issue of restitution directly and resolutely. Certainly, there is recognition of the original injustice and the need to build a better relationship between our two peoples, but nothing more. Similarly, France has recognized slavery as a crime against humanity but refuses to make reparations for this crime. The struggle for the restitution of the ransom of Independence must therefore continue and intensify. The establishment of a multidisciplinary binational commission with the mission of addressing the issue of restitution in all its dimensions is the true starting point for the restorative justice we all await." See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44710-haiti-flash-what-macron-will-say-about-the-ransom-of-haiti-s-independence.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43878-haiti-flash-2025-roadmap-for-the-restitution-of-the-ransom-of-independence.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43456-haiti-retreat-restitution-of-france-s-debt-and-reparations.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-42728-icihaiti-ueh-restitution-of-the-independence-debt-by-france-monitoring.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42325-haiti-flash-the-ueh-will-work-on-the-restitution-by-france-of-the-independence-debt.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42185-haiti-flashin-geneva-haiti-calls-for-help-from-the-un-for-the-restitution-by-france-of-the-independence-debt.html HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - FLASH : CEP activates joint electoral security unit The Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) held a strategic meeting this week to discuss the activation of the joint electoral security unit in preparation for the Constitutional Referendum and the General Elections. Present at this meeting were, among others, Lieutenant General Derby Guerrier, Commander-in-Chief of the Haitian Armed Forces (FAd'H); Inspector General Joseph Plonquet, Coordinator of the Electoral Security Unit within the Haitian National Police (PNH); Godfrey Otunge, the Kenyan Commander of the Multinational Security Support Mission (MMSS); and a representative of the General Directorate of the Ministry of Justice and Public Security. With the nine members of the CEP, accompanied by the Executive Director and officials from the institution's Security Directorate and Unit, the participants discussed the security environment in Haiti, particularly electoral security and the measures to be adopted to ensure a climate conducive to the organization of elections in the country. At the end of this meeting, it was decided that the joint unit, made up of representatives from all relevant organizations, would meet weekly with the members of the CEP to receive regular updates on the security situation and the measures to be adopted in preparation for the Constitutional Referendum and the General Elections. The CEP reiterated its commitment to conducting the Referendum and the General Elections with complete independence and transparency, in a sustainable security environment. HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Politic : Cuba reiterates its solidarity with Haiti On Thursday, April 17, 2025, Ernesto Soberon Guzman, Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations, reaffirmed in New York his country's unwavering commitment to peace, development, and the self-determination of the Haitian people. At the closing ceremony of the event "Haiti's Independence Debt: 200 Years Later" held during the fourth session of the Permanent Forum of People of African Descent in New York, Ernesto Soberon Guzman, Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations, emphasized that Haiti deserves substantial and selfless cooperation from the international community, not only for reconstruction but also for the promotion of its sustainable development. "The international community has a moral obligation to support Haiti," said Soberon Guzman, emphasizing the need for an influx of international financial support to revive the Haitian economy without external interference. He recalled Cuba's historical solidarity with Haiti, particularly in key sectors such as health, education, sports, agriculture, and the environment, and reiterated his country's unwavering commitment to peace, development, and the self-determination of the Haitian people. He also highlighted the role of Cuban doctors who, despite recent unfounded attacks by the United States government, have saved hundreds of thousands of lives in Haiti by performing millions of medical consultations, surgeries, and deliveries. "Paying the international community's enormous debt to Haiti is a matter of historical justice," the diplomat said, reiterating that Cuba will stand by the Haitian people and continue to promote greater international cooperation for the benefit of this Caribbean nation. S/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... "Double debt, what next?" The Embassy of Haiti in France participated on Thursday, April 17, 2025, at the National Archives of France, in the commemoration ceremony for the bicentennial of the 1825 Ordinance, organized in particular by the Foundation for the Memory of Slavery. This event featured an exhibition tour, a presentation of historical archives, official speeches, and a roundtable discussion on the theme : "Double debt, what next?" Embassy of Haiti in Canada closed The Embassy of Haiti in Canada informs the Haitian community and the general public that its premises will be closed from Thursday, April 17, to Monday, April 21, 2025, for the Easter holidays. Activities will resume on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. Agro-artisanal fair As part of the celebration of International Agriculture and Labor Day on May 1st, 2025, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is supporting the organization of an agricultural and artisanal fair to be held on the same date at Place Dumas, in Jeremie, in the Grand'Anse department, Haiti. Bicentennial debt : Speech by Leslie Voltaire (video) Speech by Presidential Advisor Leslie Voltaire, during the commemoration of the bicentennial of King Charles X's ordinance recognizing Haiti's independence in exchange for a "ransom"... Embassy of Canada in Haiti closed The Embassy of Canada in Haiti will be closed on April 18 and 21, 2025, for the celebration of Good Friday and Easter Monday. Activities will resume on Tuesday, April 22. In case of a consular emergency, contact: toll-free at +1-613-996-8885 sos@international.gc.ca France alongside Customs Antoine Michon, Ambassador of France to Haiti, recently met with the Director General of Customs, who is leading an essential mission to restore State authority through tax collection and the fight against all illicit trafficking. France will strengthen its cooperation with Haitian Customs. HL/ HaitiLibre The main venue is Amos Rex, with key contributions from EMMA Espoo Museum of Modern Art and the Museum of Finnish Architecture and Design. Fashion in Helsinki will return from 2025 May with its largest programme yet, featuring three major runway shows and collections by nearly 100 designers. The event will place young talent and fashion-art intersections at its core, drawing global attention to Finlands design scene. Highlights include curated runway shows, museum exhibitions, and the Finnish Fashion Awards, hosted at Finlandia Hall. This years focus is on emerging designers who seamlessly navigate both fashion and art. Their collections respond to contemporary themes in unique ways, said Martta Louekari, communications director of Fashion in Helsinki. The Amos Rex SS25 Lookbook show on 23 May will showcase designs by 50 young Finnish creators in a free outdoor event. Curated by Minttu Vesala, the event will double as a visual manifesto for new Finnish fashion. A pop-up shop selling limited-edition items by these designers will run from 21 May to 2 June. The curated Fashion in Helsinki Runway Show on 21 May at the Merihaka concrete complex will feature collections by Latimmier, Linda Kokkonen, Sini Saavala and Rolf Ekroth. Tickets for the event are available for purchase. On 22 May, the Transformation Talks seminar will explore the role of fashion in the age of artificial intelligence, held in collaboration with Scandinavian Mind. Finnish fashions highest honours will be presented at the Finnish Fashion Awards on 23 May. Categories include talent, sustainability, and innovation. Last years winner in the Talent category, Ildar Wafin, gained wide international recognition. Fashion in Helsinki is expected to attract major international buyers, editors and brand representatives, including those from MM6, Bottega Veneta, Camper, Printemps, Forbes, ELLE Italy, and British Vogue. Museum exhibitions during the week deepen the engagement with design and values. EMMAs Muodinmuutos (Fashion Change) exhibition will examine fashions role in culture and identity. Meanwhile, the Museum of Finnish Architecture and Design will host Formations, a display of modular garment design by Sofia Ilmonen, challenging traditional clothing concepts. Graduation shows by Aalto University and Lahti Institute of Design will also be part of the programme, along with satellite events across the capital hosted by Finnish fashion brands. The full schedule is available at www.fashioninhelsinki.com HT The test, carried out by Telia, Nokia, and the Finnish Defence Forces during a Nordic training exercise in March, demonstrated a 5G network slice operating across the commercial networks of three countries. The experiment is seen as a significant step in strengthening defence capabilities within the NATO region. The slice, managed by an intelligent system, ensured uninterrupted communication, maintained information security, and operated reliably in demanding conditions. It was designed to support the mobile requirements of service personnel during joint international operations, where secure and consistent connectivity is critical. This testing experiment marks a major landmark in enhancement of 5G dual-use opportunities in defence use and also in the extension of communications readiness necessary in the NATO area, said Major General Jarmo Vahatiitto, Assistant Chief of Staff for C5 systems at Defence Command. We are satisfied with co-operation with Telia and Nokia in this programme and eager to examine new opportunities for integrating 5G as part of our activity. The simulation used Nokia's 5G technology and Telias commercial infrastructure. It forms part of Finlands broader push to merge field communication networks with commercial technology into a hybrid system capable of supporting both civilian and military needs. Finlands defence strategy places growing emphasis on digital infrastructure. The 5G solution allows secure access to operational applications in mobile environments, including those outside Finnish territory. This supports NATO's interoperability goals and enhances the readiness of the Finnish Defence Forces to respond rapidly and flexibly. In addition to the experiment, Finland is already developing advanced networks for public safety. The VIRVE 2 system, based on 5G technology, was built in collaboration between Erillisverkot and Elisa. It allows secure and efficient inter-agency communication. The Defence Forces plan to continue testing commercial mobile technologies during national training exercises in spring 2025. These exercises are part of a long-term effort to improve field communication systems by integrating commercially available solutions. The test signals Finlands growing role as a 5G innovator, particularly in adapting next-generation mobile networks for critical infrastructure and national security purposes. HT The eastern border was shut in stages during late 2023 and fully closed in December, after Finnish authorities accused Russia of deliberately directing migrants toward Finnish checkpoints in an effort to destabilise the country. Finland will maintain the closure of all land border crossings with Russia until further notice, the government announced on Wednesday, citing persistent threats linked to instrumentalised migration. Helsinki described the actions as a hybrid tactic and a response to Finlands recent accession to NATO. Moscow has denied the claims. In a statement released by the Ministry of the Interior, the government said that based on information available to the Finnish authorities, the risk that instrumentalised migration will resume and expand as seen previously remains likely. The continued closure, it said, was necessary to safeguard national security and public order. The term instrumentalised migration refers to the use of migrants by state or non-state actors as a strategic tool to exert pressure on another country. Finnish officials believe the surge of undocumented arrivals in late 2023 was coordinated, with individuals arriving from regions including the Middle East and Africa, often without proper documentation. According to the government, the border restrictions have succeeded in halting the flow of such entries. However, the risk of renewed attempts persists, prompting authorities to continue the closure without setting a timeline for reopening. The government said it would reassess the situation regularly and adjust the policy if conditions no longer posed a significant threat. The Interior Ministry also confirmed that an emergency law remains in effect, allowing border guards to deny entry and return asylum seekers arriving via Russia. This measure, initially introduced alongside the border closures, grants officials the authority to turn back migrants believed to be part of a politically motivated pressure campaign. In November 2023, Finnish border officials reported a sharp increase in arrivals without valid travel documents at southeastern crossings. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo at the time stated that Russian authorities were facilitating illegal crossings by people from Russia and other regions, including Syria and Somalia. Interior Minister Mari Rantanen has consistently referred to the situation as a threat to Finlands internal stability and has backed strong measures to prevent the reoccurrence of what the government views as an orchestrated security challenge. The Finnish Parliament is currently reviewing legislation aimed at extending the so-called pushback powers, formally allowing authorities to block and remove individuals seeking asylum if they are believed to be involved in hybrid operations orchestrated by foreign powers. The eastern border spans over 1,300 kilometres and includes multiple official checkpoints, all of which remain closed under the new indefinite policy. The government has not provided a specific date for potential reopening, noting that any decision will depend on security assessments and coordination with border and intelligence agencies. HT The increase followed a sharp drop in the number of foreign pickers. Only around 800 arrived from Thailand, compared to several thousand in earlier years. They entered Finland late in the harvest season due to changes in immigration rules, missing the peak period for cloudberries and most of the blueberry season. Domestic berry pickers in Finland collected nearly three times more wild berries for commercial sale in 2024 than in previous years, according to industry estimates. The change disrupted supply. Total commercial harvests fell despite a strong natural yield, with blueberry collection reaching 1.2 million kilograms, lingonberry 4 million kilograms and cloudberry 30 tonnes. Organic berry volumes were significantly smaller, with 570,000 kilograms of organic blueberries collected. In 2024, berry picking began about two weeks earlier than usual due to a fast seasonal transition in spring. All three major wild berry species blueberry, lingonberry and cloudberry produced strong harvests. The shortage of foreign labour and higher market demand pushed picker prices up. The average price per kilogram for lingonberries rose from 0.86 in 2023 to 1.48. Blueberry prices increased from 1.40 to 2.31. Cloudberries reached 10.39 per kilogram. The increase in picker prices directly affected domestic participation. More Finns joined the commercial picking effort than in recent years. Birgitta Partanen, Executive Director of Arktiset Aromit ry, said payment rates were a key factor in encouraging domestic harvesting. Price is central for increasing Finnish collection. A wide purchasing network also helps, making it easier to get berries to buyers, she said in a statement. Before 2024, Thai nationals picked about 8090 percent of commercially harvested berries in Finland. In 2024, they were required to work under employment contracts following a Finnish Foreign Ministry decision. The requirement replaced visa access with a residence permit tied to employment. The policy came into effect in March, leaving businesses little time to adapt. Due to the late arrival of foreign workers, Finnish pickers stepped in to meet the demand. For the 2025 season, the government has classified wild berry picking as seasonal work. This places the sector under the rural industries collective labour agreement. In parallel, the so-called "berry law" still allows for organised picking by foreigners residing in Finland under other permits. These activities must be approved by the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centre) under a reliability assessment. Partanen said that the current season had better preparation. This year weve had more time to adjust. Now we hope authorities handle processes smoothly, and there are no surprises from Thailand, she said. Organic certification rules require berries to be picked in designated areas. Organised groups are more effective in meeting these requirements than individual pickers. The organic picking zone in Finland covers nearly 7 million hectares, the largest in the world. It's unfortunate if our organic processors must rely on imported berries due to domestic shortfalls, Partanen added. A public survey on berry picking habits remains open until May Day. It is part of a broader study by the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) and Arktiset Aromit ry. The survey explores who picks berries, how, and what might encourage more participation. Initial responses have shown strong public interest. Organisers extended the deadline to allow more people to participate, including both active pickers and those who do not collect berries. While official harvest figures come from companies involved in the berry and mushroom trade, they exclude direct sales, household use, and much of the marketplace trade. These include social media and peer-to-peer platforms such as Facebook and Tori.fi, which have grown rapidly in recent years. Comprehensive data on these informal channels is not yet available. Despite the higher involvement of Finnish pickers in 2024, overall commercial sales fell. The delay in Thai pickers arriving and the short cloudberry season affected total volumes. Only 23 tonnes of organic lingonberries and under 5 tonnes of organic cloudberries were collected. The government and industry stakeholders now face the task of ensuring better coordination for the 2025 season. With legal and employment frameworks now clearer, operators hope for a more stable supply of labour, both domestic and foreign. HT The Economic Crime Investigation Unit launched a preliminary investigation after Customs officials flagged irregularities during a routine inspection. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs later issued a statement that contributed to the opening of the case. Finnish Customs suspects the managing director of a nuclear power plant construction company of attempting to export sanction-restricted archive material to Russia. The material in question was stored in a warehouse in Kymenlaakso. Authorities seized nearly 30 boxes of archived documents related to a Finnish nuclear power project. Based on findings from the investigation, some of the material falls under sanctions imposed by the European Union against Russia. The case is being investigated as a regulation offence. EU goods sanctions prohibit the export of specific items and information to Russia, and Finnish companies are required to ensure compliance. The preliminary investigation has now reached its final stages. Finnish Customs plans to forward the case for consideration of charges in the near future. HT In a public message after the meeting, Zelenskyy described the conversation as good and honest, noting that the two leaders discussed the frontline situation, Ukraines urgent need for air defence systems, and preparations for possible Russian provocations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Finnish President Alexander Stubb have called on Russia to accept a US-backed proposal for an unconditional ceasefire, following a bilateral discussion during Zelenskyys visit to Finland. Zelenskyy said that Russia has rejected the proposed ceasefire for 36 consecutive days. Only principled actions can turn such disregard for diplomacy into a path toward peace, he stated. He added that strong support packages and sanctions are necessary to achieve a just and lasting settlement. President Stubb echoed the message, calling on Russia to halt its military operations and accept the ceasefire. Ukraine has accepted a full and unconditional ceasefire. Russia, the aggressor, must do the same, he wrote on social media. He reaffirmed Finlands commitment to working with Ukraine toward a sustainable peace. The US ceasefire initiative, which remains on the table, has yet to receive a response from Moscow beyond continued refusal. Zelenskyys remarks indicate frustration with the stalemate, as Ukraine continues to seek international backing to bolster its defence capabilities. Finland has consistently supported Ukraine diplomatically and militarily since Russias full-scale invasion began in 2022. After joining NATO, Finland has further aligned its security policy with that of its Western allies, including increased arms support and diplomatic engagement. HT The Defense Health Agency (DHA) confirmed the cancellation in a statement submitted to the Government Accountability Office, stating the acquisition was no longer required and was no longer considered a priority. The agency declined to give further comment. The United States Department of Defense has cancelled a $96 million contract with Finnish health technology company Oura, ending a planned purchase of biometric smart rings for military personnel. The decision follows procurement disputes and shifting budget priorities under new Pentagon leadership. Originally announced in late 2024, the agreement aimed to provide smart rings and a wellbeing platform to monitor the health and stress levels of US military staff. The contract was to be handled through Ouras US subsidiary, Ouraring, and included data-driven insights based on biometric readings. The deal was viewed as a major milestone for Oura, whose Series D funding round raised $200 million just months earlier. However, the project soon faced resistance from American competitor WHOOP, which filed two protests with the GAO. WHOOP argued the procurement lacked transparency and excluded domestic firms from fair competition. After the first protest, DHA withdrew its initial sole-source contract and reopened the process, stating that the wearable device must specifically be a ring. According to official documents reviewed by Breaking Defense, Oura was the only ring manufacturer approved for use in US Department of Defense secure facilities. A second protest from WHOOP followed in January, and in March, DHA informed both companies that the project would be cancelled altogether. The protest is now academic or moot, the agency told the GAO. An Oura spokesperson said the contract was intended as an efficiency initiative to address staff burnout and turnover. If insights from this program had led to even a 1% reduction in burnout, the return on investment would have been achieved, the spokesperson told Breaking Defense. WHOOP welcomed the cancellation. We commend the Department of Defense for intervening on the side of fair competition and common sense, the company said in a statement. It also criticised the original process as a backroom deal and expressed interest in future open competitions. The decision comes amid broader budget restructuring at the Pentagon. Newly appointed US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has ordered a review of the Departments fiscal 2026 plans to shift funds away from legacy programmes and towards administration priorities such as border security. The target is to reallocate roughly $50 billion, or eight percent of the upcoming budget. The cancellation also followed leadership changes within the DHA. The agencys former director, Gen. Telita Crossland, was reportedly forced into retirement earlier this month after more than three decades of service. With procurement halted, the biometric wearables programme will not move forward in its current form. The DHA has not confirmed whether a replacement initiative is planned. HT The USChina trade war has escalated after Xi Jinping froze Boeing jet orders and intensified regional engagement with Southeast Asian countries. The developments follow renewed US tariffs introduced under the Trump administration and are expected to cause extensive financial damage across multiple sectors of the US economy. The move applies to more than 179 jets scheduled for delivery through 2027. China Southern and Air China are among the major carriers affected. China accounts for around 2025 percent of Boeings global deliveries, equating to between $10 billion and $12 billion annually. Boeing holds 1,200 aircraft orders from Chinese carriers, nearly 28 percent of its total backlog. The companys stock fell by 3 percent in premarket trading following the announcement. This adds to a 12 percent decline recorded since the beginning of the year. Airlines operating Boeing aircraft in China are expected to incur higher maintenance costs due to the sudden shortage of authorised spare parts. Several Chinese operators are reportedly reviewing options to shift future purchases to Airbus and COMAC, the state-owned Chinese jet manufacturer. COMACs narrow-body aircraft have already secured new interest following the announcement. Aerospace analysts said Boeing could redirect jets intended for Chinese carriers to Indian airlines, which have indicated interest in increasing fleet capacity. The disruption still places Boeings supply chain at risk, with its US workforce facing possible job losses if the order freeze continues into 2026. The Boeing halt follows Trump-era tariffs of up to 145 percent on Chinese imports. Chinas Ministry of Commerce stated the action was a direct response to unfair trade restrictions imposed by the United States. Simultaneously, Xi Jinping toured Southeast Asia to reinforce economic partnerships and promote Chinese-led infrastructure and trade initiatives. The tour included stops in Malaysia, Cambodia, and Vietnam, resulting in over 40 agreements. In Malaysia, China signed 31 bilateral deals covering sectors such as artificial intelligence, tourism, and railway infrastructure. Malaysia is scheduled to chair ASEAN in 2025. The new agreements suggest deeper strategic alignment between the two countries. In light of the challenges facing the current global order and economic globalization, our two nations will align with others in the region to collectively counter the undercurrents of geopolitical and faction-based confrontations, as well as combat unilateralism and protectionism, ensuring a bright future for development in our shared Asian home." Xi said in his meeting with Malaysian officials. In Cambodia, China agreed to fund preliminary work on the Funan Techo Canal, valued at $1.7 billion. The project aims to reduce the countrys reliance on Mekong River routes influenced by US naval operations. China is Cambodias largest creditor and top foreign investor, holding 34 percent of its external debt. In Vietnam, the two sides finalised an $8.4 billion agreement to construct a high-speed railway connecting Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam also expanded aircraft import agreements with Chinese firms, further reducing its dependence on US aviation technology. During the trip, Xi Jinping called on ASEAN countries to reject hegemonism and protectionism, referring to the latest wave of US tariffs. He said China was committed to multilateralism and deeper regional integration. Chinese officials said the shift toward Southeast Asia aims to compensate for the potential export losses resulting from US sanctions. ASEAN accounts for more than 18 percent of Chinas total trade and serves as a strategic logistics and investment hub. The economic retaliation carries broader financial implications for the US. Boeing faces more than $150 billion in pending deals at risk, while Airbus may secure a greater share of international orders, affecting Boeings global competitiveness. Parts suppliers to Boeing and other manufacturers also face reduced revenue. Multiple US-based firms rely on Chinese contracts to sustain production. The aviation supply chain in states like Washington, Kansas, and South Carolina is expected to face pressure. China has imposed retaliatory tariffs of up to 125 percent on various US exports, including technology and agricultural goods. These measures increase pricing pressure on American producers and could widen the trade imbalance. In 2024, the USChina goods trade totalled $650 billion. Analysts project that volume could stagnate or decline under current conditions. The US trade deficit with China, which reached $383 billion in 2023, is expected to expand. Chinas diplomatic gains in Southeast Asia may also reduce US export opportunities. Regional governments are strengthening ties with Chinese firms in semiconductors, energy, and infrastructure. US exporters in these sectors face restricted access or higher entry barriers. Long-term financial shifts are also possible in the monetary sector. China has promoted yuan-based trade settlements across ASEAN. If regional governments begin favouring the yuan in trade, the US dollars dominance in Asia may weaken. The developments reflect a coordinated strategy by Beijing to counter tariff pressures by combining direct trade retaliation with diplomatic realignment. With the Trump administration maintaining tariff policies and suggesting further restrictions, Beijings economic and political moves signal an intention to sustain long-term regional influence. US officials have not confirmed any specific response to the Boeing order freeze or Southeast Asian agreements. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said in a press briefing that the administration was reviewing all available tools to protect American industries. Trade policy experts said the Boeing freeze illustrates the risks of escalating tariffs without diplomatic alternatives. These moves have a cascading effect. Were now looking at job risks and a shrinking footprint in one of the worlds fastest-growing markets, Edward Alden, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, told CNN. The current dispute adds to broader tensions ahead of the 2025 US presidential election, where trade with China remains a central issue. Both major candidates have pledged to protect American manufacturing, but the economic costs of retaliatory policies continue to mount. These costs are not confined to traditional manufacturing sectors; industries like gambling also feel the ripple effects, as regulatory uncertainties and disrupted supply chains impact their global operations.As of April 2025, the US faces reduced aerospace revenue, falling access to regional markets, disrupted supply chains, and increased uncertainty in bilateral trade dynamics. HT Earth Day program focuses on advocacy The Henderson County League of Women Voters will celebrate Earth Day with a program from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, at the Hendrick-Rhodes Veterans Center at Five Points, 900 North Main St. Related Stories Local Environmental Advocacy Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow will be a discussion about the local environmental scene and the Environmental and Conservation Organization, which helped lead the way. Formed in 1987, ECO worked to protect the environment of Henderson County. In 2014 ECO merged with two other regional organizations to form Mountain True. Program presenters will include two former executive directors of ECO, Mary Jo Padgett and David Weintraub. Katie Breckheimer will facilitate. For more information visit lwvhcnc.org. ABOUT 20 residents from Henleys twin town of Falaise in France were hosted at a reception at the town hall. The guests, who were staying with host families in the town, were greeted by Mayor Rory Hunt at the event on Thursday last week, and members of the Henley Falaise Leichlingen Twinning Association. They were presented with a bottle of English sparkling wine from Fairmile Vineyard, a book about Henley and a Henley-themed tote bag in the council chamber. Among the guests were Cecile Le Vaguerese-Marie, the deputy mayor of Falaise, as well as a number of Henley town councillors. Sue Fitzsimons, who chairs the Henley twinning association, said the event was lovely for members of the society to be reunited with their counterparts. She said: Its just really lovely. When they were all getting off the couch in Station Road all the hosts were there and they were all meeting each other and hugging. We have one visit every year now, one from Falaise and one from Leichlingen. Falaise comes one year, then Leichlingen comes the next and when Falaise come here, we go to Leichlingen and vice versa. Mrs Fitzsimons, who was a teacher at Trinity Primary School, said she first joined the society to improve her German. She said: I love languages very much and I love going to visit the towns over there because they are really hospitable. Our members are getting older but theyve had friendships going ever since we started. The French started in 1973 and the Germans started 1979, a long time ago. Her counterpart, Serge Loock, president of the French twinning association, first came to Henley 18 years ago. Mr Loock, who is a retired businessman, said: Coming here is always a pleasure. I would love to do it for many more years. I have a sort of bond as I worked for British companies for about 27 years before I retired. Mr Loock said that the association was excited for Henley members to visit Falaise in 2028 as there are set to be events marking the millennium of the birth of William the Conqueror. Fabienne Autricque, a chemistry and physics teacher from Falaise, stayed with Henley residents Anne and Edward Sandars. She said it was her first time visiting Henley and she was looking forward to exploring the town. Ms Autricque said: I find Henley very cute and very typical. In Normandy we have a lot of rain, like in England, so when it is sunny we are very happy. Angela Lenman, from Henley, said she always looked forward to hosting. She said: Its wonderful to have our visitors from Falaise. They come every year faithfully, and we love having them, welcoming them and finding something new for them to do each time. Roy Mawdesley joined the society more than 15 years ago with his wife Marion, who worked as a French teacher. He said: Weve been doing exchanges for many years and have visited both towns many times. It works very well and it has been good socially. Cllr Hunt said: Its absolutely brilliant to have them here, particularly in this day of difficult global cooperation. Having good relationships with our European neighbours is a really important thing. Weve had our twinning relationship with Falaise for 50 years now and thats a real testament to the friendship between the two towns. Global businesses exploring China's massive market opportunities through Canton Fair 14:10, April 18, 2025 By Chi Jingyi ( Global Times Chinese and foreign business representatives visit the exhibition hall of the 137th China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province, on April 17, 2025. The 137th edition is held from April 15 to May 5. (Chi Jingyi/GT) "How was your day at the Canton Fair?" "I'm about to reach a deal with my Chinese supplier of iceboxes. Good quality." "I'm also looking for iceboxes. Can you share the name and the position of the booth?" "Sure." The dialogue was heard on the metro, instead of the Canton Fair complex, between buyers from Canada and Nigeria attending the 137th Canton Fair, held in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province. It started after the buyers helped each other board the packed metro train at Xingangdong Station near the Canton Fair complex during peak exit hours on Thursday. This serendipitous encounter on Guangzhou's metro, which evolved into an impromptu global trade exchange, epitomized the Canton Fair's global bonding power and China's catalytic role in global opportunity-sharing through the well-known opening-up policy. When over 200,000 buyers from 216 countries and regions registered to attend, converging with 31,000 exhibitors, even a 10-minute metro ride becomes a movable trade booth. Apart from worldwide buyers and Chinese exporters, 736 exporters from 50 countries and regions are also enjoying China's open-market commitment at the Canton Fair. Yahsi Kurtuncu, general manager at dul Trophy, a Turkish manufacturer of home appliances, told the Global Times that the company has attended the Canton Fair for many years. The aim is to get in touch with overseas customers who visit China. "I can't remember. Maybe nearly 100 batches of customers in the past three days," a sales manager at Kumtel Home Appliances Inc., a Turkish brand of consumer electronics, told the Global Times on Thursday at the company's booth. The interview was interrupted by a group of buyers from Kuwait hoping to explore Kumtel's new products. "This (attending the Canton Fair) is a good opportunity to find new customers. We are receiving many visitors interested in our factories and our capacity," Antonio Velasco Guerrero, sales manager at B&B Trends, a Spanish manufacturer and supplier of consumer electronics, told the Global Times on Thursday at Canton Fair. "For us, the Canton Fair is one of the most important events where we can contact our customers," said Guerrero. For Phan Anh Quan, sales manager at Omega Electrics JSC, the expectation is high as more potential buyers visited their booth at the Canton Fair. "We hope that at this edition, we will have more customers from Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Last edition (October 2024) marked our debut participation with promising results," said Quan. Huynh Ngoc Hoa, manager of Sanaky Vietnam Co, a Vietnamese home appliance enterprise, said that the Canton Fair is a good matchmaking platform for global sellers and buyers to reach deals. This is Sanaky's first participation in the Canton Fair as an exporter. They were buyers during the past editions, Hoa told the Global Times. The company plans to keep riding the Canton Fair wave, which is a golden ticket to scaling up exports while staying ahead of market trends, said Hoa. Beyond exhibitors, the Canton Fair also chronicled the growth stories of its service partners, domestic and overseas. An example is McDonald's, which began catering to the Canton Fair in October 1996. Over nearly three decades, the service area at the event has expanded from 550 square meters to approximately 3,000 square meters, witnessing the development of Canton Fair and China's foreign trade, He Yiman, Operation Manager of McDonald's China Guangzhou Market, told the Global Times. "The two McDonald's restaurants at Canton Fair complex are expected to serve over 100,000 customers during the 137th edition," He said. In the past 68 years, the Canton Fair has consistently followed an open and inclusive approach, steadfastly committed to building an expansive international trade cooperation platform for global enterprises. Amid a complex and challenging global trade landscape, the 137th edition opened, showcasing China's unwavering commitment to further opening up and sharing development opportunities with the international community. China, as a responsible global stakeholder, remains steadfast in advancing an open world economy, acknowledging economic globalization as an irreversible force of the times. This commitment to openness and co-development serves as a dual catalyst, anchoring stability in international markets while injecting renewed vitality into the multilateral trade framework, Zhu Qiucheng, CEO of Ningbo New Oriental Electric Industrial Development, told the Global Times. Chinese and foreign business representatives wait to take the metro at Xingangdong Station near the Canton Fair complex in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province, on April 17, 2025. The 137th China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, is held from April 15 to May 5. (Chi Jingyi/GT) (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) April 18, 2025: The Arabian Peninsula is the home of several wealthy Arab kingdoms that prosper on huge pools of petroleum underneath the desert sands. The only area with no oil is Yemen in the fertile south. Until the Persian Gulf oil industry was created over a century ago, Yemen was the most prosperous part of Arabia because it was green from monsoon rains that soaked Yemen on their way to East Africa. One of the many factions controlling parts of Yemen are the Houthi group, a sort of tribe and/or Shia religious faction, who are at sort of war with most or all of their neighbors and some countries which arent. The current head of the Houthi is 45 year old Abdul-Malik al-Houthi. Several of his predecessors were killed by American, Arabian and European attacks. The loss of so many Houthi leaders has not disrupted the violent activities of the Houthis who, with the aid of Iranian-supplied missiles and drones have been attacking shipping in the Red Sea for the past 18 months. They also occasionally launch missiles at Israel. The Israeli missile defense system blocks the Houthi attacks but the Houthis are satisfied that they can get missiles far enough to land some in Israel were it not for Israels anti-missile defenses. These attacks justify the hundred or million dollars in missiles and other military aid Iran has sent to the Houthis. In return the Houthis impose a brutal dictatorship over the twenty million people of northern Yemen. The Houthis see frequent violence as the most effective way to keep Yemeni civilians in line. The Houthis gradually seized control of all major businesses in Yemen. This plunder finances Houthis terrorist activities. Iran is broke but can still supply lots of missiles, which have to be smuggled into Yemen by sea or overland from ports with bribable officials. Western efforts to disrupt Houthi violence via assassination of Houthi leaders have failed. The Houthis clan is large and there are always replacements. At best, the assassinations cause some disruption in Houthi operations. Opponents are dealing with a death cult that disregards the loss of Yemeni civilians and leaders so they can concentrate on attacking Israel and other enemies of Iran. Few of these attacks do any damage and usually elicit retaliatory attacks that kill a lot of Houthis, Yemenis and any Iranians in the way. Any Yemenis or Iranians who protest this treatment are attacked and often killed by Houthi or Iranian forces. The Israeli/Western response is to kill as many Houthi supporters and Iranian allies as possible. This approach largely destroyed the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia in 2024. Hezbollah still exists but was rendered ineffective for months and is still trying to rebuild. Disrupting Houthi finances and logistical operations are essential. Even terrorists have to be paid and there is so much oil wealth in the Persian Gulf that enough of it leaks to Islamic terrorist groups to keep the Houthis going. These lessons were learned by 18th Century British colonial officials. Their counter-terrorism advice was to shoot on sight, shoot first and keep on shooting. In that respect the Islamic terrorists and their foreign opponents used the same tactics. Yemens Shia rebels, led by the Houthi tribe, have used their large stockpile of Iranian missiles to block access to the Suez Canal. This capability developed over the last decade as the rebels launched attacks on more distant targets. The rebels obtained more powerful weapons as well, including Iranian ballistic missiles, which were disassembled so they could be smuggled from Iran to Yemen, where Iranian technicians supervised the missiles being assembled and launched into Saudi Arabia. In the last few years, the rebels have received longer range ballistic missiles fired from northern Yemen across Saudi territory to hit Saudi and United Arab Emirate/UAE oil production facilities on the Persian Gulf coast. The rebels also acquired the reconnaissance capability to accurately fire missiles at ships passing through the narrow, 26 kilometers wide, Bab-el-Mandeb straits off southwestern Yemen and force ships to take the longer and more expensive and time consuming route around the southern tip of Africa. This has always been a potential threat to ships using the Red Sea to reach the Suez Canal in Egypt, at the north end of the Red Sea. Transit fees from ships using the canal are a major source of income for Egypt, bringing in about $10 billion a year. Egypt and Iran are enemies and reducing Suez Canal income is a win for Iran, which supported the Yemen rebels for more than a decade to make such an interdiction possible. Western nations reacted slowly to this interdiction effort and only recently began attacking Houthi targets with warship missiles and air strikes. Western warships close to the Yemen shore use their defensive weapons to defeat attacks launched from the Yemen coast. Before the Israeli attacks on Gaza and Iran-backed militias in Lebanon, Iran was under widespread internal pressure from Iranians protesting the expensive foreign wars in Syria and Yemen. Despite that, Iran smuggled more and more weapons to those countries. These were not intended for the ongoing Yemen civil war but for use against targets designated by Iran. At the same time Iran saw the growth of domestic uprisings to deal with back home. The Iranian religious dictatorship held onto power and supported more violence against real and perceived enemies of Iran. In early 2015 Iran admitted it had been quietly supporting the Houthi Shia rebels for a long time but now was doing so openly, and that support was increasing. Many Yemenis trace the current crisis back to the civil war that ended, sort of, in 1994. That war was caused by the fact that, when the British left Yemen in 1967, their former colony in Aden became one of two countries called Yemen. The two Yemens finally united in 1990 but another civil war in 1994 was needed to finalize unification. That fix didn't really take and the north and south have been pulling apart ever since. This comes back to the fact that Yemen has always been a region, not a country. Like most of the rest of the Persian Gulf and Horn of Africa region, the normal form of government until the 20th century was wealthier coastal city states nervously coexisting with interior tribes that got by on herding or farming or a little of both plus smuggling and other illicit sidelines. The concept of nationhood is still looked on with some suspicion. This is why the most common forms of government are the more familiar ones of antiquity like kingdom, emirate, or modern variation in the form of a hereditary secular dictatorship. For a long time, the most active Yemeni rebels were the Shia Houthis in the north. The Houthis have always wanted to restore local Shia rule in the traditional Shia tribal territories, led by the local imam, a religious leader who was a Houthi. This arrangement, after surviving more than a thousand years, was ended by the central government in 1962. Yemen also became the new headquarters of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula/ AQAP when Saudi Arabia was no longer safe for the terrorists after 2007. Now there is an invading army composed of troops from oil-rich neighbors like Saudi Arabia, which was very upset by Iranian/Houthi missile attacks. By late 2017 the rebels were slowly losing ground to government forces who, despite Arab coalition air support and about five thousand ground troops, were still dependent on Yemeni Sunni tribal militias to fight the Shia tribesmen on the ground. While the Shia are only a third of the population, they are united while the Sunni tribes are divided over the issue of again splitting the country in two, and with no agreement on who would get the few oil fields in central Yemen. Many of the Sunni tribes tolerate or even support AQAP and ISIL. The Iranian smuggling pipeline continued to operate, and the Yemen rebels were able to buy additional weapons from other sources because they received cash from nations or groups hostile to the Arab Gulf state, especially Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The Shia Houthi rebels were from northern Yemen and controlled the border with Saudi Arabia. Over the last decade the rebels launched more and more attacks on Saudi targets and in later 2023 and into 2025 that violence escalated. April 18, 2025: The Arabian Peninsula, home of several wealthy Arab kingdoms that prosper on huge pools of petroleum underneath the desert sands. The only area with no oil is Yemen in the fertile south. Until the Persian Gulf oil industry was created over a century ago, Yemen was the most prosperous part of Arabia because it was green from Monsoon rains that soaked Yemen on their way to East Africa. The current head of the Houthi movement is 45 year old Abdul-Malik al-Houthi. Several of his predecessors were killed by Americans, Arabian or European attacks. The loss of so many Houthi leaders has not disrupted the violent activities of the Houthis and, with the aid of Iranian supplied missiles and drones against shipping in the Red Sea and an occasional missile attack on Israel. The Israeli missile defense system blocks the Houth attacks but the Houthis are satisfied that they are able to make such attacks. These attacks justify the hundred or million dollars in missiles and other military aid Iran has sent to the Houthis. In return the Houthis impose a brutal dictatorship over the twenty million people of northern Yemen. The Houthis see frequent violence as the most effective way to keep Yemeni civilians in line. The Houthis gradually seized control of all major businesses in Yemen. This plunder finances Houthis terrorist activities. Iran is broke but cab still supply lots of missiles, which have to be smuggled into Yemen by sea or overland from ports with bribable officials. Western efforts to disrupt Houthi violence via assassination of Houthi leaders have failed. The Houthis clan is large and there are always replacements. At best, the assassination cause some disruption in Houthi operations. Opponents are dealing with a death cult that disregards the loss of Yemeni civilians and leaders so they can concentrate on attacking Israel and its allies. Few of these attacks do any damage and usually elicit retaliatory attacks that kill a lot of Houthis, Yemenis and any Iranians in the way. Any Yemenis or Iranians who protest this treatment are attacked and often killed by Houthi or Iranian forces. The Israeli/Western response is to kill as many Houthi supporters and Iranian allies as possible. This approach largely destroyed the Iran backed Hezbollah militia in 2024. Hezbollah still exists but was rendered ineffective for months and is still trying to rebuild. Disrupting Houthi finances and logistical operations are essential. Even terrorists have to be paid and there is so much oil wealth in the Persian Gulf that enough of it leaks to Islamic terrorist groups to keep the Houthis going. These lessons were learned by 18th Century British colonial officials. Their counter-terrorism advice was to shoot on sight, shoot first and keep on shooting. In that respect the Islamic terrorists and their foreign opponents used the same tactics. Yemens Shia rebels, led by the Houthi tribe, have used their large stockpile of Iranian missiles to block access to the Suez Canal. This capability developed over the last decade as the rebels launched attacks on more distant targets. The rebels obtained more powerful weapons as well, including Iranian ballistic missiles, which were disassembled so they could be smuggled from Iran to Yemen, where Iranian technicians supervised the missiles being assembled and launched into Saudi Arabia. In the last few years, the rebels have received longer range ballistic missiles fired from northern Yemen across Saudi territory to hit Saudi and United Arab Emirate/UAE oil production facilities on the Persian Gulf coast. The rebels also acquired the reconnaissance capability to accurately fire missiles at ships passing through the narrow, 26 kilometers wide, Bab-el-Mandeb straits off southwestern Yemen and force ships to take the longer and more expensive and time consuming route around the southern tip of Africa. This has always been a potential threat to ships using the Red Sea to reach the Suez Canal in Egypt, at the north end of the Red Sea. Transit fees from ships using the canal are a major source of income for Egypt, bringing in about $10 billion a year. Egypt and Iran are enemies and reducing Suez Canal income is a win for Iran, which supported the Yemen rebels for more than a decade to make such an interdiction possible. Western nations reacted slowly to this interdiction effort and only recently began attacking Yemen Shia rebel targets with warship missiles and air strikes. Western warships close to the Yemen shore used their defensive weapons to defeat attacks launched from the Yemen coast. The war in Yemen drags on into 2025. Before the Israeli attacks on Gaza and Iran-backed militias in Lebanon, Iran was under widespread internal pressure from Iranians protesting the expensive foreign wars in Syria and Yemen. Despite that, Iran smuggled in more and more weapons. These were not intended for the ongoing Yemen civil war but for use against targets designated by Iran. At the same time Iran saw the growth of domestic uprising to deal with back home. The Iranian religious dictatorship held onto power and supported more violence against real or perceived enemies of Iran. In early 2015 Iran admitted it had been quietly supporting the Houthi Shia rebels for a long time but now was doing so openly, and that support was increasing. Many Yemenis trace the current crisis back to the civil war that ended, sort of, in 1994. That war was caused by the fact that, when the British left Yemen in 1967, their former colony in Aden became one of two countries called Yemen. The two Yemens finally united in 1990 but another civil war in 1994 was needed to finalize unification. That fix didn't really take and the north and south have been pulling apart ever since. This comes back to the fact that Yemen has always been a region, not a country. Like most of the rest of the Persian Gulf and Horn of Africa region, the normal form of government until the 20th century was wealthier coastal city states nervously coexisting with interior tribes that got by on herding or farming or a little of both plus smuggling and other illicit sidelines. This concept of nationhood is still looked on with some suspicion. This is why the most common forms of government are the more familiar ones of antiquity like kingdom, emirate, or modern variation in the form of a hereditary secular dictatorship. For a long time, the most active Yemeni rebels were the Shia Houthis in the north. The Houthis have always wanted to restore local Shia rule in the traditional Shia tribal territories, led by the local imam, a religious leader who was a Houthi. This arrangement, after surviving more than a thousand years, was ended by the central government in 1962. Yemen also became the new headquarters of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula/ AQAP when Saudi Arabia was no longer safe for the terrorists after 2007. Now there is Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant/ISIL and an invading army composed of troops from oil-rich neighbors like Saudi Arabia, which was very upset by Iranian/Houthi missile attacks. By late 2017 the rebels were slowly losing ground to government forces who, despite Arab coalition air support and about five thousand ground troops, were still dependent on Yemeni Sunni tribal militias to fight the Shia tribesmen on the ground. While the Shia are only a third of the population, they are united while the Sunni tribes are divided over the issue of again splitting the country in two and with no agreement on who would get the few oil fields in central Yemen. Many of the Sunni tribes tolerate or even support AQAP and ISIL. The Iranian smuggling pipeline continued to operate, and the Yemen rebels were able to buy additional weapons from other sources because they received cash from nations or groups hostile to the Arab Gulf state, especially Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The Shia Houthi rebels were from northern Yemen and controlled the border with Saudi Arabia. Over the last decade the rebels launched more and more attacks on Saudi targets and in later 2023 and into 2025 that violence escalated. by Austin Bay April 17, 2025 Our murky, blood-soaked moment in time demands a new look at geopolitics -- specifically, what constitutes a strategically valuable position that in human terms is worth expending immense wealth and/or using violence to obtain or deny. Understand the violence option means risking soldier sons' and daughters' lives in the struggle. Post-Hiroshima, obtaining or denying the valuable position risks escalation to nuclear devastation. The key but undefined concept is "valuable position." More on that in a moment. As I write this column, the world once again confronts a nuclear fracas involving Ayatollah Iran. Iran's regime is waging somewhere between eight and 12 wars against enemies near and far. The ayatollahs want nuclear weapons because Allah and money and prestige. For the same reasons, Iran has waged terrorist and proxy war on Israel and the U.S. since roughly 1985. Iran calls Israel a one bomb state, so Israel says no way to Iranian nukes. The U.S. -- lead by Art of the Deal Donald Trump -- says Iran cannot have nuclear weapons because its regime is insane ... BUT maybe individual ayatollahs would rather live than die from massive American and Israeli air and missile attacks directed at their nukes. The curious website thetoptens.com rates Iran as the eighth most strategic country (a big position?) on Earth because it controls the Strait of Hormuz (oil tanker route from the Persian Gulf) and has ports on the Indian Ocean that make it the "Golden Gate" to landlocked Central Asia. Iran has its nuclear weapons facilities deeply buried in its vast central plateau that is tough to attack. However, the U.S. has air bases and aircraft carriers and missiles that can strike Iranian targets. A key base is on the island of Diego Garcia. In early February, I wrote a column titled "Diego Garcia: The American Nowhere Vexing China And Iran." Diego Garcia's valuable because Location Location Location. The island hosts a U.S. strategic airbase (meaning it easily handles heavy bombers and tankers that can refuel all aircraft), a naval base (that can re-arm nuclear subs and guided missile destroyers) and a fairly well-protected anchorage. The Pentagon has been sending satellite photos worldwide showing six B-2 bombers on the Diego Garcia runway, as well as a dozen B-1 bombers. Information Warfare? You bet. Diego Garcia, like Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, like the island of Singapore on the strait connecting the Pacific and Indian Oceans, is a definitely strategically valuable geographic position. But the words are a bit archaic. Geo: the primary definition is "a prefix derived from the Greek word for 'earth'." Geography: Webster's and Britannica agree it's the "study of the lands, features, demography (people, populations), and other phenomena of Earth." Strategy: from the Greek word for army general, the "strategos" leading the phalanx. My definition: the quasi-science and dicey art of using a nation's or tribe's or cartel's or insurgent sect's various elements of power to try to execute plans to achieve desired goals. These efforts may occur during war or -- most likely -- during the usual dangerous and murky episodes when the bloodshed is minimized and most folks decide to call it peace. Put the Greek-root words together and you get geostrategy. Wikipedia's definition is nation-state and military biased: "a type of foreign policy guided principally by geographical factors as they inform, constrain, or affect political and military planning." The U.S. Army War College 2004 Guide to Strategy has this pithier definition: Geostrategy is the intersection of geography and capability, and especially military power. Human survival interests, however, have escaped Earth's surface and sea geography. Are the moon and the asteroid belt geostrategic positions, in terms of human struggles expressed in military operations and diplomatic ventures? You bet they are. Within three decades, we will mine mineral-rich asteroids. Control of mini-planets could lead to war in space. As for cyberspace, the digital other world of communications, data storage and data theft? Cyberspace exists in fiber optic lines, computers, microwave transmissions, cellphones. International and criminal adversaries constantly attack cyberspace. On April 15, Gatestone reported: "Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) cyber-attacks against America have undergone a deadly shift that seriously threatens the US's capability to prevail in any open conflict with China ... the stealthy insertion of potentially debilitating malware into the computer systems that control critical nodes of US infrastructure" threatens a "Pearl Harbor-magnitude attack on America." The valuable cyber world is a difficult world to protect. We've moved from Geo to Neo-strategy. Mainland urges Taiwan businesses to jointly resist external risks, challenges Xinhua) 14:48, April 18, 2025 NANJING, April 18 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland official on Friday urged Taiwan business people and businesses to join hands in resisting external risks and challenges. Song Tao, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks during a meeting with representatives of Taiwan business people held in Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu Province. Song said the tariff war launched by the United States cannot alter the solid fundamentals, strong resilience, and long-term positive trajectory of the mainland's economy. "We have the wisdom and capability to tackle and overcome all challenges. The mainland will always be a strong backing for Taiwan business people," he said. The mainland will study and address the problems and difficulties faced by Taiwan business people and enterprises, introduce practical and effective policy measures, ensure equal treatment, increase support, and strengthen cross-Strait industrial and supply chain connectivity, Song said. Song expressed the hope that Taiwan business people and enterprises will remain confident and forward-looking, actively engage in cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation, and work together to withstand external risks and challenges. Representatives of Taiwan business people at the meeting said that the unfair tariffs imposed by the United States have seriously impacted the global trade order and brought certain pressure and influence on some export-oriented Taiwan enterprises. The mainland's institutional advantages and economic resilience are the fundamental guarantees for resisting risks, they noted. As the mainland also boasts a complete industrial system, a broad market space, and huge investment and consumption potential, Taiwan business people and enterprises are full of confidence in overcoming difficulties, with timely support from governments at all levels. The representatives said that Taiwan businesses will actively participate in the cooperation and integrated development of industrial and supply chains across the Taiwan Strait, integrate into the new development pattern, and seek new and greater development opportunities and space. They said the vast number of Taiwan-funded enterprises have always stood with the mainland, resolutely support the country's countermeasures against the United States, and are confident that they will win this tariff war together. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) A federal government website once dedicated to providing essential public health information about COVID-19 has been overhauled to promote the theory that the virus may have originated from a laboratory leak in Wuhan, China. The revamped COVID.gov site, now under the Trump administration, features a prominent image of President Donald Trump flanked by the words "lab" and "leak", positioned under a White House banner. The site emphasizes that Wuhan, where the first COVID-19 outbreak was detected, is home to a lab that previously conducted virus research under allegedly inadequate biosafety conditions. The page also accuses Dr. Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, of promoting a "preferred narrative" that COVID-19 originated from natural sources a theory many scientists still support due to historical precedent with other viruses. While the true origins of COVID-19 remain unproven, U.S. intelligence reports have concluded there is insufficient evidence to definitively determine whether the virus began through natural transmission from animals or due to a lab accident. Previously, COVID.gov served as a vital resource during the pandemic. It included: Free COVID-19 test orders Guidance on updated vaccines Advice on how to access treatment Resources about long COVID symptoms The website overhaul removed this content, effectively erasing government messaging that vaccines were "the best way to protect yourself and loved ones." The site no longer offers resources on how to get tested, vaccinated, or treated. The rebranding of COVID.gov is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to realign federal websites with its current policy direction. Similar changes have occurred across government portals: Public health data referencing transgender individuals was reportedly scrubbed. The Pentagon removed diversity-related images, once seen as part of its equity and inclusion efforts. Despite shifting narratives, COVID-19 continues to pose a threat in the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Roughly 325 Americans have died each week over the past month. As of early April, fewer than 25% of U.S. adults have received the latest COVID vaccine. Millions globally suffer from long COVID, marked by ongoing symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, and respiratory issues. While it's typical for government websites to reflect changes in administration, the sweeping removal of scientific and health guidance especially during an active public health concern has drawn criticism from medical experts and public health advocates. Harvard University, the nation's oldest and wealthiest institution of higher learning, is at the forefront of a high-stakes battle that could reshape the landscape of American higher education. On April 14, 2025, President Alan Garber issued a resolute statement, "The Promise of American Higher Education," rejecting what he called "unprecedented" demands from the Trump administration that would undermine the university's independence. The federal government responded swiftly, freezing $2.3 billion in research grants, escalating a feud that has captured the attention of academia and beyond. The administration's demands, tied to a review of $9 billion in federal funding, included auditing student and faculty viewpoints and altering campus policies to address alleged antisemitism. These conditions, Harvard argues, represent a dangerous encroachment on academic freedom and First Amendment rights. Garber's response was unequivocal: "No governmentregardless of which party is in powershould dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue." This standoff comes amid a broader campaign by the Trump administration targeting elite universities, with Columbia, Cornell, and Northwestern also facing funding cuts over similar allegations. Critics, including Harvard Law School professor Nikolas Bowie, have called the administration's tactics "authoritarian," accusing it of weaponizing antisemitism concerns to justify attacks on higher education. Harvard's defiance has resonated widely. Former President Barack Obama praised the university for rejecting "an unlawful and ham-handed attempt to stifle academic freedom," urging other institutions to follow suit. Wesleyan University President Michael S. Roth hailed the move as a critical resistance to institutional overreach, while former federal judge J. Michael Luttig called it a potential "turning point" in curbing assaults on American institutions. The implications are profound. Harvard's $52 billion endowment provides a financial cushion, but the loss of federal funding threatens groundbreaking research in fields like medicine, quantum computing, and public health. Travis Donahoe, a Harvard-trained researcher, emphasized the stakes: "Ending [the opioid] epidemic is one of the most important changes we can make to improve the healthand dignityof all Americans." Such work, reliant on federal grants, now hangs in the balance. Yet Harvard's stand is about more than money. It's a defense of the university's role as a bastion of open inquiry and intellectual rigor. Garber underscored this mission, writing, "The fearless and unfettered pursuit of truth liberates humanity." As other universities, like Princeton, signal similar resistance, a collective pushback may be forming. The clash has sparked a broader debate about the future of higher education. Supporters of the administration argue that universities must be held accountable for fostering environments perceived as hostile to certain groups. White House spokesperson Harrison Fields stated, "President Trump is working to Make Higher Education Great Again by ending unchecked anti-Semitism." But critics counter that such interventions risk turning campuses into political battlegrounds, eroding the very principles that make American universities global leaders. As Harvard prepares to fight in court, backed by notable lawyers Robert Hur and William Burck, the outcome could set a precedent for how universities navigate federal influence. For now, Garber's message is clear: the promise of American higher educationrooted in freedom, truth, and resiliencewill not be surrendered without a fight. Virga Capital is proud to announce the opening of its newest hospitality development, Home2 Suites by Hilton Bozeman Four Corners, in Bozeman, Montana. Located at 110 Homestake Drive in the heart of the Four Corners submarket, the property is the first hotel to open in the area. Strategically located in the greater Bozeman market, the Home2 Suites by Hilton property offers an elevated extended-stay experience with modern amenities and easy access to downtown (8 mi), the airport (9 mi), and Big Sky Resort (38 mi). With 100 suites designed for business and leisure guests, Home2 Suites by Hilton Bozeman Four Corners combines the brand's signature style with a prime location for travelers and their pets seeking modern amenities and the comforts of home. In addition to contemporary, spacious suites equipped with full kitchens, the hotel offers amenities, such as flexible workspaces, indoor pool, outdoor patio with fire pits, and complimentary breakfast catered to accommodate extended stays and short visits alike. Bozeman is experiencing significant economic growth, with its population increasing by nearly 20% over the past 5 years. This surge is accompanied by a thriving job market, particularly in sectors such as construction, hospitality, technology, and professional services. The opening of the Home2 Suites reinforces Virga Capital's continued investment in high-performing hospitality assets and its vision for identifying emerging submarkets with long-term growth potential. Hotel website Sheraton Dallas is proud to welcome Miguel Neira as the new Executive Chef. With over 16 years in the hospitality industry, Neira will oversee all aspects of the hotel's food operations, including the management of banquet facilities and four distinctive food and beverage outlets. Neira brings a passion for culinary innovation, leading an energized kitchen to develop unique, seasonal menus that are globally inspired while using only fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Born and raised in a small coastal town in Ecuador, Neira's passion for food was ignited early in life. He learned the art of fishing and developed an appreciation for the unparalleled quality of fresh, ocean-sourced ingredients. These formative experiences laid the foundation for his culinary philosophy: food should be pure, fresh, and reflective of its origins. Neira has traveled all over the world, immersing himself in a rich variety of culinary traditions. From the bold street food flavors of Cancun to the delicate pastries of France, his travels deepened his culinary understanding and expanded his palate. By blending the vibrant flavors of his Latin heritage with the refinement of international cuisines, he developed a unique culinary style that has shaped his career. Neira began his culinary career with Marriott in 2007 as Restaurant Chef at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort in St. Petersburg, Florida. He held leadership roles in Cleveland, Chicago and Tampa, including Executive Banquet Chef at Sheraton Grand Chicago, excelling in large-scale events and high-volume operations. Since 2021, Neira has served as Executive Sous Chef at Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center, overseeing all culinary outlets, site inspections, and menu development to enhance the guest dining experience. Neira's expertise and innovative vision led him to his current role as Executive Chef at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel, where he continues to lead with a commitment to sustainability, community, and the power of food to bring people together. W Punta Cana, Adult All-Inclusive has named Omar Rivera as General Manager of the W Hotels brand's first all-inclusive resort worldwide, scheduled to open this spring. In his new role, Rivera will lead the brand's debut within the all-inclusive space, bringing a fresh perspective to this growing market. He will also be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the resort's daily operations and will lead cross-functional teams to achieve excellence in diverse areas. With a focus on upholding the iconic W Hotels brand standards, he will also drive innovation within the adults-only all-inclusive segment. Prior to joining the resort, Rivera served as Managing Director for Hyatt's Inclusive Collection in Jamaica. His leadership there helped drive substantial increases in ancillary revenue and elevated the guest experience, achieving remarkable improvements in key performance indicators. Previously, Rivera spent six years as General Manager for various Hyatt Ziva properties in Mexico and Jamaica. David Miliband is President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee (IRC), where he oversees the agencys humanitarian relief operations in more than 50 war-affected countries and its refugee resettlement and assistance programmes in 26 US cities. Under Milibands leadership, the IRC has expanded its ability to rapidly respond to humanitarian crises and meet the needs of an unprecedented number of people uprooted by conflict, war and disaster. The organisation is implementing an ambitious global strategy to bring clear outcomes, strong evidence and systematic research to the humanitarian programmes through collaborative partnerships with the public and private sectors. From 2007 to 2010, Miliband was the 74th Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of the United Kingdom, driving advancements in human rights and representing the U.K. throughout the world. In 2006, as Secretary of State for the Environment, he pioneered the worlds first legally binding emissions reduction requirements. He was Member of Parliament for South Shields from 2001 to 2013. Miliband graduated from Oxford University in 1987 with a first class honors degree in philosophy, politics and economics, and received a masters degree in political science in 1989 from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which he attended as a Kennedy Scholar. His accomplishments have earned him a reputation, in former President Bill Clinton's words, as "one of the ablest, most creative public servants of our time," and as an effective and passionate advocate for the world's uprooted and poor people. Milibands parents fled to Britain from continental Europe during World War II and its aftermath. As the son of refugees, he brings a personal commitment to the IRC's work. He lives in New York City with his wife, violinist Louise Shackelton, and their two sons. MUMBAI Accor, a global leader in hospitality, proudly announces the signing of Novotel Indore Super Corridor and ibis Styles Indore Super Corridor, solidifying its presence in one of Central Indias fastest-growing commercial hubs. Scheduled to open in 2029, this 310-key dual-branded hotel development will cater to Indores increasing demand for high-quality accommodations, supporting its transformation into a leading business and lifestyle destination. Strategically located near the citys Super Corridor, a thriving commercial and IT hub, the two hotels will cater to a diverse mix of corporate travellers, MICE business, and leisure guests. This signing reflects Accors continued expansion in India, further enhancing its footprint in the region. Developed by Pitraparvat Developers Private Limited, the hotels will offer 170 guestrooms at Novotel Indore Super Corridor and 140 guestrooms at ibis Styles Indore Super Corridor, providing a broad range of accommodation options to suit different traveller preferences. The properties will include multiple dining venues, a state-of-the-art fitness centre, swimming pool, and flexible event and banquet spaces. Indore is rapidly emerging as a dynamic hub for business, technology, and lifestyle, making it a perfect location for Accors continued growth in the country. The signing of Novotel and ibis Styles Indore Super Corridor aligns with our strategic vision to bring world-class hospitality to key urban hubs. With its well-connected metro and road infrastructure, the new hotels will redefine Indores hospitality landscape. These properties will seamlessly blend comfort, efficiency, and quality service to meet the evolving needs of modern travellers. Aniruddh Kumar, Vice President of Development, India & South Asia at Accor This partnership marks a significant step in our commitment to shaping Indores hospitality landscape. With Accors global expertise and our deep-rooted presence in the region, we are confident that these hotels will set new standards in service and guest experience. Parth Shukla, Director, Pitraparvat Developers Private Limited Novotel, with over 590 hotels across 68 countries and 180 more in the pipeline, champions balanced living for both business travellers and families. Meanwhile, the ibis brands, including ibis Styles, reliably offer convenient, friendly and value-for-money stays, with over 2,500 hotels in 79 countries, including over 680 ibis Styles hotels globally. The Novotel Indore Super Corridor and ibis Styles Indore Super Corridor will further enhance Accors diverse portfolio in India, strengthening the Groups presence in Madhya Pradesh. About Accor, a world-leading hospitality group Accor is a world-leading hospitality group offering stays and experiences across more than 110 countries with over 5,600 hotels and resorts, 10,000 bars & restaurants, wellness facilities and flexible workspaces. The Group has one of the industry's most diverse hospitality ecosystems, encompassing around 45 hotel brands from luxury to economy, as well as Lifestyle with Ennismore. ALL, the booking platform and loyalty program embodies the Accor promise during and beyond the hotel stay and gives its members access to unique experiences. Accor is focused on driving positive action through business ethics, responsible tourism, environmental sustainability, community engagement, diversity, and inclusivity. Accor's mission is reflected in the Group's purpose: Pioneering the art of responsible hospitality, connecting cultures, with heartfelt care. Founded in 1967, Accor SA is headquartered in France. Included in the CAC 40 index, the Group is publicly listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and on the OTC Market (Ticker: ACCYY) in the United States. For more information, please visit group.accor.com or follow us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok. NEW ORLEANS On the final day of the 2025 AAHOA Convention & Trade Show, AAHOA (Asian American Hotel Owners Association) honored excellence within the hospitality industry by recognizing hoteliers and properties through its annual awards program. These awards reflect the dedication, talent, and hard work of our members, who truly impact our industry and communities. Celebrating these award winners is a reminder of the high bar they set and the inspiration they provide to all of us striving for excellence in hospitality. AAHOA Chairman Kamalesh (KP) Patel AAHOA's annual awards highlight individuals for their contributions in service, leadership, and community engagement in hospitality. An independent awards committee selected recipients for their exemplary contributions to the industry. As we celebrate the achievements of these outstanding individuals, we are reminded of the incredible dedication within our AAHOA community. This year's award winners exemplify leadership and innovation, and their accomplishments continue to drive our industry and AAHOA forward. AAHOA President & CEO Laura Lee Blake The following 2025 award recipients were celebrated on the main stage on Thursday, April 17: AAHOA Award of Excellence This award recognizes a hotelier who has demonstrated strong leadership, has high standards of excellence, and is making a significant contribution to the lodging industry. Denish Patel, Co-Founder and Managing Director, AJNM Hotels Group, Fort Worth, TX, Lifetime Member Cecil B. Day Community Service Award Named in honor of Cecil B. Day, the founder of Days Inn, known for his commitment to community service, this award recognizes members who have demonstrated a strong commitment to serving their community. Ray Patel, Director of Development & Acquisitions, Aelius Management Group, Lodi, CA, Lifetime Member AAHOA Charitable Foundation Outreach Award This award honors an individual dedicated to impactful philanthropic and charitable efforts, embodying the mission of the AAHOA Charitable Foundation. Mahendra (Mike) Patel, President, Laguna Lodging, South Padre Island/Texas, Lifetime Member Outstanding HerOwnership Award of Excellence This award recognizes a woman hotelier for strong leadership, a commitment to lodging excellence, and significant contributions to the industry and community. Nipun (Nina) Patel, CEO, Steel Hospitality, Philadelphia, PA, Lifetime Member Outstanding HYPE Award of Excellence This award is for young hoteliers under 30 who have exemplified the spirit, dedication, and achievement of a professional hotelier. Ankita Jain, Senior Manager, Acquisition & Development, Vivant Capital, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Annual Member Political Forum Award for Advocacy This award is given to an individual who is extensively involved with helping advance AAHOA's mission and the interests of its members by participating in the legislative process through political involvement and government affairs. Pratik H. Bhakta, Asheville, NC, Lifetime Member IAHA Independent Hotel of the Year Award This award honors an independent hotel that sets a high standard of excellence in quality, service, and guest satisfaction. This award honors a specific hotel rather than an independent hotelier. The BLVD Hotel & Studios in Los Angeles, CA, represented by Sagar Kumar, President-OceansV Hotel Management, Los Angeles, CA, Lifetime Member About AAHOA AAHOA is the largest hotel owners association in the nation, with Member-owned properties representing a significant part of the U.S. economy. AAHOA's 20,000 members own 60% of the hotels in the United States and are responsible for 1.7% of the nation's GDP. More than 1 million employees work at AAHOA member-owned hotels, earning $51.3 billion annually, and member-owned hotels support 4.2 million U.S. jobs across all sectors of the hospitality industry. AAHOA's mission is to advance and protect the business interests of hotel owners through advocacy, industry leadership, professional development, member benefits, and community engagement. Travelodge, the UKs first budget hotel brand which operates over 600 hotels across the UK, Ireland and Spain, has agreed to acquire 11 hotels across the UK, adding to its existing portfolio of 588 UK-based hotels. This forms part of the Companys focus on targeting rebrand opportunities as part of its UK and Spanish growth plans. Nine of the hotels Travelodge intends to acquire are former Hotel Campanile hotels, totalling 951 rooms, five acquired on a freehold basis and four to be acquired long-leasehold. This acquisition builds on Travelodges strategy to enhance value by diversifying its freehold/leasehold split. The hotels are located in Birmingham, Bradford, Dartford, Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester, Northampton, Milton Keynes and Swindon. The other two UK hotels for which Travelodge has recently exchanged contracts are in Bromsgrove and Wakefield. Bromsgrove is a former Ibis hotel, where Travelodge has taken a new, 25-year lease. Featuring 43-rooms, the hotel is currently being refitted by Travelodge and is due to open in May. The newly acquired hotel in Wakefield is a former independent hotel (CitiLodge), with 74-rooms, and is being converted to the Travelodge brand by the owner, with the hotel expected to open in August, at which time Travelodge will enter into a new, 25-year lease. Both hotels will be fully refitted to Travelodges design and brand standards before opening. Travelodge has also recently opened a new hotel in Bromley Town Centre, which was a former Ibis hotel. The Company exchanged contracts in January and has fully refitted the hotel to its brand design. The hotel opened for trading last month. The acquisition of these hotels marks another positive step in our UK development strategy, as we seek to grow and optimise our estate of hotels and enhance value by diversifying our freehold and leasehold split. There are still many locations throughout the UK and Spain where we can open a new Travelodge hotel, to provide great value and quality accommodation. Acquisitions of properties which can be rebranded to Travelodge are a key part of our development strategy, as we look to continue to grow our footprint. We have a requirement to open over a further 300 hotels across the UK, and are seeking prime opportunities when they become available. Steve Bennett, Chief Property and Development Officer at Travelodge About Travelodge Founded in 1985, Travelodge is Britain's very first budget hotel chain and today is one of the largest budget hotel chains in the UK, with a portfolio of over 600 hotels and over 47,000 bedrooms across the UK, Ireland and Spain. In Spain, Travelodge has an established profitable presence and as of April 2024, its portfolio doubled to 12 hotels, having recently acquired a further six properties. Travelodge has ambitious growth plans within this market and has identified the top 20 key locations where it would like to open additional hotels in Spain. Welcoming over 22 million guests annually across the UK, Ireland and Spain, the majority of Travelodge hotels are located in major cities, towns and holiday hotspots as well as by airports and key business hubs. With 90% of its hotels rated 4* or above on TripAdvisor, Travelodge is proud to offer guests across its diverse customer base a good value experience whether they are travelling for business or leisure. In 2023, approximately 50% of rooms were sold for less than 60. Whether out celebrating a birthday, going to a concert or sporting event, visiting friends and family, taking a business trip, working away from home, or taking a short break, we help people to go and do their thing by Being the Brilliant Base. Travelodge continues to invest in its ongoing hotel refit programme which is expected to see 50% of the Travelodge room estate upgraded to its new design by the end of 2024. The brand is also continually evolving its quality offering to deliver a better experience for its diverse mix of business and leisure guests such as its new look Bar Cafe design, 85 Bar Cafe, which has been rolled out to selected UK hotels as part of the refit programme. Travelodge is focussing on its environmental and social impact, with sustainability integral to its business strategy. It's Better Future sustainability plan aims to build a more sustainable future for its customers, colleagues and the planet, and it is underpinned by three core pillars: Inclusive ensuring we are accessible, inclusive and well-priced to our customers and colleagues; Caring creating a caring and healthy environment for our colleagues and customers and ensuring their wellbeing; and Conscious Travelodge is conscious of its impact on the planet, taking into account the waste it produces, the energy and other resources it consumes and the carbon emissions it generates. For further information visit travelodge.co.uk or the Travelodge Hotels Limited LinkedIn page. Alison McNulty Property PR Manager Travelodge Dubai, UAE - Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), the worlds largest alliance of independent hotel brands, has announced significant growth of its Green Collection. Since its launch in March 2023, the collection has expanded by 150%, growing from 189 hotels, resorts and palaces to 472. This rapid expansion underscores the increasing importance of sustainability in the hospitality industry. Every Green Collection property has attained at least one certification from a globally recognised environmental organisation, with EarthCheck, Green Growth 2050, Green Key and Green Globe among the 20 leading certification bodies represented, and each requiring hotels to meet the highest international standards for sustainability initiatives and performance, with regular third-party audits conducted to retain certification. Achieving certification demonstrates a hotels long-term pledge to upholding these standards, with each Green Collection property being a pioneer of practices that preserve the natural environment and benefit local communities in the destinations where they operate. The constant growth of the Green Collection is a powerful testament to the shared commitment among our brands to responsible travel. In just two years, the Collection has grown to represent more than half of our global portfolio, proving that sustainability is not only a priority but a defining pillar of hospitality today. While Green Collection was created to help conscious consumers make more informed choices, it also supports our hotels on their sustainability journeys - by working together, sharing best practices and success stories, and guiding one another on meaningful initiatives that expand our collective impact. I want to sincerely thank and congratulate our hotel brands for being true champions of sustainability and for driving positive impact in the communities they serve. Jelena Kezika, Senior Director Strategy at GHA From city breaks to seaside escapes and business stays to leisure getaways, the collection is geographically diverse and is present in 60 countries and 260 destinations, spanning every region. In Europe, Green Collection properties account for 81% of GHAs portfolio, followed by the Middle East with 58% and Africa at 46%. Spain leads the way, offering the highest number of Green Collection hotels (74), followed by Italy (57), Germany (54), and The Netherlands (35). This geographical spread highlights a strong commitment to sustainability across key European markets. Further strengthening the Green Collections impact, three prestigious brands - Paramount Hotels, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts, and Lore Group - joined in 2024, introducing their first hotels to the collection. In total, 25 out of 45 GHA brands now offer properties that are part of the Green Collection. Sustainability is proving to be a significant factor in guest preferences, as evidenced by a notable increase in key performance indicators. In 2024, the average length of stay at Green Collection hotels was 9% longer compared to other hotels in the alliance, while the average spend per stay was 26% higher. Additionally, total stays at Green Collection properties increased by 16% in 2024 compared to 2023, further demonstrating the growing appeal of eco-conscious accommodations. The hotels in Green Collection continue to be a cornerstone of GHAs success, contributing 71% of the total revenue generated and 68% of the total nights stayed across the entire GHA hotel portfolio in 2024. As travelers increasingly expect to see eco-friendly choices from their favourite hospitality and travel brands, Green Collection remains at the forefront of sustainable hospitality, demonstrating that luxury and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand , concluded Kezika. In September 2023, GHA started its partnership with EarthCheck, the leading scientific benchmarking and certification group for sustainable travel and tourism. This collaboration is part of GHAs commitment to achieving EarthCheck Certified status for its Dubai headquarters. To support this goal, GHA formed a dedicated Green Team, consisting of departmental champions, whose role is to drive the certification process and embed sustainability initiatives across the company. This week, GHA is proud to share that its Dubai office has been EarthCheck certified, marking a significant milestone in its journey toward greater environmental and social responsibility. The milestone also comes at a meaningful moment, aligning with the second anniversary of the Green Collection and Donate D$ initiatives. About GHA and GHA DISCOVERY Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) is the world's largest alliance of independent hotel brands with 45 brands and 850 hotels in 100 countries. Its award-winning loyalty programmeGHA DISCOVERYprovides 30 million members recognition, D$ rewards and exclusive experiences across its hotels and partners, both with and without a stay. GHA DISCOVERY generated US$2.7billion in revenue and 11 million room nights in 2024. Through membership in GHA, brands expand their global reach, drive incremental revenue and reduce dependence on third-party channels, all while maintaining management independence and individual positioning. For more information, visit globalhotelalliance.com or ghadiscovery.com. In the lead up to the Future Hospitality Summit Saudi Arabia 2025 next month, we asked several industry partners about the opportunities they see for the hospitaliy industry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2025 and beyond. Where Vision Shapes Opportunities is more than just a theme for FHS Saudi Arabia 2025 it is a reflection of Saudi Arabias rising influence in shaping the future of global hospitality. Set to return to Riyadh from May 11 to 13, 2025, at the prestigious Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah Hotel, this years summit offers a compelling window into how a bold national vision is transforming the industry. At the heart of this transformation lies Saudi Arabias ambitious Vision 2030. With investments in giga-projects, cultural destinations, and world-class infrastructure, the Kingdom is rapidly redefining what it means to be a global tourism leader, anchored in heritage yet driven by innovation. A National Vision Powering Hospitality Growth Vision 2030 serves as a powerful catalyst for the exponential growth of the Saudi hospitality sector. The Kingdom aims to welcome 150 million visitors annually by 2030, a goal that is being realized through the expansion of hotel offerings, revitalization of heritage sites, and the creation of lifestyle experiences tailored to both international and domestic travelers. This momentum is reflected in the Kingdoms dynamic development pipeline: around 80 new hotel properties are expected to be completed in 2025 alone, diversifying the sector to accommodate every traveler profilefrom luxury leisure seekers to business guests. This expansion solidifies Saudi Arabias growing position as a premier global destination. Three Pillars Shaping the Future of Saudi Hospitality The future of hospitality in Saudi Arabia is being shaped by three foundational pillars: innovation, womens empowerment, and a return to cultural roots. These drivers are creating a uniquely Saudi narrative for growthmodern, inclusive, and deeply authentic. 1. Innovation as a Growth Imperative Innovation is no longer a competitive edge; its a core requirement. Across the Kingdom, cutting-edge technologies are transforming the guest experience, from AI-powered concierge services to smart infrastructure and immersive digital platforms. Digital transformation is already leaving a mark. Online travel reservations in Saudi Arabia witnessed a remarkable 100% year-over-year increase, particularly within the high-end and midscale segments. In response, stakeholders are ramping up investment in digital upskilling and hospitality tech programs to equip local talent for this next chapter. Emerging destinations such as NEOM and The Red Sea are global case studies in sustainable, tech-integrated tourism, positioning Saudi Arabia as a living lab for the future of hospitality in the region and beyond. 2. Saudization and Women Empowerment at Taiba Investments At Taiba Investments, Saudization is at the heart of our strategy for sustainable growth. We are deeply committed to creating meaningful opportunities for Saudi talent, aligning with the Kingdoms vision to empower its people and reduce unemployment. Our efforts focus on attracting, developing, and retaining national talent across all levels of the organization. A key part of this journey is the empowerment of women. Saudi Arabias hospitality sector is witnessing a remarkable rise in female participation, and Taiba is proud to be part of that progress. In line with national goals to increase womens workforce involvement to 30% and reduce unemployment to 7%, we actively promote gender inclusion through inclusive hiring practices, flexible work models, and leadership development programs tailored for women. 3. Reconnecting with Heritage and Spirituality Saudi Arabias tourism transformation is not solely futuristic; it is deeply rooted in the Kingdoms rich cultural and spiritual heritage. From UNESCO World Heritage Sites to desert retreats, culinary traditions, and authentic crafts, this return to roots lies at the heart of the new tourism narrative. At Taiba Investments, we are proud to be part of this movement. Through our Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Culture, we are actively working to integrate Saudi cultural elements into our properties, blending authentic local heritage with modern hospitality experiences. As a member of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Taiba is further committed to aligning with global standards while highlighting the unique spirit of the Kingdom. At the forefront of this movement is Makarem Hotels, the flagship brand of Taiba Investments, and a pioneer in spiritual hospitality. Makarem is reimagining spiritual travel, creating serene spaces that honor religious identity while offering modern comfort and bespoke services. From Makkah to Madinah, the brand invites guests into an experience that nurtures the soul, evokes peace, and reconnects them with the sacred atmosphere of the Two Holy Mosques. By weaving heritage into every thread of hospitality, Saudi Arabia is creating a distinct tourism identity one that blends authenticity with sophistication, and tradition with innovation. Looking Ahead The future of hospitality lies at the convergence of bold innovation, inclusive values, and a reverence for place and purpose. These are the cornerstones of Saudi Arabias hospitality renaissance. As Riyadh prepares to welcome the world once again for FHS World 2025, the Kingdom reinforces its standing as a global epicenter of hospitality transformation, where vision truly does create opportunity. Anne Bleeker In2 Consulting +971 56 603 0886 The Bench 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. Is Your Data Safe from AI Scraping? Spoiler: Probably Not. Is your public information and data training Big Techs AI without your knowledge? Chris Castle explores AI data scraping and how tech giants often blur the line between publicly available and free for the taking. Publicly Available or Stolen? The Gray Area of AI Data Scraping Op-ed by Chris Castle via Music Tech Policy Is Your Data Safe from AI Scraping? Spoiler: Probably Not. Lets be clear: It is not artificial intelligence as a technology thats the existential threat. Its the people who make the decisions about how to train and use artificial intelligence that are the existential threat. Just like nuclear power is not an existential threat, its the Czar Bomba that measured 50 megatons on the bangometer thats the existential threat. If you think that the tech bros can be trusted not to use your data scraped from their various consumer products for their own training purposes, please point to the five things theyve done in the last 20 years that give you that confidence? Or point to even one thing. Heres an example. Back in the day when we were trying to build a library of audio fingerprints, we first had to rip millions of tracks in order to create the fingerprints. One employee who came to us from a company with a free email service said that there were millions of emails with audio file attachments just sitting there in users sent mail folders. Maybe we could just grab those audio files? Obviously that would be off limits for a host of reasons, but he didnt see it. Its not that he is an immoral personimmoral people recognize that there are some rules and they just want to break them. He was amoralhe didnt see the rules and he didnt think anything was wrong with his suggestion. But the moral of the storyso to speakis that I fully believe every consumer product is being scraped. That means that theres a fairly good chance that Google, Microsoft, Meta/Facebook and probably other Big Tech players are using all of their consumer products to train AI. I would not bet against it. If you think thats crazy, I would suggest you think again. While these companies keep that kind of thing fairly quiet, its not the first time that the issue has come upBig Tech telling you one thing, but using you to gain a benefit for something entirely different that you probably would never have agreed to had you known. Take the Google Books saga. The whole point of Googles effort at digitizing all the worlds books wasnt because of some do-gooder desire to create the digital library of Alexandria or even the snippets that were the heart of the case. Noit was the nondisplay uses like training Googles translation engine using corpus machine translation. The corpus of all the digitized books was the real value and of course was the main thing that Google wouldnt share with the authors and didnt want to discuss in the case. Another random example would be GOOG-411. We can thank Marissa Meyer for spilling the beans on that one. According to PC World back in 2010: Google will close down 1-800-GOOG-411 next month, saying the free directory assistance service has served its purpose in helping the company develop other, more sophisticated voice-powered technologies. GOOG-411, which will be unplugged on Nov. 12, was the search companys first speech recognition service and led to the development of mobile services like Voice Search, Voice Input and Voice Actions. Google, which recorded calls made to GOOG-411, has been candid all along about the motivations behind running the service, which provides phone numbers for businesses in the U.S. and Canada. In 2007, Google Vice President of Search Products & User Experience Marissa Mayer said she was skeptical that free directory assistance could be viable business, but that she had no doubt that GOOG-411 was key to the companys efforts to build speech-to-text services. GOOG 411 is a prime example of how Big Tech plays the thimblerig, especially the has been candid all along about the motivations behind running the service. Doesnt that phrase just ooze corporate flak? That, as we say in the trade, is a freaking lie. None of the GOOG-411 collateral ever said, Hey idiot, come help us get even richer by using our dumbass free directory assistance service. Just like theyre not saying, Hey idiot, use our free products so we can train our AI to take your job. Thats the thimblerig, but played at our expense. This subterfuge has big consequences for people like lawyers. As I wrote in my 2014 piece in Texas Lawyer: A lawyers duty to maintain the confidentiality of privileged communications is axiomatic. Given Googles scanning and data mining capabilities, can lawyers using Gmail comply with that duty without their clients informed consent? In addition to scanning the text, senders and recipients, Googles patents for its Gmail applications claim very broad functionality to scan file attachments. (The main patent is available on Googles site. A good discussion of these patents is in Jeff Goulds article, The Natural History of Gmail Data Mining, available on Medium.) Google has made a science of enticing users into giving up free data for Google to evolve even more products that may or may not be useful beyond the free part. Does the world really need another free email program? Maybe not, but Google does need a way to snarf down data for its artificial intelligence platformsdeceptively. Fast forward ten years or so and here we are with the same problemexcept its entirely possible that all of the Big Tech AI platforms are using their consumer products to train AI. Nothing has changed for lawyers, and some version of these rules would be prudent to follow for anyone with a duty of confidentiality like a doctor, accountant, stock broker or any of the many licensed professions. Not to mention social workers, priests, and the list goes on. If you call Big Tech on the deception and they will all say that they operate within their privacy policies, de-identify user data, only use public information, or other excuses. I think the point of all this is that the platforms have far too many opportunities to cross-collateralize our data for the law to permit any confusion about what data they scrape. What We Think We Know Microsofts AI Training Practices Microsoft has publicly stated that it does not use data from its Microsoft 365 products (e.g., Word, Excel, Outlook) to train its AI models. The company wants us to believe they rely on de-identified data from sources such as Bing searches, Copilot interactions, and publicly available information, whatever that means. Microsoft emphasizes its commitment to responsible AI practices, including removing metadata and anonymizing data to protect user privacy. See what I mean? Given Microsoft takes these precautions, that makes it all fine. However, professionals using Microsofts tools must remain vigilant. While Microsoft claims not to use customer data from enterprise accounts for AI training, any inadvertent sharing of sensitive information through other Microsoft services (e.g., Bing or Copilot) could pose risks for users, particularly people with a duty of confidentiality like lawyers and doctors. And we havent even discussed child users yet. Googles AI Training Practices For decades, Google has faced scrutiny for its data practices, particularly with products like Gmail, Google Docs, and Google Drive. Googles updated privacy policy explicitly allows the use of publicly available information and user data for training its AI models, including Bard and Gemini. While Google claims to anonymize and de-identify data, concerns remain about the potential for sensitive information to be inadvertently included in training datasets. For licensed professionals, these practices raise significant red flags. Google advises users not to input confidential or sensitive information into its AI-powered toolstypically Googlely. The risk of human reviewers accessing de-identified data can happen to anyone, but why in the world would you ever trust Google? Does Publicly Available Mean Everything or Does it Mean Anything Thats Not Nailed Down? These companies speak of publicly available data as if data that is publicly available is free to scrape and use for training. So what does that mean? Based on the context and some poking around, it appears that there is no legally recognizable definition of what publicly available actually means. If you were going to draw a line between publicly available and the opposite, where would you draw it? You wont be surprised to know that Big Tech will probably draw the line in an entirely different place than a normal person. As far as I can tell, publicly available data would include data or content that is accessible by a data scraping crawler or by the general public without a subscription, payment, or special access permissions. This likely includes web pages, posts on social media like baby pictures on Facebook or Instagram, or other platforms that do not restrict access to their content through paywalls, registration requirements, or other barriers like terms of service prohibiting data scraping, API or a robots.txt file (which like a lot of other people including Ed Newton-Rex, Im skeptical of even working). While discussions of terms of service, notices prohibiting scraping and automated directions to crawlers sound good, in reality theres no way to stop a determined crawler. The vulpine lust for data and cold hard cash by Big Tech is not realistically possible to stop at this point. Stopping the existential onslaught explains why the world needs to escalate punishment for these violations to a new level that may seem extreme at this point or at least unusually harsh. Yet the massive and intentional copyright infringement, privacy violations, and who knows what else are so vast they are beyond civil penalties particularly for a defendant that seemingly prints money. Share on: Hancock Shaker Village Announces Plans for New Visitor Center & Center for Shaker Studies PITTSFIELD, Mass. Hancock Shaker Village has announced plans to begin construction in June 2025 on a redesigned Visitor Center & Center for Shaker Studies. This project follows several years of strategic planning, design work, and fundraising efforts. The new facility will include updated galleries, community event spaces, collection storage, and research areas for the museum's collection of over 22,000 Shaker artifacts and ephemera. The renovated building aims to enhance the visitor experience through improved orientation, expanded program offerings, closer access to collection items, and views of the surrounding landscape. The project has dual objectives: to improve the visitor experience and to ensure the preservation of the museum's collection. The existing building will be reconfigured to include permanent exhibition galleries, climate-controlled collection storage, open storage for key collection pieces, a library, a new lobby, and multi-purpose rooms. The project scope also involves improvements to accessibility and visitor amenities, with the goal of expanding the museum's programming capabilities. "This project has been a vision of the organization for 25 years," said Carrie Holland, director & CEO. "It's so exciting to see it finally come to fruition in such an impactful way. The features of this new building will enable some very meaningful and very exciting opportunities for us to share the Shaker story, explore the unique cultural legacy of the group who resided here, and preserve this special element of American history for years to come." Hancock Shaker Village's collection includes over 22,000 items, ranging from furniture to textiles and watercolors. The design of the new building, by architects TSKP x IDK, will integrate the history of Hancock through its objects, highlighting Shaker narratives, artistic works, and the community that created and used them. This collection-focused approach is intended to provide context for visitors before they explore the Village's twenty historic buildings, where many of the objects were originally used and produced. The planning for this project has been supported by Harlow and Cherie Murray, long-time supporters and members of the Board of Trustees at Hancock Shaker Village. "As we move closer to breaking ground for the Visitor Center & Center for Shaker Studies renovation the more excited I become," said Harlow Murray, who also serves as the Building Committee Chair. "Hancock Shaker Village has an incredible collection of Shaker artifacts that need not only to be protected, but also to be displayed and made accessible to the public for viewing and for study. The limited gallery space in the existing Visitor Center/CSS did not allow for that. This renovation will dramatically increase the gallery space and double the size of our vault collection storage, while protecting our unparalleled collection with state-of-the-art climate control." The decision to commence construction in the summer of 2025 was made after the Village's Shaker Legacy Campaign raised sufficient funds to begin the work. "To date, we have received $8 million in commitments to the $10 million Campaign goal, so the need to continue to raise additional money remains," said Elissa Haskins-Vaughan, the museum's newly appointed Director of Development and Special Projects. "We'll be seeking funds throughout the year from both foundations and individuals who care about this incredible collection and the history that's preserved here." The goal is that all visitors will leave the Visitor Center with a foundational understanding of the Shaker religious group and with guiding questions about Shaker values such as integrity, racial and gender equality, community, sustainability, responsible land stewardship, innovation, and simplicity. This initial renovation of the Visitors Center & Center for Shaker Studies is the first phase of a broader master plan for infrastructural improvements throughout Hancock Shaker Village, aligning with the organization's strategic initiatives. Bob Plotz, Chair of Hancock Shaker Village's Board of Trustees, said, "I am beyond thrilled that, after several years of dedicated effort, Hancock Shaker Village will soon break ground on a complete re-imagination of our Visitor Center. The new Visitor Center is the first step in our master plan to improve the remainder of the entry to the Village." Hancock Shaker Village will remain open and operational throughout the 2025 season, which begins on April 12, 2025, with the Baby Animals Festival. While the Visitor Center will be closed during construction, the operating team has developed plans to ensure a positive visitor experience, with construction activities limited to one area of the campus. Williamstown Select Board OKs LGBTQIA+ Petition, Pride Flags WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. The Select Board on Monday became the second elected body in the last week to express its support for the LGBTQIA+ community. A few days after the Mount Greylock Regional School Committee OK'd updated policies on sexual orientation and gender identity, the Select Board had a chance to weigh in on a town meeting article that seeks to affirm equal protection under the law in the town. Article 28 on the 30-article warrant for the May 22 meeting is titled "Resolution Declaring the Town of Williamstown a Community that Supports and Upholds the Rights of Transgender and Gender-Diverse People." The article, submitted as a citizens petition to the annual town meeting, cites the "targeting" of members of the LGBTQIA+ community by the Trump administration which is, "seeking to end gender-affirming care and ending federal legal recognition of trans people," the article language reads. The article goes on to reference the Massachusetts Constitution and state law, specifically 2022's "An Act Expanding Protections for Reproductive and Gender Affirming Care," which "protects individuals seeking sanctuary from out-of-state prosecution." The petitioner asks town meeting to reiterate its commitment to equal protection of transgender and gender diverse people and prohibit the use of town resources from assisting "any individual or out-of-state agency or department in furtherance of restrictions on the provision of gender-affirming healthcare or gender-affirming mental healthcare." Police Chief Michael Ziemba confirmed this week that nothing in Article 28 would impact the operations of the Police Department, which already complies with the 2022 state law. The Select Board voted 5-0 to recommend town meeting passage of the article, one of three citizens petitions on this year's warrant. The bulk of Monday evening's meeting was devoted to a relatively obscure and, in most years, innocuous fiscal article related to the sewer rate. But the transgender/gender diverse article was echoed later in the evening. Randal Fippinger asked his colleagues to approve a plan to celebrate Pride Month by lining Main Street (Route 2) with Pride Progress flags. The town regularly displays American flags on utility poles along the town green from Memorial Day through Veterans Day. Fippinger asked that every fourth flag pole be used for a Progress Pride flag during the month of June. "I spoke with [DPW Director Craig Clough], and he said it is possible and not onerous," Fippinger said of the process of swapping out the flags. "We would need to use some of [the Diversity Inclusion and Racial Equity Committee's] money to pay for the new flags. Bob said it just needs Select Board approval." Menicocci explained that while town meeting was asked last year to approve the use of the Pride Progress flag on certain town flag poles a request that was approved by a two-thirds majority it is within the board's purview to authorize public displays like Fippinger suggested. Jane Patton, who last year argued against the article at town meeting, again spoke on a topic that hits close to home. "There might be one person in [the meeting room] who doesn't know that I'm gay," said Patton, who raises two children with her wife. "I struggle with a couple of things. "It would be one thing if we were talking about maybe putting Pride flags where there hadn't been flags before. I think Williamstown is a very gay-friendly town. My struggle is taking down one flag, especially one that represents the country and has deep meaning to veterans and all manner of people who may be very pro gay rights to move that flag may be troublesome for them." Patton suggested that, as an alternative, the town buy hundreds of smaller Pride Progress flags and make them available to residents to display at their homes. She said that seeing individuals voluntarily choose to support the LGBTQIA+ community would be a meaningful expression of the sentiment of the community. "I'd rather it be a voluntary option for people than we just say, 'This is how it's going to go,' " Patton said. Fippinger noted that his proposal was just for one month of a more than five-month display and that 75 percent of the flags on the poles would be American flags during that month. He said he respected Patton's point of view but asked that the board could decide one way or another on the proposal on Monday in order to allow time to procure the flags. On a roll call vote, with Jeffrey Johnson participating via Zoom, the board voted 4-1 to go ahead with the temporary installation of the Pride Progress flags with Patton voting nay, "because I feel like the town should have an opportunity to speak on this." As for one flag pole the town did speak to, the one in front of Town Hall, that will fly a Progress Pride flag for one month starting on June 1. On Monday, the board decided to let Fippinger, a proponent of the 2024 bylaw amendment, speak on the panel's behalf at a flag raising ceremony even though his term expires when his successor is sworn in after the May 13 annual town election; Fippinger is not running for another term. Monday marked the closure of the warrant for the annual town meeting, and the Select Board finished its process of making recommendations on all of the items it did not get to at its March 24 meeting. The body voted 5-0 to recommend both of the Planning Board's proposed zoning bylaw amendments setting limits on the number of days a home can be utilized as an Airbnb and creating rules for geothermal wells in the Water Resource Districts. It likewise unanimously recommended the meeting pass a change in the minimum age for a local property tax exemption from 65 to 60. This is a follow-up to last year's town meeting vote on a home rule petition asking the legislature for permission to adjust the age; that permission was granted, and now the town has an opportunity to act on it. The Select Board voted, 4-1, to recommend the meeting adopt a bylaw proposed by William Raymond to ban tobacco smoking and vaping in multi-unit housing (exempting owner-occupied buildings with four or fewer units). Again, Patton voted in the minority, saying the action felt like government overreach. "There is no more passionately anti-smoking person than me," Patton said. "My mother was a heavy smoker. She didn't care. She'd sit there at the table, she'd have four cigarettes going at once. It was disgusting. "My challenge is telling people who own property what to do." And the board voted, 5-0, to recommend town meeting OK Article 30, the final of three on the warrant by way of citizens petition. It seeks to have the meeting reaffirm a policy on immigration enforcement. Citing an executive order President Trump signed on his first day in office in January seeking to deport "all undocumented persons," the article asks the town to reaffirm its 2017 town meeting resolution to seeking to protect due process rights of residents and clarifying that "Federal immigration requests and administrative warrants are not binding on Town officials." Ziemba also confirmed this week that Article 30, like its predecessor in 2017, would not change the procedures at the WPD. Eight years ago , his predecessor told the Select Board that he already had a standing order on the books that reflected the language in the resolution. "[The WPD] does not investigate civil immigration laws, as this role falls to the federal government," then-Chief Kyle Johnson said. The deadline to register to vote in the town election and at town meeting is Friday, May 2, at 5 p.m. In other business on Monday, the Select Board: Learned that an article seeking to fund the town's Stabilization Fund with $50,000 from its unrestricted fund balance (free cash) had been pulled by the Finance Committee after the town's certified free cash number from the Department of Revenue came in short of the town's projection. Approved an expansion of the Clark Art Institute's alcohol license to allow full-year sales and expand the areas of the museum where liquor can be served. The Clark's chief financial officer, who manages the license, told the board that the change means the museum will not have to come to the Select Board with requests for special one-day licenses if it wants to host an event at, for example, its Lunder Center at Stone Hill. Appointed Ursula Bare to the DIRE Committee. Bare talked with the committee at its April 7 meeting and said she moved to town last year from North Carolina and was struck by the lack of diversity. She said she hopes to be an ally for people of color and the LGBTQIA+ community. Issued its annual Arbor Day proclamation. Williamstown Meetinghouse Preservation Fund President Carolyn Greene points out features of the 1869 structure and its additions to Congressman Richard Neal, who has secured $500,000 toward ADA work in the historic structure. Greene shows Neal the basement of the Williamstown Meetinghouse. The Williamstown Meetinghouse on Main Street (Route 2) is home to First Congregational Church and its community activities, including education, a thrift store, and cooking meals for shut-ins. Neal says New England meetinghouses were symbols of representative democracy: 'where people have the right to assemble and petition their government and to make their voices heard.' PreviousNext Neal Touts Federal Aid to Support Renovation of Symbol of Democracy Congressman Richard Neal looks at historic photos of the 19th-century meetinghouse during a tour Thursday. WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. A longtime Democratic member of Congress on Thursday lauded the democratic ideals embodied in a local landmark. U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, was in town to celebrate a $500,000 federal earmark to support the renovation of the Williamstown Meetinghouse, a project that will make the iconic structure more compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and more accessible to members of the community. Referencing the 1869 structure's connection to the town's 1765 founding (the first two meetinghouses burned down), Neal drew a line from Thursday's celebration to a much better known party happening at the other end of the commonwealth this week. "I hope I'm going to be there on Saturday morning, that's my plan, to be in Concord and Lexington for the acknowledgement of what happened 250 years ago, because that's what we honor with the Meetinghouse: Representative democracy, where people have the right to assemble and petition their government and to make their voices heard," Neal said in prepared remarks on the meetinghouse steps. "That's what the meetinghouse meant. It was very much in the Puritan history. After a church was constructed, a Congregational church, generally, nearby, there was the library and the meetinghouse. It's all over New England in these beautiful little towns that I represent." Since 2013, Williamstown has been on that list of towns represented by Neal, a former Springfield mayor who has served in the House of Representatives since 1988. After the 2010 Census, Neal became Williamstown's representative from the newly drawn 1st Congressional District. On Thursday, he was joined on the meetinghouse steps by state Rep. John Barrett III, D-North Adams, Sherwood Guernsey of the Berkshire Democratic Brigades and Carolyn Greene, president of the Williamstown Meetinghouse Preservation Fund. Guernsey explained how the meetinghouse, also home to and commonly referred to as First Congregational Church, has a strong non-sectarian place in local history. "It began as a combination, as it is today as a meetinghouse and a sanctuary because that is what was required to incorporate a town back then," Guernsey explained to the small crowd that turned out for Neal's brief visit. "Things have changed, but not the way this building is structured. Yes, there is a sanctuary in the front, but in the back there will be the opportunity, when we're able to complete the ADA compliance, which we need to do with the North end, the back of the building, so it is accessible to all." Greene led a tour of the building, where Neal saw not just the sanctuary but the education spaces, the storage for the ABC Clothing Shop thrift store, the commercial kitchen where meals are prepared for shut-ins, the meeting spaces for community groups and the stage for small performances. Greene also explained the accessibility issues, including restrooms that are not fully ADA compliant and, most significantly, the lack of an elevator. Since its inception, the preservation fund has done a lot of work to the building's structure already, including a new roof and repairs to the steeple to prevent leakage that was endangering the building below. The non-profit has raised money through private donations, state aid facilitated by Barrett and grants of Community Preservation Act funds from Williamstown's town meeting. Currently, the board is getting cost estimates for the next phases of the renovation, Greene said. Its priorities include making the main floor fully accessible, adding an elevator to make the basement level accessible and extending that elevator to a third stop on the second floor in that order. Greene said the board will apply the $500,000 federal grant secured by Neal as far as it goes toward achieving those goals. And, speaking one day after it came to light that a culvert restoration project in North Adams lost $144,000 in previously committed federal funds, Greene said the $500,000 for the meetinghouse already is "money in the bank." "This is money we're working through the [Housing and Urban Development] process, and it will go through the town," Greene said. "That's why I think this announcement is happening now, to assure the community that this money is solid. The money that Rep. Barrett has in the [state] bond issue, which is about $500,000 $100,000 , we don't know when that's coming in. It's money we know we have, but it could be in the next five years. It could be in the next 10 years." Greene told the supportive crowd on the meetinghouse steps that efforts to renovate the 19th century structure and its 20th-century additions will help serve Williamstown in the 21st century and beyond. "The building is in the heart of Williamstown, it's in the center of Williams College's campus, it has more potential than we even realize to do good for the community, given its place and given the people in this building already," Greene said. During the tour, Neal lingered over historic photos of the current meetinghouse and its predecessors and chatted extensively about the role of the meetinghouse in New England small towns. In his official remarks, he emphasized the Williamstown icon's place in the nation's history. "When this request came in, I thought it should be honored, mostly because there's not a better example in America of representative government than what was known as the meetinghouse," he said. "This is where people came together sometimes, perhaps more assertively than we would like. But, not to miss the point, this is where differences were ironed out, in settings like this." 5th China International Consumer Products Expo sees 92 billion yuan in intended deals Xinhua) 16:13, April 18, 2025 HAIKOU, April 18 (Xinhua) -- The 5th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) attracted the participation of a record-breaking 1,767 companies and 4,209 consumer brands from 71 countries and regions this year, according to a press briefing on Friday. Events targeting global brands, e-commerce and country-specific suppliers led to 52 intended cooperation agreements, the value of which amounted to approximately 92 billion yuan (about 12.6 billion U.S. dollars), said Zeng Rong, chief economist at Hainan provincial bureau of international economic development. Countries including Slovakia, Singapore, Brazil, Armenia and Kazakhstan debuted their national pavilions at this year's CICPE in south China's Hainan Province. The United Kingdom, as the 2025 guest country of honor, occupied an exhibition area of over 1,300 square meters, showcasing 53 brands across the fashion, beauty, homeware, health and jewelry industries, doubling its 2024 presence. More than 60,000 professional purchasers attended -- representing a 10 percent increase from last year. In tandem with the expo, the Ministry of Commerce also launched the "Shopping in China" campaign to stimulate domestic consumption, and introduced a dedicated exhibition to facilitate cooperation between foreign trade firms and domestic purchasers. Preparations for the 6th CICPE are underway, with hundreds of companies already registered or signed on to participate in the next edition of this event. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) 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 Fatma Hassona, a Palestinian photojournalist who is the protagonist of Sepideh Farsis documentary Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk, has been killed by an Israeli missile strike in Gaza. She was 25. Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk is set to screen as part of ACID (Association du Cinema Independant pour sa Diffusion), a parallel section promoting independent film at next months Cannes Film Festival. In a statement to The Independent, the organizers of ACID said: We, filmmakers and members of the ACID team, met Fatma Hassona when we discovered Sepideh Farsi's film Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk during the Cannes programme. Her smile was as magical as her tenacity: bearing witness, photographing Gaza, distributing food despite the bombs, mourning and hunger. We heard her story, we rejoiced at each of her appearances to see her alive, we feared for her. Yesterday, we were shocked to learn that an Israeli missile had targeted her building, killing Fatem and her family. We had watched and programmed a film in which this young woman's life force seemed like a miracle. This is no longer the same film that we are going to support and present in all theaters, starting with Cannes. All of us, filmmakers and spectators alike, must be worthy of her light. In an additional statement, Farsi described how making contact with Hassona had been invaluable for the Iranian filmmakers documentary about Gaza. open image in gallery A photograph taken in Gaza by Fatma Hassona ( Fatma Hassona/ACID ) I got to know her through a Palestinian friend in Cairo, while I was desperately searching for a way to reach Gaza, while hitting blocked roads, seeking the answer to a question both simple and complex, said Farsi. How does one survive in Gaza, undersiege for all those years? What is the daily life of Palestinian people under war? What is it that Israel wishes to erase in this handful of square kilometers, with so many bombs and missiles? I, who had just finished a movie, The Siren, about another war, the one between Iraq and Iran. I, who could still feel the distant echo of the explosions shockwaves ringing in my ears, and dust in the back of my throat, from my Iranian teenage-hood. I wanted to know how the Gazans resisted to all of this, what they were going through... I could not find the answer in news and media. I wanted to hear their words unmediated. I wanted to be in Gaza. Something my born in Iran stamped French passport made inconceivable for Egyptian administration and Israeli occupation. 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. From our first conversation, I grabbed my camera and started filming: our exchanges, Fatem and I, what was going on around her, asking her to bring me to a window, whether of her house or her shelter, depending on where she was, for me to see through the window. And so, Fatem became my eyes in Gaza, and I, a window open on the world, for her. I filmed, catching the moments offered by our video calls, what Fatem was sharing with me, fiery and full of life. I filmed her laughs, her tears, her hopes and her despair. I followed my instinct. Without knowing beforehand where those images would lead us. Such is the beauty of cinema. The beauty of life. The war, now in its 18th month, started when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, and taking 251 others hostage. The group still holds 59 captives 24 of whom are believed to be alive. Israels retaliatory offensive in the territory has killed over 50,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gazas Health Ministry. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice George Clooney has told CNN that it was his civic duty to call on Joe Biden to drop out of the 2024 presidential race. In July 2024, Clooney wrote a much-discussed op-ed for The New York Times encouraging Biden to step aside so that the Democrats could appoint a new nominee. Barack Obama reportedly received an advanced version of the article following Bidens disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump. During a conversation about Clooneys Broadway adaptation of his 2005 film Good Night and Good Luck, Jake Tapper suggested that Clooneys essay was brave. The Oceans Eleven actor pushed back on that remark, saying: I dont know if it was brave. It was a civic duty . Clooney, who describes himself as a Kentucky Democrat, added that he saw people on my side of the street not telling the truth, I thought that was time to. Reflecting on any criticism he would have received, Clooney told Tapper: Listen, the idea of freedom of speech is you cant demand freedom of speech and then say, But dont say bad things about me. Thats the deal, you have to take your stand if you believe in it. Take a stand, stand for it and then deal with the consequences. Thats the rules. Clooney also spoke on the criticism he received for opposing the Iraq War, reminding Tapper: People picketed my movies and they put me on a deck of cards: I have to take that, thats fair. I defend their right to criticise me as much as I defend my right to criticise them. The Michael Clayton stars comments come just weeks after he was lambasted by Trump following an interview with 60 Minutes. 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. Trump issued a scathing critique of George Clooney's 60 Minutes interview after it aired Sunday evening ( 60 Minutes/CBS News/YouTube ) In the interview, the 63-year-old told correspondent Jon Wertheim about his decision to pen the scathing New York Times op-ed before discussing press freedom and the Trump administration. In retaliation, Trump branded the actor a failed political pundit who dumped Biden like a dog. Why would the now highly discredited 60 Minutes be doing a total puff piece on George Clooney, a second-rate movie star, and failed political pundit, Trump said in a late night Truth Social rant. He fought hard for Sleepy Joes election and then, right after the Debate, dumped him like a dog. 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 Haley Joel Osment has issued a fulsome apology after police bodycam footage from his recent arrest showed him using disgraceful language. The 37-year-old former child actor was picked up on Tuesday by authorities at the Mammoth Mountain ski resort in Mammoth Lakes, California, and charged with public intoxication and cocaine possession. Following Osments arrest, police bodycam footage was obtained by the New York Post. In it, the Sixth Sense star is seen using hostile language with the arresting officer, calling them a f***ing Nazi. Once in the patrol car, he can be heard hurling an antisemitic slur at the officer. The Pay It Forward actor has since apologized in a statement for his behavior. Im absolutely horrified by my behavior. Had I known I used this disgraceful language in the throes of a blackout, I would have spoken up sooner, Osment shared with People magazine. The past few months of loss and displacement have broken me down to a very low emotional place. The incident comes months after he lost his home in the devastating Los Angeles wildfires. The actor has struggled to obtain any financial payout from his insurance company, sources told TMZ. open image in gallery Haley Joel Osment has been charged with public intoxication and cocaine possession after his arrest earlier this month ( Mammoth Lakes Police Dept ) But thats no excuse for using this disgusting word, Osment acknowledged. From the bottom of my heart, I apologize to absolutely everyone that this hurts. What came out of my mouth was nonsensical garbage Ive let the Jewish community down and it devastates me. I dont ask for anyones forgiveness, but I promise to atone for my terrible mistake. The Mono County District Attorneys office announced the misdemeanor charges Thursday against the actor, who is due to be arraigned on July 7. open image in gallery Haley Joel Osment said he's been at a very low emotional place these past months ( Getty Images ) This isnt Osments first run-in with the law. In 2006, he was arrested after driving his car into a brick pillar, which flipped his vehicle over and left him with a broken rib and injured shoulder. A month after the incident, Osment was charged with misdemeanor DUIs and pleaded no contest to driving under the influence of alcohol and possession of marijuana. 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. He was ordered to attend 60 hours of an alcohol rehabilitation program as well as Alcoholics Anonymous meetings for six months. He was also ordered to pay a $1,500 fine. In a 2019 interview with The Independent, Osment insisted that childhood fame didnt affect him the way it has for many other child stars. I think sometimes theres an expectation for there to be that darkness, he said. But I think there are a lot more stories of people who had positive experiences working as children and didnt have that kind of cliched storyline going forward. And thats been the case for me. Osment added: I realize that Im very lucky, because there were other kids who maybe didnt have parents that looked out for them, or worked on film sets that were not wholesome, or where they were not protected. But that was not my experience. 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 The postponement of Fyre Festival 2 has raised eyebrows as ticket holders and performers try to make sense of the chaos. Originally slated for April 2025, and then pushed to May 30 - June 2, the second iteration of the doomed 2017 festival was supposed to take place on Isla Mujeres, Mexico. Now, ticket holders for Billy McFarlands festival have reportedly been sent an email sharing news of the postponement. The event has been postponed and a new date will be announced, a message sent to a ticket-holder and seen by ABC News said. We have issued you a refund. Once the new date is announced, at that time, you can repurchase if it works for your schedule. Organizers have insisted that the festival is still on, saying in a further message obtained by The Independent that new locations were being vetted and their priorities remain unchanged: delivering an unforgettable, safe, and transparent experience. Still, those who were planning to attend or perform remain unsure about what comes next. Brothers Asa and Eli Maker were set to attend the festival after winning free tickets. But the lack of details surrounding the event gave them pause. I think we wouldve booked plane tickets and hotels if we saw a real lineup, the brothers told Good Morning America. open image in gallery Billy McFarland hasnt released a statement since the postponement of Fyre Festival 2 was announced ( Theo Wargo/Getty Images ) A DJ slated to perform was contacted by festival organizers who let her know about the postponement. But they, too, were skimpy on the details. They didnt necessarily give me dates of when they would be rescheduling it, Juliana Salunek, who goes by her DJ name Jules, told the morning show. The Independent has reached out to Fyre Festival organizers, including McFarland, for comment. The festivals website remains live, and those looking for a piece of history can still purchase Fyre Festival 2 merch. Options include a $70 t-shirt that proclaims Fyre Festival 2 Is Real and a $130 hoodie that says Playa is on Fyre. 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. Tickets being sold from $1,400 to $1.1 million for the Prometheus pass (which promises luxury travel, accommodations, and experiences) are still advertised on the site but dont appear to actually be available for purchase. open image in gallery Fyre Festival 2 merch remains available for sale on its website ( Fyre Festival ) Attendees of the infamous first Fyre Festival have been outspoken about the chaos they experienced. They were promised luxury villas and dining experiences in an event touted by influencers and pop stars. Instead, they were relegated to tents and forced to eat cheese sandwiches out of plastic cartons. The festival is largely regarded as a massive scam and led to McFarland, 33, spending time behind bars. McFarland, who served four years of a six-year sentence, still owes $26 million in restitution after the failure of the original Fyre Festival. He has provided numerous updates regarding the fate of Fyre Festival 2 on his social media channels, even holding a press conference with Mexican officials in late March in an attempt to quiet the naysayers questioning whether the event would happen. McFarland has not issued a public statement following the postponement announcement. 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 Fyre Festival 2 has been postponed indefinitely by its organiser, convicted fraudster Billy McFarland, just over a month ahead of its scheduled kick-off date. McFarland has been attempting to orchestrate a more successful version of the initial Fyre Festival, the notorious event that went viral in 2017. Guests who had paid thousands of dollars for tickets ended up stranded in the Bahamas with limited food and shelter, and none of the promised headliners. However, the new festival, which was supposed to take place on the Isla Mujeres, Mexico, between 30 May to 2 June, has now been indefinitely postponed, with ticket-holders informed that they had been issued refunds. The event has been postponed and a new date will be announced, a message sent to a ticket-holder and seen by ABC News said. We have issued you a refund. Once the new date is announced, at that time, you can repurchase if it works for your schedule. Tickets for Fyre Festival 2, which was marketed under the slogan FYRE Festival 2 is real, went on sale in February at a starting fee of $1,400 and up to $25,000, while premium packages were also being sold for as much as $1.1m. At the time, McFarland said a statement, I'm sure many people think I'm crazy for doing this again. But I feel I'd be crazy not to do it again. After years of reflection and now thoughtful planning, the new team and I have amazing plans for FYRE 2, he added. open image in gallery Billy McFarland's Fyre Fest 2 has been postponed indefinitely ( Getty ) As with the doomed original event, McFarlands festival promised an electrifying celebration of music, arts, cuisine, comedy, fashion, gaming, sports, and treasure hunting all set in the stunning location of Isla Mujeres, Mexico. 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. Experience unforgettable performances, immersive experiences, and an atmosphere that redefines creativity and culture, the festival's website said. open image in gallery Guests at the original Fyre Festival were greeted by disaster relief tents and sodden mattresses Leading up to the festival, Mexico officials with the Quintana Roo Tourism Department and the Playa Del Carmen government said no event of that name was to be held there. Bernardo Cueto, tourism secretary of the State of Quintana Roo, where Isla Mujeres is located, told ABC News that his agency was responsible for handing out permissions for events of this kind. However, Fyre Fest 2 was not something he was informed about, he said, nor was an event by that name happening in Playa del Carmen or Isla Mujeres. On 4 April, McFarland shared a timeline of apparent conversations with the government of Playa Del Carmen to the festivals Instagram account, including screenshots of purported conversations and permits. All media reports suggesting our team has not been working with the government of PDC are simply inaccurate and based on misinformation, he said. FYRE has operated as a good partner with PDC government and has followed the proper processes and procedures to lawfully host an event. Eagle-eyed followers then pointed out that the terms of the permits McFarland had posted limited the event to 250 attendees max, far below his proposed 1,800 guests, and also limited the event of 12 hours of music across the weekend with a noise limit of 100 decibels. The festival had yet to announce a lineup but McFarland told the Today programme: Were going to have artists across electronic, hip hop, pop and rock. However, its not just music. We might have a professional skateboarder do a demonstration. We might have an MMA champion teach you techniques in the morning. Electronic producer and DJ deadmau5 has responded to the news of the events postponement, sharing a screenshot of the announcement on his Instagram account along with the caption: Well that sucks. McFarland served four years of a six-year sentence in prison after being convicted of wire fraud in connection with the failed 2017 festival. 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 The latest episode of ITVs Lorraine featured a brief foray into a seemingly random and completely unsubstantiated social media claim about No 1 songs. The highly dubious theory, which first appeared around 2019, posits that the track at No 1 in the charts on the day you turned 14 is the one that defines your entire life. The Official Charts Company reported at the time that the theory began doing the rounds on Twitter thanks to user Swank0cean. It soon went viral, sparking a number of either thrilled or gutted responses. Music fans were encouraged to enter their date of birth into the companys Official Chart archive in order to discover what their own No 1 song was when they turned 14. Apparently the trend has now returned as the British public relax during Bank Holiday weekend, as Lorraine presenter Christine Lampard revealed that Whitney Houstons I Will Always Love You was No 1 when she celebrated her 14th birthday. Houston famously released a cover of the 1973 single by Dolly Parton in 1992, as the focus track from her soundtrack to The Bodyguard, in which she also starred. Whitney Houston starred in the hit 1992 film The Bodyguard alongside Kevin Costner ( A Warner Brothers Pictures ) Considered one of the most iconic songs of all time, Houstons version sold over 24 million copies worldwide and was the best-selling song of the year in the UK. It also earned Houston the Grammy Award for Record of the Year, as well as a Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal performance. Houstons version has been ranked on a number of occasions as one of the best songs in history, helping to assert the late artists legacy as one of the all-time greats. Apparently, the song that's No 1 on your 14th birthday is the song that defines your life, Lampard said after playing a clip of Houstons performance. What a track that is for me. I am happy with that. 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. She then revealed the No 1 song for her co-host, actor and presenter Sally Lindsay, which was 1987s Its a Sin by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys. Does that speak volumes? she asked the Coronation Street star. Sounds about right for me, yeah, Lindsay joked. I love the Pet Shop Boys as well I'm happy with that, with that. Very happy. Anyone interested in finding out which song was No 1 on their 14th birthday can still do so by entering the date into the Official Charts archive calendar. For the record, The Independents culture team discovered today (Friday 18 April) that we are defined by songs including Lily Allens Smile, Candy Shop by 50 Cent, and Can We Fix It? by Bob the Builder. 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 Im no desert flower, I can take a little more rain, sing indie darlings Julien Baker and Torres (aka Mackenzie Ruth Scott) on Send a Prayer My Way. This lovingly crafted outlaw country album has been on their minds for almost a decade; the two solo artists met in 2016, when a pre-Boygenius fame Baker sidled up to Scott with a bag of weed after one of her gigs. The two lesbians from Tennessee wanted to reckon with their conflicted relationship to the conservative-associated soundtrack of the American South. But their plans were put on the back burner until the pandemic (and a stoned call from Scott) got things cooking. Now, theyve set up camp with elegant fiddles, sun-dappled mandolins, banjos, expansive pedal steel guitars and the occasional herd of rattling drums. Interviewed for The Independent earlier this year, the more outgoing Scott (better known for her funkier-edged indie-rock) explained that during a period of such bewildering social upheaval she was drawn to the structure, rules and history of country music. Baker, meanwhile, came to accept that the narrative twang of country was rooted deeper in her lived experience than shed previously allowed herself to acknowledge. So they set about making space for their own stories within that tradition, while also following in the footsteps of queer artists such as KD Lang, Brandi Carlile and The Indigo Girls. So on Off the Wagon Baker, who has gone through her own struggles with addiction, sings about threading the needle, changing the dose her tentative voice picking its way through the confusion. Tuesday has Scott, in her deeper, dustier vocal, unpacking a long-suppressed tale from her teen years about a girl whose mother is scandalised by their relationship. The girl asked me to write her mother and say sorry for the confusion/ That of course thered been no sin, she sings. And to emphasise how much I loved Jesus and men The explicit details about queer love and Scotts confrontation of homophobia are wonderful. The duos vocals blend with giddy joy over the sweet strum of single Sugar in the Tank and with easygoing companionship over the trotting beat of The Only Marble Ive Got Left (on which they agree that theres no such thing as guilty pleasure/ As long as your pleasure's not unkind). On Bottom of a Bottle, they throw sisterly lifelines as they immerse themselves in the blues tropes of ending up alone and checking every honky tonk in town I lost my faith I lost my woman. Country musics seemingly immovable framework provides a solid structure for Scott and Baker both restless, questing thinkers in which to explore their own uncertainties. The acknowledged unease of open-ended questions is balanced by melodic resolutions and witty modern games with old country cliches. You get the hand you get and try to deal, they sing on Off the Wagon. Hooks are tossed out as smoothly as well-thumbed playing cards; Send a Prayer My Way follows the rules of old, familiar games, but invites new conversations to the table. A warm and inclusive record. 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 Just five years ago, Little Britain, Matt Lucas and David Walliamss sketch comedy that aired from 2003 to 2008, seemed doomed to be forgotten forever. With its frequent use of racism, class-based stereotypes and controversial portrayals of people with disabilities, Little Britain always divided people. But, at its peak, the show attracted nearly 10 million viewers and became a defining part of early Noughties British television. Taking inspiration from The League of Gentlemen, Little Britain was in many ways a traditional bawdy British sketch comedy, made in antithesis to the political correctness of the time. Known for its iconic catchphrases, Bernard Manning-style shock factor and humour that walked the very thin line between parody and punching down, it won multiple Baftas and even sold out a live arena tour. In its heyday, Lucas and Walliams even described Little Britain as a celebration of diversity. Were everybody tall, short, fat, thin, black, white, straight, gay, man, woman, whatever, Lucas said in an interview in The Sunday Times in 2006. Up until early 2020, episodes were still being broadcast on TV. Then, in June of that year, when the BBC decided to pull the show, it stated: Times have changed. Notably, this was after the global rise of the Black Lives Matter movement. Little Britain was taken down not only from iPlayer but all UK streaming platforms, including BritBox and Netflix, with the pairs other series, the equally offensive mockumentary about a fictional airport, Come Fly with Me, also removed. Both Lucas and Walliams appeared to show some remorse for their use of Blackface, stating that they regretted [playing] other races. We want to make it clear that it was wrong, and we are very sorry, the comedians said in a joint statement. By the time 2023 rolled around, the show was deemed explicitly racist and outdated by Ofcom. But, in 2025, Little Britain has gained a new lease of life, with the show finding popularity on TikTok and new fans in Gen-Zers. On the platform, the hashtag #littlebritain has accumulated over 61k posts, with short clips of the show constantly resurfacing and going viral. One such clip, with over 17k likes, shows the leader of a weight loss group, played by Lucas in drag, claiming she is unable to understand a south Asian womans pronunciation of fish and chips. It must be some sort of dish we dont get over here, Lucass character says. Despite the blatant racism on display, the kind long ago ruled as unacceptable, people commented, questioning how this show was ever cancelled. Many of Little Britains new devotees will have only discovered the show in recent years. I first watched a clip of it last year on TikTok, 20-year-old Bradley* says. I immediately thought it was great. Its a twist of fate we couldnt have predicted: a show that was once veering on becoming a national embarrassment is now fuelling online content. But why are some of Gen Z previously thought of as part of that so-called snowflake generation loving Little Britain today? Social media has introduced the show to lots of people my age, says 17-year-old Callum*, who fell in love with the show during lockdown. Bored during his time off school, he decided to try out a new series. I first watched it with my mum and dad; we were all laughing, he says. Since then, he has seen every single episode several times. It is absolutely hilarious, he says. Some of it has to be some of the greatest comedy ever to grace TV. Callum is forensic in his knowledge of Little Britain; he references specific scenes during our conversation and recites lines word for word. This wont be the case for most new fans, though, with many having only watched snippets of the series in short bursts; TikTok videos usually last no more than a couple of minutes. Ive seen lots of clips of the show but never a whole episode, Bradley says, but I still get what the show is about. open image in gallery Eh-Yeysss: Walliams and Lucas in character as Lou and Andy ( Getty ) [Gen-Zers] are consuming the show in a micro form, adds Chloe Combi, a Gen Z expert and the author of Generation Z: Their Voices, Their Lives. With shorts, you can take scenes out of context but if they looked at the whole thing, they might think there is no place for it in 2025. 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. It is possible, then, that Gen Z isnt watching the most offensive parts of Little Britain; the clip that Ofcom audience research deemed explicitly racist, for example, featured Walliams as university professor Linda Flint describing a student as the ching-chong Chinaman. But the shows controversial comedy is clearly a pull for its young fanbase. The shows Ive watched that were made more recently dont take as many risks, says Bradley. Little Britain pushes the boundaries of comedy in a way modern shows dont. Similarly, Callum thinks there hasnt been anything on TV in the last five years that has reached the humorous heights of Little Britain. If you dont like the jokes in it, you dont have to watch it, he says simply. Criticism always followed Lucas and Walliamss shows. When Come Fly With Me was released in 2010, The Guardian described it as tasteless comedy Not art by any stretch of the word, but mere exploitation of the artistic licence for cheap laughs. Still, Callum believes it is unlikely that a show like Little Britain would be made now. In todays world, Little Britain is highly offensive, he concedes. But it is this rude, daring, and risque territory that makes it interesting to him. The way I see it, it is just a comedy it is just a joke, he says, the world has gone a bit mad about what we can laugh at and what we can do. https://www.tiktok.com/@mattlucas.davidwalliams/video/7215284744714505478?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc Hearing that the BBC removed Little Britain from streaming sites makes Bradley frustrated. You cant just censor stuff, he says. I dont feel guilty about laughing at it because they are made-up characters. His favourites are Andy, who uses a wheelchair, and his carer Lou, and Anne, a non-verbal patient in a psychiatric hospital. Combi thinks that Gen Zs love for the show is part of a wider trend a knee-jerk reaction to, quote unquote, wokeness. Things that were incredibly taboo to say, even a few years ago, have suddenly become normalised, she says. It cant be a coincidence that Little Britains resurgence also comes at a time when Gen Z is romanticising and trying to recapture the Noughties in fashion, music and general aesthetic. One of the more charming elements of Little Britain was that it had a real symbiotic connection to a more old-fashioned, bawdy style of humour, Combi says. I totally think that would appeal to Gen-Zers who are obsessed with the Nineties and Y2K culture. With Little Britains newfound public favour, Walliams and Lucas have begun to talk about their show positively again. On their YouTube account run by BBC Studios, where the duo have 172k subscribers, they regularly share what they describe as classic clips from Little Britain. Although they are no longer posting outwardly racist content, characters, including Vicky Pollard, who was much criticised for being a mockery of the working class, still feature regularly. In a recent interview with the presenter Lorraine Kelly, Walliams proudly declared that his 11-year-old son and his friends had been quoting Little Britains famous catchphrases in the playground. He even joked about the shows previous cancellation, saying: Weve all been cancelled at some point. They cant do it again. open image in gallery No but, yeah but: Vicky Pollard, played by Lucas, with her mum, played by Dawn French ( BBC ) Its a drastic change in attitude for the pair who previously distanced themselves from Little Britain during that initial backlash. In 2017, Lucas expressed regret about some aspects of the programme. If I could go back and do Little Britain again, I wouldnt make those jokes about transvestites, he said at the time. And in 2020, when the show was being removed from platforms, they again apologised profusely. Now, though, the comedy duo seem only too pleased to see their comedy on the rise again. In 2022, the series was put back onto BBC iPlayer, but with the scenes where Walliams is in Blackface edited out. A BBC spokesperson said: Little Britain has been made available to fans on BBC iPlayer following edits made to the series by Matt and David that better reflect the changes in the cultural landscape over the last 20 years since the show was first made. Still, characters including Lou and Andy, Vicky Pollard and Bubbles DeVere, who was played by Lucas in a fat suit, remain. More recently, Lucas and Walliams have even publicly said that Little Britain could return. What does this mean for a show once considered so shameful that the BBC tried to wipe it from public consciousness? Only a few years ago, we were getting tearful apologies from them, says Combi. Isnt it interesting now that everyone has sort of forgotten about that, theyve decided to rewrite history how authentic was that apology then, really? She understands why theyre changing their tune, but I think thats a very poor reflection of their characters because they distanced themselves from it when it was socially fashionable [to do so]. For now, though, this societal acceptance has its limits attested to by the fact that the Little Britain lovers speaking in this piece requested that their names be changed. open image in gallery Ofcom drew the line at this skit in which Walliamss character describes an Asian student as having yellowish skin and a slight smell of soy sauce ( BBC ) Back in the early 2000s, Little Britain catchphrases ruled British playgrounds; children could be heard quoting them all across the country. And now, the show is well and truly back in the cultural lexicon, with the famous one-liners like Computer says no still being used among some Gen-Z. It is telling, too, that many of the clips on TikTok are posted by Gen-Zers themselves. The account @Brit.lovers98, for example, which routinely shares clips of Little Britain, Benidorm and Mrs Browns Boys to its 123,800 followers, is run by 26-year-old Liam. Meanwhile, @Conzaa22, who also posts scenes from Little Britain regularly, is run by someone who is only 22. New merchandise made by fans, like mugs with characters faces on them, has also been created to be sold on the TikTok store. The spread of Little Britains modern fandom is coming from within Gen Z. In some sense, young people have always been drawn to this sort of bottom-of-the-barrel, vulgar humour. I dont think it is quite as popular with young people now as it was back in the day, but we are definitely getting into it, says Callum. And, with Little Britains popularity on the rise, Combi thinks it wont be long before we see more from Lucas and Walliams. The whole revival is holding up a mirror to a very speedy transformation from very serious political correctness to a kind of freedom, where you can make quite tasteless jokes and observations. For Gen Z, it seems like once-disgraced shows like Little Britain dont have to be forgotten; just clipped up, repackaged and newly enjoyed. *Names have been changed 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 EastEnders viewers have been left emotional by the departure of four main characters from the soap. On Thursday (17 April), Natalie Cassidy who announced she had quit earlier this year left her role as fan favourite Sonia Fowler after joining the much-loved soap in 1993, when she was 10 years old. Sonia left Walford alongside her sister Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer, who is currently a housemate on Celebrity Big Brother) and her daughters Bex (Jasmine Armfield) and baby Julia, who she welcomed during a live show this year. The girls informed Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) that they were heading to Bal after stealing plane tickets belonging to Sonias estranged father Terry Cant (Glen Davis), who they locked in a shed. The quartet were driven out of Walford for their new adventure as Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) cheered them on. During this scene, Bianca handed Sonia a trumpet and asked her to play it for old times sake. Sonias trumpet and her inability to play it has been a recurring feature on the soap for years. open image in gallery Patsy Palmer and Natalie Cassidy as Bianca and Sonia in 'EastEnders' ( BBC ) Many Walford residents waved Sonia off, with fans at home expressing their sadness that she was leaving for good. Oh my God, Sonias exit has me sobbing, one person wrote on X/Twitter. Meanwhile another fan questioned: Why the hell am I crying at Sonia in a speedboat with a trumpet? You know what as much as Sonia annoyed the hell out of me in recent years, another viewer admitted. [But] that was a really touching exit. Thank you Natalie Cassidy, for everything. open image in gallery Cassidy has appeared on the soap for over three decades ( BBC ) Cassidy first appeared on the BBC soap when she was 10 in 1993, and left for the first time in 2007. She returned for a year in 2010, and then again in 2014, since when she has remained a regular fixture on the series. 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. Back in February, she said in a statement: I feel extremely sad to be writing this, but also very excited. After another 11 solid years back on The Square, I have decided it's time to move on to pastures new. EastEnders is in my bones so I will never forget where I started my career and I will continue to love the show. Cassidy revealed on social media this week that she will present her own show on Virgin Radio following her exit from Albert Square. The actor will host a one-off special show on Easter Monday from 1pm until 4pm. open image in gallery Cassidy announced she would be leaving the soap in January this year ( PA ) Meanwhile, Palmer is currently appearing on this years Celebrity Big Brother and was recently accused by viewers of being disrespectful during Trisha Goddards eviction. Although Palmer said she wished she had been the one to have been evicted, fans claimed this made her appear ungrateful for the chance to continue on in the ITV competition. I was hoping that people would see oh she's really missing her kids, don't vote for her, Palmer said following the result. 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 Nearly 200 international hotels, including prominent chains, are either already operating in Xinjiang or planning to open in the region, despite reports of widespread human rights abuses by China, according to a new report. The Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP) has identified at least 115 operational hotels that benefit from a presence in the Uyghur region, including major international hotel chains Accor, Hilton, IHG, Marriott, and Wyndham. Additionally, at least 74 other hotels are in various stages of construction or planning in Chinas Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (Xinjiang). These hotels are operating and dramatically expanding their presence in East Turkistan despite ongoing crimes against humanity and genocide, the UHRP said in a report published on Thursday. The report also mentions that some of the hotels have connections to forced labour and labour transfer programmes. By offering high-end accommodations and leisure spaces, international hotel chains contribute to a sanitised image of the region, one that directly serves Beijings propaganda objectives, it said. Xinjiang, one of the most ethnically diverse regions in China, has been witnessing systematic abuses against Uyghur Muslims and other ethnic groups under the guise of terrorism and religious extremism by the government in Beijing, activists say. According to Amnesty International, it is estimated that over a million people have been arbitrarily detained in internment camps throughout Xinjiang since 2017. The international human rights group has stated that China is carrying out mass internment, torture, re-education, forced labour, the criminalisation of acts of religious expression, and the persecution of Uyghur Muslims in the Xinjiang region. Demonstrators representing Tibetans and Uyghurs protest during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Week in San Francisco, California ( AFP via Getty Images ) Legal experts and world governments have called Chinas indoctrination and human rights abuses against Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities a genocide, a claim yet to be taken to the international court. China has denied reports of its mistreatment of minorities in the Xinjiang region. Experts working on the report have called on the hotels working in the region not to normalise Chinas human rights abuses. Its unconscionable that these hotel chains continue to operate and expand in the Uyghur Region at a time when the Chinese government is carrying out systematic atrocities, said Peter Irwin, co-author of the report and the associate director for research and advocacy at the UHRP. There is absolutely no way these multibillion-dollar corporations can operate responsibly in this environment their presence alone normalises and legitimises these abuses, he said. The rise in the number of hotels operating in Chinas far west comes at a time when Beijing is promoting Xinjiang as a tourist destination, with state media claiming around 300 million visitors to the region in 2024 alone. According to the UHRP report, hotel chains operating in the Uyghur region risk enabling and legitimising the political and economic system that perpetuates forced labour, cultural erasure and other human rights abuses targeting Uyghurs. The leading hotels support the very apparatus of state control that enforces these atrocities by maintaining a presence in the region, it said. Seeking action, the UHRP has called on the international hotel chains to freeze their further expansion in the region, halt all operations and sever any business ties, and third-party booking platforms to delist all hotel booking services in the region. 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 Bangladesh has demanded a formal apology from Pakistan for the genocide committed against Bangladeshis, as both countries resumed talks after 15 years. Foreign ministry officials from Bangladeshs interim government and Pakistan met in Dhaka on Thursday, as the Muhammad Yunus administration pushes to ease strained relations between the two nations. The two nations have seen a drastic improvement in bilateral relations since the interim government, led by Nobel laureate Mr Yunus, took power in Bangladesh after protests toppled former prime minister Sheikh Hasina last August and sent her fleeing to India. Bangladesh was once a part of Pakistan but became independent after a nine-month war with Islamabad in 1971. Ms Hasinas Awami League party regularly criticised Pakistan for atrocities during the nine-month-long war, which Dhaka won with Indias help. Bangladesh claims around three million people were killed and approximately 200,000 women were raped by Pakistani soldiers. Pakistan rejects these claims and has never officially apologised. Bangladeshs foreign secretary, Jashim Uddin, said that during the talks, he raised historically unsettled issues with Pakistan, including a formal public apology for atrocities committed by Pakistani troops in 1971 during Bangladeshs war of independence. Dhaka has also demanded $4.52bn from Pakistan as its share of pre-1971 assets, which include foreign aid, unpaid provident funds, savings instruments, and $200m given by international donors for the 1970 cyclone that killed between 300,000 and 500,000 people. These issues need to be resolved for having a solid foundation of our relations, Mr Uddin told reporters on Thursday. The two sides also discussed the expansion of trade and commerce and increasing cooperation in agriculture and other sectors, he added. Dr Yunuss office said in a statement late Thursday that he held a separate meeting with the Pakistani foreign secretary and emphasised strengthening ties with Pakistan to boost mutual cooperation and explore trade and business potentials. There are certain hurdles. We have to find ways to overcome those and move forward, he told Pakistans foreign secretary, Amna Baloch. The last such consultation between the two countries was held in Islamabad in 2010, after Ms Hasina came to power in the 2008 election with a landslide victory. Earlier in February, both countries resumed direct trade after over 50 years. Bangladeshs foreign secretary Jashim Uddin (centre, right) and Pakistans foreign secretary Amna Baloch (centre, left) during a bilateral meeting in Dhaka this week ( Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs ) Dhaka has also simplified the visa process for Pakistanis to further strengthen economic relations, and the interim government has removed the requirement for clearance from Dhaka for Pakistani heads of missions to obtain visas. The strengthening of ties comes as Bangladeshs relations with India have become increasingly tense. Bangladeshs interim leader has criticised India for sheltering Ms Hasina in the country and has sought her extradition, with no positive response from India. Earlier this month, India cancelled a transhipment facility that allowed Bangladesh to export its primarily garment products to third countries using Indian airports and other Indian infrastructure. The move is expected to impact Bangladeshs roughly $39bn annual ready-made garment exports by increasing trade costs with the European Union, Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar. Bangladesh is the worlds second-largest garment producer after China. New Delhi and Dhaka have accused each other of failing to protect minorities in their respective countries in an ever-escalating dispute. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Russias Supreme Court lifted the ban on Afghanistans ruling Taliban, a group that had been designated as a terrorist organisation more than two decades ago. The Islamist militants wrested power from the Ashraf Ghani administration in August 2021 as US and Nato troops were in the final weeks of withdrawing from the country after two decades of war. Moscow previously called the Nato withdrawal a failure and had taken steps to normalise friendly relations with the de facto rulers of Afghanistan. The Russian courts ruling on Thursday marked a diplomatic victory for the Taliban, who were put on Moscows list of terrorist organisations in 2003, making any contact with them punishable under Russian law. However, the Supreme Court ruling does not amount to formal recognition of the Taliban authorities. Taliban delegations have attended various forums hosted by Russia as Moscow has sought to position itself as a regional power broker. In 2024, Russian president, Vladimir Putin, called the Taliban allies in the fight against terrorism. The ruling was prompted by a request from the prosecutor generals office following last years adoption of a law stipulating that the official designation as a terrorist organisation could be suspended by a court. Judge Oleg Nefedov announced that the ruling is effective immediately. The former Soviet Union fought a 10-year war in Afghanistan that ended with Moscow withdrawing its troops in 1989. Russian officials have recently been emphasising the need to engage with the Taliban to help stabilise Afghanistan. In recent years, the Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have removed the Taliban from their lists of terrorist groups. The Talibans promises of a more moderate rule after their 2021 takeover were quickly overshadowed by the reintroduction of strict restrictions on women and girls. Women are banned from most jobs and public spaces, including parks, baths, and gyms, while girls are prohibited from continuing education beyond the sixth grade. Such measures have isolated the Taliban on the world stage, although their government has established diplomatic ties with countries including China and the United Arab Emirates. The UN this year renewed its call for the Taliban to lift the bans. The groups decrees limiting the participation of girls and women have affected foreign aid to the country. The Taliban have also brought back their strict interpretation of Islamic law, or Shariah, including public executions. Some members of the Taliban have expressed a desire for greater engagement with the international community and advocate for relaxing harsh policies in order to gain more external support. This has led to increased interaction with the US, particularly under the Trump administration, focused on prisoner exchanges and releases. However, the broader policies of the Taliban, particularly regarding womens rights, have remained a significant barrier to wider international recognition and support. Ibraheem Bahiss, a senior analyst with Crisis Groups Asia Program, said the Talibans listing as a terrorist group was a legal impairment for trade and political ties with Kabul and its lifting reflected Moscows desire to improve relations. However, beyond making it easier for individuals and businesses to engage with Afghanistan, I am not sure what other major benefit this will have, he said. South Asia analyst Michael Kugelman said the Russian move was not ground-breaking because many countries had never formally designated the Taliban as a terrorist organisation. At the same time, he called the decision a win-win for bilateral relations. For Russia, he said it would serve as a confidence-building measure, helping pave the way for more engagement and enabling Moscow to better protect its interests in Afghanistan, particularly concerns about anti-Russia terror groups like Islamic State-Khorasan. Meanwhile, for the Taliban, the court decision is a legitimacy-boosting outcome they can leverage to point to international acceptance of their rule, Mr Kugelman observed. Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A deadly E. coli outbreak linked to romaine lettuce ripped through 15 states at the end of last year, but the Food and Drug Administration didnt publicly disclose it, according to a report. The outbreak was linked to the death of one person and hospitalized 36 people in November, including a 9-year-old boy who nearly died of kidney failure. An internal report obtained by NBC News revealed that the agency did not name the produce company involved in the outbreak and they did not share information with the public about it. There were no public communications related to this outbreak, the report said, and added that the company in question was not named during this outbreak because there was no product remaining in commerce. Data connected 89 cases across 15 states and concluded that romaine lettuce was the source of the outbreak, the Food and Drug Administrations report concluded. Questions are now being asked about why the agency decided to keep the outbreak quiet and critics have pointed out that many employees responsible for distributing information to the public about foodborne illnesses recently lost their jobs in the Trump administrations purge of the federal government. open image in gallery An internal report revealed that the Food and Drug Administration identified romaine lettuce as the source of the E. coli outbreak but the agency did not tell the public about it at the time. ( Getty Images ) We no longer have all the mechanisms in place to learn from those situations and prevent the next outbreak from happening, Taryn Webb, who led the agencys public engagement division for human foods until she lost her job in the sweeping cuts this month, told NBC News. It is disappointing, but with 20,000 employees at Health and Human Services being fired, investigating, and reporting on outbreaks and alerting the public to the cause is clearly not a priority for this administration, food safety attorney William Marler said. If the gutted CDC and FDA can no longer do the job, we will step up to inform and protect the public so much for Make America Healthy Again, he added. Officials are not required by law to publish information about all known outbreaks of foodborne illnesses and in some cases, the agency may decide to hold back on publishing information when the cause is still unknown. The FDA names firms when there is enough evidence linking an outbreak to a firm and there is actionable advice for consumers, as long as naming the firm is not legally prohibited, a spokesperson told NBC News in a statement. By the time investigators had confirmed the likely source, the outbreak had already ended and there was no actionable advice for consumers. The Independent has contacted the Food and Drug Administration for further comment. open image in gallery Food safety advocates have questioned why the agency did not publicly disclose information about the E. coli outbreak. It caused one death and led to the hospitalization of 36 people, including a 9-year-old boy. ( Getty Images ) But food safety advocates argue that the agencys response is not good enough. It is disturbing that FDA hasnt said anything more public or identified the name of a grower or processor, Frank Yiannas, who was the agencys deputy commissioner of food policy and response from 2018 to 2023, told the outlet. He added that the agency has shifted toward greater transparency in recent years when it comes to disclosing information about large-scale outbreaks. People have a right to know whos selling contaminated products, Sandra Eskin, a former official at the U.S. Agriculture Department, added. Cases started popping up across Missouri and Indiana in November. The strain was identified as a particularly dangerous one E. coli 0157: H7. The rare strain can result in organ damage and even death in some exceptional cases. High school students living in Missouris St. Louis County were affected after eating salad at a school event. Families reported that their children were suffering from violent stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea and vomiting. In Indiana, the same strain almost killed 9-year-old Colton George, who woke up doubled over in pain. He was hospitalized for two weeks, including on his 10th birthday, after developing hemoltyic uremic syndrome. He was put on round-the-clock dialysis. George still suffers from chronic stomach pain and fatigue, his family told NBC News. The E. coli outbreaks in both states are linked by the same genetic sequencing, according to a lawsuit filed by the George family. Outbreaks also occurred in Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee and Wisconsin, the Food and Drug Administrations report said. Food safety law firm Marler Clark has filed a suit against Taylor Farms, one of the largest producers of salads and fresh vegetables in the U.S., and alleges thats where the tainted lettuce originated. Taylor Farms denied the allegation in a statement to NBC News. We dont believe Taylor Farms was the source of the referenced recent E. coli outbreaks, based on information collected during thorough third-party investigations and robust food safety controls, the company said in a statement. The Independent has reached out to Taylor Farms for further comment. Nine other lawsuits argue in court papers that Taylor Farms sold defective and unreasonably dangerous produce, NBC News reports. 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 Israeli airstrikes across Gaza killed at least 17 people early Friday including children, hospital workers said, as the new U.S. ambassador to Israel made his first public appearance in Jerusalem. Among the dead were 10 people in Jabaliya, including eight from the same house, according to the Indonesian Hospital, which received the bodies. In the southern city of Khan Younis, seven people were killed, one of them a pregnant woman, according to Nasser Hospital, where the bodies were brought. The strikes came a day after more than two dozen people died in Gaza as Israel ramps up attacks, pressuring Hamas to return the hostages and disarm. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee on Friday appeared at the Western Wall, the holiest Jewish prayer site in Jerusalems Old City. Huckabee inserted a prayer into the wall, which he said was handwritten by U.S. President Donald Trump. "Those are his initials, D.T., said Huckabee while showing the note to the media. In his first act as ambassador, Huckabee said Trump told him to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Huckabee also said every effort was being made to bring the remaining hostages held by Hamas home. A one-time presidential hopeful, Huckabee has acknowledged his past support for Israels right to annex the West Bank and incorporate its Palestinian population into Israel but said it would not be his prerogative to carry out that policy. During his first term, Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israels capital over Palestinian objections and moved the embassy from Tel Aviv. Palestinian seek the eastern part of the city that Israel captured in the 1967 Mideast war as their future capital. Huckabee's arrival comes at a pivotal time in the 18-month war, as international mediators including the U.S. are trying to get a broken ceasefire back on track. Israel is demanding that Hamas release more hostages at the start of any new ceasefire and ultimately agree to disarm and leave the territory. Israel has said it plans occupy large security zones inside Gaza. Khalil al-Hayya, head of Hamas negotiating delegation, said Thursday the group had rejected Israels latest proposal along those lines. He reiterated Hamas stance that it will return hostages only in exchange for the release of more Palestinian prisoners, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a lasting truce, as called for in the now-defunct ceasefire agreement reached in January. Hamas currently holds 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be alive. The war began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251. Most of the hostages have since been released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Israels offensive has since killed over 51,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. The war has destroyed vast parts of Gaza and most of its food production capabilities. The war has displaced around 90% of the population, with hundreds of thousands of people living in tent camps and bombed-out buildings. On Thursday, aid groups raised the alarm over Israels blockade of of Gaza, where it has barred entry of all food and other goods for more than six weeks. Thousands of children have become malnourished, and most people are barely eating one meal a day as stocks dwindle, the United Nations said. Israel's Defense Minister says the blockade is one of the central pressure tactics against Hamas, which Israel accuses of siphoning off aid to maintain its rule. Aid workers deny there is significant diversion of aid, saying the U.N. closely monitors distribution. Rights groups have called it a starvation tactic. - Khaled reported from Cairo. Associated Press writer Sam Mednick in Tel Aviv, Israel, contributed to this report. ___ Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war 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 As he handed himself in to a Manchester police station, one-eyed killer Dale Cregan told them: You were hounding my family so I took it out on yous. Im wanted by the police and Ive just done two coppers. The local drug dealer had spent weeks successfully evading capture as police hunted him over the gun and grenade murders of father and son David and Mark Short, whom he had killed in a row between feuding families in east Manchester. But growing tired of the tactics from Greater Manchester Police, who repeatedly raided his family home and put a 50,000 bounty on his head as they launched the largest manhunt in their history, he decided to hit back and laid a trap. PC Fiona Bone, 32, and PC Nicola Hughes, 23, were brutally murdered in September 2012 after they responded to a bogus 999 call from Cregan reporting a burglary, who told the handler: Ill be waiting. He shot the officers multiple times before detonating a fragmentation grenade on the women as they lay on the ground. open image in gallery Dale Cregan was handed a rare whole life order for four murders, including two police officers whom he killed after weeks evading capture ( Greater Manchester Police ) open image in gallery Cregan set a trap and killed PC Fiona Bone and PC Nicola Hughes ( Greater Manchester Police ) He was eventually handed a rare whole life order for murdering the father, son and two policewomen in a case that rocked policing and briefly reignited debate over whether officers should be routinely armed. GMPs leaders were also forced to defend the force from criticism for releasing Cregan on bail after he was first arrested for Mark Shorts murder and then adopting the tactic of repeatedly visiting his family while he was on the run. It was in the wake of this scandal that the Force Critical Wanted Unit (FCWU) was born, with the sole purpose of catching dangerous criminals quickly and effectively. Now the specialist team, one of only a handful of such units in the country, takes an average of one to three days to catch the citys most high-risk fugitives by tracking their every movement. open image in gallery Inside the police HQ where the team hunts fugitives ( Joel Goodman/The Independent ) We deal with those most dangerous, hardest to find, riskiest offenders, Detective Superintendent Joseph Harrop explained from inside the base in Ashton-under-Lyne, where he heads up the forces activities to tackle serious and organised crime. Its generally murders, firearms offences, or other offences where we think theyve used a firearm, or likely to have access to firearms. Each day, GMP, the countrys second-largest police force, has hundreds of people it wants to track down, but only the most dangerous are looked at by the FCWU. Once they have adopted a target, the team made up of an inspector, two sergeants and around eight police staff use what they describe as reverse victimology to build a profile of the suspect. They then deploy a range of techniques, tracking their spending, phone activity and known contacts to find them and bring them into custody as rapidly as possible. Its about understanding their footprint, who their associations are, DS Harrop added. Whats the financial footprint, whats the social media presence? Who are the partners? Do they have multiple partners? We will try and exploit a weakness. Given the cases they take on are classed as offenders who pose a high risk to the public, this often calls for covert activity, and the team has access to 24/7 surveillance capabilities. Inside an observation room, detectives watch monitors with multiple cameras trained on key locations linked to their targets. open image in gallery Inside the observation room as a specialist manhunt team track Manchesters most dangerous fugitives ( Joel Goodman/The Independent ) Once a suspect has been located and their identity has been confirmed, the team may deploy to make an arrest although often, this is led by firearms command. Last year, the team made a record 114 arrests, with many wanted for murder or firearms offences. Unit leader Detective Inspector James Coles, who was one of the first officers on the scene of the murder of PCs Bone and Hughes 12 years ago, describes the FCWUs work as the sharpest end of the sharpest sword in policing. He will run a manhunt from inside an operations room known as the green room, where surveillance teams, firearms command and other units will work together until a suspect is brought in. The reason for our success as a unit is not because were any better or worse than any other police operation, its that we do it a lot, he told The Independent. By doing it a lot, we practice our techniques and tactics very well. We dont have any magic tools that other forces dont have; we just do the basics really, really well. Human beings have patterns of behaviour, and its interesting when you observe them with close scrutiny we can kind of predict their behaviour. This is the most effective and most impressive team I have ever worked with. open image in gallery DI James Coles describes the FCWUs work as the the sharpest end of the sharpest sword in policing ( Joel Goodman/The Independent ) The units members, who include an ex-marine among several with military experience, are experts in phone analysis and social media investigation and are trained in hostage negotiation and advanced driving. The reactive nature of the work means team members can clock up to 70 or 100 hours of work on a busy week, as well as covering an on-call rota for kidnap cases. So every, every day, we get a summary of all the major incidents within GMP, DI Coles added. So I read them, deciding whether or not Im going to be able to have dinner with my wife. After a 17-year-old was blasted with a shotgun in front of terrified mothers and their young children in Stretford in August 2023, the FCWU was deployed to find the gunman. It took the unit less than 24 hours to track down suspect Ethan Deas, 18, after investigators found his father had paid for an Airbnb in Salford. The team began surveillance of the apartment block, and armed police were deployed when they spotted the teen going inside. open image in gallery DS Harrop and DI Coles said they use reverse victimology to help catch killers on the run ( Joel Goodman/The Independent ) Deas, who was later jailed for 10 years for causing grievous bodily harm in the revenge shooting, tried to flee the 10th-floor flat by dropping down into a teenage girls 16th birthday party on the floor below but was captured by the team. Its psychologically exhausting being on the run, DI Coles said. Anyone you have loved or cared about, we will exploit. Anything you might want or need where do you get your money? Where do you collect your benefits? After Salah Eldin Adam, 21, was stabbed in the neck in Trafford in 2023, the team spent 16 days tracking Xaviour Wynter, who fled the scene of the attack along with Demari Rose. Wynter was captured and brought to justice after the team realised he had started a new relationship with a girlfriend of three days and was later jailed for 13 years and eight months for manslaughter. It took less than a day for the team to bring in Shiloh Pottinger after he stabbed university student Luke OConnor, 19, eight times with a flick knife in a row on their way home from a party in Fallowfield in October 2022. The team traced him after they realised he was ordering takeaway food to a bed and breakfast. For DI Coles, the job comes with pressure, but the satisfaction of being able to focus the weight of the team on bringing in a suspect, rather than juggling multiple outstanding cases that could take months or even years to bring to a resolution. He added: I am given one job to do and its heavily pressurised and I am given all the resources and all the best people to deal with it. 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 Two people have been arrested on suspicion of murder following an investigation into the disappearance of a 37-year-old woman. Paria Veisi was last seen around 3pm on Saturday 12 April when she left her workplace in the Canton area of Cardiff. South Wales Police has confirmed it is now treating her disappearance as a murder investigation. A 41-year-old man and a 48-year-old woman, who are both known to Paria, have been arrested on suspicion of murder and remain in police custody. Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Matt Powell, said: I can confirm that that the investigation into the disappearance of Paria Veisi is now a murder investigation. I currently have no proof that Paria is alive. Her family and friends are extremely concerned that they have not heard from her which is totally out of character. Parias family have been informed and we are keeping them updated. We have two people in custody, and at this stage we are not looking for anybody else in connection with this investigation. Paria is described as having long, curly, black hair and was last seen wearing a black zip-up gym top over a red top, black trousers, and trainers. She was last seen driving her car, a black Mercedes GLC 200, which was later found on Dorchester Avenue in the Penylan area on Tuesday evening. The senior investigating officer added: Our investigation remains focussed on Parias movements after she left work in Canton area on Saturday, April 12. Extensive CCTV and house-to-house enquiries are being carried out by a team of officers and I am appealing for anybody who has information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to make contact. 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 Prison officers could be given stab-proof vests after several staff were attacked, allegedly by Manchester bomb plotter Hashem Abedi. Justice secretary Shabana Mahmood says the Prison Service will conduct a snap review of whether protective body armour should be made available to frontline officers. Abedi is said to have attacked guards with hot oil and homemade weapons at HMP Frankland in County Durham on Saturday. Four prison officers were injured, three of whom suffered with life-threatening stab and burn wounds that needed hospital treatment, Counter Terrorism Policing North East said. One officer remains in hospital. The Ministry of Justice has pledged to carry out a review. Union bosses have been calling for officers to be given stab vests and protective equipment, saying the attack showed how dangerous the job is. Protective body armour is not standard in UK jails ( Getty Images ) The Ministry of Justice has also suspended access to kitchens in separation units in prisons, where the attack is believed to have taken place in Frankland. Frankland is one of three prisons in England and Wales containing a separation unit housing the most dangerous prisoners in thrall to extremist ideologies, which were set up following a review of extremism in prisons. Abedi, who is serving at least 55 years for the murders of 22 people after conspiring with his brother to launch the May 2017 atrocity, was one of a small number of prisoners in Britain being held at a specialist separation unit at HMP Frankland. Ms Mahmood said: I share the countrys shock and anger at the attack on our prison officers at HMP Frankland last weekend. It is clear there are further questions to answer, and more that must be done. For that reason, we are carrying out an independent review into these events. This will look into how this was able to happen, and what we must do to better protect our prison officers in the future. This review will look specifically at this attack, but also more widely at how separation centres are run. The probe is expected to report back in the next few months. Ms Mahmood also said there would be an audit on carrying out 230 recommendations from 19 reviews looking at extremism in prisons. I know full well the dangers of the warped ideology of Islamist extremists. I will not tolerate it within our prisons. Wherever I find there is opportunity to strengthen our defences and better protect our staff and the public, I will do so. The review is expected to make recommendations on whether any changes can be made at HMP Frankland and all other high-security jails. 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 More than four in five teachers feel the number of pupils exhibiting violent and abusive behaviours has increased, a new survey suggests. The poll by the NASUWT teaching union, released on the first day of the unions annual conference in Liverpool, revealed a concerning trend of violence and abuse directed towards teachers by their pupils, including being punched, kicked, shoved or spat at. Of the more than 5,800 NASUWT members in the UK who were surveyed in January, two in five (40 per cent) have experienced physical abuse or violence from pupils in the last 12 months. One in five (20 per cent) said they had experienced being hit or punched by pupils in the last year, while 38 per cent of respondents said they had been shoved or barged. About one in six (16 per cent) said they had been kicked by pupils, while 9 per cent said they had been spat at. open image in gallery The union says there were as many as 30,000 violent incidents against teachers involving pupils with a weapon in the last 12 months ( PA Wire ) Delegates will debate a motion on Friday which suggests that reports of extreme pupil indiscipline including incidents involving knives and other weapons are on the rise. The motion calls on the unions executive to work with the Government to ensure teachers have the unequivocal support of ministers in taking action to secure positive learner behaviour. It adds that the guidance on behaviour management should be strengthened to ensure no exclusion policies are not legitimised across the sector, and mandatory time is introduced for teachers to access national continuing professional development (CPD) on behaviour management strategies. One teacher who responded to the survey said, I have had two children use a fire hydrant as a weapon. One at my head, another to my foot. Another said: This morning I was told to, go die, I hope you die. open image in gallery Dr Patrick Roach, general secretary of the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) ( Andrew Milligan/PA Wire ) Patrick Roach, general secretary of the NASUWT, said: Pupil behaviour has long been an issue for teachers, but recent years have seen an unprecedented surge in levels of violence and abuse in the classroom. Based on our latest data, we estimate as many as 30,000 violent incidents against teachers involving pupils with a weapon in the last 12 months. Many teachers are having to think about how they can survive in the classroom before they can begin to focus on their teaching and pupils learning. We are calling for the establishment of a national inter-agency forum on school safety and security that is led and chaired by ministers. We are also calling on the Government to invest in properly funded services to identify and tackle the root causes of pupil violence and aggression. At the National Education Unions (NEU) conference in Harrogate on Wednesday, a motion on violence, which warned of a crisis in schools where some pupils behave in ways which are dangerous to staff, was passed. But the motion, which noted increasing levels of violence in schools, called on the NEU executive to campaign to ensure pupils involved in challenging behaviour were not excluded from the education system. 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 TikTok has removed videos promoting birth control misinformation after The Independent found that some influencers were spreading unproven claims to millions of users. An investigation by The Independent and tech company Alethea revealed misleading videos claimed the risks of birth control, such as cancer or psychological side effects, outweigh its benefits. Some videos, since taken down, also suggested that a herbal supplement called Queen Annes Lace could act as a contraceptive, and promoted the idea that women should detox after stopping their birth control prescription. The TikTok videos, which appeared generic, engaging, and aesthetically pleasing, were posted by three prominent wellness influencers reaching 15 million viewers on the platform between February 2021 and July 2024 and being shared 21,000 times. Out of the 1,449 total videos posted by the three influencers during the period, 115 were tagged with #birthcontrol. Using data collection, Alethea a leading technology company specialising in online risk detection and mitigation identified the top myths being spread by three prominent TikTok influencers. The Independent also collated and flagged hashtags used specifically by these influencers on TikTok, which aimed to push this content to a wider audience than just their followers, such as #womenshealth #truth #holistichealth #fertilityawareness and #holistichealing. TikTok did not respond when asked if it took action on these. Many of the videos were also published on platforms such as Instagram and YouTube. Have you come across this kind of content online? Email: hebe.campbell@independent.co.uk open image in gallery Influencer spreading misinformation online around birth control ( TikTok ) Dr Viki Male, senior lecturer in reproductive immunology at Imperial College London, told The Independent: Contraception, like any medication, has risks but they are low and far lower than the risks of pregnancy. Theres no strong evidence that Queen Annes Lace works as a contraceptive its certainly not something I would rely on. In communities that try to use herbal birth control, they have a really high rate of unplanned pregnancies. Its a myth that the longer you take birth control, the longer it takes to get pregnant. Studies show no such wash-out period exists for any hormonal contraceptives except for the injection. The injection does take a little while to leave your system, but that is exactly what its designed to do. However, Dr Male did point out that some people taking contraception may experience side effects, adding: With every medication, there are always risks, but hormonal contraception is really safe and effective. After The Independent presented the social media giant with its evidence, TikTok removed content relating to claims that the risks of birth control like cancer or psychological side effects outweigh its benefits and the false claim that Queen Annes Lace can work as a contraceptive. It did not remove videos relating to detoxing after taking birth control, however. It also removed content relating to these topics by influencers that The Independent had not flagged. The videos specifically violated TikToks policies around medical misinformation, the app said. open image in gallery TikTok removed content relating to claims that the risks of birth control outweigh its benefits following an investigation by The Independent ( AP ) Instagram and TikTok are now the preferred search engines for Gen-Zers when seeking local results, according to a study carried out in 2024 by marketing technology vendor SOCI. For Gen Z internet users in the US, Instagram was first, with 67 per cent saying they use it for searches. TikTok is the second choice at 62 per cent of the 18 to 24 demographic search, while Google is third at 61 per cent. TikTok, along with Instagram and other social media platforms, has recently come under scrutiny for allowing misinformation to spread, especially around womens health. Another study in 2024 found that women are among the largest group of TikTok users in the United States and may be especially affected by the dissemination of health information on TikTok. The research suggested that health professionals and health communication scholars need to proactively consider using TikTok as a platform for disseminating health information to young women, because they are using TikTok for it despite preferring information from health professionals. TikTok said it removed content that violated its policies regarding medical misinformation. Its community guidelines prohibit inaccurate, misleading, or false content that may cause significant harm to individuals or society, regardless of intent. However, the guidelines allow TikTok users to share their own stories or experiences about medical treatment as long as they do not contain harmful misinformation. TikTok defines harmful health misinformation as inaccurate medical advice that discourages people from getting appropriate medical care for a life-threatening disease, or other misinformation that may cause negative health effects on an individuals life. The app announced a year-long collaboration with the World Health Organisation in 2024 to promote reliable mental wellbeing content and fight disinformation through the Fides Network of trusted healthcare professionals, who are also TikTok creators. 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 One of Reforms most prominent candidates in the local elections is facing potential disqualification over claims that she does not live in the area. Dame Andrea Jenkyns, who is running as the Reform UK candidate for the newly created role of mayor of Greater Lincolnshire, will face a hearing next Friday, just six days before voters go to the polls. Dame Andrea is currently leading in the polls in the hotly contested county, and was a high-profile defector from the Tories, having previously been a right-wing supporter of Boris Johnson when she was a Conservative MP. It comes as Reforms local election campaign has been beset by problems, including the partys ousted Great Yarmouth MP Rupert Lowe announcing his intention to sue Nigel Farage for defamation. The party is also fending off claims that it is trying to recruit disgraced former prime minister Liz Truss. Jenkyns is unveiled as Reforms 100,000th member with Farage and the Reform party chair Zia Yusuf ( EPA ) But the party says the accusations made against Dame Andrea are vexatious and politically motivated, claiming that they are an attempt to smear her just days before the electorate cast their votes. It is understood that the complaint has been made by the agent of one of Dame Andreas rivals, Marianne Overton, who is standing as an independent and is a councillor on North Kesteven District Council. It is based on claims that Dame Andrea is not eligible to stand in Lincolnshire because she lives in Leeds, the location of her constituency when she was a Tory MP. A spokesperson for North Kesteven District Council said: A formal objection has been received by the North Kesteven electoral registration officer in relation to an individual registration on the electoral register, and the statutory process is being followed. Similar claims have been made by the Tory candidate Rob Waltham, who recently posted the accusations on Facebook. He wrote: How to be a good Mayor for Lincolnshire! Live here! A senior Tory MP told The Independent: This is not personal against her, but the rules are very clear, and if she has broken them then she should not be eligible to stand. The Electoral Commission website states that mayoral candidates must meet one of four residential qualifications, which include living or working in the local authority area where they wish to stand, or being registered there as an elector. In what is becoming an increasingly toxic battle for the county, the Conservatives have also attempted to report Dame Andrea to the police in relation to the accusations. A Reform UK spokesperson said: We understand a vexatious and politically motivated complaint has been made by the relative of a candidate in the same election that Andrea Jenkyns is contesting, in an attempt to deprive the people of Lincolnshire of the chance to vote for Reform UK. We are confident that this complaint will be dismissed. Dame Andrea has declined to comment herself, but it is understood that she has told friends she is the victim of a smear campaign because she is the frontrunner in the race. She has acknowledged that she lives between Leeds and Lincolnshire for family reasons, but is expected to produce evidence next week to show that Lincolnshire is her primary address. She has also been in direct contact with local authority officials for a number of months over the question of her eligibility. However, with Labours Jason Stockwood hoping to come through the middle of a split right-wing vote between the Tories and Reform, unions and left-wing groups are also piling on pressure in what has become a febrile election campaign. The leading public-sector union Unison has written to members who work for Lincolnshire County Council in an effort to dissuade them from voting for Dame Andrea, and there are claims that they have been urged to appear in a video attacking her. This has led to concerns in Dame Andreas camp over a potential breach of purdah rules before an election. But a Unison spokesperson said: This all about informing members in Lincolnshire as to where the various mayoral candidates stand on the issues that matter. This includes the measures being introduced in the Employment Rights Bill. This is not a breach of election rules. Meanwhile, Hope Not Hate have also been targeting Dame Andrea as a climate change denier who has fought against net zero policies. The Independent has approached Cllr Overton for comment. Lincolnshire Police have declined to comment. Sign up to our free Brexit newsletter for our analysis of the continuing impact of Brexit on the UK Sign up to our free newsletter for the latest analysis on Brexit's impact Sign up to our free newsletter for the latest analysis on Brexit's impact Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice During the painful Brexit negotiations to extract the UK from the EU, Theresa May was famously told that Britain could not have its cake and eat it in terms of wanting things both ways. In other words you cannot have the benefits of membership but not actually be a member. It seemed simple at the time. But now the approach of cakism, as Boris Johnson called it, seems to be back on the menu but this time with Labour prime minister Sir Keir Starmer wanting a trade deal with the US at the same time as trying to get a reset trade arrangement with the EU. As one pro-EU activist terms it: Chlorinated chicken has replaced cake. You cant have Trumps (US) chlorinated chicken and a closer relationship with the EU. The prime minister has insisted there is no choice to be made between the US and EU, but with two crucial dates coming up quickly he may well be forced into a difficult choice which could determine the direction of Britain for a generation. open image in gallery US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (Carl Court/PA) ( PA Wire ) What are the dates? On 19 May Sir Keir Starmer will host a summit in the UK with EU leaders where he will announce details of a Brexit reset deal. On the table is a new defence arrangement but also plans to remove barriers between the UK and its largest market. About seven weeks later Donald Trumps 90 day suspension of new tariffs will come to an end on 8 July. That date has become an unofficial deadline for the UK and US to conclude a new trade deal. While the deal would be unusual in that it largely focuses on future growth industries such as biotech and artificial intelligence, it would aim to remove almost all tariffs. open image in gallery Starmer meets Ursula von der Leyen ( Getty Images ) The UK stuck in the middle of a trade war While Sir Keir keeps repeating that there is no need to make a choice the growing evidence is that he will have to do so, and given the dates pretty quickly. One issue is that Trump appears to be determined to have a trade war with the EU and is treating it similarly to China. In fact, the tariffs threatened on the EU were double the 10 per cent for the UK to 20 per cent. Already issues like signing up to EU energy regulations on carbon levies. But with Trump seeing bas on chlorinated chicken and hormones in beef as a trade barrier/ tariff equivalent, the UK will be under pressure to roll back on food safety regulations too. As the European Movement noted: If the UK decides as part of a deal to allow in products not accepted for EU market, that makes a food safety/SPS/veterinary deal with EU more difficult - EU would need to know those products could not enter its territory. That would be almost impossible to do. UKICE or ECIPE might have done some further work on more specific potential clashes. Trouble is we only have the vaguest idea what a UK-US deal might look like. Added to that JD Vance is already understood to be applying pressure for the tech industry, not least over repealing hate speech and online safety laws. But if a US trade deal involved significantly laxer UK regulation of US tech companies - especially the treatment of data - than applies in the EU, that would likely create a further regulatory barrier to UK-EU trade and would certainly be a political issue which would damage trust and make EU less inclined to enter a closer relationship with UK. open image in gallery European affairs minister Nick Thomas-Symonds is leading talks on a Brexit reset ( Parliament TV ) Starmer must make a choice One of Britains foremost international trade experts, Marco Forgione, director general of the Chartered Institute of Exports and International Trade, is convinced that it will be very difficult for the prime minister to achieve a significant Brexit reset and a trade deal on Trumps terms. He said: A trade deal with the US could also lead to growing divergence between the UKand EU. And he warned that Northern Ireland, which currently still sits in the EU single market because of its land border with Ireland, will be caught in the crosshairs. The potential divergence caused by a possible economic agreement with the US might require a reset with the EU, especially with regards to Northern Ireland. All made more complicated if the EU imposes retaliatory tariffs on the US. Another expert, Chris Southworth, secretary general of the International Chamber of Commerce UK said: A traditional free trade agreement with the US is not recommended. The UK has tried and failed twice to agree such a deal and, in the process, wasted 10 years when it would have been better to be more practical and build on areas of commonality and strength. The FTA format fails because there are significant areas of difference in consumer values and standards as well as policy. UK consumers do not want US firms running NHS health services and do not want US food standards [hormone beef or chlorinated chicken]. Equally, the US is reluctant to open up government procurement to UK companies. He went on: There is an excellent opportunity to reset EU trade relations and strengthen cooperation. Given the EU is the UKs closest market and 40 per cent of UK trade this should be a major priority. The larger economic opportunity is to remove all friction across the European trading system and start with aligning legal infrastructure across Europe and transform the trade environment between the UK and EU to become fully digitalised so trade is cheaper, faster and simpler for all businesses both in the EU and UK. open image in gallery Sir Keir Starmer spoke by phone to to President Trump ( supplied ) But the PM is still optimistic Sir Keir spoke to President Trump today and appears to remain optimistic about getting a deal done. A Downing Street spokesperson said: The prime minister spoke to the President of the United States Donald Trump this afternoon. The leaders began by discussing the ongoing and productive discussions between the UK and US on trade. The Prime Minister reiterated his commitment to free and open trade and the importance of protecting the national interest. The leaders also discussed the situation in Ukraine, Iran and recent action taken against the Houthis in Yemen. They agreed to stay in touch. 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 held his first conversation with Donald Trump since the US president announced tariffs on all UK imports to America on 3 April. A Downing Street spokesperson said the two leaders discussed the ongoing and productive discussions on trade between the UK and the United States. The pair also discussed the war in Ukraine, Iran and recent action taken against the Houthis in Yemen. The prime minister reiterated his commitment to free and open trade and the importance of protecting the national interest, Sir Keirs spokesperson said. It is the first time the two leaders have spoken since Mr Trump unveiled an array of tariffs on countries earlier this month, in what he branded liberation day. This included a 10 per cent tariff on all UK goods imported to the US. A 25 per cent levy on car imports announced earlier by Mr Trump also applies to the UK. open image in gallery A Downing Street spokesperson said the two leaders discussed the ongoing and productive discussions on trade ( PA ) Chancellor Rachel Reeves is due to hold talks with the White House next week amid efforts to strike a trade deal, which Britain hopes can help soften the brunt of the tariffs. On Tuesday, vice-president JD Vance said the US was trying to secure a great trade deal with the UK and Mr Trump was working very hard on an agreement with Britain that could see damaging import taxes eased or lifted. However, Mr Trump said on Thursday he was not racing to sign any agreements because of the revenues his new tariffs are generating. The US president said he was in no rush to strike any trade deals and that lots of countries wanted to reach deals frankly more than I do. Any agreements would come at a certain point, Mr Trump added. open image in gallery Rachel Reeves is due to hold talks with the White House next week amid efforts to strike a trade deal ( PA Wire ) British officials fear a 10 per cent universal tariff levied by the US president could be a permanent feature under his administration. But they are hopeful a trade deal could see the 25 per cent tariffs on steel, aluminium and automotive imports lifted or slashed. President Trumps initial sweeping tariffs triggered global economic concerns and stock market plunges. The US president also suggested that a date for September was being set for him to visit the King in the UK. There has been speculation that the US may press for the UK to limit its dealings with China as part of trade talks. The chancellor said it would be foolish to cut ties with China just to placate Mr Trump. open image in gallery Vice-president JD Vance said the US is trying to secure a great trade deal with the UK and Mr Trump is working very hard on an agreement ( Reuters ) Ms Reeves will hold talks with officials from the US administration when she travels to Washington to attend the International Monetary Fund (IMF) spring meetings with other finance ministers. US treasury secretary Scott Bessent will be there and British officials view him as one of their most likely allies in successfully striking a trade deal. I will also be having conversations with the US administration whilst Im there, Ms Reeves said on Thursday. The key thing for the British government is always acting in the UKs national interest, and any deal thats able to be secured will always have front-and-centre British national interest. 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 knife-wielding US citizen went on a stabbing spree after hijacking a small plane in Belize, before being shot dead by one of the injured passengers, police said. The hijacker has been identified as Akinyela Sawa Taylor, a 49-year-old military veteran, said Belize police commissioner Chester Williams. The man was aboard a Tropic Air plane carrying 14 passengers and two crew members, en route from Corozal, a small town near Belizes border with Mexico, to the popular tourist destination of San Pedro. The plane flew in erratic circles in the airspace between northern Belize and the capital, Belize City, for nearly two hours as the mid-air drama unfolded. A police helicopter tailed the aircraft before it eventually landed at an airport in the coastal town of Ladyville. The hijacker stabbed three people on board, including the pilot and a passenger who shot Taylor with a licensed firearm as the plane landed outside Belize City, police said. Upon landing, the injured pilot, passengers, and Taylor were rushed to the hospital, but the hijacker succumbed to his gunshot wounds. Belizean authorities declared a full emergency shortly after the incident began, around 8.30am local time, according to a statement from the Belize Airport Concession Company. The police commissioner said it was unclear how Taylor managed to board the plane with a knife, acknowledging that the countrys smaller airstrips lack proper security measures. A US veteran was shot dead after he hijacked a small passenger plane and stabbed three people ( YouTube screengrab / ABC7 ) Taylor was reportedly denied entry into the country over the weekend. Police commissioner, Mr Williams, said Taylor was demanding to be flown out of Belize, possibly to Mexico, and at one point asked for the plane to land so it could be refuelled. The stabbed passenger who managed to shoot Taylor had a licence to carry a firearm and later handed the weapon over to police, Mr Williams said. The passenger was stabbed in the back and sustained a punctured lung. He remains in critical condition. We are praying for him, Mr Williams told reporters. Hes our hero. US state department spokesperson, Tammy Bruce, said at a news briefing in Washington that officials were still gathering information about the incident. Horrifying, she said. We are grateful, I think all of us are, that that did not turn into a mass casualty event with, I believe, over a dozen people on the plane. Clearly we know a few details. We dont know much more. Luke Martin, a US embassy spokesperson in Belize, said Taylor also insisted that he be taken to the US. We don't know why he wanted to go back to the United States. The airline, in a statement, said in the face of incomprehensible pressure, our pilot acted with extraordinary courage and calm, guiding the aircraft to a safe landing. His actions were nothing short of heroic. 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 new U.S. ambassador to Japan arrived in Tokyo on Friday and said he is optimistic that his country and its key Asian ally will reach a deal in their ongoing tariff negotiations. George Glass, a prominent businessperson known for his background in finance, investment banking and technology, arrives as Washington and Tokyo are negotiating President Donald Trump's tariff measures, which have triggered worldwide concern about their impact on the economy and global trade. I'm extremely optimistic ... that a deal will be get done, Glass told reporters after landing at Tokyo's Haneda international airport. His arrival comes a day after the two countries held their first round of tariff talks between their top negotiators in Washington where both sides agreed to try to reach an agreement as quickly as possible and hold a second round of meetings later this month. Trump, alongside his top economic advisers, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, attended the meeting with the Japanese delegation headed by Economic Revitalization Minister Ryosei Akazawa at the White House. With his reputation as a dealmaker being tested, Trump likely wants to finalize a series of trade deals as countries around the world seek to curb damages from the U.S. tariffs. Trump's recent announcement of a 90-day pause temporarily spared Japan from 24% across-the-board tariffs, but a 10% baseline tariff and a 25% tax on imported cars, auto parts, steel and aluminum exports remains in place. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has said the tariffs would deal a blow to Japan's economy and chill Japanese companies' investment in the U.S. and that the two sides should seek a settlement that would benefit both. Trump is also pushing Tokyo to further increase its defense spending and shoulder more burden for hosting some 50,000 American troops as the allies strengthen military cooperation. He brought up the issue during his tariff talks with Japan. We sit with Japan in a very tough neighborhood. You have Russia, you have China, and you have North Korea, Glass said Friday, adding that the allies need to make sure their militaries have all the materials they need to push back against a country like China. Glass, in his nomination testimony at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in March, vowed to have tough conversations on tariffs and reducing U.S. trade deficit with Japan and to make sure Tokyo continues further increasing its defense role in the region. Japan, a longstanding U.S. ally, is among the first countries that began negotiating tariffs with Washington. Other American allies are closely watching their talks. Glass said he is confident that a deal can be reached because the best and the brightest officials from both Japan and the U.S. are negotiating and Trump is personally involved in the talks, calling them his top priority. Americas $40 trillion national debt, he said, makes the country "unsustainable and thats the end of our economy if we keep going down this road." Glass, who assumes his official duties Monday, did not elaborate on how he could help Tokyo and Washington hammer out their differences. After a long flight, he said, what I'd like to do first is to go home and take a nap." 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 number of Americans who consider Russia an "enemy" to the U.S. has fallen to its lowest point since the nation's president, Vladimir Putin, launched an expansionist war against Ukraine in 2022, according to a new Pew Research Center poll. The shift has largely been driven by shifting opinions among Republicans who are falling in line with President Donald Trumps defense of Putin and his false assertions that Ukraine began the war. You dont start a war against someone 20 times your size and then hope that people give you some missiles, Trump said Monday in the White House. According to Pew's poll, Americans who said Russia is the U.S.'s "enemy" have fallen to 50 percent, down from 61 percent in April 2024 and 70 percent in March 2022, just after the invasion's start. Among Republicans specifically, only 40 percent saw Russia as an enemy, which is down from 58 percent last year and 69 percent in March 2022. Only 34 percent of Americans overall now describe Russia as a competitor to the U.S., and only 9 percent describe it as a "partner." open image in gallery Russian President Vladimir Putin. A Pew Research Center poll found fewer Americans especially Republicans consider Russia an enemy of the U.S. now than in 2022 just after the invasion of Ukraine ( POOL/AFP via Getty Images ) Current Republican sentiment towards Russia has essentially returned to what it was just before Russia invaded Ukraine. In January 2022, 39 percent of Republicans polled said they viewed Russia as an enemy. Approximately 12 percent of Republican respondents said they viewed Russia as a partner, which is actually higher than the number of people sharing those sentiments prior to the invasion. More Republicans see Russia as a competitor than as an enemy for the first time since before the Russia-Ukraine war started, the author of the survey wrote. Pew's survey included 3,605 U.S. adults between March 24 and March 30, just after Trump and Putin held a highly publicized phone call. The survey's margin of sampling error is 1.9 percentage points and 2.7 percentage points for results among Democrats and Republicans. The survey also occurred after Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office. Vance accused Zelensky of being ungrateful for the help the U.S. has provided Ukraine in its defense efforts. open image in gallery Trump and Putin together at a press conference in Helsinki, Finland in 2018 ( Getty Images ) Democrats were far more likely to express confidence in Zelensky's leadership than Republicans. According to the poll, 70 percent of Democrats said they were confident in Zelensky's leadership versus only 30 percent of Republicans. Only 12 percent of respondents said they had "some" confidence in Putin to "do the right thing regarding world affairs," and 57 percent said they had no confidence in Putin at all. Approximately half of Americans have a lot or some confidence in Zelensky. Over the past year, Republicans have become somewhat more likely to see Russia favorably and to express confidence in Putin, while Democratic views are largely unchanged, the survey authors wrote. Trump accuses 'disrespectful' Zelensky of gambling with WW3 Trump has pressed for peace between Ukraine and Russia, but Moscow officials have expressed recently that it is unlikely the nations will reach an agreement anytime soon, according to the Washington Post. In addition to fewer Americans seeing Russia as an enemy, fewer also feel that the U.S. has a responsibility to support Ukraine in its defense. According to the poll, 44 percent of respondents said the US needs to help defend Ukraine, down from 50 percent following the U.S. presidential election in November. Pew reports that the drop has been driven by Republican lawmakers' criticism of the U.S.'s role in Ukraine's national defense. Among Republicans, only 23 percent now believe that America should defend Ukraine, down from 36 percent in November. 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 Chris Van Hollen has finally met with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the mistakenly deported Salvadoran father Donald Trumps administration is fighting to keep inside a brutal El Salvador jail. The senator from Maryland traveled to El Salvador this week to ensure Abrego Garcias safety and help secure his release. After he was initially denied a meeting or a chance to speak with the Maryland father, the senator posted a photo on social media late Thursday night that shows him sitting with Abrego Garcia at a table in what appeared to be a dining room. I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar. Tonight I had that chance, the senator wrote. I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return. El Salvadors president Nayib Bukele appeared to mock the meeting, and said Abrego Garcia would remain inside his Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT, which human rights groups have labeled a tropical gulag and concentration camp. Kilmar Abrego Garcia, miraculously risen from the death camps & torture, now sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador! Bukele wrote. Now that hes been confirmed healthy, he gets the honor of staying in El Salvadors custody. Abrego Garcia has spent more than a month inside the prison despite a court order that prevents his removal from the U.S. for humanitarian reasons. He fled the country as a teenager and is now a sheet-metal apprentice in Maryland, where he has been living with his wife and 5-year-old child, both U.S. citizens. The couple is also raising two other children from a previous relationship. Kilmar Abrego Garcia has been imprisoned in a brutal El Salvador jail since March 15 after he was deported due to an administrative error ( AP ) The White House and government attorneys have repeatedly admitted that his removal was due to an administrative error. But the administration has refused to seek his return and officials are instead fighting in court to continue his imprisonment as an alleged member of MS-13, which is designated a foreign terrorist organization. Administration officials argue that supersedes any court order against his removal. Last week, the Supreme Court ordered the administration to facilitate his release from custody in El Salvador, noting that officials agreed sending him there was illegal. On Thursday, a three-judge federal appeals court panel in Washington, D.C., denied the Trump administrations emergency request to block a court order to enforce the Supreme Courts ruling. A blistering order written by Ronald Reagan-appointed appellate judge J. Harvie Wilkinson stated that the government is asserting a right to stash away residents of this country in foreign prisons without the semblance of due process that is the foundation of our constitutional order. While the Supreme Courts order notes a deference to the presidents authority to conduct foreign policy, that ruling does not allow the government to do essentially nothing, Wilkinson wrote. Facilitate is an active verb, he added. It requires that steps be taken as the Supreme Court has made perfectly clear. 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 An impromptu press conference following Dr. Mehmet Ozs swearing-in as head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services was cut short after a young girl passed out as President Donald Trump was speaking. Trump was in the middle of a stem-winding answer to a question on Iran and nuclear power when the six-year-old girl began to pass out. Oz, a University of Pennsylvania-educated physician who was once a highly regarded heart surgeon before gaining prominence as a television presenter, quickly moved to attend to the young girl, who was a guest of his at the ceremony. He is now set to begin his tenure heading the U.S. medical agency, which is part of the Department of Health and Human Services. The assembled members of the White House press corps whod been brought to the Oval Office to witness his swearing-in were quickly ushered out. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., from left, swears in Dr. Mehmet Oz to be Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. A young girl fainted during the swearing in ceremony ( AP ) A White House official said of the event: "A minor family member fainted during Dr. Oz's swearing-in ceremony in the Oval Office. We are happy to say she is OK." Moments before the alarming health incident, Oz who ended his television career to mount an ultimately unsuccessful campaign for a Pennsylvania Senate seat in 2022 had been administered the oath of office by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the anti-vaccine activist and conspiracy theorist who Trump tapped to run the government's medical and health care regulatory bureaucracy. As he introduced Oz, Trump said the former television host had "come to this position as one of the nation's most talented and beloved medical professionals," but as he proceeded to recite highlights from Oz's resume including his Harvard undergraduate education, his medical degree from Penn (the president's alma mater) and time as Director of the Cardiovascular Institute and integrative medicine program at New York Presbyterian Hospital and as a professor at Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons, the president appeared to be unfamiliar with that part of Oz's life. "Boy, oh, boy, Doc, I thought he just did a show," he said. "I only know the show." He added that he'd become familiar with Oz's former eponymous television program when he appeared on the show during the 2016 election amid questions about his own medical status. Trump then recalled how Oz had counseled the then-presidential candidate to lose weight. "You know why I know the show? Because he said, I'm a little overweight. I should lose some weight. I did a show, and that's what I got out of it. That was not good," 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 A 20-year-old U.S. citizen was held in a Florida jail for hours by federal immigration authorities despite his mother showing his birth certificate to a judge. Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez was released on Thursday night after being arrested during a traffic stop and accused of being undocumented. The Constitution provides guardrails to protect due process and prevent unlawful arrests, American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Florida legal fellow and immigrants rights attorney Amy Godshall said in a statement to The Independent. His detention was based on a patently false allegation that he entered the state while undocumented, she said. All this despite his mother appearing in court with his Social Security card and his birth certificate showing his place of birth as the United States. Lopez-Gomez was taken to Leon County Jail after a traffic stop and charged with illegally entering the state as an unauthorized alien under a state law that has been temporarily blocked from enforcement by a federal judge. During a hearing, Leon County Judge LaShawn Riggans claimed that she did not have jurisdiction to release him after Immigration and Customs Enforcement requested that he remain in detention, according to court records. The Florida Phoenix first reported the arrest. He was released hours later, though it is not clear what led to the change. 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 ) Lopez-Gomez was traveling from Georgia when he was stopped by a Florida Highway Patrol trooper. Governor Ron DeSantiss sweeping anti-immigration law, signed in 2023, makes it a state crime for an undocumented immigrant to enter the state without legal permission. That law was blocked two weeks ago, meaning that law enforcement cannot make arrests under its blocked provisions. Full stop, Godshall said. U.S. citizens should not be detained by ICE, yet they are continuing to get swept up in these racially motivated raids and collateral arrests, she said. Lopez-Gomezs first language is Tzotzil, a Mayan language, according to the Florida Phoenix. His mother burst into tears when she saw her son virtually at Thursdays court hearing, the outlet reported. I felt immense helplessness because I couldnt do anything, and I am desperate to get my son out of there, she said. The Independent has requested comment from ICE. open image in gallery The ACLU of Florida and immigrants rights advocates are challenging state law under Governor Ron DeSantis that makes it a misdemeanor crime to enter the state as an unauthorized alien ( AP ) The arrest and ongoing detention of an American-born citizen follows President Donald Trumps aggressive anti-immigration agenda that has deployed federal agents into communities across the country and summarily removed dozens of immigrants. Thursdays court hearing came as a federal appeals court in Washington, D.C. issued a blistering ruling that rejected the presidents attempt to block a lower-court ruling instructing the administration to facilitate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a wrongly deported Salvadoran father now imprisoned in a notorious jail in his home country. If today the Executive claims the right to deport without due process and in disregard of court orders, what assurance will there be tomorrow that it will not deport American citizens and then disclaim responsibility to bring them home? Appellate Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson wrote. And what assurance shall there be that the Executive will not train its broad discretionary powers upon its political enemies? A federal judge in Florida is considering whether to issue a preliminary injunction to further block Floridas law, which makes it a misdemeanor for undocumented immigrants over age 18 to knowingly enter the state after entering the United States by eluding or avoiding examination or inspection by immigration officers. The Trump administrations mass deportation agenda and Floridas anti-immigrant law can only be implemented by abandoning the fundamental principle of due process, Godshall said. We are seeing this in real-time. And it is coming at the cost of lives and the rule of law. 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 Donald Trump administrations insistence the Maryland resident deported to El Salvador by mistake is a member of the criminal gang MS-13 can be traced back to a single unnamed police informant, a review of court documents reveals. Kilmar Abrego Garcia, 29, is a construction worker and father of three with no criminal record who was arrested and sent to a notorious mega-prison on March 15, a decision a Justice Department attorney subsequently conceded was the result of an administrative error. But rather than comply with a federal court order that it facilitate Abrego Garcias return, the administration has dug in its heels, ignoring the campaign for the detainees release being led by his wife and instead preferring to make accusations about his background. Abrego Garcia has admitted that he first entered the United States illegally in 2012 but denies having any association with MS-13. The only basis for thinking otherwise comes from a Prince Georges County Police report into his arrest, along with three other men, for loitering in the car park of a branch of Home Depot in Hyattsville, Maryland, in March 2019. Abrego Garcia protested that he was simply looking for work and was not ultimately charged with a crime. open image in gallery Kilmar Abrego Garcia has been wrongly deported ( AP ) However, the arresting officer completed a Gang Field Interview Sheet in which he noted that Abrego Garcia was wearing a Chicago Bulls hat and a hoodie with decorations of rolls of money covering the eyes, ears and mouth of the presidents on the separate denominations. Officers know such clothing to be indicative of the Hispanic gang culture, the filing said, suggesting that the graphics on the hoodie were a covert reference to MS-13s see no evil, hear no evil and say no evil motto. Crucially, the sheet also cited a tip from a confidential police informant, described as a proven and reliable source, who alleged that Abrego Garcia was a chequeo in the gangs Westerns clique, which operates out of New York, a city in which the immigrant has never lived, as his lawyers have argued in court. While the loitering accusation amounted to nothing, Abrego Garcia was nevertheless held in custody by immigration authorities. Although he was given no reason for his detention, his lawyers claimed, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) claimed they were interested in him in connection with a murder investigation. Immigration judge Elizabeth Kessler, presiding over his case, said at the time that ICEs reasoning does appear at odds with the Gang Field Interview Sheet, which states that the respondent was approached because he and others were loitering outside of a Home Depot. open image in gallery Jennifer Vasquez Sura, Abrego Garcias wife, is leading the calls for his return to the United States ( Reuters ) She nevertheless refused to grant him asylum, saying the polices unnamed tipster appears to be trustworthy. However, Judge Kessler also said: Although the court is reluctant to give evidentiary weight to the respondents clothing as an indication of gang affiliation, the fact that a past, proven, and reliable source of information verified the respondents gang membership, rank, and gang name is sufficient to support that the respondent is a gang member. Her decision was later upheld on appeal by another judge, causing Abrego Garcia to be refused bail and remain in custody. That October, Abrego married U.S. citizen Jennifer Vasquez Sura and applied for asylum, which Judge David Jones did not grant him, although he was awarded a withholding of removal order to bar his deportation to El Salvador, a ruling the Trump administrations actions last month may have violated. Judge Jones accepted that Abrego Garcias life could be placed in danger if he was returned to El Salvador from the Barrio 18 gang, whose attempts to extort his mothers pupusa business led to the familys escape to the U.S. years earlier. Abrego Garcia was finally released and, according to his lawyers, attended annual check-ins with immigration officials without fail and without incident, which was the end of his citizenship troubles until Trump returned to office. With even the U.S. Supreme Court ordering the administration to bring about his return, the White House has so far preferred to attack the media and smear the victim. On Wednesday the Department of Homeland Security claimed Abrego Garcia had drugs and rolls of cash about his person during the Home Depot arrest, a detail not mentioned on the aforementioned gang interview sheet. open image in gallery Abrego Garcia with Maryland Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen in El Salvador on Thursday April 17 2025 ( X ) The White House has released Maryland court documents revealing that Vasquez Sura filed for a protective order against her husband in 2021. She has since dismissed the matter, telling Newsweek in a statement: After surviving domestic violence in a previous relationship, I acted out of caution following a disagreement with Kilmar by seeking a civil protective order, in case things escalated. Things did not escalate, and I decided not to follow through with the civil court process. We were able to work through the situation privately as a family, including by going to counseling. To the fury of President Trump, Maryland Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen has now flown out to El Salvador and succeeded in securing a meeting with Abrego Garcia. If you listen to President Trump and the Trump administration, you would think that the U.S. courts have found that Mr Abrego Garcia is part of MS-13. But in fact, they have not found that, he told reporters in El Salvador this week. In fact, recently, a U.S. federal court judge said that the Trump administration did not have evidence to support the claim that he had ever been part of MS-13. In fact, Mr Abrego Garcia is legally in the United States. In fact, an immigration judge found years ago that it would put his life in danger if he was returned to El Salvador. I want to emphasize that President Trump and our Attorney General Pam Bondi and the vice president of the United States are lying when they say that Abrego Garcia has been charged with a crime or was part of MS-13. That is a lie. 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 19-year-old Venezuelan living in New York City was arrested by federal immigration authorities and deported to El Salvador despite officers realizing he was the wrong target, according to his family. Bronx teenager Merwil Gutierrez was among more than 200 other Venezuelans deported from the U.S. to a Salvadoran prison under President Donald Trumps use of the Alien Enemies Act, which labeled alleged Tren de Aragua gang members alien enemies who can be summarily removed from the country. Gutierrez has no criminal history or gang ties, his family and attorney told Documented, an immigration-focused nonprofit news outlet in New York. His father says Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents acknowledged that his son was not the one when they arrested him just steps away from his apartment on February 24 The officers grabbed him and two other boys right at the entrance to our building. One said: No, hes not the one, like they were looking for someone else. But the other said: Take him anyway, the elder Gutierrez told Documented. I feel like my son was kidnapped, he told the outlet. open image in gallery A 19-year-old living in New York City was arrested by federal agents for deportation despite their realization he was the wrong target, his family says ( REUTERS ) Immigration attorney William Parra with Inmigracin Al Dia told Documented that Merwil was detained for hanging out with friends and was at the wrong place at the wrong time. ICE was not looking for him, nor is there any evidence whatsoever that Merwil was in any gang, he added. The Independent has requested comment from ICE. It is unconscionable that Trump is usurping due process and our justice system entirely to disappear people to the CECOT torture camp in El Salvador, New York Immigration Coalition president Murad Awawdeh told The Independent. A New Yorker who was never charged with a crime was one of the people that Trump disappeared to CECOT, separating him from his loving family, he added. Merwil Gutierrez must be immediately released and returned to New York. At the federal, state and local level, all New York elected officials must stop turning a blind eye to this atrocity. The family made the arduous journey from Venezuela to seek asylum in the United States in 2023. The Gutierrez family entered the United States legally as asylum seekers from Venezuela, only to be subjected to the same type of authoritarian cruelty they fled from, New York state Senator Gustavo Rivera said in a statement. Merwil Gutierrez has been disappeared by the American government to a prison in El Salvador, thousands of miles from anywhere close to home for him, he added. The blatant racial profiling, the disrespect for due process, and the daylight kidnapping of Merwil by ICE is appalling and intolerable, and should be a cause for alarm for all Americans. The administration must right their wrong. open image in gallery The Trump administration has deported dozens of men to El Salvadors Terrorism Confinement Center ( REUTERS ) The report of his arrest and removal from the country comes as the Trump administration faces intense legal scrutiny for the wrongful removal of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran father living in Maryland. Abrego Garcia has spent more than a month inside the notorious Terrorism Confinement Center despite a court order that prevents his removal from the United States for humanitarian reasons. He fled the country as a teenager and was a sheet metal apprentice in Maryland, where he has been living with his wife and 5-year-old child, both U.S. citizens. The couple is also raising two other children from a previous relationship. The White House and government attorneys have repeatedly admitted that his removal was due to an administrative error. But officials are refusing to seek his return and are fighting in court to continue his imprisonment as an alleged member of MS-13, which is designated a foreign terrorist organization. Administration officials argue that supersedes any court order against his removal. Last week, the Supreme Court ordered the administration to facilitate his release from custody in El Salvador, noting that officials agreed sending him there was illegal. On Thursday, a three-judge federal appeals court panel in Washington, D.C., said the government is asserting a right to stash away residents of this country in foreign prisons without the semblance of due process that is the foundation of our constitutional order. 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 More than 10,000 pages of records related to the investigation into the 1968 assassination of Robert F Kennedy have been released, giving sleuths new details about the senators death to pore over. Among the trove of documents released were the FBIs witness and evidence reports from the night of the assassination, letters of remorse from ambassadors and world leaders to the Department of State and official correspondence about the killers trial. Kennedy, the brother of former president John F Kennedy, was killed while serving as the Democratic senator of New York and campaigning for president. The assassination occurred just after midnight on 5 June. Kennedy was departing from a ballroom inside the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles moments after winning the California primary and seizing momentum in the race when he was shot multiple times in the kitchen by 24-year-old Sirhan Sirhan. open image in gallery Senator Robert Kennedy was assassinated in 1968 ( Getty ) The records were released after President Donald Trump signed an executive order declassifying documents related to events and investigations of public interest such as the assassinations of RFK, JFK, civil rights activist Dr Martin Luther King Jr and more. Nearly 60 years after the tragic assassination of Senator Robert F Kennedy, the American people will, for the first time, have the opportunity to review the federal governments investigation thanks to@POTUS leadership and commitment to maximum transparency, the director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, wrote on X. Secretary of health and human services, Robert F Kennedy Jr, is the son of the late senator. open image in gallery Sirhan Sirhan, the man who killed Robert F Kennedy, remains in prison today ( Getty ) As with the aftermath of JFKs assassination, his brothers murder sparked various conspiracy theories, such as allegations that there was a second gunman or that the CIA was involved. Even Kennedys own son, RFK Jr, has propagated conspiracy theories about the event, namely that Sirhan could be innocent. Sirhan, a Palestinian-Jordanian man, fired shots at Kennedy with a .22-caliber revolver. In addition to killing Kennedy, five other people were injured. Sirhan has admitted killing Kennedy and said he was motivated by the senators support of Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War. However, Sirhan has also made conflicting statements over the years about the shooting. Ultimately, he was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to death, although that was commuted to life in prison with the possibility of parole. Sirhan, now 81, has unsuccessfully sought parole at least 17 times over the past 56 years, the most recent being in August 2024. 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 Trumps approval rating on immigration has tanked in recent weeks as his administration continues to remove migrants without due process. Trumps immigration approval rating fell from a net score of plus 18 points to a net score of just plus 10 points since mid-March, according to a new poll by Echelon Insights. As of last week, 54 percent of likely voters approved of his immigration policies while 44 percent disapproved, the poll reveals. Last month, that gap was much wider, with 57 percent of Americans approving and 39 percent disapproving. Since taking office in January, Trumps overall approval rating on immigration has fallen five net points, Echelon Insights said. open image in gallery Protesters gather to advocate for the release of Mahmoud Khalil, a legal resident and Columbia University student detained after participating in pro-Palestinian campus protests last year ( Copyright 2025. The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. ) When contacted for comment, White House spokesperson Kush Desai told The Independent that voters gave President Trump a resounding mandate in November to enforce our immigration laws, mass deport criminal illegal migrants, and secure our border. A majority of Americans continue to support President Trump delivering on that mandate, Desai added. This comes as the Trump administration faces both legal and public backlash for the wrongful deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a father and Salvadoran immigrant who was living in Maryland. Garcia fled El Salvador as a teenager and even had a court order preventing his removal from the U.S. for humanitarian reasons. The Supreme Court ruled last week that the government must facilitate the return of Garcia. The Trump administration then filed an emergency request to block the ruling after admitting his removal was due to an administrative error and then later insisting, without evidence, he could be a member of a foreign terrorist organization. El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele said he will not move to return Garcia to the U.S. An appeals court turned down the request Thursday. The panel of judges said that the removal of U.S. residents without due process should be shocking to Americans intuitive sense of liberty. open image in gallery President Donald Trumps administration was ordered by the Supreme Court to facilitate Kilmar Abrego Garcias release ( AFP via Getty Images ) Maryland Senator Chris van Hollen met with Garcia in El Salvador on Thursday to help secure his release. I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar. Tonight I had that chance, the senator wrote. I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return. Similarly, the Trump administration also detained Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil last month after he participated in pro-Palestinian protests on campus in 2024. The arrest of Khalil, a legal resident, marked the administrations first detainment related to their crackdown on pro-Palestine campus protesters across the country. An immigration judge ruled that Khalil, a husband and soon-to-be father, can be deported last week. His attorneys are planning to appeal the decision. Badar Khan Suri, a postdoctoral scholar at Georgetown University and legal resident, was detained by ICE agents soon after Khalil last month. The Trump administration accused him of spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media. Both cases have led immigration advocates to argue the Trump administration is infringing on residents Constitutional right to free speech. Khalil and Suri arent the only students being impacted. The Trump administration has revoked an estimated 147 visas from students studying at 48 colleges across the country. While earlier arrests were focused on pro-Palestinian campus activism, this latest wave of revocations appears to have little to do with political activity. Some college officials even say they suspect Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are combing traffic violation databases to find students. 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 Trumps administration has consistently doubled down on refusing to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Salvadoran father based in Maryland whom it had been mistakenly sent to El Salvador - it is a move that is costing him in the polls. Trump and his team believe that the president has public opinion on their side for both Abrego Garcia and their plans to send alleged criminals to El Salvador. He campaigned on conducting mass deportations and he won many counties along the U.S.-Mexico border that historically voted Democratic in the wake of an influx of migrants during the Biden administration. But a new poll shows his support is cracking. Echelon Insights, a Republican polling outlet, released a survey of Trumps approval rating on various policies and it showed that Trump is losing support on immigration. The poll revealed that Trumps approval rating on immigration fell from a net score of plus-18 points to a net score of plus-10 points, a drop of eight points in just weeks. Echelon is one of the most respected polling firms on the Republican side. The firms founding partner, Patrick Ruffini, has written extensively about Trumps appeal among working-class voters. open image in gallery Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen met with Kilmar Abrego Garcia this week after the Trump administration refused to bring him back to the United States. Trumps immigration positions are starting to cost him in the polls ( X account of El Salvador's Presi ) The Trump administration and the Department of Homeland Security has alleged that Abrego Garcia is a member of MS-13 and that he engaged in human trafficking, but has refused to provide concrete evidence. The White Houses top counterterrorism official Sebastian Gorka went so far as to say that people who accused Abrego Garcias supporters with aiding and abetting. The fact that Echelon shows that Trump is bleeding support -albeit he is still above water - on his signature issue reflects a larger dissatisfaction with his administration by voters. There are also signs that Democrats are starting to hit Trump not only where hes weak, but also where he is strong. On Thursday, Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland posted a photo of himself with Abrego Garcia and saying that he had called Abrego Garcias family. Van Hollen traveled to El Salvador earlier this week given the fact that Abrego Garcia has a wife who is an American citizen and resided in Maryland. The Supreme Court had ruled unanimously that the Trump administration must facilitate Abrego Garcias return. The Trump administration has responded not by trying to return Abrego Garcia but with Trumps signature style of never backing apologizing. When Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele visited the White House on Monday, Trump said he would not return Abrego Garcia. open image in gallery Trumps stance on immigration has long helped his overall approval numbers, but now that is starting to shrink ( AP ) But its not just the Echelon poll that shows Trump taking a hit on immigration. Quinnipiac University also released a poll earlier this month showing that 50 percent of Americans disapprove of his immigration policy. Tellingly, 51 percent of independents also disapprove of his policies. For the longest time, Trumps immigration policies have propped up his approval ratings that have been otherwise meager for any other president in the first 100 days of their presidency. While his numbers were higher than they were his first term, buoyed by his winning the popular vote and the implosion of the Democratic brand, hes comparatively unpopular when measured up against other presidents. But it does not look like the Trump administration will show any signs of letting up on immigration. Rather, in response to Van Hollens visit with Abrego Garcia, the White House posted on X that Abrego Garcia is never coming back. The administration remains defiant in legal proceedings to try and bring Abrego Garcia. But being too defiant might come off as opposing the rule of law and eroding the very trust that Trump built on immigration. 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 Progressives and other opponents of military conflict with Iran scored a surprise victory last week when President Donald Trump announced imminent negotiations with Tehran. Talks took place over the weekend in Oman as US negotiators, under Trumps direction, seek a new arrangement aimed at constraining Irans nuclear program. A second round was confirmed to be set for this Saturday in Rome, signaling that the negotiations are proceeding smoothly (so far), though two principals, US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, issued terse conflicting statements on social media. Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponization program, Witkoff tweeted. Araghchi responded that a full dismantling of enrichment capabilities was off the table. But signs of an agreement taking shape were apparent. Then, on Wednesday, a new bombshell from The New York Times: Trump had personally waved off the prospect of U.S. support for an Israeli-developed plan to strike Iranian nuclear facilities as soon as next month. Trump says US is in direct talks with Iran over nuclear program I think that Iran has a chance to have a great country and to live happily without death, said Trump on Thursday, speaking to reporters at the White House. This shift in posture is not going over well in the hawkish corners of Washingtons foreign policy sphere. Any deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran must not only verifiably eliminate every element of its nuclear program, but must also crush its ballistic missile capability and its support of terror proxies around the world. Anything less is simply Obama redux, warned former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, one of the first-termers not invited back to the Cabinet this time. Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the Hills loudest Iran hawks, added that any deal must include the total dismantling of Irans nuclear infrastructure and include not only U.S. but worldwide supervision. I fear anything less could be a catastrophic mistake, he tweeted. As discussions among the neoconservative wing of the GOP on Capitol Hill veered in support of direct strikes on Irans nuclear and ballistic missile facilities earlier this year, Donald Trump announced the resumption of his first-term maximum pressure campaign in February. The strategy involves significant increases to both implementation and enforcement of anti-Iran sanctions, and other measures aimed at driving down the countrys oil exports. open image in gallery Lindsey Graham and other Republicans aligned with the neonconservative wing of the GOP have advocated both presently and in the past for direct strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities ( REUTERS ) But the writing was already on the wall by then. Over the wintertime presidential transition period, Trump purged his team of a handful of maximum pressure supporters and took the further steps of punishing some he apparently saw as disloyal John Bolton, a target of alleged Iranian assassination plots, lost his security detail. Others from his first terms were simply not invited back as the president went even further in his efforts to staff agencies with MAGA loyalists. Now it seems clear: Trump is treating his maximum pressure strategy in a manner very much similar to his implementation of so-called reciprocal tariffs on dozens of US trading partners as a bargaining chip. Those same hawks, now isolated from Trumpworld, have resorted to publicly calling on the president to hold to certain red lines, some of which (like the demand for Iran to abandon all civilian nuclear programs and uranium enrichment) are likely to be unacceptable to Iranian negotiators. open image in gallery Trumps deputies conducted indirect talks with Iranian negotiators over the weekend, marking a thaw in relations between Washington and Tehran ( Middle East Images/AFP via Getty ) With only one round of negotiations complete, its impossible to say where talks will end up. But the wing of MAGA Republicanism opposed to foreign interventions and endless war is celebrating the progress the president has already made in shedding the neoconservatives from his foreign policy team. The Trump Administration is George W. Bushs third term, or not, and thats his whole legacy, wrote Curt Mills, executive director of The American Conservative magazine. So far, POTUS is sagely waving off this nonsense. But the stakes are that high. Theyre also railing against the devastation that a war with a Russian-backed Middle Eastern power could wrought. How many [wealthy kids] are on the front line? How many of their kids are in that carrier battle group? Steve Bannon asked, referring to American aristocrats. Your sons and daughters are going to be in those carrier battle groups. Your sons and daughters are going to be in the first wave, he cautioned on his War Room podcast on Thursday. Your sons and daughters will be doing the bombing runs if that has to happen. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice President Donald Trump on Thursday said he expects to travel to the U.K. this September and stay with King Charles III as a run-up to next years planned state visit at Windsor Castle an unprecedented second state visit for the American president on account of his serving a second, non-consecutive term. The president confirmed his intention to cross the pond in September during a media availability in the Oval Office in which he was asked if he was planning to visit the British head of state, at which point he replied in the affirmative. When pressed further on what he was looking forward to, he said hed been invited by the King and called the U.K. a great country while remarking on the novelty of his second state visit as an American president, more than six years after he and First Lady Melania Trump visited the U.K. at the invitation of Queen Elizabeth II. It's beautiful, and it's the first time it's ever happened to one person. And the reason is that we have two separate terms, and it's an honor to be, you know, a friend of Charles, said Trump, who added that he has great respect for the royal family, including the King and the Prince of Wales and called the invitation a great honor. Prince Charles jokes in front of Donald Trump at Clarence House Trump also confirmed that his September trip, during which he is expected to stay at Windsor Castle, is not the planned state visit to which he was invited in February. His trip in September is understood to be arranged to lay groundwork for the second state visit, which is tentatively scheduled for next year. I don't know how it can be bigger than the last one ... which, as you know, is incredible, but they say it's going to be even more important. So it's a great honor to be so chosen, Trump said. The announcement of the timing of Trumps planned sojourn to Windsor comes as Anglo-American relations have become increasingly fraught on account of the unprovoked trade war Trump launched against most of the world earlier this month. The U.K. is set to find out in June whether it will be hit by tariffs of at least 10 percent or can avoid them by entering into a bilateral trade deal with the United States. Earlier this week, Vice President JD Vance expressed optimism over a trade deal being struck in an interview with the online publication UnHerd, but The Independent has reported that such an accord may only happen if Starmer agrees to repealing hate speech and online safety laws. King Charles meets Ukraine's President Zelensky at Sandringham Yet even if the standoff over tariffs is resolved there is still tension between London and Washington over the White House's relatively pro-Russian approach to Ukraine compared with the previous Biden administration. Starmer is attempting to put together a coalition of the willing to guarantee peace in Ukraine but is still yet to get Trump's agreement to a U.S. backstop. While on the surface the relationship between Downing Street and the White House has been very friendly there have been tensions behind the scenes, including on the prime ministers appointment of Lord Mandelson who had previously publicly criticized Trump as the British ambassador to Washington. Despite these tensions, the substance of Trumps September trip is likely to focus most on arrangements for his state visit next year. It is hoped that the honor will help strengthen the special relationship and ease some of the other diplomatic problems. 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 denied either the Russian or Ukrainian governments were playing him as he continues to push for an end to the three-year-old war that was launched with an unprovoked Russian invasion in 2022. Speaking in the Oval Office Friday following a swearing-in ceremony for Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator Mehmet Oz, Trump said the ongoing talks were coming to a head and warned that the U.S. would walk away from the peace efforts if a resolution is not reached soon. Now, if for some reason, one of the two parties makes it very difficult, were just going to say youre foolish. You are fools, you horrible people, Trump said. And were going to just take a pass. But hopefully, we wont have to do that. The presidents remarks came just hours after Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters in Paris that Washington may move on from efforts to broker an end to the war if the talks dont bear fruit soon. We are now reaching a point where we need to decide whether this is even possible or not, Because if its not, then I think were just going to move on. Its not our war. We have other priorities to focus on, Rubio said, who was in Paris for talks with Ukrainian, British and European officials. He also appeared to soften his tone towards the American allies whove been more supportive of Kyiv than the Trump administration has been, telling reporters that the U.K., France and Germany can help us move the ball on this. President Donald Trump said the talks between Russia and Ukraine were coming to a head ( AP ) Theres no one saying this can be done in 12 hours, Rubio said. But we want to see how far apart it is. We need to figure out here, now, within a matter of days, whether this is doable in the short term, because if its not, then I think were just going to move on. The parties are scheduled to meet again next week in London, and Rubio said those talks will be determinative as to whether the Trump administration remains involved. According to the State Department, the U.S. top diplomat had previously told NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte would step back from efforts to broker peace if a clear path to peace does not emerge soon during a phone call earlier in the week. Asked about Rubios comments, Trump told reporters: Marco is right but did not say the U.S. would walk away from the table. I dont want to say that, Trump said. But we want to see it end. 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 been accused of giving millions of people a death sentence following revelations in The Independent about the impact on the Aids pandemic of his decision to dismantle USAID. Veteran LGBT+ and HIV campaigner Peter Tatchell joined leading politicians and charities in expressing his disgust at the massive cuts by the White House, which are facing a legal challenge in the US. Mr Tatchell told The Independent: Trumps cut to US-funded HIV projects in developing countries is a death sentence to millions of people. It will reverse declining rates of HIV infection and death. The goal of ending the HIV pandemic by 2030 now looks out of reach. This is one of the worldes most reckless, self-defeating health policy decisions. It will come back to haunt the US. So long as HIV infection exists anywhere, through travel and immigration US citizens will be at risk. open image in gallery Donald Trump has dismantled USAID, which supports people around the globe ( AFP via Getty Images ) The reaction follows revelations in The Independent this week that the dismantling of USAID has all but ended hopes of defeating the global Aids pandemic once and for all. The new figures revealed by The Independent show the number of Aids-related deaths could jump from six million to 10 million in the next five years unless funding is reinstated, according to forecasts from the UN Aids agency (UNAIDS). The unprecedented disruption to global HIV programmes by the US is also projected to lead to more than three million extra Aids orphans than previously expected by the end of the decade. Only last year, the UN said a goal to end the Aids pandemic by the end of the decade was in reach, equating to a 90 per cent reduction in new infections and deaths. According to the UN figures, there will be 3.4 million more orphans, defined as children who have lost at least one parent to Aids. In addition, 600,000 more newborns could be infected with HIV by 2030 more than double the number originally feared. That will bring the total number of infant infections to a million by the end of the decade, analysis of the figures by The Independent shows. President Trump announced his foreign aid review the day he stepped into the White House. The review came with a corresponding freeze on foreign assistance, which was supposed to last 90 days, until Easter Sunday (20 April), but it has now been extended. open image in gallery Elon Musk runs Doge, the department that has made huge cuts to government departments ( AP ) Even more dramatically, the Trump administration has moved to fire nearly all USAID staff as part of billionaire Elon Musks so-called department of government efficiency (Doge) reforms. It has slashed funding and dismissed contractors across the federal bureaucracy in what it describes as an attack on wasteful spending. A domino effect has seen Sir Keir Starmers Labour government reduce international aid to just 0.3 per cent of gross national income (GNI), down from 0.5 per cent and the previous high of 0.7 per cent introduced by Sir Tony Blair. Sir Keirs cut was made to help fund plans to increase defence spending to 2.5 per cent. Former Tory international development secretary Sir Andrew Mitchell, who persuaded his party to continue at 0.7 per cent in 2010, also attacked Trumps policy, describing the decisions as a tragedy. Sir Andrew said: Its a tragedy when American citizens have done so much to save lives and end misery that the Trump regime should pull up the drawbridge in this way. It feels so alien to Americas longstanding support for ending international suffering and promoting a better world for those who suffer most. Oxfam GB chief executive Dr Halima Begum, whose organisation works in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo where it provides crucial support for clean water, warned that aid cuts in general will put many projects in danger and could see aid workers laid off. open image in gallery A patient with her HIV medication in Zimbabwe ( AP ) She has previously warned of a potential domino effect if Western countries abandoned international aid spending. Dr Begum said: Cutting international aid means that the infection and death rates will significantly increase. The most vulnerable will be the hardest hit without access to treatment or prevention. She warned that the nominal financial savings of cuts in aid were, in fact, counterproductive. It only makes us all the more vulnerable globally to the overall risk of infections. I think it is health that we should be thinking about most of all in regards to aid cuts. Thats the very real fear. For the last 20 years globally, we made a concerted effort to bring down HIV as a global pandemic. But its going to be young women in Africa who will see the highest infection rates going forward. She noted that in the UK, Oxfam has been supporting calls for a wealth tax to help make up funding gaps. Meanwhile, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) warned that it was not just the fight against Aids/HIV which would be harmed by the aid cuts. They raised examples of the US Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and USAID funding cuts forcing clinic closures in Uganda, Zimbabwe and South Africa, affecting HIV patients reliant on antiretroviral therapy (ARV). Added to that, operations in Nigeria, Kenya and Tajikistan face ARV shortages, increasing the risk of HIV treatment failures and drug resistance to treatment, further facilitating the spread of the virus. An MSF spokesperson: These massive cuts in US humanitarian and global health assistance will cause widespread suffering for people caught in crisis situations. The people hardest hit by these cuts will be the ones who are already most at risk, including refugees and internally displaced people, children threatened by malnutrition, older people with chronic conditions, and people who require HIV and TB treatment to survive. John Plastow, executive director of Frontline AIDS, said: I have been in regular contact with leaders of organisations in recent weeks and I hear the same story repeated again and again. The vital services that they provide and which are not going to be picked up by national governments are being decimated. These organisations are collapsing and there is little immediate prospect of others stepping in. The Independent has contacted the White House for comment. This story is part of The Independents Rethinking Global Aid series Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice President Donald Trump has long claimed that South American governments are sending violent gang members to the U.S. as a justification for his mass deportation efforts. But U.S. intelligence has found that that isnt the case. The National Intelligence Council, using findings from the 18 intelligence agencies, found in a secret assessment earlier this month that the Venezuelan government isnt sending members of the prison gang Tren de Aragua to the U.S., according to The Washington Post. The findings go against Trumps rationale for the use of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport those suspected of being gang members. The legislation was most recently used during World War II to detain more than 110,000 Japanese Americans. Invoking the legislation last month, Trump said - without providing evidence - that the prison gang was conducting an invasion of the U.S. at the direction of the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. open image in gallery The US intelligence apparatus has determined that the Venezuelan government isnt sending its gang members to America. However, President Donald Trump has claimed the opposite. ( via REUTERS ) Using the Alien Enemies Act, the Trump administration sent planes filled with alleged gang members to El Salvadors infamous megaprison in the face of a judges order to turn the planes around to give the detainees due process. The assessment of the intelligence community ascertained that there are some contacts between Tren de Aragua and the Venezuelan government at the lower levels, but the gang doesnt follow orders from Maduro. Similarly, The New York Times reported that U.S. intelligence found in February that the Venezuelan government doesnt control the gang. The National Intelligence Council, the nucleus of the U.S. intelligence community, reports to the Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard. The council consists of national intelligence officers with regional or topical expertise, and it delivers classified assessments intended to represent the view of all the spy agencies. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence told The Post that the assessment was made by deep state actors working with the press. President Trump took necessary and historic action to safeguard our nation when he deported these violent Tren de Aragua terrorists, a statement to the paper said. Now that America is safer without these terrorists in our cities, deep state actors have resorted to using their propaganda arm to attack the Presidents successful policies. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung told The Post in a statement that Trump is 100 percent committed to ensuring that terrorists and criminal illegal migrants are no longer a threat to Americans and their communities across the country. open image in gallery Trump has ordered the deportation of thousands and has sent some to prisons in El Salvador. He recently met with the countrys President Nayib Bukele in the Oval Office ( AFP/Getty ) Two people familiar with the assessment told the paper that the finding among the agencies was close to unanimous, apart from the FBI, which found that theres a moderate level of cooperation between Tren de Aragua and the Venezuelan government. The quarrel over Tren de Araguas connections to the Venezuelan government comes as the Trump administration engages in a standoff with the courts, which has concerned constitutional experts, Trumps political adversaries, and even some other Republicans. Under the Alien Enemies Act, the president has the power to remove foreign citizens from countries that are at war with the U.S. or who are engaging in a predatory incursion into American territory. Legal experts have said that the law requires that the invasion or incursion has to be connected to a foreign government. As Trump invoked the law, he claimed that the gang is connected to the Maduro regime. TdA is undertaking hostile actions and conducting irregular warfare against the territory of the United States both directly and at the direction, clandestine or otherwise, of the Maduro regime in Venezuela, the invocation states. A Venezuela expert at the Atlantic Council think tank, Geoff Ramsey, told The Post that The idea that Maduro is directing Tren de Aragua members and sending criminals to infiltrate the United States is ludicrous. Tren de Aragua has become more like a brand that any group of carjackers from Miami down to Argentina can invoke to further their criminal activity, but theres really no clear sense of hierarchy, he added. And the reality is that Tren de Aragua has not always gotten along with the Maduro government: We saw just a few years ago, the military in 2023, stormed a prison that Tren de Aragua controlled and allegedly carried out extrajudicial executions. 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 Indian man claimed his U.S. visa for a dream holiday to Florida was rejected in less than a minute after answering just three questions. The man who was applying for a visa which is typically used for tourism or short business visits shared his ordeal on social media site Reddit, in hopes of finding out why he was rejected. In his post, the man with the username "nobody01810" shared that he appeared for the visa interview at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi. "I had my B1/B2 visa interview at the U.S. Embassy recently, and I was rejected in less than a minute after just three questions. I'm trying to understand what went wrong and how I can improve for next time," he said. He says he was asked by the interviewer: "Why do you want to travel to the US? Have you travelled outside of India? And do you have any family or friends in the US?" The applicant said he answered all three questions honestly explaining he wanted a holiday in Florida, had no prior international travel experience and did have a girlfriend living in Florida. But the US embassy officer apparently wasn't convinced, and his visa was said to have been denied in less than a minute. Donald Trumps administration has taken a tougher line on people wanting to come to the U.S. - and it appears to be impacting tourists too ( AP ) Commenting on the incident he wrote: "What do you think triggered the quick rejection? Could I have answered differently while still being honest? Should I have avoided mentioning my girlfriend if my trip was meant to be for tourism? What steps would you recommend before reapplying?" The user did not explain how or why he had a girlfriend living in Florida if he had no history of international travel. Scores of comments followed the post in the USvisascheduling channel, discussing why he was rejected and what else he could have done. It comes as Trump takes a tougher stance on visas which has seen him not only crackdown on illegal immigrants, but legal immigrants and tourists. In March a French scientist was refused entry to the US after airport immigration officers found messages on his phone criticizing the Trump administration, according to the French government. The space researcher had traveled to Texas for a conference near Houston, a source told AFP. When he arrived in the US the researcher was subject to a random check, including a search of his work computer and his personal phone. Officers had found messages discussing the Trump administrations treatment of scientists, the source added. The researcher was reportedly accused of writing messages that reflect hatred toward Trump and can be described as terrorism, and his equipment was confiscated before he was put on a plane back to Europe the following day. 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 Wendy Brito, an asylum-seeker from El Salvador and New Orleans-area mother of three, never returned from a regular check-in last month with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Her family didnt know what happened, until Brito appeared in an ICE database, showing she was detained in Basile, Louisiana, nearly 200 miles away. She calls me crying, hysterically, saying they arrested me, they took me, Britos partner, Kremly Marrero, told WWLTV on Wednesday. Marrero added that Brito has been in the U.S. for 15 years, and came to America to get away from vicious people. I just want her home, he said of Brito, who volunteers at McDonogh 26 Elementary School. I need her home. If not for me, then for the kids. I can hold on, but my kids need her. Because of our operational tempo with routine, daily law enforcement operations, and increased interest in all our mission sets, we arent able to research and confirm or deny many specific cases, ICE told the outlet in response to their reporting. The Trump administration is reportedly ramping up asylum denials and arrests surrounding immigration appointments ( AP ) Marrero said officials told his family Brito was taken because of new regulations under the new administration. Migrants and advocates say that people are increasingly being apprehended at regular immigration check-ins. Mohsen Mahdawi, a lawful permanent resident and Columbia University pro-Palestine activist, was arrested this week shortly after arriving for a citizenship interview inside the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service office in Vermont. Beginning April 11, the Trump administration directed immigration judges to circumvent the normal hearing process and swiftly deny asylum applications from individuals with cases deemed legally deficient. As The Independent has reported, many of ICEs most high-profile detainees, as well as individuals involved in lesser-known cases, are held in rural Louisiana, where detainees have reported poor conditions, difficulty accessing legal counsel, and a higher-than-average rate of asylum denials. 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 Ukraine has intelligence that shows China is supplying weapons to Russia, president Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday as he announced significant progress towards a minerals deal with the United States. We believe that Chinese representatives are engaged in the production of some weapons on the territory of Russia, he told reporters in Kyiv. He did not specify whether he meant artillery systems or shells. The allegation is likely to further strain relations between Kyiv and Beijing following the capture of Chinese nationals fighting for Russia. China has so far tried to maintain an outward perception of neutrality in the three-year war prompted by Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine has previously called on China to use its influence over Russia to push it towards peace. We already have facts about this work by China and Russia to strengthen their defence capabilities, Mr Zelensky said, voicing his dismay as he said Chinese president Xi Jinping had promised him Beijing would not sell or supply weapons to Moscow. Meanwhile, he said Ukraine and the US were poised to sign a memorandum of intent on the minerals deal being negotiated by the two countries. Donald Trump has pushed for a deal that would allow the US to have privileged access to Ukraines natural resources and critical minerals in what he casts as repayment for military aid provided by Washington to Ukraine under the previous presidency of Joe Biden. The Ukrainian delegation travelled to Washington at the end of last week for negotiations after the Trump administration offered a new, more expansive deal. The initial framework agreement that was agreed to has never been signed. This is a memorandum of intent. And we have positive, constructive intentions, Mr Zelensky said. He added that the offer to sign the memorandum before the comprehensive deal, which would require ratification in the Ukrainian parliament, had come from the US side. Ukraines economy minister has said Kyiv and Washington made significant progress while discussing the agreement. Meanwhile, European and Ukrainian officials kicked off a day of talks in Paris to plead Kyivs case to US secretary of state Marco Rubio and Mr Trumps envoy, Steve Witkoff. The diplomacy reflects Europes mounting concern over White House overtures towards Moscow, after the failure so far of Mr Trumps efforts to arrange a ceasefire in the three-year-old Russia-Ukraine war. Mr Trump, who has long said he aims to swiftly end the Ukraine war, has indicated he is frustrated with both Moscow and Kyiv, even as his administration has shifted rhetoric towards the Russian account of the conflict. Ukraine agreed to a Trump proposal last month for a ceasefire, which Russia rejected. The sides have agreed only to curbs on attacks against energy targets and at sea, which both accuse each other of violating. Reuters and Associated Press contributed to this report. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice 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 The US will walk away from talks aimed at brokering a Russia-Ukraine peace deal within days unless there are clear signs that an agreement can be reached, US secretary of state Marco Rubio has warned. Mr Rubios threats came at the start of the Easter weekend, after Russias latest attack on Ukraine left one person dead and 98 injured in Kharkiv on Friday morning. US officials said last month that the US president hoped to secure a ceasefire agreement by 20 April, a symbolic date on which Western and Orthodox celebrations of Easter will overlap this year and one that is fast approaching, with no deal currently in close sight. Thursday showed signs of some progress in the US talks with Ukraine, after Donald Trump said he expected to sign a minerals deal with Kyiv next week. Negotiations had been delayed after his explosive Oval Office clash with Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky in February. But in another stark shift, after meeting with European and Ukrainian leaders on Thursday, Mr Rubio said Mr Trump was prepared to declare Well, were done on the peace talks, adding that the US has bigger challenges that we need to figure out. Theres no one saying this can be done in 12 hours, he said. But we want to see how far apart it is. We need to figure out here, now, within a matter of days, whether this is doable in the short term, because if its not, then I think were just going to move on. open image in gallery The US has warned it will walk away from talks aimed at brokering a Russia-Ukraine peace deal within days unless there are clear signs that an agreement can be reached ( AP ) There was no immediate comment from Paris, London, Berlin or Kyiv on Mr Rubios statement, although three European diplomatic sources told reporters that his comments reflected growing frustration in the White House over Russias intransigence on ending the war. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov responded that some progress on a peace settlement had already been made, insisting that Russia is striving to resolve the conflict. He said that Moscow remained open to dialogue with Washington but that contact was difficult. Vice-president JD Vance added later on Friday that the US is optimistic that we can hopefully bring this war, this very brutal war, to a close. open image in gallery US secretary of state Marco Rubio says his country has bigger challenges that we need to figure out ( AP ) The discussions in Paris on Thursday which Mr Zelenskys office described as constructive and positive were the first substantive, high-level and in-person talks on Mr Trumps peace push at which European powers have been present. Mr Rubio said the Europeans have a central role to play in any peace pact especially as their sanctions on Russia, over which Washington has no control, would likely need to be lifted in order to secure an accord. He called the talks constructive and said the response to the US peace framework he had presented was encouraging. Mr Trump promised during his election campaign to end the war in Ukraine within his first 24 hours in the White House. He then moderated that claim on taking office, as obstacles to a deal mounted. open image in gallery Ukrainian rescuers work at the site of a rocket attack in a residential area of Kharkiv on Friday ( EPA ) Mr Trump has put pressure on both sides to come to the negotiating table, threatening tougher sanctions on Russia or an end to billions of dollars worth of US military support for Kyiv. Both Ukraine and Russia took part in US-brokered talks in Saudi Arabia, which resulted in a partial ceasefire but nothing more. Russia has kept up a series of deadly strikes on Ukrainian cities, according to officials there, wounding scores of civilians days after missiles killed at least 34 during Palm Sunday celebrations in the northern city of Sumy an attack Mr Trump called a mistake. The strike on Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, in the early hours of Friday, struck a densely populated neighbourhood four times, its mayor Ihor Terekhov reported. The US and Ukraine do, however, appear to be nearing a long-delayed deal to grant the US access to Ukraines vast mineral resources, which has been intertwined with Mr Trumps push for peace. Mr Trump announced on Thursday, We have a minerals deal, and Ukraines economy minister said the following day that the two countries had signed a memorandum of intent, with the potential that a more comprehensive agreement could be arrived at later. open image in gallery Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky clashed in the White House in February at a meeting where they were due to sign a deal on sharing Ukraines mineral riches and discuss a peace deal with Russia ( AFP via Getty ) But if Washington walks away from the ceasefire talks, efforts to broker a peace will likely flounder, because no other nation is able to bring similar pressure on both Moscow and Kyiv. Russian president Vladimir Putin has said he wants Ukraine to drop its ambitions to join Nato, Russia to control the entirety of four Ukrainian regions it has claimed as its own, and the size of the Ukrainian army to be limited. Kyiv says those demands are tantamount to demanding its capitulation. 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 Scientists have found the best ever hint of alien life on another planet. But they arent getting entirely excited just yet. In what might eventually be hailed as the first fingerprint of extraterrestrial life outside of our solar system, scientists found gases that as far as we know are only produced by biological processes. As such, the findings appear to be a biosignature, or a sign of possible life. But there is much left to do before researchers can be sure. What did the scientists find? The new work looked at the planet K2-18 b, which is 8.6 times as massive as Earth, 2.6 times as large and sits about 124 light years away. It was already an exciting place to look, since it orbits in the habitable zone around its star where water can exist and not immediately freeze or turn to gas. It became more exciting in recent years. Previous observations from the James Webb Space Telescope had found methane and carbon dioxide in the planets atmosphere, and that was the first time that carbon-based molecules were found on a planet that is in its stars habitable zone. But now researchers have found two gases: dimethyl sulfide, or DMS, and dimethyl disulfide, or DMDS. On Earth, that would mean that those gases are coming from life. Why does that mean aliens? That seems to be the best explanation we have of the strange data. As far as we know, and at least on Earth, DMS and DMDS are made on Earth only by living organisms, primarily algae. "The only scenario that currently explains all the data obtained so far from JWST (James Webb Space Telescope), including the past and present observations, is one where K2-18 b is a hycean world teeming with life," said astrophysicist Nikku Madhusudhan of the University of Cambridge's Institute of Astronomy, lead author of the study published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters. "However, we need to be open and continue exploring other scenarios." But are they real? Nobody knows for sure, and scientists both involved in and away from the research have advised everyone to be cautious. The data is is only an indicator of a possible biological process, not anything like the discovery of actual organisms. Further work will be required before anyone is authoritatively able to say anything for sure and thankfully that work will be starting very soon. "The rich data from K2-18 b make it a tantalising world," said Christopher Glein, principal scientist at the Space Science Division of the Southwest Research Institute in Texas. "These latest data are a valuable contribution to our understanding. Yet, we must be very careful to test the data as thoroughly as possible. I look forward to seeing additional, independent work on the data analysis starting as soon as next week." JD Vance joked Italys prime minister Giorgia Meloni could have called him a jerk as he complimented the Italian language on his Easter visit to Rome. The US vice president visited Italy on Friday (18 April), following Ms Melonis visit to the White House to meet Donald Trump the previous day. During his meeting with the Italian prime minister, Vance appeared somewhat taken with her native language. He joked: She could've called me a jerk and I wouldn't know. Vance then added: It is the most beautiful language imaginable. Donald Trump praised King Charles as he revealed the date for his second UK state visit. The US president was invited to the UK in a personal letter from the monarch, which was given to Trump by Sir Keir Starmer on his visit to America earlier this year. Trump was asked about the visit during an Oval Office meeting on Thursday (17 April). He said: I have great respect for King Charles and the family William, we we have, it's really just a great respect for the family, and it's a very great honor that. And I think they're setting a date for September. Richard Curran: Paul Coulson can have few complaints as 28-year Ardagh odyssey from Ringsend to Wall Street looks like having a happy ending UK businessman with firms worth billions sets up in Ireland Director claims to have companies in the UK with more than 227bn of funds The Companies Registration Office. Photo: File image John Mulligan Fri 18 Apr 2025 at 03:30 A British businessman whose UK companies claim to have funds totalling more than 227bn (264bn) has just set up two new firms in Ireland. Gemma Hayes on her new single Central Hotel: I cared deeply for this person who is no longer around The Tipperary songwriter reveals why her latest release evokes such strong memories Gemma Hayes says her new single was inspired by a deeply personal moment from her 20s Barry Egan Fri 18 Apr 2025 at 03:30 Whether or not she agrees, Gemma Hayes is one of Irelands great songwriters. On her new single Central Hotel, from last years album Blind Faith, the 47-year-old from Ballyporeen in Co Tipperary writes about a mans lips tasting of cherry cough syrup. She is holding his hand, waiting for a train. Later, a hotel room is booked. Fr Eugene OHagan: I think weve put flesh on the basic understanding of what a priest is. Were human beings not automatons who appear on a Sunday One third of the classical musical group The Priests, Fr Eugene OHagan talks about the trios unexpected rise to fame and why they are taking a step back to focus on their religious duties The Priests performing together on stage. Photo: BBC NI Barry Egan Fri 18 Apr 2025 at 03:30 "I grew up in a little village 10 miles from Derry called Claudy, says Fr Eugene OHagan. Way back in the 1970s, there was a big bomb which blew up in Claudy. My fathers office was in the village. He parked his car right beside where the bomb went off, four or five minutes before the bomb went off; he was very, very lucky. Previous contestants were brought back in to help Dean and Anisa to complete their rebranding tasks although the finalists might have been better off without them Dean was the oldest of the 18 competitors on 'The Apprentice' this year. Photo: Matt Frost Dean, eh? Dean Franklin wasnt as brilliant as his fellow finalist, Anisa. He wasnt as brilliant as the talented young Dubliner Jordan Dargan. In the final of this, the 19th series of The Apprentice, Deans branding of his air conditioning business was dreadful. Luckily Jordan was there to provide a bit of design panache, and the QR codes. But the video for Domestic Cool (as Dean had named his company) was so terrible that when Lord Sugar viewed it at the posh final banquet he said quietly: Oh God. On the other hand, Deans presentation at the banquet was good: passionate about his children and also, rather more surprisingly, passionate about air conditioning. Anisa Khans presentation had been pretty much flawless. There she was, in her beautiful Bangladeshi dress, with her conviction that her pizzas with Indian toppings could be the foundation of a new future. And you believed her. Her parents have been in the restaurant business in south London for 47 years. As we learned previously in this series, these same parents were horrified when Anisa gave up a corporate career to start her own company. Now she produces her pizzas in her parents' dark kitchens: that is, kitchens that are not part of a restaurant or takeaway, and possibly have no windows. This was a sophisticated woman with her feet on the ground. Yet it was not Anisa who won, but Dean. And the reason for his win was simple: Dean needs Lord Sugar. By sheer grit and hard work Dean, who is from Essex, has built up an air conditioning business that employs 24 other men. The thing is, as he candidly admitted, he doesnt know how to scale it up. Thats why he needs Lord Sugar. And Lord Sugar, with the unerring instinct of a child caught between two warring parents, decided to go with the one who needed him most. Anisa will do well anywhere, doing anything. Her pizzas are delicious. Everyone at the posh banquet loved them and Lord Sugar had two slices of the chicken one. On the other hand, Dean was the oldest of what had originally been 18 competitors on this years Apprentice. As he said himself air conditioning is my life. Dean was the oldest of the 18 competitors on 'The Apprentice' this year. Photo: Matt Frost Strangely enough, last week Lord Sugar and his terrifying advisers made a similar decision about Jordan Dargan, the youngest competitor at 22. Jordan Dargan is a very impressive young man, with a Nigerian father and an Irish mother and history playing GAA. He taught himself animation from YouTube tutorials and started his own company. He has a winning manner. Even the jaded business types who advise Lord Sugar were knocked out by him. Jordan was fired last week. It must have been the loveliest firing ever. Jordan himself seemed thrilled by it. Youre here too early, mate, thats the problem, said Lord Sugar. Youre here too early. Then he gave Jordan his business card. You can keep your Hollywood handshakes. This was major. Jordan beamed. We all beamed. Lord Sugar said Jordan could call him but not too early in the morning. It made you proud to be Irish. Meanwhile, back at the final, Amber-Rose and Chisola were acting true to form. Previous contestants had been brought back in to help Dean and Anisa to complete their rebranding tasks although (except for Jordan, obviously) the finalists might have been better off without them. Amber-Rose directed the promotional video for Anisa, which was bad almost as bad as Liams video for Dean. She didnt want any advice from her team-mates and insisted that she do the voiceover herself. The result was so poor that Anisas face fell when she saw it. Luckily she had the unremittingly positive Chisola at her side. Sometimes you cannot help but feel that positivity has its downsides. Amber-Rose and Chisola have taken self confidence across the border into delusion. They both look absolutely stunning: high heels, relentless grooming. Chisola turned up to her business plan interview in a caped number that made her look like a movie star; no woman has ever been fired from The Apprentice for being over-dressed. But neither Amber-Rose or Chisola made it through the business plan round. Both of them have significant online presence, apparently. Amber-Rose has a million followers, we are told, across a range of platforms, with TikTok being the big one. Chisola is on Instagram. Amber-Rose wanted Lord Sugars pounds 250,000 (is it really his, every year?) to fund her bubble tea business. (Lord Sugar: What is this bubble tea?) Amber-Rose believes in manifesting and Lord Sugar might have fancied her. But she didnt have the figure for annual turnover. Chisola, who runs a virtual assistant business, wanted the money to start a sort of dating app where investors would meet people with bright business ideas. Lord Sugar: Youve got no experience in apps, do you? Chisola, looking fantastic: No. Chisola is a trained nurse. No one would blame her for abandoning that gruelling profession for a life of online excitement and high heels. But there does seem to be a bit of a reality gap. Chisola, I dont get it, said Lord Sugar, which was a relief because I thought it was just me. Then he fired her. Anisa deserved to win the whole thing. Dean needed to win the whole thing. Thats The Apprentice for you. No wonder its lasted almost 20 years. Francie Gorman was attending his GP for other health checks when his doctor discovered a tumour in his pancreas IFA President Francie Gorman was told by the doctor that he had 'won the lotto' when a tumour in his pancreas was discovered before it had turned cancerous The president of the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) is urging people to prioritise their health and go for regular checks at their GP after he was given the all clear following a cancer scare. Laois man and president of the IFA, Francie Gorman, found out by chance that he had a tumour in his pancreas a discovery that may have saved his life. Mr Gorman was attending his GP for other health checks when his doctor discovered the pancreatic tumour. "The doctors found a tumour on my pancreas completely by chance," Mr Gorman told The Irish Independent. I was actually in the doctors because I had low haemoglobin but they ended up finding this tumour. In February, the Ballinakill farmer underwent surgery in St. Vincents University Hospital in Dublin to have the tumour removed. "During the surgery, they took more than half of my pancreas but they managed to leave my spleen, said Mr Gorman. All the staff in the hospital looked after me so well. I couldnt say enough about them. Follow Independent Laois on Facebook Two weeks ago, Mr Gorman was given the all clear by his doctor who told him he had won the lotto because they had caught the tumour before it turned into something more sinister. IFA president Francie Gorman. "I was back with the consultant for a post-surgery appointment and he gave me the all clear. He told me I dont need to go back to him again as everything is clear and my pancreas is working perfectly. "As I walked out of the door of the doctors office, the last words he said to me was that I had won the lotto. I was told that there was no doubt that in a couple of years time, the tumour would have 1000pc turned cancerous and at that stage I would have been in serious bother. "It really shows the importance of going to the doctor regularly as we dont know what is going on inside our bodies. Mr Gorman feels incredibly lucky that the doctors discovered the tumour before it turned cancerous. Following his own experience, Mr Gorman is encouraging others to be proactive with their health. I consider myself very lucky, smiled Mr Gorman. But Ill be honest, if I wasnt president of the IFA and I was farming at home by myself, I know I wouldnt have gone to the doctor. "I know there are lots of farmers and people out there who are very busy and maybe put off going to the doctor. My experience shows how important it is to not do that and to prioritise your health. "I think the reason that farmers, in particular, dont go to the doctor as often as they should is because when were sick, we tend to keep working, continued Mr Gorman. I know myself on the farm at home, unless you cant walk, youll still go out and get up on the tractor and youll keep working. "Long hours are worked whether you are sick or not. Farmers cant afford to be away from the farm for any length of time and people are inclined to say, well Im not going to the doctors now, Ill lose half a day on the farm going in there. IFA President Francie Gorman was told by the doctor that he had 'won the lotto' when a tumour in his pancreas was discovered before it had turned cancerous Today's News in 90 seconds - 16th April 2025 "But we need to put as much value on our health as we do on our work. Last year, the IFA ran a health check programme with the Farmer Health Check mobile health unit visiting marts and agricultural events across the country making it easy for farmers to access vital health services directly within their communities. The programme offered farmers a quick and comprehensive overview of their health, focusing on areas such as heart disease, early detection of diabetes, mental health and wellbeing along with crucial information on prostate and skin cancer. As a result of the health check programme, 23 people found out they needed immediate medical care. A tax defaulting landlord tried to use the law to transform himself into the victim NUJ describes Christian Carter case as chilling Seamus Dooley, Irish Secretary of union, is calling for legal reform to stop the use of so-called SLAPP orders to stifle press freedom Landlord Christian Carter rented out up to 40 properties in Dublin Laura Lynott Fri 18 Apr 2025 at 03:30 The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has condemned as chilling an attempt to use anti-stalking legislation to silence a journalist from reporting on a rogue landlord and tax defaulter. Children's Minster Norma Foley has met with Siptu and employer groups over the issue. Photo: Collins A staffing crisis in the childcare sector could worsen if a pay deal is not struck soon, the countrys largest union has said. Siptu has told its members that talks on new wage rates have stalled, and there has been no agreement. The union is demanding that minimum pay rates increase to at least 15 an hour. Norma Foley, Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, met with employer groups and the union earlier this week, where the negotiations on an employment regulation order (ERO) for the sector were discussed. Darragh OConnor, head of strategic organising and campaigns at Siptu, said all options are on the table if a pay deal with employer groups to cover over 30,000 workers is not brokered. All stakeholders agree that staffing is the biggest issue at the moment, he said. Providers are struggling to recruit and retain staff, and this is mainly down to low pay. Qualified educators simply cannot afford to work in their profession. If they dont see a significant pay increase, the staffing crisis will exacerbate. This will impact on services and parents. With talks at a critical stage, the clock is really ticking on it. Were holding urgent nationwide consultation meetings to update members and plan our next steps. Mr OConnor said talks reached a stalemate last Friday and no arrangements were made for further discussions. A spokesperson for employer representative group Childhood Services Ireland (CSI), which is negotiating at the talks, said the process is still ongoing from its perspective. Children's Minster Norma Foley has met with Siptu and employer groups over the issue. Photo: Collins Today's News in 90 Seconds - April 18th He said CSI members are committed to distributing 45m in ring-fenced wages for year four of the States core funding scheme. In its message to members, Siptu said the discussions have been extremely challenging. It said it has been pushing employers to agree a new pay deal for educators and managers since late last year.The message said thousands of members had campaigned for better pay and conditions and won 207m to improve pay as part of core funding in September 2022. While educators now earn a minimum of 13.65 per hour, we know that the existing government funding can go much further, it said. It said the average rate of pay for an early years educator is 14.47 per hour, and many employers pay 15 an hour or more. An extra 45m has been ringfenced for pay. If the current round of pay talks do not deliver significant increases to the minimum employment regulation order rates of pay, there can be no agreement, Siptu said. It added that the 45m of new funding due next September will not be distributed to services without a pay deal. A spokesperson for Ms Foleys department said she met with Joint Labour Committee representatives this week to outline the Governments support for the employment regulation order process. Outcomes from the JLC process are supported through Core Funding which, in the programme year 2025/26, will be 350m, the spokesperson said. In addition, there is 45m specifically ring-fenced to support employers with additional costs arising from increases in new minimum pay rates, conditional on new EROs being negotiated. The minister expects that government funding secured to support the costs of increased minimum pay rates is used for its intended purpose and that any ERO proposals would utilise the full amount available. Elaine Dunne, chairperson of the Federation of Early Childhood Providers, said she was not aware that the talks had stalled. She said the providers group is waiting for more clarity from the department on the mechanism for the rollout of the 45m that has been ringfenced for wages, and how it will be distributed. We are waiting also to see the amounts of Core Funding that will be coming in in September, she said. Were delighted that were working with that ring fenced money, and hopefully the government will put more substantial amounts of money into staff wages moving forward. We are very happy to be working with Siptu and the CSI in these negotiations and hopefully will get to the end of them fairly quickly once we get the figures from the department. Where Michelin-star chefs go to eat a curry: I think its some of the best food of any kind being served in Ireland right now An Bord Pleanala has requested extensive additional data on the effect of the projects on areas of concern including rescue services, marine life and tourism The developers of three offshore wind farms have been told to supply planners with extensive extra information about how the projects will affect marine life, rescue services, flights at Dublin Airport, tourism and coastal erosion. An Bord Pleanala (ABP), which has been examining the planning applications since last summer, has given the projects until next January to respond. The three offshore wind farms, proposed by separate companies, were the earliest of six currently in planning to lodge their applications. They are the 25-turbine Oriel Wind Farm proposed for off the Co Louth coast, the North Irish Sea Array of 35-49 turbines located off Louth, Meath and Dublin and the Arklow Bank Wind Park, which would have 47-56 turbines off Wicklow and Wexford. They must address in more detail concerns raised by the National Parks and Wildlife Service about the potential impacts on birds such as the roseate tern, red-throated diver, guillemot, shag, gannet, kittiwake and sandpiper. Particular concerns have been raised about the effect of Oriel on the annual brent geese migration. The potential impact of siting wind turbines on a migratory route for this species without appropriate mitigation during such short-term events could be potentially catastrophic for light-bellied brent geese populations, the planning authority said. A concern specific to the Arklow Bank is the potential impact of the existing small seven-turbine wind farm nearby the countrys first and only offshore wind farm in conjunction with the towering new installation. SSE, developer of Arklow Bank, has been told to examine the collision risks posed by two clusters of turbines of differing heights. Greater detail is also sought from all three projects on the likely impacts on seals and dolphins, fish and bats. The planners want more clarity on how the companies plan to manage underwater and airborne noise. On these, and other issues, ABP says the applicants should liaise with each other about the cumulative effects of their projects. Arklow Bank has been told to address the cumulative impacts of it and a fourth proposed wind farm, the Codling Wind Park off north Wicklow. Submissions from the Department of Transport raise concerns about access routes for the Irish Coast Guards search-and-rescue vehicles. Dublin Airport and the Air Corps are also seeking assurances around interference with flight paths and radar from the giant cranes that will be used during construction, and from the turbines which will reach 300-metres high when in operation. Meath and Wexford County Councils and Failte Ireland are worried about tourism, specifically the visual impact on Meaths Bru na Boinne world heritage site and Wexfords renowned beaches. Wexford County Council has also raised the potential impact on population mental health and well-being from the significant visual impact on the landscape and seascape. The planning authority also wants more detail on the impact of onshore construction works on coastal erosion. Other issues include the effects on commercial fisheries, the Ireland-Scotland undersea gas interconnector and onshore traffic during construction. The companies must also address submissions from the Isle of Man, which has raised concerns about bird and fish life. Oriel, which is a joint project by Parkwind and ESB, said in a statement: We note the recent communication from An Bord Pleanala and we will respond to all of the points raised in due course. SSE, which is behind the Arklow Bank, said it was not making a statement at this time. Tina Raleigh, project development director for the Statkraft-backed North Irish Sea Array said: We welcome a robust and transparent planning process, so the project will be responding in due course. Further information requests are routinely made by planners, particularly on large infrastructure projects, but the extensive nature of these requests around 50 pages in each case illustrates the complexity of the applications. The Government and previous coalition had expressed hopes of having the first offshore project operating by 2028, in what is seen as a vital move to shift electricity generation away from fossil fuel gas and oil, but this timeline now seems highly unlikely. Four of the six projects in planning, the North Irish Sea Array, Codling, the Dublin Array and Sceirde Rocks, have state contracts for the supply of electricity. Oriel and Arklow Banks were unsuccessful in the 2023 auction for contracts, but are pushing on with their projects to sell power to businesses or directly into the wholesale market. Some confusion remains over the Sceirde Rocks projects after The Currency reported that its developers, Corio, had decided to abandon it. Comments by government ministers appeared to acknowledge this setback but Corio has refused to comment publicly, and ABP said the planning application had not been withdrawn. Medics tend to 'casualties' at the Glen of Imaal during a pre-deployment mission-readiness exercise. Photo: Colin Keegan The commander of nearly 300 Irish troops deploying to Lebanon next month has warned that Hezbollah is spreading disinformation against UN peacekeepers. Lieutenant Colonel Edward McDonagh has also said the operational environment in south Lebanon remains highly volatile and unpredictable, with Israel and non-state actors sporadically breaching the terms of the ceasefire in place. Members of the 126th Infantry Battalion are undergoing pre-mission training, which includes facing scenarios involving roadside bombs, casualty evacuation and crowd control. Their commanding officer, Lt Col Edward McDonagh, said around 40pc of the local population have returned to the Irish area of operations in Lebanon after a ceasefire was agreed in recent months. He said troops serving with the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (Unifil) occasionally face hostility from returning locals, which is a result of disinformation by Hezbollah. There is a perception that has been spread by Hezbollah, through disinformation and misinformation, that Unifil did nothing during the conflict and that has caused some disquiet among the local population, he said. There is going to be unexploded ordnance, but as well as that, theres decades of mines that have been unsettled When the population returns, what we can do to mitigate that is to engage with the local leaders, and as battalion commander that is something I plan to do very early on. What we need to do is reinforce our mandate with the local population that we are here at the invitation of the Lebanese government. A shaky truce remains in place since late last year following more than 12 months of war, with sporadic missile attacks by Israel in retaliation for Hezbollah firing rockets into Israeli territory. As well as denial of freedom of movement from both the local population and the Israel Defence Forces, another risk Irish troops face is the threat of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) or unexploded munitions. In a conflict that has been as robust and volatile as weve seen in Lebanon, and the amount of ordnance that has been fired by the Israelis and by Hezbollah from the Lebanese side, there is going to be the remnants of war, Lt Col McDonagh said. There is going to be unexploded ordnance, but as well as that, theres decades of mines that have been unsettled and are being washed away, especially after winter. Flight Sergeant Luke Byrne and his daughter, Airwoman Ruth Byrne, from Castledockrell, Co Wexford. Photo: Colin Keegan Yesterdays training exercise in the Glen of Imaal, Co Wicklow, simulated an IED striking an army vehicle and neutralised it, testing the response of soldiers to recover the vehicle and medically evacuate injured troops. Lt Col McDonagh said he was very happy with the techniques and skills displayed by his battalion. Weve put them through scenarios of counter-IED, of medical evacuation, of denial of freedom of movement. We really put them in at the deep end and they responded at the highest level, he said. He added that the current operational environment in southern Lebanon remains highly volatile and unpredictable, with persistent breaches of the ceasefire by the Israeli side as well as the Lebanese side from Hezbollah and non-state actors. Its uncertain as to what direction the conflict is going, but what is certain is the outbreaks are sporadic, theyre volatile, and really theyre persistent, he said. Being able to serve overseas with my eldest son is a great honour and Im delighted to be going with him Lt Col McDonaghs battalion will deploy next month and replace the 125th Infantry Battalion, which has been in south Lebanon since last November. It includes 298 Irish soldiers as well as 10 from the Armed Forces of Malta, with over a third of personnel deploying on their first overseas mission. The most senior non-commissioned officer, Regimental Sergeant Major Andrew Marlow, will be accompanied by his son, Captain Conor Marlow, who is going on his first overseas mission. Capt Marlow said it is a big honour travelling with his father, who has a lot of invaluable experience. His father added: Theres many highs in the Defence Forces, and this will be one of them, being able to serve overseas with my eldest son. Its a great honour and Im delighted to be going with him. Another family deploying are Flight Sergeant Luke Byrne and his daughter, Airwoman Ruth Byrne, on her first trip. FS Byrne said it is unusual and never thought he would be in the situation, but described it as a great privilege. The youngest soldier deploying is Private Charlie OLeary (19), from Galway. Conor McGregor cast doubt on his planned run for the Aras in a much-advertised interview with US media figure Tucker Carlson yesterday. Filmed at the Freemasons Hall in Dublin, the pair discussed everything from McGregors upbringing in Crumlin to why he might not be able to run for the presidency later this year. Rosie ODonnell wrote to the Taoiseach to apologise for an embarrassing moment when Micheal Martin was asked in the Oval Office why he would let her move to Ireland. During his St Patricks Day visit to the White House, a US reporter had asked Mr Martin if letting the comedian and talk show host move to Ireland would reduce the happiness levels of the country. A confused Mr Martin had laughed politely before appearing to concede that he did not know who Ms ODonnell was. Do you know who she is? President Trump said. Youre better off not knowing. An adviser explained to Mr Martin that she was a comedian and actor. Oh yeah, yeah, the Taoiseach said. American comedian Rosie O'Donnell. In an interview with the New York Times, Ms ODonnell revealed that she wrote to the Taoiseach to express her embarrassment at becoming a topic of conversation during such a serious meeting. According to the New York Times, Mr Martin has not responded. Ms ODonnell moved to Ireland in the wake of Trumps second presidential election win. She has been living in Dublin since January and has since applied for Irish citizenship. Ms ODonnell and Mr Trump have a long running feud dating back almost twenty years, when Ms ODonnell mocked him on US chatshow The View. Taoiseach Micheal Martin and US President Donald Trump. Today's News in 90 Seconds - April 18th The joke at the then businessman and reality TV stars expense prompted him to threaten to sue. She told the New York Times that she has been pleasantly surprised by Ireland. I see reflections of myself in this country everywhere I look, and reflections of my family and my very Irish childhood, she said. Were 100pc Irish. Being Irish Catholic was a very big part of my identity, and coming back here does feel like coming home in a way thats hard to explain or understand, even for me. Sinn Feins health spokesman has apologised after he praised a UK Supreme Court ruling defining women by their biological sex as a common sense judgement. On Wednesday evening, David Cullinane had welcomed the judgement by Britains highest court and suggested that it should be fully examined in Ireland. The UK ruling could effectively exclude transgender women from certain equality protections. Independent councillor for South Dublin County Council Glen Moore signals his support for Mr McGregor in his presidential election bid Right-wing commentator Tucker Carlsons interview with Conor McGregor, which took place at the MMA stars Dublin pub earlier this week, is set to be released this evening. The former Fox News host visited Mr McGregors Black Forge Inn pub in Crumlin on Tuesday evening to interview the Dubliner on his hopes for running in the Irish presidential election, set to take place later this year. Approximately 40 people gathered inside The Black Forge Inn on the night after Mr McGregor was interviewed by the controversial far-right pundit earlier in the day. Mr Carlson hosted Tucker Carlson Tonight on Fox News until he was fired by the corporation in 2023. The presenter now hosts The Tucker Carlson Show on his own Tucker Carlson Network, and has interviewed Conor McGregor for his online news show. The two-hour chat will be broadcast on the Americans various channels, including YouTube from 6pm this evening. In a one-minute preview, Mr Carlson and Mr McGregor discuss how a nomination for the Irish presidency works, whereby a candidate must be nominated by 20 members of the Oireachtas, or by four local authorities. When asked by host Carlson Why cant you run? McGregor responds by saying: There are stipulations. You have four county councils which are controlled by the Government parties or you have to get 20 nominations of the Oireachtas which are mostly party affiliates. Mr McGregor added that we are not a democratic country and that they will have to answer to their constituents at some stage. He also said that if he runs, there will be an attempt to tarnish as they are but that he will move forward under God. My nation can see, McGregor said. Mr McGregor also referenced overspending, adding that our public wealth is being administered into private hands, enriching people to bring in this influx of illegal mass migration. He said this is changing the very fabric of my country. "Ireland is very close to losing its Irishness and we will not allow that to happen, McGregor adds in the snippet. In the video, Mr Carlson labels McGregor as the most famous living Irish person as the pair further discuss both democracy and immigration in Ireland. Cllr Glen Moore, an independent councillor for South Dublin County Council, has signalled his support for Mr McGregor in his presidential election bid. "As someone who has spoken with Conor McGregor, I can confirm that we have a team, including myself, who have supported past presidential campaigns, are ready to begin the process upon his decision, he wrote on social media site X. We are staunch believers in democracy at its core. The idea of locking the presidential nomination behind barriers is repugnant to our values and principles. "I will automatically support anyone seeking to run for president, as I firmly believe this choice should not be dictated by government officials, he said. Let democracy take its full course. Since parting ways with Fox News, Mr Carlson has interviewed many populists and right-wing figures, including US President Donald Trump, on his X channel and is a regular figure on many anti-immigration shows and news sites. He also interviewed Vladimir Putin in 2024, nearly two years after Russias brutal invasion of Ukraine. treasures Two sheets of 1907 Sinn Fein 'stamps' sold at Whytes for 5,400 An early 20th-century postage stamp was a clear marker of national identity. In Ireland, which was then part of the United Kingdom, the only way to send a letter was to affix it with a British stamp, printed with an image of the reigning monarch. From todays perspective, its hard to overestimate how much people relied on the post. It was the most important means of communication, says Ian Whyte, auctioneer and stamp collector. Telephones were scarce and email didnt exist. For Irish nationalists, the necessity of relying on British stamps was a daily reminder of an unwelcome colonial regime. In 1907, Sinn Fein issued propaganda labels that resembled stamps. They were printed on perforated sheets of paper and gummed so that they could be fastened onto postcards or envelopes and sent through the post. Variously described as Irish forerunners and Sinn Fein labels, their purpose was to raise money for Sinn Fein and to promote its political agenda. On April 6, two complete sheets of Sinn Fein stamps (est 1,500 to 2,000) went under the hammer at Whytes. They sold for 5,400 to a private collector based in Ireland. The Sinn Fein stamps of 1907 were printed in two designs, in sheets of 110. They were a propaganda exercise, Whyte says. Some nationalists would not reply to a letter unless the sender affixed one of these stamps to the envelope. Two sheets of 1907 Sinn Fein 'stamps' sold at Whytes for 5,400 The British administration objected. An official order, dated July 2, 1908, declared these labels were used for advertising and other purposes and when they are placed on the address side, they cause embarrassment to the officers of the Post Office. The labels were only allowable if used on the back of the envelope. Many Irish postal workers were Sinn Fein sympathisers, and delivered letters with the labels on the front of the envelope, despite the ban. The first design based on the Cross of Cong, lithographed in black and green, with the words Sinn Fein shown twice in the arches of the cross and the word Eire at the centre. Theres no face value on the stamps, which were sold for a halfpenny each. This stamp was designed by Lily Williams, an Irish artist and a friend of Arthur Griffith. Williams was a Republican and supporter of Sinn Fein, who fell out with her Protestant, Unionist family during the 1916 Easter Rising. The second Sinn Fein stamp design, attributed to W Kirkwood, shows the allegorical figure of Hibernia with a harp, a wolfhound, and the symbols of the four Irish provinces in the corners. At the top of the design is the word Erin, and Sinn Fein appears in each side panel. In February 1922, when the Irish government assumed power, existing British stamps were boldly overprinted with the words: Rialtas Sealadach na hEireann 1922. This was a temporary measure, akin to repainting the red British post boxes in green paint. The first 12 definitive Irish stamps were issued in 1922/23. These low value stamps (up to one shilling) came in four designs a map of Ireland, a Celtic cross, the arms of the four provinces and the sword of light chosen by committee from over eight hundred submissions. The committee was led by Arthur Griffith, who was a former printer. The Celtic cross design, used for the three-penny stamp (in blue) and the 10-penny stamp (in brown), was an adapted version of Williams Cross of Cong design, which first appeared on the Sinn Fein stamps of 1907. Memorial plaques issued to women are very rare In the same sale, a First World War memorial plaque issued to Ada Elizabeth Young (est 2,000 to 3,000) sold for 4,400. Also known as death plaques, these bronze plaques were issued to the next-of-kin of those who died serving with the British and Empire forces in World War I. Young (1885-1918) was a nurse from Dublin who joined the Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) in 1917. She died of pneumonia and cardiac failure following influenza at Clipstone Army Training Camp Hospital at the age of 33, and is buried in Nottinghamshire. The plaque was framed with an original card case, envelope and inscribed scroll, a photograph of Ada, and images of her grave. It was purchased by the National Museum of Ireland. Death plaques are relatively common and normally sell for around 100. This one was worth more because of its rarity. Memorial plaques issued to women are very rare, Whyte explains. This is the first one Ive ever seen issued to an Irish woman. See whytes.ie Easter may be associated with egg hunts, but its also peak season for house-hunting, and thats how many of us will be spending this bank holiday weekend. Thats stressful at the best of times, but an emotional roller coaster when there are severe shortages, rocketing prices and bidding wars. I had an insight into the pressures experienced by would-be buyers when I spoke to a friend who queued with her husband to buy an apartment in Dublin last weekend. When they arrived at 5am, there were already people ahead of them, including couples who had spent the night, taking turns to sleep in the car. We have a record number of homeless people and a generation that sees no hope of ever owning a home. Our two biggest native industries, tourism and agriculture, have been shamelessly undermined. We also seem to be keen on destroying our hugely important sense of community. We have a public service that is hugely inefficient and unaccountable. We have a dysfunctional health service, whose leadership we learnt from the Grace Report are unaccountable and seemingly above the law. We have well-paid planners who appear utterly incapable of planning for the future. Im not entirely sure how you should describe modern Ireland, but we seem to have moved a long way from the sensible, inclusive representative democracy we had until recent times. Gerry Kelly, Rathgar, Dublin 6 Those who say McGregor represents Ireland havent spoken to many women Ian ODoherty says there is an increasingly nagging suspicion that Conor McGregor might actually represent the people of Ireland (McGregor is no threat to democracy, so why does he trigger fear in our leaders?, Comment, April 16). Perhaps. However, I very much doubt if he is representing the women of Ireland. He certainly does not represent me. Anne James, Greyabbey, Co Down Many can write, but that doesnt mean they produce anything worth reading Regarding a recent letter writer who talked about the ebb and flow of getting published, I can only offer my own experience. Some years ago, when I had too much time on my hands, I counted 96 letters I had sent to an Irish newspaper. Three of them made the cut. In his 1946 essay entitled Why I Write, George Orwell lists four main motivations that make people put pen to paper egotism, aesthetic enthusiasm, historical impulse and political purpose. I fall into two of those categories. The reader, though, is the ultimate arbiter, and being published must always be viewed as a privilege. Tom McElligott, Listowel, Co Kerry Failure to challenge Israel for its dire acts leaves the world in a very dark place Bart D Daly made some valid points in relation to the Israeli government and its military actions in Gaza (Indifference towards the atrocities committed by Israel every day must end, Letters, April 17). It is astonishing that so-called free and democratic nations not only fail to condemn Israels actions, but actively support its government. The targeting of unarmed civilians, hospitals and medical staff is generally considered abhorrent and unacceptable. The same can be said for the blocking of basic food aid. However, this is exactly what Gaza has been subjected to, and the silence from the international community is deafening. Somehow, the Israeli government is allowed to continue these actions unchallenged. In my opinion, failure to act against Israel raises serious questions about the value of democracy in the free world. We should also remember other places where civilians are suffering terribly due to armed aggression, such as Sudan, Congo and Myanmar, to mention only a few. Michael Moriarty, Rochestown, Cork Easter is a time to spread kindness and hope in a troubled, violent world Easter means hope and the start of the spring and summer seasons. It is hard to see hope when there is so much barbarism in the world at the moment. It is sad to see the inaction of the United States to stop or put brakes on Israel firing missiles into Gaza. These attacks have killed tens of thousands of civilians in the last 18 months. Israel justifies its actions by saying it is targeting Hamas fighters. A recent missile attack killed six members of one family. The UN has completed its investigation into how a wealthy Middle Eastern country is continuing to illegally send arms to one group in a war in Sudan. Aid workers and children were killed in a recent attack by this group. Twelve million people in Sudan have had to flee their homes in the civil war there. The misery continues, and it is not only inflicted on humans. Undercover footage from an RTE Prime Time Investigates programme showed men in an Irish abattoir hitting and being cruel to a horse. Can it be called a clean sport when some of these horses end up as dog food? (Not all dog food contains horse meat, but some overseas brands do.) We dont think much about it. Horses are beautiful animals. At the very least, their lives should be ended in a humane way. In the Bible, it says God gave humans dominion over the Earth. This was intended to mean being a guardian of the Earth. I still find Easter to be one of my favourite times of the year and I wish a happy Easter to all readers. Mary Sullivan, College Road, Cork Tax discs on the way out but we can still use car windows to turn on charm Reports suggests that the traditional motor tax disc is to be phased out. I am reminded of a windscreen sticker on a friends car that stated: Youre looking very well, guard. I wont comment on the status of the accompanying tax disc in this instance. Tom Gilsenan, Beaumont, Dublin 9 Grace report shows us just how little was learned from past abuse scandals Another watery report costing millions of euro and holding no one to account that is what we got from the release of the Grace Report and its findings. That anyone in the Government can stand over this report, which took years to complete, is hard to believe. That Grace, a vulnerable child, was placed in a foster home where those in charge were unvetted and where allegations of abuse have been made is truly shocking. It took six years before Grace received a first visit from a social worker, which is deeply troubling. The safeguarding of children, after the many scandals of mother and baby homes, Magdalene Laundries and other institutional settings, is still nowhere near up to standard. Christy Galligan, Letterkenny, Co Donegal A cross-party Oireachtas group is leading calls for Shannon Airport to receive a higher distribution of flights in a bid to reduce Dublin Airports dominance over the Irish aviation sector. The Shannon Airport Oireachtas Group is advocating for legislative changes, along with increased state supports to bring infrastructural upgrades to the airport and promote increased air traffic on its runways. The group, which has met on two occasions thus far, consists of 24 Oireachtas members from Clare, Galway, Limerick and Tipperary and is chaired by Fianna Fail TD for Clare, Cathal Crowe. According to the latest CSO figures, 84% of flights in Ireland were handled by Dublin airport in 2024, with just 5% passing through Shannon around two million passengers. Among its aims, the group is calling for a rebalance of the passenger numbers, saying that Shannon Airport is well-equipped to handle higher volumes of air traffic without infrastructural upgrades. Furthermore, Deputy Crowe believes that the tourism industry has become tipped in Dublins favour, owing to the volume of passengers travelling through the capitals airport. He says that the group wants to see change from above to incentivise increased tourism numbers to the region and ultimately benefit the areas overall economy. We think that tourism policy needs to be reshaped a little bit. The trend has become that (tourists) fly to Dublin and take a day trip to the west of Ireland its photo stop tourism. You begin your day in Dublin, and you end your day in Dublin, but you stop at the Cliffs of Moher for a photo and go home again, he said. Follow Independent Clare on Facebook We would love to see the government and tourism bodies flip ending that. Why not have some of the tourism coming to the west and day tripping to the east? That would be more sustainable, I think it speaks to some of the debates that other countries like Spain and Italy are having this summer in terms of how they disperse their tourists to other regions to not have everyone flocking to Rome and Venice. On a different scale I think that debate needs to happen here in Ireland so that were not just funnelling the entire tourism population through Dublin and then day tripping them to the west. Shannon Airport Deputy Crowe says the benefits of increasing flights to and from Shannon would provide a boost to other sectors in the region. He feels the government should be looking to incentivise airlines to establish routes to major destinations from Shannon and believes it would be transformative for the airport. One way of doing that would be a reallocation of flight slots, which he says are not being rigidly enforced at present. Such a move would see airlines compelled to allocate a certain number of flights to other airports around the country. Deputy Crowe believes Shannon Airport has all the necessary tools to facilitate the extra traffic, saying: Its an open market, we would love to see Shannon at a point where it would have more inbound and outbound air traffic, and that needs to be considered by government, he said. Dublin airport has had a passenger cap imposed on it but Shannon, overnight, could double the number of passengers that it takes without changing a single piece of infrastructure - it has the best runway system and can take the largest aircraft in the country. Shannon is the first and most westerly airport in Europe, it has infrastructure that can cater for way more. Essentially, we would love to see Shannon grow and very little has to change in the airport for that to happen, but policy does have to change. A further focus for the group is addressing the airports exclusion from the Regional Airports Programme. The scheme provides state funding to regional airports but is currently only available to those with fewer than one million annual passengers, meaning that larger airports such as Shannon and Cork cannot avail of the additional income stream. Deputy Crowe hopes to see the airport become a permanent member of the programme, which is due for review by the Department of Transport in the coming months. For years, Shannon and Cork were unable to get any support from that scheme. During the Covid years, when there was far less aviation, Shannon and Cork were beneficiaries of that scheme, he said One of the aims of our committee would be that when the programme is reviewed, the passenger ceiling would be extended up to three million passengers. It would allow Shannon and Cork airports to have an annual state-provided funding scheme that they could put into improving infrastructure. When I talk about infrastructure, Im talking about baggage screening facilities, reclaim belts, arrival and departure halls and concession stores it allows them to modernise the airport and make it more attractive. Shannon is a state-owned national asset, and I think we should be sweating out our other national assets like Shannon and Cork before we open up the floodgates for Dublin to increase its position of dominance. Theres so much more that Shannon can do without costing the taxpayer any extra money. A large crowd is expected to gather in Kilshannig on Easter Monday, April 21 to remember a local hero who played a significant role in the Irish War of Independence. A commemoration will be held at 2pm in Kilshannig (near the graveyard) for IRA volunteer Eamon Waters who was shot dead by members of the British army at the Nadd ambush in 1921. Eamon Waters was a member of the Mallow Co 5th Battalion 4th Cork Brigade of the IRA. Fianna Fail TD for Cork North-West Michael Moynihan who was recently named as the Minister of State for Special Education and Inclusion will deliver the oration at the annual event. Eamon Waters was born into a farming backround in Bweeng. Mr Waters, who died at the age of 22, worked as a trainee butcher in Lucey's shop in Mallow. He was one of the four IRA volunteers killed when the Nadd based Brigade headquarters of the Cork No 2 Brigade was surrounded and attacked by British soldiers. The Boggeragh Mountains above Nadd village was the location of a republican training camp and became the scene of a huge British roundup in 1921. In late Feb 1921 Liam Lynch, commandant of the Cork No. 2 Brigade of the IRA, was forced by British activity in Lombardstown to move his brigade further west into the area of Nadd. A training camp had been operating there for some months and David Herlihy's farmhouse had become known as 'the barracks'. The Mallow and Kanturk columns were dispersed among local farmhouses. On March 10, 1921 British forces staged a major round-up. A party of British soldiers arrived unobserved to David Herlihy's house where Herlihy, Lieutenant Waters of Mallow Company, volunteers Timothy Kiely, Joseph Morgan and John Moloney were all sleeping, and were captured. They were all taken out the back to a field by the British soldiers and told to run. Morgan and Moloney dashed for liberty, both were wounded but escaped into the cover of the mountains. Waters, Kiely and Herlihy, however, were shot dead and bayoneted. Separately, Edward Twomey of Lacklown Company, a cow testing inspector who was at work, was shot dead running across a field. Patrick Fleming who helps to organise the annual commemoration said it is important to remember our history. A commemoration will be held for Captain Eamon Waters who was shot in the Nadd Ambush. Minister Michael Moynihan will be there and he will speak. It is good to remember our history. It should never be lost. It should be taught in the local school where he attended. Eamon Waters will always be remembered. The commemoration will take place on April 21 at 2pm, and all are welcome to attend. Luke Price was last seen OCurry Street, Limerick City at 9pm on January 14, 2025 three months later his family have set up a GoFundMe to revitalise efforts The t-shirt Luke wore when he was last seen The t-shirt Luke wore when he was last seen On January 14, 2025 Luke Price left OCurry Street in Limerick City at 9pm in what his family and partner described as a manic state. Concerned for his welfare, Lukes partner Danny Kenny and his brother Nathan Price immediately started searching for him and contacted Henry Street Garda Station to report him as a missing person. In an effort to mobilise a bigger search party, Nathan set up the Look for Luke Facebook group which has amassed almost two thousand members from across the country and is used to mobilise community search teams and share updates on possible sightings. Luke Price is described by his family as being 5ft 10 and of slim build with blue eyes and brunette hair, at the time of his disappearance the undersides of his hair were bleached blonde. When last seen, Luke was wearing a black jacket, a dark coloured jumper and blue jeans with black ankle boots. He is also understood to have been wearing a light pink t-shirt with the Siege of Limerick logo on it a medium dark blue font. The t-shirt Luke wore when he was last seen Lukes partner Danny told the Irish Independent about the night of his disappearance, they said: He suffers from mental health problems so it was a worry right away because he left in a manic state. "Immediately the river was ran too and Limerick Suicide Watch were contacted within an hour, probably closer to half an hour and the gardai were notified within 17 minutes that he was a missing person and that he had mental health problems and he could be a risk to himself. Danny, along with Nathan and Lukes sister-in-law Dorothy began looking for Luke in the city and separated to cover more area. Danny walked down along the river then to Arthurs Quay Park down through the back of the Hunt Museum before going to local pubs that they would frequent with Luke while Dorothy went to a few different pubs and Nathan was on his electric scooter searching the city. Follow Independent Limerick on Facebook From there, the search intensified as Danny explained the three of them began checking dumpsters, alleyways and any nook or cranny in the city including basement apartments where it was possible to look in over the fence. Danny said: We were hoping he just got a late night bus. Lukes brother Nathan said: Luckily being the people that we are we had a fairly good idea of how to start searching and narrowing down on things to look at so by the time we got to Missing Persons Ireland, they gave us a list and we kind of went oh, weve already done all of this. Nathan said: They had been working with my mother for therapy and just trying to help her understand things. "They have offered the same to me but I dont want it, Ill take it when we find him. Luke Price in Limerick city Oceann McCormack, a close friend of Nathan and Luke Price said: When we first contacted Missing Persons Ireland they did tell us that they themselves werent able to post about it until it had gone onto the gardai system until 72 hours after the fact of Luke having gone missing. Danny said: In recent months before he went missing he had run out of the house or else restaurants or pubs before but it was different this time. This week marks three months since Luke Price disappeared and speaking on the search presently, Nathan said: We dont have anything, its the same as the day he went missing, we have one confirmed image of him on OCurry Street leaving and thats it. The last confirmed sighting of Luke was captured on the night of his disappearance as he made his way downhill on OCurry Street at approximately 9pm. Danny said: He had his phone off, he turned his phone off within the first few minutes of leaving because I was blowing up his phone trying to get through to him. On April 17, 2025, three days after the three month anniversary of Lukes disappearance, gardai and members of the Civil Defence conducted a search at a section of wetlands on the Condell Road in the city along with search dogs. Nathan said: We found out through RTE about the search down the Condell Road, I got a message saying they havent found anything from it which isnt surprising given that we spent two or three days combing through there ourselves. The Condell Road area is Lukes favourite place in Limerick to walk around and so it was an area of interest to Lukes loved ones early on in their search efforts. Danny explained: Grassland and grassy areas were the first to come to mind, the problem was, the third day of him being missing, Storm Eowyn happened which was a red weather alert so the idea of...unfortunately...we all knew that if we are looking for a body, trees, anything could blow over and hide him. "So, its good to have people that are specialised but its been a long wait for it. Nathan said: The Civil Defence has only just been mobilised because its been three months but the county council wouldnt sign off on them being mobilised so its been done through an automatic process. He continued: Theres been plenty of people going missing all around the country and other county councils and various, I suppose government agents have mobilised straight away and found those people, why is it not the same for my brother? An older photo of Luke Price with short hair In an effort to revitalise search efforts in the local community and around the country, Lukes loved ones have organised for the return of the Tullamore Phoenix Festival in Lukes hometown and have set up a GoFundMe for the festival and to raise funds for the National Missing Persons Helpline. Festival organiser Oceann McCormack said: With the search being stagnated we wanted to do something to kind of bring about a bit of energy back to Look for Luke and in the best way we know how which is through music. "You really dont realise how underfunded and under appreciated things like the National Missing Persons Helpline is until you have to deal with them. Oceann said part of the reason they decided to fundraising for the helpline was because they only received 20,000 from the government when on average, 1,400 people go missing in the Republic of Ireland every year. Oceann explained: So, we wanted to do something to raise awareness, to help find Luke and also help in case this happens to anybody else again. The Tullamore Phoenix Festival takes place on Saturday, May 31, 2025 in John Lees Bar and Lounge which was Oceann, Nathan and Lukes local pub, Oceann said: It felt like a return to roots and the right place to do something like this. Oceann said that the GoFundMe will be used to cover overhead costs and to pay musicians with the rest of the proceeds and funds raised on the night all going to the National Missing Persons Helpline. Helplines: If you have been affected by the contents of this article, click here for more information. Ruby is taking on the 10k Regeneron Great Limerick Run to fund the trip and is accepting donations The general nursing student is preparing to travel over 7,000km to Arusha, Tanzania, where she will spend two weeks volunteering in a teaching hospital While most students spend their January break catching up on well-deserved sleep or binge-watching Netflix, 20-year-old Ruby Mulqueen, a University of Limerick student from Ardnacrusha, has set her sights on something a bit more ambitious. The second-year general nursing student is preparing to travel over 7,000km to Arusha, Tanzania, where she will spend two weeks volunteering in a teaching hospital. As part of her college placement, Ruby will shadow local nurses and doctors, assist with clinics, and help bring basic healthcare to underdeveloped areas. It really feels like such a privilege, she says. I really found nursing is a calling for me, and Ive always had a passion to help those in need and I cant wait to help in any way I can. The opportunity came through an external programme that works with Irish universities to provide student nurses with valuable international experience and the placement hours will count toward her degree. We have five weeks off in January, and we can spend two of those weeks doing our placements, and it counts for college, she explains. Then we dont have to do placements later on next year, which is great, she adds with a smile. Ruby and roughly 10 other students, mostly from the midwifery school, will spend their days rotating between hospital departments, observing patient care, and attending workshops. Well spend time in different hospital departments and attend lectures. We can choose between areas like midwifery or paediatrics, she says. Im hoping to do one week in general wards and one in paediatrics. Could be something I want to do down the line. In addition to hospital work, the group will also take part in community outreach. Well be doing things like screening for diabetes, high blood pressure, taking blood sugars and weight, and learning how to diagnose and treat tropical diseases like malaria, Ruby explains. Its going to be really interesting to see how healthcare is delivered in such a different setting, she adds. Cultural immersion is another aspect the young woman is eager to experience. The students will stay with host families in Arusha, getting a true taste of Tanzanian life. Theyll be feeding and watering us, Ruby laughs. Itll be interesting to immerse ourselves in the culture and try local cuisine too, she explains. Ruby says the experience is especially meaningful because of her familys history of volunteering. My mam used to go over to African countries the whole time. Shes actually been to Arusha before doing the same kind of work. So its kind of a dream come true for me to follow in her footsteps. Follow Independent Limerick on Facebook To help fund the trip, Ruby is taking on the 10k Regeneron Great Limerick Run. Training is going well, she says. Im running every other day and hitting the gym too, just having fun with it, nothing too hectic, she assures. Shes already raised over half her target thanks to generous support from friends, family, and the local community. Everyones been so good, she smiles, adding, From my family, friends, and even my peers in UL. People have been so generous, and they dont have to be. Its just so lovely. Ruby hopes that by sharing her story, more people will understand the impact of these kinds of volunteer programmes on the communities they serve. To be able to change somebodys life by bringing developed medicine to their world is life-changing, she says, Im still trying to get my head around it! She leaves for Arusha on January 8, 2026, and is eager to make her mark. Its such a good opportunity. Im delighted Im doing it. I wont know how much its going to affect me, or them, until Im there. But I really hope it makes a difference. Ruby is still accepting donations via GoFundMe to help fund her volunteer placement in Tanzania. A number of projects in County Sligo have been earmarked for funding under the 2025 Community Monuments Fund announced by Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne and Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher OSullivan. These grants help owners and custodians of archaeological monuments to safeguard them into the future. The awards granted as part of this years Community Monuments Fund comprised more than 370,934 for five projects in Sligo including: Aghanagh Church 100,000.00 Moygara Castle 100,000.00 Enniscrone Castle 118,671.50 Court Abbey 30,000.00 Killasbugrone Church & Graveyard 22,263.00 Local FG TD Frank Feighan said: I am delighted to see such a generous allocation for Sligo and in particular projects like Moygara Castle in South Sligo which I visited with former Minister, Malcolm Noonan where there is tremendous local work and support to protect and conserve this wonderful historic site. Minister Marian Harkin expressed particular pride in the allocation of the funding to the north-west region. She emphasised that this funding will not only conserve important archaeological sites, but also bolster local tourism, support traditional skills, and strengthen community identity. "These investments reflect the countys remarkable archaeological wealth and the continued efforts of local authorities and community groups to preserve it for future generations. County Leitrim has also secured an award of 30,000 for a conservation management plan at the Old Church of Ireland in Manorhamilton. This project will lay the groundwork for future preservation works, ensuring this important local landmark can be safeguarded in a sustainable and considered manner. Minister Harkin noted that these investments are especially timely in light of the growing risks posed by climate change to the built environment. The funding also plays a key role in sustaining employment for archaeologists, conservation specialists and craftspeople, as well as encouraging public engagement with local heritage. This is not just about preserving the past. Its about supporting our communities today and inspiring future generations with a deeper connection to where they come from, said Minister Harkin. Volunteers are being sought to take part in an archaeological excavation at one of the oldest parts of Sligo town in the summer. Building on all the work that has been carried out to date, the Green Fort Archaeology Project will begin archaeological excavations at the site in June 2025. The project will involve opening an excavation trench in the fort interior to investigate how the complex developed through time. We hope to gain an insight into the nature of the buildings, structures and features that once occupied the fort, thus shedding light on the lives of those stationed there during the 17th century. We will also investigate whether a ringfort was once located beneath the bastioned fort. Community participation and engagement will be a key component of the Green Fort Archaeology Project, through outreach events as well as community participation in the excavations, said a spokesperson. The Green Fort Archaeology Project will involve three weeks of excavation and post-excavation work, on-site and in the Archaeology Laboratory at ATU Sligo, from 220 June 2025. The excavation will be directed by Dr. Fiona Beglane (licence holder) and Dr. Marion Dowd. They are now seeking community volunteers for two and three day sessions funded by Sligo County Council. Those interested in being part of the Green Fort Archaeology Project, please write to: Marion Dowd, Faculty of Science, ATU Sligo. The closing date for completed Green Fort Excavation - Volunteer Application Forms is Friday 2nd May 2025. Link to Application Form - https://forms.gle/t1pxQZyQKddXFKss7 The Green Fort Archaeology Project was conceived in 2023 following discussions between ATU archaeologists Dr Fiona Beglane and Dr Marion Dowd, Sligo County Council, and the National Monuments Service. The focus of the project is to carry out an archaeological excavation at the 17th century bastioned fort known as the Green Fort, which is located on Fort Hill, in Rathquarter townland in Sligo town. This is one of 65 bastioned forts in Ireland and one of seven such sites in Co. Sligo. The medieval Annals of the Four Masters record the presence of an early medieval ringfort known as Raith da Briotocc at the location where the Green Fort now stands. The name may be an Anglicisation of Brittons Fort, though an alternative suggestion is that it means the Fort of the Stuttering Woman from briotog, meaning lisping woman. The Green Fort as it exists today was probably constructed during the Nine Years War (1594-1603). It became a strategic base during the Williamite Wars when it formed part of the defences of Sligo town. In 1689, the Jacobites were forced to abandon the Green Fort when the Williamites descended on Sligo with a party of 20,000 men. In October that year, under orders from James II, Sarsfield attacked the town and regained control. Colonel Henry Luttrell refortified the Green Fort and added additional outworks and defences. In June 1690, Sir Teige ORegan was appointed commander of the Jacobite forces in Sligo and added further defences to the fort. During the second siege of Sligo, in 1691, the Green Fort was attacked by Williamite forces. At this time, the fort had 16 cannons mounted on the defences and 30 barrels of gunpowder in the magazines. The garrison included officers, soldiers, gunners, gunsmiths, bakers and chaplains. The Green Fort was abandoned relatively soon after the Williamite Wars and was in a ruinous state by 1739. Several segments of ditches related to the 1689 Jacobite defensive works have been revealed by archaeological works in the town over the past 20 years. In 2017, Sligo County Council commissioned a conservation plan for the Green Fort to address the long-term preservation of the monument. One of the outcomes was that SCC commissioned geophysical surveys of the Green Fort. The surveys revealed a wealth of sub-surface features including sections of embankments, ditches and defences, pits and structures. A circular feature, about 25m in diameter, was identified in the centre of the monument, possibly the early medieval ringfort mentioned in the annals. The Green Fort is a significant place for the Forthill community. Since the 1980s, different community groups have celebrated the site through enactments of Williamite attacks, public lectures, and guided tours. The Northside Community Centre contains information and site photographs as well as a model of the fort as it would have appeared in the 17th century. The Forthill Community Mens Group have been particularly active in promoting knowledge of the monument. Recently, students from Mercy Primary School produced a booklet called Our Green Fort which is now locally available. The official launch of a major new electricity interconnector between Ireland and Wales took place this week in Enniscorthy, with the aim of helping to significantly improve energy security on both islands, increase market competition and provide additional export capacity. The Greenlink Interconnector, which was completed last year, links the Great Island substation in Co Wexford to the National Grids Pembroke substation in Pembrokeshire, Wales via two high voltage cables with a capacity of 500-megawatts enough to power 380,000 homes. Running more than 190km under the Irish Sea, the Greenlink Interconnector commenced its testing and commissioning phase at the end of last year following a three-year construction phase. With commissioning now fully complete, the Greenlink Interconnector commenced commercial operations on Wednesday, April 16 after being officially launched by Darragh OBrien, Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy during the ceremony in Enniscorthy. "A really significant day here in Enniscorthy. With the capacity to power up to 380,000 homes it is a critical piece of infrastructure that supports the integration of renewable energy, provides grid flexibility, and enhances energy support. Congratulations to all the team at Greenlink, he said. James OReilly, chief executive of Greenlink, said: The Greenlink team are very pleased to have delivered this critical infrastructure project into commercial operations. I would like to thank all the key stakeholders who played a part in bringing this project from the planning stage through to construction and now into commercial operations. The last number of years have shown it is vital for all European countries to have a diversified energy mix, and this interconnector will bring benefits for Ireland, Britain and the wider European community, he added. The new interconnector between Ireland and Wales will play a crucial role enhancing the energy security of both islands by diversifying sources, while it also facilitates greater electricity market competition and improves the integration of renewable energy onto the British and Irish power systems. Additionally, Greenlink will provide increased import and export capacity in both countries, which helps further integrate overall European energy markets. Pertners Group, one of the largest firms in the global private markets industry, recently agreed a deal to sell the newly completed Greenlink Interconnector to Baltic Cable AB, a European interconnector operator, and Equitix, a London-based infrastructure investor. Padraig McManus, chair of Greenlink, said: Its been a privilege to be chair of Greenlink Interconnector and to witness a project of this magnitude being taken from financing through to construction, and finally to full operations. Interconnectors like Greenlink will become critical infrastructure assets providing export capacity and further integration with the wider European energy market, he explained. A Wexford councillor accused the local authority of missing an opportunity to address major issues with speed in the villages along the N25 to Rosslare Europort. Speaking at the April meeting of Wexford County Council, Independent councillor Ger Carthy suggested that the local authority was spending over 2.6 million on roadworks in Killinick, Tagoat and Kilrane which will keep things exactly the same. Pointing towards a massive increase in HGV traffic making its way to Rosslare Europort along the N25 in recent years, Cllr Carthy has regularly called for traffic calming measures to slow the pace of traffic heading for the port. "Were essentially looking at spending 2.64 million to renew the current setup," he said. Were talking about the same road layouts, same signage etc. There's nothing in this to reduce speed and improve safety in Killinick for example. "Essentially, its 2.6 million to put everything back the way it was. Director of Services with responsibility for roads Eamonn Hore bristled at this suggestion. "Its not going back the way it was," he said. Were taking up the road because its ready to fall apart. With that will come drainage improvements and new road markings etc. This is the pavement scheme, which is essentially funding to fix the road before it falls apart. Fianna Fail councillor Lisa McDonald said that residents in Killinick were delighted with a 60kph zone that had been established at Killinick while roadworks are ongoing. The N25 at Killinick. "Is there any way to make that 60kph zone permanent? she asked. Also, I think we need to look at doing something around the Coalbunker in Drinagh, similar to what we've done in Barntown. Its not unprecedented. Mr Hore replied: Ill bring it up with TII (Transport Infrastructure Ireland), but I very much doubt theyll do anything. Sri Lankan nationals pictured at the celebration of the their New Year in Hotel Curracloe on Monday. Pic: Jim Campbell George Lawlor TD enjoying picking a selection of the food on display during the celebration of the Sri Lankan New Year in Hotel Curracloe on Monday. Pic: Jim Campbell Representatives from each group lit a candle at the celebration of the Sri Lankan New Year in Hotel Curracloe on Monday. Pic: Jim Campbell The Seneviratne family lit a candle at the celebration of the Sri Lankan New Year in Hotel Curracloe on Monday. Pic: Jim Campbell Mindulee Seneviratne speaking during the celebration of the Sri Lankan New Year in Hotel Curracloe on Monday. Pic: Jim Campbell Amali Seneviratne speaking during the celebration of the Sri Lankan New Year in Hotel Curracloe on Monday. Pic: Jim Campbell Guest of Honor George Lawlor TD addressing the attendance at the celebration of the Sri Lankan New Year in Hotel Curracloe on Monday. Pic: Jim Campbell A big crowd attended the celebration of the Sri Lankan New Year in Hotel Curracloe on Monday. Pic: Jim Campbell The agricultural group pictured at the celebration of the Sri Lankan New Year in Hotel Curracloe on Monday. Pic: Jim Campbell Mindulee and Amanda Seneviratne pictured during the celebration of the Sri Lankan New Year in Hotel Curracloe on Monday. Pic: Jim Campbell John Paul Hanrahan of Hotel Curracloe lit the second candle at the celebration of the Sri Lankan New Year in Hotel Curracloe on Monday. Pic: Jim Campbell The group pictured at the celebration of the Sri Lankan New Year in Hotel Curracloe on Monday. Pic: Jim Campbell Guest of Honor George Lawlor TD lit the first candle at the celebration of the Sri Lankan New Year in Hotel Curracloe on Monday. Pic: Jim Campbell There was a wonderful atmosphere at Hotel Curracloe on Monday as the local Sri Lankan community hosted a colourful celebration to mark the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. A vibrant cultural celebration, the event marks the beginning of a new year and is traditionally a big occasion in Sri Lanka, with people gathering together to celebrate, reflect and look forward. This years event brought Sri Lankans from right across Ireland to beautiful Wexford for a day of traditional music, food, games and performances, all contributing to a wonderful atmosphere on the day. The group pictured at the celebration of the Sri Lankan New Year in Hotel Curracloe on Monday. Pic: Jim Campbell Labour TD George Lawlor was in attendance as a special guest of the organisers and he commended the Sri Lankan community for their contribution to Irelands cultural diversity. He thoroughly enjoyed the festivities and thanked the organisers for the warm welcome he received. Those behind the event also wished to extend their heartfelt thanks to Hotel Curracloe owner John Paul Hanrahan and his staff for their incredible support, hospitality, and generosity in hosting the celebration. Amelie McAndrew, from Temple Carrig School, Greystones and her mum, Claire, with the prizewinning work entitled Beach Day. Photo: Mac Innes Photography/Justin Mac Innes. A fitting artwork by a Co Wicklow student, titled Beach Day, which features an arresting scream of a child, has won third prize in this years Texaco Childrens Art Competition. The piece was among nine artworks submitted from Wicklow students to win top prizes in what is the 71st year of the competition. Amelie McAndrew (17), a student at Temple Carrig School in Greystones, came third in the 16-18 age category, for her work which was described as impressive by the judges. Commenting on her piece, Irish visual artist, curator and educator Pauline O'Connell, said: Amelie utilises two perspectives (the subject looks up and we look down at her) along with impressive foreshortening, cold pink skin tones and expressive brushwork she captures the tenseness of the pose and arresting scream of the child. Amelie McAndrew, from Temple Carrig School, Greystones and her mum, Claire, with the prizewinning work entitled Beach Day. Photo: Mac Innes Photography/Justin Mac Innes. In addition, eight Wicklow winners each won Special Merit Awards for artworks that Ms OConnell said displayed high levels of skill and creativity. Oisin Briggs's artwork. Zack Waldron's artwork. They were: Zack Waldron (17), a pupil at Arklow CBS.; Eala Ni hAaimhirgin (16) from Gaelcholaiste na Mara, Arklow; Oisin Briggs (13) from Greystones Community College; Rita Ruitong Chen (11) from Ravenswell Primary School, Bray; Iris May Dunne (7) from Gaelscoil Chill Mhantain, Rathnew; Siomha Foley (6) from Scoil Chualann, Bray; Blake Balfe (13), from All Saints' National School, Carnew; and Caelum Hanway (15) from Newcourt School, Bray. The piece by Rita Ruitong Chen. Caelum Hanway's artwork. The Texaco Childrens Art Competition is popularly regarded as the longest-running sponsorship in the history of arts sponsoring in Ireland, with an unbroken run that dates back to the very first competition held in 1955. Blake Balfe's artwork. Wicklow students have consistently performed well at the competition and have had their talents recognised and their creativity commended. Eala Ni hAaimhirgin's artwork. Last year, a prizewinning artwork by Wicklow student Martyna Gabriel, from Dominican College Wicklow, was chosen to illustrate the 2025 Texaco Childrens Art Competition Calendar. And in 2023, Colaiste Bhride student Aidan Bolger received acclaim for his portrait of the late Charlie Bird titled Charlie Bird An Uphill Struggle. Siomha Foleys piece for Texaco Children's Art 2025. A Status Orange rain warning for one county and a Status Yellow rain warning for 11 counties bringing heavy rain and localised flooding is now underway. Met Eireann has issued a Status Orange rain warning for Wicklow until 11am tomorrow morning, bringing spells of heavy rain and localised flooding. It was upgraded at 10.30am from an earlier status yellow warning which was issued for the county. The national forecaster has also issued a Status Yellow warning for Carlow, Dublin, Kilkenny, Louth, Wexford, and Waterford from 6am this morning until 6am tomorrow. Meanwhile, Cork and Kerry are both under a Status Yellow rain warning, from 11pm last night until 9pm tonight. While further west, Clare, Galway and Mayo are also under a Status Yellow rain warning until 9pm tonight. Overall, today will be wet and breezy day as widespread showery rain continues. The rain will be heavy at times and may cause localised flooding. Highest temperatures today will be between 8 to 12 degrees with strong winds at times expected near the west coast. Tonight will be wet with showery rain persisting, with lowest temperatures of 6 to 10 degrees. Stock image of rain: Getty Today's News in 90 Seconds - April 18th It will be a dull and damp start to the day tomorrow as the rain continues. As we go through the morning the rain will become lighter and patchy as it begins to clear northwestwards. Drier conditions will develop for most areas through the day, although it will remain quite cloudy. Highest temperatures of 8 to 13 degrees are expected, dropping to 6 to 9 degrees overnight. There is some uncertainty in the forecast for Easter Sunday, but current indications suggest outbreaks of light rain which will clear for occasional sunny spells and rain showers. Cloudy conditions look to build from the west in the afternoon with rain following. Highest temperatures between 11 and 15 degrees are forecast, down to 5 to 9 degrees overnight. Rain will clear from the northeast on Easter Monday morning and will be followed by sunny spells and showers. And Tuesday will see a mix of sunshine and showers spreading from the Atlantic. Trump suggests September date being set for UK visit US President Donald Trump said he was a friend of Charles and had great respect for him US President Donald Trump suggested he could visit the UK in September (Niall Carson/PA) Nina Lloyd Press Association Fri 18 Apr 2025 at 07:36 Donald Trump has suggested a date for September is being set for him to meet the King of Britain. Highlights of Xi's remarks during his visit to Cambodia Xinhua) 16:34, April 18, 2025 PHNOM PENH, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday concluded his state visit to Cambodia. During his visit, Xi held talks with key Cambodian leaders, including Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, Cambodian People's Party President and Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, and Cambodian Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk. The following are some of the highlights of Xi's remarks during the visit. ON TIES AND COOPERATION -- Bilateral ties were forged and nurtured by the elder generations of leaders of the two countries. China-Cambodia relations have withstood the test of global transformations and always remained rock-solid. -- China and Cambodia share a millennia-old friendship, with their people having always striven together and thrived together. Regardless of changes in the international landscape, China and Cambodia have stood by each other in good faith and with mutual assistance, offering unwavering support on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns. -- China will, as always, support Cambodia in following a development path that suits its national conditions, support the Cambodian government's successful governance of the country, and back Cambodia in playing a more important role in international and regional affairs. -- The two sides should deepen practical cooperation across various fields, advance the construction of Cambodia's Industrial and Technological Corridor and Fish and Rice Corridor, and strengthen collaboration in energy, transportation and other key sectors, enabling Cambodia to share more in China's development opportunities. -- The people of the two countries should enhance mutual understanding and friendly feelings for each other, and promote exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese and Cambodian civilizations. ON ALL-WEATHER CHINA-CAMBODIA COMMUNITY WITH SHARED FUTURE IN NEW ERA -- China and Cambodia have always been at the forefront of building a community with a shared future for mankind, bringing tangible benefits to the Cambodian people. -- China and Cambodia have supported each other in maintaining stability and promoting development and prosperity, and worked together in upholding international fairness and justice, setting an example for a new type of international relations while contributing to building a community with a shared future for mankind. -- Under the new circumstances, China and Cambodia should cherish and carry forward the ironclad friendship jointly forged by the elder generation of Chinese leaders and King Father Norodom Sihanouk, endow the China-Cambodia community with a shared future with new connotations of the time, serve the development of their respective countries and the well-being of their people, and make greater contributions to building a community with a shared future with neighboring countries and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. -- The two sides should keep in mind the well-being of their people and the progress of humanity, strive to set an example for building a community with a shared future for mankind in the course of advancing their respective modernization endeavors, and join hands to become forces for peace, stability and progress in a world undergoing profound transformations unseen in a century. -- At present, changes unseen in a century are accelerating. Deepening the building of the China-Cambodia community with a shared future is fully in line with the fundamental interests of the two peoples. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Ukrainians and Europeans plead Kyivs case in talks with US envoys Delegation looks for Donald Trump to take a tougher line with Moscow Emmanuel Macron shakes hands with Marco Rubio as Steve Witkoff looks on at the Elysee Palace in Paris. Photo: Reuters Elizabeth Pineau Fri 18 Apr 2025 at 03:30 French president Emmanuel Macron welcomed US secretary of state Marco Rubio and US president Donald Trumps envoy Steve Witkoff in Paris yesterday as European and Ukrainian officials sought to plead Kyivs case over the war in Ukraine. Aid groups struggle to function amid Israeli attacks as Gaza children starve Family of 10 among 23 killed in air strikes as food and water almost used up Mourners weep over the body of a Palestinian killed by an Israeli strike on a UN-run school that was sheltering displaced people in the northern Gaza Strip. Photo: Reuters Wafaa Shurafa Press Association Fri 18 Apr 2025 at 03:30 Aid groups are raising new alarm over Israels blockade of the war-ravaged Gaza Strip, where it has barred entry of all food and other goods for more than six weeks. Thousands of children have become malnourished, and most people are barely eating one meal a day as stocks dwindle , the United Nations says. Proposal was at an advanced stage before intervention Donald Trump thwarted an Israeli plan to launch a military assault on Irans nuclear facilities, it has been disclosed. Israel had reached an advanced stage of planning a multi-day bombing campaign that could have been launched as early as May, and its leaders were hoping for both a green light and active support from America. LATEST | Menendez brothers resentencing hearing paused over governors risk report The brothers were sentenced in 1996 to life in prison without the possibility of parole for fatally shooting their parents Jose and Kitty Menendez Erik Menendez, left, and Lyle Menendez (California Department of Corrections via AP) Jamie Ding and Andrew Dalton Press Association Fri 18 Apr 2025 at 08:19 A US judge has paused a resentencing hearing to determine whether Erik and Lyle Menendez deserve reduced sentences and the chance of freedom nearly 30 years after they were convicted of murdering their parents. Trump administration orders Gaza-linked social media vetting for visa applicants New order sent to all US diplomatic missionsSocial media vetting includes NGO workersTrump administration has already revoked hundreds of visas US president Donald Trump is playing fast and loose with the global economic situation. Photo: Reuters Humeyra Pamuk Reuters Fri 18 Apr 2025 at 09:29 The Trump administration on Thursday ordered a social media vetting for all U.S. visa applicants who have been to the Gaza Strip on or after January 1, 2007, an internal State Department cable seen by Reuters showed, in the latest push to tighten screening of foreign travellers. We will fight back Canadian leader tells nation Trump tariff war can help domestic trade Mark Carney made his case to Canadians in his latest bid to retain power at the English election debate on Thursday Liberal leader Mark Carney makes a point towards Conservative rival Pierre Poilievre during the debate in Montreal (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press/AP) Rob Gillies Press Association Fri 18 Apr 2025 at 07:43 Prime Minister Mark Carney has said he will cut out the red tape for internal, domestic trade for Canadian businesses while dealing with US President Donald Trump. Since 1963, The Independent has helped create a great community! Since our founding in September of 1963, The Independent has been dedicated to giving Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, and Sunol readers the news they need to be in-the-know about what's going on in the Tri-Valley region. Samsung One UI 7 to roll out in India soon: With Samsung preparing to release One UI 7, its next major software upgrade, Indian Samsung consumers have something to look forward to. Samsung keeps improving the user experience with every significant update by adding new features, enhancing security, and improving speed. You can get the most out of your Galaxy device by keeping up with the rollout schedule, regardless of whether you're a tech expert or a casual smartphone user. It is anticipated that Samsung will update a number of its devices with a more intelligent and smooth UI this time. We can answer any questions about whether your device is on the list and when you might receive the update. Continue reading to learn about India's approved devices and the full deployment schedule. Smartphones to get Samsung One UI 7 in India Through the Samsung Members app, tipster Tarun Vats has revealed screenshots that appear to have been taken from a Samsung official and corroborate the One UI 7 deployment in India. April 2025: Galaxy S24, S24+, S24 Ultra, Galaxy Z Flip6 and Z Fold6 May 2025: Galaxy S23 series (including the S23 FE), S24 FE, S22 lineup, Z Flip5, Z Fold5, Z Flip4, Z Fold4, Z Flip3, Z Fold3 5G, Galaxy Tab S10+, Tab S10 Ultra, Galaxy Tab S9 lineup, and Tab S8 lineup June 2025: Galaxy Tab S9 FE, Galaxy Tab S9 FE 5G, Galaxy Tab S9 FE+, Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ 5G, Galaxy A16 5G, Galaxy A35 5G, Galaxy A55 5G, Galaxy F16 5G, Galaxy M16 5G, Galaxy M35 5G, Galaxy M55 5G, Galaxy A34 5G, Galaxy A54 5G, Galaxy F15 5G, Galaxy M15 5G, Galaxy A25 5G, Galaxy F55 5G, Galaxy M55s 5G, Galaxy A05s, Galaxy A15 5G, Galaxy A73 5G, Galaxy F05, Galaxy F34 5G, Galaxy F54 5G, Galaxy M05, Galaxy M34 5G, Galaxy Tab A9+ 5G, Galaxy A14, Galaxy A14 5G, Galaxy A33 5G, Galaxy A53 5G, Galaxy F14, Galaxy M14, Galaxy Tab A9+, Galaxy A06, Galaxy XCover7, Galaxy F14 5G, Galaxy M14 5G, Galaxy M33 5G, Galaxy M53 5G July 2025: Galaxy Tab A9 How to resume the Samsung One UI 7 update? One UI 7 starts rolling out to more Galaxy S24 devices | Credit: Canva Through the Samsung Members app, tipster Tarun Vats has revealed screenshots that appear to have been taken from a Samsung official and corroborate the One UI 7 deployment in India. South Korean owners of the Samsung Galaxy S24, S24+, S24 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold6, Z Fold 6 SE, and Flip6 are receiving the One UI 7 upgrade (build version ending with BYD9), according to tipster Tarun Vats. Due to a lock screen fault that prevented some customers from unlocking their phones following the upgrade, Samsung had previously halted the distribution. Therefore, before you start the upgrade process, make sure you turn off the lock screen protection on your Galaxy phone as a precaution. Go to Settings > Lock Screen and AOD > Screen lock type to accomplish this. Enter your current pattern, PIN, or lock screen password. Select "None." Later, you can alter this. Note: We are unsure if users who updated before the pause are receiving this new build. Indian Galaxy customers have not yet received the update. For the latest and more interesting tech news, keep reading Indiatimes Tech. Anambra State Police Command has arrested six suspects for allegedly using sick persons to beg for financial support from members of the public. In a statement on Thursday, the Commands Spokesman, Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed that the suspects were arrested in an uncompleted building located at Isu Village, Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area of the state. Ikenga added that security agents also recovered six mobile phones and N82,400 in N50, N100 and N200 denominations. It was gathered that four sick persons, who appeared to be suffering from brain tumours, breast cancer, and other terminal illnesses, were rescued from the scene and taken into custody. The statement reads: A joint security team comprising police officers from Oba Divisional Police Headquarters and Anambra Vigilante operatives, on April 16, at 6:30 pm, raided an uncompleted building at Isu Village, Oba, and arrested six suspects who allegedly hired sick persons to beg for alms from members of the public. The suspects are Doris Basil (female), aged 28; Peter Ezedike (male), aged 38; Susan Monday (female), aged 27; Ogechi Okoro (female), aged 27; Solomon Sunday (male), aged 29; and Kenneth Achi (male), aged 29. READ MORE: Anambra Police Arrest 10 Suspects, Rescue Four Kidnapped Victims The operatives also recovered six mobile phones and 82,400 in denominations of 50, 100, and 200, and took into safe custody four sick persons, who appeared to be suffering from brain tumours, breast cancer, and other terminal illnesses. The operatives provided first aid to the sick persons and sought higher medical intervention for their treatment and safe return to their various homes. The CP noted that it is a felony carrying a potential penalty of three years imprisonment, and expressed concern about the level of moral decay in individuals who exploit sick persons for personal gain. He further directed the immediate interrogation of the relatives of the sick persons to ascertain their culpability. All the suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of the investigations. National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Ganduje, has expressed confidence that his party will takeover Federal Capital Territory in the 2027 general elections. Ganduje vowed that APC will not only re-elect President Bola Tinubu but will also capture the only senatorial seat, occupied by Labour Partys Ireti Kingibe, including two House of Representatives seats in the FCT. Speaking on Thursday in Abuja while receiving some defectors from Peoples Democratic Party, Ganduje noted that the political dynamics had changed and the APC now had over 60% of the FCT under its control. Advertisement READ MORE: Were Loyal To APC, Tinubu CPC Members The former governor of Kano State while addressing the crowd said that APC is set to produce the only senator in the nations capital and two members of Reps. He said: Ladies and gentlemen, as part of that Renewed Hope Agenda, today we have started seeing that FCT will be converted to the APC. Today we have a great political giant, we have the Chairman of AMAC, which is the most popular local government in the Federal Capital Territory. The chairman with all his elected councilors, with all his appointees, with all the politicians from PDP, they have decided to come to our great party, the APC. He has come with his thousands of supporters. Also, we have decampees from Bwari Area Council. We have decampees from Kuje Area Council, we have decampees from Abaji Area Council, we have decampees from Kwali Area Council, we have decampees from Gwagwala Area Council. Almost all the politicians, all the people, more than 60% of the Federal Capital Territory, is now APC. President Bola Tinubu has called on Nigerians to remain hopeful, united, and resilient as the country go through economic and security challenges. Tinubu led this out in a statement to mark Good Friday, two days to the Easter celebrations. Reacting to insecurity challenges facing the country, the former governor of Lagos State noted that he was saddened by the recent killings in some parts of Nigeria, adding that he had directed security operatives to decisively end the unrest without delay. Advertisement He said: The recent tragic incidents and the loss of lives in some parts of our country deeply saddened me. I understand the pain and fear these incidents have caused. Let me assure you that my administrations resolve to restore peace and security remains unshakable. Forces of evil will never prevail over our country. I have given clear directives to the Armed Forces and all relevant security agencies to end insecurity decisively and without delay. With the unwavering courage and commitment of our gallant men and women in uniform, we are turning the tide and making steady progress in reclaiming peace and stability. READ MORE: Tinubu Has Surpassed My Expectations Afenifere Leader As President of our blessed nation, I draw inspiration from this timeless message of hope and renewal. I remain steadfast in my commitment to delivering the promise of a Renewed Hope, a better, more just, and prosperous Nigeria for all. The Holy Week, which spans Palm Sunday through Holy Thursday and Good Friday and culminates in Easter Sunday, calls us to reflect deeply on the enduring values of sacrifice, redemption, love, and hope. We understand the economic challenges many of you are facing, and we are working tirelessly to restore investor confidence, stabilise key sectors, and build an inclusive economy that serves the interests of all Nigerians. During this Easter, we join the global Christian community in thanking God for Pope Franciss recovery. We pray that his renewed strength continues to inspire his leadership and service to humanity. I earnestly pray that Easters spirit fills every heart and home with renewed faith in the immense possibilities ahead of us as a nation. Just as Christ triumphed over death, so too shall our country triumph over every challenge we face. The present moment may be cloudy, but it will usher in a glorious day. Popular Nigerian stand-up comedian, Oluwaseyitan Lawrence Aletile, better known as Seyi Law, has declared that he will never support Peter Obis presidential ambition. He said his decision is based on Obis failure to call the Obidient movement to order. In a recent interview on the Teju Babyface podcast shared on Instagram on Thursday, Seyi Law recounted how Obidients attacked his wife and children over his support for President Bola Tinubu. Advertisement READ MORE: Only Prostitutes Use Passwords On Their Phones In Marriage Lege Miami He expressed frustration over Peter Obis refusal to admit that his supporters, known as Obidients, targeted individuals who didnt align with his candidacy. According to Seyi Law: I dont feel down at all because when you talk too much, I swear for you. One of the good things that God has done for me is that my anger doesnt last long. Personal anger for me doesnt last long. The only place it lasts long is when you leave me and attack my children, mother, and wife. The moment you cross that boundary from me to my children, mother, and wife there is no forgiveness. That is why there is nothing on earth that Peter Obi can do that will make me support him. They (Obidients) attacked my children and my wife. As long as Peter Obi will not call them to order and he keeps denying that they are doing that, he will never get my support. Let Peter Obi wear the garment of Jesus Christ today he will never get my support. Hate or love me, my personal way of life is between me and God. Any organization that does not support free thinking is a cult. In a recent media appearance in Abuja on Friday, Nyesom Wike, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory and former Governor of Rivers State, explained his decision to back Bola Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election, while withholding support for Peter Obi of the Labour Party. Wike revealed that his decision to support Tinubu was driven by a pragmatic political analysis, rather than social media influence or public sentiment. According to Wike, he did not view Obi as a serious contender for the presidency, expressing doubts about the Labour Party candidates ability to secure victory. Advertisement He stated, He had no chance of winning the election; you people like this kind of social media candidate. I dont do social media candidates. I sit down as a politician and analyse candidates who are likely to win an election. The former Rivers State governors remarks shed light on the internal calculations of politicians during elections and the factors that influence their endorsements. Despite Obis strong following, particularly on social media, Wike believed that Tinubu was the more viable candidate in the race. Its worth recalling that Tinubu, the candidate supported by Wike, emerged victorious in the 2023 presidential election, defeating Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party and Peter Obi. Following the election, Tinubu appointed Wike to serve as a minister in his administration. Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has debunked claims suggesting he has dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Social Democratic Party (SDP). In response to growing rumours of a quiet defection, Malami reaffirmed his loyalty to the APC, stating that his political decisions are not made in secrecy. He emphasized that any future political move would be made openly, as befits his public stature. The clarification was made in a statement issued on Friday by his media aide, Mohammed Bello Doka, who maintained that Malami is still firmly rooted in the APC. Advertisement However, Doka noted that Malami is currently in discussions with multiple political stakeholders, hinting at possible strategic alignments ahead of future political contests. Doka said, Malami is a prominent figure in Nigeria, therefore, cannot defect to any party in secret, he is still in APC but in a broad consultations with different platforms. Until the consultations are over, it is premature to talk about defection or declaration of interest. He also disclosed that Malami remains actively involved in politics and will make a public declaration when the time is right. Despite the speculations, there appears to be no immediate plan for Malami to exit the APC. The statement further reinforced Malamis constitutional right to join any political party of his choice or vie for elective office, particularly in his home state, Kebbi. This comes as political realignments intensify across the country ahead of the 2027 general elections. A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Kabala Doki, Kaduna State has remanded four personnel of Kaduna State Vigilance Service in prison over murder of a secondary school student in the state. It was gathered that the local security agents, identified as Timothy Abba, Joseph Ogoni, Bulus Adamu, and Francis Adamu, allegedly killed one Ahmed Musa, an SS2 student of Government Technical College Malali, Kaduna North Local Government Area. Musa was said to have been killed on 16th February 2025. Advertisement The defendants were accused of criminal conspiring and negligence which caused the death of the student. The Chief Magistrate, Justice Naheed Ibrahim Abdulhamid, in his judgement on Thursday, ordered that the four defendants be remanded in a correctional facility. The case was subsequently adjourned until the 27th of May 2025. Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, has called for a new generation of leadership in Nigeria. Hazmat said that the country is in need of leaders who can prioritises national development and integrity during his or her time in public office. The Deputy Governor led this out on Thursday, at the second edition of the Lagos Leadership Summit, organised by Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy, Advertisement Mr. Hazmat said that Nigerias progress depends on cultivating leaders with integrity, courage, vision, and a genuine commitment to public service. He stressed that effective leadership must create a compelling national vision grounded in ethical governance, truth, and service. READ MORE: Natasha: Senate Passes Vote Of Confidence In Akpabios Leadership Hazmat said: Nigeria needs true statesmen whose claim to statesmanship is not based on the length of time spent in office, but on their tangible contributions to building a strong and viable nation. Action and words must be the same, and information must be truthful and reflect compassion. While there are many comments about the failure of leadership, followers, too, must be ready for change. The days of accepting pittance for votes must be over. The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has uncovered five illicit crude oil dumps in the Jahi/Katampe area of Abuja. This was revealed in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by the NSCDC Spokesperson, Afolabi Babawale. Seven people connected to the illicit production and distribution of crude oil were also confirmed to have been arrested by the corps. Advertisement READ MORE: Three Suspects Arrested Over Kidnapping In Benue The NSCDC stated that the Commandant Generals Special Intelligence Squad also seized trucks filled with stolen Automotive Gas Oil from the suspects. The corps revealed that a white truck with three compartments, carrying 45,000 litres of AGO and an unverifiable waybill, was found at the illegal dump. In addition, four Mercedes-Benz short peddler trucks and several other vehicles were confiscated. Pumping machines, different-sized hoses, Mikano generator, approximately 23 surface metallic constructed tanks with some containing large quantities of suspected AGO, a container shelter amongst other exhibits, were also impounded. The NSCDC stated that the arrests made by the CGs SIS demonstrated the corps commitment to relentlessly targeting crude oil thieves throughout the federation. He mentioned that the suspects would be prosecuted to set an example and deter other criminals. (NAN) Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Ademola Adeleke of Osun State have commenced a collaborative initiative aimed at resolving persistent boundary tensions between their states, which have been a source of unrest in recent weeks. The two leaders met privately in Ibadan earlier this week, following mounting reports of attacks and retaliations in villages situated along the disputed borderlines of Lagelu (Oyo State) and Iwo (Osun State). Concerns over the security situation had been previously raised by the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, who identified several affected communities within his domain and urged both governments to consult the 1991 boundary demarcation for a peaceful settlement. In a statement issued on Thursday. by Governor Adelekes spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, it was revealed that both governors instructed their deputies to visit the flashpoints and engage with traditional rulers and local stakeholders. The two governors met during the week and resolved to take immediate actions, including a directive to the deputy governors of both states to meet and visit the disputed areas, Rasheed stated. The deputies are expected to lead fact-finding missions to the volatile communities and promote dialogue among residents. Additionally, the governors warned against further hostilities and emphasized that any conflict must be addressed through lawful channels. Further attention will also be given to other long-standing border disputes involving Orolu and Ogbomoso regions. Although the National Boundary Commission has previously surveyed the areas, its final report remains pending creating room for confusion and escalating tensions. Communities on both sides have accused each other of initiating attacks, with residents calling for swift and decisive action to prevent further bloodshed. Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams has warned bloggers, content creators and social media users, causing disunity between Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi and other traditional rulers in South West. He told exercise restraint in their reportage and cautioned them in developing content for their various platforms, without heating up the polity. Mr. Gani made this known in an address at the Oke Badan Festival 2025, held at the Mapo Hall, Ibadan on Thursday. Advertisement He said: I have watched with dismay the recent unnecessary comparison being drawn between the Alaafin of Oyos stool and that of the Ooni of Ife, with respect to which one is senior to the other by bloggers and some online media platforms. READ MORE: Gani Adams Tasks South-West Govs To Tackle Banditry Before It Escalates Let me reiterate that both traditional stools and the revered royal imperial majesties occupying them are two main prominent Obas in Yorubaland and globally. I specially appeal to bloggers across the region and in the country not to publish content that is capable of creating disunity among our traditional rulers and the respected traditional institutions. I plead with you all to be measured in your reportage and be cautious in developing content for your various platforms, without heating up the polity. I specially appeal to bloggers across the region and in the country not to publish content that is capable of creating disunity among our traditional rulers and the respected traditional institutions. I plead with you all to be measured in your reportage and be cautious in developing content for your various platforms, without heating up the polity. National Leader of the Pan Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti has commended President Bola Tinubu for his moves and actions aimed at improving the country. Speaking on Thursday during a visitation paid by Wife of the President, Oluremi Tinubu in his Akure residence in Ondo State, Pa Fasoranti prayed for Gods continued guidance for the President. The 98 year-old elder in a statement by First Ladys media assistant, Busola Kukoyi, noted that the President had indeed surpassed his expectations. Pa Fasoranti also commended First Lady for the support she continually gives the President through her Renewed Hope Initiative as she continues to take its dividends round the country. The statement partly reads: Elder statesman commends President Tinubu, as First Lady Oluremi Tinubu pays him a visit in Akure, Ondo State. READ MORE: Afenifere Not In Support Of August 1 Protest, Ignore Adebanjo Fasoranti Faction He noted that the President had indeed surpassed his expectations and prayed for Gods continued guidance of the President. The First Lady, Senator Oluremi who noted that the visit was an informal one to convey the Presidents warm regards to a man she and the President considers a father figure is on the sideline of her 2-day visit to the State to hand over Professional Kits to Midwives in the South West Zone of Nigeria. Earlier Senator Oluremi Tinubu met with the over 60 Traditional Rulers in the State led by the Deji of Akure Kingdom, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi Ogunlade who stood in for the Chairman of the Council, Olowo of Owo. The traditional Rulers who were full of encomiums for President Bola Tinubu and the First Lady assured that they will take the message of the Renewed Hope Initiative on heightened testing for Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, prevention/ treatment of these diseases and end to stigmatization to all their subjects. The Ondo State Traditional Council also threw their weight behind the President for a second term in office. Former lawmaker representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, has warned President Bola Tinubu to avoid tribal favouritism in his administration. INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that Sani claim is coming, amid heavy criticism facing Tinubus government, particularly by northern politicians, who believe that his appointments are largely made in favour of his home region, the southwest. Speaking during an interview on Thursday, via Channels Television, Sani countered the nepotism allegation against Tinubu, arguing that former president Muhammadu Buharis administration was worse in terms of favouritism. He recalled that during the ex-presidents administration, about 30 federal appointments were given to people from Katsina, Buharis state Sani said: It is clear the nation has a very short memory, and then we simply forget what happened the last time Buhari was in power. What was the profile of nepotism at that time? READ MORE: Were Loyal To APC, Tinubu CPC Members The DG of SSS, Daura was from Katsina state, the DG of NIA, Rufai was from Katsina state, the MPA, my sister Hadiza, shes from Katsina state, Director of Federal Mortgage Bank, Katsina state, SMEDAN, Katsina state, FRCN Katsina state, NIMET Katsina state, NIMASA Katsina state, Railway Corporation, Katsina state, all those things, you dont talk of Chairman of federal civil service about 30 (of them) We dont have time, I can state all of them. All from Katsina state. At a certain time in this country, the Controller General of Immigration, which is Babendede, is from northern Nigeria. Customs, Hamid Ali is from northern Nigeria, Civil Defense, Audi is from northern Nigeria, Chairman of Federal Road Safety Corps is from northern Nigeria. Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba is from northern Nigeria, the Chief of Nava staff, the Chief of Army Staff, theyre all from northern Nigeria. We have had all these things here, and you have never had any person from the south of part of the country raising issues. He cautioned Tinubu, urging him not to fall into the same patterns of favouritism that have marred past governments. Sani added: That will say that President Asiwaju should also be very careful. He shouldnt toe that line because it has been in African political geography. So people who find themselves in power should see it as an opportunity to serve, not as all those who have conquered and as such have to please their people. The Katsina State Police Command has arrested two suspects involved in the illegal trade of tramadol, recovering a large quantity of the drug valued at 3,500,000.00. The arrest was part of ongoing efforts to tackle substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in the region. In a statement provided to newsmen on Thursday, the Command Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police Abubakar Sadiq, explained that the arrest was made following credible intelligence. Advertisement READ MORE: Three Suspects Arrested Over Kidnapping In Benue On March 20, 2025, at about 1600 hrs, based on credible intelligence, operatives of the command traced and arrested one Murtala Salisu, male, age 27, of Bare-bari village, Safana LG, Katsina State, in possession of 2,084 sachets of suspected tramadol tablets. During interrogation, the suspect confessed to having gotten the illicit drugs from one Rabe, m. (not real name) from Nassarawa State. He further mentioned one Tanimu Abubakar, m, of Jibia LGA, Katsina State, as his accomplice. The suspects were arrested, and they both confessed to the commission of the offence. Investigation is ongoing. The Commissioner of Police, Katsina State Command, Bello Shehu, reaffirmed the commitment of the command towards fighting substance abuse, illicit drug trafficking and other drug-related offences while ensuring the safety and security of the good people of the state. He further urged members of the public to continue supporting the command with valuable and timely information to aid in the fight against all forms of crime and criminality in the state, the statement noted. Tom Foley, president of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania, touts the important role that private universities play in the state during a hearing held by the new State Board of Higher Education. Read more Attracting more students from out of state, working closely with businesses to meet their needs and high schools to create a college-going culture, and offering grants to help students near college completion were some ideas floated during a hearing Thursday on higher education in Pennsylvania. Much of the conversation centered on the need to help students afford college and ways to encourage more of them to attend at a time when the number of high school graduates in Pennsylvania is projected to decline 12% by 2037 and the higher education sector as a whole faces great challenges. Advertisement The two-hour hearing at St. Josephs University was the third of six being held around Pennsylvania by the new State Board of Higher Education as it forms a strategic plan to provide better coordination and access among the states institutions. The board intends to release a plan by Sept. 1. READ MORE: The new state board for higher education is getting started as colleges face challenges and scrutiny Higher education now more than ever must grow and evolve, said St. Josephs University president Cheryl McConnell, a member of the state board. A degree or a certificate is not just a credential, its a catalyst. Its the foundation upon which we will build solutions for problems we have not yet to imagine. There were nearly 200 participants online and in person from across the higher education sector, including community colleges and public and private four-year institutions, as well as businesses, government, and community organizations from throughout the Philadelphia region. READ MORE: Scholarships, funding, and oversight boards: Higher education takeaways from the Pa. state budget What ideas were suggested? Some of the ideas were concrete and specific. We have about 5,000 adults who cant go to college because they have an outstanding back balance, and we can help one at a time, but what we would love to see is more of a collaborative, regional approach that could be a real solution, said Steve Evans, vice president of development and institutional advancement at Graduate! Philadelphia, which is aimed at increasing the number of adults completing college in the city. And maybe there are resources available that if an institution commits to reducing 50% of their back balance, they can apply for a grant for the other 50 and get back in. So it gives the institutions an incentive to help solve the problem, but it also is a cash flow to put students in seats. READ MORE: Financially fragile: How are Philadelphia's small, private colleges faring Others were broader. Making sure students graduate on time is key to addressing the debt issue, said Tom Foley, president of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania. The issue appears to be especially acute at public schools, he said. I looked at the data on student debt between publicly funded institution graduates and graduates of independent nonprofit schools, he said. In the last 10 years, the independent nonprofit schools average debt was actually lower not by much, but it was lower than the average student debt for kids from publicly funded schools. And when I look at what the reason was for that, in a lot of cases, its because kids are not graduating on time. At private schools, he said, they are more focused on providing students with additional services to make sure they graduate on time. Kate Shaw, executive director of the board, presented the boards six goals and asked the audience for ideas on how to achieve them. The goals are increasing degree and certificate completion, creating affordable paths to a degree, supporting economic development in Pennsylvania, supporting the states workforce needs, ensuring accountability and efficient use of state funds, and strengthening the fiscal health and stability of colleges. READ MORE: Financially strapped Rosemont College will merge with Villanova University How are colleges handling financial struggles? Several colleges in the Philadelphia region have closed or merged or announced plans to do so in recent years, including Rosemont College, Cabrini University, University of the Arts, University of the Sciences, Salus University, and Peirce College. Chris Domes, president of Neumann University, said the school had some financial struggles following the pandemic but charted a successful course to improve, including attracting more students from out of state. Others could learn from that, he said. So are you suggesting that we create sort of a tool kit or a set of examples of how institutions navigate through fiscal instability and make those available to other institutions that might be interested? Shaw asked. I think there is a lot of good learning out there thats happening at institutions and it can help other colleges and universities navigate it, he said. Colleges need to work more closely with business and industry, some suggested. READ MORE: Holy Family is one of the financially healthiest small, private colleges in the Philadelphia region, a standout as many others struggle Anne Prisco, president of Holy Family University in Northeast Philadelphia, said the school pivoted quickly and developed a six-week certified nursing assistant program when area hospitals and senior-care facilities noted the need. The higher ed community is listening to and we need to have more conversations with the employers to say what do you need and well do it. We are a nimble group of higher education institutions that are willing to serve. What about affordability of colleges? Domes said many of Neumanns students are the first in their families to go to college, and access is an issue. Shaw pointed out that Pennsylvania ranks near the bottom in college affordability with the average student debt load at $40,000. READ MORE: St. Joes offers employee buyouts to cope with a deficit Its not just about the programs were providing, Domes said, and the need at the employer level, but how do you convince young people that they can afford this, that they can have access to this? Colleges need to partner with businesses to help students find career opportunities and educate them about potential careers while they are in high school, he said. They dont always know what a nurse-practitioner does, he said. They dont know what the cybersecurity expert actually does. Theres a disconnect between the understanding of what higher education means and how to get there for a lot of young people, and we have to find a way to make that gap much smaller. Farah Jimenez, president and chief executive officer of the Philadelphia Education Fund, said the focus also needs to be on high schools, such as the large comprehensive ones in Philadelphia, where going to college is not the message that students often get. Anything that we can do, she said, to help our schools develop and implement college-going culture and sustain those would help with postsecondary credential attainment. It was a quiet Monday at the end of March, and the luxe Prime Rib steakhouse at Live! Casino in South Philadelphia was mostly empty. On this rarely observed yet aggressively marketed fake holiday, National Cheesesteak Day, the restaurant was touting its gilded take on the citys working class sandwich, the Golden Cheesesteak, with thinly sliced filet, mushrooms, caramelized onions, black truffle cheese sauce, and 23K gold leaves. It came complete with a high rollers price tag: $65. Advertisement The lightly toasted roll broke apart as I lifted it off the plate, the cheese sauce made with relatively inexpensive truffle oil, not the actual luxe fungi was a tad watery, and there were only a few specks of those 23K gold leaves among the mushrooms and caramelized Cippolini onions. The thin slices of filet were well seasoned and evenly browned, but not tender typically the reason to use filet versus another cut of meat. The mediocrity of the sandwich aside, I was left wondering, who is this for? We do it yearly, relayed my bartender, and we get, like, two people to get it. It showed: For $65, I got what amounted to a few slices of filet on Texas Toast with scattered flakes of a broken, golden promise. The cheesesteak was, for a long time, a working-class sandwich. Three simple ingredients that coalesced into a hardy, tasty answer to a blue-collar workers lunch-time quandary. It wasnt overly expensive, it fit easily between the hands, and supplied a lot of protein to roof workers, electricians, and mailmen. Along the way it became a symbol of Philadelphia, just like the statue of a fictional character, or the broken bell that cant ring. And just like the movie props, the sandwich shops became stops on a tourists map. Now its yet another victim of the desire to elevate dishes. When we enrobe this type of food in luxury, what are we trying to get out of it? And who is supposed to eat it? Elevating Upscaling foods that were once associated with the working or middle class is nothing new. At the end of the 19th century, raw oysters were abundant, and it was an affordable, accessible protein for the working class of large cities like New York. Lobster was fed to criminals and slaves, especially in New England, where they washed up on beaches in abundance. Eventual scarcity and new ideas on how to prepare these foods led to their adoption by the upper classes, followed by more elaborate servings and more radical ideas on how to sell them. Thats how we eventually we get to oysters topped with caviar and lobster rolls bathed in rich butters and flavored with wasabi and chipotle. Take the cheeseburger. In 2001, French chef Daniel Boulud created a monster: a sirloin patty stuffed with red-wine-braised short rib, foie gras, and black truffles; layered with Dijon mustard and grated horseradish; and topped with cheddar and onion seed, all on a potato bun. DB Bistro Modernes hot new item, $27 at the time (the equivalent of $48 in todays dollars), captured the Guinness world record for priciest hamburger. The burger was something of a joke to Boulud I was poking America in the heart, he told Michelin but it arrived at a moment fine dining was being reconfigured and high and low were coming together in new ways. It also began both a continuous upgrading of the components of a burger peaking perhaps in either the Black Label burger at Minetta Tavern with its dry-aged ribeye or the Red Hook Tavern burger, also featuring dry-aged beef and an arms race of increasingly preposterous embellishments that have since become de rigueur for de-luxe stunt foods whose prices reach the triple digits, or higher. (The joke really was on us, it turns out.) The cheesesteak at Rittenhouse Squares Barclay Prime, one of the best steakhouses in the city, is a you might say prime example of both of these impulses. Three years after the Boulud burger, the venerable steakhouse debuted with a $100 cheesesteak in 2004 that included both Kobe beef and lobster. Also: shaved black truffle, sauteed foie gras, caramelized onion, and heirloom shaved tomato with truffle butter and homemade mustard. A sandwich? Yes. A cheesesteak? Maybe, but only if you squint very, very hard. (Unsurprisingly, it was created by a New Yorker and a Utahn.) In 2018, Barclay Prime revamped the sandwich into a veritable truffle bomb as Michael Klein described it. It included truffle shavings, truffle butter, truffled foie gras mousse, and a house Whiz made with caciotta al tartufo, an Italian semisoft cheese infused with black truffle shavings. The latest iteration debuted at the end of 2023. It seems like a more earnest endeavor to create the most extravagant possible version of Phillys most iconic sandwich than simply a wedge to part people who have too much money from some of it. It is an actual cheesesteak, at any rate. The Barclay Prime cheesesteak is built on wagyu, melted Cooper Sharp (of course), and fried onions, though the beef is infused with roasted foie gras and its all topped freshly shaved black truffle. The fatty meat rests on a durable French sesame roll with a crusty exterior and soft interior, baked at neighboring Parc a sly stray from the traditional Italian bakery fare. Its served with a half bottle of dry champagne. Price tag? $140. (One can argue this is a deal: $100 in 2004 dollars is now north of $167. You can get the sandwich sans champagne for $105; you should just get the champagne.) If the Live! Golden Cheesesteak is a broken promise, Barclay Primes cheesesteak is a promise kept. It is what you might imagine a luxury cheesesteak should at least feel like: rich. The beef, which had a medium chop, was discernibly fatty but extremely tender. There wasnt a bite without melted cheese, which was uniformly mixed throughout, or the thin sticks of slivered truffle that coated the entire top of the sandwich like confetti on a sidewalk after a parade. The flavor was defined by the Cooper Sharp, which prevented any distinguishing savor of the beef or the foie gras, which was undetectable from coming through, although the gentle funk of the black truffle remained discernible. Adding one of the slices of pepper served on the side provided a flourish of red and orange color and a sharpness that helped bring the rest of the cheesesteak into clearer focus. Still, was it what anyone actually wants from a cheesesteak? Perhaps the movers and shakers that populate the plush seats in the low-lit den of Barclay Prime. Me? Im not so sure. The luxury markets sole purpose is to sell you things you dont need, my Prime dinner companion remarked. Could there be something to the idea of at least a more premium cheesesteak, though? Whats the beef? Shays Steaks in Center City posits an elevated cheesesteak in a more moderate way, without the expensive sprinkles of worthless additions. Its just a question of the cut of meat. The typical meat in a cheesesteak is either rib-eye (fattier, richer) or sirloin (leaner, less expensive, potentially more flavorful), and you usually dont get to pick. Shays offers four choices: $18.95 for New York strip, $19.95 for prime rib, $25.75 for filet mignon, and $35.50 for American wagyu. There are five seasoning options, ranging from black garlic and truffle to toasted onion sea salt. And there are four cheese options: Cooper Sharp, American, pepperjack, and provolone. Plus the usual fried onions, peppers, etc. The rolls are on the smaller side, clocking in at about 7 inches, and theyre partly scooped, but they held together well. When I tried a few of the steaks, I found that the wagyu was no better than the filet (and the New York strip was a tad stringy and gristly). It was too fatty without providing any additional tenderness. The filet cut fit better, chewed easier, and felt juicier. Its an upgrade that remained true to the essence of the sandwich. If you want to make a cheesesteak better, you cant lose sight of what makes it all work, no matter how you serve it: a warm roll that holds up, steak that is juicy and tender but still has some chew, and gooey, uniformly distributed cheese. Bells and birds help tell the citys story, but its a sandwich that helps explain Philadelphians. How we evolved from farmers in the cradle of liberty to DoorDashers in a melting pot of orange whiz is informed and defined by the cheesesteak. Raising the Steaks is a weeklyish chronicle of this long-rolled reminder of lifes redeeming qualities. Penn graduate Aife Mejza puts her cap on top of the Ben Franklin statue on campus in 2020. Read more Of course Benjamin Franklin wrote his own epitaph. At age 22 in 1728, his dark humor stronger than his sense of history, he penned the tomb inscription that would eventually appear at his grave site. Advertisement The Body of B. Franklin, Printer; like the Cover of an old Book, Its Contents torn out, And stript of its Lettering and Gilding, Lies here, Food for Worms. But the Work shall not be wholly lost; For it will, as he believd, appear once more, In a new & more perfect Edition, Corrected and amended By the Author. But at his death at age 84 on April 17, 1790, brought on by a bacterial infection in his lungs, history had outlived the humor. The young man from Boston who had entertained tens of thousands with his wit and sarcasm under the pseudonym Poor Richard had become a sickly old man preparing for his end in his adopted hometown of Philadelphia. Still, in the intervals of pain, he not only amused himself with reading and conversing cheerfully with his family and a few friends, who visited him, but was often employed in doing business of a public as well as private nature, with various persons, who waited on him for that purpose, according to his doctor, who provided a statement to the Federal Gazette. By then he had become a Founding Father, having enlightened the colonies with printed wisdom, scientific breakthroughs, and scores of firsts: library, hospital, university. In France, where Franklin spent years as a representative of the new nation, its people mourned the loss of their favorite American statesman. In Congress, the willingness to honor Franklin was divided. James Madison persuaded his fellow members of the House of Representatives to wear symbols of mourning. The Senate, influenced by Franklin rivals John Adams and Richard Henry Lee, declined. At his funeral, held on April 22, roughly 20,000 people in a town of about 28,000 showed up in honor of their great neighbor. Dignitaries including Samuel Powel and David Rittenhouse carried his casket. He was laid to rest at Christ Church, and 235 years later his marble-topped grave remains a sacred site in the city. And upon a brick wall near the grave hangs a plaque with his epitaph. A Connecticut physician is seeking an immigration attorney after the Department of Homeland Security ordered her out of the country via email. It is time for you to leave the United States," read the threatening message that Dr. Lisa Anderson received last week, she told NBC affiliate WVIT on Wednesday. Advertisement Anderson, 58, was born in Pennsylvania and lives in Cromwell. READ MORE: International students in Pa. and N.J. have had their visas revoked by the Trump administration, sparking anxiety on college campuses Unlike two Massachusetts immigration attorneys and U.S. citizens who have received similar emails, Anderson has nothing to do with immigration. Except for now, as shes looking to hire just such a lawyer, confused as to what landed her on Homeland Securitys radar. I really have no idea how my email ended up on that list unless someone else was using that as a false email, Anderson told WVIT. I dont have anything to do with immigration and I never thought that I would have needed the services of an immigration attorney either, and thats where I find myself. READ MORE: Two Pa. international students sue the Trump administration, demanding restoration of their ability to study here The two immigration attorneys who got the same email also thought it odd that DHS had their addresses, since clients must supply their own when communicating with the federal agency. But their emails were at least on paperwork related to their cases. Last week, Boston-area immigration attorney Nicole Micheroni was told to leave the U.S. or the federal government will find you. Days later, a second immigration attorney in the Boston area, Carmen Bello, was also told by DHS to self-deport, WBTS reported Tuesday. READ MORE: More Temple students lose visas, $3 million in federal funding halted Both were told their immigration parole was expiring, but that doesnt apply to either of them. The parole is part of a program that allows migrants to stay and work in the U.S. for up to two years while they wait for their case to be heard a program the Trump administration has effectively terminated. While Homeland Security said in a statement that it emailed Micheroni in error, the attorney told WVIT that she has not been able to reach DHS officials to clarify the situation. She emphasized that such an email does not constitute a deportation order but advised recipients to seek legal counsel. Anderson, whose attorneys have advised her to carry her passport at all times, says shes rattled. The language seemed pretty threatening to whomever it might actually apply to, she told WVIT. It does make me concerned therere a lot more people out there like me who probably also thought this was spam, who probably didnt realize, I have a problem. READ MORE: 22,000 Philly-area green card holders got theirs last year. Heres how complex the journey can be. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Several thousand students, staff and faculty packed a plaza at Florida State University for a vigil Friday evening, bowing their heads in a moment of silence honoring the two people who were killed and six others who were wounded in a shooting rampage the previous day. The gunman, identified as the stepson of a sheriffs deputy, arrived on campus an hour before the shooting Thursday and stayed near a parking garage before he walked in and out of buildings and green spaces while firing a handgun just before lunchtime, police said. Advertisement In roughly four minutes, officers confronted 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, a Florida State student, and shot and wounded him, Tallahassee police said. READ MORE: Florida State gunman used deputy moms former service weapon to kill 2 and wound 6, authorities say Officials have not identified the two men who died, but family members said Robert Morales, a university dining coordinator, was one of them. He worked at Florida State since 2015 and studied criminology there in the early 1990s, according to his LinkedIn profile. The other was Tiru Chabba, 45, a married father of two from Greenville, South Carolina, who was working for food service vendor Aramark, said Michael Wukela, a spokesperson for attorneys hired by the family. Police have said five others were shot, and another person was hurt running away. Medical staff at Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare said they treated six people for gunshots, including three who were operated on, and all were expected to survive. They would not give any information about those peoples identities or say whether the suspect was among them. Police said earlier that he was taken to a local hospital. Some of the wounded were students, according to university President Richard McCullough. Classes were canceled Friday, but some students came to campus to retrieve backpacks and laptops they left behind when they barricaded classroom doors and eventually fled to safety. I dont think any words can do it justice, said Audrey Rothman, one of three members of the Florida State womens volleyball team who brought flowers and held hands in a brief prayer circle. Police believe Ikner used a former service weapon that belongs to his stepmother, an 18-year veteran of the Leon County Sheriffs Office, Sheriff Walt McNeil said. In recent years she has worked as a middle school resource officer and was the departments employee of the month a year ago in March. After the shooting she requested and was granted personal leave and also reassigned from her post at the school, said Shonda Knight, executive director of community and media relations for the agency. Ikners earlier years The suspect was a longstanding member of the Leon County Sheriffs youth advisory council, police said. The group was created to build communication between young people and local law enforcement while also teaching teens leadership and team-building skills. He was a junior at FSU studying political science after earning an associates degree last fall from Tallahassee State College, university spokeswoman Amy Farnum-Patronis confirmed. Authorities have not yet revealed a motive. When Ikner was a child, his parents were involved in several custody disputes with his biological mother, court records show. In 2015, when he was 10, his biological mother, Anne-Mari Eriksen, said she was taking him to South Florida for spring break in 2015 but instead traveled to Norway. After returning to the U.S., she pleaded no contest to removing a minor from the state against a court order and was sentenced to 200 days in jail. She later moved to vacate her plea, but that was denied. In the fall of that same year, Eriksen filed a civil libel-slander complaint against Jessica Ikner, along with several other family members. The complaint, which was later dismissed, accused them of harassing Eriksen and abusing Ikners position at the sheriffs office. In 2020, at age 15, the suspect received court approval to change his name from Christian Eriksen to Phoenix Ikner, court documents show. His old name was a constant reminder of a tragedy he suffered, in the words of administrative magistrate James Banks, who approved the request, NBC News reported. Banks observed that Ikner was a mentally, emotionally and physically mature young adult who is very articulate and very polite said he chose the new name as a representation of rising from the ashes anew. Shooting was not the first at the school The shooting erupted just a few hours before a forum on countering hate on campus was to take place in a classroom building nearby. The event, titled United Against Hate: Building a Safer Campus and Community Together, was part of a project honoring Maura Binkley, a Florida State student who was killed in a mass shooting at a yoga studio in 2018. A few students who are now at Florida State also went through the trauma of one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School seven years ago in South Florida. A few miles from the FSU campus, the Bethel Missionary Baptist Church began its Good Friday service with prayers for the shooting victims and families. The Rev. R.B. Holmes said he visited the victims at the hospital with Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey, who also attended the service. Were not going to emphasize the tragedy, Holmes said. Were going to emphasize hope and healing. Our faith says we shall overcome. I said to the students, we will be there for them. Fast fashion is about to get pricier. President Donald Trump said this week that he was looking to close a popular de minimis loophole that exempted import shippers from paying added duties. The exemption allowed shipments less than $800 to ship dirt-cheap goods to the states without dealing with tariffs. Advertisement Trump said the move was to correct the trade imbalance between the worlds two largest economies, imposing increased tariffs on China in response to the countrys retaliatory tariffs on the United States. Foreign online retailers, especially fast-fashion retailers like Shein and Temu, benefited from the loophole. But the White House announced its goal Thursday to close that loophole, making it harder for those online retailers to sell to American buyers or profit as much as they once did. Shein and Temu have already announced intentions to raise prices as soon as next week for U.S. customers. Heres what we know. What is the de minimis exemption? What was the maximum amount? The de minimis provision was a widely used exemption that allowed sellers to ship goods they said were worth $800 or less duty-free and avoid paying additional tariff costs. E-commerce companies are some of the biggest exemption users. Sellers mainly from China have used the loophole to flood the U.S. market, shipping dresses, shoes, toys, and bags directly to U.S. shoppers in small packages. As many as 4 million low-value parcels most of them originating in China arrive in the United States every day under the soon-to-be canceled provision. The provision was enacted in 1938 but has been amended several times since then. The maximum threshold was $200 until 2016, when it was raised to $800. When will the loophole go away? Trump signed an executive order this month eliminating the loophole. Starting May 2, goods from China and Hong Kong will be subjected to a 145% import tax without being able to use the de minimis exemption to avoid fees. Why is Trump getting rid of the de minimis exemption? Trump isnt the first politician to try and remove the exemption. U.S. politicians, law enforcement agencies, and business groups have lobbied to remove the long-standing exemption, describing it as a trade loophole that gave inexpensive Chinese goods an advantage and served as a portal for illicit drugs and counterfeits to enter the country. Former President Joe Bidens administration also aimed to remove the provision last year. Who is impacted by the raised tariffs and de minimis exemption going away? From overseas retailers, to consumers, to U.S. small businesses, the exemption going away and higher tariffs impact everyone and the entire economy. Consumers will likely see higher prices on imported goods that historically have been marketed as inexpensive. Popular online shopping platforms such as AliExpress and DHgate will likely pass those increased costs onto U.S. buyers. Temu and Shein have already said that would be the case. Small businesses that use international suppliers will see hikes in import costs, particularly low-margin goods, and could face supply chain disruption that causes a ripple effect. When and by how much will Shein and Temu prices go up? An April 9 White House fact sheet said that goods shipped by mail from China costing less than $800 that used to be protected by the de minimis loophole will instead face a 120% tariff (or $100 per item from May 2 until June 1, when it will increase to $200 per item). Shein and Temu announced the competitor companies would begin making price adjustments starting April 25. Neither company detailed the scope of those price increases. The Associated Press contributed to this article. Protesters gather in Media as part of the Hands Off day of action on April 5. Participants took issue with the Trump administration's cuts to the federal workforce, among other actions. Read more While state employment numbers have yet to see the full impact of President Donald Trumps cuts to the federal workforce, new data released Friday show a greater impact on Pennsylvania than the national average, for a second consecutive month. Pennsylvanias federal workforce shrunk by 400 from February to March, according to preliminary data released Friday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Advertisement That left the state with 103,200 federal workers, a decline of 0.4%. Across the United States, the federal workforce shrunk by 0.1%. The data are likely an undercount of the true impact of federal cuts. Workers on administrative leave who are no longer working but continue to receive pay would still appear as employed in the data released on Friday. And federal agencies have said they plan to fire more workers in the coming months. Still, the data reflecting payrolls as of March 12 offer a glimpse into the early impacts of Trumps efforts to severely shrink the federal workforce. In recent weeks, thousands of federal workers across the country were put on leave or terminated. Others took resignation offers, as the Trump administration encouraged workers to jump to the private sector in higher productivity jobs. To date, it has been difficult to understand the scope of the workforce shake-up as some workers who were originally laid off were later reinstated but placed on leave following legal battles. Its very chaotic. Its very hard to track. For the union, its really hard to track people coming and going, Philip Glover, national vice president of AFGE District 3, which represents roughly 9,400 federal workers in and near Philadelphia, said in March. The BLS data does not break down federal employment losses by agency or department. In Pennsylvania, the largest share of federal workers nearly 30% was employed at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as of last year. The department announced last month plans to fire up to 80,000 VA workers across the U.S. Nationally, employment in the federal workforce declined by 4,000 last month. Pennsylvania lost about 0.7% of its federal workers in February as compared with a nationwide decline of 0.4%. (Both Pennsylvania and the nation saw a 0.1% increase in federal employment in January.) Pennsylvania employment across all sectors was up 0.3% month-over-month and up 1.4% from a year ago. In a roughly minute-long phone call to Dauphin County 911, the man accused of setting three fires in Gov. Josh Shapiros official residence told dispatchers Pennsylvanias chief executive needed to leave his family and friends alone. Gov. Josh Shapiro needs to know that Cody Balmer will not take part in his plans for what he wants to do to the Palestinian people, said the caller, adding that Shapiro needed to stop having my friends killed. Advertisement Balmer, 38 was charged Monday with attempted murder, aggravated arson, burglary, terrorism, and related offenses. The full call, which was placed less than an hour after the early Sunday break-in at the governors residence, was made available through a Right to Know request Friday afternoon and offers additional insight into Balmers mindset after the arson. Authorities say Balmer walked from his mothers house in Penbrook Borough, bypassed Shapiros 24/7 security detail, and set three fires in the residence before fleeing. In the 911 call, Balmer told the dispatcher he wasnt hiding and was ready to confess to what hed done. He would turn himself in later Sunday. Throughout the call, Balmer appears out of breath and delusional, but maintains a relatively steady cadence. He goes on to call Shapiro a monster. Im tired of offering extensions of peace, he said. I only want to be able to provide for my children. I should not be taken to these extremes. Its not fair. I wish no harm onto anyone, but that man, that man, he is doing serious harm to probably yourself included, and I do wish you the best, sir. READ MORE: The arson at Gov. Josh Shapiros mansion erupted within minutes. The impact lingers. To date, authorities have not publicly announced a motive and Shapiro has been careful not to speculate. It remains unclear how closely Balmer followed Shapiros stance on the Israel-Hamas war, or whether the governor was targeted because of his faith or prominence as a Jewish leader. Still, some members of the Jewish community, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.), have raised concern over the timing during Passover and the fact Balmer told police he was harboring a hatred for the governor. In a subsequent interview with police, Balmer said he would have attacked Shapiro with a hammer if he had seen him inside the residence. Balmers mother told reporters and authorities her son, who she said has bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, had been off his medication for about a year. Penbrook police confirmed they followed up on a call Balmers mother placed asking for help after the countys crisis intervention services couldnt offer assistance. Penbrook police said they similarly couldnt petition for Balmers involuntary mental health commitment based on hearsay. Balmer had a series of run-ins with authorities that go back a decade, including traffic citations. Balmer pleaded guilty to attempting to pass a forged paycheck in 2015 and was sentenced to 18 months probation. Penbrook police also responded to a 2023 call involving Balmer after a child called to say his stepfather was beating his mother. In that incident, Balmer told authorities hed tried to kill himself by taking a bottle of pills. In a subsequent fight, Balmers wife said he punched her in the face and bit her hand after she tried to stop him from violently shoving his stepson. That case is pending. At a journalism conference in Italy, where the scars of fascism are etched deep into the landscape and the culture, nearly every conversation circled back to the creeping authoritarianism of a second Trump term, writes Helen Ubinas. Read more PERUGIA, Italy The warnings about Americas authoritarian drift dont feel abstract here. In parts of Europe and in Italy, in particular fascism isnt theory or a debate on social media. Advertisement Its history. Memory. Scars etched deep into the landscape and the culture. Thats why warnings about Americas authoritarian slide sound louder here louder even than the bells of the Basilica di San Pietro echoing through this medieval city in the heart of Umbria. And certainly louder than any alarm sounding inside the United States. I came to Perugia for the International Journalism Festival, my second time at this annual gathering of journalists from around the world. Last year, many of us still clung to the fantasy that the United States had narrowly escaped the clutches of Donald Trumps first presidency. This year, nearly every conversation circles back to a singular, sobering theme: the creeping authoritarianism of a second Trump term. Of course, I didnt need to cross the Atlantic to understand how dire the state of democracy has become at home. Around the time my flight took off from John F. Kennedy International Airport, Trumps administration was openly defying a U.S. Supreme Court order to return a Maryland father with no criminal record whom it disappeared into a Salvadoran torture prison based on what it called an administrative error (or on newly released flimsy evidence). Then, at a chilling and grotesquely staged Oval Office meeting with El Salvadors president, Nayib Bukele a man who proudly calls himself the worlds coolest dictator Trump casually floated deporting U.S. citizens to Salvadoran gulags. Thats not a joke. Thats not tough talk. Thats the language, and promise, of dictators. And millions of Americans who call themselves patriots cheered this shredding of the Constitution. Here in Perugia, fellow journalists whove watched democracies fall and know how hard it is to claw freedom back once it slips are watching and urging us pleading with us to step up before its too late. At a session titled Journalists Under Fire, Kathy Im, director of media, culture, and special initiatives at the MacArthur Foundation, opened with statistics that set the tone for the rest of the conference. Citing research from the V-Dem Institute, she quoted from an article by Joel Simon in Vanity Fair: For the first time in more than 20 years, the world now has more autocracies than democracies, she said. Twenty-seven countries let that sink in have transitioned from democracies to autocracies since 2005. Scarier still especially for us in the U.S. is this: If autocratization starts in a democracy, the probability of [it] surviving is very low. That hits harder in a place thats lived it. These are people whove seen firsthand how fragile freedom is, how the often slow erosion becomes irreversible. Maria Ressa, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning journalist from the Philippines, broke it down even more clearly in another session titled The Weaponization of Nostalgia. Here in the States, we know it as Make America Great Again. Theres a playbook, she said a well-worn one used by authoritarians everywhere: Media capture, by elevating a propaganda arm like Newsmax while punishing the Associated Press for not taking orders from the president. Academic capture, by slashing billions in critical research funds if schools wont do his bidding. NGO capture, by infiltrating and defunding nonprofit nongovernmental organizations that help millions of the worlds most vulnerable. State capture, by ignoring checks and balances and demonizing anyone including members of their own political party who oppose the autocrats power grab. Underpinning it all? The breakdown of the rule of law. When we lose our rights, Ressa warned, the executive begins to rule by executive order, the legislature is either corrupt, coerced, or co-opted, and the judiciary takes too long. Sound familiar? It should. Its the exact script Trump is following not just picking up where he left off, but accelerating with the help of enablers in the U.S. and strongman role models abroad. What took six months in the Philippines, Ressa said, is happening even faster in the U.S. It boils down to the citizens to every citizen in the democracy, she said. She worried, as we all should be, that Americans are like deer in headlights. Her message was simple, but urgent: If we dont act now (by calling out the lies and the liars every time, for starters), the next day you lose a little more of your rights until there are no more left to lose. Thats not easy. Fear works as a strong deterrent. Look at the obedience. The cowardice. The capitulation that seemingly happens every hour in the U.S. Weve long known facts alone arent enough not when emotions are being weaponized, and tech platforms provide the ammunition. No one knows that better than Christopher Wylie the Cambridge Analytica whistleblower who exposed how Facebook data was twisted and weaponized to help elect Trump in 2016 and to pass Brexit. He also revealed the companys ties to Russia. At a session titled Captured: How Silicon Valleys AI Emperors Are Reshaping Reality, Wylie didnt mince words: This is not tech, he plainly told the audience. This is abuse of power. He called out Silicon Valleys elite especially Elon Musk for cloaking dangerous ideologies in innovation. Just listen to what these guys say, he compelled the journalists in attendance. If you take them seriously and I think you should take them seriously because these are the richest men in the world, with some of the most powerful companies in the world, running the U.S. government, its super scary. Also scary is how were reacting, or failing to react, to it. You guys are talking about this as if its some app, a widget, or whatever, Wylie chastised the reporters in the room. No its a fascist movement. His advice was blunt: When they say insane things, call it out. Ask: Who gave you this power? Why do you get to do this? Most importantly, he said: Say no. Say no. I dont know why that message landed the hardest, why days after my return they are the words that ring the loudest, the truest. Maybe because I realized how often we dont say no. And how powerful we can be when we finally do. The way Harvard University did when it said no, it wont comply with Trumps demands to give up its academic freedoms. The way a federal judge ruled that no, the Trump administration couldnt just violate orders and could be held in contempt for failing to return two planes deporting migrants to El Salvador last month. The way hundreds of thousands of Americans said no to Trump and Musk and their hostile takeover of our institutions and our rights in large Hands Off! protests across the nation. But there, in a city thats seen empires rise and fall among reporters whove risked their lives to protect fundamental freedoms, and in the shadow of those who lost theirs in the same pursuit the message couldnt have been clearer: The danger is real. The warnings are loud. Wake up, America. Its long past time we said no. From left, U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, NJEA President Sean Spiller, and former State Sen. President Steve Sweeney, all Democrats running for NJ governor. Read more We are just talking about Donald Trump. Donald Trump. Donald Trump. Donald Trump, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, a progressive Democrat running for governor, said at a panel in late November, faulting the Democratic Party for focusing too much on simply not being Trump. But three months into Trumps second term as president and two months ahead of the New Jersey primary election for governor, talking about Trump is a requirement for the six Democratic gubernatorial candidates. Advertisement Baraka released a video campaign ad this month that starts with a clip of Trump promising to eliminate the federal Department of Education, accompanied by eerie music, before a more upbeat tone brands Baraka as unafraid to stand up to Trump. That message has been one of the most consistent among the Democrats running in the partys competitive June 10 primary for New Jerseys top office. Micah Rasmussen, director of the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics, said Trump is top of mind for Democratic primary voters because its impossible to ignore his onslaught of executive orders, appointments, court cases, deportations, and tariffs. Rasmussen and other New Jersey political experts used the same phrase to describe Trump: He takes up all the oxygen in the room. And each of the Democratic candidates is well aware of that. I never dreamed that running for governor would be so much about Trump and [Elon] Musk, said Steve Sweeney, a South Jersey union leader and former state Senate president running in the primary. We have issues that we really need to be talking about, but its hard to talk about it because of the craziness in the country. A video featured prominently on Sweeneys campaign website mentions Trumps name before his own. Sean Spiller, president of the NJEA teachers union and former Montclair mayor, has a page on his campaign website called Protecting Our Democracy that mentions Trump nine times. And an 8.5-by-11-inch mailer supporting Spiller has an image of Musk giving a controversial salute at Trumps inauguration event spread across one side of the page. The other side says to Stand with Sean against hate and MAGA extremists. U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, one of two members of Congress in the race, said in an interview that New Jersey needs an aggressive fighter whos not afraid to fight for Jersey families. Thats exactly how U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, a former Navy helicopter pilot, is branding herself, such as in an ad called Fighter." As much as Sweeney laments the focus on Trump, he and voters know that cuts at the federal level could affect New Jerseys budget, a touchy subject in a race that is also focused on making New Jersey a more affordable place to live. Sweeney blames Democrats in Congress for not doing more to fight Trump, an argument that Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop also makes in an effort to discredit Gottheimer and Sherrill. Fulop argues in a mailer that congressional Democrats are failing to stop Trump and Musk, and in a video ad he says he successfully protected Jersey City residents from Trump discrimination in health care, housing, and policing. In that video, the camera pans out to a high-rise behind Fulop, who points to it and says he prevented the Trump family from getting tax breaks to build it. But Sherrill and Gottheimer both argue they have been fighting Trump on the front lines on Capitol Hill and can offer solutions to the so-far-tumultuous economy under his administration. Sherrill said in an interview that she has a record of standing up to Trump, as one of the leaders working to impeach him in 2019 during her first term, and now through Democrats 45-member Rapid Response Task Force and Litigation Working Group formed to push back against Trumps administration. She said the task force is working on amicus briefs, pressuring Trump to honor congressional appropriations, and reaching across the aisle to Republicans who could, in Sherrills words, peel off. She said that as governor she would look to build more housing, get solar power into the grid, and increase oversight to state health insurance plans to help drive down costs. Gottheimer, meanwhile, touts legislative efforts that aim to push back on Trumps tariffs and protect Social Security. He unveiled a plan to Stop Trump and Protect our Jersey Values at Honda of Tenafly earlier this week, which includes ideas like requiring utility companies to add a Trump tariff cost indicator on bills. He also created a survey for New Jerseyans to share how tariffs are affecting them. Im not Trump is not a message Trump has also been top of mind in the Republican primary, with various candidates making their loyalty to the president a hallmark of their campaigns and two competing for his endorsement. READ MORE: The battle for President Trumps endorsement has reached new heights in the New Jersey GOP primary for governor Kellyanne Conway, a pollster and former senior adviser to Trump who managed his successful 2016 presidential campaign, said she believes former Assembly member Jack Ciattarelli, a third-time candidate for governor whom she is backing in the race, has positively evolved his campaign this time around by reaching out to more of Trumps base. On a call with reporters, she criticized Democrats for answering questions with Trump, Trump, Trump and said she is not concerned about a Trump endorsement hurting a Republican in the general election because the Democrats have one message, still, for whatever reason, and its Im not Trump. Im not Trump is not a message, she added. READ MORE: Will Donald Trump endorse in the GOP primary for New Jersey governor? Kellyanne Conway thinks so. But Democratic political consultants are counting on blaming economic stress on Trumps administration as the year goes on. Every single Democrat, running for governor or not, should be hollering from now until Election Day about the Trump-Musk economic chaos and the Trump tariffs that are really just a Trump-imposed tax on every single New Jerseyan, said Joshua Henne, a Democratic political consultant who has worked on several statewide races in New Jersey. He warned, however, that politicians should focus on issues that matter to voters and be wary of the bait like what he called Trumps crazy statements. Democrats also have to balance attacking Trump on their priorities with being cautious about material Republicans could frame for general election attacks, such as on immigration and Israel, according to Patricia Campos-Medina, a former progressive candidate for U.S. Senate and political activist who is now serving as an adviser for Sherrill. They all are trying to survive the primary in a position that they can actually withstand an attack from the right in the general election, she said. The company cited "market uncertainty about freight rates and demand, possible regulatory changes, and the impact of tariffs." Read more Mack Trucks will lay off between 250 and 350 workers at its Lehigh Valley factory in the next three months, the company said, citing economic uncertainty and tariffs. Heavy-duty truck orders continue to be negatively affected by market uncertainty about freight rates and demand, possible regulatory changes, and the impact of tariffs, Mack spokesperson Kimberly Pupillo said in a statement. Advertisement The layoffs could affect about 10% of the companys 3,050 employees at its Lehigh Valley Operations facility in Macungie, where workers assemble Class 8 Mack trucks for North American and export markets. We regret having to take this action, but we need to align production with reduced demand for our vehicles, Pupillo said. The workforce reductions by an iconic American brand in a region thats often a political bellwether for swing-state Pennsylvania is unwelcome news for President Donald Trump, who has imposed sweeping import taxes on all goods entering the United States in a bid to revive domestic manufacturing. It comes as Trump has faced declining approval ratings on his stewardship of the economy and as Republican members of the GOP-controlled Congress have faced heat from constituents at town halls. A CBS News poll released Sunday found 44% of Americans approve of Trumps handling of the economy, down 4% from an earlier March survey. Republicans in the Lehigh Valley flipped the local congressional seat in last years elections, and national Democrats have already said they will target the district in next years midterm campaign. Trumps delusional and destructive tariffs are costing families in my region their livelihoods! State Rep. Josh Siegel, a Lehigh County Democrat, wrote on X Thursday night. Tariffs arent saving American industry, theyre raising costs on all families, destroying our economy, and creating uncertainty for families and businesses! Trump at the White House on Thursday said hes in no rush to negotiate trade deals with other countries, the Associated Press reported, adding that tariffs are making us rich. Mack was founded in 1900 and since 2000 has been a subsidiary of Swedish multinational Volvo. Mack says all trucks destined for the U.S. and Canada are assembled at American plants. But the company also imports parts and materials including steel and aluminum from a number of countries, Pupillo said. Trump has imposed 25% levies on all foreign steel and aluminum products, as well as a 25% tax on auto imports. Other goods face a baseline 10% import tax, while the White House said Tuesday that tariffs on Chinese exports are as high as 245% for some goods. In addition to the domestic market, Mack exports U.S.-built trucks to other countries, meaning the company could face higher costs from retaliatory tariffs imposed by foreign governments, though many have held off on doing so as they seek to ease tensions with the Trump administration. Tim Hertzog, shop chairman for United Auto Workers Local 677, said he met with the company Thursday. Due to the market being in decline, there will be a rate and line reduction, he wrote in a letter to union members that was posted on Facebook. In addition to the Pennsylvania cuts, Mack plans to lay off up to 100 workers at a factory in Hagerstown, Md., according to trade publication FreightWaves. The trucking industry is grappling with a variety of headwinds. North American net orders of Class 8 heavy-duty trucks fell to 15,700 units in March, down 22% from the year-earlier period, according to FTR Transportation Intelligence, a freight forecasting firm. The implementation and continued threat of tariffs among North American trading partners combined with ongoing economic and freight market uncertainty have significantly dampened fleet investment in Class 8 trucks and tractors in recent months, the firm said in an analysis. About 40% of heavy-duty trucks sold in the U.S. are imported from Canada and Mexico, according to S&P Global. Mayor Cherelle L. Parker unveils her long-awaited plan to build or preserve 30,000 units of housing during a special session of City Council Monday, Mar. 24, 2025. Council President Kenyatta Johnson is behind her. Read more What will the world look like in 2038? From current fears of a recession to ongoing wars in Europe and the Middle East, its impossible to know how 2025 will shake out, much less the next 13 years. Advertisement But if City Council approves Mayor Cherelle L. Parkers tax proposals this spring, one thing will be decided: Philadelphia in 2038 will eliminate its tax on businesses gross sales and reduce its tax on corporate profits from 3.2% to 2.8%. Parkers proposed city budget legislation this year includes a bill that not only cuts business tax rates for the next fiscal year, but also bakes in 13 years of annual reductions that would take effect automatically without the mayor or Council having to do anything. Assuming Parker serves two terms, those cuts would still be kicking in for almost all of her successors administration. And the largest business tax cuts included in Parkers plan would not begin until 2032, when the mayor would be leaving office. Businesses want predictability, and legislating tax reductions into the future provides more predictability, Parker spokesperson Joe Grace said. This is a pro-growth, jobs-creating agenda and we stand by it. Parkers proposal to cut the business income and receipts tax over 13 years is just one of several forward-looking measures in her plan for the city budget that takes effect July 1. Her proposal to cut the wage tax includes a five-year rate-reduction schedule. Her new housing initiative relies on Council allowing the administration to issue $800 million in bonds that Philly taxpayers would likely be paying off until 2047. And Parker also wants Council this year to approve a bill that would increase the share of money that the school district gets from the property tax starting in 2030. Parker has said her goal for scheduling future tax cuts is to provide predictability for businesses considering investing in Philadelphia. If you ask them what they need, they will tell you more than anything, they need certainty, Parker said last month in her budget address to Council. Thats why were codifying these historic reductions beyond this five-year plan. The steeper cuts are in the second half of the schedule, she added, to coincide with when the citys underfunded pension system is projected to reach 100% funding in the 2033 fiscal year, freeing up hundreds of millions of dollars in the city budget that now go to shoring up the fund. We should take advantage of the fact that, finally, Philadelphias pension fund will soon be fully funded, dramatically reducing costs that have saddled us for decades, Parker said in her address. But her approach has detractors on both sides of the tax debate. The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia and lawmakers friendly with the business lobby are frustrated Parker is postponing the deepest cuts until her successors tenure. Having a sense of predictability is really important. I just think this is way too conservative and isnt meeting the moment now," said Chellie Cameron, the chambers president and CEO. If predictability is the goal, making promises that go well beyond when you would be in office isnt predictable at all. Progressives, meanwhile, contend it is inappropriate to make decisions for future elected officials, who would have to approve new legislation to keep tax rates flat. The administration also effectively is trying to tie the hands of future mayors and City Council, Councilmember Kendra Brooks said at a recent budget hearing. Councilmember Rue Landau said the city should focus on more urgent needs, like shoring up SEPTA and the school district, both of which are facing major shortfalls. With so much uncertainty at the federal level right now, it isnt easy to project what will happen with regards to funding in the next year, much less by 2038, Landau said in a statement. READ MORE: Federal cuts, staffing struggles, homeless services: Philly City Council probes Mayor Parkers $6.7B budget proposal Councilmember Isaiah Thomas, who has championed cutting the tax, said he plans to push his colleagues to amend the mayors proposal to make steeper reductions sooner. Clearly theres some concern around what our decisions today will have on the future leadership of the city, he said. Confident about doing business here Philadelphias business income and receipts tax, called the BIRT, is unusual because it taxes both profits and gross receipts. Parkers proposal would cut the levy on net income, or profits, from 5.81% to 5.71% in the next budget year and to 2.8% by 2038. Her bill would lower the gross receipts tax from 0.1415% to 0.141% this year, followed by a series of cuts leading to its elimination in 2038. READ MORE: What you need to know about the Philly business double tax that some city leaders are trying to kill Stewart Weintraub, a state and local tax attorney who worked in the administrations of former Mayors Frank L. Rizzo and William J. Green III, said Parkers approach has some precedent. The state has used multiyear tax-cut schedules to reduce business taxes, and the city has done it with the wage tax. Both, at times, opted to pause scheduled rate cuts during emergencies or financial downturns, he said. You had the benefit of enacting it into law, so businesses have this certainty or as much certainty as you can get in tax law of knowing that the tax rate would be going down, said Weintraub, who sat on the citys 2003 Tax Reform Commission, which recommended eliminating the business tax but was ultimately ignored. To the extent there are economic crises or the benefits of the rate reduction werent achieved, there was the ability to freeze it. Joseph P. McLaughlin, a retired Temple University professor who served as a lobbyist on behalf of the city under four mayors, applauded Parkers approach because it will make it more politically uncomfortable for future city officials to abandon the push to dramatically cut the business tax, a long-standing goal for many who believe the levy is a burden on job growth in the city. Whoever is going to be in favor of stopping it is going to have to carry the burden of advocating for a tax increase, McLaughlin said. Rob Dubow, the administrations finance director, said the mayors primary goal is to send a message to firms leery of establishing roots in Philadelphia. Its our attempt to show our commitment and our attempt to make them feel confident about doing business here," Dubow told Council. Sheetz is encroaching on Wawas turf. Again. Altoona-based Sheetz wants to build a new convenience store in Thorndale on the site of a former Rite Aid that closed after the Philadelphia-based pharmacy chain filed for bankruptcy in 2023, according to documents filed with Caln Township. Advertisement Sheetz is proposing to raze the former pharmacy at 3807 Lincoln Highway near the intersection with Bondsville Road and build a 6,139-square-foot store with a drive-through and gas station across the highway from a Wawa. Sheetz anticipates opening the store in September 2026, according to the documents, which The Inquirer obtained through a Right to Know request. The proposal was first reported by the Philadelphia Business Journal. At this point Sheetz has expressed preliminary interest in the project but has yet to submit a formal application, said Township Manager Don Vymazal. Like any project, he said, this one would have to go through the Planning Commission, show that it meets zoning requirements, and ultimately receive approval from the elected Board of Commissioners. Were looking forward to public feedback on this and any project, Vymazal said. Sheetz didnt respond to a request for comment. The property is owned by NNN REIT Inc., a publicly traded real estate investment trust based in Orlando, according to Chester County property records. NNN owns thousands of stores across the country. Sheetzs proposal comes as the company has also expressed interest in building a store in Limerick Township at an intersection already served by Wawa. Sheetz presented plans to local officials in the Montgomery County township in February. Sheetz operates 740 stores in six states. In Pennsylvania, it has a stronger presence in the western part of the state, while Delaware County-based Wawa is the bigger player in the Philadelphia region. Sheetzs closest stores to Philadelphia are near Reading. For its part, Wawa opened its first central Pennsylvania convenience store in September near Harrisburg International Airport. The privately held company has said it plans to open up to 40 stores in that region in the next several years. Wawa operates about 1,100 locations in 10 states and Washington. The chain didnt respond to a request for comment. Uber Technologies Inc. is spending six figures on advertisements in New York in its latest appeal to lawmakers to address issues stemming from the insolvency of the citys largest taxi insurer. The rideshare giant launched the campaign on Tuesday as state lawmakers reconvened in Albany to discuss the budget, according to a statement from the company. The exact size of the ad buy was not disclosed. The latest push adds to the millions of dollars that Uber has set aside this year for advertising and backing political candidates in New York and nationwide to agitate for insurance reform. Uber executives have been warning since late last year that demand in some US markets has softened as the company has passed on rising insurance costs to customers in the form of higher prices. The problem of rising fares is especially acute in New York City, one of Ubers top rideshare markets, where the areas largest taxi insurer, American Transit Insurance Co., is insolvent. Hochul in January proposed a plan to stabilize the insurance market. But an Uber lobbyist, Josh Gold, said at the time it was insufficient to address underlying problems in the legal system that encourage fraudulent practices and lead to higher premiums, which it alleged in a racketeering lawsuit filed later that month. Read More: NYC Taxi Disaster Driven by Decades of Inaction, Massive Fraud Earlier this month, Gold wrote in a letter to the top negotiators Governor Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie that immediate reforms are needed to guard against what the company describes as abuses of insurance policies. This abuse, Uber argues, has led to rising premiums for drivers and higher fares for customers. The TLC insurance crisis is simply the most urgent and visible symptom of a much bigger problem, Gold wrote in the April 5 letter, referring to New York Citys Taxi and Limousine Commission. This moment demands leadership. Related: Copyright 2025 Bloomberg. Topics New York Sharing Economy A federal judge on Tuesday issued a preliminary injunction that prevents the U.S. Department of Labor from requiring government contractors and grant recipients to certify they do not operate any diversity, equity and inclusion programs that run afoul of anti-discrimination laws until further order from the court. Judge Matthew Kennelly of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois issued the ruling in response to a lawsuit filed by Chicago Women in Trades, a nonprofit dedicated to training and retaining women in skilled construction trades that receives several grants from the Department of Labor. The certification provision is a key part of President Donald Trumps executive orders aimed at curbing DEI programs because contractors and grant recipients could be subjected to crippling financial penalties under the False Claims Act if they are found in violation of it. The lawsuit filed by Chicago Women in Trades argued that Trumps executive orders infringe on First Amendment Rights and are so broad and vague in their definition of what might constitute illegal DEI as to make compliance impossible. Kennelly had already issued a temporary restraining order against the Labor Department last month that was shorter in duration. His order is limited in scope because he declined to extend the injunction to other federal agencies beyond DOL. However, he ruled that Chicago Women in Trades was ultimately likely to succeed in its lawsuit against key parts of the executive orders, writing that it is anything but obvious what constitutes illegal DEI programs in the governments view. The lawsuit is one of several challenging Trumps executive orders targeting DEI programs in both the private and public sectors. A federal appeals court last month lifted a Baltimore judges block on the anti-DEI orders in a similar case. Trump signed two DEI-related executive orders in January, one of which directs federal agencies to eliminate their own DEI activities and end any equity-related grants or contracts. The other takes broader aim by imposing the certification provision on all companies and institutions with government contracts or grant dollars. It also directs federal agencies to identify private companies, non-profits or foundations for potential investigation into DEI practices. In response to Tuesdays ruling, Justice Department spokesperson Natalie Baldassarre said that the DOJ has vigorously defended President Trumps executive actions, including the order to end radical and wasteful government DEI programs, and will continue to do so. Chicago Women in Trades and lawyers for the organization had no immediate comment. Kennelly on Tuesday also prohibited the Labor Department from canceling or freezing a congressionally-appropriated grant to Chicago Women In Trades under the Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations initiative, which aims to expand pathways for women seeking to enter skilled trades. Kennelly said taking away that grant would violate separation of power provisions under the Constitution. However, Kennellys injunction is narrower in scope than his earlier decision to prohibit the Labor Department from canceling all grants to Chicago Women in Trades. Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Legislation Contractors Sinners Michael B Jordan in Sinners. Good and evil are flip sides of the same coin, at least according to Sinners (16s), which opens in Mississippi in 1932 with brothers Smoke and Stack (both played by Michael B Jordan) returning to their old stomping ground after learning the gangster trade in Al Capones Chicago. Smoke and Stack plan to use their ill-gotten gains to open a juke joint in the towns old sawmill, a scheme the local white folk, and particularly the resident Klansmen, dont look too kindly upon. Embittered by their experience in Chicago, and armed to the teeth, the brothers are more than happy to take on the racists in the white sheets but even the battle-hardened Smoke and Stack couldnt have imagined theyd find themselves at war with an army of the undead. Written and directed by Ryan Coogler, Sinners is a wildly imaginative genre mash-up that fully delivers. The bait-and-switch is deftly managed: when Stack and Smoke first arrive in Mississippi, we find ourselves immersed in a Jim Crow world where the historical detail is beautifully observed. Anticipating a bleak tale of socio-political realism and de facto apartheid, we instead get a full-throated celebration of Black culture as a variety of musicians cut loose with blues and gospel (we even get some Irish-influenced bluegrass and folk) while the juke joint takes shape. Enter Remmick (Jack OConnell), stumbling out of a cornfield with smoke rising from his burning skin: a charismatic vampire, we quickly realise, who has the good fortune to be invited into a Klansmans home. From that point on, all bets are off: as the vampires lay violent siege to the juke joint, were free to enjoy the gore-soaked spectacle or muse on the metaphor of a vampiric society sucking the life-blood from Black culture. Or why not? both, because Ryan Cooglers ambitions are sky-high with Sinners, which features excellent performances from Michael B Jordan, Delroy Lindo, Hailee Steinfeld, Jack OConnell, and Miles Caton. The soundtrack is superb too. All told, Sinners is one of the most entertaining movies of the year to date. Theatrical release Warfare Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland's latest release is Warfare. Picture: A24 Told in real time and set in 2006, Warfare (15A) recounts the experience of a platoon of Navy Seals who requisition an Iraqi home as an observation post, only to find themselves trapped and under attack when an operation goes wrong. Based on the experience of former Navy Seal Ray Mendoza, who co-writes and co-directs with Alex Garland, the film brilliantly recreates the brutalising physical impact of violence at close quarters. The gunfire and explosions are deafening and disorientating; in the claustrophobic setting, we often find ourselves lost and half-blind as the fog of war swirls and sensory overload descends. Theres a fine cast in play here Will Poulter, Cosmo Jarvis, DPharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Joseph Quinn and the technical detail of the Seals attempt to survive their mini-Alamo is expertly executed. The caveat, of course, is that while its difficult not to be moved by the plight of the besieged young men, its equally difficult to ignore that they are invaders terrorising an innocent family. A tough, thought-provoking watch. Theatrical release The Penguin Lessons Steve Coogan in The Penguin Lessons Based on a true story, The Penguin Lessons (12A) stars Steve Coogan as Tom Michell, an Englishman who takes up a post teaching English in an Argentinean boarding school in 1976 just as a military coup becomes an inevitability. Not a man who gets involved, Tom averts his gaze until the political becomes personal; meanwhile, he finds himself reluctantly adopting a little penguin, and gradually finds a still centre in the midst of the chaos. Coogan is well cast as the bluff, diffident but amiable Michell, while Jonathan Pryce and Vivian El Jaber provide solid support as Peter Cattaneo directs a low-key but charming account (adapted by Jeff Pope from Michells 2015 memoir) that eschews the grimmer aspects of the periods history. The penguin, almost inevitably, steals the show. Theatrical release Politician Richard Boyd Barrett made headlines last week when he announced that he was stepping back from politics to undergo treatment for HPV-related cancer. Speaking on the Today with Claire Byrne show on RTE Radio 1, the People Before Profit TD described how he noticed swelling in his neck while he was shaving last October. He went to see his GP and was diagnosed with cancer of the throat. He is taking time out from politics to undergo treatment that includes radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and expects to make a full recovery. What exactly is HPV? We asked Cara Martin, an associate professor of molecular pathology, tumour biology, and cancer screening at Trinity College Dublin and the co-lead of the CERVIVA consortium, which focuses on the early detection and prevention of cancers caused by HPV. The human papillomavirus is a family of viruses passed by skin-to-skin contact, particularly during sex, she says. Its very common and most sexually active people contract some form of it at some stage of their lives. But, in most cases, their immune system clears it without the person ever being aware they had the virus. There are over 150 kinds of HPV, most of which are harmless. But some such as HPV type 16 and type 18 are known to persist, says Martin. Over time, they can damage the DNA in our cells, which can result in cancer. According to the National Cancer Registry, an estimated 640 cases of HPV-associated cancers are diagnosed in Ireland every year, with some 200 people dying from them annually. HPV can cause six different cancers, says Professor Sinead Brennan, a consultant radiation oncologist at St Lukes Hospital in Dublin. Cervical cancer is the most common and the others are cancer of the mouth and throat, vulva, vagina, penis, and anus. Men at risk, too Regular public-awareness campaigns remind women to take part in the HSEs CervicalCheck programme, which screens for cervical cancer. Martin believes this may be part of the reason why theres a common misconception that HPV infection is only a concern for women. Women may be the only ones who get cervical cancer, but men need to know that they can develop three out of the other six HPV-related cancers, Martin says. The best protection against all six of these cancers is the HPV vaccine. It was introduced in Ireland in 2010 and is free of charge for all students in their first year at secondary school. Martin states that if we get 90% or more of our boys and girls vaccinated, HPV-related cancers will become increasingly rare. Bernie Carter is the assistant director of nursing at the Marie Keating Association and raises awareness of HPV. Other countries are trying to reduce their rates of HPV-related cancers. Australia is leading the way internationally, because of their high uptake of the HPV vaccine, which is free to everyone up to 19, Carter says. In the US, HPV vaccination is routinely recommended at age 11 or 12 and offered up to age 26. And in Britain, everyone can get the vaccine for free up to 25. Politician Richard Boyd Barrett made headlines recently when he announced that he was stepping back from politics to undergo treatment for HPV-related cancer. Picture: Damien Storan. While boys and girls in Ireland are offered the vaccine for free in the first year of secondary school, an effort was previously made to offer it to an older age cohort. The Laura Brennan HPV Catch Up Programme offered free vaccinations to all males up to the age of 21 and all females up to the age of 24. However, this programme was discontinued in 2023. The Irish Cancer Society would like to see it reinstated. We know that the vaccine works really well in stopping the spread of HPV and saving people from a heartbreaking diagnosis of HPV-associated cancer, says its CEO, Averil Power. The Government stated its intention to bring back the programme in its Programme for Government, and we believe this should start as a matter of urgency and be available as an option for young people on an ongoing basis. Carter believes there could be a case for offering the vaccine to an even older age group. A US study followed 3,253 women aged 27 to 45 for an average of three and a half years and showed that the vaccine was 88% effective in the prevention of persistent HPV infections, vulval and vaginal pre-cancerous lesions, cervical pre-cancerous lesions, and cervical cancer related to HPV types covered by the vaccine, she says. The US Food and Drug Administration approved the use of the vaccine for women aged up to 45 years, based on these results and other data. Vaccine eligibility too limited? Some high-risk groups in Ireland are offered the vaccine beyond their teenage years. The national immunisation advisory committee has recommended that gay men be given the vaccine up to the age of 45. This includes men who are living with HIV, says Carter. The vaccine is available to them through many pubic STI and HIV clinics in Ireland. Its also available for free to Irish women who are living with HIV up to the age of 26. Is it a mistake to limit the vaccine to young teens and certain high-risk groups? Martin explains the two reasons why the Irish health service decided on this plan of action. One is that the vaccine works best if given before the onset of sexual activity, she says. It doesnt protect you against HPV infections you already have and older people are likely to have already been exposed. "The other reason is that the immune system is stronger when youre young, making this the optimal age to vaccinate. Younger people only need one dose of the vaccine, whereas older people need two or three doses to be effective. If you are worried about your risk of cancers associated with HPV and you are no longer a teenager and dont belong to an at-risk group, it is possible to pay for a HPV vaccine. However, its not cheap, at up to 230 per dose, and with multiple doses likely to be necessary. If you have concerns, Id recommend talking to your healthcare provider, says Martin. They will advise you whether the vaccine might be beneficial for you or not. Vaccine or no vaccine, we can minimise our risk of HPV infection and HPV-related cancers. Practising safe sex will prevent you from contracting many HPV infections, says Martin. Smokers are advised to stop smoking. And women should keep up to date with their cervical screening checks. Awareness of symptoms is equally important. These vary, but no one should ignore any symptom that persists for three weeks or longer, Brennan says. For throat cancer, symptoms might include swelling, a lump, a persistent sore throat, or difficulty swallowing. "In the case of other cancers, watch out for lumps or bumps, abnormal discharge or bleeding, itching or pain. Go to see your doctor if you have any of these. HPV-related cancers tend to respond well to treatment, adds Brennan. This is good news for Boyd Barrett and the others who are likely to be diagnosed this year. In early 2022, the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston began enrolling patients with late-stage disease for a unique clinical trial. With a matter of months to live, and all other treatment options exhausted, the centres oncologists offered these patients a chance to see whether manipulating their gut microbiome via a faecal transplant into the colon could improve their bodys response to immunotherapy. It came with various risks, but in the eyes of Fergus Shanahan, a professor at University College Cork and one of the worlds leading experts on the gut, modulating the microbiome could represent an entirely new frontier for cancer medicine. A few years earlier, he had been invited to a talk at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Hospital in New York City, where oncologists presented data showing that the prognosis of patients with blood cancers following a bone marrow transplant depended greatly on the diversity of their gut microbiome. They had hard data, says Shanahan. The people with high microbial diversity in their gut did far better than those with low diversity. It was a dramatic difference. Now, the Houston trial would demonstrate what could be achieved by boosting the diversity of the microbiome. Fifteen patients would receive stool samples, freeze-dried into capsules, containing the gut microbes of a so-called super donor, a woman who had been cured of her cancer with immunotherapy. The theory was that the mixture of bacteria in her intestines had enhanced her treatment response and might do so in others. In two of the patients, the capsules would succeed. One 53-year-old man with small bowel cancer that had metastasised to multiple organs was cured when oncologists resumed immunotherapy treatment following the faecal transplant. Another patient went into long-term remission. According to Michael Overman, the oncologist who led the trial, this indicates that the gut microbiome is capable of sensitising the bodys immune system to immunotherapy, helping dial up its ability to then recognise and attack cancer cells. The interplay between whats in your gut and the immune system is incredible, he says. Such transplants are still highly experimental in cancer medicine, but Shanahan believes they could play a major role in future. Numerous cancers exploit the fact that the immune system has some switches that can turn itself off, and cancer cells can access those switches, he says. We now have these newer immunotherapies which can fight back and prevent them doing this, and this is where boosting your immune system via the microbiome can make a substantial difference. Cancer therapy is just one of many areas of medicine where faecal transplants are being explored as a new therapeutic option, however. Yellow soup In the past decade, the concept of transferring one persons stool into anothers colon for medical purposes has experienced a surge of interest, but Shanahan explains that it actually has thousands of years of history, originating as part of ancient Chinese medicine. People are kind of titillated by the idea of a faecal transplant, that poo could be therapeutic, he says. But there are records of this being used going all the way back to the Ming dynasty. They used to call it yellow soup. More recently, such transplants have found more of a defined medical niche as a vital therapy for severe clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) infections, a known hospital superbug that can take over the guts of elderly patients following antibiotic treatment, which can to life-threatening complications. Faecal transplants are now approved by regulators as a mainstream therapy for C. difficile infections. For the past five years, Irish microbiologists have been trying to establish a nationwide stool bank to make it easier to carry out these transplants in Irish hospitals. Faecal transplantation has proven over and over again to work in the vast majority of these cases, says Shanahan. You can get this very serious disease in elderly people with C. difficile because they have little reserve in their guts to combat it. Jens Walter, Professor of Ecology, Food and the Microbiome at University College Cork's APC Microbiome Ireland research centre. Given the gut microbiomes role in innumerable chronic diseases, various researchers worldwide have been exploring the potential of faecal transplants in other conditions, ranging from neurological disorders to metabolic and immune system complications. Clinical trials have been carried out in multiple sclerosis, irritable bowel syndrome and even Parkinsons disease, although none so far have taken place in Ireland. Jens Walter, a microbiology professor at University College Cork, recently collaborated with researchers at the University of Alberta in Canada on a trial that tested a combination of faecal transplants and fibre supplements in patients with severe obesity and metabolic syndrome. However, while the study yielded some improvements in insulin sensitivity, Walter questions whether faecal transplants in their current form can be a viable therapy for non-life-threatening chronic illnesses. The effects on insulin were very small and probably temporary, he says. You would likely have to keep repeating it every four to eight weeks to maintain them. While this could be done, Walters reticence stems from some of the known safety concerns with faecal transplants. For while modulating the gut with another persons bacteria can yield benefits, it comes with its own dangers as well. Risk factors For a long time, the primary concern associated with faecal transplants has been the risk of accidentally transferring a novel and potentially harmful pathogen to another persons gut. However, Shanahan and others believe this is now less of a concern, due to modern technologies for screening faecal samples and precisely assessing the microbes within. According to professor Liam OMahony, a microbiologist at UCC and APC Microbiome Ireland, the far bigger risk is modulating a vulnerable persons microbiome in a way that inadvertently makes them prone to developing another chronic illness. You can transfer risk of cardiometabolic disorders, immune dysfunction, anxiety, depression, central nervous system problems, allergies, the list is nearly endless because the microbiome contributes to all of these, says OMahony. Liam OMahony, Principal Investigator at APC Microbiome Ireland SFI Research Centre & Professor of Immunology, University College Cork. Picture: Gerard McCarthy. We know from animal studies that there are transferable traits that pass on risk. For example, if you do a faecal transplant from a food allergic child into a mouse, you can induce a food allergy in that animal. Shanahan also points out that theres a real danger of taking someone already living with multiple sclerosis or irritable bowel syndrome and giving them a greater risk of developing a particular cancer. For example, he says that a faecal transplant may contain species of Helicobacter, a bacteria which is a known cause of stomach cancer. Not just that, but the evidence that certain groups of gut bacteria contribute to the risk of colon cancer is quite strong." Faecal transplants for C. difficile infections are a lifesaving breakthrough, and they have potential in treating patients not responding to existing treatments. However, to take the field forward and make it safer and applicable to a broader range of conditions, both Shanahan and OMahony believe a more sophisticated approach is needed. New technology In the wake of its trial, MD Anderson Cancer Center has partnered with a startup called Kanvas Biosciences. The startup has developed a new technology called HiPR-FISH, capable of pinpointing important relationships between different collections of gut microbes. Using this to identify the key populations of bacteria within the super donors stool, and enabling the powerful response to immunotherapy, Kanvas Biosciences has now isolated these strains and put them into a single pill. This will now be used in further clinical trials at the centre and other hospitals across North America, to see whether it can enhance responses to immunotherapy treatment on a larger scale. Shanahan says that this kind of approach represents the future. I dont think the way in which we currently practise faecal transplantation is likely to have a long-term future, he says. Its too crude. Its giving yellow soup to people without knowing the constituents of the soup. Instead, Shanahan says that we need to study faecal samples where transplants have proved successful, identify relevant microbes, and conduct experiments to understand exactly how theyre achieving these transformational changes. At the moment, a faecal sample can vary hugely from one bowel movement to the next, even if its coming from the same person, he says. We need to be giving defined consortia of microbes so that a faecal transplant on a Monday is the same as on a Tuesday. Until recently, this would have been technically difficult, but with sciences growing ability to analyse gut bacteria and understand their functions, Shanahan predicts that it wont be long before were able to give cancer patients, or even those with immunological or metabolic disorders, a specific cocktail of microbes in the same way in which we offer drugs and vaccines. Its going to involve isolating the important organisms, growing them in a lab, studying them, and putting them back together in a combination where we know precisely what they can and cant do, instead of just a crude soup. There are still logistical hurdles to be overcome, but weve got academic and commercial groups which are very much along the road to doing that, and I dont think itll take long at all." More than 1,000 years ago, Irish monks took precious manuscripts to the European continent to protect them from Viking raids and to spread Christianity and scholarship a glow of culture in what would be called the dark ages. The monks did not know if the books, which included religious scriptures, linguistic analysis, scribbled jokes and a collection of tomes described as the internet of the ancient world, would survive, or ever return. A millennium later, fragments of that trove are for the first time finding their way back to Ireland. Switzerlands Abbey of Saint Gall has agreed to lend 17 manuscripts to the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin for a landmark exhibition that will combine artefacts and parchments to recreate a sense of Irelands golden age as the land of saints and scholars, when missionary monks established monasteries in what are today Britain, France, Germany, Switzerland and Italy. What were trying to do is to retrace those journeys and the world in which those manuscripts were produced, said Matthew Seaver, who is curating the exhibition, titled Words on the Wave: Ireland and St Gallen in Early Medieval Europe. These books are key to an understanding of ourselves, our language and our links with the continent. Their value and importance are difficult to overestimate. Ireland retained the Book of Kells, a masterpiece that is now displayed at Trinity College Dublin, but lost most of its ancient books to the Vikings and subsequent centuries of political turmoil, Seaver said. Thats why today there are more Irish manuscripts in Britain and the continent than in Ireland. The exhibition, which coincides with challenges to international trade and European unity, is a reminder of economic, cultural and political ties that threaded the Atlantic to the Alps from the fifth century. After much of Ireland converted to Christianity, its monasteries became centres of learning that produced and replicated academic and religious manuscripts, including the oldest surviving copy of Etymologiae, an encyclopedia of the origin of words that has been called antiquitys internet. Scribes who wrote a grammar book titled Priscians Institutiones Grammaticae recorded not only Latin language rules but, in the margins, scribbled comments about their daily lives. One admitted to being ale-killed having a hangover. Some complained of the cold, others grumbled at their materials. New parchment, bad ink. O I say nothing more. Another expressed hope that a storm would deter any Viking raid. Bitter is the wind tonight, it tosses the oceans white hair: I fear not the coursing of a clear sea by the fierce heroes from Lothlend. Such comments showed the manuscripts were not just relics of scholarship, Seaver said. Theyre full of human voices, humour, frustration and resilience, offering us a rare and very real glimpse into the daily lives and personalities of early medieval Irish monks. Taking manuscripts to the continent was a response to the Viking threat and also part of a system of cultural exchange, said the curator. It was a two-way street. From an early stage, Ireland was receiving books and scholars from the continent and Anglo-Saxon England. It is thought that ships that brought wine, oils, pottery and other wares from the continent took Irish monks in the other direction. The most famous, Saint Columba, also known as Columbanus, established monasteries in the seventh century in the Frankish and Lombard kingdoms. One of his reputed disciples, Saint Gall, founded a hermitage that became an abbey in what is now the Swiss city of St Gallen. The abbey library, now a Unesco world heritage site, has agreed to lend 17 manuscripts for the exhibition, which will run from 30 May to 24 October. The National Museum of Ireland will display the books with more than 100 artefacts from its own collection, including the Lough Kinale Book Shrine, which is the earliest and largest known container for a sacred text. Discovered broken at the bottom of a Longford lake, it makes its public debut in the exhibition after years of conservation. - The Guardian Read More 41615737[/reamore] Further calls have been made for resignations in the wake of a damning Hiqa report last week on spinal care at Children's Health Ireland (CHI), as concerns grow among families of children with scoliosis. Scoliosis Ireland was set up in 2010 and supports adults as well as children. It was "heartbreaking" to read a report on use of unapproved springs and widespread organisational problems at CHI, Scoliosis Ireland founder Gary Farrell said. He echoed calls from scoliosis and spina bifida advocates for more resignations in addition to the CHI board chairman Dr Jim Browne, who stepped down last week. We were calling for the board to step down in 2023. There were that many things going on in reports we were hearing back from parents, the lack of communication and other terrible things, Mr Farrell said. We started calling for that about a year and a half ago, because we felt they were not managing the situation properly. He said his concerns were growing even before public focus on use of the springs from autumn 2023 and he "didnt have much faith". His frustrations come from seeing previous reform pledges bring little change. He was part of the co-design action plan group in 2018 which saw advocates and CHI working together. 'Empty promises' Sometimes we call it the no-action plan, he said. There was very little done there, it was all empty promises. He called for more focus on Government funding and recruitment to help their members be seen more quickly. Were just being let down and let down. I know some of these families personally and its horrible to hear the horror stories behind it, its a difficult thing, he said. Mr Farrell has scoliosis, having been diagnosed at 14. He should now be looking forward to the move to the under-construction childrens hospital for their younger members. However after reading what Hiqa found out, he said: Im extremely worried about the new hospital. CHI has accepted the nine recommendations made by Hiqa. It said five were already complete by the time of publication and the others were partially completed. Chief executive Lucy Nugent has apologised to the children affected. Meanwhile a separate audit of hip dysplasia surgeries at CHI continues. The oldest known survivor of the Tuam mother and baby home has revealed how her son had to travel from the UK to Ireland to help the 94-year-old apply for the State's redress scheme. Christine 'Chrissie' Tully, from Loughrea in Co Galway, was sent to the home after she became pregnant twice outside of marriage, once at 18 and again at 23. Her heartbreaking story has resonated internationally and is to feature in the New York Times after first being highlighted in the Irish Examiner. Chrissie told the Irish Examiner this week how she had to wait to get the help of her son Patrick Naughton to be able to apply for the State's redress scheme. My son Patrick came home from London and we did the forms together she said. I wasnt able to do them. Youre supposed to do this on the internet to make it easier, that is not easy for me. I live alone, with no family around me, and I only found my son in recent years, he has his life and family in the UK but he is very good to me. " Patrick was taken from Chrissie just weeks after she gave birth to him in the Tuam home in 1954. He moved to the UK with his adoptive parents when he was aged 13, and was reunited with Chrissie in 2013. He has his application too as he was taken from me by the nuns and adopted without my consent. They didnt make it easy for you to apply. I was just going to leave it and then I read Philomena Lees appeal to everyone to apply, and I said then I would. Chrissie continues to hold out hope of being reunited with her other son Michael who she was told died after she gave birth to him in the Tuam home on December 13, 1949. However, she has never seen a grave for him, and believes he may have been adopted without her knowledge. Im afraid Michael is not dead, but with no evidence I just dont know. When he was delivered the doctors took him away, I never saw him. I pray for him every night. The older you get the more you wonder, is he in the Tuam grave, or is he one of the children who was sent to America, how do any of us know? "Only the doctors and nuns know, and they are all dead. I have never forgotten him." Ms Tully, who never married and has no other children, recently set up a Go Fund Me Page with the help of Patrick to try and buy her council home for 50,000 so her son Michael will always have a home to which he can return. What if Michael comes looking for me after I die? Its a council house, but it won't be my home after I die. Id like to buy it, so he knows I waited for him. Chrissie's story is due to feature in the New York Times after she was interviewed recently by the publication. I didnt think anyone would be interested in my story but people have been very good since I spoke out, I just want others to know I support them too." The only living relative of a Bosnian man who was killed in Dublin has said he fears he will never get justice for his cousin after the key suspect left the country. Ahmet Dracic is the only surviving relative of Adnan Asic who died after he was violently beaten in west Dublin on October 22, 2022. He had fled the Bosnia war 30 years ago and sought refuge here living a peaceful life in Dublin. Three year ago he was beaten to death. A man in his 40s was arrested in connection with the assault in January and was released without charge. A file is now being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. Ahmet Dracic said: I am haunted always about this. He was the only member of my family left. I know someone who was the main suspect left the country after he was questioned in January. I don't know if he is coming back, but how can he just go like that, he's a person of very serious interest. I have called the police in Blanchardstown over and over, I get nothing, no reply back." Mr Dracic said he felt forced to get answers himself after he was unable to reach gardai for an update on his case. I ring over and over, I get nothing. So, I just go to the mans house myself, but he is gone. "This is making me so mad, I didnt drink for 30 years and now I am drinking. I hope he comes back but I don't know." Mr Asic, of Castelcurragh Heath, Blanchardstown, had attended a party on the night he was killed, and his cousin was also there. He left with another man and was later found lying on the ground with serious injuries at a junction off the Old Navan Road and Blanchardstown Road North at 2.15am. He was rushed to James Connolly Memorial hospital in Blanchardstown where he was pronounced dead a short time later. At his inquest in 2023, the court was told Mr Asic suffered blunt force trauma to his chest and shoulder. Mr Dracic showed the Irish Examiner images of his late cousin as he lay on a hospital bed before he died. The photographs, which show the extent of the injuries the deceased suffered after the violent attack, are too graphic to publish. Adnan Asic died after he was violently beaten in west Dublin on October 22, 2022. I was at the party with him that night, said Mr Dracic, I left him at Blanchardstown Shopping Centre and then the next day the gardai called me to go to the station. They said my cousin was dead. I saw him, and he was so injured, beaten like a dog." When contacted, a Garda spokesperson said: An Garda Siochana does not comment on named individuals. As the bells rang out across the courtyard of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the priests began to sing a deep, low prayer. Heads bowed over candles, and escorted by people bearing aloft large gold crosses, they made their way to a platform at the heart of the ancient square. The ceremony on Holy Thursday, in which the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem washes the feet of 12 monastic priests to commemorate the Last Supper, is one of many Easter rituals that have taken place in the Old City of Jerusalem for hundreds of years. For Christians, there is no holier place to commemorate Easter than here, the site where they believe Jesus Christ was crucified, buried and resurrected. Yet the crowd that assembled outside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Thursday morning was small and muted. International pilgrims jostled with dark-robed Greek Orthodox monks, but one group of native worshippers was noticeably absent. For generations, the tens of thousands of Palestinian Christians living in Israeli-occupied West Bank villages and cities such as Ramallah, Bethlehem and Taybeh would travel to Jerusalems Old City at Easter to take part in the prayers, processions and rituals such as the Holy Fire ceremony. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre itself is in East Jerusalem, which was captured by Israel from Jordan in the six-day war of 1967 and unilaterally annexed in 1980. Yet centuries of tradition have been ruptured by Israels increasingly draconian control over Palestinian movement which means any Palestinian in the West Bank living outside Jerusalem, must obtain a military permit if they want to enter the city. For years, Christians in Palestinian territories were regularly granted permits to visit Jerusalem around Easter but since the war with Hamas broke out on 7 October 2023, they have become almost impossible to obtain. Orthodox Christians mark Palm Sunday at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a place where Christians believe Jesus Christ was crucified, buried and resurrected, in Jerusalem. File Picture: AP Photo/Oded Balilty This Easter, the government announced it had issued 6,000 permits, though there are 50,000 Christians mostly Catholic or Greek Orthodox living in the West Bank beyond East Jerusalem. However, in reality, just 4,000 were given, according to Christian leaders, and often only to a few members of each family who applied. These permits are valid for just one week and do not allow the Palestinian pilgrims to stay in Jerusalem overnight, meaning they have to make the gruelling journey back to the West Bank by bus or taxi crossing a multitude of army checkpoints every evening, limiting the festivities they can take part in. A group from the village of Taybeh said the Israeli military still did not allow them to cross over to Jerusalem for Palm Sunday even though they had valid permits. The few who do make it to the Old City have been met with increased police brutality in recent years. In April 2023, Palestinian Christian worshipers and international pilgrims were beaten by Israeli police and armed forces as they attempted to reach the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. People are very afraid and many will not risk attending the Easter processions any more, said Omar Haramy, who runs Sabeel, a Christian organisation based in Jerusalem. He said several staff were beaten last year as they tried to attend Easter festivities in the Old City, and Christians in the Old City regularly faced hostility outside churches or as they went about their daily lives. One of the greatest sources of distress among the Christian community is the introduction of blockades and aggressive policing that prevented thousands of Christians being able to take part in the Holy Fire festivities that mark the resurrection on Easter Saturday afternoon, as they have done for hundreds of years in the Old City. While the restrictions have been justified in the name of safety, many Christians view them as another way for the Israeli state to exert dominance over the community. I will go to the celebrations on Holy Saturday because my family has been part of this tradition for thousands of years, but Im not going to bring my kids, its too dangerous now, with the police violence, Haramy said. The spectre of Gaza also hangs over this years Easter festivities. Palestinian Christians are among the 51,000 people killed in Gaza since the war with Israel began and on Palm Sunday, an Israeli missile hit the only Christian-run hospital in the strip. There are about 500 Christians are sheltering in Holy Family church, one of only two left standing. Those contacted by the Guardian said they were too afraid to talk, fearful of anything that might make them a target of Israeli airstrikes. For all its biblical significance and abundance of churches, convents and monasteries, Jerusalems Old City has become increasingly dangerous for all Christians, not just those from Arab backgrounds. Since the rise of Jewish ultranationalism in Israel, and the election of the most far-right government in the countrys history, extremist and settler Jewish movements who want to claim all of Israel and Palestinian-controlled territories as a state only for Jews have been emboldened in their actions against both Christians and Muslims. 'It was not like this before' Roman Catholic clergymen carry palm fronds during the Palm Sunday procession at Church of the Holy Sepulchre, traditionally believed by many to be the site of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus Christ, in Jerusalem's Old City. Picture: AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg Historically, the relationship between Christians and Jews has been fraught, because of the Christian churchs historic role in antisemitism and the persecution of Jews. The ongoing presence of proselytising evangelical Christians, many from the US, who travel to Israel with the sole purpose of converting Jews, has also been inflammatory, particularly among the Jewish Orthodox community. But religious intolerance and antichristian sentiment has been made mainstream by Israeli political leadership the ultra-hardline national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, described Israelis spitting on Christians as an old Jewish tradition and old suspicions have escalated into brazen, all-out violence. There have also been growing incidences of settler groups attempting to seize Christian land in Jerusalem. In 2023, the Holy Land Roman Catholic patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa accused the government of establishing a cultural and political atmosphere that can justify, or tolerate, actions against Christians. A recent report by the Rossing Center for Education and Dialogue documented the steep rise in the scale and severity of attacks on Christians in Jerusalem and across Israel in 2024, ranging from spitting at priests and public hate speech to the desecration of graves, arson attacks and vandalising of churches. Its usually young Israeli Jewish men who are conducting these attacks with impunity. They face very little punishment, if the police get involved at all, said John Munayer, the director of international engagement at the Rossing Center. Its a clear attempt by hardcore settler Zionists to Judaise the Old City of Jersualem and trying to make it unbearable for Christians who have been there for centuries. As he attended the Easter prayer ceremony on Thursday, Father Nikon Golovko, the deputy head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem, said he had really seen things change for the worse for Christians in the past nine years. He said: We receive a lot more hostility and even aggression from the Jewish community. They spit on priests, even when we are walking through the Christian quarter. It sends a message that the city belongs not to all communities but only to the Jews. It was not like this before. After an incident in which Orthodox Jews were caught on video spitting at Christians, Benjamin Netanyahus office said that Israel was totally committed to safeguard the sacred right of worship and pilgrimage to the holy sites of all faiths. A Christian Orthodox pilgrim holds a candle during the Holy Fire ceremony. Picture: AP Photo/Leo Correa Xavier Abu Eid, a Palestinian Christian political analyst and the author of Rooted in Palestine: Palestinian Christians and the Struggle for National Liberation 1917-2004, said that despite the mounting harassment they faced, the diminishing numbers of Christians left in the West Bank and the unrelenting horrors of the war in Gaza, he still viewed Easter as a time of hope and the timely message that life defeats death. As Palestinian Christians, we know that this generation will either make it or break it, said Abu Eid. So making clear to the Israeli occupation that we are going to stay, that we will celebrate the same religious events that weve been celebrating for centuries is both a national mandate and a religious mission that we have. Keeping our Christian traditions alive, praying they have become an act of resistance. - The Guardian Prime Minister Mark Carney has said he will cut out the red tape for internal, domestic trade for Canadian businesses while dealing with US President Donald Trump. Speaking at an election debate in Montreal, he said the US tariff war could be a blessing in disguise for Canada. Canada has long had interprovincial trade barriers, but the former Bank of England governor has set a goal of free trade within the countrys 10 provinces and three territories by July 1. Fight President Trumps tariffs. Protect workers. Build a stronger economy. Thats my plan. #Debate2025 Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) April 17, 2025 We can give ourselves far more than Donald Trump can ever take away, Mr Carney said. We can have one economy. This is within our grasp. Mr Carney said the relationship Canada has had with the US for the past 40 years has fundamentally changed because of Mr Trumps tariffs. If re-elected, Mr Carney plans to immediately enter into trade talks with the Trump administration. We are facing the biggest crisis of our lifetimes, he said in his closing statement. Donald Trump is trying to fundamentally change the world economy, the trading system, but really is hes trying to break us so the US can own us. They want our land, they want our resources, they want our water, they want our country. I am ready and I have managed crises over the years We will fight back with counter tariffs and we will protect our workers. Mr Trumps trade war and threats to make Canada the 51st state of America have infuriated Canadians, leading to a surge in nationalism that has bolstered Liberal poll numbers ahead of the April 28 vote. Conservative rival Pierre Poilievre is imploring Canadians not to give the Liberals a fourth term. The Liberals added more people than new homes built. Then housing costs doubled. What did they think was going to happen? You can't afford a 4th Liberal term. Vote for Change. Vote to build homes you can afford. Vote Conservative. pic.twitter.com/XqCPR6KSom Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) April 17, 2025 He had hoped to make the election a referendum on former leader Justin Trudeau, whose popularity had declined at the end of his decade in power after food and housing prices rose sharply and immigration surged. But Mr Trump instead attacked the former Canadian leader who resigned with Mr Carney becoming Liberal leader and prime minister after a leadership race. It may be difficult, Mr Poilievre, you spent years running against Justin Trudeau and the carbon tax, and they are both gone, Mr Carney said. I am a very different person than Justin Trudeau. In the face of President Trumps threats, I am ready to fight, to protect, and to build Canada strong. #DebatsDesChefs Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) April 16, 2025 In a mid-January poll by Nanos, Liberals trailed the Conservative Party by 47% to 20%. In the latest Nanos poll released on Thursday, the Liberals led by five percentage points. We cant afford a fourth Liberal term of rising housing costs, Mr Poilievre said. Mr Poilievre accused Mr Carneys Liberals of being hostile toward Canadas energy sector and pipelines. Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet, New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh and Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre listen to Liberal leader Mark Carney speak (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press/AP) He accused the Liberals of weakening the economy and vowed that a Conservative government would repeal anti-energy laws, red tape and high taxes. During Wednesdays French-language leaders debate in Montreal, Mr Carney reminded the nation that he has only been prime minister for a month. We need change. You do not embody change, Mr Poilievre said to Mr Carney. Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-Francois Blanche, whose party is losing support to Mr Carneys Liberals in Quebec, agreed, saying the Liberals are the same party, the same ministers and the same politicians and a new leader does not change that. A man used his police officer mothers gun to kill two people at Florida State University, police have said. A further six have been taken to hospital with injuries in connection with the attack. Police shot and wounded the gunman, who they identified as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, after he refused to comply with commands from officers. Florida State University Police Chief Jason Trumbower said the gunman shot at individuals around the student union building. He is believed to be a Florida State student. Mr Trumbower said authorities would not be releasing information about the victims, including whether they were students, but did confirm the two people who were killed were not students at the university. People sit in front of a makeshift memorial hours after Ikner began firing around lunchtime just outside the student union, sending people running for cover (Kate Payne/AP) The injured were all in fair condition, Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare said in a Facebook post. Leon County Sheriff Walter McNeil revealed the alleged gunmans identity and his relation to deputy Jessica Ikner, who has been with the sheriffs office for more than 18 years. Mr McNeil says the alleged gunman was a long-standing member of the sheriffs offices youth advisory council and engaged in a number of training programmes with the office. This is obviously a heinous crime, Mr McNeil said. We will make sure that we do everything we can to prosecute and make sure that we send a message to folks that this will never be tolerated here in Leon County, and I dare say across the state and across this nation. Ikner was in the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, according to Mr Revell. Asked about the shooting, US President Donald Trump said its a shame, adding that he knew the school and the area very well. Florida State University students wait for news amid a reported shooter incident at the schools campus (Kate Payne/AP) But Mr Trump suggested that he would not be advocating for any new gun legislation, saying: The gun doesnt do the shooting, the people do. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Mr Trump called himself a big advocate of the Second Amendment and the right to bear arms. I have an obligation to protect the Second Amendment, he said. Florida State University cancelled classes on Friday, two weeks before the universitys scheduled commencement ceremony for graduates from May 2 to 3. The universitys official finals week, per its academic calendar, is scheduled to start on April 28. Jake Nair, a senior student at the university, was studying in the library when a police officer dashed out of the building, yelling for everyone to stay in place. He ran outside with his gun out, Mr Nair said. Not all the students heard him, and some of them ran out the back of the library. Florida State University students wait for news amid a reported shooter incident at the schools campus in Tallahassee (Kate Payne/AP) Mr Nair said an alarm in the library then went off and a recorded message warned students to shelter in place because of an active shooter on campus. About five officers came into the library and escorted the students out with their hands up. I think they just wanted to make sure none of us had a weapon on us, Mr Nair said. To be honest, it was a bit of a surreal moment. Its the kind of thing you only see on the news. Ryan Cedergren, a 21-year-old communications student, said he and about 30 others hid in the bowling alley in the unions lower level after seeing students running from a nearby bar. In that moment, it was survival, he said. Florida State University students wait for news amid an active shooter incident at the schools campus in Tallahassee (Kate Payne/AP) University president Richard McCullough said he was heartbroken by the violence. Our hearts go out to our students and the victims of this terrible tragedy, he said. As dusk fell over Florida State University, a small memorial of candles and bouquets of flowers had been set up outside the student union, while investigators yellow tape blocked off the nearby doors. Florida State is one of the Sunshine States 12 public universities, with its main campus in Tallahassee. About 44,000 students are enrolled in the university, according to the schools 2024 fact sheet. In 2014, the main library was the site of a shooting that wounded three people. Officers shot and killed the gunman, 31-year-old Myron May. Foreign ministry officials from Bangladeshs interim government and Pakistan have resumed talks after a 15-year gap, as the two South Asian Muslim-majority nations attempt to ease strained relations. Under former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted in August in a student-led mass uprising, Bangladesh expanded relations with neighbouring India in every sector. But ties with India have become increasingly tense. Bangladeshs interim leader, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, has criticised India for sheltering Ms Hasina in the country and sought her extradition without any positive response from India. Mr Yunus has meanwhile sought to improve relations with Pakistan, Indias rival. In recent months he met Pakistans prime minister Shehbaz Sharif several times, and a high-level Bangladeshi military delegation made a rare visit to Pakistan in January and held talks with Pakistans army chief General Asim Munir. Talks between the two nations (Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs via AP) In February, Bangladeshs navy took part in a multi-national maritime exercise organised by Pakistan off the Karachi coast. After Ms Hasinas exit, Bangladesh and Pakistan resumed direct trading for the first time in years. Direct flights between the countries are expected to resume soon and visa procedures have been eased while India stopped visas for Bangladeshis, except for medical emergencies. Earlier this month, India cancelled a trans-shipment facility that allowed Bangladesh to export its primarily garment products to third countries using Indian airports and other Indian infrastructure. The move is expected to impact Bangladeshs roughly 39 billion dollars annual ready-made garment exports by increasing trade costs with the European Union, Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar. Bangladesh is the worlds second largest garment producer after China. After Thursdays talks in Dhaka between Bangladeshs foreign secretary Jashim Uddin and his Pakistani counterpart, Mr Uddin said Bangladesh raised historically unsettled issues with Pakistan, including a formal public apology for atrocities allegedly committed by Pakistani troops in 1971 during Bangladeshs war of independence. India helped Bangladesh win independence through a nine-month war against then West Pakistan, now Pakistan. Ms Hasinas Awami League party regularly criticises Pakistan for alleged atrocities during the war, when Bangladesh says about three million people were killed and about 200,000 women were raped by Pakistani soldiers. Pakistan rejects the claims and has never officially apologised. Local media reported earlier that Mr Yunus government was preparing to formally raise its demand for 4.52 billion dollars in financial compensation from Pakistan. Mr Uddin said the issue of the compensation was raised in Thursdays meeting. These issues need to be resolved for having a solid foundation of our relations, Mr Uddin said on Thursday. The two sides also discussed expansion of trade and commerce and increasing co-operation in agriculture and other sectors, he added. Yunus office said in a statement late Thursday that he held a separate meeting with the Pakistani foreign secretary and emphasised strengthening ties with Pakistan to boost mutual cooperation and explore trade and business potentials. There are certain hurdles. We have to find ways to overcome those and move forward, Mr Yunus told Pakistans foreign secretary Amna Baloch. The last such consultation between the two countries was held in Islamabad in 2010 after Ms Hasina came to power in a 2008 election with a landslide victory. Ms Baloch said Bangladesh and Pakistan must find ways to harness the potentials between the two countries, the statement said. US vice president JD Vance has arrived in Rome for meetings with the Vaticans second in command and Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, fresh off the Italian leaders visit to the White House a day earlier. Ms Meloni, who has positioned herself as a bridge between the US and Europe, received praise from President Donald Trump for her crackdown on migration during a meeting at the Oval Office on Thursday. The sex trafficking trial of Sean Diddy Combs will proceed as scheduled in early May despite his lawyers claims that they need an extra two months to prepare, a judge said on Friday. Judge Arun Subramanian said at a Manhattan federal court hearing that the hip-hop moguls trial, projected to last from eight to 10 weeks, will start on May 5. Lawyers for the entertainer had requested a two-month delay, citing a need for more time to gather information about trial witnesses and to cope with late additions to the indictment against their client. But the judge, noting that Combs has at least four attorneys, said the defence has sufficient time to be ready for trial next month. Lawyers for Sean Diddy Combs had asked for the trial to be delayed (Sean Dempsey/PA) He said he would not grant a delay and allow a fishing expedition to seek more evidence. Combs, 55, who has been held without bail since his September arrest, turned toward the courtrooms spectators after the hearing so he could face his mother. He gave a thumbs-up toward her and two other supporters, including a man who wore a Free Puff sweatshirt. He has pleaded not guilty. During Fridays hearing, Judge Subramanian made rulings about evidence and how the trial will proceed. Among his rulings, he said accusers who are called as witnesses by the government can testify under pseudonyms to protect their identities. He also refused a defence request to toss out several charges in the indictment returned against Combs. Prosecutors say Combs coerced and abused women for two decades, using his power and prestige as a music star to silence victims through blackmail and violence, including kidnapping, arson and physical beatings. They say the Bad Boy Records founder induced female victims into drugged-up, elaborately produced sexual performances with male sex workers in events dubbed Freak Offs. Defence lawyers have said the government is mischaracterising the relationship Combs had with former long-term girlfriends to criminalise consensual sexual conduct. Friday, Apr 18th, 2025 (12:01 am) - Score 2,040 Network analyst firm Streetwave has conducted an anecdotal study of UK mobile coverage (4G, 5G etc.) and mobile broadband speeds along the South West Mainline as operated by South Western Railway (SWR). This found that customers connected via mobile operator EE received the best coverage, while O2 were the weakest. The South West Mainline is a 143 miles long (230km) major railway (train) line between Londons central Waterloo station and Weymouth (Dorset) on the central south coast of England. The line is a key commuter route and around 118 trains a day run between the cities according to Trainline. NOTE: The singular survey was conducted on the 20th March 2025, starting at 6:30am on a 2-hour and 16-minute journey between London and Bournemouth. The railway journey was conducted by SWR on a Class 450 train. The train was only around 30% full during the journey. Streetwave defines Essential Coverage as being reflective of locations where the network provides users with connectivity of above 1Mbps download speeds, 0.5Mbps upload, and below 100ms (milliseconds) of latency (i.e. covering or allowing only the most basic of use cases / needs). Advertisement Overall, EE delivered the highest levels of Essential Coverage across the line with 68% of the railway covered and their simulated passenger being without a dependable internet connection for a total of 44 minutes during the trip. But others fared worse. The fact that EE came top is not so surprising when you consider that SWR has a strategic partnership with BT (who manage the EE network, which SWRs onboard Wi-Fi uses). Essential Coverage Scores on South West Mainline 1. EE 68% 2. Vodafone 55% 3. Three UK 42% 4. O2 33% Time Simulated Passenger Spent Without a Dependable Internet Connection 1. EE 44 minutes 2. Vodafone 61 minutes 3. Three UK 79 minutes 4. O2 91 minutes The survey was admittedly very anecdotal and really needed to be conducted several times, on different days and times of day, in order to produce a stronger level of data. But it does still provide a useful, if limited, snapshot of how mobile connectivity performs on the line (remember the onboard Wi-Fi service is usually also supplied via mobile capacity). The results might also help to inform the current debate between mobile operators and the government. This is over whether public money should be diverted from the 1bn industry-led Shared Rural Network (SRN) to subsidise coverage improvements along Britains railway lines. Finally, its worth noting that SWR are currently developing superfast Wi-Fi technology with FirstGroup, which will be installed between Earlsfield and Basingstoke. This trackside solution will be fully integrated with their existing onboard Wi-Fi service, which will benefit their mainline passengers. Four Fatalities Following Cable Car Crash Near Naples, Italy Tragically, four individuals lost their lives and another was injured when a cable car collapsed near Naples, Italy, according to firefighters. Reports indicate that a cable snapped on the route transporting tourists from Castellammare di Stabia, located on the Gulf of Naples, to Monte Faito, approximately 3km away. Four deceased bodies were recovered, while a fifth injured person was rescued and transported to the hospital, the fire department stated in a Telegram post, noting that this was the final count. Passengers from a different cable car were seen being rescued during the incident. More than 50 firefighters were involved in the rescue operations. Fog hindered the rescue efforts for a second cabin that hung precariously over a cliff on Monte Faito, according to media reports. The cable car had just resumed operations for the summer season, and authorities have announced the initiation of an investigation into the incident. The cable car reopened just ten days ago, adhering to all necessary safety standards, stated Umberto de Gregorio, the head of the cable car company. What occurred today is a tragic event that was both unimaginable and unforeseen, he added. Italys Prime Minister, Georgia Meloni, who was in Washington at the time, conveyed her sincere condolences to the families of those affected, as confirmed by her office. The cable car service has been operating since 1952, and a similar accident in 1960 also resulted in four fatalities. In May 2021, another cable car incident in the Italian Alps near Lake Maggiore led to the deaths of 14 individuals. In 1998, a US fighter jet conducting a low-training flight severed a steel cable, resulting in the tragic deaths of 20 individuals in a cable car in the Dolomites. Kyiv has reported receiving the remains of hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers who lost their lives in battles against Russia, marking the second repatriation in just three weeks. The exchange of prisoners of war and the deceased has emerged as one of the few points of collaboration between the two parties since the onset of Russias invasion of Ukraine in 2022. As a result of repatriation activities, the bodies of 909 fallen Ukrainian defenders were returned to Ukraine, stated the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, a Ukrainian governmental body, on social media. Typically, Russia does not announce the repatriation of its soldiers remains nor does it provide updated figures regarding its military casualties in Ukraine. This exchange occurred amidst apparent stagnation in US-led efforts to broker a ceasefire between the conflicting sides. Tens of thousands from both factions are believed to have perished, although neither nation routinely releases casualty numbers. In mid-February, Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky disclosed to NBC News that over 46,000 of his soldiers had been killed and around 380,000 injured. Since autumn 2022, Russia has not updated its casualty figures, stating then that fewer than 6,000 soldiers had died. An ongoing investigation by Mediazona and the BBCs Russian service has managed to identify the names of approximately 100,000 deceased Russian soldiers since the war commenced, utilizing publicly available information. Ukraine PM to visit US next week for resource deal talks Ukrainian Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Yulia Svyrydenko, signed the rare earth minerals agreement. Next week, Ukraines prime minister will be traveling to Washington for discussions with senior US officials aimed at finalizing a long-awaited minerals and resources deal by April 26, as per a memorandum. The United States and Ukraine had intended to formalize a deal on the extraction of Ukraines strategic minerals weeks ago; however, a disagreement between presidents Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky in February temporarily halted the negotiations. Mr. Trump is advocating for the dealstructured to provide the US with royalty payments from profits derived from Ukrainian resource and rare mineral miningas compensation for the aid extended to Ukraine by his predecessor, Joe Biden. A document titled memorandum of intent, signed by representatives of both nations, indicates they aim to conclude discussions by Saturday, April 26, and to finalize the agreement as soon as possible. Ukrainian Prime Minister (Denys) Shmygal will visit Washington, DC the week of April 21, 2025, to meet with US Treasury Secretary (Scott) Bessent and give high-level support to the resolution of technical discussions, the document published by the Ukrainian government states. Negotiating teams are expected to provide an update on progress by April 26, 2025, with the objective of completing discussions by that date and to sign as soon as possible, it continued. US officials assert that enhancing American business interests in Ukraine will help deter future Russian aggression should a ceasefire be achieved. Ukraine is advocating for concrete military and security guarantees as part of any agreement to end the three-year conflict. Earlier, Yulia Svyrydenko, Ukraines first deputy prime minister and economy minister, shared on social media that the memorandum had been signed. We are pleased to announce the signing, with our American partners, of a Memorandum of Intent, paving the way for an Economic Partnership Agreement and the creation of the Investment Fund for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, she wrote. A Ukrainian delegation traveled to Washington at the end of last week for negotiations following the Trump administrations proposition of a new, broader agreement. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, flanked by Vice President JD Vance and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. In a meeting with Mr. Trump in the Oval Office yesterday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated, were still working on the details, noting that the signing could occur by next Friday. Its substantially what wed agreed on previously, he mentioned. When the president was here, we had a memorandum of understanding. We progressed to the major deal, which I believe is an 80-page agreement, and thats what we will be signing. The White House has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the timing and specifics of the agreement. Earlier, Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky indicated that the two nations might sign the memorandum online later in the day. This is a memorandum of intent. We harbor positive, constructive intentions, Mr. Zelensky told reporters in Ukraine. He added that the US had proposed to sign the memorandum prior to the comprehensive deal, which would need ratification from the Ukrainian parliament. Earlier, Ms. Svyrydenko mentioned that significant progress had been made between Ukraine and the US during their discussions, and that the memorandum represented the initial stage to document this advancement. The Israeli military reported that airstrikes targeted approximately 40 locations across Gaza in the last 24 hours, coming after Hamas declined a ceasefire proposal that it claimed did not meet its request for a complete cessation of hostilities. Earlier reports from Gazas civil defense agency indicated that two overnight Israeli strikes resulted in the deaths of 15 individuals, including ten members of the same family. Mahmud Bassal, a spokesperson for Gazas civil defense, stated on Telegram that our rescue teams retrieved the bodies of ten martyrs along with numerous injured individuals from the residence of the Baraka family and neighboring buildings struck by the Israeli occupation forces in the Bani Suhaila region east of Khan Yunis, located in southern Gaza. Later, Mr. Bassal informed that another strike impacted two homes in the northern Gaza area of Tal al-Zaatar, where teams had recovered the bodies of five individuals. The military noted that troops were engaged in operations in the Shabura and Tel Al-Sultan regions close to the southern city of Rafah, and in northern Gaza, where they have gained control over extensive territories east of Gaza City. Efforts by Egyptian mediators to restore the ceasefire agreement from January, which collapsed when Israel resumed airstrikes and redeployed ground forces to Gaza, have not shown significant progress toward resolving the core issues between the two parties. Khalil Al-Hayya, a high-ranking official in Hamas, expressed last night that the Palestinian militant group seeks a comprehensive agreement to end the conflict in Gaza and to exchange all Israeli hostages for Palestinians incarcerated in Israel. However, he criticized an Israeli offer that required Hamas to disarm as placing impossible conditions on negotiations. Latest stories from the Middle East Although Israel has not formally addressed Mr. Al-Hayyas statements, government officials have consistently asserted that Hamas must be fully disarmed and will not have a role in Gazas future governance. The ceasefire proposal relayed through Egyptian intermediaries includes discussions regarding a conclusive arrangement for the war, though it lacks a definitive agreement. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz also mentioned this week that military forces would remain in the buffer zone along the border, which now extends deep into Gaza and effectively divides the enclave, even after any potential resolution. Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) Tara Copp at AP reports that the Trump administration will withdraw some of the 2000 troops now based in southeastern Syria. Some 600 will come out, leaving about 1400. The US has 8 small bases there and will close 3 of them. According to the UAE press which draws on in part on the NYT, the move reflected the changed political situation in the country, given the fall of the Assad regime last fall and the accession of a new, fundamentalist Sunni Arab government hostile to Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah. Further withdrawals are possible, though the Pentagon hopes to keep at least 500 troops in the theater. Apparently Trump himself would like to get all US troops out of the country. He had wanted to do this in his first term, but met opposition from the Pentagon, and his Secretary of Defense, James Mattis, resigned over the issue. The legality of the US troop presence in Syria is questionable. The Obama administration inserted them on the pretext of fighting ISIL, claiming it was a self-defense move for the United States. Their remit was three-fold, to support the Kurdish allies of the United States in their continued access to Syrian petroleum, to ensure no resurgence of ISIL or ISIS, and to block Iranian weapons shipments through Iraq and Syria to Lebanons Hezbollah. While the al-Assad government did not want the US bases on its soil, it is unclear how the new Sunni fundamentalist government of al-Shara feels about it. The Iran strategy seems no longer necessary, since the ayatollahs have lost their ally in Damascus and the new government is deeply hostile to the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Kurdish forces have signed an agreement with fundamentalist leader Ahmad al-Shara to be integrated into the national army. The Kurds, who were key to the US defeat of ISIL, do hope that the US will continue to protect them from the Turkish military, which view them as terrorists. In his first term, Trump greenlighted an attack by Turkish leader Tayyip Erdogan on Kurdish territory in northern Syria. There remain, however, concerns about an ISIL comeback. Trump administration cuts to foreign aid have left the thousands of ISIL prisoners in Kurdish custody desperate, and local actors may not have the wherewithal to keep ISIL fighters behind bars. Special Operations, Digital, Midjourney / ChatGPT, 2025 Meanwhile, Mahmoud Nawfal at Elbalad reports that Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara flew to Doha for a three-way meeting with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim Al Thani and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Shiya al-Sudani. Al-Sudani had earlier been very critical of al-Sharas Sunni fundamentalist government, but the two appear to have found some common ground during this visit. Both are afraid of a reemergence of ISIL, a rival to al-Shara and a bitter enemy to the Shiites of Iraq. With the US drawing down its presence, only close cooperation between Damascus and Baghdad can hope to keep a lid on the notorious terrorist organization that terrorized millions in the years 2014-2018. Both Syria and Iraq, moreover, are threatened by the illegal Israeli occupation of a wide swath of Syria in the wake of the establishment of the new, fundamentalist government. Al-Sudani made a plea for the maintenance of the Shiite shrines and holy places in Syria, including Sayyidah Zaynab, where many Iraqi Shiite refugees used to live a decade ago. Iraqi Shiite militias had allied with the al-Assad government against the forces of Al-Shara during the Syrian Civil War, so there is bad blood and a lot of reconciliation work to do. Qatars mediation is typical of the small, gas-rich nation, which has played a key role in several peace deals in the region. By Simon Mabon, Lancaster University For the second week in a row, senior officials from the United States and Iran will get together to take part in talks about the Iranian nuclear programme. Its the second round in the latest negotiations the first having taken place in Oman on April 12. But recent statements from both the White House and senior Iranian officials, including a difference of opinion on where the talks should be held, suggest that rapid diplomatic successes may not be forthcoming. Donald Trumps stance on Iran has been unsurprisingly belligerent. It was the first Trump administration that withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal and imposed the policy of maximum pressure on Iran. Since returning to the Oval Office, Trump has reimposed this policy of maximum pressure. Posting on X, the US special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, declared that Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponization program. He also called for verification of any missiles stockpiled in the Islamic republic. Iranian officials vociferously rejected these US demands, with the foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, asserting that the missile programme is not for discussion. Tehran needs a deal There is little doubt that Iran wants a deal, perhaps even needs a deal. It has been hit hard by sanctions over the past decade, which have hollowed out the countrys middle class. Israels military strikes on Iran and its allies over the past year have eroded the ideological and military clout of the Islamic Republic and wider axis of resistance. With the weakening of many of its allies, Irans missiles possess even greater importance as a deterrence. The strong line taken by the Trump administration leaves little room for manoeuvre. It risks further emboldening hardline elements in Iran, who are perhaps less willing to engage diplomatically. But any belligerent rhetoric from voices in Iran risks pouring fuel on an already incendiary situation. At the same time, the Islamic Republic faces a range of serious pressures domestically, such as that seen in the Woman, Life, Freedom movement, as well as increasingly vocal opposition from abroad notably from the self-proclaimed Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, the son of the Shah who was ousted in 1979. Though Iran may want a deal, it cannot capitulate particularly after the events of the last year. And nor should it. US weighs its strategy Hawks in the US, Israel and elsewhere have, of course, heralded the Trump administrations stance. Fears of an Iranian nuclear programme continue to drive the actions of Israels prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and others although reports have just emerged that proposed Israeli strikes on targets in Iran were vetoed by Trump in favour of more negotiation. While the Gulf states would once have celebrated a tough stance on Iran, the situation is different now. Irans long-time rival, Saudi Arabia, has put aside decades of animosity in the hope of a more prosperous shared future. In a 2023 agreement mediated by China, Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to normalise relations, reopening embassies and embarking on a series of coordinated military exercises. For Saudi Arabia, and in particular its crown prince and de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman, regional stability is essential in realising the ambitious Vision2030 programme which leans heavily into global investor confidence and trust. As a result, the kingdom undertook a pragmatic shift in its regional affairs, embarking on a process of diplomatic rapprochement that surprised many observers. Riyadh has also taken steps towards normalisation with Israel, though the ongoing destruction of Gaza has paused such moves, at least for now. At the same time as the nuclear negotiations take place, Israeli strikes on targets in Syria continue. The fall of the Assad regime at the end of 2024 and the back seat taken by its long-time supporter, Russia has dramatically altered the political landscape of Syria. Though its former president, Bashar al-Assad, has found refuge in Russia, Moscow has taken a watching brief, eager not to antagonise Syrias new regime and jeopardise its strategically important military bases on the Mediterranean coast. Members of groups previously favoured by the Assad regime, notably the Alawi communities, have fled to the Russian naval base at Latakia in search of protection. But thousands of others have been killed amid increasing violence as the forces of the new regime, led by Ahmad al-Shara, seek to extinguish all remnants of the Assad regime a series of events that looks eerily similar to what occurred in Iraq 20 years ago, when the process of de-Baathification attempted to remove all traces of Saddam Husseins regime from public life. A Spectre Haunts Tehran, Digital, Dream / Dreamland v3, 2025 Fragile regional order The situation across the region is precarious, with the actions of global powers continuing to reverberate. While Washington puts pressure on Tehran and Moscow waits, the scope for Chinese influence in the region increases. Ironically, Trumps tariffs on China may push Beijing further into the Middle East, seeking to capitalise on available opportunities. Its Belt and Road Initiative positions the Middle East firmly within Chinas strategic interests. This is likely to open up a new front in the rivalry between Washington and Beijing. All the while, it is the people of the Middle East who continue to pay the heaviest price. Ongoing wars and insecurity, fears of a regional conflict, and precarious political conditions as well as rising food prices and healthcare pressures are creating a perfect storm that heightens the pressures and challenges of daily life. Simon Mabon, Professor of International Relations, Lancaster University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Hamas on Thursday signalled its rejection of Israel's latest truce proposal and called for a "comprehensive" deal to end the 18-month-long war. The Palestinian militants' chief negotiator spoke out after civil defence rescuers in Gaza said new Israeli air strikes killed at least 40 people, most of them in camps for displaced civilians, as Israel pressed its offensive in the Palestinian territory. The Israeli military said it was looking into reports of the strikes. A Hamas source told AFP that the group sent a written response Thursday to mediators on Israel's latest proposal for a 45-day ceasefire. Israel had wanted the release of 10 living hostages held by the group, according to Hamas. It also called for the freeing of 1,231 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails and the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, which has been under complete blockade since March 2. The proposal called for Hamas to disarm to secure a complete end to the war, a demand the group rejects. "Partial agreements are used by (Israeli Prime Minister) Benjamin Netanyahu as a cover for his political agenda... we will not be complicit in this policy," Hamas's chief negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, said in a televised statement. He said Hamas "seeks a comprehensive deal involving a single-package prisoner exchange in return for halting the war, a withdrawal of the occupation from the Gaza Strip, and the commencement of reconstruction" in the territory. A previous ceasefire and hostage release deal began on January 19 but collapsed two months later. Israel offered to extend the first phase, while Hamas insisted that negotiations be held for a second phase, as outlined by Joe Biden when he was US president. Israel resumed intensive bombing of Gaza on March 18. - Qatar blames Israel - The emir of Qatar, which with Egypt and the United States helped mediate the January ceasefire, blamed Israel on Thursday for its collapse. "As you know, we reached an agreement months ago, but unfortunately Israel did not abide by this agreement," Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani said during a visit to Moscow. Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal said two Israeli missiles hit tents in the Al-Mawasi area of the southern city of Khan Yunis, killing at least 16 people, "most of them women and children, and 23 others were wounded". Tens of thousands of Palestinians flocked to Al-Mawasi after Israel declared it a safe zone in December 2023. But the area has since been hit by repeated Israeli strikes. Survivors described a large explosion at the densely packed camp that set tents ablaze. "We were sitting peacefully in the tent, under God's protection, when we suddenly saw something red glowing -- and then the tent exploded, and the surrounding tents caught fire," Israa Abu al-Rus told AFP. Bassal said Israeli strikes on two other camps for displaced Gazans killed a nine people -- seven in the northern town of Beit Lahia, and a father and son near Al-Mawasi. Separately, the civil defence reported two attacks in Jabalia -- one that killed at least seven members of the Asaliya family, and another that killed six people at a school being used as a shelter -- as well as Israeli shelling in Gaza City that killed two. The military announced it had carried out a strike in Jabalia on a Hamas "command and control" centre. Israel said Wednesday that it had converted 30 percent of Gaza into a buffer zone in its widening offensive. The United Nations said half a million Palestinians have been displaced since the offensive resumed, triggering what it has described as the most severe humanitarian crisis since the war began with Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. - Red Cross base - Hamas accused Israel of attempting to starve Gaza's 2.4 million people after Defence Minister Israel Katz said Wednesday that Israel would continue preventing aid from entering the territory. "This is a public admission of committing a war crime," the group said in a statement. Medical supplies, fuel, water and other essentials are in short supply, the UN says. The International Committee of the Red Cross, said it was "outraged" that an explosive hit one of its bases in Gaza on Wednesday, the second such strike in three weeks. Israel's renewed assault has killed at least 1,691 people in Gaza, the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory reported, bringing the overall toll since the war erupted to 51,065, most of them civilians. Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, also mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. Palestinian militant group Hamas on Friday denounced overnight US strikes on a Yemeni fuel port that killed dozens of people as Washington renewed its campaign against Iran-backed Huthi rebels. "This blatant aggression represents a gross violation of Yemeni sovereignty, a full-fledged war crime, and reaffirms the continuation of hostile American policies targeting the free peoples who reject Zionist and American hegemony in the region," Hamas said in a statement. Feature: Amidst Khmer New Year festivities, Cambodia hugs old friend from China Xinhua) 16:37, April 18, 2025 Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) In the midst of festivities this week, Cambodians welcomed not only relatives returning from afar but also an old friend and prominent figure on the world stage: Chinese President Xi Jinping. PHNOM PENH, April 18 (Xinhua) -- In Cambodia, April heralds the advent of the Khmer New Year, a time of homecomings, family gatherings and nationwide celebration. For people in this land, it is the most cherished holiday of the year. In the midst of festivities this week, Cambodians welcomed not only relatives returning from afar but also an old friend and prominent figure on the world stage: Chinese President Xi Jinping. "I am very happy to visit Cambodia on the occasion of the Khmer New Year. For me, it feels like going to the home of a good friend," Xi said in a signed article published on Thursday in Cambodian media outlets ahead of his arrival. Cambodia is the last stop of Xi's Southeast Asia tour, which was his first overseas trip this year and also took him to Vietnam and Malaysia. Upon arrival in Phnom Penh, Xi was warmly welcomed by Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, Cambodian People's Party President and Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen and other senior officials at the airport. This was the first time for King Sihamoni to greet any foreign head of state at the airport, a gesture that highlighted the significance of this visit to bilateral ties. People participate in an activity to celebrate the lunar New Year in Siem Reap province, Cambodia, April 16, 2025. (Photo by Sao Khuth/Xinhua) Crowds lined roads and streets, holding portraits of Xi and the Cambodian king, and waving Chinese and Cambodian national flags and bright bouquets. Chants of "long live Cambodia-China friendship, solidarity and cooperation" resonated across the city. China-Cambodia friendly exchange spans two millennia of shared history. Since the elder generations of Chinese and Cambodian leaders forged a special bond between the two countries decades ago, the relationship has grown ever stronger and closer. Prior to his 2016 visit to Cambodia, Xi noted in a signed article that China will never forget Cambodia's role as one of the first nations to recognize the People's Republic of China and a champion of China's rightful seat at the United Nations. The friendship between the two close neighbors has always been mutual. China has been a steadfast partner of Cambodia, supporting its national independence and economic development, including the construction of Cambodia's first cement plant and thermal power station. Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Phnom Penh for a state visit to Cambodia at the invitation of Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni on April 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin) On Thursday, Xi once again recalled the cherished history of solidarity between the two nations. Regardless of changes in the international landscape, China and Cambodia have stood by each other in good faith and with mutual assistance, offering unwavering support on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns, Xi said when meeting with King Sihamoni. Back in November 2020, Xi awarded a Friendship Medal to the queen mother at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. "This weighty 'Friendship Medal' represents the deep respect of the Chinese people for Queen Mother Monineath and the profound friendship between China and Cambodia," Xi said then. To recognize Xi's outstanding contributions to strengthening bilateral ties, King Sihamoni presented Xi with the National Order of Independence - Grand Collar in a ceremony on Thursday, hailing him as a great friend of Cambodia. For his part, Xi said that this medal fully demonstrates Cambodia's high regard for developing China-Cambodia relations and carries the deep friendship of the Cambodian people towards the Chinese people. This honor, Xi said, belongs not only to him personally, but also to all the friendly people who have cultivated and contributed to the friendship between China and Cambodia. In a world increasingly marred by zero-sum mentality and unilateralism, the mutual trust and friendship between China and Global South nations, including Cambodia, has become more precious than ever. As noted by Norodom Arun Rasmey, the youngest daughter of the late King Father Norodom Sihanouk, trust is like a tree; it takes time to grow, but once established, it becomes strong and enduring. The friendship between Cambodia and China has been flourishing in this same spirit to this day, she said. "This trust serves as a solid foundation for future cooperation and shared prosperity between our two countries." (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Friday, April 18, 2025 - Onyango Tate, a controversial figure on X and scammer who masquerades as a forex trader, has sparked reactions after he expressed his fears over dating a Kikuyu lady. Onyango posted a photo goofing around with his Murima babe and said that he prays she wont turn their relationship into a business opportunity. Kikuyu ladies are known to be materialistic and notorious for exploiting men financially. Onyangos tweet has gone viral and sparked reactions among X users, with many predicting that his publicized relationship will end in premium tears. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, April 18, 2025 - Meet Simon Chomba, a notorious Kikuyu gay man who was arrested alongside his accomplice for posing as female masseurs and robbing unsuspecting victims. A victim was lured to an apartment in Roysambu after coming across an online advertisement on massage services and robbed of Ksh 280,000. Chomba also frequents popular clubs along Thika Road dressed like a lady to lure unsuspecting male patrons. See his photos. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, April 18, 2025 - Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi is back in town, touching down at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on the night of April 17th, 2025, aboard a Qatar Airways flight from the U.S. He was warmly received by Jubilee Party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni and Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka. Matiangis arrival has reignited political discussions, especially after Jubilee officially endorsed him as their flagbearer for the 2027 General Election. We have our own candidate - Fred Matiangi. He will face off with the others to ensure Ruto goes home, Kioni stated at the airport. While Matiangi has not yet addressed the public on his political ambitions, Kioni confirmed that he is expected to make an official statement in the coming days. His return has sparked varied reactions across the political spectrum and on social media. Supporters have praised his firm leadership during his tenure as Education and Interior CS under President Uhuru Kenyatta, viewing him as a strong and capable contender. However, critics have expressed skepticism, warning that he may be a political project of former President Kenyatta. With just over two years to the polls, Matiangis homecoming adds a fresh twist to the evolving 2027 presidential race.Bottom of Form See some of the reactions below. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, April 18, 2025 - A quiet evening in Metembe village, Kisii County, turned into a scene of horror after five members of the same family were lynched by an irate mob. The villagers suspected the family of involvement in the murder of a middle-aged man whose body was found a month ago. Among the deceased were the familys father and mother. Two other relatives narrowly escaped the violence. In a further escalation, six homes belonging to the family were set ablaze during the attack. The bodies have been transferred to Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital as investigations commence. South Masaba Deputy Commissioner Jane Manene confirmed the incident, stating that officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) are handling the case. We condemn this heinous act and urge residents to let the law take its course, Manene said. This tragedy highlights Kenyas growing crisis of mob justice, fueled by public frustration over insecurity and delayed legal processes. Human rights advocates continue to call for stronger institutions and civic education to address this alarming trend. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, April 18, 2025 - Shock and grief has engulfed students and teachers at Tulwet Secondary School after their principal collapsed and died while attending a principals workshop in Nakuru. The deceased principal, who is identified as Mr. Peter Muchina, was in good health and in a jovial mood before the tragic incident. His death was announced by Kuresoi North Member of Parliament Joseph Tonui. Tunoi said the principal developed sudden health complications and was rushed to the hospital, where he died. He described him as a hardworking and dedicated member of staff. The Kenyan DAILY POST THATS a lot of reading! remarked a judge in a case where the female defendant was pleading guilty to the theft of 150 worth of newspapers. However, it was her back story that offered a darker underlay to the proceedings. Deanna Gill (26) with an address at Marina Court, Athy, but presently serving a sentence on unrelated matters, was appearing from the dock under escort at a recent sitting of Athy District Court this week to answer this charge, and one of criminal damage to her next door neighbours front door. The damage to the neighbours was on 18 August, 2021, while the theft was from Noonans Service Station on the Carlow Road on 31 August 2022. She stole the morning newspapers, said Sergeant Dave Hanrahan simply. As she was pleading guilty, he was able to inform the court that she had two previous convictions, but five post. Youd be reading all day! remarked Judge Desmond Zaidan. Are you embarrassed? asked the judge, and the prisoner smiled sheepishly. There was some level of intoxication, and they were recovered unopened, said Sergeant Hanrahan. Double tragedy In mitigation it was then revealed that Ms Gills cousin was murdered in 2020, and the father of her two children was also murdered just six months later. She has been on medication for depression and anxiety, explained her visiting barrister. Two of her people got murdered within a couple of months? asked an incredulous judge. August to January, said the barrister. You couldnt make that up, the judge shook his head. She has worked as a chef and she quite enjoys that, said her solicitor. Whats your favourite recipe? asked the judge. Shepherds Pie and roast dinner, smiled Ms Gill. The judge then decided not to dd to her present sentence, and gave her the benefit of the Probation Act on both charges. Belfasts first openly gay mayor has given a wide-ranging interview about homophobia and drugs policy, while also giving his thoughts on a future Irish unity referendum. In his first major interview since becoming the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Cllr Micky Murray of the Alliance Party told Hot Press magazine about receiving possible death threats and criticised the small number of politicians who still make derogatory remarks about the LGBT community. I think what upsets me most is the inability for elected reps to understand the consequences of what they say, Mr Murray said. A lot of right wing politicians talk about trans people as if they are some creature rather than an everyday person or as if they are some kind of anomaly. Thats very personal. Asked if he had ever received any death threats, Mr Murray said: Ive had a lot of crap. People have said things on social media where, if taken seriously, could be considered a death threat. But I don't think any of them have had any actual level of [genuine] threat behind them. Nothing has come through official channels. Mr Murray also spoke about drugs, putting forward the argument to legalise marijuana at the very least for medicinal purposes, while explaining why he feels injection centres should be opened in Belfast. He admitted he had smoked marijuana, but only twice. Marijuana doesn't do the damage that people think its going to do. And if you look at places across the world who have legalised it, they have been able to control it and theyve taxed it and used it as an income generation as well. On other drug-related issues of concern, he said: We need to look at things like safer injection spaces or overdose prevention facilities, whatever term you want to use, that have been working successfully all over the world since the 70s, 80s, 90s. And its 2025, and were still having the conversation about, can we open one in Belfast? When asked about his views on a referendum for Irish unity, Mr Murray said: We need to make sure that unionism is represented in that, that nationalism is represented, and that the others, for want of a better word, are too. I think, when youre looking at changing the whole future of a country, you need that to be as inclusive as possible and to represent as many people as possible and for no one to feel as if they're being discriminated against. I know that is an incredibly difficult job. Its going to be next to impossible. Also in the Hot Press interview, Mr Murray discussed the future of Belfast, reflected on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, explained why he never wants to be First Minister and revealed why he gave up alcohol for a year. He also talked on the record about the abuse scandal in the Catholic Church, explained why sex education needs to be radically updated, and confessed that he had never listened to Belfast rap trio Kneecap. A tractor run to raise funds in aid of Castlecomer's Union of Parishes will be held on Sunday, April 27. Registration opens at 11am on the day, with the run departing at 1pm from Joseph Coogan Auctioneers in Castlecomer. The entry fee is 20 per vehicle; vintage cars are also welcome to join. There will also be a raffle and refreshments on the day. Proceeds of the run will be put towards work on Castlecomer's St Mary's Church and the Colliery Church. Auctioneer Joseph Coogan will be lending his yard as a space for the vehicles to park up in, as well as his auction room as a space for refreshments: tea, coffee, sandwiches and desserts. The run will depart from the yard, making its way through the town and out over the Dublin Road bridge. It will then head on for Kanes Bridge, out towards Castlewarren, and then back down for the Castlecomer-Kilkenny road, looping its way back around to the yard. Castlecomer local and event organiser Noel Condell has been working on tractors for the last thirty years. He decided to hold a tractor run to raise funds for the parish last year. Id been at hundreds of them myself in Dublin over the years, and we got a massive turnout, he said. The response to last year's run prompted a repeat event this year. Local gardai will be on duty to oversee the event, and ensure that road safety procedures are being followed. A judge has described the assault of a hospital staff member as probably one of the most serious matters to come before this court. Judge Geraldine Carthy was handing down her sentence in an assault case where Margaret Doran, 1 Rope Walk, Staplestown Road, Carlow, was convicted of assault causing harm. The assault occurred in the resuscitation room of St Lukes hospital on December 23, 2023. Ms Doran put her hands around the injured partys neck, leaving her with marks and scratches as well as neck pain afterwards. The judge said the injured party had been very distressed by the incident and by having to give evidence in court. She had thought very carefully about the matter, Judge Carthy said. Aggravating factors in the case were the location where the assault happened and that it then took a bench warrant to bring Ms Doran into court for sentencing. Read next: Kilkenny County Council reveal major site is to be redeveloped Judge Carthy said she did not believe this was a case where a Community Service Order was appropriate and imposed an eight month prison sentence. Solicitor Chris Hogan said his client had been suffering from a drug-induced psychosis at the time of the assault and she was admitted to the hospitals Department of Psychiatry later on the day of the incident. Recognisance was fixed in the event of an appeal on conditions including that Ms Doran have no contact with the injured party, sign on at a garda station, be of good behaviour and intoxicant free. Kilkenny City independent councillor, Eugene McGuinness has requested the hording which is currently in place around the Town Hall to facilitate renovations, be replaced with materials 'more presentable'. "I have asked that the hording which is currently in place around the Town Hall to facilitate renovations, be replaced with something a little more presentable to better compliment the beautiful building that is City Hall," Cllr McGuinness said. "I have been assured that a new hoarding will be in place before the more substantive works get underway," he added. READ NEXT: Kilkenny student grateful to supportive family as his star continues to shine The works are part of the 'Museum of Medieval Kilkenny project which will receive a total investment of 8 million and provides for the unification of The Tholsel and the Medieval Mile Museum (formerly St Marys Church) with the overall objective to develop an offering that will become one of Irelands top visitor attractions. Kilkenny County Council, in partnership with Failte Ireland signed a contract with, local company, Duggan Lynch Ltd to complete the works earlier this year. The focus of this contract will centre on The Tholsel building and includes internal and external enhancement works along with the introduction of a lift for improved accessibility. The building, when works are complete, will continue to act as the seat of local government in the city, with some parts of the building converted for use as a visitor attraction including the basement. There will also be a number of physical changes to the structure in an effort to bring the Tholsel up to modern fire safety and accessibility standards. At present, it does not comply with regulations. A lift to cater for people with mobility issues will also be installed. The offering proposed will be presented in a fun and interactive manner in a fact-based horrible history experience, themed around 'The Rich, The Poor, The Rouges and The Righteous'. Where visitors will discover the darker side of medieval Kilkenny. They will meet the worlds most famous knight, powerful mayors and wealthy medieval merchants. FOR MORE KILKENNY CITY NEWS, CLICK HERE Local man Finian Ready has shared his remarkable educational journey with the College of Further Education in Kilkenny, which has seen him makes waves in his own personal progression, with his teachers and fellow students immensely proud. Finian is currently studying Media Studies Level 5 at the local college and told the AONTAS website, 'nothing should stop you from learning new things in life'. "I came from the National Learning Network in Kilkenny," Finian told the website. FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS, CLICK HERE "I did a Junior Cert with them and decided to go further and do a Level 3. I want to be out there because I'm very independent, though I have great family support at home. "There was another opportunity on a course called Career Paths. Its all about getting into employment. I finished up nearly two years ago. I decided to look up a few courses in the College of FET in Kilkenny. Media Studies appealed to me," he added. The Bennettsbridge native has used that same personal drive and initiative in his personal life, creating the hugely popular social media blog, 'Finian's House'. "Its for a group of people with learning disabilities, I organise outings for them because often theres nowhere for them to go. I do video stuff with them and record the stories that they tell me, all their education backgrounds, and sometimes the difficulties they had making friends in school. "And for me, family was a big thing in life or even having friends and they support you on your journey," Finian continued. Finian, who has volunteered in a number of capacities locally, both inside and outside the media, is reminding people who may have gone/are going through similar experiences to him, that there is a pathway forward despite some people putting you down, he claimed. READ NEXT: Kilkenny City pub confirms closure 'keeping with tradition' "We have good learning supports in college. I have access to an SNA and I am given extra time to do my assignments. If I'm stuck with an assignment, my SNA will come over and she'll break down the brief even more for me. Shes great craic too," he said. "School isnt for everyone. I got a little help with SNAS in primary and secondary school so the supports in college are amazing for me," Finian recalled. "Im proud of myself as a person with a disability getting an education and getting a Level 5 cert. "As a proud person with a disability, I thought this would never happen. I am honoured to get a Level 5 under my belt." FOR MORE LOCAL EDUCATION NEWS, CLICK HERE In 2014 I was involved in beginning South Auckland Middle School in Manurewa. We had 120 students to start and quickly grew to 180 and with a waiting list of over 100. The students were over 85% Maori and Pasifika. When they left us, at the end of Year 10, we tracked their progress and in the years when I was involved 88% were achieving Level 1 NCEA and developing from there. It was a similar story with the opening of Middle School West Auckland in 2015. In 2018, with some huff and puff from ACT, Labour turned those schools into Designated Character Schools. During the 2023 election campaign ACT promised to re-introduce Charter Schools and early in 2024 David Seymour (as Ass Minister of Education) promised to go big. The Associate Education Minister told Q+A there is enough funding for up to 15 charter schools to be operational by Term 1 next year. https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/09/29/how-many-charter-schools-david-seymour-on-his-big-ambitions Seymour, who has been a vocal supporter of charter schools for many years, said there was overwhelming demand for the schools. Opening new ones [charter schools] at least initially does cost a little bit more money, so weve rationed it at 15 new ones, Seymour added. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/charter-school-provider-suggests-govt-not-looking-for-the-best-applications/TPG3KC4BQBCGBHT2R6TIBV5WYA/ Seymour says hes learnt much from his previous attempt to establish the charter model here, although most of the lessons were political rather than pedagogical. This time, hes going big and going fast. Theres probably going to be a couple of hundred of these schools by the time Labour gets back into power. And its going to be big, powerful communities with lots of capital and lots of lawyers. It wont be a small group of poor brown kids that Labour can shamefully and disgracefully ignore like they did last time. And the contract is going to be much tighter and harder to buy. Theyre going to be 10 by 10 by 10. Thirty years, with break points every 10 years. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/the-listener/new-zealand/schools-shake-up-what-some-find-terrifying-about-govt-plans-for-charter-schools/GDXNRNNWXVAJJLASBNXOPD4EXE/ (Please actually read those quotes KBers. This is not me picking on DS. It is comparing his word to his outcomes). A disclaimer from me is that a new company I formed took Seymour at his word and applied for four new schools, to begin this year, that I am confident would have a total of 900 students by now. There were other, very high-quality, applicants also looking to challenge NZs failing education system through significant provisions. What have we got? OIAs have confirmed that: Seymour was talking porkies about having enough funding to begin 15 new schools. Charter Schools were allocated just $10million from 2024 until June 30, 2025. Until the end of 2026 the total funding is $123m but $30m of that is being spent on the Charter School Bureaucracy (in theory anathema to the Accociation of Consumers and Taxpayers). For the $10m spent, so far, the seven new schools, at March 31, have just 215 students between them (an average of 30 students). That is costing over $46,000 per student and these boutique schools are offering no challenge to the NZ system at all which is why the teacher unions are giving the whole thing a great deal of not bothering to oppose them. This is not the overwhelming demand Seymour likes to acclaim. The two new schools recently announced, to be opened in July, will also be fringe and tiny. While Seymour is trying to remain positive and supportive of a truly inept Charter School Agency, I have no doubt that in the 2026 election campaign he will blame National for the debacle and say that there was simply not enough funding, and also turn on the public servants as he did last time. He will then promise big things if he gets another go at it. The deep loss is for the thousands of students that could have been helped by this policy. Alwyn Poole [email protected] alwynpoole.substack.com www.linkedin.com/in/alwyn-poole-16b02151/ The city council's transition to a new term comes after a week of violence erupting in the city, with four people suffering from gunshot wounds and another a victim of a stabbing, all happening in just four days. COLUMBIA The city of Columbia has announced mini-grant award winners for the Love Your Block Grant Program. Love Your Block is a resident-led initiative focused on revitalizing neighborhoods through small-scale projects that create a lasting impact on the community. The program is funded from Bloomberg Philanthropies out of Johns Hopkins University. Columbia was one of 16 cities to be a part of Love Your Block. It is the first city in Missouri to be part of the program. The city received a grant of $100,000 to fund neighborhood activities for the next two years, Neighborhood Services manager Leigh Kottwitz said. The program received 35 applicants from residents and community groups. The 12 selected projects reflect a strong commitment to community pride, neighborhood beautification and civic engagement. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. We talked to many residents about how they would use those funds," Kottwitz said. "This summer after those funds are distributed, we will be working with those grant recipients on how they can enact their projects they proposed." One of those mini-grant winners was Job Point. The organization received $2,500 to build a fence around its dumpster by personalizing the fence with murals designed and painted by students. We do youth programs to help with the high school equivalency," said John Scalise, president and CEO of Job Point. "We have some very talented youth that are in our program. They have done some paintings on the walls in the building, but this is a plan to have something on display for the community." Job Point helps link people with jobs by providing career planning and job placement assistance. Scalise said he believes the project will improve the community. Its also nice as you are driving around Columbia to see things improving," he said. "Growing up here, I got to see a lot of things improve over the years. Kottwitz said Love Your Block is in the process of another round of mini-grants in 2026. Kendallville, IN (46755) Today Clear to partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Clear to partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. 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. Auburn, IN (46706) Today Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. China, Cambodia vow to forge all-weather community with shared future in new era Xinhua) 16:47, April 18, 2025 PHNOM PENH, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded his state visit to Cambodia on Friday, with both nations agreeing on jointly building an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era. On Thursday, Xi met with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, Cambodian People's Party President and Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, respectively. The two sides exchanged more than 30 bilateral cooperation documents covering such fields as production and supply chain cooperation, artificial intelligence, development assistance, customs inspection and quarantine, as well as health and media. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) ALL-WEATHER COMMUNITY WITH SHARED FUTURE "We must work together to promote the steady and sustained progress in building the China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era," Xi wrote in his signed article published on Thursday in Cambodian media outlets. During their talks, Xi and the Cambodian prime minister agreed to build an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era. Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) Xi called on both sides to build on the momentum, strengthen unity and cooperation, and speed up the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative. During his meeting with the Cambodian King, Xi expressed confidence in writing a splendid chapter of building an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era. China and Cambodia have always been at the forefront of building a community with a shared future for mankind, said Xi. For his part, King Sihamoni said that with the joint efforts of both sides, cooperation in various fields has become increasingly close and the building of a community with a shared future has been continuously deepened. While meeting with the Cambodian People's Party president and Senate president, Xi said that building a China-Cambodia community with a shared future is a choice of history and the people. He said that the two sides should keep in mind the well-being of their people and the progress of humanity, strive to set an example for building a community with a shared future for mankind in the course of advancing their respective modernization endeavors, and join hands to become forces for peace, stability and progress in a world undergoing profound transformations unseen in a century. UNBREAKABLE IRONCLAD FRIENDSHIP Friendship is a term frequently emphasized by Xi during his trip to the country. In the signed article, Xi said this visit "feels like going to the home of a good friend." He fondly recalled the historic legacy of the good-neighborly relations between the two nations and the friendly exchange that spans two millennia of their shared history. "The great Chinese and Khmer civilizations have flourished together, inspiring each other through centuries," he wrote. Xi also highlighted the two countries' mutual commitment to friendship and righteousness, emphasizing that the friendship was forged by Cambodia's King Father Norodom Sihanouk and Chairman Mao Zedong, Premier Zhou Enlai, among the elder generations of Chinese leaders. In 2020, Xi presented Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk with the Friendship Medal of the People's Republic of China. This medal, Xi said, embodies "the profound friendship of the Chinese people toward the people of Cambodia." Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Cambodia's Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) When meeting with the Queen Mother on Thursday at the Royal Palace, Xi said she is a witness and promoter of the China-Cambodia friendship and has special friendly feelings towards the Chinese people, while Cambodia's King Father Norodom Sihanouk was a banner of this friendship. Under the new circumstances, China and Cambodia should cherish and carry forward this ironclad friendship, endow the China-Cambodia community with a shared future with new connotations of the time, serve the development of their respective countries and the well-being of their people, and make greater contributions to building a community with a shared future with neighboring countries and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi said when meeting with King Norodom Sihamoni on Thursday. King Norodom Sihamoni presented Xi with the National Order of Independence - Grand Collar. Xi said that this medal fully demonstrates Cambodia's high regard for developing China-Cambodia relations and carries the deep friendship of the Cambodian people towards the Chinese people. This honor, he said, belongs not only to him personally, but also to all the friendly people who have cultivated and contributed to the friendship between China and Cambodia. Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wenbin has said in a written interview with Xinhua that as history and reality have both proven, China and Cambodia are good neighbors, good brothers, good friends and good partners who share weal and woe and stand together through thick and thin. The friendship between the two countries is not a transactional relationship, nor a stopgap measure, still less a bloc confrontation. It is rooted in the practical needs of the respective national development and rejuvenation, serves the common interests of both nations and peoples, and aligns with the historical trend of solidarity, self-strengthening and shared development among Global South countries, Wang said. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni walk at the Royal Palace after their meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. Xi met with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh on Thursday. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) STRIVE TOGETHER, THRIVE TOGETHER In his signed article, Xi said that as important members of the big Asian family, China and Cambodia must ride the tide of history and heed the two peoples' aspirations, and must strive together and thrive together. Noting that this is his second visit to Cambodia in nine years, Xi expressed hope that the visit will spearhead progress in building a China-Cambodia community with a shared future. For many years, China has been Cambodia's largest trading partner and top source of investment, and industrial and supply chain cooperation between the two countries has continued to deepen. The entry into force of both the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the China-Cambodia Free Trade Agreement has further strengthened the foundation for bilateral trade and investment. Thanks to such free trade agreements, premium agricultural products from Cambodia, including banana, mango and longan, are finding their way into Chinese households. "China is a trustworthy partner for Cambodia," said the Cambodian Ministry of Commerce's Secretary of State and Spokesperson Penn Sovicheat. "Looking forward, our two-way trade volume will continue to rise, undoubtedly." During talks with Hun Manet, Xi urged the two sides to expand mutually beneficial cooperation of higher quality and voiced China's readiness to share opportunities and seek common development with Cambodia. He called on both sides to vigorously promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and continuously enrich the "Diamond Hexagon" cooperation framework, so as to inject new impetus into their respective modernization efforts. China encourages more Chinese enterprises to invest in Cambodia, Xi said, adding that it will open its mega-market to Cambodia and import more high-quality agricultural products from the country. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Cambodian People's Party President and Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao) In his meeting with Hun Sen, the Chinese president said the two sides should deepen practical cooperation across various fields, advance the construction of Cambodia's Industrial and Technological Corridor and Fish and Rice Corridor, and strengthen collaboration in energy, transportation and other key sectors. In view of the headwinds on the international landscape, Xi said unilateralism and hegemonism receive no support of the people, adding that history has shown the unstoppable trend toward a multipolar world, economic globalization, and cultural diversity. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) FINALISTS for the 2025 Laois Business Awards have been announced by Laois Chamber Alliance, in partnership with Laois County Council. The gala awards ceremony, celebrating excellence, innovation and resilience, will be held on Friday 9 May at The Heritage, Killenard, hosted by broadcaster Ivan Yates. The black-tie evening starting at 6pm will include a drinks reception, a three-course gourmet dinner and live band The Vows. Promising a memorable evening that will bring together business leaders, entrepreneurs and key stakeholders from across the county, Laois Chamber Alliance thanked everyone who submitted nominations. They said: The number and quality of entries received are a testament to the exceptional calibre of businesses and professionals operating across Laois. We would also like to thank our esteemed judging panel, who undertook the challenging task of reviewing and evaluating each nomination. Their time, diligence and commitment to fairness ensured a thorough and thoughtful shortlisting process. The finalists are: Outstanding SME of the Year - OMahoney Safety Solutions; Byrne Joinery; Glamping Under the Stars; Ballykilcavan Farm and Brewery Large Business of the Year - Finline Furniture; The Heritage Hotel; CJ Sheeran; Midland Steel Start-Up/Emerging New Business of the Year - Angelina George; Gingerbread Pasticceria; MyComfort; Sasta Business Supporting Community - People First Credit Union; Midlands Park Hotel; Finline Furniture; AIB Excellence in Tourism and Hospitality - Roundwood House; Glamping Under the Stars; Ballykilcavan Farm and Brewery; Ballyfin Demesne Excellence in Retail - Nook and Cranny; Hummingbird Cafe; Fifty Seven Boutique and Gift Emporium; Dowlings Gala, Killenard Excellence in Innovation - CJ Sheeran; Midland Steel; VIMAR Digital Marketing; Laois Today Best Marketing and Communications Initiative - Glamping Under the Stars; Ballykilcavan Farm and Brewery; True Financial; Temptation Chocolates Innovation in Sustainability and Climate Action - Finline Furniture; Steam Preservation Society; Enva; Bluestone Facilities Spirit of Laois Award - Ailish Dunne; Peter Naughton; Martin Meade; Teddy Fennelly Business of the Year - Midland Steel; Polar Ice; Telfords; Enva Business Person of the Year - Shane Tobin; Mark Martley; Cian Prendergast; Sandra Redden Rising Star Award - Alison OKelly; Romina Roe; Caroline Hofman; Darragh Phelan Excellence in Food and Drink Service and Production - The Merry Mill; Temptation Chocolates; Midlands Park Hotel; Roundwood House Tickets are 125 each or 1,150 for a table of 10 and are available from www.laoischamber.ie/awards or by contacting the Chamber office at admin@laoischamber.ie or 085 2566522. A POPULAR Laois hair salon that was due to close down this Saturday has been saved at the 11th hour. Society Salons in Portarlington will remain open under new management, after a group of staff joined forces to keep the business in operation. While senior stylist Hayley Davies is departing to work nearer her new home in Co Kildare, most of the current team will remain at the busy salon on Main Street, Portarlington, including Emma Jane Murphy, Georgina Flynn and Casey Clarke. The salon shared the good news in a Facebook post on Wednesday, saying: Delighted to announce that, after a turbulent and eventful couple of weeks, Casey, Georgina and Emma will still be there to welcome all the salons clients, with some exciting changes to come. We wish Hayley all the best in her new venture and she will, of course, be greatly missed. Hayley shared that this Saturday will be her last day at Society Salons, before she starts work at Raven Hair Boutique in Clane on 23 April. She said: This has been a huge decision for me, as I have enjoyed looking after my amazing clients in Portarlington for the last 10 years, whom I will miss very much. Ive been so lucky to work with so many amazing people over the last 10 years. A big thank you to Ian Phelan for giving me so many wonderful opportunities, while I worked alongside you in the salon for the last decade. It has made me into the stylist I am today. Society Salon Portarlington had announced on 8 April that it would open for the last time on Saturday 19 April, due to staffing and other pressures. Society Salons Ireland also has a busy outlet in Portlaoise, which has not been affected by the change of management in Portarlington. Mexican-American artist Selena Gomez will be recognized as Woman of the Year at the 2025 Billboard Latin Women in Music Awards, a distinction that celebrates not only her artistic success but also her leadership and cultural impact. The ceremony, which will air live on Telemundo on April 24 at 9 p.m./8c, will pay tribute to the women who are transforming the Latin music industry. "With a career that has transcended genres, languages, and formats, Selena Gomez has left an indelible mark on pop music and embraced her Latin roots through projects that celebrate her heritage and connect with new audiences," Billboard said in a statement upon making the announcement. Her foray into the Latin market began with a bang in 2018 with 'Taki Taki,' a collaboration with DJ Snake, Ozuna, and Cardi B that debuted at number one on Billboard's Hot Latin Songs chart, a position it held for 13 weeks. Since then, her commitment to Spanish-language music has only strengthened. In 2021, she released "Baila Conmigo" with Rauw Alejandro, which peaked at number 4 on Hot Latin Songs and reached number 1 on Latin Airplay. Her EP, "Revelacion," was released entirely in Spanish and debuted at number one on the Top Latin Albums chart, something that hadn't happened to a female artist since Shakira's "El Dorado." The album also earned her a Grammy nomination for Best Latin Pop Album. Most recently, Gomez surprised audiences with the collaborative album 'I Said I Love You First,' made with producer Benny Blanco. This work, which includes the song "Ojos Tristes" with The Mariasa reimagining of Jeanette's classic "El Muchacho de los Ojos Tristes"became the best-selling early release of her career and returned her to the Top 5 of Hot Latin Songs. But "Selena Gomez is much more than a successful artist: she is a powerful voice in mental health activism, social equity, and Latinx representation. Through her Rare Beauty brand and the Rare Impact Fund, she has mobilized more than $20 million in support of youth mental health programs on five continents," Billboard added. She is also the co-founder of Wondermind , a platform that combats the stigma surrounding mental health and promotes emotional well-being. Through her work as an actress, producer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Gomez has proven herself a multifaceted figure who uses her influence to create real change. Her impact transcends music, making her a true cultural icon for millions of people. This year's ceremony will also pay tribute to other prominent figures in the Latin music scene, including Anitta (Vanguard Award), Belinda (Evolution Award), Celia Cruz (Legend Award), Chiquis (Impact Award), Ha*Ash (Inquebrantables Award), Natti Natasha (Unstoppable Artist), and Olga Tanon (Lifetime Achievement Award). The Billboard Latin Women in Music Awards will be streamed on Telemundo, the Telemundo app, Universo, and Peacock, and throughout Latin America and the Caribbean on Telemundo Internacional. The gala promises to be a celebration of the power, resilience, and creativity of the women who are shaping the present and future of Latin music. Mack Trucks publicly unveils its new heavy dump truck on Sept. 23, 2021. Manufactured by Mack Defense in Allentown, the trucks will be used by the U.S. Army, reserves and National Guard. Steve Novak | For lehighvalleylive.com Mack Trucks will lay off between 250 and 350 workers at its Lehigh Valley Operations center outside Allentown over the next three months, due to economic uncertainty caused by U.S. tariffs, a company spokesperson said Thursday. Heavy-duty truck orders continue to be negatively affected by market uncertainty about freight rates and demand, possible regulatory changes, and the impact of tariffs, spokesperson Kimberly Pupillo said. Today we informed our employees that this unfortunately means well have to lay off 250-350 people at LVO over the next 90 days, Pupillo said. We regret having to take this action, but we need to align production with reduced demand for our vehicles. Union leaders announced the company had confirmed layoffs Thursday afternoon. The plant in Macungie employs around 3,050 workers. Due to the market being in decline, there will be a rate and line reduction. I have heard all the same rumors you guys have heard. This is the first time I have an official word from the company that there will be a layoff, United Auto Workers Local 677 shop chair Tim Hertzog said in a letter posted on the unions Facebook page Thursday. State Rep. Josh Siegel (D-Lehigh) said the layoffs are a clear signal of the dangerous economic instability being fueled by the Trump administrations chaotic tariff policies. The tariffs erratic, broad and poorly targeted are crushing core U.S. industries like trucking and manufacturing. Supply chains are snarled, costs are soaring, and confidence among employers is collapsing, Siegel said in a news release. President Donald Trump said on the campaign trail last year that tariffs would return manufacturing to the United States and generate hundreds of millions of dollars for the U.S. Treasury. At the beginning of April, Trump announced tariffs on products imported from other countries beginning a universal 10% duty and increasing with additional reciprocal tariffs as high as 50% against countries with large trade deficits or other barriers to exports. The announcement sparked a massive stock market sell-off that erased trillions of dollars in value that was followed by the largest single-day increase when Trump announced a 90-day reprieve for most countries. He doubled down on tariffs for Chinese imports, raising the duties to 125%. Siegel called on U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-7th District), whose district includes the Lehigh County Mack plant, and Senators John Fetterman (D-Pa.) and Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) to take back Congresss constitutional authority on trade and end this economic sabotage before more livelihoods are lost. The Fire Country season 3 finale is just around the corner, but is the CBS series returning for a fourth season? Yes, Fire Country has been renewed for season 4, which will premiere in the fall of 2025. CBS made the announcement in February, simultaneously renewing Elsbeth, Tracker, NCIS, and its spinoffs NCIS: Origins and NCIS: Sydney. Deadline reported at the time that Fire Country was averaging 10.6 million multi-platform viewers per episode with streaming alone. The action drama series, which debuted in 2022, stars Max Thieriot as Bode Leon (a.k.a Bode Donovan), a Cal Fire firefighter. When the show began, Bode was an incarcerated firefighter, but he was released from prison during season 2. In addition to Thieriot, Fire Country stars Kevin Alejandro (Manny Perez), Jordan Calloway (Jake Crawford), Stephanie Arcila (Gabriela Perez), Jules Latimer (Eve Edwards), Diane Farr (Sharon Leone), and Billy Burke (Vince Leone). The Fire Country two-hour season 3 finale airs on Friday, April 25. A logline for part 1 reads, When a fire erupts at a gas station, Bode and Manny jump into action to protect the patrons and property. READ MORE: Will there be a season 2 of Matlock? The synopsis for part 2 of the finale teases extremely high winds and dangerous conditions that threaten the care facility where Bodes grandfather Walter (Jeff Fahey) lives. The two-hour finale this year is pretty special, Thieriot said during an interview with Us Weekly earlier this month. We have some crazy awesome action stuff. We definitely end with a boom. Fire Country is so popular with fans that a spinoff titled Sheriff Country is set to debut this fall. The series will star Morena Baccarin as Mickey Fox, Edgewater County Sheriffs Sergeant. Fire Country viewers were introduced to Mickey during season 2 when she reunited with her stepsister Sharon. She returned for an episode in season 3 to investigate the attempted murder of her estranged father with Bode. Fire Country airs on CBS and Paramount+ on Fridays at 9 p.m. ET. Episodes are available to stream on Paramount+ the day after they air. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips/. Marvin Roberts flashes four fingers in a sign of solidarity for the so-called Fairbanks Four at the Alaska Federation of Natives conference in Anchorage, Alaska, on Oct. 17, 2015. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, file) AP JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) An Alaska Native man who maintained his innocence in the 1997 killing of a white teenager has agreed to an $11.5 million settlement with the city of Fairbanks after alleging police acted with a racial bias in a case in which he and three other Indigenous men spent nearly two decades in prison. Marvin Roberts is the last of the so-called Fairbanks Four to reach a settlement with the city after their murder convictions were vacated in 2015. While the agreement in his long-running civil lawsuit against the city and police officers was announced in late March, the parties on Wednesday formally asked a judge to dismiss Roberts case, citing the settlement. I dont think any amount of money will be enough to justify what I endured as an innocent man in prison, Roberts said in a recent statement. This settlement, however, gives me freedom with my life, and most importantly, more time with my daughter and my parents, who supported me throughout this nightmare. Fairbanks city attorney Tom Chard confirmed the city and its insurance carriers had agreed to an $11.5 million settlement. Terms of the agreement set out a schedule for release of funds, with the final payment due by Oct. 1, 2026. The agreement stipulates that the settlement shall not be construed as an admission of liability or responsibility by the defendants. Nick Brustin, a member of Roberts legal team with Neufeld Scheck Brustin Hoffmann & Freudenberger, LLP, a New York-based civil rights firm, in a statement called the agreement a vindication of Marvin Roberts innocence, which he has maintained with extraordinary dignity for almost three decades. The agreement comes nearly 1 1/2 years after the other three men, George Frese, Eugene Vent and Kevin Pease, agreed to a settlement in which they each were to receive $1.59 million from the citys insurer. The city in that case said the settlement was not an admission of liability or fault of any kind. Alaska Native leaders long advocated for the mens release, saying the convictions were racially motivated. Pease is Native American; Frese, Vent and Roberts are Athabascan Alaska Natives. Roberts was the only one of the four who was on parole at the time the convictions were thrown out. A 2015 settlement in a civil case brought by the men that led to the convictions being thrown out followed a weeks-long hearing reexamining the case in detail and raised the possibility that others had killed 15-year-old John Hartman. While the four men each maintained their innocence, the Alaska Department of Law said the settlement was not an exoneration. The men would argue the settlement that led to their release in which they agreed not to sue was not legally binding because they were coerced. An appeals court panel ruled in their favor. Teal Soden, a spokesperson for the Fairbanks police department, said the agency lists Hartmans killing as an open/active case. People begin to walk in TerrAscends The Apothecarium in Phillipsburg as it opens its doors to recreational cannabis sales on Thursday, April 21, 2022, as New Jersey sees its long-awaited first day of adult-use cannabis sales. Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com Phillipsburg is unlikely to see more cannabis businesses until a second retail space, proposed for near Union Square, meets new criteria. The town receives quite a few inquiries from people interested in opening retail spaces every month, said Mayor Randy Piazza. Interest was piqued when New Jersey legalized marijuana sales in 2022. The Apothecarium, a California-based cannabis company, was among the first licensed medical dispensaries permitted to offer recreational sales in the state. Its location on the border of Pennsylvania and New Jersey has proven beneficial for business, area residents believe. Customer wait times can be as long as an hour some days and the queue can extend down the street. Pre-ordering online and taking advantage of medicinal discounts allow some customers to avoid long lines. However, the high traffic volume on one of the towns busiest streets has only contributed to ongoing traffic congestion near the free bridge. Its safe to say that there were certain criteria that we needed to allow for a second one, Piazza said. Broad Street Buds LLC was approved by the town to operate a Class 5 cannabis retail store on North Broad Street, in the area of Invertase Brewing Co. in February. Broad Street Buds is represented by Florio, Perucci, Steinhardt, Cappelli and Tipton. Piazza said the criteria for the second location included sufficient parking, better traffic circulation, and distance from residential areas. The zoning board approved the project, finding it largely consistent with the towns Master Plan. The towns ordinance prohibits all other cannabis businesses, except for the two approved locations. I would definitely listen if somebody else was interested in opening up a third cannabis retail space, like we do with all inquiries, but I would first like to see how a second performs in our town for a period of time before considering it. Thank you for supporting our journalism. Glenn Epps can be reached at gepps@lehighvalleylive.com or at glenn_epps_ on Instagram, Facebook and Threads. A Slate Belt township that hasnt had its own police force in almost 30 years is going to study what its law enforcement options are. Upper Mount Bethel Township supervisors voted Monday to ask the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development to provide a police study at no cost to the township. Township Manager Nicholas Graziano said the study, which will look at the townships demographics, crime rate and other factors, will be performed by former Slate Belt Regional police Chief David Mettin, who is now a police chief in Bucks County. Young people from Laois got the chance to meet some of the country's key decision makers at Comhairle na nOgs National Showcase in Dublin Castle earlier this week. A group of twelve from Laois were among 400 young people aged between 12 and 17 from every country in Ireland that attended the event. Hosted by presenter and podcaster Fionnuala Jones, the event brought together the Taoiseach Michael Martin, Minister Norma Foley, Members of Government and Senior Government Officials to engage directly with young people on the issues that matter most to them. CONTINUE READING BELOW PHOTO PICTURED: Back row L-R : Rowan McKenna, Tara Phelan, Veniamin Sahaidac, Jack Marron, Pride Ncube, Rori Keane. Front row L-R: Kacie Constantinou, Aine Barrett, Chloe Kavanagh, Sara Lawlor, Anna-Maria Sahaidac, and Emma Ging. Chloe Kavanagh from Laois Comhairle na nOg shared their perspective: The Comhairle showcase is such an amazing event, it means so much to be able to join all of the Comhairli together and meet young people who care about their communities and do incredible work to try and help others. Run by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY), the biannual showcase provided a vital platform for the 31 Comhairle na nOg groups to present their work and connect directly with decision-makers on policies that impact their lives. The showcase highlighted the power of youth-led action and demonstrated how young people are influencing policy development at local and national levels. READ NEXT: Laois student wins big at Texaco Children's Art Competition Taoiseach Micheal Martin praised the event, stating: Comhairle na nOg provides young people across the country with the opportunity to have their voices heard. I am delighted to see so many energetic and engaged young people here today expressing their views on topics that impact them. It is of the utmost importance that we consider their inputs, and keep their futures in mind, in all of our Governments work. Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, highlighted the importance of youth participation, saying: Comhairle na nOg is a fantastic forum for young people across Ireland, giving them an opportunity to share their views and influence policy development on a local, regional, and even national level. Todays event provides these young people with an excellent opportunity to speak directly with policymakers, Government representatives and those having a direct impact on their lives on a wide range of issues, and I have thoroughly enjoyed witnessing it first-hand. Throughout the day, young people participated in panel discussions, interactive exhibitions, and networking sessions with policymakers and government representatives. These discussions tackled pressing issues such as mental health, education reform, climate action, transport and youth rights, reinforcing the significant role young people play in shaping Irelands future. The planned opening of the newly redeveloped Portarlington Playground has been delayed for a second time due to vandalism. Local Independent Cllr Aidan Mullins said the Laois County Council had hoped to open the playground in Portarlington this week. However, due to the vandalism of a platform in the tower unit on the night of Monday, April 14 the opening has been postponed until the replacement part arrives from the manufacturer in Europe, Cllr Mullins said in an online post. Additionally both contractor teams working on the site this week have been abused and threatened by those ignorant idiots attempting to enter the site while works were in progress. The matter has been reported to the Gardai, said Cllr Mullins. Speaking to the Leinster Express/Laois Live, Cllr Mullins said "it is just sad that that is what it's come to. What is in their head?" Cllr Mullins said workers were verbally abused and threatened when they told people not to enter the site while work was ongoing. He said a safety inspection has now been provisionally booked for this coming Wednesday, April 23. READ ALSO: Portarlington Playground opening delayed If all is in order and the replacement part has arrived, the playground will be opened on 23rd April. The planting of the perennial plants in the playground has to be completed and hopefully will not be removed, he said In a shocking revelation, figures released by the HSE through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request, show there were almost 4,500 missed hospital appointments at Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise last year. There were a total of 4,480 DNAs (Did Not Attend) at the Laois facility in 2024, according to the FOI data. To put that figure into perspective, the number of those on waiting lists for outpatient services in the hospital currently stands at 5,825. For those stuck waiting for services in Portlaoise , such a high proportion of DNAs is undoubtedly frustrating. Nationally there were over 525,320 appointments not attended last year. At the top of the list for the most DNAs in 2024 was the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital with 48,007. St. James's Hospital followed with 40,000 and then Beaumont with 39,398.Outside of the Dublin area, University Hospital Limerick also recorded high numbers of missed appointments with a total of 24,659 as well as University Hospital Waterford with 26,522. Children's Health Ireland at Crumlin, Temple Street, Tallaght and Connolly all recorded a combined total of 17,419 unattended appointments last year also. Such staggering figures perhaps hold most significance when compared to the number of people currently on waiting lists for often critical and life-saving health services across Ireland. According to the latest figures from the HSE, there are over 575,716 people on outpatient waiting lists nationally. Of these, 500,637 are adults and 75,079 are children. READ NEXT: Best of Laois business to be honoured at gala awards When the total number of missed outpatient appointments are put side by side with the total number of those still enduring the never-ending waiting lists, the figures are not worlds apart. Had even the majority of these appointments been attended, then perhaps there would have been a considerable dent made in these enormous waiting lists. To place this into further context, the Mater Hospital's number of missed appointments last year at 48,007 is almost 10,000 greater than their outpatient waiting list which currently stands at 38,254. Even worse, St James's figures from 2024 were almost double their current waiting lists of 23,950. When asked to comment on the figures, the Mater pointed out that with a total of 291,495 patients attending the hospital last year, it is one of the busiest hospitals in the country. Additionally, they said: "It is worth noting that the community where the Mater Hospital is situated is recognised as an area of deprivation and many of the patients cared for have multiple morbidities and other social issues to contend with." The hospital said they continue to encourage patient compliance with appointment attendance through a range of measures including sending appointment letters, text message reminders and validation of waiting lists to remove patients who no longer need appointments. A spokesperson for St James's Hospital explained that the high figures in the report are indicative of the volume of patients they see and the complexity of patient cases. However, in a statement from the hospital, they said they will "continue to evaluate and examine future measures that can potentially reduce the number of missed outpatient appointments." For those faced with limbo on these waiting lists, these figures can seem like a slap in the face. However, it is important to not shift the blame simply on the patients but to instead ask how can the system be allowing such vast numbers of missed appointments without raising concern and what is being done about it? It cannot be expected that 100% of appointments be kept to: people's schedules change, things can happen, we can't always anticipate what comes next. We all accept that. However, over half a million appointments missed in one year is an extraordinary figure especially when it is held against our already extraordinary figure on waiting lists. So what is happening? When asked to comment on the figures released by the HSE and the current situation with waiting lists in the country, the Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill's office released a statement to say: "It is acknowledged that many patients are still waiting too long for hospital appointments and treatments." The statement continued: "The Minister for Health is conscious of the burden that this places on patients and their families." The Minister's office pointed out the Waiting List Action Plan (WLAP) for 2025 was published in February which is designed to reduce the waiting times for patients and improve access to hospital care. So far, over 420 million has been allocated to the initiative. Part of this plan aims to address the issue of unattended appointments. Some of these initiatives designed to target DNAs include two-way messaging systems. The Health Minister's office also added: "enabling and facilitating scheduled care reforms, through the use of technologies and tools, including in relation to SMS messaging re appointments, referral processes, robotic process automation, application of insights from behavioural science, and further roll out of the HSE patient application." A spokesperson for the Mid-West Hospital Campaign, Marie McMahon, has described the current situation in the region as "absolutely frightening." Seven years ago this month, Maries husband died on a hospital trolley in UHL. When discussing the dire figures from the HSE, Marie emphasised the real people behind those numbers, saying "a lot of families have had horrific experiences." For Marie, the writing is on the wall: "Obviously, the system is failing." She acknowledged the complex reasons as to why the number of DNAs could be so high, however, as she points out: "There needs to be some understanding as to why this is. Why are they not investigating? How much is that costing? There has to be a huge cost." She also pointed out that the current system of sending out letters and telling people theyll be removed from the waiting lists if they dont respond within a short timeframe is not suitable as not everyone has someone who can advocate for them, if they are not in the position to do so for themselves. Then theres also the issue of transport for vulnerable and rural people. Marie said: "If you dont have access to transport and you dont have someone to take you there, how are you going to get there? What are the provisions? Thats fine if you are urban based where there is a good transport network. But if you are rurally based, and a lot of Irish people are, then how do people get to their hospital appointment?" Ultimately, in Maries opinion, these figures further demonstrate that "the system is broken." As Marie expressed, these latest figures are just one further example of a failure by the HSE in the broader picture of mismanagement of resources and treatment of patients wherein there will be "no accountability." A Senator who chaired the talks leading to the Good Friday Agreement back in 1998 has been honoured by a Kildare TD. The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless TD (Fianna Fail) addressed an event at Queens University Belfast on Wednesday, April 16 last, which honoured Senator George Mitchells role in the Good Friday Agreement. The event brought together pupils and young people from schools across the island of Ireland for an address by Senator Mitchell. Thematically, the event focused on the legacy of the agreement, while also encouraging a new generation to build on its legacy. Speaking at the event, Minister Lawless said: "I am taken by the title of todays event 'Passing the Torch'. Responsibility for sustaining peace now rests with all of us living on this island." Addressing Senator Mitchell, Minister Lawless said: "You were the person who enabled their participation and gave voice to people who were marginalised in a divided community. "You created the context, where the focus shifted from the past to the future. You never sought for any person to forget their past and heritage; you painted the future for all." Minister Lawless meets Queen's University Belfast students Ellen McDonald, Riona McFadden, Lily Anderson, Cristabel Bakare. Photo supplied by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Continuing his speech, Minister Lawless said: "The young people in this room are the future of this island. The leaders, the thinkers, the makers, the creators. "Whether from Cork or Derry, Dublin or Downpatrick they all have something in common: they are the generation who can build a future that is more inclusive, more connected, and more united in purpose than ever before." "Weve come a long way. But theres more to do and the journey belongs to them now," he concluded. The Ministers engagements later continued with a series of meetings with the Vice Chancellor of Queens University Belfast, Professor Sir Ian Greer, and his staff. READ NEXT: Uproar after bus service is axed in Kildare In modern times, there has generally been less stigma surrounding mental health. However, with just a quick Google search, you can find dozens of articles which describe just how many people in Ireland regardless of sex, age, economic background, occupation, and more are suffering inside their own minds. Although there is no one-size-fits-all approach to tackling mental health issues, it is often the case that the first step towards recovering involves a simple, friendly and reassuring conversation with the person who is suffering with a mental health condition. Taking clear inspiration from this approach, Mental Health Ireland is inviting the people of County Kildare to say "Hello" and ask "How Are You?" with meaning on Tuesday, May 15, 2025. Now in its fourth year, the national "Hello, How Are You?" campaign, according to the organisers, highlights the importance of "staying connected, helps tackle loneliness, creates a sense of belonging and builds relationships". "It also encourages early help-seeking through reliable information on mental health support services and signposting." They continued: "There are many ways to slow down and genuinely engage with a family member, friend or even a stranger. You dont need to be an expert to have a meaningful conversation." The organisation is specifically encouraging people to use the "HELLO steps", which are outlined below: H: Say Hello E: Engage with the person L: Listen to them L: Learn about them and what they might be saying O: Give them time to talk and to explore options Claire Flynn, the national campaign's lead, further said: "Every year were seeing more meaningful conversations and social connections being made across Ireland. "We continue to develop free literature, resources and training to grow the reach of the campaign and support events, and to work collaboratively with other organisations who are connecting communities in creative and impactful ways." Ms Flynn added: "On May 15, were looking forward to seeing all the different ways the nation says 'Hello, How Are You?' whether it is holding an event, joining a parkrun, or simply boiling the kettle and sitting down with a friend. "It all starts with a simple question: 'How Are You?'" Mental Health Ireland has also said that it is teaming up with companies, organisations and groups "to ensure that the message of 'Hello, How Are You?' reaches every community and household in Ireland". Iarnrod Eireann / Irish Rail is supporting the mental health campaign again with HELLO champions and volunteers at Waterford Train Station as well as Dublin Heuston, Dublin Connolly, Limerick, Cork (Ceannt) and Athlone stations on May 15. In addition, 'parkrun', the free, weekly, community event where people of all ages and abilities are welcome to walk, jog, run, or volunteer, is inviting participants across Ireland to learn about the campaign, as well as the benefits of community connections and conversation, at 'parkrun' events on Saturday, May 17, 2025. For free HELLO resources, toolkits and further information (available in different languages), you can visit www.hellohowareyou.info/resources. Photograph supplied by Mental Health Ireland READ NEXT: NOTICE: Kildare-based animal charity issues important update regarding its fundraiser in Punchestown In a shocking revelation, figures released by the HSE through request by the Freedom of Information Act 2014 show that over half a million of outpatient appointments were not attended last year at hospitals throughout the country. The report detailed the figures of missed appointments, or DNAs (Did Not Attend), at each hospital in the country in 2024 and contained a breakdown by region. In total, there were over 525,320 appointments not attended last year. Naas General Hospital recorded a high number of DNAs in 2024 with a total of 6,061. Putting this into perspective, the outpatient waiting list figures for the hospital currently stand at 9,626 and so the DNA figure is a sizable amount of the number of those currently on waiting lists at the hospital. At the top of the list for the most DNAs in 2024 was the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital with 48,007. St. James's Hospital followed with 40,000 and then Beaumont with 39,398.Outside of the Dublin area, University Hospital Limerick also recorded high numbers of missed appointments with a total of 24,659 as well as University Hospital Waterford with 26,522. Children's Health Ireland at Crumlin, Temple Street, Tallaght and Connolly all recorded a combined total of 17,419 unattended appointments last year also. Such staggering figures perhaps hold most significance when compared to the number of people currently on waiting lists for often critical and life-saving health services across Ireland. According to the latest figures from the HSE, there are over 575,716 people on outpatient waiting lists nationally. Of these, 500,637 are adults and 75,079 are children. READ NEXT: NOTICE: Kildare-based animal charity issues important update regarding its fundraiser in Punchestown When the total number of missed outpatient appointments are put side by side with the total number of those still enduring the never-ending waiting lists, the figures are not worlds apart. Had even the majority of these appointments been attended, then perhaps there would have been a considerable dent made in these enormous waiting lists. To place this into further context, the Mater Hospital's number of missed appointments last year at 48,007 is almost 10,000 greater than their outpatient waiting list which currently stands at 38,254. Even worse, St James's figures from 2024 were almost double their current waiting lists of 23,950. When asked to comment on the figures, the Mater pointed out that with a total of 291,495 patients attending the hospital last year, it is one of the busiest hospitals in the country. Additionally, they said: "It is worth noting that the community where the Mater Hospital is situated is recognised as an area of deprivation and many of the patients cared for have multiple morbidities and other social issues to contend with." The hospital said they continue to encourage patient compliance with appointment attendance through a range of measures including sending appointment letters, text message reminders and validation of waiting lists to remove patients who no longer need appointments. A spokesperson for St James's Hospital explained that the high figures in the report are indicative of the volume of patients they see and the complexity of patient cases. However, in a statement from the hospital, they said they will "continue to evaluate and examine future measures that can potentially reduce the number of missed outpatient appointments." For those faced with limbo on these waiting lists, these figures can seem like a slap in the face. However, it is important to not shift the blame simply on the patients but to instead ask how can the system be allowing such vast numbers of missed appointments without raising concern and what is being done about it? It cannot be expected that 100% of appointments be kept to: people's schedules change, things can happen, we can't always anticipate what comes next. We all accept that. However, over half a million appointments missed in one year is an extraordinary figure especially when it is held against our already extraordinary figure on waiting lists. So what is happening? When asked to comment on the figures released by the HSE and the current situation with waiting lists in the country, the Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill's office released a statement to say: "It is acknowledged that many patients are still waiting too long for hospital appointments and treatments." The statement continued: "The Minister for Health is conscious of the burden that this places on patients and their families." The Minister's office pointed out the Waiting List Action Plan (WLAP) for 2025 was published in February which is designed to reduce the waiting times for patients and improve access to hospital care. So far, over 420 million has been allocated to the initiative. Part of this plan aims to address the issue of unattended appointments. Some of these initiatives designed to target DNAs include two-way messaging systems. The Health Minister's office also added: "enabling and facilitating scheduled care reforms, through the use of technologies and tools, including in relation to SMS messaging re appointments, referral processes, robotic process automation, application of insights from behavioural science, and further roll out of the HSE patient application." A spokesperson for the Mid-West Hospital Campaign, Marie McMahon, has described the current situation in the region as "absolutely frightening." Seven years ago this month, Maries husband died on a hospital trolley in UHL. When discussing the dire figures from the HSE, Marie emphasised the real people behind those numbers, saying "a lot of families have had horrific experiences." For Marie, the writing is on the wall: "Obviously, the system is failing." She acknowledged the complex reasons as to why the number of DNAs could be so high, however, as she points out: "There needs to be some understanding as to why this is. Why are they not investigating? How much is that costing? There has to be a huge cost." She also pointed out that the current system of sending out letters and telling people theyll be removed from the waiting lists if they dont respond within a short timeframe is not suitable as not everyone has someone who can advocate for them, if they are not in the position to do so for themselves. Then theres also the issue of transport for vulnerable and rural people. Marie said: "If you dont have access to transport and you dont have someone to take you there, how are you going to get there? What are the provisions? Thats fine if you are urban based where there is a good transport network. But if you are rurally based, and a lot of Irish people are, then how do people get to their hospital appointment?" Ultimately, in Maries opinion, these figures further demonstrate that "the system is broken." As Marie expressed, these latest figures are just one further example of a failure by the HSE in the broader picture of mismanagement of resources and treatment of patients wherein there will be "no accountability." A 19-year-old activist from Kildare has been selected by Sinn Fein to be the party's representative for the Newbridge Local Electoral Area (LEA). James Stokes, who is also a member of the Traveller Community, had his nomination approved by the Grey Abbey Martyrs Cumann on Tuesday, April 15 last. Last year, Mr Stokes notably made headlines nationwide as he was the youngest local election candidate in Ireland. Although he missed out on being appointed to a seat on the Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District, his party colleague, Shonagh Ni Raghallaigh, was elected as a councillor. Deputy Ni Raghallaigh was later appointed as a TD for Kildare South in the general election in late 2024. Speaking following his appointment, Mr Stokes said: "Im honoured to have been selected as SFs area representative for the Newbridge LEA. I am rooted in my community, and Im committed to standing up for local people, fighting for real change, and working hard for the LEA. "I look forward to working closely with Shonagh Ni Raghallaigh TD to fight for issues that matter particularly access to education, public transportation, housing, and better amenities." He added that one of his key priorities is to fighting for a direct public bus service from Newbridge to Maynooth University. "I have been consistently ignored on by the Minister, despite a petition with over 500 signatures," Mr Stokes claimed. "This service is vital for students and I will continue to push for it until its delivered." In addition, he also expressed his desire to progress the Kilcullen Design Statement. 'A HUGE HELP' Deputy Ni Raghallaigh also welcomed the appointment of Mr Stokes: "James has been a committed member of the party for years and narrowly missed out in the 2024 local elections, a real sign of the strong support he has built in the community. "Hes been a huge help to me personally throughout my campaigns and in my work in Teach Laighean. She continued: "James is deeply rooted in Newbridge, a passionate advocate for his town, equality, public transportation, housing, and especially committed to improving opportunities for young people. "Well be working closely together to deliver for Newbridge, starting with our first joint campaign to deliver a play park for LHD (LakesideHighfieldDara Park) so children have access to amenities in their area." "Ive no doubt James will be a fantastic representative for the people of Newbridge," Deputy Ni Raghallaigh concluded. In addition, Mr Stokes informed the Leader that he is expecting to welcome a baby boy into the world with his partner in July of this year. Mr Stokes can be contacted via email at JamesStokesNB@gmail.com. READ NEXT: Senator honoured by Kildare rep at event marking 27 years of the Good Friday Agreement The family of Liam Farrell, the 87-year-old Leitrim man found dead outside his home in Rooskey in January 2020, is calling for a full exhumation of his body and a fresh investigation led from Dublin. They believe their father was violently attacked and say critical evidence has been overlooked or mishandled for years. Following a recent Garda review, Peter Farrell met with detectives last Friday to discuss the case. While he welcomed the re-interviewing of witnesses and the involvement of foreign forensic experts, he expressed frustration at the pace and direction of the inquiry. Were going to re-interview the guard that allegedly made the footprints in the front lawn, Peter said. And I might remind you that those footprints are going in one direction only there are no return footprints. Despite Garda statements claiming no forensic evidence was found behind Liams house, Peter described a troubling list of items discovered on the scene. There was a blood-soaked timber. A blood-soaked hanky. A blood-soaked tissue. A small bathroom towel. And a hat. These were all found at the back of my fathers house. And yet, were told there were no forensics back there? Thats startling. The family has long suspected that key evidencelike a rope found in the shedwas downplayed or dismissed. Peter said an independent expert they hired found signs of blood, though Gardai later dismissed it as a false positive due to the small quantity. Theres a clear discolorationabout six inches longon the rope. It wasnt mentioned in the original forensic report. We found it. Why didnt they? Weve worked with the Gardai for over five years. But we have no faith left in their forensic team, he added. We believe an exhumation is the most logical step. Its horrible to talk aboutbut its the only way to get answers now. Peter also revealed disturbing claims about confidentiality breaches. He said a businessman in Rooskey told him he had seen their Garda statementsallegedly shown to him by his son, a serving Gardabefore the case was submitted to the DPP. We were told, Youll lose everything you have in America if you dont stop pursuing this. Thats intimidation. And GSOC is now investigating it. The Farrells remain incredulous that certain leads have still not been pursued, including the identity of a mysterious man reportedly seen speaking to Liam the night before he died. Five years later, they still havent interviewed the man with the hatthe man who was seen in the pub speaking to my father that night. You wouldnt see that in a movie. Instead, Peter said, one of the Garda recommendations included hiring a canine expert to determine if the family dog had removed Liams socks, shoes, and outerwear. You could hear a pin drop when they said that. Its absurd. Instead of interviewing that man, theyre blaming the dog. The family also believes Liam sustained significant injuries inconsistent with the Garda's initial findings. We believe there's a high chance our father had a base of skull fracture. The forensic pathologist noted matted blood at the back of his head and bilateral injuries to the eyesindicative of a blunt force trauma, Peter said. My sons a doctor in Houston. He looked at the photo and said immediately: That collarbone is broken or dislocated. How could my father remove his own clothes in that condition? Though the family appreciates the efforts of some officersparticularly the detective inspector behind the second reviewthey are demanding the investigation be removed from the Sligo-Leitrim division and handled centrally. We dont want this handled in Sligo-Leitrim anymore. It needs to go to Dublinor to a cold case team. This has gone on far too long. Peter also confirmed he has raised the case with Taoiseach Micheal Martin during a meeting in Texas earlier this year, and that the family is now seeking a direct meeting with Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan. There is just no accountability here. No transparency. My father needs justice. The whole community here needs justice. READ MORE Leitrim Marina Hotel will not be used as an IPAS Centre President Boakai urged development partners to address root causes of Liberias challengespoverty, joblessness, poor service deliveryrather than focusing narrowly on peacebuilding interventions. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close VP Koung, center with Kogar, right in campaign mood in Bozie Mrs. Edith Gongloe-Weh, the only female candidate in the by-election; VP Jeremiah Koung, now virtual co-candidate in Nimba County. SEVEN Limerick entrepreneurs have been nominated for prestigious national awards. They are all in the running to secure category prizes at the annual PwC Image Businesswoman of the Year Awards. Grainne Fogarty, director of RehabCare, the Health and Social Care division of the Rehab Group, has been shortlisted for the Business Woman of the Year Award. A native of Clare now living in Limerick, she has been working for RehabCare, for over 20 years, championing the rights of individuals with disabilities, mental health issues, and other related needs. Leonie Lynch, the founder of city centre superfood producer Juspy and Alice Carroll, the co-founder of Foxes Bow Whiskey have been nominated in the category of start-up of the year. Adare businesswoman and designer Aoife McNamara has received a nomination in the category of environmental, social, and governance. READ MORE: New primary care centre planned for Limerick Sarah OSullivan of SOS Cookies, which is based at the Milk Market in Limerick city centre, is in the running for young businesswoman of the year. Mamobo Ogoro of Gorm Media has been nominated in the diversity and equality section. And Mairead Cheevers, the chief operating officer at the Rose Clinic which is located at the Beacon Hospital in Barrington Street has been nominated as the entrepreneur of the year. The awards take place on Friday, April 25, at The Clayton Hotel in Dublins Burlington Road. They celebrate Irelands most inspiring female business leaders. Its designed to recognise their innovation, leadership, and impact across various industries. The chief executive of Image Media Clodagh Edwards said: Every year the Image PwC Businesswoman of the Year Awards are a showcase of the incredible depth and diversity of female leadership across Irelands business ecosystem. The exceptional calibre of the 2025 shortlist demonstrates the economic impact of these women in business, across so many sectors, and we are delighted to spotlight these inspiring business stories, she added. TWO new shops are set to open in Arthurs Quay Shopping Centre in a welcome boost for the city centre. Womens clothing retailer Paco is to open in a unit on the ground floor of the mall, its second outlet in the city, with a gift shop specialising in crochet to trade on the first floor. The gift shop is being opened by Tania Smetanko, who came to Limerick as a refugee from Ukraine following the start of its war with Russia three years ago. READ MORE: JP McManus donation helps tenants' support charity open Limerick office She came here with her family from Irpin, in the region of the countrys capital Kyiv. After settling in and learning English, she was keen to continue a business she had operated while in her homeland. For the last 12 years following the birth of her son, Tania has specialised in crochet. This is a process of creating textiles by interlocking loops of yarn, thread or strands of other materials. The key difference between crochet and knitting is that each stitch in crochet is completed before you begin the next one. By contrast, knitting keeps many stitches open at a time. Tania is currently based in Wickham Way market at Wickham Street in the city centre. Here, she offers toys, wicker bags, embroidered portraits, decorations and watercolour paintings. On top of this, she sells toys, blankets, cardigans, bags, jumpers and ornaments. This is the same business I had in Ukraine. This is why I opened here. When we arrived here, I always dreamt I needed to open my own business, she said. But my English was at zero level. I attended courses in college and after this, I opened here, added Tania. I wanted to have a physical store where people could come, look and touch the toys. Having initially lived in Pier One when she came to Limerick, Tania has now settled into permanent accommodation with her family at Childers Road. She paid tribute to Network Ireland Limerick, a group for women in business and the arts for the support they have afforded her. Having opened in November 2023, she feels it is time to move onto pastures new, and will begin trading at Arthurs Quay in the next fortnight. Arthurs Quay has a bigger audience, more clients. In here (Wickham Way market), I am busy only two days a week. But in Arthurs Quay, I will be much busier. I know I will be able to help more people, she added. Tania is also inspiring the next generation of crocheters by running classes twice a week. Womens clothes retailer Paco is set to open its second store in Limerick on a ground floor unit in Arthurs Quay and is currently seeking staff. Paco currently has one store locally in the Crescent Shopping Centre. The boutique, whose clothes have featured on RTE television, also has branches around the country including in Dublin, Ennis, Tralee and Killarney. AN INNOVATIVE European initiative called the AquaCOM project, led by Limerick-border group Ballyhoura Development CLG, is exploring the potential of aquathermal energy as an alternative to fossil fuels. The project kicked off its transnational partner meeting in Croom this April and engages with 12 early adopter groups across Ireland, Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands. Croom Sustainable Energy Community is one of these early adopter groups and hosted the partners of the AquaCOM project on the first day of their transnational partner trip to Ireland on April 1. The partners also met with three other Irish Early Adopter groups: Glenstal Abbey, Synergy Fermoy and Kylemore Abbey. AquaCOM is exploring the potential of heating homes and buildings using heat from water sources like rivers and lakes to help communities reduce their dependence on fossil fuels. READ ALSO: Over 20,000 people in Limerick to come together and clean-up this Good Friday This in turn helps accelerate a citizen-led just transition into a more sustainable way of living. We were delighted to welcome our European partners to Croom, said Sybren Oggel of the Croom Sustainable Energy Community. Last year, I travelled to the Netherlands with the project. The trip was a get together of all the partners and representatives of the early adopters groups in Ireland and the other partner countries. It was a great trip and we learned loads so its brilliant to see everyone again, show them Croom in person and have the opportunity to ask more questions of the experts. The meeting provided an opportunity for partners to share knowledge, discuss best practices, and examine the potential of aquathermal energy in real-world scenarios. The project emphasises community involvement and aims to empower citizens to take an active role in shaping their energy future. Sebastian Baes of EXTRAQT, an engineering consultancy based in Belgium and the technical partner for the AquaCOM project, said: We believe that aquathermal energy has the potential to revolutionise how we heat our homes and buildings. By working with these early adopter communities, we can demonstrate the practical benefits of this technology and pave the way for its wider adoption. The AquaCOM project is funded by Interreg North West Europe with EU funding of over 3.8m. The visit to Limerick is significant because during the trip, visitors saw several locations in Limerick that were identified as potential locations for producing aquathermal energy. AquaCOM aims to assist with achieving the EU 2030 and 2050 energy policy objectives of reducing dependence on fossil fuels and increasing the EU energy resilience. Outputs include three pilot projects, 15 early adopter energy communities, master classes, site visits, a policy paper, advocacy actions and an AQE competence centre. The transnational approach combines the strengths and weaknesses of partner countries such as Ireland and France where aquathermal energy still occupies a niche space and Belgium, Ireland and Germanys expertise in building energy community capacity. AHEAD of the Easter Bank Holiday, HSE Mid-West is encouraging the public to familiarise themselves with all hospital and community healthcare options available to meet their healthcare needs over the long weekend. Additional staff are rostered across hospital and community services to help ensure patient access across the weekend, with HSE Mid-West focused on integrated hospital/community healthcare initiatives at every step of the patient journey. The Emergency Department at University Hospital Limerick is open 24/7 for the most acute and life-threatening conditions. With the ED continuing to experience high attendances in the run-up to the holiday weekend, they are working to maximise patient flow in their acute hospitals and across the healthcare system in the region. Additional consultants are on duty in UHL and in response to high ED attendances, they have enhanced and expanded local patient access to Urgent Care facilities and Medical Assessments Units as an alternate pathway to ED. The Injury Units and GP-referral Medical Assessment Units in Ennis, Nenagh and St Johns Hospitals are managing an average of approximately 1,200 patients per week. READ MORE: New primary care centre planned for Limerick Injury Units operate 8am to 8pm, all year, for walk-in treatment of minor injuries such as breaks, sprains and burns. Patients are typically seen and treated in under two hours. You do not need an appointment to attend an Injury Unit, and if youre referred by a GP you will not have to pay the 75 fee. Medical Assessment Units are open 16 hours a day, 8am to 12 midnight, seven days a week. They provide a direct referral pathway for GPs to secure prompt assessment and treatment of medical patients who otherwise might have presented to Limerick ED. In the community, in support of access and patient care, Community Intervention Team services will operate from 8am to 8pm daily. Planned Essential Weekend Nursing Services provide support to patients discharged prior to the weekend and to those who require clinical interventions. Shannondoc Out of Hours GP Services (contact 0818-123500 or 061-459500) will operate for the duration of the bank holiday weekend, from 6pm on Thursday, April 17 until 8am on Tuesday, April 22. Essential Aids & Appliances equipment will be available to patients discharged from hospital. The Community Paramedic is rostered for Friday, Saturday and Monday over the Easter bank holiday weekend. A LIMERICK businessman has been warned he faces a fine of up to 12.6m, after placing a sandwich board outside his restaurant without permission. Adam Ivan-Clancy, general manager and part-owner of Doh Pizza at OConnell Street in the city centre said he felt taken aback at a warning letter he received from Limerick City and County Council. In the letter, seen by Limerick Live, the local authority stated that it considers the sandwich board to be an unauthorised structure. The communication warns Doh Pizza that it has four weeks from the date of the letter, which was March 19 last, to respond. READ MORE: Green Limerick: EU project partners make visit to Croom You are advised that if the said planning authority considers that an unauthorised development is being carried out, an enforcement notice under the provisions of section 154 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 as amended may be issued, the letter states. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Doh Pizza (@dohpizzas) An enforcement notice is a legal document used in planning enforcement to address breaches of planning regulations. If the matter goes to the court and leads to a conviction on indictment, the letter from the council warns that a fine not exceeding 12.6m could be imposed, or imprisonment for up to two years - or both. Alternatively, if there is a summary conviction, council has warned the businessman faces a fine of up to 5,000, jail for a term up to six months - or both. In a separate letter, the local authority has provided him with direction on how to apply for a licence for the advertising board, which if successful, would cost him 630 per year. Mr Ivan-Clancy, who employs up to 20 people at his two pizza restaurants - one in the city centre, one in Castletroy - wrote on social media that the council is wasting tax payers money trying to enforce this utter nonsense. He said he is confused at why the council has written to him, pointing out that since Doh opened in 2021, they have had a sandwich board erected outside the shop. He said four or five business owners have contacted him since he posted a message on social media to confirm they had received similar letters from council. Its understood the licensing regime is in place for a number of reasons including to mitigate against some members of the public who might make claims over trips and falls. During the Covid-19 era, Government ordered the waiving of licence fees in a bid to boost economic recovery after restrictions were lifted. A council spokesperson said regulations are in place to ensure that the use of public spaces by businesses enhances the streetscape without compromising the safety and accessibility of the area. This system is designed to prevent unnecessary restrictions on footpaths and roads, maintaining a balance between business interests and public safety, they added. Mr Ivan-Clancy feels there are better ways he can spend the licensing fee. Wed much rather be able to pay our staff more, he said. Id have thought something like this would be included in the [commercial] rates we pay. The business owner said both his restaurants have been broken into four times in the last year. Its cost several thousand euros in total to reset locks, repair broken windows, and carry out other measures to get the premises back up and running. That doesnt include money and items stolen, he said. Everyone involved in this business is from Limerick. We want to see Limerick thriving. But at times like this, it can feel really difficult. Ive been in the hospitality industry for 16 years. Ive seen a lot over my time. But this is something I was very surprised about, he added. As for what he will do next, he says he is not sure. Mr Ivan-Clancy was hoping the council would be in contact following his social media post to offer some resolution. This isnt just for us. Its for other businesses who have received letters like this, he concluded. Slimming World Ireland members slimmed down and donated their old clothes to raise over 800,000 in 2024 for the Irish Cancer Society. Slimming World is inviting members to join again to bag up any clothes theyve slimmed out of and bring them along to their group. The clothes will then be donated to raise much-needed funds for The Irish Cancer Society. Overweight and obesity is the second biggest preventable cause of cancer, more than 1 in 20 cases are caused by excessive weight. Maintaining a healthy weight could reduce 13 types of cancer and losing more than 10% of body weight can start to significantly reduce the risk of obesity related cancers such as cancers of the breast, uterus, cervix, ovaries and gall bladder. After one year of joining Slimming World, 57% of members surveyed said their health had improved. This is why we award our members their 'Club 10' award in this group. *SPONSORED CONTENT TREATY United will look to get their SSE Airtricity League First Division campaign back on track on Good Friday when table toppers Dundalk visit the Markets Field, 7.45pm. Treaty dropped to sixth place in the First Division table following their disappointing 2-1 defeat to Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds on Friday night last. Tommy Barrett's Treaty side trail table toppers Dundalk by 14 points after nine series of First Division fixtures. Treaty are the only side to have taken points from Dundalk through the opening series of league fixtures. READ MORE: Top-of-the-table Premier Division clash in Limerick District League action Treaty battled back bravely to record a dramatic 2-2 draw with Dundalk in the SSE Airtricity League First Division in front of an official attendance of 2,264 at Oriel Park in early March. It was the first ever league meeting between the clubs. Eoin Martin, in the 86th minute, and Lee Devitt, three minutes later, netted late goals as Treaty hit back from 2-0 down to earn a precious league point. Yoyo Mahdy scored Treaty's goal in their 2-1 defeat to Bray on Friday night. Treaty United trail second-placed Bray Wanderers by seven points in the First Division table and the Markets Field-based side are just three points behind third-placed Cobh Rambler.s Mumbai: Ahmedabad-headquartered Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) said Thursday that it will buy a port terminal in Australias Queensland from a promoter company in a non-cash deal that values the 50-million-tonnes-per-annum (MTPA) capacity asset at an enterprise value of A$3,975 million (approximately 21,640 crore or $2.5 billion). The Adanis flagship port company will issue 143.8 million equity shares to Carmichael Rail and Port Singapore Holdings Pte Ltd, Singapore (CRPSHPL). CRPSHPL is a promoter-owned entity that ultimately owns the North Queensland Export Terminal (NQXT). The transaction will see promoter shareholding in APSEZ go up by 2.13 percentage points to 68.02%. APSEZ had first purchased the port terminal in 2011 for about 9,000 crore, as per news reports. However, the asset was sold to the Adani family in 2013 to manage the debt of the listed company. NQXTs acquisition is a pivotal step in our international strategy, opening new export markets and securing long-term contracts with valued users, Ashwani Gupta, whole-time director & CEO, APSEZ, said in a press statement. The terminal is strategically located on the East-West trade corridor, he said. The company is aiming to grow the Ebitda from the asset to A$400 million (about $255 million) in four years, Gupta further said. It recorded an Ebitda of A$ 228 million in FY25. Ebitda refers to earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization. The terminal has a rated capacity of 50 MTPA and the company estimates that the capacity can be ramped up to 120 MTPA as demand grows. In the previous fiscal year (FY25), the terminal handled 35 million metric tonnes of cargo, the company said. As part of the transaction, APSEZ will also assume other non-core assets and liabilities associated with the terminal. However, APSEZs leverage will remain at similar levels post the transaction, the company said. Read this | Adani Green is weighing its biggest equity sale ever NQXT is a natural deep-water, multi-user export terminal at the Port of Abbot Point, approximately 25 km north of Bowen, in North Queensland on Australias east coast. It is under a long-term lease from the Queensland Government till the year 2110. The terminal has a high quality customer base operating in the Bowen and Galilee mining basins. These mining companies export metallurgical and energy coal to over 15 countries from NQXT. APSEZ is Indias largest commercial ports operator, and accounts for almost one-fourth of the cargo movement in the country. The expansion is part of APSEZs stated goal of handling 1 billion tonnes per annum capacity by 2030. It handled 450 million tonnes in FY25, as per an investor presentation. The company reported consolidated revenue of 26,711 crore in FY24, and net profit of 8,104 crore, per data from the BSE. The company's shares closed 2.2% higher at 1,259.90 on the BSE on Thursday. The transaction was announced after market hours. Private equity major Warburg Pincus and sovereign fund Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) have agreed to invest 7,000 crore in IDFC First Bank for close to 15% stake, delivering a capital boost for the private lender accelerating its credit cards and wealth management businesses. The bank will issue compulsorily convertible preference shares (CCPS) worth 4,876 crore to a Warburg Pincus affiliate, and shares worth 2,624 crore at 60 each to an ADIA subsidiary. While the Warburg affiliate will hold 9.48% stake, the ADIA unit will hold 5.10%. IDFC First Bank was formed in December 2018 with the merger of non-bank lender Capital First with IDFC Bank, then a subsidiary of IDFC Ltd. The latest investment marks a return of Warburg to IDFC First the PE major had originally invested in Capital First when it was founded in 2012, and stayed on after the IDFC Bank merger. Warburg sold its IDFC Bank stake over the last two years. Read more: JPMorgan India to expand presence in startup banking, says bank CEO Chawda I was reaching out to select private equity firms directly and pitching. Then I requested Warburg Pincus to participate. They know us and trust us; so it helped," IDFC First managing director and chief executive V. Vaidyanathan said over the phone, adding that there were no investment bankers involved, and the bank saved over 100 crore compared to, say, a qualified institutional placement (QIP). Fueling growth engines The investment aims to fuel the next phase of growth", IDFC First said. The bank's board has cleared the preferential issue, which will now go to shareholders and regulators for approval. Frankly, with the current weak market conditions, if you went for a QIP, there are many pitches to potential investors, and then, sometimes there are also discounts because of market conditions. Here, we haven't had to offer any such discount," Vaidyanathan said. Our job is to keep the bank safe at all times; so, capital is a good buffer to have. Global market conditions are not good; so, better to be safe." The investment raises IDFC First's capital adequacy ratio from 16.1% to 18.9%. The bank said its book value per share will increase 2.3% after the proposed capital raise to 52.85 from 51.64 in December 2024. "We have developed very good capabilities, over 10-15 years for financing rural markets, MSMEs, retail, gold loans, mortgages, small business banking etc. With these capabilities the bank has built, and with India growing, I do believe that we can grow," Vaidyanathan said. But more important is quality -- We want GNPA (gross NPA) and NNPA (net NPA) below 2% and 1%, which we have shared with the Street and the investors as our internal guideline. We can always open new locations; India is a large, unserved market." IIDFC First has a network of 971 branches across 60,000 locations. Its gross NPA ratio stood at 1.94% and the net NPA ratio at 0.52% at the end of December 2024. The lender posted a net profit of 2,957 crore in FY24. However, profitability dipped 45% on year to about 1,221 crore in the first nine months of FY25 due to industrywide challenges in microfinance. As per provisional data for Q4 FY25, the banks advances were up 20% on year and deposits up 25% as of March 2025. The bank is yet to release its March quarter earnings. Read more: Muthoot-owned Belstar Microfinance enters gold loan biz to diversify portfolio We believe the Indian banking sector presents an exciting opportunity and is poised for long-term growth," said Vishal Mahadevia, managing director, head of Asia private equity, and global co-head of financial services at Warburg Pincus. "We are excited to re-invest behind the IDFC First Bank team to support them in the next phase of growth and sustainable ROE (return on equity) improvement." The bank has firmly moved into profits and is now at a pivotal stage, where our income growth is expected to consistently exceed opex (operating expenditure) growth, leading to improved operating leverage. We expect many businesses which are in the investment stage to turn profitable with scale," Vaidyanathan said in the bank's statement. IDFC First Bank, in an investor presentation, said the growth capital raised will help scale up the multiple lines of businesses like credit cards, cash management and wealth management for optimal profitability". It will help the bank achieve the target of growing its loan book at around 20% for the next few years, and also reduce the need for frequent fundraising while positioning the bank for strong and profitable growth", it said. Hamad Shahwan AlDhaheri, executive director of the private equities department at ADIA, said that IDFC First Bank has firmly established itself as one of India's leading private sector banks, backed by a seasoned management team, and expanded technology and branch infrastructure, and is thus well positioned for the future". MUMBAI : The chief human resources officer of Indias largest private sector lender is leaving after nearly seven years at the bank, according to three people aware of the development. Vinay Razdan, group head of human resources and chief human resources officer, has been with HDFC Bank since September 2018. According to one of the people, the bank is looking at candidates to head the HR division, including profiles from Razdan's core team at HDFC Bank. One of his deputies could be in the race," said a person aware of the discussions. That said, the bank will also look at external candidates." We do not comment on speculation and request the publication to avoid speculative commentary," a spokesperson for the bank said in an emailed response. A text message and a phone call to Razdan remained unanswered. Before working with the bank, he headed the human resources operations for Idea Cellular for 12 years and eight months. He was one of the key senior executives who sewed up the merger with Vodafone India to form Vi. According to his profile on the social media platform LinkedIn, Razdan, a Delhi University graduate, worked with HCL Technologies for six years and ITC Ltd for 12 years. Slower churn, but attrition persists HDFC Bank employed 210,219 people as of December end, compared to 208,066 in December 2023. Experts said that HDFC Bank, like its rivals, will look at ways to stabilize attrition and push for productivity without hiring in large numbers. In fact, during an earnings call in January, Srinivasan Vaidyanathanthe chief financial officerhad responded to a query about employee headcount going ahead. If you look at a 6-month or a 9-month period or even a 12-month period, it is just 2,000 from last December to December. So, we held down...the reason is that we have ramped up some investments in people and maintained at that level...we are working through various productivity models to enhance the value," Vaidyanathan had said. Attrition has been a pain point for private sector banks, although it has declined since FY24. HDFC Bank saw an attrition rate of 34.15% in FY23, which dropped to 26.9% in FY24. Mint reported on 9 April that top private sector banks expect the trend of slowing attrition from FY24 to spill over to the just-concluded fiscal (FY25). This could also mean slower hiring in the current financial year as fewer fresh positions open for new talent. In 2022, Razdan told Mint that the bank took many steps to arrest attrition and that a large organisation with many foot soldiers would inevitably have attrition. To combat attrition, HDFC Bank crafted a benefits programme for its frontline and sales executives and has created a grade within sales officers to augment career progression. (Bloomberg) -- Bill Ackmans Pershing Square Capital Management has amassed a nearly 20% stake in Hertz Global Holdings Inc. in a bet on the rental car companys turnaround plan and that tariffs will boost the value of its vehicles. The firm began buying shares late last year and now has a 19.8% stake in the company comprised of outright share ownership and total return swaps, Ackman said in a post on X. Ackman is wagering that Hertz can get past a bad bet on Tesla Inc. electric vehicles and capitalize on a potential rise in used-car prices stemming from President Donald Trumps tariff on US auto imports. It also relies on Hertz Chief Executive Office Gil West managing the companys large debt load and pulling off an ongoing turnaround effort. Listen to the Heres Why podcast on Apple, Spotify or anywhere you listen. Hertz shares jumped 44% in New York trading on Thursday, extending a two-day rally in which the stock more than doubled in value. West told Hertz employees in his regular Friday note this week that hes humbled and encouraged by Ackmans support. This endorsement is a testament to our progress, and importantly, the relentless effort each of you contributes every day, West wrote in an email, according to a person close to the company. We should be proud of the progress weve made but also recognize there is still significant work ahead. Trumps 25% levy on imported automobiles is widely expected to raise car prices by thousands of dollars if it remains in effect for long. That could in turn drive up the value of used cars especially late-model vehicles that are in short supply as consumers who find themselves priced out the new-car market turn to previously owned vehicles. Hertz is uniquely well-positioned in the current tariff environment, Ackman said in the X post. Hertz owns a fleet of over 500,000 vehicles valued at approximately $12 billion. A 10% increase in used car prices would equate to a $1.2 billion gain on its auto assets equivalent to approximately half of the companys current market capitalization. Ackman sees a route for Hertz to get to $30 a share by 2029. Before this weeks rally, Hertz shares traded for less than $5. Getting there hinges on achieving Wests targets to reach $1,500 in revenue per unit, daily per-vehicle operating expenses in the low $30-range and depreciation per unit of about $300. Pershings math also rests on Hertz getting its fleet utilization to 85%, a level the company has rarely matched and which has historically been closer to 80%. Ackman isnt the first Wall Street titan to envision upside from investing in Hertz. Billionaire investor Carl Icahn also thought he could cash in on the rental car company. Instead, Hertz went bankrupt and Icahn took a $1.6 billion beating. In the near term, Ackman said, we have low expectations for Hertzs Q1 and first half results. So do analysts covering the company. Six rate the shares the equivalent of a hold and four recommend selling the stock, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. He also offered a bit of futurism for investors and his followers on X. Ackman floated the idea of Hertz with its 11,200 global locations managing a fleet of self-driving vehicles for Uber Technologies Inc. He quipped that he would contact Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi. Khosrowshahi responded in a post on X that Hertz has been a great partner of his company, referring to a collaboration since 2021 to offer perks to rideshare drivers who rent electric vehicles through Hertz. Khosrowshahi added he is excited to brainstorm on how we can expand on our relationship. Ackman concluded his post with a warning. Investing is risky, he wrote. There are no guarantees of a successful outcome. Caveat emptor. --With assistance from Katherine Burton and Natalie Lung. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com (Bloomberg) -- A federal judge denied a request by the Associated Press to get rid of a new White House policy that the outlet says violates a court order intended to restore full access to cover the president. US District Judge Trevor McFaddens injunction took effect April 14 but the AP said in court papers that its reporters and photographers continued to be excluded from the small, rotating pool of media outlets that cover President Donald Trumps day-to-day activities. The White House this week announced a policy change getting rid of a dedicated slot for wire services. The AP, along with Reuters and Bloomberg News, had for decades been permanent members of the smaller group of journalists with access to the president in spaces like the Oval Office and Air Force One where access is limited by space. I dont intend to micromanage the White House, said McFadden during a hearing on Friday in Washington federal court. I think they are entitled to a presumption of good faith in their actions, he said. While McFadden expressed concern that the AP wasnt granted access to the press pool for three consecutive days following the injunction, he said it was too soon to draw any conclusions. The proof is in the pudding, said McFadden, noting that there would be strong evidence of discrimination if he witnessed the AP repeatedly receiving second class treatment, especially compared to peer wire services. If there was evidence of noncompliance that would be a very serious problem and there would be significant consequences, he said. The news agency sued the administration in February when the White House press office started limiting the access of AP reporters and photographers after the wire service refused to update its style guide to rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America following a Trump executive order. McFadden, who was confirmed to the Washington federal bench during Trumps first term, ruled that the administration could be selective about media outlets entitled to one-on-one sitdowns or other exclusive access to the president, but that it couldnt treat the AP differently from its peers in the White House pool, citing the First Amendment. McFadden paused his order to give the Justice Department time to ask an appeals court to step in. But the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit didnt rule on the governments request to keep McFaddens injunction on hold, effectively allowing it to take effect on April 14. Several days after McFaddens order took effect, the AP said in a court filing that even under the White Houses new policy opening up the wire service pool seat to print outlets, its reporters still should have been in the rotation for a pool spot this week and was not chosen. The White House subsequently announced a new policy eliminating a guaranteed seat for newswires, instead moving to an ad hoc system where the press secretary picks poolers each day. Leaders of AP, Reuters, and Bloomberg News issued statements after the change, saying that the significant reduction in access for newswires would ultimately harm the quality of coverage. For decades, the daily presence of the wire services in the press pool has ensured that investors and voters across the United States and around the world can rely on accurate real-time reporting on what the president says and does, said Bloomberg Editor-in-Chief John Micklethwait. We deeply regret the decision to remove that permanent level of scrutiny and accountability. The AP said it continued to be excluded from the four spots reserved for photojournalists as well. The wire service argued that the president shouldnt be given discretion over the process as outlined by the policy. McFadden said the new policy seemed neutral. The policy on its face is not necessarily problematic, but the results for the last few days give me some concern that the defendants arent proceeding with compliance, he said. At this point the White House is in compliance and we should let this play out, said Jane Lyons, an attorney for the government. The wire service said the administration had allowed it into a White House event open to a larger group of credentialed media organizations this week, which was also part of McFaddens order. The case is Associated Press v. Budowich, 25-cv-532, US District Court, District of Columbia. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com Mumbai: Wow! Momo has appointed Avendus to raise $80-100 million in a mix of primary and secondary shares with investor Lighthouse Funds completely exiting its stake in the quick service restaurant chain, two people familiar with the matter told Mint . Lighthouse has been invested for a long time and will completely exit their stake with this round," one of the people said, adding that Avendus is running the mandate and will help the company raise money from new and existing investors later this year. Wow! Momo and Lighthouse Funds did not immediately respond to Mints request for comment. Avendus declined to comment on the development. Lighthouses exit will come nearly eight years after the firm made its initial investment in Wow! Momos series B round, in which the company raised 44 crore alongside Indian Angel Network in June 2017. At the time, the company was valued at 230 crore. The company is also in the midst of raising a 130-150 crore bridge round led by Kamal Agrawal, part of the promoter family behind Indias leading snacking brand Haldiram, and Malaysian sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional Berhad, according to a report by The Economic Times earlier today. The company is also in discussions with HNIs (high net worth individuals) and other existing investors for this round, the second person cited above said. Over the years, Lighthouse has partially exited its stake in the company, which is currently valued at over 2,400 crore as per data provided by market intelligence provider Tracxn. Last year, Wow! Momo raised 70 crore in its extended series D funding round led by Z3 Partners after it secured 410 crore from Malaysian sovereign wealth fund Khazanah and Oaks Asset Management. Also Read: Dominos to Wow! Momo roll out in-store offers as deliveries gobble up footfalls Launched in 2008 by Sagar Daryani and Binod Homagai, the company operates over 680 outlets of Wow! Momo, Wow! China, Wow! Chicken and the newly launched Wow! Kulfi spread across 60 cities. Earlier this year, Daryani highlighted that the companys newer verticals, like Kulfi and the FMCG business, are expected to be a huge contributor to its overall business. The company aims to enter more than 100 cities through over 1500 stores over the next four years. In FY24, its revenue from operations grew to 470 crore from 413 crore a year earlier. The companys losses stood at 114 crore, a marginal increase from FY23. Indias food services market, valued at $80 billion in 2024, is set to grow at a CAGR of 10-11% through 2030, with the organized sector driving this expansion, according to a report published by Redseer Strategy Consultants in January. As consumer preferences evolve, the rise of online food delivery and organized dine-in establishments will also reshape the landscape, the report said. President Donald Trump on Thursday suggested a possible halt to the tit-for-tat tariff exchanges between the United States and China that had shocked markets. He also indicating that a decision on the future of social media platform TikTok might be delayed. What Trump said on tariff deal? "I don't want them to go higher because at a certain point you make it where people don't buy," Trump told reporters about tariffs at the White House. "So, I may not want to go higher or I may not want to even go up to that level. I may want to go to less because you know you want people to buy and, at a certain point, people aren't gonna buy." Trump said China had been in touch since the imposition of tariffs and expressed optimism that they could reach a deal. What Trump said on Tiktok deal? Trump has repeatedly pushed back the deadline for China-based ByteDance to sell its US operations of the short video app, which is used by 170 million Americans. On Thursday, he said the deal would probably be delayed until the trade dispute is resolved. "We have a deal for TikTok, but it'll be subject to China so we'll just delay the deal 'til this thing works out one way or the other," Trump said. Also Read | TikTok denies rumours of sale to Elon Musk amid US ban: Report Did Trump speak to Xi? Speaking with reporters, Trump said,I have a very good relationship with President Xi, and I think its going to continue. And I would say they have reached out a number of times Trump, however, declined to specify the nature of talks between the countries or whether they directly included Chinese President Xi Jinping. Although the two sides are still in touch, sources told Reuters free-flowing, high-level exchanges of the sorts that would lead to a deal. All about tit-for-tat tariff deall between US and China Trump's comments further pointed less interest in imposing steep, widespread tariffs on dozens of countries after markets reacted sharply they were rollout on April 2. The Republican president slapped 10% tariffs on most goods entering the country but postponed implementation of higher levies while talks continued. Still, China's retaliatory actions have resulted in up to a 245 per cent tariff on imports to the United States. Prior to the latest revision, a 145 per cent tariff was being levied on Chinese exports to the United States. Also Read | India sets up panel to monitor dumping as US, China slug it out How China reacted to 245% tariff hike? Reacting to the White House's statement claiming China now faces up to 245% tariffs on imports to the US, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said they should ask the US side for the "specific tax rate figures." Lin said that China has repeatedly stated its solemn position on the tariff issue. He said that the tariff war was initiated by the US, and that Beijing has taken countermeasures to protect its legitimate rights and interests and international fairness and justice, terming it completely "reasonable and legal." International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said on Thursday that the U.S. and China both have trade grievances, but the world's two largest economies needed to reduce uncertainty and agree on a fairer, rules-based trading system. Georgieva, speaking at an event in Washington ahead of next week's IMF and World Bank spring meetings, also welcomed India's decision to reduce trade barriers and said that tariffs elsewhere could also drop amid negotiations over President Donald Trump's tariffs. Georgieva refrained from directly criticizing Trump's tariff assault on its trading partners, noting that an increase in tariffs and non-tariff trade barriers were feeding negative perceptions of the multilatersl system. "This feeling of unfairness in some places fits the narrative, 'we play by the rules while others game the system without penalty,'" Georgieva said. "Trade imbalances steer trade tensions." She said that the U.S. had grievances around China's intellectual property practices and non-tariff barriers, while China is seeking U.S. engagement that would put both economies on a solid footing. "We would like to see a reduction in uncertainty, and it is hard to get there if the two largest economies are still finding their footing and when, obviously, from the perspective of the world economy, it is important that the result of all this is a more, fairer, rule-based system," Georgieva said. The IMF chief said that India was uneasy with reducing tariffs and trade barriers, but "India is now doing it." She added that this would be helpful for the country's growth prospects. She said it was possible that tariffs and other trade barriers also could come down in the European Union as well and could encourage more bilateral and plurilateral trade agreements. New Delhi: India has sharpened its trade surveillance tools to stave off a potential surge in imports, as the tit-for-tat tariff war between the US and China intensifies, prompting exporters in the two countries to look for alternative markets for their products. Chinese and American goods, meant for each other's markets, could be routed to India via Vietnam, Indonesia and Nepal, three government officials aware of the matter said. Also Read | Himanshu: Trade deals mustnt hurt the interests of Indian farmers The US on Wednesday slapped a steep 245% import tax on a wide range of Chinese goods, which could lead to a rerouting of Chinese exports to India. The hostility between the world's top two economies has worsened since the US imposed 145% tariffs on Chinese goods earlier this month. China retaliated with a 125% levy on American imports and also tightened exports of rare earth metals critical to high-tech and defence sectors. As a first step, India has activated its newly-formed Import Monitoring Committee (IMC), tasking it with keeping a close watch on key Chinese exports to the USespecially electronics, machinery, textiles, toys and solar equipmentthat are now at greater risk of being dumped into the Indian market, one of the three officials cited earlier said, all of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity. Also Read | Trumps trade war is about to hit American hobbies and deliver a lifestyle blow The fear is that in search of alternative markets, Chinese suppliers may flood India with low-cost goods, disrupting domestic manufacturing. To widen its surveillance net, the IMC has been directed to engage with export promotion councils across sectors, and these councils will be asked to sensitise their stakeholders, including traders, to report any sudden or unusual trends in import patterns, particularly those suggesting the diversion of Chinese goods, the second official said. In parallel, different ministries, port authorities and air cargo stations have also been asked to stay vigilant and step up physical scrutiny of inbound consignments, this official said. Also Read | Does a trade deficit mean US wealth is moving into foreign hands? The objective is not only to monitor but to act swiftly if any covert diversion of goods is detected," the third official said. Queries emailed to the commerce ministry remained unanswered. The concern grows as Indias trade deficit with China hit a staggering $99.2 billion in FY25a record gap that reflects deeper structural dependencies, not just trade imbalances. Imports surged by 11.5% to $113.4 billion, driven by rising demand for electronics, electric vehicle (EV) batteries, solar cells and key industrial inputssectors where China dominates Indias supply chains. China is Indias top supplier in all eight major industrial product categories. Whats more alarming is that Indias exports to China fell 14.5%, dipping to $14.2 billion. Amid the ongoing US tariff war on Chinese goods, several categories of products that India imports from China have been brought under the IMC scanner. These include electronic components like mobile phone parts, LED products, and solar equipment such as photovoltaic cells and inverters, along with industrial machinery and auto components, among others. Other categories that would face strict scrutiny include toys, plastic goods, and metallurgical products like stainless steel and aluminium items. Telecom equipment, including routers and switches, and seasonal goods such as decorative items and low-cost home accessories have also been put under the scanner. Though the tariff war between the US and China has created an opportunity for India, it also brings the risk of dumping. The US was a major trade partner for China, and under the current circumstances, as Chinese goods face barriers in accessing American markets, they are likely to be diverted to other destinations. India, being a developing economy with a large consumer base, could become a potential target market for offloading Chinese consignments, including those routed indirectly through third countries," said Harsh Bansal, managing director of BMW Industries, a steel processing unit. The Indian government has been effectively controlling the dumping of Chinese goods on earlier occasions, and this time too, action will be taken by the concerned government agencies. The proposed safeguard duty on steel is one such step in this direction," Bansal said. While this (US-China trade war) presents an opportunity for India to attract fresh investment, it also raises the risk of becoming a dumping ground if safeguards are not put in place swiftly," said Abhash Kumar, assistant professor of economics at Delhi University. The committee, which is headed by the Union commerce secretary, has officials from the ministry of commerce, the Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), and Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). The IMC will also closely monitor the potential influx of agricultural products from the US and various merchandise from China. The commerce secretary will review the committee's report every week, and based on its findings, necessary measures may be implemented to check the import of goods from China, as reported by Mint on 15 April. As per a Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) report, a steep 245% import tariff imposed by the US on Chinese goods has created a rare, short-term opening for Indias small manufacturers, potentially unlocking a $100 billion export opportunity. Everyday consumer products that were once cheaply sourced from China will now be significantly costlier in American storesgiving Indian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) a real chance to step in. In 2024, the US imported over $148 billion worth of such products, with China alone supplying $105.9 billionnearly 72% of the total. Indias share was just $4.3 billion, or 2.9%. With Chinese goods now sharply more expensive, a large gap has opened in the US market, as per the GTRI report. Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 18 (ANI): As Kesari Chapter 2 is set to showcase the 'untold story of Jallianwala Bagh tragedy' in the theatres, the lead actor Akshay Kumar has urged his fans to not miss the initial 10 minutes of the film. He requested the audience to arrive early in theatres. At a special screening of the film in Mumbai, the actor emphasised the importance of the opening moments of his film Kesari Chapter 2 and asked his fan to not miss "first 10 minutes of Kesari 2" which is cenetred around the tragedy of Jallianwala Bagh. While talking to the paparazzi at the screening, Akshay requested the audience to not miss the beginning of the film. "To all the people who will be coming to watch the film, I request that you not miss the beginning of it. The first 10 minutes of this film is the most important thing. I am sure that it will reach everyone through your camera. The people who have decided to watch this film will know that they should not be late. They should come at the right time. And the 10 minutes of this film start from there," said Akshay Kumar at the screening. The special screening of the film was attended by numerous stars of Bollywood in Mumbai on Thursday. Kajol, Saqib Saleem, Tiger Shroff, Ramesh Taurani, Anjali Anand, Manish Malhotra, Raj & Dk, King, Dino Morea, Maheep Kapoor, Bhavna Panday, and Urmila Mantodkar were some of the stars who attended the Kesari 2 special screening in Mumbai. Akshay Kumar, is playing the legendary advocate C Sankaran Nair in the film, which is set to be released today. It is directed by Karan Singh Tyagi and produced by Karan Johar. Ananya Panday and R Madhavan are also a part of the film. Washington [US], April 18 (ANI): Actor Michael B Jordan never liked the fake blood while making his new vampire thriller, 'Sinners'. The actor teamed up with writer-director Ryan Coogler on the film, which takes place in 1930s Mississippi and sees Jordan in dual roles, reported People. For making the vampire spectacle, it required gallons of prop blood and gore, and Coogler informed that at one point during the production, the crew called for a meeting to discuss Jordan's dislike of the sticky red substance. "I liked the fangs. Fangs were dope. The blood was a bit messy and uncomfortable at times. The blood was a lot," said Jordan before Coogler added, "I got called into a meeting a few weeks in by my producer and my wife, Zinzi Coogler, and she was like, 'Hey, we gotta talk about Mike.' I'm like, 'What? What's going on?' And she's like, 'The blood -- he doesn't like it.' I'm like, 'Wait, what?'," as per the outlet. Jordan shared, "First of all, there's a difference between complaining and venting. I was just more venting, you know what I'm saying? But they care about me, so they had a meeting. I appreciate the meeting." Coogler recalled, "I remember some times where I'm like, 'Okay, action,' and you're like, 'This is disgusting....'" Jordan agreed, "Disgusting." Jordan, who collaborated with Coogler on the 2013 American biographical drama film 'Fruitvale Station', shared that he was never a horror movie fan, which motivated him to opt for 'Sinners', as per the outlet. "I wanted to do this, partially trying to help take the edge off a little bit. I was like, maybe if I know how it's done and I'm in it, I might like horror movies a little bit more," he said. "I do like them a lot more, I just want to say that," reported People. Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 18 (ANI): Actor Parineeti Chopra always treats her fans with her adorable memories, and once again, she took a stroll down memory lane and shared a throwback picture with her family. On Friday, Parineeti's brother, Sahaj Chopra, posted a picture on his Instagram Story where young siblings are cutely posing with their parents for the camera from Mount Kenya National Park. Parineeti reposted this story on her Instagram Story and wrote, "Our childhood spent in Kenya with my grandparents who lived there." Recently, as Amar Singh Chamkila celebrated its one-year anniversary, Diljit Dosanjh shared an unseen video showing him and Parineeti Chopra singing a song together, which was not included in the film's final cut. The footage, which appears to have been shot during filming, features the duo singing in harmony. Along with the video, the actor added a caption in both Punjabi and English. It read, "Kai Akhadey Shoot Kitey c Film Lai.. Kush Montages Type v Shoot Kitey c @imtiazaliofficial Sir Ne.. Ona Vichon Ek Akhadey Da Scene Kai Vaar Odan Hee Boli Jande C.." "Just For Reactions.. Galti Falti Maaf Kareo. Chamkila Forever!!! Gratitude and love on one year of Amar Singh Chamkila on @netflix_in," he added. Parineeti Chopra reposted the video and wrote, "My favorite akhada. Completely impromptu. Unseen in Chamkila." Helmed by Imtiaz Ali, Amar Singh Chamkila revolves around the untold true story of Punjab's original rockstar of the masses, who emerged from the shadows of poverty and rose to the heights of popularity in the eighties due to the sheer power of his music. This angered many along the way, leading to the couple's assassination. Chamkila was killed when he was only 27. Behind the nondescript facade of a light-industrial building in Kyiv, an eclectic crew of video-gamers, architects, scientists and film-makers is mass-producing deep-strike drones and cruise missiles. They do not look like old-style defence types, but they are transforming Ukraines war. Three years ago they were making 30 drones a month. Now they are up to 1,300 a month, ranging from slow drones ($580,000 for a set of ten) to a new ballistic missile (at $1m a piece). They cost a fraction of what foreign ones do, and are based on open-source designs, meaning that they are not bound by foreign-usage restrictions. We dont want to have any dependence on Americas politics," says the firms founder, whose name cannot be disclosed for security reasons. When Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukraines war-fighting effort utterly depended on American and European supplies. Yet over the past three years its own military manufacturing capacity has gone from $1bn- to $35bn-worth of materiel per year, according to Oleksandr Kamyshin, a presidential adviser overseeing the industry. Faster than anyone would have predicted, Ukraine is becoming self-sufficient in many types of weaponry. But big gaps remain. Ukraine still cannot make systems capable of knocking out incoming Russian missiles. Manpower is another problem. Mobilisation has been mishandled: troops rotations away from the front are infrequent; draft agents seize people arbitrarily; and the government has hesitated to lower the age of conscription. Still, the army has grown, and elite units continue to attract recruits. Most important, drones have sharply reduced Russias numerical advantage: according to some estimates, 75% of all casualties suffered by the Russian army are inflicted by them. Ukraines worst fragility may be not military but political. Since the start of the war, many liberal and moderate Ukrainians have faced a dilemma. Drawing attention to incompetence, corruption or mismanagement by the government risks undermining international support. But keeping silent means accepting Mr Zelenskys increasing monopoly of power, which has sometimes undermined the states effectiveness and even the war effort itself. While the Western media and European leaders have lionised Zelensky and turned him into a celebrity, we feel trapped," says Yulia Mostovaya, the editor of ZN.UA, an independent online daily. If criticising Mr Zelensky was difficult before Mr Trump attacked him in February for being a dictator", doing so now is all but impossible. Ukrainians have rallied around the president to such an extent that he appears to be considering holding elections. If Zelensky feels he has no competitors, that means elections are approaching," quips one official. In preparation for the possibility of them, the state appears to be tightening its grip. In February Petro Poroshenko, who leads the largest opposition party, was penalised for unspecified threats to national security". His assets have been frozen. He is also being charged with treason" in a legal case which looks to critics like lawfare. The sanctions in effect bar him from contesting any election. However much Ukrainians may dislike Mr Poroshenko, many see this as a dangerous precedent. If Poroshenko can be barred from an electoral process without any court decision, so can anyone else," says Olexiy Honcharenko, a member of Ukraines parliament, the Rada. Civil-society activists are also being harassed. Vitaly Shabunin, an anti-corruption crusader, who had enlisted in the first days of the war while also exposing graft in Ukraines defence ministry, has long been targeted. His latest investigation was met with snide vengeance. To punish him, he has been sent close to the front; details of his work there are sent daily to the authorities. Such methods recall Vladimir Putins early years of rule, says Mr Shabunin, at least in their pettiness. Ukraines politics is a far cry from Russias, and concentrating power is a natural consequence of war. But some of Ukraines staunchest supporters increasingly worry it may be going too far. True, Ukraines democracy was never really based on the rule of law. Its pluralism was provided by the diversity of its regions, the competing interests of its power groups, and a vocal civil society that relied on the support of Western embassies and the media. But all these checks are being weakened or removed. In the name of efficiency, power is being concentrated not in the government or the parliament, but in the hands of a few unelected officials in the presidential administration, including Andriy Yermak, the chief of staff, Dmytro Lytvyn, Mr Zelenskys speechwriter, and Oleh Tatarov, who oversees the security agencies. The administration is reluctant to share power not just with opponents but with anyone seen as a potential rival. Loyalists are rewarded with seats on the boards of state firms. Those who show too much independence, have too much popular support or enjoy direct lines of communication to Western countries have been fired or sidelined. This includes Valery Zaluzhny, the popular commander of Ukrainian forces, removed in February 2024 and sent to be ambassador in London. Others pushed out include Oleksandr Kubrakov, a former minister of infrastructure; Dmytro Kuleba, a former foreign minister; and Mustafa Nayem, who led the agency for reconstruction. Differences of opinion and critical media are seen as a threat, rather than a strength. Sevgil Musaeva, the editor of Ukrainska Pravda, the countrys leading independent online publication, complains that instead of dealing with the reasons that prompt journalistic investigations, the presidential office responds by restricting access, targeting advertisers and seeing any contact with its journalists as treachery. This is not systemic censorship, but if we dont resist, the free space will disappear before we know it," she says. Ukraines move towards more authoritarian rule is unsurprising given the pressures it faces as the war grinds on well into its fourth year. Yet the risk is that it undermines the countrys self-organising resilience. As Mr Honcharenko puts it: We have demonstrated that a small democracy can resist a larger autocracy and turn itself into a porcupine. But a small autocracy can be swallowed by a larger one." The news that Russia is seeking to station air-force planes in Indonesia was sensational, instantly denied and almost certainly true. Although its a characteristically murky tale, it carries lessons that the Trump administration should note. One is that the U.S. is unlikely to win the strategic, military, economic or technology competition with China unless it has a strong position in Southeast Asia. Another is that the China-Russia alliance is tighter than ever, and its increasingly global. A third is that if you want to understand Beijings strategic policy in Asia today, you should look to the geography of Japans military campaigns in World War II. The open-source military and security website Janes.com first reported a Russian request for use of the Indonesian Manhua air-force base, on Biak island in the remote Indonesian province of Papua. The story caused a stir in Australia because Biak is only 850 miles from Darwin, with its substantial U.S. military presence. Australias Defense Minister Richard Marles reported that his Indonesian counterpart, Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, told him the report was untrue. But dont be reassured. Indonesia is a nation of 290 million. It proclaims fidelity to the Non-Aligned Movement, so a permanent foreign base on its territory is extremely unlikely. Like all giant nationsits population is smaller only than India, China and the U.S.Indonesia can be somewhat self-obsessed. Its the giant of Southeast Asia. Under President Prabowo Subianto, a former general and defense minister who was for some time banned from entering the U.S. on human-rights grounds, Indonesia has grown much closer to Russia. Like New Delhi, Jakarta is strategically promiscuous. It signed a defense agreement with Australia, but Russia is its biggest military supplier. Shortly after he was elected, Mr. Prabowo went to see Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Military cooperation was high on the agenda. Mr. Prabowo took Indonesia into the Brics grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Indonesia opposed the trilateral Aukus agreement, which will see Australia acquire nuclear-powered submarines. Indonesia and Russia engage in substantial trade in commodities. Russia has sought a presence in Southeast Asia for some time, looking unsuccessfully to revive elements of its old alliance with Vietnam. While it wont get a permanent base in Indonesia, there are other ways Moscow could secure an enhanced military presence there. It has, for example, based air-force planes in Biak in the past. We in Australia know something of hosting allied forces without establishing a foreign military base. Pine Gap, in Australias Northern Territory, is one of Americas most important signals-intelligence stations. Its a joint U.S.-Australian facility, not technically a U.S. base. Similarly, U.S. Marines, ships and planes rotate through Australia. Its likely the presence of such U.S. forces in Australia is an important part of Russias thinking regarding Indonesia. Russias ambassador in Jakarta, Sergei Tolchenov, responded to the air-base story with a statement confirming that military cooperation is at the heart of Indonesia-Russia relations. But these are purely bilateral, he said, not aimed at any third country. He also claimed, preposterously, that U.S. forces in Australia were the real military risk in the region, especially U.S. missiles that could hit Indonesia and other Association of Southeast Asian Nations countries. Why would Russia pick a verbal fight with the U.S. in Australia and Indonesia, when Mr. Putin is performing the dance of the seven veils with President Trump over Ukraine? One reason would be to oblige Beijing. Xi Jinping has been on a tour through Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia. His message in the wake of the Trump administrations erratic tariff performance is that Beijing is a more reliable partner than Washington. This complements Beijings efforts to gain military presence and leverage throughout the region. Most Southeast Asians are scared of China and want the U.S. to balance its influence. But, with the exception of Singapore, theyre all either poor or middle-income nations. The Trump tariffs were a huge shock, and more than anything ran against the stability the U.S. once represented. Chinas presence in Indonesia is complicated by the past persecution of ethnic Chinese there, and the association with Indonesian communism in the 1960s. Russia doesnt have that baggage. It could possibly wrangle an occasional, even a regular, military presence. Indonesia and Russia conducted their first joint maritime exercises in November. Finally, recall the geography of Japans Pacific war. It was fought in Southeast Asia and in the islands of the South Pacific. Beijing has tried repeatedly to sign security agreements with Pacific islands nations such as the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. U.S. and Australian intelligence take it as given that Beijing wants a military base in the South Pacific. Chinas military presence, supplemented now by Russia, threatens U.S. forces in the region and increases Beijings ability to intimidate, coerce and influence other nations. For American allies like Australia thats bad news. Its bad for the U.S. as well. A U.S. military presence, a respectable trade agenda and the continuation of the civic virtues with which the U.S. has traditionally inspired the world, would win Southeast Asia for Uncle Sam. Indonesia is the biggest nation about which Americans know the least, yet its influence has been substantial. For Washington to lose that influence would be tragic, unnecessary and dangerous. But it would make Russiaand Chinavery happy. Mr. Sheridan is foreign editor of the Australian. The Trump administration is threatening to take a hard line with Syrias new Islamist-led government, issuing demands that include cracking down on extremists and expelling Palestinian militants in return for a limited easing of sanctions, U.S. officials said. The White House issued policy guidance in recent weeks calling on the Syrian government to take steps that also involve securing the countrys chemical-weapons stockpile, several U.S. officials familiar with the policy said. The U.S. in exchange would consider a renewal of a narrow sanctions waiver issued by the Biden administration that was intended to speed the flow of aid to the country, they added. The guidance reflects skepticism among administration officials of Syrias government, which is led by former rebel commanders who ousted President Bashar al-Assad from power in December, ending the countrys 13-year-long civil war. The guidance makes no mention of Russia, showing how the Trump administration is easing off a push under Biden to urge Damascus to get rid of the Kremlins military bases in Syria, at least for now, as U.S. officials negotiate with Moscow over an end to the Ukraine conflict. The United States currently does not recognize any entity as the government of Syria," said a State Department spokeswoman when asked about the policy notice. Syrias interim authorities should fully renounce and suppress terrorism," she also said. The U.S. government labels Syrias new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, a terrorist, a years-old designation linked to his past in which he joined the insurgency against U.S. forces in Iraq and later founded a branch of al Qaeda in Syria before cutting ties with the group. Much of Syria bears the scars of years of a brutal civil war, including in Damascus. The Biden administration sent senior officials to meet with Sharaa in December and lifted a $10 million bounty that the Federal Bureau of Investigation had previously placed on him. But the Trump administration appears unwilling to go further without additional steps from him and the forces he leads. In March, fighters linked to his forces carried out a crackdown that killed members of the Alawite religious minority in response to an attack by former Assad regime loyalists. U.S. defense officials said Friday the Pentagon planned to cut the roughly 2,000 U.S. forces based in Syria by half in coming weeks and consolidate its outposts there. The administration is planning a review to determine if more forces should be cut this summer. U.S. forces had been tasked with preventing Syria from becoming a foothold for extremist groups such as Islamic State. It isnt clear where Trump will land on other elements of U.S. policy toward Syria. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, a powerful figure in the administration, said last month that Sharaa is a different person than he once was. And people do change." Key Republican leaders are concerned about pulling back U.S. influence in Syria in a way that could allow an opening for Russia and China. Senior U.S. military commanders have taken a more pragmatic approach to the situation in Syria, helping to broker a pact in March to fold a powerful American-backed Kurdish-led military force under the command of the government in Damascus. The Syrian government didnt immediately respond to a request for comment on the new U.S. policy demands, which have been communicated to them. The Pentagon decision to remove troops from Syria was earlier reported by the New York Times. Sharaa has spent years working to moderate his image, fighting Islamic State and banning his own group from carrying out attacks abroad. Since taking power, Sharaa and his government have worked to gain Western and international acceptance, promising to govern Syria inclusively and pledging to avoid conflict with Israel. In March he appointed a new cabinet in which Islamists kept hold of key ministries but also included members of minority groups and civil-society leaders. The stakes are high for Sharaa. Syrias economy is struggling and swaths of its cities are in ruins after years of war in which Russian air power and Iranian militias backed Assad, who bombed his own people. The U.S. and other Western countries sanctioned Assads government in part to punish him for his atrocities. Without a rollback of U.S. sanctions, rebuilding Syria will be difficult. The European Union and the U.K. eased some sanctions in recent months. Without American support and access to the U.S. financial system, however, Syria would struggle to pay government workers and launch a reconstruction effort that would allow refugees to return home and help prevent a resumption of violence in the country. The entrance to a mosque in Damascus. There is so much assistance that is desperately needed to accomplish any of these things and to secure the country, let alone begin any kind of development," said Natasha Hall, a senior fellow with the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. Time is running out." The recent administration policy guidance includes some requests similar to those made under the Biden administration, including working with the international Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to safeguard the countrys remaining chemical weapons, securing highly-enriched uranium and appointing a liaison to work on locating 14 Americans missing in Syria. The administration is also asking the new government to issue a public declaration against jihadist groups. In a new request, the administration wants Syria to ban Palestinian militant groups from operating in the countryincluding raising funds thereand expel members of those groups from the country. Palestinian groups have been based for decades in Syria, which has had a large Palestinian refugee population since 1948. Any move to expel them could set up a confrontation between the government and those militias. If Syria takes all of the steps outlined in the policy, the U.S. would publicly commit to Syrias territorial integrity and consider renewing diplomatic relations and removing terrorist designations from members of the new government, officials said. Under the new policy, the U.S. would also consider extending existing sanctions waivers issued by the Biden administration in January, intended to speed delivery of humanitarian aid to Syria. The Treasury Department in January granted waivers to aid groups and companies providing essential supplies, including electricity, petroleum, and natural gas. The offer falls far short of a rollback of sanctions called for by some European officials, regional powers such as Turkey and security analysts who are concerned Syria could again descend into violence or drift back under the influence of Russia and other traditional U.S. opponents. Its going to make the situation very complicated, and actually it will only push Syria and the new authorities into the hands of the Russians or even the Chinese," said Benjamin Feve, a senior research analyst with Karam Shaar Advisory, a consulting firm working on Syrias economy. The new policy excludes any mention of Russia, which launched a campaign of airstrikes in 2015 to help keep Assad in power. Moscow is negotiating to keep its military presence in Syria and has sent shipments of Syrian banknotes to the country in an effort to maintain influence there. Two former Biden administration officials said that one goal of the administrations diplomatic efforts with Damascus was to end the Russian military presence in Syria, including two naval and air bases near the Mediterranean that are essential to the Kremlins global efforts to project power. Write to Jared Malsin at jared.malsin@wsj.com, Michael R. Gordon at michael.gordon@wsj.com and Nancy A. Youssef at nancy.youssef@wsj.com Bank holiday today: All banks, including private and public sector banks, will remain closed on Friday, April 18, 2025, on account of Good Friday 2025, when Christians commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, according to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) calendar. The RBI categorises bank holidays under the Negotiable Instruments Act into three types: Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) holidays and banks closing of accounts. The bank holidays are informed through the RBIs official channels, which are the website and bank notifications. April 18, 2025, is a pre-scheduled holiday for all banks in India on account of Good Friday. The Indian stock markets will also remain shut on Friday. Bank Holidays in April As per the RBI website, the next designated bank holiday is Saturday, April 21, which will be the fourth Saturday of the month, along with the Gauri Puja holiday. Banks in India are closed on every second and fourth Saturday of the month. Apart from the upcoming Saturday off, the next holiday will be on Tuesday, April 29, on account of Bhagwan Shri Parshuram Jayanti, where all private and public sector banks will remain shut for operations. In total, there are 13 designated bank holidays in April, including the Saturday offs for the current month. List of Bank Holidays in April 2025 April 1: Holiday for Banks to close their yearly accounts/Sarhul. April 5: Holiday for Babu Jagjivan Rams Birthday (Only in Hyderabad - Telangana) April 7: Holiday for Shad Suk Mynsiem (Only in Shillong) April 10: Holiday for Mahavir Janmakalyanak/Mahavir Jayanti April 14: Holiday for Ambedkar Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar, along with various regional New Year celebrations such as Vishu, Bihu, Tamil New Year, and more. Also Read | IndusInd Bank elevates Santosh Kumar as deputy CFO April 15: Holiday for Bengali New Years Day/Himachal Day/Bohag Bihu (Banks will remain closed for services in Assam, West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh to observe these state-specific festivals.) April 18: Holiday for Good Friday, which marks the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. (Banks will remain closed for services in states including Tripura, Assam, Rajasthan, Jammu, Himachal Pradesh, and Srinagar.) April 21: All public and private banks in India will be closed on the fourth Saturday of the month, and on account of Gauri Puja. April 29: Bhagwan Shri Parshuram Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Lord Parshuram, the sixth incarnation of Vishnu. (Banks will remain closed for services in Himachal Pradesh.) April 30: Basava Jayanti, honouring Basavanna, the founder of the Lingayat sect, and Akshaya Tritiya, considered an auspicious day for wealth and prosperity. (Banks will be closed in Karnataka and other states.) Also Read | Sensex rises for 4th day in a row 10 key highlights of stock market today Will ATMs & Online Banking work on holidays? ATMs, mobile banking, online banking, and bank apps for daily transactions will remain operational even during bank holidays unless a bank sends specific notifications regarding maintenance timings or technical issues. The Negotiable Instruments Act deals with the issuance of cheques and promissory notes, and transactions involving these instruments will not be available during the bank holidays. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate Vizhinjam International Seaport in Kerala on May 2. The strategic maritime project near Thiruvananthapuram is India's first semi-automated trans-shipment port. Making the announcement, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the Vizhinjam International Seaport will help Kerala rise on the global maritime trade map. Vizhinjam International Seaport, India's first semi-automated transshipment port, will be dedicated to the nation by Hon'ble PM @narendramodi on May 2. With 265 ships and 5.48 lakh TEUs handled since commercial launch, @PortVizhinjam marks Kerala's rise on the global maritime trade map, Vijayan said in a post on X. Here are 10 things you need to know about Vizhinjam International Seaport 1. The Vizhinjam International Seaport is designed primarily to cater container transshipment besides multi-purpose and break bulk cargo. 2. Vizhinjam port is the first Greenfield port project in India, initiated by a state government with an investment exceeding 18,000 crore. 3. The development of Vizhinjam International Seaport is poised to boost Kerala's economic growth by creating jobs, enhancing trade, and attracting investments. 3. The port is strategically located, just 10 nautical miles away from a busy international shipping route connecting Europe, the Persian Gulf and the Far East. The strategic location of the Vizhinjam International Seaport presents it with an advantage to gain success as a global transshipment hub. 4. Vizhinjam Port is naturally equipped with a deep draft of 18 metres close to the shore that requires no capital dredging. This helps the port leverage its natural depth to host even ultra-large next-gen container ships requiring over 20 metre drafts. 5. The project was allotted to Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) after the Government of Kerala and Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Ltd. (AVPPL) agreed to a concession agreement in 2015. 6. Vizhinjam Port offers large scale automation for quick turnaround of vessels with state-of-the-art infrastructure to handle Megamax containerships. 7. Ships started arriving at Vizhinjam port on a trial basis from July 13 last year and it commenced commercial operations from December 3, 2024. 8. So far, 263 ships have arrived at the port. Vizhinjam has progressed while surprising the world by handling 5.36 lakh twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of cargo in the short period from the commencement of its commercial operations, Kerala Ports Minister VN Vasavan said in a statement. 9. Vizhinjam Port topped the list in cargo movements at ports on the south and west coasts of India in February and March 2025 and also achieved the feat of handling 1 lakh TEUs per month. Also Read | EV charging points eyed for green ports Tourists no longer want to come to the United States, and it isnt just hurting hotel bookings. The decline is starting to show up in oil-demand data, according to J.P. Morgan. Travel to the U.S. fell 11.6% in March from the year before, according to the International Trade Administration. And car trips by Canadians to the U.S. fell 32% in March, after dropping 23% in February. Goldman Sachs has estimated that the drop in tourism could reduce GDP by as much as 0.3%, or about $90 billion, in a worst-case scenario. Travel experts say the Trump administrations combative rhetoric about other countries, and negative stories about airport security measures are to blame. Policies and pronouncements from the Trump administration have contributed to a growing wave of negative sentiment toward the U.S. among potential international travelers," a recent Oxford Economics report said. The decline in tourism appears to be hitting oil demand in the U.S. Fuel use is dropping in America even as its rising elsewhere in the world, according to the J.P. Morgan analysis, led by Prateek Kedia. Daily international flights outside the U.S. hit a new all-time high last week, 7% above 2019 levels. Meanwhile, U.S. gasoline demand has dropped 3%, or 230,000 barrels per day, over the past three weeks, according to J.P. Morgan. Some of that appears to be due to the drop in Canadian tourists coming into the U.S. We believe this reduction in travel activity has spread into April, feeding into decreased U.S. gasoline demand," Kedia wrote. The decline in U.S. fuel use is starting to hurt global numbers. Global oil demand appears to have fallen by about 150,000 barrels per day as of mid-April, she wrote. The demand shock is hurting prices. West Texas Intermediate crude, the U.S. benchmark, is down 11% this year to $64 per barrel. J.P. Morgan now expects prices to fall to $54 by the end of the year. Few analysts have forecast an outright year-over-year decline in oil demand this year, but most have been reducing their estimates in recent weeks as tariffs begin to slow the economy down. The travel slowdown should only exacerbate the trend. Write to Avi Salzman at avi.salzman@barrons.com Shares of Ujaas Energy Ltd, a small-cap multibagger stock, continued to remain in the spotlight after the company informed the exchanges that its Board of Directors will meet on Saturday, April 19, 2025, to consider issuing bonus shares. The proposed move aims to help the company comply with Minimum Public Shareholding (MPS) norms as mandated by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). Board Meet to Discuss Bonus Issue In an exchange filing, Ujaas Energy stated that its board will consider issuing bonus shares specifically to public shareholders in order to meet the MPS requirement under Rules 19(2)(b) and 19A of the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Rules (SCRR) and Regulation 38 of SEBIs Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements (LODR) Regulations. The agenda for the board meeting also includes appointing a Scrutinizer for the upcoming Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM), finalising the book closure date and cut-off date for e-voting, and approving the draft notice for the EGM, which will include the date, time, and venue of the meeting. Bonus shares are additional shares issued to existing shareholders free of cost, in proportion to their holdings. For instance, in a 1:1 bonus issue, investors receive one additional share for every share held. These shares are issued from the companys accumulated reserves or profits and do not involve any cash outflow from the shareholders. This isnt the first time Ujaas Energy has rewarded shareholders. In September last year, the company had issued 1 bonus share for every 4 shares held (1:4), signaling its intent to share profits with investors while improving stock liquidity. Established in 1999, Ujaas Energy is among the early entrants in Indias solar power sector. The company has a strong foothold in solar engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) and also offers end-to-end renewable energy solutions under its well-known UJAAS brand. With an installed capacity of around 14 MW and over 235 MW of solar power plants developed, Ujaas serves clients through platforms such as Ujaas Park, Ujaas My Site, and Ujaas Home. Apart from its core solar operations, the company also manufactures transformers and has diversified into the electric vehicle segment, launching its own electric two-wheeler brand E-Spa. Stock Delivers Multibagger Returns Ujaas Energys stock has delivered staggering multibagger returns to its investors. In the last 1 year, the stock has rallied a whopping 1,964 percent, while its five-year return stands at an eye-popping 14,600 percent. The stock added 15 percent in April so far following an over 18 percent fall in March. Meanwhile, it advanced over 7 percent in February after an 18.5 percent decline in January. Given its strong performance, shareholder-friendly policies like bonus issues, and increasing relevance in the green energy space, Ujaas Energy is gaining attention from both retail and institutional investors. Stock market holiday: The Indian stock market will remain closed on Friday, April 18, on account of Good Friday. All trading and settlement operations on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) including equities, derivatives, and the securities lending and borrowing (SLB) segments will remain closed for the day. After the extended weekend, normal market operations will begin on Monday, April 21. The Indian stock market has witnessed three holidays, including Good Friday. Previously, markets remained closed on April 10 for Mahavir Jayanti and on April 14 for Ambedkar Jayanti. According to stock market holidays 2025 calendar available on BSE website, the market will remain closed for just one day in May and an additional seven days between August and December, other than usual weekend holidays. Here's a full list of stock market holidays 2025 - April 18 - Good Friday May 1 - Maharashtra Day May 12 - Buddha Purnima August 15 - Independence Day August 27 - Ganesh Chaturthi September 5 - Id-E-Milad October 2 - Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti and Dussehra October 21 - Diwali (Laxmi Pujan) October 22 - Diwali Balipratipada November 5 - Prakash Gurpurb (Sri Guru Nanak Dev) December 25 - Christmas Stock market update Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty 50 extended their winning streak for the fourth straight session on Thursday, April 17, driven by broad-based buying and reduced fears about the trade war's impact on the Indian economy. The Sensex surged 1,509 points (1.96%) to close at 78,553.20, while the Nifty 50 advanced 414 points (1.77%) to end at 23,851.65. Meanwhile, the mid and small-cap segments lagged behind, with the BSE Midcap and Smallcap indices posting modest gains of 0.56% and 0.52%, respectively. "The market ended the holiday-shortened week on a strong note, rallying nearly 2% on the weekly expiry day, driven by favorable domestic cues. After a choppy start, the Nifty gained momentum as the session progressed, retesting its March high of 23,869.60 before closing at 23,840.10. All key sectors participated in the rally, with the banking index stealing the spotlight as it edged closer to its record high. While broader indices also moved higher, they underperformed relative to the benchmark. Also Read | Market holiday hangover? Unravelling the mystery of truncated trading weeks Investor sentiment remains positive, supported by strong domestic fundamentals and the absence of any major global concerns. With the Nifty now hovering around its previous swing high near 23,800, focus will shift to the earnings announcements from heavyweights like Infosys, HDFC Bank, and ICICI Bank on Monday. We continue to advocate a buy on dips strategy, with a preference for rate-sensitive sectors for long trades, while remaining selective in other segments," said Ajit Mishra SVP, Research, Religare Broking Ltd. Have small cap mutual funds become any safer now? The latest stress test, it appears, doesn't reflect that. The test for March indicates that it will take as long as 25-57 days to liquidate 50 per cent of the portfolio of high-risk small cap mutual funds. Most of these schemes have anywhere between 65 and 89 per cent of their portfolio invested in small cap stocks. Notably, small cap funds are supposed to invest a minimum of 65 per cent of their assets in small caps. Here, we list the most illiquid small cap mutual fund schemes based on the data they shared on the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) website. Axis Small Cap Fund, as the table below shows, will take 25 days to liquidate 50 per cent of its portfolio and 13 days to liquidate 25 per cent of its portfolio. HDFC Small Cap Fund will take as long as 57 days to liquidate 50 per cent of its portfolio and 28 days to liquidate 25 per cent of its portfolio. This scheme has 80 per cent of its assets invested in small cap stocks, whereas DSP Small Cap fund has 89 per cent of its assets invested in small cap stocks. Small Cap Fund Pro rata liquidation - 50% portfolio 25% portfolio Small Cap (%) Axis Small Cap Fund 25 13 65.49 DSP Small Cap Fund 47 24 89.08 HDFC Small Cap Fund 57 28 80.30 Kotak Small Cap Fund 36 18 72.98 Nippon India Small Cap Fund 36 18 67.99 quant Small Cap Fund 63 32 65.17 SBI SMALL CAP FUND 57 29 76.63 TATA SMALL CAP FUND 37 19 83.71 (Source: AMFI) The schemes with over 80 per cent of their assets allocated to small cap stocks are Tata Small Cap Fund, HDFC Small Cap Fund, and DSP Small Cap Fund. What is a stress test? For the uninitiated, all mutual fund houses are meant to show stress test results for their small and mid-cap mutual fund schemes every month. This is according to the directive of the capital market regulator Sebi, which instructed all the fund houses to release the results of stress tests by the 15th of every month based on the previous months data. So, the data shared on April 15, 2025, reveals the data for the preceding month. This data is meant to be shared on AMFI's website every month. The step was taken in view of the spike in the valuation of small and mid cap stocks. The first disclosure happened on March 15, 2024. Stress test results show the number of days required to liquidate 50 per cent and 25 per cent of the portfolio, respectively, on a pro rata basis under stress conditions. While calculating the time taken, 20 per cent of the portfolio's least liquid securities are ignored. In a major development from Chhattisgarh's Abhujmaad, security officers recovered 6 lakh cash, 11 laptops, 50 kg explosives, officials said on Friday, adding the hideout in forest hills between villages Kasod-Kumuradi were camps of senior Maoist leaders, who fled when security forces reached the site. 22 Maoists surrendered in Sukma district This comes amid 22 Maoists, including nine women, surrendering on Friday in Sukma district, marking a significant breakthrough in the ongoing efforts to combat Maoism, officials said. According to Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan, they cited dismay with hollow and inhuman Maoist ideology and atrocities on local tribals. Among those, 12 of them carried a cumulative bounty of 40.5 lakh. Those who surrendered were moved by the state government's Niyad Nellanar scheme, which emphasised paving the way for development works in remote villages, including the new surrender and rehabilitation policy. They were active in the Maad (Chhattisgarh) and Nuapada (Odisha) divisions of the Maoists. Also Read | Mahadev Betting App case: CBI names Bhupesh Baghel as accused in FIR Chavan said the surrendered cadres consisted of Muchaki Joga, 33, deputy commander in PLGA (people's liberation guerrilla army) company no. 1 under Maad division of Maoists, and his wife Muchaki Jogi, 28, a member of the same squad, who carried a reward of 8 lakh each. The others comprise Kikid Deve, 30, and Manoj alias Dudhi Budhra (28), both area committee members of Maoists, hold a reward of 5 lakh each, he said. The official said seven surrendered cadres carried a bounty of 2 lakh each, while another Maoist carried a reward of 50,000. He stated the other surrendered cadres were also a part of numerous attacks on security forces, mentioning the district police, District Reserve Guard (DRG), CRPF, and its elite unit CoBRA played an important role in their surrender. Last year, 792 Maoists had surrendered in the Bastar region, including seven districts, among which was Sukma as well. Home Minister Amit Shah on Naxal-Free India Union Home Minister Amit Shah on March 20 stated the central government's roadmap that the country would be Naxal-free before March 31, 2026, as the Modi government follows a zero-tolerance policy against Naxalites. Today our soldiers have achieved another big success in the direction of Naxal Mukt Bharat Abhiyan. The Modi government is moving forward with a ruthless approach against Naxalites and is adopting a zero-tolerance policy against those Naxalites who are not surrendering despite all the facilities ranging from surrender to inclusion, Shah added. Good Friday 2025: Also known as Black Friday, Holi Friday or Great Friday, it marks the day Jesus was crucified by the Romans at Calvary and generally falls two days before Easter Sunday, which commemorates the resurrection of Jesus. Good Friday is observed with fasting, prayers. Many Christians attend church to reflect on the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus. Good Friday 2025: Are schools closed on April 18? Many states in India observe Good Friday as public holiday, where private and educational institutions remain closed today. According to official announcement and academic calendars, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Bihar have official holiday today. The Tribune report said the Chandigarh administration clarified in an earlier notification that Good Friday, April 18, as public holiday in all institutions. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday appealed to Naxalites to lay down arms and join the mainstream after 22 Naxals, including nine women, were arrested, and 33 others surrendered, on Friday. First, 22 cadres, including nine women, turned themselves in before senior officials of the police and Central Reserve Police Forces (CRPF). Later, 11 others, including two women, surrendered before police officials. In a post on X, Amit Shah said that the Cobra commandos and Chhattisgarh Police arrested 22 notorious Naxalites with modern weapons and explosive materials in various operations in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district. He added that 11 Naxalites have also surrendered in Badesetti Panchayat of Sukma, due to which this panchayat has become completely Naxal-free. "I appeal to the hiding Naxalites to lay down their arms as soon as possible and join the mainstream by adopting the surrender policy of the Modi government. We are determined to free the country from the scourge of Naxalism before 31 March 2026," Shah wrote on 'X'. In another post, Shah added, "Also, 22 other naxalites surrendered in Sukma (Chhattisgarh), taking the total number to 33. I congratulate the security force personnel and the Chhattisgarh Police for this success towards the Naxal-free India campaign" Earlier in the day, Sukma SP Kiran Gangaram Chavan said that the surrendered Naxalites would receive all benefits under the government's surrender policy. Of the 33 surrendered Naxalites, 17 of them were carrying a cumulative bounty of 49 lakh. The surrendered cadres cited disappointment with "hollow" and "inhuman" Maoist ideology and atrocities on local tribals, Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan said. The official said they were also impressed by the state government's 'Niyad Nellanar' (your good village) scheme, aimed at facilitating development works in remote villages, and the new surrender and rehabilitation policy. As many as 22 surrendered Naxalites were active in the Maad (Chhattisgarh) and Nuapada (Odisha) divisions of Maoists, he said. A complaint was filed against filmmaker Anurag Kashyap over his derogatory and casteist remarks against Brahmins in connection with the release of the upcoming movie Phule. The filmmaker found himself in the middle of a huge controversy after his comments, which irked many on social media. It prompted the head of BJP Maharashtra Social Media and Legal Advisory Department to lodge a complaint against him with the Mumbai Police on Friday. In his complaint, Ashutosh Dubey, an advocate, has sought to file an FIR against Anurag Kashyap for his derogatory and casteist remark. Dubey is the head of Maharashtra BJP's Social Media and Legal Advisory Department. Dubey shared a copy of his complaint filed with the Mumbai Police. I have officially submitted a complaint to @MumbaiPolice seeking registration of an FIR against @anuragkashyap72 for his derogatory and casteist remark against the Brahmin community, he said in a post on X, with the images of his complaint and screenshots of Kashyap's remarks. Such hate speech cannot be tolerated in a civil society. The law must take its course, he added. Dubey alleged that Kashyap had made a hateful remark against the Brahmin community. According to a screenshot shared by him in a separate post, Anurag Kashyap can be seen making the controversial comment. Livemint could not verify or find the said comment, which was apparently made on Instagram under Kashyap's own post on the Phule controversy. Also Read | Pratik Gandhi's Phule release delayed amid claims of hurting sentiments As per the images of the complaint shared by Dubey, the complaintant has sought to file an FIR against Anurag Kashyap under Sections 194 (1), 195 and 356 (2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Tagging Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in another post, Dubey said one should deal with hateful content in a stern way. As a member of the Brahmin community, I am deeply offended by this derogatory and hateful comment made by Anurag Kashyap Such a statement is not only casteist but also incites hatred and violates the principles of dignity and equality protected under our Constitution. I request @MumbaiPolice to take immediate cognizance of this caste-hate speech and register an FIR under relevant sections of the BNS. No one is above the law, and such divisive, hateful content must be dealt with sternly, he wrote. Also Read | Books to read about the feminist icon Savitribai Phule Anurag Kashyap slams Phule protests Anurag Kashyap on Thursday criticised the protests around the film Phule, a biopic on social reformers Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule, questioning why films depicting caste issues get banned in India. The director also criticised the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for modifications suggested to Phule. The biopic, featuring Pratik Gandhi and Patralekhaa in the roles of the reformist couple, was set for release last week but it will now arrive in theatres on April 25. After the trailer of Phule was unveiled online on April 10, some members of the Brahmin community raised objections, stating that theyve been portrayed in a bad light. In a series of posts on Instagram, Kashyap said the very first play of his career was based on the lives of Jyotiba and Savitribai Phule. The unexpected suspension of BluSmart operations has come as a shock for thousands of customers who relied on the ride-hailing app for their daily commute, thanks to its smooth booking system, courteous drivers and an overall satisfaction. While customers have certainly been impacted, driver partners of BluSmart are facing consequences of the company suspending its services abruptly. A statement by the Gig Workers Association suggests that driver partners had not been informed about the suspension of services. The BluSmart drivers are now demanding immediate payment of their pending dues, including earned income and the promised weekly incentive of 8,000, as per a report by Hindu BusinessLine. As per the GigWA statement, the BluSmart drivers are also demanding immediate disbursal of their pending arrears. According to the organisation, thousands of drivers have been now left without income. The Gig Workers Association (GigWA) expresses deep concern over the abrupt suspension of operations by BluSmart, a major electric ride-hailing service in India. This unexpected halt has left thousands of drivers without income or clarity about their employment status, it said in a statement. BluSmart suspends operations: What to drivers want? The suspension follows allegations by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) against BluSmart's co-founder. Anmol Jaggi, for misappropriating funds intended for electric vehicle procurement. SEBI has initiated a forensic investigation into Gensol, the affiliated company involved in the alleged financial irregularities. GigWA, on behalf of BluSmart drivers, has also demanded immediate compensation equivalent to three months' income to all affected drivers, ensuring financial stability during this period of uncertainty. The association further wants employment opportunities for affected workers at BluSmart. Offer alternative employment opportunities or facilitate job placements for the displaced drivers to mitigate the impact on their livelihoods, it said. BluSmart drivers left in dark According to a report by the Times of India, the lives of drivers have been put under a question mark as they don't own the fleet. The suspension of operations has left them with hardly any clarity on what lies next. We were told a vendor would check our cars tomorrow and that we shouldnt report to work, the newspaper quoted a BluSmart driver named Dileep as saying. If the company shuts down, we cant switch to other platforms. We dont own the cars, he added. Another driver from Faridabad said BluSmart paid him around 3,200 to 4,300 for 10-12 hour shifts. It also offered him daily bonuses on top of this. It was a good system. I didnt get any bookings today. I dont know what happens next, TOI quoted the driver as saying. BluSmart drivers' lives impacted The organisation noted that the sudden halt of BluSmart services has disrupted the lives of drivers. The sudden cessation of BluSmart's services has not only disrupted the lives of its drivers but also raised concerns about the accountability of platform-based companies towards their workforce, it said. Nitesh Kumar Das, Organising Secretary of Gig Workers Association (GigWA), said that the association will protest if the demands are not met. Also Read | Netizens are heartbroken as BluSmart hits pause on its services We have sent our demand to the company (BluSmart) and asked for these compensations because most of our drivers are single earner of their families. The company has to help them go through this crisis. It has given us a weeks time, so we will wait, but if they do not meet our demands, we will come out on roads for protest, he was quoted as saying by Hindu Businessline. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to announce the name of the new party president by the end of this month. A Cabinet expansion-cum-reshuffle would also be announced after the appointment of the new national president of the saffron party, according to reports. The buzz over cabinet expansion started after Prime Minister Narendra Modi had an unscheduled meeting with President Droupadi Murmu late on April 15. Around the same time, the BJP top brass was huddled for hours at the residence of party chief JP Nadda, the reports said. The meeting was attended by top BJP leaders, including Home Minister Amit Shah. A similar meeting of top BJP leadership was held the next day, April 16, in Delhi regarding the party's organisational elections, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The meeting, held at the Prime Minister's residence, was attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and the BJP's National General Secretary (Organisation), BL Santosh. These back-to-back meetings, whose agenda remained closely guarded, took place amid the long-delayed appointment of the next party president of the BJP and speculation of a ministerial shuffle. Nadda's term ended in June last year The election for the BJP national president was supposed to take place in January. Party insiders believe that the delay is due to the careful selection of a leader who can further strengthen the organisation. JP Nadda, who has been serving as the BJP National President since January 2020, had his term extended beyond the three-year limit to ensure a smooth transition and proper preparation for the next leadership phase. At present, Nadda, whose term as BJP chief ended in June 2024, is the leader of the House in Rajya Sabha and holds the Health, Chemicals and Fertilisers portfolio in the Modi government at the Centre. He became the BJP's working president in 2019. In January 2020, he was promoted to full-time president. In 2023, before the Lok Sabha Elections in April-June 2024, his three-year tenure was extended until June 2024. Discussions in the recent meeting centred around the upcoming election for the BJP's national president. According to party sources, the announcement regarding the election could be made within a week or two. Also Read | PM Modi speaks with Space X CEO Elon Musk The official election notification for the BJP chief will be followed by a nomination process. As is expected, the BJP President will be announced without the requirement of an election. Who are the probable names for the BJP President? Union Ministers Manohar Lal Khattar, Dharmendra Pradhan and Bhupender Yadav are the top probable candidates for the post. If any of these Union Ministers is chosen as the BJP chief, a cabinet expansion or a reshuffle will be required. The BJP will also consult Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), its ideological mentor, to finalise its name. In addition to deliberating on the national leadership, the meeting also focused on organisational changes at the state level, according to the news agency ANI. Sources said the names of new state BJP presidents for states like Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh were discussed. The party may announce around half a dozen state unit presidents in the next two to three days. The organisational reshuffle is expected to significantly impact the BJP's electoral strategy ahead of the upcoming polls. The election process for choosing the BJP's national president could begin any time after April 20, the party sources said. Process to begin after Modi returns from Saudi PM Modi will meet US Vice President JD Vance on April 21 and will travel to Saudi Arabia from April 22-23. Thus, the process of selecting the BJP president is expected to begin after Prime Minister Modi returns to India. (With ANI inputs) The Federal Bureau of Investigation said that gangster-turned-terrorist Harpreet Singh, aka Happy Passia, allegedly had links with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), a pro-Khalistan terror group. Passia, wanted in connection with multiple terror attacks across Punjab, is alleged to have collaborated with ISI and BKI, and has been arrested in the US, officials said on Friday. Passia had illegally entered the US and was arrested by the FBI and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Enforcement and Removal Operations in Sacramento, the US federal law enforcement agency said. "Today, Harpreet Singh, an alleged terrorist responsible for terror attacks in Punjab, India, was arrested by the #FBI & #ERO in Sacramento. Linked to two international terrorist groups, he entered the US illegally and used burner phones to evade capture," FBI Sacramento said in a statement on X. "He had been evading capture by using untraceable burner phones and encrypted applications. This case reinforces the importance of international cooperation in apprehending those who threaten global security," FBI Sacramento said. Wanted in India A PTI report, quoting official sources, said that Passia is wanted for orchestrating 16 terror attacks, including 14 grenade attacks in the state. He is also suspected to have collaborated with ISI and BKI, the report said. In January, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had announced a cash reward of 5 lakh on Passia in connection with a hand grenade attack on a house in Chandigarh in September last year. Passia and Pakistan-based designated BKI terrorist Harwinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda were among the four accused named in a charge sheet in the case by the NIA. Punjab Police investigation had found that Passia provided the accused with explosives, weapons and logistical support through his local associates. The September 2024 attack was intended to target a retired Punjab Police officer, who the assailants believed to be the occupant of the house in Sector 10, Chandigarh. A total of 33 FIRs have been registered at different police stations and 10 look out circulars have been issued against Passia, according to a dossier prepared by Punjab Police. Who is Happy Passia A resident of Pashia village in Punjab's Amritsar, Passia moved to Dubai in April 2018, returning to India nine months later in February 2019. A year later, he went to London in October 2020 and thereafter moved to the US. Passia is a close associate of Harvinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda. Passia allegedly planned the grenade attack in Sector 10, Chandigarh while allegedly working for Rinda. The grenade attack, which targeted former Jalandhar SP Jaskirat Singh Chahal and his family, was carried out by two persons Rohan and Vishal Masih who escaped after hurling the grenade. Passia later claimed responsibility for the attack on social media, a report quoting an officer said. Passia was initially aligned with Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang members including the US- based associates Darmanjot Singh (Darman Kahlon) and Amritpal Singh (Amrit Bal). This affiliation with the Bhagwanpuria gang marked the inception of Passia's involvement in organised crime, laying the foundation for his subsequent collaboration with Rinda. Rinda, lately, roped in Passia for execution of terror attacks in Punjab. The Rinda-Passia network Between September and October 2023, Passia, in collusion with Rinda, orchestrated a series of extortion and terror activities in Punjab, according to a dossier prepared by the state police. They targeted liquor contractors and businessmen by making extortion calls and executing arson and shooting incidents at liquor vends in Batala and Amritsar to instill fear and force compliance. Several terror and criminal modules backed by the Rinda-Passia network were busted by Punjab Police. The modules were raised to target leaders of Hindu groups, police establishments, serving and retired Punjab Police officers, processions carried out by Hindu groups, liquor contractors from Amritsar-Batala region for execution to raise funds for terrorism. The alliance between Passia and Rinda led to the formation of a nefarious network aimed at executing acts of terror across Punjab. BKI attacks in Punjab Between late 2024 and early 2025, BKI orchestrated a series of 16 terror attacks across Punjab, including 14 hand grenade assaults, one improvised explosive device (IED) attack, and one rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) strikes targeting police establishment and officials' residences. On November 23 last year, BKI planted an IED near Ajnala Police Station and launched a RPG (rocket propelled grenade) attack on police establishment Qila Lal Singh in Gurdaspur district on the intervening night of April 6 and 7. These attacks were coordinated by Passia under the direction of Rinda, and in collaboration with his other US-based associates - Gurdev Singh Jaisal Pehalwan, Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi Nawanshehria and Germany-based Swaran Singh alias Jeevan Faujia, along with their local accomplices, the dossier said. The dossier also added that the Rinda-Passia network had been recruiting juveniles, often struggling with drug addiction, to carry out terrorist activities in exchange for money and narcotics. In December 2024, Punjab Police arrested a 17-year-old involved in planting an IED at Ajnala Police Station, who confessed to being lured into the operation with promises of drugs and cash. The Indian Space Research Organisation is all geared up to script a historic chapter in the nations space journey, with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force set to become the first Indian to visit the International Space Station (ISS), said a PIB release. Scheduled for May 2025, his journey aboard Axiom Spaces Ax-4 mission will also mark the first time an Indian has ventured into space in over 40 years since Rakesh Sharmas legendary 1984 mission aboard a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft. The announcement came after a high-level review meeting chaired by Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, who oversees the Department of Space, Science and Technology, among other key portfolios. The Minister hailed the mission as a landmark moment, one that showcases Indias growing integration into global space endeavours and its readiness to take on complex human spaceflight operations. According to PIB, a highly accomplished test pilot, Group Captain Shukla has been shortlisted under ISROs Human Spaceflight Programme (HSP) and is among the top candidates for the forthcoming Gaganyaan mission Indias first indigenous crewed orbital flight. His upcoming ISS mission is not merely a ceremonial step but a strategic one, aimed at equipping India with real-time insights into crew training, space station operations, microgravity adaptation, and emergency response all vital components of the nations future in human space exploration. Also Read | ISRO scientists unlock hidden secrets about surface temperature of the Moon ISRO Chairman and Secretary, Department of Space, Dr V. Narayanan, presented a detailed overview of the agencys upcoming plans, underscoring how this international collaboration fits into Indias broader ambitions. He noted that Group Captain Shuklas participation in the Ax-4 mission reflects a maturing space programme focused on operational capability and strategic depth. Dr Singh highlighted the significant momentum Indias space sector has gained, with several milestones achieved since January 2025. These include the public release of solar data from the Aditya-L1 mission, successful demonstration of autonomous docking and undocking technologies, testing of the most powerful liquid engine developed in India to date, and the historic 100th launch (GSLV-F15) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. Looking ahead, ISRO is preparing for a busy calendar of missions between May and July 2025. Among them is the PSLV-C61 launch carrying the Earth Observation Satellite EOS-09, equipped with advanced C-band synthetic aperture radar for high-resolution, all-weather, day-and-night Earth imaging. Another critical mission will be the Test Vehicle-D2 (TV-D2) flight, designed to simulate an in-flight crew escape scenario and validate recovery procedures at sea a key component of the Gaganyaan programme. June will see the launch of the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite aboard the GSLV-F16, a major Indo-US collaboration aimed at studying climate change, Earths ecosystems, and natural hazards. The LVM3-M5 mission, scheduled for July, will deploy BlueBird Block-2 satellites under a commercial contract with AST SpaceMobile Inc., facilitated by NewSpace India Limited. Gurugram air hostess sexual assault case: In a shocking development of events, the police have arrested a technician working at the Medanta Hospital in Gurugram, in connection with the alleged sexual assault of the 46-year-old flight attendant who was on ventilator support in the hospital. Hospital technician arrested The accused has been identified as Deepak, 25-years-old, who had joined Medanta five months ago. He is a native of Bihars Muzaffarpur, who had been living in Gurugram for some time, police officials told PTI. The accused, Deepak had joined Medanta after completing his bachelor's in Operation Theatre Technology from a private university in Gurugram. Muzaffarpur resident confessed to crime Gurugram DCP Arpit Jain said that during the interrogation, Deepak confessed to the crime. "Over 50 employees of the hospital and some doctors were questioned, and footage from 800 CCTV cameras was examined. After multiple analyses, we finally identified the accused and arrested him today. He has confessed to the crime," Dr Arpit Jain, DCP (headquarters), who led the special investigation team in the case. Accused to be produced in court The accused will be produced before the court on Saturday, April 18 for further proceedings, and the probe is still underway, police added. What happened to the air hostess? The incident came to light when the 46-year-old flight attendant lodged a complaint on April 14. She alleged that she was sexually assaulted by a staff member at the Medanta Hospital in Gurugram while she was on a ventilator in the ICU. According to police reports, the woman stated that two nurses were present in the room during the incident but did not intervene. On April 6, I was on a ventilator when some hospital staff sexually assaulted me, read the woman's complaint as per police reports. India on April 18 strongly rejected Bangladeshs statement regarding the violence in West Bengal amid protests over the Waqf Amendment Act. The Minister of External Affairs (MEA) took a serious note of Bangladesh's comments, terming it a disguised" attempt to draw a parallel with Indias concerns about the persecution of minorities in Dhaka. We reject the remarks made by the Bangladesh side with regard to the incidents in West Bengal, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement, a day after Bangladesh urged the Government of India and West Bengal to take all steps necessary to protect the minority Muslim population amid violence in the state. This is a barely disguised and disingenuous attempt to draw a parallel with India's concerns over the ongoing persecution of minorities in Bangladesh, where the criminal perpetrators of such acts continue to roam free. Instead of making unwarranted comments and indulging in virtue signalling, Bangladesh would do better to focus on protecting the rights of its own minorities, reads the MEA statement. Also Read | Dawoodi Bohra delegation meets PM Modi, lauds Waqf Act At least three people were killed and hundreds were rendered homeless in violence in Suti, Dhulian, Samserganj and Jangipur areas of Murshidabad during anti-Waqf (Amendment) Act protests late last week, prompting the deployment of central forces and the suspension of internet services. On Thursday, the Supreme Court of India granted the Centre a week's time to file a response to the petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. The top court was hearing a batch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the new law. The Centre also assured the court that no appointments will be made to the Waqf Councils or Waqf Boards until then, and no non-Muslims will be included in the Central Waqf Council and Waqf Boards until the next hearing. The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, that came into force earlier this month, was challenged by a batch of petitions. The Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha passed the bill during the recently concluded Budget Session of Parliament. President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the proposed law on April 5. What did Bangladesh say? The Mohammad Yunus-led interim government of Bangladesh on April 17 protested Indias attempts to link Bangladesh to communal violence in Murshidabad, West Bengal. The government urged India to take steps to protect its minority Muslim population. Also Read | Mamata Banerjee blames BSF, foreign elements for Murshidabad violence We strongly refute any attempts to implicate Bangladesh in the communal violence in Murshidabad," Chief Advisers Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told BSS at the Foreign Service Academy. We urge the Government of India and West Bengal to take all steps to fully protect the minority Muslim population," he added. Last month, Lucknow was rocked. The Uttar Pradesh government, under Chief Minister (CM) Yogi Adityanath, did the unthinkable. Adityanath suspended his blue-eyed boy, Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Abhishek Prakash, for allegedly demanding a commission from a businessman. Prakash was no run-of-the-mill bureaucrat. As CEO of Invest UP, an investment promotion and facilitation agency powered by the state government, it was his organisations brief to transform the state into the most preferred investment destination in India and therefore, enabling new growth trajectories for shaping the vision of New India. Instead, Prakash is now facing a rigorous vigilance probe instituted by the state government. In his 18 years in Uttar Pradesh, this former IIT Roorkee engineer, had been the District Magistrate (DM) of Aligarh, Hamirpur, Lakhimpur Kheri, and Lucknow. Under Yogi he was the man to watch. Realizing his potential, the CM made him the CEO of Invest UP. So, what went wrong? Insiders say that Prakashs undoing was when he asked for a 5 per cent commission through a middleman for a solar power project that had been approved by the state governments evaluation committee. Incensed, the investor Biswajit Dutta of SAEL Solar P6 Limited directly complained to the CM. The preliminary vigilance probe indicates that the officer who owns hundreds of acres of land, also has assets worth several hundred crores. The move has been widely seen as a reaffirmation of Adityanaths commitment to rooting out corruption, a cornerstone of his governance agenda, says The420.in, a digital platform that comprises a group of journalists, researchers, and other professionals. They describe themselves as a team of digital enthusiasts who love to track and decode the underground world of digital crimes. Bureaucrats under Yogi's scanner in UP Prakash is just one name. The feisty Yogi Adityanath has put several senior bureaucrats under his scanner. This latest action brings the total number of IAS officers suspended for graft-related charges during Adityanaths two terms to 12, ``underscoring the states zero-tolerance policy toward malfeasance, a state government official said. Since taking office eight years ago, the UP CM has overseen the suspension of 11 other IAS officers across his first and second terms. While several of these officers have been reinstated following investigations, the government claims that its swift actions have sent a clear message: no one is above the law. List of suspended IAS officers The list of IAS officers suspended under Adityanaths administration spans a range of allegations, from financial irregularities to abuse of power. They include: -Ghanashyam Singh, a 2014-batch officer, who was suspended on November 13, 2024, for delaying land measurement processes in Lakhimpur Kheri, a case that drew significant local ire. -Devi Sharan Upadhyay, a 2012-batch officer, faced a similar penalty in July 2024 for arbitrarily reinstating leases for 35 plots in Aligarh while serving as a judicial member of the Revenue Board. -TK Shibu, was suspended in March, 2022, while serving as the DM of Sonbhadra. -Sunil Kumar Verma, who faced action for alleged corruption and misuse of authority as the DM of Auraiya. -Devendra Kumar Pandey, a 2011-batch officer, was suspended during his tenure as Unnaos DM for financial irregularities in procurement in the Basic Education Department. -Amar Nath Upadhyay, also from the 2011 batch, was suspended as Maharajganjs DM for alleged mismanagement of funds allocated to cow protection centres. -Kumar Prashant, a 2010-batch officer faced similar penalties in June 2018, as Fatehpurs DM for irregularities in government wheat procurement -Jitendra Bahadur Singh was suspended in June 2018 as Gondas DM for similar charges related to government grain mismanagement. -Kedar Nath Singh suffered the same fate while serving in the Tourism Department. Also Read | UP plans to triple exports by 2030 by seeking new markets in era of US tariffs -Sharda Singh faced action as Consolidation Commissioner for allegedly failing to adhere to OBC recruitment quotas. Adityanaths zero-tolerance policy has Lucknow sharply polarised. Supporters argue that it has instilled a sense of accountability among bureaucrats, fostering a cleaner administration. Critics, however, caution that the rapid pace of suspensions could stifle initiative among officers. As the state navigates this hard-to-achieve equilibrium, the focus remains on ensuring that investigations are fair, transparent, and free from political influence, a no mean feat. Yogi's clean image According to analyst and journalist Anshuman Shukla, while CM Yogi enjoys a clean image, the same cannot be said about some of the other bigwigs in the party and government. "How is it that Abhishek Prakash was appointed CEO of Invest UP when an 83-page report by the state governments Board of Revenue, had in August 2024 indicted him (as Lucknow DM) for directly receiving kickbacks from illegal land deals in the Lucknow defence corridor? The Punjab government is learnt to have decided to extend the detention of Khalistani extremist and Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh under the National Security Act by a year, sources said on Friday. Thirty-two-year-old Singh is currently lodged in a prison in Assam's Dibrugarh, and was detained under the National Security Act (NSA) after his arrest on April 23, 2023, a PTI report said. The detention of Singh's nine associates was not extended by the state government. They had been brought back to Punjab in batches from the Dibrugarh jail after their detention under the NSA had ended. They were arrested in connection with the 2023 Ajnala police station attack. Who are these associates They have been identified as Basant Singh, Bhagwant Singh alias Pradhan Mantri Bajeke, Gurmeet Singh Gill alias Gurmeet Bukkanwala, Sarabjeet Singh Kalsi alias Daljeet Singh Kalsi, Gurinderpal Singh Aujla alias Guri Aujla, Harjeet Singh alias Chacha, Kulwant Singh Dhaliwal alias Kulwant Singh, Varinder Johal and Pappalpreet Singh. Who is Amritpal Singh Amritpal Singh, chief of the outfit 'Waris Punjab De', successfully contested the 2024 Lok Sabha polls as an Independent nominee from Khadoor Sahib in Tarn Taran district. Amritpal, who styled himself after slain Khalistani terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, was arrested from Rode village in Moga district on April 23, 2023, following over a month-long manhunt. The Khalistani extremist escaped the police net in Jalandhar district on March 18, 2023, by switching vehicles and changing his appearance. Punjab Police launched the crackdown after the February 23, 2023, Ajnala incident in which Amritpal and his supporters, some of them brandishing swords and guns, allegedly broke through the barricades, barged into the police station on the outskirts of Amritsar, and clashed with the cops for the release of his aides. A 17-year-old boy was stabbed to death in the Seelampur area of Delhi on Thursday evening. The boy, identified as Kunal, was rushed to JPC Hospital, where the doctors declared him dead during treatment. Police has registered a case into the incident. The victim's family and local residents staged a protest in Seelampur, blocking a nearby road and demanding swift justice and immediate police action, news agency ANI reported. This prompted police to increase deployment in the area to maintain law and order. Several videos showed a heavy police presence in the area. Here's what we know about the Seelampur murder case 1. The incident was reported at 7:38 pm on Thursday in J-Block, New Seelampur, police said. The teen was reportedly killed in front of his father, Rajbir Singh, who works as an auto-rickshaw driver. I saw 4-5 boys stabbing my son, the victim's father was quoted by India Today as saying. 2. A Delhi Police official said, We are conducting raids. The accused will be caught soon. Investigation is underway. 3. Police said the suspects were known to the victim and were from another community. They said, "The accused have been identified and our teams are working to nab them soon. The two people whose names have come to light are being chased by police. If any other person's involvement is found, they will be arrested." Also Read | Section 144 imposed for one month in Seelampur : Delhi Police 4. India Today reported that posters of Hindu exodus and house is for sale were put in the area where the incident took place. Meanwhile, the victim's father claimed, Many Hindus have already sold their homes and left. Many more are planning to leave. 5. Local people also appealed to Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for security. The posters also carry messages such as Yogi ji, help us. 6. The victims parents alleged that the accused belonged to another community. His mother was quoted by India Today as saying, I was about to sell the house and leave. I never imagined my son would be the one to go. She said, They took out someone elses grudge on my son. He had gone out to buy milk and never came back. Also Read | Citizenship Act protest turns violent in Seelampur, reinforcements called in Pune-based businessman Laxman Sadhu Shinde landed at Patna Airport on April 11. Four days later on April 15, Bihar Police found his body at the Jehanabad district. Shinde, 55, met a tragic end after he was lured to Patna through a seemingly genuine business enquiry via email by people who murdered him. According to an Indian Express report, the owner of Centrifugal Casting Bearing, located at Khedshivapur in Pune, built his company brick by brick after having come from a modest background. From working at sugarcane field to building an empire Laxman Shinde's story is one of resilience, followed by sweet success. As per a relative quoted by Indian Express, Shinde worked at the sugarcane fields as a child and struggled to pay his tuition fees for his engineering course. His family hails from Solapur, from a village named Maroli in Mangalvedha taluka, and he came from very modest beginnings. As a child, he worked in sugarcane fields. Despite all odds, he got admission to the College of Engineering Pune (COEP). When he came to Pune for his admission he had to sleep at Swargate bus stand. He didnt even have the money to pay his fees. It was the principal of COEP at the time who personally stepped in and paid the fees for him. His life was a story of struggle and grit, Vishal Lokhande, Shindes brother-in-law, was quoted as saying by the newspaper. Shinde earned a degree in metallurgy and pursued a degree in MTech. After working for some private companies, he began to work on his dream of establishing his own company. He had built the Ratnadeep Castings on his own. Over the years, the unit has become a trusted name in the metal casting, forging and precision machines sector, Lokhande, who is also the complaintant in the case, said. He revealed that Shinde's company supplied materials to the defence sector. The unit had one of the largest production of particular items in the country. The unit supplies to various sectors and also has some clients from the Defence sector. It also has several clients abroad and has a strong export portfolio. What happened to Laxman Shinde? Shinde was lured to Jharkhand by scammers who offered him a potential high-value order in crores related to mining equipment for operations in the state. Falling into the trap, he landed in Patna on April 11. Laxman Sadhu Shinde's body was found in Bihar's Jehanabad district on Tuesday. The Bihar Police have arrested seven persons, including a woman, in connection with the abduction and murder of the businessman. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Patna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Awkash Kumar said, Police received a complaint from the family members of the Pune-based businessman stating that they were not able to contact him after he landed at Patna airport. "Based on findings of the preliminary investigation and scrutiny of the CCTV footage, police registered a case of kidnapping and constituted a special team to nab the accused. Police recovered from Vaishali the vehicle used in kidnapping the businessman and also took the owner of the vehicle into custody," he said. Investigation suggested that the accused belonged to a gang of inter-state criminals who extorted money from people and also demanded ransom for the release of kidnapped persons, he said. United States-based Indian gangster Harpreet Singh, alias Happy Passia, who is believed to be responsible for 14 grenade attacks over the last six months in Punjab, has been detained by the US Immigration department, according to reports. Passia is in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the US, the reports said. Passia is among India's most wanted criminals and carries a reward of 5 lakh on his head. The reward was announced by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in January this year over his alleged involvement in grenade attacks on a house in Chandigarh and police stations in Punjab. As many as 16 grenade attacks have been reported in Punjab, targeting police posts, religious sites, and residences of public figures, including Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Manoranjan Kalia over the last seven months. Passias name has cropped up during investigations into at least 14 such attacks, the reports said. Indian intelligence agencies in India have received information about Passia's detention, according to a report in the Indian Express. The NIA has filed an application in the Chandigarh District Court seeking an arrest warrant against Passia in connection with the hand grenade attack on a house in Sector 10, Chandigarh on September 11 last year, the report said quoting sources. As many as 16 grenade attacks have been reported in Punjab, targeting police posts, religious sites, and residences of public figures, including BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia over the last seven months. Passias name has cropped up during investigations into at least 14 such attacks, the reports said. Passia is a close associate of Pakistan-based gangster-turned-terrorist Harvinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda. Passia allegedly planned the grenade attack in Sector 10, Chandigarh while allegedly working for Rinda. The grenade attack, which targeted former Jalandhar SP Jaskirat Singh Chahal and his family, was carried out by two persons Rohan and Vishal Masih who escaped after hurling the grenade. Passia later claimed responsibility for the attack on social media, the report said quoting an officer. Earlier this year, the NIA chargesheeted four terror operatives of the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) in the 2024 Chandigarh grenade attack case. Passia and Rinda were among those named in the chargesheet filed before the Special NIA court in Chandigarh. Also Read | 4 Pro-Khalistan terror operatives charged in Chandigarh grenade attack case "Investigations revealed that Rinda, along with Happy Passia, had orchestrated the conspiracy to strike terror among law enforcement officials and the general public through the grenade attack, as part of the broader aim to promote BKI's terrorist agenda. They had recruited local operatives, namely Rohan Masih and Vishal Masih, who were tasked with carrying out the attack under their direct instructions," the agency had said. Last year, after questioning a number of associates of Lakhbir Singh Sandhu alias Landa, a Canada-based Khalistani terrorist, and Rinda, the NIA had found that both the terrorists have stopped working together and Rinda has started working with one Passia. Their new syndicate was allegedly raising terror modules and carrying out terror activities in Punjab, a senior official said, in the Indian Express report. Passia is said to have been associated with Rinda since 2013. Passia entered the US in 2021 through an illegal human trafficking network. Rinda is also said to be connected to the Sidhu Moosewala murder case in 2022. The Delhi police had registered a case naming two Punjab gangs. The probe was later taken over by the NIA. The investigation agency is probing the alleged nexus between Punjab gangs and terror networks. Who is Happy Passia? -Passia, hails from Passia village in Amritsar district, Punjab and has been involved in criminal activities for several years. He is wanted in connection with 17 criminal cases, including charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Arms Act, and Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. -Passia has been linked to at least 14 grenade attacks across Punjab over the past year. These attacks targeted police stations, religious sites, and residences of public figures, including a BJP leader. -Passia is associated with Pakistan-based terrorist Harwinder Singh Sandhu, also known as Rinda, and has ties to the Khalistani extremist group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) . -In 2021, Passia illegally entered the United States through the Mexico border, through an illegal human trafficking network. -In January, 2025, the NIA announced a reward of 5 lakh for information leading to his arrest. He was also chargesheeted in connection with a grenade attack in Chandigarh in 2024. (With agency inputs) Seelampur murder case: Delhi Police on Friday late night arrested 'Lady Don' Zikra in connection with the murder of a 17-year-old boy in north-east Delhi's Seelampur area. On Thursday, a boy named Kunal was killed just a few metres from his house, after he stepped out to buy milk to prepare tea for his ailing father. Following his murder, the family members of the deceased alleged that Zikra was present at the crime scene when the boy was killed. Police scanned the CCTV camera footage from the area and identified two suspects Sahil and Rehan. Posters with Hindus are migrating and Please help, Yoji ji written on them surfaced in the area, which police later removed. Zikra's cousins Sahil and Dilshad who attacked Kunal with knives, are still on the run, and police are searching for them. On Friday, police detained Zikra for questioning and later she was arrested. Earlier, Pushpendra Kumar, Joint Commissioner of Police (Eastern Range), said that 10 teams have been formed to crack the case, and they are looking at all possible angles. Who is lady don Zikra? Zikra worked as a bouncer for jailed gangster Hashim Baba's wife Zoya, before her arrest by the Delhi Police in a drugs case. Zikra was reportedly living with Zoya before the latter was jailed. Zikra was reportedly trying to form her own gang after Zoya's arrest, reported PTI, quoting sources. The Lady Don was also arrested under the Arms Act after posting a video with a pistol on social media. At present, she is out on bail. She reportedly led a gang of 10-12 young men. Also Read | Delhi BJP leader Vijay Jolly duped by fake Ayodhya hotel website What the deceased's mother said "Zikra used to roam around in the area with a pistol. An incident happened with her cousin Sahil, but my son was not involved in it. Yet they killed him, said Parveen, the mother of the deceased. The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday said that President Donald Trump will walk away from trying to broker a Russia-Ukraine peace deal within days unless there are clear signs that a deal can be done, a Reuters report said. "We're not going to continue with this endeavour for weeks and months on end. So we need to determine very quickly now, and I'm talking about a matter of days whether or not this is doable in the next few weeks," Rubio said in Paris after meeting European and Ukrainian leaders. "The president feels very strongly about that. He has dedicated a lot of time and energy to this ... this is important, but there are a lot of other really important things going on that deserves just as much, if not more attention." Russia-Ukraine peace deal The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's warning came amid signs of some progress in US talks with Ukraine. Also Read | Power is being monopolised in Ukraine US President Donald Trump said on Thursday he expected to sign a deal with Kyiv next week that would give the US access to Ukraine's minerals. An attempt to sign a minerals pact in February fell apart after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's clash with Trump and Vice President JD Vance in the Oval Office. After the talks in Paris on Thursday the first substantive, high level and in-person talks on Trump's peace push that have included European powers Rubio said a US peace framework received an "encouraging reception". Zelenskiy's office called the talks constructive and positive. Trump promised during his election campaign to end the war in Ukraine within his first 24 hours in the White House. He moderated that claim on taking office, suggesting a deal by April or May as obstacles mounted. Frustrations in the White House Rubio's comments on Friday underline mounting frustrations in the White House over a lack of progress in pushes to settle a growing list of geopolitical challenges. Also Read | Russia rejects claim of attacking Indian firm's warehouse in Kyiv Rubio said he spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov after the Paris talks and had told him they had been constructive, and also briefed him on "some of the elements of" the US peace framework. Rubio said the issue of US security guarantees as part of any deal came up in the talks in Paris, without going into greater detail. He said security guarantees was an issue "we can fix in sort of in a way that's acceptable to everyone," but "we have bigger challenges that we need to figure out, whether it's even possible within the short term". He said it was clear that a peace deal would be difficult to strike but there needed to be signs it could be done soon. "There's no one saying this can be done in 12 hours. But we want to see how far apart it is and whether those differences can even be narrowed, if it's even possible to get movement within the period of time we have in mind," he said. State Bank of India (SBI), India's largest lender, witnessed the most number of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transaction failures in fiscal 2025, while Bank of Baroda, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and Axis Bank fared much better, an analysis of UPI transaction failures showed, reported Hindu Business Line. SBI, which is the biggest UPI remitter bank with over 4.95 billion transactions in March alone, had a technical decline (TD) rate of 0.9 per cent, while the second-largest public sector bank, Bank of Baroda, had a technical decline rate of 0.03 per cent. In March, HDFC Bank (which reported 1.5 billion transactions) saw a technical decline rate of 0.02 per cent, whereas for Axis Bank, the corresponding figure was 0.03 per cent. For ICICI Bank, this was 0.13 per cent. Similar trends were seen in most months of FY25. In March, for instance, Jio Payments Bank (7.23 per cent) and Bandhan Bank (2.48 per cent) were the major banks that reported high TD rates. Reasons for decline UPI transaction failures happen at the bank's end for two reasons: (i) business decline (BD) wherein a user enters an invalid pin or incorrect beneficiary account, and (ii) technical decline (TD), where a transaction is declined due to technical reasons, such as unavailability of systems and network issues at the bank or the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) end. Over the last month, multiple major unscheduled downtimes have resulted in UPI outages. The NPCI, the governing body of UPI, is understood to have met bankers and payment ecosystem players this week to deliberate on ways to prevent such outages, which cause major inconvenience to customers. Extremely high volumes of transaction status API calls, hardware glitches, and maintenance upgrades are reportedly cited for the UPI outages that occurred over the last month. The NPCI had earlier informally asked lenders to maintain TD rates below 1 per cent, BL reported, quoting a senior executive of a large payment company. However, currently with the rapid rise in UPI transactions, having even 1 per cent TD benchmark causes considerable inconvenience to customers. A sudden spike in UPI transaction volumes during significant events such as the Indian Premier League and major sales by online platforms also adds to the strain on bank servers. To reduce transaction failures, experts say payment ecosystem players must develop the ability to predict transaction growth, enhance their transaction monitoring system, and conduct hygiene checks of their servers at least monthly and eventually weekly or fortnightly. Netizens could not keep calm after a pigeon laid an egg not in its nest but along the side wall of a balcony. A Reddit user recently posted a picture of how a pigeon chose an odd and uncommon place to lay its egg, leaving social media users in splits. Surprisingly, not a single trace of straw, or twig could be spotted. The pigeon's egg lay bare in a little corner of the balcony. Also Read | Man drops ring in waterfall proposal but the twist will melt your heart No nest no straws anything, she just chose a side wall and laid an egg, the Reddit user captioned the photo, along with a crying emoji. The post has already gained over four thousand likes, with netizens posting hilarious comments about the pigeon and its egg. Redditor's post about the pigeon's egg 'Most careless parents' As surprising and funny as the pigeon's choice of egg-laying spot was, the reactions from netizens were even funnier. GenZ Pigeon, commented one user on the original post. Build a nest? In this economy? another user quipped in. Also Read | 5 birds that can sleep while flying Most careless parents, wrote another, adding laughing emojis. How do pigeons lay eggs? Pigeons usually lay one or two white eggs in a simple nest made of twigs, straw, and other bits they find. The female pigeon incubates the eggs for about 18 days, while the male pigeon helps by bringing more materials to protect the nest and the eggs, according to the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management. Where do pigeons build nests? Pigeons usually build their nests in lofts, steeples, attics, caves, and ornate architectural features of buildings where the openings allow for roosting, loafing, and nest building. Halal food cart worker grabs pigeon from street Recently, a viral video showing a halal food cart worker in New York catching a pigeon with his bare hands and placing it into a plastic bag has sparked debate across social media platforms. Also Read | 5 birds with the most unusual beaks All hell broke loose at a residential complex in Mumbai after Marathi and Gujarati communities clashed with each other over non-vegetarian food, after a resident allegedly called Marathis "dirty" for eating fish and meat. Reportedly, the Mumbai Police had to intervene after the dispute spilled out onto the street and started gaining traction on social media. Also Read | Vande Bharat waiter slapped by elderly man for serving non-veg food by mistake Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) members also got involved in the dispute with housing society residents, after allegations surfaced that Marathi-speaking neighbours were insulted for consuming non-vegetarian food, reported PTI. What led to the dispute The dispute erupted at the Sambhav Darshan Co-operative Housing Society in Ghatkopar, where a resident alleged that his neighbour objected to him eating non-vegetarian food. According to the resident, Ram Ringe, the neighbour reportedly said, You Marathi people are dirty, you eat fish and meat. Also Read | 7 Indian cities where non-veg is banned Following the altercation over food choices, Ram reached out to the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) to bring attention to the discrimination he claimed to be facing. MNS workers get involved in dispute A video of MNS workers warning the Gujarati residents of the society, accusing them of ill-treating four Marathi-speaking families living there, is currently doing the rounds on social media. In the video, local MNS leader Raj Parte can be heard saying that Marathi-speaking families were called dirty for their choice of food. Anybody can live in Mumbai and work here, but we will not tolerate such things....how can others dictate what they should eat," said Raj Parte. The MNS worker further added: "He thinks Marathis are dirty. That means Maharashtra is also dirty. So, why did he come to a dirty place?" Police to take action Police officials stated that they would hold a meeting with the housing society members and assured that appropriate legal action would be taken against anyone found guilty. Congress MLA slams Maharashtra CM The row over eating non-veg food has sparked criticism from opposition leaders in Maharashtra, with Congress MLA Vijay Wadettiwar slamming the Devendra Fadnavis-led government responsible for what he described as the repeated harassment of Marathi-speaking people by Gujarati residents in Mumbai. The Chief Minister of Maharashtra also eats non-vegetarian food. The state government's approach towards food habits and language appears to be aimed at creating a divide between Gujaratis and Marathis in Mumbai, which is unacceptable, PTI quoted Wadettiwar as saying. Also Read | SC lawyers protest against canteen for providing only Navratri menu By Hannah Lang, Judith Langowski -Last week, a pack of rice crackers at Sun Vin Grocery store on Mulberry Street in New York Citys Chinatown cost $4.99. But this week, after President Donald Trumps tariffs on items imported from China took effect, the same crackers have a new price: $6.99. Chinatowns across the U.S. are feeling the effects of the escalating tariff war, as prices of household goods imported from China, including traditional Chinese medicine, dried noodles and jade jewelry have already started to rise. While Trump paused his tariffs on most of the world for 90 days, his tit-for-tat trade war with China has resulted in a steep 145% tariff on Chinese goods, and thats hitting mostly family-owned small businesses in Chinatown hard. Many immigrant Chinese communities rely on businesses in local Chinatowns across the country for goods that are central to Chinese culture, for which there are few, if any, alternatives. It will impact a lot, said Jasmine Bai, the manager of Sun Vin Grocery, a small store stocked mostly with products imported from China, including ingredients that are rarely found in American grocery stores, like bean thread noodles and lotus seed paste. In the future, maybe we have less clients and they will buy less food. Chinatown residents in Lower Manhattan spend $1.15 billion each year on retail goods and services, and about 80% of local businesses in the neighborhood directly serve the Chinese community, according to New York Citys Small Business Services. Trump has said that he believes the United States could make a deal with China, but maintains that Beijing has "really taken advantage" of the U.S. for a long time. "Every Nation, including China, wants to meet! Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Thursday, although Beijing officials have not yet indicated that they are planning to meet with the White House. China has retaliated with tariffs of up to 125% on U.S. imports. On Thursday, China's commerce ministry urged the U.S. to stop putting "extreme pressure" on the country and said the two sides remained at an impasse over who should start trade talks. SENSE OF CHAOS That back-and-forth has injected a sense of chaos into Chinatown businesses, said Eva Sam, the owner of Popular Jewelry in New York City, a family business known for chains and pendants with ornate gemstones popular with hip hop artists. "The sudden changes and escalating tariffs make it nearly impossible to stabilize prices or offer consistent quotes to our clients," she said. Popular Jewelry sources its 24-karat gold as well as cut and polished jade stones from China. The store has already had to raise prices by 10% on imported jewelry, Sam said. "It's very hard to make long-term and short-term decisions, because you don't know if the tariffs are going to be permanent or where he's going to put the tariffs, or if he's going to take them off," said William Wong, Sam's son who also works at Popular Jewelry. Most Chinatown stores in New York City only have one or two months of supplies stockpiled, according to Welcome to Chinatown, a local nonprofit aimed at supporting businesses in the neighborhood. That includes Villy KX Pharmacy, which doesnt keep a lot of stuff on hand, said Daniel Dellaratta, a pharmacist who has been working in Chinatown for 30 years. We are expecting, within the next 90 days, to see significant increases on most of the generic products, he said. Eliz Digital Inc, a photo shop in New York Citys Chinatown, has also seen the prices of supplies, like paper and chemicals sourced in China and used for developing photographs, increase. Although the store has not raised prices for a long, long time, the tariffs could force their hand, said the stores owner, who asked only to be referred to by her last name, Kesh. I think eventually we might have to do something, because, as you see, everything has gone up a lot, and our supply has definitely gone up so much, she said. AMERICAS OLDEST CHINATOWN San Franciscos Chinatown is also experiencing uncertainty among its businesses as owners hope for productive negotiations between the U.S. and China, said Edward Siu, chairman of the Chinatown Merchants United Association of San Francisco. A lot of people dont know what will be next. They are so worried and frustrated right now, said Siu, who has been operating a travel agency in the neighborhood for 40 years. The neighborhood, which spans 30 densely populated blocks, constitutes the oldest Chinese American community in the United States, according to the city's planning department. Its a tight-knit network of residents and businesses has weathered multiple crises since the COVID-19 pandemic, including supply chain issues and slow economic recovery in the city. Selena Lee, who owns Linda Boutique, a jade jewelry store on Chinatown's iconic Grant Avenue, said the prices on her latest delivery tripled as the tariffs took effect. While the raw jade material in her jewelry is from Myanmar, the finished products are imported from China. If we change, we have to change the whole format of the business, which is not easy, she said. Mei Zhu, who runs a small grocery store on Stockton Street, is also concerned about running short on inventory as customers have tried to stock up on products in anticipation of higher prices. Theres nothing left to sell, Zhu said, pointing to an empty cardboard box labeled salt, explaining that many customers have bought as many as ten cans at once, even though her store does not import salt from China. Siu urged the American and Chinese governments to consider the people affected by their policies, such as him and other Chinese American business owners. Right now, were in the danger zone, he said. I dont want the trade war to be a war. US President Donald Trump announced on Friday (April 18) that the United States would withdraw from brokering further peace talks over the war in Ukraine if there is no swift progress from both Russia and Ukraine. Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump confirmed that Washington would "move on" if a truce or peace agreement didnt seem feasible in the short term. "Yeah, very shortly," Trump responded when asked if Washington would step away from the peace process. "No specific number of days, but quickly. We want to get it done." He added that if either of the parties made the situation difficult, the US would step aside. "Now if for some reason one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we're just going to say: 'You're foolish. You're fools. You're horrible people' and we're going to just take a pass," Trump said. "But hopefully we won't have to do that." Trump on Putin and Ukraine: No playing games, only help Trump was asked whether Russian President Vladimir Putin was stalling or dragging his feet on the peace talks. The US president expressed hope that Putin would not delay, but assured that if it became evident that either side was not motivated to end the war, Washington would no longer intervene. "I hope not," Trump said when asked if Putin was stalling. "I'll let you know soon." Trump emphasised that he was not being "played" by the Russian president. "Nobody's playing me, I'm trying to help," Trump declared. I know when people are playing us, and I know when theyre not. And I have to see an enthusiasm to want to end it. And I think I see that enthusiasm. I think I see it from both sides." Rubio's warning: US to move on without progress Trumps remarks came after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the situation in Paris, following talks with European allies. Rubio stated that the US needed to see progress in the coming days and, if no substantial progress was made, Washington would disengage from further negotiations. "We had a good meeting yesterday," Rubio said. "But this isnt going to go on forever." He indicated that if a ceasefire or resolution did not seem achievable in the short term, the US would stop engaging in negotiations. Rubio also praised European nations for their constructive role, acknowledging that they could help "move the ball" forward in the peace process. Trumps call for action amid lengthy conflict The conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which began with Russias full-scale invasion in February 2022, has now entered its fourth year. Also Read | Judge wont take further steps to enforce his order in AP case against Trump administration According to authorities, a gunman opened fire on Thursday at Florida State University (FSU) in Tallahassee, killing two people and wounding at least six others. It added 20-year-old gunman is the son of a sheriffs deputy whose former service weapon was used in the shooting. The incident reportedly took place around 11:50 AM (EST) local time. The university issued an emergency alert, requesting all students, faculty, staff members to shelter in place quickly. Florida State University: Who is Phoenix Ikner? Officials in a press conference said the shooter of the Florida State University (FSU) case has been identified as 20-year-old is the son of one of Leon County Sheriff's deputy and the Leon County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) Youth Advisory Council member Jessica Ikner. Police stated that Ikner used his mother's gun for the shooting. The same weapon was discovered at the crime scene of the FSU campus. Officials said the suspects mother legally bought one of her former service weapons, which had become her personal property at the time of the shooting. Alleged profiles connected to Ikner started making rounds on social media. Phoneix Ikner is Trump supporter Netizens were quick to point out that the 20-year-old suspect Phoenix Ikner is a Trump supporter. One of the users on X said, the 20 years old Phoenix Ikner who is the Florida State University Shooter: 1-He was a White American 2-He was a Trump Supporter 3-He was a Republican. Another said, The Florida State University sh**ter has been identified as Phoenix Ikner, the son of a sheriffs deputy. Ikner was featured in FSU News in January before Trump's inauguration. He was reportedly a political science major. On the scene at the FSU shooting this Florida State University student calls out Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis: Im gonna call on Governor Ron DeSantis [and] Donald Trump. This stuff keeps going on. Were praying every day. Praying is good. Spirituality is good. But prayers dont do much. Its good for the soul, but is this still happening? I think it is. So we need to make some gun reforms, an Internet user remarked. Some users alleged that Ikner altered his Instagram bio to include a Bible verse before the shooting. US President Donald Trump launched a fierce attack on Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen on Friday (April 18), after the lawmaker was photographed meeting with alleged MS-13 gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia in El Salvador. Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland looked like a fool yesterday standing in El Salvador begging for attention from the Fake News Media, or anyone. GRANDSTANDER!!! Trump wrote on Truth Social. They talk about him like hes an angel Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump read from prepared notes to outline what he described as a disturbing history of violence involving Abrego Garcia. That prisoners record is unbelievably bad, Trump said. They call him the Maryland man. Hes a Maryland father. No, this is a violent person They talk about this guy like hes an angel. Quoting court documents, Trump said two judges had affirmed Garcias gang affiliation and listed several incidents including: A 2019 arrest while wearing a sweatshirt displaying MS-13 symbolism A 2022 stop in Tennessee where he was transporting seven people without a license Multiple protective orders filed by Garcias wife alleging violent abuse Garcias wife also wrote in court I am afraid to be close to him I have multiple photos and videos of how violent he can be, Trump read aloud. Photos spark backlash The controversy ignited after El Salvador President Nayib Bukele shared images of Van Hollen meeting with Abrego Garcia, who is now being held at the countrys infamous megaprison. Bukele accused the senator of sipping margaritas with Garcia, as the deportation battle over the Salvadoran native intensifies. Van Hollen, for his part, confirmed the meeting, stating on X, Tonight I had that chance. I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return. Deportation error Garcia, who left El Salvador at age 16, was deported last month along with over 260 other alleged gang members. He had been living in Maryland with his wife and children under a protective order granted in 2019. He has not been convicted of any crime. In a major legal twist, the US Supreme Court recently ruled that the Trump administration must facilitate Garcias return, citing an administrative error in his deportation. Despite the ruling, Trump continued to rail against the case. This is the man that the Democrats are wanting us to fly back from El Salvador to be a happily ensconced member of the USA family. Isnt it a shame? he said. DOJ releases allegations of gang ties Further complicating the situation, US Attorney General Pam Bondi released documents Wednesday alleging that Garcia was identified as an active MS-13 member in 2019, though no formal charges were filed. The Trump administration on Friday (April 18) escalated its crackdown on US universities by demanding a decades worth of records from Harvard University, focusing on foreign donations and affiliations. In a letter sent to Harvard President Alan Garber, the US Department of Education alleged that the university had made "incomplete and inaccurate" disclosures between 2014 and 2019. "Todays records request is the Trump administrations first step to ensure Harvard is not being manipulated by, or doing the bidding of, foreign entities," Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement. However, the letter offered no direct evidence of foreign influence or wrongdoing. Harvard responds to accusations Harvard rejected the implication of wrongdoing and defended its compliance record. Harvard has filed such reports for decades as part of its ongoing compliance with the law, the university said in a statement. This includes contracts to provide executive education, other training, and academic publications. The Education Departments request also asked for data on expelled foreign students over the past 10 years, their research work, and lists of visiting scholars and faculty with foreign government affiliations. Crackdown on campus protests The move is part of a broader Trump-led campaign against US colleges, particularly those facing pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Trump has accused universities of allowing antisemitism and radical foreign influence to fester on campuses. In recent weeks, Trump has ordered reviews of up to $9 billion in federal contracts and grants to Harvard, threatened to strip the universitys tax-exempt status, and proposed bans on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and face masks on campus. Funding freeze after Harvards defiance After Harvard refused to comply with a range of administration demands, the White House announced it was freezing $2.3 billion in federal funding. The university had earlier dismissed several government requests as unconstitutional overreach. Also Read | Harvard University to not enroll foreign students anymore? US threatens ban The Donald Trump administration on Friday released approximately 10,000 pages of records related to the 1968 assassination of former Senator Robert Francis Kennedy. The release continues the disclosure of national secrets ordered by the President. The US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said that the RFK files' release will shine a long-overdue light on the truth, an AP report said. Nearly 60 years after the tragic assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, the American people will, for the first time, have the opportunity to review the federal governments investigation thanks to the leadership of President Trump, Gabbard was quoted as saying in the report. The US National Archives and Records Administration posted roughly 229 files containing the pages on its website. In an interview with FoxNews, Gabbard said, What we have just released here today is 10,000 pages that have been sitting in boxes within the National Archives. This came about because President Trump promised the American people that his administration would be one of maximum transparency, she added. Many files related to the senators assassination had been previously released, but others had not been digitised and sat for decades in storage facilities maintained by the federal government. Kennedy was fatally shot on June 5, 1968, at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles moments after giving his victory speech for winning Californias Democratic presidential primary. His assassin, Sirhan Sirhan, was convicted of first-degree murder and is serving life in prison. What the RFK files reveal The files on Kensalt, a codename given to the assassination investigation, revealed Sirhan's full name, his address at the time, along with complete details of his family, inlcuding his siblings. Sirhan Bishara Sirhan, AKA, Shiran Bishara Shiran, former exercise boy Santa Anita Race Track, California, identified as Senator Kennedy's assailant, the records said. With Sirhan's date of birth retracted, Sirhan has been described as white, make, five feet two inches tall, one one five pounds, black hair, brown eyes. The family entered the US from Jordan in 1957, the document reveals. The document also says that Sirhan may have used the alias Ghattas. Another individual by the name of Frank Guthrie has been mentioned in the files, who was overheard saying they should have got Ted Kennedy also". According to one of the person interviewed to attain more information on Sirhan, he was an introvert, a loner, and never exhibited tendencies towards violence, the files reveal. The person also said that Sirhan expressed dissatisfaction with administration and newspapers because he believed they sided with Israel. A girl, identified only with her first name as Sonja, has been mentioned in the files. A pretty girl was member of same foreign type club (name unknown) as Sirhan. Described girl as 19, five feet four inches, 115 lbs, black hair, dark complexion, possibly Arab, the files read. Trump's promise to release RFK, JFK files US President Donald Trump had signed an executive order to declassify these records, as well as the records regarding the assassination of former president John F Kennedy, and the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Jr, on January 24. "The Executive Order establishes the policy that, more than 50 years after these assassinations, the victims' families and the American people deserve the truth," a White House statement said. The order directed the Director of National Intelligence and other appropriate officials to present a plan within 15 days for the full and complete release of all John F Kennedy assassination records and immediately review the records relating to the Robert F Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr assassinations and present a plan for their full and complete release within 45 days. More than 1,000 international students across the US have had their visas or legal status revoked in recent weeks, sparking legal battles and raising fears of mass deportations. According to an Associated Press review of court records and university statements, at least 1,024 students from 160 colleges and universities have been affected since late March. Students have filed lawsuits against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), alleging they were denied due process and had their permission to remain in the US abruptly revoked. Institutions affected include elite private universities like Harvard and Stanford, large public schools such as the University of Maryland and Ohio State University, and smaller liberal arts colleges. Reasons for visa terminations unclear While student visas can be cancelled for various reasons, colleges say the recent terminations appear arbitrary. In some cases, minor infractions like old traffic violations triggered the cancellations. Some students say they were never informed of the specific reason they were targeted. The timing and uniformity of these terminations leave little question that DHS has adopted a nationwide policy, whether written or not, of mass termination of student (legal) status, said ACLU of Michigan attorneys representing students at Wayne State University and the University of Michigan. Challenges across states In a high-profile case, Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil was detained amid accusations of involvement in pro-Palestinian activism. However, most colleges assert that students impacted by the recent wave of visa terminations have no links to political protests. Greater scrutiny on all immigrants Experts say the move is part of a broader trend under the Trump administration to increase pressure on all immigrant categories. What you're seeing happening with international students is really a piece of the much greater scrutiny that the Trump administration is bringing to bear on immigrants of all different categories, said Michelle Mittelstadt, director of public affairs at the Migration Policy Institute. How the student visa system works International students typically enter the US on an F-1 visa after securing admission and undergoing interviews at a US consulate or embassy. They must prove they can financially support their education and maintain good academic standing. While the State Department issues entry visas, once students are in the US, their legal status is managed by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) under DHS. Recently, college officials say they have discovered terminations only after checking Homeland Securitys online database, rather than through standard notification channels. From classrooms to deportation threats Previously, losing an entry visa didnt impact a students legal residency in the USthey simply couldnt leave and re-enter. Now, however, termination of legal status means students face the risk of arrest by immigration authorities. Some have already fled the country to avoid potential detention. The very public actions that are being taken by ICE and the Department of Homeland Security around some of these students, where they are removing these students from their homes or from their streets, that's not usually done unless there is a security issue when a student visa is revoked, said Sarah Spreitzer, vice president of government relations at the American Council on Education. The threat of this very quick removal is something that's new. Also Read | Powell versus Trump: Why Fed independence matters in times of turmoil Colleges push back, try to calm fears College administrators are demanding clarity and offering support to affected students. They are urging students to carry their documents and avoid international travel. These are unprecedented times, and our normal guiding principles for living in a democratic society are being challenged, wrote University of Massachusetts Boston Chancellor Marcelo Suarez-Orozco in a campus-wide message. He said the legal status of two students and five others in training programmes had been cancelled. Universities across the country are echoing his concernuncertain about federal enforcement patterns, yet trying to reassure anxious students. US President Donald Trump met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Thursday to discuss the chances of cutting a tariff deal for the European Union. During a press conference at the Oval Office in Washington, Georgia Meloni said, "The goal for me is to Make the West Great Again. I think we can do it together." Trump tariffs US President Donald Trump paused the imposition of reciprocal tariffs on more 75 countries, including the EU and India, claiming those countries have agreed to engage in trade discussions with the US. In response, the EU also put the retaliatory tariffs on hold for 90 days to give time for negotiations with Washington. Also Read | Donald Trump holds talk with Italy's PM Giorgia Meloni at White House Here's all that happened during Trump, Meloni meeting 1. Trump expressed confidence in reaching a trade deal with the European Union (EU) before the 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs ends. At a bilateral lunch with Meloni, Trump told reporters, There'll be a trade deal. 100 per cent. Why you think there won't be? Of course, there'll be a trade deal. "They want to make one very, very much. We're gonna make a trade deal. I fully expect it, but it will be a fair deal," he added. 2. Alongside visiting Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, Trump said, "I don't hold Zelensky responsible but I'm not exactly thrilled with the fact that that war started." He added, I'm not blaming him, but what I am saying is that I wouldn't say he's done the greatest job, OK? I am not a big fan. 3. Trump said further that a deal with Ukraine on extracting the war-wracked country's strategic minerals could be reached next week. "We have a minerals deal which I guess is going to be signed on Thursday... next Thursday. Soon. And I assume they're going to live up to the deal. So we'll see. But we have a deal on that," Trump said. 4. Trump made a comment on Meloni, saying, I do like her very much. She's a great Prime Minister. I think she's doing a fantastic job in Italy. We're very proud of her. I knew her as a very early Prime Minister, and I knew she had great talent. She's one of the real leaders of the world. 5. Italian PM Meloni said Thursday at the White House that she aimed to invite President Trump to make an official visit to Italy and organise a meeting with EU officials to discuss trade. Meloni also confirmed that Trump has accepted an official invitation to visit Rome in the "near future." Meloni said, "The goal for me is to make the West great again, and I think we can do it together. 6. Trump also talked about reaching a "very good" trade deal with China, even as the US imposed steep tariffs of up to 245 per cent on Chinese imports in response to Beijing's retaliatory actions. "We're going to make a deal. I think we're going to make a very good deal with China," Trump said, as reported by The Hill. He also told reporters he thought the US would have very little problem making a deal with Europe or anybody else. Also Read | What is an AI supercomputer and why is Trump talking about it? 7. Commenting on broader trade negotiations, Trump said that, "everybody wants to make a deal, and if they don't want to make a deal, we'll make the deal for them." 8. Trump also responded to a reporter who claimed the US President called European nations "parasites". The President said, "I haven't said it. I don't even know what you're talking about." (Bloomberg) -- The US attacked a key Yemen oil port controlled by the Houthis overnight and killed dozens of people, according to the Iran-backed militants, raising the specter of a widening conflict in the Middle East. The assault on the Ras Issa fuel-import terminal appeared to be one of the biggest and deadliest since US President Donald Trump ordered an aerial campaign against the Houthis in mid-March. The strikes have so far failed to stop Houthi maritime assaults in the Red Sea and missile attacks on Israel, causing the American military to consider supporting a ground offensive on the group by Yemeni factions. Ras Issa, located about 60 kilometers (37 miles) north of the Red Sea city of Hodeida, was hit more than a dozen times by US fighter jets. At least 74 people, most of them port workers, were killed and 171 were injured, according to Houthi-controlled health authorities in the area. Ras Issa, the main gateway for fuel coming into Houthi-held territory, suffered huge damage, the group said. US Central Command, which oversees the American military in the Middle East, said in a statement on X that the objective was to degrade the economic source of power of the Houthis. CENTCOM didnt comment on casualties and didnt immediately respond to a Bloomberg request for comment. This strike was not intended to harm the people of Yemen, who rightly want to throw off the yoke of Houthi subjugation and live peacefully, CENTCOM said on X. The Houthis use fuel to sustain their military operations, as a weapon of control, and to benefit economically from embezzling the profits from the import. Until the latest incident, the Houthi health authorities said around 120 people had been killed since the first strikes on March 15. The Houthis have acknowledged that at least 40 of their fighters have been killed, including some with the rank of colonel. Their leader, Abdul Malik Al-Houthi, is still at large. In a speech on Thursday, Al-Houthi vowed to continue waging jihad against American and Israeli tyranny. Shortly after the attack on Ras Issa, sirens sounded across Israel because of what the countrys military described as a missile launch from Yemen. The projectile was shot down, the Israeli military said, with no reports of casualties. Irans foreign ministry said the strikes on Ras Issa were barbaric and that the US was an accomplice and partner in Israels crimes. The latest escalation in US operations comes amid discussions between Washington and anti-Houthi forces in Yemen, as well as Gulf Arab states, over the possibility of mounting a Yemeni-led land offensive. The intention would be to oust the Houthis from Hodeida and possibly the capital, Sanaa, Bloomberg reported this week. Shortly after returning to power in January, Trump designated the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization. The start of the air strikes two months later was meant to end Houthi attacks on warships and commercial vessels which have pushed up global freight rates as well as missile strikes on Israel. The Houthis have held Sanaa, Hodeida and other areas since ousting Yemens government around a decade ago. They say they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians and will continue until the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza ends. The Houthis have received significant military and technical support from Tehran in recent years, but tend to act more independently than Irans other proxies such as Hezbollah in Lebanon. Though the US says the strikes are also meant to put pressure on Iran, it is continuing diplomatic talks with the Islamic Republic. Those began last weekend in Oman and a second round in Rome is scheduled for Saturday. Trump has threatened military action against Iran unless it agrees to a deal that would curb its nuclear activities. --With assistance from Dan Williams. (Updates with Houthi comments on destruction at port.) More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com Global Capability Centres (GCCs) are vital to multinational firms, with India hosting over 1,950 centres, set to exceed 2,500 soon. As India cements its status as a global GCC hub, the question isnt where the next centre will openits where it should. For years, financial services GCCs have concentrated in tier-1 cities like Bangalore, Hyderabad and Pune. But with rising real estate costs, intense talent competition and urban fatigue setting in, firms are eyeing a new frontier: tier-2 and tier-3 cities. Also Read: Tech Mahindra banks on growth from new consulting and GCC units The recently announced National Framework for GCCs in the Union Budget 202526 is a timely nudge in this direction, offering 16 measures aimed at infrastructure, talent, and regulatory reform. While these incentives can support growth, a city must have a strong supporting ecosystem to truly be GCC-ready. If India wants to turn its emerging cities into magnets for global financial services players, we must move beyond policy and build cities that people and businesses actually want to move to. Talent may come, but will it stay? The first myth to debunk is that a steady supply of fresh graduates is enough. It isnt. The real value for Financial Services GCCs lies in mid- and senior-level talentseasoned professionals who can lead transformation agendas, drive innovation and mentor growing teams. To achieve this, tier-2 cities need a thriving third-party ITeS ecosystem that can serve as a natural hiring ground for financial firms. In addition, universities must collaborate with industries to design courses aligned with the needs of modern financial services and technology-driven roles. Cities that fail to create a strong local talent pipeline will struggle to scale their GCCs beyond initial setups. Senior professionals, particularly those in the 3540+ age group, will not relocate to a city without the essential infrastructure to support their families. A high standard of living, good schools, top-tier healthcare, safe housing and cultural life are non-negotiables. If a city cant support the life that talent aspires to, it wont attractor retainthe people who power GCCs. This holds true not just for tier-2 cities like Jaipur and Coimbatore, but even more so for tier-3 cities like Bhubaneswar, Indore or Vishakhapattanam, where civic infrastructure and lifestyle amenities need accelerated development to compete. Cities dont scale in isolation Talent also needs access. Without strong transport linksdomestic and internationalno city can hope to be a serious contender. Daily commutes within cities should be painless. Flying to Mumbai or Singapore for a board meeting shouldnt feel like a cross-country expedition. And yet, the focus often stops at airport expansion. Connectivity is also about digital infrastructure, integrated public transport and regulatory ease. Public transport systems such as metro transit systems and efficient road networks can significantly enhance daily commute experiences, making the city more appealing to professionals and businesses alike. These arent nice-to-haves. Theyre the table stakes. Its time to ditch the cost-first mindset Lets face it: cost arbitrage isnt a sustainable strategy. The GCCs of today arent back offices. They are innovation engines driving automation, risk transformation and digital product development. For tier-2 and tier-3 cities to become serious hubs, they must stop being seen as cheaper replicas of tier-1 citiesand start being built as complementary extensions. Financial firms will bet on a city based on more than whats just affordable. What they want is an ecosystem that fuels innovationthrough research institutions, fintech hubs, startup communities and deep-tech collaborations. Bangalore and Hyderabad didnt become technology powerhouses by relying on cost advantages alone. They invested in education, deep-tech and fintech ecosystems that allowed them to evolve beyond IT services into high-value innovation hubs. Even tier-3 cities, once overlooked, are beginning to show promise as specialized hubsparticularly for digital operations, automation support and regional service centres. But for that to work, these cities must evolve from service centres to strategic ecosystemswith academia, startups and government working in lockstep. Innovation is the new benchmark Cities that house premier universities and research centres naturally develop tech and fintech talent. Without this intellectual infrastructure, cities risk being seen as outsourcing hubs rather than centres of innovation. The maturity of the local startup ecosystem also plays a pivotal role as technological advancement can make cities more attractive to high-calibre professionals and global businesses alike. A smart model? Use tier-1 cities for high-value innovation and transformation work. Once a process matures and becomes repeatable, move it to a tier-2 or tier-3 city like Jaipur, or GIFT citythat combines cost-efficiency with growing talent depth. This hybrid setup can reduce costs by up to 25%, while tapping relatively stable talent pools suited for standardized functions with low rates of attrition. Call to action The National Framework marks a promising beginningand nows the time to build on that momentum. With the right partnerships, local governments can turn policy into progress. Financial firms have an opportunity to co-invest not just in office parks, but in the broader community infrastructure that attracts and retains talent. And for industry leaders, this is a moment to reframe the narrative. Tier-2 and tier-3 cities arent secondary optionstheyre the next wave of strategic growth. Manoj Marwah is financial services GCC consulting services leader, and Sumit Singh is partner, business consulting, EY India. Almost 46 years after former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher privatized British Petroleum and embarked on a spate of privatizations, including British Airways, British Telecom and British Steel, during the 1980s and 1990s, the UK Parliament set the clock back. In an emergency session late last week, it passed a law allowing the government to take control of British Steels plant in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire. In a scene unimaginable in 1980s Britain, when privatizing state-run enterprises was seen as a push for market-driven efficiency, lawmakers were called back from their Easter break to enable a state takeover of the once Tata-owned and now Chinese-owned factory. This was a last-ditch effort to save local steel-making and jobs. In the words of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, it was done in the national interest." Just as privatization once was. Rewind to the 1980s. Writing on Thatchers privatization legacy in the Cato Journal in 2017, Chris Edwards of the Cato Institute was emphatic. Privatization had a huge effect on the global economy," he observed. It spurred economic growth and improved living standards as privatized businesses cut costs, increased service quality, and innovated." After the Soviet model of statism collapsed in 1991, countries around the world started turning public sector enterprises private. India, too, of course. Generally, a difference in incentives between public and private enterprises does show up in customer satisfaction and performance levels. In strategic industries, though, state presence is a given; arms manufacturing and nuclear energy, for example, entail lethal risks that need tight control. Rare earths qualify as strategic too. In a few other markets, especially those with high barriers to entry and very few players, a state player is often desirable if it helps keep private cartels and prices in check. But by and large, businesses should be privately owned. Private management is not infallible, however, as the UKs latest bailout using taxpayer money shows. British Steel is its sole maker of virgin steel (as opposed to recycled). Its current avatar dates back to 2016, when Tata Steel sold its loss-making long products division in Scunthorpe to Greybull Capital for a token 1. In 2020, the plant, renamed British Steel, was acquired by Jingye. However, various factorsincluding Chinese oversupplycombined to create a global steel glut, even as costs rose and the covid outbreak led to a demand slump, leaving Jingyes unit unable to compete. By March 2025, the plant was reportedly losing about 700,000 a day, forcing its owner to contemplate closure. Whether steel-making remains viable in the West has been a question mark. In September 2024, Tata Steel turned off its blast furnaces at Port Talbot in Wales, once the UKs largest producer of virgin steel, saying it was losing 1.7 million a day. The company plans to install electric-arc furnaces instead. The Starmer government has been quick to say British Steel has not been nationalized, though it could be, if required. For now, Jingye still owns it, but control rests wholly with the state. A case of back-door nationalization, perhaps. Also read: Tata Steel investors may remain jittery amid delayed revival in European operations The law was passed unanimously, though, which is a telling commentary on how attitudes have transformed. When it comes to political economy issues, there are no universal truths that hold good forever. Decisions are made on merits and context. And democracy doesnt always favour market orientation. Data for 2024-25 released this week shows a notable shift in Indias trade trends with its big partners. With the US, Indias merchandise exports jumped 11.6% to $86.5 billion last fiscal year, while imports rose 7.4% to $45.3 billion. As a result, our bilateral trade surplus widened to $41.2 billion. In contrast, our exports to China fell 14.5% to $14.3 billion, even as imports shot up 11.5% to $113.5 billion, widening our trade deficit to $99.2 billion. Maybe US President Donald Trump could say he told us so. India is outdoing the US on two-way flows and China is outselling almost every country. Yet, its odd to suggest that these gaps in themselves are unfair. It is myopic to look at bilateral balances in isolation. The world is too complex for that. Indias surplus with the US is more than offset by our deficit with China. Plus, there are services. On the whole, India runs a current account deficit. Since this also means capital inflows are tilted our way, no injustice is done. While its tempting to go the us-versus-them way, the whole world benefits if everyone makes what each is best at and then trades it. Its another matter that we need to gain and sharpen an export edge in an effort to out-ship rivals. Dilip Ghosh, former chief of the BJP in West Bengal, is set to tie the knot with party colleague, Rinku Majumdar on Friday evening. The wedding is reportedly going to be quite simple, with a vedic ceremony along with a registration. Dilip Ghosh, 60, has known Rinku Majumdar since 2021. His marriage, set to be done in an intimate ceremony at his New Town residence in Kolkata, has become the talk of the town since it came into limelight. Ghosh, who was unmarried till now, and had no children, has been a member of the RSS since his youth. Known for his quirky comments, he has served it in various roles across the country before getting active in the BJP in 2015. As the state president, he is credited with establishing the BJP as the main opposition party in West Bengal, replacing the CPI(M). But now the party leader is finally ready to settle down. According to a report by News18, Dilip Ghosh never initiated the marriage talk with Rinku Majumdar and in fact took some time when she proposed to him. How did Rinku Majumdar meet Dilip Ghosh? Rinku Majumdar revealed that she never talked to Dilip Ghosh when he was an MP-MLA despite being associated with the BJP Mahila Morcha since 2013. We first spoke just before the 2021 elections at Eco Parkvery casually. During this Lok Sabha election, we spoke a bit more. Very ordinary interactions, nothing beyond that, she said, as per a report by News18. Rinku Majumdar proposed to eligible bachelor Dilip Ghosh Rinku Majumder revealed that she was thinking about her future around September last year, and settling with the right kind of person after fulfilling her duties and responsibilities. She wanted to think about herself and have a suitable person. Around mid-September, when I was thinking about settling down, I proposed to him, News18 quoted her as saying. Dilip Ghosh matched with all the requirements she had, Rinku Majumder said reportedly. My conditions were: it has to be someone within New Town, and he must accept my political career. While thinking through all this, he came to mind, she said. Calling Ghosh the most eligible bachelor, Majumdar said she liked the qualities he has. He is the most eligible bachelor in my constituency. Hes not like the usual political figures. Hes a very good personvery honest, strong. I really liked these qualities and thought, why not propose to him, she was quoted as saying. When I started matching my standards, I saw that hes also in politics like me, a bachelor, a resident of New Town, and he would have to let me continue in politics, she added. It was during an IPL match earlier this month, which Dilip Ghosh and his would-be wife attended, that they decided to get married, a BJP leader close to them said. Took three months to say yes Rinku Majumder revealed that Dilip Ghosh did not agree to her proposal right away. No no no. He took some time. I had asked him. Initially, he didnt show interest. Then he took three months, spoke to his mother. After that, he informed me, she was quoted as saying by News18. Majumder further shared that Dilip Ghosh prepared himself mentally during their courtship. In our conversations, he tried to understand and know me better. Then he felt that I was suitable for him. After that, he made his own decision and discussed it with his mother before letting me know, the BJP Mahila Morcha member said. Fulfilling mother's wish Talking to a news channel, Dilip Ghosh said he was fulfilling his mother's wish. My mother wanted me to get married, so to honour her wish, I am tying the knot. I will continue to be in active politics as I was before. My personal life will have no impact on my political work, he said. The Trump administration is preparing to deport potentially hundreds of alleged Venezuelan gang members without giving them the chance for judicial review required by the Supreme Court, lawyers representing detainees said in a court filing Friday. Authorities were loading alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang onto buses in Texas and may send them as soon as Friday to a notorious prison in El Salvador, according to the filing. The detainees would be sent under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a wartime law that President Donald Trump invoked last month to deport gang members without due process, the filing said. The allegations raise fresh questions about the administrations compliance with an April 7 Supreme Court ruling that said accused Tren de Aragua gang members must get a reasonable time to challenge their deportation in federal court. In an emergency motion filed with US District James Boasberg in Washington, the lawyers said the detainees had been given an English-only notice that didnt explain how they could contest their deportation or how much time they had to do so. Beyond filing with Boasberg, lawyers from the American Civil Liberties Union also asked a judge in Abilene, Texas, to intervene. A spokesperson for the Justice Department didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Asked about whether he had authorized the operation, President Trump on Friday said I dont know about the group youre talking about, but if theyre bad people, I would certainly authorize it, yeah. With assistance from Hadriana Lowenkron. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Michelangelos Pieta: A Masterpiece of Grief, Faith, and Symbolism By Shayne Heffernan Michelangelo Buonarrotis Pieta, sculpted between 1498 and 1499, stands as one of the most profound works of Renaissance art, housed in St. Peters Basilica in Vatican City. This marble masterpiece captures the Virgin Mary cradling the lifeless body of Jesus Christ after His crucifixion, a moment of raw sorrow that resonates with viewers across centuries. In this work, Mary is depicted as a steadfast mountain, unyielding yet burdened, while Jesus is the river, flowing from her, spent and serene in death. The desperate and powerful emotion of this scene, combined with Michelangelos fervent Catholic beliefs, elevates the Pieta to a timeless testament of human loss and divine redemption. Mary as the Mountain, Jesus as the River In the Pieta, Michelangelo presents Mary as a monumental, almost geological presencea mountain of maternal strength and sorrow. Her broad, flowing robes cascade like rocky slopes, enveloping Jesus and anchoring the composition. Her figure is disproportionately large compared to Christs, a deliberate choice that emphasizes her role as the unshakable foundation of faith, bearing the weight of her sons sacrifice. Her face, serene yet etched with quiet grief, conveys a stoic endurance, like a mountain enduring the storms of time. She is the immovable rock of the Church, as described in Matthew 16:18, yet her slightly bowed head reveals the crushing burden of loss. Jesus, by contrast, is the riverhis limp, emaciated body flowing downward from Marys lap, as if his life has poured out to nourish the world. Michelangelos rendering of Christs form is both delicate and harrowing, with sinews and veins visible beneath his marble skin, suggesting a life spent in service and suffering. The river imagery evokes John 7:38, where Jesus speaks of rivers of living water flowing from those who believea symbol of His redemptive sacrifice. In death, Christs body rests gently, almost weightlessly, in Marys arms, his mission complete, yet his presence still vital, like a river that continues to shape the landscape long after it has run its course. The Desperate and Powerful Emotion of the Moment The Pieta captures a moment of desperate, heart-wrenching emotionthe instant when a mother holds her dead son, knowing his death was both inevitable and salvific. Michelangelo infuses the scene with a tension between despair and acceptance. Marys left hand is open, almost questioning, as if pleading for an answer to the incomprehensible loss, while her right arm cradles Jesus with tender resolve, accepting Gods will. Her youthful faceunrealistically young for the mother of a 33-year-old manreflects the purity of her soul and the eternal nature of her sorrow, a choice Michelangelo defended by citing Marys perpetual virginity and divine grace. Jesus lifeless form amplifies the emotional weight. His head tilts back, eyes closed, mouth slightly open, embodying the finality of death. Yet, Michelangelo avoids grotesque realism; Christs wounds are minimal, and his body retains a serene beauty, suggesting the promise of resurrection. The interplay of Marys stoic grief and Jesus peaceful surrender creates a powerful emotional crescendoa moment where human anguish meets divine purpose. Viewers are drawn into this silent dialogue, feeling both the crushing despair of loss and the faint hope of salvation, as described in John 16:20: Your grief will turn to joy. Michelangelos Strong Catholic Beliefs Michelangelos deep Catholic faith profoundly shaped the Pieta. As a devout Catholic in Renaissance Florence and Rome, he saw art as a means to glorify God and express spiritual truths. His letters and poems reveal a man grappling with sin, mortality, and redemption, themes central to the Pieta. He believed in the Virgin Marys unique role as the Mater Dolorosa (Sorrowful Mother) and the Theotokos (God-bearer), concepts rooted in Catholic doctrine and celebrated in the Stabat Mater hymn, which describes Marys suffering at the cross. The Pieta reflects Michelangelos commitment to the Catholic belief in Christs redemptive sacrifice. By sculpting Jesus body with such care, he emphasized the Incarnationthe divine becoming human to suffer and die for humanitys sins, as articulated in the Nicene Creed. The works placement in St. Peters Basilica, commissioned by Cardinal Jean de Bilheres for his funeral monument, underscores its role in Catholic worship, inviting the faithful to meditate on the Passion and Marys intercessory power. Michelangelos signature on Marys sashthe only work he ever signedbetrays his pride in this offering to God, a rare act for an artist known for his humility before divine inspiration. The sculpture also embodies the Catholic tension between earthly sorrow and heavenly hope. Marys calm demeanor, despite her grief, mirrors the Churchs teaching on patient suffering, as seen in Romans 8:18: The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed. Michelangelos faith drove him to transcend mere representation, creating a work that invites viewers to contemplate the mystery of salvation. A Timeless Expression of Faith and Sorrow Michelangelos Pieta is more than a sculptureit is a profound meditation on love, loss, and redemption. Mary, the unyielding mountain, holds Jesus, the life-giving river, in a moment of desperate sorrow that speaks to the human condition. The powerful emotion of this scene, rendered with unparalleled skill, draws viewers into the heart of Christs sacrifice and Marys enduring faith. Michelangelos strong Catholic beliefs infuse the work with spiritual depth, making it a cornerstone of Christian art. As I reflect on this masterpiece, Im reminded of its ability to bridge the earthly and divine, inviting us to find hope amid griefa testament to the enduring power of faith. Shayne Heffernan is a writer and financial analyst who has covered markets and culture for over two decades. He is the founder of Knightsbridge, a global investment firm. Sources: Michelangelos writings, Catholic Catechism, New Testament (Matthew, John, Romans), historical studies on Renaissance art, Vatican archives on St. Peters Basilica. All fifty members of the class will graduate, despite earlier concern of students not being able to accrue credits from unlicensed teachers. UPDATE: The Hamilton County School Board voted to oppose a bill that would allow public schools in Tennessee to base enrollment of a student's immigration status. During its monthly meeting on Thursday night, the 11-member school board voted 8-0 in favor of a resolution that opposes HB0793/SB0836 by State Senator Bo Watson. Board members Jodi Schaffer, Felice Hadden, and Steve Slater abstained from voting. If passed, Watson's bill would allow public schools in Tennessee to use a student's immigration status to deny enrollment or charge tuition. The bill was passed by the state senate on April 10. According to the Tennessee General Assembly's website, the bill is in the state house and has been placed behind approval of the state budget Stay with Local 3 News for updates to this developing story. PREVIOUS STORY: The Hamilton County School Board is expected to hear from more than 30 concerned community members on Thursday night about planned budget cuts for the next school year. One of the ways school officials are looking to save money is by eliminating transportation to magnet schools. Many of the families at CSAS say eliminating it would be devastating. School board member Ben Connor says he's gotten hundreds of concerns, complaints, and questions from residents including students. I have gotten letters from children themselves, from students in school with heartfelt pleas, saying I can't go to this amazing school if I can't ride the bus, Connor said. "I don't know how anyone in their soul looks at a child and says, 'eh, it's okay, I'm going to cut that." Another potential part of the budget being cut includes exceptional education programs. Teaching positions would be eliminated and students would be moved to other schools. The school board is also expected to vote on a resolution in opposition to Tennessee State Senator Bo Watson's bill that would allow public schools to deny enrollment or charge students to attend based on their immigration status. We have a crew at the meeting to bring you the latest. Stay with Local 3 News for updates to this developing story. PREVIOUS STORY: Families might have to find different ways for their children to get to school after the Hamilton County School Board is having to make budget cuts, which includes a proposal to take away transportation funding for magnet schools. The proposal has caused quite the uproar among families in Hamilton County who rely on these services. They met on Wednesday, April 16 to express their concerns over what they say is essential to their childrens education and what this could mean for the future. "It's plain and simple: It's abhorrent for us to even talk about cutting transportation to schoolsThis is a right these children have, and we should not even be considering taking away this amazing opportunity for children to access education, Ben Connor, Hamilton County School Board member representing district 6 says. "These parents have decided they want their child to go to a school. They've worked really hard to get them into it, and, now, we're choosing to throw a roadblock in their way?" Magnet school transportation funding among proposed budget cuts for Hamilton Co. Schools The transportation, that students and parents at 10 Hamilton County magnet schools depend on, is in jeopardy. Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences is one of ten magnet schools in the county in jeopardy of losing transportation. The proposal is one of the major budget cuts Hamilton County schools are making. Many of the families there say eliminating it would be devastating, and parents are fighting back. Hamilton Co. Commission chair scolds school officials over use of pandemic funding The school system is looking to reduce its budget by proposing cuts in areas like transportation to magnet schools and special education. Matthew Adams is the parent of two children who attend CSAS. He says taking away transportation is burdensome for parents who have to go out of their way to bring their kids to school. For Adams, the drive to take his kids to school and get to work could take an hour. Its nor practical for parents to have to drive from the north part of the county to get their kids hereto drop them off and pick them up all within the work day. I mean, its not fair for parents who work a second or third shift to try to coordinate getting their kids here and getting them back home, Adams says. Its already enough to go through a week of school, keeping everybody healthy and getting everybody on task to then have to add in another parental task of getting the kids to school, he says. It cant happen. Connor also has children who attend a magnet school and knows the risks. He says his eldest attends Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts, where 75% of the student population utilizes the schools transportation systems. He says hes received over 1,000 emails within a week from distressed and concerned parents and has even heard from students. "I have gotten letters from children themselvesfrom students in school with heartfelt pleas saying, I cant go to this amazing school if I cant ride the bus,'" he says. "I dont know how anyone in their soul looks at a child and says, Eh, its okay. Im going to cut that.' Hamilton County School Board members will meet on Thursday, April 17th to address the proposal and hear from parents. Canada's party leaders debate U.S. tariffs, annexation threat before elections Xinhua) 16:56, April 18, 2025 OTTAWA, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of four major Canadian parties debated countermeasures against the U.S. tariffs and annexation threat on Thursday, one day before advance voting for the federal election scheduled for April 28. Canada's Prime Minister and Liberal leader Mark Carney, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet and New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh took part in the debate in English on TV. The debate focused on five main themes, including U.S. tariffs and threats to Canada, affordability and the cost of living, energy and climate, and public safety and security. Like the debate in the French language on Wednesday, there were no knockout punches, nor any major gaffes by any leaders. All parties agreed that Canada needs to keep up its counter-tariffs and continue to show strength in the face of the U.S. annexation and economic threats. Currently, the ruling Liberals hold a marginal advantage over the Conservatives, according to the latest polls. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) In an 8-0 vote, the 11-member Hamilton County School Board voted to oppose a bill put forward by state Senator Bo Watson. If signed into law, it would allow school districts to require proof of U.S. citizenship to attend school. The districts would also be allowed to charge tuition fees to those undocumented. Three school board members, Felice Hadden, Jodi Schaffer, and Steve Slater abstained, meaning they chose to neither support or oppose the resolution. UPDATE: Bill to deny education to undocumented students advances in TN General Assembly The bill was scheduled for action before the House Finance Ways and Means Committee on Monday morning. Parents, students, and community leaders have been fighting the measure for months, and tonight's decision was an emotional one for some who showed up. Hamilton Co. principals oppose bill requiring student citizenship verification in public schools The association is asking the Hamilton County School Board to pass a resolution promising to allow school access to all children who reside in Hamilton County. There are no words to describe how I'm feeling, says Natalie Sedenom, a Hamilton County resident. Im going to start crying again, because this was a big resolution for us. Sedenom was one of many who had been advocating for this since the bill was proposed, even attending rallies across the state, and one of hundreds who showed up to fight for her beliefs. All children deserve free education, no matter what, in America, because education is a right for everyone, says Briseyda Pelcasdre, a sophomore at Hixson High School. They teach us that in school, and now theyre trying to take that away from us. Former Hamilton County students took to the podium to share what it meant to them. Our school board today has an opportunity to be champions for our community and really send a message not only to the other school boards throughout the state of Tennessee but throughout the country, says Mo, a former Hamilton County student. Mo says hes a 2016 graduate whos now using his voice to speak up for the same rights he was guaranteed as a student. "This would look like harming so many families and really stripping students of a right that the Supreme Court stated over 40 years ago that they're entitled to and that any student has a right to in the United States, Mo says. "Stop attacking my friends" chants Chattanooga 10-year-old in TN House Education hearing HB0793/SB836 proposes that local education agencies and public charter schools have the authorization to allow or deny students education based on whether or not they have the correct US citizenship documentation. Ten-year-old Emmie Wilkins, a Chattanooga student of district five, was another who faced the board. She's been a cheerleader for her fellow classmates and friends, even confronting state lawmakers in Nashville. "I want people to know that it's okay to stand up for others even if it might not affect you specifically, because just because they're different doesn't mean they don't deserve to go to school and have friends, Wilkins says. The bill will continue to move through the Tennessee legislature, but it solidifies the district's decision to do everything in their power to provide education for all children, regardless of immigration status. UPDATE: The family of Christopher Wright released a statement after a jury reached two guilty verdicts for Darryl Roberts, the man charged with killing Wright on Market St. in 2023. "We are deeply grateful to the Hamilton County District Attorneys Office for their unwavering dedication to justice. We especially want to thank Coty Wamp, Paul Moyle, Andrew Coyle, and their entire team for the outstanding work they did in prosecuting his murderer. Throughout this difficult journey, they showed us great compassion and ensured we were informed and supported at every stage of the process. Christopher was a kind, humble, and loving soul who lit up every room he entered. He never met a stranger. He was full of life, joy, and generosityalways ready to welcome someone new, lift others up, or share a solid handshake, winning smile, and a huge hug. He was a devoted husband, a proud and playful father of three young children, and a cherished son, brother, and friend. His absence leaves a profound void in our lives, and he is missed every single day by all who knew and loved him. While no verdict can bring Christopher back, we find some comfort in knowing that justice has been served. We will honor his memory by continuing to live with the same kindness and warmth he shared with the world." Roberts was found guilty of second degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Sentencing for Roberts will be held in July of 2025. PREVIOUS STORY: The jury has reached two guilty verdicts in the trials of Darryl Roberts, convicting him of the death of 38-year-old Christopher Wright on Tuesday. A jury found Roberts guilty of second degree murder in the death of the Baylor School alum on September 28, 2023. Roberts shot Wright on Market Street near Patten Towers. Roberts was originally charged with first-degree murder. The jury chose to convict him on a lesser charge. Roberts still faced a second verdict for the charge of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon over the shooting of Wright. Roberts' felony conviction was in 2009 for aggravated assault and he was given a suspended sentence of 11 months and 29 days. Roberts waived his right to testify in a second trial for the firearm charge before the first verdict was read. Following brief arguments from the prosecution and defense, Judge Boyd Patterson read instructions to the jury, which took only a few minutes to deliberate before finding Roberts guilty of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. During closing arguments, the state spent time trying to convince the jury that the death of Chris Wright was premeditated. For his actions to be intentional, he had to act with a desire to end Chris Wrights Life. Look at the video. Look at the intentional act of standing up, pulling his gun and raising it to someones forehead. That is proof of his desire, the state argued. The state went on to say there is nothing else that could have happened from Roberts pointing his gun at Wrights forehead besides killing him. Examples were presented to the jury of legally amounts to premeditation. If you remember we talked about this with the yellow light and running threw a yellow light. You know you need to get through it, or you know you need to stop at it and then you act to press the gas down or the brake. You can reflect what happens if you press the gas down you go through the yellow light, the state argued. The defense spent time trying to convince the jury that Roberts was on auto pilot. You got to experience a fight or flight, something we dont do all the time. I remember going to a Halloween haunted house and somebody jumped out and thats why you go, and I punched him right in the face. I didnt think about punching him in the face, the defense argued. The defense also argued that the worse Roberts should be charged with is voluntary manslaughter. All voluntary manslaughter has to do is provoke a reasonable person to act in an irrational manner. It doesnt have to cause a reasonable person to kill someone. It doesnt have to be that level of complication. It just has to be the provocation that takes this case out of the cool, calm collected, coldblooded planning, the defense argued said. Stay with Local 3 News for updates to this developing story. PREVIOUS STORY: Jury deliberations continue on Tuesday in the trial of Darryl Roberts, the man charged in the death of 38-year-old Christopher Wright. Roberts is accused of shooting and killing Wright on Market Street near Patten Towers on September 28, 2023. The prosecution rested its case during the third day of the trial. The defense began calling witnesses to the stand on the fourth day, including Roberts who admitted to shooting Wright during his testimony. Closing arguments were given on Monday, after Judge Boyd Patterson read instructions to the jury. We have a crew at the courthouse waiting for the jury to come back with its decision. Stay with Local 3 News for continuing coverage of this story. PREVIOUS STORY: The fate of Darryl Roberts, the man who is charged with murder in the death of a Baylor School graduate, is now in the hands of a jury on Monday. Roberts is charged in the death of 38-year-old Christopher Wright on September 28, 2023. Monday is the fifth day of the trial. The state rested its case on day three and the defense began its case on Thursday with Roberts taking the stand in his own trial. During Roberts' testimony, he admitted to shooting Wright after sharing his account of what led to the incident that night. Roberts said he became angry with himself after realizing what he'd done. The defense rested its case on Monday morning and now the fate of Roberts will be in the hands of the jury. Judge Boyd Patterson read instructions for the jurors before closing arguments from the prosecution and defense. Roberts is charged with first-degree murder. We have a crew in the courtroom to bring you the latest. Stay with Local 3 News for continuing coverage of this story. PREVIOUS STORY: The man accused of shooting and killing a Baylor School alum on Market Street in 2023, gave his account of what happened when he took the stand during the fourth day of his own trial on Thursday. Roberts is accused of killing Christopher Wright on September 28, 2023 near Patten Towers in downtown Chattanooga. The trial began on Monday, April 14 after a second jury was chosen. On Wednesday, the state rested its case and the defense presented its case, calling witnesses to the stand, including the suspect at the center of the trial. The first witness for the defense was James King, a homicide detective with the Chattanooga Police Department who led the investigation of the case. The defense asked Detective King if the District Attorney's Office either told or asked if there was video with audio of Wright's murder and King responded that he hadnt heard about it. After talking to Britton Hall-Brantley, Wright's best friend, King began searching for more cameras in the area to track the victim's activity and find video with audio. He was unable to find any video with sound that was close enough to crime scene. During the investigation, King spoke with the manager at Jack Browns about the incident to learn about the victim's behavior prior to the shooting. King also gathered video to see which bartender was working and if anyone else was with Wright that night. At one point during court, members of the jury were asked to leave before Detective King was shown a picture of himself along with other officials and Governor Bill Lee that was taken after Tennessee lawmakers passed the Chris Wright Crime Bill Act. King was asked if the power of the governor could make him alter his investigation and he said no. Also on day four, Roberts himself took the stand to testify in his own trial. At one point, Roberts admitted to shooting Wright. Roberts said Wright walked up and called him and another man a racial slur. Roberts said he repeatedly told Wright to keep walking but said Wright wouldn't leave. He claimed Wright said how much he didn't like Roberts and that he was a piece of crap. Roberts attorney asked, "What caused you to stand up? Because I told him again 'man get up the street' and I was like 'get yourself up the street' and then he turned around and said come say it to his face, boy, Roberts replied on the stand. "He said 'come say it to my face, boy. I bet you won't say it to my face, boy." Roberts said he then walked up and shot Wright once in the head. After shooting Wright, Roberts said he remembered thinking, I did not just do that. He said he thought it was a dream and was angry with himself. Stay with Local 3 News for continuing coverage of this story. PREVIOUS STORY: Day three of the murder trial for the man accused of killing a Baylor School alum on Market St. in 2023 ended after less than an hour. The state's final witness took the stand Wednesday morning. The state then rested. Day four of the trial will continue on Thursday and witnesses from the defense side will take the stand. Witness 10, Dylan Padgett of Ooltewah, was the final witness before the state rested. Padgett was with Julia Friedman at Pickle Barrel, which is across the street from Patten Towers the night of the murder. Friedman was the first witness that the state brought to the stand for this trial. The first thing I noticed was a couple sitting near us, the gentlemen with his back towards the street immediately got up and got the woman he was with and started making their way to the door, Padgett said. Padgett then looked around and down to the street and that when he saw Darryl Roberts standing over Chris Wright. I recall in the seconds I looked around that he had glanced up to where we were sitting, Padgett said. That is when Padgett headed for safety. By the time attention back to my family, everyone was up and moving and Julia was saying that we needed to get inside. And we went to the second floor and sat under the table and chairs with the rest of the guest, Padgett said. Medical Examiner Dr. Steven Cogswell, who testified on Tuesday, took the stand again. When he was asked if Wright had a chance to survive the shooting, Cogswell's answer was simply, no. Darryl Roberts is charged in the fatal shooting of Christopher Wright near Patten Towers in downtown Chattanooga on September 28, 2023. Witnesses for the defense will take the stand on Thursday. Stay with Local 3 News for updates to this developing story. PREVIOUS STORY: The trial for the man accused of killing a Baylor School graduate in September of 2023 entered its second day on Tuesday. Darryl Roberts is charged in the fatal shooting of Christopher Wright near Patten Towers in downtown Chattanooga on September 28, 2023. Surveillance video shows Wright talking with Roberts outside Patten Towers on the night of the incident. Wright can be seen walking away but appeared to still be talking to Roberts. Police say that's when Roberts walked up and shot Wright at point blank range. Roberts' trial was originally supposed to begin on April 1; however, after a jury was selected the morning of April 2, they were dismissed by Judge Boyd Patterson. Judge Patterson said the original jurors were dismissed because something was said in the courtroom that they were not supposed to hear. A second jury was chosen on Monday, April 14, with opening arguments running until the evening. Before breaking for lunch, a witness testified to hearing the gunshot the night of the incident. The witness was celebrating her father's birthday at Pickle Barrel when she said she heard a gunshot and then saw Roberts slowly walking away from the scene where another man was lying on the sidewalk. Neil Nappi, who works for Reliance Security, the company that maintains surveillance at Patten Towers, was the second witness to take the stand. Nappi testifies as video of the incident is shown in court. In the video, you can see Roberts getting on an elevator in Patten Towers to go outside, where he sat down and interacted with a few who were around him. The video then shows Wright walk by Roberts before back tracks and starts talking to Roberts. The two have a brief conversation and then the shooting happens. Roberts goes back inside Patten Towers, gets on the elevator, and punches the wall as he circles appearing frustrated. Later, the video shows a woman leaving Patten Towers with a yellow bag and what appears to be Roberts' clothing, but it is hard to make out. Roberts then comes back out of the apartment wearing different clothes and appeared to have the gun in his shorts. Chattanooga Police Department Detective Alvin Abbett is the third witness to take the stand after court resumes from a lunch break at around 1:15pm. Detective Abbett responded to scene shortly after midnight, where he recalled seeing the victim with a bullet wound to the forehead. Abbett said he was given a picture of Roberts to use for a description of the suspect who had the nickname Too Tall. The detective said when he went to Roberts apartment, no one was home at the time. Detective Abbett said two women were later seen leaving the apartment by police. He said one of the women was the one seen in the surveillance video with the yellow bag that appeared to have Roberts' clothes in it. The video shows the woman with the bag while taking the elevator from the sixth floor, where Roberts apartment is located, to the third floor. That same woman was later seen getting back on the elevator from the third floor without the bag. Detective Abbett said the womans apartment was never checked, because there was no reason to at the time since no one knew about the bag. Detective Abbett said the clothes Roberts was wearing at the time of the incident and the gun were not found when the suspects apartment was searched. Abbett was asked if any racial slurs were used that night in relation to the motive for the shooting. He replied that he was never made aware of any being used. We have a crew in the courtroom to bring you the latest. Stay with Local 3 News for updates to this developing story. PREVIOUS STORY: A new jury has been selected in the murder trial of Darryl Roberts on Monday, April 14. The new jury comes after the first jury was dismissed in early April for hearing information they were not supposed to hear. Chattanooga police say Roberts shot and killed Christopher Wright, a Baylor alum, husband, and father, on Sept. 28, 2023, near Patten Towers. This is a developing story. Stay with Local 3 News for the most reliable updates. Chattanooga attorney explains why a jury may be invalidated during a trial In the jury selection process for the Daryl Roberts murder trial, the jury was invalidated rather than a mistrial because they had not been sworn in. PREVIOUS STORY: The jury selected to serve on the murder trial of Darryl Roberts has been dismissed and a new jury will have to be reselected on April 14. A Local 3 News crew in the courtroom say the jury was dismissed after they heard a piece of information during the trial they were not supposed to hear. PREVIOUS STORY: The jury to serve on the murder trial of Darryl Roberts has been selected as of 11:00am on Wednesday, the second day of the trial. Roberts faces a first degree murder charge in connection to the fatal shooting of a Chattanooga man near Patten Towers in Sept. 2023. Court records show there will also be a motion hearing regarding the state's effort to exclude an expert testimony and report from Dr. Kimberly Brown. Chattanooga police say Roberts shot and killed Christopher Wright, a Baylor alum, husband, and father, on Sept. 28, 2023, near Patten Towers. PREVIOUS STORY: The murder trial for a Chattanooga man begins on Tuesday, April 1. Darryl Roberts is accused of fatally shooting Baylor School grad and father Christopher Wright near Patten Towers on September 28, 2023. The court will begin Tuesday with the selection of a jury. Court records show there will also be a motion hearing regarding the state's effort to exclude an expert testimony and report from Dr. Kimberly Brown. PREVIOUS STORY: The man accused of shooting a Chattanooga businessman last fall appeared in court on Wednesday. Darryl Roberts is accused of shooting and killing Christopher Wright on Market Street in September 2023. A judge set his next court date for June 4. Roberts remains in the Hamilton County Jail and Detention Center on a $5 million bond. PREVIOUS STORY: A trail date has been set for the man who is accused of shooting and killing a Baylor School graduate on Market Street in September of 2023. According to the Hamilton County Criminal Court Clerk's Office, the trial for 57-year-old Darryl Roberts has been scheduled for March 28. Newly proposed bill cracking down on repeat criminal offenders Tennessee State Senator Bo Watson and Representative Patsy Hazlewood introduced the law to crack down on repeated criminal offenders, making sure they don't walk away with just a slap on the wrist. Roberts is charged with First Degree Murder and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Police say Roberts shot and killed Christopher Wright near Patten Towers on September 28. Roberts is being held at the Hamilton County Jail and Detention Center on a $5-million bond. PREVIOUS STORY: The man accused of shooting and killing another man on Market Street in September has been indicted by the Hamilton County grand jury. Daryl Roberts is charged with First Degree Murder and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Police say Roberts shot and killed Christopher Wright near Patten Towers on September 28. His arraignment hearing will be on January 5. PREVIOUS STORY: The case against the man charged in a deadly shooting on Market Street last month has been sent to a grand jury on Monday. According to the Hamilton County General Sessions Court Clerk, the case against 57-year-old Darryl Roberts was bound over to a grand jury during a court appearance on Monday morning. Roberts is accused of shooting and killing 38-year-old Chris Wright on Market Street on September 28. Roberts was arrested on September 29 and charged with first degree murder. He is being held at the Hamilton County Jail and Detention Center on a $5-million bond. Stay with the Local 3 News app for updates to this developing story. PREVIOUS STORY: The man accused of a murder on Market Street last week appeared in court on Monday morning. Police say 57-year-old Darryl Roberts is accused of shooting and killing 38-year-old Chris Wright on Thursday night during an argument. Roberts was arrested on Friday and charged with first degree murder. During Mondays court appearance, Roberts was given a $5-million bond and was ordered to appear in court on October 16. A GoFundMe has been started to support the family of Chris Wright, who was a Baylor alum. The donations will support Wright's three children. Wright's family says they will welcome all to celebrate and remember Chris's life during a visitation on Tuesday from 4:30pm to 6:30pm at the Baylor School. Funeral services for Wright will also be held at the Baylor Chapel on Wednesday at 11:00am. Stay with the Local 3 News app for updates to this developing story. PREVIOUS STORY: Chattanooga police have arrested 57-year-old Darryl Roberts for the homicide of Christopher Wright. Chattanooga Police Department's Fugitive Unit, along with federal partners from the United States Marshals Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ("ATF") observed Roberts in a vehicle in the Brainerd area. They followed him until marked police vehicles were able to assist with a traffic stop. CPD's Neighborhood Policing officers assisted with initiating a traffic stop in the 500 block of Tunnel Boulevard. Roberts was arrested for outstanding warrants related to the homicide. Roberts is in custody at the Hamilton County Jail and Detention Center. He is charged with first degree murder. Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly released the following statement regarding Thursday nights Market St. shooting and the subsequent arrest of the suspect: Three bears were "lethally removed" after wildlife resource officers say a woman was bitten and dragged from her porch by a black bear in Sevier County on Thursday, April 17. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) told NBC affiliate WBIR that they received the call around 7:40pm on Thursday. When they got there, police say they found a yearling bear inside a trap that had been set after a previous incident where a bear broke into a car to steal groceries. The car was totaled. TN Wildlife Resource Agency to euthanize 13 Black Bear cubs ABR says that the decision was made by TWRA to euthanize five of the cubs in Enclosure 4 after it became clear that they posed a risk to the wild bear population in East Tennessee and surrounding areas. Officers say they also found an adult female bear and another yearling. The TWRA said that due to the bears' behavior and their "level of habituation and food condition", both were lethally removed as they posed a risk to public safety. The TWRA says the bear in the trap was also humanely killed. Emergency medical services evaluated the woman who was dragged from the home and determined that she did not have any injuries or bite marks. "However, the level of risk posed by these bears was significant," the TWRA said in a release. "These animals had become food-conditioned and habituated to human presence, resulting in repeated property damage and increasingly bold behavior, including entering vehicles and, ultimately, this human encounter." WBIR says according to the agency's Human-Bear Conflict Matrix protocol, bears that display these kinds of behaviors are considered a public safety concern. They say that when bears behave in this way, the agency is unable to relocate them, especially in cases involving food conditions and car break-ins. TWRA evaluates potential wildlife impacts after TVA announces changes to Cherokee Dam "These upgrades designed to improve water quality downstream, may have unintended consequences for aquatic wildlife in Cherokee Reservoir--particularly Striped Bass," says the TWRA. "These decisions are never made lightly, and we understand the publics concern. Our priority is always to ensure the safety of both people and wildlife, and we remain committed to proactive measures to reduce bear conflicts in our communities," the TWRA said. The TWRA also encourages anyone living in areas known for having bear populations to follow the "At Home Checklist" from the BearWise website. Steps include: A mother of three who shouted abuse at another person outside a national school while children were on their way to class was fined 350 at Longford District Court. Zeta Keenan (31) of 37 Palace Crescent, Ardnacassa, Longford entered a plea of guilty to engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour at Dublin Road, Longford. Sergeant Enda Daly told Judge Bernadette Owens that at 9:30am on October 9, 2024 officers were on traffic duty to address congestion difficulties outside a National School on the Dublin Road in Longford town. Also Read: Difference maker: Longford student recognised for his passion for promoting financial literacy The officers saw Ms Keenan exited her vehicle and went toward another vehicle where she proceeded to shout obscenities in an aggressive manner at another person. Ms Keenan was arrested. Sgt Daly said there were a large number of people in the area at the time, many of whom were young children on their way to school. The court was told the defendant has four previous convictions, three for road traffic and one for theft. Solicitor Brid Mimnagh told the court her client's behaviour was in reaction to the actions of another woman. Ms Mimnagh alleged the other party started shouting at Ms Keenan and had pepper sprayed her. Also Read: Queen of the Meadows coming to Longford this week The solicitor said the defendant was disorientated. Ms Mimnagh told the court the other person had no child in the school and had been there to provoke Ms Keenan. She accepts she did behave in the way described by the prosecution, but the other person started it, Ms Mimnagh said. Also Read: Popular air fryers sold in Dealz and other Irish stores recalled over fire fears The judge was told that a fixed charge penalty notice was issued to Ms Keenan as a result of the incident, but it was not paid. Noting the facts and the defendant's guilty plea Judge Owens imposed a fine of 350, giving Ms Keenan five month to pay. A driver convicted of driving under the influence of cannabis was banned from the road for four years at Longford District Court. Oliver Lennon (50) of Tullyhogan, The Pigeons, Athlone Westmeath was before the court arising from an incident on November 5. The defendant pleaded guilty to drug driving, and driving without a licence or insurance. The matter came to Garda attention when officers in a patrol car observed a vehicle crossing over a continuous white line. The vehicle overtook a line of three vehicles and Gardai estimated the defendant was travelling at 100kph in a 50kph zone. Also read: County Longford Easter Commemoration ceremony on Sunday in Killoe The officers stopped the vehicle and spoke to the driver, Mr Lennon. The Gardai believed the driver had taken an intoxicant. An oral fluid swab tested positive for cannabis. A subsequent blood test at the Garda station indicated Mr Lennon exceeded the legal limit for cannabis in his system to drive. The defendant also failed to produce his driving documentation. Mr Lennon had nine previous convictions, including a disqualification for dangerous driving. At a previous sitting Judge Bernadette Owens directed the preparation of a probation report, with a recommendation of 240 hours of community service in lieu of six months in prison. Also read: RIP: Close knit Leitrim community in shock after tragic death of Dessie O'Kelly in tractor crash Sergeant Enda Daly pointed out to the judge that as part of the probation assessment process Mr Lennon was to have participated in a prosocial driving course. Solicitor John Quinn said the report indicated his client was a willing candidate for community service. Mr Quinn explained the defendant had started the process of undertaking the pro-social driving course, but has not completed it. Also read: Longford allocated 128,905 to protect two significant archaeological monuments Judge Owens registered a conviction for the no insurance charge with a fine of 250 and a four year disqualification, the judge handed down 240 hours of community service in lieu of a six month custodial sentence for the drug driving. Part of that sentence includes that Mr Lennon completed the pro social driving course. Local News By Chris Boyle Published: April 18 2025 Sheriff Toulon presented the award to John and Mark Cronin during a special visit to their newly opened storefront in Farmingdale. On Thursday, April 17, Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. honored John Cronin, founder of Johns Crazy Socks, with the Community Leadership Award in recognition of his hard work and dedication to entrepreneurship and advocacy for individuals with disabilities and neurodiversity. Sheriff Toulon presented the award to John and Mark Cronin during a special visit to their newly opened storefront in Farmingdale, celebrating both Johns business success and his commitment to making a difference. Each month, Sheriff Toulon presents the Community Leadership Award to Suffolk County residents who go above and beyond to support their communities and make a meaningful impact on the lives of others. To nominate someone for the Sheriff Toulon Community Leadership Award, please email: Suffolk_Sheriff@SuffolkCountyny.gov. Ahmad al Sharaa during his imprisonment in Iraq. The banner has the name Amjad Muzzafar Hussein Ali. (@mashanaljabouri on X) On April 16, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al Sudani invited Syrian interim President Ahmad al Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammad al Jolani, to attend the Arab League summit scheduled for May 17 in Baghdad. The invitation followed months of internal deliberations and public opposition from Iranian-backed Iraqi politicians, who insisted Sharaa should not be invited to the summit or even allowed into Iraqi territory. These objections coincided with reports that Iran and its proxy networks were plotting an assassination attempt against Sharaa. Tensions between Baghdad and the new Syrian government have been building over the past four months following the fall of Syrian dictator Bashar al Assad. The strain reached a point where, during a meeting with Iraqi intelligence chief Hameed al Shatri to discuss the security situation in the region in December 2024, Sharaa carried a firearm for self-protection. Perhaps the most revealing development came in the wake of the invitation. Sabereen Newsa media outlet affiliated with Iran-backed militias in Iraqreleased an expose on Sharaa. Known for promoting militia propaganda, the channel has been fiercely critical of Syrias interim president since his rise to power, labeling him as a terrorist and branding the new Syrian government as a terrorist regime. Sharaa is listed by the US and the United Nations as a global terrorist for his ties to Al Qaeda, and his group that led the formation of the new Syrian government, Hayat Tahrir al Sham, is listed as a terrorist organization. The first document released by Sabereen outlines the arrest and detention of Sharaa during the Second Gulf War. He was apprehended by US forces on May 14, 2005, in the Nabi Yunis suburb of Mosul while using the alias Amjad Muzzafar Hussein Ali al Naimi. The document also notes another alias, Osama al Absi al Wahedi, and identifies his mother as Fatima Ali. The document states that at the time of his arrest, Sharaa held Iraqi nationality, had a high school education, and was born on January 4, 1980, in Mosul. Following his arrest, he was transferred to the US-run Bucca Prison, where he remained until April 6, 2010, when he was handed over to Iraqi authorities. Sharaa was ultimately released on March 13, 2011just two days before the outbreak of anti-Assad protests in Syriadue to a lack of evidence. Sabereen also released a second document, this time from Syrian intelligence, offering a different identity and historical details for Sharaa. Although undated, the document identifies him as Ahmad Sharaa, the son of Hussein and Widad, and states that he was born in Saudi Arabia on July 29, 1982. It lists his place of residence as Quneitra, near the Golan Heights, where his family had lived prior to the 1967 war with Israel. The document includes an internal intelligence assessment describing Sharaa as a conservative with good manners and a strong reputation. It notes that he traveled to Iraq during the US invasion to participate in jihad and returned to Syria after the fall of Baghdad in April 2003. The report concludes with a note that Syrias Branch 235, a prison run by Syrian intelligence, had requested his file due to suspected ties to an extremist religious organization. The release of these documents sparked widespread commentary. Some praised Sharaa for his intelligence and cunning in convincing both the Americans and Iraqis that he was an Iraqi named Amjad. Others claimed that because he was imprisoned as early as 2005, he never participated in Iraqs civil war or its sectarian violenceonly in the fight against US forces. Reporting on Sharaas (Jolanis) identity was often murky during the years it remained concealed. In 2013, The Times of Israel reported that Jolani was 39 years old, implying he was born in 1974a claim that contradicts both the Syrian and Iraqi documents released by Sabereen. The report also stated that Jolani had worked as an Arabic teacher before moving to Iraq, which is inaccurate; he was still a student at the time. It further claimed that following the death of Jordanian militant Abu Musab al Zarqawi in a 2006 US airstrike, Jolani fled Iraq for Lebanon. However, Jolani was in US custody during that period. The article also wrongly asserted that Jolani was released from prison in 2008, though Iraqi records confirm he was released in March 2011. Another report from 2013 claims that Jolani was arrested by Syrian intelligence in 2008 and released in June 2011 under a presidential pardon. This sequence also conflicts with Iraqi documentation, which states he was released from an Iraqi prison in March 2011. A separate report from 2014 identified Jolani as Osama Hadawi, claiming he was from Deir Ezzour and 30 years old at the timesuggesting a birth year of 1984. This information also contradicts the Iraqi and Syrian intelligence records. The conflicting information about Sharaas identity, including records detailing his incarceration in US and Iraqi custody and his history of jihad within Iraq, should spur additional debate and controversy regarding Iraqi leaders decisions about engaging with the new Syrian regime. Ahmad Sharawi is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies focused on Iranian intervention in Arab affairs and the levant. The USS Harry S Truman conducting ongoing operations targeting the Houthis. (CENTCOM) Anti-Houthi Yemeni militias are planning a ground offensive against the Houthis, according to Yemeni and US officials cited by the Wall Street Journal. The plans follow over a month of US airstrikes that have weakened the Iran-backed terror group ruling northern Yemen. US Central Command (CENTCOM) launched a large-scale operation against the Houthis on March 15 after the group targeted international shipping and US Navy vessels in the Red Sea for over 15 months in solidarity with Hamass war against Israel. Anti-Houthi military factions in Yemen are eyeing the coast along the Red Sea, a Houthi economic lifeline and center of the groups aggression against maritime activity, according to the WSJ report. US officials said the Emiratis raised the plan, but UAE officials have since denied involvement in discussions over a ground offensive. American officials said the United States is open to supporting a ground operation by local forces but a decision on whether to back the effort hasnt been made yet. Another proposal would entail a multi-front attack that includes Yemens west coast and efforts to retake the Houthi-controlled capital of Sanaa, according to Bloomberg. Separately, the Emirati state-owned newspaper The National reported that 80,000 soldiers are being mobilized to retake key areas on the west coast. However, Yemen experts report that frontline evidence does not indicate a mobilization has begun. Proposed offensive plans differ in many details, but all place the western coast at the center of any action. Yemens west coast The Yemeni western coastal area comprises the Hodeida, Taiz, and Lahij Governorates from north to south, with Houthi control ending in Hodeida close to the border with Taiz. Hodeida Governorate is crucial for the Houthis economically, as it is home to the Ports of Hodeida and Salif, the Ras Issa fuel terminal, and key military infrastructure that enables Houthi terrorism in the Red Sea. The ports receive up to 80 percent of Yemens imports, providing crucial economic resources to the terrorist regime. Ras Issa terminal was destroyed by US forces on April 17. A CENTCOM post on X noted, The Iran-backed Houthis use fuel to sustain their military operations, as a weapon of control, and to benefit economically from embezzling the profits from the import, which has continued to flow into Ras Issa despite US sanctions on the terrorist group. The US has also hit targets across Hodeida, including strikes on April 15 and 16 against Houthi frontlines in the western governorate. Yemeni forces in the west coast Anti-Houthi armed factions in southern Yemen are highly fractured. The Yemeni Armed Forces and the Internationally Recognized Government (IRG), which control much of southern Yemen, have been supported by Saudi Arabia. In contrast, the United Arab Emirates has backed the secessionist Southern Transitional Council (STC) based in Aden, as well as forces on the west coast commanded by Brigadier General Tariq Saleh, who is also vice president of the IRGs Presidential Leadership Council. Saleh leads the National Resistance Force, or Guards of the Republic, one of the west coasts armed factions. However, he is also believed to be the decisionmaker for the Joint Forces on the West Coast, which includes his militia, the Southern Giants Brigade, and the Tihama Resistance. Saleh commands over 50,000 fighters based in Taiz governorate, according to Bloomberg. The Joint Forces on the West Coast previously attempted to retake Hodeida with UAE support, ultimately leading to a siege of the city in June 2018. These efforts were ended in late 2018 by the UN-brokered Stockholm Agreement, which was reached in part due to international pressure over the mounting death toll and humanitarian catastrophe. The CIA estimates that the Yemeni governments military, paramilitary, militia, and other security forces may reach as many as 300,000 personnel, also noting 150,000200,000 militia fighters backed by the UAE and Saudi Arabia. However, these factions are not unified. As of 2022, the CIA estimated that the Houthis had 200,000 members. However, experts place the current strength of their forces at around 350,000, partly due to a large recruitment push since the group began its terrorist activities in the Red Sea in 2023. These forces are dispersed across frontlines along the west and central parts of the groups control, as well as the northern border with Saudi Arabia. Bridget Toomey is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies focusing on Iranian proxies, specifically Iraqi militias and the Houthis. El Barco, a popular Mexican Restaurant on Marthas Vineyard, will host a pop-up at Summer Shack in Boston this spring. Courtesy of El Barco You will find taco shells instead of oyster shells on the menu of a renowned seafood restaurant in Boston for a limited time this spring. Summer Shack in Back Bay is transforming into a Mexican food pop-up by hosting El Barco starting April 18. El Barco is a popular Mexican Restaurant on Marthas Vineyard that opened last season in Vineyard Haven. The restaurant serves an array of authentic Mexican cuisine, including flautas, tacos, burritos and churros. Guests order food at a stand and are alerted by a buzzer when their order is ready. El Barco has a salsa bar where diners can load up on sauces before bringing their trays to their tables. Drink options include regular and frozen margaritas and authentic Mexican beer, tequila/mezcal and non-alcoholic beverages. El Barco will occupy Summer Shacks space indefinitely. The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to at least midnight daily and is located at 50 Dalton St. in Boston. It looks like Cate Blanchett is ready to roll the credits on her acting career. After 35 years of appearing on stages and screens, the Australian actress recently told Radio Times Magazine that shes serious about giving up acting and that there are a lot of things I want to do with my life. My family roll their eyes every time I say it, but I mean it, Blanchett elaborated. Her remarks may comes as a surprise, seeing that Blanchett just performed as a leading actress in a London production of the Anton Chekhov play The Seagull. Her first major radio drama,The Fever, also arrives later this month. But Blanchett, now 55, has never been limited to any one art form. Her resume includes work in over 70 films and 20 theater productions, as well as two Academy Awards, four Golden Globes, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and four BAFTAs, among additional honors. (She also has been nominated for two Emmy Awards and a Tony Award.) Some of her most notable films include the blockbuster series The Lord of the Rings, as well as the two movies that made her an Academy Award-winning actress: The Aviator and Blue Jasmine. In her interview with Radio Times Magazine, Blanchett didnt share any specific post-acting plans, although she did comment on the circumstances of her vast career. Like a lot of people, I like being alive, she said. I throw myself into life, often in unwanted places. Maybe thats why my career, if you call it a career, has been so strangely eclectic. Until she reveals more, fans can see Blanchett in the forthcoming film Father, Mother, Sister, Brother, which also features Adam Driver and Mayim Bialik. A federal judge has ordered that Rumeysa Ozturk a Tufts University doctoral student who was arrested by immigration officers in Somerville last month be returned to Vermont to have her claim that she has been unlawfully detained decided. Ozturk, a 30-year-old Turkish national, has been in federal custody since March 25, when plain-clothed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested her on the street and whisked her away to New Hampshire, then Vermont, and finally Louisiana. She has yet to be charged with a crime. The Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health is facing a significant budget crisis resulting in layoffs and the non-renewal of two building leases, according to the institution. The budget crisis is due to federal funding freezes, terminations of research grants and threats to international student enrollment, according to spokesperson Stephanie Simon. The #StopTheShock Coalition protested outside the Judge Rotenberg Center Wednesday. The group also continues fighting through legislature. Heather Morrison In hopes of getting the help she needed, a Massachusetts woman was sent to the Judge Rotenberg Center known for using electric shock devices to finish high school. Instead, Krista Cormier left traumatized and still unable to handle her emotions. Huey Lewis from Berkshire Humane is available to adopt fee-free during the adopt-a-thon. Berkshire Humane Society If youve been considering adopting a dog, now is a good time to take home a new furry friend. Next week, 10 shelters across Massachusetts will be waiving their adoption fees for all dogs over a year old, the MSPCA announced Friday. The adopt-a-thon will begin Monday, April 21 and last through Sunday, April 27. Carmen is a sassy and sweet 2-year-old girl available to adopt at Boston Animal Control's shelter. Boston Animal Control All four MSPCA-Angell Adoption Centers in Boston, Methuen, Salem and on Cape Cod will be participating in the event, the MSPCA said. Additionally, Lowell Humane Society, Berkshire Humane Society in Pittsfield, Worcester Animal Rescue League, Boston Animal Control and the Thomas J. OConnor Adoption Center in Springfield will be waiving adoption fees for the adopt-a-thon. Dakin Humane Society will also participate in the event on April 25 and 26 only. Ace is among the dogs available at the Thomas J. O'Connor Adoption Center in Springfield during the adopt-a-thon. Thomas J. O'Connor Adoption Center Weve been saying for a long time that adoptions of larger dogs have slowed down over the past couple of years, and its causing a capacity problem for us and many other shelters, MSPCA-Angell Project Manager Jamie Garabedian said in a press release. Massachusetts shelters are now also taking in more local surrendered, stray and seized dogs, the MSPCA said. Local dog intake at the MSPCA has increased 11% in the first few months of 2025 compared to the beginning of 2024. Ember is a two-year-old pup available for adoption at Worcester Animal Rescue League. Worcester Animal Rescue League Collectively, the 10 shelters are aiming to find homes for 100 dogs during the adopt-a-thon. We want to continue to be there for all the animals who need to come into our care for various reasons, but if we arent able to free up space, that might not be possible, Garabedian said. Tayrona National Park, on the Caribbean coast, is one of the most visited national parks in Colombia. Courtesy Laura Watilo Blake Americans thinking of visiting Colombia should reconsider their travel plans, the U.S. Department of State advised on Thursday. The risk of encountering crime, terrorism, civil unrest and kidnapping is high in many parts of the country. The state department updated its travel advisory guide to advise American not to travel to the Colombia-Venezuela border region for any reason. This region has been the site of violent conflict between rival revolutionary guerrilla fighters in recent months. The risk of becoming a victim of crime, kidnapping, armed conflict or detention while there is high, according to the state department. Due to these risks, the U.S. governments ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens visiting the region is limited. The state department also advises Americans not to travel to the Arauca, Cauca (excluding Popayan) and Norte de Santander departments for any reason due to the high risk of encountering crime and terrorism there. Violent crime, like murder, assault, and robbery, is common in many areas in Colombia. In some places, organized crime is rampant. This includes extortion, robbery, and kidnapping, the advisory reads. Terrorists and criminal organizations in Colombia may attack with little or no warning, according to the state department. They often target U.S. or local government facilities, tourist areas and attractions, transportation centers, shopping malls, markets, military and police facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants and airports, the state department said. Additionally, political demonstrations are common throughout Colombia, according to the state department. They can shut down roadways without notice, limit access to public transportation, interrupt travel within and between cities and become violent enough to cause injury and death, according to the state department. If you decide to travel to Colombia: Five days after a judge overturned his wrongful murder conviction, Edward Wright remains locked up at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution in Norfolk just as he has been for the last 40 years. Despite evidence that was hidden by prosecutors for decades and new DNA tests that point to Wrights innocence, the 63-year-old man is not yet free, and the Hampden County District Attorneys Office is still fighting to keep him behind bars. Hes just the most incredible human being, Wrights wife of 15 years, Mimi Olivier, said outside the John J. Moakley Courthouse in Boston on Thursday. Im anxious and scared, but I have a lot of faith in the Innocence Project and in Eddie, Olivier said. The first thing her husband wants to do when hes released is go fishing and the second is eat a big, juicy hamburger. Olivier, 59, stood in the spring morning air next to members of the New England Innocence Project, Wrights legal team and some inmates exonerated with the help of the Innocence Project as they discussed the next steps in Wrights case. Mimi Olivier, 59, the wife of Edward Wright, 63, outside the John J. Moakley courthouse in Boston on April 17. (Irene Rotondo) A blown-up picture of Wright was in Oliviers hands. Words at the top read, The fight continues. Wright was convicted at the age of 22 on April 11, 1985 for the stabbing death of his friend Penny Anderson in her Springfield apartment the year before. Until Hampden Superior Court Judge Jeremy Bucci finally overturned Wrights conviction on April 11, district and federal courts had denied all five of his previous motions filed between 1986 and 2012 that showed evidence of his innocence. That included a 2008 ruling where a Boston federal judge found Wright to have actual innocence after hearing testimony that Allen Smalls, the victims former boyfriend who died in 2021, had confessed to her killing twice. Nigel Tamton, a member of Wrights legal team, told reporters on Thursday the denials were because a key piece of evidence about the case was hidden from Wright and his legal team for nearly four decades: a Springfield Police Department report. Men whose cases were exonerated with help from the New England Innocence Project at a press conference for Edward Wright in Boston on April 17. (Irene Rotondo) Before all the evidence was collected from the crime scene and while Mr. Wright was in police custody, somebody broke in to Miss Andersons apartment, Tamton said. The police wrote a report about the break-in and put that report in the police file connected with the murder investigation. But then, they stopped, he said. They never investigated the break-in further, and even though this break-in contaminated the crime scene, the prosecution did not give the report that proved the break-in happened to Mr. Wright until 2021 36 years later, even though he was entitled to it, asked for it decades earlier, before his trial," Tamton. Wrights legal team contended the perpetrator of the break-in was Smalls, whom they also said threatened Anderson the night she was murdered and sold a knife the day after her death. They also pointed out all three Black men in the jury pool were excluded, leaving only one Black woman on the otherwise all-white jury. Executive Director of the New England Innocence Project Radha Natarajan at a press conference for Edward Wright on April 17. (Irene Rotondo) Although the judge overturned his murder conviction on Friday, Wright is not yet exonerated. Instead, his court case is essentially reset, and he still faces his original charges, with more legal proceedings to come. Hampden County District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni issued a statement pushing back against the ruling. We strongly disagree with this decision and we have filed a notice of appeal and intend to argue this matter, once again, to defend the integrity of the conviction, Gulluni said. He called the killing of Anderson a senseless and tragic act of violence, and said Wright had received a fair trial. We stand by the integrity of the original prosecution and the many judicial reviews that this case has already received over the past four decades, Gulluni said. Wrights legal team has requested a hearing to seek Wrights release from prison, but did not have a date scheduled as of Thursday morning, said Radha Natarajan, executive director of the New England Innocence Project. The team will also monitor the district attorneys appeal, Natarajan said. If the courts agree to hear the appeal, it could take up to another two years for litigation to finish but if not, it would be the prosecutions decision whether it would retry the case against Wright. In a recent hearing, the prosecutor said that Mr. Wrights case is not re-triable. We agree that it is not re-triable, but more importantly, we believe it should not be retried, because Mr. Wright is innocent, Natarajan said. Enough is enough, and it is time to end this injustice, Natarajan said. Several of the exonerated men who stood with the New England Innocence Project members on Thursday knew Wright in prison including Jabir Pope, a 72-year-old man exonerated in 2021. At the end of the conference, Pope posed for pictures with his fellow former inmates and asked Olivier to send them to him. He still communicates often with Wright through Olivier, he said, though he hasnt seen Wright since his own release. Pope and Wright would often have conversations about fighting their wrongful convictions, Pope said. During his time in prison, Wright has helped many other inmates in their legal proceedings as he dealt with his own. It was a way for them to cope and lean on one another, Pope said, as the lifetimes of their families and loved ones passed both men by. We would have those kind of conversations, because the only alternative were to lay out and die, Pope said. Its one of the things that kept us alive. President Donald Trump speaks as he signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House, Thursday, April 17, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) AP A Democratic U.S. senator has revealed the legal jeopardy the Trump administration could be in for wrongfully deporting a Maryland resident to El Salvador, where he is now in prison. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., suggested the Maryland man sent by the Trump Administration to an El Salvador prison could be awarded compensatory damages as much as $1 million per day if he is not brought back to the United States. The Maryland man in question is Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was sent to the prison as an administrative error, despite his protected legal status, the government admitted in a court filing. Despite admitting this was an error, Trump administration officials continually refused to retrieve Abrego Garcia. In response, U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis issued an order to begin contempt of court testimony, saying that the administration defied a clear Supreme Court order to bring Garcia home. On Thursday, an appeals court rejected the Trump administrations attempt to stop Xinis contempt hearings. During an appearance on MSNBC, Whitehouse a former U.S. attorney for District of Rhode Island before becoming senator suggested that Xinis or another judge could hold members of the administration in civil contempt and fine the administration a million dollars a day until Abrego Garcia is brought back. He also said a judge may consider awarding some of the money to the victim (Abrego Garcia). The judge says, this was outrageous. What you did violated an existing court order. You lied to me. You dissembled to the court. You violated your oaths as lawyers and you put this person in terribly grave peril, Whitehouse said to MSNBC host Jose Diaz Balart. So I am going to put the government under a cvil contempt sanction of a million dollars a day. Whitehouse, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, added that he wouldnt be surprised if that scenario plays out. Federal judges dont like being lied to by lawyers in their courtrooms, he said. Xinis is not the only judge who has brought up the matter of contempt. In a case involving the administration deporting more than 100 immigrants to a prison in El Salvador, U.S. District James Boasberg on Wednesday released an opinion reading that he had probable cause to hold members of the administration in criminal contempt. The opinion was in response to the White House disobeying Boasbergs March 15 order to stop flights taking immigrants to El Salvador. Trump and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele said this week that they have no basis to send Abrego Garcia back, even as the Trump administration has called his deportation a mistake and the U.S. Supreme Court has called on the administration to facilitate his return. Trump administration officials have said that Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran citizen who was living in Maryland, has ties to the MS-13 gang. According to his attorneys, Abrego Garcia denied the allegation and was never charged with a crime, the Associated Press reported. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., traveled to El Salvador this week to check on Abrego Garcia. Originally, the senator said he was denied entry into the El Salvador prison and that soldiers stopped his car at a checkpoint about 3 kilometers from the Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT. The stop happened even though they let other cars proceed, Van Hollen said at a news conference in San Salvador on Thursday They stopped us because they are under orders not to allow us to proceed, Van Hollen said. Later that day, Van Hollen posted photos of a meeting with Abrego Garcia and wrote: I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar. Tonight, I had that chance. I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return. A person walks over the international border into Canada in front of the Haskell Free Library and Opera House in Derby Line, Vermont on March 21, 2025. ((Christinne Muschi /The Canadian Press via AP) DEBRY LINE, VT If, by some chance, you find yourself in the Haskell Free Library and Opera House here, and youre looking for tales of heartbreak and disappointment, spare yourself the trip to the romance books. Theyre written all over Derby Line, Vermont, and Stanstead, Quebec, sister communities on either side of the U.S. and Canadian border, that have unwittingly and unwillingly found themselves thrust into the ongoing feud thats pushed relations between the two nations nearly to the breaking point. The century-plus-old library, which straddles both sides of the border, was built as a testament to the enduring friendship between the two nations, and a none-too-subtle thumbing of the nose at the artificialities of border lines. Black tape on the floor of the Haskell Free Library and Opera House shows the U.S. and Canadian borders. John L. Micek Thats all about to change in the most profound and visceral way possible. Last month, the Trump administration announced that the librarys Canadian patrons would no longer be allowed to use the main entrance on Caswell Street in Derby Line, where homes proudly fly the flags of both nations. Without providing evidence, federal officials said smugglers and drug traffickers were exploiting the library. They argued that the move would end such exploitation by criminals and [protect] Americans, The Guardian reported. New rules set to go into effect in October will require Canadians to go through an official border crossing before they can use the library, the newspaper reported. There are several of those official ports of entry across the community, staffed by heavily armed border personnel. Library officials are working on a more permanent solution to make it easier for Canadians to enter the library and stay on the right side of immigration. The library boards president, Sylvie Boudreau, shook her head sadly as she recounted the story in a reading room that can only be reached by crossing to the Canadian side of the building. Sylvie Boudreau, president of the board of the Haskell Free Library and Opera House, pictured during an interview on Wednesday. John L. Micek I think we need to rise above all that, and we need to be stronger. And this is whats happening right now, because that closure of the access, you know, outraged a lot of people, she told MassLive during a visit earlier this week. Thats because the ties that unite Derby Line and Stanstead run deep. The librarys founding couple, Henry and Martha Stewart Haskell, were a cross-border love story. She was Canadian. He was an American. And those ties endure to this day. Residents of both towns head across the border every day to shop and visit family and friends. Expectant mothers from Stanstead travel to the hospital in nearby Newport, Vermont, because its closer than the one in Sherbrooke, Quebec, the next big town. Harvey Stevens, a member of the town council in Stanstead, Quebec, Canada, during an interview on Wednesday. John L. Micek We do a lot of community things, Harvey Stevens, a member of Stansteads town council, told MassLive during an interview at town hall on the Canadian side of the border. We have an international water company that is an international water company for both communities. We also have fire departments that cooperate with each other, he said, describing what he calls the 360 relationship between the two towns. A local arts collaborative, CANUSA, provides cross-border programming, he continued. That interrelatedness is brought to vivid life at the library, where friends and neighbors on both sides of the border rub elbows regularly. Walk through the front door, where youre greeted by a mixed American and Canadian staff, and youre in the United States. Walk a few feet more to the stacks, crossing a noticeable line of black tape, and youre in Canada. Its possible to journey between both countries dozens of times in a single visit. And youll hear American English and Quebecois Franglish spoken in equal measure. A clerk, speaking in French, recounted her pride in the library, its history and its place in the community. A view of the theater, on the U.S. side, at the Haskell Free Library and Opera House. John L. Micek Head upstairs to the opera house, with its original wedding cake cornices and Edison-reminiscent lighting fixtures, and you can sit in the audience on the U.S. side, while performers strut and fret their hour on the stage on the Canadian side. But its still a long way from the simpler times of the early 20th century and informal border enforcement. U.S. immigration officials started battening the hatches after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, according to The Guardian. Boudreau said she noticed another shift in tone after President Donald Trump won the White House for the first time in 2016. With Trumps second term in 2025, there has been yet another shift in tone, one further exacerbated by the Republican presidents trade war, the 51st state barbs, and his dismissive use of governor to refer to former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. In March, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem created a stir when she visited the library, hopping back and forth across the line of tape and repeatedly quipping 51st state, a reference to Trumps increasingly serious talk about annexing the nations northern neighbor. To say the American muscle-flexing didnt go over well is a bit of an understatement. I hear in my village, some people say they wont go into the States anymore, Boudreau said. And some people are afraid. And Im trying to tell people, You know what? Stop listening to all this. Okay, these people were our friends, our family for so many years, you cannot just, you know, cut that out. Which is not to say that there havent been issues. In 2018, Alexis Vlachos, 40, a Canadian citizen, pleaded guilty in a Vermont court to charges that he tried to use the library to smuggle handguns into Canada from the United States. He was sentenced to 51 months in prison, according to published reports. Were on the border, right? Boudreau said, acknowledging the challenges, but offering an attempt at context. But its not something thats happening every week, you know? A sign at the Haskell Free Library and Opera House, which straddles the U.S. and Canadian borders explains the entry rules. John L. Micek Still, the bonds of friendship go only so far. And while both Boudreau and Stevens stressed that their nations quarrel is with the U.S. government, and not its people, the frustration and hurt are nonetheless palpable. It created a movement of solidarity and unity that I havent seen in years, Boudreau said. Because, you know, over time we take ... things for granted. In the near term, residents on either side of the border are looking ahead to Canadas federal election on April 28. The outcome of that race, between current Prime Minister Mark Carney, of the Liberal Party, who succeeded Trudeau, and Conservative candidate Pierre Poilievre, could profoundly reshape cross-border relations. Boudreau and Stevens also are looking to 2028 when Trump, who is term-limited, is supposed to leave office though he has been making noises about circumventing the constitutional ban on serving a third term. Then, they both said, there is an opportunity for a reset in American and Canadian relations. Stevens fell back on the words of former President John F. Kennedy, reciting his remarks in a May 1961 speech to the Canadian Parliament. Geography has made us neighbors. History has made us friends. Economics has made us partners. And necessity has made us allies, Stevens said in a way that suggested that he had done more than just commit Kennedys words to memory. So many Canadians live in Vermont. Many Vermonters [and] New Hampshire people live in Canada. So I think that both nations, both people realize that its not them that is doing it, its someone else thats causing some frustrations, he said. And they just sort of like hope that once this is over with, we can get back to normal. So it may take a little time, but I think it will. HOLYOKE Angileynis Angie Aponte-Morales, a fifth grader at Morgan Elementary School, emerged victorious in a student chef competition with her sausage soup which she says is one of her favorite meals her mother makes. For her version, she said she wanted the soup, The Party of Salchichon, to be a party, the school district said. This story was updated at 4:44 p.m. on Thursday, April 17, 2025 with new information. At least one person was seriously injured when a vehicle rear-ended a tractor-trailer on the Massachusetts Turnpike in Palmer Thursday afternoon, Massachusetts State Police said. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation first reported the crash on X just before 2:45 p.m. Preliminary information indicates a vehicle rear-ended a tractor-trailer, resulting in serious injuries and entrapment, Tim McGuirk, a spokesman for State Police, wrote in an email. The crash forced the close of the highway in both directions at mile marker 64.5 for about two hours. The closure was to allow a medical helicopter to land on the highway safely, State Police said. The eastbound side of the highway reopened just before 4:45 p.m. Westbound traffic is being detoured via exit 78 in Sturbrige, MassDOT wrote on X. No further information was immediately available. Visite d'Emmanuel Macron charge Les membres du Cabinet ministeriel ont pris note que les entreprises orientees vers lexportation sont toujours sous les effets negatifs des hausses des couts de productions et de la baisse des revenus, du programme de la visite du President Francais a Maurice le 24 et 25 avril 2025, de la campagne de vaccination annuelle contre la grippe du ministere de la Securite Sociale, entre autres. 1.Cabinet has agreed to additional financial assistance being provided, for the period January 2025 to December 2026, to Export-Oriented Enterprises that are still being negatively impacted by a significant increase in their costs of production, resulting into declining export revenues. 2.Cabinet has taken note that HE Emmanuel Macron, President of the Republic of France would be on an official visit to Mauritius on 24 and 25 April 2025. During his visit, the French President would, inter alia: (a) pay a courtesy call on the President of the Republic of Mauritius; (b) have a tete-a-tete with the Prime Minister; (c)participate in a Delegation Level Meeting which would comprise on the Mauritian side, the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and other Ministers; (d)jointly open the Commission Mixte Maurice Reunion; (e) visit the Intercontinental Slavery Museum; and (f)hold a meeting with the Mauritian, French and Reunion business communities followed by the inauguration of the French Embassy at Telfair, Moka. Cabinet has further noted that the Commission Mixte Maurice Reunion, co-chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade and Mr Manuel Valls, Ministre des Outre-Mer, would be held on 25 April 2025 in the margins of the visit of the French President. The Joint Commission between Mauritius and Reunion Island emanates from a Framework Agreement which structures the cooperation between Mauritius and Reunion Island. The issues to be addressed during the Commission Mixte include culture, tourism, biodiversity, circular economy, solid waste management and transition to green energy. Cabinet has also agreed to the signing of the following Memoranda of Understanding and Agreements during the official visit of the French President: (a) Memorandum dentente pour la cooperation dans le domaine de la conservation, de la medecine veterinaire, de lechange technique, du transfert de technologie, du partage de donnees et de la recherche sur les tortues marines; (b) Protocole dentente, en matiere de recherche, de formation et dinnovation dans le domaine de lagriculture et de lenvironment; (c)Protocole dentente en matiere de securite civile entre Le Mauritius Fire and Rescue Service et le Service Departemental dIncendie et de Secours de La Reunion; (d)Projet daccord entre le Mauritus Tourism Promotion Authority et le Comite regional du tourisme de La Reunion sur la cooperation touristique entre Maurice et La Reunion; (e)Protocole daccord en vue dune cooperation scientifique et culturelle entre le departement de La Reunion/Musee historique de Villele et le Intercontinental Slavery Museum Mauritius Ltd; (f)Protocole daccord en matiere de Geolocalisation centrique entre le Ministere des Terres et du Logement et la Societe Reseau Teria (Maurice) Ltd (g)Accord complementaire au Protocole precisant Ie statut particulier de la Caisse Centrale de Cooperation Economique a lile Maurice entre Maurice et lAgence francaise de developpement; (h)Arrangement technique entre Maurice et la France relatif aux activites conjointes de cooperation entre le ministere de la defense de la Republique Francaise et le Bureau du Premier ministre de la Republique de Maurice (i)Convention de mise a disposition de la Matrice des couts entre lAgence francaise de lenvironnement et de la maitrise de lenergie et le ministere de lEnvironnement, de la Gestion des Dechets solides et du Changement climatique et le ministere des Administration regionales; and (j)Projet de Lettre dIntention entre Maurice et La France relatif a une cooperation en matiere de preservation du patrimoine architectural mauricien. A Protocole daccord between Les Moulins de La Concorde and Soufflet Negoce by the Groupe INVIVO on the procurement of wheat would also be signed in the margins of the visit. 3.Cabinet has taken note of the arrangements being made by the Ministry of Social Integration, Social Security and National Solidarity for the anti-influenza vaccination exercise 2025. In accordance with the recommendations of the World Health Organization, annual vaccination against seasonal influenza would be provided to high-risk groups namely: (a)persons aged 55 and above; (b)inmates of charitable institutions and private residential care homes; (c)and children with disabilities attending specialised schools. Residents of charitable institutions, private residential care homes and children attending specialised schools would be vaccinated at their respective institutions. Persons who are entitled to domiciliary visits would be vaccinated at their place of residence by their respective visiting medical practitioners. Vaccines would also be dispatched to Rodrigues and Agalega. The vaccination campaign would be launched on Monday 21 April 2025 for a duration of approximately one month. A calendar for the vaccination programme has been established to ensure coverage of the whole island. Details of the vaccination calendar, indicating the places, timing and dates, would be communicated to the public through the press, on MBC TV/radio and other private radio channels. 4. Cabinet has agreed to the ratification of the Safe and Healthy Working Environment (Consequential Amendments) Convention, 2023 (No. 191) and to the acceptance of the Safe and Healthy Working Environment (Consequential Amendments) Recommendation, 2023 (No.207). Both instruments were adopted at the 111th International Labour Conference of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in June 2023. The Proposed Actions by the Government of Mauritius would be submitted to the ILO, in line with our obligation as an ILO Member State under Article 19 of the ILO Constitution, which requires Member States to bring the adopted instruments before the competent authority for the enactment of legislation or other action. 5. Cabinet has agreed to the acceptance of the Quality Apprenticeships Recommendation, 2023 (No. 208) adopted at the 111th Session of the International Labour Conference of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in June 2023. The Proposed action by the Government of Mauritius would be submitted to the ILO in line with constitutional obligation under Article 19 of the ILO Constitution, which requires Member States to bring the adopted recommendation before the competent authority for the enactment of legislation or other action. Necessary changes would be brought to the relevant legislation. 6.Cabinet has taken note of the holding of the National Tabletop Exercise and Workshop on Development of a National Maritime Security Committee from 28 to 30 April 2025 in Mauritius. The workshop was being organised by the Ministry of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy and Fisheries in collaboration with the International Maritime Organization, in line with the European Union Port Security Programme. The Port Security and Safety of Navigation in Eastern and Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean Programme, which was coordinated by the Indian Ocean Commission and implemented by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the Interpol and the International Maritime Organization aimed at enhancing maritime security and safety in the region and promoting and strengthening port security and maritime safety management systems in ports. The main objective of the programme was to encourage Member States to sign, accept and fulfil responsibilities deriving from the establishment of maritime zones as foreseen by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the International Maritime Organization, the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea and the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code. Around 30 senior officials would attend the Tabletop exercise and the Workshop. 7.Cabinet has taken note of the holding of a Capacity-Building Workshop co-organised by the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science and Research, the International Science, Technology and Innovation Centre for South-South Cooperation under the auspices of UNESCO and the Mauritius National Commission for UNESCO from 21 to 25 April 2025 in Mauritius. The Capacity-Building Workshop entitled Leading Beyond Borders Mastering Global Diplomacy, Strategic Alliances and Impactful Leadership aimed at providing participants with leadership capabilities to navigate unique challenges faced by international organisations; developing advanced diplomacy and negotiation skills for multilateral contexts; strengthening strategic thinking and planning to align organisational goals with global priorities; optimising resource management, fundraising and stakeholder engagement and promoting the adoption of co-creation principles for impactful and sustainable initiatives. 8.Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the recent participation of the Minister of AgroIndustry, Food Security, Blue Economy and Fisheries in the 29th session of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission meeting in Saint Denis, Reunion Island. The Indian Ocean Tuna Commission was set up with the objective of promoting cooperation among the contracting parties (members) and non-contracting parties of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission with a view to ensuring, through appropriate management, conservation and optimum utilisation of tuna stocks covered by its establishing Agreement. In the margins of the Meeting, the Minister had discussions with the Minister of Fisheries of the Republic of Seychelles and the French Minister of Ecological Transition, Biodiversity, Forestry, Sea and Fisheries. 9.Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the recent participation of the Minister of Social Integration, Social Security and National Solidarity in the Third Global Disability Summit in Berlin. The Summit served as a key platform for building global consensus, renewing commitments, and accelerating progress on the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Minister participated in sessions focusing on inclusive employment, climate change and resilience, inclusive education systems, social protection and financing, technology and innovation for independent living, as well as disaster risk reduction and conflict response. The sessions offered deep insights into global trends, policy innovations, and best practices being implemented in both developed and developing countries. The Minister had the opportunity to meet with the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany, the President of the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons, the President of the International Disability Alliance, Ministers from Barbados, Nigeria, the United Kingdom, Eswatini, Malawi, Nigeria as well as Ministers from the Francophone African Countries. He also held bilateral meetings with the Minister of Persons with Disabilities and Vulnerable Groups of the Democratic Republic of Congo and with the representatives of delegation from Kenya and Fiji. 10. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the recent participation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade in the 39th Council of the Indian Ocean Commission in Victoria, Seychelles. The Council of Ministers was held in preparation of the 5th Heads of State and Government Summit of the Indian Ocean Commission to be held on 24 April 2025 in Madagascar. 11. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the recent participation of the Junior Minister of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy and Fisheries in the 11th session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD) in Kampala, Uganda. The overall objective of the Regional Forum was to follow up on and review the progress made towards the achievement of the Sustainable Goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the aspirations, goals and targets of Agenda 2063 The Africa We Want, of the African Union by 2030. The Junior Minister participated as a panellist in the session on Ocean Preservation and Sustainable Use and chaired a panel discussion on Life below water, whereby participants reflected on African progress towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 14. During the 11th session of the ARFSD, election of the new bureau of the Regional Forum was held, with a mandate of one year. The new Bureau had been constituted with Uganda as chair and Mauritius as first vice-chair. 12. Cabinet has taken note of the: (a)appointment of Mr France Christophe Lactive, as Vice-President of the Redundancy Board; (b) reconstitution of the Clinical Research Regulatory Council, with Dr Rajendranath Goordoyal, as part-time Chairperson; (c) reconstitution of the Board of the Bus Industry Employees Welfare Fund, with Mr Ballenden Brian Tandrayen as part-time Chairperson; and (d)reconstitution of the Mauritius Film Development Board, with Mr Ramanand Mattadeen as part-time Chairperson. 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durable[Video news] LACCA Mauritius accueille 180 nouveaux membres[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 15 mars 2025[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 14 mars 2025[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 12 mars 2025[Video News] Message de Navin Ramgoolam pour le 12 mars 2025[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 11 mars 2025[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 8 mars 2025[Video news] Le MMM Celebre la Journee Internationale de la Femme[Video News] Jean-Luc Chane-Kane a anime un seminaire sur la socialisation des chiens[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 7 mars 2025[Video News] Seance parlemantaire du 7 mars 2025[Video News] Nouvelle identite de la Turbine: au-dela dun incubateur, un partenaire strategique de linnovation responsable [Video News] Grays celebre son expertise et son heritage lors de son second Corporate Media Breakfast[Video News] Rebranding de La Turbine[Video News] Conference de presse de lUnion of Artists[Video News] 2e Corporate Media Breakfast de Grays a Villebague[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 5 mars 2025[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 4 mars 2025[Video News] Conference de presse du MSM[Video news] Seance parlementaire du 4 mars 2025 en Live[Video News] Message du ministre des Affaires Etrangeres[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 28 fevrier 2025[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 28 fevrier 2025[Video News] Seance parlementaire du 28 fevrier 2025Garance: Treizieme bulletin de cyclone pour Maurice (27-02-2025 : 04h10)Garance: Onzieme bulletin de cyclone pour Maurice (26-02-2025 : 22:10)[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 25 fevrier 2025Garance: Septieme bulletin de cyclone pour Maurice ( 26-02-2025 @ 4h10)[Video News] Elsa Wolinski, Clementine Galey, Shakti Callikan et Cristele de 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Table ronde autour de lEducation[Video News] 12 candidats se sont enregistre pour le Ward 1 de Port-Louis[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 5 avril 2025[Video news] 407 candidats pour les municipales[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 4 avril 2025[Video News] Conference de presse dAtif AslamDerniere ligne droite pour les inscriptions pour lAnahita Trail 2025[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 2 avril 2025[Video News] La GSEA satisfiat des nominations[Video News] Made in Moris accueille 40 nouveaux adherents et renforce son reseauDeces de Val Krimer[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 1er avril 2025[Video news] FinTech in Africa : Vision 2030 , un evenement dAMCHAM (Mauritius) en partenariat avec le Groupe MINDEX[Video News] Bryan Adams a dit[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 29 mars 2025[Video news] De la poubelle a Mare Chicose[Video news] Les 80 ans de Paul Berenger[Video news] Fintech in Africa Vision 2030[Video News] Plusieurs Top 5 et Top 10 mondiaux parmi les meilleurs etudiants ACCA mauriciens de lannee 2024[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 28 mars 2025[Video news]Les entreprises mauriciennes unissent leurs forces lors du Responsible Business Summit 2025[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 26 mars 2025[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 25 mars 2025[Video news] Seance parlementaire du 25 mars en Live[Video News] Soiree litteraire a lICJM[Video News] Gokan Japan @ Grand Baie La Croisette[Video news] Fam pe zwen[Video news] Plus de 60 etudiants recompenses lors de lACCA High Achievers Celebration[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du mars 2025[Video News] Casela Nature Parks fete ses 45 ans dans une ambiance entre heritage et avenir.[Video News] Brand Within 2025 : Faconner lavenir du travail a MauriceRegus Grand Baie, la solution ideale pour les entreprises et startups souhaitant simplanter dans le nord ![Video News] Casela Nature Parks a fete ses 45 ans[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 19 mars 2025[Video news] Conference de presse du Commissaire Electorale[Video news] Conference de presse de Bruneau Laurette[Video News] Rajesh Bhagwan et Joanna Berenger ont dit[Video news] PIM Limited celebre la Journee Mondiale du Recyclage[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 18 mars 2025[Video News] Seance parlementaire du 18 mars en Live[Video News] Shakeel Mohamed: Livraison de provisions par le navire indien INS Imphal a Agalega [Video News] Reconnaissance pour 200 nouveaux experts-comptables face aux defis de la technologie et du developpement durable[Video news] LACCA Mauritius accueille 180 nouveaux membres[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 15 mars 2025[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 14 mars 2025[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 12 mars 2025[Video News] Message de Navin Ramgoolam pour le 12 mars 2025[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 11 mars 2025[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 8 mars 2025[Video news] Le MMM Celebre la Journee Internationale de la Femme[Video News] Jean-Luc Chane-Kane a anime un seminaire sur la socialisation des chiens[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 7 mars 2025[Video News] Seance parlemantaire du 7 mars 2025[Video News] Nouvelle identite de la Turbine: au-dela dun incubateur, un partenaire strategique de linnovation responsable [Video News] Grays celebre son expertise et son heritage lors de son second Corporate Media Breakfast[Video News] Rebranding de La Turbine[Video News] Conference de presse de lUnion of Artists[Video News] 2e Corporate Media Breakfast de Grays a Villebague[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 5 mars 2025[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 4 mars 2025[Video News] Conference de presse du MSM[Video news] Seance parlementaire du 4 mars 2025 en Live[Video News] Message du ministre des Affaires Etrangeres[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 28 fevrier 2025[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 28 fevrier 2025[Video News] Seance parlementaire du 28 fevrier 2025Garance: Treizieme bulletin de cyclone pour Maurice (27-02-2025 : 04h10)Garance: Onzieme bulletin de cyclone pour Maurice (26-02-2025 : 22:10)[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 25 fevrier 2025Garance: Septieme bulletin de cyclone pour Maurice ( 26-02-2025 @ 4h10)[Video News] Elsa Wolinski, Clementine Galey, Shakti Callikan et Cristele de Speville font du podcast un vecteur de proximite et dauthenticiteGarance: Sixieme bulletin de cyclone pour Maurice ( 25-02-2025 @ 22h10)[Video news] Point de presse du NCC du 25 fevrier 2025Garance : Cinquieme bulletin de cyclone pour Maurice (25-02-2025 : 16 h 10)Communique du National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management CentrePremier bulletin de cyclone pour Maurice (24-02-2025 : 16:10)[Video News] Dimans politik[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 22 fevrier 2025[Video News] Attitude Talk Series No 7 A MAYO Fine Gael councillor has called for a planning regulation which permits the construction of accommodation centres for refugees without planning permission to be immediately revoked. Planning regulations which were introduced in 2022 to fast-track accommodation for refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine remain in place despite the fact they were only meant to be in place for one year. The regulations were extended by three years by the Minister for Housing and speaking at the monthly meeting of the Ballina Municipal District, Cllr Jarlath Munnelly said that the regulation makes a mockery of the planning laws and should be revoked immediately. READ: Do you know Mayos Greatest Supporter? If you want to turn your building into accommodation for accommodating refugees or whoever they are, you should still have to get planning permission in the same way as a person who wants to build a house or change the use from a shop to a house. You still have one law for one and another for others and it is allowing for uncontrolled speculation and for people to make a quick buck out of other people's misery, he claimed. The Killala-based councillor raised the matter during a discussion surrounding the future of the old St Mary's Secondary School in Ballina which had previously been proposed as an IPAS centre for refugees. Local councillors expressed concern that development was taking place on the site without planning permission and Cllr Munnelly said these temporary planning regulations were not helping matters. It is still a temporary provision but how long will it be a temporary provision for. It is making a mockery of the planning laws when loads of people have difficulties getting planning and yet these people can work away under the guise of providing accommodation for displaced people. That is adding to the ill feeling to be honest with you, he said. Cllr Munnelly suggested that the municipal district should write to the Minister of Housing calling for the regulations to be immediately revoked and the motion was supported by his party colleague, Cllr John O'Hara. THE newly-crowned Mayo Rose, Clara Gardiner, will be welcomed home to her native Kilfian this evening. Ms Gardiner will be toasted at a gathering at Kilfian GAAs clubhouse at 7 pm this evening in honour of her being crowned Mayo Rose. She will now fly the flag for Kilfian, Mayo and Connacht when she competes at the internationally-renowned Rose of Tralee Festival this August. READ: Do you know Mayos Greatest Supporter? Speaking exclusively to The Mayo News after being crowned Mayo Rose, Ms Gardiner said she wants to raise awareness for spina bifida, a disease which afflicted her late sister, Jemma, who passed away in 2019 at the age of 16. Ms Gardiner (24) succeeds Castlebar native Kate Heneghan, who had been tipped among the favourites to win the Rose of Tralee after she was crowned Mayo Rose in 2023. We are so excited to see this amazing young lady represent our Community and County at the International Rose of Tralee Competition in Kerry this summer, read a Facebook post announcing the gathering in honour of Ms Gardiner. Music, refreshments and a raffle in aid of Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Ireland will take place on the night. Mayo Rose Clara Gardiner holding her son Noah (2) Mayo Minister Dara Calleary has come under pressure from a Fine Gael councillor to resolve a planning row which has stymied the development of an industrial park in Ballina. The development of a proposed IDA Ballina Business and Technology Park on the Sligo Road in Ballina has been indefinitely delayed after Transport Infrastructure Ireland objected in 2022 to the construction of a new access junction from the site onto the N59 at Quignashee, approximately 2.7km from Ballina. The matter was raised at the monthly meeting of Ballina Municipal District by Fine Gael councillor John O'Hara who asked for an update on the proposed industrial estate. He said that Ballina was being neglected and called on the local TD and Minister Dara Calleary to push it forward. READ: Mayo councillor wants planning exceptions for refugee centres to be scrapped There are a lot of enquiries from people who want to set up business here [in Ballina] and they cannot do it. We are neglected and left out on the hind foot and I would ask our minister Dara Calleary, this is one of the first things he should be looking for. It is work and business and it will stop emigration if there are jobs here. If our young people go away they don't come back, he said, adding it was very unfair that there were industrial estates in Castlebar and Westport which are 'shovel ready' but nothing in place in Ballina. While agreeing with Cllr O'Hara that movement is needed on the Sligo Road industrial estate, Fianna Fail councillor Michael Loftus defended Minister Calleary in his efforts to advance the project. In fairness to Dara Calleary to give him credit he has been working on it to try and get the council to work with the TII on it. You are right, the decision one way or another needs to be decided. It's put up or shut up, he said. Head of the Municipal District, Declan Turnbull said that there was good news regarding the site in that it got ministerial approval to rezone it from agricultural to industrial which he said was 'half the battle'. The discussions are ongoing between the TII and the IDA to get an agreement on it and assuming that is concluded satisfactory a new application will go in then. But we don't have a timescale, he said. by Adam Buckman , Featured Columnist, April 18, 2025 A brief clip and newly posted photos provide a tantalizing glimpse at Ken Burns sprawling documentary series on the Revolutionary War coming this fall. The big question about this series was how Burns would depict a period in history long before the advent of photography and motion pictures. The materials released this week give the answer. They serve as a reminder that every age has its own form of visual media, and the Revolutionary War period was no exception. Judging from the clip and photos from the series, Burns and his team took a very deep dive into multiple repositories of documents, maps, engravings and paintings that will be seen throughout the series. advertisement advertisement Titled The American Revolution, the series is a 12-hour series with two episodes airing for each of six consecutive nights starting Sunday, November 16, on PBS. It is directed by Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt. The materials released this week -- both on PBS.org and the PBS press site set up for journalists -- show a variety of imagery, some contemporary to the Revolution and some created years later. For example, one of the paintings used in the series is Battle of Bunker Hill, painted by Alonzo Chappel in 1859. The famed Boston battle took place in June 1775. Another Chappel painting, Battle of Long Island, dates to 1860. The battle was fought in August 1777. Paintings made closer to the Revolutionary War period include The Surrender of General Burgoyne at Saratoga painted by John Trumbull in 1821, and the famed Declaration of Independence painting, depicting the signing of the Declaration in July 1776 that Trumbull painted in 1818. While these were created some years after the events they depict, Paul Reveres engraving of the Boston Massacre (photo above) was created in 1770 not long after the incident in March of that year. The Boston Massacre is the subject of the 44-second clip of The American Revolution now available to view on PBS.org. The clip reveals that at least some of the documentary will depict some events with the use of filmed re-creations. In addition, there are several images in the clips that are paintings of the incident. It is no coincidence that PBS released and posted the first promo for The American Revolution just days before the nation marks the 250th anniversary of the start of the war on Saturday. The war started on April 19, 1775, in Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts. In a prepared statement, Ken Burns said: The American Revolution is one of the most important events in human history. We went from being subjects to inventing a new concept, citizens, and set in motion democratic revolutions around the globe. As we prepare to celebrate the 250th anniversary of our founding, Im hopeful that people throughout the country will come together to discuss the importance of this history and to appreciate even more what our ancestors did to secure our liberty and freedoms. by Colin Kirkland , April 17, 2025 TikTok is now testing Footnotes -- its own version of user-sourced contextual notes on in-app posts. In line with Meta's recent decision to adopt Xs controversial crowdsourced moderation approach, Footnotes will draw on the collective knowledge of the TikTok community by allowing people to add relevant information to content on the ByteDance-owned platform, the company says. Unlike on X, and eventually Meta, TikTok's community notes feature will supplement -- not replace -- existing content-moderation practices. It will add to our suite of measures that help people understand the reliability of content and access authoritative sources, including our content labels, search banners, our fact-checking program, and more, TikTok explains. advertisement advertisement The platform says it will still target harmful and inappropriate content through its current suite of integrity measures and features, such as its partnerships with over 20 accredited third-party fact-checking organizations, which police in-app content in over 60 languages across 130 global markets. Footnotes are designed to fill in the gaps in official moderation by providing users with more individual power to flag content issues via a bridge-based ranking system dependent on the agreement between people who usually have different opinions, TikTok says. It works by allowing contributors with differing opinions to leave and vote on the helpfulness of a footnote, TikTok says. Only footnotes that meet the threshold for helpful will be visible to the community, at which point the broader community can vote on it, too. In various reports and studies, the necessity to agree on a note in order for it to be shown is what makes crowdsourced content moderation potentially unreliable and ineffective. According to the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), for example, 73% of Community Notes related to political topics on X are never displayed, although they are providing reliable context. Another study conducted in February by Spanish fact-checking site Maldita found that 85% of all Community Notes are never displayed to X users. Regardless, with TikTok's future still uncertain in the U.S., it is worth noting that President Donald Trump is in favor of the community notes moderation model, which directly influenced Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to announce the end of third-party fact-checking on Meta's social platforms. Right now, TikTok is only testing Footnotes in the U.S. in a move that is likely kowtowing to the wishes of Trump, who may decide the fate of the platform's existence for 170 million Americans. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, April 17, 2025 A federal judge has granted preliminary approval to Google's $100 million settlement of a class-action alleging it overcharged some pay-per-click advertisers by failing to honor their requests to limit ads geographically, and reneging on a promise to discount some ads. In an order issued Wednesday, U.S. District Court Judge Edward Davila in San Jose said he was likely to allow the deal to go forward, ruling that the proposed settlement appeared fair, reasonable, and adequate. If granted final approval, the settlement will resolve a lawsuit dating to 2011, when advertiser Rene Cabrera claimed he was overcharged for pay-per-click ads he purchased to market his former business, Training Options. Cabrera alleged in a class-action complaint that he purchased ads from Google between 2008 and 2009, and that the company failed to correctly apply its smart pricing discount during that time. advertisement advertisement He also alleged that Google charged him for clicks that originated from states other than the ones he was targeting. He targeted Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, and Louisiana, but alleged that he was charged for clicks from users in New York, Virginia, California, Illinois, Texas, and other states, according to court papers. A Google spokesperson said last month that the case was about ad product features we changed over a decade ago. Davila originally threw out the lawsuit on the grounds that Cabrera no longer owned Training Options, but the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals revived the case in 2021. After the appellate court returned the matter to Davila, Google argued that its agreement advertisers didn't set out a particular smart pricing formula, and that its Help Center disclosed that ads could be shown to users regardless of their location. The settlement class includes everyone who advertised on the Google platform formerly called AdWords between January 1, 2004 and March 22, 2011, and paid for clicks that didn't originate from the location selected by the advertiser. Davila also certified a subclass of advertisers, described in the court papers as follows: All persons and entities located within the United States who, between June 1, 2009 and December 13, 2012, advertised through Googles AdWords Program and paid for clicks on ads on Googles Display Network where the advertisers settings allowed its ads to show on both the Search and Display Networks and the advertiser did not set a Display Network bid different from the Search Network bid. Davila will decide whether to grant the deal final approval after a hearing scheduled for August 21. by Teresa Buyikian , April 17, 2025 Two purveyors of pink, pink and more pink have come together for a new sparkling spring wine offering. Santa Margarita Rose, with its signature pink shade, has joined forces with pink-centric design house LoveShackFancy in time for the unofficial start of rose season to launch its first collectible magnum. The Santa Margherita x LoveShackFancy Limited Edition Rose bottle is an explosion of shabby chic pink, with a LoveShackFancys vintage floral print adorning the bottle, cap and gift box. The collaboration is a first for Santa Margarita, as well as the first time the winemaker has offered a 1.5L magnum-sized bottle. The rose, from the Trevenezie region of northeast Italy, is described as having aromas of peaches and berries, delicate floral notes and a lively and refreshing finish. advertisement advertisement "Both Santa Margherita and LoveShackFancy are recognized for their passion for pink from our Rose to LoveShackFancy's signature feminine aesthetic," said Jane Scott, vice president of marketing at Santa Margherita USA. "This partnership felt like the perfect way to celebrate the magic of summer in a way that is both beautiful and delicious." Available beginning May 20, the limited-edition bottle sells for $50. at retailers nationwide. Santa Margarita has launched a new website to promote the magnum, www.GetRoseReady.com, as well as executing social media and in-store promotions. No stranger to collaboration, this is the first time LoveShackFancy has partnered with a wine maker. The global fashion, beauty, home, and lifestyle brand has also partnered with such companies as luggage maker State and Hunter Boots for pink items, of course. by Colin Kirkland , April 17, 2025 New Jersey became the first state to sue Discord on Thursday, accusing the private social messaging app of exposing children to harmful content, including graphic violence, as well as sexual abuse and exploitation. Discord markets itself as a safe space for children, despite being fully aware that the applications misleading safety settings and lax oversight has made it a prime hunting ground for online predators seeking easy access to children, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said in a statement. The lawsuit explains that Discords popularity combined with limited safety controls and private chat rooms has made it easy for predators to target younger users. Despite the platforms restriction of users under 13 years of age, Platkin argues that children are easily able to make accounts, while adults often pose as children. advertisement advertisement The lawsuit follows previous accusations made against the platform. In 2022, for example, Discord was named in a suit filed in California by The Social Media Victims Law Center on behalf of an underage girl who was sexually targeted by adult men. That same year, Discord was cited in six cases involving child sex abuse material and grooming children. At the start of 2025, Discord was also named in a lawsuit in which a 13-year-old boy was sexually exploited by an adult stranger, and this past weekend, a California man was arrested and charged with kidnapping and engaging in sexual conduct with a minor after a 10-year-old girl was reported missing and found to be chatting with the man on Discord. In many of these cases, Roblox -- a virtual gaming platform -- was named alongside Discord, as the two platforms in particular have gained a reputation for safety loopholes that allow adult users to chat directly with children, often persuading them to open accounts on other social apps. New Jerseys suit names various criminal cases made against adult residents accused of engaging in explicit communication with children, soliciting and sending nude pictures and taking part in sexual acts on video chat. The lawsuit argues that Discord was aware of its young users vulnerability and marketed the platform as safe to parents. Discord claims that safety is at the core of everything it does, but the truth is the application is not safe for children, Attorney General Platkins director of the division of consumer affairs, Cari Fais, said in the statement. A Discord spokesperson issued a vague response, stating that the company is proud of its continuous efforts and investments in features and tools that help make Discord safer. In 2023, NBC News found 35 cases of grooming, sexual assault or kidnapping that involved communication on Discord over a six-year period. by Ray Schultz , April 17, 2025 MENA advertisers that is, those serving North Africa and the Middle East have a new programmatic outlet, thanks to a strategic partnership between Penske Media Corp.(PMC) and SRMG Media Solutions (SMS). Brands marketing in the region can now integrate their programmatic campaigns with 40+ publishing brands including Variety, Rolling Stone, Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, WWD, Robb Report, ARTnews and Deadline, The connection provides access to 412 monthly active users and 150 million social media followers. Advertisers can send programmatic campaigns with diverse formats including video, standard banners and audience layering. In addition, advertisers can collaborate with PMC's publishers on content creation and bespoke campaigns. advertisement advertisement The key verticals are tourism, government departments, investment sectors and mega projects. Moreover, the partnership provides access to Asia and Western economies like those of Europe and the USA, according to SRMG Media Solutions (SMS). We are thrilled to partner with PMC, which enhances our capacity to offer cutting-edge advertising solutions for our clients, says Ziad Moussa, managing director of SMS. This collaboration aligns perfectly with our goal of providing unprecedented access to the worlds top platforms. by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, April 18, 2025 Publishers in the advertising industry want to restore balance and transparency across the market, and believe the outcome of Googles monopoly trial will give many companies a new beginning in ad technology. Andrew Casale, president and CEO at Index Exchange, described testifying in the Department of Justice hearing against Google as a horror, but felt proud to stand alongside those advocating for a fairer digital ad ecosystem. The cross-examination received by Googles lawyers was very intimidating, he said, adding that he had received a subpoena by the Department of Justice to testify at the trial. The stakes were high. You walk into a Federal courthouse with media inside. There are multiple courtrooms and youre on the stand. From someone who speaks at a lot of technology events, he said, thats just a level of public speaking I have never experienced. And that was just the beginning." advertisement advertisement When the cross-examination started and Googles lawyers started throwing out ambiguous questions that could be answered in the affirmative or negative, it became more intense. One question is intense, but when it happens in succession dozens of times its like nothing Ive ever experienced, he said. Casale experienced Googles ad-server feature where its ad exchange took a last look at the bids, allowing Google to bid even one penny higher to secure the business at ad-placement auctions. Google created the technology to counter the growing popularity of header bidding, where publishers could bid directly with multiple ad exchanges. As of 2017, that advantage vanished. We needed some help from above to make the market more fair, competitive and transparent, he said. The lingering concern is if Google was permitted to build and operate that product, what else could it build and do tomorrow. Thats why this is a very important trial and verdict. Imagine that with an impression opportunity from a publisher and three exchanges place their best bid, but Google AdX was the only company that could see the bid and decide if it wanted to submit a higher bid. Thats only one example, Casale said. There were many more that came out during the trial. In the short term nothing changes, said Casale, but remedies will provide more insight in the days to come. "One way to better the industry is to make ad tech less expensive," he said. "Operate in a lower margin in a more cost-effective method. The challenge is the time frames, but if we start to see a growing precedent and there are more actions and regulatory actions, we might see more oversight by the tech companies to settle cases like these." Some in the industry called the Google ruling a good day for publishers, while others are concerned about friction across the ad-tech stack in the short term as the industry fragments before it rebalances, but many new companies will have the opportunity to build a trusted alliance from the ground up. Rebalancing of power and the need for more transparency is how many publishers described Judge Brinkemas decision. We see this as a shift toward more balanced infrastructure that supports privacy, broadens market access, and improves the overall foundation of digital advertising," Marc Fanelli, senior vice president of global digital audiences and operations at Dun & Bradstreet, stated in an email to MediaPost. Kevin Pike, a cybersecurity expert, called the ruling in a post on LinkedIn ad-techs Ma Bell moment, the true inflection point wont be the breakup itself, but rather the point when the infrastructure is inherited, and whether those who've acquired it rebuild with better incentives or just replicate the old ones at a smaller scale. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, April 18, 2025 Siding with AT&T, a federal appellate panel threw out a $57 million privacy fine imposed by the Federal Communications Commission, ruling that the agency's move violated AT&T's right to a trial by jury. No one denies the Commissions authority to enforce laws requiring telecommunications companies like AT&T to protect sensitive customer data, 5th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Stuart Duncan wrote in a 20-page decision. But the Commission must do so consistent with our Constitutions guarantees of ... a jury trial, Duncan added. Judge Cory Wilson signed on to Duncan's opinion, but the third panelist, Judge Catharina Haynes, concurred only with the judgment. The ruling comes in a battle that began during the first Trump administration, when the FCC -- then under Republican leadership -- proposed fining AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile for allegedly sharing customers' location data with third parties. advertisement advertisement Specifically, the FCC said in a notice of apparent liability that the carriers sold access to geolocation data to aggregators that resold the information to outside companies. The FCC initially proposed the fines in 2020 -- around two years after it came to light that a Missouri sheriff used geolocation data provided by Securus Technology to track other law enforcement officers, without court orders. Securus obtained the location data from the phone carriers. Around one year later, Vice Media's Motherboard detailed how a journalist was able to pay a bounty hunter $300 to track a phone's location to a neighborhood in Queens. The major U.S. carriers have said they no longer sell location data. Last year, the FCC followed through on the notice of apparent liability and fined AT&T around $57 million, Verizon around $47 million, and T-Mobile $92 million (including $12 million for Sprint, which merged with T-Mobile in 2020). The agency voted 3-2 to impose the fines, with Republican commissioners Brendan Carr and Nathan Simington dissenting. All three wireless carriers appealed the fines. AT&T argued the penalty should be vacated for several reasons, including that the FCC imposed sanctions without proving the allegations in court. The 5th Circuit agreed, noting that the Supreme Court ruled last year that defendants in civil securities fraud cases brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission were entitled to jury trials. T-Mobile and Verizon have made similar arguments to different appellate courts -- the D.C. Circuit in T-Mobile's case, and the 2nd Circuit in Verizon's. Those cases remain pending. by Les Luchter , April 18, 2025 Maybe its something in the water, but oral care brands overseas continue to roll out impressive ad campaigns. Last week, it was Colgate India showing how overused toothbrushes look like blooming flowers. Now, European brand Smyle -- in an awareness campaign focused on water -- is boasting how its use of toothpaste tablets instead of toothpaste tubes has saved some 10 million plastic packages and microplastics from entering the ocean since its launch in 2020. And its calling on other toothpaste manufacturers -- Procter & Gamble (Crest), Haleon (Sensodyne) and Unilever (Close-Up) are named specifically, but not Colgate -- to give up plastics in their products. advertisement advertisement Reinforcing the water/ocean theme in its new campaign, Smyle has enlisted characters who look a lot like Disneys Moana and Ariel for billboards, social media and videos. As toothpaste tubes wash up on shore, the Moana-looking character is in a rowboat gazing out to sea. No wonder the ocean is calling her, declares the ad. Showing the Ariel-looking character swimming through a mess of toothpaste tubes, another ad proclaims, The Real Reason She Wants to Leave the Ocean. A third ad shows water cluttered with toothpaste tubes and the line, Finding Nemo Gets Harder Every Day. Asked if use of the three characters had been licensed from Disney, Mischa Schreuder, executive creative director at Dutch ad agency Fitzroy, tells Marketing Daily We referenced three sea icons people could recognize. These iconic characters- the sea mermaid who is a gorgeous woman with red hair, or the girl standing on the boat were thoughtfully included without mention of their names in the ads. The campaign, which began April 8 and runs for six weeks, includes paid and organic social, plus billboards in Rotterdam, Amsterdam and other Dutch locations. Who wants to brush their teeth with plastic? Smyle founder Almar Fernhout said in a statement. Each year, 11 million tons of plastic end up in the oceans. A large portion of that comes from single-use packaging. Completely unnecessary, because plastic-free choices are not hard to make. And this campaign makes it instantly clear that making the switch is essential. Christian Boehringer to hand over as Chairman of the Shareholders Committee to Hubertus von Baumbach Advertisement Shashank Deshpande, Member of the Board of Managing Directors, to succeed Hubertus von Baumbach as Chairman of the Board of Managing Directors Advertisement Appointments to be effective July 1, 2025 The Shareholders Committee of Boehringer Ingelheim have announced the following appointments in the Shareholders Committee and the Board of Managing Directors: Christian Boehringer, since 2007 Chairman of the Shareholders Committee, has decided to step down from his role with effect from June 30, 2025. The Shareholders Committee has appointed Hubertus von Baumbach, currently Chairman of the Board of Directors, as his successor, effective July 1, 2025. Shashank Deshpande, member of the Board of Managing Directors, has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Managing Directors, a responsibility that he will take on in addition to his current role leading the Human Pharma Business Unit. He will take over the Chairmans mandate from Hubertus von Baumbach per July 1, 2025. Christian Boehringer commented: I look back at the past 18 years with great fulfillment, having worked with three CEOs and seen Boehringer grow to become the global pharma company it is today. I now hand over the baton to my cousin Hubertus, and very much look forward to working together with him on the Shareholders Committee. Hubertus von Baumbach served 16 years on the Board of Managing Directors, nine of which as Chairman. He added: I want to thank Christian for his many years of leadership and dedication to the company. During his tenure the company changed fundamentally. I am very thankful for the trust I have been given with my new role. I wish Shashank much success; with his many years of industry experience in the US, Japan and Germany, he will lead Boehringer through the next growth phase towards 2035. In the many years that I have worked with Shashank I have seen and come to appreciate the strength of his leadership, of his values, and of his commitment to patients. Shashank Deshpande responded: I am thankful that the shareholders entrust me with the Chairmans role on the Board. I want to acknowledge Hubertus leadership of the company these past nine years. Youve built a great team and its a true pleasure to be part of it. We are fully focused on bringing our strong pipeline to the market as fast as possible, and I am highly motivated to lead our organization to achieve this for the benefit of the patients and animals we serve. Lets get one thing straight, riding the Ultraviolette F77 isnt like riding any other bike youve been on (honestly speaking). This isnt the college-time petrol bike that youve borrowed from your cousin to look more cool among your friends. A Big no-no!! This is a full-on electric beast that looks like it escaped from a sci-fi movie and landed on Indian roads. But heres the twist: just because it looks futuristic doesnt mean you have to be a rocket scientist to ride it. Once you get the hang of it, the F77 can become the most intuitive, thrilling, and, dare I say it, addictive machine youll ever ride. So if youre someone who enjoys premium experiences, futuristic tech, and a bit of adrenaline on the side, this isnt just a bike article. This is your go-to guide for mastering the F77 and riding it like a pro. We spoke to actual and real F77 owners, and riders whove taken it across highways, city streets, and winding hills. What follows are their hard-earned insights, tips, and hacks. No fluff. No sales pitch. Just what works. Let's get started! 1. Start Slow, But Not Too Slow The Marine Corps has identified two active-duty service members based out of Camp Pendleton, California, who were killed in a vehicle accident Tuesday while deployed to the southern U.S. border. Lance Cpl. Albert Aguilera, 22, and Lance Cpl. Marcelino Gamino, 28, both Marine combat engineers and from California, were killed during a convoy near Santa Teresa, New Mexico, according to a news release from their unit. A third Marine from the same unit, the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, was in critical condition as of Thursday evening, when the service issued the news release. His identity was not released in the statement. Read Next: Army to Soldiers: Reenlist by Monday if You Want to Claim Incentives All three Marines were transported to a hospital in El Paso, Texas, which is located just miles away from where they crashed across the New Mexico state border. Aguilera and Gamino were pronounced dead at the hospital, the news release said. The statement said they were on a "convoy movement" near Santa Teresa, though it was unclear where they were going or the specific purpose of the convoy. The three Marines were assigned to 1st Marine Division, which sent an initial batch of 500 Marines to the southern border near San Diego, California, in late January. "The loss of Lance Cpl. Aguilera and Lance Cpl. Gamino is deeply felt by all of us," said Lt. Col. Tyrone Barrion, the commanding officer of 1st Combat Engineer Battalion and Task Force Sapper, a unit composed of roughly 500 Marines and sailors charged with reinforcing the barrier wall near San Diego. "I extend my heartfelt condolences and prayers to the families of our fallen brothers," his statement continued. "Our top priority right now is to ensure that their families, and the Marines affected by their passing, are fully supported during this difficult time." A defense official previously told Military.com that the Marines were operating a civilian rental vehicle, a common mode of transportation during active-duty operations at the border. The Washington Post reported that the incident involved their vehicle rolling over, citing U.S. defense officials. The Marines were part of a contingent of thousands of active-duty troops deployed to various parts of the U.S. southern border amid President Donald Trump's crackdown on immigration. "I am very saddened to learn of the tragic accident yesterday that took the lives of two of our nation's heroes and seriously injured another," Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on social media Wednesday. "My heartfelt condolences and prayers are with them, their families, and the unit." Army units sent to the border are operating in tactical vehicles, specifically Strykers, eight-wheeled armored personnel carriers meant primarily to transport soldiers to and from their missions as they patrol the border. Aguilera enlisted into the Marine Corps in March 2023, according to the news release from 1st Marine Division. He was promoted to lance corporal last spring. Gamino enlisted in 2022 and had deployed to Darwin, Australia, with Marine Rotational Force-Darwin in 2024. The incident is under investigation, the news release said. Related: Vehicle Incident at Border Kills 2 Marines, Injures Another; Investigation Underway WASHINGTON Charlie Pase considers himself "unusually lucky." He was just 17 when he joined the Marine Corps in 1943, hoping to help free his older brother, a prisoner of war in Japan. In the years that followed, he survived the battles of Tarawa, Saipan, Tinian and Okinawa despite being a machine gunner "right in the middle of it" and stayed in Japan once World War II ended as part of the force that occupied Nagasaki after the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the city. When he arrived on the National Mall on Thursday, now 99, Pase was the eldest of the 94 veterans who spent the day visiting memorials to those who have served in the U.S. military. He said the experience helped him reflect on his own life and the lives of his fellow veterans and their fallen comrades. "It takes us back and gives us a sense of what this was all about. I think that, perhaps, is the most important thing," Pase said. "I'm amazed at the friendship, and it makes you realize that it's all been worth it and nothing is ever free." The trip was organized by Inland Northwest Honor Flight, which charters a plane from Spokane to the nation's capital each year for scores of veterans who travel free of charge and volunteer "guardians" who accompany them. Tony Lamanna, who founded the nonprofit in 2009, said he and his team have organized about 50 of the trips, which began by taking smaller groups on more frequent commercial flights. Thursday's group included two World War II veterans, seven Korean War veterans and 85 veterans of the Vietnam War. The nonprofit gives priority to veterans of earlier wars and those with terminal illnesses. At the World War II Memorial, Pase met Bill Beckstrom, who was also 17 when he joined the Navy in 1944 and served in the Battle of Okinawa. Now 98, Beckstrom said he had never been to the eastern half of the United States and wishes he had made the trip sooner. "I should have done it before," he said. "I wasn't going to come at all, but everyone wanted me to come so I finally said, 'OK, let's see how it goes.' And I'm glad I did. It's been wonderful." Norval Figy, 93, was one of the Korean War veterans who made the trip. He said he didn't want to miss the chance to see the memorials for the first time in his life. His son Dan Figy, a fellow Air Force veteran, was one of the guardians who accompanied the veterans along with the nonprofit's board, six medics, a comfort dog named Isaac and his handlers. Mike Jones, a Navy veteran from Spokane Valley who has returned for multiple trips as a guardian since he benefitted from an Honor Flight himself, recalled taking a fellow Vietnam veteran a year earlier to the wall that bears the names of those who died in that war. "He had a lot of trauma," Jones said. "He left a lot of pain at that wall, like a lot of the vets do. It's a healing time." As Beckstrom and Jones left the World War II Memorial and walked to their bus, they passed through a cheering group of students that applauded and waved signs that read "Thank You Veterans." When the group disembarked at its next stop, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, some of the younger members remembered receiving a different welcome when they returned home from a war that much of the public opposed. Gray Wolf, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians who also goes by Joseph Parker, grew up on the Qualla Reservation in North Carolina and joined the Army when he was 18. Staring at the thousands of names on the memorial wall, he said that in nearly eight years in Vietnam as a sniper and Special Forces soldier, he witnessed the deaths of so many of his comrades that he wasn't sure which name to look for first. The experience left him with severe post-traumatic stress disorder, he said. The attitude many Americans had toward Vietnam veterans made his return to the country he had left as a teenager even harder. "People just don't realize how much it rips somebody apart," he said. "And then getting back here and getting called all kinds of names, spit on." As Gray Wolf stood in front of the wall, several children stopped to thank him for his service. After he thanked them in return and they moved on, he said the gesture touched his heart. "It makes me feel a little bit better that some people care, but there's still a lot of people that don't give a crap about a Vietnam vet," said Gray Wolf, who lives in Airway Heights. Then, watching families strolling in front of the memorial, he said quietly, "I wish I could be as normal as they are." Also at the wall, Joe Hemmerich struggled to stand up from his wheelchair with the help of his son, Aaron. The Navy veteran, who lives in Colville, stretched to touch the name of Lloyd G. Howie, a friend whose story Hemmerich said he hadn't told until that day. In 1970, Hemmerich was working as a radar operator on the USS Bon Homme Richard, an aircraft carrier off the coast of Vietnam. Howie, who would chat with the younger Hemmerich in the combat information center, was flying a patrol mission in his F-8 Crusader that turned disastrous when he couldn't safely land on the carrier's deck and ran out of fuel, crashing into the sea. When he recalled seeing his friend's remains, Hemmerich broke down. Now battling advanced cancer that he believes is connected to his exposure to the herbicide Agent Orange, the Navy veteran said the trip was an opportunity to reconnect with that formative part of his life. Orion Donovan Smith's work is funded in part by members of the Spokane community via the Community Journalism and Civic Engagement Fund. This story can be republished by other organizations for free under a Creative Commons license. For more information on this, please contact our newspaper's managing editor. 2025 The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Wash.). Visit www.spokesman.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. TEL AVIV, Israel When nearly 1,000 Israeli Air Force veterans signed an open letter last week calling for an end to the war in Gaza, the military responded immediately, saying it would dismiss any active reservist who signed the document. But in the days since, thousands of retired and reservist soldiers across the military have signed similar letters of support. The growing campaign, which accuses the government of perpetuating the war for political reasons and failing to bring home the remaining hostages, has laid bare the deep division and disillusionment over Israels fighting in Gaza. By spilling over into the military, it has threatened national unity and raised questions about the armys ability to continue fighting at full force. It also resembles the bitter divisions that erupted in early 2023 over the governments attempts to overhaul Israels legal system, which many say weakened the country and encouraged Hamas attack later that year that triggered the war. Its crystal clear that the renewal of the war is for political reasons and not for security reasons, Guy Poran, a retired pilot who was one of the initiators of the air force letter, told The Associated Press. A return to war The catalyst for the letters was Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus decision on March 18 to return to war instead of sticking to a ceasefire that had facilitated the release of some hostages. Netanyahu says the military pressure is needed to force Hamas to release the remaining hostages. Critics, including many families of the hostages, fear that it will get them killed. One month after Netanyahu resumed the war, none of the 59 hostages held by Hamas have been freed or rescued, of whom 24 are believed to still be alive. In their letters, the protesters have stopped short of refusing to serve. And the vast majority of the 10,000 soldiers who have signed are retired in any case. Nonetheless, Poran said their decision to identify themselves as ex-pilots was deliberate given the respect among Israels Jewish majority for the military, and especially for fighter pilots and other prestigious units. Tens of thousands of academics, doctors, former ambassadors, students and high-tech workers have signed similar letters of solidarity in recent days, also demanding an end to the war. We are aware of the relative importance and the weight of the brand of Israeli Air Force pilots and felt that it is exactly the kind of case where we should use this title in order to influence society, said Poran. Elusive war goals The war erupted on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas carried out a surprise cross-border attack, killing about 1,200 people in southern Israel and taking 251 others hostage. Throughout the war, Netanyahu has set two major goals: destroying Hamas and bringing home the hostages. Israels offensive has reduced much of Gaza to rubble and killed more than 51,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, who don't differentiate between civilians and combatants. While Israel has come under heavy international criticism over the devastation in Gaza, the domestic opposition to the conflict reflects a widespread belief that Netanyahus war goals are not realistic. Nearly 70% of Israelis now say bringing home the hostages is the most important goal of the war, up from just over 50% in January 2024, according to a study conducted by the Jerusalem think tank Israel Democracy Institute. Nearly 60% of respondents said Netanyahus two goals cannot be realized together. The survey interviewed nearly 750 people and had a margin of error of 3.6 percentage points. Netanyahus opponents have also accused him of resuming the war to pander to his hardline coalition partners, who have threatened to topple the government if he ends the fighting. Steering clear of politics Many people were surprised by the militarys snap decision to dismiss air force reservists who signed the protest letter. The army, which is mandatory for most Jewish men, has long served as a melting pot and unifying force among Israels Jewish majority. Many key units rely heavily on reservists, who often to serve well into their 40s. In a statement, the military said it should be above all political dispute. As the protest movement has grown, a military official said the army is taking the letters very seriously. He said it joins a list of challenges to calling up reservists and that the army is working to support them. A growing number of reservists have stopped reporting for duty, citing exhaustion, family reasons, and the financial burden of missing work. Any civilian can have his opinions. The problems come when people use the army as a tool promoting their opinions, whatever they may be, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity under military guidelines. The armys dilemma Eran Duvdevani, who organized a letter signed by 2,500 former paratroopers, told the AP that the army faces a dilemma. If it will keep on releasing from service the pilots, what about all the others who signed the letters? Will they be discharged from service as well? he said. He said he organized the letter to show the pilots are not alone. Their concern over the wars direction is a widespread opinion, and you have to take it into consideration. Although only a few hundred of the signatories are still actively serving, the Israeli military has been stretched by 18 months of fighting and isnt in any position to be turning away anyone from reserve duty. Many Israelis are also furious that as reservists repeatedly get called up for action, the government continues to grant military exemptions to Netanyahus ultra-Orthodox governing partners. The number of Israelis continuing to report for reserve duty has dropped so low that the military has taken to social media to try to recruit people to keep serving. Protest letters illuminate widespread divisions Eran Halperin, an expert in social psychology at Jerusalems Hebrew University, called the letters the most important indication of the erosion of the ethos in this particular war. Though the war enjoyed widespread support at the outset, doubts have grown as so many hostages continue to languish in captivity and the Israeli death toll mounts. Nearly 850 soldiers have been killed since the war started. Its very, very difficult to maintain and manage a war in such violent conflict when there are such deep disagreements about the main questions pertaining to the war, Halperin said. In recent days, Netanyahus office has published a flurry of messages touting meetings with families of the hostages, stressing he is doing everything he can to hasten their return. On Tuesday, he and his defense minister toured northern Gaza, where Netanyahu praised the amazing reservists doing marvelous work. Netanyahus office released videos of him marching through the sandy dunes surrounded by dozens of soldiers. We are fighting for our existence, he said. We are fighting for our future. Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk pilot Jo Ellis listened attentively to the breaking news the evening of Jan. 29 that a helicopter had struck an American Airlines jet over the Potomac River near Washington, D.C., killing all aboard both aircraft. The next day, Ellis, who is transgender, was alarmed to hear Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth say that diversity initiatives had undermined air safety at the Pentagon, hinting that they had played a role in the midair collision. But it wasn't until the following day, when Ellis began receiving text messages from friends asking whether she was all right, that she learned she had been named by Matthew Wallace, a cryptocurrency influencer with 2.3 million followers on the social media platform X, as the pilot. Wallace posted photos of her and said Ellis was driven by a diagnosis of gender dysphoria to conduct what he called a possible "trans terror attack." Read Next: Army to Soldiers: Reenlist by Monday if You Want to Claim Incentives "My life turned upside down that morning," Ellis, an Iraq War veteran and chief warrant officer 2 who has served in the Virginia National Guard for nearly 16 years, said during an interview Thursday. Ellis debated how to respond. She posted a "proof of life" video on her Facebook page expressing condolences to the victims' families, adding that the collision should not be used to further political agendas. But when her family needed a security detail for protection and she began feeling uncomfortable leaving the house without a personal firearm, she decided to take Wallace to court. On April 9, Ellis filed a defamation suit alleging Wallace exploited the "devastation for clicks and money," and to do so, "concocted a destructive and irresponsible defamation campaign" against Ellis on social media. Wallace deleted his posts after Ellis's Facebook testimony began circulating, according to court documents. But Ellis told Military.com that she believes that unfounded online attacks need to be challenged. "Loose fingers on keyboards is having a real impact to many people's lives, and I don't know what the answer is, so the only answer I have is filing a lawsuit for defamation," Ellis said. Freedom of speech is a protected constitutional right. But libel -- written statements that damage a person's reputation -- can be challenged under the law. In recent years, victims of cyberlibel have won several high-profile lawsuits, including author E. Jean Carroll, who sued President Donald Trump over statements he made that she lied about a sexual assault by Trump to boost book sales, and two Georgia election workers who were accused by attorney and presidential adviser Rudy Guiliani of engaging in election fraud. Carroll was awarded $83.3 million in her defamation lawsuit; Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Shaye Moss, won $148 million in their case against Giuliani. Those wins aside, Meg Phelan, the attorney representing Ellis, said defamation cases are difficult, but she believes Ellis makes a strong argument. "We're going to fight as hard as we can against this in court," said Phelan, an attorney for the Equality Legal Action Fund, a largely volunteer group of attorneys and advocates who represent the LGBTQ+ community. "Our plan is just to fight and to use the law, which we believe is on our side." Attempts to reach Wallace were unsuccessful. As of Friday, he had not yet named an attorney, according to court records. The Black Hawk crew members killed in the January collision were Capt. Rebecca Lobach, 28, of Durham, North Carolina; Chief Warrant Officer Andrew Eaves, 39, of Great Mills, Maryland; and Staff Sgt. Ryan O'Hara, 28, of Lilburn, Georgia. All three were with Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, out of Fort Belvoir, Virginia. The Army initially withheld Lobach's name at the request of the family amid online speculation over her identity. Sixty-four people on the regional aircraft operating for American Airlines were killed. Ellis said she has relied strongly on Army resiliency training, which she described as "effective," to endure the onslaught of messages she has received and the discomfiting looks she gets from strangers -- attention she has been accustomed to, given that she is a tall transgender woman, but now is more worrisome after the negativity created by Wallace. "As someone who's been to Iraq, who's been shot at, it's a little bit different when the whole world has a magnifying glass on you," Ellis said. "It's just overwhelming. [But] I'm going to keep showing up and keep serving my country, because I love my country and I love my state, and that's ultimately what I want to do." Ellis said she plans to donate any proceeds she is awarded in the case to the families of those who were killed. "Matt took away from the tragedy by making it about me that weekend, and so he needs to be held accountable," she said. "The families of the crash victims don't deserve this." Related: Final Soldier Killed in Black Hawk Collision Identified as Family, Friends Grieve The Angels could welcome Zach Neto back from the injured list as soon as tomorrow evening. As Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register and Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com each observed, Neto was in Long Beach on Thursday after playing consecutive games with Triple-A Salt Lake on his minor league rehab stint. The team has not made any declarations on Netos status. The 24-year-old made it through nine innings at shortstop on back-to-back nights with Salt Lake on Tuesday and Wednesday. Manager Ron Washington had previously called that a necessity before the team would consider reinstating him. Neto now seems poised to rejoin them as they try to snap a four-game skid. Theyll play host to the Giants for three this weekend. Neto injured his right shoulder late last season. He underwent surgery in November that was always expected to keep him out of the lineup on Opening Day. While he didnt appear in any Spring Training games, he wasnt far behind. He began a rehab assignment on April 1. Neto has looked no worse for wear against minor league pitching. He hit four home runs with a .286/.397/.592 slash over 13 games with Salt Lake. The Angels have managed a 9-9 record despite playing without arguably their second-best position player. Neto was the teams most productive player last season. He hit .249/.318/.443 across 602 plate appearances. He led the club with 30 stolen bases and trailed only Taylor Ward for the team lead with 23 homers. It was an impressive first full MLB season for the 2022 first-round pick. Los Angeles has gotten no production at shortstop over the first few weeks. They entered play Thursday with a .140/.169/.158 slash and no home runs in 60 plate appearances out of the position. Theyre last in batting average and slugging, while only the White Sox have received a worse on-base mark. Tim Anderson and Kevin Newman have combined for almost all the playing time. Anderson is hitting .171 with one double over 44 trips to the plate. Newman has three hits (all singles) and no walks in nine games. Nicky Lopez, who signed a major league contract just before Opening Day, has only made one start. Hes 0-6 with a strikeout. Netos return will almost certainly result in someone getting designated for assignment. The Angels dont need to create a 40-man roster spot, but no one on their bench can be optioned. Newman, Lopez and J.D. Davis all have more than enough service time to refuse a minor league assignment, as does Anderson. Its unlikely that theyd drop Newman, who signed a $2.75MM free agent deal early in the offseason. One of the other three players is likely to be DFA as the corresponding move. The Cubs re-signed righty Caleb Kilian to a minor league contract, reports Tommy Birch of The Des Moines Register. Hell return to Triple-A Iowa after being released over the weekend. Chicago designated Kilian for assignment last Thursday when they acquired Tom Cosgrove in a trade with San Diego. Kilian was on the minor league injured list at the time. Teams cannot place injured players on outright waivers. The Cubs needed to trade Kilian or release him after the DFA. The vast majority of such players will be released. Once they clear waivers, theyre free to talk to all 30 clubs, though its common for their former team to try to get them back on a minor league deal. Thats what happened in this case, so Kilian sticks with the Cubs after a few days on the open market. Hes been in the organization since the 2021 deadline. The Cubs acquired Kilian and outfielder Alexander Canario from the Giants in the Kris Bryant deal. Both players were reasonably well-regarded prospects at the time, though neither has panned out thus far. Canarios big power has been undercut by huge strikeout tallies. The Cubs moved on from him over the offseason. Kilian has made eight major league appearances over three seasons. The Texas Tech product has allowed a 9.22 earned run average in 27 1/3 big league innings. He has walked 20 batters with 21 strikeouts. Over parts of four seasons in Triple-A, he carries a 4.37 ERA in 274 frames. His 21.8% strikeout rate is a little worse than average, as is his 9.2% walk percentage. Kilian had only taken the ball once for Iowa this year. He gave up six runs in 2 1/3 innings before leaving with the undisclosed injury that sent him to the IL. Hell work as non-roster rotation or long relief depth once hes healthy enough to return to the mound. The White Sox are in agreement with reliever Keone Kela on a minor league deal, as reflected on the MLB.com transaction log. Hes been assigned to the teams Arizona complex for the time being as he builds into game shape. Kela is trying to return to the big league level for the first time in four seasons. He hasnt pitched in the affiliated ranks since 2022. Kelas most recent affiliated opportunity came on a minor league deal with the Dodgers late that year. He signed on with the Yakult Swallows in Japan in 2023, though his time there was limited to 14 innings for their minor league club. Kela had a better run in the Mexican League last season, firing 40 innings of 2.70 ERA ball while striking out a quarter of opposing hitters. He added 16 innings of five-run ball in the Mexican winter league. The White Sox are intrigued enough by his form to give him a minor league chance. The 32-year-old Kela has pitched parts of seven seasons at the big league level. He had his best run early in his career with the Rangers, for whom he tossed 169 innings with a 3.45 earned run average. He worked to an even better 2.49 mark over parts of three seasons with the Pirates, though that came in a total of 47 innings. Kelas most recent big league experience came when he allowed eight runs in 10 2/3 innings for the 21 Padres. At his best, Kela had a fastball that sat in the 96 MPH range and a swing-and-miss curveball. He has fanned nearly 30% of batters faced against a manageable 9.2% walk rate as a big leaguer. The rebuilding White Sox have very little in the way of established bullpen arms. Its a decent landing spot as Kela tries to get back to the highest level. Hell presumably spend a couple weeks at the complex before heading to Triple-A Charlotte. A former deputy with the Macomb County Sheriffs Office has pleaded no contest to willful failure to uphold the law and assault and battery, both misdemeanors, according to Macomb County Circuit Court records. (MLive file photo) MLive file photo MACOMB COUNTY, MI A former Michigan sheriffs deputy has pleaded no contest to slapping a teen who was in his custody. Derek Reed, an ex-deputy with the Macomb County Sheriffs Office, pleaded no contest Thursday, April 17 to willful failure to uphold the law and assault and battery, both misdemeanors, according to Macomb County Circuit Court records. Blue the Emu escaped from his Skandia, Mich., home on April 5, 2025, and went for a jaunt down U.S. 41. Now, the family that captured and posted the viral video of the escapade is working to help the medically retired U.S. Army veteran build a better enclosure for his mob of emus. Courtesy of Amy Waldo SKANDIA, MI An emus exciting day running alongside a Michigan highway led to a viral video. And now, a call to support the veteran who cares for the giant bird. It all started on April 5, when Blue the Emu went for a little jaunt down U.S. 41 near Skandia in the Upper Peninsula. He made his way home later that day. The escapade was caught on video by John Waldo and shared by his wife, Amy Waldo, on social media. After it went viral, the Waldos knew they had to meet Blue and his owner, Aaron Prisk. RELATED: Escape artist emu takes unauthorized jaunt down U.P. highway The Waldos met Blue and his emu buddies, Spaz and Yoshi, along with Prisks chickens, ducks and peacocks. The meeting shed light on how Blue managed to get out - a homemade fence in which the emu had ripped a hole. And it inspired the Waldos to offer to help Prisk and his feathered pets. He would never ask for help, but we believe that stories like this are exactly why communities come together, Amy Waldo said in a GoFundMe campaign for Prisk. One viral video, one shared laugh, and suddenly, were all connected. Blue the Emu escaped from his Skandia, Mich., home on April 5, 2025, and went for a jaunt down U.S. 41. Now, the family that captured and posted the viral video of the escapade is working to help the medically retired U.S. Army veteran build a better enclosure for his mob of emus. From left to right, Aaron Prisk with his emu, Blue, John Waldo, who captured the video, and his son, Lukas Waldo. Courtesy of Amy Waldo Prisk is a medically retired U.S. Army veteran. He sustained severe spinal injuries during a deployment to Afghanistan. A vehicle he was in ran over an IED on Sept. 19, 2010. Fifteen years later, he still suffers from chronic pain. After his medical retirement, Prisk couldnt work and was going crazy at home, so got chickens, then ducks, then peacocks. I just kept going bigger, he said. In 2019, he bought Blue and Yoshi. Spaz joined the mob in 2022. In February 2024, Prisk had surgery on his neck related to his injuries from 2010, releasing his spinal cord from calcified bone. Doctors told him that he can no longer lift anything over 35 pounds. Thats the only reason I would accept (help), Prisk said. I cant do what I used to. Blue the Emu escaped from his Skandia, Mich., home on April 5, 2025, and went for a jaunt down U.S. 41. Now, the family that captured and posted the viral video of the escapade is working to help the medically retired U.S. Army veteran build a better enclosure for his mob of emus. Courtesy of Aaron Prisk The current enclosure is built out of scrap materials, Prisk said. Blues recent escape was the result of a hole Prisks son had cut in the fence for the chickens; Blue ripped it open and snuck through. The GoFundMe campaign seeks to raise $5,500 to pay for a new fence, upgraded coop and frost-proof water hydrant for the animals. John Waldo is gathering volunteers to install the fence and other needs. Theyre in urgent need of a safer, more secure enclosure for their animals something Aaron physically cannot build on his own, Amy Waldo said. A Grand Rapids dentist is suing the state over a licensing requirement he considers illegal and immoral. (MLive.com) MLive file photo GRAND RAPIDS, MI - A Grand Rapids dentist of 40 years is suing the state of Michigan over a licensing policy he considers illegal and immoral. Kent Wildern claims Michigan is weaponizing its licensing process by requiring health professionals to undergo two hours of implicit bias training for every renewal period. Implicit bias can be defined as the attitude or internalized stereotypes that unconsciously affect our perceptions, actions, and decision-making. It can contribute to unequal treatment of people based on race, ethnicity, nationality, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, socioeconomic status, age, or disability, according to state law. Since 2021, the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) has required one hour of implicit bias training per year for each renewal cycle. For dentists, thats three hours of training every three years. The LARA policy was ordered by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in July 2020 to address racism as a public health crisis in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, which disproportionately affected communities of color and shined a spotlight on longstanding disparities in health care. RELATED: Black babies in Michigan face triple the mortality rate of white infants before first birthday All health professionals, except veterinarians, are required to undergo the training to have their license renewed under the LARA policy. Those who fail to comply can be penalized with a fine, according to the lawsuit, though the law doesnt provide a fine amount or range. According to the lawsuit, LARA fined 132 health care professionals a combined nearly $76,000 during the first nine months of 2024. MLives attempts to contact LARA about the fine structure, and lawsuit in general, were not successful before publication. Training can be done via teleconference, webinar, live presentation, or asynchronous webinar, as long as it allows for participant interaction. Participants are then required to provide the date of training, program sponsors name, title of the program, and registrants name. Wildern refused to undergo training in 2021 when his license was expiring. He sought an exemption, and when he didnt get it he chose to allow his license to lapse. The dentist fundamentally and deeply disagrees with the premise of the training, according to the complaint filed April 3 with the Michigan Court of Claims. Wildern wasnt available for comment. In the lawsuit, he said he is seeking to have the LARA policy eliminated, in which case he would resume working part-time. The Pacific Legal Foundation, which is representing Wildern in the case, argued its up to the Michigan Legislature, not LARA, to create such a licensing requirements. Thats because the policy doesnt determine whether health care professionals have the knowledge and skill required to practice their craft. LARA has no legitimate government interest in requiring what amounts to no more than mandated indoctrination as a condition for the ability to practice a healthcare profession with the purpose of regulating individual healthcare professionals subjective states of mind, the lawsuit reads. Wildern is seeking to vindicate his right to earn a living free from executive overreach and unconstitutional compulsion. More than 90 Michigan school board members have signed a letter calling on state and federal policymakers to defend public education. The letter was coordinated by the Michigan Education Justice Coalition (MEJC), and was signed Feb. 25. The MEJC plans to send the letter to all Michigan Congressional representatives, and hand-delivered it Wednesday to Congresswoman Lisa McClain, said MEJC Regional Organizer Katherine Nitz. The visit to McClains office was the culmination of a series of in-person deliveries to the three Michigan representatives on the United States House Education and Workforce Committee. Rallies have also taken place at Haley Stevens and Tim Walbergs offices earlier in 2025, MEJC officials said in a news release. The joint letter was signed by over 90 school board members in 20 counties, including five Michigan State Board of Education members. The letter urges lawmakers to: Increase state and federal investment in K-12 public education. Close equity gaps in funding for special education, English language learners, and students in high-poverty communities. Oppose voucher schemes diverting public dollars to private interests. Strengthen support for educators and school staff. The letter also highlights a need to address funding gaps that affect various groups, such as students of color, students with disabilities and students from low-income communities, officials said. Any actions to weaken or dismantle the Department of Education puts local schools at risk, said Derek Dobies, Jackson Public School Board vice president. That federal funding supports our special education programs, school lunches, teacher training and essential resources that really help us to level the playing field for students of all backgrounds. Dobies signed the letter along with three other Jackson board members, including Shalanda Hunt, Kesha Hamilton and Alaina Sharp. State Board of Education member Mitchell Robinson cites the Michigan Houses advancement of a $20 billion spending plan in March as an example of threats to the Michigan Department of Education. These are dangerous moves, the things that the Michigan legislature has proposed are kind of like playing a game of chicken that even high school kids usually dont try to do, Robinson said. This is deeply irresponsible to suggest cutting 25% of the states education budget and $5 billion less funding for Michigan schools. What were looking for are serious people to talk about serious issues. The U.S. Department of Education announced in March it would cut its workforce by half, eliminating 2,000 jobs following proposed cuts to federal school-related funding in other departments, like free and reduced meals for students, preschool and early childcare, under President Donald Trump. Related: Michigan schools get $2.27B from the feds. Whats at stake amid Trumps spending cuts? Michigan ranks among the lowest states for funding growth in education, MEJC Director Rachelle Crow-Hercher said in a statement to MLive. Our schools have been chronically underfunded for decades, resulting in a $4.5 billion budget shortfall. Our schools cannot afford inconsistency, or worse, a decline in funding. The MEJC is also exploring a ballot initiative to change the flat Michigan income tax to a graduated rate so that the wealthy pay their fair share, Crow-Hercher said. All of our students deserve fully funded schools, Crow-Hercher said. We believe that every child, no matter their race, gender, ability, or zip code, deserves a quality education to set them up for success in the classroom and beyond. The MEJC is a statewide non-profit network of educators, parents, students and community leaders, partnered with the national organizing initiative HEAL Together. MEJC is leading the initiative to contact Michigan representatives as part of a broader campaign to ensure every Michigan student has access to a high-quality, well-resourced public education, officials said. If you would like more reporting like this delivered free to your inbox, click here and signup for our weekly newsletter: Michigan Schools. Outside the Theodore Levin U.S. District Courthouse at 231 W. Lafeyette Blvd. in Detroit. Photo by Sam Dodge. Sam Dodge | MLive.com DETROIT, MI - The status for four international students at Michigan universities remains unclear after a federal judge on Thursday denied a temporary restraining order. The decision was shared after the attorneys for two University of Michigan students and two Wayne State University students requested the TRO followed by a preliminary injunction to restore their F-1 student statuses. Isabelle, the dog that Ed Berger and Susan Hammerton owned together, is pictured with a tennis ball. Courtesy photo ANN ARBOR, MI The man who survived a home invasion that killed his long-time partner has filed a lawsuit against her daughter for possession of the couples dog. Ed Berger, 82, sued Elana James Tuesday, April 15, in the Washtenaw County Circuit Court. The lawsuit alleges James stole Isabelle, the golden retriever Berger owned with his partner Susan Hammerton. An intruder stabbed Hammerton, 81, Sept. 13 when the he broke into her and Bergers Pittsfield Township home, police previously said. The man also stabbed Berger and Isabelle, police said, but Berger and Isabelle survived. Hammerton died during emergency surgery. Berger alleges James, also referred to in the lawsuit with the last name Fremerman, fraudulently changed Isabelles veterinary records and microchip information before taking her to Austin, Texas, without his permission. James lawyer, Celeste Dunn, did not immediately return a request for comment on the lawsuit. Read more: Love of music, quick wit defined woman killed in Washtenaw County home invasion James, who was the executor of her mothers will, had returned to Ann Arbor on Jan. 3 and asked to visit with Isabelle, the lawsuit reads. Berger had previously allowed James to visit with the dog, sometimes keeping Isabelle with her overnight. Berger had dropped off Isabelle to stay with James on Jan. 6, with plans to meet for dinner the following day and an agreement to pick up Isabelle on Jan. 9, according to the lawsuit. On Jan. 7, James sister informed Berger that James had left for Texas with Isabelle. Berger alleges James used his precarious emotional state against him, according to the lawsuit. Read more: Dog stabbed in fatal home invasion the center of dispute between survivor, family Defendant Fremerman used this time to time to manipulate and groom Ed, gaining his trust and preying on his vulnerability while planning her abduction and theft of Isabelle, the lawsuit reads. Dunn, representing James, previously said the dog lawfully belongs to her client. All of Ms. Hammertons assets were within her trust, which necessarily included her ownership of dog Isabelle, Dunn said in an email to MLive. Ms. Hammerton designated her beneficiaries. Mr. Berger was not a beneficiary of dog Isabelle. Hammertons will does not mention the dog at all, according to county records. Isabelle is still with James, according to the lawsuit. Berger also filed a request for the court to issue a temporary order for James to return Isabelle. Berger was joined in the suit by Erica Patriquin, the owner of Cider Ash Golden Retrievers. Patriquin alleges she has the right of first refusal for her dogs if their owners are no longer capable of caring for them. The Washtenaw County Prosecutors Office previously declined to bring charges against James, according to the Pittsfield Township police, although recently said it would take another look at the case. No charges have been filed against James as of Friday, April 18, according to court records. Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page, the Ypsilanti-area news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter. Heres a round-up of traffic restrictions across Washtenaw County for Friday, April 18, and the week ahead. WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI Drivers can expect interruptions and closures throughout Washtenaw County. North Territorial Road will close between Earhart and Dixboro roads in Northfield Township for multiple culvert replacements next week. Here are five great easter egg hunts in mid-Michigan that you and your family can enjoy. Cory Morse | cmorse1@mlive.com FLINT, MI As Easter approaches and temperatures warm, this weekend provides a unique opportunity to get some sunshine and celebrate a beloved Easter tradition. Here are five great easter egg hunts in mid-Michigan that you and your family can enjoy. Natures Eggs Extravaganza, Midland Every child can make their own egg hunt bag at this Easter event hosted by Midlands Chippewa Nature Center. Prizes will be awarded to each participant, and hunters will be divided into age groups. This hunt is on Saturday, April 19. Register at this link to learn more. Tickets are $12 per participant. Old Town Saginaw Association Easter Egg Hunt More than 25,000 eggs were hidden in Borchard Park and the courthouse lawn in Saginaws Old Town leading up to its traditional spring Easter Egg Hunt, also on Saturday. Related: Kids can hunt for 25K candy-filled eggs as Old Town Saginaws Easter tradition continues Easter Egg Hunt at the Stockton House Participate in an easter egg hunt and tour a historic home in Flint on Saturday afternoon at the Stockton House. The outdoor hunt is free, but tours are $5 per person or $15 per family. The home is located at 720 Ann Arbor St. in Flint. Adult Easter Egg Hunt (21+), Flint Participants should bring both a flashlight and an Easter basket to this Easter egg hunt. The adult-only hunt features more than 5,000 eggs containing adult-only prizes like gift certificates, coupons, adult beverages and even cash. Tickets can be purchased online at this link. The hunt is at 6 p.m. on Saturday. Related: Easter events in Flint and Genesee County cater to all ages, interests Holy Family Catholic Church, Saginaw The Holy Family Catholic Church will host two easter egg hunts this year one on Sunday, April 20, and another on Sunday, April 27. The hunts are for children ages 12 and under. The April 20 hunt is at 9 a.m. and the April 27 hunt is at 5 p.m. Want more Flint-area news? Bookmark the local Flint news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Flint daily newsletter. A newspaper article published in the days after Andrea Eilber was found shot and killed in Lapeer County shows a cropped photo of the 20-year-old woman. Her boyfriend was originally charged in her death, and new information has led authorities to issue an arrest warrant for an additional man accused in the murder. LAPEER, MI Kenneth Grondin and his attorneys are asking for additional DNA testing to be conducted from the Andrea Eilber homicide crime scene. The saga continues after Chadwick Mobley, who was linked to the crime scene from DNA on a cigarette butt, was sentenced to life in prison on April 15 after pleading no contest to a first-degree murder charge. Michigan State Police troopers are investigating a fatal motorcycle crash in Thetford Township in Genesee County. (MLive File Photo) GENESEE COUNTY, MI Michigan State Police troopers are investigating a fatal motorcycle crash in northern Genesee County. The crash occurred at about 11:40 p.m. on Thursday, April 17, at the intersection of Saginaw Road and Frances Road in Thetford Township. Flint City Hall is shown in this Flint Journal file photo. Ron Fonger | The Flint Journal FLINT, MI Small businesses in Flint that were hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic could qualify for targeted grants of up to $20,000 through a new program offered by the city in partnership with LISC Flint. The city announced the launch of the Flint Small Business Rescue Fund this week and is accepting applications for it from Friday, April 18, until April 30. Funded with American Rescue Plan Act dollars, the program will provide one-time reimbursement grants of up to $20,000 to 20 eligible small businesses located in Flint. Eligible businesses can apply to be reimbursed for qualified expenses incurred from March 3, 2020, until Oct. 31, 2023, the city said in a news release announcing the application window. Covered expenses include payroll, rent, utilities, equipment purchases, and other pandemic-related costs, per the announcement. LISC Flint will review applications, and if demand exceeds available funds, a lottery will determine which applications are funded, according to the city. Small businesses are the heartbeat of the Flint community, and they deserve every opportunity to thrive, Mayor Sheldon Neeley said in a statement released by the city. To qualify, businesses must have a brick-and-mortar location, employ no more than 30 full-time equivalent employees, have been in operation prior to Oct. 1, 2020, be in good standing with the city, and have documented financial hardship and proof of qualifying expenses. The citys announcement says Social Impact Philanthropy & Investment Inc. will host multiple support sessions for prospective grant applicants. In-person technical assistance is available at SIPI, 607 E. 2nd Ave., from 9-11 a.m. and noon to 4 p.m. on Friday, April 25. A virtual information session with LISC is available from 3-4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22. A virtual technical assistance meeting is scheduled for 4-6 p.m. on April 27. To register or request support, businesses can email SIPI at milas@sipi-inc.com. A pre-application intake form needed to start the application process is available by emailing Juan Zuniga, executive director of LISC Flint, at jzuniga@lisc.com. FLINT, MI John Reed was sitting on his porch on farmland in Louisiana on a January morning in 2023 when U.S. Marshals arrested him for allegedly raping a woman in 1976. Reed, who maintained his innocence, cooperated with police while he was extradited to Flint, Mich., a place he hadnt been to since 1972. As more voters are casting their ballots early or by mail, Grand Rapids is looking to eliminate some of its Election Day voting precincts.(Rylan Capper | MLive.com) Rylan Capper | rcapper@mlive.com GRAND RAPIDS, MI As more voters are casting their ballots early or by mail, Grand Rapids is looking to eliminate some of its Election Day voting precincts. Grand Rapids City Clerk Joel Hondorp said the move would improve efficiency and accessibility for voters, while also accommodating the loss of several polling locations that are no longer able to operate as voting precincts. A woman was shot twice at an Allendale area home in a domestic dispute. The shooter was then stabbed by a 16-year-old in the home. John Tunison GRAND HAVEN, MI -- A 35-year-old Ottawa County man has been sentenced to a minimum 25 years in prison for shooting his girlfriend during a domestic dispute. Vaughn Lowe Smith was sentenced Friday, April 18, in Ottawa County Circuit Court on a charge of attempted murder. KALAMAZOO, MI Over 200 protesters gathered in downtown Kalamazoo in support of the nationwide Economic Blackout Day protest on Friday, April 18. This was the second Economic Blackout Day this year, the first having been organized on Feb. 28, which encourages people not to purchase anything unless it is vital over the weekend and continues a nationwide boycott of brands like Target and Amazon. Economic Blackout Day focuses specifically on diversity, equity and inclusion cuts at companies and institutions across the country. The Kalamazoo community also used the space to take up grievances with local and national administration. Michelle Serlin organized the protest. This is national, Serlin said. To say no to all the companies that are saying no to DEI. Serlin cited Target, Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart and more. Michelle Serlin shouts through a microphone to over 200 Kalamazoo community members that gathered downtown on Friday, April 18, 2025, to join in on the second Economic Blackout Day protest, which was happening concurrently in cities across the nation. The goal behind the economic blackout was to shop local and prevent spending at places that were disinvesting in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts. Though, the protest itself turned into a larger grievance with the Trump administration. (Devin Anderson-Torrez | MLive.com) Your handicap spaces are DEI, women who are not fired when they have a baby is DEI, Serlin said. People think it is something where people get jobs that are not merited... thats not true. Its about making sure women, handicapped people, people of color, LGBTQ (community) all have the right to get jobs and have equal opportunity. Serlin also believes that there is a war on education across the country, stemming from inside the Oval Office. Donald Trump is trying to dictate what should be taught, Serlin said. The idea is that we should not be controlling educational institutions ... Hes marching in with a chainsaw and cutting our system. Protesters carried out chants from around noon to 1:30 p.m. Signs present touched on various perceived issues going on throughout the country. Boycott Big $, Shop Local No Fascism Hands Off Our Social Security No Kings War On The Poor Hands Off Our Libraries Say No To Authoritarian Oligarchy Due Process Is The Law Thaw ICE The Only Minority Destroying America Are Billionaires Several other signs targeted both Elon Musk and DOGE. Tom Duffield, 75, of Kalamazoo, remembers protesting the Vietnam War. He remembers the feeling of seeing a draft card ripped up for the first time. He knows that change is possible through a collective exercise of First Amendment rights. Now, he says he is in a new fight for future generations. Tom Duffield, 75 of Kalamazoo, sits on the steps outside the old courthouse on Friday, April 18, 2025, during the second Economic Blackout Day protest, which was happening concurrently in cities across the nation. Duffield said he remembers protesting the Vietnam War, now he is in a new fight. (Devin Anderson-Torrez | MLive.com) We have a dictator thats in the Oval Office. Hes enabled everyone around him to allow him to do and choose as he pleases without checks and balances, Duffield said. Theres a quote, When the people lead, the leaders will follow. The reason we are out here is because we have no leaders. Its time that we, throughout the country, but here in Kalamazoo, take the lead. A belief that the country currently lacks checks and balances and due process was a shared sentiment across protesters. Related: Pressure mounts for Michigans congressional GOP to host in-person town halls Pete, of Kalamazoo, who declined to give his full name, showed up with multiple signs, one of which declared he was fighting Fascism for his daughters. Im really disturbed by whats going on in America. I never thought that Id see this kind of stuff happen in our lifetime. That people are being deported without due process is beyond the pale, Pete said. The cuts in things that we need to live our lives, to have a society and culture, those things are being cut every single day. Additionally, weekly protests have been organized in Kalamazoo at Representative Bill Huizengas office over the past weeks, as he has declined to talk with constituents and shut off his voicemail box. Related: Flood of calls prompt GOP congressman to shut off voicemail irking voters If we had a leader, if we had someone speaking up, they would be saying what we feel and think. That is not happening, Duffield said. The messages on the posters here... those are the messages that should be spoken by the community leaders. Whats happening is like being in a room full of carbon monoxide and you dont see it until its too late. Thats a metaphor for whats happening in our country. Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Kalamazoo daily newsletter. Outside Sangren Hall at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on Thursday, April 10, 2025. (Devin Anderson-Torrez | MLive.com) KALAMAZOO, MI -- Two more Western Michigan University students have had their legal residency terminated by President Donald Trumps administration. Four students previously had their legal residency terminated, the university announced on April 9, including one student who had their visa revoked. The two new students ups the total number of affected students to six, a spokesperson for the university confirmed. RELATED: 4 WMU students have legal residency terminated by Trump administration The Trump administration ended the students legal residency by removing them from the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). The database is used to track information about international students, exchange visitors and their dependents, according to an email from WMUs Office of the President. When SEVIS status is terminated, those students may have their visas revoked and are at risk of being deported. No students have been deported to date, the email stated. The university is routinely monitoring the SEVIS system, the email stated, but university officials dont have access to students visa status. Students concerned about their SEVIS or visa status are encouraged to contact the WMU International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) Office. Staff in the ISSS office are working one-on-one with affected students to help them understand their legal and procedural options, according to the email. WMU enrolls 2,100 international students in the United States and abroad, the email stated. The longstanding 0.7 mill tax funds maintenance of over 1,200 lights and allows for expansion as new subdivisions and commercial areas develop. Kayla Tucker MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI - A millage thats been in place for years to maintain Muskegon Townships streetlights is up for renewal on the May 6 election ballot. It just keeps our streetlights on, Muskegon Township Supervisor Jennifer Hodges said. A fundraiser created to help the family with funeral costs doubled its $5,000 goal, with local businesses and officials among those making donations. GoFundMe BAY CITY, MI More than $10,000 has been raised for the family of a 14-year-old Handy Middle School student who died suddenly Tuesday, April 15. The eighth-grade student, whose name has not been released by authorities, died shortly after exiting his school bus near MacGregor Elementary. A GoFundMe created Thursday sought $5,000 to assist the teens family in covering funeral expenses. About 24 hours later, $10,800 had been amassed over more than 260 donations. Related: Bay City middle school student dies after exiting school bus Im starting this to try and help my brother and sister-in-law cover expenses for the funeral of their child, wrote the fundraiser organizer, listed as Shavonne Douglas. My nephew passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, April 15th. He was only 14 and was loved by so many. Looking to see if anyone would like to help donate money to help cover some expenses of the funeral while the family grieves the loss of their child. Anything is much appreciated. Some of the top donations included a local business, with Mid-Michigan Transmissions donating $200 to the fundraiser. There were several anonymous donations exceeding $150. Bay City Mayor Chris Girard also donated $100. Bay City Public Safety Lt. Todd Armstrong previously told MLive police are investigating the teens death but added that it does not appear to be suspicious. 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. Want to subscribe to our Hello, Bay City newsletter? Sign up for free here. A Democratic state representative reportedly clingwrapped a Republican colleagues BMW on Thursday as a prank for him partially parking in her spot. My good colleague from the 51st District parked in two spots, including mine, to make sure no one hit his fancy car, state Rep. Julie Brixie, D-Okemos, told the Detroit News. I Saran wrapped it to give it an extra layer of protection. Security footage released Friday by House Republicans appears to show Brixie wrapping the car of state Rep. Matt Maddock, R-Milford, with cling film while another person films her. The wrapping took place while the House was in session Thursday, April 17. About 30 minutes later, Brixie was in the Capitol Building and made an announcement on the House floor. Colleagues, can I have your attention? Colleagues? Brixie started. I just came in from the parking ramp and theres a black BMW with the license plate number M-M-A-D-D. Your hood is open, your lights are on and your engine is running. Thank you. Brixie did not immediately respond to MLive requests for comment. Maddock said he was a little shocked but not surprised by the incident. The cling wrap didnt damage his car, but it did damage Brixies reputation, he said. Shes jealous of my car, Maddock said. I told her she could have a nice one too if she worked hard and cut spending, but she pointed out shes a Democrat and cant do either. Maddocks car was parked straddling two spots in the government-owned Roosevelt Parking Ramp near the Capitol Building in Lansing. Maddock said he partially parked in Brixies spot by accident because he was running late. He said he didnt see the assigned parking number, only that the spot was open. Good thing I dont own a Tesla, Maddock said. She keeps trying to get my attention and I keep telling her Im married. Maddock was referencing the rash of vandalism this year against Tesla dealerships and vehicles in protest against Tesla owner Elon Musk. Musk serves as an adviser to President Donald Trump and has spearheaded controversial efforts to downsize the federal government through mass firings of probationary workers. It wasnt immediately clear what, if any, criminal charges could be sought over the incident. Maddock didnt answer whether he was pursuing any criminal action. As for any punishments from Republican House leadership, Maddock said that Speaker Hall is tough, and I dont think hes going to let this slide. Should he choose, House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, could strip Brixie of her committee assignments, reassign her legislative staff and withdraw her offices budget. Thats what happened to state Rep. Josh Schriver, R-Oxford, in 2024 after he sparked widespread outrage and condemnation with a social media post endorsing a racist conspiracy theory about a concerted effort to replace white Americans. At the time, Democrats controlled the House. A spokesperson for Hall said punitive measures against Brixie have not been discussed yet. China, Malaysia strive to further digital economy cooperation 09:25, April 18, 2025 By Wang Jing, Zhang Rong ( People's Daily Online Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at the prime minister's official residence in Putrajaya, Malaysia, April 16, 2025. After the talks, the two sides issued the Joint Statement Between the People's Republic of China and Malaysia on Building a High-level Strategic China-Malaysia Community with a Shared Future. According to the statement, both sides agreed, to the extent practicable, to become a pacesetter for regional cooperation on new quality productive forces, promote the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative Cooperation Plan signed in 2024 and further synergise development strategies. Focusing on four key areas of digital economy, green economy, blue economy and tourism economy, the two sides will expand future economic cooperation, promote integrated, coordinated and complementary development, achieve deep integration of industrial and supply chains, value chains, data chains and talent chains, so as to further improve the level and quality of China-Malaysia cooperation. The Belt and Road Initiative upholds the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits. In recent years, China and Malaysia have continuously developed cooperation in the digital economy, artificial intelligence, new energy, and other emerging growth areas. The scope of digital economy cooperation between the two countries has been continuously expanding, and the level of cooperation has been constantly improving. (Web editor: Du Mingming, Wu Chengliang) The Republican-led House Oversight Committee has authorized a subpoena against Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson for election training materials that lawmakers say her office has withheld from them. (MLive file photo) Ben Orner | MLive.com The Republican-led House Oversight Committee has authorized a subpoena against Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson for election training materials that lawmakers say her office has withheld from them. The subpoena authorized Tuesday, April 15, does not compel Benson, a Democrat, to testify before the committee but to produce education and training materials that her office provides to local clerks administering elections. House Oversight Committee Chair Jay DeBoyer, R-Clay Township, alleged Bensons office has refused to provide the documents requested by lawmakers for the past five months. He said Benson withholding the documents suggests they dont comply with state law. Secretary Bensons refusal to provide the House Oversight Committee with basic training materials provided to local election officials indicates that the training provided does not comply with the Michigan election law, he said. If the training did comply with the Michigan election law, Secretary Benson would not be withholding the documents from the House Oversight Committee. Only Republicans on the House Oversight Committee voted in favor of authorizing the subpoena. Michigan Department of State spokesperson Angela Benander said the documents requested by lawmakers contain information that could jeopardize not just the privacy of voters but election security. This sensitive information includes active screens of the qualified voter file and information that could be used to compromise technology used by local election officials or gain improper access to secure communication channels used to report security risks, Benander said. It also includes specific procedures for securing voting equipment, ballots and other election-related materials. Rather than hand over the materials in full, Benander said Benson made multiple attempts to provide lawmakers with the documents in a way that protects the security of the election system. The House Oversight Committee rejected all of those attempts, Benander said. A day before the subpoena vote, Benson informed DeBoyer that her office would provide some of the election training materials, with redactions, on April 30 with more to follow. Unfortunately, the committee has hijacked what was supposed to be a legitimate oversight process, Benander said. They have made the committee chair a single individual with no legal background judge and jury with the power to force state employees to disclose sensitive election security information or face discipline. Its now clear that the plan all along was to weaponize this process and continue to undermine the publics faith in the security and legitimacy of our elections. Benander suggested Bensons office is willing to challenge the subpoena in court to protect the security and integrity of Michigans elections. The election training materials are part of a larger trove of documents requested from Benson by the Republican-led House Election Integrity Committee. Most of that request has been fulfilled, the committee chair previously said. House Election Integrity Committee Chair Rachelle Smit, R-Martin, previously testified the request was part of the committees charge to examine Michigans election system and identify areas of improvement. A thorough review of the election training materials is critical given Bensons track record of issuing illegal guidance and rules that have been struck down by courts, Smit alleged Tuesday. Smit did not provide further details about instances of illegal guidance. Last year, the Michigan Supreme Court upheld most of Bensons guidelines issued for poll challengers, reversing lower court decisions. Legislators must review these materials and ensure election workers are receiving the most appropriate, up-to-date training guidance thats developed directly in line with state law not whatever portions of state law Secretary Benson decided fit her agenda this week, Smit said. After months of what Smit said was Bensons office stonewalling her request for all the documents, Smit asked the House Oversight Committee in March to issue a subpoena. The House Oversight Committee then gave Benson an April 14 deadline to release the training materials. The subpoena authorization came after that deadline was missed. The subpoena is the first to be authorized by the Republican majority that came into power in January in the House. House Republicans earlier this year granted the House Oversight Committee the permanent ability to issue subpoenas. By doing so, the committee is able to compel witnesses to testify and departments to produce evidence under threat of law. Prior to the change, committees were granted the power of subpoena on a case-by-case basis that required a majority vote of the chamber each time. Michigan State Universitys Faculty Senate is urging the universitys administration to enter into a mutual defense compact with other Big Ten universities to protect the institution from the Trump administration. The Faculty Senate at the University of Michigan is at least considering the idea. A resolution approved this week by MSUs faculty governing body says, in part, that Recent and escalating politically motivated actions by governmental bodies pose a significant threat to the foundational principles of American higher education, including the autonomy of university governance, the integrity of scientific research, and the protection of free speech. The Trump administration and its allies, it says have signaled a willingness to target individual institutions with legal, financial, and political incursion designed to undermine their public mission, silence dissenting voices, and/or exert improper control over academic inquiry. It urges universities to create a mutual defense fund and to share legal and public relations resources with other Big Ten schools under attack. The compact, I believe, reflects many of the concerns that faculty across our nation are experiencing or feeling at present, Angela Wilson, a professor of chemistry and chair of MSUs faculty senate, said in an email, and I want to be clear that this is regardless of their political affiliation. MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz meets regularly with the Faculty Senate and understands their valid concerns regarding the impact of federal policy and funding changes on higher education, university spokesperson Amber McCann said, noting that MSU is part of national organizations advocating for universities with the federal government and that it had joined a lawsuit over a reduction in indirect costs on U.S. Department of Energy research grants. Over the past several weeks, the Trump administration has cut off billions of dollars in grants and other federal funding to universities around the county. In some cases, the cuts have happened under the auspices of the Department of Government Efficiency. In a few instances, they have been targeted at particular universities perceived as not supporting the goals and ideologies of the administration. The administration has threatened to cut $2.2 billion in federal money from Harvard University after it refused a series of demands that would have given the federal government a say in hiring decisions and required the university to reform departments the administration found biased, among other things. It froze $175 million in federal funding to the University of Pennsylvania because a transgender athlete, Lia Thomas, had competed on its womens swim team in the 2021-22 season. It secured concessions from Columbia University, including an overhaul of its protest policies and appointing an administrator to oversee its Middle Eastern, South Asian and African Studies Department, after threatening to cut $400 million in federal funding. We havent had the administrations eyes set squarely on Michigan State, said Jack Lipton, an MSU neuroscientist and vice chair of the Faculty Senate, but we are starting to feel it. The push for a mutual defense compact began with professor at Rutgers University in New Jersey. The impetus was seeing increasingly challenging attacks on higher education, said Paul Boxer, a professor of psychology at Rutgerss Newark campus who wrote the original resolution with chemistry professor David Salas-de la Cruz. We were paying close attention to the kinds of things that were happening with Columbia, Harvard, Princeton, etc. Related: Faculty demand University of Michigans commitment to DEI, immigrant students The responses from faculty senates at individual universities didnt seem strong enough or protective enough, he said. And we think its important to protect higher education, he said. Its of incredible value to students, to our labor force, to the next generation of professionals in our country, not to mention scientific research, academic freedom and so on. So far, faculty senates at Rutgers, MSU, the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and Indiana University have signed off on the idea of mutual defense. The University of Michigan Faculty Senate held a special meeting Thursday to consider that and other measures, though the voting wont be final until Sunday. The task for us as faculty now is not just to hope, but to help create the conditions for schools to step up and defy what the Trump administration is trying to do, said UM sociology professor Sandra Levitsky said Thursday. To date, the leadership of those universities have not officially signed on to the sort of mutual defense plan articulated in the resolutions. Universities in general are not good at explaining their value to society, Lipton said, and, faced with attacks from the Trump administration, everyones trying to duck. But really, I think the most important thing that we can do - which is our job, particularly as a public university - is to be better at explaining why we are important to the average citizen of Michigan or the average citizen of the United States, he said. Dont let other people characterize who we are and what we stand for. Rajni Pandey is a seasoned content creator with over 15 years of experience crafting compelling stories for digital news platforms. 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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 Arindam Roy USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept JD Vances India visit begins on April 21: Whats on the table for trade, tariffs, and ties Abhinav Gupta USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept Trumps immigration orders under fire: The legal showdown you need to know 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. 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For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Xi says China, Cambodia set model for equality, mutual trust, win-win cooperation between countries of different sizes Xinhua) 08:02, April 18, 2025 Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) PHNOM PENH, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that China and Cambodia set a model for equality, mutual trust and win-win cooperation between countries of different sizes. Xi made the remarks when meeting with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni during his state visit to Cambodia. Noting that Cambodia has recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of King Sihamoni's enthronement and the Khmer New Year, Xi said he is delighted to visit the beautiful country of Cambodia at the invitation of the king, extending his heartfelt New Year greetings to the Cambodian people. Xi said that Cambodia's nation-building is thriving, and he firmly believes that, under the blessings of King Sihamoni, the hardworking and intelligent Cambodian people will surely build an even more prosperous and stronger nation. Xi pointed out that China and Cambodia share a millennia-old friendship, with their people having always striven together and thrived together. Regardless of changes in the international landscape, China and Cambodia have stood by each other in good faith and with mutual assistance, offering unwavering support on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns. China and Cambodia have always been at the forefront of building a community with a shared future for mankind, bringing tangible benefits to the Cambodian people, said Xi. He said that China values its friendship with the Cambodian royal family, and spoke highly of the important contributions made by the Cambodian royal family to the cause of China-Cambodia friendship over the years. Under the new circumstances, China and Cambodia should cherish and carry forward the ironclad friendship jointly forged by the elder generation of Chinese leaders and King Father Norodom Sihanouk, endow the China-Cambodia community with a shared future with new connotations of the time, serve the development of their respective countries and the well-being of their people, and make greater contributions to building a community with a shared future with neighboring countries and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, said Xi. He noted that China firmly supports Cambodia in maintaining stability, accelerating development, improving people's livelihoods and following a development path that suits its national conditions. Xi said that he believes Chinese modernization will bring more opportunities to Cambodia and other neighboring countries and expressed confidence in writing a splendid chapter of building an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era. For his part, King Sihamoni said the friendship between Cambodia and China was created and cultivated by the elder generation of leaders of the two countries, adding that with the joint efforts of both sides, cooperation in various fields has become increasingly close and the building of a community with a shared future has been continuously deepened. The Cambodian side, he said, firmly adheres to the one-China principle, highly appreciates the three major global initiatives proposed by Xi, and appreciates the huge development opportunities brought to Cambodia via the Belt and Road cooperation. He hailed Xi's visit a historic one, which will deepen the ironclad friendship between the two countries, enrich the cooperation framework of the "Diamond Hexagon," and take bilateral ties to a new level. The king also said his country is ready to enhance coordination and cooperation with China in such multilateral mechanisms as ASEAN-China Cooperation and Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, and jointly promote regional peace, stability and prosperity. The king also presented the National Order of Independence - Grand Collar to Xi. He said Xi holds special friendly feelings towards Cambodia and has made outstanding contributions to promoting the development of Cambodia-China relations, adding that Xi is a great friend of Cambodia. It is believed that under the leadership of President Xi, China will achieve greater development accomplishments and play a more important role in international and regional affairs, he added. Xi said that this medal fully demonstrates Cambodia's high regard for developing China-Cambodia relations and carries the deep friendship of the Cambodian people towards the Chinese people. This honor, he said, belongs not only to him personally, but also to all the friendly people who have cultivated and contributed to the friendship between China and Cambodia. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni presents the National Order of Independence - Grand Collar to Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. Xi met with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh on Thursday. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) Chinese President Xi Jinping and Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni walk at the Royal Palace after their meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. Xi met with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh on Thursday. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Sacramento, CA Governor Gavin Newsom is responding to news out of Washington, DC that funding is being eliminated for the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps. It is part of President Donald Trumps Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) efforts to identify waste and reduce government spending. An estimated 2,000 people, ages 18-26, serve in the AmeriCorps program. They are often visible responding to natural disasters. Governor Newsom argues, Weve gone from the New Deal, the New Frontier, and the Great Society to a federal government that gives the middle finger to volunteers serving their fellow Americans. We will sue to stop this. Newsoms office states that during the 2023-24 service year, 6200 AmeriCorps members provided 4.3 million hours of service, mentored 73,000 students, supported 17,000 foster youth, and planted 39,000 trees. In addition to the lawsuit, the state will ramp up efforts to recruit new members to the California Service Corps program, which is a state initiative similar to the national program. Yves here. The headline from Richard Murphy may seem overwrought, but Trump actions have been so wildly out of bound that nothing is impossible. The latest Trump salvo against legal protections and civil rights is expected to come on or before April 20, as in Easter Sunday. Waging Nonviolence gives the background: With President Trump constantly flooding the zone, theres a chance to think ahead about the possible implementation of the Insurrection Act. One of Trumps presidential actions calls for the Secretary of Defense and Homeland Security to submit a joint report by April 20. The report will offer any recommendations regarding additional actions that may be necessary to obtain complete operational control of the southern border, including whether to invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807... The Insurrection Act is a dusty law that has gone without updates for 200 years. The original text states: That in all cases of insurrection, or obstruction to the laws the president of the United States [can] call forth the militia [or armed forces] for the purpose of suppressing such insurrection. (Technically, it is now not just one law but a series of statutes in Title 10 of the U.S. code.) President Trump loves direct control and so it strikes me that invoking the Insurrection Act is very likely. This occasionally used provision empowers the president, with few legal limitations, to deploy U.S. military and federalized National Guard troops inside the country. One should note the narrowness of Trumps proclamation that could lead to the Insurrection Act being invoked. Its framed as being used for operational control of the southern border not broader mass deportation or, what some of us feared, targeting nearly all anti-Trump political activity. This means the Insurrection Act may be initially more focused. Folks on the border will bear the brunt of further militarization despite an already heavily militarized border where crossings have dropped dramatically. Trumps desire to criminalize protests against him is obvious. ICE is effectively kidnapping green card holders who have only exercised their freedom of speech, such as Mahmoud Khalil and Rumeysa Ozturk. One executive order attempts to criminalize protesting in Washington, D.C. And the FBI is on a McCarthy-like venture looking for domestic terrorism among anti-Tesla protests. It therefore appears that Trump would relish the opportunity to use the Insurrection Act more broadly against opponents. If the first move is somewhat limited in scope e.g. the border and ICE enforcement he will look for a violent spark that he can claim as pretext to expand the scope more widely. Its not hard to see that violent action is close to baked in as incomes collapse and businesses fail thank to the tariffs even as cost for basics will also be rising. For instance, Conor featured this tweet today in Links: Many truckers Ive spoken with dont realize how quickly container volumes have collapsed. Starting in May, port freight out of California will be almost eliminated. Its going to be a bloodbath in dray, followed by intermodal, and then a collapse in I-20 & I-40 trucking. https://t.co/q0JFZg2Lbr Craig Fuller (@FreightAlley) April 18, 2025 Admittedly, truckers so far have not been as effective in protests as they hoped. But they have also not collectively had tons of time on their hands and an imperative to Do Something as a result of losing their livelihoods. And I believe most have guns to protect themselves while driving. Truckers by themselves I know a US citizen who has been involved in anti-Trump activism (but not on the hot topics of the Palestinian genocide or immigration) who is so worried the April 20 plans that he plans to leave the US if the announcement is as bad as he fears. And he is well along in getting a non-US citizenship but I am not sure whether he has it in hand. 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 Will Trump invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807 to enforce his rule, via a militia if need be, ending democracy in the USA in the process? This is the audio version: This is the transcript: Is Trump about to end democracy in the USA? I fear he might be, and I fear it might be very soon that this happens. So let me explain my reasoning. There are two causes for my concern and one consequence. Lets look at the causes. The first is a judge named Judge James Boasberg. Judge Boasberg was the person who said to the federal administration that Trump could not deport people to El Salvador without there being proper due process in place. He ordered that a flight that was already on its way to that country be reversed and returned to the USA and the Trump administration ignored him. What hes now done is suggest that, and Im going to quote him, the US Constitution does not tolerate willful disobedience of judicial powers, especially by officials of a coordinate branch who have sworn an oath to uphold it. In other words, what hes saying is that Trump and his cohort in his regime- and thats the right word for his government have deliberately ignored the ruling of a federal judge and are therefore in contempt of court. Now, if you know anything about the law, there is one group in society who really upset judges, and those are the people who are in contempt of court, because judges think that they are really important people and in a real sense they are, because their behavior is fundamental to the upholding of democracy because if we dont have the rule of law, we cannot have a democratic society. Judge Boasberg is rightly saying that the people in the Trump administration who have ignored this order from Trump downwards, because he has bragged about it, are in contempt of court. They stand at risk as a consequence of going to prison. Lets be clear about that. Thats the penalty for being in contempt, and he is starting proceedings. Now, let me move to my second example of the reason why Trump might end democracy in the USA very soon. In this case, Im talking about Governor Gavin Newsom in California. He has begun a legal action against the US federal government, brought by his state, which is the fifth-largest economy in the world, to put California into context. And what he is saying, absolutely and indisputably legally correctly, is that Trump is not allowed to impose tariffs in the USA without the approval of Congress, and Trump has never gone to Congress to seek that approval. Therefore, all the moves that hes making with regard to tariffs are, as Governor Newsom puts it, illegal. He and his attorney general have lined up an argument. Theyre going to bring the case. They want to overthrow the entire process of disruption that Trump has created. Those, in my opinion, are the two crisis points in the US legal system that are now facing Trump, amongst many other court cases that are going on, these two stand out to me and what I think is that Trump is going to do something extreme in reaction. 90 days ago, or at the time of recording this, almost 90 days ago, Trump signed an order and that order required that two of the most fair-minded people in the USA should look at whether there was an emergency or crisis amounting to insurrection in the USA, which would require that Trump could declare a state of emergency, meaning that the Insurrection Act of 1807 could be brought into force, basically suspending the rule of law and allowing military law to apply. Those two fair-minded people were JD Vance, the Vice President of the USA, and Pete Hegseth, the Fox News commentator who happens now to be Secretary of State for Defense. Do you think it likely that theyre going to disagree with Trump? Do you think it likely that this was all stage-managed to ensure that military law could be enforced? Do you think that in practice, Judge Boasberg and Governor Newsom are, totally innocently, and totally, appropriately, but nonetheless, provocatively providing Trump with the excuse to actually go ahead with what he has always wanted. Which is to suspend democracy in the USA. The 1807 act is remarkably short. In fairness, anybody can read it. There is a copy on my blog, but lets look at the key words, which are in section 333 of that Act, and they say this. If an action so hinders the executions of the laws of the United States, or opposes or obstructs the execution of the laws of the United States, or impedes the course of justice under those laws, then the Insurrection Act can be invoked. And what happens when the Insurrection Act can be invoked by the President? It means that the President can either call up the army or what it describes as a militia, which these days is thought to be the National Guard, but it is not said as such in the Act, to enforce the law as the President sees it. Could it be that President Trump could, in fact, call up a militia? There are, after all, hundreds of thousands, maybe millions of MAGA faithful in the USA who might respond to his call. They did in January 2021, after all. They staged an insurrection, then. Would they now do it again, legally, according to Trump, under the Insurrection Act, to oppress the powers that are trying to uphold the rule of law in America? And what would happen if Trump did this? My belief is that he will try to do this. My belief is that he may end up in conflict with the US military as a result. But I do believe he might call up a militia as a consequence, and if he does, wait for the disappearances to start. How long will Governor Newsom be out of prison? How long will Judge Boasberg be in office, let alone enjoy his freedom? How long will many of Trumps long-term political opponents be out there enjoying their day-to-day activities? How many of those who are now appearing daily on media shows in the USA criticising Trump on things like MSNBC, and elsewhere, will be able to do so for very much longer? When Trump believes that he can use the Insurrection Act, and he believes that he can use the power of force to literally dictate terms to the USA, anything could happen. And what we know is that there are no tyrants on earth who dont throw their opponents into prison or worse. Trump might be moving to that point. It doesnt take long for a democracy to collapse. It might happen in the space of only three or so months in the USA. We are living, as Ive said before, and will say again in very dangerous times. But, the coming weekend, which will represent the 90 day anniversary of the signing of that order, requiring Vance and Hegseth to form this opinion, might, in the light of the actions of Governor Newsom and Judge Boasberg, give rise to the end of US democracy and that would be quite an astonishing turn of events that the world could never ignore. Palo Alto Scientists Just Caught a Colossal Squid on Camera (Finally!) KQED Climate/Environment Pandemics Measles costs are accumulating as funding cuts threaten the outbreak response CNN They told me parenting would be hard. They didnt say Id be managing airborne transmission, collapsed institutions, and mass delusion before my morning coffee. A for the last parents standing: Jess (@MeetJess) April 15, 2025 China? European Disunion Old Blighty India Syraqistan Ras Isa Port in Yemen set ablaze by continuous US airstrikes Al Mayadeen Having failed militarily, US now aims to use starvation as a weapon. This will spike food prices, causing thousands of children to die of hunger. In 10 years of tracking US war in Yemen, this is the most explicit collective punishment against the Yemeni people that Ive seen. https://t.co/Wq8uxG5nUU Erik Sperling (@ErikSperling) April 17, 2025 Hundreds Dying Slow Deaths Under Rubble In Gaza Sky News reports that 15 members of one mans family including children were trapped beneath rubble in Gaza, alive and making phone calls pleading for rescue for three days after the attack. Because Israel continues to block pic.twitter.com/y4B9IMOedD Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) April 17, 2025 4chan gets hacked. Emails from .gov accounts allegedly involved. And for some reason Israelis have literally made a billion more posts on the site than any other country in the world. wtf is going on? pic.twitter.com/AjXFoW2tQ8 Duopoly Destroyer (@realnikohouse) April 17, 2025 The NYT reports Pete Hegseth was among Trump officials opposing the US launching a massive war on Iran on behalf of Israel 3 Pentagon officials have already been fired for unknown leaks Israel lobbyists are now calling for more firings over the leaks that led to this story pic.twitter.com/9pVE1uJ9Oa Max Blumenthal (@MaxBlumenthal) April 17, 2025 *** Soft-spoken Sharaa makes Time 100 list as sectarian massacres continue in Syria The Cradle Africa Sudans World War New Left Review New Not-So-Cold War Kids as young as 10 in Ukraine are getting combat-ready in secret military-style boot camps to prepare them should the war with Russia drag on for years. pic.twitter.com/Ba9wGiTsHi DW News (@dwnews) April 16, 2025 German anti-Russia propaganda is reaching Nazi-era levels Tarik Cyril Amar South of the Border Trump 2.0 Trump Team Eyes Politically Connected Startup to Overhaul $700 Billion Government Payments Program ProPublica. A Peter Thiel-backed startup. The first time they stopped the APOR tables from being published, they had to backtrack. Whats the plan now?https://t.co/em3eyw0IPl David Dayen (@ddayen) April 17, 2025 Many truckers Ive spoken with dont realize how quickly container volumes have collapsed. Starting in May, port freight out of California will be almost eliminated. Its going to be a bloodbath in dray, followed by intermodal, and then a collapse in I-20 & I-40 trucking. https://t.co/q0JFZg2Lbr Craig Fuller (@FreightAlley) April 18, 2025 Immigration Senator meets with Maryland man being held at El Salvador prison Axios Gunz Police State Watch Groves of Academe The State Department Relied on Columbia Universitys Mischaracterization of Protests to Arrest Mohsen Mahdawi Drop Site AI Obama Legacy The pathetic, slow-motion downfall of Barack Obama Keith Naughton, The Hill MAHA Wisconsin has seen a 1,450% increase in congenital syphilis cases since 2019, the states Dept of Health Services reports. This at a time when the countrys premier #STD lab has been shuttered in the devastating cuts at #CDC. What could possibly go wrong? pic.twitter.com/7oq0siqJhs Helen Branswell (@HelenBranswell) April 17, 2025 Our Famously Free Press Trump administration shutters US office countering foreign disinformation The Guardian Comcast outlets spent days misleading the American publicimplying that Abrego Garcia was merely a law abiding U.S. citizen, just a regular Maryland man. When the truth comes out, they ignore it. Comcast knows that federal law requires its licensed operations to serve the https://t.co/0sGZHQvp5r Brendan Carr (@BrendanCarrFCC) April 16, 2025 BREAKING: In a stunning moment, Trump propagandist Sebastian Gorka tries to frame the argument that if you support due process then youre aiding and abetting criminals. This is dangerous, fascist speak. pic.twitter.com/m2toMtJpCx Really American (@ReallyAmerican1) April 17, 2025 Failing to Rise to the Constitutional Crisis FAIR Antitrust Imperial Collapse Watch Class Warfare The Patriotism Trap How Things Work A Place of Wounds The Baffler Antidote du jour (via): See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. A former official with the U.S. Department of Transportation will lead Nashville's latest transit initiatives. Mayor Freddie OConnell announced Friday the hiring of Sabrina Sussman as chief program officer of the Choose How You Move transit improvement program. Sussman comes to Nashville with nearly 20 years of experience working in transportation policy. She previously served as senior adviser to former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and as chief of staff to former Deputy Secretary of Transportation Polly Trottenburg. Sussman earned her bachelors degree in communications from American University and a masters degree in political management from George Washington University. Some 66 percent of Nashville voters cast their ballots in favor of the transit program in a referendum last year. The program is funded by a half-cent increase to the local sales tax and could see $3.1 billion in spending over the next 15 years. Voters overwhelming approval of Choose How You Move gives us the opportunity to make generational change to our transportation infrastructure, OConnell says in a release. Sabrina has all the experience necessary to help us successfully implement one of the largest capital programs in Nashville history. I am excited to work with her to deliver the change Nashvillians seek. Sussman was brought to Nashville through Civic Match, a nonprofit that pairs federal employees with jobs in state and local governments. She will officially begin the role in early summer. Transit Referendum Passes Voters give mayors $3.1 billion plan the green light This is an exceptional moment in Nashvilles history, Sussman says in Fridays release. "In an era of division, Nashvillians transcended that to overwhelmingly support a better transportation future for each of us." I feel a tremendous amount of responsibility to help bring that future to reality, and I appreciate the chance to work with the talented local leadership team already in place. Relatedly, and during the transition, OConnell appointed Kendra Abkowitz, the mayors office senior director of sustainability and resilience, as the acting program director for the transit initiative. Abkowitz has been informally serving in the role since November. OConnell also appointed the final nine community members for the Choose How You Move Advisory Committee on Transportation. Ashley Northington, Clay Haynes, Gary Moore, Gracie Sloan, Jennifer Carlat, Joseph Gutierrez, Rashed Fakhruddin, Walter Searcy and Zach Young will join Vice Mayor Angie Henderson and five other members selected by Metro Council on the 15-member committee. In March, OConnell proposed a $60 million, 11-point spending plan looking to improve bus efficiency, signal upgrades and fare subsidies. The plan also looks toward larger projects like a new downtown transit center and nearly 40 miles of street infrastructure. This article was first published by our sister publication, the Nashville Post. Budget talks and contention over diversity, equity and inclusion policies culminated this week at the state legislature as this years session nears its close. Legislation on abortion restrictions and weakening the World Health Organization also advanced this week at the state Capitol. +9 Standoff Continues Over Immigrant Student Exclusion Bill Lamberth delays vote to run funding numbers by the White House as public opposition builds across Tennessee The House passed the Dismantle DEI Act sponsored by Rep. Aron Maberry (R-Clarksville) and Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) to prohibit local governments and public colleges and universities from using hiring practices based on an applicants race, religion, sex, national origin, age or disability. The bill says it also prevents hiring a particular candidate in order to achieve any goals to increase diversity, equity, or inclusion in the workplace. The bill passed 73-24 on the House floor Thursday, sparking outrage among Democrats after debate was cut short by the Republican supermajority. Democrats argue the bill works to undermine equality in hiring, and several lawmakers called the bill blatantly racist. Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville) proposed an amendment renaming the legislation the Dismantle Civil Rights Act, while Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) proposed the White Fragility Act as its new name. This bill is sexist, Johnson said. Its racist. Its ableist. Its religious discrimination as well. Several other amendments were filed by Democrats calling out the bill for being discriminatory, but a prevailing motion from the House Republicans struck them from being introduced on the floor. House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R-Portland) said debate was cut off because of rude comments and insults made by Democrats on the floor that were not caught by members microphones. Democrats called this an excuse and a way for Lamberth to shift the blame. A similar bill also sponsored by Maberry and Jack Johnson, the Dismantling DEI Departments Act, was pushed to be considered Monday. The legislation would prohibit state departments and agencies, local governments and public institutions of higher learning from maintaining or authorizing an office or department that promotes or requires discriminatory preferences in an effort to increase diversity, equity, or inclusion. If DEI stood for diversity, excellence and inclusion, itd be perfectly fine, Lamberth said at a press conference after the floor session. But it stands for diversity, equity and inclusion, which is communist, socialist principle that is racist at its very core. The equity part is what is racist, and we're not going to put up with that. Both DEI bills are set to be heard in the Senate on April 21. Earlier this year, both the House and Senate approved a bill that will eliminate race-based policies like affirmative action, racial preferences and racial quotas from being used when making appointments to state boards. Deputy Whip Appointments On April 11, six lawmakers were appointed as deputy whips, a role traditionally tasked with counting votes and keeping a partys members in line. Appointments included Reps. Renea Jones (R-Unicoi), Aron Maberry (R-Clarksville), Michele Reneau (R-Signal Mountain), Rick Scarbrough (R-Oak Ridge), Tom Stinnett (R-Friendsville) and Lee Reeves (R-Franklin) Included in a media release were photos of each newly appointed whip alongside House Majority Whip Johnny Garrett (R-Goodlettsville), who presented each deputy whip with an actual framed black whip. Several Democrats called foul. The Tennessee Black Caucus issued a release Wednesday saying the gifts reflect a troubling lack of awareness and sensitivity in the General Assembly. During a legislative session marked by deeply divisive bills that target and harm minority communities across Tennessee, it is essential that we as leaders demonstrate empathy, responsibility, and respect in both our words and actions, the release reads in part. The Tennessee State Capitol was built in part by the labor of some enslaved people. When legislation is introduced to dismantle programs that promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs designed to address long-standing inequities it reveals a troubling disregard for our shared humanity, the Tennessee Black Caucus statement continues. To pair this with imagery of legislators holding whips only deepens the trauma, evoking a dark and painful chapter in our states history. Its unfortunate that theyre playing politics with that, Rep. Reeves told Scene sister publication the Nashville Post, referring to the whip photos. Theres pictures of [former U.S. Speaker of the House] Nancy Pelosi when she was whip in the House being given [an actual whip] as well, so its unfortunate that theyre going to play with that. But Im honored to have that position. That 2001 photo of Pelosi during her historic election as Democratic whip was also referenced by House Majority Caucus Chairman Jeremy Faison. Taking on Debt This year, the state is taking on new debt for the first time during Gov. Lees administration. Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) introduced a bill that approved bond issuance by explaining that the Lee administration has decreased the states debt service over the past few years. We went from 2.4 percent of our total tax collections going to debt service down to 1.36 [percent], Johnson said. Weve taken on no new debt, and weve paid a lot of it off. With this debt issuance, Mr. Speaker, we will go to 1.75 percent of our total tax collections as a percentage of our debt service needs. So we will still be well below where we were six years ago at the beginning of the Lee administration. This is a responsible use of our excellent credit rating to get some of these badly needed capital projects done for our state. In total, the state will have more than $1 billion in bonds: $820 million for projects approved by the State Building Commission, $134 million for state office buildings and support facilities, and $80 million for the Department of Transportation. Johnson also touted the fact that those $80 million bonds are proposed each year for transportation but are not used because the state funds road projects in the budget. He highlighted that this year $1 billion in nonrecurring funds go toward the states road fund. Legislators Pass Their Version of $60 Billion Budget Republicans make amendments to governors plan for funds several Democrats vote against We dont borrow money on our roads, Johnson said. We are a pay-as-you-go state, and were not proposing to do that. When asked about the money for road funding in a press conference Thursday, House Democratic Caucus Chair John Ray Clemmons (D-Nashville) said that the state has a $45 billion backlog of road infrastructure projects and should be issuing bonds to get some of that completed. They'll bond everything else, as you saw on the floor yesterday, but they don't want to bond transportation for some reason, Clemmons said. Health Care Restrictions Gov. Lee signed a bill this week clarifying the narrow exceptions in Tennessees abortion ban. Under the description of serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of major bodily function, conditions can include previable/premature rupturing of membranes, inevitable abortion, severe preeclampsia, mirror syndrome associated with fetal hydrops and infection that could result in uterine rupture or loss of fertility. The legislations opponents say the bill is designed to absolve the states attorney general from a lawsuit. A bill that would undermine the World Health Organization passed the House and moved forward in the Senate this week. HB 318/SB 263 prohibits the enforcement of requirements or mandates from not only the World Health Organization, but the United Nations and World Economic Forum. Earlier this year the governor signed a bill into law that cut the World Health Organization out of the process of responding to a pandemic. Arizona counties partner with DHS to verify VOTER CITIZENSHIP following action by America First Legal Arizona counties are partnering with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to verify voter citizenship status, removing non-citizens from registration rolls following a lawsuit settlement with conservative group America First Legal (AFL). The agreement requires counties to screen nearly 50,000 "federal-only voters" (registrants without documented citizenship proof) against DHS records, enforcing Arizonas stricter voter eligibility laws upheld by a 2013 Supreme Court ruling. Republicans argue the measure restores trust in elections, while Democrats warn it risks disenfranchising eligible voters. The move reflects broader GOP efforts to tighten voting laws nationally, like the House-passed SAVE Act. Arizona, a battleground state with a history of voting disputes, faces heightened scrutiny ahead of a September special election to replace the late Rep. Raul Grijalva. The DHS deal could impact close races by altering voter rolls. The settlement highlights ongoing partisan divisions over election security, with Republicans championing stricter rules as a priority and Democrats resisting perceived voter suppression. The SAVE Acts fate in the Senate remains uncertain. Arizona counties have begun collaborating with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to verify the citizenship of voters and remove non-citizens from registration rolls, settling a lawsuit filed by conservatives challenging the integrity of state elections. America First Legal (AFL), which filed the case against the Grand Canyon State's 15 counties, reached a settlement with the defendants on Wednesday, April 9. The settlement requires requires county officials to request DHS verification for nearly 50,000 individuals classified as "federal-only voters" those who registered without providing documented proof of U.S. citizenship. AFL originally sued the counties in August 2024, alleging that local officials were failing to enforce a state law requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration in state and local elections. Although federal law only mandates an honor-system checkbox affirming citizenship, Arizona imposes stricter documentation rules a distinction upheld by the 2013 Supreme Court ruling Arizona v. Inter Tribal Council of Arizona. Under the settlement, counties will now systematically screen registrants against DHS records to confirm citizenship status. "This settlement is a great result for all Arizonans," AFL senior counsel James Rogers told Fox News. Justin Heap, Maricopa County recorder, echoed the sentiment: "Ensuring only citizens can cast a ballot is essential to restoring trust." Maricopa County in Arizona, the fourth most county in the U.S., made the headlines due to the widespread voter fraud there during the 2020 elections. DHS deal could influence future elections in Arizona Historically, Arizona has been a flashpoint for voting rights disputes. Its status as a border state with a large immigrant population has made immigration policy central to electoral debates. The 2020 election saw President Donald Trump and his allies claiming mass fraud in Maricopa County after his loss. While mainstream media reported about audits allegedly finding no issues, election integrity activists like Kari Lake have stepped forward and exposed the vote fraud. (Related: Discrepancies between vote tally in Arizona's governor and treasurer races point to BLATANT FRAUD and vote count manipulations.) The move comes amid heightened national debate over election security. While Democrats warn that measures to verify voter eligibility could potentially disenfranchise voters, Republicans and other supporters argue that such measures combat potential election fraud. The Arizona case intersects with broader Republican efforts to tighten voting laws nationally. The House of Representatives recently passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which would mandate documentary proof of citizenship for federal elections. While the bill faces slim odds in the Democratic-controlled Senate, its advancement reflects enduring partisan divisions over election security. The settlement also comes as the Grand Canyon State is preparing for a special congressional election this September to fill in the seat vacated by the late Rep. Raul Grijalva. The longtime Democrat who represented Arizona in Capitol Hill died in March. The DHS agreement signals a procedural shift that could influence future races, particularly if federal-only voters a group exceeding the margin in some contests are removed. As Arizona implements the changes, the national confrontation over voting access shows no signs of abating. The SAVE Act's Senate prospects remain uncertain, but its passage in the House underscores election integrity as a defining GOP priority. For now, the DHS partnership offers Arizona Republicans a tangible victory one they hope will bolster public confidence in elections. VoteFraud.news has more similar stories. Watch Gabor "Gabe" Zolna discussing the blatant vote fraud during the 2020 elections in Arizona's Maricopa County in this clip. This video is from the zolnareport.com channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Arizona officials claim Maricopa County needs 10-13 days to tabulate results of the election. Arizona Republicans ban the state from using electronic voting machines in future federal elections. Arizona residents drive entire Maricopa County Board of Supervisors out of meeting after serving them for TREASON. Sources include: Breitbart.com RedState.com Newsweek.com Brighteon.com Cory Edmund Endrulats Government is Unnatural, Anarchy is Natural argues against the coercive and violent power of governments Endrulat argues that government is an artificial system of control, contrary to the natural order of the universe, which operates through principles like physics and voluntary cooperation rather than coercion. He defines morality as aligning with nature's inherent laws (natural law) rather than human-imposed structures. Government, being coercive, violates self-ownership and freedom core natural rights. Citing experiments like Milgram's obedience study and the Stanford Prison Experiment, he claims authority corrupts moral judgment, proving government inherently oppressive. Anarchy means a rulerless society grounded in mutual consent, not disorder. Humans possess innate morality and can self-govern peacefully without imposed hierarchies. Historical movements (e.g., abolition of slavery) show that persuasion, not force, dismantles oppression. Endrulat believes education and dialogue can transition society away from government toward natural anarchy. Cory Edmund Endrulat's book, "Government is Unnatural, Anarchy is Natural: A Practical Analysis therein Naturosophy," questions whether government truly is necessary to live in a society. Endrulat challenges conventional wisdom by asserting that government is an unnatural construct. He argues that anarchy is the more natural order for humanity. His book, which blends discussions of philosophy, political and social theory and history, presents a radical critique of modern governance and offers a vision for a society based on voluntary cooperation and his definition of "natural law." Endrulat begins by defining the natural as that which aligns with the inherent order of the universe, such as the laws of physics and the cycles of life, which existed long before humans. He contrasts this with the unnatural, which he describes as human constructs designed to control or alter the natural world. According to Endrulat, the distinction between natural and unnatural is where morality lies. Humanity, he argues, has the power to choose between aligning with the natural order or deviating from it, a choice that carries profound implications for society. At the heart of Endrulat's argument is the claim that government is an unnatural system. He describes it as a man-made construct that imposes order through violence and coercion, violating the natural principles of freedom and self-ownership. To help prove that authority is unnatural, Endrulat uses as examples the Stanley Milgram and Stanford Prison social experiments, which illustrated how individuals can easily be manipulated into committing harmful acts when they believe they are doing so at the request of perceived authorities. These experiments, he argues, reveal the dangers of government and the ease with which people surrender their moral judgment under the guise of authority. Endrulat's alternative to government is anarchy, which he is quick to distinguish from chaos. Rather, he defines anarchy as a society without rulers. In his vision of an anarchist society, Endrulat believes individuals would be free to govern themselves according to natural law, engaging in voluntary interactions based on mutual consent. He emphasizes that humans possess an innate sense of morality and would naturally organize themselves in ways that promote harmony and cooperation. To support his argument, Endrulat cites the abolition of chattel slavery in the United States as an example of how moral suasion or, the concept of appealing to people's sense of morality through persuasion and education0 can lead to significant social change. He argues that the abolitionist movement demonstrated how helping people recognize the inviolable natural rights of all individuals could dismantle oppressive systems. Applying this principle to government, Endrulat suggests that moral suasion could inspire individuals to reject coercive authority and embrace a more natural order. Endrulat's vision of a stateless society is rooted in the belief that individuals are capable of self-governance. He sees moral suasion as a key tool for transitioning from a world dominated by government to one based on anarchy. By fostering dialogue and spreading knowledge, he argues, people can be empowered to take responsibility for their own lives and create a society built on mutual respect and voluntary cooperation. As the debate over governance continues, "Government is Unnatural, Anarchy is Natural" adds a fresh perspective to discussions about freedom, authority and the natural order. Endrulat's arguments invite readers to consider whether the systems that dominate modern life truly serve humanity's best interests or if they perpetuate a cycle of dependence and control. In a world increasingly defined by political polarization and skepticism of institutions, his ideas resonate with those seeking alternatives to traditional forms of governance. Whether or not one agrees with Endrulat's conclusions, his book underscores the importance of questioning assumptions about government and exploring innovative approaches to organizing society. As humanity grapples with the challenges of the 21st century, his call for a return to natural principles may spark further dialogue on the future of governance and the pursuit of a more just and free society. Watch this video discussing Cory Edmund Endrulat's book "Government is Unnatural, Anarchy is Natural: A Practical Analysis therein Naturosophy." This video is from the BrightLearn channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: Brighteon.ai Brighteon.com CBS accused of whitewashing child sacrifice as cultural practice; archaeologists and critics push back The remains of three young children sacrificed in a ritual were uncovered at a Teotihuacan altar in Guatemalas Tikal National Park, shedding light on ancient Mesoamerican religious practices. CBS News drew criticism for framing the child sacrifices as a non-violent cultural and celestial practice, sparking backlash for downplaying the violence involved. Critics accused CBS of moral relativism and sanitizing historical atrocities, while some archaeologists argued for contextual understanding without modern moral judgment. Child sacrifices in Mesoamerica were often tied to religious or political crises, with victims (sometimes elite children) offered to deities like the Storm Goddess for divine favor. The incident reignited debates on how to report ancient violencebalancing historical accuracy, cultural sensitivity and ethical responsibility without excusing brutality. On April 14, CBS News ignited widespread outrage with a report downplaying the child sacrifices of pre-Columbian civilizations as a non-violent cultural practice tied to celestial worship. The outlet faced backlash for its framing of a recent archaeological discovery in Guatemalas Tikal National Park, where an altar linked to the Teotihuacan civilization revealed the remains of three children, likely murdered in rituals. Critics argue the coverage exemplifies corporate medias alleged tendency to sanitize historical atrocities, while archaeologists insist context is key to interpreting these acts. The debate underscores broader tensions over how modern society assesses the ethics of ancient traditions. The discovery: Childrens remains unearthed at a ritual altar The controversy stems from an archaeological find by Guatemalan lead researcher Lorena Paiz and her team. Buried within the ruins of a Teotihuacan residential complex in Tikal a site once a hub of trade and culture between 100 B.C. and 750 A.D. archaeologists uncovered an altar adorned with carvings of a Storm Goddess. On its premises lay the skeletal remains of three children under four, interred methodically on each side of the structure. This discovery adds depth to our understanding of Teotihuacan practices in Tikal, Paiz explained. The central altar here wasnt just architecturalit was spiritual. These children were not accidental casualties but offerings meant to honor the divine. The graves, dated to the late 4th century C.E., align with well-documented ritual killings in Mesoamerican cultures, including the Maya and Aztecs, which historians say were often linked to religious or political crises. The CBS controversy: Framing sacrifice as non-violent sparks outcry CBSs coverage, however, diverged sharply from standard reporting on such grim findings. The outlets April 14 article quoted Maria Belen Mendez, an unaffiliated archaeologist, who argued the sacrifices were not violent acts but a practice of connecting with celestial bodies. It highlighted her claim that the rituals highlight interconnections between cultures and their gods, minimizing the visceral horror of killing children. This framing drew immediate condemnation. Commentators on social media and in independent journals decried the approach as moral relativism, accusing CBS of normalizing violence under the guise of cultural sensitivity. How can murder be rebranded as non-violence? wrote one critic on Twitter. Meanwhile, some archaeologists defended the outlets emphasis on historical context, saying it underscores the need to avoid projecting modern values onto ancient societies. We cannot ignore that these were acts of faithfor their timerather than simple cruelty, Mendez explained. Historical context: Child sacrifice in Mesoamerica and ethical reporting challenges Teotihuacan, a pre-Columbian civilization centered in present-day Mexico but influential across Mesoamerica, shared ritual practices with neighboring cultures. Dozens of burial sites suggest children often elites were sacrificed during critical moments like building temples or surviving droughts. In Tikal, a Maya city-state, human offerings were common; the newly discovered altars Storm Goddess symbol, associated with rain and storms, reinforces the idea of such sacrifices as pleas for divine favor. Scholars like Paiz stress that interpreting ritual practices requires balance. Context matters, she said. But avoiding graphic terms like murder risks sanitizing these acts. For journalists, the challenge lies in reporting such findings without either glorifying brutality or ignoring the cultural logic behind them. Critics argue CBS prioritized the latter, erasing the victims humanity. The controversy echoes debates over90s-era politically correct critiques of Columbus or European colonialism, when sources like CBS were accused of whitewashing oppression. Yet advocates of holistic reporting counter that oversimplification condemning rituals outright ignores the complexity of pre-colonial societies. Can media navigate past atrocities without cultural apologetics? As outrage simmers over CBSs framing, the incident raises urgent questions for journalism and archaeology. When reporting ancient violence, how can outlets avoid both moral imperialism and relativism? Paiz underscores the necessity of honoring the past without justifying harm. For now, the Tikal altars victims remain both historical artifacts and human tragedies an intersection demanding honesty, nuance and respect for all perspectives. The story is a reminder that the past is not just academic: It shapes how societies confront their shared, often brutal, legacies a dialogue far from complete. Sources include: TownHall.com Ground.news iFeminists.com Soros-funded groups secure legal hurdle in Trumps push to close Bidens migrant parole pipeline Two organizations funded by George Soros Open Society Foundations successfully halted President Trumps plan to deport over 500,000 migrants granted parole under Biden-era policies, arguing that revoking parole without case-by-case reviews violated immigration law. A federal judge issued a stay, preventing the mass deportation of migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela, ruling that the administration must conduct individualized assessments before revoking their parole. Critics, including the White House and conservative lawmakers, accused Soros-funded groups of using litigation to undermine immigration enforcement, while supporters claim the lawsuit protects vulnerable migrants from arbitrary government actions. The legal battle stems from Bidens 2021 humanitarian parole program, which allowed entry for migrants from crisis-stricken nations. Trump reversed it, calling it an "illegal amnesty," but advocates argue it provided refuge for those fleeing persecution. The case highlights tensions between executive authority, judicial intervention and foreign-funded advocacy, potentially shaping future immigration enforcement and the role of wealthy donors in influencing policy debates. In a case emblematic of escalating battles over immigration enforcement, two organizations funded by George Soros Open Society Foundations have succeeded in blocking President Donald Trumps plan to deport over half a million migrants granted humanitarian parole under Biden-era policies. The Justice Action Center and Human Rights First sued the administration in March 2025 to challenge the revocation of parole permissions for migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela. Obama-appointed U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani granted a stay halting mass deportations, ruling that the Trump administration must conduct individualized reviews before terminating cases under the program. The temporary victory for Soros-backed groups has intensified debates over presidential authority, humanitarian migration and the role of foreign-funded advocacy in shaping U.S. border policies. Soros groups at forefront of legal challenge The lobbying efforts of the Soros-linked organizations are central to the ongoing legal clash. The Justice Action Center received 450,000 in unrestricted funding from the Open Society Foundations in 2023, while Human Rights First drew nearly 6.2 million from the network between 2016 and 2021. Together, they argued that Trumps policy violated immigration law by failing to assess each case individually before revocation, even though Biden's administration didn't vet them individually before letting them in. The plaintiffs contended that the Biden-era parole framework, though contentious, provided critical work permissions and residency periods under U.S. statutory guidelines. The case follows similar lawsuits funded or supported by Soros-funded entities, including a recent challenge to Trumps use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport MS-13 gang members. Critics argue such litigation reflects a coordinated strategy to subvert immigration enforcement through the judicial system. This isnt about due process its about rich elites like Soros weaponizing courts to undermine lawful border control, remarked White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt in a March statement. Court stay halts deportation of over 500,000, amid national security concerns On April 16, Judge Talwanis ruling imposed an immediate stay, freezing Trumps March 25 directive to deport or require self-removal for 532,000 parolees. The order emphasized that the administration could not terminate parole en masse without case-by-case analysis, a requirement the plaintiffs argued is entrenched in federal regulations. The government has since vowed to appeal. The Biden administration had cast the program as a response to crises in the migrants home countries, but critics, including former border patrol officials, warn such policies strain resources and endanger national security by undermining statutory immigration limits. Historical context: The parole pipelines origin and reversal The policy clash traces back to Bidens 2021 CHNV parole program, which allowed entry for citizens of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela without visas under Section 212(d)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The provision permits temporary entry for humanitarian reasons but was widely expanded by Biden to address migration surges, particularly from Venezuelas economic collapse and Haitis political unrest. Trumps reversal in March 2025 sought to halt what he termed an illegal amnesty program. The Biden administrations open-border experiment allowed hundreds of thousands to enter without proper screening, while law-abiding immigrants wait decades, Trump declared during a February 2025 border security rally. Yet Amnesty International and migrant advocates argue the program rescued individuals fleeing dire conditions, with nearly 20% screened for trauma, domestic violence, or persecution under the policys eligibility criteria. Political and policy implications of the case The legal battle underscores the overlapping tensions between executive authority, judicial intervention and ideological divides over migration. While the administration insists reinstating vetting norms is a national priority, critics question whether the 90-day parole system, lacked sufficient infrastructure to process entries, leading to backlogs and public safety risks. For conservative lawmakers, the Soros-funded legal challenge represents further evidence of external actors seeking to influence immigration outcomes. The Open Society Foundations arent just funding nonprofits theyre funding a political agenda, said Sen. Josh Hawley during a March hearing. Conversely, the plaintiffs argue the case protects vulnerable populations from arbitrary government overreach, citing instances where parolees were denied access to healthcare or licenses despite employment authorization. A legal crossroads for executive power and humanitarian policy As the case proceeds, it tests the balance between immediate humanitarian needs and long-term immigration enforcement priorities. With over 500,000 lives hanging in judicial balance, the administration faces pressure to defend its authority to uphold security protocols, while Soros-funded groups advocate for systemic due process. The outcome could reverberate widely, shaping how presidents and courts handle immigration crises and the role wealthy donors play in dictating the terms of the debate. Judge Talwanis stay remains in effect as both sides prepare appeals; however, with the White House already vowing to vigorously contest the ruling, this legal showdown promises to dominate the national conversation and courts through the remainder of Trumps term. Sources include: YourNews.com Breitbart.com Matzav.com Scientists uncover new details about Yellowstones supervolcano as magma chamber sits just 2.3 miles below surface Yellowstones upper magma chamber is just 2.3 miles deep, closer than previously thought, raising new questions about eruption risks. Scientists used advanced seismic imaging to map the magma system, revealing a silica-rich upper chamber and a larger basalt reservoir below. Volatile gases venting naturally reduce pressure but dont eliminate the long-term threat of a catastrophic eruption. Past supereruptions reshaped landscapes and altered global climates the last one was 640,000 years ago. NASAs controversial plan to cool the magma via drilling carries risks and would take millennia to show effects. Yellowstone National Park, home to breathtaking geysers and hot springs, sits atop one of the worlds most dangerous natural threats: a simmering supervolcano capable of global devastation. New research reveals that the upper edge of its massive magma chamber lies just 2.3 miles beneath Earths surface, closer than previously documented. While scientists stress an eruption is not impending, the findings sharpen understanding of the volcanos structure and underscore the need for vigilance. For decades, experts have monitored Yellowstones volcanic system, a geologic powerhouse fueled by a sprawling magma reservoir spanning 55 by 30 miles. Though the volcano hasnt erupted in 640,000 years, its catastrophic potential including ash clouds that could plunge global temperatures keeps researchers alert. Now, using advanced seismic imaging, a team has mapped the magma chambers boundaries and composition with unprecedented precision. Mapping the magma The study, published in Nature, employed hundreds of portable and truck-mounted seismometers to generate 2D images of the subterranean landscape. By analyzing artificial seismic waves, scientists determined the upper magma chamber consists largely of rhyolite, a silica-rich volcanic rock. The chambers uppermost portion is 86% solid rock, with the remaining 14% comprising pore spaces filled with molten material, gases, and liquids. Beneath this chamber lies an even larger magma reservoir, first identified in a 2015 University of Utah study. This lower reservoir, stretching 12 to 28 miles underground, contains low-silica basalt and dwarfs the upper chamber in volume. Researchers say the interaction between these two reservoirs drives Yellowstones famed geothermal activity and could influence future eruptions. Crucially, the team found that volatile gases like sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, which accumulate at the magma chambers top, often escape through surface fissures, reducing pressure buildup. "If theres a channel, they can escape to the surface," said University of Utah geophysicist Fan-Chi Lin, a study co-author. This natural venting process may help delay explosive eruptions, though it doesnt eliminate the long-term risk. A history of devastation Yellowstones past eruptions paint a grim picture. Three supereruptions occurred 2.1 million, 1.3 million, and 640,000 years ago, each expelling enough material to reshape landscapes and alter climates. The most recent blast blanketed much of North America in ash and left behind the Yellowstone Caldera, a 43-by-28-mile depression. Smaller eruptions followed as recently as 70,000 years ago. While the new study confirms the magma system remains active, researchers emphasize no eruption is imminent. However, the proximity of the upper chamber to the surface raises questions about how quickly pressure could escalate. "[We now] understand more about the heat engine powering Yellowstone and about how melt is distributed," said USGS geophysicist Mike Poland. "That can have ramifications for how we perceive the volcanic hazard." The challenge of preparedness Despite reassurances, preparation remains critical. A full-scale eruption could eject molten rock 40 miles outward, incinerating everything within a 50-mile radius. Pyroclastic flows deadly avalanches of superheated gas and debris would compound destruction. Meanwhile, ashfall could smother crops and cripple infrastructure across the U.S., with millimeter-thick deposits reaching as far as Miami or Los Angeles. NASA has even proposed a controversial $3.46 billion plan to drill into the volcano and pump water through its magma chambers, theoretically reducing eruption risks by cooling the system. Yet experts caution such efforts could inadvertently trigger disasters. "Drilling into the top of the magma chamber would be very risky," researchers noted, adding that the process could take millennia to yield measurable cooling. For now, monitoring continues. Seismic networks track underground shifts, while Yellowstone Volcano Observatory scientists analyze gas emissions and ground deformation. The recent discovery of a new hydrothermal vent near Nymph Lakea small but notable geothermal event highlights the systems dynamism. Though Yellowstones next supereruption might lie thousands of years in the future, its geologic restlessness ensures it remains a focal point for science and a reminder of natures devastating power. Although the new research offers some helpful clues to inform forecasts, the planets largest active volcano still holds mysteries beneath its serene facade. Sources for this article include: DailyMail.co.uk DailyMail.co.uk ScienceAlert.com U.S. airstrikes on Yemens Ras Isa fuel port leave 38 dead, deepening humanitarian crisis U.S. airstrikes on Yemens Ras Isa port killed 38 and wounded 102, including paramedics. The attack risks collapsing hospitals and worsening famine as fuel shortages disrupt essential services. Critics argue the strikes violate international law and deepen Yemens humanitarian crisis. Despite claims of targeting Houthi revenue, the bombing campaigns effectiveness is questionable. Congress is pushing for accountability as civilian casualties fuel bipartisan concerns over U.S. strategy. The latest U.S. airstrikes on Yemens Ras Isa fuel port have left at least 38 dead and 102 wounded, including paramedics killed in a second strike while attempting to rescue survivors. The attacks, part of an escalated campaign against Houthi-controlled infrastructure, have drawn sharp criticism as they exacerbate a humanitarian disaster in a country where tens of thousands already face famine-like conditions. The destruction of a crucial fuel terminal threatens to cripple hospitals, disrupt clean water supplies, and halt food distributionraising urgent questions about the proportionality and effectiveness of targeting civilian-linked infrastructure in the name of counterterrorism. Humanitarian catastrophe worsens The immediate aftermath of the strikes paints a grim picture. Emergency responders scrambled through wreckage as families searched for missing relatives amid the chaos. According to reports, the port served as a lifeline for fuel imports that powered generators in hospitals, ran water pumps, and facilitated food transportation in a country where 80% of the population relies on humanitarian aid. Now, with the facility in ruins, medical operations are at risk of collapsing, leaving vulnerable populations without life-saving care. The U.N. has warned that Yemens humanitarian crisis, already among the worlds worst, could spiral further as fuel shortages trigger cascading failures in essential services. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) defended the strikes, stating the port provided illegal revenue to Houthi militants, who are designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government. A CENTCOM spokesperson emphasized that degrading Houthi resources aligns with broader efforts to safeguard global shipping lanes, which the group has repeatedly targeted. However, critics counter that the human cost far outweighs any potential strategic gain. The strikes have so far been ineffective, yet they continuenine within two weeks alone. This raises doubts about whether destroying civilian infrastructure is a viable strategy or merely a punitive measure that deepens suffering. Past U.S. support for Saudi Arabias bombardment of Yemen, including the infamous 2018 attack on a school bus that killed 48 children with a Raytheon-made bomb, underscores the recurring moral and tactical dilemmas of such campaigns. Proportionality and long-term consequences While the Houthis attacks on commercial shipping are undeniably destabilizing, targeting economic hubs like Ras Isa poses ethical and practical concerns. Even if the port did generate revenue for the Houthis, it also sustained millions of civilians caught in the crossfire of Yemens protracted conflict. Humanitarian lawyers argue that under international law, attacks on dual-use infrastructure must meet strict proportionality testsbalancing military necessity against foreseeable civilian harm. The U.S. has previously condemned similar tactics when used by adversaries, making the current approach inconsistent with stated values. Moreover, the strikes risk undermining fragile diplomatic efforts to end Yemens war, which has already claimed over 377,000 lives. The escalating strikes have not gone unnoticed in Washington. A growing bipartisan movement in Congress is pushing for greater transparency and accountability in U.S. military actions in Yemen. Lawmakers cite past failures, such as the unchecked support for Saudi Arabias air campaign, as cautionary tales. Historically, legislative attempts to curb U.S. involvement in Yemen have faced hurdles, but the rising civilian toll may force a reckoning. Meanwhile, aid groups urge immediate de-escalation and renewed focus on peace talks. The Ras Isa strikes exemplify the tragic cycle of militarized responses that prioritize short-term gains over long-term stability. While security concerns are real, the wholesale destruction of civilian infrastructure is a self-defeating strategy that fuels resentment and prolongs conflict. If the U.S. aims to protect both its interests and innocent lives, it must reassess the proportionality of its actions and invest in alternatives that address root causes rather than symptoms. As Yemenis bury their dead and brace for yet another wave of deprivation, the world must decide: Will we repeat the mistakes of the past, or forge a new path toward justice and peace? The answer will define not only Yemens future but Americas moral standing in an increasingly fractured world. Sources for this article include: News.Antiwar.com France24.com Reuters.com NYPost.com Amy Schaffert on the Health Ranger Report: The making of 17 Miles and the vision of Brighteon Films The movie "17 Miles," directed by Bob Denney and produced by Brighteon Films, challenges prevailing narratives on illegal immigration and human trafficking at the U.S.-Mexico border offering a stark, truthful portrayal of the crisis. Amy Schaffert and her daughter portray a mother-and-daughter tandem exploited by traffickers, highlighting the film's mission to expose the harsh realities and advocate for human dignity and God's creation. Despite a modest budget of $58,000, the film is a powerful testament to passion and conviction, featuring a dedicated cast including Michael Yon, Ann Vandersteel and Sheriff Richard Mack. "17 Miles" stands in contrast to mainstream Hollywood's often sanitized and politically correct content, providing viewers with authentic, pro-human stories that address critical, often ignored issues. The film aims to fund future projects from Brighteon Films, continuing the production of pro-human, pro-Christian content and supporting a broader vision of free speech and human values. In a world where media often serves as a conduit for divisive and anti-human narratives, the independent film "17 Miles" stands out as a beacon of truth and humanity. Directed by Bob Denney and produced by Brighteon Films, this groundbreaking feature film is set to challenge the prevailing narratives surrounding illegal immigration and the human trafficking crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border. "17 Miles" star Amy Schaffert sat down with the Health Ranger Mike Adams to discuss the film's powerful message and the broader mission of Brighteon Films. The movie is a dramatic reenactment of the harrowing journey of individuals crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. The film sheds light on the often-overlooked realities of the border crisis, where migrants are frequently exploited by cartels and NGOs [non-governmental organizations]. Schaffert and her daughter play a mother and daughter who are taken advantage of by traffickers, highlighting the dark underbelly of the border situation. (Related: HUMAN TRAFFICKING: Mexican cartels offer $15,000 VIP border crossing packages to migrants trying to get into the U.S. via tunnels.) Outside acting, Schaffert is the founder of In the Field with Amy, a platform advocating for sustainable farming and local food systems. She shared her motivations for taking on this role, telling Adams that "the culture we live in is anti-human." According to Schaffert, it is important to shine a light on the realities of what is happening at the border. She added that the film is a call to action and a way to fight for God's creation and the world He wants humanity to have. The power of a low-budget film that challenges Hollywood's narrative Despite a modest budget of $58,000, "17 Miles" is a testament to the power of passion and conviction. Denney who wears two hats as writer and director and his team managed to create a compelling and authentic film with minimal resources. "It's not a high-budget film, but it's a film of passion and love for humanity," Adams emphasized. The film's cast including Schaffert, Michael Yon, Ann Vandersteel and Sheriff Richard Mack brought their roles to life with dedication and authenticity, driven by a shared belief in the film's message. The film stands in stark contrast to the often sanitized and politically correct narratives perpetuated by mainstream Hollywood. "People are starving for content that is not woke or anti-human," noted Schaffert. "They want their children to have access to things that are true." The film's release is timely, as it addresses issues that are often ignored or misrepresented in the media, such as the spread of diseases like tuberculosis through the open border. "17 Miles" was released in May 2024, with its proceeds going toward funding the next project from Brighteon Films. The studio aims to produce more films that are pro-truth, pro-Christian and pro-human. Beyond the screen: The vision of Brighteon The success of "17 Miles" is just the beginning of Brighteon's broader vision. Adams and his team are committed to building a platform that promotes free speech, human values and decentralized technology. They are currently developing advanced AI models that will be released for free, open-source and non-commercial use. These models, trained on a vast array of content, will serve as powerful tools for preserving and disseminating human knowledge. During the interview, Schaffert also discussed the potential for collaboration between Brighteon and the homeschooling community. "We are looking for a homeschooling organization that would let us have access to their entire curriculum," Adams said of this potential partnership. The Health Ranger added that Brighteon's AI models will be trained on faith-based, Christian content to ensure that true knowledge is preserved and accessible to everyone. "17 Miles" is more than just a film; it is a movement. It challenges the status quo; sheds light on critical issues and offers a glimmer of hope in a world often shrouded in darkness. As Schaffert and Adams emphasized, the power of truth and human connection can overcome even the most daunting challenges. By supporting "17 Miles" and the mission of Brighteon Films, viewers can be part of a larger effort to create a more just and humane world. Follow Trafficking.news for more news about the human trafficking happening in America's southern border. Watch the full interview between Amy Schaffert of "17 Miles" and the Health Ranger Mike Adams below. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Trump administration tackles illegal immigration: Sheriff Richard Mack calls for constitutional enforcement. Cartels exploit legal loopholes and American teens to fuel border crisis, whistleblower reveals. Human trafficking victims in America could be as many as 17,500 annually. Sources include: Brighteon.com InTheFieldWithAmy.com BlackRocks Panama port deal stirs debate over Chinese chokehold on strategic shipping routes Trump warns of strategic risks as BlackRock seeks $22B Panama Canal ports deal. Panama Canals US-built legacy at stake amid Chinas opposition to the acquisition. BlackRocks global port control could weaken Chinas Belt and Road Initiative influence. Military experts highlight Panamas vulnerability to port blockades disrupting global trade. US-China tensions escalate as battle for critical maritime infrastructure intensifies. President Donald Trump's recent congressional address has thrust the Panama Canal into the spotlight of a new geopolitical contest. Trump highlighted BlackRock's proposed $22 billion acquisition of ports at either end of the Panama Canalcurrently owned by Hong Kong-based CK Hutchisoncalling attention to the strategic risks of foreign control over vital infrastructure. The Panama Canal remains a flagship symbol of American engineering prowess. As Trump noted, the canal was constructed at tremendous human cost with 38,000 workers losing their lives during its construction. "It was built by Americans for Americans," Trump declared, referencing the 1977 Carter administration treaty that transferred control to Panama for $1. Trump stated this agreement "has been violated very severely" and vowed, "We're taking it back." The ports at Balboa (Pacific) and Cristobal (Atlantic) handle significant U.S.-China trade. Their acquisition by BlackRockAmerica's largest asset managerwould impact China's global port network. According to The Wall Street Journal, communication between BlackRock and the Trump administration suggests the government had advance knowledge of the deal. China's opposition Beijing's response was swift. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning reportedly told CNN that China "has always firmly opposed the use of economic coercion, hegemonism and bullying." Interestingly, this comment doesn't appear in the transcript on the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. China's market regulators are now reviewing the sale under anti-monopoly pretexts. U.S. State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce countered: "It's no surprise that the CCP is upset at this acquisition, which will reduce their control over the Panama Canal area. We are also glad to see U.S. investors acquire a controlling stake in the Panama Ports Company." Global strategic implications The deal extends beyond Panama's ports. The proposed CK Hutchison sale would give BlackRock operational control over 43 ports in 23 countries. Journalist Ann Vandersteel noted this would affect "199 berths across key maritime chokepoints" and significantly impact China's Belt and Road Initiative infrastructure. "This would have instantly wiped out about one-third of the PRCs global port reach, dealing a colossal blow to Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) infrastructure, she specified. Military strategist Michael Yon highlighted Balboa Port's vulnerability: its narrow channel could easily be blocked, similar to the 2021 Suez Canal incident where the Ever Given container ship halted traffic for six days. Past incidents, including a 2020 ship collision that destroyed the Panama Canal railway bridge, demonstrate these risks aren't theoretical. Washington is taking a more assertive stance on shipping chokepoints. The Federal Maritime Commission recently launched investigations into global maritime chokepoints, including Panama, citing risks to supply chains and U.S. interests. The ultimate resolution may depend on Panama's patience with Beijing's delay tactics and congressional support for infrastructure investments. For many, the Panama Canal represents both historic sacrifice and current strategic interestsa reminder that secure trade corridors remain pillars of national strength. As China attempts to block the deal, the United States faces a critical test: Can it reclaim strategic infrastructure while competing in global markets? BlackRock, with its $11.5 trillion portfolio and CEO Larry Fink's ties to Trump, represents this challenge of balancing private investment with national security concerns. The Panama port debate ultimately transcends real estateit crystallizes a century of shifting superpower priorities and demonstrates that control of maritime chokepoints remains essential to national security in an era of global economic competition. Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com SupplyChainDive.com NYPost.com Foreign dark money pipeline exposed: $100M funneled through U.S. ballot initiatives to push far-left agenda A $100 million scheme funneled through progressive groups like the Sixteen Thirty Fund has swayed ballot initiatives in 25 states, including Ohio, targeting abortion, election law changes and drug decriminalization. A 2021 Federal Election Commission ruling allowed foreign nationals to fund ballot measures bypassing traditional oversight sparking bipartisan criticism over foreign interference. Over $14 million in foreign-linked funds supported abortion expansion and drug decriminalization in Ohio, despite 85% of voters opposing foreign influence. The state later banned foreign contributions, but not before potential gerrymandering impacts. Watchdogs warn that without federal action to close the FEC loophole, foreign meddling will persist turning ballot initiatives into ideological battlegrounds. Bipartisan momentum is growing, but the future of election integrity remains uncertain. A $100 million foreign dark money scheme, uncovered by the America First Policy Institute, reveals how anonymous donations from abroad have swayed ballot initiatives in 25 states, including Ohios controversial 2024 abortion and drug decriminalization measures. The findings revive debates over election integrity, congressional inaction and the growing power of progressive groups like the Sixteen Thirty Fund to bypass state legislatures. The investigations also highlight a 2021 Federal Election Commission ruling that opened the door to foreign funding, despite widespread bipartisan public opposition. The foreign funding pipeline The Sixteen Thirty Fund, a major backer of progressive causes, emerged as the primary conduit for a shadowy network of foreign donors seeking to influence U.S. policy, according to a new report by the America First Policy Institute. Researchers traced over $100 million in foreign-linked contributions to initiatives in states such as Ohio, Arizona, Michigan and North Dakota. The funds targeted divisive issues like abortion access, election law changes and drug decriminalization policies often deemed too extreme to pass through traditional legislative processes. This influx leveraged a 2021 Federal Election Commission ruling permitting foreign nationals to donate to ballot measures, a system critics labeled a loophole to evade oversight. Caitlyn Sutherland, executive director of Americans for Public Trust, told Fox News the practice allowed foreign billionaires to impose their will on U.S. citizens, using ballot measures to sidestep scrutiny. The findings show 16 states, including Ohio, have already banned foreign contributions following recent scandals, but most laws exclude foreign individuals, focusing only on corporate entities. A closer look at Ohios 2024 stakes Ohios experience epitomizes the controversy. Over $14 million in foreign-linked funds poured into campaigns backing abortion expansion and reduced penalties for fentanyl possession, despite 85% of Ohio voters opposing foreign involvement in state politics. Initiatives promoted by the Sixteen Thirty Fund included constitutional amendments mandating abortion access through tax dollars and decriminalizing drug possession a stark contrast to conservative-leaning public sentiment. In response, Ohio legislators enacted a 2024 law banning all foreign contributions to ballot measures. Yet, the damage had been done: the report notes foreign money also spurred gerrymandering schemes disguised as democracy reforms, which could have altered congressional redistricting. They know their far-left agenda cant withstand scrutiny, Sutherland said, so they cut to the ballot box with foreign money. Litigation, public backlash and the fight for reform The scandal has ignited calls for federal action after years of state-by-state patchwork reforms. California, Colorado and Washington have curbed foreign corporate contributions, but only eight states have strict bans on both individuals and entities. A 2022 University of Maryland poll found 80% of voters across party lines favor a nationwide prohibition. Congress remains gridlocked, however. Democrats, who historically supported ballot measures, have yet to address foreign interference concerns, even as Republican-led states push legislation. Meanwhile, the Sixteen Thirty Fund defends its activities, stating its contributions comply with all laws. Our donations advance reproductive rights and democracy, the group said in a Fox News statement. Watchdog organizations counter that compliance with lax state rules doesnt align with public intent. Democracy doesnt mean letting foreign dark money rewrite state constitutions, Sutherland said. States are waking up but Congress must act to stop this nationwide. The unfinished battle for election integrity The revelations underscore how outdated laws and a lack of federal consensus have left ballot initiatives vulnerable to foreign interference a threat that goes beyond partisan divides. As more states follow Ohios lead, the push for sweeping reforms intensifies. Yet without congressional action to close the FECs 2021 loophole, the same money could return voter mobilization and funding patterns mentioned because foreign donors continue exploiting Americas democratic process. The political stakes are high: ballot initiatives allow organizations to bypass lawmakers altogether, making them ideal tools for ideological bombs. As Sutherland noted, The more states act, the clearer the bipartisan demand becomes foreign money has no place in American democracy. The nation must now decide: Is the ballot initiative system a grassroots triumph or a backdoor for foreign agendas? The answer could redefine electoral ethics in the coming years. A nationwide tipping point? The Sixteen Thirty Fund scandal lays bare a fractured system where progressive policies, lucrative donor agendas and foreign money collide in less-protected state contests. With bipartisan sentiment favoring reform and momentum building in key legislatures, the debate over foreign influence may finally force federal action a testament to how state-level fights can reshape national priorities. As voters and lawmakers seek transparency, the question remains whether democracy can outpace its vulnerabilities. Sources include: YourNews.com AmericaFirstPolicy.com TheGatewayPundit.com Horehound: A resilient flowering plant and healing herb Horehound, scientifically named Marrubium vulgare, is a resilient plant in the mint family native to the Mediterranean and Central Asia, with a history of medicinal use that can be traced back to ancient Greece and Rome. Preferring dry, sandy soils, horehound is rich in compounds like marrubin, flavonoids, tannins and volatile oils, which contribute to its therapeutic properties, including expectorant and digestive aid effects. Horehound is traditionally used to address respiratory issues (coughs, bronchitis, asthma) and digestive disorders (indigestion, bloating, gas), and is also thought to support the immune system and treat minor skin conditions. Commonly prepared as teas, syrups, tinctures and lozenges, horehound is often consumed in candy form -- a traditional remedy for sore throats and coughs. Beyond its medicinal uses, horehound has a unique bitter-minty flavor that's excellent for teas, syrups, candies, jellies and ale. It holds historical significance, having been used during the Black Plague and in various cultural traditions for purification and protection. Horehound, scientifically known as Marrubium vulgare, is a resilient flowering plant that belongs to the mint family. Native to regions spanning the Mediterranean Sea and Central Asia, horehound has a rich and storied history that stretches back to ancient times. Its discovery and usage can be traced back to the early civilizations of Greece and Rome, where it was highly regarded for its medicinal properties. Over the centuries, horehound's reputation as a healing herb had spread far and wide, and today, it can be found growing on all seven continents. Phytonutrients and health benefits Horehound thrives in dry, sandy or rocky soils and can often be found along roadsides, in fields and in waste areas. Its adaptability to various environments has contributed to its widespread distribution. The plant is characterized by its gray-green, woolly leaves and small, white flowers arranged in dense, whorled clusters. The leaves and flowers are the primary parts used in traditional medicine and modern health practices. (Related: 6 Civil War-era foods you can still make today (recipes included.) Horehound is rich in beneficial phytonutrients, such as: Marrubin - A bitter compound that is believed to be the primary active constituent responsible for many of the plant's medicinal effects. - A bitter compound that is believed to be the primary active constituent responsible for many of the plant's medicinal effects. Flavonoids - Flavonoids like luteolin and apigenin have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. - Flavonoids like luteolin and apigenin have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Tannins - Active compounds that can help treat digestive issues and have astringent effects. - Active compounds that can help treat digestive issues and have astringent effects. Volatile oils - These include thymol and carvacrol, which contribute to the plant's distinctive aroma and therapeutic benefits. Throughout history, horehound has been used to address a variety of health issues, particularly those related to the respiratory and digestive systems. Some of the key conditions and symptoms that horehound may help prevent or alleviate include: Respiratory issues - Horehound is renowned for its expectorant properties, making it useful in the treatment of coughs, bronchitis and asthma. It helps to loosen and expel mucus from the respiratory tract, providing relief from congestion and irritation. - Horehound is renowned for its expectorant properties, making it useful in the treatment of coughs, bronchitis and asthma. It helps to loosen and expel mucus from the respiratory tract, providing relief from congestion and irritation. Digestive disorders - The plant's bitter compounds stimulate the production of digestive juices, aiding in the digestion of food and alleviating symptoms of indigestion, bloating and gas. Horehound can also help treat nausea and vomiting. - The plant's bitter compounds stimulate the production of digestive juices, aiding in the digestion of food and alleviating symptoms of indigestion, bloating and gas. Horehound can also help treat nausea and vomiting. Immune weakness - The antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds in horehound can support the immune system, reducing the risk of infections and promoting overall health. - The antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds in horehound can support the immune system, reducing the risk of infections and promoting overall health. Skin conditions - Topical application of horehound can be beneficial in treating minor skin irritations, such as rashes and insect bites. Medicinal and culinary uses In traditional medicine, horehound has been prepared in various forms, including teas, syrups, tinctures and lozenges. One of the most famous uses is in the form of horehound candy, a popular centuries-old remedy for sore throat and cough. Modern herbal practitioners continue to recommend horehound for its therapeutic benefits, often in combination with other herbs to enhance its effects. Horehound is known by several common names, including white horehound, common horehound and houndsbane. The leaves and flowers of horehound have a unique, pungent flavor that is both bitter and minty. This distinctive taste can be an acquired one, but it adds a unique dimension to culinary creations. Some recipes where horehound shines include: Horehound tea - A soothing beverage that can be enjoyed hot or iced, often sweetened with honey to balance the bitterness. - A soothing beverage that can be enjoyed hot or iced, often sweetened with honey to balance the bitterness. Horehound syrup - A thick, sweet syrup that can be used to soothe sore throats and coughs. - A thick, sweet syrup that can be used to soothe sore throats and coughs. Horehound candy - A traditional confection that combines horehound extract with sugar to create a hard, medicinal candy. - A traditional confection that combines horehound extract with sugar to create a hard, medicinal candy. Horehound jelly - A sweet and tangy spread that can be used on toast or crackers. - A sweet and tangy spread that can be used on toast or crackers. Horehound ale - An herbal beer that combines horehound with other ingredients to create a unique, bitter-tasting beverage. The use of horehound is steeped in historical and cultural significance. In ancient Greece, the physician Dioscorides recommended horehound for respiratory issues, and it was a staple in the herbal pharmacopeia of medieval Europe. One fascinating anecdote involves its use during the Black Plague in the 14th century. Horehound was one of the herbs believed to offer protection against the disease. Horehound has since found a place in the folklore and traditions of various cultures, often associated with purification and protection. Horehound is a versatile and valuable herb with a long history of use in traditional medicine. Its rich phytonutrient profile and wide range of therapeutic applications make it a valuable addition to any health and wellness regimen. Whether enjoyed as a tea, used in culinary creations or taken as a supplement, horehound continues to offer a natural and effective way to support respiratory health, digestive well-being and overall vitality. This story is not medical advice and is not intended to treat or cure any disease. Always consult with a qualified naturopathic physician for personalized advice about your specific health situation or concern. Visit NaturalNews.com, a great article source where you can learn about superfoods and their health benefits. You can also try Brighteon.ai, an AI model created by Mike Adams, also known as the Health Ranger. This model is available as a free download to be run locally and is designed to help share and decentralize knowledge. By doing so, it aims to bypass censorship and empower people with knowledge. If you're looking for an uncensored video free speech website where you can openly discuss nutrition, natural medicine, ingredients and more, check out Brighteon.com and out two free speech social media sites, Brighteon.IO and Brighteon.social. Watch this video to learn more about the benefits and uses of horehound. This video is from the Holistic Herbalist channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Feeling the sniffles? Check out these herbs for allergy relief. Breakthrough: Ivermectin inhibits the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein from binding to ACE2 receptors in human tissue. Medicinal herbs effectively treat thousands of covid-19 patients in Chinese hospitals. Stop coughing with these nine remedies - Control coughs from flu, bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia and COPD. U.S. faces most severe flu season in 15 Years, but dozens of HOME APOTHECARY EARLY TREATMENTS go ignored by the CDC. Sources include: Brighteon.ai NaturalNews.com Brighteon.com Majority of Americans now favor mass deportation of illegal immigrants, polls show shift in public sentiment A new Washington Post/CNN poll shows 56% of Americans now support deporting all 11 million undocumented immigrants a significant increase from 38% in 2016. The shift reflects growing alignment with former President Trumps hardline immigration stance, emphasizing national security and economic concerns. Support crosses party lines: 86% of Republicans, 58% of independents and even 25% of Democrats favor mass deportation. Polling expert Harry Enten links the trend to Trumps policies, noting 49% of voters now view his immigration efforts as successful. Forced-choice polls (e.g., deportation vs. legalization) show 44% support deportation, while standalone questions can push it to 57%. Experts caution that single-issue questions may oversimplify nuanced public opinions, but Republican backing for deportation has surged from 50% in 2016 to 70% today. Trumps policies (workplace raids, asylum restrictions, "zero tolerance") reframed illegal immigration as a security/economic threat. 62% of voters now call it a "major problem," fueled by record border apprehensions in 20222023 and economic anxieties. Polls suggest Trump has mobilized durable public support for strict enforcement, complicating Democratic efforts to balance deportation with legal pathways. The 2024 election may cement this stance, signaling a potential decades-long redefinition of U.S. immigration policy. A new poll reveals a growing majority of Americans now support mass deportations of illegal immigrants, signaling a significant shift in public opinion since 2016. According to a Washington Post survey analyzed by CNN, 56% of voters back government efforts to deport all 11 million undocumented residents, compared to just 38% in 2016. The findings underscore a public embrace of stricter immigration policies championed by President Donald Trump, who has framed enforcement as critical to national security and economic integrity. The polls results highlight a historic swing in voter sentiment, coinciding with the Trump administrations hardline stance on illegal immigration. Poll shows bipartisan support for stronger enforcement The Washington Post/CNN analysis, interpreted by polling expert Harry Enten, reveals a stark shift over the past decade in how Americans view immigration enforcement. Enten noted that the 18-percentage-point jump in support for deportation reflects bipartisan agreement on the issue. Notably, 86% of Republicans and 58% of political independents now back mass deportations, with even 25% of Democrats acknowledging concerns about illegal immigrations societal impact. Enten attributed this change directly to Trumps policies, emphasizing: The American people have come a long way on this issue, much closer to Donald Trump, and I think thats a big part of why Americans are increasingly saying the country is on the right track when comes to immigration policy. The poll further indicates that 49% of voters now view Trumps immigration efforts as successful, reinforcing his administrations focus on border security and workplace enforcement since his initial 2016 presidential campaign. Partisan divide and polling methodology debates While the Washington Post poll reflects broadening consensus, surveys analyzing similar questions yield conflicting results, prompting debates about polling methods. Leo Gugerty, a Clemson University social psychologist, argues that forced-choice questionswhere respondents must choose between deportation and legalization paint a different picture. Gugertys review of 12 polls since 2017 found that support for legalization has dipped to 55%, while support for mass deportation rose to 44% still below the Washington Posts findings. However, he emphasized that when questions are framed separately (asking respondents to rate both policy preferences), support for deportation can skew higher. For example, a 2024 Gallup poll showed 57% favoring deportation and 57% backing legalization, suggesting some respondents supported both. The key issue is how options are presented, Gugerty said, noting that single-issue polling risks oversimplifying nuanced public views. Despite this, Republican voters have solidified their support for deportation, shifting from 50% in 2016 to 70% today, while Democratic views have remained steadfastly in favor of legalization. Historical context: The evolution of enforcement policy President Trumps immigration agenda has reshaped the national debate on enforcement since his first term. His administrations policies, including expanded workplace raids, stricter asylum rules and the zero tolerance border policy, have framed illegal immigration as both a security threat and an economic burden on American workers. Historically, immigration enforcement under George W. Bush and Barack Obama focused on criminal deportations and a limited scale system overhaul. Trumps rhetoric and actions, however, broadened the scope to target all undocumented residents, aligning enforcement with his America First platform. The polls results validate Trumps approach, as 62% of voters now describe illegal immigration as a major problem. This follows record border apprehensions in 2022 and 2023, exacerbating fears about job competition and public safety, particularly in rural and border communities. A mandate for action The polling suggests the Trump administration has successfully mobilized public opinion behind its immigration agenda amid a contentious political climate. While Democrats argue for balancing enforcement with paths to legal residency, the sum majority of voters increasingly side with through deportation. As debates over methodology persist, the 2025 election cycle will test the durability of this sentiment. For now, the data serves as a rallying point for conservatives advocating strict enforcement and underscores the challenges for lawmakers seeking to address a politically polarized issue. President Trumps campaign promises and policies, consolidated over two terms, appear to have created a durable coalition pushing for border security over amnesty a shift that could redefine the immigration debate for decades. Sources include: YourNews.com TheConversation.com X.com Maple syrup: Natures golden superfood and its sweet health benefits Maple syrup is packed with essential minerals and antioxidants, supporting energy production, bone health and immune function. With a glycemic index of 54 vs. white sugar's 65, maple syrup is less likely to cause blood sugar spikes. Its abscisic acid content may also help regulate glucose metabolism. Maple syrup contains prebiotics for digestive health and polyphenols that combat inflammation, potentially reducing your risks of developing chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes. Organic maple syrup is free of synthetic pesticides and harmful additives like formaldehyde, making it a cleaner, more sustainable choice. Darker grades (especially Grade B) have the highest antioxidant content. Beyond pancakes, maple syrup can enhance savory dishes, beverages and desserts while providing a healthier alternative to refined sugar and artificial syrups. Few natural sweeteners can match the rich, complex flavor and nutritional benefits of pure organic maple syrup. Far more than just a pancake topping, maple syrup has been revered for centuries as both a culinary treasure and a functional food. Packed with essential nutrients, antioxidants and unique phytochemicals, maple syrup stands out as one of nature's most remarkable superfoods. Brief history of maple syrup Maple syrup is a natural sweetener derived from the sap of sugar maple trees (Acer saccharum). Indigenous peoples of North America, including the Algonquin, Iroquois and Ojibwe, were the first to discover and refine its production centuries ago. They used hollowed-out logs to collect sap and heated it first with hot stones, later in metal pots to evaporate the water, leaving behind a concentrated syrup. When European settlers arrived in the 17th century, they adopted these methods, refining them further with modern techniques. Today, Canada (particularly Quebec) and the northeastern United States dominate global maple syrup production, accounting for over 80 percent of the world's supply. Nutritional profile and health benefits While maple syrup is a sweetener, it is far more nutrient-dense than refined sugar or artificial syrups. Unlike highly processed sweeteners, pure maple syrup offers the following benefits: Antioxidants Maple syrup is packed with polyphenols and phenolic compounds that can fight free radicals and reduce inflammation. Studies also suggest it may protect against heart disease and some cancers. Low glycemic index While still a sugar, maple syrup has a lower glycemic index (54) than white sugar (65), so it doesn't spike blood sugar as rapidly. The abscisic acid in maple syrup may also help regulate glucose metabolism. Gut health support Maple syrup contains prebiotics like oligosaccharides that can feed beneficial gut bacteria and improve digestion for better gut health. Minerals for bone health and immunity A tablespoon of maple syrup provides six percent of your daily manganese requirement (critical for bone health and metabolism). It also contains other minerals like calcium, potassium, zinc and iron, which are essential for stronger immune function. Essential vitamins Maple syrup contains small amounts of B vitamins like riboflavin (B2) and niacin (B3). Research suggests all these components offer anti-inflammatory, anticancer and neuroprotective benefits. A 2011 study published in Pharmaceutical Biology found that maple syrup contains more than 65 beneficial compounds, some of which may help manage Type 2 diabetes by improving insulin sensitivity. (Related: The surprising nutritional package of pure maple syrup.) Organic vs. conventional maple syrup Organic maple syrup is a healthier, more natural alternative to conventional pancake syrups, which often contain artificial flavors, high fructose corn syrup, caramel coloring and synthetic additives like sodium benzoate. Unlike these processed syrups, organic maple syrup retains its nutrient content and offers superior taste. When selecting maple syrup, it is important to choose organic brands that is free of formaldehyde a toxic chemical sometimes used in commercial production. While organic options may be pricier, the higher cost guarantees genuine quality and purity. Non-organic varieties may also be contaminated with pesticides, trace amounts of heavy metals like lead and synthetic antifoaming agents. In contrast, organic maple syrup contains no synthetic pesticides and heavy metals -- only sustainably harvested, chemical-free sap. Grading matters: Darker syrup equals more antioxidants The grade of maple syrup affects both its flavor and nutritional value: Grade A golden (delicate taste): The lightest in flavor. Grade A amber (rich taste): A balanced, classic maple taste. Grade A dark (robust taste): Stronger flavor with more minerals. Grade B (very dark): The highest in terms of antioxidant content; offers the greatest health benefits. By choosing organic and paying attention to the grade, you can enjoy maple syrup that's not only delicious but also free of harmful additives and overflowing with beneficial components. How to use maple syrup in recipes Maple syrup's deep, caramelized flavor makes it ideal for: Breakfast staples Pancakes, waffles, French toast Oatmeal or yogurt drizzles Smoothie sweetener Savory dishes Maple-glazed salmon Roasted vegetables (carrots, sweet potatoes) Barbecue sauces and marinades Desserts and baking Maple pecan pie Maple walnut cookies Vegan caramel substitutes This story is not medical advice and is not intended to treat or cure any disease. Always consult with a qualified naturopathic physician for personalized advice about your specific health situation or concern. Explore more about the health benefits of superfoods like maple syrup and other natural ingredients at NaturalNews.com, your trusted source for wellness insights and nutritional knowledge. For cutting-edge tools to expand your understanding of natural health, try Brighteon.ai, an innovative AI model created by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger. This free, downloadable tool is designed to decentralize knowledge, bypass censorship, and empower individuals with actionable information. If you're passionate about nutrition, natural medicine and uncensored discussions, visit Brighteon.com, a free speech video platform, and join our vibrant communities on Brighteon.IO and Brighteon.social. Dive into open conversations about food, ingredients and holistic health today! Watch this video to learn more about the health benefits of maple syrup. This video is from the Leah Tillock channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Pure, organic maple syrup is a delicious superfood. Amazing Food Facts: Real maple syrup is just the boiled sap of a maple tree. How to make a delicious detox cleanse using maple syrup. Sources include: Brighteon.AI NaturalNews.com Brighteon.com Supreme Court weighs birthright citizenship restriction amid claims of executive overreach The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments on May 15 regarding Trumps executive order restricting birthright citizenship, challenging interpretations of the 14th Amendment and presidential authority. The policy denies automatic citizenship to children born to non-citizen parents lacking permanent residency. The administration argues the phrase subject to the jurisdiction thereof excludes children of undocumented or temporary residents, claiming past interpretations overextended birthright citizenship. Opponents cite Wong Kim Ark (1898), asserting jurisdiction covers all except diplomats or invaders. Twenty-one states and civil rights groups warn the policy creates statelessness, confusion and racial profiling risks. They defend nationwide injunctions to prevent unequal citizenship rights across states, framing birthright citizenship as foundational to equality. The ruling, due by July, could redefine presidential power over immigration or reinforce judicial checks. It may establish a precedent for citizenship eligibility, escalating tensions over federal vs. state authority and the rights of immigrant communities. The case transcends immigration, testing core American principles: Who defines citizenship? A decision upholding the order could politicize birthright rights, while a rejection may cement the 14th Amendments role as a safeguard against exclusionary policies. The outcome will shape the nations identity for generations. On April 17, the U.S. Supreme Court announced it would review President Donald Trumps executive order curtailing birthright citizenship, setting oral arguments for May 15. The case, Trump v. Maryland et al., tests the legal and political boundaries of presidential authority, immigration policy and the enduring interpretation of the 14th Amendment. The administrations January 20 ordertitled Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenshiptargets children born in the U.S. to parents without legal residency or on temporary visas, denying them automatic citizenship unless a parent holds citizenship or a green card. While the justices delayed suspending lower court injunctions blocking the policy, their swift decision to hear the case underscores its high stakes in a nation reckoning with immigration and federal power dynamics. The 14th Amendment and the jurisdictional debate At the heart of the dispute is Section 1 of the 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868 to guarantee citizenship to all born on U.S. soil subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Originally designed to overturn Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857), which denied citizenship to enslaved individuals and their descendants, the amendments modern interpretation faces sharp debate. The Trump administration argues that birthright citizenship has been wrongly expanded beyond the Constitutions intent, pointing to the phrase subject to the jurisdiction thereof as excluding those in the U.S. unlawfully or temporarily. The executive order specifies that children born to mothers who are either unlawfully present or here lawfully but temporarilysuch as tourists, students, or visa holderswill not automatically qualify for citizenship if the father is not a citizen or green-card holder. This provision rightly repudiated the Supreme Courts shameful decision in Dred Scott, the order states, framing its narrower interpretation as a correction of historical injustice while avoiding auto-birthright citizenship for a special class of foreigners. The administration has called the lower court injunctions lupine encroachmentsLatin for wolf-like overreachon executive power in a March filing, claiming district judges improperly block policies nationwide without proven harm to plaintiffs. Yet legal scholars and opponents highlight that non-citizen residents, including lawful temporary visitors, historically fall under U.S. jurisdiction, as defined in United States v. Wong Kim Ark (1898). This 1898 precedent, which ruled that children born to legal, non-citizen residents become citizens, established that jurisdiction applies to all except diplomats or hostile invaders, a view embraced by opponents to counter the administrations stance. States and advocacy groups: A clash over equity and chaos Twenty-one plaintiff states, including Maryland, Massachusetts and Washington, argue Trumps policy destroys birthright citizenship as we know it, risking statelessness for infants and confusion over citizenship requirements. In court filings, they accuse the administration of creating a patchwork of unchecked authority: The government would have citizenship depend on whether your parents are litigants or even live in certain states, wrote attorneys for the coalition. The states emphasize that nationwide injunctions are necessary to prevent absurdity: if injunctions apply only to specific regions, federal agencies would face conflicting mandates, leaving newborns in some states as citizens while others are deemed not subject to U.S. jurisdiction. They rejected the administrations modest framing, writing that the policy tramples the republics longstanding pact that all Americans, born here, carry equal rights. Meanwhile, civil rights groups and Democrats have amplified concerns that the policy could incentivize racial or ethnic profiling, given the disproportionate impact on Latino and immigrant communities. This isnt about the lawits about sowing fear and amplifying political divisions, said Cecilia Munoz, a Federal Reserve Board member. The administration responds that the order only clarifies eligibility, not erasing longstanding exceptions. Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge argued in a press briefing that the policy restores accountability to citizenship by ensuring benefits align with legal residency. Constitutional tensions and the path forward The Courts ruling, expected by July, will either uphold a conservative vision of restrained birthright citizenship or reinforce the judiciarys role in checking executive overreach. If upheld, the order could reshape immigration policy by allowing the president to redefine citizenship through executive actiona precedent with unclear implications for future administrations. Opponents warn it would destabilize U.S. demographics by creating a new underclass, while supporters argue it upholds national sovereignty over border control. Historically, Supreme Court justices have avoided revisiting birthright citizenship, but this case may force a reckoning with the 14th Amendments limits. A decision overturning the injunctions would immediately halt the administrations policycreating a prolonged legal stalematewhile a ruling in favor could pit federal guidance against states rights battles. Regardless of the outcome, the case has already deepened partisan fissures over fundamental questions: What does it mean to be an American? Who holds the power to define it? And who are we, as a nation, willing to exclude? The legacy of a judicial choice The Supreme Courts decision will reverberate far beyond immigration policy, defining constitutional norms that balance federal authority, state rights and the unalienable rights of immigrants. As the Court faces this 21st-century dilemma, its ruling will either solidify birthright citizenship as an irrefutable pillar of American identityor open it to political discretion, reshaping the nations social fabric for generations. The May arguments will not just decide the fate of newborn children but also who inherits the priceless rights of American citizenship. Sources include: YourNews.com WhiteHouse.gov MSNBC.com Pfizer faces legal backlash: Texas, Kansas, and more states begin to challenge Prep Act Immunity Shield In a bold move to hold pharmaceutical giants accountable, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has taken his fight against Pfizer to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit. The appeal, filed on Wednesday, challenges the federal court's dismissal of a lawsuit that accuses Pfizer of making false and misleading claims about its COVID-19 vaccine. This legal battle is not just about one state; it is a broader challenge to the federal Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act), which has shielded vaccine makers from liability for years, allowing them to operate with impunity Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton appeals a federal court ruling, arguing that state consumer protection laws should supersede the federal PREP Act's liability shield. Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach files a lawsuit alleging Pfizer violated previous consent judgments by making misleading claims about its COVID-19 vaccine. Similar lawsuits in Utah and North Carolina challenge the PREP Act's broad immunity, with some courts ruling that certain claims fall outside the act's protections. Texas appeals, challenging Prep Act immunity Texas sued Pfizer in state court in November 2023, alleging that the company violated the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA) by misleading the public about the efficacy and safety of its COVID-19 vaccine. The state claims that Pfizer capitalized on the public's fear and uncertainty, touting the vaccine as a "miracle cure" and leading consumers to make choices they would not have otherwise made. This, the state argues, resulted in billions of dollars in profits for Pfizer at the expense of public trust and health. In January 2024, Pfizer successfully moved the case to federal court, where it was dismissed in December 2024. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Lubbock Division, accepted Pfizer's argument that the PREP Act's liability shield protected the company from such claims. However, Texas is now appealing this decision, arguing that the PREP Act's protections do not extend to consumer protection cases brought by the state. Texas' brief to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals asserts that the PREP Act's liability shield "only extends to claims 'for loss'" and does not shield against consumer protection cases filed by the state. The state argues that the PREP Act's immunity shield blocks claims involving the "administration" of a covered product to an individual but does not extend to "sovereign consumer protection suits." Ray Flores, senior outside counsel for Childrens Health Defense (CHD), supports Texas' position, stating, "The Texas District Courts one-page dismissal is a prime example of the outmoded knee-jerk reaction that anything goes under PREP." Kansas lawsuit: a stronger case with historical context Meanwhile, Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach has filed a similar lawsuit in state court, alleging that Pfizer violated the Kansas Consumer Protection Act by making misleading claims about the safety and effectiveness of its COVID-19 vaccine. What sets the Kansas case apart is the inclusion of three previous consent judgments from 2008, 2012, and 2014, in which Pfizer agreed not to make misleading claims about its products. These agreements, Flores argues, form the "centerpiece" of Kansas' case and provide a stronger legal foundation. Kobach's lawsuit alleges that Pfizer used "denial and delay" tactics, confidentiality agreements, and an extended study timeline to conceal significant safety concerns and critical data about the vaccine. The lawsuit states, "Pfizer must be held accountable for falsely representing the benefits of its COVID-19 vaccine while concealing and suppressing the truth about its vaccines safety risks, waning effectiveness, and inability to prevent transmission." Pfizer has sought to affirm its immunity under the PREP Act and dismiss the Kansas case, but Flores is confident that the state's arguments will prevail. "Kansas v. Pfizer has an extra added benefit of three consent judgments, where Pfizer promised not to mislead the citizens of Kansas," Flores said. "Astonishingly, Pfizer claims these three consent judgments entered more than a decade ago are unrelated settlements that did not involve a vaccine subject to the PREP Act. I dont buy it." Other challenges to the Prep Act The legal challenges to the PREP Act are not limited to Texas and Kansas. In Utah, a clinical trial participant, Brianne Dressen, sued AstraZeneca for breach of contract after the company failed to provide medical treatment for injuries sustained during the trial. In November 2024, a federal court ruled that the PREP Act's liability shield does not extend to breach-of-contract claims, a decision that could have far-reaching implications for other vaccine-related lawsuits. In North Carolina, the Supreme Court of North Carolina overturned lower court decisions, ruling that the PREP Act does not preempt state law requiring parental consent for vaccination. This case, filed by the mother of a 14-year-old boy who was vaccinated without consent, will now return to the North Carolina Court of Appeals to address questions of state law and the state Constitution. The legal battles against Pfizer and the PREP Act are more than just a series of lawsuits; they are a call to action for transparency and accountability in the pharmaceutical industry. As Ray Flores of CHD put it, "The all-consuming reach of the PREP Acts tentacles is being challenged once again." The outcomes of these cases could set important precedents, potentially stripping away the immunity shield that has protected vaccine makers from liability for years. The question remains: Will the courts finally hold these corporations accountable, or will the PREP Act continue to shield them from the consequences of their actions? Sources include: ChildrensHealthDefense.org ChildrensHealthDefense.org [PDF] ChildrensHealthDefense.org [PDF] Trump administration BANS Associated Press reporters from Oval Office, defying court order The Trump administration barred Associated Press reporters from covering a press conference with President Donald Trump and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, defying a federal court injunction ordering the White House to restore AP's access. A Trump-appointed judge ruled on April 8 that excluding AP from briefings violated the First Amendment, as the government cannot discriminate against journalists based on viewpoint. The White House is appealing the decision. The conflict stems from AP's refusal to adopt Trump's executive order renaming the "Gulf of Mexico" as the "Gulf of America," citing global clarity in reporting. The White House retaliated by revoking AP's access to key events. The ban reflects Trump's stance toward mainstream media biased against him, including past attacks on outlets like CNN and CBS. Trump himself wasn't the only one who spoke out against the AP. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has also criticized a reporter from an outlet over an "insulting" question about Trump's tariffs. The Trump administration has prohibited Associated Press (AP) reporters from the Oval Office, defying an injunction ordering that they be granted access. A spokesperson for the news organization confirmed that its reporters were indeed banned during a press conference featuring U.S. President Trump and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele on Monday, April 15. The briefing was convened following the arrival of El Salvador's chief executive, who Trump invited. "Our journalists were blocked from the Oval Office today," the spokesperson told Jeremy Barr of the Washington Post, who reported on the development via social media. The AP spokesperson continued: "We expect the White House to restore AP's participation in the pool as of today, as provided in the injunction order." On April 8, U.S. District Judge Trevor N. McFadden of the District Court for the District of Columbia issued an injunction ordering that the AP's access to the Oval Office be restored. McFadden, a Trump appointee, ruled that the administration violated the First Amendment by excluding the outlet from press briefings. "Under the First Amendment, if the government opens its doors to some journalists be it to the Oval Office, the East Room or elsewhere it cannot then shut those doors to other journalists because of their viewpoints," the magistrate wrote. The White House said it is appealing the injunction. Trump vs. AP: The battle over renaming the Gulf of Mexico The spat between the Trump administration and the AP follows the news organization's refusal to adopt the president's directive to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America." In January, Trump issued an executive order changing the body of water's name, which has been historically recognized by the former name, for more than four centuries. The AP, citing its responsibility as a global news agency, declined to adopt the new term. "As a global news agency that disseminates information worldwide, the AP must ensure that place names and geography are easily recognizable to all audiences," the organization stated in February. In response, the White House revoked the AP's access to most presidential events, including briefings and travel on Air Force One. The news organization retains sporadic access to some White House events, however. Monday's exclusion marks the latest escalation in Trump's long-running adversarial relationship with the mainstream media (MSM). Even White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has expressed disdain toward the AP, recently criticizing a reporter from the outlet. The journalist reportedly asked an "insulting" question about Trump's tariff policy, drawing Leavitt's ire. Trump has frequently denounced several MSM outlets like CNN as peddlers of fake news and labeled journalists as "the enemy of the people." But aside from the AP, CBS has recently also been in the Trump's crosshairs for its biased reporting about the 47th president. (Related: Associated Press, NPR are serial liars when it comes to reporting anything about Donald Trump.) The clash between the White House and the AP reflects broader tensions over press independence and government overreach. The outcome of this dispute will shape not only the AP's access but also the broader relationship between future administrations and the journalists who hold them accountable. Journalism.news has more similar stories. Watch this video revealing that the AP writes the news stories used by other outlets. This video is from the HaloRock channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Trump takes aim at MSNBC and CNN, predicts liberal media's downfall. Trump accuses mainstream media of industrial-scale libel and political bias, demands $10B in damages. Trump calls out MSM's DOUBLE STANDARD when it comes to reporting about his cognitive health vs. Biden's. Sources include: SHTFPlan.com RT.com Mediaite.com Brighteon.com Trump administration proposes drastic cuts to State Department, axing funds to UN and NATO The Trump administration has proposed a 50% cut to the State Departments budget, including the elimination of funding for the United Nations and NATO. The budget proposal also calls for significant reductions in foreign assistance, global health funding and diplomatic staffing. The cuts come as the administration seeks to increase the Pentagons budget to $1 trillion. Critics argue that these cuts will undermine U.S. diplomatic efforts and global influence, while supporters claim they align with a focus on domestic priorities and reducing unnecessary spending. NATO and UN to lose their main source of funding In a move that has sent shockwaves through the diplomatic community, the Trump administration has proposed a drastic 50% cut to the State Departments budget, which includes the elimination of funding for the United Nations (UN) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The budget proposal, detailed in an internal memo and reported by The New York Times, also calls for significant reductions in foreign assistance, global health funding, and diplomatic staffing. This comes as the administration simultaneously seeks to increase the Pentagons budget to a staggering $1 trillion, raising questions about the priorities of the ruling class and the true intentions behind these fiscal maneuvers. The proposal, which is still in its preliminary stages, has been met with fierce resistance from both within the State Department and from Capitol Hill. State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce defended the administrations stance, emphasizing that the U.S. remains committed to NATO but views it primarily as a deterrent rather than a tool for waging war. We want to make sure that the nations in NATO can actually deliver on the mission of NATO, which is to be a deterrent. It is not to help with wars or to help fight them NATO was meant to be a collection of entities that would stop the bad actors from doing the bad thing, she said. However, critics argue that the proposed cuts will severely undermine U.S. diplomatic efforts and global influence. Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed deep concern over the proposal. When America First becomes America Alone, our economy, security, and prosperity will suffer as adversaries fill the void the Trump Administration leaves behind, Shaheen stated. Investments in diplomatic programs that promote peace and stability, and advance American national security interests are commonsense priorities that should be reflected in the State Departments budget request. The budget proposal, if implemented, would have far-reaching consequences for U.S. foreign policy and international relations, but it would also decouple the U.S. from predatory global bodies that are involved in provocations and corrupt multinational agendas. Key points include: Halving foreign assistance: The proposal calls for a 50% reduction in foreign assistance funding managed by the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which stood at $52 billion in 2024. Eliminating global health funding: Funding for global health initiatives, except for small amounts dedicated to HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria, would be eliminated. The proposal also requires global health partners to contribute a larger share of funding. Cutting diplomatic staff: The budget would freeze pay for U.S. foreign service staffers and cut travel and benefits, potentially leading to a significant reduction in diplomatic presence abroad. Eliminating UN and NATO funding: The proposal calls for the complete elimination of funding to the UN and other major nongovernmental organizations, including NATO, which has been a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy since its inception in 1949. Reducing refugee and immigration programs: Several refugee and immigration programs would be cut, and the governments independent watchdog office looking for waste and inefficiency in U.S. programs in Afghanistan would be eliminated. Prioritizing domestic interests over globalist pursuits The Trump administrations push for these cuts is part of a broader effort to reduce what it deems as unnecessary spending and to prioritize domestic interests. However, the move has been met with skepticism from those who argue that the UN and NATO, while flawed, play crucial roles in maintaining global stability and advancing U.S. interests. The administration has repeatedly called on NATO members to increase their defense spending, arguing that the U.S. bears a disproportionate share of the burden. President Trump has even warned that the U.S. might not defend NATO members who fail to meet spending targets, a stance that has strained relations with key allies. The proposed budget cuts also reflect a growing sentiment among some in the ruling class that international organizations like the UN and NATO are more interested in globalism and control systems than in promoting humanitarian interests or adhering to constitutional principles. Critics argue that these organizations often undermine U.S. sovereignty and individual liberties, and that the U.S. should only fund entities that align with its republican form of government. As the proposal moves through the review process, it is likely to face significant opposition from both Democrats and Republicans in Congress. The final budget, which will be voted on in the coming months, may look very different from the current proposal. However, the mere suggestion of such drastic cuts sends a clear message about the administrations priorities and its vision for Americas role in the world. Sources include: SHTFPlan.com NYTimes.com APNews.com Trumps critical Ukraine minerals deal nears completion The U.S. is finalizing a deal with Ukraine for privileged access to its critical minerals, oil, and gas. The agreement reflects Trump's transactional policy, demanding repayment via resource extraction for past U.S. aid. Ukraine's rare earth deposits help counter Chinas monopoly, securing U.S. supply chains and tech dominance. Tensions flared in February after Trump criticized Zelenskyy, briefly halting U.S. intelligence sharing. The deal introduces conditions for U.S. aid, diverging from Bidens unconditional support and emphasizing American interests. President Donald Trump's administration is nearing finalization of a minerals agreement with Ukraine that would grant the United States privileged access to the nation's critical minerals, oil, and gas assets. The agreement, expected to be signed as early as April 26, is the culmination of prolonged negotiations that hit a rocky patch in February when a meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy devolved into a public dispute. The accord represents a hallmark of Trump's transactional foreign policy, emphasizing America's demand for reciprocity in military aid while reducing reliance on China for essential minerals. At the core of the negotiation lies Trump's insistence that Ukraine repay a portion of the billions in American wartime assistance through joint development of its natural resources. "We have a minerals deal, which I guess is going to be signed on Thursday... next Thursday? Soon," Trump said on Thursday. According to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the pact is "substantially what we agreed on previously," including an 80-page framework outlined in prior discussions. The agreement will establish a joint fund for Ukraine's reconstruction tied to revenues from Ukrainian mineral extraction. Ukraine's deposits of rare earth elementscritical for defense systems, electronics, and renewable energyoffer a counter to Chinese monopolies on these materials. The deal positions the United States to diversify its supply chain, ensuring technological dominance while mitigating the risk of economic coercion from adversaries. Shifting from forgiveness to reciprocity Contrasting sharply with former President Joe Biden's approach of unconditional aid, Trump's team has made repayment a prerequisite. Unlike past transfers of wartime assistance that yielded no tangible return, this deal framework demands concrete deliverables: partnership in resource extraction and infrastructure projects. The February meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy had soured after Trump rebuked Zelenskyy's reluctance to pursue peace talks with Russia. According to attendees, tensions rose when Trump accused the Ukrainian leader of prolonging the conflict. This acrimony briefly halted U.S. intelligence sharing but galvanized Kyiv to reopen dialoguea pragmatic acknowledgment of Ukraine's dependence on U.S. hardware and loans. While Zelenskyy publicly characterized the signing of an initial memorandum of intent positively, internal Ukrainian sentiment remains divided. "I do think that for us as Ukrainians, it feels a little bit like another country is using our vulnerability," stated Parliament Member Inna Sovsun. Nonetheless, the memorandum's passage requires parliamentary ratification. Even skeptical officials acknowledge potential benefits: the joint investment fund could accelerate reconstruction of war-ravaged infrastructure and attract private-sector U.S. investment. Countering China in the global resource race The geopolitical stakes are immense. U.S. dependence on Chinese rare earth production has long been a diplomatic liability. China currently dominates global refining of minerals crucial for missile guidance systems and semiconductors. The Ukraine deal seeks to erode that advantage by funneling American capital into Ukrainian mines and export infrastructurealigning with Trump's broader "energy dominance" doctrine. This week's executive order on critical mineral tariffs further underscores the administration's resolve. By penalizing supplies from unfriendly nations, Trump is creating financial incentives for allies like Ukraine to partner exclusively with the United States. The Ukraine minerals deal crystallizes Trump's vision for foreign policy: every dollar spent abroad must yield tangible value for America's security and economy. It carries risk for both nationsZelenskyy faces domestic backlash over resource concessions, while Trump could alienate allies by prioritizing profit over alliance loyalty. Yet if successful, the pact will set a precedent: American aid comes with strings attached, ensuring that U.S. interests are always first. Sources for this article include: YourNews.com CNBC.com Reuters.com Trump vows to work with American farmers to avoid deporting migrant workers essential to agricultural sector President Donald Trump has vowed to collaborate with American farmers to prevent the deportation of migrant workers essential to the agricultural sector, addressing concerns over labor shortages and rising costs. Georgia Senator (and farmer) Sam Watson warns that mass deportations could devastate U.S. agriculture, where migrant labor is critical. He highlights struggles with soaring labor costs and competition from lower-wage Mexican producers. Despite higher wages, U.S. farmers face economic challenges competing with Mexican imports, as labor rates make domestic produce more expensive. During a cabinet meeting, Trump announced plans to allow essential migrant workers to stay temporarily if farmers strongly recommend them, balancing enforcement with industry needs. Trump signaled an expedited legal pathway for deported migrants who comply with immigration procedures, emphasizing cooperation with agriculture, hospitality and other labor-dependent industries. President Donald Trump has vowed that he would collaborate with American farmers to avoid deporting essential migrant workers crucial to the agricultural industry amid growing concerns of labor shortages and rising costs. According to Georgia Senator Sam Watson, a Republican vegetable farmer, mass deportation could devastate the agriculture sector, where migrant labor remains indispensable. "Farmers are in trouble right now in the United States. We're struggling," said Watson, who owns and operates a vegetable farm in Georgia. "I use a lot of migrant labor, our labor rates are going through the roof." (Related: U.S. farm industry groups urge Trump to exempt illegal immigrant agricultural workers from mass deportation orders.) Watson also noted that despite being paid higher wages, U.S. farmers still struggle to compete with lower-cost producers in Mexico. "I don't mind paying high labor rates, but the problem is my competition is Mexico and guess what they're paying in Mexico. They're not paying the same thing I'm having to pay in Georgia and in the United States, but guess where the produce is cheaper?" In line with this, Trump confirmed during a cabinet meeting on April 10 that he would collaborate with American farmers to avoid deporting essential migrant workers crucial to the agricultural industry. "We're also gonna work with farmers that if they have strong recommendations for their farms for certain people, we're going to let them stay in for a while and work with the farmers and then come back and go through a process, a legal process," Trump said. The president also indicated plans to expedite the return of deported migrants who comply with immigration procedures, emphasizing cooperation with agricultural businesses, hotels and other industries reliant on foreign labor. "If they go out in a nice way and go back to their country, we're going to work with them right from the beginning on trying to get them back in legally." Trump's second admin will focus on deporting criminals and immigrants with final deportation orders According to the New York Times, the U.S. has experienced record immigration levels in recent years, with net migration, legal and illegal, averaging 2.4 million annually from 2021 to 2023. The foreign-born population reached 15.2 percent in 2023, the highest share ever recorded. In line with this, Trump pledged to reverse the historic migration surge seen under former President Joe Biden during his 2024 presidential campaign. At that time, he vowed to deport millions of undocumented immigrants. However, data from the New American Economy Research Fund underscores the economic reliance of the U.S. agricultural industry on undocumented workers. In fact, an estimated 27.3 percent (over 800,000) of U.S. agricultural laborers were unauthorized immigrants in 2019, with nearly half originating from outside the country. Advocates for immigration reform argue that a balanced approach, one protecting both border security and vital labor markets, is essential to sustain food production and economic stability. Tom Homan, Trump's border czar, and other Republican immigration hardliners even noted earlier that the second Trump administration will focus on deporting criminals and people with final deportation orders. Head over to Trump.news for more stories about mass deportations of illegals under the second Trump administration. Watch new border czar Tom Homan telling Veronika Kyrylenko of The New American magazine that the U.S. border is broken by design. This video is from The New American channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: POLL: Majority of Americans support the mass deportation of illegal immigrants. Utah governor pledges to help Trump with mass deportation of illegals. Oklahoma governor pledges to help Trump with mass deportation of illegals. Haitian illegals departing Springfield, Ohio over fears of Trump's MASS DEPORTATION policies. Trumps plan to use military for mass deportation of migrants constitutional, claims RealClearWire. Sources include: YourNews.com DailyCaller.com U.S. demands U.K. protect FREE SPEECH, repeal hate speech authoritarianism, in latest trade deal negotiations In a move that has sparked intense debate on both sides of the Atlantic, the Trump administration is reportedly demanding that the UK repeal its hate speech laws as a condition for securing a trade deal . This demand, according to sources close to U.S. Vice President JD Vance, is a critical sticking point in the ongoing negotiations between Washington and London. The issue has brought to the forefront a broader discussion about the balance between protecting free speech and preventing harmful content, particularly in the digital age. Key points: The Trump administration is pressuring the UK to repeal hate speech laws as a condition for a trade deal. U.S. Vice President JD Vance has expressed strong concerns over the erosion of free speech in the UK. The UK government has rejected these claims, but the issue remains a sticking point in negotiations. Americans argue that the UK's hate speech laws are vague and infringe on free speech, leading to a significant number of arrests Online censorship has grown into an Orwellian police state in the UK, as authorities attempt to shut down debate and protest on a number of important topics. The pressure is on: Trumps ultimatum to Starmer and the UK The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has made it clear that free speech is a non-negotiable issue in the trade talks. In a recent interview with the British website UnHerd, Vice President JD Vance expressed optimism about the negotiations, stating, "Were certainly working very hard with Keir Starmers government. The president really loves the United Kingdom. He loved the Queen. He admires and loves the King. It is a very important relationship. And hes a businessman and has a number of important business relationships in [Britain]. But I think its much deeper than that. Theres a real cultural affinity. And, of course, fundamentally, America is an Anglo country." However, the optimism is a strategic move to put pressure on the UK government. A source close to the administration told The Independent, "The vice-president expressing optimism [on a trade deal] is a way of putting further pressure on the UK over free speech. If a deal does not go through, it makes Labour look bad. No free speech, no deal. It is as simple as that." The UK's hate speech laws: suppressing political dissent The UK's hate speech laws have been a source of controversy for years. In 2023, UK police detained over 12,000 peopleapproximately 33 per day for online messages deemed offensive or distressing under the legislation, according to The Times. Critics, including civil liberties groups, argue that these laws are vague and infringe on free speech. The laws have been used to silence critics and dissenters, particularly those who challenge left-wing political agendas, leading to a chilling effect on open debate and protest. Vance has previously criticized European leaders for retreating from democratic values. During a speech at the Munich Security Conference in February, he accused them of censoring speech and suppressing opposition parties, warning that the greatest threat to democracy comes from within. The UK, he argues, must recommit itself to the essence of free speech without altering it to suit political agendas. The broader implications: democracy and accountability The pressure from the US is not just about securing a trade deal; it is about defending the principles of democracy and holding authoritarian governments accountable. If the people of the UK cannot hold their government accountable, the U.S. should step in and pressure UK leadership to restore free speech rights, allowing for protests, open debate, and online speech that challenges the status quo. The UKs left-wing authoritarianism must be dismantled for the U.S. to have a serious and constructive relationship with these European countries. The issue has broader implications for the global order. As the world witnesses with the rise of authoritarian regimes and the erosion of democratic norms, the US is taking a stand to protect individual freedoms and hold governments accountable. The UK, a long-standing ally, must be part of this effort to preserve the values that have underpinned the Western world for centuries. As the negotiations continue, the question remains: Will the UK prioritize its trade interests or its commitment to free speech? The answer will have far-reaching consequences for the future of democracy and the relationship between the U.S. and the UK. In the words of Vice President JD Vance, "No free speech, no deal. It is as simple as that." Sources include: RT.com Independent.co.uk MSN.com WHO Pandemic Treaty sparks global debate over sovereignty and Big Pharma influence The WHOs legally binding International Treaty on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response aims to standardize global health measures for future crises, promoting data sharing, vaccine equity and outbreak surveillance. Critics argue it risks undermining national sovereignty and empowering pharmaceutical corporations. The treaty requires nations to allocate 10% of vaccine/treatment production to the WHO and another 10% at subsidized rates for poorer countries. Skeptics view this as encroachment on national autonomy, while supporters call it a fair compromise for equitable access. The treaty faces backlash over ties to Bill Gates and Big Pharma, with concerns that its Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing System (PABS) could prioritize private profits over public health. Critics also highlight the WHOs lack of enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance. The U.S. has opted not to sign despite rejoining the WHO under Biden, signaling a retreat from global health leadership. Meanwhile, countries like China and Brazil are gaining influence in pandemic governance, though Chinas transparency issues raise doubts. The treaty is criticized by both left-wing groups (for failing to curb corporate power) and libertarians (for international overreach). Its success hinges on balancing pandemic readiness with sovereignty, amid widespread distrust of global institutions. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reached a contentious agreement on a legally binding Pandemic Treaty, aimed at unifying global health responses to future crises like the coronavirus pandemic. However, the deals rapid approval has ignited fierce criticism from health freedom advocates and nations wary of encroaching on sovereignty or empowering pharmaceutical giants. Officials like Brazilian negotiator Deisy Ventura argue the treaty symbolizes progress in post-pandemic collaboration, but skeptics warn of undemocratic overreach. The treatys objectives and growing backlash Approved after three years of negotiations, the "International Treaty on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response" mandates member states to enhance data sharing, strengthen surveillance systems and collaborate on vaccine and drug development. Revolving around equitable access to medical resources and early outbreak detection, the treaty seeks to avoid the inequities of the 20202023 pandemic, when wealthier nations cornered vaccinesleaving poorer countries vulnerable. Yet, critics emphasize the treatys problematic ties to entities like Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, a major funder of global health initiatives, and pharmaceutical companies influencing its terms. The treatys proposed Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing System (PABS), designed to accelerate drug development by streamlining genetic data exchange, alarms privacy advocates. They argue it risks ceding control of medical research to private corporations, exacerbating profit-driven healthcare. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus framed the treaty as a "significant milestone" for multilateralism, citing it as proof nations can coalesce despite geopolitical divides. However, global health consultant Nina Schwalbe acknowledged the deal lacked muscle, with no enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance during crises. "Theres no way to compel nations to share, which means history could repeat itself," she warned, referencing the U.S.s vaccine hoarding during the 2020 crisis. Sovereignty and enforcement: The deals Achilles heel Central to the backlash is the treatys demand that countries relinquish 10% of vaccine and treatment manufacturing capacity to the WHO, with an additional 10% allocated at subsidized rates for poor regions. While intended to ensure equitable access, critics argue this infringes on national production autonomy. Anne-Claire Amprou, Frances global health ambassador, defended the compromise as "a fair give-and-take," but African and Latin American delegates revealed tensions over unequal power dynamics. Alexandra Finch of Georgetown University underscored concerns about financial obligations, noting developing nations must enact pandemic plans "subject to available resources" a loophole permitting underfunded countries to ignore them. Meanwhile, the treatys reliance on "mutually agreed" technology sharing between nations leaves gaps for pharmaceutical firms to resist transparency. Michelle Childs of DNDi pointed to clauses allowing public health authorities to mandate open-source research for pandemic-related products. Still, absent strict penalties for noncompliance, the systems success hinges on goodwillan uncertain prospect in an era of global competition. The treatys proponents frame these terms as pragmatic steps, but opponents like health freedom advocates decry its vagueness. "Its one-sided," said a source, calling attention to the WHOs opaque ties with funders like Gates. They view the pact as a Trojan horse for corporate interests, enhancing Big Pharmas influence in low-income nations. U.S. withdrawal and the shift in global health leadership The treatys ratification marks a pivotal moment in global health governance following the U.S.s withdrawal from the WHO under President Trump. Despite rejoining under Biden, the U.S. will not sign the accord, signaling a retreat from global health leadership. Schwalbe called this "unfortunate," as pathogens respect no borders. Neil Vora of the Preventing Pandemics at the Source Coalition emphasized that the absence of the U.S. the worlds largest biopharma producer weakens collective readiness against zoonotic threats like avian flu or Marburg virus. The pacts success also underscores a rising power dynamic: nations like Brazil, China and G7 states now dominate pandemic planning. Ventura praised the move as a rejection of "U.S.-centric" approaches, noting the treaty adopts a holistic strategy to prevent pathogen spillover from animals a shift she deems critical. However, Chinas historically opaque response to outbreaks (as with SARS and the 2020 pandemic) complicates its pledge to be "more forthcoming about outbreaks." A bipartisan Frankenstein Critics on both left and right decry the treaty as an overreach. While left-wing activists argue it fails to democratize vaccine access or rein in corporate power, libertarian groups see it as a conduit for international "overreach." The debate mirrors broader discontent with institutions like the WHO, accused of politicizing health crises and sidelining smaller nations needs. Pandemic readiness vs. sovereignty A fragile balance As nations prepare to formalize the treaty at the World Health Assembly in May, the stakes remain high. Its proponents view it as a lifeline in an age of multiplying epidemics, while skeptics warn of hidden costs to autonomy. The accords legacy may depend on whether its idealistic framework can enforce cooperation or if its flaws will undermine the very goals of global health equity. Vora sees the treaty as a "landmark," stressing that any prevention step is better than none. Still, he admits: "Were starting from a baseline of distrust." For now, the world holds its breath watching whether multilateralism can triumph over nationalism, or if the pandemic treaty becomes another casualty in the struggle between public health and power. Sources include: TheNationalPulse.com NYTimes.com BBC.com Sorry, something doesn't look right. Something seems unusual about your device or browser. Please contact support. Due to scheduled maintenance from Saturday, March 15, 2025, at 10 PM to Sunday, March 16, 2025, at 2 AM, there may be interruptions for our News Gazette Digital subscribers. During this time frame, please click on any News Gazette website content without logging into your News Gazette Digital subscription account. Thank you for your patience during this scheduled maintenance. Download Now The News-Gazette mobile app brings you the latest local breaking news, updates, and more. Read the News-Gazette on your mobile device just as it appears in print. How it works? Emerging targets Personalized vaccines Pharma activity Barriers and challenges Conclusion Messenger Ribonucleic Acid (mRNA) vaccines gained global recognition during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, proving their value through rapid development, high efficacy, and broad distribution. Unlike traditional vaccines that use weakened pathogens, mRNA vaccines instruct cells to produce antigens, triggering an immune response without the risk of infection. Their success in combating Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) demonstrated the power of this platform, especially when paired with lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery systems. This breakthrough has now catalyzed interest in using mRNA technology beyond COVID-19. Researchers are exploring its application in various infectious diseases, such as influenza, Zika, and tuberculosis, as well as in cancer immunotherapy, genetic disorders, and regenerative medicine. The speed, adaptability, and scalability of mRNA vaccines offer a new frontier in precision medicine. However, improving delivery mechanisms and stability remains essential for maximizing their full potential in future clinical applications.1 This article explores how mRNA vaccine platforms are expanding into new disease areas, from flu to cancer, and what this means for biotech innovation. Image Credit: QINQIE99/Shutterstock.com How it works? mRNA vaccines work by using synthetic mRNA sequences that instruct the bodys cells to produce specific antigens, typically proteins from a virus. Once injected, these mRNA molecules enter the cytoplasm of host cells, where ribosomes translate them into antigenic proteins. These proteins are then displayed on the cell surface, triggering both innate and adaptive immune responses. Specifically, cytotoxic T cells target infected cells, while helper T cells and B cells drive antibody production. A critical component of this process is the delivery system- most commonly LNPs- which encapsulates the mRNA to protect it from enzymatic degradation and facilitate its entry into cells.1,2 LNPs improve stability and bioavailability and enable mRNA to reach immune cells efficiently. The modularity of mRNA vaccines allows for rapid reprogramming by simply altering the encoded sequence, making them highly adaptable to different pathogens or diseases. This flexibility, coupled with a swift and scalable production process, positions mRNA technology as a promising platform for future vaccines targeting infectious diseases, cancers, and more.1,2 mRNA vaccines, explained Play Emerging targets mRNA vaccines are rapidly expanding beyond COVID-19, targeting a wide array of emerging diseases. For respiratory conditions like influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), mRNA vaccines offer faster adaptability to viral mutations, ensuring more timely and effective protection. In the case of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), where traditional vaccines have failed, mRNA technologies enable the generation of T cell and antibody responses that better mimic natural infection control. Cancer is another major frontier. mRNA cancer vaccines are being designed to encode tumor-specific antigens, prompting the immune system to recognize and eliminate cancer cells. They have shown early promise in treating melanoma, prostate cancer, and non-small-cell lung cancer.2 Beyond common diseases, mRNA vaccines are also entering the realm of rare and orphan diseases by offering rapid design and production customized to genetic or antigenic profiles. Their scalability, precision, and ease of modification make them ideal for rare conditions that lack commercial incentives for traditional vaccine development. Overall, mRNA technology represents a paradigm shift in immunization, offering unmatched speed, flexibility, and potential for personalization across a wide disease spectrum- from seasonal viruses to chronic, life-threatening, and genetically rare disorders.2 Personalized vaccines Personalized vaccines in cancer immunotherapy represent a transformative approach that targets tumor-specific neoantigens (unique proteins resulting from genetic mutations in cancer cells). Unlike traditional tumor-associated antigens, neoantigens are absent in normal tissues, making them ideal for precise immune targeting with minimal off-target effects. mRNA vaccines enable rapid, flexible, and scalable production of individualized therapies. Using next-generation sequencing, a patients tumor-specific mutations are identified, and computational tools predict which neoantigens can most effectively stimulate a T cell response.3 The corresponding mRNA sequences are then synthesized and delivered via lipid nanoparticles to instruct the patients cells to produce these neoantigens, triggering the immune system to attack the cancer. Clinical trials have shown encouraging results, with mRNA vaccines such as Modernas mRNA-4157 and BioNTechs BNT122 demonstrating strong immune responses and tumor regression. These vaccines can be integrated with immune checkpoint inhibitors to boost efficacy further. Personalized mRNA cancer vaccines hold immense promise for treating melanoma, lung, colorectal, and other cancers. However, challenges remain in optimizing delivery, reducing manufacturing costs, and ensuring rapid turnaround from biopsy to treatment. Still, this approach signals a new era of precision oncology, where therapies are not just disease-specific but patient-specific.3 Insight into Personalized Vaccines Pharma activity Moderna and BioNTech have emerged as global frontrunners in mRNA vaccine innovation, particularly after their rapid deployment of COVID-19 vaccines. Both companies leveraged decades of mRNA research and LNP delivery systems to bring safe and highly effective vaccines to market quickly. BioNTech, in collaboration with Pfizer, developed BNT162b2, while Moderna introduced mRNA-1273, each demonstrating over 90% efficacy in clinical trials. These successes catalyzed broader biotech interest and funding into mRNA platforms.1,4 Both companies have significantly expanded their pipelines beyond COVID-19. BioNTech is advancing mRNA therapies for influenza, tuberculosis, and various cancers while also exploring circular RNA and self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) technologies to boost durability and reduce doses. Similarly, Moderna is developing mRNA vaccines for RSV, cytomegalovirus (CMV), seasonal influenza, and rare diseases. It is also applying mRNA to cancer immunotherapy and personalized vaccine approaches.1,4 Strategic partnerships have further accelerated innovation. BioNTech collaborates with Genentech, Fosun Pharma, and Regeneron, while Moderna partners with Merck for cancer therapies and Vertex for cystic fibrosis. These alliances, combined with proprietary LNP technologies and scalable manufacturing, position both companies to lead the next wave of mRNA-based therapeutics and prophylactics.1,4 Why Pharmacovigilance Is More Critical Than Ever Barriers and challenges Despite their transformative potential, mRNA vaccines still face key challenges that limit their widespread adoption in personalized medicine and RNA therapeutics. A major barrier is cold chain logistics. Most mRNA vaccines, including those developed by Moderna, require storage at sub-zero temperatures to maintain stability, complicating distribution in low-resource settings. This restricts access to potentially life-saving treatments, especially in rural or underserved regions.1,5 Another concern is the risk of immune-related side effects. While mRNA vaccines are designed to trigger precise immune responses, unmodified RNA or impurities can overstimulate the innate immune system, causing inflammation or adverse reactions. Although techniques like chemical modification and LNP encapsulation help reduce this risk, they add complexity and cost to vaccine development.1,5 Scalability remains a hurdle, as manufacturing mRNA vaccines demands high-purity raw materials, specialized infrastructure, and tightly controlled processes. As a result, transitioning mRNA technology from pandemic response tools to routine RNA therapeutics for cancer, rare diseases, or individualized treatments remains an ongoing challenge. Addressing these barriers is essential for realizing the full promise of mRNA vaccines in personalized medicine and advancing the next generation of oncology vaccine platforms.1,5 Conclusion The future of the mRNA vaccine industry looks promising, with ongoing innovations poised to reshape global healthcare. Following the success of COVID-19 vaccines, the industry is shifting toward next-generation platforms that offer greater efficacy, stability, and broader applications. Companies are exploring self-amplifying and circular mRNA structures, which can increase protein expression and require lower doses, reducing cost and side effects. Novel delivery systems, including ionizable lipids, dendrimer-based carriers, and biologically derived exosomes, are being developed to enhance precision and reduce toxicity. These advances aim to overcome current challenges like thermal instability, immune overactivation, and the need for cold chain logistics. mRNA technology is also expanding into oncology, personalized medicine, and treatments for genetic and rare diseases. Organ-specific targeting and new administration routes like inhalation and oral delivery could make mRNA therapies more accessible and user-friendly. As a result, mRNA platforms are expected to lead the next era of scalable, rapid, and adaptable therapeutics worldwide. References Research published in the Journal of Neurochemistry has detailed the role of a protein, hnRNP A1, in the formation and stability of myelin, suggesting an important impact on neurodegenerative diseases and mental disorders such as multiple sclerosis and schizophrenia. The findings pave the way for new research and potential treatments. Myelin is a fatty substance produced by oligodendrocytes (cells of the central nervous system) that forms a sheath, like a kind of "insulator." It "protects" the extensions of neurons (axons) and increases the conduction speed of nerve impulses that carry information between neural cells. Scientific literature has shown that patients with multiple sclerosis and schizophrenia lose myelin (called demyelination), leaving part of the axons "unplugged" and causing damage to brain function. This rodent study examined changes in proteins essential for myelin production (myelination). The results highlight the involvement of hnRNP A1 in maintaining the integrity of this protective sheath. hnRNP A1 regulates the processing of messenger RNA, i.e., it controls how the molecule is cut and assembled (splicing), thereby determining which proteins are produced and in what amounts. Studied for years by this group of scientists at the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, hnRNP A1 had already figured prominently in previous research carried out on brain tissue from people with schizophrenia and on cells grown in the laboratory. When I was a master's student, I worked with oligodendrocyte predecessor cell lines and their responses to antipsychotics. This protein, hnRNP A1, always appeared. We decided to try to understand its role in oligodendrocytes. But to do this, we had to use an animal model to induce myelination and understand the process." Caroline Brandao Teles, first author of the article and FAPESP doctoral fellow at the Institute of Biology (IB-UNICAMP) For researcher Fernanda Crunfli, also from IB-UNICAMP and corresponding author of the paper, myelin has been an important target of study for neuropsychiatric diseases. "We were able to analyze the demyelination process in the animals and then restore the myelin sheath. This allowed for an interesting study window. We did behavioral tests to assess locomotion, short- and long-term memory, and social interaction. When the myelin is restored, all these functions return to the brain," says Crunfli, who was a FAPESP postdoctoral fellow. Teles points out that this was one of the results that caught the group's attention the fact that the changes were detected at the molecular level, without affecting the animals' behavior. "With this molecular and non-behavioral alteration, the work has the interesting potential to pinpoint an important protein in the establishment of schizophrenia. This same animal model is analyzed in research on multiple sclerosis, for example, and when there's a behavioral study, changes are noted. In the case of schizophrenia, the fact that the behavior isn't altered indicates, in my opinion, that this protein is essential in the development of the disease and may have an influence on its genesis," Professor Daniel Martins-de-Souza, from IB-UNICAMP, Teles' supervisor and head of the Neuroproteomics Laboratory, told Agencia FAPESP. Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by loss of contact with reality (psychosis), hallucinations, delusions, and impaired cognition, among other symptoms. The exact cause is still unknown, but recent research suggests a combination of hereditary factors and molecular and functional alterations in the brain. Treatment includes antipsychotic medications and psychotherapy. It is estimated that approximately 1.6 million people in Brazil have schizophrenia. Worldwide, the prevalence is about 1% of the world's population. For years, Martins-de-Souza's research group has been working to understand the role of oligodendrocytes in schizophrenia and has managed to map a series of brain proteins that help to unravel the molecular basis of the disorder (read more at: agencia.fapesp.br/36053). To understand the research The group used a rodent (murine) model that has also been studied in cases of multiple sclerosis, a disease characterized by severe demyelination. From the eighth week of the experiment, demyelination was induced and continued for another five weeks. The process was then interrupted and the myelin sheath was restored. During this time, the researchers analyzed the activity of hnRNP A1. "We saw that the proteins linked to myelin in these animals were all reduced. By disrupting the activity of this protein [hnRNP A1], we ended up disrupting myelination," says Teles. The scientists believe that studying the impact of the protein's alterations on synaptic transmission and cognitive processes could reveal new therapeutic targets. A groundbreaking study published in the journal Current Neuropharmacology highlights a concerning potential link between Glucagon-like Peptide-1 (GLP1) receptor agonists-widely used in blockbuster drugs like Ozempic-and the risk of depression and suicidal ideation (SI). Using advanced pharmacogenomic computational analyses, the international team of 24 researchers revealed genetic pathways that may induce depressive phenotypes in users of GLP1 agonists, raising significant concerns about the safety of these medications for certain individuals. The study, led by researchers across the United States, Brazil, Iran, and Israel, demonstrates that while GLP1 agonists benefit individuals with hyperdopaminergia (excess dopamine activity), they may have harmful effects on individuals with hypodopaminergia (low dopamine function). The authors found genetic associations between GLP1 receptor agonists and genes such as DRD3, BDNF, and CREB1, which are implicated in mood regulation and reward pathways. Their findings suggest that chronic use of these drugs could dysregulate dopamine signaling, potentially leading to depressive symptoms, mood disturbances, and SI. Cautionary voices from experts While the idea of GLP1 agonism induction of depression and SI is controversial with both negative and positive reporting, based on the evidence presented in this article by Alireza Sharafshah, a PhD candidate from Cellular and Molecular Research Center, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran, the authors caution against promoting chronic stimulation via GLP-1 agonists. This study should not be ignored, despite the hype surrounding the positive clinical outcomes of GLP1 receptor agonists. We urge the clinical prescribing community to proceed with caution to avoid another tragic wave of 'people dying to lose weight.'" Dr. Kenneth Blum, Senior Author, Research Professor at Western University Health Sciences and Ariel University Dr. Mark S. Gold, an addiction psychiatry pioneer and co-author, emphasized, "The paper provides critical evidence for re-evaluating the widespread use of GLP1 receptor agonists. The FDA and other regulatory agencies should carefully consider our findings when it comes to labeling and monitoring these drugs." Rising global concerns Professor Albert Pinhasov, Provost of Ariel University, echoed these sentiments, stating, "While there are encouraging short-term benefits of GLP1 receptor agonists, we must acknowledge the potential risks highlighted in this study. These findings should encourage regulatory agencies and clinicians to investigate further, given the heterogeneity of the human population." The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has already initiated a review of GLP1 agonists following reports of suicidal thoughts and other psychiatric adverse events. Co-author Dr. Kai Uwe Lewandowski, Professor of Surgery at the University of Arizona School of Medicine, noted, "Depression was the most commonly reported adverse event associated with these drugs, followed by anxiety and suicidal ideation. Our findings strongly support a need for further investigation to safeguard public health." The role of genetic testing The study advocates for personalized medicine approaches, including genetic testing for hypodopaminergia, to identify individuals at risk before prescribing GLP1 receptor agonists. Professor Panayotis K. Thanos of Buffalo University commented, "Before prescribing GLP1 receptor agonists, it would be prudent to use genetic testing tools to assess a patient's dopamine function and addiction risk profile." Balancing hope with vigilance Professor Igor Elman of Harvard University warned, "While GLP1 receptor agonists hold promise for treating addictive and behavioral disorders, we must remain vigilant about their potential harm. This study is not intended to break the bubble of hope but to add a layer of precaution in their over-prescription." About the study The article, titled "In Silico Pharmacogenomic Assessment of Glucagon-like Peptide-1 (GLP1) Agonists and Genetic Addiction Risk Score (GARS) Related Pathways: Implications for Suicide Ideation and Substance Use Disorder," provides a detailed map of the genetic pathways involved in these risks. The study serves as a critical reminder that while these medications can provide significant health benefits, their potential risks warrant careful scrutiny and further research. Conclusion This cross-cultural research study provides essential insights that could save lives. It urges regulatory agencies such as the FDA and EMA to monitor these drugs closely and calls on clinicians to balance their benefits with caution. Insomnia is a significant health and quality of life concern for older adults, with up to half of all adults over the age of 65 experiencing insomnia symptoms. In a new study, researchers in the Penn State College of Health and Human Development and at Taipei Medical University analyzed five years of data from older adults in the United States. They found higher levels of both insomnia symptoms and sleep medication use were associated with higher risk of disability a year later. Every year a person experienced an incremental increase in insomnia symptoms, their risk for becoming disabled in some aspect of their daily life increased by 20%, according to the researchers. A similar level of risk was associated with increased usage of sleep medications. People who regularly experienced insomnia symptoms and used sleep medication were at the highest risk of disability affecting their daily activities. Results of the study, recently published in the journal Sleep, indicate the importance of properly treating insomnia, the researchers said. When we evaluated the relationships between disability, insomnia and sleep medication use, we found that as older people used more sleep medication or experienced more insomnia symptoms, they moved more rapidly towards greater disability." Orfeu Buxton, Elizabeth Fenton Susman Professor of Biobehavioral Health at Penn State, Social Science Research Institute co-funded faculty and co-author of the study The researchers analyzed data from 6,722 participants in the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), which captured a national sample of Medicare beneficiaries over the age of 65. The team used more than 22,000 individual observations from the first five waves of data collection - gathered between 2011 and 2015. The NHATS data included annual measures of disability data using a validated questionnaire. The questionnaire asked about self-care activities including dressing, eating, using the toilet and showering. It also asked about mobility activities including getting out of bed, moving around indoors and going outside. To quantify the relationship between these variables, participants' data were measured on an established numeric scale for disability. For each self-care activity, participants were classified as "fully able" to complete the activity on their own; "vulnerable" to disability if they used accommodations, reduced their participation in the activity, or had difficulty with tasks; or "assistance" if they could not complete an activity without help. A classification of "fully able" was scored as one point; "vulnerable" was scored as two points; and "assistance" was scored as four, with higher scores representing higher levels of disability. Any score increase of two or more on a person's overall score represented a clinically meaningful level of disability related to self-care or mobility, according to a previous study by other researchers. The NHATS data included five frequency levels of both insomnia symptoms and sleep-medication use - never, once a week, some nights, most nights, and every night. "Never" was scored as one point, and each level was worth one more point up to "every night" being scored as five points. For every level of increase in the frequency of reported insomnia symptoms, the disability score was - on average - .2 higher the next year. For every level of increase in the frequency of reported sleep medication use, their disability score was - on average - .19 higher the next year. "These results indicate that both insomnia and sleep medication use may be contributing to disability," said Tuo-Yu "Tim" Chen, assistant professor in the program in global health and health security at Taipei Medical University in Taiwan and lead author of the study. "As an average example, these numbers suggest that an older adult who increased their sleep medication use from 'never' to 'every night' over the course of five years would be likely to develop a clinically significant disability. On an individual level, we cannot predict risk so specifically, but if an older adult has prolonged sleep problems and/or sleep-medication use over time, they are very likely to become disabled." According to a prior study by the same research team, sleep medication makes falling more likely for older adults. Buxton said they suspect falls are one important reason that sleep medication was associated with higher levels of disability. Many studies have demonstrated the physical, mental and emotional harm that insomnia can cause, the researchers said. The connection they found between insomnia symptoms and disability confirmed their hypothesis. Because both insomnia and sleep medication may contribute to disability, older people need to manage their insomnia safely and effectively, according to Soomi Lee, associate professor of human development and family studies at Penn State and co-author of the study. "Insomnia can decrease a person's quality of life both directly and indirectly," Lee said. "Any older adult who experiences insomnia or uses sleep medication needs to talk to their physician about sleep. When physicians know about sleep problems, they can review the patients' medications to make sure that drug interactions are not triggering insomnia. Physicians also can connect older adults with care that manages insomnia more safely than medication." Cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps people identify and modify thought or behavior patterns, is a safe and effective treatment for insomnia, the researchers said. "Many older adults think sleep disruptions are a natural part of aging, but they are a real problem that must be addressed," Lee explained. "And that problem is unlikely to improve unless people talk to their doctors. There are not enough sleep clinics, especially in rural areas, so older people may need to advocate for themselves to get proper treatment." The National Science and Technology Council of Taiwan helped support this work. In a high-stakes trial prompted by a deadly outbreak, researchers tested a poultry flu vaccine in condors and found promising immune responses, offering a new lifeline for one of North Americas rarest birds. Image Credit: Amy Osier / Shutterstock A team of US-based researchers recently tested the safety and efficacy of a licensed avian influenza vaccine in protecting California condors, a critically endangered bird species, against the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus. They published the study findings in Emerging Infectious Diseases, an official Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) journal. Background Since 2020, the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus, specifically influenza A(H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b, has caused a panzootic (similar to a pandemic in humans) in poultry and wild birds and a subsequent spillover into wild mammals. Birds can readily contract avian influenza virus infection with or without exhibiting clinical symptoms and shed large amounts of virus, leading to widespread dispersion. Wild birds infected with the H5N1 HPAI virus were first detected in the United States in January 2022. The California condor is the highest-profile wildlife species known to be affected by the HPAI virus in North America. Anatomy-guided vaccination: Condors received injections in the inguinal area, rather than between the shoulder blades, thereby avoiding their large cervical air sacs. This unique adaptation facilitates safer vaccine administration in this species. The California condor is a critically endangered species. Exposure to lead, a heavy metal and immunosuppressant, is considered the most critical factor limiting the growth and recovery of condor populations. Many field-based and captive conservation efforts have been initiated since the 1970s to save these largest land birds in North America. However, an HPAI outbreak among these birds in 2023 has caused more than 21 deaths in the United States. The 2023 outbreak killed approximately 18% of the northern Arizona and southern Utah condor subpopulation, while other subpopulations were not affected. In some countries where the avian influenza virus is endemic in poultry, vaccines against HPAI viruses have been evaluated to reduce illness, death, and viral transmission. However, these vaccines have never been tested in California condors despite evidence of a vaccine-related protective immune response in other captive species, including raptors. Due to the high conservation value and risk associated with working directly with condors, the current study first tested the vaccine in black vultures as a surrogate species before proceeding with the condors themselves. About the Study In the current study, researchers investigated the safety and efficacy profiles of a conditionally licensed influenza subtype H5N1 poultry vaccine, initially in black vultures and subsequently in California condors. They selected black vultures as a surrogate species for California condors to initially ascertain the vaccine's safety and efficacy in these abundant and easily available species. The vaccine used in the study was developed by Zoetis, Inc., which also donated the vaccine and provided expertise for the trial. The researchers randomly assigned 28 black vultures into three groups. The first group received two doses (0.5 milliliters each) of the vaccine given at an interval of 21 days; the second group received a single vaccine dose (1.0 milliliters); and the third group remained unvaccinated. For the California condor trial, a similar design was used, but with modifications to reduce risk and stress: condors were located at multiple facilities, vaccinations were staged to confirm safety before proceeding, and blood samples were collected less frequently (at 0, 21, and 42 days post-vaccination) to minimize handling of these endangered birds. Study Findings Cross-species protection clues: The vaccines design included genetic material from a 2014 gyrfalcon influenza strain, chosen for its 95.6% amino acid similarity to circulating H5N1 variants. The study found that both black vultures and California condors produced significantly higher levels of antibodies in response to the vaccine than unvaccinated birds. However, the short-term antibody response was stronger in black vultures than in California condors. Specifically, 95% of vaccinated vultures and 80% of vaccinated condors showed a measurable antibody response within the published protective range. Regarding vaccination regimen, the study found that birds receiving a single vaccine dose generated a weaker antibody response that dissipated more rapidly. This finding suggests that a prime-boost (two-dose) vaccination regimen would be more effective in protecting birds against infections caused by HPAI viruses. However, the difference in antibody response between the two regimens was not statistically significant, although qualitative trends favored the two-dose approach. The study was unable to evaluate long-term differences in waning immunity between the two vaccination regimens, as the antibody response was determined only 42 days after vaccination. The study was unable to detect a significant impact of either sex or bone lead concentration on the antibody response, which may be due to the small sample size and uneven sex ratio of the sample group. The researchers believe that in the absence of these two limitations, they might have detected significant impacts of these two correlates of antibody response. Nevertheless, they noted that birds with the strongest antibody response were also those with the lowest bone lead level, regardless of vaccine regimen. The authors caution that these findings are tentative and that a larger, more balanced sample might reveal the real effects of sex or lead exposure. Regarding safety, the study found that none of the vaccinated birds (both vultures and California condors) exhibited significant adverse reactions. No changes in behavioral or physical activity were observed in birds following vaccination. The only minor adverse effect observed was the development of small, temporary nodules at the injection site in two vultures, which resolved without intervention. Study Significance The study highlights the importance of vaccinating threatened and endangered bird species against highly virulent and currently circulating HPAI viruses to protect them from deadly infections. Overall, the findings suggest that licensed vaccines can be a realistic strategy to aid in conserving condors and potentially other species facing similar threats, especially those with small and highly threatened populations. Vaccination may be particularly relevant when a population's resiliency has decreased to the extent that naturally occurring illness and death from disease could impair the species long-term persistence. The authors note that, despite species-specific differences in vaccine response, evidence from the literature suggests that even vaccination strategies covering less than 50% of an affected wildlife population can be effective at preventing extinction. They also emphasize the need for ongoing monitoring of vaccine effectiveness in the field, as well as demographic modeling to optimize vaccination strategies for wild populations, taking into account factors such as timing, age class, and proportion vaccinated. Given the economic benefits associated with poultry farming, researchers emphasize the need for close coordination with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and numerous other federal and state agencies to obtain authorization for implementing these vaccination trials. Given the significant threat from HPAI viruses, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) decided to initiate a California Condor Recovery Program vaccination program. By October 2024, 207 condors had received at least one vaccination. The authors stress that this vaccination effort is unique within the United States and represents an unprecedented coordinated response to an emerging disease threat facing an endangered species. Despite decades of progress, declining vaccine coverage during COVID-19 threatens a resurgence of measles, especially in vulnerable regions. This global study urges renewed focus on equitable immunization to prevent future outbreaks. Study: Global, regional, and national trends of measles burden and its vaccination coverage among children under five years old: an updated systematic analysis from the Global Burden of Disease study 2021. Image Credit: Design_Cells / Shutterstock Did you know that over 4 million children under the age of five contracted measles in 2021 alone? Despite being preventable with vaccines, measles continues to affect millions globally. In a recent study published in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases, researchers from China explored global measles trends and vaccination coverage, especially in vulnerable, low-income regions. They also examined the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on measles vaccination coverage. Measles Vaccination The Caribbean saw measles incidence rates drop by 22% annually since 1990, the steepest decline globally, yet sub-Saharan Africa still accounted for over half of all under-five measles deaths in 2021. Measles remains one of the most contagious viral diseases affecting children, especially in areas with low vaccination coverage. It spreads through respiratory droplets and can cause serious complications such as pneumonia, brain inflammation, and death. Thanks to childhood vaccination programs, global measles cases have significantly declined over the last few decades. However, measles outbreaks still occur frequently, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where access to vaccines and healthcare is often limited. Moreover, persistent regional and socioeconomic disparities in immunization rates have left some populations at higher risk. The study also noted that even some wealthier regions can experience measles outbreaks, sometimes linked to vaccine hesitancy or small outbreaks in populations where baseline measles rates are already very low. In such high-income regions, further reductions in measles can be challenging due to public distrust of vaccines or shifting health policies. Little was known about how the pandemic affected measles surveillance and vaccine delivery worldwide. As the world focused on containing COVID-19, routine immunization services were disrupted, potentially reversing years of progress in measles control. Additionally, the pandemics non-pharmaceutical interventionssuch as mask-wearing, social distancing, and improved hygienemay have temporarily reduced measles transmission, possibly masking the immediate effects of declining vaccination rates. The study authors caution that as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, there is a risk of delayed increases in measles cases due to diminished vaccine coverage. About the Study Only 48 countries achieved the WHOs 95% MCV1 vaccination target in 2021, while 29 hit the mark for MCV2, far short of the global coverage needed to prevent outbreaks. The present study analyzed global trends in measles among children under five, using data from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 study. The researchers focused on three key metrics: incidence rates, mortality rates, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), which combine years of life lost due to early death and years lived with disability. The analysis covered data between 1990 and 2021, with a particular focus on changes before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study included data from 204 countries and territories accessed through the Global Health Data Exchange. To ensure accuracy, the researchers used high-quality data sources such as World Health Organization (WHO) case notifications and modeled estimates of vaccination coverage for the first and second doses (MCV1 and MCV2, respectively). Adjustments were made for data from 2020 and 2021 to account for reduced disease surveillance and immunization efforts, reflecting disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers employed a spatiotemporal regression model to estimate vaccination coverage data for MCV1 and MCV2, taking into account uncertainties while incorporating predictors such as healthcare access, conflict, and vaccine supply issues. Sociodemographic status was also evaluated using the Socio-Demographic Index (SDI), which combined income per capita, education levels, and fertility rates. Based on SDI, the countries were grouped into five categories, and the trends were analyzed accordingly. The study also compared vaccination coverage estimates from different sources, such as the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study and WHO/UNICEF. While the numbers were generally consistent, small methodological differences exist, with GBD using a model that integrates multiple data sources to correct for reporting biases. Results In Somalia, measles struck 1 in 11 children under five in 2021, the highest national incidence rate (8,965 cases per 100,000), with Mali and Guinea-Bissau close behind. The study found that measles cases, deaths, and disease burden among children under five globally declined sharply between 1990 and 2021. These declines were especially significant in high-income regions, where rates dropped by more than 99%. However, by 2021, there were 4.1 million cases, 48,100 deaths, and 4.2 million DALYs. Furthermore, regional disparities remained stark, with sub-Saharan Africa having the highest burden in 2021, particularly in the Western and Eastern parts of the region. In contrast, the Caribbean showed the greatest reductions. Although most regions saw continued declines even during the pandemic, East Asia experienced a surprising increase in deaths and DALYs between 2019 and 2021. At the national level, Somalia had the highest measles incidence, death, and DALY rates in 2021. Other countries with high burdens included Mali and Guinea-Bissau. During the pandemic, countries such as Zambia, Vanuatu, and Kenya also reported a rise in cases, reversing previous improvements. Vaccination coverage declined during the pandemic. MCV1 coverage fell in 75 countries, and MCV2 declined in 68. Some countries, such as Montenegro, Vanuatu, and Paraguay, experienced significant declines in vaccine coverage. This trend was especially concerning in regions already struggling with low coverage rates. East Asia was the only region where measles deaths climbed post-pandemic, jumping 156% yearly between 20192021, driven by gaps in immunity and delayed vaccinations. The study confirmed a strong negative correlation between vaccination coverage and measles burdenhigher vaccination rates were linked to greater disease reductions. Socioeconomic factors also played a role, with improvements in SDI being associated with better measles outcomes in low SDI regions. Interestingly, the study found that in regions with medium to high SDI, increases in SDI could sometimes be associated with higher estimated annual percentage changes in mortality and DALY rates, a pattern possibly related to vaccine hesitancy or the statistical effect of small outbreaks in otherwise low-burden populations. However, the researchers noted that the models used in the study may have oversimplified the relationship between vaccination and disease trends. Furthermore, limited post-pandemic data also reduced the ability to capture long-term effects. Additionally, incomplete surveillance in some countries may have led to an underestimation of measles cases. The authors also pointed out that the short timeframe of available post-pandemic data, and the use of certain statistical methods, may have led to wide confidence intervals and a need for caution in interpreting the statistical certainty of trend changes. Conclusions In summary, the study revealed that between 1990 and 2021, global measles rates in young children declined significantly; however, regional disparities and a decline in vaccine coverage increased the risk of a resurgence in measles incidence. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted routine immunization, especially in low-income regions, increasing the risk of outbreaks. While short-term declines in measles incidence may have been influenced by pandemic-related public health measures, the longer-term impact of reduced vaccination coverage could lead to a resurgence of measles as these measures are lifted. The findings emphasized the need to strengthen vaccination programs and address health inequities to prevent a resurgence of measles and achieve the global measles elimination goals. Africa CDC and WHO have updated their joint Continental Response Plan for the mpox emergency as the disease continues to affect new areas. The revised strategy focuses on controlling outbreaks, while expanding vaccination coverage and transitioning toward a longer-term, sustainable response. Mpox is a viral illness that spreads between people, mainly through close contact. It causes painful skin and mucosal lesions, often accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes. The disease can be debilitating and disfiguring. Historically a zoonotic disease transmitted from infected animals, mpox has increasingly shown a tendency to spread between people. In 2022, a variant of the virus, clade IIb, began spreading globally through sexual contact. Since late 2023, yet another viral strain, clade Ib, began spreading through sexual networks and within households and through close contact. This prompted Africa CDC to declare a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security and the WHO Director-General to declare a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in August 2024. By August 2024, the virus had begun spreading from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to 4 neighbouring countries. Since then, 28 countries around the world have reported cases of mpox due to clade Ib. Outside Africa, cases remain largely travel-related. However, within Africa, in addition to transmission in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, local transmission has now been documented in additional countries including the Republic of the Congo, South Africa, South Sudan, the United Republic of Tanzania and Zambia. Since the declaration of the emergency, both regional and global support has increased, particularly for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the epicentre of the outbreak. The Africa CDC and WHO Joint Continental Mpox Plan has guided these efforts, focusing on ten key pillars: coordination, risk communication and community engagement, disease surveillance, laboratory capacity, clinical management, infection prevention and control, vaccination, research, logistics, and maintaining essential health services. Vaccination efforts are underway, with more than 650 000 doses administered in 6 countries, 90% of which have been administered in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Overall, over a million doses have been delivered to 10 countries, with efforts ongoing to secure additional vaccine supplies. Diagnostic testing capacity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has grown significantly, driven by the expansion of laboratory infrastructure - from 2 laboratories in late 2023 to 23 laboratories in 12 provinces today. With new, near-point-of-care tests currently being rolled out in the country, capacity is expected to increase even further. Despite this progress, major challenges remain. Ongoing conflict and insecurity in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the incidence of mpox remains high, as well as humanitarian aid cuts, continue to limit the public health response and restrict access to essential services. Across countries and partners, over US$ 220 million is needed to fill funding gaps for the mpox response. The updated Continental Response Plan calls for intensified efforts to bring outbreaks under control, while also taking concrete actions to integrate mpox into routine health services. Along with the Continental Response Plan for Africa, WHO has updated the global strategic plan to curb - and where feasible, to stop - human-to-human transmission of mpox. In the first two months of 2025, 60 countries reported mpox, with the majority of cases and deaths reported from the African continent. The joint Continental Response Plan is aligned with the global strategy. Africa CDC and WHO continue to work closely with national governments, local communities, and partners to curb transmission, control the outbreak, and build longer-term resilience within public health systems. Even by rural hospital standards, Keokuk County Hospital and Clinics in southeastern Iowa is small. The 14-bed hospital, in Sigourney, doesnt do surgeries or deliver babies. The small 24-hour emergency room is overseen by two full-time doctors. CEO Matt Ives wants to hire a third doctor, but he said finding physicians for a rural area has been challenging since the covid-19 pandemic. He said several physicians at his hospital have retired since the start of the pandemic, and others have decided to stop practicing certain types of care, particularly emergency care. Another rural hospital is down the road, about a 40-minute drive east. Washington County Hospital and Clinics has 22 beds and is experiencing similar staffing struggles. Over the course of the last few years, weve had not only the pandemic, but weve had kind of an aging physician workforce that has been retiring, said Todd Patterson, CEO. The pandemic was difficult for health workers. Many endured long hours, and the stresses on the nation's health care system prompted more workers than usual to quit or retire. Theres a chunk of workers that were lost and wont come back, said Joanne Spetz, who directs the Institute for Health Policy Studies at the University of California-San Francisco. For a lot of the clinicians that decided and were able to stick it out and work through the pandemic, they have burned out, Spetz said. Five years after the World Health Organization declared covid a global pandemic and the first Trump administration announced a national emergency, the United States faces a crucial shortage of medical providers, below the projected need for an aging population. That could have lasting effects on care, particularly in states like Iowa with significant rural populations. Experts say the problem has been building for a while, but the effects of the pandemic accelerated the shortages by pushing many doctors over the edge into early retirement or other fields. Some of them made it through covid like Lets get us through this public health crisis, and then they came out of it saying, OK, and now? Now Im exhausted,'" said Christina Taylor, president of the Iowa Medical Society. Iowa is absolutely in the middle of a physician shortage, Taylor said. Its a true crisis for us. Were actually 44th in the country in terms of patient-to-physician ratio. A 2022 survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found a significant jump in health workers who reported feeling burned out and wanting a new job, compared with 2018. The number of people in health care has grown since the start of the pandemic, said Janette Dill, an associate professor at the University of Minnesotas School of Public Health, but the growth has not happened fast enough. We have an aging population. We have a lot of needs, she said. The Association of American Medical Colleges projected last year that the U.S. faces a shortage of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036 if lawmakers dont invest more money in training doctors. These shortages could push more people to seek care in ERs when they cant see a local doctor, said Michael Dill, director of workforce studies at the AAMC. Were already at a point where tens of millions of Americans every year cant get medical care when they need it, said Dill (no relation to Janette Dill). If the shortage is sustained or gets even worse, then that problem gets worse too, and it disproportionately negatively impacts the most vulnerable amongst us. Iowa lawmakers made addressing the shortage a priority in the current legislative session. They introduced bills aimed at increasing medical student loan forgiveness and requesting federal help to add residency training slots for medical students in the state. Last year, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law that drops the residency requirement for some doctors who trained abroad to get a medical license. Lawmakers in at least eight other states have approved similar changes. Patterson, of the Washington County hospital, appreciates that Iowa lawmakers are trying to increase the pipeline of doctors into Iowa but said it doesnt address immediate shortages. You have a high school student whos graduating right now; theyre probably nine to 11 years away from entering the workforce as a practicing physician. So its a long-term kind of problem, he said. For nurses, workforce experts say, the projected national outlook isnt as dire as in recent years. Nursing education is back up. Nursing employment rates are back up. I think, for that workforce, weve largely nationally recovered from all the dislocations that occurred, said Spetz, of the Institute for Health Policy Studies. But getting nurses to move to the places that need them, like rural communities, will be difficult, she said. Some rural hospitals in Iowa say an even bigger challenge right now is finding nurses to hire. Some of that can be traced to the pandemic, said Sara Bruns, nurse manager at Keokuk County Hospital and Clinics. She recalled that some covid patients in critical condition died when they couldnt be transferred to larger hospitals with more advanced intensive care unit equipment, because those hospitals didnt have the staff to take on more patients. We had to make the horrible decision of Youre probably not going to make it,'" Bruns recalled, saying many patients were then listed as DNR, for do not resuscitate. That took a big toll on a lot of nurses, she said. Another problem is persuading the areas young nurses to stay, when they would rather live and work in more urban areas, Bruns said. Her hospital still relies on contracts with travel nurses to fill some night shifts. Thats something the hospital never had to do before the pandemic, Bruns said. Travel nurses are more expensive, adding stress to a small hospitals budget. I think some people just completely got out of nursing," Bruns said. The pandemic took a special toll "because of the hours that they had to work, the conditions that they had to work. Policymakers and health care organizations cant focus only on recruiting workers, according to Janette Dill at the University of Minnesota. You also have to retain workers, she said. You cant just recruit new people and then have them be miserable. Dill said workers report feeling that patients have been more disrespectful and challenging since the pandemic, and sometimes workers feel unsafe at work. By 'unsafe' I mean physically unsafe. I think that is a very stressful part of the job, she said. Research has shown health workers reporting higher levels of burnout and poor mental health since the pandemic though the risks decreased if workers felt supported by their managers. Gail Grimes, an intensive care nurse in Des Moines, felt more supported by her employer during the worst parts of the pandemic than she does now, she said. Some hospitals offered pay bumps and more scheduling flexibility to keep nurses on staff. We were getting better bonus pay, Grimes recalled. We were getting these specialized contracts we could fulfill that were often more worth our time to be able to come in, to miss our families and be there. Grimes said shes seen nurses leave Iowa for neighboring states with better average pay. This creates shortages that she believes affect the care she gives her own patients. A nurse taking care of five patients will always be able to provide better care than a nurse taking care of 10 patients, she said. She thinks many hospitals have simply accepted staff burnout as a fact, rather than try to prevent it. It really is significantly impactful to your mental health when you come home every day and you feel guilty about the things you have not been able to provide to people, she said. Royal Enfield Launched The New Classic 350 In Nepal With ABS As Standard, Prices Inside Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 16:09 IST Royal Enfield set up its exclusive CKD (completely knocked down) assembly facility in Birgunj, Nepal, in June 2023. The new Classic 350 retains its unmistakable silhouette and vintage charm while offering improved performance and cutting-edge features. (Photo: Royal Enfield) Royal Enfield, the worlds top brand in the mid-size motorcycle category (250cc750cc), has launched the new Classic 350 in Nepal. Known for its timeless design and strong character, the Classic 350 now comes with modern upgrades to attract a new generation of riders. Recommended Stories The bike will be assembled at Royal Enfields exclusive CKD (Completely Knocked Down) facility in Birgunj, Nepal. Price and New Features The Classic 350 now starts at NPR 5.55 lakh for the Heritage variant. For the first time in Nepal, all Classic 350 models come with dual-channel ABS as standard, improving safety. Other new features include: LED headlamps and pilot lamps Type-C USB charging port Gear position indicator Variants And Colour Options The new Classic 350 is available in five different variants and seven stunning colours: Heritage (NPR 5.55 lakh) Colours: Madras Red, Jodhpur Blue Inspired by Royal Enfields roots, featuring gold pinstripes and a retro metallic finish. Heritage Premium (NPR 5.66 lakh) Colour: Medallion Bronze Elegant dual-tone look with a classic touch. Signals (NPR 5.66 lakh) Colour: Commando Sand Military-inspired, honouring REs long link with armed forces. Dark Series (NPR 5.73 lakh) Colours: Gun Grey, Stealth Black Equipped with Tripper Navigation, LED indicators, and adjustable levers. Chrome (NPR 5.79 lakh) Colour: Emerald Premium finish with deep green bodywork and shiny chrome detailing. Yadvinder Singh Guleria, Chief Commercial Officer at Royal Enfield, shared his excitement:"We are proud to forge a deep connection & love with our Customers in Nepal. Today, 8 out of 10 enthusiasts in the middleweight motorcycle segment are trusting our brand by taking home one of Royal Enfields motorcycles." Pricing for the New Classic 350 in Nepal Heritage (Madras Red, Jodhpur Blue): NPR 555,000 Heritage Premium (Medallion Bronze): NPR 566,000 Signals (Commando Sand): NPR 566,000 Dark (Gun Grey, Stealth Black): NPR 573,000 Chrome (Emerald): NPR 579,900 Royal Enfields Growing Footprint in Nepal top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Since launching the CKD facility in Nepal in 2023 with the Triveni Group, Royal Enfield has seen impressive growth. According to Yadvinder Singh Guleria, Chief Commercial Officer, Eight out of ten customers in Nepals middleweight segment are choosing Royal Enfield. The new Classic 350 will only strengthen this bond." The Birgunj plant has a yearly capacity of 20,000 units and is part of a global network of six CKD facilities, including Brazil, Thailand, and Bangladesh. About the Author Samreen Pall Samreen Pall, Senior Sub-Editor at News18, is a Computer Science graduate but a writer at heart, Samreen has one motto that she swears by: 'Everything is dull and useless if it has no drama in it.' This motto c... Read More Samreen Pall, Senior Sub-Editor at News18, is a Computer Science graduate but a writer at heart, Samreen has one motto that she swears by: 'Everything is dull and useless if it has no drama in it.' This motto c... Read More Get the latest updates on car and bike launches in India including reviews, prices, specs, and performance. Stay informed with breaking auto industry news , EV policies, and more, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: April 18, 2025, 16:09 IST Are Banks Open Or Closed Today, April 18? Check Bank Holiday List For This Month Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 06:32 IST Are Banks Open Today, April 18? Friday is a weekday but the banks will remain closed today across the majority of cities, including Delhi and Mumbai, on account of 'Good Friday'. Bank Holiday Today: Are Banks Open Or Closed? Are Banks Open Today, April 18? If you are planning to visit your bank branch, it is necessary to check the holiday list for banks. Today, April 18, being Friday is a weekday but the banks will remain closed today across the majority of cities, including Delhi and Mumbai, on account of Good Friday. However, the banks will remain open in Agartala, Chandigarh, Guwahati, Jaipur, Jammu, Shimla and Srinagar. Bank branches remain closed on a number of bank holidays approved by the RBI. As per the standard banking schedule, all banksboth public and privateacross India also remain closed on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month. Recommended Stories Are Banks Open Today And Tomorrow? Today (April 18), both public and private banks will remain closed across most states on account of Good Friday. Banks to remain closed in Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Aizawl, Belapur, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Dehradun, Gangtok, Hyderabad Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad Telangana, Imphal, Itanagar, Bhopal, Kohima, Raipur, Shillong, Kanpur, Kochi, Kolkata, Lucknow, Nagpur, Panaji, Patna, Ranchi, and Thiruvananthapuram. However, the banks will remain open on April 18 in several states/ cities including Agartala, Chandigarh, Guwahati, Jaipur, Jammu, Shimla and Srinagar. So, customers can visit bank branches today in these states/ cities. Customers can access banking services through ATMs, mobile banking apps, and online banking platforms for essential transactions across the country irrespective of the bank holidays. Tomorrow (April 19), the banks will remain open across the country as usual on the third Saturday of the month. Timings of Banks? Most major banks in India, including SBI, Bank of India, and Punjab National Bank, operate between 10 A.M. and 4 P.M., while ICICI, HDFC, Axis, Yes Bank, and Kotak Mahindra Bank usually function from 9:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. or 3:30 P.M., depending on the branch. Bank of Baroda has slightly extended hours, operating between 9:45 A.M. and 4:45 P.M. or 10 A.M. to 5 P.M., and Canara Bank typically works from 10 A.M. to 3:30 P.M. Bank Holidays List For April 2025 State-Wise Banks will remain closed for up to 15 days in April 2025 due to public holidays, including the second and fourth Saturdays and Sundays. Customers are advised to be aware of these holidays in advance to avoid any inconvenience with banking services. Heres The Full List Of Bank Holidays In April 2025: Holiday Day of the Week April 1 Year-end Bank Closing/Sarhul Tuesday April 5 Babu Jagjivan Rams Birthday Saturday April 10 Mahavir Jayanti Thursday April 14 Ambedkar Jayanti/Vishu/Bohag Bihu/Tamil New Year Monday April 15 Bengali New Years Day/Himachal Day/Bohag Bihu Tuesday April 16 Bohag Bihu Wednesday April 18 Good Friday Friday April 21 Garia Puja Monday April 29 Bhagwan Shri Parshuram Jayanti Tuesday April 30 Basava Jayanti/Akshaya Tritiya Wednesday State-wise Bank Holidays in April 2025 State/City Holidays in April 2025 Agartala (Tripura) April 1, 14, 15, 18 Ahmedabad (Gujarat) April 1, 10, 14, 18 Aizawl (Mizoram) April 10, 16 Belapur (Maharashtra) April 1, 10, 14, 18 Bengaluru (Karnataka) April 1, 10, 14, 18, 30 Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) April 1, 10, 18 Bhubaneswar (Odisha) April 1, 14, 18 Chandigarh (Punjab & Haryana) April 1, 14 Chennai (Tamil Nadu) April 1, 10, 14, 18 Dehradun (Uttarakhand) April 1, 14, 18 Gangtok (Sikkim) April 1, 14, 18 Guwahati (Assam) April 1, 14, 15, 16 Hyderabad Andhra Pradesh April 1, 14, 18 Hyderabad Telangana April 1, 5, 14, 18 Imphal (Manipur) April 1, 14, 18 Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh) April 1, 15, 16 Jaipur (Rajasthan) April 1, 10, 14 Jammu (Jammu & Kashmir) April 1, 14 Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh) April 1, 10, 14, 18 Kochi (Kerala) April 1, 14, 18 Kohima (Nagaland) April 1, 18 Kolkata (West Bengal) April 1, 10, 14, 15, 16, 18 Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) April 1, 10, 14, 18 Mumbai (Maharashtra) April 1, 10, 14, 18 Nagpur (Maharashtra) April 1, 10, 14, 18 New Delhi (Delhi) April 1, 10, 18 Panaji (Goa) April 1, 14, 18 Patna (Bihar) April 1, 14, 18 Raipur (Chhattisgarh) April 10, 18 Ranchi (Jharkhand) April 1, 10, 14, 18 Shillong (Meghalaya) April 18 Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) April 15, 30 Srinagar (Jammu & Kashmir) April 1, 14 Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) April 1, 14, 18 Stock Market Holiday April 2025 Stock market will be closed for 11 days in April including Saturdays and Sundays. Along with these, market will be shut for three public holidays: April 10 (Thursday) Shri Mahavir Jayanti top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all April 14 (Monday) Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Jayanti April 18 (Friday) Good Friday About the Author Mohammad Haris Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to markets, economy and companies. Having a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris has been previously asso... Read More Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to markets, economy and companies. Having a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris has been previously asso... Read More First Published: April 18, 2025, 06:32 IST PM Modi Speaks To Elon Musk Ahead Of Tesla's India Entry, Discusses Tech Ties: 'Immense Potential...' Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 14:15 IST India remains committed to advancing its partnerships with the US in technology and innovation, PM Modi says in a post on X after discussions with Elon Musk. The latest discussions between PM Modi and Tesla CEO Elon Musk come at a time when Tesla and Starlink have shown keen interest to enter the Indian market. (File Photo Credit: PMO via PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday spoke to Tesla CEO Elon Musk and talked about various topics, including the potential for collaboration in the areas of technology and innovation. Taking to X, PM Modi wrote, Spoke to Elon Musk and talked about various issues, including the topics we covered during our meeting in Washington DC earlier this year. We discussed the immense potential for collaboration in the areas of technology and innovation. India remains committed to advancing our partnerships with the US in these domains." Recommended Stories The discussions come at a time when Elon Musks Tesla and Starlink have shown keen interest to enter the Indian market. It also comes against the backdrop of ongoing negotiations for a proposed bilateral trade agreement between New Delhi and Washington. The two sides have aimed at finalising the first phase of the pact by fall (September-October) this year. In February, PM Modi met Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, during his visit to Washington DC and discussed various issues, including space, mobility, technology and innovation. Musk enjoys a prominent position in the US government as the de facto head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). On Wednesday, Piyush Goyal held discussions with senior executives from Starlink, the satellite internet arm of Elon Musks SpaceX, to discuss the companys likely entry into the country. The delegation from Starlink included Vice President Chad Gibbs and Senior Director Ryan Goodnight. Starlinks Entry Into India Startlink has shown its interest to enter the Indian market to provide satellite-based internet services. The company awaits clarity on the governments upcoming spectrum policy. Permission for the company is also stuck for security clearance. Reliance Jio in March announced a pact with Elon Musks SpaceX to bring Starlink satellite internet services in India. Bharti Airtel has also signed a similar partnership deal with SpaceX. Meanwhile, the government has already granted license to Startlink rivals Bharti Group-backed Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications for about one-and-a-half years for providing satellite internet services. However, these companies are yet to start their operation as the government has so far not finalised spectrum allocation rules. The spectrum allocation process will begin after telecom regulator Trai firms up its recommendation on the subject. Starlink is considered to be a disruptor in this segment as it operates the worlds biggest constellation of over 6,750 satellites whereas Eutelsat OneWeb has little over 600 satellites and Jios satellite partners operate nearly 70. Tesla Entry Into India Apart from Startlink, Elon Musks EV maker Tesla is also preparing to enter the Indian markets. In February, the company also opened vacancies for several job roles in India (the Mumbai Suburban area). The job roles included service advisor, parts advisor, service technician, service manager, sales & customer support, store manager, sales & customer support, business operations analyst, customer support supervisor, customer support specialist, delivery operations specialist, order operations specialist, inside sales advisor, and consumer engagement manager. According to reports, the US-based company has selected locations for two showrooms in New Delhi (Aerocity) and Mumbai (Bandra Kurla Complex). The opening dates for the outlets have not yet been decided. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The US carmaker had been hunting for showroom space in India since late last year in order to start sales in the worlds third biggest auto market, after putting market entry plans on hold in 2022. Teslas initial plans involve the launch of an EV under $25,000, or sub-Rs 22 lakh, for sale in India. About the Author Business Desk A team of writers and reporters decodes vast terms of personal finance and making money matters simpler for you. From latest initial public offerings (IPOs) in the market to best investment options, we cover al... Read More A team of writers and reporters decodes vast terms of personal finance and making money matters simpler for you. From latest initial public offerings (IPOs) in the market to best investment options, we cover al... Read More First Published: April 18, 2025, 12:54 IST 50% Of International Students Who Lost US Visas Recently Were From India: Report Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 18:07 IST Nearly half of the recent U.S. student visa cancellations affected Indian nationals, with SEVIS terminations linked to AI-driven crackdowns, leading to widespread concern and uncertainty. The Ministry of External Affairs stated that its embassy and consulate are in contact with the students whose F-1 visas have been terminated. (Getty/Representational Image) Nearly half of all international students in the United States who experienced visa revocations or terminations of their SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) records in recent months were from India, according to a policy brief released by the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). The report, dated April 17, highlights concerns over what it calls an arbitrary" and opaque" enforcement effort targeting international students. Citing data collected from 327 individual reports, AILA found that 50% of the affected students were Indian nationals, followed by 14% from China. Other impacted countries included South Korea, Nepal, and Bangladesh. Recommended Stories According to the policy brief, the visa crackdowns appear to be part of a new initiative by the U.S. Department of State (DOS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), dubbed Catch and Revoke," which reportedly uses AI tools to screen social media profiles of student visa holders. This has led to widespread revocations based on interactions with law enforcementeven in cases where students were never convicted or charged. Indians made up the largest group of international students in the United States during the 2023-24 academic year, according to Open Doors data. Out of a total of 11,26,690 international students, 3,31,602 were from India accounting for 29% of the total. China followed with 2.77 lakh students. Many of the affected students were on Optional Practical Training (OPT), having already graduated and employed in the US," the brief said. These students are especially vulnerable, as they cannot immediately resume work after their SEVIS record is terminated, and re-instatement becomes more complex once a student has graduated. ICE Has Terminated 4,736 SEVIS Records Since January According to a verified source cited in the brief, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has terminated 4,736 SEVIS records since January 20, 2025, with most belonging to students on F-1 visas. Alarmingly, 57% of students received notice of visa revocationprimarily via email from the consulatesbut 83% only learned about SEVIS termination through their universities, and 7% said they received no notification at all. The stated rationale for these actions was often inconsistent, and in some cases, students had no criminal record or history of police interaction. The report also noted that 86% of students had some level of police interaction, but 33% of those were never charged, prosecuted, or were later dismissed. These include cases as minor as speeding tickets or misunderstandings during routine traffic stops. Some students were even domestic violence survivors who had contacted the police for help but were penalised with visa issues due to the interaction. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has expressed concern over the rising number of Indian student visa cancellations in the U.S., urging the government to take action. Sharing AILAs note on X, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh wrote: The press statement released by the American Immigration Lawyers Association yesterday is a matter of concern for India. Of the 327 student visa cancellations the organisation has gathered so far, 50% are Indian students. The reasons for the cancellations are inconsistent and unclear. This is causing growing fear and anxiety among students. Will External Affairs Minister @DrSJaishankar take note of this issue and raise it with his American counterpart?" American Immigration Lawyers Association 327 50% pic.twitter.com/1BXr2rV3uB Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) April 18, 2025 MEA Assures Support For Students Affected By US Visa Revocations In response to queries about Indian students facing visa revocations in the U.S., Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated at a press briefing on Thursday: We are aware that several Indian students have been contacted by the U.S. Government regarding their F-1 visa status. We are investigating the matter, and our embassy and consulate are in touch with the students to offer support." ALSO READ: Education Loans Take A Hit As Indian Students Move Away From US Dream; These Are Top 3 Choices Now What Is SEVIS? top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) is an online system used by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to track and monitor international students and exchange visitors in the United States. It helps maintain and manage data related to student visas, including F, J, and M visas. SEVIS ensures that international students and exchange visitors comply with U.S. immigration laws by tracking their academic progress, enrollment status, and visa details. It is important for both students and educational institutions, as it helps in maintaining accurate records for visa issuance, extensions, and compliance with U.S. immigration regulations. About the Author Education and Careers Desk A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses and information on college and school admissions, board and competitive exams, career options, topper interviews, job notifications, latest in ... Read More A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses and information on college and school admissions, board and competitive exams, career options, topper interviews, job notifications, latest in ... Read More First Published: April 18, 2025, 17:59 IST Education Loans Take A Hit As Indian Students Move Away From US Dream; These Are Top 3 Choices Now Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 17:11 IST Indian students are rethinking studying in the US due to strict visa policies and job market uncertainties, causing a drop in education loan demand International student enrolments in the US decreased by 11% between March 2024 and 2025. (Representative/Shutterstock) Indian students are reconsidering their plans to study in the United States due to the countrys stringent visa policies and job market uncertainties. This shift has led to a decrease in the demand for education loans, with loan lending companies now prioritising students with strong profiles and those admitted to top universities. Consequently, the number of loan approvals has declined. Some students may return to the US midway through their studies, necessitating a restructuring of their loans. A report indicates that between March 2024 and 2025, the US has cancelled visas for 901 international students, resulting in a 28% decline in the number of Indian students choosing the US for higher education. This trend has increased interest in studying in other countries like the UK. Recommended Stories Loan lending companies are now exercising greater caution, offering loans only to strong candidates and prestigious universities due to heightened concerns over job loss and visa cancellations in the US. As a result, the number of students heading to the US is decreasing, causing financial losses for these companies. According to a Times of India report, US loan applications for companies like InCred Finance have halved since last year. If the US government discontinues the OPT (Optional Practical Training) and STEM OPT programs, the number of students going to the US will decrease even further. The US business (industry-wide) is down by half already and will decline even more if the Trump administrations anti-immigration and America First approach get strengthened further. If the OPT (optional practical training) and STEM OPT programmes are stopped, the demand for US courses will, in all likelihood, significantly dwindle," Nilanjan Chattoraj, director, education loans at InCred Finance, was quoted as saying by Times of India. However, the demand for studies in the UK, Canada, and Australia is on the rise, providing some relief to loan companies. Nevertheless, some students currently studying in the US may return midway, prompting companies to prepare for changes in loan terms. RBI does allow certain flexibility in restructuring such accounts.We have the regulatory models in place. As of now, only 1-2% of students required it, but that is expected to now jump to 5%. It is going to be tricky," Chattoraj was quoted as saying in the TOI report. Akshay Chaturvedi, CEO of Leverage, notes that while students going to the US are still getting loans, the scrutiny has become more stringent, with increased inquiries about backup plans and university transfers among students. Lenders are factoring in perceived immigration risks and ROI (return on investment) uncertainty. We are also seeing a spike in queries about transfer options (credits transfer to a different university in a different destination) and backup plans," Chaturvedi said speaking to TOI. According to a report by the Associated Press, at least 901 students from various countries studying at 128 colleges and universities in the US had their visas revoked or legal status terminated since mid-March. International student enrolments in the US decreased by 11% between March 2024 and 2025, with a significant 28% drop in Indian enrolments, stated Sonal Kapoor, global chief business officer at London-based Prodigy Finance, citing data from market intelligence firm ICEF Monitor. As a result, countries like the UK are becoming popular alternatives for Indian students. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all According to a report by the Associated Press, at least 901 students from various countries studying at 128 colleges and universities in the US had their visas revoked or legal status terminated since mid-March. International student enrolments in the US decreased by 11% between March 2024 and 2025, with a significant 28% drop in Indian enrolments, stated Sonal Kapoor, global chief business officer at London-based Prodigy Finance, citing data from market intelligence firm ICEF Monitor. As a result, countries like the UK are becoming popular alternatives for Indian students. Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: April 18, 2025, 17:11 IST IIT Mandi Hosts Registrars Conclave To Reimagine Governance In Indias Top Tech Institutions Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 20:16 IST Registrars from 18 IITs and Directors from three IITs convened at IIT Mandi to discuss automation in administration, research support, and value-based leadership in academic governance. IIT Mandi hosts a 3-day Registrars' Conclave with 18 IIT registrars and 3 directors attending the event. In a major step towards enhancing academic governance and administrative efficiency, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi has kickstarted a three-day All IITs Registrars Conclave, bringing together senior administrators from 18 IITs across the country. The event, which began on April 18, marks one of the largest gatherings of registrars in the IIT system and aims to redefine the role of administration in an evolving academic landscape. The conclave was inaugurated in the presence of Prof. Laxmidhar Behera, Director, IIT Mandi, and Prof. Rajeev Ahuja, Director, IIT Ropar, with Prof. Manoj Singh Gaur, Director, IIT Jammu, addressing the participants virtually. Registrars from IITs including Delhi, Bombay, Kanpur, Guwahati, and Roorkee, among others, are participating in this high-level deliberation. Recommended Stories Focus On Governance, Automation And Research Support The conclave focuses on critical themes such as strengthening academic administration, driving institutional automation, and enhancing administrative support in researchboth from Indian and international perspectives. Prof. Laxmidhar Behera highlighted the importance of values-based leadership, drawing wisdom from the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita. Every challenge in life or governance has a solution in the Gita," he remarked, urging registrars to build transparent, efficient, and student-focused systems rooted in ethical principles. Prof. Rajeev Ahuja, Director of IIT Ropar, spoke about the essential role of registrars in maintaining the continuity of the institution and preserving the IIT brands global reputation. Reflecting on his time in Sweden, he shared insights on The Role of Administration in Research: Indian & European Perspectives." Addressing the conclave virtually, Prof. Manoj Singh Gaur, Director of IIT Jammu, emphasised the importance of automation beyond laboratory settings. He encouraged registrars to lead the charge in transforming administrative practices, stating, Registrars must be at the forefront of this change." Strengthening The Administrative Backbone Dr. Kumar Sambhav Pandey, Registrar of IIT Mandi and host of the conclave, said the event reflects a collective commitment to responsive, tech-enabled, and mission-driven governance in Indian higher education. This conclave is a step towards building the administrative spine of the countrys top institutions," he added. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The conclave also saw participation from distinguished registrars including Dr. Jayesh Chandra S Pai (Retd) from IIT Bhilai; Bamadev Acharya, IIT Bhubaneswar; Ganesh K. Bhorkade, IIT Bombay; Atul Vyas, IIT Delhi; Dr. Kalyan Kumar Bhattacharjee, IIT Dharwad; Prem Kumar Chopra, IIT Gandhinagar; and many others from IIT Goa, Hyderabad, Indore, Kharagpur, Palakkad, Roorkee, and more. The gathering not only served as a platform for sharing best practices but also for forging collaboration among the top engineering institutions of India to collectively rethink and reshape the future of academic administration. About the Author Archit Gupta Archit Gupta is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18.com and a seasoned education journalist specialising in reporting on education and employment. He has covered a variety of education-related stories, including high-... Read More Archit Gupta is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18.com and a seasoned education journalist specialising in reporting on education and employment. He has covered a variety of education-related stories, including high-... Read More First Published: April 18, 2025, 20:16 IST TS EAMCET Hall Ticket 2025: Telangana EAPCET Admit Card Soon At eapcet.tgche.ac.in, Check Steps To Download Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 14:21 IST TS EAMCET 2025 hall tickets will be released today, April 19 at eapcet.tsche.ac.in. The exam is scheduled for April 29 for Agri & May 2 for Engineering. TS EAMCET/TG EAPCET Hall Ticket 2025: Students will be able to download their TS EAMCET 2025 hall ticket from the official website eapcet.tsche.ac.in. (Representational Image/Getty) TS EAMCET Hall Ticket 2025: The Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU) Hyderabad will release the hall tickets for the Telangana State Engineering, Agriculture, and Medical Common Entrance Test (TS EAMCET) 2025 on April 19. Candidates can download their admit cards from the official website eapcet.tsche.ac.in by entering their registration number and date of birth. This year, the TS EAMCET (also referred to as EAPCET) will be held on April 29 and 30 for Agriculture and Pharmacy streams, while the Engineering entrance test will take place from May 2 to May 5. The exam will be conducted in two shifts each day and will follow the computer-based test (CBT) format, with each session lasting three hours. Recommended Stories TS EAMCET Hall Ticket 2025: How To Download Telangana EAPCET Admit Card? To download the TS EAMCET 2025 Hall Ticket, follow these simple steps: Step 1: Visit the official TS EAMCET website: eapcet.tsche.ac.in. Step 2: Look for the Download Hall Ticket" link on the homepage. Step 3: Enter your Registration Number, Qualifying Exam Hall Ticket Number, and Date of Birth. Step 4: Click Proceed" or Get Hall Ticket" to access your admit card. Step 5: Download and print your hall ticket for future reference. TS EAMCET 2025: Purpose of TS EAPCET TS EAMCET is conducted annually for students aspiring to pursue undergraduate professional courses in engineering, agriculture, and pharmacy offered by universities, private unaided, and affiliated colleges across Telangana. TS EAMCET 2025 Available Courses top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Under TS EAMCET (E), the following courses are available: BE/BTech : Bachelor of Engineering / Bachelor of Technology BTech (Agricultural Engineering) BTech (Bio-Technology) (MPC) BTech (Dairy Technology) BTech (Food Technology) BPharm (MPC) : Bachelor of Pharmacy PharmD (MPC): Doctor of Pharmacy About the Author Education and Careers Desk A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses and information on college and school admissions, board and competitive exams, career options, topper interviews, job notifications, latest in ... Read More A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses and information on college and school admissions, board and competitive exams, career options, topper interviews, job notifications, latest in ... Read More First Published: April 18, 2025, 13:12 IST Air Force 2, 'Beast-Like' Limo: With JD Vance Visiting India, A Look At What Happens When US Veep Travels Abroad Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 17:55 IST Vance is travelling to India next week amid rising global concerns over President Donald Trump's tariff tussle, and both sides are likely to deliberate on firming up the proposed trade deal that is aimed at addressing issues relating to levies, market access, and supply chains US Vice President JD Vance shakes hands with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a bilateral meeting, at the residence of the US Ambassador in Paris, France. (File pic/Reuters) US Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha, the Indian-American Second Lady, will pay a four-day visit to India beginning April 21, during which he will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with a likely focus on early finalisation of the proposed bilateral trade pact and ways to bolster India-US ties. Vance is travelling to India amid the rising global concerns over President Donald Trumps tariff tussle, and both sides are likely to deliberate on firming up the proposed trade deal that is aimed at addressing issues relating to levies, market access, and supply chains. Recommended Stories Vances office said he is visiting Italy and India from April 18 to 24, and he will discuss shared economic and geopolitical priorities with leaders in each country". In India, the Vice President will visit New Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra. The Vice President will hold meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi," it said. The US readout said Vance and the Second Family will also participate in engagements at cultural sites in India. Travelling by air and land Air Force Two is the air traffic control designated call sign held by any United States Air Force aircraft carrying the Vice President of the United States, but not the President. The term is often associated with the Boeing C-32, a modified 757 which is most commonly used as the Vice Presidents transport. Other 89th Airlift Wing aircraft, such as the Boeing C-40 Clipper, C-20B, C-37A, and C-37B, have also served in this role. The VC-25A, the aircraft most often used by the president as Air Force One, has also been used by the Vice President as Air Force Two. While there is no official equivalent of the Presidents The Beast" for the Vice President, they are escorted by a similar high-security motorcade when on the ground. The Vice President typically uses a secure, armoured limousine, but its not as well-known or highly publicised as The Beast". Security protocols Security protocols for the Vice President are extensive, involving the Secret Service and additional measures depending on the location and nature of the visit. The Vice President is always protected by the United States Secret Service, who provide extensive security. Security measures can vary depending on the location, activity, and potential threats. Domestic events may have slightly relaxed security, but some protection is always present. Additional security measures may include metal detectors, bag checks, and surveillance systems. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The overall goal is to ensure a safe environment while maintaining public trust and stability. (With agency inputs) About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More First Published: April 18, 2025, 17:55 IST First-Ever Footage Of Colossal Squid Captured After Nearly 100 Years: All You Need To Know Curated By : Trending Desk Edited By: Anurag Verma Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 13:14 IST The colossal squid, scientifically named Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, is one of the largest and heaviest invertebrates in the world. The video, captured by the Schmidt Ocean Institute, shows a juvenile colossal squid swimming in the South Atlantic Ocean at a depth of 600 meters. (Image by Schmidt Ocean Institute) Scientists have recently captured the first-ever footage of the mysterious colossal squid in its natural environment. This historic moment comes nearly a century after the species was first identified. The video, captured by the Schmidt Ocean Institute, shows a juvenile colossal squid swimming in the South Atlantic Ocean at a depth of 600 meters. The footage marks a significant breakthrough in marine research. For years, little was known about its natural behaviour, and most of what scientists understood came from dead or dying specimens found within the stomachs of whales and seabirds. Recommended Stories Where Was The Colossal Squid Spotted? The colossal squid was filmed during a deep-sea expedition led by the Schmidt Ocean Institute near the South Sandwich Islands in the South Atlantic Ocean. The expeditions research vessel, Falkor (too), deployed a remotely operated vehicle called SuBastian, which captured the footage. The squid was spotted at a depth of around 600 meters (1,968 feet). Dr. Michelle Taylor, the chief scientist of the expedition, shared with the BBC that the team wasnt entirely certain about what they were observing at first. But they decided to record it because it appeared beautiful and unusual." Also Read: Why Are IPL Fans Roasting RCB For Suing Uber Over Travis Head Ad? The creature in the footage was about 30 centimetres long and was later confirmed by marine biologist Kat Bolstad, associate professor at New Zealands Auckland University of Technology, to be a juvenile colossal squid. Its exciting to see the first in situ footage of a juvenile colossal and humbling to think that they have no idea that humans exist," she said. More About Colossal Squid The colossal squid, scientifically named Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, is one of the largest and heaviest invertebrates in the world. Adult squid can grow up to 7 meters long and weigh over 500 kilograms. The juvenile squid filmed was much smaller, at nearly 1 foot (30 centimetres) long. One key feature that makes the colossal squid unique is the presence of hooks along the middle of its eight arms. These hooks help distinguish it from other squid species. Bolstad pointed out that the squids mantle also contains large, rusty red-brown chromatophores or colour-changing cells. (That) tells us that it almost certainly can switch back and forth between being completely transparent, which is how we see it, mostly in this footage, to being quite opaque," she explained as quoted by CNN. The colossal squid also has the largest eyes of any known animal, which helps it detect both prey and predators in the pitch-black ocean depths. Juvenile colossal squids are almost completely transparent, which is common among young deep-sea creatures. As they grow, their bodies turn a deep red or purple, and they develop thick, powerful arms. Bolstad also clarified that the colossal squid is not the same as the giant squid. The colossal squid is found only in the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic regions, while the giant squid lives in other parts of the worlds oceans. Also Read: Why Is Dolo-650 Suddenly Trending On X? Glass Squid And Colossal Squid: Similar Yet Different As per a report in CNN, during a separate expedition near Antarctica in January, a team deployed SuBastian into the depths of the Bellingshausen Sea. As the vehicle reached a depth of 2,254 feet (687 meters), they noticed something interesting a glass squid. The juvenile colossal squid and the glass squid share similarities, as both have hooks at the ends of their two longer tentacles and transparent bodies. But this glass squid had its arms loosely above its head in a manoeuvre called a cockatoo pose, which has been observed previously in this type of squid. Dr Aaron Evans, an independent researcher and Bolstad later confirmed that the team had captured the first-ever footage of a glacial glass squid in its natural environment. Whats Next? Neither the juvenile colossal squid nor the glass squid seemed alarmed by the remotely operated vehicle. Instead, both creatures remained calm, but that is not the case with the adult colossal squid. They remain more elusive and use their keen eyesight to detect any potential danger and avoid it. From their perspective, any time something large is coming forward, its not a good thing. The adult colossal squid remains mysterious and enigmatic because it has these senses, which allow it to see us," Dr Evans told CNN. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Also Read: The Criticism Of Blue Origins All-Female Space Travel That Carried Katy Perry Explained He also mentioned that adult colossal squids are hard to study because they live in the remote waters of Antarctica. This makes it difficult for scientists to research them, so it might take a while before they manage to film an adult squid in its natural habitat. 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: April 18, 2025, 13:13 IST Why Scientists Are Struggling To Study T-Rex Fossils: Explained Curated By : Trending Desk Edited By: Anurag Verma Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 16:44 IST The major portion of T-Rex dinosaur fossils are under private or commercial ownership, leaving very few for scientific research. The more scientifically valuable bones of the mighty T-Rex are increasingly found in private collections and public museums, rather than in the hands of researchers. Image for representation/Shutterstock) Most dinosaur fossils, especially those of the iconic Tyrannosaurus rex, are privately owned, new research has found. Published in Palaeontologia Electronica, the study reveals that these fossils are being acquired at high-end auctions for tens of millions of dollars, meaning fewer specimens are available for scientific study. As a result, the more scientifically valuable bones of the mighty T-Rex are increasingly found in private collections and public museums, rather than in the hands of researchers. Lack Of Specimens Recommended Stories The study also says that 61 T-Rex specimens are in public trust, while 71 are privately owned. The private sale of dinosaur fossils isnt limited to T-Rex but extends to other species as well. The most expensive fossil ever sold was a stegosaurus, auctioned for $44.6 million in 2024, now on loan to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. T-Rex researcher Thomas Carr, director at the Carthage Institute of Paleontology, Wisconsin, in his study voiced concerns about the decreasing number of specimens for studies, describing it as dispiriting and exasperating". Also Read: First-Ever Footage Of Colossal Squid Captured After Nearly 100 Years: All You Need To Know Iconic The T-Rex is counted among the most iconic dinosaurs, easily identifiable from its massive body with sharp jaws and teeth, famously starring in the most popular Jurassic films in Hollywood. The loss of them carries the heaviest scientific cost," the researchers said. Touted as one of the most ferocious predators to ever walk on the planet, the fossils of T-Rex date back to more than 66 million years and have been widely discovered across North America, mainly in the states of Montana and South Dakota. Speaking more about the loss of available dinosaur fossils for scientific research, Carr said, The early growth stages of T. rex are bedeviled by a poor fossil record, and so the loss of them carries the heaviest scientific cost. At the current moment, our knowledge of one of the most basic aspects of T. rex biology is frustratingly compromised by market interests," as per Live Science. My hope is that concerned colleagues will start counting up, and publishing on, the specimens of the species that they study that are lost to the commercial market," he continued. Also Read: Why Are IPL Fans Roasting RCB For Suing Uber Over Travis Head Ad? top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Lost Data As mentioned in the particular research, the sale of T-Rex fossils has resulted in lost data regarding the dinosaurs variation across growth stages as well as geological distribution. In less than three decades, researchers believe that commercial interests have collected more significant fossils. This has once again raised concerns about the surge in the luxury fossil market, with dinosaur remains being sold as decorative art in international auctions. 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: April 18, 2025, 16:43 IST 22 Maoists Surrender Before Security Forces In Chhattisgarh's Sukma Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 13:26 IST The surrendered Naxalites were active in the Maad (Chhattisgarh) and Nuapada (Odisha) divisions of Maoists Representative image At least 22 Naxalites, 12 of them carrying a cumulative bounty of Rs 40.5 lakh, surrendered before security forces in Chhattisgarhs Sukma district on Friday, police said. The cadres, including nine women, turned themselves in before senior officials of the police and Central Reserve Police Forces (CRPF), citing disappointment with "hollow" and "inhuman" Maoist ideology and atrocities on local tribals, Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan said. Recommended Stories The official said they were also impressed by the state governments Niyad Nellanar (your good village) scheme, aimed at facilitating development works in remote villages, and the new surrender and rehabilitation policy. The surrendered Naxalites were active in the Maad (Chhattisgarh) and Nuapada (Odisha) divisions of Maoists, he said. Chavan said the surrendered cadres included Muchaki Joga (33), deputy commander in PLGA (peoples liberation guerrilla army) company no. 1 under Maad division of Maoists, and his wife Muchaki Jogi (28), a member of the same squad, who carried a reward of Rs 8 lakh each. Among the others were Kikid Deve (30) and Manoj alias Dudhi Budhra (28), both area committee members of Maoists carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh each, he said. The official said seven surrendered cadres carried a bounty of Rs 2 lakh each, while another Naxalite carried a reward of Rs 50,000. He said the other surrendered cadres were also involved in multiple attacks on security forces. The district police, District Reserve Guard (DRG), CRPF, and its elite unit CoBRA played a crucial role in their surrender, he said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all All the surrendered Naxalites were provided assistance of Rs 50,000 each and will be further rehabilitated as per the governments policy, he said. Last year, 792 Naxalites had surrendered in the Bastar region, comprising seven districts, including Sukma. Location : Chhattisgarh, India, India First Published: April 18, 2025, 13:26 IST Dalit Groom Thrashed, Pulled Off Mare: Violent Scenes In Agra Over Loud Music During 'Baraat' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 13:01 IST Agra News: The groom 22-year-old Rohit Kumar was pulled off the mare, abused, thrashed and his gold chain forcibly taken away. Agra: A Dalit wedding procession was allegedly attacked by some members of an upper-caste community for playing loud music. (AI image) Remember the baraat scene in Bobby Deol-starrer web series Aashram? The event in the first episode was a significant one as it highlighted caste-based discrimination and societal issues. The scene shows the wedding procession of Pammis (played by actor Aaditi Pohankar) cousin being advised against taking a specific route through the village, as its considered taboo for the lower-caste community. However, the family chose to ignore the warning, leading to violence and killing of the groom. But why are we discussing the 2020 web series now? This because the scene is not a rare event in India. It is a symbolic representation of the rigid social hierarchy and caste-based discrimination still prevalent in many regions. Recommended Stories Just two days ago a similar incident was reported in Uttar Pradeshs Agra when a Dalit wedding procession was allegedly attacked by some members of an upper-caste community for playing loud music and passing in front of their houses at a village in the district. According to a report in Times of India, the groom 22-year-old Rohit Kumar was pulled off the mare, abused, thrashed and his gold chain forcibly taken away. The grooms family and guests, including many women and children, reportedly panicked when the accused men came out of their houses with sticks and sharp objects. The TOI report stated that some guests also sustained injuries in the violence, and were shifted to the nearest hospital. The publication quoted local residents as saying that after the attack, the baraatis, who had come from a neighbouring village, quickly switched off the music and lights and rushed to the wedding hall out of fear. Police said that two people have been detained so far. ACP Piyushkant Gupta was quoted as saying that the dispute erupted over loud music, and they have started an investigation after registering a case. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The TOI quoted SHO Anand Veer as saying: The incident took place at Garhi Rammi village in Khandauli area of Agra district. A case was registered under BNS sections 191-3 (rioting with weapons), 190 (unlawful assembly), 115-1 (causing hurt), 127 (wrongfully confined), 74 (assault or criminal force to a woman), 352 (intentional insult), along with SC/ST Act against nine named Ajit Tomar, Ajay Tomar, Saurabh Tomar and Pradeep Tomar and their aides and 20 unidentified persons after a complaint by the brides mother." The publication further stated that a similar incident had taken place in the same village on March 11. Here too, a Dalit wedding procession came under attack from some upper-caste men. A case was subsequently registered against three people for allegedly pulling off the 22-year-old groom from the mare at gunpoint. 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 : Agra, India, India First Published: April 18, 2025, 13:01 IST 'Personal Fallouts Being Given Criminal Colour': Allahabad HC Grants Bail To Rape Accused Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 15:56 IST The Allahabad HC expressed concern over an emerging trend of failed intimate relationships increasingly resulting in criminal proceedings The Allahabad HC allowed the bail application of a 42-year-old married man accused of rape by a 25-year-old woman. (Image for representation) The Allahabad High Court, while granting bail to a man accused of rape, has expressed concern over an emerging trend of failed intimate relationships increasingly resulting in criminal proceedings. The court allowed the bail application of one Arun Kumar Mishra, a 42-year-old married man accused of rape by a 25-year-old woman. The bench said it is increasingly being observed that personal fallouts" and emotional discord" are being given a criminal colour through the invocation of penal laws, particularly in the aftermath of failed intimate relationships". Recommended Stories This case is reflective of a broader societal shift, where the sanctity and solemnity once associated with intimate relationships have seen a marked decline. The prevalence of transient and uncommitted relationships, often formed and dissolved at will, raises critical questions about individual responsibility and the misuse of legal provisions especially when such relationships turn sour," observed Justice Justice Krishan Pahal. Justice Pahal said the woman, with full and conscious knowledge that Mishra had earlier been married thrice, chose to establish a corporeal relationship with him. Granting bail to the applicant, the high court noted that the FIR against him was lodged after a delay of several months and seemed to arise more from the emotional aftermath" of a failed relationship rather than from any bona fide grievance of criminal wrongdoing. The applicants counsel submitted that the FIR was delayed by six months and that the victim was in a consensual relationship with the applicant. The counsel further submitted that the victim willingly travelled with him to many places and stayed in hotels with him during the period he allegedly committed the crime. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The informants counsel submitted that the applicant was already married to three other women, is a casanova and is used to luring different women into consensual relationships. After considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the delay in filing the FIR, submissions made by counsel for the parties, the evidence on record and the victim being a well-qualified woman, the court granted bail to Mishra. 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 : Prayagraj, India, India First Published: April 18, 2025, 15:56 IST Bangladeshi Infiltrators Shift Tactics: String Of Arrests Near Border Indicates Presence Of Pan-India Network Reported By : CNN-News18 Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 23:53 IST Once limited to isolated attempts, infiltration through the north-eastern state of Tripura has now become more structured and organised, sources say Bangladeshi women Nadia Akhtar Mim (19) of Barisal and Rupali Akhtar (38) of Manikganj were arrested at Agartala railway station. Pic/News18 A surge in cross-border infiltration activity has been a major security concern, as multiple operations in Tripura have exposed a shifting modus operandi by Bangladeshi infiltrators and their Indian collaborators. Once limited to isolated attempts, infiltration through the north-eastern state of Tripura has now become more structured and organised, sources say. Investigators believe that what was earlier managed by local agents is now supported by a wider pan-Indian network. Recommended Stories This shift was highlighted by the arrest of Sumendra Pal, a 22-year-old from Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, who was detained alongside three others, including a Bangladeshi national, at Agartala railway station on Wednesday. The group had planned to travel via train to Kolkata and then to Uttar Pradesh and Mumbai, police said. Based on a joint operation involving Agartala Government Railway Police (GRPS), Railway Protection Force (RPF), Border Security Force (BSF), and intelligence units, four individuals were apprehended: Mehedi Hasan (33) Faridpur, Bangladesh Iqbal Hossain (21) Fitra Madhyapara, Gomti District, Tripura Riaz Hossain (19) Fitra Madhyapara, Gomti District, Tripura Sumendra Pal (22) Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh They were intercepted at Agartala railway station after entering India illegally from Bangladesh and were reportedly en route to Kolkata. A case has been registered at the Agartala GRP police station, and the suspects are being interrogated further. In a separate operation, two Bangladeshi womenNadia Akhtar Mim (19) of Barisal and Rupali Akhtar (38) of Manikganjwere also arrested at the same railway station. Authorities recovered iPhones and a significant amount of Indian currency from them, indicating the use of modern communication devices and cash channels to facilitate their movements. They were planning to travel to Mumbai via Kolkata with the help of Indian agents," said a police source. A dedicated team of female GRP officers is leading the investigation in their case. A far more alarming breach was discovered in the Amjad Nagar area near Belonia last week, where seven Bangladeshi nationals illegally crossed the border, evading security at three separate Border outposts (BOPs). A secret tip-off led to the interception of a white Maruti Eeco at Manurmukh Tabla Chowmuhani Naka checkpoint, with seven Bangladeshi citizens and one Indian driver on board. The arrested include: Robin Hossain (29) Mohammad Rafi (25) Amjad Hossain (27) Shahidur Jjaman (28) Fazal (24) Rehan Mollah (21) Gias Uddin (35) The vehicle driver, Raju Biswas, was also detained. The group admitted to crossing into India with help from Indian agents in exchange for money. Authorities recovered seven Android phones, a keypad phone, Rs 1.64 lakh in Indian currency, and 1.01 lakh Bangladeshi taka. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all They are currently under a five-day police remand, and a case (No. Belonia PS-27/25) has been registered under Sections 61(2)/143(3) and the IPP Act. The CJM Belonia Court has remanded them to 12 days of judicial custody, with the next hearing set for April 24, 2025. With inputs from Kajal Kairi, News18 Agartala Location : Guwahati [Gauhati], India, India First Published: April 18, 2025, 23:45 IST Bhagavad Gita, Natyashastra Added To UNESCOs Memory Of World Register, PM Modi Calls It 'Proud Moment' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 14:09 IST UNESCO's move to add the sacred Hindu scriptures in Memory of the World Register has been praised as a historic moment for the country Bhagavad Gita and Natyashastra added to UNESCO's Memory of World Register | Image/X The Shrimad Bhagavad Gita and Bharat Munis Natyashastra have been inscribed in UNESCOs Memory of the World Register, marking a historic recognition of Indias cultural legacy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed UNESCOs move to add the sacred Hindu scriptures in Memory of the World Register a global initiative that preserves documentary heritage of outstanding value calling it a proud moment for every Indian across the world." Recommended Stories The inclusion of the Gita and Natyashastra in UNESCOs Memory of the World Register is a global recognition of our timeless wisdom and rich culture. The Gita and Natyashastra have nurtured civilisation, and consciousness for centuries. Their insights continue to inspire the world," PM Modi wrote in an X post. A proud moment for every Indian across the world!The inclusion of the Gita and Natyashastra in UNESCOs Memory of the World Register is a global recognition of our timeless wisdom and rich culture. The Gita and Natyashastra have nurtured civilisation, and consciousness for https://t.co/ZPutb5heUT Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 18, 2025 PM Modi retweeted a post by Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who first shared the announcement and said that India now has 14 entries in UNESCOs prestigious Memory of the World Register. The Shrimad Bhagavad Gita & Bharat Munis Natyashastra are now inscribed in UNESCOs Memory of the World Register. This global honour celebrates Indias eternal wisdom & artistic genius," Shekhawat said in an X post. These timeless works are more than literary treasuresthey are philosophical and aesthetic foundations that have shaped Bharats worldview and the way we think, feel, live, and express," he added. The Bhagavad Gita, a revered spiritual text, and the Natyashastra, an ancient treatise on performing arts, have long stood as cornerstones of Indias cultural and intellectual heritage. World Treasures Bharats Wisdom Union Home Minister Amit Shah congratulated every Indian across the world for the addition of the Bhagavad Gita and Natyashastra in Memory of the World Register. The world treasures Bharats wisdom. Congratulations to every Indian on the grand occasion of the Gita and Natyashastra being included in UNESCOs Memory of the World Register. The scriptures depict the ancient wisdom of Bharat that has shown light to humanity to make the world better and lives more beautiful since time immemorial," Shah said in an X post. The world treasures Bharats wisdom.Congratulations to every Indian on the grand occasion of the Gita and Natyashastra being included in the UNESCOs Memory of the World Register. The scriptures depict the ancient wisdom of Bharat that has showed light to humanity to make the https://t.co/speRXEL0Hw Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 18, 2025 UNESCO on Thursday said that a total of 74 new entries were made in their Memory of the World Register, bringing the total number of inscribed collections to 570. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General, said, Documentary heritage is an essential yet fragile element of the memory of the world. This is why UNESCO invests in safeguarding, such as the libraries of Chinguetti in Mauritania or the archives of Amadou Hampate Ba in Cote dIvoire, shares best practices, and maintains this register that records the broadest threads of human history." 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: April 18, 2025, 11:55 IST Caste Is Not Community, Has No Place In Schools Or Societies: Madras High Court Reported By : LawBeat Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 19:36 IST The court held that societies registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975, must promote public causes, not caste identity Calling caste a social evil, the judge noted that Tamil Nadus casteism was not restricted to any religion and had even permeated among rationalists. The Madras High Court recently ruled that caste-based associations/societies and educational institutions operating under caste-specific names and restrictive bylaws are unconstitutional and cannot continue as registered entities unless they amend their names, objectives, and membership criteria. Justice D. Bharatha Chakravarthy, delivering a sharply-worded verdict, declared that such associations violate public policy and the constitutional vision of a casteless society. Recommended Stories The court was hearing a batch of three writ petitions filed by caste-based associationsthe South Indian Senguntha Mahajana Sangam, Tiruchengode Vatta Kongu Velalar Sangam, and The Poor Educational Fundchallenging government orders or seeking reliefs related to internal elections and registration renewals. But instead of adjudicating the narrow disputes, Justice Chakravarthy took the opportunity to examine a larger question: Can courts entertain intra-fights of societies whose very objective is to perpetuate caste identity? The court answered with a resounding no. Calling caste a social evil", the judge noted that Tamil Nadus casteism was not restricted to any religion and had even permeated among rationalists. Caste cannot be community. It can at best be termed com-dividy," he remarked, criticising the hypocrisy of institutions that bear caste names while preaching the values of Ambedkar, Bharathiyar, and Thirukkural. Justice Chakravarthy condemned honour killings, school-level caste-based violence, and the continued existence of caste associations masquerading as cultural or educational bodies. Schoolchildren wear coloured bands, bring knives in schoolbags, and form caste gangs. The problem isnt isolated," he noted. Though the Tamil Nadu government had initially supported the courts directionciting a 2023 Madurai bench ruling and issuing a circular (No. 1/2024) to act against caste-based societiesit later backtracked, stating it would not file any further response. The court criticised this U-turn, stating the state could have at least said one line: Perpetuation of caste is bad." The court held that societies registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975, must promote public causesnot caste identity. It directed all caste-based societies to drop caste names from their titles, amend their objectives to remove caste perpetuation, and open membership to all. Unless they comply, their registrations must be cancelled within six months. Crucially, the court extended the directive to schools and collegesboth private and government-runthat carry caste names. It is painful that even in the 21st century, the Government allows such words in school names," the judge said, ordering de-recognition of institutions that fail to comply by the 202526 academic year. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The judgment also endorsed Justice K. Chandrus One-Man Committee report, which had called for removing caste appellations from school names and public institutions. The court concluded with a warning: Unless associations and educational bodies abandon caste labels and objectives, they will not be entitled to relief from any court. Law is not static. It must march with the needs of society". About the Author Salil Tiwari Salil Tiwari, Senior Special Correspondent at Lawbeat, reports on the Allahabad High Court and courts in Uttar Pradesh, however, she also writes on important cases of national importance and public interests fr... Read More Salil Tiwari, Senior Special Correspondent at Lawbeat, reports on the Allahabad High Court and courts in Uttar Pradesh, however, she also writes on important cases of national importance and public interests fr... Read More First Published: April 18, 2025, 19:36 IST Delhi HC Cites Draupadi, Says Women Arent Property As Husband Files Case Over Infidelity Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 15:12 IST The Delhi High Court acquitted a man accused of adultery, citing the Mahabharata to highlight the dangers of treating women as property Justice Nina Bansal Krishna cited the incident where Yudhishthira gambled away Draupadi, which led to the epic war. (Representative/Shutterstock) In a significant ruling, the Delhi High Court has acquitted a man accused of adultery, drawing on references from the Mahabharata to highlight the perils of treating women as property. Justice Nina Bansal Krishna cited the incident where Yudhishthira gambled away Draupadi, which led to the epic war, underscoring the persistent misogyny in society. Recommended Stories The case dates back to a 2010 complaint wherein a husband alleged that his wife was involved in an adulterous relationship with the accused. The husband claimed his wife would go to the park under the pretext of exercising after dinner and alleged she had sexual relations with the man in a Lucknow hotel, posing as husband and wife without his consent. Justice Krishnas judgment noted that the Mahabharata provides a clear lesson on the dangers of viewing women as property, a lesson only truly internalised when the Supreme Court repealed the adultery law. In the landmark case of Joseph Shine vs Union of India in September 2018, the Supreme Court declared Section 497 of the IPC unconstitutional. This section previously allowed only men to be prosecuted for having sexual relations with a married woman without her husbands consent, thereby treating husbands as owners and women as property. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Justice Krishna emphasised that the Mahabharata documented the disastrous consequences of treating women as husbands property. She pointed out that Draupadi was gambled away by her husband while her four brothers remained silent spectators, leaving her without a voice to defend her dignity. This incident precipitated a great war and widespread destruction. The acquitted man had filed a petition in the High Court challenging a 2018 city court order that summoned him for trial. In her petition, the accused argued that the lower court had relied solely on the husbands allegations, disregarding the documentary evidence. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: April 18, 2025, 15:12 IST 'Duty Of President, VP To Uphold Constitution': Senior SC Advocate Backs Dhankhar's Judiciary Remarks Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 19:03 IST Senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani said all Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar has done is point out a constitutional flaw amid a growing public perception that there is a tendency towards "judicial overreach" Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar's strong words to the judiciary came during his speech to Rajya Sabha interns. (Image: PTI/File) It is the duty of the President and Vice-President to uphold the Constitution, said senior Supreme Court advocate Mahesh Jethmalani. He backed Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhars strong words to the judiciary during his speech to Rajya Sabha interns, days after the Supreme Court sought to fix a timeline for the president to grant assent to the bills reserved for her consideration by the governor. Jethmalani told CNN-News18 that all Dhankhar has done is point out a constitutional flaw amid a growing public perception that there is a tendency towards judicial overreach". Recommended Stories All Dhankar ji has done has pointed a constitutional flaw. Public perception is reflected on social medialack of transparency is an important matter. The transfer of Justice Varma (cash-at-home row) has not gone down well with people. The President or the VP (Vice-President) has a duty to uphold the Constitution," he said. On Thursday (April 18), Dhankhar criticised the Supreme Courts recent order on fixing a timeline for the President to grant assent to state bills. He questioned the judiciary over the decision and said the Supreme Court cannot fire a nuclear missile" at democratic forces. ALSO READ | Complete Justice Vs Nuclear Missile: What Is Article 142 That Has Been Excoriated By Vice President Dhankhar? So, we have judges who will legislate, who will perform executive functions, who will act as super Parliament and absolutely have no accountability because the law of the land does not apply to them," he said. Voicing his support for the Vice-President, Jethmalani wrote a detailed post on his social media. He said serious issues" in recent times have created public perception that the Indian judiciary lacks transparency and accountability". Referring to the Justice Yashwant Varma cash-at-home case, he said this was especially true in its dealing with sensitive issues pertaining to itself, the chief among them being judicial corruption". the Justice Yashwant Varma issue has spawned the declaration of assets by judicial officers including those of the Supreme Court, the abandonment of the practice of simple transfer of errant judges to other courts, the subjection of allegedly corrupt judges to criminal investigations and perhaps even to inquiries by ombudsmen such as the Lokayukt & the Lokpal," he wrote in a post on X. In very recent times a series of issues have conspired to create public perception that the Indian judiciary lacks transparency and accountability in dealing with sensitive issues pertaining to itself, the chief among them being judicial corruption. The #JusticeYashwantVarma Mahesh Jethmalani (@JethmalaniM) April 18, 2025 During his speech, Dhankhar also questioned the lack of FIR in the cash-at-home case, wondering whether a category beyond law" has secured immunity from prosecution. The SC had ordered an in-house probe into the alleged discovery of half-burnt wads of cash from Justice Varmas residence after a fire on the night of Holi on March 14. The judge has now been repatriated from the Delhi High Court to his parent high court of Allahabad. He also questioned the legal standing of the three-judge panel carrying out an in-house probe into the matter. Referring to the case, he said every Indian is deeply concerned. If the event had taken place at his (common mans) house, the speed would have been an electronic rocket. Now it is not even a cattle cart," he said, adding that an investigation is the domain of the executive and not the judiciary. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Jethmalani further said the recent two-judge decision of an SC bench to impose a timeline of three months for the President to dispose of state bills was bound to stir a hornets nest. He said it took Dhankhar irrepressible" and accomplished jurist" to take up cudgels" and point out a patent constitutional flaw". while some may question the constitutional propriety of a symbolic second head of the State entering the arena of conflict between 2 limbs of govt, the pointing out of a patent constitutional flaw (the VP is an accomplished jurist besides) that Article 145(3) of the Constitution mandated that a question pertaining to the interpretation of a Constitutional provision be dealt with by a 5 judge Bench only and that the 2 judge Bench decision was a nullity would surely be in discharge of the Vice Presidents sworn obligation to uphold the Constitution," he added. About the Author Oindrila Mukherjee Oindrila Mukherjee is a senior sub-editor who works for the rewrite and breaking news desks. Her nine years of experience in print and digital journalism range from editing and reporting to writing impactful st... Read More Oindrila Mukherjee is a senior sub-editor who works for the rewrite and breaking news desks. Her nine years of experience in print and digital journalism range from editing and reporting to writing impactful st... Read More First Published: April 18, 2025, 18:39 IST FBI's Big Reveal: Terrorist Held In US For Punjab Attacks May Have Ties To Pakistan's ISI Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 17:10 IST Highlighting the alleged collaboration of Harpreet Singh with ISI and BKI, the FBI not only indicated the purported role of the Pakistan agency in cross-border terrorism but also its alleged links to pro-Khalistan elements in India Harpreet Singh, an alleged gangster, after being arrested by the FBI and ERO, in Sacramento, California, USA, on April 18. (Image: @FBISacramento/X/PTI) The FBI, which arrested alleged terrorist Harpreet Singh earlier, linked him to Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence and pro-Khalistan terror group, Babbar Khalsa International. Highlighting the alleged collaboration of Harpreet Singh with these two organisations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) not only indicated the purported role of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in cross-border terrorism but also its alleged links to pro-Khalistan elements in India. Recommended Stories Harpreet Singh, alias Happy Passia, is a gangster-turned-terrorist wanted for multiple terror attacks across Punjab. He was arrested by the FBI and Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO) in Sacramento, California, US. According to a statement by the FBI, he has been linked to two international terrorist groups and entered the US illegally. Singh is suspected to have collaborated with Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Khalistani terrorist group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). He had been evading capture by using untraceable burner phones and encrypted applications," the FBI said in a statement on X. Today, Harpreet Singh, an alleged terrorist responsible for terror attacks in Punjab, India, was arrested by the #FBI & #ERO in Sacramento. Linked to two international terrorist groups, he entered the U.S. illegally and used burner phones to evade capture. pic.twitter.com/vObj2xPa8Q FBI Sacramento (@FBISacramento) April 18, 2025 The FBI underscored the importance of international cooperation to subdue global security threats. It said it collaborated with agents from its legal attache office in New Delhi, which informed them that Singh was wanted for orchestrating at least 16 terror attacks in India. This case reinforces the importance of international cooperation in apprehending those who threaten global security," it added. In January, Indias National Investigation Agency (NIA) had announced a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh on Singh. He is wanted in a case of a hand grenade attack on a house in Chandigarh. He was on the run in the case registered on October 1, 2024, carried out on a house in Sector 10/D. HARPREET SINGH CLOSELY LINKED TO PAK-BASED BKI TERRORIST RINDA Singh and Pakistan-based designated terrorist Harwinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda were among the four accused named in a chargesheet in the Chandigarh hand grenade attack case. A police investigation had found that Singh provided the accused with explosives, weapons and logistical support through his local aides. The attack was intended to target a retired Punjab Police officer. A total of 33 FIRs have been registered at different police stations and 10 lookout circulars issued against Singh, as per a police dossier. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all His affiliation with the Bhagwanpuria gang marks Singhs involvement in organised crime, which lay the foundation for his subsequent collaboration with Rinda. He was lately roped in by the designated terrorist of the BKI to execute terror attacks in Punjab. Between late 2024 and early 2025, the BKI orchestrated a series of 16 terror attacks across Punjab, including 14 hand grenade assaults, one improvised explosive device (IED) attack, and one rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) strikes targeting police establishment and officials residences. (With PTI inputs) About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More First Published: April 18, 2025, 17:03 IST Babbar Khalsa-Linked Terrorist Harpreet Singh, Accused Of 14 Blasts In Punjab, Arrested In US Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Aveek Banerjee Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 11:19 IST Harpreet Singh, aka Happy Passia, is allegedly responsible for 14 terror attacks in Punjab and is among India's most wanted terrorists. He is linked to Pakistan's ISI agency as well as Babbar Khalsa. Singh was apprehended by FBI and US Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Sacramento, California. (FBI) Absconding Babbar Khalsa-linked gangster Harpreet Singh, alias Happy Passia, who is a close associate of Pakistan-based gangster-turned-terrorist Harvinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda and is accused in at least 14 terror attacks in Punjab, has been arrested in the United States. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the US Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) apprehended Harpreet Singh, who is responsible for 14 terror attacks in Punjab. Singh was arrested in Sacramento, California, on Friday for his alleged links to two international terrorist organisations, including Babbar Khalsa International. Recommended Stories Today, Harpreet Singh, an alleged terrorist responsible for terror attacks in Punjab, India, was arrested by the FBI and ERO in Sacramento. Linked to two international terrorist groups, he entered the US illegally and used burner phones to evade capture," said the FBI on social media. Today, Harpreet Singh, an alleged terrorist responsible for terror attacks in Punjab, India, was arrested by the #FBI & #ERO in Sacramento. Linked to two international terrorist groups, he entered the U.S. illegally and used burner phones to evade capture. pic.twitter.com/vObj2xPa8Q FBI Sacramento (@FBISacramento) April 18, 2025 According to the FBI, Singh was wanted in connection with multiple terror attacks in Punjab, India. He is suspected of collaborating with Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Khalistani terrorist group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). Harpreet Singh allegedly entered the US illegally via the Mexico border in 2021 using a human trafficking network. He had been evading capture by using untraceable burner phones and encrypted applications. The agency also confirmed his involvement in a grenade attack that occurred in Chandigarh in September 2024, which was targeted at a retired Punjab Police officer, in collaboration with the Pakistan-based terrorist Rinda. Singh is currently in custody of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). However, he does have the right to contest deportation. Who Is Harpreet Singh? Harpreet Singh is accused in 17 criminal cases in Punjab related to terrorism, transnational conspiracy, and illegal activities. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a chargesheet against him under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for terrorism and conspiracy. He is accused of masterminding multiple terror attacks in Punjab, targeting the police, religious sites and law enforcement establishments. He is also charged under the Explosive substance Act for orchestrating grenade attacks and Indian Penal Code (IPC) for murder, attempted murder, and criminal conspiracy. In January 2025, the NIA also announced a reward of Rs 5 lakh on Harpreet Singh. He is also included in Indias most wanted list, specifically in connection with the Chandigarh grenade attack. A separate 2015 Punjab & Haryana High Court case convicted him under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act for possessing 1 kg of heroin. According to sources, Singh remains in constant contact with top-level ISI officials in Pakistan and receives substantial support from Khalistani terrorist groups. He is considered one of the biggest threats to the law and order situation in Punjab. In March 2025, the US FDA issued a 10-year debarment order against him for felony convictions related to drug importation, money laundering, and obstruction of justice (unrelated to terrorism). India is pursuing deportation or extradition to try him for terrorism charges. Terror Attacks Involving Harpreet Singh Over the last four months, his name has surfaced in connection with multiple attacks on police checkpoints across Punjab. Sources believe that Harvinder Singh Sandhu and other Khalistani terrorists in Pakistan are provided funds and weapons to other Khalistani extremists in other countries, including Singh. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all November 24, 2024: An explosive was recovered outside the Ajnala police station. Singh claimed responsibility for the attempt, while the police arrested two suspects in the case and recovered hand grenades from them. An explosive was recovered outside the Ajnala police station. Singh claimed responsibility for the attempt, while the police arrested two suspects in the case and recovered hand grenades from them. November 27, 2024: A grenade explosion occurred at a closed police outpost in Gurbaksh Nagar. A grenade explosion occurred at a closed police outpost in Gurbaksh Nagar. December 2, 2024: A grenade exploded at Kathgarh police station in SBS Nagar. Police arrested three terrorists in connection with the incident and recovered weapons from them. A grenade exploded at Kathgarh police station in SBS Nagar. Police arrested three terrorists in connection with the incident and recovered weapons from them. December 4, 2024: A grenade explosion took place at the Majitha police station in Amritsar, but police denied it was an attack, stating instead that a police officers motorcycle tire had burst. However, former MLA Bikram Majithia shared photos of the police station and claimed it was indeed a terrorist attack. A grenade explosion took place at the Majitha police station in Amritsar, but police denied it was an attack, stating instead that a police officers motorcycle tire had burst. However, former MLA Bikram Majithia shared photos of the police station and claimed it was indeed a terrorist attack. December 13, 2024: A grenade explosion occurred at Aliwal Batala police station. Singh and his associates claimed responsibility for the attack, which was also carried out during the night. A grenade explosion occurred at Aliwal Batala police station. Singh and his associates claimed responsibility for the attack, which was also carried out during the night. December 17, 2024 : A grenade was detonated at the Islamabad police station in Amritsar. Initially, both the Police Commissioner and local police denied it was a blast, but by afternoon, the Punjab DGP visited Amritsar and confirmed it was a terrorist attack involving an explosive device. : A grenade was detonated at the Islamabad police station in Amritsar. Initially, both the Police Commissioner and local police denied it was a blast, but by afternoon, the Punjab DGP visited Amritsar and confirmed it was a terrorist attack involving an explosive device. January 9, 2025: A blast occurred at the Gumtala police post in Amritsar. Babbar Khalsa International claimed responsibility for the incident. A blast occurred at the Gumtala police post in Amritsar. Babbar Khalsa International claimed responsibility for the incident. January 16, 2025: In Jaintipur village of Amritsar district, a grenade attack was carried out at night on the home of liquor businessman Amandeep Jaintipuria. In Jaintipur village of Amritsar district, a grenade attack was carried out at night on the home of liquor businessman Amandeep Jaintipuria. February 3, 2025: Terrorists targeted an abandoned police outpost on Fatehgarh Churian Road in Amritsar. It was a low-intensity blast, and the police refused to classify it as a grenade attack. Terrorists targeted an abandoned police outpost on Fatehgarh Churian Road in Amritsar. It was a low-intensity blast, and the police refused to classify it as a grenade attack. February 14, 2025: In Dera Baba Nanak, Gurdaspur district, a low-intensity explosion targeted the home of a police officer. In Dera Baba Nanak, Gurdaspur district, a low-intensity explosion targeted the home of a police officer. March 15, 2025: A terrorist attack took place at the Thakur Dwara Temple in Amritsar. The accused, Gursidakh Singh, was killed in an encounter. Singh was allegedly also involved in an attack at BJP leader Manoranjan Kalias house as well as a grenade attack on a YouTubers house. About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Location : California, USA First Published: April 18, 2025, 10:26 IST Supreme Court Should Have Avoided Guidelines On Timeline For President: Ex-SC Judge Amid Dhankar's Remarks Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 15:12 IST As the Constitution does not contemplate on a timeline, guidelines on timeline should've been avoided... Mandating the President could have been avoided, Article 142 doesn't give you the power..., said former SC judge Justice Rastogi The Supreme Court had passed the judgement in response to a November 2023 petition filed by the Tamil Nadu government. (PTI File) Responding to Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankars remarks, former Supreme Court judge Justice Ajay Rastogi said that the Supreme Court should have avoided giving guidelines on timeline to the President. Dhankhar on Thursday criticised the SCs recent judgment that set a timeline for the President to decide on bills sent by governors. Recommended Stories As the Constitution does not contemplate on a timeline, guidelines on timeline shouldve been avoided in my personal view. Mandating the President is not correct in my view and couldve been avoided, Article 142 doesnt give you the power to mandate the Honble President," said Justice Rastogi. President of India is a very elevated position. President takes oath to preserve, protect and defend the constitution. This oath is taken only by the President and the Governors.If you look at the Indian Constitution, the President is the first part of the Parliament. Second pic.twitter.com/Tfr8c6dPot Vice-President of India (@VPIndia) April 17, 2025 Speaking to the sixth batch of Rajya Sabha interns at the Vice-Presidents Enclave, Dhankhar said, There is a directive to the President by a recent judgement. Where are we heading? What is happening in the country? President being called upon to decide in a time-bound manner, and if not, it becomes law. So we have judges who will legislate, who will perform executive functions, who will act as super Parliament, and absolutely have no accountability because law of the land does not apply to themThe only right you have under the Constitution is to interpret the Constitution under Article 145(3). There it has to be five judges or more Article 142 has become a nuclear missile against Democratic forces, available to judiciary 247." Not for a moment will I ever say that we must not give premium to innocence. Democracy is nurtured, its core values blossom, and human rights are taken at a high pedestal when we believe in innocence till the guilt is established. Therefore, I must not be misunderstood as casting pic.twitter.com/IziN2OYf57 Vice-President of India (@VPIndia) April 17, 2025 Every Parliamentarian, and every candidate in any election to assembly or Parliament is required to declare assets. They just dont do it. Some do, some dont," Dhankar said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Supreme Court had passed the judgment in response to a November 2023 petition filed by the Tamil Nadu government against the states Governor indefinitely withholding assent to 10 bills passed by the state assembly, some as early as 2020. On Dhankars comments, Justice Rastogi said, Public comments by the judiciary or executive against each other should be avoided in my personal viewThe views expressed by the VP are his personal view, I would not like to comment on it." About the Author Ananya Bhatnagar Ananya Bhatnagar, Correspondent at CNN-News18, reports on various legal issues and cases in lower courts and the Delhi High Court. He has covered the hanging of the Nirbhaya gang-rape convicts, JNU violence, De... Read More Ananya Bhatnagar, Correspondent at CNN-News18, reports on various legal issues and cases in lower courts and the Delhi High Court. He has covered the hanging of the Nirbhaya gang-rape convicts, JNU violence, De... Read More First Published: April 18, 2025, 14:23 IST Hospital Staffer Who Sexually Assaulted Air Hostess In Gurugram Hospital ICU Arrested Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 22:11 IST The 25-year-old accused, Deepak, had been working as a technician at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram for the last five months Deepak, a resident of Badhauli village in Bihars Muzaffarpur district, had been on the run since the woman filed a complaint. (Screengrab via X/@ians_india) Gurugram Police on Friday arrested the man who allegedly raped a 46-year-old air hostess while she was on a ventilator in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a private hospital earlier this month. The 25-year-old accused, Deepak, had been working as a technician at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram for the last five months. Recommended Stories Deepak, a resident of Badhauli village in Bihars Muzaffarpur district, had been on the run since the woman filed a complaint. He was arrested in Gurugram. The case, which has attracted significant attention, led the police to form a special investigation team (SIT) consisting of eight officers, led by DCP (HQ) Dr Arpit Jain. The SIT reviewed around 800 CCTV recordings from the hospital and also questioned hospital staff, Indian Express reported. Meanwhile, investigators have stated that the probe is ongoing and that the accused will be presented in court on April 19 for further legal proceedings. ALSO READ: Air Hostess On Ventilator Sexually Assaulted By Gurugram Hospital Staff About the case The incident came to light after the woman filed a complaint at the Sadar Police Station in Gurugram on Monday. In the FIR, she alleged that she was sexually assaulted by a hospital staffer while she was on a ventilator in the ICU. In her complaint, the woman had stated that she was admitted to the ICU on April 5 after falling ill. However, the alleged assault occurred the following day, on April 6. She mentioned that she was not in a condition to speak or resist the mans advances because of her weakened condition, adding that two nurses were nearby. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all There were two nurses in the room, but they did not intervene," the womans FIR stated. After her discharge on April 13, she informed her husband about the incident, and they reported it to the police, as detailed in the FIR. 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 : Haryana, India, India First Published: April 18, 2025, 21:42 IST How Bangladesh Is Using Bengal's Anti-Waqf Bill Violence Against India: Exclusive From Intel Sources Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 15:11 IST Intelligence sources allege groups such as the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI) are exploiting the bill to stoke anti-India sentiment Protest rally organised against the Waqf Act in Kolkata | PTI Image Bangladeshi media and social media platforms have been projecting the Waqf (Amendment) Bill as a symbol of Indias Hindu nationalist agenda, top intelligence sources said, adding that it is a sign of the neighbouring countrys hand in the West Bengal riots. They have been alleging that the bill undermines Muslim autonomy and violates constitutional protections for minority institutions. They are spreading it like an anti-Muslim agenda of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government," sources said. Recommended Stories Outlets such as the Daily Observer and New Age claim the bill enables state interference in Muslim religious affairs by allowing non-Muslims into Waqf governance bodies, which they argue violates Article 26 of Indias Constitution (right to manage religious institutions). The Bangladeshi media is comparing the bill to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the BJPs Hindutva-driven policies, terming it as part of a broader pattern of marginalising Muslims," sources said. Bengal govt submits its report on Murshidabad to Calcutta HC, 274 persons arrested so far, 60 FIRS registered@akankshaswarups | #MurshidabadViolence #MurshidabadRiots #BengalViolence pic.twitter.com/oTndVbfSzQ News18 (@CNNnews18) April 18, 2025 THE CLAIMS IN BANGLADESHI MEDIA Heres how Bangladeshi media is covering the Bengal violence according to intelligence sources: Bangladeshs far-right Islamist groups such as Khilafat Majlis have accused the BJP of using the bill to legalise encroachment on Waqf properties for temple construction, amplifying claims of Hindu supremacy. Bangladeshi narratives are stressing on the internal opposition to the bill, particularly from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, to project India as politically fractured. The media has been highlighting her remarks, such as questioning why Muslims are targeted and accusing the BJP of bypassing state consultations, to showcase discord between West Bengal and the central government. Outlets such as Prothom Alo have called the bill an attack on Indias federal structure.Bangladeshi media has strategically connected the Waqf Bill to communal violence in India and cross-border tensions. Reports allege that protests against the bill in West Bengals Murshidabad district were fuelled by Hindu nationalist aggression, with Bangladeshi outlets blaming Indian authorities for failing to protect Muslims. Social media campaigns such as #BengalBurning have been amplifying claims of Hindu-majority persecution of Muslims, pushing solidarity among Bengali-speaking Muslims in Bangladesh and India. Bangladeshi social media users and groups have employed tactics similar to the 2019 CAA protests to inflame tensions. Toolkit-based protests are pushed. Encrypted apps like Telegram and WhatsApp coordinate protests. They share doctored videos falsely claiming police firing on worshippers and circulate incendiary slogans like Islam khatre mein hai [Islam is in danger]. BANGLADESHS STANCE Intelligence sources allege groups such as the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI) are exploiting the bill to stoke anti-India sentiment. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Some Bangladeshi activists are amplifying narratives through global media. By condemning the bill as anti-minority", Bangladesh is positioning itself as a defender of Muslim rights. Amplifying West Bengals dissent undermines Indias unity, legitimising Bangladeshs resistance to perceived Indian dominance in regional affairs, said sources, adding the interim government is using anti-India rhetoric to divert attention from domestic crises such as economic instability and consolidate support among Islamist factions. About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 First Published: April 18, 2025, 14:08 IST From Murshidabad To Minorities: India Draws The Line Amid Bangladeshs Provocations Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Sumedha Kirti Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 15:46 IST Bangladesh interim government's recent remarks and decisions have caused concern for India, including Yunus' statement on Siliguri Corridor and his meeting with Chinese President. India has strongly rejected Bangladesh's remarks on Murshidabad violence and asked Dhaka to instead address the persecution of minorities within its own borders. (Reuters) Bangladeshs interim government, economist and Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has significantly altered the dynamics of countrys relations with India. The neighbouring countrys comments on communal violence in West Bengals Murshidabad district has further complicated the relationship. New Delhi has strongly rejected the remarks and asked Dhaka to instead address the persecution of minorities within its own borders. The interim governments recent remarks and decisions have caused concern for India, including Yunus statement on Siliguri Corridor and his meeting with Chinese President. Recommended Stories The removal of Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, perhaps, was a big setback as Dhaka under the ousted prime minister managed to skillfully balance its ties between New Delhi and Beijing. This isnt the case any longer. The interim governments foreign and economic policies began aligning more closely with China last month. This came after Yunus meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The move strained Bangladeshs ties with India, and intensified New Delhis concerns regarding its neighboring regions. Unsurprisingly, Yunus first state visit to Beijing March 26 to 29 signalled Dhakas foreign policy tilt towards China under the interim government. Further, what complicated matters was Yunus remark that Indias northeast is landlocked, and Bangladesh is the sole guardian of the ocean for this entire region." Bangladesh Cozies Up With China. Why Is India Concerned? The statement prompted India to ramp up security preparedness at the Siliguri Corridor. According to a report in Mathrubhumi, New Delhi has not only placed the powerful S-400 air defence system in the Siliguri region to deal with growing threats, but is also sending advanced Rafale fighter jets to the Hashimara Airbase. The Siliguri Corridor, often called as the Chickens Neck, is a narrow stretch of land in West Bengal, Indias only land link to its eight North-eastern states Manipur, Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and brother" Sikkim. It is sandwiched between Nepal and Bangladesh, with Bhutan and China just a few kilometres away. This critical chokepoint just 22 km wide at its narrowest point has been Indias strategic vulnerability. All land trade between Northeast and the rest of the country travels through the Siliguri corridor. There is just a single railway line to carry freight across the Siliguri Corridor. For many years, the Siliguri Corridor has been seen as a weak spot in Indias defence setup. After the 1962 war, military experts have often warned that if an enemy, especially China, carries out a well-planned attack, it would cut off Indias Northeastern states from the rest of the country in just a few hours. More Incidents That Complicated India-Bangladesh Ties Sheikh Mujibur Rahmans Residence Vandalised: On February 5, protesters in Dhaka vandalised the historic residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladeshs founding father, located at 32 Dhanmondi. The attack coincided with a virtual address by his daughter, former PM Sheikh Hasina, from her exile in India. The Ministry of External Affairs condemned the act, and said: It is regrettable that the historic residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a symbol of the heroic resistance of the people of Bangladesh against the forces of occupation and oppression, was destroyed on February 5, 2025. All those who value the freedom struggle that nurtured Bangla identity and pride are aware of the importance of this residence for the national consciousness of Bangladesh. This act of vandalism should be strongly condemned." Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri emphasized the responsibility of the government to protect such sites. The safety of diplomatic premises is the responsibility of the host government, and I have no doubt that the Bangladesh authorities are fully aware of their responsibilities in this regard," he said. The reaction did not go down well with Yunus-led government, which called Indias remarks on the incident unexpected and unwarranted". They attributed the violence to Hasinas provocative statements" from India. Controversial Social Media Post by Yunus Aide Last Year: Mahfuz Alam, a student leader and special aide to Muhammad Yunus, shared a now-deleted Facebook post on Bangladeshs Victory Day (December 16, 2024). The post included a provocative map depicting Indian territories West Bengal, Assam, and Tripura as part of Bangladesh and accused India of policies aimed at containing" and ghettoizing" Bangladesh. India strongly protested on the issue. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, We have registered our strong protest on this issue with the Bangladesh side. We understand that the post being referred to has reportedly been taken down. We would like to remind all concerned to be mindful of their public comments. While India has repeatedly signaled interest in fostering relations with the people and the interim government of Bangladesh, such comments underline the need for responsibility in public articulation." Violence Against Hindu Minorities: Following the political upheaval in Bangladesh, there were reports of targeted violence against Hindu minorities, including attacks on temples and properties. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed concern, stating: We hope for an early return to normalcy, ensuring the safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities." Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri also visited Dhaka in December last year and conveyed Indias concerns regarding the safety and welfare of minorities. He emphasized the need for a constructive approach to ensure their protection. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Extradition Request for Sheikh Hasina: After her ouster, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sought refuge in India. Bangladeshs interim government requested her extradition to face charges related to the unrest during her tenure. India, however, has not complied with the extradition request, citing diplomatic sensitivities. This decision has contributed to growing anti-India sentiment" in Bangladesh. During a meeting at the BIMSTEC summit in April 2025, PM Modi urged Yunus to avoid divisive rhetoric that could further strain bilateral ties. 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: April 18, 2025, 15:39 IST Protect Your Minorities: India's Strong Response To Bangladesh's Bengal Violence Remark Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 13:00 IST India rejected Bangladesh's claims on Friday, which called for the protection of the minority Muslim population in West Bengal, following violent protests against the amended Waqf Bill. West Bengal's Murshidabad saw violence amid anti-Waqf protests. (PTI/Representative Image) India on Friday strongly rejected Bangladeshs statement on the violence in West Bengal during protests over the amended Waqf Bill, advising its eastern neighbour to focus on protecting minorities within its own borders. It comes after Bangladesh on Thursday urged the Government of India and West Bengal to take all steps necessary to protect the minority Muslim population amid violence in the state. Recommended Stories We reject the remarks made by the Bangladesh side with regard to the incidents in West Bengal," said the Ministry of External Affairs in an official statement. This is a barely disguised and disingenuous attempt to draw a parallel with Indias concerns over the ongoing persecution of minorities in Bangladesh where the criminal perpetrators of such acts continue to roam free," the statement read. Protests in West Bengal against the Waqf (Amendment) Act turned violent in regions such as Murshidabad and Bhangar in South 24 Parganas. Reports indicate that protesters clashed with security forces and set fire to police vehicles. At least three people were killed. Instead of making unwarranted comments and indulging in virtue signalling, Bangladesh would do better to focus on protecting the rights of its own minorities," the MEA said. Bangladesh On Bengal Violence The Mohammad Yousuf-led interim government of Bangladesh protested Indias attempts to link Bangladesh to communal violence in Murshidabad, West Bengal, and urged the neighbouring nation to take steps to protect its minority Muslim population there. We strongly refute any attempts to implicate Bangladesh in the communal violence in Murshidabad," Chief Advisers Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told BSS at the Foreign Service Academy. Bangladeshi Infiltrators Behind Bengal Violence? The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday raised concerns over the recent violence in three border areas of West Bengals Murshidabad and issued an order to deploy additional paramilitary forces as a precautionary measure, sources claimed. They added that the initial probe into the violence suggested the involvement of Bangladeshi miscreants, allegedly supported by local TMC leaders, who subsequently lost control over these elements. The West Bengal BJP unit claimed that more than 400 Hindus" were forced to flee their homes in Dhulian town of Murshidabad district following targeted violence against them. Bangladesh Must Protect Hindus Notably, India on several occasions has raised concerns with Bangladesh over the persecution of religious minorities, particularly the Hindu community, in the country. Last year, India expressed its deep concern" over the arrest and subsequent denial of bail to Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sanatan Jagaran Mancha and head of Pundarik Dham in Chittagong. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Highlighting the broader issue of violence against minorities, particularly Hindus, in Bangladesh, the ministry said: This incident (Chinmoy Das arrest) follows multiple attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh. Documented cases of arson, looting of minority homes and businesses, theft, vandalism, and desecration of deities and temples are deeply troubling." The MEA expressed concern that while the perpetrators of these attacks remain at large, charges were pressed against a religious leader who had been peacefully gathering to present legitimate demands. First Published: April 18, 2025, 10:51 IST India's First Aadhaar Card Holder Is Running Pillar To Post For Rs 1,500 Today Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 13:06 IST Ranjana Sonawane, India's first Aadhar card recipient, hasn't benefited from schemes as her Aadhar is linked to another's bank account. Despite visits to officials, it's unresolved An official suggested that her bank account might be in a joint name, which could have caused the Aadhar link issue. (News18 Hindi) The woman who received Indias first Aadhar card has not yet received any access government schemes. Ranjana Sonawane, a resident of Tembhali village in Nandurbar district, Maharashtra, was issued the nations inaugural Aadhar card on September 29, 2010. At the time, she was photographed with former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi. However, 13 years later, Ranjana has yet to benefit from this identity. Under the Chief Minister Majhi Ladki Behen Yojana, women are entitled to Rs 1500 monthly, a scheme for which Ranjana is eligible. The issue lies in her Aadhar number being linked to someone elses bank account. Recommended Stories Officials assert that the funds have been disbursed, yet Ranjana has not received any money. They show the papers, but the money doesnt reach me," Ranjana said. She believes her Aadhar is connected to another persons account. Ranjanas family survives on an annual income of just Rs 40,000. Her husband sells small toys, while Ranjana works as a daily wage labourer. They have three sons; one is employed, and the others are still studying. Ranjana has made several visits to government offices, including seven trips to the taluka office this year alone, only to receive repeated assurances that the issue will be sorted soon." Her son Umesh has also sought help from the bank multiple times, but after a year, no solution has been found. According to a Times of India report, an official from the Women and Child Development Department noted that transactions could only be halted upon receiving a complaint from Ranjana. Another official suggested that her bank account might be in a joint name, which could have caused the Aadhar link issue. Additionally, it is possible that the Anganwadi worker provided an incorrect account number when filling out the form. Ranjanas case is not unique. Numerous women in rural and tribal areas of Maharashtra either have their funds misdirected or lack the necessary information due to not owning a bank account or mobile number. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The government has removed 15 lakh ineligible beneficiaries who wrongfully received Rs 225 crores. However, there is no concrete process for ensuring eligible women, like Ranjana, receive their rightful assistance. Ranjanas hope now lies with her sons rather than the government. I do not have much hope from the government now. But my sons are hardworking. We will somehow manage to live. Still, there is hope in the heart that one day something good will definitely happen," she said. Location : Nandurbar, India, India First Published: April 18, 2025, 13:06 IST Indias Shubhanshu Shukla To Fly To International Space Station In May Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 22:48 IST Shubhanshu Shukla, who has spent the last eight months training with NASA and Axiom Space, will fly to the International Space Station on a privately funded commercial mission. Group Caption Shubhanshu Shukla. (axiomspace.com) Marking a significant milestone in Indias space journey, the Centre has announced that Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a Gaganyatri or astronaut-designate, is scheduled to fly to the International Space Station next month. Union Minister for Space and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh said, The International space mission carrying an Indian astronaut is scheduled for next month. India is poised to script a defining chapter in its space journey. An Indian astronaut is set for a historic space mission as ISRO charts bold new frontiers. Indias space dreams are soaring higher with Gaganyaan preparations, ISS mission, and a summer of launches." Recommended Stories Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who has spent the last eight months training with NASA and Axiom Space, will fly to the International Space Station on a privately funded commercial mission. India has reportedly paid over $60 million for the mission, which will launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule carrying a four-person crew, lifting off from Floridas Kennedy Space Centre. Who is Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla? Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is 40 years old, the youngest of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) astronauts. The space centre has chosen Shukla for this mission as he has a long career ahead of him. The commander of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission will be former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, who now works for Axiom Space. The other two crew members are Slawosz Uznanski from Poland, who is a European Space Agency astronaut and will be a mission specialist, and Hungarys Tibor Kapu, who will also have the same role. Group Captain Shukla will be the missions pilot. Significance of Axiom-4 Mission Union Minister Singh said the mission will make Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station and the first Indian in space in over four decades, following Rakesh Sharmas historic 1984 flight on a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft. Dr V Narayanan, Secretary, Department of Space and Chairman of ISRO, said that Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force is prepared for the mission. Group Captain Shuklas mission represents a confident and forward-thinking India, poised to reclaim its position in the global space race. His journey is more than just a flight its a signal that India is stepping boldly into a new era of space exploration. A decorated test pilot with the Indian Air Force, Group Captain Shukla was selected for ISROs Human Spaceflight Program. Hes a top contender for Indias Gaganyaan mission, Indias first indigenous crewed orbital flight. His journey aboard the Ax-4 mission is expected to provide critical hands-on experience in spaceflight operations, launch protocols, microgravity adaptation, and emergency preparedness all essential for Indias crewed space ambitions. Group Captain Shuklas mission is strategically significant as it focuses on operational readiness and global integration, marking a shift from earlier symbolic endeavours. It highlights Indias growing involvement in international public-private partnerships in space and its resolve to emerge as a serious contender in human space exploration. Underscoring the significance of the upcoming human spaceflight and a series of critical ISRO missions, Singh said, India is ready for its next space milestone." He noted that the collaboration with international partners and the strategic momentum of projects like Gaganyaan reflect Indias commitment to becoming a global leader in space technology. The minister emphasised that these efforts are not only scientific but also aligned with the vision of a developed and self-reliant India. ISRO is set to launch the PSLV-C61 mission, carrying the EOS-09 satellite, which features a C-band synthetic aperture radar for high-resolution Earth imaging, under all weather conditions, day or night. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Another significant milestone will be the Test Vehicle-D2 (TV-D2) mission, designed to simulate an abort scenario and demonstrate the Gaganyaan Crew Escape System. The mission includes sea recovery operations for the Crew Module, simulating procedures slated for Indias maiden human spaceflight, he said. First Published: April 18, 2025, 21:49 IST Kerala Lottery Results LIVE: Nirmal NR-428 Winners For April 18, 2025 Soon; First Prize Rs 70 Lakh! Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 10:41 IST Kerala Lottery Result Guessing Numbers: Check the Live Updates and full list of winning numbers for Nirmal NR-428 lucky draw for Friday, April 18, 2025 here from 3 pm. Kerala Lottery Nirmal NR-428 Results: The first prize winner of Nirmal NR-428 will get Rs 70 lakh. (Image: Shutterstock) KERALA LOTTERY NIRMAL NR-428 RESULT ON FRIDAY, 18.4.2025, LIVE UPDATES: The Kerala State Lottery Department is set to reveal the results of the Nirmal NR-428 Lottery on Friday, April 18. The draw will be conducted at 3 PM at Gorky Bhavan, located near Bakery Junction in Thiruvananthapuram. Participants stand a chance to win impressive cash prizes, with the top prize being Rs 70 lakh, followed by a second prize of Rs 10 lakh and a third prize of Rs 1 lakh. To guarantee integrity and transparency, the draw will be overseen by a panel of independent observers. Stay tuned to find out the winning numbers! KERALA LOTTERY NIRMAL NR-428 GUESSING NUMBERS Recommended Stories 3801 3810 3081 3018 3180 3108 8301 8310 8031 8013 8130 8103 0381 0318 0831 0813 0138 0183 1380 1308 1830 1803 1038 1083 NIRMAL NR-428 LOTTERY: PRIZE STRUCTURE 1st Prize: Rs 70 Lakh 2nd Prize: Rs 10 Lakh 3rd Prize: Rs 1 Lakh 4th Prize: Rs 5,000 5th Prize: Rs 1,000 6th Prize: Rs 500 7th Prize: Rs 100 Consolation Prize: Rs 8,000 NIRMAL NR-428 LOTTERY: WINNING NUMBERS WINNING NUMBER FOR 1ST PRIZE OF RS 70 LAKH IS: To be updated WINNING NUMBER FOR 2ND PRIZE OF RS 10 LAKH IS: To be updated WINNING NUMBER FOR 3RD PRIZE OF RS 1 LAKH ARE: To be updated WINNING NUMBERS FOR THE CONSOLATION PRIZE OF RS 8,000 ARE: To be updated WINNING NUMBERS FOR THE 4TH PRIZE OF RS 5,000 ARE: To be updated WINNING NUMBERS FOR THE 5TH PRIZE OF RS 1,000 ARE: To be updated WINNING NUMBERS FOR THE 6TH PRIZE OF RS 500 ARE: To be updated WINNING NUMBERS FOR THE 7TH PRIZE OF RS 100 ARE: To be updated HOW TO CHECK KERALA NIRMAL NR-428 LOTTERY RESULTS? Head to the official Kerala Lottery website to view the NIRMAL NR-428 results. Cross-check the winning numbers through the Kerala Government Gazette publication. Reach out to the Kerala Lottery Department for verified and official information.How to Claim the Prize Money? Refer to the official Kerala Government Gazette to confirm the lottery outcome and match it with your ticket number. If your ticket number is listed, you could be eligible for a prize. Prize claims must be submitted at the Kerala Lottery Office in Thiruvananthapuram within 30 days from the date of the result declaration. To claim your winnings, youll need to provide the original lottery ticket along with valid identification for verification. Documents Required to Claim Prize Money Submit a signed photocopy of both the front and back of your winning lottery ticket. Attach recent passport-sized photos, properly attested by a Gazetted Officer, for identity verification. Include a self-attested copy of your PAN card as proof of identification. Complete the official online prize claim application, attach a revenue stamp, and send it in. Provide a valid government-issued IDsuch as Aadhaar, PAN card, voter ID, or ration cardfor authentication purposes. HOW TO DOWNLOAD A PDF WITH A FULL LIST OF WINNING NUMBERS? Visit the official Kerala Lottery Department websites: keralalotteries.info or keralalotteryresult.net. Locate and select the link for Nirmal Lottery NR-428 results. The full list of winning numbers will be displayed in the results section. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Look for the download option provided on the page. Click the link to open and download the results in PDF format. 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 : Thiruvananthapuram [Trivandrum], India, India First Published: April 18, 2025, 09:00 IST Marathi Vs Gujarati Clash In Mumbai After Residents Called 'Dirty' For Eating Non-Veg, Police Intervene Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 09:32 IST MNS workers issued a warning to a Gujarati family, accusing them of ill-treating Marathi-speaking families for eating non-veg food. Maharashtra Minister Ashish Shelar also issued a warning. MNS leader Raj Parte arguing with Gujarati members of the society. (Instagram/Raj Parte) A row erupted in a Mumbai apartment complex after Marathi-speaking families were allegedly insulted for eating non-vegetarian food, escalating to a point where police intervention was needed and prompting a warning from a state minister. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers clashed with Gujarati members of a housing society in suburban Ghatkopar after allegedly facing insults for their Marathi-speaking neighbours consuming non-vegetarian food. The altercation led to police intervention. Recommended Stories A video has surfaced online showing MNS workers warning Gujarati residents of the society on Wednesday, accusing them of mistreating four Marathi-speaking families. In the video, local MNS leader Raj Parte claimed that the families were labelled dirty" for their food choices. Parte said, Anybody can live in Mumbai and work here, but we will not tolerate such things how can others dictate what they should eat?" View this post on Instagram A post shared by Raj Parte (@raj.parte.mns) In the video, Parte also alleged that another housing society nearby prohibited Marathi-speaking families from cooking non-vegetarian food at home, forcing them to order food from outside. A resident of the building countered Partes claims, stating there were no food restrictions. As the argument intensified, some residents alerted the Ghatkopar Police, who intervened and resolved the issue, according to an eyewitness. The police advised the society residents against mistreating their Marathi-speaking neighbours and warned of legal action if this continued. No formal complaint has been filed at the police station regarding the incident, according to police. There was no reaction available from the Gujarati resident accused of insulting the Marathi-speaking families. Maharashtra minister Ashish Shelar also condemned incidents of disrespect based on language, calling them unacceptable. He said no one should demean Marathi-speaking people, their language, or their culture. He emphasised that the Maharashtra government stands for respect towards Marathi language and culture and warned against creating disrespect among people of different languages. Historically, both the Raj Thackeray-led MNS and the undivided Shiv Sena have claimed that Marathi-speakers faced difficulties in buying or renting flats in certain areas due to their non-vegetarian food habits. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all With the Mumbai civic body elections expected to be held this year, the MNS has intensified its demand for mandatory use of Marathi in public places, including government offices and banks. (with PTI inputs) About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More First Published: April 18, 2025, 07:12 IST MPs 'Fake' Cardiologist Worked At Apollo Hospital In Bilaspur For 9 Months: Officials Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 20:36 IST Narendra Vikramaditya Yadav is accused in connection with the deaths of seven patients. He allegedly impersonated UK-based cardiologist Dr. John Camm, using the name Dr. Narendra John Camm. MP Police Arrest 'Fake' Cardiologist Involved In Deaths Of 7 People From Prayagraj. (IANS) Narendra Vikramaditya Yadav, accused of impersonating UK-based cardiologist Dr. John Camm, and recently arrested in Madhya Pradesh, allegedly worked at Apollo Hospital in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, for nine months, officials said. Yadav is an accused in the deaths of seven patients. According to investigators, he assumed the name Dr Narendra John Camm, allegedly stealing the identity of UK-based cardiologist and professor John Camm. Recommended Stories The Bilaspur district authorities have requested information from Apollo Hospital about Narendras employment while investigating allegations that he performed surgery on former Chhattisgarh Speaker Rajendra Prasad Shukla in 2006. Shuklas son told The Indian Express that his father died 18 days after the operation. A three-member fact-finding team was formed at the Chhattisgarh Institute of Medical Sciences in Bilaspur on Wednesday to investigate the claims regarding Shuklas treatment by Yadav. Bilaspurs Chief Medical and Health Officer, Pramod Tiwari, has issued a notice to Apollo Hospital seeking details about Narendra Vikramaditya Yadavs employment, including his appointment letter, tenure, qualifications, surgical records, and any complaints filed against him. According to Tiwari, the hospital authorities replied to the notice but did not provide all the details. They said Yadav joined sometime in June 2006 and left in March 2007. They said he was appointed in Chennai and that documents were kept there. (They said) Such information is kept for 5-10 years, and digital records were not maintained back then. They said that since it has been nearly 20 years, it will be a massive task to find documents related to him," he said. The fact-finding team has been given a week to collect facts about Shuklas treatment at Apollo, Tiwari said. Its difficult to probe the case now, but we will try," he said. Regarding the notice, Apollo Hospitals public relations officer, Devesh Gopa, had told The Indian Express that the hospital would provide authorities with the information and that it would not make any further comment. Hospital authorities did not respond to subsequent calls and messages from The Indian Express. Pradeep Shukla, the son of Rajendra Prasad Shukla, approached the police after receiving news of Yadavs arrest in Madhya Pradesh on April 9. He informed the police that Yadav had operated on his father. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Pradeep said, My father (Shukla) died in August 2006 at Apollo Hospital after being kept on a ventilator for 18 days. He was treated by Dr Narendra Yadav." He has filed a complaint with the police and the district administration. I want my complaint to be treated as an FIR and for the strictest punishment to be given to him and the authorities at the hospital if they are found guilty. They have made a mockery of the system They took several lakhs for my fathers treatment. Back then, the medical association here told me he is a fraud, but he was transferred," Pradeep claimed. Location : Bilaspur, India, India First Published: April 18, 2025, 20:36 IST 'Muslims Showing Patience...': Jharkhand Minister Warns Of 'Violence' Amid Waqf Protests, BJP Reacts Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 14:33 IST Earlier, the JMM leader had sparked another political row by saying that Shariat comes first for a Muslim and then the Constitution of the country. Jharkhand Minister Hafizul Hassan and BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla | File Image/PTI Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader and state minister Hafizul Hassan sparked a controversy on Friday by issuing a warning that Muslims could take to the streets and resort to violence" if provokedmaking a veiled reference to the amended Waqf Act. In a sharp rebuttal, the BJP strongly condemned the ministers provocative remarks and accused the Chief Minister Hemant Soren-led party of being a destroyer of the Constitution". The saffron party also called the JMM leader a serial offender." Recommended Stories Muslims are showing patience, but if disturbed, we will take to the streets, and violence will erupt there will be chaos," the minister warned, using the phrase maar kaat hoga" to emphasise the potential unrest. Muslims are showing patience. But if you disturb us, we will hit the streets and create violence maar kaat hoga" chilling warning by serial hate monger and Jharkhand Minister Hafizul HassanTHIS MINISTER SHOULD BE SACKED HE HAS ALWAYS PUT SHARIAH ABOVE SANVIDHAN NOW pic.twitter.com/AsszvgwZZZ Shehzad Jai Hind (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Shehzad_Ind) April 18, 2025 Earlier, Hassan had sparked another political row by saying that Shariat comes first for a Muslim and then the Constitution of the country. Shariat hamare liye bada hai. Hum Quran seene mein rakhte hain aur haath me samvidhaan. Islam mein Shariat ko pehle pakdenge fir samvidhaan ko. (Shariat is bigger for us. Quran is there in our hearts and the Constitution in our hands. In Islam, first it is Shariat, then the Constitution comes)," he told a news channel in a clip shared by the Jharkhand BJP. BJP Hits Back BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla labelled the JMM as a destroyer of the Constitution," and demanded an immediate removal of the minister from the state cabinet. Hafizul Hassan is a serial offender. A week ago, he said that for him, Sharia is above the Constitution. Now, he says that: You have disturbed the Muslims by bringing the Waqf Amendment Act. We will come out on the streets and beat people up. Muslims have patience, but they are not in the grave. A person who says such things, are they the protectors of the Constitution, are they the destroyers of the Constitution?" the BJP leader asked. #WATCH | Delhi | On Jharkhand Minister Hafizul Hassan, BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla says, Hafizul Hassan is a serial offender. A week ago, he said that for him, Sharia is above the Constitution. Now, he says that: You have disturbed the Muslims by bringing the Waqf Amendment pic.twitter.com/mZmukfmBV9 ANI (@ANI) April 18, 2025 He also accused the Congress and INDI alliance of inciting violence in West Bengal following protests over the Waqf Amendment Act. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all One thing is clear that violence against Hindus across the country, especially in West Bengal, in the name of Waqf is being incited by Congress, INDI alliance parties," he alleged. Protests in West Bengal against the Waqf (Amendment) Act turned violent in regions such as Murshidabad and Bhangar in South 24 Parganas. Reports indicate that protesters clashed with security forces and set fire to police vehicles. At least three people were killed. 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 : Ranchi, India, India First Published: April 18, 2025, 14:31 IST Supreme Court Orders Maharashtra Police To Vacate Flats Occupied Since 1940 Reported By : LawBeat Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 18:53 IST The court was dealing with a civil appeal filed by Neha Chandrakant Shroff and another, challenging the Bombay High Courts order dated April 30, 2024 The court opined that in such a situation, to ask the appellants to file a suit and recover possession would be like adding insult to injury. The Supreme Court recently observed that the Constitutional powers vested in the high courts or the Supreme Court cannot be fettered by the mere existence of an alternative remedy. It emphasised that injustice whenever and wherever it occurs should be struck down as an anathema to the rule of law and the provisions of the Constitution. A bench comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan underscored that the rule of exclusion of writ jurisdiction by availability of an alternative remedy is a rule of discretion and not one of compulsion. Recommended Stories There can be many contingencies in which the high court may be justified in exercising its writ jurisdiction in spite of the availability of an alternative remedy," the bench said. The court was dealing with a civil appeal filed by Neha Chandrakant Shroff and another, challenging the Bombay High Courts order dated April 30, 2024. The high court had dismissed their writ petition, which sought directions for the release of two South Mumbai flats that had been occupied by the police department since 1940. The bench, while directing the respondents to hand over possession of the flats to the appellants, observed, We are happy that we have been able to do justice with the appellants who have been frantically trying to get back their property (two flats) in question which the State occupied way back in the year 1940 without any written order requisitioning the two flats for temporary use by the Police authorities or any lease deed in writing". The apex court noted that the high court appeared hesitant to exercise its writ jurisdiction, seemingly due to a misunderstanding regarding the nature of possession. The high court had concluded that the possession was permissive in nature and, on that basis, considered it appropriate to relegate the appellants to pursue the alternative remedy of filing a civil suit. The high court should have kept the year in mind i.e. 1940. This country was ruled by the British. The country was fighting hard to seek independence from the British. Bombay in the year 1940 was altogether different," the top court said. It observed that, at the relevant point in time, the department may have possibly persuaded the appellants or their predecessors in title to part with possession of the two flats in favour of the police department. However, it has now been 84 years since the Police Department has been in occupation and use of the two flats. Look at the conduct of the Department. We are informed that for the past eighteen years, even rent has not been paid," the bench said. The court opined that in such a situation, to ask the appellants to file a suit and recover possession would be like adding insult to injury. At this point in time, if the appellants are asked to institute a suit, we wonder how many years it would take by the time the litigation would come to an end if at all it reaches up to the highest Court of the country. These are the hard facts, the High Courts are expected to keep in mind in todays times," the bench said. This is one of those cases wherein the high court should have readily exercised its writ jurisdiction, the bench stressed. During his personal appearance, Nitin Pawar, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Office of the Commissioner of Police (Headquarters), Mumbai, had informed the apex court that two families of police officers were currently residing in the two flats in question. As the flats in question were not being used as offices by the department, the bench, on January 28, 2025, suggested that the parties meet and attempt to resolve the dispute amicably. The bench then directed that if the respondents wished to retain possession, they must sign a lease agreement with rent based on the market value. This would be without prejudice to the petitioners challenge to the high courts judgement. The bench also pointed out that after over 80 years of occupation, the police department could easily relocate, allowing the petitioners to regain possession of their property. Subsequently, on March 3, 2025, the bench noted that the petitioners proposed the following options: the State may retain the premises by paying market rent as of the current date; the State may outright purchase the property; or the State should hand over vacant and peaceful possession of the property. The court found that the respondents response to the three proposals was not substantive. In such circumstances, we need not hear the parties anymore on any other issues. We set aside the impugned judgment passed by the High Court and allow the original writ petition preferred by the appellants before the High Court," the bench said. The court granted four months time to the respondents to hand over vacant and peaceful possession of both the flats in question to the appellants along with the arrears of rent accrued till the date of handing over possession of the two flats. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all We are informed that the Department has not been paying rent from 2008 onwards. The rent shall be calculated accordingly and be paid to the appellants," the bench said. The court also directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police to file an undertaking on oath within one week stating that the department would hand over vacant and peaceful possession of the two flats in question definitely to the appellants within a period of four months. About the Author Salil Tiwari Salil Tiwari, Senior Special Correspondent at Lawbeat, reports on the Allahabad High Court and courts in Uttar Pradesh, however, she also writes on important cases of national importance and public interests fr... Read More Salil Tiwari, Senior Special Correspondent at Lawbeat, reports on the Allahabad High Court and courts in Uttar Pradesh, however, she also writes on important cases of national importance and public interests fr... Read More First Published: April 18, 2025, 17:55 IST Tahawwur Rana Offered Vegetarian Food, Given Proper Treatment In NIA Custody: Sources Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Shobhit Gupta Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 20:16 IST Rana has been locked up in the NIA Headquarters and is placed under CCTV surveillance. Tahawwur Rana with NIA officials. (IMAGE: SOURCED) Tahawwur Rana Extradition: Tahawwur Rana, a key accused in Mumbais 26/11 terror attacks, who was extradited to India last week, has been offered vegetarian food under National Investigation Agencys (NIA) custody, sources told CNN-News18. The NIA team had travelled to the US after the countrys Supreme Court dismissed Ranas review plea seeking an emergency stay on his extradition to India. Rana was remanded to 18-day NIA custody in a late night court decision. Recommended Stories Rana has been locked up in the NIA Headquarters and is placed under CCTV surveillance. He is getting enough sleep and has been provided with a paper and pen to jot down things if required, the sources said. Daily arrangements such as food are provided within the lockup. The officials have taken particular precautions to ensure he does not resort to self-harm. The terrorists medical tests and examinations are being conducted normally and is being given proper treatment according to the extradition treaty, the sources added. A 12-member team of NIA, led by DG Sadanand Date, will grill Rana during his custody. Pakistan-born Canadian citizen Tahawwur Hussain Rana, 64, who played a key role in the devastating 26/11 terror attacks, was brought to India from the US in a special chartered Gulfstream G550 aircraft last week. Identified as one of the masterminds of the deadly 26/11 attacks, he has been charged with criminal conspiracy, waging war against the government of India, murder and forgery and under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. What NIA Is Probing? The investigative agency is focussing on three aspects of interrogation the Mumbai terror attacks plot, the role of Pakistans ISI in the attacks, and Ranas links with the terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba that carried out the attacks. Rana is being questioned about his intercepted remarks on 26/11. In his intercepted call with David Headley another plotter of the terror attack he had said that the Lashkar terrorists who attacked Mumbai should be rewarded by Pakistan, sources said. Rana wanted them to be honoured with Pakistans highest gallantry award, according to a US Department of Justice document. Ranas extradition to India brings closure to a 16-year wait and an extended legal battle in the US, forming a key part of Indias investigation into the 26/11 attacks that claimed 166 lives. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all About the Author Ananya Bhatnagar Ananya Bhatnagar, Correspondent at CNN-News18, reports on various legal issues and cases in lower courts and the Delhi High Court. He has covered the hanging of the Nirbhaya gang-rape convicts, JNU violence, De... Read More Ananya Bhatnagar, Correspondent at CNN-News18, reports on various legal issues and cases in lower courts and the Delhi High Court. He has covered the hanging of the Nirbhaya gang-rape convicts, JNU violence, De... Read More First Published: April 18, 2025, 20:14 IST 'We Don't Trust State Govt': Family Of Father-Son Duo Killed In Murshidabad Says MP, MLA Tried Taking Away Bodies Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Pragati Ratti Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 10:23 IST The entire village is silent with occasional sounds of a child cackling or a housewife weeping over her looted savings, for the village has lost its Gajal as well as his 40-year-old son. Pieces of bricks are still strewn all across, with many pieces still inside the balcony. The front door is visibly broken, as is Parul Das. (Image: News18) Sitting on the stairs leading to the main door of the Das household, from where the father-son duo were dragged out, Parul Das, the wife of Haragobinda Das, was still recovering from the shock and unable to come to terms with reality. It felt as if she wished this was a bad dream and she would wake up to undo her loss. Recommended Stories Pieces of bricks are still strewn all across, with many pieces still inside the balcony. The front door is visibly broken, as is Parul Das. The mob came and started pelting stones and bricks in the morning. We locked ourselves inside. They claimed the roof and tried to break in from upstairs as well. Finally, they barged in from this door and dragged both of them outside and stabbed them on the forehead, lips and chest. Their injuries left their faces unrecognisable," she muttered while speaking to News18, with a calm voice and feeble pace. Parul Das claimed the attackers were wearing masks and, hence, could not be identified a claim that finds resonance across the village. Haragobindas nephew, Swarup Das, also backed her while adding, The attackers are likely from around here". Interestingly, Mamata Banerjee, during a meeting organised by Imams and Muezzins at the Netaji Indoor stadium, raised questions over the Bangladesh link in Murshidabad violence. News18 spoke to another victim, Ranjit Kumar Pal, whose house has been burnt down, to cross-check Swarups local hand allegation. He, too, rubbished the idea of any Bangladeshi hand. The fact that specifically Hindu houses were attacked needed local knowledge, argue villagers. Bengal BJP co-incharge Amit Malviya heavily criticised TMCs outsider hand hint, claiming the West Bengal Police who has now arrested one Inzamul Haque, is identified as one of the masterminds behind the brutal double murder. According to the police, he deliberately cut the power supply and destroyed CCTV cameras in the area to cover up the crime. This arrest raises serious questions about Mamata Banerjee and the TMCs earlier claims that outsiders were behind the riots and arson, arguing that locals couldnt identify the attackers. They had even hinted at a political conspiracy, blaming Hindi-speaking individuals from UP and Bihar posing as Muslims for inciting the violence", the BJP leader posted on X. Inzamul Haque, a resident of the neighbourhood where the killings took place, was apprehended from Suti area of the district late on Wednesday after night-long raids, Additional Director General (South Bengal) Supratim Sarkar said. The family that has lost two of its own couldnt even accord proper last rites to them. The priest refused to come, fearing for his life," says Swarup. But what he then says is nothing short of shocking. The local MLA and MP came here and tried to take away the dead bodies. We prevented it. I dont know why they were in such a hurry," adds Swarup. When allegation of a similar kind emerged in the infamous Hathras rape case in Uttar Pradesh, where the family alleged the rape victims body was forcibly taken away for cremation, TMC was one of its vocal critics. Both Parul and Swarup say they have rejected the Rs 10 lakh each compensation offer of the state government because they would prefer justice" instead. We (the Hindus) are not safe here. We wont get the backing of the state government. We need the Centre to help us," they say. Both Swarup and Parul demanded a permanent BSF camp in their village. Tomorrow, these central forces will eventually go away. Who will guarantee our safety, then," the grieving nephew asks. Both claim, in spite of hours of calling the local police since morning, they turned up only at 5 pm, when there was nothing left to save. This police (West Bengal Police) wont do. We need a BSF presence in the village. We need a CBI enquiry (to bring the perpetrators to justice)," says the widow, raising her voice, probably for the first time during the interview. A few feet away from where Parul was sitting, stands a jackfruit tree. Her eyes were fixated towards that tree. Her son Chandans dead body, bearing multiple cuts, was found there. A local rope is tied in a triangular shape, a far cry from any fancy sticker written police or crime scene to preserve the area. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Its a little past lunchtime. But for most houses in Jaffrabad, there is no kitchen left to cook in. Thankfully, the houses of Haragobinda Das and Chandan Das werent burnt down. But their loud absence and the communal attacks have left a bad taste in the mouth for the Das family to even worry about lunch time. About the Author Anindya Banerjee Anindya Banerjee, Associate Editor brings over fifteen years of journalistic courage to the forefront. With a keen focus on politics and policy, Anindya has garnered a wealth of experience, with deep throat in ... Read More Anindya Banerjee, Associate Editor brings over fifteen years of journalistic courage to the forefront. With a keen focus on politics and policy, Anindya has garnered a wealth of experience, with deep throat in ... Read More Location : Murshidabad, India, India First Published: April 18, 2025, 09:35 IST What Is UNESCO's 'Memory Of World' Register And Why Bhagavad Gita, Natyashastra Were Added To The List? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 14:58 IST The Bhavagad Gita and Natyashastra have been included in UNESCO's Memory of the World Register. PM Modi called it a "proud moment for every Indian across the world". The Bhagavad Gita and Natyashastra were added to UNESCO's Memory of the World Register. (Photo: X) In a step towards marking Indias cultural legacy, the Bhavagad Gita and Bharat Munis Natyashastra have been included in UNESCOs Memory of the World Register, prompting a word of praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Taking to X, PM Modi called the inclusion of the Bhagavad Gita and Natyashastra a global recognition of our timeless wisdom and rich culture" and a proud moment for every Indian. He said the Hindu scriptures have nurtured civilisation and consciousness for centuries. Recommended Stories A proud moment for every Indian across the world!The inclusion of the Gita and Natyashastra in UNESCOs Memory of the World Register is a global recognition of our timeless wisdom and rich culture. The Gita and Natyashastra have nurtured civilisation, and consciousness for https://t.co/ZPutb5heUT Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 18, 2025 With this, India now has 14 entries in UNESCOs prestigious Memory of the World Register. Union Home Minister Amit Shah congratulated every Indian across the world for the addition of the Bhagavad Gita and Natyashastra to the Memory of the World Register. What Is The Memory Of World Register? UNESCOs Memory of the World Register is an initiative to preserve and protect the worlds documentary heritage and make it permanently accessible without any hindrance. The programme was launched in 1992 to guard against collective amnesia and preserve valuable archive holdings and library collections all over the world. It seeks to facilitate preservation of the worlds cultural legacy, particularly areas affected by conflict or natural disaster. The worlds documentary heritage belongs to all, should be fully preserved and protected for all and, with due recognition of cultural mores and practicalities, should be permanently accessible to all without hindrance," reads its website. It also aims to enable universal access to documentary heritage worldwide and enhance public awareness about the significance of documentary heritage among the wider public. UNESCO implements the Memory of the World (MoW) Programme through a structured network of committees and support systems functioning at international, regional, and national levels, all aligned with the General Guidelines to Safeguard Documentary Heritage. The primary body overseeing the programmes overall planning and execution is the International Advisory Committee (IAC), which serves as the key advisory group to UNESCO. The IAC comprises 14 members serving in a personal capacity, appointed by the Director-General of UNESCO, and chosen for their authority in the field of the safeguarding of documentary heritage. The Director-General convenes a session every two years. Additionally, the MoW programme relies heavily on the drive, initiative and enthusiasm of regional and national committees. Why Bhagavad Gita, Natyashastra Were Chosen? The Bhagavad Gita, containing 700 verses in 18 chapters, is a central Hindu scripture in the epic Mahabharata. It is a synthesis of various ancient Indian religious thought movements like Vedic, Buddhist, Jain and Carvaka, and emphasises the importance of duty, knowledge and devotion. The Bhagavad Gita has been read for centuries across the world and translated into several languages. On the other hand, Bharat Munis Natyashastra is a collection of Sanskrit poetic verses describing performance arts. It embodies a comprehensive set of rules that define natya (drama), abhinaya (performance), rasa (aesthetic experience), bhava (emotion), sangita (music), among others. It is notable as an ancient encyclopaedic treatise on the arts, inspiring Indian theatre, poetics, aesthetics, dance and music. These two scriptures have long stood as cornerstones of Indias cultural and intellectual heritage. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all With the inclusion of these scriptures, there are 14 Indian inscriptions in UNESCOs Memory of the World Register. Other Indian inscriptions include the Rigveda manuscripts, the Gilgit Manuscripts, the IAS Tamil Medical Manuscript Collection, the Mughal Imperial Records and the manuscripts of Ramcharitmanas. UNESCO on Thursday said that a total of 74 new entries were made in their Memory of the World Register, bringing the total number of inscribed collections to 570. 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: April 18, 2025, 14:58 IST Who Is Lady Don Ziqra? Social Media-Savvy Woman Linked To Seelampur Teen's Murder Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 23:11 IST Police sources said that Zikra once worked as a bouncer for Zoya, the wife of jailed gangster Hashim Baba. Zikra, a local woman known as 'lady don' in the area, was present at the crime scene when the teen was killed. (Image via Instagram) Seelampur Teen Murder: At least four people, including Zikra, a local woman known as lady don, were detained in connection with the murder of a 17-year-old boy in north-east Delhis Seelampur area. The victim, Kunal, was stabbed to death on Thursday in New Seelampur. Police scanned the CCTV camera footage from the area and identified two suspects Sahil and Rehan. Recommended Stories According to the police, the lady don" angle emerged after Kunals family alleged that the woman, identified as Zikra a local figure known by that nickname was present at the crime scene when Kunal was attacked. Who Is Zikra? top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Ziqra is frequently seen roaming around Seelampur with a pistol Police sources said that Zikra once worked as a bouncer for Zoya, the wife of jailed gangster Hashim Baba. Zikra was reportedly living with Zoya before the latter was jailed. Ziqra, whose profile photo is of a Palestinian flag, has over 15,300 followers on Instagram, where her handle is sher_di_sherni_00" and her bio reads lady don". Zikra had previously been arrested under the Arms Act after posting a video of herself holding a pistol on social media. She was later released on bail and was living in a rented house near Kunals home. She is reportedly leading a gang of 1012 young men, some of whom are now being linked to Kunals murder. The father of the teenager who was killed said Ziqra had threatened his son, Kunal, multiple times. She has also been in jail, she used to roam around with a gun in her hand. She would say she will kill my son if she gets a chance," the man said as quoted by NDTV. (With inputs from PTI) About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He previously worked with Hindustan Times Digital (HTDS) and NDTV. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India ... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He previously worked with Hindustan Times Digital (HTDS) and NDTV. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India ... Read More First Published: April 18, 2025, 22:55 IST Woman Goes To The Toilet At Ambala Bus Stand, Returns To Shocking Scenes Despite Police Presence Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 09:07 IST Upon returning, she discovered that her bag was missing, raising concerns about safety and security at the bus stand that sees heavy footfall on a daily basis The woman stressed the importance of the documents in the bag, hoping for a swift resolution. (News18) A woman visiting the toilet at the Ambala bus stand in Haryana was in for a shock when she returned from the restroom. Upon returning, she discovered that her bag was missing, raising concerns about safety and security at the bus stand that sees heavy footfall on a daily basis. The woman reported the incident to the bus stand in-charge, and CCTV footage was reviewed. The video clearly showed a person sitting on the ground; as soon as the woman left for the toilet, the individual took the bag and fled. The Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HUDA) in-charge is hopeful that the bag will be recovered. Fortunately, the bag contained no valuables, only documents belonging to the womans father, which she was taking to Chandigarh. This was an unprecedented incident for her. Recommended Stories Concerns About Security The woman raised concerns about the bus stands security, questioning how theft could occur despite police presence. The station-in-charge acknowledged this issue and expressed optimism that the bag would be found soon. The woman stressed the importance of the documents in the bag, hoping for a swift resolution. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Bus Stand In-Charges Statement Bhim Singh, the in-charge of Ambala Cantt Bus Station, mentioned that with the high public traffic, such incidents can occur. The thief was captured on CCTV and has been identified, with hopes that he will be apprehended soon. Location : Ambala, India, India First Published: April 18, 2025, 09:07 IST Easter Recipes 2025: Traditional Foods Enjoyed On Easter Sunday Around The World Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 09:10 IST Top Easter Recipes: From the ancient practice of decorating eggs to the baking of sweet Easter bread, the holiday is a feast for both the palate and the soul. Easter Recipes 2025: Make these traditional dishes for your family and friends that represent different parts of the world. Best Easter Recipes: Easter, one of the important festivals of the Christian community, commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Also known as Resurrection Sunday or Pascha, this festival is celebrated two days after Good Friday, the day on which Jesus Christ was crucified by the Romans. Easter Sunday will be celebratred on April 20 this year. Easter is celebrated in various ways worldwide, with each culture having its unique traditions and history. From the ancient practice of decorating eggs and offering prayers in church to symbolising new life and the baking of sweet Easter bread like Pane di Pasqua in Italy and Tsoureki in Greece, the holiday is a feast for both the palate and the soul. Recommended Stories On the occasion of Easter this year, make these traditional dishes for your family and friends that represent different parts of the world: top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Easter 2025: Travel The World With These Dishes Hot Cross Buns (United Kingdom): This is a traditional Easter dish enjoyed in many countries, particularly in the United Kingdom. Made with raisins, currants, and spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice, these soft and sweet buns have a lightly spiced flavour. The cross on top is created with a simple mixture of flour and water that represents the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Roast Lamb (Australia): Another festive and traditional Easter dish that is sure to impress your guests is roast lamb from Australia. This dish is a hearty and savoury dish with a rich, meaty flavour that represents the sacrificial lamb. Roast lamb is often seasoned with garlic, rosemary, lemon, and other herbs. Capirotada (Mexico): It is a typical Easter food that uses bread, cheese, raisins, brown sugar, fruits, cinnamon, and cloves. The toasted bread provides a crunchy texture, while the cheese adds a creamy richness that is sure to please the whole family. This Mexican bread pudding represents the crucifixion of Jesus. Easter Pie: Also known as Pizza Rustica or Pizza Gaina, it is a rich and hearty deep-dish pie that is filled with a mixture of cheeses, eggs and cured meats. The filling often includes ricotta, Parmesan, mozzarella, and various Italian meats. Easter Pie is served either warm or at room temperature. Pashka (Russia): For a perfect ending to a festive Easter meal, this Russian dessert is made in the shape of a pyramid to represent Jesus Christs tomb. Made with cheese, butter, sugar, egg yolks, and dried fruits, Pashka is a rich and creamy dessert with a texture similar to cheesecake but slightly firmer. It is adorned with religious imagery, such as the Cyrillic letters XB" which signify the resurrection of Christ. Tsoureki (Greece): In both pagan and Christian cultures, bread is considered a symbol of life, and there is no better example than the Tsoureki. Once it is baked, the sweet braided bread is adorned with red eggs that represent the blood of Christ. Colomba di Pasqua (Italy): Next on the list is a traditional Easter cake from Italy. It is shaped like a dove and made with flour, butter, candied fruit, sugar, and almonds. Colomba di Pasqua is typically served with a sweet glaze and sprinkles. White Borscht (Poland): Also known as zurek, this soup is made from soured rye flour, sausages, and hard-boiled eggs. Although it is not limited to the Easter holiday, white borscht is frequently consumed during this time. Fanesca (Ecuador): Created from a mixture of grains, fish, beans, and vegetables, and flavoured with spices such as cumin and coriander, Fanesca is a traditional Easter stew from Ecuador. It is typically served with hard-boiled eggs and fried empanadas Mammi (Finland): This is a traditional Easter dessert made with rye flour, malted rye, cinnamon, cloves and water. It is typically enjoyed with cream or milk in Finland. 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: April 18, 2025, 09:10 IST Sobhita Dhulipala Exudes Gilded Glam in Rahul Mishra Couture Crafted in Over 1600 Hours Written By : News18.com Last Updated: April 17, 2025, 21:13 IST Sobhita Dhulipala made a sparkling appearance at the Nexxus haircare brand launch in a hand embroidered gown featuring dangling brass leaves. Sobhita Dhulipala turned muse for the Nexxus, New York based luxe haircare brands launch in Mumbai. Sobhita Dhulipala an epitome of grace and glamour made a sparkling appearance as Nexxus brand evangelist at the New York based luxury haircare brands launch in Mumbai. Exuding gilded glamour, Sobhita graced the occasion in renowned couturier Rahul Mishras hand embroidered Resurgence gilded gown from his couture spring 2025 collection, the Pale Blue Dot, which he had showcased at Paris Haute Couture Week 2025. Recommended Stories Sobhita looked fierce and fabulous in the ensemble which was crafted in over 1600 hours at Rahul Mishras atelier in Noida. Known for his love for nature and incorporating it into his collections, the exquisite golden gown featured dangling brass leaves that added a hint of drama to Sobhitas regal look. The gown also featured traditional Indian embroidery adorned with glass bugle beads, mother of pearl and metallic sequins that add that extra sparkle to this glamorous creation. The perfect dress for the perfect muse, Sobhita Dhulipala looked like a gilded goddess in the couture piece. Sobhitas gilded style was further complemented with a stylish hairstyle featuring soft waves that created a perfect bond together. Sobhita is one star who can carry off Indian and western styles effortlessly. Keeping her makeup minimal, Sobhita completed her glamorous look with a bold lip colour. The Nexxus campaign features Sobhita Dhulipala as the brands first Indian face, alongside celebrity hairstylist Flavien Heldt, bringing the best of global salon science to Indian consumers. Speaking about the brand, Sobhita Dhulipala, Brand Evangelist Nexxus India says, Nexxus is where luxury meets scienceand Im thrilled to be part of its journey in India. Nexxus doesnt just care for your hair, it transforms it. Its like bringing the power of a salon and the precision of science into your everyday ritual." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all As it paves its unique path in India, alongside Sobhita, the brand has also partnered with Flavien Heldt, a professional hair stylist who has styled celebrities including Katrina Kaif, Isha Ambani, Alia Bhatt and Samantha Ruth Prabhu among others. Were excited to bring Nexxus to Indiaa brand that embodies the future of haircare: precise, effective, and powered by science. Nexxus is designed to offer Indian consumers transformative results while indulging them in a luxurious experience," says Harman Dhillon, Executive Director Beauty & Wellbeing, HUL. About the Author Akshata Shetty Completing almost two decades in journalism, Akshata Shetty's journey from print to online journalism is a celebration of fashion, art and music. Akshatas fashion stories are about the people who celebrate the... Read More Completing almost two decades in journalism, Akshata Shetty's journey from print to online journalism is a celebration of fashion, art and music. Akshatas fashion stories are about the people who celebrate the... Read More fashion, travel, The News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health food , and culture with wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration, and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: April 17, 2025, 21:13 IST 5-Year Schengen Visa Explained: Whos Eligible, How To Apply And What It Costs Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 10:31 IST With a 90-day stay limit of 180 days, a five-year multiple-entry Schengen visa permits travel to 29 countries in the region. A five-year multiple-entry Schengen visa costs 90 (about Rs 8,797) for adults. For many travellers, it is a dream come true to be able to travel freely throughout most of Europe without having to deal with the trouble of constantly applying for a visa. For eligible globetrotters, this is possible with the Schengen visa, which allows for multiple entries for five years. This long-term visa is quite convenient, especially for people who travel to Europe often. It can be difficult to obtain this visa, but you can greatly increase your chances of being granted it by being aware of the requirements and what the authorities are looking for. Recommended Stories What Is the Schengen Area? The Schengen Area, which spans 29 countries from France and Germany to Greece and Spain, is a popular travel destination for families, students, business travellers, and tourists. With a five-year, multiple-entry Schengen visa, visitors can enter the region repeatedly for up to 90 days each time within 180 days without reapplying. A five-year multiple-entry visa is available to whom? Based on their past travel experiences and plans, travellers who meet certain requirements are usually granted the visa. Those who have a track record of responsible travel are often given preference by authorities, particularly if they have obtained a Schengen visa for two years with multiple entries during the previous three years. Experts say common candidates include people who travel frequently for work, have family in Europe, or have a history of returning home after a trip. Additionally, applicants must convince authorities that they will return to their home countries once their visa expires by presenting adequate proof of their close social and economic links. How to apply for a Schengen visa that lasts five years? With some significant exceptions, the application process for a five-year visa is comparable to that of a regular Schengen visa. When completing the visa application form, applicants must first choose the multiple-entry" option. Additionally, a well-written cover letter is essential. The necessity for numerous entries over a number of years, prior travel experiences, and upcoming plans requiring frequent trips to the Schengen Area should all be explained in detail in this letter. Additional supporting documentation, like business invitations or proof of familial ties, enhances the application. In addition, applicants must provide proof of travel insurance and a travel schedule, even if it is only a draft plan. For each trip, applicants must attest that insurance will be in place, but they are not obliged to show a policy that covers the entire five years. Moreover, financial records are crucial. Candidates must show that they have enough money to pay for their stay and can prove that they have a job, own real estate, or have other financial obligations in their home country. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The 5-Year Schengen Visa: Total Cost A five-year multiple-entry Schengen visa costs 90 (about Rs 8,797) for adults and 45 (approximately Rs 4,399) for minors aged six to twelve as of 2025. There may be additional expenses, like courier fees and travel insurance via visa service centres. 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: April 18, 2025, 10:31 IST What Is Black Dandyism? Heres All About MET Gala 2025 Theme Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: April 27, 2025, 13:38 IST The theme for Met Gala 2025 is Superfine: Tailoring Black Style. This theme will deep dive into Black men's fashion and explore Black dandyism. A$AP Rocky and Rihanna at the 2023 Met Gala. The Met Gala, one of the most prestigious red carpet events in the world, is hosted annually at the iconic Metropolitan Museum of Art. Each year, the institute curates a unique theme that highlights fashion as a powerful expression of identity. This year, the highly anticipated event, scheduled for May 5, will celebrate the cultural phenomenon of Black Dandyism under the theme: Superfine: Tailoring Black Style." The MET Gala 2025s theme signifies a cultural movement that reclaims power through fashion. Inspired by guest curator, professor and head of Africana Studies at Barnard College, Monica L. Millers 2009 book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity, the theme highlights resistance and pride through powerful, personal menswear. Recommended Stories According to The MET, the exhibition will explore the evolution of Black menswear from 18th-century Europe and its contemporary influence on the world. It will showcase a variety of fashion inspirations that boldly represent fearless self-expression, including meticulously tailored suits and avant-garde outfits with corporate touches. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Metropolitan Museum of Art (@metmuseum) But What Is Black Dandyism? Black dandyism is a cultural movement that originated from the Atlantic slave trade and the period of emancipation. During this time, Black men began to challenge societal norms and assert their individuality, dignity, and style by expressing their unique fashion sense. The otherwise stereotyped Black men used fashion as a tool to reclaim power with their change in attire and mannerism. The reimagining of fashion proved to be a form of resistance and self-expression against European styles. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all All tied to a rich and complex history, and expertly curated by Andrew Bolton alongside Monica L. Miller, this time, the exhibition will unfold through twelve defining traits of the Black dandy, like Champion, Respectability, Heritage, Beauty, and Cosmopolitanism, all inspired by a 1934 essay by Zora Neale Hurston. Taking inspiration from the Black mens legacy of pride, the MET Gala 2025 invites individuals to showcase their personal style with confidence. Moreover, the exhibit will take viewers on a virtual journey from slavery to supreme style. It would include visuals from 19th-century Maryland to the evolution of Black Dandies and their sense of fashion. This theme is indeed more than just looks. 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: April 18, 2025, 15:14 IST If Bengals Law & Order Crisis Continues, Will Request Presidents Rule: Mithun Chakraborty To News18 Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 13:37 IST Actor and BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty to News18: "If things continue this way, we will request the Home Minister to impose Presidents Rule. We demand elections under military supervision. From the day elections are announced, there should be full military oversight." Actor and BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty said the situation in the state was deteriorating rapidly. (PTI File) Reacting to the recent violence in West Bengal after anti-Waqf bill protests, actor and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Mithun Chakraborty, in an exclusive interview with News18, said the situation in the state was deteriorating rapidly. He said that if the law and order crisis continued, the state BJP would request Home Minister Amit Shah to impose the Presidents Rule in West Bengal. Recommended Stories Excerpts from the interview: The state, in its report to the court, acknowledged that the Bengal violence was a large-scale attack Thank God, at least the police have admitted that something actually happened. But the devastation is far worse than people think. This was nothing short of a massacre. Temples have been desecrated. I want to know what those victims had to do with the Waqf Bill. Today, they are homeless and living in relief camps. Bengal is facing one of its worst crises. The report says the state requested the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), while the Chief Minister blames the Border Security Force (BSF). What do you make of that? She has nothing else to say. If she claims the BSF has failed, then who was next in line the police? And what did the police do? Nothing. Were they asleep? Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee calls it a pre-planned communal riot. Your response? Then ask her planned by whom? Why would Amit Shah orchestrate this? Why isnt this happening elsewhere? We are not against the Waqf. All this violence is actually targeting the Waqf. There is a bigger conspiracy here. Critics say the BJP is trying to polarise voters to come to power. We dont want to come to power through polarisation. They are the ones who prevent people from voting. We want a fair election, nothing else. We condemn violence and do not want to gain power through it. BJPs Suvendu Adhikari has called Mamata Banerjee anti-national. Your take? The BSF has protected us. Criticising them is anti-national. Its a very unfortunate state of affairs. People are displaced and living in camps. What would you say to them? Ive said it before what is their fault? Their homes have been set on fire. These people never begged before; today they are forced to. Do they deserve this? Do you support the imposition of Presidents Rule? If things continue this way, we will request the Home Minister to impose Presidents Rule. We demand elections under military supervision. From the day elections are announced, there should be full military oversight. You recently said Hindus will be forced to leave if the BJP doesnt come to power That was a warning signal. The Waqf Bill is not just a domestic issue it has external influences. There is more to it. Sleeper cells might be active. There is a larger agenda behind this. Bengal govt submits its report on Murshidabad to Calcutta HC, 274 persons arrested so far, 60 FIRS registered@akankshaswarups | #MurshidabadViolence #MurshidabadRiots #BengalViolence pic.twitter.com/oTndVbfSzQ News18 (@CNNnews18) April 18, 2025 Does this situation pose a threat to national security? Absolutely. Its very alarming. Thats all I can say for now. What is the solution, in your opinion? If the Chief Minister genuinely wants to restore peace, the situation can change in a day. The Governor and National Commission for Women (NCW) have expressed interest in visiting affected areas. The CM says this is not the time. Your view? This is exactly the time when such visits are needed. The Governor should have gone earlier. People need to feel supported. Will you visit the affected areas? Im ready to go tomorrow, but they wont allow me. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Any message for the displaced people? Stay united. Dont abandon your homes thats your land. If you need help, we are here for you. 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: April 18, 2025, 13:31 IST Why A Joint Presser By Akhilesh Yadav And Srikant Jena Has Spooked Congress Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 11:28 IST Many political observers believe that the SP sees a strategic opening amid a divided Congress, internal strife within the BJD, and the ruling BJP's still-nascent influence in Odisha Akhilesh Yadav stated that uniting leaders like Srikant Jena could bolster the fight for social justice. (X@yadavakhilesh) A recent event in Bhubaneswar has caused a stir within the Congress party. Senior Congress leader Srikant Jena and Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav were seen together on the same stage, holding a press conference where they discussed social justice and exchanged praises. This public appearance has reportedly not gone unnoticed by the Odisha unit of the Congress. While a meeting between old friends might not typically raise eyebrows, the decision to call a press conference and make joint statements has led to speculation, especially as Jena has been vocal about feeling sidelined within the party since February 2025 when junior leader Bhakta Charan Das was appointed state president. Despite his dissatisfaction, Jena has maintained, I am not going anywhere." Recommended Stories Akhilesh Yadavs remarks added further intrigue. He stated that uniting leaders like Jena could bolster the fight for social justice. Many political experts have suggested that the SP chief sees potential in Jena and possibly an opportunity to establish a foothold in Odisha. Jena attempted to downplay the significance of the meeting, explaining that Akhilesh was in Puri for a pilgrimage, and their press conference was coincidental. However, many within the Congress remain sceptical of this explanation. The situation is particularly precarious for the Odisha Congress, which is already in a weakened state with little organisational strength. Jenas dissatisfaction and his public association with the SP chief represent a significant setback for the party. A senior Congress leader from Delhi acknowledged the importance of retaining Jena, indicating that the party intends to speak with him. However, many political commentators are of the view that meaningful retention requires offering Jena both a significant role and recognition within the party. One Odisha Congress MLA bluntly stated that Jena should be given a prominent role in the All India Congress Committee (AICC) to prevent his potential departure. Many are of the view that while the SP might currently be an ally, political considerations often drive decisions, and there is credible concern that Jena could leave. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all SP sources have indicated their interest in expanding into Odisha and have been in touch with some Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leaders. Many political pundits have suggested that with the Congress divided, the BJD facing internal conflicts, and the BJPs influence still relatively new, the SP sees a strategic opportunity. Several experts have claimed that the SP aims to establish a presence where other parties are struggling, and an experienced leader like Jena could be pivotal. Jena, who returned to the party in 2024 after being expelled, but subsequently lost the election, remains a significant player. Many political analysts are of the view that his association with Akhilesh Yadav suggests more than just an old friendship; it hints at broader political manoeuvring. Location : Odisha (Orissa), India, India First Published: April 18, 2025, 11:28 IST Google Brings This Critical iPhone-Like Security Feature For Android Phones: What It Means Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 17, 2025, 13:46 IST Android users worried about their phones getting stolen can now lock it behind heavy encryption just like iPhones support. The auto-reboot tool allows Android users to secure their device if it gets stolen. Android phones are getting a major upgrade from Google this month that gives them iPhone-like security in case your phone is stolen or lost. How many times have you worried about your phone data when something calamitous happens and you fear the thieves can get uncontrolled access to your data, bank account and more? Google is trying to fix these issues with a simple auto-restart update that is activated if your phone has not been unlocked for over three days. Android Anti-Theft Update: How It Works Recommended Stories When a phone is stolen, thieves try to shut down or reboot the device to stop people from tracking the device. However, most people these days setup fingerprint IDs for biometric security which can be hard to breach. And in such cases, if Google notices that a phone has been locked for 3 days, the auto-restart feature will get to work. These changes should work across Android phones because Google is bringing them via an update for Google Play services version. Once the device restarts after 3 days or 72 hours of being consecutively locked, the Android phone and all the data on the device will be protected with encryption and you cant try to unlock it using finger or face ID. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The new feature is identical to the iOS 18.1 update that brought the Inactivity Reboot tool for iPhone users last year which also reboots under the same conditions to protect your data and device. While the feature is useful and most people would like to keep it enabled, Google says it is optional and if you dont want the auto-restart tool to work, you can disable it from settings manually. It is likely that Google will extend support for this feature to Android tablets at a later date. About the Author S Aadeetya S Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media houses covering the latest trends in technology and helping fr... Read More S Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media houses covering the latest trends in technology and helping fr... Read More News18 Tech delivers the latest technology updates, including phone launches, gadget reviews, AI advancements, and more. Stay informed with breaking tech news , expert insights, and trends from India and around the world . Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! Location : California, USA First Published: April 17, 2025, 13:46 IST Bengaluru Resident Lists Local Sugarcane Vendor On Google Maps, Helps Her Get Customers Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 17:24 IST She described Latha as a friendly and hardworking woman who is known in her locality for her spotless hygiene and hospitality at the stall. The woman listed the stall on Google Maps. (Photo Credits: Instagram) A Bengaluru residents kind act of helping a local sugarcane vendor has won the internets appreciation. The woman helped the vendor in Banashankari gain visibility by listing her business on Google Maps. Sharing her experience in a post that quickly gathered traction on social media, the woman mentioned that she discovered Lathas sugarcane juice stall in Banashankari and was impressed by its cleanliness and hospitality. She described Latha as a friendly and hardworking woman who is known in her locality for her spotless hygiene and hospitality at the stall, with no flies around the glasses or machine. To show her appreciation uniquely, she listed the stall on Google Maps, helping it gain online visibility. Recommended Stories In an X post, the woman wrote, Please visit this sugarcane shop anytime you are in the area. Run by the sweetest, most hospitable lady Latha. Keeps the premises super clean, no flies covering the machine or glasses." My way of thanking heralso added her business to Google Maps," she added. The post further mentioned that Latha also offers idli and dosa batter grinding services for small hotels and individuals, starting daily at 4 pm. Additionally, her sugarcane juice shop remains open 7 days a week from 11 am to 9 pm. Take a look at the post here: Please visit this sugarcane shop anytime you are in the area. Run by the sweetest, most hospitable lady Latha. Keeps the premises super clean, no flies covering the machine or glasses. My way of thanking heralso added her business to Google maps. #Banashankari pic.twitter.com/HQo05XyxXC Poornima Prabhu (@reader_wanderer) April 17, 2025 As soon as it was shared, the post sparked a wave of encouraging comments, with many appreciating the residents thoughtful gesture. A user wrote, Adding her business to Google Maps. Best thing you could have done!" top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Some even asked about potential online ordering and delivery options. Will she deliver via swiggy?" read another comment. One user wished Latha well while expressing concern about the challenges small vendors often face, writing, My best wishes and also worried that babus and politicos do not demand money bribes from them!" Earlier, Vineeta Singh, co-founder and CEO of SUGAR cosmetics, shared a secret of the surge in sales in her Colaba Causeway store. She said that Suraj and his father, who ran the fruit stall in front of her store, were recommending women to visit SUGAR. About the Author Buzz Staff A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on whats creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture. A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on whats creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture. News18's viral page features trending stories, videos , and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: April 18, 2025, 17:24 IST Instagram Of Haryana YouTuber, Who Killed Husband, Says 'Don't Judge...'; Internet Blames 'Reel Culture' Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 11:59 IST Ravina Rao has been arrested and sent to judicial custody while her lover, Suresh, is still on the run. Ravina Rao's (L) husband reportedly caught her in a compromising situation with another man (R). (Photo Credits: X) In a shocking incident in Haryanas Bhiwani, a woman, identified as Ravina Rao, a social media influencer, has been accused of murdering her husband, Praveen, with the help of her lover. The crime allegedly occurred in March after Praveen reportedly caught them in a compromising situation. Investigations are ongoing as authorities delve into the details of the case. Ravina, 32, is a resident of Joodi village in Rewari. She is active on YouTube and Instagram with over 34,000 followers. Her profile bio reads, Dont judge a book by its cover." She had been married to Praveen since 2017, and they have a six-year-old son. Around two years ago, she came in contact with Suresh, another YouTuber. The two grew close while working together on video content. Recommended Stories According to the police, Praveen had expressed his dissatisfaction with the closeness between his wife, Ravina Rao, and her lover, Suresh, often objecting to their work together. On the evening of March 25, when Praveen returned home, he allegedly caught the couple in a compromising position, leading to a heated argument. In a tragic turn of events, later that night, Ravina and Suresh allegedly strangled Praveen with a dupatta before dumping his body in a nearby drain". The authorities are continuing their investigation into the matter. When the case came to light, social media users were quick to express their strong reactions. Many questioned the influence of social media behaviour and the influencer culture, with some raising concerns about how these platforms might encourage unhealthy relationships and a sense of entitlement. Stay away from insta reel makers and YouTubers for your own safety and sanity. Life is literally and figuratively too short to spend with such entertainers. Ishwar Singh (@IshwarBagga) April 17, 2025 One user commented, Stay away from Insta Reel makers and YouTubers for your own safety and sanity. Life is literally and figuratively too short to spend with such entertainers." Another frustrated user said, Less and less respect for influencers." Someone else wrote, Men arent safe in society anymore." A person blamed the trend itself, saying, Reels are responsible for real crime," while another comment read, Reel maker females are the worst." An individual pointed out, Social media fame doesnt equal morals; this was pure betrayal, murder." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all As the investigation progressed, more chilling details emerged. In an attempt to dispose of the body, Ravina and Suresh allegedly placed Praveens lifeless body between them on a motorbike. Suresh drove, while Ravina sat behind, with the body covered to avoid arousing suspicion. The two rode through the night, taking precautions to remain unnoticed before finally discarding the body in a roadside drain near Dinod Road on the outskirts of Bhiwani. The grim details of their actions have shocked many, further intensifying the publics outrage and raising more questions about the dark side of influencer culture. After three days of searching, police and Praveens family found his decomposed body in the drain. When questioned, Ravina confessed to the crime. She has been arrested and sent to judicial custody while Suresh is still on the run. About the Author Buzz Staff A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on whats creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture. A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on whats creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture. News18's viral page features trending stories, videos , and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! Location : Bhiwani, India, India First Published: April 18, 2025, 10:13 IST This Prison Gaurd Was Tired Of The Rules And Inmates Hitting On Her... So She Joined OnlyFans Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 16:32 IST Alicia Davis, a former prison officer, said that everyday inmates would bombard her with compliments and sometimes even attemped to give her gifts. Alicia Davis said the jail job drained her physically and emotionally. (Source: Instagram) Behind the towering walls of a Queensland prison, Alicia Davis stood out not for breaking the rules, but for her striking beauty that sparked waves of admiration and jealousy alike. Now, the 32-year-old former prison officer from Australias Gold Coast is making headlines for leaving behind the rigid world of incarceration for a more glamourous, lucrative life as an OnlyFans creator. Davis, who worked as an officer at the correctional facility until early 2022, said that her time behind bars wasnt just physically demanding, but also emotionally draining. Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, she revealed that despite prison policies banning makeup, jewellery, and personal expression, she couldnt escape the constant attention from inmates. Recommended Stories Every day Id walk in and theyd say, You look beautiful today. It wasnt just a compliment but a tactic to get my attention," she explained. Prisoners would bombard her with friendly chatter, asking about her day, the length of her shift, and sometimes even attempting to give her gifts, which she consistently refused. It felt good to be noticed, but I had to remind them again and again that it was inappropriate." Her allure didnt go unnoticed outside the prison walls either. Alicia shared that some inmates, once released, would track down her Instagram and try to reconnect. They thought maybe something could happen," she said, firmly adding that she never reciprocated those advances. But it wasnt just the inmates who were watching. The wives and girlfriends of those behind bars often directed icy glares at her during visitation hours. Some of them would stare at me like they wanted to kill me," she recalled, adding that a few even got aggressive with her. Beneath the surface, Davis said the job demanded more than physical presence. Officers were expected to win the trust of inmates, encourage them to open up, and monitor their behaviour. But balancing professionalism amid persistent flirtation, jealousy, and strict regulations wore her down. The prison job tied me down. I wasnt allowed to be myself no makeup, no nails, no personality in my wardrobe. It was exhausting," she said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In February 2022, Davis finally handed in her badge and turned to a path that offered both freedom and financial independence. Launching a career on OnlyFans, she tapped into her already-growing online following now over 1.19 lakh strong on Instagram and embraced a new reality where she sets the rules. The shift has proved to be nothing short of life-changing. While working in corrections, Davis earned around 46,000 annually (approximately Rs 52 lakh). Today, her income has soared to 280,000 (about Rs 3.16 crore), and she no longer has to suppress her personality or style. Now I wear what I want, talk to who I want, and live how I want without fear," she said, adding that she finally felt like herself. News18's viral page features trending stories, videos , and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! Location : Australia First Published: April 18, 2025, 16:32 IST Tourist Slips Into River While Taking Selfie In Himachal, Saved Just In Time | Watch Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 20:01 IST Though considered a decent swimmer, the man found himself quickly overwhelmed by the river's cold temperature and fierce current. Miraculously, the tourist became wedged against a rock midstream. The powerful pull of Himachal Pradeshs scenic rivers is drawing thousands of tourists this season, but the obsession with capturing the perfect selfie or reel is now pushing some to the brink of disaster. A recent incident in the Parvati Valley, nestled in the picturesque Kullu district, once again highlighted the deadly consequences of ignoring natures warnings. A tourist, who ventured onto a rock in the middle of the swift-flowing River Parvati near Kasol to take a selfie, lost his footing and plunged into the icy water. Though considered a decent swimmer, the man found himself quickly overwhelmed by the rivers cold temperature and fierce current. Miraculously, he became wedged against a rock midstream, but hypothermia loomed as he clung to it helplessly. Fortunately, alert hotel staff nearby spotted him and rushed to pull him out just in time. Recommended Stories Watch the video: Officials and locals alike are growing increasingly concerned as the trend of riverside selfies gains traction among visitors, many of whom underestimate the raw power of mountain rivers. People see the calm surface and forget that beneath it lies a current strong enough to sweep away even the strongest swimmer, said a local hotelier in Manikaran, who has witnessed multiple rescue operations in recent years. As the snow melts in the high Himalayas during summer season, water levels in rivers like the Parvati, Beas, and Chandrabhaga surge dramatically, increasing both flow speed and volume. Despite warnings, tourists continue to venture too close to the banks, or worse, into the rivers themselves, in search of photo ops. In another recent tragedy, two tourists were swept away by River Chandrabhaga near Sissu in the Lahaul-Spiti region, just days ago. Search efforts continue for one of the victims, a 19-year-old youth from Jharkhand, who remains missing. Authorities are urging visitors to exercise caution and prioritise safety over social media content. Key advisories include: top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Avoid entering mountain rivers: Fast-flowing water can turn fatal within seconds, even for swimmers. Fast-flowing water can turn fatal within seconds, even for swimmers. Stay off slippery rocks: Wet stones near and inside rivers are treacherously slick and often unstable. Wet stones near and inside rivers are treacherously slick and often unstable. Supervise children and pets closely: Maintain a safe distance from the banks, particularly during high water. Maintain a safe distance from the banks, particularly during high water. Resist the selfie temptation: No photo is worth your life. No photo is worth your life. Protect the environment: Refrain from littering; preserving the beauty of these natural spaces is a shared responsibility. Tourism officials also appealed to visitors to avoid riverbanks altogether during peak summer when snowmelt drastically increases the risk of flash floods and strong undercurrents. News18's viral page features trending stories, videos , and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! Location : Himachal Pradesh, India, India First Published: April 18, 2025, 20:01 IST Watch: Rajasthan Woman Cop Impresses Internet As She Grooves To Jai Jai Shiv Shankar Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 12:29 IST The video going viral shows sub-inspector Teena Sogarwal dancing to Rajesh Khanna's popular song, Jai Jai Shiv Shankar. Internet users praised the officer's high energy and dancing skills. (Photo Credits: Facebook) The job of a police officer is not an easy one, requiring them to work day and night without any fixed hours. Amid tackling tight duties and responsibility towards society, a female police officer from Rajasthan was recently seen delivering an energetic dance performance. On the occasion of Rajasthan Police Foundation Day, sub-inspector Teena Sogarwal decided to put on her dancing shoes, grooving to the classic Rajesh Khanna song, Jai Jai Shiv Shankar. In a video going viral on social media, the officer, dressed in traditional attire, could be seen enjoying herself to the fullest as she danced to the 70s track. While Sogarwal seemed excited and thrilled performing on the stage, those present in the audience, including Superintendent of Police Mamta Gupta, District Collector Shubham Chaudhary, and other police officers, also encouraged her with loud applause and cheers. Recommended Stories The foundation day event was organised at the police district headquarters in Sawai Madhopur. Sogarwal shared the video of her performance on Facebook, which was further reshared across various other platforms. Many took to the comment section and praised the officers performance. One wrote, Excellent performance. Multi-talented personality," while another added, Jai Ho, very beautiful dance, madam; you are the pride of the police department." A user, while resharing the dance video on the microblogging platform, commented, Along with her duties, Teena Sogarwal, who remains in the spotlight for her dance artistry, performed to the song Jai-Jai Shivshankar on the special occasion of Rajasthan Police Foundation Day, which is worth watching." - "- " . pic.twitter.com/8e59NqO4CS Rang Rajasthani (@RangRajasthani_) April 17, 2025 This is not the first time that the female cop has displayed her dancing skills. Her social media handle consists of videos showing her performing on popular Hindi songs. Earlier on the festival of Holi, Sogarwal was seen dancing to another Bollywood classic song, impressing the internet with her energetic moves. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Drenched in colours, she was seen dancing to Khaike Paan Banaras Wala, with many others too joining her at the Holi party. About the Author Buzz Staff A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on whats creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture. A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on whats creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture. News18's viral page features trending stories, videos , and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: April 18, 2025, 12:29 IST Woman With Rare Illness Denied Toilet At Store, Proves Disability With Catheter Bag Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 20:43 IST A 29-year-old from Kent was humiliated at a Greggs store when an employee denied her access to an accessible toilet, doubting her disability. Evan's journey with the Fowler's Syndrome began in early 2024. In a quiet town in Kent, UK, a young womans painful struggle with an invisible illness erupted into public view, forcing her to confront not only a rare and debilitating condition but also the deep-seated ignorance that often surrounds invisible disabilities. Evan Francis, 29, never imagined that a trip to a local Greggs store in Sheerness would leave her humiliated and in tears. But in April 2024, when she attempted to use the stores accessible toilet, an employee blocked her path with a harsh judgment: You dont look disabled". Recommended Stories Stunned and embarrassed, Evan tried to reason with the staff. How do you know?" she asked, her voice trembling with disbelief. When the employee refused to relent, she felt she had no choice but to pull out her catheter bag. Does this make me disabled?" she asked, holding it up. Only then was she allowed to use the bathroom. Speaking to The Daily Star, Evan described the experience as utterly humiliating" saying it was one of many instances in which shes been forced to prove her illness just to be treated with dignity. That illness is Fowlers Syndrome, a condition so rare that it affects just two women in every million each year. The syndrome, which was first described in 1985, causes the urethral sphincter muscle to contract abnormally, preventing the bladder from emptying. For sufferers like Evan, the result is excruciating: an inability to urinate naturally, leading to repeated urinary tract infections and dangerous levels of urine retention. Evans journey with the disorder began in early 2024, shortly after enduring the emotional upheaval of losing her job and going through a breakup. Initially, doctors attributed her recurring infections and urinary retention to stress. But after suffering four infections in the span of a month, further testing revealed something far more serious. A bladder scan revealed that nearly two litres of urine had accumulated in her bladder four times the normal capacity. In April, she was fitted with an indwelling catheter and leg bag to drain the retained urine. Later, doctors replaced this with a suprapubic catheter, a more invasive device inserted directly into the bladder through the abdomen. It must be replaced every 8-10 weeks and comes with a constant risk of infection and complications. The catheter has become a part of my life," Evan said, adding that she cannot go anywhere without it. She recounted moments of unbearable pain" when the catheter would become blocked or dislodged, underscoring the daily challenges of living with the condition. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all For Evan, the most distressing part isnt just the pain or the medical upkeep it is the judgment from others who expect disability to look a certain way. My illness isnt visible from the outside but that doesnt mean its not real," she said. Issuing a formal apology over the incident at the store, a spokesperson from Greggs expressed regre and promised to reinforce staff training around hidden disabilities. News18's viral page features trending stories, videos , and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! Location : United Kingdom (UK) First Published: April 18, 2025, 20:43 IST 'Pathetic': It's Ukrainian Embassy Vs Russian Embassy Over Indian Pharma Warehouse Fire In Kyiv Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 13:09 IST Russia had blamed Ukraine's air defence missile for the fire at Indian pharma warehouse in Kyiv and said that the incident did not take place due to a direct Russian strike. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. (IMAGE: AFP) The Ukrainian Embassy in New Delhi on Friday hit back at the Russian Embassy after Moscow blamed Kyiv for the missile strike on an Indian pharma warehouse, stating that the Russian Embassy in India is pretending to be involved in planning air strikes on Ukraine". Lashing out at Russia over the blame, the Ukrainian Embassy in India said in a statement that Russias arguments have no credibility". Recommended Stories Ukraine Hits Back At Russia Any attempt to justify terror is legally untenable, cynical in essence, and pathetic in terms of competence. A senior criminal would never confess in their crimes. Russias arguments have no credibility. It seems that the Russian Embassy in India is now pretending to be involved in planning airstrikes on Ukraine," it said. The Embassy also took a potshot at the US, stating that Russia may also claim that the missile attack on Sumy was a mistake" and Washington would believe them again". Any attempt to justify terror is legally untenable, cynical in essence, and pathetic in terms of competence. pic.twitter.com/WUbYCq3Afw UKR Embassy in India (@UkrembInd) April 18, 2025 Then, just as they tried to justify the missile strike on Sumy on Palm Sunday, they might again claim it was a mistake. Maybe then Washington would believe them again," the statement said. The Embassy then informed that the Prosecutor Generals Office of Ukraine has registered a criminal case into the destruction of the Indian pharma company Kusum. The blame game between Russia and Ukraine started after the Ukrainian authorities said last Saturday that a Russian missile had hit the Indian companys warehouse in Kyiv. What Did Russia Say About the Attack? Russia said on Thursday that the recent fire at Kusum Pharma warehouse in Kyiv was due to a Ukrainian air defence missile and not a direct Russian strike. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Besides the Ukrainian officials, the British envoy to Ukraine had also made the claim of a Russian strike. The most likely explanation of the incident is that one of Ukrainian air defence missiles fell on Kusum Healthcares warehouse, setting it on fire. Similar cases have occurred previously whereby Ukrainian air defence interceptors failing to hit their targets fell in urban areas due to ineptly operated electronic warfare systems," the Russian Embassy in New Delhi had said in a statement. 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: April 18, 2025, 12:44 IST Florida Shooting Witness Casually Sipping Coffee, Filming Victim Leaves Internet Divided: 'Morals Are Gone' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 11:08 IST Florida State University Shooting: While many of the internet users blasted the witness over his viral coffee stunt, an American journalist defended the person, blaming the gun law in the US. Florida State University Shooting | Image/X Florida State University Shooting: A viral video showing a witness sipping coffee while casually walking by and filming a victim on the ground has sparked mixed reactions online. The Florida State University shooting incident, which unfolded in broad daylight, claimed the lives of two civilians, leaving several others critically injured, according to officials. Recommended Stories Several users on X criticised the witness captured in the viral video, with some calling it a sign of Americas declining moral values, while others pointed fingers at the countrys gun laws. The woman who was walked by and filmed by an individual who was sipping a Starbucks latte during a sh**ting at Florida State University appears to be alive.Thank goodness. Footage is going viral of a person sipping coffee as they filmed a victim of the FSU sh**ting. According pic.twitter.com/BwLr9HUG7S Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) April 17, 2025 The video, posted on X by Collin Rugg, showed that the victim of the shooting incident was lying down on the ground. However, she appeared to be safe, as another footage showed her receiving medical treatment. A commenter wrote: Morals are gone in America. This person sees wounded victims on the ground at Florida State University, yet just sips his Starbucks coffee and records the gruesome scene for Twitter clout." This clearly means the situation was safe enough for him to check on the wounded." Morals are gone in America. This person sees wounded victims on the ground at Florida State University, yet just sips his Starbucks coffee and records the gruesome scene for Twitter clout. This clearly means the situation was safe enough for him to check on the wounded. https://t.co/0ZJajCNf7B pic.twitter.com/8sPkzSl6zB Andy froemel (@FroemelAndy) April 17, 2025 Another X user declared: This heartless person needs to be outed and publicly shamed." this heartless person needs to be outed and publicly shamed. #fsustarbucks #fsu pic.twitter.com/yGr8ryzp3J 30A Blues (@30ABlues) April 17, 2025 Internet Divided While many of the users were spotted blasting the witness over his viral coffee stunt, an American journalist defended the person, blaming the gun culture and law in the US. Politicians dont do anything about gun violence. Why should she (the witness). If this is even real," Merlisa wrote in an X post, triggering a fresh debate. In response, an X user said that the incident was real and claimed that Florida State University stands to be a gun-free zone. Yes this is real and youre just as bad as the person who walked by! FSU is a gun-free zone and the shooter took the gun from his mom who is a sheriff. How would a politician prevent this from happening? Evil will be evil no matter the laws in place!" The shooter in the Florida State University (FSU) case has been identified as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, the son of a sheriffs deputy. Unfortunately, her son had access to one of her weapons, and that was one of the weapons that was found at the scene," said Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil. Americas Gun Law Americas gun laws have long been a subject of intense debate and controversy, largely due to the countrys deeply rooted gun culture and the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, which grants citizens the right to bear arms. A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed," read the Second Amendment. Notably, the US Supreme Court also upheld that the Second Amendment guarantees an individuals right to possess firearms for self-defence and other legal uses. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all While supporters argue that these laws uphold personal freedom and self-defence, critics say the lack of strict regulations has led to a surge in gun violence, including mass shootings, school attacks, and accidental deaths. 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 18, 2025, 11:04 IST Florida State University Shooter Supported White Supremacist Views, Was Removed From A Political Club: Report Curated By : Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 09:07 IST The accused is the son of sheriff's deputy Jessica Ikner, and the handgun he used to open fire was previously her service weapon. Students hold a vigil near the scene of a shooting near the Florida State University (Credits: AFP) Phoenix Ikner, the 20-year-old who opened fire at Florida State University in the United States on Thursday, held white supremacist views and was removed from a political club, reported NBC News quoting the groups president, Reid Seybold. The firing incident left at least two killed and five people injured. Seybold mentioned that he and Ikner were part of a club and had both attended Tallahassee State College before transferring to FSU. He revealed that Ikner was asked to leave the political round table club due to repeated issues with his rhetoric. Recommended Stories The accused is the son of sheriffs deputy Jessica Ikner, and the handgun he used to open fire was previously her service weapon. Court records reveal that Ikner had a difficult childhood. The documents note another woman as his mother, who allegedly took him out of the US against a custody agreement when he was 10 years old. Meanwhile, the campus was locked down soon after the attack, and students were asked to shelter in place. Speaking about the accused, Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil told reporters that Ikner was a student at the university and the son of an exceptional 18-year member of his staff. Unfortunately, her son had access to one of her weapons, and that was one of the weapons that was found at the scene," he was quoted as saying by AFP. Sheriff Walter McNeil told reporters that the suspect was steeped in the Leon County Sheriffs Office family and engaged in a number of training programmes that we have, so its not a surprise to us that he had access to weapons. Bystander footage aired by CNN showed a young man walking on a lawn and shooting at people who were trying to escape. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all According to an eyewitness, chaos erupted soon after the firing. Everyone just started running out of the student union," a witness named Wayne told local news station WCTV. About a minute later, we heard about eight to 10 gunshots. The whole entire thing was just surreal. I just couldnt believe what I was seeing. Everything was really quiet, then all chaotic," he said. Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: April 18, 2025, 08:56 IST 'If President Asks Us...': Elon Musk Denies SpaceX Bid For Trump's Golden Dome Missile Project Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 16:58 IST Responding to the claims, Musk clarified that SpaceX has not attempted to bid for any such defence contract Donald Trump and Elon Musk (Photo: Reuters) Tech billionaire Elon Musk dismissed reports claiming that his company, SpaceX, along with two other firms, had emerged as frontrunners to win a major contract under former US President Donald Trumps proposed Golden Dome" missile defence system. Responding to the claims, Musk clarified that SpaceX has not attempted to bid for any such defence contract. He made the statement while replying to a post on X. Recommended Stories In his post, Musk wrote: SpaceX has not tried to bid for any contract in this regard." SpaceX has not tried to bid for any contract in this regard.Our strong preference would be to stay focused on taking humanity to Mars. If the President asks us to help in this regard, we will do so, but I hope that other companies (not SpaceX) can do this. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 17, 2025 The Tesla and SpaceX owner made it clear that the companys main mission remains space exploration. Our strong preference would be to stay focused on taking humanity to Mars," he stated. However, Musk said that if Trump personally asks SpaceX to get involved, the company would help. If the President asks us to help in this regard, we will do so, but I hope that other companies (not SpaceX) can do this," he noted. Musks comments came a day after reports emerged that his rocket and satellite company is partnering with software maker Palantir and drone builder Anduril. What is Trumps Golden Dome missile project about? According to Reuters, the three firms have reportedly been in talks with top officials in the Trump administration and the Pentagon in recent weeks to present their plan for the Golden Dome. Their proposal includes launching between 400 and over 1,000 satellites to detect and track incoming missiles across the globe. A second part of the plan reportedly includes a fleet of around 200 attack satellites equipped with missiles or lasers designed to destroy enemy missiles in flight. However, sources told Reuters that SpaceX is not expected to take part in the weaponisation side of the project. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Notably, all the three companies involved in the proposal were founded by entrepreneurs known to support Trump politically. Musk has reportedly donated more than a quarter of a billion dollars to support Trumps election efforts and currently serves as a special adviser to the President, focusing on cutting government spending through the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). (With inputs from Reuters) 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 : Chicago, United States of America (USA) First Published: April 18, 2025, 16:34 IST In First Talks With Pakistan In 15 Years, Bangladesh Demands Public Apology For 1971 Atrocities Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 08:24 IST The talks come amid a thaw between the two countries after the ouster of Sheikh Hasina in August last year. Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Md. Jashim Uddin (R) with Pakistan Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch | AP Image Bangladesh raised the historically unresolved issues" with Pakistan and sought a public apology over the 1971 atrocities during their first foreign secretary-level talks in 15 years held in Dhaka. Dhaka also demanded that Pakistan pay USD 4.3 billion as its share of the combined assets from the time of the 1971 separation when East Pakistan became an independent nation. Recommended Stories The Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) between Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin and his Pakistani counterpart Amna Baloch came just days ahead of Pakistans Foreign Minister Ishaq Dars scheduled visit to Dhaka on April 27 and 28. We have raised the historically unresolved issues with Pakistan," said Uddin after the FOC, adding that the issues included the repatriation of stranded Pakistanis, equitable distribution of undivided assets, transfer of foreign aid funds sent for the victims of the 1970 cyclone, and a formal public apology for the genocide committed by the then Pakistani military in 1971". We said this is the right time to settle the historical unsettled issues," the Bangladesh foreign secretary said. These issues needed to be resolved to have a solid foundation of our relations" for mutual benefits and interests, he added. When asked about Pakistans response to the demand, Uddin said they expressed a desire to remain engaged" with a positive outlook and discuss the unresolved issue in the future. After the talks, held at the state guest house Padma, Baloch called on Bangladeshs interim government Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain separately. Notably, the talks come amid a thaw between the two countries after the ouster of Sheikh Hasina in August last year. The Yunus-led interim government appears to be playing down the role of Hasinas father Mujibur Rehman in the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971. The Indian Army took over 90,000 Pakistani soldiers as prisoners in that war. According to the foreign secretary, Dhaka also asked Pakistan to pay the unpaid USD 200 million foreign donations for victims of the then East Pakistan after the 1970s cyclone. Asked if the money devaluation over the decades was taken into consideration in quoting the amounts, the foreign secretary said the issue was just tabled during the FOC and the details are expected to come up during the subsequent talks. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The foreign secretary said the FOC fixed April 27 and 28 for Pakistans Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dars planned Bangladesh visit. When asked if Dhaka was now leaning towards Islamabad compared to its perceived tilt towards New Delhi earlier, Uddin said, Bangladesh intended to build a relation with Pakistan on the basis of mutual respect" and mutual benefit", and it was not an issue of tilting towards any particular country. Location : Dhaka, Bangladesh First Published: April 18, 2025, 07:14 IST Iran Says Nuclear Deal Possible If US Is 'Realistic' Ahead Of Second Round Of Talks In Rome Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 19:05 IST Trump has threatened to attack Iran if it does not agree a deal with the United States over its nuclear programme After returning to office, US President Donald Trump wrote to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in March, inviting him to talks. (AP file photo) Iran believes reaching an agreement on its nuclear programme with the United States is possible as long as Washington is realistic, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Friday on the eve of a second round of talks with the Trump administration. If they demonstrate seriousness of intent and do not make unrealistic demands, reaching agreements is possible," Araqchi told a news conference in Moscow after talks with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov of Russia. Recommended Stories Iran had noted the United States seriousness during a first round of talks on the deal, which took place in Oman last week, Araqchi said. The second round is set for Saturday in Rome. U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to attack Iran if it does not agree a deal with the United States over its nuclear programme, which Iran says is peaceful but the West says is aimed at building an atomic bomb. Lavrov said that Russia was ready to assist, mediate, and play any role that will be beneficial to Iran and the U.S.A.". Moscow has played a role in Irans nuclear negotiations in the past as a veto-wielding U.N. Security Council member and signatory to an earlier deal that Trump abandoned during his first term in 2018. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei sent Araqchi to Moscow with a letter for President Vladimir Putin to brief the Kremlin about the negotiations. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier on Friday that the U.S. administration is looking for a peaceful solution with Iran but will never tolerate the country developing a nuclear weapon. Location : Moscow, Russia First Published: April 18, 2025, 19:05 IST Knife-Wielding US Military Veteran Attempts To Hijack Small Plane, Shot Dead By Passenger Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 08:47 IST Akinyela Taylor, 49, tried to hijack a small passenger plane, demanding he be flown out of the country. He stabbed three people before he was shot dead by a passenger. Akinyela Taylor tried to hijack the plane, demanding to be flown out of the country. (Photo: X) An American military veteran was shot dead by a passenger after he tried to hijack a small passenger plane in Belize on Thursday, according to authorities in Belize and the United States. The plane was carrying 14 passengers and two crew members. Akinyela Taylor, 49, began attacking people inside the San Pedro-bound flight with a knife, causing a state of emergency to be declared at the Philip SW Goldson International Airport on Thursday. Taylor stabbed two passengers and a pilot on the plane, according to Chester Williams, Belize Police Commissioner. Recommended Stories Williams said Taylor was shot by a passenger who was licensed to carry a firearm, which he later turned over to police. The passenger was among those stabbed and remains in critical condition as he was stabbed in the back and lungs, he added. The plane was circling the airport in random directions before landing during the attempted hijacking, amid grave concerns as the aircraft was running out of fuel, officials told the New York Post. However, the plane landed safely after the incident, and the passenger who shot Taylor was hailed as a hero". Police and emergency personnel rushed to take the injured person to the hospital for treatment as well as transport the deceased subject. Williams said that Taylor was demanding that he be flown out of the country and, at one point, wanted the plane to land to add fuel. US Embassy spokesperson Luke Martin in Belize said Taylor insisted he be taken to the US. American officials were still working with Belizean authorities to determine what happened. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all All passengers were accounted for, according to the Belize Airport Concession Company, and those injured were flown to a hospital for treatment. Williams said Taylor had attempted to enter Belize through the northern border over the northern border through Mexico, but that he was refused entry. It was unclear to law enforcement how he had entered. (with AP inputs) About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: April 18, 2025, 08:47 IST News 18 Evening Digest: US Ready To Walk Away From Russia-Ukraine Peace Deal, India Draws Line Amid Bangladeshs Provocations & Other Top Stories Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 16:43 IST We are also covering: PM Modi Speaks To Elon Musk Ahead Of Tesla's India Entry, Allahabad HC Grants Bail To Rape Accused, and Kesari Chapter 2 Review. US President Donald Trump with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio | File Image/AFP In todays evening digest, News18 brings you the latest on President Donald Trumps stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, India asked Bangladesh to address the persecution of minorities within its own borders, and other top stories. US Ready To Walk Away From Russia-Ukraine Peace Deal, Warns Marco Rubio: If No Progress Recommended Stories President Donald Trump will abandon efforts to broker a Russia-Ukraine peace deal within days if there are no clear signs of progress, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday. Read More From Murshidabad To Minorities: India Draws The Line Amid Bangladeshs Provocations Bangladeshs interim government, economist and Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has significantly altered the dynamics of the countrys relations with India. The neighbouring countrys comments on communal violence in West Bengals Murshidabad district have further complicated the relationship. New Delhi has strongly rejected the remarks and asked Dhaka to instead address the persecution of minorities within its own borders. Read More PM Modi Speaks To Elon Musk Ahead Of Teslas India Entry, Discusses Tech Ties: Immense Potential Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday spoke to Tesla CEO Elon Musk and talked about various topics, including the potential for collaboration in the areas of technology and innovation. Read More How Bangladesh Is Using Bengals Anti-Waqf Bill Violence Against India: Exclusive From Intel Sources Bangladeshi media and social media platforms have been projecting the Waqf (Amendment) Bill as a symbol of Indias Hindu nationalist agenda, top intelligence sources said, adding that it is a sign of the neighbouring countrys hand in the West Bengal riots. Read More Personal Fallouts Being Given Criminal Colour: Allahabad HC Grants Bail To Rape Accused The Allahabad High Court, while granting bail to a man accused of rape, has expressed concern over an emerging trend of failed intimate relationships increasingly resulting in criminal proceedings. Read More Kesari Chapter 2 Review: Akshay Kumar, R Madhavan Are Fiery In This Courtroom Drama; Ananya Panday Holds Her Own Bollywoods obsession with patriotism, nationalism and jingoism isnt going to die anytime soon. Like a public service platform, every other week, it brings to us a film filled to the brim with desh bhakti to remind us of the extraordinary sacrifices made by our brave men and of the illustrious country we live in, because, god forbid, what if we forget? This week, its Dharma Productions turn with Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story Of Jallianwala Bagh. Read More Cricketers Sent Me Nudes, Reveals Anaya Bangar, Sanjay Bangars Child Who Underwent Gender Affirming Surgery Perhaps we like to believe that sport is the greatest leveller. A space for any and everyone to be viewed equally and wholly. But those who control sport definitely dont. And unfortunately for Anaya Bangar, those who participate in sport have also viewed her differently. Read More top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all First Published: April 18, 2025, 16:43 IST 'People Won't Buy At A Point': Trump Hints To End Tit-For-Tat Tariff War With China Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 09:04 IST Donald Trump has signalled putting an end to the tit-for-tat moves between the US and China, saying that at a certain point, "people aren't gonna buy". US President Donald Trump signals end to tit-for-tat on tariffs with China (Reuters Image) US President Donald Trump on Thursday (local time) hinted at an end to the tit-for-tat escalation of tariffs with China, that went as high as 245% on imports from the Asian rival nation this week, and said that he does not want them to go higher" as consumers wont buy products at a certain point". He also said that a deal over the fate of TikTok may have to wait. Recommended Stories I dont want them to go higher because at a certain point you make it where people dont buy," Trump told reporters at the White House. So, I may not want to go higher, or I may not want to even go up to that level. I may want to go to less because you know you want people to buy, and, at a certain point, people arent gonna buy," he added. His remarks also signalled his lessening interest in slapping higher tariffs on countries after the stock markets crashed globally when he announced the reciprocal tariffs on April 2 on several nations, including India. However, within days, he put them on a 90-day pause and imposed a baseline tariff of 10% on most goods imported into the US. However, he made an exception to China and initially imposed 145% tariffs in total, prompting Beijing to retaliate. Owing to Chinas retaliation, Washington revised the tariffs on China to 245%, drawing sharp reaction from China. More than 75 countries have already reached out to discuss new trade deals. As a result, the individualized higher tariffs are currently paused amid these discussions, except for China, which retaliated. China now faces up to a 245% tariff on imports to the United States as a result of its retaliatory actions," the White House Fact Sheet said on Tuesday (local time). Reacting to the hike in tariffs, the Chinese foreign ministry said that Beijing does not seek confrontation with Washington and stressed that it would not remain silent. China, however, also noted that it is open to talks if Trump shows respect. Trump said that China has been in touch since the imposition of tariffs and hoped that both countries could negotiate a trade deal. Sources told Reuters that while the two nations have been in touch, free-flowing and high-level talks in this regard that would make swift negotiations possible have largely been missing. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In his interaction with the reporters, Trump repeatedly declined to clarify the nature of the discussions between Washington and Beijing or if Chinese President Xi Jinping was involved in the talks. (With Reuters inputs) About the Author Ashesh Mallick Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: April 18, 2025, 08:14 IST US Vice President Vance 'Optimistic' About Ending Russia-Ukraine War Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 18:58 IST Vance's comments came after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that Trump may walk away from peace talks within days without clear progress US Vice President JD Vance speaks during the 61st Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Munich, southern Germany. (IMAGE: AFP) The United States is optimistic it can put an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine, Vice President JD Vance said on Friday as he met Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for the second time in 24 hours. Vance saw Meloni in Washington on Thursday and the two have since flown to the Italian capital ahead of the Easter holidays. Recommended Stories I want to update the prime minister on some of the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine even in the past 24 hours, we think we have some interesting things to report on," Vance told reporters sitting alongside Meloni. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Since there are the negotiations I wont prejudge them, but we do feel optimistic that we can hopefully bring this war, this very brutal war, to a close," he added. Hours earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had said U.S. President Donald Trump would walk away from trying to broker a Russia-Ukraine peace deal within days unless there were clear signs that a deal could be done. Location : Rome, Italy First Published: April 18, 2025, 18:58 IST Was Jeff Bezos Blue Origin Mission Fake? Conspiracy Theories Erupt After Viral Door Gaffe | Watch Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 08:37 IST The conspiracy theorists pointed to the landing footage that shows travellers opening the capsule's door from inside minutes before Amazon boss Jeff Bezos could wrench it open on camera. Jeff Bezos seen standing as Lauren Sanchez comes out of the capsule | Image/Blue Origin After the New Shepard rockets return to Earth, a viral clip of the door-opening incident sparked online conspiracy theories, with some claiming pop star Katy Perrys all-women spaceflight with Blue Origin was staged." The conspiracy theorists pointed to the landing footage of the rocket that shows travellers opening the capsules door from inside minutes before its owner, Amazon boss Jeff Bezos, could wrench it open on camera. Recommended Stories They pointed to the moment as supposed proof that the mission was fake," arguing that, according to safety protocols and the pressurised cabin design, the rocket door should only be able to open from the outside. Blue Origin door opening goes viral after the door was opened from the inside before being closed so Jeff Bezos could wrench it open on camera. pic.twitter.com/xkIZRfbeV6 Oli London (@OliLondonTV) April 17, 2025 Pop star Katy Perry and five other crew members, including TV host Gayle King and Lauren Sanchezfiancee of Jeff Bezoswere launched aboard Blue Origins New Shepard rocket from West Texas on Monday at 9:31 am (local time). The flight marked a historic milestone as the first all-women space mission in over six decades. The rocket carried the crew just beyond the Karman Line, the internationally recognised boundary of space, before returning to Earth just 11 minutes after liftoff. Photos released on Monday captured the crew experiencing weightlessness, with Sanchez seen smiling as her feet floated in the air. So far, the aerospace company has not responded to the viral claim regarding the mission. Internet Melts Down An X user raising suspicion towards the mission, wrote: Id say this is the nail in the coffin. FAKE! Capsules hatch is designed to be opened from the outside by the recovery team after landing, as a safety measure to ensure controlled and secure egress." Id say this is the nail in the coffin. FAKE!The Blue Origin New Shepard crew capsules hatch is designed to be opened from the outside by the recovery team after landing, as a safety measure to ensure controlled and secure egress. Space capsules, including New Shepards, are https://t.co/8QcfCae4hA Colton (@ColtonBuckJ) April 16, 2025 Another commenter said: It was fake. The girls open the door to begin with from the inside themselves with nothing no tools. The lady stepped up to the door and they closed the door. Then they waited a few minutes, and Jeff Bezos stepped up with some sort of tool and acted like he unlocked the latch." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all It was fake. The girls open the door to begin with from the inside themselves with nothing no tools. The lady stepped up to the door and they closed the door. Then they waited a few minutes, and Jeff Bezos stepped up with some sort of tool and acted like he unlocked the latch pic.twitter.com/yBRTVCjloN Moonmonkey (@MoonmonkeyMadre) April 15, 2025 Other far-fetched conspiracy theories claim that the rocket appeared too clean" and undamaged to have actually travelled to space and returned. 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 18, 2025, 08:34 IST Who Is Harpreet Singh, Dreaded Terrorist Behind 14 Blasts In Punjab Caught In US? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 12:41 IST Harpreet Singh, aka Happy Passia, is suspected of collaborating with Pakistan's intelligence agency and with the Khalistani terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International. Harpreet Singh is accused of orchestrating at least 14 terror attacks in Punjab. (Photo: X) Harpreet Singh, aka Happy Passia, an absconding terrorist linked to Pakistans Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and Khalistani terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), has been apprehended in Sacremento, California in the United States. Singh was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the US Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) for his terror links and illegal entry. He allegedly entered the US illegally via the Mexico border in 2021 using a human trafficking network and evaded capture by using untraceable burner phones and encrypted applications. Recommended Stories Today, Harpreet Singh, an alleged terrorist responsible for terror attacks in Punjab, India, was arrested by the FBI and ERO in Sacramento. Linked to two international terrorist groups, he entered the US illegally and used burner phones to evade capture," said the FBI on social media. Who Is Harpreet Singh? Harpreet Singh, aka Happy Passia, is a terrorist believed to be operating near Germany, who is considered one of the biggest threats to the law and order situation in Punjab. He has been accused of several terror attacks in Punjab, targeting police establishments and religious sites. He is suspected of collaborating with Pakistans intelligence agency and with the Khalistani terror outfit Babbar Khalsa. Indias National Investigation Agency (NIA) announced a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh for his capture, saying he was wanted in connection with a grenade attack in September targeting a retired police officer in Chandigarh. Indian authorities say that Singh had provided logistical support, funds and ammunition to operatives in India as part of Babbar Khalsa International, according to the New York Times. He is believed to be a close associate of Pakistan-based gangster-turned-terrorist Harvinder Singh Sandhu aka Rinda. Sources say Rinda and Khalistani terrorists based in Pakistan are funding and supplying weapons to Khalistani operatives located in other countries, including Singh. The latter is also charged with terrorism, transnational conspiracy, and drug trafficking. Will Singh Be Deported To India? top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Harpreet Singh is accused in 17 criminal cases related to terrorism, murder, criminal conspiracy and drug trafficking. According to sources, Singh remains in constant contact with top-level ISI officials in Pakistan and receives substantial support from Khalistani terrorist groups. He is currently in the custody of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). India is pursuing deportation or extradition to try him for terrorism charges. However, Singh does have the right to challenge his deportation, complicating the move. 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: April 18, 2025, 12:41 IST Who Is Phoenix Ikner, Police Officer's Son Who Gunned Down Two At Florida State University? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 08:04 IST Phoenix Ikner, 20, is the son of a local sheriff's deputy who allegedly opened fire at Florida State University, killing two and injuring five others. Phoenix Ikner is the son of a local sheriff's deputy in Florida. (Photo: X) At least two people were killed and five others were hospitalised after a gunman, identified as Phoenix Ikner, opened fire at Florida State Universitys Tallahassee campus with her old service weapon. The gunman was also shot and injured by officials. All five injured and the accused were admitted to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital following the attack. The campus was locked down as gunfire erupted, with students ordered to shelter in place as first responders swarmed the site moments after the lunchtime shootings. Local news media outlets reported that multiple gunshots were heard, and there was a heavy police presence at the scene. Recommended Stories Around 1.15 pm (local time), US broadcaster CNN reported that a suspect had been taken into custody. School shootings are widespread in the United States, which have sparked a debate on gun rights, gun control and mental health issues. The ease of access to firearms and high gun ownership have resulted in frequent shooting incidents in American schools. Who Is Phoenix Ikner? The suspect accused of gunning down the victims is the son of a local sheriffs deputy, according to authorities. Phoenix Ikner, 20, has reportedly spent time training with law enforcement and serving on a sheriffs advisory council in the years before carrying out his alleged attack at the university, CNN reports. Phoenix was carrying a handgun that used to be the service weapon of Deputy Jessica Ikner, according to officials and records. Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil told reporters that the young man was a student at the university and the son of an exceptional" 18-year member of his staff. He added that the suspect was part of Sheriffs Office training programs, meaning its not a surprise to us that he had access to weapons". He was also a member of the sheriffs Youth Advisory Council, which is responsible for communication between the youth and local law enforcement. Additionally, a review of court records revealed that Phoenix had a difficult childhood. His biological mother, identified in the documents, was accused of taking him out of the United States in violation of a custody agreement when he was 10 years old. He was named as Christian Eriksen in the documents, which said he and his biological mother were dual US-Norwegian citizens. His biological mother reportedly told his father that she would take him to South Florida for spring break in March 2015. Instead, she fled to Norway in violation of the custody agreement. She later pleaded no contest to removing a minor from the state against a court order and was sentenced to 200 days in jail, followed by two years of community control" and then two years of probation, according to court records. Phoenix Ikner Is A Registered Republican Florida voter registration records show that Phoenix is a registered Republican. He was quoted in a newspaper about anti-Trump protests ahead of the presidents inauguration in January. These people are usually pretty entertaining, usually not for good reasons," he was quoted as saying. Phoenix, described as a political science major, said, I think its a little too late, hes [Trump] already going to be inaugurated on January 20 and theres not really much you can do unless you outright revolt, and I dont think anyone wants that." On Instagram, an account with Ikners name and photo that was taken offline after he was publicly identified included a biblical quote on its profile: You are my war club, my weapon for battle; with you I shatter nations, with you I destroy kingdoms." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Bystander footage aired by CNN appeared to show a young man walking on a lawn and shooting at people who were trying to get away. The two people who died were not students, police said, but refused to give further details. US President Donald Trump called the shooting a shame, a horrible thing," but insisted that Americans should retain unfettered access to guns. These things are terrible, but the gun doesnt do the shooting the people do." 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: April 18, 2025, 07:57 IST Three men aged between 31 and 39 have been arrested by South African police for allegedly stealing and smuggling 88 goats from Zimbabwe across the Limpopo River, in yet another case reflecting the persistent scourge of cross-border livestock theft. The trio was nabbed on Tuesday in the Bennde Mutale area of Limpopo Province during a joint tactical operation involving security agents from both Zimbabwe and South Africa, who are working together to curb cross-border crimes, especially stock theft. Limpopo police spokesperson, Colonel Malasela Ledwaba, said the suspects were intercepted following an intelligence-led operation spearheaded by the Makuya Police. Concerted efforts by police in the province to fight border crime are yielding results and this was evident when the Makuya Police arrested three suspects aged between 31 and 39 for smuggling of livestock, he said. Col Ledwaba said police seized a white Isuzu 44 pickup truck with a canopy and a large trailer loaded with 88 goats. The total estimated value of the seized livestock and vehicle is R470 000. Police received intelligence information about a suspicious vehicle fully loaded with goats suspected to have been smuggled from Zimbabwe into South Africa. The vehicle was monitored until it reached the tar road in Masisi, where it was intercepted, he said. The suspects, who failed to produce any documentation proving ownership of the animals, were arrested and are expected to appear before the Thohoyandou Magistrates Court on charges of possession of suspected stolen property. Investigations are still underway. The illegal movement of livestock across the Limpopo River has become a perennial problem, with goats, cattle and sheep frequently targeted by syndicates operating between the two countries. Cross-border livestock theft, especially involving goats, sheep and cattle, has become a growing problem in recent years, particularly along the porous border between Zimbabwe and South Africa. The crime not only disrupts rural livelihoods but also undermines food security and economic stability in affected communities. According to security authorities, syndicates often exploit unguarded border points to move stolen livestock, which is then sold on the South African black market for significantly higher prices. While goats may fetch between R600 and R1 000 on the Zimbabwean side, the same animals are sold for R3 500 or more in South Africa, making the trade highly lucrative for smugglers. In response to the growing threat, both governments have ramped up joint patrols, community policing initiatives and intelligence-sharing efforts aimed at dismantling stock theft networks. Farmers and local residents in border communities have also begun forming cross-border neighbourhood watch groups to track suspicious movements and report incidents swiftly. Sunday News Many people are afraid of retaliation for criticizing President Trump, Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski said this week, and she's one of them. Appearing before nonprofit leaders in Anchorage, the Republican who has publicly disagreed with Trump was asked about people who are fearful in the current political conditions, Politico reports. "We are all afraid," Murkowski answered before taking a long pause. "It's quite a statement," she continued, saying she's not experienced a political climate like this before. "I'm oftentimes very anxious myself about using my voice because retaliation is real. And that's not right," Murkowski said, per the Anchorage Daily News. She has stood out from her GOP colleagues in opposing Trump's actions, such as accusing the president of "walking away from our allies" as he increasingly sides with Russian President Vladimir Putin while attacking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, per Politico. She has spoken out against the Department of Government Efficiency's mass firings, as well. Murkowski defeated a challenger who had Trump's support when she was reelected in 2022. Murkowski also addressed the personal strain in dealing with the chaos of the first three months of Trump's termwhich has included, per the Hill, 124 executive orders. "It is head-spinning," Murkowski said in Anchorage. "It seems that just when you've made a little bit of progress on one issue that had caused so much anxiety, there's another one." She said lawmakers are having trouble keeping up with the actions of Elon Musk and DOGE. "None of us understand the half of it," she added. Still, Murkowski told the group, Republicans need to stand up for their principles and their constituents: "We cannot be cowed into not speaking up." Luigi Mangione was indicted on four counts Thursday by a grand jury in New York on a federal murder charge in the shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The indictment means that the federal grand jury found probable cause to charge Mangione in the December slaying, the New York Times reports. The charges include two counts of stalking and a firearms count. The process makes Mangione eligible for the death penalty if convicted, per the AP, which US Attorney General Pam Bondi already has promised to pursue. The US Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit needed little time on Thursday to reject the Trump administration's case for blocking a judge's orders to bring back the man who was illegally deported to a prison in El Salvador while pointing out the clarity of the situation. "It is difficult in some cases to get to the very heart of the matter. But in this case, it is not hard at all," the court said, per the Washington Post . "The government is asserting a right to stash away residents of this country in foreign prisons without the semblance of due process that is the foundation of our constitutional order." The vote on the three-judge panel was unanimous. The Supreme Court had told the administration to "facilitate" the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the US, and the Justice Department argued in a hearing earlier in the week that "facilitate" just means the government should let the man in if he gets to the US border somehow. The Trump administration also has said it's powerless to secure Abrego Garcia's release from another country. The appeals court was not impressed, saying Thursday that the administration "claims in essence that because it has rid itself of custody that there is nothing that can be done," per the New York Times. "'Facilitate' is an active verb," the panel said, which does not "allow the government to do essentially nothing." The administration's claim "should be shocking not only to judges, but to the intuitive sense of liberty that Americans far removed from courthouses still hold dear," Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III wrote, per the AP. The judges "cling to the hope that it is not naive to believe our good brethren in the Executive Branch perceive the rule of law as vital to the American ethos," the Republican appointee said. "This case presents their unique chance to vindicate that value and to summon the best that is within us while there is still time." Asked at the White House if Abrego Garcia deserves due process, President Trump would not say, deferring to his lawyers. "I have to do what they ask me to do," he said. (Administration officials stepped up their rhetoric on the issue.) After initially being denied a meeting with Kilmar Abrego Garcia in El Salvador, Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen was allowed to meet with him Thursday night at the prison where the Maryland man is being held after he was wrongfully deported from the US. "I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar. Tonight I had that chance," Van Hollen posted on X alongside a photo of their meeting. "I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return." Van Hollen is expected to be back in the US Friday and give more details then. In her own statement, Abrego Garcia's wife said she knows that "God is listening," USA Today reports. Activists are calling for another "economic blackout," this one lasting three days. From Friday through Sunday (or, for those who celebrate, from Good Friday through Easter), organizers are calling on people to avoid buying anything online or in-store from any major businessfrom retailers and restaurants to banks and gas stations, Yahoo News reports. The People's Union USA, the grassroots organization coordinating the spending boycotts, is urging people to spend money only on essential purchases, and to do so at small, local businesses with cash rather than a credit or debit card. Other upcoming, retailer-specific boycotts take aim at corporate greed in general or at companies that have ditched their diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, organizers say. Those include Amazon and Walmart boycotts in May, Target and McDonald's in June. Idaho police on Thursday released video footage showing the fatal April 5 shooting of Victor Perez, a 17-year-old intellectually disabled boy. Perez, who had autism, cerebral palsy, and was nonverbal, was wielding a knife during a confrontation with family members in his yard when a neighbor mistakenly reported him as an intoxicated man with a knife. Officers arrived and, within seconds, shot him through a chain-link fence without attempting de-escalation, the AP reports. "Not once did they tell his family members that they would shoot if they didn't move away from Victor, and there's no chance that they really believed Victor was able to stab them from behind the fence," says a lawyer for the family. After a week in the hospital, Perez was declared brain-dead and taken off life support, NBC News reports. His family intends to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Pocatello. The shooting sparked community outrage, leading about 200 people to hold a vigil at the hospital where the teen died. Another group protested at Pocatello City Hall. Critics argue the police failed to use less-lethal methods at their disposal, including Tasers, and also failed to back up in an attempt to make space between themselves and the teen and de-escalate the situation. "They never once asked, 'What is the situation, how can we help?'" says one witness, adding that the officers appeared "like a death squad." Police Chief Roger Schei and Mayor Brian Blad have not commented, citing an ongoing investigation by the East Idaho Critical Incident Task Force. US airstrikes against the Ras Isa oil terminal in Yemen reportedly killed dozens on Thursday, though the smoke is still clearing on exact numbers. Citing Houthi-run media, Reuters reports that at least 38 are dead, while the BBC puts the number at closer to 60. More than 100 others are reportedly injured. "The objective of these strikes was to degrade the economic source of power of the Houthis, who continue to exploit and bring great pain upon their fellow countrymen," US Central Command tweeted on Thursday. "This strike was not intended to harm the people of Yemen, who rightly want to throw off the yoke of Houthi subjugation and live peacefully." "The Houthis, their Iranian masters, and those who knowingly aid and abet their terrorist actions should be put on notice that the world will not accept illicit smuggling of fuel and war material to a terrorist organization," the command added. Local authorities say many of those killed were workers at the site, with paramedics also being killed as they arrived on the scene to help. The US has been conducting sweeping land and sea strikes against the Iran-backed Houthis since last month, with a warning that the bombardment won't stop until the rebel group stops attacking ships in the Red Sea. The Houthis, for their part, say the targeted naval attacks against ships tied to Israel are in protest against the war in Gaza. The AP reports that this latest assault is the "single-deadliest known attack under President Donald Trump's new campaign targeting the rebels." The Houthis, meanwhile, claim that Ras Isa is a civilian site and that the attack is a "full-fledged war crime," per the BBC, which cites Houthi-run media in reporting that more than a dozen airstrikes hit the oil terminal on Thursday. story continues below "We hold the US administration fully responsible for the consequences resulting from its escalation in the Red Sea," Houthi leaders said in a statement. Hours after the strikes against Ras Isa, the Israeli military reported that it had intercepted a missile that came out of Yemen, triggering sirens in Tel Aviv and other parts of Israel. David Hogg was elected as one of five vice chairs of the Democratic National Committee earlier this year after promising to win back young voters who had drifted to the GOPbut some Democrats are angry about what he has planned. The 25-year-old says a separate group he heads, Leaders We Deserve, will spend $20 million in primary battles in safe Democratic districts to combat a culture of "seniority politics" and elect younger lawmakers who will take on President Trump more effectively. "People say they want change in the Democratic Party, but really they want change so long as it doesn't potentially endanger their position of power," Hogg told the New York Times this week. "That's not actually wanting change. That's selfishness." "This is going to anger a lot of people," he said of the effort, predicting there would be a smear campaign against him. The Wisconsin Supreme Court has upheld a ruling allowing the Democratic governor to lock in a school funding increase for 400 years. The decision highlights the governor's powerful veto power, which is the broadest in the nation, the AP reports. The court's four liberal justices affirmed this power, ruling that it permits altering digits to extend funding durations. Wisconsin is the only state where a governor can reshape spending bills by striking out words, numbers, and punctuation. In 2023, Gov. Tony Evers used his partial veto power to strike the "20" and the hyphen from a reference to the 2024-25 school year in two-year budget bill, extending a funding increase that was meant to expire in 2025 to 2425. In the majority opinion, Justice Jill Karofsky wrote that the court is "acutely aware that a 400-year increase is both significant and attention-grabbing," the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. "However, our constitution does not limit the governor's partial veto power based on how much or how little the partial vetoes change policy, even when that change is considerable." The unusual veto power was introduced in a 1930 amendment to the Wisconsin's constitution, which stated, "Appropriation bills may be approved in whole or in part by the governor, and the part approved shall become law." It was rarely used for decades but governors started using it extensivelyand creativelyin 1969, per the Legislative Reference Bureau. Voters limited the power in 1990 by eliminating the "Vanna White veto," in which governors could eliminate letters to create new words. In 2008, they did away with the "Frankenstein veto," in which governors could create new sentences by striking words from multiple sentences. The Social Security Administration has taken the unprecedented step of classifying more than 6,000 immigrants as dead to pressure them to self-deport. Now, some of those very-much-alive people are showing up at SSA offices with driver's licenses, work permits, and other paperwork in hand proving their existence, forcing the agency to reinstate them, reports the Washington Post . More than 30 people have been taken off the SSA's "Death Master File" over the past week or so, according to records seen by the Post. The initial Department of Homeland Security move, encouraged by the Trump administration and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, saw instant pushback, including by SSA officials who said it violated privacy laws and falsified government records. The White House had said that the thousands of immigrants it placed into the death file, including children, had engaged in criminal activity or had terrorist ties, though it hasn't provided evidence for that. The AP notes the difficulties that can arise once Social Security numbers are eliminated: "You cannot legally get a job, collect Social Security benefits, or receive certain government benefits. Some school districts may prevent children from enrolling in school without a Social Security number. And while some banks allow people to open an account without a Social Security number, stripping immigrants of their Social Security numbers will cut them off from many other financial services." story continues below Immigrant advocates have called the purposeful move "digital murder," adding that those with Social Security numbers were in the United States legally. "The police state is here, now," former SSA Administrator Martin O'Malley says. Devin O'Connor, a senior fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, adds, "The administration is saying they have the right to declare someone as dead when they have not diedwhere is the oversight here?" Here's how being erroneously considered dead by the SSA has affected two apparent US citizens. The IRS is getting its fifth leader since January, and the latest turnover is the result of friction between Elon Musk and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, reports the New York Times. Coverage: Deputy Treasury Secretary Michael Faulkender is taking over, reports the Wall Street Journal. He is Bessent's pick. Faulkender replaces Gary Shapley, who was installed by Trump in the post only on Tuesday. Shapley was Musk's pick, and the Times reports Bessent was angry because he was not even consulted. Shapley is a favorite of conservatives because the longtime IRS official accused the Justice Department of stalling its investigation of Hunter Biden's taxes. The Trump administration is moving to reclassify tens of thousands of career civil servantsabout 2% of the federal workforceas "at-will" employees, making them easier to fire. The Office of Personnel Management proposed the rule on Friday, the White House announced. The statement said the change would address "unaccountable, policy-determining federal employees who put their own interests ahead of the American people's," NPR reports. Trump first announced the change, which was part of the Project 2025 agenda for his second term, on social media, per the AP . "If these government workers refuse to advance the policy interests of the President, or are engaging in corrupt behavior, they should no longer have a job," Trump wrote. "This is common sense, and will allow the federal government to finally be 'run like a business.'" Once the rule previously called "Schedule F" has been finalized, he plans to sign another executive order to conclude the process. He had issued an executive order in his term to eliminate the employee protections as well, per Axios. The White House said the rule would roll back Biden administration safeguards, per CBS News. Alan Lescht, an employment lawyer who represents federal workers, told Axios in January when the plan was announced that the rule is so broadly worded that "just about anyone in the civil service could be swept up into this category." The president of the American Federation of Government Employees criticized the move. "President Trump's action to politicize the work of tens of thousands of career federal employees will erode the government's merit-based hiring system and undermine the professional civil service that Americans rely on," Everett Kelley said in a statement, per the AP. Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen said Friday that Kilmar Abrego Garcia told him when they met in El Salvador that he's been moved from the prison he'd been held in for almost three weeks to a detention center with better conditions. Van Hollen provided details of the meeting the day before to reporters in Washington, the New York Times reports, saying that the man wrongly deported by the Trump administration told him he's been traumatized by the experience. When the senator recounted Abrego Garcia's statements about wanting to talk to his wife, Jennifer Abrego Garcia wiped away tears, per the AP . Van Hollen described the stagecraft involved in the meeting. The Salvadoran government wanted it to take place "by the side of a pool," he said. "They wanted to create the appearance that life was just lovely for Kilmar." He also addressed a social media rumor that the two of them had sipped margaritas as they talked, per the BBC. The drinks were put there by government officials, he said, to make it look like they were enjoying a cocktail, but neither of them touched the drinks. Abrego Garcia is now being held in a lower-level facility in Santa Ana, Van Hollen said. "He said that the conditions were better at this new detention center, but he was still in a total blackout," unable to speak to anyone outside. Van Hollen said Abrego Garcia first was taken to Baltimore after being seized, then to a detention facility in Texas. There, he was handcuffed, shackled, and put on a plane with blacked-out windows. Once at the prison, Abrego Garcia was held in a cell with about 25 other prisoners. "He said that he felt very sad to be in a place that's meant for criminals," the senator said. TDT | Manama Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com The Minister of Tourism, Her Excellency Fatima bint Jaafar Al Sairafi, has emphasised the pivotal role of the private sector in achieving the objectives of the Tourism Strategy 20222026. She highlighted its significant contribution, particularly in enhancing tourism services and introducing innovative programs that elevate the overall visitor experience. The Minister noted that such efforts are essential in reinforcing Bahrains status as a competitive and attractive destination on both regional and international tourism maps. She underscored the importance of continued collaboration to further develop the sector and deliver high-quality, diverse offerings for tourists. Al Sairafi made the remarks as she met with Eng. Yousef Khalifa Al Mannaei, CEO of Masar Group, where they discussed ways to expand maritime connectivity between tourist sites in the Kingdom. This initiative supports the development of marine tourism infrastructure and promotes sustainable tourism. The Minister praised Masar Groups initiatives in supporting the Ministrys efforts by operating marine trips, which represent an important element in diversifying the tourism experience. Unique potentials She stressed that the Kingdom of Bahrain, as the only archipelago in the Middle East, possesses unique potentials for developing waterfronts and recreational activities, which are key pillars of the national tourism strategy. Eng. Al Mannaei appreciated the continuous efforts of the Ministry of Tourism and the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) in supporting innovative projects. He praised the fruitful cooperation with the private sector, which actively contributes to achieving shared development goals and strengthens the Kingdoms position as a leading tourism hub. 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. The fire started Friday morning in an industrial section of North Arlington in Bergen County. Anthony G. Attrino | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com A fast-moving blaze broke out Friday in a commercial building in an industrial area of Bergen County. The fire began shortly before noon in a building on Porete Avenue in North Arlington, officials said. The site is close to a residential neighborhood in North Arlington that borders Kearny in Hudson County. No injuries were immediately reported. Video from the scene showed black smoke billowing over homes along Schuyler Avenue near Route 7, known as Belleville Turnpike. Traffic delays were reported and North Arlington police advised residents to close their windows until further notice. The cause of the fire is under investigation, police said. Thick smoke pours over homes along Schulyer Avenue in North Arlington on Friday morning. Anthony G. Attrino | NJ Advance Media Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook. A coalition of maternal health experts are giving Black mothers a reason to smile. As of March 19, more than $1.4 million dollars total have been dispersed to 250 mothers thanks to the Philly Joy Bank. The guaranteed income pilot program gives $1,000 monthly payments from the second trimester of a mothers pregnancy to their childs first birthday. The goal is to shrink maternal health disparities in Philadelphia, where poverty and pregnancy oftentimes go hand-in-hand. In 2022, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported preterm and low-weight births as the second-leading cause of infant mortality. Poverty increases the risk of low birth weight due to lack of access to adequate healthcare and healthy food choices. Philadelphia, identified as Americas poorest big city, has an infant mortality rate thats nearly 40 percent higher than the national rate of 5.8 per 1,000 live births. Black birthing people are four times more likely than white people to die due to pregnancy-related causes, exceeding the national trend. The program selected mothers who live in three neighborhoods known for their high rates of very low birth weight, which is less than 3 pounds 5 ounces. The Cobbs Creek areas rate is 4 percent. Strawberry Mansion comes in second with a rate of 3.7 percent followed by Nicetown-Tioga, which has a rate of 3.59 percent. Almost 50 percent of the Philly Joy Bank participants have an annual household income of less than $10,000. Program Director Nia Coaxum said the initiative helps birthing people gain more financial footing by providing the funds without strings attached. This gives them the freedom to use the money however they choose and the emotional space to enjoy the delights of parenting: hence the name of the bank. Everyone was very intentional about this program just having a positive aura about it, Coaxum said. Thats how we ended up with Philly Joy Bank. We really just wanted to emphasize a key part of pregnancy and parenting and how thats a joyful experience. The mission behind the Philly Joy Bank fits this years Black Maternal Health Week theme, which is Healing Legacies: Strengthening Black Maternal Health Through Collective Action and Advocacy. The annual observance, held from April 11-17, was created by Black Mamas Matter Alliance to bring attention to the racial inequality in maternal healthcare while creating space to celebrate Black birthing people and the advocates who fight for their well-being. During a webinar hosted by the alliance on Monday, psychologist and doula Dr. Sayida Peprah-Wilson stressed the importance of inviting and listening to Black mothers while conducting maternal health research. She also warned that Black maternal health professionals and birthing parents feel secondary traumatic stress when learning about health inequities. A way to alleviate this mental health impact is to pair the dismal statistics with positive outcomes or solutions. Yes, Black women are three times more likely than white women to die from childbirth, but more than 80 percent of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. A lot of times I hear families come into our doula program saying the reason why they want a doula is because they are afraid they are going to die during childbirth, says Peprah-Wilson. So its been very important for us to lift up the concerns that are happening. There is a crisis in the community. But we also dont want people to be afraid of something that we have been doing since the beginning of time. We are not expected to die just because we are giving birth. Coaxum said the creation of Philly Joy Bank was a communal response to a desperate call to action. A few years ago, the Philadelphia Community Action Network, also known as PhillyCAN, gathered its coalition of maternal health experts to figure out what they can do to improve the health of babies and their families. Coaxum said PhillyCAN looked into a survey that was given to birthing people between 2018 and 2020 which reported finances as their top stressor. Experts investigated what other states were doing to mitigate financial stress during pregnancy, which led to the creation of Philly Joy Bank. The programs steering committee is filled with other Black mothers who serve as lived experience experts and can relate to the recipients stories. The parents insight is taken into account during Philly Joy Banks decision-making process. A mother of a 16-month-old son herself, Coaxum said Black mothers need to feel heard right now. They need to be listened to. Dont just ask them what their needs are and how theyre doing, but to actually take that into account, Coaxum said. We know what we need best, and we dont necessarily need somebody else telling us, This is what you need. This is the type of help you should accept. Actually listen to moms and birthing people when they tell you what their needs are and the kind of help that would be beneficial for them. Philly Joy Bank is working with Drexel University to evaluate the programs impact. Coaxum said that report wont be available until around late 2026, But the success stories from participants are already trickling in. Once the checks began to clear, stories started trickling in. A bilingual mother was able to take English classes, improving her ability to continue her certified nursing assistant courses. Another mother who was once in between housing now has the funds to move into a new apartment. Last fall, another mother didnt have to choose between paying for her older childrens school supplies or setting aside funds for her babys arrival. Her anxiety eased into calm because she was able to provide for both needs at the same time. Coaxum said the program has empowered parents to make decisions that are best for their families, especially when it comes to a time for them to leave work. We dont have a national parental paid leave policy and some folks dont have the option of leave at all, Coaxum said. So the hope is that by giving them this extra money, it will also allow them to be able to save in advance if they need to. This money can keep them afloat if they have to take any time off work and support their household if they already have other children as well. Initiatives similar to Philly Joy Bank have been proven to help pull Black families out of the cycle of poverty. Magnolia Mothers Trust, the longest-running guaranteed income program in the country, gives $1,000 a month to low-income Black mothers in Jackson, Miss. According to the trusts 2023-2024 evaluation and case study report, the funds not only helped them break the pattern of living paycheck-to-paycheck, 45 percent of the mothers were able to start savings accounts with the extra cash. Around 65 percent of mothers in the program were able to pay down debt, which improved their credit score. In Birmingham, Ala., the Embrace Mothers program supported single mothers with $375 monthly payments for a year. The extra cash flow helped with food insecurity, with groceries accounting for 31.8 percent of the spending. Retail services made up 30 percent of the spending followed by housing and utilities at 12 percent. Despite the name of Philadelphias program, it is more than just a bank. Its a multi-prong operation preventing maternal and baby deaths on multiple fronts. Mothers of Philly Joy Bank are also offered other forms of voluntary assistance, such as financial help, lactation education and doula support. Coaxum said the wrap-around services set birthing people up for success. You dont just want someone to just have support prenatally and then when the babys born be like, OK. Were never seeing you again. You got it, Coaxum said. We really need to take a holistic approach when talking about Black maternal health because folks have different needs throughout the different points of the perinatal period. So far into the program, the majority of the mothers are taking advantage of the financial counseling. Coaxum said the mothers are learning how to save or use the funds in the way that maximizes its benefit even after their time in the program is over. Now they have this extra money and maybe their financial goals have changed, Coaxum said. So we wanted to give them this option if they needed help figuring out how to make this money last or achieve whatever goals they have set for themselves. Philly Joy Bank isnt accepting any more mothers at this time, but Coaxum hopes for the programs growth in the future. If the evaluation shows enough positive results, she said the program could then expand and accept low-income birthing people from all across Philadelphia. That way, more parents can get a chance to feel what it is like to be financially free. When we provide support to Black mothers, it really is possible for us to thrive and to have not just positive birth experiences and outcomes, but also improved health overall, she said. A passenger was killed when two vehicles collided at a Cumberland County intersection on Thursday. The driver of a Ford F-150 pickup truck traveling east on Route 540/Deerfield Road in Upper Deerfield Township around 4:15 p.m. failed to heed a stop sign at the intersection with Route 77, according to a New Jersey State Police spokesman. The vehicle collided with a Ford Ranger pickup traveling south on Route 77, police said. The Ranger then struck a utility pole and overturned. A passenger in the Ranger, Ryan Carney, 45, of Bridgeton, was killed, police said. The 59-year-old Bridgeton man driving the Ranger suffered serious injuries. The 66-year-old Bridgeton man driving the F-150 was not injured, police said. No charges have been announced. The crash remains under investigation, police said. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. A Burlington County school district facing a multimillion-dollar budget shortfall plans to eliminate nearly 50 teaching and staff positions to stay afloat. Student protests and widespread anger from parents and teachers erupted in Bordentown Regional School District last month after the board of education approved its tentative $53.5 million budget for the 2025-26 school year. Several elementary and pre-K teaching positions, as well as special education and counseling jobs, will be cut under the new budget plan. The district will also remove two administrative positions, making its administration the smallest its been in more than two decades. The plan that I introduced was horrific, Interim Superintendent Edward J. Forsthoffer III said Thursday. We need to eliminate four dozen faculty and staff members. This results in increased class sizes across the board and decreases in basic skills instruction. MORE: These 9 N.J. school districts are taking desperate measures to keep from going broke With just two weeks left to finalize the budget last month, Forsthoffer returned to the district as interim superintendent after the previous superintendent resigned. The board was grappling with an $8 million deficit at the time and needed to introduce a plan to close the gap, he said. Major costs, including salaries and benefits for staff members, have increased, district officials said. That forced the district to make tough decisions. More students are also attending out-of-district schools, which Bordentown must pay for and factor into its costs, officials said. Unfortunately, where we are is not a surprise and there was not much we could do to prevent it, Forsthoffer said. Bordentown Regional School District has five schools and about 2,200 students. It serves students in Fieldsboro, Bordentown City and Bordentown Township. Though enrollment has decreased by more than 150 students over the past four years, the number of students requiring special education services has skyrocketed, also driving up costs. This is the first time in since enrollment has dropped that the district is reducing its staff, according to Forsthoffer. Along with the staff cuts, Bordentown plans to eliminate middle school sports, remove two school buses and cut some maintenance expenses to save $100,000 at each of its five schools. After Gov. Phil Murphy unveiled his $12.1 billion school funding plan for fiscal year 2026, the state Department of Education released preliminary state aid figures for the states nearly 600 districts in February. This year, Murphy administration has capped state aid increases for school districts at 6% and limited cuts to 3% or less in major funding categories. Bordentowns state aid dropped by about $8,000 to $8.2 million in the proposed budget. According to state figures, the districts budget is below adequacy, meaning it should be spending more to ensure students receive a thorough and efficient education. However, without an increase in state aid, theres no way to close the gap without staff cuts, the superintendent said. Some school districts across New Jersey have taken desperate measures to make up for years of underfunding and deficits. State school aid has long been a contentious issue, with many districts blaming New Jerseys school funding formula fully implemented for the first time last year for their budget troubles. At its April 9 meeting, the Bordentown Board of Education approved a resolution to ask the state education commissioner for permission to exceed its spending cap by up to $1 million for the 2025-26 school year. If approved, the district could raise property taxes and receive more aid, helping it move closer to proper funding levels. The money would then be used to restore some teaching and staff positions that were eliminated, school officials said. As of Thursday, the districts request has not been decided on yet, Forsthoffer said. He said he hopes the request will be approved in May when the districts final budget is due. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Nyah Marshall may be reached at nmarshall@njadvancemedia.com Most high school seniors dream of getting into a top college. Angel Ortiz has seven to choose from and theyre all Ivy League schools. The 17-year-old Newark high school student said it was a surreal moment when he and his mother opened his college acceptance letters last month. Just reading every single one, just one by one, it was quite the feeling, Ortiz said Thursday. Ortiz was first admitted to Princeton University through its early action program in December. Then, in late March, the acceptances kept coming from Dartmouth College, the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard, Columbia, Brown and Yale universities. He was accepted to seven of the eight Ivy League schools, some of the most prestigious and competitive higher education institutions in the world. The only Ivy League school Ortiz didnt apply to was Cornell University. The Ivy League schools receive tens of thousands of applicants each year, with only 4-6% percent of students getting accepted, according to Forbes. With a 4.3 grade point average, Ortiz was named Arts High Schools valedictorian. The school is a historic, four-year magnet public school in Newark specializing in dance, drama, music, production and visual arts. Angel embodies the spirit of Arts High School. Hes creative, driven, and full of purpose, Principal Regina Sharpe said in a statement. He has worked very hard and taken full advantage of every opportunity, both in and out of the classroom, and the result is something truly historic. Ortiz applied to the colleges with an SAT score of 1,480 out of a possible 1,600. He also had a long list of academic and extracurricular accomplishments and personal essays reflecting on his life as a child of immigrants and the sacrifices his parents made. Angel Ortiz, a senior at Newark's historic Arts High School got accepted in seven Ivy League schools. Newark Public Schools More than two decades ago, Ortizs parents immigrated to the United States from Oaxaca, Mexico. They now own two family-run pizzerias in Belleville and Phillipsburg. His parents instilled in him a strong work ethic and the value of education, Ortiz said. They always wanted me to work hard at school so that I could get a good career, get a good job in the future, and so I wanted to make them proud by doing good at school, he said. His mother, Marina Garcia, dreamed of sending her son to Princeton University. His father, Mariano Ortiz, said he tried to instill a work ethic in his children. I always tell them, the way I work hard for you guys, thats the way you guys got to work, this is for your future, this is for you, his father said in an ABC7 interview. Ortizs college personal essays also touched on his identity as a Mexican-American and the challenges of navigating society with both of those labels, he said. He also has an active student life serving as treasurer of the National Art Honor Society, a member of Spanish Honor Society and a participant in the NJ Law and Education Empowerment Project or NJLEEP. NJLEEP is a program that exposes urban youth to careers in law and supports them on the path to college admission. Ortiz has been interested in history since he was young, but after the 2020 election, he became more drawn to politics inspiring him to pursue a political science degree. Ive recently felt more determined to get myself into that circle and project my voice on a grander scale, Ortiz said. When hes not in school, Ortiz said hes expressing his creativity through his passion for music and visual arts. As for the tough college decision he has to make, Ortiz is still weighing his options and hasnt made a final decision on which Ivy League to choose. Over the past few weeks, hes been visiting campuses to get a feel for which university would be the best fit. He has until April 30 to make his choice, which happens to be his 18th birthday. Ortiz said he is a proud first generation college student. About 56% of all undergraduate college students identify as first-generation. These students are predominantly Latino, Black, and Asian and are more likely to be children of immigrants. First-generation students often face challenges in pursuing higher education and experience added pressures to succeed due to their backgrounds. Ortiz said he wants his accomplishments be an inspiration for others. As a first-generation Latino son of immigrants, I know that avenues like college are much harder to access for people like us, Ortiz said. I hope that now, during my college life, and in my future career, I can be the best representation of my community and loved ones. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Nyah Marshall may be reached at nmarshall@njadvancemedia.com A 44-year-old NJ Transit passenger spit on and punched a crew member Wednesday after he was asked to show his ticket on a New York-bound train, officials said. Tyquan Gibbs refused to show a ticket when the train stopped at Newark Liberty International Airport at around noon, NJ Transit said. The ticket collector tumbled to the ground after she was attacked, NJ Transit said. Gibbs is accused of continuing to punch her until other passengers intervened and held him until police arrived. Gibbs, of Jersey City, was charged with multiple counts of assault, including aggravated assault of a protected employee. Gibbs and the NJ Transit employee were taken to separate hospitals to be treated for injuries not considered life-threatening. They were on Northeast Corridor train No. 3838, which left Trenton at 10:41 a.m. Attorney information for Gibbs wasnt immediately available. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. A hospital in Hudson County that is emerging from bankruptcy has been fined $247,500 by the Department of Health for months of infection control violations. In an April 17th letter to Dr. Marie T. Duffy, the CEO for CarePoint Health Christ Hospital in Jersey City, state health officials said inspectors found the deficiencies in June after receiving a complaint concerning patient care. CarePoint Health was the owner of the hospital at the time of the inspection. Hudson Regional Health was approved last week to acquire Christ Hospital and its sister facilities, Hoboken Medical Center and Bayonne Medical Center. Neither CarePoint Health nor Hudson Regional Health immediately responded to a request for comment. The state survey inspection team found the hospital failed to ensure environmental cleaners and disinfectants were used properly, did not follow rules that require the reporting of communicable diseases and did not ensure staff practiced adequate hand hygiene. The hospitals infection control professional did not hold a board certification, as required, the letter said. The state surveyors also said the hospital did not clean point of care devices between patient visits. A point of care device is a handheld electronic tool, such as a blood glucose monitor or a thermometer. The health department first shared the list of deficiencies with the hospital in September, the letter said. Christ Hospital was fined $2,500 a day from June 20, when the inspection began through Sept. 27 for a total of $247,500. The hospital has 30 days to appeal the fines to an administrative law judge. It may also request a hearing to challenge the findings under the health departments informal dispute resolution process. The health department has fined Christ Hospital before. In 2023, the hospital was fined because its parent company, CarePoint, did not seek the state required permission before transferring the hospital from a for-profit to a nonprofit owner. The state imposed a $37,000 fine. In October, the state imposed a $35,000 fine because the hospital had not appointed three board members from the community. CarePoint Health was more than $108 million in debt when it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last year amid the plans for the merger with Hudson Regional Health. In January, however, CarePoint updated its filing to reveal it was actually $300 million in debt after the health department sharply questioned the nonprofit companys disclosure. The new healthcare system comprised of Christ Hospital, Hoboken Medical Center, Bayonne Medical Center and Hudson Regional Health will be called Hudson Health. Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. The owner of an investment firm has pleaded guilty to federal charges, admitting that he scammed investors out of nearly $7 million since 1988. Vincent Dispoto Jr., 67, a former Belmar resident, pleaded guilty to wire fraud, the U.S. Attorneys Office District of New Jersey said in a statement on Thursday. Dispoto is the owner of Giddeon Financial Services and Liberty Mortgage Services. Since 1988, he raised funds through the entities by collecting money from victims who thought they were investors, federal prosecutors said. Dispoto told the victims that their money would go into either low-risk investment products or be invested in mortgages for medical professionals, both with guaranteed returns, authorities said. Instead, he used the money to run a Ponzi-like scheme and used a portion of the money for gambling and other personal expenses, officials said. A total of 47 victims, mostly elderly adults, were scammed out of a combined $6,990,635.62, according to federal prosecutors. Dispoto also covered up the scheme by sending the victims fake documents that showed the growth of their non-existent portfolios, authorities said. His sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 26. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com. Several organizations sued the state in 2018, arguing that New Jersey's public school system is one of the most segregated in the nation. Canva for NJ.com Editors note: This story was shared as part of a content-sharing agreement between Mosaic.NJ.com and Chalkbeat. You can follow them on Facebook and Twitter (or X). A coalition of plaintiffs that sued New Jersey for its failure to fix deeply-rooted de facto segregation in its public school system has asked a higher court to reverse a trial court decision that denied a clear ruling in their favor. Latino Action Network and NAACP New Jersey State Conference, among other groups and families that comprise the plaintiffs, sued the state in 2018. Using publicly available data, they argued that New Jerseys public school system, one of the most segregated in the nation, was unconstitutionally segregated by race and socioeconomic background. A trial court judge issued a mixed opinion in 2023 that stopped short of ordering the state to fix its segregated school system, which prompted the parties to attempt to reach a resolution in mediation. But by February, after more than a year of meetings, the mediation discussions proved fruitless, bouncing the case back to the courts just as the Trump administration began directly targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion policies and practices in K-12 and higher education spaces. This case has been one of few nationally to address systemic racial and socioeconomic segregation on a statewide level. A decision on the case could have reverberations across the country at a time when policies to strengthen DEI practices are under threat by the federal government. Now, the plaintiffs want the appellate court to step in and make a judgement on the states liability for allowing de facto segregation to endure in its school system despite it violating the state constitution which is explicit in its ban on school segregation. Indeed, the trial court agreed with plaintiffs on the central constitutional questions before it and acknowledged that the state defendants failed to act to correct this segregation, attorneys wrote in court documents filed on Tuesday in the Superior Court of New Jersey Appellate Division. But rather than reach the only logical conclusion that followed that the state defendants violated plaintiffs constitutional rights the trial court left the question of liability for another day. The plaintiffs are asking the higher court to grant its motion to appeal, allow for another full briefing and argument, and reverse Judge Robert Lougys decision so that the parties can finally proceed to the remedial phase of this litigation, the court documents stated. Opposition briefs from the defendants, which includes the states Education Department and education commissioner, are due April 28. When the cases were being argued in trial court, the states defense pushed back on the plaintiffs data, saying it was relying only on demographics from a select group of school districts which included cities such as Newark and Camden and questioned if it was a far-reaching statewide issue. State agencies had not responded to requests for comment by publication. Plaintiffs argue judges ruling had flaws In Lougys 99-page opinion, he stated that the plaintiffs demonstrated persistent racial imbalance in numerous school districts but failed to prove that the states entire educational system is unconstitutionally segregated. The attorneys for the plaintiffs argued in court documents this week that Lougys conclusion defies logic and fails to fulfill the courts duty to order remedies for constitutional wrongs like those at issue here. They also argued against another part of Lougys opinion about there being no practical solution to school segregation. That finding, they stated in their argument, was premature, irrelevant to the question of liability, and unsupported by what was on the record, according to court documents. In challenging Lougys opinion on possible solutions, the plaintiffs pointed out the possible remedies they provided during the trial court argument that would help integrate schools. Those remedies included interdistrict magnet schools and removing the states residency statute, which prevents families from enrolling their students across municipal boundaries. The plaintiffs also argued that there continues to be an injustice to students across the state who are enrolled in segregated schools defined as 90% or more of the student population identifying as non-white the longer this case remains in litigation. Among the plaintiffs are students who were in the fifth grade when the lawsuit was filed seven years ago and are now about to graduate from high school in two months, the court documents show. Other students among the plaintiffs had not yet started kindergarten at the time the lawsuit was filed and will be headed to the seventh grade this fall, according to court documents. The protracted nature of this litigationhas already delayed the resolution of this matter and caused real and irreparable harm to students, the attorneys for the plaintiffs stated in Tuesdays court documents. For some, including some plaintiffs in this case, it is too late. Not granting the appeal or addressing the issues they presented would consign yet another generation of New Jersey students to a similar fate, they added. Few are aware of New Jerseys school segregation New Jersey was ranked as having the sixth most segregated school system for Black students and seventh most segregated school system for Latino students in a 2017 report on the states segregated schools from The Civil Rights Project. Even so, most New Jersey voters were unaware of the lawsuit and few were aware that the state has among the most segregated school systems in the country, according to a Fairleigh Dickinson University Poll from the fall. Though not originally listed as defendants in the suit, representatives of charter schools and renaissance schools became intervenors on the case, meaning they have a stake in its outcome. In New Jersey, renaissance schools are a charter-district hybrid, run by a nonprofit but funded by the public school district at a greater rate than charter schools. Charter school representatives have previously stated that charter schools could play a role in integrating public schools as they allow for enrollment across municipal boundaries. Recent research has shown racial and economic school segregation has increased in the last 30 years nationwide, particularly in large school districts. A 2024 report out of Stanford and the University of Southern California found that policies favoring school choice and parental preference, in addition to the end of court oversight that required school integration for certain districts, were two major drivers of the increase. Catherine Carrera is the bureau chief for Chalkbeat Newark. Welcome to Mosaic. Follow us on Instagram at @MosaicNJcom and on Facebook at MosaicNJcom and on YouTube at @MosaicNJcom. The New Jersey Department of Transportation is spearheading a multi-agency effort featuring medical teams, housing vouchers, and a $6 million drop-in center to support the unhoused at Newark's Penn Station. Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Editors note: This story was 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). A wide-ranging effort will soon be launched to address the rising numbers of homeless individuals in and around Newark Penn Station in downtown Newark. Gateway to Hope brings a multi-disciplinary medical outreach team directly into the station, providing on-the-spot care and helping people access critical support, said Fran OConnor, commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Transportation. As part of the program, a health care worker from RWJBarnabas Health will be on-site at the station to support those in need. So we will find a private room on the other side of the station, where nurses and community health workers can talk to these folks in a private space, talk to them about their options, and then come up with transport so we can transport them to their places, said Kris Kolluri, president and CEO of New Jersey Transit. Kolluri said he started thinking about a program like this in his first week on the job as a way to transition Penn Station from the only place a homeless person can find shelter to a resource where people can get connected to services. To have a team dedicated to Penn Station and in and around this area is tremendous, said Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who is running for governor. Right up the street, well have a drop-in center for the homeless population as well, or we say, residents without addresses. So instead of washing up in Penn Stations bathroom, they get to go up the street, take a shower, wash their clothes, get services and treatment not too far from here. One of the key components of this program will be connecting homeless individuals with permanent housing opportunities, officials said, with 200 vouchers from the Newark Housing Authority and 100 provided by New Jerseys Department of Community Affairs, an investment of about $3.2 million from the state. In addition, there will be a $6 million investment through public and private funding for the Sheila Y. Oliver Drop-in Center nearby. And to get people the support they need, the program is pulling in grassroots organizations like Bridges Outreach. Once those folks are connected to their housing, were the ones who are making sure theyre gonna keep that housing, said Richard Uniacke, president and CEO of Bridges Outreach. And because theyre inherently transitional, were also doing the housing navigation to find the ultimate permanency. The outreach center at Penn Station is expected to launch in the next several weeks. And the Sheila Y. Oliver Drop-in Center is set to open by the end of 2025. Its a model that state leaders will watch closely to see if it can be scaled around New Jersey. This is also investing in the economy here in Newark, said Jacquelyn Suarez, commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs. So we are making sure were not just making these home opportunities available, but were also making the city more attractive for investment to come and call Newark home. And that will really help raise up Newark as a whole. Welcome to Mosaic. Follow us on Instagram at @MosaicNJcom and on Facebook at MosaicNJcom and on YouTube at @MosaicNJcom. The Olive Bistro in Little Falls, New Jersey, photographed on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, is spacious and welcoming. Karim Shamsi-Basha There are a lot of Middle Eastern restaurants in New Jersey, and Ive been to many that serve authentic foods from that decadent part of the world. But in Little Falls, New Jersey, a humble Palestinian eatery is living up to its astounding reputation. Welcome to The Olive Bistro, where the vibe is comfortable, the staff is friendly, and the food is almost as good as my mothers! I know. A huge statement, but its true. The Olive Bistro specializes in Palestinian cuisine, a part of the Middle Eastern food world you dont hear much about, but its worth the telling. Upon walking in, I was overwhelmed with the essence of spices from that part of the world, like cumin, coriander, sumac, zaatar and saffron. The atmosphere is laid back, with friendly servers welcoming you into the spacious eatery. I examined the menu, and a grin parted my lips. I saw dishes my mother used to make, like hummus with meat ($11.99). Everyone knows hummus, but this one is jazzed up with ground meat, onions and pinenuts on top. Another is Muhammara ($8.99), spicy red peppers blended with olive oil to make a paste similar to hummus. My mother loved this one and used to invite me to try it, but I had no tolerance for hot foods. I still dont. The smell alone made my eyes water. The last dish was labneh ($8.99), which is homemade yogurt with a walnut spread, mint and olive oil. I used to eat that until I was full, then I would eat some more! Many authentic dishes await patrons at The Olive Bistro in Little Falls, New Jersey, including the one above, photographed on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. Karim Shamsi-Basha From The Olive Bistro menu, I ordered the cheese berak ($9.99), filo dough stuffed with white cheese, then baked. I also ordered the zaater with cheese flatbread ($10.99); foul modammas ($10.99), which is fava beans with tomatoes, olive oil and cumin; and the falafel ($7.99). As a person who grew up in the Middle East, I feel that falafel is the dish that can distinguish a good restaurant, and these did not disappoint. They were crispy on the outside and tender and flavorful inside. The fava beans were tasty and fragrant, and the cheese berak was tasty with that recognizable Syrian cheese inside. We cant forget about that zaater and cheese flatbread. It was tangy from the zaater, and the cheese provided a sweet and delicious addition. The salad section of the menu includes the authentic Middle Eastern Fattoush ($11.99) with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, parsley, mint, sumac, pita chips, lemon, and olive oil. You also have the tabouleh salad ($13.99) with parsley, mint, onion, bulgur, lemon and olive oil. Worth noting here is that they make their own pita bread at The Olive Bistro. The menu also features a grill section with shish kabobs, lamb chops and grilled shrimp dishes. If you have a hankering for authentic Middle Eastern fare, head to The Olive Bistro. You wont be disappointed. Karim Shamsi-Basha may be reached at kshamsi-basha@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter & Instagram. Follow Mosaic on Instagram at @MosaicNJcom and on Facebook at MosaicNJcom. President Donald Trump speaks as he signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House, Thursday, April 17, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) AP Everyday Americans received billions of dollars in relief from fraud and predatory lending through a government agency created after the Great Recession. And President Donald Trump and worlds richest man Elon Musk have effectively shuttered their doors. Trumps administration cut nearly 90% of workers at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which was created after the housing crisis and financial crash to protect Americans from fraud, abuse and deceptive practices. Roughly 1,500 employees are slated to be cut, leaving around 200 people, according to The Associated Press. Conservatives and businesses have often chafed at the agencys oversight and investigations, and Musk made it a top target of his Department of Government Efficiency. One of the most important reforms following the Great Recession of 2008-2009 is being gutted. And everyday Americans will pay the price, an X user posted online. This is why greedy traitorous bankers are happy with Trump, added political scientist Norman Ornstein. This is why greedy traitorous bankers are happy with Trump https://t.co/v2RqL8Of5K Norman Ornstein (@NormOrnstein) April 18, 2025 Employees started receiving layoff notices on Thursday. Their access to agency systems, including email, ends on Friday evening. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau identified your position being eliminated and your employment is subject to termination in accordance with reduction-in-force (RIF) procedures, the emails said. Mark Paoletta, the chief legal officer for the agency, sent a message to employees on Wednesday describing the CFPBs reduced mission. To focus on tangible harms to consumers, the Bureau will shift resources away from enforcement and supervision that can be done by the States, he wrote. The change in focus could benefit Musks efforts to offer financial services through X, his social media company. He has long wanted to allow users to make peer-to-peer payments using his platform, and he announced in January that X would be working with Visa. Such services will now be a lower priority for the CFPB. The CFPB was formed in 2010, two years after the financial crisis and subprime mortgage-lending scandal. Officials said that it has obtained nearly $20 billion in financial relief for U.S. consumers since its founding in the form of canceled debts, compensation and reduced loans.The Associated Press contributed to this report. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka gave his State of the City address Thursday night with his governance of New Jerseys largest city in the spotlight as he continues his quest to become the states first Black governor. Barakas nearly hour-long speech touched on policy, governorship and national issues. Though his address was about Newark, the mayor sprinkled in references to successes that could be replicated on a larger scale if he were to become New Jerseys governor. Baraka spoke about fixing lead pipes in Newark, reducing crime and listed the citys accolades. He also framed Newark as a city going through a cultural revival while it is under attack by the Trump administration. He has repeatedly spoken out against President Donald Trumps policies, including ICE immigration crackdowns and federal funding cuts. At multiple points throughout the night, Baraka acknowledged Newark could be subject to federal retaliation from the Trump administration due to his campaign for governor. I apologize to all of you for putting you in harms way, he said. No need, shouted one audience member. Were going to fight. Chants of Hold the line rose from the audience repeatedly. Baraka paused to listen to the words of encouragement. He would end the night saying, Were going to win. Some of these folks love their position more than they love democracy, Baraka said, referring to the Trump administration. They love their proximity to power more than they love freedom. They love the history that theyve created in their own mind. Theyd rather see democracy die, he continued, than seeing us build a tapestry. Weave it all together to create an incredible democracy. The address took place at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, a site the mayor has highlighted as a venue that prides itself on works focused on the citys diverse population. Before the official speech started, Baraka mentioned how the U.S. Supreme Court is slated to hear arguments around the Trump administrations challenge of birthright citizenship. The case revolves around the 14th amendment which also established Black people as equal citizens under the law. Newark has one of the largest Black and immigrant populations in the state. It is also home to the Ironbound, a neighborhood with one of the largest concentrations of Portuguese Americans in the country, where two out of three residents are immigrants. Unless you are a member of the Choctaw, the Navajo, the Cherokee, the Apache, Blackfeet, the Lenni Lenape, your ancestors came here undocumented, Baraka said. And if you came from them and were born here in the United States. Your citizenship is based on your birth. The event started off with an invocation and the Star Spangled Banner. That was followed by the hymn Lift Every Voice and Sing, a song penned in 1900 that is known as the Black National Anthem and was sung by Black communities during the Civil Rights Era. This is a grave period were in, Baraka said. I think people allowed it to get here because we forgot our old hymns. We stopped the church meetings. Baraka made references in his speech to historical injustices and compared them to the current situation in Newark and New Jersey. Rejoice, Baraka said. How can we lose faith now when hundreds of years before we sang songs under the terror of the whip of the overseer? How can we lose faith now when our ancestors with rice tied in their hair and hush puppies in their pockets on the run still prayed for this day in the Carolina swamps with dogs on our heels. This port city where so many of us remain became a launch pad for everything we hold dear today," he said. Barakas campaign for governor is thick with company. U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-11th Dist., is considered a frontrunner among Democrats to replace outgoing Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy in multiple polls, including ones by rival campaigns. But Baraka has been seen as a close second in the run up to the Democratic primary in June. Other candidates include Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, New Jersey Education Association President Sean Spiller, and former state Senate President Steve Sweeney. At one point in the speech, Baraka brought out multiple government workers, and highlighted the different cultures they came from. He also noted the increase in city government positions. Somebody take a picture of this so we can mail it right to Donald Trump, Baraka said. Some of the Trump administrations most high-profile policies are the reduction in government employees and a full-scale pushback against multicultural initiatives. We are proud of diverse people and we will not hide, Baraka said. We will not run, we will not cower, we will not back down. We are going to continue to lead in our diversity, equity and inclusion. Baraka spent a portion of his speech talking about local law enforcement. When Baraka asked public safety personnel to stand, firefighters, police officers and violence prevention workers all stood. The recent death of two Newark officers, one of whom was allegedly shot and killed by a teenager in the line of duty was acknowledged. These men were some of our best, Baraka said. Baraka also mentioned the recent Newark school election that allowed 16- and 17-year-olds to vote for the first time. It took place with low turnout, for both adults and students. Baraka has placed the focus on voter turnout as a reason for Democrats losses in the recent presidential election. The ratio of young people that voted versus the amount that was registered was actually greater than the adults, Baraka said of the recent school board election. Democracy has humble beginnings. Our young people needed to be given this shot. Baraka noted having voting booths inside the school, more civics education, and making the entire school day about voting would have increased turnout. But we think educating young people on civics is a burden, that its even more burdensome to get them to vote. We barely do it, Baraka said to the adults in the room. When we begin to understand that democracy is not a game or that the storm we are in now is because we refuse to participate, teach others to participate, engage in it and bring people out, then maybe we would take it more seriously. Toward the end of the speech, Baraka invoked another hymn. Im on the battlefield for my Lord, he sang as the audience did the same and clapped along. And I promise that I will serve him until I die. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Jelani Gibson may be reached at jgibson@njadvancemedia.com. President Donald Trump's pick for secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, appears to be taking the insults in stride. Every day I wake up and theres new criticisms. Its something different every single day, so I try not to pay attention to the noise, Noem recently said during an interview with Jesse Watters on Fox News after conservative pundit Megyn Kelly tore into her for her cosplay as a top MAGA official. I will tell you that I oversee 26 different components of the Department of Homeland Security, and they are so proud of the fact that Im willing to wear an ICE hat, that Im willing to wear an HSI vest, that Im willing to go into there and wear something and be proud of them and the work that they do. They didnt have that with the last leadership team, she said. It is not helpful to Team Trump in these courts everyday to have the DHS Secretary be like, I think he did human trafficking and next thing you know that guys in El Salvador in prison Megyn reacts to Kristi Noem's latest cosplaying and saying she "thinks" he's a human pic.twitter.com/WUIN9Q1W0a The Megyn Kelly Show (@MegynKellyShow) April 10, 2025 The Senate confirmed Noem as homeland security secretary in January, putting the former South Dakota governor in charge of a sprawling agency that is essential to national security and Trumps plans to clamp down on illegal immigration. Since then, taxpayers have footed the bills to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars for her to appear in ads and travel the country and globe in what Kelly called ridiculous photo ops. Just stop trying to glamorize the mission and put yourself in the middle of it as you cosplay ICE agent, which youre not. I cant stand these photo ops, you guys. I think they diminish ICE. They diminish DHS, CPB. Shes not an agent!, Kelly said on The Megyn Kelly Show. She is an administrative policy person appointed by Trump because she was very loyal to him. Fine, but stop with the glam. Noem frequently posts photos and videos of herself dressed in law enforcement attire, often with her hair and makeup done. She was previously criticized for wearing a $60,000 Rolex watch during her recent visit to the high-security El Salvador prison. Per The Wall Street Journal, Under her watch, the department has allotted $200 million to air an ad campaign featuring Noem warning immigrants in the country illegally in English to leave now. The ad, which aired on national networks and cable, has cost an estimated $9 million so far, according to data from AdImpact. The homeland security secretary oversees U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Citizenship and Immigration Services. Beyond those agencies, the department is also responsible for securing airline transportation, protecting dignitaries, responding to natural disasters and more. The Associated Press contributed to this report. State officials have sued Discord, a popular messaging app, alleging it leaves children vulnerable to online predators. A suit filed by the office of State Attorney General Matthew Platkin alleges Discord misled users about it safety features, particularly its direct messaging function. Discord markets itself as a safe space for children, despite being fully aware that the applications misleading safety settings and lax oversight has made it a prime hunting ground for online predators seeking easy access to children, Platkin said in a statement. These deceptive claims regarding its safety settings have allowed Discord to attract a growing number of children to use its application, where they are at risk. Discord said it would fight the states lawsuit. Discord is proud of our continuous efforts and investments in features and tools that help make Discord safer. Given our engagement with the Attorney Generals office, we are surprised by the announcement that New Jersey has filed an action against Discord today, the company said in a statement. We dispute the claims in the lawsuit and look forward to defending the action in court. The states complaint says Discords default settings allow users to receive friend requests from anyone on the appand to receive private direct messages from friends and anyone using the same server. Discord also claimed it would scan and remove messages containing explicit material, according to the suit. But this was not true. Despite its claims, Discord knew that not all explicit content was being detected or deleted, state officials said. If users select the My friends are nice direct messaging option, children can accept friend requests from users they do not know and with whom they have no connection. Officials said there have been countless instances in which child sex abuse material was sent using Discord. The suit demands that Discord surrender profits it made in New Jersey and that it be hit with civil penalties. Discord couldnt immediately be reached. In February, a family from New Jersey has filed a lawsuit against Roblox and Discord, alleging the platforms lack of safeguards allowed a predator to sexually exploit and abuse their son and possibly dozens of other children. The lawsuit was filed about five months after a 13-year-old boy from Burlington County was coerced into sending nude images to a man in Somerset County, according to police. A Toms River man is accused of communicating over social media platforms, including Discord, with a 14-year-old who he had previously sexually assaulted in Norway, authorities said. During those conversations with the victim and others, the man, Jacob Bauer, acknowledged the girls age, federal prosecutors said. After two members of an online Discord community learned what Bauer did, they posted private conversations they had with him publicly on the instant messaging social platform, investigators said. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. President Donald Trump speaks as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., from left, Dr. Mehmet Oz and Oz's wife Lisa Oz listen during a swearing in ceremony for Mehmet oz to be Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, April 18, 2025. (AP Photo | Alex Brandon) (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Roughly 24 hours after Donald Trump lied to Americans that gas prices had fallen below $2 a gallon, on Friday he insisted that the price of eggs is getting too low. As administration officials gathered with him in the Oval Office smiled and nodded at the propaganda two days before Easter, Trump told the country: You can have all the eggs you want. We have too many eggs. In fact, if anything the prices are getting too low. The president made the ridiculous claim as Dr. Mehmet Oz was sworn in as the head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. According to the Financial Times, as of April 2025, egg prices in the U.S. remain elevated due to ongoing avian flu outbreaks and supply chain disruptions. In March, the national average price for a dozen Grade A large eggs reached $6.23, marking a significant increase from $4.95 in January. It was quite a Good Friday fabrication, but it followed his Holy Thursday Hogwash, when he lied that the price of gas had fallen to $1.98 in some states. There wasnt a single state that had an average gas price close to $1.98 per gallon on Wednesday. The two states with the lowest average gas price on Wednesday were Mississippi and Tennessee, which were both at $2.70 per gallon, according to data provided by AAA. Heres how that exchange went with a reporter: Reporter: Americans are seeing prices rise, theyre seeing it on their bills. How long can they expect that to last? Trump: So theyve already seen it get much better because if you were truthful, which youre not, I know you very well, you have gasoline hit $1.98 yesterday in a couple of states. You have gasolines way down, the price of oil has dropped substantially. The price of groceries is substantially down. Dozens of Twitter/X users immediately disputed the claim. The AP reported: U.S. egg prices increased again [in March] to reach a record-high of $6.23 per dozen despite President Donald Trumps predictions, a drop in wholesale prices and no egg farms having bird flu outbreaks. The increase reported ... in the Consumer Price Index means consumers and businesses that rely on eggs might not get much immediate relief. Demand for eggs is typically elevated until after Easter, which falls on April 20. ... Egg prices hit $5.90 in February one month after setting a record at $4.95 per dozen, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. ... Trump tried to take credit for the lower wholesale egg prices the USDA reported in recent weeks. [But retail prices continued to rise.] The egg prices they were going through the sky. And you did a fantastic job, Trump said to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins before he announced the details of his tariffs at the White House last week. Now we have lots of eggs and they are much cheaper now. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Rosie O'Donnell arrives at the ELLE Women in Hollywood celebration on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP Rosie ODonnell made good on her promise to leave the country if Donald Trump returned to the White House. And apparently, she had a good reason for her personal health. She was drinking too much during his first term, per an Irish Star report: Rosie ODonnell has admitted she was drinking too much during Donald Trumps first term in the White House - and during his recent presidential campaign, she vowed she would leave the country if he was elected again. The American talk show host revealed last month that she and her 12-year-old child Clay moved to Dublin, Ireland, to escape the Trump presidency. Since her grandparents were Irish, she is eligible to get citizenship, but said her application has yet to be approved. The 63-year-old said she was unbelievably heavy and was exaggerating with alcohol but admitted there were guardrails. Rosie said she started making preparations in the final weeks of the 2024 campaign, saying, I got my passport renewed, I got Clays passport renewed. My brother has his passport. All my cousins have their passports. But I was never a traveller. The animosity between Trump and ODonnell dates back years. In 2006, ODonnell criticized him for remarks he made about a winner of his Miss USA beauty pageant, saying he had no right to be a moral compass for the beauty queen. That unleashed a series of barbs from Trump, who called ODonnell a loser and slob, among other insults. In turn, ODonnell questioned his business skills and hairstyle and compared him to a snake oil salesman. More recently, Trump took a jab at ODonnell when Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin made a visit to the White House last month. When a reporter asked Martin why his country would let ODonnell move there, Trump jumped at the opening. I like that question, the president said, adding that Martin was better off not knowing about ODonnell. The Associated Press contributed to this report. President Donald Trump speaks as he signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House, Thursday, April 17, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) AP President Donald Trumps administration has called his deportation a mistake. And the U.S. Supreme Court has called on the administration to facilitate his return. But Trumps White House is digging in. Fixed it for you, @NYTimes," The White House X account posted online with tweaks it made to the headline: Senator Meets With Wrongly Deported Maryland Man in El Salvador. The account added, Oh, and by the way, (Sen. Chris Van Holle hes NOT coming back." Fixed it for you, @NYTimes. Oh, and by the way, @ChrisVanHollen hes NOT coming back. pic.twitter.com/VoAphh2ZPY The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 18, 2025 Hollen met with Kilmar Abrego Garcia on Thursday evening in El Salvador, coming face to face with the wrongly deported man after two days in the country pushing for his release. The Democratic senator posted a photo of the meeting on X but did not provide an update on the status of Abrego Garcia, whose attorneys are fighting to force the Trump administration to facilitate his return to the U.S. A Salvadoran citizen who was living in Maryland, Abrego Garcia was sent to El Salvador by the Trump administration in March despite an immigration court order preventing his deportation. The Trump administration hasnt given any evidence Abrego Garcia is a member of the gang MS-13, despite the claim in its tweet. And it effectively told the nations highest court it doesnt plan to abide by its unanimous ruling to have him returned to the U.S. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials acknowledged in a court filing earlier this month that his deportation was an administrative error. The governments acknowledgment sparked immediate uproar from immigration advocates, but White House officials have dug in on the allegation that hes a gang member and will not be returned to the United States. The fight has also played out in contentious court filings, with repeated refusals from the government to tell a judge what it plans to do, if anything, to repatriate him. The three-judge panel from the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously refused Thursday to suspend the judges decision to order sworn testimony by Trump administration officials and said the judiciary will be hurt by the constant intimations of its illegitimacy while the executive branch will lose much from a public perception of its lawlessness. Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III, who was nominated by Republican President Ronald Reagan, wrote that he and his two colleagues cling to the hope that it is not naive to believe our good brethren in the Executive Branch perceive the rule of law as vital to the American ethos. Since March, El Salvador has accepted from the U.S. more than 200 Venezuelan immigrants whom Trump administration officials have accused of gang activity and violent crimes and placed them inside the countrys maximum-security gang prison just outside San Salvador. That prison is part of Bukeles broader effort to crack down on the countrys powerful street gangs, which has put 84,000 people behind bars and made Bukele extremely popular at home. Human rights groups have accused Bukeles government of subjecting those jailed to systematic use of torture and other mistreatment. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Maryrose Fealey, the Somerville woman who was stabbed to death outside her apartment in January 2024. The man charged with her murder, David C. Shroitman, was recently declared mentally incompetent to sand trial. Courtesy of Janet Pizzelli The family and friends of Maryrose Fealey say theyre devastated by a recent court ruling in which the man charged with murdering the Somerville anti-drug activist was deemed mentally incompetent to stand trial. After hearing testimony from three psychiatrists who examined David C. Shroitman, Superior Court Judge Peter J. Tober found the defendant suffered from severe mental illness and could not participate in his own defense. The judge committed Shroitman, 28, to the Ann Klein Forensic Center in Trenton for further evaluation dashing the hopes of family and friends who believe the defendant is mentally well enough to stand trial. I think hes competent, and Id like to see him put in prison for the rest of his life, said Janet Pizzelli, the slain womans mother who attended the April 3 hearing. Pizzelli, who is battling breast cancer, said she may not have long to live. Convinced that Shroitman killed her daughter, Pizzelli wants a trial as soon as possible. Pizzelli points out that Shroitman had a full-time job and lived by himself as evidence of his mental competency. David C. Shroitman, standing center, along with his defense attorney Emma Pallarino, right, of the NJ Public DefenderOs Office listens druing his detention hearing at the Somerset County Courthouse in Somerville on Friday, Feb. 9, 2024. Shroitman is accused of killing anti-drug crusader Maryrose Fealey. (Alexander Lewis / My Central Jersey) Alexander Lewis / My Central Jersey I would like to them bring him to trial before I die, she said. Id like to be there while I still have the strength. Pizzelli says her battle against cancer, which has confined her to a wheelchair, is nothing compared to what shes going through with the legal system. Our family will never get over this, she said. There will always be someone missing at my table. The slain womans father, Jim Fealey, said he planned to meet with the Somerset Prosecutors Office this week to discuss an appeal. I thought the judge would render a different decision, Fealey said. A spokesman for the Somerset Prosecutors Office confirmed the judges decision but otherwise declined comment. Shannon Dolan, attorney for Shroitman, did not respond to request for comment. Shroitman, a Somerville resident who went to high school with Fealey, is accused of stabbing the young woman 37 times outside her North Bridge Street apartment on the night of Jan. 30, 2024. According to the arrest affidavit, Shroitman became a suspect by word of mouth on the night of the homicide. On surveillance video, police spotted a man in a gray sweatshirt with heavily cushioned sneakers and wearing a black gaiter to cover his face. Fealey, 27, had a big, think-positive presence in tightly-knit Somerville. A Rutgers Business School graduate, she quit her job with the U.S. Navy to focus on helping addicts in recovery. Her brother, Ian, had battled opioid addiction. Fealey produced a documentary about the struggle, then started her own non-profit, 4TheYoungerMe, which was just getting off the ground when she was killed. According to the arrest affidavit, Shroitman initially refused to talk to detectives when they visited him at a business in Bridgewater on Feb. 2, 2024, three days after the murder. But they noticed a white garbage bag slung over the drivers seat and a black gaiter on the passenger side. Two days later, detectives visited Shroitman again as he was cleaning his car with bleach at a Somerville business. After obtaining a warrant, detectives searched Shrotimans apartment and found bloodstains in the entryway and bathroom, a pair of cushioned sneakers, and what the affidavit described as a manifesto laying on a step-by-step plan for the homicide. Shroitman was arrested and charged with murder six days after the attack. Hes been in custody ever since. Pizzelli said her daughter barely knew Shroitman in high school. But she said he started bothering her in the weeks before she was killed, she said. She told me that he took pictures of her at the gym, Pizzelli said. Her cousin went to speak to him. He did it nicely, but he told him to knock it off. Maryrose Fealey, foreground, with her mother, Janet, and brother, Ian. Courtesy of Janet Pizzelli At his first appearance in Superior Court, Shroitman attorney argued that he suffered from migraines, anxiety and depression, but he posed no danger to the community and should be released. The judge disagreed, and Shroitman has remained in custody ever since. He was later indicted for murder, but his defense team sought a competency hearing that was held April 3. NJ Advance Local obtained an audio recording of the all-day hearing through a pubic records request. All three psychiatrists agreed that Shroitman was delusional, but only two of them believed that he was mentally incompetent to stand trial. One of psychiatrists, Howard Gilman, testified that Shroitman believed that Fealey was stalking him in the days before she was murdered. He told me about a whole belief system he had that the victim was someone who had been stalking him for many years, Gilman told the judge. There was a whole delusional system that he appeared to have built up around this particular victim. Although Gilman believed that Shroitman experienced what he called paranoid delusions, he described the defendant as awake, alert and interactive during the evaluation and understood the charges against him and the way the legal system worked. He knew what the judge would do, what the prosecutor would do, he knew that his defense attorney was someone who needed to contest some of the things the prosecutor brought up, Gilman said. Shroitmans commitment to Ann Klein is indefinite. Hell be evaluated periodically, and if his condition improves with medication, then he could be deemed fit for trial. In the meantime, Fealeys friends are committed to keeping her story alive. Theyve formed an online group, 100 Voices for Maryrose Fealey, which is organizing a letter-writing campaign aimed at the Somerset County Prosecutors Office and other public officials. Mary Kelly, the organizer for 100 Voices, said the group formed weeks after her death and planted more than 100 roses around Somerville in her memory. Now the group is focused on bringing Shroitman to trial. Theres been a lot of anger and sadness over the judges decision but friends and family will keep pushing for a trial, Kelly said. Were kind of shifting so this story does not get swept under the rug, Kelly said. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.Richard Cowen may be reached at rcowen@njadvancemedia.com. Hundreds of people, most of them Jewish families, flooded a Linden City Council meeting Tuesday to stop the second reading of a zoning ordinance designed to limit the size and scope of homes on small lots. A statement from Linden on Thursday said people started arriving in buses about an hour before the council meeting was scheduled to begin and quickly filled the chamber past its 181-person capacity. The crowd turned out to oppose the adoption of a zoning ordinance that would impose new conditions on expanding homes in the city, according to officials. Jewish leaders say some in their community feel they are discriminatory. Before the meeting could begin, city attorney Daniel Antonelli explained to the large crowd that ordinance was expected to be replaced on the agenda with an updated ordinance that addressed concerns from the community. We are proposing two new ordinances this evening that I believe once you have an opportunity to read, I think youre going to be very satisfied, Antonelli told the crowd. At least thats my hope. Linden has been revising the citys zoning code based on recent home expansion and a lack of open spaces in the city that create a burden on the citys stormwater management, officials said. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection adopted a municipal stormwater management plan in 2004 to address updated federal regulations on stormwater runoff and improving water quality, Lindens engineer Nicholas Pantina said Thursday. Several changes have been made to the states plan since 2023, which is why the city is updating its zoning requirements, according to Pantina. The proposed zoning changes aim to balance green and open space with redevelopment within the residential areas and lessen the environmental impacts on the city, Pantina said. Some in the Jewish community feel the revised zoning laws were discriminatory as more and growing Jewish families move into the city, Rabbi Yosef Katz told NJ Advance Media. These proposals follow a troubling pattern of zoning changes in recent years that have disproportionately impacted the Jewish community, Katz said. In recent months, the city has introduced new zoning regulations that many believe are designed to restrict the ability of larger familiesparticularly in the Orthodox Jewish communityto live and grow in Linden." Katz told NJ Advance Media that he was concerned about growing antisemitism in the area and said that some Jewish residents had received hateful messages in recent months. A lawsuit filed in 2024 accused Linden Mayor Derek Armstead and two school officials of blatant antisemitism in discussing hiring decisions in the local school district. (The civil suit is ongoing in Union County Superior Court.) Katz did not immediately respond to follow up questions about the citys plan to propose a replacement to the ordinance that passed a first reading in March. After the mayor and council received a number of objections over the previous weeks from members of the community, the governing body met last week and decided to propose a new ordinance, Antonelli said Tuesday. At least one member of the local Hasidic Jewish community was present for the city-led meetings to devise a new ordinance, officials said Thursday. The introduction of the new ordinances is planned for a rescheduled council meeting on Friday at 12 p.m. at Linden High School. Officials said the full ordinances would be available after Fridays meeting and they have not yet been made public. Before the meeting could begin Tuesday, Antonelli and city council pleaded with the large crowd to find a seat or remove themselves due to capacity limits in the the council chamber. For about 30 minutes, Antonelli, Council President Michele Yamakaitis and Armstead, as well as other officials tried to convince the crowd to disperse so that the council could conduct business, according to video of the meeting on Lindens municipal YouTube page. Mayor and council eventually called the meeting to order and quickly adjourned after 30 minutes of trying to quell the crowd. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Matt on X The United States Postal Service will be holding a job fair to hire at the Elizabeth Post Office from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday. The post office is located at 310 North Broad St. in Elizabeth, NJ 07208. The job fair will provide details on immediate openings for City Carrier Assistant (CCA) positions available in Elizabeth and surrounding areas. CCAs will start at $19.33 per hour, while Rural Carrier Associate (RCA) positions start at $20.38 per hour. Applications will be accepted on-site at the job fair, along with pre-screening and fingerprinting. Requirements for applicants include being at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident for at least 5 years, having a valid drivers license with at least two years of unsupervised driving experience, maintaining a safe driving record for the past 5 years, and being able to communicate in English. More information on USPS careers can be found at https://usps.com/careers. * * * Submit Union County community news to union@njadvancemedia.com. Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story, which was reviewed and edited by NJ Advance Media staff. 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. When a Fremington man when for a routine opticians visit, he didnt know it was about to save his life. Within two weeks, Sean Lowe had an MRI scan at North Devon District Hospital that revealed a brain tumour now the dad of one wants to raise awareness for the Brain Tumour Research to help others. It began when the 32-year-old started experiencing intermittent headaches in August last year. Sean put it down to work stress and the challenges of a young family, but his employer suggested he should get his eyes checked. The optician at Specsavers in the Sainsburys Barnstaple store discovered pressure behind an optic nerve and the following month Sean was at the hospital for a scan. Within half an hour he was called back to the hospital after preliminary results revealed a brain tumour. Above: The tumour that was discovered in Seans brain after an opticians appointment. Just 14 days after his initial optician's appointment, Sean underwent a right frontal craniotomy on September 18 at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth. The tumour was a pilocytic astrocytoma, which are typically slow growing and non-malignant, but do need to be removed. Above: Seans impressive scar following his brain tumour surgery. Speaking of his journey, Sean said: Initially, I didnt think much of the headaches, as they seemed to coincide with stressful periods. When the headaches persisted, my family urged me to visit my GP. He attributed the headaches to stress and advised me to rest. Around the same time, my employer suggested I should have an eye test. I am incredibly lucky I went for an eye test, and fortunate the optician noticed something that could have been easily missed by a GP. I strongly encourage others to make eye tests a regular part of their healthcare routine. It could save your life, like it did mine. Above: Sean Lowe with his wife and young son. Louise Aubrey, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research said: Sean's story is a powerful reminder of how crucial it is to stay vigilant when it comes to your health. His experience highlights the importance of not dismissing seemingly minor symptoms and of seeking out professional advice when something feels off. At Brain Tumour Research, we are constantly advocating for earlier diagnosis and increased awareness about brain tumours, which can often go undetected until its too late. We commend Sean for sharing his journey with others, which helps us all better understand the importance of early detection and the role that eye tests can play in saving lives. Brain Tumour Research funds sustainable research at dedicated centres in the UK. It also campaigns for the Government and larger cancer charities to invest more in research into brain tumours in order to speed up new treatments for patients and, ultimately, to find a cure. The charity is the driving force behind the call for a national annual spend of 35million in order to improve survival rates and patient outcomes in line with other cancers such as breast cancer and leukaemia. This Should Be Shocking: Read a Federal Appeals Panels Sharp Rebuke of the Trump Administration A federal appeals court in Virginia issued a striking opinion on Thursday, reaffirming that the Trump administration had to take a more active approach in seeking the release of a Maryland man, Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, who was deported to El Salvador last month despite a court order expressly forbidding him from being sent there. But the opinion, authored by Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III, a conservative jurist appointed by President Ronald Reagan, contained far more than simple legal instructions to the White House. The brief order also rebuked Trump officials for their apparent disregard of the bedrock principles of due process and for allowing a man whom they have acknowledged they wrongfully deported to continue to languish in a foreign prison. At the same time, Judge Wilkinson, in an almost elegiac tone, gave an emphatic reminder that American democracy rests in part on mutual respect between the executive and judicial branches and lamented recent attacks by President Trump and his allies on the federal courts. The New York Times annotated the courts opinion. Download the original PDF. "That led to a letter to the editor in the Washington Post in which I argued that it was an embarrassing escape from the horrid truths about nuclear bombs. I still think of Oppenheimer as a propaganda film and why I decided to take a stand and publish my book to mobilize alternative narratives. The explosive origin of the bikini It was the Parisian fashion designer Louis Reard who created the first bikini in the summer of 1946 as a reaction to the nuclear annihilation of the Bikini Atoll by the US military in the Pacific. What made the swimsuits novel and daring was that they exposed the belly button. Theres a reported quip from a journalist of the time that They call them bikinis for they dont cover them atoll. I argue that the analogy between a womans navel and the atoll in the sea evokes the ancient idea of the Earth being female, with the stomach representing the Pacific Ocean. Indeed, the bikini imagery is just the latest incarnation of a long European history of analogies between the female body and the Earth, both being objects of male desire, conquest, love, or also destruction. The untold stories of those who suffer Nuclear downwinders are individuals exposed to radioactive fallout from nuclear tests, both in the American West and the Pacific during the Cold War. Often unknowingly affected, they faced increased cancer rates and health issues due to radiation exposure. Their plight spurred environmental and legal movements seeking recognition, compensation, and stricter nuclear testing regulations, including activism in Japan and the US which led to a series of test ban treaties. The first treaty came in 1963 when President Kennedy signed the Limited Test Ban Treaty as an agreement with the Soviet Union and Great Britain to ban nuclear tests in the atmosphere, underwater, or in space. After years of activism, the US Congress eventually passed a law in 1990, the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, to provide some compensation to downwinders, but to many, it was too little, too late. Sexing up nukes Only two days after the destruction of Hiroshima, burlesque dancers called 'Atomic Bomb Dancers' performed for a thrilled Los Angeles audience, a successful effort by Hollywood to drum up publicity by capitalizing on a tragedy. In the following decades, there were numerous analogies between nuclear weapons and a womans body, but also to alcoholic drinks and mushroom-shaped chocolate cakes. Describing a woman as a sex bomb or a bombshell has since become part of daily language. This imagery portrays women as destructive forces that lay waste to men, the victims of their devastating beauty. Its bewildering that the horrors of Hiroshima could ever emerge as a metaphor for devouring chocolate, or that a woman in a bikini would be compared to that of ground zero in Nagasaki. These expressions contributed to a levity and dismissiveness that allowed Americans to ignore the real destruction and possibility of an atomic apocalypse. Dissenting voices in America The first reported resistance to nuclear bombs that I found came from marginalized citizens of color on the street in the New York region. A Baltimore newspaper reported the following quote from Clarence R. Branch, an African-American garage owner in New Jersey, days after the bombing of Hiroshima, I do not believe it will bring much joy to humanity but only destruction. In a matter of weeks, the African-American paper, The Chicago Defender, published an article labeling the new weapon as a white immoral bomb in the eyes of the dark-skinned peoples of Asia and Africa. To place the beginning of the nuclear resistance within the upper-class elite, as suggested in the film through depictions of Oppenheimers tormented soul, and those of his leftist friends and other Los Alamos physicists, is simply a distortion of history. We owe the resistance to nuclear weapons in the US to lay citizens in general and to communities of color, in particular. The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge spanning 625 meters (2,051 feet) above the Beipan River, in Chinas Guizhou Province, is set to become the worlds highest bridge upon completion, in the second half of 2025. The mountainous province of Guizhou is well-known for its complex terrain and the incredible bridges traversing it. Guizhou is home to more than half of the worlds top 100 highest bridges and has set the record for the worlds highest bridge more than once. This year, the Chinese province will once again claim the record for the third consecutive time! The first was in 2003 when the Beipanjiang Guanxing Bridge became the first suspension bridge in the world to surpass the 1,000-foot height threshold. The second time was in 2016, with the innovative Beipanjiang Duge Bridge, and this year, its doing it again with a bridge over the deepest part of the Beipan River Valley, a place known as the Huajiang Grand Canyon, or the Earth Crack. At present, the overall progress of the bridge has reached 95%, and it is planned to be opened to traffic in the second half of 2025, Zhang Shenglin, chief engineer of Guizhou Highway Group, boasted in an interview with China Daily. By then, this super project that spans the Earth Crack will be the worlds first in both directions. It will become another landmark project to demonstrate Chinas infrastructure strength. Construction of the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge officially started on 18 January 2022, and in just three years time, the Chinese are close to completing one of the most impressive bridges in the world. Spanning 2,890 metres (9,482 feet) over the Beipan River Valley, between two massive concrete towers, the soon-to-be worlds highest bridge hangs over 2,000 feet above water. Although setting a new world record and wowing the globe with yet another infrastructural marvel is pretty nice, China built the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge with a much more functional purpose in mind. Currently, crossing the huge canyon takes around 1 hour driving on the only available winding road, but when the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge opens later this year, the crossing time will be lowered to about a minute. The people and businesses of Guizhou Province will be the first to profit from the opening of the worlds highest bridge, but local authorities also want to turn it into a tourist attraction for visitors. One of the bridge towers will house a glass elevator that will offer users breathtaking views of the surrounding area, as well as a Stargazing Bar and Cafe. A glass floor will be installed below the road deck, where visitors will get to seemingly float hundreds of meters above ground. Finally, the worlds highest Bungee jump location will offer thrill-seekers a serious adrenaline rush. The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge is set to officially become the worlds highest bridge on its inauguration day, June 30th, 2025. At least seven cases of cholera in Germany and the UK have been linked to the use of water from a popular holy well in Ethiopia, which happened to be contaminated with Vibrio Cholerae bacteria. In February of this year, European authorities were on high alert regarding a cholera outbreak after three people in Germany and four in the UK fell ill with the contagious disease. A quick investigation found that two of the German patients and three of the UK patients had traveled to Ethiopia a month prior, and some of them visited a holy well called Bermel Giorgis in the African countrys Quara district. Named after Saint George, Bermel Giorgis is considered a holy site by members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church who drink the water and wash their faces with it to benefit from its supposed healing properties. The European visitors reportedly did the same, and the German travelers and at least one of the UK visitors brought some holy water back with them and shared it. Before long, they started exhibiting symptoms like watery diarrhea and vomiting. Photo: wilsan u/Unsplash After analyzing the plastic bottles of holy water that the tourists had brought back, doctors found that it was contaminated with Vibrio cholerae, the bacteria responsible for causing cholera. The water was actually teeming with bacteria, as researchers suggest in their report published by Eurosurveillance, the European infectious diseases monitoring agency. As the infectious dose of V. cholerae O1 has been estimated to be 105108 [100,000 to 100 million] colony-forming units (CFU), this suggests the holy water was heavily contaminated and bacteria remained viable at ambient temperature during the flight and in Europe, doctors wrote. More troubling yet was the fact that this variant of Vibrio cholerae was resistant to many antibiotics, including fluoroquinolones, trimethoprim, chloramphenicol, aminoglycosides, beta-lactams, and macrolides. The bacteria had developed specialized resistance genes called plasmids, but tetracycline antibiotics were still effective against and the patients all made full recoveries. Photo: CDC Luckily, a cholera outbreak in Europe was narrowly prevented, but the case has been publicized as a cautionary tale, with infectious diseases experts urging travelers to exercise caution even when visiting places with religious significance. Travelers should be well informed about the hygiene conditions and infectious disease risks in the places they are visiting and should not drink water, even if it has religious significance, Eurosurveillance warned. Not a Subscriber? Join O'Dwyer's & Get RFP Access Stop wasting time tracking down RFPs. O'Dwyer's connects you with organizations looking for PR firms & services. Get new business with O'Dwyer's! Join O'Dwyer's Bernie Kerik Qatars Washington embassy has hired the firm of former New York Police Commissioner Bernie Kerik for counsel on how to advance bilateral ties between Qatar and the US. His Kerik Group, which is in Franklin Lakes, NJ, is in line for a $240K fee under a one-year contract that went into effect on April 1. Kerik, who was NYCs 40th police commissioner, served under Mayor Rudy Giuliani. He also did a stint as Dept. of Corrections chief. President George W. Bush appointed Kerik as interior minister of the Iraqi Provisional Authority, and in 2004 nominated him to head the Dept. of Homeland Security. Kerik withdrew his nomination after he revealed that he had employed an undocumented immigrant as a nanny. In 2009, Kerk pleaded guilty to federal tax fraud charges, and served three years in prison. President Donald Trump pardoned Kerik in 2020. The Government has given Laois 30 million to fix roads this year but it has none for a "deficient" national road from Portlaoise to Mountmellick. The narrow stretch of the N80 road has no verges and traverses a moving bog. Transport Infrastructure Ireland has given its reasons for not funding the work. While it primarily says there is a "not sufficient funding", it also says it has no record of collisions for the area. However the narrow road stretch has seen several serious incidents in recent years alone. In 2021 and again in 2022 a car plunged in. In 2021 an articulated lorry flipped across the road, with the cabin falling into the bog. The Laois County Council CEO John Mulholland at that time described the stretch as "deficient in every respect". Mountmellick teenager Daragh Lee died after being hit by a car while walking home on the narrow road in 2021. The TII now invites the council to make a submission and report collisions. "The absence of sites from the locations identified does not preclude a local authority from submitting a feasibility report to TII for safety improvement works. There may be additional information available or there may be unreported collisions at a location that TII is unaware of. In order for TII to consider any such proposals, the road authority is required to carry out an analysis of the collision history at the location, design an appropriate scheme, carry out an economic appraisal, fully cost the scheme and prioritise the scheme. "Each year TII carries out a collision analysis of the entire national road network, in compliance with the EU Road Infrastructure Safety Management Directive. The purpose is to identify locations that have high concentrations of collisions. It does not include the subsequent process to devise proposals to identify any appropriate road safety interventions. That is the responsibility of the local authority." The TII also say that "it is noted that the next potential future intervention may be likely to come under the category of town bypass". This refers to the much needed Mountmellick double bypass that is not up for funding until at least 2031. Cllr Paddy Buggy had tabled a motion to the February meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District asking the council to install areas for slow moving vehicles like tractors to pull in and allow traffic to pass. The letter of response from the TII was read out at the March meeting by Director of Services Simon Walton. He sees an opportunity for funding. "While no funding is currently available, it offers an opportunity to the local authority to identify appropriate safety interventions and to make a submission to the TII," he said. In a shocking revelation, figures released by the HSE through request by the Freedom of Information Act 2014 show that over half a million of outpatient appointments were not attended last year at hospitals throughout the country. The Midlands Regional Hospital in Tullamore saw significant numbers in this report. The report detailed the figures of missed appointments, or DNAs (Did Not Attend), at each hospital in the country in 2024 and contained a breakdown by region. In total, there were over 525,320 appointments not attended last year. The MRH Tullamore recorded a high number of DNAs in 2024 with 8,438. Given the size of the hospital, this is a significant figure of missed appointments. Not to mention, it is a sizable amount of the number of those currently on waiting lists at the hospital. As it stands, there are 12,938 patients on the waiting list at MRH Tullamore. At the top of the list for the most DNAs in 2024 was the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital with 48,007. St. James's Hospital followed with 40,000 and then Beaumont with 39,398.Outside of the Dublin area, University Hospital Limerick also recorded high numbers of missed appointments with a total of 24,659 as well as University Hospital Waterford with 26,522. Children's Health Ireland at Crumlin, Temple Street, Tallaght and Connolly all recorded a combined total of 17,419 unattended appointments last year also. Such staggering figures perhaps hold most significance when compared to the number of people currently on waiting lists for often critical and life-saving health services across Ireland. According to the latest figures from the HSE, there are over 575,716 people on outpatient waiting lists nationally. Of these, 500,637 are adults and 75,079 are children. READ NEXT: Work to begin next week on conversion of shop in Tullamore to day centre When the total number of missed outpatient appointments are put side by side with the total number of those still enduring the never-ending waiting lists, the figures are not worlds apart. Had even the majority of these appointments been attended, then perhaps there would have been a considerable dent made in these enormous waiting lists. To place this into further context, the Mater Hospital's number of missed appointments last year at 48,007 is almost 10,000 greater than their outpatient waiting list which currently stands at 38,254. Even worse, St James's figures from 2024 were almost double their current waiting lists of 23,950. When asked to comment on the figures, the Mater pointed out that with a total of 291,495 patients attending the hospital last year, it is one of the busiest hospitals in the country. Additionally, they said: "It is worth noting that the community where the Mater Hospital is situated is recognised as an area of deprivation and many of the patients cared for have multiple morbidities and other social issues to contend with." The hospital said they continue to encourage patient compliance with appointment attendance through a range of measures including sending appointment letters, text message reminders and validation of waiting lists to remove patients who no longer need appointments. A spokesperson for St James's Hospital explained that the high figures in the report are indicative of the volume of patients they see and the complexity of patient cases. However, in a statement from the hospital, they said they will "continue to evaluate and examine future measures that can potentially reduce the number of missed outpatient appointments." For those faced with limbo on these waiting lists, these figures can seem like a slap in the face. However, it is important to not shift the blame simply on the patients but to instead ask how can the system be allowing such vast numbers of missed appointments without raising concern and what is being done about it? It cannot be expected that 100% of appointments be kept to: people's schedules change, things can happen, we can't always anticipate what comes next. We all accept that. However, over half a million appointments missed in one year is an extraordinary figure especially when it is held against our already extraordinary figure on waiting lists. So what is happening? When asked to comment on the figures released by the HSE and the current situation with waiting lists in the country, the Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill's office released a statement to say: "It is acknowledged that many patients are still waiting too long for hospital appointments and treatments." The statement continued: "The Minister for Health is conscious of the burden that this places on patients and their families." The Minister's office pointed out the Waiting List Action Plan (WLAP) for 2025 was published in February which is designed to reduce the waiting times for patients and improve access to hospital care. So far, over 420 million has been allocated to the initiative. Part of this plan aims to address the issue of unattended appointments. Some of these initiatives designed to target DNAs include two-way messaging systems. The Health Minister's office also added: "enabling and facilitating scheduled care reforms, through the use of technologies and tools, including in relation to SMS messaging re appointments, referral processes, robotic process automation, application of insights from behavioural science, and further roll out of the HSE patient application." A spokesperson for the Mid-West Hospital Campaign, Marie McMahon, has described the current situation in the region as "absolutely frightening." Seven years ago this month, Maries husband died on a hospital trolley in UHL. When discussing the dire figures from the HSE, Marie emphasised the real people behind those numbers, saying "a lot of families have had horrific experiences." For Marie, the writing is on the wall: "Obviously, the system is failing." She acknowledged the complex reasons as to why the number of DNAs could be so high, however, as she points out: "There needs to be some understanding as to why this is. Why are they not investigating? How much is that costing? There has to be a huge cost." She also pointed out that the current system of sending out letters and telling people theyll be removed from the waiting lists if they dont respond within a short timeframe is not suitable as not everyone has someone who can advocate for them, if they are not in the position to do so for themselves. Then theres also the issue of transport for vulnerable and rural people. Marie said: "If you dont have access to transport and you dont have someone to take you there, how are you going to get there? What are the provisions? Thats fine if you are urban based where there is a good transport network. But if you are rurally based, and a lot of Irish people are, then how do people get to their hospital appointment?" Ultimately, in Maries opinion, these figures further demonstrate that "the system is broken." As Marie expressed, these latest figures are just one further example of a failure by the HSE in the broader picture of mismanagement of resources and treatment of patients wherein there will be "no accountability." FUNDING to develop the long-awaited N52 link road between Tullamore, Kilbeggan and the M6 motorway is earmarked for next year in the National Development Plan. Tullamore based TD, Deputy Tony McCormack has received written confirmation from the Minister for Transport that the funding is in the pipeline. "This long-awaited announcement paves the way for not only safer travel, but also for unlocking cultural, economic, and tourism opportunities in the region," said the Fianna Fail TD. In a letter to Deputy McCormack, the Minister acknowledged the strategic importance of the project in improving road safety, reducing journey times, and enhancing regional connectivity. The N52 link road will connect Tullamore more directly to the national motorway network, creating major benefits for local businesses and the wider Offaly economy. Deputy McCormack stated: This is a landmark moment for the midlands. Ive worked alongside the local community, Offaly Fianna Fail councillors, and MEP Barry Cowen for many years to get this project prioritised. The Ministers confirmation that it is intended to be funded in 2026 is a real breakthrough. The safety of our communities has always been one of the main drivers behind this campaign. This new link road will finally deliver a safer, more modern route for commuters and local families alike. READ NEXT: Over 300,000 allocated for Offaly projects under Community Monuments Fund The project also opens the door for long-awaited progress on plans supported by the Durrow High Cross Committee to establish an interpretive centre near the historic site. Durrow is a significant early Christian monastic site, home to the Durrow High Cross and the renowned Book of Durrow, one of Irelands most important illuminated manuscripts. Improved access via the N52 link road will make it easier for visitors and tourists to explore the area's rich cultural and historical heritage. This road isnt just about transportits about unlocking the full potential of our region. With better access, we can finally move forward with plans to share Durrows incredible story with the wider world, Deputy McCormack said. READ NEXT: Health Minister backs Midlands hospice on chosen Tullamore site The N52 link road will also improve connections between Tullamore and major cities like Galway and Dublin, providing critical support for local businesses by reducing transport times and making the area more attractive for investment. Deputy McCormack concluded: This is about safer roads, stronger businesses, and celebrating our heritage. I will not stop working until the N52 Link Road is delivered and our community sees the full benefit. Minister Jack Chambers, who has criticised planning objections regarding concerns about the character of an area, previously objected to a development which included apartments over aesthetic concerns. This week, Mr Chambers said a mindset around objecting to housing developments based on the character of an area has to change as he announced a series of actions designed to accelerate the delivery of strategic infrastructure. The Public Expenditure Minister said such objections are nebulous and block the broader social and economic goal of increased housing supply. He has also previously said he had seen examples of eminently sensible proposals in Dublin which appear to be being refused for specific aesthetic reasons, which undermines housing supply. However, it has re-emerged that Mr Chambers objected to a mixed development including eight apartments in his constituency by citing concerns it would impact the aesthetic and visual outlook of the village, reportedly describing the project as a monstrosity. In 2016, Lidl sought planning permission for a development which would include one of its supermarkets, other shops, a cafe, a medical centre and eight apartments in Castleknock. Mr Chambers, a local backbench TD at the time, objected to the overall development by stating that Castleknock is an important historical place and is an architectural conservation area. In a written submission available online, he argued the development would compromise and constrain the aesthetic and visual outlook of the village, adding that there was little desire for the supermarket. READ NEXT: 'Big baby - Ireland legend Roy Keane melts hearts with adorable snaps of newborn grandson In his submission, Mr Chambers wrote: Castleknock is one of the important historical places of Dublin 15 with a variety of listed buildings and it is recognised as an Architectural Conservation Area. This development would compromise and constrain the aesthetic and visual outlook of the village into the future. There is little appetite for a large anchor tenant like Lidl in the middle of Castleknock Village and Castleknock residents are well served with adjacent supermarkets in Blanchardstown Village, Roselawn, and Blanchardstown Shopping Centre for example. The proposed development would deflect and denigrate the Castleknock Architectural Conservation Area and it is of concern to many residents in the area. Mr Chambers also criticised the project during an oral hearing of An Bord Pleanala in early 2017. The Irish Times reported at the time that he described the proposed development as a monstrosity which puts an atomic bomb under the conservation area as we should see it. There were many other objections to the development including by former Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar while he was minister for social protection, then-Tanaiste and Labour leader Joan Burton, current Green Party leader Roderic OGorman who was a councillor at the time, and Ruth Coppinger TD. Mr Chambers and others had also objected on concerns over traffic as well as issues regarding parking and pedestrian access. The planning permission was ultimately granted in 2017. Asked about his objection to the development, a spokesman for Mr Chambers told the PA news agency: The observation referenced in relation to a supermarket was made almost a decade ago and prior to him holding ministerial office. The ministers views have evolved over the past number of years during his time in Government and in recent years he has made a conscious decision not to make such observations. He believes all measures need to be examined to increase housing supply and infrastructure delivery across the country. It comes after the minister said there were countless examples of people in housing trying to frustrate and undermine the broad public good. On Wednesday, he told reporters: The last number of years have shown how too many individuals have had too much of a say in impeding infrastructure and housing across our economy. He added: Theres too much tolerance for this in how systems are designed. Ive seen examples in recent months of housing getting stopped because it undermines the character of the area what does that mean? Asked if he did not believe that an area could have a character, the Fianna Fail deputy leader replied: An area absolutely can have a character but to think that an area doesnt accept housing, or doesnt accept more housing when people are in existing housing, I dont think it impedes the character of an area. I think additional housing, people, new people living in an area enhances the diversity and character of an area and the fact that people think they have a veto on more people living around them, I think is a mindset that has to change. Its just a frustration I see and hear from many young people who would like to live in many urban areas, but they have people whove lived in places for decades objecting to housing on the basis of a character of an area which I think is a nebulous reference that just seeks to block and object the broader social and economic objective. A serious dog fouling problem is blighting the Offaly Greenways, according to Councillor Oliver Bryant, who raised the issue at the April meeting of Tullamore Municipal District. Cllr Bryant said that while many dog owners are collecting their pets' waste using the provided doggy bags, the problem arises when those same bags are then dumped irresponsibly. ''The doggy bag dispensers are there. People are taking the bags, they're using them, but then they are tossing them into ditches or leaving them on the canal bank, particularly out at Digby Bridge near the car park,'' he said. Cllr Bryant added that he had been inundated with complaints and photographs from walkers and cyclists who use the Greenways regularly. ''People are fed up. Is this an environmental issue or a waterways issue or both?'' he asked. There is a 150 fine if someone is caught but enforcement is the issue. In response, John Mitchell, Senior Executive Engineer for Offaly County Council, acknowledged the growing issue and committed to opening discussions with Waterways Ireland. ''I have had some discussions with Waterways Ireland regarding other issues around maintenance. I am happy to discuss it with them. I know exactly what you are saying. I'm not sure how to solve it but I will start that discussion going,'' he said. READ NEXT:Council pay over 50,000 to clear illegal waste at Offaly housing estate Dog fouling on footpaths and public areas has been a long-standing problem, and residents report it is now getting worse posing a serious risk to health, the environment and the enjoyment of these shared spaces. 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 I have the right to fight against water main breaks, using freedom of speech. This right of freedom of speech was crushed by local government. I surge forward in my fight against water main breaks, using freedom of the press. This Op Ed tells part of a story of my ongoing fight against our government. Tenacious Government Resistance to Science My hometown of Aiken, South Carolina - population approximately 33,000 - is but a microcosm of a national resistance to change that is based on money, ignorance, or both. Water mains break in cities all over our country, and cost estimates vary between $15 billion and $60 billion per year for 260,000 water main breaks per year in the U.S. alone for this international disaster. One city's resistance to technology that can yield safer drinking water and lower taxes is presented here along with the background of this international disaster. This waste, fraud, and abuse by Aiken government is but a microcosm of the U.S. local and national government landscape of waste, fraud, and abuse. Breakthrough science is here to stop water main breaks, but cities throughout our country thwart science and risk our health. Is such a coverup of a threat to our health and lives a crime? Inventions of Novel Science Starting in 1991, I invented novel theories to stop water main breaks and industrial disasters by voluntarily investing more than 20,000 hours of my time and $200,000 of my money. To do so, I earned two master's degrees, earned a doctor's degree, earned several corrosion certificates, and wrote 55 publications - all of which were directly related to water main breaks. I continue to invent new science, where the existing body of research fully documents the experimental and mathematical proof of the following theories. I created new knowledge where that knowledge did not previously exist. Based on Newton's Law of Physics, large-scale experimental industry testing experience, the Leishear dynamic stress theory proved that the effects of water hammer pressures to expand pipes are nearly quadrupled, when water hammer pressures are created as near-sonic-velocity shock waves that crash through water mains to break them. These shock waves are created by operating valves, pumps, and fire hydrants, and pressures can exceed hundreds of pounds per square inch or even a thousand pounds per square inch ("Fluid Mechanics, Water Hammer, Dynamic Stresses, and Piping Design", Click Here, "Water Hammer Causes Water Main Breaks", click here). Based on experiments, testing, industry experience, and physics, the Leishear fatigue corrosion theory proved that water hammers create piping cracks, which in turn accelerate corrosion to break water mains ("Water Hammer and Fatigue Corrosion: I, II, and III", Click Here, Click Here, click here). Together, these two theories explain nearly all water main breaks, where water hammers are the primary cause of water main breaks (Fig. 1). Based on extensive studies of public health reports and proven water main break theories, the Leishear water main infectious disease and lead poisoning theories demonstrate recently discovered pathways for lead poisoning. Listeria, E. coli, Salmonella, and Legionella enter our drinking water, where underground water main cracks induce health hazards ("Our Water Mains Contaminate Us with E. Coli, Lead and Copper - Illness and Death Follow", Click Here). Mostly effective efforts are made by cities to stop health hazards when water mains are repaired by spiking the water with chlorine - however - no efforts are made at all to disinfect water at myriad leak sites throughout the rest of our underground water systems, where more than a trillion gallons of water leak from our water supplies every year. These leak and crack sites induce health hazards. Every year in the U.S., many people are hospitalized and killed by gastrointestinal diseases (Fig. 2), where the exact quantity induced through certain water main break infections needs to be quantified. Figure 1. Corrosion bands, or tiger stripes, form from oscillating, or wavy, Leishear stresses due to water hammers (left). Microscopic cracks fracture the inner and outer surfaces of water mains - countless cracks cannot be seen by the naked eye (right). (Image by Leishear Engineering, LLC) Details DMCA Figure 2. Common infections found underground enter drinking water to cause illness and death. Diseases enter water mains through uncountable cracks during water hammers. (Image by Leishear Engineering, LLC) Details DMCA Fig. 3. One of hundreds of Aiken water main break repairs. At this break site, a worker stated, 'Do you want me to beat him up?' Shown are digging the excavation (right), the excavation (center), and a cracked plastic main broken by hammers (upper left). (Image by Leishear Engineering, LLC) Details DMCA An Example of Government Resistance While Money is Raked In As an example of resistance to technology, Aiken City officials met in backrooms, made up stories, and keep on breaking water mains. On the one hand, the Aiken Mayor claimed to be addressing the breaks, and on the other hand Aiken staff asked for another $625,000 to fix the breaks since their staff cannot keep up with repairs. This example of wasted taxes, fraudulent coverups, and abused power are consistent with government politics and agency policies across the U.S (Fig. 5). A Summary of Waste, Fraud and Abuse [Describing waste], Aiken refuses to stop water main breaks as money continues to be spent to not solve the city water main break problem. [Describing fraud], the Mayor of Aiken claimed that 'I have spoken to several council members and everyone seems to be on the same page that we are confident that the city engineers are addressing the water hammering issue at this time.' While they may be 'on the same page', their opinions falsely conclude that water main breaks due to water hammers are under control - the mains keep breaking. Per Merriam Webster, fraud is defined as 'deceit, trickery; specifically: intentional perversion of truth in order to induce another to part with something of value or to surrender a legal right'. I do not believe that Aiken's mayor has done anything deceitful, where we shared lunch and I was very impressed with her. However, she has made decisions based on false information. Specifically, incorrect statements were provided to her and the City Council in a City Council Workshop, and I was refused the opportunity to defend my character and prove that false statements were made in that meeting. I believe that such actions were overall supported by city government for 'intentional perversion of truth', and that these actions endanger our drinking water safety and burden citizens with unnecessary taxes. I believe that the decision to continue water main breaks in Aiken is fundamentally flawed and as such appears to be fraudulent. Claiming that Aiken water main breaks are under control has not been 'truth' for years and is still not 'truth'. [Describing abuse of government power, Aiken government officials refuse] to allow me [the opportunity] to present the facts to counter the false statements by city staff in their efforts that controlled 'misspent dollars', i.e., water main breaks keep on coming ("Money is Gone in My Home Town of Aiken, and the Water Main Breaks Keep on Coming"). The Aiken City Manager seems to control the Mayor and City Council in a coverup of Aiken water main breaks. I may have the right to fight Aiken politics in South Carolina, but politicians censor free speech by refusing me City Council public access to refute deceit and fight the manipulations of the City Manager. A Right to Fight I have the right to fight against Aiken water main breaks. I have rights. The right to fight against Aiken staff false accusations, or smears, against my business and character. The right to fight against city officials to stop water main breaks. I have the right to stand against Aiken staff who threaten to beat me up. The right to state facts about Aiken water main breaks. The right to fight against wrong science by Aiken engineers and staff, which destroys our water mains. The right to fight against fire hydrant unavailability while water mains are repaired. The right to fight against illness and death due to water main cracks throughout the U.S, i.e., E. coli, Legionella, and Listeria illness and death seep through water main leaks during power outages or other causes of pressure drops in water mains. The right to fight against illness and death, where there is a known risk that illness enters drinking water during repairs of water main breaks. Chlorine is used to spike drinking water and kill infections, but people who are unaware of boil water notices are at risk. The right to fight against lead poisoning from water mains due to water hammer cracks and corrosion that lead poisons people to create birth defects, illness and intellectual disabilities. The right to fight against the collapse of roads due to water main breaks, where dirt is scoured out under roadways to create sink holes. The right to fight against geysers of water bursting up into the air through roads from broken mains. The right to fight against fish kills from chlorinated water leaking from water main breaks. The right to fight against water main break taxes. The right to fight against taxes to fix other leaks in city water supplies. The right to fight against the increasing destruction of our Aiken water system. The right to fight against long accepted myths surrounding the causes of water main breaks. Myths include underground water main failure causes due to oldness, coldness, hotness, ground shifts, climate change, tree roots, and traffic. Water hammer and water hammer-induced corrosion are the primary causes of water main breaks in metallic, concrete, concrete-asbestos, or plastic water mains. In other words, when people do not understand physics and do not have facts, they make up things that sound reasonable and then lie that these myths are facts. The right to fight against these myths that politicians and businesses drown us with to protect the immense fortunes that can be skimmed from water main break taxes. The right to fight for science rather than myth. Water main breaks are primarily caused by water hammer. Water hammer is complicated. Casually grasping at water main breaking myths may be easy to understand, but misunderstandings will not stop water main breaks. The right to fight against the local government coverup of Aiken water main destruction. The right to fight against city governments across our nation to stop water main breaks. The right to fight against city governments that break the water supply pipes to homes and then make the homeowners pay for that city destruction due to city-caused water hammers that broke the pipes to begin with. That is, cities make the laws, break the mains, and make us pay for the destruction that the cities cause. The right to fight against the U.S. government and other agency coverups to stop water main breaks. Further details of these rights are available ("I Have the Right to Fight Against Aiken Water Main Breaks", censored by Aiken politicians, Click Here). The Fight Gets Real To clearly document these fights, a political and scientific Op Ed was published ("Aiken Coverups and New Scientific Advances in Water Main Breaks", Click Here). The first paragraph of that Op Ed follows. The coverups get bigger although science moves forward in Aiken. Aiken had a power outage, I expected water main breaks based on my scientific research, and sure enough there were two near-simultaneous breaks. When I went to one of the water main break sites, workers were very cooperative at first, but the situation changed. I was blocked from seeing water main damage, and I heard one worker say, "Do you want me to beat him up" (Fig. 3). My son told me in anger that he would have immediately stood up to such threats against me if he had been there. I fight against the Aiken government, and I am prohibited from challenging false opinions in a City Council Workshop meeting. This government resistance to the truth is the blatant action of a coverup. Transparency in government is demanded by circumstance. Crushing of Personal Rights The Aiken mayor crushed my rights, censored my opinions to the City Council, and continues Aiken water main breaks. There have been more monthly breaks during March 2025 than there have been since August 2022, where the extent of available records for evaluation is limited. I offered to provide services to Aiken, where costs were planned to be supported by government grants. The mayor said 'No', claiming that the city is 'addressing' water main breaks, which is completely false. Why is free money thrown away in favor of breaking water mains and paying more taxes to fix the breaks? What is going on in the backrooms of Aiken government? A coverup goes forward. Crushing the Public's Rights to Safe Drinking Water and Lasting Water Systems In addition, the Aiken Mayor stated that she does not have support from the City Manager, the City Council and the public to pursue my work to stop Aiken water main breaks. It seems ridiculous that the public - our fellow citizens - do not support the stopping of water main breaks, do not support the stopping of potential illness, do not support stopping an increase in rusty water complaints, do not support stopping leaks in our water system, do not support the stopping of boil water notices, do not support stopping potential lead poisoning and do not support stopping the increasing destruction of our water system. Aiken representatives turned away potential government grants worth $3.2 million. The goals of these crushed grants were to study the history of Aiken breaks and health hazards from disease and lead poisoning, crush Aiken breaks, monitor the success of break prevention, and publish results to crush water main breaks worldwide. Having dismissed the opportunity to stop Aiken water main breaks, the City Council and Mayor are now breaking our water mains. Potential health effects and water main breaks are on the rise in Aiken (Fig. 4). The City Manager - in a city with an $85 million, 2024-2025 budget - had no justifiable excuse to falsely attack my character and keep the water main breaks going. He deceived the Mayor and Council members, and the Mayor and Council chose lockstep to block the truth. The Mayor and Council have executed a serious mistake against the people of Aiken, where much of this article has been forwarded in different letters to affected Aiken officials. Resistance to the Crushing of a Dream of Improved Health for All I dream of stopping water main breaks, where I see a future not yet seen by others. I have sent letters to fight many cities and government agencies, from New York to Los Angeles and from Houston to Chicago along with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Center for Disease Control. No government actions have been taken, and no responses are typically provided to stop water main breaks and improve public health. My goal, or dream, in Aiken was to let Aiken serve as a success story for the rest of our country to follow to stop the current 260,000 U.S. water main breaks per year. Aiken refused to be the city that leads the way in stopping water main breaks. The next step of my research to stop water main breaks is to find a city unlike my hometown of Aiken, where that city will put the welfare of residents first ("Never Give an Inch - When Will We Stop U.S. Water Main Breaks?", Click Here). My fight to stop water main breaks goes on. Crush Global Water Main Breaks Water main breaks affect every city and country across the globe, where monetary and environmental costs are coupled with illness and death. Published technology has evolved since 2002 to stop water main breaks. 'I believe that my work will make our world a little better place to live' ("The Price of Engineering Ethics, A Personal Story", click here). I am tired at depth of being cheated and lied to by governments and businesses, who break our water mains and endanger our health by promoting water main breaks. Aren't you? We can stop water main breaks! Face the Enemy To face enemies of our rights, the following email was sent to the Aiken Mayor, City Manager and Engineering Director. 'Op Ed About Our Water Main Conflict, 4/6/2025 I plan to submit [this draft] Op Ed for publication' 'Strong disagreements and accusations are included. I believe that great disservice to the people of Aiken has been committed. Any comments before publication?' No response was received. After this Op Ed was published, the following letter was sent to the Aiken Mayor, City Council members, City Manager, and Engineering Director. 'A Crime Against Our People?, April 18, 2025 To back up an opinion against representatives of our Aiken government and federal government, I wrote, "A One-Man Fight Against Small Town and U.S. Water Main Breaks" (Click Here). 'Per Brittanica, a crime is 'the intentional commission of an act usually deemed socially harmful or dangerous and specifically defined, prohibited, and punishable under criminal law. Based on many years of scientific research, I believe that our government has endangered, and continues to endanger, the health of our people by destroying our water mains. In my opinion, such irresponsible and intentional attacks on public health should be illegal. Even so, we can still work together to protect the people of Aiken if you choose to do so. Comments? I can revise this Op Ed if you provide comments or dissenting opinions.' No comments were received. The people of Aiken are the losers for this effort by elected and non-elected Aiken misleaders to curtail water main breaks and improve health hazards. Acknowledgments: As always, Janet Leishear proofreads my work, where she has proofed 200+ publications to improve my communications. Donald Moniak of Aiken South Carolina provided insights into Aiken politics and provided water main break data from City of Aiken news releases, public reports, and alerts. Disclaimer: Opinions and comments from this article are not the responsibility of the publisher, their employees, nor their management. All content, opinions, information, and comments in this article are provided as a public service by Leishear Engineering, LLC. Leishear Engineering, LLC expressly disclaims liability for errors, omissions, or damages in whole, or in part, for reliance on information contained herein or in referenced publications, which have been updated here. (Article changed on Apr 21, 2025 at 10:20 PM EDT) Because I live in Japan and post articles which are critical of America, I am often accused of being anti-American. The truth is both counter-intuitive and disturbing. I haven't changed . . . but America certainly has. America has become anti-American! The Constitution guarantees freedom of the press. Yet reporters are now being intimidated and threatened with arrest and incarceration. Whistleblowers who try to expose fraud, corruption, and waste in government by making available in public news media forums information of value to American citizens, are likewise harassed and prosecuted. The Constitution requires the government to promote the general welfare. Yet the benefits of our economic wealth are accruing to a tiny elite while poverty is still pervasive and the majority of the population scrambles to make ends meet. Among the 34 highly developed nations in the world, America ranks 17th in terms of life satisfaction -- happiness -- the key factors for its low ranking being massive income inequality and excessively long hours spent on average in the work place. In terms of health care and life expectancy, for the richest country in the world, America ranks abysmally low, with longevity actually declining. The Constitution guarantees equal representation of its citizens. Yet, the electoral system has become corrupted by unverifiable e-voting, grotesque gerrymandering of districts, and torrents of money in politics, which only guarantees the voices of average voters will be drowned out and their participation in our democracy marginalized. The Constitution guarantees the freedom from unwarranted search and seizure, and right of trial by jury before peers, yet starting in 2001 by using the endless War on Terror as an excuse, patently unconstitutional legislation has been effected -- Patriot Acts I and II, FISA, and the NDAA which Obama signed into law on New Years Eve 2011 while America was preoccupied with celebrating the holidays, which have regularly been renewed ever since -- now placing every citizen at risk for arbitrary arrest and indefinite detention with no access to legal counsel. The Constitution guarantees equality before the law. Yet rich elite white collar criminals wreak havoc on our economy breaking countless laws and go free, while petty crimes by regular citizens -- especially people of color -- result in harsh and disproportionate prosecution and punishment. The Constitution guarantees the right of free speech, including dissent against questionable policies. Yet, we see individuals protesting the cruel, malevolent and systematic killing of Palestinians by Israel, harassed, persecuted, and prosecuted by establishment authorities, who apparently consider the slaughter of between 50,000 and 200,000 mostly innocent Palestinians, including women and children -- horrific war crimes which those in power indisputably support -- necessary and laudable. U.S. support for this genocide mocks the principles we hold dear and have at least until now defined us as a people. The Constitution specifies that the power to wage war is exclusively the responsibility of Congress. Yet the president as Commander-in-Chief as often as not ignores the constitutional limits as well as those contained in the War Powers Act, using the military purely at his own discretion. This wanton abuse of military power results in the unnecessary deaths of our citizens in uniform, while at the same time counter-productively foments enormous animosity and mistrust across much of the planet. Our legal framework via the Posse Comitatus Act has long barred the use of the military for law enforcement but vast and sophisticated surveillance by federal security agencies, the militarization of local police forces, and their handshake agreements with federal agencies, puts us all under the iron fist of enforcement agencies like the NSA and operatives of the Pentagon itself. I could go on. But that might offend some people. Sometimes the truth can be so anti-American. We are all Mahmoud Kahlil. And Rumeysa Ozturk. And Badar Khan Suri. And Kilmar Abrego Garcia. And Sergei and Marina, two Russians who fled to San Francisco after protesting Russia's war on Ukraine. And the other hundreds of immigrants and asylum seekers the felonious regime has disappeared without due process. It started with them because they were protesting, publishing, speaking out It started with them because they're immigrants. Once fascists identify a defenseless minority to persecute, more follow. There are always more defenseless minorities the strongman decides he must do without. History tells us eventually everyone becomes a target of a despotic regime intent on eliminating its perceived enemies. It starts with one marginalized group, but most assume they're safe and ignore it. Then another group is targeted, and, again, most are relieved it isn't them and they just carry on with their lives. Another group is singled out. Another. And another. Until finally the regime comes for the rest, and no one is left to defend them. The regime may have begun with the low-hanging fruit, the ones most Americans simply trying to navigate a chaotic economy and political landscape brought to us by bluster and fiat aren't paying much attention to, the ones easily dismissed as "un-American", other. How long, though, until all of us have to wonder if that thing we said in passing to our next door neighbors about tariffs, or the signs in our yards supporting Democratic candidates, will get us branded and shipped off to an El Salvadorian gulag in the dead of night? The answer is, probably sooner than we think. This week, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the convicted felon illegitimately occupying the Oval Office is exploring "legal" pathways to abduct and disappear U.S. citizens to El Salvador. During a press briefing, Leavitt attempted to explain that "These would be heinous, violent criminals who have broken our nation's laws repeatedly. These are violent, repeat offenders on American streets." That's the bait: fear of criminals (i.e., brown-skinned people). 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). "Closure of the charter school is in the best interest of pupils." - LACOE Staff Going into the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) Board meeting on April 1, 2025, the KIPP chain of publicly funded private schools already had three strikes in its attempt to renew the charter of KIPP Sol. First, the Charter School Division of the LAUSD had looked at the school's declining results and recommended that it be closed. In January, the LAUSD Board voted to approve this recommendation . The chain quickly appealed to the County and, upon review of the data, concluded that " KIPP Sol failed to meet or make sufficient progress toward meeting standards that provide a benefit to pupils of the school. Before the LACOE Board voted on KIPP's appeal, I sent the following comments to its members detailing some of the issues at KIPP Sol: After being presented with the evidence, the unelected LACOE Board decided that it knew better than its staff and voted to overturn the LAUSD with a four-to-three vote. Chan, Foggy-Paxton, Johnson, and Cross were the Board Members who voted to ignore the recommendations of their staff. A school deemed "demonstrably unlikely to successfully implement the program set forth in [its] petition" will operate next year with oversight by the County. (Image by LACOE) Details DMCA The vote by this Board to approve a failing charter school is not surprising. In the past, they overturned the LAUSD and renewed the charter of the North Valley Military Institute. They took this action even though NVMI had not submitted the required audit and the charter school had a pending lawsuit against it alleging an administrator had sexually assaulted a student. The staff at LACOE's Charter School Division proved to be consistently inept at ensuring NVMI followed the rules, and the charter school eventually failed, leaving its students scrambling to find new schools. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors appoints LACOE Board Members and is responsible for putting members on the County School Board who do not care about accountability; Kathryn Barger appointed Chan, Janice Hahn appointed Cross, and Holly Mitchell appointed Foggy-Paxton and Johnson. If you are a constituent who cares about public schools, you should let these Supervisors know about your displeasure before LACOE considers overturning the LAUSD's denial for LaLa and Crete. Carl Petersen is a parent advocate for public education, particularly for students with special education needs, and serves as the Education Chair for the Northridge East Neighborhood Council. As a Green Party candidate in LAUSD's District 2 School Board race, he was endorsed by Network for Public Education (NPE) Action. Dr. Diane Ravitch has called him "a valiant fighter for public schools in Los Angeles." For links to his blogs, please visit www.ChangeTheLAUSD.com. Opinions are his own. Today is Good Friday. This morning's New York Times (NYT) correctly identified the day as "part of the holiest week in the Christian calendar." It also recalled President Trump's campaign promise to "bring back Christianity." According to him and his first lady that means following "the living Son of God who conquered death, freed us from sin, and unlocked the gates of Heaven for all of humanity." The pair wants this to be "one of the great Easters ever." The article went on to recall how Mr. Trump's aspirations were following and expanding the lead of George W. Bush who established the first White House Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives in the early 2000s. Mr. Trump's "personal pastor," Paula White-Cain, who heads the Office affirms its ability "to weigh in on any issue it deems appropriate." Chief among them, she said, were the desire to "eradicate anti-Christian bias" including deviation from the position that there are two sexes, male and female. Such concerns have afforded the Faith Office "unprecedented access" for faith leaders to "officials in intelligence, domestic policy and national security." Accordingly, Mr. Trump has often met with pastors from states like Colorado and Pennsylvania. On returning home, those reverends have shared photos taken with the president sometimes with heads bowed in prayer, imposing hands of blessing on the president's head, or with Mr. Trump joining them in singing hymns. All of this led the NYT article and accompanying video to identify the White House as "one of the safest places in the world to be a Christian." In fact, one of the Christian pastors interviewed for the piece said that "he doesn't see any rails on the limits of the faith office." Good Friday Perspective As a Jesus scholar and theologian, I found all this quite ironic, false, and heretical. In my view it is reminiscent of Germany of the 1930s, when Christian pastors and Catholic bishops routinely endorsed the leader of the Third Reich, who also affirmed a llegiance to the Jesus reflected in Mr. and Ms. Trump's profession of faith. The reality was, however, that Hitler's Germany and the policies supported by Trump's MAGA crowd reveal an actual hatred for Jesus mourned and celebrated this Good Friday. After all he was the son of an impoverished unwed teenage mother who was houseless at birth. He was an immigrant in Egypt. He was an unemployed construction worker. He was a harsh critic of the Jewish political and religious establishment, of the Roman Empire, and of the rich in general. He said that the future belonged to the poor, the non-violent, and those persecuted for justice sake. He ended his life as a victim of imperial torture and capital punishment. Conclusion So, if there are no rails, no limits, on Mr. Trump's faith office how about lowering them for pastors like Episcopal Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde? (Remember how she infuriated Donald Trump and JD Vance at Trump's inaugural prayer service at the National Cathedral in Washington. She did so merely by pleading with Mr. Trump to "have mercy" on LGBTQ people and immigrants targeted by his policies.) If there are no rails, how about lowering them for rabbis, ministers, priests, and faithful demanding that Mr. Trump stop the Hitlerian genocide he's committing in Zionist Israel? If there are no rails, how about implementing policies that recognize and honor Jesus in the children of poor unwed teenage mothers, in the houseless, in refugees and immigrants, in the working class, in opponents of the rich and powerful, in those protesting the hypocrisy of Jewish Zionists, in U.S.-supported torture facilities, and on death row. Only changes like those can convince followers of the historical Jesus that the White House is "one of the safest places in the world to be a Christian." Only changes like those can make this "one of the great Easters ever." Bales of hay are strewn across all lanes of U.S. 26 about 5 miles west of Government Camp early Friday, April 18. Image courtesy of ODOT Update 11 a.m. Traffic is now traveling both east and west bound on one side of the roadway. Use caution and obey traffic signs. A serious crash involving a semi truck loaded with hay bales has closed U.S. 26 in both directions about five miles west of Government Camp early Friday. The Oregon Department of Transportation said crews are on the way to help remove the hay, but said in a recent release that there was no local detour around the crash near milepost 48 that happened before 6:30 a.m. The crash is about 25 miles east of Sandy and the closure may last several more hours. Travelers should expect long delays, or choose an alternate route including Interstate 84 to get around the closure. This post may be updated. The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office identified the kayaker who disappeared Saturday over Willamette Falls as 20-year-old Marcelus Angelo Rodriguez of Porterville, California. Courtesy of Clackamas County Sheriff's Office The kayaker who went missing Saturday after going over Willamette Falls was a 20-year-old man from Porterville, California named Marcelus Angelo Rodriguez, officials said Thursday. Rodriguez had just arrived in the Oregon City area with family for a vacation when he was seen kayaking upstream of the falls, the Clackamas County Sheriffs Office said in a statement. Witnesses called 911 late Saturday to report that man in distress on the river, and said they saw him go over the falls without resurfacing. The falls have a 42-foot drop and are 1,500 feet wide. Rodriguez may have been unaware that the falls were there, the sheriffs office said. Searchers found a blue hard-shell kayak Sunday matching the one Rodriguez had reportedly been in. The mans body has not yet been found, despite extensive and continued search efforts. His family released a statement through the sheriffs office thanking first responders and locals for their help searching for Rodriguez and urging people to be cautious near the river. Marcelus loved God, his family, and nature, the family said. We hope that this tragic accident can be avoided in the future for other families. May God keep watch over Marcelus and bless him always. Fedor Zarkhin is a breaking news and enterprise reporter. Do you have a story? Reach him by phone or text at 971-373-2905 or by email at fzarkhin@oregonian.com. Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com A prosecutor said that more than $18 million in drug proceeds was laundered through Brenda Lilli Barrera Orantes business from January 2021 through April 2024, and she charged a 10% fee for each transaction. AP Robert Atrops appears in court on the final day of his murder trial on April 16, 2025. Zane Sparling/The Oregonian A cold case was finally closed Thursday as a Washington County jury found a 70-year-old man guilty of second-degree murder for killing his wife, Deborah Atrops, and dumping her body in the trunk of her car at the edge of a construction site in Beaverton 37 years ago. After a three-week trial, the jury needed less than a day of deliberation to determine that Robert Atrops, who was 34 at the time, had lured his 29-year-old wife to his secluded Sherwood cabin and then strangled her with his hands on Nov. 29, 1988. Students at Earl Boyles Elementary School in Southeast Portland show off the books they received for summer reading. Lawmakers want schools to show proof the money they receive for summer learning delivers measurable gains in literacy. Danielle Swope/Children's Book Bank Oregon schools will soon have something theyve never had before: more than a year to plan for summer school with the promise of consistent funding from the Legislature. But it comes with a condition: The money should be spent on programs that get students reading and writing at grade level. On Thursday the Senate passed two bills nearly unanimously House Bill 5047, which appropriates $35 million for summer learning grants for 2025, $35 million for 2026, and $12 million for June of 2027 and House Bill 2007, establishing which programs qualify for the summer grants. Both bills passed the House unanimously on April 9 and now await Gov. Tina Koteks signature. Kotek indicated at a news conference Tuesday she would sign the bills and said the unanimous votes to pass both in the House earlier in the month were highlights of the session for her so far. Im very appreciative of legislative leaders for showing their commitment to that issue. I think its really important for our students to have access to summer learning programs, she said. The $35 million available to schools this summer is welcome but untimely for many school administrators. Most smaller school districts wrap up planning for summer programs by April, and most larger districts start planning as early as October. Last year, schools didnt learn until March whether theyd receive a portion of $30 million in summer grants. For some, the money came too late to expand their offerings. But knowing schools have the money next year, and in years ahead, is a game changer, bill advocates said. House Bill 5047 also makes clear that the funding is intended to be ongoing at $70 million per biennium, from a fund housed in the Treasury rather than from the states general fund, to help support three months of summer learning programs every year in perpetuity. Were thrilled the days of last minute investment and planning for summer learning are finally over, said Anna Higgins, policy director for the education nonprofit Foundations for a Better Oregon. House Bill 2007 underwent a number of amendments over the last few months after school leaders and education advocacy groups expressed concern that granting money only for literacy-specific, at-school programs was too narrow. Its since been expanded to allow schools to fund summer programs that aid in credit recovery or use evidence-based curriculum to teach language arts as well as math and science and to allow schools to partner with community-based organizations and colleges to offer programs. It was also changed to make room for summer literacy programs that include enrichment activities outside of the classroom, as long as they improve student academic outcomes. The Oregon Department of Education, which will distribute the grants, is required to prioritize schools with the lowest rates of reading proficiency when awarding funds. In the future, the bill allows the agency to recommend other academic areas to target supper learning grants as needed. School administrators and education groups, such as Foundations for a Better Oregon, who advocated in public hearings that the bill be expanded to include more community organizations, activities, and academic focus areas, said they were pleased with the amended bill. While theres more work to do to eliminate barriers and actually incentivize school-community partnerships, which are critical to reaching academic goals for historically underserved students, this bill marks an important milestone for expanding access to out-of-school learning for Oregons kids, Higgins said. For the last few years, school administrators have asked the Legislature repeatedly to dedicate funding for summer school, and to do so with consistency so they can plan ahead. Instead, the Legislature has repeatedly punted the decision to the end of sessions, leaving schools with notice that they can apply for some additional state funding weeks before programs are due to begin. In the aftermath of COVID and school closures, the need for summer learning programs to help students catch up gained urgency in the Legislature. Former Sens. Peter Courtney and Michael Dembrow, Democrats from Salem and Portland, respectively, even proposed investing in robust summer learning programs could be a runway for eventually introducing year-round school. In 2021, schools received more than $200 million, and in 2022 they were allocated $150 million. But in 2023, the Legislature did not send schools any additional summer school money and instead hoped they would spend the last of their federal COVID relief dollars. Schools cut programs and some nonprofits stopped offering summer programs altogether. -- Alex Baumhardt, Oregon Capital Chronicle Oregon Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, the nations largest state-focused nonprofit news organization. At a statewide gathering of Latino students at Tualatin High School last week, the crowds around the swag-bedecked tables manned by representatives from the University of Oregon and Portland State were three and four students deep. The brightly colored brochures and freebie wristbands were a glimpse into the future students said they are planning despite or perhaps joyously and defiantly because of a federal government that seems to have many of their families in its crosshairs. Among the hundreds of students at the annual MEChA conference, an event that brings together students of Latino heritage from around Oregon, many said they were American citizens from mixed-status families, meaning that their parents or other family members are undocumented immigrants. Their college journeys typically start with applying for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, a key step toward unlocking the federal grants, low-interest loans and work-study programs that put higher education within reach. The U.S. government doles out about $120 billion in student aid annually. Applying for it requires students to provide personal information, including their Social Security number and mailing address. Parents and caregivers are also asked, but not required, to provide their Social Security number. Students at a recent MEChA conference at Tualatin High School gather around a college representative from Western Oregon University. Julia Silverman At the MEChA conference, students said they were following the twists and turns of the Trump administrations efforts to curb immigration some of which have been blocked by court orders but that they felt that it was unlikely that they and their families would be targeted. And what choice did they have but to seek aid, some asked, to make the futures they want possible? I personally believe the government isnt that messed up, to use FAFSA to gain information about the people who are here, said a Tigard High senior named Abraham. The Oregonian/OregonLive is withholding the last names of students out of concerns for their privacy. He had hoped to attend the University of Oregon but ran into trouble filling out the federal aid application on behalf of his mother, a fast food cook who has worked at a local McDonalds for more than two decades, because he was hoping not to worry her with the forms. I spent months trying to figure it out, Abraham said. I didnt finish until late. He missed the March 1 priority deadline for the Eugene university, putting some funds out of his reach, and said he might attend community college instead. Evelyn, one of his Tigard High classmates, won a Pathway Oregon scholarship to attend the University of Oregon, which will cover her full tuition and fees. Her mother works in fast food and her father is between jobs. They pushed her to fill out the federal forms, she said, because her education means everything to them. We need to take the risk to get higher education, she said. My parents care so much. They want me to succeed. Sensitive student information required by the FAFSA is protected by the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act and has never been used for immigration enforcement purposes, according to the National Immigrant Law Center. But under the norm-shattering Trump administration, there may be few guarantees, acknowledged school counselors, community organizers and educators who focus on Oregons immigrant student population. About 25% of Oregon students are Latino. The percentage of Latino students going to college in Oregon within 12 months ticked up to 46% for the class of 2023, which is still below the state average of 53%, according to the states Higher Education Coordinating Commission. Already, in its zeal to deport undocumented immigrants, the Trump administration has canceled thousands of Social Security numbers legally obtained by immigrants by adding them to a file for those who have died and are no longer eligible for government benefits, according to The New York Times. That has blocked their access to the financial services that underpin daily life, like bank accounts and credit cards. The Department of Housing and Urban Development is developing a rule to ban households in which undocumented immigrants live with U.S. citizens from public housing benefits, according to The Washington Post. And the Internal Revenue Service recently agreed to share data with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency to close in on people believed to be in the United States without required papers. Yes, we have students concerned about the uncertainty of what this administration is capable of doing, said Jazmin Chavez, a school counselor at Tualatin High. We have parents who are afraid of providing that information. We stress the confidentiality of it. As a school, we are in support of our students. Crystal, a Beaverton High School senior, said her mother had pushed her to fill out the forms. We need the money, she explained. And she didnt think it was going to affect her. That sanguine attitude is exactly how the grown-ups helping students navigate these uncertainties hope they will feel, said Wendy Echeverria, an English as a Second Language and social studies teacher at Beaverton High School. She tells her students the same thing her teachers used to tell her, she said: If you dont even try, youre already closing the door. It wasnt so long ago that her own parents told her that they wanted her to go to college above all else, even if it meant that their ability to remain in the U.S. was at risk, she said. Its an aspiration our parents have, Echeverria said. My students say, I dont know what I am going to study. I just know that I will go. Julia Silverman covers K-12 education for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach her via email at jsilverman@oregonian.com. Protesters at Portland City Hall rallied against a controversial Portland General Electric transmission upgrade project in Forest Park that would require the utility to clearcut more than 370 trees on about 5 acres in the park. The rally came ahead of the Council considering two appeals on whether to overturn a previous city decision to approve the project. Beth Nakamura The Portland City Council moved Thursday to reject a Portland General Electric transmission upgrade project in Forest Park that would require the utility to clearcut more than 370 trees on about 5 acres in the park. The decision Thursday night described as tentative until a final vote on May 7 came after councilors considered appeals by the Forest Park Conservancy and Forest Park Neighborhood Association to overturn a city of Portland hearings officer approval in March of PGEs proposal. Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen speaks to the press in La Libertad, El Salvador, where he arrived regarding Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran citizen who was living in Maryland and deported to El Salvador by the Trump administration, Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Salvador Melendez) AP SAN SALVADOR Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen met Thursday in El Salvador with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a man who was sent there by the Trump administration in March despite an immigration court order preventing his deportation. Van Hollen posted a photo of the meeting on Bluesky, saying he also called Abrego Garcias wife to pass along his message of love. The lawmaker did not provide an update on the status of Abrego Garcia, whose attorneys are fighting to force the Trump administration to facilitate his return to the U.S., saying he would have more details Friday. El Salvadors President Nayib Bukele posted images of the meeting minutes before Van Hollen shared his post, saying, Now that hes been confirmed healthy, he gets the honor of staying in El Salvadors custody. The tweet ended with emojis of the U.S. and El Salvador flags, with a handshake emoji between them. A spokeswoman for El Salvadors presidency said she had no further information. I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar. Tonight I had that chance. I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return. pic.twitter.com/U9y2gZpxCb Senator Chris Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen) April 18, 2025 The meeting came hours after Van Hollen said he was denied entry into an high-security El Salvador prison Thursday while he was trying to check on Abrego Garcias well-being and push for his release. The Democratic senator said at a news conference in San Salvador that his car was stopped by soldiers at a checkpoint about 3 kilometers (about 2 miles) from the Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT, even as they let other cars go on. They stopped us because they are under orders not to allow us to proceed, Van Hollen said. U.S. President Donald Trump and Bukele said this week that they have no basis to send Abrego Garcia back, even as the Trump administration has called his deportation a mistake and the U.S. Supreme Court has called on the administration to facilitate his return. Trump officials have said that Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran citizen who was living in Maryland, has ties to the MS-13 gang, but his attorneys say the government has provided no evidence of that and Abrego Garcia has never been charged with any crime related to such activity. Van Hollens trip has become a partisan flashpoint in the U.S. as Democrats have seized on Abrego Garcias deportation as what they say is a cruel consequence of Trumps disregard for the courts. Republicans have criticized Democrats for defending him and argued that his deportation is part of a larger effort to reduce crime. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt held a news conference Wednesday with the mother of a Maryland woman who was killed by a fugitive from El Salvador in 2023. The Maryland senator told reporters Wednesday that he met with Salvadoran Vice President Felix Ulloa, who said his government could not return Abrego Garcia to the United States. So today, I tried again to make contact with Mr. Abrego Garcia by driving to the CECOT prison, Van Hollen said Thursday. Van Hollen said Abrego Garcia has not had any contact with his family or his lawyers. There has been no ability to find out anything about his health and well-being, Van Hollen said. He said Abrego Garcia should be able to have contact with his lawyers under international law. We wont give up until Kilmar has his due process rights respected, Van Hollen said. He said there would be many more lawmakers coming to El Salvador. New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., is also considering a trip to El Salvador, as are some House Democrats. While Van Hollen was denied entry, several House Republicans have visited the notorious gang prison in support of the Trump administrations efforts. Rep. Riley Moore, a West Virginia Republican, posted Tuesday evening that hed visited the prison where Abrego Garcia is being held. He did not mention Abrego Garcia but said the facility houses the countrys most brutal criminals. I leave now even more determined to support President Trumps efforts to secure our homeland, Moore wrote on social media. Missouri Republican Rep. Jason Smith, chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, also visited the prison. He posted on X that thanks to President Trump the facility now includes illegal immigrants who broke into our country and committed violent acts against Americans. The fight over Abrego Garcia has also played out in contentious court filings, with repeated refusals from the government to tell a judge what it plans to do, if anything, to repatriate him. Since March, El Salvador has accepted from the U.S. more than 200 Venezuelan immigrants whom Trump administration officials have accused of gang activity and violent crimes and placed them inside the countrys maximum-security gang prison just outside San Salvador. That prison is part of Bukeles broader effort to crack down on the countrys powerful street gangs, which has put 84,000 people behind bars and made Bukele extremely popular at home. Human rights groups have accused Bukeles government of subjecting those jailed to systematic use of torture and other mistreatment. Officials there deny wrongdoing. -- By YOLANDA MAGANA and MARY CLARE JALONICK Associated Press Jalonick reported from Washington. Tariffs arent here to help Americans. Tariffs are being imposed to bring us to our knees. Taxation and tariffs are this administrations tools to force concessions such as loyalty pledges, political contributions and promises to suppress free speech within organizations. These tariffs are intended to create economic hardship to nations, businesses and citizens, and to consolidate the power of relief within a single man. This is not stupidity. Its bullying. The Project 2025 plan to stay in power forever aims to create not a president who works for all of us, but a king who grants relief to those who beg. To the ignorant, its a win-win situation because if he grants relief, then the economy will improve and dissent disappears. However, it also makes the king all-powerful. Once nations, corporations and citizens are crushed and subservient, it could be hard - if not impossible - to take our country back. Dont be fooled. These tariffs arent economic policy. Theyre political weapons. The folks in this administration arent stupid. Theyre cruel. Lets be clear about this and mobilize as we did so effectively on April 5. Lets be so large and loud with our peaceful activism that we are seen and heard, even when the media and the opposition try to ignore us. Some GOP lawmakers are already starting to find a spine. Our senators tell us that action is our best strategy and brightest hope. So, write a postcard, join a group or take to the streets. Quite simply, its time. Lets do something! Mary Lyon, Lake Oswego To read more letters to the editor, go to oregonlive.com/opinion. The recent reciprocal tariffs represent a profound abuse of power, far exceeding the realm of simple economic policy and fair trade, (How were Trumps new tariffs calculated? Why isnt Russia included? 5 questions, answered, April 3). Its a calculated display of dominance - a blatant assertion of personal authority over the well-being of the American people and the global economy. This, like many actions taken by this administration, consolidates political power at the expense of democratic institutions and the rule of law. The weakening of judicial oversight, the avoidance of accountability for alleged wrongdoings, and the undermining of essential government branches all contribute to a climate of fear and uncertainty. Freedom of the press and the fundamental right to free speech are under assault. The tariff imposition is merely the latest manifestation of this ongoing power grab. The economic impact is devastating. Widespread job losses, the destruction of businesses, and the erosion of retirement savings are not mere collateral damage; they are intended consequences. The promised fix will undoubtedly require unwavering loyalty and subservience to the administration, creating a system of quid pro quo that undermines fair competition and democratic principles. The striking absence of similar tariffs on Russia, coupled with recent reports of possible economic collaboration, raises serious concerns about conflicts of interest and preferential treatment. The current situation is a dire warning. We are witnessing a concerted effort to erode democratic norms and concentrate power in the hands of a few. The economic consequences are severe, but the damage to our political system and societal values is arguably even more profound. Pat Cooney, Portland To read more letters to the editor, go to oregonlive.com/opinion. Years of declining revenues, rising costs and competing priorities have left the Portland Bureau of Transportation and its vast infrastructure holdings in a world of hurt and city residents fuming. Dave Killen / The Oregonian Portlanders are deeply dissatisfied with the citys upkeep of roadways and sidewalks, ranking it dead last among an array of municipal services tracked in a large new survey. Street maintenance received the lowest favorability rating by residents, trailing behind even the citys oft-criticized permitting system and increasingly costly water and sewer services, according to a report released this week by the city of Portland. Inside Oregon State Penitentiary. The Oregon Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday held an informational hearing focused on the agencys troubled health services division. The Oregon Department of Corrections has significantly overhauled the longstanding and notoriously powerful panels that decide whether prisoners get off-site specialty medical care, the agencys chief medical officer said Thursday. Dr. Michael Seale oversees the delivery of medical care to Oregons roughly 12,000 prisoners. He took over from the previous director, Dr. Warren Roberts, who was fired late last year after an outside review questioned his leadership, decision-making and supervision of the prison systems more than 600 medical staffers. Seale previously worked as the medical director for the Multnomah County Sheriffs Office and before that spent more than two decades working in correctional health care in Texas. He addressed the Oregon Senate Judiciary Committee during an informational hearing focused on the Department of Corrections troubled health services division. The hearings followed extensive reporting by The Oregonian/OregonLive about poor prisoner care, the decimated ranks of physicians working in the states prisons and the toxic culture that marked Roberts tenure. Corrections Director Michael Reese also fired Roberts boss, Joe Bugher, who served as assistant director of health services. Seale talked about the broad challenges facing the health services division and efforts to address them. He said the division, for instance, is converting to electronic health records, which he expects will result in more accurate and timely records and ultimately better care. Medical staff have long relied on paper records in the states prisons, amassing patient files big as doorstops. He spoke about the departments use of the panels called therapeutic level of care committees that under Roberts wielded power over a wide variety of medical decisions. He said the Department of Corrections is changing the role of those committees to reduce delays and improve prisoners access to medical care. Previously, if a prisoner needed non-emergency surgery, access to a specialist or medical imaging that the department cannot provide, the request went before a committee that acted like an insurance panel and rendered a decision. The panels are staffed by medical providers, prison administrators and the chief medical officer. Under that system, doctors could make off-site referrals only for cases that fell under the highest two levels of clinical priority, Seale said. The rules changed last month to allow medical providers to make referrals on their own for preventative care, such as mammograms and colonoscopies and screenings for lung cancer and osteoporosis, Seale said. Committee approval also is no longer required for the treatment, labwork or additional appointments recommended by those off-site specialists, he said. Medical staff can still bring cases to the committee for further discussion if they feel its useful, he said. If Seale cannot attend a committee meeting, he designates a delegate so that we do not delay access to care, he said. And similarly, Im available for consultation on cases sent by any of the providers in between (committee) meetings, so that access to more urgent referrals and care, if deemed by the provider, can be addressed and not delayed, he told lawmakers. A Chicago-based consultant, Falcon Correctional and Community Services, is reviewing the states prison health system and is expected to deliver its recommendations this summer. Noelle Crombie is an enterprise reporter with a focus on criminal justice. Reach her at 503-276-7184; ncrombie@oregonian.com Board members for Clean Water Insurance Company attended the 2024 Hawaii Captive Insurance Council forum at the Grand Hyatt on the island of Kauai. The insurance company has not made public records about who attended and how much the trip cost. Getty Images Washington Countys sewer board promised increased transparency and accountability last week as it voted to adopt new oversight measures in response to an investigation by The Oregonian/OregonLive that uncovered lavish spending at the public agency. But officials still refuse to disclose how much money sewer executives spent in the past decade on annual business trips to Hawaii. The city of Norman held a media event at city hall on Thursday to discuss the AIM Norman comprehensive plan as it nears completion. Topics discussed included community engagement, protections for Lake Thunderbird and the future of the plan. Tiffany Vrska, city chief communications officer, Shannon Stevenson, assistant city manager Jane Hudson, community development and planning director, Destiny Andrews, municipal planner, and Lora Hoggatt, planning services manager, were in attendance. 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... AIM Norman AIM Norman is a 25-year area and infrastructure master plan composed of seven areas: land use, water, wastewater, stormwater, housing, transportation and parks. The document provides recommendations for Normans future development. According to Vrska, the plan has been in development for over one-and-a-half years and is intended to be flexible. Multiple steering subcommittees, which are composed of Norman residents from every ward, are dedicated to different segments of the plan. In March, the AIM Norman Steering Committee unanimously approved draft plans. Norman City Council has heard multiple presentations on the various segments of the plan, including the water and wastewater plans, housing and land use plans and the transportation plan. Norman City Council is expected to consider the AIM Norman comprehensive plan on June 10 and June 24, according to Vrska. The city of Norman website features a list of upcoming public meetings pertaining to AIM Norman. Stevenson said while she has worked for 20 years for various cities in North Texas, she has never seen a project like AIM Norman. There's not one other city that I'm aware of that has ever taken on this level of planning, long-range planning, all at one time. Normally a city would update maybe just their wastewater plan or their transportation plan, but never all of them collectively at the same time, Stevenson said. This really is a unique situation that Norman has chosen to take on it's been amazing to see the results. According to fliers given to the media, AIM Norman consists of seven different areas of city planning with outlined goals. The land use master plan intends to guide future land use policies to meet community needs and desires. Andrews said the plans character area map divides Norman into seven different sections based on priorities for looks and aesthetics, while the land use map outlines different land use types in various colors. The transportation master plan is designed to offer diverse travel choices and prioritize investments in safety. The housing plan is based on a projection by RDG Planning and Design, which uses U.S. census data to predict a population of 185,759 residents in Norman by 2045. According to the citys flier, Norman will have a demand for 23,226 homes. Listed goals within the plan include rewriting zoning ordinances to achieve efficiency, adding diversity in housing options, increasing affordable housing and promoting infill for existing neighborhoods. A safe, comfortable, and attainable home for all is critical to Normans future success, the flier reads. Rising home prices contribute to housing challenges. The recognition of poverty and unhoused populations in Norman is growing, while limited student housing options strain existing neighborhoods. The wastewater plan intends to evaluate existing wastewater collection and improve collection system efficiency, according to a flier. Goals for the water plan include promoting sustainability and conservation, strengthening the water system to withstand emergencies and upgrading the water supply to meet future demand. A flier notes new groundwater wells, purchasing additional wholesale water and potable reuse are considered the most feasible options by the city to meet demands. The stormwater plan intends to protect runoff water quality to Lake Thunderbird, prioritize community awareness of stormwater quality and flood risk, and other stormwater projects that include collaboration with all stakeholders. Objectives of the parks, recreation and culture plan include maintaining the park system, supporting organizations that contribute to art and culture, and protecting natural resources. Additional priorities include creating a trail system master plan, protecting Lake Thunderbird and updating policies to support the parks and recreation department. 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 Lake Thunderbird According to Hoggatt, protections to Lake Thunderbird werent dictated by the Oklahoma Turnpike Authoritys ACCESS Oklahoma turnpike plans, which intend to build two turnpikes through East Norman. Hoggatt said protections would be included regardless of ACCESS Oklahoma. Turnpike or no turnpike, the lake is still a top priority for protecting water and floodplain areas and all of that, Hoggatt said. That was probably more of a consideration in the land use decisions than if the turnpike comes around. Hudson said the land use plan notes planners were uncertain of the location of the OTAs South Extension turnpike while developing AIM Norman but noted what the turnpike could entail. We need to at least show it and not completely ignore it the plan would not be responsible to not show it, Hudson said. The committee themselves, they didn't necessarily change what they were thinking, as far as that area. Community engagement According to Hudson, there have been over 24,000 visits on the AIM Norman website. City staff calculated over 100 meetings were held for the plans. Hoggatt said over 3,000 residents responded to surveys, which covered different topics each month. (Residents) were heavily involved, more than I've seen in many other plans and communities, Hoggatt said. Hudson emphasized the project is resident-led with committees composed of residents. The people that we had seemed to be long-term residents, very familiar with how the community has grown over the years, and to me, that made a huge difference, Hudson said. They really are deeply invested in how this plan comes out and I thought that was incredible. You don't see that all the time. Stevenson said throughout her career, she has not seen Normans level of community engagement. The communitys level of involvement and engagement was so overwhelming and so much more than what I had ever seen or experienced in North Texas I was just really shocked at the civic engagement of the citizens in Norman, Stevenson said. It's really refreshing and encouraging. It really does make it a community plan, because there was so much involvement and thought put into this. Future Hudson said AIM Norman will lead to greater growth and progress in Norman. What we have determined here, what council will vote on, this will impact the direction that the city goes in the future, Hudson said. Being able to have this blueprint of the direction that we need to go will really benefit the community overall. According to Hudson, the city will create annual reports that track the plans growth. It's very important for us as staff and as a community to keep an eye on this and see the direction of the growth, and if we do need to make any changes as we move forward, Hudson said. This story was edited by Anusha Fathepure, Ana Barboza and Ismael Lele. Editor's note: This story was updated at 8:14 a.m. on April 18 to include a statement from Sigma Alpha Epsilon National Chief Executive Officer Steve Mitchell. A decade after Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity was kicked off OUs campus following a racist incident, the Interfraternity Council rejected the reinstatement of SAE at the university. 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... In an email to OU Daily Wednesday, IFC President Graham Waggoner wrote that the IFC executive council held a meeting Monday evening to discuss a recent expansion request from the fraternity. The IFC Executive Council voted against admission of SAE to the University of Oklahomas Interfraternity Council, Waggoner wrote. According to Waggoner, the request did not achieve a simple majority vote, so it did not advance for further consideration. OU Daily reached out to Waggoner on Wednesday and sent a follow-up email Thursday asking for clarification on the exact vote count. Waggoner did not respond. Former IFC President Ryan Barnett, an economics and international studies senior, told OU Daily in an interview Thursday that, to his knowledge, SAE applied one time before and the council unanimously rejected it last semester. Barnett served as president of IFC from November 2023 to December 2024. When a fraternity applies to the council it must follow the IFC expansion guidelines. According to the guidelines, admission of a fraternity chapter to OU must first be heard and voted on by the IFC executive council and adviser. If a simple majority of all voting members is achieved, the requested fraternity will move to IFC congress where it will give an in-person presentation explaining why they should be granted admission. The requesting fraternity must receive a two-thirds majority vote in favor of admittance. The fraternity will then be considered by the IFC president who can either grant or veto the request. If vetoed, the request returns to IFC congress where a three-fourths majority vote can override the veto. 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 Barnett said this expansion policy was established only a few years ago. The previous process was a non-existent expansion policy with an absence of guidelines, Barnett said. Barnett said in the past, fraternities would simply send letters of intent to the IFC adviser who would approve the requests without deeper consideration of sustainability for the OU community. Three years ago, under the IFC presidency of Matt Halverson, IFC leadership, Student Affairs and Fraternity and Sorority Programs and Services worked together to author the current expansion guidelines, according to Barnett. Barnett said under the current guidelines there is no limitation for how many times a fraternity can apply for reinstatement nor is there an established grace period between applications. Steve Mitchell, chief executive officer of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon National Fraternity, wrote in a statement to OU Daily Friday that they are seeing this as an opportunity to reflect and seek constructive paths for the future. "We are dedicated to learning from our past, actively listening to those affected, and collaborating to make amends, reconcile, and promote a fresh start, Mitchell wrote. Background On March 8, 2015, a video went viral of members of OUs Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity singing a racist chant. The video led to national outcry and protests across the campus. Then-OU President David Boren shut down the fraternitys chapter at the university two days after the videos circulation. I have emphasized that there is zero tolerance for this kind of threatening racist behavior at the University of Oklahoma, Boren said in a press release. I hope that the entire nation will join us in having zero tolerance of such racism when it raises its ugly head in other situations across our country. This story was edited by Ana Barboza and Ismael Lele. Editor's note: This story was updated at 6:21 p.m. on April 17 to include a statement from SGA President Avery Dunlap. OU Student Government Association President Avery Dunlap has nominated Joseph Harroz III to be her vice president. Dunlap, who was recently appointed president following the impeachment of former SGA President Carter Strickland, confirmed in a text message to OU Daily Thursday she nominated Harroz. 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... Harroz, a finance junior, currently serves as secretary of external development on the SGA executive branch. Harroz is currently vice president of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and an associate with the JCPenney Leadership Program in the Price College of Business. According to Dunlap, nine students applied through the open application for vice president. A committee comprised of Congress Chair Hope Rhodes, Graduate Student Senate Chair Jordan Norris and Campus Activities Council Chair Kennedy Corbin helped review and grade applications. Dunlap conducted interviews during the weekend through Tuesday and ultimately selected Harroz. Dunlap wrote that she has know Harroz for years and she believes his professionalism and leadership will transfer well to the vice president role. "From his work on my campaign in the fall to his work on (the executive office of the president) thus far, he has always been on top of things, impactful in his work, and truthfully so easy to work with," Dunlap wrote. "... I have a ton of respect for him and am excited for his confirmation hearing on Tuesday." Congress will consider Harroz's nomination for vice president at its weekly meeting on Tuesday. Background On March 25, former SGA President Carter Strickland was impeached on five charges, making him the first SGA president to be impeached in university history. The bill was authored by Congress Vice Chair Aaron Gilson-Bond and co-sponsored by 20 other SGA members, including Chief of Staff Ellie Wolthuis, Secretary Chloe Harris and five congress committee chairs. Created a hostile workplace environment while serving as SGA president. Failed to act in accordance with the Oklahoma Open Meetings Act and the SGA Code Annotated while serving as SGA president. Went against the chief justices advisement in electing members to search committees while serving as SGA president. 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 Neglected his duties to the legislative branches while serving as SGA president. Hindered the duties and responsibilities of the chief of staff. The Oklahoma Open Meetings Act is a state law that requires all meetings of public bodies state, local boards and commissions must be open to the public, and the public must be given advance public notice of such meetings, including information on the time, place and purpose of the meeting. All SGA meetings are subject to the Open Meetings Act, per the SGA Code Annotated, and agendas and notices for special meetings must be posted at least 24 hours before a meeting. The SGA Code Annotated is the governing laws of OUs SGA and outlines rules, regulations and fun On April 5, Strickland told OU Daily he would officially resign as president because it would be in the best interest of OU students and the university. Before his resignation, Strickland was set to face a trial at the Graduate Student Senate which would have been presided over by the chief justice. Following his resignation, Dunlap became acting president. During the April 8 Undergraduate Student Congress meeting, Dunlap addressed congress about assuming the role of president and what she plans to do with her time in office. I first want to assure you that I will be acting in transparency throughout my administration. I'll be inclusive in discussions, assignments and projects to the SGA to accomplish work for our student body, Dunlap said. Dunlap said although she is committed to taking on the presidency, she is still adjusting to new responsibilities. I am prepared, but not quite ready, Dunlap said. Moving forward, I ask for grace and patience. I know what's expected of me, and I will fulfill the duties of this office, but as with anything, there is a learning curve. This story was edited by Ana Barboza. OU students met with Oklahoma legislators at the state Capitol to advocate for higher education on Tuesday during Higher Education Day. Higher Education Day is an annual event held at the Capitol, where University of Oklahoma students meet one-on-one with legislators. The event allows students to lobby for causes important to them, such as higher education; diversity, equity and inclusion; and various other university initiatives. Higher Education Day was originally scheduled for February but was postponed due to expected inclement weather. 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... Marilou Bento, external affairs committee chair of the Undergraduate Student Congress, said Higher Education Day is an opportunity for students to have open and honest conversations with lawmakers. It's important to make our legislators see the human side of higher education being able to talk about our plans and what we want to do with our futures within Oklahoma is very helpful to the legislators, Bento said. Mercer Martin, Oklahoma Votes public relations chair, said Higher Education Day is important because it facilitates face-to-face connections between constituents and their representatives. It's really important to form these connections, to let our voices be heard to the people who represent us, Martin said. It was also just really enlightening to get to hear from the legislative side on how this process even works and what we can do to help them. They can't know about our concerns unless we go talk to them. Martin said the event is about amplifying student voices and making students heard on a state level. Martin said she was heartened to see the diversity of OU students who attended Higher Education Day. The external affairs committee did such a great job at making sure that all groups all different aspects of OU being represented at the Capitol, Martin said. This year, roughly 30 OU students from various organizations including the Student Government Association, Oklahoma Votes, OU Black Royalty and the OU Food Pantry attended Higher Education Day, according to Bento. 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 Bento said she worked hard this year with her committee to make sure students were prepared and researched the representatives they were meeting with so they could best communicate the issues and topics that were important to them. Everyone came out a lot more satisfied with the conversations that they had because legislators were just a lot more receptive to you knowing things about them, Bento said. Bento said she was very proud of how the day turned out, and felt that students and lawmakers had productive and understanding conversations. All the students in all the meetings that I attended, all the students I saw, were asking very insightful, thoughtful questions, Bento said. Martin said one of her favorite moments of the day was sitting down with Sen. Mary Boren (D-Norman) and having a conversation about how lawmakers could better connect with students. We just shared a very honest and down to earth conversation about how young people can get involved with legislators, with the government, how she thinks it's so important for our voices to be heard as we're the next generation, Martin said. Martin said civic engagement is important in college because young adults currently have one of the lowest voter turnouts. According to a report from the University of Florida, Oklahomas turnout rate for the Nov. 5 election was 53%, the lowest in the nation. The states 2024 turnout of registered voters was also lower than the past two presidential elections with many experts attributing the low turnout to disillusionment among young voters who feel disconnected from lawmakers. There's a lot of barriers, disillusionment with the whole system, people feel like it's not accessible, Martin said. We try to aim to break down these barriers so that we can reach them at the easiest level right here to set them up for their whole lives of being civically engaged. Keaton Shaffer contributed to the reporting of this story. This story was edited by Ana Barboza and Ismael Lele. Allie Clift and Sophie Hemker copy edited this story. Yunmen, asked, I do not ask you about the fifteenth of month. Come. Tell me about after the fifteenth. He then gave his own response, Every day is a good day. Blue Cliff Record, Case 6 Today is Good Friday. And I find it a perfect day to consider a koan. Koans are not puzzles, although they look like them. Rather theyre invitations. They point, they invite. As, I believe, Good Friday can be. A strange turning moment in the Christian tradition. Historically considered a confusion, the prophet, the messiah, is unexpectedly arrested, tortured, and today, put to death in a terrible manner. The whole of Holy Week is filled with conundrums, reversals, and even stranger turnings. Today, Good Friday is the linchpin. As a text for today, I turn to Yunmen Wenyan. Who flourished on the cusp between the ninth and tenth centuries, dying in 949 of our common era. When I come to Good Friday I often think of this koan. And on occasion Ive share my thoughts. Today I return to the story of Good Friday and that koan. For those unfamiliar with the metaphor of the fifteenth of the month, in East Asian Buddhism, the fifteenth is the full moon. And it often stands as the image of awakening. Enlightenment. (So does the empty moon, but that would be another conversation.) So, the set-up is not a question about approaching awakening, our liberation, our saving. The shared project of religion, as I see it. Meeting the world, and our brokenness, the anxiety that wracks most lives one way or another, and points to something. In Jesus telling, it points to the Kingdom of God. In his collected sayings we find that kingdom, whatever it is in its fullness, also exists partially in the future, and partially in the this moment. The koan is an invitation into the awakened heart. And. Good Friday is an invitation into the kingdom. One can, and people do argue over whether in some final sense these destinations are the same or different. For me the answer, and I mean it without trying to be glib, is yes and no. But as far as the no goes, I think we can find valuable hints in looking at the yes part. And this koan offers something of that yes. This story was told in the midst of very, very hard times. In times of war and rumors of war. Marked by hunger and danger in every corner. No one on the Zen way takes that every day is a good day as a nostrum. This is not calling for some feel good response. Although feeling good is not not part of it. But here were being invited into something rather larger. The Zen teacher Susan Murphy, in her wonderful book Upside Down Zen writes of a friend who was dying of AIDS. He offered his comment on the koan, Every day is Good Friday. From a dying mans mouth. Every day is Good Friday. A pointer. Roshi Murphy tells us how This is a powerful and illuminating turning phrase. The mystery and the passion of Good Friday and the astonishing fact that such a day is called Good is enacted every day in every life upon the Earth, in some measure. This is where we live. She reminds us, Yunmen was offering no blandishments at all, but the hardest of all possible challenges. Slyly she adds, We notice, with gratitude, that he didnt say Every day is a nice day. Every day is a nice day is a lie. Or, rather, it is so far short of the reality that it is not helpful. Every day is a good day is the truth. As is every day is Good Friday. They are not two things. Here that yes and no of whether all religions point to the same thing, well, those words burn away. Jesuss last words as he hung dying on that cross, as captured by the gospel writers are each a bit different. Luke says he said Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do, then Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise said to a thief, and for which theres a lovely midrash where a Japanese Zen priest was told by an Orthodox Christian priest that this line should read Today you are with me in paradise. The Zen teacher wasnt particularly impressed with will be in paradise. But he felt are with me in paradise a direct pointing. Here. Now. Yes and no collapse in the hurt of a man hanging on a cross, in the simple words of an old monk speaking to his suffering companions. There are other words tumbled up in the accounts of the event. John, whose composition is at least three generations after the events and so the farthest out of any of the canonical gospels has Jesus say Woman, behold your son. Son, behold your mother, then I thirst, and finally It is finished. The words I find most compelling, haunting, of them all is reported by both Matthew and Mark, generally believed to be the closest texts to the actual event, where Jesus says My God, my God. Why have you forsaken me? The sermon-like last words, I take with a grain. Despair last words, those I get. When the great Zen master Yantou was old, his monastery was sacked by bandits. One of the bandits stabbed him. It is said his dying scream could be heard ten miles away. That this renowned master could scream at his death so haunted a later young monk, Hakuin, that he would despair of even finding awakening, doubting that it could even be true. Hakuin would eventually see through to the heart of the matter. And it could be found in that scream. And, our own saving can be found in those last words, My God, my God. Why have you forsaken me? Now Christian thinkers have had a terrible time trying to put this story, all of it from the entry into Jerusalem to this horrific death, and then to a story of resurrection, into some clear explanation. In fact, there are to this day contending explanations, what they call doctrines of atonement. Few of them square. Reason and putting the things of our lives all together, sorting and sifting, is powerful and important. I so love Occam and his terrible razor to this day. But. And. When we come to this story and that koan, we are fully into the dream world of our human hearts longing. And the hearts reasons are of a completely different physics. Here we find the razor cutting the divided world into one. Here we are invited into the Mandala of Holy Week, where the human journey is revealed. And heres where it points and the koan revealed. In the midst of our suffering we are liberated. All the parts of our lives are it. There is no moment to be despised. In the story recalled last Sunday, the entry into Jerusalem and those palm fronds. They are it. Turning over the tables of the money changers. Thats it. Sitting together at a meal with his friends. Thats it. He particularly points to that it of it, when he calls their attention to what the bread and the wine really are. Just bread. Just wine. And, him. Both. And. Later, the empty tomb. Thats it. And, later the dream conversations. They are it, each of them. And they are not separate. Not one exactly, but not two, either. And we can enter from any point of our lives. Although these hardest times, if we meet them full on, with all our heart and being, well, they may offer the clearest opening into the mystery. So. Right here, today, as the day turns to night, and thirst and blood and pain, and dying are the matter at hand. Thats it. Every day is Good Friday. The meeting of earth and heaven. For those have ears to hear, this is good news. Every day is the good day. GRAMMY-nominated, award winning artist Forrest Frank has released an Easter-themed track titled CELEBRATION. Acknowledging the beauty of life, and seizing the day in celebration, he sings If you believe that Jesus set you free, its time to celebrate. Dont sit there waiting lets have a celebration. As Frank continues to sell out arenas across the U.S. on his Child of God Tour Part 2, new music has been coming on the ready, as evidenced by last weeks release NO Ls which features live vocals from fans in the audience. NO Ls follows Franks February single, a collab with Thomas Rhett, Nothing Else, along with two early 2025 releases Surise and Drop! Viral traction for Franks 2024 hit YOUR WAYS BETTER also continues on TikTok and YouTube Shorts, driven by a dance thats taken the faith-based community by storm. Check out the fun on YouTube here and TikTok here . 2024 was a record-breaking year for Forrest, whose GRAMMY-nominated album Child of God held the No.1 spot on the Billboard Christian Albums Chart for 14 weeks becoming the biggest Christian album debut of 2024 . Franks latest radio single, Nothing Else (feat. Thomas Rhett) has quickly been added to 24 stations on in just a few short weeks including SiriusXMs The Message. At Mediabase Christian Impressions, Your Ways Better ranks #26 this week and at Billboard Christian Airplay the song ranks at #38. Forrests collective radio audience has grown to over 7M weekly impressions across multiple songs including Good Day, Never Get Used To This, Lift My Hands, Your Ways Better and Nothing Else. The Houston-born 29-year-old Frank, whod temporarily put the idea of making solo music on the back burner to keep building on his bands success, craved the freedom to make music just for himself again, and in 2021, a revelation inspired him to change course. Forrest opted to take a year off from touring, relocated to Waco, TX, and became a father. Working completely independently, his self-described simple worship songNo Longer Bound [feat. Hulvey] opened up the floodgates, surging across social media, tallying north of 60.9 million Spotify streams and counting. He parlayed this momentum into CHILD OF GOD. Beyond performing on all 20 tracks, Forrest helmed the production, crafting an immersive ou anchored by elements of bright R&B, upbeat pop, and uplifting gospel. Thematically, he clung to a core message. My whole brand was built around God, and Im not going to change thatever, he affirms. Serfass Development & Acquisitions plans to build an industrial facility at 2855 State Route 72 in Union Township, Lebanon County, near Jonestown, Pa. Photo provided by Landmark Commercial Realty A Lehigh Valley developer plans to build a 154,000-square-foot industrial building designed for both industrial and manufacturing use. Serfass Development & Acquisitions plans to build the facility at 2855 State Route 72 in Union Township, Lebanon County. The property is near Interstates 81 and 78. The strategic location of the property offers a significant advantage, providing businesses with the ability to efficiently access key markets across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. This development promises to support the growing demand for quality industrial space, catering to businesses seeking modern facilities with optimal logistics capabilities, Landmark Commercial Realty, said in a news release. An affiliate of Serfass Development & Acquisitions purchased the property. Chuck Heller and Adam Boussatta, both from Landmark Commercial Realty, represented the buyer, Serfass 72 LLC, in the real estate transaction. We are thrilled to support the development of this cutting-edge industrial facility, which will undoubtedly strengthen the regions infrastructure and serve the needs of modern businesses, Boussatta said in the news release. Serfass Development & Acquisitions is based in North Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, and specializes in development, design, and construction. A 34-year-old York County woman was arrested and charged with attempted homicide after police said she held a knife to another womans neck, cut her body and yelled threats, according to an affidavit of probable cause. Pennsylvania State Police charged Pamela G. Benites, of Red Lion, with attempted homicide, two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of simple assault and criminal mischief after she was involved in a fight with another woman around 3:20 a.m. Thursday. Troopers responded to the first block of East Broadway Street around 3:30 a.m. and heard screaming and shouting in Spanish from the third floor, the affidavit said. A Washington, D.C., man pleaded guilty to filming two male residents as they showered at a Lafayette College dorm, the Northampton County District Attorneys Office announced. Peter Hamilton Milius, 21, pleaded guilty to charges of one count felony child pornography possession and two counts misdemeanor invasion of privacy without consent. The charges were filed in April 2024. Milius, who was a Lafayette College student, faces a maximum of seven years in prison for child pornography possession and two years for invasion of privacy. Milius is scheduled to return to court for his sentencing hearing tentatively scheduled for July 15. Easton-based attorney Gary Asteak, representing Milius, couldnt immediately be reached for comment Thursday morning. Lafayette College spokesman Bryan Hay referred comment to the district attorneys office. A Lafayette College police officer about 11 p.m. Oct. 15, 2023, responded to Rubin Hall in Easton, for an invasion of privacy complaint. Court records say the victims lived at Rubin Hall. A resident advisor filed the complaint on behalf of the two victims, according to court records. Milius used a personal cellphone to record the men showering at different times. One spotted the cellphone held above a shower curtain while he was showering and yelled at Milius, court records stated. The officer seized Milius cellphone as evidence. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant Oct. 19, 2023, for Milius cellphone, which was sent to a lab to be further investigated, authorities said. A second search warrant was obtained on Jan. 4 related to child pornography found the phone, court records stated. Authorities said evidence showed two videos of the victims while showering, but no images were depicted below the waist of either victim, plus 76 images of child pornography. Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Cody Balmer arrives for his arraignment Monday evening at Judge Dale Kleins office on Bretz Drive, Harrisburg. He's been accused of firebombing the Governor's Residence in Harrisburg with Josh Shapiro, his family and friends inside. April 14, 2025. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com Arson suspect Cody Balmer called Dauphin Countys emergency dispatch center at 2:50 a.m. Sunday morning to take responsibility for the firebombing of the Pennsylvania Governors Residence in Harrisburg. Prior to ending that call, according to Pennsylvania State police, Balmer said, You all know where to find me. Im not hiding. And I will confess to everything that I had done. And yet ... According to available records, it took at least 12 hours, two more phone calls to state police identifying Balmer as the firebomber and two separate encounters with Penbrook police before Balmer was in custody. He was arrested after walking more than two miles to surrender himself at Pennsylvania State Police headquarters. The good news? Balmer, who apparently walked from the Governors Residence to his parents home in Penbrook after the attack, did not harm himself or anyone else in the interim. But the time lag raises questions about why Balmer, who stated his willingness to confess, seemingly had to work to get arrested for a high-profile attack that made international news. When did dispatchers learn the fire was an arson? Why was it so hard to translate the repeated phone calls into action from police? Why were the people leading the investigation apparently slow in getting information out to other agencies? What if Balmer hadnt tried so hard to get arrested? A PennLive review shows part of the answer lies, on the law enforcement side, on breakdowns in communication between who knew what Balmer was confessing to, and when. The rest hinges on the unpredictable nature of cases involving mental health. In this case, while Balmer told the county call-taker he wasnt hiding and was ready to confess, his comments included in charging documents filed against him show he was ranting more than relaying focused information. And later, he didnt explicitly tell the officers he encountered on the street what he had done. Heres a timeline of Balmers last hours on the streets as we know it, based on publicly available records and details gleaned from Balmers family and others familiar with the case. Balmer, as the world now knows, eluded police at the scene of the fire, and made his way across Harrisburg and back to neighboring Penbrook. Hard as it may be to understand, his 2:50 a.m. call to take responsibility for the attack may not have been quickly transmitted to Pennsylvania State Police - who have a different dispatch service - and it did not did not trigger a notice to all Dauphin County police to be on the lookout for Balmer. Listen to the audio of the 2:50 a.m. 911 call here: So when Balmer, now back in Penbrook, approached two different Penbrook police officers over the next 10 hours, they did not take him into custody. The first encounter was about 4:30 a.m. Sunday, when Balmer approached a Penbrook officer who by chance had made a routine patrol stop near the Balmer familys home on the 2700 block of Boas Street. Penbrook Police Chief Joe Hogarth said Balmer asked the officer: Are you looking for me?, to which his officer - at this point unaware of Balmers involvement in the Harrisburg fire - asked Why would I be looking for you? Balmer, according to the officers account, then started talking about his still-pending arrest for simple assault in January 2023, Hogarth said, and how he did not want to go back to the mental health facility he was taken to after that night. What Balmer did not mention, Hogarth said, was the fire-bombing in Harrisburg. Nor did he volunteer a confession and offer to surrender. His officer, Hogarth said, ran Balmers name through a database to see if he was wanted in any jurisdiction, and that came up empty. Nor had there been any BOLO - short for Be On Lookout - notice pushed out to the county police agencies based on Balmers call to the dispatch center, Hogarth said. Those notices are issued by dispatchers at the request of police agencies handling a case. In this case, Dauphin Countys dispatch center had had no such request. He has no idea what took place (in Harrisburg) and cant connect the dots, Hogarth said, so he let Balmer go on his way. Hours passed, and shifts changed. Fire damage from the arson at the Governor's Mansion in Harrisburg, Pa., April 13, 2025. Officials announced the arrest of a suspect during a press conference at the mansion. Commonwealth Media Services Shortly after 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Rosetta Welsh, a former live-in girlfriend and the mother of Balmers two oldest children, decided to call Christie Balmer, the defendants Mom. At that point, Welsh, who now lives in Lebanon County, said she too knew nothing about the fire in Harrisburg. She was just checking in to see how Christie was doing after a week in which both women had been trying to get help for Codys deteriorating mental health situation. I knew what was going on with the situation with him not being mentally himself, and I wanted to see how she was doing with it because we were trying to get him help, Rosetta told PennLive in an interview Thursday. At some point during that call, Rosetta said, Cody got on the phone and he was like: I did it. I said: What did you do? And he was like, Im the one who set fire to the governors mansion. And Im like, wait, what? Im like, are you serious? Like, theres no way. Welsh went on to describe how, as shes talking to Cody, she simultaneously searched online for information about a fire at the Governors Residence, and, bingo. And he goes: Turn me in. Get your reward money, Welsh continued. Im like, how did you call? Youre not arrested yet? Like, something isnt adding up. Welsh said she quickly got off that call and phoned the state police tip line embedded in the original article she saw about the fire, telling them what Balmer had said and where he was. That was at 12:37 p.m. Sunday, according to her phone log. Four minutes later, at 12:41 p.m., Rosetta said, she called Christie Balmer back to let her know the state police had been notified. Cody, according to both womens accounts, was then waiting for police at the Balmers Boas Street home in Penbrook. But, as Rosetta found out, no one came. The windows and door is damaged from an overnight fire at the governors official residence on Sunday, April 13, 2025 in Harrisburg, Pa. (Associated Press/Marc Levy) AP Pennsylvania State Police, which is leading the investigation into Sundays firebombing at the Residence, did not answer questions from PennLive about their search for Balmer in the wake of the attack. This remains an active investigation and additional information beyond what has already been provided is not being released at this time, spokesman Sgt. Logan Brouse said. So its not exactly clear what PSP did with Welshs tip over the next two hours. By Welsh and Christie Balmers accounts, however, at some point early Sunday afternoon Cody Balmer decided to walk over to the Penbrook police station to expedite things. He didnt want the whole house swarmed with the cops coming to the house with his mom in there, Welsh said. So he just went and finally turned himself in. It was taking too long for them to show up. Welsh can time-stamp that encounter too, because she was on another call with Christie Balmer at 2:39 p.m. Sunday. Christie had apparently tailed Cody to make sure he was OK, and told Rosetta that when she drove by the police station she saw Cody talking with an officer there. At that point, Welsh said, both women felt a sense of relief. I was like, Thank God hes with the police. Hes safe. Hell get the help he needs, Welsh said. Only Cody still wasnt in custody. Heres Chief Hogarths explanation as to why. The boroughs department was on a shift change, and Balmer flagged an officer who was at her car, firing up computers and other equipment for the shift ahead. Here, Hogarth said, Balmer states that hes here to turn himself in, and state police are aware. Then, Hogarth said, Balmer again launches immediately into his grievances with his prior mental health commitment. The officer runs his name through the same database, and theres still no sign of any active warrants or detainers for Balmer. At that point, the chief says, the officer is summoned to answer an active break-in call elsewhere in the borough; Balmer says hell wait on the bench. Penbrooks dispatch logs show that call was dispatched at 2:10 p.m. Sunday. After the intervening call, when the Penbrook officer gets back to the station, possibly around 2:30 p.m., Balmer is gone. She starts to search for him in the borough, Hogarth said, when the department gets its first call from PSP asking if they had seen Balmer. Which brings us back to Welsh. Rosetta Welsh told PennLive she reached out to state police again on her own at 3:05 p.m. Sunday, both to follow up on her original tip more than two hours prior and to see what she could find out about Cody. I was like, all right, I hadnt heard from anybody. I didnt know if he was in custody yet. What was going on? So I was like, let me call the state trooper barracks. She spoke to Trooper Michael Gragg, one of the officers who has been signing off on the search warrants and criminal complaints in Balmers case. From her recollection of that call, Welsh said, no one told her that Balmer was in custody at that point. According to case records, it was at some point after Welshs call that, the department said, that Balmer appeared, on his own, at agencys headquarters on Elmerton Avenue to surrender. From the arrest affidavit: A member of the Pennsylvania State Police was approached outside department headquarters... by a male identified as Cody Balmer. Balmer informed the trooper he was responsible for the fire in the governors residence, and wished to turn himself in. The surrender was first announced to the public during a 5 p.m. news conference on Sunday afternoon. There was no way Balmer was going to be left to go his own way again. At his arraignment on attempted homicide and arson charges, Magisterial District Judge Dale Klein held there is no set of conditions short of incarceration that would assure the safety of all. Balmer is now being held without bail in the State Correctional Institution at Camp Hill pending a preliminary hearing. UPDATE: This post was updated at 1:12 p.m. with some additional information from the Penbrook Police Department. Lorrie Morgan and Jamey Johnson perform during Still Playing Possum: Music And Memories Of George Jones at Propst Arena in Von Braun Center on April 25, 2023 in Huntsville, Alabama. (Photo by David A. Smith/Getty Images) Getty Images Lorrie Morgan fans are sending prayers her way this week after it was announced that she has cancelled all of her concerts for the next two weeks to be with her ailing husband. Morgans husband of 15 years, Randy White, has been receiving treatment for mouth cancer, according to The Tennessean. Morgan, who has been touring with Alabama, will be replaced by Pam Tillis, the site said. Morgans manager, Tony Conway, released a statement that said that White had been readmitted to a hospital in Middle Tennessee. Morgan, who is a member of the Grand Ole Opry, has had more than 40 songs land on the Billboard Hot Country Charts. Three of those Five Minutes, What Part of No, and I Didnt Know My Own Strength, made it to number-one on the charts. White is Morgans sixth husband. Among her previous marriages, country music star Keith Whitley died in 1989. She was also married to country music star Sammy Kershaw from 2001-to-2007. FILE - In this Oct. 22, 1981, file photo, Jamie Farr, from front left, plugs his ears as cast members of the "M.A.S.H." television series cast Harry Morgan, Loretta Swit, William Christopher and, from back from left, Mike Farrell, Alan Alda and David Ogden Stiers celebrate during a party on the set of the popular CBS program in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Huynh, File) AP Patrick Adiarte, a veteran actor whose roles included a recurring spot on the hit TV series M*A*S*H has died. He was 82. The Hollywood Reporter said that Adiartes niece, Stephanie Hogan, said he died in a hospital in the Los Angeles area after battling pneumonia. Adiarte, who was born in the Phillipines, began his career in 1956, and accumulated an impressive list of credits. That included the role of Prince Chulalongkorn in The King and I. The Hollywood Reporter said he was also a popular dancer on the NBC musical series Hullabaloo, and parlayed that into a hit pop song, Five Different Girls. He also had a starring role in the movie, Flower Drum Song. He played the role of Ho-Jon, an orphaned Korean houseboy who assisted Hawkeye Pierce and Trapper John McIntyre on seven episodes of the first season of M*A*S*H. OneRepublic band members, from left, Brent Kutzle, Drew Brown, Eddie Fisher, Ryan Tedder, Zach Filkins, Brian Willett and Tim Myers pose as they arrive to attend the 2023 Earthshot Prize at the Theatre at Mediacorp in Singapore on November 7, 2023. (Photo by MOHD RASFAN / AFP) (Photo by MOHD RASFAN/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images Tim Myers, the former bassist for OneRepublic and a successful writer and record producer, is heading into the world of politics. The 40-year-old announced in a video posted to his Instagram that he is running to represent California in Congress. Im a pastors son who grew up learning how to stretch a dollar in Corona, California, he said. I turned a love of music into a career with some luck and a lot of hard work. I made it big, but it wasnt always easy. Got singed, got dropped, started over, he continued. I saw how the industry took advantage of people so I built a business that puts artists first. It reminds me a lot of what we see now. The people in charge are screwing us over to make a buck. That is when Myers took aim at President Donald Trump and Elon Musk. Trump, Musk and these clowns in Washington are cutting cancer research, veterans healthcare and getting into trade wars making everything we buy more expensive while giving billionaires another tax cut they dont need, he said. And wheres my hometown Congressman? Ken Calvert has been in Washington for 30 years and all he has done is make himself millions. Status quo isnt working. Its how we ended up here to begin with. We need leaders who are going to stand up and say enough. Im Tim Myers and Im running for Congress because one voice is weak, but a chorus is strong, he closed by saying. Lets write a new song for California. Billboard reported that Myers was the bassist for OneRepublic for five years before releasing a number of solo projects. It said he also started the record label Palladium. Calvert, per the site, is a Republican who represents the 41st District in Riverside, California. The Associated Press said that Christian Martinez, a spokesperson for House Republicans, said that Myers was everything wrong with todays radical left: a Hollywood liberal trying to fake his way into Riverside County. Will Smith, left, and Martin Lawrence attend the LA premiere of "Bad Boys for Life" at the TCL Chinese Theatre on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP) Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP Its never a dull moment between actors Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. And a birthday is no exception. On Wednesday, Lawrence celebrated his 60th birthday. To commemorate his friend turning one year older, his Bad Boys co-star Smith, 56, took to Instagram and shared a picture of the two, with Lawrence wearing tan robes and a long, fake beard. USA Today reports Consolidated Burger Holdings filed earlier this week in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Florida. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) AP A Burger King franchisee with 57 restaurants has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. USA Today reports Consolidated Burger Holdings filed earlier this week in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Florida. The companys restaurants are located in Valdosta, Georgia and in Florida including Tallahassee, West Palm Beach and Naples, and four of the restaurants operate in Walmart stores. Fast Company said Consolidated Burger closed 18 locations before filing for bankruptcy. The company blamed financial issues as the reason for its bankruptcy. Over the past several years, and particularly as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Debtors business suffered significantly from loss of foot traffic, resulting in declining revenue without proportionate decreases in rental obligations, debt service, and other liabilities, the company shared in the filing. Consolidated Burger stated it had sales of $67 million and an operating loss of $12.5 million in fiscal year 2024, down from $76.6 million in sales and a net operating loss of $6.3 million the previous year, according to USA Today. Consolidated Burger said it plans to continue operating its restaurants during the bankruptcy process but wants to sell the company and assets. One bands tour turned into quite the wild ride for a moment. The band suddenly had to replace their drummer smack dab in the middle of their current tour across the United States. Ohio-hailing alternative metal band, A Killers Confession, published a statement via social media on Wednesday detailing the hectic past day or so. And right in the midst of their tour with fellow metal band, Mushroomhead, too. ITS BEEN A CRAZY 24 HOURS, the statement begins. Our van broke down and may not be able to get fixed but the show must go on!!! We have temporary transportation and we are moving forward with the tour. The band then casually mentions how they ended up being a member down, as drummer Kegan King abruptly made the decision to drop out of the band. That being said, Kegan has decided that he no longer wants to tour with us, the statement continues. He decided to leave on his terms mid-tour. Fortunately, Mushroom head drummer, Daniel Fox, was able to step in, the statement confirms. The bands are currently in the western p of their tour; their next stop is Salt Lake City, Utah. :LETS GO!!!! AKC IS A MACHINE!!! the post shouts. Please welcome Danny!!!! The reason behind Kings departure still remains unknown as of the publishing of this report. Pax Christi Harrisburg held its annual walking Way of the Cross in downtown Harrisburg on Good Friday. Good Friday is a Christian holiday that commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary. This year Good Friday is April 18. Easter is Sunday, April 20. The event connects Jesus journey to the cross with current themes of peace and justice. The contemplative walk takes participants through downtown Harrisburg to stop at 14 places of interest to correspond with the 14 stations of the cross. At each stop a Gospel passage is read along with a commentary about current social justice issues to make the Gospel relevant to today. Grounded in the Gospel and Catholic social teaching, Pax Christi USA rejects war, preparation for war, every form of violence and domination, and personal and systemic racism. Pax Christi Harrisburg is an ecumenical group. By Natalie Demaree, The Charlotte Observer (TNS) Millions of dead honey bees were found by a Virginia beekeeper in what he said was a calculated attack on his farm. Sixty colonies of honey bees were fatally poisoned and steel chains and locks were found on the gates of the farm, Jerry Mattiaccio, owner of Rock Hill Honey Bee Farms in Stafford, said in an April 16 statement on Facebook. The store was hit by tariffs after struggling for years following the pandemic. (Getty Images) Getty Images/Connect Images The retail apocalypse rolls on with yet another casualty. And this time, the company is citing tariffs as the reason behind these stores closures. According to Retail Dive, Canadian clothing brand Frank and Oak is closing all of its United States locations by the end of this month. Despite significant growth over the past few years, the company has struggled to recover from losses incurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, wrote Dustin Jones, CEO of the brands owner, UCG, according to Retailer-Insider. The brand is shutting down these locations as part of its larger liquidation strategy after Frank and Oak filed for creditor protection in December, Retail Dive adds. The closures were actually moved up due to growing uncertainty around tariffs and customs. Frank and Oak is currently undergoing liquidation, which means our retail stores will be closing permanently, and our remaining inventory is being sold at final markdown prices, the stores website elaborates. During this period, all sales are final, and certain services, such as returns and warranties, may be impacted. Global News reports how the Montreal-based retailer plans on closing the majority of it stores in Canada by May 7 as it continues to search for a buyer. Its online store, however, will continue to operate. CBC states that court documents show how 150 individuals are currently employed by Frank and Oak. It is unknown how many will lose their jobs as a result of these closures as of the reporting of this article. Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, D-N.Y., speaks to campaign workers, June 5, 1968, as his wife Ethel, left, and California campaign manager and speaker of the California Assembly, Jesse Unruh, look on, at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. (AP Photo) AP WASHINGTON About 10,000 pages of records related to the 1968 assassination of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy were released Friday, including handwritten notes by the gunman, who said the Democratic presidential candidate must be disposed of and acknowledged an obsession with killing him. Many of the files had been made public previously, but others had not been digitized and sat for decades in federal government storage facilities. Their release continued the disclosure of historical investigation documents ordered by President Donald Trump. Kennedy was fatally shot on June 5, 1968, at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles moments after giving a speech celebrating his victory in Californias presidential primary. His assassin, Sirhan Sirhan, was convicted of first-degree murder and is serving life in prison. The files included pictures of handwritten notes by Sirhan. RFK must be disposed of like his brother was, read the writing on the outside of an empty envelope, referring to Kennedys older brother, President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1963. The return address was from the district director of the Internal Revenue Service in Los Angeles. Sirhan also filled a page of a Pasadena City College notebook with variations of R.F.K must die and R.F.K must be killed. In a note dated May 18, 1968, he wrote: My determination to eliminate R.F.K. is becoming more of an unshakable obsession. In another of the documents, the assassin said he advocated for the overthrow of the current president. Democrat Lyndon Johnson was in the White House at the time of Robert F. Kennedys death. I have no absolute plans yet, but soon will compose them, wrote Sirhan, who pledged support for communist Russia and China. Documents include interviews with assassins acquaintances The files also included notes from interviews with people who knew Sirhan from a wide variety of contexts, such as classmates, neighbors and coworkers. While some described him as a friendly, kind and generous person others depicted a brooding and impressionable young man who felt strongly about his political convictions and briefly believed in mysticism. According to the files, Sirhan told his garbage collector that he planned to kill Kennedy shortly after Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968. The sanitation worker, a Black man, said he planned to vote for Kennedy because he would help Black people. Well, I dont agree. I am planning on shooting the son of a bitch, Sirhan replied, the man told investigators. FBI documents describe interviews with a group of tourists who had heard rumors about Kennedy being shot weeks before his death. Several people who visited Israel in May 1968 said a tour guide told them Kennedy had been shot. One person said he heard that an attempt on Kennedys life had been made in Milwaukee. Another heard that he was shot in Nebraska. The National Archives and Records Administration posted 229 files containing the pages to its public website. The release comes a month after unredacted files related to the assassination of President Kennedy were disclosed. Those documents gave curious readers more details about Cold War-era covert U.S. operations in other nations but did not initially lend credence to long-circulating conspiracy theories about who killed JFK. Trump, a Republican, has championed in the name of transparency the release of documents related to high-profile assassinations and investigations. But hes also been deeply suspicious for years of the governments intelligence agencies. His administrations release of once-hidden files opens the door for more public scrutiny of the operations and conclusions of institutions such as the CIA and the FBI. Trump signed an executive order in January calling for the release of government documents related to the assassinations of Robert F. Kennedy and King, who were killed within two months of each other. Lawyers for Kennedys killer have said for decades that he is unlikely to reoffend or pose a danger to society, and in 2021, a parole board deemed Sirhan suitable for release. But Gov. Gavin Newson rejected the decision in 2022, keeping him in state prison. In 2023 , a different panel denied him release, saying he still lacks insight into what caused him to shoot Kennedy. RFK still stands as a hero to American liberals Kennedy remains an icon for liberals, who see him as a champion for human rights who also was committed to fighting poverty and racial and economic injustice. They often regard his assassination as the last in a series of major tragedies that put the U.S. and its politics on a darker, more conservative path. He was a sometimes divisive figure during his lifetime. Some critics thought he came late to opposing the Vietnam War, and he launched his campaign for president in 1968 only after the Democratic primary in New Hampshire exposed President Johnsons political weakness. While Kennedys campaign inspired hope among some Democrats, he still trailed Minnesota Sen. Hubert Humphrey for the partys presidential nomination after winning the California primary. Kennedys older brother appointed him U.S. attorney general, and he remained a close aide to him until JFKs assassination in Dallas. In 1964, he won a U.S. Senate seat from New York and was seen as the heir to the familys political legacy. One of his sons, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now serves as health and human services secretary. He commended Trump and Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, for their courage and dogged efforts to release the files. Lifting the veil on the RFK papers is a necessary step toward restoring trust in American government, the health secretary said in a statement. By SEAN MURPHY, The Associated Press OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Thirty years after a truck bomb detonated outside a federal building in Americas heartland, killing 168 people in the deadliest homegrown attack on U.S. soil, deep scars remain. From a mother who lost her first-born baby, a son who never got to know his father, and a young man so badly injured that he still struggles to breathe, three decades have not healed the wounds from the Oklahoma City bombing on April 19, 1995. The bombers were two former U.S. Army buddies, Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, who shared a deep-seated hatred of the federal government fueled by the bloody raid on the Branch Davidian religious sect near Waco, Texas, and a standoff in the mountains of Ruby Ridge, Idaho, that killed a 14-year-old boy, his mother and a federal agent. And while the bombing awakened the nation to the dangers of extremist ideologies, many who suffered directly in the attack still fear anti-government rhetoric in modern-day politics could also lead to violence. A 30-year anniversary remembrance ceremony is scheduled for April 19 on the grounds of the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum. Oklahoma City fire Capt. Chris Fields carries 1-year-old Baylee Almon, in this file photo shot Wednesday, April, 19, 1995 at the Alfred Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City. The child died of her injuries. (AP Photo/Charles H. Porter IV, File) ASSOCIATED PRESS A baby killed and a mothers anguish Little Baylee Almon had just celebrated her first birthday the day before her mother, Aren Almon, dropped her off at the Americas Kids Daycare inside the Alfred P. Murrah federal building. It was the last time Aren would see her first child alive. The next day, Aren saw a photo on the front page of the local newspaper of Baylees battered and lifeless body cradled in the arms of an Oklahoma City firefighter. I said: Thats Baylee. I knew it was her, Aren Almon said. She called her pediatrician, who confirmed the news. In the hauntingly iconic image, which won the amateur photographer who took it the 1996 Pulitzer Prize for spot news photography, firefighter Chris Shields came to symbolize all the first responders who descended on the bomb site, while Baylee represented the innocent victims who were lost that day. But for Aren, her daughter was more than a symbol. I get that (the photo) made its mark on the world, Almon said. But I also realize that Baylee was a real child. She wasnt just a symbol, and I think that gets left out a lot. Former Oklahoma City firefighter Chris Fields looks at the Oklahoma City National Memorial in Oklahoma City on March 12, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero) AP A firefighter thrust into the spotlight The Oklahoma City firefighter in the photograph was Chris Fields, who had been on the scene for about an hour when a police officer came out of nowhere and handed him Baylees lifeless body. Fields swept the infants airway and checked for any signs of life. He found none. He said the iconic photograph was snapped as he waited for a paramedic to find room for the baby in a crowded ambulance. I was just looking down at Baylee thinking, Wow, somebodys world is getting ready to be turned upside down today, Fields recalled. While he tries to focus more on being a grandfather than politics, Fields said he has little doubt an attack motivated by radical political ideology could happen again. I dont worry about it, but do I think it could happen again? Without a doubt, he said. PJ Allen, the youngest survivor of the Oklahoma City bombing, poses for a photo at the Tinker Air Force Base where he works in Oklahoma City on March 13, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero) AP A badly injured child still scarred One of the youngest survivors of the bombing was PJ Allen, who was just 18 months old when his grandmother dropped him off at the second-floor daycare. He still bears the scars from his injuries. Allen suffered second- and third-degree burns over more than half his body, a collapsed lung, smoke damage to both lungs, head trauma from falling debris and damage to his vocal chords that still affects the sound of his voice. Now an avionics technician at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City, Allen said he had to be homeschooled for years and couldnt go out in the sun because of the damage to his skin. Still, there doesnt seem to be any self-pity when he speaks of the impact of the bombing on his life. Around this time of year, April, it makes me very appreciative that I wake up every day, he said. I know some people werent as fortunate. Austin Allen shows a photo of himself with his deceased father, Ted Allen, during an interview in Oklahoma City on March 12, 2025. Austin was 4 years old when his father died in the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. (AP Photo/LM Otero) AP A son who didnt get to know his father Austin Allen was 4 years old when his father, Ted L. Allen, a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development employee, died in the bombing. He never truly got to know his dad. Although he remembers snippets of riding in his dads truck and eating Cheerios with him in the morning, most of his memories come from friends and family. Its just been little anecdotes, little things like that Ive heard about him over the years, that have painted a bigger picture of the man he was, Allen said. Allen, who now has a 4-year-old of his own, acknowledges hes troubled by the anti-government vein in modern-day politics and wonders where it could lead. Its such a similar feeling today, where you have one side versus the other, he said. There is a parallel to 1995 and the political unrest. This photo provided by Dennis Purifoy on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, shows Purifoy in 1995 at the Social Security office where he worked in the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. (Dennis Purifoy via AP) AP A workers life changed in an instant Dennis Purifoy, who was an assistant manager in the Social Security office on the ground floor of the building, lost 16 co-workers in the bombing. Another 24 customers who were waiting in the lobby also perished. Although he doesnt remember hearing the explosion, a phenomenon he said he shares with other survivors, he remembers thinking the computer he was working on had exploded. Thats just one of the weird ways that I found out later our minds work in a situation like that, he said. Purifoy, now 73 and retired, said the bombing and McVeighs anti-government motives were a reality check for an innocent nation, something he said he sees in our society today. I still think that our country is naive, as the way I was before the bombing, naive about the numbers of people in our country who hold far right-wing views, very anti-government views, Purifoy said. One thing I say to tell people is conspiracy theories can kill, and we saw it here. By SEAN MURPHY, The Associated Press OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) On April 19, 1995, a former U.S. Army soldier parked a rented Ryder truck loaded with a powerful bomb made of fertilizer and fuel oil outside a federal office building in Oklahoma City. The blast at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building killed 168 people, including 19 children, and injured more than 500 others in what remains the deadliest homegrown attack on American soil. The first reports It was 9:02 a.m. in the Oklahoma City bureau of The Associated Press when a handful of staffers, some just getting to work, were startled by what felt like a small quake rattling the office. Some guessed it was a nearby gas explosion. Then reports started trickling in. It didnt take long at all for the gravity of the event to set in, said Linda Franklin, the APs Oklahoma City news editor at the time. She quickly dispatched reporters and photographers to the downtown Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building about 6 miles away. They would become among the first journalists on the scene of the deadliest homegrown attack in U.S. history: an explosion that killed 168 people, including 19 children, and left more than 500 others injured. Judy Gibbs Robinson, then a broadcast editor for the AP whose job was mostly filing brief stories for radio and TV, was the first AP reporter to arrive downtown. I still remember the dress shoes I was wearing, because they had fabric on the sides and I was stepping over glass, Gibbs Robinson said. A lot of people were just pointing and saying: Its downtown. Its downtown. FILE - Rescue workers dig through the rubble from the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building explosion in downtown Oklahoma City on April 20, 1995. (AP Photo/J.Pat Carter, File) AP In some ways, Gibbs Robinson was prepared for the moment. A broadcast training she had recently attended urged reporters to record all the sights and sounds of a news event. As she made her way closer to the building, the AP veteran put those skills to work. I just started talking and watching and listening, describing what I was seeing, she said. Thirty years later, what Gibbs Robinson witnessed is still seared into her memory. Parents reuniting with their children at a YMCA daycare near the blast site. A man whose suit looked untouched from the front but was shredded in the back because his back was turned to a window when the blast erupted. Cellphones were not yet commonplace, but Gibbs Robinson needed to call the newsroom. She entered a bank, where employees had stretched a landline telephone out onto a ledge, making it available to anyone. Meanwhile, emergency responders streamed into the area. That was how I filed my first report, she said. Back in the newsroom, Franklin and other staffers pushed a steady stream of copy and photos onto the AP wire for newspapers and broadcasters around the world. The phones rang constantly, with other media outlets inquiring about AP copy or asking for the names of people killed or wounded. I remember feeling like an octopus that day. I just didnt have enough arms, said Lindel Hutson, the bureau chief in Oklahoma City. Fire personnel gather at the base of the nine-story Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City Thursday, April 20, 1995, prior to a walkthrough of the area by media covering Wednesday's fatal car bombing at the center.(AP Photo/David J. Phillip,Pool) ASSOCIATED PRESS The newsroom was moving in a blur and, amid it all, a stranger walked through the door. Hutson recalled almost being too busy to talk to the man, who said he was an amateur photographer and wanted to show the AP pictures he had snapped at the blast site. Hutson and David Longstreath, an AP staff photographer, took a moment to see what he had. One image jumped out immediately. It showed an Oklahoma City firefighter cradling a fatally wounded baby in his arms. I thought, Oh my God. This is it, Hutson recalled. Oklahoma City fire Capt. Chris Fields carries 1-year-old Baylee Almon, in this file photo shot Wednesday, April, 19, 1995 at the Alfred Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City. The child died of her injuries. (AP Photo/Charles H. Porter IV, File) ASSOCIATED PRESS On the spot, Hutson negotiated a deal with the photographer, Charles Porter, to purchase the image. The photo won Porter the 1996 Pulitzer Prize for spot news photography and remains one of the most defining images of the attack. I think that picture probably said more than 1,000 words could about what happened down there, Hutson said. By the end of the night, the Oklahoma City bureau had become a cramped hotbed of activity. AP reporters, editors and photographers from across the country had descended on the small office for the story that would consume the staff in the months ahead. For everyone who had a role in the coverage, it was among the most significant event in their professional lives. This happened in our backyard, Hutson said. It took quite a mental toll on everyone. The first story Following is the story the AP published on the day of the bombing, Wednesday, April 19, 1995, before the true death toll was known. Car Bombing Kills More Than 20; No Claim of Responsibility. By JUDY GIBBS, Associated Press A car bomb ripped deep into Americas heartland Wednesday, killing more than 20 people and leaving 300 missing in a blast that gouged a nine-story hole in a federal office building. Seventeen of the dead were children whose parents had just dropped them off at a daycare center, a doctor said. Were sure that that (death toll) will go up because weve seen fatalities in the building, Fire Chief Gary Marrs said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, the deadliest U.S. bombing in 75 years. At least 200 people were injured 58 critically, Marrs said and dozens of others were feared trapped in the rubble of the Alfred Murrah Building. FILE - This aerial view shows the destroyed north side of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City after a massive bomb blast, April 19, 1995. (AP Photo, File) AP I dove under that table, said Brian Espe, a state veterinarian who was giving a slide presentation on the fifth floor. When I came out, I could see daylight if I looked north and daylight if I looked west. Attorney General Janet Reno refused to comment on who might have been behind the attack. President Clinton called the bombers evil cowards, and Reno said the government would seek the death penalty against them. Their clothes torn off, victims covered in glass and plaster emerged bloodied and crying from the building, which looked as if a giant bite had been taken out of it, exposing its floors like a dollhouse. Cables and other debris dangled from the floors like tangled streamers in a scene that brought to mind car bombings at the U.S. Embassy and the U.S. Marine barracks in Lebanon in 1983. Mayor Ron Norick said the blast was caused by a car bomb that left a crater 8 feet deep. He said the car had been outside, in front of the building. Obviously, no amateur did this, Gov. Frank Keating said. Whoever did this was an animal. Paramedic Heather Taylor said 17 children were dead at the scene. The children, all at the daycare center, ranged in age from 1 to 7, and some were burned beyond recognition, said Dr. Carl Spengler, who was one of the first doctors at the scene. FILE - Medical assistants Janet Froehlich, Wilma Jackson and Kerri Albright run from the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building after being told another bomb device had been found on April 19, 1995, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File) AP Reno said that 300 people were unaccounted for by late afternoon. About 20 of 40 children in the daycare center were missing. The explosion, similar to the terrorist car bombing that killed six people and injured 1,000 at New Yorks World Trade Center in 1993, occurred just after 9 a.m., when most of the more than 500 federal employees were in their offices. The blast could be felt 30 miles away. Black smoke streamed across the skyline, and glass, bricks and other debris were spread over a wide area. The north side of the building was gone. Cars were incinerated on the street. People frantically searched for loved ones, including parents whose children were in the buildings day-care center. Christopher Wright of the Coast Guard, one of those helping inside the building, said rescuers periodically turned off their chainsaws and prying tools to listen for calls of help, ``but we didnt hear anything just death." Youre helpless really, when you see people two feet away, you cant do anything, theyre just smashed, he said. The building has offices of such federal agencies as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Social Security, Veterans Affairs, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Housing and Urban Development, and a federal employee credit union and military recruiting offices. The office was built in 1974 and includes an underground parking garage. FILE - Timothy James McVeigh was eventually put to death for the 1995 bombing of the Oklahoma City Federal building. (AP Photo/John Gaps III, File) AP The bomb was perhaps 1,000 to 1,200 pounds, said John Magaw, ATF director. As for whether his agency suspected terrorists, he told CNN: I think any time you have this kind of damage, this kind of explosion, you have to look there first. More than two hours after the explosion, people were still trapped in the building. We have to crawl on our stomachs and feel our way and were talking to victims who are in there and reassuring them that were doing everything within the good Lords power to reach them and get to them, Assistant Fire Chief Jon Hansen said. Its going to be a very slow process. The explosion heightened U.S. fears of terrorism. Federal buildings in several cities were evacuated because of bomb threats, and the government ordered tightened security at federal buildings throughout the country. In 1920, a bomb blast in New Yorks Wall Street area killed 40 people and injured hundreds. Authorities concluded it was the work of anarchists and came up with a list of suspects, but all had fled to Russia. Emergency crews set up a first aid center nearby, and some of the injured sat on the sidewalks, blood on their heads or arms, awaiting aid. St. Anthony Hospital put out a call for more medical help, and at midday, posted a list of more than 200 names of injured so worried relatives could look for loved ones. It was like Beirut; everything was burning and flattened, said Spengler, who arrived minutes after the blast. Carole Lawton, 62, a HUD secretary, said she was sitting at her desk on the seventh floor when all of a sudden the windows blew in. It got real dark and the ceiling just started coming down She then heard the roar of the whole building crumbling. She managed to crawl down some stairs and was not injured. The explosion occurred on the second anniversary of the fiery, fatal ending to the federal siege of the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas. That siege began with a raid by ATF agents a month and a half earlier. Oklahoma City FBI spokesman Dan Vogel wouldnt speculate if there was a connection. The FBIs offices are about five miles away. Dick DeGuerin, who was cult leader David Koreshs lawyer, said any such link was just speculation. In the World Trade Center bombing in February 1993, a rented van blew up in a parking garage beneath the twin towers. Four Muslims were convicted. By David Matthews, New York Daily News (TNS) An American citizen was shot and killed by a passenger Thursday during his attempt to hijack a plane in Belize, police said. The incident occurred aboard a Tropic Air Belize flight with 13 other passengers onboard when Akinyela Sawa Taylor tried to take over the aircraft at knifepoint after it took off from Corozal toward Belize City. He demanded more fuel for the plane and to be taken out of the country, according to police. Taylor had previously been refused entry to Belize and it remains under investigation how he boarded the plane. As the flight circled while depleting fuel, a Belizean passenger carrying a licensed gun shot Taylor in the chest, local police said, according to ABC News. That person remains in critical condition after being stabbed in the back and lungs. Two others also suffered knife wounds in the chaos, though their conditions are unclear. The plane landed safely nearly two hours later at an airport just outside Belize City, and was moments from running out of fuel, officials said. Earlier today, a Tropic Air flight faced a serious and unprecedented in-flight emergency, Tropic Air CEO Maximillian Greif said in a statement. In the face of incomprehensible pressure, our pilot acted with extraordinary courage and calm, guiding the aircraft to a safe landing. His actions were nothing short of heroic. Belize Commissioner of Police Chester Williams told local journalists the plane was followed by a helicopter in case a quick rescue operation needed to be mounted in the event of a crash. The U.S. Embassy in Belize said it was working with local officials in their investigation. People sit in front of a makeshift memorial outside the student union at Florida State University, Thursday, April 17, 2025, in Tallahassee, Fla., following a campus shooting. (AP Photo/Kate Payne) AP By David Goodhue, Miami Herald (TNS) The shooting that left two people dead at Florida State University and several others wounded Thursday tragically threads to the survivors and loved ones of the victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting seven years ago. Former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. gives remarks at the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel on Aug. 23, 2024, in Phoenix. (Rebecca Noble/Getty Images/TNS) TNS By Anna Edney, Bloomberg News (TNS) U.S. Food and Drug Administration researchers working on ways to make powdered infant formula safer were told earlier this month theyd be let go, just weeks after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. vowed to make the newborn staple healthier. Kennedy announced what he dubbed Operation Stork Speed last month to scrutinize infant formula ingredients and increase testing for heavy metals. Two weeks later, about 15 of 20 workers in the FDAs Division of Food Processing Science and Technology in Illinois were told their jobs were being eliminated, according to a person familiar with the matter who asked not to be named for fear of reprisal. The cuts included about six workers focused on reducing contamination in powdered infant formula. The research was started after infant deaths linked to a bacteria called Cronobacter sakazakii led to nationwide formula shortages in 2022, the person said. Abbott Laboratories shut down a Michigan factory after FDA inspectors found Cronobacter in the plant, leading to an interruption in the nations supply. HHS didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. The FDA researchers are part of a consortium called the Institute for Food Safety and Health, which also includes workers from the Illinois Institute of Technology and the food industry. Brian Schaneberg, executive director of the Institute for Food Safety and Health, said the group was examining whether it could continue some of the work, though FDA projects are currently suspended. The program, which has had an agreement to work with the agency since 1988, is supposed to receive $3.9 million in FDA funding through the end of August, he said. Its unclear whether it will be subsequently renewed, he said. Were very concerned, Schaneberg said. Its not just infant formula. I think the entire food supply is going to be impacted. The FDA staff who were cut ensured 200 state and federal laboratories around the country could adequately test for heavy metals and other toxic elements in food and infant formula, Schaneberg said. They also worked to detect bird flu in milk when needed, he said. The researchers also examined how Cronobacter and salmonella, another potentially dangerous bacteria for infants, could evade sterilization efforts and survive in infant formula, according to the person familiar with the staff eliminations. They were also developing new ways to kill the bacteria during manufacturing and determine the ideal water temperature for making a bottle to prevent bacteria from reactivating, the person said. The researchers were working to apply similar techniques to powdered baby food, such as cereals, the person said. The staff terminations follow the Trump administrations disbanding of a joint FDA and Agriculture Department committee last month that studied which infants have the highest risk of Cronobacter infection, The New York Times reported. The FDA staff in Illinois thought they might be safe from the federal governments workforce cuts given Kennedys interest in infant formula, the person said. Instead, theyve been put on administrative leave until June 2 and then will no longer work for the agency, the person said. ( Rachel Cohrs Zhang contributed to this report.) 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Cody Balmer arrives for his arraignment Monday evening at Judge Dale Kleins office on Bretz Drive, Harrisburg. He's been accused of firebombing the Governor's Residence in Harrisburg with Josh Shapiro, his family and friends inside. April 14, 2025. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com In an erratic 911 call, the suspect in the arson attack at the Pennsylvania Governors Residence rattled off perceived injustices he believed Josh Shapiro committed against the suspects daughters, Palestinian people and the alleged killing of someone he identified only as Manny. George Connor has been sidelined as executive director of four Dauphin County boards while he is on paid leave from the countys community and economic development department. The moves come two weeks after Connor, 53, was tasked with dropping off Commissioner George Hartwick at a drug and alcohol testing facility after Hartwick crashed his county vehicle in a garage before a public meeting. Connor did not ensure Hartwick took the test, and instead left him alone at the urgent care clinic, according to court records charging Hartwick with DUI. Hartwick then went missing and he hasnt shown back up to work. Fire damage from the arson at the Governor's Mansion in Harrisburg, Pa., April 13, 2025. Five former governors signed a letter expressing support for full restoration of the building. Commonwealth Media Services Five days after fire damaged the Governors Residence, Pennsylvanias former governors, first ladied and first families issued a joint statement expressing suopport for for restoring the mansion The statement was signed by: former Gov. Tom Wolf and Frances Wolf; former Gov. Tom Corbett and Susan Corbett; former Gov. Ed Rendell and Midge Rendell; former Gov. Mark Schweiker and Kathy Schweiker; former Gov. Tom Ridge and Michele Ridge: and former First Lady Ginny Thornburgh and the Thornburg sons. The fire started a duplex along the 3300 block of North Fourth Street around 3:20 p.m. Friday. Madison Montag Note: This story was updated around 9:45 p.m. to include further information about injuries and displacements. First responders from multiple counties in central Pennsylvania helped to extinguish a duplex fire in Harrisburg Friday afternoon. The fire was reported around 3:20 p.m. on the 3300 block of North Fourth Street, according to county 911 dispatchers. Smoke filled the neighborhood as fire crews battled the blaze, which damaged both sides of the duplex. Fire and smoke damage were visible on the first and second floors of the building. About a half dozen fire trucks and 20 firefighters responded to the area in addition to EMS crews, UGI workers and Harrisburg police. The fire injured two and displaced seven, according to Harrisburg Fire Chief Brian Enterline. The two people taken to the hospital are expected to be released Friday night. Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen, right, speaks with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran citizen who was living in Maryland and deported to El Salvador by the Trump administration, in a hotel restaurant in San Salvador, El Salvador, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (Press Office Senator Van Hollen, via AP) AP By YOLANDA MAGANA and MARY CLARE JALONICK, The Associated Press SAN SALVADOR (AP) Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen met with Kilmar Abrego Garcia on Thursday evening in El Salvador, coming face to face with the wrongly deported man after two days in the country pushing for his release. The Democratic senator posted a photo of the meeting on X but did not provide an update on the status of Abrego Garcia, whose attorneys are fighting to force the Trump administration to facilitate his return to the U.S. A Salvadoran citizen who was living in Maryland, Abrego Garcia was sent to El Salvador by the Trump administration in March despite an immigration court order preventing his deportation. U.S. President Donald Trump and Bukele said this week that they have no basis to return him to the United States, even as the Trump administration has called his deportation a mistake and the U.S. Supreme Court has called on the administration to facilitate his return. I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar, Van Hollen wrote on X, with a photo of the two men talking in what appeared to be a restaurant. Tonight I had that chance. I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return. Its not clear how the meeting was arranged, where they met or what will happen to Abrego Garcia. El Salvadors President Nayib Bukele posted images of the meeting minutes before Van Hollen shared his post, saying, Now that hes been confirmed healthy, he gets the honor of staying in El Salvadors custody. The tweet ended with emojis of the U.S. and El Salvador flags, with a handshake emoji between them. Abrego Garcias wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, said in a statement released by an advocacy group that we still have so many questions, hopes, and fears. FILE - 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, March 16, 2025. (El Salvador presidential press office via AP, File) AP Van Hollens trip has become a partisan flashpoint in the U.S. as Democrats have seized on Abrego Garcias deportation as what they say is a cruel consequence of Trumps disregard for the courts. A federal appeals court said Thursday in a blistering order that the Trump administrations claim that it cant do anything to free Abrego Garcia from an El Salvador prison and return him to the U.S. should be shocking. Republicans have criticized Democrats for defending the prisoner and argued that his deportation is part of a larger effort to reduce crime. White House officials have said that Abrego Garcia has ties to the MS-13 gang, but his attorneys say the government has provided no evidence of that and Abrego Garcia has never been charged with any crime related to such activity. When asked by reporters Thursday afternoon if he believed Abrego Garcia was entitled to due process, President Donald Trump ducked the question. I have to refer, again, to the lawyers, he said in the Oval Office. I have to do what they ask me to do. A spokeswoman for El Salvadors presidency said she had no further information on the meeting or Abrego Garcia. Van Hollens meeting came hours after he said he was denied entry into the high-security Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT, where Abrego Garcia is being held. The Democratic senator said at a news conference in San Salvador on Thursday afternoon, before his meeting, that his car was stopped by soldiers at a checkpoint about 3 kilometers (about 2 miles) from the prison even as they let other cars go on. They stopped us because they are under orders not to allow us to proceed, Van Hollen said. While Van Hollen was denied entry, several House Republicans have visited the notorious gang prison in support of the Trump administrations efforts. Rep. Riley Moore, a West Virginia Republican, posted Tuesday evening that hed visited the prison where Abrego Garcia is being held. He did not mention Abrego Garcia but said the facility houses the countrys most brutal criminals. Since March, El Salvador has accepted from the U.S. more than 200 Venezuelan immigrants whom Trump administration officials have accused of gang activity and violent crimes and placed them inside the countrys maximum-security gang prison just outside San Salvador. That prison is part of Bukeles broader effort to crack down on the countrys powerful street gangs, which has put 84,000 people behind bars and made Bukele extremely popular at home. Human rights groups have accused Bukeles government of subjecting those jailed to systematic use of torture and other mistreatment. Officials there deny wrongdoing. People protest outside of U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompsons Bellefonte office on March 18. Abby Drey / Centre Daily Times Story by Min Xian of Spotlight PA State College This story originally appeared in Talk of the Town, a weekly newsletter of local stories that dig deep, events, and more from the Spotlight PA State College bureau. Sign up at spotlightpa.org/newsletters/talkofthetown. Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen, right, speaks with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran citizen who was living in Maryland and deported to El Salvador by the Trump administration, in a hotel restaurant in San Salvador, El Salvador, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (Press Office Senator Van Hollen, via AP) AP The Trump Administration is drawing sharp criticism for a tweet posted earlier today on X that mocks Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollens recent meeting with Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Garcia is currently being held in a notoriously violent prison in El Salvador. He was mistakenly sent there last month by the Trump Administration despite an immigration court order preventing his deportation. Sen. Van Hollen traveled to El Salvador on Thursday and was able to meet with Garcia face to face, posting a photo of the two of them talking on X. On Friday though, the White Houses official X account, seemed to make fun of the Sentators visit in a tweet that featured a fixed New York Times story about the meeting. In the tweet, the Times original headline, Senator Meets With Wrongly Deported Man in El Salvador has been edited in red pen so that it reads, Senator Meets with Deported MS-13 Alien in El Salvador Whos Never Coming Back. Fixed it for you, @NYTimes, the caption reads. Oh, and by the way, @ChrisVanHollen hes NOT coming back." Fixed it for you, @NYTimes. Oh, and by the way, @ChrisVanHollen hes NOT coming back. pic.twitter.com/VoAphh2ZPY The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 18, 2025 The post echoes Attorney General Pam Bondis comments on Wednesday when she said that regardless of whether Garcia stays in El Salvador or not, he is not coming back to our country. Reaction to the tweet was swift, with many people on social media criticizing it. Cant wait for the Trump administration to be held in contempt, one person responded on Twitter. Who is running this account, some edgelord from 4chan? another asked, echoing many users who found the post inappropriate. "The only appropriate response to this is impeachment and removal from office," Julia Carrie Wong, a reporter with The Guardian wrote on BlueSky. The White House tweeting like a teenage troll account is embarrassing. This isnt leadership its a circus," another BlueSky user wrote. President Trump admonished Van Hollen for his visit personally in a Friday post on TruthSocial. Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland looked like a fool yesterday standing in El Salvador begging for attention from the Fake News Media, or anyone, Trump wrote. GRANDSTANDER!!! Officials have repeatedly alleged that Garcia is a member of the criminal MS-13 gang even though there is no credible evidence of that and he has not been charged with any crimes. The Supreme Court ruled 9-0 last week that the administration must facilitate his return to the U.S. Christian Harder Wins Two Korea Poker Cup Series Events (and Almost a Third!) Jon Sofen Senior Editor U.S. Copy link The recently completed Korea Poker Cup in Jeju had many big winners, but none more so than Christian Harder, who took down multiple events, and nearly won a third. The series ran April 7-13 inside the Landing Casino within the luxurious Jeju Shinhwa World. Chun Lung Wong, as we reported earlier this week, took down the KRW 1,240,000 ($850) buy-in Main Event for $141,255, beating out 1,228 entrants. Harder, who has $6 million in live tournament cashes, according to The Hendon Mob, finished 91st in the Main Event. But it was far from his most impressive performance during the series. Harder Takes Down Two (and Almost Three) Christian Harder Harder won a pair of tournaments during the week-long series in South Korea. The first win came in Event #7: KRW 5,000,000 High Roller (approximately $3,500). He faced a field of 95 players, none of whom were a match for the American poker star. The champion won $80,250 in a chop agreement with runner-up Yuhang Chen, who received $83,650. Kuan Han Lee finished in third place for $44,305. Joseph Cheong, a World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner and third place finisher in the 2010 WSOP Main Event, was the only other American at the final table. Cheong was paid $22,715 for fifth place. Event #7 Final Table Results Place Player Country Prize 1 Christian Harder United States $80,250 2 Yuhang Chen China $83,650 3 Kuan Han Lee Taiwan $44,305 4 Hon Cheong Lee Hong Kong $31,115 5 Joseph Cheong United States $22,715 6 Zhu Jingxuan China $17,140 7 Yiwen Yuan China $13,430 8 Yilu Yuan China $10,880 9 Jie Xiu China $8,840 Harder didn't stop there. He closed out the series by winning Event #25: KRW 1,000,000 Mega Stack Closer for $22,235. He beat Po Sen Weng heads-up for the title. The runner-up from Taiwan received $14,785. Five of the nine players at the final table are from China. The prize pool of $92,145 included 150 entrants, 21 of which were paid. The two-event champ wasn't the only big winner in Jeju, however. The player who earned the largest payday was actually Meng Ling Lin, champion of the $25,000 Single-Day Super High Roller. She received $479,300 for beating out 70 crushers in what was an action-packed day of poker. Harder's largest payday of the series came in this event as he finished runner-up for $320,000. He was the star of the series by a wide margin. The Super High Roller featured some of the best poker pros in the world and some big names finished in the money, including Paul Phua (fifth place for $112,000) and Wiktor Malinowski (ninth place for $50,000). Full Korea Poker Cup Series Results Event Buy-In Winner Country Payout Event #2: Jeju Open Mystery Bounty 1,520,000 KRW Joseph Kim Australia $27,340 Event #3: Single Day High Roller 2,500,000 KRW Hao Chuang Taiwan $34,005 Event #4: Win The Button 300,000 KRW Renji Mao China $1,875 Event #5: Main Event 1,300,000 KRW Chun Lung Wong United States $141,255 Event #6: PLO high 600,000 KRW Renji Mao China $4,560 Event #7: High Roller 5,000,000 KRW Christian Harder United States $80,250 Event #8: NLH-Turbo 500,000 KRW Yi Chen United States $7,200 Event #9: Fun Game-ALL IN or FOLD 300,000 KRW Kanyang Zhang $5,000 Event #10: NLH-Fighter 800,000 KRW Chang Liang Sun $17,750 Event #11: Doubles Team Event 800,000 KRW Yi Chen Taiwan $6,055 Event #12: Win The Button 300,000 KRW Cheng Yu Lai Taiwan $4,375 Event #13: Big Bounty 700,000 KRW Huanhong Zhan United States $5,595 Event #14: Single Day Super High Roller $25,000 Meng Ling Lin Taiwan $479,300 Event #15: Deep Stack Turbo 700,000 KRW Hayato Kitajima Japan $12,035 Event #16: Mini High Roller-Turbo 1,500,000 KRW Ka Fai Wong Hong Kong $17,650 Event #17: Three Card Poker 300,000 KRW Momo Yin $4,605 Event #18: Short Deck- Ante Only 400,000 KRW Zehao Li China $3,305 Event #19: Super High Roller- Short Deck Ante Only Day 2 $50,000 Rene Paul van Krevelen Netherlands $529,600 Event #20: PLO High/NLH Mixed 600,000 KRW Event #21: Jeju Cup 1,000,000 KRW Zi-en Huang United States $40,815 Event #22: High Roller Day 6,000,000 KRW Calvin Sungwon Lee United States of America $105,750 Event #23: Big O 600,000 KRW Qingjun Wu China $4,580 Event #24: Fun Game-Bomb Pot 300,000 KRW Chenxu Zhang China $4,445 Event #25: Mega Stack-Closer 1,000,000 KRW Christian Harder United States $22,235 Lead image courtesy of SoMuchPoker Share this article Shannon Shorr Wins 2025 U.S. Poker Open Title and $25K Series Finale Jon Sofen Senior Editor U.S. Copy link A win to cap off the series gave Shannon Shorr the 2025 U.S. Poker Open crown on Thursday. The Alabama native took down Event #8: $25,200 No-Limit Hold'em for $529,250, beating a field of 73 entrants. In doing so, he captured his second tournament of the series, just enough to squeak by Matthew Wantman for the overall series title. Crushing the Competition Shannon Shorr Nacho Barbero, the ACR Poker pro who made headlines on Thursday for suggesting the poker site he works for doesn't even try to stop cheating, entered the final table with a bit of a chip lead over Landon Tice. Shorr was third in chips, not far back off the lead, out of seven remaining players. Clemen Deng came into play on Day 2 with the shortest stack and was the fastest to bust, going out in seventh place for $73,000. Sam Laskowitz then got it all in with QQ against the K10 Nick Petrangelo held, but a Kx on the flop sent Laskowitz home in sixth place, which paid $91,250. U.S. Poker Open Event #8 Final Table Results Place Player Prize 1 Shannon Shorr $529,250 2 Nacho Barbero $346,750 3 Landon Tice $246,375 4 Nick Petrangelo $173,375 5 Justin Saliba $127,750 6 Sam Laskowitz $91,250 7 Clemen Deng $73,000 With five players left, Barbero remained in the lead. But Shorr closed the gap when he won a race to bust Justin Saliba in fifth place ($127,750). Shorr then took over the chip lead, and followed that up by hitting a flush on the river to bust Petrangelo in fourth place ($173,375). The run took a massive hit when Barbero doubled up against Shorr with set over set, leaving the eventual champion with the smallest stack by a wide margin. But a comeback would ensue thanks in large part to Shorr earning a full double with pocket queens against Barbero's pocket jacks. Tice, who had been biding his time to make a move, then briefly took over the chip lead. That didn't last long as Shorr would crack his pocket aces with pocket fives. The final three players would trade jabs for quite some time before Barbero clipped Tice in third place ($246,375) with two pair beating flopped top pair. When heads-up play began, the stacks were nearly identical. But the match would end quickly after Barbero called it off with ace-high and ran into two pair. Barbero received $346,750 for second place. Shorr not only won his second event of the series, he did so just two weeks after conquering the World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) Main Event at Horseshoe in Las Vegas for $207,615. Two Wins is All it Took Shorr's victory earned him 318 PokerGO Tour points, and they were crucial in his quest to become the 2025 U.S. Poker Open champion. The two-time World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner had already won Event #5: $10,100 No-Limit Hold'em for $220,400. The second win gave him 538 points for the series in two cashes both wins. That was just enough to sneak by Wantman, who ended up with 512 points. Final U.S. Poker Open Leaderboard Place Player Earnings Points 1 Shannon Shorr $749,650 538 2 Matthew Wantman $528,350 512 3 Nacho Barbero $540,150 402 4 Eric Blair $385,725 364 5 Alex Foxen $443,100 354 Wantman was drawing dead once heads-up play in the $25k finale began. That is because had Barbero won the match, he would have finished the series with 512 points, tying Wantman. But the tie-breaker would have gone Barbero's way. Instead, the runner-up in the final event finished third on the leaderboard with 402 points. Eric Blair (364 points) and Alex Foxen (354 points), both individual event winners, rounded out the top five. Alex Foxen Wins Couple's Second Title at the 2025 U.S. Poker Open 2025 U.S. Poker Open Results Event Entrants Winner Winner Prize Prize Pool Event #1: $5,100 No-Limit Hold'em 129 Kristen Foxen $158,025 $645,000 Event #2: $10,100 No-Limit Hold'em 108 Kazuomi Furuse $275,400 $1,080,000 Event #3: $10,100 No-Limit Hold'em 109 Michael Rossitto $277,950 $1,090,000 Event #4: $10,100 No-Limit Hold'em 103 Matthew Wantman $231,300 $1,030,000 Event #5: $10,100 No-Limit Hold'em 76 Shannon Shorr $220,400 $760,000 Event #6: $15,100 No-Limit Hold'em 98 Brandon Wilson $382,200 $1,470,000 Event #7: $15,100 No-Limit Hold'em 81 Alex Foxen $340,200 $1,215,000 Event #8: $25,200 No-Limit Hold'em 73 Shannon Shorr $529,250 $1,825,000 *Images courtesy of PokerGO. Share this article The 2025 Irish Open saw its busiest day of the series so far, with 1,012 players taking to the felt today in Day 1c of the 1,150 Main Event. Of the 1,012, 342 have progressed to Day 2, which commences on Saturday, April 19 at 12 p.m. local time. Borja Urrea topped the counts after another 14 Levels of play. The Spainish national bagged 628,000 for his efforts. He is the first PokerStars qualifier to finish at the top of the Day 1 flights during this Main Event. Urrea has one recorded cash which came at EPT Barcelona in the 1,100 No Limit Hold'em - ESPT Main Event, finishing 70th for 2,070. Urrea will have a sizeable stack to work with come Day 2 and will be looking to add another cash and a deep run to his record. Top 10 Chip Counts Rank Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Borja Urrea Spain 628,000 209 2 Oleksii Buhrim Ukraine 627,500 209 3 Uzair Choudhary Canada 595,000 198 4 Jason Tompkins Ireland 559,500 187 5 Simon Levy United States 503,000 168 6 Joseph Field United Kingdom 485,500 162 7 Carlo Wolters Netherlands 482,500 161 8 Evan Hu United Kingdom 457,500 153 9 Dmitrijs Kozlovskis Latvia 449,000 150 10 Junxian Du China 405,000 150 Fintan Hand Oleksii Buhrim claimed second and his only 500 chips behind Urrea, with 627,500. Buhrim was consistent throughout the day and featured in the top 10 chip counts throughout the day. The Ukrainian is an unknown in the poker world and doesn't have a Hendon Mob profile. A Google search of his name returned his LinkedIn profile, which says he works with metalworking tools and general technology. He will be gunning for his first recorded cash come Day 2. Uzair Choudhary is another unfamiliar name to the European poker game. He bagged 595,000 for his efforts. Choudhary is another player free of a Hendon Mob profile but has played in tournaments in his native country of Canada. For the home contingent, Jason Tompkins bagged 559,500 for his efforts. The experienced Irishman is back from a break from the tables but is back with a bang and will be a force to be reckoned with on Day 2. Tompkins has numerous cashes here in Dublin including seven wins. The largest score he had in Ireland was for 50,000 back in 2009. He was last seen making Day 2 of the Mystery Bounty this series. Daniel Rezaei made it through on his second bullet of the day, securing 283,500 for his effort. PokerStars Ambassadors Fintan Hand (280,500) and Sebastian Huber (216,000) both progressed to Day 2. Notables who will have to go again on Day 1d or 1e include but are not limited to: Gilles Simon, Jamie Dwan, Marcel Kessler and Stephen Song. Once again the structure remains unchanged when Day 1d kicks off tomorrow at 12 p.m. local time. As always stay tuned to PokerNews as the excitement continues to build as Day 2 quickly approaches. Reporter Carl Dawson covers education for the Aiken Standard. An Aiken County resident since 1990, his work has appeared in the Charleston News & Courier, the Tampa Tribune, the Atlanta Constitution and the Augusta Chronicle. He holds a B.A. in English from the University of South Carolina. Aiken Standard reporter Matthew Christian is a reporter for the Aiken Standard. He covers the Savannah River Site, city of Aiken, politics and public safety and courts. Matthew previously covered government and politics for the Morning News in Florence. He is a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law and the University of Charleston in West Virginia. To support local journalism, sign up for a subscription. See our current offers Aiken Standard reporter Bill Bengtson is an Aiken Standard reporter and has focused since 1996 on such subjects as education, churches, retirees, agriculture, veterans, North Augusta, Fort Gordon and northern Aiken County. His start in South Carolina reporting was in Greenwood, with the Index-Journal. He is a native of Florence, Alabama, and a graduate of Whitman College and the University of Georgia. To support local journalism, sign up for a subscription. See our current offers Education Lab Reporter Ian Grenier covers K-12 and higher education in South Carolina from Columbia. Originally from Charleston, he studied history and political science at USC and reported for the Victoria Advocate in South Texas before joining The Post and Courier. Nick Reynolds covers politics for the Post and Courier. A native of Central New York, he spent three-and-a-half years covering politics in Wyoming before joining the paper in late 2021. His work has appeared in outlets like Newsweek, Poynter, the Associated Press, and the Washington Post. He lives in Columbia. ACCRA, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Some schools in Ghana's Central Region and the Confucius Institute at the University of Cape Coast (CIUCC) on Wednesday presented splendid performances to herald the United Nations Chinese Language Day, annually observed on April 20. Chinese language learners in the region showcased lion dances, martial arts, and Chinese songs during the event, winning rounds of applause from the audience. Emmanuel Essuman, central regional director of the Ghana Education Service, lauded the CIUCC for its cooperation with the regional educational directorate to promote multilingualism among learners in the region. "As educators, we are called to be versatile, adaptable, and forward-thinking in the increasingly interconnected world. The ability to navigate multiple languages and cultures is not just an advantage, but also a necessity," said Essuman. He urged the learners to develop an interest in multilingualism due to the opportunities that may arise from that in the future. "Embracing languages opens doors to new experiences, cultures, and connections that can profoundly enrich your lives," said the regional director. In his remarks, Chinese Ambassador to Ghana Tong Defa highlighted the Chinese language as a bridge for communication and a golden key to deepening understanding and fostering cooperation. "In recent years, Chinese language education in Ghana has flourished. As a vital platform for China-Ghana cultural exchanges, the Confucius Institutes have cultivated numerous outstanding students," Tong said. "China and Ghana have been enjoying a long, traditional friendship, as we are now strategic partners. A close and friendly relationship has brought great benefits for our two countries and two peoples. It could not be achieved without efforts by Ghanaian brothers and sisters who mastered the Chinese language," the ambassador added. Representatives from the Chinese community in Ghana and Ghana's traditional rulers and educators also attended the event. Editor and Publisher Brandon Roberts is Publisher and Managing Editor of Summerville Communications Inc., which prints The Summerville Journal Scene and The Berkeley Independent. He has worked as an editor for more than two decades in his native Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia and North Carolina before coming to Summerville. Charleston, SC (29403) Today Watching the tropics. Partly cloudy skies this evening. A few showers developing late. Low 76F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Watching the tropics. Partly cloudy skies this evening. A few showers developing late. Low 76F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Columbia, SC (29201) Today A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Mainly clear. Low 72F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Mainly clear. Low 72F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Greenville, SC (29601) Today Mostly clear. Low 71F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Mostly clear. Low 71F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Unit 1102 at Falls Tower at Camperdown, which was initially a bare shell, sold recently for $3.25 million after the interior was finished by Ineo Builders. Seth Taylor covers Greenville and the Upstate for The Post and Courier. Born in Iowa, he worked in Wyoming at the Buffalo Bulletin before moving to the Palmetto State. Summerville, SC (29483) Today Watching the tropics. Partly cloudy. Low 74F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Watching the tropics. Partly cloudy. Low 74F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Myrtle Beach, SC (29577) Today Watching the tropics. Partly cloudy this evening followed by mostly cloudy skies and a few showers after midnight. Low near 75F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Watching the tropics. Partly cloudy this evening followed by mostly cloudy skies and a few showers after midnight. Low near 75F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%. The ISP Column A column on things Internet Other Formats: The Size of Packets October 2024 Geoff Huston We've now been running packet-switched networks for many decades, and these days it's packets and not virtual circuits lie behind most of the world's digital communications service. But some very fundamental questions remain unanswered in this packet-switched world. Perhaps the most basic questions is: "How big should a packet be?" And, surprisingly enough, there is no clear answer! The pragmatic default Internet answer these days is that an Internet packet is between 20 and 1,500 octets in size. Any bigger and the packet is likely to encounter packet fragmentation with its attendant issues of heightened risk of packet discard. Any smaller and the IP packet header is fatally truncated. So most hosts and applications stick inside the lanes and send packets within this size range. This was not always the case. In September 1981 RFC 791, the Internet Protocol Specification, was published. This specification had the advice that IP hosts must be prepared to accept IP packets of up to 576 octets (whether they arrive whole or in fragments). Packets larger than 576 octets were to be used only if the sending host had some assurance that the destination (and the active network elements along the packets forwarding path) were prepared to accept the larger datagrams. The document explains the rationale for this choice: "The number 576 is selected to allow a reasonable sized data block to be transmitted in addition to the required header information. For example, this size allows a data block of 512 octets plus 64 header octets to fit in a datagram. The maximal [IPv4] internet header is 60 octets, and a typical internet header is 20 octets, allowing a margin for headers of higher level protocols." Enter Ethernet The original work on a radically different form of high speed networking for local area networks occurred in the mid 1970s, and the original published description, Ethernet: distributed packet switching for local computer networks dates from 1976. Ethernet gathered momentum as the network technology of choice for local area computer networks as it was a simple and cost-effective high speed network solution over medium distances (of a couple of kilometres radius). The main advantage of Ethernet was its simplicity of decentralised design. In its simplest form, the network itself was a length of coaxial cable. Up to three such lengths could be joined by simple signal repeaters. There was no master controller, and each host managed its own data clocking and performed its own contention resolution. It was a common channel broadcast network, where every attached host could see every packet. Ethernet was an ideal match to the networking requirements of the emerging personal computer and workstation environment found in many computing environments as the industry moved away from the single central mainframe computer to a more distributed and diverse model of information processing. For 10Mbps Ethernet, frame (or packet) payloads were between 46 and 1500 octets in size, and the Ethernet framing format added a further 18 octets (12 octets of MAC addresses, 2 octets of frame length and 4 octets of CRC). These frame size numbers were the result of a trade-off between data timing and network utilization. There is an ingenious relationship between the minimum Ethernet packet size and the original common bus (CSMA/CD) Ethernet collision sensing algorithm. The one thing Ethernet attempted to maintain was the property that a transmitter was always aware if another transmitter was active on the common wire at the same time, so that both transmitters could abort their transmission, back off and try again later. Hence, an Ethernet frame must be big enough that the leading bit of the packet must be able to propagate to the other end of the Ethernet network, and the collision with the leading edge of another transmitter must propagate back to the original transmitter before the frame's transmission ceases. That implies that the total end-to-end length of the LAN must be no longer than one half the minimum frame size. For the maximum packet size, Ethernet opted to head down the path of maximising carriage efficiency rather than sacrificing speed and capacity for the sake of preserving implicit data timing integrity. In retrospect, it proved to be an astute design decision. You could make the minimum Ethernet frame size smaller, but the maximal diameter of the LAN itself must shrink, or you can support physically longer LANs, but there is the consequent risk of undetected frame collisions for small frames, which will require a correction from an upper-level transport protocol. The Speed of light These considerations relate to the speed of electromagnetic propagation over a copper conductor, which in turn relates to the speed to light in a vacuum. The speed of light in a vacuum, or the physical sciences constant c, is probably the most researched constant in all of science. According to electromagnetic theory, its value, when measured in a vacuum, should not depend on the wavelength of the radiation. According to Einstein's prediction about the speed of propagation of light within the general theory of relativity, the measured speed of light does not depend on the observer's frame of reference; the speed of light in a vacuum is a universal constant. Estimates of the value of c have been undergoing refinement since 1638, when Galileo's estimate of "If not instantaneous, it is extraordinarily rapid" was published in "Two New Sciences". The currently accepted value is 299,792.458 kilometres per second. The speed of propagation of electrical charge through a conductor is a related value; it, too, has been the subject of intense experimentation. Perhaps the most bizarre experiment was conducted in Paris, in April 1746, by Jean-Antoine Nollet. Using a snaking line of some 200 monks, connected by a mile-long iron wire, Nollet observed their reactions when he administered a powerful electric current through the wire. The simultaneous screams of the monks demonstrated that, as far as Nollet could tell, voltage was transmitted through a conductor instantaneously. The speed of light in glass or fiber-optic cable is significantly slower, at approximately 194,865 kilometers per second. The speed of voltage propagation in copper is 224,844 kilometres per second. Relating this value back to the design of Ethernet, a 10Mbps system running over copper wire will carry bits at 0.75 the speed of light in a vacuum, or at 224,844 kilometers per second. This means that 64 bytes at 10Mbps will be contained in 11.51 km of copper cable, or a "up and back" signal propagation of 5.75km. The original Ethernet design specifications allowed for a total of sequence of three 500m runs of coaxial copper cable, plus allowance for 2 repeaters, and a generous overhead to tolerate various physical misconfigurations! The maximal packet rate on a 10Mbps Ethernet was some 15,000 small packets per second, or a packet every 65 microseconds. With silicon processing clocking in the low MHz frequencies in the late 1980's then there is an approximate match between transmission performance and silicon switching capabilities. What about the maximal Ethernet frame size of 1518 octets? The tradeoff here is that longer maximal frame sizes allow for greater carriage efficiency, as the 18 octet frame overhead is amortised over a greater data payload, while shorter maximal packets reduce the average wait time where there is contention between multiple transmitters. A binary argument would propose 1,024 or 2,048 octets as a maximal payload size, and 1,500 feels like some form of compromise between these two values. This would not be the first time that such compromises have appeared in networking technology. The design of the 48 octet ATM payload was apparently the outcome of a committee compromise between advocates of a 32 octet payload, intended to reduce potential jitter in ATM networks, and advocates of a 64 octet payload, intended to improve data carriage efficiency. FDDI For a short period of time in the early 1990's it looked as it the next generation of local networks would use a 100Mbps token-ring architecture, called FDDI (Fiber Distributed Data Interface). The network itself offered a payload range of zero (just the FDDI headers) to a maximally sized frame payload of up to 4,478 octets. In retrospect, its apparent that FDDI never really picked up a critical momentum of deployment. It was used in scenarios where aggregate network capacity in excess of 10Mbps was necessary. In many cases it did not replace 10Mbps Ethernets but acted as a common core that supported multiple 10Mbps edge Ethernets. At the time 10Mbps Ethernet adapters for hosts were far cheaper than FDDI, so individual hosts continued to use 10Mbps LAN connections while common servers may have used FDDI connections. However, mapping between Ethernet and FDDI is not a simple matter of reframing and passing the packet onward. The bit order on FDDI is big-endian while Ethernet uses little-endian bit order (I have no idea why these two LAN technologies diverged at such a fundamental level, but it mirrored the divergence in bit-order storage models in processors that has lingered through to today). More importantly, the maximum IP packet size on a FDDI network is larger than that of Ethernet, and a simple FDDI-to-Ethernet bridge unit would be forced to discard large FDDI packets. Such hybrid FDDI/Ethernet deployments commonly used a router to perform the mapping, and in the case of IPv4 large packets, they would be fragmented when passing a packet from a FDDI to an Ethernet interface. Such a routing solution to interconnect feeder Ethernets to a FDDI core is by no means optimal and the overheads of router fragmentation and host reassembly eat into the underlying performance gains of the underlying 100Mbps FDDI system. Faster Ethernet In 1995 the IEEE 802.3u specification for 100Mbps Ethernet was published (Fast Ethernet). The system dispensed with a passive common bus and replaced it with an active switching hub to which hosts were attached. The Ethernet framing protocol was maintained, and the 10Mbps Ethernet packet size ranges were preserved. The potential peak packet rate lifted by a factor of 10, to 150,000 small (64 octet) packets per second to 8,234 large (1,518 octet) packets per second. Three years later, in 1999, the IEEE 802.3ab was released, specifying 1Gps Ethernet. 10Gbps Ethernet was specified in around 2002. The next factor of 10 speed increase took a little longer, and in around 2015 100Gbps Ethernet was entering the market. Current efforts are focussed on completing Terrabit Ethernet (TbE). Through this program of speed increases for Ethernet, there is no basic change to the supported frame sizes. Once Ethernet dispensed with the common bus model and the associated contention detection and management and turned to what is in effect a collection of point-to-point serial connections using a common packet switching hub, there was no need to tie Ethernet packet sizes to a particular set of network constraints, and the desire to support backward compatibility, which supported plug-and-play hybrid Ethernet networks, far outweighed any marginal advantages in carriage efficiency by changing the base Ethernet packet size specification. Ethernet at Tb speeds imply a peak packet rate of some 1.5B small packets per second, and 82M large packets per second. Jumbo Packet Sizes In 30 years, we've managed to push transmission speeds in local networks up by an astounding 100,000-fold. At the same time processor clock speeds have increased from some 100Mhz to around 5Ghz, or a far more modest (but still impressive) 50-fold increase. Today's silicon switching systems can only keep pace with network transmission systems as long as the majority of the packets are large. Its not as if the issues of the increasing disparity between transmission and silicon processing clock speeds have gone completely unnoticed, particularly in the context of high density datacentres. For more than two decades some vendors of Ethernet switches and network interfaces have supported Ethernet frame sizes larger than the IEEE 802.3 standard 1,518-octet maximum frame size. The scale of this change is not dramatic, and the common 9,000-octet maximum frame size is these so-called Ethernet jumbo-frames is just a 6-fold increase in frame size. There are, however, a number of issues with these jumbo frames, including the inability of the IEEE to provide a single definitive standard for jumbo frames on 802.3 networks. Some network equipment supports larger jumbo frames, some smaller. The construction of end-to-end paths that use a variety of transmission technologies also does not help. Many of these links may use a common Ethernet frame format, but that does not mean that there is a consistent end-to-end maximum frame size beyond the 1,518 octet 802.3 standard. Hosts could perform a form of path MTU discovery if they so desired, but this discovery process consumes time. In many scenarios, the fastest approach is to avoid this MTU discovery step and just work with 1,500 octet packets. It is also worth noting that much of the host-based pressure to introduce larger frames was dispelled with the introduction of network interface cards that perform TCP segmentation offload. The host can send and receive large frames to the network interface, offloading a high per-packet processing load from the host processor, as the incremental load of interfacing to the network with smaller packets is handled in the network interface processor. With large send offload for example, a 65,535 octet data bundle can be passed from the host to the network interface, which then performs segmentation into 45 1,460 octet segments which are passed into the network. The Internet Protocol does not have a clear story when it comes to large packets. IP (both V4 and V6) supports packets of up to 65,535 octets in size (due to the 16-bit packet length field in the IP headers for both protocols), but in practice very large IP packets are not a robust choice for the public Internet. The problem lies in IP fragmentation. As weve already noted the path of greatest assurance without resorting to incurring the costs of path MTU discovery is to assume a MTU size of around 1,460 octets. Larger packets are more likely to require fragmentation to be passed through the network, and issue is that trailing fragments do not contain the transport headers and present a problem for various forms of security-related middleware found in networks. The tradeoff here is to incur the incremental cost of data segmentation in the sending host and send packets that have a high probability of not requiring any form of packet fragmentation, and to avoid this cost and run the risk of session performance degradation when recovering from silent packet discard. Transmission vs Silicon It seems to be somewhat curious that story of the Internet parallels the story of Ethernet, where the large scale increases in the clocking speed of data, from 10Mbps to 1Tbps, has been achieved within the same packet size range. The implication is that each increment in network speed comes at a cost of greater processing intensity, where the overall picture of processor clock speed improvements and memory cycle times are not increasing at anywhere near the same rates. The processing response has been to make up the difference in increasing levels of parallelism in processors and load distribution through offloading. So far it appears that processing has been able to roughly keep pace with the network, but its unclear how long this can last. The pressures on processing speeds would be relieved, to some extent, if there was a shift to supporting some increase in maximum packet sizes in the network, but its not clear if there is a critical mass of support behind such changes. Path MTU discovery has not been enthusiastically embraced (I noticed in the Proceedings of the November 1989 IETF Meeting than the MTU Discovery Working Group was chartered to work in this problem, and anticipated some form of completion by April 1990!) It appears that for many end host network implementations the faster approach is to just pick an MTU with a high assurance of working through most networks and leave Path MTU Discovery as an option for those applications which could make use of the larger packet size even at the incremental cost of performing the discovery. (In that vein its interesting to note that the IEEE 802.11Wifi specification defines an MTU of 2,304 octets, yet it appears that most host implementations use an MTU value of 1,500 to reduce the potential packet loss pitfalls when moving from the WiFi access network to the next hops in the full path.) It is also interesting to note that the QUIC transport protocol takes this one step further and by default uses a path MTU of 1,200 octets. Yes, it is an option for QUIC to use path MTU discovery, but it appears that the default behaviour is to simple use this option. Its just quicker and simpler! While the platforms continue to scale in terms of speed, it appears that the network stacks are reluctant to take on the agenda of effective and efficient path MTU discovery. Indeed, the current view is to trim packets down in size to avoid any need for IP level packet fragmentation. It seems odd in an environment of continually increased transmission speeds, but when packet size is concerned, we appear to be saying that 1,500 octets is a pragmatic ceiling for packet sizes, and there is no signs of imminent movement in this position for the larger Internet. Im not sure that the original Ethernet designers guessed that their initial choice of 1,500 octets was going to be sticky for the ensuing fifty years, and likely longer! It appears that the engineering consensus in the public Internet the size of packets lies between 20 and 1500 octets, based on the original 10Mbps Ethernet. But the opening question was: "How big should a packet be?" The larger the packet payload, the greater the carriage efficiency. With IPv4 a 1,500 octet is 97% efficient (payload to total IP packet size) while in IPv6 it is 96% efficient. The use of 802.3 Jumbo packets, at 9,000 octets is 99.6% efficient (V4) and 99.3% efficient (V6). So bigger is better right? On the other hand, the larger the packet the greater the likelihood that noise will add bit errors into the payload, and if a constant size cyclic redundancy checksum is being used, the larger the packet the greater the possibility of undetected bit errors. In a single channel media larger packets block access to the media for all others while the packet is being used which adds jitter to network paths. In an ACK-paced sliding window protocol, such as TCP, where the sender infers the state of the network path from the implicit signalling within the ACK stream. Reducing the density of these ACK signals, as is the case with larger packets, reduces the ability of the sender to adjust its sending behaviour to attempt to match the available network conditions. If we accept the design trade-offs of the original 10Mbps Ethernet then the comparable packet size range for a 1Tbs Ether would be 6.4M octets to 151M octets. This seems like an insane volume of padding to place a 40 octet ACK packet in a 6.4M octet frame! The alternative is to keep the original minimum packet size of 64 octets, which implies that the receiver needs to process incoming packet rates of between 823 (large) to 1.5B (small) packets per second. If we are not willing to change the minimum frame size, what should the maximum frame size be? If hosts (and applications) are unwilling to perform path MTU discovery due to the time overheads, and the application is comfortable with the efficiency level provided by a 1,518 frame size, then why not just use this value as the hosts interface MTU? The advantage of this approach is that there is a high assurance that this frame size will work across the entire spectrum of Ethernet-framed networks. If hosts (and interface cards) use this size as the default network MTU size, then they will not incur any reliability issues, nor need to cope with size adaptation issues when the local attached network MTU does not match the MTU of other path components (here I am referring specifically to the IPv6 fragmentation implementation and the robustness issues of signalling fragmentation needs between network and attached host. All of these issues are avoided if the host simply uses a 1,500 octet MTU. How big should a packet be? Todays answer is the same as the answer given for 10Mbps Ethernet some 50 years ago. Any size between 46 and 1,500 octets is a reasonable answer for use within the public Internet. Disclaimer The above views do not necessarily represent the views of the Asia Pacific Network Information Centre. About the Author GEOFF HUSTON AM B.Sc., M.Sc., is the Chief Scientist at APNIC, the Regional Internet Registry serving the Asia Pacific region. www.potaroo.net PR-Inside.com: 2025-04-18 18:26:51 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 535 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 18, 2025 / Arkansas Heart Hospital, LLC 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 Arkansas Heart Hospital.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On March 15, 2025, Arkansas Heart Hospital became aware of a security incident involving a vendor's system. Upon detection, Arkansas Heart Hospital 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 patient information contained within electronic medical records processed by the vendor during the hospital's transition to a new electronic medical record system. The vendor's investigation revealed that the unauthorized access occurred between January 22, 2025, and February 20, 2025. Based on the available information, Arkansas Heart Hospital believes that individuals who received care at its facilities between January 1, 2022, and January 31, 2025, may be impacted. Arkansas Heart Hospital conducted a comprehensive review of the impacted data to determine what information was compromised and to identify affected individuals.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personaland protected healthinformation may have been compromised: name, address, phone number, email address, date of birth, Social Security number, treatment/diagnosis information, prescription information, provider name, medical record/case number, health insurance information, and other details (sex, ethnicity, language, maiden name, marital status, religious, death/deceased status, and living will indicator). On March 21, 2025, Arkansas Heart Hospital filed a public disclosure and is currently working to obtain address information to send notice letters to the affected 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 Arkansas Heart Hospital, 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: 2025-04-18 18:26:48 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 461 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 18, 2025 / Community Dental Care, Inc., 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 CDC.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On December 20, 2024, Community Dental Care became aware of a security incident on its sensitive internal systems. Upon detection, CDC 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 accessed and acquired sensitive personal information on or about December 6, 2024. CDC conducted a comprehensive review of the impacted data to determine what information was compromised and identified affected individuals which concluded on March 24, 2025.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personal and protected health information may have been compromised: name, Social Security number, date of birth, address, driver's license number or other government issued identification number, passport number, medical information, and health insurance information. On April 2, 2025, Community Dental Care filed a notice with the New Hampshire 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 CDC, 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: 2025-04-18 16:16:04 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 347 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Dine Development Corporation is pleased to announce that Dan Riggs, Chief Growth and Strategy Officer, has been named an Aerospace & Defense Award honoree by the Dayton Business Journal.DAYTON, OHIO / ACCESS Newswire / April 18, 2025 / Dine Development Corporation (DDC), a Navajo Nation-owned IT, engineering, professional, and environmental solutions provider, is pleased to announce that Dan Riggs, Chief Growth and Strategy Officer, has been named an Aerospace & Defense Award honoree by theDayton Business Journal . Dan Riggs DBJ Aerospace & Defense Award Dan Riggs DBJ Aerospace & Defense AwardRiggs was one of seven Dayton-area business leaders selected for his outstanding influence in advancing the aerospace and defense industry. His leadership has been pivotal in positioning DDC as a growing force in the defense sector, particularly in support of the U.S. Air Force, DISA, and other key government customers. Under his strategic vision, DDC has significantly expanded its defense market presence, advanced its reputation as a premier provider of high-end IT and engineering, and strengthened its role in delivering mission-essential solutions in support of national defense initiatives."Over the past five years, Dan has played a central role in shaping our strategic direction and driving significant growth in the defense sector," stated Austin Tsosie, DDC Chief Executive Officer. "His leadership, insight, and dedication have positioned DDC as a trusted DOD partner. This recognition is a well-deserved reflection of his impact not only on DDC, but also on the entire Dayton defense community." "I'm honored to be recognized among such accomplished leaders in the aerospace and defense community," commented Dan Riggs. "This recognition is a testament to the dedication of the entire DDC team to delivering high-impact solutions in support of our customers' critical missions. Our continued focus on expanding our defense footprint while penetrating into the aerospace market has been both purposeful and rewarding. I look forward to advancing our mission as we support our valued customers throughout the Dayton region and across the broader defense and aerospace landscape." Contact InformationKatie von AllmenSenior Marketing Managerkatie.vonallmen@ddc-dine.com SOURCE: Dine Development Corporation (DDC) PR-Inside.com: 2025-04-18 18:26:41 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 427 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 18, 2025 / First City Credit Union, 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 toFCCU.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?First City Credit Union became aware of a security incident involving unauthorized access to a portion of its email environment. Upon detection, FCCU launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation confirmed that an unauthorized party had accessed personal information for a limited number of members. FCCU conducted a comprehensive review of the impacted data to determine what information was compromised.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personalinformation may have been compromised:name, address, driver's license number, and social Security number.On March 31, 2025, FCCU filed a notice with the Attorney General of California and started sending 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 FCCU, 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: 2025-04-18 18:46:18 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 491 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 18, 2025 / Hamilton Health Care System, Inc. d/b/a Vitruvian Health 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 Vitruvian Health.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On February 24, 2025, Hamilton Health Care System, Inc. d/b/a Vitruvian Health became aware of a security incident involving its third-party vendor, Nationwide Recovery Service (NRS), a collection agency supporting several of its affiliates including Hamilton Emergency Medical Services, Hamilton Physician Group, Hamilton Medical Center, and Anna Shaw Children's Institute. Upon notification, Vitruvian Health launched an investigation in collaboration with NRS and third-party cybersecurity experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation revealed that an unauthorized third party had accessed NRS systems from July 5 to July 11, 2024, and extracted data affecting Vitruvian Health patients.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personal and protected health information may have been compromised: names, addresses, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, financial account information, and medical information.On April 14, 2025, Vitruvian Health identified the individuals whose sensitive information was included in the impacted data and publicly disclosed the incident with the Maine Attorney General's Office. Notice letters were also sent out to the affected individuals on April 14, 2025. 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 fromVitruvian Health, 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: 2025-04-18 18:26:21 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 443 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 18, 2025 / Ciuni & Panichi, 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 Ciuni & Panichi.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On November 3, 2024, Ciuni & Panichi became aware of a security incident involving unauthorized activity in an employee email account. Upon detection, Ciuni & Panichi 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 certain sensitive personal information within its systems. Ciuni & Panichi conducted a comprehensive review of the impacted data to determine what information was compromised and to identify affected individuals. This review was completed on January 21, 2025.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personal information may have been compromised: name of individual, Social Security number, and date of birth. On March 27, 2025, Ciuni & Panichi filed a notice with the Attorney General of New Hampshire and started mailing 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 Ciuni & Panichi, 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: 2025-04-18 18:26:32 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 465 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 18, 2025 / Plaisted Companies, Inc., recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted to Plaisted.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?In September 2024, Plaisted experienced a network disruption that prompted an immediate investigation with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity experts. The investigation determined that certain employee files were accessed without authorization around September 4, 2024. In response, Plaisted initiated a comprehensive review of the impacted files to determine what specific types of personal information were present and to identify affected individuals. This review concluded on February 11, 2025. Following the review, Plaisted verified address information to ensure proper notification could be provided. That process concluded on March 21, 2025.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personalinformation may have been compromised: name, Social Security number, driver's license or other government identification number, account number, credit or debit card number, in combination with any required security code, access code, or password that would permit access to an individual's financial account. On March 26, 2025, Plaisted filed a notice with the New Hampshire Attorney General and began mailing data breach notification 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 Plaisted, 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: 2025-04-18 18:30:46 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 439 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 18, 2025 / Special Tree, Ltd., 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 Special Tree.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On September 28, 2024, Special Tree became aware of a security incident on its IT network. Upon detection, Special Tree 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 sensitive personal and protected health information between September 28, 2024, and September 30, 2024. Special Tree conducted a comprehensive review of the impacted data to determine what information was compromised and identified affected individuals, which concluded on March 13, 2025.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personal information may have been compromised: name, Social Security number, driver's license number, and financial account information. On March 31, 2025, Special Tree filed a notice with the Attorney General of Massachusetts 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 Special Tree, 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: 2025-04-18 18:30:53 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 424 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 18, 2025 / Amherst College, 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 Amherst College.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?Amherst College recently experienced unauthorized access to its email and payroll system. Upon detection, Amherst College launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. On March 3, 2025, the investigation determined that an unauthorized party had viewed and possibly copied sensitive personal information. Amherst College conducted a comprehensive review of the impacted data to determine what information was compromised and identify affected individuals.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personal information may have been compromised: name, and Social Security number. On March 28, 2025, Amherst College filed a notice with the Attorney General of Massachusetts 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 Amherst College, 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: 2025-04-18 18:46:04 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 / April 18, 2025 / Crossroads Trading Co., 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 Crossroads.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On February 15, 2025, Crossroads experienced a security incident when an unauthorized third party gained access to its server and encrypted sensitive data stored on its network. Upon discovery, Crossroads' IT team immediately responded by securing the network, restoring systems, and preventing further unauthorized access. Crossroads launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation confirmed that unauthorized access was limited to a specific segment of the network.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personal information may have been compromised: name of individual, Social Security number information, driver's license number, and government-issued id number (e.g., passport, state ID card).On March 25, 2025, Crossroads made a public disclosure and began sending out notice letters to affected 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 Crossroads, 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: 2025-04-18 18:45:48 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 436 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 18, 2025 / Harcourts Prime Properties, 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 Harcourts.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On March 20, 2025, Harcourts Prime Properties was notified that a ransom demand had been issued on the Dark Web with sample documents of Agent Information sheets. Upon discovery, Harcourts launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation confirmed that an unauthorized third party accessed sensitive personal information on March 18, 2025. Harcourts conducted a comprehensive review of the impacted data to determine what information was compromised and to identify affected individuals.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personal information may have been compromised: name, contact information, and Social Security number (in some cases).On April 3, 2025, Harcourts filed a notice with the Attorney General of California and began sending out notice letters to 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 Harcourts, 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: 2025-04-18 19:00:26 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 475 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 18, 2025 / Laborers' International Union of North America, Local Union 1184, 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 Local 1184.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On November 17, 2024, Local 1184 became aware of a security incident on its secure computer system. Upon detection, Local 1184 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 used information obtained from sources other than the Local Union to gain access to Local 1184's computer system and subsequently infected the system with ransomware. Local 1184 conducted a comprehensive review of the impacted data to determine what information was compromised and identified affected individuals. On November 18, 2024, Local 1184 regained control of its system. Subsequently, Local 1184 identified persons whose sensitive data was included in the impacted data.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personal information may have been compromised: name, Social Security number, membership numbers, telephone numbers, home address, email address, and work dispatch records. On March 31, 2025, Local 1184 filed a notice with the California Attorney General's Office and started sending out notice letters to the impacted individuals. Compensation may be available for those individuals who received notice that their personal information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from Local 1184, 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: 2025-04-18 18:26:47 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 470 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 18, 2025 / Life University 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 Life.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On July 30, 2024, Life University became aware of a security incident on its network. Upon detection, Life University 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 portions of Life University's network containing sensitive information. Life University conducted a comprehensive review of the impacted data to determine what information was compromised and identified affected individuals. On March 28, 2025, Life University finalized the list of impacted individuals.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personaland protected healthinformation may have been compromised: name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, driver's license number, credit card information, financial account information, health insurance policy number, medical information, student identification number, tax identification number, account number, and routing number. On April 2, 2025, Life University filed a notice with the Vermont Attorney General's office and began sending out notice letters to 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 Life, 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: 2025-04-18 16:00:58 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 449 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA / ACCESS Newswire / April 18, 2025 / The American Bookbinders Museum debuts the installation of a new public artwork on April 23 that celebrates First Amendment rights: freedom of speech and the press. The piece - The Banned Books Jail - adorns the exterior of the museum building and is visible to passersby 24/7 at the museum's Folsom Street entrance. The Banned Book Jail The Banned Book Jail at 854 Folsom Street in San Francisco CAThe Banned Books Jail byneverbeforedesignis a large metal gate resembling prison bars, jailing books that have been banned in the United States. Included books have been banned for many reasons, including race, feminism, witchcraft and religion, LGBTQIA+, and "un-American" content. Despite the "jail", books are escaping their imprisonment.Inspiration for the piece is thoughtfully summed up in a quote by Virginia Woolf: "Lock up your libraries if you like; but there is no gate, no lock, no bolt you can set upon the freedom of my mind." The Banned Books Jail Artist and Designer Robert Bernstein further posits that "Banning books to close minds is the tool of despots. Fear of ideas is a necessary condition for citizens to accept infringements on their liberties. Books, banned now or previously in the history of our Nation, are breaking free."The Banned Books Jail reflects a cross-section of books historically and recently banned.To celebrate the completion of this work, the museum will host an installation event on World Book Day, Wednesday, April 23rd, 2025 at 12:30 pm with the artist and other notable guests and speakers.About the American Bookbinders MuseumThe American Bookbinders Museum is the only museum of its kind in North America, sharing the history and tools of bookbinding from the colonial era to the early 20th-century. We tell the story of the book, presenting the art of Western bookbinding as a hand process through early mechanization, promoting a deeper understanding of the impact of book production on the American experience. We maintain a special archive of bookbinding books, periodicals and ephemera that is unique and free to use. The American Bookbinders Museum is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization. To learn more visit us at https://bookbindersmuseum.org/ , and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.About neverbeforedesignThe intention ofneverbeforedesignis to invent, with elegance and beauty. From art installations to furniture to interiors to architecture, the goal is inspired and unique design - within any budget limitations. Located in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, with projects on four continents and throughout the United States and Canada. neverbeforedesign.com 646-415-1570.American Bookbinders Museum355 Clementina StreetContact InformationAnita Englesmedia@ bookbindersmuseum.org 415-824-9754SOURCE: American Bookbinders Museum PR-Inside.com: 2025-04-18 01:34:16 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 685 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESS Newswire / April 17, 2025 / Ready Capital Corporation (NYSE:RC), a New York-based real estate finance firm, is grappling with intensifying investor scrutiny after being named in a securities class-action lawsuit that has cast a shadow over its financial reporting and sent its stock tumbling.Hagens Berman is investigating the alleged claims and urges investors who purchased Ready Capital shares and suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now.The firm also encourages persons with knowledge who may assist the firm's investigation to contact its attorneys.Class Period: Nov. 7, 2024 - Mar. 2, 2025 Lead Plaintiff Deadline: May 5, 2025 Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/rcContact the Firm Now:RC@ hbsslaw.com844-916-0895 Ready Capital (RC) Securities Class Action:The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York under the case name Quinn v. Ready Capital Corporation, accuses the company and several top executives of violating federal securities laws. Central to the complaint are allegations that Ready Capital downplayed the extent of trouble in its commercial real estate (CRE) loan portfolio, particularly regarding a sizable tranche of loans that were not performing as expected.According to court documents, plaintiffs claim that between November 2024 and early March 2025, Ready Capital issued statements that were either misleading or omitted critical information about the true state of its business. Among the key contentions: the company allegedly failed to alert investors to the magnitude of non-performing CRE loans, did not disclose that full reserves would be required to cover these problematic assets, and failed to accurately reflect these risks in its reported credit loss allowances. The complaint further asserts that these omissions painted an overly optimistic picture of Ready Capital's financial health.The issue reached a boiling point on March 3, 2025, when Ready Capital stunned the market with a fourth-quarter net loss of $1.80 per share and a full-year loss of $2.52 per share for 2024. The company attributed the downturn to "decisive actions" taken to strengthen its balance sheet, including a sweeping $284 million reserve for underperforming CRE loans. The company also halved its quarterly dividend and reported a sharp drop in book value.The market responded with alarm. Shares of Ready Capital nosedived nearly 27% following the announcement, wiping out a significant chunk of shareholder equity and raising fresh doubts about the company's risk management and disclosure practices.Hagens Berman's Investigation:Investor rights law firm Hagens Berman has launched an active investigation into Ready Capital's financial disclosures and practices during the class period. The firm, known for its focus on corporate accountability, is urging investors who suffered substantial losses to come forward and share information that could aid its probe.Reed Kathrein, a partner at Hagens Berman leading the investigation, stated, "Our investigation seeks to uncover whether Ready Capital deliberately obscured the severity of its non-performing loans, leaving investors in the dark about the true risks facing the company's commercial real estate portfolio." If you invested in Ready Capital and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm's investigation, submit your losses now If you'd like more information and answers to frequently asked questions about the Ready Capital case and our investigation, read more Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Ready Capital should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email RC@ hbsslaw.com # # #About Hagens Berman Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation firm focusing on corporate accountability. The firm is home to a robust practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and other wrongdoings. Hagens Berman's team has secured more than $2.9 billion in this area of law. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com . Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.Contact:Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895SOURCE: Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-04-18 14:31:01 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 462 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 18, 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=143808&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: 2025-04-18 14:00:17 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 424 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 The Blue Card Partners with Campus Hillel Group to Bring Survivors and Students Together to Mark Holocaust Remembrance Day--Wednesday, Apr 23, 2025 - Thursday, Apr 24, 2025NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 18, 2025 / As part of the Yom HaShoah commemorations honoring the victims of the Holocaust, students on the campuses of John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City College of New York, Baruch College, and Pace University, will meet and engage in a question and answer session with survivors Inge Auerbacher and Lillian Feintuch (appearing in person) and with Sonia Warshawski, via a newly developed portable hologram display provided by The Blue Card. The charity's mission is to help needy Holocaust survivors with critical financial, medical and emotional support.The Blue Card aid recipients Auerbacher and Feintuch, who are also participants in the organization's Speakers Bureau, will share their experiences with students in Hillel, the world's largest Jewish campus organization. Additionally, The Blue Card is bringing its cutting-edge, interactive hologram box featuring the nonagenarian Warshawski, who survived some of the most horrific Nazi death camps. The voice-activated AI enables a question and answer dynamic that recreates a natural conversation, instantly sifting through 455 interview clips to find an appropriate response."At a time when Jewish college students are facing an exponential rise in antisemitic incidents on campus, talking to people who witnessed and experienced the unthinkable reinforces the importance of confronting bigotry and hatred," says The Blue Card Executive Director Masha Pearl. "The Yom HaShoah memorial day is a way to remember, learn and recommit to never again!"ScheduleMONDAY, APRIL 21Pace University, 12:10 PM - 1:10 PMTUESDAY, APRIL 22City College of New York 12:30-1:30pmWEDNESDAY, APRIL 23John Jay College of Criminal Justice 1:30-2:30pmTHURSDAY, APRIL 24THBaruch College 12:30-1:30pmABOUT THE BLUE CARDThe Blue Card assists elderly Holocaust survivors nationwide struggling to take care of basic needs. Initially established in Nazi Germany in 1934 and re-established in the U.S. in 1939 to continue aiding refugees escaping from the Holocaust, the nonprofit works tirelessly to ensure that a population that experienced the unspeakable can live out their remaining years with dignity and respect. By providing direct financial, medical and emotional assistance to Holocaust survivors, they can afford to pay their rent, get adequate nutrition and receive necessary healthcare. The Blue Card not only helps survivors in need but looks to raise awareness and educate the public in general about the Holocaust and antisemitism.For more information visit https://bluecardfund.org/ # # #PRESS CONTACTDiane Blackman,Co-Founder BRPR212.249.5125 dblackman@ brpublicrelations.com SOURCE: The Blue Card Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) had its claim to non-liability to indemnify oil trading firm Taleveras dismissed at appeal in a ruling against it by a London high court. The decision at the appellate court followed an earlier ruling at the lower court that awarded $380 million against Nigerias biggest LNG producer and in favour of oil trading firms Vitol SA and Glencore Energy UK. The Business and Property Courts of England and Wales held Wednesday that the lower courts interpretation of an earlier declaration by an arbitral tribunal asking NLNG to indemnify Taleveras regarding the sum it was obliged to pay Vitol SA and Glencore Energy from the deal is in order. Besides its claim of non-liability to indemnify Taleveras, NLNG also sought an injunction barring the oil trader from executing the indemnity pertaining to the Vitol Award, according to a court document seen by PREMIUM TIMES. Dubai-based Taleveras, founded in 2004, is owned by Nigerian entrepreneur Charles Igho Sanomi. At the crux of the dispute was whether the orders granted by an arbitration panel only applied to the ones in the final dispositive part of its award or they also included issues the panel said it was ordering in a previous section but not stated in the final dispositive section. 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 NLNGs grouses was that the indemnity was a condition precedent to paragraph 607 of the analysis section of the award. The company asserted that the panel in the Vitol Award ought to have approved its award as to the applicability of the Indemnity to the sums awarded. The controversial paragraph 607 states that The Tribunal further orders that the terms of this indemnity be drawn forthwith to the attention of the tribunals seised of the Vitol and Glencore arbitrations, and that any eventual enforcement of this indemnity be subject to the endorsement of those tribunals as to its applicability in the context of any award and, in particular, any consent award, made in either of those proceedings. The bungled deal The dispute had its roots in a 2020 sales contract between NLNG a joint venture comprising state-owned NNPC Limited, Eni, Shell and TotalEnergies and Taleveras, requiring the former to supply the latter gas. NLNG failed to deliver 19 cargoes between 2020 and 2021 as agreed by the parties, causing Taleveras as well as Vitol SA and Glencore (the firms to which Taleveras had pre-sold the goods) to miss the windfall that a surge in the price of gas had created for oil dealers when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. In January 2023, an arbitral tribunal of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law asked NLNG to compensate Taleveras for the profit it lost on the cargoes. It also directed NLNG to provide indemnity for Taleveras to cover the money the commodity trader was required to pay in different arbitrations with Vitol SA and Glencore. The panel in the Vitol Arbitration awarded damages worth $233.3 million against Taleveras in December 2023. In reaction, NLNG instituted a legal action a month later, challenging the decision for the reason that it was a precedent condition to paragraph 607 of the analysis section of the award. Taleveras denied the indemnity required that the Vitol Award be approved as to its applicability on the basis that paragraph 607 was not included in the final dispositive section of the award. Its amended defence of March 2024 noted that the panel in the Vitol Arbitration had earlier released an addendum and final additional award which incorporated, as part of the award, an endorsement that the cash awarded to Taleveras against NLNG fall within the scope of the indemnity. NLNG later contended that the arbitrators in the Vitol Award lacked the jurisdiction to add the addendum to its award. It further maintained that, considering that the arbitration had already been concluded, their agreement with the parties had also ended, making their actions to fall outside the ambit of the laws governing the arbitration. High Court Judge Pelling KC ruled in July 2024 that as a matter of the proper interpretation of the Award, the Indemnity was not contingent on or subject to any declaration in the Vitol Arbitration or the Glencore Arbitration to the effect that the sums awarded fell within the scope of the Indemnity. He consequently laid aside NLNGs claim and gave Taleveras leave to enforce the indemnity pertaining to the Vitol Award. The verdict Lord Justice Phillips, the lead of the three judges that decided the suit, described NLNGs claim that the high court judge misinterpreted some of the words of the arbitration tribunal as lacking merit. He added that the final dispositive section clearly issued distinct, unambiguous orders. In this regard, it is not as if the part of paragraph 607 relied on by NLNG addressed a subject matter that was not dealt with in the dispositive section, he said. He remarked that the need for possible approval by the Vitol or Glencore arbitral panel was clearly addressed in parts of the dispositive section. It is perhaps unfortunate that the Tribunal used the words further orders in paragraph 607 of its analysis section, but that loose wording does not come close, in this case, to undermining the clear structure of the Award and in particular the meaning and comprehensive effect of its dispositive section. The judges unanimously laid aside the appeal, upholding the lower courts ruling. Editors Note: This story has been edited to reflect the actual beneficiaries of the $380 million award against NLNG. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The president of African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina, has lauded the part played by Nigerias immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari in the nomination process for his re-election to the prime position at the development finance institution. Mr Adesina, whose presidency ends this September following his second and final tenure at the Abidjan-based lender, visited Mr Buhari, according to a post on his Xs account. He extolled Mr Buhari for incredibly supporting his nomination by former President Goodluck Jonathan. One of the pictures accompanying the post depicted him prostrating to the former president. He strongly stood by me in difficult times, which ensured my re-election. Thank you Sir, said the agricultural economist, who is leading the charge by AfDB to bankroll the construction of 28 special agro-industrial processing zones across Nigeria. From 2010 to 2015, Mr Adesina served as Nigerias minister of agriculture during the administration of Mr Jonathan. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later He won the 2017 World Food Prize, dubbed the highest honours in the field of food and agriculture, for leadership and innovation in building political will to transform African agriculture at all levels. He was the fifth African to be awarded the prize, worth $250,000 at the time. Mr Akinwunmis almost ten-year leadership of the bank has had its upheavals. The US in May 2020 ordered an independent probe into an allegation of cronyism against him after a whistleblower alleged he awarded contracts to acquaintances and hired relatives to juicy positions. Steven Mnuchin, the then US treasury secretary, had opposed an attempt by the banks board to end an earlier in-house probe, calling for an independent investigation instead. Mr Adesina denied wrongdoing and was cleared of the allegations afterwards. I was exonerated, and any other investigation would amount to bending the rules of the bank, to arrive at a predetermined conclusion, Mr Adesina said. Many African leaders supported him in 2020 as he began his second tenure. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Nigerian government has reduced its family planning budget for 2025, raising concerns about how the country will sustain access to reproductive health services for millions of citizens amidst a global decline in donor funding. In the 2025 budget, N66.39 million was allocated for family planning, a 97 per cent decrease from the N2.2 billion allocated in 2024. This budget cut comes as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) froze funding support for key health initiatives in developing countries, including family planning programmes in Nigeria. The funding pause followed a directive from President Donald Trump shortly after his inauguration in January 2025. The Nigerian government has not given any official reason for cutting funding for family planning. Repeated efforts to get a response from the health ministry were unsuccessful. This reporter was referred to the ministrys Director of Family Health, Binyerem Ukaire, by other ministry officials. However, in response to our enquiries, Ms Ukaire simply said, To get reaction from the government, you need to go through the right channel. For a country with one of the highest maternal death rates in the world, with many of the deaths preventable with timely access to contraception and quality care, this drop in funding could reverse the progress made over the years. The United Nations recently warned that global reductions in health aid could reverse decades of progress in tackling maternal mortality. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later In a report titled Trends in Maternal Mortality, released ahead of the 2025 World Health Day, the UN attributed the 40 per cent global decline in maternal deaths between 2000 and 2023 to improved access to critical health services. Nigeria, according to the report, had the highest estimated number of maternal deaths in 2020, accounting for more than one-quarter (28.5 per cent) of the global total, with approximately 82,000 maternal deaths recorded. Trend in budget allocation Over the years, PREMIUM TIMES has reported Nigerias inconsistent commitment to family planning, particularly in the face of declining donor support. In 2020, under former President Muhammadu Buharis administration, the family planning programme received only 0.2 per cent of the health budget and in 2021, the allocation dwindled further to 0.01 per cent of the health budget. In subsequent years, 2022 and 2023, the budget line for family planning was non-existent. Following reports by PREMIUM TIMES highlighting the governments failure to include family planning in the 2022 budget, and demands by activists and civil society organisations, the government committed to allocating at least one per cent of its health budget to family planning. Although there was an increase in family planning allocation in 2024 (N2.225 billion), it still fell short of the national commitment to dedicate at least one per cent of the annual health budget to family planning. Health experts have repeatedly stressed the importance of sustained domestic investment in reproductive health as a way to manage Nigerias growing population and reduce preventable maternal deaths. Nigerias 2025 budget totals N54.9 trillion, with N2.38 trillion dedicated to the health sector, which amounts to 4.33 per cent of the budget. Within this health allocation, only N66.39 million (0.0028 per cent) was earmarked for family planning, which falls far below one per cent of the health budget. This underfunding of family planning raises concerns about Nigerias ability to achieve its Family Planning 2030 (FP2030) targets, which aim for a 27 per cent modern contraceptive prevalence rate (mCPR) by 2030. Stanley Ukpai, the director of Programmes at the development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC), expressed concerns with the reduction, saying Nigeria is still struggling to close a longstanding gap in family planning funding. According to him, the country has depended heavily on external sources to support reproductive health services for years. Mr Ukpai noted that following the N2.2 billion allocated to family planning in the 2024 budget, advocates and stakeholders were optimistic that the 2025 budget would show continued progress. In 2024, we saw a significant step forward with the N2.2 billion allocation, which was an attempt to address the financing gap. I understand that the funds were eventually released in December, he said. But we were shocked to see that only N66 million was allocated for family planning in 2025. Dependence on donors, risks Nigeria has depended heavily on foreign donors to support its family planning programmes for years. Organisations like the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the USAID played key roles in supplying contraceptives and funding training and outreach activities. UNFPA supports family planning in 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory, while USAID partnered with community groups across all 36 states. However, this dependence comes with its risks. In 2021, the United Kingdom withdrew its annual funding of about 3 million from Nigerias family planning basket fund. Then, in January 2025, USAID paused funding. Based on the US Foreign Assistance website data, the United States disbursed approximately $1.02 billion in foreign assistance to Nigeria in 2023. While the site breaks down funding across various sectors, it does not specify the exact amount allocated exclusively for family planning. However, a significant portion of US assistance to Nigeria historically supported health initiatives, including family planning. For instance, in 2020, USAID allocated $35 million for family planning efforts in Nigeria as part of a broader $234.5 million development assistance package. Implications of funding cuts Ijeoma Nwankwo, programme manager at the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria Foundation (PSNF), expressed deep concern over the recent cut in Nigerias family planning budget, describing it as a major threat to reproductive health service delivery, especially in rural and underserved communities. Ms Nwankwo, a pharmacist, said this drastic reduction will significantly hinder access to essential family planning commodities and services for millions of women, particularly those in hard-to-reach areas who already face barriers due to distance, cost, and cultural stigma. Without adequate funding, we risk reversing the progress made in reducing maternal mortality and improving womens health outcomes, she said. Mr Ukpai, the dRPC director of programmes, noted that with the withdrawal of key international donors like the US, UK, and EUmany of whom are redirecting funds to other priorities like national defenceNigeria now faces a widening funding gap. He warned that these global aid reductions could have significant implications for the countrys reproductive health services, especially if domestic investment continues to decline. The impact of family planning underfunding is already visible. According to reports, the number of women receiving family planning services has sharply declined. Saleh Abba, a family physician based in Borno State, recently disclosed in an interview that family planning uptake in Borno State dropped from 13,000 women in January to just 3,000 in February this year. Ms Abba stated that the shortage of contraceptive supplies and the pause in donor funding are major reasons for this decline. Need for increased domestic funding In 2020, the Nigerian government introduced a Family Planning Blueprint (20202024), a strategic document aimed at increasing access to modern contraceptives and reducing maternal deaths. The blueprint provided a clear roadmap with targets and accountability measures. However, as it ended in 2024, many of its goals remained unmet due to inconsistent funding and heavy reliance on donor support. Health professionals and advocacy groups have warned that relying too much on foreign support is risky. A 2023 study published by BMCs Womens Health, a journal focused on the health and wellbeing of adolescent girls and women, highlighted the countrys heavy reliance on external funding. The study titled: A narrative review of evidence to support increased domestic resource mobilisation for family planning in Nigeria, emphasised the urgency of increasing domestic funding for family planning in Nigeria to ensure sustainability and reduce dependency on external donors. According to the study, the heavy reliance on external donors makes funding for family planning services unpredictable and imbalanced. Evidence shows that investing in family planning can also save money. Preventing unwanted pregnancies reduces pressure on hospitals and cuts the cost of maternal health care. According to global estimates by UNFPA and the Guttmacher Institute, every dollar spent on family planning can save up to four dollars in maternal and newborn health costs. When translated into local currency, this suggests that for every N1,000 spent, Nigeria could save about N4,000 in healthcare costs. State financing, private sector involvement Stanley Ilechukwu, executive director of the South Saharan Social Development Organisation (SSDO), noted that although the cessation of funding has thrown Nigerias health sector into disarray, there are still ways to mitigate the damage. He pointed out that the recent judicial stamp on the autonomy of Local Government Areas (LGAs) presents a unique opportunity to address the funding shortfall. With LGAs now autonomous, we should begin to hold them to the same standards as the federal and state governments and make them commit to the same pledges, particularly with regards to healthcare financing, he said. He proposed that a portion of LGA funding should be earmarked for procuring family planning commodities. He believes that if all LGAs commit, along with matching funds from state governments over a four-year period, this could help create a sustainable market for family planning commodities in the country. Mr Ilechukwu added that balancing the demand and supply side of family planning services is key to ensuring both immediate and future needs are met in a sustainable way. It is critical to ensure that we are not just dependent on donor funding but are also creating domestic solutions to address these challenges, he said. Ms Nwankwo, the pharmacist, emphasised that while donor funding has historically supported Nigerias family planning initiatives, relying solely on external partners is not sustainable. Its time for the government, at all levels, to take ownership of reproductive health programmes. States must begin to allocate and release dedicated budgets for family planning as part of their commitment to primary health care and womens health, she said. Ms Nwankwo also highlighted the role of the private sector in bridging funding gaps. According to her, the private sector can play a critical role from strengthening supply chain systems to investing in public awareness campaigns and driving innovation around contraceptive access. She called on the government to take proactive steps to ensure the continuity and sustainability of family planning services nationwide. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print PROFILE OF THE NEWLY APPOINTED ACTING DIRECTOR OF ARMY PUBLIC RELATIONS, LIEUTENANT COLONEL (MRS) OA ANELE FSS anipr 1. Lieutenant Colonel (Mrs) Onyechi Appolonia Anele FSS anipr, the newly appointed Acting Director of the Directorate of Army Public Relations (Ag DAPR), is a seasoned, versatile and highly accomplished public relations, crisis and strategic communication expert with a steadfast commitment to excellence, discipline and service. She is widely recognised for her exceptional leadership acumen, deep professional insight and strategic foresight in advancing military public communication. A firm believer in hard work and dedication, she brings to her new role a wealth of experience cultivated through years of impactful service in diverse command, instructional and public engagement capacities within the Nigerian Army and international peacekeeping missions. Destined for greater heights in career and life, she was born to the family of late Warrant Officer Cyraicus Anele and Mrs Appolonia Anele (now late) and hails from Ehime-Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State. 2. Lt Col. Anele had her primary school education at Army Childrens School, Rukuba Barracks and her secondary education at Command Day Secondary School, both in Jos, Plateau State. Appolonia attended the University of Jos where she obtained a Diploma and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mass Communication respectively. Upon her graduation, she attended the mandatory National Youth Service Corp and thereafter was commissioned Lieutenant into the Nigerian Army Directorate of Army Public Relations as a member of Direct Regular Course 15 on 8 December 2007. 3. She has attended several military and civil courses in the course of her impeccable military career. Some of the courses include the Young Officers Course (YOC), in 2010, the Media Operations Officers Course in 2013, the Advanced Public Relations Officers Course in 2016 and the Strategic Communications Course in 2025, all at the Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information (NASPRI). She also attended the Crisis Information Management Course, Conflict Prevention Course and Integrated Peace Support Operations Course all at the prestigious Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, Accra, Ghana between 2011 and 2013. She further attended the Joint Information Operations Course and the Gender in Peace Support Operations Course at the Royal Airforce Halton, United Kingdom in July 2015 and at the Ecole de Maintien de la Paix, Bamako Mali in June 2015, respectively. 4. In 2017, Mrs Anele attended the Gender Training of Trainers Course at SwedInt, Sweden. In her quest to acquire more knowledge, she obtained a Master of Arts Degree in Gender Peace and Security, from the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre in Accra, Ghana in 2013. She also holds a Master of Arts Degree in Leadership and Strategic Studies from the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna in 2024. 5. A well-experienced senior officer, the new Acting Director, Ltd Col. Anele, has held several command, staff and instructional appointments which include Military Public Information Officer Nigerian Battalion (NIBATT) 5 at the United Nations African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), Sudan in 2008, Staff Officer Grade 3 Information/Publication at the Headquarters 2 Division Nigerian Army Ibadan from 2008 to 2012, Instructor/Administrative Officer and Chief Instructor at the Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information (NASPRI), Lagos from 2013 to 2016 and the Gender Officer at the Department of Army Training and Operations, Army Headquarters Abuja between July 2016 and January 2018. 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 6. She was the Public Relations Officer to then Chief of Army Staff, Nigerian Army from January 2018 to May 2021, as well as the Public Relations Officer at the Defence Space Administration between May 2021 and January 2022. Additionally, she was the Acting Executive Director of Corporate Affairs at the Nigerian Army Welfare Holdings Limited by Guarantee (NAWHLG) from January 2023 to October 2023. Until her recent appointment, she was the Staff Officer Grade One, Human Rights at the Defence Headquarters Department of Civil Military Cooperation. 7. Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele was promoted to the ranks of Captain, Major, and Lieutenant Colonel in the Nigerian Army in 2012, 2016, and 2021 respectively. 8. A sound intellectual with instructional abilities, she has delivered several lectures during seminars, conferences, and workshops. Some of these include: Enhancing a Professionally Responsive Nigerian Army in the Discharge of its Constitutional Roles: The Gender Perspective at the Nigerian Army Women Corps Convention Abuja in 2022; Gender Mainstreaming in Peace Support Operations to participants of Naval Warfare Course 7/23 at the Naval War College of Nigeria, Calabar in 2023; and Gender Inclusion and Career Planning in the Nigerian Army: Female Officers in Perspective during the Army Headquarters Department of Military Secretary Career Week for Officers in 2025, among others. Lieutenant Colonel OA Anele is an Associate Member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations and a holder of the Forces Service Star Award of the Nigerian Army. Her hobbies include reading, taking long walks, and listening to music. Lt. Col. Anele is happily married. 9. Lieutenant Colonel Aneles appointment as army spokesperson is historic. She is the first female officer to be appointed spokesperson for any arm of the Nigerian military army, navy and air force. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print March 2025 witnessed major health developments and renewed calls for urgent interventions as Nigeria grappled with both emerging and persistent health threats. From global concerns over HIV drug shortages triggered by foreign aid disruptions, to local disease outbreaks, the month reflected both the progress and persistent challenges shaping Nigerias healthcare system. Heres a look at some of the most important health stories in March Nigeria, seven other countries could face HIV drug shortages The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that the United States decision to halt foreign aid has substantially disrupted the supply of HIV treatments in eight countries, including Nigeria. Other countries are Haiti, Kenya, Lesotho, South Sudan, Burkina Faso, Mali and Ukraine. Nigerias fight against HIV/AIDS has been significantly aided by international donors, particularly PEPFAR, which has provided billions of dollars in funding over the past two decades. PEPFAR, which provides HIV treatment to over 20.6 million people worldwide, faced a temporary funding suspension due to President Trumps executive order on foreign aid. The order halted many overseas assistance programmes, putting millions at risk. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later To mitigate the impact of this, the Nigerian government announced plans to locally produce HIV-related medical tools, including test kits and antiretroviral drugs. The government has also allocated more funds to support HIV treatment in the country. Europe records highest number of measles cases in 25 years UN Measles cases in Europe have doubled in just a year, with the highest number reported since 1997, according to UN agencies. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) said measles is back, and its a wake-up call for all. A total of 127,350 cases were reported in the region in 2024, double the number of cases reported for 2023 and the highest number since 1997, according to analysis by the UN agencies. Among the most contagious viruses affecting people, measles can damage the immune system by erasing its memory of how to fight infections, leaving survivors vulnerable to other diseases. Meningitis outbreak amidst intense heat The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) warned about a potential Meningococcal meningitis outbreak in Northern Nigeria, citing worsening weather conditions as a major risk factor. NiMet stated that dust particles in suspension, coupled with high heat and humidity, were expected to increase. Although residents complained about intense heat across Nigeria, NiMet warned that the situation was more dire in the northern part of the country, which is on average hotter than the southern part. The agency explained that the weather conditions have increased the prospects of the outbreak of Meningococcal meningitis over the northern part of the country. According to NiMet, the states most vulnerable to an outbreak include Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Yobe, Gombe, Adamawa, and Borno. It warned that the most vulnerable groups include infants, young children, the aged, those with weak immune systems and people with head injuries. More deaths recorded from Lassa Fever The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) confirmed that 118 lives were lost to Lassa fever during the first quarter of 2025. Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic illness transmitted to humans through contact with food or household items contaminated by infected rodents or persons. Symptoms of Lassa fever include fever, headache, sore throat, general body weakness, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle pains, and chest pain. NCDC noted that 3,465 suspected cases were recorded between January and March, spanning 91 local government areas (LGAs) and 33 states. The health agency disclosed that 20 healthcare workers were among those infected. Nigerias First Lady donates N1 billion to support fight against tuberculosis At an event to commemorate the 2025 World Tuberculosis (TB) day, Nigerias First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, donated N1 billion through the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) to support efforts to end TB in the country. This is the second consecutive year she has made such a commitment. In 2024, she pledged same amount during her investiture as the Global and National Stop TB Champion. TB, an airborne disease caused by a bacterium (mycobacterium tuberculosis), mostly affects the lungs. It is the second deadliest infectious killer disease (after COVID-19) and among the top 10 causes of death worldwide. TB remains a leading cause of death in Nigeria, with the country ranking sixth globally and first in Africa. Nigeria records more Diphtheria cases In March, the NCDC recorded new cases of diphtheria. Since epidemiological week 19 of 2022, Nigeria has recorded 42,805 suspected diphtheria cases across 351 LGAs in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Of these, 25,977 cases (60.7 per cent) have been confirmed, comprising 396 laboratory-confirmed cases, 238 epidemiologically linked cases, and 25,353 clinically compatible cases. The report revealed that states with the highest number of suspected cases include Kano (24,385), Yobe (5,330), Katsina (4,253), Bauchi (3,066), Borno (3,059), Kaduna (777), and Jigawa (364), which accounted for 96.3 per cent of the total suspected cases. The confirmed cases have been reported in 187 LGAs across 26 states, with Kano (18,254), Bauchi (2,334), Yobe (2,383), Katsina (1,517), Borno (1,161), Jigawa (53), Plateau (119), and Kaduna (44) accounting for 99.1 per cent of these cases. NCDC stated that most confirmed cases, 16,579 (63.8 per cent), occurred among children aged one to 14 years. Seven million people die from air pollution annually WHO The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that air pollution remains one of the most severe global health threats, contributing to around 7 million premature deaths annually. The health body noted that 99 per cent of the worlds population breathes air that exceeds its guideline limits. It said low and middle-income countries are experiencing the highest levels of exposure. The polluted air contains harmful substances such as particulate matter, carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulphur dioxide all of which poses a risk to human health. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) said it has commenced free Caesarean Sections (CS) for pregnant women in over 100 hospitals across the country. The Director-General of NHIA, Kelechi Ohiri, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja that the intervention is under the Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (CEmONC) Programme. Mr Ohiri said this is currently active in federal, state, private, and faith-based hospitals across all six geopolitical zones. According to him, indigent women only need a National Identification Number (NIN), which can be presented before or after admission. He added that the hospitals social welfare team would be responsible for confirming that a patient could not afford the surgery. Once assessed, eligible women receive the CS at no cost and are automatically enrolled into a health insurance plan under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), managed at the state level, he said. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later He said that NHIA is partnering with federal, state, faith-based, and private health facilities to reduce maternal mortality. Key institutions He explained that the nationwide coverage is across key health institutions. He said in the North-West: Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano; Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, Kano; Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto; and Maryam Abacha Women and Children Hospital, Sokoto are covered. Among others, Ahmad Sani Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital in Gusau, Zamfara; General Hospitals in Kaura Namoda, Shinkafi, and Tsafe, all in Zamfara; and Martha Bamaiyi General Hospital in Zuru, Kebbi State are benefitting, he said. In the North-East: the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe; University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Borno; Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Azare, Bauchi; Federal Medical Centre Nguru, Yobe, and Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital, Yola, Adamawa are beneficiary. He said that North-Central had the Federal Medical Centre Bida, Niger; Federal Medical Centre Keffi, Nasarawa; University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, FCT; and General Hospitals in Suleja, Mokwa, and Tunga Magajiya, Niger State. He noted that South-West had Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti; Federal Medical Centre, Ido-Ekiti; State Hospital, Abeokuta, Ogun State; State Specialist Hospital, Okitipupa, Ondo State; and Oba Ademola Maternity Hospital, Ijemo, Ogun State. The South-South, according to Mr Ohiri, had the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Akwa Ibom; the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Rivers; Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa. He added that the South-South also had the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Cross River; and Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo, Taraba State. He stated that the South-East had the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Ebonyi; David Umahi University Teaching Hospital, Uburu, Ebonyi; NOFIC Abakaliki, Ebonyi; Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Edo State; and University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Edo. He listed some faith-based and private facilities with the coverage: St. Gerards Catholic Hospital, Kaduna; St. Patrick Hospital, Abakaliki; Yusuf Dantsoho Memorial Hospital, Kaduna; and Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa Memorial Hospital, Kafanchan, Kaduna State. He disclosed that over 200 additional hospitals are currently awaiting NHIA approval to join the initiative, potentially expanding access even further. Mr Ohiri added that this initiative is a critical part of the governments commitment to ending preventable maternal deaths. The free CS services are not limited to federal facilities; state-owned, private, and mission hospitals have been engaged to reach as many women as possible, he noted. He stressed that there is no registration process required to benefit from the coverage. As long as a woman presents her NIN and is evaluated by the hospitals social welfare unit as financially incapable, the surgery will be offered free of charge, he said. He encouraged Nigerians to share this information widely, especially in rural and underserved communities where the cost of surgical delivery was often a barrier to safe childbirth. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, has announced that more than 4,000 women have benefited from the federal governments free Cesarean section (C-section) initiative since its inauguration. Mr Pate, a professor disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja during a media conference marking the 2025 Safe Motherhood Day. The theme of this years celebration is Innovating for Safer Birth: A Collective Responsibility to Crash Maternal Mortality, with the slogan Care for Moms, Hope for the Babies. Celebrated annually on 11 April, Safe Motherhood Day aims to raise awareness about maternal health. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in November 2024, Mr Pate revealed that the federal government would offer free C-sections to all women in need, as part of efforts to reduce maternal mortality. This initiative is part of the Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiatives (MAMII) project, which aims to improve access to quality healthcare and reduce maternal and newborn mortality rates. 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 Pate emphasised that the government is committed to ensuring no woman dies during childbirth and that every newborn receives the care they deserve. He outlined several ongoing government efforts to ensure safe deliveries, including the Health Sector Renewal Investment initiative, which addressed long-standing challenges in the health system. Under this initiative, we have strengthened the Primary Health Care system to ensure better access to quality maternal, newborn, and child health services, he said. We are scaling up Comprehensive Emergency Maternal, Obstetric, and Newborn Care, especially for indigent and vulnerable populations. More than 4,000 women have already received cesarean sections, treated, and reimbursed through the National Health Insurance Authoritys emergency obstetric care programme, he said. He said that the government had also expanded coverage of skilled birth attendants in underserved areas and broadened health insurance coverage. The National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System has been strengthened, with 23 states empaneled. Additionally, the Free Fistula Programme, offering free repair, care, and transportation, is currently active in 15 facilities. Mr Pate noted that these reforms are already showing positive results, with improved health indicators in several states. Addressing the theme of Safe Motherhood Day, the minister called on all Nigerians to take responsibility for ensuring safer childbirth for every woman, regardless of her background or location. The World Health Organisation Country Director, Walter Mulombo, also spoke on behalf of development partners. Mr Mulombo emphasised that safe motherhood started with comprehensive health security and called for continued investment in maternal and newborn health services, particularly in hard-to-reach areas. He urged the government to enact and uphold laws that would protect womens and childrens health rights, including maternity protection and access to sexual and reproductive health services. The event culminated in the launch of key policy and guideline documents aimed at advancing safe motherhood. These include the Safe Motherhood Strategy (2024-2028), Guidelines for Managing Postpartum Hemorrhage, Preeclampsia and Eclampsia Guidelines, Essential Gynaecological Skills Manuals, and the National Training Manual for Obstetric Fistula Management. NAN also reports that these documents underscore the governments commitment to building a resilient, people-centered health system that proactively addresses maternal health challenges. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Kano State Fire Service said fire destroyed six shops at Kurmi (Yan Jagal) Market in Kano on Friday. A statement signed and issued to journalists by the Public Relations Officer of the State Fire Service, Saminu Abdullahi, made this known on Friday in Kano. Mr Abdullahi said the service received a distress call from Jakara police division at about 01:35 a.m. that there was a fire outbreak at the Kurmi Jakara market. Upon receiving the information, we quickly sent a fire vehicle to the scene to bring the situation under control, he wrote. ALSO READ: Kano fire service records 222 fire incidents in 3 months He explained that six shops were completely razed down by the fire, maintaining that no life was lost and the cause of the fire was under investigation. The fire service, however, advised traders at the market and other residents to always switch off all electrical appliances and disconnect the sources when not in use. 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 (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Gunmen, suspected to be armed herders, carried out coordinated attacks on communities in Ukum and Logo local government areas of Benue State on Thursday night, killing 17 people, the police have confirmed. The attacks in Benue occurred four days after suspected armed herders killed dozens of people in communities in neighbouring Plateau State. It is not certain if the attacks were carried out by the same criminal gang. The police in Benue said many other residents of the two communities were killed in the attacks that occurred at about 9 p.m. Benue police spokesperson Sewuese Anene, in a Friday statement, said that five people were killed in Ukum and 12 in Logo. On 17/4/2025 at about 2100hrs, information was received that a large number of suspected militia had invaded Sankera axis of Benue State with intention to attack communities around Gbagir, Ukum Local Government Area. Upon receipt of this report, the Commissioner of Police, Benue State Police command, CP. Steve Yabanet, ordered tactical teams to move to the area and join forces with police officers on ground and other security agencies to forestall the attack, she wrote. 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 Ms Anene said the police engaged the gunmen in a shootout, but the assailants eventually killed five farmers. Following this order (of the police commissioner), a team of officers moved to the area and engaged them. While the attackers were being repelled in the early hours of today, they shot sporadically at unsuspecting farmers as they came across them. Five persons were recovered at Gbagir area and taken to the hospital where they were confirmed dead, The police spokesperson said the attack in Logo occurred at about the same time as that of Ukum. Unfortunately, an unsuspected simultaneous attack was carried out in Logo where 12 persons were killed before the arrival of the police, making a total of 17 persons. However, security agencies within Sankera axis are still engaging the bandits as they retreat back to the forest around Taraba axis, she said. ALSO READ: Plateau governor apologises to families of attack victims The police spokesperson said that false claims about the attack were being circulated on social media. She warned the persons behind such false claims to desist, warning that such actions could create unnecessaryn the state. Like Benue, Like Plateau No group has claimed responsibility for the attack in Benue and the previous ones in Plateau. However, suspected armed herders have carried out several invasions of communities in both states, killing hundreds of people in the past decade. PREMIUM TIMES reports that about 100 people were killed recently in attacks by suspected armed herders on Plateau communities. The latest attack occurred in the early hours of Monday when the gunmen attacked the Zike and Kimakpa communities of Kwall District in the Iregwe Chiefdom. Over 50 were reported killed in the attack , with several houses and other properties also destroyed. Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, who visited the attacked communities on Tuesday, said he believes every community must defend itself in response to the mass killings in the state by suspected armed herders. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says three of its officers have been hospitalised with gunshot wounds following an attack during a raid in Abuja. The NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, in a Friday statement, said the officers were attacked at the Jahi area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. He explained that the incident occurred during a raid on an uncompleted building at the NNPC area of Jahi, following intelligence and surveillance reports. Recovered items included 74 bottles of codeine, 10 litres of codeine syrup, 48 grammes of tramadol 225mg, 4.9 kilogrammes of skunk, and five Android phones. According to him, as the team exited the location, they came under gunfire. Three officers sustained gunshot injuriesone in the rib, and two others in the back and leg. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later They were first stabilised at the Police Clinic in Garki Area 1, before being moved to the National Hospital, Abuja, for further treatment, he said. The NDLEA Chairman, Buba Marwa, expressed gratitude to the police clinic staff for their swift response. Mr Marwa also thanked the Chief Medical Director of the National Hospital for personally overseeing the officers treatment after being contacted. While on official duty in Kano, Mr Marwa spoke with the injured officers by phone to wish them a speedy recovery. He assured them that the agency would work closely with other security agencies to identify and apprehend those behind the attack. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on head of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of the federal government to work together to improve service delivery. Mr Shettima who chairs the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), made the call during a two-day retreat for its members which concluded on Thursday. The retreat was part of the federal governments initiative to reform Nigerias business environment and improve the ease of doing business across the country. The PEBEC was established in July 2016 with the mandate of identifying and removing bureaucratic and legislative constraints that impede business operations in Nigeria. The council also works to improve the perception of the ease of doing business in Nigeria with a view to reducing the time, cost and procedure in starting and running a business, and increase efficiency. Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) make up more than 90 per cent of all registered businesses in Nigeria. These MSMEs provide about 84 per cent of jobs and contribute just under 50 per cent to the GDP of the economy. However, these businesses often face structural and regulatory challenges that limit their potential. 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 Addressing participants at the retreat, Mr Shettima emphasised the need for inter-agency collaboration, mutual trust, and collective action. He urged MDAs to prioritise joint planning, data sharing, and the establishment of shared Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in areas where their responsibilities overlap. Mr Shettima also called for the formation of inter-agency task teams to spearhead critical reforms, resolve inter-ministerial conflicts through dialogue, foster innovation to bridge existing gaps, and institutionalise progress to ensure sustainability. He stressed that improving government service delivery is not solely about policy formulation but also about implementation and accountability. Director General of PEBEC, Zahrah Audu, reaffirmed the councils commitment to working closely with heads of government agencies to improve service levels and build a more enabling environment for business growth. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Tinubu has been in France for more than two weeks and his absence is becoming a cause for concern among some Nigerians, particularly given the rising insecurity in the country. On Thursday, Nigerias presidency addressed the continuous absence of the president from Nigeria. Spokesperson Bayo Onanuga said Mr Tinubu remains fully engaged in Nigerias governance even though he is away in Europe. His absence remains temporary and in line with the communicated timeframe of approximately two weeks, Mr Onanuga said. On 2 April, the president left for Paris on a working visit that was expected to last for two weeks. This is Mr Tinubus fifth trip to France since taking office. 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 Since his inauguration, the president has undertaken at least 25 international trips, often labelled as official or private. However, there have been reports indicating that some of the trips were undertaken for medical reasons. The presidency has yet to speak on the true state of Mr Tinubus health. In his statement on Thursday, Mr Onanuga said the president left Paris for London at the weekend and maintained constant communication with key government officials. (He is) overseeing critical national matters, including directives to security chiefs to address emerging threats in some parts of the country. Criticisms have trailed Mr Tinubus trip to France since 2 April this time around amidst the tragedies that have occurred in the country during the period. One such incident is the killing of dozens of people by criminals in Plateau and Benue States. On Wednesday, opposition politician Peter Obi urged the president to suspend all his engagements in France and rush home to address the disturbing issues facing the country. Mr Obi made the call in a statement posted on his X handle on Wednesday. The presidency said Mr Tinubus will return to Abuja after the Easter holiday. The resumption of duties at Aso Villa will follow the conclusion of the Easter holiday too, the spokesperson wrote in a Thursday statement. The federal government had declared Friday and Monday public holidays to mark this years Easter celebration The Presidents commitment to his duties remains unwavering, and his administration continues to function effectively under his leadership, Mr Onanuga said. We appreciate the publics concern and assure all Nigerians that governance proceeds without interruption. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has appealed for a presidential directive to security agencies to ensure effective security for pastoralist communities across the country. The National Secretary-General of MACBAN, Bello Gotomo, made the appeal in a statement on Friday in Abuja. He also called on the federal government to end all forms of alleged discriminatory practices against pastoralists in the country. Mr Gotomo emphasised the need for the office of the National Security Adviser to implement concrete measures to address the alleged ethnic profiling, stigmatisation and scapegoating of pastoralists. The Nigerian government must ensure accountability, justice and protection for all citizens regardless of ethnicity. He decried the alleged unlawful arrest, inhuman treatment and profiling of some pastoralists at Opere Market in Kabba Local Government of Kogi state. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria calls on the Federal Government, the National Human Rights Commission and the International Community to urgently intervene. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print As press freedom faces mounting pressure from legal and institutional threats, the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) has stepped up efforts to equip journalists with the tools to push back. In a workshop held at the PREMIUM TIMES Lagos office on Wednesday 16 April, journalists, editors, and media executives gathered for a practical, solution-driven session on navigating anti-press laws and lawsuits designed to stifle accountability journalism. The workshop featured keynote speeches by seasoned professionals, including the likes of Deputy Director of Journalism Programmme at the CJID, Busola Ajibola; the President of the International Press Institute (IPI), Musikilu Mojeed; Co-Founder at Digital Rights Lawyers Initiative, Solomon Okedara, and a Professor of Mass Communication at the University of Lagos, Ismail Ibrahim. The event brought into sharp focus the growing use of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs)a tactic increasingly used to silence journalists and intimidate newsrooms into submission. Through interactive sessions and expert-led panels, the workshop exposed the full weight of legal harassment faced by media professionals and offered strategies to counter them. Juliana Francis, former crime editor at New Telegraph Newspaper who was one of the journalists in attendance, shared how she was served a N2 billion lawsuit over a report she published. 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 Another case cited was the ongoing N60 billion defamation suit against two northern journalists, Shuaibu Mungadi and Tijjani Ramalan, filed by the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle. According to a lawyer and digital rights, advocate, Solomon Okedara, these types of lawsuits are not necessarily filed to win but to exhaust the media financially and mentally. SLAPPs are used to incite fear, drain journalists, render them stranded, embarrass and intimidate them and wear them out, Mr Okedara said. He unequivocally affirmed the goal of SLAPPs is to discourage accountability reporting through fear, not justice. The lawyer further noted that many of these cases are designed to be lost in court but still succeed in their intentionto silence the journalist before the trial ever begins. For Musikilu Mojeed, PREMIUM TIMES editor-in-chief and president of the International Press Institute (IPI), legal safety begins with operational discipline. He urged journalists and media organisations to meet their corporate obligations and steer clear of practices that can expose them to legal attacks. Failure to do these can lead to vulnerability and the government can use it against you. The subjects of your story can capitalise on the gaps in your story to launch vicious lawsuits that can kill you. A single word can damage a brilliant story, said Mr Mojeed. His advice extended beyond compliance. Mr Mojeed also encouraged reporters to correct mistakes, take down inaccurate reports when necessary, and avoid accepting business transactions meant for their organisations into personal accounts. Unethical business practices can make you an object of blackmail. It can weaken your ability to do good journalism. Journalists and media practitioners should not accept transactions meant for their company into personal accounts, he warned. While outlining how to avoid legal traps, Mr Mojeed made it clear that no newsroom is immune. No matter what you do, SLAPPs will come even when you do the right thing, he cautioned. Accountability journalism is risky. You are the hunter. Dont become the hunted. Beyond external threats, the workshop also turned its attention to the medias internal challenges. Participants raised concerns over falling editorial standards, vendetta journalism disguised as public interest reporting, and the chase for viral content overshadowing accuracy and ethics. The result, as one speaker noted, is a hunters instinct taking over the traditional watchdog role of journalism. To guard against this decline, participants recommended setting up legal review desks inside newsrooms and ensuring legal officers are involved in story planningnot only when lawsuits strike. This proactive legal integration, they argued, should be standard practice in todays climate of repression. The CJID also brought a gender lens to the conversation, highlighting the disproportionate risks female journalists face both offline and online. CJIDs Deputy Director said attacks on women in media are often laced with personal and sexual undertones that go far beyond professional criticism. The scenario for women in the media is starkly different from that of men. For women, physical assault often escalates to sexual harassment, Ms Ajibola said. There have been multiple instances where female journalists have been inappropriately touched by police officers, and in some cases, law enforcement has denied them access to basic sanitary products as a form of repression. This deliberate humiliation is part of a broader strategy to undermine their dignity and work. Online harassment, doxxing, and cyberbullying were also flagged as urgent concerns. Participants noted that many newsrooms have no established protocols to respond to these threats. The solution, they agreed, lies in establishing confidential legal and mental health support systems tailored to the unique experiences of women in journalism. The call for newsrooms to incorporate gender safety into editorial risk planning was one of the standout recommendations of the event. Tracking violations with gender-specific data and building internal safeguards for women were seen as crucial to making journalism safer and more inclusive. For CJID, the goal is to help media workers survive repression with integrity, ethics, and courage intact. SLAPPs are being weaponised to silence investigative reporting, suppress accountability, and induce self-censorship through fear, fatigue, and financial drain, said Ms Ajibola. Our focus is not only to expose repression but also to equip journalists with tools to survive itwith ethics, lawfulness, and courage intact. At the close of the workshop, CJID sent a message of thanks to participants for their engagement and contributions: We hope the workshop provided practical strategies and useful tools to help you navigate these complex issues and continue your important work while upholding press freedom and accountability. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Reports of President Tinubu extending his trip in Europe dominated the cover page of newspaper headlines today. Daily Trust reported the development under the headline, Tinubu extends stay in Europe. Tinubu remains engaged in governance from Europeto resume work after Easter break, The point reported. Tribune reported that, Presidency defends Tinubus foreign stay amid criticism over insecurity. According to the Independent newspaper, Tinubu overseeing developments in Nigeria from Europe Presidency. Presidency, CSOs bicker over Tinubus absence, Leadership reported. Reports about a likely tariff increase dominated that headlines of some other newspapers, with Blueprint reporting that, FG hints on tariff hike as power generation hits 6,003MW. 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 Nigeria will generate 8,000MW power before Tinubus first term ends Minister, Salient Times reported. According to Punch, FG to inject 1,900MW solar power into grid. While Tribune reported that, Power sector got N700bn boost in revenue in 2024 Minister. Other major headlines are; Schools, teachers cite concerns, search for academic integrity, the Guardian reported. Vanguard reported that, How bandits, killer herdsmen have Impacted farming, food supply. Remove Ibas for breach of presidential order, Daily Monitor wrote. Fresh tension in Plateau, according to The Sun newspaper. Electricity crisis: Got offers national grid to investors, The Nation reported. We thank Abiola Ayankunbi, a media management expert, for providing screenshots of the newspapers front pages. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A joint security team of the police and Anambra Vigilante have arrested six people for allegedly using sick people to obtain money under false pretences from the public. The police spokesperson in Anambra, Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement in Awka on Friday. Mr Ikenga said police operatives from the Oba Divisional Police Office and vigilantes in the state, on 17 April, raided an uncompleted building at Isu Village in Oba, Idemili-South Local Government Area, where they arrested the six suspects. He said the suspects allegedly hired four sick people to beg for alms from the public. The suspects were identified as Doris Basil, 28; Peter Ezedike, 38; Susan Monday, 27; Ogechi Okoro, 27; Solomon Sunday, 29; and Kenneth Achi, 29. Mr Ikenga, a superintendent of police, said the operatives recovered six mobile phones and N82,400 in N50, N100 and N200 denominations. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later He said the command has taken into custody the four sick people suspected to be suffering from brain tumours, breast cancer, and other terminal ailments. Mr Ikenga said the police provided first aid and sought higher intervention for their treatment and safe return to their families. The statement quoted the Commissioner of Police in Anambra, Ikioye Orutugu, as saying that the offence contravened Section 419 of the Nigerian Criminal Code Act, which deals with obtaining property by false pretence. It is a felony that carries a potential penalty of three years imprisonment, Mr Orutugu said. He expressed concern over the level of moral decadence among some Nigerians, who take undue advantage of sick people to make quick money. The commissioner of police directed that the relatives of the sick people be questioned to ascertain their culpability. He said the suspects would be charged after the investigation. Regular scenes in Nigerian cities Sick people begging for alms in public places, especially around bus stops, is a regular scene in some Nigerian cities. The number is bound to keep increasing as poverty and hunger keep increasing in Africas most populous country. Every morning on my way to work, I see more people with terminal illnesses sleeping under bridges and begging at bus stops. Its heartbreaking and overwhelming. READ ALSO: Video of Chinese national distributing money to Nigerian police officers sparks outrage This isnt the Lagos I knew a few years ago. Government should do more to help these people, BusinessDay newspaper quoted Tola Kunbi, a development sociologist, as saying recently. According to the paper, the sociologist said the increase in destitution and people with health challenges could also be tied to urban migration, inequality, and lack of affordable housing. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The police in Imo State have arrested three suspected members of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) at a hideout in Okigwe Local Government Area of the state. The police spokesperson in the state, Henry Okoye, who disclosed this in Owerri on Friday, said the arrest was sequel to sustained operational momentum against criminal elements threatening public safety in the state. On 17 April 2025, at about 0120hrs, operatives of the commands Tactical Teams, in synergy with local vigilante groups, acted on credible intelligence and stormed a suspected IPOB/ESN hideout on Cameron Street, Ubahu, in Okigwe Local Government Area. On sighting the operatives, the suspects opened fire, resulting in a gun battle during which three suspects were arrested, he said. Mr Okoye, a deputy superintendent of police, said the suspects were between the ages of 21 and 37. He said two others escaped into the surrounding bushes. The spokesperson said one AK-47 rifle, two pump-action guns, 18 live cartridges, mobile devices, laptops, and N10.3 million cash were recovered from the scene. 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 Investigations revealed that the money was contributed by IPOB members to finance terrorism, he said. Mr Okoye assured Imo residents of robust security across the state during the Easter celebrations, adding that the command, in collaboration with sister agencies, is carrying out patrols and surveillance to ensure safe and peaceful celebrations. He urged residents to stay vigilant and report suspicious activity to the nearest police station. The Nigerian government has accused IPOB, a separatist group campaigning for the creation of a sovereign state of Biafra in the South-east of Nigeria, of being responsible for the killings and insecurity in the South-east, but the group has repeatedly denied the accusation. Nnamdi Kanu, the IPOB leader, is facing a terrorism trial. He is detained in the facility of Nigerias secret police in Abuja. Simon Ekpa, the leader of a faction in IPOB, was arrested in Finland last year on suspicion of terrorism activities. Support for local anti-IPOB groups The killings in the South-east seemed to have reduced since Mr Ekpas arrest. Punch newspaper reported last February that entrepreneurs in the South-east have been collaborating to raise money to fund local anti-IPOB groups and provide support for security agencies in the region. The businessmen, who are among the wealthy people in the area, have continued to fund the Nsu Security Vigilance Group. They have also purchased patrol vehicles for the local security outfit. This is all targeted at countering moves by criminals. Some of the vigilance groups here in Ehime Mbano and other parts of Imo State escort these rich men to burials and other ceremonies just to protect them. The vigilantes are paid salaries every month. Millions of naira have been spent on vigilantes by these wealthy men since the rise of insecurity in the state and the South-east in general, the paper quoted a community leader, Kelechi Anowi, in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) said 62 inmates in Kano, North-west Nigeria, have completed their OLevel programme. The inmates participated in the NCoS Continuing Education Programme, culminating in their sitting the National Examination Council (NECO) and the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS) examinations. On Friday, the NCoS organised a graduation ceremony for the 62 inmates who completed the programme. Ado Inuwa, the Controller of NCos in Kano State, who spoke at the event, expressed satisfacfion in the performance of the graduating inmates during the programme. The Guardian reported that Mr Inuwa said that the programme, initiated in line with the NCoS Act 2019 and global correctional practices, aims to offer inmates the chance to build intellectual and vocational skills while serving their sentences. If information about the results of the NECO and NBAIS examinations taken by the inmates was disclosed at the event, it was not captured in The Guardians report. 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 the report quoted Mr Inuwa as saying that the support provided through the continuing education programme of the NCoS has led to many inmates graduating with credit passes in subjects including English Language and Mathematics. Candidates who make the minimum number of credit passes in including Mathematics and English Language will be able to further their education to tertiary level while they are still in custody or have been released. For years the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has offered university education opportunities to inmates serving jail time in the correctional centres across the country. Mr Inuwa said the milestone, referring to the 62 inmates completion of the OLevel programme, is not only a testament to the resilience of the inmates but also a sign that the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is taking root in correctional practices. He emphasised that the initiative was designed to rehabilitate and reform inmates, preparing them to become better citizens upon their eventual release. The controller commended the Controller General of Corrections (CGC), Sylvester Nwakuche, for his continued support in enhancing inmate welfare and facilitating productive engagement through educational and vocational training. He also appreciated Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf for his support, which, according to him, has enabled inmates to go for their academic pursuits without hitches and benefit from improved healthcare services in custodial centres all over the state. Schooling for inmates The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said Tuesday that the NCoS trained and rehabilitated no fewer than 3,030 inmates in various skills across the 256 custodial centres across the nation between July and December 2024 alone. He said this in Abuja during a media briefing and interactive session with heads of the six agencies under the ministry last January. The minister explained that the inmates acquired skills in carpentry, tailoring, poultry, hairdressing, and fishery, among others. He also said 50 other inmates were pursuing various academic programmes at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). Correctional centres are now places of hope and transformation. This is to make sure that when people go in there, it does not mean it is the end of their lives; they can learn. People can go in there and go to schools, get certificates or get hands-on skills. So that when they leave the correctional centres, they can be useful to themselves and will not see crime as the only option for survival, the minister said. Mr Tunji-Ojo said the e-library in Kuje Custodial Centre in the Federal Capital Territory has also become functional for the inmates to patronise and equip themselves with knowledge. The minister also said over 5,000 offenders served different non-custodial sentences between the timeframe. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Adenuga has done his work quietly, unceasingly, and profoundly. As he reflects on the past 72 years, he can do so with the serenity of a fulfilled life. For in him we find not just a titan of business, but a philosopher in action a man whose wealth lies not only in billions, but in the beauty of restraint, the majesty of vision, and the invisible architecture of hope he has built not only in Nigeria but also across the African continent. What sets him apart is not his stupendous wealth or the sprawling empire he has built. Dr Michael Agbolade Ishola Adenuga is a man whose fortune transcends money, and whose true affluence is etched in the quiet revolutions he has ignited across business, society, and the human soul. Even as he turns 72 on 29 April, Adenuga remains an enigmatic titan inscrutable as the Sphinx, elusive as breeze at dusk. Yet, his influence echoes thunderously in boardrooms, communities, and economies, belying the quietude he so fiercely guards. Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing, Abraham Lincoln once reflected. Mike Adenuga, in his silence and substance, is unmistakably the tree. The Quiet Alchemy of a Titan Mr Adenugas story is one of unwavering resilience, strategic brilliance, and disarming humility. His rise from modest origins to continental acclaim is not merely a story of wealth acquired, but of vision pursued with Spartan discipline and almost monastic restraint. By his early twenties, he had already entered the gilded ranks of millionaires; not through inherited fortune, but through the sweat of night shifts as a New York taxi driver and security guard, braving icy streets with stoic resolve. The conditions were so tough that six of his compatriots gave up their jobs owing to what they termed as a life-threatening weather and adverse work conditions. But Adenuga understood that adversity, like the English poet, George Gordon Byron, wrote in Don Juan, is the first path to truth. And through such crucibles, Adenuga forged not just a fortune, but a formidable will. 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 Upon returning to Nigeria, eschewing the comfort of white-collar prestige, he chose instead the grit of his parents sawmill. There, he demonstrated his instinctive flair for transformation installing cutting-edge equipment, multiplying efficiency, and sowing the first seeds of an empire. From timber to oil, from banking to telecommunications, and from aviation to real estate, Adenugas ventures grew with the inevitability of sunrise, guided not merely by profit, but by a philosophers belief in purpose and permanence. They include Worldspan Holdings, Devcom Bank, Equatorial Trust Bank (later merging with Sterling Bank), Conoil Plc, Conoil Producing, Southern Airline and, eventually, Globacom each a monument not just to enterprise, but to audacity. The Rebel Who Drilled In the tempestuous oil industry of the 1980s, while others bartered oil blocs for quick gain, Adenuga dug deep literally. His foray into the business was a typically audacious one. When he acquired oil blocs through his Consolidated Oil company, as part of the Babangida administrations step to break the monopoly of foreigners in the production of crude oil in the country, Adenuga refused to toe the path of his peers, of selling off the oil blocs to foreign companies. He chose to embark on drilling, against monumental pressure and the risk of failure. His family warned him that the oil business was the preserve of multinational oil companies and not for individual businessmen. The mother whom he was particularly close to, preferred him to remain in the manufacturing business, where he had made his mark and where Nigerians had succeeded greatly. Dismissing warnings from family and scepticism from the industry, he pioneered Nigerias first indigenous oil production through Consolidated Oil. It was an act of entrepreneurial defiance that redefined the energy landscape. Then came National Oil and Chemical Marketing Company (NOLCHEM), a dying brand he acquired for a then hefty sum of 7.4 billion, when no one else dared touch it. He changed the name to Conoil, and, under his stewardship, it rose phoenix-like, and is now one of Nigerias most profitable oil marketing firms. He is, in every sense, the Prometheus of Nigerian industry, having wrested fire from the gods of foreign monopoly and gifted it to his people. The Voice that Gave Us Voice Yet if oil carved his name in gold, it was telecommunications that etched it into legend. Twice he won a GSM licence auction, twice the licences were revoked. The first auction was done by the Abacha regime, and cancelled by the succeeding administration, which opined that the exercise did not follow due process. Adenuga was to again win a GSM licence in 2000 under the President Olusegun Obasanjo regime. But the spectrum he was allotted was encumbered, as it had earlier been assigned to another company. When he insisted on certain guarantees before he would make full payment for the licence, the Federal Government petulantly revoked it and stripped him of the $20 million mandatory deposit. It was a massive loss which would have made lesser mortals recoil. But as Freidrich Nietzsche wrote in Twilight of the Idols, He who has a why to live can bear almost any how. For Adenuga, that why was vision of a Nigeria where communication was not a privilege but a right. He pressed on, and later went on to bid for the Second National Operator (SNO) license in 2002, and deposited another $20 million. This time, he was lucky. He won the bid in August of that year and Globacom was granted the licence to operate as a national carrier, operate digital mobile lines, serve as an international gateway for telecommunications in the country, and operate fixed wireless access services. Even then, many did not give him a chance. They argued that the telecom sector was for the well established foreign telecom companies and that Adenuga did not have the requisite experience in that field. And when he announced that Globacom would launch with Per Second Billing (PSB), the industry scoffed loudly at him. Again, the Great Guru, as he is fondly called by admirers, went on to prove sceptics wrong. With the birth of Globacom in 2003, his vision of democratising communication was realised. Per Second Billing, once dismissed as a folly by older operators, became the new industry standard. Call rates tumbled. SIM cards not only became accessible but also affordable. The digital revolution took root. And millions of Nigerians, once voiceless, found a voice thanks to the tenacity of one man who would not yield. A Legacy Forged in Silence I do not know if he ever came across this quote by Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, the Roman emperor and philosopher, that, Do not seek to be known, but to be worth knowing. But perhaps no modern Nigerian epitomises this Stoic ideal more than Mr Mike Adenuga. Reclusive almost to the point of myth, he is rarely seen, seldom heard, hardly grants media interviews, and is virtually never feted in public. Even many of his employees have never glimpsed their elusive Chairman, known to them only as The Board. Yet, his absence is an illusion. For in businesses, homes, hospitals, and schools, Adenugas presence is indelible. He gives, not for applause, but from an inner compass that points unfailingly to service. His philanthropy, like his wealth, is deliberate, vast, and largely unannounced. He gives quietly, contributing generously to various causes in health, education, and poverty alleviation. He has supported initiatives that aim to improve the lives of millions, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. While his peers may spend their time in the public eye, Adenuga chooses to channel his efforts into creating lasting change in peoples lives. For him, wealth is beyond money. It is how you touch peoples lives. Adenugas legacy looms large not only in the industries he transformed or the fortunes he built, but in the hearts he touched without fanfare. In an age that worships spectacle, his is a refreshing, almost ancient kind of greatness: the kind that measures success in lives changed, not headlines gained. To give without ostentation, said the Turkish philosopher Epictetus, is the truest form of virtue. The downside to Adenugas giving spirit, however, is that even gratitude can be an intrusion. It is a taboo to try to reach him to show appreciation, even if you are privileged to have his number. A thank-you text message for a huge cheque from him once earned me a stern rebuke. Not acceptable, he responded curtly. It did not end there. The following day, he called and spent over 10 minutes warning about the intrusion. Such is the paradox of the man: generous beyond measure, yet resistant to recognition and expression of gratitude. Now, as he turns 72, Adenugas legacy looms large not only in the industries he transformed or the fortunes he built, but in the hearts he touched without fanfare. In an age that worships spectacle, his is a refreshing, almost ancient kind of greatness: the kind that measures success in lives changed, not headlines gained. He prefers, in his words, to keep my head under the parapet. Mr Mike Adenuga has done his work quietly, unceasingly, and profoundly. As he reflects on the past 72 years, he can do so with the serenity of a fulfilled life. For in him we find not just a titan of business, but a philosopher in action a man whose wealth lies not only in billions, but in the beauty of restraint, the majesty of vision, and the invisible architecture of hope he has built not only in Nigeria but also across the African continent. His bequest is one of excellence, humility, and selflessness. He stands as a shining example of how to achieve greatness without the need for flamboyance, and how to build empires while remaining steadfastly humble. Heres to Mr Chairman Nigerias silent sentinel of enterprise, whose greatest fortune is not in what he owns, but in how deeply he has mattered! Arinze Anapugars is senior manager, Communications, at Globacom. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The decision to establish the African Energy Banks Headquarters in Abuja marks a historic achievement for Nigeria and a significant leap forward for Africas energy sector. It reflects Nigerias enduring influence and leadership in energy matters, and it affirms the continents collective aspiration for energy security and sustainable development. As Nigeria takes on the mantle of hosting the AEB, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources will undoubtedly continue to champion initiatives that drive the continent towards a prosperous and energy-secure future. On 22 January, 2024, Ambassador Nicholas Agbo Ella poured over heaps of files in his new office on the ninth floor of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Towers in Abuja. The edifice which houses the Ministry of Petroleum Resources symbolises Nigerias leadership of the oil and gas industry on the African continent. Mr Ella had just resumed duties as the permanent secretary of the Ministry without any handover note from his predecessor. However, the deadline for a crucial continental contest the hosting right for the Africa Energy Bank (AEB) headquarters was fast approaching. The $5 billion bank is a brainchild of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the African Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO), an 18-member oil producing organisation. The deadline for submission of Nigerias comment expressing interest to bid for the hosting right of the AEB headquarters was the midnight of 31 January, 2024. Standing on the ninth floor of the 11-storey NNPC Towers, Mr Ella pondered on the enormous task in front of him, following being sworn-in by President Bola Tinubu in November 2023 at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. As he ferreted through the files, Ella stumbled on a letter from the APPO to Nigeria announcing the opening of the bidding process for the energy bank. On 28 January 2024, three days to the deadline for Nigeria to indicate its interest in hosting the AEB, I stumbled on the document announcing the bidding process, he recalled during his 60th birthday in Abuja on Friday, 11 April. There was no handover note when Ambassador Ella took office as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry. Of the many accomplishments during his stay in office, the story of the Africa Energy Bank cannot be written without him, the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics at the Ministry, Usman Abdulkadir, echoed the enormity of the task of clinching the hosting right of the energy bank headquarters, when he said it was an impossible dream. 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 Walking into a hostile work environment where his predecessor was reluctant to relinquish office, Ella toiled to acquaint himself with issues in the petroleum ministry, in a bid to advance Nigerias policies in the energy industry. To beat the deadline, he reached out to the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Beatrice Jeddy-Agba, who got the legal instrument for Nigerias interest ready a day before the deadline. I reached for my phone and called the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Beatrice Jeddy-Agba, who got the legal instrument ready against all odds. By 11:30 p.m., on 31 January 2024, we put in Nigerias comment for the bid, Ambassador recalled to the applause of staff members and guests at the valedictory ceremony marking his exit from the Federal Civil Service of the Federation on 11 April. That was one of the several criteria for the bidding process. Subsequently, Nigeria, a founding member of APPO since 1987, went on to pay the subscription fee of $83 million, which was later increased to $100 million, effectively brightening its chances of a successful bidding process. Also, the Federal Government was to sign and ratify the Establishment Agreement for the siting of the bank in Nigeria, as well as identify the banks headquarters building and provide a piece of land for its permanent headquarters. Nigerias Bid: Strategic Positioning and Diplomatic Engagements While the preliminary issues were being addressed, the country faced the daunting task of lobbying other APPO member states for support against Ghana, Algeria and Benin Republic, after South Africa and Ivory Coast failed to meet the criteria for the hosting of the AEB. Relying on his over three-decades foreign service experience, Mr Ella, a lawyer, unsuccessfully sought ministerial approval to deploy a special envoy to lobby the APPO member countries. Nigerias journey to securing the AEB Headquarters was characterised by a series of strategic diplomatic engagements, negotiations, and lobbying efforts led by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources. As the largest oil producer in Africa, the country holds a significant position in the global energy market and has consistently advocated for the development of Africas energy sector. Nigerias bid to host the AEB was seen as a natural step, aligning with its broader goals of promoting local content, increasing investments in the oil and gas sector, and advancing energy transition initiatives. Mr Ella, who currently chairs the executive board of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), headquartered in Doha, Qatar, spearheaded Nigerias bid, drawing on his extensive experience in diplomacy and relationships with key players in the energy sector across the continent. The Ministry utilised diplomatic channels to reach out to APPO member states, leveraging Nigerias long-standing relationships with other oil-producing countries and emphasising the countrys track record in managing energy resources, infrastructure, and financial institutions. Nigerias bid was further strengthened by its demonstrated commitment to energy sector reforms, particularly the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which provided a regulatory framework for the oil and gas industry, emphasising transparency, efficiency, and the development of midstream and downstream sectors. The PIAs provisions for the establishment of the Ministry of Petroleum Incorporated (MOPI) and restructuring of NNPC Limited also underscored Nigerias readiness to host a major financial institution such as the AEB, with assurances of robust regulatory support and a favourable investment climate. The Ministry of Petroleum Resources Role in the Winning Bid The Ministrys role in securing the AEB headquarters for Nigeria extended beyond diplomatic engagement. It orchestrated a comprehensive bid strategy, a move the immediate-past director of Upstream at the Ministry, Engineer Kamoru Busari, lauded Mr Ella for at the valedictory ceremony. The Ministry submitted a detailed proposal to APPO that highlighted Abujas strategic advantages as a central location in West Africa, offering accessibility and connectivity to other African nations. The proposal also outlined Nigerias energy policies, legal frameworks, and the benefits of situating the bank in a country with a rich energy infrastructure and a skilled workforce. The Ministry emphasised the countrys experience in hosting international institutions and events, reinforcing its capability to provide the necessary logistical and administrative support for the AEB. Nigeria, through the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, engaged in extensive lobbying efforts during APPO ministerial meetings and bilateral engagements. This included hosting high-level delegations and organising engagements that focused on the benefits of the AEB to Africas energy landscape, thereby garnering support from influential member states. The Ministrys diplomatic manoeuvres included collaboration with the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure that the countrys interests were well-articulated in regional discussions. The Ministry of Petroleum Resources also emphasised Nigerias push towards energy transition, highlighting initiatives such as the Decade of Gas, which aims to harness gas resources as a transitional fuel for sustainable energy. The AEBs role in financing energy projects was linked to supporting regional energy security and ensuring a just transition for African economies. Nigerias local content policy, which promotes indigenous participation in the oil and gas industry, was also presented as a model that could be scaled up through the activities of the AEB. The Ministry demonstrated Nigerias political commitment by securing the endorsement of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, who underscored the strategic importance of hosting the AEB for Nigeria and Africa. The Presidents support, combined with the Ministrys efforts, sent a strong signal of Nigerias resolve to lead in energy financing and policy formulation on the continent. Nigerias Victory and Its Significance In July 2024, APPO member states granted Nigeria the mandate to host the AEB Headquarters in Abuja. This victory represents more than just a symbolic achievement; it holds substantial implications for Nigeria, Africa, and the global energy sector. Hosting the AEB Headquarters in Abuja solidifies Nigerias status as a central player in Africas energy sector. It enhances Nigerias attractiveness as a destination for energy investments and provides the country with an opportunity to influence energy policies at a continental level. The establishment of the AEB in Nigeria is expected to create jobs, boost local businesses, and stimulate economic activities, particularly in sectors linked to energy finance and consultancy. The presence of a major financial institution will attract international companies and experts to Nigeria, leading to knowledge transfer and capacity building. The AEBs role in financing sustainable energy projects aligns with Nigerias Decade of Gas initiative and broader energy transition plans. Access to financing will enable the country to pursue renewable energy projects and gas infrastructure development, facilitating a move towards a cleaner energy mix. Significance for Africa The AEB is poised to play a crucial role in financing projects that enhance energy access across Africa, such as oil and gas infrastructure, renewable energy plants, and electricity transmission networks. This will contribute to regional energy security and support economic integration. The bank will provide a platform for African countries to collaborate on energy projects, leading to increased intra-African trade in energy commodities and services. It will also serve as a vehicle for channelling investments into the energy sector, thereby addressing funding gaps that have traditionally hindered energy development on the continent. The financing provided by the AEB will contribute to the achievement of the SDGs by promoting affordable and clean energy (Goal 7) and fostering economic growth and infrastructure development (Goal 9). The banks focus on sustainable energy projects will help Africa transition to a low-carbon future, in line with global climate commitments. Commending Mr Ellas stewardship at the Ministry, the chairman of the National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP), Mohammed Ibrahim, a professor, noted that the former vigorously championed the federal governments gas utilisation programme amongst rural communities in Nigeria as a cleaner energy source for cooking and industrialisation. The Road Ahead With Nigerias successful bid to host the AEB Headquarters, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources is now tasked with ensuring the smooth establishment and operationalisation of the bank. This involves facilitating the necessary infrastructure, securing legal and regulatory frameworks, and coordinating with APPO and other stakeholders to ensure that the banks objectives are met. The Ministry will also continue to play a pivotal role in mobilising resources, driving energy policies, and supporting the AEBs efforts in providing financial solutions tailored to Africas unique energy challenges. As the host country, Nigeria is expected to set the pace in promoting the AEBs mission and ensuring that the bank serves as a catalyst for the continents energy development and economic growth. The decision to establish the African Energy Banks Headquarters in Abuja marks a historic achievement for Nigeria and a significant leap forward for Africas energy sector. It reflects Nigerias enduring influence and leadership in energy matters, and it affirms the continents collective aspiration for energy security and sustainable development. As Nigeria takes on the mantle of hosting the AEB, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources will undoubtedly continue to champion initiatives that drive the continent towards a prosperous and energy-secure future. The establishment of the AEB will serve as a cornerstone in Africas journey towards harnessing its energy potential, creating economic opportunities, and transforming the lives of its people. The submissions of the APPO Secretary General, Dr Omar Farouk Ibrahim, at the Africa Energy Week held in Cape Town, South Africa in November 2024 and the recently held Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES) in Abuja eloquently captures the determination of the continent to tackle the challenges of financing oil and gas projects, technology and creating alternative markets for Africas oil and gas. John Ejekwonyilo Ameh wrote from Abuja. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print In a move aimed at strengthening the Kaduna State Civil Service and boosting service delivery, Governor Uba Sani has announced the appointment of three key officials into strategic positions within the states public service. The appointments, announced on Wednesday, include: Jummai Bako Head of Service; Ibrahim Balarabe Executive Secretary, Kaduna State Pension Bureau and Ali D Audu, a retired Police Commissioner as the Commander, Kaduna State Vigilance Service (KADVIS) Governor Sani, while congratulating the appointees, urged them to bring renewed energy, integrity, and commitment to their new roles. He charged them to leverage their experience in fulfilling their institutional mandates and wished them divine guidance as they undertake their duties. Profiles of the New Appointees Jummai Bako Head of Service Jummai Bako takes over from Habiba Anana Shekarau as the new Head of Service. Prior to her appointment, she served as Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Head of Service, overseeing Establishment, Management, and Training. An accomplished economist and administrator, Mrs Bako has held several key positions including Director of Budget and Director of Monitoring and Evaluation in the Planning and Budget Commission. She also served as a lecturer at the Bauchi State Polytechnic and held roles in the Kaduna State Ministries of Education and Local Government. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Mrs Bako is a member of several policy and development committees, including the Government-Citizens Engagement Committee under the Open Government Partnership (OGP), the Kaduna State Steering Committee on Social Investments, and the Board of the Kaduna State Roads Agency (KADRA). She holds an MBA from Kaduna State University, a B.Sc. in Economics from Bayero University, Kano, and a diploma in computer operations. She has participated in numerous professional trainings both locally and internationally. Ibrahim Balarabe Executive Secretary, Kaduna State Pension Bureau A seasoned financial expert, Ibrahim Mr Balarabe replaces Prof Salamatu Idris Isah as Executive Secretary of the Pension Bureau. He brings over three decades of experience in banking, pensions, and public service to his new role. Until his retirement in 2023, Mr Balarabe served as Executive Director (North) at Access Pensions Limited. He played a pioneering role in the development of the Contributory Pension Scheme in Nigeria and was instrumental in the growth of Sigma and Access Pensions, overseeing business development and investment operations. Mr Balarabe is an alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he earned degrees in Agriculture and Business Administration. He is also a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management. Ali D Audu Commander, Kaduna State Vigilance Service (KADVIS) A retired Commissioner of Police, Ali Audu steps in as the new Commander of KADVIS, succeeding Umar Ibrahim (rtd.). He brings extensive security experience, having served as Commissioner of Police in Kaduna State, Border Patrol, and the Police Mobile Force. Mr Audu is known for his expertise in professional policing, tactical operations, and strategic leadership. He has undergone specialized training in human rights, civil-military cooperation, and unit combat operations. Governor Sanis latest appointments are expected to inject new momentum into governance in Kaduna State, with emphasis on professionalism, transparency, and citizen-focused service delivery. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Jigawa State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF), is set to launch a mass immunisation campaign targeting over 1.9 million children in virus-prone border communities. Shehu Ibrahim, the states Programme Manager and Coordinator of the State Emergency Routine Immunisation Coordination Centre (SERICC), announced this during a UNICEF-organised media dialogue on Polio and Routine Immunisation on Thursday. Mr Ibrahim stated that the immunization campaign is scheduled to run from 26th to 29th April, followed by a two-day mop-up exercise across the targeted areas. He emphasised that stakeholders, including parents, caregivers, traditional leaders, and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), have been actively engaged to ensure the campaigns success and that every eligible child receives vaccination. Speaking at the event, Rahma Rihood Muhammed-Farah, Chief of UNICEF Field Office Kano (represented by Serekeberehan Seyoum Deres, Health Manager), highlighted that the campaign coincides with World Immunisation Week. Mr Muhammed-Farah revealed that in 2025, 18 cases of polio have been reported across 18 local government areas in nine states of Nigeria, with two of these cases occurring in the Hadejia and Sule Tankarkar LGAs of Jigawa State. He stressed that the campaign aims to halt the spread of the disease, emphasising that Polio knows no boundaries and spreads fast an outbreak in any country puts children in every country at risk. He further noted polios devastating impact as a leading cause of paralysis and potential death among children. Globally, he added, the immunisation of 3 billion people since 1988 has brought the disease close to eradication. 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 Despite this progress, Mr Muhammed-Farah cautioned that the fight is not over, including in Nigeria, because low vaccination rates are creating opportunities for polio outbreaks, as we are currently witnessing. He underscored the remarkable impact of vaccines, stating that they have saved an estimated 154 million lives in the last 50 years six lives every minute for five decades. He emphasised the collective responsibility in disease prevention, where individual immunisation contributes to community protection. We can stop outbreaks and eradicate polio. Ending polio and improving childrens survival starts with making sure all children have access to vaccines, Mr Muhammed-Farah asserted. UNICEF issued a strong call to action, urging the Jigawa State government, and indeed all states in Nigeria, to take urgent measures to halt polio outbreaks and ensure all children receive polio and other life-saving vaccines. Call to Action In a direct appeal, UNICEF specifically urged the Jigawa State Government to declare a state of emergency on polio and routine immunisation, including the release of dedicated counterpart funding. The organisation also called on local government chairmen and traditional/religious leaders to actively champion the campaign within their communities, ensuring maximum participation and success in eradicating polio from Jigawa State. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Police Command in Lagos State has debunked a publication in some newspapers dated 17 April, asserting that hundreds of Boko Haram suspects have been apprehended in Lagos. The commands spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, refuted this in a statement on Friday in Lagos. He said that following the publication, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Olohundare Jimoh, directed an immediate investigation into the report to ascertain the true position of the claim. The outcome of the investigation reveals that there is nowhere throughout Lagos State that the group mentioned in the report Boko Haram were seen or sighted or arrested. Furthermore, in the trailer park communities mentioned, the leaders, operators, and drivers in the indicated places in the report clarified to the police that there were no such elements of Boko Haram seen or arrested in those localities. The command, notwithstanding, deployed surveillance police detectives, the Lagos State Police Intelligence Department (SID), and other formations of the Force to the mentioned places for the purpose of verification of the claim. 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 No one confirmed the presence or arrest of such group members as reported in the write-up throughout Lagos State. Therefore, the report in its entirety is false, malicious, and ill-intended to cause fear and apprehension in the minds of the public, he said. Mr Hundeyin enjoined residents to disregard and discountenance the write-up as untrue. Members of the public are encouraged by the commissioner of police to go about their duties and other means of livelihood without fear or apprehension, he said. READ ALSO: Plateau govt orders investigation as 36 cows are killed by poison He enjoined the media not to allow the use of their publications to incite fake news and outright falsehoods that could jeopardise the peace and tranquillity being enjoyed in the state. The writer of the story is advised to verify facts and truth of any information before going to the press, he said. The spokesperson assured residents of their safety and the polices commitment to the protection of lives and property in the state. He encouraged residents to report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station or call the control room on 08063299264. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print ( Read 4843 Times) Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh In a heartfelt gesture of cultural pride and historical reverence, the Navneet Group of Institutions has announced the installation of a grand 12-feet tall, 3100 kg equestrian statue of the legendary warrior Maharana Pratap. The announcement was made by Professor Amarika Singh, Chairman of Navneet Group, who generously agreed to provide the land required for the installation. The proposal was initiated by the Maharana Pratap Memorial Campaign Committee, which formally requested space on the institutions premises for this historical tribute. Welcoming the proposal with great enthusiasm, Professor Singh remarked, It is a privilege for me to contribute to this noble cause. As someone who once served as Vice Chancellor of Mohanlal Sukhadia University in Udaipurthe sacred land of Maharana PratapI feel honored to facilitate the preservation of his legacy. Chandravir Singh Namana, President of the Maharana Pratap Memorial Campaign Committee, elaborated on the vision behind the project, stating, Our organization, the Royal Rural Development Institute, in collaboration with the public and with support from Navneet Group of Institutions, aims to install this statue at Bhadhawar, Azamgarh. We seek formal consent in the form of a no-objection or approval letter to move forward. He further emphasized that Maharana Pratap is not just a historical figure, but a symbol of unwavering courage, self-respect, and unityqualities that resonate with every Indian. The installation of his statue is expected to instill inspiration and a sense of unity across different sections of society. Professor Singh concluded by stating that Navneet Group is proud to play an active role in conserving this cultural heritage. The statue will also serve as a bridge for the youth, connecting them with stories of valor and sacrifice from Indias glorious past. The announcement has stirred a wave of appreciation within the local community. Residents have welcomed the decision with joy, expressing the need for more such initiatives that celebrate and sustain cultural values. The official date and details of the statue installation ceremony will soon be shared through local media channels. The statue of Maharana Pratap will not only stand as a monument of heroism but also as a guiding light for generations to come. Source : ( Read 3453 Times) Udaipur, The three-day international symposium on numismatics, jointly organized by the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Bhupal Nobles University, and the Academy of Numismatics and Sigillography, Indore, concluded with extensive deliberations and a city tour of Udaipurs historical sites by historians and numismatists on its final day. Addressing the valedictory ceremony as the chief guest, Rajya Sabha MP Shri Chunnilal Garasiya remarked, Among the many sources that help us understand history, coins hold a unique and important place. Though small in size, these coins contain within them the hidden secrets of history. Discovering and decoding these unknown currencies is the true task of numismatists. The organization of such an international symposium on an untouched subject by Bhupal Nobles University is truly commendable. Former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests of Rajasthan and thinker Dr. Venkatesh Sharma, attending as special guest, said, A seminar on coinssuch a unique and unconventional topicis indeed praiseworthy. There's a pressing need to explore coinage using modern research techniques. The youth should take interest in this field and bring forth the significance of Indian coinage to the global stage. Academic events like these introduce society to unexplored themes. Chairperson of Bhupal Nobles University, Colonel Prof. Shiv Singh Sarangdevot, in his presidential address, said that the study of coins is a specialized discipline and a vital source to understand the cultural traditions of India. The Department of History organizing such a scholarly gathering and fostering in-depth discussions on coinage is a commendable initiative, and such events must continue in the future. Welcoming the guests, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Dr. Shilpa Rathore, said the international seminar has concluded with meaningful insights and outcomes on the topic of coinage. Renowned numismatist Dr. Shashikant Bhatt shared his reflections on the three-day event, noting that the symposium offered new perspectives and significant findings. Organizing secretary Dr. Pankaj Ameta presented a detailed report of all sessions and activities, revealing that over 80 research papers were presented, leading to substantial discussion on historical findings through coin studies. Dr. Prashant Kulkarni and Girish Sharma also shared their experiences during the event. The dais was graced by Mohabbat Singh Rathore, Managing Director of Bhupal Nobles Institution; Rajendra Singh Jhala, Joint Secretary of Vidyapracharini Sabha; Shakti Singh Ranawat, Finance Minister; Executive members Kamleshwar Singh Sarangdevot, Kuldeep Singh Chundawat, and Mahendra Singh Rathore. Also in attendance were Dileep Singh Dudod, a member of the Vidyapracharini Sabha; prominent numismatists from across the country; and Dean of PG Studies, Dr. Premsingh Rawalot. Dr. Jyotiraditya Singh Bhati, Associate Dean, delivered the vote of thanks, while the program was skillfully compered by Dr. Anita Rathore. Source : ( Read 6514 Times) Kota, Rajasthan Artificial Intelligence is a fascinating illusion, but its use in research must be approached with utmost caution, said Dr. Deepak Kumar Shrivastava, Divisional Library President of Government Public Mandal Library, Kota. Addressing research scholars during a national webinar, he emphasized that every piece of information sourced through AI must be verified from trusted databases, as unverified data could undermine the credibility and hard work of researchers. Dr. Shrivastava was speaking as a resource person at the national webinar on Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence and Role of Library in Literature Review for Research, jointly organized by Brainware University (West Bengal), Internal Quality Assurance Cell, Library Professional Foundation (New Delhi), and the Center for Multidisciplinary Research Innovation. The event witnessed participation from over 600 attendees and was graced by esteemed dignitaries including Vice Chancellor Prof. Shankar Gangopadhyay, Research Director Dr. Rakhi, Conference Director Bandana Basu, Cheti Ghosh, and L.P.F. President Dr. Anil Jharotia. Dr. Shrivastava acknowledged that AI has simplified and accelerated the research process, but reminded that it remains merely an assistive tool. He stressed the need for scholars to exercise personal judgment and uphold ethical responsibility in using and sharing AI-generated information. Highlighting the evolving importance of libraries in todays research ecosystem, he remarked that libraries are the foundation for authenticated, verified, and ethically sourced information. Artificial Intelligence can be your assistant, not your guide, he stated, underlining the necessity of critically evaluating the origin, authenticity, and context of all research inputs. His lecture served as a beacon of inspiration, urging scholars to maintain research integrity through innovation, ethical practices, and judicious use of digital resources. Source : VIP guests were treated to a live performance by world-renowned Italian composer and pianist Ludovico Einaudi, whose captivating melodies set the tone for an evening of wonder. The celebration was made even more sensational with a striking display of 6,000 synchronised drones and pyrotechnics acting as a prelude for what was to come: a night filled with colour, excitement and thrill. Among the guests of honour were Hollywood celebrities Cate Blanchett, Brendan Fraser and Andrew Garfield, Marvel star Pom Klementieff and DC Comics Grant Gustin, Stranger Things' Natalia Dyer, music icon Swizz Beatz, spiritual leader Sadhguru and experimental music producer Flying Lotus. The renowned personalities joined creatives, leaders and visionaries from around the world to mark the launch of teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi. Visitors are invited to discover the ever-changing, immersive artworks that respond to their movement and presence, inviting them to explore, connect and create while ensuring that no two visits are the same. Located in the Saadiyat Cultural District, home to Louvre Abu Dhabi and other world-class institutions, the opening of teamLab phenomena Abu Dhabi further strengthens Abu Dhabi's position as a leading destination for arts and culture. About the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi: The Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) drives the sustainable growth of Abu Dhabi's culture and tourism sectors and its creative industries, fuelling economic progress and helping to achieve Abu Dhabi's wider global ambitions. By working in partnership with the organisations that define the emirate's position as a leading international destination, DCT Abu Dhabi strives to unite the ecosystem around a shared vision of the emirate's potential, coordinate effort and investment, deliver innovative solutions, and use the best tools, policies and systems to support the culture and tourism industries. DCT Abu Dhabi's vision is defined by the emirate's people, heritage and landscape. We work to enhance Abu Dhabi's status as a place of authenticity, innovation, and unparalleled experiences, represented by its living traditions of hospitality, pioneering initiatives and creative thought. For more information about the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi and the destination, please visit: dct.gov.ae and visitabudhabi.ae About teamLab teamLab (f. 2001) is an international art collective. Their collaborative practice seeks to navigate the confluence of art, science, technology, and the natural world. Through art, the interdisciplinary group of specialists, including artists, programmers, engineers, CG animators, mathematicians, and architects, aims to explore the relationship between the self and the world, and new forms of perception. In order to understand the world around them, people separate it into independent entities with perceived boundaries between them. teamLab seeks to transcend these boundaries in our perceptions of the world, of the relationship between the self and the world, and of the continuity of time. Everything exists in a long, fragile yet miraculous, borderless continuity. teamLab's works are in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne; Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney; Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide; National Gallery of Australia, Canberra; Amos Rex, Helsinki; Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles; Asian Art Museum, San Francisco; Borusan Contemporary Art Collection, Istanbul; and Asia Society Museum, New York, among others. Video - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2667959/Abu_Dhabi_Opens_the_Doors_to_Its_Newest_Cultural_landmark.mp4 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2667933/Andrew_Garfield_Cate_Blanchett.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2667934/Pom_Klementieff.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2667935/Ludovico_Einaudi.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2667937/teamLab_Phenomena_Abu_Dhabi.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2667938/teamLab_Phenomena_Abu_Dhabi.jpg SOURCE Experience Abu Dhabi; Saadiyat Cultural District; teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED Significant market inefficiencies have left over USD$30 billion of capital trapped in c.300 listed biotech companies worldwide that have experienced clinical or regulatory setbacks Fund provides efficient mechanism to help investors recoup and recycle trapped cash, while allowing residual science and IP to be developed Fund to be listed on public markets in due course Led by highly experienced industry and investment executives Annalisa Jenkins and Nicholas Johnston LONDON, April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Alis Biosciences ("Alis"), an investment fund focused on returning capital to investors that is currently trapped in listed, development-stage biotech companies, today formally launches. Founded by highly experienced industry and investment executives, Alis' goal is to protect public shareholders' funds while still supporting company management and boards. Currently, there are nearly 300 listed, development stage life sciences and biotech companies worldwide that have experienced clinical, regulatory or commercial setbacks. These have trapped capital worth over USD$30 billion on their balance sheets, with market caps ranging from USD$5 million to USD$100 million and cash reserves ranging from USD$10 million to USD$400 million. Alis offers public companies a range of innovative and adaptable structures to return capital to their shareholders, while providing a chance for any residual science and IP to be developed if appropriate. Alis will approach the board and management of each target company and mutually agree the optimum Alis structure to deploy. Alis will then seek to delist the company from the public market with the agreement of its shareholders in the normal way. Each delisted company's cash and IP will be held in individual Special Purpose Vehicles ("SPV") which are managed by Alis. Applicable cash will then be returned to shareholders immediately, with the IP either developed or sold using one of the following structures. Structure A returns most of the uncommitted cash to shareholders (e.g. 97%), with the company then sold back to certain shareholders or stakeholders who wish to further develop any residual science. Alis will retain a small stake with any upside from its stake shared across these shareholders. returns most of the uncommitted cash to shareholders (e.g. 97%), with the company then sold back to certain shareholders or stakeholders who wish to further develop any residual science. Alis will retain a small stake with any upside from its stake shared across these shareholders. Structure B returns the vast majority of uncommitted cash to shareholders (e.g. 95%), leaving just enough to manage the structured wind-down of the company. Alis keeps the IP associated with this company. This process will be far quicker than any bankruptcy process. In the near term, Alis will seek a public market listing that will allow it to offer a further Structure: Structure C leaves enough cash in the acquiring vehicle (e.g. 40% of cash balance), to allow Alis to fund further clinical programmes, with the remaining 60% of cash immediately returned to shareholders along with an equity interest in Alis. The proceeds from any clinical success will then be retained by participating contingent value rights and by retaining shares in Alis. Nicholas Johnston, Board Member and Founder of Alis Biosciences, commented: "We founded Alis Biosciences to alter the status quo, where tens of billions of dollars of investors' funds are trapped in moribund listed life sciences and biotech companies. Our highly experienced team work collaboratively with shareholders, management, and boards, to provide the optimum mechanism to return capital to shareholders, while also allowing stakeholders the option to further develop residual science and IP where there is potential to do so. This is too big a problem to ignore and Alis is committed to providing a fresh solution." Annalisa Jenkins, Chair of Alis Biosciences added: "In this challenging financial market environment, there is a need for greater creativity to find answers to this USD$30 billion problem. This needs to be solved if capital is to be effectively recycled within the capital market ecosystem to finance exciting new science that has the potential to succeed and deliver investor returns. "Public and private investors have expressed strong support for Alis Biosciences' tailored approach, reflecting demand for a new solution to this longstanding problem. We firmly believe that our highly experienced and scientifically knowledgeable investment team can not only help to return value to shareholders but also develop any viable residual science." Frequently, following a clinical or regulatory set back, publicly listed life sciences and biotech companies experience an often immediate and sharp decline in their stock price, coupled with the immediate and consequent loss of stock liquidity. This leaves cash on their balance sheet far in excess of their current market capitalisation, no commensurate growth or limited alternative near-term clinical development prospects of success, and no efficient and timely mechanism to return cash to shareholders. These companies often hope to develop another compound or product in their pipeline or merge with a private company, thereby heavily diluting shareholder equity. These alternatives typically have a very different investment case from the original programme, but investors are left with no option but to follow the direction of management or the board, while tens of millions of dollars of investor capital remains on the balance sheet. Even when a company files for bankruptcy, this process is time consuming and expensive, and further delays the return of any cash to shareholders while failing to adequately capture any residual value in the company's IP. About Alis Biosciences Alis Biosciences ("Alis") is an investment fund focused on returning capital to investors that is currently trapped in listed, development-stage biotech companies. Alis protects the interests of acquired company shareholders by providing a mechanism to return capital and resuscitate viable science, creating a novel and much-needed market safety net that may end up boosting investment in high tech healthcare. Significant market inefficiencies have left over USD$30 billion of capital trapped in c.300 biotechs all of which have experienced setbacks typically a failure in clinical trials of their lead programme or unsuccessful commercial launch. Following a sharp decline in their stock price, with the concurrent reduction in liquidity, these companies are left with cash on their balance sheet far in excess of their market capitalization, no commensurate growth or limited alternative near-term clinical development prospects of success; and importantly with no efficient and timely mechanism to return cash to shareholders. Alis has a highly experienced and scientifically knowledgeable team that works collaboratively with shareholders, management, and boards. It has a flexible approach, with different innovative structures, all adaptable, which provide a mechanism to return capital to shareholders, while also allowing stakeholders the option to further develop residual IP if enough stakeholders, in collaboration with external advisors, suggest there is potential. Multiomic analysis will be used to validate the residual IP within companies to determine whether a positive outcome is achievable. The feedback from this work, carried out over a relatively short period of time, will then be used to determine whether a different path forward is possible for any of the residual IP left within a particular company. For more information, please visit: www.alisbiosciences.com SOURCE Alis Biosciences SHENZHEN, China, April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Advancements in drone technology are transforming the way historical preservationists evaluate, restore, and safeguard cultural landmarks. From capturing high-resolution architectural details to providing critical data for restoration planning, drones have redefined precision and efficiency in the field of conservation. Two such sites benefiting from this technology are Limburg Cathedral in Germany and the Cowdray House Ruins in the United Kingdom. A New Era of Preservation Drones Revolutionizing Europe's Historical Preservation The Limburg Cathedral, a late Romanesque marvel constructed between 1180 and 1235, is a cultural gem with its iconic seven towers symbolizing the sacraments. However, maintaining such a complex structure presents unique challenges. Small pieces of plaster, roof tiles, and lead coverings have been deteriorating over time. "There is no comparable building anywhere in the world. With its seven towers, it crowns the city of Limburg like a jewel. It is a particular challenge to preserve this valuable cultural asset for posterity in the best possible way," said Brother Elmar, the cathedral sexton. Watch the Limburg Conservation Case Video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9jRliB46I8&ab_channel=DJIEnterprise With the support of advanced drone technology, experts like Philipp Matschoss from F7 Digital have been able to capture 3D models of the building's intricate design with unprecedented speed and precision. By combining drone imaging with laser scanning, teams have improved operational efficiency in surveying the cathedral by up to 70%. Across the English Channel, the Cowdray House Ruins, one of England's most significant Tudor-era landmarks, is undergoing similar preservation thanks to drones. The ruins, which hosted royal figures like Henry VIII and Elizabeth I before being gutted by a fire in 1793, now stand as a Grade I listed site under the care of the Cowdray Heritage Trust. View a Drone-based 3D Model of the Cowdray House Ruins: https://3dviewer.dji.com/s/306fd739-8cdf-447a-8b2b-55ce3e058a55 "High-resolution aerial imagery and 3D mapping capabilities assist in documenting the current state of the ruins, detecting structural vulnerabilities, and planning restoration work," commented a representative from the Cowdray Heritage Trust. The Role of DJI Drones in Conservation At the forefront of these efforts are DJI's enterprise drones like the Matrice 4 series . Equipped with mechanical shutters, multi-sensor imaging, and Smart 3D Capture modes, these drones simplify the creation of precise models while reducing the need for lengthy on-site work. With advanced omnidirectional sensing and AI-powered operations, these drones ensure detailed mapping even in low-light or hard-to-reach areas. Here's why they are becoming indispensable tools for conservationists worldwide: Non-Invasive Data Collection : Drones allow teams to document architectural details contact-free, reducing the risk of damage. : Drones allow teams to document architectural details contact-free, reducing the risk of damage. Efficiency : Compared to traditional methods, drones save up to 70% of the time required for documentation. : Compared to traditional methods, drones save up to 70% of the time required for documentation. Comprehensive Views : From 3D modeling to aerial photography and thermal imagery, drones provide a complete view of structures from every angle. : From 3D modeling to aerial photography and thermal imagery, drones provide a complete view of structures from every angle. Safety: Surveyors can analyze hard-to-reach areas without putting themselves in danger. The technology not only provides valuable tools for capturing architectural nuance but also enhances collaboration by offering data for virtual 3D reconstructions. These reconstructions play a critical role in engaging the public and stakeholders, further emphasizing cultural heritage's significance. Drones like DJI's Matrice 4E are set to transform conservation efforts with advanced features. We are already seeing how models can integrate AI-driven diagnostics for real-time insights, reduce costs by minimizing manual labor, and streamline data analysis through tools like DJI Terra for 3D modeling and preservation planning. Europe's cultural heritage is incredibly diverse, from medieval cathedrals to Tudor ruins, and preserving these treasures requires balancing tradition with innovation. By leveraging drones like the Matrice 4E, we can honor the craftsmanship of the past while using technology to secure these wonders for future generations. Explore how the Matrice 4E can support your preservation projects with speed, precision, and innovation. Discover more here . Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2668234/Drones_Revolutionizing_Europe_Historical_Preservation.jpg SHANGHAI, April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Asieris Pharmaceuticals today released its 2024 Annual Report, highlighting a bold and determined journey forward. With a specialty pharma strategy and operational efficiency, the company exceeded its commercialization targets and advanced its innovative products APL-1702 and APL-1706 (Hexvix) toward market launch. R&D efforts also gained strong momentum, with 12 products in the pipeline and 16 ongoing research projects. As of the end of the reporting period, Asieris held approximately RMB 1.89 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and trading financial assets, providing a solid foundation for continued growth. Revenue Tops RMB 200M in 1st Year of Commercialization, with the specialized commercialization platform poised for action 2024 marked Asieris' first full year of commercialization. The company has made strides in refining market strategies and ensuring high-quality execution, while effectively managing costs and expenses. Asieris posted operating revenue of RMB 202 million, demonstrating robust growth and successfully reaching break-even targets in commercial operations. During the reporting period, the company's two commercialized products, Ouyoubi and Dipaite, saw strong uptake, reaching over 1,000 and 500 target hospitals respectively. Sales grew rapidly, with Ouyoubi capturing 27% of the neratinib tablet market and Dipaite securing 12% of the pazopanib tablet market. To further strengthen its presence in key focus areas, the company introduced multiple products and established sales partnerships in women's health and genitourinary (GU) tumors. In March 2025, it licensed-in the eribulin mesylate injection, a novel microtubule inhibitor for the treatment of advanced breast cancer. With this addition, the company's breast cancer portfolio now covers both early and late-stage disease. To further enhance commercialization efficiency, the company has launched its Commercial Operation 2.0 building on past successes to create a leaner, more agile operating model. Key initiatives include appointing a seasoned Chief Commercial Officer to lead the function end-to-end; streamlining the organizational structure and strengthening commercial capabilities; and strategically expanding the team in line with priority areas and product launch timelines. The company has also set clear five-year business targets, including accelerating growth for existing products, preparing for the commercial rollout of Hexvix and APL-1702, introducing new products within core therapeutic areas, maximizing synergies across the pipeline, and driving sales efficiency to the next level. Accelerating product launches to build momentum for sales In women's health, APL-1702, a combination of drug and medical device designed for photodynamic non-surgical treatment of cervical high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL), is making steady progress toward market approval. In May 2024, the product's marketing application was officially accepted by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). As of the report's release, the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE), NMPA had completed the first round of technical reviews, covering toxicology, clinical data, biostatistics, clinical pharmacology, and pharmaceutical quality. During the reporting period, the Inspection Center also wrapped up its Good Clinical Practice (GCP) inspection. The company has since received written feedback and is actively coordinating its responses to help expedite the review process and bring APL-1702 one step closer to approval. As a first-in-class treatment set to debut in China, APL-1702 is on track to become the world's first non-invasive therapy for HSIL supported by robust clinical evidence and validated through an international Phase III trial. Experts note that, with China facing demographic pressures and a rising incidence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) among younger women, surgical excision of the cervix poses increasing challenges especially during the critical period of fertility preservation. APL-1702 is expected to bridge this critical treatment gap and contribute to the creation of a more fertility-friendly healthcare landscape. To drive the commercialization of APL-1702, the company has hosted eight expert advisory meetings, focusing on Phase III clinical data, the current landscape of HSIL diagnosis and treatment, and unmet clinical needs. These sessions earned strong endorsement from leading gynecological and pharmaceutical experts, who recognized the innovation and clinical value APL-1702 brings to the table. The company has also made meaningful progress in building strategic partnerships with government agencies and leading academic associations. In collaboration with the Cancer Foundation of China, the company unveiled the first real-world showcase of its innovative cervical cancer prevention and control system at the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE). It also signed medium- to long-term strategic cooperation agreements with both the China Women's Development Foundation and the Cancer Foundation of China during the event. The partnerships are set to roll out in 2025. The Women's Health Division has conducted extensive market and industry research, gaining deep insights into the needs of doctors and patients and broader commercial landscape. Based on this analysis, the team has finalized key launch strategies and mapped out a commercialization roadmap, laying the groundwork for a swift market rollout once approval is secured. Given the relative scarcity of innovation in the gynecological field, APL-1702 stands out as a meaningful breakthrough, backed by solid clinical evidence and proven efficacy. The company will continue to prioritize APL-1702 and its photodynamic drug-device combination platform, in a bid to build a comprehensive, tiered gynecological portfolio. This strategy will center on product iteration and indication expansion, while leveraging synergies across the pipeline to drive broader growth. In urological tumors, after the marketing application for Hexvix was accepted in November 2023, the company's dynamic and highly skilled team sprang into action to support the review and approval process. As a result, Hexvix received NMPA approval in November 2024, seven months ahead of the expected timeline. The product has since made history as the first diagnostic imaging agent approved in China for photodynamic blue light cystoscopy in bladder cancer detection. The Oncology Business Unit is fine-tuning the launch strategy for Hexvix, initially targeting patients with commercial insurance or those willing to pay out-of-pocket. The early rollout will cover the special and international medical departments of top-tier hospitals in major cities, as well as premium foreign-invested and private urology specialty hospitals. As clinical guidelines are released and endorsements from leading urology experts are established, the launch will be paired with the introduction of disposable blue light cystoscopes. Together, these efforts aim to accelerate the adoption of blue light cystoscopy in general hospitals and foster an integrated approach to the diagnosis and treatment of bladder cancer. Focusing on strategic expansion in key areas and fast-tracking high-impact R&D initiatives Aligned with its strategic vision, Asieris has made significant strides in clinical development in 2024, with its global clinical initiatives progressing efficiently. In the fields of women's health, breast cancer, and gynecological tumors, Asieris has made remarkable progress. Building on the strong results of the international multicenter Phase III study of APL-1702, the company received feedback from its communication meeting with the U.S. FDA in December 2024, culminating in an agreement on a new Phase III clinical design to support the U.S. launch of APL-1702. Asieris is now actively seeking international partners to advance the U.S. Phase III clinical trial application. Additionally, APL-1702 is also being investigated for its potential in HPV virus clearance. Meanwhile, the U.S. FDA and China's NMPA approved the Phase I/IIa clinical trial applications for APL-2302 (a USP1 small molecule inhibitor) in advanced solid tumors in October 2024 and January 2025, respectively, with the first patient enrolled in Phase Ia in March 2025. Progress on APL-2501 (CLDN6/9 ADC) is also on track, with its preclinical research and unique linker platform selected for a poster presentation at the 2025 American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting (AACR 2025). In the field of urologic oncology, the Phase II clinical trial of oral APL-1202 in combination with tislelizumab as a neoadjuvant therapy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) was successfully completed in September 2024, delivering encouraging efficacy signals. Among protocol-eligible patients, the pathological complete response (pCR) rates were 41% for the combination arm versus 20% for monotherapy. The combination was particularly effective in patients with low PD-L1 expression, where it achieved a pCR rate of 42% compared to just 11% with monotherapy. Meanwhile, APL-2401 a dual FGFR2/3 small molecule inhibitor has entered IND-enabling studies, with its findings selected for a poster presentation at AACR 2025. In addition, the investigational new drug (IND) application for APL-1202 in the treatment of free-living amoebae (FLA) infections was approved by the NMPA in June 2024. In January 2025, the company signed an investigational drug supply agreement under the Expanded Access IND Program with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States for APL-1202, subject to evaluation by CDC experts, to be used for treating FLA infections. Dr. Kevin Pan, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Asieris Pharmaceuticals, commented, "2024 marks our first full year of commercialization. We delivered strong growth across our marketed products and reached a milestone by breaking even in our commercial operations. Our pipeline is entering a critical sprint toward market launch and is set to power the next wave of performance growth. While reinforcing our commercial capabilities, we're also accelerating clinical programs with a strategic focus on women's health and urological oncology. We're building a robust pipeline of first-in-class and highly-differentiated fast-follow therapies, while actively expanding into global markets to unlock the full value of our assets. With relentless innovation and execution, we are confident that Asieris will continue to make a meaningful difference for patients, deliver solid returns to shareholders, and create lasting value for society." Note: As of the date of this publication, APL-1702 has not been approved for the treatment of cervical high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL). This article is intended to disclose the latest development of these products, not to serve as a promotional advertisement for the products. The relevant information is not intended for patients but is provided solely for the reference of healthcare professionals. If you like to learn more about these diseases, please consult healthcare professionals. SOURCE Asieris Settlement Funds will Support Efforts by Nation's Largest Nonprofit Dedicated to Youth Vaping Prevention to Launch "EX Program" Campaign Statewide CHICAGO, April 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced $24 million from the 2023 Juul Labs settlement will support efforts by Truth Initiative, the country's largest nonprofit public health organization dedicated to preventing youth and young adult nicotine use and addiction, to provide Illinois youth with vital resources for vaping prevention and cessation through Truth Initiative's EX Program, the Vaping: Know the Truth curriculum, and a targeted media campaign. Truth Initiative's EX Program is an evidence-based quitting resource developed in 2008 by Truth Initiative with Mayo Clinic. EX Program can increase the odds of quitting nicotine by up to 40%, by offering young people personalized digital quitting support accessible via their phones, internet and social media that is tailored to their lifestyle. "E-cigarette use is an ongoing epidemic among youth in Illinois as flavored, disposable vaping products that appeal to teens and youth have flooded the market nationwide," Raoul said. "The sale of flavored vaping products continues to be a problem throughout the state and nation, and I appreciate Truth Initiative educating Illinois youth on the dangers of vaping while empowering them to live healthier, vape-free lives through its EX Program." Truth Initiative is the nation's largest nonprofit public health organization dedicated to preventing youth and young adult nicotine addiction and empowering all to quit. The organization will launch a media campaign specifically designed to educate Illinois youth and young adults on the harms of vaping, increase awareness of available resources and drive enrollment in the EX Program. Additionally, as part of this initiative, Illinois schools will receive access to "Vaping: Know the Truth" curriculum, which is a self-led prevention and cessation education program created by Truth Initiative and Kaiser Permanente, in collaboration with the American Heart Association. The curriculum will be delivered through EVERFI, a technology company that drives social impact through education, and will provide interactive modules designed specifically for middle and high school students to lead vape-free lives and support peers in quitting nicotine. "This settlement with JUUL presents a pivotal opportunity to redirect funds toward evidence-based programs that empower young people to quit vaping and prevent future addiction," said Kathy Crosby, CEO and President of Truth Initiative. "We commend Attorney General Raoul for his strong leadership in confronting the youth vaping crisis and his commitment to strategically directing settlement funds to maximize their impact. We're proud to partner with the Illinois Attorney General to help end the youth vaping epidemic and create a healthier, tobacco-free future." To promote awareness and engagement, Truth Initiative will also host college and university campus-based events, including at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Knox College in Galesburg. These events will foster a culture of quitting, encouraging students to enroll in the EX Program or support friends looking to quit. Young adult advocates will also share firsthand experiences about the risks of vaping and the benefits of quitting. Truth Initiative's mission is to prevent youth and young adult nicotine addiction and ensure individuals have access to resources that will help them quit. Through its EX Program and national public education and prevention campaigns, they lead the fight against youth and young adult tobacco use. Its scientific research and policy studies, community and youth engagement programs supporting populations at high risk of using tobacco, and innovation in tobacco-dependence treatment continue to contribute to ending this critical public health battle. The EX Program is a proven-effective tobacco cessation program that brings together evidence-based quitting approaches, interactive digital quitting programs and an established online quitting community. EX Program has helped millions of youth and adults develop the skills and confidence to successfully quit. Young adults ready to quit nicotine can join the movement by texting VAPEFREEIL to 88709 or visiting the program's website to start their journey toward freedom from nicotine. This project stems from Attorney General Raoul's longstanding work to combat youth e-cigarette use and hold e-cigarette manufacturers accountable for the epidemic of use among youth and teens. As part of this work, Raoul filed suit in 2019 against one of the largest e-cigarette manufacturers, Juul Labs Inc., alleging the company intentionally marketed its harmful products to minors. As a result, Raoul, along with six other attorneys general, secured a $462 million settlement with Juul. Settlement funding to Illinois will make this statewide initiative possible. SOURCE Office of the Illinois Attorney General; Truth Initiative Funds will deploy EX Program and prevention curriculum for Illinois youth, to reduce nicotine addiction and support quitting WASHINGTON, April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced on Monday that $24 million from the 2023 Juul Labs settlement will support efforts by Truth Initiative, the country's largest nonprofit public health organization dedicated to preventing youth and young adult nicotine use and addiction, to provide Illinois youth with vital resources for vaping prevention and cessation through Truth Initiative's EX Program, the Vaping: Know the Truth curriculum, and a targeted media campaign. Truth Initiative's EX Program is an evidence-based quitting resource developed in 2008 by Truth Initiative with Mayo Clinic. EX Program can increase the odds of quitting nicotine by up to 40%, by offering young people personalized digital quitting support accessible via their phones, internet and social media that is tailored to their lifestyle. "E-cigarette use is an ongoing epidemic among youth in Illinois as flavored, disposable vaping products that appeal to teens and youth have flooded the market nationwide," Raoul said. "The sale of flavored vaping products continues to be a problem throughout the state and nation, and I appreciate Truth Initiative educating Illinois youth on the dangers of vaping while empowering them to live healthier, vape-free lives through its EX Program." Truth Initiative is the nation's largest nonprofit public health organization dedicated to preventing youth and young adult nicotine addiction and empowering all to quit. The organization will launch a media campaign specifically designed to educate Illinois youth and young adults on the harms of vaping, increase awareness of available resources and drive enrollment in the EX Program. Additionally, as part of this initiative, Illinois schools will receive access to "Vaping: Know the Truth" curriculum, which is a self-led prevention and cessation education program created by Truth Initiative and Kaiser Permanente, in collaboration with the American Heart Association. The curriculum will be delivered through EVERFI, a technology company that drives social impact through education, and will provide interactive modules designed specifically for middle and high school students to lead vape-free lives and support peers in quitting nicotine. "This settlement with JUUL presents a pivotal opportunity to redirect funds toward evidence-based programs that empower young people to quit vaping and prevent future addiction," said Kathy Crosby, CEO and President of Truth Initiative. "We commend Attorney General Raoul for his strong leadership in confronting the youth vaping crisis and his commitment to strategically directing settlement funds to maximize their impact. We're proud to partner with the Illinois Attorney General to help end the youth vaping epidemic and create a healthier, tobacco-free future." To promote awareness and engagement, Truth Initiative will also host college and university campus-based events, including at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Knox College in Galesburg. These events will foster a culture of quitting, encouraging students to enroll in the EX Program or support friends looking to quit. Young adult advocates will also share firsthand experiences about the risks of vaping and the benefits of quitting. Truth Initiative's mission is to prevent youth and young adult nicotine addiction and ensure individuals have access to resources that will help them quit. Through its EX Program and national public education and prevention campaigns, they lead the fight against youth and young adult tobacco use. Its scientific research and policy studies, community and youth engagement programs supporting populations at high risk of using tobacco, and innovation in tobacco-dependence treatment continue to contribute to ending this critical public health battle. The EX Program is a proven-effective tobacco cessation program that brings together evidence-based quitting approaches, interactive digital quitting programs and an established online quitting community. EX Program has helped millions of youth and adults develop the skills and confidence to successfully quit. Young adults ready to quit nicotine can join the movement by texting VAPEFREEIL to 88709 or visiting the program's website to start their journey toward freedom from nicotine. This project stems from Attorney General Raoul's longstanding work to combat youth e-cigarette use and hold e-cigarette manufacturers accountable for the epidemic of use among youth and teens. As part of this work, Raoul filed suit in 2019 against one of the largest e-cigarette manufacturers, Juul Labs Inc., alleging the company intentionally marketed its harmful products to minors. As a result, Raoul, along with six other attorneys general, secured a $462 million settlement with Juul. Settlement funding to Illinois will make this statewide initiative possible. SOURCE Truth Initiative Riverview Restaurant - Now Revell Hall BURLINGTON CITY, N.J. , April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Riverview Restaurant & Bar, located at 219 High Street in Burlington, New Jersey, has been sold, as confirmed by Bob Gillis, a real estate salesperson with Bielat Santore & Company, Allenhurst, New Jersey. This multi-level establishment, situated in the heart of the picturesque and historic Burlington City Opportunity Zone, offers stunning views of the Delaware Riverfront. It underwent a comprehensive renovation in 2016. After a successful tenure and navigating the challenges posed by Covid, Riverview's owner decided to embark on a new career path and enlisted Mr. Gillis to identify a capable group that could elevate the restaurant to new heights. This was no small feat, as the expansive 10,000 square foot venue features two dining rooms with barsone upstairs and one downstairsa sunroom, a lounge, a meeting room, and a large outdoor courtyard. Leveraging his contact network and his firm's 45 years of experience in connecting qualified buyers, Gillis successfully found the ideal group to acquire the restaurant, which includes a world-renowned chef, an internationally seasoned front-of-house manager, and a financially savvy entrepreneur. The Riverview Restaurant & Bar, Burlington, New Jersey The new restaurant named REVELL HALL is planning to open in June 2025. This cross-cultural, chef-driven dining destination will seamlessly blend global flavors with local charm, all set against the historic backdrop of the Delaware River in the Burlington City Historic District. Advanced yet approachable, the restaurant will combine refined culinary techniques with warmth and soul, celebrating both seasonality and storytelling. At its core, Revell Hall will focus on connectionbetween cultures, people, ingredients, and experiences. The name itself pays homage to the past, while the cuisine embodies evolution and exploration. Revell Hall is envisioned as a dynamic venue that seamlessly combines a lively bar and lounge, an upscale a la carte restaurant, and a versatile event space. It is equipped to host a wide range of occasions, from weddings to private gatherings and corporate events. This concept is crafted to provide a rich array of experiences all under one roof, ensuring exceptional hospitality in both casual and festive environments. Whether guests seek cocktails and light bites, a comprehensive dining experience, or a memorable event, Revell Hall is designed to enhance and elevate every occasion. REVELL HALL a unique dining experience SOURCE Bielat, Santore and Company CGTN published an article highlighting how Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit has promoted the ironclad friendship between China and Cambodia, the fruitful results in economic and trade cooperation between the two countries, and how cultural exchanges boost China-Cambodia ties. BEIJING, April 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- China and Cambodia set a model for equality, mutual trust and win-win cooperation between countries of different sizes, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday while meeting with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni during his state visit to Cambodia. Xi said he believes Chinese modernization will bring more opportunities to neighboring countries, including Cambodia, noting that building a China-Cambodia community with a shared future is a choice of history and the people. China-Cambodia relations have withstood the test of global transformations and have always remained rock-solid. The bilateral ties were forged and nurtured by the older generation of leaders of the two countries. In February 2023, during the then Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's visit to China, the two sides agreed to develop a "diamond cooperation framework" with six priority areas: political cooperation, production capacity and quality, agriculture, energy, security, and people-to-people exchanges. In September 2023, Hun Manet chose China as his first official overseas destination after assuming office as Cambodia's prime minister. During his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Hun Manet pledged to further carry forward the ironclad friendship between Cambodia and China. In May 2024, a road in Phnom Penh was named "Xi Jinping Boulevard" by the Royal Government of Cambodia to honor the Chinese leader's historic contributions to the country's development. At the naming ceremony, Hun Manet highlighted that bilateral ties have entered their best period in history under the leadership and joint efforts of Xi and Cambodian leaders. Fruitful results in economic and trade cooperation First, two-way trade has expanded remarkably thanks to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) free trade deal and the China-Cambodia Free Trade Agreement (FTA). China has been Cambodia's largest trading partner for 13 consecutive years. And in 2024, two-way trade reached $17.83 billion, up by 20.7 percent year-on-year. The approval for high-quality Cambodian agricultural and fishery products such as rice, bananas, mangoes, longans, coconuts and basa fish to enter the Chinese market has not only graced the dining tables of Chinese consumers but also boosted the incomes of Cambodian people. Second, investment cooperation has continued to deepen. China has remained Cambodia's largest source of foreign investment for 13 consecutive years, with investments spanning a wide range of sectors, including transportation, power, agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, special economic zones, as well as information and communications technology, characterized by extensive coverage, large scale and strong results. About 95.4 percent of the Cambodian respondents have a positive attitude toward Chinese companies investing or operating in Cambodia. And 95 percent believe that China has made positive contributions to the development of the world economy, according to a recent CGTN poll. Cultural exchanges boost China-Cambodia ties In addition to political and economic cooperation, the two countries have set an example in conducting cultural exchanges, which not only strengthen mutual understanding but also draw closer bonds between the two peoples. China-Cambodia people-to-people exchanges, as a key pillar of China-Cambodia friendship and cooperation, were boosted by the China-Cambodia People-to-People Exchange Year 2024. Over the years, the medical cooperation programs, including "Love Heart Journey," "Bright Journey" and "Smile Journey," have provided quality health care service to grassroots populations in more than 20 Cambodian provinces and cities. As a cultural bridge between the two countries, the Confucius Institute has also provided free Chinese courses to more than 100,000 Cambodian learners since its establishment in Cambodia in 2009. The cultural exchanges between the two countries are expected to continue to expand under the guidance of the China-proposed Global Civilization Initiative, which will benefit areas ranging from culture, youth, media, think tanks, tourism, and technology to healthcare and cultural relics restoration. "Let us have more frequent people-to-people exchanges. We should uphold solidarity and harmony, have more cultural dialogues, increase experience sharing on state governance, expand diverse forms of cooperation in areas of culture, tourism, youth exchange and protection and restoration of cultural heritages, and promote people-to-people connectivity," Xi said in a signed article ahead of his arrival in Cambodia for a state visit. https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-04-17/Head-of-state-diplomacy-promotes-China-Cambodia-ironclad-friendship--1CE47UnGmt2/p.html SOURCE CGTN GUANGZHOU, China, April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- CNFinance Holdings Limited (NYSE: CNF) ("CNFinance" or the "Company"), a leading home equity loan service provider in China, today announced that it has received a letter from the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") dated April 7, 2025, notifying the Company that it is below compliance standards due to the trading price of CNFinance's American depositary shares (the "ADSs"). The notice has no immediate impact on the listing of the Company's ADSs, which will continue to be listed and traded on the NYSE, subject to the Company's compliance with other listing standards and other rights of the NYSE to delist the ADSs. The NYSE notification does not affect the Company's business operations, its U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission reporting requirements, or contractual obligations. Pursuant to Section 802.01C of the NYSE Listed Company Manual, a company will be considered to be below compliance standards if the average closing price of its security as reported on the consolidated tape is less than US$1.00 over a consecutive 30 trading-day period. Once notified by the NYSE, the Company must bring its security price and average security price back above US$1.00 by six months (the "Cure Period") following receipt of the notification. The Company can regain compliance at any time during the Cure Period if on the last trading day of any calendar month during the Cure Period the Company's ADSs have a closing price of at least US$1.00 per ADS and an average closing price of at least US$1.00 per ADS over the 30 trading-day period ending on the last trading day of that month. In the event that at the expiration of the Cure Period, both a US$1.00 per ADS closing price on the last trading day of the Cure Period and a US$1.00 per ADS average closing price over the 30 trading-day period ending on the last trading day of the Cure Period are not attained, the NYSE will commence suspension and delisting procedures. To address this issue, CNFinance intends to monitor the market conditions of its listed ADSs and is considering its options. As required by the NYSE Listed Company Manual, the Company expects to notify the NYSE of its intent to cure its ADS trading price deficiency within the applicable time period required by the NYSE. About CNFinance Holdings Limited CNFinance Holdings Limited (NYSE: CNF) ("CNFinance" or the "Company") is a leading home equity loan service provider in China. CNFinance, through its operating subsidiaries in China, conducts business by connecting demands and supplies through collaborating with sales partners and trust companies under the trust lending model, and sales partners, local channel partners and commercial banks under the commercial bank partnership model. Sales partners and local channel partners are responsible for recommending micro- and small-enterprise ("MSE") owners with financing needs to the Company and the Company introduces eligible borrowers to licensed financial institutions with sufficient funding sources including trust companies and commercial banks who will then conduct their own risk assessments and make credit decisions. The Company's primary target borrower segment is MSE owners who own real properties in Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities and other major cities in China. The Company's risk mitigation mechanism is embedded in the design of its loan products, supported by an integrated online and offline process focusing on risks of both borrowers and collateral and further enhanced by effective post-loan management procedures. SOURCE CNFinance Holdings Limited ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Debuting in the venture capital podcasting space, the Emerging Managers Podcast breaks ground covering an in-depth exploration of the often-overlooked landscape of first fund venture capital firms. Hosted by seasoned investor Scott Kelly of Black Dog Venture Partners and Podetize Founder, Tracy Hazzard, this series aims to shed light on the 1,800+ emerging fund managers who are driving innovation and delivering exceptional returns, yet often remain hidden from mainstream attention. In a venture capital ecosystem where 70-80% of capital flows to a select few established funds, the "Emerging Managers Podcast" seeks to recalibrate the narrative. The podcast dives deep into the unique stories, investment theses, and operational strategies of these emerging fund managers, providing valuable insights for Limited Partners (LPs), angel investors, and entrepreneurs alike. "We've identified a critical disparity in the VC landscape," states Scott Kelly. "While the lion's share of capital is concentrated in a small number of mega-funds, our research and conversations reveal that emerging managers are frequently outperforming these giants in terms of alpha and innovation. These are the funds driving the future, and they deserve a larger platform and greater LP engagement." Tracy Hazzard adds, "This podcast is about more than just investments; it's about building trust and fostering connections. By sharing the personal journeys and strategic visions of these fund managers, we aim to demystify the "fund one" experience and create a more equitable playing field. We believe that transparency and dialogue are crucial for the industry's growth and evolution." The "Emerging Managers Podcast" will feature interviews with a diverse array of fund managers from across the globe, covering various sectors and investment strategies and topics such as: Origin Stories: How these emerging managers transitioned from entrepreneurs or angel investors to launching their own funds. How these emerging managers transitioned from entrepreneurs or angel investors to launching their own funds. Investment Theses: The specific sectors and technologies these funds are targeting, and why they are outperforming their competition. The specific sectors and technologies these funds are targeting, and why they are outperforming their competition. Operational Challenges: The hurdles faced by emerging managers in fundraising, deal flow, and portfolio management and getting beyond that first fund. The hurdles faced by emerging managers in fundraising, deal flow, and portfolio management and getting beyond that first fund. LP Engagement: Strategies for building relationships with LPs and securing more credibility and capital. Strategies for building relationships with LPs and securing more credibility and capital. Market Trends: How emerging managers are navigating the current VC landscape and adapting to changing market conditions. "Our goal is to provide a comprehensive and unbiased look at the emerging manager space," Kelly explains. "We'll be asking the tough questions and getting to the heart of what makes these funds tick. We want to be a resource for anyone looking to understand and engage with this vital segment of the venture capital industry." The "Emerging Managers Podcast" is available on Apple, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms, including YouTube. About Scott Kelly & Black Dog Venture Partners: With over three decades of experience working with both entrepreneurs and investors, Scott Kelly is the CEO of business accelerator Black Dog Venture Partners and founder of VC Fast Pitch. He leverages his innovative skills, extensive experience training thousands of salespeople, and vast network of investors to help founders and investors sustain and scale innovation. Kelly is well known for organizing and hosting monthly investor-founder matchmaking events. About Tracy Hazzard & Podetize: Tracy Hazzard is a leading authority in podcasting and media with experience as a speaker, podcaster, and Inc. Innovation columnist, as well as a successful female AI tech founder. As Co-Founder and Director of Applied AI for Podetize, the largest podcast post-production company for independent podcasters and networks, Hazzard provides insights into the intersection of technology, marketing, and media. Contact: Scott Kelly [email protected] Photo(s): https://www.prlog.org/13072262 Press release distributed by PRLog SOURCE Black Dog Venture Partners BIRMINGHAM, Ala., and ST. GEORGE, Utah, April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Encompass Health Corp. (NYSE: EHC) today announced preliminary plans to build a freestanding, 50-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital in St. George, Utah. The hospital will serve patients recovering from debilitating illnesses and injuries, including strokes and other neurological disorders, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations and complex orthopedic conditions. In addition to 24-hour nursing care, the hospital will offer physical, occupational and speech therapies to restore functional ability and quality of life. Care will be provided by highly specialized nurses, therapists and physicians. Encompass Health has announced plans to build a freestanding, 50-bed inpatient rehab hospital in St. George, Utah. Post this The hospital will feature private patient rooms, a spacious therapy gym with advanced rehabilitation technologies and an activities of daily living suite, in-house dialysis suite, dining room, pharmacy and therapy courtyard. "We are excited to expand Encompass Health's presence in Utah to serve patients in St. George and surrounding areas close to home," said Kim Steward, president of Encompass Health's West region. "We look forward to helping patients reach their rehabilitation goals by providing high-quality, compassionate and individualized care." The hospital, expected to open in 2027, will be part of Encompass Health's national network of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals and its second location in Utah. About Encompass Health Encompass Health (NYSE: EHC) is the largest owner and operator of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals in the United States. With a national footprint that includes 167 hospitals in 38 states and Puerto Rico, the Company provides high-quality, compassionate rehabilitative care for patients recovering from a major injury or illness, using advanced technology and innovative treatments to maximize recovery. Encompass Health is ranked as one of Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies, Becker's Hospital Review's 150 Top Places to Work in Healthcare and Forbes' Most Trusted Companies in America. For more information, visit encompasshealth.com, or follow us on our newsroom, X, Instagram and Facebook. From Fortune. 2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All rights reserved. Fortune is a registered trademark and Fortune World's Most Admired Companies is trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited and are used under license. Fortune and Fortune Media IP Limited are not affiliated with, and do not endorse products or services of, Encompass Health. From Forbes 2024 Forbes Media LLC. All rights reserved. Used under license. Forward-Looking Statements Statements contained in this press release which are not historical facts, such as those relating to the likelihood, timing and effects of the completion of this hospital project, are forward-looking statements. In addition, Encompass Health may from time to time make forward-looking public statements concerning the matters described herein. All such estimates, projections, and forward-looking information speak only as of the date hereof, and Encompass Health undertakes no duty to publicly update or revise such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Such forward-looking statements are necessarily estimates based upon current information and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Encompass Health's actual results or events may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors. While it is impossible to identify all such factors, factors which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated include, but are not limited to, the regulatory review and approval process, any adverse outcome of various lawsuits, claims, and legal or regulatory proceedings that may be brought by or against the Company; the possibility this project will experience unexpected delays or cost increases; the ability to successfully complete this project consistent with Encompass Health's growth strategy, including development and maintenance of relationships with referral sources; disease outbreaks, including the speed, depth, geographic reach and duration of the spread; the actions to be taken by Encompass Health in response to disease outbreaks; changes in the regulation of the healthcare industry at either or both of the federal and state levels; competitive pressures in the healthcare industry and Encompass Health's response thereto; the hospital's ability to maintain proper local, state and federal licensing; potential disruptions, breaches, or other incidents affecting the proper operation, availability, or security of Encompass Health's information systems; Encompass Health's ability to attract and retain nurses, therapists, and other healthcare professionals in a highly competitive environment with often severe staffing shortages and the impact on Encompass Health's labor expenses from potential union activity and staffing shortages; changes, delays in (including in connection with resolution of Medicare payment reviews or appeals), or suspension of reimbursement for Encompass Health's services by governmental or private payors; general conditions in the economy and capital markets; and other factors which may be identified from time to time in Encompass Health's SEC filings and other public announcements, including Encompass Health's Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2024. Media contact: Polly Manuel | 205-970-5912 [email protected] Investor Relations contact: Mark Miller | 205-970-5860 [email protected] SOURCE Encompass Health Corp. FREMONT, Calif., April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On April 7, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA" or "the agency"), classified Q'Apel Medical, Inc.'s ("Q'Apel" or "the company") voluntary recall of 1,617 units of its 072 Aspiration System (also known under the product name "Hippo", which includes "Cheetah"; collectively, the "product") as Class I. On February 26, 2025, the company initiated a discontinuation and recall of 1,617 units of its 072 Aspiration System product. The recall was initiated because the company received a Warning Letter from FDA that raised questions about whether the features and characteristics of the distal tip of the Hippo aspiration catheter were within the scope of its 510(k) clearance. Rather than pursue a new regulatory pathway, the company chose to voluntarily remove all affected product lots and discontinue the 072 Aspiration System line as part of its strategic shift toward newer technologies. Q'Apel has submitted three Medical Device Reportable events for the Hippo product to date; these adverse events include a reported tip detachment, retrieved without patient injury; a vessel rupture; and a vasospasm. Based on the company's investigation of these events, factors other than the device's distal tip likely contributed to the reported adverse events. Notably, each of these event types is a known risk associated with use of any aspiration catheter and is not unique to the Hippo product. The tip of any aspiration catheter used during a thrombectomy could potentially cause vasospasm and/or vascular injury. In particular, if the tip of an aspiration catheter triggers irritation of the vessel wall, it may manifest as vasospasm, which may be self-limiting or may require treatment (e.g., vasodilatation). Vascular injury may result in a non-flow limiting dissection that requires no intervention and causes no permanent morbidity, a flow-limiting dissection that requires intervention and may be associated with morbidity, or in the extreme case, vessel perforation or rupture which requires intervention and likely results in morbidity or even mortality. If unretrieved, a detached tip of a catheter could result in serious adverse events such as blockage of blood vessels, ischemia of end organs, and death. The product was distributed in the United States, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and the Republic of Kazakhstan. The following product configurations have been removed and discontinued: 072 Aspiration System (Hippo with Cheetah Delivery Tool) with Aspiration Tubing; Catalog Number: APT6072-132; Unique Device Identifier: 00857545008127; Lots: FG241008C-03, FG240916C-04, FG240905C-04 072 Aspiration System (Hippo with Cheetah Delivery Tool); Catalog Number: AP6072-132; Unique Device Identifier: 00857545008097; Lots: FG241206A-03, FG240917A-01 072 Aspiration Tubing; Catalog Number: APT-95; Unique Device Identifier: 00857545008103; Lot: FG241206A-04 Actions to be taken by user: The Hippo product configurations described above have been discontinued in all markets. The company has proactively notified all customers and distributors and will continue to monitor the situation closely. Consignees of the product should immediately return any available product inventory to the company. If consignees have distributed the product to others, contact Q'Apel so that the company can notify them of this action and retrieve any remaining product. For questions or assistance with product return, please contact: Q'Apel Medical Inc. Customer Service Phone: 510-738-6255 Email: [email protected] Hours: Monday Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PT Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product may be reported to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by regular mail or by fax. Complete and submit the report Online : www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm : www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm Regular Mail or Fax: Download form www.fda.gov/MedWatch/getforms.htm or call 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178 About Q'Apel Medical Q'Apel Medical is revolutionizing neurovascular interventions. Inspired by the evolving needs of our customers, our novel approach allows us to solve clinical challenges where others fall short. We are up for the task, the more complex the better. Our team thrives on creating high quality uniquely engineered products, designed in partnership with neurovascular specialists, that address what is needed right now, yet with the versatility to focus on what is coming next. For more information, visit www.qapelmedical.com. Media Contact: Charlene Herndon SPRIG Consulting [email protected] SOURCE Q'Apel Medical Inc. FeelWise, the emotional intelligence brand redefining how people connect with their emotionsand each otheris thrilled to announce its debut as an exhibitor at the ATD 2025 International Conference & EXPO, happening May 1821 in Washington, DC. AUSTIN, Texas, April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- FeelWise, the emotional intelligence brand redefining how people connect with their emotionsand each otheris thrilled to announce its debut as an exhibitor at the ATD 2025 International Conference & EXPO, happening May 1821 in Washington, DC. This marquee event gathers the world's top minds in talent development, including luminaries like Seth Godin, to explore the future of learning, leadership, and human potential. FeelWise will be live at Booth #334, showcasing its complete suite of social-emotional learning tools: from its best-selling emotion card decks and Super EQ kits, to brand-new mindfulness resources tailored for both education and the workplace. Built on science, storytelling, and the belief that emotional intelligence isn't just a "nice-to-have" but a must-have, FeelWise helps individuals build resilience, flexibility, and authentic connection. "We're excited to bring FeelWise to the ATD stage and connect with professionals who are shaping the future of learning and leadership," said Tina Schweiger, founder of FeelWise. "Our tools are used everywhere from classrooms to corporate retreats, and this conference is a chance to show how emotional intelligence can drive both personal growth and organizational success." The buzz around FeelWise continues to grow. Zena Tuitt-Collins, Director of Grand Strategy Consulting and the mind behind the Emotional Maths curriculum, had this to say: "FeelWise adds an essential layer of emotional literacy to any learning environment. We use FeelWise in our Emotional Maths curriculum to support deeper, more meaningful engagementand our clients feel the impact." Conference attendees are invited to swing by Booth #334 for interactive product demos, conversation card giveaways, and a chance to see how emotional intelligence is not just the future of learningit's the heart of it. About FeelWise FeelWise is an emotional intelligence system helping children and adults identify, process, and work through emotions using innovative tools backed by science and storytelling. From schools to boardrooms, FeelWise is redefining emotional wellnessone feeling at a time. Learn more at feel-wise.com Contact: Brandon Jay ***@imaentertainment.com Photo(s): https://www.prlog.org/13072403 Press release distributed by PRLog SOURCE FeelWise Local Culinary Scene Earns 16 Michelin Stars Including One Newcomer, Leading as Destination with Most Stars in the State MIAMI, April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The world took another bite out of Greater Miami's culinary excellence as the prestigious Michelin Guide unveiled its 2025 Florida selections, with Greater Miami and Miami Beach once again commanding the spotlight with the most stars awarded. The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) proudly celebrates this year's honorees whose culinary artistry continues to position the destination as a global epicenter for exceptional dining. Photo Credit: Gio Gutierrez Miami's 2025 Michelin accolades include 16 Michelin Stars, featuring one standout newcomer and returning icons. The acclaimed L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon maintained its elite two-star status, while Itamae AO earned its place among the world's finest. "What's happening in Miami's kitchens today is nothing short of extraordinary," said David Whitaker, president and CEO of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau. "Culinary excellence has become one of the strongest drivers of tourism for our community, drawing visitors from around the world who come to experience our acclaimed restaurants and celebrated chefs. These Michelin honors are a powerful validation of our destination's growing influence in the global culinary landscape." In addition to its Michelin Stars, Miami was celebrated for sustainable culinary leadership. Krus Kitchen and Los Felix retained their Green Star honors, and EntreNos and Stubborn Seed joined them in receiving the distinction for forward-thinking practices such as sourcing locally, minimizing waste and supporting regenerative agriculture. Miami earned standout recognition across key categories. Jacqueline Pirolo of Miami Beach's Macchialina was awarded the Michelin Sommelier Award, while Juan Camilo Liscano of Palma earned the Michelin Young Chef Award. Miami's dining scene also retained fourteen of its Bib Gourmand awardeesrestaurants recognized for offering exceptional meals at great value. Nine new restaurants were also included in Michelin's recommended selections, further reinforcing Miami's position as a must-visit food destination. As the Michelin Guide expands its footprint across Florida, Greater Miami and Miami Beach continue to set the culinary standardfueled by talent and an unwavering commitment to quality. With a constellation of flavors and experiences, Miami's dining scene shines brighter than ever. Below are Miami's 2025 Michelin Star and Bib Gourmand honorees: Michelin-Star Recipients: Michelin Bib Gourmand Awardees: For the full list of Michelin Guide 2025 selections, visit guide.michelin.com/us/en/florida/restaurants . About the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) is an accredited, independent, not-for-profit sales and marketing organization whose mission is to attract visitors to Greater Miami & Miami Beach for leisure, business, meetings and conventions. For a vacation guide, visit MiamiandMiamiBeach.com or call 1.888.76.MIAMI (U.S./Canada only) or 305.447.7777. To reach the GMCVB offices, call 305.539.3000. Meeting planners may call 1.800.933.8448 (U.S./Canada only) or 305.539.3071 or visit MiamiMeetings.com . Follow us on social media: Facebook.com/visitmiami, X.com/visitmiami, Instagram.com/visitmiami and Pinterest.com/visit_miami. SOURCE Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) HANGZHOU, China, April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The arch-covered bridges in China's Zhejiang Province are cultural treasures of the world. Unfortunately, being constructed from wood, they are highly vulnerable to fire hazards. Now, thanks to Hikvision, one of these the world-famous Lanxi Bridge is safer than ever before. Guardians of living history: how Hikvision is preserving an ancient covered bridge constructed in 1574 Built at the end of the 16th century, the Lanxi Bridge is the largest single-span ancient covered bridge in China. Like the others, Lanxi Bridge is constructed with zero nails or steel, using traditional Chinese mortise and tenon joints. These designs have been recognized by UNESCO for their global contribution to culture. A single spark can destroy centuries At 5:30 a.m., 75-year-old Wang Jiawu begins his daily routine. For three decades, he has patrolled the Lanxi Bridge, tirelessly checking for damage, weathering, and hidden dangers. Sometimes, he does this four times a night. However, not all bridges are as fortunate as the Lanxi Bridge. In August 2022, the millennial Wan'an Bridge in Fujian was reduced to ashes in a blink. "I was extremely shocked," recalls Chen Huacheng, head of the Cultural Heritage Protection Institute of Qingyuan County. After learning cultural heritage protection in college, he returned to his hometown and endeavored to protect these ancient bridges. Here, he faced a stark reality: Qingyuan has over 130 ancient covered bridges, but only a handful of these have guardians like Wang Jiawu. "Wooden bridges are fragile," he says. "A single spark can easily erase hundreds of years of history." Modern innovation preserves ancient legacy Learning of the situation, Hikvision offered to support this treasured yet fragile bridge with its STAR Program for Social Good. Through this program, Hikvision offers technological support to NGOs dedicated to community, nature and culture. This is how, in 2024, the Lanxi Bridge underwent a 'digital rebirth'. Several Hikvision technologies were used to protect the bridge against fires. Multispectral fire detectors are installed at four locations to ensure comprehensive protection of the entire bridge. These detectors enhance visible and thermal imaging technologies with infrared flame detection, enabling them to penetrate darkness and detect even the slightest temperature anomalies. Meanwhile, the fire prevention solution can automatically alert individuals smoking on the bridge to stop and immediately notify conservators to conduct onsite inspections. A letter to tomorrow "The Hikvision technologies provide assurance for our conservation work, and also relieve the pressure on our conservators," said Chen. "By integrating Hikvision's fire prevention technology with traditional craftsmanship, we ensure that these treasures are well-preserved and will be passed on to future generations." Check out our video to see how Hikvision supports local conservators in preserving the Lanxi bridge. SOURCE Hikvision Digital Technology Survivors of childhood sexual abuse represented by Herman Law urged lawmakers to reject House Bill 1378 and asked victims to come forward for their right to seek justice. BALTIMORE, April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In a powerful display of courage, survivors of childhood sexual abuse gathered today at War Memorial Plaza in Baltimore to warn the public about the devastating impact of the Maryland House Bill 1378 (HB1378), which could take effect on June 1, 2025, unless it is stopped. Hosted by Herman Law, a nationally recognized firm representing victims of sexual abuse, the press conference featured emotional testimonies from nine survivors who publicly shared their stories for the first time. Their message was clear: HB1378 must not become law. In a heartfelt speech, one survivor shared, "I came up here today because I want you to understand that many of us went through this as youth, and it definitely changed the trajectory of our lives. It affected how we've been able to navigate any kind of turmoil, because it broke us on the inside." If enacted, HB1378 would roll back critical legal protections for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. The bill would reduce the cap on noneconomic damages to less than half of the current amount and lower the financial liability of schools, government entities and other institutions. It would also place strict limits on attorney fees, which could hinder survivors' access to experienced legal representation for complex cases. "This bill threatens to undo years of progress in our fight for justice," said Daniel Ellis, senior attorney at Herman Law. "It puts arbitrary limits on how survivors can seek accountability, and that's something we cannot stand by and allow to happen." The bill's impact would disproportionately affect cases that were previously time-barred but reopened after Maryland lifted the statute of limitations in 2023. HB1378 would reintroduce barriers, making it harder for victims to be heard in court and shielding institutions from full accountability. "The trauma these survivors endured cannot be reduced to a number or a deadline," added Ellis. "HB1378 isn't just about legal limits it's about silencing voices that are only now being heard." Speaking on behalf of her incarcerated son, one mother shared: "My son asked me to be his voice. His entire life has been impacted by the abuse he suffered. It's affected his mental state, his physical health and led to struggles with criminal activity, incarceration, depression, suicide attempts, and drug and alcohol use. He still suffers from nightmares, anxiety and trauma-related issues. The impact hasn't only changed his life it's affected my life and the life of his son, too." Another survivor added, "As men, we're often embarrassed to admit we were assaulted by another man. After [many] years, I can now finally ... hold these people responsible." The press conference concluded with a unified plea to Maryland lawmakers to prevent HB1378 from becoming law. Survivors, advocates and attorneys warned that the bill would not only undo meaningful progress but also discourage others from coming forward. Herman Law emphasized that now is not the time to limit justice, but to strengthen support for those still finding the courage to speak. Attendees of the press conference urged the public and media to amplify survivor voices, raise awareness of the bill's impact and stand against policies that would make it harder for victims to seek accountability. As momentum builds against HB1378, survivors and advocates are calling on Maryland Governor Wes Moore to listen to their voices and stop the bill before it becomes law. With the stroke of a pen, the Governor has the power to preserve the hard-won progress made for survivors of childhood sexual abuse across the state. Speaking publicly for the first time, one survivor said, "After 40-some years of holding onto a secret I swore I'd take to the grave, my brothers out here today gave me the courage to finally step up and say something and I appreciate that. I've been through countless institutions mental health facilities, psych wards, substance abuse counseling but none of it gave me peace until this moment. This is the first time, other than speaking to my attorney, that I've actually stood up and told someone what happened to me. I hope anyone else who's suffered like we have finds the strength to come forward too." While another survivor was sharing his story, he said, "I held it in for a long, long time because I felt like I was responsible. As a 48-year-old man, I now realize that by keeping my silence, I was allowing other kids to go through what I went through." As a final plea, one survivor urged others to come forward: "To anybody watching listen, we need you to come out and speak up. We were taken advantage of as kids, and now we're adults still carrying that pain. They've got to be held accountable. So, if you're out there, forget everything else just speak up ... Please, speak up." Those seeking support are encouraged to begin the healing process today and contact Herman Law. All consultations are free and strictly confidential. Survivors can speak with a member of the Herman Law team by calling 1-866-850-3766 or by visiting their website at HermanLaw.com/Maryland. For more information on Herman Law, visit HermanLaw.com. About Herman Law Herman Law is a nationally recognized law firm dedicated to representing victims of sexual abuse. Our experienced and compassionate team is committed to pursuing justice, holding institutions accountable and helping survivors heal by guiding them through civil litigation with compassion and integrity. For more information, visit HermanLaw.com. Contact: Karla Nafarrate Vice President of Public Relations InnoVision Marketing Group [email protected] SOURCE Herman Law MARRAKESH, Morocco, April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The first leg of Huawei Network Summit 2025 was held in Marrakesh, Morocco, attracting over 400 industry leaders, technical experts, and partners from Egypt, Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Morocco, and other countries. At the summit, Huawei unveiled all-new Xinghe Intelligent Network products and solutions for Northern Africa. These feature-rich offerings cover campus networks, wide area networks (WANs), data center networks, and network security, propelling Africa into a new era of network intelligence with AI-powered connectivity. Launching all-new Xinghe Intelligent Network offerings for Northern Africa AI technologies are rapidly progressing worldwide. Foundation model technologies are driving AI from being "available to use" to "easy to use", while sharp cost reduction is accelerating AI adoption across industries. Chris Meng, President of Huawei's Northern Africa ICT Marketing & Solution Sales Department, stated, "Africa is now at a critical stage of digital and intelligent transformation and needs intelligent ICT infrastructure to support this mission. With the latest cutting-edge technologies, Huawei stands ready to contribute its expertise to propel Africa's digital and intelligent economy and build a better Africa together with customers and partners." Richard Wu, Vice President of Huawei's Data Communication Product Line, said, "The fast-developing AI technologies are propelling the data communication industry into the AI-powered era. To keep pace, Huawei Xinghe Intelligent Network creates AI-powered connectivity by fully leveraging AI capabilities of all series of devices and deep collaboration with NetMaster (a network AI agent). The resulting benefits include AI-powered experience, AI-powered assurance, AI-powered resilience, and AI-powered security." Huawei launched innovative products and solutions to best suit named account (NA), commercial, and distribution markets. Examples include all-scenario Wi-Fi 7, the industry's first 128 x 800GE fixed Ethernet switch, unique "3S (spanning, stable, and secure)" high-quality StarryLink optical modules, the industry's first full-service router with multi-rate interfaces (64 kbps to 400 Gbps), the industry-leading SASE gateway for unknown threat prevention, and NetMaster (a network AI agent). For global commercial markets, Huawei unveiled AI-powered, scenario-specific solutions to promote intelligent upgrades across 10 industries like education and healthcare. For global distribution markets, Huawei provided over 10 popular eKit products and one-click AI troubleshooting tools, helping partners to accelerate the digital and intelligent journey of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Local industry pioneers in Northern Africa also shared their best practices with Huawei's Xinghe Intelligent Network offerings. For example, Krichene Saoussen, General Manager of the Khawarizmi Computing Center (CCK), Tunisia, highlighted their 10 Gbps campus network deployment with Huawei. Mehdi Saidi, Network and Telecom Infrastructure Manager at Credit du Maroc Bank, Morocco, delved into how they deployed Huawei's Xinghe Intelligent Ultra-Resilient Data Center Network Solution to build an active-active data center network. Looking ahead, Huawei will further collaborate with partners to deepen integration of AI and networks, seize intelligent transformation opportunities, and create infinite possibilities for the prosperity of the African continent. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2668194/Launching_all_new_Xinghe_Intelligent_Network_offerings_Northern_Africa.jpg KOBE, Japan, April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- RX Japan is back with its much-anticipated jewellery show, International Jewellery Kobe (IJK) 2025, set to take place from May 15-17 at the prestigious Kobe International Exhibition Hall. As Western Japan's largest mid-year jewellery show, IJK 2025 is poised to welcome over 15,000 global visitors, reinforcing its reputation as a must-attend event for aficionados worldwide. This gathering not only highlights the finest in their craftsmanship but also serves as the perfect platform for cultural exchange and innovation within the industry. Top-Notch Creativity and Craftsmanship IJK 2025 is set to become a melting pot of cultures and creativity, with exhibitors and visitors from Japan and around the world. This international gathering will feature a diverse array of jewellery offerings, including Japan's newest and most sophisticated designs, crafted with the country's renowned delicate and cutting-edge technology. The event will also showcase a stunning variety of diamonds, from fine coloured diamonds like yellow, pink, and black, to competitively priced diamond jewellery in various sizes and colours. This diversity ensures that there is something for every taste and budget, making it a essential destination for industry professionals and connoisseurs. Gemstones and Pearls Gemstone enthusiasts will be delighted by the extensive selection of precious and semi-precious stones, including emeralds, rubies, sapphires, jades, corals, and tourmalines. The show will also feature striking multi-coloured crafted gemstone jewellery, offering a visual feast for attendees. As Kobe is affectionately known as the "Pearl City," visitors can expect a wide selection of pearls, with leading Japanese pearl companies presenting akoya, south sea, freshwater, mabe, conch, and keshi pearls. This focus on pearls not only highlights Kobe's rich heritage but also underscores the city's pivotal role in the global pearl industry. Japan: A Jewel in the Global Market Japan, ranked third globally in jewellery market value is a testament to its rich history and expertise in jewellery making. The country's commitment to quality and innovation is evident in the exquisite pieces that will be on display at IJK 2025. RX Japan's strategic decision to host IJK in May, alongside the International Jewellery Tokyo (IJT) in January and IJT Autumn in October, underscores this commitment. "By hosting IJK in the mid-year, we provide a unique platform for international and domestic exhibitors to showcase their latest collections and innovations," said Mr. Yoshihito Waki, IJK Show Director. "This timing allows us to cater to the evolving needs of the global jewellery market and strengthen our position as a respected trade show outside Japan." What to Expect at IJK 2025 IJK 2025 will feature over 460 exhibitors and more than 880,000 of the latest jewellery pieces, offering spectacular opportunities for the 14,000 expected buyers to source exquisite jewellery and forge valuable business connections. Attendees can expect to see a wide range of products, from traditional designs to contemporary pieces that push the boundaries of creativity. The event will also provide a platform for networking and knowledge exchange, with industry experts sharing insights on the latest trends and innovations in the jewellery world. A Unique Opportunity for Buyers and Collectors For buyers and collectors, IJK 2025 offers a unique opportunity to discover new trends and source high-quality jewellery from around the world. The event's diverse range of exhibitors ensures that attendees will have access to a wide variety of products, from classic pieces to avant-garde designs. This makes IJK 2025 an essential destination for anyone looking to expand their collection or find unique pieces that reflect their personal style. Join Us in Kobe: A City of Culture and Innovation Kobe, with its rich history and vibrant culture, provides the perfect backdrop for this prestigious event. Known for its beautiful landscapes and culinary delights, the city offers visitors a unique blend of tradition and modernity. As you explore the wonders of IJK 2025, take the time to discover all that Kobe has to offer, from its stunning architecture to its world-renowned cuisine. Don't miss the chance to be part of this extraordinary event. Register now to secure your place at International Jewellery Kobe 2025 and experience the best of the global jewellery industry in the heart of Japan's Pearl City. Visit www.ijt.jp/kobe/en-gb.html for more information. About IJT Series Shows IJK is part of the IJT Series, a trio of prestigious events occurring thrice each year (Tokyo in January, Kobe in May, and Yokohama in October). Celebrated for their exquisite assortment of diamonds, gemstones, and pearl jewellery, the IJT Series Shows offer a dynamic platform for industry professionals to connect, discover, and prosper. www.ijt.jp/hub/en-gb.html About RX (Reed Exhibitions) RX is in the business of building businesses for individuals, communities, and organisations. We elevate the power of face-to-face events by combining data and digital products to help customers learn about markets, source products, and complete transactions at approximately 350+ events in 25 countries across 42 industry sectors. RX is passionate about making a positive impact on society and is fully committed to creating an inclusive work environment for all our people. RX is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. www.rxglobal.com About RX Japan RX Japan organises 106 exhibitions, composed of 415 sub-exhibitions, annually at large exhibition halls such as Tokyo Big Sight, Makuhari Messe, and Intext Osaka across a wide variety of 38 fields, including jewellery, fashion, gift items, electronics, energy, IT, cosmetics, and medical. Visit the RX Japan website for more details. CONTACT Shiraishi, Natsuko Email: [email protected] Phone: +81-3-6739-4103 SOURCE RX Japan WASHINGTON, April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In a deeply disappointing move, Jesco Iron Craft, Inc. has refused to recognize the democratic will of its workers, who came forward with majority support to unionize with the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers (Iron Workers Union AFL/CIO). Despite receiving a formal petition showing strong support from full-time and part-time production workers, welders, shipping and assembly staff, and robotics department employees, Jesco declined to acknowledge the workers' decision. Instead, the company questioned the validity of the petitionwithout any proof or request for an independent verification. "This isn't just about a unionit's about respect," said Chad Rink, Assistant to the General President of the Iron Workers Union. "These workers are simply asking for a voice on the job, better working conditions, and the chance to negotiate fair terms. Jesco responded by shutting the door in their faces." Jesco workers are the backbone of the company's production operations, but many say they've been pushed to the limitfacing safety concerns, and little say in how their work is completed. For them, unionizing isn't a radical move. It's a way to protect their dignity and secure a better future. Federal labor law protects employees' right to organize. The workers at Jesco took that steppeacefully and lawfully. Rather than honoring that right, the company is now stalling, hoping to silence the people who keep its business running. The Iron Workers Union is calling on Jesco to stop hiding behind corporate legalese and do the right thing: recognize the union and sit down at the bargaining table. The workers have spoken. They deserve to be heard. The Iron Workers Union (IW) represents 130,000 ironworkers in North America who work in construction on bridges; structural steel; ornamental, architectural, clean energy, and miscellaneous metals; rebar; and in fabrication shops. SOURCE Iron Workers Union NEW YORK, April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Levi & Korsinsky, LLP notifies investors in Venture Global, Inc. ("Venture" or the "Company") (NYSE: VG) of a class action securities lawsuit. CLASS DEFINITION: The lawsuit seeks to recover losses on behalf of Venture investors who were adversely affected by alleged securities fraud. 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. Follow the link below to get more information and be contacted by a member of our team: https://zlk.com/pslra-1/venture-global-inc-lawsuit-submission-form?prid=143573&wire=4 VG investors may also contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. via email at [email protected] or by telephone at (212) 363-7500. 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 during the relevant time frame, you have until April 18, 2025 to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff. NO COST TO YOU: If you are a class member, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket costs or fees. There is no cost or obligation to participate. WHY LEVI & KORSINSKY: Over the past 20 years, the team at Levi & Korsinsky has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders and built a track record of winning high-stakes cases. Our 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. CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP Joseph E. Levi, Esq. Ed Korsinsky, Esq. 33 Whitehall Street, 17th Floor New York, NY 10004 [email protected] Tel: (212) 363-7500 Fax: (212) 363-7171 www.zlk.com SOURCE Levi & Korsinsky, LLP SEOUL, South Korea, April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- LG CNS, a leading AX (AI Transformation) company in Korea, is continuing to take bold steps toward becoming a leading smart city in the United States in collaboration with New York City. The global technology giant is investing in the city by installing state-of-the-art electric vehicle (EV) chargers at the Brooklyn Army Terminal (BAT) and partners with Matcha, a Boston-based startup developing EV charging solutions, to make sustainable transportation more accessible for New Yorkers. Installation is already completed, and EV chargers are available from now through December 2025. AI-generated conceptual image of LG CNS EV chargers installed at the Brooklyn Army Terminal in New York City As part of this initiative, LG CNS is developing a cutting-edge mobile app that will provide real-time information on EV charging availability, and other essential data to improve urban mobility. This app will serve as a valuable tool for residents and visitors alike, enhancing the convenience and efficiency of electric vehicle use in the city. The installation of EV chargers at the Brooklyn Army Terminal marks just the beginning of LG CNS's engagement with New York. With a long-term vision to support green energy and digital transformation, LG CNS is playing a crucial role in shaping the future of the city. This collaboration between NYC and LG CNS represents a significant investment in both infrastructure and technology, positioning the city at the forefront of the smart city revolution. Beyond EV infrastructure, LG CNS is committed to leveraging its advanced technologies to help New York City become an IT leader in the United States. The company is exploring innovations in artificial intelligence, smart surveillance, and data-driven urban solutions to support NYC's modernization efforts. By integrating these technologies, LG CNS aims to improve citywide efficiency, safety, and sustainability. LG CNS is also planning to install Energy Storage Systems (ESS) to help stabilize NYC's electricity market. By implementing ESS solutions, LG CNS aims to enhance the city's energy resilience, improve grid efficiency, and support the transition to more sustainable power sources. LG CNS will join New York City Economic Development Corporation's (NYCEDC) next cohort of Pilots at BAT, a program that allows companies to test and scale their innovative technologies in live environments. Due to the success of the initial Pilots at BAT cohorts, the program is expanding to NYCEDC's MADE Bush Terminal in Sunset Park. NYCEDC's Sunset Park District provides over 200 acres of waterfront space in Brooklyn to support emerging climate solutions in key green economy sectors like resiliency, mobility and buildings. In October 2023, Mayor Adams signed a Memorandum of Understanding with LG CNS CEO Shin-Gyoon Hyun and James Kim, Chairman and CEO of the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea. This agreement aims to encourage substantial Korean investments in New York City. The NYCEDC Business Development Team worked with LG CNS for successful entry into the NYC ecosystem by identifying strategic city opportunities and guiding them through the site selection process. About LG CNS LG CNS is a leading Korean AX (AI Transformation) company that continues to pioneer various emerging technologies, including AI, cloud computing, big data, and smart engineering, encompassing smart factories, smart cities, and smart logistics, as well as digital marketing. The company also leads the market through innovative system integration (SI) and system management (SM) projects across finance, manufacturing, the public sector, and various other industries. For more information, please visit https://www.lgcns.com. SOURCE LG CNS DENVER, April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Life Flower Dispensary is excited to announce the opening of its brand-new location in Denver's vibrant RiNo neighborhood, just in time for the 420 celebrations on April 19th. The newly remodeled dispensary will be open daily from 8 AM to midnight, offering a unique and premium cannabis shopping experience. Life Flower Dispensary Life Flower Dispensary Life Flower sets itself apart from other dispensaries through its focus on transparency and customer experience. All of the cannabis flower at Life Flower is displayed in large glass jars, allowing customers to fully see, smell, and compare different strains before purchasing. This hands-on approach, one of the few remaining in the industry, gives customers the opportunity to closely examine the buds, considering their appearance and aroma to make an informed choice. In addition to the flower selection, Life Flower's premium concentrates are displayed in a temperature-controlled deli case, where customers can browse grams of live rosin, Moroccan hash, and more. Life Flower's team of knowledgeable and friendly budtenders is always available to guide customers, answer questions, and offer recommendations, making it a welcoming environment for both seasoned cannabis users and newcomers alike. Founded in 2010, Life Flower Dispensary first opened as a medical dispensary in Glendale, quickly becoming known for its organic cannabis and premium solventless hash. Owner John Niforos, a passionate industry veteran, is dedicated to providing the finest quality cannabis products. With over a decade of experience, Life Flower has built a loyal following for its clean, high-quality offerings. "We're thrilled to bring our signature products and exceptional service to the RiNo neighborhood," says Niforos. "Life Flower is about more than just selling cannabis. It's about offering a curated, personalized experience that focuses on quality, transparency, and customer satisfaction." As part of its ongoing commitment to wellness, the company is expanding its selection of CBD flower and hemp products. This move reflects the growing demand for non-psychoactive options and reinforces their dedication to providing a wide range of cannabis solutions for all types of consumers. Additionally, Life Flower is committed to supporting the local RiNo community, fostering strong relationships with nearby businesses and residents. Life Flower's customers consistently praise the dispensary for its product quality and outstanding customer service. One Google reviewer says, "This is the very best weed store in the entire state," while another notes, "The staff is extremely helpful and kind. 10 out of 10, definitely recommended." Customers rave about the unique shopping experience, with many commenting on the dispensary's smooth ordering process and excellent selection. Life Flower Dispensary's new RiNo location is the perfect destination for anyone looking for high-quality cannabis, exceptional customer service, and a unique shopping experience. Whether you're celebrating 420 or shopping any other day of the year, Life Flower offers a selection that you can feel good about. For more information, visit www.lifeflowerdispensary.com or contact us at [email protected]. About Life Flower Dispensary Life Flower Dispensary has been serving the Denver community since 2010. Known for its organic cannabis and premium solventless hash, Life Flower operates locations in Glendale and RiNo. The dispensary focuses on offering high-quality products and exceptional service in a transparent and welcoming environment. Contact Information: Laiah Walsh Life Flower Dispensary Email: [email protected] Phone: 716-908-7650 SOURCE Life Flower Dispensary NEW YORK, April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- LIM College hosted a half-day symposium, "Artificial Intelligence in the Retail Sector," for industry leaders and members of the college's faculty on March 26. Participants heard about the role of AI in fashion and how other sectors, such as grocery retail, are further ahead due to their long history of data collection and application. According to LIM College Graduate Studies Professor Kenneth Kambara, "Cross-industry collaboration could accelerate AI adoption in fashion as insights into consumer behaviors across apparel, accessories, and beauty may hold valuable implications beyond their individual categories," Kambara said. "Moving away from siloed AI use cases to more dynamic, integrated capabilities across organizations will be critical for fashion retailers." As a leader in higher education within the business of fashion and lifestyle, the LIM Retail AI Symposium is the latest example of the college's ongoing commitment to providing the retail industry as well as its faculty with the latest insights and information on technology to enable success. "Understanding Artificial Intelligence and how it can be used as a tool to drive enhanced competitiveness within the fashion and lifestyle industries is critical for our facultyand by extension our studentsas well as the entire retail industry. For more than 80 years, LIM College has remained plugged into the latest trends, technologies, necessary skills and knowledge required to win in the highly competitive business of fashion and lifestyle," said LIM College President Ron Marshall. "Our mission is to prepare students around the world to be ready for their dream careers or to pivot to exciting new roles and to provide the industry with the next generation of top talent," he added. LIM College offers a one-year master's degree in Consumer Analytics that provides students with data collection and interpretation skills to make strategic business decisions about everything from marketing to supply chain management. This STEM-designated program prepares students to take advantage of AI-driven data analysis. The college also offers a master's degree in Fashion Merchandising and in Retail Management. Both of these one-year programs allow students to study the increasingly complex business of fashion using cutting-edge technology, including AI. Coursework explores how AI is being used in various aspects of the fashion industry including operational uses, product design, and customer experience, among others. About LIM College Founded in 1939 and located in midtown Manhattan, LIM College is focused on the global business of fashion and lifestyle. Offering master's, bachelor's and associate degree programs, LIM prepares students for career success via an immersive approach grounded in real-world experience and "learning by doing" through required internships. LIM College's commitment to excellence in business education ensures graduates are sought after by a wide range of employers, as evidenced by a Career Outcomes Rate of 97% for the Class of 2023. Alumni excel throughout all areas of fashion and lifestyle and have gone on to work for companies such as Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Ross Stores, Financial Times, Ulta Beauty, Microsoft, Saks Fifth Avenue, Walmart, Macy's, and Nike. Contact: Anne Roman [email protected] 419.708.5171 Meredith Finnin [email protected] 646.218.2156 SOURCE LIM College "As we build a trusted onramp and custody experience for Bitcoiners, we knew that risk and compliance couldn't be an afterthought," said Harsha Goli, CEO of Magnolia Financial. "Our core requirement was finding a partner who shares our philosophy on Bitcoin and responsibility. Reflex is not only aligned with our values but also purpose-built for the nuances of Lightning. It was the clear choice." Reflex delivers a powerful suite of features tailored for Bitcoin-native companies, including automated Anti-Money Laundering (AML) policy enforcement, real-time sanctions screening, and comprehensive risk monitoring. With Reflex, Magnolia can continuously evaluate payment channels, verify sources of funds, and flag potential compliance risksall while maintaining the fast, peer-to-peer integrity of Lightning transactions. "We're proud to support Magnolia Financial's mission to deliver regulated, Bitcoin-forward financial services," said Jesse Shrader, Co-founder and CEO of Amboss Technologies. "Reflex provides the compliance infrastructure needed to operate responsibly at scale, without compromising the principles that make Bitcoin valuable." This partnership marks a major step forward in developing the financial stack for Bitcoin-native businesses. With Reflex, Magnolia will be equipped to meet its regulatory obligations while preserving the privacy, speed, and ethos of Bitcoin's Lightning Network. Together, Magnolia Financial and Amboss Technologies are building the infrastructure to power the next generation of global Bitcoin services. About Magnolia Financial Magnolia Financial is rethinking financial infrastructure for Bitcoin businesses. Focused on simplifying onramp, custody, and compliance, Magnolia is building a regulated, Bitcoin-native financial platform from first principles. Users can learn more at https://magnolia.financial About Amboss Technologies Amboss Technologies is a leading provider of data, insights, and infrastructure for the Bitcoin Lightning Network. Their Reflex platform brings powerful compliance automation to Lightning-native payments, empowering businesses to grow responsibly and securely. Users can learn more at https://amboss.tech Contact Founder Phil 21M Communications [email protected] Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2667385/Magnolia_Finances.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2667384/Magnolia_Financial_Logo.jpg SOURCE Magnolia Financial CHICAGO, April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- This week members of the Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council demonstrated in front of more than 50 public buildings throughout Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and Eastern Iowa to educate policymakers and the public about the devastating impact construction industry tax fraud has on workers, state economies and the public at large. Members also sent 400 emails to prosecuting attorneys in those regions to raise awareness. Construction employer tax fraud hurts everyone. Workers are paid off the books or intentionally misclassified as independent contractors by shady subcontractors and labor brokers who are hired by contractors to underbid law-abiding businesses. Fraud happens on all types of projects, including taxpayer-funded construction. Rampant cheating causes a massive loss of revenue and makes it difficult to repair roads, bridges and schools, care for veterans and shore up Medicare and Social Security. A recent study of construction industry tax fraud by the Century Foundation shows that 2.1 million construction workers are paid off the books or misclassified as independent contractors, costing U.S. taxpayers more than $10 billion a year. "Construction industry tax fraud affects every man, woman and child," said Kevin McLaughlin, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council, which represents more than 53,000 members. "Every time an unscrupulous contractor cheats the system and doesn't pay what they owe, that means less money in the public coffers for education, public safety, healthcare and other essential services. We're calling on our elected officials at the local, state and federal levels to hold cheating contractors accountable and help ease the burden on taxpayers." The consequences are dire for working families affected by employer tax fraud. The University of California Berkeley Labor Center found that 39 percent of construction worker families nationwide are forced to enroll in one or more safety net programs to make ends meet. Tax fraud and workers' compensation premium fraud have become so alarming in the construction industry that the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network notified banks, check cashing stores and other financial institutions to report the suspicious transactions of construction contractors. Visit StopTaxFraud.net/StandUp for more information. SOURCE Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council WASHINGTON, April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Two NASA astronauts will venture outside the International Space Station, conducting U.S. spacewalk 93 on Thursday, May 1, to complete station upgrades. NASA will preview the upcoming spacewalk during a news conference at 2 p.m. EDT on Thursday, April 24, on the agency's website from NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. Learn how to watch NASA content through a variety of platforms, including social media. NASA astronauts work to retrieve batteries and adapter plates from an external pallet during a spacewalk to upgrade the International Space Station's power storage capacity. Credit: NASA Participants in the news conference include: Bill Spetch, operations integration manager, International Space Station Program Diana Trujillo, spacewalk flight director, NASA Johnson Media interested in participating in person or by phone must contact the Johnson newsroom no later than 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 23, at: 281-483-5111 or [email protected]. To ask questions, media must dial in no later than 15 minutes prior to the start of the news conference. Questions also may be submitted on social media using #AskNASA. The spacewalk is scheduled to last about six and a half hours. NASA will provide additional information, including live NASA+ coverage details, when available. NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers will relocate a space station communications antennae and install a mounting bracket ahead of the installation of an additional set of International Space Station Rollout Solar Arrays, also called IROSA. The arrays will boost power generation capability by up to 30%, increasing the station's total available power from 160 kilowatts to up to 215 kilowatts. The arrays will be installed on a future spacewalk following their arrival on a SpaceX Dragon commercial resupply services mission later this year. McClain will serve as spacewalk crew member 1 and will wear a suit with red stripes. Ayers will serve as spacewalk crew member 2 and will wear an unmarked suit. This will be the third spacewalk for McClain and the first for Ayers. U.S. spacewalk 93 will be the 275th spacewalk in support of space station assembly, maintenance, and upgrades. Learn more about International Space Station research and operations at: https://www.nasa.gov/station SOURCE NASA Historic successes for college's first three entries in nationally renowned wine competition SWEET BRIAR, Va., April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Sweet Briar College Farm Winery has rapidly become a rising star in the Virginia wine industry. After bottling its first independent vintage from the 2023 harvest, the Farm entered its first-ever wine competition, achieving a remarkable three medals one gold and two silvers in Virginia's prestigious Governor's Cup. The gold medal entry, Earned the Rose, is named for the institution's motto honoring all Sweet Briar graduates, "She who earns the rose may bear it." The new variety delighted the senses of six judges who conducted single-blind tastings over three days. They knew the grape or category of each wine, but not its vintage, winery or name. A 12-judge panel subsequently assessed the highest-ranking wines, sampled all and assigned final marks. Those scoring 90 to 100 were accorded gold medals and are included in the Virginia Gold Medal Wine Trail, where wine enthusiasts flock each year to discover the Commonwealth's finest offerings. Sweet Briar College Farm receives three medals in nationally renowned Governor's Cup wine competition. Post this Silver medal winners were Leading the Way Chardonnay and Meadow Merlot. "Our wines are named to honor and celebrate Sweet Briar College's traditions, academic excellence and core curriculum dedicated to women's leadership, and to highlight our sustainability initiatives," noted Professor Lisa Powell, Ph.D., who heads the school's agriculture and sustainability programs. Grapes for the award winners were grown on the College's campus, overlooking a wildflower field that provides superb forage for both native pollinators and honeybees from Sweet Briar's apiary. The wines are made in collaboration with Michael Shaps Wineworks and are bottled in Charlottesville, Va. "Students learn about viticulture and the wine industry both through courses and a variety of experiential opportunities. Several honors students have conducted research inspired by our vineyards, including work on marketing and designing traps for invasive pests. Since we planted the vines, groups of students have learned how to prune, how to estimate yields, how to sample to assess readiness for harvest, and bottled some of our wines," said Powell. Information on visiting campus for tastings and purchases is available at sbc.edu/farm. ABOUT SWEET BRIAR COLLEGE Sweet Briar College is an institution for women's education in Sweet Briar, Virginia. For more information, visit sbc.edu. SOURCE Sweet Briar College SpaceX's 32nd resupply mission for NASA includes ISS National Lab-sponsored biomedical research, physical sciences projects, technology demonstrations, and NSF-funded science KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla., April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A project to manufacture nanomaterials that could provide new treatments for osteoarthritis and cancer joins a trio of investigations funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and more on SpaceX's 32nd Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) mission for NASA to the International Space Station (ISS). These investigations, sponsored by the ISS National Laboratory, aim to benefit humanity and foster a robust economy in low Earth orbit (LEO). This mission is scheduled to launch no earlier than April 21, 2025, at 4:15 a.m. EDT, from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Below are highlights of ISS National Lab-sponsored investigations on this mission. Researchers from the University of Connecticut and Eascra Biotech, with support from Axiom Space, will build on previous research to improve the production of innovative nanomaterials in space to treat osteoarthritis and cancer on Earth. Janus base nanomaterials (JBNs) are composed of synthetic molecules that self-assemble into structures resembling human DNA. The injectable nanomaterials could help regenerate cartilage in the joints of osteoarthritis patients and could be used to carry cancer drugs into hard-to-penetrate solid tumors. The team's groundbreaking research is featured in the most recent issue of Upward , the official magazine of the ISS National Lab. and Eascra Biotech, with support from Axiom Space, will build on previous research to in space to treat osteoarthritis and cancer on Earth. Janus base nanomaterials (JBNs) are composed of synthetic molecules that self-assemble into structures resembling human DNA. The injectable nanomaterials could help regenerate cartilage in the joints of osteoarthritis patients and could be used to carry cancer drugs into hard-to-penetrate solid tumors. The team's groundbreaking research is featured in the most the official magazine of the ISS National Lab. Three investigations funded by NSF seek to advance fundamental science with valuable applications. These projects continue a strong, multi-year collaboration between NSF and the ISS National Lab: An investigation from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, supported by Tec-Masters, will use microgravity to study fluid flow in protein solutions. The goal is to better understand why protein clumping occurs during the manufacturing of protein-based drugs, which affects their quality. In space, liquid forms into a floating self-contained sphere, allowing the study of complex protein motion without the walls of a container altering protein behavior. This project, which is a continuation of prior research , could help find a way to avoid or reverse protein clumping, which would address a significant challenge in the pharmaceutical industry. A project from the University of Alabama at Birmingham , supported by Leidos, will study the formation and microstructure of ceramic-nanomaterial composites in microgravity to produce novel materials that are lightweight, electrically conductive, and stable in high-temperature environments. The materials can be made into almost any shape or size, making them valuable for many industrial applications such as energy storage, electric systems, and nanodevices. Researchers from the University of California, Santa Barbara will conduct an investigation, supported by Redwire Space Technologies, to better understand active liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS)a phenomenon that occurs when two liquids that do not mix (such as oil and water) separate. Active LLPS could be used to create soft active materials with lifelike properties that can move and change shape on their own or sense and repair themselves. These materials could be used to make more lifelike robotics. seek to advance fundamental science with valuable applications. These projects continue a strong, multi-year collaboration between NSF and the ISS National Lab: Portland State University , in collaboration with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California and Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc., will test an advanced microscope system that uses holographic technology to deliver detailed 3D views of cellular life. The Extant Life Volumetric Imaging System (ELVIS) will allow scientists to study the adaptability and resilience of life under extreme conditions, which could enhance the search for life beyond Earth. , in collaboration with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in and Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc., will test an advanced microscope system that uses holographic technology to deliver detailed 3D views of cellular life. The (ELVIS) will allow scientists to study the adaptability and resilience of life under extreme conditions, which could enhance the search for life beyond Earth. An experiment from Sophie's BioNutrients, supported by BioServe Space Technologies, aims to develop plant-based, protein-rich alternatives to meat and seafood using microalgae. The investigation will examine how microgravity affects protein yields in microalgae that require nutrition from organic compounds to grow. Results could provide insights into the fundamental mechanisms of microalgae cell growth, metabolism, and protein production. In addition to serving as a food source on long-duration spaceflight missions, the microalgae could also be used in life support systems and to provide oils for fuel production. For more information on ISS National Lab-sponsored investigations on this mission, visit our launch page . To learn more about the research and technology development sponsored by the ISS National Lab, including how to propose concepts for future space-based research, visit our website . Download a high-resolution image for this release: SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket About the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory: The International Space Station (ISS) is a one-of-a-kind laboratory that enables research and technology development not possible on Earth. As a public service enterprise, the ISS National Laboratory allows researchers to leverage this multiuser facility to improve quality of life on Earth, mature space-based business models, advance science literacy in the future workforce, and expand a sustainable and scalable market in low Earth orbit. Through this orbiting national laboratory, research resources on the ISS are available to support non-NASA science, technology, and education initiatives from U.S. government agencies, academic institutions, and the private sector. The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) manages the ISS National Lab, under Cooperative Agreement with NASA, facilitating access to its permanent microgravity research environment, a powerful vantage point in low Earth orbit, and the extreme and varied conditions of space. To learn more about the ISS National Lab, visit our website . As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, CASIS accepts corporate and individual donations to help advance science in space for the benefit of humanity. For more information, visit our donations page . International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory Managed by the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) 1005 Viera Blvd., Suite 101, Rockledge, FL 32955 321.253.5101 www.ISSNationalLab.org SOURCE International Space Station National Lab Honored as a top managed service provider for the ninth consecutive year DENVER, April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- NexusTek, a top national cloud, managed IT services, and cybersecurity provider, today announced that CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, has named NexusTek on its Managed Service Provider (MSP) 500 list in the Elite 150 category for 2025. CRN's annual MSP 500 list is a comprehensive guide to the leading MSPs in North America. These companies deliver essential managed services that enhance business efficiency, simplify IT, and optimize return on technology investments for their customers. The Elite 150 category recognizes MSPs with a blend of on- and off-premises services for mostly midmarket and enterprise customers. NexusTek's inclusion in the Elite 150 for the 9th consecutive year reflects its strength as a data centerdriven MSP, offering a sophisticated blend of on-premises and cloud services that streamline operations, bolster cybersecurity, increase agility, and help clients maximize their technology investments. This marks NexusTek's ninth consecutive year earning a spot on the list, a testament to its reliability, innovation, and enduring impact in the midmarket IT space. For nearly 30 years, NexusTek has remained committed to helping small and midsized businesses thrive through technology. With a 98% customer satisfaction rating and a fully staffed, U.S.-based support team available 24/7/365, the company delivers scalable solutions with personalized service at every touchpoint. By putting client needs first and evolving with the market, NexusTek continues to set the standard for what businesses should expect from a modern MSP. "The solution providers on our 2025 MSP 500 list deliver innovative managed services portfolios that enable clients of every size to be more agile and optimize their IT budgets as they grow their business," said Jennifer Follett, VP of U.S. Content and executive Editor CRN, at The Channel Company. "These are the companies that anticipate client tech needs and develop groundbreaking services and solutions that let customers focus on their core business so they can accelerate success." "We're honored to once again receive this prestigious recognition from CRN," said Hamilton Yu, Chief Executive Officer at NexusTek. "Being named to the Elite 150 for nine years in a row is a direct reflection of our team's relentless focus on innovation, excellence, and creating long-term value for our clients. In an ever-shifting technology landscape, we're proud to help businesses grow securely and confidently." The MSP 500 list will be featured in the February 2025 issue of CRN Magazine and online at www.crn.com/msp500 beginning February 10. About NexusTek Thousands of businesses depend on NexusTek to manage and optimize their IT and cloud environments for business continuity, productivity, operational efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. With an all-encompassing services portfolio, infrastructure, high-touch personal attention and IT consulting expertise, NexusTek delivers true end-to-end, outsourced IT management to organizations nationwide. About The Channel Company The Channel Company (TCC) is the global leader in channel growth for the world's top technology brands. We accelerate success across strategic channels for tech vendors, solution providers, and end users with premier media brands, integrated marketing and event services, strategic consulting, and exclusive market and audience insights. TCC is a portfolio company of investment funds managed by EagleTree Capital, a New York City-based private equity firm. For more information, visit thechannelco.com. Follow The Channel Company: LinkedIn , X, and Facebook. 2025 The Channel Company, Inc. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, Inc. All rights reserved. The Channel Company Contact: Kristin DaSilva The Channel Company [email protected] Contact: Jay Cuthrell NexusTek (877) 470-0401 [email protected] SOURCE NexusTek SAN FRANCISCO, April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals appears to be open to reversing Align's summary judgment against two class action cases accusing the company of monopolizing the clear braces and teeth scanners markets after a convincing oral argument by Berger Montague's Joshua P. Davis. "We were gratified that the judges listened intently to our arguments for reversal," said Berger Shareholder Joshua P. Davis, who manages the firm's San Francisco Bay Area Office and is co-chair with Paul Bland of the Appeals and Complex Briefing team. "The panel asked informed and insightful questions of both sides, and we eagerly anticipate the ruling which will hopefully allow us to vindicate the rights of the certified class of thousands of dentists that we represent," said Mr. Davis. The plaintiffs allege that Align, which makes clear braces, monopolized the market by colluding with 3Shape, a maker of alternative scanning technology used to facilitate dentists' fashioning of dental aligners. There are two certified classes, one of direct dentist purchasers and one of consumers who indirectly bought the clear braces. Mr. Davis, along with Rio Pierce of Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP, argued on appeal that the trial judge erred in not sending the dispute to trial. The Department of Justice also presented argument at the hearing on behalf of the United States, urging the panel to impose a different legal standard than the district court invoked. Read more about the case at www.bergermontague.com/align. Berger Montague is one of the nation's preeminent law firms focusing on complex civil litigation, class actions, and mass torts in federal and state courts throughout the United States. The firm is active in the fields of antitrust, commercial litigation, consumer protection, defective products, environmental law, employment law, securities, and whistleblower cases, among many other practice areas. For more than 50 years, Berger Montague has played lead roles in precedent-setting cases and has recovered over $50 billion for its clients and the classes they have represented. Berger Montague is headquartered in Philadelphia and has offices in Chicago, Minneapolis, San Diego, San Francisco, Toronto, Washington, D.C., and Wilmington, DE. Contact: Amy Wall-Monte 215.875.3021 [email protected] SOURCE Berger Montague Noble Grazing: Flint Hills Series offers ranchers a path to sustainable and profitable land management practices at a reduced cost ARDMORE, Okla., April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Noble Research Institute (Noble), a trusted educational resource for farmers and ranchers since 1945, Kansas State University and Hy-Plains Feedyard have partnered to launch a three-year educational program designed to promote sustainable grazing practices in the Flint Hills region of Kansas and Oklahoma. The program aims to tackle key issues in Flint Hills prairie, the largest intact tallgrass prairie expanse in the US. Post this Noble Grazing: Flint Hills Series. Photo credit: Rob Mattson for Noble Research Institute In this partnership, led by Kansas State University, Noble will develop educational programming and a grazing support tool with regional knowledge and expertise from the Kansas Grazing Lands Coalition. Hy-Plains Feedyard will provide research and dedicated educational facilities in the Kansas Flint Hills region. Funding for this project was made possible through a $998,195 grant from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. In an additional partnership with the Kansas Grazing Lands Coalition, scholarships funded by this grant will allow series attendees to participate in the KGLC's annual range academies. The Noble Grazing: Flint Hills Series will provide ranchers with a tailored, hands-on educational experience that combines grazing management, business strategies and region-specific tools for lasting success. The series, priced at $585, consists of three targeted courses, with the inaugural participant group beginning this May, including: Noble Grazing Essentials ( May 20-22, 2025 , Council Grove, KS ) Using real-life and region-specific examples, including maps of the participant's farm or ranch, this course gives Flint Hills ranchers a framework to view and utilize their soil and forages framed by soil health principles and ecosystem function. Practices they choose based on those principles and their operations will help them prevent overgrazing by understanding how to calculate stocking rates through the grazing season to ensure they make the most of their pastures while protecting them for the future. ( , ) Business of Grazing ( July 22-24, 2025 , Council Grove, KS ) This course gives participants a method to align day-to-day grazing decisions with their ranch's overall goals. It provides analytic tools for investing to make smart upgrades to fences and water systems with a return on investment. They will also begin creating adaptive grazing plans that respond to changing weather and market trends. ( , ) Grazing Plan Workshop ( September 9, 2025 , Council Grove, KS ) Participants join an interactive workshop that combines the technical and business components, giving them hands-on support as they explore technology and create value-added grazing plans. ( , ) The program aims to address critical challenges in the Flint Hills tallgrass prairie, which represents the largest remaining contiguous expanse of tallgrass prairie in the United States. "The Flint Hills region is one of the most important resources the livestock industry has for long-term forage-based beef production," said Josh Gaskamp, associate director of outreach and partnerships for Noble Research Institute. "The Noble Grazing: Flint Hills Series provides formal instruction and hands-on guidance related to the overall conservation and regeneration of grazing resources, which impact the profitability of ranches, ecosystem function and community dynamics." The three-part series is limited to 35 participants per year, with cohorts expected to attend all three sessions. The program is specifically designed for the region's new and beginning land managers and Native American tribal communities. For more information about Noble Research Institute and its educational programs, visit www.noble.org/find-a-course/. About Noble Research Institute Noble Research Institute is the nation's largest nonprofit dedicated to farm and ranch management and has been a leading, trusted resource in agriculture since 1945. The organization serves agricultural producers with education, research and consultation on regenerating soil health to improve their land, livestock and livelihood. Demonstrating its ongoing commitment to restoring U.S. grazing lands, Noble actively manages 13,500 acres of working ranchlands to provide real-world insights and applications for farmers and ranchers. For more information about Noble Research Institute, visit www.noble.org . SOURCE Noble Research Institute LLC DALLAS, April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Under the leadership of Artistic Director Nycole Ray, DBDT: Encore! proudly presents Rising Excellence, a spectacular two-night event commemorating the professional training company's 25th anniversary. The performances, scheduled for April at the Moody Performance Hall, represent a culmination of Ray's artistic vision and unwavering commitment to cultivating exceptional dance talent in Dallas. Nycole Ray Illustration Nycole Ray, a transformative figure in the Dallas dance community, has been instrumental in shaping DBDT: Encore! into the premier professional training company it is today. Now in her 27th season with Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Ray's artistic direction continues to push boundaries while honoring the rich cultural heritage that defines the company. "This 25th anniversary represents not just a milestone for the company, but a testament to the artistic journey we've undertaken together," says Ray. "Each piece selected for Rising Excellence reflects our growth, challenges, and triumphs over a quarter century of artistic exploration." The anniversary program features world premieres of emerging choreographer Cameron Jade Harris's poignant Mama's Chair and the acclaimed co-founder of Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, Kevin Iega Jeff's visceral Church of Nations. Ray has carefully curated each evening to showcase different signature works from the company's distinguished repertoire, including Nicholas Villeneuve's The Art of Waiting, Christopher L. Huggins' Chaos, Richard A. Freeman, Jr.'s Unsettled Thoughts, Zach Law Ingram's Phoenix, and Katarzyna Skarpetowska's Tidal Intersections. Throughout her tenure, Ray has consistently demonstrated an exceptional ability to nurture emerging talent while preserving the company's artistic integrity. Her own choreographic works, including the celebrated piece Nineteenth commemorating the centennial of the 19th Amendment, have received critical acclaim for their depth, innovation, and cultural resonance. As an award-winning dancer and choreographer, Ray's influence extends beyond DBDT: Encore! She remains a prominent voice in the national dance community, advocating for diverse representation and artistic excellence. Her leadership has opened doors for countless dancers and choreographers, particularly those from underrepresented communities. Rising Excellence is not merely a celebration of the past but a bold statement about the future direction of DBDT: Encore! under Ray's continued guidance. The performances highlight her commitment to presenting work that is both technically challenging and emotionally compelling, while fostering the next generation of dance artists. Event Details: Rising Excellence featuring DBDT: Encore! Moody Performance Hall 2520 Flora Street, Dallas, TX 75201 Friday, April 25 and Saturday, April 26, 2025, 7:30pm For tickets - ATTPAC.org About Nycole Ray: Nycole Ray serves as the Artistic Director of DBDT: Encore!, the professional training company of Dallas Black Dance Theatre. With over two decades of experience with DBDT, Ray has established herself as one of North Texas' leading dancers and choreographers. Her artistic vision combines technical excellence with profound storytelling, creating performances that challenge and inspire audiences. Under her leadership, DBDT: Encore! continues to flourish as a launching pad for emerging professional dancers. About DBDT: Encore!: Founded in 2000, DBDT: Encore! is the professional training company of Dallas Black Dance Theatre. For 25 years, it has provided high-caliber training and performance opportunities for emerging artists, serving as a bridge between academic dance education and professional dance careers. The company performs nationally and internationally, showcasing a diverse repertoire of modern, jazz, African, and spiritual works. SOURCE Nycole Ray BEIJING, April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A report from chinadaily.com.cn: The world has witnessed the heartbreaking fragility of cultural heritage in recent years, as disasters and conflicts erase millenniums of history in a matter of minutes. Wildfires and earthquakes have crumbled priceless temples and monuments, and wars and armed conflicts have turned iconic landmarks into rubble. Visitors watch a full-dome film at Mogao Grottoes Visitor Center in Dunhuang, Gansu province, on March 18. [CHEN BINXINHUA] Even in the absence of sudden catastrophe, heritage sites face rising threats. Rising seas engulf ancient port cities, while intensifying monsoons erode historic settlements. In China, sections of the Great Wall, built to withstand invaders, now battle desertification and extreme weather. From thawing Arctic permafrost destabilizing indigenous sites to scorching temperatures fading Australia's ancient rock art, no region remains untouched. Human activities are accelerating the peril. While urbanization and unchecked development have led to encroachment of historic neighborhoods, sprawling infrastructure have fractured cultural landscapes. Even tourism, a vital source of preservation funding, is straining fragile monuments in many UNESCO World Heritage sites. The loss of heritage is not merely structural; it is the erosion of humanity's legacy. As communities are being uplifted, valuable cultural practices and traditional knowledge disappear, fraying the fabric of human identity, collective memory, and the bonds that unite societies. On this International Day for Monuments and Sites (April 18), we are reminded that cultural heritage faces unprecedented threats on a global scale. Amid climate disasters, geopolitical conflicts, and rapid urbanization, safeguarding our shared legacy has never been more urgent. However, recent achievements by UNESCO and its member states offer a beacon of hope, demonstrating that collective action can preserve and even revitalize the irreplaceable treasure of our past. The UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund, a multi-donor initiative, enables rapid response to crises caused by armed conflicts and disasters. Through this fund, UNESCO and its partners have organized cultural workshops to support community recovery, developed a guide to prevent fires in cultural and natural heritage sites, and established inter-sectoral collaborative platforms to address Mongolia's extreme weather known as dzud. The recent completion of an eight-year initiative has revived Mosul, one of the world's oldest cities, after its destruction by Daesh (formerly known as the Islamic State). In the Asia-Pacific region, UNESCO has advanced the MONDIACULT 2022 Declaration, helping countries integrate culture into sustainable development. Vietnam has expanded its legal frameworks for heritage preservation and creative industries with UNESCO's support, while Indonesia's 2024 National Cultural Strategy has reinforced culture as a pillar of development, and Nepal and Bangladesh have updated policies to prioritize cultural rights and climate resilience, and Tuvalu and the Cook Islands integrated traditional knowledge into climate adaptation strategies. Among UNESCO's member states, China has emerged as a global leader in innovative heritage conservation, demonstrating how preservation can drive sustainable development. China's holistic approach combining cutting-edge technology, community empowerment and policy foresight offer replicable models for balancing progress with preservation. China's use of cutting-edge tools has set a conservation benchmark. The Great Wall's AI-powered monitoring system, employing satellite imagery and 3D modeling, detects structural vulnerabilities with unprecedented precision. The Digital Dunhuang project in Gansu province has created a virtual twin of the Mogao Grottoes, reducing physical visitation pressure on the UNESCO World Heritage Site while making the treasure globally accessible a solution echoing UNESCO's emphasis on ethical digital transformation. After the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, the restoration of Dujiangyan's ancient irrigation system, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, not only preserved a 2,300-year-old engineering marvel but also ensured it continued playing its due role in irrigating 11.3 million hectares of farmland. This aligns with UNESCO's call to integrate traditional knowledge into climate resilience. China's visitor-management innovation, such as time-slot ticketing for the Palace Museum (Forbidden City), has inspired global peers such as Venice in Italy and Machu Picchu in Peru, while embedding heritage into rural vitalization programs has created millions of jobs, lifting communities out of poverty while safeguarding cultural heritage. China has also become a key partner in global heritage conservation, sharing expertise through technical and financial assistance. Since 1989, China has been helping Cambodia to restore the Angkor Vat monuments, and since 2015, it has been assisting Nepal to rebuild monuments damaged in the devastating Kathmandu earthquake. Through initiatives like the Silk Roads International Youth Forums, China has fostered intercultural dialogue among youths from more than 100 countries, promoting heritage stewardship. Since 2018, China has collaborated with Africa to strengthen capacity building and monitor systems for UNESCO World Heritage sites. China's multilateral cooperation aligns with UNESCO's vision of heritage as a catalyst for international understanding and peace building. Today, we celebrate heritage as a bridge not merely between past and future, but as a living connection between peoples and nations. In the face of division and destruction, preserving cultural heritage, tangible and intangible, movable and non-movable, becomes an act of hope and a powerful affirmation of the MONDIACULT vision that positions culture at the heart of sustainable development. China has shown that through innovation, inclusive vision and global partnership, heritage can thrive as a testament to resilience from AI-powered conservation to community-led rural revitalization. UNESCO remains committed to strengthening its partnership with China as well as other countries, ensuring our cultural legacies not only endure but illuminate the path forward. Let today inspire our collective action to place culture where it belongs as a fundamental pillar of human progress. Together, we can prove that the heritage preserved today becomes sustainable development tomorrow. SOURCE chinadaily.com.cn RND Automation (RND), a subsidiary of CAS Holdings (CAS), is excited to announce the successful acquisition of QuickPouch's intellectual property and assets. LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla., April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- QuickPouch has a rich history in the packaging industry, evolving from research and development applications to producing millions of pouches per year. Today, over 300 QuickPouch systems are operational worldwide, efficiently packaging a diverse range of products, including healthcare items, medical devices, IVD test kits, surgical instruments, cosmetics and personal care products, pharmaceuticals, food items, and both consumer and industrial goods. RND Automation Strengthens Market Position through QuickPouch Acquisition "Acquiring QuickPouch's assets and intellectual property is a tremendous advantage for both RND Automation and CAS Holdings," said Patrick McDermott, President and CRO of CAS. "This strategic move fortifies our packaging portfolio and strengthens our position in the market for pouch-based packaging machinery. It empowers us to deliver more comprehensive packaging solutions our customers have been asking for." Founded in Ronkonkoma, New York, QuickPouch, previously operating under the name Adaptive Manufacturing Technologies, primarily served the medical industry, producing hundreds of pouches each month. However, the company faced challenges, culminating in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing in August 2024, which led to the dissolution and sale of its assets. RND Automation seized this opportunity, acquiring QuickPouch's intellectual property in February 2025. "This acquisition not only expands our product offerings but also aligns with RND's commitment to providing superior packaging solutions," stated Aaron Laine, Executive Managing Director at RND. "We are excited to reimagine QuickPouch, ensuring it complements our current product lines." With this acquisition, RND plans to improve the QuickPouch product line and integrate it into their renowned packaging solutions, including the MiniPack, MicroPack, and Kanga Poucher. This integration will not only enhance product performance but also streamline operations for our clients, ensuring they benefit from the latest advancements in packaging technology. "Improving customer service and technical support is a top priority for us," said Steve Bostic, RND's Manager of Sales, Applications Engineering, Service, and Spare Parts. "We are committed to addressing any challenges that previous QuickPouch customers may have experienced with their machines or servicing. By focusing on spare part availability and enhancing the overall customer experience, we're confident that we can boost our competitive edge in the market. We encourage all QuickPouch customers to reach out to RND for supportwe're here to help." To further support QuickPouch customers, Mathew Boyd, RND's Services and Spare Parts Supervisor, will be dedicated to assisting QuickPouch clients who are seeking service support, ensuring they receive prompt and effective solutions to any issues they may encounter. Angela Desmond and James Pritchard, both Key Account Managers for RND Automation, expressed their enthusiasm for the future of this acquisition. Angela noted, "I am thrilled to share QuickPouch solutions with my customers. This acquisition opens new doors for enhanced packaging options." James stated, "The integration of QuickPouch solutions into RND's offerings allows us to provide even more value to our customers. We are eager to showcase these advancements." As RND Automation embarks on this new journey, the company is committed to enhancing the legacy of QuickPouch while ensuring that existing customers receive the support and solutions they need. For more information about RND Automation's packaging solutions, please visit https://www.rndautomation.com/capabilities/packaging/. About RND Automation RND Automation is your premier partner in delivering automation solutions tailored to meet a wide range of needs. Whether you're looking for out-of-the-box systems that are ready to operate upon arrival or customized solutions designed specifically for your unique applications, we have you covered. Our team excels in designing and engineering automation systems from the ground up, ensuring that every solution aligns perfectly with your requirements. If you have existing machine designs, we can build-to-print, replicating your original equipment with precision. With extensive expertise in robotics, packaging, and assembly, along with robust systems integration capabilities, our in-house engineers are dedicated to addressing your specific application challenges. At RND Automation, we believe in supporting our customers throughout the entire lifecycle of their machines. From service and spare parts to onsite and remote support, preventative maintenance, and training, we are committed to ensuring your automation systems operate at peak performance. Partner with us to elevate your operations and drive efficiency across your organization. Press Contact: Claudia Chery 508.838.1347 https://rndautomation.com/ SOURCE RND Automation SAINT ROBERT, Mo., April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A tribute to the Mother Road is set to light up the night sky in the heart of the Ozarks! Route 66 Neon Park at George M. Reed Roadside Park in Saint Robert, MO, will host a lighting ceremony at 7 p.m. Friday, May 9, 2025. The first park of its kind in the Show Me State, Route 66 Neon Park features nearly a dozen restored neon signs that once stood along the Missouri portion of Route 66 in its prime, paying tribute to the nostalgic roadside stops that once lined America's most famous highway. Opening in Saint Robert, MO, Route 66 Neon Park features a selection of authentic neon signs to celebrate Missouris proud connection to Historic Route 66. "The opening of the Route 66 Neon Park in Saint Robert is a proud moment for our city and for all of Pulaski County," said Saint Robert Mayor James Breckinridge. "This park not only preserves the iconic glow of America's Mother Road, but it also celebrates the rich history and culture Route 66 brought to our region and Missouri as a whole. It's a tribute to the spirit of exploration and connection that defined a generation. Now, it inspires a new one." Discussions and efforts to establish the Neon Park began in 2014 with a meeting between Beth Wiles, CDME, Executive Director of the Pulaski County Tourism Bureau, and the Missouri Route 66 Association's Neon Heritage Preservation Committee. Fundraising efforts commenced in 2015, during which the Pulaski County Preservation Organization acquired nine neon signs and raised more than $12,000. In October 2020, the City of Saint Robert took over development, making the vision a reality. All signs, collected and refurbished by private collectors, were once used to advertise along Route 66 in Missouri, stretching from St. Louis to Joplin. Along with the restored neon signs, the park will feature storyboards to provide visitors with the backstory of each sign. Aglow once again thanks to the hard work and dedication from collectors, the signs were donated to Route 66 Neon Park by numerous entities and individuals, including Friends of the Mother Road, Inc., Missouri State Parks, the Chmura family, Kenneth and Susan Bassett, and the Route 66 Association of Missouri. "The City of Saint Robert Route 66 Neon Park is a pivotal attraction for both Pulaski County and the state of Missouri along the iconic Mother Road," said Beth Wiles, CDME, Executive Director of the Pulaski County Tourism Bureau. "More importantly, it revitalizes and showcases vintage neon signage, allowing people from around the globe to appreciate these historic treasures. Neon Park not only celebrates our heritage, but also invites future generations to enjoy and cherish the beauty of these luminous works of art." Since 1926, no other roadway in American history has evoked a sense of reverence, nostalgia, and wanderlust quite like Route 66. Running from Chicago to Santa Monica, CA, the Mother Road brought thousands of cross-country travelers to Pulaski County in its heyday. Together with the establishment of Fort Leonard Wood in the 1940s, Route 66 brought many new businesses and residents to an area then known as Eastville, later incorporated as Saint Robert. Today, Pulaski County's centuries-old connection to Route 66 lives on in attractions like Route 66 Neon Park. That romance and admiration for mid-century Americana led to then-Gov. John Ashcroft signing House Bill 1629 into law on July 10, 1990, at the Pulaski County Courthouse in Waynesville, making Missouri the first state to assign historic status to Route 66 and cementing Pulaski County's legacy as the Birthplace of the Byway. "Route 66 Neon Park is a great addition to the already-noteworthy Route 66 attractions across Missouri, including those in Pulaski County," said Stephen Foutes, Director of the Missouri Division of Tourism. "It's also an acknowledgment that in embracing the historic past of Route 66, there's a strong commitment to keeping its legacy alive for generations to come." Signs featured at Route 66 Neon Park include the following: AlPac Motel Formerly located east of Pacific, MO , this sign advertised the motel owned by Fred and Jean Miller , which was known as the "Home of Good Food." The sign was rescued by the Route 66 Association of Missouri , then owned by Missouri State Parks before it was donated for Neon Park in 2022. Formerly located east of , this sign advertised the motel owned by , which was known as the "Home of Good Food." The sign was rescued by the Route 66 Association of , then owned by Missouri State Parks before it was donated for Neon Park in 2022. Alura Motel Later known as the Lin-Air Motel, this motel located near St. Louis was built by Paul Lammers in the late 1940s. The lettering uses an uncommon style called "triple stroke," with the letters outlined with an additional stroke of neon in the middle, creating a classic and highly visible calling card during its 66 heydays. The sign was purchased by Friends of the Mother Road, Inc. and eventually made its way to Henry's Rabbit Ranch in Staunton, IL , in late 2004. Rich Henry took care of and displayed the sign for 13 years until its owner, the Friends of the Mother Road, Inc., donated it to Neon Park. Later known as the Lin-Air Motel, this motel located near was built by in the late 1940s. The lettering uses an uncommon style called "triple stroke," with the letters outlined with an additional stroke of neon in the middle, creating a classic and highly visible calling card during its 66 heydays. The sign was purchased by Friends of the Mother Road, Inc. and eventually made its way to Henry's Rabbit Ranch in , in late 2004. took care of and displayed the sign for 13 years until its owner, the Friends of the Mother Road, Inc., donated it to Neon Park. D & G Liquor Opened by Herman and Jodie Paulette , D & G Package Liquor operated in Saint Robert until 2009. At that time, Greg and Jolanta Chmura restored and moved the sign from its original location to Saint Robert Boulevard in 2015. The initial restoration work was done by Signs in Time of Saint Robert . The Chmuras later donated the sign to Route 66 Neon Park in 2018. Opened by , D & G Package Liquor operated in until 2009. At that time, restored and moved the sign from its original location to Saint Robert Boulevard in 2015. The initial restoration work was done by Signs in Time of . The Chmuras later donated the sign to Route 66 Neon Park in 2018. Modern Cabins Originally located just a quarter mile from Neon Park, this sign was originally installed on the rooftop at 515 Ole Route 66 in Saint Robert , where some of the original cabins still stand. The sign was removed in 1977 and stored in a garage until March 2015 , when it was donated for use at Route 66 Neon Park. Originally located just a quarter mile from Neon Park, this sign was originally installed on the rooftop at 515 Ole Route 66 in , where some of the original cabins still stand. The sign was removed in 1977 and stored in a garage until , when it was donated for use at Route 66 Neon Park. Motel St. Louis Also known as the "Motel Beautiful," this St. Louis -area motel boasted 44 "ultra-modern units" and station wagon service to the airport. In 2015, the Route 66 Association of Missouri recovered the sign. The Association and the Missouri History Museum worked together to refurbish it for an outside display at the museum's exhibit along the Mother Road in 2016-17. After four years in storage, the neon has now been restored for its new home at Route 66 Neon Park. Also known as the "Motel Beautiful," this -area motel boasted 44 "ultra-modern units" and station wagon service to the airport. In 2015, the Route 66 Association of recovered the sign. The Association and the Missouri History Museum worked together to refurbish it for an outside display at the museum's exhibit along the Mother Road in 2016-17. After four years in storage, the neon has now been restored for its new home at Route 66 Neon Park. Scully's Restaurant & Motel This sign originally advertised Scully's Sunset Inn, opened by James Scully Sr. in St. Clair . When his sons inherited the business, they replaced "Sunset Inn" with "Restaurant & Motel." The business closed in 1967, after which the property sat vacant for 17 years until it was acquired by the Agape House in 1984. The sign was donated to Route 66 Neon Park by the Route 66 Association of Missouri . This sign originally advertised Scully's Sunset Inn, opened by in . When his sons inherited the business, they replaced "Sunset Inn" with "Restaurant & Motel." The business closed in 1967, after which the property sat vacant for 17 years until it was acquired by the Agape House in 1984. The sign was donated to Route 66 Neon Park by the Route 66 Association of . Skyline Garage Auto Service Established as a business partnership between John Paul Richardson and Judith McMurtrey , Skyline Garage operated at 894 Old Business Route 66 in Saint Robert . The sign was acquired by the City of Saint Robert for restoration and preservation in 2023. Established as a business partnership between and , Skyline Garage operated at 894 Old Business Route 66 in . The sign was acquired by the for restoration and preservation in 2023. Stanley Cour Tel Built in 1950 by Stanley and Olivia Williams , this St. Louis -based motel earned notoriety for housing astronauts training for Project Mercury the first U.S. manned space mission. The sign was purchased by Friends of the Mother Road, Inc., with a donation from Dr. Joel Braunstein and was housed at Henry's Rabbit Ranch from 2004-2017, after which it was donated to Neon Park. Built in 1950 by , this -based motel earned notoriety for housing astronauts training for Project Mercury the first U.S. manned space mission. The sign was purchased by Friends of the Mother Road, Inc., with a donation from Dr. and was housed at Henry's Rabbit Ranch from 2004-2017, after which it was donated to Neon Park. Tri-State Bonding This bail bonds company was founded by Gene and Kathleen Pugh in 1959 at the corner of Fifth and Lincoln streets in Carthage, MO. The sign featured a unique "jail bird" design a popular photo op for Route 66 travelers and was donated to Neon Park by the Route 66 Association of Missouri . About the Pulaski County Tourism Bureau The Pulaski County Tourism Bureau and Visitors Center is a nonprofit organization (501C6) funded through a 3% guest tax collected by hotels, motels, cabins, bed and breakfasts, and vacation homes for room nights sold within the county. We are the designated, state-certified destination marketing organization (DMO) for Pulaski County, MO, organized for the sole purpose of promotion of tourism and the comprehensive marketing of our destination to fuel the local business climate and broaden the local tax base. The Bureau also operates a state-of-the-art Visitors Center located north of Interstate 44, Exit 161. For more information or images, please contact: BETH WILES, CDME Executive Director Pulaski County Tourism Bureau 137 Saint Robert Blvd., Suite A, Saint Robert, MO 65584 at [email protected] or call 573.336.6355 ANITA IVEY City Administrator City of St. Robert Missouri 194 Eastlawn Ave., Suite A, Saint Robert, MO 65584 at [email protected] or call 573.451.2000 BRIDGET NORMAN Media & Public Relations Director McDaniels Marketing 11 Olt Ave., Pekin, IL 61554 at [email protected] or call 309.346.4230 Learn more at www.visitpulaskicounty.org SOURCE Pulaski County Tourism Bureau Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way: 'The Work Done Here Will Have a Lasting Impact on Our State, Nation and Beyond.' NEWARK, N.J., April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Rutgers-Newark announced the launch of the Institute for Data, Research and Innovation Science (IDRIS) , a groundbreaking effort that explores how AI and other technologies can improve healthcare, education, public safety, and other aspects of community well-being. Photo caption: From left, Rutgers-Newark Interim Chancellor Jeffrey Robinson, New Jersey Lt. Governor Tahesha Way, and Fay Cobb Payton, Executive Director of the Institute for Data, Research and Innovation Science (IDRIS) at Rutgers-Newark. PHOTO CREDIT: Tamara Fleming "IDRIS is interested in asking, how does this impact the community and the human experience?'' said Fay Cobb Payton, Executive Director of IDRIS and Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science at Rutgers-Newark. She was part of the state task force that compiled last year's report on AI for Gov. Murphy. The event included keynote remarks from Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way, in addition to corporate and university leaders from Rutgers and Princeton University. "This program is in lockstep with our administration's efforts to reclaim New Jersey's rightful place as the center of innovation history,'' said Way. "It also underscores the importance of addressing risk, privacy concerns and workforce innovation. The work done here will have a lasting impact on our state, nation and beyond.'' IDRIS examines how AI data is gathered, incorporated, and applied. It focuses on ethical questions surrounding AI and how it can be used to advance equity and overcome challenges in urban communities. The institute will also explore additional technologies, including virtual augmented reality and wearables, such as smart watches and headsets. It will also help train undergraduate and graduate students in research and data literacy. "In Newark and elsewhere, there are complex problems that situate themselves across all facets of a community: public administration, criminal justice, social work, the environment, healthcare, and education. These require interdisciplinary approaches and collaboration,'' said Payton. IDRIS, which spans research and healthcare efforts across Rutgers, includes partnerships with community organizations and state and local government, including the The Newark Public Safety Collaborative at Rutgers-Newark, Rutgers-New Brunswick, and New Jersey Medical School. Corporate partners are also involved as stakeholders. Gustavo Abreu, Global Head of Securities Operations Technology for Inventory and Position Management at Barclays, emphasized the growing need for institutions to stay attuned to increasingly sophisticated consumers and the transformative potential of interdisciplinary collaboration hubs like IDRIS. "We are entering an era where the consumer is not only more informed but expects solutions that are intuitive, inclusive, and adaptive," he said. "To meet that challenge, we must lead with empathy, apply design thinking, and co-create with the very communities we aim to serve. The key is not just solving problems, but understanding them deeplyand using the right tools to design for impact." IDRIS also aims to increase public data literacy and knowledge of AI and tech data, with a goal of helping to inform policy and programs in New Jersey a focus of the governor's AI report, which was released in November. The report was part of Gov. Murphy's plan to improve state government through AI and how it can be used to stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and enhance training and talent development, especially for low-income residents. IDRIS will also examine some of the problems and ethical issues linked to AI. "Many of the recommendations from the report are being adopted by this program,'' Way said. One focus of Payton's work, and the mission of IDRIS, has been the potential and limitations of AI algorithms used in healthcare and other fields. Her research has examined biases in AI technology that can lead service providers to rely on data that perpetuates generalizations about people of color and others, failing to incorporate their cultural background and day-to-day living circumstances. The limitations, in part, stem from an overreliance on data and rules that are misinformed and have gone unchecked, Payton said. "The question becomes, who is collecting the data and how is it collected? Who is curating it?" asked Payton."That's important.'' But IDRIS will also examine the vast potential of AI to empower citizens to use data to improve their communities. They could potentially monitor local changes to the environment, such as droughts and air pollutionalong with climate emergenciesand share data with officials and others that could help improve conditions. AI can also be used to help communities enhance public safety, improve social services., and foster entrepreneurship. "We intend IDRIS to apply those skills to the moment and the work that is here before usto make sure that human lives in the future are better than they are right now,'' said Jacqueline Mattis, Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences-Newark, who helped lead the formation of IDRIS. Said Rutgers-Newark Interim Chancellor Jeffrey Robinson, "The research highlighted today is about how we can create knowledge for social good. Here at Rutgers Newark, it's something we cherish deeply." ABOUT IDRIS The Institute for Data, Research, and Innovation Science (IDRIS) is an organizing hub for applied, social, ethical, and responsible scholarship in data science and emerging technologies at Rutgers UniversityNewark. ABOUT RUTGERS-NEWARK Rutgers UniversityNewark (RU-N) is a diverse, urban, public research university that is an anchor institution in New Jersey's cultural capital. It is exceptionally well positioned to fulfill higher education's promise as an engine of discovery, innovation, and social mobility. With its legacy of producing high-impact scholarship, Rutgers-Newark is in and of a city and region where its work on local challenges, undertaken with partners from many sectors, resonates powerfully throughout our urbanizing world. RU-N brings an incredible diversity of people to this workstudents, faculty, staff, and community partnersmaking it more creative, more engaging, and more relevant for our time and the times ahead. SOURCE Rutgers University - Newark CLINTON, Md., April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Self Storage Plus, a leading provider of third-party self-storage management services, is proud to highlight its newest managed location in Clinton, Maryland. Developed by Arcland Property Company, the facility opened during the second week of March, adding to Self Storage Plus' growing presence in Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic region. Located at 8310 Dangerfield Road, Clinton, MD 20735, this state-of-the-art property brings approximately 90,000 square feet and 939 storage units to one of Maryland's fastest-growing areas. Conveniently situated near Joint Base Andrews and just off Branch Avenue, the new facility is designed to meet the increasing storage needs of residents and businesses throughout Prince George's County. "We're excited to welcome this Clinton facility to the Self Storage Plus platform" Post this The Class A facility features climate-controlled units, elevator access, drive-up accessibility, and a fully fenced, electronically gated property for secure and convenient storage solutions. The site includes both a multi-story building and a single-story building, catering to a wide range of customer needs. "We're excited to welcome this Clinton facility to the Self Storage Plus platform" said Jennifer Martinez the Vice President of Operations at Self Storage Plus. "This location represents our continued commitment to providing exceptional service and modern amenities to the communities we serve." The development team included Glen Arm Building Company as the general contractor, Bohler for civil engineering, and bwdarchitects for architectural design. To learn more or rent a unit at Self Storage Plus, visit www.selfstorageplus.com. About Self Storage Plus: Self Storage Plus is proud to serve the storage needs of local communities with over 95 locations across Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, New York, Florida, Alabama, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. Our core purpose is to give our customers Room to Pursue Life. For more information about Self Storage Plus, or to rent or reserve your unit online, visit www.selfstorageplus.com. About Arcland: Arcland is a leading self-storage developer and investment firm specializing in Class A storage facilities. With a commitment to excellence, Arcland develops Class A self-storage properties designed for long-term success. Through strategic site selection, innovative design, and expert construction, Arcland continues to shape the future of the self-storage industry. Learn more at www.arc.land. SOURCE Self Storage Plus Signature Brands to host Easter Egg and Cookie Decorating Stations WASHINGTON, April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On April 21st, Signature Brands, LLC, holding company of PAAS, the leader in Easter Egg Coloring, will host decorating stations at the White House Easter Egg Roll. For over 30 years, Signature Brands has participated in this iconic event to celebrate the Easter holiday with families from across the country. Signature Brands PAAS Easter Eggs Signature Brands As part of the event, PAAS will host an Easter egg coloring activation where guests can explore their imagination and decorate colorful Easter eggs using PAAS Color Cups, magic crayons, and easy to use Grip N Dips. Additionally, PAWS, the lovable PAAS Easter Bunny, will be hopping about the lawn to interact with guests and take photos. To round out the Easter decorating experience, Signature Brands will also host a cookie decorating station with their signature icings and sprinkles, all of which are proudly manufactured in Ocala, Florida. "Participating in the White House Easter Egg Roll with the beloved tradition of coloring Easter eggs and decorating cookies means so much as it hits the core of what Signature Brands stands for creating memories that will last a lifetime. We are happy to continue our long-standing White House Easter tradition of over 30 years and hope to continue it for another 30," said Joe Ens, CEO of Signature Brands. This year, 94% of consumers who celebrate Easter and typically dye eggs, plan on decorating eggs this year per a third-party survey from PAAS conducted in January 2025. Signature Brands is happy to see that holiday traditions continue to remain strong as we head into Easter. The White House Easter Egg Roll will take place on Monday, April 21, 2025, on the White House South Lawn. To learn more about PAAS decorating kits, please visit PAASEasterEggs.com. About Signature Brands, LLC Based in Ocala, Florida, Signature Brands operates a portfolio including PAAS Easter Egg Decorating, Pumpkin Masters Decorating Kits and GiftPop Gifting Popcorn. Signature Brands is also one of the largest manufacturers, distributors, and marketers of dessert decorating products. SOURCE Signature Brands LJUBLJANA, April 17 (Xinhua) -- The Confucius Institute Ljubljana and the Slovene Ethnographic Museum organised a celebration of the United Nations Chinese Language Day in the capital Ljubljana on Thursday, offering a free visit of the museum's Chinese exhibition and a calligraphy workshop. Sinologist Helena Motoh led visitors through an exhibition of Chinese artefacts that were collected in China over 100 years ago by a Slovenian navy officer Ivan Skusek and donated to the museum in 1963. Among the over 500 artefacts donated by Skusek is a wooden model of a traditional Chinese three-bay gate with a saddle roof, assembled in 2023 by experts from China's Palace Museum, along with numerous pieces of carved furniture, musical instruments, silk artefacts, clothes and a collection of Buddhist statues. "This collection of Chinese artefacts is very special not only for Slovenia but also for Europe," Motoh told visitors, pointing out that Skusek collected the pieces while staying in China between 1914 and 1920 and brought them to Slovenia in the hope of establishing a Chinese museum. However, he was never able to realise his dream of a museum. The museum prepared an hour of Chinese fairy tales where three museum curators told children three traditional fairy tales. The visitors could also taste some traditional Chinese dishes and choose free literature on China in English. They were welcomed in Slovenian and Chinese by representatives of the Confucius Institute. "The exhibition is very interesting. I particularly liked the large carved mirror and the beautiful Chinese canopy bed," a senior visitor Brigita told Xinhua. The exhibition of Skusek's collection, which was opened last year, will remain in place at least till 2026. SHANGHAI, April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The ASU+GSV Summit, co-hosted by Arizona State University (ASU) and Global Silicon Valley (GSV), recently kicked off at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego, California. Themed 'Learning at the Speed of Light', the event drew over 7,000 educators, business owners, investors, and policymakers, including Khan Academy founder Sal Khan and Stanford University's Prof. Andrew Ng (co-founder of Coursera). Among the distinguished speakers was Dr. Joleen Liang, co-founder of Squirrel Ai Learning, who joined a high-profile panel with Khan Academy Chief Learning Officer Kristen DiCerbo and SchoolAI CEO Caleb Hicks to explore "Cultivating Critical Thinking in the Age of AI Tutors". Hailed as the 'Davos of EdTech', the ASU+GSV Summit is one of the most influential events in global education and workforce learning. It provides a platform for leading innovators across the "PreK to Gray" (early childhood through lifelong learning) sector to exchange ideas, share best practices, and explore opportunities for collaboration. Dr. Liang opened the discussion with a compelling thesis: "AI won't replace human thoughtit's a tool to ignite deeper cognition". She elaborated on this viewpoint by citing the company's proprietary large adaptive model (LAM) for multimodal education as an example. With the growing popularity of general-purpose AI led by LLMs and ChatGPT, Squirrel Ai Learning 's multimodal LAM remains laser-focused on the education sector. Leveraging 117 patented technologies, including fine-grained knowledge component decomposition and root-cause analysis, it dynamically tracks students' problem-solving processes to deliver truly personalized learning solutions. This ensures every learner discovers their optimal study method, accelerating the progress of adaptive education. Squirrel Ai's all-subject multimodal adaptive learning model enhances intelligent human-computer interaction, enabling seamless voice and text-based engagement with students. For instance, when a student solves a math problem, instead of just grading the answer, Squirrel Ai Learning's adaptive tutoring system guides them with Socratic questioning: "Would the conclusion hold if the conditions change?" This approach encourages students to think independently and deepen their understanding by prompting them to verify their logic and re-evaluate problem-solving strategies. Squirrel Ai Learning's MCM (Model of thinking, Capacity, Method) model further helps students uncover latent strengths. Dr. Liang emphasized, "We're nurturing adaptable thinkersnot training machine-dependent learnersand we believe it will benefit them for life." Squirrel Ai Learning's innovations earned it a spot on the 2025 GSV 150 list, which evaluates over 2, 500 global companies backed by venture capital and private equity, and won the Most Transformational Growth Companies In Digital Learning and Workforce Skills award. During the summit, many international educators recognized and praised Squirrel Ai Learning 's LAM model. Michael Horn from the Harvard Graduate School of Education shared that he frequently cites the company's adaptive tutoring system as a case study in his courses, commending its decade-long technological evolution and continued innovation. According to publicly available data, the company allocates 30% of its annual revenue to R&D as part of its mission to make quality education more accessible. It has built a top-tier research team that brings together leading AI scientists and education professionals from around the globe, while collaborating with leading universities and research organizations worldwide. To date, Squirrel Ai Learning has opened over 3,000 physical learning centers across China and partnered with more than 60,000 public schools, collecting nearly 10 billion learning behavior data points from over 24 million students. As the deep integration of AI and education emerges as a central theme in education reform, Squirrel Ai Learning 's adaptive learning system offers the industry a tangible solution: AI should never replace student thinking but rather serve as a cognitive partner that cultivates critical thinking. The future of high-quality education requires both relentless innovation in technology and the commitment to preserve the human element that nurtures original thought. Contact: Li Huang [email protected] SOURCE Squirrel Ai Learning What if language learning felt more like socializing than studying? HONG KONG, April 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Meet Talkin the world's first social-first language app built for Gen Z and young adults everywhere. Talkin isn't your typical dating app or language tool it's a whole new vibe with swipe matches for a partner, real-time voice chats, immersive scenes, and smart AI that makes learning fun, engaging, and social. Talkin features Since its launch, Talkin has attracted over 2 million users across 20+ countriesoutpacing many niche language apps in user growth. Its smart matching system brings together people from different cultures helping you find language partners you actually vibe with. No matter what you're into learning a new language, sharing your local life, chatting about travel, or even obsessing over your favorite cup of coffee there's always someone on the other end who gets it. At its core, Talkin it's a global space where everyone is both a learner and a storyteller. According to a white paper jointly released by the World Economic Forum and Capgemini, there were 73 million global digital jobs in 2024, a number expected to grow to 92 million by 2030. This rapid shift is driving young people to strengthen their cross-cultural communication skills, fueling demand for more flexible, socially driven, and immersive ways to learn. In response, Talkin established long-term academic partnerships with Beijing Language and Culture University and Hong Kong Baptist University to co-create a global language exchange community. With support from professional educators, the platform has quickly won the hearts of young people around the world. About Talkin The company behind Talkin is publicly listed with both A-share and H-share status. Headquartered in Shenzhen, the company also operates offices in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Chengdu, and has built a strong presence in digital culture and education. It has participated in industry exchanges with leading tech companies like Huawei and Tencent, contributing to ongoing discussions in the field. Beyond business, Talkin maintains a strong commitment to social responsibility donating over 4 million RMB to public welfare initiatives over the past three years . Talkin is now available for download on the App Store and Google Play. Join over 2 million global users and start your language and culture journey today. Say hello to the worldon Talkin. Learn more about Talkin: https://quNDrA.allapp.link/h3Ku/2ZIy40 Related link: https://www.talkin.com CONTACT: Jade Rong, [email protected] SOURCE TalkIn Hundreds of San Joaquin Valley community members to gather in Sacramento to celebrate policy wins and advocate for action on critical issues SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The San Joaquin Valley Health Fund is proud to host Equity on the Mall 2025, marking a decade of advocacy for health, economic and social equity in the San Joaquin Valley. This milestone event will take place on April 23, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the California State Capitol West Steps. Over 1,500 residents, community leaders and policymakers will gather to champion policies that ensure a brighter, more just future for all communities in the region. "For ten years, Equity on the Mall has given voice to communities across the San Joaquin Valley," said Kaying Hang, President of The Center at Sierra Health Foundation, which manages the San Joaquin Valley Health Fund. "We have made real progress in advancing equity, but we also recognize the road ahead, especially given the current policy environment. There is still much work to do." Equity on the Mall brings together grassroots organizations, advocates and elected officials to advance policies on immigration, housing, health, education, environmental justice, land use and planning, and the digital divide. This year's event will celebrate a decade of progress while continuing the push for systemic change. "We are not just celebrating a milestone; we are renewing our commitment to the future," said Hang. "Our community-created policy platform lays out a clear roadmap for what we must achieve in the next decade to ensure every resident has access to opportunity and justice." The event will open with a traditional blessing from Chairwoman Regina Cuellar of the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok, followed by remarks from civilrights leader Dolores Huerta, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and other state and local officials, as well as representatives of San Joaquin Valley Health Fund partner organizations. "Our communities have spent years fighting for policies that uplift and protect the most vulnerable," said Christine Barker, Executive Director of Fresno Immigrant and Refugee Ministries (FIRM). "We must continue to demand investment in the programs and protections that have transformed lives across the Valley." Equity on the Mall also provides an opportunity for community members to engage directly with policymakers through legislative visits and cultural performances. "The voices and stories shared that day will shape the policies of tomorrow," said Blanca Marin-Candelario, a Modesto resident and advocate with the West Modesto Community Collaborative. "We all have the power to push for change that will make a difference for our families and our future." For more information about Equity on the Mall, visit shfcenter.org or follow @thecentershf and #EquityOnTheMall2025 on social media. ABOUT THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY HEALTH FUND The San Joaquin Valley Health Fund is a collaborative effort dedicated to advancing health and racial equity in California's San Joaquin Valley by supporting community-driven policy and systems change. Since its founding, San Joaquin Valley Health Fund has empowered organizations working on the frontlines of justice to create meaningful, lasting impact. The Fund is managed by The Center at Sierra Health Foundation. Learn more at shfcenter.org/san-joaquin-valley-health-fund . SOURCE San Joaquin Valley Health Fund SHANGHAI and BOSTON, April 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- VelaVigo Bio, the U.S. subsidiary of VelaVigo Cayman Limited (VelaVigo), a biotech company with a robust discovery and development platform of multi-specific antibodies and antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), today announced its second out-licensing agreement of a first-in-class (FIC) asset to Ollin Biosciences, Inc. ("Ollin"), granting Ollin an exclusive license to develop, manufacture and commercialize VBS-102, a first-in-class bispecific antibody, globally (excluding Greater China). VelaVigo will maintain rights for Greater China. Under the terms of the agreement, VelaVigo will receive an upfront fee and future development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments in cash and equity, totaling up to approximately $440 million in the aggregate, as well as tiered royalties on sales in Ollin's territory. This milestone follows VelaVigo's first licensing deal with Avenzo Therapeutics in November 2024 and the successful close of a $50 million Pre-A funding round in February 2025, reinforcing the company's unique business model combining business development (BD) and venture capital (VC) strategies for sustainable growth. The latest deal underscores VelaVigo's ability to discover and develop high-potential therapeutics while partnering strategically to maximize value. Additionally, VelaVigo is advancing its fully owned lead asset, a FIC/BIC bispecific ADC, into a U.S. clinical trial this year and expanding its global clinical development capabilities. The company will also present data on five additional FIC or BIC molecules at upcoming industry conferences, seeking further partnership opportunities worldwide. "This second out-licensing deal is a strong validation of our discovery platform and our ability to identify and advance novel therapeutics with significant potential," said Jing Li, CEO of VelaVigo. "With our first asset entering the clinic this year and a deep pipeline of innovative molecules, we are demonstrating our capacity to translate cutting-edge science into valuable clinical-stage programs. Our goal is to build a global biotech leader by leveraging strategic partnerships while advancing our own portfolio." "Our BD+VC model is designed to create sustainable value for investors and partners," said Tong Zhang, co-founder, Chief Business & Financial Officer of VelaVigo. "This second licensing deal, following our successful $50M Pre-A round, highlights our ability to execute on both financing and strategic collaborations. We are actively engaging with potential partners to expand our global footprint and accelerate the development of our pipeline." About VelaVigo VelaVigo is a leading antibody/ADC discovery and development biotech company with a highly efficient discovery engine and strong capabilities in translational medicine, CMC and early clinical development. Its leading products, the FIC bispecific ADCs, are expected to enter clinical development in the US and China in 2025. VelaVigo continues to build capabilities in clinical development, technology platforms, and partnership with biopharmaceutical companies and investors globally to maximize the efficiency of drug development and return on investment. VelaVigo was founded in 2021 with a $50M investment, its R&D centers in Shanghai, and clinical and US operations in Boston. SOURCE VelaVigo Cayman Limited Colossal kicks off its annual campaign celebrating motherhood and supporting Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. PHOENIX, April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Colossal , the nation's top professional fundraiser, is proud to announce that voting is now open for its annual Super Mom Competition , an online fundraising campaign that honors the extraordinary women who inspire, nurture, and lead in their families and communities. The competition is now underway, and participants are rallying their communities for votes as they compete for the title of this year's Super Mom, all while raising money for an amazing cause. Colossal is searching for the 2025 Super Mom! The 2025 Super Mom will receive $20,000, a luxury getaway for two in Napa Valley , and an appearance in Woman's World Magazine, the best-selling women's weekly in the U.S., reaching 1.6 million readers nationwide. Since its inception, the Super Mom Competition has raised more than $9.3 million for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals . "The Super Mom campaign was the largest first-year grant we've received to date, and it's hard to put our gratitude into words. But that's not the only gift given this campaign shined a light on one of many who are impacted by our fundraising: moms. When a child is in need of care, parents are affected too. They, too, play a significant role in a child's overall health and well-being, which furthers our vision," says Frances Fu, chief financial and strategy officer at Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. This ongoing partnership supports critical care, research, and pediatric services in hospitals across the U.S. and Canada. "Through the Super Mom competition, Colossal and DTCare have helped change the future for thousands of children," said Aimee Daily, President and CEO of Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. In an exciting addition to this year's campaign, Dance Moms star Christi Lukasiak and her daughter Clara will select one remarkable mom to be crowned Christi's Pick and receive a trip to New Orleans, along with up to five guests, with accommodations provided at Christi's Sinners & Saints Airbnb. This year's competition will once again be hosted by Jordin Sparks, a Grammy-nominated artist, actress, and mother who brings warmth and relatability to the campaign and reminds us of the power and heart behind motherhood. Joining her is Victoria Ming, a luxury real estate agent, former Miss World titleholder, and devoted mother of two. Victoria will encourage and guide participants throughout the competition. "The Super Mom Competition is one of our most meaningful campaigns because it allows us to celebrate the women who often put themselves last while giving everything to their families," said Mary Hagen, CEO of Colossal. Visit thesupermom.org to learn more about the campaign. For updates, follow @thesupermomofficial on Instagram and Facebook. ABOUT COLOSSAL Colossal is a nationally registered professional fundraiser that inspires people to advocate for themselves and those in need. Through online competitions like Super Mom, participants have the opportunity to make their mark while also making a big impact. Colossal competitions serve as fundraising campaigns for DTCare , a United States 501(c)(3) public charity organization, which then grants donation funds to specified charities at the completion of the competitions. Learn more at colossal.org . Who's Next? Media Contact: Anne Pritchett [email protected] SOURCE Colossal A roundup of the most newsworthy healthcare press releases from PR Newswire this week, including the first use of Johnson & Johnson's robotic surgical system and a staggering global statistic on pediatric antimicrobial resistance. NEW YORK, April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire. To help healthcare journalists and consumers stay on top of the week's most newsworthy and popular releases, here's a recap of some major stories from the week that shouldn't be missed. The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each story. Click on the press release headlines to access accompanying multimedia assets that are available for download. PR Newswire Weekly Health Press Release Roundup, April 14-18, 2025. For more news like this, check out all of the latest health-related releases from PR Newswire . Do you have a health press release to distribute? Sign up with PR Newswire to share your story with the audiences who matter most. Helping Journalists Stay Up to Date on Industry News These are just a few of the recent press releases that consumers and the media should know about. To be notified of releases relevant to their coverage area, journalists can set up a custom newsfeed with PR Newswire for Journalists . Once they're signed up, reporters, bloggers, and freelancers have access to the following free features: Customization: Users can create customized newsfeeds that will deliver relevant news right to their inbox. Newsfeed results can be targeted by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Users can create customized newsfeeds that will deliver relevant news right to their inbox. Newsfeed results can be targeted by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Photos and Videos: Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include in a journalist or blogger's next story. Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include in a journalist or blogger's next story. Subject Matter Experts: Journalists will have access to ProfNet , a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in their articles. Journalists will have access to , a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in their articles. Related Resources: Our journalist- and blogger-focused blog, Beyond Bylines , features regular media news roundups, writing tips, upcoming events, and more. About PR Newswire PR Newswire is the industry's leading press release distribution partner with an unparalleled global reach of more than 440,000 newsrooms, websites, direct feeds, journalists and influencers and is available in more than 170 countries and 40 languages. From our award-winning Content Services offerings, integrated media newsroom and microsite products, Investor Relations suite of services, paid placement and social sharing tools, PR Newswire has a comprehensive catalog of solutions to solve the modern-day challenges PR and communications teams face. For 70 years, PR Newswire has been the preferred destination for brands to share their most important news stories across the world. For questions, contact the team at [email protected] . SOURCE PR Newswire Nachawati Law Group: Team representing more than 5,000 cancer victims exploring all options DALLAS, April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Trial lawyers representing more than 5,000 cancer victims vowed to continue the fight for justice after a federal judge on Thursday rejected an attempt to revive Johnson & Johnson's third attempt to reach a global settlement of cancer claims related to its talcum powder products. On April 17, 2025, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez rejected requests to revive Johnson & Johnson's proposed multibillion-dollar settlement, following a two-week trial in March. In Thursday's ruling, Judge Lopez declined requests to reopen the case either to correct flaws in the previous petition or to refer the matter to mediation. Majed Nachawati, founder of Dallas-based Nachawati Law Group, commended the judge for following the law based on the facts in what has become historic litigation. He pledged to continue with an aggressive trial schedule while working to identify and execute additional avenues for resolving the massive multidistrict litigation. "Our firm has foughtand will continue to fightfor justice," Mr. Nachawati said. "We remain committed to exploring whether a fair resolution is in the best interest of our clients." Roughly 90,000 women have filed lawsuits claiming that the company's talcum powder products are responsible for their cancer diagnoses. In an effort to manage its legal exposure, the company employed a controversial bankruptcy strategy known as the "Texas Two-Step." This involved creating a separate subsidiary to assume the liabilities and then filing that entity into a prepackaged bankruptcy, which included a proposed $9 billion settlement to compensate victims and shield J&J from further liability. Three separate attempts to reach a settlement in bankruptcy have been rejected by federal courts. The case is In re: Red River Talc, SDTX, No. 24-90505. About Nachawati Law Group Nachawati Law Group represents parties in mass tort litigation, businesses and governmental entities in contingent litigation, and individuals in complex personal injury litigation. For more information, visit https://ntrial.com. SOURCE Nachawati Law Group 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 Gurugram, April 18 : The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) has issued fines against those who violate the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. Under this initiative, the Swachhata teams of the MCG imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 each on nine Bulk Waste Generators (BWG) on Thursday. According to the MCG officials, the total fine valued Rs 2.25 lakh. The different sanitation teams of the civic body were inspecting the cleanliness system of the areas. During the inspection, the team also reached the different BWGs on different area to check the compliance BWG rules. The team found that Police Line, Threpsi Solutions located in Electronic City, The PTS Society, Belvedere Towers, One Horizon Centre, Two Horizon Centre, NK India Rubber Company, The Millennia-2 Society and Honeywell India International Private Limited were not ensuring compliance with Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. The team imposed a total fine of Rs 2.25 lakh on the nine violators on the spot and instructed them to ensure compliance with the rules in future. According to the MCG Commissioner Ashok Kumar Garg, it is mandatory for all bulk waste generators located in the municipal corporation limits to follow the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. Under this initiative, the BWGs must divide the waste generated from their place into wet, dry and hazardous waste and dispose of it in different categories only. The corporation's cleanliness teams are constantly inspecting BWG and if the rules are not followed, the concerned are being fined as per the rules. "The corporation is also operating an online portal to list BWG, on which it has been made mandatory for all BWG to register themselves," Garg said. The corporation has also informed all BWGs about this through notices and other publicity mediums. "We appealed to the BWG to fulfil the responsibility of waste management and contribute to making Gurugram a clean, beautiful and better city," he added. Gurugram, April 18 : Continuing their ongoing action against encroachment, the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) and Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) conducted an intensive two-day demolition drive on the Sheetla Mata Road in Gurugram on Tuesday and Wednesday. During the drive unauthorised structures were cleared on total 2.5-km stretch on both sides from Mata Mandir to Gurugram's Sector-5. During the two-day drive, encroachment in front of more than 200 shops which were also proving hindrance to the moving traffic were removed and the main carriageways were cleared. Illegal sheds and advertisement boards were dismantled. Additionally, gensets which were set-up along the roadsides were also directed to be shifted on roof top of the buildings after checking the stability of the structures. Additionally, work of construction of few other buildings was also stopped by the MCG as they were within 900 metre zone of ammunition depot. The drive was led by R.S. Batth, Nodal Officer for encroachment in Gurugram and GMDA District Town Planning. Officers of the Enforcement Wing of GMDA, MCG and 30 police personnel were also present during the anti-enroachment drive. GMDA had earlier carried out similar two-day demolition drives on the Sheetla Mata Road and till now the encroachment of 350 shops has been removed on entire stretch from Atul Kataria Chowk to Sector-5. "Prior warnings have been issued before conducting the drives and strict directions have also been issued against encroachment of public land. There is zero tolerance policy towards encroachment and FIRs will be lodged against the violators," said R.S. Batth. GMDA had earlier in March cleared more than 60 acres of green belts along the Southern Peripheral Road and regular monitoring of the stretch is also being carried out. R.S. Baath, along with the Enforcement Wing of GMDA and MCG officers took action against illegal encroachment in Gurugram's Sector-69. More than 50 police personnel were also present during the anti-enroachment drive. Gurugram, April 18 : With the arrest of two ganja suppliers, the Gurugram police have resolved more than 196 ganja recovery cases, which they had recovered from an abandoned Hyundai Verna car on March 5, 2025, police said. The estimated cost of the illegal contraband was valued at 50 lakh, police claimed. The accused have been identified as Mohammad Arif, alias Bittu, and Abdul Samad, both residents of Delhi. According to the police, on March 5, a police team received secret information through reliable sources and recovered a Hyundai Verna car parked in an abandoned condition in Baluda village in Sohna block of Gurugram. The police team recovered more than 196 kg of ganja, which kept in small packets in the car. In connection with this drugs recovery, a case was registered under the relevant sections of the NDPS Act at Police Station City Sohna in Gurugram. While investigating, the police team nabbed the duo of suspects from Daryaganj, Delhi, on Wednesday. During questioning, it was found that the accused had brought ganja from Visakhapatnam and were going to sell it in the NCR area. "The estimated value of the ganja recovered by the police team is Rs 50 lakh. Usually, ganja is sold to people addicted to ganja by smugglers in the form of packets," Sandeep Kumar, spokesperson of the Gurugram police, said. Gurugram Police have given a tough blow to the smugglers by seizing such a huge consignment of illegal ganja. Before this ganja could be supplied to various places, police seized this illegal contraband and took a major action against ganja smugglers, he said. The accused are being questioned in detail to collect information about their accomplice. The case is under investigation. Apart from this, the Gurugram police also nabbed an accused with illegal weapons from the Sector-65 area of Gurugram on Thursday. The accused was identified as Bopal, a resident of Tigra village in Gurugram. The police team has recovered two illegal country-made pistols and 31 live cartridges from the possession of the accused. The accused disclosed to the police that due to a family dispute, he had brought the firearms from another person. A case of the Arms Act was registered against the accused at the Sector-65 police station in Gurugram. United Nations, April 18 : The United Nations views the second round of negotiations between the US and Iran on Saturday as "a good sign," and hopes it will yield positive results, a UN spokesman said. The second round of US-Iran indirect negotiations will be held in Rome on Saturday, according to the Iranian Foreign Ministry. The two sides will discuss Tehran's nuclear issues and Washington's sanctions, Xinhua news agency reported. "We very much hope that the dialogue between the US and the Islamic Republic of Iran yields a positive outcome, which we're seeing the lowering of tensions in the Gulf region, in the Middle East, and between the two countries," Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, said at a daily briefing. "We understand that there will be a second round from what I've seen, I think this weekend, which in itself is a good sign," he said. "We will obviously be following it very closely." In early March, US President Donald Trump sent a letter to Iranian leaders, proposing negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme, while Iran later agreed on indirect talks. The first round of US-Iran indirect talks was held in the Omani capital of Muscat last week. The White House said in a statement that the discussions were "very positive and constructive". Iranian Foreign Ministry described their talks as "constructive". The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog said talks between Iran and the US are at a "crucial stage" and warned they have limited time to resolve their years-long standoff. "There is a possibility of a good outcome but nothing is guaranteed," Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said in comments recorded during a visit to Tehran on Thursday. "We are multiplying our efforts to facilitate this process." Grossi's visit comes days after the US and Iran held their first talks aimed at striking an agreement over Tehran's nuclear program. The stakes for global security and the oil market are high. US President Donald Trump has threatened military action against Iran if a deal isn't reached in the coming weeks. Saudi Arabia's Defence Minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, made a rare high-profile visit to Iran on Thursday and met Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency reported. Prince Khalid delivered a message from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman addressed to Khamenei, IRNA said, without giving details on its contents. He is the highest-level Saudi royal to visit Iran in years and his trip signals that Arab states are keen to avoid a new conflict in the region. The IAEA's Grossi said he has been in contact with the US's top Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, to see how the watchdog can "serve as a bridge between Iran and the US and help achieve a positive outcome," according to the IRNA. While the US and Iran are set to meet for a second round of talks on Saturday in Rome, theyave already hit a stumbling block over the Trump administrationas position on Tehranas ability to enrich uranium. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said earlier this week that US has sent conflicting messages and these need to clarified when they meet again on Saturday. Witkoff said on Tuesday that Iran had to eliminate its uranium-enrichment program all together, rather than restrict it. He was back tracking on earlier comments that suggested Iran could still enrich to a low level for civilian uses. Iran has said its ability to produce the fissile material is non-negotiable and says it's allowed to enrich uranium under the terms of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The 2015 nuclear deal that Trump abandoned during his first term imposed strict limits on the extent to which Iran was allowed to enrich uranium, in terms of both purity and quantity. Iran started to breach those caps after Trump exited the accord in 2018 and placed stricter sanctions on the Islamic Republic. Jerusalem, April 18 : Israel has extended its missile warning time for long-range threats from Yemen by three to five minutes, the military's Home Front Command said. The updated system, which took effect on Thursday, aims to give civilians more time to reach shelters and safe rooms amid renewed missile attacks by Houthi forces, following Israel's resumption of its air and ground assault on Gaza in March. Until now, Israelis had about one minute to reach shelter upon receiving a siren warning for long-range missiles, Xinhua news agency reported. For short-range rockets fired from Gaza, warning times vary by location, ranging from about 15 seconds in communities near the enclave to nearly one minute in the Tel Aviv area. Under the new protocol, a preliminary alert will be issued via the Home Front Command's mobile app in areas at risk, using a notification sound instead of the standard rising and falling siren. "In addition, an IDF (Israel Defense Forces) message will be distributed, stating that missile fire from Yemen toward Israel may occur in the coming minutes and that the public must follow the instructions of the Home Front Command," the military said in a statement. The purpose of the advance warning is to "allow advance preparedness, enabling civilians to move to nearby shelters and receive updates from official sources," the statement added. Starting on Thursday, in the event of missile fire from Yemen, the Home Front Command said it will send out an early warning on its app to those in areas under potential threat. This alert will give people three to five minutes to prepare to seek shelter before sirens sound. The IDF said the early alert does not require people to seek shelter immediately, and it is intended to give them more time to prepare and feel safer. The early alert will be distributed to a wide area under potential threat, but the sirens may only sound in certain specific areas. The military said there may be cases where people receive an early alert, but no sirens sound in their area. The new update to the Home Front Command app comes after several weeks of trials, staff work, and feedback from the public, it said. Since October 2023, Houthi forces in Yemen have launched dozens of missile and drone attacks toward Israel, citing solidarity with the Palestinians amid Israel's offensive in Gaza. Iran has also carried out two retaliatory attacks, firing about 400 missiles and drones, according to Israeli figures. Tehran, April 18 : Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met here with visiting Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, calling for expanding cooperation between their two countries in all areas. Pezeshkian said on Thursday that Iran is fully prepared to expand its relations with Saudi Arabia in all fields and extend bilateral cooperation to other Islamic countries, according to a statement published on the website of his office. He also welcomed the establishment of joint working groups in various political, economic, and security areas, emphasising that Iran and Saudi Arabia could coordinate to resolve many of the problems in the region, without the need for foreign intervention, Xinhua news agency reported. The Saudi Defence Minister, for his part, described his meetings with Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Mohammad Baqeri earlier on Thursday as "very useful, positive, and constructive". He called Iran and Saudi Arabia "two main pillars of the region," stressing their strong relations could be an effective model for convergence and synergy in the Muslim world. "We discussed our bilateral relations and topics of mutual interest," the Saudi Defence Minister wrote on X. "Our belief is that the relationship between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Saudi Arabia is beneficial for both countries," Iranian state media cited Khamenei as saying in the meeting on Thursday. "Ties between the Saudi and Iranian armed forces have been improving since the Beijing agreement," Baqeri said after the meeting, according to Iranian state media. Saudi Arabia has welcomed Iran's nuclear talks with the US, saying it supported efforts to resolve regional and international disputes. Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed in a 2023 deal brokered by China to re-establish relations after years of hostility that had threatened stability and security in the Gulf region and helped fuel conflicts in the Middle East from Yemen to Syria. The Saudi Defence Minister's trip coincided with a visit to Iran by the UN nuclear watchdog chief, Rafael Grossi, who warned that the US and Iran were running out of time to reach a deal. Iranian and US delegations are set to gather in Rome on Saturday for a second round of Omani-mediated negotiations, a week after the longtime foes held their highest-level talks since US President Donald Trump abandoned a landmark nuclear accord during his first term in 2018. Since re-entering the White House in January, Trump has revived his so-called "maximum pressure" policy, imposing punishing economic sanctions against Iran and threatening military action if Tehran does not agree to a deal. Iran and Saudi Arabia formally declared in April 2023 the resumption of diplomatic relations with immediate effect. Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran in early 2016 in response to attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran. The attacks followed Saudi Arabia's execution of a Shia cleric. Muscat, April 18 : Oman's Foreign Ministry has confirmed that it will continue to mediate a second round of nuclear talks between US and Iranian officials scheduled to take place in Rome on Saturday. A spokesman of Oman's Foreign Ministry "confirmed that Rome will be the venue this Saturday for the second round of talks between representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America," the Omani Foreign Ministry said on Thursday in a statement on X. In a statement, the Ministry said that the Italian capital was chosen as the new site for the talks due to logistical reasons, expressing hope that the discussions could make further progress toward reaching a just, binding, and sustainable agreement, Xinhua news agency reported. Oman also expressed appreciation to the Italian government for its cooperation and support in hosting the upcoming meeting. With Oman's mediation, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi engaged in a first round of "indirect" discussions with US Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, in Muscat on April 12, focused on Iran's nuclear programme and the potential removal of US sanctions. The talks in Muscat, described by both sides as "constructive," followed US President Donald Trump's statement in early March that he had sent a letter to Iranian leaders, delivered through the United Arab Emirates, proposing negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme. Iran later agreed on indirect talks. President Trump has repeatedly threatened to unleash airstrikes targeting Iran's nuclear programme if a deal isn't reached. Iranian officials have increasingly warned that they could pursue the development of a nuclear weapon with their stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels. Wednesday's announcement came as Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian formally approved the resignation of one of his Vice-Presidents who served as Tehran's key negotiator in its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. Mohammad Javad Zarif served as a key supporter of Pezeshkian in his election last year but attracted criticism from hard-liners within the Shia theocracy, who long have alleged Zarif gave away too much in negotiations. "Pezeshkian emphasised that due to certain issues, his administration can no longer benefit from Zarif's valuable knowledge and expertise," a statement from the presidency said. The President in a decree appointed Mohsen Ismaili, 59, to be his new Vice-President for strategic affairs. In Iran's political system, the President has multiple Vice-Presidents. Ismaili is known as a political moderate and a legal expert. The head of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, arrived in Tehran for meetings with Pezeshkian and others, which likely will be held on Thursday as his previous visits saw engagements take place the morning after his arrival. Since the landmark nuclear deal's collapse in 2018 with Trump's unilateral withdrawal of the US from the accord, Iran has abandoned all limits on its program, and enriches uranium to up to 60 per cent purity a" near weapons-grade levels of 90 per cent. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was signed in 2015 and saw Iran agree to limit its nuclear activities in return for international sanctions relief. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned the US about taking contradictory stances in the talks. "Enrichment is a real and accepted issue and we are ready for trust-building about possible concerns," Araghchi said, but added that losing the right to enrich at all "is not negotiable". Araghchi's warning likely refers to comments from US Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff, who this week initially suggested a deal could see Iran go back to 3.67 per cent uranium enrichment, similar to the 2015 level when the deal was reached by the Obama administration. Witkoff then followed up with saying "a deal with Iran will only be completed if it is a Trump deal". "Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponisation program," he wrote on the social media platform X. "It is imperative for the world that we create a tough, fair deal that will endure, and that is what President Trump has asked me to do." Sanaa, April 18 : Yemen's Houthi leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi has said his group had launched 26 attacks against Israel and 33 strikes on the US aircraft carrier and warships in the Red Sea since March 15. In a televised speech aired by the group's al-Masirah TV on Thursday, the Houthi leader said the attacks on Israel were carried out using "30 ballistic missiles and drones," while those targeting the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier and its escorts involved "122 ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as drones". However, the Israeli military has reportedly intercepted many of the Houthi projectiles before they reached targets, Xinhua news agency reported. The US Central Command dismissed the Houthi claims of daily attacks on the US aircraft carrier as "outlandish" in a post on the social media platform X. Meanwhile, the Houthi leader noted that the US military had conducted more than 900 airstrikes against his group's positions across northern Yemen during the past 30 days. Tensions between the Houthi group and the US military have escalated since Washington resumed airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen on March 15 to deter the group from attacking Israel and US warships in the Red Sea. The Houthis, which control much of northern Yemen, said their attacks aim to press US-backed Israel to stop the offensive against the Gaza Strip and allow humanitarian aid into the Palestinian enclave. Israel's Channel 12 News reported last Saturday that a Yemeni drone was intercepted near the Dead Sea within the Jordanian airspace before it could reach Israel. The Jordanian army confirmed later last week that an unidentified drone entered Jordanian airspace and crashed in the Ma'in area of Madaba governorate, near the Dead Sea, and no casualties were reported. Even since Israel renewed its intensive strikes in March across the Gaza Strip, the Houthis have been launching frequent attacks against Israeli and US targets. Earlier last week, the Houthi military spokesperson claimed fresh attacks against the US aircraft carrier, USS Harry S. Truman, and other US warships in the northern Red Sea. On March 15, the US military resumed airstrikes against Houthi targets to deter the group from launching attacks against Israel and US warships in the Red Sea. Moscow, April 18 : The Russian Embassy in India has dismissed the claims made by Ukraine that it attacked Indian pharmaceutical company Kusum, calling the news fake. It instead accused the war-torn nation (Ukraine) of attacking the warehouse, saying "one of Ukrainian air defence missiles fell on Kusum Healthcare's warehouse setting it on fire". "In response to the accusations spread by the Embassy of Ukraine in India, the Russian Embassy in New Delhi informs that the Russian Armed Forces did not attack or plan to attack on April 12, 2025, Kusum Healthcare's pharmacy warehouse in the eastern part of Kiev. On that day, Russian tactical aviation, strike unmanned aerial vehicles and missile forces hit an aviation plant of the Ukrainian military industrial complex, the infrastructure of a military airfield and armoured vehicle repair and UAV assembly workshops at a completely different location," the Embassy said. "The most likely explanation of the incident is that one of Ukrainian air defence missiles fell on Kusum Healthcare's warehouse setting it on fire. Similar cases have occurred previously whereby Ukrainian air defence interceptors failing to hit their targets fell in urban areas due to ineptly operated electronic warfare systems," it added. Last week, Ukrainian Embassy had criticised Vladimir Putin-led Russian government, claiming that it made a "deliberate" attack while the country claimed a "special friendship" with India. "Today, a Russian missile struck the warehouse of Indian pharmaceutical company Kusum in Ukraine. While claiming "special friendship" with India, Moscow deliberately targets Indian businesses a" destroying medicines meant for children and the elderly," it had said. Meanwhile, Russian forces launched an assault on the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson on Wednesday, killing one person and injuring nine others, as daily attacks across the war-torn nation continues. Russia and Ukraine's Foreign Ministers last week traded fresh accusations over violations of a fragile, US-brokered deal intended to pause attacks on energy infrastructure -- underscoring the ongoing challenges in efforts to end the three-year war. Although both sides had tentatively agreed last month to a 30-day ceasefire during talks mediated by US officials in Saudi Arabia, confusion quickly followed. Disagreements emerged over the ceasefireas start date, and each side swiftly accused the other of breaching the agreement, casting doubt on the viability of the truce. Jaunpur, April 18 : The body of 49-year-old Ghurahu Bind, a fisherman from Uttar Pradesh's Jaunpur district, who died under mysterious circumstances in a Pakistani jail, is expected to arrive at his native village on Friday, District Magistrate Dinesh Chandra said. According to officials, Bind, who hailed from Basiraha village in Jaunpur's Machhlishahr tehsil, was arrested in 2020 by the Pakistan Coast Guard after he allegedly crossed into Pakistani waters while fishing near the Okha coast in Gujarat. Chandra confirmed that the deceased's body has been received at the Wagah border and is en route to Jaunpur. Bind was imprisoned along with three other fishermen from his village, who remain lodged in jail even after five years. The deceased victim's family said that Bind may have taken his own life due to torture in the Pakistani jail. A viral message circulated via WhatsApp in the village mentioned that his death occurred around 15 days ago. The family has demanded that a post-mortem examination be conducted in India to determine the actual cause of Bind's death and urged the government to initiate a formal investigation. The District Magistrate added that the family, which is financially distressed, has been surveyed by government officials and will be provided with benefits under state welfare schemes, such as the Chief Minister Housing Scheme and widow pension. "The family will receive all eligible benefits and instructions have been issued to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Machhlishahr to ensure proper arrangements for the last rites," he said. The news of Bind's death was officially conveyed to his family members by the Department of Fisheries on Tuesday, following an alert from the Indian embassy and Directorate of Fisheries, Lucknow. Fisheries Inspector Sambhashi Tripathi visited the deceased's family members to inform them of the tragedy. Bind is survived by his wife, two sons and four daughters, three of whom are married. The family currently lives in extreme poverty in a makeshift hut after their house collapsed. Locals, including village head Mrityunjay Bind, have urged the government to expedite assistance and secure the release of the three remaining fishermen. During a wedding event in Machhlishahr on January 19, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was apprised by locals about the imprisonment of six fishermen from Jaunpur and two from neighbouring Bhadohi district in Pakistan. Union Minister Rajnath Singh had promised to take up the issue with the External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and said efforts would be made to secure their release. Kolkata, April 18 : The Calcutta High Court has directed the formation of a three-member committee for the identification and rehabilitation of people displaced by the violence which took place during the protests over the Waqf Act in Murshidabad district. The court said on Thursday that the three-member committee will consist of an official each from the National Human Rights Commission and the West Bengal Human Rights Commission, besides the member secretary of the State Legal Services Authority. A division bench comprising Justices Soumen Sen and Raja Basu Chowdhury also said that its interim order of April 12, directing the deployment of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) in Murshidabad, will continue. "We deem it appropriate to constitute a committee consisting of three officers who shall monitor and coordinate the situation," it said. The committee was directed to identify the displaced persons, extent of damage caused to properties of the victims and also collect the data of the FIRs lodged. The state administration was instructed to provide all required infrastructure to the committee in order to enable it to comply with the court's direction. The committee was also given the mandate to facilitate the filing of FIRs by the victims and supervise the well-being of the displaced persons during the interregnum period. The committee and an SIT formed by the state government were directed to file their respective reports on the next date of hearing on May 15. Noting that a large number of persons, including children and aged persons, have been displaced, the court said that it is imperative for the state to formulate a scheme for their rehabilitation, including the construction of houses and shops damaged in the violence. The bench directed that the persons who have lost their livelihood are to be adequately compensated. It also said that the families of those persons who lost their lives in the violence should be looked after and well-protected. "It shall be the duty of the administration to protect the FIR complainants," the court said. The bench noted that it will be the duty of the local administration to ensure that after reinstatement of all the displaced persons, "they shall receive all cooperation from the state administration so that they can live peacefully and they do not face any threat to their life, liberty and property". The state was directed to continue with police patrolling and police pickets at vulnerable places in the districts. "We have not curtailed the power of the Central government. It has the authority to deploy Central Armed Forces if the situation so warrants," the bench said. The court said that the prayer for NIA to investigate the violence at this stage is not considered because no adequate materials have been placed before it. It that in any event, the Central government has the power to direct NIA investigation suo motu if it is of the opinion that offences under the NIA Act have been committed. The court was hearing a bunch of petitions, including one by Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, in connection with the violence. The lawyer appearing for the Centre prayed before the court that the deployment of the Central forces be extended, considering the sensitivity of the situation on the ground. Around 17 companies of Central forces currently remain deployed in the trouble-torn pockets of Suti and Samserganj-Dhulian in the district. Making its submission before the court, the state government placed a report and claimed that the law and order situation in the district is currently under control. The state also submitted that some of the affected families have already returned to their homes. Several people have taken shelter in a school-turned-relief camp in the adjoining Malda district after escaping the violence, one of the petitioners claimed. Appearing for the state, senior advocate Kalyan Banerjee submitted that more than 270 people have been arrested till midnight on Wednesday in connection with the violence. He said that a sufficient number of state police, RAF and Central Forces personnel have been deployed in the affected areas, and a Special Investigation Team has been constituted under the leadership of a Deputy Inspector General. More than 1,050 social media accounts have been blocked for spreading rumours, he said. Banerjee, making a submission opposing a prayer for imposition of Article 355 in Murshidabad, said that law and order is the state's responsibility. He assured the court that the state government would restore and rehabilitate anyone displaced by the violence. Dhaka, April 18 : Bangladesh has asked Pakistan to issue a formal apology for the atrocities committed against Bengalis during the 1971 War of Liberation by the Pakistani forces. It has also raised pending financial claims from Islamabad. During Operation Searchlight, Pakistani forces killed an estimated 30 lakh Bengalis and raped more than a million women. Bangladesh gained independence in 1971 after a bloody war with Pakistan. Dhaka also raised issues, including the repatriation of more than three lakh stranded Pakistanis who have been living in relief camps, and the transfer of foreign aid funds sent to the victims of the 1970 Bhola Cyclone. Bangladesh flagged $4.32 billion as part of its financial claim demanded from Pakistan. It comprises its share of undivided Pakistan's pre-1971 assets, including aid money, provident funds, and savings instruments. According to the report, Pakistan did not allocate Bangladesh its share of $200 million in foreign aid after the 1970 Bhola Cyclone. According to a World Meteorological Organisation report, the 1970 Cyclone Bhola was the world's deadliest known tropical cyclone, which killed up to five lakh people in what is now called Bangladesh. "These issues need to be resolved for having a solid foundation of our relations", a media report quoted Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Md. Jashim Uddin as saying. Bangladesh and Pakistan held Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) at the State Guest House, Padma, on Thursday. Bangladesh's Foreign Secretary Md. Jashim Uddin and Pakistan counterpart Amna Baloch led their respective delegation at the FOC. Jashim Uddin said that Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will pay an official visit to Bangladesh on April 27-28. He hoped that direct flights between Bangladesh and Pakistan would be launched soon. According to media reports, Amma Baloch also met separately with Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain, discussing issues of mutual interest. Baloch said that Bangladesh and Pakistan must find ways to "harness the potential between the two countries". "We have huge intra-regional markets on our own right. We should use it, " Baloch said. "We can't miss the bus every time." Jerusalem/Beirut, April 18 : Israel's military has said in a statement that it killed a Hezbollah commander in a drone strike in southern Lebanon. The strike targeted the area of Blida, killing Ali Ibar al-Nabi Khadi, who was identified by the military as the deputy head of Hezbollah's military outpost in the Mhaibib area, Xinhua news agency reported. Meanwhile, an unnamed Lebanese security source confirmed to Xinhua news agency that an Israeli drone strike killed an individual in southern Lebanon on Thursday, identifying the deceased as a Hezbollah member named Ali Abdel Nabi Hijazi, who came from the village of Blida. The person was hit while riding a motorcycle in the village of Aitaroun, Lebanon's Public Health Emergency Operations Centre and security sources said as reported by Xinhua news agency. On Thursday, a Lebanese Army unit reported dismantling an Israeli spying device in Blida, warning civilians against approaching or touching such objects, as they pose a risk to lives. Since November 27, 2024, a ceasefire agreement brokered by the US and France has been in effect between Hezbollah and Israel, putting an end to more than a year of clashes triggered by the war in the Gaza Strip. Despite the agreement, the Israeli army occasionally carries out strikes in Lebanon, claiming they are aimed at neutralising "threats" posed by Hezbollah. Israel said on Thursday it carried out airstrikes in southern Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, targeting what it described as Hamas and Hezbollah infrastructure. The Israeli military said it struck sites belonging to Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. "The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) will operate against any attempts by Hezbollah to rebuild or establish a military presence under the guise of civilian cover," it said in a statement, without providing further details. Separately, the Israeli military and the Shin Bet domestic security agency said they conducted a strike on Jabalia in northern Gaza, targeting what they described as a Hamas command and control centre. The military said the site had been used to "plan and execute terror attacks against Israeli civilians and troops". Jerusalem, April 18 : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reiterated that Israel would not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons, amid reports of renewed negotiations between Tehran and the US administration over a new nuclear agreement. "The Prime Minister has made clear more than once: Israel will not allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons," Netanyahu's office said on Thursday in a statement. The office added that Netanyahu, who views Iran as Israel's arch-foe, "has led countless overt and covert operations against Iran's nuclear program," and has "led the global campaign against Iran's nuclear program". Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi met with US special presidential envoy Steve Witkoff in Oman's capital Muscat on Saturday over Tehran's nuclear program, with both sides describing the meeting as "constructive". The talks in Muscat followed US President Donald Trump's statement in early March that he had sent a letter to Iranian leaders, delivered through the United Arab Emirates, proposing negotiations on Iran's nuclear program, Xinhua news agency reported. Iran later agreed on indirect talks. Israel and western governments have long accused Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons capability, an allegation Tehran has consistently denied. Even before the war in Gaza, sparked by Hamas's October 2023 attack, Netanyahu repeatedly took issue with Iran for its backing of Hamas and other militant groups Israel is currently fighting. "The Prime Minister has led countless overt and covert actions in the battle against Iran's nuclear program, without which Iran would today possess a nuclear arsenal," the statement said. "These actions delayed Iran's nuclear program by nearly a decade." Netanyahu's statement comes ahead of a second round of Omani-mediated negotiations between US and Iranian delegations set to take place in Rome on Saturday. Trump's efforts to reach a deal with Iran on its nuclear program through mediation appear in contrast to Netanyahu's long standing policy to tackle the issue using military action. "Prime Minister Netanyahu has been leading the global campaign against Iran's nuclear program for more than a decade, even when some dismissed the threat and referred to it as a 'political spin' and called the Prime Minister 'paranoid'," his office said. In March, Trump sent a letter to Iranas Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urging talks but warning of possible military action if they failed to produce a deal. While Netanyahu has been pushing the US to also take firmer action, a report in the US media on Wednesday said Trump had scuppered an Israeli plan to strike Iranas nuclear sites. Trump administration officials revealed to the Times that Israel had sought Washingtonas assistance to carry out an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities in May. According to the report, the plan and its possible manuevers were under consideration for months. But during Netanyahuas visit to the White House earlier this month, Trump told the Israelis he would not support an attack. The president instead publicly announced the direct talks with Tehran. On Thursday, UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi urged the two sides to secure a deal, saying that time was running out. Moscow, April 18 : Russia lodged a strong protest with Japan over Tokyo's plan to conduct anti-ship missile drills near Russia's borders, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Russia lodged a protest with the Japanese Embassy in Moscow over Japan's plans to hold training exercises with the SSM-1 anti-ship missile systems, equipped with the Type-88 missiles on the Hokkaido Island near the Russian border in June, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday in a statement. It said that Moscow considers such "provocative" military activity near Russia's borders "a potential threat to its national security," adding that Tokyo's actions heighten tensions in Northeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific region, Xinhua news agency reported. "Russia reserves the right to take all necessary countermeasures" to ensure its security on its Far Eastern borders, the Foreign Ministry warned. Earlier reports indicated that Japan's Self-Defense Forces are planning to conduct live-fire training exercises using anti-ship missiles at the Shizunai range in Hokkaido, a region bordering Russia, this summer. The exercise will utilise Type 88 surface-to-ship missiles. While Japan previously conducted similar drills beyond the national boarders due to the missile's range -- nearly 150 km or more -- which might endanger safety on the sea and in airspace, it has now decided to hold exercises within Japanese territory with specific range restrictions. The Shizunai range, situated on Hokkaido's southern coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean, will host the drills. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi has confirmed that preparations for these exercises are underway. Russian and Chinese warships recently held joint drills in the Sea of Japan, part of a major naval exercise that Russian President Vladimir Putin said was the largest of its kind in three decades. Then last week, a Chinese aircraft carrier sailed between two Japanese islands near Taiwan for the first time. Japan called that incident "totally unacceptable from the perspective of the security environment of Japan and the region". In 2023, an aircraft believed but not confirmed to be Russian entered Japanese airspace, according to the Japanese Defence Minister Minoru Kihara. Cairo, April 18 : Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and Slovenia's Parliamentary Speaker Urska Klakocar Zupancic have reaffirmed their opposition to the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza and their support for the establishment of a Palestinian state as the only path to long-term regional peace. During talks in Cairo with Zupancic, Sisi said on Thursday that the creation of a Palestinian state along the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, remained "the only guarantee for achieving lasting peace and stability in the region," according to a statement from the Egyptian presidency. Sisi also briefed the Slovenian official on Egypt's efforts to mediate a renewed ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, facilitate the exchange of hostages and detainees, and ensure the sustained flow of humanitarian aid to alleviate a deepening crisis in the enclave, Xinhua news agency reported. The Egyptian leader welcomed Slovenia's recognition of a Palestinian state, describing it as Slovenia's position "in support of the rights of the Palestinian people". Zupancic, who is on an official visit to Egypt, voiced her country's rejection of the displacement of Palestinians and commended Egypt's role in preserving regional security, according to the Egyptian statement. She also expressed Slovenia's interest in deepening cooperation and coordination with Egypt across multilateral platforms. Zupancic also praised Egypt's leading role and relentless efforts to achieve stability in the Middle East. She also affirmed Slovenia's commitment to intensifying consultation and coordination with Egypt on issues of mutual interest and in international forums. Slovenia has previously criticised US President Donald Trump's plan to take over Gaza and displace Palestinians from their land as "unacceptable". It also slammed Israel's blocking of humanitarian aid access to the war-ravaged strip. Similarly, Egypt presented in March a multi-phase reconstruction plan for Gaza to counter Trump's plan and prevent the depopulation of Gaza and turning it into a "Middle Eastern Riviera". The Egyptian plan has received unanimous backing from 22 Arab states. Moreover, the meeting discussed ways to strengthen Egyptian-Slovenian ties, with El-Sisi commending the recent growth in bilateral relations. The Egyptian President also emphasised the role of both countries' parliaments in boosting economic, trade, and investment cooperation. Slovenia officially recognised the State of Palestine on June 4, 2024, as part of a broader initiative by several European countries to coordinate pressure on Israel to help bring an end to the war in Gaza. Mumbai, April 18 : Former actress Namrata Shirodkar watched Nick Jonas' show "The Last Five Years" in New York and thanked the American pop star for a "spectacular show" and his star wife Priyanka Chopra for a "fabulous evening." Mumbai, April 18 (IANS) Former actress Namrata Shirodkar watched Nick Jonas' show "The Last Five Years" in New York and thanked the American pop star for a "spectacular show" and his star wife Priyanka Chopra for a "fabulous evening." With her children Sitara and Gautham by her side, Namrata posted a picture on her Instagram stories section. The image had the wife of superstar Mahesh Babu and her children posing alongside Nick Jonas. For the caption, she wrote, "Thank you Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra for a fabulous evening and a spectacular show!!! The Last Five Years." Priyanka on Friday morning re-shared Namrata's post on her Instagram stories and commented, "So glad you all had a great time." 'The Last Five Years,' which is Jason Robert Brown's two-person musical, marks its first Broadway production. It has Nick alongside Tony Award winner Adrienne Warren. It centers on two New YorkersJamie (Jonas), an up-and-coming author, and Cathy (Warren), an aspiring actresswhose love story unfolds over five years. Jamie's journey is presented in chronological order, while Cathy's is told in reverse, starting at the end of their marriage. On April 14, Nick shared a bit of stage fright when performing "The Last Five Years" on Broadway. At the opening night of his new musical The Last Five Years at the Hudson Theatre in New York, Nick said that while he's comfortable performing in front of his family, it's a lot different when he's putting on a show for theater enthusiasts, reports people.com. "The thing for me is there are a lot of people who love this show, who have played these roles in different productions, their high school or college or whatever. And it's those folks who have done it that I feel most intimidated to do it for," he said. Nick added, "But I think that's the beauty of storytelling and being an artist and an actor, is that you get to take big risks and put yourself out there. And I love it." "As intimidating as it might feel sometimes, I think it's a really gratifying experience to get out and really put yourself out there and take big swings and see what happens." New Delhi, April 18 : A compilation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speeches on culture -- 'Sanskriti Ka Paanchva Adhyay' -- in the form of a book is set to be released here on Friday. New Delhi, April 18 (IANS) A compilation of Prime Minister Narendra Modias speeches on culture -- aSanskriti Ka Paanchva Adhyaya -- in the form of a book is set to be released here on Friday. The formal launch ceremony of the book will be held at 5.00 p.m. at the Samvet Auditorium, Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), located at Janpath. According to a government media release, the book will be formally released by Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Pujya Swami Avdheshanand Giri Maharaj, the head of the Juna Akhara. The event will be presided over by Harivansh, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Ram Bahadur Rai, Chairman of IGNCA, will be present as the Guest of Honour. aSanskriti Ka Paanchva Adhyaya is a curated collection of speeches by PM Modi delivered on various occasions, highlighting Indian culture, traditions, spiritual values, and cultural heritage. The foreword of the book is written by Ram Bahadur Rai, and the compilation has been done by Dr Prabhat Ojha. The book has been published by Prabhat Prakashan. The book launch is likely to draw scholars, literary enthusiasts, and policymakers interested in understanding Indiaas timeless traditions. In 2023, a two-volume book 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas' compiled from the speeches and addresses given by PM Modi during his successful second term from June 2020 to May 2021 and June 2021 to May 2022 was released at Kushabhav Thakre International Convention Centre in Bhopal. These books were compiled by the Publications Division of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The book has 86 inspirational speeches in one section and 80 speeches in the other section. Selected speeches of PM Modi were compiled on many important topics. The speeches included the Prime Minister's address to the common citizens on topics like Startup India, Good Governance, Women Empowerment, Nation Power, Self-reliant India, Jai Vigyan, Jai Kisan, etc. In January, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha launched a book on a selection of PM Modias speeches, which he said will be made more accessible to the common people, as this benefits society and inspires people. The book, translated into Bengali and compiled for the first time, was released at the Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee Bhasha Bhavan, National Library in Kolkata. In November 2024, BJP Lok Sabha member Kangana Ranaut compiled, edited, and presented all the speeches given by PM Modi on the Red Fort on Independence Day. The book titled 'Rashtra Pratham Narendra Modi' compiles and translates PM Modi's Independence Day speeches delivered during his tenure. New Delhi, April 18 : The Delhi High Court has ordered the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the city government to act against illegal encroachments prevailing along the Yamuna Pusta Road, which stretches from Wazirabad to Hiranki and serves as a crucial arterial route for residents and commuters. A bench of Justice Sachin Datta directed on Thursday the concerned executive engineer of MCD to resolve the grievances highlighted in the petition within eight weeks in consultation with the members of the Yuva Samiti, a registered society committed to the welfare and development of Jagatpur Village and its adjoining areas. Disposing of the plea filed under Article 226 of the Constitution, the Justice Datta-led Bench clarified that it has not gone into the merits of the matter, and all contentions and rights of the litigant, including the filing of a fresh petition, are kept open if the issues highlighted remain unaddressed. As per the petition, the Yamuna Pusta Road is plagued by illegal encroachments in the form of unauthorised food stalls, parked vehicles, and roadside commercial storage, resulting in traffic congestion, deterioration of infrastructure, and further risking public safety. "Additionally, the road is littered with unmarked natural obstructions like trees and overgrown shrubs, which were left behind during road construction due to the authorities' failure to undertake proper transplantation or removal. These become particularly hazardous at night due to the absence of lighting," said the petition filed through advocate Ashu Bidhuri. Further, the plea complained that the streetlights installed along the entire stretch have remained non-functional, leaving the road in complete darkness during nighttime. It said, "This lack of illumination has not only increased the risk of road accidents, especially at sharp curves, but has also created an environment conducive to criminal activities such as theft, chain snatching, and molestation, particularly endangering women, children, and elderly individuals." The petition said that the situation is exacerbated due to the indiscriminate placement of oversized and overflowing dustbins along the motorable portion of the road, obstructing traffic movement, contributing to environmental pollution, and attracting stray animals such as dogs, pigs, cows, and buffaloes. The plea added that multiple representations and complaints were submitted before various authorities, including the Chief Minister, municipal engineers, and police officials, but no remedial action was taken. New Delhi, April 18 : The newly-constituted 'Anusandhan' National Research Foundation (ANRF) is a critical organisation for all science ministries and departments across the government, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh has said, adding that ANRF has been envisaged to anchor upscaled collaborations involving private players. Chairing a high-level joint meeting of all the science ministries and departments at the National Science Centre, the minister laid out a vision for aligning research outcomes across departments with national priorities, private sector participation and market readiness. At the core of this shift, said Dr Singh, is the aspiration to build a unified research strategy that breaks silos, avoids duplication and delivers tangible, scalable benefits to society. "All the science ministries must work with the intent to deliver market-relevant, public-good products," he emphasised, adding that ANRF will not only act as a coordinating body but also serve as a catalyst to bring in private sector investment and innovation. Dr Shivkumar Kalyanaraman, ANRF CEO, outlined a bold roadmap that envisions catalytic funding models, deep private sector integration, and AI-led scientific acceleration. The agency is set to model its functioning on globally successful institutions like the NSF and DARPA, launching cross-ministerial missions focused on economic growth and societal impact. Notably, ANRF is set to launch a "Small Business Deep Tech Innovation" programme inspired by global best practices, aimed at supporting startups and MSMEs in scaling technologies for real-world application. In a bid to maximise national research infrastructure, ANRF will also roll out a "Cloud of Research and Innovation Infrastructure" to allow deep-tech startups and institutions to access underused equipment across the country. The foundation's 'AI-for-Science' initiative is another key highlight, focusing on using AI to model scientific equations in physics, chemistry, and biology a leap expected to drastically shorten the time from theory to practice in core scientific domains. Dr Singh underscored the importance of projects with visible public utility, citing CSIR's HANSA-NG aircraft, the Department of Atomic Energy's Bharat Small Modular Reactors, and space-based applications as models to emulate. The HANSA-NG, a two-seater trainer aircraft developed indigenously by CSIR-NAL, is already witnessing strong market interest with 110 orders and production lined up in collaboration with Pioneer Clean Arms Pvt Ltd. Dr Singh noted the project's potential to reduce India's dependency on expensive foreign pilot training, and suggested roping in private airlines and aerospace component manufacturers to scale up production beyond Bengaluru. Similarly, the Department of Atomic Energy is developing the Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR), a 200 MW pressurised water reactor intended for industrial applications and grid-independent power generation. These initiatives demonstrate the type of innovation the Minister wants the ANRF to incubate and scale. IANS na/ Seoul, April 18 : A senior US energy official on Friday underscored South Korea's growing significance in the Donald Trump administration's push to expand American energy exports and diversify global supply chains. Speaking via video remarks at an energy forum hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) held in Seoul, Tommy Joyce, acting assistant secretary for international affairs at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), said Seoul remains a critical ally in Washington's energy agenda, reports Yonhap news agency. "South Korea and each of you in Seoul are absolutely essential allies in this pursuit," Joyce said in his remarks addressed to business representatives at a Seoul hotel. "South Korea plays an important role in unleashing American energy and supporting President Trump's vision of building supply chains independent of China." His comments come as discussions continue over South Korea's potential participation in an envisioned liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure project in Alaska. Recently highlighted by Trump, the project aims to develop a pipeline from the gas-rich North Slope to southern Alaska, where natural gas would be liquefied and exported, primarily to Asia. Last week, South Korean acting President Han Duck-soo held a phone conversation with Trump, where they discussed the trade balance and tariff issues, as well as Seoul's "large scale purchase of U.S. LNG" and "payment for the big time military protection" provided by the U.S., according to Trump's social media post. Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy met with senior South Korean officials and business representatives during his visit to Seoul last month to discuss ways to expand cooperation in the energy and other sectors. "The Trump administration is committed to unlocking the 20 million tons per year of gas exports from Alaska and views this as a fantastic option to strengthen Asia's energy security," Joyce said. The DOE official noted that South Korean firms have already shown strong interest in U.S. energy assets, citing Hanwha Group's acquisition of a 15-percent stake in Houston-based LNG company NextDecade and POSCO Holding's exploration of potential gas reserve acquisitions. "Over the past four years, there has been a lack of investment in coal, oil and gas infrastructure that has set the world back and led to catastrophic consequences for energy affordability, reliability and security. We are now reversing this course," Joyce said. He said the DOE has taken six LNG-related actions since Secretary Chris Wright's confirmation, including new export authorisations that will enable more than 7 billion cubic feet per day of LNG exports. Joyce also pointed to his home state of Tennessee as an example of South Korea's growing economic footprint in the U.S., noting that Korean companies have invested over $4.5 billion and created nearly 3,500 jobs in the state. "We are cutting bureaucracy and fast-tracking projects at breakneck speeds that South Korea and other folks like you that want a good return on investment look to the United States for," he said. a"IANS na/ New Delhi, April 18 : Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has shared her government's roadmap for containing the city's air pollution, cleaning the Yamuna River, and also shed light on an 'imminent' harsh regulation, aimed at clipping the wings of private schools for flouting the norms. New Delhi, April 18 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has shared her governmentas roadmap for containing the cityas air pollution, cleaning the Yamuna River, and also shed light on an aimminenta harsh regulation, aimed at clipping the wings of private schools for flouting the norms. In an exclusive interview with IANS, the Delhi Chief Minister came down heavily on the previous AAP dispensation for turning the city into a mess, tore into West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for Waqf violence and also taunted the Gandhis for corruption linked to National Herald. Below is the full interview: IANS: Several complaints have been filed by parents about the arbitrary fee hike by privately-run schools. How will you address it, and how will you ensure that wards and their parents donat suffer due to the overbearing attitude of schools? Rekha Gupta: Our government maintains a zero-tolerance approach against any arbitrary fee hike by private schools. Any kind of harassment of teachers and students wonat be tolerated, and those engaging in such practices will have to pay a heavy price. There is a system of education in Delhi which has to be followed by all, and they will have to adhere to the rules and regulations. We have issued a show-cause notice to those schools against whom we have received complaints. They have been told in no uncertain terms that such behaviour is unacceptable, and they may also face derecognition. Our government is in the process of bringing a strong law against such malpractices. All schools will have to abide by the law, failing which they may also lose the right to operate a school in the city. IANS: When you met Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the first time, after becoming Delhi Chief Minister, what was his reaction? Did he give any mantra of good governance? Rekha Gupta: PM Modi congratulated me, gave his blessings and also extended heartfelt greetings for my tenure. His support means a lot to me. He said that Delhi is the nationas capital, and its growth path canat be different from the rest of the country. I am grateful that I have had the privilege of working with him for the cityas development. IANS: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has charge-sheeted the Gandhis. What is your view on this? Also, AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal has maintained silence on this. How do you see this? Rekha Gupta: Arvind Kejriwalas politics is based on a strategy of what suits him. He can associate himself with any ideology, then break ranks and can again rework ties. He can swear in the name of the children and then again make a U-turn. But one has to pay for their deeds. Whatever the Gandhi Parivar has done in the National Herald, they will have to be accountable for this. IANS: Bengal is in the grip of violence after the passage of the Waqf Act. Does it show the Mamata governmentas failure? Has she failed to live up to expectations? Rekha Gupta: This is very shameful. If the state is caught up in violence against a particular community and the Chief Minister herself is being seen appeasing a certain section, leading to the furthering of communal divide, this shows her failure. For a woman Chief Minister, there canat be a bigger shame than this. IANS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted a high-level meeting on the Yamuna river clean-up, and you were also part of that meeting. What steps will your government take, particularly regarding Chhath Puja? Rekha Gupta: There was a wide-ranging discussion on all issues related to the Yamuna River, including its cleaning from Yamunotri (its origin) to Prayagraj. A broad plan is being worked out to achieve this objective. IANS: Opposition claims that Delhi has been facing power outages since your government came to power. They are also posting images of candlelight dinners to take a swipe at the government. Your take on this? Rekha Gupta: Let them enjoy their candlelight dinners. They are good storytellers as well as story-makers. Story-making is their speciality, and they are doing it to gain public attention. There is no power crisis in the city. People are satisfied with our governance. We havenat received any complaints from people. IANS: Delhi continues to grapple with high levels of air pollution. The situation is so alarming that it was also pointed out by a Union Minister. Rekha Gupta: There is no denying the fact that Delhi remains saddled with high levels of pollution. Itas because of the fact that previous governments didnat take steps to alleviate the situation. Our government hasnat completed two months yet. We are committed to restoring the cityas air quality and greenery. We will work towards controlling vehicular pollution and promoting the usage of electric vehicles. Our governmentas approach is very different from previous ones. Previous dispensations tried to find a quick-fix solution, but we are working on an elaborate yearly plan to control this menace. Our yearly plan will focus on the deployment of sprinklers round the year to settle dust particles and control vehicular emissions by encouraging people to migrate to electric vehicles. IANS: Arvind Kejriwal had repeated run-ins with the bureaucrats. Now, you will have to work with the same team. How will you address it? Rekha Gupta: Bureaucrats and officials also want to work. It depends on the head of government on how to allocate responsibility and extract work from them. In the previous government, both the Delhi L-G and the Centre were supportive, but the rulers had a habit of shifting blame rather than taking onus. IANS: Recently, you and Rahul Gandhi were seen on the same stage, the video of which also circulated on social media. He, however, looked uncomfortable. What do you have to say about this? Rekha Gupta: Everybody has a nature of their own. The nation is well aware of it. As Delhi's Chief Minister, itas my responsibility to honour and respect everybody, so I did it. IANS: Itas your first tenure as Delhi Chief Minister? What are your top priorities and challenges? Rekha Gupta: Challenges are many, ranging from broken roads, overflowing gutters and poor drainage, as well as the sewerage system. The previous government turned the national capital into a mess and brought it to the brink of collapse. Our government has taken up the task of putting the city back on the fast growth track and also restoring its glory, which it once stood for. Los Angeles, April 18 : Actress and comedian Tina Fey says her "impulse to hide and retire" is "strong" so that new faces in comedy can step to the forefront. She told The Hollywood Reporter: "The impulse to hide and retire is very strong because I do think it's time to help new voices get in the mix. "It's something I'm already doing, but I want to do more. Even on the walk over here I was like, 'I am so tired of hearing from me. Surely everyone else is tired of hearing from the same people over and over again.' " However, the 54-year-old star, who has daughters Alice and Penelope with producer husband Jeff Richmond, said that she was grateful for her upcoming Netflix series 'The Four Seasons' because it "saved" her while juggling a lot in her personal life, reports femalefirst.co.uk. She said: "This sandwich generation stuff, having your kids and an aging parent in the same house, it's wonderful but it also really takes a lot out of you." "My mom passed away in the summer, my older daughter went to college in August and my husband and I went to work on 'The Four Seasons' in the fall. That kept me in the world. It saved me from just shrinking up like a little granny apple head." Fey and her friend Amy Poehler previously hosted the Golden Globe Awards four times and presented the Oscars once but she's got no interest in helming another awards show. She said: "Nikki Glaser killed it at the Globes, and she should keep that job forever. Me? No. I shouldn't say never, but it's such a high risk for such low reward." While Lorne Michaels previously said Fey "could easily" take the reins if he ever steps down as 'SNL' showrunner, she insisted he is "irreplaceable". Talking about his remarks, Fey said: "It was nice of him to say that, and I love him very much. New Delhi, April 18 : Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday described the communal violence in West Bengal over the Waqf Act as "shameful" and a blot on the performance of her counterpart, Mamata Banerjee. New Delhi, April 18 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday described the communal violence in West Bengal over the Waqf Act as "shameful" and a blot on the performance of her counterpart, Mamata Banerjee. Talking to IANS in an exclusive interview, CM Gupta said, "The way West Bengal Chief Minister is herself involved in causing a wedge among people is deplorable." Pointing to the volatile situation in West Bengal, she said, "It reflects badly on the Chief Minister if such an atmosphere is created in the state. On top of it, the CM herself is indulging in spreading the communal fire." The Delhi Chief Minister also extended sympathy towards the Hindu families in the minority-dominated-Murshidabad district who have borne the brunt of communal violence. "Such atrocities are taking place against Hindus that they are forced to flee their homes. There can be nothing more shameful for a state, especially for a woman Chief Minister," she said. Her remarks came on a day when the Calcutta High Court directed the formation of a committee to review the situation in Murshidabad. So far, there have been reports of three violence-related deaths in the district. CM Gupta also attacked her predecessor and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for doublespeak on several issues. "He is a master in the politics of opportunism. He issues statements only on issues that suit him," she said, questioning his silence over ED raids against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. Kejriwal swears in the name of his children and again indulges in wrongdoings and joins hands with tainted people, she said. Expressing surprise over claims of Kejriwal that officials were not letting his government work freely in Delhi, CM Gupta said, "Officials want to work. It depends on the head of the government if he or she wants to extract work from them." Dismissing Kejriwal's allegations of roadblocks in performing as Delhi CM, she said the same set of officials is working with the BJP government. "The Lieutenant Governor also wanted to help, the Central government also wanted to support, but he was in the habit of abusing and accusing others of non-cooperation," she said. New Delhi, April 18 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday paid tribute to Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh guru, on his birth anniversary and emphasised the enduring legacy of his teachings and sacrifices. In a heartfelt post on X, HM Shah reflected on the Guru's significant role in Sikhism, saying, "As the ninth Guru of Sikhs, Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji made Sikhism synonymous with the protection of self-culture by making the society aware of wrongdoing, injustice, and oppression. Today, on his Prakash Parv, I remember him and pay my respects. The sacrifice of the Guru, who stood firm for his culture and self-respect in the face of fanatic invaders, will continue to inspire human society to protect their religion for eternity." Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also paid his tributes, emphasising the Guru's enduring legacy. He wrote, "On the pious occasion of Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Jias Jayanti, I bow in reverence to the great Sikh Guru - an epitome of courage, sacrifice, and unwavering devotion to dharma. His supreme sacrifice for protecting religious freedom and human rights stands as a shining example of India's spiritual strength and unity in diversity. His life continues to inspire generations to stand for justice and righteousness." Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath extended his salutations to the Guru, highlighting the significance of this occasion for devotees. He expressed, "On the occasion of Prakash Parv of the great saint, the ninth Guru of the Sikh sect, 'Hind Di Chadar' Guru Shri Teg Bahadur Ji Maharaj, salutations to him and hearty congratulations and best wishes to all the devotees and the people of the state! Guru Shri Teg Bahadur Ji Maharaj is a spiritual bundle, he is adorable to all of us as a Guru. His ascetic life dedicated to the protection of the nation and religion is a ray of light for all humanity." Teg Bahadur was a guru, scholar, and poet who significantly contributed to the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of Sikhs. He is known as a warrior guru who fought for religious freedom and is celebrated for his qualities such as wisdom, humanity, bravery, and dignity. New Delhi, April 18 : India is a key resource talent hub for AI professionals, which is a clear indicator of the efforts of the government and the industry to nurture an environment for adoption on AI, Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (Independent Charge), Jayant Chaudhary, has said. Speaking at Africa's largest tech and startup show, 'GITEX Africa 2025', the minister said that India's Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) has driven transformative changes across areas, especially through developments of digital identity (Aadhaar), digital payments (UPI), e-commerce (ONDC), and healthcare. "And we are increasingly integrating advanced technologies AI, cybersecurity, fintech, and digital infrastructure into our skilling ecosystem. Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH), a digital public infrastructure for the skilling ecosystem has onboarded more than one crore users in over one and a half years. These are areas, rich with potential, for collaboration with our African partners and we can collectively grow our economies through sustained partnerships," the minister told the gathering at the event in Morocco capital Marrakesh. The three-day event provided platform for policy leaders, changemakers and visionaries to collectively discuss and deliberate on the opportunities to collaborate and further the imperative of inclusive and equitable growth of the global economy. "India, where the pace of digitalisation is higher relative to some other developing economies, with established open-source Digital Public Infrastructure systems, has the potential to catalyse speed of digitalisation in other developing countries seeking to develop such systems through collaboration and knowledge sharing," Chaudhary added. On the sidelines of the summit, the minister held productive bilateral meetings. In his discussions, Chaudhary touched upon broadly on exploring synergies in AI, research and capacity; discussed insights on how DPI can be a catalyst for inclusion, innovation and equitable growth; and shared India's experience in building scalable, inclusive technology for public good, according to the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. IANS na/ New Delhi, April 18 : India on Friday firmly rejected Bangladesh's remarks regarding the recent violence in West Bengal, calling them unwarranted and misleading. The comments from Dhaka came in the wake of protests against the Waqf(Amendment) Act, during which Bangladesh urged Indian authorities to ensure the safety of the minority Muslim population in the state. In a strong rebuttal, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) advised Bangladesh to focus on its own human rights situation rather than commenting on India's internal affairs. Responding to media queries about the statements made by Bangladeshi officials, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: "We reject the remarks made by the Bangladesh side with regard to the incidents in West Bengal. This is a barely disguised and disingenuous attempt to draw a parallel with India's concerns over the ongoing persecution of minorities in Bangladesh, where the criminal perpetrators of such acts continue to roam free." "Instead of making unwarranted comments and indulging in virtue signalling, Bangladesh would do better to focus on protecting the rights of its minorities," the statement added. The statement comes amid heightened political and communal tensions in West Bengal, where protests erupted against the new legislation. The unrest led to isolated incidents of violence, prompting a political war of words and international attention. Bangladesh's call for the protection of minorities in India was met with criticism from Indian authorities, who described the move as an attempt to deflect from the ongoing human rights issues in Bangladesh itself, particularly those involving religious minorities. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee termed the the violence in the state "communal riots". Addressing a meeting organised by Imams and Muezzins at the Netaji Indoor stadium with representatives from all religious faiths, she said: "I saw a news report, quoting Home Ministry sources, saying the perpetrators came from Bangladesh. I have only one question for the Home Ministry. Why were these people allowed to enter Bengal? The border is not our responsibility." Three people, including a teenager, lost their lives in the violence sparked by protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act. Islamabad, April 18 : Over 2,239 Afghans were deported via the Torkham border as Pakistan escalated the ongoing forceful deportation of Afghan refugees. The mass repatriation on Thursday continued following the end of the March 31 deadline, as per local media reports. "The deported refugees were residing in different districts of Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Among those who came to the transit camp, 894 people were residing without documents, while 636 people were ACC card holders and 709 Afghans were transferred directly to the Torkham border from different districts of Punjab and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir," said Khyber Deputy Commissioner Bilal Shahid speaking to The Express Tribune. On Wednesday, Afghan Minister of Industry and Commerce, Nooruddin Azizi, led a high-level delegation to Pakistan. In a statement released on Thursday, the Minister underlined the importance of bilateral talks to develop effective solutions regarding the deportation of Afghan refugees. He advocated for their voluntary repatriation following the standards set by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), ensuring that the process is safe and dignified, Afghan state-run Bakhtar News Agency reported With the increasing wave of returning Afghan migrants from Pakistan, several migrants deported through the Torkham crossing recently said that they not only have no homes to live in, but they also do not own any land on which to build one. "We ask that job opportunities be created for us. We have no homes, no land. All our belongings are left outside. There are no jobs, and no one has created employment for us. But our most urgent need is shelter." Afghan media outlet TOLO News reported, quoting Mohammad Nabi, a deported migrant from Pakistan. Several deported Afghan migrants also report that Pakistani police treated them harshly, extorted money under various pretexts during the journey, and acted aggressively. The forcibly deported Afghan refugees said that Pakistani drivers exploited their vulnerability, charging excessive transportation fares. "The first time I was arrested, they took 20,000 rupees from me. Three days after releasing me, I went back home. I'm the head of my householdwhen I went shopping, they arrested me again and took another 20,000 rupees," Afghan media reported, quoting Mohammad Eshan, a deportee from Pakistan, as saying. Furthermore, Dad Mohammad, a 58-year-old resident of Kunar province, who had migrated to Pakistan 45 years ago, said that despite decades of work and settlement, he and his family were deported abruptly and empty-handed, in violation of migration principles. "The Pakistani police raided my house, treated me harshly, and didn't even give me a chance to take my belongings. Our motorcycles, cargo vehicle, and all our possessions were left behind. We barely had time to load the children into the vehicle and flee," he recounted. Meanwhile, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that between April 1 and 13 2025, IOM recorded a sharp rise in forced returns, with nearly 60,000 individuals crossing back into Afghanistan through the Torkham and Spin Boldak border points of Pakistan and Afghanistan. IOM and its partners reiterated their call to immediately halt the forced returns of Afghans until conditions are in place to ensure safe, dignified, and voluntary returns, regardless of a person's legal status. Bengaluru, April 18 : The Bengaluru Police arrested an auto-rickshaw driver on Friday for harassing a woman at a public place, demanding her contact number and pestering her to allow him to take a selfie with him. The incident took place in the Pulakeshinagar police station limits. The arrested person was identified as Mani. According to police, the woman was standing with her male friend near a shop when the accused auto-rickshaw driver approached her and asked her to share her contact number with him. The accused also demanded that she allow him to take a selfie with her. The woman later told the police that the accused even attempted to take a selfie. She later lodged a complaint with the police demanding action against him. The victim has claimed that she does not know the accused and that he was a stranger. The police were investigating the case. In another incident, Bengaluru Police have arrested the youth who flashed his private parts at a homemaker, and when confronted, assaulted seven people, including her husband, police said on Friday. Earlier, a video showing two young women being targeted by a man in the early hours in a residential locality went viral on social media. The 17-second video showed two women walking down a deserted street. It showed a man approaching them from behind, pushing one of the women aside, sexually harassing the other, and then escaping. The video also captured the visibly shaken women standing briefly to catch their breath before quickly leaving the scene. Ten days later, the Karnataka Police arrested the accused, identified as 26-year-old Santosh Daniel, from a Kerala village. On April 13, the Karnataka Police shot dead the accused involved in the kidnapping, sexual assault, and murder of a girl in Hubballi city. The accused was identified as a 35-year-old Ritesh Kumar from Patna in Bihar. A shocking incident came to light here earlier on Sunday involving a youth, who allegedly attempted to sexually assault a five-year-old girl and later strangled her to death for resisting his advances. The incident occurred within the jurisdiction of the Ashokanagar police station in Hubballi. According to the police, the accused took the girl to a shed and attempted to assault her. When the girl screamed for help, locals rushed towards the spot. Upon noticing the approaching people, the accused allegedly strangled the girl to death and managed to escape. Bengaluru, April 18 : A youth, who flashed his private parts at a homemaker and assaulted seven people, including her husband, when they confronted him, has been arrested in Bengaluru, police said on Friday. The accused also assaulted his mother when she questioned him. According to the police, the accused, identified as Karthik, has been sent to judicial custody. The accused had claimed that he was urinating when the homemaker saw him. A case has been registered at the Shivajinagar police station. He allegedly unzipped his pants and flashed his private parts at a homemaker while she was walking on the second floor of her house on April 13. The accused lived in a house opposite the victim's residence. He also made lewd gestures, indicating that he wanted to get physical with her. Disturbed by the act, the woman raised an alarm and called her husband for help. Outraged by this, the accused began assaulting the husband. When neighbours rushed to intervene, the accused attacked them with hollow blocks, flower pots, and windowpanes, according to police. According to police, seven people were injured in the incident, three of whom sustained serious injuries and are currently being treated in the Intensive Care Unit. Preliminary investigations have revealed that the accused is a habitual offender who has misbehaved with several women. Earlier, a video showing two young women being targeted by a man in the early hours in a residential locality went viral on social media. The 17-second video showed two women walking down a deserted street. It showed a man approaching them from behind, pushing one of the women aside, sexually harassing the other, and then escaping. The video also captured the visibly shaken women standing briefly to catch their breath before quickly leaving the scene. Karnataka Police arrested the accused, identified as 26-year-old Santosh Daniel, from a Kerala village. Los Angeles, April 18 : Actor Ryan Gosling will lead a new "Star Wars" installment, titled "Star Wars: Starfighter," with Shawn Levy directing it. Los Angeles, April 18 (IANS) Actor Ryan Gosling will lead a new "Star Wars" installment, titled "Star Wars: Starfighter," with Shawn Levy directing it. Production banner Lucasfilm confirmed the news. The film is set for a fall production start and Disney has set a theatrical release date of May 28, 2027, reports variety.com. Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy and chief creative officer Dave Filoni officially unveiled plans for "Starfighter" at the banner's annual Star Wars Celebration event in Tokyo. According to variety.com, Jonathan Tropper has written the screenplay for the film. Tropper has written prior features for Levy and is the creator of the Apple TV+ series "Your Friends & Neighbors." Gosling and Levy appeared at the livestreamed Star Wars Celebration to further tease the project, with Gosling wearing a cap reading, "Never tell me the odds." "Being here and seeing all of you [makes it] more inspiring to do it. There's so much creativity and imagination in this room and there's so much love. It's such a great reminder of how much movies can mean to us, specifically how much these movies mean to us," Gosling told the screaming audience at the end of the presentation. "The force is a mysterious thing, but, as I'm here, the force is the fans. All we can hope for is, 'May the fans be with us.'" "We're fans too," Levy said. "There's obviously a relationship between these stories and the audience, but we've spent our lives in that audience. We know how meaningful it is." The standalone, which focuses on new characters in the "Star Wars" universe, is set roughly five years after the events of "Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker," which concluded the Skywalker saga and currently stands as the final feature chronologically on the "Star Wars" timeline. No other casting details were announced. Gosling was last seen in the action-heavy romcom "The Fall Guy," released in May 2024. "Starfighter" is a new leap for the typically franchise-averse actor. "Starfighter" will be released just over a year after the next "Star Wars" theatrical feature, "The Mandalorian & Grogu." It will mark the first "Star Wars" feature since "The Rise of Skywalker" debuted in December 2019. New Delhi, April 18 : NITI Aayog CEO B. V. R. Subrahmanyam sees India emerging as the world's education hub and a stable supplier of working-age people across the globe, as population has begun to shrink in advanced countries. Addressing an event here, he pointed out that Subrahmanyam pointed out that this is the first time that the world is seeing a situation where the population is shrinking. The NITI Aayog CEO highlighted that Japan is hiring 15,000 Indian nurses, while Germany is taking 20,000 healthcare workers as they do not have people, and the family systems in these countries have broken down. Subrahmanyam further said India can become an education hub for the world, as the single biggest advantage it has, keeping all other things aside, is its democracy. He said that Indian companies, including law firms and accounting companies, should aspire to become world leaders. "India will be a stable supplier of working-age people across the world, which is going to be our single biggest strength," Subrahmanyam remarked. The NITI Aayog CEO pointed out that the problems faced by middle-income countries are very different from those in low-income countries. The NITI Aayog CEO also said that currently, the Indian economy is the fifth largest in the world, but will surpass Germany and Japan in three years to become the third largest economy. By 2047, India could be the second-largest economy at $30 trillion, he added. Subrahmanyam sees a huge potential for India's demographic dividend. India has a relatively young population, with a median age of 28.4 years. Approximately 26 per cent of the population is below 14 years and 67 per cent is between the ages of 15 to 64 years, and 7 per cent is above the age of 65. In contrast, the population over 65 years in the US is 17 per cent, and in Europe, it is over 21 per cent, according to official figures. According to an EY report, in absolute numbers, India will have 1.04 billion working-age persons by 2030. Correspondingly, India's dependency ratio would be the lowest in its history by 2030 at 31.2 per cent. India's young dependency ratio - the number of children below 15 years of age relative to the total population - is expected to overtake the old dependency ratio (ratio of population aged above 65 years relative to the total population). About 24.3 per cent of the incremental global workforce over the next decade will come from India. This is significant considering the rapidly ageing population in the developed world, creating potential challenges to labour supply in various sectors of the global economy, the report said. Raipur, April 18 : Security forces in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh have achieved a significant breakthrough with 22 Maoists, including nine women, surrendering on Friday, marking a pivotal moment in the ongoing efforts to combat Maoism, officials said. This operation, conducted deep within Sukma's forests, involved the Maad division and other hardcore Maoist factions. The surrendered individuals, collectively carrying rewards amounting to Rs 40 lakh, will now benefit from the government's rehabilitation policy, said the officials. Inspired by the "Lon Varratu (Come Back Home)" campaign in various districts of Chhattisgarh, many Maoists have returned home. While speaking on the occasion of the 86th Raising Day of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Union Home Minister Amit Shah reiterated that Naxalism has now been contained to only four districts and will be wiped out from India by March next year. The success of this operation was made possible by the collaborative efforts of various security forces, including the Sukma police, Deputy Inspector Generals of Sukma and Jagdalpur, and battalions of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Their dedication played a crucial role in persuading the Maoists to lay down their arms. On April 12, eight Maoists carrying a collective bounty of Rs one lakh surrendered at the office of the Deputy Inspector General of Dantewada Range. The RFT (Intelligence Branch) Dantewada, along with the 111th and 230th CRPF Battalions, played a pivotal role in facilitating these surrenders. Under the rehabilitation policy, these individual Maoists will receive Rs 50,000 in financial aid, skill development training, and agricultural land. These former Maoists were previously involved in activities like road digging and displaying Maoist propaganda. Disillusioned by the harsh realities of Maoism, internal conflicts, and the challenges of forest life, they have chosen to abandon violence and reintegrate into society. The Lon Varratu campaign, combined with the government's rehabilitation policy, has been widely publicised in villages, encouraging surrenders from both high-ranking and lower-level Maoists. New Delhi, April 18 : In response to the Supreme Court's interim order on the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari on Friday welcomed the decision, stating that it upholds the Constitution and safeguards the secular fabric of the nation. New Delhi, April 18 (IANS) In response to the Supreme Courtas interim order on the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari on Friday welcomed the decision, stating that it upholds the Constitution and safeguards the secular fabric of the nation. Speaking on the matter to IANS, Tiwari lauded the Courtas directive and criticised the Centre for what he described as a communal approach to the issue. "I welcome the Supreme Courtas move to uphold the Constitution regarding appointments to the Waqf Board. I thank the Court for this directive and wish to clearly state that the BJP-led Central government and the party should not view this matter through a religious lens. The actions against the Waqf Board strike at the very soul of the Indian Constitution," Tiwari said. His remarks come a day after the Supreme Court raised concerns over three key provisions of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. On Thursday, the Centre told the Court it would not appoint any new members to the Waqf Boards or alter the status of Waqf properties, including the awaqf-by-usera, until the next hearing scheduled for May 5. The bench led by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, along with Justices Sanjay Kumar and K.V. Viswanathan, recorded the undertaking given by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta on behalf of the Union government. The Court directed the Centre to file its preliminary reply to the petitions challenging the validity of the amendment within seven days. Separately, addressing Vice President Jagdeep Dhankharas recent comments on the judiciary, Tiwari emphasised the importance of constitutional balance. "The President and Vice President hold a position of supremacy under the powers conferred by the Constitution. I will neither react to nor comment on his statement. However, I must say that the Constitution of India is very clear. Democracy rests on four strong pillars: the judiciary, the executive, the press, and the legislature. Each has its defined powers, and those must not be infringed upon," he said. Seoul, April 18 : Former South Korean Democratic Party (DP) leader Lee Jae-myung has a strong lead among potential candidates for the June 3 presidential election, a survey showed on Friday. In the poll conducted by Gallup Korea on 1,000 adults from Tuesday to Thursday, Lee garnered 38 per cent support, marking his highest rating in Gallup polls this year. Trailing behind at 7 per cent were former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo and former Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo of the conservative People Power Party (PPP), as well as Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who currently serves as the acting president. Han has not declared his candidacy despite ongoing speculation about his possible bid. Former PPP leader Han Dong-hoon came next with 6 per cent, followed by Lee Jun-seok, a lawmaker of the minor opposition New Reform Party, at 2 per cent. Twenty-six percent of the respondents did not show support for a particular candidate, Yonhap news agency reported. By party, the DP received 42 per cent support, outpacing the PPP at 34 per cent. The survey has a margin of error of plus and minus 3.1 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level. The South Korean government designated June 3 as the date of the next presidential election following the ouster of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. The designation was made at a Cabinet meeting four days after the Constitutional Court upheld the impeachment of Yoon over his short-lived imposition of martial law in December. Under the Constitution, the country is required to hold a new election within 60 days after a vacancy arises in the presidency. The government also designated June 3 as a temporary public holiday. The National Election Commission began early candidate registration shortly after the Constitutional Court dismissed Yoon last Friday. Candidates will be required to register by May 11 and the official campaign period will kick off on May 12. The law also requires a public servant running for President to resign at least 30 days before an election, making May 4 the deadline. The new President will assume office immediately after the election without a transition team. When former President Park Geun-hye was removed from office on March 10, 2017, the early election was also held exactly 60 days later, on May 9. Meanwhile, Yoon, who dramatically rose from a top prosecutor to the presidency in about three years, became the nation's second President to be formally removed from office, with his surprise martial law bid rattling the nation for months and deepening political polarisation. With the ruling, Yoon, 64, follows in the footsteps of former South Korean President Park Geun-hye, who was ousted in 2017 when the Constitutional Court upheld her impeachment over a corruption scandal. Before taking the nation's highest office, Yoon began his career as a prosecutor in 1994, rising through the ranks to lead an investigation team into Park's corruption scandal that ultimately led to her ouster and subsequent imprisonment. In 2019, he was appointed as the nation's top prosecutor under then South Korean President Moon Jae-in but clashed with the administration as he oversaw investigations into family members of former Justice Minister Cho Kuk. Amid mounting pressure from the Moon administration, Yoon stepped down from his post in 2021, only to enter politics shortly after and win the presidential election in 2022 as the candidate for the conservative People Power Party. Yoon's term was riddled with conflict with an uncooperative National Assembly dominated by the main Opposition Democratic Party (DP). Yoon exercised his presidential veto power against 25 Bills passed by the National Assembly. Tensions with the DP appeared to reach an extreme in early December as the main Opposition introduced motions to impeach the country's top auditor and a senior prosecutor, with Yoon declaring martial law on December 3, which ultimately led to his downfall. Hyderabad, April 18 : Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K. T. Rama Rao on Friday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to order an investigation into the alleged destruction of Kancha Gachibowli forest and a Rs 10,000 crore financial scam. In a public appeal shared on 'X', Rama Rao urged PM Modi to demonstrate his environmental commitment by ordering a swift investigation. KTR, as the BRS leader is popularly known, accused the Congress-led state government under Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, for perpetrating a massive fraud. The controversy surrounds the devastation of over 400 acres of ecologically critical forest land in Kancha Gachibowli, adjacent to the University of Hyderabad, which KTR described as an "environmental catastrophe" and a "grave financial fraud". The forest, home to peacocks, deer, and endangered species, is vital for Hyderabad's groundwater levels but was allegedly cleared for an IT park and infrastructure projects, despite protests from students, environmentalists, and a Supreme Court order halting auction activities, he said. KTR alleged that the Telangana government mortgaged 400 acres of Kancha Gachibowli land lacking legal title to secure a Rs 10,000 crore loan through intermediaries, without environmental clearances or Forest Department approvals. "This isn't just about biodiversity loss; it's a Rs 10,000 crore scam by the Congress government," he stated. He pointed out that the Supreme Court's Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has confirmed financial irregularities and recommended probes by central agencies, including the CBI, RBI, SEBI, SFIO, and CVC, to which BRS has submitted evidence. Referring to PM Modi's April 14 remarks in Haryana condemning Telangana's deforestation, KTR questioned if they were "mere lip service". He urged PM Modi to expedite investigations to prove his environmental resolve and counter allegations of BJP-Congress collusion. "It's time to show Telangana that BJP and Congress aren't colluding and that you truly care about environmental protection," KTR said. KTR accused CM Reddy of orchestrating the scam and deflecting blame, dismissing the latter's claim that no wildlife exists in Kanche Gachibowli. A Telangana High Court Registrar's report confirmed the presence of diverse fauna, contradicting CM Reddy. KTR also criticised the mortgaging of a water body within the land as reckless, demanding CM Reddyas accountability. "Leaders like Revanth Reddy, who shamelessly exploit systems, must be exposed," he said. Bengaluru, April 18 : The incident of Brahmin students allegedly being asked to remove their sacred thread (Janivara) by authorities before being allowed to attend the Common Entrance Test (CET) has stirred a major controversy in Karnataka. The incident, which came to light on Friday, has drawn sharp reactions from ministers and community organisations alike. Hindu organisations have appealed to people to come onto the streets and protest. Reacting to the issue, Minister for Higher Education M.C. Sudhakar said that if the incident of students being asked to remove the sacred thread is confirmed, strict action will be taken against those responsible. "It is an excessive act. If this happened at any examination centre, we will take it seriously," he said. "We must respect the practices of all castes and religions. I do not support such actions. I will obtain a report from the officials concerned and consider appropriate steps moving forward. If the incident is verified, we will reassess the situation. This is not about politicising the matter or gaining political mileage. We have no intention of hurting the sentiments of any community," Minister Sudhakar added. Minister for Education Madhu Bangarappa said, "I have become aware of the development. No one has the authority to issue such directions. There is no legal provision that permits such actions. Although this matter doesn't fall directly under my ministry, I will discuss it with the concerned department. As the incident took place in my home district of Shivamogga, I will direct officials to initiate action." Minister Bangarappa further stated that it is inappropriate to take such measures against students during examinations. Reports indicate that examination authorities in Shivamogga and Bidar districts asked Brahmin students to remove their religious wrist threads as well as the sacred thread (Janivara) before entering the CET examination centres on Thursday. The incident came to light after the students' parents shared the information with community organisations. Brahmin organisations have condemned the incident and demanded answers from the authorities. The Akhila Karnataka Brahmana Maha Sabha and the Vishwa Sanghatane in Shivamogga district have called for immediate action against those responsible. It may be recalled that the previous BJP government had issued an order prohibiting students wearing burqas from entering classrooms and examination centres. That order was upheld by the Karnataka High Court and is currently under consideration in the Supreme Court. The hijab controversy had earlier triggered a major law and order crisis in the state. United Nations, April 18 : Most of the estimated 400,000 people fleeing the Zamzam displacement camp bombardment sought shelter in another Sudanese refuge camp, only for it to be shelled too, the UN humanitarian agency said. "Access to Zamzam remains completely blocked," the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said. "Local authorities and partners' reports indicate that armed groups continue to shell El Fasher and surrounding areas, including Abu Shouk camp, which is obviously placing all of the civilians there at immense risk." The majority of the 400,000 people fleeing the Zamzam camp bombardment fled to the towns of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, and Tawila, where host communities are already under immense strain. The office said that despite insecurity, aid organisations are working hard to meet urgent needs, Xinhua news agency reported. The United Nations and its humanitarian partners delivered 1,700 metric tonnes of emergency food in Tawila. Meanwhile, a local partner launched a water trucking initiative to support 10,000 newly displaced people with clean water in El Fasher. International NGOs are conducting a humanitarian assessment in Tawila to determine the immediate needs and response priorities. Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said the World Food Programme (WFP) reported that one of its teams arrived on Thursday in greater Khartoum, where it is coordinating with local authorities to scale up assistance in the nation's capital. "WFP aims to expand aid deliveries to nearly 1 million people over the coming month," Dujarric said. "WFP also said that a convoy with 14 trucks carrying over 280 metric tonnes of food and nutrition supplies has arrived in Jabal Awlia, which is south of Khartoum, and that arrival took place this (Thursday) morning. This area is one of the areas that is at high risk of famine, so the delivery is well needed." Famine conditions had previously been declared in the Zamzam camp and several other Sudan locations. Dujarric said the Khartoum aid deliveries are the first aid into Jabal Awlia since last December. The initial aid convoys carry assistance for around 23,000 people, and additional trucks are en route. The convoy is just one of many planned aid deliveries into the greater Khartoum metropolitan area over the coming weeks. "All this aid is crucial to help the vulnerable communities, and our humanitarian colleagues are telling us that aid organisations are working hard to meet urgent needs," the spokesman said. Cross-border and cross-conflict line aid deliveries also continue. "During the month of March, 156 trucks carrying over 5,600 metric tonnes of assistance entered Sudan via the Adre crossing from Chad, while 146 trucks transported more than 4,000 metric tonnes of aid in other parts of the country," Dujarric said. OCHA said humanitarian access is severely undermined by delays in visa approvals by Sudan for humanitarian personnel. "Only 16 per cent of visa applications were approved in March, an alarming drop from previous months, which was around 50 per cent," OCHA said. "All of that can seriously affect life-saving operations if the trend continues downwards." Dujarric said the United Nations continues to call for the immediate cessation of hostilities in Sudan and urges all parties to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law, ensure the protection of civilians, and allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access. New Delhi, April 18 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held a discussion with Tesla CEO Elon Musk on a range of topics, including the immense potential for collaboration in the areas of technology and innovation. "Spoke to Elon Musk and talked about various issues, including the topics we covered during our meeting in Washington DC earlier this year. We discussed the immense potential for collaboration in the areas of technology and innovation. India remains committed to advancing our partnerships with the US in these domains," PM Modi said on X. The Prime Minister had met Musk in Washington during his visit to the US in February this year. "Had a very good meeting with Elon Musk in Washington DC. We discussed various issues, including those he is passionate about such as space, mobility, technology and innovation. I talked about India's efforts towards reform and furthering 'Minimum Government, Maximum Governance," PM Modi had stated on X after the meeting. In another post, PM Modi shared glimpses of his candid moments with Elon Musk's children, captioning it, "It was also a delight to meet Mr. Elon Musk's family and to talk about a wide range of subjects!" PM Modi's conversation with Musk comes at a time when Tesla is reportedly poised to enter the Indian market. The development also comes against the backdrop of ongoing negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement between India and the US. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal had also held a meeting with top executives of Elon Musk's Starlink in Delhi on Wednesday to discuss the company's investment plans for India. "Met a delegation from Starlink, comprising Vice President Chad Gibbs & Senior Director, Ryan Goodnight. Discussions covered Starlink's cutting-edge technology platform, their existing partnerships & future investment plans in India," Piyush Goyal said on X after the meeting. The meeting comes in the backdrop of domestic telecom majors such as Airtel being in touch with a US company for the possible launch of satellite telecom services in India. Vodafone Idea has also said that it is in talks with Starlink to provide satellite communication services in India. Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has stated that India needs satellite internet, especially in its rural areas. The minister is of the view that there are many remote corners of the country where you cannot take fiber or mobile connectivity. Consequently, satellite internet can help ensure 100 per cent coverage. Emphasising the complementary -- and not competitive -- role played by these services, Scindia said India was committed to offering consumers terrestrial, fiber, as well as satellite communications. He also highlighted that if natural disasters destroy telecom towers and fiber networks, satellite communications can play a crucial role in filling the gap during an emergency. Starlink is yet to secure a regulatory license to start operations in India and is awaiting the government's new rules on spectrum pricing. Scindia has also said that any company can apply for a licence provided it meets the country's regulations. Starlink is owned by SpaceX, a company founded by Elon Musk. Starlink is a satellite internet service that aims to provide high-speed internet access to users worldwide. SpaceX is the first private company to have delivered astronauts to and from the International Space Station. It has also completed an all-civilian crew mission to orbit. --IANS New Delhi, April 18 : In a remarkable development, the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, a noted Hindu scripture and Natyashastra, an Indian treatise on performing arts have been included in UNESCO's Memory of the World Register. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the development as a proud moment for every Indian. New Delhi, April 18 (IANS) In a remarkable development, the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, a noted Hindu scripture and Natyashastra, an Indian treatise on performing arts have been included in UNESCOas Memory of the World Register. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the development as a proud moment for every Indian. The news was shared by Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. He took to X and informed, "The Shrimad Bhagavad Gita & Bharat Munias Natyashastra are now inscribed in UNESCOas Memory of the World Register." He also described it as a historic moment for Bharatas civilisational heritage and added, "This global honour celebrates Indiaas eternal wisdom & artistic genius." He emphasized that these works are more than literary masterpieces a" they are philosophical and aesthetic foundations that have profoundly influenced Indiaas worldview and modes of thought, emotion, expression, and living. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the development as 'a proud moment for every Indian across the world'. "The inclusion of the Gita and Natyashastra in UNESCOas Memory of the World Register is a global recognition of our timeless wisdom and rich culture. The Gita and Natyashastra have nurtured civilisation and consciousness for centuries. Their insights continue to inspire the world," he wrote in a post on X. The UNESCO Memory of the World Register honours documentary heritage that is deemed to hold exceptional universal value. It includes texts, manuscripts, and documents that have significantly shaped human history and continue to influence generations. With this addition, India now has 14 entries in the prestigious Memory of the World Register. The Bhagavad Gita, a sacred dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, forms a part of the Mahabharata. Comprising 700 verses across 18 chapters, the text addresses profound philosophical questions, encouraging action, selflessness, and devotion. It synthesises key elements from Vedic, Buddhist, Jain, and Carvaka traditions, making it a cornerstone of Indiaas intellectual and spiritual heritage. The Gita has been studied and translated across the globe for centuries. The Natyashastra, attributed to the sage Bharat Muni, is the foundational treatise on Indian performing arts, encompassing theatre, dance, and music. It has shaped classical art traditions across centuries and remains a guiding text for artists and scholars alike. Sanaa, April 18 : The death toll from US overnight airstrikes on the Yemeni fuel port of Ras Isa has increased to 38, with 102 others wounded, Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported on Friday, citing Houthi-controlled local health authorities. According to al-Masirah, the casualties include five paramedics who were killed upon arriving at the scene, when the US military launched another wave of airstrikes on the port just minutes after the first on Thursday night. More than 14 airstrikes on the fuel port were reported during the two waves, igniting massive fires in tanks storing imported fuel. The fires were extinguished within hours, said the report. The US Central Command said earlier in a statement that it struck and destroyed the Ras Isa port on Thursday to "eliminate this source of fuel for" and "degrade the economic source of power of" the Houthis, Xinhua news agency reported. In mid-March, US President Donald Trump ordered "decisive and powerful military action" against the Houthis after the group announced plans to resume attacks on Israeli vessels in the Red Sea, citing Israel's blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza as the reason. Earlier on April 17, Yemen's Houthi leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi had said his group had launched 26 attacks against Israel and 33 strikes on the US aircraft carrier and warships in the Red Sea since March 15. In a televised speech aired by the group's al-Masirah TV on Thursday, the Houthi leader said the attacks on Israel were carried out using "30 ballistic missiles and drones," while those targeting the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier and its escorts involved "122 ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as drones". However, the Israeli military has reportedly intercepted many of the Houthi projectiles before they reached targets, Xinhua news agency reported. The US Central Command dismissed the Houthi claims of daily attacks on the US aircraft carrier as "outlandish" in a post on the social media platform X. Meanwhile, the Houthi leader noted that the US military had conducted more than 900 airstrikes against his group's positions across northern Yemen during the past 30 days. Tensions between the Houthi group and the US military have escalated since Washington resumed airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen on March 15 to deter the group from attacking Israel and US warships in the Red Sea. The Houthis, which control much of northern Yemen, said their attacks aim to press US-backed Israel to stop the offensive against the Gaza Strip and allow humanitarian aid into the Palestinian enclave. Israel's Channel 12 News reported last Saturday that a Yemeni drone was intercepted near the Dead Sea within the Jordanian airspace before it could reach Israel. The Jordanian army confirmed later last week that an unidentified drone entered Jordanian airspace and crashed in the Ma'in area of Madaba governorate, near the Dead Sea, and no casualties were reported. Even since Israel renewed its intensive strikes in March across the Gaza Strip, the Houthis have been launching frequent attacks against Israeli and US targets. Earlier last week, the Houthi military spokesperson claimed fresh attacks against the US aircraft carrier, USS Harry S Truman, and other US warships in the northern Red Sea. New Delhi, April 18 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday paid tribute to Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru, on his birth anniversary, lauding his courage and selfless service. "On the auspicious Parkash Purab of Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji, I pay my humble tributes to one of the greatest spiritual torchbearers of our land. His life epitomises courage and compassionate service. He was unwavering in fighting injustice. May his teachings continue to inspire us all in building a society he envisioned," PM Modi said in a post on X. Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also paid tribute to Guru Tegh Bahadur on his birth anniversary and emphasised the enduring legacy of his teachings and sacrifices. In a heartfelt post on X, HM Shah reflected on the Guru's significant role in Sikhism, saying, "As the ninth Guru of Sikhs, Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji made Sikhism synonymous with the protection of self-culture by making the society aware of wrongdoing, injustice, and oppression. Today, on his Prakash Parv, I remember him and pay my respects. The sacrifice of the Guru, who stood firm for his culture and self-respect in the face of fanatic invaders, will continue to inspire human society to protect their religion for eternity." Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also paid his tributes, emphasising the Guru's enduring legacy. He wrote, "On the pious occasion of Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji's Jayanti, I bow in reverence to the great Sikh Guru - an epitome of courage, sacrifice, and unwavering devotion to dharma. His supreme sacrifice for protecting religious freedom and human rights stands as a shining example of India's spiritual strength and unity in diversity. His life continues to inspire generations to stand for justice and righteousness." Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath extended his salutations to the Guru, highlighting the significance of this occasion for devotees. He expressed, "On the occasion of Prakash Parv of the great saint, the ninth Guru of the Sikh sect, 'Hind Di Chadar' Guru Shri Teg Bahadur Ji Maharaj, salutations to him and hearty congratulations and best wishes to all the devotees and the people of the state! Guru Shri Teg Bahadur Ji Maharaj is a spiritual bundle, he is adorable to all of us as a Guru. His ascetic life dedicated to the protection of the nation and religion is a ray of light for all humanity." Teg Bahadur was a guru, scholar, and poet who significantly contributed to the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of Sikhs. He is known as a warrior guru who fought for religious freedom and is celebrated for his qualities such as wisdom, humanity, bravery, and dignity. Kohima, April 18 : Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister Yanthungo Patton rued that the present Naga society is being fragmented with different groups, thus hampering peace and development of the people. Addressing the valedictory program of the 8th Eastern Naga Studentsa Federation (ENSF) Cultural Fiesta-cum-General Conference 2025 as the Chief Guest at Tuensang on Thursday night, he said that the true strength of the people lies in unity, but the present Naga society is fragmented. Patton, who is also the BJP Legislature Party leader, urged the student communities to play a positive role in unifying the Nagas. He highlighted the commitment of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio in the development and progress of the people of Eastern Nagaland, along with the rest of the Nagas, by creating new districts for better development from the grassroots level. Patton, who holds the Home and Border Affairs portfolios, said that Nagas of Eastern Nagaland should bring a progressive change not only in eastern areas but in the rest of the state as well. He congratulated the new team of the ENSF and emphasised that leaders must uphold, motivate and shape the society with trust and wisdom for the betterment of the community. Local MLA Imtichoba appreciated the pioneers of the ENSF for their dedication towards the welfare of the students of Eastern Nagas. He stated that in the Eastern Region, there is much more to be done in the fields of medicine, communication, and education. He also urged the students to stay away from drugs and look forward to moving on with the changing of time, and not solely depending on government jobs to make ends meet. Addressing the opening day function of the ENSF Cultural Fiesta-cum-General Conference on April 15, Chief Minister Rio contended that the eastern part of the state is called backwards because these regions were left unadministered by the British. He noted that it was only in 1957, its headquarters were established at Tuensang. Since 2010, the Eastern Nagaland Peoples' Organisation (ENPO) has been agitating for a separate 'Frontier Nagaland Territory' or separate state comprising six eastern Nagaland districts -- Kiphire, Longleng, Mon, Noklak, Shamator, and Tuensang, inhabited by seven backwards tribes -- Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Phom, Tikhir, Sangtam and Yimkhiung. Officials said that the state government has also submitted their comments on the third draft of the Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) in respect of the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on November 6 last year. Noting that two rounds of discussions have already been held, one in New Delhi and the other in Chumoukedima in Nagaland, a senior official said that substantial progress has been made and the government is hopeful that any remaining concerns of the ENPO will be addressed. The ENPO had boycotted several important elections, including the 2023 Assembly polls, to press for their demands. Srinagar, April 18 : Senior religious and Huriyat Conference (HC) Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, said on Friday that authorities have placed him under house arrest, thereby denying him the right to offer congregational prayers during the day. Mirwaiz Farooq said on X, "Every Friday I am put under arbitrary house arrest ! Putting pressure on me not to speak up, the ban also aims to weaken the centrality of Muslim institutions of the valley-the Jama Masjid, office of the Mirwaiz, and cause collective grief to Muslims and all those who oppose this authoritarian and sectarian outlook. My house detention case is still pending in court, where I am seeking relief from the Hon'ble High Court, but In such times patience remains our only strength." Mirwaiz traditionally delivers the Friday sermon at the Jamia Masjid in the Nowhatta area of old Srinagar city. He also heads the Anjuman-e-Nusratul Islam, a religious organisation that runs some educational institutions in Kashmir, including the Islamia High School in Rajouri Kadal area of Srinagar. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) last month declared the Mirwaiz-headed Awami Action Committee (ACC) a banned organisation for five years. The ACC was formed in 1963 during the Holy Relic agitation by Mirwaiz Maulana Mohammad Farooq. After the elder Mirwaiz was assassinated in 1990 by the terrorists, the ACC came to be headed by his son, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. The MHA order said that the ACC has been encouraging youth to violence and is acting in a manner prejudicial to the interests of the state. Mirwaiz Farooq, who is the chairman of the Hurriyat Conference, has witnessed the desertion of several affiliates. As many as 12 Hurriyat-linked organisations have broken off from secessionism, reposing trust in the Constitution of India. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said that "separatism has become history in Kashmir", and the unifying policies of the Modi government have eliminated separatism in J&K. He has also said this is a victory of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat'. Balrampur : , April 18 (IANS) The Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY), an ambitious initiative launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is transforming lives across India - and the story of Abhay Singh from Ramanujganj in Chhattisgarh's Balrampur district is yet another testament to its success. Abhay Singh, a private school teacher at Saraswati Shishu Mandir in Ramanujganj, once struggled to manage household expenses and the school fees of his two children. His daughter is currently studying in Jharkhand's Dhanbad, while his younger son attends the same private school where he teaches. His wife, Priyanshi, is a homemaker. Faced with financial constraints and limited income from his teaching job, Singh decided to venture into entrepreneurship. Inspired by a business idea he came across on social media, he started a small-scale slipper manufacturing business with an initial capital of Rs 50,000. Although the venture showed promise, he soon faced challenges in scaling it due to a lack of funds and manpower. It was at this juncture that he learned about the PMMY. Through the State Bank of India, he availed a loan of Rs 5.5 lakh with the PMMY, which enabled him to purchase essential equipment and raw materials from Delhi and set up a small factory at home. The initiative proved to be a game-changer. Singh's process of making slippers is efficient and systematic. It takes approximately 16 minutes to produce a single pair. The procedure includes measuring, cutting, grinding, printing, and assembling using machines, followed by packaging. His wife assists him in the manufacturing process, making it a true family-run enterprise. The cost of production varies by size a" Rs 22a"25 for childrenas slippers and Rs 55a"60 for adult pairs. On average, each pair yields a profit of Rs 10a"15. The family currently produces enough to earn around Rs 1,000 per day, for a monthly income of Rs 35,000-40,000. aPMMY has completely changed our lives," Singh told IANS. "Weare now able to meet household expenses, pay for our children's education, and even save a little. I plan to expand the business further, hire staff, and focus more on marketing and product quality." He added that while raw materials are currently sourced from Delhi, discussions are ongoing with suppliers in Raipur. Local sourcing would help reduce costs and increase margins. Singh balances both his roles a" as a school principal and an entrepreneur a" with determination. His long-term goal is to offer affordable, quality footwear and provide employment opportunities to others in his community. His wife also shared her experience. "In a middle-class family, managing expenses with a single income is tough, especially with children in private schools. This business has brought hope. Earlier, it was difficult to pay school fees, but now things are much better. I am thankful to Prime Minister Modi - this scheme has truly changed our lives," Priyanshi told IANS. Launched in 2015, the PMMY has played a key role in promoting grassroots entrepreneurship by offering collateral-free loans to micro and small enterprises. The scheme empowers individuals from economically weaker sections by removing the burden of providing security or assets to secure funding. Loans under the scheme are categorised into three brackets: Shishu (up to Rs 50,000), Kishor (Rs 50,001 to Rs 5 lakh), and Tarun (Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh), catering to different stages of business development. Kalaburagi, April 18 : After a cabinet meeting on the caste census ended without a major decision, Karnataka BJP president and MLA B. Y. Vijayendra on Friday slammed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, saying that the latter lacks the willpower to take firm decisions. Speaking to the media, Vijayendra said: "A special cabinet meeting was held on Thursday to decide on the controversial caste census, a subject close to Siddaramaiah's heart. However, no decision was made due to the Chief Minister's lack of conviction." "If Siddaramaiah had genuine intent to do justice to the Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes, such a massive scam wouldn't have been allowed in the ST Development Corporation. The misuse of Rs 38,500 crore earmarked for Dalit welfare would not have happened," he added. When asked about students being asked to remove their sacred thread (Janivara) during the Common Entrance Test, he said it is unacceptable. On the sand mafia in the state, he said: "I recently visited the Chittapur constituency, represented by Minister for RDPR, IT and BT Priyank Kharge. The sand mafia is operating openly in the Kagina River, right under his nose. Four to five trucks are running with the same number plate. The illegal sand trade has spread to Maharashtra and other neighbouring states." He questioned whether Kharge was unaware of the crime. "Everyone is talking about the corruption and sand mafia flourishing right under his nose. Why is daylight robbery being allowed in his district? What benefit is he getting from this? He must answer," Vijayrendra said. Vijayendra also slammed Siddaramaiah for the latter's claim that he is a devotee of Basavanna, saying he should first understand the deeper meaning of the 12th-century saint's teachings. "Basavanna dreamt of an equal society and lived by his words. But you (Siddaramaiah) stoked fire by speaking of Veerashaivaa"Lingayat as separate religions," he alleged. He reminded that even Deputy CM D. K. Shivakumar had once publicly apologised for attempting to split Veerashaivaa"Lingayat into separate religions, saying it should not have been done. "Unfortunately, people voted them back to power. Now, to appease minorities, they are insulting Hindus," he said. Bhopal, April 18 : In a fiery yet thought-provoking address on Friday, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav stunned the audience, including Bhupender Yadav (Union Forest Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change) by raising an unexpected but crucial question; "Why are reptiles missing from the wildlife census?" Bhopal, April 18 (IANS) In a fiery yet thought-provoking address on Friday, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav stunned the audience, including Bhupender Yadav (Union Forest Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change) by raising an unexpected but crucial question; "Why are reptiles missing from the wildlife census?" With characteristic wit, he quipped, "Are reptiles no longer wildlife? Or does the Wildlife Act forbid counting them?" Dr Yadav's remarks resonated deeply as he highlighted the glaring oversight in ecological conservation -- snakes and other reptiles often remain unaccounted for, despite their significant role in maintaining ecological balance. Addressing wildlife experts and officials in a programme on 'Forest Conservation' organised on Friday in Bhopal, the Chief Minister questioned whether these creatures should be counted in forests, urban zones, or both. He underscored how this ambiguity fuels a complete disregard for their population dynamics and ecological impact. Painting a vivid picture of the problem, Dr Yadav drew attention to the alarming rise in snakebite-related deaths across districts in Madhya Pradesh. Citing the King Cobra as a stark example, he lamented the dwindling presence of this once-thriving species in areas with abundant rainfall. "Snakes like the King Cobra are nature's own venom police," Dr Yadav pointed out, noting their role in controlling the spread of other venomous species. Their absence, he explained, has not only driven up snakebite cases but also strained families with financial considerations, despite the state's readiness to assist. Dr Yadav said didn't shy away from hard truths, spotlighting the gaps in the Forest Act and Wildlife Protection Act, which fail to mandate, if so, counting reptiles. While tigers and cheetahs bask in public and policy-driven glory, reptiles languish in obscurity. He urged for inclusive wildlife policies to honour these wildlife creatures of the ecosystem. Experts have long argued that the intricate habitats of reptiles -- spanning dense forests to suburban areas -- pose challenges to their tracking. However, conservationists emphasise that action is urgent. Reptiles are integral to ecological harmony, and their decline could spell disaster for biodiversity. The Chief Minister rallied for a shift in mindset, advocating for their inclusion in wildlife surveys and greater awareness of their role in nature. "It's time to shine a spotlight on these silent guardians of the wild," urging officials to rethink conservation strategies for a more balanced and harmonious coexistence with nature. Yangon, April 18 : Four Indian nationals were repatriated via Yangon after India coordinated with Myanmar authorities to facilitate their exit permits from the Myawaddy compound, the Embassy of India in Yangon informed on Friday. The four Indian nationals were trapped in cyber-scam networks in the Myawaddy region of the Myanmar-Thailand border and were recently released and brought from Hpa-An to Yangon by the Myanmar authorities. "We facilitated exit permit by Myanmar authorities for these four Indian nationals from Myawaddy compounds and repatriation through Yangon yesterday. We strongly advise against such job offers and entry/exit without border immigration in Myanmar/Thailand, which can restrict future entry," the Embassy of India in Yangon stated on Friday. Last week, as many as 32 Indian nationals all victims of Myawaddy scam compounds were repatriated through Mae Sot in the Myanmar-Thailand border region. The Embassy of India in Yangon has re-emphasised its advice against such job offers and cautioned that entry or exit without border immigration in Myanmar/Thailand is illegal and can lead to future entry restrictions. "The Government of India has been making sustained efforts to secure the release and repatriation of Indian nationals lured to various South East Asian countries, including Myanmar, with fake job offers. These persons were subsequently made to indulge in cybercrime and engage in other fraudulent activities in scam centres operating in regions along the Myanmar-Thailand border," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated. Earlier in March, the Indian embassies in Myanmar and Thailand coordinated with the local authorities to secure the repatriation of 283 Indian nationals by an IAF aircraft from Mae Sot in Thailand. "The Government of India wishes to reiterate its caution, circulated earlier from time to time through advisories and social media posts, about such rackets. Indian nationals are once again advised to verify credentials of foreign employers through Missions abroad and check the antecedents of recruiting agents and companies before taking up a job offer," the MEA reiterated. Earlier this month, during his meeting with Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Chairman of the State Administration Council and Prime Minister of Myanmar on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had appreciated the support extended by Myanmar for the rescue and repatriation of Indian nationals from cyber-scam centres along the MyanmarThailand border. Both sides had also agreed on the need to cooperate in addressing insurgent activities, transnational crimes, and human trafficking along the India-Myanmar border. Campers in 4WDs have descended in big numbers onto one of Australia's most famous beaches for the Easter break. Drivers were lining up from 2am on Good Friday to catch the barge to K'gari. Source: Facebook/Mark Little A long weekend in Australia's Sunshine State is hardly complete without a trip to one of the world-famous 4WD beaches. But as more and more people flock to the area, chaotic scenes have emerged showing dozens of 4WDs lining up as early as 2 am on Good Friday to make their way onto Queensland's K'gari island (formerly Fraser) for the Easter weekend. It comes as Aussies have been reminded not to disobey road rules while they enjoy camping, fishing and exploring at any of the state's iconic beaches. Queensland Police warned officers will "saturate" the roads and beaches to keep a close eye on campers and 4WD enthusiasts. Additional support has been deployed to popular 4WD spots, including K'gari, Teewah and Rainbow Beach for the holidays to remind drivers that road rules apply on the sand. Police out in force around beaches over Easter Officers will be focusing on seatbelt, speeding, drink and drug driving offences, as well as keeping an eye out for modified and defective vehicles. ADVERTISEMENT "Not only will we see an increased volume of vehicles on our roads, we will also have plenty of people visiting or driving through the area that are not familiar with our roads," Wide Bay Burnett District Officer Superintendent Anne Vogler said earlier this month. "I urge you to think of the consequences of dangerous driving you may lose your licence, you may be issued a hefty fine or charged and have to attend court, or you may lose your life or end someone elses. "I urge you to not drink or have any drugs in your system before driving, take frequent rest breaks, wear a seatbelt, get off your phone or any other distracting devices, and drive to the speed limit and the conditions. They sound simple but these measures will save your life, and ensure you dont hurt someone elses." Tourists are being urged to slow down in their 4WDs on K'gari, formerly known as Fraser Island, following a spate of wildlife deaths. Source: Facebook Aussies divided over chaotic beach scene While some saw the images from K'gari and were keen to find out more information ahead of their own voyage over to the island, others said they "couldn't think of a worse time" to visit than over Easter or Christmas. ADVERTISEMENT Other Aussies were envious of the adventure, adding that the weather was "supposed to be mint". Meteorologists told Yahoo the forecast in Queensland is expected to remain dry and warm to start the long weekend A total 4WD ban on Australian beaches is needed to conserve precious dune-dwelling species, a new study has found. Source: Supplied/Supplied/Darren Jew Calls to ban 4WDs from popular beaches over environmental fears Despite being a popular tourist activity in the area, calls were made last month to restrict beach access to 4WD users. University of the Sunshine Coast researcher Thomas Schlacher warned that 4WD activity on Queensland's beaches is causing "unequivocal" damage to coastal dune ecosystems. Schlacher said Queensland's southeast is among the worst affected areas when it comes to 4WD damage, with numerous species effectively being "pumelled" and "crushed to death". He said in Victoria, cars are already banned from beaches, and in NSW, authorities are currently having a "strong debate". In South Australia, some spots are facing limited access by 4WD users, and it's something Queensland should consider, Schlacher argued. ADVERTISEMENT "The four-by-fours running over [marine species are] basically crush them to death. It only takes one vehicle to cause very, very severe impacts," he told the ABC. Late last year, 22 shore birds and a dingo were found dead as a result of "reckless driving behaviour". Schlacher warned urgent action is desperately needed, as delaying further will only exacerbate the damage. "Southeast Queensland has probably the world's single strongest evidence base for serious harm caused by four-by-fours," he said. "So we are basically in the driver's seat, here to make sensible decisions." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Moscow, April 18 : Hours after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held a telephonic conversation with the United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US President Donald Trump said that he expects to get Russia's response on a possible ceasefire in Ukraine over the weekend. "We're going to be hearing from them this week, very shortly, actually. I think we're getting close, but we'll let you know very soon," Trump told reporters at the White House. The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that Lavrov reaffirmed Moscow's readiness to continue collaborative efforts with American counterparts to comprehensively address the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis. Secretary Rubio, who was in Paris, informed the Russian side about the recent engagements that he and US President's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff had in the French capital. "These discussions involved representatives from Ukraine, France, and several other European nations. It was underscored that these contacts were in alignment with the framework of ongoing consultations between Washington and Moscow, including the recent dialogue between President of Russia Vladimir Putin and Steve Witkoff in Saint Petersburg," read the statement. Meanwhile, Russia's envoy to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya said that a ceasefire in Ukraine is "unrealistic" at this point, as Kyiv fails to honour the moratorium on striking energy infrastructure. "We had an attempt at a limited ceasefire concerning energy infrastructure, which was not observed by the Ukrainian side. Under these circumstances, it is simply unrealistic to talk about a ceasefire at this point," he told reporters. On March 18, President Trump put forward a proposal for the sides of the conflict to refrain from strikes on energy infrastructure for 30 days. Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed and immediately gave the Russian military the appropriate command. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later said Ukraine would also support the proposal. However, Ukraine attacked Russian energy sites from March 18 to April 16 in 15 regions, including Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Zaporozhye, Kursk, Lipetsk, Rostov, Saratov, Smolensk, Tambov, Krasnodar, Kherson regions, Crimea, and the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics. The strikes were carried out with drones and various artillery capabilities, including the HIMARS. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Kyiv has not observed the moratorium, and attempts to attack the Russian energy sector continue, Russian state-run news agency TASS reported on Friday. New Delhi, April 18 : Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit on Friday hit out at the BJP for questioning the Opposition's silence on the recent communal violence in West Bengal's Murshidabad, saying the ruling party should first take accountability for the unrest allegedly triggered by its own members. Talking to IANS, Dikshit said, "It is repeatedly in the news that the BJP members were the ones who incited riots there. Two or three Hindus were found wearing Namazi caps and caused unrest, and some of these individuals were linked to the BJP and its organisations. If this whole violence was caused by them, then the BJP should punish them first. You must ensure justice by punishing them first, and still, they question why others are silent on the matter. BJP must speak first and apologise." Violence broke out on April 11 in the Dhulian area of Murshidabad district during protests against the Waqf Amendment Act, resulting in the deaths of three people and leaving several injured. The situation has drawn sharp political reactions. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on Wednesday, alleged that the violence was "pre-planned" and "orchestrated" by the BJP, along with the involvement of certain central agencies and even elements within the Border Security Forces (BSF). In a related development, Dikshit also responded strongly to Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar's remarks on the judiciary. He said, "It is unfortunate that the Vice President may not have looked at the Constitution. Undoubtedly, the Vice President is himself a constitutional authority, but who is the specialist in law, the Supreme Court or the Vice President?" He added, "The Constitution clearly states that if anyone feels a law contradicts the provisions or the spirit of the Constitution, they can approach the Supreme Court. And people have done so." Regarding the Supreme Court's interim order on the Waqf Amendment Act, Dikshit said he would await the final verdict. "Now, this is under the jurisdiction of the court, so we'll see what happens. People have presented their views, and some discussions must have taken place, but I don't have the details. The Supreme Court will examine the Act and the provisions that people have raised objections to. My hope is that the Supreme Court will decide based on what our Constitution says." Jammu, April 18 : The army on Friday said it has ordered an enquiry into the alleged manhandling of a civilian in J&K's Rajouri district. An incident has come to light wherein certain individuals were allegedly manhandled by army personnel in Rajouri district, a Defence Ministry statement said. It said the army had an input on the likely movement of terrorists in a vehicle in this sensitive area, and "accordingly, search operations were being conducted. Preliminary information suggests that on being stopped, the individual tried to snatch the weapon of the soldiers on duty and initiated a scuffle with them". aHowever, an enquiry has been initiated. Should any personnel be found guilty of misconduct, strict action will be taken in accordance with the existing law," the army said in the statement. "The Indian Army remains steadfast in upholding the highest standards of professionalism and discipline in the conduct of counterterror operations. All sections of the society are requested to continue to cooperate and collaborate with the Indian Army for collective and comprehensive security in this sensitive area," it added. Reports said that on Thursday, a vehicle was stopped in the Sunderbani area of Rajouri at a anakaa (checkpost) set up by the army. The vehicle was carrying three persons going to a marriage function. Two of the three occupants of the vehicle got down and when they told the soldiers posted at the naka that the third occupant was a senior professor teaching in Delhi, the soldiers insisted that he should also deboard and this resulted in a scuffle. There have been incidents of some unpleasant face-offs between the army and the civilians at some places. The security forces have promptly responded by initiating enquiries into incidents of high-handedness by men in uniform when such incidents came to light. In many cases, exemplary punishment has been handed down to personnel of the army or the security forces when such incidents were confirmed by departmental enquiries. Guwahati, April 18 : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday hailed the inclusion of Shrimad Bhagavad Gita in UNESCO's Memory of the World Register. Taking to X, CM Sarma wrote, "Bharat's civilisational essence gets global recognition. In a proud moment for all, The Gita and Natyashastra, repositories of our timeless wisdom, have been included in UNESCO's Memory of the World Register." "This is a befitting recognition for the ancient knowledge of Bharat," he added. Notably, the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, a noted Hindu scripture and the Natyashastra, an Indian treatise on performing arts, have been included in UNESCO's Memory of the World Register. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the development as a proud moment for every Indian. The news was shared by Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. The Union Minister took to X and informed, "The Shrimad Bhagavad Gita and Bharat Muni's Natyashastra are now inscribed in UNESCO's Memory of the World Register." He also described it as a historic moment for Bharat's civilisational heritage and added, "This global honour celebrates Indiaas eternal wisdom & artistic genius." He emphasised that these works are more than literary masterpieces - they are philosophical and aesthetic foundations that have profoundly influenced India's worldview and modes of thought, emotion, expression, and living. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the development as a "proud moment for every Indian across the world". "The inclusion of the Gita and Natyashastra in UNESCOas Memory of the World Register is a global recognition of our timeless wisdom and rich culture. The Gita and Natyashastra have nurtured civilisation and consciousness for centuries. Their insights continue to inspire the world," PM Modi wrote in a post on X. The UNESCO Memory of the World Register honours documentary heritage which is deemed to hold exceptional universal value. It includes texts, manuscripts, and documents that have significantly shaped human history and continue to influence generations. With this addition, India has 14 entries in the prestigious Memory of the World Register. The Bhagavad Gita, a sacred dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, forms a part of the Mahabharata. Comprising 700 verses across 18 chapters, the text addresses profound philosophical questions, encouraging action, selflessness, and devotion. It synthesises key elements from Vedic, Buddhist, Jain, and Carvaka traditions, making it a cornerstone of India's intellectual and spiritual heritage. The Gita has been studied and translated across the globe for centuries. The Natyashastra, attributed to the sage Bharat Muni, is the foundational treatise on Indian performing arts, encompassing theatre, dance, and music. It has shaped classical art traditions across centuries and remains a guiding text for artists and scholars alike. Surat, April 18 : In a major infrastructure boost in Gujarat's Surat, a new underpass near Budia Chowkdi was inaugurated on Friday. Aiming at easing traffic and improving connectivity in the region, Union Minister of Jal Shakti C.R. Paatil inaugurated the Rs 40-crore project in a ceremony held at Ramji Wadi. Addressing the gathering, Paatil reflected on personal memories and the transformative journey of the region. "Today's inauguration reminds me of 1967, when my father served at the Sachin GIDC police station. Sachin was once a small village. No one imagined then that this area, and others around it, would witness such rapid growth," he said. Paatil said that India's development has reached a stage once unimaginable. "Now, within a radius of just 25 kilometres, we can witness development in every corner. Back then, there were doubts even about the safety of bridges. Today, bridges built under the ministry led by Nitin Gadkari reflect world-class planning and execution," he added, noting how even ageing colonial-era double-decker bridges have now been replaced with modern structures. The new underpass is expected to benefit lakhs of commuters, reducing congestion and travel time while enhancing overall road safety. Paatil acknowledged the efforts of local and state authorities in addressing critical needs and highlighted the role of industrial stakeholders in making such projects possible. He further spoke on broader development efforts, including law and order stability in Gujarat and the laying of a deep-sea pipeline from Umargam to Vapi and Valsad, part of a larger Rs 5,000-crore infrastructure initiative. "The areas around national highways have seen tremendous growth. "With better infrastructure, people will not only save time but also avoid accidents. These facilities are the result of our commitment to traffic discipline and development," he said. On water conservation, Paatil shared the government's plan to build water recharge structures in 27,000 villages under a major water conservation initiative. Urging participation from the public, especially in Budia, he said, "Modiji's vision is that water is life. If we recharge rainwater into the earth through bore structures, we can avoid water shortages and ensure sustainable agriculture." New Delhi, April 18 : Real estate firm Signature Global India has reported a sharp 61 per cent year-on-year (YoY) decline in sale bookings for the March quarter (Q4 FY25), with figures slipping to Rs 1,620 crore from Rs 4,140 crore during the same quarter last fiscal (FY24). The update adds to investor concerns, especially given the companyas recent performance on the stock market and financial metrics in previous quarters. According to the company, some project launches initially planned for March 2025 were pushed to the current quarter due to minor approval delays. "Some of the launches initially planned for March 2025 have been realigned to the current quarter due to minor delays in approvals," according to a business update by Signature Global to the stock exchanges. The dip in quarterly bookings comes at a time when the company is already facing scrutiny for rising costs and increasing liabilities. The companyas stock had dropped nearly 24 per cent over a six-month period on the National Stock Exchange (NSE). Investors were particularly worried about the surge in total expenses and liabilities during Q3. In its filing, Signature Global had reported a notable rise in total expenses in third quarter, which stood at Rs 835.89 crore -- up 6.54 per cent from Rs 784.60 crore in the second quarter. Compared to the same quarter in the previous year, the rise was even steeper at 179 per cent, from Rs 299.70 crore. The company had attributed the sharp increase in expenses to higher project execution and completion costs. Adding to investor concerns, Signature Globalas total liabilities had also jumped significantly, touching Rs 11,525.72 crore in Q3, compared to Rs 9,852 crore in Q2 and Rs 7,181 crore a year earlier. This reflected a 17 per cent rise quarter-on-quarter and a 60.5 per cent surge on a year-on-year basis -- raising concerns over the companyas financial stability. However, the real estate firm's total pre-sales rose 42 per cent to Rs 10,290 crore in FY25. Chennai, April 18 : The friends and family members of young Tamil actor Shriram, whose recent posts on Instagram had made many of his well-wishers worry about his health and wellbeing, have now shared the news that the young actor is under expert medical care and that he is currently taking time off social media. Ace director Lokesh Kanakaraj, who is a good friend of actor Shriram, issued a statement on behalf of the actor's friends and family members on Friday. It may be recalled that Shriram had played one of the leads in Lokesh Kanakaraj's superhit film 'Maanagaram.' The statement issued by Lokesh Kanakaraj read,"We would like to inform all well-wishers, friends, and members of the media that actor Shriram is under expert medical care and is currently taking some time off from social media following his doctor's advice." The friends and family of the actor requested everyone to respect his need for privacy as "he focuses on his recovery and well-being." Urging people to refrain from speculating and spreading misinformation, they said, "Speculation and misinformation can be extremely distressing, and we urge all media platforms both online and offline to refrain from spreading rumours or unverified updates about his health. We also appeal to media platforms to remove any objectionable content or interviews based on his current condition and to respect his personal space as he focuses on recovery." Stating that they did not any views expressed by certain individuals in interviews, the wellwishers of the actor said they "...deny the same completely." The family also thanked the media for its continued love, support, and understanding during this difficult time the actor was undergoing. New Delhi, April 18 : A new research on Friday showed that generative AI's (GenAI) diagnostic capabilities are comparable to non-specialist doctors. The use of generative AI for diagnostics has attracted attention in the medical field and many research papers have been published on this topic. However, because the evaluation criteria were different for each study, a comprehensive analysis was needed to determine the extent AI could be used in actual medical settings and what advantages it featured in comparison to doctors. A research group led by Dr Hirotaka Takita and Associate Professor Daiju Ueda at Osaka Metropolitan University's Graduate School of Medicine conducted a meta-analysis of generative AI's diagnostic capabilities, using 83 research papers published between June 2018 and June 2024, that covered a wide range of medical specialties. Of the large language models (LLMs) that were analysed, ChatGPT was the most commonly studied. The comparative evaluation revealed that medical specialists had a 15.8 per cent higher diagnostic accuracy than generative AI, according to the study published in the journal npj Digital Medicine. The average diagnostic accuracy of generative AI was 52.1 per cent, with the latest models of generative AI sometimes showing accuracy on par with non-specialist doctors. "This research shows that generative AI's diagnostic capabilities are comparable to non-specialist doctors. It could be used in medical education to support non-specialist doctors and assist in diagnostics in areas with limited medical resources," said Dr Takita. "Further research, such as evaluations in more complex clinical scenarios, performance evaluations using actual medical records, improving the transparency of AI decision-making, and verification in diverse patient groups, is needed to verify AI's capabilities," according to researchers. Established in Osaka as one of the largest public universities in Japan, Osaka Metropolitan University said it is committed to shaping the future of society through "Convergence of Knowledge" and the promotion of world-class research. Chennai, April 18 : Actress Sachana, who shot to limelight after her stint in the popular Tamil television reality show 'Bigg Boss', and well-known Kannada actor Achuyuth Kumar are now part of the cast of director Mathimaran Pugazhendi's upcoming film, 'Mandaadi', featuring actor Soori in the lead. On Friday, the makers of the film, R S Infotainment announced the title of the film much to the delight of fans and film buffs. The title poster had a ship on fire in the sea. Actor Soori, who took to his X timeline to share the title poster of the film, wrote, " Mandaadi. When the sea carries secrets, the fire will tell us stories. First Look from Tomorrow." Soori also went on to add in Tamil, "When the sea, which has no bounds, keeps endless secrets within itself, only the fire is able to tell its stories." Soon after the title announcement, the production house disclosed that actors Sachana, Achyuth Kumar and Ravindra Vijay had been roped in for crucial roles in the film. The film has an exceptional technical crew working on it. G V Prakash Kumar is to score its music and S R Kathir is to crank the camera. Editing for the film is to be by Pradeep E Ragav while Peter Hein will be in charge of choreographing the stunts in the film. Soori will be playing the titular role of Mandaadi in the film, which will have sound design by Prathap and VFX by a team led by Harihara Suthan. Dances for the film are to be choreographed by Azar. Ace director Vetrimaran will be the creative producer for this film, which is being produced by Elred Kumar of R S Infotainment. Islamabad, April 18 : Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will be leading a high-level delegation to Kabul on Saturday on a day-long visit as part of mutual efforts being made by both countries to ease ongoing tensions amid security issues and forced deportation of Afghan nationals from Pakistan. The Pakistani delegation will have meetings with the top leadership of the Afghan Taliban, including Afghan Acting Prime Minister Mullah Muhammad Hassan Akhund, Afghan Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and also hold delegation-level talks with the Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. "The talks will cover the entire gamut of Pak-Afghan relationship, focusing on ways and means to deepen cooperation in all areas of mutual interests, including security, trade, connectivity, and people-to-people ties," stated Pakistan Foreign Office (PFO) in a press release. Ahead of his visit to Afghanistan, Dar chaired a high-level inter-ministerial meeting at his office on Friday afternoon which was also attended by Special Representative on Afghanistan Ambassador Sadiq Khan, SAPM Tariq Bajwa, Federal Secretaries of Commerce, Railways, and Interior, and senior ministry officials. The Pakistan Foreign Ministry said that during the internal discussions, all aspects of the forthcoming visit were reviewed in detail, with a focus on advancing bilateral cooperation and promoting regional connectivity. "The Deputy Prime Minister's visit is a reflection of Pakistan's commitment to enhance sustained engagement with the brotherly country of Afghanistan," the statement added. The visit comes after Pakistan's Special Representative for Afghanistan Sadiq Khan, along with a delegation of officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other concerned officials, concluded a day-long visit to Kabul to attend the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) meeting. A delegation from Afghanistan also visited Islamabad and held meetings with the Pakistani officials. The meetings between high-level officials from both countries paved the way for the upcoming visit of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. Pakistan is expected to use the opportunity to share its concerns related to security, border management, infiltration of terror groups, safe havens given to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) along the border areas and the existing support that TTP militants and anti-Pakistan groups enjoy in Afghanistan. Moreover, Pakistan is also expected to address the issue of illegal Afghan refugees and nationals in the country, and its decision to repatriate thousands of Afghan nationals. On the other hand, Afghan Taliban is expected to call on the Pakistani government to show leniency towards the repatriation process of Afghan refugees, take notice of the issues that pertain to Afghan trade through the Torkham border, and highlight the conduct of Pakistan's counterterrorism operations through airstrikes inside Afghan territory. Islamabad hopes to see decisive action by Kabul against TTP safe havens on its soil and aims to see a positive breakthrough in bilateral relations with Afghanistan through confidence building measures and continued high-level engagements. Ex-tropical cyclone Tam produced powerful surf that pounded the NSW coast for the first day of the Easter long weekend. People scramble to safety as a huge swell engulfs the ocean pool at Dee Why in Sydney on Friday. Source: Manly Observer. One man has died, others have had near escapes and beachgoers have had to scramble for safety as huge swells pounded the NSW coast for the beginning of the Easter long weekend on Friday. Ex-tropical cyclone Tam which has wreaked havoc on New Zealands North Island has transitioned into a deep low pressure system, driving southerly winds and powerful waves along the entire NSW coast. A four-metre swell hammered Sydneys beaches on Friday causing dangerous but spectacular beach conditions. Nearly all surf beaches in the state were closed. Fisherman dies in big swell at Wollongong At Wollongong Harbour early on Friday morning a 58-year-old man was pulled from the water unconscious after he was swept off the rocks while fishing from a nearby rock wall. He was unable to be revived, NSW Police advised. It follows a man drowning at Bawley Point on the NSW South Coast on Wednesday. ADVERTISEMENT Also on Friday a man was swept off the rocks near Nobbys lighthouse at the Newcastle breakwall at about 11am on Friday, NSW Police told Yahoo News. A rescue helicopter joined a multi-agency rescue effort and the man was retrieved from the surf. "He was treated by ambulance officers for a chest injury," a NSW police spokesperson said. With some experienced surfers daring to take on the huge waves, Easter crowds took to vantage points to watch the spectacle. Spectators watching huge surf caught out by rogue wave Dee Why Point on Sydneys Northern Beaches attracted hundreds of spectators but many were caught out by waves spilling over the pool and onto the footpath. The video above shared by Manly Observer shows a man knocked down by rushing water on the footpath next to Dee Why ocean pool. He was carried 50 metres before scrambling to his feet. A woman nearby was also knocked down by the water and appeared to be injured as lifesavers went to her aid. ADVERTISEMENT A photographer on the scene Tim Marshall said the cyclonic swell and warm holiday weather had created the "perfect storm" putting lifeguards and lifesavers on alert. He had a stern message for thrill-seekers getting too close to the action. "Don't be a douchebag and risk their lives by risking yours," he posted on his Instagram page. Three people drown in horror start to Easter weekend The Easter weather forecast for every state Bondi lifeguards call for common sense during huge swells Large swells will continue over the weekend with most beaches likely to remain closed on Saturday. The swell will drop on Sunday and the Bureau of Meteorology says the low pressure system will continue to move towards New Zealand. But a cold front will also approach the coast from the west, and a low pressure system will develop in its wake bringing an increase in surf again from Tuesday. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Jamshedpur, April 18 : Jyoti Kumari, a Community Health Officer (CHO) posted at the Ayushman Arogya Mandir in Jamshedpur, was brutally attacked by a group of four to five unidentified people at her government quarters here on Friday morning, officials said. According to the report, she is currently battling for her life at the Tata Main Hospital. According to the police, the assailants arrived at her residence, located within the health centre premises in the Ruhidih area under MGM police station limits, around 9 a.m. on Friday. They posed as people seeking medical help and asked to meet her. When Jyoti Kumari came out, they suddenly launched a violent assault, attacking her multiple times with sharp weapons, including a spade and an axe. She collapsed on the spot, bleeding profusely. Her husband, who was inside the house, rushed out after hearing her screams and found her lying in a pool of blood. He immediately alerted other family members and rushed her to the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial (MGM) Hospital. After initial treatment, she was referred to Tata Main Hospital due to the severity of her injuries. The attackers fled the scene, abandoning an axe at the spot. Their identities and the motive behind the attack remain unknown. Police teams reached the site soon after being informed and have launched a probe. CCTV footage from the surrounding area is being scanned, and eyewitnesses are being questioned. Jyoti Kumari has been serving at the Ruhidih health centre for the past five years and lives there with her family. The shocking incident has triggered widespread outrage among locals and health workers, who are demanding the immediate arrest of those responsible. Senior officials, including DSP Vachandev Kumar of Patamda Range and Jamshedpur Civil Surgeon Dr Sahir Pal, visited Tata Main Hospital to check on her condition and gather details of the attack. Police say efforts are on to identify and apprehend the culprits at the earliest. Mumbai, April 18 : As Yami Gautam and Ayushmann Khurrana starrer "Vicky Donor" re-released in the theatres on Friday, the actress said that "it is back to where it belonged". Yami shared a string of BTS pictures from the Shoojit Sircar's directorial, and penned a note saying, "And it's VICKY DONOR DAY...It's back to where it belonged - all the way to your hearts..." Thanking the audience for all the love given to the 2012 romantic comedy, she added, "Forever grateful to our audience for giving wings to path-breaking writing & cinema!" Showing gratitude for team 'Vicky Donor', Yami went on to write, "Forever grateful to this team for creating simply magic & giving voice to so many different talents. Please watch VICKY DONOR in cinemas now !!!" Before this, Ayushmann also reflected on the impact of the film, calling it a life-changing milestone in his career. Taking to his Instagram account, the 'Andhadhun' actor treated the netizens with a couple of photos from "Vicky Donor", along with special notes. He wrote, "13 years ago, this film found its way into your hearts and changed my life forever. #VickyDonor is back in cinemas and I'm feeling all the love again." The primary pic of the post had Ayushmann, Yami, and Shoojit, accompanied by the text, "Delhi ki chat wala pyaar where Pani Da Rang came to life." This was followed by an image of the creative team of the film, along with the words, "With Shoojit Da's vision, Annu ji's genius and Juhi's brilliant writing, Every discussion felt like a masterclass." Another snap read, "This is how we rolledEven when the cameras were not rolling." The 'Badhaai Ho' actor also posted a photo with actor John Abraham, writing, "Sir John/John Ji, Thank You For Backing this little film that went on to become something Big. Big Hug, Big Bro." Marking both Yami and Ayushmann's debut, "Vicky Donor" initially reached the cinema halls on April 20, 2012. Patna, April 18 : Tension escalated in Patna on Friday as Congress Youth workers staged a "rail-roko" protest, disrupting train services at the Secretariat Halt station. The protest was in response to the Enforcement Directorate's charge sheet against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in connection with the National Herald case. Wielding banners and shouting slogans like "Gandhi is not afraid of anyone", demonstrators even climbed onto the engine of a halted train, bringing railway operations to a standstill. The railway gate was closed during the protest, causing significant inconvenience to commuters and vehicular traffic. Security personnel from the Railway Protection Force (RPF) were deployed to manage the situation and attempted to remove the protesters. However, the protest continued for some time, leading to widespread disruption and chaos in the area. The railway crossing was also blocked at Gardanibagh, leading to a heavy traffic jam in the region. The commuters faced tough times in the intense heat. The Congress party called the ED's move an act of "political vendetta", especially with the Bihar Assembly elections 2025 approaching. They argue that the timing of the ED's charge sheet is suspicious, coinciding with Rahul's recent visit to Gujarat, a two-day national Congress convention and the start of the election cycle in Bihar. The ED has reportedly initiated the process to seize assets worth over Rs 700 crore belonging to Associated Journals Limited (AJL), a company linked to the Gandhis. Congress leaders maintain that this is a "deliberate" attempt by the Centre to distract from its "failures" on key national issues. Earlier on April 16, Congress workers led by its state president Rajesh Ram and in-charge Krishna Allavaru gathered in large numbers at the Income Tax roundabout in Patna, raising slogans and protesting against what they called "politically motivated" action by the Central government. The National Herald was founded in 1938 by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to voice the concerns of the Indian National Congress during India's freedom movement. Dhaka, April 18 : Family of an ousted Hindu headmaster of a high school in Bangladesh has expressed grave concerns and disappointment after he was held hostage and compelled to resign from his post based on unfounded allegations. Local media reports cited that Kanti Lal Acharya, the acting headmaster of Bhatiari Haji Tobarak Ali Chowdhury (TAC) High School in Chittagong, was pressured into signing a resignation letter by members of Khaleda Zia led Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its affiliated organisations. The headmaster's daughter, Bhavana Acharya on Thursday took to social media, alleging that her father was forced to step down without any proven charges. "My father Kanti Lal Acharya has been teaching at Bhatiari Haji Tobarak Ali High School for 35 years. My father was forcibly removed from the post of acting headmaster on Wednesday without any proven charges. What crime has my father committed? Nothing has been told," she wrote in her social media post "Before the latest episode, my father was forbidden to go to school. He was told that if he went to school, he would be humiliated. In response to that, my father said that he had done nothing wrong and committed no crime. He said that if you ask me to step down from my post, I will step down without hesitation but I will still go to school and not run away. He had asked to bring proof of his crime," Bhavana Acharya wrote. She said that her father was "still fearless" and was forcefully asked to sign a paper that said that he was resigning voluntarily due to corruption charges. "My father fearlessly said that he has not committed any corruption and will not sign on the page. He said he would rather resign. At that point, people beat my father. Later, another paper was written which said that he has resigned for personal reasons," she stated "This is an insult to a teacher! We are the only lowly nation in the world who are targetting teachers at every level and presenting them with this humiliating situation," she added further, expressing disappointment. Speaking to Bangladesh's leading Bengali daily Prothom Alo, Kanti Lal Acharya said that he has fallen ill after the school incident and is in a state of fear and panic with his entire family also worried about him. When asked about the incident, Upazila Executive Officer Fakhrul Islam told Prothom Alo that the Chittagong Education Board authorities have formed a committee headed to investigate the incident. Certain reports also suggested that BNP members who had attacked the teacher claimed that Bangladesh should be an Islamic state where non-Muslims cannot be a head teacher. Bangladesh has been gripped with violence and a deteriorating law and order situation since the fall of the Awami League government led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August, last year. The interim government led by Muhammad Yunus has been frequently accused of engaging in the persecution of minorities. India has repeatedly raised concerns over the current situation, hoping that the Yunus-led government would take strong action against the perpetrators of violence. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also raised the issue of the safety and security of minorities in Bangladesh, including Hindus, during his meeting with Yunus, held on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok. New Delhi, April 18 : Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday inspected Minto Bridge and two other waterlogging-prone points for preparedness to tackle waterlogging, promising that her team was working on war footing to save the city from coming to a standstill due to marooning in monsoon. "We are installing automatic pumps and laying a 2.5-km pipe to prevent water collection under the bridge," she said, during an inspection in which she was accompanied by Minister Parvesh Verma, responsible for irrigation, flood control and water. Inspecting the provisions for rainwater inlet and pumping facilities at the colonial-era Minto Bridge, CM Gupta said the government is working in a time-bound manner and conducting checks in advance to "ensure that not even a drop of rainwater" gets collected during rains. She pointed out that during the last monsoon, the area got submerged in water, and the pump operator could not reach the spot on time. "We will ensure the presence of an operator round the clock and also activate automatic pumping if the water reaches a particular level," said CM Gupta. The CM and Minister Verma also inspected the facilities to check waterlogging at Ring Road near the WHO office and Pul Prahladpur near Tughlakabad in southeast Delhi. She said that at the Minto Bridge, trial runs were conducted with water tankers to see if the channel for carrying away water is without any blockage. "A list of points prone to waterlogging has been prepared, and Minister Parvesh is ensuring that all of them get a solution well in time," she added. The Chief Minister said the Government is working diligently to ensure that waterlogging does not take place and traffic jams do not occur during the rains. Minto Bridge is a railway underbridge, and the road passing under it connects the central business district of Connaught Place to the Ajmeri Gate side of the New Delhi Railway Station. The point is notorious for waterlogging and has featured in many news items over the decades, showing public transport buses marooned in rainwater that tends to rise to 10 feet during heavy rainfall. Over the years, the prevention of waterlogging at this point in the monsoon has been considered a certificate of efficiency for civic agencies. New Delhi, April 18 : The country is all set to create history once again in its space journey as an Indian astronaut will fly to the International Space Station (ISS) next month as part of an international space mission, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, said on Friday. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force will be part of the upcoming Axiom Space mission, Ax-4, scheduled for May 2025. This marks the first time an Indian will travel to the ISS, and the first human spaceflight by an Indian in over four decades since Rakesh Sharma's legendary mission in 1984. After a high-level review meeting with top officials from ISRO and the Department of Space, Minister Singh said this will be a defining moment for India's space ambitions. "The mission reflects the country's growing stature in global space collaborations and showcases India's readiness for human spaceflight," he said. "Such missions are not just scientific achievements but are aligned with the larger vision of a self-reliant and developed India," Singh added. ISRO Chairman Dr V. Narayanan said Shukla is fully prepared for the mission, which is expected to provide valuable hands-on experience for India's future crewed missions, including the Gaganyaan project. Shukla, a decorated test pilot, was among those shortlisted under ISRO's Human Spaceflight Programme. His training and journey to the ISS will help India build deeper expertise in spaceflight operations, microgravity adaptation, and safety procedures. Unlike the symbolic first spaceflight in 1984, this mission is focused on operational readiness and international collaboration. The minister said that India's partnership with international agencies and private players shows its commitment to becoming a global leader in space. The Minister was also briefed on several key developments by ISRO since January 2025. These include the release of data from the Aditya L1 solar mission, successful tests of docking and undocking technologies, and the firing of India's most powerful liquid engine yet. ISRO also marked its 100th launch from Sriharikota and supported national events like the Kumbh Mela using satellite-based monitoring. Chennai, April 18 : Actress Samantha, who has turned producer with the film 'Subham', on Friday announced that the film would hit screens worldwide on May 9 this year. Taking to her social media timelines to make the announcement, Samantha wrote, ""May just got Subham-fied. See you at the movies on May 9th! @TralalaPictures #Subham." It may be recalled that the actress had only recently defined the unit of her film as a "small team with big dreams" and expressed gratitude for the journey of producing and creating this film along with her team. Taking to X to share the teaser of her first film, 'Subham', Samantha had said, "Presenting to you our little labour of love. A small team with big dreams! We're incredibly grateful for this journey and what we've created together. We truly hope you enjoy our film and may this be the start of something truly special! #Subham @TralalaPictures." The teaser of the film, which was released on the occasion of the festival of Ugadi, begins with a newly married couple having a conversation on their wedding night. The bridegroom tries to present himself as a tough alpha male and dispel the perception that has been fed to his wife of him being an innocent simpleton. However, as the clock strikes 12, the bride, who, until then, comes across as being a soft-spoken, gentle woman, shows a different side to her personality. The teaser also shows the man having a conversation with his friends subsequently. The friends tell him that there are two types of men. While the first is the common kind, the next is the alpha type. The new bridegroom asks what is the big deal if he is not the alpha male? To this, the friends reply that the girl will tolerate him for a day or two before eloping with an alpha male from the neighbourhood. The teaser gives the impression that it could be a horror-comedy but in reality, the dialogues in the teaser suggest the film could be on gender and relationship issues. Samantha's production house, Tralala Moving Pictures, has produced this film along with Kanakavalli Talkies. Samantha had, in a post earlier, had described this film as a "project embodies Tralala's vision of unique, thought-provoking cinema that leaves you wanting more and hopefully over time will help audiences identify and highlight content coming out of our Tralala banner." Penned by Vasanth Mariganti, "Subham" has been made under the direction of Praveen Kandregula. These two previously worked together on the acclaimed drama "Cinema Bandi". The film also serves as the debut platform for six promising upcoming talents - Harshith Reddy, Shriya Kontham, Charan Peri, Shalini Kondepudi, Gavireddy Srinivas, and Shravani. The film further boasts an impressive technical crew, including cinematographer Mridul Sujit Sen, production designer Ram Charan Tej, and editor Dharmendra Kakarla. --IANS Mkr/ -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Mumbai, April 18 : Taking a trip down memory lane, actress Parineeti Chopra treated her InstaFam with an adorable childhood picture. Parineeti visited her grandparents in Kenya during her early days, and remembering the time, the 'Kesari' actress took to her Instagram stories, dropping a picture posing with her brothers, Shivang and Sahaj, and parents, Pawan and Reena Chopra. The teenager Parineeti was seen wearing a red jacket with black denims. Her hair was cut short as she posed with folded arms and a smile on her face. In the backdrop of this perfect family pic, we could also see a beautiful white building with a massive lawn, where this throwback image was clicked. "Our childhood spent in Kenya with my grandparents who lived there", Parineeti captioned the post. On the professional front, Parineeti is presently busy working on her OTT debut series for which she has joined forces with streaming giant Netflix. Making the exciting announcement, the 'Chamkila' actress penned a note on social media saying, "Some mysteries don't just unfold - they pull you in, keep you guessing, and refuse to let go. A new mystery thriller series is in the making! Can't wait for you all to see this labour of love from Team Netflix and us, when it's ready! Shooting had begun .. Marking my OTT series debut!" This yet-to-be-titled drama will also see Tahir Raj Bhasin, Anup Soni, Jennifer Winget, Chaitannya Choudhry, Harleen Sethi, and Soni Razdan in pivotal roles. Set against the stunning hills of Shimla, the project has been produced by Siddharth P. Malhotra and Sapna Malhotra. This untitled series is being made under the direction of Rensil D'Silva. This is Parineeti's fourth association with Netflix, after Ribhu Dasgupta's "The Girl on the Train," and Imtiaz Ali's "Amar Singh Chamkila" opposite Diljit Dosanjh. She also has a forthcoming romantic comedy helmed by Dhruv Tripathi. Islamabad, April 18 : Arshad Khan, the 'chaiwala' (tea seller) in Islamabad who shot to overnight fame after his photograph during Sunday bazaar took the internet by storm, is now facing legal trouble and fighting for his identity as a Pakistani national with the prospect of being deported to Afghanistan soon. The humble tea seller's photo pouring a cup of tea while looking into the camera with his striking blue eyes had raised him to global fame. However, the 25-year-old is now forced to spend most of his time in the local courts after his National Identity Card (NIC) and Pakistani passport were blocked by the authorities. Khan has challenged the blocking of his NIC and passport in the Lahore High Courtas Rawalpindi Bench with the next hearing scheduled for April 22 as Pakistan's National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) submitted a reply seeking more time to conduct a detailed investigation into the matter by intelligence agencies. The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Intelligence Bureau (IB) have maintained that Arshad Khan, aka Chai wala, is an Afghan national, adding that he was born in Afghanistan and has no legal proof of being a Pakistani citizen. The report from both agencies stated and emphasised that "no foreign national is entitled to hold or benefit from Pakistani identity documents such as CNIC or passport". Moreover, NADRA officials stated that Arshad Khan had failed to provide evidence of his identity, birth, residence, or ownership of property in Pakistan prior to 1978. NADRA officials maintained that as no evidence was provided, CNIC and passport of Arshad Khan was cancelled and a legal notice was also served, directing Arshad Khan to leave Pakistan. In the petition filed by Arshad Khan, it has been contested that Khan has been selling tea in Islamabad, arguing that the cancellation of his identity documents had harmed and affected his reputation. London, April 18 : Daniel Munoz has extended his contract with Crystal Palace until the summer of 2028. Since joining from Genk in January 2024, the Colombia international has played an integral part in Palace's success, registering six goals and 10 assists in 54 appearances in red and blue. "From day one, I felt the energy on the field at Selhurst Park now, it's my home. This new contract is more than just a signature, it's a promise to keep fighting with passion and heart for the fans who live every moment with us," said Munoz in a video posted by Palace. This season alone, Munoz has scored important goals in Palace's FA Cup run against Doncaster Rovers and Millwall; netted the winner against Brighton & Hove Albion at Selhurst Park; twice won the club's Goal of the Month award; and was voted Palace Player of the Month in February. At the other end of the pitch, no other Premier League defender this season has won more tackles than Munoz's 106, while he ranks highly among the league's top full-backs for both sprints and distance covered. Chairman Steve Parish said, "This is fantastic news for Crystal Palace. Daniel is the epitome of an excellent professional, giving his all in every match and training session. "He has made a great impact since arriving in South London last year, and I am delighted that he has chosen to commit his future to the club." The Colombia international began his career in his native country, earning a move to Atletico Nacional, the nation's most successful side. He moved to Europe in 2020, heading to Belgium to join Genk and winning the Belgian Cup the same season before securing a move to London in 2024. His international debut followed in 2021, and he has since notched up 38 caps for Los Cafeteros, including Colombia's run to the semi-finals of the Copa America where they narrowly lost on penalties to Lionel Messi's Argentina. The 4.5m great white shark shocked visitors to the beach when it was seen close to shore, and authorities are continuing their search for the predator. Authorities continue to search for the great white shark seen at Aldinga beach and have warned Easter beachgoers to be vigilant. Source: Robin Anthony/Getty Images. Easter holidaymakers have been warned to remain on the lookout for a great white shark seen cruising close to shore at a popular beach in the countrys south earlier this week. Plane and drone searches are continuing after a 4.5m great white was spotted at Aldinga Beach, south of Adelaide, last weekend. South Australia Police advise a siren will sound if the shark is sighted and they are asking beachgoers to remain vigilant. Yahoo News reported on Monday that AFL fans visiting Adelaide for last weekends Gather Round were shocked to see the huge shark when visiting the beach. Were keeping our eyes open for sure, one witness said. Thats the approach police want people to have while at Aldinga and nearby beaches over the busy Easter break. In conjunction with partner agencies, the SA Police Water Operations Unit will have increased water patrols over the Easter long weekend, paying particular attention to the Aldinga Beach area. ADVERTISEMENT We want the public to enjoy our beautiful beaches, but to do so safely, Senior Sergeant Andrew Suter from South Australia Polices Water Operations Unit said on Thursday. While authorities are monitoring the loitering shark in the vicinity of Aldinga Beach, we encourage beachgoers to be vigilant and adhere to all rules and regulations when on the water. Shark Watch SA said they would be continuing drone surveillance on Friday but after a week of searching it suspected the shark may have moved further south. Shark Watch also advised a sighting of a bronze whaler shark on Thursday at Maslin Beach, just north of Aldinga. Great white movements along SA beaches 'unpredictable' Scientist Dr Michael Drew with the South Australian Research and Development Institute said white sharks can visit the region's beaches at any time of year and their behaviour can be unpredictable. ADVERTISEMENT The near-shore coastal marine environment is an important habitat for juvenile and sub-adult (up to 4m) white sharks as it provides access to preferred prey species, such as small-bodied sharks, rays, and larger fish species like Australian salmon and snapper, he said. Surf lifesavers will have one jet rescue boat dedicated to patrolling Adelaides southern beaches over the long weekend. A second jet boat will be available for the northern beaches. These patrols will take place between 10am and 6pm each day. Visitors to South Australias beaches are asked to take the following precautions: Swimmers should not enter murky waters, deep channels and areas next to river mouths Avoid swimming near food sources like large schools of fish Use the Beachsafe App to check for safety information on the beach you are visiting. ADVERTISEMENT Fishers are reminded that using blood, bone, meat, offal or animal skin (other than a fish, worm or insect) is prohibited in South Australian waters. Offences can be reported to the 24-hour Fishwatch hotline on 1800 065 522. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. New Delhi, April 18 : The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet on Friday cleared the promotions of top IAS officers to fill key Secretary-level posts which have or are going to fall vacant due to the superannuation of incumbents, along with an accompanying reshuffle in posts. The exercise involves changes in around 20 top-level posts in various ministries at the Centre. IAS officer Arvind Shrivastava, who was Additional Secretary at the Prime Minister's Office, has been appointed as the new Revenue Secretary in the Ministry of Finance. Civil Aviation Secretary Vumlunmang Vualnam has been named as Secretary, Department of Expenditure, in the Ministry of Finance. He succeeds Manoj Govil, who has been appointed as Secretary (Coordination), Cabinet Secretariat. Govil replaces Vandana Gurnani, who has been laterally moved from the Cabinet Secretariat as the new Union Secretary, Ministry of Labour & Employment. She replaces Sumita Dawra, who retired on March 31. Samir Kumar Sinha, who is currently the Additional Secretary & Director General (Acquisition), Department of Defence, will be the new Civil Aviation Secretary. Anuradha Thakur, an IAS officer of the Himachal Pradesh cadre, has been picked as the next Union Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, in the rank and pay of Secretary at the Centre. She will take charge as Officer on Special Duty, DEA and will take over from Ajay Seth on his superannuation on June 30. Currently, she is the Additional Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Rajesh Agarwal has been appointed as the next Union Secretary, Commerce. He was elevated (in situ) as Special Secretary in the Department of Commerce, where he is serving as Additional Secretary. He will succeed the outgoing Commerce Secretary, Sunil Barthwal, upon his superannuation on September 30. Vivek Aggarwal, a 1994 batch IAS officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre, has been appointed as Secretary, Ministry of Culture. Currently, Additional Secretary in the Department of Revenue, he is also holding the charge of Director, Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND). He will be moving to his new post on a promotion. Other senior officers have been appointed to key central government departments as part of the bureaucratic rejig, include Santosh Kumar Sarangi, who has been appointed as Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. The post fell vacant after P.K. Singh moved to his state cadre, Manipur, as Chief Secretary. Currently, Sarangi is working as Director General, Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry. K. Moses Chalai was appointed as Secretary, Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) under the Ministry of Finance. Currently, he is Secretary, Inter-State Council Secretariat (ISCS) under the Ministry of Home Affairs. He replaces Ali Raza Rizvi, who retired on July 31, 2024. Currently, the additional charge of DPE is with Arunish Chawla. Ashish Srivastava will be the new Secretary, Inter-State Council Secretariat. He is currently working as an Advisor at the Inter-State Council Secretariat. Rajit Punhani, currently the Secretary, Rajya Sabha Secretariat, has been appointed as Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, to succeed Atul Kumar Tiwari, who is retiring on June 30. Pallavi Jain Govil, an IAS officer of the MP cadre, was appointed as Secretary, Department of Youth Affairs, and will succeed incumbent Meeta R. Lochan on June 1. Currently, she is the Director General of Hydrocarbons, in the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas. Lochan has been appointed as Secretary, National Commission for Backward Classes under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment in the rank and pay of Secretary at the Centre, replacing A. Neeraja, who superannuates on May 31 this year. Nidhi Chhibber, Additional Secretary, NITI Aayog, has been appointed as Officer on Special Duty, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, in the rank and pay of Secretary at the Centre. She will take charge from Subrata Gupta upon his superannuation on May 31. Nikunja Bihari Dhal has been appointed as Secretary, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. He will succeed Umang Narula upon his superannuation on June 30. Rakesh Kumar Verma was appointed as Director General, India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management, in the rank and pay of Secretary at the Centre by temporarily upgrading and redesignating the post of Director General (Training) in the Election Commission of India. Currently, he is an Additional Secretary in the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti. Hari Ranjan Rao has been appointed as OSD, Department of Sports, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, in the rank and pay of Secretary. Currently, he is an Additional Secretary in the Prime Minister's Office. He will take over from Sujata Chaturvedi upon her superannuation on June 30. Further, the ACC approved in-situ upgradation of two IAS officers belonging to the 1994 batch to the level of Special Secretary in the rank and pay of Secretary to the Government of India as a measure personal to them by temporarily upgrading the posts held by them. They are Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ranjana Chopra, Additional Secretary & Financial Advisor, Ministry of Culture. The tenure of Bharat Lal (retd IFoS), currently working as Secretary General, National Human Rights Commission on a contract basis, has also been extended for a period of one year beyond June 30 or until further orders, whichever is earlier. Chandigarh, April 18 : BJP national General Secretary Tarun Chugh on Friday strongly attacked the AAP-led Punjab government for pushing the state back into the "dark days of terrorism" through its "dangerous collusion" with the Congress. In a scathing statement, Chugh said that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has completely "failed" to uphold national interests and is "deliberately fostering an atmosphere of terror in Punjab". He accused both AAP and the Congress of working hand-in-glove to destabilise peace and security in the state. Chugh added that the Mann government is now trying to "stifle voices of dissent, a dangerous signal in a state already crippled by lawlessness". "People in Punjab are living in fear. The sense of insecurity is growing with each passing day under this failed regime," he said in a statement. He further stated that instead of taking accountability for nearly two dozen grenade blasts, the Mann government is shamefully attempting to divert attention by blaming the opposition. "First, police stations were attacked. Then, Hindu religious sites were targeted. And now, even political leaders are being threatened by anti-national forces. What more evidence is needed to prove the collapse of law and order in Punjab?" Chugh asked. Taking direct aim at the Mann government, Chugh said, "Why are anti-national elements having a free run in Punjab? Is this silence and inaction a sign of complicity or incompetence? It appears the AAP government is in league with disruptive forces to push Punjab back into the shadows of its dark past." Notably, a war of words is going on between the Mann government and the Congress after Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa purportedly told a TV channel that 50 bombs sneaked into the state, out of which 18 exploded and 32 are still there. After that, the Mohali Police filed an FIR against Bajwa, alleging that he provided misleading information to disturb peace. On Wednesday, the Punjab and Haryana High Court asked the Punjab government not to take "coercive" action against Bajwa till April 22. On Monday, Chief Minister Mann warned the leaders of opposition parties to refrain from indulging in "politics of threat and terror", as people will never tolerate their "divisive" and "mischievous" attitude. Chandigarh, April 18 : Punjab Police's Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), in a joint operation with Tarn Taran police, has arrested two key associates of terrorist Lakhbir Singh, alias Landa Harike, and gangster Satnam Singh, alias Satta Naushehra gang, after a brief exchange of fire, Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav said on Friday. Chandigarh, April 18 (IANS) Punjab Policeas Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), in a joint operation with Tarn Taran police, has arrested two key associates of terrorist Lakhbir Singh, alias Landa Harike, and gangster Satnam Singh, alias Satta Naushehra gang, after a brief exchange of fire, Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav said on Friday. Those arrested have been identified as Mehakpreet Singh and Yuvraj Singh. Police teams have also recovered two sophisticated pistols, comprising a 9 mm Glock and a .30 calibre PX30, along with cartridges and empty bullet shells from their possession. DGP Yadav said preliminary investigations revealed that both were being directed by foreign handlers to carry out targeted killings in Punjab. "With the arrest of these two operatives, Punjab Police have averted targeted killings and other sensational crimes in the state," he said. Additional Director General of Police, AGTF, Promod Ban said the accused were also involved in the firing at sarpanchas house in Tarn Taran. According to information, two bike-borne men had opened fire outside the residence of the sarpanch of Naushehra Pannuan village on the night of March 26. He said AGTF teams under the supervision of AIG Sandeep Goel and teams of Tarn Taran Police under the supervision of Senior Superintendent of Police Abhimanyu Rana were pursuing the culprits involved in the case of firing outside sarpanchas house, and based human and intel-inputs located both the accused roaming in Naushehra Pannuan. AIG Goel said acting swiftly, joint police teams followed the trail of both the accused. "When police teams intercepted both the accused, they opened fire at the police party in an attempt to evade arrest, prompting the police teams to retaliate in self-defence," he said. SSP Rana said that during the exchange of fire, both the accused sustained bullet injuries and have been admitted to a local hospital. Police teams have recovered two sophisticated weapons from their possession, he added. Seoul, April 18 : South Korea's Acting President Han Duck-soo hosted a thank-you luncheon on Friday for police officers involved in maintaining public safety during former President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial. The luncheon at Han's official residence was attended by Lee Ho-young, acting chief of the National Police Agency; Park Hyun-soo, acting chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency; and police officers who were in the field to prevent violent clashes between pro-Yoon and anti-Yoon protesters in the lead-up to the Constitutional Court's impeachment ruling on April 4, Yonhap news agency reported. "Our police officers performed their duties perfectly at an extremely delicate and important time for our nation," Han was quoted as saying by his office. "I hope you will continue to stay by the people's side and carry out your roles as police officers building a safe Republic of Korea." Meanwhile, the head of the South Korean Army's 707th Special Mission Group and six other military officers have been placed on compulsory leave of absence over their alleged involvement in the December 3 martial law imposition, the defence ministry said on Friday. The seven officers include Col Kim Hyun-tae, head of the Army's 707th Special Mission Group; Brig Gen Lee Sang-hyun, commander of the 1st Special Forces Brigade; and Major Gen Park Heon-su, head of the ministry's criminal investigation command, according to the ministry. All of them have been indicted on charges of involvement in the botched martial law bid. Of them, Park has since been excluded from his duties, while the rest have been dismissed from their posts. The latest decision retains the affected officers as servicemen, enabling the military to potentially take disciplinary measures in the event they are found guilty in court. The ministry earlier placed key commanders, including former martial law commander Park An-su, on compulsory leave after they were indicted over their alleged involvement in the failed martial law bid. London, April 18 : Over a 100 political activists, social representatives, human rights advocates and senior British political leaders attended a recent seminar in London on the current political landscape in Bangladesh, highlighting participation of all political parties, including the Awami League, in elections, as and when they are held in the crisis-ridden country. Senior British politician and prominent jurist Lord Alex Carlile of Berriew chaired the seminar on 'Democracy, Human Rights, Good Governance, Rule of Law and the role of Political Parties in Bangladesh's current political landscape', held at the House of Commons in the British Parliament. The event was organised by the President of the Parliamentary Group 'Conservative Friends of Bangladesh' and Chairman of the Tory 1922 Committee, Conservative MP Bob Blackman. In his opening remarks, Carlile emphasised the importance of holding inclusive elections in Bangladesh, asserting that no election would be acceptable to the international community without the participation of all political parties, including the Awami League. He urged stakeholders to ensure inclusivity in the democratic process. All Party Parliamentary Groups-APPG (UK) Chairman and MP Bob Blackman called for "sincere efforts" to make the upcoming elections in Bangladesh fair, impartial and inclusive. In his message, King's Counsel John Cammegh advised the Bangladeshi government to prioritise political, social, and economic democratization over establishing an International Criminal Tribunal against the previous government. He warned that such tribunals often serve as tools for political retribution, fostering division and anxiety. Asserting that it will only help the income of legal advisors, he advocated for a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to promote unity and healing in Bangladesh. Standing Committee member and Vice-President of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Zahid Hussain, along with UK BNP President Abdul Malek and BNP General Secretary Sumon Roy, also called for immediate parliamentary elections to stabilise the democratic system in Bangladesh, pledging to establish good governance, if elected. Professor Abbas Faiz of University of Essex Law School and a former Amnesty International official expressed concern over human rights violations in Bangladesh citing persecution of opposition parties and minorities under various governments. Haradhan Bhowmik, ex-President of Sarbojanin Baba Lokenath Association (SBLA) representing the Hindu community and the United Hindu Alliance called for the release of prisoners, including Chimmoy Das Brahmachari, and urged global action to end decades of oppression against minorities. Similarly, Prashant Bhushan Barua, former President of the International Buddhist Association and Joint General Secretary of the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, echoed similar concerns, urging the BNP to address mob violence and anarchy. Pappu Saha, a direct victim of recent atrocities, submitted documentation of his experiences to the parliamentarians in UK. Pappu was physically assaulted and his house destroyed in recent violence. Contributions came from former Labour MP and currently Reform Party parliamentary candidate Simon Danczuk, as well as leaders from various political parties, community groups, and human rights organisations across the UK. Sujit Sen, Deputy Chairman of 'Conservative Friends of Bangladesh', coordinated the initiative. Itanagar, April 18 : As several hydropower projects with a total generation capacity of 11517 MW are underway in Arunachal Pradesh, the state government has undertaken ambitious transmission and distribution infrastructure projects to make the state ready for immediate power evacuation and distribution, an official said here on Friday. A senior Power Department official said that 12 projects with a cumulative installed capacity of about 11,517 MW were commissioned by the three Hydro CPSUs -- North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Ltd. (NEEPCO), Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd. (SJVN) and National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC). The state government earlier signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with these three central sector CPSUs to execute the hydropower plants, the official said. Out of these 12 projects, five projects of 2,620 MW have been allocated by the state government to NEEPCO, five projects of 5,097 MW to SJVN and the remaining two projects of capacity 3,800 MW to NHPC. The strategically important state of Arunachal Pradesh has more than 58,000 MW of hydro potential but only one per cent of this potential could be exploited so far, the official said. Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, who also holds the Power portfolio, chaired a high-level review meeting on the comprehensive scheme for strengthening the transmission and distribution system. The 5-hour-long meeting, held on Thursday night, discussed in details the implementation of a comprehensive scheme for strengthening the Transmission and Distribution System across the state as the scheme plays a crucial role in ensuring reliable and efficient power supply, particularly in remote and underserved regions. During the meeting, the Deputy Chief Minister reviewed the current status of the project, took stock of the progress and wanted to know the reasons for delay. Highlighting the government's focus on the power sector, Deputy Chief Minister Mein said: "In recent years, we have significantly accelerated the development of the power sector in Arunachal Pradesh. Recently, under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Pema Khandu, the Power Steering Committee held a meaningful discussion at Tawang to expedite development of hydropower projects in the state." He emphasised the need for a robust transmission and distribution network to complement the state's upcoming hydropower projects. "With several hydropower projects underway, it is vital that our Transmission and Distribution infrastructure is ready for immediate power evacuation and distribution. He said that the meeting was convened to resolve the pending issues in the implementation of this comprehensive scheme", the Deputy Chief Minister said. He has asked state-owned Power Grid Corporation of India Limited to expedite all remaining works and ensure timely completion of the Comprehensive Scheme for strengthening the Transmission and Distribution (T&D) System. He also urged the PGCIL to maintain close coordination with the District Administration and Power Department, taking into confidence the local legislator for smooth and effective on-ground execution. The meeting reaffirmed the government's commitment to strengthening Arunachal Pradesh's power infrastructure -- laying a strong foundation for sustainable growth, energy security, and enhanced quality of life for all citizens. Jerusalem, April 18 : The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement that it successfully intercepted a missile launched from Yemen toward Israel early Friday morning. Sirens were activated in central Israel's Tel Aviv and occupied Jerusalem, prompting millions of residents to seek immediate shelter. Israel's national emergency service, Magen David Adom, said no fatalities were reported, adding that several individuals sustained minor injuries while rushing to shelters. This incident came one day after the IDF introduced a new alert protocol on Thursday. Under the new protocol, civilians will receive notifications three to five minutes before the activation of air raid sirens, Xinhua news agency reported. According to the IDF, the preliminary alert could allow early preparedness, giving civilians more time to reach shelters and safe rooms amid renewed missile attacks by Houthi forces, following Israel's resumption of air and ground assaults on Gaza on March 18. The Times of Israel online news website reported that since March 18, the Houthis in Yemen have launched more than 20 ballistic missiles and several drones toward Israel. It added that half of the Houthi missiles triggered sirens in Israel and were intercepted, while the others fell short. Earlier on April 17, Yemen's Houthi leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi said that his group had launched 26 attacks against Israel and 33 strikes on the US aircraft carrier and warships in the Red Sea since March 15. In a televised speech aired by the group's al-Masirah TV, the Houthi leader said the attacks on Israel were carried out using "30 ballistic missiles and drones," while those targeting the USS Harry S Truman aircraft carrier and its escorts involved "122 ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as drones." However, the Israeli military has reportedly intercepted many of the Houthi projectiles before they reached targets. The US Central Command dismissed the Houthi claims of daily attacks on the US aircraft carrier as "outlandish" in a post on the social media platform X. Meanwhile, the Houthi leader noted that the US military had conducted over 900 airstrikes against his group's positions across northern Yemen during the past 30 days. Tensions between the Houthi group and the US military have escalated since Washington resumed airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen on March 15 to deter the group from attacking Israel and US warships in the Red Sea. The Houthis, which control much of northern Yemen, said their attacks aim to press US-backed Israel to stop the offensive against the Gaza Strip and allow humanitarian aid into the Palestinian enclave. Mumbai, April 18 : Maharashtra Congress on Friday accused the BJP-led Mahayuti government of trying to destroy the Marathi language, identity and culture by imposing Hindi as a compulsory language in classes 1 to 5 in English and Marathi schools. The state unit chief Harshwardhan Sapkal said, "The Marathi language is the identity and culture of Maharashtra, and the BJP government is trying to undermine this very culture. Unity in diversity is India's true identity, and the BJP is conspiring to erase that. The decision to impose Hindi as a compulsory language from the primary level is completely wrong and must be withdrawn immediately." "On one hand, there's talk of granting Marathi the status of a classical language, and on the other, efforts are being made to sideline it -- this is a hypocritical stance. Language is not just a medium of communication; it's a cultural expression. How are students expected to study other subjects when they're burdened with three compulsory languages? This compulsion will deprive children of foundational knowledge. Regional languages must be respected. While other languages deserve appreciation too, the BJP's intent is to eliminate regional cultures and languages. This decision could also threaten the jobs of teachers of other languages. The BJP's agenda of pushing Hindu, Hindi, and Hindu Rashtra is unacceptable, and Congress strongly opposes such enforcement," added Sapkal. He questioned, "Why is Hindi strongly opposed in South India, but being forced upon in Maharashtra? Is this language imposition a means to divide the country? And are Marathi-speaking people not Hindus?" The Congress leader further said that the BJP is attempting to eliminate the very language in which Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj ran his Hindavi Swarajya -- this is a direct attack. Sapkal's statement comes days after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis strongly defended the state government's decision. "We have already implemented the new education policy. Therefore, no new decisions have been taken in this regard. It is our insistence that everyone in Maharashtra should know Marathi. Also, there should be a single language for communication across the country. Hindi is a language that can be a language for communication. Therefore, people should also learn Hindi, this is our effort," he said. On the other hand, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray announced that his party will not tolerate this compulsion. He has appealed to the state government to immediately withdraw this decision, saying that if it is not rolled back, then the struggle is inevitable. Meanwhile, referring to the brutal killing of Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh in Beed district, Sapkal said, "The world has witnessed this inhuman act. Gangs like the Aaka Gang and Khoke Gang are active in Beed, and atrocities in the district continue unabated." "In Ambajogai, a young woman lawyer practising in the Sessions Court was beaten mercilessly by the village sarpanch and his associates in a field after she filed an official complaint about noise pollution in the area. They used sticks and iron rods in the assault, leaving her unconscious. Shockingly, she was discharged from the hospital in just one night. This incident is extremely cruel and disgraceful. If even a lawyer is not safe, what about ordinary women?" he questioned, demanding that if the government has even a shred of shame left, it must immediately register a case, arrest the accused, and ensure strict punishment. Islamabad, April 18 : Pakistan's capital Islamabad, considered to be the country's most secure city, has become an epicentre of crime with incidents of robberies, snatchings, burglaries, dacoities and thefts resulting in a loss of over Rs 620 million for the citizens in the first three months of 2025. As per details, from January 1 to March 28, at least 518 tolas of gold, 93 motorcycles, 15 vehicles, 924 mobiles phones and 87 laptops have been stolen from the citizens of the country's capital. Moreover, incidents of robberies and theft have also resulted in murder of two people, injuries to 20 people besides 10 firearm injuries. According to the capital police data, at least 304 criminal activities targetted houses and residential areas, 139 cases pertained to commercial centres, while at least 846 incidents have occurred in public spaces. Police data revealed that six cases of dacoity were registered in which at least Rs 11 million in cash and valuables worth Rs 9 million were looted. Moreover, 438 robbery cases were registered, in which at least one person was murdered, 10 shot and injured, and five sustained injuries. More data revealed that Rs 69 million in cash and valuables worth Rs 129 million was looted, gold weighing 141 tolas, six vehicles, 73 motorcycles, 429 mobile phones and five laptops were looted. Police authorities also registered at least 196 cases of snatching in which at least Rs 15 million in cash and valuables worth Rs 75 million were looted. While the list of robberies and looting incidents goes on, police authorities claim that the number of criminal activities and complaints lodged is much higher as many cases were not registered despite issuing e-tags. "Besides, another practice is emerging in the capital police as they are downgrading the severity of crimes. Robbery cases were being registered as dacoity incidents, while snatching incidents were being registered as fraud," said an official. Mumbai, April 18 : Amidst her cancer battle, actress Hina Khan has taken off to her homeland, Kashmir for some much-needed time off. Taking to her Insta, the 'Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai' actress gave us an insight into her Kashmir trip which was all about gorgeous sunsets, traditional markets, family functions, and road trips. The stunner posted a picture of her catching a fish in the Dal Lake, followed by some glimpses of the vibrant Kashmir market. The album further included a video of Hina performing pranayam on the boat. We could also see the stunner posing against the Kashmir sign, and enjoying a breathtaking sunset in the Valley. Hina's latest post further included many sneak peeks of her time in Kashmir. She also penned a note reminiscing her time there. "From a little fishing excursion in the Dal to Pranayam sessions in the middle of the Dal, pleasant walks and coffee by the Jhelum, road trips, Gorgeous sunsets, traditional markets, samovar chai te Kashmiri Thani tchot (best breakfast ever BTW) masjid ki Azaan, family functions, Nadru love, plucking home grown produce.. ALL THINGS KASHMIRI..Therapy, Healing," Hina wrote. Prior to this, Hina took to her Instagram stories and shared a video of her driving through the serene roads of Kashmir. The clip showed her taking her hands out of the car window as it passed through a lane filled with trees. A half-moon-shaped tattoo was also visible on her hand. In addition to this, she dropped another photo on social media making a finger heart in front of a huge aKashmira model on the side of the road. As part of her Kashmir diaries, Hina further shared a picture, revealing that she craved some flavourful Nadru Yakhni, a classic Kashmiri dish made with lotus stems. During her travels, Hina came across the vegetable which reminded her of chef Ranveer Brar's commitment to make her the dish. Announcing that she was carrying back authentic nadru from Kashmir for the true flavour, Hina penned, aReminded me of nadru yakhni you promised to make for me Ranveer Brar I am carrying nadru from here." Providers of emergency medical services in Cayuga County had to step up when American Medical Response pulled out of the area at the end of 2023. AMR, the largest private ambulance company in the U.S., attributed its decision to leave to rising equipment costs, a less qualified post-COVID-19 workforce, and reimbursement rates it called stagnant. While local EMS providers have been able to respond to all those calls that would have gone to AMR, they're still facing the same problems that prompted the company to leave. All the ambulances are struggling, Matt Smokoski, director of Four Town First Aid Squad in Moravia, told The Citizen. "There is a huge problem all over the place." Cayuga County has seen its own EMS exits as well. Ambulances operated by the Weedsport, Union Springs, Conquest and, most recently, Fleming No. 2 fire departments have all ceased operations over the last decade and a half. According to a 2024 report from the New York State Comptrollers Office, between 2019 and 2022 the states active number of EMS providers declined by 17.5%. When it comes to those closings, Cayuga County Director of Emergency Services Riley Shurtleff told The Citizen that equipment costs, low pay and a less interested workforce all have a seat at the table. It costs $3,500 a semester for two semesters and whats basically a college class to become a paramedic, said Shurtleff, noting the basic emergency medical technician training cost can be high as well. Those costs are usually covered up-front by the department, provider or trainee until they can get reimbursed by state. But there are also other costs providers have to keep in mind, Shurtleff said. A new ambulance costs $280,000, and EMTs and paramedics are getting paid at an hourly rate, he said. "When youre trying just to maintain operations, basically, EMS is a losing game. 'There's always going to be a shortfall' For small volunteer EMS providers like Four Town, the main source of funding outside of community donations is insurance claims. That's mostly Medicaid but it only pays for about 40% of ambulance rides. Earlier this year, the United New York Ambulance Network sent a letter urging providers to tell their local assembly members and senators to push for increased Medicaid reimbursements. According to a news release from the network, Medicaid pays less in New York than in all surrounding states. Reimbursement from the insurance companies is not enough to allow an ambulance to survive and work, Smokoski said. Theres always going to be a shortfall. Smokoski said one solution being floated to mitigate that shortfall is a New York State Senate bill making municipal ambulance services essential. But the bill has been in legislative limbo since 2021. Jackie Dickinson, executive director of Southern Cayuga Instant Aid, believes that the resulting municipal funds for EMS could help ensure paramedics and technicians are compensated better. New York state needs to make EMS an essential service, Dickinson told The Citizen. So we can pay providers a living wage. Shurtleff agrees, but worries that the legislation would not guarantee additional funding unless it was explicitly written into the law. There still has to be financial support, he said. If you tell a town tomorrow to raise an ambulance that's only ever had volunteers, there needs to be financial support for this to happen. But where is it gonna come from? As of 2022, Cayuga County put $0.15 per resident toward ambulance services, according to the state comptrollers office. Of the 15 counties with that data available, Cayuga edges out just Orleans. The median amount paid per person by those counties is $1.41, and the average is $11.88. 'We're so fragmented' Kezia Sullivan, director of operations for Auburn City Ambulance, believes the state legislation could be helpful to EMS providers. But for now, she'd like to see better collaboration across Cayuga County. Were so fragmented, its our biggest weakness. There are so many agencies, so many small ambulance services, and many different kinds of ambulance services, Sullivan told The Citizen. Neither of those things are necessarily bad, but there is a lot of room to collaborate. That fragmentation has led to confusion about which ambulances can respond to an emergency. Sullivan said 911 dispatchers often send more than one, typically the first- and second-closest, because they're not sure if both are staffed and need to ensure someone responds. But a town can be left vulnerable when its ambulance has to cover an emergency in the town next-door. Additionally, the only provider being compensated for responding is the one that transports the patient, if one is transported at all. The real cost of running an ambulance company is readiness, said Sullivan, noting that EMS providers do not generate revenue when on standby. One solution brought up by both Sullivan and Smokoski is a dispatch system that would assign priority levels to emergency calls. They believe this system would help service people better and make sure limited resources are going to the most urgent situations, like cardiac arrests and traumatic injuries. The system would reserve advance life support ambulances for those situations, leaving the county's other type of ambulance, basic life support, for the rest. Ambulance absence: Auburn, other EMS providers respond to AMR exit Providers of emergency medical services in Cayuga County aren't entirely sure how those services will look beginning in 2024. 'It isn't getting easier' Even as Cayuga County EMS providers face these problems, call volume continues to increase, Shurtleff said. But the cause is hard to pinpoint. At no point in time has there been a location that was not being covered by an ambulance, he said. But I do think we have a rise in call volume because of an aging population, as well as a national trend of non-emergency calls because wait times are so long at primary care providers or urgent cares. Matt Kidd, a volunteer for Fleming Fire Department No. 1's ambulance, said the amount of time EMS staff spend with patients at hospitals is increasing because they are also understaffed. He believes that time commitment, along with costs, may be turning some people off from becoming or remaining involved with EMS. The turnaround time for a call has definitely increased. With not only the hospital but the regulations from the Department of Health and you got to do your paperwork and restock the ambulance and clean it, Kidd said. As a volunteer, you know, I'm coming from home, I'm leaving my family to come do the call. A lot of us don't mind doing it, but that's tough on us as well. Even as more problems emerge for EMS providers across Cayuga County from increasing calls and costs to decreasing reimbursement Shurtleff believes those providers will continue to push forward. Gurugram, April 18 : Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said on Friday that moving forward with the resolution of building a 'Viksit Bharat,' Haryana will be made a hub of manufacturing in the coming days. In the last 10 years, due to industry-friendly and labour welfare policies, Haryana has established itself as one of the most progressive industrial power centres of India, he said. Gurugram, April 18 (IANS) Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said on Friday that moving forward with the resolution of building a aViksit Bharat,a Haryana will be made a hub of manufacturing in the coming days. In the last 10 years, due to industry-friendly and labour welfare policies, Haryana has established itself as one of the most progressive industrial power centres of India, he said. The Chief Minister said this while addressing a post-budget meeting with representatives of the industry at the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs in Manesar. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi dreams of a developed India by 2047. To fulfill this resolution, the budget of the Department of Industry and Commerce has been increased to over Rs 1,848 crore in this year's budget, which is 129 per cent more than last time. He said suggestions from representatives of the industry, especially construction, textiles, startups, etc., have also been included in this year's budget. The representatives of the industry who attended the meeting also thanked the Chief Minister for including their suggestions in the budget. "The Haryana government has included several measures in the budget of the current financial year to improve the quality of life of industrial workers. 300 Atal Kisan Shramik Canteens will be opened in all industrial areas to meet the residential needs of the workers so that they can get nutritious food at reasonable rates," the CM said. He further said Haryana will become a manufacturing hub by keeping industrial policies at the centre in line with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of aMake in Indiaa and aAatmanirbhar Bharata and the objective of aMake in Haryana'. "Haryana is today ranked fifth in the country in GST collection on the strength of the progress of its industrial institutions. Being surrounded on three sides by the National Capital Region, our geographical location provides unique connectivity with neighboring states like Delhi, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. This proximity gives businesses access to large consumer markets and excellent logistics infrastructure. This strategic advantage attracts global investors to our state," he asserted. The Chief Minister said the Haryana government has implemented several important measures, like the Haryana Enterprises and Employment Policy-2020, to create a business-friendly environment and encourage investment. "To ensure a simple and smooth approval process for investors, the Haryana government has established online single-window clearance systems, which have helped us to get ranked among the top states in the Ease of Doing Business Index," he added. He said in the above system, all approvals are being provided to the applicant within a period of 15 days. If there are some deficiencies in the documents of the concerned person, a period of 30 days has been set to remove them. More than 150 services from more than 40 departments are being provided online through this portal. "To make the industrial policy more business-friendly, the government has made a provision in the current budget for the new industrial policy and simplification of HSIIDC's EMP. On the lines of IMT Kharkhoda, 10 new Industrial Model Townships (IMTs) will be developed in Haryana, for which the demand for land will be registered by HSIIDC on the e-Bhoomi portal," he said. He said that the work is going on to make the land pooling and land partnership policy attractive in the state so that landholders can get equal benefit of development. New industrial townships will be developed as world-class smart industrial parks, which will meet the present and future needs of our industry. He said that recognising the necessity of startups and their important role in economic development, the Haryana government has set a target to set up incubation centers in every industrial estate in this year's budget. These centres will provide the necessary infrastructure, guidance, and financing opportunities to young entrepreneurs so that they can turn their innovations into successful businesses. Industry and Commerce Minister Rao Narbir Singh said the industries of the state will also progress rapidly. He said that tenders for roads, sewerage, cleanliness, etc., have been issued in all the industrial estate areas of the state. Work on this demand of industrial organizations will start within the next three months, and it will be completed within six months. "A new policy is also being prepared to promote industries under which new industrial areas will be opened," he said. Singh appealed to the representatives of the industry who attended the program to contribute to environmental protection. Describing polythene as a big threat to the environment, he said we should look for new alternatives for packing so that we can make the environment clean in the coming time. Also, we must use environmentally friendly material in our daily work, he added. Jammu, April 18 : The anti-terrorist operation by security forces in J&K's Poonch district entered its 5th day on Friday. Officials said the search continued in Poonchas Lasana forest belt, where terrorists are believed to be hiding. The operation, launched by the Romeo Force of the Army's counter-insurgency Rashtriya Rifles and the Jammu and Kashmir Policeas Special Operations Group (SOG), follows a brief encounter earlier this week with Romeo Force personnel near Lasana village, which lies along the Pooncha"Jammu National Highway. One security personnel sustained injuries in the attack. Security forces have cordoned off large sections of the forest area and are conducting intensive searches using aerial surveillance and ground units. Inspector General of Police, Jammu Zone, B.S. Tuti, confirmed that the region has witnessed a resurgence in militant activity in recent years. "For the last one and a half to two years, Poonch has been grappling with a fresh wave of militancy," the IGP said, adding that a coordinated action plan has been put in place with the Army to neutralise the threat. "We have identified several areas of concern. Our teams are on the job, and results will be visible soon," he said. On March 23, a group of 5 Pakistani terrorists was spotted in Sanyal village of Kathua, barely 4 km from the international border. A police team immediately reached Sanyal village and engaged the terrorists in a gunfight. The terrorists escaped to Safiyan Jakhole village, but the police team again engaged the terrorists in a gunfight. Two terrorists were killed in that encounter, while four policemen were martyred, and the DSP, Border, and three other policemen were injured. Joint forces started a aseek & searcha operation in the area. Later, the area of the operation was extended to higher reaches of Kathua and Rajouri districts. A brief exchange of gunfire occurred between the terrorists and the joint forces in the Billawar area of Kathua district. Since then, the operation to trace terrorists continues, while the Poonch operation was started five days ago. Kolkata, April 18 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's "outsider" theory in the recent case of communal violence in minority-dominated Murshidabad district over protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act has been refuted by the state police, which comes under her direct control, BJP's Information Technology cell chief and the party's central observer for the state, Amit Malviya claimed on Friday. Kolkata, April 18 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's "outsider" theory in the recent case of communal violence in minority-dominated Murshidabad district over protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act has been refuted by the state police, which comes under her direct control, BJP's Information Technology cell chief and the party's central observer for the state, Amit Malviya claimed on Friday. "The West Bengal Police has effectively debunked Home Minister Mamata Banerjee's claims regarding the recent communal violence in Murshidabad. In its official report, the police confirmed that the mob involved in the deadly violence at Sajur More on April 11 comprised 'local youths' armed with 'deadly weapons', including bombs, and had even 'fired on the police'. Contrary to Banerjee's suggestion that the violence was orchestrated by outsiders, intelligence inputs had already warned of an 'agitational program' planned by 'some local people' following Jumma prayers," Malviya claimed in a statement which he posted on the wall of his official X handle on Friday afternoon. Malviya's claims on this count came just a day after a senior official of the state police claimed that complaints of intelligence failure in getting prior input about the protest demonstration becoming violent are being reviewed by the higher officials of the state police department. In fact, on Thursday, the in-charges of two police stations, namely Samserganj and Suti, the two most troubled pockets in the district, were also replaced. There were complaints about similar intelligence failures against them. Malviya also claimed that the situation escalated at Dhuliyan, also in Murshidabad district, where mobs blocked the National Highway, hurled stones and bricks, vandalised government and private properties, and resorted to looting and arson, targeting shops, temples, and houses. "On April 12, unrest continued as an 'agitated mob' attempted to vandalise homes belonging to Hindu families in Ghoshpara, under the jurisdiction of the Samsherganj Police Station," Malviya added. Ghoshpara is a small locality of the Hindu community in the thoroughly minority-dominated pocket of Samserganj in Murshidabad district. Sanaa, April 18 : The death toll from US overnight airstrikes on the Yemeni fuel port of Ras Isa has increased to 74, with 171 others wounded, according to an update from Houthi-run health authorities on Friday. The health authorities stated that rescue teams are working to search for victims and identify missing persons. The strikes started late Thursday night. According to Houthi-run al-Masirah TV, the victims included workers and employees of the port, who came under violent US airstrikes while on duty. Five paramedics were also among the casualties, said the television in an earlier report, adding that they were killed upon their arrival on ambulances at the scene, in the second wave of US airstrikes on the port that took place overnight shortly after the first. More than 14 airstrikes on the fuel port were reported during the two waves, destroying concrete tanks storing imported fuel and igniting massive fires. The fires were extinguished within hours, said the report. A resident confirmed to Xinhua that among the victims were employees, truck drivers, contracted workers, and civilian trainees of the port, adding that rescue teams recovering bodies and extinguishing fires were also targeted in subsequent strikes. The port, northwest of Yemen's Red Sea city of Hodeidah, has been a main lifeline for importing fuel into the areas seized by the Houthi group. The group has controlled vast areas of northern Yemen since it started a civil war against the government in late 2014. Earlier, US Central Command (USCENTCOM) confirmed in a statement that it struck and destroyed Ras Isa on Thursday, "to eliminate this source of fuel for" and "degrade the economic source of power" of the Houthis. "The Houthis have continued to benefit economically and militarily from countries and companies that provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organisation," USCENTCOM said on social media platform X. The United States redesignated the Houthi group as a terrorist organisation after President Donald Trump assumed power in January, Xinhua news agency reported. USCENTCOM alleged that the Houthis "use fuel to sustain their military operations, as a weapon of control, and to benefit economically from embezzling the profits from the import". Shortly after the heavy airstrikes, Yemeni Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani blamed the targeting of the fuel port on the Houthis, accusing the militia of transforming the port "from an economic facility serving Yemenis into a centre for smuggling weapons and fuel." Meanwhile, Minister of Oil and Minerals Saeed al-Shamasi confirmed the readiness of government-controlled ports in Aden, Nishtun, Mukalla, and Mocha to receive fuel and food shipments sufficient to meet market demands across all regions of Yemen. In response, the Houthis denounced the strikes as "a full-fledged war crime," dismissing the US and the Yemeni government's accusations and insisting that "the port is a civilian, not a military facility". In a statement released Friday, the Houthis said the US attacks are aimed at supporting Israel in crimes against the Palestinian people, vowing to continue their "support operations" for Palestinians. The group, meanwhile, claimed that it has successfully prevented all "Israeli navigation in the Red Sea." It also assured citizens in northern Yemen that "the oil supply is stable," while warning that "the US crime will not pass without painful punishment." Also on Friday, the Israeli military reported intercepting a missile launched from Yemen in the morning. The launch is believed to be made by the Houthis in retaliation for the US overnight airstrikes. In mid-March, Trump ordered "decisive and powerful military action" against the Houthis after the group announced plans to resume attacks on Israeli targets, citing Israel's blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza as the reason. Kathmandu, April 18 : The foundation stone for the construction of a school building being built with the Indian government's financial assistance at a project cost of Nepalese Rs 28.10 million was laid in the Morang district of Nepal, on Friday. India's grant under 'Nepal-India Development Cooperation' is being utilised for the construction of the triple-storied building of Shree Panchayat Secondary School and other allied facilities at Sundarharaicha Municipality in the Morang district of Nepal. The foundation stone was laid jointly by Nepal's Minister of Social Development for Koshi Province Panchakarna Rai, Sundarharaicha Municipality Mayor Kedar Prasad Guragain and Second Secretary at the Embassy of India Garima Nautiyal. Political representatives, government officials, social workers and teachers of the school, students, and their parents were also present on the occasion. The project is being taken up as a High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP) and is being implemented through Sundarharaicha Municipality, Morang. The officials from Nepal, the school management, and other stakeholders appreciated the developmental support being provided by India to the people of Nepal. They expressed confidence that the infrastructure being created would help in providing better education to the students of Shree Panchayat Secondary School in Morang. It would also help create an improved environment for learning and contribute to the overall development of the education sector in the region. Since 2003, India has taken up over 573 HICDPs in Nepal in various sectors and completed 495 projects. Amongst these, 91 projects are in Koshi Province, including 16 projects in Morang. In addition to these, the Government of India has gifted 1009 ambulances and 300 school buses to various hospitals, health posts, and educational institutions in Nepal. Amongst these, 146 ambulances and 48 school buses have been gifted in Koshi Province. Out of these, 21 ambulances and 15 school buses were gifted in Morang. As close neighbours, India and Nepal are engaged in wide-ranging and multi-sectoral cooperation. The implementation of HICDPs reflects India's continued support in bolstering the efforts of Nepal government to boost growth and development by augmenting infrastructure in priority sectors. India is the largest developmental donor of Nepal with the major portion of developmental assistance focussed on large-scale infrastructure projects under grants, necessary for the rapid development of Nepal, in the field of priority sectors such as health, education, and connectivity. Earlier this month, Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli said that he had "extremely fruitful and positive" discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok. "Had a productive meeting with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in Bangkok. India attaches immense priority to relations with Nepal. We discussed different aspects of India-Nepal friendship, especially in sectors like energy, connectivity, culture, and digital technology. We also talked about some of the key positive outcomes from this year's BIMSTEC Summit, especially in areas of disaster management and maritime transport," PM Modi posted on X after the meeting. New Delhi/Agartala, April 18 : Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Friday in separate meetings in New Delhi discussed important development plans of the state government with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Health and Family Welfare Minister J.P. Nadda. CM Saha, who went to the national capital on Thursday, after meeting HM Shah on Friday said in a post on X: "Met Hon'ble Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah Ji in New Delhi. Discussed key development initiatives of our state government and sought his valuable guidance and support from the Centre for further progress." The Chief Minister said in another post on his X handle: "Today, I had a courtesy call on the Honorable Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare and All India President of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda Ji, in Delhi. "During the meeting, I briefed the Honorable Health Minister on various issues related to the development of the health service, including the improvement of super specialty services in various departments in the state, and requested for necessary assistance," said CM Saha, who also holds both Home and Health and Family Welfare portfolios. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister earlier this week said that the state government had discussed with investors to set up a Homeopathy Medical College in Tripura. Saying that homeopathy treatment has been facing challenges for a long time, CM Saha, a dental surgeon, said: "We must overcome such challenges. We are trying to set up a Homeopathy Medical College. Some investors from outside the state came for this, and we have asked them to set up one Homeopathy Medical college." He added that the journey of Homeopathy started in West Bengal, and from there it spread across the country, adding that people of Tripura also used to visit West Bengal for Homeopathy treatment. The Chief Minister also said that the state government has been trying to set up a medical hub in Tripura. The state currently has three medical colleges one government-run, one semi-government and one private. Several private organisations proposed to set up medical colleges in Tripura. Vijayawada, April 18 : Former MP V. Vijayasai Reddy on Friday appeared before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged multi-crore liquor scam that occurred in Andhra Pradesh during the YSR Congress Party regime. The SIT, which had summoned Vijayasai Reddy as a witness, examined him for nearly three hours. The former Rajya Sabha member later told the media that the SIT officials asked him about the two meetings. He was asked about what was discussed during the meetings and who attended them. Vijayasai Reddy, who resigned from the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) and also quit as an MP in January, told SIT officials that the first meeting was held in Hyderabad and the second in Vijayawada to discuss liquor policy. He said the SIT officials asked him about kickbacks, but he told them he had no knowledge of this. He also told the investigating officers that he did not know who received the money collected by Raj Kasireddy. Stating that he never interfered in liquor sales, the former MP said all answers will be questioned by Kasireddy. Calling Kasireddy the mastermind of the scam, Vijayasai Reddy said party elders introduced Kasireddy to him. The former MP said that while it was a fact that he (Kasireddy) encouraged him and gave him important positions in the party, he had no knowledge of his criminal mindset. He said he was shocked by the way Kasireddy cheated him. The SIT has already issued notices to Kasireddy, a key accused in the case, but he failed to appear. The SIT has already issued a lookout notice to prevent him from fleeing the country. Kasireddy is suspected to have played a key role in the alleged illegal collection of nearly Rs 3,000 crore over a five-year period. He was the IT advisor to then Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. The SIT on Monday conducted searches in the house and other properties of Kasireddy in Hyderabad. Meanwhile, Kasireddyas father, Upender Reddy, appeared before SIT on Friday. He had also appeared before SIT officials on Thursday and was questioned for nearly six hours. The TDP-led NDA government constituted the SIT in November last year to investigate the allegations of irregularities and corruption in Andhra Pradesh State Beverages Corporation Limited (APSBCL) under the YSRCP tenure. The TDP leaders alleged that some YSRCP leaders had links with the liquor manufacturers, floated many local brands, conducted cash payments and made illegal money. The SIT reportedly identified the involvement of some political leaders, private persons and others in the scam. The investigating officers reportedly traced the money trail of kickbacks involving a sitting Lok Sabha member and a former Rajya Sabha member from YSRCP. Last month, TDP MP Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayulu urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to investigate the liquor scam in Andhra Pradesh, claiming that it is larger than the Delhi liquor scandal. He alleged that the scam resulted in a loss of Rs 18,860 crore to the state exchequer from 2019 to 2024 and requested Amit Shah to order a probe by the Enforcement Directorate and other central agencies. Chandigarh, April 18 : The Punjab government's fight against gangsters achieved a major breakthrough with the arrest of notorious terrorist Happy Passia, who had been orchestrating attacks on the state's peace from the US. Passia, known for his involvement in multiple grenade blasts in the state, has evaded authorities for long. Lauding the Punjab Police and intelligence agencies for this major breakthrough, AAP Punjab President Aman Arora said in a statement, "This is a moment of pride and relief for Punjab. A notorious terrorist who was operating from overseas, spreading fear and chaos, has been apprehended due to the dedicated efforts of our law enforcement and intelligence teams. "This arrest is a testament to the Punjab government's unwavering commitment to maintaining peace and security in the state." Arora criticised Opposition leaders, particularly Congress Leader of Opposition (LoP) Partap Bajwa, for undermining the credibility of Punjab Police. He said: "Leaders like Bajwa, who claim Punjab Police is inefficient or suggest its disbandment, owe an explanation to the people of Punjab. It was this very Punjab Police, with its intelligence capabilities and coordination with international agencies that managed to track and capture a terrorist sitting across seven seas." Highlighting the achievements of the police in combating terrorism, Arora reminded the public of their pivotal role during Punjab's dark days of militancy. "The Punjab Police has proven time and again its mettle in safeguarding the state. Their success in tracking Passia is yet another feather in their cap and a strong message to those who wish to disrupt Punjab's harmony." Arora also pointed out that extremist elements who seek to malign Punjab's image will face the same fate as Passia. "No matter where they are hiding, anyone attempting to disturb Punjab's peace will be tracked down and brought to justice. This is AAP's Punjab, and we will not tolerate any attempt to jeopardize the unity and progress of our state," he said. Arora added Punjab's peace and progress are non-negotiable. He assured the public that under the AAP government, any individual or group attempting to harm the state's harmony will be dealt with swiftly and decisively. Mumbai, April 18 : The makers of Sunny Deol-starrer 'Jaat' have issued an official statement addressing the recent controversy surrounding a scene in the film that sparked objections from members of the Christian community. In response to concerns over religious sensitivity, the makers clarified that the scene in question has been removed, reaffirming their respect for all faiths and communities. In a statement released on Friday, the team behind the Sunny Deol-starrer acknowledged the concerns raised by members of the Christian community regarding a specific scene that was perceived to be hurtful to religious sentiments. Responding promptly to the criticism, the makers clarified that their intention was never to disrespect any faith or belief system. In the statement, the makers of the 'Jaat' stated, "To Whomsoever It May Concern, There has been a backlash for a specific scene in the film. The scene has been removed from the film with immediate effect. Our intention was not to hurt any religious sentiments. We deeply regret it and have taken a quick action of deleting the scene from the film. We sincerely apologize to everyone whose beliefs have been hurt." The statement comes shortly after a case was registered against actors Sunny Deol, Randeep Hooda, Vineet Kumar Singh, and director Gopichand Malineni for allegedly hurting religious sentiments with a scene involving Lord Jesus Christ in their latest film, 'Jaat.' The case was filed at the Sadar Police Station in Jalandhar under Section 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for allegedly offending religious sentiments. The complaint was lodged by Vikalp Gold, a resident of Pholriwal village in Jalandhar. The police complaint alleged that the accused offended the religious sentiments of the Christian community by replicating a crucifixion scene involving Lord Jesus Christ in the film. Earlier, in an official statement, ADCP Headquarters officer Sukhwinder Singh confirmed that the complaint was lodged by Golgotha Gold, a resident of Pholriwal village in Jalandhar and a member of the Christian community. The complainant raised objections to specific scenes in the film, claiming they were offensive to the religious beliefs of the community. Based on preliminary investigation, an FIR was registered against five individuals associated with the film. The scene that sparked the controversy showed Randeep Hooda's character standing beneath a crucifix inside a church, positioned directly above the holy pulpit, while worshippers were engaged in prayeran image that drew strong criticism and allegations of religious insensitivity. Starring Sunny Deol in the titular role, 'Jaat' was released in theatres on 10 April 2025. Imphal, April 18 : Three top Army officers on Friday, in a meeting with Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, discussed the prevailing law and order situation in the state and the northeastern region, an official said. According to an official, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Eastern Command, Lt. Gen. Ram Chander Tiwari along with GOC Spear Corps, Lt. Gen. Abhijit S. Pendharkar and Inspector General of Assam Rifles (South) Maj. Gen. Ravroop Singh met the Governor at Raj Bhavan here. "The Army officers briefed the Governor on the prevailing security situation of Manipur and the other states in the northeastern region," he said. Meanwhile, seven BJP MLAs also met the Manipur Governor and urged him to ensure the recovery of the looted and illegally held arms must be further intensified in hill areas of the state. BJP legislator Kh Ibomcha, who was part of the MLAs' delegation, said they also requested the Governor to accelerate the peace talks between the Meitei and the Kuki-Zo-Hmar tribal communities. The MLAs urged Bhalla to take stern actions against those who are involved in provocative acts and making offensive comments against various communities, he told the media. The BJP MLAs also appreciated the Governor's appeal to the people of the state to voluntarily surrender looted and illegally held arms and ammunition. Though there was a positive response to the arms surrender call, many arms and ammunition were still kept by the people in the hill areas, though numerous people in the valley areas returned the arms and ammunition to the security forces. Till March 6, around 1,000 looted and illegally held weapons, including many sophisticated arms, and a huge cache of ammunition, have been returned to the security forces since Governor Bhalla made the appeal for the first time on February 20. Meanwhile, Assam Rifles launched an operation in the Kampang Khullen area in Tengnoupal district intercepting 23 trucks illegally transporting timber without valid transit permits. A Defence spokesman said that the operation aimed to curb illegal smuggling of forest produce, a major funding source for Valley Based Insurgent Groups (VBIGs). Drivers were detained after failing to produce valid documentation, and the trucks along with the timber were seized. The Forest Department was informed and conducted a field verification. Following a written correspondence from the District Forest Office, the trucks were released on Thursday. According to forest officials, the seized timber was valued at approximately Rs 14.28 lakh. Assam Rifles remains committed to countering illegal activities and safeguarding the region's natural resources, a Defence release said. PHNOM PENH, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that China and Cambodia set a model for equality, mutual trust and win-win cooperation between countries of different sizes. Xi made the remarks when meeting with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni during his state visit to Cambodia. Noting that Cambodia has recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of King Sihamoni's enthronement and the Khmer New Year, Xi said he is delighted to visit the beautiful country of Cambodia at the invitation of the king, extending his heartfelt New Year greetings to the Cambodian people. Xi said that Cambodia's nation-building is thriving, and he firmly believes that, under the blessings of King Sihamoni, the hardworking and intelligent Cambodian people will surely build an even more prosperous and stronger nation. Xi pointed out that China and Cambodia share a millennia-old friendship, with their people having always striven together and thrived together. Regardless of changes in the international landscape, China and Cambodia have stood by each other in good faith and with mutual assistance, offering unwavering support on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns. China and Cambodia have always been at the forefront of building a community with a shared future for mankind, bringing tangible benefits to the Cambodian people, said Xi. He said that China values its friendship with the Cambodian royal family, and spoke highly of the important contributions made by the Cambodian royal family to the cause of China-Cambodia friendship over the years. Under the new circumstances, China and Cambodia should cherish and carry forward the ironclad friendship jointly forged by the elder generation of Chinese leaders and King Father Norodom Sihanouk, endow the China-Cambodia community with a shared future with new connotations of the time, serve the development of their respective countries and the well-being of their people, and make greater contributions to building a community with a shared future with neighboring countries and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, said Xi. He noted that China firmly supports Cambodia in maintaining stability, accelerating development, improving people's livelihoods and following a development path that suits its national conditions. Xi said that he believes Chinese modernization will bring more opportunities to Cambodia and other neighboring countries and expressed confidence in writing a splendid chapter of building an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era. For his part, King Sihamoni said the friendship between Cambodia and China was created and cultivated by the elder generation of leaders of the two countries, adding that with the joint efforts of both sides, cooperation in various fields has become increasingly close and the building of a community with a shared future has been continuously deepened. The Cambodian side, he said, firmly adheres to the one-China principle, highly appreciates the three major global initiatives proposed by Xi, and appreciates the huge development opportunities brought to Cambodia via the Belt and Road cooperation. He hailed Xi's visit a historic one, which will deepen the ironclad friendship between the two countries, enrich the cooperation framework of the "Diamond Hexagon," and take bilateral ties to a new level. The king also said his country is ready to enhance coordination and cooperation with China in such multilateral mechanisms as ASEAN-China Cooperation and Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, and jointly promote regional peace, stability and prosperity. The king also presented the National Order of Independence - Grand Collar to Xi. He said Xi holds special friendly feelings towards Cambodia and has made outstanding contributions to promoting the development of Cambodia-China relations, adding that Xi is a great friend of Cambodia. It is believed that under the leadership of President Xi, China will achieve greater development accomplishments and play a more important role in international and regional affairs, he added. Xi said that this medal fully demonstrates Cambodia's high regard for developing China-Cambodia relations and carries the deep friendship of the Cambodian people towards the Chinese people. This honor, he said, belongs not only to him personally, but also to all the friendly people who have cultivated and contributed to the friendship between China and Cambodia. Patna, April 18 : Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday conducted an on-site review of preparations for the upcoming air show scheduled to be held on April 23 on Patna's J.P. Ganga Path in celebration of Shaurya Diwas. This will be the first time Patna witnesses a grand aerial display by the Suryakiran Aerobatic Team of the Indian Air Force. The air show venue has been set near Sabhyata Dwar, on the banks of the Ganga River, east of the J.P. Ganga Path underpass and in front of the Divisional Commissioneras Office. Arrangements are being made for public viewing along the scenic stretch of J.P. Ganga Path, with seating areas being developed in front of Sabhyata Dwar. During his inspection, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar directed officials to ensure tight security arrangements and efficient crowd management to accommodate the expected large turnout. Emphasis was laid on maintaining safety and the smooth flow of traffic in the surrounding areas. The highlight of the Shaurya Diwas celebration will be the Surya Kiran Aerobatic Teamas spectacular performance with 9 Hawk-132 jet planes. The decision to organise the event was taken by the Bihar government as part of a series of commemorations marking the birth anniversary of Babu Veer Kunwar Singh, the iconic hero of the 1857 revolt and a symbol of courage and resistance in Indiaas freedom struggle. On April 22, IAF will do the full-dress rehearsal of the air show. Students and college-goers will be specially invited to witness the rehearsal and get inspired by the Indian Air Force. On April 23, an official air show will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The timing of the air show on both days is from 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. The show will include a series of high-speed stunts and aerial formations, making it a historic and visually thrilling event for the people of Bihar. The event underscores the governmentas efforts to promote patriotism and public engagement through grand cultural and military displays. During the inspection, Chief Minister's Principal Secretary Deepak Kumar, Chief Minister's Principal Secretary Dr S. Siddharth, Chief Minister's Secretary Kumar Ravi, District Magistrate Dr Chandrashekhar Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police Avkash Kumar and other senior officials were present. Moscow, April 18 : Russia is ready to facilitate potential nuclear deal agreements between Iran and the US, provided that such accords respect Iran's interests, country's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday. "We welcomed the willingness, as far as we can see, to achieve objective and mutually acceptable agreements, including those that are being discussed by Iran and the United States," Lavrov said in a joint press conference following talks with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi in Moscow. "Russia is certainly ready to facilitate this process and will do its best to support the agreements that would take Iran's legitimate interests into account," he added. Addressing the press conference, Araghchi said that the indirect talks between Iran and the US, are set to continue in Rome on Saturday. "We are waiting to hear the viewpoints of the American side. If there is enough seriousness and determination, it is likely that a deal can be achieved," he said. The Iranian Foreign Minister emphasised that Tehran will approach the talks on Saturday with seriousness and full determination, despite "serious doubts" about the intentions of the other side. "We are fully prepared for a peaceful solution to Iran's peaceful nuclear programme, and if there is a similar will on the other side and they do not make unreasonable and unrealistic demands, I believe reaching an agreement is possible," said Araghchi. The Foreign Minister also expressed Iran's appreciation for Russia's role in the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers and expressed hope that Moscow would continue its supportive role in any new agreement. "We will continuously keep our friends in Russia, and of course China, informed about the developments," Araghchi said, emphasising his confidence that constructive feedback will contribute to progress on this path. Araghchi and US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff are scheduled to hold the second round of their indirect talks on Saturday. The talks mainly center on Iran's nuclear programme and the removal of the US sanctions on the country. In the first round of Muscat talks held last week, Araghchi engaged in "indirect" discussions with Witkoff, facilitated by Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi. The talks focused on Iran's nuclear programme and the potential removal of the US sanctions. The talks were proposed by US President Donald Trump, who threatened Iran with bombing and secondary tariffs if Tehran did not come to an agreement with Washington over its nuclear programme. Iran signed a nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, with six major countries a" Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States a" in July 2015, accepting restrictions on its nuclear programme in return for sanctions relief. However, the US withdrew from the deal in May 2018 and reinstated sanctions, prompting Iran to scale back some of its nuclear commitments. Efforts to revive the nuclear deal have not achieved substantial progress. Jerusalem, April 18 : Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a statement on Friday that he is committed, along with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and all parties, to leading a "clear course of action" to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Katz noted that when appointed defence minister in November last year, he pledged to achieve two main goals: preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and winning the multi-front war. "The military is currently fighting for victory in all arenas," he said, adding, "We will not allow threats of annihilation against Israel." His remarks echoed a Thursday statement from Netanyahu's office, which insisted that Israel would not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons, Xinhua news agency reported. The Israeli rhetoric came ahead of the second round of nuclear talks between the United States and Iran, which will be held this weekend in the Italian capital of Rome. The first round of indirect talks was held in Oman's Muscat last week, with both sides describing the talks as "constructive". Oman's Foreign Ministry will continue to mediate the second round of nuclear talks between US and Iranian officials scheduled to take place in Rome on Saturday. In a statement, the ministry said the Italian capital was chosen as the new site for the talks due to logistical reasons, expressing hope that the discussions could make further progress toward reaching a just, binding, and sustainable agreement. Oman also expressed appreciation to the Italian government for its cooperation and support in hosting the upcoming meeting. With Oman's mediation, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi engaged in a first round of "indirect" discussions with US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff in Muscat on April 12, focused on Iran's nuclear programme and the potential removal of US sanctions. The talks in Muscat, described by both sides as "constructive," followed US President Donald Trump's statement in early March that he had sent a letter to Iranian leaders, delivered through the United Arab Emirates, proposing negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme. Iran later agreed on indirect talks. Kolkata, April 18 : A total of 315 arrests have been made so far in connection with the communal violence in Murshidabad district of West Bengal over protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act last week, including two minors, confirmed the West Bengal Police in its report, which has been prepared under an order of a special division bench of Calcutta High Court. As per the report signed by the additional director general (law & order) Jawed Shamim, a total of 315 people have so far been arrested for their involvement in the unrest, with ongoing efforts to identify and apprehend others responsible for instigating violence. In the same report, it was mentioned that none of the arrested persons, except two minors, had been released on bail till date. In the report, it was also mentioned that the police have so far blocked a total of 1,257 uniform resource locators (URLs) for spreading misinformation and rumours. The annexures to the reports stated that violence started on April 8, 2025, from an agitation programme against the Waqf (Amendment) Act at the PWD ground under Raghunathganj Police Station. In the report, it was stated that on that afternoon, the crowd became unruly all of a sudden and started vandalising government and public property as well as physically assaulting the police personnel. The report also stated that the miscreants were also carrying deadly weapons and they also snatched arms and ammunition from the on-duty police. In the report, it was mentioned that there were inputs from the district intelligence branch of the possibility of an agitations programme on April 11 by some "local people" after the Jumma prayer at Umarpur under Raghunathganj Police Station, Sajur More under Suti Police Station and Old Dukbangalow More under Samserganj Police station. This statement in the report specifying the involvement of "local people" to a great extent refuted the earlier claims by the state government and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee that "outsiders" were involved behind the communal violence in those pockets in Murshidabad district for almost the entire last week. The statement has also raised questions on whether the inputs from the district intelligence branch were taken lightly to a great extent. In the report, it has also been mentioned that Hindu families residing at Ghoshpara area under Samserganj Police Station were specifically targeted on April 12 by a group of protesters against the Waqf (Amendment) Act who gathered near a local mosque. "On the very next day (12/04/2025) information was received that one agitated mob gathered near Kanchantala Masjid and tried to vandalise houses of Hindu families in Ghoshpara under Samserganj PS," the annexure to the police report read. In fact, Calcutta High Court's special division bench of Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Raja Basu Chowdhury, which ordered the deployment of central armed police forces (CAPF) personnel at Murshidabad on the April 12 evening, observed that the measures taken by the West Bengal government to control communal unrest were inadequate. The division bench also observed that had the CAPF deployment been earlier, the situation would not have been so "grave" and "volatile". Chandigarh, April 18 : The Punjab Police on Friday said that their efforts led to the arrest of Harpreet Singh, alias Happy Passia, a US-based key operative of the Pakistan's ISI-backed Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and close associate of Pakistan-based terrorist Harvinder Rinda, at Sacramento in the US. Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on Friday termed it as a major success and said: "Today marks a major milestone in the sustained crackdown on ISI-backed terror networks, with the announcement of detention of Happy Passia by the US authorities. This is the outcome of excellent international cooperation and exchange of information between the United States and India." In a statement, Gaurav Yadav said that Punjab Police have consistently shared intelligence inputs with the Central agencies. As per the information, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Happy Passia in Sacramento in California on April 17. DGP Yadav said Happy Passia, a native of Passia village in Amritsar, began his criminal career with gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, and his US-based associates Darman Kahlon and Amrit Bal. Later, Happy Passia became a key associate of Pakistan-based terrorist Harvinder Rinda, operating under the direct guidance of the ISI, he added. He said Passia was the primary handler of ISI-backed terror modules in Punjab and played a central role in orchestrating targeted killings, grenade attacks on police establishments, and extortion across the state between 2023 and 2025. "Our investigation has found direct involvement of Happy Passia in majority of terror acts, which took place in the state after September 2024," said the DGP, while adding Passia was masterminding the terror activities sitting in the US, using a network of vulnerable youth struggling with addiction, recruiting them to carry out these acts in exchange for money and narcotics. Punjab Police has meticulously tracked all the terror modules raised by Passia and successfully dismantled them, said DGP Yadav, adding an extensive dossier on Passia's activities was shared with Central agencies and subsequently with the US authorities, leading to his arrest. "Punjab Police has already taken up the matter with Central agencies to initiate the process for Passia's extradition to India as per the law," he added. Dhaka, April 18 : High-level discussions and evaluations are currently underway in Islamabad after Bangladesh's financial claim to the tune of USD 4.32 billion from Pakistan as a fair share from the assets of undivided Pakistan before 1971. Further, Bangladesh has also demanded USD 200 million received as foreign aid from countries and agencies to then East Pakistan during the extremely deadly November 1970 Bhola cyclone. The demands were raised during the sixth round of Foreign Secretary-level bilateral consultations between the two countries - held after a hiatus of 15 years - in Dhaka on Thursday. Bangladesh's Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin and Pakistan counterpart Amna Baloch led their respective delegation at the Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) held at the State Guest House Padma. Several sensitive issues between Bangladesh and Pakistan remain unresolved, including a formal apology from Pakistan for the genocide committed by the Pakistani armed forces in 1971; repatriation of stranded Pakistanis currently residing in Bangladesh; Dhaka's rightful share of the undivided assets of Pakistan; transfer of foreign aid sent for the victims of extremely deadly November 1970 Bhola cyclone, etc. Pakistan did not allocate Bangladesh its share of $200 million in foreign aid after the 1970 Bhola Cyclone and instead transferred the fund from the Dhaka branch of the State Bank of Pakistan to its branch in Lahore during the Liberation War. Reportedly, Pakistan had utilized the funds to procure modern military equipment for its own use. Recently, Islamabad has expressed interest in transferring some of these military assets to Bangladesh as a form of settlement of its outstanding dues. Pakistan may deploy these military assets within Bangladesh subject to mutual understanding. These matters are now under continuous bilateral discussions and diplomatic engagement between both countries with Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also scheduled to pay an official visit to Dhaka on April 27-28. The interim government in Bangladesh has formed a working group with the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka to finalise the agreements that will be signed during Dar's visit. Evaluations are currently going on through various meetings to formulate a coordinated strategy regarding financial dues and the military equipment proposal and to prioritise national interests and regional diplomatic balance on the issue of historical entitlements. During her visit, Baloch held separate meetings with Bangladeshi interim government's Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus and Foreign Affairs Advisor Touhid Hossain, where they discussed issues of mutual interest. Yunus, after his meeting with the visiting Pakistani Foreign Secretary, called for strengthening ties with Pakistan to boost mutual cooperation and explore trade and business potentials. "There are certain hurdles. We have to find ways to overcome those and move forward," Yunus said after Baloch called on him at the State Guest House Jamuna on Thursday. Dhaka, April 18 : In yet another incident of violence against minorities in Bangladesh, a Hindu leader in Dinajpur's Biral upazila was abducted and brutally assaulted to death, as confirmed by the local police and family members. The deceased, Bhabesh Chandra, was a prominent leader of the Hindu community in the area who also acted as the Vice-President of the Biral unit of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, local media reported. Speaking to Bangladesh's leading newspaper, The Daily Star, Chandra's wife Shantana Roy said that four men arrived on two motorcycles and abducted Bhabesh from their residence on Thursday. Several witnesses also reported seeing the assailants taking Bhabesh to Narabari village, where he was brutally beaten. Later that day, the attackers dropped Bhabesh's unconscious body back at his home in a van. He was immediately rushed to the Biral Upazila Health Complex. Subsequently, he was transferred to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital, where on-duty doctors declared him dead upon arrival. The officer-in-charge of Biral Police Station said that police are working to identify and arrest the suspects involved, and preparations are underway to file a case. Last month, a report of the Dhaka-based human rights organisation, Ain O Salish Kendra (AsK), highlighted that there are reports of a total of 147 incidents of vandalization of houses, temples, and business establishments of the Hindu community across Bangladesh. Some 408 households were vandalised in these incidents, including 36 cases of arson. Besides, there have been reports of 113 incidents of vandalising business establishments owned by the minority community, 32 incidents of attack on temples and mosques of the Ahmadiyya sect, and 92 incidents of vandalising idols in 92 temples. In September 2024, the country's leading Bengali daily Prothom Alo reported that after the fall of the Awami League government, there have been several incidents of attacks on the minority communities all over the country, particularly on the Hindu community. In many areas, houses, business establishments, and places of worship of Hindus still continue to come under attack. Bangladesh has been grappling with violence and protests after the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus came to power in August, last year. The situation of Hindus has worsened drastically under Yunus-led interim government. There are several reports on an alarming rise in gang rapes, murders, and desecration of temples of Hindu minorities. India has time and again raised concerns against the atrocities of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue of the safety and security of minorities in Bangladesh, including Hindus, during his meeting with Yunus, held on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok. "On the question of minorities, this particular issue came up for discussion. We have conveyed our concerns regarding the treatment of minorities and the kind of violence that has happened against them. We have been raising this in several of our conversations, including our meeting in Bangkok, that this violence and atrocities against minorities cannot simply be wished away or dismissed as political reasons or media agitations. We hope that the Bangladesh government will take strong action against those responsible for these atrocities," Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, said at a media briefing recently. Kolkata, April 18 : The displaced victims of the recent communal violence in the Murshidabad district of West Bengal, who are currently housed at a temporary relief shelter at a school in the adjacent Malda district, on Friday, accused the district police of maintaining blanket secrecy during their interactions with the representatives of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) visiting the relief camp. After the NHRC representatives left the relief camp late Friday afternoon, those displaced victims of Murshidabad violence started protesting and accusing the police of turning the shelter camp into a virtual fortress, allegedly to prevent information about their interaction with the NHRC representatives reaching outside. They alleged that the police action to maintain secrecy in the matter also caused inconvenience to those taking shelter at the relief camps, as the police not only barred the entry of outsiders to the camp but also prevented the camp residents from going out of the camp since Friday morning. The relief camp residents also claimed that even their relatives coming from Murshidabad to meet them were also not allowed to enter the camps and meet them. They also alleged that the entire relief camp area within the school campus had been covered by a thick layer of tarpaulin to prevent the displaced residents from interacting with the mediapersons and describe what they faced in Murshidabad last week when the violence broke out. They also complained about the quality of food provided to them at the relief camp. "Mostly, we are served with stale food. Even those local people who are willing to help us are being prevented by the police from interacting with us. Our relatives are not being allowed to meet us. We have been kept incommunicado from the outer world," claimed a woman resident of the relief shelter at Malda. The police, however, denied the allegations of deliberately maintaining an absolute secretary in the name of security arrangements at the shelter home. According to the police personnel, security arrangements have been made at the shelter camp, keeping in mind the VVIP movements there throughout the day. Bengaluru, April 18 : The sacred thread removal row in Karnataka is taking a serious turn, as a student who missed the Common Entrance Test (CET) alleged that staff at the examination centre denied him entry for refusing to remove his sacred thread (Janivara). He further claimed that they (staff) carelessly remarked, "What if someone hangs themselves with the sacred thread?" In light of the seriousness of the issue, the Congress government has apologised and promised action against the staff who denied entry to students wearing the sacred thread. The government has also announced that strict guidelines will be issued to ensure such incidents do not recur. Suchivruth Kulkarni, the student who was denied the opportunity to write the CET exam, told the media on Friday that he was stopped at Sai Spoorthi College in Bidar city on Thursday (April 17). He said a staff member made a reckless comment, asking what would happen if someone committed suicide using the sacred thread inside the examination hall. "When I questioned the staff about the reason for denying entry, they made loose and insensitive comments. I was allowed to write two exams, but denied entry for the Mathematics paper. They asked me to remove the sacred thread before entering the exam hall," he said. "When I refused to remove it, they told me I wouldn't be allowed in. They asked, 'What if you commit suicide inside?' I've lost a precious year of my life. This incident has caused immense pain to me and my family. We want justice," said Suchivruth. Meanwhile, another student from Shivamogga stated that authorities at his exam centre cut his sacred thread before allowing him to take the exam. He claimed the incident caused severe mental trauma. Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) Executive Director H. Prasanna acknowledged that the actions of the exam centre staff were wrong and clarified that KEA had not issued any guidelines mandating the removal of sacred threads. "It was wrong on the part of the staff to ask students to remove their sacred threads. KEA does not support such actions. We regret that such an incident took place. I personally apologise. We will issue strict guidelines to ensure this does not happen again," Prasanna said. He further clarified, "We will not frame guidelines that discriminate against any caste or religion. A mistake has occurred, and we will take steps to ensure it is not repeated. Let's not blow this matter out of proportion, but rest assured that action will be taken against those responsible. Deputy Commissioners have been asked to investigate, and action will be based on their reports." Speaking on the case of Suchivruth, Prasanna added, "As per the rules, a student can still be allotted a ranking for engineering courses even if they miss the Mathematics paper. Justice will be ensured for the student from Bidar. This was a mistake on our part, and we will assign him a ranking accordingly." "A report will be obtained from the Deputy Commissioner of Bidar, and the matter will be discussed with the Minister for Higher Education. We are committed to ensuring such mistakes are not repeated," he said. Regarding the similar incident in Shivamogga, Prasanna stated, "It was wrong for staff to ask students to remove sacred threads. I am awaiting a report from the Shivamogga Deputy Commissioner. We will issue strict guidelines and ensure staff are trained to avoid hurting religious sentiments." Minister for Higher Education M.C. Sudhakar also responded to the controversy on Friday, stating that the outrage expressed by Brahmin organisations over the denial of exam access to students wearing sacred threads was justified. "The responsibility lies with the concerned Deputy Commissioners. There is no rule mandating the removal of sacred threads to enter examination halls. Authorities in Shivamogga are denying the charges, but I will get to the truth. We are not foolish enough to issue such a directive. If sacred threads were indeed removed, strict action will follow. We do not condone such actions," Minister Sudhakar said. "We do not support such incidents in any way. Let the students name the officials and centres involved. The community's outrage is understandable. No one should act against religious sentiments. If the allegations are proven, we will take strict action," he added. The incident of Brahmin students allegedly being asked to remove their sacred thread (Janivara) by authorities before being allowed to attend the Common Entrance Test (CET) has stirred a major controversy in Karnataka. The incident, which came to light on Friday, has drawn sharp reactions from ministers and community organisations alike. Hindu organisations have appealed to people to come onto the streets and protest. Hyderabad, April 18 : Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Friday invited Japanese companies to come to his state and find a China +1 alternative. At the India-Japan Economic Partnership roadshow in Tokyo, he exhorted investors to invest, promising that they will thrive, grow, succeed, and will feel like at home. The official TelanganaRising delegation, led by the Chief Minister, hosted a high-level Investment Roadshow, spotlighting the state's thriving industrial ecosystem and inviting Japanese businesses to partner in its growth. At the event attended by over 150 participants from the Japanese business community, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy exhorted Japanese investors and businesses to come to Telangana and invest, according to a statement from the Chief Minister's Office here. "Japan is called the Land of the Rising Sun. Our state's vision is TelanganaRising. Today, I am proud to saya"Telangana is Rising in the Land of the Rising Sun," he said. "I am very happy to be in Tokyo. Your city is great, with excellent infrastructure, focus on environment and sustainability, and innovation.People of Japan are very nice, kind, respectful and disciplined. I have learnt many things from Tokyo for developing my city of Hyderabad," the Chief Minister said. The event began with remarks from the Ambassador of India to Japan, Sibi George, who emphasised the strong and growing Indo-Japanese economic ties. Toshihiro Mizutani, Director General, JETRO, Bengaluru, followed with comments encouraging deeper collaboration with Telangana. Promotional videos on two flagship projects of the government, namely Future City, Indiaas first planned Net Zero industrial city, and the Musi Riverfront Rejuvenation Project, one of Indiaas largest riverfront development projects, were released at the event. Telangana's Special Chief Secretary, Industries & Commerce, Jayesh Ranjan, delivered a presentation outlining key investment opportunities for Japanese companies in sectors such as electronics, AI, EVs, textiles, and green energy. The Chief Minister extended a warm invitation to Japanese businesses to invest in the state and be part of TelanganaRising. "We offer world-class infrastructure, skilled talent, and clear and consistent policies to support your investment in several priority sectors like life sciences, GCCs, electronics, EV and Energy storage, Textiles, Food processing, AI data centres, and logistics. Let us build something extraordinary - for India, Japan, and the world." The roadshow was followed by several one-on-one meetings with the Telangana delegation and the top business conglomerates of Japan. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On April 17, CATL and China Logistics signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement in Beijing, aiming to deepen collaboration across comprehensive logistics, green technology innovation, commercial resources, and capital assets. The partnership is set to establish a benchmark for low-carbon development in the logistics supply chain. Photo credit: CATL The two companies have already built a solid foundation through cooperation in battery swapping station construction, zero-carbon industrial parks, and logistics transportation. Under the new agreement, CATL and China Logistics will further leverage their respective strengthscombining China Logistics' broad logistics application scenarios with CATL's expertise in electrification and intelligent technologies. The collaboration will focus on key areas such as logistics for the manufacturing sector, multimodal transport, hazardous materials logistics, and green technology innovation. Beyond advancing the decarbonization of the logistics industry, the partnership is expected to enhance the resilience and security of industrial supply chains, reduce overall logistics costs, and boost the global competitiveness of Chinese manufacturing. China Logistics, a key player in railway supply chain services, multimodal transport, and bulk trade, has already built strong capabilities in smart logistics and cross-border services. By aligning a logistics powerhouse with a global leader in new energy technologies, the partnership is poised to accelerate the integration of advanced manufacturing and modern services, fostering a more efficient, intelligent, and sustainable logistics ecosystem. Seoul, April 18 : South Korea's exports of steel products to the United States declined nearly 19 percent from a year earlier in March, data showed on Friday, a possible outcome of heavy tariffs imposed by the Donald Trump administration on all steel imports starting last month. Outbound shipments of steel products to the U.S. came to US$340 million in March, down 18.9 percent from the same month last year, according to the data compiled by the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), reports Yonhap news agency. The decrease came as the Trump administration began imposing 25 percent tariffs on all steel imports on March 12 (U.S. time) as part of its broader tariff scheme aimed at reducing America's trade deficits and bolstering local manufacturing. Washington's duty-free quotas for steel imports from South Korea and other countries have also been abolished. Industry watchers said it is difficult to assess the impact of U.S. tariffs on Seoul's steel exports as transactions are usually made months ahead, but that there may still have been some influence. Korean steelmakers have been devising response measures to the U.S. tariffs, with some companies planning to increase their production in the U.S. Hyundai Steel Co. plans to invest $5.8 billion to construct an electric arc furnace-based steel mill in Louisiana by 2029, its first overseas production facility. South Korean exports will likely come under the substantive influence of U.S. tariffs starting in the second quarter, the trade minister said, pledging "swift" support measures for affected industries. "Local industries are feeling a growing sense of unease as unprecedented uncertainties persist," Trade Minister Cheong In-kyo said in a meeting with export-related officials, noting the impact of tariffs imposed by the Donald Trump administration is anticipated to materialize in the second quarter. Cheong said the government will work together with related authorities to closely monitor export conditions in each region and "swiftly" devise measures to ease challenges faced by local exporters. The government has announced plans to inject trillions of won in financial support to help exporters weather the effects of Washington's hefty tariffs on key items, including steel, aluminum and automobiles. In the first quarter, South Korea's outbound shipments decreased 2.1 percent from a year earlier to US$159.8 billion on the weak performance of the auto and machinery sectors, according to government data. a"IANS na/ Chandigarh, April 18 : A delegation of BJP Punjab led by Jai Inder Kaur, President, BJP Punjab Mahila Morcha, met Governor of Punjab on Friday and submitted a detailed memorandum on the alarming situation of illegal sand mining and brutal violence against villagers in Sahnewal constituency in Ludhiana. The delegation was joined by the elected Panchayats of villages Gaunsgarh, Gadhapur, Khwajke, Mangat, Boothgarh, Rawat, Hawas, and Mangli, who narrated the continuing atrocities being committed by the sand mafia under the protection of the local administration and the state government. The delegation also included BJP Punjab Spokesperson Pritpal Singh Baliawal, Senior BJP leader Vineet Joshi and Geja Ram Valmiki, who echoed the villagers' grievances and strongly condemned the failure of the state machinery to act. The memorandum highlighted the destruction of rural roads due to overloaded mining trucks, harassment of villagers, false FIRs registered against peaceful protestors, and the horrifying incident on April 2025 when mining mafia goons attacked unarmed villagers in broad daylight. Among those seriously injured was Simranjit Kaur Gill, an advocate at Punjab and Haryana High Court, who was beaten up, dragged and attacked with a kirpan, sustaining severe injuries requiring 15 stitches and possible fracture. Several other villagers, including Amandeep Singh and Balraj Singh also suffered grave injuries in the attack. Despite clear video and live footage, no FIR has been registered against the assailants, as the police and administration appear to be shielding the culprits. BJP spokesperson Pritpal Singh Baliawal alleged open complicity of the police, mining department, and PWD in enabling the mafia, and demanded that immediate action be taken against them. He also raised serious questions about the role of sitting MLA and Minister Hardip Mundian, who is accused of sheltering the illegal mining operations in the region. The delegation also pointed to gross violations of environmental norms at the Rour mining site and demanded cancellation of its clearance. After hearing the delegation, Governor of Punjab Gulab Chand Kataria gave clear directions to the Punjab DGP to immediately file FIRs against those responsible for the assault on villagers and to submit a detailed list of all legal and illegal mining operations across the state. The Governor assured the delegation that strict action would be taken and justice will be ensured. BJP Punjab reiterated its stand that it will continue to fight against this unholy nexus of crime and power, and stand firmly with the people of Punjab until justice is served and accountability is fixed. Patna, April 18 : Bihar BJP President Dilip Jaiswal on Friday criticised the Congress's newly launched women-centric campaign, 'Mahila Ki Baat, Congress Ke Sath', questioning the party's commitment to women's empowerment during its decades in power. The campaign was officially launched on Friday at the Congress state headquarters, Sadaqat Ashram, with senior leaders including Mahila Congress national President Alka Lamba, Bihar Congress president Rajesh Kumar, Shakeel Ahmed Khan, Madan Mohan Jha, and MLA Pratima Das unveiling the campaign poster. Talking to IANS, Jaiswal said: "What was the Congress doing for 65 years? Today, they suddenly remember women's respect and rights? Why didn't they provide reservation for women when they were in power for decades?" Highlighting the achievements of the NDA government in Bihar, Jaiswal emphasised the work done under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. "Today, under Nitish Kumar's leadership, women have been given reservation in local and municipal bodies, in government jobs, and recently, in educational institutions. No other state has done as much as Bihar for women's empowerment," he said. "The 'Jeevika Didi' programme, which started here, is now being replicated at the national level by the Modi government. This is real empowerment, not slogans." Jaiswal further condemned the recent communal violence in Murshidabad, West Bengal, calling it "inhuman" and "deeply shameful". He accused the INDIA bloc and the Mamata Banerjee government of deliberately fostering religious discord for political gain. "Such incidents are part of a larger agenda to divide Hindus and Muslims for political mileage. But the truth is, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians are all equal citizens of this country. Those involved in the violence are not representatives of any religion; they are anti-social elements. They must be dealt with strictly," he said. He added, "These leaders thrive on hatred. During the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests, we saw similar tactics. I urge Mamata Banerjee to stop playing with people's emotions. Whether one prays to Bhagwan or Allah, no one supports such divisive politics. She must believe in the Constitution and laws of the land." The violence in Murshidabad reportedly erupted during protests by sections of the Muslim community against recent amendments to the Waqf Act, which protesters claim would lead to centralisation and misuse of Muslim charitable properties. Following the unrest, security has been significantly tightened in the affected areas. Paramilitary forces have been deployed alongside state police, and 274 individuals have been arrested so far for their alleged involvement in the clashes. Dharwad : , April 18 (IANS) The Karnataka Advocates Association, Dharwad Bench, on Friday wrote to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna opposing the rumoured move to transfer four judges of the Karnataka High Court to various other High Courts. Association President V.M. Sheelavant, in the letter, claimed that there is a proposal to transfer Karnataka High Court justices Krishna S Dixit, K. Natarajan, Hemant Chandangoudar and Sanjay Gouda to other states. "The Bar members are in strong protest against the proposal," he underlined. "The members of the Bar across the state of Karnataka are in a state of disbelief on hearing the rumours about the intended or proposed transfer of a few of the best legal minds serving as Honable Judges of the High Court of Karnataka," he said in the letter, adding that the bar members "can vouch for the judgesa selfless service, unquestionable integrity, unmatched legal acumen, empathy and efficiency". "It is indeed disheartening for the members of the Bar and must be demoralising for the judges who are known for utmost efficiency, sense of justice, equity and good conscience. The proposal to transfer these fine legal minds would deprive the members of the Bar and the litigant public is certain to have a disruptive and crippling effect on the working of the High Court of Karnataka and deal a deadly blow to the morale of the members of the Bar and the litigant public surely to be devastating," he said in the letter. "It is the firm resolve of the members of this Bar that they are unwilling to let go of these judges from the High Court of Karnataka in the interest of the litigant public, members of the Bar in view of the fact that the step is retrogressive and works as a spanner in the wheel." However, the Supreme Court Collegium has not given any official statement regarding the transfer of judges from the Karnataka High Court. Patna, April 18 : Bihar BJP President Dilip Jaiswal on Friday criticised the Congress party's newly launched women-centric campaign, 'Mahila Ki Baat, Congress Ke Sath', questioning the party's commitment to women's empowerment during its decades in power. The campaign was officially launched on Friday at the Congress state headquarters, Sadaqat Ashram, with senior leaders, including Mahila Congress national president Alka Lamba, Bihar Congress president Rajesh Kumar, Shakeel Ahmed Khan, Madan Mohan Jha, and MLA Pratima Das unveiling the campaign poster. Speaking to IANS, Dilip Jaiswal said, "What was the Congress doing for 65 years? Today, they suddenly remember women's respect and rights? Why didn't they provide reservation for women when they were in power for decades?" Highlighting the achievements of the NDA government in Bihar, Jaiswal emphasised the work done under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. "Today, under Nitish Kumar's leadership, women have been given reservations in local and municipal bodies, in government jobs, and recently, in educational institutions. No other state has done as much as Bihar for women's empowerment," he said. "The 'Jeevika Didi' programme, which started here, is now being replicated at the national level by the Modi government. This is real empowerment, not slogans." Jaiswal further condemned the recent communal violence in Murshidabad, West Bengal, calling it "inhuman" and "deeply shameful." He accused the INDIA Bloc and the Mamata Banerjee government of deliberately fostering religious discord for political gain. "Such incidents are part of a larger agenda to divide Hindus and Muslims for political mileage. But the truth is, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians are all equal citizens of this country. Those involved in the violence are not representatives of any religion; they are anti-social elements. They must be dealt with strictly," he said. He added, "These leaders thrive on hatred. During the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests, we saw similar tactics. I urge Mamata Banerjee to stop playing with people's emotions. Whether one prays to Bhagwan or Allah, no one supports such divisive politics. She must believe in the Constitution and laws of the land." The violence in Murshidabad reportedly erupted during protests by sections of the Muslim community against recent amendments to the Waqf Act, which protesters claim would lead to centralisation and misuse of Muslim charitable properties. Following the unrest, security has been significantly tightened in the affected areas. Paramilitary forces have been deployed alongside state police, and 274 individuals have been arrested so far for their alleged involvement in the clashes. Kolkata, April 18 : BJP's Information Technology cell chief and the party's central observer for West Bengal, Amit Malviya, on Friday accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of "systematically damaging" the state's education system. Kolkata, April 18 (IANS) BJP's Information Technology cell chief and the party's central observer for West Bengal, Amit Malviya, on Friday accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of "systematically damaging" the state's education system. To drive forward his point, he referred to the judgment by Calcutta High Court's single-judge bench of Justice Biswajit Basu on April 7 ordering the West Bengal government to halt salary payments to 313 teachers employed in government-aided schools in the hills of Darjeeling, Kurseong, and Kalimpong that come under the jurisdiction of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA). "The Court found these appointments to be unjustified and in clear violation of due process. Shockingly, many of the appointees lacked the mandatory Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) degree required to teach at the secondary and higher secondary levels. Mamata Banerjee can no longer hide behind rhetoric. The people of Bengal are being deceivedagain," said Malviya in a statement posted on the wall of his official X handle. On April 7, while ordering the halt of salary of these 313 teachers, Justice Basu questioned why taxpayers' money from the state exchequer should be utilized to pay salaries to teachers whose entire appointment process was illegal. To recall, in April last year, a division bench upheld an earlier order of the same court directing a CBI probe into the complaints of recruitment irregularities in schools run by the GTA. The order for a CBI probe into the matter was given by the single-judge bench of Justice Biswajit Basu. However, the state government moved the division bench of Justice Harish Tandon and Justice Madhuresh Prasad against the ruling by the single-judge bench. However, as the division bench had also upheld the order of the single- judge bench the CBI probe in the matter is still on. Srinagar, April 18 : Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor (L-G), Manoj Sinha, said on Friday that the state police is admired across the country for its professionalism, sustained grit and determination. The L-G attended the Passing Out Parade of the 16th batch of Basic Recruit Training Course (BRTC) of Jammu and Kashmir Police at the Manigam police training centre in Ganderbal district. L-G Sinha paid tributes to the valour of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, exhorted the young recruits to work with diligence and high professionalism to protect the motherland. "The nation is grateful to J&K Police for the invaluable sacrifices they have made. Citizens can live peacefully and work freely because they know that our police force is standing firm in protecting the lives and combating terrorism and crime." "The exemplary courage of J&K Police and their supreme heroism reassures the people that the Union Territory is in safe hands." "Today J&K Police Force is admired across the country for its professionalism, sustained grit and determination. In the last few years, J&K Police Force, Army and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have succeeded in crushing terrorism in the Kashmir Valley, however, terrorist incidents have increased in Jammu division, which is a matter of concern." "Our resolve is to make both Jammu and Kashmir divisions terrorism-free." "J&K Police Force will have to adapt to emerging technologies and deploy them to enhance their operational effectiveness." "We need a future-ready police force to effectively combat evolving terror and organised crime threats." "In view of the rapid changes taking place due to technology, our approach should be on data-centric policing to effectively tackle challenges, analyse crime trends and predict the pattern and make necessary changes in the investigation." "I am confident that apart from professional tradecraft, the life values that new recruits have imbibed at the Manigam Police Training School and ideals like courage, valour, patience, self-sacrifice and discipline they have inculcated in life will enable them to face all kinds of challenges in the future," L-G Sinha said. The L-G said that J&K Police, Army and CAPFs are determined to crush terror. "In the last few years, J&K Police Force, Army and CAPFs have succeeded in crushing terrorism in the Kashmir Valley, however, terrorist incidents have increased in Jammu division, which is a matter of concern." Extending his best wishes to the passing out trainees, the L-G said that the skills, knowledge, and values they have gained during their training will provide a solid foundation and enhance their capabilities to discharge their duty with utmost sensitivity. A total of 438 recruits, including 86 women, completed their rigorous training, on Friday at the Manigam Police Training School. Among them, 211 brave constables have previously served as Special Police Officers. Zubair Ahmad Khan, Manigam Police Training School Principal, briefed about the programme and various activities conducted during the training course. The L-G took the ceremonial salute and inspected the parade. He also felicitated the new recruits who had excelled during their training. An oath was administered to the new recruits for performing their duties with dedication and honesty. J&K DGP Nalin Prabhat; SJM Gillani, Chairman and Managing Director, Police Housing Corporation; Anand Jain, ADGP Armed J&K; Mandeep K. Bhandari, Principal Secretary to L-G Manoj Sinha; Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, Kashmir Divisional Commissioner; Vidhi Kumar Birdi, IGP Kashmir; Jatin Kishore, Ganderbal Deputy Commissioner; senior officials of Police, Security forces and civil administration and family members of the passing out trainees were present. Mumbai, April 18 : Jr NTR is all praises for Naga Chaitanya's cloud kitchen brand "Shoyu". While promoting his film "Devara" in Japan, Jr NTR talked about his love for food, but not just any food, the kind Naga Chaitanya dishes out through his cloud kitchen. Talking about his love for Sushi, the 'RRR' actor said, "There's this restaurant called Shoyu, it's owned by a very dear friend of mine actor Naga Chaitanya. And let me tell you, Shoyu makes the best Japanese food, hands down. Their Sushies are just next level. I love Unagi, and Shoyu makes one of the best Unagi Sushies I've ever had." The video of Jr NTR praising Naga Chaitanya's band went viral on social media. Elated by this, the netizens flooded Chay's timeline in celebration. Naga Chaitanya also returned the love saying, "Thank you for these lovely words Jr NTR. I admire how openly you show love. You made our day! Wishing you all the success for Japan. Keep rocking." "My love for food comes from traveling the world and tasting its many flavors. Shoyu is my way of sharing that love. When my friendsand those who truly love good foodenjoy it and say something nice, it really touches my soul," he added. Circling back to "Devera", the Koratala Siva's directorial stars Jr NTR in dual roles, along with Saif Ali Khan, Janhvi Kapoor, Prakash Raj, Srikanth, and Shine Tom Chacko in other key roles. The first part of a planned duology revolves around the life of Devara, chieftain of a coastal village, who feuds with his counterpart Bhaira over arms smuggling through the Red Sea. Up next, Jr NTR will begin working on director Prashanth Neel's highly-anticipated drama, tentatively titled "NTRNeel". He is expected to commence the shoot on April 22. Produced by Mythri Movie Makers in association with NTR Arts, "NTRNeel" is poised to be a one-of-a-kind cinematic spectacle. Bhopal, April 18 : Narendra Yadav alias N. John Camm has been sent to jail till May 1. After his police remand ended, the police presented Narendra Yadav before the court in Madhya Pradesh's Damoh and was ordered to remain in judicial custody until May 1. Yadav is at the centre of a legal and medical controversy. Accused of performing cardiac surgeries on multiple patients, seven of whom tragically passed away under suspicious circumstances, he was under police remand since last one month. Speaking to IANS, his lawyer, Sachin Nayak, said Yadav will apply for bail in the Sessions court on Monday as police questioning has concluded now. According to Nayak, the doctor experienced high blood pressure on Thursday night and was temporarily admitted to the Damoh district hospital for treatment before being returned to custody. Police sources indicated that Yadav had not disclosed any medical conditions or medications, apart from blood pressure issues. A viral video capturing his hospital admission added further attention to the case. Yadav's counsel had requested access to his mobile phone and for court appearances via video-conferencing. However, the public prosecutor opposed the requests, arguing that the phone was undergoing forensic analysis as part of the investigation, and only the court could decide on the mode of his appearance according to the jail manual. Yadav later claimed to the media that he was innocent, asserting that his qualifications complied with all regulations, and mentioning his family is currently in abroad. He also expressed full faith in the judicial system. The scandal has escalated with significant repercussions. The Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) of Damoh, Mukesh Jain, suspended the license of Mission Hospital and sealed its Cath Lab where Yadav worked. The police registered cases against him, following the CMHO's midnight complaint on April 6, which alleged that Yadav lacked the necessary qualifications for the surgeries he performed. Last Wednesday, a team of doctors and government officials revoked the hospital's license and sealed its remaining facilities. Yadav, suspected of conducting 15 surgeries, seven of which resulted in deaths under questionable circumstances, remains under investigation. Allegations of impersonation have further fuelled the controversy, with reports claiming he adopted the pseudonym, N. John Camm, to pose as a European cardiologist. Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, April 18 : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said that the government's wish to make India self-reliant in the defence manufacturing is commendable, adding "we are committed to making the country self-reliant and the country is succeeding in that". "We have now started exporting defence equipment manufactured in the country and we have increased this export from Rs 600 crore to Rs 2,400 crore. Our policy is to manufacture more than 500 products required in the defence sector domestically. There is a plan to reduce imports and increase defence products to Rs 3 lakh crore," the Defence Minister said. Rajnath Singh said this while speaking at a seminar organised by the Chamber of Marathwada Industries and Agriculture. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was also present on the occasion. "The country is becoming self-reliant by reducing the import of products required for defence equipment. Currently, more than 500 products are being manufactured in the country," he said. The Defence Minister, meanwhile, invited CM Fadnavis to lead a delegation of entrepreneurs to Delhi for further discussions. "There are unlimited opportunities in the defence equipment manufacturing sector. In order to accommodate the bold entrepreneurs of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, a delegation of entrepreneurs led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis should come to Delhi for further discussions," he added. Earlier, the Chief Minister urged Rajnath Singh that a defence cluster should be created in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar especially when it has a good ecosystem for industry and the capabilities of entrepreneurs should be boosted. The chief minister said that "Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar is now becoming the industrial magnet of Maharashtra. Nearly 10 thousand acres of land acquired for industrial estates has been distributed to industries and there is still demand from entrepreneurs. Therefore, there are plans to give another 8 thousand acres for industries. All the facilities like manpower, communication and energy are available. Therefore, entrepreneurs choose Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar for their ventures." The Maharashtra Chief Minister further said that Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar is a pioneer in the electric vehicle manufacturing industry. "The bold and ambitious entrepreneurs here are trying to come forward in the defense equipment manufacturing industry. These entrepreneurs They should be encouraged. Just as the auto cluster in the country was developed here, a defense cluster should be created. There are unlimited opportunities in the defence equipment manufacturing industry. And the entrepreneurs of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar have full potential. To promote it, a defence cluster should be developed here," he added. Meanwhile, Rajnath Singh, who was accompanied by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, unveiled the statue of Maharana Pratap at another function held in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. "We do not do politics of religion. For us all Indians are equal. This is our culture. This is our thinking. We have learnt this from our ancestors. We have learnt this from our idol Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and from Maharana Pratap," he said. He added: "Our ideals were not at all anti-Islam and anti-Muslim. Hakim Khan Suri fought with Maharana Pratap in the battle of Haldighati and against the Mughals. There were people from the Muslim community in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's army too. The most trusted servant among the bodyguards of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was a Muslim youth named Madari." Amid the recent controversy over the demand for the removal of Aurangzeb's tomb, the Defence Minister said: "Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru has called Aurangzeb a fanatic and bigoted ruler. He has written that he imposed Jaziya tax on Hindus. He tried to suppress Rajputs, Sikhs, Marathas, Rashtrakutas. He destroyed many of our Hindu temples. How can such a ruler be anyone's hero? "In our history books, even a cruel and ruthless ruler like Aurangzeb has been presented in a glorified manner. Due to this wrong history, some people try to make Aurangzeb a hero. An attempt is being made to create sympathy for Aurangzeb without knowing the truth," he claimed. Kolkata, April 18 : West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose on Friday assured personal intervention in ensuring that each displaced family in the communal tension-hit Murshidabad district is completely rehabilitated. "Several houses have been gutted. So the displaced families will be returned only after full rehabilitation is arranged for them. I personally came here to have first-hand experience of the prevailing situation. I will give a detailed report on the matter after going back," the Governor told mediapersons after visiting a temporary relief shelter at a school in the Murshidabad-adjacent Malda district, where the victims of the violence are currently housed. He also said that people from a community had been attacked at Murshidabad. "While one group has launched the attack, the other group has been attacked. This cannot continue in a democratic system. Such violence is not acceptable in any civilized society. I have talked to people here including the children. A sense of fear is prevailing among them. People can't survive in such an ambiance of fear," the Governor said. A delegation of the National Commission for Women (NCW), led by the commission chairperson Vijaya K. Rahatkar, also visited the same relief camp on Friday afternoon and also interacted with the displaced residents there. Later, while speaking to the mediapersons after that interaction, delegation member Archana Majumdar made an explosive allegation against the district police. "Those who were cooking at the relief camp have been forcefully driven away by the police. An attempt is going on to send back the displaced persons to their homes without arranging for their proper rehabilitation and security. The displaced women currently staying at this relief shelter do not want money or houses as compensation. They want central armed police forces personnel for their protection. They want protection of their dignity," Majumdar said. She also claimed that people from particular religious communities have been targeted. "Their houses at Murshidabad had been burnt down. They were given rape threats. Even voluntary organizations like Ramakrishna Mission are not allowed to enter the relief camps. The media is barred entry here so that the grievances of the displaced people do not reach the outside world," Majumdar alleged. Bengaluru, April 18 : Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Assembly R. Ashoka said on Friday that no one should accept the caste census report, which was prepared by "Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's gang in shady manner". Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, he said that the former Backward Classes Commission Chairman H. Kantharaju, did not sign the report, and fled. Kantharaju Commission conducted the caste census survey in the state. "When the Backward Classes Commission President Jayaprakash Hegde examined the report, it was found to be a mere copy, not the original. Hegde had written a letter about this to the government." Ashoka emphasised that no one should accept the report prepared by "Siddaramaiah's gang". He questioned, "If one crore children were born in the last 10 years, which category will they be placed in? What is the future of the new generation? What are the criteria for reservations?" He criticised the Cabinet meeting led by CM Siddaramaiah as futile, stating that ministers were instructed to share their opinions in writing. "CM Siddaramaiah, a cunning strategist, wants to fix Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar, all ministers belonging to Vokkaliga and Lingayat communities during elections, if they write anything against the caste census. The CM is planning to use their submissions against them during elections," Ashoka said. He alleged that the cabinet ministers were insulted by being entangled in the web of caste. Ashoka claimed that Siddaramaiah was supposed to resign in November, and this report is being used for political leverage. He added that during the JD (S)-Congress coalition government, Siddaramaiah remained silent and could have released the caste census report then. Ashoka pointed out that the survey team did not visit the revered Siddaganga Mutt, and Davangere MLAs have said the same. He called the methodology of the caste census unscientific, alleging that school children were used in the survey and data was written sitting in one place. He questioned where the Rs 165 crore spent on this went and demanded that Muslims, identified as the majority in the report, be immediately removed from the minority list. He predicted that all communities would protest against the caste census report, as trust in it has eroded. He urged Congress MLAs to take a clear stand, noting that some have rejected the report. Ashoka accused Siddaramaiah of clinging to the report during a crisis. He claimed the government is indecisive, with a "come tomorrow" attitude towards the report, and alleged that CM Siddaramaiah released it to save his seat, thereby dividing castes. He also mentioned that heated arguments took place in the cabinet. Guwahati, April 18 : Heroin and highly addictive methamphetamine tablets, valued at Rs 71 crore, were seized during two separate operations in Assam's Kamrup district on Friday, officials said. Two drivers of two vehicles in which the drugs were transported, were arrested in this connection. An Assam police spokesperson said that acting on secret information, the Special Task Force (STF) of the state Police launched the operation in the Amingaon area and separately intercepted a trick and a Hyundai car coming from a neighbouring state. During the search operation, the STF personnel recovered 2,70,000 Yaba tablets valued at Rs 67 crore from the truck while 520 grams of heroin valued at Rs 4 crore, contained in 40 soap boxes recovered from the Hyundai car. Both the methamphetamine tablets, also known as Yaba or party tablets and the heroin smuggled from Myanmar. Drivers of both the vehicles identified as Nur Islam (34) and Nazrul Hussain alias Ali Hussain (22) were arrested under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act 1985. The operation was led by STF chief Parthasarathi Mahanta, who was assisted by Additional Superintendent of Police, STF, Kalyan Pathak. Further investigation is underway, and legal action has been initiated, the police spokesman said. Officials suspect that the highly addictive methamphetamine tablets were smuggled from Myanmar and brought to Assam via the neighbouring state and intended to illegally trade to neighbouring Bangladesh or other parts of the country. Myanmar, which shares a 1,643 km unfenced border with four northeastern states -- Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram -- serves as a key transit point for drugs, particularly heroin and methamphetamine tablets, entering India. Myanmar's Chin state is a hub for smuggling of varied drugs, exotic wildlife animals and many other contrabands through six Mizoram districts -- Champhai, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Hnahthial, Saitual, and Serchhip. Bhopal, April 19 : Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said on Friday that two cheetahs -- a male and a female -- from the Kuno National Park (KNP) will be relocated to the Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary on April 20. The announcement was made after Union Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, along with Chief Minister Yadav chaired a meeting with senior forest officials in Bhopal. "The state government is committed to developing Kuno National Park as a model wildlife tourism destination. Alongside KNP, Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary in Mandsaur district will soon host cheetahs," the Chief Minister said. CM Yadav said that plans are underway to enhance tourism at the Kuno National Park by improving direct road and air connectivity from Gwalior. He announced that Madhya Pradesh is undertaking extensive efforts to develop its ecosystem. During the review meeting on the 'Cheetah Project' implementation, it said that cheetah cubs born in Madhya Pradesh have the world's highest survival rate. "In contrast, cubs in other countries often struggle to adapt to local climates. Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary offers an ideal environment for cheetahs, prompting the state to introduce them there to enrich the sanctuary," CM Yadav said in a statement. Meanwhile, CM Yadav announced plans to develop a paved, all-season road from Gwalior to KNP and establish a tent city within the forest for tourists. An international-level veterinary hospital and rescue centre will also be set up in the Kuno area with central assistance. This facility will serve cheetahs and support cattle care across the region. He said the state government is also working to conserve king cobras, gharials, and rare turtles. In the first phase, 10 king cobras will be introduced to Madhya Pradesh to balance the population of venomous snakes in the state's forests. Kuno National Park currently has 26 cheetahs, with 16 in the wild and 10 in rehabilitation enclosures. Female cheetahs Jwala, Asha, Gamini, and Veera have given birth to cubs. The state government has also sought Supreme Court's approval to launch a Cheetah Safari, as safaris in forests or eco-sensitive zones require judicial permission, a forest official told IANS. Bhopal/Kolkata, April 19 : The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) member, Priyank Kanoongo, on Friday, hit out at the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, alleging that her government failed to protect the citizens of the state. He made this remark regarding the recent communal clashes which occurred in West Bengal, wherein two persons (father and son) were killed a few days ago. He alleged that Hindus are being targeted, as a result of which several such families were forced to leave their homes and to take shelter at other places. Speaking to IANS, Kanoongo said that a team of NHRC, comprising of a senior IPS officer (of Director General rank) has been sent to riot-hit Murshidabad district of West Bengal to assess the ground situation of the communal clashes. According to Kanoongo, NHRC team will be visiting Murshidabad following the directions of the Calcutta High Court. "Complying with direction of Calcutta High Court, a team of NHRC has been sent to riot-hit Murshidabad district and things would be more clear once the assessment is being done. However, reports suggest that Hindu families are being targeted. It is the complete failure of state administration," the NHRC member said. He also said that the NHRC team will be meeting people in the riot-hit Murshidabad district, including at rehabilitation centres, where Hindu families have taken shelter for fear of life and a detailed report will be summited to the Calcutta High Court. "I won't make comment on political issues, but, I would say that, if the state government can't protect the citizens of state, and people are being targeted on the basis of their religious identity, then it is an example of administrative failure," Kanoongo added. According to reports, communal clashes erupted in Murshidabad district allegedly linked to ongoing protests against the Waqf Amendment Act. Two persons - a father and son - were found with multiple stab wounds inside their home in Jafrabad, located in the violence-hit Samserganj area on April 15. After the communal clashes, Calcutta High Court has ordered to deploy Central forces in the riot-hit areas in the state. The court has also directed the Central and the state governments to submit reports in the matter. Notably, the Waqf Amendment Bill-2025, which was passed in both Houses of the Parliament and later received the President's assent, after which it became a law, was enacted on April 5. Patna, April 19 : After the first Coordination Committee meeting of the Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandhan) was held, preparations are now in full swing for the second round of discussions, which will take place on April 24 at the Congress state headquarters, Sadaqat Ashram, in Patna. The meeting will be attended by the Coordination Committee Chairman Tejashwi Yadav, State Congress in-charge Krishna Allavaru, State Congress President Rajesh Ram, Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) Chief Mukesh Sahani, and representatives of the Left parties, including CPI-ML, CPI, and CPI-M. According to Congress sources, this meeting will focus on preparations for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, strategising a joint campaign across the state and launching a mass movement against the state government starting in May, with joint rallies and programmes planned across districts. While the final seat-sharing formula will not be determined in this meeting, parties are expected to present their initial seat demands, paving the way for negotiations. The Vikassheel Insaan Party, which was not part of the Grand Alliance in the 2020 Assembly elections, is now included -- necessitating an adjustment in the previous seat-sharing arrangement. As per the seat-sharing formula among the constituent parties of the Grand Alliance in 2020, RJD contested on 144 seats, Congress: 70, CPI-ML: 19, CPI: 6 and CPI(M): 4. As the VIP is included in the Grand Alliance, their seats are expected to reduce. A Congress leader confirmed that no decision will be taken on the chief ministerial face in the upcoming meeting, reiterating the party's stance, as expressed by Krishna Allavaru during the April 17 session. However, RJD leaders, including Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha and state spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari, have continued to assert that Tejashwi Yadav will be the chief ministerial face of the Grand Alliance. Their remarks made a day after the April 17 meeting, are being seen as an indirect pushback to Allavaru's neutral stand. Despite the pressure, the Congress maintains its position that the CM candidate will be decided at a later stage, possibly closer to the upcoming Assembly elections. The April 24 meeting is expected to lay the groundwork for unified campaign efforts while highlighting the emerging tussle over leadership projection within the alliance. Guwahati, April 19 : Assam Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah, on Friday, took a jibe at the State Congress President Bhupen Borah as the latter accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of using fearmongering tactics for the upcoming panchayat polls. Borah asserted that the BJP leaders have been trying to incite fear among opposition candidates and the ruling party has been forcing the Congress candidates to withdraw nominations. Reacting to the allegations, Mallabaruah said, "Bhupen Borah always writes a script before every election and he keeps on passing the accusations towards others. It is his old habit. I would rather suggest him to contest the polls with full strength. Even it is better that if all opposition parties come together and fight unitedly against us. In politics, it is always better to have a strong opposition than a weak force." Meanwhile, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi has also accused that the "goons" of the BJP have been unleashing atrocities against the opposition candidates ahead of the upcoming panchayat polls. Gogoi said, "The state administration is biased towards the BJP and they have not taken any action against the goons of the ruling party. State Congress president Bhupen Borah and MP Pradyut Bordoloi have raised this issue with the police; however, no action was taken against the BJP goons." He also said that Congress workers will not be intimated and they will contest the polls against the BJP. "We have a long history of contesting against the ruling dispensation and our party workers are adamant not to let down their guards in front of the intimidation and fearmongering tactics of the BJP," Gogoi added. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "Congress has only one agenda -- defame Assam. There have been 22,000 villages in the state and there may be one or two stray incidents which happened in some areas. The Congress party could have brought this to the notice of the administration and the state administration will definitely take proper action." The CM reiterated that panchayat polls in the state will be conducted in a free and transparent manner. "There will be free and fair elections. The image of Assam should not be tarnished and the Congress party always tries to do so. If some individual is harassing other person, a complaint must be lodged and we will take immediate action. But as of now, we do not have any such reports. No candidate has filed any compliant to the administration," he added. The panchayat elections will be held in two phases in Assam -- May 2 and May 7. Kalaburagi : , April 19 (IANS) The Karnataka BJP, during the Janakrosh Yatra, on Friday, appealed that whenever their party workers face hardship or humiliation -- especially when Hindus are insulted -- all party members must unite and stand together to protect them. Speaking at a large public meeting of the Janakrosh Yatra in Kalaburagi, the native of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, State BJP President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra urged district presidents and office bearers to keep in mind that the coming three years will be a phase of continuous struggle. "Wherever BJP workers face pain or humiliation, especially when Hindu workers are insulted, all party workers must unite and stand up to protect them," Vijayendra urged. "Let me see if there is any real man left in Congress. There is no need to fear and said that BJP workers are not here to do politics of compromise. The BJP workers are here to stop limiting political activity to election seasons and instead practice year-round political engagement," Vijayendra said, indirectly targeting Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Priyank Kharge, who is also the son of Mallikarjun Kharge. "As State party President, I take up the challenge to ensure BJP wins in every Assembly constituency of Kalaburagi district," he declared. He said, "No matter who stands before us, every BJP worker has the strength to face them. I urge all leaders to stay united." He emphasised that the love and trust of party workers is priceless. "Despite the scorching sun, thousands of workers and women have turned out in large numbers and made the Janakrosh Yatra a great success. I am indebted to your love and trust," Vijayendra added. He encouraged workers in Kalaburagi not to feel disheartened, assuring them that "your Vijayendra is always with you". He said that the Janakrosh Yatra is being held for three key reasons. He alleged that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, after coming to power, has completely forgotten the promises made before the Assembly elections that were meant to build a "Ram Rajya". He added that the BJP too was initially anxious about the guarantee schemes during the Lok Sabha elections. "The Congress government transferred the guarantee money just a day or two before voting," he said. He criticised CM Siddaramaiah for treating the people of the state like beggars. "On one hand, they announce free travel for women, but on the other hand, they halt thousands of buses in rural areas," he said, expressing disappointment that children from poor farming families are now unable to attend school and college due to the lack of bus services. Vijayendra said that the government owes Rs 6,500 crore to Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation but is unable to provide the funds. He also criticised the increase in electricity rates by 36 paise per unit. Referring to Minister Priyank Kharge's promise to provide jobs to youth in Kalaburagi, Vijayendra cited the claim that Rs 4 crore of public money was spent to create jobs for one lakh youth. "In reality, only 1,200 jobs were given through private companies. Spending Rs 4 crore for 1,200 jobs a" this is the work culture of the state government," he said. The Legislative Council Opposition Leader Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, speaking at the Janakrosh Yatra, charged that the State Home Minister never visits Kalaburagi. "It's as if there's a separate law for this region a" this is the "Republic of Kalaburagi"." He said, "Nowhere else in the state is there a zero-traffic protocol, but it exists here. Isn't this like a separate republic?" he asked. He alleged: "Sand mafia activities are taking place in Chittapur and that under the name of Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Limited, 700 to 800 truckloads of sand are being illegally transported to Maharashtra every day. Chittapur is the Assembly constituency of Minister Priyank Kharge." "A daily business worth Rs 3 to 4 crore is happening. Is this money going to the Congress in Delhi? Is it going to CM Siddaramaiah? Or is it filling the pockets of your district ministers?" he asked. The event was attended by former Minister B. Sriramulu, Council Chief Whip N. Ravikumar, MLAs Avinash Jadhav and Basavaraj Mattimood, former MP Umesh Jadhav, MLCs B.G. Patil and Sunil Valyapure and other district office bearers, mandal presidents, and party leaders. Bengaluru, April 18 : The Karnataka BJP has urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to apologise to the people of the state for denying entry to examination halls for students wearing the sacred thread (Janivara) before the Common Entrance Test (CET) examination. Speaking in Bengaluru on Friday, the Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka slammed the Congress-led state government, saying, "Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who once displayed hatred upon seeing 'Kumkum' and 'Kesari' (saffron), has now once again revealed his "anti-Hindu" mindset by expressing hostility towards the sacred thread (Janivara)." While in Tirthahalli of Shivamogga district, the Brahmin community students were forcibly made to remove their sacred thread during the Common Entrance Test (CET) examination, thereby hurting their religious sentiments. In Bidar, this anti-Hindu Congress-led Karnataka government ruined the future of a student by denying him entry in an examination for refusing to remove the sacred thread, Opposition leader Ashoka alleged. These incidents, which have hurt the religious sentiments of the Brahmin community, are highly condemnable, he added. "I urge CM Siddaramaiah to apologise to the people of the state and take strict action against the officials responsible." Ashoka accused the Congress government of insulting Brahmins by not allowing sacred threads during the CET exam, revealing their anger toward Hindus. He noted that not only Brahmins but also Marathas and Vaishya communities wear sacred threads, and all these communities have been insulted. In contrast, Muslim girls were allowed to wear hijabs, Ashoka said. Commenting on the incident, State BJP President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra on Friday said, "In Bidar, a student wearing a sacred thread (Janivara) was denied the opportunity to appear for the CET exam, while in Shivamogga, an officer arrogantly tore off a student's sacred thread, casting a shadow over the student's future. Such behaviour by the officials and staff is utterly disgraceful. This kind of intellectual perversion and inhuman conduct is unacceptable and reflects the Congress government's deeply prejudiced mindset." "The actions of the CET staff, who crushed the dreams of a student who had long aspired to become an engineer and faced a rude shock at a crucial turning point in his life, are highly condemnable," Vijayendra added. "While it is understandable that some objects are prohibited during exams and interviews, wearing a sacred thread is tied to family tradition and the cultural practices of the Indian community. What impact does wearing a sacred thread have on a student's ability to write an exam? The concerned Ministers and government must answer this question. Education is about values, and this incident proves what can happen when those without such values are given charge of the education department," he said. "The Chief Minister must take action against the officials who insulted Hindu customs and ruined a student's future. The Congress-led Karnataka government, which has insulted the cultured Brahmin community that upholds and guides the values of Sanatana Dharma, must immediately issue an unconditional apology," Vijayendra urged the Congress government. Kannur, April 19 : The Kannur district Youth Congress President Vigil Mohan, on Friday, filed a complaint against IAS officer and Vizhinjam Port Managing Director Divya S. Iyer for praising CPI-M leader K.K. Ragesh, the Private Secretary to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The praise came through her social media post soon after Ragesh was appointed as the CPI-M's new District Secretary at Kannur. Mohan told the media on Friday that he has filed a complaint against Iyer to the Kerala Chief Secretary Sarada Muraleedharan and also to the Director at the Directorate of Public Grievances. "She has violated the All India Service Rules as IAS officials should not show or have any political bias. What she should ideally do is quit IAS and then join the CPI-M and praise," said Mohan. Incidentally, Iyer is the wife of Youth Congress Vice-President and also a two-time former Congress legislator K. Sabarinath, who is the son of veteran late Congress leader, former Speaker and Minister G. Karthikeyan, who passed away when he was the Speaker in 2014. Sabarinath contested the by-election in 2014 and won and again in 2016 he retained his seat, but lost the election in 2021. Sabarinath, took exception to the post and said there was no harm if a government officer praises government programmes, but here the case was different. "Even though her applause had no other overtures, since the new post for Ragesh was a party post and not a government post, she could have shown restraint, and hence it has now become a political issue," said Sabarinath. After Ragesh was given the new post, Iyer took to her social media account on Instagram, and posted, "Learnt many lessons from Ragesh during the past three years. He is a hardworking person. Thank you, for always considering us with utmost respect -- an art that is getting endangered in power corridors across the globe." Incidentally what has hurt the Congress party is that she on Friday again defended her act and took a jibe at the Congress leaders who criticized her act. Expressing his displeasure on Friday was former Congress legislator and senior party leader T. Sarathchandra Prasad, who said it is most unfortunate that this praise came from the daughter-in-law of Karthikeyan and that's what has hurt several Congressmen. "I am of the view that there is no harm in anyone praising anyone, but that can be done in several ways, but what you (Iyer) did is not acceptable as you are an IAS official who is bound by rules. Praising the leader of a ruling party is out of context. Just see how Sabarinath responded to your praise," said Prasad. By now numerous CPI-M leaders, including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, has said there was nothing wrong in what Iyer did and on Friday, the same comment was repeated by veteran CPI-M leader and former State Minister A.K. Balan. This photo taken on April 9, 2025 shows a view of Long Bien Bridge, a historic bridge across the Red River, in Hanoi, Vietnam. [Photo/Xinhua] Global Times-Vietnam's new energy policy not only charts a path for the country's energy transition but also creates new opportunities for enhanced China-Vietnam cooperation in the realm of green energy. This collaborative effort will also catalyze regional green grid integration through enhanced electricity market connectivity across Southeast Asia. Vietnam's government approved this week a revised energy policy that calls for the nation to more than double its total generating capacity by 2030 from 2023 levels, with the aim of increasing capacity nearly 10-fold by 2050, Bloomberg reported on Thursday. The roadmap also calls for massive increases in wind and solar capacity, involving as much as 73 gigawatts of solar and 38 gigawatts of wind by 2030. The rollout of the policy came as a response by Vietnam to a confluence of pressing challenges, including a power shortage, escalating climate risks and mounting pressure to comply with carbon reduction requirements. As Vietnam has become an important area for the transfer of manufacturing capacity, its industrial sector currently accounts for more than 50 percent of total energy consumption nationwide, according to the country's Ministry of Industry and Trade. Yet its electricity supply has fallen short of rising demand in recent years. Meanwhile, due to electricity demand from a booming manufacturing sector, Vietnam has become a key driver of global growth in thermal coal imports and use, leading to a rapid rise in carbon emissions. Vietnam's imports of thermal coal rose 31 percent to 44 million metric tons in 2024, according to Reuters. In this context, the necessity and urgency of accelerating the transition from traditional fossil fuels to renewable energy sources in Vietnam are increasing. Only by increasing clean energy generation and use can Vietnam better meet its growing domestic power demand and provide stable energy support for sustained economic growth. This situation has also opened up new opportunities for international energy cooperation. Vietnam's energy transition goals have attracted global attention, and many countries and companies have seen the potential for cooperation in this area. In particular, China and Vietnam have already launched several cooperation projects in the field of green energy. Chinese companies, with their rich experience and technical strength, have played an important role in the construction of clean energy projects in Vietnam. For instance, the 257-megawatt photovoltaic plant project in Phu Yen, undertaken by China Energy Engineering Group Co, has set a record for the fastest construction speed among photovoltaic power plants of the same scale in Vietnam, fully demonstrating the efficiency and professionalism of Chinese companies in clean energy project construction. There are multiple dimensions for further deepening cooperation between China and Vietnam in the field of clean energy. For instance, in terms of technology research and development, scientific research institutions and companies from both sides can jointly carry out research to develop more suitable clean energy technologies and equipment for Vietnam's geographical environment and climatic conditions. More importantly, with the acceleration of Vietnam's energy transition, China-Vietnam green energy cooperation is poised to further deepen, especially in grid construction and regional power network integration. As Vietnam's green energy generation projects expand, the challenge of efficiently transmitting dispersed green energy to demand areas will soon emerge. China has advanced technology and rich experience in grid construction, ranging from ultra-high voltage transmission technology to smart grid management systems, which are at the forefront of the world. Within the framework of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) economic cooperation, China and Vietnam have already built several cross-border transmission lines. China-Vietnam grid cooperation can play a key role in the process of regional power network integration, including the trading of green energy. China-Vietnam cooperation can transmit surplus power to other energy-deficient countries through regional power grids, which will strongly promote the power interconnection and development of green industry integration in the Lancang-Mekong region. Ty Wilson, sales rep for the Ingram Publisher Services brands Publishers Group West and Two Rivers, made PWs rep of the year shortlist in 2023. This year, he takes home the prize. A resident of Sonoma, Calif., Wilson covers the Northern California sales territory from Mendocino to Santa Cruz to Sacramento. His career began in 1984, when he worked at Tower Books in Sacramento. He eventually became Tower's national adult frontlist buyer, before serving as adult frontlist buyer for six Copperfields Books Bay Area locations. This business is still very much a personal business, dependent on positive relationships and good word-of-mouth, Wilson told PW. One of the things he loves most about his work is that chain from editor to rep, from rep to bookseller, from bookseller out into the public. Two years ago, Wilson said, he had an especially fortuitous exchange with Katie Raissian, whos now an executive editor at Scribner but was then a senior editor at Grove Atlantic. Raissian knew that Wilson was a fan of author Colin Barrett, so she sent him an early copy of Barretts slow-burn thriller, Wild Houses. I knew it would fit into Bookshop West Portals Irish book subscription program, Wilson said, so he shared the heads-up with West Portal owner-buyer Anna Bullard, and it all came together: they ordered up big, they sold it big, and then it got longlisted for the Booker. Wilson is delighted to have helped build the buzz. Lately, Wilson said, hes trying to focus on a handful of titles that I feel strongly about. His picks for this year include John Kenneys novel about an obituary writer, I See Youve Called in Dead (Zibby, out now); French author Thomas Schlessers American debut, Monas Eyes, translated by Hildegarde Serle (Europa Editions, Aug.); and Indian author Vivek Shanbhags Sakinas Kiss, translated by Srinath Perur, a June paperback original from PGWs new distribution partner, McNally Editions. Green Apple Books co-owners Pete Mulvihill and Kevin Ryan, who nominated Wilson, speak highly of him as a trusted rep for their Bay Area trio of stores. Wilson is an experienced, knowledgeable sales rep, Mulvihill wrote in his nomination, and Ryan agrees. He has a knack for not just selling me the titles I need, but digging out gems, Ryan said in nominating Wilson. Hes long overdue for recognition. Michael Barnard, president and general manager of Rakestraw Books in Danville, Calif., has been buying from Wilson for years, too. Working with Ty is a total pleasure, Barnard wrote when nominating Wilson. Hes knowledgeable, diligent, and passionate about books. He works hard in support of his many, many publishers, but he also truly cares about the stores in his charge. I cannot think of anyone who deserves this honor more. Wilson is recovering from hip replacement surgery this spring, but by fall he expects to be slinging ARCs at sales conferences and trade shows again. Ill be the rep wearing the laurel, he joked about the Rep of the Year award. Still, he affirms that the honor is heartening news to mark his four decades in books. It makes me feel so good, he said, and it makes me think of all the colleagues, all the reps, all the buyers, current and past, who saw me in the windowless office at Tower Broadway and taught me how to be a better buyer and a better bookseller. Were attempting to unravel the tangled web of literary influence by talking with the great writers of today about the writers of yesterday who influenced them. This month brings the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, so weve spoken with two acclaimed authors who wrote about the conflict and its consequences. Nguyen Phan Que Mai (Dust Child, The Mountains Sing) was born in the final years of the war and experienced Vietnams difficult post-war reconstruction. Karl Marlantes (Cold Victory, Matterhorn) served as a Marine at the wars peak and was awarded the Navy Cross. Que Mai discussed the simple yet stunning works of the Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh, and Marlantes spoke on the spiritual impact of Leo Tolstoy. Nguyen Phan Que Mai on Thich Nhat Hanh Why did you choose to discuss Thich Nhat Hanh? My life was changed and continues to be inspired by the writing and teaching of the Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. A known spiritual leader and peace activist, he was nominated by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1967. But I got to know Master Thich Nhat Hanh first and foremost as a poet. I think that up to now, 34 songs have been written from his poetry, with the most well-known song being Bong hong cai ao (A Rose for your Pocket). This poem celebrates mothers love and calls on all of us to be more present when we spend time with our mothers. It celebrates the luck of those who still have their mothers and shares the sorrow of those whose mothers are no longer on this earth. I have listened to the song countless times and everytime I do, tears still come to my eyes and I want to immediately pick up the phone, call my mother or plan a trip to visit her. Which of his works most stand out to you? Master Thich Nhat Hanh has published over 100 titles, all of which help readers build inner peace and positive thinking. These books address topics such as meditation, mindfulness, engaged Buddhism, and vary widely in genres: non-fiction, commentaries on Buddhist texts, poetry, and childrens stories. He wrote in both Vietnamese and English and I enjoy reading his work in both languages. Each book is there to be re-read, and each time I do, I discover new knowledge, new wisdom, and new plans for action. For example, I often re-read the book The Miracle of Mindfulness as it reminds me to treasure each moment of life more, from a golden sunset to a blooming flower. I learned by heart these words from the book: People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don't even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a childour own two eyes. All is a miracle. Master Thich Nhat Hanhs books remind us to breathe, to be present, to be alive in every moment. Yesterday I had a walk with a friend in the park. She just spent one week at Master Thich Nhat Hanhs Plum Village retreat in France. She had been there seven years before and her life was transformed, and recently, when she got depressed from her demanding job and the current situation with global politics, she returned for her second retreat. She was smiling when she came home. As we spoke, she quoted a verse from Master Thich Nhat Hanhs book Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life: I have lost my smile, but don't worry. The dandelion has it. I feel that one of the great strengths of his writing was in his ability to explain complicated ideas simply. Definitely. Master Thich Nhat Hanh is one of the most powerful and inspiring communicators. His way of speaking and writing is very gentle, never loud, never showy. He invites us to meditate with him as we read or listen to him. He opens the pathway to everyone, regardless of their race, nationality, education level, or skin color. I think that one of the greatest arts of writing is to convey complicated messages simply, and Master Thich Nhat Hanh did that stunningly in many of his books. Master Thich Nhat Hanhs poetry shines in every page of his work. For example, consider these lines from No Mud, No Lotus: Most people are afraid of suffering. But suffering is a kind of mud to help the lotus flower of happiness grow. There can be no lotus flower without the mud. In the same book, he addresses the important issue of dealing with suffering by saying, The main affliction of our modern civilization is that we dont know how to handle the suffering inside us and we try to cover it up with all kinds of consumption. What do you think writers can learn from him? To be present, to be humble, to be grateful, and to be useful for humanity. Karl Marlantes on Leo Tolstoy When did you first read Tolstoy? I tried reading War and Peace in high school, and I gave up. It might have been the translation, but it also might have been because I was just too young. Then when I came back from the warfrom VietnamI picked him up again and it was so fascinating to me because he seemed to understand the utter chaos of war. Im not sure I completely buy his thing that Napoleon was just a surfboard riding on a giant wave of the collection unconscious, but I do think he was right that these individuals are hemmed in by whats happening. At that time I was so angry at the government for basically lying to us, and then when we got home you know how we were treated, so it helped me: here was Russiaa completely autocratic systemand things were unfair then too. And then I moved into Anna Kareninado you remember that horse race? The horse stumbled and fell. In about two sentences, he described the character of the horse, and I understood who that horse was. And I thought, Jesus, no wonder they call him a master. Cormac McCarthy wrote that War and Peace is the greatest novel ever written. What do you think? I havent read all the novels, but its the greatest novel Ive ever read. People ask whos your favorite author, and I instantly say Tolstoy. At first it was kind of trod and plod, ugh, its a big book. But then when I was in my mid-20s with some experience, I couldnt put it down. I actually ruined one of my girlfriends vacations. She came with me to Slovenia and I just sat inside and read War and Peace and that was the end of that relationship. Why do you think its had such a lasting impact? What do you mean by impact? If youre thinking about impacting politics or culture in general, I dont think that it has. Somebody could argue with me about that, but I would be very surprised if anybody at the cabinet level in our government has ever read it. I think that its impact is in spirit. People who are seriously trying to seek meaning. When Andrei was looking at the empty sky if youre a person who is tuned the right way, that influences you: the sky is empty, but the emptiness is something. I read that scene and wowit impacted me. We could get into a discussion of whether literature in general has done anything for the human race. I think its done an enormous amount of good for what I might call spiritual or psychological growth. I identified with Andrei, so I saw early 19th-century Russia through his eyes and was able to see the sky the way he saw it. I think literature is the only art where you can get out of your own skin. If you look at something on the wall at the Metropolitan, youre still there and its over there. But if youre reading a book and youre into it, you are those characters, and whatever happens to them is happening to you. If its a good novel, usually really profound things happen and there are major character arcswell, that changes you. And I experienced that with Tolstoy. These days theres an aversion to publishing large books. Why do you think people should write or read big books? Well, should is something I would pull back from, but I think people who do read them get way more. An editor of mine says, Dont interrupt the dream. If you write a big book, you create a whole new world for somebody. Theres something about being in a completely different world, and a big book can actually get you there. Publishers are very afraidand theyre rightthat attention spans are getting smaller and smaller, so in terms of publishing a big book, I would guess that theyre probably on to something. Not enough mind space out there. Tolstoy had the benefit of living in a time before TV. Right. And the other thing I think about when people say people dont read the way they used toin Tolstoys time most populations were illiterate, so the reading public was tiny. We probably have more readers today than we did back then. Art has always been something that only a few people get into. If youre serious about it, it takes time. And big books take time. What should writers learn from Tolstoy? Dont worry about taking your time. He wasnt in a rush, and you can feel that. When the White House invoked the Immortal Chaplains to illustrate the history between the United States and Greenland, it touched on a theme emerging in the second Trump administration: the importance of courage. On February 3, 1943, the American steamship SS Dorchester embarked with 902 souls soldiers, merchant seamen, and civilians bound for a U.S. Army base in southern Greenland to support the buildup of military personnel during World War II. The ships captain ordered those on board to sleep in their uniforms and life jackets in case of an attack by German submarines, but many disregarded the order because of heat from the ships engine. Just after midnight, a U-boats torpedo slammed into the Dorchesters starboard side below the water line. Four chaplains a rabbi, a Methodist minister, a Catholic priest, and a Protestant reverend gave up their own life vests and guided panicked crewmembers to the lifeboats. The Dorchester sank in 20 minutes. One of the 230 survivors later recalled what he saw as he swam away from the ship: The bow came up high and she slid under. The last thing I saw, the Four Chaplains were up there praying for the safety of the men. They had done everything they could. Courage means feeling fear but behaving in a way that is noble and good, as the chaplains did when they acted on their deepest convictions aboard the Dorchester. Donald Trump once wrote that courage is not the absence of fear but the ability to act effectively, in spite of fear. In 2016, Trump showed moral courage when he spoke the truth to American voters: a parasitic establishment of political and corporate interests had been exploiting our workers, farmers, and soldiers. When Trump challenged 16 opponents in the Republican primary, he exposed untruths in a conservative orthodoxy passed down from Ronald Reagan through George W. Bush. Establishment foes hounded him with investigations and impeachment proceedings throughout the four years of his presidency, but Trump refused to compromise his principles or check his ambition to make America great again. Emboldened by Joe Bidens inauguration in 2021, the establishment connived to use the Fourteenth Amendment to prevent Trump from running for president a third time. They leveled charges against him in two federal district courts, tried him in New York state court, and indicted him in Georgia for alleged RICO Act violations. Though Trump was unbowed, his campaign manager Susie Wiles was concerned: I just worry that if they cant get him this way, theyll try to kill him. And that almost happened on July 13 at the fairgrounds in Butler, Pennsylvania, when an assassins bullet grazed Trumps ear. Where Trump modeled courage, the establishment shows only cowardicetheir decade-long effort to destroy Trump has been prosecuted from the shadows, hiding behind the anonymity that bureaucratic power affords. They falsely claimed that Trump colluded with Vladimir Putin and Russia. They used a cloak and dagger plan to scuttle the Supreme Court nomination of Brett Kavanaugh in 2018. And, in 2022, someone leaked a copy of the Dobbs decision overruling Roe v. Wade; in spite of Chief Justice Roberts promise, the leaker remains unidentified and unaccountable. Some say that Trumps opponents exemplify courage in their bold attacks on his character and reputation. But talk doesnt make them courageous, least of all because it costs them nothing. Their admonitions are purely performative means to curry favor with the media and the establishment at large, which are viciously opposed to Trumps reforms. There is nothing courageous about yelling F-ck Trump into a microphone. Whatever force it has in the political sphere depends on showing that the saying is accompanied by a doing. Trumps been talking tough for years and backs it up by action of some kind. In the moment that he rose to his feet in Butler, with his face bloodied and yelling Fight! Fight! Fight!, he gave the final proof that hes more than a tough talker. Joe Bidens presidency is a rich example of cowardice: insiders worked for years to conceal that the sitting president was incapable of executing the duties of the office. In the book Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House, longtime political reporters Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes pull back the curtain on Bidens presidency, detailing how his staff stage-managed a declining president and hid his impairment from the American people. Biden lived in bubble wrap inside bunkers, the authors write. Though the signs of decline were clear to anyone who was willing to see them, Bidens inner circle believed that no one walks away from the house, the plane, the helicopter, so onward they went. When the scam was exposed at the presidential debate last June, the power players in Washington again retreated to the secrecy of the backroom and hatched a scheme to cede the delegates that Biden had secured to nominate a candidate of their choice rather than the peoples choice. For decades, presidents talked about moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, but no one did until Trump. For years, Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, and Bernie Sanders called for tariffs to restructure world trade. But when Donald Trump did what he said he would do and imposed tariffs? That was all it took for the same people to discover their opposition to tariffs. The cowardice of Biden and the leading lights in the Democrat party contrasts sharply with the new administration. Trump and many others have gambled their reputations, fortunes, and future interests on a bold-but-polarizing agenda. They face the American people, every day, openly and fearlessly. For Trump, the most important quality for aides and Cabinet members is not loyalty but courage and the willingness to pay a price for things that matter. John J. Waters is a lawyer. He served as a deputy assistant secretary of Homeland Security from 2020-21. Follow him at @JohnJWaters1 on X. Adam Ellwanger is a professor at University of Houston Downtown, where he teaches rhetoric and writing. Follow him at @1HereticalTruth on X. Last month, several news outlets and international organizations reported that Armenia and Azerbaijan had taken action to finally normalize their relationship. The two countries finalized the language outlined in the Agreement on Peace and Establishment of Interstate Relations, and many international observers welcomed this progress. In the document, the peace agreement vowed that Armenia and Azerbaijan would open diplomatic relations. In addition, the treaty stated that personnel from third [party] countries [would be prevented] from deploying along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. This implied that Russian peacekeeping forces would no longer be welcomed. Following these discussions, government officials from both countries stated that they were ready to sign the agreement. The only item that remains is that Azerbaijan has requested that Armenia rewrite its constitution by removing any references to the Nagorno-Karabakh region. But this is a significant demand. For nearly four decades, the two countries have fought over this historic territory. Thousands of Armenians and Azerbaijanis have died fighting for the territory, and many more have been injured. Most recently, following the Azerbaijani invasion in the autumn of 2023, over 100,000 Armenians were forced to flee the region. Since then, relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan have been tense. Azerbaijani authorities have been looking to fully incorporate Nagorno-Karabakh into the rest of the Azerbaijani state. Azerbaijani officials have also made demands for Armenia to give up recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh. Meanwhile, Armenian officials and members of the Armenian opposition have opposed Azerbaijans demands. Many Armenians believe that if Nagorno-Karabakh is ceded to Azerbaijan, this could lead to additional land grabs by their neighbor. Given these reservations, Armenia has opted not to rewrite its constitution. As a result, this has delayed the signing of the peace process agreement. But now, as Armenian and Azerbaijani officials look to settle their differences on this peace agreement, another development is afoot. According to Armenias Ministry of Defense, Azerbaijani forces conducted a military operation where soldiers fired upon an Armenian village. While no casualties were reported, the developments suggest that the two countries are far from reaching a permanent agreement. Furthermore, there were reports that there have been build-ups in the region. For example, Armenia and Iran recently held joint military exercises near the Armenia-Iran border. For two days, soldiers from the Armenian and Iranian militaries practiced accounts where groups attacked their border in a simulation. Meanwhile, Azerbaijani officials met with their Turkish counterparts to discuss various issues, including matters in the South Caucasus. (Iran has generally supported Armenia during these tensions, while Turkey has assisted Azerbaijan. Iran and Turkey have rivaled over developments in the region, as well as the Middle East.) Days after the Armenian-Iranian exercises and Azerbaijans meeting with Turkey, European authorities announced that there were new growing tensions on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. Should matters escalate, this could jeopardize the peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The European Unions Mission in Armenia (EUMA) has attempted to defuse the situation, but the problem remains tense. The EUMA remains steadfast in its commitment to monitoring the security situation between Armenia and Azerbaijan, a statement said on the EUMA website. The EUMA also reaffirmed that it would continue contributing to the safety and stability of communities residing along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. The group also said that it has increased its patrols on the border in an attempt to reduce tensions. It is critical that the EUMA succeed in its efforts. Should the group fail to deescalate the situation, this could lead to a renewed skirmish between Armenia and Azerbaijan. It could jeopardize numerous lives, and it could derail the entire peace process between these two countries, something that has taken years to reach this point. To ensure that renewed fighting does not occur, European officials should continue to mitigate discussions between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Their involvement through the EUMA, and their presence throughout the peace negotiation process, have resulted in productive and meaningful dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Failure to continue these forms of discussion would lead to greater hardships and difficulties in the region. Given what is at stake, it is time for the countries to come together to create a platform to settle their differences and find ways to resolve their tensions. It will not be easy, and it will take time and continued cooperation. But the process is crucial and necessary. Otherwise, failure to compromise may lead to additional devastating events in the region. Armenians and Azerbaijanis have suffered enough during this ongoing and tense process. Therefore, the Armenian and Azerbaijani governments should do everything to end this agony. Mark Temnycky is a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Councils Eurasia Center and an accredited freelance journalist covering Eurasian affairs. Actor Haley Joel Osment, of The Sixth Sense fame, has been arrested in California on drug- and alcohol-related charges. ADVERTISEMENT District Attorney David Anderson of Mono County, located in eastern California along the border with Nevada, announced that the 37-year-old was charged Thursday in a statement. Osment faces misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct while under the influence of alcohol in public and possession of cocaine. He is due to be arraigned in the Mono County Superior Court on July 7. Specifics about the allegations were not detailed. This is not Osment's only run-in with the law. In 2006, the then-18-year-old was charged with possession of marijuana and drunken driving after a vehicle accident in California. Osment is a former child actor who became a household name following his starring role as Cole Sear in 1999's The Sixth Sense. Two years later, he starred as David in director Steven Spielberg's A.I. Artificial Intelligence. 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! Though never regaining the fame he achieved early in his youth, Osment has spent the last two decades performing in movies and TV shows, with more than 127 credits to his name during his career, according to IMDb. CANCON Arizona 2025 is wrapped up! A weekend of fun, sun, and a whole lot of CANS! Here is just a small smattering of what was there this year. Missed it? Join us in South Carolina in November or back in Arizona in 2026! If you want to see all of CANCON in action, take a look at our RECAP video! We know what you're thinking; yes, these shirts are for sale, but we've sold out! More coming soon BELT-FED ALLEY Belt-fed alley was a huge success! Did you take a turn on the Minigun or M240? VIP BAG Arizona 2025 was our best VIP bag EVER! PROs Vs. JOES Pros Vs. Joes was back again with even more Joes going home with some awesome prizes! BASE CAMP Something totally new for CANCON Arizona 2025 was the OFFGRID BASECAMP! A unique hub for outdoor enthusiasts, survivalists, and adventure seekers alike. At OFFGRID Basecamp, you'll discover skill sessions taught by seasoned professionals. These quick, focused lessons cover essential topics like fire-starting, navigation, emergency first-aid, and more CONGRESS COMES TO CANCON We were honored to host Congressman Abe Hamadeh at CANCON Arizona last week. While at CANCON, Congressman Hamadeh, a former U.S. Army Reserve Intelligence Officer, learned firsthand about the health and safety value of suppressors and reiterated his pledge to support our Second Amendment rights. The muzzle may be quiet, but the message is loud: liberty belongs to the people, not the ATF, stated Congressman Hamadeh. For too long convoluted policies and misguided definitions have caused confusion and concern, putting targets on gun owners in attempts to weaken our Second Amendment rights. Enough is enough. I for one, know that we can never do enough to protect our coveted God-given rights, but we must try. RONIN WOMEN We were excited to welcome RONIN WOMEN to CANCON 2025! Partnering with Ronin Arms, a leader in integrally suppressed platforms, Ronin Women eliminates common barriers to learning. By reducing noise and recoil, we create a training environment where women can focus on fundamentals without unnecessary distractions. Without the overwhelming sensory overload, shooters arent flinching or hesitatingtheyre building precision, confidence, and control. LOTS OF SUPPRESSORS AND SMILES Thor Targets took one monster of a beating this weekend, but they didn't break! Thousands of people shooting tens of thousands of rounds is an impressive test. Six months after moving to the U.S. from Tanzania, Dainess Maganda experienced a life-changing accident. The aftermath left her temporarily paralyzed, unable to speak and ultimately led to a shift in her career path something she had planned to be her whole life. Trump's tariffs, falling shrimp prices, and fears of additional US levies, spark a crisis in Andhra Pradesh's politically vital aquaculture sector. Kindly note the images in this report have only been published for representational purposes. Photograph: Kind courtesy medoa7164/Pixabay Since US President Donald Trump's announcement of reciprocal tariffs on April 2, Duggineni Gopinath, a veteran shrimp farmer from Prakasam district in Andhra Pradesh, has been losing sleep. Shrimp prices across all categories have since dropped by 10 to 15 per cent, triggering widespread panic among farmers and exporters. Industry experts peg the potential annual loss to the Indian shrimp sector at nearly $1 billion. Even more unsettling is the prospect of additional levies in the US -- a countervailing duty (CVD) and anti-dumping duty that could raise the cost burden for Indian exporters by about 7 per cent, in addition to the new 26 per cent set by the US. While only shrimp under the 50 count threshold are typically exported to the US, prices for other varieties -- 100, 90, 80, 70, and 60 count -- primarily shipped to China, the European Union, Southeast Asia, Japan, and other Asian markets, have also seen a steep fall. Farmers and the state's Opposition parties are crying foul, alleging 'cartelisation'. All this comes at a time when the harvest season, which runs from April to July, is just beginning. Shrimp size is measured by count per kilogram -- fewer shrimp per kilo means larger individual size. A 20 count, for instance, represents 20 shrimp per kilogram. "Prices dipped by an average of 40 to 50 per kg across categories. Above-50 count shrimp aren't even exported to the US, yet prices have crashed across the board. That's illogical," said Gopinath, who is also president of the Prakasam Shrimp Farmers Association. "I'm facing one of the biggest crises since I began farming in the 1990s." Photograph: Kind courtesy Alex P/Pexels In Andhra Pradesh, the shrimp industry has political significance, too. The industry was championed by Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu in the late 1990s, who saw global potential in the state's long coastline and farming talent. Today, more than 140,000 farmers and nearly 2 million people in the state are directly or indirectly tied to the aquaculture sector, which spans 212,000 hectares and includes both fish and shrimp cultivation. The panic is understandable. Shrimps account for 41 per cent of the volume and 66 per cent of the value of India's total marine exports. According to the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), India exported 716,004 tonnes of frozen shrimp worth $4.88 billion in 2023-2024. Of this, 297,571 tonnes went to the US. One species dominates the Indian shrimp story: Vannamei, which accounts for 87 per cent -- or 625,475 tonnes -- of total shrimp exports, with a value of $4.25 billion. The US market alone absorbs 54 per cent of that, followed by China at 16 per cent and the European Union at 9 per cent, MPEDA data shows. "Even though Andhra Pradesh's share is only about 30 per cent of the Vannamei shrimp export value, exporters here are using the situation to slash prices across all markets," Gopinath said. "We are the sufferers." Between the 5.77 per cent countervailing duty and the 1.38 per cent anti-dumping duty, "we're becoming less competitive compared to countries like Ecuador," said Sridhar Lanka, former advisor to the Andhra Pradesh government. The effects are cascading. Hatcheries -- where shrimp are bred and raised through their early life stages -- are seeing demand fall sharply. "All exporters have stopped buying shrimp; prices have tanked by about 50 per kg across categories," said P Prasad of Ravi Hatcheries. "We're also seeing a slowdown at the hatchery level. The central government should take immediate steps for relief to the industry." The political tide is rising as well. The Opposition YSR Congress Party has latched onto the issue, seeing an opening in the geopolitical trade war. "Companies formed syndicates and began exploiting farmers, while the government stood by," said Mudunuri Prasada Raju, senior YSR Congress leader and former Narsapuram MLA. "If this continues, the aquaculture sector, which contributes over 9 per cent to allied agricultural income, could fall into a crisis.' The political significance of the shrimp industry earlier reflected in the stock markets, too. Shares of Andhra Pradesh-based firms -- such as Avanti Feeds and Apex Frozen -- surged after the assembly election results last June, reflecting investor confidence in Naidu's return. One share of Avanti Feeds, the sector's heavyweight, traded at 494.95 on June 4 last year; the stock had hit a 52-week high of 965 on March 24. Sources close to the industry say many shrimp farmers backed Naidu's Telugu Desam Party -- a National Democratic Alliance constituent -- in the polls, betting on a return of support for the sector. Gopinath echoed that hope: "We're counting on the Centre to step in and help us." POPULAR CRUSTACEAN 66%: Share of frozen shrimp in India's total marine export value 716,004 tonnes: Frozen shrimp exported in 2023-2024; total value was $4.88 billion 297,571 tonnes: US market exports 625,475 tonnes: Vannamei exports -- 87% of total shrimp exports Source: MPEDA Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff Given the possibilities that next year's assembly elections could throw up, Stalin told the state assembly that an interim report had to be submitted by January 2026. The outcomes may well find its way into the DMK's poll manifesto, thus seeking to keep the electoral focus still on the BJP-ruled Centre and Prime Minister Modi, observes N Sathiya Moorthy. IMAGE: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin pays floral tribute to Dr B R Ambedkar on his birth anniversary. All photographs: ANI Photo One point on which the Tamil Nadu government's new committee to study state autonomy and relations with the Centre, or federalism, suffers from compared to an earlier effort pertains to the membership. Yes, both have three members, but the members of the present one are not as apolitical as those of the previous one. Hence, going beyond the political ideology of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government of Chief Minister M K Stalin, the personal motives and philosophy of the panel members too will be questioned as and when the panel submits its report. Comparisons between the two commissions are inevitable especially when the broad issues are one and the same -- implying that many, if not all the problems flagged by the previous one remain. Both are products of the 'Dravidian model' governments. More to it, they are also the initiatives of a father-son duo chief ministers, the late M Karunanidhi and incumbent Stalin. There is no denying the way political and ideological barbs that were thrown at the DMK government of the time, hence the commission and later, its report. That included the present one that it's a 'diversionary tactic' for the DMK state government to fend off governance issues that is said to have overwhelmed Stalin the chief minister and political master. Interestingly, both panels had a non-Tamil as their chairperson, as if the political leadership wanted it to look less biased, for a universal appeal beyond the state and their times. Yet, there is no denying that the chairman of the Karunanidhi-appointed commission, Justice Dr P V Rajamannar, a Telugu, was a 'domiciled Tamil'. Before becoming possibly the longest-serving chief justice of any high court in the country, for 13 long years, from 1948 to 1961, Rajamannar was also the advocate general under the British era Madras Presidency, 1944-1945. Rajamannar's father had served as a judge of the Madras high court before moving on to the Mysore high court as chief justice. Young Rajamannar grew up and studied and practised law in Chennai, then Madras. Interestingly, he was also a Telugu litterateur and his story Nida Leni Aadathi was made into a full-length film in Telugu (1974). What made Rajamannar better qualified for the job in the state autonomy commission was not only his knowledge of law, including constitutional law. Among other honours, he was also a member of the Fourth Finance Commission appointed by the Centre -- and had some insight into how the finances of the Union and the states worked. Like Rajamannar, a second member of the committee, Justice P Chandra Reddy also had a judicial background, more than administrative or economic, administrative or political background. He too was a Telugu, who did his college studies in Chennai and practised law in the city before moving over to the linguistically created (unified) Andhra Pradesh high court, first as a justice and then as a CJ, before moving back to Madras as CJ -- and acting governor in the mid-1960s. Of course, the third member was a Tamil, Dr A Lakshmanaswami Mudaliar of the famed 'Arcot brothers' twins. He was an acclaimed medical doctor by profession and to date is the longest-serving vice-chancellor of the reputed Madras University, for 27 years. Admirers from the political class of the time saw in him a streak of the Justice Party, the ideological forebear of the DMK -- but there was no evidence to the same. IMAGE: Stalin and Deputy Chief Minister Udayanidhi Stalin interact with a student during their visit to the Lady Willingdon High School in Chennai on the CM's 72nd birthday. In comparison, members of the present panel, starting with the chairperson come with some kind of political/ideological baggage that may be attributed to their collective findings, however unbiased and balanced they be. At a time when the national discourse on the 'three-language formula', funds-sharing among states, NEET, NEP and delimitation, Chairman, Justice Kurian Joseph is a native of Kerala, and was a Supreme Court judge for five years from 2013. His verdict in multiple cases of import was independent of one another, and did not reflect any ideological mooring, of the all-American kind, for instance. It was thus that he was on the Bench that ruled that all 'coal block allocations' since 1993 were illegal. In the triple talaq case, he was among the judges who ruled the Indian Islamic practice of matrimonial divorce by men, unconstitutional. In the same vein, he also advocated reforms in the collegium system of appointments to the higher judiciary, and in another case, questioned the efficacy of capital punishment. Post-retirement, Justice Joseph defended the judges' actions post-retirement, stating it was necessary to preserve the judiciary's independence. All this apart, there is nothing to show that as chair of an important committee, though constituted by a state government, Justice Kurian Joseph has had judicial expertise on state autonomy and Centre-state relations that is consummate with the demands of a 'globalising India', where 'identity politics', whether based on religion, region, language or caste, has greater relevance and purpose than in the times of the Rajamannar committee (1969-1971). The same applies to the other two members of the committee, namely, veteran bureaucrat Ashok Vardhan Shetty and Dr M Naganathan. Post-retirement, the former is known for his strong public positions on 'identity politics', especially centred on castes and 'social justice', independent of the Dravidian ideological plank. The third member, Dr Naganathan, yes, is an economist by training and profession, more as a university teacher, and then as the chairman of the state planning commission during Karunanidhi's final stint as chief minister, 2006-2011. In the fitness of things, his pro-Dravidian ideological orientation may not be what is required to address issues that need to be tackled by the Kurian Committee, in terms of conceptualisation, Constitution and the economy. Purely as an aside, Naganathan's son, a medical doctor, Ezhilan Naganathan, is incidentally a DMK legislator from the Thousands Lights constituency in Chennai, having defeated popular actor Kushboo Sundar. When Stalin took over as chief minister some social media posts campaigned for Ezhilan, a medical doctor, to be the next health minister. The position went to former Chennai Corporation mayor M Subramaniam, who it was said had the 'pulse of the people', owing to greater exposure at the grassroots-level. Given the possibilities that next year's assembly elections could throw up, Stalin told the state assembly that an interim report had to be submitted by January 2026. The outcomes may well find its way into the DMK's poll manifesto, thus seeking to keep the electoral focus still on the BJP-ruled Centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The committee has two years to come up with its final report, but the very life and longevity of the panel would depend entirely on the assembly election results. If the DMK alliance returns for a second consecutive term, the panel will continue its work. If not, there will be a review, where the AIADMK and BJP partners, along with other partners may discuss and debate the relevance of the committee and the interim report, before deciding on continuing with its work. Against this, the recently revived BJP-AIADMK alliance will try and fix it on Stalin and his governance, or lack of it, hoping to benefit hugely from anticipated anti-incumbency against the state administration. The BJP in particular is likely to try and embarrass the rival DMK-INDIA combine in the state by pointing out how the Emergency era 42nd Amendment of then prime minister Indira Gandhi had taken away 'Education', for instance, from the State List to the Concurrent List of the Constitution. IMAGE: Stalin distributes rice and sugarcane to the public ahead of the Pongal festival at Saidapet in Chennai. That's because the mandate of the new panel is to recommend ways to retrieve and restore lost powers of states as in education, finances, etc. Suffice to point out that as far back as 1971, the Rajamannar Committee had recommended the very abolition of the Concurrent List, shifting most powers to the State List. The panel further wanted the abolition of the Central Services like the IAS and IPS, and also Articles 356 and 365, respectively empowering the Centre to impose President's rule in states, and declare that a state 'cannot function according to the Constitution', leading up to Article 356. However, there is judicial protection against the misuse and abuse of Article 356, after the S R Bommai verdict, 1994. The judgment laid down that the majority of a state government cannot be proved on the lawns of Raj Bhavan but only in the assembly concerned. Yet, new issues pertaining to the 'federal principles' have cropped up since, especially under the 11-year-old government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Rather, this is the perception behind the Stalin government's decision to appoint a new committee to study the existing models and issues and come up with recommendations. Yet, there is no knowing if the CM had consulted his counterparts in non-BJP ruled states and invitees like Odisha's five-term BJP chief minister Naveen Patnaik, who all attended the Stalin-initiated Joint Action Committee on delimitation. Before the Rajamannar Commission, there was the Administrative Reforms Commission, or Santhanam Commission, appointed by the Centre in 1966. Another central panel, the Justice Sarkaria Commission was appointed a decade-and-a-half after Rajamannar, followed by another under former Chief Justice M M Punchhi, in 2007, both set up by the Congress governments of the day. In between, the BJP-NDA government of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee appointed the Justice M N Venkatachalaiah-led National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution in 2000. The committee submitted its report two years later, and was widely debated, but with no real follow-up action forthcoming, then or since. Ahead of the finalisation of the terms of reference of the Venkatachalaiah Commission, the ruling BJP leadership at the Centre was believed to be discussing the wisdom of changing from the prevailing parliamentary scheme to a presidential form of government, elected directly by voters across the country. Such a thinking was shaped by the anti-Indira 'Janata Party sweep' of 1977, when the ruling Congress at the Centre lost power despite recording a massive win in the southern districts but was a wash-out across the north with massive representation in the Lok Sabha. However the concept was reworked to arrive at a new Terms of Reference and title for the Commission after the BJP suffered a few electoral reverses in the 'Hindi belt'. With the result, the Venkatachalaiah report was discussed even less than the Sarkaria recommendations, whose spirit at least found expression in the Bommai verdict. The worse in terms of exposure was reserved for the Punchchi Committee Report. Right now, Tamil Nadu reactions to Stalin's initiative are on expected lines, with allies welcoming it as a timely intervention and the Opposition dubbing it as politico-electoral ploy. The BJP's new state president Nainar Nagendran was quick said that the 'DMK's separatist tentacles are out in the garb of autonomy'. Strong words from a former 'Dravidian' political leader from the breakaway rival AIADMK staple. There is no denying the general perception that AIADMK founder MGR, if not his self-styled political heir, Jayalalithaa, was more 'national' and 'nationalist' than the DMK's Karunanidhi. This was more so after MGR had added the prefix 'all-India' to the original name of the party, ADMK, when the owner-less draft 42nd Amendment threatened the deregistration of 'anti-national' political parties. Incidentally, or otherwise ironically, the DMK parent that had professed a 'separate state' demand since inception in 1949 and gave it up in 1960, did not try to make changes of the MGR kind despite the Centre targeting the party and its leaders in multiple ways during the Emergency. The critics' claim that the DMK gave up the 'separatist call' only fearing the Defence of India Rules, in the face of the Indian Communists' perceived support for China in the 1962 War, is patently misleading. If anything, with a small victory in elections 1957, the first poll outing of the DMK, the party felt the positive nature of mainstreaming and also the space that Indian democracy provided. This meant that the DMK increased the assembly numbers from 15 to 50 between 1957 and 1962 -- to sweep to power five years later in 1967. That was the beginning of the alternating of the two Dravidian majors in state politics and elections that has lasted till today. N Sathiya Moorthy, veteran journalist and author of the book, Justice Party to Jayalalithaa and After: The Success Story of Dravidian Polity, is a Chennai-based policy analyst and political commentator. Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff The prolonged delay over electing J P Nadda's successor possibly stems from the RSS leadership wanting a person who is at least equidistant from the Sangh as well as the Modi/BJP edifice, observes BJP-RSS watcher Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay. IMAGE: Bharatiya Janata Party national President and Union Health Minister J P Nadda addresses the convocation ceremony at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Rishikesh, April 15, 2025. All photographs: ANI Photo Although Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda is not the most powerful leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party, he has quietly held the post of party president for the longest period -- although over a single term, courtesy extension of his first inning, which started 63 months ago in January 2020. Ever since June 30 2024, when his extended term ended (in January 2023 he was granted an extension till June 2024 due to the Lok Sabha polls), finding and electing a substitute for Nadda should have been the uppermost item on the party's agenda. However, this was not given priority as a result of which the suspense over Nadda's successor continues unabated. Since January, the deadline for the 'election' of a new president has been repeatedly 'postponed' by media hands in the absence of formal announcement by the party. I would not blame fellow journalists because surviving on the BJP beat is extremely onerous because 'access' to information is only for the 'loyal' and even if any of this is shared with a scribe, the golden rule often is that this is solely for personal consumption, not writing. Ever since Nadda was inducted into the council of ministers in June 2024, the principle of 'One-Man-One-Post', which the party has scrupulously adhered to, was also given the go by, and he continues to hold two offices without anyone displaying any urgency to end the violation of the principle on which the BJP paid great emphasis in the past. For instance, in 1991 when Lal Krishna Advani became Leader of the Opposition, he immediately relinquished the post of BJP president and Dr Murli Manohar Joshi was appointed president by the party's national executive even though the formal process was duly gone through later. Nadda's continuance as BJP president even after being inducted into the Union council of ministers was in contrast to the sequence of events in June 2019 when Amit Shah was inducted into the government by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Shah immediately relinquished the office of party chief and Nadda, who was not included in the ministry after serving between 2014 and 2019, was promptly made working president, the first time this ad hoc position was created by the party's national executive -- an evidence of rules and party statutes being at will post-2014. Nadda's formal term as BJP president began in January 2020 after the due electoral process was completed by the BJP. A similar appointment of another leader to replace Nadda was not made last June and this indicated towards an ongoing power struggle within the Sangh Parivar. IMAGE: J P Nadda pays tribute to Atal Bihari Vajpayee during his visit to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Bhubaneswar, April 12, 2025. Given the fact that even though he continues holding the two posts for the past ten months, there is as yet no clarity on who will be the next party chief, there is a significant possibility that the issues which surfaced within the saffron camp in the run up to the Lok Sabha polls last year, have not yet been resolved completely. Despite near-complete ideological unity on most political matters (not economic and diplomatic issues, it may be noted), it is not that the leaders of the Sangh Parivar do not have sharp disagreements. From its inception a hundred year ago in September 1925, there were innumerable disagreements -- at times sharp and other occasions, mild -- within the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, and between leaders of the ideological fountainhead and its affiliated organisations, including the political wing -- the BJP and its previous avatar, the Bharatiya Jana Sangh prior to 1980. Atal Bihari Vajpayee's tenure as prime minister had begun with a dramatic late night visit by an RSS apparatchik (K S Sudarshan who became Sarsanghchalak soon). He carried the diktat that Jaswant Singh and Pramod Mahajan were to be excluded from the government, being sworn in the next morning, because they failed to get elected from their Lok Sabha constituencies. The RSS and several affiliates, the Swadeshi Jagran Manch and Vishwa Hindu Parishad most notably, disagreed with the BJP and government often. These divergences widened and eventually even the RSS put its weight behind the affiliates and stayed aloof during campaigning for the 2004 Lok Sabha election, as a result of which the BJP won fewer seats than the Congress and the rest is history. On June 4, 2024, the results confirmed what was believed for long -- the RSS did not have its heart into campaigning for the BJP. Sequential barbs by Mohan Bhagwat that followed, in which he did not take any names, but his intent was universally known -- criticism of Modi for promoting his cult. The ups and downs of the Modi-RSS (Bhagwat) relationship requires separate treatment, but it needs to be reminded that the separation became inescapable after Nadda, certainly prompted by his boss, told the Indian Express newspaper that the 'BJP did not need the RSS anymore'. The 2024 results, in which the BJP lost its parliamentary majority, brought the party and Modi face-to-face with the electoral capacity of the RSS. As a placatory move, Nadda meekly attended the Samanvay Samiti (coordination committee) meeting of the Parivar in Palakkad last September and the first signs of truce were spotted. In the assembly election in Haryana, the RSS was back to the grind, but with a difference -- after telling the BJP to scale down Modi's campaigns and no personalisation of politics. The same was the case in Maharashtra and again in Delhi this February. The RSS had scaled down its disregard for Modi's BJP but not before endorsing the position of one of the PM's bete noire, Yogi Adityanath. RSS Sarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale declared after an executive meeting in October that Yogi's 'batenge to katenge' was correct in the context of Hindus in Bangladesh. It also sent signals that despite Modi and his group wanting to clip Yogi's wings, he wasn't going anywhere. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a conversation with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat during the foundation stone laying ceremony for the Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre in Nagpur, March 30, 2025. All was well it appeared and when a bird whispered in my ear in early March that Modi and Bhagwat would jointly address a public meeting in Nagpur on the occasion of Gudi Padwa and a foundation laying ceremony for a new wing of the RSS-connected Madhav Netralaya (named after the RSS' second Sarsanghchalak, Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar), it became clear that the two had decided to put the past behind them and agree that they were mutually dependent, that each needed the other, a quantum shift from Nadda's brash assertion. The Nagpur meet has not yet been followed by declaration of the one chosen to replace Nadda. The delay suggests that possibly there is still no consensus on the choice. This means that Nadda may continue for some more time -- the BJP constitution states a person can be president for two consecutive terms of three years each. Although not specified, Nadda can possibly remain in office and continue to hold the two offices (this is not part of the BJP constitution but merely a convention) at least till he completes six years in office -- January 2026 -- although by then he would have at the party's formal helm for six-and-a-half years, taking into account the period between June 2019 and January 2020 as working president. But then, as seen previously, the BJP constitution is not the Indian Constitution and its violations are not viewed so seriously by the people. From the time he became Gujarat chief minister, Modi insisted that the government must remain 'Sangh Mukt' (sans the RSS). He allowed no interference in government functioning and did not hold consultative meetings which the local RSS hoped for. In time, Modi also made the BJP in Gujarat devoid of any RSS voice. IMAGE: Modi with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Bhagwat, Swami Avdheshanand Giri Maharaj, Swami Govind Dev Giri Maharaj and others during the foundation stone laying ceremony for the Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre in Nagpur, March 30, 2025. After his shift to the Centre, this was one of the features of the 'Gujarat Model' that was continued with Shah and Nadda being presidents from 2014 onward; there was little doubt regarding who wielded the levers to power within the party and government. The delay in holding the charade of 'election' for the party presidentship possibly stems from the RSS leadership wanting a person who is at least equidistant from the Sangh as well as the Modi/BJP edifice, someone clearly more independent minded than what Shah and Nadda have been while in office. Modi has never yielded any such power and has never worked since 2001 with a party chief who is not a loyalist. Till any decision of the BJP president is not made public and the likely responses to it from the two quarters are not adequately assessed, it would be prudent to keep the chapter on the Modi/BJP-Bhagwat/RSS discord open. Clearly the last word will only be written only after that. It is highly unlikely that after each have made moves to reach an understanding and publicly declaring 'dependence' on the other; Modi at the Nagpur public meeting spoke how the RSS shaped his political career, while Bhagwat emphasised that he was eager to listen to Modi's speech that followed his, the bitterness will return to levels witnessed in Bhagwat's public utterances between June-August last year. But it would be early for commentators and the audience to lose interest and move elsewhere. Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay is an author and journalist based in Delhi-NCR. His latest book is The Demolition, The Verdict and The Temple: The Definitive Book on the Ram Mandir Project. He is also the author of Narendra Modi: The Man, The Times. Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff Eight cheetahs will be brought to India from Botswana in southern Africa in two phases, including four by May, officials said in Bhopal on Friday. IMAGE: A male cheetah named Pawan, brought from Namibia last year, was released in the open forest, in Sheopur, Madhya Pradesh, July 3, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo A release from the Madhya Pradesh government said this information was given by National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) officials who took part in a review meeting of the cheetah project here during the day in the presence of Union Minister for Environment, Forests & Climate Change Bhupender Yadav and MP Chief Minister Mohan Yadav. "Efforts are on to bring more cheetahs to India from South Africa, Botswana and Kenya. Eight cheetahs will be brought to India in two phases. There is a plan to bring four cheetahs from Botswana to India by May 2025. After this, four more cheetahs will be brought. At present, a consent is being developed on an agreement between India and Kenya," the release quoted NTCA officials as saying. In the meeting, NTCA officials informed that more than Rs 112 crore has been spent on the cheetah project in the country so far, of which 67 per cent has gone into cheetah rehabilitation in Madhya Pradesh, the release stated. "Under Project Cheetah, cheetahs will now be relocated in a phased manner in Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary as well. Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary is adjacent to the border of Rajasthan, so an in-principle agreement has been reached between Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan to establish inter-state cheetah conservation area," the release said. Currently, special training is being given to "cheetah mitras" in Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary to enhance their capacity, it added. In the meeting, forest officials informed that currently there are 26 cheetahs in Kuno National Park, comprising 16 in the open forest and 10 in the rehabilitation centre (enclosures). Officials said 24-hour tracking is in place using satellite collar IDs to monitor the cheetahs. Female cheetahs Jwala, Asha, Gamini and Veera have given birth to cubs, they said, adding that the number of tourists in KNP has doubled in two years. "The state government has filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking permission to start cheetah safari in Kuno. This permission is necessary to start safari in forest areas or eco-sensitive zone. The decision on this petition is yet to be taken," the release said. Eight Namibian cheetahs, comprising five females and three males, were released in KNP on September 17, 2022, marking the first-ever intercontinental translocation of the big cats. Two cheetahs to be shifted from Kuno to Gandhi Sagar sanctuary Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Friday said two cheetahs will be shifted from Kuno National Park in the state's Sheopur district to Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary in Mandsaur on April 20. At present, 16 rpt 16 cheetahs are roaming in the wild at KNP, while 10 rpt 10 are in enclosures. In a statement on X, Yadav said the cheetah project will be expanded to Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary on April 20, adding that it will prove to be an important step towards wildlife conservation. Earlier in the day, Union Minister for Environment, Forests & Climate Change Bhupender Yadav reviewed the cheetah project with Yadav and state government officials. Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said large-scale work is being done in Madhya Pradesh for the proper development of the ecosystem. "Our government will develop Kuno National Park as an ideal wildlife tourist destination. Not only Kuno, even Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary in Mandsaur district will be full of cheetahs now," an official release quoted him as saying. "With the cooperation of the Union government, cheetahs will be released in Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary on April 20. Two cheetahs will be shifted from Kuno National Park to Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary under tight security," the CM said. To increase tourism in KNP rapidly, the state government is also seriously considering developing direct road and air connectivity from Gwalior to Kuno, he added. Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav said a task force of senior officials from the Forest, Tourism, Veterinary, Panchayat and Rural Development, Tribal Affairs and Transport departments must be formed to oversee the ongoing wildlife rehabilitation projects in the state. A contract can be signed with Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Bhopal to train 400 'cheetah mitras' from 80 villages of Sheopur district, the Union minister added. "Work should also be done to prepare cheetah friends for nature tourism by training them for home stay," he said. Meanwhile, officials informed that the survival rate of cheetah cubs born in India (currently only in Madhya Pradesh) is the highest in the world. In other countries, cheetah cubs are unable to survive due to lack of adaptation to the climate, they said, adding that Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary is very suitable in terms of climate and environment for the big cats. Eight Namibian cheetahs, comprising five females and three males, were released in KNP on September 17, 2022, marking the first-ever intercontinental translocation of the big cats. In February 2023, 12 more cheetahs were translocated from South Africa to KNP. At present, Kuno National Park has 26 cheetahs, including 14 India-born cubs. Bangladesh on Thursday raised "historically unresolved issues" and demanded a public apology from Pakistan over the 1971 atrocities as the two countries held their first foreign secretary-level talks in 15 years Dhaka. IMAGE: Pakistani foreign secretary Amna Baloch meets Bangladesh's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus in Dhaka. Photograph: @ChiefAdviserGoB/X Dhaka also asked Islamabad to pay USD 4.3 billion as its share from the combined assets at the time when East Pakistan split from West Pakistan in 1971 to form an independent Bangladesh. "We have raised the historically unresolved issues with Pakistan," Bangladesh Foreign Secretary M Jashim Uddin told reporters after the Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) meeting with Pakistani counterpart Amna Baloch held at state guest house Padma. Their talks came days ahead of Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar's visit to Dhaka on April 27 and 28. Jashim Uddin said the issues included "the repatriation of stranded Pakistanis, equitable distribution of undivided assets, transfer of foreign aid funds sent for the victims of the 1970 cyclone, and a formal public apology for the genocide committed by the then Pakistani military in 1971. "We said this is the right time to settle the historical unsettled issues, he said, adding these issues needed to be resolved to have a solid foundation of our relations" for mutual benefits and interests. Asked about Pakistan's response to the call, Jashim Uddin said they would like to "remain engaged" with a positive outlook to discuss the unsettled issue in future. In a statement, Pakistan's Foreign Office said that both sides had a "constructive and forward-looking engagement in a cordial environment where the entire spectrum of Pakistan-Bangladesh bilateral relations came under discussion, including political, economic and trade relations". It added that cooperation in agriculture, environment and education, cultural exchanges and defence relations were also discussed and new avenues of cooperation were explored by the two sides. Later, Baloch called on Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain separately. Yunus emphasised strengthening relations with Pakistan to boost mutual cooperation and explore trade and business potentials. "There are certain hurdles. We have to find ways to overcome those and move forward," he told Baloch. Acknowledging past issues, Baloch said Bangladesh and Pakistan must find ways to harness the potentials between the two countries." "We kept missing each other for a long time as our relationship was frozen. We have to overcome the barriers, Yunus said as he recalled his meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in New York on the sidelines of the UNGA in September last year and in Cairo on the sidelines of the D-8 Summit in December. Baloch later called on Advisor on Foreign Affairs MD. Touhid Hossain and discussed regional issues, including revival of SAARC and trade and economic relations between the two countries, the Pakistani Foreign office said. The foreign secretary-level talks come amid a thaw between the two countries after the ouster of prime minister Sheikh Hasina in August last year. The Yunus-led interim government appears to be playing down the role of Hasina's father Mujibur Rehman in the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971. The Indian Army took over 90,000 Pakistani soldiers as prisoners in that war. According to the foreign secretary, Dhaka also asked Pakistan to pay the unpaid USD 200 million foreign donations for victims of the then East Pakistan after the 1970s cyclone. Asked if the money devaluation over the decades was taken into consideration, he said the issue was just tabled during the FOC and the details are expected to come up during the subsequent talks. Jashim Uddin said Dhaka also underscored the importance of strengthening economic and trade relations with Islamabad. We stressed the need for enhanced market access for Bangladeshi products in Pakistan, simplifying trade procedures, removing tariff barriers, and boosting Pakistani investment in Bangladesh, he said. The two sides also discussed enhancing cooperation in agriculture, fisheries, and livestock through the transfer of technology, improved breeds, and experience-sharing to boost productivity. The two sides hoped that direct flights between Bangladesh and Pakistan would be launched soon. Jasim Uddin said Dhaka reiterated the importance of regional cooperation under the SAARC framework and called for its revitalization to ensure stability, connectivity, and development in South Asia. When asked if Dhaka was leaning towards Pakistan as it was being said Bangladesh was tilted towards New Delhi in the past, Jashim Uddin said Bangladesh intended to build relations with Pakistan based on mutual respect and mutual benefit and not an issue of tilting towards a particular country. "We believe comprehensive discussions held today on bilateral, regional, and global issues will help move our cooperation forward and contribute to resolving priority concerns through mutual goodwill and consensus, he said. Karnataka public works department minister Satish Jarkiholi on Friday said a decision on the Social and Educational Survey report, popularly referred to as caste census, is unlikely in the near future and may take upto a year due to the complexities involved. IMAGE: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah addresses the gathering during a protest rally against the price hike on cooking gas, in Bengaluru, April 17, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo He also cautioned that any misstep in addressing the concerns raised by various castes over the report may cause problems for the ruling Congress party in the future. His remarks came a day after a special cabinet meeting convened to deliberate on the caste census report ended without any concrete decision amid internal differences within the government. The cabinet is scheduled to take up the matter again on May 2. "It is not something that will happen tomorrow, it may take one year. Don't expect it tomorrow, it may take a year, because there are issues, and they are complicated. If everyone has to be pacified and taken into confidence, many meetings have to be held, the government has to be in a compromise mode, because this cannot be done all of a sudden," Jarkiholi said in response to a question. Addressing reporters in Bengaluru, he said the report was almost 10 years old and the cabinet had taken it for consideration more than a year after its submission in February 2024. "Nothing to worry, if discussions go on for a year. There is no urgency... Taking everyone into confidence, with unanimity and with cooperation of everyone, we will try to implement it," he added. According to sources, some ministers expressed reservations about the survey report in the cabinet, citing concerns raised by several quarters calling it "unscientific and outdated", and about undercounting. Following this Chief Minister Siddaramaiah asked all Ministers to offer their views in writing or verbally. Various communities, especially Karnataka's two dominant ones -- Vokkaligas and Veershaiva-Lingayats -- have expressed strong reservations about the survey that has been done, calling it "unscientific", and have demanded that it be rejected, and a fresh survey be conducted. Objections have also been raised by various sections of society, and there are also strong voices against it from within the ruling Congress. Asked about differences among Ministers in cabinet, Jarkiholi cited an example of discussion on the population of Sadara community, which is shown at 65,000 and said some Minister pointing at the community's presence in districts of Haveri, Davangere, Chitradurga, also partly in Shivamogga, objected to the numbers; while some Ministers trying to clarify said many from the community have registered as Hindu-Sadara during the survey, and they have been considered under different category, which my has resulted in fall of the population number. Such things are there and time is needed to match and discuss all this, also experts and the community's opinion needs to be obtained, he said. Noting that the survey has recommended increasing reservation, Jarkiholi said to implement it there is already a stay from the Supreme Court in connection with Tamil Nadu's case. "So enhancing reservation may not be possible as of now. For now the challenge before us is rectifying the data... opportunity should be given to rectify, if people want to opt for being considered under a different category or with their original major community, it should be allowed," he said. The survey has recommended hiking the OBC quota from the current 32 percent to 51 percent. By giving OBCs a 51 percent reservation, along with the existing 17 percent for SCs and 7 percent for STs, it will take the state's total reservation to 75 percent. Pointing out that a number of castes have expressed reservation about the population data in the survey report, Jarkiholi said these concerns must be addressed to avoid any political repurcussions. Food and civil supplies minister KH Muniyappa said the cabinet will continue the discussions on the caste census and will take a decision to ensures that no community is affected. "There would be no problem for oppressed communities or Vokkaligas and Veershaiva-Lingayats. The government is being run by all communities, and a decision will be done based on consensus," he added. Tensions flared in north-east Delhi's Seelampur on Friday evening after residents formed a human chain and blocked roads to protest the alleged murder of a 17-year-old boy in the area. IMAGE: Protesters block a road during a protest against the murder of a 17-year-old boy in Seelampur, Delhi, April 18, 2025. Photograph: ANI on X The minor boy, identified as Kunal, was allegedly stabbed on Thursday evening, according to the police. He was rushed to JPC Hospital where the doctors declared him dead during treatment. Residents of Seelampur on Friday took to the streets, forming a human chain and bringing traffic to a halt in the area. Vehicular movement was severely affected on several routes, including the stretch from Seelampur to Kashmere Gate and parts of Shahdara and Welcome. Protesters carried placards with slogans like Ye makan bikau hai Yogi ji (This house is up for sale Yogi ji) and Hindu palayan kar raha hai, Yogi ji madad karo (Hindus are migrating, help Yogi ji). They also demanded the death penalty for the accused, shouting slogans like Kunal ke hatiyaron ko faasi do (Hang Kunal's murderers). Members of Hindu organisations, including the Vishva Hindu Parishad, also gathered in the area. Some of the demonstrators were detained during the protest, a police officer confirmed. Later in the evening, the boy's body was cremated amid heavy security presence. The victim's family alleged that a local woman named Zikra, who is said to be known as 'lady don' in the area, was present when the stabbing incident occurred. The police said they are investigating her possible involvement. "We have identified the accused. They will be arrested soon. Ten teams have been deployed to probe the case from all angles. A few individuals have already been detained for questioning," said a senior police officer. In light of the protests, security has been heightened in Seelampur and surrounding areas. Local police, along with Rapid Action Force personnel, have been deployed to prevent any further escalation of tensions. Gangster-turned-terrorist Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passia, wanted in connection with multiple terror attacks across Punjab and who is alleged to have collaborated with Pakistan's ISI and Khalistani group BKI, has been arrested in the United States, officials said Friday. IMAGE: FBI arrests Khalistani terrorist Harpreet Singh. Photograph: @FBISacramento/X Passia alias Jora, who had illegally entered the US, was arrested by the FBI and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Enforcement and Removal Operations in Sacramento, the US federal law enforcement agency said. "Today, Harpreet Singh, an alleged terrorist responsible for terror attacks in Punjab, India, was arrested by the #FBI & #ERO in Sacramento. Linked to two international terrorist groups, he entered the US illegally and used burner phones to evade capture," FBI Sacramento said in a statement on X. Agents from the FBI's Legal Attache office in New Delhi informed Sacramento that Passi was wanted in connection with multiple terror attacks across Punjab, FBI Sacramento said. "He had been evading capture by using untraceable burner phones and encrypted applications. This case reinforces the importance of international cooperation in apprehending those who threaten global security," it said. Official sources in Punjab said Passia is wanted for orchestrating 16 terror attacks, including 14 grenade strikes in the state and is also suspected to have collaborated with Khalistani terrorist group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). In January, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had announced a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh on Passia in connection with a hand grenade attack on a house in Chandigarh in September last year. Passia and Pakistan-based designated BKI terrorist Harwinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda were among the four accused named in a charge sheet in the case by the NIA. Punjab Police investigation had found that Passia provided the accused with explosives, weapons and logistical support through his local associates. The September 2024 attack was intended to target a retired Punjab Police officer, who the assailants believed to be the occupant of the house in Sector 10, Chandigarh. A total of 33 FIRs have been registered at different police stations and 10 look out circulars have been issued against Passia, according to a dossier prepared by Punjab Police. Hailing from village Pashia in Amritsar district, Passia had left for Dubai in April 2018 and returned to India in February 2019. He went to London in October in 2020 and thereafter moved to the US. Passia was initially aligned with Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang members including the US- based associates Darmanjot Singh (Darman Kahlon) and Amritpal Singh (Amrit Bal). This affiliation with the Bhagwanpuria gang marks the inception of Passia's involvement in organized crime, laying the foundation for his subsequent collaboration with Rinda. Rinda, lately, roped in Passia for execution of terror attacks in the state. Between September and October 2023, Passia, in collusion with Rinda, orchestrated a series of extortion and terror activities in Punjab, India, according to the dossier. They targeted liquor contractors and businessmen by making extortion calls and executing arson and shooting incidents at liquor vends in Batala and Amritsar to instill fear and force compliance. Several terror and criminal modules backed by the Rinda-Passia network were busted by Punjab Police. The modules were raised to target leaders of Hindu groups, police establishments, serving and retired Punjab Police officers, processions carried out by Hindu groups, liquor contractors from Amritsar-Batala region for execution to raise funds for terrorism. The alliance between Passia and Rinda led to the formation of a nefarious network aimed at executing acts of terror across Punjab. Passia's collaboration with Rinda intensifies the gravity of his actions. His participation in planning and orchestrating terror modules aimed at targeting key figures in Punjab underscores a significant threat. Between late 2024 and early 2025, BKI orchestrated a series of 16 terror attacks across Punjab, including 14 hand grenade assaults, one improvised explosive device (IED) attack, and one rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) strikes targeting police establishment and officials' residences. A notable incident involved the planting of an IED near Ajnala Police Station on November 23, 2024 and a RPG (rocket propelled grenade) attack on police establishment Qila Lal Singh in Gurdaspur district on the intervening night of 6 and 7 April. These attacks were coordinated by Passia under the direction of Rinda, and in collaboration with his other US-based associates - ?Gurdev Singh Jaisal Pehalwan, Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi Nawanshehria and Germany-based Swaran Singh alias Jeevan Faujia, along with their local accomplices, the dossier said. The Rinda-?Passia network has been recruiting juveniles, often struggling with drug addiction, to carry out terrorist activities in exchange for money and narcotics. In December 2024, Punjab Police arrested a 17-year-old involved in planting an IED at Ajnala Police Station, who confessed to being lured into the operation with promises of drugs and cash. A plan to hold a military exercise between the navies of Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the strategic waters of Trincomalee was shelved weeks back after New Delhi conveyed its concerns to Colombo over the proposed drills, multiple sources have said. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inspects a guard of honour at Independence Square in Colombo. Photograph: Thilina Kaluthotage/Reuters Trincomalee is situated on Sri Lanka's northeastern coast and is considered a significant hub in the Indian Ocean region, especially for India's maritime security interests. The sources said the navies of the two countries planned to carry out the exercise off Trincomalee in line with their regular engagements. The plan did not go through after India apprised its apprehensions over the planned exercise to the Sri Lankan side, they told PTI. The navies of Pakistan and Sri Lanka are known to have cordial relations and warships from both countries visit each other's ports regularly, besides carrying out wargames. There was no official word on the plan either from Sri Lanka or from Pakistan. Military experts, explaining Trincomalee's strategic importance for India, said it has the potential to dominate the Bay of Bengal and much of the northeast Indian Ocean, and New Delhi was right in expressing concerns over the proposed exercise. The Pakistani Navy operates in close cooperation with China's PLA Navy and New Delhi has reasons to have concerns over any visit by Pakistani warships to Trincomalee, said one of the experts. The docking of Chinese missile and satellite tracking ship "Yuan Wang" at the Hambantota port in August 2022 had triggered a diplomatic row between India and Sri Lanka. Another Chinese warship docked at the Colombo port in August 2023 had also triggered some concerns in New Delhi. In the last few years, India has been focusing on extending assistance to Sri Lanka in developing Trincomalee's energy infrastructure. India is especially looking at revitalising oil tank farms in Trincomalee that has one of the finest natural harbours in the world. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Colombo this month, India, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) firmed up an ambitious agreement to develop Trincomalee as an "energy hub", with a broader aim to help the island nation achieve energy security and fuel its economic growth. Significantly, India and Sri Lanka also signed a defence pact to institutionalise military cooperation following talks between Modi and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The agreement on defence cooperation signals a major attempt to boost India-Sri Lanka defence ties, nearly four decades after the Indian Peace Keeping Force's intervention in the island nation strained the relations. India has been expanding its overall strategic ties with Sri Lanka amid concerns over China's attempts to increase influence over the island nation. Three years back, India handed over a Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft to Sri Lanka. The aircraft was given to Sri Lanka from the inventory of the Indian Navy to help the country meet its immediate security requirement. A delegation of the National Commission for Women, led by its chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar, visited a relief camp in West Bengal's Malda district and met those displaced by the Murshidabad riots. IMAGE: NCW chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar meets the families affected by the Murshidabad violence at a shelter home in Malda, West Bengal, April 18, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo The NCW team assessed the condition of women affected by the recent communal violence in parts of the state. Speaking to reporters after visiting the camp at Para Lalpur High School in the Baishnabnagar area of Malda, Rahatkar said she was shocked by the condition of women who had fled their homes, amid the violence that erupted during protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act earlier this month. "I have met and interacted with women and children here at the camp. They have shared the situations they faced. These women and children faced a lot of problems and they were forcibly evicted. What they had gone through is beyond imagination," the NCW chief said. Accompanying her was NCW member Archana Majumdar, who alleged that the women were molested and forcibly driven out of their homes. "It is the duty of the state government to protect them. What are they doing? Is the TMC government planning to turn West Bengal into a second Bangladesh?" Majumdar asked, strongly criticising the handling of the situation by the administration. According to sources, the NCW team began its three-day visit from Malda, where they would inspect relief camps and interact with violence-affected women. The team is scheduled to travel to Murshidabad on Saturday and meet senior officials, including the district magistrate and superintendent of police. On Sunday, the commission will call on the West Bengal governor, the chief secretary, and the director general of police in Kolkata. The NCW had earlier taken suo motu cognisance of the violence that broke out in Shamsherganj, Suti, Dhulian, and Jangipur areas of Murshidabad on April 11 and 12. Three people were killed during the clashes, which occurred in Muslim-majority areas, amid protests against amendments to the central Waqf Act. Considering the situation, the National Commission for Women has decided to form an inquiry committee. We have received reports that women (in the areas concerned) are not being treated properly. We will look into those concerns as well. After taking stock of the situation, we will submit a detailed report, Rahatkar said while leaving for Malda this morning. Fresh allegations surfaced from the Para Lalpur camp, where several women informed the NCW that they were being harassed and threatened by the police. Victims claimed that police personnel came at night and asked them not to communicate with outsiders. They also complained about the quality of food being served, stating they had been given only dry rotis, bananas, and stale rice since morning. It is difficult to differentiate whether this is a refugee camp or a detention camp, a woman was quoted as saying. Many of the women said they were scared to return home and demanded the establishment of a permanent BSF camp in the area as a precondition for their return. Majumdar, the NCW member, echoed these concerns and alleged that women were being coerced to return home. Women have told us that police even took away cooks from the camps so they couldn't eat. How can people return if they have no homes left? First, ensure safety, she said. Majumdar said the NCW had documented all allegations and would include them in its final report. She reiterated that the women were targeted only because they were Hindus and asserted the commission's commitment to ensuring their dignity and safety. Earlier in the day, the National Human Rights Commission had also visited the camps. West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose also reached the camps to interact with the affected people. Islamabad's only link with Jammu and Kashmir is the vacation of illegally occupied parts of the Union Territory, India said on Thursday, strongly trashing Pakistan Army Chief Gen Asim Munir's remark that Kashmir is "jugular vein" of his country. IMAGE: Pakistan Army Chief Gen Asim Munir speaks at a conclave of the Overseas Pakistanis in Islamabad. Photograph: X New Delhi also rejected Pakistan's assertion that the Mumbai terror attack accused Tahawwur Rana is a Canadian citizen and it has nothing to do with him. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Pakistan may try very hard but its reputation as the "epicentre" of global terrorism will not diminish. Addressing a conclave of the Overseas Pakistanis in Islamabad on Wednesday, Munir said Pakistan will not forget the issue of Kashmir and will stand by the Kashmiri people in the "struggle against the Indian occupation". "It was our jugular vein, it is our jugular vein, we will not forget it," he said. At his weekly media briefing here, Jaiswal said, "How can anything foreign be in a jugular vein?" "This (Jammu and Kashmir) is a Union territory of India. Its only relationship with Pakistan is the vacation of illegally occupied territories by that country," he said. Munir also talked about the two-nation theory and said the religions, traditions, thoughts and ambitions of Pakistan and India are different. On Pakistan foreign office's comments that Tahawwur Rana is a Canadian citizen, Jaiswal said Islamabad should bring to justice other perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks. "Pakistan may try very hard but its reputation as the epicentre of global terrorism will not diminish. The extradition of Rana is a reminder yet again to Pakistan that it needs to act to bring to justice other perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks whom it continues to shield," Jaiswal said. Rana, 64, was brought to India on April 10 after all hurdles for his extradition were removed by the US. A Canadian national of Pakistani origin, Rana is now in the custody of Indian investigating agencies. Many people were killed in the 2008 terror attacks on India's financial hub and it is "shameful that Pakistan has not moved forward till now", Jaiswal said. Opposition leaders on Thursday slammed Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar for his remarks against the judiciary, made in light of the Supreme Court's recent order on fixing timeline for the President to grant assent to state bills. IMAGE: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar described Article 142, which grants plenary powers to the Supreme Court, as a "nuclear missile against democratic forces available to the judiciary 24x7". Photograph: @VPIndia/X In our democracy, only the Constitution of India is supreme and most elevated. No officebe it that of the President, Prime Minister, or Governoris above the fetters of constitutional propriety, said senior Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala, referring to the Supreme Courts April 8 judgment mandating a three-month deadline for the President to act on bills reserved by governors. He described the ruling as timely, accurate, courageous, and a correction to the notion that those holding high office are above checks and balances. TMC leader Kalyan Banerjee echoed these concerns, accusing Dhankhar of displaying repeated disregard for the judiciary. The statement made by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar regarding Supreme Court judges is highly objectionable and borders on contempt. As a constitutional authority, he is expected to uphold and respect other constitutional institutions, he said. Dhankhar on Thursday questioned the judiciary setting a timeline for the president to take decisions and act as a "super Parliament", saying the Supreme Court cannot fire a "nuclear missile" at democratic forces. Dhankhar's strong words to the judiciary came during his speech to Rajya Sabha interns, days after the Supreme Court sought to fix a timeline for the president to grant assent to the bills reserved for her consideration by the governor. "So, we have judges who will legislate, who will perform executive functions, who will act as super Parliament and absolutely have no accountability because the law of the land does not apply to them," Dhankhar said. He also described Article 142, which grants plenary powers to the Supreme Court, as a "nuclear missile against democratic forces available to the judiciary 24x7". DMK deputy general secretary and Rajya Sabha member Tiruchi Siva said "under the separation of powers as per the Constitution, the executive, legislative and judiciary have distinct powers." "When all three act on their own spheres one should not forget that Constitution is supreme. The recent Supreme Court verdict on the role of Governors and President invoking Article 142 undoubtedly has established that no individual in the name of being a constitutional authority can sit over the bills passed by a legislature indefinitely undermining the constitutional provisions," he said in a post on 'X'. "The Vice President Mr Jagdeep Dhankar's observations on this SC verdict is unethical! Every citizen is and must be aware that "the rule of law" prevails in the union of India," the senior leader said. Rajya Sabha member Kapil Sibal slammed Dhankhar for questioning the judiciary over the timeline for the president to take decisions, saying this is "unconstitutional" and he had never seen any Rajya Sabha chairman make "political statements" of this nature. A day after Dhankhar used strong words against the judiciary, Sibal asserted that the Lok Sabha Speaker and the Rajya Sabha Chairman remain equidistant between the opposition and the ruling party, and cannot be the "spokesperson of the party". "Everyone knows that the Lok Sabha Speaker's chair is in between. He or she is the Speaker of the House, not the speaker of one party. They also don't vote, they only vote when there is a tie. The same is with the upper house. You are equidistant between the opposition and the ruling party," the senior advocate said at a press conference in New Delhi. "Everything you say must be equidistant. No speaker can be the spokesperson of a party. I don't say that he (Dhankhar) is but no Speaker in principle can be the spokesperson of any party. If it appears so then the dignity of the chair is lowered," Sibal asserted. Slamming Dhankhar for his remarks, Sibal said, "If you give such statements it will look as if judiciary is being taught a lesson. It Is not neutral and not constitutional." The judiciary should not be attacked in this manner by the executive, especially two ministers -? Arjun Ram Meghwal and Kiren Rijiju -? and the chairman of the house, as the judiciary cannot defend itself. "Then the polity must defend the judiciary. Independence of the judiciary is fundamental to democracy in the country. What is being done is unconstitutional," he said. "I have never seen any chairman of the House make political statements of this nature. Even BJP chairman in the past (have not done so)," Sibal said, hitting out at Dhankhar. Sibal said he was saddened and surprised by the statement of Dhankhar. "Judicial institutions -? high courts or Supreme Courts, if there is faith in any institution, it is the judiciary. I feel that when government people do not like the decisions of the judiciary then the start accusing that it (judiciary) has gone beyond its limit. When they like it and the opposition says something then they say it is the decision of the Supreme Court," the former Congress leader said. When someone raises questions about Article 370 or Ramjanam bhoomi judgement, the government people point out that it is a Supreme Court decision, he said. "When (Justice J B) Pardiwala judgement came they say how can the Supreme Court say this. The judgement which you do not like is wrong and which is as per your thinking, it is fine. It is not right for a constitutional functionary to say such a thing," Sibal said referring to Dhakhar's remarks. "I respect him a lot but you said article 142 is nuclear missile material, how can you say this? Article 142 has given powers to the Supreme Court and it is given by the Constitution, it is not by the government it is the Constitution to do complete justice," Sibal said. He also pointed out that the President of India is a titular head and acts on the aid and advice of the council of ministers. "The governor acts on the aid and advice of the council of ministers in a state. So when a bill is passed it goes to the governor, the governor can make comments and send it back but if passed again, the governor has to give an assent as stated in the Constitution. The governor can send the bill to the president. President acts on the aid and advice of the ministers, so the matter goes to the Centre. The president does not have personal powers," he said. Dhankar said how can president's power be curtailed, Sibal noted and wondered who is curtailing the power of the President. Can the governor sit for two years on a bill that is important for people, Sibal asked and added that this amounts to an intrusion on the supremacy of the legislature. "If you have a problem with a judgement, call for a review. If there are still problems, take an advisory opinion from Supreme Court," Sibal said. "He (Dhankhar) talked about 1984 but did not talk about 2002. You talked about an emergency bit not undeclared emergency that is going on, you did not talk about capture of institutions," Sibal said in a scathing criticism of Dhankhar's comments. He said it seems that he only talks about what happened in Congress governments and not after 2014. "We moved an impeachment motion against judge of a high court in December; it was signed by more than 50 members. We are in April, it took five months to find out whether those signatures are genuine or not. How many more months would it take?" Sibal said. "If you do not with expedition decide the matter then the argument for us is that we cannot do anything. If the governor doesn't not clear bills, the judiciary cannot do anything," he said. If the executive doesn't do its job the judiciary has to intervene, Sibal asserted. Article 142 of the Constitution gives the Supreme Court the power to issue orders that ensure "complete justice" in any matter before it. In what is deemed as one of the largest public gatherings by the Muslim community in Karnataka in recent times, over one lakh people assembled under the banner of the Karnataka State Ulema Coordination Committee to protest the Waqf Amendment Act, 2025 in Mangaluru. IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo The demonstrators voiced strong opposition to provisions in the amended law that, according to them, erode the autonomy of Waqf institutions and threaten the community's rights over religious and charitable endowments. Addressing the gathering, the Committee's president, Sheikullah Taqwa Ustad, said the changes made to the Waqf Act signify a deeper attempt to "weaken" the institutional foundations of the Muslim community. The Muslim community has faced oppression in the past, but this time, through the amendment to the Waqf Act, there appears to be an underlying effort to diminish the importance of Waqf, he stated. He urged the community to uphold the nation's multicultural and democratic spirit while firmly asserting their legal and constitutional rights. Former secretary of the Karnataka Waqf Board, Shafi Saeedi, alleged that the amendment was part of a broader political agenda. "We are exposing the fascist forces that are ruling this country, and on May 5, we believe the Supreme Court will vindicate our stand," he said. Stressing that the protest was neither against any particular community nor political ideology, he said, "Our fight is about safeguarding our culture, our endowments, and the religious purpose behind Waqf. This is not new -- we demonstrated the same unity and spirit during the Shah Bano case in 1985." A key concern raised by the scholars and clerics was over the classification and control of Waqf properties under the new legislation. They questioned the rationale behind placing religious institutions such as Idgahs, mosques, cemeteries, and madrasas under government control through various provisions of the amended Act -- particularly Sections 3K, 14, and 40 -- which, they argued, allow for coercive acquisition of waqf properties. This is one of the largest displays of strength by the Muslim community at Shah Convention Centre in Adyar, which has the capacity to hold over a lakh people. "Over one lakh people assembled for the gathering and the crowd was overflowing to an extent that it led to traffic congestion. Because of the venue's proximity to National Highway 75, the route was blocked for sometime and the traffic was moving at snail's pace," official sources said. Muslim clerics from Kolar, Chitradurga, Udupi, Kasargod, Kannur, Hassan, Chikkamagaluru and Uttara Kannada districts participated. Muslims once had control over 36 lakh acres of Waqf land across the country. Now, this has been reduced to just 9 lakh acres, one of the speakers noted. Further, the composition of the Waqf Board as outlined in the amended Section 13 was called into question. The new structure, they pointed out, provides for only four Muslim members out of eleven, with two Hindu members and a majority of others being government appointees or ex-officio members. "Is this not discriminatory against the Muslim community?" the speakers asked. The gathering also alleged that certain sects within the Muslim community, such as the Bohra and Aga Khani sects, were being politically persuaded to remain silent. In a pointed remark, Shafi Saeedi cited the example of the Ambani residence in South Mumbai, claiming it was built on land that once belonged to the Aga Khani Waqf. "Will the government send its bulldozers there too?" he questioned. The protest concluded with a call for peaceful resistance and legal redress, with leaders reiterating their faith in democratic institutions while urging the government to protect the constitutional and religious rights of the Muslim community. Families of a number of accused in the alleged gang-rape of a woman in Varanasi claimed on Thursday that there were inconsistencies in the survivor's account, while the police formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine both allegations. IMAGE: 14 accused have been arrested so far in Varanasi gang-rape case. Photograph: ANI Photo According to the complaint, the 19-year-old woman was raped by 23 people at multiple places between March 29 and April 4. The survivor's family filed the complaint in this regard on April 6. Of the 23 named accused in the case, 14 have been arrested so far. Police Commissioner Mohit Agarwal said the arrest of the remaining accused has been paused, pending the outcome of the SIT probe. In a memorandum submitted to police, the families of a number of accused alleged that the woman had, at times, demanded "money to omit certain names from the complaint". They also questioned why the woman did not reach out for help during the period of alleged assault and why she continued to post videos and pictures on social media that, according to them, showed her "laughing and roaming around", police sources said, citing the memorandum. Police said CCTV footage have purportedly shown the girl riding a bike during the time period of the alleged gang rape as mentioned in the complaint. Questions have been raised about why the girl did not return home despite her being near her residence on multiple occasions, police sources said, adding the accused's kin have also claimed the survivor initially named 23 people but identified only nine in her court testimony which suggests possible manipulation or coercion. Police Commissioner Agarwal confirmed that when the survivor was first located by authorities, she neither mentioned rape nor expressed a desire to return home. "Only after a lengthy conversation with the officers did she agree to go back to her family," the police officer said. The Varanasi city police chief said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to examine the woman's allegations and the counterclaims submitted by the families of the accused. "The SIT is tasked with presenting a comprehensive report within 30 days," Agarwal said, and asserted, "No one -- the survivor, or the accused -- will face injustice." The case drew national attention after Prime Minister Narendra Modi was briefed on the situation during his visit to Varanasi last week. He had directed officials to take the "strictest possible action" against those found guilty. The survivor's mother had told PTI that she wished to meet PM Modi during his visit to Varanasi. "I want to meet our PM and narrate my daughter's trauma. I want the people who committed such a heinous crime be given the harshest punishment so that in future, everyone thinks a thousand times before subjecting any girl to such barbarity," she had said. The woman's mother had also said the incident had left her daughter deeply traumatised. "She is not keeping well. The trauma has had a deep impact on her psyche," she had said. The 18th Sony World Photography Awards announced its 2025 overall winners at a London gala. British Photographer Zed Nelson won the Photographer of the Year title for his series The Anthropocene Illusion. Zed received $25,000, Sony equipment, and a 2026 exhibition. He was chosen from the 10 Professional category winners. PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR The Anthropocene Illusion by Zed Nelson IMAGE: The painted backdrop of this chimpanzee enclosure at the Shanghai Wild Animal Park in China is impressive in its artistry, but serves to provide a comforting illusion only to human observers. In their natural habitat in the forests of Central Africa, chimpanzees spend most of their days in the treetops. Being one of the most socially complex species among all non-human primates, chimpanzees in the wild live in societies ranging in size between 20 and 150 individuals. Photograph: Zed Nelson, United Kingdom, Photographer of the Year, Professional competition, Wildlife & Nature, Sony World Photography Awards 2025 The event also recognised the Open, Student, and Youth overall winners, and honoured Documentary Photographer Susan Meiselas for her Outstanding Contribution to Photography. Here are the winning photographs from each category and the 2025 shortlist winners galleries. STILL LIFE Breath of Wind by Peter Franck IMAGE: These images depict the liminal space between events, a threshold where time seems to stretch, and meanings remain unfixed. The juxtaposition of objects within the space leaves room for interpretation, inviting surreal flights of thought. Everything is suspended, held in a fragile equilibrium where intervention feels imminent. Fractions of a second away from decisive action, the images linger in a fleeting moment of stillness, a breath before the world moves again. Photograph: Peter Franck, Germany, Winner, Professional competition, Still Life, Sony World Photography Awards 2025 SPORT Shred the Patriarchy by Chantal Pinzi IMAGE: Asha's hand, decorated with mehendi or henna, an ancient form of body art that originated in India. India, the world's most populous country with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, only has a handful of female skaters. It is here that Shred the Patriarchy comes to life, portraying how, against prejudice and threats, some women have rebelled, balancing on a board and transforming skateboarding into a form of resistance against the patriarchy. Through the art of falling and getting back up, these women challenge stereotypes, fight marginalisation and reclaim public spaces in both urban and rural areas. Many have managed to avoid arranged marriages, while others have gained financial independence and earned respect within their communities by skateboarding. It is with these simple yet revolutionary gestures that young Indian women make the patriarchal system tremble, reclaiming the freedom to imagine something different for themselves: to be a voice and no longer an echo. Photograph: Chantal Pinzi, Italy, Winner, Professional competition, Sport, Sony World Photography Awards 2025. PORTRAITURE M'kumba by Gui Christ [When Esu Crossed the Atlantic to Support His People] IMAGE: A portrait of Afro-Brazilian religious practitioner, Inage Kaluana, representing the arrival of the Orixa Exu in Brazil caused by the forced migration of enslaved Yoruba people. Exu is considered the messenger who connects the material world (Aiye) and the spiritual realm (Orun), holding profound significance for enslaved communities. It was believed that he could carry their prayers to the divine, offering solace and alleviating their suffering in the face of oppression. Salvador, Brazil. Photograph: Gui Christ, Brazil, Winner, Professional competition, Portraiture, Sony World Photography Awards 2025. PERSPECTIVES The Journey Home From School by Laura Pannack IMAGE: Making our way home from school is a simple, nostalgic, universal activity that we can all relate to. This project explores the tumultuous public lives of young people in the gang-governed Cape Flats area of Cape Town, South Africa, where their daily commute carries the risk of death. Using handmade, lo-fi experimental techniques, this project explores how young people have to walk to and from school, avoiding the daily threat of gang crossfire. Through poetry, analogue photography, drawings, collages and cyanotypes, an intimate portrayal of adolescence amidst stark social divides is created that offers a rare insight into this confusing and challenging world. Photograph: Laura Pannack, United Kingdom, Winner, Professional competition, Perspectives, Sony World Photography Awards 2025 LANDSCAPE Depopulation by Seido Kino IMAGE: Several elementary schools in the mountainous areas of the San-in region are scheduled for consolidation shortly after their 150th anniversary. The number of students, which was once more than 100, has drastically reduced to only a few students per grade. The town's population has decreased by half since Japan's rapid economic growth period, as young people have been moving to the cities. This photograph is combined with an archival image provided by Hiromu Saeki. Photograph: Seido Kino, Japan, Winner, Professional competition, Landscape, Sony World Photography Awards 2025 ENVIRONMENT Washing Fibres by Nicolas Garrido Huguet IMAGE: Dionisia, Nilda, and Braulia washing the recently dyed fibres in the lake. A unique aspect of natural dyes is their harmony with the ecosystem; chemical dyes would release toxic substances into the lake, but natural dyes integrate seamlessly with the environment, preserving its balance. Photograph: Nicolas Garrido Huguet, Peru, Winner, Professional competition, Environment, Sony World Photography Awards 2025 DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS Divided Youth by Toby Binder IMAGE: Ryley over the rooftops of Empire Parade. Photograph: Toby Binder, Germany, Winner, Professional competition, Documentary Projects, Sony World Photography Awards 2025 CREATIVE Rhi-Entry by Rhiannon Adam IMAGE: Bill Anders was the lunar module pilot on 1968's Apollo 8 mission, the first manned mission to the Moon. He photographed Earthrise, the most reproduced photograph in human history. He famously wondered if NASA should have sent poets 'cause I don't think we captured, in its entirety, the grandeur of what we had seen.' The planned flight path for the dearMoon voyage was set to retrace that of Apollo 8. This time, artists would be aboard, finally answering Apollo 8's call 60 years later. Photograph: Rhiannon Adam, United Kingdom, Winner, Professional competition, Creative, Sony World Photography Awards 2025 ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN Nishisando by Sou Fujimoto by Ulana Switucha IMAGE: The Tokyo Toilet Project saw 16 globally recognised architects use their creativity to erase the conventional negative image of public restrooms and create 17 safe, clean and inclusive spaces. Photograph: Ulana Switucha, Canada, Winner, Professional competition, Architecture & Design, Sony World Photography Awards 2025. OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO PHOTOGRAPHY Roseann on the way to Manhattan Beach, New York City, 1978 by Susan Meiselas IMAGE: Roseann on the way to Manhattan Beach, New York City, 1978. Photograph: Susan Meiselas/Magnum Photos OPEN PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR Tbourida La Chute by Olivier Unia IMAGE: Many of the photographs taken during a traditional Moroccan 'tbourida' show the riders firing their rifles. With this image, the photographer wanted to share another side of the event, and show how dangerous it can be when a rider is thrown from their mount. Photograph: Olivier Unia, France, Open Photographer of the Year, Open Competition, Motion, Sony World Photography Awards 2025 YOUTH PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR Eclipse of Motion by Daniel Dian-Ji Wu IMAGE: Daniel Dian-Ji Wu took this photo during summer break in 2024, at Venice Beach Skatepark in LA during golden hour. The photographer captured this image of a skater mid-air, silhouetted against the sunset, expressing the raw energy of that moment. He says this image 'made me feel a sense of passion and freedom.' Photograph: Daniel Dian-Ji Wu, Taiwan, Youth Photographer of the Year, Youth Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2025. STUDENT PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR Support between the spikes by Micaela Valdivia Medina IMAGE: This project explores the complexity of female prison spaces and the people who inhabit them, from the inmates to their families. The series consists of photographs of the architecture of the prisons, the neighbourhoods they are in, and the dynamics at the visitor and family member entrances. This project was carried out at the women's penitentiary centres of San Miguel, San Joaquin and Valparaiso, between the months of March and July 2024. Photograph: Micaela Valdivia Medina, Peru, Student Photographer of the Year, Student Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2025 The Sony World Photography Awards 2025 exhibition is on display at Somerset House, London from April 17 to May 5, presenting over 300 prints and hundreds of images in digital displays, as well as a special presentation by Susan Meiselas. Published with kind permission from Sony World Photography Awards Gay Pride flags hang in Bellows Falls on Oct. 9, 2024. The large flag on Hotel Windham is the "Sacred Cloth," section 93 of the Key West Sea to Sea Flag, displayed for "National Coming Out Day." Aimee Parnell has been on the job at the Waypoint Center for about a month, and her enthusiasm as the new executive director of the Great Fall Irans foreign minister has called for Russia to play a role in high-stakes negotiations over the fate of Tehrans nuclear programs, as he cast doubt on US intentions ahead a new round of talks. Speaking on April 18 alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Abbas Araqchi said he still believed an agreement was possible. The Iranian diplomat was set to meet with White House special envoy Steve Witkoff in Rome on April 19, for a second round of talks over Irans atomic programs. "Although we have serious doubts about the intentions and motivations of the American side, in any case we will participate in tomorrow's negotiations," Araqchi said during a joint appearance in Moscow. Last weeks first round of talks in Oman was the highest-level negotiations between Tehran and Washington since US President Donald Trump abandoned a landmark nuclear deal in 2018. Western countries, including the United States, have long accused Iran of trying to build nuclear weapons. Tehran has consistently denied the allegations, insisting that its efforts are aimed at civilian purposes, like electricity generation. Earlier in the week, Witkoff called for an end to all of Irans uranium enrichment programs. International inspectors say Tehran has managed to refine its uranium stocks to 60 percent -- which is close to the threshold at which uranium is considered weapons-grade. Araqchi responded on April 16, saying that Iran's enrichment efforts were not up for discussion. "If there is similar willingness on the other side, and they refrain from making unreasonable and unrealistic demands, I believe reaching an agreement is likely," Araghchi said. Since taking office in January, Trump has ratcheted up the pressure on Iran, including by sending more US Air Force and naval assets to the region. But hes also forced direct talks with Iranian officials. Im not asking for much, Trump said in comments earlier this month, but they cant have a nuclear weapon. With reporting by Reuters The US military said it destroyed a key Yemeni fuel port held by Houthi rebels, who said the air strikes also killed 20 people and wounded 50 others. The US militarys Central Command said its forces took action on the port of Ras Isa to eliminate a source of fuel for the Iran-backed Houthi rebels and deprive them of revenue. The objective of these strikes was to degrade the economic source of power of the Houthis, who continue to exploit and bring great pain upon their fellow countrymen, Centcom said in a statement. This strike was not intended to harm the people of Yemen, who rightly want to throw off the yoke of Houthi subjugation and live peacefully, Centcom said. The US air strikes have hammered the Houthis in a campaign launched by President Donald Trump on March 15 to end their attacks on civilian shipping and military vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Houthi attacks have hampered shipping through the Suez Canal -- a vital route for world seaborne traffic -- forcing many companies to send their ships around the tip of southern Africa. The Houthis denounced the attack. This completely unjustified aggression represents a flagrant violation of Yemens sovereignty and independence and a direct targeting of the entire Yemeni people, the Houthis said in a statement carried by the Houthi-controlled SABA news agency. It targets a vital civilian facility that has served the Yemeni people for decades. Health Ministry spokesman Anees Alasbahi said the preliminary death toll stood at 20, including five paramedics. There were also "50 wounded workers and employees at the Ras Issa oil port, following the American aggression," he said on X. "The death toll is likely to rise as body parts are still being identified," he added. The number of dead represented one of the highest reported death tolls since Trump vowed that military action against the rebels would continue until they are no longer a threat to shipping. The Ras Isa port lies along the west coast of Yemen on the Red Sea. Centcom said ships have continued to supply fuel via the port despite Washington designating the rebels a foreign terrorist organization earlier this year. The Centcom statement did not specify the source of the fuel. US State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce commented earlier on April 17 about China's participation in Yemen. Bruce told journalists that the Chinese satellite firm Chang Guang Satellite Technology Company was "directly supporting the Houthis. Bruce said their actions and Beijing's support of the company, is yet another example of China's empty claims to support peace. With reporting by AP and Reuters The United States top diplomat signaled impatience with European officials as two days of talks to find a resolution to the Ukraine conflict wrapped up. The April 18 comments by Secretary of State Marco Rubio came as Russia continued to pound Ukrainian targets, including the countrys second largest city, Kharkiv, where a missile strike wounded dozens of people. Ukrainian officials, meanwhile, released the text of an agreement that would pave the way for US companies to invest in Ukraines valuable mineral resources. Ukrainian and US negotiators have struggled to agree on a deal, and a White House meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukraines Volodymyr Zelenskyy in February imploded in acrimonious accusations. Rubio met in Paris with top European officials amid efforts to find a resolution to Russias war on Ukraine, which is now in its fourth year. He was joined by White House special envoy Steve Witkoff who met with Russian leader Vladimir Putin last week for what he described as five hours of talks. Witkoff has met three times with Putin, Rubio said. After a phone call in February, Trump and Putin announced intentions to start direct peace talks, something Trumps predecessor, Joe Biden, had avoided since the start of the Russian invasion. The US push for direct talks with Moscow has worried European officials, who fear Ukraine could end up at a disadvantage in any final agreement between Washington and Moscow. Speaking to reporters as he departed Paris, Rubio said the United States will walk away from trying to broker a peace deal within days unless there are clear signs that a deal can be done. "We're not going to continue with this endeavor for weeks and months on end, he said. "We need to figure out here now, within a matter of days, whether this is doable in the short term, because if it's not, then I think we're just going to move on. "If it is, we're in, he said. If it's not, then... we have other priorities to focus on as well." "The United States has been helping Ukraine over the last three years, and we want it to end, but it's not our war," Rubio said. European officials had been "very helpful and constructive with their ideas, Rubio also said. "We'd like them to remain engaged.... I think the UK and France and Germany can help us move the ball on this and then get this closer to a resolution," he said. Rubio's comments highlight growing frustrations in the White House over the lack of progress on the Ukraine conflict. During his election campaign, Trump pledged to end the war within his first 24 hours in the White House. Asked to confirm what Rubio had said, Trump told reporters at the White House that Rubio was right: the United States will "take a pass" on brokering further Ukraine war talks unless there is quick progress from Moscow and Kyiv. When asked how quick progress must be, Trump said there was "no specific number of days" and added: "Now if for some reason one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we're just going to say: 'You're foolish. You're fools. You're horrible people' -- and we're going to just take a pass," Trump said. "But hopefully we won't have to do that." Rubio also said he spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov after the Paris talks and had told him they had been constructive. That upbeat tone was reflected in the State Department readout of the April 17 phone call between the two diplomats. In its readout, however, the Russian Foreign Ministry again mentioned the phrase root causes of the Ukraine crisis. Thats a term that Putin himself has used repeatedly, referring to wider geopolitical issues not directly connected to the invasion: for example, NATOs expansion in Europe, or Ukraines overall sovereignty. Russia has conditioned its agreement to a cease-fire on Ukraine halting its mobilization efforts and an end to Western arms supplies, both of which have been rejected by Ukraine. Speaking during a visit to Rome, US Vice President JD Vance sounded a more upbeat note about the state of talks. "Since there are the negotiations I won't prejudge them, but we do feel optimistic that we can hopefully bring this war, this very brutal war, to a close," he said as he met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Separately, Ukrainian officials on April 18 released the text of a agreement on access to Ukraines valuable mineral resources, including rare earths. Kyiv and Washington have been trying to agree on a deal that Trump says would allow Ukraine to compensate for billions of dollars in US weaponry supplied over the course of the war. An attempt to sign a pact in February collapsed in acrimony, after Zelenskyy clashed with Trump and Vance in the Oval Office. The text of the memorandum lays out an economic partnership deal with the United States and setting up an investment fund for Ukraines post-war reconstruction. Ukrainian Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said officials would travel to Washington next week to formally sign the deal. In addition to Kharkiv, Russian strikes also targeted a bakery in the northern town of Sumy, less than a week after a deadly Palm Sunday strike. Prosecutors said the April 18 strike left one person dead and another wounded. With reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service A St. Petersburg court sentenced anti-war activist Darya Kozyreva to nearly three years in prison after ruling she "discredited" the Russian military by gluing a poem to a monument dedicated to a Ukrainian poet. Kozyreva, 19, also faced charges stemming from an interview she gave to RFE/RL's North Realities, where she discussed her political views, among other things. Prosecutors had requested six years in prison for Kozyreva, who was detained on February 24, 2024, on the second anniversary of Russia's all-out invasion of Ukraine. She was arrested after she glued an excerpt of a poem by Taras Shevchenko, a poet and thinker who is widely revered in Ukraine, to a statue of Shevchenko standing in St. Petersburg. The poem read: Oh bury me, then rise ye up And break your heavy chains And water with the tyrants' blood The freedom you have gained Prosecutors added new charges months later, based on her interview with North Realities. At the time of her arrest, Kozyreva was known for previous anti-war demonstrations, and for public support of activists including anti-corruption campaigner Aleksei Navalny. In her closing statement to the St. Petersburg court on April 18, Kozyreva quoted briefly from a Shevchenko poem, and then referred to Ukraine's independence. "Ukraine is a free country, a free nation, and it will decide its own fate," she said, according to reporters from MediaZona and SotaVision, who were in the courtroom. "Of course, I dream of Ukraine getting back every inch of its land, including Donbas and Crimea. I believe that one day my dream will come true. One day history will judge everything fairly. But Ukraine has won anyway. It has already won. That's all." Weeks after the start of the Ukraine invasion, Russian lawmakers passed sweeping legislation that criminalized any criticism of the armed forces, or the overall conduct of the war in Ukraine. From a forested part of the Kharkiv region, Ukrainian troops launched one mortar after another to try to fight back a Russian advance. The Russian forces had crossed the Oskil River near the city of Kupyansk and entered the village of Dvorichna. Some Ukrainian fighters were briefly surrounded by Russian troops but managed to escape and establish positions outside the village. The situation is a f***ing mess, a soldier named Roman told RFE/RL. It was better when we first came here. But then [the Russians] started moving, and it became complicated. There were no positions ready, and we had to build them very quickly. Russias military has stepped up a spring offensive in the northeastern Kharkiv region, launching air strikes against the cities of Kharkiv and Kupyansk. Russian forces were also trying to advance in Ukraines Sumy region across the border from the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces made an incursion last year. The city of Sumy was the site of a Russian missile strike on April 13 that killed 35 people and injured more than 100. The Ukrainian soldiers described being outgunned by Russian drones, which were circling overhead night and day. Each of our drone pilot units here faces five to six enemy pilot units, a soldier called Petro said. One of their drones is always in the air, monitoring our positions. The next day, our positions will be demolished by their fire. And its impossible to build it back. Once the enemy sees a path our soldiers have used, 10 minutes later, they litter it with antipersonnel mines and any explosives they can drop from the drones. Thats the hardest thing, Petro said. Along with heavy artillery aimed toward Dvorichna, the Ukrainian unit used their own drones to try to repel the greater numbers of Russian unmanned aircraft. They were prepared to keep fighting for the long haul, Petro said. When the soldiers [escaped from advancing forces], one of them told me: No worries, we can still slam the door in their faces.'" Ukraine and the United States have "taken a step" toward a joint economic partnership agreement, Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said on April 17. Svyrydenko, who is also first deputy prime minister, said on X that Ukraine and the United States signed a memorandum as an initial step toward clinching an agreement. "We are happy to announce the signing, with our American partners, of a Memorandum of Intent, which paves the way for an Economic Partnership Agreement and the establishment of the Investment Fund for the Reconstruction of Ukraine," Svyrydenko said. The memorandum demonstrates the constructive joint work of our teams and the intention to finalize and conclude an agreement that will be beneficial to both of our peoples," she said. The agreement will open up opportunities for investment, infrastructure modernization, and mutually beneficial partnership between Ukraine and the United States, she said. "It is important that we reaffirm through our agreements the desire of the American people to invest together with the Ukrainian people in a free, sovereign, and secure Ukraine, she added. Svyrydenkos messages on X did not directly mention a minerals deal that the United States and Ukraine have been discussing for months, but she said the two sides continue to work on the economic partnership agreement. While there is still a lot to do, she said the current pace and significant progress give reason to expect that the document will be very beneficial for both countries. Earlier, US President Donald Trump said that an agreement on Ukraines rare earth minerals is ready, and he expects it to be signed on April 24. The United States offered Kyiv a big deal right away, according to Trump. Trump's administration has made securing rare earth supply chains a strategic priority, especially as global competition with China intensifies. The deal with Ukraine is seen in Washington as a way to diversify minerals -- strategic resources essential to modern technologies and national security -- and reduce US dependency on Chinese exports. It's also seen by Trump as a way to be compensated for billions of dollars in support Washington has supplied to Ukraine in its war with Russia, sparked by Moscow's February 2022 full-scale invasion of its neighbor. Talks on a cease-fire in the conflict have been occurring in parallel to the economic partnership talks. Svyrydenko said that, once finalized, the draft economic partnership agreement will require ratification by the Ukrainian parliament to ensure the agreement aligns with Ukraine's long-term national interests. The agreement "will create opportunities for investment and development in Ukraine and establish conditions for tangible economic growth for both Ukraine and the United States," she said. With reporting by Reuters and AFP By Jonathan McCambridge, PA Met Eireann has issued a status-orange rain warning for Co Wicklow. A series of yellow weather warnings are also in place across the island. The national weather agency said heavy rain in Co Wicklow could cause localised flooding. The warning was issued at 10.30am and remains in place until 11am on Saturday. A yellow warning in Cork, Kerry, Mayo, Galway and Clare will last until 9pm Friday. A yellow warning for Carlow, Dublin, Kilkenny, Louth, Wexford, Waterford is in place until 6am on Saturday. Yellow warning of rain affecting Northern Ireland https://t.co/PsGtVcXeNt pic.twitter.com/eHiUp0gsy7 Met Office - Northern Ireland (@metofficeNI) April 18, 2025 In the North, the Met Office has issued a yellow warning for rain in parts of Co Antrim and Co Down from 2pm until 3pm on Saturday. A spokesperson said A prolonged spell of rain, some of it heavy, will likely cause difficult driving conditions and some disruption to travel. It has also warned that localised flooding is possible. Eva Osborne A survey conducted by Dublin City Council has revealed that 78 per cent of people believe Dublins nightlife is poorer than cities they have visited abroad. Berlin, a city which famously has no official closing time, was regarded as the best European city for nightlife by 42 per cent of the public, followed by London (36 per cent), Amsterdam (29 per cent), and Barcelona (26 per cent). The Licenced Vintners Association (LVA) has said findings from the new survey on the night-time economy show the need to advance the recommendations by the Dublin Taskforce and for the Government to bring forward their proposed Intoxicating Liquor Bill. Two out of three people surveyed believe that more night-time options are needed in Dublin City Centre and six out 10 want more night-time options where they live. The Citizen Survey Report on Night-Time Economy also showed that only one in three people feel safe in the city centre at night. 63 per cent say they would like to see better safety at night and 55 per cent are in favour of improved night-time transport. Only 16 per cent of people believe there is good public transport available between midnight and 6am. The LVA said measures included in the Dublin Taskforce Recommendations would specifically help address these public concerns, such as the provision of an additional 1,000 gardai for Dublin and the development of an improved Dublin City Centre Transport Plan. However despite the recommendations having been published 6 months ago, the LVA said little action has been taking to make these a reality. Chief excutive of the LVA, Donall O'Keeffe, said: These survey results show the concerns of the public match the issues highlighted by Dublin publicans and others operating across the city. "We need to make our streets safer and we need to provide better transport at night. It should be acknowledged that Garda visibility in town has started to improve recently, but for public perceptions and concerns to be addressed that presence needs to sustained for the night-time economy in the long term. Monday will mark six months since the Dublin Taskforce published their recommendations, yet there has been little to no progress turning these commitments into reality. "The Government went out of their way to emphasise that meaningful action couldnt be taken to address the issues affecting Dublin until the Taskforce had reported. Its now been half a year since that process was complete, so whats their current excuse? Night-time economy Four out of five people (79 per cent) of those surveyed say the night-time economy is important to the overall Dublin economy and seven out of 10 believe the night-time economy makes a positive contribution to Dublins cultural life. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael in Government promised to help fix the night-time economy by modernising the licensing laws," O'Keeffe said. "They could do that and help improve the night-time options available to the public if they simply followed through on what they started and enacted their promised Intoxicating Liquor Bill. We were informed that legislation was ready to be published by Easter 2024, yet one year later it is yet to see the light of day. As the survey shows the vast majority of people believe the night-time economy makes a positive contribution to Dublins cultural life. The Governments continued inaction on these reforms indicate this isnt a view they share. "We are calling on them to be fair and set out their clear intentions about when they will advance these promised licensing reforms, clearing up the uncertainty and enabling improved night time options." A property rights challenge to the North Dakota law governing carbon dioxide storage projects was heard by the state Supreme Court on Thursday. The Northwest Landowners Association filed a lawsuit against the state almost two years ago arguing that North Dakota's approach to permitting CO2 storage projects is unconstitutional because it allows a taking of private property without eminent domain proceedings, which requires just compensation decided by a jury. Last year, a state judge shot the challenge down mostly on procedural grounds. He said too much time had passed since the law went into effect for it to be overturned. The case was then appealed to the state Supreme Court. CO2 capture, storage and use has been a major effort of the North Dakota state government for years now to handle pollution issues related to its fossil fuel-heavy economy and also set up the infrastructure needed for enhanced oil recovery. CO2 could one day be piped up to the Bakken oilfields to get access to otherwise unrecoverable oil, which remains at around 85% of what is in the reservoir with today's technology. Developing a CO2 storage facility requires access to small cavities below the ground called pore space, which is the part of the subsurface that is porous enough for liquid and gas to flow through. To use that pore space, companies need access to a complete tract of the subsurface because one part cannot be blocked off from another when gases or liquids are injected. Under a legal process called "amalgamation," landowners can be forced by the state to have their land included in a storage facility if the owners of at least 60% of the surrounding pore space have signed up and a number of other requirements are met. The NWLA, which was joined by the North Dakota Farm Bureau, argues that the practice of permitting the property of nonconsenting landowners for carbon storage constitutes a taking of land. When the state takes -- or allows a company to take -- private land after it cannot obtain voluntary easements, it must file eminent domain proceedings against landowners where a court determines what "just" compensation would look like, and sometimes if the taking constitutes a "public use." Amalgamation has been used numerous times over the past few years as the state has permitted a growing number of carbon storage facilities. Summit Carbon Solutions, Minnkota Power Cooperative and Basin Electric Power Cooperative intervened in the case on the side of the state; all of those companies have ongoing or planned carbon storage projects. Beyond the questions of whether the state judge was correct when he ruled that the law itself could not be challenged, much of the hearing was spent debating the similarities between how mineral owners are treated when the state permits an oil and gas well compared to a CO2 storage well. The North Dakota state government and companies intervening argued that the CO2 storage law is similar to an oil and gas permit in which the state can "pool" or combine interests to allow for drilling when there is not 100% approval from the affected mineral owners. The legal principle is referred to as the "doctrine of correlative rights." Phil Axt, an attorney for the North Dakota state government, said that while pore space and oil are different, there is enough of a similarity between how the two resources are developed for the state to apply the doctrine. "No single owner can use nor deny the use for their portion of this resource without impacting every other owner. Using it is an all-or-nothing proposition," he said. But Farm Bureau attorney Andrew Cook argued that carbon storage is a taking because it constitutes a permanent physical occupation of the property that impacts the use of the land. "It removes landowners' rights to exclude others from their property," he said. If the doctrine of correlative rights does apply to carbon storage, NWLA attorney Derrick Braaten said there is still a compensation issue that the state and companies are not addressing. He said "just" compensation is still constitutionally required under forced pooling. "(Minnkota's contract says), 'the proportionate share of 16 cents per metric ton of CO2 (buried).' That's not the proportionate share; that's the proportionate share of 16 cents. Sixteen cents is not what's required. The just and proportionate share is what's required," he said. One of the state's concerns if eminent domain has to apply to carbon storage projects was also made clear. "If the court were to argue that eminent domain is required, I suspect the next legal challenge would be that (a carbon storage project is) a private taking for private purposes," Axt said. Asked by a justice if eminent domain would be seen by the NWLA as a viable option for CO2 storage project developers, Braaten said it depends on the nature of the project. "We don't give eminent domain authority to private entities unless they are a public utility or a common carrier, and additionally, as always has been the case, eminent domain is available to the government for public use, not for private uses. ... What it really comes down to is they don't want to pay the fair share to landowners," Braaten said. Gordon Deegan The operator of the planned 1.5 billion data campus for Ennis has claimed that the project is being put at risk due to "bureaucratic inertia". An Bord Pleanala granted planning permission to Art Data Centres Ltd for the scheme in April 2024, comprising six data halls covering 145 acres or 1.3m sq ft on lands adjacent to the Tulla Rd on the eastern outskirts of Ennis near Junction 13 on the M18 motorway connecting Galway to Limerick. The planned data centre has been stalled by a High Court judicial review challenge by opponents of the data centre, Colin Doyle, Friends of the Irish Environment CLG, Futureproof Clare, Martin Knox and Christine Sharp. However, last month the High Court ruled that an issue concerning a Leisler bat is not sufficient to halt contentious plans for the new 200MW data centre campus. The High Court action remains before the High Court with an issue concerning a derogation licence still to be decided upon. On Friday, the chief executive of Art Data Centres Ltd, Tom McNamara, expressed serious frustration at what he called continued delays by EirGrid in issuing a grid connection for the proposed AI-focused data centre campus in Ennis. The project has backing from international investors, including ongoing discussions with end users in the cloud and AI spaces. Art Data Centres has now written to Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke TD on foot of this week's Action Plan on Competitiveness proposal to provide policy certainty regarding data centres and plans for connecting large energy users. Mr McNamara said: We have a project of national importance. Almost all legal, technical, and environmental requirements are met. Yet after eight years of effort, the project is being put at risk due to bureaucratic inertia. Mr McNamara said: "I am writing to the Minister for Enterprise, Peter Burke, and relevant Cabinet colleagues to intervene urgently to ensure the projects grid connection proceeds. Mr McNamara said that the project meets the needs concerning regional development, attracting AI investment and delivering climate-resilient infrastructure, and must be supported. He said: Delay is not a neutral actit actively damages Irelands international reputation. Art Data Centres has been engaging with EirGrid since 2017, first applying for connection in 2019. A company spokesman said that despite confirmed available capacity at Ennis and extensive engagement under the CRUs 2021/124 guidance, EirGrid has not progressed a connection offer. At an Ennis Chamber of Commerce lunch last year, Taoiseach Micheal Martin publicly supported and referred to the project in 2024 He said, AI is coming, and the demand for data will grow exponentially. We have to facilitate that. For areas outside of Dublin, which havent had this sort of investment, we cant deny them that opportunity. I understand the grid capacity is there. Asked to respond to Mr McNamaras comments, a spokesman for EirGrid said that for reasons of confidentiality, EirGrid does not comment on individual customers, connection agreements or applications. Glenamaddy Players have qualified for the All-Ireland Confined Drama Finals in Claremorris. The group will perform Class by Iseult Golden and David Horan on Saturday, May 3rd. This date was drawn at the All-Ireland draw, which was held on Sunday, April 6th in Claremorris with all nine finalists in attendance. The finals will take place from April 25th to May 3rd with the awards ceremony taking place on Sunday, May 4th. To reach the finals for any group is a massive achievement and it gets more difficult each year. Throughout the festival circuit, director, cast and crew have been worthily awarded for all aspects of the Class presentation. The cast members have received several awards with many nominations. The cast is as follows: Donna/Kaylie (Tina Ward) Brian/Jayden (Patrick Flynn) and Ray Mc Cafferty (Cian Boyle). The play is directed by Coman Keaveny, ably supported by an excellent technical and backstage crew. A parent-teacher meeting goes very wrong in Class - a new play about learning difficulties: in school, in life, wherever. Brian and Donnas son is nine-years-old, and hes struggling. Thats what his teacher says. The teacher says he should see a psychologist, but Brian and Donna recently separated never liked school, never liked teachers. So are they going to trust this one? And should they? As well as deriving such immense satisfaction from being present at such a performance, attendance will boost considerably the morale of the cast, director and everyone else involved as they set their sights on the mecca of amateur drama in Ireland, the All-Ireland Confined Finals. If you have not already seen this production it will be performed at the Glenamaddy Town Hall Theatre on Friday, April 18th, Monday, April 21st and Thursday, May 1st at 8 p.m.. This is a play not to be missed, please come out and support the local group. Booking can be done online through Glenamaddy Players Eventbrite. Absconding Gangster Happy Passia, Close Aide of Rinda, Detained in the US Happy Passia had been on the radar of Indian security agencies for his alleged role in multiple terror-linked activities Happy Passia Arrest Latest News Today: In a significant breakthrough for Indian investigative agencies, absconding gangster Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passia, a key associate of Pakistan-based terrorist Harvinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda, has been arrested in the United States, officials confirmed on Wednesday. Happy Passia had been on the radar of Indian security agencies for his alleged role in multiple terror-linked activities, including grenade attacks targeting a private residence in Chandigarh and several police stations across Punjab. The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which has been spearheading the probe into these incidents, had earlier declared a reward of a5 lakh for information leading to his arrest. Advertisement Sources familiar with the matter said the fugitive was apprehended by U.S. authorities following close coordination and intelligence sharing with Indian counterparts. The development marks a major win in the ongoing crackdown against Rindas transnational terror network that has been operating with support from Pakistans ISI. Happy Passia is believed to have played a crucial role in logistics and planning for the attacks orchestrated under Rindas direction. Harvinder Singh Rinda, once a prominent gangster in Punjab, is now a designated terrorist who is believed to be operating from Pakistan and linked to pro-Khalistani groups and narco-terror networks. Officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs and NIA are reportedly working on initiating formal extradition proceedings to bring Passia back to India to face trial. The NIA has already filed multiple cases under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in connection with these attacks. Advertisement The arrest comes amid rising concerns over the use of cross-border networks by fugitive gangsters to fuel terrorism in India. Authorities say that the collaboration between organized crime syndicates and extremist outfits has emerged as a growing threat, particularly in Punjab and northern India. Further details regarding the timing of the extradition and charges to be pressed against Happy Passia are expected in the coming days. (For more news apart from Happy Passia Arrest Latest News Today, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) Trump Signals Optimism on China Trade Deal despite Fresh Tariff Escalation "We urge the United States to immediately stop extreme pressure, coercion, and blackmail...based on mutual respect," spokesperson China. Trump Signals Optimism on China Trade Deal despite Fresh Tariff Escalation U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday expressed confidence that the United States would strike a very good trade agreement with China, ANI reported. Trump made the remark during the visit of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to the White House. We're going to make a deal. I think we're going to make a very good deal with China, he said. Advertisement Surprisingly, this statement came just days after the White House released a fact sheet on Tuesday stating that Chinese imports now face tariffs of up to 245 percent. Unlike many countries that approached the U.S. for trade negotiations after similar tariff hikes, China retaliated. According to Reuters, the U.S. stated on Tuesday that the president remains open to a trade agreement with China, but expects Beijing to take the first step. Responding to the tariff escalation, Chinas Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said the tariff war was initiated by the U.S., and that China's countermeasures were taken to safeguard its rights and interests. He called these actions reasonable and legal. "We urge the United States to immediately stop extreme pressure, coercion, and blackmail, and resolve differences with China through equal dialogue based on mutual respect," a spokesperson from China's Commerce Ministry added. Taking a softer tone during the joint appearance, Trump also said he believed the U.S. would have very little problem making trade deals with Europe or other partners. He expressed optimism about finalizing a trade agreement with the European Union before the 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs ends. Advertisement ( For more news apart from, 'Trump Signals Optimism on China Trade Deal despite Fresh Tariff Escalation, Stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) IMD Issues Orange Alert for Thunderstorms and Winds Up to 70 km/h (Image/istock) The alert was issued a day after the city recorded 8.3 mm of rainfall and winds reaching up to 50 km/h. Chandigarh: IMD Issues Orange Alert for Thunderstorms and Winds Up to 70 km/h, latest news: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert on Friday for thunderstorms and gusty winds reaching speeds of up to 70 km/h, with the possibility of squalls. This comes as a strong Western Disturbance (WD) currently affects the region. Winds are expected to drop to below 40 km/h after Friday, though the chances of rain will persist in the region until Sunday, according to a report by Hindustan Times. Advertisement The alert was issued a day after the city recorded 8.3 mm of rainfall and winds reaching up to 50 km/h. The storm reportedly began around 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday. There have been reports of trees being uprooted in parts of Chandigarh, Mohali, and Zirakpur due to the strong winds. In Sector 49, winds damaged power lines at a petrol pump, resulting in a temporary disruption of fuel supply for about half an hour. Speaking about the recent windy conditions, IMD Chandigarh Director Surender Paul told HT, This is due to the strength of the Western Disturbance. While the system was stronger in Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, being at the foothills of the Himalayas, was also affected. He further explained that the recent rise in temperatures has intensified the Western Disturbance around this time of year. Despite the stormy conditions, the maximum temperature remained steady at 37C from Wednesday to Thursday, which is 1.7C above the usual temperature. The minimum temperature, however, dropped from 24.5C to 20.4C. Over the next three days, the maximum temperature is expected to range between 35C and 37C, while the minimum will fluctuate between 21C and 23C. Advertisement ( For more news apart from, 'IMD Issues Orange Alert for Thunderstorms and Winds Up to 70 km/h, Stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) Donald Trump says he doesnt want tariffs on China to go higher fearing trade halt I may want to go to less because, you know, you want people to buy. Donald Trump says he doesnt want tariffs on China to go higher fearing trade halt, latest news: US President Donald Trump said he was reluctant to keep increasing tariffs on China, warning that it could lead to a complete halt in trade between the two countries. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday during a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Trump said, At a certain point, I dont want them to go higher because at a certain point, you make it where people dont buy. So I may not want to go higher, or I may not want to even go up to that level, the Hindustan Times reported, citing Bloomberg. He further added, I may want to go to less because, you know, you want people to buy. Advertisement During the media interaction, Trump also claimed that Beijing had been reaching out to him in an attempt to broker a deal between the two nations. I have a very good relationship with President Xi, and I think its going to continue. And I would say they have reached out a number of times, he said. Trumps administration had earlier announced sweeping new tariffs of up to 245% on Tuesday. In response, China had already imposed a 125% levy on US goods and stated that it would not raise tariffs further, even if the US does. China has also filed a lawsuit against the United States with the World Trade Organization (WTO) over the new tariff measures. ( For more news apart from, 'Donald Trump says he doesnt want tariffs on China to go higher fearing trade halt, Stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) US Air Strikes Kill 38 in Yemen, One of the Deadliest Attacks, Says Al Jazeera The first four air raids were waged while people were working US Air Strikes Kill 38 in Yemen, One of the Deadliest Attacks, Says Al Jazeera, Latest News: Air strikes by the United States on Thursday killed at least 38 people, making it one of the deadliest attacks on Yemen by US forces, Al Jazeera reported, citing Houthi-affiliated media. Additionally, 102 people were injured in the strikes, Al Masirah TV reported, quoting Yemens Hodeidah Health Office. Advertisement The US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated on social media that US forces took action to eliminate this source of fuel for the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists, adding, The objective of these strikes was to degrade the economic source of power of the Houthis. According to Al Jazeera correspondent Mohammed al-Attab reporting from Yemens capital, Sanaa, the US strikes reportedly hit several locations, with the main focus being the Ras Isa oil port. The first four air raids were waged while people were working, he said. The report noted that nearly 70 percent of Yemens imports and 80 percent of its humanitarian aid pass through the ports of Ras Isa, Hodeidah, and As-Salif. Al Masirah TV also shared video footage on social media showing the aftermath of the strike, with a caption in Arabic describing it as the US aggressions crime targeting the Ras Isa oil port, resulting in a number of martyrs and dozens of port workers and employees being injured. Advertisement According to Al Jazeera, this attack marks the deadliest US strike on the Houthis since President Donald Trump took office in January 2025. The report also cited Houthi officials claiming that 50 people were killed in a two-day US attack in March. The United Nations Development Programme described the Ras Isa oil facility as critical and irreplaceable infrastructure for Yemen. Houthi official Mohammed Nasser al-Atifi, quoted by Al Masirah TV, said the American enemys crimes will not deter the Yemeni people from supporting Gaza, but rather will strengthen their steadfastness and resilience, according to the report. Advertisement Hours after the deadly US air strikes, Israel reported intercepting a missile launched from Yemen. Since November 2023, the Houthis have carried out over 100 attacks on vessels they claim are linked to Israel, in retaliation for the war on Gaza. The US has warned that its military actions will continue unless the Houthis stop targeting ships in the Red Sea, the report said. The Houthis have targeted commercial vessels in the Red Sea a vital trade route handling around 12% of global shipping disrupting international maritime traffic. The US, citing threats to global trade and regional stability, has responded with airstrikes on militant groups like the Houthis and Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), framing them as preemptive or retaliatory counterterrorism measures. The Houthis, in turn, justify their attacks as retaliation for US and allied support for Israel in the Gaza conflict and in response to ongoing blockades and military pressure. ( For more news apart from, 'US Air Strikes Kill 38 in Yemen, One of the Deadliest Attacks, Says Al Jazeera, Stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) April 18, 2025 A roundup of local and world news Newsflash Newsroom, 18.04.2025, 13:55 EASTER Orthodox and Catholic Christians today observe Good Friday, when they commemorate Christs death on the cross. According to theology experts, Good Friday is the day when Jesus Christ experienced the most tragic of human experiences: death. He was crucified between two thieves, unjustly accused of blasphemy and resistance to Roman authority. According to the Gospels, when Jesus gave up his spirit on the cross, the earth shook and the sky darkened. EASTER BREAK Around 24,600 employees of the Romanian interior ministry will be mobilised every day to streamline traffic, ensure rapid response in emergency situations, prevent and combat illegal actions and save lives during the Easter break. Interior ministry personnel will be monitoring 14,150 places of worship where religious services will be held, attended by approximately 2,332,000 people, the interior ministry spokesperson Monica Dajbog said. In order to prevent fires and other emergencies, fire-fighters have recently inspected churches, accommodation units and other sites that are crowded during the holidays. In April alone, over 1,500 such inspections were carried out to check compliance with fire prevention measures, and fines totalled approximately 1 million. Over 1,600 traffic police officers will be on duty on busy roads. Patrol units will operate with approximately 400 radar devices and devices that detect alcohol or prohibited substance users who threaten road safety. ELECTIONS The campaign for the presidential elections continues in Romania until May 3, on the eve of the first round of voting. There are 11 confirmed candidacies submitted to the Central Electoral Bureau (BEC). Four candidates run independently and 7 others are supported by parties or alliances. Under the Constitution, the president of Romania is elected by universal, equal, direct, secret and freely expressed vote. The candidate who gets a majority of the votes cast by the voters registered on electoral lists in the first round of voting, is declared elected. If none of the candidates has obtained a majority, a second round of voting is held on May 18, between the top two candidates by the number of votes carried in the first round. EXERCISE Over May 5-23, approximately 4,000 military personnel and 913 military equipment and systems from 10 NATO states (Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Italy, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal and Romania) will take part in the DACIAN SPRING 2025 (DASP 25) multinational exercise organised in Romania. The exercise is planned and led by the Multinational Division South-East Command (HQ MND-SE) and will take place simultaneously in several training centres. Dacian Spring 25 is attended by all structures of the Romanian Army land, air, naval, and cyber forces, along with personnel from the Multinational Brigade South-East Command and Allied troops. The main goal is to test collective defence operations and strengthen the integration of participating forces into the command and control structures of the Multinational Division South-East Command. For the first time, a Belgian manoeuvre battalion will be deployed in Romania. COMMEMORATION Romanian troops who died in the line of duty on the Western Front in World War II will be commemorated between April 22 and 28 in 4 cemeteries of honour in the country and abroad, the Romanian defence ministry announced. The events will take place at the Cemetery of Honour of Romanian World War II Heroes in Oarba de Mures, at the Romanian Heroes Plot of Honour in Budapest, Hungary, at the Romanian Heroes Cemetery of Honour in Zvolen, Slovakia, and at the Romanian Heroes Plot of Honour in the Central Cemetery in Brno, the Czech Republic. The ceremonies will be attended, among others, by members of the Romanian Parliament, the Defence General Staff, the National Office for the Cult of Heroes, the Joint Logistics Command and 4 soldiers wounded in theatres of operations, along with 12 military students. (AMP) April 18, 2025 UPDATE A roundup of local and world news Newsflash Newsroom, 18.04.2025, 20:00 EASTER The Holy Easter Light will be brought to Romania from Jerusalem, on Saturday evening, and will be offered to the church delegates present at the Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport. Subsequently, diocesan centers will distribute the Holy Light to each parish, the press office of the Romanian Patriarchate announced. This year too, the Holy Light will be taken from Bucharest to Chisinau, in the Republic of Moldova. Bringing and offering the Holy Light from Jerusalem to all parishes within the Romanian Patriarchate therefore constitutes both a testimony of ecclesial unity and a demonstration of the Easter joy shared on the occasion of the great feast of the Resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ, the Church emphasises. Inaugurated by Patriarch Daniel in 2009, the tradition of bringing the Holy Light from Jerusalem on Holy Saturday continues in the Centennial Year of the Romanian Patriarchate. EASTER BREAK Around 24,600 employees of the Romanian interior ministry will be mobilised every day to streamline traffic, ensure rapid response in emergency situations, prevent and combat illegal actions and save lives during the Easter break. Interior ministry personnel will be monitoring 14,150 places of worship where religious services will be held, attended by approximately 2,332,000 people, the interior ministry spokesperson Monica Dajbog said. In order to prevent fires and other emergencies, fire-fighters have recently inspected churches, accommodation units and other sites that are crowded during the holidays. In April alone, over 1,500 such inspections were carried out to check compliance with fire prevention measures, and fines totalled approximately 1 million. Over 1,600 traffic police officers will be on duty on busy roads. Patrol units will operate with approximately 400 radar devices and devices that detect alcohol or prohibited substance users who threaten road safety. ELECTIONS The campaign for the presidential elections continues in Romania until May 3, on the eve of the first round of voting. There are 11 confirmed candidacies submitted to the Central Electoral Bureau (BEC). Four candidates run independently and 7 others are supported by parties or alliances. Under the Constitution, the president of Romania is elected by universal, equal, direct, secret and freely expressed vote. The candidate who gets a majority of the votes cast by the voters registered on electoral lists in the first round of voting, is declared elected. If none of the candidates has obtained a majority, a second round of voting is held on May 18, between the top two candidates by the number of votes carried in the first round. EXERCISE Over May 5-23, approximately 4,000 military personnel and 913 military equipment and systems from 10 NATO states (Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Italy, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal and Romania) will take part in the DACIAN SPRING 2025 (DASP 25) multinational exercise organised in Romania. The exercise is planned and led by the Multinational Division South-East Command (HQ MND-SE) and will take place simultaneously in several training centres. Dacian Spring 25 is attended by all structures of the Romanian Army land, air, naval, and cyber forces, along with personnel from the Multinational Brigade South-East Command and Allied troops. The main goal is to test collective defence operations and strengthen the integration of participating forces into the command and control structures of the Multinational Division South-East Command. For the first time, a Belgian manoeuvre battalion will be deployed in Romania. LAWSUIT A Romanian woman living in the US recently won an important stage in a libel lawsuit filed against the giant Tesla, owned by the billionaire Elon Musk. The US Court of Appeals has accepted the reopening of the case, after the file had been dismissed by a lower court on procedural grounds, Western media write. In 2014, Cristina Balan was an important member of the Tesla team and reported a safety problem with the EV braking system. The company chose not to address the womans concerns and fired her instead. Since then, she has been fighting Tesla and Musk in court. ORGANISED CRIME Officers with the Romanian police structures fighting organised crime carried out over 400 operational actions in the first three months of the year, as a result of which 23 criminal groups, consisting of 173 people, were dismantled. According to a news release issued by the Romanian Police on Friday, 582 detention orders and 496 pre-trial arrest warrants were issued as part of criminal investigations coordinated by the anti-mafia prosecutors office. Also, 23 people were placed under house arrest and 150 under court supervision. In the first three months of the year, 1,311 home searches were conducted, and 1,505 people were investigated. (AMP) PHNOM PENH, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said here Thursday that building a China-Cambodia community with a shared future is a choice of history and the people. Xi made the remarks when meeting with Cambodian People's Party President and Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen. China and Cambodia are not only friendly neighbors but also ironclad friends, he said, noting that both countries are currently at a critical stage of national development. Xi said that the two sides should keep in mind the well-being of their people and the progress of humanity, strive to set an example for building a community with a shared future for mankind in the course of advancing their respective modernization endeavors, and join hands to become forces for peace, stability and progress in a world undergoing profound transformations unseen in a century. China believes that Cambodia's road to national development and revitalization will become wider and wider, and will, as always, support the Cambodian People's Party in leading the Cambodian people to maintain national stability and economic development, Xi said, adding that China supports Cambodia in playing a more important role in the regional and international arena. The Chinese president said that the two sides should make good use of the newly established "2+2" strategic dialogue mechanism between foreign ministers and defense ministers of the two countries to strengthen strategic coordination. The two sides should deepen practical cooperation across various fields, advance the construction of Cambodia's Industrial and Technological Corridor and Fish and Rice Corridor, and strengthen collaboration in energy, transportation and other key sectors, enabling Cambodia to share more in China's development opportunities, Xi said. Xi emphasized that China is willing to engage in exchanges and mutual learning with Cambodia on major issues such as strengthening party building and advancing reform and development, and to deepen friendly cooperation between the China's National People's Congress and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference with National Assembly and Senate of the Kingdom of Cambodia. Unilateralism and hegemonism receive no support of the people, Xi said. History has shown the unstoppable trend toward a multipolar world, economic globalization, and cultural diversity, Xi said, adding that no country wants to return to isolation. The trade wars undermine the multilateral trading system and disrupt global economic order, Xi said, urging all countries to unite and firmly keep the reins of national security and development in their own hands, uphold mutual respect, pursue win-win cooperation and common development, and work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind. As Asia embarks on a new journey of collective revitalization, Xi noted, China will continue to follow the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness and the policy of developing friendship and partnership with neighboring countries, maintain the continuity and stability of its neighborhood diplomacy, deepen friendly cooperation with neighboring countries, so as to share the fruits of Chinese modernization more widely across the region, promote the building of a community with a shared future with neighboring countries, and work together to advance Asia's modernization. For his part, Hun Sen said this visit is of great significance to Cambodia. Noting that China is Cambodia's most steadfast supporter and most reliable partner, Hun Sen said China's support has made significant contributions to Cambodia's economic and social development and improvement of people's lives, for which the Cambodian side expresses its deep gratitude. Cambodia firmly adheres to the one-China policy, supports China's positions on issues related to Taiwan, Xinjiang and Xizang, and opposes any forces' interference in China's internal affairs, he said. China and Cambodia are ironclad friends, and the two countries' decision to build a China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era will make further progress, promoting high-level, high-quality and high-standard development of bilateral relations, Hun Sen said. The two countries will always move forward hand in hand, stand together through thick and thin and share a common destiny, he added. Hun Sen said that Cambodia is willing to strengthen strategic security cooperation with China and expand bilateral trade. Cambodia welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest in the country, and will join hands with China to promote the deepening of people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and intensify the crackdown on online gambling and telecom fraud, he added. The Cambodian side highly appreciates China's constructive role in promoting world peace and sustainable development, and supports the Belt and Road cooperation and the three major global initiatives proposed by China, which are conducive to safeguarding the common interests of the international community and promoting world peace, security and stability, Hun Sen said. Trade wars and tariff wars have undermined the legitimate interests of all countries and triggered turmoil in the international situation, Hun Sen said, adding that Cambodia is willing to strengthen cooperation with China and jointly address various risks and challenges. Indias compact SUV segment in the 4.2 to 4.4 meter size range continues to witness intense competition in March 2025, with established leaders maintaining dominance and new entrants making a notable impact. Total sales for the segment stood at 51,416 units, showing a modest YoY growth of 2.75% over March 2024. Compact SUV Sales March 2025 Leading the segment, Hyundai Creta (including EV) recorded 18,059 units, up from 16,458 units last year, marking a 9.73% growth. Creta continues to be a top choice thanks to its updated styling, feature-rich variants, and strong brand equity. At second place, Maruti Grand Vitara sold 10,418 units, though this was a 7.25% decline YoY. Its sibling, Toyota HyRyder, also saw a dip of 11.38%, managing 5,286 units this March, indicating a cooling off in hybrid SUV demand. Kia Seltos dropped to 6,525 units, down 17.53% compared to March 2024. Tata Curvv sales were at 3,785 units. Meanwhile, Honda Elevate, after a strong initial few months, sold 2,475 units, down 24.47% YoY. Volkswagen Taigun held steady with 1,590 units, recording flat growth at 0.13%, while its cousin, the Skoda Kushaq, dropped 30.63% to just 897 units. In the EV space, MG ZS EV showed an encouraging 77.96% growth, with 856 units sold versus 481 units last year. However, Mahindra XUV400 EV fell to 238 units (down 32%), indicating mixed reception. Mahindras upcoming EV line, BE 6, registered 934 unitsa strong showing for a newly introduced model. MG Astor, once a promising player, dropped drastically to just 184 units, down 85.56% YoY, while Citroens Basalt Coupe SUV registered sales of 100 units. The C3 Aircross saw sales fall to 69 units, a 67.30% decline from March last year. Compact SUV Sales FY 2025 The segment closed FY 2025 on a positive note with total sales of 5,73,585 units, registering a YoY growth of 6.67% over FY 2024. While legacy models continued to dominate, newly launched SUVs such as the Tata Curvv and Mahindra BE 6 brought fresh momentum to this competitive space. At the top of the charts, Hyundai Creta (including Creta EV) recorded 1,94,871 units, up from 1,62,773 units in FY24 a strong 19.72% growth. Its midlife facelift, feature-rich lineup, and strong customer recall helped Creta maintain its commanding position. In second place, Maruti Grand Vitara registered 1,23,946 units, marginally improving over last years 1,21,169 units, marking a 2.29% growth. On the other hand, its cousin, the Toyota HyRyder, saw a healthy 23.45% jump, ending the fiscal with 60,388 units, up from 48,916 units. A major highlight of FY25 was the arrival of Tata Curvv, launched in August 2024. With 34,019 units sold in less than eight months, Curvv made a solid debut in both ICE and EV formats, quickly becoming a go-to option for buyers seeking modern design and tech. Kia Seltos, however, witnessed a sharp decline. Sales dropped by 27.69%, falling to 72,618 units, down from 1,00,423 units in FY24. Similarly, Honda Elevate, which had a strong start, ended FY25 with 22,321 units, a 33.65% drop compared to 33,642 units last year. Among European players, Volkswagen Taigun posted a marginal decline of 2.81% with 19,910 units, while Skoda Kushaq fell by 25.80% to 17,358 units. MG Astor also recorded a dip of 22.16%, ending with 8,227 units. In the electric space, MG ZS EV grew 11.81%, with 7,042 units sold, while Mahindra XUV400 EV declined slightly by 6.82% to 7,675 units. A new addition to this EV segment was Mahindra BE 6, which entered production in January 2025 and clocked 2,625 units in its first quarter. Citroens coupe SUV Basalt, launched in August 2024, saw 1,465 units, while the C3 Aircross fell sharply to just 1,120 units, down 38.86% YoY. The North Dakota Senate passed the first of two competing education savings account bills on Thursday. House Bill 1540 passed in the Senate in a 27-20 vote after roughly an hour of discussion and two attempted floor amendments -- one of which was successful. The Senate has changed the Houses version of the bill to clarify the procedures by which the Bank of North Dakota will administer the ESA program and institute a graduated distribution of ESA funding based on a households income. Under the Senate version, households that have an annual income less than or equal to 200% of the federal poverty line would be eligible to receive 35% of the state's per-pupil payment amount, or roughly $3,900 to be used on qualified educational expenses. Those that fall between 200% and 400% would be eligible to receive 20% of the state's per-pupil payment amount, or roughly $2,200, and those whose household incomes fall at 400% or more of the federal poverty line would be eligible to receive 10% of the state's per-pupil payment amount, or roughly $1,107. A per-pupil payment is a dollar amount guaranteed to every school district in North Dakota for each student they have in their district. It is a combination of state aid money and local tax dollars. The 2025 per-pupil payment is $11,072. The Senates amendments cut the cost of the bill roughly in half. Parents would only be able to set up an ESA if their child is not enrolled in public school or homeschooled, according to Sen. Michelle Axtman, R-Bismarck. Several Senators expressed their support for school choice but felt this bill was the wrong vehicle for school choice or had problems that were not yet solved. If this goes forward, I hope it goes to conference committee because this bill needs a lot of work to make it workable I'm not against the ESAs and school choice, I think, but it needs to be a true choice for the kids and the parents, and it should be available to every kid in the state, regardless where they're at, Sen. Donald Schaible, R-Mott, said. Others agreed that the narrow focus of the bill would not benefit the students in their district. Sen. Janne Myrdal, R-Edinburg, told reporters that there are no private schools in her district so this bill would not help her constituents. I've been weighing this very heavily because I fully support ESAs that fully support school choice, Myrdal said on the floor. Can we improve on just about everything in any of our public services? You bet, and we should strive to do so. But I can't, in true conscience, stand here today to vote for a vehicle that doesn't give any power to the parents in my district. Other senators spoke to the benefits provided by private schools and argued that the program would save the state money. Sen. Jonathan Sickler, R-Grand Forks, said he has seen the Legislature appropriate many hundreds of millions of dollars to support private entities -- including grants for day care centers, tax incentives for the oil and gas industry, value-added agriculture and forgivable loans to hospitals and nursing homes -- so he questioned why private education should be any different. As a Legislature, we make these investments in private entities because we believe there will be a public payoff that will benefit all North Dakotans, Sickler said. Why should that standard be any different when it comes to private school students? Why should private school students alone be exempt from public money? Sen. Justin Gerhardt, R-Mandan, expressed frustration with what he said is a common argument from other lawmakers -- that they wont support the bill because it wouldnt benefit their district. The rural areas really kind of dishearten me when I have those conversations with fellow lawmakers about (how) this doesn't do anything for them in their district, because they currently don't have a private school in their district, Gerhardt said. Maybe I've been going about this legislative session incorrectly. When I sit here and push my green and red buttons, I don't sit here and go, What does this do for my district? I don't have any ag land in my district. I don't vote against every ag bill that's out there, though, because I think good ag policy benefits the whole state. I think a good school choice policy benefits the whole state. Myrdal spoke on the floor a second time, saying that after her initial remarks she received some not-so-friendly texts and emails from lawmakers and others about her decision to vote no on the bill, and she clarified her position. I'm voting 'no' because there's another vehicle coming that I actually co-sponsored that I think is a better vehicle for parents in all districts in our state, Myrdal said. "So the argument that rural seems to be spoiled on all kinds of things, and the arguments I'm hearing now from certain colleagues that they won't vote for ag things anymore because of this vote, I think, is kind of laughable and disrespectful. Senate Bill 2400, introduced by Axtman, is still alive in the House and would make all students in North Dakota eligible for an ESA. However, it has a heftier price tag than HB 1540. Axtman said she is going to continue to push for the bill because her goal is still a very comprehensive ESA that affects truly all students in North Dakota." Rep. Ben Koppelman, R-West Fargo, who introduced HB 1540, said he prefers the version of the bill that the House passed because it would have provided more money to families whose income falls within 200% to 400% of the poverty line. I think that I was fine with what came out of policy committee. Yes, I was a little disappointed to reduce the money to about half of what it was before but we've got to start somewhere, Koppelman said. In the grand scheme of things, I think this is something that hopefully the governor will sign. HB 1540 now goes back to the House for a vote of concurrence. The House passed its version of the bill in a 51-39 vote. NASAs Curiosity rover has found evidence of a carbon cycle on ancient Mars, bringing scientists closer to an answer on whether the planet was ever capable of supporting life. Planetary researchers have long believed that Mars once had a thick, carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere and liquid water on the planets surface. That carbon dioxide and water should have reacted with Martian rocks to create carbonate minerals. Until now, though, rover missions and near-infrared spectroscopy analysis from Mars-orbiting satellites havent found the amounts of carbonate on the planets surface predicted by this theory. We are ultimately trying to determine whether Mars was ever capable of supporting life and our latest paper brings us closer to an answer, said lead author Dr. Benjamin Tutolo, a researcher at the University of Calgary. It tells us that the planet was habitable and that the models for habitability are correct. Using data collected by Curiosity, Dr. Tutolo and his colleagues analyzed the composition of an 89-m stratigraphic section of Gale crater which once contained an ancient lake. They identified an iron carbonate mineral called siderite in high concentrations ranging from approximately 5% to over 10% by weight within magnesium sulfate-rich layers. This was unexpected, because orbital measurements had not detected carbonates in these layers. Given its provenance and chemistry, the researchers infer that the siderite formed by water-rock reactions and evaporation, indicating that carbon dioxide was chemically sequestered from the Martian atmosphere into the sedimentary rocks. If the mineral composition of these sulfate layers is representative of sulfate-rich regions globally, those deposits contain a large, previously unrecognized carbon reservoir. The carbonates have been partially destroyed by later processes, indicating that some of the carbon dioxide was later returned to the atmosphere, forming a carbon cycle. The discovery of abundant siderite in Gale crater represents both a surprising and important breakthrough in our understanding of the geologic and atmospheric evolution of Mars, Dr. Tutolo said. Drilling through the layered Martian surface is like going through a history book, added co-author Dr. Thomas Bristow, a researcher at NASAs Ames Research Center. Just a few centimeters down gives us a good idea of the minerals that formed at or close to the surface around 3.5 billion years ago. The findings appear in the journal Science. _____ Benjamin M. Tutolo et al. 2025. Carbonates identified by the Curiosity rover indicate a carbon cycle operated on ancient Mars. Science 388 (6744): 292-297; doi: 10.1126/science.ado9966 CRCHUM researcher Sophie Petropoulos and her team reveal for the first time that the guinea pig pre-implantation embryo is very similar to the human embryo, spurring a better understanding of infertility and early human development. The first few days of a human embryo's development, known as pre-implantation, are important. It's when the first cells are formed, and these decide if the embryo can survive, how it will implant in the womb and how the tissues of the fetus will develop. Today there are still logistical, ethical and legal limitations to using human embryos for research purposes, so scientists use alternative models including stem cell-based and animal models. In a new study published in Nature Cell Biology, Sophie Petropoulos, a researcher at both Universite de Montreal's affiliated hospital research centre, the CRCHUM, and the Karolinska Institutet, in Sweden, shows that guinea pigs can serve as a reliable and robust small animal model to enhance our understanding of two key areas of research: comparative biology and human embryogenesis. The guinea pig has long been used for studies in developmental biology and is very similar to humans in terms of general physiology. It is also the only small animal that, in females, goes through a full estrous cycle as women do, undergoes a similar implantation process and develops similar placentas. "Despite these noted similarities, preimplantation development had not been studied," said Petropoulos, an associate professor at UdeM and holder of a Canada Research Chair in Functional Genomics of Reproduction and Development. "Our lab is focused on understanding infertility and early human development, so we wanted to identify a model that we could use to answer our questions." A complete atlas of genes "In our study, we used a technique known as single-cell RNA sequencing to produce a complete atlas of the genes involved in the guinea pig pre-implantation development, and examined their timing and expression. We also inhibited and activated signalling pathways to see how these genes could affect embryo development" she said. "When we compared the development of the guinea pig embryo to our previous work, we were very surprised by its striking resemblance to early human embryogenesis." That discovery opens new possibilities for understanding women's infertility and for developing therapeutics to help ensure a healthy pregnancy, said Petropoulos, who was aided in her study by itstwo first authors: Jesica Romina Canizo, a research associate in Petropoulos' lab at the CRCHUM, and Cheng Zhao, a research specialist in her lab at the Karolinska Institutet. "The guinea pig model can help scientists understand how early exposure to drugs or environmental disruptions affect the health outcomes for babies in the long term, or why some women have recurring implantation failure," Petropoulos said. She and her team have now started to study post-implantation embryo development and gastrulation, during which all the organs and tissues of the human body are formed. With 80 per cent of pregnancy failures occurring in the first trimester, scientists are keen to understand this period of human development, known as the "black box." In the long term, the guinea pig preimplantation embryo model might provide extremely useful information about the best conditions for the development of healthy embryos and fetuses, Petropoulos and her team believe. This could help to improve fertility treatments and assist reproductive technologies. An international team of scientists and crew on board Schmidt Ocean Institute's research vessel Falkor (too) was the first to film the colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) in its natural environment. The 30-centimeter juvenile squid (nearly one foot long) was captured on video at a depth of 600 meters (1968 feet) by the Institute's remotely operated vehicle (ROV) SuBastian. The sighting occurred on March 9 on an expedition near the South Sandwich Islands in the South Atlantic Ocean. This year is the 100-year anniversary of the identification and formal naming of the colossal squid, a member of the glass squid family (Cranchiidae). Additionally, on January 25 a team on the previous Falkor (too) expedition filmed the first confirmed footage of the glacial glass squid (Galiteuthis glacialis) in the Southern Ocean near Antarctica. G. glacialis is another glass squid species that has never been seen alive in its natural environment before. The 35-day expedition that captured the footage of the colossal squid was an Ocean Census flagship expedition searching for new marine life -- a collaboration between Schmidt Ocean Institute, the Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census, and GoSouth, a joint project between the University of Plymouth (UK), GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research (Germany), and the British Antarctic Survey."It's exciting to see the first in situ footage of a juvenile colossal and humbling to think that they have no idea that humans exist," said Dr. Kat Bolstad of the Auckland University of Technology, one of the independent scientific experts the team consulted to verify the footage. "For 100 years, we have mainly encountered them as prey remains in whale and seabird stomachs and as predators of harvested toothfish." Colossal squid are estimated to grow up to seven meters (23 feet) in length and can weigh as much as 500 kilograms (1100 lbs), making them the heaviest invertebrate on the planet. Little is known about the colossal squid's life cycle, but eventually, they lose the see-through appearance of the juveniles. Dying adults have previously been filmed by fishermen, but have never been seen alive at depth. Dr. Aaron Evans, another independent expert on the glass squid family, also confirmed the footage of both squids. Bolstad and Evans said one of the most distinguishing characteristics of colossal squid is the presence of hooks on the middle of their eight arms, which help differentiate them from G. glacialis. Otherwise juvenile colossal squid and G. glacialis are similar, with transparent bodies and sharp hooks at the end of their two longer tentacles. "It's incredible that we can leverage the power of the taxonomic community through R/V Falkor (too) telepresence while we are out at sea," said the expedition's chief scientist, Dr. Michelle Taylor of the University of Essex, who led The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census team on the South Sandwich Islands expedition. "The Ocean Census international science network is proud to work together with the Schmidt Ocean Institute to accelerate species discovery and expand our knowledge of ocean life, live online with the world's science community." The first confirmed footage of the G. glacialis was filmed in the Bellingshausen Sea near Antarctica during the Schmidt Ocean Institute's January expedition, which examined the seafloor after an iceberg the size of Chicago calved from the George VI ice shelf. On board was deep-sea expert Dr. Thom Linley from the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, who alerted his colleague, Bolstad, as he watched the ROV footage from the vessel's mission control room. In the footage, taken at 687 meters (2254 feet), the transparent G. glacialis positions its arms loosely above its head, similar to the cockatoo pose commonly observed in other glass squids. "The first sighting of two different squids on back-to-back expeditions is remarkable and shows how little we have seen of the magnificent inhabitants of the Southern Ocean," said Schmidt Ocean Institute's executive director, Dr. Jyotika Virmani. "Fortunately, we caught enough high-resolution imagery of these creatures to allow the global experts, who were not on the vessel, to identify both species." To date, the Schmidt Ocean Institute's ROV SuBastian has captured the first confirmed footage of at least four squid species in the wild, including the Spirula spirula (Ram's Horn Squid) in 2020 and the Promachoteuthis in 2024, with one more first sighting yet to be confirmed. "These unforgettable moments continue to remind us that the Ocean is brimming with mysteries yet to be solved," Virmani said. Knots are generally understood to form due to twists and turns of long, flexible materials that keep shoes on your feet or frustrate your attempts at hanging holiday decorations. A beam of light doesn't sound like a material that can create a knot. But it is. Imagine throwing several rocks into a pond all at once. At a certain point on the water's surface, the resulting ripple rings would all mix to form a complex pattern. Now imagine being able to control the shape and speed of each ring. With enough planning, you could get that mesh point to form complex shapes in 3D on demand. For the past few years, researchers have essentially been doing this with light. By overlapping several laser beams with specific properties and directing them through a series of lenses, interference patterns can form a stationary "optical knot" that looks something like a complex web of smoke rings at a desired point in space. Now, engineers at Duke University have demonstrated a sort of holographic strip that splits a single laser beam into five bespoke beams that create an optical knot. Published in a series of papers in Nature Communications and Photonics Research, the work shows that optical knots could be used as a reliable method to transmit encoded information or to measure turbulence in pockets of air. The team was able to show that information embedded into these optical knots can survive the constituent lasers traveling through turbulent air -- but not as easily as scientists originally believed. "People thought that because these shapes are mathematically stable objects, they should be able to be transmitted through complex environments without any complications," said Natalia Litchinitser, professor of electrical and computer engineering at Duke. "As it turns out, they're not guaranteed to be stable, but we can make them more stable." To produce this result, the researchers had to essentially use a small convection oven. While it is possible to simulate a laser traveling through turbulence with the use of fiber optic devices, the team wanted to replicate the real thing over a long distance. But while their collaborators in South Africa have a set up spanning two separate buildings, the Duke team was relegated to a single dining-room-sized table. "We used a small toaster-oven-sized device with a hot plate in the bottom and fans to create air turbulence," explained Danilo Gomes Pires, a postdoctoral scientist working in Litchinitser's lab. "Then we shrunk the light beam and bounced it off several mirrors to mimic it traveling almost 1,000 feet." If the laser beams were unperturbed by their journey, the resulting knot should have looked like one continuous, flowing string with three loops. But instead, the researchers found that, as the turbulence got more intense, the knot was more likely to devolve into two interconnected rings or even a single ring, losing any of the information it contained. But they also discovered that this degradation was not inevitable, and that they could make the knot stable for longer. By adding more squiggles to its otherwise smooth features -- like building a complicated twisting and turning waterslide instead of a simple winding ride -- they created more reference points to measure within a given plane. [picture at end to help illustrate] While tying optical knots is still a technology in its infancy -- they were only discovered about two decades ago -- it has several potential applications. Information could be encoded into their shapes and transmitted over long distances. Measuring how much the knot is disrupted by its travels could also lead to ways to measure the amount of turbulence it passed through. Researchers also believe that the intricacies of the resulting knots could be used to trap and manipulate tiny particles in 3D space. "Before we can actually use optical knots for any kind of application, we have to really study them and understand how they behave," Litchinitser said. "Ours is the first demonstration of propagating through real turbulence, so from here we can take the next step and scale it up to continue exploring how these work in free space." This work was supported by the Office of Naval Research (N00014-20-2558) and the Army Research Office (W911NF2310057). A research team has decoded the genome of historic potato cultivars and used this resource to develop an efficient method for analysis of hundreds of additional potato genomes. Potatoes are a staple food for over 1.3 billion people. But despite their importance for global food security, breeding successes have been modest. Some of the most popular potato cultivars were bred many decades ago. The reason for this limited success is the complex genome of the potato: there are four copies of the genome in each cell instead of just two. This challenges traditional hybridization-based breeding. A team led by Professor Korbinian Schneeberger, head of the Genome Plasticity and Computational Genetics research group at LMU and the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, has now made an important breakthrough. As the researchers report in the journal Nature, they were able to reconstruct the genome of ten historic potato cultivars. They then used this knowledge to develop a method that would make it much easier and faster to reconstruct further potato genomes. In collaboration with researchers from Wageningen University, the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) in Gro Lusewitz, and the Xi'an Jiaotong University in China, the team selected historical varieties, some of which were already cultivated in the 18th century. "Since these potatoes come from a time when European breeding programs were beginning, we wanted to figure out how much diversity exists in these potatoes in order to understand the genetic potential of our potatoes," says Schneeberger. The answer was: not very much. The genetic pool of the potato is extremely limited. The ten potato varieties covered around 85 percent of the genetic variability of all modern European potatoes. Bottleneck effects after introduction from South America The researchers attribute their findings to bottleneck effects. Potatoes were imported from South America from the 16th century onward. The number of different individuals was low and most were unable to cope with the European conditions. This reduced gene pool was then further reduced by diseases. The most famous example is the potato late blight outbreak of the 1840s, which caused harvests to collapse and led to catastrophic famines, most notably in Ireland but also in the rest of Europe. At the same time, the study revealed -- to the surprise of the researchers -- that the differences between individual chromosome copies can be huge. "Because the gene pool is so limited, there aren't many different chromosomes, but when the chromosomes do differ, they diverge to an extent never before observed in domesticated plants," explains Schneeberger. "The differences are about twenty times greater than in humans." These differences presumably arose before the arrival of the potato in Europe. The indigenous peoples of South America started to domesticate potatoes about 10,000 years ago, and the differences are likely the result of crossing between wild species. Finally, the researchers developed a novel approach that can be used to analyze the genomes of the around 2,000 potatoes registered with the European Union. Instead of laboriously generating the data needed to reconstruct a genome, easily generated data are compared with the currently known genomes to determine which of the known chromosomes are present in a cultivar. The researchers showed that their approach works with the Russet Burbank cultivar, which has existed since 1908 and is still the standard variety for French fries to day. "Knowledge of genome sequences forms the basis for many approaches in plant breeding, from traditional breeding to the latest methods of genome engineering," says Schneeberger. "In future, we won't have to work without this information anymore." The compound -- TiMnBi -- becomes only the second known metallic system with confirmed one-dimensional magnetism. A study by researchers from the University of British Columbia's Blusson Quantum Matter Institute (UBC Blusson QMI) has found a rare form of one-dimensional quantum magnetism in the metallic compound TiMnBi, offering evidence into a phase space that has remained, until now, largely theoretical. The study, published in Nature Materials, comes at a time of growing global interest in quantum materials that redefine the boundaries between magnetism, conductivity, and quantum coherence. "We proved the existence of a new class of quantum materials that are both metallic and one-dimensional magnets, with strong coupling between the magnetic moments and their metallic host," said UBC Blusson QMI Investigator Prof. Meigan Aronson. "Virtually all spin chain systems studied so far are insulators that ultimately become three-dimensional at low temperature due to coupling among the chains. This means that the hallmark instabilities of quantum metals: superconductivity, metal-insulator transitions, and also the origin of magnetism itself have not yet been established in systems that are truly one-dimensional, either experimentally, or (to a lesser extent) by theory," Prof. Aronson said. A spin chain is a one-dimensional arrangement of tiny magnets, called spins, that interact with one another. Using neutron scattering measurements complemented by Density Matrix Renormalization Group (DMRG) and electronic structure calculations, the team was able to show that Ti 4 MnBi 2 is a realization of a very particular physical model consisting of spin chains where the interactions among the spins are highly frustrated, leading to a rich array of ordered phases that only exist at zero temperature. Unlike three-dimensional systems that order at nonzero temperatures, one-dimensional systems like TiMnBi do not undergo true ordering due to strong quantum fluctuations that dominate most measurable quantities. TiMnBi is only the second known metallic system with confirmed one-dimensional magnetism (the other is Yb 2 Pt 2 Pb), and the first in which the magnetism and metallic host are strongly entangled. "By proving that this middle ground exists, TiMnBi presents an important step towards establishing a broad quantum landscape ripe for exploration. It is possible that the excellent correspondence between experiment and computational theory that we have demonstrated might serve as a benchmark for quantum simulations. In particular, we are interested in using the neutron scattering results as a basis for comparison to different theoretical measures of quantum entanglement," Prof. Aronson said. The study was made possible by the collaborative expertise housed within UBC Blusson QMI. On the experimental front, the team included Dr. Xiyang Li and Dr. Mohamed Oudah, while theoretical modeling and analysis were led by Scientific Staff Dr. Alberto Nocera and Dr. Kateryna Foyevtsova, as well as Investigators Prof. George Sawatzky and Prof. Meigan Aronson. The neutron scattering experiments, which were critical to identifying the quantum spin behavior, were conducted using the instruments at J-PARC in Japan. By bridging the gap between traditional magnetic insulators and more complex electronic systems, the study opens new avenues for advancements in spintronics and quantum computing. "Our work represents an ideal testbed for quantum advantage demonstrations within the context of quantum analog simulation. It also offers insights that could be useful for the development of unique magnetic memories with high density and speed," said UBC Blusson QMI Staff Scientist Dr. Alberto Nocera. "We grew more than 100 batches of high-quality single crystals of this material, with more than 400 crystals co-aligned for use in the neutron scattering experiments," said Dr. Xiyang Li, the study's first author and a postdoctoral researcher at UBC Blusson QMI. "Our results unlock new opportunities to further explore new material systems with exciting applications for emerging quantum technologies." Three consecutive years of drought contributed to the 'Barbarian Conspiracy', a pivotal moment in the history of Roman Britain, a new Cambridge-led study reveals. Researchers argue that Picts, Scotti and Saxons took advantage of famine and societal breakdown caused by an extreme period of drought to inflict crushing blows on weakened Roman defences in 367 CE. While Rome eventually restored order, some historians argue that the province never fully recovered. The 'Barbarian Conspiracy' of 367 CE was one of the most severe threats to Rome's hold on Britain since the Boudiccan revolt three centuries earlier. Contemporary sources indicate that components of the garrison on Hadrian's wall rebelled and allowed the Picts to attack the Roman province by land and sea. Simultaneously, the Scotti from modern-day Ireland invaded broadly in the west, and Saxons from the continent landed in the south. Senior Roman commanders were captured or killed, and some soldiers reportedly deserted and joined the invaders. Throughout the spring and summer, small groups roamed and plundered the countryside. Britain's descent into anarchy was disastrous for Rome and it took two years for generals dispatched by Valentian I, Emperor of the Western Roman Empire, to restore order. The final remnants of official Roman administration left Britain some 40 years later around 410 CE. The University of Cambridge-led study, published in Climatic Change, used oak tree-ring records to reconstruct temperature and precipitation levels in southern Britain during and after the 'Barbarian Conspiracy' in 367 CE. Combining this data with surviving Roman accounts, the researchers argue that severe summer droughts in 364, 365 and 366 CE were a driving force in these pivotal events. First author Charles Norman, from Cambridge's Department of Geography, said: "We don't have much archaeological evidence for the 'Barbarian Conspiracy'. Written accounts from the period give some background, but our findings provide an explanation for the catalyst of this major event." The researchers found that southern Britain experienced an exceptional sequence of remarkably dry summers from 364 to 366 CE. In the period 350-500 CE, average monthly reconstructed rainfall in the main growing season (April-July) was 51 mm. But in 364 CE, it fell to just 29mm. 365 CE was even worse with 28mm, and 37mm the following year kept the area in crisis. Professor Ulf Buntgen, from Cambridge's Department of Geography, said: "Three consecutive droughts would have had a devastating impact on the productivity of Roman Britain's most important agricultural region. As Roman writers tell us, this resulted in food shortages with all of the destabilizing societal effects this brings." Between 1836-2024 CE, southern Britain only experienced droughts of a similar magnitude seven times -- mostly in recent decades, and none of these were consecutive, emphasising how exceptional these droughts were in Roman times. The researchers identified no other major droughts in southern Britain in the period 350-500 CE and found that other parts of northwestern Europe escaped these conditions. Roman Britain's main produce were crops like spelt wheat and six-row barley. Because the province had a wet climate, sowing these crops in spring was more viable than in winter, but this made them vulnerable to late spring and early summer moisture deficits, and early summer droughts could lead to total crop failure. The researchers point to surviving accounts written by Roman chroniclers to corroborate these drought-driven grain deficits. By 367 CE, Ammianus Marcellinus described the population of Britain as in the "utmost conditions of famine." "Drought from 364 to 366 CE would have impacted spring-sown crop growth substantially, triggering poor harvests," Charles Norman said. "This would have reduced the grain supply to Hadrian's Wall, providing a plausible motive for the rebellion there which allowed the Picts into northern Britain." The study suggests that given the crucial role of grain in the contract between soldiers and the army, grain deficits may have contributed to other desertions in this period, and therefore a general weakening of the Roman army in Britain. In addition, the geographic isolation of Roman Britain likely combined with the severity of the prolonged drought to reduce the ability of Rome to alleviate the deficits. Ultimately the researchers argue that military and societal breakdown in Roman Britain provided an ideal opportunity for peripheral tribes, including the Picts, Scotti and Saxons,to invade the province en masse with the intention of raiding rather than conquest. Their finding that the most severe conditions were restricted to southern Britain undermines the idea that famines in other provinces might have forced these tribes to invade. Andreas Rzepecki, from the Generaldirektion Kulturelles Erbe Rheinland-Pfalz, said: "Our findings align with the accounts of Roman chroniclers and the seemingly coordinated nature of the 'Conspiracy' suggests an organised movement of strong onto weak, rather than a more chaotic assault had the invaders been in a state of desperation." "The prolonged and extreme drought seems to have occurred during a particularly poor period for Roman Britain, in which food and military resources were being stripped for the Rhine frontier, while immigratory pressures increased." "These factors limited resilience, and meant a drought induced, partial-military rebellion and subsequent external invasion were able to overwhelm the weakened defences." The researchers expanded their climate-conflict analysis to the entire Roman Empire for the period 350-476 CE. They reconstructed the climate conditions immediately before and after 106 battles and found that a statistically significant number of battles were fought following dry years. Tatiana Bebchuk, from Cambridge's Department of Geography, said: "The relationship between climate and conflict is becoming increasingly clear in our own time so these findings aren't just important for historians. Extreme climate conditions lead to hunger, which can lead to societal challenges, which eventually lead to outright conflict." Charles Norman, Ulf Buntgen, Paul Krusic and Tatiana Bebchuk are based at the Department of Geography, University of Cambridge; Lothar Schwinden and Andreas Rzepecki are from the Generaldirektion Kulturelles Erbe Rheinland-Pfalz in Trier. Ulf Buntgen is also affiliated with the Global Change Research Institute, Czech Academy of Sciences and the Department of Geography, Masaryk University in Brno. Funding Charles Norman was supported by Wolfson College, University of Cambridge (John Hughes PhD Studentship). Ulf Buntgen received funding from the Czech Science Foundation (# 23-08049S; Hydro8), the ERC Advanced Grant (# 882727; Monostar), and the ERC Synergy Grant (# 101118880; Synergy-Plague). It starts with a gala opening night screening of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back with George Lucas in attendance and continues on a film journey through other fantastic worlds. The 16th annual Turner Classic Movie Classic Film Festival returns from April 24-27 in Hollywood with the theme of "Grand Illusions: Fantastic Worlds on Film," featuring an array of stars, movies, discussions and special events including rare movies shown in the 1950s widescreen format of VistaVision. Some of those fantastic worlds will be seen in such films as 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) with Keir Dullea in attendance; Blade Runner (1982) with actress Sean Young; the magical Gene Kelly musical Brigadoon (1954) with actors George Chakiris and Barrie Chase; the sci-fi film Earth vs. the Flying Saucers (1956) introduced by director Joe Dante; Spirited Away (2001), and The Time Machine (1960). Highlights include a hand and footprint ceremony honoring Michelle Pfeiffer on April 24, a few hours before the actress speaks before a showing of The Fabulous Baker Boys; filmmaker Michael Mann in conversation before a 30th anniversary screening of his crime thriller Heat; and two appearances by director Rob Reiner, who will be joined by Kathy Bates at a showing of her Oscar-winning role in Misery and with screenwriter Aaron Sorkin to introduce their film The American President. The Robert Osborne Award, named in honor of TCMs original host, will be presented to George Stevens Jr. in recognition of a career that has celebrated and championed American film. After he is given the award on April 25 at the Egyptian Theatre, there will be a 4K restoration screening of his documentary George Stevens: A Filmmakers Journey, which he wrote and directed about his father, director George Stevens. Movie fans will have the chance to see films projected in VistaVision for the first time since the 1950s, according to TCM. Its in collaboration with Paramount, the studio that created VistaVision in the 1950s as its answer to other wide-screen formats such as Cinemascope. VistaVision projectors were specifically installed for the festival to allow the rare screenings of Were No Angels (1955) and Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957). Were No Angels will be introduced by Lol Crawley, the Oscar-winning cinematographer of The Brutalist. Crawley shot segments of that film in VistaVision. The 90th anniversary of the British Film Institutes National Archive will be celebrated through multiple screenings and special events including showings of Blithe Spirit (introduced by Christine Ebersole), Edge of the City and Mildred Pierce in an original 1945 nitrate release print. New 35mm prints of To Be or Not To Be and The Private Life of Henry VIII (with an introduction by BFI Head of Conservation Kieron Webb) will premiere at the fest. Also part of the BFI celebration is a 50th anniversary screening of Jaws shown in a pristine original 1975 Technicolor dye-transfer British release print; that screening will be attended by actress Lorraine Gary and CEO Ben Roberts. Roberts will also be in conversation during a presentation of "Across the Pond: Sights & Sounds of the British Film Institute in Club TCM at the Roosevelt Hotel. The festival also honors award-winning director and producer Michael Schultz whose lasting impact on film can be seen in such films as "Car Wash" and "The Last Dragon," which he will introduce at the festival. Schultz also will be in conversation at Club TCM. Oscar winners Ben Burtt and Craig Barron return with another highly anticipated special presentation, this time a showing of Colossus: The Forbin Project. Theyll be joined by a star of that film, Eric Braedon, best known for his Emmy Award-winning role on The Young & the Restless. TCM prime-time host Ben Mankiewicz again serves as official host of the festival and will appear alongside Jacqueline Stewart, Dave Karger, Alicia Malone and Eddie Muller. Movies will be screened in the TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX, TCL Chinese 6 Theatres, the Egyptian Theatre and El Capitan Theatre all within a few blocks of each other and near the host hotel, the Hollywood Roosevelt, which serves as a gathering spot for attendees and Club TCM where there are talks, special events and a gathering spot. For tickets and the full schedule, visit filmfestival.tcm.com. Autism Alliance of Michigan (AAoM) is working hard to move from raising autism awareness to fostering autism acceptance in its programs and events, like this session at its recent conference in Novi. Katie Oswald AAoM NAT Conference vendors include autistic artists and entrepreneurs. Allison Fedak AAoM has gone to great effort to make all parts of the autism community feel accepted and included at its conferences and events. On April 2, 2025, the current U.S. administration proclaimed World Autism Awareness Day. While the Autism Alliance of Michigan (AAoM) appreciated the designation of this important day, many in the autism community expected continued use of "awareness" for acceptance, which had been previously adopted to describe this day.The Autism Society of America first used "Acceptance" in place of "Awareness" in 2020. An autistic adult and self-advocate, Katie Oswald serves as executive director of the Full Spectrum Agency for Autistic Adults . She, too, perceived this as a step backwards in terms of inclusion and acceptance efforts that have been made for the autism community.It's not enough to be aware, Oswald says. "I can be aware that the rainforest exists, but being aware of it doesn't stop us from destroying it. It takes more than awareness to make real change.With input from Oswald and other autistic adults it serves, the Autism Alliance of Michigan (AAoM) is working hard to move from raising autism awareness to fostering autism acceptance. For one, AAoM promotes the use of both identity-first language, i.e., autistic adults or autistic children, and person-first language, i.e., "adults with autism or children who have autism. Ultimately, the individual or the caregiver has the choice to decide which language they prefer. Oswald prefers identity-first language.If you're somebody who's LGBTQ+, you wouldn't be ashamed to say I'm gay. You wouldn't say, I'm a person with gayness, Oswald says. With identity-first language, you can accept autism as part of who you are, as a positive or neutral thing about your identity. It's a point of pride to be able to say I'm autistic and not feel shame.Oswald feels that person-first language creates the idea that autism isnot part of who we are and is something that should be eliminated. She believes autism acceptance mutes the many negative messages that people hear about autism, messages that autistic individuals hear and often internalize from the time they are very young and sees the impact of this internalized ableism in many of the 2,000 autistic adults that Full Spectrum serves.That can even come out in what we call autistic self-hatred, she says. Positive messages about autism and speaking positively about it is really, really important. If kids grow up hearing a more positive message about what it means to be autistic, that who you are is not bad or flawed but comes with a different set of challenges, it's going to have a huge positive impact on them and the autistic community.Dr. Colleen Allen, AAoM president and CEO, adds that from the perspective of parents with profoundly affected children, the viewpoint may be different.The significant challenges presented by a child with severe, potentially harmful, escalating behavior or very complex medical conditions is one where a cure for autism is all they hope for, Allen says. Its less about pride and declaring autism as identity and more about recognizing the serious challenges that come with this medical diagnosis and pursuing critical therapies that allow for living a functional, supported life.AAoM also promotes autism acceptance through its Accessibility Statement . Oswald worked with AAoM leadership staff to develop the statement with input from Allison Fedak, an autistic adult and AAoMs graphic design coordinator, and Jenna Friedman, an AAoM intern. In short, the statement enlists everyone who becomes involved with AAoM to adopt an autistic/neurodivergent affirming mindset. This includes understanding the importance of language and recognizing and respecting sensory differences like stimming , touch and eye contact preferences, a need for sensory breaks, and varying communication modalities.Much of our accessibility statement affirms neurodiversity in the community, which is knowing the difference between difference and deficit, describing needs appropriately, and being able to accommodate them reasonably, and allowing stimming as a socially acceptable form of expression, because a lot of times people think that it's much more dangerous or scary than it actually is, Fedak says. Our accessibility statement aims to normalize the idiosyncrasies that come with autism rather than pathologize them.On the frontlines of AAoMs work, its MiNavigator program interfaces with autistic individuals, their families, and caregivers, connecting them with autism services, educational guidance, employment, and recreational opportunities. The Accessibility Statement provides the Navigators many of whom are neurotypical a framework developed by autistic individuals for autistic individuals.I've been working with the AAoM Navigators, and I know they like learning from autistic voices, which I think is great, Fedak says. If you're getting all of your input from non-autistic people, that doesn't really make sense when you're serving the autistic population.However, AAoM is also intentional about soliciting the critical input from caregivers of children who cannot speak for themselves, due to profound communication, cognitive, or behavioral challenges.Oswald notes that the impact of the statement was especially felt at AAoMs March 2025 Navigating Autism Today Conference in Novi.One of the challenges we saw was autistic people were coming to the Navigating Autism Today conference and not really feeling accepted there, she says. AAoM has made great efforts towards making everybody feel welcome and accepted. At the last conference, people were feeling more accepted and welcome all parts of the autistic population.Of course, autism acceptance must extend beyond organizations and gatherings geared towards autistic people. As with any minority population, autistic individuals deserve respect, equity, and support from their communities, whether that be at work, in school, at their places of worship, or when they are out and about in public spaces.Autistic people are here, and they're human, Fedak concludes. You're going to meet them in your daily life. It's a matter of being able to communicate accordingly with the people around you. Autism Alliance of Michigan (AAoM) was founded with the vision that people with autism will lead lives that meet their greatest potential. AAoM leads efforts to raise expectations and expand opportunities for people touched by autism across the lifespan. Analysts at Canaccord Genuity raised their target price on precious metals exploration group Hochschild Mining from 285.0p to 370.0p on Thursday as gold and silver prices continued to surge. Canaccord Genuity said that with the gold price now up over 25% year-to-date, it has now passed through its most recent commodity price revisions. "With our gold price revisions up 10-13% from 2025 to 2030 and our LT price up another 11%, we see substantial upside for HOC. We have increased our HOC 2025 and 2026 EBITDA forecasts by 17% and 15%, respectively. However, with the current spot price over US$3,300/oz, there is even further potential upside to our 2025 gold price forecast of US$3,024/oz," said Canaccord Genuity. The Canadian bank, which has a 'buy' rating on the stock, believes the excess cash flows generated on the back of rising precious metals prices will leave Hochschild's balance sheet in a strong position by year-end 2025, with only $12.0m of net debt now forecast. With Hochschild now forecast to move into a net cash position in early 2026 on its numbers, Canaccord sees excess cash flow both for potential early-stage funding of its MDC project in Brazil and further shareholder returns. Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com Amy Gerstler is the author of 15 poetry collections, including Scattered at Sea, longlisted for the National Book Award; Dearest Creature, a New York Times Notable Book; and Bitter Angel, winner of a National Book Critics Circle Award. A Guggenheim Fellowship recipient, she has also produced work for the stage in the form of a musical co-written with composer Steve Gunderson. Her latest collection, Is This My Final Form? (Penguin; reviewed in this issue), blends the quotidian and the surreal in its poems about metamorphosis, music, loss, nature, and Covid-19 lockdown. There's a wide tonal range here, with satire on the one hand and elegies on the other. How does that reflect the range of uses poetry can be turned to? Hooray for this question. Poetry is historically and contemporarily an INCREDIBLY nimble and capacious genre. From epigrams to epics, its modes and uses are infinite. Could it be the most protean of art forms? The theme of shapeshifting finds an echo in the question of poetic form. How do you seek to strike a balance between formal structures (like sonnets) and looseness? I don't know that I was looking for balance between formal structures and looseness so much as variety and/or the kind of range you mentioned earlier to manifest throughout the book. If I was going to try to loosely center this book around themes of transformation, then it seemed important that the forms as well as the content of the poems embody at least some degree of shape shifting. The first section of the book contains some poems about women behaving "badly" (thinking of Marigold and Mae West). How have you broken rules in your life and career, and what do these "bad girls" have to teach us? Cool question. I don't know if I would characterize the women in those poems as behaving badly, so much as acting boldly. And it's hard for me to say how I might have broken rules in my career, maybe because I don't think artmaking has rules. You get to make your own, which is one of its attractions. I think women who challenge norms and taboos, women who push back against gender strictures in their lives and work have EVERYTHING to teach us, always: about who humans can be, about freedom, strength, possibility, creativity, self-regard, progress, interdependence, mercy, empathy, joy, enlightenment, love, ethics, the erotic, on and on. That's why I'm endlessly interested in their voices. Parts of the collection arose from the Covid-19 lockdown experience. Did the constraints of that time fuel creativity for you in some ironic way? Early in the pandemic, during those few moments when I wasn't paralyzed with fear, I thought: Well, Amy, you are such a loner, and always longing for stretches of quiet, uninterrupted time to write, now maybe you can make use of this. You better! But I learned something about myself during lockdown. I really like to have control over when I am alone and when I see people! I don't thrive in imposed solitude at all! So sad as I am to admit this, I kind of fell apart and wasn't good for much in the initial few months of pandemic confinement. Eventually, I was able to adjust and get work done but it took much longer than I would have liked. I saw that you're based in Los Angeles. The recent fires must have been a tough time personally and collectively. What do you see as the duty of the artist in the wake of catastrophe? The fires were truly terrifying. So many people are now living in the aftermath of having lost homes, studios, artwork, writing, schools, whole neighborhoods, loved ones. In the wake of disaster, even during it (since current political calamities seem to be unfolding over protracted periods of time) I think the duty of the individual artist is to determine what they want to speak about through their work and the kinds of work they feel called to make (which is their duty at all times in my view!), and to support their fellow artists and fellow beings through their work and life. Animals have a strong presence in the book. What roles do other creatures play in your life and work? Seeing and knowing animals is one of the richest joys of being alive for me. Animals are sharers of the planet, capable of so much more than we give them credit for. I want my work to honor and explore expanded notions of creatureliness and who are sentient beings. So much can be learned from our fellow creatures. At times I have felt more at home with animals than people. I love that passage from Walt Whitman's Song of Myself pertaining to animals. It's way too sweeping and naive (re: the final line for example: of course there are unhappy animals!!) but I still love it: I think I could turn and live with animals, they are so placid and self-contain'd, I stand and look at them long and long. They do not sweat and whine about their condition, They do not lie awake in the dark and weep for their sins, They do not make me sick discussing their duty to God, Not one is dissatisfied, not one is demented with the mania of owning things, Not one kneels to another, nor to his kind that lived thousands of years ago, Not one is respectable or unhappy over the whole earth. You've also worked in other media (such as a musical), and there is a miniature play included in this collection. How do these different ventures nourish you artistically? The artists I admire most in all genres are constantly pushing themselves, making it new, so I have a hunger to emulate that. And I think most artists have a horror of getting stuck or repeating themselves. A perpetual student at heart, I love writing and literature intensely, so I want to explore those realms as much as I'm able within my one small allotted lifetime. One way to do that is through collaborating with artists in other fields or by attempting to work in genres new to me. --Rebecca Foster, freelance reviewer, proofreader, and blogger at Bookish Beck Sumitomo Rubber Industries has agreed to repay more than $500,000 in tax breaks it received over the last two years for projects in the Town of Tonawanda. The Erie County Industrial Development Agency moved to recapture some of the benefits it had granted to Sumitomo now that the company has closed its plant and cut 1,500 jobs. The agreement, which is subject to approval by the ECIDA board on April 23, claws back some of the incentives it provided to Sumitomo for expansion projects in 2017 and 2021. When Sumitomo closed, it violated job requirements that it had agreed to as a condition for receiving tax breaks. Most recently, the Japanese tiremaker was required to maintain at least 1,399 full-time equivalent positions under the terms of a 2021 incentive package. Through October, it was compliant, with 1,524 employees. But on Nov. 7, 2024, the company closed the manufacturing facility that made tires for cars, trucks, buses and motorcycles. A total of 1,380 workers have already been laid off, all but 135 of them within a week or less of the announcement. So the ECIDA notified the company that it was in default, and then terminated the benefit agreements going forward, putting the affected properties back on the tax rolls. And then the agency began deliberating whether and how to reclaim some of the benefits. Its important that when we have agreements, we provide benefits on the upfront basis, and when those dont happen, theres a process that we follow through to ensure that people are living up to the obligations that they make when we provide the incentives, said John Cappellino, CEO of ECIDA. Clawbacks of tax breaks by industrial development agencies remain unusual, although the ECIDA has moved to tighten its rules and enforcement. IDAs and other economic development agencies tend to be reluctant to be too harsh in penalizing companies, for fear of jeopardizing even more local jobs and investments by hurting the companys finances even more. But in this case, Sumitomo already has closed, leaving little downside for moving to recapture the tax breaks. The company had been one of the countys largest manufacturing employers. In 2017, Sumitomo was approved for $800,000 in property tax breaks and $245,000 in sales tax breaks for a $9.7 million project to construct a 35,000-square-foot expansion to double tire-making capacity. In 2021, it received $708,750 in sales tax relief and $1.05 million in property tax savings for a $126 million project to construct a 60,000-square-foot facility for new tire-building equipment and renovate 15,200 square feet of existing space, again nearly doubling its output. Sumitomo has been a good corporate citizen in Erie County for many decades. Up until late last year, we had met or exceeded all of our local commitments, including those with the ECIDA, Sumitomo Rubber USA Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Mary Kasprzak wrote in a letter to the ECIDA. However, given a number of severe adverse economic and financial factors, our operations at the plant were no longer sustainable and we were forced to cease operations. Sumitomo agreed to repay $60,215.39 in property tax savings that it had received last year, mostly for the Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda Union Free School District, but also for the Town of Tonawanda and a small portion for Erie County. Of that, $33,294 dates to property tax breaks approved by ECIDA in 2017, while the rest stems from a 2021 incentive package. Sumitomo is now also responsible for full property taxes for the remaining years of the two agreements, unless it sells the properties. The company also offered to contribute $442,000 to a local community benefit fund, to be used by the town and the school district. Thats equivalent to the $442,969 that would be owed on sales taxes for the past two years, under the legal terms of Sumitomos agreement with the ECIDA. While we strongly object to the concept of recapture of benefits, we recognize the relevant provisions in our ECIDA documents, Kasprzak wrote. According to the agreement, which is supported by the ECIDA policy committee, as well as town and school officials, the Ken-Ton School District would receive 55% of the contribution, or $243,633, which would be used to fund security at both Crosby and Adams fields during the year, so that they could be open to the public, even on weekends. The remaining 45%, or $199,336, would be used by the town to help pay for an environmental assessment study on its plans for Cherry Farm Recreational Park along the shore of the Niagara River. This project has been worked on for over 30 years and we believe it will be a big asset to the residents of our community, once the park is completed, Tonawanda Town Supervisor Joseph H. Emminger and Ken-Ton Superintendent Sabatino Cimato wrote in a joint letter to the ECIDA. We believe both of these projects make good use of the funds made available to both of our jurisdictions. 'As a main player on the world stage', India will surely be a contender if the size of the UN Security Council is raised to between 21 and 27 members, according to the Co-chair of the reform negotiations Tareq M.A.M. AlBanai. He said on Thursday, The goal of this reformed Council must be (that it is) representative and obviously, India is a main player on the world stage today. Surely if the decision is made that expansion of the council goes anywhere from 21 to 27 members, then surely India will be a contender in that, he added. But he also said that will be subject to the decision of the wider membership. AlBanai pointed out that the UN has 'a membership of 193 countries' and the consideration is (for it to be) representative for everybody and the whole membership of the United Nations. He recalled his visit to India last year with former Austrian Ambassador Alexander Marschik, who was then the co-chair of the negotiation process, and said he had conversations there at the highest level. AlBanai, the Permanent Representative of Kuwait, heads the reform process known formally as Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) and briefed reporters on the progress made. On an issue that India has been pressing the adoption of a negotiating text for the IGN he was confident that it would be adopted. A small group of countries known as Uniting for Consensus, which includes Pakistan and is led by Italy, opposes expanding permanent membership of the Council and prevents the adoption of a negotiating text to delay the reforms indefinitely. AlBanai said, Obviously, this process will lead us to text-based negotiations, because I think that is the least complicated part of this process. The most complicated part is to have consensus on what that text contains, and then putting it on paper is not really going to be that difficult to be honest with you, he said. AlBanai did not sound very hopeful that the reform would be completed soon. If I were to say we can finish this in a year, I would be misleading you, he said, because of the complexity of reforms that will be effective for the next 100 years. While AlBanai said that 2030 five years from now is a realistic target, he added the caveat, But I cant guarantee it by 2030 or any other year for that matter. Speaking of the difficulties in the way of the reform process, he said it is complex and requires patience, because whatever decisions we make, the process of amending the charter, if it requires amending the charter, is very complicated in and of itself. the United Nations and the world faces, he said. And the process needs to last with us for the next 100 years, at least, so that it can adapt to every possibility thatand the world faces, he said. So, lets hope that this process continues on a positive trajectory, which it has been for the last few years, he added. He said that an open 'structured dialogue' without 'artificial deadlines or barriers' will help bring about consensus on reforms. NITI Aayog CEO B. V. R. Subrahmanyam has shown immense confidence in India's demographic edge, making the country a key force in the global workforce and education sector. At an event, Subrahmanyam reiterated that India's youthful and increasing population would make it the world's largest provider of working-age people in the next few decades, a huge plus as developed nations grapple with declining populations. Subrahmanyam pointed out that for the first time in human history, the world population is now starting to decline, especially in developed countries. For example, Japan and Germany already employ skilled labor from India because of their fast-declining working-age population. Japan is said to be employing 15,000 Indian nurses, and Germany is importing 20,000 healthcare professionals to meet their manpower needs. The trend reflects an increasing dependence on India as a reliable source of experienced manpower. Also, Subrahmanyam explained India's capacity to emerge as the world's foremost education center. "The one biggest benefit that India possesses, other than anything else, is its democracy", he noted, implying that India's strong schools and universities, along with democratic system of governance, may provide a drawing power for students and professionals all over the world. He further implored Indian businesses, specifically law firms and accounting businesses, to be the leaders of the world. India's demographic dividend is another important strength Subrahmanyam mentioned. The median age of the country is a mere 28.4 years, with most of the population falling in the productive working age bracket. Just about 26% of Indians are below the age of 14, while 67% are between the ages of 15 and 64, whereas in the US (17%) and Europe (21%), the elderly population percentage is higher. This young population gives India a special advantage, especially since other countries are facing an aging labor force. India is poised to have 1.04 billion working-age individuals in 2030, adding 24.3% of the world's workforce over the next ten years, as per a recent report by EY. With a low dependency ratio projected to hit just 31.2% by 2030 India will be in a position to provide an increasing pool of labor, making it an even more important economic powerhouse. second-biggest economy in the world with a GDP of $30 trillion. Subrahmanyam also estimated that the economy of India, now the fifth-biggest in the world, will overtake Germany and Japan's economy in the next three years to become the third-largest economy. By 2047, he foresees India potentially rising to become thein the world with a GDP of $30 trillion. Since the international labor market is being tested by the issues of aging population, India's comparatively youthful and large population stands to fill a significant part in fulfilling the needs of trained workers in various sectors, consolidating its status as a focal figure in the world economy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished everyone on the Good Friday and remembered the sacrifice and bravery of Jesus Christ, while pointing out the values of peace, kindness, and compassion which the day signifies. Sharing on social media platform X, PM Modi posted, "On Good Friday, we pay homage to Jesus Christ's sacrifice. This day reminds us to value kindness, compassion and be large-hearted at all times. May peace and harmony always dominate". Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also posted a message on X, honoring the teachings of Jesus Christ and urging people to adopt his message of love and compassion. "Wishing you a blessed #GoodFriday. May the spirit of compassion, forgiveness, sacrifice, and empathy continue to guide our actions. Let us adopt the values of humanity, kindness, and peace in our common life", he tweeted. Good Friday, celebrated on April 18 this year, is among the holiest days on the Christian calendar to mark Jesus Christ's crucifixion. It occurs on Holy Week, two days ahead of Easter Sunday and is followed by Maundy Thursday and then Holy Saturday. Also known as Holy Friday, Great Friday, or Black Friday, the day is of profound spiritual importance to Christians everywhere. It represents the agony and ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the salvation of humankind and is a poignant reminder of the timeless values of forgiveness, humility, and love. Zoho Founder and Chief Scientist Sridhar Vembu has said that India's broader software industry is facing structural inefficiencies that require 'fresh thinking' rather than attributing the current slowdown merely to cyclical factors or the rise of AI. Taking to X on April 18, Vembu remarked, My operating thesis is that what we are witnessing is not just a cyclical downturn and is not solely related to AI. Even without the uncertainty caused by tariffs, challenges were already on the horizon. He attributed the issues to long-standing inefficiencies that have built up over decades due to a sustained asset bubble, stating, Sadly, we adapted to a lot of those inefficiencies in India. Our jobs came to depend on them. The IT industry sucked in talent that may have gone into manufacturing or infrastructure (for example). His comments come amid a weak earnings season for Indias top IT firms. Infosys, the countrys second-largest IT services company, recently projected revenue growth in the range of 0 to 3 percent for FY2025-26. Earlier in January, the company had revised its full-year forecast to 4.5 to 5 percent, down from its October guidance of 3.75 to 4.5 percent. In Q4, Infosys reported a 12 percent year-on-year decline in net profit at Rs 7,033 crore, missing consensus estimates of Rs 7,278 crore. Consolidated revenue for the quarter stood at Rs 40,925 crore, reflecting a 7.9 percent year-on-year growth. We are only at the early stages of a long reckoning, Vembu said. My thesis is that the last 30 years will not serve as a reliable guide for the next 30 years. We are genuinely at an inflection point. We have to challenge our assumptions and do fresh thinking. U.S. President Donald Trump, has added further strain on the sector. The Indian software industry is facing tepid demand, largely due to reduced discretionary spending globally. The recent uncertainty around trade policies, including the now-halted tariffs announced by former, has added further strain on the sector. Other IT giants are also feeling the pinch. Wipro has forecast a revenue decline of -1.5 percent to -3.5 percent for Q1 FY26, while Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) continues to refrain from issuing revenue guidance. On his first day back in office Jan. 20, President Donald Trump issued an executive order aimed at ending automatic citizenship known as birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to two non-citizen parents. His argument rests on interpreting the phrase subject to the jurisdiction thereof, found in the 14th Amendment, which added birthright citizenship into the Constitution. Trump claims that non-citizens -- both legal and undocumented immigrants -- are not subject to the jurisdiction of the U.S. So their children are not entitled to automatic citizenship. Its clear Trump has little regard for Americas extraordinary ability to welcome newcomers and transform them into fully equal citizens. Its just as clear he cant nullify a constitutional right with the stroke of a pen. The presidents interpretation has been tested by the Supreme Court and found invalid. In United States v. Wong Kim Ark (1898), the court ruled that a child born to Chinese immigrants was a U.S. citizen by birth, even though his parents were not eligible for citizenship. The court affirmed that every person born in the United States needs no naturalization. In the 1980s, the court reaffirmed this principle in Plyler v. Doe and INS v. Rios-Pineda. The Supreme Court has specifically clarified what not being subject to the jurisdiction thereof means. It refers to diplomats and their children, who are not subject to U.S. law because of diplomatic immunity. Diplomats generally cannot be arrested, charged or imprisoned. They are, by law, outside U.S. jurisdiction. If the president has a different interpretation of the 14th Amendment, his administration regularly contradicts it. The president has increased law enforcement actions against legal immigrants on visas and illegal immigrants, sending them to jail, deporting them and even airlifting some to foreign prisons. Trumps actions demonstrate, repeatedly, that he thinks people in America on visas and illegal immigrants are subject to the legal jurisdiction of the United States. If this is the case, these same immigrants and their children are covered by the 14th Amendment. Critics of birthright citizenship argue it encourages illegal migration to gain citizenship for unborn children as well as birth tourism, in which people travel here to give birth. But there is little evidence of either. Births to undocumented mothers have declined since 2009. And undocumented parents gain no immediate benefit from having a child here. Citizen children cant sponsor a parent until age 21. Birth tourism is rare: the Niskanen Center estimates fewer than 2,000 a year. Border officials already have the authority to deny entry to women suspected of coming to the U.S. for this purpose. More fundamentally, birthright citizenship should remain because it embodies our national ideals. America is a nation of immigrants, founded on the premise that American identity is rooted not in race or ethnicity, but in shared values that anybody can live by. The 14th Amendment enshrined that principle, rather than leaving it vulnerable to the whims of politicians. Punishing children for their parents status or creating two classes of birth contradicts the Declaration of Independences assertion that all men are created equal. What Trump proposes confining citizenship primarily to those with a citizen parent is rooted in the right of blood, a European concept America explicitly rejected at its founding. Instead, our full commitment is to right of the soil." This ensures we do not become a society stratified into citizens and non-citizens based on birthright. Immigrant families invest more in our country when they know their children will be treated as equals. Unlike many European countries that struggle to integrate newcomers, the U.S. has absorbed waves of immigrants with relative success because they are fully American by the second generation. Birthright citizenship represents the best of America: a clear, principled rule that has served us well for over 150 years. It cannot be easily changed, nor should it be, because it defines who we are: a nation where everyone is given a chance to belong and succeed from the start. Moka & Co. is a fresh new coffee spot that serves dessert and pastries like these croissants made with handsome lacquered stripes, here in red with a strawberry flavor. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri) (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Theres a new brand of coffee in town Moka & Co. This boutique cafe, with a Yemeni theme woven throughout its menu and coffee, recently opened at 193 New Dorp Lane. This is one of five locations in New York City. The rapidly expanding, year-old company plans to open its flagship cafe at Herald Square in Manhattan. Based in the Big Apple, the business has already opened six locations in Michigan and one in Mesa, Arizona. For now in New Dorp, Moka & Co. grinds and brews its own blend of beans, served straight up or in sweetened combinations. The beans themselves prompt the companys motto grounded in history. Those key ingredients are promoted as organic, terrace-grown, handpicked, sun-dried, and sustainably sourced. At Moka & Co., our goal is to redefine coffee culture by bringing people together over a cup of rare Yemeni coffee, said Numan Ali, CEO of Moka & Co. Coffees history is deeply intertwined with Yemen, dating back to the 15th century. Were not just serving exceptional coffee; were sharing its legacy while promoting sustainable development in the industry. Yum for the eyes and palate Mokas menu of hot and cold coffees can be dizzying for a newbie plus lots going on with pistachio, saffron, cinnamon and black cardamom. For those who sit down in the handsome cafe, creations like Turkish-style blends might come in small glass sipping mugs served with their own pot on a wooden board. Blended brews could include ginger and cinnamon spikes, like Qishr, and Mufawar, the latter a sipper with similar flavor notes. Mufawar is made creamy with steamed milk and stirred with warming spices. The eponymous Moka Spice Latte encapsulates all that Moka & Co. offers in one well-rounded, pillowy bloom of creaminess and gentle smoky flavor. Best enjoyed hot, each mouthful expresses black cardamom, cinnamon, a slight nuttiness, plus hints of chocolate, ginger and flowers. Desserts are bountiful, with selections like croissants streaked green or pink for either pistachio or strawberry. For better or worse, pistachio is a one-note samba in the food, from crumbles in a vanilla mousse cake to famed Dubai chocolate bars. Yet the overall theme in the display case is one of contrasting textures between crunch and creaminess courtesy of nuts, custard and filo. And there is a savory option grilled chicken with pesto on a baguette with lettuce and tomato, prettily wrapped in brown paper and twine. Moka & Co. is tucked away at 193 New Dorp Lane, New Dorp. There is no online presence for the location just yet but the Facebook page is facebook.com/mokacocoffee and general website is mokanco.com. Heres a look at the new business below. Pamela Silvestri is Advance/SILive.com food editor. She may be reached at silvestri@siadvance.com. With a stark interior, curves and angles of decor and other details pop in a warmly lit dining area. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri) (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri) Crunchy wafter pastries are dipped in various flavors of icings berry, pistachio, vanilla and dark chocolate.(Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri) (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri) Soft sponge cake forms a thin layer around fluffy vanilla cream. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri) (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri) A gluten-free pastry dubbed "Festival" is made from sugar, eggs, butter, milk, vanilla and a gluten-free flour blend. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri) (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri) Moka & Co. carries the viral Dubai Chocolate bar filled with dark chocolate, filo and the richness of almond and pistachio. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri) (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri) The green frosting of stripes on this croissant is a super sweet pistachio flavor. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri) (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri) Walnuts between decadent buttery filo make a pastry of Suva Pita sa Orasima. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri) (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri) Like the levels of an opera house, this cake is made with coffee-soaked sponge cake topped with chocolate buttercream and layered with a rich ganache. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri) (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri) Moka & Co. is a fresh new coffee spot on Staten Island located at 193 New Dorp Lane. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri) (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri) Pistachios stud slices of cake made with pistachio mousse. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri) (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri) Pistachios top a cake made with vanilla and pistachio mousse. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri) (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri) Flan is prettily presented in trays to be portioned into individual servings. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri) (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri) Baklava is among the Middle Eastern-themed desserts in the display case. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri) (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri) Basbousa is a semolina cake made with coconut, steeped in simple syrup and topped with crushed almonds. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri) (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri) Lotus Biscoff wafers add a crunchy garnish to caramel-topped custard. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri) (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri) The Flowery, Staten Island's first adult-use marijuana dispensary, opened its doors to customers for the first time on Wednesday, Jan. 17. Staten Island Advance/Erik Bascome STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Staten Islands first adult-use weed dispensary, The Flowery, is hosting its first-ever festival blending cannabis, culture, and creativity. The Flowery, which first opened its doors in January 2024, offers borough residents the opportunity to purchase cannabis products legally. From April 18 to 20, the dispensary will become a buzzing hub of creativity, welcoming skaters, music lovers, entrepreneurs, artists, and cannabis enthusiasts alike at their Flowery Festival. The free three-day festival will be held at 3022 Veterans Road West, with each day featuring a unique event that highlights different aspects of community and artistic expression. Curating this show has been deeply personal. This 4/20 show is about legacy, love, and lyrical lineage, said Tonya Muldrow, Show Producer and Talent Manager. Ive had the joy of working with my familysons and daughters of hip-hop legendsnow creating their own waves. Its been a full-circle moment for the culture and for Staten Island, and Im proud to have helped The Flowery bring this vision to life as part of the production team. The Flowery, Staten Island's first adult-use weed dispensary, is hosting its first ever The Flowery Festival. (Photos courtesy of Jae Canty) Jae Canty Day 1 Friday, April 18: Skate Culture Kickoff (12 p.m. 8 p.m) The festival will kick off with high energy, where attendees can enjoy live skateboarding demos, appearances by local skate crews, streetwear pop-up shops, and curated beats that bring the crowd to life. This day celebrates movement, youth, and the spirit of self-expression. Day 2 Saturday, April 19: Vendors + Hard-Hitting Sounds (12 p.m. 8 p.m) Saturday promises a vibrant soundtrack for music lovers. The day will feature vendor showcases and music performances across various genres, including rock, metal, hardcore, and hip-hop. Day 3 Sunday, April 20 (Mainstage Celebration | 12 p.m. 8 p.m) The festival will end with performances at the main stage from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The lineup features independent artists and second-generation hip-hop royalty, including: Plus, rising independent talent like Honey Staxx, Chey, Chrissy Bandzz, City the Great, Anigma, and more will take the stage. Performing at The Flowery Fest on 4.20 means everything to meits a chance to connect with real energy, celebrate the culture, and bring that KLASSY FLY vibe to a stage that feels alive, said Trillian. Im looking forward to showing out and turning the whole experience into a moment theyll never forget. The Flowery, Staten Island's first adult-use weed dispensary, is hosting its first ever The Flowery Festival. (Photos courtesy of Jae Canty) Jae Canty Among the most anticipated acts is Cheyenne Smith, better known as "Chey," daughter of rapper and actor Method Man, who is stepping into her own spotlight. Performing at the Flowery Fest in our city is an amazing feeling, said Chey. Having Staten Island show us all so much love is empowering, and it makes me feel like Im doing something right! I cant wait to shut the stage down! Leader of 2nd Generation Wu, iNTeLL, also known as Dontae Hawkins, will also take the stage. Although Hawkins has performed in Staten Island before, this particular moment is more than just a performance, as he is returning to the stage with his family and fellow cast members from Family Legacy." Chey, Pxwer, and Trillian are all cast members of MTVs Family Legacy Season 2, which premiered on March 25th on Paramount+. Chey, Pxwer, and iNTeLL, along with Trillianare all cast members of MTVs Family Legacy Season 2, which premiered on March 25th, 2025, on Paramount+. (Photos courtesy of Jae Canty) When I touch that stage at the Flowery Festival in Staten Island for the first time, its gonna be bigger than musicits a full-circle moment, said Hawkins. As a survivor of gun violence, every performance is a reminder that Im still here, still rising. And as an advocate for cannabis as pain relief, Im bringing healing to the mic too. Its not just a setits a celebration of survival, growth, and the power of the plant. At just 2-years-old, Hawkins became a victim of gun violence in Stapleton. A stray bullet from a gunfight tore through his midsection, damaging his left kidney. Doctors were concerned he might be paralyzed, but just three months later, Hawkins walked out of the hospital. Now, decades later, Hawkins is returning not just as a performer but as a symbol of resilience, healing, and legacy. His performance is personal and full circle, as it represents not only survival but generational strength and artistry. The children of legendary icons such as members of the Wu-Tang Clan and Busta Rhymes will perform at The Flowery Festival. (Photos courtesy of Jae Canty) Beyond music and skating, attendees can expect a fully immersive experience every day, complete with food, cocktails, shopping at The Flowery dispensary, and chances to connect with fellow creatives. Flowery Fest is our love letter to Staten Islanda celebration of cannabis culture, music, and community like the boroughs never seen before, said The Flowery Team. This weekend is about honoring where we come from and where were headed. Were bringing the beats, the vibes, and the plant to the peopleall for free, while supplies last, right here in Staten Island. The Community Health Center of Richmond, Inc. celebrated Black Maternal Health Week on Wednesday, April 16 with an educational forum highlighting the importance of community engagement in supporting birthing people of color. Advance/SILive.com | Priya Shahi STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- To mark Black Maternal Health Week, the Community Health Center of Richmond, Inc. hosted a forum in its Stapleton location on Wednesday to spotlight disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes and the role of community support in closing the gap. Mothers shared testimonies, professionals educated attendees on the roles of doulas and self-advocacy in healthcare settings, while also highlighting the importance of increasing father or partner involvement in breastfeeding support and education. Our lived experiences, to me, is the only thats going to help people understand and make change, said Henry Thompson, PhD, CEO of CHCR, Inc. CHCR, Inc. operates health centers in Stapleton and Port Richmond, offering affordable, culturally competent and quality primary health care, according to their website. The impact of doula support for birthing mothers Adrian Clarke, a new mother to her eight-month-old son, shared her testimony as a client of CHCR, Inc. during her maternity journey. I was more nervous than excited about finding out I was pregnant because Ive gone through a loss before, Clarke said. When I came here, I got a care team a mid-wife, a doula and a case manager. From when I found out I was pregnant, to having the baby, to post the baby, even now, they still check in. They were super encouraging throughout my journey. Marcia Santiago, Director of WIC Operations at CHCR, Inc., has served as a doula for nearly eight years. Advance/SILive.com | Priya Shahi Marcia Santiago has been a doula for nearly eight years with Healthy Women, Healthy Futures, an initiative offering free doula care to low-income communities across all five boroughs of New York City. on Staten Island, the program is offered through CHCR, Inc. When I started in 2017, we were serving about 40 birthing families a year. As of April this year, we already served over 200, Santiago said. This is so important especially for families of color because they are at the highest risk. Santiago, now the Director of Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Operations at CHCR, Inc., discussed how doulas help close care gaps in existing disparities by educating, empowering, and teaching clients to advocate for themselves and have their partners advocate for them. Doulas also assist in creating birth plans to reduce trauma, provide guidance and support during labor and childbirth, offer breastfeeding support, and help with newborn care. According to the City Department of Health, people giving birth with the support of a doula are more likely to experience shorter labor, initiate breastfeeding earlier and breastfeed for longer, have positive feelings about their birth experience, and enjoy better parent-baby bonding. Community engagement for breastfeeding education Robert Robinson serves as project manager for the Brothers for Mothers initiative, a public health education campaign developed by CHCR, Inc. to improve maternal and child health outcomes in communities of color. Advance/SILive.com | Priya Shahi Robert Robinson, Senior Director of Intergovernmental Affairs at CHCR, Inc. highlighted the importance of education and community engagement for men and fathers. Robinson also serves as the project manager for the Brothers for Mothers initiative, a public health education campaign developed by CHCR, Inc. in partnership with the Alumni Chapters of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., focused on improving maternal and child health outcomes in communities of color. I didnt know a thing about the importance of breastfeeding until I had an opportunity to engage in an initiative for breastfeeding education and started to do research about all the things that are in breast milk and how those things benefit your children, he said. Had I known then what I know now, I wouldve pushed harder for my first three children because after the first three months, they were on Similac and Enfamil. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), breastfeeding initiation, duration, and exclusivity rates in the United States are lower among infants of Black mothers compared to their White counterparts. According to Robinson, the Brothers for Mothers initiative engaged 15 chapters of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. across the Northeast to provide breastfeeding education, intentionally bringing men of color into the conversation. Because we bear a responsibility for that as well, Robinson said. The initiative has expanded to 49 chapters nationwide, including six collegiate chapters on campuses. Robinson shared that the men in these chapters are conducting workshops in communities with the highest disparity rates. Its been the feedback from the communities that has resonated because there has to be a culture shift and a mindset shift with regard to breastfeeding your baby, he said. For the men who are here in the room, its our responsibility to be more than just the person who helped to make the baby and to change diapers. Its our responsibility to also be intimately involved in every aspect of a childs development. The critical role of community health centers to address gaps in maternal healthcare Wanda Montalvo, PhD, discussed how pregnancy-related deaths are trending in the wrong direction but emphasized viewing this issue not as a deficit, but as an opportunity to build on the strengths of the community. According to a recently published article by the American Medical Association, pregnancy-related deaths increased from 25.3 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2018 to 32.6 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2022. A lot of the things and the conditions as to why this occurs really are preventable. We have to look at the full journey of maternal health. A lot of these things occur after the woman gives birth... by up to one year later, Montalvo said. Where is the birthing person at that stage? Theyre not at the hospital. Theyre back in their communities. She added that this is why organizations like CHCR, Inc. and other health centers across the country play such a critical role in changing the trajectory for the community. Some of the solutions we heard today which is the care coordination, having doulas, having midwives, having a whole clinical team, helping people understand the value of breastfeeding, understanding the warning signs, and how we work in partnership with our hospitals, she said. The event concluded with citations sent by local officials and leaders, including Mayor Eric Adams and Borough President Vito Fossella, awarded to a handful of individuals for their work in addressing Black Maternal Health. A cicada is pictured in this 2021 photo on a gravestone in Mount Olivet Cemetery in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania. Billions of periodical cicadas are expected in spring 2025 in 14 states, including New York. (Pennlive.com/Mark Pynes) (Pennlive.com/Mark Pynes) Spring is here, so will we soon hear the piercing, buzzing sound of cicadas as they emerge from underground? This years group, Brood XIV, will emerge in numbers in the lower billions this spring, Gene Kritsky, founder of Cicada Safari, a group that studies cicadas and gathers data as community members upload photographs of cicadas to an app, told USA Today. This year, cicadas from Brood XIV will emerge in 14 states, including New York and Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, Kritsky told USA Today on Tuesday. Brood XIV cicadas emerge every 17 years, said Kritsky, who is also a professor in the biology department at Mount Saint Joseph University in Cincinnati, Ohio. Prior to emerging, they spend years underground feeding on roots, according to Kritsky. These particular cicadas were last seen in 2008, he said. When will the cicadas emerge? Brood XIV will start to emerge in northern Georgia around the middle or end of April in areas where soil temperatures are about 64 degrees, Kritsky said. In states such as Ohio and Pennsylvania and New York theyll likely emerge around the second week of May, and theyll likely stay until the end of June, research shows. John Cooley, an associate professor in residence in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology department at the University of Connecticut, told USA Today that he and other researchers look to past records to predict what to expect this year. The area with the most cicadas this year will likely be Kentucky and Tennessee, he told USA Today. There will also be large numbers in Georgia, the Carolinas and Pennsylvania, he said. Cicadas are insects that belong to the hemiptera order, which includes stink bugs, bed bugs, aphids and cicada families, Kritsky said. The oldest historical record of Brood XIV cicadas is from 1634, when Pilgrims at Plymouth Colony recorded them, said Kritsky. However, Native Americans knew of them for centuries prior to European contact, he wrote on his website. While cicadas generally arent harmful to humans or pets, the loud buzzing sound they make can be annoying and at times, extremely loud. Adult cicadas do not sting or bite, and they do not carry diseases. But they can harm young trees when female cicadas lay their eggs in the trees new growth, according to Cicada Safari. If you have a young tree, you can loosely wrap the branches with cheesecloth to keep the female from laying her eggs, the website says, noting that pesticides are not effective at controlling periodical cicadas. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. In honor of those who have died, here is a compilation of obituaries posted on SILive. Viewing times and guest books can be seen here. Sister Dolores Ann Pfeiffer, a Dominican Sister of Peace, died on April 10, 2025, at Mohun Health Care Center in Columbus, Ohio. She was 95 years old. Born in Astoria, New York in 1930, Sr. Dolores Ann entered the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine de Ricci in 1955. She earned degrees from the College of St. Rose, St. Marys College of California, and Loyola College in Maryland. Sr. Dolores Ann served in various ministries across several states as a staff member in retreat houses, parish ministry, pastoral counseling, and as a teacher. Read the full obituary on SILive. Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story based on data from Legacy.com. It was reviewed and edited by Advance/SILive.com staff. Copy All OutputNew Run Staten Islanders for months have complained about how noise from tourist helicopters buzzing over the borough has been destroying their quality of life. And now we have fresh evidence that not only are the choppers a nuisance, but potentially a deadly tragedy waiting to happen. Six tourists, including three children, died last Friday when their tourist helicopter crashed into the Hudson River. At least 38 people have died in chopper accidents in New York City since 1977, according to a tally by the Associated Press. The choppers, including those from HeliNY that fly over Staten Island, are an unnecessary danger in the sky and must be banned from our airspace. The FAA has told the Advance/SILive.com that the tourist helicopters typically fly over Staten Island using Visual Flight Rules (VSF) and just outside Newark Airport Class B airspace. The pilots, under those circumstances, are not required to be under air traffic control. Thats a huge concern right there. In addition, the FAA does not assign specific routes or altitudes to pilots flying VFR outside of the Newark Class B airspace. Thats another major problem. Pilots operating VFR use the see-and-avoid method to conduct their flights and the responsibility for flying neighborly resides with the pilot operating the helicopter, the FAA has said. From what Staten Islanders are seeing and hearing, the chopper pilots using our airspace are not flying neighborly at all. That has to change. The Hudson River tragedy comes just months after an American Airlines passenger jet and an Army helicopter collided outside Washington, D.C., killing 67 people. And the New York crash came just two days after the Advance/SILive.com published a story about the dangers of increased helicopter traffic over New York City. Andrew Rosenthal from the Stop the Chop NY/NJ group said that the Washington accident was 100 percent foreseeable and preventable. A similar accident around a major airport here, he said, would be much worse here and could take out several residential blocks. Imagine one of these unnecessary tourist helicopters having a mechanical breakdown over Staten Island and crashing into one of our neighborhoods. In the wake of the Hudson River crash, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) called for tourist chopper flights to be more heavily regulated and restricted, if not come to an end entirely. State Sen. Brady Hoylman-Sigal (D-Manhattan) called for an outright ban on sightseeing helicopters. One comment in particular from Hoylman will resonate with chopper-weary Islanders: Theres no reason to allow tourists and tour flight operators to use our valuable precious airspace, the lawmaker said, according to the New York Post. The senator is right. Why do these tourist choppers get to use our airspace for their profit while degrading our quality of life and putting us in harms way? Most of the flights stoking Islanders ire come in the evening and at night. That way tourists can view the sunset or look down on the city and its monuments all lit up. How nice. Theres actually no reason to fly over the Island at all. Were just a shortcut. As HeliNY itself told us, tourists arent paying to see Staten Island from the air. Barring an outright ban, these tourist helicopters at the very least must be prohibited from passing over Staten Island on their way to their destinations. And that mandate has to come with FAA enforcement that has some teeth. There have been some past successes in the battle against helicopter noise. Hours are limited at the two city-owned heliports on the East Side of Manhattan, for example. Another heliport uptown was closed years ago under Mayor Rudolph Giuliani after noise complaints. It can be done. And now is the time, both for the safety and for the peace of mind of Staten Islanders. The Transportation Safety Administration has issued a warning to travelers ahead of the fast-approaching Real ID deadline. Beginning on May 7, travelers will need a federally compliant REAL ID identification card, available from motor vehicle departments in the 50 states, in order to board a plane within the United States. The TSA is warning of travel delays for those who do not have a REAL ID or other acceptable identification. Passengers who present a state-issued identification that is not REAL ID compliant and who do not have another acceptable alternative (e.g., passport) can expect to face delays, additional screening and the possibility of not being permitted into the security checkpoint, a press release from the TSA warned. The TSA will no longer accept state-issued identifications that are not REAL ID compliant at TSA security checkpoints beginning on May 7. The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles has announced expanded hours in order to process state residents seeking to get a REAL ID before the deadline. DMV offices in New York Citys five boroughs, Westchester, Rockland, Nassau and Suffolk counties, will operate from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays from April through June to help New Yorkers process transactions to get their REAL ID or Enhanced driver license. The TSA said that currently, 81% of travelers at TSA checkpoints present an acceptable identification including a state-issued REAL ID. The TSA expects the number of passengers obtaining REAL IDs to steadily increase and will continue with additional screening measures for those without a REAL ID until it is no longer considered a security vulnerability. 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, for domestic flights and to access certain federal facilities. The law established minimum security standards for license issuance and production and prohibits federal agencies from accepting for certain official purposes noncompliant drivers licenses and identification cards. Oscar-winner George Clooney is still taking heat for helping to drive President Joe Biden out of the 2024 White House race. But thats not stopping the Hollywood A-lister from making a bold pick for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination. And its not a name mentioned when pundits speak about the top tier of potential candidates. Speaking to CNNs Jake Tapper, Clooney said that Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is a proper leader, The Hill reported. Hes smart. He ran a hedge fund. He ran the Robin Hood Foundation. Hes a proper leader, Clooney said. Clooney last year wrote on op-ed in the New York Times calling on Biden to get out of the race following the former presidents nightmare debate performance against Donald Trump. Clooney said that Moore is a more ideal candidate that others he has looked at, including Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear. Who I think is levitating above that is Wes Moore. I think he is the guy thats handled this tragedy in Baltimore beautifully. Hes two tours of duty in Afghanistan, active duty. He speaks sort of beautifully, Clooney said. Moore has led Maryland through the aftermath of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore after the span was struck by a cargo ship. A number of other better-known Democrats are already being mentioned as possible 2028 party standard-bearers, including former Vice President Kamala Harris, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro. The thing is, we say Democrats fall in love and Republicans fall in line although I think Republicans have fallen in love a little bit. I like him a lot, Clooney said of Moore. The actor spoke with a sense of urgency about the race, which is three years in the future. I think he could be someone we could all join in behind. We have to find somebody rather soon, Clooney said. Early voting for the South Shore City Council special election will begin Monday, April 21. (Advance/SILive.com|Priya Shahi) Priya Shahi STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. South Shore City Council district voters will head to the polls Monday for early voting in the special election to decide their next councilmember. Former Republican Councilmember Joseph Borelli left office in February triggering the special election, with Cliff Hagen, 58, Frank Morano, 40, and Griffin Fossella, 27, qualifying for the contest that will be decided April 29. News / National by Staff reporter A luxury Rovos Rail train carrying 47 international tourists en route to Victoria Falls was involved in a collision with a goods train operated by the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) affiliate, Beitbridge Bulawayo Railway (BBR), near Gwanda earlier today.The incident occurred outside the Matabeleland South town under circumstances that are still under investigation. Emergency services swiftly responded to the scene, and several injured passengers have since been transported to nearby hospitals for treatment. The extent of the injuries is currently unknown.The railway line on which the goods and tourists train accident happened is run and operated by a private company, BBR (Beitbridge - Bulawayo Railway Company.Authorities are yet to release the nationalities of the tourists on board or confirm if there were any fatalities. Rescue operations and investigations are ongoing.Rovos Rail, known for its luxury train journeys across Southern Africa, had been operating a scheduled service to Victoria Falls, one of Zimbabwe's top tourist destinations, at the time of the crash.This is a developing story. More details will be provided as they become available. 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! 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 Members of Generation X were taught in movies that the hero never sold out to the system. For many, the culture was built around this impulse. Movies like The Breakfast Club, bands like The Clash, and even the death of Kurt Cobain all reflected this ethos. So, that generations working life has often been dismaying. Never sold out: Kurt Cobain of Nirvana. Credit: Getty Images The establishment that Generation X, in its youth, once resisted has largely melted down under the white heat of technological change. Nowhere is this clearer than in careers where Gen Xers saw their employment paths cut off as companies or entire industries were upended by technological change and shifts in the job market. Felicity Lenehan began a career in journalism in Sydney in the early 1990s. After departing for Europe, email and websites became commonplace. When she returned to Sydney in 2005, she was shocked to find the offices of a print magazine essentially emptied out. Advertisement People had moved online. Even as she transitioned to more marketing-focused work, she found that her experience in traditional newsrooms no longer stood out in a job market flooded with bloggers. Publishers flattened out the structure and put everyone on as freelancers. So the experienced editors struggled to get work because, as she says, all of a sudden, everybody could say they were a writer because they had a blog. Michael J. Fox with a hoverboard in Back to the Future Part II. This pitted experienced freelancers against younger writers who would work for free or cheap, Lenehan said. A lot of colleagues lost their job and couldnt get work again because of their age. Looking back, Lenehan said she would have loved to rise through the ranks of newspapers, and she would have preferred to make a career in it. But the business model broke down. At the time, she thought the online space would thrive alongside print newspapers. Advertisement Rather, the internet reshaped the media industry and continues to. Part of what makes Generation Xs career journey so dismaying is that when the age set born roughly from 1961 to 1981 was growing up, technology and the economy played by more predictable rules. Phone companies controlled telecommunications, media was centralised in broadcast, print and radio, careers were built within strong institutions. Felicity Lenehan is a Generation X worker whose career has been shaped by technological change. Credit: Nick Moir Then came the commercialised internet, then the mobile phone, then social media which placed the viral power of the internet on the iPhone. Each invention was sold as a tool of liberation to the public. At the same time, the structure of industries finance, media, marketing, and eventually transportation with ride-share services became wobbly and contracted. Not only did certain jobs largely disappear (receptionists, bank tellers, video store clerks) but whole industries seemingly vanished (electronics repair, video stores). What had been a marketing job involving pamphlets and print design requiring an artists eye today frequently centres around SEO and viral videos. Advertisement For peers who had been turned out of the industry, copy editors, marketing experts, Lenehan says: Its very sad to see people who are hugely passionate about what they do have to close their businesses down. They have found work but it hasnt quite been the same, she said. Waves of tech disruption have altered the job market for Generation X. Credit: AP While Baby Boomers embraced reforms meant to enrich the public while modernising the economy, for Generation X the real-world effect often introduced new insecurity into the workplace. In Australia, part-time work rose from 11.3 per cent in 1996 to about 32 per cent in 2018, a third of all employees, the McKell Institute reported in 2018, the period bracketing Generation Xs entry into the job market. While people in creative fields and media have been hard hit by technological change, its spread across numerous sectors. US-based Yuri Bertsch started at a help desk at a tech company in New York, and moved into quality assurance. Advertisement Loading Better technology allowed the company to rationalise the work: Then half the team was downsized and let go, he said. He then spent nine months at another tech company on a help desk until that was outsourced to Pakistan. Bertsch, however, sees the role of Baby Boomers altering regulation as a driver of the disruption for Generation X. I feel like weve had the paths to prosperity destroyed in our faces at every step by the Boomers since we were teenagers. Director for the Centre for Future Work, Dr Fiona Macdonald, said Generation X were a generation that had an expectation that you enter the workforce, you develop skills, you had opportunities to move forward. The impact of technology, combined with the restructuring of workforces in the past 30 years has hit Generation X particularly hard, breaking the feature of career progression for many people, Macdonald said. Advertisement Police and paramedics raced to the scene and took the injured child and a teenager to hospital for treatment and assessment. The youngest boy remains in an induced coma following emergency surgery. This crime is horrendous, this level of violence is unheard of. Superintendent Rodney Hart We dont know if its organised crime, we dont know if its gang related, Superintendent Rodney Hart told media. This crime is horrendous, this level of violence is unheard of. Hart said it appeared to be a targeted attack, and not a random kidnapping. The womans husband is interstate, has spoken to police and is returning to Sydney. We dont know too much about the [victims] they are not known to police [such] that we would consider them a high target in the organised crime network or world, Supt Hart said. [Its] very early in the investigation, its an extremely serious, violent, horrendous crime that we are throwing everything that we have at it to ensure that we bring these people to justice. One woman who lives near the house where the kidnapping took place says she was shaken and afraid when she heard a woman scream shortly after 10pm last night. It sounded like someone was about to die, she said. I came outside and saw a Mercedes speed past. The blazing car was found on Welfare Avenue, about a 10-minute drive from the home in Bankstown. Multiple police cars were parked outside the Bankstown home as forensic officers combed through the scene on Friday morning. Another neighbour also described hearing the scream, saying it worried her because she knew the woman who lived there and said she was friendly. Im in shock that this could have happened she is just a sweet woman who keeps to herself, the neighbour said, adding she saw about four or five police cars there shortly after. The neighbours did not want to be named for privacy reasons. Police have also cordoned off all entrances to the Beverly Hills street, including the nearby nature reserve, as forensic officers assess the burnt-out car. Forensic officers assess the scene. Credit: Dylan Coker It took one truck of firefighters about 20 minutes to extinguish the burning car, before they discovered the womans body in the back seat. Vision from the scene shows the front exterior burnt off and a burst windshield. Superintendent Adam Dewberry from Fire and Rescue NSW. Credit: Dylan Coker Once the fire was extinguished and the steam and the smoke had disappeared, it was a pretty grisly sight for our firefighters, Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Adam Dewberry said. We all take a little bit of these things with you; some of it we forget about and others come back when you dont expect it, but we have excellent support systems in place. The deep-rooted Cambodia-China friendship has greatly benefited Cambodia, particularly in the development of critical infrastructure such as roads, bridges, ports and airports, as well as in the energy sector, all central to Cambodia's economic growth. by Joseph Matthews The Cambodia-China partnership has evolved well beyond economic and political cooperation, becoming deeply rooted in mutual trust, respect and support, and a shared commitment to achieving win-win outcomes. Cambodia and China established formal diplomatic ties in 1958. Over the past 67 years, the two countries have enjoyed frequent high-level exchanges, which have reinforced their strategic political trust, solidified a longstanding friendship and fostered mutual benefits. Their relationship is grounded in the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, which emphasizes mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, mutual non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence. Guided by these principles, the bilateral relationship was elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation in 2010, with Cambodia recognizing China as its "most trusted friend," while China viewed Cambodia as its "iron-clad friend." This deep-rooted friendship has greatly benefited Cambodia, particularly in the development of critical infrastructure such as roads, bridges, ports and airports, as well as in the energy sector, all central to Cambodia's economic growth. The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has played a significant role in these advancements, attracting major Chinese investments, including hydropower plants, the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone and the Siem Reap Angkor International Airport. These projects reflect the seamless collaboration between the two countries, unlocking new opportunities for investment, trade, sustainable development, tourism growth and agricultural modernization. These efforts have been crucial in supporting Cambodia's socio-economic development and its fight against poverty. The alignment of the BRI with Cambodia's Pentagonal Strategy has laid a solid foundation for strengthening infrastructure connectivity, trade relations, technological innovation, financial integration and people-to-people exchanges. Within the frameworks of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the Cambodia-China Free Trade Agreement, Cambodia has also benefited from preferential tariffs on exports, particularly agricultural products, to China. Cambodia believes that by combining China's expertise in digital agriculture, advanced aquaculture and effective rural governance with its own rich natural resources, the two countries can promote sustainable growth in rural communities, enhance food security, and foster inclusive economic development. Looking ahead, the future of Cambodia-China relations is promising. Cambodia has consistently supported the China-proposed global initiatives, including the BRI, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative. These initiatives provide valuable frameworks for addressing shared global challenges and promoting stability and prosperity in an increasingly interconnected world. The Cambodia-China "Diamond Hexagon" cooperation framework is more than just a conceptual plan; it is a living partnership, continually strengthened by innovation, mutual trust and shared sacrifices. Overall, the robust bilateral cooperation across various sectors has been a driving force in building a high-quality, high-level and high-standard Cambodia-China community with a shared future in the new era. This unbreakable "iron-clad" friendship has not only brought significant benefits to both countries and their people, but also played a vital role in promoting peace, security, stability and shared prosperity in the region and beyond. Editor's note: Joseph Matthews is a senior professor at the BELTEI International University in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Xinhua News Agency. News / National by Staff reporter The National University of Science and Technology (Nust) FM has introduced a new radio segment titled Artistic Expressions, aimed at promoting emerging artists from Bulawayo and giving them a platform to share their work and stories.The initiative is spearheaded by Annah Thandeka Maseko, a third-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Journalism and Media Studies at Nust, who also hosts the show."The aim of my new segment is to provide a platform for local artists to express themselves," Maseko told Southern Eye. "I saw that there was a need for artists to express themselves, hence I created this platform."The launch of Artistic Expressions comes at a time when several up-and-coming artistes in Bulawayo have raised concerns over limited airplay and exposure on local radio stations - issues they believe are holding back their growth in the competitive music and arts industry."There's a perception among some artists in the city that they are being marginalised," Maseko said. "I would like to see these artists being able to tell their stories by articulating their journeys within their respective fields of art. This is also a way of uplifting them by making people know more about their works, and creating a greater understanding of their contributions."The lack of support for local talent has long been a point of contention in Bulawayo's creative scene. Legendary musician Lovemore Majaivana famously stepped away from music and relocated to the United States after expressing frustration over insufficient support. His final album, released in 2000, came only after persuasion from his then producer Tymon Mabaleka of the Zimbabwe Music Company.Through Artistic Expressions, Nust FM hopes to reverse that trend by amplifying the voices of local artists and nurturing a culture of appreciation for homegrown talent.The show airs weekly on Nust FM. AG: For one thing, because they are the pictures that so much of the population is influenced by, those people who dont follow the politics closely. And at the moment, Anthony Albanese looks happy and engaged every day in the stories, meeting interesting people, while Peter Dutton doesnt seem nearly as engaged. The Coalition campaign looks a little lifeless, as though preparing for something else. The two leaders on the election trail. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen, James Brickwood Fitz: You are looking at things in a different way ... AG: Well, that is what people see every night. They see this picture and that picture, the detail washes over them, but theyve got this sense that one side looks more interesting than the other, just in terms of pictures. It does have an impact. Fitz: What else do you see? AG: The other thing thats going on is whats happening in America, with all the upheaval and change and flip-flops going on over there. The Coalitions tide has gone out with Trump. Do people want to start flip-flopping and changing government here? The mob does not want that. Fitz: You obviously cant make political comment, but in your memory, has one party ever started out so strong in a federal election campaign only to melt like an Icy Pole on Uluru in January once the campaign started and the electoral heat was turned up? Because in this campaign, weve seen such a rapid turnaround in the Coalitions fortunes its been staggering. AG: It reminds me a little bit of the 2004 election campaign when John Howard looked in real trouble against Mark Latham. But then once it was into the campaign, the Labor momentum just disappeared. Prime Minister John Howard and Opposition Leader Mark Latham crossing paths in the ABC radio studios during the 2004 federal election. Credit: Penny Bradfield. Fairfax. Fitz: I find it hard to believe the polls, some of which even say the ALP is going to have an expanded majority. One of the polls has even got it at 53.5 /46.5 to the ALP on two-party preferred. Do you believe its as bad as that for the Coalition? AG: Well, that ones come out of the Herald pollster, Resolve, and theyve tended to be one of the worst pollsters for Labor. But theyve now picked up something which is occurring in every opinion poll theres been a real change of mood. Perhaps the Labor Party has finally escaped the whole follow-up from the Voice referendum, which dogged them all through last year. I dont think anyone wants to talk about it any more, and so everyones just moved on. Fitz: And yet we all remember 2019, when Bill Shorten was meant to romp home, only to lose to Scott Morrison, of all people. The pollsters were all completely wrong. AG: Much of that was to do with the campaign that was going on against franking credits and changes to capital gains tax. Clive Palmer was painting it as a death tax, and the Liberal Party were also hammering on whether this was an unfair tax on retirees and that really had an effect on the electorate. And the Labor campaign had so many promises it was easy to paint it as being extreme on higher taxes. I think in the end, Labor just lost that election campaign with all that detail, the way John Hewson lost it in 1993 with all his detail on the proposed GST. And this campaign is just not like that. So there is less likely to be a surprise this time. Fitz: Have you been bemused, amused or shocked by the Liberal Party turning over some of its principal policies so early in this campaign? AG: To be honest, I dont watch it that closely, but certainly to have to execute two backflips in the campaign is embarrassing. Fitz: Eden-Monaro used to be the famous bellwether seat where goes Eden-Monaro, so goes the nation. For those of us watching Antony Green on the ABC on the night of Saturday, May 3, whats the seat we should be looking to, for an early indication of which way it is likely to go? AG: The seat thats now got the longest record of going with the nation since 1983 is Robertson, based around Gosford. Fitz: Do you believe that Peter Dutton might be in trouble in his own seat of Dickson? There was one poll I saw that had him behind 52-48 to Ali France, the Labor Party candidate. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with Ali France, Labors candidate for Dickson, in Brisbane. Credit: AAP AG: Look, for over a decade, people have been telling me that Peter Dutton is in trouble in Dickson. Hes still not lost in all that time. So, I mean, well see what happens on the night. But there needs to be a more general swing in Brisbane before Dickson would fall. I cant see that right now, and Im always very doubtful of individual seat polls. Fitz: Look, I know youre a numbers man, but after 40 years of this, youve got to have a very good gut feel to go with those numbers. What is your gut feel on this election? AG: The Coalition is going to struggle to make up enough seats to get ahead of Labor. If the Labor Partys vote holds up in Victoria, its nearly impossible for the Coalition to get more seats than Labor. The ALP will lose seats in Victoria, mainly in the eastern suburbs, but the question is whether the swing gets beyond those marginal seats that have been fought over the last couple of years and goes deeper, which currently looks unlikely. The problem for the Coalition is there are school holidays and public holidays for the next two weeks. So how do they get their message across when people are concentrating on other things? Fitz: I asked you this once about state elections, but lets do it federally. When all you election analysts get together for your annual dinner, with Mr Gallup up one end, Mrs Morgan and Mrs Poll and Nielsen down the side and its getting near midnight, whats your best war story of great federal elections youve known? Paul and Annita Keating on election night in 1993. Credit: AAP AG: The one I will always remember was my first one in 1993 above all else because we were having these arguments about whether Labor had won or not, and I kept insisting they had won and the executive producer and all the ABC board was saying Keating cant possibly have won. And I won that argument. Fitz: Leigh Sales has joked about wearing adult nappies on air on election night because its just seven hours of such unbroken intensity. Have you ever had to have a strategy to cope with being on air for seven hours? No coffee for you on the day? AG: No, its usually a bit easier for me because Im a bloke and I can usually nip out during leaders speeches. Fitz: You once told me that the late, great ABC journalist Andrew Olle pushed your career early, telling your mutual masters that you were the one, and should be hired full-time. Now, in his eulogy the equally late Paul Lyneham said he worked with Olle for most of his career and never knew which way he voted. Have you strained for a similarly political neutral profile? I dont report and I dont ask questions, so its easy for me to appear completely neutral. AG: Yeah, but to be honest, its easy for me. I dont interview people. Journalists have to ask questions, which sometimes means asking pointed questions from the other point of view, and therefore people say youre biased. So when I hear people say, Oh, more people at the ABC should behave like Antony Green, well, thats a ridiculous comparison because Im not a journalist like that. I dont report and I dont ask questions, so its easy for me to appear completely neutral. 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 This story is part of the April 19 edition of Good Weekend. See all 13 stories . It is just after dawn and we are surrounded by the peace and overwhelming natural beauty of the coastal Kimberley region of north-western Australia. Weve just taken a short 4WD trip through the pale, grass-strewn dunes sacred land where initiation ceremonies guiding young boys through to manhood still take place. We emerge onto a vast rock shelf that overlooks a tidal estuary, also home to a set of ancient footprints, a series of child-sized markings in the rock alongside those of their elders, memories worn in by centuries of use by Aboriginal tribes who walked this path to the sea. There is not a soul to be seen, yet its teeming with life birds feeding and warbling, the regular splash of fish. Through the dunes, the empty, pristine beach stretches as far as the eye can see, the turquoise water home to bountiful sea life, jellyfish and the odd croc. Soon the day will steam up and the oppressive humidity will close in, but for now the weather is idyllic, the atmosphere heightened by the sense we are the last or the first people on Earth. We are on the lands of the Bard/Bardi Jawi people of Lombadina, and local Goolarrgon Bard man and artist Darrell Sibosado is quietly discussing his country, its history and its significance to his people with his old friend and colleague Frances Rings, choreographer and artistic director of the Sydney-based national Indigenous performing arts company, Bangarra Dance Theatre. The day begins with the dawn and quietens with the setting of the sun or the cacophonous arrival of an electrical storm. The feeling of remoteness and isolation is no illusion. The population of Lombadina numbers a mere 20. It was nothing short of an epic journey for this Sydneysider to travel here, as far away from home as you can get within the mainland: a five-hour flight to Perth, a two-and-a-half hour flight to Broome and a three-hour, 4WD trip north to Lombadina and the Dampier Peninsula on a recently sealed, single-lane highway, experiencing a dramatic thunderstorm along the way. Today the community works with, and lives from, the land: fishing, crabbing, harvesting bush tucker to supplement whatever the general store in neighbouring Djarindjin has to offer. Time has a different rhythm here. The day begins with the dawn and quietens with the setting of the sun or the cacophonous arrival of an electrical storm. In many ways, life in Lombadina is largely the same as the 59-year-old Sibosado remembers from his childhood, when his family moved from Port Hedland back to his fathers community in the early 1970s. Back then, however, life was controlled by the Catholic Church which still owns part of the land today, a strong point of contention. Sibosados overriding memory is of nuns adorned in habits, despite the 40-degree heat; of the bell that tolled regularly demanding you drop whatever you were doing and pray; of being forbidden to speak your own language. We are here with the permission of the local community at the behest of Rings and a small creative team from Bangarra. Photographer James Brickwood and I are the first media ever invited to accompany Bangarra on an on-country visit, the crucial first step that precedes any new show. The crew has been observing the customs, culture, lore and everyday life of this remote community and its connections with the land; stories and observations that will ultimately feed into and inform the stage production Illume, choreographed by Rings in collaboration with Sibosado, himself a sought-after visual artist. Come June, the show will have its world premiere at the Sydney Opera House, 5300 kilometres and a world away. Advertisement Miles of aisles What is this place to you? It is a question Goolarrgon man and local leader Bundy (Brendan) Chaquebor asks Bangarras creative team as they wade knee-deep through the mangroves, spears in hand, in search of mud crabs. Its a mangrove, the sea, the ocean are various responses. The group had been discussing tropical cyclone Zelia, which had torn through the Pilbara, crossing the coast east of Port Hedland days earlier, leaving the roads flooded and trucks with crucial supplies unable to get through. Aisle after aisle of supermarket shelves in Broome lie bare of fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy, coffee and bread, alarming many. Not in Lombadina. For us, this mangrove is our shopping centre. If that roads closed well come here, we dont need anything else. We can always get water, and an abundant supply of food, Chaquebor says. He goes on to show the group how to hunt mud crab a spear thrust down a hole that returns a dull noise indicates theres nothing there; a high-pitched sound lets you know youre hitting shell. He teaches the group that mangrove wood gives the best flavour when building a fire to cook the crab, oysters, pipis and cockles the women have dug up; what tide will allow you to walk far out on mud flats left rich with shellfish; how to train your eye to home in on the dunes so they slowly reveal the concealed mission huts the community lived in for decades, and the middens, proof of occupation extending back thousands of years. From left: Darrell Sibosado, lighting designer Damien Cooper, cultural consultant Audrey (Pippi) Bin Swani and composer Brendon Boney during a Bangarra team meeting. Credit: James Brickwood Its transformative how they view country, respect it and understand it, says Rings, a Mirning woman from South Australia. Bundy is so intelligent in cultural ways, an incredible professor of his country. Its a small but rich, intensely beautiful, dynamic community and I love that they use the resources they have to become empowered today. It is these sorts of communities, the stories and knowledge people such as Chaquebor share that explain why Bangarra spends years establishing trust and relationships with the people of places like Lombadina, listening, observing and ultimately sharing through dance theatre their stories of resilience, survival and innovation, giving audiences a glimpse into and understanding of another way of life. Sibosado is the conduit between Rings and Lombadina. The pair first met in the late 80s at the fledgling NAISDA (National Aboriginal Islander Skills Development Association) performing arts college in Sydney. For Rings, dance was always her first language, as important as oxygen, and formal training was the obvious next step. For Sibosado, an adventurous, ambitious kid, it was a means of escaping Lombadina and the stifling control of the Catholic Church. Sydney beckoned, and after graduating from NAISDA he lived in the inner city for 30 years, working in the creative arts industry. But in 2015, the pull of home became too strong and he moved back to his family and the still-small community of Lombadina, in many ways just as he remembered it and in others, like a different planet. It is these worlds Rings is intent on exploring in Illume. Advertisement Mission days The Catholic presence in Lombadina dates back to 1892 when Irish-born Matthew Gibney, Perths Roman Catholic bishop, purchased a pastoral lease named Lombadina close to the first mission established in the Kimberley at Beagle Bay. Lombadina Mission was set up in 1911 and soon run by the Sisters of St John of God. Life was basic: a convent was built for the nuns and paperbark huts served as a dining hall and a school that opened in 1917. Loading According to Sibosado, it was about 1935 when the last mob from the bush moved to live on the mission; Aboriginal children from across the Kimberley were brought in to live and be educated at Lombadina, sleeping in dormitories and returning to their families at Christmas, a practice that continued well into the 70s. Cultural practices and local languages were banned, while tribes from different cultural groups were forced to live side by side. Following the 1967 referendum and the later homeland movement, a desire for self-determination led certain Aboriginal communities to slowly assume control and leadership of their own people and affairs. The Sibosado family returned to Lombadina in 1972, in the dying days of the mission. We moved here to look after my husband Basils parents; Darrell was around five, says Darrells mum Caroline Sibosado. A Noongar woman from Port Hedland, Caroline was born at home with two Aboriginal midwives. Never went to hospital, she says proudly. Once they were back, Basil was put in charge of the missions large herd of cattle while Caroline worked in the mission office. Sibosado and his seven brothers attended the small local school and then, by arrangement with the Catholic Church, left to board in Perth for high school, a system that continues to this day. The bush church at Lombadina, built in 1932 during the communitys days as a Catholic mission when cultural practices and local languages were banned. Credit: James Brickwood Advertisement From the late 1970s, Lombadina became a self- governing community and in the mid-1980s, Caroline and Basil co-founded the Lombadina Aboriginal Corporation. Caroline became its founding CEO, a position she held for 20 years. Now in her mid-80s and still a director, she is a hugely respected local elder, a practising artist who runs the communitys gallery and craft shop. Today, opinions on the occupation of Lombadina differ. Caroline appreciates the chance for local kids to be educated but acknowledges the ramifications. They werent the same as the stolen generations they went home for holidays, they only came here for education, she says. The kids liked it here, because they knew what was going to happen from day to day. A lot of them stayed [in Lombadina], they married, but then it caused a lot of problems as well people didnt have their own family with them all the time. I think its caused a lot of alcoholism and all this sort of stuff. Well, thats happened everywhere Going to high school opened my eyes. Were talking about kids who came from a mission; the only white people they would see were the missionaries. Darrell Sibosado Sibosado sees it differently. It was total control, backed by the government and the police. They tried to stop us doing our ceremonies, but people just moved further up the hills. I couldnt wait to get out of here. Ive never been, Oh well, at least they [educated] us, because what they took was way more valuable to me and my people. Because we would have inevitably done something like this anyway. Get out he did, and from year 8, Sibosado boarded at St Norberts College in Perth before completing his final year in California, through the American Field Service program. Going to high school opened my eyes. Were talking about kids who came from a mission; the only white people they would see were the missionaries. But it was safe and comfortable. I wasnt just some kid being sent off to boarding school in the middle of nowhere; there were already kids I knew from all over the Kimberley. Sibosado with his mum Caroline Sibosado, also an artist, inside his bush shed, where he makes LED sculptural installations and prints. Credit: James Brickwood It was through NAISDA that Sibosado began witnessing Aboriginal cultural pride and activism. He met and became lifelong friends with the influential Page brothers: Bangarras founding artistic director Stephen, younger brother and dancer Russell, and older brother and composer David, who would all go on to become seminal members of Bangarra, helping create the stories the company would become known for here and abroad stories that gave audiences precious insight into both the richness and trauma of Indigenous history and culture, urban and remote. Tragically, and after hugely successful and impactful careers, both Russell and David would go on to take their own lives. Today, their legacy continues to inspire. Advertisement Other future leaders and friends who emerged from that time include artistic director Carole Johnson, performer Ronne Arnold, artists Tracey Moffatt and Michael Riley (a mentor of Sibosados), Bob Maza and Jimmy Chi (whose stage musical Bran Nue Dae, set in Broome, would go on to become a hit film). Coming off the mission, our parents had been caught up in that thing of Dont speak your language, leave your culture behind, but reaching Sydney and meeting all those people who were pushing back against that, I really gravitated towards them, Sibosado says. He stayed in Sydney, working in high-profile jobs with the then Australia Council for the Arts, Film Australia, the emerging Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative and Koori Radio, focusing on supporting young Indigenous musicians and artists. He loved it, embracing city life. Then, in 2013, his father Basil died and slowly but surely, everything changed. Creative spark It was in 2022, when Frances Rings was sitting quietly by herself on Broomes Cable Beach, that the idea of creating a new production celebrating the community of Lombadina began to emerge. She was in Western Australia with Bangarra, taking her production SandSong back to the Kimberley. At the time she was preparing to take the reins from Stephen Page, Bangarras charismatic and influential leader for more than 30 years. Keen to move the company in a new direction, Rings was interested in collaborating with other artists, bringing in new voices and stories to share with her dancers and audiences. Her mind kept going back to Sibosado, by now a successful artist in his own right, and his remote community of Lombadina, celebrated for its self-empowerment, economic and cultural innovation. I approached Darrell back then, a few years ago, and he said hed think about it, Rings recalls. Six months later he got back to me and said, Lets have a yarn. Its been a long time coming but thats the way it works with mob. Each time you go youre slowly building that relationship, conversation and trust, because we never assume that. Frances Rings Indeed, the cultural and creative process that goes into each and every Bangarra production takes years to evolve, from the early conversations so instrumental in setting up a relationship, to building the in-person trust with elders and the entire community, the discussions and guidance of the local cultural consultants who work with every new show, and the on-country visits themselves. Advertisement A family whose property was flooded by overflowing stormwater drains has been given sandbags to shield their home while Moonee Valley City Councils ageing underground pipes increasingly struggle to protect houses in heavy downpours. Homeowner Rae Berge is among a group of residents of a pocket of Moonee Ponds, in Melbournes north-west, who are demanding urgent infrastructure upgrades to deal with the growing threat of flooding and water-related damage to their properties. Rae Berge outside her sandbagged home in Moonee Ponds. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui Berge, who has lived on Stuart Street for 18 years with her husband and two teenage children, said the volume of water pouring from council-owned stormwater pipes during heavy rainfall had increased dramatically in her neighbourhood in recent years. The situation highlights a looming danger across the city, with stormwater systems struggling to handle growing pressure from higher density development and climate change. Last year, more than 22,000 properties in Yarra Council were declared flood-prone due to overflowing drains. But after Manning left SINSW, an internal review of the agency launched by the government led to concern about the potential for significant cost overruns from the contract. The Herald does not suggest those concerns were probity related, but has previously reported that issues with the contract were referred to ICAC. Former Schools Infrastructure NSW chief executive officer Anthony Manning is the subject of an ICAC investigation. Credit: Janie Barrett That review eventually led to SINSW being folded into the Education Department. Senior sources in the government, not permitted to speak publicly, said there were concerns about the agencys use of consultants at its peak in July 2023 there were 319 contractors working in the agency on an average salary of $183,000 and a lack of oversight of its procurement and governance. The government says the departure of Manning and several other SINSW executives was a result of the restructure. The APP contract was eventually cancelled following the review in July last year, just five months after being awarded. In a statement, APP said the decision was disappointing. APP Group has been informed that the decision to terminate was not based on performance and its our understanding the NSW Department of Education has chosen to pursue a different approach to project delivery, a company spokesman said. Loading However, the Herald has learnt that concerns were raised with ICAC over the contract, including the involvement of former SINSW staff in the successful bid. Among APPs partners in the $39 million tender was a company whose directors included a former SINSW executive who had attended the briefings with Murray Ellen in 2020. The long-time bureaucrat, who the Herald has decided not to name, worked as a contractor for SINSW between 2019 and 2021 in a high-ranking position. For some of that time, he worked on the agencys potential use of so-called modern methods of construction, commonly known as pre-fabrication. After leaving SINSW, the former public servant worked at APP before setting up his firm. It eventually partnered with APP on the $39 million contract bid. While the contract was awarded to APP in late 2023 two years after the former public servant left SINSW the agency published an expression of interest document for the contract in March 2022, a few months after his departure. SINSW also awarded unrelated project management service contracts to APP for four other schools in 2022, worth $6.4 million. The Department of Education did not answer questions about whether the former public servant was involved in the establishment of the Manufacturing for Schools tender, though SINSW was aware of his links with APP when it awarded the contract. In a statement, the former public servant denied having any involvement in the EOI while working at SINSW, and said he had actively distanced himself from it. Loading He said that he had adhered to the exceptionally high standards of security and probity demanded by his roles on major projects throughout his career. He has always acted with the utmost integrity including in relation to: the disclosure and management of perceived and real conflicts of interest; public service cooling-off periods and probity clearance; and the management and protection of third-party confidential information, the former public servant said about himself. This includes in relation to the SINSW Modern Methods of Construction EOI process. After initially providing a statement in response to questions, the former public servant contacted the Herald 50 minutes after the ICAC announced its investigation last month, seeking to withdraw it due to a change in circumstances. The Herald declined that request. He said his company was a participant in responding to an open and competitive tender that the NSW Department of Education released to the market in 2022 and had complied with all probity and disclosure requirements set out by the department. The ICACs announcement that it was investigating Manning and other former SINSW staff followed the concerns raised by Ellen about the agency. Ellens company, PT Blink, uses advanced software to design prefabricated buildings manufactured in warehouses off-site, then assembled by integrators. In Brisbane, the company made headlines after it designed a seven-storey apartment building which was topped out in just 11 days. He told the Herald he was first approached by officials inside the agency to brief them on his company in 2020, and said he held a series of meetings with SINSW officials about using his technology to roll out the construction of new schools. Everything was going well. We were actively discussing how we do our buildings, how we would be able to integrate it into their system. We agreed it was all confidential, Ellen said. But he was furious when a few years later, the agency issued an expression of interest for technology he said was appallingly similar to his. In September 2022, he wrote to then-minister for education Sarah Mitchell asking the government to look into potential misconduct and misuse of confidential information in relation to the tender processes at the agency. He raised those concerns again with the current Minister for Education, Prue Car, in 2024. Ellen says the experience has given him pause about working with the government. It also raises fresh questions about the former governments reliance on consultants in the public sector. Ive worked in places like Hong Kong and Singapore, the Middle East, this sort of thing would never happen, Ellen said. His planning was immaculate. To compare him to most opportunistic and impulsive burglars is to compare caviar with a seafood extender. This gang conducted detailed surveillance, often lying in bushes for hours to observe targets, used CCTV jamming equipment, earpiece communicators, and had men positioned outside the house in radio contact with the main burglar. Our man would walk the streets taking detailed notes, says Schimizzi. Their method was specific. The target time was 6pm to 9pm, usually during dinner hours and school holidays. Quiet enough not to be noticed but still busy enough to walk the streets without suspicion. They did not strike during daylight savings, wanting the cover of darkness but also to select houses where the lights were off. The chief burglar would jump neighbours fences, find tools to break open windows, then use a ladder or jump on water heaters to gain access to the second storey. Most were next to a vacant block, derelict house or building site, giving them further security. The breakthroughs came slowly as Oceans investigators collated a list of Melbourne jobs from Sandringham to Balwyn that fitted the pattern. Schimizzi reached out to colleagues in NSW he worked with in the bikie-busting Echo taskforce to find similar jobs. Eventually, CCTV from some of the street surveillance captured a middle-aged man appearing to conduct surveillance in the area of the burglaries. For obvious reasons, he was dubbed Baldy. Then he was picked up talking near a surveillance camera. A translator said he was speaking Albanian and possibly came from the Kosovo area. Albanian crime gangs are so notorious they often travel on fake passports from other countries to avoid suspicion. It would later be found Baldy had five fake Lithuanian identities. On October 2, 2022, Baldy was caught on CCTV about to enter a house in Mosman, Sydney. The camera had been painted black on the wall, and he must have missed it, says Schimizzi. When he spotted it, he bolted, but it was too late. Police finally had a usable image. Knowing his cover may be blown, he flew out of Australia two days later. Using facial recognition data, Home Affairs identified him as Liudas Valiusaitis. His only daughter lived in Melbourne, and he had been here so often he had his own Commonwealth Bank account. On each trip, he would use between one and three associates as support staff, but he was always the break-in artist. Valiusaitis nabbed at the airport. Valiusaitis was born in May 1973 in Kaunas, Lithuania, and was of Albanian descent. In 2000, he bought a farm to raise goats, sheep and chickens, but he was not the average goat farmer because he embarked on a university course in his middle age. He would later tell the courts he took up crime because his farm had plunged into debt. When we finally caught him, he asked, Who will feed my livestock? Schimizzi says. Once police knew the identity of their main suspect, they could backtrack. He arrived in Australia on May 21, 2022, under the alias Luidas Juzikis and rented a car at Tullamarine. His first job on this trip was eight days later, on a house in Brighton. For the next three months, there was a spike in top-end burglaries around Melbourne where the offender was so discreet the victims often didnt know they had been robbed for days. The discerning Valiusaitis was not only a thief but a snob. He would discard jewellery that was not top-end, then send his A-grade haul home in shipping containers. None of the houses were soft targets with most having state-of-the-art security systems and high fences. Local burglaries were dealt with by local detectives, and it took time to see the pattern in Balwyn, Sandringham, Kew, Moorabbin, South Yarra and Toorak. Then the burglaries stopped at least in Melbourne. On August 15, Valiusaitis girlfriend flew in, the couple headed north where the break-ins continued in NSW until he was caught on camera in Mosman and flew out. Paulius Juzenas, the willing apprentice pinged at the airport. By minimising the risks and playing the odds, the elite burglar had got away with it but like so many crooks, greed would get in the way. Eight months later, believing he had been forgotten, Valiusaitis slipped back into Melbourne on June 8, and six days later, his accomplice, Lithuanian Paulius Juzenas, dressed as any other budget tourist, gave a backpackers hostel in St Kilda as his address. There are no records of him staying there. They were both pinged at the airport. Operation Oceans detectives from three districts worked with investigators from NSW, the Australian Federal Police, Border Force, Home Affairs, the UK National Crime Agency, Interpol and the Australian Crime Intelligence Commission to close in. They rented different cars from different outlets and took to staying in short-term rental accommodation. Detective Sergeant Sean Schimizzi Within days, the burglaries started again. Schimizzi says they had perfected a system. They rented different cars from different outlets and took to staying in short-term rental accommodation. For the Oceans investigation, the tide was turning as investigators began to track Valiusaitis phone pinging off one tower in Mentone. They also knew he had a rental car, which had a small white sticker on the rear windscreen. A surveillance cop remembered seeing one when they swept the area. It was parked outside a short-term rental address in Levanto Street, Mentone. A sneaky online check by Schimizzi showed the property would be vacant in a few days. What investigators didnt know is they were running out of time. Valiusaitis was planning one more job before flying out. On July 12, police followed the two to Royal Avenue, Sandringham. Police couldnt be sure the pair were about to commit a crime, but they soon had a pretty good clue. They watched Valiusaitis climb down a ladder with a safe on his back. Juzenas is snapped unloading a truck. Police raided the Mentone flat and arrested the two, finding burglar gear and a receipt for an international transport company. Schimizzi says that when police visited the cargo business, one of the staff had accidentally taken a picture of one of the customers unloading four boxes he was sending to Kupiskis, Lithuania. (It has a most excellent horse museum, apparently.) It was Juzenas. He paid for his property to be shipped, giving Levanto Street as his home address. But the ship had almost sailed literally. The boxes were in a container already loaded onto the Maltese container ship, Tancredi, at South Wharf bound for Europe. Schimizzi was convinced the Lithuanians had stashed their haul in the container but in policing, there is no such thing as a free hunch. If they delayed the ship leaving, they would have to pay a fine worth over $200,000. The hope was it would be one of the top containers, and it could be a quick job. Loading They had to remove 44 containers to get to it, he says. Once inside, they found boxes 1344, 1345, 1346 and 1347 that contained 80 kilos of designer handbags, luxury watches, jewellery and even bottles of Grange valued at $2 million. There were earpieces, gloves and other burglary equipment, which indicated they were planning to leave in days, says Schimizzi. How much Valiusaitis stole will never be known. He was eventually charged with 46 burglaries. Most were worth between $50,000 and $200,000 with the smallest about $25,000. Police estimate the total is more than $7 million. Not bad for a struggling goat farmer. Valiusaitis pleaded guilty in court to 15 counts of burglary and was sentenced to a minimum of 18 months. He is expected to be deported in the next few weeks. His mate, Juzenas, received a minimum of three months and has already been deported. The 80 kilos of hot goods have been returned to the owners, and the Victoria Police received a bill for removing the container from the Tancredi. Schimizzi still has the receipt. It was for $20,274.16. Nationals campaign leaflets show Allan wearing a yes T-shirt from federal Labors failed Voice referendum. About 60 per cent of people in Bendigo voted no. Life keeps getting harder with the cost of living out of control, and crime is getting worse in our community. We cant keep going on like this, the leaflet reads. ITS TIME FOR A CHANGE. The Nationals leafleted Bendigo tying federal Labor to Premier Jacinta Allan, the local state member for Bendigo East. Lethlean told The Age that crime was really hot on the list of issues in Bendigo, along with the cost of living and housing. A security guard was allegedly bashed by a group of teenagers at Bendigos Marketplace shopping centre in a high-profile incident in March. It sparked a protest outside Allans office. Lethlean accepted crime was a state issue and said that he wasnt focused on Allan. But he argued that all levels of government needed to work together. Im focused on where I can help federally. The states are a different issue. People sometimes do find it hard to decipher between the two, so its probably not doing us any harm, Lethlean said while campaigning in Bendigo. But my main focus would be letting people know weve been a safe seat in Bendigo for way too long. Coming at it from a business perspective, Lethlean said government money had been badly managed. He said there should be more of a focus on making sure nobody is left behind. A Labor Party figure agreed the Nationals were putting up a strong candidate with a heavily resourced campaign. But they wont win, the source said. Chesters is seeking a fifth term as Bendigo MP and is known for the red coat she wears around town. She said the Nationals wanted crime to be an issue through the campaign. Theyve done whatever they can to inflame it, Chesters told The Age on Friday. They would very much like this election to be fought on state issues and not on the track record of the Albanese Labor government. She said people understood the difference between state and federal responsibilities, and highlighted campaign talking points on Medicare, urgent care clinics, free TAFE and cutting student debt. But she said Victorias toughened bail laws was welcomed and that Allan was warmly known. For every one person who might be a bit unhappy, Ill find you five that love her, Chesters said. She is the Bendigo girl. Loading Since she was first elected in 2013, Chesters has turned the former marginal seat into a safe one, something she said she wouldnt take for granted. She claimed this campaign had come with a tidal wave of nastiness, including personal attacks and what she described as misinformation about Labors record. Its been the ugliest and nastiest campaign that Ive been involved in, she said. The National Party are deploying pretty much a Donald Trump-style campaign. The Nationals reject that attack. Federal leader David Littleproud, out in Bendigo this week, said Chesters had achieved nothing and had as much pull as a chihuahua. He has since said he meant no offence. Allan who was the minister responsible for the regional Commonwealth Games fiasco, an issue that may be remembered locally said Chesters was a strong voice delivering for the community. Whats interesting to me, living in Bendigo and watching the National Partys campaign, is theyre desperately trying to pretend that theyre not part of a Peter Dutton outfit, Allan said. State Nationals MP for Northern Victoria Gaelle Broad, who lives in Bendigo and ran against Allan in 2018, said Lethlean was smart, hardworking and local. [These are] the things that you want to see in a local member. Hes got all of them. The Nationals Victorian seats including the neighbouring Nicholls and Mallee, as well as Gippsland are all held on super safe margins and the party doesnt have a winnable Senate position on the ticket this election. The party also holds neighbouring state seats and outperformed expectations at the 2022 Victorian election. Bendigo seemed to be the natural progression. A boundary redistribution also favours the Nationals slightly. Tally Room election analyst Ben Raue said Bendigo was mostly an urban seat where Labor had solidified representation. If all your seats are safe, what are you supposed to do during the election? Raue said. Maybe Bendigo is the answer. That doesnt exactly tell you that its a good prospect. Sydney first-home buyers would have more choice under Labors proposed expansion of the First Home Guarantee scheme, but they would need to look beyond the inner suburbs to find a detached house. The existing scheme lets first home buyers purchase with a 5 per cent deposit a home up to $1.3 million and avoid lenders mortgage insurance, but Labor last Sunday pledged it would increase greater Sydneys price cap to $1.5 million. First home-buyers could purchase a house in Terrigal on the Central Coast under Labors proposed expansion of the First Home Guarantee scheme. Credit: This would allow buyers to buy in Gosford, Sutherland, Canterbury-Bankstown, Parramatta and many pockets of the western suburbs, based on Domains House Price Report for the March 2025 quarter, released on Thursday. The most expensive suburbs where the typical house comes into reach are Terrigal, Bangor and Loftus ($1.5 million medians), Padstow ($1,498,000) and Panania ($1.49 million). Paris/Washington: The US will walk away from efforts to broker a Russia-Ukraine peace deal unless there are clear signs of progress soon, President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said. Quickly, we want to get it done, Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday (Saturday AEDT). Now if for some reason one of the two parties makes it very difficult, were just going to say, Youre foolish, youre fools, youre horrible people, and were going to just take a pass. But hopefully we wont have to do that. Trumps comments followed remarks by Rubio, his top diplomat, who said the sides had just days to show progress or Washington would walk. Were not going to continue with this endeavour for weeks and months on end. So we need to determine very quickly now, and Im talking about a matter of days, whether or not this is doable in the next few weeks, Rubio said in Paris after meeting European and Ukrainian leaders. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size At a public meeting with a Republican senator in the US state of Iowa this week, a woman introduced herself as a strong Christian who preached at the local church on Sundays and believed in welcoming strangers. I think turning away people who have come here for asylum is one of the most shameful things we are doing right now, she said, to a spattering of applause. As my elected senator, is there anything you can do so that we can follow international law better, or just the ideals of our country to be a place of hope for others? They were words that could have easily been heard in many Australian elections for the past 25 years. And to anyone even vaguely familiar with the politics of immigration in Australia, the past week in the US has had a familiar tinge. Senator Chuck Grassley faced questions from constituents on immigration policy familiar to Australians. Credit: AP US President Donald Trump was elected on a wave of dissatisfaction over high prices, out-of-control immigration and a sense that the Democrats were out of touch with the concerns of ordinary Americans. Trump promised to enact the biggest deportation program in US history, and considers the issue to be one of his core political strengths. There is no question he has succeeded in slashing illegal border crossings. The deportations have been slower, though, to a degree, they have been frustrated by unco-operative states and legal challenges. Two court cases cut to the core. They are the chosen battlegrounds for an administration that is determined to fight the judiciary head-on, and they represent Trumps most direct challenge to the rule of law and separation of powers. Advertisement Both arise from a fateful day in March, when the government deported three planeloads of people from Texas to a notorious gang prison in El Salvador a country led by right-wing, tough-on-crime Trump ally Nayib Bukele, a 43-year-old advertising man turned politician who has called himself the worlds coolest dictator. Some of those people were deported without due process under immigration law using the 1798 Alien Enemies Act a practically defunct wartime law that legal scholars say has been misused by the Trump administration. That sparked a court case being heard by federal judge James Boasberg. Loading On board one of the planes was Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a 29-year-old Salvadorian immigrant who came to the US claiming asylum and was living in the US state of Maryland with his wife, a US citizen, and three children. Abrego Garcia was detained in 2019, questioned about a murder and accused of being part of the notorious MS-13 gang. He was subject to immigration proceedings, but a judge gave him protected status preventing his deportation to El Salvador and allowing him to work. He has not been charged with, or convicted of, a crime. His removal to the Salvadorian prison is being challenged in a separate case under Maryland judge Paula Xinis. Lawyers for the Justice Department have conceded his deportation involved an administrative error. And the US Supreme Court has ordered the administration to facilitate his return to the US. In the other case, Boasberg said on Wednesday (Thursday AEST) there was probable cause to hold the Trump administration in criminal contempt of court for defying his March 15 order to halt the Alien Enemies Act deportations and turn the planes around. Advertisement Boasbergs colourful written opinion said the deportees had been spirited out of the US by the government before they could vindicate their due-process rights, then hurried into the mega-prison. The Constitution does not tolerate wilful disobedience of judicial orders especially by officials of a co-ordinate branch who have sworn an oath to uphold it, he said. Both cases are legally fraught. Politically, they are being played extremely hard. The Democrats are accusing Trump of defying the courts in the Abrego Garcia case, the highest court in the land. That gives rise to a potential constitutional crisis. Chris Van Hollen, a Democratic senator for Maryland, meets with Kilmar Abrego Garcia in prison in El Salvador. Credit: X / @ChrisVanHollen This week Chris Van Hollen, a Democratic senator for Maryland and a lawyer, travelled to El Salvador and met the countrys vice president, asking for Abrego Garcia to be released. He unsuccessfully attempted to visit the notorious prison, called the Terrorism Confinement Centre or CECOT. However, he later managed to meet with Abrego Garcia at a hotel in San Salvador. Van Hollen posted a photo of the meeting on X but didnt give an update on Abrego Garcias status. El Salvadors Bukele was less restrained, posting, Now that hes been confirmed healthy, he gets the honour of staying in El Salvadors custody, the AP reported. Advertisement Before the prison visit, Van Hollen promised more Democrats would go to El Salvador to press Abrego Garcias case. The Trump administration is clearly in violation of American court orders, he said. This is an unsustainable and unjust moment, so it cannot continue this way. On the other side, the White House has been ruthless in accusing the Democrats and media of siding with an alleged gang member. Stephen Miller, Trumps fast-talking deputy chief of staff and a hard-line immigration specialist, relentlessly targets any news outlet that describes Abrego Garcia as a Maryland man. Loading Hes not a Maryland man. Hes an illegal alien MS-13 terrorist from El Salvador, Miller said. The corporate media wants so badly for our country to be flooded with foreign criminals. At a hastily convened media briefing on Wednesday (Thursday AEST), White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt repeated that framing and then brought Patty Morin to the podium. Morins daughter Rachel was snatched while running on a Maryland trail in 2023, brutally bashed with rocks, raped in a tunnel and strangled to death. An illegal immigrant and fugitive from El Salvador, Victor Martinez-Hernandez, was found guilty on Monday. Speaking to the nations media, Morins account of her daughters murder was unbearably gruesome. They showed us pictures of her body against the wall. The blood outlined her body. You could see where the blood ran down around her as he was raping her. And then he threw her down and raped her some more. And then he strangled her. Advertisement Morin was not talking about Abrego Garcia. But her message was universal. These are the kind of criminals president Trump wants to remove from our country, she said. Why should we allow people like this violent criminals that have no conscience at all to murder our mothers, our sisters, our daughters? I dont understand why theres even any kind of problem with this. Patty Morin, whose daughter was murdered by an illegal immigrant, embraces White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt after a press briefing where she told her story and backed up the presidents hard-line deportation policies. Credit: AP Whatever due process may have been denied to Abrego Garcia, his cause is difficult for Democrats to take up. Especially because his wife accused him of domestic violence in 2021 and sought a protection order. In written testimony, she accused him of throwing her laptop on the floor in a rage, punching her and scratching her eye. Later, he is accused of ripping off her clothes, grabbing her by the arm as she ran away and leaving her bruised. The wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, ultimately didnt proceed with the case. She is now one of the prominent voices calling for her husbands return to the US. However, the White House seized on the allegations as further ammunition. Not only are Democrats rushing to defend an illegal criminal foreign terrorist gang member, but also an apparent woman-beater, Leavitt said. She went on: If he ever ends up back in the United States, he would immediately be deported again. Nothing will change the fact that Abrego Garcia will never be a Maryland father. He will never live in the United States of America again. Nonetheless, many Democrats believe this is a battle not just worth fighting, but one they must fight. Democratic strategist Mary Anne Walsh says the discourse on immigration in 2025 is the result of 10 years of a propaganda campaign by Trump and the Republicans which, until now, has been effective. Advertisement News / National by Staff reporter Six people lost their lives in a fatal road traffic accident on Thursday near the Magunje turnoff along the Harare-Chirundu Highway, in Mashonaland West province.The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) confirmed the incident, which involved a head-on collision between a haulage truck and a Nissan NV 150 van carrying five passengers."ZRP confirms a fatal road traffic accident, which occurred on April 17, 2025 at around 1130 hours at the 214 km peg along Harare-Chirundu Road in which six people were killed," said ZRP national spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi."The accident involved a haulage truck with no passengers on board and a Nissan NV 150 vehicle with five passengers."The deceased, including the driver of the Nissan vehicle, were pronounced dead at the scene. Their bodies were transported to Karoi Hospital mortuary for post-mortem examinations.Authorities are still investigating the exact cause of the collision, and further details will be released as they become available. The crash adds to a growing number of tragic incidents on Zimbabwe's major highways, which have seen a spike in accidents in recent months.Police have urged motorists to exercise caution and adhere to road regulations, especially on busy intercity routes. Iraq PM meets Syrian leader in Doha for first time Baghdad, April 17 (AFP) Apr 17, 2025 Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani met with Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Doha, Iraqi state media reported Thursday, in their first meeting since Bashar al-Assad was toppled. Sudani made "a quick visit to Qatar where he met with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani" and Sharaa, the official INA news agency quoted a source close to the government as saying. "The tripartite meeting is a result of the rapidly evolving events in the region, especially in Syria," the source added, without specifying when the meeting took place. The Syrian presidency confirmed the meeting in a statement, citing Qatar's "generous mediation". Sudani and Sharaa stressed the importance of "respecting the sovereignty" of each country and "refusing any form of foreign interference", according to the Syrian presidency statement. The two leaders also discussed mechanisms to consolidate "trade relations and facilitate the passage of goods and people through border crossings". A source with knowledge of the meeting confirmed to AFP discussions between Sharaa and Sudani in Qatar with Sheikh Tamim. "Talks focused on the opening of the border, resumption of trade and an invitation to the Arab League," the source said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the discussions. Iraq announced the closure of its border with Syria during the lightning rebel offensive that led to Assad's fall in December, fearing the repercussions of the instability on its territory. The ouster of Assad, who was a close ally of the government in Baghdad, has complicated relations between the two neighbouring countries. On Wednesday, Sudani said that Baghdad invited Sharaa to the Arab League summit expected to be held in Baghdad in May. If Sharaa attends, it would mark his first public visit to the country where he was jailed for years on charges of joining al-Qaeda after the 2003 US-led invasion. During the Doha meeting, Sudani called for "an inclusive political process" in Syria, which guarantees "the protection of all social, religious and national components," the source told INA. Sudani also urged the Syrian government to take "serious steps to combat" the Islamic State group. He stressed that achieving "tangible progress" on these issues could enhance relations between both countries and lead to "establishing cooperation mechanisms that serve their interests" and "improve security and stability in the region". Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani visited Baghdad last month and said his government was ready to "reinforce cooperation" with Iraq in security and trade. Iraq remains scarred by decades of conflict since the US-led invasion, which was followed by a sectarian conflict, al-Qaeda insurgencies, and the rise of the Islamic State group. France hails 'positive process' as Europe, US discuss Ukraine ceasefire Paris, April 18 (AFP) Apr 18, 2025 France hailed talks on the Ukraine war between top US and European officials on Thursday during which US Secretary of State Marco Rubio again pressed a US peace plan. President Emmanuel Macron's office said the talks launched a "positive process" as Europe seeks to be included in efforts to end the three-year-old war. The meetings included Macron, Rubio, US envoy Steve Witkoff, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, German officials and Ukrainian ministers. They took place as US President Donald Trump's push to end the war stumbles, with Russia's President Vladimir Putin rebuffing a complete truce. "Today in Paris, we launched a positive process in which the Europeans are involved," the French presidency said. A new meeting of envoys from the United States, France, Britain, Germany and Ukraine will take place next week in London, it added. Rubio called Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to discuss the Paris meeting. "President Trump and the United States want this war to end, and have now presented to all parties the outlines of a durable and lasting peace," Rubio told his Russian counterpart, according to the US State Department. "The encouraging reception in Paris to the US framework shows that peace is possible if all parties commit to reaching an agreement," he added. In a statement, Russia's foreign ministry said Lavrov "reaffirmed Moscow's readiness to continue collaborative efforts with American counterparts to comprehensively address the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis". Lavrov and Rubio agreed on the need to maintain "prompt communication channels", in light of the London meeting next week, the statement said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has clashed with Trump, also praised the talks. "It is important that we hear each other, refine and clarify our positions, and work for the sake of real security of Ukraine and all our Europe," Zelensky said in a post on X. - 'Europeans at the table' - Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov however dismissed the Paris meeting, saying earlier that Europeans seemed to have "a focus on continuing the war". France and Britain have sought a coordinated European response to defending Ukraine, during the conflict and in any ceasefire, after Trump shocked them by opening talks with Russia. Macron said the Paris talks were "a very important occasion for convergence," as everybody wanted "a robust and sustainable peace". French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told reporters the talks had been a breakthrough because the United States, Ukraine, and European ministers had "gathered around the same table" when Europe had previously feared it would be excluded from decision-making. The United States "has understood that a just and sustainable peace ... can only be achieved with the consent and contribution of Europeans," he added later on LCI television. Russia's strikes, which have recently killed dozens of people including children in Ukrainian cities, have increased pressure for new diplomatic efforts to end the conflict. Zelensky earlier accused Witkoff of "spreading Russian narratives" after the US envoy suggested a peace deal with Russia hinged on the status of Ukraine's occupied territories. "I believe that Mr Witkoff has taken on the strategy of the Russian side," Zelensky told reporters. "It is very dangerous, because he is consciously or unconsciously, I don't know, spreading Russian narratives." Witkoff said this week that Putin was open to "permanent peace" after talks with the Kremlin chief in Saint Petersburg, their third meeting since Trump returned to the White House in January. - 'Good progress' - Despite the diplomatic efforts, Russia has continued to strike Ukraine. Russian drone strikes and shelling in Ukraine killed at least 12 people on Thursday, Ukrainian authorities said, just days after a Russian attack killed at least 35 people in the northeastern city of Sumy. Zelensky said Wednesday that negotiators were making "good progress" with the United States in fraught talks over a minerals deal intended to secure desperately-needed US support. Trump said a deal could be signed next week. Putin last month rejected a US proposal for a full and unconditional ceasefire, after Kyiv gave its backing to the idea. He also suggested Zelensky be removed from office, sparking an angry response from Trump who said he was "very angry" with the Russian leader. France's Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu held talks in Washington on Thursday with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who called on France to boost military spending, a Pentagon spokesman said. "The secretary urged France to increase defence spending and, alongside other NATO allies, take primary responsibility for Europe's conventional defence," the spokesman said. burs-as/ah/tw/rjm/tym Deadly US strikes hit Yemen fuel port used by Huthis Sanaa, April 18 (AFP) Apr 18, 2025 The US military said it had destroyed a key Yemeni fuel port as it targets the country's Huthi rebels, who said Friday that 20 people had been killed in the strikes. The attack on the Ras Issa fuel port aimed to cut off a source of supplies and funds for the Iran-backed Huthis, the US military said. Washington has hammered the Huthis with near-daily air strikes since March 15 in a bid to end their attacks on civilian shipping and military vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The rebels began their attacks in late 2023, claiming solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. "US forces took action to eliminate this source of fuel for the Iran-backed Huthi terrorists and deprive them of illegal revenue that has funded Huthi efforts to terrorise the entire region for over 10 years," the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement. "The objective of these strikes was to degrade the economic source of power of the Huthis, who continue to exploit and bring great pain upon their fellow countrymen," CENTCOM said. Ships "have continued to supply fuel via the port of Ras Issa" despite Washington designating the rebels a foreign terrorist organisation earlier this year, the military command added, without specifying the source of the fuel. Huthi health ministry spokesman Anees Alasbahi said the preliminary death toll stood at 20, including five paramedics. There were also "50 wounded workers and employees at the Ras Issa oil port, following the American aggression", he said on X. "The death toll is likely to rise as body parts are still being identified," he added. - Fireball - In images broadcast early Friday by the rebels' Al-Masira channel, which it presented as the "first images of the US aggression" against the port, a fireball lit up the area around the ships, while thick columns of smoke rose above what appeared to be an ongoing blaze. "Civil defence rescue teams and paramedics are making every effort to search for and extract victims and extinguish the fire," said Alasbahi. The port lies along the west coast of Yemen on the Red Sea. Huthi attacks have hampered shipping through the Suez Canal -- a vital route that normally carries about 12 percent of world shipping traffic -- forcing many companies into a costly detour around the tip of southern Africa. The United States first began conducting strikes against the Huthis under president Joe Biden's administration, and his successor President Donald Trump has vowed that military action against the rebels would continue until they are no longer a threat to shipping. On Thursday evening, France's Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu said a French frigate in the Red Sea destroyed a drone launched from Yemen. "Our armed forces continue their commitment to ensuring maritime freedom of movement," he said on X. US State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told journalists Thursday that the Chinese satellite firm Chang Guang Satellite Technology Company was "directly supporting Iran-backed Huthi terrorist attacks on US interests". "Their actions -- and Beijing's support of the company, even after our private engagements with them -- is yet another example of China's empty claims to support peace," she said. Bruce did not initially provide details on the nature of the company's support for the rebels, but later referred to "a Chinese company providing satellite imagery to the Huthis." Rubio says Europeans need to decide on Iran sanctions 'snapback' Paris, April 18 (AFP) Apr 18, 2025 US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday that European countries needed to decide whether to reimpose sanctions on Iran as Tehran was not complying with a nuclear deal. "They have an important decision to make very soon on snapback, on the snapback of sanctions because Iran is clearly out of compliance with the current deal," he said as he left Paris after talks with European counterparts. During his first term, US President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from a landmark nuclear deal which imposed curbs on Iran's nuclear programme in return for sanctions relief. Tehran adhered to the deal until Washington's withdrawal, but then began rolling back its commitments. Efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear pact have since faltered, and European officials have expressed frustrations over Tehran's non-compliance. "Iran is out of compliance, they have to reimpose the sanctions," Rubio added. With Trump back in office, Washington has re-engaged in the highest-level Iran-US nuclear talks since the previous accord's collapse. The United States and Iran held discussions on Tehran's nuclear programme in Oman last weekend, without European powers. Another Omani-mediated round is scheduled for Saturday, in Italy. Visiting Iran on Thursday, UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi said Tehran and Washington were running out of time to secure an accord. Before heading to Iran, Grossi told French newspaper Le Monde that Tehran was "not far" from possessing a nuclear bomb. Iran stages nationwide Army Day parades Tehran, April 18 (AFP) Apr 18, 2025 Iran staged military parades on Friday to mark its annual Army Day celebrations, showcasing a wide array of its latest domestically built drones, missiles, tanks, and other hardware. The events coincided with the eve of the second round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States, which will be held in Rome on Saturday. Domestically developed drones, including the jet-powered Karrar, Arash, and Mohajer models, were shown in the parade in Tehran, state television reported. In addition to the capital, military parades were also staged in other major cities. The Tehran event also featured Russian-made S-300 air defence systems. It was attended by President Masoud Pezeshkian, who praised the army as the nation's "strong fortress" and credited it with asserting the country's regional influence. The military display came a day before delegations from Iran and the United States were set to meet in the Italian capital for a second round of indirect nuclear talks mediated by Oman. The first round, held in Muscat last Saturday, was described by both sides as "constructive". In March, US President Donald Trump sent a letter to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urging renewed negotiations over Tehran's nuclear programme and warning of military action if diplomacy fails. On Thursday, Trump said he is "not in a rush" to attack Iranian nuclear facilities, adding: "I think Iran wants to talk." Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who represents Tehran in the talks, said on Thursday "we are fully serious in these talks", and "based on the other side's approach, will assess how to proceed". US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff represents Washington in the talks. A New York Times report on Wednesday said Trump had blocked an Israeli plan to strike Iranian nuclear facilities, deciding instead to prioritise diplomatic outreach. On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that Israel will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons, even as the Iran-US talks continue. rkh/srm News / National by Staff reporter President Emmerson Mnangagwa has issued a stern warning against the misuse of social media, calling on Zimbabweans to reject divisive narratives and remain steadfast in their commitment to national unity and development.Speaking at the 45th Independence Day main celebrations held at Mutora Open Grounds in Gokwe, the President applauded citizens for their resilience and loyalty despite growing online misinformation and manipulation efforts."I commend you, my dear fellow compatriots, both at home and abroad, for remaining vigilant, patriotic and steadfast, never allowing ourselves to be misled by shadowy elements with dubious opportunistic agendas," President Mnangagwa said in his keynote address.He urged the nation to remain focused on peace, development, and progress, emphasizing that unity was essential for the country's prosperity."Let's remain united, developing our nation. We all have a duty to work for Zimbabwe. Let us be known for working in our community and our country, and to unite people," he added.The President's comments come amid increasing concerns over the spread of disinformation, hate speech, and inflammatory content on social media platformsmaterial that government officials say is aimed at destabilising communities and undermining national cohesion.President Mnangagwa's message reinforced the government's stance against what it views as digital threats to national stability, while also calling on citizens to use social media responsibly and constructively.The Independence Day celebrations, held under the theme "Zim@45: Unity, Peace and Development Towards Vision 2030", attracted thousands of Zimbabweans from across the country, who gathered to mark the nation's progress since attaining independence in 1980. Iran FM says has 'serious doubts' over US intentions ahead of talks Moscow, April 18 (AFP) Apr 18, 2025 Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday cast doubt over the intentions of the United States a day before a second round of nuclear talks with Washington. The new round will come a week after the longtime foes held their highest-level negotiations since US President Donald Trump abandoned a landmark nuclear deal in 2018. "Although we have serious doubts about the intentions and motivations of the American side, in any case we will participate in tomorrow's negotiations," Araghchi said during a press conference in Moscow with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. Araghchi will set off on Saturday for Rome for a fresh round of Omani-mediated talks with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. "We are fully prepared to pursue a peaceful resolution for Iran's peaceful nuclear programme," Araghchi said. Lavrov said Moscow was ready "to play any role that will be useful from Iran's point of view and that will be acceptable to the United States." Russia, which commands the world's largest confirmed arsenal of nuclear weapons, has deepened its military ties with Iran since it launched its offensive on Ukraine in February 2022. Western countries including the United States have long accused Iran of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons -- an allegation Tehran has consistently denied, insisting that its programme is for peaceful civilian purposes. On Tuesday, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the country's military capabilities were off limits in the discussions. The official IRNA news agency reported Iran's regional influence and its missile capabilities -- long criticised by Western governments -- were among its "red lines" in the talks. On Wednesday, the Iranian foreign minister said Iran's enrichment of uranium was not up for discussion, after Witkoff called for it to end. "If there is similar willingness on the other side, and they refrain from making unreasonable and unrealistic demands, I believe reaching an agreement is likely," Araghchi said during the press conference. Lavrov emphasised that any potential agreement should only pertain to the nuclear issue. "This is a fundamental point that must be taken into account by those who try to burden the negotiations with non-nuclear issues and thus create a very risky situation," he said. Israel on Friday reiterated its unwavering commitment to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, saying it had a "clear course of action" to prevent this. "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I, along with all relevant bodies, are committed to leading a clear course of action that will prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons," said Defence Minister Israel Katz. Lebanon says two killed in Israeli strikes in south Ghaziyeh, Lebanon, April 18 (AFP) Apr 18, 2025 Lebanon's health ministry said Israeli air strikes killed two people in the south on Friday, with Israel announcing attacks in the same areas targeting Hezbollah militants. Despite a November 27 ceasefire that sought to halt more than a year of conflict between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah, Israel has continued to conduct near-daily strikes in Lebanon. An Israeli attack on "a car on the Sidon-Ghaziyeh road resulted in one dead", a Lebanese health ministry statement said on the fourth straight day of Israeli attacks in the south. Hours later, the ministry said another Israeli strike on a vehicle around Aita al-Shaab had also killed one. Israel's military said it had "conducted a precise strike in the area of Sidon and eliminated the Hezbollah terrorist Muhammad Jaafar Mannah Asaad Abdallah". It said Abdallah was "responsible, among other things, for the deployment of Hezbollah's communication systems throughout Lebanon". On Friday evening, it announced "a Hezbollah terrorist was struck and eliminated by the IDF (military) in the area of" Aita al-Shaab. An AFP journalist said the Israeli attack in Sidon had hit a four-wheel-drive vehicle, sending a column of black smoke into the sky. At the scene of the strike, members of the security forces stood guard as a crowd gathered to look at the charred remains of the vehicle after firefighters had put out the blaze. The Israeli military has also said it was behind other attacks this week that it said killed Hezbollah members. Hezbollah, significantly weakened by the war, insists it is adhering to the November ceasefire, even as Israeli attacks persist. There are those, to be sure, who believe that the Palestinian people should have another state in the region and that until they do there can be no peace either in the Middle East or around the world. What they fail to contend with is that in 2005 the people of Gaza were given a state. When the IDF tore the last Jewish families from their homes and even relocated Jewish graves in Gaza, the Palestinian people there had a choice. In the subsequent election they voted in Hamas. Who's in the Royal Box at Wimbledon? Gary Lineker, Mary Berry and Anthony Joshua among famous faces on Centre Court on day five Who's in the Royal Box at Wimbledon Centre Court on day five? There are broader threats too, says Kai-Isiah Jamal, the pioneering trans model who has been the face of Burberry, Louis Vuitton and is this month's Elle UK cover star. I question who is making these images. Is this just another way for white, cis, straight men to push their desire once more? Until we are at a state in which models from all identities, backgrounds and races and sizes and presentation can be booked then our focus is in the wrong place. Not hiring a dark skinned black model or a curve girl but creating one poses many questions about the performative truth of our industry. If its not possible, if were so far apart that this is not going to happen, then I think the presidents probably at a point where hes going to say, well, were done. Mr Healey said: Our armed forces serve with extraordinary dedication and courage to keep us safe. It is only right that they and their families live in the homes they deserve. The third victim is reported to be from Israel, while the fourth was the cable car operator, named locally as Carmine Parlato. One person survived the incident and was taken to hospital with injuries. Microsoft Announces 'Computer Use' Automation in Copilot Studio Microsoft has introduced a new AI-powered feature called "Computer Use" for its Copilot Studio platform that allows agents to directly interact with websites and desktop applications using simulated mouse clicks, menu selections, and text inputs. According to Charles Lamanna, corporate vice president of business and industry for Microsoft Copilot, the feature marks a major leap forward in Microsoft's vision for intelligent automation by allowing Copilot Studio agents to treat graphical user interfaces similarly to how a human user would. "Computer Use adapts to changes in apps and websites automatically," said Lamanna. "It adjusts in real time using built-in reasoning to fix issues on its own, so work continues without interruption. It is also built on Copilot Studio's robust security measures and governance frameworks, to help ensure compliance with organizational and industry standards." Key use cases for the new feature include: Automated data entry across systems that lack direct integrations; Market research automation by collecting and organizing information from online sources; and Invoice processing, streamlining finance operations by extracting and transferring data into accounting systems. Computer Use is hosted on Microsoft infrastructure. The company said this eliminates the need for organizations to provision or manage dedicated RPA environments, reducing both overhead and maintenance requirements. Microsoft says the new feature also modernizes traditional robotic process automation (RPA) by making it more resilient and accessible. Rather than requiring extensive coding or scripting, users can describe automation tasks using natural language and refine workflows with side-by-side video previews showing how the agent interprets and executes UI actions. Additional enhancements include full transparency, with the ability to audit every action the agent performs, including screenshots and reasoning steps. Microsoft plans to showcase Computer Use in greater detail next month at its Build conference. Microsoft Begins Rolling Out Controversial Recall Feature In other Microsoft Copilot news, the company recently announced it has begun rolling out a preview of its Recall feature in Windows in the latest Windows 11 preview build. Microsoft's Recall feature for Copilot+ PCs offers an AI-driven way to search and retrieve past activity across apps, websites, documents, and images by describing what you remember. The feature works by taking opt-in snapshots of your screen throughout the day and requires Windows Hello authentication to ensure only the device owner can access them. The feature was initially supposed to start rolling out in preview last June. However, after security concerns from the community arose, the feature was yanked. It was then scheduled for release in October, but was yet again pulled when the feature was found to be taking screengrabs of users' credit card information. Microsoft has made it clear that Recall is an optional feature and can be turned off at any time. It also said the new version now rolling out adheres to the company's commitment to AI and privacy. "Recall does not share snapshots or associated data with Microsoft or third parties, nor is it shared between different Windows users on the same device. Windows will ask for your permission before saving snapshots. You are always in control, and you can delete snapshots, pause or turn them off at any time. Any future options for the user to share data will require fully informed explicit action by the user," said Microsoft. We need to determine very quickly now and Im talking about a matter of days whether or not this is doable in the next few weeks. If it is, were in. If its not, then we have other priorities to focus on as well. Schnuck Markets has selected 10 businesses for the inaugural class of its accelerator program, aimed at helping diverse entrepreneurs grow their local companies, making everything from popcorn to pet food to granola. The 10-week program consists of business development classes at the grocery chains St. Louis headquarters, networking opportunities, $5,000 of equity-free funding and an in-store product trial at select Schnucks stores in 2025. It begins Wednesday. Several other grocery companies, like Kroger and Whole Foods, have accelerator programs, but few are devoted to consumer packaged goods, said Adrian Moore, Schnucks senior director of merchandising enablement and supplier diversity. What makes ours rare is the shelf trial, giving our customers access to the cohorts products for a limited time in limited stores, she said. Most accelerators that Im aware of offer the education and funding, but few offer the benefit of an actual sales outlet. After announcing the Schnucks Springboard program earlier this year, the company received 110 applicants. The winners are Bellas Pet Products, D.R.E.A.M. Pet Food, Hugo Coffee Roasters, Mickeys Popcorn, MOTASTE, Phathead BBQ Sauce, Pop Pop Hurray, Sandwich Goat Seasonings, Show Me the World and YUJ Granola. Co-founders of D.R.E.A.M. Pet Food, Jaime Cooper and Paul Paige, met through a mutual friend a decade ago. With a combined 12 years of experience in the pet food industry, the two launched their hip-hop inspired dog treats in 2018. Now, the brand can be found in stores around Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina and, locally, in Fresh Thyme Markets. Paige, who is based in St. Louis, said the duo are excited to participate in the Schnucks program as they want to win in our backyards. A mentor told us, the easiest part is getting there. The hardest part is staying in that location, he said. How do you become a mainstay? What does it take to win in that space? Through hip-hop-inspired images and branding (the logo is a dog in a track suit with a chain necklace and a bucket hat, a la Run-D.M.C.), Cooper said D.R.E.A.M Pet Food talks to a demographic that pet food companies have missed. Theyre all talking to the same customer, Cooper said. You see commercials of people running in fields with dogs or in the kitchen, thats not how we grew up with our dogs. We talk to customers as a whole in a different way. Moore, of Schnucks, said the program will include speakers, pitch classes and sessions on food safety, pricing and social media. Schnucks didnt want to be an incubator that builds startups, so officials looked for businesses that were already established and had retail sales or had been in stores, she said. Theres a lot to be learned from diverse-owned businesses and the stages theyre in, she said. We want to support the local economy, and we want to support people who look like our diverse customer base with diverse suppliers because thats how it should be. The Springboard companies were selected in partnership with Mid-States Minority Supplier Development Council, based on their business stability, incremental sales opportunity, strategic vision and corporate responsibility, according to a statement. Itll benefit us greatly and open our doors up so much more, said Terry Payton, owner of Phatheads BBQ Sauce. The Bethalto, Illinois-based sauce brand started after Payton and his brother hosted a taste test in Paytons front yard. People wanted to buy their sauce and since then, the two have been working hard to create different flavors and grow. Phatheads BBQ Sauce is used on food at Nubbys Telegraph in south St. Louis County and can be found on store shelves in western Illinois. Payton said they typically sell out at food festivals. Even if we dont get the shelf space in Schnucks, well leave the table with more than we came in with, Payton said. Makenzie Johnson, CEO of Bellas Pet Products, said her acceptance into the accelerator comes at the perfect time, as her business has grown to the point where she no longer has the capacity to make all the all-natural dog treats by herself. Nowadays, customers really do care about whos making the products that theyre buying and where theyre coming from, so I think that Schnucks is reaching out and saying, Hey, we want to highlight women and we want to highlight the Black community and the LGBTQ community, and thats what drew me in, Johnson said. She said she is looking forward to learning from the other business owners. Based out of Jackson, Missouri, 21-year-old Johnson is studying entrepreneurship and corporate innovation at Southeast Missouri State University. She hopes to have the confidence, funds and skills to pursue Bellas Pet Products full-time after graduating. Show Me the World began selling coffee about seven years ago. The company partners with a nonprofit of the same name and aims to expand the world view of local high school students through trips to Costa Rica. Selling coffee helps sustain the program and acts as another education tool as high school students are involved with the business process, learn branding and marketing and develop workforce readiness skills. Show Me the World Project has been around for over a decade, said co-founder Sylvester Chisom, and sells its products online, at the Tower Grove farmers market and in local Fresh Thyme Markets. The business is over-the-moon excited to connect with diverse brands, Chisom said. It seems like a perfect fit. This is who we are, St. Louis-based led by minority founders. ... Were using a product but turning it into an impact on the community. Outside the new Schnucks Springboard program, companies wanting to get their products on Schnucks shelves can apply to be a product supplier. Schnucks also has a supplier program that targets businesses owned by people of color, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ individuals, veterans and women. The chain declined to share what percentage of its inventory is made up of local products and how much revenue these items produce. When Kohns Kosher Deli closed abruptly last year, the St. Louis area was left without a kosher-only butcher and deli for the first time since 1963. Thats when Holocaust survivors Simon and Bobbie Kohn opened their shop on Old Olive Street Road in Creve Coeur. The closure left a gap in the market. A few pop-ups and eateries even a Chicago-based caterer are now trying to fill at least part of the gap. One high-profile effort debuted on Opening Day at Busch Stadium. A kosher food stand behind section 147 sported a new name Stuies but its weekday-only kosher menu of pastrami and corned beef sandwiches and hot dogs remains the same as when the stand was previously named Kohns. On weekends and holidays Stuies operates as Coney Island Deli. Stuart Rosenblum, who owns the Stuies stand, said the need for a kosher eatery and butcher shop goes beyond a hankering for sandwiches. It can serve as a cultural and community gathering place for Jewish families, including those thinking of moving to the area. Theres a tremendous hole, Rosenblum said. If they dont rectify it, itll be a problem. Zeldas Catering, a kosher business in Chicago, has periodically driven made-to-order food in a refrigerated truck to the St. Louis area. A community our size should be able to support a kosher butcher, said Rabbi Jeffrey Abraham of Congregation Bnai Amoona in Creve Coeur. Most similar-size cities have a few options. The St. Louis area has nearly 46,000 Jewish adults and children, according to a 2024 study by Brandeis University and the University of Chicago commissioned by the Jewish Federation of St. Louis. It found that about one-third of the adults follow at least some kosher rules, such as keeping meat and dairy foods separate, not eating pork or shellfish and only using plates and utensils that have not touched non-kosher food to cook and serve. At Leftys Bagels in Chesterfield, which uses kosher methods for its products, co-owner Scott Lefton said the business is planning more kosher options in coming months. Theres so little in the way of true kosher offerings, Lefton said. Theres something very, very special about keeping kosher and keeping those traditions alive is really important. These laws go back thousands of years. Shortly after Kohns Kosher Deli shuttered last July, Nates Kosher Deli took over the space at 10405 Old Olive Street Road and offered butcher services. At the time, owner Avi Rosenberg said he was looking for a permanent space for the business. But Nates closed in December, with the promise to reopen in Clayton, though an opening date and location were not disclosed. Rosenberg did not respond to requests to comment. Claytons planning department says it has not received any permit applications for a new deli. There is a need In 2013, Rosenblum opened the then-Kohns cart at Busch Stadium, which the help of his friend and former Kohns Kosher Deli owner Lenny Kohn. Rosenblum remembers finding limited or no kosher food options at the stadium when he attended games. He pitched the idea of a kosher-certified food option to the Cardinals. He and Kohn maintained the cart for many years, but Kohn eventually sold his share and the deli to an investor group in 2022. When the deli closed last July, the owners, Yehuda Kestenbaum and Avraham Blum, faced a lawsuit from an Illinois food distributor over nearly $150,000 in unpaid bills. Rosenblum bought Kestenbaum and Blum out of their ownership of the Busch Stadium stand last year. He said he rebranded from Kohns to Stuies to distance himself from the legal issues. Its really there to enhance and give access to the Jewish community, Rosenblum said. I felt that there is a need. Theres a limited amount of access to the food. Lefton, of Leftys Bagels, said theres a lot of nuance when it comes to kosher food preparation. Orthodox Jews, for example, keep the most strict version of kosher, while some Conservative Jews may eat things made in the kosher style but are not necessarily certified by the Vaad Hoeir of St Louis, a local organization comprised of a group of rabbis who provide kosher certification. Reform Jews generally do not keep kosher, but may follow some of the guidelines. As a business, Leftys Bagels hasnt been certified by the Vaad. But its bagels, cream cheese and fish are certified kosher, Lefton said. The bagels are baked in separate ovens and kept two arms lengths away from non-kosher ingredients. Its expensive to maintain a kosher license and procure kosher ingredients, Lefton said, in addition to the general decline in the kosher deli industry as fewer people keep strictly kosher. It all costs money, Lefton said. From a business standpoint, it becomes hard. Restaurant offerings and deliveries Gokul Indian Restaurant has been kosher-certified since it opened in 2010. The owner, Jitendra Sandhe, said a longtime Jewish customer of his previous restaurant encouraged him to contact the Vaad. Now, he ships frozen kosher meals across the country and he says about 70% of his dine-in clientele is Jewish. Though there are certain Indian cuisine staples he cant serve, like pani puri, Sandhe said the kosher restrictions arent an obstacle. If I didnt have their support, I wouldnt have this location, Sandhe said of the Jewish community. I am very proud to be the only 100% vegetarian and kosher restaurant in St. Louis. Linda Neiman, founder and president of Zeldas Catering, said the business has been catering events and scheduling drop-offs in the St. Louis area for a few years now. It has upped the frequency of deliveries in recent months. Zeldas makes monthly deliveries for pick-up for about 25 local households. Last week, the company delivered dishes such as Matzo ball soup, Cabernet-braised short ribs, honey and apricot glazed chicken, roasted potatoes and kugels for Passover. Hopefully were filling a need for the community, Neiman said. (St. Louis) is a community that just doesnt have a lot. For now, says Abraham, of Congregation Bnai Amoona, he and others can also get by by making a kosher burger or sandwich at home or attending a weekday game at Busch and visiting the Stuies stand. My office was joking, We all have to buy a Cardinals ticket to get a fresh kosher meal, he said. Tony Messenger | Post-Dispatch Metro columnist Follow Tony Messenger | Post-Dispatch Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today ST. LOUIS As far as first impressions go, new St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer hit the right notes in her inaugural speech on Tuesday. Spencer plans to be open and transparent. Shes going to make the city work better. She wants to serve every section of the city. We can no longer operate in silos, Spencer said. I will be a mayor for all of St. Louis. But one line was old news before she delivered it. We know this work will be more challenging as the police department shifts from city control to a state-appointed board, Spencer said. Not so fast. The day before Spencer took office, Megan Green, president of the Board of Alderman, with the support of ex-Mayor Tishaura Jones, sued the state in federal court to block the takeover of the police department. The lawsuit seeks to have the law declared unconstitutional and to stop it from being enforced. Green hopes to get a temporary injunction and keep the police in Spencers control until a court can hear arguments on the state takeover bill, which is supported by Gov. Mike Kehoe. The lawsuit had been in the works since the Missouri Legislature passed the bill sponsored by Rep. Brad Christ, a Republican from south St. Louis County. The lawsuit had to be filed. From the beginning, the bill was a mess. Its the sort of big-government-trampling-local-voters bill that no Republican in the GOP-dominated Missouri Legislature would allow to be passed for their jurisdiction, no matter how badly a police or sheriffs department is performing. But the Missouri Legislature takes aim at St. Louis like its a sport, getting in the way of local efforts with little regard for voters or the fact the region creates about 40 percent of the states economy. For the the state takeover bill this year, Kehoe played the role of Lucy from the old Peanuts cartoon strip, constantly moving the ball as Charlie Brown went to kick it. It was a crime bill, until it wasnt because homicides are down in St. Louis. Its a business bill, but never mind that job growth in St. Louis is trending up. Its about citizens having a say, Kehoe finally argued, ignoring the fact they just did that by installing a new mayor. Green did the new mayor a favor by filing the lawsuit before Spencer took over. The president of the Board of Alderman, a lightning rod herself, can be the face of the battle with the state over police control. Spencer can work on the nitty-gritty issues she campaigned on, like picking up trash, filling potholes and figuring out how to spend the Rams settlement cash. In fact, Spencers initial reaction to the lawsuit suggests shes not interested in being the face of this fight. The two claims in the lawsuit are interesting and we are continuing to evaluate both the merit and potential impact of the lawsuit, she said in an emailed statement. Time is of the essence, Green told me on Tuesday, the day after the lawsuit was filed and shortly after Spencer took the oath of office. The further we get down the path of the state assuming control, the harder it becomes to undo, Green said. The lawsuit was filed in federal court because its key component is a First Amendment claim that the state bill stifles the ability of city officials to stand up against the takeover of the police department. The new law includes the power to penalize any city official who hinders or obstructs the creation of a new state-appointed Board of Commissioners to oversee the police. That provision could go so far as to punish Green for daring to file the lawsuit. Green could be found to have violated the State Takeover Law and could be subject to monetary penalties and disqualification from office if, in exercising her freedom of expression, she challenged, or even criticized actions of the Board, and was therefore found to have hindered or obstructed or delayed the enforcement of the takeover law or the new board, says the lawsuit, filed by the city counselors office and Jefferson City-based attorney Chuck Hatfield. The lawsuit also alleges the bill violates the states Hancock Amendment, which bans legislators from imposing new costs on cities or counties without providing funding. And so the pattern repeats itself. Voters say one thing as they did in 2012, when the city regained control of its police department for the first time since the Civil War and then the legislature, in its constant use of the city as a punching bag, takes it back. Now, like nearly all political battles these days, the city and the state head to court. If the state wins, the new mayor will have to fight crime in the city with one arm tied behind her back. ST. LOUIS The innocent motorist who was killed last weekend when a car fleeing police broadsided her vehicle has been identified as 44-year-old Hyansama Reese. A stolen vehicle ran a red light at Natural Bridge and Union Boulevard and crashed into Reeses car the night of April 13, police said. Reese lived in the 5300 block of Enright Avenue. She was a single mother of three and worked for Express Scripts. Police arrested five people, including three juveniles, in the stolen car. Evita Caldwell, a spokeswoman for the St. Louis Police Department, said Friday that no charges have yet been filed. Caldwell said investigators are working to determine which suspect was driving the stolen car when it crashed. Reeses aunt, Semaj Brown of New Orleans, said in an interview that Reese who went by the nickname Hydie was a compassionate and fun-loving woman who doted on her three children. The family is very hurt, Brown said. Were upset by his senseless act of violence. The five people caused unnecessary trauma to our family and probably to the city. Its unbelievable. Brown said Reese was running errands when her car was struck. Reese was a hard-working woman, Brown said, who moved to St. Louis about 20 years ago. Her children are a son, 12, and two daughters, 20 and 14. The suspects had taken a 22-year-old womans Nissan at gunpoint in a carjacking in the 700 block of Belt Avenue last Sunday about 8:30 p.m. Twenty minutes later, officers monitoring cameras in the citys Real Time Crime Center saw the Nissan and told patrolling officers which way it was going. An officer in the Mobile Reserve unit saw it at Natural Bridge Avenue and Goodfellow Boulevard, more than 2 miles north of the carjacking. The Nissan, police said, was driving dangerously. Some of the passengers were hanging out the car windows as they rode. The officer tried to stop the car heading east at Natural Bridge and Belt avenues, but it sped away, police said. Moments later, the Nissan ran a red light at Natural Bridge and Union Boulevard and crashed into a Hyundai, killing Reese who was driving that car, police said. She died at a hospital. The Nissan hit the Hyundai broadside, pushing it onto a curb. Authorities said no one in the Nissan was seriously injured. Officers recovered two guns and a fake gun in the Nissan, police said. The suspects taken into custody are two men, ages 20 and 22; two boys, ages 15 and 16; and a 15-year-old girl. Brown said Reese was supposed to visit New Orleans this week and had already sent relatives an itinerary of her plans. She loved her family, Brown said. She was always creating experiences for them. Twice a year, she and her children would travel somewhere in the United States just to celebrate, Brown said. Coming down to New Orleans for crawfish and seafood, that was her thing. Brown said Reese will be severely missed by her family, co-workers and close friends. I wish these senseless acts of violence would stop, Brown said. Theyre doing these things and not realizing the trauma they are causing. ST. LOUIS Thieves were persistent the first week of April as they scavenged for copper in the Skinker-DeBaliviere neighborhood. They cut overhead telecommunication lines in an alley between McPherson and Kingsbury avenues. Repair crews needed two days to restore internet and Wi-Fi to Katrina Stierholz and her neighbors. Four hours later, thieves returned to the same alley. They did it again. It is maddening, Stierholz said. Its worrisome and generally inconvenient. It seemed crazy that people would do this. The problem is a headache and potentially dangerous for customers who lose phone and internet service, costly for telecom firms and troubling for police, who say they deal with the problem every day. Last September, a vandal cut through a barbed wire fence and broke into a work shed in Lemay to cut AT&T copper lines. The man left the copper behind in a bucket, then rode off on his bike before being arrested, police said. St. Louis County police Officer Scott Stickman said in court papers that it caused $15,000 to $25,000 in damage and temporarily took 911 out of service. Carriers have the ability to reroute calls in these situations, said St. Louis County police Sgt. Tracy Panus. CrimeStoppers asked for the publics help finding vandals last summer after a string of incidents damaged fiber optic network from St. Louis to Caseyville. According to a telecom industry report released this month, critical communications infrastructure across the country was vandalized at least 5,700 times between June and December. The vandalism disrupted broadband and wireless service for 1.5 million customers and cost the companies millions in repairs, the report said. Texas and California combined for more than half of those incidents. Missouri ranked third, with 305 reports of vandalism in that seven-month period. Illinois was seventh. Those numbers are based on an industry survey, and officials concede the actual numbers are likely higher. In Jefferson County alone, police saw 91 thefts or vandalism of telecom wires in 2024. So far this year, police have received reports of more than 30 such crimes, mostly involving aerial copper cables from AT&T, said Detective Lt. Mike Merchant of the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office. Its been almost daily for the last couple weeks, he said. The vandalism twice in the St. Louis alley over a three-day span is not unusual, said Scott Whitener, a director with AT&Ts global security and investigations. Its rampant across the city and down in Jefferson County, quite frankly, and even over in southern Illinois, he said. The copper in cables is what the thieves are seeking. If they can sell copper to scrap yards, the going rate now is about $3.50 a pound, said Jefferson County Sheriffs Detective Kane Harris, who devotes almost all of his work hours to investigating telecom vandalism. Getting to the wires is risky. Some thieves climb ladders to reach the overhead lines roughly 20 feet up. Others hoist pole saws. Some screw 2x4s to telephone poles to create steps to climb up. One man cutting down copper wire used a ladder that toppled, and he broke his ribs in the fall. Once thieves bring down the heavy cables, they often slice them into pieces, then hide the materials for a day or two to gauge the police response. Were learning and adapting, said Merchant, the Jefferson County lieutenant. To catch a thief After cable lines were severed April 9 in rural Jefferson County, detective Harris installed a hidden camera on a walking trail to watch in case the vandals came back. The camera detected movement on April 11, showing a man in yellow pants trying to steal copper cables. Police were able to catch a two-man team that cut 800 feet of telecommunication wire. The cables were hidden in the woods, court documents said. The damage for that single vandalism, including replacement costs, was estimated at $5,000, according to court papers. The downed wire, police said, meant immediate outages and could have kept people from calling for emergency services. Jefferson County prosecutors charged a homeless man, Joe Barton III, and his friend Troy Richburg of Festus with the theft. At Charters St. Louis corporate office in Town and Country, Harris and Merchant were among law enforcement officers and telecom industry members at a one-day summit April 9 about protecting communications infrastructure. Participants included the Internet & Television Association, the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association as well as telecom competitors AT&T, Charter Communications, Comcast, Lumen and Verizon. Attendees at the telecom summit pushed for stronger laws, stricter scrap metal regulations and increased security measures. Some states have weak laws on telecom vandalism that only pertain to property in fenced-in areas and not aerial lines, said Kuper Jones, senior director of state and external affairs for the Internet & Television Association in Washington, D.C. Penalties vary across states, Jones said, with some only having misdemeanors or fines. But Missouri, he said, is among states that take the proper approach and consider it a felony to deliberately damage telecom infrastructure. The scrap yards in Missouri are supposed to get ID from anyone selling metal, police said, and the shops are prohibited from buying metal that is identified as belonging to telecommunications or cable providers. But theyre still buying it, said detective Harris in an interview. Harris said suspects typically strip the thick black sheathing from the copper wires and burn the color coding off smaller wires. Whitener, with AT&T security, said vandals burning the sheathing create huge, petroleum-based plumes of black smoke sometimes seen in the metro area. Merchant, the lieutenant, wants more compliance checks and heftier fines for scrap yards that violate the law. Merchant said the fight needs to be across jurisdictions. After the summit at Charters corporate office concluded, Merchant and Harris returned to the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office and finished getting warrants in the theft case, their second set of charges in a telecom vandalism case in two weeks. A victory for sure, but Merchant said he feels sometimes like it is a losing battle when comparing the number of thefts to the number of arrests. Its overwhelming, to say the least, Merchant said. Time-consuming repairs Vandals target overhead lines, underground vaults and equipment boxes; utility poles, electric grids and electric vehicle charging stations are also hit, the industry report said. The vandals might be someone addicted to drugs and looking to make a few hundred bucks off a copper sale. At the summit, one speaker said, the industry is also concerned with coordinated strategic attacks of sabotage that target a certain company. The networks operate 911 systems and play a role in health care, banking, power supplies, transportation, public utilities and other areas. Some notable examples of telecom vandalism include last years attack in France that hit multiple telecommunications lines as cities hosted events for the Paris Olympics. In 2023, a thief cut five fiber-optic data lines in Philadelphia, knocking out internet and television services to thousands as they prepared to watch the Super Bowl. Criminals searching for copper often mistakenly cut into fiber optic lines that are worth nothing to them. Telecom firms are installing more and more fiber optic cables, which they say offer faster data transmission. But the black sheathing that protects them looks similar to what wraps the copper lines. Thieves who cut into fiber optic usually drop it and walk away frustrated, police said. The tattered fiber optic cable left behind requires restoration that is time-consuming. Fiber optic lines are repaired by splicing the ends back together. Thats a tedious repair for a cable that can have, for example, 288 separate strands, said Aaron Detwiler, area vice president for Spectrums Missouri-Illinois management area. This could take many multiple hours, every single one of these strands has to be spliced individually, Detwiler said. A four- or six-hour restoration job could take much longer, he said, if the line is underground and access is a challenge or if the weather is extremely cold and a technician is wearing gloves. The cable could be cut on both ends too. Spectrum is offering up to a $25,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of anyone who vandalizes its infrastructure. Detwiler said Spectrum worked with a homeowners association in High Ridge that had repeated service outages. Detwiler said that a vandal had struck three or four times there. A lot of people, when theyre down in service, theyre just frustrated, he said. Brian Scheman was the High Ridge man who got Spectrums attention after writing letters of complaint to at least eight company executives. Scheman, in the Paradise Valley subdivision, works in sales from home and said internet is crucial to his work, particularly so he can conduct Zoom calls. It was going out regularly, Scheman said. For a time, Scheman even paid for a second internet provider so he could have a backup. Detwiler came to Schemans home and described the issue of thieves looking for copper. He talked about what goes into restoring internet service when fiber optic cables are vandalized. Scheman said he is grateful for the explanation. There were spots where people were climbing telephone poles they were that desperate to get copper, Scheman said. It makes more sense now. I see the issue. WASHINGTON Kilmar Abrego Garcia, wrongly deported from the United States last month, told a visiting U.S. senator that he was moved from a notorious Salvadoran prison to a detention center with better conditions during a meeting that the American lawmaker said was staged by the Central American country's government to make it look like a retreat. Maryland Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen said Friday that the Salvadoran man, who was living in Maryland, told him as they met Thursday that he had shared a cell with 25 prisoners and was fearful of many inmates at the mega-prison known as CECOT before he was moved to another center in Santa Ana, El Salvador. The senator held an airport news conference after returning to the Washington area from El Salvador. He stood next to Abrego Garcia's wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, who wiped away tears as Van Hollen shared some of her husband's comments about missing his family. The senator, however, emphasized repeatedly to reporters that the case transcends the question of Abrego Garcia's immigration status. "It's about protecting the constitutional rights of everybody who resides in the United States," Van Hollen said. "It's very clear that the president, Trump administration are blatantly, flagrantly, disagreeing with, defying the order from the Supreme Court." The case became a focal point in the immigration debate. Democrats accuse President Donald Trump of overstepping his executive authority and Republicans criticize Democrats for defending a man Trump and White House officials claim is an MS-13 gang member, despite the fact he was not charged with gang-related crimes. More Democrats said they will fly to El Salvador to push for Abrego Garcia's release, but the partisan pressure hasn't yielded any results. President Donald Trump and El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele dug in on keeping him out of the United States, even as officials in Trump's Republican administration described his deportation as a mistake and the U.S. Supreme Court called on the administration to facilitate his return to the U.S. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt previously said Abrego Garcia will "never live in the United States of America again." Abrego Garcia's status after Van Hollen left was not known, and there was no indication that Van Hollens trip pushed him any closer to release. Bukele posted images of Van Hollen's meeting with Abrego Garcia on Thursday and said the prisoner "gets the honor of staying in El Salvador's custody." Van Hollen said a Salvadoran government official placed other beverages on the table with salt or sugar on the rim, to make it look like they were drinking margaritas. Van Hollen said neither he nor Abrego Garcia drank from the glasses, which in the photo Bukele posted were garnished with cherries. The fight over Abrego Garcia is the latest partisan flashpoint as Democrats struggled to break through and push back during the opening few months of Trump's second time in office. A federal appeals court said Thursday in a blistering order that the Trump administration's claim that it can't do anything to free Abrego Garcia from the prison in El Salvador and return him to the United States "should be shocking." Republicans appear to have only become more determined to keep Abrego Garcia out of the U.S. They sharply criticized Van Hollen's trip and claimed that Abrego Garcia has gang ties. His attorneys say the government provided no evidence of gang involvement. Democrats "have time and again prioritized politics over the safety and security of Americans," Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said Friday. "It is utterly divorced from reality." The Democratic senator posted a photo of his meeting with Abrego Garcia on Thursday evening but did not say much else except that he called Abrego Garcia's wife "to pass on a message of love" and would provide a full update upon his return. After days of denying that he knew much about Abrego Garcia, Trump said Friday he knew Abrego Garcia's prison record was "unbelievably bad" and called him an "illegal alien" and a "foreign terrorist." The president also responded Friday with a social media post saying Van Hollen "looked like a fool yesterday standing in El Salvador begging for attention." Several House Republicans visited the notorious gang prison in support of the Trump administration's efforts. Rep. Riley Moore, a West Virginia Republican, posted Tuesday evening that he'd visited the prison where Abrego Garcia was being held. "I leave now even more determined to support President Trump's efforts to secure our homeland," Moore wrote on social media. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials acknowledged in a court filing earlier this month that Abrego Garcia's deportation was an "administrative error." That sparked immediate uproar from immigration advocates. The fight played out in contentious court filings, with repeated refusals from the government to tell a judge what it plans to do, if anything, to repatriate him. The three-judge panel from the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously refused Thursday to suspend the judge's decision to order sworn testimony by Trump administration officials and said the judiciary will be hurt by the "constant intimations of its illegitimacy" while the executive branch "will lose much from a public perception of its lawlessness." PHOTOS: A look at immigration and the US border with Mexico To date, the appalling censorship of free speech abounds, with students visas, green cards and immigrant statuses being used as weapons. At Tufts University, Rumeysa Ozturk was detained after co-signing an op-ed in the student newspapers criticizing Israels massacre of the Palestinian people. Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil, a permanent legal resident, was detained at his university-owned apartment for organizing with Columbia University Apartheid Divest. The Trump administration reportedly is aiming to deport Khalil under the guise of national security. The United States was birthed out of activism the protest of the Britishs taxation without representation is part of its genesis. Secretary of State Marco Rubios ignorant and paternalistic reaction to anti-genocide student protestors essentially, that they should shut up and study is disingenuous. (It would actually be good advice for leaders such as him, who are making policy decisions based on ahistorical and lazy analyses.) Our nations leaders are sullying the values of the countys democratic experiment while the student organizers, citizens or not, are exhibiting the best of the American project. Spineless leadership from our nations college campuses is cowardly and a betrayal of academic principles. Whatever our institutions gain outside the will of their missions, they have to stay outside the will of their missions to keep it. Columbia Universitys spooked acquiesce to President Donald Trump administrations $400 million dollar extortion sets a dangerous precedent wherein theres no separation between academic freedom and federal government overreach. Harvard University has resisted and will face a comprehensive review that could jeopardize billions of federal dollars for them. When dollars are prioritized over people, we place fortune over families and commerce over community. What needs to be demanded is that the nations university leadership sturdy their posture and embody their missions. This starts with defending academic freedom and those that rely on it: their students. Put an end to empty promises and compromises. One question needs to be asked: What are these institutions willing to do for the sake of their students, staff, and the people living on the same land where they reside? Historically, the complicity of university officials in the face of backlash that student activists endure has illustrated the shallowness of their missions and abandonment of their virtues. The White Rose was a movements of young activists, including students, operating in Nazi Germany. They used their intellectual talents to write and covertly distribute leaflets at public spaces and campuses against Hitlers regime. In February 1943, two Ludwig Maximilian University (University of Munich) student members, Hans Scholl (age 24), and Sophie Scholl (age 21), secretly spread flyers that called for active opposition to the Nazi regime at their campus. The flyers were left in telephone books, mailed to professors and students, and taken by courier to other universities for distribution. At this time, academic freedom was gutted. Classes, research, and scholarships at schools in Nazi Germany were forced to conform to Nazi ideological principles and the Jewish faculty and student body were expelled. The Scholl siblings took the remaining flyers and threw them from the top floor of the campus main building to the atrium. These activities were observed and reported by a university janitor. The Scholl siblings activism led them to being detained by the Gestapo, found guilty of treason, and executed by beheading in the name of national security. What separates U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) without-due-process detention tactics from the Gestapo? What separates the early 1940s University of Munich officials lack of courage from present-day university leaders spinelessness? University administrations owe gratitude to the risktakers that are forcing their institutions, local communities, and the nation to live up to its ideals. As a St. Louis-based equity advocate and organizer since 2014, I helped organize many direct actions with Tribe X, a protest group that I helped co-found in the wake of the 2014 death of Michael Brown Jr. in Ferguson, Missouri. One effort that garnered national attention from President Barack Obamas administration included an occupation of my now-alma mater, St. Louis University. Due to the sacrifices and courage of my peers and I, we were able to procure an agreement around equity with SLU called the Clock Tower Accords. Throughout the course of my activism in community and on campus, I and other leaders endured mental, physical, and emotional tolls. In the streets, I encountered Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) military vehicles, police officers equipped for combat, long-range acoustic devices (LRAD) used as sound cannons, instances of detainment, flashbang grenades, checkpoints, rubber bullets, and an increased use of pepper spray. On campus, threats of death and expulsion, assaults and arrests were ubiquitous. It is due to the pain, suffering and risks taken by community and student activists that the institution was forced to come to terms with its mission. In an era of national anti-intellectualism and budding autocracy, university officials and administration must not cower and abandon their academic oaths. The fate of the nation depends on it. Now is the time to stand with your people. Dear America: Missouri owes you an apology. One of President Donald Trumps very worst nominees to join his second administration, Ed Martin, was a fixture in our states politics long before he was tapped this year to lead the U.S. attorneys office in Washington, D.C. We Missourians all watched for years as Martin warped and undermined institutions including the governors staff, the state Republican Party and even conservative activist Phyllis Schlaflys legacy with his toxic brand of combat politics and his contempt for the rule of law. Martins exit from Missouris political landscape a few years back was our gain. And now its your loss, America unless the Senate can muster the will to block this singularly ill-advised nomination. The Washington Post reported this week that Martin has appeared on Russian state media as a guest commentator more than 150 times in the past decade and then failed to disclose that activity on a Senate Judiciary Committee questionnaire that specifically required listing of all media interviews. Why Martin would want to bury those appearances is anyones guess, but heres a good one: His commentary effectively amplified anti-American Kremlin propaganda campaigns, alarmed national security analysts told the newspaper. Its the latest controversy in a swirl of them that has surrounded Martin since Trump tapped him in January as interim U.S. attorney for D.C., pending his Senate confirmation to the position permanently. Not yet three months into his new job, Martins record is already characteristic of the kind of contempt for norms that he displayed throughout his Missouri days. He has fired more than 30 federal prosecutors who worked on cases against those who attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. He signed a motion to dismiss charges against at least one of the Jan. 6 attackers who he had earlier represented as defense counsel, an apparent violation of Department of Justice ethics rules. He has threatened to investigate members of Congress for criticizing Trump. He has declared on social media that his prosecutors are President Trumps lawyers (wrong their allegiance is supposed to be to the Constitution and the American people). His attacks on journalists have included bragging of standing against entities like (The Associated Press) that refuse to put America first. U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California, put it aptly in a recent statement: No one embodies Donald Trumps personal weaponization of the Justice Department more than Ed Martin. As those familiar with Martins Missouri political career know, weaponizing power in ethically or legally questionable ways is his specialty. As chief of staff for then-Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt, Martin resigned under fire in 2007 after a controversy over the offices handling of records that were required to be preserved under the states Sunshine Law, and the firing of a staff lawyer who tried to enforce that law. The lawyer ended up winning a $500,000 settlement from the state. A state investigation would later conclude reportedly at a cost of some $2 million to the Missouri taxpayers that Martin had illegally destroyed email records. Separately, media investigations found Martin had improperly used his state office for campaign activities against future Gov. Jay Nixon. Martin became chairman of the Missouri GOP in 2013 and promptly divided the party. His embrace of Tea Party tactics and his attacks on establishment Republicans were so internally destructive that ex-U.S. Sen. John Danforth, arguably the states most prominent Republican elder, decried it as an intraparty purge. A year later, the state partys committee secretary, Pat Thomas, publicly slammed Martin for inserting the state party into a Mississippi U.S. Senate race on behalf of a Tea Party challenge to a Republican incumbent. The in-fighting took its toll on party fundraising. When Martin finally left his role as state party chairman in 2015, records showed the party had just $235 in its campaign account. Martin next took his traveling road show of chaos to Phyllis Schlaflys organization and promptly, deeply divided it. After Schlafly tapped Martin in 2015 to run her conservative activist coalition Eagle Forum, some in the organization alleged he influenced the elderly Schlafly to embrace the then-new phenomenon of Trumpism, which they viewed as anathema to the traditional Republican thrust of their movement. After Schlafly died in 2016, some Eagle Forum board members accused Martin of trying to monetize her death for book sales. Whats notably missing from this sorry resume? Any mention of prosecutorial experience; Martin has none. And what wisdom did Martin impart to his Russian media hosts in all those Kremlin-friendly interviews? Among his on-air comments in 2022, The Washington Post reports, was that there was no evidence of a Russian buildup on the Ukrainian border. Nine days later, Russia invaded and sparked a war that continues to this day. Abuse of power, politicization of governmental functions, official threats based on loyalty rather than law, all wrapped up in lack of qualifications or judgment these are, we grant you, qualities that would seem to fit right in with many (most?) of Trumps other major nominees. But that doesnt mean it would be good for America to permanently confirm Ed Martin to this important and powerful post. Take it from us in Missouri, senators. Afghanistan April 2025 April 16, 2025: Afghanistan released U.S. citizen Faye Hall in March, after being held prisoner by the Taliban since February. The Taliban said Hall was arrested for unauthorized use of a quadcopter drone. Hall, along with a British couple and a translator were arrested in the central Afghanistan province of Bamiyan. The British couple ran training programs for women for several years. Last year the Taliban began to suppress all female activity outside the home. This made the British training program untenable. Pakistan continues to send Afghan illegal immigrants back to Afghanistan. Since the 1970s Pakistan has had to deal with millions of Afghans who fled their homeland because of poverty and war. Several million Afghans are currently legal residents of Pakistan. But there are still several hundred thousand illegals and these Pakistani police want to send them back to Afghanistan. Tension between Pakistan and Afghanistan continues because Islamic terrorists continue to attack Pakistan from bases in Afghanistan. The Taliban continue to have problems with several foreign economic projects. There continues to be an armed resistance to the Taliban government. This is one reason why the Taliban government, headquartered in Kabul, does not control the entire country. Despite all the problems the new Islamic Afghan government still has some economic opportunities. One was a pipeline. In 2015 construction of the 1,814 kilometers TAPI Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India natural gas pipeline finally began in Turkmenistan. Work in Afghanistan didnt begin until early 2018. The work is currently stalled in Afghanistan because the current government, the Islamic Emirate Afghanistan, has been unable to control violence against the pipeline work. Another reason is that the nations the TAPI pipeline passes through, do not want the radical and disruptive IEA to benefit from the pipeline. There have been several false starts for TAPI. For example, in 2018 ten Afghan tribesmen surrendered to the government and said they had just returned from Iran after several weeks of training on how to carry out an attack on the ceremony celebrating the start of construction of TAPI pipeline in Afghanistan. After years of negotiations over transit fees and natural gas prices Afghanistan, Pakistan and Turkmenistan agreed and construction of TAPI will move natural gas from Turkmenistan natural gas fields to the Afghan border. Pipeline construction originally began in 2015. Back then it was believed that, if construction is not interfered with, the pipeline would be operational in Afghanistan by the end of 2019. Troublesome tribal militias and some Islamic terrorist groups disrupted construction efforts to the point where work was abandoned. Five years later work resumed. In Afghanistan you cant depend on extended periods of peace. Thats why Afghanistan has so little infrastructure. For example, there are no railroads, which are difficult to build and operate here. Many local tribal militias, organized for self-defense, could quickly transform into armed train robbery gangs. This is Afghanistan, where anything can happen, especially if it involves unexpected violence and attacks on industrial efforts, like building railroads or pipelines. After passing through Afghanistan, TAPI goes into Pakistan and to the Indian border. Initially the Afghan Taliban agreed to leave TAPI alone. That was because the pipeline was a popular project with most Afghans as it would bring cheap natural gas to many Afghans. Some Taliban factions near the Iranian border who work for the Iranian IRGC Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps were told to attack pipeline construction efforts. Officially Iran does not oppose TAPI, even though Iran also wants to build a gas pipeline into Pakistan and to India. Inside Iran the attitude is that TAPI is not good for Iran and that something should be done. Inside Afghanistan the Taliban promised not to harm the 800 kilometer long Afghan portion of the pipeline. This assurance turned out to be the opening round of negotiations about how much the Taliban will be paid to ensure the pipeline is unharmed. About a quarter of the pipeline runs through or near areas dominated by Taliban activity. In August 2021 the elected Islamic Republic of Afghanistan collapsed and was replaced by the Pakistan backed Islamic Emirate Afghanistan Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. The new IEA declared a great victory but found that few people, not even most Afghans, saw this as a win. Foreign aid ceased. Nearly $10 billion of IRA cash held in foreign banks, to reduce corruption, was frozen and no one would recognize the IEA as the successor to the IRA. Countries in the region expect the IEA to collapse in a few years, which will leave the country a narco-state without any central government. Drug production in Afghanistan depends on the Pakistan military for support. The drugs are winning as they usually do wherever they get established. There are not too many narco-states because they all follow the same script. Eventually locals get fed up with the local violence and the growing number of addicts. That leads to more violence and the drug gangs are crushed, although usually not completely eliminated. Eventually can take a long time and such is the case with Afghanistan. Compare that to how it worked in Colombia from 2000 on, and Burma after World War II and Iran in the 1950s. The only thing that nearly everyone in Afghanistan can agree on is that opium and heroin are bad. Nearly ten percent of the population is addicted to drugs, mostly opiates and another ten percent make a better living or get rich from the drug trade. Most Afghans consider drug gangs the biggest threat and these are largely run and staffed, like the Taliban, by Pushtun tribesmen from four southern provinces. The Pakistan-backed Afghan Taliban want to create a heroin-producing Islamic terrorist and gangster sanctuary in Afghanistan. If you want to know how that works, look at Chechnya in the late 1990s and Somalia or Yemen in the early 21st century. No one has come up with any cheap, fast or easy solution for that. Meanwhile, Afghanistan's core problem is that there is no Afghanistan, merely a collection of tribes more concerned with tribal issues than anything else. Naturally the TAPI efforts in Afghanistan ran afoul of local politics and terrorism. There is no central authority for all the troublesome tribal militias and Islamic terrorist groups in Afghanistan. With no one in charge, anything can happen and that is the obstacle the TAPI construction effort is up against. So far, all those armed opponents to TAPI are winning. The IEA government is unable to control the armed groups disrupting work on TAPI. The IEA is also having a hard time ruling Afghanistan. The overthrow of the IR A meant an end to the billions in foreign aid that the presence of the IRA justified. Since the IEA took over, the situation in Afghanistan has gotten much worse. The once again stalled TAPI project is one of many victims of the upsurge in violence and anarchy throughout the country. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Chris Lehr hand-launches a homemade 3D-printed fixed-wing drone at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, April 11, 2025. The initial three test flights were unsuccessful, but subsequent design adjustments resulted in a controlled flight several days later. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes) HOHENFELS, Germany Chief Warrant Officer 2 Chris Lehr and his small team of Wiesbaden-based soldiers spent about a year working on homemade, 3D-printed drones they werent sure would work. Last week, members of the 2nd Multi-Domain Task Force finally had the opportunity to find out if their creation could get off the ground with an initial round of testing at the Armys Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels. This thing could crash and burn, Lehr said April 11, as a five-day electronic warfare exercise dubbed Spectrum Blitz happened to be going on around them. Luckily, weve got the airspace to test this out in. Equipped with cautious optimism and a box of drone components team members had produced themselves, the group made three unsuccessful tries during the exercise. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Chris Lehr runs a systems check while testing homemade drones in Hohenfels, Germany, April 11, 2025. Lehr and fellow members of the 2nd Multi-Domain Task Force, based in Wiesbaden, hope to field their homemade drones for the first time at exercise Arcane Thunder in May. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes) The first of three 3D printed drones built by soldiers with the 2nd Multi-Domain Task Force is tested in Hohenfels, Germany, April 11, 2025. All three of those flights ended in crashes, but the team modified the drone and achieved a first successful flight with it on April 17, 2025. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes) A tilt-rotor 3D printed drone made by soldiers with the 2nd Multi-Domain Task Force, based in Wiesbaden, Germany, completed a successful test flight on April 17, 2025. The unit is optimistic that this drone and other homemade aircraft will be used in Poland later this year during exercise Arcane Thunder. (2nd Multi-Domain Task Force) Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Chris Lehr of the 2nd Multi-Domain Task Force prepares a 3D printed fixed-wing drone for testing at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, April 11, 2025. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes) Army Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Pope, the battalion electromagnetic warfare master trainer for the 2nd Multi-Domain Task Force, hand-launches a homemade 3D printed fixed-wing drone at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, April 11, 2025. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes) But after returning to Wiesbaden to make some modifications, Lehr and his group followed up the flop with a much more successful test run Thursday, with the drone maintaining controlled flight. The difference-maker, as it turned out, was a switch to a tilt-rotor platform rather than a fixed-wing design. We added two more motors and a tilt function so that it takes off (vertically), Lehr said Thursday. We thought the hand-launched variant would be easier, and it was not. That has the team feeling confident about fielding the drones at Arcane Thunder, an exercise in May in Poland. The task forces high-tech tinkering is the latest example of how small units across the Army are looking for an edge on a future battlefield where drones are expected to play a decisive role. As the development lead at the Innovation Lab, Lehr helps develop training aides and environments for soldiers. The 2nd Multi-Domain Task Force has been in existence since 2021, with the units Innovation Lab officially opening in May of last year. Its work is an example of a concept the Army calls Transforming in Contact, an effort across the service to adapt the way soldiers fight to the new realities on the battlefield. Task force members treated the setbacks in Hohenfels as an opportunity to learn lessons from failure. I feel like the Wright brothers, said Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Pope, the battalions electromagnetic warfare master trainer, as Lehr proceeded with systems checks on the first of three test drones scheduled for the April 11 experiment. The first test ended with the drone nosediving seconds after the hand launch, despite near-perfect weather conditions. Only the filament frame was damaged, Lehr said. All internal components could be salvaged and installed into a new frame. And by using homemade drones, the team could give it another shot much more quickly and cheaply than would have been the case with the crash of a commercially produced model. Although the next two flights also ended in crashes, team members came away from Hohenfels with confidence in their thinking that they knew what the problem was. On the heels of their successful modification, now the teams challenge is building enough spare parts in time for Arcane Thunder. Im very confident were going to use this drone in Poland, Lehr said. I think moving forward were going to look at larger platforms and stick with the vertical takeoff and landing. Lance Cpl. Albert A. Aguilera, 22, of Riverside, Calif., enlisted in the Marine Corps in March 2023 and was promoted to lance corporal the following spring. (U.S. Marine Corps) The Marine Corps has identified the two Marines killed in a vehicle crash earlier this week while supporting Joint Task ForceSouthern Border operations near the U.S.Mexico border. Lance Cpl. Albert A. Aguilera, 22, of Riverside, Calif., and Lance Cpl. Marcelino M. Gamino, 28, of Fresno, Calif., died April 15 after their vehicle crashed during a convoy movement near Santa Teresa, N.M., according to a statement issued Thursday by the 1st Marine Division. Both Marines were combat engineers assigned to the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, Calif. Aguilera enlisted in March 2023 and was promoted to lance corporal the following spring, the statement said. Gamino enlisted in May 2022 and was promoted to lance corporal last summer while he was deployed to Australia with Marine Rotational Force-Darwin. A third Marine from the same unit remains in critical condition at University Medical Hospital in El Paso, Texas. The loss of Lance Cpl. Aguilera and Lance Cpl. Gamino is deeply felt by all of us, Lt. Col. Tyrone A. Barrion, commander of the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion and Task Force Sapper, said in the statement. I extend my heartfelt condolences and prayers to the families of our fallen brothers. Our top priority right now is to ensure that their families, and the Marines affected by their passing, are fully supported during this difficult time. Lance Cpl. Marcelino M. Gamino, 28, of Fresno, Calif., enlisted in the Marine Corps in May 2022 and was promoted to lance corporal in August 2024. (U.S. Marine Corps) The Marines were on duty when the accident occurred around 8:50 a.m. along N.M. Highway 9 near the Santa Teresa Border Patrol Station, according to the division and local law enforcement. They were driving a civilian vehicle to El Paso, about 20 miles east of the Border Patrol station. The accident involved a silver Jeep Gladiator four-door truck, according to video from the scene taken by KFOX, a local TV station. The accident remains under investigation. The task force assumed control of the southern border mission on March 14 as part of President Donald Trumps emphasis on controlling the flow of people and materiel crossing the Mexican border. Roughly 6,600 active-duty service members are deployed to the mission, according to the joint task force. However, troops have been working in support of Customs and Border Protection since Trump first deployed them in 2018. The mission continued under former President Joe Biden with National Guard troops rotating to the southern border. Sailors form a human ribbon on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush, July 22, 2017, in support of Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month. The Navy has no way of knowing whether commanders are following the requirement to create a suicide crisis prevention plan or whether existing plans are adequate, the Defense Department Inspector General found. (Daniel Gaither/U.S. Navy) NAPLES, Italy The Navy has no way of knowing whether its commanders have created a suicide crisis plan as mandated by the service in the face of persistently alarming numbers of sailor suicide deaths, a Defense Department Inspector General audit found. Thats because the service lacks a dedicated office to track the plans and ensure that they include essential elements, such as mental health resources and contact information, the agency said in a report released Tuesday. Commands may not have the procedures in place to respond appropriately in a timely manner to a sailor in crisis, validate that lethal means of suicide are restricted and ensure that sailors in crisis have sufficient oversight, the report stated. The Navy has struggled for more than a decade with rising suicides, as underscored by three USS George Washington sailors who killed themselves during one week in April 2022 as the aircraft carrier was undergoing extended maintenance. That year, 71 active-duty and seven reserve sailors, respectively, took their lives, according to Navy statistics. In 2023, 68 active-duty and eight reserve sailors died by suicide. The service has worked to better identify and help sailors at risk, including significantly increasing its suicide prevention budgets for 2024 and 2025, according to the report. Anti-suicide pleas are displayed at an event at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Maine, Sept. 25, 2024. The Navy has no way of knowing whether its commanders have created a suicide crisis plan as mandated by the service, according to a new Defense Department Inspector General report. (Branden Bourque/U.S. Navy) But of 277 commanders in U.S. Fleet Forces Command and U.S. Pacific Fleet surveyed by the DOD IG, 39 did not have a local crisis response plan, according to the report. An additional 38 said they had a plan but did not submit it for review, and two more did not answer questions about whether they had a plan, the DOD IG said. The Navy pushed back on the finding that a lack of a central oversight office was to blame. Establishing such an office is impractical and would undermine a commanders authority and responsibility as well as pose an undue burden on the fleet, said Rear Adm. Jay Clark, director of the Navys Culture and Force Resilience Office. In this specific case, centralized reporting for crisis response plans would do little to ensure a commands ability to effectively respond in a crisis, Clark said in a March 19 response to the report. Clark agreed that having the plans is critical and that they should be treated with the same level of care as warfighting tactic, technique or procedure. The Navy will continue to emphasize the importance of crisis response to its commanders and update its policy to better highlight their responsibilities, he said. The review included 277 survey responses from commanding officers, of whom 198 submitted their local crisis plans for evaluation. Nearly half of those plans did not include a reporting requirement to the Sailor Assistance and Intercept for Life, or SAIL, program, according to the report. The program provides rapid assistance, ongoing risk assessment, care coordination and reintegration assistance for active-duty sailors, according to the Navy. A total of 21% of the submitted plans did not have a list of mental health resources and contact information and 6% were not specifically tailored to their commands, according to the report. The DOD IG required Clark to provide additional comments within 30 days, noting that its recommendation for the oversight office remained open and unresolved. In addition to recommending the establishment of the central office, the DOD IG also advised the Navy to develop and implement a plan to ensure all commands have a completed local crisis plan. The Navys Culture and Force Resilience Office agreed with that recommendation. Two American patrol boats transfered from the U.S. Navy to Tunisia sit side by side during a ceremony in Tunis on April 17, 2025. (U.S. 6th Fleet) NAPLES, Italy The transfer of two American patrol boats to Tunisia and a Navy command ships visit embody a centuries-old U.S. commitment to maritime partnership with the North African country, a top service official said this week. The commissioning of the boats during a ceremony Thursday in the capital city Tunis is the most recent U.S. equipment contribution to Tunisia, 6th Fleet said in a statement the same day. The event, featuring a port visit by 6th Fleet flagship USS Mount Whitney, was an opportunity to engage with our Tunisian counterparts and reaffirm our commitment to working together, Vice Adm. Jeffrey Anderson, commander of U.S. 6th Fleet, said in the statement. Tunisia, which overthrew its authoritarian dictator during the Arab Spring anti-government protests in 2011, is considered a major non-NATO U.S. partner, in part due to its location on the Mediterranean Sea, which serves as a gateway to Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The Navy has partnered with African countries for decades to help them gain equipment and training needed to protect their territorial waters against illegal fishing, piracy and trafficking. That work is part of overall U.S. efforts to promote regional stability and fight terrorism in Africa. Despite Tunisian President Kais Saieds adoption of a new constitution in 2021 that centralized power around the presidency, the U.S. has continued its military, economic and other assistance to the country. For example, it gave the Tunisian air force four Textron C-208EX aircraft in September to support intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. The U.S. also has delivered at least six C-130 military aircraft to the country, U.S. Africa Command said in August. Since 2011, the United States has invested more than $1 billion in security cooperation with Tunisia, including more than $160 million in 2023, according to the U.S. Embassy in Tunisia. That support has enabled Tunisia to participate in United Nations peacekeeping operations, engage in humanitarian missions and become a regional security hub. Mount Whitneys visit also is near the 220th anniversary of the 1805 Battle of Derna, U.S. Ambassador to Tunisia Joey Hood noted in the statement. The battle against piracy occurred in modern-day Libya during the First Barbary War. Through the support and cooperation of Tunisia, the U.S. military defeated maritime terrorism to make a more stable and secure region for commerce and economic development, Hood said. The pepperoni slice is the showstopper at Henry's Pizza in Osaka, Japan. There are no frills here. Just a classic done right. (Aaron Kidd/Stars and Stripes) Near a quiet corner of Osakas Tanimachi neighborhood just a stroll away from the citys famous castle sits a pizzeria that feels like it was airlifted straight out of Brooklyn. But this isnt the Big Apple. Its Henrys Pizza, and it might just serve the best New York-style slice in Japan. This three-story shop is minimalist and unpretentious white tiles, stainless steel counters, a glowing oven, and a playlist that veers from Billie Eilish to Billy Idol. Theres no faux-New York kitsch here. Henrys lets the crust and toppings do the talking. And people are listening. Recent customers include pop stars Bruno Mars, Pharrell Williams, Tyla, and Blackpink members Rose and Jennie. Henrys was delivered backstage ahead of Green Days performance in Osaka in February. Billie Joe Armstrong, in a social media video, called it the best New York pizza in all of Japan. Pop stars Rose of Blackpink and Bruno Mars are among the many celebrity customers of Henrys Pizza in Osaka, Japan. (Instagram) Billie Joe Armstrong, left, and Tre' Cool of Green Day sing the praises of Henry's Pizza in Osaka, Japan. (Instagram) The pizza itself lives up to the hype. The crust walks that holy line between chewy and crispy, folding just right. The sauce is tart and tomato-rich, and the cheese tastes like a blend of mozzarella and provolone. The pepperoni slice 550 yen, or about $3.85 is the showstopper. There are no frills here no corn, mayonnaise or seaweed. Just a classic done right. While Henrys specializes in slices, you can also get a whole pie. A special birthday pizza with Happy Birthday carefully spelled out in pepperoni was delivered to a table near mine. The crust at Henry's Pizza walks that holy line between chewy and crispy, folding just right. (Aaron Kidd/Stars and Stripes) An art gallery on the third floor called Rise Above was closed during my visit. Henrys is the brainchild of graphic artist Verdy, of Girls Dont Cry fame, according to an article on eyescream.jp, a Japanese fashion, music, art and culture website. The Henry in Henrys Pizza is apparently named after Henry Rollins (of Black Flag), the report said. This is where you can definitely feel Verdys roots. Henry's Pizza has become the go-to place for celebrity spotting in Osaka, Japan. (Aaron Kidd/Stars and Stripes) Henrys Pizza Location: 4-2-2 Tanimachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka, 540-0012 Hours: Open daily, 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Prices: Slices start at 450 yen for plain cheese, up to 600 yen for the weekly special. Dress: Casual Directions: A short walk from Tanimachi 4-chome Station on the Tanimachi and Chuo metro lines. About 20 minutes on foot from Osaka Castle. Information: Phone: 06-6766-4312; Online: instagram.com/henrys_pizza_osaka The new U.S. ambassador to Japan, George Glass, speaks to reporters shortly after landing at Haneda Airport in Tokyo, April 18, 2025. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes) TOKYO The new U.S. ambassador to Japan pledged Friday to support the American militarys efforts to push back against a country like China during remarks on his first day in the post. George Glass, a former businessman and veteran diplomat, spoke to reporters shortly after landing at Haneda Airport in Tokyo. He was confirmed by the Senate last week in a 66-32 vote following his nomination by President Donald Trump. Glass, an Oregon native, previously served as U.S. ambassador to Portugal from 2017 to 2021 during Trumps first term. He posted a photo of his swearing-in ceremony, attended by Vice President JD Vance, on X on April 12. We sit with Japan in a very tough neighborhood you have Russia, youve got China, youve got North Korea, Glass said at Haneda. We had tremendous success in Europe pushing back on the Chinese and their predatory habits. A top priority, he added, would be making sure the military has all the issues taken care of and all the materials they need to be able to successfully push back against a country like China. Glass arrives as Japan looks to ease its burden under sweeping tariffs imposed on April 2 on U.S. trading partners. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba was reportedly the first foreign leader to contact Trump following the announcement, launching talks on trade and tariffs. The new U.S. ambassador to Japan, George Glass, and his wife, Mary, speak to reporters shortly after landing at Haneda Airport in Tokyo, April 18, 2025. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes) On Wednesday, Trump met in Washington with Japans chief trade negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa. That day, Trump wrote on X: Japan is coming in today to negotiate Tariffs, the cost of military support, and TRADE FAIRNESS. I will attend the meeting, along with Treasury & Commerce Secretaries. Hopefully something can be worked out which is good (GREAT!) for Japan and the USA! Best Pres/Deal maker ever. Trump later posted on Truth Social that the meeting had made Big progress! but provided no details. At Haneda, Glass said he was extremely optimistic that a deal will get done, citing the strength of both countries economies and their negotiating teams. When I saw that President Trump then decided he was going to get involved and has now named this his top priority, thats why I have a lot of confidence that well get something done, Glass said. He previewed his agenda during an April 11 speech at the Washington residence of Japanese Ambassador Shigeo Yamada, according to Japanese broadcaster NHK. Obviously we have a lot to talk about in the next few weeks. We are well prepared to and very optimistic, Glass said, emphasizing the importance of strengthening bilateral ties. At his March confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Glass called on Japan to increase defense spending, including additional support for U.S. forces and bases in the country. He described the U.S.-Japan alliance as being at an all-time high in both economic and military cooperation. Glass has a background in finance, investment banking and technology, according to his State Department biography. He is also a regular donor to Trumps campaigns, the Republican National Committee, GOP congressional candidates and joint fundraising committees. This T-shirt was discovered near human skeletal remains found on Camp Schwab, Okinawa, on March 21, 2024. (Okinawa Prefectural Police) Human bones discovered more than a year ago at a Marine Corps base on Okinawa belong to a local man who went missing in 2018, according to Japanese police. The man, who was in his 70s at the time of his disappearance, was reported missing by family members that year, a Nago police department spokesman said by phone Friday. He declined to release the mans name or exact age. Police identified the man using DNA testing, the spokesman said. A contractor conducting an environmental survey at a construction site on Camp Schwab found the bones on March 21, 2024. The site is part of the Marine Corps Air Station Futenma replacement project and is managed by the Okinawa Defense Bureau not the U.S. military. Items recovered nearby included a long-sleeved shirt, a T-shirt, a belt, black socks and 201 yen about $1.40 Okinawa Prefectural Police said in a November news release. At the time, police appealed to the public for help in identifying the remains. The man is believed to have died around the time he was reported missing, and no foul play is suspected based on the condition of the bones, the Nago police spokesman said. The investigation remains ongoing. The bones were found in an area where many wild animals live, and they might have been moved by these animals, he said. Some Japanese government officials speak to the media only on condition of anonymity. F/A-18E Super Hornets rest on the flight deck as the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz pulls into Naval Base Guam, April 18, 2025. (Hannah Kantner/U.S. Navy) The U.S. Navys oldest aircraft carrier, the USS Nimitz, arrived in Guam on Friday, possibly marking its final visit to the island as the ship continues what is expected to be its last Pacific deployment. The Nimitz and its escorts the guided-missile destroyers USS Gridley and USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee pulled into Apra Harbor for the strike groups first port call since departing San Diego on March 24, said strike group spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Tim Pietrack. The ships will resupply and the crew will conduct maintenance and take time to rest and recharge, he told Stars and Stripes by email Friday. Pietrack declined to comment on the length of the stay, citing security concerns. While the Navy has not officially confirmed this as the Nimitz final deployment, the ships nuclear reactors are scheduled to begin deactivation next spring when the vessel relocates to Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia. That process, expected to conclude by 2027, marks an early step toward the carriers decommissioning and eventual disposal. The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz pulls into Naval Base Guam for a scheduled port visit, April 18, 2025. (Hannah Kantner/U.S. Navy) Until the decommissioning, Nimitz remains ready to sail where we are needed, when we are needed, in support of our nations tasking, Pietrack wrote. Commissioned in 1975, the 50-year-old Nimitz is set to be replaced by the Gerald R. Ford-class USS John F. Kennedy, which is expected to be commissioned later this year. During this deployment, the carrier has primarily operated at sea, conducting flight sorties, live-fire exercises, a change-of-command ceremony, and multiple replenishments-at-sea, according to photos published by the Navy. Rear Adm. Maximilian Clark, commander of Carrier Strike Group 11, highlighted Guams strategic importance during the visit. Its always an honor to return to Guam where our service members are welcomed like family, and where our presence truly matters, he said in the release. The Nimitz Strike Group is proud to be in Guam Americas critical terrain and gateway to maintaining stability in the region. Guam is home to three major U.S. military installations: Naval Base Guam, Andersen Air Force Base and Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed Guams strategic role during a visit to Andersen on March 27, referring to the island as the tip of the spear a phrase the Pentagon often uses to emphasize the U.S. territorys position as a key logistics and power projection hub in the Indo-Pacific. Youre living in history; youre living in reality, and youre living in a dangerous neighborhood, Hegseth told service members, according to a Defense Department release. You are Americas power projection and platform. Concerns over Irans development of both nuclear and missile technology have dominated the Wests relationship with the Islamic Republic for more than 20 years (Maurice Galloway/Army) iran-space-bg 1523 words Irans space program is growing stronger despite US sanctions Irans southeastern seaport of Chabahar is a popular tourist destination renowned for its cliff-lined beaches and rugged, treeless peaks known locally as Martian mountains. Soon the region will have more than just a poetic connection to outer space. For years, construction has been underway to transform the sun-drenched coastal town into an economic hub, including a spaceport thats set to open this year. The plan is to build the equivalent of Floridas Cape Canaveral to anchor the Islamic Republics space ambitions. Its a program that President Donald Trump has tried to stop because the US sees the technologies for space launches and ballistic missiles as virtually identical. During his first term, the US imposed sanctions on Irans space agency, but that hasnt prevented Iran from building one of the most advanced programs in the Middle East - with the Iranian Space Agency and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps both sending rockets and satellites to orbit. New projects include a network of 20 internet satellites named for Qassem Soleimani, the general killed in a Trump-ordered air strike in 2020. Concerns over Irans development of both nuclear and missile technology have dominated the Wests relationship with the Islamic Republic for more than 20 years. Since Trumps reelection, Tehrans stockpile of uranium enriched near the level needed for nuclear arms has surged more than 50%, the International Atomic Energy Agency has said, once again raising concerns about its military potential. Trump has urged Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to agree to a new nuclear deal or face possible military action. Negotiators from Washington and Tehran conducted talks in Oman on April 12 and are preparing for a second meeting. Iran has had to reassess its capabilities with its partners in Gaza and Lebanon weakened by fighting with Israel after the 2023 attacks by Hamas. Its Syrian ally Bashar al-Assad has also been overthrown by rebels. Western officials and experts increasingly see the Islamic Republics sophisticated space program as a key component of its defense capabilities. Irans work on space-launch vehicles - including its two-stage, liquid-fueled Simorgh satellite carrier rocket - likely shortens the timeline to produce an ICBM due to the similarities in technology, General Anthony Cotton, commander of US Strategic Command, said in prepared testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee on March 26. Irans foreign ministry and the White House National Security Council didnt respond to requests for comment on this article. The Iranian space progress comes at a time when many nations and private companies are investing heavily to boost space military capabilities like spy satellites and satellite jammers. Official figures for the total cost of Irans space program so far arent available. With the economy squeezed by US sanctions, the government has continued to support its space program, albeit on tight budgets: Last November, a senior Iranian official said the space agency would receive around $11 million of financing to boost the sector. Its also gained from Irans stronger relationship with Russia in recent years. In January, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a strategic partnership agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Last year, a Russian rocket launched the first two privately-developed Iranian satellites to orbit. Russia is using Iranian-made drones in its war in Ukraine and is offering knowledge developed over decades of space exploration, said Juliana Suess, researcher at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs. What Russia definitely has is the expertise, she said. Thats something that Iran is after. Irans ability to launch more satellites could enable it to use spacecraft to better guide offensive weapons. Iranians can become much more precise in their targeting and have quicker reaction times to launch their own ballistic missile forces to hit targets much more precisely, said John Sheldon, Abu Dhabi-based founding partner at AstroAnalytica, a space consulting firm. The West is increasingly concerned about the strategic and military implications of Irans advances. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmers government sanctioned Brigadier General Ali Jafarabadi, head of the Space Division of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force, last September and the Iranian Space Agency in October. The EU also sanctioned Jafarabadi in October, saying his division was involved in the development and future launch of satellite carriers, which are essential for the development of long-range ballistic missile systems. The IRGC, the powerful branch of Irans armed forces, was designated a terrorist organization by Trump during his first term. Iranian leaders acknowledge spaces role in developing weapons, with Pezeshkian referring to Irans space program as a driving force behind its missile development. Our enemies constantly try to prevent us from standing on our own feet, but this has driven us to achieve scientific and technological advancements, he said in February. Although Iran has always denied it wants nuclear weapons and insists its uranium enrichment is for civilian purposes only, progress in space may offer Tehran an opportunity to assert resilience and strength. Iran has a need now, especially after the losses of its proxy power to Israel, to reestablish some kind of pathway to do power projection, said Matthew Schmidt, associate professor of national security and political science at the University of New Haven. They see space technology and aeronautical technology as a place to do it. Much depends on the success of Chabahar, a project thats been plagued by delays and was meant to be ready by 2024. The opening is now set for this year, the Tehran Times newspaper reported in January, citing space agency chief, Hassan Salarieh. When its finally finished, Chabahar will be a 14,000-hectare (54-square-mile) complex that will serve as Irans primary hub for space missions, he said. Chabahar is critical to the Iranian governments strategy, since the facility should increase the ability to launch more powerful spacecraft. Chabahar is also closer to the equator than Irans other launch sites, allowing rockets to take better advantage of the Earths spin compared to more northerly sites. Working on large rockets for space positions them better to be able to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles, said John Caves, senior research associate at the Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control in Washington. Both a space rocket and an intercontinental ballistic missile can travel outside the Earths atmosphere. Some of the technology that you need to be able to have a missile go that far is similar to things that you would work on for a space launch vehicle, he said. There are some things that basically they can learn from working on the space launch vehicle that then they could apply to an ICBM. Irans neighbors are promoting pan-Arab partnership, with 14 countries taking part in the Arab Space Cooperation Group, said Mohamed Ibrahim Al Aseeri, CEO of Bahrains space agency. Although he said Tehrans very advanced capabilities didnt pose a threat, Al Aseeri said in an interview that Bahrain needed to respond to the way Iran and other nations use space for military and security purposes. It is a competition and the best way to deal with it is to be ready and to develop your own technology, he said. Meanwhile, Israeli officials have made public statements accusing Iran of using the space program as cover for military missile technologies. Officials in Tehran argue that having a space program is about securing the same access to advanced technology thats available to the West, rather than building a long-range missile threat to the US. Sina Azodi, adjunct professor of international affairs at George Washington University, said its highly unlikely that Iran will use its space program to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles, knowing that they would be easily thwarted by the US. The accusation against Iran is that its space program is used to cover the pursuit of intercontinental ballistic missiles, but without nuclear warheads, it doesnt make sense, said Azodi. What are you going to do with that ICBM? Set up a conventional warhead to attack the US? Iran wont do that. Much like its nuclear program, Iran sees space technology as something that can give it stature in the region and the wider world, beyond developing its military capabilities. Prestige is a major driver of these programs for Iran, Dina Esfandiary, Middle East Geoeconomics analyst at Bloomberg Economics said. Still, Iran has encountered many challenges, including delays in the opening of the Chabahar spaceport. Two satellite launches scheduled for the Iranian calendar year ending in March didnt happen, with the space agency moving them to the new year. Salarieh is already talking about even more ambitious projects such as advanced capsules capable of sending humans to space. Irans ability to achieve such goals could depend on the outcome of the negotiations with the US. The fact that the two sides are even talking is significant, said H.A. Hellyer, senior fellow at the Center for American Progress in Washington. These were introductory talks, so not a great deal of substance should have been expected, but what did happen was still very symbolic, he said. The Chinese citizen who admitted to operating a drone in Vandenberg Space Force Base airspace was sentenced to four months in federal prison and one year of supervised released, federal court documents show. (Vandenberg Space Force Base) (Tribune News Service) The Chinese citizen who admitted to operating a drone in Vandenberg Space Force Base airspace was sentenced to four months in federal prison and one year of supervised released, federal court documents show. Yinpiao Zhou, 39, pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of violation of National Defense Airspace on March 10, court records show. According to his plea agreement, Zhou, a Chinese citizen and lawful permanent resident of the United States, flew his drone into the National Defense Airspace around the Vandenberg Space Force Base in Lompoc on Nov. 30. The space where Zhou flew his drone was designated by the Federal Aviation Administration as necessary in the interest of national defense, meaning flights of civil aircrafts that the FAA cannot identify are prohibited. That includes drones. Zhou had returned from a visit in China in February, U.S. Attorneys Officials said at the time of Zhous December arrest. He was taken into custody at San Francisco International Airport on Dec. 10 prior to boarding a flight to China, the agency said. Zhou was sentenced to time-served in federal prison, which was four months, and one year of supervised release, records show. He also was required to pay a $200 fine and a $25 special assessment fee. Ciaran McEvoy, spokesperson for the U.S. Attorneys Office, said Zhou was in custody in Mentropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles as of Monday morning but expected to be released soon. Man downloaded software to allow drone to enter prohibited areas, documents say On Nov. 30, Zhou traveled to a park near the Space Force base and launched his drone, court documents said. He flew the drone 1.8 miles south so that it was over the Space Force base. Court documents said Zhous drone took several photographs of the base as it flew overhead. Once base security personnel detected the drone inside the restricted airspace, they traveled to the park and questioned Zhou and another individual he was with, court documents said. Zhou initially denied seeing any drone pilots but then admitted to having the drone inside his jacket. Zhou admitted he knew he could not fly his drone over the Space Force base and had downloaded software that allowed him to operate his drone in areas he would otherwise be prohibited from flying in, the document said. While Zhou is a legal permanent resident, it is unclear how the conviction may affect his immigration status at this time. According to the plea agreement, the conviction could be grounds for deportation, denial of citizenship and/or denial of entering the United States in the future. 2025 The Tribune (San Luis Obispo, Calif.). Visit www.sanluisobispo.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Jessica Mudgett, executive director of the Chippewa County Housing Authority, has submitted her resignation. Her last day will be at the end of April. Heather Martell, chair of the Housing Authority's board of directors, stepped down from her role Tuesday, citing concerns about what she says is a lack of protection for the board while it conducts investigations into department employees such as Mudgett. Mudgett has been accused of serious allegations of misconduct, according to Martell, who sent a letter to the Chippewa County Board of Supervisors this week outlining her concerns and resignation. An informal internal investigation of financial and legal misconduct began last month after complaints from staff about Mudgett surfaced in February, Martell said. Where the inquiry is headed and whether the allegations will lead to an official investigation is unclear. Ms. Mudgetts resignation diminishes some of this concern, but not all of it, Martell stated. Martell said she believes the situation warrants a formal investigation but did not specify the details of the allegations against Mudgett, who became executive director in spring 2024. Mudgett has not been charged with any crime in Chippewa County Circuit Court. The Chippewa Herald reached out Thursday to Mudgett and the Housing Authority but received no reply. Authority In February, Martell received a call from then-County Administrator Randy Scholz, who told her he had received multiple complaints from more than 25% of Housing Authority staff, Martell said. Scholz explained to Martell that he did not have any authority over the matter. The Housing Authority is an independent agency and not governed by the county administrator, human resources or corporation counsel. It provides a variety of resources and services for low- and moderate-income households, including rental assistance; loans for existing home repairs, homebuyer down payments and foreclosure prevention; resources for owning and managing rental properties; and properties for sale to income eligible homebuyers. The Housing Authority administers more than $1.8 million annually in federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, according to its website. The county board appoints a member to the Housing Authority's board, but does not run it. The housing board is made up of a county board member, three members of the public and a Chippewa Falls city council representative Martell served in that role until this week. Scholz basically said, Look, this doesn't fall into the county's purview. We don't have authority over any of this. . You're on your own, she said. Scholz helped arrange a March 3 meeting between Martell, county supervisor Pam Guthman, who acted as a county board representative, and the employees. 'Serious allegations' The Herald reached out to Guthman on Thursday but did not receive a response. During these meetings, serious allegations of misconduct were made against the executive director, including allegations of financial and legal misconduct, Martell stated. The allegations that were made are not criminal, but they are financial and legal, said Martell on Thursday. Prior to Scholz call, she was not aware of what was happening with the Housing Authority, Martell said. No one on the board was aware of any of this. This is how it came to the board's attention, she said. She said the allegations against Mudgett during the March 3 meeting were pretty hefty, but no formal investigation ever took place. The matter was addressed at multiple meetings with Scholz and housing officials. Martell said to make other Housing Authority officials aware of the situation, the board went into closed session. The session was not on its March 24 agenda. Mudgett was not allowed to stay in the room. It was not a good situation, she said of Mudgetts behavior when asked to leave the room. Martell stated that she felt it was important, for the sake of everyone involved, to discuss the allegations in closed session until we could come up with a solution on how to investigate these sensitive matters and to protect both Ms. Mudgett and the authority. Martell said she felt like she was kind of sabotaged at the March 24 meeting. During that meeting, something was supposed to be on the agenda to set up an executive committee to create a sub-unit for the government for the purpose of investigating personnel issues and other powers, Martell said. That was what was intended to be on this agenda, and it was not. Martell said as the Housing Authority board chair, she asked Mudgett to put this on the agenda because the board needed to have bylaws discussed and acted upon at the meeting. Mudgett said that she would do it. She never did it. I almost felt like our agendas were not being created appropriately and our attempts to handle the situation were being thwarted, Martell said. Martell said no action was taken as a result of the closed session meeting. Overreach The situation is further complicated by what Martell calls "overreach and intimidation" by Chippewa County Board Chair Chuck Hall. In her letter to the board of supervisors Tuesday, Martell stated Hull had used his position to interfere with the Housing Authority board and knowingly or unknowingly, had created a situation that would help the executive director hinder an investigation into the allegations made. The Chippewa Herald reached out to Hull, but did not receive a response. Hull attended the April 14 Housing Authority board meeting. During public comments, chairman Hull proceeded to interpret Wisconsin Statutes to me, she said. Hull handed her documents with highlighted portions of Wis. Stats. 19.84 and 19.85, meeting notices, minutes for the March 31 and March 24 meeting, and an email Martell sent to Mudgett about her behavior toward Housing Authority board members, which Martell described as bullying. He informed me that he had looked into having me removed from the board, but could not find a way to do this, she stated in her letter. Chairman Hull was unprofessional in his personal attacks on me in an open meeting. This happened during public comments when Martell said Hull was demanding that I give up the gavel for that meeting saying that he had been trying to remove me. Hull was president of the Housing Authority for many years while the organization was a rubber stamp to keep the status quo and, Martell said she thinks due to this past role, he might have taken the situation personally. Martell said Hull had never previously contacted her about the Housing Authority. He and Martell have not spoken since her letter to the board went out Tuesday evening just before the county board meeting at the courthouse. A committee to investigate The five-page bylaws for the Housing Authority do not address how personnel complaints or investigations are to be handled, she said. The board lacks commissioner insurance, leaving investigating board members vulnerable to personal lawsuits, Martell claimed. She resigned due to these concerns and the board's failure to allocate sufficient funds for legal fees, she said. That is the reason I left, she said. Without a commissioner insurance, all of us board members can be sued personally. She recommends the city council provide no representation to the housing board until changes are made. Martell said she does not expect an apology from Hull. My goal is strictly to provide the facts of what happened, she said. According to the meeting agenda for the Housing Authoritys public meeting Thursday morning, a resolution is being considered to appoint R. Rizzo as executive director. While the name R. Rizzo does not appear on the Chippewa County Housing Authority website, Richelle Rizzo's LinkedIn profile shows she works as a rehabilitation specialist for the organization. The 2024 National Defense Authorization Act directed the GAO to examine how well DODEA is meeting the special education needs of its students and to identify key obstacles. (Pixabay) Some special needs students attending Defense Department schools are being underserved due to staffing shortages and high turnover among special education personnel, the U.S. Government Accountability Office said in a report released Thursday. The problem is exacerbated by rigid staffing formulas used by the Department of Defense Education Activity, or DODEA, which operates the school system. Those formulas, the report said, rely on student headcounts rather than the hours required to adequately serve students, often underestimating staffing needs. The GAO found delays in the delivery of special education services at 44 of DODEAs 114 overseas schools during the 202223 school year. In six of those cases, more than a year passed before services were restored. Both parents and providers told investigators that delays and disruptions in services often harmed students academic progress. The 2024 National Defense Authorization Act directed the GAO to examine how well DODEA is meeting the special education needs of its students and to identify key obstacles. The agency analyzed data from six school years, spanning 2018 to 2024, and conducted site visits at 14 schools in Japan, Germany and North Carolina. About 66,000 children were enrolled in 160 DODEA schools during the 202324 school year, with nearly three-quarters attending overseas. Roughly 15% of DODEA students receive special education services, according to the report. DODEA offers four special education programs for students with disabilities or specific conditions from kindergarten through 12th grade. Each program has unique staffing requirements. Three are geared toward students with mild-to-moderate, moderate-to-severe, and severe-to-profound learning impairments; the fourth serves students with emotional impairments. Special needs students include those with autism spectrum disorder, deafness, developmental delay, intellectual disability, orthopedic impairments, traumatic brain injuries and other conditions, the report said. The staffing formulas used by DODEA are based primarily on student numbers within each program, but do not take into account the time required to fulfill each students individualized education program, or IEP a legally binding plan developed by educators and parents outlining services and goals tailored to the student. Required service minutes can vary widely from student to student even within the same special education program or classroom, the report states. DODEA officials told the GAO that staffing formulas should be responsive to emerging needs and the varying intensity of support that students may require over time. However, the formulas have not been reviewed since they were implemented in 2015, according to the report. DODEA school staff and administrators told us that even students within the same special education program can have significant differences in the amount of support they need in the classroom, the report states. At 13 of the 14 schools visited, staff said headcount-based staffing formulas did not allocate enough personnel to meet student needs outlined in IEPs. Staff shortages and high turnover also affected the quality and consistency of services, the report said. Special education personnel shortages, high turnover rates, and lengthy hiring processes create obstacles affecting the consistency, timeliness, and overall quality of special education and related services that students receive, the report states. Turnover among special education teachers was particularly high. Between 2019 and 2022, the turnover rate for those positions across the DODEA system was 68%, according to the report. Klarissa Parsons, a nurse at Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center at Fort Cavazos, Texas, administers the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine to Autumn Campbell, daughter of Spc. Tyrece Campbell, on March 14, 2025. (U.S. Army) AUSTIN, Texas A measles outbreak in West Texas has reached Fort Bliss, with at least one confirmed case reported at the installation, military health officials said. Officials at William Beaumont Army Medical Center said Wednesday that they will not release any further information about the measles case nor will they publicly confirm whether the base hospital is treating other cases. Any additional cases will not be reported to the public because it can unintentionally impact mission assurance and force protection, said Amabilia Payen, a spokeswoman for the hospital. Officials will, however, continue to update cases with the local, state and federal agencies as they are required to do. Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that can be life-threatening to those who are not vaccinated against it, according to the Texas Department of State Health and Human Services. It is recommended young children receive the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine to prevent contracting the virus. It comes in two doses and can offer 97% protection. The state began to see an uptick in measles cases in late January, primarily in the western edge of the panhandle. There were 561 confirmed cases Tuesday across the state an increase of 20 from the previous week, according to the state health department. Two school-aged children have died in Texas. Neither had received a vaccine. Nearly 60 patients in Texas have been hospitalized, according to state health officials. Confirmed measles cases are uncommon in the military health system, where vaccination is required for military service unless the member has a documented exemption. Vaccination rates among military family members were not available Thursday, according to the Defense Health Agency. There have been 11 confirmed cases since 2016, including one of an active-duty service member, according to DHA. Since January, DHA said it has had two measles cases, including the one at Fort Bliss. [The Defense Department] has been coordinating with the Texas state health department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on this case. Additionally, DOD public health emergency officers and staff work closely with their civilian counterparts in order to ensure an effective public health response, DHA said in a statement. Outside of the Army base, the outbreak has grown with five new cases reported in El Paso, bringing the citys total to 13. An unvaccinated child in Dona Ana County on the western side of Fort Bliss in New Mexico was diagnosed with measles in the last week, marking the countys first measles case. Those at risk for contracting the measles are the unvaccinated and people who have traveled recently to an area with an ongoing outbreak, as well as people with compromised immune systems. Initial symptoms can include coughing, sneezing, fever, red eyes and sore throat. After a few days, people could develop a red-brown rash and a higher fever. Public health officials at Fort Cavazos, which is more than 570 miles east of Fort Bliss in central Texas, began to raise awareness in March of the measles spread in the state and the importance of immunizations. One positive measles case can potentially infect nine other people, especially newborns, infants, immunocompromised, unvaccinated and those who are more susceptible to picking up infections, said Yesenia Montoya, communicable disease lead and registered nurse with Army Public Health at Fort Cavazos. Were trying to develop a process to keep everybody safe and limit exposure to our population here. SVI, CCTC Partner on PCB Fabrication JV in Thailand Published: 17 April 2025 by Ryann Howard by Ryann Howard BANG KADI, PATHUM THANI, THAILAND -- SVI Public Co. and China Circuit Technology (Shantou) have agreed to a joint venture here where the two companies will build printed circuit boards. The JV, which is 75% owned by SVI, will produce multilayer and highdensity interconnect PCBs. The firms are investing a combined 1.60 billion baht (about 48 million) in the JV, called Advanced Interconnection Technology Company Ltd. A combination of company cash flow and bank loans are being used to finance the development. Taxi driver Niall Smith believed by gardai to have run the operation bought the remote properties in a bid to avoid garda attention. The property for sale at Drumany, Leitrim. The property for sale at Drumany, Leitrim. The property for sale at Drumany, Leitrim. The property for sale at Drumany, Leitrim. The property for sale at Drumany, Leitrim. The property for sale at Toomans, Leitrim. The property for sale at Toomans, Leitrim. The property for sale at Toomans, Leitrim. The property for sale at Toomans, Leitrim. TWO houses linked to a cannabis farm operation directed by the Byrne organised crime gang are set to go for auction next week. The gang, headed up by Kinahan cartel lieutenant Liam Byrne, had planned to use the properties in Co Leitrim after gardai discovered their grow-house in Wexford. Taxi driver Niall Smith believed by gardai to have run the operation bought the remote properties in a bid to avoid garda attention. Cab said that the properties in Leitrim, were where Smith had planned to move his grow-house operation to get away from garda attention in Wexford. The property for sale at Toomans, Leitrim. This belief was fortified by the discovery of equipment and materials at the Leitrim property associated with cannabis cultivation. The property at Drumany was bought in 2011 for 15,000 but Cab estimated that 422,355 was spent on building a house on the site. The property for sale at Drumany, Leitrim. According to BRG Gibson Auctions who are handling the auction said the house with a reserve price of 125,000 is located in a rural location facing Lough Nacarriga, approx. 9km from Ballinamore and its local amenities. Although the property requires some internal repairs, it presents an excellent investment opportunity with significant potential to appeal to a wide range of buyers and investors. A second old house at Toomans, Co Leitrim had also been bought to be converted into a grow house on which Smith spent 86,000, according to Cab evidence. The remoteness of this location and the materials found when the property was searched support this conclusion. Now it is on the market and due for auction on 24 April with a reserve price of 25,000. The property for sale at Toomans, Leitrim. BRG Gibson Auctions described it as requiring full renovation but could appeal to a number of buyers willing to redevelop it. Smith, who initially opposed the Cab case, had said he is a taxi driver who also does boat repairs and denied any involvement in crime and that his money came from undeclared earnings. He said he was living off income from renting out a room in his Clondalkin home and was able to get by on 200 a week. The property for sale at Drumany, Leitrim. The Sunday World previously revealed how Smith had been exposed as the Byrne gangs cannabis grower in Ireland after being forced to hand over property to Cab. Originally from Crumlin, south Dublin, is said by Cab to have operated grow-houses throughout the country for more than ten years. Smith was suspected of using the cover of his taxi business to transport the cannabis from remote rural areas back up to the Crumlin area for sale. The property for sale at Toomans, Leitrim. A sophisticated grow house at Courtown, Co Wexford, was discovered in 2013 where Smith was present at the time. He later received a seven-year sentence, suspended for seven years. The same year, 140 plants were found at an industrial unit in Swords along with Smiths fingerprint, but no charges were brought. The property for sale at Drumany, Leitrim. At the time, it was believed there were plans to set up more grow-houses in Offaly, Westmeath, Longford, Roscommon and Leitrim. One officer who investigated the Crumlin native described him in an affidavit as very shrewd in his criminal enterprise. He used as few people as possible in the operation with a view to reducing his exposure to law enforcement and remaining undetected, These grow-houses appear to be large in scale and professionally and efficiently run. CRIME WORLD | Episode 969: The 'Dubai Two' and their controversial pandemic boob jobs Nicola speaks with Niall Donald about the stories of Dubliners Kirstie McGrath and Niamh Mulreany, who will be forever remembered for their trip to Dubai. 'Dubai Two' Kirstie McGrath, (34) and Niamh Mulreany (29) Nicola Tallant Fri 18 Apr 2025 at 13:48 Police shot and wounded the gunman, who they identified as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, after he refused to comply with commands from officers An impromptu memorial shared online brings students bearing flowers into the evening near the center of the Florida State campus near the Student Union (Gary McCullough/AP) A man used his police officer mother's gun to kill two people at Florida State University, police have said. A further six have been taken to hospital with injuries in connection with the attack. Police shot and wounded the gunman, who they identified as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, after he refused to comply with commands from officers. Florida State University Police Chief Jason Trumbower said the gunman shot at individuals around the student union building. He is believed to be a Florida State student. Mr Trumbower said authorities would not be releasing information about the victims, including whether they were students, but did confirm the two people who were killed were not students at the university. The injured were all in fair condition, Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare said in a Facebook post. Leon County Sheriff Walter McNeil revealed the alleged gunman's identity and his relation to deputy Jessica Ikner, who has been with the sheriff's office for more than 18 years. Mr McNeil says the alleged gunman was a long-standing member of the sheriff's office's youth advisory council and engaged in a number of training programmes with the office. "This is obviously a heinous crime," Mr McNeil said. "We will make sure that we do everything we can to prosecute and make sure that we send a message to folks that this will never be tolerated here in Leon County, and I dare say across the state and across this nation." Ikner was in the hospital with "serious but non-life-threatening injuries," according to Mr Revell. Asked about the shooting, US President Donald Trump said "it's a shame", adding that he knew the school and the area "very well". But Mr Trump suggested that he would not be advocating for any new gun legislation, saying: "The gun doesn't do the shooting, the people do". Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Mr Trump called himself a "big advocate" of the Second Amendment and the right to bear arms. "I have an obligation to protect the Second Amendment," he said. Florida State University cancelled classes on Friday, two weeks before the university's scheduled commencement ceremony for graduates from May 2 to 3. The university's official finals week, per its academic calendar, is scheduled to start on April 28. Jake Nair, a senior student at the university, was studying in the library when a police officer dashed out of the building, yelling for everyone to stay in place. "He ran outside with his gun out," Mr Nair said. "Not all the students heard him, and some of them ran out the back of the library." Mr Nair said an alarm in the library then went off and a recorded message warned students to shelter in place because of an active shooter on campus. About five officers came into the library and escorted the students out with their hands up. "I think they just wanted to make sure none of us had a weapon on us," Mr Nair said. "To be honest, it was a bit of a surreal moment. It's the kind of thing you only see on the news." Ryan Cedergren, a 21-year-old communications student, said he and about 30 others hid in the bowling alley in the union's lower level after seeing students running from a nearby bar. "In that moment, it was survival," he said. University president Richard McCullough said he was heartbroken by the violence. "Our hearts go out to our students and the victims of this terrible tragedy," he said. As dusk fell over Florida State University, a small memorial of candles and bouquets of flowers had been set up outside the student union, while investigators' yellow tape blocked off the nearby doors. Florida State is one of the Sunshine State's 12 public universities, with its main campus in Tallahassee. About 44,000 students are enrolled in the university, according to the school's 2024 fact sheet. In 2014, the main library was the site of a shooting that wounded three people. Officers shot and killed the gunman, 31-year-old Myron May. Kara Hernandez (31) was arrested by police in Texas A married teacher has been charged after allegedly having a sexual relationship with a teenager student at a school in Texas in the US. Kara Hernandez (31), a music teacher Ronald Thornton Middle School, faces charges of indecency with a child in 2022. The mum-of-four, described by one news site as looking like Miss Honey from the film Matilda, is accused of making the student touch her genitals. Miss Honey was a character in the Roald Dahl novel Matilda which was subsequently made into a hit film. According to court documents, Hernandez made the student touch her with the intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of herself or the unidentified student. The allegations came to light after a ex-student spoke to district officials about the relationship. The school have confirmed that Hernandez is no longer working in the school after resigning last year. in a previous post on the schools website, Hernandez was described as the director of the orchestra, where she works to ensure the Sienna Orchestra students have a meaningful musical, educational, and community experience throughout their seven years. Mrs. Hernandez firmly believes that her purpose in life is to provide an exceptional music education for students. In a letter sent to parents, the Ford Bend School District said an investigation was launched as soon as the claims were reported to them. Recently, allegations of past inappropriate conduct by a Thornton Middle School staff member were brought to the districts attention by a former student. Fort Bend ISD immediately began an investigation, and the staff member was immediately removed from the campus and placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. The staff member will not be returning to FBISD, the district said. We are doing our best to stay strong, but the emotional and financial toll is enormous Patrice and Gary McCrossan with their four children A young Co Donegal family have appealed for help after their son was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder - just months after his mum was diagnosed with leukemia. Four-year-old Zach McCrossan from St Johnston began showing signs of fatigue recently which worried his family. After many tests and bone marrow biopsies, Zach has been diagnosed with a rare blood disorder. His only chance is a bone marrow transplant, which isnt available in Ireland. Hes now been referred to the Princess Maxima Center for Pediatric Oncology in Utrecht, Netherlands, where hes expected to be an inpatient for at least three months. It is the latest challenge facing the McCrossan family. Zack McCrossan In February, Zach's mother Patrice (nee Rodgers) discovered she had acute myeloid leukemia. The 32-year-old was rushed to Galway Hospital for treatment days later before being transferred to St. James in Dublin for a bone marrow transplant. Unfortunately, the transplant wasnt as successful as the family had wished and Patrice now travels regularly to Dublin for DLI therapy and is still receiving chemotherapy treatments to keep her disease at bay. Since the news broke, the local community has shown an incredible outpouring of support for Patrice, her husband Gary, and their four children aged between seven months and nine years. But now the couple are being forced to turn their attention to help their little boy, Zach. Dad Gary said the news of Zach's illness has hit them hard but they are doing their best to stay strong. He said "Its devastating to think of our family being split up once again. We are doing our best to stay strong, but the emotional and financial toll is enormous. "Patrice will need to continue her own treatments at home while also being there for Zachand for our other children, Casey, Hollie, and little Tillie. "We are humbly asking for support to help bring our family to the Netherlands so we can be with Zach during this incredibly difficult time. "Whether it's a small donation, a share, or simply keeping us in your thoughts it all means the world. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts," he said. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family cope with the financial strain. Enhanced data sharing with gardai will make the requirements redundant, super junior transport minister Sean Canney said. The need to display an insurance disc and tax disc on the windscreen of vehicles will soon come to an end. Enhanced data sharing with gardai will make the requirements redundant, super junior transport minister Sean Canney said. Were going to get rid of all that clutter, which will be welcomed by many motorists, he said, mentioning that several European countries have already abandoned the need for physical evidence on every vehicle. The National Vehicle and Driver File Bill, now going to the drafting stage, will allow for the abolition of the requirement to display a motor tax disc. With widespread deployment of Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology, An Garda Siochana already has immediate digital access to motor tax information, and can get it for insurance too. Motorists taking out insurance have had to supply their driver number (on the licence) to the company providing the cover. This then links back the insurance to the vehicle, as well as the person who may be driving it. The legislation will remove the now unnecessary validation of tax and insurance compliance by means of a paper disc. There is also a plan, initiated in the last government, to allow a person to store their driving licence on their phone Mr Canney said motor tax discs would be first to go. Work is ongoing in the department in relation to the requirement to display paper insurance discs and certificates of roadworthiness, he said. These are provided for in secondary legislation and are being worked on in parallel with the bill. There is also a plan, initiated in the last government, to allow a person to store their driving licence on their phone, rather than always carrying a physical licence when behind the wheel as the law requires. A motor tax disc. Stock image: Getty. Today's News in 90 Seconds - April 18th It is accepted that many, if not most, motorists do not know they are obliged to carry their licence when driving and to produce it to gardai if stopped for any reason. The bill will also facilitate the flow of information so that local authorities may request, receive and process road collision data from both the Road Safety Authority and An Garda Siochana. Mr Canney said: Passage of the bill will contribute to road safety through greater infrastructure investment and enforcement. Abolishing the requirement to display a paper disc and allowing for open-ended declarations that a car is off the road are among these. The abolition of paper motor tax-discs in the first instance is part of a wider project to remove the need to display paper discs in windscreens at all. She recalled how officers followed her to see what type of lifestyle she was living as a holiday rep on the Algarve. Hazel Behan at her home in Mullingar, Co Westmeath. Photo: Steve Humphreys Rape survivor Hazel Behan has told how she was called a slut by Portuguese police days after she was violently attacked. She recalled how officers followed her to see what type of lifestyle she was living as a holiday rep on the Algarve. The brave Mullingar mum believes Madeline McCann suspect, Christian Bruckner, carried out the horrific sexual assault back in 2004. However, more than a year ago a German court declined to convicted him for the offence, citing a lack of evidence as a result of the original botched Portuguese police probe. She has now issued a legal action against the Portuguese authorities in the European Court of Human Rights. This week she spoke frankly to her local radio station Midlands 103 about her fight for justice and how appallingly she was treated as a rape survivor. She recalled: The investigation was closed very quickly, it wasnt taken seriously. I was told I was a danger to the tourist trade in Portugal and I would jeopardise my friends jobs if I highlighted the incident. For a time afterwards they followed me to the places Id go while I was there. I approached them and asked them why, and one of them said they were following me to see if I was a Slut or not. Christian Bruckner Photo: Getty A few times it was said to me why dont you just go home? If you make this too public you will ruin the tourist trade in this area and that a lot of jobs were relying on that. They gave me the impression you are a holiday rep, what did you expect? Hazel said that although the case was heard last May it wasnt until January this year that she got the full judgement in writing. She stated: I was considered a witness to the crime. The German judges clearly stated that they couldnt make a positive judgement for me in the case because of the ineptitude of the Portuguese police. It really affirmed what I felt at the time, but I wasnt strong enough to challenge. Things like gathering evidence, closing the case file long before it should have been, forging my signature on documents and the fact that they didnt take a detailed statement from me. I was interviewed for 40 minutes in an open office and it wasnt at all private. Since then I have given statements in Ireland and Germany which lasted days. I can wholeheartedly confirm that I never gave a statement in Portugal. Hazel is now hoping that rape survivors like here will be treated with respect across Europe and that what happened to her from a police treatment point of view, never happens again. Inquiries by the Sunday World revealed the change of heart on the Shankill is probably because Soldier F who is due to stand trial for murder has ties to the local area. British parachute regiment flag flies this week at the Bayardo monument on the Shankill Road. A Para shot and killed two members of the UDA on Shankill Road in 1972. A 50-year battle between Paras and the Shankill community appears to be over, the Sunday World has learned. For five decades, residents in the hardline loyalist area of west Belfast bore a grudge against the crack British army regiment. Although best remembered for gunning down innocent Catholic civilians in Ballymurphy and Derry, the maroon-bereted super-squaddies were also detested in the close-knit Shankill where they also shot dead two middle-aged men. Robert Richie McKinney (49) and Robert Johnston (50) were gunned down during a night of violence in 1972, when the Paras were accused of turning on the Protestant community. Mr McKinney was hit by gunfire while driving along Machett Street in the heart of the Shankill. He was on his way to collect a relative who was due to finish work and the family didnt want her walking home while there was rioting on the streets. The fatal shooting of Robert Johnston from Sydney Street West was even more bizarre. Described at an inquest as a harmless drunk, he was struck by rifle fire from a Para near the Berlin Bar. Johnston had just shouted, The meek shall inherit the earth when he was shot dead. And an eyewitness said she saw a Para take aim and fire at the victim. British parachute regiment flag flies this week at the Bayardo monument on the Shankill Road. A Para shot and killed two members of the UDA on Shankill Road in 1972. In a rare admission of guilt, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said Mr McKinney and Mr Johnston, who was shot minutes later, were nothing other than entirely innocent civilians caught up in a situation which wasnt of their making. Following the double-shooting, the UDA which was still regarded largely a community-based organisation held a fact-finding event in a library, where locals gave witness accounts of what happened. A booklet condemning the Paras behaviour was published and sold on the streets. And more recently, when other hardline loyalist areas came out in support of Soldier F a Parachute Regiment soldier currently facing murder charged connected to the Bloody Sunday shootings the Shankill community remained silent. For five full decades, the Paras were persona non grata on the Shankill Road as a result of the McKinney/Johnston killings. And while loyalists in other areas sang the regiments praises by flying We Support Soldier F flags, the Shankill Road people preferred to remain silent in memory of the two innocent civilians. But in recent days a maroon flag bearing the silver-winged logo of the Parachute Regiment has appeared at the top of a flagpole in the middle of the Shankill Road. It flies alongside an Israeli flag and the Union flag of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The three flags are sited on the spot where 50 years ago the IRA carried out a savage bomb and shooting attack on the Bayardo Bar, killing five people. Survivors who stumbled out through the rumble were machine-gunned as they left. Inquiries by the Sunday World this week revealed the change of heart on the Shankill, which manifested itself with the flying of the Parachute Regiment flag, is probably because Soldier F who is due to stand trial for murder has ties to the local area. Armed British Paratroopers. PA Images One man who spoke to us said: I believe the change came about because it is widely rumoured around here that Soldier F has links to the area. At the end of the day, he wasnt personally involved in shooting anyone on the Shankill. But if hes ties to the Shankill and he is being charged with committing murder on Bloody Sunday, then we should be supporting him. He added: Its as simple as that. The Paras responsible for the Bloody Sunday slaughter received fulsome praise from John Ross, a Shankill-born former member of the regiment, who writes occasionally on military matters. Right from the outset, my regiment has been branded, murderers, killers and all sorts, he said. But we served with pride, we served with dignity, we were disciplined and we did our duty. Yes, we were a robust regiment and if you wanted a job well done, we would have done it. But we were just like any other regiment which served in Northern Ireland during Operation Banner. Eleven months after the Bloody Sunday massacre, the Belfast Telegraph reported that 30 members of the Paras had bought themselves out of the regiment. While Soldier F is facing a murder charge, during their time in Northern Ireland many other Paras were charged and convicted of crimes ranging from armed robbery to theft. Some of the identities have not yet been released Cable car incident in Italy kills four people and injures others A British couple were among the four people killed in a tragic cable car crash near Naples in Italy. The mountain cable car cabin plunged to the ground after one of the cables supporting it snapped on Thursday, local officials revealed. The cable car operator said it had passed a safety inspection just two weeks ago - and a criminal investigation has now been opened. The UK foreign office said it was in touch with local authorities but has not confirmed the identities of the victims. They are believed to be three passengers and the driver of the cable car, who was named by local officials as 59-year-old Carmine Parlato. Man in his 60s charged after 230k cash seized in north Dublin The fourth person who died was an Israeli woman, according to a spokesperson for the mayor of Castellammare di Stabia. A fifth person in the cabin, believed to be another tourist, was "extremely seriously injured" in the crash and airlifted to hospital, officials said. Authorities have opened an investigation into the cause of the crash. Sixteen people were rescued from a second cabin which was also on the line near the bottom of the valley at the time of the accident. They were winched to safety (as our video shows) The Mount Faito cable car has been operating since 1952. A similar accident on the line in 1960 left four people dead. Independent councillor for South Dublin County Council Glen Moore signals his support for Mr McGregor in his presidential election bid Right-wing commentator Tucker Carlsons interview with Conor McGregor, which took place at the MMA stars Dublin pub earlier this week, is set to be released this evening. The former Fox News host visited Mr McGregors Black Forge Inn pub in Crumlin on Tuesday evening to interview the Dubliner on his hopes for running in the Irish presidential election, set to take place later this year. Approximately 40 people gathered inside The Black Forge Inn on the night after Mr McGregor was interviewed by the controversial far-right pundit earlier in the day. Mr Carlson hosted Tucker Carlson Tonight on Fox News until he was fired by the corporation in 2023. The presenter now hosts The Tucker Carlson Show on his own Tucker Carlson Network, and has interviewed Conor McGregor for his online news show. The two-hour chat will be broadcast on the Americans various channels, including YouTube from 6pm this evening. In a one-minute preview, Mr Carlson and Mr McGregor discuss how a nomination for the Irish presidency works, whereby a candidate must be nominated by 20 members of the Oireachtas, or by four local authorities. In the video, Mr Carlson labels McGregor as the most famous living Irish person as the pair discuss both democracy and immigration in Ireland. Cllr Glen Moore, an independent councillor for South Dublin County Council, has signalled his support for Mr McGregor in his presidential election bid. "As someone who has spoken with Conor McGregor, I can confirm that we have a team, including myself, who have supported past presidential campaigns, are ready to begin the process upon his decision, he wrote on social media site X. We are staunch believers in democracy at its core. The idea of locking the presidential nomination behind barriers is repugnant to our values and principles. "I will automatically support anyone seeking to run for president, as I firmly believe this choice should not be dictated by government officials, he said. Let democracy take its full course. Since parting ways with Fox News, Mr Carlson has interviewed many populists and right-wing figures, including US President Donald Trump, on his X channel and is a regular figure on many anti-immigration shows and news sites. He also interviewed Vladimir Putin in 2024, nearly two years after Russias brutal invasion of Ukraine. Voices filled the old Ford building at 312 N 5th St. in David City for the first time in many years. Vintage tile work, once shrouded in dust and boxes of porcelain materials, saw the light of day once more as visitors packed the new site of the Bone Creek Museum of Agrarian Art on April 12 to celebrate its reopening. The reopening was the result of four years of hard work by the fundraising committee and the generosity and trust of the museum's many sponsors and the surrounding community, Bone Creek Museum Board President Ruth Thoendel said. "We are so blessed to have you join us here and celebrate what you all have made possible," she said. "We thank each and every one of you who made contributions to this campaign, large or small. We could not have brought this dream about." When initially looking for a new home, CMBA Architects, who designed the current layout, described the space as a "500-year building," with good bones for remodeling. Originally opened in 1917 and used as a Ford assembly facility, the building was at one point owned by J.C. Hall of the Hallmark company. The original tile floors and structure have been preserved and walnut, a hearty and high-contrast wood, was used for the trim. CMBA received an Excellence in Construction award from the Associated Builders and Contractors of Nebraska and South Dakota for their work on the restoration. In paying respect to the building's origins, David City's Dick Wood even donated to the museum a Model T car that had been assembled there. It sits in the front window in an area called the "Ford Lounge." K.C. Belitz, director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, State Sens. Jared Storm of District 23 and Jana Hughes of District 24, David City Mayor Jessica Miller and several parties involved in the museum's development spoke briefly at the reopening ceremony before Belitz cut the first of two ribbons. Belitz said that this is a big achievement and the city and all involved should take a moment to revel in it. The building is close to 10 times the size of the previous museum space with the exhibit space being five times larger. There are also classrooms, a theater area and a lot more storage for the exhibits that aren't currently on display. From the very first concept to now, the museum has been close to 15 years in the making. There are five spaces for art, a lot of which has been in storage for years due to the original museum's limited space. Visitors came to the old location from all cross the country and even internationally. This project is more than just a financial milestone or success. Though admission to the museum is free, there's still a long road to keeping its doors open, through continuing donations and grants, Theondel said. Belitz said with most things like this, Nebraska likes to celebrate its successes quietly, but Gov. Jim Pillen has for a while urged the necessity to talk more about what Nebraska is doing and he encouraged everyone in attendance to spread the word. "As Nebraskans, what do we do? We put our heads down, we go get the work done," Belitz said. "We achieve and we keep our heads down and keep working, right? That's what we do. But it's really important and if you've heard the governor speak, you've heard him talk about this we've got to get better at bragging. Today is a day for Butler County bragging." Belitz said that community development, workforce development and economic development are all becoming one thing. Without people to get the word out there and make a big deal about the only agrarian art museum in the country, the fundraising part is almost moot. "The money's actually irrelevant if it's sitting in a bank account somewhere," Belitz said. "Today is what makes the money relevant. Today we get to see the outcome that cannot happen without partnership and without communities like you leading the way. So, for today, let's just celebrate and tomorrow you can go back to work." Miller, David City's mayor, said as a long-time resident of David City, this expansion and renovation is an example and testament of the volunteer mentality of people in David City. Growing up, she got to see so many people make things happen simply because they were determined to do so, and this was one she was happy to be a part of. With it, she said, good things wait down the road. "With this new expansion of the museum, it brings promise and hope for our future, a promise of immersing young and not so young individuals, to appreciate the beauty of the arts, to look at something new, to reimagine and transport yourself to a different time," Miller said. "It brings hope to our future, attracting the many visitors that will grace these doors far and wide, hope that we can once again appreciate the things that we have and learn to be open minded." New Zealand is boosting support to Vanuatu to recover from last years earthquake and develop its renewable energy sector, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters said. Being in Port Vila has underlined the scale of the challenge that Vanuatu faces in recovering from the December earthquake, and we are pleased to provide a further NZ$10 million of support. New Zealand will work with the Vanuatu Government over coming weeks to identify priority areas to focus our efforts, Peters said. This support will draw on our experience of preparing for, and responding to, major earthquakes through the provision of geotechnical, engineering, and local government response advice, as well as reconstruction. We are also pleased to announce that New Zealand will lead on a renewable energy project on Efate and Tanna focused on solar photo-voltaic and battery energy storage systems." Peters said working with France, the project will help reduce fuel import costs, and provide for cleaner, more efficient energy use. While in Port Vila, the New Zealand cross-party delegation met Prime Minister Jotham Napat, the new Vanuatu Government, as well as members of Vanuatus Opposition. We had productive discussions, highlighting the muti-faceted nature of our engagement, as neighbours and as development and regional partners, Peters said. Our visit also reinforced our shared interest in a safe, secure, and peaceful Pacific.. The delegation attended the completion ceremony of the South Paray Wharf, an important economic project delivered with Vanuatu and the Asian Development Bank. Vanuatu is the New Zealand delegations fourth and final destination on this Pacific trip, following Tonga, Hawaii and Fiji. Kneading dough for hot cross buns or tempering chocolate for Easter eggs, Noel Remacles students probably dont know his skills were passed down by people who risked their lives to keep ovens burning in his native country during wartime. Third-generation Belgian baker Noel Remacle loves passing down all of his skills when teaching Level 5 Bakery and Patisserie courses including how temper chocolate for Easter eggs. Photo / Brydie Thompson The cookery tutor at Toi Ohomai in Tauranga is a third generation Belgian baker, who was raised hearing stories of his grandfather Jean Remacles exploits as a member of the resistance in World War II. He had been badly burned in the bakery and couldnt fight, said Remacle, of his Parrain French for godfather because he was also Noels godfather. So he would bake bread for wounded Allied soldiers. My father [Jean-Pierre] remembers as a 5-year-old seeing a dark-skinned person for the first time an African-American escaped prisoner who was being hidden in their house. Jean Remacle was once caught in a German bombing raid and trapped under a bridge for three days. He eventually cycled home carrying the flour hed risked his life to collect, said Noel. Noel Remacles grandfather Jean Remacle, pictured here circa 1938, would bake bread for wounded Allied soldiers during WWII. Photo / Supplied It wasnt good flour, so he created a machine to sieve it. He found a way to make it usable. 1927 The bakery that Jean Remacle opened in 1927 was continued by Noels father, Jean-Pierre, who informed his rebellious 14-year-old son whod been kicked out of school that he was to be a baker too. It was two years before Noel fell in love with the craft. I was about 16 years old and made a cake for my girlfriend at the time with a big flower in pulled sugar. It looked like glass and everyone said it was so cool. I started enjoying it then and wanted to learn more. The three generations of Belgian bakers in the Remacle family from left Jean Remacle, Jean-Pierre Remacle and Noel Remacle, who now lives in Tauranga. Photo / Supplied In 2007, Noel and his wife Yolanda eager to find a work-life balance decided to bring their two young children to live in New Zealand. In Belgium I found myself working 120 hours a week, said Noel. Sometimes I would sleep with my head on the table for an hour and then work again. My only regret about moving here is not doing it 10 years earlier. Windermere Now based at Toi Ohomais Windermere Campus in the Tourism and Hospitality faculty, Noel channels decades of experience into teaching Level 5 Bakery and Patisserie courses. Noel Remacle sharing his knowledge with Ollie Hancock and Amelie Harrison Noel Remacle sharing his knowledge with Ollie Hancock and Amelie Harrison, at Toi Ohomai. Photo / Brydie Thompson His approach blends classic techniques passed down through the generations with innovative thinking peppered with his favourite mantras, like:If you dont respect chocolate, it wont respect you. Following the success of an online workshop during Covid-19, Noel was invited to Egypt in 2023 to teach and to host a special guest seminar. I thought it was a joke, and didnt reply at first. It was only when I got an official email from Pharos University in Alexandria that I knew it was real. It was 10 days of teaching and being treated like a VIP. It was incredible and next year Ill go back again. Easter activity Throughout the year Noels students put their skills to the test by running an on-campus baked goods shop. In the last few weeks, the kitchen has been a hive of activity, turning out trays full of chocolate eggs, hot cross buns, Easter bunnies and more. When I first started the course, I was told to just stick to New Zealand baking, he said. But I like to level up our baking, so instead of cream in the donuts we make a hazelnut custard, and nine-layer opera cakes with white chocolate mousse. Why not combine the styles and bring global baking to New Zealand? Before long, everyone was talking about that Belgian guy teaching in Tauranga. Easter bunnies created by Noel Remacles Toi Ohomai students. Photo / Supplied The results speak for themselves with his graduates finding jobs around the world, including one in London. She made cupcakes for Gordon Ramseys kids birthday party. Still a rebel Here in the Bay of Plenty, Noel keeps proving his ingenuity, recently coming up with a new way of making meringue that hell present online to an international audience of chefs. Im still a rebel. I question things and Im always learning. I like to take a recipe and look for an easier or better way to do it. A teen who took part in a violent and unprovoked street attack, coward-punching one of his victims, has narrowly avoided jail after a judge ruled it would not be the just outcome. Raydin Hunia was sentenced in the Tauranga District Court this week, where the judge detailed the events that led the now-19-year-old to face serious violence charges. Hunia, who was then 18, was hanging out with a group of mates on The Strand in Tauranga, early on March 3 last year. Theyd been drinking heavily when they crossed paths with two strangers who had been in town, and were looking for a ride home. Judge Stephen Coyle said, for reasons that have never been explained, Hunias mates without any provocation began attacking the pair. One of the mates began harassing one of the pair in events that were captured on CCTV footage. The victim is shown to be backing off with his hands up, which the judge said was as if to say, chill bro, but the response by Hunias mate was to hit him. And your immediate response was rush in and join in the assault, the judge said to Hunia. Raydin Hunia narrowly avoided a sentence of imprisonment after a judge decided it wouldn't be the "just" outcome for him. Photo / Hannah Bartlett Hunia coward-punched the victim, causing him to fall to the ground. The judge said there were far too many people who, having acted in the way Hunia did, found themselves before the High Court facing manslaughter because of a king hit that resulted in someone falling, hitting their head, and being killed. When the victim was on the ground, Hunia continued the attack, punching and kicking him to the head. The CCTV footage shows Hunia being coaxed to leave by one of his group. He stopped the attack but seconds later, turned around and headed back to continue assaulting both men. By this time, the two men had made their way to a porch area outside one of the restaurants. Rather than leave them be, Hunia and his mates continued to attack. This was a violent, unnecessary, and unprovoked attack by a group of thugs, including you, on two members of the public who were doing no more than trying to find a ride home, Judge Coyle said. There is no justification and no excuse for what you did. One of the men suffered a swollen face, memory loss; the other had cuts to his eyeball and cheek, two broken teeth, a cut tongue, and memory loss among his injuries. Hunia was charged with injuring with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and injuring with intent to injure. He pleaded guilty after a sentence indication given earlier this year. Raydin Hunia was sentenced in the Tauranga District Court this week, on serious violence charges. The Crown pointed to the extreme violence as an aggravating feature of Hunias offending. The judge agreed that the only way to characterise the violence was as extreme. This wasnt just fleeting, it wasnt just a king hit, said the judge. You went away and you came back. You went away again, and you came back again, and again. There had been multiple kicks to the head and body, and multiple punches. The attacks to the head were particularly aggravating, especially given the victims were on the ground. Judge considers what is just The Crown sought a starting point of five years imprisonment. Both the Crown and defence agreed a discount of 20% for Hunias guilty plea was appropriate, and the judge adopted a starting point of four years and nine months imprisonment. The judge said a clear message needed to be sent, particularly when efforts were being made to revitalise Taurangas CBD, that those who came looking for trouble, could expect an appropriate response. Hunias lawyer Nephi Pukepuke advocated that this sentencing principle could be achieved by a sentence of home detention. Judge Coyle reached an end sentence, after applying discounts for guilty plea, youth, and remorse, of two years and 10 months imprisonment. Pukepuke urged the judge to consider the impact that sending Hunia to prison would have, given his age. The judge decided that despite it falling outside the two-year window where home detention can be imposed, he would exercise his discretion. There had been authority given by the higher courts for judges to take a step back and consider what the just outcome is. He said if he sent him to prison he had no doubt he would be surrounded by people who would tear him down and support him in making bad choices, convincing him violence and criminal activity were normal. Im not going to do that, Mr Hunia, Judge Coyle said. The judge urged him to not become the sort of person who would just beat the crap out of someone, but rather would put this mistake behind him and never repeat it. The judge sentenced him to 12 months home detention, and told him it would be hard for him. To those who thought of home detention as a weak sentence, the judge referred to Covid-19, and the reality of lockdowns. While people had been able to go out for walks, or to the supermarket, that wouldnt be the case for Hunia. You cannot go out for a walk, you cannot go to the dairy down the road, you cannot go outside of your property. That will relax over time, but for you as a young person used to getting out and socialising with your mates, this will be a hard sentence, and it should be. Hunia was also ordered to pay emotional harm reparation of $250 for each victim. The judge told Hunia hed seen material that showed he was a hard worker and had good qualities, but he had some thinking to do. I suggest to you that you are better than this, and you have an opportunity to make some changes. Hannah Bartlett is a Tauranga-based Open Justice reporter at NZME. She previously covered court and local government for the Nelson Mail, and before that was a radio reporter at Newstalk ZB. The potential loss of 62 jobs is a concern for Tauranga, says the head of the regions economic development organisation Priority One. Ballance Agri-Nutrients is proposing to stop its manufacturing operations in Mount Maunganui and turn the site into a storage and distribution centre. In a statement on Wednesday, the company said it was consulting with staff on ceasing the manufacturing of sulphuric acid and single super phosphate at its Hewletts Rd site. This would impact some specific roles associated with acid and phosphate manufacture, and 68 roles would be disestablished, six new roles created, with a net reduction of 62 roles, the statement said. Priority One chief executive Nigel Tutt said the potential loss of 62 specialist jobs was a concern for Tauranga but Ballance would retain a strong presence in the city. This will be a disappointing time for those affected, and should the proposal go ahead, we hope that they can find other opportunities in the region. The nationwide farmer and grower co-operative said it intended to use the facility, which had direct access to Port of Tauranga, for nutrient storage and distribution, and for its national support office. Ballance chief executive Kelvin Wickham said consultation with Ballance people was the immediate priority and anticipated that would take four to six weeks. He said the proposed change aimed to improve efficiency and adapt to sector changes and the co-operative would continue manufacturing phosphate in Invercargill and urea in Taranaki. The proposal was part of a wider process the organisation had undertaken in the past year to get ahead of sector changes and identify future opportunities to support New Zealand farmers and growers. In coming years, we expect to see an increased range of products and services that more efficiently and effectively deliver essential nutrients for farmers and growers, which will result in reduced overall demand for single super phosphate from historical peak volumes. Wickham said the number of existing facilities making this product in New Zealand meant there was an overcapacity of supply. Ballance Agri-Nutrients Ltd's chief executive, Kelvin Wickham, reveals proposed changes to its Mount Maunganui manufacturing plant. Photo / Supplied The change would enable more agility in nutrient sourcing, new ways to provide value to shareholders, exploring more blended fertilisers and other products being utilised from the Mount Maunganui site. He said the Mount Maunganui facilities needed substantial investment to keep them operating reliably and the company would face increasing regulatory constraints to continue heavy manufacturing. Manufacturing remains an important part of how we supply New Zealands farmers and growers with reliable, secure and affordable access to nutrients. Keeping a presence in Mount Maunganui as a strategic location for nutrient supply through the Port of Tauranga and our home base for our national support office is also a priority, he said. Wickham said the company would take some time to consider feedback before making a final decision. Unions response to Ballances proposal A Maritime Union of NZ (MUNZ] spokesman said he understood that MUNZ had 21 members working at the Ballance Mount Maunganui site, 14 whom would be affected by the proposal. At this point, the proposal will be discussed with those members next week when MUNZ will work through the process and the goal is to maintain as many jobs as possible for members. Steve Westoby, a national industrial organiser for the Aviation and Marine Engineers Association (AMEA), said one of its members worked at the site and the company was following the correct processes. Westoby said if this proposal went ahead, it would be sad to see another manufacturing processing company end its manufacturing operations in the North Island. An E tu Union spokesman said the union would not be commenting on the proposal at this stage in the consultation process, but confirmed a couple of members worked at the Hewletts Rd site. Port of Tauranga chief executive Leonard Sampson. Photo / Port of Tauranga Business leaders reactions Port of Tauranga chief executive Leonard Sampson said Ballance was an important customer for the port, and appreciated it was a really difficult time for Ballance and staff affected by the proposal. We are discussing with Ballance the implications of moving to a changed import model, however at this stage we are not anticipating a significant impact on the cargo volumes through Port of Tauranga. Bay of Plenty Regional Council chairman Doug Leeder said it was the regional councils role to monitor and manage air quality. Ballance Agri-Nutrients holds a number of resource consents for their Hewletts Rd site, and, if this proposal were to proceed, we would work through any implications at that time. Chief executive of economic development agency Priority One Nigel Tutt. Photo / Alex Cairns Tauranga Business Chamber chief executive Matt Cowley said he preferred to wait until he had more information before commenting. Tauranga Mayor Mahe Drysdale was contacted for comment. Sandra Conchie is a senior journalist at the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post who has been a journalist for 24 years. She mainly covers police, court and other justice stories, as well as general news. She has been a Canon Media Awards regional/community reporter of the year. Syracuse, N.Y. Thirty-one people involved in two large drug trafficking cases in Central New York have pleaded guilty and been sentenced to prison, the state Attorney Generals Office announced Thursday. The defendants who were named in two indictments for conspiracy, gun charges and drug crimes were part of two drug trafficking networks that sold fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine in Onondaga, Oswego, Cortland, Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties, according to a news release from AGs Office. The two drug rings named in the indictment were referred to as the Castro Group and the Pettiford Group. The Castro Group was led by Bayron Castro, who was charged alongside 23 people for their roles in selling narcotics to customers in Onondaga, Oswego, St. Lawrence, Jefferson, and Cortland Counties, officials said. Investigators recovered over 100,000 glassine envelopes containing fentanyl and heroin that Castro was storing and distributing from inside suitcases in a Syracuse apartment, authorities said. Castro pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to 12 years in state prison on Feb. 5, officials said. The Pettiford Group, was headed by Edward Pettiford, authorities said. The AGs office charged eight individuals for their roles in selling narcotics and methamphetamine and other related events in Onondaga and Oswego counties, officials said. The investigation revealed that alleged Bricktown member Malik Evans was distributing narcotics in Onondaga and Oswego counties, and that Evans was supplied by Henry Townsend and Brycedon James, both of whom were supplied by Pettiford, officials said. Pettiford pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and was sentenced in November 2024 to six years in prison, authorities said. Another defendant Townsend fired a gun while sitting in a vehicle in his driveway on West Newell Street in Syracuse, shooting an innocent civilian across the street, authorities said. Townsend later pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal possession of a weapon in connection with that shooting. He also plead guilty to third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and was sentenced to 12 years in prison in November 2024. The investigation led to the seizure of more than 150,000 envelopes containing fentanyl or a mixture of fentanyl and heroin, valuing more than $500,000, authorities said. Investigators also recovered a pound of methamphetamine and one-quarter kilogram of cocaine. As part of their guilty pleas in Onondaga County Court, the defendants have also forfeited over $25,000 connected to their drug trafficking and two vehicles used to transport and distribute the drugs. The defendants pleaded guilty and most were sentenced in 2024 and early 2025, with the latest being sentenced in March Here are the people who pleaded guilty and their sentences: Deion Bradley, of Syracuse, pleaded guilty to third-degree attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance. He was sentenced to three and a half years in prison. Bayron Castro, of Syracuse, pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to 12 years in prison. He forfeited two vehicles. Jose Cosme of Syracuse, pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance in and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He was sentenced to three years in prison. Jean Carlos Cruz, of Syracuse, pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and was sentenced to five years in prison. Miguel Cruz, of Liverpool, pleaded guilty to second-degree conspiracy was sentenced to five to ten years in prison. Lamell Davis, of Syracuse, pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He was sentenced to ten years in state prison. Johnathan Delgado, of Syracuse, pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance. He was sentenced to four and a half years in prison. Malik Evans, of Syracuse, pleaded guilty to third-degree attempted criminal sale of a controlled substance and was sentenced to five years in prison. Chad Firenze, of Granby, pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to two years in prison. Terrah Frederick, of Adams Center, pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to four years in prison. Jaidyn Freeman, of Syracuse, pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and was sentenced to five years in prison. Shawn Gifford, of Syracuse, pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and was sentenced to three and a half years in prison plus two years of post-release supervision. Michael Hudgins, of Syracuse, NY pleaded guilty to fifth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and was sentenced to five years of probation. Xavier Jackson, of Syracuse, pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to three years in prison. Brycedon James, of Syracuse, pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to two and a half years in prison. Emmanuel Jenkins, of Syracuse, pleaded guilty to attempted tampering with physical evidence and was sentenced to time served. Kwamea Jenkins, of Syracuse, pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance in and was sentenced to six years in prison. Luis Miguel Joaquin, of the Bronx, N.Y., pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and was sentenced to eight years in prison. David Kalet, of Port Byron, pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and was sentenced to four years in prison. James Kelley, of Liverpool, pleaded guilty to third-degree attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance. His sentence is pending. Christopher Lanzafame, of Baldwinsville, pleaded guilty to fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to five years of probation. Docciana Mack, of Syracuse, pleaded guilty to fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to five years of probation. Devine Mobley, Syracuse, pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and was sentenced to three and a half years in prison. James Odom, of Syracuse, pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and was sentenced to five years of probation. Edward Pettiford, of Syracuse, pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and was sentenced to six years in prison. Keenan Scott, of Syracuse, pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and was sentenced to four years in prison. Jamar Sheppard, of Syracuse, pleaded guilty to fifth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and was sentenced to three years in prison. Carlos Torres, of Syracuse, pleaded guilty to third-degree attempted criminal sale of a controlled substance. His sentence is pending. Henry Townsend, of Syracuse, pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon He was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Jeffrey Walts, of Central Square, pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to two and a half years in prison. Tevon Webb, of Syracuse, pleaded guilty to fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to 180 days in prison. Staff writer Darian Stevenson covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at dstevenson@syracuse.com Fulton, N.Y. Jonas Morales-Lopez was coming home from his usual night shift at a Fulton bakery when an unmarked SUV rolled into his driveway. A plainclothes federal agent stepped from the vehicle and asked Morales-Lopez for identification. Morales-Lopez tried to go inside, but the agent grabbed him by the arm. Youre not free to go, he said. More officers arrived and arrested the 33-year-old from Guatemala. Hes sitting in the Oswego County jail facing a federal charge for illegally entering America a second time. But his lawyer says the pretext for the arrest was illegal. Cops stopped him at his home, with no warrant and no reason, she says. Hed done nothing wrong to merit a stop and search. Even someone here illegally is afforded protection from the Fourth Amendment. Shes prepared to argue that in court. This is an illegal arrest, said Gabrielle DiBella, Morales-Lopezs public defender. And so the issue that were fighting over is they only learn about who he is because theyve illegally arrested him. The stop-and-grab operation captured on an agents body camera was one of many similar arrests in recent weeks targeting immigrants in Oswego County who are driving to or from work. Many are here illegally, but have committed no other crime. An unexplained stop DiBella said shes been told three different stories by authorities about how agents found her client. The first was that agents sought out Morales-Lopez because of his criminal history, which she doesnt believe, she said. His only criminal history is a misdemeanor re-entry charge from 10 years ago. A prosecutor told her that agents encountered him in a traffic stop when Morales-Lopez stopped in his driveway. But body camera footage shows him already parked and out of his vehicle when the first agent encounters him. Another prosecutor told DiBella that they found him because the car was registered to someone here illegally, she said. The car wasnt registered to him. None of the hundreds of pages of documents shes reviewed mention a warrant for his arrest, she said. Theres so many layers of messed-up things happening in this case, she said. She has her own theory of why agents picked up her client. Im wondering if theyre just seeing cars being driven by people with a brown skin tone, and are just kind of going for it, she said. DiBella says the arrest and seizure of Morales-Lopez violates the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable seizures. She said he was seized with no evidence, no questions and no warrant. The agent who stopped him, Michael Ball, did not have reasonable suspicion to detain Morales-Lopez, she wrote. In the United States, law enforcement officers can stop someone for a Terry stop when they dont have a warrant but believe someone is suspicious. DiBella says thats not the case here. In the hundreds of pages of discovery provided to the defense, not a single document discusses the events preceding the seizure, she writes. There is, simply, no explanation at all for what transpired. Jonas Morales-Lopez was arrested by border agents on Feb. 28, 2025. They posted his photo and name on their Facebook page. Border Patrol Arguably illegal DiBella says once Morales-Lopez got to a Border Patrol station, agents ignored the required due process. Court documents show he repeatedly requested not to talk until he had a lawyer. Agents continually pressured him to cooperate anyway, he said in an affidavit. The agents told me if I didnt cooperate with them, it could get worse for me, Morales-Lopez said in a signed and translated affidavit filed in court. They asked if he had kids, who he lived with, and if he knew any other people in the states illegally. During Morales-Lopezs detention hearing March 5 a prosecutor acknowledged the arrest being constitutionally suspect, and said it could lead to a lawsuit, according to a memo by DiBella. The government noted, without conceding the issue, that the seizure was arguably illegal, DiBella wrote. His case is expected to go to trial in May. The case is bigger than Morales-Lopez, DiBella said. Its about protecting everyones rights. This is such an egregious violation of his rights that, really, we should all be scared of, DiBella said. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, pauses outside the chamber to answer a question from a reporter as the Senate works to avert a partial government shutdown ahead of the midnight deadline, at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) AP A Republican senator, known for breaking with the majority of her party and criticizing President Donald Trump, said at a conference earlier this week that we are all afraid in the current political climate. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, made the comments in response to a question while speaking at a gathering of nonprofit and tribal groups in Alaska, according to the Anchorage Daily News. Murkowski was asked, What do you have to say to people who are afraid, or who represent people who are afraid? The senator quickly answered, We are all afraid, OK? After pausing for a few seconds, Murkowski continued. Its quite a statement. But we are in a time and a place where I certainly have not been here before. And Ill tell you, Im oftentimes very anxious myself about using my voice, because retaliation is real. And thats not right. But, thats what you asked me to do. And so, Im going to use my voice to the best of my ability. Ive got to figure out how I can do my best to help the many who are so anxious and so afraid. Murkowski has been one of Trumps most frequent critics among Republican lawmakers. Last month, she took to the social media site X to call the meeting at the White House between Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shocking and said I am sick to my stomach as the administration appears to be walking away from our allies and embracing Putin, a threat to democracy and U.S. values around the world. She also was one of three GOP senators to vote against the confirmation of Pete Hegseth as the nations defense secretary, and has been critical of cuts by Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency, saying that many of her colleagues were afraid of Elon Musk, Politico reported. In 2022, she was one of the few GOP senators to vote to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. Last month, after Murkowski was one of four senators to join Democrats in voting for a measure aiming to stop Canada tariffs, Trump said in a post on Truth Social that the four were extremely difficult to deal with and, unbelievably disloyal to hardworking Majority Leader John Thune, and the Republican Party itself. Former Republican Congressman Joe Walsh, a frequent critic of Trump, was not impressed with Murkowskis statement this week. Posting on X, Walsh said he had zero sympathy for Murkowski. Many of us Republicans did publicly speak out against Trump years ago, and we lost everything, we ended our careers as Republicans, and weve endured years of threats & hate. And these same Republicans today who say theyre afraid did not stand with us then. Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, D-N.Y., speaks to campaign workers, June 5, 1968, as his wife Ethel, left, and California campaign manager and speaker of the California Assembly, Jesse Unruh, look on, at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. (AP Photo) AP About 10,000 pages of records related to the 1968 assassination of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy were released Friday, including a handwritten note by the gunman that said the Democrat must be disposed of. The release continued the disclosure of national secrets ordered by President Donald Trump. Kennedy was fatally shot on June 5, 1968, at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles moments after giving a speech celebrating his victory in Californias Democratic presidential primary. His assassin, Sirhan Sirhan, was convicted of first-degree murder and is serving life in prison. The files included pictures of handwritten notes by Sirhan. RFK must be disposed of like his brother was, read the writing on the outside of an empty envelope with the return address from the district director of the Internal Revenue Service in Los Angeles. In one of the newly released documents, the assassin said he advocated for the overthrow of the current president. Democrat Lyndon Johnson was in the White House at the time of RFKs death. I have no absolute plans yet, but soon will compose them, wrote Sirhan, who pledged support for communist Russia and China. FBI documents describe interviews with a group of tourists who had heard rumors about Kennedy being shot weeks before his death. Several people who visited Israel in May 1968 said a tour guide told them Kennedy had been shot. One person said he heard that an attempt on Kennedys life had been made in Milwaukee. Another heard that he was shot in Nebraska. The National Archives and Records Administration posted 229 files containing the pages to its public website. Many files related to the assassination had been previously released, but others had not been digitized and sat for decades in federal government storage facilities. The release comes a month after unredacted files related to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy were disclosed. Those documents gave curious readers more details about Cold War-era covert U.S. operations in other nations but did not initially lend credence to long-circulating conspiracy theories about who killed JFK. Trump, a Republican, has championed in the name of transparency the release of documents related to high-profile assassinations and investigations. But hes also been deeply suspicious for years of the governments intelligence agencies. His administrations release of once-hidden files opens the door for additional public scrutiny and questions about the operations and conclusions of institutions such as the CIA and the FBI. Trump signed an executive order in January calling for the release of government documents related to the assassinations of Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., who were killed within two months of each other. Lawyers for Kennedys killer have said for decades that he is unlikely to reoffend or pose a danger to society, and in 2021, a parole board deemed Sirhan suitable for release. But Gov. Gavin Newson rejected the decision in 2022, keeping him in state prison. In 2023 , a different panel denied him release, saying he still lacks insight into what caused him to shoot Kennedy. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a son of the New York senator who now serves as health and human services secretary, commended Trump and Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, for their courage and dogged efforts to release the files. Lifting the veil on the RFK papers is a necessary step toward restoring trust in American government, the health secretary said in a statement. Starting with the Class of 2025, Carlisle Area School District will expand the range of graduation honors beyond the traditional valedictorian and salutatorian. For the first time, academic medals will be awarded to graduating seniors who have earned an unweighted grade point average (GPA) of 3.85 or higher across all their Carlisle High School courses, said Michael Black, director of secondary operations. District administrators have yet to decide whether these medals will be awarded during the graduation ceremony or at an honors celebration, Black said this week. We dont know exactly how many. We are anticipating anywhere from 40 to 60 students. Most of the students receiving the medal fall within the top 5-10% of the graduating class, he added. The medal consists of a ribbon in the school colors of green and white, along with a medallion inscribed with Carlisle High School across the top and Academic Honors across the bottom. The center of the medallion has a cut-out of a bison, the school mascot, which is also in the school colors. The current practice is to look at weighted grade point average to determine if a student merits the honor of valedictorian or salutatorian. A weighted GPA factors in student performance in advanced placement (AP) courses and test scores. Tough standard The expansion of honors to include an academic medal came out of a recent project to revise the grading practices that affect students in grades 6-12. During the project, district administrators used focus groups and surveys to obtain feedback on various topics from students, parents, faculty members and staff. One topic was whether to discontinue the annual practice of naming a class valedictorian and salutatorian in the lead-up to graduation. While most expressed a reluctance to part from tradition, the idea emerged to find a way to honor outstanding student achievement based on an unweighted GPA. Its a great honor for our valedictorian and salutatorian to be recognized at graduation, Black said. But there are a lot of other students that are putting in some tremendous work that we felt deserved some sort of recognition. I will give you an example. Take a student who is in one of our career programs. Unlike other high schools in Cumberland County, Carlisle has its own in-house career and technical center offering students training and instruction in such trades as automotive repair, carpentry and culinary arts. Every other day, they spend all day learning their trade and career passion, Black said of these students. But by spending a lot of their schedule in a career-oriented pathway, it eliminates their opportunity to branch out and maybe take an AP science or math course. Many of these kids do exceptionally well academically, but they miss out on honors when it comes to a weighted GPA. An unweighted GPA of 3.85 is above the standard for the National Honor Society, Black added. It puts you in a category that youre going above and beyond when it comes to the world of academics. We have an incredible student body, Superintendent Colleen Friend said. We have kids who work extremely hard. To recognize more students was very well received as we met with our groups. It was a very easy call. That standard of 3.85 is a tough standard. This is still a very elite recognition. Notification of the academic medal was made to district families prior to the start of the current academic year. Class rank Last July, district administrators and school board members discussed the merits of continuing the practice of publishing class ranks for all Carlisle High School students. This review was in response to national trends at high schools and colleges that challenge whether class rank is a fair and valuable standard. We are thoroughly wrestling with this, Assistant Superintendent Michael Gogoj said at the time. We are forced to question the practice of ranking 400 students in a [graduating] class against one another. Many of whom have varied abilities, aptitudes and learning needs. We can pave the way and eliminate it as so many high schools have done. But we realize that some colleges, universities and scholarships take class rank into account. After further discussion, district administrators have decided to continue the practice of class rank at least for the foreseeable future. There has been no significant movement in changing our process, Black said this week. It is something that we will continue to look into and determine what our next approach will be. Any proposal to eliminate class rank would require a systematic approach so as not to be detrimental to students currently enrolled in the high school, Black said. He added, in the meantime, the district will continue to monitor whether class rank is an important factor for acceptance into college. The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. ron178 Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: India Posts: 1,595 Thanked: 8,381 Times Re: Japan: Made-in-India Honda Elevate awarded 5-star JNCAP rating Quote: prakhar1998 Originally Posted by Honestly, concluding that the Elevate sold in India will perform identically wouldn't be wise. might I suggest that the title of this post can be a little dangerous, especially since we find comfort in jumping the gun with things like this in India. The Japanese model also has advanced SOS eCall and wrong-pedal acceleration suppression. The latter makes it eligible to be driven with a new type of restricted licence the Japanese government is promoting elderly drivers to switch to. It is also tested by JNCAP and good performance is required for 5 stars. I am also not sure if the Indian one has lap pretensioners up front like the Japanese one does. Indeed, as the title says, the rating is for Japan. And as I have mentioned in the opening post, the WR-V exported to Japan has extra safety equipment to conquer JNCAP, like rear seatbelt pretensioners. That might seem unimportant, but remember JNCAP does have a frontal test with a small adult in the rear seat, while GNCAP/BNCAP still only have infants in child seats.The Japanese model also has advanced SOS eCall and wrong-pedal acceleration suppression. The latter makes it eligible to be driven with a new type of restricted licence the Japanese government is promoting elderly drivers to switch to. It is also tested by JNCAP and good performance is required for 5 stars.I am also not sure if the Indian one haspretensioners up front like the Japanese one does. Last edited by ron178 : 18th April 2025 at 00:04 . Why it matters: Windows 11's Snipping Tool already allows you to copy text from images, offering functionality similar to Apple's Live Text but Microsoft's implementation involves a few more steps. A new Windows 11 Insider update aims to streamline the process of grabbing text from various sources for easier copying and pasting. Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev channels can now test a feature that moves the Snipping Tool's text extractor directly to the main toolbar. This change eliminates the need to take a screenshot before capturing text. The current public version of Windows 11 includes a text extractor in both the Snipping Tool and Photos apps. After opening an image in either program, users can copy text from the picture by clicking the extractor icon located at the top of the Snipping Tool window or the bottom of the Photos window. For further context, Microsoft offered this kind of functionality before in Windows via PowerToys, but that compares unfavorably to Macs or iPhones which have allowed users to select and copy text from photos by simply tapping and dragging since at least 2021. Windows 11 Insider 11.2503.27.0 adds the extractor icon to the Snipping Tool capture toolbar, which appears after launching the app from the Start Menu or by pressing Win + Shift + S. After clicking the text extractor, users can drag the rectangular snip selector over the portion of the screen containing the desired text. Once selected, users can highlight specific text or copy the entire selection to the clipboard. A dropdown menu offers additional options, such as removing line breaks or automatically copying all text within the selected area by clicking "Copy all text." Although preview features don't always make it into public builds, adding this kind of functionality to the Snipping Tool seems like a no-brainer at this point. Users interested in testing Windows' upcoming features can register their Microsoft accounts with the Insider Program. To provide feedback on the new update, open the Feedback Hub via the Start Menu or by pressing Win + F, then navigate to Apps > Snipping Tool. Windows 11 preview versions have also recently introduced new Android phone integrations, launched a gaming optimization FAQ, and attempted to relaunch the controversial Recall feature. Recall which relies on GenAI and NPUs was meant to be launched last year, but Microsoft was forced to delay it due to security and privacy concerns. Recall allows Copilot to access a timeline of user actions to perform natural language search and commands. However, it works by taking snapshots of nearly everything happening on your PC at any given time. Although Microsoft has taken extra time to added security measures, many users remain skeptical about those assurances. In context: We imagine most of you are familiar with all the major wireless standards so familiar, in fact, that it's become boring. We don't write much about them anymore, beyond the usual speculation around 6G, there just not that much worth saying. But on our recent trip to Mobile World Congress, we came across something genuinely new in the space. New to the point of feeling almost magical a new wireless standard. This new wireless standard is not only new, but also almost no one we know has heard of it. Like a magical treasure chest buried at the end of an electromagnetic rainbow, a new wireless standard is kinda exciting, especially when we learned that this standard is already widely deployed over 100 million chips already shipped. Editor's Note: Guest author Jonathan Goldberg is the founder of D2D Advisory, a multi-functional consulting firm. Jonathan has developed growth strategies and alliances for companies in the mobile, networking, gaming, and software industries. The standard is called Sparklink. Take a minute to Google it, and we imagine all you'll find is links to guitar equipment. That seems to be the only application of Sparklink available in the US today. And therein lies the other part of this story. Like any good fairy tale about magical treasure, there's a 'bogeyman' guarding the treasure. Because, of course, this standard was created by Huawei. We are still studying the history of Sparklink, but it runs something like this: In 2018, when Huawei first came under serious US sanctions, it was ejected from numerous industry groups, including the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG). Huawei was eventually let back in, but not before starting its own range of alternative standards. Sparklink seems to be the only one that actually gained traction and is now shipping in volume. Sparklink, also known as NearLink, is positioned as an alternative to Bluetooth, but designed in a way that addresses all the lessons learned from that standard's shortcomings a clean-slate design to address the issues discovered in the years since Bluetooth came on the scene. Sparklink's air interface seems to be an amalgamation of elements from both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, with technical specs that exceed both. This is a workable comparison of the standards. Application areas Bluetooth 5.3 Wi-Fi 7 Sparklink Connection rate 24Mbps 146~172Mbps (Wi-Fi 7, 20MHz bandwidth) 46.1Gbps (theoretical peak, 320MHz) More than 900Mbps (20MHz bandwidth) Delay 15-20ms (private protocol) Sms 0.02ms (SLB) Maximum number of connections 8 256 256 (SLE) 4096 (SLB) Communication distance About 20-300 meters, about 10 meters indoors About 50-300 meters About 600 meters, twice that of Bluetooth Power consumption Bluetooth BLE 30mW Generally within 50mW in China Star Flash SLE 10mW Reliability Poor General Good Security Poor Good Good As we noted above, something like 100 million Sparklink devices have already shipped. That is small in comparison to Bluetooth, which ships a few billion units a year, but it's big enough to indicate it has real commercial traction. What kinds of devices does Sparklink support? All of them. This is the international Sparklink Alliance's website, and this is their membership page. It contains a few hundred names covering almost every corner of electronics from phones and computers to cars and industrial systems. Almost all the members are based in China, but we have learned that companies from other countries are starting to incorporate Sparklink into their own products, including notable categories like TVs and autos. We believe these foreign companies will be bundling Sparklink with products for the Chinese market. At this point, there are probably tens of millions of Sparklink users there, which is approaching critical mass beyond which any company selling into China will have to consider adopting the standard. Which, of course, opens the question as to how far this will go. Or put another way, at what point will Apple have to include Sparklink in the iPhone? Probably not an urgent question for them right now, but at some point, Apple and every other consumer electronics company will have to review the need for Sparklink capabilities. What just happened? The U.S. Department of Justice has argued that Google illegally built "monopoly power" through its web advertising business, manipulating online ad services across multiple sectors and forcing higher fees on publishers reliant on its technology. Judge Leonie Brinkema ruled that the tech giant's anticompetitive behavior harmed publishers, and the DOJ contended that Google should be forced to divest its ad tech business. A federal judge handed Google yet another courtroom defeat on Thursday, ruling that Google built and maintained an illegal monopoly in key segments of the online display advertising industry. This decision could pave the way for the government to break up Google's advertising operations. Google's ad server formerly known as DoubleClick for Publishers (DFP) controls around 90% of the market and connects websites with advertisers. On the other side, Google's ad exchange, previously called AdX, runs auctions where advertisers bid for those spots. Both are now part of what Google calls Google Ad Manager. Judge Leonie Brinkema highlighted expert findings showing that Google's ad exchange holds a dominant 54% to 65% global market share, while the next biggest competitor has only 6%. This dominance allowed Google to take about 20% from each ad auction, while competitors earned significantly less. "Plaintiffs have proven that Google has willfully engaged in a series of anticompetitive acts to acquire and maintain monopoly power in the publisher ad server and ad exchange markets for open-web display advertising," the judge concluded. Google also leveraged its control to exclude competitors and grant itself preferential treatment through features such as "First Look" and "Last Look," effectively dominating both sides of the ad transaction. One Google employee likened this to a major bank owning the stock exchange. The judge ruled that these practices violated antitrust laws on three counts under the Sherman Act. This ruling adds to Google's growing legal troubles. Last year, the company lost a landmark case in which its practice of paying other tech companies billions to make its search engine the default on devices and browsers was deemed anticompetitive. The DOJ has recommended that the company sell Chrome the world's most popular browser and decouple it from Android, the most widely used mobile OS. Google might also be forced to sell Android. Additionally, the company faces similar antitrust action in Canada, the UK, the European Union, China, India, and Japan. Predictably, Google argues that a breakup would harm customers. Executives from its parent company, Alphabet, have also argued to the Trump administration that forced divestitures would pose a national security risk. Chrome's massive scale could complicate a selloff, as the only companies capable of acquiring it are other tech giants already under antitrust scrutiny. However, in what Google described as "winning half the case," Judge Brinkema ruled against the DOJ's claims concerning Google's conduct in the market for "open-web display advertiser ad networks." She also cleared the company of accusations that it had deleted internal chat records to influence court proceedings an issue that had previously undermined its defense. Those findings were enough for Lee-Anne Mulholland, Google's Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, to declare that the company had won half the case. Google plans to appeal the ruling. What just happened? Google is giving college students across the United States free access to its most advanced Gemini AI tools. The tech giant's Google One AI Premium plan, which typically costs $20 per month, is being offered at no cost to eligible students until the end of June 2026 provided they sign up before June 30, 2025. Applicants must verify their student status using a valid .edu email address to qualify. Once enrolled, students will receive an email reminder as their complimentary subscription nears its conclusion, so they can decide whether to continue as paying subscribers. The offer is designed to cover not just the current academic year but also the following one, ensuring students have uninterrupted access through finals in spring 2026. The Google One AI Premium plan includes 2TB of cloud storage and an array of AI-powered features aimed at helping students "study smarter." At the heart of the offering is Gemini Advanced, powered by Google's Gemini 2.5 Pro model. With Gemini Advanced, students can leverage tools like Deep Research to summarize complex topics, transform reports into podcast-style audio, and receive step-by-step guidance on homework assignments. Other key features include NotebookLM Plus for research and writing support, integration of Gemini's AI assistant directly into Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides, and new creative tools like Veo 2, a text-to-video AI model, and Whisk, which allows users to combine text and image prompts for content creation. The suite also offers Canvas for brainstorming and writing, and Gemini Live for real-time conversational assistance. This push into academia comes as Google faces stiff competition from other AI leaders. OpenAI and Anthropic have each launched their educational initiatives in recent weeks, offering free access to advanced AI models like ChatGPT Plus and Claude for Education to students in the US and Canada. These companies are racing to build brand loyalty among students, a demographic seen as pivotal for the future of AI integration in society. For Google, the stakes are particularly high. CEO Sundar Pichai has set an ambitious target of reaching 500 million Gemini users by the end of 2025. While new model releases may help, offering premium features at no cost is a direct strategy to accelerate adoption, especially as Google seeks to defend its dominance in web search against the rising tide of generative AI tools. The timing of these offers is no coincidence. As final exams approach, students are searching for tools to streamline research, enhance writing, and manage the pressures of academic life. Google's long-term approach contrasts with OpenAI's shorter promotional window, positioning Gemini as a constant academic companion rather than a fleeting resource. British automotive company Mini rolled out its Countryman SE earlier this year, offering the first all-electric incarnation of its iconic family vehicle that captures its best features. However, it has already garnered mixed reviews from those who were able to drive the car firsthand, and things are not boding well for the battery-powered version of the Countryman SE. Despite this, the 2025 Mini Countryman SE is one of the most stylish electric cars in the market today, but for those looking past the aesthetics and style, this is something you may want to read. 2025 Mini Countryman SE: The New All-Electric Car In case you're interested to purchase the 2025 Mini Countryman SE, the Countryman is only either an internal combustion engine (ICE) or a fully electric vehicle. For those looking for a spacious, family-oriented compact crossover, the 2025 Mini Countryman SE may have popped up as one of the choices available for users to consider for their next buy. Indeed, the new Countryman SE fully captures what the previous versions of it have introduced to the world, from its excellent size for a starting or growing family and its stylish exterior and interiors. Mini said that the Countryman SE features its modern classic experiences that were enjoyed on other well-known vehicles of the company, offering luxurious comfort that packs a go kart-like experience for its drive. It packs a dual-motor powertrain, which outputs 308 hp (230 kW) and 364 lb-ft (494 Nm), powered by a 66.5 kWh lithium-ion battery that has an EPA range of 212 miles. Read Also: Waymo Will Take Driverless Cars to Japan Next Week as Part of International Test Is the 2025 Mini Countryman SE Worth It? On paper, it sounds like a great option for a clean energy vehicle that still brings the excellence enjoyed with Mini's releases over the years. But a review from ArsTechnica begs to differ despite the great features it has from brochures or websites. First, one of the biggest issues the report found on the 2025 Mini Countryman SE is the slow charging of its batteries, which is different from what the company advertises for its capabilities. Mini claimed that its Countryman SE supports fast charging where the batteries could fill from 10% to 80% in only 30 minutes, provided that users use a 130kW plug. However, upon using a DC charger, the charging rate would not go beyond 55kW. After switching to a different charger with a peak rate of 67kW, the batteries charged to 80% from 16% but took 45 minutes. Mini's infotainment system, which centers on the circular display design, is said to be laggy, especially when switching to its different drive modes like Core, Go-Kart, Timeless, and more. In addition, the control toggles of the 2025 Mini Countryman SE are also reduced to only three physical buttons, including the drive selector (which is integrated into the A/C and Experiences control), the twist-to-start knob, and the Experiences selector. AI-driven symptom checkers are changing the way individuals determine their health from the comfort of their homes. With millions of consumers browsing online for solutions to health questions, these clever applications fill the gap between ambiguous symptoms and actionable knowledge, giving peace of mind and next-step clarity within mere minutes. In this article, we take a look at the best AI symptom checker apps available, measuring their strengths, weaknesses, and capabilities against one another to find you the best, most accurate, and easiest-to-use solution. Symptom Checker: What is It? A symptom checker is an internet-based application that assists users in determining possible health problems based on their symptoms. Powered by artificial intelligence and medical databases, the applications provide immediate health informationadvising users whether they need to visit a doctor or treat symptoms at home. As per David Feinberg, ex-VP of Google Health, 7% of Google's daily search results are related to health, which constitutes approximately 70,000 health queries each minute, Telegram reported. This indicates the world's need for reliable, rapid, and easy-to-reach medical information, now more crucial than ever for symptom checkers. Docus AI Symptom Checker: Ideal for Personalized AI Health Analysis Docus AI Symptom Checker is a breakthrough for its innovative artificial intelligence and user-friendly design. It's designed for speed, precision, and customizability, offering personalized symptom analysis in an easy 3-step process. Pros: Personalized AI-backed health insights specific to every individual Natural language input support for ease of using words of one's own for symptoms Either multiple or individual symptom entries Multilingual option (13 languages: Spanish, French, Arabic, and others) Easy, actionable guidance for when to seek medical care Cons: For more detailed insights and reports, users have to upgrade to Docus AI Doctor Why It's Great: It's a balance between accuracy and simplicity, making it perfect for anyone who desires instant and useful answers without a cluttered interface. Ada Symptom Checker: Most Comprehensive AI Diagnosis Supported by medical experts and a comprehensive knowledge base, Ada offers customized symptom checks across a broad range of conditionsfrom trivial complaints to obscure diseases. Pros: Accuracy AI with access to the extensive medical library Step-by-step guided tests Follows multiple symptoms Has a library of conditions Cons: Lengthy multi-step process (10+ questions) No free-form, natural language input support No next-step suggestions after diagnosis Why It's Great: Great for users who want thorough assessments, though it might be too detailed for occasional health checks. Symptomate: Ideal for Detailed Reports Created by Infermedica, Symptomate provides organized, AI-driven health analysis. It takes users through a series of specific questions before presenting a list of potential conditions. Pros: Precise results without bogging you down with possibilities Provides detailed health reports Accepts multiple symptom inputs Cons: No natural language support No clear action guidance after diagnosis Why It's Great: Perfect for individuals who need a clean, medically based report but are comfortable conducting additional research on next steps. Charlottesville City Council officially adopted a $265.2 million budget for the next fiscal year at a special meeting Tuesday. The 2026 budget includes a $13.3 million increase in projected revenues over the previous year. Council decided against raising certain tax rates. Instead, hikes in real estate taxes as well as contributions from neighboring Albemarle County will account for the majority of this years budget increase. Council voted unanimously to pass the budget with all five members present during a meeting lasting roughly 30 minutes. City Manager Sam Sanders original spending plan was slightly less than the $265.2 million budget he presented to Council in early March. The budget passed Tuesday was amended to include $774,263 in increased revenue projections, including $700,000 from business and professional licenses after final assessments on dues started to roll in. The budget includes no increase to taxes on lodging, meals and personal property, meaning Charlottesville residents will be paying the same rates they have since the start of the current fiscal year until at least June 30 of next year. An increase in the assessed value of residential and commercial properties earlier this year will more than compensate for it. The city expects to bring in roughly $117 million in revenue from real estate taxes in the next fiscal year, which is $8.6 million more than the previous year. The Charlottesville Assessors Office reported an 8.81% increase in residential property values and 6.14% in commercial this year. Residential property values, alone, in the city have increased nearly 42% in the past five years. Although there is no increase to the personal property tax the tax levied on vehicles owned by individuals and businesses the city still expects a 12% increase in revenues for the next fiscal year. The city took note of declining revenue trends when it comes to meals, lodging and sales taxes, which it estimates will generate $1.8 million less in revenues in the coming year. A summary of the budget says that revenue collections for lodging which is a tax paid by consumers when booking a room in hotels or other short-term rentals underperformed in the current fiscal year, despite of a rate increase of 1%. The budget summary says that, excluding the COVID-19 pandemic, the city has not experienced underperformance since 2008 for sales tax revenue and 2009 for lodging tax revenue. Most of the citys expenditures for the upcoming fiscal year will be allocated to compensation to city employees which includes salaries and benefits as well as Charlottesville City Schools, transportation and affordable housing. In the coming fiscal year, the city will invest $12.7 million toward affordable housing projects top of mind for many in the second-most expensive real estate market in all of Virginia. This includes $1.5 million to the Charlottesville Affordable Housing Fund and $1.1 million to provide homeownership assistance to qualified city residents. The budget also includes $1 million for Charlottesvilles Salvation Army that will be spread over four fiscal years starting in 2027. The four $250,000 payments will help convert the religious nonprofit organizations thrift store at 604 Cherry Ave. into a permanent low- to mid-barrier overnight shelter. Homelessness has been on the rise in Charlottesville, as it has been across the country. Between 2018 and 2023, the number of people in Charlottesville who fell into homelessness grew by 25%, according to the Blue Ridge Area Coalition for the Homeless. The coalitions executive director, Shayla Washington, recently reported 234 people in the immediate Charlottesville area have registered themselves as homeless with her organization. The Haven day shelter downtown does not offer overnight accommodations; the People and Congregations Engaged in Ministry, or PACEM, nonprofit group only offers beds during the colder months of the year; and the Salvation Armys 58-bed high-barrier shelter on Ridge Street regularly has to turn people away. For years, the public has pushed back on the construction of a low-barrier homeless shelter. But in the past few years, the tide has turned especially after a homeless encampment was erected at Market Street Park in late 2023. When Sanders presented the idea of helping the Salvation Army fund a new shelter to Council late last year, he said a solution to homelessness in Charlottesville is well within reach. This is doable, Sanders said. I want us to stop getting in our own way and to start solving our problems that have been staring in our face. In total, the city is allocating $53 million to various affordable housing projects over the next five years. Other notable items in the budget passed Tuesday include a $5 million increase in funding for Charlottesville City Schools, for a total of $79 million; $5.4 million in new sidewalk construction to accommodate an increase in volume in bicycle and pedestrian traffic in the city; and a $2.4 million increase in projected revenue contributed by Albemarle County, part of a revenue-sharing agreement that prohibits the city from annexing any of the countys land. The city has also added 11 new positions at a cost of roughly $1.1 million, including a new assistant director of communications and a Freedom of Information Act and public records officer to help manage the volume of requests that are received at the Charlottesville Police Department. The new positions were offset by six vacancies, which accounted for roughly $650,000 of the $1.1 million sum. The city continues to operate with a hefty and so far, untouched coffer of $22.4 million in surplus money left over from the 2024 fiscal year. Sanders on Tuesday said he continues to track the ongoing uncertainty in financial support provided by the federal government in light of a tumultuous first three months in President Donald Trumps second term in office. The White House has terminated hundreds of millions of dollars in grants and other financial assistance to institutions that the administration claims do not comply with its directives, including recently cutting $2.2 billion in federal funding to Harvard University. Sanders noted that a number of nonprofit organizations in Charlottesville have suffered losses as a result of rescinded federal grants. For now, the city of Charlottesville has avoided a direct fiscal hit, but that is certain to change, he said. Its not a matter of if; it is actually a matter of when, Sanders said. Sanders told councilors Tuesday that within the next two regular meetings, he will present a preliminary plan on how to use the citys surplus money. Council will consider the plan and will have the final say. The goal would be that we will continue to take our time to see the impacts of whats happening in D.C. Because there is a lot thats unknown, he said. But before we get too far down the road, we need to really make sure that we give it enough time to be ready to respond to what may come. Trump allows commercial fishing in vast Pacific reserve Washington, April 18 (AFP) Apr 18, 2025 Commercial fishing will be allowed in a gigantic marine reserve home to one of the world's most vulnerable ecosystems in the middle of the Pacific under an executive order signed Thursday by President Donald Trump. The Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument (PRIMNM) was created in 2009 by then-president George W. Bush, and extended by his successor Barack Obama in 2014. Today it covers almost 1.3 million square kilometers (500,000 square miles) or almost twice the area of Texas, anchored around seven islands and atolls. Commercial fishing and resource extraction activities such as undersea mining have been banned until now, although traditional and sport fishing were still allowed. Trump said in his executive order Thursday that the prohibition "disadvantages honest United States commercial fishermen" who were "driven... to fish further offshore in international waters to compete against poorly regulated and highly subsidized foreign fleets." "Appropriately managed commercial fishing would not put objects of scientific and historic interest within the PRIMNM at risk," he added. The PRIMNM's waters are home to untouched coral reefs and many endangered species, including seabirds and some kinds of whales and sharks. Among the most untouched tropical environments on the planet, the PRIMNM is especially vulnerable to climate change. Large swathes of those waters between 50 and 200 nautical miles (93-370 kilometers) from shore will now be partially open to commercial fishing by US-flagged vessels. Foreign ships could be granted "permits... to transship fish harvested by United States fishermen," the executive order read. Trump further ordered the government to "amend or repeal all burdensome regulations that restrict commercial fishing in the PRIMNM." The Republican president, an avowed sceptic of climate change, has since his return to the White House taken aim at environmental regulations, pushing to reduce the rules' impact on business. Black Sea oil spill hits Russian beach holiday plans Moscow, April 18 (AFP) Apr 18, 2025 A massive Black Sea oil spill prompted Moscow's consumer watchdog on Friday to urge Russian holidaymakers to reconsider their summer plans, warning that the popular seaside resort of Anapa's beaches were unsafe. The consumer rights agency Rospotrebnadzor found "non-compliance with sanitary and hygienic standards in sand and seawater samples" in Anapa and the Temryuksky District of the Krasnodar Region, a traditionally favoured destination for summer holidays in Russia. More than 2,000 tonnes of oil products were released into the Black Sea after two ageing tankers sank in a heavy storm on December 15 in the Kerch Strait, between Moscow-annexed Crimea and the southern Russian Krasnodar region. The spill has sparked an environmental disaster, harming many marine animals and birds. With concern over the incident mounting, Russian President Vladimir Putin was shown being briefed on the spill response by a government official in a video released by the Kremlin on Monday. Thousands of volunteers have flocked to the region to help clean up beaches and rescue animals caught up in the spill. Government agencies had put the costs of the oil spill at almost $1 billion. With Russians facing international travel restrictions since Moscow began its military offensive in Ukraine, Anapa hosts an ever-growing number of tourists, welcoming 5.5 million people last year. Under Western sanctions, Russia has resorted to using a so-called "shadow fleet" of mostly old tankers to export its fuel around the world. An investigation by Russia's transport watchdog found that the main reason for the spill was that the vessels were not certified to sail in that area of the sea at that time of year. Four killed after spring storms wreak havoc in the Alps Saint-Julien-Mont-Denis, France, April 18 (AFP) Apr 18, 2025 Alpine ski resorts were getting back to normal on Friday after spring storms the previous day claimed four victims in the French Alps and northern Italy, including a British holidaymaker. The 27-year-old Briton was caught in an avalanche at the entrance to the French Alpine resort of Val Thorens in Savoie, after heavy snowfall across the mountain range. Found in a state of cardiac arrest, he was taken to Grenoble for treatment but died that evening, local prosecutor Benoit Bachelet said in a statement Friday. Three people died in northern Italy on Thursday after the region was hit by heavy rains. Floodwaters carried away a 64-year-old and his 33-year-old son in their car in the Veneto region of northeast Italy. And a man in his 90s was found dead in his flooded home in the northwest region of Piedmont. "Intense and abundant" rain had drenched the north of Italy, turning to snow above 1,800 metres (5,905 feet) altitude, an official said. The storms shut roads, halted trains and cut power to areas in France, Italy and Switzerland. Although snow in April is not rare in the Alps, the amount that fell in just hours was unusual and took authorities and residents by surprise. Officials in some parts of the French and Swiss Alps had told residents to stay indoors on Thursday before lifting the restrictions. The avalanche alert level was raised in several regions, shutting down several ski areas. By Friday evening however, Meteo France had lowered its alert level, while still urging skiers to remain vigilant. Many roads were shut in all three countries due to fallen trees or the risk of avalanches. Heavy trucks were banned from using the main Mont Blanc tunnel between France and Italy and dozens that could not get through tunnels were stuck on the A43 highway linking Italy and France. Trains were also affected, and at one point more than 3,300 homes in France and 5,000 households in Italy were left without power, according to authorities. "It's truly exceptional," said Didier Beauchet, a retiree who has lived in Lanslebourg in the Savoie for 40 years. "I must have seen that only five times," he told AFP, as motorists around him worked to free their snow-covered cars. burs-jj/sbk 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 Good Friday marks the day on which Christians around the world commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The religious observance takes place during Holy Week, a couple of days before Easter Sunday. Heres everything you need to know about Good Friday: When is it? This year, Good Friday falls on Friday 18 April on the Gregorian calendar. Its date coincides with the middle of the Jewish festival of Passover. Good Friday marks the sixth day of Holy Week, an annual Christian observance leading up to Easter Sunday. It follows Maundy Thursday, and precedes Holy Saturday and Easter Day. What is Good Friday? Good Friday is the day on which Christians commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, prior to when he was believed to have been resurrected. While the name Good Friday isnt mentioned in the Bible, the religious text tells the story of how Christ was beaten and mocked by Roman soldiers before being made to carry a cross to the site of his subsequent crucifixion. Due to the events commemorated on the holy day, some might question why its known as Good Friday. Rather than indicating that the day is a joyous occasion, the good in Good Friday actually comes from the antiquated definition of the word, meaning pious or holy. While its widely believed that Christ was crucified on a Friday, the day of the week of the crucifixion is not mentioned in the Bible. Some speculate that the crucifixion may have taken place on a Wednesday or Thursday, due to a line in the Gospel of Matthew in which Christ states that he would be dead for three days and three nights. Its commonly understood that Christ was resurrected on a Sunday morning. How is it observed? In several sectors of Christianity, including eastern Orthodox, Anglican and Catholic, Good Friday is observed by some Christians by attending church services and by fasting. The holy day is also traditionally commemorated by carrying out reenactments of the events which led to Christs crucifixion, known as the Passion of Jesus. 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 Around 57 million people worldwide have dementia. While most cases of dementia are diagnosed in older adults, about 7 per cent of cases occur in people under 65. This number may be even higher as young-onset dementia continues to be under-recognised. This means many people may be missing out on the support they need. Here are five reasons young-onset dementia remains under-recognised: 1. Dementia is typically associated with older age When you hear the word dementia, do you picture someone under 65? While dementia is usually associated with older adults, the condition doesnt discriminate based on age. In fact, anyone (even children) can be diagnosed with different forms of dementia. But this common assumption means many younger people may not seek a diagnosis from their doctor, as many dont assume dementia could be causing any of the symptoms theyre experiencing. Doctors, too, often fail to consider the possibility of a younger person having dementia. Many people diagnosed with young-onset dementia initially had their symptoms dismissed. Some doctors even showed little concern for their experiences. It also isnt uncommon for younger adults to be told theyre too young to have dementia. Its not surprising, then, that these experiences lead to frustration, with patients and their families feeling unheard and neglected by the healthcare system. The misunderstanding that dementia is a disease of older adults leaves people with young-onset dementia fighting to be heard. open image in gallery Even children can be affected by dementia ( Getty ) 2. Symptoms are different Dementia is most often linked to short-term memory loss. However, cognition (which encompasses all of our mental processes, from thinking to perception) is very complex. For this reason, dementia can lead to a huge variety of symptoms, such as changes in personality and language, difficulties recognising objects, judging distances or coordinating movement and even hallucinations and delusions. Compared to dementia in older adults, people with young-onset dementia are more likely to experience symptoms other than memory loss as the earliest signs of the condition. For instance, research shows that for around one-third of people with young-onset Alzheimers disease, the earliest symptoms they had were problems with coordination and vision changes. 3. Rarer causes of dementia Dementia is an umbrella term that encompasses a range of brain disorders that all cause problems with cognition. In older adults, the most common cause of dementia is Alzheimers disease, accounting for 50-75 per cent of cases. But in people under 65, only around 40 per cent of dementia cases can be attributed to Alzheimers disease. Instead, young-onset dementia tends to be caused by rarer neurodegenerative conditions, such as frontotemporal dementias. Frontotemporal dementias only affect around one in 20 people diagnosed with dementia. These conditions affect parts of the brain responsible for personality, behaviour, language, speech and executive functioning. For example, primary progressive aphasia is one type of frontotemporal dementia. This condition affects around three in every 100,000 people. Primary progressive aphasia mainly alters a persons ability to communicate and understand speech. open image in gallery In older adults, the most common cause of dementia is Alzheimers disease ( PA Wire ) Secondary dementias are also more common in people with young-onset dementia. These are dementias that are caused by another underlying medical condition, disease (such as Huntingtons disease or a brain tumour) or external factor (such as a viral infection, substance misuse or head injury). Recognition of these rarer forms of dementia is increasing, thanks in part to celebrities such as Fiona Phillips, Pauline Quirke and Terry Jones opening up about their experiences. But theres still much less understanding around treatment options and managing symptoms when it comes to these rarer forms of dementia. Rarer dementias are also linked to atypical symptoms, which often go missed. This prolongs the diagnostic journey. 4. Symptoms overlap with other conditions Symptoms of young-onset dementia have considerable overlap with those common in certain mental health conditions, such as bipolar disorder, psychosis, depression and anxiety. Symptoms might also include apathy, feelings of panic, irritability, hallucinations and delusions. Early symptoms of young-onset dementia may also be misdiagnosed as menopause in women, as well as a period of burnout. Of course, not everyone experiencing these symptoms will have young-onset dementia. But its important we raise awareness about symptom overlap to make the diagnosis process easier for those who do. open image in gallery Symptoms of young-onset dementia overlap with those of certain mental health conditions ( LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS - stock.adobe.com ) 5. Experiences differ between people The type and severity of a persons symptoms can vary due to a variety of factors such as their physical health, their social environment and even their stress levels. This all leads to significant variability in how dementia is experienced. A persons cognitive reserve (the brains ability to maintain good cognitive function despite damage or brain changes) also affects their experience of dementia symptoms and how they cope with them. Some people may adapt more effectively, drawing on strong support networks, psychological resilience or their own personal coping strategies to overcome these challenges. All of these factors together can make it difficult to recognise symptoms of young-onset dementia, especially in its early stages. Need for awareness The under-recognition of young-onset dementia is significant. It contributes to the lack of resources, specialised care and advice, appropriate support and early diagnosis for people with young-onset dementia. While this is improving, greater awareness still needs to be brought to the experience of dementia in younger adults especially given research shows that the progression of cognitive decline is more pronounced in younger adults. If youre worried about yourself or a family member showing signs of dementia, its important to discuss symptoms and seek support early. You can also contact local dementia support organisations such as Alzheimer Scotland, Dementia UK, and Alzheimer Society, who can provide information, resources and guidance on support options. Molly Murray is a PhD Candidate at the University of the West of Scotland. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons licence. Read the original article. Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A U.S. mother has opened up about raising her daughter, Hazel, who was born with Moebius syndrome - a rare neurological disorder that causes facial paralysis. Victoria LaBrie, 30, first noticed something was different about Hazel during pregnancy when her daughters eyes appeared open during ultrasound scans. This observation, initially perceived as "very cute," took on a different meaning after Hazel's birth in December 2024. Her eyes were wide open like a little owl, and Hazel's parents, Victoria and Bobby, immediately knew something wasn't right. Two weeks later, Hazel was diagnosed with Moebius syndrome, confirming the cause of her complete facial paralysis and inability to blink or smile. Despite the challenges, Victoria has learned to read Hazels emotions through eye contact and subtle cues, while a TikTok post raising awareness of the condition went viral, gaining more than 24 million views. Victoria also co-parents children from her previous marriage, including twins Harley and Harper, six, Colton, four, and their adopted daughter, Veronica, 14. open image in gallery Victoria noticed Hazel had her eyes open during the ultrasound scans ( Collect/PA Real Life ) Victoria, who has to manually close Hazels eyes to give them a rest, said: Hazel has the most perfect facial features and its crazy, because she was diagnosed with some asymmetry in her face, but you would not be able to tell. Shes just got this beautiful fair skin and these great big eyeballs, and she just looks like a little doll. No one has mistaken her for a doll yet, but people always say she looks like one. I can read her emotions looking at her eyes and the way she moves I can sense her happiness. She should be able to talk in the future and shes making some noises now. open image in gallery Hazel has to sleep with her eyes open ( Collect/PA Real Life ) When Victoria was pregnant with Hazel, 3D ultrasound scans showed her babys eyes were open at the time, Victoria thought this was very cute and ultrasound technicians agreed. When Hazel was born in December 2024, her eyes were wide open, and Victoria and Bobby sensed that something was not right. Within two weeks, after undergoing MRI brain scans, Hazel was diagnosed with Moebius syndrome. According to Facial Palsy UK, it is an extremely rare neurological disorder which is present at birth and is characterised by weakening or paralysis of the muscles in the face which control expression and lateral eye movements. Hazel has some mobility in the lower left side of her lip, but the rest of her face is completely paralysed she is unable to blink and can move her eyes up and down, but not side to side. Getting the diagnosis was devastating at first, thinking she wont really be able to smile, Victoria recalled. I hadnt heard of it before, so I felt kind of lost but once I processed it, I knew I had to do everything I can to make Hazels life the best it can be. open image in gallery Hazel was born with her eyes open ( Collect/PA Real Life ) Victoria has to manually close Hazels eyes to rest them and apply eye ointment every one to two hours each day to improve lubrication and prevent corneal damage. She added: Shes actually the best sleeper out of all my kids; she sleeps great. If I try to close her eyes for her when shes sleeping, theyll open by themselves after a few seconds. Victoria sometimes finds it difficult, as babies typically connect with others through their smiles and facial expressions, but she has learnt to read her emotions through her eyes and the way she moves. She is a really pleasant baby to have around and she screams, just without moving her mouth, Victoria explained. When she locks eyes with someone, she will just sit and stare at you. It seems like she might be starting to giggle a little bit, and its hard to tell, obviously, because she cant show that on her face. You can just tell that she is comfortable and shes happy. Some of my other children are autistic so they struggle with communicating their emotions so Im kind of used to it. open image in gallery Hazel cannot blink or move her eyes side to side ( Collect/PA Real Life ) Victoria said she has not set expectations for the future in terms of Hazels ability to express emotions. With disabled kids, you plan to keep them happy right now and so I dont want to say that Im worried about her future I know that if anything gets thrown towards us, were just going to take one day at a time, she added. To raise awareness of Hazels condition, Victoria posted on TikTok under the handle @torlab, sharing images and a brief description of her story. The post has since received more than 24 million views. I didnt think I was sharing with millions of people, I thought I was sharing with a very small facial paralysis community, Victoria said. So for it to blow up like that, I was like, holy smokes I didnt think I would go viral off of my baby not being able to blink but Im glad I can raise awareness. In addition to Hazel, Victorias twin daughters and her son have autism, and Veronica has ADHD. open image in gallery Victoria has learnt to read Hazel's emotions through eye contact ( Collect/PA Real Life ) She explained: When I got the first autism diagnosis, it hit me extremely hard. I had my moment of sadness, and then I picked right up and said, What can I do for my kids? And then immediately started looking for therapies and things that would get them on the right track. Victoria and her children are looking for a new home that can suit her childrens needs better. She said: The market is crazy at the moment and my kids have a lot more needs than just finding a house we have to stay away from water, have to be fenced in, watch out for busy streets. Wed love a sensory room too with lights and bubbles and crash pads all in one room they dont all take interest in toys or traditional learning materials. Victorias mother launched a fundraiser to help cover the costs of a new home and renovations. To find out more, visit her fundraiser. 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 Taco Bell is bringing back a fan favorite dish, Crispy Chicken Nuggets. The fast-food chain issued a press release on Thursday to reveal that the Crispy Chicken Nuggets are making a comeback on April 24 for eight weeks only. When they launched in December, the nuggets sold out in less than a week. However, Taco Bell is pushing to make crispy chicken in general a regular menu item by 2026. The return of the chicken nuggets is part of Taco Bells journey to become a go-to destination for crispy chicken, according to the press release. Were a taco place doing chicken our own way and like all our best moments, its a little unexpected because we've never been about following the rules, Taco Bells Chief Marketing Officer, Taylor Montgomery, said in a statement. The demand for our nuggets was off the charts, which is why were looking at making crispy chicken permanent to give our fans what they are telling us they want. We know were not the usual name in crispy chicken, but our nuggets speak for themselves theyre bold, different, and unmistakably Taco Bell, he concluded. The nuggets are made from all-white meat chicken and marinated in a zesty jalapeno buttermilk flavor before theyre breaded with a blend of breadcrumbs and crispy tortilla chips. open image in gallery Taco Bells Crispy Chicken Nuggets return on April 24 ( Getty Images ) Customers can purchase five nuggets with a dipping sauce for $3.99, or they can get 10 nuggets with two dipping sauces for $6.99. There are three sauces to choose from: Hidden Valley Fire Ranch Sauce, Taco Bells tangy Bell Sauce, and bold Jalapeno Honey Mustard. When Taco Bells Crispy Chicken Nuggets launched in December, they sold out in less than a week. At the time, roughly 5 million Americans nationwide had bought the dish, with the nuggets included in almost one in six orders, according to the press release. During Live Mas LIVE in March, Taco Bell revealed that the Crispy Chicken Nuggets would be making a return this year. The brand shared that theyre partnering with Mikes Hot Honey to make a Mikes Hot Honey Diablo sauce to go with the chicken nuggets. open image in gallery The Cripsy Chicken Nuggets will be sold in five or 10 pieces ( Taco Bell ) The company also revealed plans to launch Crispy Chicken Strips, which will debut as part of new burrito and taco menu options. Last month, Taco Bell CEO Sean Tresvant told CNN about the restaurant's vision to establish itself as a leader in chicken offerings through its Cantina Chicken Menu, which already includes shredded and crispy chicken in tacos, burritos, and quesadillas. Tresvant added that the menus expansion is a key step in Taco Bell's strategy to achieve its goal of becoming a $5 billion brand by 2030. Were not the first to do chicken, but we want to do chicken very uniquely, he said. Chicken is a protein thats trending and we need to make sure we are consumer relevant. 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 Its a sad day for Toblerone fans the Swiss chocolate brands 360g dark chocolate bars have been discontinued. A spokesperson for US firm Mondelez announced it would be pulling the bars from stores after 56 years, acknowledging the news may be disappointing for some consumers. While failing to give a reason for the decision, they assured shoppers it would continue to invest in Toblerone. The news arrives after months of confusion surrounding the bars whereabouts in shops. Several customers raised their concerns on X/Twitter, with one asking: Does anyone know anywhere in the UK I can get a bar of Dark Toblerone. Ive spoken to Toblerone who said its not been discontinued but Ive been looking for absolutely ages and cant find them anywhere. At the time of writing, its believed the dark chocolate bars will only be scrapped in the UK. In 2023, Toblerone announced it would be removing the Matterhorn mountain peak from its packaging because of strict Swiss marketing rules. When some of the chocolates production moved from Switzerland to Slovakia, the confectionery treat had to avoid restrictions surrounding Swissness, which blocks national symbols from being used to promote products that are not made exclusively in the country. US firm Mondelez replaced the image of the 4,478-metre-high (14,690ft) mountain, which borders Switzerland and Italy, with a generic summit instead. Toblerone, a honey and almond nougat chocolate bar, was named by combining the surname of its inventor, Theodor Tobler, and torrone, a toasted-almond nougat confection. open image in gallery Toblerone Dark (360g) has been discontinued ( Getty Images ) It first went on sale in 1908 in Bern, the capital city of Switzerland. Swissness legislation, introduced in 2017, states that national symbols cannot be used to promote milk-based products that are not made exclusively in Switzerland. For other raw foodstuffs, the threshold is at least 80 per cent. Studies have shown that certain products branded as made in Switzerland are sold at 20 per cent more than similar goods from other origins. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A California man has been arrested after police say he kidnapped a 10-year-old girl he met through the social media apps Roblox and Discord. Matthew Macatuno Naval, 27, was arrested Sunday in Sacramento County, California, according to the Kern County Sheriffs Office. His arrest comes after police responded to a family in Taft, California, calling about a missing 10-year-old girl. As investigators launched a search for the girl, they discovered she was chatting with Naval online, leading to [her] abduction. The two spoke via Roblox, an online video game popular with children, and Discord, an online messaging service, police said. A day later, Elk Grove police found Naval and the 10-year-old in his car at a nearby strip mall. open image in gallery Naval met the 10-year-old through Roblox and Discord, police say ( Zuma Press/PA Images ) Naval was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping and unlawful sexual conduct with a child, the Kern County Sheriffs Office said. Police booked him into the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office Jail before transferring him to the Kern County jail. Naval is now being held on a $250,000 bond. His first hearing is scheduled for Friday at 3 p.m. local time. The Independent was unable to identify whether Naval has retained an attorney. The Independent has contacted the Kern County District Attorney for comment. The Kern County Sheriffs Office is now warning parents about the importance of online safety. Parents, monitor all electronic usage and know who your children are communicating with, the office wrote. Many apps and games have messaging capabilities and present the same, if not more, risk as social media platforms. This comes after Roblox announced new safety tools earlier this month. These tools will allow parents to block people from their childs friend list and block individual experiences on the website. Roblox made a similar move last year, implementing a default setting that ensures kids under 13 cant chat to others outside of games or direct message other players without parental permission. Discord has also contended with online safety concerns, with its CEO even appearing to testify before a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on online child sexual exploitation last year. The messaging platform touts various programs designed to keep kids safe, including a teen safety feature that can provide users with safety alerts and sensitive content filters. A Discord spokesperson tells The Independent the platform has a zero-tolerance policy against abuse and exploitation and supported police with their investigation. We take decisive actions when we detect violations of our policies, including removing content, banning users, shutting down servers, and engaging with law enforcement, the spokesperson said. As soon as we became aware of this matter, we provided information to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). We will continue supporting law enforcement in its investigation. The Independent has contacted Roblox for comment. Close People seen fleeing across road after shooting at Florida State University The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The suspect in the Florida State University shooting reportedly shared white supremacist views with concerned classmates before yesterdays attack that killed two people and injured six others. Phoenix Ikner had a tumultuous childhood, according to court records showing the biological mother of the 20-year-old was accused of removing him from the U.S. when he was 10. He later changed his name from Christian Eriksen to share the surname of his mother, Leon County Deputy Jessica Ikner, whose former service weapon he used during the shooting, police said. His biological mother, Anne-Mari Eriksen, told ABC News on Friday that she initially worried he might have been hurt; when he was named a suspect, she collapsed. "Theres so much that needs to be said about this, but I just cant talk without crying. We need time to process all this, she said. Following the attack, a classmate at Ikners former school claimed the suspect was told to leave a political round table club after he espoused so much white supremacist rhetoric, and far-right rhetoric as well, to the point where we had to exercise that rule. Once Ikner is released from the hospital, where he is expected to be for a while, hell be taken to a local detention facility where he will face the charges up to and including first-degree murder, Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell said Friday. Investigators had not revealed a motive as of Friday evening or released the victims identities, but some family members have come forward. The two victims who lost their lives were identified Friday as Tiru Chabba and Robert Morales. Both men were fathers. 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 Classmates of the suspected Florida State University gunman say he espoused white supremacist and far-right rhetoric for years prior to Thursday killing, where two people were killed and six more were injured. Phoenix Ikner, 20, got into arguments with fellow students over gross things he said in class, and was known to take his comments up to the line. He also reportedly boasted of the fact that he had access to firearms at home. In a press conference, shortly after Ikner was taken into custody, it was revealed that he is the son of a Leon County Sheriffs Office deputy, and that he had used a weapon owned by his mother to carry out the attack. People who knew Ikner at FSU and before at Tallahassee State College said he was known for touting right-wing conspiracy theories and other hateful rhetoric. I got into arguments with him in class over how gross the things he said were, Lucas Luzietti, a politics student who shared a class with Ikner in 2023, told USA TODAY. He told the outlet that Ikner subscribed to the theory that Joe Biden had come into office illegally. open image in gallery Phoenix Ikner, the Florida State University shooting suspect. Classmates say he shared far-right ideas while on campus ( Social media ) According to online records, Ikner registered as a Republican in 2022 and voted in last Novembers presidential election. Earlier this year, he was interviewed by his campus newspaper about anti-Trump protests taking place on the FSU grounds. These people are usually pretty entertaining, usually not for good reasons, he told the outlet at the time. I think its a little too late, hes already going to be inaugurated on January 20 and theres not really much you can do unless you outright revolt, and I dont think anyone wants that. Luzietti also claimed Ikner held racist views, including saying that Rosa Parks was in the wrong and Black people were ruining his neighborhood. I remember thinking this man should not have access to firearms, Luzietti told USA TODAY. [But] what are you supposed to do? His mother was a cop and Florida doesnt have very strong red flag laws. Red flag laws prevent individuals who show signs of being a threat to themselves or others from purchasing or possessing any kind of firearm. open image in gallery Two people were killed and six more were injured after Ikner allegedly opened fire on the Tallahasee campus on Thursday. Classmates said he reportedly boasted of the fact that he had access to firearms at home ( via REUTERS ) It's so sad and so shocking, Luzietti added. Then to see that it was him Im sadly not surprised. Reid Seybold, a senior at FSU, also knew Ikner from a political discussion group at Tallahassee State College. As the group's president, Seybold said Ikner was asked not to return to the group because of his radical views. "Basically our only rule was no Nazis colloquially speaking and he espoused so much white supremacist rhetoric, and far-right rhetoric as well, to the point where we had to exercise that rule," Seybold said. The current president of the same discussion club, Riley Pusins, said that at meetings Ikner was vocal in his support for Trumps agenda and often promoted white supremacist values, despite the non-partisan nature of the club. Pusins said Ikner had attended the club regularly as recently as last semester, and that others in the group had branded him as a fascist. open image in gallery A motive for the shooting on the campus has not been released ( Getty Images ) His apparent political views, are just part of the known background for the accused double-murder suspect. On Friday it emerged that Ikner was adopted, and that his birth name is Christian Gunnar Eriksen. Deputy Jessica Ikner is actually his stepmother. Ikners biological mother appears to have separated from his father Christopher Ikner but ran into trouble in March 2015 when she took the boy to Norway without the latters consent, in violation of their custody arrangements. Anne-Mari Eriksen was arrested when she returned to the U.S. via Fort Lauderdale Airport the following July and subsequently pleaded no contest and was sentenced to 200 days in jail. She was ordered to have no contact with her son during that time. At the age of 10, Ikner attended Lincoln High School where he changed his name, according to CNN, apparently to make a clean break with his past. An affidavit obtained by ABC News also notes that he was on medication for several health and mental issues, to include a growth hormone disorder and ADHD. 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 Harvey Weinstein was granted a minor legal victory in his Manhattan retrial when a judge agreed to let the disgraced film mogul spend the remainder of his trial in a hospital rather than Rikers Island. Lawyers for Weinstein had asked Judge Curtis Farber to allow their client to remain in the hospital due to his extensive health issues. Farber agreed, saying to not do so could lead to exacerbation of and further serious medical conditions, and possibly death. Court documents indicate Weinstein, 73, has been diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, diabetes mellitus, extensive coronary artery disease, angina, diffuse moderate coronary artery disease, obstructive sleep apnea, thyroid issues and obesity, in addition to several other health issues. Weinstein will be transferred to Bellevue Hospital in Kips Bay, where he will remain for the duration of his retrial on rape accusations. Harvey Weinstein will be permitted to spend the duration of his sex-crimes retrial at a New York hospital rather than Rikers Island ( AP ) Already, he had been transferred from Rikers to Bellevue Hospital four times within the last six months due to medical issues. His lawyers have consistently advocated for him to be removed from Rikers Island, citing the prison's improper conditions and treatment. In their latest appeal, lawyers for Weinstein said he was subjected to freezing temperatures at Rikers, was not given clean clothing and had gained nearly 20 pounds. Because of this mistreatment, he has been worn down considerably health-wise, and now faces the stress of trial in this condition, which may very well lead to serious health complications, even death, Imran Ansari said. Weinstein was ordered to remain at Rikers while awaiting retrial in his New York sex-crimes case last year even after a New York appeals court vacated his rape conviction the accusations of which incited the #MeToo movement across the country. The court found that the trial judge erred in allowing prosecutors to call witnesses whose allegations were not related to the charges at hand. State prosecutors brought new sex crimes charges against Weinstein in September, this time charging him with first-degree criminal sexual act and third-degree rape based on accusations from a former TV production assistant, Miriam Haley, and aspiring actress, Jessica Mann. Weinstein has pleaded not guilty to the charges. 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 former teacher has been arrested over an alleged sexual relationship with a middle school student in Texas. Kara Hernandez, 32, is accused of indecency with a child involving sexual contact and an improper relationship with a student while teaching at Ronald Thornton Middle School in Missouri City, Fox26 Houston reports. Hernandez resigned from her position after the allegations were taken to Fort Bend ISD last September, the district said. On 14 February, she was arrested by police and will appear in court later this month to face the charges. Court records reported on by MailOnline indicate the alleged incidents took place in April and October of 2022. In a letter sent to parents at the school, Fort Bend ISD said: "Recently, allegations of past inappropriate conduct by a Thornton Middle School staff member were brought to the district's attention by a former student. Kara Hernandez stepped down from her position at Ronald Thornton Middle School after the allegations of a relationship with a student ( Fort Bend County Sheriffs Office ) Fort Bend ISD immediately began an investigation, and the staff member was immediately removed from the campus and placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. The staff member will not be returning to Fort Bend Independent School District." The FBISD, which runs 86 schools in Fort Bend County, told Fox 26: "The district took action immediately after allegations came to light, and during our investigation the teacher resigned in lieu of termination in September 2024." Hernandez, a married mother-of-four according to reports, has a $50,000 bond with $25,000 for each charge. The Independent has contacted Fort Bend ISD and FBISD 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 The suspect arrested after two people were shot dead and six were injured on a Florida campus had a tumultuous childhood, according to reports. Phoenix Ikner, 20, was described by Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil after the attack on Thursday as the son of one of his deputies, Jessica Ikner. McNeil said the suspect had used her weapon to carry out the shooting at Florida State University (FSU)s Tallahassee campus. But reports have now emerged of court records stating that Ikners birth name was Christian Gunnar Eriksen and that another woman, Anne-Mari Eriksen, is his biological mother. Eriksen who, like her son, is said to have dual U.S.-Norwegian citizenship appears to have separated from the boys father Christopher Ikner but allegedly ran into trouble in March 2015 when she took the boy to Norway without the latters consent, in violation of their custody arrangments. open image in gallery Phoenix Ikner, the Florida State University shooting suspect ( Social media ) Instead of staying in South Florida, the defendant allegedly fled the country with him in violation of their custody agreement, an affidavit cited by ABC News states. Mr Ikner advised that Christian has developmental delays and has special needs which he feared would not be taken care of without access to his doctors here in the United States. The affidavit also records that the child was on medication for several health and mental issues, to include a growth hormone disorder and ADHD. Anne-Mari Eriksen was arrested when she returned to the U.S. via Fort Lauderdale Airport the following July and subsequently pleaded no contest and was sentenced to 200 days in jail, 170 of which she had already served, followed by two years of community control and two years of probation, according to the records. She was ordered to have no contact with her son during that time but later attempted to vacate her plea, saying it had been made under duress, only for her appeal to be denied. An October 2015 lawsuit she filed against Christopher and Jessica Ikner accused them of slander and libel and sought $80,000 in damages for the boys college fund also failed. Christian Eriksen was 10 years old at the time of his ordeal, reports claim. He subsequently attended Lincoln High School and changed his name to Phoenix Ikner, according to CNN. open image in gallery Police descend on the FSU campus on Thursday ( AP ) According to The Daily Mail, Anne-Mari Eriksen posted on Facebook on Thursday attacking her sons father and new partner for their parenting and failure to communicate with her about the incident at FSU before subsequently deleting the message. Horrible when your alienating sons dad... along with his LCSO cop wife cant respond when you write to ask if everything is alright with my son, who studies ar [sic] FSU, the Mail quotes her as writing. Classmates have meanwhile come forward in response to Thursdays tragic events to allege that Ikner had become interested in far-right politics that went beyond conservatism and was a fervent supporter of Donald Trump. Reid Seybold, former president of a Tallahassee State political discussion group that Ikner had been part of, said some of his statements, which included promoting white supremacy, had left other members of the club feeling uncomfortable and ultimately led to his expulsion. open image in gallery Students grieve at a memorial for the victims set up on the FSU campus on Thursday ( Getty ) He had continually made enough people uncomfortable where certain people had stopped coming, Seybold told NBC News. Thats kind of when we reached the breaking point with Phoenix, and we asked him to leave. Its been a couple of years now. I cant give exact quotes. He talked about the ravages of multiculturalism and communism and how its ruining America. No motive has yet been revealed for Phoenix Ikners actions. An Instagram account attributed to him has been taken offline. It contained an ominous quote from the Bibles Book of Jeremiah that read: You are my war club, my weapons for battle, with you I shatter nations, with you I destroy kingdoms. 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 former teacher at a Texas academy - that houses rescued children - has been accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student, months after her own father was arrested at the school for allegedly having sex with a minor. Brooke Martinez, 30, taught at Still Creek Christian Academy ranch in Brazos County, an on-site school for children between the ages of eight to 18 who have been taken out of crisis situations. She is accused of knowingly and intentionally having an improper relationship with an 18-year-old student in 2024, according to the Brazos County Sheriffs Department. Martinez was arrested on April 10 after a school staff member contacted the BCSO and reported the alleged relationship with a student, according to KBTX. open image in gallery Brooke Martinez, 30, was arrested after allegedly having an inappropriate relationship with a student at Still Creek Christian Academy, where she was a former teacher ( Ellis County Sheriff's Office ) Her father, 57-year-old John Edward Martinez, was arrested in February and charged with three counts of indecency with a child by sexual contact. His arrest followed a call to police on January 20 about a possible sexual assault of a child at the ranch. At that time, he had been working as a house parent. That is an adult who lives in private family quarters within houses onsite at the Still Creek Academy, shared with six to eight children. According to Still Creeks website, the homes are built with a family-friendly atmosphere in mind. Our hearts desire is for our Still Creek students to experience a true family, including all of the joys and challenges that come along with families, the site states. Brooke Martinez was arrested in Ellis County, where she posted bail and was released from custody, according to KBTX. open image in gallery Still Creek Christian Academy ranch in Brazos County, is an on-site school that houses children between the ages of eight to 18 who have been taken out of crisis situations ( Google Maps ) In a statement shared with the outlet, Still Creek said it was heartbroken and disappointed over the allegations against Martinez. The alleged behavior does not align with the high standards we expect of our teachers, who are tasked with creating a protective, nurturing environment for the students in our charge, the statement read. The Academy added that immediately it had been made aware of the inappropriate behavior, it had filed reports with the Brazos County Sheriffs Office and Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, and was continuing to provide its full cooperation. The former teacher passed rigorous background checks prior to being hired. She separated from our organization earlier this year, the statement added. It remains our primary goal to provide a secure, loving family for the students in our care. While proceedings are underway, we are unable to share further details. open image in gallery Brooke Martinez's father, 57-year-old John Edward Martinez, was arrested in February and charged with three counts of indecency with a child by sexual contact ( Ellis County Sheriff's Department ) Still Creek released a similar statement following the arrest of John Martinez. Following his arrest, a teenage girl told deputies that he would take her and other youngsters to his private room, where there were no cameras, lock the door and touch them inappropriately, according to court documents obtained by KBTX. Martinez allegedly threatened to have them removed from the ranch if they did not comply. John Martinez was booked into the Brazos County Jail, but released on February 8 after also posting bail. The Independent has contacted Still Creek Christian Academy for comment. A bill moving through the Louisiana Legislature would set new TOPS scholarship amounts that are higher than what most college students currently get except at LSU, where some students would get smaller awards than they do now. The Sun Herald, based in Biloxi, covers the Mississippi Gulf Coast and is a news partner with NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. Read more at www.sunherald.com. The Bonnet Carre Spillway has been opened more than a dozen times since it was constructed nearly 100 years ago, but the protection it offers New Orleans' levee system comes at a cost: The rush of fresh water into surrounding brackish estuaries can harm the species living there, sometimes killing off entire fisheries and reefs. Brenda M. Hafera is the assistant director and senior policy analyst at The Heritage Foundation's Simon Center for American Studies. Malaysia Airlines is introducing more daily flights to Australia to meet surging demand for travel to Asia, as travel fully recovers from the aftermath of the pandemic lockdowns. The increase is seen as a sign of the competitive tension among international long-haul carriers to Australia even as domestic players maintain their grip on the short-haul routes. Becoming a more frequent visitor: A Malaysia Airline A330neo on the tarmac in Melbourne, Australia. Credit: Chris Zappone Starting in August, Malaysia Airlines will begin increasing the number of flights between Sydney and Kuala Lumpur, and Melbourne and Kuala Lumpur, using the all-new Airbus A330neo fleet, which offers enhanced passenger comfort and cutting-edge cabin features. By October, the airline will fly three times a day between those Australian capital cities and the Malaysian capital. Well, indeed. Americas savings rate has collapsed to 0.6 per cent of GDP. The US Treasury depends on foreign investors to fund a national debt rising higher than ever before, already 122 per cent of GDP with a structural fiscal deficit of 6 per cent to 7 per cent as far as the eye can see. Loading The Treasury must roll over 33 per cent of its $US36 trillion ($56.7 trillion) federal debt over the next 12 months. China had nothing to do with last weeks Treasury rout, the defining fiasco of Donald Trumps mad antics. There were plenty of other reasons: a disorderly unwinding of the basis trade by hedge funds caught flat-footed; and above all the capitulation of Republican deficit hawks in Congress, willing to go along with a budget gimmick that lets America slash taxes and spend trillions more that it cannot afford. But it is easy to see how China could create panic just before Treasury auctions if it wished to do so. Did Trump have any idea what he was doing when he launched his tariff war against China, jauntily shutting down the anchor trading relationship of the international system? One might have thought that the political pain threshold of the totalitarian, web-controlling Chinese Communist Party was infinitely higher than the threshold of Walmart-shopping MAGA America or Republican politicians facing midterm elections next year. And equally that Xi Jinping has much to gain from defiantly refusing to kiss ass, as Trump delicately puts it. Exports to the US have fallen from a peak of 6.7 per cent of Chinese GDP in the early 2000s to 2.7 per cent today. Almost 86 per cent of Chinese exports now go to the rest of the world. The maritime Silk Road is turning much of the Global South into a Chinese economic system. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations alone is a bigger market for China than the US. Most of the Middle East is now listed as pro-China or leaning-China on the geopolitical map of Capital Economics. I am not among those who think China is automatically destined for economic supremacy. It has overinvested chronically in excess capacity. It faces debt deflation and the onset of Japanification. It is formidable in whole sectors of technology, but it is also brittle, rigid, fear-based, and cursed by the pathologies of party dictatorship. Loading The liberal democracies have everything to play for. China wins the 21st century only if the West commits suicide, and that is exactly what Trump is urging upon us. However, much of Chinas $US500 billion export trade to the US is expendable. Shipping toys, furniture, shoes, and clothes for bargain sales in US supermarkets is not profitable. Nor is it the market niche that China wants as a rising high-tech power. Its time for all these low-value businesses that sell to Walmart to close, said Andy Xie, a former Morgan Stanley banker. As my colleague Szu Ping Chan reports, there is a whole school of economists in China arguing that the Trump shock is exactly what China needs to break out of the middle income trap and jump up the value ladder. Shoppers in Shenzhen outside a flagship Nike store. Almost 86 per cent of Chinese exports now go to the rest of the world. Credit: Getty Images So who suffers most political stress from a total and violent economic decoupling? Xis tightly controlled China, or Trumps febrile, restless America, where 100 million consumers live on maxed-out credit cards and zero savings, acutely vulnerable to a price spike in day-to-day goods, with no safety margin if they lose their jobs? Scott Bessent, the US treasury secretary, says China is playing with a pair of twos, which is one way to describe its stranglehold over critical minerals and much of the resource base of the 21st century high-tech economy. The US civilian economy is totally disorganised and has no coherent plan if China cuts off rare earth supply, said Jack Lifton, chairman of the Critical Minerals Institute. China has already restricted exports of gallium, germanium, antimony and graphite over the last two years, and has now widened the list. Loading This stranglehold is no accident of the free market or geography. China has pursued a strategic policy to knock out rivals via predatory dumping, and compelled its own smelting companies to overbuild refining capacity. As is by now well known, it has gained 90 per cent control over the rare earth supply chain needed for robots, semiconductors, aviation, magnets, radar, electric vehicles, 5G and 6G wireless, power electronics, you name it. Chinas sway over global sources of lithium, cobalt and nickel is weaker, but Washington has clearly been asleep at the wheel. Trump is right about that. The rational policy for the US is to build up its own processing industry over the next decade and to contract long-term supply from the likes of Canada and Australia. Instead, Trump has punched allies in the face, and launched his war with China before the US is ready for the consequences. He has the sequencing entirely backwards. Joe Biden did the exact opposite. He strove to bring America back from industrial death first, calibrating the US showdown with China at manageable levels. He showered $US280 billion on semiconductor fabs to repatriate Americas chip industry from Asia, and to combat Chinas push for supremacy in quantum computing, space, biotech, and materials technology. He teed up what would have been a turbo-blast of $US1 trillion to electrify America and to stop China running away with the booming world market for clean tech. Trump persists in telling the world that he will not retreat on tariffs and that nobody is getting off the hook. But markets are heavily discounting everything he now says. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size When a movie starts with a declaration that it is based on a true story, Lars Eidinger usually feels a rising irritation. OK, why are they telling me that? he asks himself. What difference does it make? But in Matthias Glasners Dying, where Eidinger plays a character whose tormented relationship with his family is based word-for-word on the directors real life, he saw the point. Because, otherwise, you would not believe it. I couldnt believe there was a relationship between a mother and son where they just shook hands. Where she had never hugged him. But its true and maybe thats good to know. Eidinger brings the full weight of his experience as a Shakespearean actor to his role as Tom, a conductor working with a youth orchestra to present the first performance of a piece also called Dying by his composer friend Bernard. Depressive, abusive Bernard (Robert Gwisdek) simmers perpetually on the brink of suicide, which makes him a difficult collaborator, but there is an unshakeable bond between them. Lars Eidingers character in Dying has a tormented relationship with his family. Tom is conscious, however, of falling short in other relationships with his father, who is dying slowly of Parkinsons, with his intermittent girlfriend, with his alcoholic sister, with that dreadful mother. Im always nice, Tom says at one point, but niceness can be a veneer. When his ex-girlfriend, whose baby he has taken on as a kind of stand-in father, accuses him of being cold, he doesnt deny it. Its true. Only music seems to move him. Glasner began writing this treatment of his own life after his parents died. His partner had recently given birth to their first child. I was in a state of crisis because I wasnt able to deal with all of that, he says. I had no sleep, with the child also not sleeping. I needed a space for myself and that space for me is writing. He would take the baby to a cafe, knowing he had three hours at most. So I was writing by instinct, trying to bring my parents back, in a way, because I had had no chance to connect with them in life. It sounds morbid, intense and forbiddingly Germanic; at three hours, Dying is certainly long. It is also often surprisingly funny. For Tom, everything seems to be happening at once: his parents decline and death, Bernards implosion, his surrogate fatherhood, the career in which he mostly feels like a failure. The world is too much, Glasner says. And this was also a kind of experiment, to see if I could bring this all into a kind of symphony. So he made Tom a conductor also, as he says, he always wanted to be a conductor himself. Advertisement Even the scene where Toms mother Lissy (the remarkable Corinna Harfouch) tells him truthfully that she never liked him a scene Eidinger says they filmed unrehearsed, only once and in a single take over 24 focused minutes is funny in its utter awfulness. Funny because its awful, yes, Glasner agrees. At the moment I did the film, it was not really painful any more, which is why I was able to do that. Audiences cant help laughing at it, which he enjoys; he hears it as a laugh of recognition. There is a universality to his experience, specific though it is. In one scene in Dying, Lissy (Corinna Harfouch) tells her son that she never liked him. At the outset, he knew he would stop short of including his current life. He has been with his partner for 10 years; they have two children. So it is more about somebody I was before. Before I found a home. Before that, I was totally lost. Like Tom, drifting around. Like Bernard, he often contemplated suicide. It was always a possibility. Its not like I really like life that much. They tell you life is a gift. I dont see life as a gift. Life is a burden. His children, on the other hand, are the greatest gift from heaven Thats why I am a much better person than I was 10 years ago. They really made the film possible. Loading However warmed he may have been by parenthood, Glasner is still known in German film circles to be a difficult man. Eidinger had some trepidation about taking on a role where he was effectively playing his director. I was a bit afraid that, shooting with Matthias, he would be telling me the whole day long how I should be so that I remind him of himself. More than that, he was worried about Glasners explosive reputation. In fact, nothing was as he expected. He never or rarely talked with me about anything that I was performing. Because it was all from his perspective, he was concentrating on the other characters around me, Eidinger says. And he turned out to be the most tender, sensual and open-minded director. I think he was, in a way, very thankful that a group of people would meet to tell his story. I could feel that every day, because we were also shooting on the original locations: the place where his father died, for example, was where we shot that scene. We shot the funerals in the woods where his parents are buried. So it was very touching. It was like someone telling you his story. Advertisement Not everything in Dying is taken verbatim or even as subjectively blurred memory from real life. Glasner has had no contact with his real sister for years, so decided not to include her. But for the family dynamic it was important theres also a sister. So I decided to make her another side of me, actually. Ellie (Lilith Stangenberg) is a dental nurse. She is also a prodigiously committed drunk. One of the funniest and bleakest moments in the movie involves her extracting a tooth with a pair of carpenters pliers in the back of a pub. I could have been like that, Glasner says. At times, I have been like that. I am very much into alcohol. It frees me in many ways and gives a wildness, a craziness to my life before the kids, I have to say that I very much like. And I wanted to say something about that. That its OK to drink alcohol. It is self-destructive, I know, but why not? Who is in a position to judge these things? When Ellen says, I like alcohol; I like the lifestyle, even if I die sooner, then she is allowed to do that. All these crazy things in the film are also part of life. Matthias Glasner with his Silver Bear for Best Screenplay for Dying. Credit: Getty Images As a title, Dying is confronting, even a provocation. The films marketing people were against it, Eidinger says, because they maintained nobody would want to see a film with that name. Then the film was chosen for the Berlinale Competition (where it won the Silver Bear for best screenplay and the Guild Film Prize) and it was too late to change it. But I wonder what kind of society is it where you dont want to think about death? Eidinger says. I mean, you should think about it to understand what life is. This is the ambivalence of the whole movie, that its called Dying, but its about life. Several characters die, certainly, but the subject is the way the people around them deal with it. Although, he muses, you could also see all films and all photographs as memento mori, pinning down moments that have already flickered, died and passed into oblivion. So, in a way, death is the biggest theme of every movie. We just dont want to think about it. Dying screens as part of the German Film Festival, Sydney May 1-21; Melbourne May 2-21; Brisbane May 7-28. http://germanfilmfestival.com.au Lifeline: 131114 Advertisement A motorcyclist in his 40s has died after a crash with a minibus. Police are investigating the incident, about 2.45pm on Thursday, appealing for witnesses to come forward. The man, a 41-year-old from Narangba, was riding a Suzuki GSX-S1000 along Elizabeth Avenue in the Moreton Bay suburb of Kippa-Ring, north of Brisbane, when he and the bus collided. The rider died at the scene. Big money is being spent on attack ads and billboards across the Queensland capital in a push to unseat its Greens MPs. This masthead understands conservative lobby group Advance is spending about half its $4 million campaign budget on the Greens three federal seats in Brisbane. MP Stephen Bates says he wears the challenge as a badge of honour. An Advance advertisement targeting Greens in Brisbane CBD. Credit: Rosanna Ryan. Look, if a whole bunch of loser billionaires and right-wing idiots want to attack me, then go for it, he said at a Greens community event last week. A woman has died after being swept off rocks at San Remo, near Phillip Island, on Friday morning while a 41-year-old man remains unaccounted for, police say. Officers were called to the isolated Punchbowl Rocks beach, a five-minute drive from the town centre, at 8.30am. Authorities are still searching for a man swept off the rocks at the beach near San Remo. Credit: Nine News Police said two women and a man had been washed off rocks and were in the water. One of the women managed to make her way back to shore but the other woman and the man were unable to, police said in a statement. The Coalition has accused Labor of keeping it in the dark about an alleged Russian request to base long-range aircraft in Indonesia, but the government insists it has no obligation to provide special briefings to the opposition during the election period. The Coalition lodged a request for a briefing on Tuesday after the Janes military website reported that Russia had made an official request to base military aircraft in Biak Island, in the province of Papua, but the Coalitions request has not been granted and could prove difficult over the Easter long weekend period. Opposition defence spokesman Andrew Hastie and opposition foreign affairs spokesman David Coleman have accused the government of failing a transparency test and adopting shifty and sneaky language on whether it was aware of any request by Moscow about basing aircraft in Indonesia. Liberal Party spokesman James Paterson said the caretaker conventions dictate that the opposition should be briefed on such matters. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Any approach to place Russian aircraft within short range of Australia is clearly a matter of critical national and strategic interest, Coleman and Hastie said. Independents seeking to disrupt the major parties will receive a boost from Clive Palmers Trumpet of Patriots partys decision to put incumbent parties last on how-to-vote cards, as the billionaire targets the Coalition for the first time rather than just Labor. The change in strategy from Palmers party will threaten Liberal MPs defending their seats against Climate 200-backed candidates by preferencing the independents in tight contests for the regional Victorian seats of Wannon and Monash, and the northern Sydney seat of Bradfield. Clive Palmer at a press conference at Parliament House earlier this year. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Any effect will be more muted in Labor-held marginal seats that are central to the election outcome such as the regional NSW seats of Gilmore, Robertson and Paterson because Palmer already put Labor last in those electorates in 2022. Crucially, in the most marginal seat of Bennelong in Sydney, the Trumpet of Patriots will buck the principle to preference incumbent Labor MP Jerome Laxale above Liberal challenger Scott Yung. The Labor policy appeals directly to workers who rely on penalty rates including on public holidays at Easter, where rates for retail workers can be up to 250 per cent of their base pay and sets up a new election fight over workplace laws when cost-of-living concerns have dominated the campaign. The new law would stop employers from scaling back penalty rates in workplace awards at the Fair Work Commission, a pivotal issue in a current case for supermarket workers and the subject of a divisive case eight years ago about hospitality and retail workers. But union leaders including Australian Council of Trade Unions boss want Labor to go further after the next election by establishing an underpayment tribunal, which would mean workers no longer had to go through the Federal Courts small claims division to get back underpaid wages. Major Australian institutions, including national chains such as Coles, universities such as Sydney and Monash, and government agencies have confessed to accidentally underpaying workers in recent years, with many blaming the complexity of pay rules for the errors. Union leaders expect the new tribunal to be a key feature of negotiations with the government after the election. The proposal was knocked back by Labor during this term of parliament, leaving it unclear if the government would back the idea if it is re-elected. Sources within the union movement said its key objective at this election was to defend the government and cement the changes of the past three years, including the right to disconnect law that gives people more scope to refuse contact from employers outside working hours. The unions also want to defend the same job, same pay law that lifts wages for contractors who do the same work as paid employers, as well as the multi-employer bargaining regime that gives unions more power to get a single wage deal across an entire industry. Employment Minister Murray Watt will outline the new workplace commitment on Saturday, timing the news to coincide with the Easter weekend when thousands of workers are earning penalty rates, but the details of the draft law will depend on the outcome of the election. We will introduce legislation to ensure workers dont have their pay cut and their penalty rates are protected into the future, he said in a statement. Loading The legislation would only limit employers and unions in their disputes over awards at the Fair Work Commission, leaving it open to both sides to trade away penalty rates in return for higher wages in enterprise bargaining agreements. Awards set the default base pay rates in the Australian economy and are used by major businesses such as McDonalds and JB Hi-Fi, as well as many thousands of small businesses. The Australian Retailers Association is seeking to amend the award for supervisors, including those at supermarkets, to include a voluntary option for staff to receive a higher salary by agreeing to changes to penalty rates. If managers work above a certain number of hours a week or on a public holiday, this would be paid on top of their salary or they can choose to take time off in lieu, the association said when it took the case to the Fair Work Commission. Loading Watt intervened in the case in February to say he would oppose the association at the workplace umpire, saying a victory in their case would hurt penalty rates in all other industries. In the 2017 decision, the Fair Work Commission angered Labor and the unions by reducing Sunday penalty rates across the retail, fast food, hospitality and pharmacy industries. The Coalition government did not oppose those changes, which were phased in over several years, on the grounds that the lower rates would make it easier for small employers to stay open on weekends. The new commitment would amend the Fair Work Act to forbid changes to awards that cut penalty rates, effectively blocking industry groups from seeking the changes at the commission. The retail association has hit back at claims that it was slashing pay, saying it was seeking more flexibility but was not removing penalty rates, overtime or paid breaks. The changes apply to those earning 125 per cent of the minimum pay for retail managers. No employee can be forced to agree to the salary absorption option, the association said. The Coalition policy, called the Entrepreneurship Accelerator, will be offered to new businesses during the first three years of their operation and limits the incentives to small companies with relatively low taxable income. The tax offset applies to 75 per cent of the first $100,000 of taxable income for the business, and then falls to 50 per cent of the second $100,000. Any taxable income above $200,000 is taxed at the usual tax rate. In the second year of their operations, the businesses would qualify for a tax offset worth 60 per cent of the first $100,000 and 40 per cent of the second $100,000. Within a few days of becoming The Ages Bruce correspondent, I received an email from Amanjit Gill. She runs the controversial Facebook page City of Casey Transparency Advocate, and has her finger on the pulse of all things local. Her page has led to legal threats, and shes been reported to the Local Government Inspectorate as she publishes inconvenient screenshots, public documents and often-accusatory analysis. She haunts politicians of all levels and stripes, demanding straightforward answers to simple questions. I wanted to know more about the person behind the page, and what drives her. Amanjit Gill, the woman behind Casey Transparency Advocate Facebook page. Credit: Charlotte Grieve We met for coffee and chai at Cafe Transylvania in Hallam, and I learned Gills story is reflective of many in Bruce, and emboldens her dedication to democracy. Her parents moved from India in the 1970s to Endeavour Hills where life was not easy. As a child, she remembers putting groceries back on the shelf after her father was injured at his factory job. Money was tight but he worked hard to keep the house. We had to hustle, she says. There were fights at home, and bullying at school, but she focused on her studies and thrived in the public education system. Starting her schooling at Charcoal Lodge, she finished at Gleneagles Secondary College, graduating in 2000 as dux of the year. I got a great education. I was lucky to have teachers who were fastidious about English and maths, and I remember trying really hard, she says. She was the only student from her class to be accepted by the University of Melbourne, where she studied engineering. Girls dont leave the family home until theyre married in her culture, she says, so she made the three-hour round trip to uni multiple times a week using cars, buses and trains. The degree took seven years instead of five, but eventually, she graduated to the great pride of her family. Even on my mothers deathbed, she was talking about how I did engineering, she says with an embarrassed smile. She got a corporate job as a software engineer, but when her mother fell ill, Gill took care of her and used the time to retrain as a teacher, eventually returning to Gleneagles as a high school maths teacher. Her students were among the most disadvantaged in Melbourne, and classes were chaotic. Occasionally, it felt physically threatening, she says. Language barriers and learning difficulties only made things harder, and the school simply did not have the resources to keep up. She always stood up for her students, from African, Afghan, Pacific Island backgrounds, and they bonded over the shared migrant experience. At the start of the year theyd say, Miss, whats your nasho?. I would make them guess, but eventually, Id tell them Im Indian, Punjabi. And the kids would just light up and start telling me things about Hindi movies or Hindi actors. Gill worked hard creating coursework tailored to her students needs and noticed that with the right support, they could excel. Some of these kids had missed years of school, and had never done algebra, and theyre sitting in my year 11 maths class being taught algebra, she says. Thats great, thats gutsy and ambitious. We need this for the country we need ambition, we need industriousness, we need people who take risks and go out on a limb. And thats what theyre bringing. Loading Its this passion for the community that drives her commitment to keeping politicians accountable. She set up the Facebook page last year out of frustration that councillors involved in the Casey corruption saga began reapplying for public office. It made my blood run cold, she says. Completely remorseless. Burnt out from teaching, she took up an online masters degree in data science, and uses these skills to unearth public documents for her page. What started as a side project, has turned into an all-consuming passion, and a risky one given she has found herself on the receiving end of a legal threat. She engaged lawyers, who advised her the threat was unfounded, but her husband was terrified the threat alone could send them broke The post remains online and no apologies were issued. While some might have been scared into silence, the experience only emboldened Gill to keep going. While her primary focus is local government, shes recently turned her attention to the federal candidates vying to represent Bruce. When Zahid Safi was pre-selected by the Liberals, Gill was thrilled. An Afghan migrant who speaks Finnish and connects with constituents across the community? It seemed too good to be true. He seemed like a guy who gets it, she said. And obviously, hes got that million-dollar smile. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton in Berwick in the seat of Bruce on Monday flanked by Liberal candidate Zahid Safi and MP Jason Wood. Credit: James Brickwood But she became suspicious when her simple questions about his businesses were hidden from his campaign page and his general unwillingness to engage with the media. As for Labor member Julian Hill, he has also dodged some of her questions and she was disappointed to learn he doesnt live full-time in the electorate (see our post on this below). But she still thinks he is a solid representative for the community. Hes willing to talk in parliament about visa issues that other people stay away from because they dont want to get the hate, she says. The community notice that. In saying that, she believes local representation is more important in Bruce more than most other electorates. For people who are wealthy or who live in wealthier areas, it doesnt materially matter who is in government because theyre always going to be OK, she said. But for some of the people around here, they literally cant afford bad representation. Their quality of life is tethered to whoever is in government and whoever is representing them. If you didnt grow up here, or if you werent working class, you cant understand it. She wont tell anyone how to vote and has a clear vision for her page for which she receives no money but stays up late digging for documents out of a determination to make democracy work better. Candidates have so much power, and theyre just telling us whatever they want. I want to give people the unvarnished truth and not the version the candidates want you to have. Information is power. If I give people more information, then well balance the scales a bit more towards the community. Melbourne first home buyers could soon be able to purchase more expensive properties with a small deposit, but will need to look beyond the inner suburbs, or choose a unit instead of a house. First home buyers can pay a 5 per cent deposit and avoid lenders mortgage insurance under the existing First Home Guarantee Scheme, first introduced by the Morrison Coalition government. A federal Labor policy announced last weekend would lift the schemes property price cap from $800,000 to $950,000 in Melbourne. First home buyers are being offered assistance in the election campaign. Credit: Joe Armao Melbournes median house price rose to $1,035,887 in the March quarter, the latest Domain House Price Report, released on Thursday, showed. A price cap of $950,000 would expand the range of suburbs within reach in greater Melbourne. Building China-Cambodia community with shared future a choice of history, the people: Xi Xinhua) 08:05, April 18, 2025 Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Cambodian People's Party President and Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) PHNOM PENH, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said here Thursday that building a China-Cambodia community with a shared future is a choice of history and the people. Xi made the remarks when meeting with Cambodian People's Party President and Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen. China and Cambodia are not only friendly neighbors but also ironclad friends, he said, noting that both countries are currently at a critical stage of national development. Xi said that the two sides should keep in mind the well-being of their people and the progress of humanity, strive to set an example for building a community with a shared future for mankind in the course of advancing their respective modernization endeavors, and join hands to become forces for peace, stability and progress in a world undergoing profound transformations unseen in a century. China believes that Cambodia's road to national development and revitalization will become wider and wider, and will, as always, support the Cambodian People's Party in leading the Cambodian people to maintain national stability and economic development, Xi said, adding that China supports Cambodia in playing a more important role in the regional and international arena. The Chinese president said that the two sides should make good use of the newly established "2+2" strategic dialogue mechanism between foreign ministers and defense ministers of the two countries to strengthen strategic coordination. The two sides should deepen practical cooperation across various fields, advance the construction of Cambodia's Industrial and Technological Corridor and Fish and Rice Corridor, and strengthen collaboration in energy, transportation and other key sectors, enabling Cambodia to share more in China's development opportunities, Xi said. Xi emphasized that China is willing to engage in exchanges and mutual learning with Cambodia on major issues such as strengthening party building and advancing reform and development, and to deepen friendly cooperation between the China's National People's Congress and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference with National Assembly and Senate of the Kingdom of Cambodia. Unilateralism and hegemonism receive no support of the people, Xi said. History has shown the unstoppable trend toward a multipolar world, economic globalization, and cultural diversity, Xi said, adding that no country wants to return to isolation. The trade wars undermine the multilateral trading system and disrupt global economic order, Xi said, urging all countries to unite and firmly keep the reins of national security and development in their own hands, uphold mutual respect, pursue win-win cooperation and common development, and work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind. As Asia embarks on a new journey of collective revitalization, Xi noted, China will continue to follow the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness and the policy of developing friendship and partnership with neighboring countries, maintain the continuity and stability of its neighborhood diplomacy, deepen friendly cooperation with neighboring countries, so as to share the fruits of Chinese modernization more widely across the region, promote the building of a community with a shared future with neighboring countries, and work together to advance Asia's modernization. For his part, Hun Sen said this visit is of great significance to Cambodia. Noting that China is Cambodia's most steadfast supporter and most reliable partner, Hun Sen said China's support has made significant contributions to Cambodia's economic and social development and improvement of people's lives, for which the Cambodian side expresses its deep gratitude. Cambodia firmly adheres to the one-China policy, supports China's positions on issues related to Taiwan, Xinjiang and Xizang, and opposes any forces' interference in China's internal affairs, he said. China and Cambodia are ironclad friends, and the two countries' decision to build a China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era will make further progress, promoting high-level, high-quality and high-standard development of bilateral relations, Hun Sen said. The two countries will always move forward hand in hand, stand together through thick and thin and share a common destiny, he added. Hun Sen said that Cambodia is willing to strengthen strategic security cooperation with China and expand bilateral trade. Cambodia welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest in the country, and will join hands with China to promote the deepening of people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and intensify the crackdown on online gambling and telecom fraud, he added. The Cambodian side highly appreciates China's constructive role in promoting world peace and sustainable development, and supports the Belt and Road cooperation and the three major global initiatives proposed by China, which are conducive to safeguarding the common interests of the international community and promoting world peace, security and stability, Hun Sen said. Trade wars and tariff wars have undermined the legitimate interests of all countries and triggered turmoil in the international situation, Hun Sen said, adding that Cambodia is willing to strengthen cooperation with China and jointly address various risks and challenges. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Cambodian People's Party President and Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Palm Sunday in sunny Sumy, when a ballistic missile fired from Russia targets a trolley bus taking citizens and their children to church. Then a second missile hits, a minute or so later, to kill the rescuers who have come to help the 34 dead and more than 100 injured. US President Donald Trump says that hes heard (from whom?) that it was a mistake. It was not a mistake, it was a crime to add to the 150,000 war crimes committed by Russia in the past three years. Human rights barrister Geoffrey Robertson and US President Donald Trump. Credit: Putin denies his army made any mistake. His spokesman, Dimitry Peskov, claims that citizens were a legitimate target, because of the participation of soldiers at the centre of a densely populated city. This is not a defence the presence of a few soldiers going to church would not alter the fact that this was the intentional murder of innocent civilians, but it is advanced as a defence by Russia (and by Israel) for most of its unlawful attacks. So what, if anything, can be done about this war into which Trump has now blundered, blaming it on Volodymyr Zelensky and Crooked Joe and appointing an utterly unqualified billionaire property developer to negotiate a settlement, to the exclusion of Ukraine. Putins reported terms 20 per cent of the country, resignation of Zelensky and disavowal of NATO forever are unacceptable, so Russia will continue mass murdering its citizens with the indifference of the US. European countries are trying to come to terms with the world turned upside down in which the American president, hitherto leader of the free world, now votes at the UN with Russia and North Korea and tries to destroy the International Criminal Court. His declaration, to explain why he is defying his own court orders against deportation of Venezuelan immigrants without a hearing he who saves his country does not violate any law is the defence of tyrants and torturers down the ages. VERY DISTURBING THE honourable Supreme Court has rightly mirrored the national sentiment that the violent anti-Waqf law protests were very disturbing. A bench of Chief Justice Mr. Sanjiv Khanna, Mr. Justice Sanjay Kumar and Mr. Justice K.V. Viswanathan expressed its sense of grief and concern as it dealt with petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025 even when the matter was still pending with the courts. ... it should not happen, the three-member bench stressed, echoing the feeling of the vast majority of Indian people across religious lines. This strong expression of its sentiment by the honourable Supreme Court should be enough to give a message to the elements that are trying to create a political ferment on the properly, legally and constitutionally amended Waqf Act that has sought to correct the anomalies in the basic approach to the law and its structure that was hugely abused by vested interests over the past decade or so. No matter what the functionaries of the Government at different levels may have to say in this regard justifying the amended law, the common people, too, are in a position to see and sense a blatant politicalisation of the situation by vested interests. The general observation is that some political vested interests are trying to whip up Muslim sentiments by projecting utter falsehood and distortion about the amended law -- whereas reality is altogether different. And the unsuspecting people in the streets get swayed by that fanning of antagonism and start violent protests without actually understanding or knowing the details about the amended law correctly. The honourable Supreme Court has referred to this unfortunate reality of todays politics. Though the people have every right to demand change in law if such need is genuinely felt. On many occasions in the past, too, such demands have surfaced from time to time and suitable alterations, too, have been effected in certain laws that faced public scrutiny. But when the protests or demandrallies turn violent -- as if pre-meditated -- then doubts well up in the mind about a conspiratorial design to create disturbance in the larger Indian society against constitutionally-passed laws. This reality of the recent times has disturbed the honourable Supreme Court -- which is quite understandable. For, the honourable judges have only mirrored the public sentiment on the issue of the amended Waqf law. No matter the (violent) protests and strong Opposition statements, the common people in the street everywhere in the country realise that the amended law is not what the Opposition is trying to project. Much to the contrary, the people now realise -- thanks to the serious public-education campaign by the people in the ruling side -- that the amended law is not in least antagonistic to Muslim interests. They also realise that the amended Waqf Act will rectify the terrible wrongs that had come to afflict the overall Muslim community. The details of abuse of the old Waqf Act (before amendment) now in public domain are actually shocking, to say the least. Vested interests had created havoc in the country by claiming Waqf ownership of lands that, for example, were owned by Temple trusts etc for 15,00 or so years. Besides what the Government said in support of the amended law, the media is now full of reportage of how innocent people in large numbers are coming up to lodge complaints against unfair and illegal acquisitions under the old Waqf law. When facts are so clear, then why should some elements turn to violence against a constitutionally-amended Waqf Act? The honourable Supreme Courts sentiment has to be seen from this stand-point. It is time, therefore, that the countrys political community understood the truth and went by it and discourage undesirable elements from their dirty designs. 50% of birth certificates issued in city are bogus, claims Somaiya Kirit Somaiya interacting with newspersons at NMC Headquarters, on Thursday. Staff Reporter : The BJP leader seeks in-depth probe alleging Bangladeshi and Rohingyas infiltrating and registering through bogus identity documents Finding discrepancy in birth and death data given by Tehsildar and the record with Nagpur Municipal Corporation, about 50 per cent certificates may have been issued without proper documents, claimed Kirit Somaiya, former Member of Parliament, and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader. He called on Municipal Commissioner and Administrator Dr Abhijeet Chaudhari at NMC headquarters on Thursday evening and sought in depth probe to clear the air. Earlier, Somaiya also met with District Collector Dr Vipin Itankar at Collectorate and raised the issue of alleged bogus documents used for registration of birth and data. Later talking to newspersons at NMC's administrative building, Somaiya said, the issue of data discrepancy has been found in many towns of Maharashtra, which is disturbing trend. Particularly about 52 towns in Marathwada and Vidarbha seems to have this difference in numbers of certificates issued from office of Tehsildar vis-a-vis data with local municipal councils or municipalities. Hence, Somaiya said, he is gong to request Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to extend scope of SIT set-up in aftermath of surfacing of scam in issuance of death certificate at Malegaon, to entire State. This is needed to find out conspiracy, if any, since the modus operandi everywhere seems to be same. The inquiry will reveal whether bogus Aadhaar card and other residential proof documents were used to register illegal Bangladeshi who infiltrated the urban centers of Maharashtra. As to Nagpur specific, Somaiya said, as per data shared by Teshildar, about 1,839 applications were received for registration of birth/deaths and post scrutiny about 1,234 claims were found true while four applications were rejected. About 601 applications are still under scrutiny. But when the issue was broached-up with civic officials they informed that from their side only 639 certificates were issued and hence the BJP leader claimed nearly 50 per cent of documents issued might be cleared using bogus documents allegedly by Bangladeshi infiltrators. The data sheet provided by the Collectorate revealed that in Nagpur District, 4,350 applications were received for registration of birth and deaths. Of these, 2,271 were decided and certificates issued. About 19 applications were summarily rejected while 2,406 are under scrutiny. At NMC, senior officials including Additional Municipal Commissioner Vasumana Pant, Deputy Municipal Commissioner Ranjana Lad, Medical Health Officer Dr Dipak Selokar, Dr Atikur Rehman Khan, In-charge, Birth/Death Registration Department, NMC, and Mukesh Shambharkar, Statistics Officer, also were present during Somaiyyas interaction with the Municipal Commissioner. AI will dramatically increase data storage demand, straining sustainability: Report The report highlights that 90 per cent of Indian respondents are concerned about the environmental impact of data storage, with half identifying high energy consumption as their top issue A RECENT report has shown that 94.5 per cent of data centre professionals globally, including a significant number in India, expect AI to dramatically increase their data storage needs, highlighting a surge in demand that challenges sustainability efforts. The decarbonising data report by Seagate Technology reveals that in India, 63.3 per cent of respondents manage between 500 petabytes and 5 terabytes of data, reflecting the vast scale of storage requirements driven by AI growth. The rising data volumes, slowing power efficiency gains, and increasing AI adoption are putting pressure on organisations to manage carbon emissions, infrastructure expansion, and total cost of ownership (TCO) -- all at once. The findings are based on insights from 330 data centre professionals responding across 11 markets, including Australia, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, North America, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. The report highlights that 90 per cent of Indian respondents are concerned about the environmental impact of data storage, with half identifying high energy consumption as their top issue. Despite this, only a small fraction prioritise environmental factors in purchasing decisions, showing a gap between awareness and action. Jason Feist, Senior Vice President of Cloud Marketing at Seagate, said, Data centres are under intense scrutiny -- not only because they support modern AI workloads, but because they are becoming one of the most energy-intensive sectors of the digital economy. He emphasised the need to optimise for both cost and sustainability, rather than treating them as trade-offs. Key barriers to adopting sustainable data storage in India include limited physical space, unreliable electricity sources, and the high cost of building data centre infrastructure. The report also notes a disconnect in lifecycle management: while 92.2 per cent globally acknowledge the importance of extending storage equipment life to reduce waste, only 15.5 per cent consider it a top purchasing factor. In India, 13.3 per cent of respondents are uncertain about the sustainability benefits of lifecycle extension. The Seagates report urges a unified approach across the data centre ecosystem, advocating technological innovation, lifecycle extension, and shared accountability to meet rising AI demands sustainably. CBI probe sought into Rs 2,200 cr liquor scam Confidential letter by BJP legal cell functionary details deep-rooted excise-finance- political nexus PMO and Home Minister marked in explosive Apr 10 letter backed by multiple enclosures spanning over 200 pages SEOIACB accused of shielding top officials through selective, incomplete investigation Mukesh S Singh Raipur, The Chhattisgarh administration has found itself in a state of deepening unease after receiving a confidential letter demanding that the multi-crore liquor scam be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for an independent and credible probe. The communication, routed directly to the Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and the Chief Secretary, and marked to both the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) and the Union Home Minister, has called into question the integrity of the ongoing investigation by the State Economic Offences Investigation and Anti Corruption Bureau (SEOIACB). It alleges that the current probe is selective, sanitised, and designed to shield powerful bureaucrats and political beneficiaries, instead of unearthing the full scale of institutional complicity. The Hitavada has exclusively accessed the April 10 letterbacked by multiple enclosures spanning over 200 pagesthrough well-placed sources in the State Administration. Authored by Naresh Chandra Gupta, a practising lawyer, the letter outlines an elaborate chain of violationsranging from audit failures and procurement manipulation to forged despatch logs, untraceable RTI records, and alleged laundering of illicit cash proceeds from liquor sales. It paints a disturbing picture of collusion between Chhattisgarh State Marketing Corporation Limited (CSMCL), Excise Department, and local police networks functioning under a carefully constructed web of political and bureaucratic patronage during 20192023. At the operational level, the complaint states that barcode contracts were repeatedly awarded to a single vendor without open retendering, undermining transparency in excise tracking. Despatches from bonded warehouses reportedly occurred without night-time inspections, in violation of Excise Rule 22(3). Stock registers failed to align with warehouse movement logs and e-payment ledgers. When RTI queries were filed, responses claimed records were not found or no longer traceable. Gupta contends this deliberate erasure constitutes a breach of the Public Records Act and warrants prosecution under anti-corruption statutes. The complaint identifies key figures allegedly complicit or negligent in enabling the scam. These include Bhupesh Baghel (former Chief Minister), Vivek Dhand (retired Chief Secretary), Anil Tuteja (retired IAS), Arunpati Tripathi (former MD, CSMCL), Soumya Chaurasia (suspended Deputy Secretary), Ashish Verma, Manish Banchhor, Sanjay Mishra, Manish Mishra, Vikas Agarwal alias Subbu, Sanjay Diwan, Arvind Singh, and Aijaz Dhebar (named via proximity). The letter also lists Niranjan Das (then Excise Secretary), A.P. Tripathy, and Sisir Raizada (NIC), alleging software manipulation to suppress excise data. Among implicated distillery and licensee actors are Navin Kedia (Chhattisgarh Distilleries Pvt Ltd), Bhupender Pakl Singh Bhatia (Bhatia Wine Merchants), Rajender Jaiswal (Welcome Distilleries), Siddarth Singhania (Top Securities), and directors of firms allegedly favoured for F.L.10-A licences: Sanjay and Manish Mishra (Nexgen Power Engitech), Atul Kumar Singh and Mukesh Manchanda (Om Sai Beverage), and Ashish Saurabh Kedia (Dishita Ventures). One of the most serious allegations implicates Abhishek Maheshwari, Additional SP (Intelligence), as coordinator of an off-the-books cash funnel. Proceeds from illegal liquor sales were reportedly aggregated at local police stations and then routed to Maheshwaris residence, before being delivered to a safe house owned by Anwar Dhebar, brother of Aijaz Dhebar, former Mayor of Raipur. The complaint asserts this laundering channel was central to the scam, yet conspicuously excluded from the current probe. Further, it accuses A P Tripathy of directing alterations to excise software and Sisir Raizada of executing those changes. These manipulations, it alleges, enabled ghost despatches, fake inventories, and forged liquor distribution logscrippling oversight mechanisms. In his role as State BJP Office In-Charge, Gupta assembled internal documents, RTI denials, audit violations, and administrative loopholes to build the case. A senior official of Chhattisgarh Administration confided to this reporter, The names listed in the complaint and the scale of ignored audit flags show that the state machinerys current course of investigation is not just incompleteit is complicit. The source noted that the April 10 letter offers strong grounds for a prima facie case under IPC Sections 409, 420, 467, 120B, and Sections 13(1)(d) and 17 of the Prevention of Corruption Actprovisions that empower the CBI to take charge in matters of grave public concern. Gupta concluded by stating that In keeping with the commitments made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the case must be transferred to the CBI to restore public faith in the promised clean-up. CRPF Backbone of mission to rid country of Naxalism by March 2026: Amit Shah Union Home Minister Amit Shah presenting an award to a Jawan during the Central Reserve Police Forces (CRPF) Raising Day parade in Neemuch on Thursday. (PTI) NEEMUCH : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said that Naxalism, which is confined to just four districts in India, will be eliminated by March 31 next year, and the CRPF is the backbone of this mission. He was addressing the Central Reserve Police Forces (CRPF) 86th Raising Day function in Madhya Pradeshs Neemuch district. Naxalism has been confined to just four districts in India. The menace will end in the country by March 31, 2026, as stated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The CAPF (Central Armed Police Forces) and the CRPF, especially its CoBRA battalion, are playing a major role in eliminating Naxalism from the country, he said. The Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) is a specialised unit of the CRPF, known for its proficiency in guerrilla and jungle warfare, particularly in combating the Naxal menace. The CRPF has set up over 400 forward operating bases in Naxal (affected) areas. Because of this, violence in these regions has come down by more than 70 per cent and we are now close to ending it, Shah said. He said that the CRPFs contribution to national security is unparalleled, whether it is fighting terrorists in the Kashmir valley, ensuring peace in the Northeast, or confining hardened Naxalites to just four districts today. In all these achievements, the CRPF jawans have played a major role. No number of books can do justice to their bravery, sense of duty and courage, he said. One of the greatest achievements of the CRPF is its massive contribution in eliminating Naxalism, the Union Home Minister said. Today, even the most dreaded Naxalites tremble when they hear about CoBRA commandos approaching, he said. The CoBRA battalion has become a symbol of valour. I congratulate all CoBRA jawans on the 86th (Raising Day) parade and thank them for their courage, Shah said. Under your leadership, the CRPF jawans have made remarkable strides in eradicating Naxalism. And today, I announce that by March 31, 2026, Naxalism will be completely wiped out from India. This is a pledge the nation has taken and the CRPF is the backbone of this mission, he added. The CRPF has always made the ultimate sacrifice to maintain the unity and integrity of the country, Shah noted. Thats why, whenever there is unrest anywhere in the country and, as home minister, I get to know that CRPF jawans are deployed there, I can focus on my other duties without worry because I have faith that if the CRPF is present, victory is assured, he said. Shah further said, 2,264 among you have sacrificed their lives. I want to say to families of all the martyrs that as the nation moves forward towards becoming the supreme power by 2047, your families contribution is immense. When the golden history of India's independence is written, the saga of our immortal martyrs sacrifice will be written in golden letters. I am fully confident of this, he said. The event here was part of the 86th Raising Day celebrations of the CRPF, an official release said. The CRPF Day is celebrated every year on March 19, as it was on this day in 1950 that the flag was presented to the force by the then Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. This year, the parade was held on April 17 as part of extended celebrations. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav also attended the event. It was in Neemuch on July 27, 1939, that the Crown Representative Police was established during British rule, which was renamed as Central Reserve Police Force by Home Minister Patel on December 28, 1949. The CRPF has played a strong role in many fronts, ranging from the integration of princely states to internal security, counter-insurgency-terrorism operations, international peace-keeping, VIP security and disaster management. Googles digital ad networkdeclared illegal monopoly AleXaNDria : GOOGLE has been branded an abusive monopolist by a federal judge for the second time in less thana year,this time forillegallyexploitingsomeofitsonline marketing technology to boost the profits fuelling an internet empire currently worth USD 1.8 trillion. TherulingissuedonThursday by US District Judge Leonie Brinkema in Virginia comes on the heels of a separate decision in August that concluded Googlesnamesakesearchengine has been illegally leveraging its dominancetostiflecompetition and innovation. After the US Justice Department targeted Googles ubiquitoussearchengineduring President Donald Trumps first administration, the same agency went after the companys lucrative digital advertising networkin2023duringPresident Joe Bidens ensuing administration in an attempt to undercut the powerthat Google has amassed since its inception in a Silicon Valley garage in 1998. Although antitrust regulatorsprevailed both times, the battleis likely to continue for several more years as Google tries tooverturnthetwomonopolydecisions in appeals while forgingahead in the new and highlylucrative technological frontierof artificial intelligence. Thenext stepinthe latest caseis a penalty phase that will likelybeginlatethisyearorearlynext year. The same so-called remedyhearings in the search monopoly case are scheduled to beginMonday in Washington DC, where Justice Department lawyers will try to convince USDistrict Judge Amit Mehta toimpose a sweeping punishmentthatincludesaproposedrequirementforGoogletosellitsChromeweb browser Pan-African operator Orange says it has launched the first-ever 'My Customer, My Boss' initiative simultaneously in its 17 subsidiaries in Middle East and Africa. Called an unprecedented operation, this is described as a first on a continental scale for a company of this size. It aims to strengthen customer listening at all levels of the organisation, by mobilising, on the same day, more than 10,000 employees from all functions, to go directly to meet 15,000 customers located in 120 cities and villages. Inspired by a successful initiative launched in Sierra Leone, this approach marks a new stage in the management culture of Orange Middle East and Africa (Orange MEA) making every employee an actor of customer satisfaction, whatever their role in the company. In large cities as well as more remote areas, teams talked with general customers, companies, Orange Money users and partners to better understand their expectations and uses. This initiative, which is set to become an annual event, is part of a process of continuous improvement of the customer experience to assess customers satisfaction, understand their expectations and continue to improve the services intended for them. The feedback gathered in the field will be analysed using the latest artificial intelligence technologies and transformed into concrete actions during internal hackathons organised in each country. To facilitate data collection, a mobile application was developed by Gofiled, a startup from Orange Digital Centre in Tunisia. Brelotte Ba, Deputy CEO of Orange Middle East and Africa, comments: With My Customer, My Boss, we demonstrate that our commitment to serve is collective, concrete and forward-looking by organising for the first time, on a continent scale, a collective mobilisation of this magnitude. IIT Hyderabad helps Indian Army build worldsfirst on-site 3D-printed military bunker in Leh BENGALURU : WITH the help of the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, a Hyderabad-based deep-tech startup,Simpli forge Creations,has built the worlds first on-site 3D printed bunker in Leh for military use. Project Prabalenvisages military bunkersindifferentconfigurations in remote locations at higher altitudes, said Professor K V L Subramaniam of IIT-Hyderabad, under whose guidance the project was conceptualised. The demonstration project that we did is located in Leh, at an altitude of 11,000 feet above sea level, and we completed the construction under what is called HALO conditions high altitude and low oxygen, Subramaniam told PTI. According to him, thanks to a lot of planning, they managed to achieve the project in under two weeks,including the transportation of the printer to the remote spot. The location was highly inhospitable, where we had to function at 40 to 50 per cent oxygen levels. Lack of oxygen meant both man and machine had to perform at lower efficiency levels, said the professor. The team is also behind the worlds first 3D-printed temple inside Charvitha Meadows, a gated villa community at Burugupalli inSiddipet,Telangana.Butthemilitary project took several attempts before they could perfect the concrete mix required for high-altitude printing, added Subramaniam. We tried to simulatetheconditionsprevalentinthe chosen location to get the mix right, said the professor. As it was a defence construction, they were also required to design a specially geometric-patterned facade,which would minimise the ricochet of bullets, said Subramaniam. We created undulations on the surface,which,incidentally,ispossibleonlywith3Dprintingsothat bullets would not bounce off the structure, he added. Its a monumental leap for defence infrastructure and construction technology, said Dhruv Gandhi, CEO of Simpliforge Creations,whichwillnowberolling out several bunkers in different configurations using the proven design and technology for the Indian Army. NARRATING ORDEAL Violence-hit Murshidabad victims meet WB Governor KOLKATA : Seek permanent BSF camp in area WEST Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar on Thursday took a group of people, rendered homeless due to the recent riots in Murshidabad, to the Raj Bhawan, where they narrated their ordeal to Governor C V Ananda Bose. They also requested the Governor to ensure permanent central force security arrangements for their safety, jobs, and financial compensation. The victims, who have been living in a relief camp after allegedly being attacked and driven out of their homes, told the governor how their belongings were looted and houses, shops, and properties set on fire, forcing them to flee with the help of the central forces. Choking with emotion, they demanded the setting up of a permanent BSF camp in the area to ensure their safety and prevent further violence. They also urged the Governor to help them secure Government jobs, besides ensuring monetary compensation so that they can rebuild their lives. Before the meeting, Governor Bose told reporters, This is a sensitive issue. I have full sympathy with the victims who lost their homes and livelihoods. I will meet them to hear their grievances and prepare a detailed report. These people are victims of targeted violence. The state government has failed to protect them, Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar had said. The BJP has been alleging large-scale political violence and lawlessness in parts of West Bengal, while the State Government has denied such claims Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in theWest Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, has filed a petition in the Calcutta High Court on Thursday demanding that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) be assigned to probe the recentviolenceinMurshidabad district. Adhikarispetitioncitedprovisions under Section 6 of the NIA Act to request the central agencys intervention. He alleged that the incident involved Bangladeshi elements and posed a serious threat to national security.Thematteris expected to be taken up for hearing soon. Earlier, the Calcutta High Courthaddirectedthedeployment of central forces in Murshidabadfollowingreports of large-scale violence. According to severalreports and video footage from April 13, a Border Security Force (BSF) team was allegedly attacked with crude bombs, in thepresenceofstatepolicepersonnel.Adhikarispetitionalso includes the suspected links between the violence and cross-border infiltration from Bangladesh.Adhikaricitedthat a Trinamool Congress (TMC) spokespersonhasadmittedthe Bangladeshi connectiontothe unrest. Furthermore,Adhikariurged the courtto allow a probe similar to the Ramnavmi incident inMurshidabadtoensureafair and independent inquiry. He also requested that the Court shouldinstructthe state government to restrict permissions for mass gatherings or rallies, especially protests againsttheWaqfAct.Healleges that such events have previously resulted in violence and attacks on law enforcement personnel. Earlier,Adhikariaccusedthe TMC leaders of orchestrating communal violence in Murshidabad district. Adhikari alleged that,From Mothabari to Dhulian, TrinamoolCongressleadersare themainconspiratorsandcatalystsofanti-Hinduriots.Such toxic politics of Trinamool Congress is just an attempt to endanger Hindus and enrich their own vote bank. They are the ones who are disturbingthepeacebyspreading hatred in society and incitingfundamentalists.Theirhate speechandactivitiesaredirectlyresponsibleforcreatingriots. It is time to unmask these rioters, he added. No police protection for couplesmarrying against parents will: HC PRAYAGRAJ : THE Allahabad High Court has observed that couples who marry of their own will against the wishes of their parents cannot claim police protectionasa matter of right unless there is a real threatperceptiontotheirlifeand liberty. The court gave the ruling while deciding an application filed by a couple seeking protection. It said the court can provide security to a couple in a deserving case but in the absence of any threat perception, such a couple must learn to support each other and face the society. Justice Saurabh Srivastava made this observation while hearing a writ petition filed by Shreya Kesarwani and her husband seeking police protection and a direction for the private respondents not to interfere in their peaceful marital life. The court after going through the averments made in their petition, disposed of their writ petition,notingthattherewas noserious threat perception to the petitioners. Disposing of the writ petition, the court observed, There is no requirement of passing any order for providing police protection to them in the light of judgment rendered by the Supreme Court in the case of Lata Singh Vs State of UP and another,where in it has been held that the courts are not meant to provide protection to such youths who have simply fled to marry according to their own wishes. There was no material or reason to conclude that the petitioners life and liberty were inperil. Thereisnotevenaniota of evidence to evince that private respondents (relatives of eitherofthepetitioners)arelikely to cause physical or mental assault to the petitioners, the court noted. In addition, the court noted that the petitioners had not submitted a specific application in the form of information to the concerned police authorities to file any FIRagainst the alleged illegal conduct of the private respondents. However, noting that the petitioners had already submitted a representation to the superintendent of police(SP),Chitrakoot district, the court said, In case the concerned police find a real threat perception, they will do the needful in accordance with law. Against this backdrop, the court stressed that if any person misbehaves or manhandles them, the courts and the police authorities are there to come to their rescue SHALARTH ID SCAM Cyber Police pick up 2 main accused on production warrant Staff Reporter : Cyber Police of Nagpur City Police too have swung into operation in Shalarth ID scam as, on Thursday, they secured custody of officials Ulhas Narad, Divisional Deputy Director, School Education, and peon Suraj Naik. The two were taken into custody after procuring production warrant as the accused duo was lodged in Central Jail post their remand to magisterial custody. The two are accused of facilitating cyber theft of 580 Shalarth IDs that were allegedly misused to facilitate appointment of bogus teachers in Nagpur Division. So far, Sadar Police, where the offence was registered, were investigating the scam. They had arrested five persons and on Wednesday, they were remanded to MCR post completion of police custody. But now, Cyber Police have opened new front as the accused persons allegedly created bogus IDs for the beneficiaries of the scam to facilitate salary deposit. It may be mentioned that a seven-member committee was appointed under the chairmanship of Ulhas Narad to probe dubious appointments in the tenure of Netam, then Deputy Education Officer. On March 12, Ravindra Patil, Junior Administrative Officer, Deputy Director, Education office, lodged a FIR as to theft of Shalarth IDs with Cyber Police Station of Nagpur City Police. Sadar Police arrest one more in scam Sadar Police have arrested one more person in the ongoing investigation in Shalarth ID scam. As police unravel the case one after another, deeper conspiracy is unfolding, showing systematic manipulation of the records, usage of bogus documents, and misuse of power by officials in School Education Department. Meanwhile, on Thursday, the cops picked up Mahendra Mhaiskar (44), a resident of Awale Nagar, Teka Naka. He was one of the beneficiaries of the largesse of the main accused and is a teacher in one of the schools at Arjuni Morgaon in Bhandara district. During the investigation, the cops learnt that the kingpin of the scam, Naresh Meshram had prepared bogus educational qualification and experience certificate of Parag Pudke and the same work was carried out through Mhaiskar. Mhaiskar prepared the bogus documents, used fake stamps to certificate of teaching experience of Pudke when later had not worked anywhere. With the help of the bogus documents in the name of SKB School, Pudke got appointed and later, was promoted to head a school. Stray Keepers Foundation advances welfare measures for stray animals Staff Reporter RAIPUR, Stray Keepers Animal Welfare Foundation, founded by three young doctors to improve the lives of animals, continues to make a meaningful impact in Raipur through a series of compassionate, community-driven initiatives focused on the care of stray animals. The Foundation is led by Dr. Deepshikha Chandrawanshi (ENT Surgeon), Dr. Awantika Thakur (Anatomist) and Dr. Monika Singh Thakur (Ophthalmologist). Marking World Stray Animals Day, the Foundation organized an Essential First Aid Training Programme for Animals at Nukkads Bihan Cafe in Raipur. The workshop trained 40 participants, equipping them with practical skills in emergency response and primary treatment for stray and pet animals. Veterinary experts Dr. Major Naleen Sharma, Dr. Padam Jain, Dr. Santosh Adil, and Dr. Dolly conducted sessions on conditions such as hyperthermia, hypothermia, choking and poisoning. The speakers emphasized ethical practices in treatment while warning against common malpractices. Adding a legal perspective, team member and lawyer Shaily sensitized attendees about laws pertaining to animal abuse. During the event, Dr. Deepshikha also introduced the NGOs upcoming First Aid Kit Programme, aimed at making essential treatment kits accessible to rescuers. Co-founders Dr. Monika and Dr. Awantika spoke about the Foundations journey, and dedicated volunteers including Sagar, Tupendra, Shruti, Pradhyumn, and Vedika contributed in organizing the programme. Extending its outreach, Stray keepers participated in a nationwide reflective collar drive supported by The Better India and Pawsitivity. As part of the campaign, simultaneously conducted in cities like Jammu, Indore, Mumbai, and Pune, 300 stray dogs in Raipur were fitted with radium collars. These QR-enabled collars improve visibility at night, helping reduce road accidents, while also enabling tracking of sterilization and vaccination records, crucial for better population and health management. To address the challenges of summer heat, the Foundation also carried out a water bowl and sakora distribution drive at Marine Drive, Telibandha. Free water bowls were distributed to caregivers and volunteers for installation in areas frequented by animals. The initiative aimed to prevent dehydration and heatstroke among community animals while encouraging public participation in animal care. Vietnamese mobile operators Mobifone, Viettel and VNPT have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to create a platform under the GSMA Open Gateway initiative to combat online fraud using open CAMARA APIs. Under the MoU, Mobifone, Viettel and VNPT will work with the GSMA to focus on developing and implementing APIs that address critical functions such as authentication, fraud prevention, location services, device verification, and payments. According to new research by ThinkHowe, commissioned by the GSMA, Vietnamese consumers are increasingly wary of financial fraud, with over 89% expressing concerns about account hacking and data breaches. The MoU also marks the official entry of Mobifone and VNPT into the Open Gateway initiative. Viettel joined the initiative in February 2024. Vu Van Trieu, deputy general director for VNPT Media Corporation, said joining the initiative is an opportunity for the telco to expand cooperation in five key open API domains: user authentication, telco services, digital finance, IoT and 5G, and scoring, lead generation and fraud score. In particular, for digital payment solutions, VNPT aims to deploy interoperable models for cross-border transaction processing, reconciliation, and authentication contributing to building an inclusive financial ecosystem in Vietnam, he said in a statement. Julian Gorman, GSMAs head of APAC, said the collaboration between Mobifone, Viettel and VNPT will transforming them into developer-ready platforms to support fintech, e-commerce, and digital services. Their collaboration marks a significant step towards creating a more integrated and innovative digital ecosystem in Vietnam, he said. By leveraging the power of APIs, these operators will play a crucial role in driving digital transformation and fostering secure, trustworthy fintech innovation across the region. Gorman also noted that more than 280 mobile networks representing 80% of the worlds mobile connections are now taking part in the Open Gateway initiative. The MoU was signed earlier this week at the GSMA Digital Summit Hanoi event, where fraud management and digital security were prominent themes. On one hand, high mobile adoption and a flourishing e-wallet market are unlocking incredible opportunities for economic growth and financial inclusion. On the other, rising scams and identity threats are putting consumer trust at risk," Gorman said. Discussions covered practical measures to combat digital fraud, including real-time transaction verification, multi-factor authentication, Silent OTP solutions, and closer collaboration between mobile operators, banks, and fintech players. Sessions also addressed the threat of SIM-swap fraud and how API-driven security tools can be effectively integrated across sectors. At the same event, the GSMA signed an MoU with the Vietnam Digital Communications Association (VDCA) to deepen cooperation on accelerating Vietnams mobile and digital communications ecosystem. Vietnamese state telco MobiFone has reportedly applied to prime minister Pham Minh Chinh for approval to enter the countrys national defence and security sector as part of its future growth strategy. According to the official Vietnam News Service, Mobifone said at a working session this week held by the Ministry of Public Security that it has completed key procedures to operate under the special mechanism of a defence and security enterprise, including proposing a new organisational charter. Mobifone also said its working with relevant units to revise its financial regulations and internal processes to support the new role. The Public Security ministry took control of Mobifone from the Commission for the Management of State Capital at Enterprises (CMSC) in February this year. The report said that the transfer aligns with the goals of the governments Project 06 initiative to drive Vietnams digital transformation. The report added that MobiFone will have more opportunities under the ministry to develop digital infrastructure that meets the governments requirements for a digital government, economy and society. Public Security minister General Luong Tam Quang said at the meeting on Tuesday that MobiFone needs to focus on building a strong legal framework to support its general operations, which will enable more stable and sustainable development as it prepares to enter the national security sector, the report said. Quang also instructed Mobifone to focus on exploring its core strengths to develop effective telecoms and technology products that serve both the companys growth and the national interest, the report added. According to figures from CMSC released at the end of last year, MobiFone's profit before tax in 2024 was estimated at over VND2 trillion (US$78.2 million), beating its annual target by 20.6%. Its digital services such as cloud, digital agriculture and video conferencing are also seeing significant growth rates, the report said. Jewellery looted | IMPHAL, Apr 18 : Unidentified miscreants looted jewellery worth over Rs 2 crore from Dhanapati Jewellery at Palace Compound opposite Kripadashini Advanced Hospital under Porompat police station today. The incident took place at around 6.24 pm today. According to reports culled from the spot, the miscreants came in a black two wheeler vehicle. The shop belongs to Laipubam Dhanapati Devi (47), w/o Bachaspatimayum Rama Sharma of Brahmapur Bachaspati Leikai. In todays digital age, its easy to get caught up in mindless scrolling and spend hours on our phones. With the abundance of social media platforms and endless content, it can be challenging to strike a balance between screen time and real-life experiences. This is where Roots comes in a screen time management tool designed to help users take control of their phone habits and reclaim their time. Features Roots offers a range of features aimed at improving phone habits and promoting a more balanced lifestyle: Balance Score: Visualize your progress over time and track the time spent on and off your phone to create a healthier balance in your daily life. App Limits: Set time limits for specific apps to reduce distractions and focus on what truly matters. App Downtimes: Schedule phone-free time to be more present in important moments throughout the day. Streaks: Build streaks by staying under your time limits and unlock achievements and rewards to stay motivated. Monk Mode: Challenge yourself with hard limits on app usage that cannot be skipped, promoting intentional phone usage. Challenges: Join detox challenges to transform your screen time habits over time and be more intentional with your phone usage. Roots is designed to be your friendly accountability partner in achieving better balance in a digital world. By setting boundaries with your phone and unlocking more time for meaningful experiences, Roots aims to help users reduce screen time, be more present in their lives, and focus on what truly matters. Whether youre looking to decrease mindless scrolling, limit daily phone usage, or be more intentional with your screen time, Roots offers a variety of tools and features to support your journey towards a healthier relationship with technology. With real success stories from users who have reclaimed hours of their day and found a reliable way to limit phone usage, Roots is a community-driven tool that helps individuals prioritize their time and make the most out of their daily lives. Roots is backed by science and designed to create real change in screen time habits. By setting clear intentions, tracking progress, and replacing scrolling with activities you love, Roots empowers users to be more productive, present, and balanced in a digital world. Overall, Roots is the ultimate solution for better balance in a digital world. If youre looking to escape the doomscroll and take control of your phone habits, Roots may be the tool you need to unlock more time for what truly matters in your life. Pricing Roots offers a Free plan with basic features like Balance Score, Screen Time Insights, and 2 App Limits. The Roots Plus plan includes additional features like Unlimited App Limits, Monk Mode, Digital Dopamine, and Uninstall protection for $59.99/year or monthly billing. Visit getroots.app for more. Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter , Facebook and Instagram. Institute of Engineering & Management (IEM), University of Engineering and Management (UEM), Kolkata, organised the international conference Innovate 2025 (World AI, Automation and Technology Forum) in Davos, Switzerland on 16-18 April. Innovate 2025 Davos forum brings together global experts to advance AI and automation research, focusing on practical applications and industry-academia collaboration. It aims to drive innovation, address ethical challenges, and promote responsible AI governance, exploring its potential to transform key sectors like healthcare, finance, and smart cities. Advertisement Prof Dr Satyajit Chakrabarti, director of IEM-UEM Group and conference patron, extended a warm welcome to the audience. He highlighted the universitys notable achievements and discussed its collaborative efforts with esteemed international organizations and universities. He stated: The Innovate 2025 Davos Forum and conference will create a lot of opportunities and we are hopeful that IEM and UEM students will be immensely benefited by these connections for incubation of their innovation ideas for successful research projects and start-ups. Advertisement Dr Rajashree Paul, chief executive officer, SMART Society, USA, said: This conference is surely a reminder that progress in innovation and technology go hand in hand. Dr Ivo Hajnal, professor, University of Innsbruck, Austria and the keynote speaker of Innovate 2025, quoted: The importance of AI and especially LLM for Applied Linguistics will undoubtedly continue to grow and complement or even replace existing methods. The conference witnessed participation from all over the world with an impressive acceptance ratio of 35 per cent. Through these collaborations, students of IEM-UEM Group will have access to valuable opportunities in Europe for higher studies and internships at renowned universities. Acting on the directives of chief minister Mamata Banerjee, administrative officials from Malda and Murshidabad districts jointly visited a relief camp at Parlalpur High School in Malda on Thursday to build confidence among families displaced by recent communal unrest. The victims, mostly from Suti, Samserganj, Dhulian, and Raghunathganj areas of Murshidabad, fled their homes after communal violence broke out following protests against the amended Waqf Act. Over 200 people from 61 families are currently sheltered at the school, fearing fresh attacks. Advertisement The visiting officials included Malda Sadar SDO Pankaj Tamang, additional SP Sambhav Jain, Kaliachak SDPO Faizal Reza, Kaliachak Block III BDO Sukanta Sikdar, and Samserganj BDO from Murshidabad, Sumit Kumar Lodh. The officials interacted with the displaced families, took note of their immediate needs, and assured them of full administrative support for a safe return. Advertisement Officials informed the families that the school, which accommodates nearly 3,000 students, will resume classes from Friday, and the premises must be vacated. A few families agreed to return home after receiving assurances of protection. However, some expressed fear of renewed violence, citing threats received during the earlier unrest. To allay their fears, an officer using a hand-held microphone informed the camp residents that the Border Security Force (BSF) would remain deployed in the affected areas to ensure safety. The administration is planning to set up a temporary BSF camp there for the next three months. Officials further assured the families that restoration work has begun to meet essential needs such as clean drinking water, electricity, and basic infrastructure. Police will escort the returning families to their homes to ensure their safety. Speaking to the media in Kolkata, chief minister Mamata Banerjee emphasised that restoring confidence among the victims is the administrations top priority. We will rebuild their homes under the Banglar Bari scheme and ensure they get essential support, she said. The CM also appealed to political leaders and other visitors from outside the region to refrain from visiting the affected areas for now. This is a sensitive time. Even I have refrained from going, just to maintain peace. Visitors can go later. Right now, the priority is to support the victims, Miss Banerjee added. Trinamul Congress has begun its ambitious voter verification exercise today, with BLA-2 representatives beginning door-to-door visits across West Bengal. The initiative operates through the newly-deployed Didir Doot app, which went live Wednesday. The verification drive was preceded by district-wise press conferences conducted by district presidents and MLAs to explain the campaigns objectives. Advertisement The verification campaign aims to identify and remove ghost voters from electoral rollsa concern first highlighted by TMC chairperson Mamata Banerjee during her 27 February address at Kolkatas Netaji Indoor Stadium. Advertisement As morning fog lifted over rural Bengal on Thursday, BLA-2 workers could be seen navigating narrow lanes with smartphones in hand, speaking with residents, who often welcomed them with curious expressions and cups of tea. The comprehensive drive slated to cover more than 80,000 booths throughout the state was operational in 26 organisational districts on Day 1. The specially designed app enables real-time verification with geo-tagging capabilities, allowing ground workers to submit seamless reports and updates. BLA-2 personnel are updating existing voter lists based on findings from their door-to-door surveys, with training for this process already conducted across several districts. The verification effort is expected to continue until next years state elections, following TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjees directive that voter list revision should be ongoing throughout the year. During a virtual meeting on 15 March, Banerjee referenced developments in Maharashtra and Delhi, where fake voters were added shortly before Assembly elections. Beyond its data collection function, the Didir Doot app features Reddit-like interactive capabilities, enabling users to connect over a dashboard. It also allows users to share updates, photos, and videos related to the verification process and party activities. In a historic achievement, smartphones emerged as Indias largest export category in the first 10 months of FY25 marking a major success story under the governments production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme, Union Minister for Electronics and IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, said on Thursday. He credited the decade-long partnership between the government and industry for this feat, noting that in FY14, smartphones were ranked as Indias 167th export category a sharp contrast to their number 1 position today. Advertisement Smartphone PLI scheme reaches new highs: Smartphones emerged as Indias largest export in first 10 months of FY25. In FY14, smartphone exports were ranked 167th. Number 1 position is result of a 10-year government-industry partnership, he wrote on the social media platform X. Advertisement The Union Minister also said that smartphone exports had touched a record Rs 2 lakh crore, highlighting the transformative shift in Indias electronics manufacturing ecosystem. Calling it a record-breaking moment, Vaishnaw, in his X post, said that this achievement reflects the growth of global value chains (GVCs) within India and the rising contribution of domestic firms to global supply networks. The smartphone sectors rapid ascent has also translated into lakhs of new jobs, especially for women, and expanding opportunities for Indian MSMEs, as the PLI scheme deepens local value addition. According to earlier industry reports, smartphone exports had already crossed Rs 1.75 lakh crore between April 2024 and February 2025 driven by robust global demand and strategic shifts by tech giants. The growth is being largely credited to the PLI scheme, which has enabled India to not only boost exports but also dramatically reduce dependence on imports. Currently, about 99 per cent of the smartphones sold in the country are manufactured domestically. Apple has been the single largest contributor to Indias smartphone exports, with iPhones accounting for nearly 70 per cent of total shipments. Earlier report suggests that the companys key suppliers Foxconn in Tamil Nadu and Tata Electronics via Wistron and Pegatron units have played an instrumental role in ramping up output. Foxconn alone contributed around 50 per cent of the total exports, recording a 40 per cent year-on-year (YoY) growth. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has attached the property of a school in the city for non-payment of property tax. The MCD has taken strict action against Satbhrawan Arya Girls Senior Secondary School, located on Padam Singh Road in the Karol Bagh zone, for non-payment of property tax. The property has been attached under Section 156A of the DMC Act in response to the schools persistent default since the financial year 2004-05, the civic body said on Friday. Advertisement The MCD further said that despite multiple opportunities and repeated notices issued under Sections 175, 123D, 153, 154(1), 156, and 446 of the DMC Act, the school management failed to clear its dues. The department had even received a written commitment from the school to make a part payment of Rs 7.5 lakh, which was never honoured. To date, not a single rupee has been paid against the outstanding demand, it added. Advertisement As part of the enforcement action, the MCD said its officials have sealed the Chairmans office, Principals office, and other administrative areas of the school premises, while ensuring that classrooms remain unaffected to avoid disruption of academic activities. Reiterating its commitment to strict enforcement of property tax regulations, the civic body has urged all taxpayers to settle their dues in a timely and accurate manner. Timely payment of taxes is essential for the delivery of civic services and infrastructure development across the city, it added. Australia is home to over two-and-a-half million small and medium businesses (SMBs). From construction and healthcare to finance and professional services, theyre the lifeblood of local communities. They generate employment, power economic growth, stimulate innovation and enable millions of Aussies to enjoy more autonomy, control and earning potential in their careers. Yet, business ownership is hard. Challenges and threats are in abundance especially today. Perhaps the most critical is cyber security and data privacy. During the first six months of 2024, reported data breaches hit a three-and-a-half-year high. According to the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), the government body tasked with managing cyber threats, the average cost of a cyber attack for SMBs rose eight per cent to AUD$49,600 in the last financial year. Concerningly, many SMBs still believe theyre too small to be at-risk. Any business is at-risk, so its essential that SMBs understand that, and turn inertia into action. Why data privacy matters more than ever for SMBs As SMBs have rapidly migrated online in the last decade or so, its become an imperative to focus on cyber security and data privacy. However, this is becoming even more critical, with millions of SMBs set to be impacted by extended legislation. Until recent reforms were announced, Australian SMBs didnt have to comply with the Privacy Act 1988, the law which governs how businesses handle and protect personal information. However, the government recently announced that it will lift the exemption for businesses with annual turnovers under $3 million. Soon, 92% of SMBs must be compliant with the regulations exposing them to potential fines and legal penalties if they dont. That means SMBs must be thorough and transparent in the way they collect, store and process personal data. For the businesses that do so successfully, compliance is one benefit, but the bigger benefit might actually be building long-term customer trust. Understandably, consumers are cautious and sceptical about how their data is collected and used. Businesses who are proactive about what they collect, why they collect it, and how its safeguarded can allay customer fears, encourage them to opt-in, and then enjoy the mutual benefits. However, Zoho research reveals that one in five SMBs are unaware of their obligation to inform customers about how their data is collected and used, which can lead to legal and reputational damage. That equates to around half a million businesses. Preventing common data security mistakes With cyber threats becoming more sophisticated, prevalent and damaging, SMBs must take action. Prioritising data security today helps SMBs avoid costly mistakes and create lasting customer loyalty. Indiscriminate attacks target vulnerabilities. That means, SMBs must minimise their vulnerabilities. Many businesses still use outdated systems or unsecure data storage methods like spreadsheets or unsecured servers, which leaves them vulnerable to cyberattacks and breaches. Whats more, relying on multiple apps or vendors to store customer data only complicates security. The more systems a business uses, the harder it becomes to safeguard sensitive information. To reduce these risks, SMBs should regularly update their software and security systems, and embrace a unified technology stack. Rather than using disparate systems for every process and department, a unified stack enables businesses to rely on just one (or a small number of) vendors for all of their software, which improves data protection, breaks down business silos and improves operational efficiency and insights. A unified technology stack, like Zoho, which has privacy as a foundation rather than an afterthought, helps businesses better protect customer data by minimising vulnerabilities. In addition to system updates, businesses must address the human factors contributing to data breaches. Often, unnecessary access is granted to sensitive data, increasing the risk of exposure. Implementing role-based access controls ensures only authorised personnel have access to critical data. Employee training on cybersecurity threats, such as phishing and social engineering scams, is also essential. The more employees that can recognise and respond to potential threats quickly, the better. Businesses need to implement ongoing security measures, rather than set-and-forget measures. Regular audits help identify vulnerabilities before they lead to serious issues. Multi-factor authentication, encrypted backups, and access logs protect against unauthorised access and data breaches. These steps not only boost security but also demonstrate to customers that their privacy matters. A privacy policy is a necessity, too. Again, its about more than simply compliance; its a crucial tool for building customer trust. It outlines how a business collects, uses, stores, and protects customer data. It should clearly explain what data is being collected, how its stored, who has access to it, and how customers can opt in or out. Despite its importance, Zoho research reveals that fewer than half of SMBs have a clear and applied privacy policy. Not only does the existence of an enforced policy help with compliance, it promotes best practice. SMBs should treat it as a critical document, not an optional one. Regularly reviewing and updating a privacy policy is key to staying compliant with changing laws and avoiding costly fines. Today, strong data protection is essential. SMBs that prioritise privacy can protect against risk and build long-term loyalty and a positive brand image. While data privacy may seem daunting, a proactive approach updating systems, using role-based access controls, and maintaining clear privacy policies helps protect customer data and earn trust. Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Amid the ongoing Kim Soo Hyun controversy involving late actress Kim Sae Ron, reports of the actor facing financial trouble emerged. These surfaced after he requested an extension from the court following a discrepancy in his lawsuit. For the unversed, the K-drama actor filed a suit against Kim Sae Rons family and Garoseros YouTube channel, over defamation. Now, the actors agency has quashed rumours of his financial troubles. Recently, reports revealed that Kim Soo Hyuns cases litigation fees and court service charges estimate at around 38 million KRW (around $27,000) for a 12 billion KRW (about $8.16 million) lawsuit. Following the extension demand, reports emerged that the actor is facing financial woes. Moreover, the word suggested that the extension was over legal fees. Advertisement Now, the actors legal firm, LKB & Partners, issued a statement via YTN Star. We paid all the necessary court fees and delivery charges. It is not true that we failed to pay the lawsuit fees. The company revealed the reason behind the deadline extension. It stated, The request to extend the correction deadline was made to fix the defendants address, not because of unpaid fees. Advertisement View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kim Soo Hyun (@soohyun_k216) On April 17, reports from the Seoul Central District Court revealed an issue with the documents Kim Soo Hyuns team submitted. The legal team originally filed a claim for 12 billion KRW in damages. However, the court only registered 11 billion KRW (around 7.77 million USD). Subsequently, the court asked them to fix the discrepancy and resubmit the suit, making the necessary fee adjustments. For the unversed, the court fee is usually based on the amount being claimed. For this case, the estimated fees are around 38 million KRW (around 26,700 USD). Following the row of allegations on the actor from Kim Sae Rons family, he organised a press conference. In the conference, Kim Soo Hyun addressed the accusations of dating a minor, Kim Sae Ron. While the actor acknowledged dating her, he stated that it was not when she was a minor. Also Read: Kim Soo Hyun steps forward! Accepts dating Kim Sae Ron and files a lawsuit against her family Moreover, at the press conference, Soo Hyuns lawyer revealed that the actor has filed a complaint against Sae Rons family. We have filed a complaint against the family of the deceased and Hoverlab operators while filing a complaint on damages worth 12 billion won to the Supreme Central District Court. Alarmed by growing disquiet and open criticism within the party over the AIADMK contradicting Union Home Minister Amit Shahs claim of a coalition government post the 2026 assembly election, BJPs Tamil Nadu in-charge Sudhakar Reddy and state president Nainar Nagendran on Friday urged party functionaries to exercise utmost restraint and not jeopardize the alliance with the Dravidian major. Issuing what is essentially a gag order, both Nainar and Reddy made it clear that party members should avoid unnecessary criticism of the alliance and refrain from reacting provocatively. Interestingly, this directive comes a day after senior AIADMK leader M Thambidurai reiterated his party general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswamis (EPS) categorical position that there would be no coalition government. Advertisement Adding to the BJPs discomfiture, many AIADMK leaders have sought to differentiate between an electoral coalition and a coalition government. Advertisement EPS openly contradicting Amit Shah, who had asserted that there would be a coalition government with BJP participation, ruffled feathers within the saffron party, prompting swift damage control. The AIADMK too had issued a gag order to its leaders, asking them to refrain from discussing the issue in public. Now, the BJP has followed suit to contain further fallout. For the BJP, guidance will come from the national leadership. On policy matters, no one is supposed to express views publicly; discussions should be confined to internal meetings. Shri Amit Shah and Shri EPS will jointly take decisions on the alliance. We must avoid unnecessary criticism, Reddy said in his statement. He added that the return of AIADMK into the NDA fold was a decision jointly made by Shah and EPS, and that the alliance would ensure the BJP secures double-digit MLAs and a significant presence in the assembly. Conscious of the need to preserve the tie-up, Nainar Nagendran emphasized that campaign and propaganda materials, including posters and wall writings, must not cause dissension within the coalition or defame individual leaders. He stressed that such materials should only strengthen the party and the alliance, reiterating that the sole focus must be on removing the anti-people and dynastic DMK government from power. The Congress Friday expressed serious concern over the American Immigration Lawyers Associations claim that out of the 327 visa revocation cases of international students in the United States collected by it so far, 50 per cent are Indians. AILA (American Immigration Lawyers Association) collected 327 reports of visa revocations and SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) terminations from attorneys, students, and university employees. 50 per cent of these students were from India, followed by 14 per cent from China. Other significant countries represented in this data include South Korea, Nepal, and Bangladesh, the Association said in a statement posted on its website on Thursday. Advertisement AILA is a nonpartisan, non-profit, voluntary bar association that provides continuing legal education, professional services, information, and expertise to attorneys who practice and teach immigration law in the United States. Advertisement Out of the 327 visa revocation cases of international students collected by the organisation so far, 50 per cent are Indians. The reasons for revocation are random and unclear. There is growing fear and apprehension, said Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh in a press statement shared on the social media handle X on Friday. Seeking to know as to what the government is doing for students safeguard, Ramesh said that the reasons for revocation are random and unclear. There is growing fear and apprehension. Will the External Affairs Minister take note and raise the concern with his US counterpart? During his second term, the Trump administration has revoked hundreds of student visas across the country as part of a vast immigration crackdown. Reports suggest that more than 1,000 international students and recent graduates at more than 130 schools in the US have had their visas or statuses revoked in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System this year. After videos of alleged discrimination of a Brahmin boy being forced to remove his sacred threads (Janivara and Shivdara) went viral in Karnataka, authorities swung into action, suspending the education department officials who allowed such an incident to take place. On Wednesday and Thursday, in two separate incidents, two second year PU students in Shivamogga district were allegedly forced to remove their sacred threads to be allowed to give the examination for the Common Entrance Test for engineering courses admission. In one instance, a student was not allowed to give his test. Advertisement According to reports reaching here, examination officials forced a boy taking CET on April 16 at Aadichunchanagiri Independent PU college to remove his sacred thread. Following this, the Brahmin community confronted the city police and demanded action against the examination officials. The Akhila Karnataka Brahmana Mahasabha and the Federation of Vipra organisations of Shivamogga district strongly condemned this incident. Advertisement Minister of School Education and the district in-charge Minister of Shivamogga, Madhu Banagarappa, asked the collector to immediately suspend the officials who are allegedly responsible for cutting off the Janivara of the CET candidate. Taking serious note of the incident, Education Minister MC Sudhakar too said strict action will be taken against the officials who are allegedly responsible for forcing the students to remove their sacred thread. A student from Bidar has alleged that on Thursday (April 17, 2025), he was not allowed to take his mathematics exam as he refused to take off his Shivadara. Another student alleged that in Shivamogga, his sacred thread was cut off by officials after he refused to take it off. Minister Sudhakar told students that If something like this has really occurred, then I condemn it. I have asked the ED for a complete report, and he informed that the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Shivamogga has denied the allegations. But, he asserted that strict legal action would be taken against those who are involved in the alleged incidents if the report confirms it. India has invited firms in the United Kingdom to invest in the countrys dedicated Defence Corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and take advantage of state-level incentives and a rapidly evolving defence manufacturing ecosystem. Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, who was on a two-day visit to the UK that concluded on Friday, also told participants at the India-UK Defence Industry Roundtable that India is working closely with the UK Ministry of Defence to develop an industrial cooperation roadmap to guide future industry engagement. Advertisement Mr Singh was leading a high-level Indian delegation for the annual bilateral defence dialogue with the UK. During the visit, he co-chaired the 24th India-UK Defence Consultative Group meeting with Mr. David Williams, Permanent Under Secretary of State for Defence. Advertisement Both sides reviewed the evolving regional and global geopolitical landscape and reaffirmed their shared commitment to deepening defence ties. The discussions were held in the context of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership announced in 2021 and the Roadmap to 2030, which continues to steer cooperation between the two nations. The Defence Secretary also interacted with the UKs National Security Adviser, Mr. Jonathan Powell, with talks focused on expanding tri-service military engagements and strengthening collaboration between the two countries defence industries. Mr Singh highlighted the growing capabilities of Indian start-ups across key defence domains such as naval systems, drones, surveillance, defence space and aviation. He encouraged UK companies to explore partnerships with these agile innovators, noting their potential to deliver cost-effective and cutting-edge solutions. More than 67 per cent of children between six to 59 months are anemic in India, according to the data released by the Union Health Ministry on Friday. The National Health Survey-5 (2019-2021) data on the status of anemia in India puts the rate of anemia among women between 15-49 years at 57 per cent, pregnant women in the same age group at 52.2 per cent, and at 59.1 per cent among adolescent girls between 15-9 years. Advertisement As per the National Health Survey report, the anemia rate among adolescent boys in the 15-19 years age group stood at 31.1 per cent and 25 per cent in men between 15-49 years. Advertisement Recognizing the burden of anemia across various population groups, the government of India has made a commitment to eradicating it. Although health is a state subject, the Centre remained proactive extending financial and technical support to states and UTs through the National Health Mission (NHM), which is aligned with their annual Programme Implementation Plans. Under the Anemia Mukt Bharat launched in 2018 with a 6x6x6 strategy, there are six interventions to reduce the prevalence of anemia (nutritional and non-nutritional) in six age groups pre-school children (6-59 months), children (5-9 years), adolescent girls and boys (10-19 years), pregnant women, lactating women, and women of reproductive age (15-49 years) following a life cycle approach. The Anemia Mukt Bharat strategy has been implemented in all villages, blocks, and districts of all the States/UTs of India through existing delivery platforms as envisaged in the National Iron Plus Initiative (NIPI) . Indias commitment to ending anemia is a global example of inclusive public health action. Through the Anemia Mukt Bharat strategy, the government has reached out to millions of women, children, and adolescents with Iron-Folic Acid supplementation, deworming, fortified nutrition, and awareness campaigns. Anemia, primarily caused by iron deficiency, results from low haemoglobin levels, reducing the bloods capacity to carry oxygen to vital organs. Deficiencies in folate, vitamin B12, and vitamin A are other nutritional causes of anemia. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that he spoke with Space X CEO Elon Musk. He said the immense potential for collaboration in the areas of technology and innovation was discussed during the call. In his post on X, PM Modi wrote, Spoke to @elonmusk and talked about various issues, including the topics we covered during our meeting in Washington DC earlier this year. We discussed the immense potential for collaboration in the areas of technology and innovation. India remains committed to advancing our partnerships with the US in these domains. Advertisement India and the United States have signed the terms of reference for the initial phase of a bilateral trade agreement, an Indian trade official announced on Tuesday. Advertisement The two countries had agreed in February to begin work on the first stage of the deal, aiming to finalise it by the end of the year as part of a broader goal to boost bilateral trade to USD 500 billion by 2030. In a significant development, India is reportedly open to slashing tariffs on over half of the USD 23 billion worth of US imports in this first phase, potentially the biggest tariff cut in years. This signals a major policy shift as India seeks to strengthen ties with Washington amid global trade realignments. In a landmark achievement in the ongoing war against terror launched on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Polices relentless efforts led to the arrest of Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passia, a USA-based key operative of the Pakistan-ISI backed Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and close associate of Pakistan-based terrorist Harvinder Rinda, in Sacramento, USA. Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav on Friday, termed it as a major success and said, Today marks a major milestone in the sustained crackdown on ISI-backed terror networks, with the announcement of detention of Happy Passia by the United States authorities. Advertisement This is the outcome of excellent international cooperation and exchange of information between the United States and India, he said, adding that Punjab Police have consistently shared intelligence inputs with the central agencies. Advertisement As per the information, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Happy Passia in Sacramento, California, on April 17, 2025. DGP Gaurav Yadav said that Happy Passia, a native of village Passia village Amritsar, began his criminal career with gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, and his USA based associates Darman Kahlon and Amrit Bal. Later, Happy Passia became a key associate of Pakistan-based terrorist Harvinder Rinda, operating under the direct guidance of Pakistan-based ISI, he added. He said that Happy Passia was the primary handler of ISI-backed terror modules in Punjab and played a central role in orchestrating targeted killings, grenade attacks on police establishments, and extortion across the state between 2023-2025. Our investigation has found direct involvement of Happy Passia in majority of terror acts, which took place in the state after September 2024, said the DGP, adding that Passia was masterminding the terror activities sitting in the US, using a network of vulnerable youth struggling with addiction, recruiting them to carry out these acts in exchange for money and narcotics. Punjab Police have meticulously tracked all the terror modules raised by the Happy Passia and successfully dismantled them, said DGP Gaurav Yadav, while adding that an extensive dossier on Passias activities was shared with central agencies and subsequently with US authorities, leading to his arrest. Punjab Police have already taken up the matter with Central Agencies to initiate the process for Passias extradition to India as per the law, he said. DGP Gaurav Yadav emphasising it as manifestation that crime does not pay, said that any criminal indulging crime will have to come back and face the law. Punjab Police is determined to keep the state safe and secure, he added. A little while after getting a missive from Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on ending caste-based discrimination in education, Chief Minister S Siddaramaiah declared here on Friday that his government would introduce Rohith Vemula Act to tackle the issue in Karnataka. Responding to the call of the Congress leader, the Karnataka chief minister said, We will bring this legislation at the earliest to honour the dreams of Rohit, Payal, Darshan, and countless others who deserved dignity, not isolation. Advertisement Taking to social media platform X, Siddaramaiah said, Our Government stands firm in its resolve to enact the Rohith Vemula Act in Karnataka to ensure no student faces discrimination based on caste, class, or religion. We will bring this legislation at the earliest to honour the dreams of Rohith, Payal, Darshan, and countless others who deserved dignity, not exclusion. Advertisement He said the legislation would be a step forward towards realising Dr BR Ambedkars vision of India where equality and compassion reins. The Congress party has made a pledge to introduce the Rohit Vedula Act at the national level too if it comes to power at the centre. Rahul Gandhi, in a letter to Siddaramaiah, said, Babasaheb Ambedkar demonstrated that education is the primary means by which even the most deprived can become empowered and break the caste system. But it is very unfortunate that even after decades, lakhs of students are facing caste discrimination in our education system. This discrimination has taken the lives of promising students like Rohith Vemula, Payal Tadvi and Darshan Solanki. It was shameful that even today, millions of students from marginalised communities face similar indignities, Rahul Gandhi said, adding, It is time to put an end to this firmly. Rohith Vemula, a Dalit PhD scholar at Hyderabad Central University, commited suicide in January 2016. He had taken his life after allegedly being distressed over disciplinary action taken against him. Wooing Japanese investors, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Friday invited them to invest in the state and be a part of his Telangana Rising initiative. We offer world-class infrastructure, skilled talent, and clear and consistent policies to support your investments in several priority sectors like life sciences, GCCs, electronics, EV and energy storage, textiles, food processing, AI data centers, and logistics. Let us build something extraordinaryfor India, Japan, and the world, he said. Advertisement Toshihiro Mizutani, Director General of JETRO Bangalore, also spoke about deepening collaboration with Telangana. Government officials signed several MoUs with Japanese companies, particularly aiming to establish the state as an AI hub. Advertisement NTT DATA, a global leader in digital transformation and IT services, and Neysa Networks, an AI-first cloud platform company, have signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Telangana to establish an AI Data Center Cluster in Hyderabad with a massive investment of Rs 10,500 crore. The upcoming facility in Hyderabad will feature a 400 MW data center cluster, designed to host the countrys most powerful AI supercomputing infrastructure with 25,000 GPUs. The Malaysian government has cut down over 1,000 durian trees in recent days, claiming that they were illegally grown on state-controlled land, despite farmers protests. Authorities in a district of Pahang a major durian-growing state began destroying durian orchards on April 8 by chopping down 200 trees. Within three days, over 1,000 trees were reduced to ruins. Many of the trees had been grown for decades, including those of the expensive Musang King variety. The destruction was part of a government campaign to crack down on illegal land use, according to the New Straits Times. The trees were located on land that was illegally occupied and were not safeguarded by any court order, according to state legal adviser Datuk Seri Saiful Edris Zainuddin. "Those who encroach on state land without permission have no legal rights. The state government is within its rights to act and is also prepared to face any legal challenge in court," he said, as reported by state-owned news outlet Bernama. Workers inspect durian quality in Malaysia's Pahang state in February 2021. Photo by AFP Farmers, represented by non-government organization Save Musang King Alliance, have protested the enforcement. Reports from local media indicate that citizens have blocked authorities access to the farms with banners to protect the durian trees. The Save Musang King Alliance claims that a court order in May last year blocked the government from demolishing the farms. "Today, the farmers' legal team sent an official letter to the Pahang government demanding an immediate halt to the tree-cutting to prevent further damage to the orchards," Chow Yu Hui, chairman of the alliance and member of parliament, said last week. Chow, who was arrested for obstructing civil servants on Monday but was later released on bail, told the media that farmers had spent between 30 and 40 years nurturing their trees to achieve peak fruit yields, only to see the trees felled within two minutes each. Despite the protests, the government maintains its position that no court order has been violated, and that it has the right to fell the trees on the 200 hectares of land which it controls. In 2021, the Forestry Department removed approximately 15,000 Musang King trees from illegal durian farms in the Batu Talam forest, also located in Pahang state, and subsequently replanted the area with forest tree saplings. Malaysia exported 1.14 billion ringgit (US$258 million) worth of durians in 2022, with Chinaits largest buyerdriving the demand, according to the South China Morning Post. The export volume surged last year after Malaysia secured an agreement with Beijing to allow the export of fresh durians, which had previously been limited to frozen ones. On 17 April 1975, tanks rolled into the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, to cheering crowds who believed that the countrys long civil war might finally be over. But what followed was one of the worst genocides of the 20th century. During a brutal four-year rule, the communist-nationalist ideologues of the Khmer Rouge killed between 1.6 million and 3 million people through executions, forced labour and starvation. It represented a quarter of the countrys population at the time. Fifty years on, the Khmer Rouges legacy continues to shape Cambodia politically, socially, economically and emotionally. Its etched into every Cambodians bones including mine. I write this not just as an academic or observer but as a survivor. My father died under the Khmer Rouge, succumbing to dysentery and malnutrition after being forced to work in a labour camp. My mother pretended to be Vietnamese to save our family. She escaped Cambodia with five children in 1976, crossing through Vietnam before reaching France in 1978 and finally the United States in 1985. We were among the lucky ones. Advertisement Today, Cambodia is physically unrecognizable from the bombed-out fields and empty cities of the 1970s. Phnom Penh gleams with high-rises and luxury malls. And yet beneath the glitter, the past endures often in silence, sometimes in cynical exploitation. The Khmer Rouge came to power on a wave of disillusionment, corruption, civil war and rural resentment. Years of American bombing, the 1970 U.S.-backed coup that ousted Prince Norodom Sihanouk, and the subsequent deeply unpopular U.S.-aligned military regime set the stage for the Khmer Rouges rise. Many Cambodians, particularly in the countryside, welcomed the Khmer Rouge, with its mix of hardline communist ideology and extreme Cambodian nationalism, as liberators who promised to restore order and dignity. Advertisement But for the next four years, the Khmer Rouge, under feared leader Pol Pot, brought terror to the nation through ideological purges, forced labor, racial genocide of minority groups and policies that brought widespread famine. The regime fell in 1979, when Vietnamese forces invaded Cambodia and toppled the Khmer Rouge leadership, installing a new, pro-Hanoi government. But its shadows remain. The now ruling Cambodian Peoples Party, in power for over four decades, has justified its grip on the country through the trauma of the genocide. Peace and stability have become mantras used to squash dissent. Every sham election becomes a referendum not just on policy but on avoiding a return to war. Critics of Cambodias rulers are framed as threats to peace and unity. Opposition parties have been dissolved, activists jailed, media muzzled. This political culture of fear draws directly from the Khmer Rouge playbook minus the overt violence. The trauma inflicted by that regime taught people to distrust one another, to keep quiet, to survive by keeping their heads down. That impulse still shapes public life. The Khmer Rouge tribunal officially the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia was supposed to bring closure. It has brought some. But it took decades to begin, cost over US$300 million and convicted only three senior Khmer Rouge leaders over the 197579 genocide. Many mid- and lower-level perpetrators walk free, some are still in government positions, some neighbours to survivors. For a nation where the majority of the population was born after 1979, there remains a glaring gap in education and public reckoning over the Khmer Rouges atrocities. Cambodias school curriculum still struggles to teach this period adequately. For many young people, its something their parents dont talk about and the state prefers to frame selectively. In raw numbers, Cambodias economic progress over the past two decades has been impressive. GDP growth averaged around 7 per cent annually before the Covid19 pandemic. Cities have expanded, and investment especially from China has flooded in. But much of this growth is precarious. Cambodias economy remains dependent on garment exports, tourism and construction. This leaves it vulnerable to external shocks, such as the Trump administrations imposition of 49 per cent tariffs on Cambodian goods, now temporarily paused. Instead of building a resilient, diversified economy, Cambodia has relied on relationships with China for investment, with the U.S. for markets without investing enough in its own human capital. That, too, I believe, is a legacy of the Khmer Rouge, which destroyed the countrys intellectual and professional classes. The psychological toll of genocide doesnt disappear with time. Survivors carry the scars in their bodies and minds. But so do their children and grandchildren. Studies in post-genocide Cambodia have shown elevated rates of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression among survivors and their descendants, resulting in intergenerational trauma. There are not nearly enough mental health services in the country. Trauma is often dealt with privately, through silence or resilience rather than therapy. Buddhism, the countrys dominant religion, offers rituals for healing, reincarnation and forgiveness. But this isnt a substitute for systemic mental health infrastructure. Worse, in recent years, even the memory of the genocide has been politicized. Some leaders use it as a tool to silence dissent. Others co-opt it for nationalist narratives. Theres little room for honest, critical reflection. Some independent initiatives, such as intergenerational dialogue programs and digital archives, have tried to fill the gap but face limited support. This is, I believe, a second tragedy. A country cannot truly move forward if it cannot speak freely about its past. April 17 is not a national holiday in Cambodia. There are no official commemorations. The government doesnt encourage remembrance of the day Phnom Penh fell to the Khmer Rouge. But to my mind, it should. Not to reopen wounds, but to remind Cambodians why justice, democracy and dignity matter. The danger isnt that Cambodia will return to the days of the Khmer Rouge. The danger is that it becomes a place where history is manipulated, where authoritarianism is justified as stability and where development is allowed to paper over injustice. As the world marks the 50th anniversary of the Khmer Rouges rise, Cambodia must, I believe, reckon with this uncomfortable truth: The regime may be long gone, but its legacy lives on in the institutions, behaviors and fears that continue to shape Cambodia today. When I look back, I think of my father whom I never knew. I think of my mother, who risked everything to save us. And I think of the millions of Cambodians who live with memories they cannot forget, and the young Cambodians who deserve to know the full truth. My life has been shaped by what happened on17 April 1975. But that story isnt mine alone. It belongs to Cambodia and its still being written. (The writer is Associate Professor in the Thunderbird School of Global Management, Arizona State University. This article was published on www.theconversation.com) The two great men shook the world by their ideas and deeds, and lived their lives for others on this very land, twenty-five centuries apart. Lord Buddha, the mover of the wheel of religion, gifted with transcendental power, overwhelmed the universe with his teachings of compassion and detachment while Swami Vivekananda spread the philosophies of the Vedanta, the ancient sacred scripture of India, worldwide. They both lived more than a phenomenal existence. The lives of these two great men had astounding resemblances in many ways. Both wandering monks spent every moment of their lives for a purpose. Their minds did not enjoy any worldly objects. Disease and decay, and the transitory pain of manhood assailed Buddha. Lord Buddha meditated by the side of river Nairanjana for seven long days at a stretch with the conviction to attain eternal knowledge and completed it. The knowledge absolute that he thus acquired shows the means of removing misery, the misery of desire of mankind. Prince Siddhartha Gautama attained Nirvana. The auspicious rain enabled the seed of religion to germinate. Sitting on the last stone of India at Kanyakumari for three consecutive days December 24 to 26, 1892 Swami Vivekananda passed into a deep meditation on the present and future of his country. Poverty and ignorance of the countrymen preoccupied his mind. He was in search of a remedy for the misery of the masses of India. Advertisement Lord Buddha after attaining Nirvana traversed his whole life in the Gangetic plains in cities and towns on foot .in the fashion of a Rishi passed From street to street, with beggingbowl in hand, Gathering little pittance of his needs. [Light of Asia] The four months of rain were the only deterrent. Sister Nivedita in her book The Master As I Saw Him perceived that the study of writings of Dr Rajendralal Mitra and the Light of Asia sowed the seeds of interest about Buddha in Swamiji in his boyhood days. During the years the attention of the world had been much concentrated on the story of Buddhism she commented. Light of Asia by Edwin Arnold (1832 1904) was published in 1879. Babu Rajendralal Mitra (1822- 1891), the Bengalee scholar, took active part in the restoration of the Mahabodhi temple, the great shrine, at Bodh Gaya. The restoration work was undertaken by the British government between 1879 and 1894. Babu Rajendralal was requested in 1877 by the then British government of Bengal to visit Bodh Gaya and advise the government about the excavation and the restoration job. Advertisement His research work on Bodh Gaya was published in 1878 as Budhya Gaya: The Hermitage of Sakya Muni. In later years Swamiji also read Lalita Vistara and Prajna Paramita, the two great books on Buddhism, in original text i.e. Sanskrit. At one time (April 1885) the chief topic of discussion and meditation among Swami Vivekananda and his brother disciples had been the life and gospel of Buddha. In January 1886, Sri Ramakrishna initiated Vivekananda and eleven others to Sannyas by distributing ochre cloths and rudraksha to them. In April 1886, Swamiji along with Kali (later Swami Abhedananda) and Tarak (later Swami Shibananda) went to Bodh Gaya without informing anyone. They spent three-four days there and meditated. Already a Sannyasi by then, Swamiji thought: Is it possible that I breathe the air He breathed? That I touch the earth He trod? According to Nivedita it was the historic authenticity of the personality of Buddha that held him spellbound. Vivekananda cut his last attachment with his brother-disciples and went out alone for a spiritual journey. On these travels he took the vow of not touching money. He started travelling in 1888 along the Ganges to the Himalayas and then to other parts of India from Himalayas to Kanyakumari. He remembered the words of the Dhammapada: Go forward without a path! Fearing nothing, caring for nothing, Wander alone, like the rhinoceros! Swamiji had a profound reverence for Buddha. On several occasions he expressed his thoughts about Buddha and Buddhism in lectures in America and other places after 1893. His lecture titled Buddhism, the Fulfilment of Hinduism delivered on 26 September 1893 at the Parliament of Religions in Chicago was significant. He said: I am not a Buddhist, as you have heard, and yet I am. If China or Japan or Ceylon follow the teachings of the Great Master, India worshipped him as God incarnate on earth. Vivekananda believed that Buddhism was an integral part of Hindu religion. He said: The idea was always within Hinduism. He further said: Again I repeat, Shakya Muni came not to destroy, but he was the fulfilment, the logical conclusion, the logical development of the religion of the Hindus. Vivekananda was of the opinion that India was full of superstition and priestcraft at that time and India needed Buddha, who brought a great social change through his teachings. Vivekananda repeatedly returned to the perfect rationality of Buddha. He said: I have more veneration for that character than any other that boldness, that fearlessness, and that tremendous love. He often referred to Buddha as the one absolutely sane man that the world has ever seen. He said: Buddha was not a man, but a realisation. Vivekananda also described the cause of decline of Buddhism in India. In a Madras lecture in 1897 Swamiji said: I have every respect and veneration for Lord Buddha, but mark my words, the spread of Buddhism was less owing to the doctrines and the personality of the great preacher than to the temples that were built, the idols that were erected, and the gorgeous ceremonials that were put before the nation. Thus Buddhism progressed. The little fireplaces in the houses, in which the people poured their libations were not strong enough to hold their own against these gorgeous temples and ceremonies, but later on the whole thing degenerated. Buddha did not accept the idea of existence of any Personal God. Nor did he agree to be worshipped as God. But the disciples of Buddha evolved very different schools of thought and it was difficult for them to determine what were really his ideas and teachings. They started worshipping Buddha as God after his death. Swamiji said: The very Buddha who declared against the existence of a Personal God had not died fifty years before his disciples manufactured a Personal God out of him. The Buddhists have become a meagre minority in India. According to Census 2011, the number of Buddhists in India was 8.4 million which is 0.7 per cent of the population. There was a major surge in the number of Buddhists after Dr B R Ambedkar adopted Navayana or Neo Buddhism in 1956 along with his millions of followers. Significantly on his last birthday (according to tithi in the Hindu almanac) on 29 January 1902, Vivekananda was in Bodh Gaya for the second time. He spent the day in meditation on Buddha. Swamiji had also earlier planned to visit Tibet through Nepal with Swami Akhandananda to study Buddhist scriptures. But it did not materialise. Thus, almost throughout his whole life, Swami Vivekananda was preoccupied with the historic and philosophical significance of the doctrines of Buddhism. Lord Buddha believed that every common man could be uplifted to the level of Nirvana so they can get relief from miseries of pain and sorrow. Vivekananda had the vision to regenerate his poor, ignorant countrymen from despair they were suffering from. Both of them had deep faith in the inner strength of man. The thoughts of these two wise men converge somewhere portraying their virtually identical missions though they lived thousands of years apart. (The writer is a cost accountant who worked in a state power utility.) In a world already fractured by disinformation and rising authoritarianism, Russias latest crackdown on journalists is a chilling escalation. The sentencing of four journalists to five-and-a-half years in prison for alleged ties to a banned organisation underscores the dangerous erosion of press freedom in a country that once flirted with openness but has now plunged headlong into repressive rule. These journalists stand accused not of violence or sedition, but of working on content related to a YouTube channel critical of the government. That alone was enough to brand them extremists under Russias increasingly opaque legal framework. The fact that this so-called trial unfolded behind closed doors is telling ~ truth has become too dangerous to witness in President Vladimir Putins Russia. The targets of these sentences were not militants or political operatives. Advertisement They were reporters, editors, and visual storytellers ~ people whose only crime was seeking to inform the public. Their work involved documenting public figures, reporting on opposition voices, and capturing the kind of footage that, in functioning democracies, is the bedrock of a healthy press. But in todays Russia, truth-telling is treated as a threat to national security. The broader context is essential. These sentences come after the suspicious death in prison of Russias most prominent opposition leader Alexei Navalny ~ a man who had long challenged the states corruption and repression. That his death remains clouded in controversy only heightens the sense that the state is methodically dismantling every avenue of dissent. Advertisement By punishing journalists who once gave him a platform, the message is clear: not only will the voice of the opposition be silenced, but so will those who dared to amplify it. What makes these sentences particularly egregious is their retroactive criminalisation of routine journalistic work. These journalists were not operating underground; their reporting was public, their affiliations known. That the state can later reframe this work as extremist activity reveals just how elastic and dangerous the legal system has become. It weaponises ambiguity, allowing the government to punish people not for what they did wrong, but for whom they were perceived to be aligned with. Whats especially disturbing is the normalisation of this repression. Terms like foreign agent and extremist are wielded not as legal classifications, but as political weapons to marginalise and criminalise critics. Independent outlets, already under siege, now operate in a climate of fear. Even freelancers ~ those without institutional backing ~ are not spared. This is not just censorship; it is the institutionalisation of fear. Yet even in that courtroom, behind glass and handcuffs, one of the convicted had the courage to say he believed the regime would not last much longer. That kind of defiance is rare and courageous. It reminds us that authoritarianism cannot fully extinguish hope. But hope, without action, fades. The international community must recognise that press freedom in Russia isnt just under threat ~ its being systematically dismantled. Kolkata announces the first edition of the Foodka Culinary Honours, an award to recognise the prominent culinary creators in the city, on 10 April at an official press conference. Conceptualised and curated by foodpreneur Shileditya Chaudhury and food historian and culinary content creator Indrajit Lahiri, the press conference was also graced by Manoj Jangid, General Manager, Fairfield by Marriott, and Sudesh Poddar, President, HRAEI. The awards will be conferred across the following 11 distinctive segments featuring Indian (Bengali cuisine, biryani, kebabs and snacks); Chinese; Pan-Asian; Continental; Global; Bakery and Patisserie; Sweets; Cafe; Lounge; Bar; Vegetarian and QSR (Quick Service Restaurants). There will be a special category called Hall of Fame to be conferred to an individual or concern for their soulful contribution towards the industry. Advertisement The audition for the nominees shall be done by an anonymous visit to a number of restaurants for judgement. This mysterious process shall definitely set a benchmark for an unbiased, unplanned and unpredictable visit for the spread-out taste and its excellence for a sagacious nomination towards the best Culinary Honours, said Indrajit Lahiri, aka Foodka. Advertisement The winners across all categories will be announced and felicitated at the awards night on 31 May this year in Kolkata and therefore will bring together the whos who of the culinary world, restaurateurs, chefs, food connoisseurs, and industry insiders. Fairfield by Marriott, Kolkata, proudly joins this prestigious initiative as the hospitality partner, where the grand celebration will unfold in the form of a glittering gala evening. Foodka Culinary Honours gives a platform not just for food but for the stories, heritage, and the relentless spirit behind it. The hygiene of the kitchens will also be reviewed later for potential inclusion as a category in the upper levels of nominations, says Shiladitya Chaudhury to The Statesman. With Doctors Choice as the title sponsor and presented in proud association with IHM (Institute of Hotel Management, Taratala) as the audit partner and HRAEL (Hotel and Restaurant Association of Eastern India), the Foodka Culinary Honours 2025 will honour timeless flavours of local traditions to the bold explorations of global cuisine and aims to spotlight the individuals and institutions shaping the future of food. We have just passed the 14th of April. Even if the rest of India has forgotten the significance of this day, how could we Bengalis possibly forget? Nowhere did I see any post, any discussion, or even two lines written about this day in todays powerful social media, electronic channels, or printed media. Why? This day marks a glorious chapter in Indias independence history. In fact, not just Indian history two Bengalis shook the very foundations of the British Empire, upon which once the sun never set, with their immense intelligence and armed nationalist activities. On 14 April 1944, at Moyrang in Manipur, the armed wing of the Indian Independence League the Indian National Army or Azad Hind Fauj engaged in battle against the British. On the 14th and 15th of April, nearly 43,000 infantry soldiers displayed unparalleled bravery against the heavily armed British forces. Though they were not fewer in number, the valiant and disciplined soldiers lost due to lack of logistics transportation, modern weaponry, difficult terrain and relentless rainfall. But these brave sons of Mother India sowed the seed in the hearts of freedom-loving people that we too can do it. The main mantras of these fearless soldiers were unity, faith and sacrifice. For a countrys independence, unity is essential. No war can be won without unity. There are countless examples in history. The greatest proof is the war where our independence was extinguished when Siraj ud-Daulah, despite having a massive army, was defeated by a handful of British soldiers, allowing the British flag to be hoisted on Indian soil. Next comes faith. It is faith that keeps a person alive. When that faith is lost, examples of its consequences are found everywhere around us today. Finally, sacrifice. These soldiers were true sons of Mother India. Initially, fighting for the British or Allied forces in Malaya and Singapore due to livelihood needs, they were captured by the Japanese. Then, they were ready to sacrifice their lives by fighting against those same British forces. Thousands of people stood united under the flag of Azad Hind. Their slogan was Kadam Kadam Badhaaye Ja. Empowered by that slogan and by unity, faith, and sacrifice, they called out Chalo Dilhi (March to Delhi). Their strengths in this war were patriotism, deep love for the motherland and guerrilla warfare tactics. Advertisement The official head of this first and last declared war of Indias independence movement was Subhas Chandra Bose. The commanders included Major General Mohammad Zaman Kiani, Shah Nawaz Khan, Colonel Prem Sahgal, Shaukat Malik, Saikat Mondal and others. The people of Manipur got the first taste of freedom. The main architect behind the formation of the Azad Hind Fauj and this war of liberation from foreign rule was another Bengali son: Rash Behari Bose. Advertisement Named after Lord Krishna, he was destined to be supremely capable in all matters and to become immortal in history. And indeed, he proved this through his relentless fight against injustice. This son of Bengal, pioneer of the freedom movement, and founder of the Azad Hind Army, Rash Behari Bose, was born in Subaldaha, a village in todays East Bardhaman district. His father was Binod Behari Bose, and his mother was Bhubaneswari Devi. When Bhubaneswari Devis life was in danger during pregnancy, Rash Beharis grandfather Kali Charan Bose prayed at the Krishna temple in Subaldaha village for her safe delivery. His wish was fulfilled when, on 25 May 1886, Bhubaneswari Devi gave birth to a son. Kali Charan named his grandson Rash Behari, another name for Krishna. Indeed, like Krishna, he fought relentlessly against injustice. For this, he even sought help from foreign nations. He had his primary education at the village school (now named Subaldaha Rash Behari Bose Primary School). He lived in Subaldaha for around fourteen years and sometimes returned there to hide from the British. He later studied at Morton School and Dupleix College in Chandannagar. Even during his time in the village, he dreamt of a free India and harboured intense hatred towards the British. He couldnt accept how one nation could rule another sovereign people. Upon coming to Chandannagar, he became further involved in revolutionary activities. In 1904 he left Bengal and went to Shimla along with his father to get in touch with CID officials to keep a vigil on their work. In the year 1910, Rasbehari Bose was appointed as Secretary of the Forest Bureau in Dehara Doon. Afterwards he was promoted to the post of Chief of the Forest. He wants to make an intelligence department to fight against the Great British Emperor George V. In 1911 he arranged to bomb the court of King George V at Delhi, but he rejected that plan as the bomb of Chandannagar was not up to the mark. From there, he actively participated in revolutionary activities across Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bengal and other places. One of the most significant moments of his life was the assassination attempt on the then Viceroy, Lord Hardinge. Following his plan and instruction, the young revolutionary Basanta Biswas threw a bomb at Hardinge in Delhi in 1912. His intention wasnt limited to this act it was to incite a nationwide armed revolution to overthrow British rule. However, due to a traitor among his countrymen, the British learnt about this plan. Rash Behari, who had so far remained undetected, now came under British suspicion. In 1913, he returned to his birthplace, Subaldaha village, and dedicated himself to helping flood-affected people there. To avoid arrest by the British, he made a passport in the name of Raja Priyanath Tagore, a relative of Rabindranath Tagore. On 12th May 1915, he left Kolkatas Kidderpore port on the Japanese ship Sanuki Maru and went to Japan. Alone in a foreign land, he began dreaming of a free India. Thanks to his efforts, the Japanese government began supporting Indian nationalist freedom fighters. Thus began the second chapter of his life. On 28th and 29th March 1942, he convened a conference in Tokyo, where the decision to form the Indian Independence League was made. Later that year, on 22 June, the second conference of the League was held in Bangkok, where a resolution was passed inviting Subhas Chandra Bose to join the League and accept its presidency. As mentioned earlier, the Indian soldiers captured by Japan were invited to join the League and its armed wing, the Indian National Army. Thus, Rash Behari travelled across various regions in East Asia, working tirelessly for Indias independence. Due to the intervention of the Japanese military authorities, Mohan Singh was removed from the leadership of the INA, though the structure he had built remained in place. Later, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose took over as Supreme Commander, and the rest is history. One interesting fact is that both Boses got married abroad. Rash Behari married Toshiko Soma, the daughter of the Japanese family with whom he stayed. Netaji married while in Germany. Regarding Rash Behari, Kalyan Chakraborty, head of the Rash Behari Research Institute in Chandannagar and a researcher on Rash Behari, says, For years, we have been requesting that Rash Behari Bose, the key architect of the Azad Hind Fauj and a brave son of Mother India, be awarded Indias highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna. He also said that in recognition of his contribution, Delhis Red Fort should be named after Rash Behari Bose. We must never forget him. We also pay tribute to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, the Supreme Commander and head of Indias first independent government, and to the brave martyrs of Mother India who participated in that war. We remember their sacrifices with deep respect and humility. Shamikswapan Ghosh, editor of Sukhabar Patrika and writer of Aparajeya Rashbehari, has spoken about this matter: it is our misfortune that Rasbehari Bose, the Father of the Indian National Movement, as declared by Subhas Chandra Basu at the inauguration of the Azad Hind Government, is not properly acknowledged in our school curriculum. The syllabus committee of the Govt of West Bengal and the Central Govt should look after this matter to encourage the student community. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Friday hit out at the Opposition for criticizing the move to make Hindi a mandatory third language for students in classes 1 to 5 in Marathi and English-medium schools across the state. He said those opposing the decision are raking up unnecessary disputes for lack of real issues. Advertisement Marathi is our mother tongue and will always have first preference in the state, he said on the sidelines of the inauguration of a national memorial dedicated to Chapekar Brothers in Pimpri Chinchwad. Advertisement Some people are creating disputes over the Hindi language only because they have nothing else to do. English is widely used across the country, and similarly, Hindi is spoken in many states. While there is a dispute over whether Hindi is the Rashtra Bhasha (national language), I do not want to get into that, Pawar said. The Maharashtra government has decided that Hindi as a third language would be mandatory for students in classes 1 to 5 in Marathi and English-medium schools across the state, in a departure from the practice of studying two languages. The three-language formula for classes 1 to 5 is a part of the new curriculum implementation under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The state school education department has declared a phase-wise implementation plan of the new curriculum framework designed as per the NEP 2020 recommendations for school education. Pawar also asserted that all three languages Marathi, Hindi and English are important, but Marathi will always hold primacy in the state. Marathi must remain intact and continue to grow, he said. Highlighting the Centres role in promoting the language, Pawar said, It was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who granted Marathi the status of a classical language, a decision that had been pending in Delhi for years. The NDA government showed the courage to make it happen. He added that plans are underway to set up a Marathi Bhasha Bhavan in Mumbai to further promote the language. The opposition in Maharashtra, including the Congress and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), have strongly opposed the imposition. The Congress has said the decision amounts to the imposition of Hindi. MNS leader Raj Thackeray said his party will not allow the Centres efforts to Hindi-fy everything. We are Hindus, not Hindi, he said, adding that his party will not tolerate this imposition and the trilingual formula should be restricted to government affairs. India on Thursday reiterated that it remains committed to developing a positive and constructive relationship with Bangladesh irrespective of certain trade issues, including the recent termination of the transshipment facility. India looks forward to having a positive and constructive relationship with Bangladesh. We stand for a democratic, inclusive, and prosperous Bangladesh. As far as trade issues are concerned, we made an announcement last week regarding the transshipment facility. We have taken that measure because of the congestion that we see at our ports and airports, Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), said during a weekly media briefing in New Delhi on Thursday. Advertisement Citing significant congestion at its airports and ports, India on April 8 said that it has terminated a trans-shipment facility available to Bangladesh that allowed Dhaka to export cargo to third countries using Indian customs stations. Advertisement The Transshipment facility extended to Bangladesh had over a period of time resulted in significant congestion at our airports and ports. Logistical delays and higher costs were hindering our own exports and creating backlogs. The facility, therefore, has been withdrawn w.e.f. April 8, 2025. To clarify, these measures do not impact Bangladesh exports to Nepal or Bhutan transiting through Indian territory. Jaiswal said, last week. The facility was introduced in June 2020 and the decision to withdraw it was made by the finance ministrys Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs. It has been decided to rescind the circular dated June 29, 2020, as amended with immediate effect. Cargo already entered into India may be allowed to exit the Indian territory as per the procedure given in that circular, a notification issued by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) on April 8 stated. The facility introduced by New Delhi was aimed at enhancing regional connectivity and promoting trade between Bangladesh and third countries by using India as a transit corridor. Indias decision to revoke the transshipment facility for Bangladesh underscores Prime Minister Narendra Modi Jis unwavering commitment to safeguarding national interests and the security of the Northeast region. This decisive action reflects the governments firm stance on protecting Indias strategic and economic priorities, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had posted on X. The move came after controversial statements made by Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Advisor of the interim government in Bangladesh, during his recent visit to China. The seven states of India, the eastern part of India, are called the Seven Sisters. They are a landlocked region of India. They have no way to reach out to the ocean. We are the only guardian of the ocean for all this region. So this opens up a huge possibility. This could be an extension of the Chinese economy, Yunus said during a high-level roundtable discussion on sustainable infrastructure and energy in Beijing. Both countries had also operationalized the Agreement for the usage of Chittagong and Mongla Ports in 2023 that allows India to avail the services of these ports in Bangladesh for transit cargo between Northeast and mainland India and significantly reduced the cost and time of transportation. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had raised the issue of safety and security of minorities in Bangladesh, including Hindus, during his meeting with Yunus, held on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok. The Bangkok meeting was the first in-person meeting between the two leaders since the ouster of the Awami League government led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and formation of the interim government under the leadership of Yunus in the neighbouring country, last August. During the discussions, Prime Minister Modi had urged that any rhetoric that vitiates the environment is best avoided and expressed his conviction that all issues of mutual interest between the two countries would continue to be addressed and resolved bilaterally through constructive discussions in the interest of the long standing bilateral relationship between the two countries. Russia on Thursday denied Ukraines allegations that its armed forces had attacked the facility of an Indian pharmaceutical firm in Kyiv during a drone strike on April 12, asserting that Moscow has never targetted civilian facilities during its ongoing Special Military Operation in Ukraine. In response to the accusations spread by the Embassy of Ukraine in India the Russian Embassy in New Delhi informs that the Russian Armed Forces did not attack or plan to attack on April 12, 2025, Kusum Healthcares pharmacy warehouse in the eastern part of Kyiv, read a statement issued by the Embassy of Russia in India on Thursday evening. Advertisement On that day, Russian tactical aviation, strike unmanned aerial vehicles and missile forces hit an aviation plant of the Ukrainian military industrial complex, the infrastructure of a military airfield and armoured vehicle repair and UAV assembly workshops at a completely different location, it added. Advertisement Oleksandr Polishchuk, the Ambassador of Ukraine to India, had reportedly stated that the warehouse of the Kusum Group was deliberately targeted by a Russian drone, resulting in losses of almost $25 million. Russia, however, said that the most likely explanation of the incident is that one of Ukrainian air defence missiles fell on Kusum Healthcares warehouse setting it on fire. Similar cases have occurred previously whereby Ukrainian air defence interceptors failing to hit their targets fell in urban areas due to ineptly operated electronic warfare systems, the Russian Embassy stated. It outlined that during the ongoing conflict, the Russian Armed Forces have never targetted civilian facilities. It should also be noted that it has become customary for the Ukrainian military to deploy air defence systems, rocket launchers, artillery pieces and other military equipment in urban areas using civilians as a human shield, the statement added. A plan to create a new political party in support of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been put on hold at his request, the ousted presidents lawyers said on Thursday. Kim Gye-ri and Bae Ui-cheol, attorneys who have represented Yoon since his impeachment proceedings, had earlier planned to hold a press conference for the launch of the party named Yoon Again on Friday but canceled it, citing potential misunderstanding the move could cause ahead of the June 3 presidential election. Advertisement With the early presidential election, the proposal of a new party could lead to various misunderstandings regarding (Yoons) intention or exercise of influence, so we determined that it would not be ideal to make it official through a press conference, the lawyers said. Advertisement They also said Yoon himself had dissuaded them from the idea, saying it was time to join forces together as one. Seok Dong-hyeon, another lawyer for Yoon, said the former President was not involved in efforts to create the party, Yonhap news agency reported. South Korea will hold a presidential election in June after Yoon was removed from office on April 4, when the Constitutional Court upheld his impeachment over his short-lived imposition of martial law. Meanwhile, Yoon, who dramatically rose from a top prosecutor to the presidency in about three years, became the nations second President to be formally removed from office, with his surprise martial law bid rattling the nation for months and deepening political polarisation. With the ruling, Yoon, 64, follows in the footsteps of former South Korean President Park Geun-hye, who was ousted in 2017 when the Constitutional Court upheld her impeachment over a corruption scandal. Before taking the nations highest office, Yoon began his career as a prosecutor in 1994, rising through the ranks to lead an investigation team into Parks corruption scandal that ultimately led to her ouster and subsequent imprisonment. In 2019, he was appointed as the nations top prosecutor under then South Korean President Moon Jae-in but clashed with the administration as he oversaw investigations into family members of former Justice Minister Cho Kuk. Amid mounting pressure from the Moon administration, Yoon stepped down from his post in 2021, only to enter politics shortly after and win the presidential election in 2022 as the candidate for the conservative People Power Party. Yoons term was riddled with conflict with an uncooperative National Assembly dominated by the main Opposition Democratic Party (DP). Yoon exercised his presidential veto power against 25 Bills passed by the National Assembly. Tensions with the DP appeared to reach an extreme in early December as the main Opposition introduced motions to impeach the countrys top auditor and a senior prosecutor, with Yoon declaring martial law on December 3, which ultimately led to his downfall. The United Nations views the second round of negotiations between the US and Iran on Saturday as a good sign, and hopes it will yield positive results, a UN spokesman said. The second round of US-Iran indirect negotiations will be held in Rome on Saturday, according to the Iranian Foreign Ministry. Advertisement The two sides will discuss Tehrans nuclear issues and Washingtons sanctions, Xinhua news agency reported. Advertisement We very much hope that the dialogue between the US and the Islamic Republic of Iran yields a positive outcome, which were seeing the lowering of tensions in the Gulf region, in the Middle East, and between the two countries, Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, said at a daily briefing. We understand that there will be a second round from what Ive seen, I think this weekend, which in itself is a good sign, he said. We will obviously be following it very closely. In early March, US President Donald Trump sent a letter to Iranian leaders, proposing negotiations on Irans nuclear programme, while Iran later agreed on indirect talks. The first round of US-Iran indirect talks was held in the Omani capital of Muscat last week. The White House said in a statement that the discussions were very positive and constructive. Iranian Foreign Ministry described their talks as constructive. The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog said talks between Iran and the US are at a crucial stage and warned they have limited time to resolve their years-long standoff. There is a possibility of a good outcome but nothing is guaranteed, Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said in comments recorded during a visit to Tehran on Thursday. We are multiplying our efforts to facilitate this process. Grossis visit comes days after the US and Iran held their first talks aimed at striking an agreement over Tehrans nuclear program. The stakes for global security and the oil market are high. US President Donald Trump has threatened military action against Iran if a deal isnt reached in the coming weeks. Saudi Arabias Defence Minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, made a rare high-profile visit to Iran on Thursday and met Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency reported. Prince Khalid delivered a message from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman addressed to Khamenei, IRNA said, without giving details on its contents. He is the highest-level Saudi royal to visit Iran in years and his trip signals that Arab states are keen to avoid a new conflict in the region. The IAEAs Grossi said he has been in contact with the USs top Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, to see how the watchdog can serve as a bridge between Iran and the US and help achieve a positive outcome, according to the IRNA. While the US and Iran are set to meet for a second round of talks on Saturday in Rome, theyve already hit a stumbling block over the Trump administrations position on Tehrans ability to enrich uranium. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said earlier this week that US has sent conflicting messages and these need to clarified when they meet again on Saturday. Witkoff said on Tuesday that Iran had to eliminate its uranium-enrichment program all together, rather than restrict it. He was back tracking on earlier comments that suggested Iran could still enrich to a low level for civilian uses. Iran has said its ability to produce the fissile material is non-negotiable and says its allowed to enrich uranium under the terms of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The 2015 nuclear deal that Trump abandoned during his first term imposed strict limits on the extent to which Iran was allowed to enrich uranium, in terms of both purity and quantity. Iran started to breach those caps after Trump exited the accord in 2018 and placed stricter sanctions on the Islamic Republic. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. IIT Roorkee, which started as Roorkee College in 1847, was the first engineering college in Asia. After about a century, the college was elevated to the University of Roorkee, the first engineering university of independent India, on November 25, 1949, and to an IIT on September 21, 2001 IT-business consulting giant Infosys has laid off 240 entry-level employees who failed certain internal assessments, despite being given multiple attempts to obtain a passing grade. The decision was communicated to them via an email dated April 18, as per a Moneycontrol report. The email was sent after the announcement of the results of the final assessment attempt of these trainees, who were onboarded during October-November last year, following a painfully-long waiting period of two and a half years. Please be informed that you have not met the qualifying criteria in the Generic Foundation Training Program, despite the additional preparation time, doubt-clearing sessions, several mock assessments and three attempts. As a result, you will not be able to continue your journey for the apprenticeship program, the email read. This move follows a round of layoffs earlier this year, when Infosys let go of more than 300 trainees in February, and 40-45 trainees in March, under similar circumstances. The terminations can be attributed to the company's poor revenue growth of 0-3% for the current fiscal year, leading to subdued demand as uncertainty continues in its core markets. The layoffs have sparked outrage, with the Nascent IT Employees Senate (NITES) leading the charge. The union has labelled the mass terminations "illegal, unethical, and in violation of labour laws, as per a Mathrubhumi report. On February 26, NITES also hosted a press conference, several affected employees shared their personal experiences and grievances, demanding legal action. However, Infosys has also reportedly offered this year's affected employees free external training programmes via either NIIT, which offers IT training, or UpGrad, which features BPM training courses. As you explore opportunities outside of Infosys, we have planned professional outplacement services to help you on that journey. We also wish to offer you another career pathway, by taking an Infosys sponsored external training to prepare for potential roles in the BPM industry. On successful completion of the training, you may also apply to available opportunities in Infosys BPM Limited. However, if you wish to continue honing your IT skills, you also have an option to choose an Infosys sponsored external training program on Information Technology fundamentals to further support your IT career journey, the terminatory email read. In addition, the trainees will be entitled to a month's stipend, accommodation, and a travel allowance from the training centre in Mysuru to Bengaluru or their hometown. On a more positive note, Infosys CFO Jayesh Sanghrajka explained in a press conference that the company would be hiring more than 20,000 freshers in FY26, despite the current slowdown in revenue growth, indicating a rough path ahead this fiscal year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to social media on Friday to announce that he discussed avenues of collaboration in technology and innovation with SpaceX founder and multi-billionaire Elon Musk, during a time when Starlink aims at India launch. "Spoke to @elonmusk and talked about various issues, including the topics we covered during our meeting in Washington, D.C., earlier this year. We discussed the immense potential for collaboration in the areas of technology and innovation," Modi posted on X, the social media platform owned by Musk. Modi also assured that India remained committed to advancing its partnerships with the US in the domains of technology and innovation. Spoke to @elonmusk and talked about various issues, including the topics we covered during our meeting in Washington DC earlier this year. We discussed the immense potential for collaboration in the areas of technology and innovation. India remains committed to advancing our Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 18, 2025 But what does mean for the country, with Musk being one of the influential people in the Donald Trump administration? The Tesla CEO founder is also at the helm of the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The announcement by Modi came just two days after Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met a Starlink delegation. Starlink is a SpaceX arm that focuses on satellite internet services. Goyal is said to have discussed existing partnerships and future investment plans in the country. To this effect, Goyal posed on X on Wednesday, "Met a delegation from @Starlink, comprising of Vice President Chad Gibbs & Senior Director, Ryan Goodnight. Discussions covered Starlink's cutting-edge technology platform, their existing partnerships and future investment plans in India." Last month, Reliance Jio and AirtelIndia's top telecom playersannounced they inked separate deals to bring Starlink satellite internet services to the country. Met a delegation from @Starlink, comprising of Vice President Chad Gibbs & Senior Director, Ryan Goodnight. Discussions covered Starlink's cutting-edge technology platform, their existing partnerships & future investment plans in India. pic.twitter.com/mX66Y6Ltsn Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) April 16, 2025 Modi's comments and Goyal's meeting comes at a time when Starlink is facing regulatory issues in India, especially when India and the US are busy zeroing in on the proposed bilateral trade agreement. Visitors look at a set of chime bells, the largest ever unearthed in China, which was found in 1978 in the tomb of Marquis Yi, a ruler of the Zeng State during the Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BC), in Hubei Provincial Museum in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Dec. 20, 2021. (Xinhua/Cheng Min) Among the 74 new additions, China contributed two solo submissions - the Bianzhong of Marquis Yi of Zeng and the Steles of Shaolin Temple - as well as a joint submission with Sri Lanka: the Trilingual Inscription. PARIS, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Three documentary heritage collections submitted by China have been inscribed in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization announced on Thursday. Among the 74 newly added entries, China contributed two solo submissions - the Bianzhong of Marquis Yi of Zeng and the Steles of Shaolin Temple - as well as a joint submission with Sri Lanka: the Trilingual Inscription. According to UNESCO, the Bianzhong of Marquis Yi of Zeng is a remarkable set of ancient bronze bells unearthed in 1978 from the Tombs of Marquis Yi in Suizhou city, central China's Hubei Province. These bells not only offer insights into early Chinese musical traditions but also contain inscriptions that are considered the earliest surviving archaeological records illustrating mathematical relationships in music. Aerial photo taken on Jan. 20, 2017 shows the Kernel Compound of Shaolin Temple in Dengfeng, central China's Henan Province. (Xinhua/Li An) The Steles of Shaolin Temple (566-1990) contain 499 surviving steles of the iconic temple, presenting a relatively complete and coherent sequence of historical documents in the form of stone inscriptions dating back to 1424. The third entry, the Trilingual Inscription jointly submitted by China and Sri Lanka, was a stone tablet dated Feb. 15, 1409. The inscription features texts in Chinese, Persian, and Tamil. Installed by Chinese Admiral Zheng He during one of his voyages, the inscription praises Buddha, Vishnu, and Allah. UNESCO describes it as the only known trilingual text combining these three languages and representing three distinct civilizations. "Documentary heritage is an essential yet fragile element of the Memory of the World. This is why UNESCO invests in safeguarding it, shares best practices, and maintains this register that records the broadest threads of human history," said UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay. With the latest additions, the Memory of the World Register now comprises 570 collections, encompassing a wide range of subjects including the scientific revolution, women's contribution to history, and major milestones of multilateralism. The undated photo shows the Trilingual Inscription, a stone tablet with Chinese, Persian and Tamil inscriptions praising Buddha, God Vishnu and Allah. The tablet was discovered in 1911 in Sri Lanka. (UNESCO/Handout via Xinhua) Editor: WXY A scene of violence set inside a church from the new Sunny Deol-starrer Jaat has upset the sentiments of certain members of the Christian community in Punjab. The scene in question has Randeep Hooda's antagonist standing in front of a crucifix, allegedly claiming to be sent by Jesus Christ and then opening fire while a prayer session is in progress. Following a complaint about a scene hurting religious sentiments and mocking Jesus Christ from a resident of Jalandhar named Vikalv Goldy, an FIR has been registered against actors Sunny Deol, Randeep Hooda, Vineet Kumar, director Gopichand Malineni, and producer Mythri Movie Makers. It was filed under Section 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Aside from reportedly protesting outside the Police Commissioner's office, community leaders protested outside the theatres screening the film. However, the local police intervened and thwarted such attempts, following which the community gave authorities a two-ultimatum to resolve the matter. Jaat, released on April 10, revolves around a saviour whose path crosses with that of a despotic couple that controls the fictional village of Chirala, played by Randeep Hooda and Regina Cassandra. The other cast members include Saiyami Kher, Jagapathi Babu, Ramya Krishnan, Vineet Kumar Singh and Zarina Wahab. The filmmakers have not responded to the controversy yet. In the meantime, they have announced a sequel titled Jaat 2, which will see Gophichand Malineni returning to direct with the backing of Mythri Movie Makers. Sunny Deol is the only cast member confirmed to return. Weeks after his departure from toxic and stifling filmmaking conditions in Mumbai (effectively the headquarters of Bollywood) to move to Bengaluru, Anurag Kashyap transitioned to directing and producing films from South India. He recently asserted on X that he was still very much a filmmaker, with dates booked for the next three years. "I have relocated cities. I have not left filmmaking. For all the people who think I am frustrated and gone. I am here and I am busier than Shah Rukh Khan ... I don't have dates until 2028. I have five directorial hopefully coming out this year or may be three now and two early next year. I have the longest IMDB and I am so employed that I say no to 3 projects a day, he claimed, in response to those that criticised his exit from Bollywood. In an interview with The Hindu last month, the legendary director explained that Mumbai now lacked opportunities for creative fulfillment, with filmmakers playing it safe and creating narratives based on algorithms, rather than valuable stories worth being told. "The industry has become too toxic. Everyone is chasing unrealistic targets, trying to make the next Rs. 500 or Rs. 800 crore film. The creative atmosphere is gone." A good example of his point was Netflix's cancellation of 'Sacred Games', the streaming platform's first Indian original, that he co-directed with Vikramaditya Motwane. Despite boasting a stellar cast and a wonderfully-crafted script, the crime drama series was cancelled after a second season. Kashyap explained in an interview that a third season had been in the cards, but ultimately did not work out, primarily because Netflix had been worried about possible backlash, as in the case of the Tandav (2021), which became instantly controversial post-release, for its alleged attack on Hindu sentiments. He also keeps himself in the public eye, often joining the discourse and advocating for good cinema. The actor-director had recently praised Netflix's global hit limited series 'Adolescence' for its brilliance, lamenting at how such a show would have been impossible to make in an Indian context. He also spoke out against CBFC's decision to censor quite a few scenes in the Pratik Gandhi-starrer 'Phule', Ananth Mahadevan's biographical drama on Jyotirao Phule, an anti-caste social reformer. Kashyap happens to be a versatile actor, having starred in films such as 'AK vs AK', 'Rifle Club' and 'Maharaja'. He is now set to appear in 'Dacoit: A Love Story', a romantic action thriller in Telugu and Hindi, and also has five more films (that he directed), all of which are set to release in 2025 and 2026. Former Chief Justice of India T.S. Thakur, who was supposed to launch former R&AW chief A.S. Dulat's book The Chief Minister and The Spy, has opted out of the event amid controversy over contents in the book related to National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah and a few others. The book launch was scheduled for later today. In his response to Dulat's invitation, Justice (Retd) Thakur said, "While I had accepted your kind invitation to participate in the release function, I have since yesterday (Wednesday) seen a political storm brewing in the print and electronic media for certain parts of your book especially those attributing certain statements to (Farooq) Abdullah whom you admire and treat as a valued friend, PTI reported. Former CJI said the political overtones surrounding the controversy would be an embarrassment for him and he would like to avoid it not only on account of my long and cordial association with the Abdullah family but also because as a totally apolitical person. I would not like to be seen promoting or endorsing a book which is being disowned by the very person about whom the same has been written," Justice Thakur said. Though Farooq Abdullah was also invited to the event, his son and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the former would not be attending the book launch. Abdullah had earlier dismissed Dulats claims in the book that he secretly supported the abrogation of Article 370. Abdullah called it a cheap stunt to boost sales of the book. A National Human Rights Commission India (NHRC) team on Friday visited a relief camp in West Bengal's Malda to meet those displaced by the Murshidabad riots. The team reportedly arrived at the Par Lalpur High School in Malda, where hundreds of displaced people have taken shelter since communal clashes erupted in Murshidabad on April 11 and 12 during protests against the central government's amendments to the Waqf (Amendment) Act. The Commission, which took suo motu cognisance of the violence, said it decided to send a fact-finding team in view of the "seriousness of the situation" and has sought a detailed inquiry report within three weeks. Officials confirmed that three people were killed in the violence that spread across Muslim-majority areas like Shamsherganj, Suti, Dhulian, and Jangipur in Murshidabad district. Several residents, fearing for their lives, fled to neighbouring Malda and are now living in makeshift relief camps. Meanwhile, the National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar also began a two-day tour of Malda and Murshidabad to assess the impact of the violence on women and inspect rehabilitation efforts, news agency PTI reported. "We have received reports that women in the affected areas and relief camps are not being treated properly. The NCW has formed an inquiry committee. We will speak to the victims and assess the situation before submitting a detailed report," Rahatkar said in Kolkata before leaving. The NCW team will spend the night in Malda and head to Murshidabad on Saturday. The panel is expected to meet district officials, victims, and eventually call on the Governor, Chief Secretary, and DGP in Kolkata on Sunday. ALSO READ | Central forces to remain in Murshidabad, says Calcutta HC; Mamata govt claims situation under control Tensions briefly escalated at the Par Lalpur camp in Malda, where angry residents surrounded district officials, alleging that they were being pressured to leave the camp. "Life in this camp is no better than prison," one of the camp residents said. "They're trying to force us to return home, but it's still unsafe. We want BSF camps in our localities in Dhulian before we consider going back," he said. Security has been tightened across the affected areas, with paramilitary forces deployed alongside the state police. ALSO READ | West Bengal waqf violence: Governor Ananda Bose to visit Murshidabad today So far, 274 people have been arrested for alleged involvement in the violence. The communal clashes in Murshidabad erupted during protests by sections of the Muslim community against amendments to the Waqf Act, which they allege would lead to centralisation and misuse of Muslim charitable properties. Rajya Sabha member Kapil Sibal slammed Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday for questioning the judiciary over the timeline for the president to take decisions. The senior Congress leader said that it was "unconstitutional" and he had never seen any Rajya Sabha chairman make "political statements" of this nature. VP Dhankhar on Thursday questioned the judiciary setting a timeline for the president to take decisions and act as a "super Parliament", saying the Supreme Court cannot fire a "nuclear missile" at democratic forces. Sibal reminded that the Lok Sabha Speaker and the Rajya Sabha Chairman remain equidistant between the opposition and the ruling party, and cannot be the "spokesperson of the party". READ HERE | Judiciary acting like super Parliament, cannot direct President: Jagdeep Dhankhar "Everyone knows that the Lok Sabha Speaker's chair is in between. He or she is the Speaker of the House, not the speaker of one party. They also don't vote, they only vote when there is a tie. The same is with the upper house. You are equidistant between the opposition and the ruling party," the senior advocate said at a press conference here. "Everything you say must be equidistant. No speaker can be the spokesperson of a party. I don't say that he (Dhankhar) is but no Speaker in principle can be the spokesperson of any party. If it appears so then the dignity of the chair is lowered," Sibal asserted. Dhankhar's strong words to the judiciary came during his speech to Rajya Sabha interns, days after the Supreme Court sought to fix a timeline for the president to grant assent to the bills reserved for her consideration by the governor. "So, we have judges who will legislate, who will perform executive functions, who will act as super Parliament and absolutely have no accountability because the law of the land does not apply to them," Dhankhar said. He also described Article 142, which grants plenary powers to the Supreme Court, as a "nuclear missile against democratic forces available to the judiciary 24x7". Slamming Dhankhar for his remarks, Sibal said, "If you give such statements it will look as if judiciary is being taught a lesson. It Is not neutral and not constitutional." The judiciary should not be attacked in this manner by the executive, especially two ministers -? Arjun Ram Meghwal and Kiren Rijiju -? and the chairman of the house, as the judiciary cannot defend itself. "Then the polity must defend the judiciary. Independence of the judiciary is fundamental to democracy in the country. What is being done is unconstitutional," he said. "I have never seen any chairman of the House make political statements of this nature. Even BJP chairman in the past (have not done so)," Sibal said, hitting out at Dhankhar. Sibal said he was saddened and surprised by the statement of Dhankhar. "Judicial institutions -? high courts or Supreme Courts, if there is faith in any institution, it is the judiciary. I feel that when government people do not like the decisions of the judiciary then the start accusing that it (judiciary) has gone beyond its limit. When they like it and the opposition says something then they say it is the decision of the Supreme Court," the former Congress leader said. When someone raises questions about Article 370 or Ramjanam bhoomi judgement, the government people point out that it is a Supreme Court decision, he said. "When (Justice J B) Pardiwala judgement came they say how can the Supreme Court say this. The judgement which you do not like is wrong and which is as per your thinking, it is fine. It is not right for a constitutional functionary to say such a thing," Sibal said referring to Dhakhar's remarks. "I respect him a lot but you said article 142 is nuclear missile material, how can you say this? Article 142 has given powers to the Supreme Court and it is given by the Constitution, it is not by the government it is the Constitution to do complete justice," Sibal said. He also pointed out that the President of India is a titular head and acts on the aid and advice of the council of ministers. "The governor acts on the aid and advice of the council of ministers in a state. So when a bill is passed it goes to the governor, the governor can make comments and send it back but if passed again, the governor has to give an assent as stated in the Constitution. The governor can send the bill to the president. President acts on the aid and advice of the ministers, so the matter goes to the Centre. The president does not have personal powers," he said. Dhankar said how can president's power be curtailed, Sibal noted and wondered who is curtailing the power of the President. Can the governor sit for two years on a bill that is important for people, Sibal asked and added that this amounts to an intrusion on the supremacy of the legislature. "If you have a problem with a judgement, call for a review. If there are still problems, take an advisory opinion from Supreme Court," Sibal said. "He (Dhankhar) talked about 1984 but did not talk about 2002. You talked about an emergency bit not undeclared emergency that is going on, you did not talk about capture of institutions," Sibal said in a scathing criticism of Dhankhar's comments. He said it seems that he only talks about what happened in Congress governments and not after 2014. "We moved an impeachment motion against judge of a high court in December; it was signed by more than 50 members. We are in April, it took five months to find out whether those signatures are genuine or not. How many more months would it take?" Sibal said. "If you do not with expedition decide the matter then the argument for us is that we cannot do anything. If the governor doesn't not clear bills, the judiciary cannot do anything," he said. If the executive doesn't do its job the judiciary has to intervene, Sibal asserted. Sibal also hit out at Dhankhar for his remarks questioning the lack of an FIR in the discovery of wads of burnt cash from the residence of a high court judge. "You will tell me when FIR will be done. There is a judgement on that also that the CJI will decide. You cannot interfere in the work of courts nor can the courts interfere in your work," the Independent Rajya Sabha member said. Sibal also recalled the 1975 Supreme Court judgment that invalidated then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's election. "People would remember that when the Supreme Court's decision came regarding the election of Indira Gandhi, only one judge - Justice Krishna Iyer - gave the decision," he said. "That was acceptable to Dhankhar ji, but now a two-judge bench ruling is not right because it is not in favour of the government," he said. Opposition criticised Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar for his comments criticising the Supreme Court verdict on governor vs Tamil Nadu case and said his comments against the judiciary were unethical and borders on contempt. #WATCH | Delhi | Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar says, "...We cannot have a situation where you direct the President of India and on what basis? The only right you have under the Constitution is to interpret the Constitution under Article 145(3). There, it has to be five judges pic.twitter.com/U7N9Ve3FZx ANI (@ANI) April 17, 2025 Observing the Constitution is supreme, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader and MP Tiruchi Siva said the Constitution is supreme and executive, legislative and judiciary have distinct powers under the Constitution. When all three act on their own spheres, one should not forget that Constitution is supreme. The recent Supreme Court verdict on the role of Governors and President invoking Article 142 undoubtedly has established that no individual in the name of being a constitutional authority can sit over the bills passed by a legislature indefinitely undermining the constitutional provisions, Siva tweeted. Saying the rule of law prevails, Siva added, Vice President Mr Jagdeep Dhankhars observations on this SC verdict is unethical! Every citizen is and must be aware (of) that. The rule of law prevails in the Union of India. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday said the judiciary was acting like super Parliament and judiciary enjoys extraordinary powers but has zero accountability. He also said that Article 142 was a nuclear missile available with judiciary against democratic forces 24X7. There is a directive to the president by a recent judgment. Where are we heading? What is happening in the country? he asked. Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee also criticised Dhankhars comments and said they were highly objectionable and borders on contempt. As a constitutional authority, he is expected to uphold and respect other constitutional institutions and authorities, thereby honouring the spirit of the Constitution. However, the Vice President has repeatedly shown disregard for the Supreme Court, which is a deeply concerning trend, Banerjee charged. West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose defied Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's appeal to defer his visit and interacted with the people displaced following the riots in Murshidabad. During the Governor's visit, inmates of the Parlalpur High School relief camp in Malda's Baishnabnagar staged protests alleging "police-imposed censorship, denial of access to visitors and inhumane living conditions". ALSO READ | Murshidabad riots: NHRC team, NCW chairperson visit Malda relief camp A few hundred people are being given shelter here since the April 11-12 clashes in Murshidabad. Several women alleged harassment by police personnel and said they were being threatened at night to not talk to outsiders. #WATCH | West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose meets the families affected by the Murshidabad violence at a relief camp in the Malda district pic.twitter.com/J5tr7OahMQ ANI (@ANI) April 18, 2025 "Police are treating us like criminals. We are being given dry rotis, bananas and stale rice. It is hard to tell whether we are in a refugee camp or a detention centre," a woman at the camp told reporters. Meanwhile, the Governor's decision to visit the victims prompted the TMC to allege "political provocation" from his side. Bose, who left for Malda this morning despite a request from the CM to postpone his trip "in the interest of maintaining calm," said he wanted to independently verify ground reports. "I am going to the field," Bose told reporters before boarding a train from Kolkata. "I will meet the victims and verify the reports we have received. I will visit hospitals, residences of victims and the relief camps. Central forces and state police are working together to restore normalcy. After meeting the victims, I will submit my recommendations." ALSO READ | Bengal Waqf violence: CM Mamata Banerjee to visit Murshidabad at 'right time', asks governor to postpone visit At the camp, the Governor was seen interacting with children and patiently listening to the grievances of displaced families. "The women said miscreants came and attacked their houses, looted their property and were forcibly evicted," he said after the meeting. Asked about the complaints about inhume living conditions, he said he will seek a detailed report and talk to the administration. Raj Bhawan officials accompanying him took note of the complaints. In its suo motu cognisance of the violence, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) dispatched a fact-finding team to the area and has sought a detailed report from the state government within three weeks. The NHRC members took note after talking to members of the affected families staying at the camp at the Parlalpur High School. ALSO READ | 'Mamata Rana': Shiv Sena's Mhaske blasts Bengal government, demands CM's ouster over Waqf-related attacks on Hindus The Commission on Tuesday had said that it had decided to send a team to conduct an on-the-spot inquiry into the incidents, considering the seriousness of the situation. A delegation from the National Commission for Women (NCW) led by chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar also visited the camp to assess the condition of women displaced by the violence, which erupted during protests against the Centre's amendments to the Waqf (Amendment) Act. "I am shocked by the condition of women and children here. They were forcibly evicted from their homes and have gone through unimaginable trauma," Rahatkar told reporters after interacting with camp residents. NCW member Archana Majumdar, accompanying Rahatkar, alleged that women were molested and driven out of their homes. "It is the state government's responsibility to ensure their safety. What is the TMC doing? Is the government trying to turn West Bengal into another Bangladesh?" Majumdar said. The NCW delegation is expected to spend the night in Malda before heading to Murshidabad on Saturday. The panel is scheduled to meet district officials, victims and eventually call on the Governor, Chief Secretary and Director General of Police in Kolkata on Sunday. The ruling Trinamool Congress criticised the visits by the Governor and NHRC and NCW teams, alleging that they were aimed at stoking tension in the already-volatile region. "When the CM had requested him to delay the visit, the Governor should have honoured that. His actions show an intent to create unrest. The NCW and NHRC visits are also politically driven to help the BJP destabilise the situation," senior TMC MP Sougata Roy alleged. Countering the allegations, BJP state president and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar accused the TMC of shielding those behind the violence for vote-bank politics. "The TMC is panicking because these visits might expose their nexus with the rioters. They are appeasing miscreants for political gains," Majumdar told PTI. At least three people were killed and over 274 arrested in connection with the violence that engulfed Muslim-majority areas such as Shamsherganj, Suti, Dhulian, and Jangipur in Murshidabad district. Security has been tightened across the region, with paramilitary forces deployed alongside the state police to prevent further escalation. Several families have fled Murshidabad and are now living in makeshift shelters in neighbouring Malda. The communal clashes broke out during protests by sections of the Muslim community against the Centre's amendments to the Waqf Act, which, they allege, would centralise control over Muslim charitable properties and allow for their misuse. West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose will visit violence-affected areas in Murshidabad and Malda on Friday, defying Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees request to defer his visit. The governor will visit relief camps and interact with affected families. According to Raj Bhavan, the governor will meet victims of the violence at relief camps set up in Malda and interact with them. Bose will later visit areas affected by the violence that erupted over the Waqf (Amendment) Act to have a firsthand account of what happened in the field. The governor would also be interacting with district administration officials on riot control measures taken. On Thursday, the governor met a few displaced families at the Raj Bhavan. They were brought by BJP state president and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar to meet the governor. Governor Boses visit comes despite Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees request to defer the visit. Though peace has largely returned, the administration is currently focused on restoring public confidence. I could have gone, but I chose not to for a reason. Ill visit at the right time. I request the governor and others to wait for a few days more, Banerjee had said. Meanwhile, National Commission for Women chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar and a probe panel appointed by the Commission will visit Malda on Friday. The Commission took suo motu cognisance of the violence and appointed an inquiry panel to probe violence against women in the riots that broke out during a protest against amended Waqf law. Vijaya Rahatkar told ANI, "We came to know from the media reports that atrocities have been done against women in violence-hit areas of West Bengal during protest against the Waqf Amendment Act and the women are scared too. We will go to the spot (in Malda) to see the situation. We will go there and talk to the women, as atrocities against women are not accepted, and these things should not happen." Meanwhile, West Bengal police said 60 cases have been registered in connection with the violence and close to 300 persons have been arrested. Police said 70 per cent of shops have reopened in affected areas. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), on Friday, arrested Harpreet Singh, alias Happy Passia, the gangster wanted in 14 grenade attacks in Punjab, in Sacramento, United States. In an official statement confirming his arrest, the FBI said that he entered the US illegally and used burner phones to evade capture", and was captured by the agency and US Immigration and Customs Enforcements Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). Passia reportedly entered the US in 2021 through the illegal human trafficking network. Today, Harpreet Singh, an alleged terrorist responsible for terror attacks in Punjab, India, was arrested by the #FBI & #ERO in Sacramento. Linked to two international terrorist groups, he entered the U.S. illegally and used burner phones to evade capture. pic.twitter.com/vObj2xPa8Q FBI Sacramento (@FBISacramento) April 18, 2025 Passia is a close associate of Pakistan-based gangster-turned-terrorist Harvinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda, and is believed to have operational links with Pakistans ISI and outfits such as Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). Passia was on the cross-hairs of the Indian security agencies, and had a Rs 5-lakh reward on his head, announced by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). He was recently named in an NIA chargesheet in the September 2024 Chandigarh grenade attack case. The attack on the residence of a retired Punjab Police officer, was believed to be part of a broader conspiracy by the BKI, and Passia and Rinda were reportedly the chief conspirators. In December 2023, Punjab Police busted a Pakistan-ISI-backed terror module allegedly run by Passia and his accomplice, which had allegedly carried out grenade attacks on police stations in Batala and Gurdaspur. The same year, Passia is learnt to have associated with Rinda to form terror modules in the state. Passia is reportedly wanted in at least 18 criminal cases in Punjab. Around 16 grenade attacks on police posts, religious sites, and houses of public figures, including BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia, have been reported in the state in the last seven months. Probe has revealed Passias involvement in most of the attacks. Bringing cheer to thousands of pilgrims, Saudi Arabia has opened its doors for 10,000 more Indian pilgrims this year. The move comes after the Centre approached the Saudi authorities on behalf of the Combined Hajj Group Organisers (CHGOs') who missed the deadlines. The Saudi Ministry of Hajj consented to reopen the Nusuk portal for an additional 10,000 pilgrims, though the quota cut would still affect over 42,000 pilgrims who were to travel for Umrah under the CHGOs. Till last year, over 52,000 slots were allocated to the CHGOs. Saudi Arabia has slashed Indias private Haj quota by 80%. Out of Indias total quota of 1,75,024 pilgrims, 70% (1,22,517) was allocated to State Hajj Committees and 30% (52,507) to private Hajj operators. However, the Kingdom's revamped Haj policy and stricter compliance protocols caused private players to miss the contract deadlines for Mina camps, accommodation, and transportcrucial components for Hajj arrangements. Strict Norms The kingdom tightened its norms, warning citizens, residents and pilgrims of strict action, including huge penalties, in case of Hajj norms violations. The Saudi Ministry of Tourism has stipulated that anyone caught transporting pilgrims without a valid Haj permit will face a fine of 10,000 Saudi Riyals, which amounts to Rs 2,27,555. Those who transport multiple pilgrims without permits will also face fines per violator. Besides, violators will also face imprisonment for up to 15 days. The vehicles used to transport pilgrims illegally will be confiscated by court order, and the violators will be publicly named, as part of a wider effort to deter others from breaking the law. Any pilgrim who violates regulations by attempting to perform Haj without a permit will be served a strict jail term, after which they will be deported. They will also be barred from re-entering the Kingdom for a specified period, under Saudi law. The 2025 Hajj pilgrimage is provisionally scheduled for June 49, based on the moon sighting that marks the beginning of Zil-Hajj, the final month of the Islamic calendar. Pilgrims will begin to pour into Saudi Arabia as early as the end of April. Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) PHNOM PENH, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on Thursday agreed to build an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era, and designated 2025 the China-Cambodia Year of Tourism. Xi said the ironclad friendship between China and Cambodia enjoys a profound history, a solid political foundation and a strong internal driving force, adding that no matter how the international situation changes, the two countries have always been at the forefront of building a community with a shared future for mankind. Xi noted that at present, changes unseen in a century are accelerating, saying that deepening the building of the China-Cambodia community with a shared future is fully in line with the fundamental interests of the two peoples. China will, as always, support Cambodia in following a development path that suits its national conditions, support the Cambodian government's successful governance of the country, and back Cambodia in playing a more important role in international and regional affairs, he added. Xi called on both sides to take the building of an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era as a new starting point, build on the momentum, continue to implement a new action plan on building the China-Cambodia community with a shared future, strengthen unity and cooperation, and speed up the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative. He also urged the two sides to deepen political mutual trust at a higher level, expand mutually beneficial cooperation of higher quality, consolidate security guarantees of a higher level, carry out people-to-people and cultural exchanges at a higher frequency, and strengthen strategic coordination of higher standards, so as to bring greater benefits to the two peoples. The Chinese president called for maximizing the role of the China-Cambodia Intergovernmental Coordination Committee, ensuring the strategic dialogues between the foreign and defense ministers of the two countries a success, strengthening exchanges through such channels as political parties and legislative bodies, jointly addressing risks and challenges, and safeguarding the common interests of both sides. The Chinese side, Xi said, is ready to share opportunities and seek common development with Cambodia. He called on both sides to vigorously promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and continuously enrich the "Diamond Hexagon" cooperation framework, so as to inject new impetus into their respective modernization efforts. China, Xi said, encourages more Chinese enterprises to invest in Cambodia, adding that it will open its mega-market to Cambodia and import more high-quality agricultural products from the country. The people of the two countries should enhance mutual understanding and friendly feelings for each other, and promote exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese and Cambodian civilizations, he added. China will continue to offer government scholarships to Cambodia, support the establishment of a dialogue and exchange mechanism for youths between the two countries, and encourage more exchanges at the local level, as well as between media outlets and think tanks, so as to bring the people of the two countries closer and closer, he said. He called on the two countries take stronger and more effective measures to resolutely crack down on online gambling and telecom fraud, and to maintain social stability and the normal order of exchanges among regional countries. Xi said China and Cambodia, important forces in the Global South, should stick to the common values of peace, unity and cooperation. He called on both sides to oppose unilateral bullying, practice true multilateralism, firmly oppose bloc confrontation, strengthen coordination and cooperation within the frameworks of ASEAN and Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, and jointly safeguard hard-won regional peace and development, so as to contribute to promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. For his part, Hun Manet said Cambodia and China have long respected each other and treated each other as equals, hailing China as Cambodia's most reliable and trustworthy friend. He said Xi's visit is of great significance, which will deepen political mutual trust between the two countries and effectively promote the building of an all-weather Cambodia-China community with a shared future in the new era. Hailing China's achievements in economic and social development, Hun Manet said he firmly believes that under Xi's strong leadership, China will achieve the Second Centenary Goal as scheduled. He thanked China for its strong support for Cambodia's economic development and for safeguarding its independence. The prime minister said Cambodia firmly adheres to the one-China policy and supports China in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity, noting that Cambodia is firmly committed to its friendship with China and is willing to maintain high-level exchanges, strengthen strategic and security cooperation, and deepen the ironclad friendship. Noting that China is Cambodia's largest trading partner and the top source of investment, Hun Manet said Cambodia is ready to strengthen cooperation with China in such areas as economy and trade, investment, industrial and supply chains, agriculture and infrastructure, jointly combat online gambling and telecom fraud, strengthen people-to-people exchanges in such fields as education and culture, and ensure the Cambodia-China Year of Tourism a success. He said Cambodia highly appreciates China's active role in international and regional affairs, and supports Xi's vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, as well as the three major global initiatives and the Belt and Road cooperation proposed by Xi. Amid global turbulence caused by unilateralism and shocks to the multilateral trading system, China has played a leading role and provided valuable stability to the world, Hun Manet said, adding that Cambodia is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China to safeguard their common interests. After the meeting, leaders of the two countries witnessed the exchange of more than 30 bilateral cooperation documents covering fields including production and supply chain cooperation, artificial intelligence, development assistance, customs inspection and quarantine, as well as health and news. Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao) Chinese President Xi Jinping and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet jointly witness the exchange of bilateral cooperation documents after their talks in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. Xi held talks with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh on Thursday. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) Editor: WXY In a shocking incident, an eight-year-old autistic child was strangled to death by her grandmother in Dubai, police said. The incident is being investigated by the Dubai Public Prosecution. Police said the grandmother strangled the child to death using the clothes after she helped her change, reported Khaleej Times. Her lifeless body was found by her father, who was the imam of a local mosque. The father told the police he was out of the house when the incident happened. When returned, he found his daughter lifeless. Though he immediately sought medical help, the paramedics confirmed she had died. They also alerted him about the strangulation mark on her neck. He informed the police that he suspected his mother as they argued about taking care of the child before he left for work. The woman was in Dubai on a visit visa. The initial probe also revealed that the grandmother was the last person who had seen the girl alive. She has not been identified by the Dubai Police. The man said he had planned to take the girl to India for treatment when this occurred. On interrogation, the grandmother admitted to the crime and told police that she killed her granddaughter as she was tired of her illness. She also wanted to relieve her son and daughter-in-law from the burden of care. The woman was arrested and referred to the Public Prosecution for further legal proceedings. A trial will be held soon. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has launched non-compliance proceedings against Hungary after it refused to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to Budapest in early April. The court issued an arrest warrant against Netanyahu last November blaming him for alleged crimes against humanity based on how Israels conduct in Gaza. Hungary, however, welcomed the Israeli PM warmly and even announced that it would be pulling out of the ICC system. The court has given Hungary time till May 23, pointing to the growing rift within the international system about responding to commitments under international law. The ICC, established by the Rome Statute in 2001, requires all its 125 member states to arrest individuals against whom warrants are issued. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who often challenges Western norms of law and morality, welcomed Netanyahu and called the ICC a "political" entity, and questioned its impartiality. He said Hungarys commitment to the ICC was never wholehearted and pointed out that while the country signed the Rome Statute in 2001, it never fully enshrined it in national law. The ICC has never accepted such justifications for pronounced noncompliance, clear from earlier cases such as Italys repatriation of a Libyan suspect and Mongolias failure to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin. Hungarys likely exit from the court would make it the only EU country to abandon the ICC. Globally, others who have done so include the Philippines and Burundi. Budapests defiance reflects also a broader global retreat from the post-Cold War vision of a rules-based world order. In the 1990s and early 2000s, institutions like the ICC and the World Trade Organization were expected to uphold universal accountability. The ICC, unlike ad hoc tribunals for trying war crimes and crimes against humanity, was designed as a permanent court to prosecute atrocities like genocide. European nations, whose modern history was shaped by the post-War Nuremberg trials, championed it, while post-Soviet states like Hungary joined the system to align with EU values. However, global support for such measures has waned. Major world powers like the United States, Russia and Israel never fully endorsed the ICC, either withdrawing signatures or never ratifying the Rome Statute. China and India have also opted to stay out. Even within the EU, there is no universal or uniform commitment. Countries often choose political expediency. For instance, the German chancellor recently suggested hosting Netanyahu despite the warrant by finding a way out. The US, once a proponent of global institutions, has threatened ICC sanctions over warrants against Israeli officials. Hungarys stance echoes actions like South Africas decision ten years ago to allow Sudans Omar Al-Bashir to escape an ICC warrant, though South Africa now leads global legal efforts against Israel, underscoring the need for consistent support for the court. Orban argues that Hungarys stance is in favour of national sovereignty as against what he perceives as a politicised court. Orban has long positioned himself as a staunch defender of Hungarian interests, often clashing with EU institutions and officials. He argues that the ICCs warrant against Netanyahu, a key ally, is a partisan move driven by liberal agendas. Hungarys incomplete integration of the Rome Statute into national law is cited as evidence of its longstanding reservations about the court. For Orban, withdrawing from the ICC aligns with his broader narrative of resisting globalist pressures, resonating with his far-right base. Israel, which never signed the Rome Statute, views the ICCs warrant against Netanyahu as an attack on its sovereignty. His supporters argue that the Gaza conflict, while devastating, involves complex security challenges that the ICC oversimplifies and point out that Israels judicial system is capable of investigating alleged crimes. They see the warrant as part of a broader campaign to delegitimise Israel, pointing to the courts focus on Israeli actions while ignoring those of non-state actors like Hamas. The Hungary-Israel-ICC controversy places another key challenge before the international legal system. As nations retreat from global institutions, the dream of universal accountability fades, leaving many to suspect that justice may not be able to transcend politics. Two minors on either side of the Israel-Palestine border were slapped with criminal charges for conspiring with terrorist outfit ISIS, according to Israeli media reports on Friday. The reports also stated that the two had been involved in a planned terror attack on a synagogue in Lod, situated northwest of Jerusalem, as part of their allegiance to ISIS. According to the Jerusalem Post, the two were to attack the synagogue during the morning prayers, aided by ISIS operatives, with the Palestinian teenager stabbing the security guard with a poisoned knife, and the Israeli minor using that guard's gun to open fire on worshippers engaged in prayer. The Israeli defendant had also made contact with ISIS through social media last summer, filming a video confirming his allegiance to the terrorist organisation and its leader, the indictment stated. Reports say that ISIS' original plan had been for the Israeli boy to carry out the attack alone, because of his residence in Israel itself, for which he had selected the Lod synagogue. Later on, however, the plan was modified to introduce a fatal distraction, which the Palestinian boy chose to do after he was inducted into the ISIS plan by the Israeli. However, the plan ultimately failed, after the defendants' main contact within the terrorist outfit was arrested in Jordan. While it remains unclear what the Palestinian did following the arrest, the Israeli boy was reported to have still kept in contact with other ISIS members, managing groups on social media and publicly expressing a desire to carry out terrorist acts. This comes just a month after the Israeli police and the Shin Bet, an Israeli military intelligence organisation, engaged in a joint operation to nab a 21-year-old Arab-Israeli from Taybeh, a village northeast of Jerusalemas per Israeli media reportsafter he too had contacted ISIS with the intention of being affiliated with them, and had also tipped them off by sending them photos of Israeli troops on their way to the West Bank city of Tulkarem, which had been a part of a large-scale counterterror operation there in recent months. Two days before Iran and the US were to begin the second round of talks in Rome, Saudi Arabias Defence Minister flew to Tehran to meet Iranian leaders. Prince Khalid bin Salman, who arrived in Iran on Thursday, is the younger brother of the Kingdom's de-facto leader Mohammed bin Salman, also known as MBS. Prince Khalid was welcomed by Iran's Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri. The prince also met Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian. The last time a Saudi leader visited was in 1997 when King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz did so, when he was the Crown Prince. That time too a reformist - President Mohammad Khatami - was in office. Interesting development Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman visited Tehran, the highest-level Saudi visit since 1997. He met Irans military chief to discuss defense ties, stability, and counterterrorism pic.twitter.com/dvbcWTTIYO Open Source Intel (@Osint613) April 17, 2025 Though both sides stated that the visit was aimed to enhance the defence interaction between both countries and to strengthen peace and stability in the region, analysts feel the real reason for the top Saudi diplomat's visit could be to pass on a significant message that Saudi will not be a mediator in the attack on Iran. Ali Al-Shihabi, a Saudi analyst close to the royal court, confirmed that the Kingdom was indeed sending a message. "Saudi is sending a message to Tehran that it will not be a conduit in any fashion towards an attack on Iran," Shihabi said adding that the Kingdom backed US President Donald Trump's efforts to find a diplomatic solution and was not in support of a war. Though Saudi leadership initially steered away from taking any steps to mend relations with Iran, which worsened in 2016 after Iranian protesters stormed the Saudi embassy in the Iranian capital following the execution of a Shiite cleric in Saudi Arabia, it later mended ties after Beijing intervened. Saudi Arabia, along with the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, had earlier made it clear that they would not Israel to use their airspace to strike Iran. This is because Riyadh is concerned that letting the US or Israel use its soil to attack Iran could backfire as Tehran could retaliate by attacking its oil infrastructure, either directly or through proxies, including the Houthis, like in 2019. An attack in 2019 left Saudi facing a major crisis after a missile and drone struck its oil infrastructure. It was believed that Iran was behind this attack. Iran too wants a good relationship with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations as it needs their support to counter US sanctions. A female student from Andhra Pradesh, who was pursuing her M.Sc. Degree at the University of North Texas in Denton City, died following a hit-and-run incident a week ago, her family said on Friday. The victim, identified as Vangavolu Deepthi, had been walking with her friend Snigdha near the 2300 block of Carril Al Lago Drive on April 12, when a speeding vehicle struck them. Deepthi sustained severe head injuries, passing away three days later on April 15, despite concerted crowdfunding efforts and quality treatment. Snigdha, however, is undergoing surgery and is said to be in stable condition, their family members explained. "I spoke to her occasionally, and as she was in a hurry to attend classes, she told us she would call on Sunday when she would be free. That turned out to be the last call," her father, Hanumantha Rao, explained. Her last call with her family was on Thursday, according to her mother. He added that their family had gone through great pains to support their daughtera B. Tech. graduate from Narasaraopet Engineering College in Andhra Pradeshhaving sold farm land to obtain money for her higher education in the US. Her efforts paid off, as she was expected to graduate next month, which they planned to attend. After completing all formalities, her body would be flown in from the US on Saturday and is expected to reach Hyderabad by Monday morning, her father said. Telugu associations in the US are currently assisting the authorities in these matters. Bangladesh's recent decision to stop the import of yarn from India through its land ports will hit the country's garment exporters hard, according to a report. This ban is the recent one in a series of actions both countries initiated against each other after the interim government led by Mohammed Yunus came to power last year. India's recent decision to cancel Bangladeshi cargo transhipment to third countries dealt a blow to Dhaka, which exports garments worth $47 billion to Western countries, mainly from airports in India. Bangladesh's Trade Advisor Sheikh Bashiruddin stated that the move had cost the country Tk 2000 crore. Though he expressed optimism that the country will bring down the cost and a project has been devised for the same, Dhaka's latest attempt to act against India has only pushed the country's garment industry into further chaos. Two days ago, Bangladesh's National Board of Revenue (NBR) suspended the import of yarn from India through Benapole, Bhomra, Sonamasjid, Banglabandha, and Burimari land ports in Bangladesh. It was through these ports that yarn was imported into the country from India. Though the order was passed now, the move has been in the offing for some time. Dhaka claims the decision was taken to protect the use of locally produced yarn in the garment industry. The yarn imported from India was cheaper and was causing local producers heavy financial losses, the authorities claimed. They claim India used to export yarn at a lower price than Bangladeshi yarn - at a price 3 to 5 per cent lower than the domestic market price. Yarn was stored near the Benapole border and Indian exporters would ship the products within a day or two of receiving the import order. Moreover, the yarn that used to come into Bangladesh from India was more than what was declared at these land ports. Bangladesh's land ports do not have sufficient equipment to measure the fineness and thickness of yarn, following which many importers brought yarn with higher counts by making false declarations, according to local media reports. Due to this, Bangladesh's local yarn producers couldn't survive the competition, according to the Bangladesh textile mill owners. While the decision will favour textile mill owners who can now sell off the yarn easily, the ready-made and knit garment manufacturers and exporters are bracing themselves for a hard time. The garment industry will now have to shell out more to buy yarn from domestic producers at a relatively high cost. The other option is to import yarn by sea from India, China, Turkey and Uzbekistan which takes more time and money. The price difference between local yarn and yarn imported from India is 20 to 50 cents per kilogram, according to Jagonews 24. Businessmen and economists in the garment sector have called the decision to ban yarn imports by land route 'immature' and 'wrong' as it will result in the competitiveness of ready-made garment businessmen, who are already reeling from the impending Trump tariff aftermath. Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) president Mohammad Hatem told Jago News that the decision was an unfair one. "Due to this decision of the government, ready-made garment exports will be hampered. Small factories will be in more danger," he said. "As a result, small and medium entrepreneurs will face huge losses. Until now, if export orders were received, 10 to 20 tons of yarn could be imported from India within two days. Now the production time will increase," he said. Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies research director Dr. Mahfuz Kabir, told Jagonews that there is no profit gained from this. "Amidst Trump's trade war on one hand and the country's proposed increase in gas prices for industrial plants on the other, the decision to import yarn will harm the economy. It was not appropriate to make this decision when the cost burden on garment exporters is increasing. Exporters could have been given more time," he added. The US has reportedly offered allies the option of easing sanctions on Russia, in a move aimed at bringing about a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. According to a Bloomberg report, the renewed push to end the war comes after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hinted on Friday that the Trump administration was prepared to move on from its peace efforts unless progress is made, owing to the financial strain that the conflict had on America. US Vice President J.D. Vance, on the other hand, said in Rome on the same day that he was optimistic about the possibility of bringing the conflict to a close. These matters were discussed in detail during high-level meetings in Paris on Thursday, according to European officials familiar with the matter. According to a report by Economic Times, the proposal would effectively freeze the war, with Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory remaining as such. Ukraine would also be prevented from joining NATO, one of the key issues that led to the 2014 conflict escalating in 2022. The officials declined to provide further specifics, citing the confidential nature of the discussions. Were not going to drag this out for weeks or months. We need to decide quickly, within days, whether a deal is achievable in the coming weeks. If it is, were committed. If not, well shift our focus to other priorities, Rubio had said, during the talks in Paris. ALSO READ | Controversial ex-CIA analyst details how US devised a project to 'destabilise Ukraine and provoke Russia' which failed miserably These talks also included a meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron and US envoy Steve Witkoff. Marco Rubio also held discussions with national security advisors and negotiators from France, Germany, the UK and Ukraine. However, he also clarified that Ukraine would have a right to defend itself and to enter into whatever agreements it wants to enter into on a bilateral basis with different countries. Speaking to reporters in Kyiv on Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy lashed out at Witkoff for adopting Russian strategy, adding that Trumps envoy had no mandate to discuss Ukrainian territories, because these territories belong to our people. We do not discuss territories until the ceasefire ... we will never consider Ukrainian lands as Russian, he declared. Despite these issues, European officials called the Paris meetings constructive and positive, for these were the latest examples of the Europe's continued efforts to foster and maintain solidarity with Ukraine, and to put forward the point that it was Moscow's responsibility to continue ceasefire negotiations until a legitimate resolution. After the United States said that it will move on from the Ukraine-Russia peace deal if no progress is made in the coming days, Kremlin claimed that progress has been been made but contacts were rather complicated with the US. Referring to a temporary halt on strikes against energy infrastructure, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, "We believe that some progress can already be noted. "Russia is committed to resolving this conflict, ensuring its own interests, and is open to dialogue. We continue to do this." "Contacts are quite complicated, because, naturally, the topic is not an easy one, he added. With concerns growing in Europe, France hosted high-level talks on Thursday the first meeting among top American, Ukrainian and European officials to chart a path to end the Ukraine-Russia war, since Trumps inauguration. The United States is ready to walk away from efforts to broker a peace between Ukraine and Russia if no progress is made soon, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said during a visit to Paris. pic.twitter.com/s08FX3ErbN DW News (@dwnews) April 18, 2025 On Friday after the talks, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that the US may drop the efforts to broker peace between the warring nations if a deal was not agreed upon soon. We are not going to continue with this endeavour for weeks and months on end. So, we need to determine very quickly now, and I am talking about a matter of days, whether or not this is doable in the next few weeks, he told reporters. Rubio and presidential envoy Steve Witkoff have been leading US efforts to get Russia and Ukraine to accept a ceasefire proposal, with several rounds of negotiations being held in Saudi Arabia. But, Russia has so far rejected a comprehensive ceasefire proposed by the US and which Ukraine has endorsed. Instead, it has insisted that Ukraine stop its mobilisation efforts and Western arms supplies first a demand that the Ukrainians have rejected. During his election campaign, Trump had promised to end the war between Russia and Ukraine within his first 24 hours in the White House. But, on taking office, he extended the deadline to "April or May". Upon his insistence, and because of threats of sanctions on Russia and withdrawal of US military support to Ukraine, the two nations had come to the negotiating table in Saudi Arabia, resulting in a partial and temporary ceasefire. Meanwhile, Russia continued its strikes on Ukrainian cities, with 34 people getting killed during Palm Sunday celebrations in Sumy, and one person dying and over 60 others getting injured in Kharkiv. In a crucial moment in Kesari Chapter 2, Akshay Kumar's Sankaran Nair is told by a British barrister that he'll have to ditch the theatrics, unlike the last time. But, a few minutes later, Nair defies him. The film, too, is defiantly theatrical and defiantly cinematic. This was, of course, made evident in the trailer. So, when one goes into a film expecting it to have a fair amount of theatrical performances and cinematic moments, it then becomes a question of whether the film will deliver on the emotional front or not. There is no space for doubting whether everything shown in the film, specifically the lines and "mass" moments, happened exactly the way it is shown in the film. I, for one, do not care much for 100% historical accuracy in these films. (If you seek that, invent a time-travel machine and go see for yourself.) Kesari Chapter 2, a "thematic sequel" to the 2019 film starring the same lead actor, has Akshay Kumar's most likeable and commanding role since Special 26. Yes, it's been that long. But did he have to don that Kathakali outfit in one scene and utter a badly pronounced Malayalam line that would trigger a snigger in Malayali audiences? (I did hear a few in the theatre. Look, Bollywood needs to stop casting Hindi-speaking actors as Malayalis, alright?) Take those two things out, and the slight awkwardness could've been eliminated. That said, this is a film which gives Akshay enough moments to shine. When he walks into a courtroom for the first time, he is photographed from behind, at a low angle, with his cloak slo-mo flowing like a superhero's cape. But Sankaran Nair is not portrayed as a "superhero", as we'll later see. The film benefits from keeping its focus on just one episode in his life and not going for a cradle-to-the-grave biopic approach. It does not, for instance, look into his political activism. It looks more into the man behind the cloak, the one who took pleasure and pride in being validated by the British who later grows a conscience. So imagine their surprise when the man they knighted went over to the other side to fight the very people that christened him 'Sir'. In the film, he is reminded of this title often, most notably by R Madhavan's Neville McKinley, the Anglo-Indian advocate defending General Reginald Dyer, the instigator of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Speaking of, the casting of Madhavan works quite well to the film's advantage owing to a certain measure of gravitas he lends to it, just like Akshay does. In the courtroom, both are showmen, in their own way. Madhavan seems to have had a lot of fun playing the character. The scenes where McKinley taunts Nair reminded me of Madhavan's character from Mani Ratnam's Guru, in which he played a man determined to expose Abhishek Bachchan's character. As in Nair's case, there is a clear motive for McKinley's decision to take on the case. Among the interesting things about Kesari Chapter 2 is how it goes into the backstories of some of the so-called witnesses, the relevance of which is often brought up by the "bad" side, but they all have a connection, as we later learn. I'm assuming the makers took some creative liberties with these "subplots". For example, there is an explanation for why Dyer behaved like a monster on that fateful day. Did Dyer really experience something like that in his childhood? As for Dyer's characterisation, the actor doesn't look anything like the real figure, just like every other actor in the film. At times, he appears like a cartoonish figure; in others, he evokes Hitler. In one striking optical effect, his face becomes distorted in such a way that you cannot help but think of the Fuhrer. Ananya Pandey's performance is constrained by limited expressions, except for that one lighthearted moment involving a date where the "deadpan" delivery of a certain line works. Amit Sial is quite effective as a manipulative mediator. Given the 'A' rating, the actors get to throw around a fair amount of f-words (let's not waste time asking whether people fired such expletives back then), and the massacre itself is depicted with a fair amount of gore (nothing more than what you saw in the trailer, though). However, if you were to ask which film did it better Sardar Uddham Singh or Kesari 2 I'd have to go with the Shoojit Sircar film. Having said that, I wish the film carried more punch. Take the emotional bits, for example, and the use of music in them. Why not use an instrumental score to accompany them instead of a song? There's nothing wrong with theatricality, but in a serious film based on a horrifying real-life incident, isn't it better to dial it down a bit? Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Cambodian People's Party President and Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) PHNOM PENH, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said here Thursday that building a China-Cambodia community with a shared future is a choice of history and the people. Xi made the remarks when meeting with Cambodian People's Party President and Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen. China and Cambodia are not only friendly neighbors but also ironclad friends, he said, noting that both countries are currently at a critical stage of national development. Xi said that the two sides should keep in mind the well-being of their people and the progress of humanity, strive to set an example for building a community with a shared future for mankind in the course of advancing their respective modernization endeavors, and join hands to become forces for peace, stability and progress in a world undergoing profound transformations unseen in a century. China believes that Cambodia's road to national development and revitalization will become wider and wider, and will, as always, support the Cambodian People's Party in leading the Cambodian people to maintain national stability and economic development, Xi said, adding that China supports Cambodia in playing a more important role in the regional and international arena. The Chinese president said that the two sides should make good use of the newly established "2+2" strategic dialogue mechanism between foreign ministers and defense ministers of the two countries to strengthen strategic coordination. The two sides should deepen practical cooperation across various fields, advance the construction of Cambodia's Industrial and Technological Corridor and Fish and Rice Corridor, and strengthen collaboration in energy, transportation and other key sectors, enabling Cambodia to share more in China's development opportunities, Xi said. Xi emphasized that China is willing to engage in exchanges and mutual learning with Cambodia on major issues such as strengthening party building and advancing reform and development, and to deepen friendly cooperation between the China's National People's Congress and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference with National Assembly and Senate of the Kingdom of Cambodia. Unilateralism and hegemonism receive no support of the people, Xi said. History has shown the unstoppable trend toward a multipolar world, economic globalization, and cultural diversity, Xi said, adding that no country wants to return to isolation. The trade wars undermine the multilateral trading system and disrupt global economic order, Xi said, urging all countries to unite and firmly keep the reins of national security and development in their own hands, uphold mutual respect, pursue win-win cooperation and common development, and work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind. As Asia embarks on a new journey of collective revitalization, Xi noted, China will continue to follow the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness and the policy of developing friendship and partnership with neighboring countries, maintain the continuity and stability of its neighborhood diplomacy, deepen friendly cooperation with neighboring countries, so as to share the fruits of Chinese modernization more widely across the region, promote the building of a community with a shared future with neighboring countries, and work together to advance Asia's modernization. For his part, Hun Sen said this visit is of great significance to Cambodia. Noting that China is Cambodia's most steadfast supporter and most reliable partner, Hun Sen said China's support has made significant contributions to Cambodia's economic and social development and improvement of people's lives, for which the Cambodian side expresses its deep gratitude. Cambodia firmly adheres to the one-China policy, supports China's positions on issues related to Taiwan, Xinjiang and Xizang, and opposes any forces' interference in China's internal affairs, he said. China and Cambodia are ironclad friends, and the two countries' decision to build a China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era will make further progress, promoting high-level, high-quality and high-standard development of bilateral relations, Hun Sen said. The two countries will always move forward hand in hand, stand together through thick and thin and share a common destiny, he added. Hun Sen said that Cambodia is willing to strengthen strategic security cooperation with China and expand bilateral trade. Cambodia welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest in the country, and will join hands with China to promote the deepening of people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and intensify the crackdown on online gambling and telecom fraud, he added. The Cambodian side highly appreciates China's constructive role in promoting world peace and sustainable development, and supports the Belt and Road cooperation and the three major global initiatives proposed by China, which are conducive to safeguarding the common interests of the international community and promoting world peace, security and stability, Hun Sen said. Trade wars and tariff wars have undermined the legitimate interests of all countries and triggered turmoil in the international situation, Hun Sen said, adding that Cambodia is willing to strengthen cooperation with China and jointly address various risks and challenges. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Cambodian People's Party President and Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao) Editor: WXY Russias Supreme Court on Thursday lifted a ban on Afghanistans ruling Taliban, a group that was designated as a terrorist organization more than two decades ago. The move was a diplomatic victory for the Taliban, who were put on Russias list of terrorist organizations in 2003, making any contact with them punishable under Russian law. At the same time, Taliban delegations have attended various forums hosted by Russia as Moscow has sought to position itself as a regional power broker. The courts ruling on a request by the Prosecutor Generals Office followed last years adoption of a law stipulating that the official designation as a terrorist organization could be suspended by a court. The former Soviet Union fought a 10-year war in Afghanistan that ended with Moscow withdrawing its troops in 1989. Russian officials have recently been emphasizing the need to engage with the Taliban to help stabilize Afghanistan. In recent years, the Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have removed the Taliban from their lists of terrorist groups. The Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021 as U.S. and NATO troops were in the final weeks of withdrawing from the country after two decades of war. The Taliban initially promised a more moderate rule than during their first stint in power from 1996 to 2001, but started to enforce restrictions on women and girls soon after the 2021 takeover. Women are barred from most jobs and public places, including parks, baths and gyms, while girls are banned from education beyond sixth grade. Such measures have isolated the Taliban on the world stage, although their government has established diplomatic ties with countries including China and the United Arab Emirates. The U.N. this year renewed its call for the Taliban to lift the bans. The groups decrees limiting the participation of girls and women have affected foreign aid to the country. The Taliban also have brought back their strict interpretation of Islamic law, or Shariah, including public executions. Some Taliban want greater engagement with the international community and want to scrap harsher policies to attract more outside support. In recent months, there has been increased engagement between the Taliban and the U.S. under President Donald Trump, mostly because of prisoner exchanges and releases. Ibraheem Bahiss, a senior analyst with Crisis Groups Asia Program, said the Talibans listing as a terrorist group was a legal impairment for trade and political ties with Kabul and its lifting reflected Moscows desire to improved relations. However, beyond making it easier for individuals and businesses to engage with Afghanistan. I am not sure what other major benefit this will have, he said. South Asia analyst Michael Kugelman said the Russian move was not ground-breaking because many countries had never formally designated the Taliban as a terrorist organization. At the same time, he called the decision a win-win for bilateral relations. For Russia, he said it would serve as a confidence-building measure helping pave the way for more engagement and enabling Moscow to better protect its interests in Afghanistan, particularly concerns about anti-Russia terror groups like Islamic State-Khorasan. Meanwhile, for the Taliban, the court decision is a legitimacy-boosting outcome they can leverage to point to international acceptance of their rule, Kugelman observed. (AP) Dear Editor of Yeshiva World News, I am writing to you with a heavy heart and a burning sense of outrage, mortification, and shame after witnessing a scene that has left me questioning the values of our community. On Thursday, Chol HaMoed Pesach, I visited the Coney Island boardwalk, hoping for a pleasant outing with my family. Instead, what I encountered was nothing short of a travestya grotesque display of disregard for basic decency and cleanliness. The entire boardwalk, a public space enjoyed by thousands, was transformed into a landfill of kosher wrappers, plastic cups, plates, spoons, dirty diapers, soiled baby wipes, eggshells, and more. The beach itself, a natural treasure, was littered with the unmistakable remnants of our communitys presence: Discarded chocolate Lebens, wrappers, Mayim Chayim seltzer bottles, Liebers products, Paskesz candy, and kosher lpesach potato chip bags, all strewn about like a perverse advertisement for kosher brands. It wasnt just litterit was a monumental Chillul Hashem on a scale that should shake us to our core. Do the Yidden who left this disgusting mess behind not understand the gravity of their actions? Have we forgotten what Chillul Hashem means? Have we lost sight of the fact that Yom Kippur itself does not atone for such public desecration of Hashems name? The Gemara in Yoma (86a) makes it clear: Chillul Hashem is so severe that even teshuva, Yom Kippur, and suffering cannot fully erase it until ones actions are rectified in the eyes of the world. Some mefarshim suggest that only misa death can fully atone for such a aveira! Yet here we are, with our negligence on full display for all of New York City to see. The non-Jewish residents, the tourists, the workers who will have to clean up this filthwhat must they think of us? What must they think of the Torah we claim to uphold? I am utterly disgusted. This is not who we are supposed to be. The Torah commands us to be a light unto the nations, to embody kiddush Hashem in every action. Instead, weve turned a public boardwalk into a symbol of carelessness and disrespect. What happened to basic derech eretz? What happened to vahavta lreiacha kamocha? What happened to the principle of leaving a place cleaner than you found it? Are we so consumed with our own enjoyment that weve forgotten our responsibility to the world around us? I saw families, frum families, walking away from piles of their own trash without a second glance. I saw children tossing wrappers into the wind while their parents did nothing. I saw groups of teenagers leaving behind half-eaten snacks and empty seltzer bottles as if the beach were their personal dumpster. This wasnt one or two bad actorsthis was a collective failure, a communal embarrassment that reflects poorly on every single one of us. Amidst this sea of filth, I noticed dozens of Chassidim snacking on Bamba. Bamba! On Pesach! Has no one told them its kitniyos? Have we become so lax in our observance that were eating kitniyos openly and in public? The hypocrisy is staggering. We pride ourselves on our supposed commitment to mitzvos, yet we leave behind a trail of wrappers without a second thought. If we cant uphold the basics of decency, how can we claim to represent Torah values in the world? YWN, you have a platform, a voice that reaches tens of thousands of Yidden. Use it. Call out this behavior for what it is: a Chillul Hashem of epic proportions. Demand accountability from our community leaders, our rabbanim, our organizations. We need public campaigns, shiurim, and drashos reminding us of our responsibility to uphold kiddush Hashem. We need practical solutionstrash bags distributed at community outings, volunteers to monitor public spaces, and a cultural shift that prioritizes cleanliness and respect. We need to teach our children that leaving a mess isnt just bad manners; its an aveira that tarnishes our collective neshama. I am ashamed to be associated with this behavior. I am heartbroken that our community, which has so much potential for good, allows this to happen. And I am furious that weve given ammunition to those who already view us with suspicion or disdain. The people of New York City deserve better. The Torah deserves better. Hashem deserves better from his Chosen People. Shame on those who contributed to this mess. Shame on us for allowing it to happen. Lets clean up our actliterally and figurativelybefore its too late. Sincerely, A Mortified and Disgusted Yid The views expressed in this letter are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of YWN. Have an opinion you would like to share? Send it to us for review. U.S. airstrikes targeting an oil port held by Yemens Houthi rebels killed 74 people and wounded 171 others, the group said Friday, in the deadliest known attack under President Donald Trumps new military campaign against the Iranian-backed faction. The strike on the Ras Isa port, which sent massive fireballs shooting into the night sky, represented a major escalation in the American effort by hitting oil facilities for the first time. Assessing the toll of Trumps campaign, which began March 15, has been difficult, as the U.S. militarys Central Command hasnt released any information, including its attacks targets and how many people have been killed. The Houthis, meanwhile, strictly control access to attacked areas and dont publish complete information on the strikes, many of which likely have targeted military and security sites. In a statement, Central Command said U.S. forces took action to eliminate this source of fuel for the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists and deprive them of illegal revenue that has funded Houthi efforts to terrorize the entire region for over 10 years. This strike was not intended to harm the people of Yemen, who rightly want to throw off the yoke of Houthi subjugation and live peacefully, it added. It did not acknowledge any casualties from the attack or offer any damage assessment. Hours after the strike, the Houthis launched a missile toward Israel that was intercepted, the Israeli military said. Sirens sounded in Tel Aviv and elsewhere. Yemens civil war, meanwhile, further internationalized, as the U.S. alleged a Chinese satellite company was directly supporting Houthi attacks a claim Beijing declined to directly comment on. And a second round of negotiations between Iran and the U.S. over Tehrans rapidly advancing nuclear program, which America has linked to the Yemen campaign, is due to happen Saturday in Rome. US strikes spark massive fireball The Ras Isa port, a collection of oil tanks and refining equipment, sits in Yemens Hodeida governorate along the Red Sea. It is just off Kamaran Island, which has been targeted by intense U.S. airstrikes over the past few days. The Houthis al-Masirah satellite news channel aired graphic footage of the aftermath, showing corpses strewn across the site and smashed tanker trucks ablaze. Satellite images of the port from Planet Labs PBC and analyzed by The Associated Press showed destroyed oil tanks and vehicles. Oil also appeared to be leaking into the Red Sea. Wim Zwijnenburg, an analyst with Dutch peace organization PAX, said it appeared at least three fuel storage tanks had been destroyed and that oil had leaked from mooring pipelines. The port also is the terminus of an oil pipeline stretching to Yemens energy-rich Marib governorate, which is held by allies of Yemens exiled government. The Houthis expelled that government from Yemens capital, Sanaa, in 2014. However, oil exports have been halted by the decadelong war and the Houthis have used Ras Isa to bring in oil. Ras Isa takes in gasoline, diesel and liquefied petroleum gas for the Houthis. The damage from the airstrikes could seriously affect life in Houthi-held areas of Yemen. The Houthis denounced the U.S. attack as a completely unjustified aggression. It targets a vital civilian facility that has served the Yemeni people for decades, the Houthis said in a statement. On April 9, the U.S. State Department issued a warning about oil shipments to Yemen, saying it would not tolerate any country or commercial entity providing support to foreign terrorist organizations, such as the Houthis. The attack follows Israeli airstrikes on the Houthis that hit port and oil infrastructure used by the rebels after their attacks on Israel, including Ras Isa. The deadliest known attack in Trumps Yemen campaign The airstrike on the port is the deadliest known attack yet in Trumps campaign against the Houthis. The actual cost in lives is hard to assess, said Luca Nevola, the senior analyst for Yemen and the Gulf at the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project, a think tank. Since they are targeting civilian areas, theres a lot more victims. But its also difficult to assess how many because the Houthis are releasing these umbrella statements that cover all the victims or tend to stress only the civilian victims, Nevola said. Further complicating the situation is the U.S. strikes hitting military targets, said Mohammed al-Basha, a Yemen expert at the Basha Report risk advisory firm. He pointed to an American attack that Trump highlighted online with black-and-white strike footage, which might have killed about 70 fighters. Although the Houthis claimed it was a tribal gathering, they neither released any footage nor named a single casualty, strongly suggesting the victims were not civilians but affiliated fighters, al-Basha said. However, the overnight strike on the Ras Isa Fuel Port marks the first mass-casualty incident the Houthis have openly acknowledged and publicized. The US accuses a Chinese satellite company of aiding Houthi attacks Meanwhile, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce in a briefing with journalists accused Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co. Ltd., a commercial satellite image provider, of directly supporting Iran-backed Houthi terrorist attacks on U.S. interests. Bruce did not elaborate in detail, but acknowledged a report by The Financial Times that quoted anonymous American officials saying the firm linked to the Peoples Liberation Army has provided images allowing the rebels to target U.S. warships and commercial vessels traveling through the Red Sea corridor. Bruce said Beijings support of the satellite company contradicts their claims of being peace supporters. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, responding to a question about the allegation, said Friday: I am not familiar with the situation you mentioned. However, he insisted China is seen as urging countries to make more efforts conducive to regional peace and stability. Since the escalations in the Red Sea situation, China has been playing a positive role in de-escalating the situation, Lin said. Who is promoting talks for peace and de-escalating the tensions, and who is imposing sanctions and pressure? Chang Guang did not respond to request for comment. The U.S. Treasury sanctioned the company in 2023 for allegedly providing satellite images to the Russian mercenary force the Wagner Group as it fought in Ukraine. It remains unclear whether Chang Guang is linked to the Chinese government. The U.S. government in the past has used images taken by American commercial satellite companies to share with allies, like Ukraine, to avoid releasing its own top-secret pictures. US strikes are part of monthlong intense campaign An AP review has found the new U.S. operation against the Houthis under President Donald Trump appears more extensive than that under former President Joe Biden. The new campaign of airstrikes started after the rebels threatened to begin targeting Israeli ships again over Israel blocking aid entering the Gaza Strip. The Houthis targeted more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two of them and killing four sailors from November 2023 until January of this year. That has greatly reduced the flow of trade through the Red Sea corridor, which typically sees $1 trillion of goods move through it. The Houthis also launched attacks targeting American warships without success. (AP) Released hostage Keith Siegel shared new details about the conditions of his captivity in a conversation with Channel 12 on Thursday evening. Siegel, who was held together with IDF soldier Matan Angrest, who is still in captivity, said, among things, that their captors tried to convince the hostages to convert to Islam. There were attempts to convert us to Islam, he said. According to them, whoever is not Muslim goes to hell and only Muslims go to heaven. He added: Matan spoke a lot about his longing to spend more time with his family when he returns from captivity and less with his PlayStation. I think they tried to extract information from Matan about his role [in the army]. Matan did everything he could not to reveal classified things. He told very difficult things that he went through. I saw violence towards Matan, physical and verbal violence. Matan and I were literally starving. This is not some figurative expression. There were times when we really felt physically and mentally that there was a chance that we wouldnt get out of there alive at all, because of all kinds of threats that were there one of them was a shortage of food and daily hunger for a long time. It caused dizziness, vertigo, and weakness, and Im sure he still experiences it today. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Rivky Kogan, the almanah of Rabbi Tzvi Kogan, Hyd, gave birth to a baby girl, her first child, on Chol Hamoed Pesach. The birth was a joyful but bittersweet event, coming five months after Reb Kogan, Hyd, a beloved Chabad shliach in the United Arab Emirates, was abducted and brutally murdered. Chief Rabbi of the Emirates Levi Duchman wrote: We extend a heartfelt Mazal Tov to Rivky Kogan on the birth of her baby girl. We join the Kogan and Spielman families and all Am Yisroel in celebrating this special moment of simcha. This precious baby is a special continuation of her beloved father, who was brutally murdered, Reb Zvi Hakohen Kogan HYD, and whose lifes mission continues to inspire us all. May we share only simcha and bracha, and may this young girl bring much joy, comfort, and light to her family and to all Am Yisroel. Last month, the UAE imposed the death penalty on the three murderers, Muslims from Uzbekistan. A fourth defendant, who assisted the three, was sentenced to life imprisonment. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) The Hamas terror organization has rejected Israels most recent proposal for a ceasefire/hostage release deal. Senior Hamas terrorist Khalil al-Hayya claimed that Netanyahu set impossible conditions for a deal that does not bring about an end to the war or full withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. Al-Hayya, who heads Hamass negotiation team, added that Hamas is willing to immediately hold negotiations for the release of hostages in return for an agreed-upon number of prisoners and a complete cessation of the war and a total withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. Senior Hamas terrorist abroad Mahmoud Mardawi said on Thursday evening: Any agreement must include a permanent ceasefire, a full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, a prisoner exchange deal, the lifting of the blockade, and the beginning of reconstruction efforts. Hamas rejects any partial or temporary arrangement that could be used to entrench the occupation. Hamas stresses its commitment to the option of resistance by all means, especially arms, which is not up for discussion. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) An Arab-Israeli woman and a British woman were among four people killed when a cable car crashed on Thursday in southern Italy near Naples, local officials confirmed Friday. Marco De Rosa, a spokesperson for the mayor of Vico Equense, said that two of the three foreign victims have been officially identified, with Italian media reporting that the third is also British. The accident occurred on Monte Faito in the town of Castellammare di Stabia, a popular tourist area overlooking the Bay of Naples. According to initial findings, the tragedy was triggered when a traction cable snapped, bringing both the ascending and descending cable cars to a halt and causing at least one to plummet. Authorities have launched a criminal investigation into multiple counts of manslaughter and culpable disaster. One of the victims has been identified in Israeli media as 25-year-old Janan Suliman, a resident of Mashhad in northern Israel. British media named another victim as 58-year-old Margaret Elaine Winn. The third foreign fatality, believed to also be a British citizen, has not yet been formally identified. The fourth victim was an Italian national, 59-year-old cable car operator Carmine Parlato. A fifth person, believed to be a foreign tourist and reported in Hebrew media as Sulimans brother, was critically injured in the crash. He was rescued from the wreckage and remains hospitalized in serious condition in Naples. Israels Foreign Ministry said that the Israeli embassy in Rome is working closely with Italian authorities to clarify the identity of the injured Israeli and to assist the families involved. This is the second major cable car disaster in Italy in recent years. In 2021, a crash near Lake Maggiore claimed the lives of 14 people, prompting worry over the countrys aging infrastructure. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Tehran has proposed a three-phase nuclear agreement that would see it roll back its uranium enrichment levels in exchange for the lifting of U.S. sanctions, according to a report by Iran International, citing three diplomatic sources. The plan, presented last Saturday by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi during indirect talks in Oman, would cap uranium enrichment at 3.67%the level agreed upon in the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which President Trump withdrew from in 2018. In the first stage of the proposed deal, the U.S. would allow Iran access to billions in frozen assets and permit oil exports, while Tehran would lower its enrichment activity. The second stage would involve lifting more sanctions and suspending the automatic snapback of UN sanctions. In return, Iran would permit the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to resume full inspections, including surprise visits under the Additional Protocol. In the final phase, Iran would transfer its stockpile of highly enriched uraniumsome of which is enriched up to 60%, just short of weapons-gradeto a third country. The U.S. Congress would ratify the new deal, and Washington would lift all primary and secondary sanctions. The proposal reportedly surprised U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, who responded positively during the initial meeting. Witkoff and Araghchi are set to hold a second round of talks this Saturday in Rome. Witkoff had earlier signaled that the White House was open to a limited deal that would cap but not dismantle Irans nuclear program. However, he appeared to shift positions just a day later, stating any deal must include a complete end to Irans enrichment and weaponization capabilities. A diplomatic source cited by Iran International claimed that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei approved the talks to buy time for Iran to rebuild its air defensesseverely damaged in October by Israeli airstrikesas well as to resume production of surface-to-surface missiles. That Israeli attack followed Irans unprecedented ballistic missile barrage on October 1, marking its second direct attack on Israel in less than a year. Israeli intelligence reportedly damaged radar installations critical to Irans missile guidance systems. The final phase of the deal, which involves moving enriched uranium abroad, appears to conflict with a recent Guardian report indicating Iran was likely to reject such a condition. Russia, a close Iranian ally and the operator of its sole nuclear reactor, has not confirmed whether it would accept Irans uranium stockpile. Despite Irans claims that it is not pursuing nuclear weapons, international nuclear watchdogs say the country has significantly increased its 60%-enriched uranium stockpile and is on track to quadruple its uranium ore production this yearwell beyond the needs of a civilian program. On Thursday, IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi, visiting Tehran, warned that time is running out to reach a deal. The developments come as The New York Times reported that Trump recently blocked an Israeli plan to strike Iranian nuclear sites in May. The president, while confirming he rejected the operation, said he preferred to exhaust diplomatic options first. I wouldnt say waved off, but Im not in a rush to do it, Trump told reporters Thursday. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office, while touting countless Israeli actions against Irans nuclear program, did not deny Trumps intervention. Trump unveiled the resumption of direct U.S.-Iran talks during a surprise White House meeting with Netanyahu earlier this month. According to Israeli media, Netanyahu was informed of the negotiations only after landing in Washington. The Israeli premier reportedly left without receiving clear guarantees that Israeli demands would be incorporated into any final dealor what the U.S. would do if the talks failed. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) PHNOM PENH, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that China and Cambodia set a model for equality, mutual trust and win-win cooperation between countries of different sizes. Xi made the remarks when meeting with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni during his state visit to Cambodia. Noting that Cambodia has recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of King Sihamoni's enthronement and the Khmer New Year, Xi said he is delighted to visit the beautiful country of Cambodia at the invitation of the king, extending his heartfelt New Year greetings to the Cambodian people. Xi said that Cambodia's nation-building is thriving, and he firmly believes that, under the blessings of King Sihamoni, the hardworking and intelligent Cambodian people will surely build an even more prosperous and stronger nation. Xi pointed out that China and Cambodia share a millennia-old friendship, with their people having always striven together and thrived together. Regardless of changes in the international landscape, China and Cambodia have stood by each other in good faith and with mutual assistance, offering unwavering support on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns. China and Cambodia have always been at the forefront of building a community with a shared future for mankind, bringing tangible benefits to the Cambodian people, said Xi. He said that China values its friendship with the Cambodian royal family, and spoke highly of the important contributions made by the Cambodian royal family to the cause of China-Cambodia friendship over the years. Under the new circumstances, China and Cambodia should cherish and carry forward the ironclad friendship jointly forged by the elder generation of Chinese leaders and King Father Norodom Sihanouk, endow the China-Cambodia community with a shared future with new connotations of the time, serve the development of their respective countries and the well-being of their people, and make greater contributions to building a community with a shared future with neighboring countries and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, said Xi. He noted that China firmly supports Cambodia in maintaining stability, accelerating development, improving people's livelihoods and following a development path that suits its national conditions. Xi said that he believes Chinese modernization will bring more opportunities to Cambodia and other neighboring countries and expressed confidence in writing a splendid chapter of building an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era. For his part, King Sihamoni said the friendship between Cambodia and China was created and cultivated by the elder generation of leaders of the two countries, adding that with the joint efforts of both sides, cooperation in various fields has become increasingly close and the building of a community with a shared future has been continuously deepened. The Cambodian side, he said, firmly adheres to the one-China principle, highly appreciates the three major global initiatives proposed by Xi, and appreciates the huge development opportunities brought to Cambodia via the Belt and Road cooperation. He hailed Xi's visit a historic one, which will deepen the ironclad friendship between the two countries, enrich the cooperation framework of the "Diamond Hexagon," and take bilateral ties to a new level. The king also said his country is ready to enhance coordination and cooperation with China in such multilateral mechanisms as ASEAN-China Cooperation and Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, and jointly promote regional peace, stability and prosperity. The king also presented the National Order of Independence - Grand Collar to Xi. He said Xi holds special friendly feelings towards Cambodia and has made outstanding contributions to promoting the development of Cambodia-China relations, adding that Xi is a great friend of Cambodia. It is believed that under the leadership of President Xi, China will achieve greater development accomplishments and play a more important role in international and regional affairs, he added. Xi said that this medal fully demonstrates Cambodia's high regard for developing China-Cambodia relations and carries the deep friendship of the Cambodian people towards the Chinese people. This honor, he said, belongs not only to him personally, but also to all the friendly people who have cultivated and contributed to the friendship between China and Cambodia. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni presents the National Order of Independence - Grand Collar to Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. Xi met with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh on Thursday. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) Chinese President Xi Jinping and Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni walk at the Royal Palace after their meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. Xi met with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh on Thursday. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) Editor: WXY Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Cambodia's Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) PHNOM PENH, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said Thursday that Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk is a witness and promoter of the China-Cambodia friendship. In his meeting with the Queen Mother at the Royal Palace, Xi said she has special friendly feelings towards the Chinese people, and she is well-deserved to be awarded the Friendship Medal of the People's Republic of China. Xi also said that China is her second home, adding that she is welcome to come to China at any time. Cambodia's King Father Norodom Sihanouk was a banner of the China-Cambodia friendship, said Xi, adding that together with the elder generation of Chinese leaders, he personally forged an unbreakable ironclad friendship between China and Cambodia. "We will always remember the historic contributions he made," Xi added. For her part, the Queen Mother said Xi is the greatest friend of Cambodia, and it is a great pleasure to see that the China-Cambodia friendship forged by the elder generation of leaders of the two countries has been continuously consolidated and developed. The Queen Mother said she believes that the ironclad friendship between the two countries will grow even deeper and more unbreakable. Editor: Zhang Zhou PHNOM PENH, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that China and Cambodia set a model for equality, mutual trust and win-win cooperation between countries of different sizes. Xi made the remarks when meeting with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni during his state visit to Cambodia. Noting that Cambodia has recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of King Sihamoni's enthronement and the Khmer New Year, Xi said he is delighted to visit the beautiful country of Cambodia at the invitation of the king, extending his heartfelt New Year greetings to the Cambodian people. Xi said that Cambodia's nation-building is thriving, and he firmly believes that, under the blessings of King Sihamoni, the hardworking and intelligent Cambodian people will surely build an even more prosperous and stronger nation. Xi pointed out that China and Cambodia share a millennia-old friendship, with their people having always striven together and thrived together. Regardless of changes in the international landscape, China and Cambodia have stood by each other in good faith and with mutual assistance, offering unwavering support on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns. China and Cambodia have always been at the forefront of building a community with a shared future for mankind, bringing tangible benefits to the Cambodian people, said Xi. He said that China values its friendship with the Cambodian royal family, and spoke highly of the important contributions made by the Cambodian royal family to the cause of China-Cambodia friendship over the years. Under the new circumstances, China and Cambodia should cherish and carry forward the ironclad friendship jointly forged by the elder generation of Chinese leaders and King Father Norodom Sihanouk, endow the China-Cambodia community with a shared future with new connotations of the time, serve the development of their respective countries and the well-being of their people, and make greater contributions to building a community with a shared future with neighboring countries and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, said Xi. He noted that China firmly supports Cambodia in maintaining stability, accelerating development, improving people's livelihoods and following a development path that suits its national conditions. Xi said that he believes Chinese modernization will bring more opportunities to Cambodia and other neighboring countries and expressed confidence in writing a splendid chapter of building an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era. Editor: Zhang Zhou PHNOM PENH, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that unilateralism and hegemonism receive no support of the people. Xi made the remarks when meeting with Cambodian People's Party President and Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen. History has shown the unstoppable trend toward a multipolar world, economic globalization, and cultural diversity, Xi said, adding that no country wants to return to isolation. The trade wars undermine the multilateral trading system and disrupt global economic order, Xi said, urging all countries to unite and firmly keep the reins of national security and development in their own hands, uphold mutual respect, pursue win-win cooperation and common development, and work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind. As Asia embarks on a new journey of collective revitalization, Xi noted, China will continue to follow the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness and the policy of developing friendship and partnership with neighboring countries, maintain the continuity and stability of its neighborhood diplomacy, deepen friendly cooperation with neighboring countries, so as to share the fruits of Chinese modernization more widely across the region, promote the building of a community with a shared future with neighboring countries, and work together to advance Asia's modernization. Editor: Zhang Zhou Credit where it's due . . . A local outlet covering the KC "scene" is INFINITELY MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN TKC and garners much more online love. The only problem . . . Most of it is garbage and hype for people who are just trying to rest their room temperature IQ in between soul crushing customer service shifts or some other form of glorified gig work. That's probably how we found it. (lulz) Don't get it twisted . . . That's actually a compliment inasmuch as the effort clearly came about with "help" from the current 12th & Oak administration that needed some assistance spreading their propaganda. In fact . . . The effort is "so successful" one of the founders took his name off it because he MIGHT have been getting just a bit of clap back as a hype man . . . No shame in it whatsoever . . . Everybody needs some kind of jorb and we actually admire his hustle . . . So we're pilfering AND LINKING their stuff just to keep our blog community informed and remind everyone that TKC is about sharing info and promoting any particular worldview . . . Even the sillier ones that appeal to us. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Ever wondered what Kansas City would look like in Minecraft? Yeah, we did too. So we brought it to lifethanks to a little AI magic Developing . . . Kansas City's urban core continues getting rougher . . . Today's sign of the times. SEVERAL KANSAS CITY THIEVES STEAL A STONE LION WEIGHING MORE THAN A QUARTER TON!!! Here's the damage and another clue that the local property crime crisis is unlikely to get any better during a recession. Check-it . . . It had to be many people that would stop, get out of their car in the middle of our street, and a very busy street, as well, and take an almost 600-pound lion from, very much, the front of our house," Owner Julie Towner said. The homeowner said thieves stole one of their lion statues -- leaving its friend behind. He's missing his little pal, Towner said. She believes it happened sometime overnight on Monday into Tuesday, outside their home near Gillham Road and Locust Street. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Right now 52-year-old celeb, actress & hottie Sophia inspires today's #TBT peek at pop culture, community reporting and top headlines. Check TKC news gathering . . . Cowtown Cuts Back Kansas City Residents Spend Strategically Amid Economic Concerns New data shows that spending was unexpectedly strong last month, despite ongoing economic anxiety. Kansas Citians say they're becoming more intentional about their purchases. Golden Ghetto Discounted OP committee approves rebate for Fortune 500 company's 'Project Turtle' An Overland Park campus recently rumored to be a potential new home for the Kansas City Royals will likely be getting a Fortune 500 company instead. Local Solutions After Tragedy Kansas City, Missouri, installs traffic signal at 51st Street, Troost Avenue after deadly crashes After four deaths in 10 years, Kansas City, Missouri, is installing a new traffic signal at the intersection of East 51st Street and Troost Avenue. Millennial Memories Endure Behind The Lens: Kansas City Loves Franz Ferdinand Franz Ferdinand put on an incredible show at The Midland - read cameraman Todd Zimmer's review of the show. River City Kindness For Sale Kansas City's holiday Giving Machines raise $265,000 for local charities Thanks to the generosity of the Kansas City community this holiday season, several local charities got a funding boost to help them further their missions. Celeb Shares Backstory Sofia Vergara wears cheeky bikini in poolside selfie and more star snaps Sofia Vergara soaks up some sun, David Arquette clowns around and more snaps... MAGA Deals With Impending Recession Trump says '100%' chance US will strike trade deal with Europe as Meloni visits DC President Donald Trump visited with Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni Thursday to hash out a trade deal with Europe. Everybody Feels The Bern?!? Bernie Sanders and AOC Inject New Anti-Trump Energy Into the Democratic Party Bernie Sanders and his apparent heir, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have drawn enormous crowds on their "Fighting Oligarchy" tour, energizing a beaten-down Democratic Party. Another American Tragedy FSU shooting suspect ID'd as deputy's son; gunman killed 2, injured 6: Live updates There is an active shooter on Florida State University Campus, according to an alert sent from the university. Holy Land Fights Forever Amid Holy Week Hamas rejects ceasefire offer as far-right Israeli lawmakers call for escalation in Gaza | CNN Hamas has rejected the Israeli ceasefire offer presented earlier this week, according to a senior Hamas official, instead calling for a "comprehensive" proposal to end the war. Eastern Europe Commerce Amid Conflict Memorandum on Ukraine-US minerals deal could be signed Thursday, Zelenskiy says Ukraine and the U.S. could sign online a memorandum of intent on Thursday on the minerals deal currently being negotiated by the two countries, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said. Harder To Keep Things Casual 'Sex isn't the problem - it's the lack of honesty': It's time to rethink hookups As a hot new play raises a fresh set of questions about casual encounters, author Olivia Petter says it's time we start learning to communicate better about pleasure Party Time Across Bridge Look inside: North KC brewery adds game bar to the block (plus one of KC's favorite sandwiches) When a dance club recently closed next door, Cinder Block first planned to expand the brewery. But that proved unnecessary, so they regrouped, planning a concept that would be more active, where customers would be able to "mosey the block, drink in hand." Forecast For Faithful Kansas City weather: Showers move in Friday; widespread rain on Easter Storms are expected to develop in the Kansas City metro late Friday afternoon, marking the beginning of a rainy Easter weekend. Anxiety by Doechii is the #TBT song of the day because it's basically just a cover of 2011's Somebody That I Used to Know by Gotye & Kimbra and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now. We want our readers to understand this one . . . The big debate here isn't about politics but local workers standing up for their safety and demanding protection. Here's the latest and a bunch of stories that help to explain the sitch: Leavenworth citizens and others from across the state have stepped forward to protest CoreCivics plant to reopen, speaking out through public rallies and at city meetings. City officials heard and responded. The most recent step in disagreements between the city and CoreCivic officials was a lawsuit filed March 31. The city said the company had not followed a proper permitting process to reopen. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Community members applaud Leavenworth for suing CoreCivic over efforts to open ICE detention center Community members held a press conference Thursday morning, thanking the city of Leavenworth for filing a lawsuit against CoreCivic for its efforts to open an ICE detention facility in town. Former corrections workers battle CoreCivic opening Leavenworth ICE detention center LEAVENWORTH - Around the corner from a defunct for-profit prison owned by Tennessee-based CoreCivic, Marcia Levering walked carefully across a grassy field to a podium at Ray Miller Park, aided by her cane and a friend, to speak out against the company's desire to open an ICE detention facility. 'Pretty striking': Washburn law professor unpacks Leavenworth's lawsuit against CoreCivic A Washburn University law professor broke down the lawsuit the city of Leavenworth filed against CoreCivic after the company withdrew its application for a special use permit in March. People rally against proposed ICE detention facility in Leavenworth A debate over a proposed immigration detention facility in Leavenworth, Kansas, took another turn on Thursday with a group rally at a park across from the facility. Developing . . . It's a long shot but something to consider . . . The Missouri State Legislature is considering a bill that would withhold sales tax revenue from a county that fails to comply with an STC order to reduce assessment valuations. The county said it will issue impact notices for the 2025 assessments by the statutory deadline of June 15. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . The argument is that donations make up most of their budget . . . BUT this network is trying desperately to keep their taxpayer cash so a lot of their claims about private support might be a bit overwrought. Either way . . . Like it or not, this note offers a pretty good read regarding their future . . . The question is "Would we be able to thrive as a national network?" That is what I am focused on is we get so much value as public media by being part of a 50-state network that covers 99.7 percent of the American population. If federal funding goes away, that network is absolutely at risk, the quality of service, the ability to cover everyone, people who live in what would otherwise be news deserts. And as a result, there's no question that NPR would not be able to pull from that richness of our national coverage if those local newsrooms Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . NPR CEO Katherine Maher addresses future of federal funding for public media Katherine Maher, president and CEO of National Public Radio, talks with NPR's Mary Louise Kelly about the White House proposal to eliminate federal funding for public media. And the reference for this post is LL Cool J's classic . . . Radio . . . Developing . . . After the parliament adopts the bill on the war risk insurance system, this system can start working quite quickly. According to a message on the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) page on Facebook, this opinion was expressed by First Deputy Governor of the NBU Kateryna Rozhkova at a meeting with representatives of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine. She recalled that the bill developed by the National Bank with the participation of experts from the World Bank, the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Finance has been in the relevant committee of the Verkhovna Rada since December 2024, and expressed hope for its early consideration. "Developing a fully functional war risk insurance system is a critically important task for Ukraine in wartime, given the small capacity of the Ukrainian insurance market and limited access to the international reinsurance market," the banker emphasized. Rozhkova also noted that the key details of the draft law are mandatory insurance of collateral for bank loans and housing construction throughout the entire period of new construction, reconstruction or overhauls, which will contribute to the growth of demand for investment loans, increase the quality of collateral and, accordingly, reduce the bank's risk premium when lending. If there is a war risk insurance agreement with international companies or specialized state institutions, in particular, ECA, the conclusion of a new agreement under the new law will not be required. In the future, the list of risks that can be insured within the system may be expanded, in particular after the war - to political and climatic risks, risks of man-made disasters, that is, to areas that the market is not ready to take on. As for domestic insurance companies, Rozhkova noted, they can work with the agency as intermediaries, for which they will receive a fee, or directly as insurers, taking on part of the risk, and will take care of the issues of fixing and assessing losses. Over time, the role of the agency will narrow even more, because the state does not intend to replace the market. The state agency will be able to offer international reinsurers to join the system and package reinsure accumulated risks, because they are not interested in small volumes, and individual companies in the retail segment of the market do not generate large volumes. Naftogaz Ukrainy has many scenarios for its activities and the next heating season, including with consumption restrictions, but it is doing everything to prevent this development of events, said deputy chairperson of the supervisory board Nataliya Boiko. "A lot of scenarios have been written, some of them will pragmatically provide for tough measures, including limiting consumption. Although, in my opinion, we will not allow this, since it is much more difficult to resume gas consumption than in electricity, and there are completely different technical features. Therefore, after all, I think that we will cope with the mix of injection plus import," Boiko said during the Zoom discussion whether Ukraine have enough gas and where to get the money for the new heating season on Thursday evening. According to her, much will depend on the consequences of the Russian Federation's attacks, but the gas sector has already demonstrated its ability to recover effectively after the latest Russian strikes. "From what we have seen now, how we are recovering, it may not be the highest quality of gas that is supplied to the system, but the speed of returning the flow to the pipe, plus the ability to operate without compressors in a sufficiently adaptive mode, also show a certain survivability of the gas sector," Boiko explained. At the same time, she noted that she discussed with the Ministry of Energy, in particular, the issue of introducing additional incentives for consumers to purchase imported gas. "I spoke quite seriously with the Ministry of Energy about the fact that we need additional incentives, for example, for industry, to purchase imported gas. It seems to me that here we can talk about some kind of balance, perhaps a certain comprehensive approach from the point of view of the Ministry of Finance. In principle, they liked this idea, so they promised to discuss it," said the official. According to her, in particular, it is also more logical for the GTSOU to import gas in conditions of deficit rather than withdraw gas for production and technical losses from storage facilities. During the discussion, she also drew attention to the fact that work is currently underway with both European and Ukrainian banks to attract financing for gas purchases, but the issue of additional guarantees from the EU needs to be resolved. An early ascent of the Yukon River Public domain photo Charles Walker Raymond poses during his service as a member of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Civil War veteran Charles Raymond was 27 when he accepted an assignment to visit the new U.S. territory of Alaska, a place so far away from his home in New York City he couldnt imagine it. Two years after Secretary of State William Seward had brokered the purchase of Alaska from Russia, U.S. leaders suspected the British trading post at Fort Yukon might be located on American soil. But they werent sure. An 1825 treaty between Russia and Great Britain then the controlling power of Canada described Interior Alaskas eastern boundary as a straight line along the 141st meridian. Surveyors would not get to marking that with waist-high obelisks until the early 1900s. But U.S. military leaders thought that a point measurement of Fort Yukons longitude was possible, if difficult. That required someone to travel deep into the heart of the Alaska territory with equipment that would let him determine from the stars where his boots were planted. Raymonds superiors were impressed enough with him an engineer who had finished first in his class at West Point that they asked him to ascend the Yukon River from its mouth at the Bering Sea, a journey of more than 1,000 miles. With an assistant, Raymond left San Francisco in a steamship bound for Alaska on April 6, 1869. Due to choppy seas that delayed his arrival in St. Michael, Alaska, Raymond did not begin his odyssey up the Yukon River until three months later. On July 4, 1869, a wooden ship chugged into the mouth of the Yukon River with flags flying and guns firing, Raymond wrote in an account of his mission. The steamship Yukon, owned by the Alaska Commercial Co., was along with many others soon to become a common sight on Alaskas largest river. But a paddlewheeler powered by wood-fired boiler had never before churned as far up as Fort Yukon. The Yukons crew would stop a few times each day at logjams in the river. There, they would saw off stems by hand and stuff them in the ships hungry boiler, which produced steam to turn the paddlewheel. After dozens of such stops, the ship arrived at Fort Yukon on July 31, 1869. Public domain photo The steamboat Yukon, owned by the Alaska Commercial Co., travels the Yukon River. In 1869, the boat became the first steamer to ascend the river to Fort Yukon. Raymond anticipated tension at the trading post. He instead found the hospitality he noted everywhere he visited in Alaska: Notwithstanding the somewhat unpleasant character of our errand, we were cordially welcomed by Mr. John Wilson, the agent of the Hudson Bay Company at the station, Raymond wrote. (We) were speedily established in one of the comfortable log buildings which compose the fort. He found his surveying job harder than he expected: The nights were so light as to greatly embarrass astronomical observations. Impatiently watching the Yukon Rivers water level drop as feeder creeks started to freeze, the captain of the Yukon announced he was heading back for St. Michael, with or without Raymond. Because he needed more measurements to be confident, one afternoon Raymond stood on shore and watched the steamship pull away from Fort Yukon. The captain had left him and his assistant behind. Raymond soon thereafter with the help of a solar eclipse determined that Fort Yukon was indeed west of the 141st meridian and part of the United States. Raymond informed John Wilson with some regret that he needed to take possession of the British trading post. He then hoisted the American flag on a spruce pole. As Raymond watched it flap in the breeze, he pondered his exit from Alaska. On Aug. 28, 1869, Raymond shoved off from Fort Yukon for home with four others in a wooden skiff sealed with spruce pitch. Their rations for the long trip downstream included 25 pounds of moose pemmican from John Wilson, the ousted Hudson Bay manager. In a journey too monotonous to require much description Raymond and his party paddled the hundreds of miles of gentle river to the village of Anvik in two weeks. There, his plan changed. Raymonds boat had disintegrated beyond repair. The Natives in Anvik deemed it too late in the season to help the men descend the Yukon to its mouth, more than 300 river miles away. Not wanting to overwinter in Alaska, Raymond heard from a village leader that the locals sometimes travelled upstream on the Anvik River to a portage that would lead them to the ocean at Norton Sound. It was a much shorter journey than boating to the mouth of the Yukon but promised more suffering. This being apparently the only avenue of escape, I did not hesitate long, Raymond wrote. Illustration by UAF Geophysical Institute A map of Alaska features a dotted line following the Yukon River's route between the Bering Sea coast and Fort Yukon in the Interior. A short spur also shows Raymond's overland route between Golsovia, on the coast north of the Yukon's mouth, and Anvik, about 300 river miles upstream from the mouth. Their overland trip to the coast by birchbark canoe and foot began with the unpleasant discovery that they had left behind a canvas bag that contained most of their food. Raymond and his companions continued, enduring a hungry few days, until they spotted campfire smoke on the far side of the pass. There, a coastal Native and his wife were at their hunting camp. They shared caribou meat with the men, who feasted to our hearts content. The men werent out of the woods yet, as 20 miles of tussocks and deep moss separated them from tidewater. They staggered almost dead with fatigue into present-day Golsovia on the Norton Sound coast. There, they shared a Natives meal of one hare cooked in sea water, which we fancied delicious because we had not tasted salt for more than a week. An American Commercial Co. captain soon picked up Raymonds party by steamer. A month later, Raymond arrived back in San Francisco. It was Nov. 6, 1869, exactly six months after he had taken off. Though he never returned to Alaska, Raymonds half-year mission resulted in not only in the establishment of Americas newest trading post at Fort Yukon but also the first detailed paper map of the Yukon River, drawn from his observations. Since the late 1970s, the University of Alaska Fairbanks' Geophysical Institute has provided this column free in cooperation with the UAF research community. Ned Rozell is a science writer for the Geophysical Institute. By Nicole Lyons, April 18, 2025 UCM graduate student Kruthiik Majeti, far right, his fellow young quality professional panelists and the panel moderator are seen at the Collaboration on Quality in the Space and Defense Industries (CQSDI) Forum. Attendees at the 32nd annual Collaboration on Quality in the Space and Defense Industries (CQSDI) Forum heard from a University of Central Missouri (UCM) graduate student who spoke about his experiences as a young quality professional. Kruthiik Majeti, a graduate student from Vijayawada, India, studying Industrial Management, participated in a panel titled Past, Present, and Future from a Young Quality Professional, along with peers from RTX, the University of Mississippi, Space Dynamics Laboratory, and Northrop Grumman. The prestigious CQSDI Forum, focused on quality in the aerospace and defense sectors, took place in March in Cape Canaveral, Florida. It is co-hosted by NASA, the Department of Defense, the Missile Defense Agency, and the Defense Contract Management Agency and sponsored by the American Society for Quality (ASQ) Aviation, Space, and Defense Division. The workshop facilitated a collaborative roundtable discussion about challenges faced by young quality professionals working in the aviation, space and defense industries. The panelists also provided insights on what it takes to attract, retain and grow young professionals in those industries. As a panelist, he is responsible for providing valuable insights into the future of the space and aerospace sectors, said Joleen Watson, Ph.D., assistant professor with the School of Industrial Sciences and Technology graduate programs. He is establishing himself as an emerging leader among quality and engineering professionals and exemplifying the breadth and depth of knowledge of our School of Industrial Sciences and Technology graduate students. Majeti said attending the CQSDI Forum was an incredible experience and that it was an honor to represent the next generation of quality leaders. Young quality professionals bring fresh perspectives, new technological insights and innovative problem-solving approaches to the industry, Majeti said. As industries evolve with automation, AI and data-driven decision-making, it is essential for young professionals to be involved in discussions that shape quality standards and practices. By engaging with experienced professionals, we can bridge generational knowledge gaps and ensure that quality management adapts to modern challenges while maintaining its core principles. As he works toward career goals, Majeti saw the CQSDI Forum as a valuable opportunity to connect with and learn from industry leaders. He encouraged more students to seek out experiences that allow for professional growth. Being selected to participate in a workshop at such a prestigious event was both exciting and humbling, Majeti said. It reinforced my belief in the importance of actively engaging with industry professionals and staying updated on the latest trends in quality management. Majeti not only had the opportunity to attend and participate in the forum, but he created the opportunity for himself. He reached out to the conference organizers and volunteered for the young quality professionals panel, which landed him a spot next to panelists from prominent universities and companies. Majeti also obtained a grant from the UCM Graduate Studies Graduate Student Scholarly Travel Fund. Watson said it exemplifies how Majeti is driven and fearless. Kruthiik has exceeded expectations in engagement with the School of Industrial Sciences and Technology graduate programs from the beginning, Watson said. At our first meeting in the department orientation, he asked how he could get involved with research and projects. He has worked with the Engineering Technology labs and is currently a graduate assistant in the Industrial Management program. Kruthiik also serves as the ASQ Student Branch vice president. He has shown natural leadership by example skills, participating in all professional development, fundraising and community building events. Majeti has also secured an offer letter for a summer internship with Polaris, where he will be applying quality and engineering principles. Watson noted that Majeti is an engineer to the core, and he even enjoys tinkering with 3D printing in his free time. Before joining UCM, Majeti earned a Bachelors degree in Aerospace Engineering and gained experience working in both research and industry settings. After completing his masters degree, Majeti hopes to work in the aerospace industry as a quality engineer, focusing on manufacturing processes, defect reduction and operational efficiency. UCM has prepared me well for this path by offering coursework that blends industrial engineering principles with real-world applications, Majeti said. My role as a graduate assistant has also strengthened my ability to manage projects, analyze data and collaborate with cross-functional teams skills that are crucial in the quality and operations field. For more information about the Industrial Management program at UCM, click here. $4.52bn Claim, Apology: Bangladeshs Sudden Demands Jolt Pakistan At the FOC meeting, Bangladesh formally demanded $4.52 billion from Pakistan as its share of pre-1971 assets, along with a formal apology for war crimes committed against Bangladeshis by the marauding Pakistan military Saturday April 19, 2025 0:05 AM , Saleem Samad [Amna Baloch, first Pakistani Foreign Secretary to visit Bangladesh in 15 years, with Chief Adviser Muhammed Yunus on April 17, 2025 in Dhaka] On the eve of Pakistan Foreign Secretary Amna Balochs official visit to the Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) in the capital, Dhaka, the Interim Government of Prof Muhammad Yunus has prepared US $4.52 billion in financial claims from Pakistan authorities, comprising its fair share of undivided Pakistans pre-1971 assets, including aid money, provident funds, and savings instruments. The FOC meeting of diplomatic engagement, held after 15 years of hiatus, between Dhaka and Islamabad, seeks to normalize bilateral relations. Bangladesh, Pakistan Relation The relations between the two South Asian countries have never been warm since the independence of Bangladesh in 1971. Pakistan President Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto visited Bangladesh in 1974 with a promise to restore the tattered relations. Later on, President Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq visited Bangladesh in 1985, Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in 1989 and President Pervez Musharraf 2002. On the other hand, Bangladeshs first President, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, attended the Lahore OIC Summit in 1974. Later, President H.M. Ershad visited Islamabad (1986), and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited Pakistan (1998). The relationship, however, failed to attain heights. Instead, the ties got entangled in a stalemate, caused by mistrust, suspicion, and a lack of diplomatic understanding. The relation between the two countries slightly normalized under the military regimes of General Ziaur Rahman (1976-1992) and General Hussain Muhammad Ershad (1993-1990) with Pakistan. Both the Generals graduated from Kakul Pakistan Military Academy and had several course mates who were at the helms of affairs in Rawalpindi military headquarters. At the FOC meeting, Bangladesh formally demanded $4.52 billion from Pakistan as its share of pre-1971 assets, along with a formal apology for war crimes committed against Bangladeshis by the marauding Pakistan military, said Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin. Pakistans delegation, led by its Foreign Secretary, Amna Baloch, assured Bangladesh officials of remaining engaged on the issues of settling $4.52 billion owed to Bangladesh and making an apology for the Pakistani war crimes committed in 1971. However, after the collapse of the autocrat Sheikh Hasinas regime last August, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus have twice had parleys on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York in September last year and at the D-8 summit in Cairo in December. Since then, Bangladesh and Pakistan have eased the visa regime for both nationals of Pakistan and Bangladesh. Pakistan, Bangladesh Trade Ties Both countries are showing keen interest in boosting trade, said an official who is privy to the FOC, adding that Pakistan also wants to enhance cultural exchanges and establish direct air connectivity. Bangladesh High Commissioner to Pakistan Iqbal Hussain Khan told journalists in Dhaka that a Pakistani airline Fly Jinnah has secured approval for direct flights between Dhaka and Karachi, while Air Sial, another private one, has applied for permission to operate flights. No official and private Bangladesh airlines expressed their desire to fly Dhaka-Karachi flights. Pakistan exported products like cotton, sugar, rice, and wheat in FY 202324. Bangladesh exported $61.98 million to Pakistan and imported goods worth $627.8 million. As Pakistan serves as a gateway for goods to Afghanistan, Dhaka can explore the potentiality of trading premium quality goods to and from the landlocked country through Pakistan. The last FOC in 2015 covered sensitive issues, which remain unresolved. However, officials stress these should not hinder current engagement. Indian Media Coverage Meanwhile, Indian Media writes that the Bangladesh-Pakistan FOC meeting is a big threat for India as Pakistan and Bangladesh decide to come closer. Nivedita Dash writes on India.com that after the fall of Sheikh Hasina, relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan are continuously deepening. Yunus government supported by pro-Pakistan fundamentalists has completely opened the doors of Dhaka to Islamabad. There is a threat to regional stability and security issues will be jeopardized, with the two South Asian countries coming close and closer, she wrote. Her article dipped in a sauce of lies and more lies, further claims that During the 15-year rule of Sheikh Hasina in Bangladesh, Dhaka had completely cut off ties with Pakistan, but the interim government led by Mohammad Yunus has rolled out the red carpet for Pakistan. Since then, Islamabad has completely intensified its activities in Dhaka. Like India, Hasina has never cut ties with Pakistan nor intended to sever relations. Well, both Dhaka and Islamabad lowered their diplomatic status and there were no High Commissioner in each others capitals for quite some time. Two diplomats, one each from Dhaka and Islamabad were declared persona non grata. On the diplomatic front, Hasina had announced a moratorium on visas for Pakistan nationals, except for official visits to Bangladesh. Pakistan also reciprocated. This impacted on direct flights from Karachi-Dhaka route and PIA flights were stalled until now for lack of passengers. The row over lowering diplomatic ties sparked after Pakistans parliament adopted a resolution condemning Bangladesh for the trials of those Islamist leaders, who were henchmen of Pakistan occupation forces and had raised armed militia and committed crimes against humanity in Bangladesh. The parliament resolution read that those war criminals hanged in Bangladesh had sacrificed their lives for the sake of the unity of Pakistan and were regarded as martyrs. Along with this, Pakistan is now also trying to increase its trade presence with Bangladesh. The claim includes $200 mn foreign aid sent to East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) after the 1970 Bhola Cyclone, which was deliberately diverted to Lahore during independence war in 1971. The Bhola Cyclone was a catastrophic tropical cyclone that struck a coastal region in November 1970. It is considered the deadliest tropical cyclone ever recorded, with an estimated 300,000 to 500,000 deaths. The foreign aid deposited with the Dhaka branch of the State Bank of Pakistan was siphoned in 1971 to its banks Lahore branch, Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials stated. Bangladesh officials argued at the FOC that comprising its fair share of undivided Pakistans pre-1971 assets, including aid money, provident funds, and savings instruments. The financial claims do not include reparation for an untold humanitarian crisis caused by war crimes, when ten million war refugees who took shelter in neighboring India and rape as a weapon of war was employed during the brutal birth of Bangladesh in 1971. Some categories of those affected in the war are still being compensated through modest monthly doles. Similarly, hundreds of Bangla-speaking government employees who had been stationed in West Pakistan were later repatriated home in 1973-74. On their return, they discovered that their provident fund balances and savings instruments accrued were never refunded by Pakistan. These financial losses are part of the broader US $4.52 billion claim. The Foreign Ministry officials said Bangladesh has consistently sought its rightful share for the return of the US $200 million in cyclone aid that was illegally misappropriated at the peak of the liberation war in 1971. According to foreign ministry records, based on population alone, Bangladesh was entitled to 56 per cent of those assets. If contributions to foreign exchange earnings are considered, the share stands at 54 per cent, and by any parity principle, Bangladesh should be entitled to at least 50 per cent. A post-war assessment prepared by the Bangladesh Planning Commission on 16 December 1971 estimated that West Pakistan had withheld Bangladesh Taka (BDT) 9 million (Pakistan Rupees 20.76 million) in provident fund deposits belonging to East Pakistani civil servants. Similarly, BDT 15.7 million (Rupees 36.26 million) held in the Rupali Banks (formerly Muslim Commercial Bank) Karachi branch during the war was never returned. Pakistan later converted this amount into shares and informed Muslim Commercial Bank unfortunately, the bank never responded and money was never transferred. Adding to the grievance, the Bangladesh government honored the obligations of various pre-independence instruments sold by the Pakistani government including defense savings certificates and income tax bonds effectively paying debts that it believes Pakistan should have settled. A report titled Statement of Bangladesh Bank Claims Receivable from State Bank of Pakistan and Government of Pakistan lays out a detailed breakdown. As of December 16, 1971, the total value of the currency in circulation was Rupees 8.71 million, at least half of which Bangladesh owes. Pakistans bank sectors alone owe Bangladesh, Rupees 56 million. The Bangladesh government also accepted liability of BDT 213.8 million (Rupees 493.50 million) of some of Pakistans central government and provincial government debt securities, claims which Dhaka has lodged. These include BDT 140.7 million (Rupee 324.77 million) in central government loans, BDT 27.7 million (Rupee 63.94 million) in East Pakistan government loans, BDT 11.5 million (Rupee 26.55 million) in West Pakistan government loans, BDT 24.6 million (Rupee 56.79 million) in savings certificates issued against international trading unit investments, and BDT 0.65 million (Rupee 1,500 million) in Savings Certificates linked to Pakistani Prize Bonds. It is understood that Islamabad will review the claim of Bangladesh US$4.52 and hold further parleys to resolve the debt issue. Bangladesh had waited for 54 years to speak up, it will take another several years for Pakistan to make up its mind and relay its decision on the financial claims. Meanwhile, according to data from the State Bank of Pakistan, Pakistans reserves stood at $15.75 billion, reports BBC news portal. That is, Pakistan will have to spend more than a quarter of its reserves to meet Bangladeshs demands, BBC concluded. [Thw writer, Saleem Samad, is an award-winning independent journalist based in Bangladesh. A media rights defender with the Reporters Without Borders (@RSF_inter). Recipient of Ashoka Fellowship and Hellman-Hammett Award. The above article is published first in the Stratheia Policy Journal, Islamabad, Pakistan on 18 April 2025.] Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home CSIR UGC NET December 2024 Result Declared The National Testing Agency (NTA) has declared the result of Joint CSIR UGC NET December 2024 exams and candidates scores on the official website csirnet.nta.ac.in Saturday April 19, 2025 0:07 AM , ummid.com News Network Joint CSIR UGC NET December 2024 Result: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has declared the result of Joint CSIR UGC NET December 2024 exams and candidates scores on the official website csirnet.nta.ac.in. The National Testing Agency (NTA) had conducted JOINT CSIR UGC NET on February 28 and March 01 and 02, 2025. The NTA had published CSIR UGC NET provisional answer key on March 11, with a window for raising objections closing on March 14. Along with the result and scorecard, the NTA has also released the final answer key. The CSIR UGC NET result is now available for download on the website "csirnet.nta.ac.in". Steps to check CSIR UGC NET Result Go to official website: " csirnet.nta.ac.in ". ". Click on the result link given on the home page. Enter your application number, date of birth, and security pin. Click on "Submit" button to view your scorecard. The CSIR UGC NET is held to select candidates for the award of different research fellowship. The exam is held in online mode. According to the NTA, a total of 2,38,451 candidates had registered for the exam. Of them, 1,74,785 had appeared. About CSIR UGC NET Joint CSIR UGC NET is conducted to determine the eligibility of Indian nationals for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and for Lectureship (LS) /Assistant Professor in Indian universities and colleges subject to fulfilling the eligibility criteria laid down by UGC. CSIR and UGC provide Research Fellowships for training in methods of research under expert guidance of faculty members/scientists working in University Department/ National Laboratories and Institutions in various fields of Science. Joint CSIR-UGC NET Fellowship programme is aimed at National Science & Technology Human Resource Development. A large number of JRFs are awarded each year by CSIR to candidates after qualifying the Test conducted by it. Candidates who qualify for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) should download their e-certificate and prepare necessary documents for verification immediately after the result announcement. Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Light industry entrepreneurs ask Zelenskyy to intervene in situation regarding pressure on them by law enforcers in favor of importers Custom-made criminal prosecutions and pressure by law enforcement officers on Ukrainian light industry manufacturers indicate an attempt to oust them from the market in favor of unscrupulous importers, according to an open letter from industry representatives to President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy. "We, representatives of Ukrainian light industry enterprises, appeal to you with a request for personal intervention, an impartial investigation and protection from actions that, in the opinion of industry representatives, harm the national interests and security of Ukraine," the entrepreneurs of the Defense Procurement Committee of Light Industry said in the letter posted on the website of the Federation of Employers of Ukraine. It is noted that one of the instruments of the policy of squeezing domestic producers of tangible property and personal protective equipment for the Armed Forces of Ukraine out of the market is custom-made criminal prosecutions. "Over the past year, we have witnessed how most contracts with unscrupulous importers were either terminated, or the delivered products turned out to be of poor quality and even dangerous for our defenders. As a result, state funds went to such importers, instead of orders being received by the capacities of domestic factories," the letter reads. The entrepreneurs said they have repeatedly informed the state and the public through public appeals by entrepreneurs on social networks and letters from the Federation of Employers to the Ministry of Defense and the State Rear Logistics Operator, but no proper financial sanctions or criminal proceedings were taken against unscrupulous importers. "Instead, since the beginning of 2025, we have been observing a mass opening of criminal cases by law enforcement agencies (the State Bureau of Investigations, the State Security Service of Ukraine, and the National Police) against real Ukrainian manufacturers, who are known for their experience, reputation, and proper execution of contracts. Ukrainian companies are faced with groundless searches, the opening of fake criminal proceedings, black PR attacks, and strong pressure from individual representatives of law enforcement agencies," the appeal reads. According to entrepreneurs, the fact that such a tough policy of law enforcement officers does not apply to dishonest importers is evidence of the custom-made nature of the persecution and bias on the part of certain law enforcement officers. Entrepreneurs call the consequences of these actions, in particular, destroyed competition, budget losses, and a decrease in defense capability, because due to the disruption of contracts by dishonest importers, the military does not receive high-quality clothing and ammunition on time. The letter emphasizes that the entrepreneurs represent over 10,000 employees and about 2 billion in taxes paid annually. Ukraine and the United States signed a joint Memorandum of Understanding as a step toward an Economic Partnership Agreement on Thursday evening, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yulia Svyrydenko announced on Facebook. "Today, we took a step toward a joint Economic Partnership Agreement with the United States. Ukraine and the United States of America signed a Memorandum that reflects the constructive cooperation between our teams and a shared intention to finalize and conclude an agreement that will benefit both our peoples," Svyrydenko wrote. According to her post, Svyrydenko signed the document in Kyiv, while U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent signed in Washington. Svyrydenko said the agreement would pave the way for significant investment, infrastructure modernization, and mutually beneficial cooperation between Ukraine and the United States. It also envisions the creation of an Investment Fund for Ukraine's recovery. "The next step is finalizing the text of the Agreement and signing it," she added. The First Deputy Prime Minister said that the agreement will be subject to ratification by both countries' parliaments. "What's important is that through this agreement, we affirm the American people's commitment to invest alongside the Ukrainian people in a free, sovereign, and secure Ukraine," Svyrydenko said, thanking both the Ukrainian and American technical teams for their professional, constructive, and efficient work. As reported earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Thursday that the agreement could be signed as early as next Thursday, April 25. President Donald Trump intensified his feud with Harvard University on Thursday, branding the Ivy League institution "a disgrace" and accusing it of "obvious antisemitism" as his administration froze $2.2 billion in federal funding. Speaking to reporters outside the White House, Trump lambasted Harvard for rejecting demands to overhaul its policies on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), admissions, and campus protests, signaling a broader campaign to reshape elite higher education. "I think Harvard's a disgrace," Trump declared, hinting at further punitive measures, including a potential review of the university's tax-exempt status. The funding freeze, affecting $2.2 billion in multiyear grants and $60 million in contracts, follows Harvard's refusal to comply with a sweeping set of White House directives issued on April 3. These demands include dismantling DEI programs, adopting merit-based hiring and admissions, banning face masks at protests, and cooperating with immigration authorities to screen international students. The administration also ordered Harvard to provide detailed records on foreign students allegedly involved in "illegal and violent activities," citing concerns over campus antisemitism fueled by pro-Palestinian protests. Harvard President Alan Garber rejected the directives as unconstitutional, stating, "No governmentregardless of which party is in powershould dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue." Trump's rhetoric escalated further on Truth Social, where he suggested Harvard could lose its tax-exempt status if it continues "pushing political, ideological, and terrorist-inspired/supporting 'sickness.'" The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, doubled down, demanding an apology from Harvard for allegedly promoting antisemitism. "Trump wants to see Harvard apologise. And Harvard should apologise," Leavitt told journalists. While the IRS would independently decide on tax-exempt matters, former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers warned that such actions resemble "selective persecution" and could "devastate progress in medical and scientific research." The freeze, part of a $9 billion clampdown on federal research funding, targets Harvard's $686 million in annual federal grants, which fund 68% of its sponsored research, including studies on cancer, Alzheimer's, and space exploration. Despite Harvard's $53.2 billion endowment, experts note that endowment restrictions limit its ability to offset the loss, potentially disrupting research and jobs. "Most endowment money is restricted to specific things," higher education finance consultant Lucie Lapovsky told Forbes. Harvard's defiance has inspired other institutions, with 39 colleges, including Yale, cited as financially capable of resisting similar pressure. The administration's actions extend beyond Harvard. Brown University faces a $510 million funding freeze, while Columbia, Cornell, and Northwestern have seen cuts of $400 million, $1 billion, and $790 million, respectively. Trump's task force, operating under the Justice Department's civil rights division, is reviewing funding for dozens of elite universities, accusing them of fostering antisemitism and ideological bias. Columbia recently complied with similar demands to restore its funding, but Harvard's stand has sparked a constitutional debate over academic freedom versus federal authority. Elon Musk has also weighed in, sharing Trump's Truth Social post and nodding to criticisms of Harvard's policies, amplifying the controversy on X. Posts on X reflect polarized sentiments, with some praising Trump's crackdown and others decrying it as an attack on free speech. "Trump has frozen $2.2 billion in funding for Harvard University after it refused to give in to his demands," one user noted, alongside images of pro-Palestinian protests at Harvard. Harvard's financial resilience may cushion the blow, but the standoff risks long-term damage to U.S. higher education. "This is unconscionable and wrong," Summers said, warning of a chilling effect on academic independence. As Trump pushes for ideological conformity, Harvard's defiance could set a precedent for how universities navigate federal power in an increasingly polarized era. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Florida State University (FSU) will hold a vigil at 5 p.m. today at Langford Green to honor the victims of a mass shooting that claimed two lives and injured six others on Thursday near the Student Union building. The tragedy, which unfolded on a sunny spring day, has left the campus community reeling, with students and faculty grappling with fear and grief. The suspect, identified as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, a political science major and son of a Leon County sheriff's deputy, was shot by police and is in custody, facing charges related to the attack. The shooting began around lunchtime, sending students fleeing in panic, barricading doors, and abandoning belongings as gunfire echoed across campus. According to the Tallahassee Police Department, Ikner used his mother's former service weapon to carry out the attack, which killed two menneither of whom were FSU studentsand wounded six others, including one in critical condition. The FBI is assisting in the investigation, but authorities have not yet released the victims' identities or a motive, though they believe Ikner acted alone. FSU has canceled classes and events through the weekend, closing the campus to focus on healing. A Support Center at the Askew Student Life Center will operate from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, offering counseling and victim advocacy services. Students can retrieve personal items left behind during the chaos from select buildings between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. with photo ID. The vigil, organized by FSU's Division of Student Affairs in partnership with Maura's Voicea local organization founded to combat violence after the 2018 murder of FSU student Maura Binkleywill provide a space for communal mourning near the Unconquered Statue. The attack marks FSU's second shooting since 2014, when a gunman wounded three people in the Strozier Library. "I'm heartbroken for the victims and their families," said urban planning professor Chris Coutts, who experienced both incidents. Social media posts on X reflect the campus's somber mood, with students sharing images of tribute flowers and calls for solidarity. "FSU is hurting, but we'll come together," one user wrote. President Donald Trump called the shooting "terrible" and a "shame" but signaled reluctance to pursue new gun laws, emphasizing his support for the Second Amendment. The incident has reignited debates over campus safety and gun violence, with Maura's Voice advocating for stronger prevention measures. As FSU prepares to mourn, the vigil stands as a testament to the university's resilience in the face of tragedy. Aix-Marseille University in France has received nearly 300 applications from US-based academics seeking refuge through its Safe Place for Science program, launched to offer "scientific asylum" amid the Trump administration's sweeping crackdown on American higher education. The initiative, which provides three years of funding and access to cutting-edge facilities for up to 20 researchers, has attracted 298 applicants242 deemed eligiblefrom prestigious institutions like Johns Hopkins, NASA, Columbia, Yale, and Stanford. The surge in interest underscores a growing brain drain as US researchers face funding freezes, executive orders, and ideological restrictions. The Trump administration's policies, including $9 billion in federal research funding cuts and targeted freezessuch as $2.2 billion for Harvard and $510 million for Brownhave disrupted academic work nationwide. Restrictions on grants, bans on terms like "political" and "women" in research proposals, and the detention of foreign scholars like Columbia graduate Mahmoud Khalil have heightened fears. "This isn't chaos," wrote University College London professor Christina Pagel, describing the attacks as a deliberate effort to align science with state ideology, suppress dissent, and prioritize geopolitical goals. Aix-Marseille's program, announced earlier this year, offers a lifeline with employment contracts, research budgets up to 300,000 ($326,000), and relocation support. The university, a major European research hub, aims to foster innovation and academic freedom. "We're seeing researchers from top-tier institutions desperate to continue their work," a university spokesperson told The Guardian, noting the program's overwhelming response within a month. Former French President Francois Hollande has championed the cause, proposing a "scientific refugee" status in a bill tabled on April 14. The legislation would grant subsidiary protection to academics facing threats, streamlining asylum processes. "Academics, like journalists, should qualify for protection," Hollande argued, highlighting the inadequacy of current mechanisms for scientists under authoritarian regimes. The applications reflect broader anxieties. Over 12,500 US Fulbright scholars abroad and 7,400 foreign scholars in the US have had funding paused, while universities have cut PhD admissions and imposed hiring freezes. Posts on X capture the sentiment, with users like@ShinyFluffdnd labeling it a "brain drain" and@ciaraquill noting the program's appeal amid US turmoil. The trend echoes historical precedents, like Operation Paperclip, which brought Nazi scientists to the US post-World War II. Aix-Marseille's initiative may inspire other European universities, with Guardian columnist Alexander Hurst suggesting the EU could lure entire American campuses. As US academia grapples with uncertainty, France's offer signals a new front in the global competition for talent, challenging America's scientific dominance. The University of Wyomings Manufacturing Works program has received a reprieve from a loss of funding from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Manufacturing Works -- which learned earlier this month that NIST was preparing to immediately withhold federal funding from Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) centers in 10 states, including Wyoming -- received word this week that the funding will continue, at least temporarily. After further review and consideration, NIST has determined to renew the funding for these 10 centers through the end of the fiscal year as NIST and the (U.S. Department of Commerce) continue to evaluate plans for the program, a message from NIST says. At stake is about $700,000 in expected funding for Manufacturing Works, the MEP center serving Wyoming. We appreciate this extension of funding and the work of Wyomings congressional delegation to give us more time to find our way forward, says Rocky Case, center director for Manufacturing Works. We will move to more of a long-term strategic mindset in order to chart our future growth and continuation of support for small and medium manufacturers in Wyoming. About Manufacturing Works Manufacturing Works is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to assisting Wyoming manufacturers, producers and entrepreneurs in growing their revenues, increasing productivity and strengthening global competitiveness. As part of the MEP National Network, Manufacturing Works has been instrumental in delivering solutions that create value and drive economic growth in Wyoming. 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. One dead and one injured as a result of an attack by enemy drones in Sumy, the prosecutor's office of Sumy region reports on the Telegram channel. "According to the investigation, on April 18, 2025, at about 05:00, the enemy with three Geran-2 type UAVs attacked the enterprise, which is a leading manufacturer of bakery and confectionery products in Sumy region. As a result of the enemy attack, a 61-year-old driver who was loading the products died, and a 55-year-old employee of the enterprise was injured. The premises of the bakery and vehicles were damaged," the prosecutor's office said in a statement. Under the procedural guidance of the Sumy Regional Prosecutor's Office, a pretrial investigation is being conducted into the fact of committing war crimes that caused the death of people (Part 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The pretrial investigation is being conducted by investigators of the Security Service of Ukraine in Sumy region. In the space of a week, a cascade of petitions from the military has suddenly demonstrated the realization by Israeli society that the Netanyahu governments strategy in Gaza would neither bring back the hostages nor defeat Hamas. The Israelis are beginning to become aware of the horrors experienced by the Palestinians, but they are currently having great difficulty talking about these crimes committed by some of their fellow citizens and fail to take into account the 50,000 people murdered in Gaza. Some prominent figures, such as former chief of staff General Dan Halutz now openly describe the prime minister as the enemy of the Jewish people and call for his arrest. However, these public figures refrain from recalling that the revisionist Zionists were the allies of Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler against the Jewish people. It is still too early for Israelis to analyze what they have experienced in recent years. This movement of ideas has its roots in the criticism that Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained for years against the military establishment. It suddenly developed with the post-October 7 war in Gaza. It is therefore both a revolt against the populism of the "revisionist Zionists" and against the project of an endless war that they carry along. A group of 970 Israeli Air Force reservists, some of them retired, signed a petition on April 10 that sent shockwaves through Israeli society. The signatories call for the immediate return of Israeli hostages held by Hamas through an agreement and an end to the fighting in Gaza, which they say is motivated by personal and political considerations rather than the security of the nation. They also called on the Israeli people to make the same demands, wherever they are, and in whatever way they may carry them out. The military and government quickly reprimanded them, going as far as to reject those still serving, but very quickly, other veterans, reservists and former members of the security establishment joined the call. Among them were former Mossad chiefs and an IDF chief of staff, who described the governments maneuvers as "stifling civilian dissent." The government decided that all signatories would be dismissed from the armies, but only 25 of them made amends and withdrew from the petition. A few hours later, 150 retired naval officers signed their own letter. They wrote: "Renewing the war takes us away from the release of hostages, endangers our soldiers and harms innocent civilians. Instead of taking targeted action to advance a hostage release agreement, we are witnessing government behavior that undermines the foundations of statehood, undermines public trust, and raises serious suspicions that national security decisions are dictated by illegitimate considerations." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded on April 11 by saying that these writings "were written by a small group of radicals, run by foreign-funded organizations with a single goal: to overthrow the right-wing government. Its not a wave. Its not a movement. Its a small, noisy, anarchist, disconnected group of retirees most of whom havent served for years." 1,525 soldiers of the Armed Corps (armored cavalry) published a document on 14 April, on the initiative of former deputy commander of the Yiftah brigade Colonel Rami Matan. Signatories include Ehud Barak (former Prime Minister and IDF Chief of Staff), Amram Mitzna (former general and leader of the Labor Party) and Amos Malka Halutz (former head of military intelligence). More than 250 veterans of Unit 8200, the electronic intelligence unit, also signed a petition on April 11. They wrote: "We join the appeal of the crews to demand the urgent return of the hostages, even at the cost of the immediate end of the war. We support and associate ourselves with the grave and disturbing statement that, at this stage, the war primarily serves political and personal interests and not security interests. This petition was quickly signed by more than a thousand reservists of Unit 8200. Then, 500 entrepreneurs from the sector joined them. 1,500 veterans of IDF infantry units, paratroopers and special forces, including elite commandos Sayeret Matkal, Shayet 13 and Shaldag, also signed a petition on 11 April calling for an end to the war. They wrote: "We are determined to exercise our civil rights and warn against the continuation of this long-term fighting that endangers the lives of hostages, soldiers and civilians, and appears to be continuing due to political considerations." On April 13, 250 Mossad veterans signed a letter calling for an end to the war and the release of the hostages. Among the signatories are Danny Yatom, Efraim Halevy and Tamir Pardo (all three former directors of the agency), as well as a former deputy head of the Mossad and dozens of retired senior officials. On April 14, 100 alumni of the National Security College where top military, defense and government officials continue their education before taking on key leadership roles signed a similar letter. They believe that soldiers and civilians should not be left behind, and solidarity is the supreme moral value. But for the past year and a half, "the State of Israel has failed to make this value a reality." Shin Bet Veterans for Democracy, a group made up of hundreds of Shin Bet veterans who joined the protest movement against the judicial "coup," issued a statement in support of the "petitions of our brothers in arms," which they said "express the profound deterioration of public trust in the government." On 14 March, more than 3,000 education officials signed a petition calling for an end to the war and the return of all hostages. They present it as "a call to refuse, it is a call to save lives." About 200 graduates of the prestigious Talpiot program, which combines studies in mathematics and science with military service in research and technological development, signed a letter, published on April 15, calling for the return of the hostages and an end to the war, as well as their support for Air Force reservists. "The call to save civilians and soldiers in captivity is a basic moral call on the scale of values by which we were educated and according to which we have served," they wrote. A public letter, signed on 16 April by 200 police commissioners, commanders and officers of the Israeli police, called for the return of all hostages, even at the cost of ending the war. About 250 veterans and reservists of the elite naval commando unit Shayet 13, some of whom have also already signed the special forces petition, published their own open letter on April 15. Approximately 120 veterans, officers and reservists, identified by their first name, last name initial and last rank, signed a letter, issued on April 15, to members of the Special Operations Division of the Directorate of Military Intelligence, "We, who have served for many years in the heart of Israeli security, under governments of the right and the left, and as patriotic and law-abiding citizens, we clearly declare that the Israeli government and the man at its head pose a clear and immediate threat to Israeli security and the lives of the hostages." About 500 graduates of the Israeli Navys elite officer course, including four former Israeli Navy commanders, signed a letter calling for "an end to the war, a review of policy, and the integration of diplomatic measures to bring back hostages and the return of security to Israel." The bipartisan No Limits Act of 2025 on sanctions against Chinese companies that contribute to Russian aggression has been re-submitted for consideration by the US Congress, reports Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States Oksana Markarova. The authors are Chairman of the US House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party John Moolenaar (Republican, Michigan) and member of the House Committees on Tax Policy and Budget Jimmy Panetta (Democrat, California). A similar bill was first introduced in the Congress of the previous convocation in April 2024. "The document provides for the introduction of sanctions against Chinese organizations that provide material support for ongoing aggression of the Russian Federation in Ukraine, it is aimed at dual-use technologies, defense cooperation and financial transactions that directly contribute to aggression of the Russian Federation. The bill requires a number of large Chinese companies that work with the Russian Federation to abandon this cooperation within 180 days," Markarova reported on Facebook. In addition, the bill proposes to grant the US President a number of powers, in particular, regarding: the introduction of sanctions against Chinese entities that provide material support to the defense-industrial base and technological sector of the Russian Federation; the introduction of sanctions against Chinese organizations involved in military modernization or malicious cyber activities; the introduction of sanctions against Chinese organizations involved in arms sales abroad; an expanded definition of "affiliates" aimed at covering branches of Chinese companies abroad and Russian firms that are trying to avoid sanctions. Tight security in Rome for Vance visit. US vice president JD Vance attended the Vatican's Good Friday liturgy in St Peter's Basilica on the afternoon of 18 April on the first day of a three-day Easter visit to Italy. Vance, who was joined in St Peter's by his wife Usha and his three young children, held talks with Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni earlier in the day. The meeting took place at the premier's Palazzo Chigi office, just one day after Vance met Meloni in Washington where she held talks on tariffs with US president Donald Trump. The White House and Melonis office later issued a joint statement saying that Trump would visit Italy in the very near future", stating that there "is also consideration to hold, on such occasion, a meeting between U.S. and Europe". Shortly before arriving in St Peter's, Vance posted on X: "Im grateful every day for this job, but particularly today where my official duties have brought me to Rome on Good Friday." The US vice president added that he had a great meeting with Meloni and was headed to church soon with my family in this beautiful city". Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, is scheduled to meet the Vatican's secretary of state Cardinal Pietro Parolin on Saturday. It is still unknown whether he will meet Pope Francis who is recovering from double pneumonia and who recently criticised Trump's immigration policies in a letter to the US Catholic bishops. Vance's visit, which coincides with major religious events in Rome including the Via Crucis at the Colosseum on Friday night, is taking place amid tight security in the capital. Photo Palazzo Chigi. Roma, 18/04/2025 - Il Presidente del Consiglio, Giorgia Meloni, incontra a Palazzo Chigi il Vice Presidente degli Stati Uniti dAmerica, J. D. Vance. Meloni tells Trump she wants to make the West great again. Italy's prime minister Giorgia Meloni met with US president Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday to discuss US tariffs on EU imports amid efforts to ease trade tensions. The talks focused primarily on trade and the broader relationship between the US and the EU, with Meloni seeking to act as a bridge between the two blocs. Meloni's flying visit to Washington marked the first time a European leader has met with Trump since his recent announcement of 20 per cent import tariffs, subsequently paused for 90 days, on EU goods. The meeting between the two leaders was viewed as largely positive, with Trump saying that the right-wing Italian premier was doing a fantastic job and had taken Europe by storm. "There will be a trade deal, 100 per cent, but it will be a fair deal", Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, adding that he was "in no rush", with Meloni saying that she was "sure" they could reach an agreement. When the new US tariffs on EU goods were first announced earlier this month, Meloni criticised the move as "wrong", claiming it did "not benefit either side". Lavorare insieme per costruire un Occidente piu forte. Oggi a Washington ho incontrato il Presidente pic.twitter.com/VU3qNsUe5X Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) April 17, 2025 Despite not coming away with any tangible commitments on tariffs, Meloni wrote on X that the "fair and constructive discussion" had focused on "strategic issues: from security to defence, from the fight against illegal immigration to trade relations." During her meeting with Trump, the Italian leader stated that her aim was to "make the West great again", speaking passionately about "western nationalism" and "the fight against the woke ideology". Meloni, who was the only EU leader to attend Trump's inauguration in January, also confirmed that the US president had accepted her invitation to visit Rome in the near future and that he would consider meeting EU representatives while in the Italian capital. Following the meeting, Meloni returned to Rome where she will meet US vice president JD Vance for talks on Friday, in a further boost to her credentials as the so-called "Trump whisperer". A Waterford judge has struck out a public order case between an anti-immigration activist and a Syrian national. Mick O'Keefe (40), of The Quay, Waterford City and Walid Farhan (39), of Barrack Street, appeared together at Waterford District Court to appear before Judge Kevin Staunton. The men were involved in an incident at City Square Shopping Centre on March 11, 2024, which was filmed and widely shared across social media. O'Keefe was charged with two Section 2 assaults against Farhan. Farhan was accused of two Section 6 public order offences against O'Keefe. In court, the men shook hands in front of Judge Staunton. Solicitors Hilary Delahunty (representing Farhan) and Ken Cunningham (representing O'Keefe) confirmed their wishes to end the matter. Judge Staunton said: "I'm striking out all matters". St Mary's in Ballygunner in County Waterford celebrated its 200th anniversary recently. The event was very much community orientated and drew a very large crowd within the local area. Waterford News & Star photographer, Joe Evans, was in attendance to capture images from the event and also the video clip which can be viewed below. Photos from the event will also appear elsewhere on waterford-news.ie and they will also be printed in the forthcoming print edition of Waterford News & Star. A Boeing jet that arrived at a completion plant near Shanghai last month was returning to the US, flight tracking data showed on Friday, in a sign that at least one Chinese airline could be halting deliveries due to US tariffs. The US plane maker was reported earlier this week to face a Chinese ban on its imports, part of an escalating confrontation over US President Donald Trumps reciprocal global tariffs, though industry sources said the status of rules remained unclear. The Boeing 737 Max was involved in two fatal crashes not long after the aircraft launched. Credit: Bloomberg In a sign that Boeing was preparing for normal business just weeks before Trump announced tariffs on April 2, tracking data showed at least four new 737 Max planes sitting at a completion and delivery centre in Zhoushan, where Boeing installs interiors and paints liveries before handing aircraft to customers in China. Three arrived from Boeing in Seattle in March and one arrived last week, according to Flightradar24. Ukrainian PM to hold talks in Washington from April 21 to sign agreement on creation of Reconstruction Investment Fund with USA by April 26 memo (Text has been added) Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal will visit Washington during the week starting April 21, 2025, to meet with Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Treasury Scott Bessent and provide high-level support for the completion of technical discussions on the terms of the agreement on the creation of a Reconstruction Investment Fund. "Negotiating teams are expected to report on the progress by the April 26, 2025, with the aim of completing discussions by that date and signing as soon as possible," reads the Memorandum of Intent between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Ukraine to finalize formal agreement on economic partnership and Reconstruction Investment Fund published on the website of the Ukrainian government on Friday and signed earlier by First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy Yulia Svyrydenko and Bessent. According to the document, the United States of America and Ukraine intend to establish a reconstruction investment fund as part of an economic partnership between the two peoples and governments and have held highly productive technical discussions in Washington, D.C. as recently as April 11-12, 2025. According to the memorandum, the United States of America has provided significant financial and material support Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022; the American people desire to invest alongside the Ukrainian people in a free, sovereign and secure Ukraine; the United States of America and Ukraine desire a lasting peace in Ukraine and a durable partnership between their two peoples and governments; the United States of America and Ukraine recognize the contribution that Ukraine has made to strengthen international peace and security by voluntarily relinquishing the world's third largest arsenal of nuclear weapons. "The United States respects Ukraine s intention to avoid conflicts in the drafting of the agreement with Ukraine's obligations under European Union accession or agreements with international financial institutions and other official creditors," reads the document. Without prejudice to any remaining political or legal procedures required to complete the arrangement, Ukrainian Prime Minister Shmyhal will visit Washington. "As evidenced by the signatures set forth below, the Government of the United States and the Government of Ukraine enter into this Memorandum of Intent to work expeditiously towards the completion of the necessary documents in order to finalize the agreement forging an economic partnership between the American and Ukrainian peoples and establishing a reconstruction investment fund," the document said. As reported, U.S. President Donald Trump said the day before that the agreement could be signed next Thursday, April 25, and Svyrydenko noted that this agreement would be subject to ratification by the parliaments of both countries. Next week, the so-called Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank will also be held in Washington, where the Ukrainian delegation will work, headed by Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko and NBU Governor Andriy Pyshnyy. The seventh ministerial roundtable on support for Ukraine will be held within their framework. Star Entertainments prospective owner, Ballys chairman Soo Kim, says the companys luxury casinos will need to lose some of the glitz and glamour as they start life over from scratch. Speaking to this masthead on Friday, Kim said Ballys currently doesnt operate any casinos that are as big as Stars and would need to run them differently. Ballys Corporation chairman Soo Kim outside the Star Casino in Sydney. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer We dont currently operate casinos that look like this. I agree with the metaphor that we need to burn [the business model] down and start again. Kim built his career with hedge fund Standard General, which specialises in picking up distressed assets in regulated industries such as casinos, cannabis, tobacco and television and has led to it being labelled a vulture fund by rivals. Three people have drowned, and a fourth person is missing as monster swells rising to four metres battered the NSW coastline, marking a tragic start to the Easter long weekend. Beaches across Sydney, including Bondi, Bronte, Coogee and Manly were closed to swimmers amid growing concerns about dangerous swimming conditions for an unseasonably warm long weekend. Big swell at Thirroul beach near Wollongong. Credit: Nick Moir A body was located in the harbour off Middle Head Point in Mosman, after emergency services were called to assist a man in the water around 10.20am. Police believe the man was standing on rocks at the harbours edge when he fell into the water. Earlier on Friday, a 58-year-old fisherman died after being swept into the water in Wollongong Harbour overnight. Police believe the man was fishing on a rock wall nearby when he was swept into the water. Happy couple Katrina Lobleys cover story, Shifting sands (Traveller, April 5), featuring a women-only tour of Saudi Arabia reminded me of our independent seven-day tour of Saudi with my wife as something couples could enjoy. Fly from the United Arab Emirates to Riyadh, the Saudi capital, where there are Ubers everywhere, and dont miss the restored ancient UNESCO site of Diriyah, 30 minutes by road from the airport. Then fly to Jeddah for the old town of Al Balad and the corniche along the Red Sea and for the extravagant buffet dinner at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Fly on to AlUla and experience an early wildlife safari before a visit to the rock tombs. We stayed in Airbnbs during what proved an outstanding and inexpensive holiday. Graham Gough, Abbotsford, Vic Long way to go Notwithstanding the intention of your cover story on Saudi Arabia to describe what it is like to travel as a woman inside the worlds most patriarchal society and the interesting observations made, I find such treatment of women described to be offensive and not deserving of the soft acceptance shown in the article. Revealing secret lives in subterranean venues is quite tragic. They have a long way to go. Ruth Wilson, North Turramurra, NSW Review reviewed In response to your Flight Path review of Wizz Air (Traveller, April 5), about 12 months ago I flew with the airline from Tirana, Albania, to Naples, Italy, having purchased extra baggage online. The plane was modern and clean, the staff friendly and service excellent. Of course, there was no food, but at the price as well as the length of the flight, you cant have everything. Your writer had a poor experience, which was the opposite of ours. It just goes to show that one bad review is equal to 20 good ones. Philip Dowle, Wickham, NSW Wait off my mind In August 2022, I was assured by Air Canada that it would refund my hotel costs after it cancelled my flight to Montreal from Vancouver. In an update, thank you to the Traveller letter writer who advised me to make a claim through the Canadian Transport Agency. I did so, and it advised there were 3700 claims on its waiting list, and it could take up to three years before it assessed my claim. It did take that long Air Canada finally paid me the full refund last week. Luckily, Im still alive. Kris Sloane, Fitzroy North, Vic Tip of the week: You win, Turin Turin and the Alps beyond. Credit: iStock Turin, Italy, is a travellers gem, hiding in plain sight. The major sights are walkable from the train station and from each other wander wide piazzas surrounded by the ornate magnificence of baroque and understated elegance of neoclassical designed buildings, churches and palaces. Stroll along Po River, and walk up to the 16th-century Renaissance church for panoramic views of Turin, the river and the Alps. Savour rustic Piedmontese cuisine and the intense flavour of gianduiotto, Turins iconic chocolate. Start your day with bicerin, Turins signature multi-layered coffee and end the day with its boozy version. Grace Soriano, Ashburton, Vic Size doesnt matter Forget the big cities of Italy, as featured in your Metro marvels cover story (Traveller, April 6), much of the beauty and appeal of Italy is found in the smaller, not-so-touristy places. Foligno, in Umbria, is a delightful place to stay, with only short train trips to several hilltop towns. These include Trevi, which holds a Black Celery Festival in October; Spello with medieval streets filled with flowers and pretty stone houses; Perugia, home of the famous Fontana Maggiore in the centre of the piazza; Spoleto, a traditional Roman town; and my favourite, Assisi. Be prepared for some uphill walking, but these towns wont disappoint. Sandra Wingrave, Toowoon Bay, NSW Right onsen At Tokyo Haneda, you can head for the onsen and might even catch glimpses of Mount Fuji. Credit: Alamy In his April 6, column, Michael The Tripologist Gebicki made some recommendations for a six-hour layover at Haneda Airport (Tokyo International Airport). I would add that there is a rooftop onsen (hot spring) at Haneda. It is part of the Grand Villa Fontaine hotel, directly connected to Terminal 3 and open 24 hours. Travellers can relax with views of the airport and, potentially, Mount Fuji. I have used it, it was really wonderful, one of the best onsens I have visited in Japan. Kristen Walker, Melbourne, Vic All the Raj Luxury boutique-style hotels while travelling are my thing and India is the best place in the world for them at modest prices. Nothing beats these Imperial-era hotels with the old wing at the Taj Mahal Palace (as opposed to the Taj Palace), perfectly located near the Gateway of India, the pick. It is all old-world architecture with a first-rate shopping arcade and restaurants, meaning you hardly have to step out the hotel door. Elsewhere, the Imperial hotel in Delhi looks as if Lord Louis Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India, could come striding out at any moment. Old photos and artefacts line the wide corridors and rooms are large, cool and inviting. Jennifer Saunders, Canberra, ACT New Delhis Imperial Hotel is a colonial-era classic. Credit: Alamy Canal therapy We have been lucky enough to enjoy two magical holidays during New Years Eve, in our favourite Italian city, Venice. In winter, Venice takes on a mystical quality. Our hotels Grand Canal view was breathtaking, with gondolas right beneath our window. By night, after dinner, we wandered through dark alleys to the Danieli Hotel, its opulent interior a warm haven. In the bar, we sipped gin and tonics, mesmerised by the piano players soulful melodies. The magical atmosphere and beauty of Venice will forever be in our hearts. Rhoda Silber, Manly, NSW Thats the spirit I recently had the pleasure of travelling to New Zealand with my mother to celebrate her 100th birthday, and I wanted to share what a wonderful experience we had. From the moment we arrived at Tullamarine, to our adventures in Wellington, Auckland, and back to Melbourne, the care and attention was exceptional. We travelled internationally with Qantas and internally with Jetstar New Zealand, and the service provided by both airlines was top-notch. Every step of the way, from the counter staff to the airport assistants and air crew, we were treated with such kindness and professionalism. Their efforts truly made our trip enjoyable and memorable, and we couldnt fault any part of the experience. Thank you for providing such exceptional service and making our journey truly special. Lynda Pilalis, Ormond, Vic The Letter of the Week writer wins three Hardie Grant travel books. See hardiegrant.com Pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly said its experimental pill worked as well as blockbuster drug Ozempic to lower weight and blood sugar in a trial of diabetes patients, with the company expecting to seek global regulatory approvals this year. The study is the first of several under way on the pill, orforglipron, and raised hopes of an effective and easy-to-use treatment reaching a market dominated by weight-loss injections. Eli Lilly is the pharma company behind the experimental weight-loss pill orforglipron. Credit: Bloomberg Lillys phase 3 trial, involving 559 people with Type 2 diabetes, showed they lost about seven kilograms or nearly 8 per cent of their body weight over 40 weeks. That compares favourably with Novo Nordisks injected drug Ozempic, where diabetic patients on the highest dose lost about 6 per cent of their body weight. Lilly said weight loss hadnt plateaued at the time the study ended, suggesting that patients might lose more weight. The pill lowered blood sugar levels by an average of 1.3 per cent. Ozempic lowered blood sugar levels by 2.1 per cent. Macron coordinates actions with Zelenskyy at meeting of delegations in Paris The meeting of the Ukrainian, British, German and American delegations at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Thursday was productive, Europe is ready to work closely with the United States to achieve peace in Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron said. We are all clearly united in our desire for peace. From the very beginning, we have supported President Donald Trumps proposal to end the war in Ukraine as swiftly as possible. This demonstrates a strong European commitment and a willingness to work closely with the United States, Macron wrote on X after Thursday's meeting. He said he spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy before and after the meetings to ensure coordination. "Talks will continue next week in London," the French president said. Macron called Thursday's talks "a day of diplomatic mobilization" and thanked all participants "for their presence and our productive discussions." Sybiha after meeting in Paris: Increasing pressure on Russia is crucial for achieving peace Photo: https://mfa.gov.ua/ Participants in the meeting in Paris noted progress in peace efforts and emphasized the importance of American leadership and participation, Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said. Ukraine is committed to peace efforts and wants the war to end as soon as possible. I reiterated that Ukraine unconditionally accepted a full interim ceasefire on March 11th in Jeddah. It needs to be done as soon as possible. I stressed that increased pressure on Russia is critical for achieving a fair and lasting peace, he wrote on X following the meeting. According to him, during the negotiations, he reiterated Ukraine's principled positions as part of a broader peace process. We discussed ways to guarantee Ukraine's long-term peace and security, as well as the Coalition of the Willing's next steps, Sybiha said, thanking France, Germany and the UK "for their unwavering support and efforts to achieve a lasting peace." European Foreign Ministers will visit Kyiv on Europe Day on May 9, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said, noting that he also plans to come. "European Foreign Ministers will meet in Kyiv on May 9... I will definitely be there," he said on the air of the French TV channel LCI. Earlier, the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Heorhiy Tykhy, reported that Minister Andriy Sybiha, during an online speech at the Council of EU Foreign Ministers, invited his colleagues to visit Ukraine on May 9 as a sign of solidarity with Ukraine. Photo: https://eurosolidarity.org After a Supreme Court hearing on a lawsuit challenging the NSDC sanctions, the leader of the European Solidarity party, Petro Poroshenko, is taking a batch of drones and equipment to combat brigades, the partys press service reports. You already know that the sanctions imposed by Zelenskyy against me are preventive. Because the NSDC and the president believe that my actions may threaten national security. I admit that everything you see in the photo really threatens not national security, but the Russian Federation, Poroshenko said. In particular, brigades and battalions of the Defense Forces will receive 50 fiber-optic FPV drones, 700 FPV drones, a washing and shower complex, a mobile tire fitting, a mobile repair shop, ATVs, electronic warfare equipment, charging stations, Mavic drones, Starlinks, Vanilla Sugar detectors, and diesel generators. The total cost of assistance is UAH 30 million. "This is not thanks to the criminals in power, but in spite of them. I spent the afternoon in court, where they were considering my lawsuit against Zelenskyy for illegal sanctions. Because they were introduced thoughtlessly, illegally, unconstitutionally and extrajudicially. And the explanations are like in kindergarten. The sanctions were introduced preventively... I will say frankly, with your inaction, corruption and destruction of democracy, you are not helping yourself, not Ukraine, but the Russians," Poroshenko stressed. "The air in Kyiv has become musty this week. Therefore, we are going to where it is easier to breathe, where unity is still preserved," he added. As reported, on February 13, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree on the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) of February 12, 2025 on the application of personal special economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions). According to the appendix to the document, sanctions were imposed against five individuals: businessman Ihor Kolomoisky, former owner of the Finance and Credit bank Kostiantyn Zhevaho, former co-owner of PrivatBank Hennadiy Boholiubov, 5th President of Ukraine, leader of the European Solidarity party Petro Poroshenko, and former MP Viktor Medvedchuk. Poroshenko appealed the sanctions in the Supreme Court of Ukraine. On April 17, the court began considering the claim in the presence of MPs of Ukraine, as well as diplomats from the European Union mission, representatives of the embassies of Germany, Poland, Austria, Sweden, Lithuania, and Denmark. Poroshenko's representatives emphasize that the sanctions were imposed illegally, as they were imposed on a Ukrainian citizen who is in Ukraine, despite the fact that only Russia considers him a "terrorist." Therefore, there are no grounds under the law for sanctions. In addition, the representatives noted, the reasons for the application of sanctions are still unknown, since the announced data on the alleged "withdrawal of billions abroad" have never been made public. Moreover, the State Financial Monitoring Service, which was referred to when imposing sanctions, actually refused to confirm such facts, and the head of its legal department stated that this body had no right to provide anyone, in particular the government, with any financial information. The Mercy Convent chapel in Ballina will be open throughout today on Good Friday, April 18. People are invited to stop into the chapel at Convent Hill to pray the Stations of the Cross. A beautiful new set of stations, painted by well-known Ballina artist Trish Slowey, were added to the chapel last Christmas. The convent, built in 1867 by the Sisters of Mercy, has lain vacant and in a state of dereliction since its closure over 15 years ago. Cllr Mark Duffy was approached by members of the Sisters of Mercy order who once called the convent their home encouraging a regeneration project and work on this commenced in the past year with good progress being made. This Easter marks the first anniversary of the Sisters of Mercy gifting the former convent building to the local community. The sisters made the generous decision to gift the convent building to a newly-formed charity, Ballina Convent Regeneration CLG. By Grainne Ni Aodha, PA A group of Irish writers has called on the Government to protect their work from AI technologies. The group, led by the Irish Writers Union (IWU), submitted a petition with over 1,500 signatures to the Department of Enterprise in Dublin city on Thursday. The demonstration was held in response to reports from The Atlantic, which claimed that Meta has used millions of books and research papers to train its AI generator Llama. The allegations have profound implications for Irish authors, the IWU said. The union has claimed that dozens of its members have had their work used for AI training without their permission. It is encouraging writers to call for the cessation of use of their work for AI training, negotiate terms for continued use of their work, and request compensation for past unauthorised use of their work. The unions petition also called on the Government to play its part in protecting its citizens from copyright infringement. We call upon you to communicate with Meta and insist that the rights, interests and livelihoods of authors are adequately protected, said the petition to junior minister Niamh Smyth, who has responsibility for AI and digital transformation. Specifically, we, the undersigned, call on you as Minister responsible for protecting EU copyright law from being violated in AI training to summon senior executives of Meta to provide a detailed response to the allegations that they have engaged in wholesale copyright infringement and to provide unequivocal assurances that they will respect the copyright of authors, not engage in unlawful conduct, and will pay authors for all historic infringements. A spokeswoman for Meta said: We respect third-party intellectual property rights and believe our use of information to train AI models is consistent with existing law. Labour TD and media spokesman Rob ODonoghue echoed the unions calls for the Government to take urgent action to defend Irish writers. Irish writers are standing up to one of the worlds most powerful tech companies and they deserve the full backing of the Irish Government. This is a clear issue of copyright and compensation. Metas actions, if proven, are in breach of Irish and EU copyright law. Writers have a right to be paid for their work. The creative sector faces enough challenges without billion-dollar corporations helping themselves to books, stories and ideas. The Department of Enterprise has been contacted for comment. 40th anniversary of twinning to be marked The twinning 40 years ago of Ballyhaunis with Guilers, a town in northern France, is to be marked later this year. The outgoing committee has applied to Mayo County Council for funding to enable us to mark the occasion later in the year, explained Rena Burke, one of the committee members. She said the committee is hoping for a trip down memory lane with a function in Ballyhaunis community hall, a display of photos, etc. It is our intention to invite some guests from Guilers to visit Ballyhaunis as they have a Mayor and council officials in Guilers. There is active contact between some families but there is no committee in place in Guilers at the moment. Rena was the official translator for the ceremony 40 years ago which twinned Ballyhaunis with Guilers, a town in the Brittany region of northern France. An article in the 1985 edition of the Annagh magazine describes a "very large attendance" on Easter Monday at 3pm to witness the official twinning ceremony with Senator Jim Higgins and Dr Michael Brogan (president of the local twinning committee) representing Ballyhaunis and Guilers mayor Louis Ballard, as well as Paul Guyomorc, president of the Guilers town twinning committee, representing the French town. Kevin Flanagan was master of ceremonies for the event at the Parochial Hall. In the exchange of gifts which followed the signing, the French visitors presented Ballyhaunis with a sun dial, reciprocated by an icon from the Book of Kells from the Ballyhaunis hosts. The sun dial was installed at the Parc Guilers, which was officially opened after the signing ceremony with the Irish armys pipe band leading a procession from the hall to the park, an embankment of rock and seating areas adjacent to the town library and then the local playground. The sun dial remains in situ but the trees planted at the parks opening in 1985 were removed two years ago by Mayo County Council. Annagh AGM The annual general meeting of Annagh Magazine Society will take place in the Friary House on Tuesday evening, April 29th, at 8pm. New volunteers are welcome. Calls for later bus service A student living near Aghamore has been forced to commute by motorbike to Galway to attend college as inadequate public transport connections means there is no evening link to Ballyhaunis after his classes. Florian Oniceanu sets out on his motorcycle early for morning classes at the Galway campus of the Atlantic Technical University where he studies agricultural engineering. I usually arrive on time in Galway, but when there was snow and the roads were icy, I used to arrive about 30 minutes later. The problem is with the return journey, because if I finish classes after 5pm, I miss the four oclock bus, and I have to take the 6:10 bus to Kilkelly to get back, and someone - my sister or brother-in-law - has to come pick me up to take me home. It's not very comfortable to ride the motorcycle every day, considering that I have to change into gear before leaving, and when I arrive I have to take it off again. Ive had some minor difficulties, but nothing major. In terms of safety, a motorcycle isnt the best choice for this, but if youre careful and respectful in traffic, its not bad. The time it takes to get to university by bus or by motorcycle is about the same - the motorcycle is around five or 10 minutes faster. Florian said hed like to see a later bus service connecting with Ballyhaunis after 5pm, so I wouldnt have to leave classes before they end". The threadbare nature of bus services linking Ballyhaunis to Galway has been underlined as the housing crisis forces more third-level students to commute to the city. An hourly bus linking Ballyhaunis with Galway, Sligo and Knock Airport was proposed in the five-year Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility plan published by the National Transport Authority (NTA) in 2021. The plan was pushed by the Department of Transport which under then Minister Eamon Ryan made increased bus coverage for rural areas a priority. Bus connections between Ballyhaunis and third-level institutions in Galway was cited as a key concern by various Ballyhaunis parents who spoke to the Western People about their priorities in the run-up to last year's general election. Glor concert A fund-raising concert for Glor Achadh Mor magazine takes place in Eileen's Bar in Achadh Mor on Wednesday, April 23rd, starting at 8pm. Because of the concerts and the generous support of our kind sponsors, the magazine has remained at the same price for the past 25 years, note the organisers. As usual there will be no cover charge but all subscriptions are welcome, its always a good community and ceol night. Failte roimh go leir. Look on Daft.ie A homeless resident of the Charlestown emergency shelter for homeless people said she expects to be living there long term. Originally resident in Ballyhaunis, the woman and her infant child were several weeks ago offered accommodation in the Charlestown facility, a former nursing home operated by private management, which is paid by Mayo County Council to house homeless people. Describing a recent meeting with Mayo County Council housing officers, the woman said: Basically they told me there's no light at the end of the tunnel and I should look on [property website] Daft for my own housing, as if I haven't been doing that for the last eight months. Looks like I'll be here long term, she said. The facility is very safe and clean and comfortable, the staff are kind too, said the woman, adding that the location, however, makes transport challenging. There are taxis and they're very expensive. Car charger still out of action An electric car charger that has been out of action for months remains off-line. We are aware of the problem and we will be replacing the unit, a spokesperson for EasyGo told the Western People. The work is scheduled, and we hope to have the new charger in and working early next week. A 50kW Tritium rapid charger was installed by EasyGo in summer 2023 in the Lohan public car park operated by Mayo County Council in Ballyhaunis as part of a national rollout of chargers in cooperation with local authorities and Eir. The installation was described at the time as part of a Mayo County Council programme to make the county more accessible to drivers of electric vehicles. Confusion over casual trading enforcement Mayo Co Council is not planning to actively enforce casual trading laws in Ballyhaunis, a council official told this column. Under the Casual Trading Act, a local authority must put Casual Trading Bye-Laws in place for a specific town with licences to trade then issued by the council. There are no Casual Trading Bye Laws in place for Ballyhaunis, meaning casual trading or stalls on the street are not allowed. We are not patrolling for casual trading, said the official, adding that the Act can be enforced by either the Gardai or Council wardens. We just havent the manpower to actively enforce it." A trader with a weekly stall in Ballyhaunis selling clothes told this column recently that he was approached by Gardai asking him if he had sought permission from the council for his sale. But on approaching Mayo County Council he was told they were not in a position to give him a permit as no Casual Trading Bye-Law is in place for Ballyhaunis. The new solar panels on the Community Hall in Ballyhaunis. 57 solar panels on hall roof The recent spell of fine weather allowed the installation of 57 large solar panels on the roof of the Community Hall in Ballyhaunis, nearly four months after the installation was abandoned due to snow and freezing conditions. Covering both the east and west-facing roofs of the building, the installation was funded by a grant from the Mayo County Council Climate Action Fund to Ballyhaunis Community Council, which runs the building. Join the Big Good Friday Clean-Up Ballyhaunis residents are invited to join the big traditional Good Friday Clean-Up, led by Ballyhaunis Tidy Towns. Bags, gloves, hi-viz vests, litter pickers, etc, will be available at the Community Hall from 10 to 11am on Good Friday morning, April 18th. Please join with Tidy Towns in this worthwhile community initiative as part of An Taisce's National Spring Clean, Ireland's nationwide anti-litter campaign which takes place during the whole month of April, said Tidy Towns. Ballyhaunis GAA 50/50 draw Congratulations to Mike Dillon, Ballindrethid who won 1,030 on an envelope sold in Curley's in the April 6th draw. Tony Smith, Upper Main Street, won the second prize: a His/Hers Jenny Glow gift set while the third prize, a SuperMacs voucher, went to Lorcan O'Connor, c/o Delaney's. 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. 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. There will be no disruption at Ukrainian fuel stations after May 1, when a new requirement to blend 5% bioethanol into gasoline with an octane rating below 98 takes effect, assures Vasyl Danyliak, CEO of the OKKO Group. "There will be no crisis. Initially, we'll import ready-made fuel with bioethanol, and gradually all market operators will implement this blending process themselves," Danyliak told Interfax-Ukraine. According to him, OKKO has been preparing for this transition for some time by modifying its infrastructure to support on-site blending at fuel depots. "We've been working on this for a year now, making sure that our fuel depots are equipped to mix and add bioethanol directly into tanker trucks. These will be separate tanks located at the depot, used during the loading process," he explained. Danyliak also noted that the percentage of bioethanol in gasoline may increase over time. "Right now, it's 5%, but I believe the mandates will rise. Possibly to 8%, maybe even 10%. In our case, I think going up to 8% makes perfect sense," he said. At the same time, he pointed out that first-generation bioethanol has limitations on how much can be blended, unlike second-generation bioethanol, which can be added in larger proportions. "But for now, most of what's being produced is first-generation bioethanol," Danyliak added. The bioethanol mandate stems from Law No. 3769-IX, passed on June 4, 2024, which requires that all gasoline with an octane rating below 98 contain 5% bioethanol starting May 1, 2025. The only exceptions are fuels designated for the Ministry of Defense, the State Reserve, or for creating minimum strategic reserves of oil and petroleum products. In a separate interview with Energy Reform, Oleksandr Dubinin, owner and CEO of the Parallel Group (which operates the Parallel filling station chain), also said the new mandate would not significantly impact fuel prices. However, he noted that while the initiative is presented as a measure to support domestic agriculture, most blended fuel will be imported as a finished product from European refineries, since Ukraine's infrastructure is not yet sufficiently developed for large-scale blending. The law's passage was hailed as a landmark development by Oleksandr Dombrovsky, President of MHP Eco Energy. He said the policy could bring more than $1 billion annually to the state budget through the processing of agricultural crops into bioethanol. He also emphasized the law's historical significance, noting that although it had been under consideration for over 20 years, strong opposition from oil industry lobbyists particularly those with ties to Russia had previously blocked its adoption. Lammy on meetings in Paris: Working hard with allies to ensure lasting peace in Ukraine Ukraine's European partners and the US delegation led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the issue of ensuring lasting peace in Ukraine at a meeting in Paris. We are working hard with allies to secure a lasting peace in Ukraine. Russia must agree to an immediate, full and unconditional ceasefire as Ukraine has done, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy wrote on X on Friday. We also spoke about how we deliver Middle East stability and address Iran's nuclear escalation, he added. Photo: Getty Images French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot called the meetings in Paris on April 17 a "diplomatic success for France." "This is a diplomatic success for France, because this is the first time that Americans, Ukrainians and Europeans are sitting at the same table," he said on the air of the French TV channel LCI following the results of the meetings. The minister stressed the importance of these events, because they are about moving towards a common goal: peace. In his opinion, to achieve it, it is necessary to continue the dialogue. Barrot also noted that the Americans are "listening" and are in a hurry to end this war. As reported, upon arrival in Paris, Rubio declared his desire to achieve real, practical solutions to end the Russian-Ukrainian war. Together with him and Wittkoff, US Special Representative for Ukraine Keith Kellogg also arrived in France, where he met with head of the Presidents Office of Ukraine Andriy Yermak and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who also arrived in Paris. After negotiations in Paris with the Ukrainian delegation and then - in an expanded format - with representatives of the "coalition of the willing," Rubio had a telephone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Sweden is ready to finance innovative areas in the defense sector, said the representative of the Swedish government agency FMV, Brigadier General Johan Axelsson, during a meeting with Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine for European Integration Serhiy Boyev. According to the press service of the Ministry of Defense, Axelsson presented the Ukrainian side with a list of areas that can be worked out. Boyev emphasized that the issues of countering areal bombs and the possibility of intercepting enemy drones remain relevant for Ukraine. As noted, the production of Swedish CV-90 infantry fighting vehicles, which have proven themselves on the battlefield as reliable equipment, remains relevant. The parties agreed to work on the implementation of technical maintenance and repair of these armored vehicles in Ukraine. They also discussed the details of the joint ventures that will produce critical weapons. "Ukrainian-Swedish relations in the defense sector are developing, and this is a confirmation of our strategic cooperation. Sweden is one of the leaders in assisting Ukraine, and we are happy to share our experience in return for the development of joint projects," the Deputy Minister noted. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha condemned the attack by the Russians on the Easter cake production workshop in Sumy, as a result of which an entrepreneur was killed and another person was injured. The minister emphasized that today is Good Friday in Ukraine, Holy Week is coming to an end, and people are preparing for Easter. They make paska, a special Easter bread. Sumy's local pastry shop prepared fresh paska this morning. However, at 5 a.m., Russia fired a deadly Shahed drone, damaging it and killing an entrepreneur who arrived to collect the bread. Another worker was injured, Sybiha wrote on the social network X. Another worker was also injured. So much for Russia's traditional Christian values. It is against the Lord, any faith, and any human values to strike an ordinary pastry shop, murder an entrepreneur, and destroy Easter bread, the minister stressed. This is the evil we are dealing with every day, he added. Photo: https://www.facebook.com/minenergoUkraine Ukraine considers March 25, when the White House published the corresponding statements, to be the beginning of the energy truce, said Dmytro Lytvyn, the presidential communications adviser, commenting on the Kremlin representatives statements about the alleged end of the month-long energy truce. "I don't know from what moment Peskov's statements mean anything to anyone. We consider the beginning of the agreement with the American side to be March 25, when the White House published the corresponding statements. But given the inadequacy of the Russians and intelligence data: yesterday President Zelenskyy warned of the threat of Russian strikes on energy facilities on the eve of Easter or after it," Lytvyn told reporters on Friday. Earlier, Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia's month-long moratorium on strikes against Ukraine's energy infrastructure had supposedly expired, but "there were no instructions from Putin." Photo: https://www.facebook.com/RedCrossUkraine The Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) will provide humanitarian aid to those affected by the Russian missile strike on Kharkiv. Based on the assessed needs, the Kharkiv regional branch of the Ukrainian Red Cross is preparing to distribute humanitarian aid, including OSB boards, plastic sheeting, tarpaulin, respiratory masks, and hygiene kits, URCS said on Facebook Friday. Volunteers from the Ukrainian Red Cross emergency response team in the Kharkiv region are on the ground, working alongside other rescue services in response to this mornings attack. They are inspecting damaged buildings and nearby areas to identify those affected, provide first aid and psychological first aid, and transport people to medical facilities in the city. Volunteers are also distributing water and hot drinks to residents and emergency personnel. A canine team is assisting in the response efforts. As reported, on Friday morning, the Russian Armed Forces launched three cruise missiles with high-explosive fragmentation warheads, which are analogs of the American Tomahawk missile, at Kharkiv from the Iskander complex. As a result of the enemy missile attack, one person was killed and 98, including six children, were injured. Four of the injured are in serious condition. Residential buildings were damaged, and two workshops of a civilian enterprise were destroyed. Pavithra Ramadas (2nd R), a Malaysian travel blogger, tries on Hanfu (traditional Chinese attire) at Gansu Silk Road International Tourism Conference 2025 in Lanzhou, northwest China's Gansu Province, April 7, 2025. [Xinhua] LANZHOU, April 14 (Xinhua) Unlike most first-time foreign tourists to China, who flock to popular destinations like Beijing, Shanghai, or Guangzhou, Zachary Iziah Smith took a different path by exploring the vast and historic landscapes of Gansu Province in northwest China. "I want to record and showcase the transformation along the ancient Silk Road through my lens," said the 32-year-old American travel blogger. From the local Sanpaotai (covered-bowl tea) to the strikingly colorful Danxia landforms, the unique charm of the Hexi Corridor made Smith's first visit to China an experience filled with vivid impressions. Smith was among approximately 140 guests from over 20 countries and regions who attended the 2025 Gansu Silk Road International Tourism Conference held last week. They included officials from international tourism organizations, representatives from travel agencies and social media influencers. Participants explored the cultural and natural splendor of the Hexi Corridor, a key artery of the ancient Silk Road, which continues to inspire the development of Silk Road tourism today. Malaysian travel blogger Pavithra Ramadas immersed herself in traditional Chinese culture by trying hand-pulled noodles, dressing in Hanfu (traditional Chinese attire), and visiting the famed Mogao Grottoes. "Silk Road travel has delivered countless surprises to me," she said. Her real-time updates on social media sparked enthusiastic responses from her followers. Thanks to expanded visa-free policies, China has experienced a travel boom, with a surge in international visitors exploring both iconic landmarks and lesser-known destinations across the country. China has established comprehensive mutual visa exemptions with 25 countries, implemented unilateral visa-free policies for 38 countries, and extended the transit visa-free period to 240 hours for travelers from 54 countries. Malaysia has emerged as one of Gansu's most important inbound tourism markets. The visa exemption policy between China and Malaysia has significantly boosted tourism promotion and bilateral exchanges, said Law Wai Hong, chairman of Malaysian Chinese Tourism Association, adding the association will further promote Silk Road-related tourism to allow more travelers to experience its rich historical and cultural charm. "The Silk Road is increasingly becoming a top choice for international travelers seeking a deeper understanding of China," said Xu Peng, vice chairman of the World Tourism Alliance. "The natural scenery and cultural heritage draw a steady flow of international visitors, making the region a core hub for inbound tourism growth." Marcel Leijzer, deputy director of International Development and Cooperation Department, UN Tourism, said that countries and regions along the Silk Road are increasingly recognizing tourism's role in preserving cultural heritage, enhancing regional cohesion, and fostering cross-cultural dialogue. He emphasized the need to strengthen cooperation among countries to advance Silk Road tourism. This year marks the 10th anniversary of China's release of the Vision and Actions on Jointly Building Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road. As Silk Road-themed tourism products and routes continue to evolve, the sector is gaining renewed vitality and growing global appeal. As a key region along the ancient Silk Road, Gansu Province has seen remarkable growth in tourism. Official data shows that the province welcomed 247,900 overseas tourists in 2024, marking a 137 percent year-on-year increase. "These figures underscore the thriving development of Silk Road inbound tourism," said He Xiaozu, director of the Gansu Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, adding that the province will deepen partnerships with global travel agencies to co-develop Silk Road itineraries and boost the global tourism industry. Zachary Iziah Smith, an American travel blogger, poses for a photo at Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, April 11, 2025. [Xinhua] (Source: Xinhua) Editor: Wang Shasha Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. [Xinhua/Li Xueren] PHNOM PENH, April 17 (Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that China and Cambodia set a model for equality, mutual trust and win-win cooperation between countries of different sizes. Xi made the remarks when meeting with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni during his state visit to Cambodia. Noting that Cambodia has recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of King Sihamoni's enthronement and the Khmer New Year, Xi said he is delighted to visit the beautiful country of Cambodia at the invitation of the king, extending his heartfelt New Year greetings to the Cambodian people. Xi said that Cambodia's nation-building is thriving, and he firmly believes that, under the blessings of King Sihamoni, the hardworking and intelligent Cambodian people will surely build an even more prosperous and stronger nation. Xi pointed out that China and Cambodia share a millennia-old friendship, with their people having always striven together and thrived together. Regardless of changes in the international landscape, China and Cambodia have stood by each other in good faith and with mutual assistance, offering unwavering support on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns. China and Cambodia have always been at the forefront of building a community with a shared future for mankind, bringing tangible benefits to the Cambodian people, said Xi. He said that China values its friendship with the Cambodian royal family, and spoke highly of the important contributions made by the Cambodian royal family to the cause of China-Cambodia friendship over the years. Under the new circumstances, China and Cambodia should cherish and carry forward the ironclad friendship jointly forged by the elder generation of Chinese leaders and King Father Norodom Sihanouk, endow the China-Cambodia community with a shared future with new connotations of the time, serve the development of their respective countries and the well-being of their people, and make greater contributions to building a community with a shared future with neighboring countries and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, said Xi. He noted that China firmly supports Cambodia in maintaining stability, accelerating development, improving people's livelihoods and following a development path that suits its national conditions. Xi said that he believes Chinese modernization will bring more opportunities to Cambodia and other neighboring countries and expressed confidence in writing a splendid chapter of building an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era. For his part, King Sihamoni said the friendship between Cambodia and China was created and cultivated by the elder generation of leaders of the two countries, adding that with the joint efforts of both sides, cooperation in various fields has become increasingly close and the building of a community with a shared future has been continuously deepened. The Cambodian side, he said, firmly adheres to the one-China principle, highly appreciates the three major global initiatives proposed by Xi, and appreciates the huge development opportunities brought to Cambodia via the Belt and Road cooperation. He hailed Xi's visit a historic one, which will deepen the ironclad friendship between the two countries, enrich the cooperation framework of the "Diamond Hexagon," and take bilateral ties to a new level. The king also said his country is ready to enhance coordination and cooperation with China in such multilateral mechanisms as ASEAN-China Cooperation and Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, and jointly promote regional peace, stability and prosperity. The king also presented the National Order of Independence - Grand Collar to Xi. He said Xi holds special friendly feelings towards Cambodia and has made outstanding contributions to promoting the development of Cambodia-China relations, adding that Xi is a great friend of Cambodia. It is believed that under the leadership of President Xi, China will achieve greater development accomplishments and play a more important role in international and regional affairs, he added. Xi said that this medal fully demonstrates Cambodia's high regard for developing China-Cambodia relations and carries the deep friendship of the Cambodian people towards the Chinese people. This honor, he said, belongs not only to him personally, but also to all the friendly people who have cultivated and contributed to the friendship between China and Cambodia. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. [Xinhua/Li Xueren] Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni presents the National Order of Independence - Grand Collar to Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. Xi met with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh on Thursday. [Xinhua/Yin Bogu] Chinese President Xi Jinping and Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni walk at the Royal Palace after their meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. Xi met with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh on Thursday. [Xinhua/Yin Bogu] (Source: Xinhua) Editor: Wang Shasha PHNOM PENH, April 18 (Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday concluded his state visit to Cambodia. During his visit, Xi held talks with key Cambodian leaders, including Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, Cambodian People's Party President and Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, and Cambodian Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk. The following are some of the highlights of Xi's remarks during the visit. On Ties and Cooperation Bilateral ties were forged and nurtured by the elder generations of leaders of the two countries. China-Cambodia relations have withstood the test of global transformations and always remained rock-solid. China and Cambodia share a millennia-old friendship, with their people having always striven together and thrived together. Regardless of changes in the international landscape, China and Cambodia have stood by each other in good faith and with mutual assistance, offering unwavering support on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns. China will, as always, support Cambodia in following a development path that suits its national conditions, support the Cambodian government's successful governance of the country, and back Cambodia in playing a more important role in international and regional affairs. The two sides should deepen practical cooperation across various fields, advance the construction of Cambodia's Industrial and Technological Corridor and Fish and Rice Corridor, and strengthen collaboration in energy, transportation and other key sectors, enabling Cambodia to share more in China's development opportunities. The people of the two countries should enhance mutual understanding and friendly feelings for each other, and promote exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese and Cambodian civilizations. On All-Weather China-Cambodia Community with Shared Future in New Era China and Cambodia have always been at the forefront of building a community with a shared future for mankind, bringing tangible benefits to the Cambodian people. China and Cambodia have supported each other in maintaining stability and promoting development and prosperity, and worked together in upholding international fairness and justice, setting an example for a new type of international relations while contributing to building a community with a shared future for mankind. Under the new circumstances, China and Cambodia should cherish and carry forward the ironclad friendship jointly forged by the elder generation of Chinese leaders and King Father Norodom Sihanouk, endow the China-Cambodia community with a shared future with new connotations of the time, serve the development of their respective countries and the well-being of their people, and make greater contributions to building a community with a shared future with neighboring countries and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. The two sides should keep in mind the well-being of their people and the progress of humanity, strive to set an example for building a community with a shared future for mankind in the course of advancing their respective modernization endeavors, and join hands to become forces for peace, stability and progress in a world undergoing profound transformations unseen in a century. At present, changes unseen in a century are accelerating. Deepening the building of the China-Cambodia community with a shared future is fully in line with the fundamental interests of the two peoples. (Source: Xinhua) Editor: Wang Shasha Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. [Xinhua/Li Xueren] In the midst of festivities this week, Cambodians welcomed not only relatives returning from afar but also an old friend and prominent figure on the world stage: Chinese President Xi Jinping. PHNOM PENH, April 18 (Xinhua) In Cambodia, April heralds the advent of the Khmer New Year, a time of homecomings, family gatherings and nationwide celebration. For people in this land, it is the most cherished holiday of the year. In the midst of festivities this week, Cambodians welcomed not only relatives returning from afar but also an old friend and prominent figure on the world stage: Chinese President Xi Jinping. "I am very happy to visit Cambodia on the occasion of the Khmer New Year. For me, it feels like going to the home of a good friend," Xi said in a signed article published on Thursday in Cambodian media outlets ahead of his arrival. Cambodia is the last stop of Xi's Southeast Asia tour, which was his first overseas trip this year and also took him to Vietnam and Malaysia. Upon arrival in Phnom Penh, Xi was warmly welcomed by Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, Cambodian People's Party President and Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen and other senior officials at the airport. This was the first time for King Sihamoni to greet any foreign head of state at the airport, a gesture that highlighted the significance of this visit to bilateral ties. People participate in an activity to celebrate the lunar New Year in Siem Reap province, Cambodia, April 16, 2025. [Photo by Sao Khuth/Xinhua] Crowds lined roads and streets, holding portraits of Xi and the Cambodian king, and waving Chinese and Cambodian national flags and bright bouquets. Chants of "long live Cambodia-China friendship, solidarity and cooperation" resonated across the city. China-Cambodia friendly exchange spans two millennia of shared history. Since the elder generations of Chinese and Cambodian leaders forged a special bond between the two countries decades ago, the relationship has grown ever stronger and closer. Prior to his 2016 visit to Cambodia, Xi noted in a signed article that China will never forget Cambodia's role as one of the first nations to recognize the People's Republic of China and a champion of China's rightful seat at the United Nations. The friendship between the two close neighbors has always been mutual. China has been a steadfast partner of Cambodia, supporting its national independence and economic development, including the construction of Cambodia's first cement plant and thermal power station. Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Phnom Penh for a state visit to Cambodia at the invitation of Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni on April 17, 2025. [Xinhua/Yao Qilin] On Thursday, Xi once again recalled the cherished history of solidarity between the two nations. Regardless of changes in the international landscape, China and Cambodia have stood by each other in good faith and with mutual assistance, offering unwavering support on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns, Xi said when meeting with King Sihamoni. Back in November 2020, Xi awarded a Friendship Medal to the queen mother at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. "This weighty 'Friendship Medal' represents the deep respect of the Chinese people for Queen Mother Monineath and the profound friendship between China and Cambodia," Xi said then. To recognize Xi's outstanding contributions to strengthening bilateral ties, King Sihamoni presented Xi with the National Order of Independence - Grand Collar in a ceremony on Thursday, hailing him as a great friend of Cambodia. For his part, Xi said that this medal fully demonstrates Cambodia's high regard for developing China-Cambodia relations and carries the deep friendship of the Cambodian people towards the Chinese people. This honor, Xi said, belongs not only to him personally, but also to all the friendly people who have cultivated and contributed to the friendship between China and Cambodia. In a world increasingly marred by zero-sum mentality and unilateralism, the mutual trust and friendship between China and Global South nations, including Cambodia, has become more precious than ever. As noted by Norodom Arun Rasmey, the youngest daughter of the late King Father Norodom Sihanouk, trust is like a tree; it takes time to grow, but once established, it becomes strong and enduring. The friendship between Cambodia and China has been flourishing in this same spirit to this day, she said. "This trust serves as a solid foundation for future cooperation and shared prosperity between our two countries." (Source: Xinhua) Editor: Wang Shasha Click the photo and watch the video. *During his meeting with the Cambodian King, Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed confidence in writing a splendid chapter of building an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era. *For many years, China has been Cambodia's largest trading partner and top source of investment, and industrial and supply chain cooperation between the two countries has continued to deepen. The entry into force of both the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the China-Cambodia Free Trade Agreement has further strengthened the foundation for bilateral trade and investment. *In view of the headwinds on the international landscape, Xi said unilateralism and hegemonism receive no support of the people, adding that history has shown the unstoppable trend toward a multipolar world, economic globalization, and cultural diversity. PHNOM PENH, April 18 (Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded his state visit to Cambodia on Friday, with both nations agreeing on jointly building an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era. On Thursday, Xi met with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, Cambodian People's Party President and Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, respectively. The two sides exchanged more than 30 bilateral cooperation documents covering such fields as production and supply chain cooperation, artificial intelligence, development assistance, customs inspection and quarantine, as well as health and media. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. [Xinhua/Li Xueren] All-Weather Community with Shared Future "We must work together to promote the steady and sustained progress in building the China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era," Xi wrote in his signed article published on Thursday in Cambodian media outlets. During their talks, Xi and the Cambodian prime minister agreed to build an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era. Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. [Xinhua/Liu Weibing] Xi called on both sides to build on the momentum, strengthen unity and cooperation, and speed up the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative. During his meeting with the Cambodian King, Xi expressed confidence in writing a splendid chapter of building an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era. China and Cambodia have always been at the forefront of building a community with a shared future for mankind, said Xi. For his part, King Sihamoni said that with the joint efforts of both sides, cooperation in various fields has become increasingly close and the building of a community with a shared future has been continuously deepened. While meeting with the Cambodian People's Party president and Senate president, Xi said that building a China-Cambodia community with a shared future is a choice of history and the people. He said that the two sides should keep in mind the well-being of their people and the progress of humanity, strive to set an example for building a community with a shared future for mankind in the course of advancing their respective modernization endeavors, and join hands to become forces for peace, stability and progress in a world undergoing profound transformations unseen in a century. Unbreakable Ironclad Friendship Friendship is a term frequently emphasized by Xi during his trip to the country. In the signed article, Xi said this visit "feels like going to the home of a good friend." He fondly recalled the historic legacy of the good-neighborly relations between the two nations and the friendly exchange that spans two millennia of their shared history. "The great Chinese and Khmer civilizations have flourished together, inspiring each other through centuries," he wrote. Xi also highlighted the two countries' mutual commitment to friendship and righteousness, emphasizing that the friendship was forged by Cambodia's King Father Norodom Sihanouk and Chairman Mao Zedong, Premier Zhou Enlai, among the elder generations of Chinese leaders. In 2020, Xi presented Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk with the Friendship Medal of the People's Republic of China. This medal, Xi said, embodies "the profound friendship of the Chinese people toward the people of Cambodia." Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Cambodia's Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. [Xinhua/Yin Bogu] When meeting with the Queen Mother on Thursday at the Royal Palace, Xi said she is a witness and promoter of the China-Cambodia friendship and has special friendly feelings towards the Chinese people, while Cambodia's King Father Norodom Sihanouk was a banner of this friendship. Under the new circumstances, China and Cambodia should cherish and carry forward this ironclad friendship, endow the China-Cambodia community with a shared future with new connotations of the time, serve the development of their respective countries and the well-being of their people, and make greater contributions to building a community with a shared future with neighboring countries and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi said when meeting with King Norodom Sihamoni on Thursday. King Norodom Sihamoni presented Xi with the National Order of Independence - Grand Collar. Xi said that this medal fully demonstrates Cambodia's high regard for developing China-Cambodia relations and carries the deep friendship of the Cambodian people towards the Chinese people. This honor, he said, belongs not only to him personally, but also to all the friendly people who have cultivated and contributed to the friendship between China and Cambodia. Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wenbin has said in a written interview with Xinhua that as history and reality have both proven, China and Cambodia are good neighbors, good brothers, good friends and good partners who share weal and woe and stand together through thick and thin. The friendship between the two countries is not a transactional relationship, nor a stopgap measure, still less a bloc confrontation. It is rooted in the practical needs of the respective national development and rejuvenation, serves the common interests of both nations and peoples, and aligns with the historical trend of solidarity, self-strengthening and shared development among Global South countries, Wang said. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni walk at the Royal Palace after their meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. Xi met with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh on Thursday. [Xinhua/Yin Bogu] Strive Together, Thrive Together In his signed article, Xi said that as important members of the big Asian family, China and Cambodia must ride the tide of history and heed the two peoples' aspirations, and must strive together and thrive together. Noting that this is his second visit to Cambodia in nine years, Xi expressed hope that the visit will spearhead progress in building a China-Cambodia community with a shared future. For many years, China has been Cambodia's largest trading partner and top source of investment, and industrial and supply chain cooperation between the two countries has continued to deepen. The entry into force of both the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the China-Cambodia Free Trade Agreement has further strengthened the foundation for bilateral trade and investment. Thanks to such free trade agreements, premium agricultural products from Cambodia, including banana, mango and longan, are finding their way into Chinese households. "China is a trustworthy partner for Cambodia," said the Cambodian Ministry of Commerce's Secretary of State and Spokesperson Penn Sovicheat. "Looking forward, our two-way trade volume will continue to rise, undoubtedly." During talks with Hun Manet, Xi urged the two sides to expand mutually beneficial cooperation of higher quality and voiced China's readiness to share opportunities and seek common development with Cambodia. He called on both sides to vigorously promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and continuously enrich the "Diamond Hexagon" cooperation framework, so as to inject new impetus into their respective modernization efforts. China encourages more Chinese enterprises to invest in Cambodia, Xi said, adding that it will open its mega-market to Cambodia and import more high-quality agricultural products from the country. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Cambodian People's Party President and Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. [Xinhua/Ding Haitao] In his meeting with Hun Sen, the Chinese president said the two sides should deepen practical cooperation across various fields, advance the construction of Cambodia's Industrial and Technological Corridor and Fish and Rice Corridor, and strengthen collaboration in energy, transportation and other key sectors. In view of the headwinds on the international landscape, Xi said unilateralism and hegemonism receive no support of the people, adding that history has shown the unstoppable trend toward a multipolar world, economic globalization, and cultural diversity. (Video reporters: Li Shuting, Liu Chunhui, Li Yaguang, Zhouyang, Wu Changwei, Yu Lizhen; Video editors: Hong Ling, Zhao Xiaoqing, Li Qin, Meng Na) (Source: Xinhua) Editor: Wang Shasha This photo shared by Thomas Kennedy from the Florida Immigrant Coalition shows Lopez-Gomez following his release. Stan Diggs has thrown his hat into the ring for Williamson County Sheriff, bringing 28 years of service with the Illinois State Police into the race. Minister of Finance of Ukraine Serhiy Marchenko and Ambassador of Japan to Ukraine Masashi Nakagome signed an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Notes, which provides for the provision of a loan to Ukraine of up to JPY 471.9 billion (about $3 billion). As the Ministry of Finance reported on Friday, the funds are part of the Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration for Ukraine (ERA) mechanism of the G7 countries with a total volume of about $50 billion. It is noted that the loan will be serviced and repaid at the expense of future profits received from immobilized Russian sovereign assets. The financing is provided for 30 years. The funds attracted will be used to support priority budgetary needs and promote the reconstruction and development of Ukraine. "Japan is a shining example of international solidarity, having become one of Ukraine's leading partners in our struggle for freedom and dignity. I express my deep gratitude to the government and people of Japan for this critically important support for us and for all the financial assistance we have received since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion," Marchenko said. He said over the past three years, Japan has already provided budget support to Ukraine worth more than $8.5 billion. Sen. Chris Van Hollen says Abrego Garcia described being traumatized at CECOT, has been moved to different detention center Red Army soldiers hoist the Soviet flag over the Reichstag in Berlin, May 2, 1945. The German Parliament (Bundestag) has excluded the ambassadors of Russia and Belarus from the main commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War on May 8. The parliamentary administration based its decision on a recommendation from the Foreign Ministry led by Green Party politician Annalena Baerbock. The Foreign Ministry handout, which was also sent to Germanys federal states, districts and local authorities, advises against inviting representatives of the two countries to all commemorative events in Germany. If they appear unannounced, the organizers should make use of their proprietary rights and expel them from the premises. Under international law, Russia is the successor state to the Soviet Union, which bore the brunt of the fight against the Nazis. Around 10 million Soviet soldiers died in the Second World War. In the Battle of Berlin alone, which forced the Nazi regime to surrender unconditionally, 170,000 soldiers lost their lives and a further 500,000 were injured. In addition, there were at least another 15 million civilian Soviet victims who were shot, gassed and starved by the Nazis because they were Jews or communists, or because they stood in the way of the Nazis expansionist plans. There is hardly anyone among Russias 144 million inhabitants who did not lose close relatives to the Nazi terror or in the fight against it. The 28-month siege of Leningrad alone claimed the lives of 1.1 million inhabitants of the Russian metropolis. But now the representatives of this country are to be excluded from all commemorative events, not only in the Bundestag, but also in cemeteries where tens of thousands of fallen Soviet soldiers rest. Russias exclusion is such an obvious provocation that it was met with incomprehension even by local politicians from the governing parties. For example, the 71-year-old Russian ambassador Sergei Netshaev appeared at the memorial service in Seelow, where 33,000 Red Army soldiers fell in the largest battle of the Second World War on German soil. Despite pressure from Berlin, the local politicians in charge refused to kick him out. Sina Schonbrunn, Social Democrat (SPD) member of the Brandenburg state parliament, told public broadcaster ARD: I cant uninvite someone who wants to commemorate his fellow countrymen here. I cant understand that. Thats not diplomacy. Christian Democrat (CDU) district councillor Friedemann Hanke commented: 80 years is a round anniversary. I cant start from today and say that I dont appreciate what happened back then. Incidentally, they work very closely with the Russian embassy on issues relating to war graves, he added. The Foreign Ministry justified its provocation by claiming that Russia could instrumentalize the commemorative events and improperly link them to its war of aggression against Ukraine. What an outrageous lie! If anyone is instrumentalizing the commemorative events for war purposes, it is the German government and Baerbocks Foreign Ministry. They are excluding representatives of Russia from the commemorative events because they are reviving Hitlers great power politics and are again waging war against Russia. With the exception of the American government, no other government has invested such large sums in the war in Ukraine as the German government. German tanks, missiles and grenades are once again killing Russian soldiers, and Ukrainian troops are being trained in Germany for the war against Russia. Berlin has reacted with panic to the Trump administrations efforts to agree to a ceasefire with Moscow. It is mobilizing all available means to keep the war going, even though the Ukrainian army is being bled dry and is on the defensive. In a few years time, the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) is to be war-ready in order to win an armed confrontation with Russia. To this end, the Bundestag has approved a war fund of 1 trillion with the votes of the CDU/Christian Social Union (CSU), SPD and Greens. The representatives of the Left Party in the Bundesrat (the upper house) also agreed. This gigantic rearmament programme has nothing to do with defence, as the official propaganda claims. Rather, the aims are to continue the economic and political expansion to the east, which has come to a standstill with the Ukraine war, to inflict a military defeat on Russia, to break up the huge country, and to exploit its raw material reserves and other riches. These are the same goals that Wilhelm II pursued in the First World War and Hitler in the Second World War. This is the reason why Russia is being banned from the commemorations of the end of the Second World War and why history is systematically rewritten. The cynical approach of the German government is demonstrated by the fact that it is welcoming representatives of the Ukrainian government to the commemorative events with open arms. Among the 28 million victims of the German war of extermination were millions from Ukraine, one of the main theaters of the war. They died because they fought in the Red Army, because they were citizens of the Soviet Union or because they were exterminated as Jews. Volodymyr Zelenskys regime, on the other hand, is based on a completely different tradition. It venerates Nazi collaborators who fought on the side of the German Wehrmacht and took part in its crimes, erects monuments to them and has streets renamed after them. Andrij Melnyk, for example, who represented Ukraine in Germany as ambassador for many years, is a fanatical admirer of the fascist Stepan Bandera, whose Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) was drenched in the blood of tens of thousands of communists, Jews and Poles. German universities are also systematically developing a new historical narrative that trivializes the crimes of the Nazis and declares the Soviet Union to be partly responsible for the Second World War. The WSWS recently published a detailed critique of the exhibition Rift through Europe, which spreads this historical lie and is also intended to serve as a framework for school lessons via the Federal Agency for Civic Education. This development goes hand in hand with statements by leading CDU/CSU politicians and candidates for ministerial posts in the new governmentincluding Jens Spahn, Johann Wadephul and Mathias Middelbergadvocating normalizing relations with the AfD and dealing with it as with any other opposition party. The far-right party, whose honorary chairman Alexander Gauland plays down Nazi rule as a speck of bird shit in over 1,000 years of glorious German history, is teeming with Nazi admirers. A month ago, we wrote in the article German parliament agrees to 1 trillion for war: The real purpose of the gigantic armaments package is to transform Germany back into a major military power that can free itself from American control, dominate Europe and take on other great powersRussia, China and the USin the battle for the violent redivision of the world. Eighty years after the capitulation of Hitlers Wehrmacht (Army), German militarism is throwing off the last shackles that were imposed on it because of its war crimes. The provocative exclusion of Russia from the commemorative events marking the end of the Second World War confirms this assessment. It must be firmly rejected. Harvard University Widener Library [Photo by Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 4.0 On Wednesday, President Donald Trump asked the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to revoke Harvard Universitys tax exempt status and threatened to block the enrollment of international students in response to the rejection by the university administration of the White Houses dictatorial demands. The latest threats against Harvard were made by the Trump administration one day after the White House blocked more than $2 billion in federal funding to the nations oldest university in an act of political blackmail. By attacking Harvard University, in particular, Trump is seeking to suppress political opposition, impose government control over curriculum and establish a reign of right-wing ideological terror on college campuses across the country. A report by CNN on Wednesday said the Treasury Department had asked the IRS to rescind Harvard Universitys tax exempt status, according to two unnamed sources who are familiar with the details of the conflict, and a decision is expected soon. In a post on his Truth Social platform on Tuesday, the fascist President ranted, Perhaps Harvard should lose its Tax Exempt Status and be Taxed as a Political Entity if it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting Sickness? Remember, Tax Exempt Status is totally contingent on acting in the PUBLIC INTEREST! The Nazi-like claim being made by the White House is that Harvards refusal to accept Trumps authoritarian assault on the independence of the institution and defense of First Amendment rights is equivalent to endorsing antisemitism and adopting a political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting position, which would justify the nullification of its tax exempt status. Among the demands made by Trump on April 11 was that the university act to prevent admitting students hostile to the American values and institutions inscribed in the US Constitution and Declaration of Independence, including students supportive of terrorism or anti-Semitism. This is, of course, in keeping with the administrations illegal and unconstitutional apprehension, detention and deportation of foreign students, who have either participated in protests opposed to the US-backed Israeli genocide in Gaza or expressed their opposition in speech or written form. CNN reached out to the Treasury Department for comment but did not receive a response. CNNs Katie Hunt also asked Trumps Education Secretary Linda McMahon if Harvard would lose its tax exempt status. McMahon responded, Well see what IRS comes back with relative to Harvard. I certainly think, you know, in elitist schools, especially they have these incredibly large endowments, you know, we should probably have a look into that. The CNN report says, Gary Shapley, whom Trump this week picked as acting IRS commissioner, has the authority to rescind the tax exemption under federal law. Doing so typically comes after the agency has made a determination that an organization has violated the rules that govern tax exemptions for not-for-profit entities. Not-for-profit organizations that benefit from the tax exemption can lose it if they violate a number of rules, including for political activity. Former government specialists and US Treasury employees have said that federal law prohibits the president from directly or indirectly telling the IRS to conduct specific tax investigations. Others have said the IRS typically will conduct an audit and can revoke tax exempt status if the organization is engaged in too much political or commercial activity. For example, John Koskinen, a former IRS commissioner, told the New York Times that it was unlikely that Harvards tax-exempt status would be revoked, given its array of research and teaching functions. He said: The chances of getting the I.R.S. to actually revoke the 501(c)(3) status of a major university is almost nonexistent. However, the Trump administration is not operating in a typical manner and, given the White Houses push for direct control over the functions of all departments of the federal government, the threat is no doubt real. As Koskinen further explained, having to argue the question in court could be its own form of intimidation for Harvard. He added: The problem is youre causing people to spend a lot of time and money responding and defending their actions. In a related development, the Trump administration threatened on Wednesday to block Harvard University from enrolling international students unless the school hands over detailed records about the student body. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem sent a witch-hunting letter to Harvards International Office that demanded relevant information on each student visa holder at the school who had been involved in known illegal or dangerous activity. Saying that the university had until April 30 to comply, or its Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) would be terminated, Noem also demanded information on the coursework of student visa holders, to verify that they had taken enough classes to maintain nonimmigrant student status. Adopting methods similar to those used against political opponents and ideological dissenters by the Nazis in Germany before and during World War II, Noem wrote: It is a privilege to have foreign students attend Harvard University, not a guarantee. The United States government understands that Harvard University relies heavily on foreign student funding from over 10,000 foreign students to build and maintain their substantial endowment. When contacted by the New York Times, Sarah Kennedy OReilly, a Harvard spokeswoman, said the university was aware of Noems letter, which she said, follows on the heels of our statement that Harvard will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights. She added, We continue to stand by that statement. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha has held telephone talks with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas, during which the parties coordinated efforts in anticipation of upcoming international events. I had a call with Kaja Kallas to coordinate positions ahead of upcoming international events. We also discussed the recent diplomatic efforts, results of yesterdays talks in Paris and next steps to restore a fair and comprehensive peace in Ukraine and Europe, Sybiha wrote on X Friday, also thanking Kallas for her continued support and practical assistance in strengthening Ukraine. The Australian election is characterised by widespread hostility towards Labor and the Liberal-National Coalition, with broad layers of workers and young people viewing them correctly as parties of big business, the banks and war, with virtually indistinguishable programs. Greens leadership outside federal parliament, including Adam Bandt (speaking) with Mehreen Faruqi on his left and David Shoebridge (right). Growing numbers are seeking out a political alternative. Some young people are no doubt looking to the Greens, which have won a degree of support based on their condemnations of Israels genocide in Gaza and their posturing over housing and other aspects of the social crisis. The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) bluntly warns that the Greens offer no way forward whatsoever. We have always opposed this party, explaining that whatever its rhetoric, the Greens is a pro-capitalist outfit that defends the dictatorship of the banks and the billionaires, and the parliamentary order that advances their interests. The election is being held under conditions of a massive global crisis, expressed in the development of all-out economic war, military conflict and a turn by the ruling elites to fascism and dictatorship, expressed most sharply in the ascension of Donald Trump to the US presidency. Under these conditions, all parties are being compelled to show their true colours. That is certainly the case with the Greens, which are running the most openly right-wing and pro-war campaign in their history. The central thrust of the Greens campaign is their aspiration to form a coalition government with Labor after May 3. This is under conditions where Labor, over the past three years, has completed Australias transformation into a frontline state for war with China; has presided over the biggest reversal to working-class living conditions in decades, and has gone on the offensive against democratic rights, spearheading a crackdown on mass opposition to the Gaza genocide. The response of the Greens to this reactionary record, is that they want a seat at the table. To try to politically justify their overtures to Labor, the Greens are once again peddling lesser-evilism. The Greens are claiming that Coalition leader Peter Dutton represents a unique danger. A number of their statements warn: America got Trump. We cant let Australia get Dutton. What a sham! In the first instance, Trump is not some aberration but the most naked expression of the political program of the ruling elite in every country, amid the deepest breakdown of world capitalism since the 1930s. The outgoing Labor government, though not fascist, has implemented policies that are similar to those of Trump. That included the bipartisan passage late last year of a mass deportation bill, which could result in more than 80,000 people on temporary and bridging visas being kicked out of the country, as part of a broader offensive against immigrants and refugees. While fulminating against Trump, the Greens are trying to form a government with a Labor Party that has fawned over the fascist gangster in the White House. Labor leaders, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong, have congratulated Trump, over and over again, while pledging to collaborate with him as closely as possible. Labor has declared that it would be better placed to work with Trump than Dutton and the Coalition, based on the governments record of militarising Australia in preparation for war with China. For all their rhetoric, the Greens are desperately seeking to collaborate with Labor, which is desperately seeking to collaborate with Trump. The fact is that the threat of the far-right cannot be fought through seedy deals within the rotten parliamentary set-up. Trumps election was directly facilitated by the right-wing, corporate and pro-war character of the Democrats, which, like Labor, have also pledged to work with his fascist administration. The only way to fight the threat of fascism and authoritarianism is through the independent mobilisation of the working class against capitalism and all its representatives, which is anathema to the Greens. The Greens are not only presenting Labor as a lesser-evil. In the words of party leader Adam Bandt, this election presents a once in a generation opportunity to establish a minority government dependent on the Greens that would usher in a golden era of progressive reform. This is an even more blatant lie than the phony campaign promises of Labor and the Coalition. The Greens well know that Labor, having overseen a massive reduction in living standards, will be compelled to go even further once the election is over. The entire discussion in ruling circles is over the necessity for unprecedented budget cuts, to pay for a decade of forecast deficits and for the economic crisis that will be exacerbated by global trade war. Bandt has repeatedly stated that there are no conditions on the Greens backing of a Labor government. The various policies he has stated, such as an expansion of dental care and of public housing, have the character of a wish list that the Greens know will not be implemented. What is the record of the 201013 Greens-backed minority Labor government of Prime Minister Julia Gillard, which the Greens present as a model to be emulated? Bandt has vaguely referenced purported reforms by that government, without being able to concretely outline any. In reality, that Labor-Greens government participated in the US-led troop surge in the neo-colonial occupation of Afghanistan, during which most of the confirmed Australian war crimes, including the murder of civilians, took place. It aligned Australia with the US pivot to Asia, a massive military build-up directed against China, setting the stage for the war that is now being prepared by Trump. On the social front, the Labor-Greens coalition kicked 100,000 single parents off their benefits. It slashed the budgets of healthcare and education, and initiated the pro-market restructuring of these essential services, as well as disability services. The Greens have already signalled that they will back a similar austerity offensive, that will be even more drastic given the depth of the capitalist crisis. Late last year, they shelved all of their demands on housing and voted for Labor legislation that handed vast sums to the property developers. The Greens have also signalled their willingness to join the military build-up and war. On the eve of the election, they unveiled their first costed defence policy, a $4 billion program to construct drones as well as intermediate range missiles, which would serve Australias involvement in a war with China. For well over a year, the Greens had denounced Labor over its complicity in the Gaza genocide, involving some of the worst war crimes since the 1930s. In practice, the Greens played a central role in derailing mass opposition to the genocide by peddling the lie that Labor could be pressured to end its involvement. Now, with Labor maintaining its full support for the criminal Israeli regime, the Greens are proposing a coalition with it. National Greens leaders now have almost nothing to say about Gaza. Bandt did not even mention it during his extended address to the National Press Club. The Greens are making plain that they will not let a genocide get in the way of their aspirations to advance through the corridors of power. In the most cynical fashion, however, they are raising Gaza in certain local electorates, particularly those with a large Middle Eastern and Islamic population. The sharp shift to the right by the Greens must be the occasion for drawing political lessons. It demonstrates that opposition to militarism, war, austerity and authoritarianism, cannot go forward through any of the capitalist parties or the official parliamentary set-up. Rather, what is required is an independent movement of the working class, directed against the entire political establishment, and the decaying profit system that it represents, which is once again hurtling towards barbarism and disaster. That means the fight for the socialist reorganisation of society, in Australia and globally, the revolutionary perspective fought for by the Socialist Equality Party alone. Authorised by Cheryl Crisp for the Socialist Equality Party, Level 1/457-459 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills, NSW, 2010, Australia. An exhibition at the Lenbachhaus art museum in Munich, which ran October 15, 2024 to March 30, 2025, was a notable contribution to the international series of exhibitions and gatherings surrounding the 100th anniversary of the publication of the first Surrealist Manifesto in 1924. But Live Here? No Thanks. Surrealism and Anti-fascism, Lenbachhaus, 2024. [Photo-Lukas Schramm, Lenbachhaus] A brief overview of the Munich exhibition is available in this English-language introduction on the Lenbachhaus website and via this video (in German). A catalogue of over 600 pages, described as an Anthology, accompanied the exhibition. It features key texts, poems and declarations dealing with the political roots and nature of the Surrealist movement in combating fascism, colonialism and xenophobia. Included in the Anthology are documents and statements confirming the influence of Trotsky and Trotskyism on the evolution of the movement. The introduction to the Anthology makes a telling point. Declaring that official presentations of Surrealism largely remain trapped in narrow definitions, aesthetically (as a style), geographically (in Paris), temporally (1920s to 1940s), and concentrated on a small group of prominent protagonists (Andre Breton, Max Ernst, Rene Magritte, Salvador Dali), the introduction notes that the movement was in fact far more extensive. It continues: Major exhibitions and coffee-table books propagate a version of Surrealism in which the cult of stardom goes hand in hand with a pinch of sex, anecdotes of partner swapping, and a superficial lay-Freudianism; a toothless semblance of the movement which our art institutions have eagerly propagated. One example of such a toothless semblance was the exhibition held in the Museum Barberini in Potsdam (a city on the border of Berlin) last year, Surrealism and Magic: Enchanted Modernity, which featured many fascinating works by Surrealist artists, while laying its emphasis, as the title indicates, on the movements relationship with magic! Explaining the background to the recent exhibition in Munich, the organizers explain: Our aim in this project is to make Surrealism once again visible as a militant, internationally connected and politicized movement, which is how many of its representatives understood it. In their art, the Surrealists insisted on an absolute freedom that was to infect the rest of society. The Surrealists understanding stood at odds with fascist freedom: the freedom to command and obey. For the Surrealists, it meant a way of life whose rhythm was not that of wage labor and whose goals were larger than nation and profit. Exhibition catalogue The introduction to the catalogue-Anthology begins with a tribute to the role played by Trotskyism in the history of the Surrealist movement, in the form of a short verse: When we are told that our age has other worries than writing poems, we reply: So do we! The introduction continues: So declared the members of the Surrealist poetry and resistance group La Main a plume in 1941 in one of their typically ambiguous manifestos. They had indeed other things to do than write poetry, because as Trotskyists with connections to the French Resistance, they were exposed to great danger. In German-occupied Paris, they nonetheless wrote poems (often jointly), published in underground journals on philosophy and visual theory, discussed the role of the material in the photographic process, and circulated pamphlets with texts by their members. At the same time, they forged documents for others, provided hide-outs, carried out acts of sabotage, and organized escape networks. Rarely mentioned in literature dealing with Surrealism, La Main a plume (the Writers Hand, from a line by French poet Arthur Rimbaud) worked under the most difficult conditions. Financed in part by Pablo Picasso, the group produced a series of magazines to propagate their anti-fascist and revolutionary message. Each edition required a different title in order to evade the attention of the Nazi censorship. The Munich exhibition was largely organised around what the curators describe as episodes, i.e., the coming together of artists based on specific issues and on a largely chronological basis. The story begins in Paris but then spreads to Czechoslovakia, Belgium, Spain, Egypt, Martinique and eventually the United States. The exhibition charts the first shoots of the Surrealist movement in 1924, stressing its political roots. Andre Breton, who directly witnessed the horrors of World War I serving as a nurse on the French front, wrote in 1942, in the middle of the Second World War, that Surrealism could be understood historically only in relation to the war, I meanfrom 1919 to 1938in relation at the same time to the war from which it issues [1914-18] and the war to which it extends [1939-]. Other leading figures in the movement, Louis Aragon, Paul Eluard and Jacques Vache, also experienced the trauma of war and were subsequently bitter opponents of any notion of the nation or fatherland. The exhibition and Anthology trace the series of political interventions made by the Surrealists led by Breton, beginning with the movements denunciation of Frances role as a colonial power in the Rif War (1925-1926) fought in the mountainous regions of Morocco. Andre Breton in 1924 Active at that time in and around the recently formed French Communist Party (PCF), the Surrealists supported the mass mobilisation opposing the war that culminated in a general strike on October 12, 1925. The Surrealists led by Breton also played an active role in opposing the Exposition coloniale internationale (International Colonial Exhibition) staged in Paris in 1931. Not only did they call for a boycott of the exhibition, which whitewashed Frances crimes in its colonies, they also organised their own alternative anti-colonialist exhibition. The title of the Munich exhibition, But Live Here? No Thanks (Aber hier leben, nein danke), is taken from a 2005 song by the German pop group Tocotronic. It is in part an allusion to the Surrealists response to the situation in Germany after Hitlers coming to power in 1933, which forced thousands of artists and intellectuals, many of them Jewish, into exile. As the Anthology notes: With Nazi rule in Germany, and subsequently the Spanish Civil War, the situation changed: violence and struggle became more concrete. Exile, resistance, hiding, and imprisonment formed the reality in which many Surrealists were now living. Acting with manifestos alone was no longer possible. Numerous Surrealists, among them Eugenio Granell, Wifredo Lam, Andre Masson, Kati Horna, Mary Low, and Juan Brea, as well as Carl Einstein campaigned and worked for the Second Republic in Spain. The early 1930s saw relations between the French group of surrealists and the Stalinised French Communist Party reach a breaking point. In 1932, the main group around Breton split with those who accommodated themselves to Stalinism and its nationalist orientation. Aragon and Georges Sadoul swore allegiance to the PCF and renounced their Surrealist comrades. In 1933, Breton, Paul Eluard and Rene Crevel were formally excluded from the party, because of an article in the Surrealist journal written by Ferdinand Alquie, which denounced the wind of cretinization blowing from the USSR. A year later, Socialist Realism was designated by bureaucratic fiat in Moscow as the officially sanctioned art form to be pursued by Communist parties and their supporters across the globe, which appalled the Surrealists. In regard to Socialist Realism, Leon Trotsky later noted: The name itself has evidently been invented by some high functionary in the [Soviet Unions] department of the arts. This realism consists in the imitation of provincial daguerreotypes of the third quarter of the last century; the socialist character apparently consists in representing, in the manner of pretentious photography, events which never took place. The Moscow Trials and the genocide of socialists in the Soviet Union, the betrayal of the French and Spanish revolutions (1936-39) and the Hitler-Stalin pact in August 1939 cemented the gulf between the main body of French surrealism and the PCF. Trotskys Literature and Revolution [Photo by WSWS] In order to understand and combat the nationalist degeneration of the PCF and the Stalinist Third International, the Surrealists in France increasingly turned to the international perspective of Trotsky and the Left Opposition. In April 1938, Breton travelled to Mexico to meet Trotsky, and together they wrote the Manifesto for an Independent Revolutionary Art, also signed by Mexican artist Diego Rivera, which called for the establishment of an International Federation for Independent Revolutionary Art (FIARI). In January of the following year, in its short-lived publication Cle, the French section of FIARI published a powerful statement titled No Fatherland! The full text of the statement is included in the Anthology for the Munich exhibition, but it is worthwhile here citing a portion of the document. Changing what must be changed, the document could be applied to the present situation in the US and a host of other countries where capitalist elites are increasingly embracing rabid nationalism and fascism. No Fatherland! begins: The vile campaigns, conducted under the slogans France Awake and France for the French, are beginning to bear their poisonous fruits. The May decrees of Mr. Sarraut [chauvinist French interior minister] and certain implementation regulations appended to the November emergency decrees are putting in place despicable procedures at the expense of foreigners residing in France, particularly political emigrants, which resemble those of fascist countries. The deportation measures already taken and the preparations for internment that we are witnessing indicate the escalation of a policy of panic, and violent actions aimed at establishing an authoritarian and soon thereafter totalitarian regime in France. They testify to the rapid contagion afflicting the democratic countries, which, contrary to basic human considerations, are now allowing themselves to renounce the principle of the right of asylum, long considered sacred. Art has as little a fatherland as the workers. To advocate today a return to French art, as not only the fascists but also the Stalinists do, is to oppose the preservation of this necessary close connection for art, to work towards the division and mutual misunderstanding of peoples, and to consciously promote historical regression. Bretons brief but highly productive collaboration with Trotsky was cruelly cut short by the assassination of the great revolutionary in August 1940 by the Stalinist agent Ramon Mercader. The Anthology from the Munich exhibition is a vital collection of documents that confirm the political roots and nature of the Surrealist movement. It provides a great deal of valuable material for a more comprehensive and deeper understanding of the conflicts and contradictions that raged inside its volatile and often shifting membership. But Live Here? No Thanks. Surrealism and Anti-fascism, Lenbachhaus, 2024. [Photo-Lukas Schramm, Lenbachhaus] One of Surrealisms important artistic antecedents was the Dadaist movement. It adopted the latters hatred of nationalism, chauvinism, militarism, appeals to church and familyall of the watchwords employed by Europes elites to justify plunging the world into the first imperialist slaughter in 1914while at the same time embracing elements of Dadas idealism and anti-intellectualism. According to Dadaist founding member Tristan Tzara, thought is made in the mouth. Surrealism also drew from a deep vein of anti-authoritarian French ideology and literature with significantly irrationalist and subjectivist overtones. Woven into the Surrealist articles, discussions, manifestos and activities as well were the writings and thinking of Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, with its focus on sexual life and the functioning of the individual unconscious. A great deal of ideological confusion prevailed in the Surrealist circles, a potent mix of genuinely revolutionary hatred of the existing order and sharply idealist, at times bordering on mystical, conceptions about the relationship of thinking to being. Clarification of the aesthetic, political and philosophical issues that beset the Surrealists and other left-wing artists at the time was made impossible, above all, by the emergence and, later, dominance of Stalinism in the Communist parties. The fresh, healthy shoots of collaboration between Soviet artists and intellectuals with progressive artists in France, Germany and throughout Europe that sprouted in the wake of the October Revolution in 1917 were savagely cut down by the Stalinist bureaucracy in Moscow. Trotsky, who had made major contributions affirming the importance of the free discussion and dissemination of artistic ideas and impulses, was forced into exile and eventually murdered. His fellow thinkers were expelled from the Soviet Communist Party and many executed in 1937 in the course of the great purges. These included figures such as Aleksandr Voronsky, a supporter of Trotskys Left Opposition and editor of Red Virgin Soil, the most substantial Soviet literary journal of the 1920s. These developments led to the growing separation of the best artists from genuine Marxism. It encouraged the artists weaker sides and the sort of ideological one-sidedness the Surrealists often exhibited (obsession with the unconscious, intuition, dreams, etc.). To his credit, Breton, with the rise of fascism in Germany, France and throughout Europe, increasingly distanced himself from many of the idealist excesses that accompanied the inception of Surrealism. In a lecture delivered in Belgium in 1934, for example, Breton noted that he now viewed the movements earlier belief in the omnipotence of thought as being extremely mistaken. Three years later in one of his finest essays, Nonnational Boundaries of Surrealism, Breton proclaimed the first of a fundamental and indivisible set of propositions: Adherence to all the principles of dialectical materialism endorsed in their entirety by surrealism: the primacy of matter over thought. Tragically, the death of Trotsky and the onset of the second imperialist war largely put an end to this intellectual evolution. The exhibition in Munich and its documentation, although not without political and ideological issues of their own, provide a basis for re-examining these issues and serve as a meaningful counterweight to the prevailing tendency by museums and cultural institutions to play down, distort or ignore completely the political history of the Surrealist movement. SEP meeting for local government elections in Colombo on April 9 2025 The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) and the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) held a public meeting in Colombo on April 9, as part of its campaign in Sri Lankas local government elections on May 6. The SEP is intervening in the Karainagar Divisional Council, which is in the countrys war-affected northern region, and in the Kolonnawa Urban Council, near Colombo, fielding 12 and 21 candidates respectively. SEP and IYSSE speakers explained the deepening global crisis of capitalism, the eruption of fascist and authoritarian tendencies, the threat of world war and the need for a socialist and internationalist program. SEP Political Committee member Pani Wijesiriwardena, who chaired the meeting, explained the importance of the partys election intervention in the two local government areas where the party is running candidates. The SEP and IYSSE, he said, have conducted a long struggle to educate people in these areas on the necessity for workers and youth to fight for a socialist perspective and program. The speaker paid special attention to the rapidly changing international situation triggered by Trumps massive increases in tariffs, which constituted a series of trade war measures against the entire world. He recalled Trotskys warnings that the contradictions of world capitalism would lead to world war. Pani Wijesiriwardena chairing the Colombo meeting on April 9 2025 Wijesiriwardena said Trumps tariff war was not an indication of the strength of American capitalism but its weakness. These measures, he continued, meant that the ruling elites, not just in the US but in all capitalist countries, including Sri Lanka, are working to impose the burden of this capitalist crisis on the working class. The speaker said that, more than in previous election interventions by the party, there was a growing interest by working people and youth in the developing international situation. They are trying to understand the connection between the economic crisis in Sri Lanka, Trumps tariff measures and the global capitalist crisis, he said. Wijesiriwardena drew out the essential political lessons of the nationwide anti-government uprising in 2022. The main problem, he said, was that this mass movement was not armed with a socialist perspective and a Marxist-Trotskyist leadership. The trade union bureaucracies and fake-left Frontline Socialist Party conspired with the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and Samagi Jana Balawegaya to divert this struggle into a parliamentary blind alley. Wijesiriwardena explained that the SEP was alone in fighting to politically arm the working class during this upsurge and had emphasised the building of action committees in every workplace, as well as in rural areas. The SEP, he continued, also called for building a Democratic and Socialist Congress based on delegations from these committees. The present situation confirms the urgency of building this Congress to fight for the defence of democratic and social rights, he said. Sakuntha Hirimuthugoda addressing the public meeting for local government elections on April 9 2025 Sakuntha Hirimuthugoda, a leading member of the IYSSE, spoke about the anti-democratic banning of the IYSSE meeting How to fight IMF austerity by Peradeniya University authorities on January 3. He said the office of Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya had inquired about the IYSSE meeting. The concern expressed by the authorities, Hirimuthugoda said, was the meeting topic itself which challenged the policies of the government. The real concern of the authorities was that growing mass anger towards the government would find an expression in the IYSSE and SEPs socialist internationalist program. Since then, the government has launched a series of attacks on protests by workers and students, he added. Hirumuthugoda told the meeting that students and youth cannot fight to defend democratic rights without orienting towards the working class and fighting for socialism. He concluded by appealing to students, young people and workers to support the IYSSE campaign. SEP Political Committee member Vilani Peiris, the partys lead candidate for Kolonnawa, delivered the final speech to the Colombo meeting. Peiris highlighted the implications of Trumps trade war against the entire world and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna/National Peoples Power (JVP/NPP) governments role in imposing the burden of the global crisis on the working class. The speaker reviewed some of the questions raised by voters during the campaign, including one about the duplicity of the JVP and its previous claims to be anti-imperialist. One worker, she said, noted that the JVP was now a pro-imperialist organisation and asked whether its posturing was a tactic to grab power? Vilani Peiris addressing the public meeting on April 9, 2025 Peiris explained that from the outset, the JVP was a pseudo-Marxist party. The working class needs to understand the right-wing nature of the JVP/NPP government, and for that a scientific analysis is required, she said. She explained the contemporary importance of the seminal analysis of the JVP by Keerthi Balasuriya in a series of articles titled The politics and class nature of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna in 1970. Balasuriya was the founding general secretary of the Revolutionary Communist League, the forerunner of the SEP. Balasuriyas analysis exposed the reactionary nature of the JVPs false claims that the only force capable of carrying out an anti-imperialist struggle was the social layer imbued with patriotism. This blending of anti-imperialist struggle with patriotism, Peiris said, is the total opposite of Marxist internationalism and is a program that subordinates the working class to the enemy capitalist class. Balasuriya forewarned that these nationalist policies and its hostility towards Tamil estate workers could transform the JVP into a fascist movement. This was demonstrated in its fascistic attacks on political opponents and workers in 19881990. Peiris summarised the brutal decades-long attacks on the working class by one Sri Lankan capitalist government after another with the support of trade union bureaucracies. The speaker said the JVP/NPP government was following the policies of the previous regimes and continuing the IMFs austerity attacks on the working class and rural masses. Housing is a major problem in Sri Lankan cities and villages, Peiris said, but that had not been addressed by successive governments. She recalled how governments used the police to demolish the homes of the poor, forcibly evacuating them from areas they had lived in for decades and handing over the land to big investors. Peiris told the meeting that JVP minister Nalinda Jayathissa recently announced that the government will give more land in Colombo and Kataragama in the south to local and foreign investors. She said the urban poor and the rural masses needed to form independent action committees and organise along with the working class on a socialist program and in unity with the international working class to defeat this repression. The speaker concluded by urging those in attendance to vote for the SEP, participating in its campaign and joining its ranks. After the meeting, Malinda, a young construction worker, said, I agree with Vilani, the working class needs to be educated. Workers must be taught to think beyond the capitalist system. International solidarity of the working class is essential. Everyone is talking about tariff increases by President Trump and an important analysis of this was presented in the meeting. This issue shows the growing danger of war and the importance of calling for the international solidarity of the working class against it. The public, right from beginning of their school education, is taught how to live under the capitalist system and not taught to overcome it. Other parties say the solution to the problems we face can be found within the capitalist system, but your party is different. The SEP explains that none of the fundamental problems facing humanity can be solved under the capitalist system and that world socialism is necessary. These are important points, he said. A Ceylon Electricity Board worker attending his first SEP meeting said: The meeting explained that, according to the orders of the IMF, around 400 state institutions are being privatised. Five hundred thousand jobs will be lost. I work at the Electricity Board and the main issue we face is the privatisation of our institution. This NPP government has brought in a new electricity bill, but we dont know whats in it. We do not know whether we will receive compensation or whether our jobs will be protected. We face a world situation, however, and the question is whether we can protect jobs with just a vote. I think that the US is trying to undermine the economies of small countries like us as well. After all, Trumps tariffs will affect the whole world. As was explained in the meeting, the world is being pushed towards war. This meeting said that we should form workers action committees and organise for our rights. This is important and Im studying it. Ive bought both your books on the JVP and The Russian Revolution and the Unfinished Twentieth Century, Germany 19311932, and the Democratic and Socialist Congress of Workers and Peasants to study your politics. A banner at the picket line at University of California, Santa Cruz, May 20, 2024 On Monday, a judge in Santa Cruz, California postponed a hearing in a case brought by University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) student Laaila Irshad challenging the seizure and search of her phone by university police. The hearing Monday was attended by at least 50 students, faculty and other protesters, who filled the courtroom to show their support for Irshad and to demonstrate their opposition to the university administration, which is defending the seizure. Irshad is represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, the Center for Protest Law and Litigation and civil rights attorney Thomas Seabaugh, who addressed an assembly of students outside the courthouse after the hearing. On October 1, 2024, Irshads phone was seized by university police in evident retaliation for filing a lawsuit against the university the previous month. In the warrant the police obtained to seize and search the phone, they even included a photo of Irshad at a press conference to announce the filing of the original lawsuit. However, on Monday, Judge Stephen Siegel refused to hear Irshads motion to quash the warrant and retrieve her phone, transferring the case to Judge Erika Ziegenhorn, the judge who issued the original warrant. The new hearing will be on April 30 at a courthouse in Watsonville, California. This is the second time the hearing has been postponed on technical procedural grounds. Irshad was one of more than a hundred students and faculty who were arrested and banished from campus for participating in a May 2024 encampment protesting the US-backed Israeli genocide in Gaza. At the end of May, the encampment was violently suppressed in a brutal police raid, which was followed by summary banishments for all of the students swept up in the dragnet. As a result of these mass banishments, the students lost access to campus housing, medical care, jobs, classes, library access and other services, just before their final exams began. In September 2024, a group of students and faculty that included Irshad sued the university and alleged that the mass banishments violated their due process rights. Laaila was the subject of a double injustice, said Seabaugh, speaking to the assembled students, faculty and protesters outside the courthouse. First, she was kicked off of campus in violation, we felt, of her due process rights. We filed a lawsuit against the University in September contending that her due process rights were violated when the university kicked her off campus, and many of you I expect also went through that experience. After we filed that lawsuit, within 15 days, the university police showed up at her dorm while she was outside on a fire drill and seized her phone. Ive been practicing law for 15 years now and Ive never seen something so egregious as this search warrant, he commented. The warrant for the phone asks for all emails, all text messages, all photos, all videos, all audio, all voicemails, every website shes ever visited, every internet search shes ever conducted, all location data on the phone since the beginning of time, and she has information on that phone going back to when she was in the fifth grade. We filed this petition arguing that that was illegal. Not only was it illegal for them to kick her off campus together with many of you back in May, but this search was illegal. Unfortunately, weve been bounced around a few times in trying to get this petition heard, but we intend to stick with it. On March 5, Irshad filed the latest petition, asking the judge to quash the search warrant as unconstitutionally overbroad and retaliatory, and also on the grounds that it violated California state law protections governing such seizures of electronic data. Her petition seeks the return of her phone and destruction of all information obtained from it. It also seeks to unseal the affidavits submitted by university police in support of the warrant, which have so far remained sealed from public view. Irshad has been without her phone for more than six months and the university is refusing to return it. Seabaugh emphasized the broader importance of the case for democratic rights, We dont want this to happen to anybody else. We dont want it to be the case that if you protest at a university, if you express dissent of any kind, that they can take your phone and look at all the data on it. Thats not the rule. Referencing the Fourth Amendments prohibition on unreasonable searches and seizures, Seabaugh continued, In fact, the Constitution protects your data on your phone from being searched in that way, so we think this will set an important precedent. Weve got so much information on our phone. Weve got our personal lives, our medical records, our financial records, our personal relationships, our intimate photos, our political views, our religious beliefs, everything is on our phones. Our whole lives are on our phones, and if they can search that, its a tremendous violation, a tremendous trespass against our most intimate selves. Most notably, Seabaugh said, through the seizure of Irshads phone the UC police have access to her emails to and from her attorneys, including me. They have her phone, and on her phone are her emails with her attorneys. So we do think this is important, and I think this we have to also make clear: its not just the students. This is for everybody. I think we also have to make clear in the factories, in the workplaces, in the warehouses, this is all of our democratic rights. This is the democratic rights that we all have, he continued. If they can come after her phone, they can get anybodys phone. And its especially important for people who are protesting, because whats on your phone? The list of people you associate with politically, the people you protest with, the people you talk to about your political beliefs, the people you criticize your employer with, right? Thats all on your phone. This is a reign of terror on the campuses that began under Biden, he said. The UC Board of Regents, which is defending the warrant in court, is Democrats. The tyranny is not just coming from Trump. Rachel Lederman, an attorney with the Center for Protest Law and Litigation, spoke to the World Socialist Web Site outside the courthouse after the hearing. We filed the lawsuit after they banned more than a hundred students and some faculty members from campus following the clearing of the encampment last spring, she explained. People got out of jail, and then they got a notice that they were instantaneously banned from campus. And so that included, if they live in the dorm, they couldnt go back, they couldnt go home, they couldnt go to their campus job, they couldnt go to class. This all happened in the last two weeks of the quarter. So they were having to figure out where to take finals because they couldnt go on campus. Lederman continued, There was no process. People were either just handed a slip of paper, or some people, such as Professor [Christine] Hong, were not given anything at all. And it went into effect immediately. It was only a two-week ban, in some cases lifted a little earlier. But because of the timing with finals, it was a substantial hardship, especially for students who live and work on campus. People lost their jobs, in some cases lost their summer employment, lost their access to the Student Health Center. We filed a lawsuit because this was completely unconstitutional and illegal. It violated everybodys constitutional right to due process. And it didnt even follow the terms of the California statute that they were reportedly using, Lederman explained. We sued just in the fall. And it was only 15 days later that they came and seized Laailas phone, who was one of the three named plaintiffs in the lawsuit challenging the campus bans. It just seemed clearly retaliatory that they came and took her phone, Lederman said. They waited until she was outside very early in the morning in her pajamas for a fire drill. Shes an RA [Resident Assistant]. And so it was in front of all of the students that shes an RA for. And that happened in October, and they still havent returned the phone. The search warrant is on its face clearly unconstitutionally overbroad, Lederman continued. Its in violation not only of the Constitution, but of the California Electronic Communications and Privacy Act. So the proceeding that were here for today was under the California Electronic Communications and Privacy Act (CalECPA), to quash the warrant, get rid of the warrant, destroy the data that they took and return the phone. Theyre still refusing to even return the phone, even though thats completely ridiculous, because obviously, theyve taken any data that they wanted off of it by now, Lederman concluded. So were confident that once we finally get a hearing - this motion has been bounced around for some timebut once we finally get a hearing before the judge, were pretty optimistic that they will quash the warrant, because we cant have universities or other law enforcement just taking peoples cell phones and then being able to search every single thing on your phone going back to the first data recorded on the phone. Im from El Salvador, and I was a student in the 1970s, said one woman who joined the assembly outside the courthouse. And Im very emotional because I dont have friends, most of my friends were killed. So at least we are alive here, and were fighting, and we have to continue. She added, Like the lawyer said, its so important, all those present, because we really have to fight for our rights. Speaking in response to questions from students, Seabaugh noted, If the warrant is overbroad and lacking particularity, it violates the Constitution. We had a revolution over that in this country. We had a revolution over general warrants. The king just cant sign a warrant that says: I authorize this person to search for whatever he wants to search for. We had a revolution over that. Student negotiator Mahmoud Khalil on the Columbia University campus in New York at a pro-Palestinian protest encampment on Monday, April 29, 2024. [AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey] In an op-ed column published Thursday in the Washington Post, Mahmoud Khalil, the imprisoned Columbia graduate student and legal US resident, posed the question, What does my detention by ICE say about America? Since March 8, Khalil has been in the custody of the immigration Gestapo and is facing deportation for the thought-crime of opposing the US-backed Israeli genocide in Gaza. As of April 6, ICE reported holding 47,928 people in their facilities. Nearly half of those imprisoned, like Khalil46.4 percenthave no criminal record. Over 12,000 are imprisoned in detention facilities in Texas, the state with the most detainees. Khalil is currently being held in Louisiana, the state with the second-most imprisoned, at over 7,000. In the article, Khalil recounted his and others conditions inside the facility and reasserted the egalitarian principles that have guided him and millions of others protesting the 18-month mass murder campaign in Gaza. He wrote: Its 3 a.m., as I lie sleepless on a bunk bed in Jena, Louisiana, far from my wife, Noor, who will give birth to our baby in two weeks. The sound of rain hitting the metal roof masks the snoring of 70 men tossing and turning on hard mats in this detention facility run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Which ones are dreaming about reuniting with their families? Which ones are having nightmares about becoming the Trump administrations next administrative error? On Friday, I sat in a courtroom as an immigration judge determined that the government could deport me despite my status as a legal permanent resident and despite that the governments claims against me were baselessmuch of their evidence lifted directly from sensationalized tabloids. The decision wont result in immediate deportationaspects of my case are pending in other courts. While the Trump administration, Republicans and Democrats, such as Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, have accused Khalil of spreading antisemitism for opposing mass murder by the state of Israel, Khalil noted: During Fridays hearing, the government asserted on behalf of Secretary of State Marco Rubio that my beliefs, statements and associations compromise its compelling foreign policy interests. Like the thousands of students that I advocated with at Columbiaincluding Muslim, Jewish and Christian friendsI believe in the innate equality of all human beings. I believe in human dignity. I believe in the right of my people to look at the blue sky and not fear an impending missile. Why should protesting Israels indiscriminate killing of thousands of innocent Palestinians result in the erosion of my constitutional rights? Khalil recounted the incarceration of thousands of Japanese-American citizens under the Alien Enemies Act during the administration of Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt. Their incarceration he wrote, ... is a reminder that rhetoric of justice and freedom obscures the reality that, all too often, America has been a democracy of convenience. Rights are granted to those who align with power. For the poor, for people of color, for those who resist injustice, rights are but words written on water. The right to free speech when it comes to Palestine has always been exceptionally weak. Even so, the crackdown on universities and students reveals just how afraid the White House is of the idea of Palestines freedom entering the mainstream. Why else would Trump officials not only attempt to deport me but also intentionally mislead the public about who I am and what I stand for? He concluded: I pick up my copy of Viktor Frankls Mans Search for Meaning. I feel ashamed to compare my conditions in ICE detention with Nazi concentration camps, yet, some aspects of Frankls experience resonate: not knowing what fate awaits me; seeing resignation and defeat in my fellow detainees. Frankl wrote from the lens of a psychologist. I wonder whether Hussam Abu Safiya, a renowned hospital director who was abducted in Gaza by Israeli occupying forces on Dec. 27 and, according to his lawyer from the Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, has endured beatings, electric shocks and solitary confinement, will write about his ordeal from a medical perspective. Its almost 4 a.m. Thunder crashes. A few rows away, one man hugs a bottle of hot water in a sock for warmth. His prayer mat serves as a blanket, and his head rests on his shoes. A detainee who was praying all night finally lies down. He was caught crossing the border with his pregnant wife and has never seen his baby, now 9 months old. I try to convince myself that this will not be my fate, though Fridays ruling makes that possibility more real than I want to admit. I write this letter as the sun rises, hoping that the suspension of my rights will raise alarm bells that yours are already in jeopardy. I hope it will inspire your outrage that the most basic human instinct, to protest shameless massacre, is being repressed by obscure laws, racist propaganda and a state terrified of an awakened public. I hope this writing will startle you into understanding that a democracy for somea democracy of convenienceis no democracy at all. I hope it will shake you into acting before it is too late. Khalil is one of hundreds of students, and thousands of people, that have been abducted and held in overcrowded immigration detention centers in the first 90 days of the Trump administration. Tufts student Rumeysa Ozturk subjected to unsanitary, unsafe, and inhumane conditions In a court hearing held Monday, Tufts University PhD student Rumeysa Ozturk, another student kidnapped by ICE for thought crimes, described the unsanitary, unsafe, and inhumane conditions she and others have been suffering. Ozturk was abducted by immigration thugs on March 25 as she was leaving her apartment to attend Iftar, the fast-breaking evening meal during Ramadan. In the court filing, she described being surrounded by the agents who refused to identify themselves until after they had placed her in handcuffs, I thought they were people who had doxxed me and I was afraid for my safety. Once she was placed into an unmarked black SUV, Ozturk said the agents refused to tell her why she was arrested or allow her to speak to an attorney. She questioned the agents if she was actually safe. One ICE agent replied, We are not monsters. We do what the government tells us. In what can only be described as torture, Ozturk wrote that after she was kidnapped, and after fasting for over 13 hours, the agents refused to provide her a meal or allow her to purchase her own food. The cruel Gestapo only provided her two packets of crackers and some water, which Ozturk did not eat because she feared it was poisoned. Ozturk wrote that after being kidnapped from Somerville, Massachusetts, she was taken to a detention facility in Vermont where she was interrogated by four agents, alone in a cell. They asked if the Fulbright scholar was a member of a terrorist organization. Ozturk wrote, It was an isolated place with four men and it was terrifying. Following her interrogation, the next day Ozturk was flown to Atlanta where she had the first of several asthma attacks. The first attack persisted even after the use of her inhaler, yet agents refused to provide her medication to treat it. She wrote the agents told her she would have access to medication at her last destination. Once she arrived in Louisiana, Ozturk said she was placed in a staging facility for hours without access to food or water. She said she and others were placed in a cage-like vehicle and could not communicate with the officers detaining us. Upon arrival at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center, Ozturk said she had another asthma attack. She wrote that she was forced to wait for 15 minutes before agents decided to take her to a medical center. Upon arrival at the center, Ozturk said a nurse removed her headscarf without her permission and only provided her a few Ibuprofen pills. Ozturk wrote that she has since had two additional asthma attacks while imprisoned at the facility. I fear that my asthma is not being adequately treated and it will not be adequately treated while I remain in ICE custody, she wrote in her statement. The air is full of fumes from cleaning supplies and is damp which triggers my asthma. On Thursday, an immigration judge denied Ozturks request for bond, leaving her imprisoned. Georgia-born US resident imprisoned by ICE despite committing no crime, providing court proof of citizenship In addition to students, immigrants and legal residents, ICE is also imprisoning US citizens, born in America, who have not committed any crimes. On Thursday, Florida Phoenix reported that 20-year-old Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez, a US citizen born in Georgia, was being held in a Florida jail in ICE custody, even after family members and lawyers provided a court-certified, watermarked birth certificate and Social Security card demonstrating his citizenship. Lopez-Gomez was born in and is a resident of Grady County, Georgia, just across the state line from Tallahassee, Florida, the state capital. He was arrested earlier this week during a traffic stop; he was the passenger in a vehicle that police allege was going 13 miles over the 65-miles-per-hour speed limit. Despite Lopez-Gomez presenting the Florida trooper his Georgia state ID, the cop wrote in his report that the young man was in the country illegally. Lopez-Gomez was imprisoned in the Leon County jail after being charged under Floridas Senate Bill 4-C, a recent anti-immigrant bill signed into law by fascist Governor Ron DeSantis. The bill makes it a state crime, up to a felony, for certain immigrants to enter Florida. On April 4, a federal court blocked the law from going into effect, ruling that it was likely unconstitutional. This ruling, however, did not prevent Florida police from arresting and charging Lopez-Gomez with a misdemeanor crime for illegally entering the state of Florida as an unauthorized alien. During Thursdays court hearing, the Florida Phoenix reported that Leon County Judge LaShawn Riggans examined Lopez-Gomezs birth certificate carefully, and stated, In looking at it, and feeling it, and holding it up to the light, the court can clearly see the watermark to show that this is indeed an authentic document. After viewing the birth certificate and Lopez-Gomezs Social Security card, Judge Riggans said she found no probable cause for the charge but lacked the jurisdiction to release Lopez-Gomez because ICE requested the jail hold him. This court does not have any jurisdiction other than what Ive already done, Riggans said. Speaking to a Florida Phoenix reporter after the hearing, Sebastiana Gomez-Perez, the mother of Juan Carlos, said, He hasnt committed a crime for them to hold him, thats what I dont understand. Im feeling bad because my daughters are asking me how their brother is. It hurts because I cant do anything for their brother. While it appeared Juan was going to spend at least 48 hours in jail, ICE, fearing that his continued imprisonment could catalyze mass opposition against not only the agency, but the entire deportation apparatus, dropped its immigration hold, allowing the young man to be released Thursday evening. Crime scene vehicle at the Woodward Avenue entrance to the Florida State University campus after a shooting, in Tallahassee, Fla., Thursday, April 17, 2025 [AP Photo/Gary McCullough] As of this writing two are dead and five are wounded following a mass shooting by a student at Florida State University (FSU) in Tallahassee on Thursday. The shooting took place near the student union building before noon. According to law enforcement, the two people killed were not students. Sheriff Walter McNeil of Leon County identified the gunman as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner and said he was the son of a deputy in his department. McNeil admitted that Unfortunately, he had access to one of her weapons, referring to his mother, Jessica Ikner, the deputy in question. The weapon was a former service pistol, purchased from the department. Another weapon was found, a shotgun, but it is not known if that was used. Phoenix Ikner, a member of the Sheriffs Office Youth Advisory Council, was wounded by responding officers after failing to obey officers commands and is now in police custody. Currently, he and the five wounded are receiving treatment in the hospital. A student eyewitness said the gunman approached campus in an orange Hummer and began firing with a rifle in her direction, before going back to grab a pistol. The eyewitness, McKenzie Heeter, told NBC News that he shot a woman afterwards, and after that she started running. Heeter described the shooter as a normal college dude. In response, university officials canceled all classes, events and business operations for the rest of the week. The FBI in Jacksonville, Florida, said its agents were on the scene and assisting our local law enforcement partners. Republican Governor Ron DeSantis issued a boiler plate response to the shooting, praying for the entire Florida state community, mourning the two individuals who lost their lives, wishing well to those in the hospital and calling for the prosecution of the shooter. DeSantis also praised law enforcements response. President Donald Trump issued an anodyne response, saying that it was horrible that things like this take place. That is, that this is a run of the mill thing and that nothing can be done. The worn-out and predictable response of the Democrats and their media mouthpieces was to meekly call for gun reform, something which has not worked in over 30 years and which they have no intention of actually following through on anyways. Since the Columbine High School shooting over 25 years ago, America has seen 428 school shootings, with 394,000 American students directly experiencing gun violence, according to a tally by the Washington Post. This is not the first shooting at FSU. In November 20, 2014 three people were wounded in a campus library by 31-year-old graduate Myron May. May had worked as a prosecutor for the Dona Ana district attorneys office less than two months before committing the shooting. He was killed by police after refusing to drop his weapon. And the state is no stranger to violence. Florida carried out its sixth execution just four months prior. From 2019 to 2024, an estimated 827 people were shot by the police in Florida, according to the Tampa Bay Times. What is lacking in the news accounts is the context in which mass shootings take place. There is no attempt to account for why these shootings occur so frequently in the United States or examine the root causes, only palliatives like gun control measure and thoughts and prayers. So here is the context. The latest shooting took place amid escalating state violence at home and imperialist aggression abroad. Just in the last year police killed 1,365 people in the US, with at least 82 of those taking place in Florida. The US is currently facilitating a genocide in Gaza by the Israeli government. Trump explicitly stated the policy Biden followed, saying he intends to clean up Gaza of the Palestinians and annex the strip. Officially over 51,000 have been killed in the genocide. In Ukraine, over 500,000 Ukrainians have died in the US-NATO proxy war, along with hundreds of thousands of Russians. Trump has launched a massive illegal bombing campaign on Yemen and has threatened Iran with annihilation. Washington is in a trade war with the world and especially China, preparing as world imperialism did before the first and second world wars for war by seeking to onshore critical war production and to bully other countries into an anti-China coalition all so Wall Street can redivide the world in its favor. The fact that the United States has now been at war continuously for nearly a quarter century finds expression at home in part through the escalating school shootings. Vulnerable youth seek solutions through the same methods Washington uses abroad, which are glorified at home in movies, on the major news networks, and by both the Democratic and Republican Parties. That is to say, the phenomenon of mass shootings finds its origin in the capitalist system, which is hurtling towards world war, fascism and dictatorship. All of this would involve a massive increase in violence worldwide, especially in the US. The problem is not going to be resolved without a mass movement of the working class that successfully replaces capitalism with socialism, expropriating the Wall Street parasites and eliminating the root cause of imperialist war and state violence. In the lead-up to the Australian federal election on May 3, Socialist Equality Party (SEP) candidates, members and supporters are campaigning regularly at factories, hospitals, universities and in working-class suburbs. Workers and young people are increasingly hostile to the war and austerity agenda of the entire political establishment. None of the pro-business parliamentary parties, including Labor, the Liberal-Nationals and the Greens, has any answer to the deepening social crisis confronting the working class or the growing threat of world war. As representatives of the only party advancing an alternative political perspective, SEP candidates and campaigners have received a warm response from workers and youth. In Brisbane, longstanding SEP national committee member and World Socialist Web Site writer Mike Head is standing for the lower house seat of Oxley, a working-class electorate in Brisbanes west. Head, along with SEP members and supporters, have spoken to workers at shopping centres in Richlands, Inala, Goodna and Oxley, and at the Volvo Trucks plant in Wacol. In Melbourne, campaigns have centred on the Calwell electorate where Morgan Peach is standing for the lower house. This includes Broadmeadows and Dallas, once centres of manufacturing but have been hit with sweeping job cuts over recent decades. SEP campaigners have also spoken to workers at workplaces, including a Woolworths warehouse that was part of a major strike late last year. SEP candidate for the seat of Calwell Morgan Peach with Pia Pia, who works as a cleaner, told SEP campaigners: I used to be a staunch Labor supporter but no longer. I dont like any of the parties, I am looking for something else. I am utterly sick and tired of politicians making promises and never keeping them. I am looking for politicians with honesty, not speaking for big business and looking after themselves. The cost of living is so bad, every single thing is going up. Two bags of groceries at the supermarket costs so much and you get nothing. I know people who in winter have no money for heating so all they can do is keep warm under blankets. Sujan, an engineering student, said: Trump is not fair. He should treat people as human beings but has done so much that is bad. I hate war. There are so many people that are innocent who are killed and they dont even know why. America is blocking China but everyone needs goods from China. I think the US is jealous of China. America imports many goods from there. I feel like life is getting harder. It is more expensive every day. Its hard to pay the rent. Im a student, but I have to work four days a week in order to survive. Danielle Danielle said: The election campaign is a whole lot of lies. The things they say that they will improve on, they never do. Food is so expensive; fruit, vegetables and meat are so high these days. Then on top of that, bills such as water, internet, rates, are now being ridiculously priced. I dont like Trump at all. Hes so arrogant and racist. Australia seems to be trying to be like America. Robert Creech is standing in the Newcastle electorate, named after the city north of Sydney that was formerly a centre of the Australian steel industry. SEP members and supporters have campaigned at local shopping centres, workplaces and on the University of Newcastle campus. The party also spoke with doctors at John Hunter Hospital taking part in a three-day strike across New South Wales (NSW) last week. Sara, who teaches nursing, attended a meeting on the election held jointly by the SEP and its youth wing, the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE). She said: Im very impressed with the knowledge of the history of socialism, its something I certainly need to go home and think about. These sorts of movements are important to me. The people on the ground floor, we need to have a say and we are certainly not getting a say anymore. Sara Sara spoke about the conditions confronting nurses, who in New South Wales confront a state Labor government that is determined to impose a miserly nominal wage rise of just over 3 percent per annum. Labor was heavily promoted by the unions in the 2023 state election as a panacea for the dire wages and conditions faced by health workers and others in the public sector, but this has been quickly proved a fraud. She said: It is definitely not appropriate the way that nurses are being treated. When you think of what nurses do, they are the people with the patients all of the time. I respect all of the other health providers, doctors, but they come in to see a patient once or twice a day. The nurses are there with the patients and their families day in and day out supporting their health. Nurses are giving all the time, nurses are exhausted. Weve lost something like 22,000 nurses during COVID. There is a worldwide shortage of nurses and thats going to increase with time unless we do something to improve their work-life balance. Recently the government has given $300 per week to student nurses for when they do their placement. But its means-tested, so anyone who lives with their parents will not get it. It also doesnt apply to international students. Im shocked by the current people in power who are saying that the housing shortage is due to international students. It absolutely is not. Sara was concerned about the impact of US President Donald Trump and other far-right forces: He is destroying any idea of social equity. People with disabilities have lost their rights, universities have lost funding, Johns Hopkins has lost millions of dollars in fundinghuge work and research there on healthcare. The US has withdrawn from the World Health Organisation. It is a disaster what is happening. It cant go on or the world will crumble. One only needs to look at the people who went to his ceremony when he was elected. All the oligarchsJeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg were all there. Sara noted that Australia was not immune to these developments: You have Clive Palmer over here, the Trumpet of Patriots. There needs to be something done about that. There is a lot of work to do and I am hopeful that the SEP can do something about it. SEP candidate for the Senate in NSW Warwick Dove (right) speaks to a worker in Punchbowl, southwest Sydney. In Sydney, SEP candidates for the Senate in NSW, Max Boddy and Warwick Dove, have spoken to workers at Kelloggs, where a strike was recently called off at the eleventh hour by the United Workers Union bureaucracy, as well as meat workers, postal workers and striking doctors. Campaigns have also been held across the citys working-class west and southwest, and on campus. Viransha, a Western Sydney University (WSU) student from South Asia, said, I want to know more about socialism and capitalism, how the rich people are being corrupt and not giving advantage to the poor in the world. In India as well, the Congress and BJP favour the rich, not the poor, and in other countries like Pakistan and Nepal as well. Theres also a real threat of world war. War is happening in Gaza, and the trade war with China as well. Military bases are being established in Australia, by the US, which is preparing for war against China. He spoke about the silence of the Labor government and the entire political establishment on these escalating war plans: I think it might be the case theyre keeping it secret. Theyre not speaking about war, or the trade war. If theres war between China and America, the whole world economy will be impacted as well. Countries resources will be diminished by the war. Workers should be in unity to stop the war. Lydia, a psychology student at WSU, attended the SEP-IYSSE election meeting to learn more about socialism. I liked everything that the IYSSE campaigner was saying, including about how education should be free. Before the meeting, she didnt know that the Greens were supporting war. I didnt realise how Trump and America has such a big impact on us and the influence its had on our government as well. Trump is teaming up with Albanesetheyre on his side. Things like that were interesting. Authorised by Cheryl Crisp for the Socialist Equality Party, Level 1/457-459 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills, NSW, 2010, Australia. Warning strike at BVG Fellow transit workers, The latest negotiations result hardly differs from the previous arbitration proposal, which was an outrageous sham, and is miles away from our original demands. Nevertheless, the Verdi trade union is setting its entire bureaucratic apparatus in motion to push through this sell-out. Acting completely undemocratically, Verdi officials are overriding the decision of the members. In a ballot on 4 April, 95.4 percent voted in favour of an indefinite all-out strike. However, Verdi refuses to recognise this vote and organise an all-out strike. Instead, chief negotiator Jeremy Arndt, his henchman Manuel von Stubenrauch and their cohorts are spreading mendacious propaganda in articles, video statements and online meetings in order to whitewash the outcome of the negotiations. No distortion of the facts is too crude for them. They adopt the arguments of the BVG management, the Berlin Senate (state executive) and the federal government. They claim that in view of the austerity measures announced by the Senate and the coalition agreement struck by the Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) and Social Democrats (SPD) to form the next federal government, the outcome of the negotiations must be accepted. They warn of the consequences of a rejection and claim a full strike would not bring any improvement but would jeopardise what has been achieved. This makes two things clear. First, the Verdi leadership and its apparatus of officials are on the opposite side, i.e., on the side of the BVG, the Senate and the federal government. It is no coincidence that Arndt and other officials sit on the BVG supervisory board and are members of the governing parties. Verdi collects membership dues from the workers, but acts completely against our interests. Verdi is orientated towards the economic interests of BVG and the political requirements of the Senate and government. The second conclusion that must be drawn from the Verdi campaign against an all-out strike is to build up the rank-and-file Transport Workers Action Committee! We oppose the union lackeys of the BVG board in the negotiating committee based on a fundamentally different principle: Our needs as workers stand higher than the profit interests of management and their political backers. We are the ones who maintain local public transport under extremely difficult working conditions. Our demand for 750 more per month plus an increase in shift allowances is meant seriously. After Verdi has forced us into one bad contract after another for years, and the losses in real wages are continuing in the face of rapid price increases, it is time to draw the line. Our original demand is the lower limit to stop the loss of real wages and must be implemented. That is why we, as an action committee, firmly oppose Verdis propaganda lies. The first lie is that Verdi is presenting the current ballot on the negotiations result as a strike vote, inferring that even if well over 50 percent of members vote against this but a minority of 25 percent vote in favour, it will be deemed that the pay offer has been accepted. The fact is that a ballot already took place on 4 April in which an overwhelming majority voted in favour of an indefinite all-out strike. At the time, it was stated that the result of the ballot would take effect if the arbitration proposal was rejected at the end of the negotiations. Now we are being led to believe that the arbitration proposal must be rejected once again by a 75 percent feedback vote in order to legitimise a strike. This is a sleight of hand. In reality, the strike ballot has already taken place and the current feedback vote is one in which a simple majority decides. In other words: If over 50 percent of members vote against the result now on the table, it is rejected, and Verdi is obliged to initiate the all-out strike that has already been decided. In addition, the modalities of the current ballot and the control over the counting of the votes are being kept completely in the dark. In his video justifying all this, Jeremy Arndt gives three main reasons why he is in favour of accepting arbitration and the final outcome of the negotiations. His first argument is that an all-out strike would be fraught with great uncertainty in a situation where it is clear, partly because of the new coalition agreement [to form the next government], that the country has less funding available. But what is the new coalition agreement? It is the prelude to enormous attacks on the entire working class in order to finance an insane rearmament programme. The argument that one cannot mount an all-out strike because the country has fewer finances at its disposal means subordinating workers to war preparations and social cuts. In fact, the programme of the new coalition is a compelling reason to go on all-out strike and mobilise broad support from all those who are already under attack, or will soon be. Arndts second argument is that the costs of the contract totalling 140 million had not yet been fully financed at BVG. Later, von Stubenrauch expanded on this and spoke about the announcement of severe cost-cutting measures and an absolute need to economise on the part of the state of Berlin. But this is also an argument not against, but in favour of strike action. Social resources must be radically redistributed, and this time taken from those at the top and given to those at the bottom. Those who have been enriching themselves without restraint for decades must be made to pay. The third argument is that what we are currently experiencing all over, is companies throwing employees out the door because they have to file for insolvency. But this only proves that our poor conditions at BVG are part of a broader attack on the entire working class. Against the backdrop of the wave of mass redundancies, a general strike must be the starting point to unite and mobilise all those threatened and affected by mass redundancies. But for this to happen, the straitjacket of the Verdi apparatus must be broken and the agreed all-out strike enforced. A look at the agreement in the public sector and at Deutsche Post makes it clear what Verdi has in mind for us too. Verdi has agreed to a miserable real wage reduction for the 170,000 postal workers. With a 24-month contract term, there is to be a pay freeze for the first three months this year, then a two percent increase from April and a further three percent from April 2026. Although a clear majority of 54 percent voted against it, Verdi signed the agreement. Arndt & Co. want to repeat exactly the same thing at BVG. It is therefore necessary to break through Verdis control and enforce an indefinite strike. To achieve this, the establishment of the Transport Workers Action Committee is now of the utmost importance. In Novembers election campaign for the BVG Staff Council, we wrote: We are running in these elections to build new fighting structures that will enable us, rank-and-file transport workers, to intervene directly in workplace disputes. Our goal is to develop the great strength and power that we have as workers. We want to strengthen the self-confidence of those who keep the city and the country moving. We are not supplicants or beggars. We have rights! And we know that a joint struggle of all transport workers would paralyze the capital in no time and receive great support from the population. The organisation of the Transport Workers Action Committee is the first important step towards preparing an indefinite strike to enforce our demands. Stop the Verdi sell-out! Enforce the all-out strike that has already been decided! Get in touch with the Transport Workers Action Committee! Send a Whatsapp message to +49 01748402566, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok. Jennifer Vasquez Sura, the wife of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, speaks during a news conference at CASA's Multicultural Center in Hyattsville, Md., April 4, 2025 [AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana] The Trump administration is engaged in the systematic trampling on the rights of due process which are the foundation of our constitutional order, a three-judge panel of the Fourth US Circuit Court of Appeals declared Thursday. The appeals panel denied an emergency appeal by the Trump administration against rulings made by District Court Judge Paula Xinis, who is hearing the suit brought by Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia and his family, against Abrego Garcias detention and deportation to a torture-prison in El Salvador. The ruling, authored by Judge Harvie Wilkinson III, one of the most senior and most conservative of Appeals Court judges, nominated by Republican Ronald Reagan in 1983, is written in extremely blunt language: It is difficult in some cases to get to the very heart of the matter. But in this case, it is not hard at all. The government is asserting a right to stash away residents of this country in foreign prisons without the semblance of due process that is the foundation of our constitutional order. Further, it claims in essence that because it has rid itself of custody that there is nothing that can be done. This should be shocking not only to judges, but to the intuitive sense of liberty that Americans far removed from courthouses still hold dear. The opinion addresses the claims by Trump officials that Abrego Garcia is a gang member and a terrorist, responding, Perhaps, but perhaps not. Regardless, he is still entitled to due process. If the government is confident of its position, it should be assured that position will prevail The opinion excoriates the Department of Justice for word-juggling over a Supreme Court decision last week instructing the Trump administration to facilitate Abrego Garcias release from custody in El Salvador, while telling Judge Xinis to remove the word effectuate from her order: Facilitate is an active verb. The plain and active meaning of the word cannot be diluted by its constriction, as the government would have it, to a narrow term of art. Facilitation does not permit the admittedly erroneous deportation of an individual to the one countrys prisons that the withholding order forbids and, further, to do so in disregard of a court order that the government not so subtly spurns. Facilitation does not sanction the abrogation of habeas corpus through the transfer of custody to foreign detention centers in the manner attempted here. Allowing all this would facilitate foreign detention more than it would domestic return. It would reduce the rule of law to lawlessness and tarnish the very values for which Americans of diverse views and persuasions have always stood. The Appeals Court opinion goes on to identify the most important potential consequence of the precedent set by the mass deportation of Venezuelan and Salvadoran immigrants to the notorious CECOT prison in El Salvador. If today the Executive claims the right to deport without due process and in disregard of court orders, what assurance will there be tomorrow that it will not deport American citizens and then disclaim responsibility to bring them home? And what assurance shall there be that the Executive will not train its broad discretionary powers upon its political enemies? The threat, even if not the actuality, would always be present After dismissing the spectacle of Trump and Bukele meeting at the White House and both claiming they lacked the power to return Abrego Garcia to his familyleaving the imprisoned migrant in limbothe three-judge panel concludes with a warning that Trump is destabilizing and potentially discrediting the entire US constitutional structure. The executive branch and the judiciary were grinding irrevocably against one another in a conflict that promises to diminish both. This is a losing proposition all around. While the executive branch might prevail in the immediate conflict with the courts, The Executive will lose much from a public perception of its lawlessness and all of its attendant contagions. The full meaning of this declaration should be thought about seriously. After Trump has been in office less than 100 days of his second term, one of the highest courts in America is warning that his administrations conduct threatens to completely discredit the US government in the eyes of the American people. Given their role as high-level defenders of corporate America and the capitalist state, such a pronouncement by Appeals Court judges is a further indication of the political crisis within the ruling elite. It is not only impoverished immigrant workers like Abrego Garcia who must fear the police-state methods of Trump and his gang of fascist criminals. American citizens, congressmen, even robed judges could be whisked away by masked federal agents and shipped off to concentration camps located wherever the military-intelligence apparatus finds convenient. The Appeals Court ruling came less than 24 hours after Federal District Judge James Boasberg, who initially handled the mass deportations to El Salvador, but not the specific case of Abrego Garcia, issued an opinion that there was clear evidence that administration officials were in contempt of court for defying his order to halt the deportation flights on the ground or turn the planes around if they had already taken off. Boasberg indicated he would continue pressing to identify the official who made the decision to defy the order. Two of the flights had already taken off and did not turn back, according to press accounts, while the third flight was still loading and took off well after Boasberg banned it. As a practical matter, Boasbergs probe is unlikely to lead to criminal contempt charges even if he succeeds in finding out the name of the official. If it is Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem or one of the officials of DHS, Trump could simply pardon them. If it is Trump himself, he is immunized from criminal prosecution by the Supreme Courts decision last summer in Trump v. United States. In another intervention last week, the Supreme Court ruled that those deported as a result of Trumps invocation of the Alien Enemies Act could only challenge their treatment on an individual basis, by filing for writs of habeas corpus in the state where they were being held before the flights to El Salvadorin this case, Texas. Judge Boasberg thus no longer has jurisdiction over the deportation flights, but he can still impose sanctions on officials who defied his order during the time that it was in effect. Judge Boasberg set an April 23 hearing for the Trump administration to respond to the potential contempt charges and to supply further information about the decision-making process of the deportation flights. Judge Xinis has set an April 28 hearing for the administration to respond to her demands for information on what actions it is taking to facilitate the return of Abrego Garcia. She also suggested that criminal contempt charges could be brought if the Department of Justice again fails to comply. More details have emerged on the entirely arbitrary process by which immigrants were grabbed for detention and deportation to El Salvador. According to Documented, an immigrant-focused publication in New York City, 19-year-old Merwil Gutierrez was in the vicinity when ICE agents seized another man, and they decided to add him despite his lack of any criminal record or even tattoos. He and his father arrived in 2023 from Venezuela, and have an active immigration court case seeking asylum. Neither Merwil or anyone in his family has any ties to El Salvador or to gangs. In another case, Venezuelan migrant Neri Jose Alvarado Borges was falsely identified by ICE as a gang member because of an autism awareness tattoo, featuring a rainbow-colored ribbon made of puzzle pieces, along with the name of his autistic brother. Borges had an active asylum claim and was working legally at a local bakery in Ft. Worth, Texas at the time he was detained. Also, on Thursday afternoon, the Supreme Court announced it would hear arguments on May 15 over Trumps executive order purporting to end birthright citizenship, which has been the policy of the United States government since its establishment in the Fourteenth Amendment in 1868. The unsigned order denied the request by the Trump administration to lift lower court orders blocking the executive action, saying that this would be discussed at the May 15 hearing. The Department of Justice claimed that the issuance of orders by district courts that applied to government policy nationwide was unconstitutional. However, lawyers for the Republican Party and various ultra-right and fascist groups made frequent use of such district court orders during the Biden administration, using small federal districts where they could be sure of finding a judge willing to strike down Bidens policies on issues like immigration and abortion. The issue would be one of the most fundamental ever to reach the Supreme Court, with Trump seeking to overturn the landmark 1898 Supreme Court decision that held that the language of the Fourteenth Amendment clearly confers citizenship on all those born within the boundaries of the United States, whatever the citizenship status of their parents, except for those born to foreign diplomats. Donald Trump shakes hands with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at a Turning Point Action campaign rally, Wednesday, October 23, 2024 in Duluth, Georgia. [AP Photo/Alex Brandon] The Trump administrations plans to cut $40 billion from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)a staggering reduction of roughly one-third of its discretionary budgetmarks an inflection point in the deepening assault on science, public health and the social rights of the working class in the United States and internationally. This unprecedented attack on programs which affect the health and well-being of virtually the entire worlds population is a critical component of the fascist program that Trump and his health secretary, the anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist Robert F. Kennedy Jr., seek to implement. It is a conscious effort to roll back more than a century of social progress and scientific achievement and will have catastrophic consequences. The cuts, detailed in an internal memorandum obtained by the Washington Post and published Wednesday night, include the following: National Institutes of Health (NIH): Budget slashed from $47 billion to $27 billiona 40 percent reduction. The number of NIH institutes and centers is to be cut from 27 to eight, with the elimination of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities and the National Institute of Nursing Research. Hundreds of research grants, including those on vaccine hesitancy, transgender health and COVID-19, are to be canceled. Thousands of scientists will be laid off, accelerating a mass exodus of expertise from the US. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Budget cut by 44 percent, from $9.2 billion to $5.2 billion. All chronic disease programsincluding those targeting heart disease, obesity, diabetes, domestic HIV care, and smoking cessationare to be eliminated, exposing Kennedys claims to be fighting Americas chronic disease epidemic as nothing but hot air. Staff working on drowning prevention, gun violence, worker safety and STD testing have already been laid off. Head Start: Complete elimination of federal funding, cutting off early childhood education and care for 750,000 low-income children. This will devastate working families, particularly in rural areas where Head Start is often the only non-family childcare provider, forcing parents out of the workforce and deepening social inequality. This cut by itself will outrage tens of millions of people whose children have benefited or are benefiting from the program. Rural health programs: Elimination of grants for rural hospitals, residency developments and state offices of rural health, threatening to shutter critical access points for millions in rural America. Trump ran up huge vote margins in rural areas during the 2024 election, thanks to the long record of neglect and austerity on the part of Democratic Party administrations. Now he is seeking to outdo all previous administrations in the destruction of rural infrastructure. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): Funding set at the bare minimum to allow continued collection of industry fees, threatening the agencys ability to regulate drug and device safety. The agency is one of those turned over to the control of a right-wing opponent of public health measures to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, Martin Makary. Coinciding with these massive cuts, which will directly worsen the health of millions of Americans, Kennedy is creating a new $20 billion agency with the Orwellian title Administration for a Healthy America. The central purpose of this new agency is to consolidate and eliminate numerous prevention-focused programs, including those for childhood lead poisoning, healthcare workforce development and ALS patient registries. Funding for policy and research will be tightly controlled by Kennedy, who is launching initiatives that will serve as vehicles for anti-scientific, eugenicist policies. These cuts are not cost-saving measures, as claimed by the White House. They represent a deliberate, fascistic effort to destroy the infrastructure of scientific research and public health that underpins modern society. The aim is to return the working class to conditions of social misery and industrial exploitation not seen since the 19th century. The HHS cuts were revealed just two weeks after Kennedy imposed the layoffs of over 20,000 HHS workers, roughly a quarter of the federal public health workforce. These included 80 percent of staff at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), which is responsible for workplace safety and disease monitoring, and the gutting of agencies tracking infectious diseases, monitoring chemical exposures, enforcing food and drug safety, and more. At the same time, the administration has imposed gag orders on scientific agencies, erased public health data from thousands of government websites and elevated anti-science quacks like Jay Bhattacharya to positions of power. The CDC and NIH, once global leaders in disease prevention, have been crippled. The US has withdrawn from the World Health Organization (WHO), and the PEPFAR programwhich provides life-saving HIV/AIDS treatment to over 20 million people in low-income countriesfaces elimination. On the same day that the HHS cuts were revealed, Nature published the results of recent modeling which underscores the vast global ramifications of these policies. The study found that if the United States were to end all global health fundingincluding for HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, and maternal and child health programsan estimated 25 million people would die preventable deaths over the next 15 years. These include 15 million from HIV/AIDS alone, due to the cutoff of PEPFAR funding, and over 7 million child deaths from other causes. The model projects that by 2040, HIV deaths would surge by over 50 percent and tuberculosis infections would rise by 69 million worldwide. Even partial cuts, such as maintaining only HIV treatment programs, would still result in millions of additional deaths and a catastrophic reversal of decades of public health progress. Furthermore, the dismantling of pandemic surveillance and response programs, including the CDCs Global Health Center and the FDAs Center for Veterinary Medicine, means that the US and world population are now flying blind in the face of growing threats like H5N1 bird flu. Both Kennedy and USDA head Brooke Rollins have openly floated a proposal to allow bird flu to spread unchecked on poultry farms, risking the emergence of a strain capable of human-to-human transmission. The Trump-Kennedy war on science represents a continuation and deepening of the criminal policies of the Biden administration, which normalized mass infection and the abandonment of public health during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Both capitalist parties have subordinated science and social needs to the interests of the corporate-financial oligarchy, paving the way for todays unbridled social counterrevolution. The trade union bureaucracies, in particular the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), have done nothing to oppose these attacks on science and the working class. Instead they have stifled the enormous opposition of rank-and-file public health workers, isolating them and allowing them to be fired en masse. The defense of science, public health and social rights cannot be entrusted to these reactionary bureaucrats. Public health workers across all HHS agencies must organize independently, building rank-and-file committees to unite with workers globally through the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC). Such committees would serve as a democratic center of opposition to the Trump-Kennedy war on science, fighting for the following demands and more: For an immediate reversal of all cuts to HHS and the expansion of funding for NIH, CDC, Head Start, rural health programs and all public health agencies! For the immediate rehiring of all fired scientists and public health workers, with expanded hiring to meet the needs of society! For guaranteed free, universal access to healthcare, early childhood education and preventive medicine as basic social rights! For an end to all gag orders and censorship of scientific research, and the restoration and expansion of public access to health data! For the initiation of a global program to eliminate COVID-19, H5N1 and other infectious diseases through mass testing, vaccination, infrastructure renovation to provide clean air and other basic public health measures! For the establishment of democratic workers oversight of public health and scientific institutions, breaking the stranglehold of the corporate elite and anti-science ideologues! The defense of science and public health is inseparable from the fight for socialism. The international working class is the only force capable of defeating the fascist danger represented by Trump, Kennedy, and the capitalist oligarchy they serve. Workers must unite across national borders, industries and professions to build a mass socialist movement, in alliance with scientists and progressive layers of the middle class. We urge public health workers and scientists to join and build the Socialist Equality Party (SEP). Attend and participate in the upcoming International May Day Online Rally, where workers and youth from around the world will chart a path forward in the struggle for socialism, science and human progress. US President Donald Trump has said that the USA will withdraw from the negotiating process to resolve Russia's war against Ukraine if the parties "complicate" the end of the war. He said at the White House, during a question-and-answer session with the press, that he would back down if the parties make it more difficult to end the war in Ukraine, but at the same time he hopes it doesn't come to that. According to him, there is really good chance of reaching an agreement between Russia and Ukraine. He also said that the American authorities want to get a peace agreement on Ukraine as soon as possible. A meeting of the Capital Region discussion club was held at the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency to discuss the vision of Ukraine's victory and present the TOP-100 Most Influential People 2024 project. During the meeting, the results of a sociological survey conducted by Active Group were presented, which showed that the idea of victory is transforming. The club members discussed the mood of Ukrainians and residents of Kyiv region, in particular in the context of the third year of full-scale war. Key issues included assessing the performance of local authorities, what people are willing to do to win, what victory means to them (return of borders, surrender of the enemy or ceasefire), and what hopes and fears people have for the so-called post-war day. "Studies show that Ukrainians expect the war to continue for at least another six months. Amid talks of a truce after November 2024, the number of people willing to negotiate with Russia without conditions as soon as possible is falling, while at the same time, people's desire to negotiate is growing, provided that the fighting stops completely. According to respondents, the Armed Forces are responsible for the success of the counteroffensive and defense, while international partners and allies and the President are responsible for the failure," said Andriy Yeremenko, head of the sociological company Active Group. Oleh Ivanenko, a member of the Kyiv regional council, said there are two ways to end the war quickly. The first, in his opinion, lies in the plane of Ukrainian politics, the second in American politics. "The American option is the George Washington, the largest aircraft carrier, entering the Black Sea, and the war ends. The Ukrainian option is to declare a state of war. And then we will have no problems with demobilization, mobilization, because all MPs, officials, and the presidential administration are going to war," he emphasized. Oleksandr Magdych, a soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and head of the Bila Tserkva Volunteer Corps, added that to achieve peace and victory, a general mobilization of the economy and citizens is needed, as well as a law on demobilization and rotation for the military. "The unity of our society, our work to defend our country, starting with volunteers, soldiers, the government, the opposition - everyone is working for the result. Everyone wants the war to end on Ukrainian terms as soon as possible. This is very important, and my communication with our citizens confirms this. We communicate in different regions, on the contact lines with soldiers and volunteers of the volunteer battalion," said Volodymyr Kreidenko, MP, Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Transport. Serhiy Guliyev, a member of the Vyshneve City Council and entrepreneur, said that the Safe Region community on Viber and Telegram, which he runs, already has more than half a million members from 41 countries. "When the full-scale invasion began, the Sergey Guliyev Foundation was created, which is now recognized as the most powerful. I am pleased that a large percentage of the efforts to win are made by volunteers. We have been working around the clock for three years now. We have raised and sent hundreds of millions of hryvnias and thousands of trucks with aid to the frontline," added Guliyev. The discussion club also presented the project TOP 100 Most Influential People of 2024. The rating includes representatives of government, business, culture, science, and the public. The top ten are Ruslan Kravchenko, former head of the Kyiv Regional Military Administration and head of the State Tax Service of Ukraine; Andriy Yermak, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine; Oleksiy Kuleba, Vice Prime Minister for Reconstruction of Ukraine and Minister of Community and Territorial Development, former deputy head of the Office of the President of Ukraine; Yaroslav Dobriansky, acting head of the Kyiv Regional Council; Oleh Tatarov, deputy head of the Office of the President of Ukraine; Anatoliy Shchadylo, head of the Main Department of the National Police in Kyiv Region; and Anatoliy Shchadylo, former deputy head of the National Police in Kyiv. According to the authors of the rating, they do not focus only on positions. The main thing for them is the real impact of a person on the region, his or her contribution to the development of Kyiv region, initiatives and actions that change the life of the community. The project TOP-100 Most Influential People has been implemented since 2017 by the creative team of the Moya Kyivshchyna News Agency and the editorial board of the independent newspaper Slovo i Dilo with the participation of experts from the Institute of Ukrainian Politics. The rating is based on information and analytical research on the socio-political situation in the region. The publication is available both in print and online on the project's website: https://top-100.kyiv.ua. The Discussion Club is organized by the Moya Kyivshchyna News Agency, the Institute of Ukrainian Politics, and the sociological company Active Group. It brings together experts, politicians, MPs, academics, military and public figures. KHANKENDI, Azerbaijan, April 18. I hope that former IDPs will soon be able to return to Khankendi, the ambassador of Kyrgyzstan to Azerbaijan, Maksat Mamytkanov told Trend within the framework of the visit of the foreign diplomatic corps to the liberated territories of Azerbaijan. Today I visited Khankendi for the first time. I am surprised by the transformations that are taking place here. We wish these processes to go even faster. The next year, if we come here again, we would like to see a completely new city, restored and renewed. I would like the displaced people to return here as soon as possible, to start a new life here, peaceful and creative, the diplomat said. The organization of informative visits of foreign diplomatic corps to the territories of Azerbaijan liberated from occupation continues by the instruction of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev. More than 100 diplomats and military attaches from 33 countries and 7 international organizations accredited in Azerbaijan are taking part in this visit. The purpose of the visit is to familiarize the foreign diplomats with the restoration and reconstruction works carried out in Khankendi and the conditions created for the students of Garabagh University. SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here. It hardly qualifies as news anymore, but according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, union membership declined from 2023 to 2024, going from 10% to 9.9% of wage and salary workers. Some 32% of public employees are union members compared to only 5.9% of private-sector workers, down from 6% in 2023. This means 49% of all union members work for the government and, even more striking, 32% belong to the two national teachers unions. As National Review's Dominic Pino pointed out, national media is chock full of hopeful stories about union organizing drives and strikes he cited 214 in 2024 but the longtime trend line away from private-sector unions has not turned around despite the considerable efforts of Democratic politicians. This is despite a certain amount of nostalgia in liberal and conservative quarters for the days when union representation of private-sector employees was considered the norm. Union membership as a percentage of employees peaked at 33.5% in 1954, when almost no public employees belonged to unions. That's more than five times the percentage of private-sector union membership today. It's even more striking because few union members lived in the South, so the union share in the North was up to 40%. What accounts for this major change in American life? It starts with how unions were formed. Craft and building unions have roots going back more than a century, when many served the function of medieval guilds maintaining quality standards and stamping out the competition. They often had a discernible ethnic character, with membership open to sons, brothers, nephews and cousins of current members. The big jump a tripling in union membership came suddenly from 1937 to 1947 after the passage of the New Deal's Wagner Act. Industrial workers weren't the worst-off employees in the 1930s Depression. They feared that "time and motion study" managers would speed up the assembly lines, and, with 20% unemployment, they knew they could be easily replaced if they walked out. In early 1937, auto and steel union organizers staged illegal sit-ins in the giant factories that fueled American economic growth from the 1890s to the 1920s. After Democratic governors refused to enforce court orders to clear out, auto and steel executives caved in and accepted the industrial unions as bargaining agents. When the big factories switched to wartime production, industrial labor leaders, such as the young Walter Reuther, cooperated to prevent strikes as workers churned out astonishing numbers of planes in Henry Ford's Willow Run plant in Michigan and boats in Henry J. Kaiser's Richmond shipyards in California. In the postwar years, Reuther negotiated with General Motors' Charles E. Wilson on the 1950 Treaty of Detroit a five-year no-strike contract with cost-of-living increases, health care benefits and defined-benefit pensions. In what has been referred to as "America's midcentury moment," it became widely known that the only enlightened way to manage enormous centralized factory operations, vulnerable always to violence, was to cooperate with union leaders. Their increasingly choreographed negotiations dominated national news (I still remember the names of the United Steelworkers and the chief steel management negotiator in the 1959 steel strike sessions) and set the pattern for wage and benefit packages in smaller companies. Alas, as so often happens in human affairs, success bred failure. U.S. auto and steel companies failed to respond effectively to unexpected foreign competition, and 1970s contracts promising early retirement and open-ended pre-Medicare retiree health care insurance pushed Detroit's Big Three and Big Steel toward bankruptcy. Foreign-based auto companies building new plants avoided Michigan and Ohio counties with elected judges who would not enjoin wildcat strikes and chose sites in states with right-to-work laws banning compulsory union membership. New manufacturing techniques promoting cooperation and worker autonomy produced better-quality products than the Wagner Act unionism's adversarial foreman-versus-shop-steward bargaining and thousands of pages of work rules. As inventive employers moved from labor-intensive to increasingly automated manufacturing and as a growing economy moved from manufacturing to services, rapid-growth firms such as Walmart and Amazon depended on thousands of geographically dispersed locations rather than a few enormous factories, while high-tech assembly work migrated to China. Unions were also victims of their own good intentions. Federal and state minimum wage, work safety and pension legislation made union protections seem unnecessary. Human resource departments, created in response to government regulations and court decisions, handled matters unions used to. There has also been a decline in the quality of union leadership. Reuther and his immediate successors were men of broad outlook and high integrity. In contrast, two recent United Auto Workers presidents were convicted of embezzlement, and the current UAW leader, Shawn Fain, endorsed President Donald Trump's April 2 tariffs and then expressed embarrassment after automaker Stellantis laid off workers because of them. Similarly, the Washington Examiner's Salena Zito said National Steelworkers leaders who supported Cleveland-Cliffs' acquisition of U.S. Steel are finding themselves out of step with local union leaders who favored its acquisition by Nippon Steel, which promised to keep its Monongahela Valley plant open. It's unclear whether today's union leaders understand their members' short-term interests. Or consider the record of the two teachers unions, which today pocket the dues of one-third of American union members. Their major achievement in the past decade was shutting down schools in states and cities controlled by their Democratic allies, not just for six weeks to stop the spread of COVID-19 but for two years or more after it was clear that schoolchildren didn't contract or transmit the virus at significant rates. The result has been a sharp lowering of test scores, especially among Black and disadvantaged students. It may have been the greatest destruction of learning in U.S. history. In contrast, the greatest improvement in National Assessment of Educational Progress test scores in recent years came in the two non-teacher union-dominated states, Mississippi and Louisiana, which have the nation's highest Black percentages. Their scores have jumped from the bottom to the middle rank of states and, adjusted for racial composition, now rank highest in the nation, ahead of even high-income suburb-dominated Massachusetts. Democrats inevitably insert provisions encouraging private-sector unionization in their big legislation, including Obamacare and the Biden stimulus. Provisions that "Abundance" authors Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson pointed out include increased costs and delayed completion of public works. But these haven't pushed the union numbers up. It seems that however well suited labor unions were during the "midcentury moment," they're not well suited to our current service-dominated decentralized economy. KHANKENDI, Azerbaijan, April 18. We are witnessing the rapid development of Azerbaijan's Karabakh, the Ambassador of Tajikistan Ilhom Abdurakhmon said during a familiarization visit of the foreign diplomatic corps to Khankendi, Trend reports. "This is not our first time in Karabakh. Last year, we had the opportunity to visit this region together with our colleagues from the diplomatic corps and heads of diplomatic missions. This year, we have visited here several times - in Shusha, Aghdam, and Zangilan. Now we have the opportunity to see with our own eyes how Khankendi is developing. We are witnessing the rapid pace of development of the region. We sincerely wish prosperity to Azerbaijan. This region will continue to develop, and we will see many local residents and foreign visitors here," the diplomat said. To note, on the instructions of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, the organization of familiarization visits of the foreign diplomatic corps to the liberated territories of Azerbaijan continues. More than 100 diplomats and military attaches from 33 countries and seven international organizations accredited in Azerbaijan are taking part in the visit. The purpose of the visit is to familiarize foreign diplomats with the restoration and reconstruction work carried out in Khankendi and the conditions created for the students of Garabagh University. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel With spring travel season well underway, the U.S. State Department just updated and reissued a serious Level 3 travel warning for a country included on a number of upcoming cruise itineraries. To help U.S. citizens get up-to-date information and advice about safety risks to consider when traveling abroad, the State Department regularly updates its advisories, which range from Level 1 exercise normal precautions, to Level 4 do not travel. Related: Norwegian Cruise Line quietly stops sailing in one popular region Although a Level 3 travel advisory does not state that U.S. citizens should not travel to the country, the warnings it provides certainly should be taken seriously. A Level 3 advisory recommends that travelers reconsider plans to visit a destination due to significant safety and security risks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On April 17, the State Department updated and reissued its Level 3 travel advisory for Colombia to add information on civil unrest and kidnapping occurring in the country that cruise travelers should bear in mind. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or your first) cruise. Panama Canal cruise itineraries often include visits to Cartagena, Colombia. Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Cartagena, Colombia is a common port of call on Panama Canal cruises The South American countrys popular Cartagena cruise port is visited regularly by cruise ships sailing Panama Canal itineraries. Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, and Carnival Cruise Line all have upcoming calls to the port on ships sailing repositioning voyages through the Panama Canal before beginning new seasons of cruises from their summer home ports. Royal Caribbeans Radiance of the Seas, for example, will visit Cartagena on April 23 after leaving its winter home port of Tampa to sail a voyage through the Panama Canal as it repositions to the West Coast ahead of its Alaska cruise season. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Travelers with upcoming plans to visit Cartagena on a cruise should be aware that the State Departments reissued advisory recommends that travelers reconsider travel to Colombia due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping. Some areas have an increased risk. Violent crime, like murder, assault, and robbery, is common in many areas in Colombia. In some places, organized crime is rampant. This includes extortion, robbery, and kidnapping, the advisory states. There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity, in Colombia. Related: Royal Caribbean cancels stops at controversial Caribbean cruise port The advisory warns that terrorists and criminal organizations in Colombia may attack with little or no warning. These attacks typically target: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. government facilities Local government facilities Tourist areas and attractions Transportation centers Shopping malls and markets Military and police facilities Hotels Clubs Restaurants Airports The advisory also cautions that political demonstrations are common throughout Colombia and can: Shut down roads and highways without notice or estimated reopening timelines. Lead to road closures that reduce access to public transportation. Interrupt travel within and between cities. Become violent and result in deaths and injuries. Be the first to see the best deals on cruises, special sailings, and more. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter. Is it safe to visit Cartagena, Colombia on a cruise? Cartagena is generally considered safer for tourists than other parts of Colombia, but risks do exist and street crime does happen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To reduce your risk of being targeted by criminals when visiting Cartagena or other cruise destinations with crime warnings, its a good idea to book shore excursions directly through your cruise line. Related: Luxury destination just banned all tourists from this country Cruise passengers visiting Cartagena should make sure to follow the State Departments guidance on ways to stay safe when visiting Colombia, which include: Avoid demonstrations and crowds. Check local media for breaking news. Be prepared to adjust your plans. Keep a low profile. Do not display signs of wealth, such as expensive watches or jewelry. Stay aware of your surroundings. Travel only during daylight hours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's also important to look at any information your cruise line provides and listen to the captain for any announcements. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) Make a free appointment with Come Cruise With Me's Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel, or email Amy Post at amypost@postcardtravelplanning.com or call or text her at 386-383-2472. PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) Police are investigating after a crash on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway left one dead and five hospitalized on Friday morning. Details about what led to the collision are limited; however, the United States Park Police told DC News Now that officers were called to the parkway near Route 197 for a crash involving two vehicles. Police said a minor was pronounced dead at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another minor was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. An additional two minors and two adults were also taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to police. Prince Georges County officer hospitalized after being hit by car on Indian Head Highway, police say As police continue to investigate, all southbound lanes on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, near Powder Mill Road, are closed, and traffic is being diverted off the highway. Traffic is backed up for several miles, and drivers traveling in this area can expect heavy delays. The ages of the victims have not yet been released. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a developing story. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) An 18-year-old was injured during a shootout after a party in the Bordeaux neighborhood of Nashville early Friday morning. Officers were called to a business in the 4200 block of Ashland City Highway around 12:15 a.m. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com (Photo: WKRN) (Photo: WKRN) (Photo: WKRN) According to Metro police, a fight broke out at the party and people began to run. During the rush to flee, two people in separate vehicles began to shoot at each other, leaving more than a dozen shell casings across the roadway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An 18-year-old from Smyrna was caught in the crossfire. She was hit on the left side of her face and taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for treatment. Investigators are working to determine who fired the shots, possibly from a dark-colored sedan. No additional information was immediately released. 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. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 18. Trend News Agency presents an interview with Azerbaijani physician Khavar Musayeva, a specialist in internal medicine currently living and working in Bamberg, Germany. Khavar Musayeva, who works at Bezirksklinikum Obermain (BKO), a clinic specializing in lung diseases, is also continuing her studies in a second specialty in Germany. What brought you to Germany, and how did you choose the city you live in? With so many beautiful cities in Germany, each offering unique architecture and climate, why Bamberg? Bamberg is one of the most historically rich cities in Bavaria. Since 1993, it has held official status as a UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site. It is situated along the banks of the Danube, one of Europes most beautiful rivers. A multicultural city, it draws tourists with its picturesque nature, historic churches, and architectural landmarks, while also embracing modernity and being renowned for its universities. Can you tell us about the hospital where you work and the services it provides? Bezirksklinikum Obermain (BKO) is a large, comprehensive hospital in Germany, located in Kutzenberg, with departments specializing in internal medicine, intensive care, psychiatry, and geriatrics. It covers a vast area and houses the only specialized dispensary in Germany for isolated tuberculosis patients. Doctors from around the world, including those from Japan, America, and France, come to our clinic to learn from the treatment methods we use. The pulmonary diseases department, where I work, is one of the few highly specialized clinics in Germany. It offers top-tier diagnostics and treatment for COPD, bronchial asthma, bronchitis, tuberculosis, pneumonia, pulmonary fibrosis, sarcoidosis, lung cancer, and various other conditions. In addition to medication, the unique, nature-surrounded location of the hospital plays a key role in the healing process, making it especially cherished by both patients and staff. When did you decide to pursue a second specialty in Germany? What does studying in Germany mean to you? Pursuing education in Germany has been a dream of mine since my student years. The more flexible and well-structured German education system, along with the attention and care given to students, has always drawn my interest. The curriculum here allows students to gain both theoretical and practical knowledge in a more accessible and manageable way, without overwhelming them. Isnt it difficult to study and work at the same time in Germany? In Germany, advanced specializationsimilar to residencymeans working as a full-time physician. There is no standard curriculum; instead, each doctor is required to prepare a personalized training plan, or Logbuch, typically lasting five to six years in their chosen specialty. According to this plan, physicians must gain theoretical and practical experience across various departments and timeframes related to their field. What advantages does the German government offer for studying, living, and working in the country? One of the greatest advantages of studying in Germany is that education is free. There are no tuition fees, and in addition, we receive a salary, similar to that of assistant doctors, while working. The hospital we work with also covers the costs of various conferences, seminars, and advanced training courses. Furthermore, hospitals financially support all self-development projects. What diseases are most common in your city, and how does German medicine address them? Our clinic is a highly specialized lung disease center, one of the few of its kind in Bavaria. As a result, the majority of our patients are those with respiratory conditions. In addition to our pulmonology department, the hospital also has specialized units for Rheumatology, Psychiatry, and Geriatrics. We also offer comprehensive examinations and treatments through our sleep laboratory. Furthermore, allergology and hyposensitization therapies are provided, along with chemotherapy treatments for patients diagnosed with lung cancer. For our lung disease patients, respiratory exercises, inhalation techniques, and proper use of nebulizers are taught by specialized physiotherapists, who also guide patients through specific exercises. We would like to ask you to share your memories of your most memorable patient admission. Do you generally maintain warm relationships with your patients over time? The first thing our patients look for is a friendly demeanor, a compassionate approach, and actions that build trust. This combination of empathy and professionalism strengthens their confidence in us, encouraging them to be more open and motivated throughout their treatment. As a result, they tend to follow the doctors recommendations more closely and are more accepting of the treatment plan. I make no distinction between my patients; all are equally valuable and deserving of attention. Many of my patients express their appreciation through polite gestures, as well as small gifts like flowers and chocolates. Are there other Azerbaijanis working or studying at your hospital? Unfortunately, during my time in Germany, only a few Azerbaijani doctors have worked at our hospital. I hope to see that number grow in the future. Azerbaijani doctors have always been highly respected by both management and medical staff here for their professionalism, accuracy, high level of education, and strong work ethic. NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) Fire officials say 10 people were displaced after a multifamily fire on Quinnipiac Avenue in New Haven Thursday night. The blaze happened around 11:08 p.m. Crews saw heavy fire coming from the second floor of the apartment, according to the Assistant Chief Dan Coughlin. Suspect in 2005 Windsor Locks murder appears in court Photo: New Haven FD Photo: New Haven FD Coughlin said crews quickly knocked down the fire following an aggressive attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The Red Cross is assisting the 10 people displaced, fire 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 WTNH.com. A mural of Freddy Gray at the intersection of N. Mount and Presbury streets in Baltimore, where he was arrested 10 years ago. Spinal injuries during his arrest led to his death a week later, on April 19, 2015. (Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images) Melvin T. Russell, the retired chief of the Baltimore Police Community Division, said he remembers the lack of empathy among police commanders in the wake of Freddie Grays death after an arrest 10 years ago. Thats when he knew our city was really in trouble. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I didnt see any remorse, there was no real concern within the department, Russell said. The concern didnt come until finally there were the protests on a level that I had not seen in all my years in law enforcement. Russells comments came during a recent symposium to mark the 10th anniversary of Grays death in police custody, an incident that sparked protests followed by days of unrest, criminal charges and a reckoning for the city and its police department. How much things have changed in the intervening 10 years depends on who is answering the question. Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott points to the statistics to buttress his argument that relations between the police and citizens have improved over the past decade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When you think about having 2.400-plus [civilian] complaints [in 2015] and now its down to 800, and 12 police-involved shootings now down to four, Scott said. The clearance rate of homicides is also up, because people are talking to the police more, he said, but we still have a long way to go. National Guard troops outside Baltimore City Hall a few days after unrest in the city sparked by the death of Freddie Gray on April 12, 2015. (Photo by John Rydell) Dayvon Love, director of public policy for the group Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle, agrees that some progress has been made in police reform, but also that there are still shortcomings. Police investigatory records are now accessible to the public, theres a change in use-of-force standard, so there are a bunch of things that have shifted the levers that the community has access to, including the police accountability boards, Love said. But I think the culture of the police department has not changed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marvin Doc Cheatham vividly remembers the Sunday morning 10 years ago, April 12, 2015, when his friend Freddie Gray was arrested in West Baltimore after a foot chase with police officers. You could hear him scream, and you can tell the difference between someone acting and someone actually in pain. He was actually in pain, said Cheatham, president of the Matthew Henson Community Development Corp. Cheatham describes Gray as a jovial guy, but you knew he was up to something mischievous. He ran through the neighborhood selling drugs but was not a major drug dealer. Gray, who was 25, had been arrested 15 times in prior years on a variety of charges. After his arrest, captured on cell phone video by a nearby resident, police recovered a small knife. They cuffed him and placed him in the back of a police van, but did not secure him with a seat belt for the purpose of giving him what was later described in court testimony as a rough ride, where police attempt to bang up those arrested as they are tossed around in the back of the vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When police later checked on Gray, he was lying unconscious and was then transported to the Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland Medical Center. Gray died a week later, on April 19, 2015. The medical examiner ruled his death a homicide, apparently from a spinal cord injury suffered inside the police van. On the day Gray died, Russell recalls confronting angry protesters outside the Western Police District, some screaming, Tell us why you killed Freddie. I represented the police department, and at that moment, I thought I better have some answers, Russell said. . Firefighters battle an arson blaze at a senior center under construction in East Baltimore on April 27, 2015. (Photo by John Rydell) Grays death sparked countless protests throughout the city. Days later, those protests erupted in violence that went on for days throughout the city, but concentrated in West Baltimore. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, April 27, dozens of police officers were pelted with rocks thrown by young people near Mondawmin Mall. A CVS store was set on fire at the corner of Pennsylvania and W. North avenues. Hundreds of locally owned businesses also were heavily damaged or destroyed. For several days, a citywide curfew was imposed during overnight hours. More than 100 police officers were injured. Four days later, then-Baltimore City States Attorney Marilyn Mosby announced the indictments of six officers connected to Grays arrest, on a variety of charges. The announcement, televised live on Baltimore TV stations, was greeted with cheers and celebration by residents throughout the city. I think she [Mosby] saved our neighborhoods, Cheatham said. If she hadnt had the police officers charged, you would have still had a neighborhood that was upset, and they probably would have done more damage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ultimately, none of the six officers was convicted. A mistrial was declared in Officer William Porters case, and Officers Caesar Goodson Jr. and Edward Nero were acquitted of all charges. In July, 2016, Mosby held a news conference in the West Baltimore neighborhood where Freddie Gray was arrested, and announced she was dropping all charges against three others: Lt. Brian Rice, Sgt. Alicia White and Officer Garrett Miller. Eight years ago, U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar authorized a consent decree between the Justice Department and the Baltimore Police, which called for major reforms in the department. Those changes include an overhaul in policies for transporting people in custody, including extensive training and upgrading vehicle equipment maintenance. Officers are now equipped with body cameras, and cameras have been installed in all police vans. Police block the intersection at the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and W. North Ave. in West Baltimore on April 27, 2015. (Photo by John Rydell) In a statement, Police Commissioner Richard Worley said, The public has my full commitment that these changes reflect a true cultural shift within BPD, a fundamentally reformed agency that serves as a national model for reducing violent crime and upholding constitutional policing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Baltimore Attorney William H. Billy Murphy Jr., who represents Grays family, says there is still a major problem with the department that impacts public safety. Im very concerned that Baltimore does not have enough police officers, Murphy said. If he [Mayor Scott] has one problem with whats going on, thats it. A Baltimore Police spokesperson said there are currently about 500 vacancies for sworn officers and the department has hired 70 new recruits since the start of 2025, nearly double the number hired at this time last year. In 2021, the General Assembly enacted legislation that transferred control of the Baltimore Police Department from the state to the city. Murphy said he hopes the change will let the mayor will take an active role to implement major changes in the department by removing corrupt officers to enhance public confidence. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE QUEENS, N.Y. (PIX11) A family-owned hardware shop in Queens just celebrated its 100th birthday. Now, the community is honoring the generations-old business. When you walk into Bartunek Hardware in Astoria, the nostalgia is heavy. Memories are scattered throughout. More Local News Henry Bartunek, a handyman, opened the store in January 1925, running it for decades with his wife, Lilly. Their son Eddie grew up in the shop before taking it over himself with his wife, June. The two had three kids themselves, including Gary Bartunek. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Gary officially took over the business in the 80s, he spent much of his childhood inside the walls with his family. More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State My grandmother used to work here also because my grandfather used to go on jobs. And there was a customer who came in here and said thank you, and I said youre welcome and my grandmother said, No, you have to thank them,' Gary said. I was 5 or 6 years old and she was teaching me to be patient with the customers, which my grandfather was really patient with them. This past weekend, the family was honored for its service to the community with a street co-naming at the corner of 23rd Avenue and 28th Street. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All I was thinking about that day with the street signing was my grandfather, grandmother, my father, my mother, those guys that were here before me and kept the store going, Gary said. Garys wife, Mary, said many factors have contributed to the business longevity. It has a real kind of community feel, and theres a lot of laughter and hard work that happens, a lot of joy, Mary said. We dont have the pressure other businesses have of escalating rents that eventually become so high that people cant make a profit, so we have been so lucky that Henry made the decision 100 years ago to buy the building. His son Daniel Bartunek added that the key to their success has always been putting the customer first. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The amount of stuff we have here. People can come here and we give advice, Daniel said. We have handymen here, plumbers here. Gary still works half days six days a week, but when he fully retires, Daniel will take over. And maybe his 1-year-old son Brandon will be next in line. It makes me feel very good and honored that people supported this store for 100 years and kept coming back, Gary said. The Bartuneks say this is their home, and they hope it will be around for generations to come. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. Editor's note: The article was updated with the latest casualty figures in Kharkiv. Russian attacks across Ukrainian regions killed at least 11 civilians and injured at least 119, including children, over the past day, regional authorities said on April 18. Recent weeks saw Russia intensify its strikes against Ukraine's civilian infrastructure and residential areas as Moscow continues to reject a full ceasefire backed by Washington and Kyiv. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moscow's forces launched an Iskander-M ballistic missile, five Iskander-K cruise missiles, and 37 attack and decoy drones against Ukraine overnight, the Air Force reported. Ukrainian air defenses shot down 23 drones and three cruise missiles, and 10 decoy drones disappeared from radars, according to the statement. Russia launched a missile attack against the city of Kharkiv on the morning of April 18, killing at least one person and injuring at least 87, including children, authorities said. The attack damaged at least 20 apartment buildings, 30 houses, and an educational institution. A fire broke out on the premises of an enterprise, covering an area of 450 square meters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two civilians were injured in Russian attacks elsewhere in Kharkiv Oblast, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported. In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, two people were killed and five injured during a heavy artillery strike against the city of Nikopol on April 17, Governor Serhii Lysak said. Russia also launched a missile attack against Dnipro on the morning of April 18, damaging a fitness center, a hotel, and an office, but reportedly inflicting no casualties in the city. Russian attacks also killed three civilians and injured six in Donetsk Oblast, Governor Vadym Filashkin reported. These included two people killed and two injured in Kostiantynivka, one killed in Rusyn Yar, two injured in Novoekonomichne, and one injured each in Hryshyne and Oleksievo-Druzhkivka. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Kherson Oblast, four people were killed and 25 injured, including a child, in Russian attacks over the past day, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported. Nine high-rise buildings and 10 houses were damaged, as well as an ambulance and cars. A drone attack against the city of Sumy killed one civilian, injured another, and damaged a bakery, Sumy Oblast authorities reported. Read also: Territories are first and foremost people: Zaporizhzhia, Kherson residents anxiously watch Witkoff debate the land they live on Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. 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? MEMPHIS, Tenn. The City of Dyersburg reported 121 properties were damaged by flooding from severe weather earlier this month. In a statement on Facebook, the City of Dyersburg said that preliminary flood damage assessments started on Monday, April 14, by their Codes staff, and they were completed on Wednesday, April 16. These were for those affected by the flood within the city limits of Dyersburg; a total of 121 properties were impacted by the flooding, said the City of Dyersburg. Flooding in South Dyersburg. Flooding in South Dyersburg. Flooding in South Dyersburg. Flooding in South Dyersburg. On April 8, over 40 homes were evacuated due to flooding in South Dyersburg from the North Fork of the Forked Deer River. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rescue crews evacuated almost 50 people, and some were staying in a Red Cross shelter. Businesses along South Main were also suffering after being closed in February by floods, ice, and snow. Floodwaters recede in Dyersburg, residents still fear for homes The American Red Cross shelter in the First United Methodist Church is caring for many flood victims. Well, theyre all feeling pretty down right now and they feel hopeless, but thats one reason were here because we can provide some hope and comfort for them, said Deene Shaver, Supervisor of the American Red Cross Shelter in Dyersburg. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A 13-year-old boy is dead after a crash on a bus crash on a South Carolina interstate Thursday. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The crash happened on I-77 in Chester County, our sister station WSOC reported. The buses were on their way home from a field trip to the NASCAR Hall of Fame when a tire blew. The bus then hit a guardrail and overturned, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chester Countys emergency management director told WSOC that 38 patients were transported to nearby hospitals three by helicopter and the rest by ground. At the time of the crash, at least five students were badly injured. On Friday, the county coroner identified the victim who died in the crash as Jose Maria Gonzales Linares, an eighth grader at Pine Ridge Middle School. Dozens showed up to a prayer vigil outside the school Friday, offering support for those hurt and love for the student lost. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Apr. 17One of three boys charged with deliberately using a stolen car to strike and kill a man as he bicycled to work pleaded guilty Thursday to second-degree murder. Johnathan Overbay, 13, faces a hearing April 30 when he will be sentenced to remain in custody until he is 21 years old, his attorney said Thursday. Police identified Overbay as the driver of the car that struck Scott Habermehl, a 63-year-old engineer and father of two, as he pedaled to work at Sandia National Laboratories in May 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Albuquerque police also arrested Messiah Hayes, 11, and William Garcia, 16, in the fatal crash. The cases against those boys are pending. Overbay's attorney, Michael Rosenfield, said in a phone interview Thursday that the plea agreement was in the best interest of his client. "It's unfortunate that the public will never know about his background," Rosenfield said of Overbay. "It wasn't a pretty background. Those of us who grew up in a typical middle-class family never know what these kids are exposed to." Judge Catherine Begaye accepted the plea agreement at a hearing Thursday in the 2nd Judicial District Children's Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Albuquerque police were dispatched to the fatal crash at 4:40 a.m. May 29, 2024, where they found Habermehl near the intersection of Moon and Aspen NE. Police said Habermehl rolled over the top of the car and fell to the ground. In a cellphone video shared by police, the boys can be heard discussing whether to "bump" Habermehl and giggling in the moments before the car swerved into a bike lane. Police said the video was shared on social media. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 18. The subsequent court hearing occurred in the criminal case involving Tural Aliyev, Executive Director of Zeromap LLC, who was apprehended following an operation by the Azerbaijani State Security Service, who is charged with developing software for remote access to mobile phones and other electronic devices, as well as unlawfully acquiring computer data, Trend reports. At the Yasamal District Court, during the hearing presided over by Judge Rashad Javadzade, the defendants lawyer requested that his client be allowed to testify again, as he had newly joined the case. Tural Aliyev gave a new statement. He noted that his activities focused on system security testing. I plead guilty to attempting unauthorized access to the server of Ultra Technologies LLC. I just wanted to gain a reputation in this field, so I surrounded myself with experienced individuals. At the same time, I tested the security of various company servers, he said. The judge asked him questions regarding the equipment found on him at the time of arrest and the software installed on those devices. In response to the lawyers question, Did you intend to unlawfully access Ultra Technologies LLC systems? Tural Aliyev stated that his goal was solely testing. I'm an expert. Testing is part of my job. I got to know this company through a forum where hundreds of people like me were participating. During the test, I found some vulnerabilities, he pointed out. Aliyev said he considers himself partially guilty because he did not physically enter the system of Ultra Technologies. I didnt secretly access their servers. I only conducted tests. However, the login credentials remained on my device. When the device was reactivated, it automatically logged in. He added that the software he used was audit-type and that he informed companies when he found vulnerabilities. The software I developed was a major project for Azerbaijan. I needed to build a name for myself. I also informed Hikmat Abdullayev, head of the Idrak company, about the software. I stored it on my own equipment. The court also revealed that the defendant had communicated with an individual known as User Elshan and discussed intrusions into company systems. VPN was used for privacy. It was determined that Aliyev had obtained 25 MB of data from an Israeli company and 1 MB from a U.S.-based company. He also had ties to the cybercriminal group Alfa Black Cat. In late 2023, he contacted a person nicknamed Karnaval and sold access credentials to a company for $500, which he received in cryptocurrency. In addition, he sold data from a maritime company based in Argentina to private individuals. The court proceedings will continue on May 1. Tural Aliyev was arrested during the State Security Service operation. He is charged under Articles 271.2.1 (unauthorized access to a computer system), 272.2.1 (illegal acquisition of computer data), and 273-1.1 (distribution of tools used for cybercrimes) of the Criminal Code. According to the indictment, over four years, the defendant accessed mobile phones and computer systems of both domestic and foreign individuals and organizations, reading their messages. He also obtained non-public information from foreign companies via cyberattacks. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) More than $132,000 in cash was seized when Charlotte authorities raided Stars Arcade, an alleged illegal gaming business found on Brookshire Boulevard. The operation went down earlier this month on April 9, when CMPDs Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) Unit, backed by SWAT and several patrol divisions, executed a search warrant along Brookshire Blvd. The bust was the result of an investigation that began in late 2024. Inside, investigators found 136 illegal gaming stations, over 36 grams of suspected marijuana, four firearms including an AR-15 rifle and cash totaling $132,077. Photos: CMPD Photos: CMPD According to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police, unlicensed individuals were providing armed security at the location. Three of them were arrested for acting as unlicensed armed guards. Two customers were also cited for misdemeanor gaming violations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CMPD said more charges are on the way for the arcades owners and managers. 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. URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) A 14-year-old boy from Urbana was arrested for having and intending to deliver marijuana on school property. The Urbana Police Department said the teenager was arrested on Thursday. Police said he was in possession of more than 500 grams of cannabis-infused edibles. The investigation began after a student needed medical attention; it was later determined that they had eaten cannabis edibles. Champaign Co. Sheriffs deputy accused of misusing funds from police support nonprofit Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Urbana School Resource Officers and officials with the Urbana School District launched an investigation, and officers were able to identify and apprehend the suspect. He was brought to the Champaign County Juvenile Detention Center, and is awaiting court proceedings. The Urbana Police Department asks that anyone with additional information contact them at 217-384-2320. To make an anonymous tip, contact Crime Stoppers at 217-373-8477 (TIPS), online, or on the P3 Tips mobile app. WCIA reached out to the Urbana School District for a statement, but did not immediately receive a response back. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. BOSTON (WPRI) A yearlong investigation into a major fentanyl and cocaine trafficking operation has resulted in 16 arrests. Law enforcement executed search warrants at 20 different locations in Fall River, Taunton, and other communities on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the Massachusetts Attorney Generals Office. Investigators seized a total of 2,360 grams of cocaine, 1,364 grams of fentanyl, 33 firearms, multiple high-capacity magazines, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and $109,355 in cash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The joint investigation, dubbed Operation No Love, began in March 2024 and was led by the Massachusetts State Police Interstate Narcotics Reduction Enforcement Team, Homeland Security Investigations and the Raynham Police Department. Law enforcement executed search warrants at 20 different locations in Bristol County. (Courtesy: Massachusetts Attorney Generals Office) An undercover state trooper bought drugs nine times from members of the alleged trafficking organization. With the controlled purchases as a starting point, the investigative team used a combination of physical and electronic surveillance, toll analysis, and court-authorized electronic intercepts of target cell phones, to identify the organizations hierarchy, primary subjects, communication devices, vehicles, methods of operation, and sources of narcotics supply, the AGs office said in a press release. ALSO READ: Man stabbed in New Bedford; suspect in custody Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators then obtained warrants for 11 locations in Taunton, four locations in Fall River, two locations in Raynham, and one each in Falmouth, Norton, and Pembroke. Nearly 200 officers and troopers were involved in conducting the searches, according to the AGs office. The suspects were men and women ranging in age from 26 to 59. They were arraigned on various drug, firearm and conspiracy charges. 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! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. 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: Tresia Jo Mathes Worton. Image courtesy Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum. We want to remember Tresia Jo Mathes Worton, 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. DENVER (KDVR) Two suspects were arrested Thursday in connection with a deadly shooting that resulted in a single-vehicle crash that injured three other occupants of the vehicle. The Denver Police Department said it arrested Ashley Stone, 38, and David Bland, 39, for investigation of first-degree murder. The shooting allegedly occurred near the intersection of East 38th Avenue and North Odessa Street at about 3:40 p.m. on Wednesday. Broomfield man guilty after killing wife, posing as ex-boyfriend stalking her Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Denver police said that when officers first responded, they found a single-vehicle rollover crash. First responders found that the adult male driver was deceased and three occupants, which included a woman and two children, were transported to a local hospital for treatment of injuries suffered in the crash. Later, police found the man had apparent gunshot wounds. The agency said that investigators learned information that led to the identification of Stone and Bland, and said that preliminary information shows the victims and suspects were known to each other. The Denver Police Department said that there was an altercation reported on the afternoon of April 16 between Stone and the woman injured in the crash. Shortly after the reported altercation, the suspects began following the victims by car, according to police. The suspects then fired into the victims vehicle, and the man crashed the vehicle after being shot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mans identity will be released by the Denver Office of the Medical Examiner and final charges will be determined by the Denver 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 FOX31 Denver. MEMPHIS, Tenn. Two men connected to a fatal shooting that happened last month in Marianna, Arkansas, are now in jail, according to the Arkansas State Police. Tyrese Mitchell, 21, is charged with First-Degree Murder and Possession of a Machine Gun Device. Derrick Morris, 27, is charged with First-Degree Murder and Possession of Firearms by Certain Persons. Man found shot to death at Crockett County home Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On March 22, Marianna Police say they responded to a shooting call at Atkins Park. A man was found lying on the ground next to this car suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. Police have identified him as Earl Taylor, 52. Tyrese Mitchell and Derrick Morris are both being held in the Lee County Jail on $1 million bonds. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) Two food service employees were identified as the people killed when a gunman opened fire on the Florida State University campus Thursday. We are heartbroken to confirm that an Aramark employee was among those killed at FSU yesterday in that senseless act of violence, a spokesperson for the food service provider said in a statement. We are absolutely shaken by the news and our deepest sympathies are with the family and our entire Aramark community. Police search for motive in deadly shooting at FSU Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Aramark employee was identified as Tiru Chabba, a 45-year-old father of two. He was a resident of Greenville, South Carolina, according to his familys attorney. Tiru Chabba (Courtesy: Strom Law Firm) The other campus dining employee was identified by family as Robert Morales, who was originally from Miami-Dade County. He was also a FSU alum. You deserved better, Robert. Thank you for being in my life, a man claiming to be Morales older brother wrote in a post on X. Robert Morales (Credit: Florida State University) The Morales brothers father, Ricardo Morales, was a Cuban exile turned CIA operative in South Florida with the nickname Monkey. Ricardo Morales Jr. describes his fathers work as a contract agent for the CIA in the forthcoming book, Monkey Morales: The True Story of a Mythic Cuban Exile, Assassin, CIA Operative, FBI Informant, Smuggler, and Dad, which is expected to be published later this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dubbed The Monkey for his disruptive and unpredictable escapades, Morales grabbed headlines for decades as tales of his bombings, arrests, assassination attempts (both those he executed and those he suffered), and testimony constructed a real-life spy adventure unlike anything brought to page or screen, reads promotional material from publisher Simon & Schuster. The elder Morales was fatally shot in a bar brawl in 1982 at the age of 43. A spokesperson for Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare said in a statement that two of the six injured patients are expected to be discharged from the hospital on Friday. Three shooting victims conditions are improving, while another remained in fair condition. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. April is Donate Life Month. Reports show more than100,000 people, including children, are currently waiting for an organ transplant here in the United States. And for some, that wait can last months or even years. There are many individuals that are waiting for organ transplantation, and unfortunately, there are not as many donors that happen from year to year, though it has been gradually increasing through education and online resources that are providing exposure to the necessity for more organs to become available, said Bobby Zervos, MD, liver transplant specialist at Cleveland Clinic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Zervos said the organ donation process is extremely thorough to ensure the organ is healthy for transplant and a good match for the recipient. On average, one organ donor can save up to eight lives. He said while wait times for organ donations can be long, new advancements in technology seem to be helping. Research has found organ perfusion pumps can improve the quality of certain organs that would have previously been considered high risk. The pump works by circulating blood through the organ after its been removed from the body. The results have been phenomenal. So, its not only that were now able to use more organs, but its also improving the quality of the organs, even to the point where were putting healthy quality organs on the pump because that revitalization that takes place during that process can help even the highest quality of organs be that much better, he explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Zervos said people also have the option of being a living donor, which means they can donate part of an organ while theyre still alive to someone else in need. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. FAIRMONT, W.Va. (WBOY) Two men were charged after deputies found a large amount of fentanyl while executing a search warrant in Fairmont. Aunthony Banks On April 17, deputies with the Marion County Sheriffs Department executed a search warrant at a residence in Fairmont, according to a criminal complaint. Zion Smith While performing the search, deputies made contact with Aunthony Banks, 43, of Fairmont; and Zion Smith, 21, of Detroit, Michigan, deputies said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Man allegedly shot another man in the head over property dispute in Webster County In the home, deputies found a large quantity of a substance which tested positive for fentanyl, weighing a total of 211.7 grams (7.46 ounces), as well as three cell phones, according to the complaint. Banks and Smith have been charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. They are being held in North Central Regional Jail. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com. SMITH COUNTY, Texas (KETK) Two men have been sentenced to prison after investigators found communication between the two, where one sent child pornography files in exchange for nude pictures of the other. 16 people in East Texas arrested for wide-spread meth trafficking conspiracy According to Smith County judicial records, Antonio Guevara-Valderrama and Nathaniel Connor Mitchell pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography and received combined sentences of 50 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An affidavit obtained from the Smith County Sheriffs Office revealed that during a search of Mitchells phone in November 2023, officials found several files containing apparent child pornography. Mugshot of Antonio Guevara-Valderrama, courtesy of Smith County Jail Records Mugshot of Nathaniel Connor Mitchell, courtesy of Smith County Jail Records During the investigation, officers learned that these files had been shared by Guevara-Valderrama in what appeared to be in exchange for shirtless pictures of Mitchell. I located about 29 files containing obvious child pornography, the affidavit said. The videos depicted children from infancy to pre-teen years in various sex acts with adults, including full penetration of the sex organs. Longview man gets 80 years for assaulting six-year-old girl Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mitchell allegedly told investigators in an interview on Nov. 9, 2023, that he met Guevara-Valderrama through a workout community at a gym about three years prior. Mitchell said they exchanged Instagram accounts and eventually, Guevara-Valderrama started offering Mitchell money for nude photos and other sexual acts. Mitchell related he then would go over to Tonys [Guevara-Valderrama] house, the affidavit said. Mitchell advised he would go over to Tonys residence, where he would strip nude for Tony and pose. On March 17, Guevara-Valderrama was sentenced to 30 years in prison, and on Wednesday, Mitchell was sentenced to 20 years. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 18. The relations between Azerbaijan and China are based on mutual trust, Azerbaijani MP and head of the Azerbaijan-China Parliamentary Friendship Group Soltan Mammadov told Trend. According to him, it's plain as day that Azerbaijan has struck up strategic partnerships with a handful of countries, particularly with China. The MP noted that the "Joint Declaration on the Establishment of Strategic Partnership between Azerbaijan and China," signed at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in Astana last year, marked a new chapter in the history of relations between our countries. "The president of Azerbaijan has also emphasized in his speeches the importance of achieving a strategic partnership with a giant country like China. The declaration reflects important provisions on mutual respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, and coordination of activities on the most critical issues of regional and global security. This document also envisions deepening practical cooperation within the framework of the 'Belt and Road' initiative. It highlights the development of investment cooperation in the fields of oil and gas, petrochemicals, green energy, electricity, high technologies and innovations, artificial intelligence, and space. All of this expresses the intention to develop the relations between Azerbaijan and China in a broad spectrum," Mammadov said. He emphasized that Azerbaijan is very interested in the development of the green energy sector. Investment by Chinese companies in Azerbaijan's renewable energy sector can play a significant role in the development of this field. "During COP29, relevant documents were signed with several Chinese companies in the field of 'green energy.' China's experience in renewable energy production may be beneficial in achieving the goals set by Azerbaijan. Therefore, our country actively supports the investment initiatives of Chinese companies in this direction," he reminded. Mammadov also highlighted that the Heydar Aliyev Foundation works closely with the China People's Friendship Association with Foreign Countries. The MP mentioned that the cooperation between the two organizations aims to contribute to the development of relations between states and peoples. As he stressed, numerous successful projects have seen the light of day thanks to this collaboration. He pointed out that one of the key provisions of the Joint Declaration signed between Azerbaijan and China is the development of cooperation between legislative bodies within international and regional organizations. "A few days ago, during a meeting with the Chinese delegation, the work done within the framework of bilateral relations was discussed, and an exchange of views took place on future projects. The development of inter-parliamentary relations is one of the issues of particular importance to both sides," Mammadov concluded. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel CLEVELAND (WJW) Cleveland police detectives are searching for two suspects wanted on a vehicular homicide charge after investigators said theyre accused of hitting and killing a father of five. The violent series of events started as conflict between two 12-year-old boys in the area of East 149th Street and Kinsman on Monday evening. The family of 37-year-old Norman Duncan told FOX 8 News that the father of five learned his son was being held against his will by the other boys parents after an argument. Norman Duncan (Courtesy of Duncan family) Duncan told family members he planned to have a conversation with the other boys parents, but when he got to their neighborhood, it reportedly led to a fight with 36-year-old Marvin Atkins. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then, Atkins girlfriend, Ann Marie Clayton, allegedly struck Duncan in the head with a brick. Teen assaults teacher, student with Stanley cup: Akron police Relatives told FOX 8 that Duncan broke free, grabbed his son and was trying to leave the neighborhood. Thats when, according to the Cleveland Division of Police, the suspects allegedly got into their vehicle, drove onto the curb and intentionally hit Duncan. Just ran into him, the victims uncle, Brian Duncan, said. Theyre cowards, man, thats all. Theyre cowards, he wasnt. Norman was a heck of a guy. Family members said the boy, who looked on in horror, called 911. His father was rushed to University Hospitals by an ambulance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police confirmed that the victim died from his injuries Monday night. Wrong-way crash on I-71 caught on video overnight The Cleveland Division of Police identified the suspects as Atkins and Clayton, who are wanted for vehicular homicide. Marvin Atkins and Ann Marie Clayton, courtesy of Cleveland police Atkins stands 6-foot-4, weighs 249 pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes. Clayton stands 5-foot-5, weighs 180 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes. Investigators said the suspects could be traveling in a 2003 Gold Chevy Impala with tinted windows and the Ohio license plate KOD2076. Courtesy of Cleveland police Anyone with information on the case or the suspects whereabouts should reach out to the Cleveland Police Homicide Unit at 216-623-5464. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. (KRON) California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced $200,000 in reward money for unsolved crimes, two of which were in the Bay Area. Newsom announced four separate rewards of $50,000 each for the four separate crimes. Officer killed in Hillsborough The first case was related to the attempted homicide of a police officer in Hillsborough in San Mateo County. A Hillsborough Police Department officer was ambushed and shot at around 3:49 p.m. on Feb. 22. The officer was on the Hillsborough PD Station property at 1600 Floribunda Ave. when the shooting occurred. San Jose fire captain arrested for burglary, drug charges, officials say Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Newsoms office, Hillsborough PD have exhausted all investigative leads and request that a reward be offered to anyone with information that leads to an arrest or conviction in the case. 1997 Petaluma cold case The second Bay Area case stems from a 1997 incident in Sonoma County. On Aug. 22, 1997, 12-year-old Georgia Moses was found deceased next to the southbound Highway 101 on-ramp at Petaluma Boulevard South. She had previously gone missing from her home in Petaluma. Again, police have exhausted all investigative leads in the case and a $50,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest or conviction. Additional cases and Lemoore and La Mesa The other two cases involved include the 2021 fatal shooting of Cornelius Brown in La Mesa in San Diego County. Brown was fatally shot in the doorway of his apartment on April 24 of 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another reward is being offered in the case of a fatal shooting in Kings County. Jeff Scott, 52, was fatally shot on the Santa Rosa Rancheria reservation in Lemoore on March 25, 2022. In both cases, police have exhausted all investigative leads and a $50,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest or conviction. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) Two out of three individuals accused of robbing a residence in Murrells Inlet over the weekend have been arrested, according to the Georgetown County Sheriffs Office. Brodie Austin Seward, 21, was arrested by Myrtle Beach officers Thursday evening and charged with armed robbery, burglary in the first degree, conspiracy, kidnapping, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. The Conway Police Department arrested 19-year-old Jamarion QuaLee Terrell Long on Tuesday. He was charged with robbery while armed, burglary first-degree, conspiracy, kidnapping, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Law enforcement is still searching for Tymarious Dereintae Shimeek Holmes, 21 for similar charges. It all stems from an incident that happened Sunday where two victims reported that they were robbed on Sunnyside Avenue. The suspects stole money, cell phones, and a safe containing additional money. Anyone with information should call 843-546-5102. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A pair of Texas men were sentenced to prison on Wednesday, while another man from San Antonio pleaded guilty to traveling to Oregon to commit an armed robbery while posing as DEA agents in 2022. Nevin Morales, 23, was sentenced to over 11 years in prison with five years supervised release, while Michael Acuna, 23, was sentenced to over five years in prison with and four years supervised release. The sum of restitution they each must pay to victims will be determined at a later date, authorities said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Juan Conchas, 23, pleaded guilty to conspiring to interfere with commerce by robbery and conspiring to possess marijuana with the intent to distribute. He faces a maximum of 40 years in prison. He will be sentenced on July 15. This all stems from an incident on March 12, 2022, when deputies from the Josephine County Sheriffs Office responded to an armed robbery at a rural home. The deputies found a residence with a closed driveway gate and two empty vehicles with Texas license plates in the driveway with their doors open. Deputies saw several people running toward the back of the property and found victims inside the house. The victims reported that armed individuals dressed in what appeared to be DEA attire and wearing body armor arrived at the property and used zip ties and duct tape to restrain several of them, officials said. The deputies searched the property and found large plastic totes containing packaged marijuana in the buildings and vehicles. They also found body armor, firearms, ammunition, shell casings, and badges that resembled those carried by DEA agents along the path that Morales, Acuna, Conchas and others used to flee the property. Investigators discovered that the three men traveled from Texas to Oregon to steal over 200 pounds of marijuana. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The three men were indicted on Sept. 1, 2022, charging them with conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, conspiracy to possess marijuana with intent to distribute, and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Morales and Acuna were located and arrested in San Antonio on Oct. 6, 2022. Conchas was also arrested in San Antonio one week later. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. Three people have been arrested after a hail of gunfire sent bullets flying through a neighborhood in Salem, nearly hitting a rideshare driver as he picked up passengers earlier this week. The Salem Police Department on Friday announced the arrests and said that two firearms believed to have been used in the Albion Street shooting on Monday morning had been recovered by investigators. Police didnt release the names of the alleged shooters, but said three adults were facing charges. We took this case very seriously, as did a team of our law enforcement partners, police said in a statement shared with Boston 25 News. More to follow! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although no one was hit by the gunfire, video of the chaos that was captured on a doorbell camera left neighborhood residents rattled. Witnesses recalled seeing three gunmen open fire while an Uber driver was picking up people. It was loud, it sounded like fireworks, and it was really, really scary, Walter Simpson said. Henry Aguilar added, They looked like they were running away, they looked like they were being shot at. Officers responding to the scene of the shooting found the road littered with bullet casings. Police said the suspects fled the scene after the shooting. Gunplay on the streets of Salem is unacceptable, the department said after the shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators noted that they dont believe the incident was random. Additional details are expected to be revealed when the suspects face a judge later on Friday. 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 "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." 19682001 Who Was Timothy McVeigh? Timothy McVeigh was a domestic terrorist who perpetrated the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. Raised in New York, McVeigh developed an interest in guns and anti-government sentiments as a bullied teenager. He served in the U.S. Army with distinction in the Persian Gulf War but grew increasingly disillusioned with the government after his discharge. Following months of planning, on April 19, 1995, McVeigh detonated explosives outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, resulting in 168 casualties and another several hundred wounded victims. He was apprehended shortly after the bombing and was executed in June 2001 at age 33. The Oklahoma City bombing remains the deadliest instance of domestic terrorism in American history. Quick Facts FULL NAME: Timothy James McVeigh BORN: April 23, 1968 DIED: June 11, 2001 BIRTHPLACE: Lockport, New York ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Taurus Early Life Timothy James McVeigh was born on April 23, 1968, in Lockport, New York, to Mildred and William McVeigh. He grew up nearby in the working-class town of Pendleton with his sisters, Jennifer and Patricia. After his parents divorced, McVeigh lived with his father and developed an interest in guns through target practice sessions with his grandfather. It was during this time he read The Turner Diaries, an anti-government tome by neo-Nazi William Pierce. The book described a bombing of a federal building and fueled McVeighs paranoia about a government plot to repeal the Second Amendment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tall, skinny, and quiet, McVeigh was bullied as a teenager. He was also very bright, even earning a partial college scholarship after graduating from high school in 1986, though he only briefly attended a business school before dropping out. U.S. Army Years and Rising Anger In 1988, McVeigh enlisted in the U.S. Army and became a model soldier, earning the Bronze Star for bravery in the Persian Gulf War. He received an invitation to try out for the Armys special forces but gave up after only two days and was discharged in 1991. McVeigh initially returned to New York but soon took up a peripatetic lifestyle. He followed the gun-show circuit, selling weapons and preaching the evils of the government along the way. He periodically spent time with Army buddies Terry Nichols and Michael Fortier, who shared McVeighs passion for guns and hatred of federal authority. Two events involving the FBIs actions against separatists added fuel to McVeighs anger toward the government. First, in the summer of 1992, white separatist Randy Weaver was engaged in a standoff with government agents at his cabin in Ruby Ridge, Idaho. He was suspected of selling illegal sawed-off shotguns. The siege resulted in the death of Weavers son and wife. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then, in April 1993, federal agents surrounded the compound of a religious organization called the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas, to arrest their leader, David Koresh, on illegal weapons charges. On April 19, McVeigh watched on television as the FBI stormed the compound. The resulting firestorm killed dozens of Branch Davidians, including children. Oklahoma City Bombing In September 1994, McVeigh put into motion his plan to destroy the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. With accomplices Terry Nichols and Michael Fortier, McVeigh acquired tons of ammonium nitrate fertilizer and gallons of fuel to form a highly volatile explosive. McVeigh chose the Murrah Federal Building because it provided excellent camera angles for media coverage. He wanted to make this attack a platform for his anti-government message. On the morning of April 19, 1995, the second anniversary of the FBI siege on the Branch Davidian compound, McVeigh parked a Ryder truck loaded with the explosive substance in front of the Murray building. People were coming to work and on the second floor, children were arriving at the day-care center. At 9:02 a.m., the explosion ripped the entire north wall off the building, destroying all nine floors. More than 300 other buildings in the immediate area were damaged or destroyed. In the rubble were 168 deceased victims, including 19 young children, and another 650-plus wounded. The bombing remains the deadliest domestic terrorism event in U.S. history. Getty Images Arrest and Trial Early reports suggested that a Middle Eastern terrorist group might have been responsible, but within days, McVeigh was considered the primary suspect. He was already in jail, having been pulled over shortly after the bombing for driving without a license plate. The police office conducting the traffic stop discovered McVeigh was carrying an illegally concealed handgun and arrested him. When the FBI searched his car, they found an envelope full of excerpts from the The Turner Diaries. Nichols soon surrendered to authorities, and the two were indicted for the bombing in August 1995. Getty Images Following a five-week-long trial that began in April 1997, McVeigh was convicted after 23 hours of deliberation, and he was sentenced to death. The following year, Nichols was sentenced to life in prison. After testifying against both McVeigh and Nichols, Fortier was sentenced to 12 years in prison in 1998 and was subsequently released in 2006. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While on death row, McVeigh was interviewed for a biography, American Terrorist by Lou Michel and Dan Herbeck. McVeigh spoke of the bombing with some pride, referring to the young victims as collateral damage. Meanwhile, his requests for an appeal and a new trial were rejected. Execution and Last Words On June 11, 2001, following an attempted stay of execution, federal prison authorities executed McVeigh by lethal injection. He died within minutes, and his body was cremated. His death marked the first federal execution in 38 years. The 33-year-olds final statement was the poem Invictus by William Ernest Henley. McVeigh didnt recite it but rather gave a handwritten copy of the poem to the prison warden before he was executed. Documentaries McVeigh has been the subject of a number documentaries over the years. In 2017, PBS released the documentary film Oklahoma City about McVeighs beliefs and experiences leading up to the bombing. His criminal trial was the focus of an episode of the 2018 Oxygen docuseries In Defense Of, in which his attorneys were interviewed about their legal defense in his case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2024, HBO released the documentary An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th, which explored the rise of anti-government sentiment and domestic terrorism through the lens of McVeighs thoughts and actions. That same year, the movie McVeigh portrayed how the terrorist, played by Alfie Allen, devised his plan to blow up the federal building in Oklahoma City. Two new documentaries, which came out in April 2025, also explore the devastating events surrounding the bombing. While National Geographics Oklahoma City Bombing: One Day in America focuses on rescue efforts and stories of survivors, Netflixs Oklahoma City Bombing: American Terror delves into the investigative efforts that led to McVeighs arrest and conviction. Fact Check: We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesnt look right, contact us! You Might Also Like MIDLAND COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- The Midland Health Department has confirmed a third case of measles in an adult resident inside Midland County. Midland Health Department is working to identify exposures and notify exposed individuals. As of April 17, eight cases have also been confirmed in Ector County, two in Andrews County, three in Martin County, and one in Reeves County. The Texas Department of State Health Services said only about four percent of the nearly 600 cases across Texas are actively infectious. Symptoms of Measles Symptoms typically appear seven to 21 days after exposure and may include: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement High fever (above 101F) Cough Runny nose Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis) Tiny white spots (Koplik spots) inside the mouth (2-3 days after symptoms begin) A red, flat rash that starts on the face and spreads downward to the rest of the body (3-5 days after symptoms begin) People with measles are contagious from four days before the rash appears to four days after it develops. What To Do If You Have Been Exposed or Have Symptoms If you believe you have been exposed to measles or are experiencing symptoms: Stay home to prevent spreading the virus to others. Call your healthcare provider or the Midland Health Department before visiting a medical facility to arrange testing in a way that minimizes exposure to others. If you decide you want to be seen at your doctors office or at a healthcare facility such as an emergency department or clinic, PLEASE CALL THEM FIRST and inform them you were possibly exposed to measles. Monitor for symptoms for up to 21 days after exposure. Prevention & Vaccination Vaccination is the best protection against measles. The Midland Health Department offers the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine for individuals who are unvaccinated. While no special vaccination clinics are currently planned, residents are encouraged to check their immunization records and speak with their healthcare provider about their vaccination status. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People born before 1957 are usually considered immune. Those who have received two doses of the MMR vaccine are also considered protected. Vaccination, even shortly before or after exposure, may prevent or lessen the severity of measles. In certain high-risk individuals (such as pregnant women, immunocompromised individuals, and unvaccinated infants), immune globulin given within six days of exposure may help prevent infection. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Five Venezuelan immigrants with alleged ties to Tren de Aragua have been jailed in Osceola County following a string of dozens of retail thefts committed throughout Central Florida, according to the Polk County Sheriffs Office. The suspects identified as Alexis Rodriguez-Benavides, 27; Samuel Anthony-Charle, 25; Darwins Vasquez-Leon, 28; Ildemaro Escalona-Mendoza, 26; and Ramon Carpintero-Luna, 26 are accused of stealing from stores in eight counties, including Orange, Osceola and Seminole, the agency said in a Friday news release. Rodriguez-Benavides and Anthony-Charle were listed by the agency as being documented members of Tren de Aragua, which began as a prison gang in Venezuela but is now a transnational criminal outfit targeted by state and federal authorities. The group has become notorious as the Trump administration maintains it is directed by the Venezuelan government, a claim contradicted by a U.S. intelligence assessment. President Donald Trump has invoked war powers to deport its alleged members without customary due process on that basis, triggering a series of court battles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The other suspects in the local case are considered associates of the gang, but an agency spokesperson was unable to say how investigators linked them. Their identities, however, were revealed following a robbery early March of a Sams Club in Lakeland, where surveillance video reportedly shows the men attempting to steal thousands of dollars in high-end liquor before being chased off by a store employee. Dubbed scotch bandits by the Sheriffs Office in images released to news outlets, the video showed them salvaging two cases of liquor before speeding away from the scene. The getaway car was then abandoned after getting stuck atop a bush when the driver hopped a concrete curb in a nearby parking lot. The abandoned vehicle, authorities said, contained the stolen merchandise, cellphones and a passport. Osceola County jail records show two of the men, Anthony-Charle and Escalona-Mendoza, have sat in the hoosegow since March 20, charged with crimes stemming from an armed robbery at an apartment complex in Kissimmee. Escalona-Mendoza, according to court filings, is the accused gunman who detectives said held up two people looking to lease a unit, taking with him several credit cards and $2,300 in cash. While investigators said surveillance video did not show how the suspects escaped, Anthony-Charle allegedly made several transactions with the cards, including attempted purchases at a nearby Walmart and a barbershop. Their criminal cases as of Friday are ongoing, and its unclear whether those are part of the string of statewide robberies now being handled by Floridas Office of Statewide Prosecution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for Vasquez-Leon, he was jailed Wednesday after he was caught driving without a license with his Venezuelan passport as his only form of identification, according to one affidavit. Rodriguez-Benavides and Carpintero-Luna were arrested the same day on a Polk County warrant, though its unclear from available records how they were found. All five men entered the U.S. illegally, the Sheriffs Office said, and their arrests have already caught the attention of the Department of Homeland Security. Florida officials have ramped up immigration enforcement efforts following President Trumps return to office on the pledge to tackle criminal organizations like Tren de Aragua, the scourge du jour of agencies seeking to support the presidents agenda. To date, scores of immigrants with alleged ties to Tren de Aragua and other gangs have been arrested statewide and elsewhere, though the evidence tying them to these groups has at times appeared scant. Gov. Ron DeSantis trumpeted the arrest of Franklin Jimenez-Bracho, an alleged Tren de Aragua member captured in Osceola County after years in the U.S. According to Venezuelan news media, Jimenez-Bracho, nicknamed El Patalisa, was among the 10 criminals most wanted by Interpol, which placed him on their list in 2021 for extortion, contract killing and human trafficking. Hes also wanted in the country for the killings of his wife and her cousin. HONOLULU (KHON2) The Hawaii State Legislature is once again proving that meaningful change can start with a single gesture, like donating a blazer or a handbag. On Tuesday, April 15, state lawmakers delivered more than 90 bags of professional clothing to the YWCA Oahus Dress for Success Honolulu program. The donation drive collected dresses, blazers, shoes, accessories, handbags and new undergarments. These were all meant to help women who are reentering the workforce after facing serious life challenges like poverty, incarceration or homelessness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The effort is part of an annual tradition organized by State Representative Gregg Takayama (House District 34 Pearl City, Waiau, Pacific Palisades) and State Senator Joy A. San Buenaventura (Senate District 2 Puna). Over the years, this drive has become more than just a clothing collection. Its become a symbol of community solidarity and a practical way to help women reclaim their independence. Dress for Success has transformed the lives of countless women by helping them to build confidence and prepare for new job opportunities, said Rep. Takayama. Sometimes, all it takes is one outfit to help someone land a job and take that first step toward independence. We are grateful for the generosity and support shown by lawmakers, staff, and the community for this important cause. 1. Its more than professional clothes While clothing is the most visible part of the Dress for Success Honolulu program, its far from the whole story. The YWCA Oahu provides workforce readiness training, mentoring and confidence-building workshops to help women prepare for employment and long-term career growth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many of the women served by the program are navigating complex transitions. They have often left behind situations that may have included domestic violence, homelessness or incarceration. Dress for Success helps them enter interviews not just looking ready but feeling ready. The YWCAs Dress for Success initiative goes beyond just professional attireit represents dignity, opportunity, and empowerment, said Sen. San Buenaventura. When we invest in women, we invest in stronger families, stronger communities, and a stronger future. 2. A statewide effort that brings people together What makes the clothing drive so powerful is how it brings together people from all parts of the community. Lawmakers and their staff, state and city employees and residents from across the island donated high-quality, work-appropriate items. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You This years collection filled more than ninety bags and demonstrated how many people care about helping women in need take the next step in life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The donated items go directly to women preparing for interviews, starting new jobs or returning to the workforce after long absences. Its a simple act of kindness that can completely change someones life. 3. The YWCA Oahu has been empowering women for more than a century Founded in 1900, the YWCA Oahu is the oldest and largest womens membership organization in the state. Its a charter member of the national YWCA USA, which includes more than 300 local organizations nationwide. For more than a century, the YWCA has helped women of all backgrounds grow into leaders and community changemakers. With three centers Fernhurst, Kokokahi and Laniakea YWCA Oahu offers a wide range of programs. These include transitional housing for women leaving incarceration, entrepreneurship training and community building programs for women and girls. 4. Helping women helps everyone When a woman gets the tools she needs to succeed, the impact spreads far beyond her own life. Women who are financially stable and emotionally confident are more likely to support their families, give back to their communities, and serve as role models for others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats why economic advancement is a core focus of the YWCAs mission. Programs like Dress for Success, the Patsy T. Mink Center for Business & Leadership and the MBDA Enterprising Women Business Center help women gain financial independence and pursue long-term career goals. These efforts are backed by national partners like the Small Business Administration and the U.S. Department of Commerce. They provide local women with access to federal support, leadership training and even funding opportunities for starting or growing businesses. 5. You can help, too The impact of programs like Dress for Success depends on people; people who are willing to donate, volunteer or spread the word. If you or someone you know is looking for employment and needs support, then you can email dfsh@ywcaoahu.org to be connected with Dress for Success Honolulu. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you want to donate professional attire, the YWCA accepts gently used and new items throughout the year. You can click here to learn more. Whether its one pair of shoes or one hour of mentorship, small efforts can help build a future where all women have a chance to thrive. Why it matters The success of the Dress for Success drive speaks to a bigger message: dignity, justice, and opportunity should be available to everyone, regardless of their past. The Hawaii State Legislatures support is not just a one-day event. Its part of an ongoing effort to stand up for social justice, support families and strengthen communities. By uplifting women who are rebuilding their lives, Hawaii lawmakers and community members are helping to create a future rooted in compassion, empowerment and equality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im proud to support the incredible work being done so that every woman has the tools, confidence, and support she needs to thrive in the workforce, said Sen. San Buenaventura. Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHONs morning podcast, every morning at 8 Its about opening doors one suit, one conversation or one vote at a time. The message is clear: when Hawaii invests in women, the whole state rises. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Two men face federal charges following their arrest after a deadly shooting outside a Nashville hotel Wednesday, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Tennessee. The arrest was the result of a months-long investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation into individuals suspected of trafficking large quantities of drugs into the area. Authorities identified two individuals involved as Deshawn, also known as Deshaune, Jones and Larry Stoker. CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Agents learned Jones had gone to the Nashville International Airport on Tuesday and picked up Stoker, who had arrived on a flight later that evening. Jones dropped Stoker off at a hotel on 29th Avenue North. As agents surveilled the hotel, they saw Calvin Trahan arrive in a vehicle with a registration out of Texas. On Wednesday morning, agents reportedly saw Stoker go to the vehicle previously driven by Trahan. Trahan unlocked the vehicle from still inside the hotel and Stoker started to unload heavy bags from the vehicle. (Photo: WKRN) (Photo: WKRN) (Photo: WKRN) (Photo: WKRN) (Photo: WKRN) (Photo: WKRN) (Photo: WKRN) (Photo: WKRN) (Photo: WKRN) (Photo: WKRN) (Photo: WKRN) (Photo: WKRN) Later Wednesday morning, Jones drove to the same hotel from his Charlotte Avenue apartment. Jones, who was carrying a blue suitcase, met Stoker outside the hotel and the two entered together. Jones and Stoker later emerged carrying the bags Stoker had unloaded from Trahans vehicle as well as the blue suitcase, according to a press release. Agents approached and identified themselves as law enforcement officers; Stoker and Jones ran away. Stoker was apprehended. Meanwhile, Jones was shot by a DEA agent and died at the hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jim Scott with the DEA Louisville Field Division said in a press conference, That operation led to a shooting by one of our agents involving a suspect. That suspect was struck. The agents performed first aid immediately on scene, and that suspect was then immediately transferred to a local hospital, where, unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries. RELATED: 1 dead after officer-involved shooting in Midtown Nashville The shooting is being investigated by the DEA and the Metro Nashville Police Department, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Tennessee. Once those reviews are concluded, I have asked them to share their findings with our office for appropriate action, acting U.S. Attorney Robert E. McGuire said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trahan was eventually apprehended inside the hotel, officials said. Authorities recovered the blue suitcase and found about 50 rectangular packages, each about a kilogram. Field tests of the packages revealed the presence of cocaine. Additionally, agents recovered multiple bundles of cash amounting to more than $250,000. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Stoker and Trahan were charged with conspiracy to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine. If convicted, they would face a mandatory minimum of ten years in federal prison and a maximum of life imprisonment with a maximum fine of $10 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our law enforcement partners work diligently every day to stop loads of illegal drugs from reaching our citizens, McGuire added. The arrests of the defendants and the seizure of fifty kilos of cocaine as well as over a quarter of a million dollars in cash the latest result in our consistent efforts to stop the flow of illegal drugs into our communities. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. KHANKENDI, Azerbaijan, April 18. Azerbaijan has created a new status quo in the South Caucasus region based on the principles of international law and territorial integrity, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmat Hajiyev said, Trend reports. He made the remark at the Garabagh University during the visit of the diplomatic corps representatives to Khankendi city. Hajiyev noted that Azerbaijan managed to put an end to the conflict thanks to responsible governance. "The Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur regions are entering a historical stage of reconstruction, transformation, and restoration. Persons who have committed crimes against Azerbaijan, including war crimes and crimes against humanity, are already accountable before the law. Currently, trials are ongoing in Azerbaijan. We hope that justice will prevail as a result of transparent and open trials. Azerbaijan has created a new status quo in the South Caucasus region based on the principles of international law and territorial integrity," he added. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel The long shadow of the pandemic still looms over the workforce, with many still working from home. But office buildings and downtown parking garages are slowly filling up as people return to their cubicles. The latest data from the Placer.ai Office Index suggests that nationwide office visits may be trending upwards once again. Although March 2025 office visit levels didnt match the peaks of October and July 2024, visits last month were only 32.2% below March 2019 levels an improvement over March 2024. Significantly, among months with 21 or fewer working days, March 2025 ranked as the second-busiest in-office month since the pandemic, just slightly behind October 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Overall, the Placer.ai Office Index points to a renewed upswing in return-to-office momentum, likely driven by increasingly strict mandates from governments and corporations. Though persistent post-pandemic office visit gaps point to the continued prevalence of hybrid work, Marchs noticeable uptick suggests that offices may be poised to make further gains in the coming months. Here are the six cities with the biggest year-over-year return-to-office increases between March 2024 and March 2025, according to Placer.ai. Boston Bostons downtown streets were largely empty during the pandemic - Photo: Scott Eisen (Getty Images) Bostonians had the highest year-over-year return-to-office rate of any city, with a 10.2% uptick in office visits compared to a year ago. Still, Boston office populations are 40% below where they were pre-pandemic. District of Columbia Photo: Kayla Bartkowski (Getty Images) Washington D.C. was in second with a 9.8% increase over last March. But the citys offices are still 30.6% lower in occupancy than before the pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Trump gave workers an incentive to come back to their offices in the form of a not-so-veiled threat. If people dont come back to work, come back into the office, theyre going to be dismissed, he said shortly after taking office. San Francisco Photo: Justin Sullivan (Getty Images) According Place.ai, the amount of office workers in San Francisco has increased by 9.6% over last March. Still, San Francisco has a long way to go before reaching pre-pandemic office levels. Offices are still 44% below the pre-pandemic baseline. DOGE administrator and Trump confidante Elon Musk said the citys empty streets gave it a post-apocalyptic feel. New York City Photo: Spencer Platt (Getty Images) New York Citys office occupancy crept up 6.1% from the previous year and now leads the pack overall, sitting only about 10% below pre-pandemic occupancy levels. Miami Photo: Joe Readle (Getty Images) Miami saw a 5.7% increase over last March. The city is still 17% below its pre-pandemic occupancy. Chicago Photo: Win McNamee (Getty Images) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Place.ai shows office visits going up 5.6% in March 2025 over March 2024, but the city still lags far beyond its pre-pandemic rate. The city is still down over 44% in office visits. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The increase in high-profile cases this year has led to 67 judges being provided enhanced security measures by the US Marshals Service and the office that runs the federal judiciary, according to a letter to Congress seeking additional funds. The Judicial Conference outlined the threat in a letter to House Appropriates Committee warning of a funding shortfall and asking for money for court security. Currently, 67 judges are receiving enhanced online security screening services provided by the Administrative Office and U.S. Marshals Service due to the judges involvement in high-profile cases or rulings that have garnered attention in the media and on social media platforms, the letter said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, the US Marshals have had to take, extraordinary measures to ensure the safety of judges, in some cases. We have significant concerns about our ability to properly secure federal courthouses given current resource levels, the letter said, signed by Chair of the Committee on the Budget Amy J. St Eve and Secretary Robert J. Conrad Jr. The Judicial Branch requested $797 million for Court Security in its December 2024 funding appeal, the letter states. Consecutive years of flat security funding comes at a time when threats against federal judges and courthouses are escalating, making this situation unsustainable in the current environment. The letter from the conference cites a warning from Chief Justice John Roberts outlining the rise in threats directed at the courts and judges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Chief Justice Roberts noted in his 2024 year-end report, there has been a significant rise in threats to the courts, including direct threats against individual judges. Some of these threats have necessitated additional security measures by the U.S. Marshals Service, and approximately 50 individuals have been criminally charged in connection with threats, the letter said. The letter comes as federal judges across the country have been taking on cases related to challenges the Trump administration is facing on their policies. St. Eve and Conrad emphasized at the end of the letter the importance of the judicial branch and that they cannot control the workload the federal legal system receives. This is a broad mission that depends on sufficient funding from Congress to carry out, the letter states. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Eight members of the Newhall 13 Gang were arrested during a large-scale raid operation in Santa Clarita Thursday. The crackdown was the result of a two-year investigation into serious crimes involving criminal street gang activity, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. After identifying and locating the suspects, 13 search warrants were served at locations across the Santa Clarita Valley. Photos showing body armor, firearms, ammunition and more that were seized during arrests throughout the Santa Clarita area on April 17, 2025. (Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department) Photos showing body armor, firearms, ammunition and more that were seized during arrests throughout the Santa Clarita area on April 17, 2025. (Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department) Eight suspects were arrested and 11 people were detained, including two juveniles. Deputies also found four firearms, body armor, gang-related clothing, and other evidence connected to criminal activity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The arrested gang members were not identified by authorities. Lt. Brandon Barclay with the Santa Clarita Sheriffs Station told The Santa Clarita Valley Signal that, Newhall 13 has been a generational gang for several years, and theyre responsible for a lot of our Part-I crimes, or crimes against person, including shootings and assault with a deadly weapon. Its not uncommon for people that are adults to recruit people that are under 18 to try to do their work, the work in the street. More than 150 LASD personnel were involved in the operation, with support from the L.A. County District Attorneys Office, the L.A. County Department of Child and Family Services and the FBI Los Angeles Division. The Juveniles and Gangs (JAGS) team detectives who led this effort have worked tirelessly for two years to bring this case to completion, the sheriffs department said. Every arrest made and every weapon recovered is a step toward preserving the peace and quality of life our community deserves. Violent crimes will not be tolerated in Santa Clarita. 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. HONOLULU (KHON2) Living in Hawaii makes Earth Day a bit more special than in other places. We have one of the most unique and dynamic ecosystems in the world, and most locals have a keen interest in protecting it. Earth Day was founded on April 22, 1970, by United States Senator Gaylord Nelson (D-Wisconsin) to raise awareness about environmental issues. It sparked a national movement for cleaner air, water and land. In Hawaii, Earth Day is celebrated with beach cleanups, malama aina (caring for the land) events, native tree plantings, educational festivals and cultural activities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Department of Land and Natural Resources and Hawaiis first lady weighed on the significance of Earth Day in Hawaii: In Honolulu alone, street trees capture an estimated three thousand three hundred and forty tons of carbon dioxide annually and save us 600-thousand dollars in energy cost. Theyre working hard to strengthen connection between communities and their trees. Theyre finding ways to put more shade trees in school campuses, build food forests, and green spaces for the community and support art and cultural practices connected to trees. It is particularly important at this time of the year with Merrie Monarch that we celebrate the Ohia tree. Dawn Chang, DLNR Chair The Queen planted so many trees here and when she was here she actually, it looked completely different. There were tons of trees and a lot of them were native plants, so Josh and I are just so excited to bring back the native plants here to the home. When we plant trees we plant hope for the future, for the environment, and for each other. Over time these saplings will root deeply and shape this space just as you will shape the future of our communities. Today we carry forward the legacy of Queen Liliuokalani who planted many trees as well as other plants on these grounds with our hands in the aina and our hearts on the generations to come. Jaime Kanani Green, first lady The celebrations honor Hawaiis unique ecosystems and the importance of malama honua, protecting our island Earth for future generations. Here are some Earth Day events happening on Oahu. 1. Saturday, April 19: Party for the Planet at Honolulu Zoo . Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Location: Honolulu Zoo Details: Celebrate Earth Day with family-friendly activities at the zoo. Click here and here . Waimea Valley Earth Day Celebration . Time: 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (volunteer projects), followed by festivities. Location: Waimea Valley. Details: Participate in volunteer projects and enjoy live music, halau performances and vendor booths. Click here . Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You Kaala Farm Guest Speaker: Special Earth Month Talk . Time: 9:15 a.m. to 10 a.m. Location: 3457 Waialae Avenue, Honolulu. Details: Learn what this cultural learning center does and how we can malama aina. Click here . Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Malama Aina Community Cleanup in Kapalama Kai . Time: 8:15 a.m. to 11 a.m. Location: 855c Moowaa Street, Honolulu. Details: Its an opportunity to gather, share kuleana to malama aina and make a significant impact. Click here . Hydroponics Workshop. Time: 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. Location: Consuelo Courtyard located at 94-428 Mokuola Street, Suite 302, Waipahu. Details: This workshop offers practical knowledge that you can immediately apply at home. Click here . 2. Sunday, April 20: Happy Earth Day at HoMa (Honolulu Museum of Art) . Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Location: Honolulu Museum of Art. Details: Engage in art activities inspired by nature during the museums Family Sunday event. Click here . 3. Tuesday, April 22 (Earth Day): Earth Day Festival at Zuberano Lawn . Location: Zuberano Lawn, Honolulu Details: Join the community in celebrating Earth Day with various activities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii GoFarm Workday . Location: Oahu (specific location TBA) Details: Participate in a hands-on workday to support sustainable farming practices. 4. Saturday, April 26: Earth Day Celebration at Palolo Valley District Park Time: 9:00 AM 12:00 PM Location: Palolo Valley District Park Details: Join the community for Earth Day festivities, including educational activities and environmental stewardship. Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHONs morning podcast, every morning at 8 These events offer various opportunities to celebrate and contribute to environmental conservation on Oahu. Be sure to check the respective event pages for more details and any updates. 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. (WHTM) Dauphin County has released the 911 call investigators say Cody Balmer made after he allegedly fire-bombed Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiros residence in Harrisburg early Sunday morning. Officials say Balmer made the 911 call shortly after he threw Molotov Cocktails into the Governors Residence while Shapiro and his family were sleeping inside. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe Now This Week in Pennsylvania The fire caused extensive damage inside the residence hours after Shapiros family celebrated Passover. The 1 minute 13-second 911 calls audio transcription can be found below. Dauphin County 911 CallDownload Well, I dont really have an emergency. I would like to apologize. Um, Governor Josh Shapiro needs to know that Cody Balmer will not take part in his plans for what he wants to do to the Palestinian people. He needs to leave my family alone, he needs to get his eyes off of my daughters, and he needs to stop having my friends killed like he killed, had many killed two weeks ago or last week on Saturday. Our people have been put through too much by that monster. I, I only had the banquet hall to clean up. Im tired of offering extensions of peace, I only want to be able to provide for my children. I should not be taken to these extremes, its not fair. I wish no harm on to anyone. But that man, that man is doing serious, serious harm to probably yourself included. And I do wish you the best sir, you all know where to find me. Im not hiding, and I will confess to everything that I have done. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators had previously said Balmer made reference to Palestine and called Shapiro a monster. Balmer was arrested on Sunday and is facing charges including arson and terrorism. Hes being held in the Dauphin County Prison without bail. Balmers mother told multiple media outlets that her son was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, but that no one had helped her when she contacted police in the days leading up to the fire. This is a developing story. Stay with abc27 News as more information becomes available Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. (The Hill) The wife of a Maryland man who the United States government mistakenly deported to a mega-prison in El Salvador stood in defense of her husband while acknowledging that she filed for a civil protective order four years ago. After surviving domestic violence in a previous relationship, I acted out of caution following a disagreement with Kilmar by seeking a civil protective order, in case things escalated. Things did not escalate, and I decided not to follow through with the civil court process. We were able to work through the situation privately as a family, including by going to counseling, Jennifer Vasquez Sura said in a statement to multiple outlets on Wednesday. Rapper Azealia Banks says she regrets Trump vote Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sura rebuked President Trumps administration after the U.S. government recently shared filings from 2021 that showed she was looking for a protective order, accusing her husband of punching, scratching her and ripping her shirt off. The order prevented Abrego Garcia from getting in touch, and the Salvadorian national was directed not to abuse her. Our marriage only grew stronger in the years that followed. No one is perfect, and no marriage is perfect, Sure said. But that is not a justification for ICEs action of abducting him and deporting him to a country where he was supposed to be protected from removal. Kilmar has always been a loving partner and father, and I will continue to stand by him and demand justice for him, she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Department of Homeland Security released a copy of the protected order on Wednesday. Abrego Garcia was deported to the Salvadorian high-security prison last month in what the Department of Justice (DOJ) said was an administrative error. The U.S. government has contended that Abrego Garcia is a dangerous criminal, and a member of the MS-13 gang, based on the details provided by an informant in 2019. He has not been charged with a crime. Appeals court wont lift order to facilitate Abrego Garcias return in blistering opinion Sura, Abrego Garcia and his attorney have denied the claims that he is a member of the transnational gang designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declined to lift a justices order that the administration facilitate Abrego Garcias return and slammed the DOJ in the ruling. The relief the government is requesting is both extraordinary and premature. While we fully respect the Executives robust assertion of its Article II powers, we shall not micromanage the efforts of a fine district judge attempting to implement the Supreme Courts recent decision, U.S. Circuit Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson said. The White House amplified the publishing of Suras protective order on Wednesday and went after Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-M.D.), who traveled to El Salvador to visit the Maryland man currently held at CECOT prison. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said it is appalling that Van Hollen and Democratic lawmakers are supporting the senators trip to El Salvador, arguing they are incapable of having any shred of common sense or empathy for their own constituents and our citizens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nobody knows this more than the woman standing to my right, Patty Morin, whose beautiful daughter, Rachel, was brutally maimed and murdered at the hands of an illegal alien in August of 2023, Leavitt said on Wednesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 wife of a Maryland man who the United States government mistakenly deported to a mega-prison in El Salvador stood in defense of her husband while acknowledging that she filed for a civil protective order four years ago. After surviving domestic violence in a previous relationship, I acted out of caution following a disagreement with Kilmar by seeking a civil protective order, in case things escalated. Things did not escalate, and I decided not to follow through with the civil court process. We were able to work through the situation privately as a family, including by going to counseling, Jennifer Vasquez Sura said in a statement to multiple outlets on Wednesday. Sura rebuked President Trumps administration after the U.S. government recently shared filings from 2021 that showed she was looking for a protective order, accusing her husband of punching, scratching her and ripping her shift off. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The order prevented Abrego Garcia from getting in touch, and the Salvadorian national was directed not to abuse her. Our marriage only grew stronger in the years that followed. No one is perfect, and no marriage is perfect, Sura said. But that is not a justification for ICEs action of abducting him and deporting him to a country where he was supposed to be protected from removal. Kilmar has always been a loving partner and father, and I will continue to stand by him and demand justice for him, she added. The Department of Homeland Security released a copy of the protected order on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abrego Garcia was deported to the Salvadorian high-security prison last month in what the Department of Justice (DOJ) said was an administrative error. The U.S. government has contended that Abrego Garcia is a dangerous criminal and a member of the MS-13 gang, based on details provided by an informant in 2019. He has not been charged with a crime. Sura, Abrego Garcia and his attorney have denied the claims that he is a member of the transnational gang designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government. On Thursday, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declined to lift a justices order that the administration facilitate Abrego Garcias return and slammed the DOJ in the ruling. The relief the government is requesting is both extraordinary and premature. While we fully respect the Executives robust assertion of its Article II powers, we shall not micromanage the efforts of a fine district judge attempting to implement the Supreme Courts recent decision, U.S. Circuit Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House amplified the publishing of Suras protective order on Wednesday and went after Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), who traveled to El Salvador to visit the Maryland man currently held at CECOT prison. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said it is appalling that Van Hollen and Democratic lawmakers are supporting the senators trip to El Salvador, arguing they are incapable of having any shred of common sense or empathy for their own constituents and our citizens. Nobody knows this more than the woman standing to my right, Patty Morin, whose beautiful daughter, Rachel, was brutally maimed and murdered at the hands of an illegal alien in August of 2023, Leavitt said Wednesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (COLORADO SPRINGS) The suspect in an officer-involved shooting at the old Red Lobster location on North Academy Boulevard on Sunday, April 13, was killed in another officer-involved shooting in Iowa two days later, according to the El Paso County Sheriffs Office (EPSO). In an update, EPSO said the suspect, who was never apprehended following the shooting on Sunday, had been identified using DNA evidence collected at the scene. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Suspect from officer-involved shooting at large Watch our previous coverage of the officer-involved shooting below 51-year-old Vonderrick Rayford of Wisconsin was identified by the Metro Crime Lab as the suspect in a shooting on Sunday that left a woman critically injured, as well as the ensuing officer-involved shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Colorado Springs Police Department originally responded to the 4900 block of North Academy Boulevard shortly before 1 p.m. on Sunday on a report of a disturbance involving multiple people. As the first officer arrived on scene, she heard at least one gunshot and saw a woman lying on the ground. As the officer stepped out of her car, EPSO said she came under fire. Courtesy: FOX21 News Photojournalist Cora Mitchell Courtesy: FOX21 News Photojournalist Cora Mitchell Courtesy: FOX21 News Photojournalist Cora Mitchell The officer fired at least one shot at the suspect, now identified as Rayford, before he ran from the scene. A shelter-in-place was issued in the area as police searched for Rayford, but he was never found. The woman who was found lying on the ground suffered at least one gunshot wound and was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. She remains in critical condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement EPSO assumed the investigation into both the shooting of the woman and the officer-involved shooting and collected the DNA evidence that would lead to the identification of Rayford. EPSO said his identification was supported by video surveillance footage. EPSO said detectives recently learned that Rayford was involved in another officer-involved shooting in Dallas County, Iowa, on Tuesday, April 15, which resulted in his death. According to our sister station in Iowa, WHO13 Des Moines, Rayford was pulled over around 1:30 in the morning on April 15 by a Dallas County Sheriffs deputy west of Des Moines for driving in excess of 80 miles per hour on I-80. After being pulled over, Rayford allegedly got out of his car and immediately fired shots at the deputy. Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to assist, and when Rayford allegedly opened fire on them, they returned fire, hitting and killing him. According to law enforcement in Iowa, the investigation so far has found that the vehicle Rayford was driving and the gun he used during the shooting were stolen. Rayford also had a warrant for his arrest in Wisconsin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation into the shooting on North Academy Boulevard remains active and ongoing, EPSO said. WHO13 Des Moines 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 FOX21 News Colorado. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 18. The Media and Public Affairs Department of the Ministry of Defense hosted an event with the participation of representatives of a number of government authorities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and experts, Trend reports via the ministry. First, the memory of the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev and martyrs, who sacrificed their lives for the independence and territorial integrity of the Motherland, was honored with observing a minute of silence. The national anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan was performed. The necessary information regarding the Ministry of Defenses Communication Strategy, which was approved by the relevant decree of the Minister of Defense, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, was provided at the event. It was noted that as an important part of the ongoing reforms in army development, the sphere of strategic communication is developing in line with the requirements of the time and modern innovations. Then the event participants were presented with briefings on Work with government authorities and NGOs, Protecting state secrets in the media space", "Work with citizens' appeals," and other topics. The event also featured information about the work done in the field of military education in the Azerbaijan Army, special educational institutions of the National Defense University, and admission rules. At the end of the event, a detailed exchange of views was held, suggestions were heard, and guests questions were answered. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Four ACLU affiliates and attorneys with the law firm Shaheen & Gordon filed a federal class action lawsuit Friday in federal court in Concord looking to represent over 100 students in New Hampshire and elsewhere whose international students status was terminated by the Trump administration with no specified reason why. The lawsuit asks the court to reinstate the F-1 student status for students in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Puerto Rico, which would allow them to continue their studies. We continue to be alarmed by the Trump administrations sudden termination of student statuses at universities across the country without any notice or stated explanation, said Gilles Bissonnette, Legal Director of the ACLU of New Hampshire. International students are a vital community in our states universities, and no administration should be allowed to circumvent the law to unilaterally strip students of status, disrupt their studies, and put them at risk of deportation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the lawsuit, the student status terminations have severely disrupted the educational opportunities of the students, and put them at risk of detention and deportation. Inside Higher Ed estimates that, as of April 17, over 210 colleges and universities have identified 1,400-plus international students and recent graduates who have had their legal status changed. This includes 112 across New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Puerto Rico. The lawsuit states the government is required to provide advance notice of student status termination and an opportunity to respond. To terminate student status, the student (for example) must fail to take full courses of study, engage in unauthorized employment, or be convicted of a violent crime with a potential sentence of more than a year. None of those situations exist for students who would be represented in the lawsuit, officials said. The ACLU of New Hampshire recently filed a separate lawsuit on behalf of a Dartmouth College student whose F-1 student status had similarly been terminated. A federal judge temporarily restored his status during an emergency hearing last week. A surveillance van or "critical response vehicle". (Photo by Isiah Holmes/Wisconsin Examiner) The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Wisconsin has issued a letter asking elected leaders in Milwaukee to temper the acquisition and use of surveillance technologies by the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD). On Thursday evening, the police department went before the Fire and Police Commission (FPC) to push for the use of facial recognition technology. This, along with the common councils recent approval of drone usage by the MPD, has spurred the ACLU to call for a two-year pause on the adoption of new surveillance technologies, and craft frameworks to regulate the technology MPD already has with meaningful opportunities for community input. Although it acknowledges that many on the council and within MPD care deeply about the safety and well-being of our city, the ACLUs letter also warns that history has shown time and again, authoritarianism does not always arrive with flashing lights and villainous speeches it often comes wrapped in routine procedure, paperwork, and people just doing their jobs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are already seeing how surveillance technology is being weaponized in real time, the ACLU continued, citing data-gathering, automatic license plate readers, artificial intelligence (AI), and other tools that are used to target and detain individuals. The Wisconsin Examiners Criminal Justice Reporting Project shines a light on incarceration, law enforcement and criminal justice issues with support from the Public Welfare Foundation. The MPD has long denied that it uses facial recognition technology. As part of an investigation into surveillance technologies which the department obtained ahead of the 2020 Democratic National Convention (DNC), Wisconsin Examiner reviewed investment justification records from the states Homeland Security Council which suggested that the Southeastern Threat Analysis Center a homeland security-focused aspect of the MPDs intel-gathering Fusion Center utilized Clear facial recognition technology. It was described as a mobile device that would allow police to conduct timely identification of individuals in the field to prevent terrorist attack. By contrast, MPD PowerPoint presentations prepared for the April 17 FPC meeting openly advertise the use of facial recognition. The PowerPoint details two examples of arrests made using facial recognition software. One case study from March 2024 involved a fatal gun violence incident where the suspects fled. The PowerPoint said that they were later seen at a gas station, and that facial recognition software provided leads to both suspects. Noting that facial recognition results are advisory in nature and are to be treated as investigative leads only, the PowerPoint states that a Department of Corrections agent confirmed the softwares results, leading to arrests the next morning. One of the PowerPoint slides shows in-custody photographs of the arrested men above pictures of them masked in a gas station. The slides showed that the facial recognition software had a similarity rating of 99.7% for one man, and 98.1% for another. Both men are waiting for a trial. The other case study focused on a sexual assault incident involving a gun. Like the other example, surveillance footage of the suspect from a gas station helped lead to the arrest. MPD sent out a facial recognition request to local agencies. It was answered by the Wauwatosa Police Department, which returned two pictures of the same individual. The pictures had similarity ratings of 99.1% and 98.9% respectively. The arrested man was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The PowerPoint presentation lists 14 cases from the North and South Sides of Milwaukee. It states that MPD would be diligent in balancing the need for effective, accurate investigations and the need to respect the privacy of others, and that facial recognition does not establish probable cause to arrest someone or obtain a warrant. It may generate investigative leads through a combination of automated biometric comparisons and human analysis, the PowerPoint states. Corroborating information must be developed through additional investigation. PUBLIC Facial Rec for FPC A PowerPoint presentation detailing the Milwaukee PDs plans for facial recognition software. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MPD has reviewed procedures for the technologys use nationwide, and stated that oversight of the system will consist of an audit report showing information requested, accessed, searched, or disseminated. All requests for facial recognition must be approved by a supervisor, and the department will keep a log of each search and the type of crime involved. Biometrica is the chosen facial recognition vendor. The PowerPoint states that the company has worked with the NAACP and the ACLU to provide anti-bias training for users of the software. The reassurances, however, do little to quell the concerns of privacy advocates. In their letter to the MPD and common council, the ACLU of Wisconsin highlighted ongoing immigrant roundups by the Trump administration, and the deportation of Milwaukee residents to a notorious maximum security terrorism prison in El Salvador. It is being used to monitor and prosecute political protesters, people seeking reproductive health care, LGBTQ+ individuals, and doctors trying to provide care, the letter states. These are not projections these are present-day realities carried out by bad actors within the federal government and local jurisdictions. The ACLU letter warns, while we trust that our local leaders and police officers have good intentions, history reminds us how quickly larger systems can override those intentions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent years MPD has expanded its network of surveillance cameras and other activities such as its phone surveillance operations remain shrouded in secrecy. MPD has also built up its social media surveillance footprint using AI-powered software, after downplaying the very existence of those activities in years past. Data collected in Milwaukee does not stay in Milwaukee, the ACLU states. Once it enters a federal pipeline, it can be accessed, shared, and used in ways we cannot predict or stop. Thats why now, more than ever, we must choose restraint. The rule of law at the federal level is unraveling before our eyes. The Milwaukee Police Administration Building downtown. A surveillance van, or critical response vehicle is in the background. (Photo by Isiah Holmes/Wisconsin Examiner) The same set of concerns came up during a March 20 FPC meeting, where commissioners discussed the MPDs use of drones and facial recognition technology. Police officials claimed that complaints about law enforcement using drones lagged behind the rate of agencies acquiring the technology, suggesting that the public approves. Police officials said that MPDs Airborne Assessment Team, which is attached to the departments Specialized Patrol Division, would help increase situational awareness, de-escalate dangerous situations, aid search-and-rescue, help manage major events and offer unique opportunities to positively engage with the community. In protest situations, drones would allow MPD to monitor an area while not physically placing officers nearby, whose presence could trigger an escalation among the protest crowd. MPD said that its drones do not have facial recognition capabilities. Still, the growth of MPDs surveillance powers have worried some community members. Commissioner Bree Spencer said during the meeting that it would be nice for a community-based tech advisory board to be established to help review MPDs surveillance requests. Spencer said that nationwide and historically, its not unheard-of for law enforcement surveillance programs to get out of hand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I get it for water rescue, Im very worried about things like protests, said Spencer. I think for very good reason. Our federal government is doing some very funky things right now with protesters. So I get what youre saying, and I see in the SOP that youre like, Were not going to do that. I dont know if thats sufficient in terms of a protection, particularly for people who are skeptical about the use of these technologies. Police officials said that drones are a crowd management tool, and that during the Republican National Convention (RNC) they helped monitor protest movements to ensure opposing groups didnt come into contact with one another. Spencer reiterated, I think I just worry about the cost to individual civil rights and, like, how thats going to just keep growing in our societyI wish the public had more input into whether or not the use of this type of technology is happening here. Talking to the community is not the same as letting them have a decision about whether or not they want drones in their city being run by police. MPD spokespeople said the department based its drone usage procedures on best practice guidance from the ACLU, and that the department is very late to the drone game. The Milwaukee County Sheriffs Office, for example, officially announced its drone program in 2021. The Milwaukee County Sheriff Offices drone in flight. (Photo by Isiah Holmes/Wisconsin Examiner) Ahead of the DNC nearly five years ago, the MPD acquired large white vans called critical response vehicles, which are also attached to the Specialized Patrol Division and came equipped with their own tethered aerial drones. Wisconsin Examiner found that the sheriffs drones were used to monitor police accountability protests, with the number of flights dropping significantly once the protests subsided. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In its letter Thursday, the ACLU stressed that police abuse of surveillance is not ancient history but rather its living memory for many in our city. Some may remember the reign of police chief Harold Breier, who surveilled civil rights activists, LGBTQ+ communities, and Black Milwaukeeans. And those who carried out that surveillance often believed they were just doing their jobs. The ACLUs letter questions what a personality like Chief Breier would do with todays surveillance powers. Were not calling for a ban, the letter states. Instead, the ACLU calls for a two-year pause on acquiring new surveillance technologies, especially facial recognition technology, while we assess the potential risks. In the meantime, the letter urges city leaders to pass a framework for regulating existing surveillance technology, such as adopting a Community Control Over Police Surveillance (CCOPS) Ordinance to bring accountability to these decisions before its too late. Marshall University, located in Huntington, W.Va. (Lexi Browning | West Virginia Watch) The American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia has filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of a Marshall University graduate student whose visa was unlawfully revoked as a part of an immigration crackdown by President Donald Trumps administration. More than 1,000 international students at 160 colleges and universities across the country have had their visas revoked or their legal status terminated since March, according to a report by the Associated Press. That includes students at colleges and universities in West Virginia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Marshall student, identified in a Friday news release as S.V., was one month away from graduating when his visa was revoked, according to the ACLU-WV. The student received an email stating that his F-1 visa was being revoked and later learned that he was identified in a criminal records check, the news release said. S.V., 28-year-old data science student originally from India, was sentenced to probation in 2020 in Indiana for operating a vehicle under the influence, a misdemeanor, according to the release. He left the United States and returned in 2023 to study at Marshall. ACLU-WV legal director Aubrey Sparks said that having been identified in a criminal record check is not legal ground for terminating a visa. Our client was not convicted of a crime of violence, nor was he convicted of a crime for which the potential sentence is more than one year, meaning that he categorically is not subject to termination of his F-1 status on those grounds, Sparks said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the ACLU, S.V. disclosed the previous charge when re-applying, satisfied all requirements, and was permitted to re-enter the country under the new visa. The student was in the process of applying for post-graduate work in the United States when he received the email ending his visa. The situation caused chaos for his education and career plans, he said. I desperately want to complete my graduate degree and pursue work in the United States, he said in the news release. It is clear this wasnt a decision based on my circumstance or experience this was a predetermined outcome and they just said whatever needed to be said to justify it, even when it didnt apply to me. The ACLU-WV filed the lawsuit Friday in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia. The complaint names Kristi Noem, secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Todd Lyons, acting director of the U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement, and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Across the country, lawsuits have been filed and rallies held in response to the student visas being revoked. Government officials have not specified the reasons the administration has canceled visas, but U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last month that participating in protests against Israels war in Gaza will not be tolerated. 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, Rubio said. In the news release, ACLU-WV executive director Eli Baumwell said international students and scholars are a vital part of the nations universities, economy and communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unfortunately, it has become increasingly clear that the Trump administration is simply taking the law into its own hands in its crusade against noncitizens, he said. Never before has a president taken such sweeping actions to revoke student visas, and thats why we need the courts to step in and protect their rights to due process under the Constitution. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX There are a slew of active recalls that have been announced in the U.S. and Canada within the past week. From pantry staples to over-the-counter medicine, you should check your kitchen for these recalled items as soon as possible. Heres what to know. Butter Approximately 1,701 pounds of butter sold in seven states is being recalled, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The recalled butter contains elevated levels of coliform, which is a bacteria found in human and animal feces. The product affected is 8-ounce packages of Cabot Creamery Premium Butter, Sea Salted. The butter was packaged as two 4-ounce sticks in cardboard shells and has a UPC of 0 78354 62038 0 printed on the packaging. The recalled butter also has a best-by date of September 9, 2025, lot numbers 090925-055 and 2038 and were sold at grocery stores in the following states: Arkansas, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Check your refrigerator for the recalled butter, and if you have it on hand, dispose of it or return to your place of purchase for a refund. If you are showing signs of sickness after eating the recalled butter, contact your health care provider immediately. For questions about this recall, contact the FDA by calling 1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332). Related: Costco Just Issued a Health Alert on a Chicken ProductHeres What to Know Cold and Flu Medicine The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a recall on over 14,000 boxes of over-the-counter cold and flu medicine. This is due to a lack of child-resistant packaging. Safetussin Max Strength Multi-Symptom Cough, Cold and Flu medicine is the product impacted by this recall. The medicine was distributed and sold at HEB, Harris-Teeter and other regional grocery stores and pharmacies nationwide from July 2024 through March 2025 for about $11. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Check your medicine cabinet, and if you have this recalled product on hand, return it to your place of purchase for a refund or throw it away. If a child accessed this medication, call 911 or Poison Control immediately. You can contact Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. For questions about this recall, contact Kramer Laboratories at 800-824-4894 Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT or via email at kramerlabs@emersongroup.com. Ground Beef Lean ground beef is being recalled in Canada due to an E. coli contamination, per a recent Canadian Food Inspection Agency report. The product affected is Aladdin Foods Lean Ground Beef sold at Aladdins Foods grocery store and butchery in London, Ontario. The meat has a packaged date of February 24, 2025, and best-by date of February 28, 2025, but the ground beef could still be in consumers freezers. The recalled ground beef tested positive for E. coli bacteria, resulting in the recall. While there are no reported cases connected to this recall, if you are experiencing any signs of E. coli illness after eating lean ground beef, talk to your health care provider immediately. Common symptoms of E. coli infection include diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting and low-grade fever. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Contact the CFIA by calling toll-free at 1-800-442-2342 or emailing information@inspection.gc.ca with any questions. Pasta Also in Canada, two types of pasta are being recalled nationwide due to the presence of insects, according to the CFIA. Packages of Fiorfiore Spaghetti - Durum Wheat Semolina Pasta with a UPC of 8 11578 03400 3 and best-by date 2026/07/02 as well as Fiorfiore Linguine - Organic Durum Wheat Semolina Pasta with a UPC of 8 10097 440654 and best-by date 2026/07/15 are being recalled. The product packaging also contains lot codes L41846001A and L41976001A, respectively. Check your pantry for this pasta, and if you have it on hand, dispose of it or return it to your place of purchase for a possible refund. While there are no reported injuries or illnesses connected to this recall, if you are showing any signs of sickness after consuming one of the above products, talk to your doctor as soon as possible. Related: Chocolate Is Being Recalled Nationwide Due to ContaminationHeres What to Know Sausage Earlier this month, Johnsonville issued a recall on their Cheddar Bratwurst product, according to the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). This is due to a foreign matter contamination after two consumers complained of finding hard plastic in the product. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Johnsonville Cheddar Bratwurst packages affected contain a code of B9FOD, establishment number reading Est. 1647 and were sold at grocery stores in the following states: Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin. Contact your healthcare provider if you are experiencing any injury or illnesses after eating this recalled product. For questions about this recall, contact Amanda Fritsch, Johnsonvilles consumer relations coordinator, at 888-556-2728 or anachtweyfritsch@johnsonville.com. Related: Theres a Health Alert on Soup Products Due to ContaminationHeres What to Know Read the original article on EATINGWELL Activists send message that people will die without PEPFAR HIV and AIDS activists hold coffin delivery to protest PEPFAR cuts at State Department building in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2025 Fawkes (@current.noise) for HRC Activists march toward the State Department. Activists stacked more than 200 coffins in front of the State Department Thursday to protest the devastation of global HIV-fighting programs by Donald Trumps administration. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced in January that the Presidents Emergency Program for AIDS Relief, which provides HIV treatment and prevention drugs and services to hard-hit nations around the world, would be exempt from a freeze on international aid funding. However, the program, known by the acronym PEPFAR, is still not functioning, Matt Rose, senior public policy advocate at the Human Rights Campaign, tells The Advocate. HRC partnered in the protest, which was led by Health Gap, Housing Works, and longtime AIDS activist Peter Staley. About 20 to 30 people participated, marching from the National Academy of Sciences to the State Department gate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some distribution of drugs is taking place, but its massively low, Rose says. He and others have heard that drugs are sitting in warehouses and not going out to those who need them. Many of the people and groups responsible for distribution were hired under contracts with the U.S. Agency for International Development, which the administration has essentially shut down. The situation is getting very precarious, Rose says. Also, under this administration, provision of HIV prevention drugs has been limited to pregnant and breastfeeding women, leaving out LGBTQ+ people and many others. We could return to darkest days of AIDS epidemic, Rose warns, with potentially 100,000 people dying in the next year. The most vulnerable if denied treatment are people with advanced disease and children, whose immune systems have not completely developed. The protest included small coffins to represent children. Activists have appealed to the State Department previously, but it just fell on deaf ears, Rose says. This has happened even though Rubio championed PEPFAR when he was a U.S. senator and Trump didnt interfere with the program during his first term. PEPFAR was started by another Republican president, George W. Bush, in 2003, and historically has received bipartisan support, although some Republicans in Congress have sought to end the program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rose still has some hope for restoring PEPFAR. We have seen the administration make moves back after public protests before, he says. We hope Rubio will remember that PEPFAR saves lives. And as far as spending goes, global health accounts for 0.1 percent of the federal budget, he says. Pete Marocco, the official who oversaw the dismantling of USAID, has recently left the State Department, so that gives Rose hope too. But Rubio must be held accountable, he adds. Scroll down for more pictures from the protest. Marching to the State Department HIV and AIDS activists hold coffin delivery to protest PEPFAR cuts at State Department building in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2025 Fawkes (@current.noise) for HRC Activists march toward the State Department. Protesting at the State Department HIV and AIDS activists hold coffin delivery to protest PEPFAR cuts at State Department building in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2025 Fawkes (@current.noise) for HRC Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Protesting at the State Department Stacking the coffins HIV and AIDS activists hold coffin delivery to protest PEPFAR cuts at State Department building in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2025 Fawkes (@current.noise) for HRC Activists stack the coffins The shirt says it all HIV and AIDS activists hold coffin delivery to protest PEPFAR cuts at State Department building in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2025 Fawkes (@current.noise) for HRC Sending the message that funding cuts kill Activists set out the coffins HIV and AIDS activists hold coffin delivery to protest PEPFAR cuts at State Department building in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2025 Fawkes (@current.noise) for HRC Setting out the coffins Stacking the coffins at State Department HIV and AIDS activists hold coffin delivery to protest PEPFAR cuts at State Department building in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fawkes (@current.noise) for HRC Stacking more coffins Silence speaks volumes HIV and AIDS activists hold coffin delivery to protest PEPFAR cuts at State Department building in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2025 Fawkes (@current.noise) for HRC Sending a message silently Bringing a chilling message amid the coming of spring HIV and AIDS activists hold coffin delivery to protest PEPFAR cuts at State Department building in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2025 Fawkes (@current.noise) for HRC It's a matter of life and death. Another T-shirt that sums it up HIV and AIDS activists hold coffin delivery to protest PEPFAR cuts at State Department building in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2025 Fawkes (@current.noise) for HRC The shirt conveys an important message. Taking another coffin to the site HIV and AIDS activists hold coffin delivery to protest PEPFAR cuts at State Department building in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fawkes (@current.noise) for HRC Activists carry another coffin. Music sends a message too HIV and AIDS activists hold coffin delivery to protest PEPFAR cuts at State Department building in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2025 Fawkes (@current.noise) for HRC Drummers accompanied the marchers. Bearing another coffin to the site HIV and AIDS activists hold coffin delivery to protest PEPFAR cuts at State Department building in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2025 Fawkes (@current.noise) for HRC Another man carries a coffin. Activists lay another coffin down HIV and AIDS activists hold coffin delivery to protest PEPFAR cuts at State Department building in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2025 Fawkes (@current.noise) for HRC Laying another coffin down Protesters carry another coffin to the site HIV and AIDS activists hold coffin delivery to protest PEPFAR cuts at State Department building in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fawkes (@current.noise) for HRC Bearing another to the site A pointed protest HIV and AIDS activists hold coffin delivery to protest PEPFAR cuts at State Department building in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2025 Fawkes (@current.noise) for HRC A protester points to stacked coffins. 'Housing, health care, justice' HIV and AIDS activists hold coffin delivery to protest PEPFAR cuts at State Department building in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2025 Fawkes (@current.noise) for HRC A key message Activists stack more coffins HIV and AIDS activists hold coffin delivery to protest PEPFAR cuts at State Department building in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2025 Fawkes (@current.noise) for HRC Adding more coffins Symbolizing the potential deaths HIV and AIDS activists hold coffin delivery to protest PEPFAR cuts at State Department building in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fawkes (@current.noise) for HRC 100,000 deaths are predicted in the next year if PEPFAR isn't restored. Activists lay another coffin at State HIV and AIDS activists hold coffin delivery to protest PEPFAR cuts at State Department building in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2025 Fawkes (@current.noise) for HRC Stacking another coffin Adding to the stack HIV and AIDS activists hold coffin delivery to protest PEPFAR cuts at State Department building in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2025 Fawkes (@current.noise) for HRC Adding to the stack of coffins Children will die too HIV and AIDS activists hold coffin delivery to protest PEPFAR cuts at State Department building in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2025 Fawkes (@current.noise) for HRC A small coffin symbolizes children. The message is clear HIV and AIDS activists hold coffin delivery to protest PEPFAR cuts at State Department building in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fawkes (@current.noise) for HRC Activist stand in front of the stacked coffins. Drummers and protesters gather HIV and AIDS activists hold coffin delivery to protest PEPFAR cuts at State Department building in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2025 Fawkes (@current.noise) for HRC Drummers and protesters in front of State Department Laying another down HIV and AIDS activists hold coffin delivery to protest PEPFAR cuts at State Department building in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2025 Fawkes (@current.noise) for HRC Another activist lays down a coffin. Stacking one more HIV and AIDS activists hold coffin delivery to protest PEPFAR cuts at State Department building in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2025 Fawkes (@current.noise) for HRC Protesters stack one more coffin. Reaching the heights HIV and AIDS activists hold coffin delivery to protest PEPFAR cuts at State Department building in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fawkes (@current.noise) for HRC The stack grows. Delivering more HIV and AIDS activists hold coffin delivery to protest PEPFAR cuts at State Department building in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2025 Fawkes (@current.noise) for HRC Activists lay down more coffins. Silence still equals death HIV and AIDS activists hold coffin delivery to protest PEPFAR cuts at State Department building in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2025 Fawkes (@current.noise) for HRC The historic ACT UP slogan is still true today. Reaching for the sky HIV and AIDS activists hold coffin delivery to protest PEPFAR cuts at State Department building in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2025 Fawkes (@current.noise) for HRC The stack seems to reach the sky. Important messages HIV and AIDS activists hold coffin delivery to protest PEPFAR cuts at State Department building in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2025 Fawkes (@current.noise) for HRC A simple T-shirt can say much. Stacking yet more HIV and AIDS activists hold coffin delivery to protest PEPFAR cuts at State Department building in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2025 Fawkes (@current.noise) for HRC Adding to the stack Yet one more HIV and AIDS activists hold coffin delivery to protest PEPFAR cuts at State Department building in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2025 Fawkes (@current.noise) for HRC Protesters lay another coffin down. Standing tall HIV and AIDS activists hold coffin delivery to protest PEPFAR cuts at State Department building in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2025 Fawkes (@current.noise) for HRC An activist stands tall. Reaching the sky HIV and AIDS activists hold coffin delivery to protest PEPFAR cuts at State Department building in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2025 Fawkes (@current.noise) for HRC That's how it seems. Another key message HIV and AIDS activists hold coffin delivery to protest PEPFAR cuts at State Department building in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2025 Fawkes (@current.noise) for HRC "For all." Carrying another HIV and AIDS activists hold coffin delivery to protest PEPFAR cuts at State Department building in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2025 Fawkes (@current.noise) for HRC Protesters bear another coffin to the site. Reaching high HIV and AIDS activists hold coffin delivery to protest PEPFAR cuts at State Department building in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2025 Fawkes (@current.noise) for HRC A protester stretches to add a coffin to the site. Reminding us of those threatened HIV and AIDS activists hold coffin delivery to protest PEPFAR cuts at State Department building in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2025 Fawkes (@current.noise) for HRC A reminder of who's at risk Bearing another small coffin HIV and AIDS activists hold coffin delivery to protest PEPFAR cuts at State Department building in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2025 Fawkes (@current.noise) for HRC The child-size coffin sends a message. GROVEPORT, Ohio (WCMH) April is Distracted Driving Awareness month and AEP Ohio is urging drivers to pay attention to keep both themselves and line workers safe. Director of Operations, Matt Bennett, said power outages caused by vehicles are up from the previous year in Central Ohio. In 2023, there were 254; last year, there were 272. We have the same dangers as the public, right? Our first and foremost is going to be safety, Bennett said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Franklin County deputy accused of fleeing officer at speeds over 100 mph At the lineman training facility in Groveport, workers are trained for all different types of outages, including those caused by vehicles. We have to treat all wires no matter if theyre ours or somebody elses. If theyre energized, anything that theyre touching can also be energized, Bennett said. Ohio strengthened its distracted driving law in 2023, making it a primary offense to use or hold a mobile device while driving. However, Bennett said this problem is persisting for them. There were 900 vehicle-related power outages across the state. He blames a lot of that on distracted driving. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Slow down. Thats the biggest thing is were always in a hurry. The worlds moving fast, and pay attention to what youre doing, he said. Bennett said while theyre aiming to bring these numbers down, they also want to keep the public safe when it does happen. AEP Ohio crews gave NBC4 a demonstration on what to do if you are involved in an accident with a utility pole. North Linden drug house with history of criminal activity shut down We want you to stay in the vehicle. Thats the safest place for you, said Craig Williams, Line Crew Supervisor at AEP Ohio. He said its best to wait for emergency responders to help you get out. However, if you feel like youre in danger Williams said there are ways to get out safely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Keep people away from the vehicle first and foremost, he said. The first step from Williams was to step to the very edge of the car and make sure you arent still attached to the vehicle by something like a seatbelt. From there, you want to jump out of the vehicle with both feet at the same time. The last step is to shuffle your feet away from the vehicle. Dont panic. Call 911. 911 operators will be able to talk you through this and help you through this as well, Bennett said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. ALBANY, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) The State Attorney Generals office is moving to have the state and corrections commissioner Daniel Martuscello from a lawsuit filed by the family of Robert Brooks. The Albany Times-Union reported that the attorney generals office filed a motion earlier in the week to dismiss claims against Martuscello, arguing that cases like Brooks that predated his tenure as commissioner do not establish he was aware that Brooks was in any imminent danger. The suit filed in US District Court in Utica by Brooks family names 15 correctional officers and medics, as well as Martuscello and Danielle Medbury, the acting superintendent of Marcy Correctional Facility at the time of Brooks death. Medbury was relieved of her duties on Monday, December 30, the same day Governor Kathy Hochul visited the facility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brooks was allegedly killed on December 9 at the hands of corrections officers. Over the week of April 14 through 18, six corrections officers have been in court to accept or reject plea deals. All six have since been given more time to consider the deals. According to the Times-Union, the motion also notes that Martuscello was not personally involved in Brooks alleged beating or his death because he wasnt personally at Marcy Correctional Facility when the incident happened. The motion also cited that there was no evidence that Martuscello was deliberately indifferent to a serious risk that (Brooks) would be harmed by correction officers. A similar motion has been filed in the New York Court of Claims for the state, arguing that the state should not be held responsible for the actions of the officers the motion claims were outside the scope of their official duties. According to the Times-Union, both motions are intended to shield the state from liability and place blame solely on the officers involved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attorneys for Brooks family argue that Martuscello had knowledge of the conditions at Marcy Correctional Facility because of several brutality lawsuits brought against the Department of Corrections. Attorneys also cited a monitoring visit to Marcy in 2022 by the Correctional Association of New York. The report stated that 80% of the inmates interviewed reported witnessing or experiencing abusive behavior, while nearly 70% reported some form of discrimination or bias. According to the lawsuit, the Correctional Association had been sounding alarms for years about the culture of violence at Marcy and the risk to Robert Brooks and others. Robert had done nothing to justify the use of any force against him, much less deadly force, states the civil complaint. None of the defendants reported the attack. Instead, after killing Robert, they concocted lies to attempt to cover up their actions and then went about their daily business as usual. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FBI and the US Department of Justice have been reviewing Brooks case, as well as the death of Messiah Nantwi at Mid-State Correctional Facility in March. The Times-Union has said that neither department has decided on if they will pursue federal charges. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WUTR/WFXV - CNYhomepage.com. KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) A mob of Islamists allegedly beat to death a member of Pakistan's minority Ahmadi community Friday while demonstrating near an Ahmadi place of worship in Karachi, a member of the community said. Police said they were investigating the killing. The victim, identified as Laeeq Cheema, died before he could receive medical treatment at a hospital in the southern port city, said Amir Mahmood, a spokesman for the Ahmadi community. Government Civil Hospital spokesperson Summaiya Tariq confirmed the death of Cheema, saying he had multiple injuries. Mahmood blamed the attack on a mob of people from the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan, or TLP, a radical Islamist party, and said they had rallied outside the Ahmadi place of worship and tried to damage it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senior Karachi police official Asad Raza told local media outlets that they had deployed additional police to avoid any unrest in the city ahead of the TLP rally. He said Cheema was killed away from the Ahmadi worship site, and that police were still trying to confirm who attacked him. Karachi police rescued community members from the worship site after it was surrounded by demonstrators, Mahmood said, but he also complained that police have been slow to take action against TLP protests nationwide. There are about half a million of Ahmadis in Pakistan, which has a population of 250 million. The Ahmadi religion is an offshoot of Islam, but Pakistan declared Ahmadis non-Muslims in 1974. Ahmadi homes and places of worship are often targeted by Sunni militants who consider them heretical. Video footage that Mahmood shared with The Associated Press showed crowds chanting anti-Ahmadi slogans outside the worship site. He said TLP supporters had been holding such protests every Friday and that police had not taken any action in previous weeks. TLP has risen in prominence in recent years by organizing demonstrations, and is known for supporting Pakistans controversial blasphemy laws, which carry the death penalty for anyone who insults Islam. KHANKENDI, Azerbaijan, April 18. The organization of familiarization tours for the foreign diplomatic corps to Azerbaijan's liberated lands, as directed by President Ilham Aliyev, is ongoing, Trend reports. More than 100 representatives of the diplomatic corps and international organizations accredited in Azerbaijan, who are on a visit to Khankendi, first visited Garabagh University. Here they were met by the Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Khankendi city, Aghdara and Khojaly districts Elchin Yusubov and the Rector of Garabagh University Shahin Bayramov. Over 100 diplomats and military attaches from 33 countries and seven international organizations accredited in Azerbaijan are taking part in the visit. The objective of the engagement is to acclimate international diplomatic representatives with the rehabilitative and reconstructive initiatives executed in Khankendi, as well as the conducive environments established for the scholars of Garabagh University. Representatives of the diplomatic corps got acquainted with Khankendi and were given information about the city. Then the guests visited the Faculty of Arts of Karabakh University, where they were given information about the faculty. They listened to the music performed by the band in the concert hall of the faculty. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Once again, it is heartbreaking to see that a mass shooting has occurred on a college campus, leaving two people dead and five innocent victims and the gunman wounded. The gunman, who is a 20-year-old student at Florida State University, opened fire on the universitys campus in Tallahassee. I pray for the loved ones of the victims and for a speedy recovery for the individuals who were injured. Gun violence is unacceptable, especially on a college campus where students, professors and others expect to be safe and focused on education. This tragedy is compounded by the fact that many will be observing the Easter weekend, a time when families and friends get together to celebrate the life of Jesus Christ. Instead, Tallahassee and the campus community will be in mourning. We, in Prince Georges County, want to let them know that we stand with them as they heal and as they seek justice. AKRON, Ohio (WJW) Akron police said a mother has been charged with child endangerment after a search for her 5-year-old girl Friday. The child was recovered sometime after 1 p.m. Friday. She was reported missing Friday at 7 a.m. by her parents and was last seen in the area of the Cascade Village Apartments on East North Street. Find out more about local missing people right here She had last been seen by her parents at 11 p.m. Thursday, according to police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FOX 8s Tino Bovenzi reports community members and police canvassed the area to find the little girl. Parents of an 11-month-old boy who starved to death were sentenced to prison Just after 1:15 p.m., police said the child had been found. Police released no further details about the circumstances. The mother has not been identified. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Mark Gidley, R-Hokes Bluff, listens to a presentation in the Alabama House of Representatives on April 3, 2025 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) Gidley's bill that would require the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public K-12 schools passed the House on April 17, 2025. The Alabama House of Representatives Thursday passed a bill requiring public K-12 schools to display the Ten Commandments. HB 178, sponsored by Rep. Mark Gidley, R-Hokes Bluff, passed the chamber 88-11. It requires schools to display the Ten Commandments in an entry way; a common area an entry way or common areas like cafeterias, and in classrooms where the history of the United States is taught. The displays must be at least 11-by-14 inches in size and include text saying the commandments are a key part of the Judeo-Christian religious and moral tradition that shaped Western Civilization and ultimately the founding of the United States, as well as other arguments claiming they are foundational texts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Displays would be made based on the availability of donations for them. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Gidley, a pastor, said in the House Thursday that the country was founded on the principles of the Hebrew-derevied text, which makes it historical. This is about returning foundational principles to schools to be taught, he said. Alabama voters in 2018 approved a constitutional amendment allowing the Ten Commandments to be displayed on public property but not mandating such displays. Federal courts have allowed the displays of the Ten Commandments in historical contexts in schools but not as religious or moral displays. Local school boards do not have to use their state-allocated funds to purchase a poster to display, Gidley said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legislation does not list any sanctions for schools that do not comply. Louisiana passed similar legislation in 2024, but a federal district court ruled it unconstitutional in November, citing the separation of church and state. Louisianas law, unlike Gidleys, required the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every classroom. Rep. Patrick Sellers, D-Pleasant Grove, was the only Democrat to support the legislation. Sellers, pastor of Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Birmingham, said the values in the Ten Commandments should be in schools. These are principles that our children need, and even if its just looking at it on the wall to remind them of what they are and how they should live from day to day, Sellers said. Thats whats missing in our schools. Thats whats missing in our homes, thats whats missing in our families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, supported the legislation, but said putting the Ten Commandments in schools would not make more Christians. As a Christian, we should be salt and light in the world. And I think that happens through relationships, Garrett said. But legislative mandates are not going to renew minds and change hearts. Rep. Marilyn Lands, D-Huntsville, said some of the commandments may not be age appropriate for young school children. I think that the 10 commandments have their place, but I dont know that we need to mandate that they be in our schools, she said. I think we teach our children well in our homes, and I think we have churches to teach them, but Im not sure that they belong in our schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Mary Moore, D-Birmingham, said putting the Christian text in schools would disrespect other religions. All I am saying is there are other faiths, those people deserve to practice whatever faith you practice, Moore said. The bill moves to the Senate. Sen. Keith Kelley, R-Anniston, has a companion bill that was approved by the Senate Education Policy Committee last week. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Rep. Neil Rafferty, D-Birmingham, speaking on the floor of the Alabama House of Representatives in the Alabama State House in Montgomery, Alabama, on April 17, 2025. Rafferty, the only openly gay representative, defended LGBTQ+ Alabamians Thursday. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) The Alabama House of Representatives passed an expansion of the states Dont Say Gay law on Thursday. HB 244, sponsored by Rep. Mack Butler, R-Rainbow City, would prohibit public school teachers at all grade levels from teaching or discussing gender identity or sexuality, an expansion from K-5. The legislation also prohibits the display of pride flags and insignia in the classroom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This bill will expand the existing prohibitions that are currently in K-5 schools on the classroom discussions of gender identity or sexual orientation, he said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The chamber adopted a committee substitute 76-8 that removed a portion of the bill that would prohibit educators from referring to students by their preferred gender if it conflicts with their assigned sex at birth. Rep. Phillip Ensler, D-Montgomery, objected to the measure, saying kids would be less receptive to learning if they did not feel welcome in a classroom. If they dont trust a teacher, if they think a teacher doesnt like them or use them differently or views them as unequal, theyre not going to be as open to learning, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gidley rebutted, saying students could still confide in a teacher, but the teacher has to stick to the curriculum during instructional time. He said he has received complaints from a student that said their teacher could not teach without mentioning all things gay and transgender. He did not say, and has previously declined to say, which school this happened in. That is not part of the curriculum, or what the parents signed up for, and not what the parents are paying for, he said. Rep. Neil Rafferty, D-Birmingham, the only openly gay member of the House, used his debate time to address LGBTQ+ Alabamians. I want you to know you are not the problem. You are not broken, and youre absolutely not alone, Rafferty said. Theyre not theories. Theyre not talking points, not threats to be neutralized. Theyre people. Theyre Alabamian, and they deserve better than what we are offering them right now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill now moves to the Senate. The House also passed a bill that prohibits public schools and libraries from hosting drag performances in the presence of children without parental consent. HB 67, sponsored by Rep. Scott Stadthagen, R-Hartselle, passed 76-9 with no discussion. The legislation defines drag performances as a performance in which a performer exhibits a sex identity that is different from the sex assigned to the performer at birth using clothing, makeup, or other physical markers. The bill now moves to the Senate. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) The Alabama NAACP says it is supporting the Huntsville Police Departments efforts to locate realtor Ronald Dumas Jr., who officials believe was kidnapped in December. The Alabama NAACP is doing this in conjunction with the Huntsville-Madison NAACP Branch, Angels Arms Women and Teen Organization and the National Association of Real Estate Brokers. The organization says it will have more to say on these efforts on Monday, before the Dumas family holds a candlelight vigil at Hope Community Church. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr. Dumas is a member of our community, and it is our duty to be aware of one anothers safety and whereabouts, especially in a time when theres so much chaos and uncertainty, said Benard Simelton, president of the Alabama NAACP. Additionally, we are asking each of you to be cognizant of your surroundings, if you must go out, remain in a group of at least two to three individuals, especially when traveling. We want to ensure everyones safety, said Simelton. Dumas was last seen leaving a liquor store off of University Drive on December 15. His car was found abandoned on I-40 near Camden, Tennessee, on December 16, and his phone pinged heading towards Memphis hours later. A missing persons report was filed on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024, and he was placed on the Alabama Law Enforcement Agencys Missing Persons List as a missing adult on Dec. 23. In February, Huntsville Police upgraded the missing persons case to an abduction, saying they obtained critical new evidence and had reason to believe five people were involved in kidnapping Dumas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two of the five people wanted in Dumass disappearance, Quintarious White and Kierra Clark, were arrested in Shelby County, Tenn. on April 9. News 19 has been following this case closely and will keep you updated on it here. We will also be in attendance at the Alabama NAACPs conference and at the candlelight vigil on Monday. You can find more here on the Search for Ronald Dumas 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 WHNT.com. Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to reporters on Thursday, April 17, 2025. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon) Along with announcing a veto of an education funding bill on Thursday, Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy introduced new legislation with a lower per student funding boost, plus additional funding and policy items focused on charter schools and homeschool programs. Dunleavy held a news conference at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, saying there were two reasons for the veto. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the reasons is that the revenue situation has deteriorated a lot since we submitted the bills and worked off the budget in December, Dunleavy said. And the second reason for the veto is theres no policy with this. Last week, the Legislature passed a stripped-down version of House Bill 69, taking out all policy items, and putting forward a simple two-line version that increased the base student allocation the core of the funding formula by $1,000 in the funding formula. The bill originally was focused solely on a funding increase, and legislators had added some policy changes sought by the governor, only to remove those proposals after he continued to criticize the different versions of the bill for falling short. Dunleavy had called the move a joke and promised to veto the bill. On Thursday, with the veto announcement, he urged legislators to reconsider his policy proposals to advance school funding this session. We still have 34 days left in the session. We still have plenty of time to get a bill passed, he said. We know what the policies are. We know how to get to the end game here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The governors new proposed bill includes a $560 increase for the base student allocation, plus another $35 million per year in targeted investments for specific programs, resulting in what the governors office calls a BSA equivalent of $700. However, that would result in a year-over-year decrease in the BSA because last years budget included a one-time funding bonus equivalent to a BSA boost of $680. The governors policy proposals includes $13.6 million to fund homeschool students at the same level as the core BSA amount for students in brick-and-mortar schools; the state currently funds homeschooling at 90% of the BSA. In addition, Dunleavy proposed $21.9 million in incentive grants aimed at improving reading proficiency, an expansion of the application and appeals process for charter schools, and statewide open enrollment, which would allow families to choose which school students attend. This is a bill that, if agreed upon by the Legislature, Ill sign tomorrow morning. Ill sign Monday. Ill sign Tuesday because it will have policies in there, Dunleavy said. We support funding, but were not going to support a very large, unbalanced, one-sided coin that is just funding, when we have opportunities to improve educational outcomes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, the 60 members of the House and Senate are headed to a joint session where they could override the veto. Overriding the veto would require votes from 40 of 60 legislators. Last year, the Legislature failed by one vote. This year, multiple legislators said there are unlikely to be 40 votes for an override. The House and Senate passed HB 69 with a combined 32 votes. A joint session to vote on the veto override is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, April 22. You simply never know, House Speaker Bryce Edmon, I-Dillingham, told reporters on Thursday of the veto override vote, adding that school districts are in crisis. We have heard time and again this session, (from) schools that are beyond their capabilities of any reserves that they had. Our public school system in Alaska is in crisis, and thats something that we need to focus on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Edgmon said the House majority caucus is open to negotiate with Dunleavy and consider his policy proposals, but hes concerned it doesnt address the state of schools now, some facing major deficits and budget shortfalls. What happens if that gap isnt met this year? What transpires in year two or three or four? Edgmon said, adding that this question is particularly important for districts that are struggling to keep schools open. And I didnt hear a clear answer from the governor, and that concerned me. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX With 34 days left in the session, Edgmon said the funding boost is a major priority. Its going to be a heavy lift, but were up for it, and were going to do everything we can, he said. And we ask our school districts to be patient, to know that were doing our best. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Rebecca Himschoot, I-Sitka, who sponsored the bill, also urged the veto override. Honestly, the $1,000 BSA is what our districts need, she said. They need twice that. So to back away from the override vote, would I think be the wrong move at this point. We need to push for that override. Himschoot agreed there are areas in Dunleavys new legislation that could be negotiable. There are some things there that we can definitely work with, she said. But the deal is not sealed in any way on that bill right now, I know that educators across the state are being laid off. We have school programs being cut. Once you cut it, you dont necessarily get it back, she said. In an interview after the governors news conference, Himschoot pointed to a comment by Dunleavy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One thing the governor said was we need to put our resources where the biggest problem is, she said. And the biggest problem our districts have right now is theyre either over a funding cliff or they will be next year. right now, while were talking, they are going off the edge. Educators and advocates react to the veto School district officials, students, parents and advocates have testified to lawmakers over weeks during the session that Alaska schools are in a financial crisis, and face steep cuts to programs, school closures and the loss of teachers and staff without the funding boost. Already, school districts have sent out hundreds of notices of potential layoffs, some accounting for a $680 to $1,000 per student increase. On Thursday, the states largest teachers union, NEA-Alaska, criticized the veto and urged an override. To say I am disappointed Governor Dunleavy vetoed education funding is an understatement, said Tom Klaameyer, NEA-Alaska president, in an emailed statement. Unfortunately, its not surprising. We knew this Governor was going to play politics with Alaska students futures and its disgraceful. I urge every legislator to vote to override Governor Dunleavys veto and do the right thing for our kids. Caroline Storm, executive director of the nonprofit Coalition for Education Equity, said in an interview Thursday that the group is preparing a lawsuit against the state saying that it is failing to maintain adequate schools, as required under the state constitution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group sued the state in 2004, in Moore vs. State of Alaska, where a judge ruled that the state was failing to support underperforming schools. Storm said today, the state is again not fulfilling its obligation, for both funding districts and adequately meeting education standards. I know for a fact that there are several districts that are unable to even provide their students with elective opportunities, and those students have to do some other sort of correspondence course to get the requirements they need to graduate, Storm said. So if were not able to fund districts to the point where they can have a teacher present to offer those electives, or those art standards or anything, were not providing an adequate education. Budget still in flux Last year, legislators approved a one-time $680 boost to the BSA. That was worth roughly $174 million statewide. The increase proposed in HB 69 would have permanently increased that funding boost by $79 million, or $253 million statewide. Anticipating Dunleavys veto, the Alaska House of Representatives voted to include a one-time, $1,000 BSA boost equivalent to HB 69 in the states draft operating budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It isnt yet clear whether the Senate will affirm that increase, because the Houses draft budget also includes a major deficit. The legislation the governor proposed on Thursday would cost $179.1 million. As of Thursday, the draft budget bills adopted by the Legislature this year contain about $6.6 billion in spending. The Alaska Department of Revenue is expecting $6.1 billion in state revenue over the next year, resulting in a projected deficit of almost $500 million. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Dunleavy said that if the Legislature is able to balance the budget while still approving a one-time $1,000 BSA boost, hed consider it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I would have a discussion with finance leaders to take a look at that, see where we would draw that money from to make that happen. But Id be willing to have that discussion, he said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Apr. 17Amillia Garcia walked out of her home to waiting officers last week holding the body of her 2-year-old son, a bullet hole in his chest. Police said she and others tried to hide evidence, including the gun that killed the boy. Garcia, released to await trial in her son's death, was arrested again Thursday for allegedly trying to shoplift a cupcake and fake eyelashes from a Walmart store and having a teenage girl help her steal. She is charged with shoplifting $250 or less, a petty misdemeanor, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, a fourth-degree felony. The teen she had with her was turned over to the state Children, Youth and Families Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Garcia's attorney did not return a call for comment. She was booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center Thursday afternoon. Prosecutors had filed a motion to detain Garcia, and several others, until trial in her son's April 6 shooting death, but 2nd Judicial District Judge Bruce Fox denied the motion and noted that the shooting death of the child "appeared accidental" after loaded firearms were left out in the home, according to court records. Garcia was let out of jail April 10 on pretrial release and ordered to not break any laws. On Thursday, officers responded around 12:20 p.m. to a reported shoplifting at the Walmart on Carlisle NE, just north of Menaul, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court. Police detained the alleged shoplifters, Garcia and a teenage girl. Police said an employee told them they saw Garcia pass a box of fake eyelashes to the teen, who then opened the box and hid the lashes. The employee said loss prevention detained the pair after they passed the registers and found a chocolate cupcake hidden on Garcia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Garcia told employees "she did not pay for the item," the complaint states. Garcia refused to speak with police and asked for a lawyer. Police said the total amount of the stolen items was $27.45. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) Facing higher costs, fewer students, and a shake-up in federal funding from Washington D.C., Albuquerque Public Schools is figuring out how its going to budget more than $2 billion in expenses over the next year. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have come a long way in a year but we have come a long way but this is just the beginning, said Gabriella Blakey, APS superintendent. Thats how Albuquerque Public School leaders are describing their next budget, as APS continues to face a wide range of challenges from costs to how many students are part of their schools. We still face challenges like our declining enrollment, a trend that we are seeing across the country, said Gabriella Blakey, APS superintendent. APS is projecting an enrollment of about 65,000 students for 2026. With state funding determined by the number of students, an enrollment drop means less money. District officials expect this years budget to be similar to the last, roughly 2.1 billion. APS is also projecting an increase in the State Equalization Guarantee, which will help fund a four-percent pay hike for all employees. Ahead of a final vote on the budget, some board members are worried about potential federal funding impacts under the trump administration. Theres so much influx right now, its hard to, theres so many buckets, said Josefina E. Dominguez, APS Board of Education member. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, APS administrators say so far, theyre not worried about any losses to federal dollars. Other key issues, including putting more focus on program evaluations this upcoming fiscal year, and if a program isnt working, top administrators said thats where the district should consider faster changes. We need to be bold and we need to be able to say that we are going to strategically abandon some of those initiatives, said Dr. Antonio Gonzales, Deputy Superintendent for Leadership & Learning, APS. The Board of Education is scheduled to vote on the final budget early next month. Right now, theyre on track to use nearly $5 million in reserves to cover some of their costs. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. CULLMAN, Ala. (WHNT) The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency has released new information on people injured in a two-boat crash on Lewis Smith Lake Wednesday morning. ALEA said that Flint A. Davis, 22, of Leesburg, Ga, was the operator of the Nitro Bass Boat involved in the crash. The agency said Davis was injured in the crash and taken to Cullman Regional Hospital for treatment. MLF competition canceled following deadly multi-boat crash on Lewis Smith Lake Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities said the operator of the Center Console involved, Gary W. Holcomb, 51, of Cullman, and a passenger, Luke H. Morgan, 30, of Albertville, were also injured in the crash. Both Morgan and Holcomb were taken to the UAB Hospital for treatment. On Wednesday, ALEA identified two of the victims as 44-year-old John K. Clark, of Cullman, and 62-year-old Jeffrey C. Little, of Brandon, Mississippi. Both were thrown overboard from the Center Console and drowned. Their bodies were recovered near the Miller Flats area of Smith Lake. ALEA said the two-boat crash also killed 58-year-old Joey Broom when he was hit by a Nitro Bass Boat. Broom was pronounced dead on the scene. ALEA said Davis was the only one onboard the Nitro Bass Boat during the crash, while Holcomb, Morgan, Broom, Clark and Little were all on the Center Console. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Major League Fishing confirmed Wednesday that Davis, who was participating in the Tackle Warehouse Invitational on the lake at the time, had been involved in the accident. The MLF tournament director told News 19 that the rest of the competition has been cancelled. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WIAT) On Saturday, Sama Ebrahimi Bajgani will celebrate her birthday in Jena, Louisiana. Its not what she and her fiance, Alireza Doroudi, had wanted. In fact, it wasnt that long ago the couple were in the middle of planning their wedding, which wouldve likely happened sometime in the next month or two, followed by a second wedding with their families in Iran. But that all changed with a knock on their door outside their apartment in Tuscaloosa in the early morning hours of March 25, when U.S. Immigration and Customs agents detained Doroudi, taking him into custody and sending him over 300 miles away to the little Louisiana town where the Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center is located. Its where the 32-year-old doctorate student who had been studying mechanical engineering at the University of Alabama has stayed for nearly a month with few answers as to why. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time of his arrest, Doroudi had been living in the United States on a revoked visa, which was inexplicably done just months after arriving in the country at the beginning of 2023. However, he had been assured that his student visa was validsomething his attorney, David Rozas, confirmed and that he would be fine as long as he remained a student at UA. Before being detained by ICE, Doroudi was in the process of applying for permanent residency and was set to graduate next year. Now, all the plans that Doroudi and Bajgani had for their life together are in question. I feel like Ive shattered, Bajgani said during a Zoom call as she was getting ready to leave with a friend for Louisiana Friday morning. Ive broken into pieces. Alireza Doroudi, left, and his fiancee, Sama Ebrahimi Bajgani, both of whom are students at the University of Alabama. Doroudi, 32, faces deportation to Iran on unsubstantiated claims of posing significant national security concerns, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.(Courtesy of Facebook) The last month has been hard on the couple, made even harder by an immigration judges recent decision not to grant bond to Doroudi, considering him a flight risk. In their argument for his deportation, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security claimed he posed significant national security concerns, despite failing to elaborate on what those concerns were. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bajgani and Doroudi cried together as they spoke on the phone after his hearing, where they continued to talk about the life they still want to build together. The only difference this time is whether it would involve the American dream or something else entirely. The couple first met in 2022 at the U.S. Embassy in Oman, where they were both applying for student visas to the United States. She said that while Doroudi waited seven months to be approved for a visa, she had to wait nearly a year. Before long, they two were in America, he a doctoral student at UA and she studying educational psychology at Mississippi State University. Seeing as they were only an hour and a half away from each other, they decided to meet. He came with friends to Starkville, where I was studying at Mississippi State and we started dating right after, she said. I think I was the one who initiated everything. Alireza Doroudi, left, and his fiancee, Sama Ebrahimi Bajgani. (Courtesy of Threads) Describing their quiet life in Tuscaloosa, Bajgani didnt speak about their respective workloads as students at the University of Alabama, but of cooking Persian food together in their apartment, hiking in north Alabama, white water rafting with her in West Virginia, and slowly building a life together. Maybe that would include a pet, maybe that would include children, but it would be done together. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His aspiration is to be a good person, a virtuous person, she said. Hes the kindest and most generous person I have ever met. In their phone calls to one another, Bajgani spoke about how despite his dilemma, Doroudi is staying focused on his future, asking her to send him his school books, as well as his English and vocabulary books. This weekend, she hopes she can give him more by being there with him. I just want to go there and say I love you Alireza. Everything is going to be fine and give him some encouraging words, she said. I wish I could hold his hand but they dont let me hold his hand because its over that glass door, but thats just how it is. Going through the emotion turmoil of Doroudis detainment, Bajgani said she feels like she is in a prison herself, unable to focus on her work and constantly worried for his safety. At times, it has made both of them despondent about what could be in store for them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We were thinking that if the court or the people who are deciding for Alireza dont consider true information and what he really is, preferring to come up with something to portray him as a threat, what is the worth of fighting in this court, she said. What is the worth of paying lots of money and fighting in this court and staying apart from one another. Sama Ebrahimi Bajgani, left, and her fiance, Alireza Doroudi, both of whom are students at the University of Alabama. Doroudi, 32, faces deportation to Iran on unsubstantiated claims of posing significant national security concerns, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. If Doroudi is ultimately deported and sent back to Iran, Bajgani is not afraid of going back. For her, shes afraid of what could happen if they continued to stay. It was made all the more clear after his bond was denied, despite no evidence that he is dangerous or would flee the country. When we saw that, we kind of lost our hope for America, for both of us, she said. Even if they let us stay, we wouldve completed our degrees and we wouldve left in the earliest time. This is not a place to live. This is not a place to live the happy life and dream. This is not the freedom and American dream that they always talk about. Its just something that is just for a group of people, not for everyone. Bajgani hopes she and Doroudi can find that home where they can both thrive, if not in the US. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I wish we could have that happy dream somewhere in this universe, she said. I believe there is somewhere for both of us that they will understand how good we are, how good and pure of people we are. We are kind and are considerate of other people and we are nothing like a threat to the community. With many questions that remain unanswered, Bajgani hopes that those who hold Doroudis fate in the balance do the right thing. I want to say that you can always choose the right, even though you have chosen the wrong, she said. Please choose the right. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 18. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and an economic delegation will visit Azerbaijan on April 27, Vice President of the Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture Hossein Pirmoazen said as he spoke at a meeting of the Council for Dialogue between the Government and the Private Sector, Trend reports. According to him, the 120-member delegation accompanying the Iranian president to Azerbaijan will comprise stakeholders from the private sector, members of the Iran-Azerbaijan inter-parliamentary friendship group, and governors from four provinces in northwestern Iran. Pirmoazen mentioned that the visit is all about fostering economic ties and laying the groundwork for future visits from the private sector bigwigs. The chamber official noted that economic cooperation will further develop with the commissioning of the bridge between Azerbaijan and Iran (Aghband-Kaleleh). Previously, the Iranian Embassy in Azerbaijan said that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will pay a state visit to Azerbaijan in April. It was also noted that an Azerbaijan-Iran business forum would be held during the visit, and a number of documents will be signed. The Trump administration is hinging its argument that the mistakenly deported Maryland man, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, was an MS-13 gang member based on an anonymous tip and him wearing a Chicago Bulls hat information contained in a 2019 police report. Attorney General Pamela Bondi posted a series of documents on X on Wednesday, including a gang field interview sheet from the Prince Georges County Police Department, seeking to make the connection between Abrego Garcia and the international criminal gang. The document describes a March 2019 encounter between county officers, Abrego Garcia and three other men who police said were loitering at a Home Depot in Hyattsville. Authorities immediately recognized one of them as a member of MS-13 while Abrego Garcia, police said, was wearing clothing indicative of the Hispanic gang culture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the report, the Chicago Bulls hat represents that they are a member in good standing with the MS-13. But the only other factor corroborating that theory was a confidential source, who associated Abrego Garcia with an MS-13 clique in New York a state hes never been to, according to his family. The integrity of that gang field sheet has faced public scrutiny since Bondis post on Wednesday. According to the Prince Georges County Police Department, the officer who authored it was suspended from the department less than a week after it was written and was eventually terminated. Police officials confirmed Thursday that former Cpl. Ivan Mendez was one of the gang unit officers who encountered Abrego Garcia in 2019. They said the group of men displayed traits associated with MS-13 culture, including tattoos and clothing, but noted that no one was charged or arrested. The department said Mendez was suspended in connection with an unrelated matter. But, according to a 2020 police statement, he was accused of providing confidential information to a sex worker he was paying. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mendez was indicted and later pleaded guilty to misconduct in office, court records show, and was granted probation before judgment. The department recommended termination and Mendez was removed in December 2022. The Prince Georges County Police Department declined to comment further on Mendez or Bondis social media post. Abrego Garcias family referenced the 2019 incident in their federal complaint last month, explaining the men at the Home Depot were soliciting employment and arrested without knowing why. The arrest launched a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement probe and, eventually, an immigration hearing. According to the complaint, a judge released Abrego Garcia from custody and allowed him to remain in the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abrego Garcia fled from El Salvador around 2011 after enduring years of gang violence and harassment, his attorneys said, and entered the United States without inspection. The immigration judge decided he could stay, however, because it was more likely than not that he would be persecuted again if returned to El Salvador, according to the complaint. Abrego Garcia, a father and sheet metal worker, has no criminal record, and despite the Trump administrations accusations, he has never been linked to MS-13 in a court ruling. Yet, the government deported him to a Salvadoran mega-prison in March, among the hundreds of other immigrants transferred there. Since Abrego Garcia was taken from his home in Beltsville, a legal standoff over his return has sparked intense national debate over President Donald Trumps immigration policies. Though the federal government has been ordered to facilitate Garcias return, conceding his deportation was an administrative error, a judge has accused the Trump administration of doing nothing to facilitate his release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The government, meanwhile, continues to accuse Abrego Garcia of being an MS-13 member and posing a public threat. Beyond policies, the nations debate has centered on the El Salvadorans character. Bondis post came less than two hours after the Department of Homeland Security published a protective order Abrego Garcias wife filed against him in 2021. This MS-13 gang member is not a sympathetic figure, DHS said in the online post. The documents posted by DHS are dated May 6, 2021, and include allegations that Abrego Garcia punched and scratched, as well as ripped off shirt, grabbed and bruised his wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vasquez Sura, said she acted out of caution after a disagreement with Kilmar, but decided not to follow through on the complaint because things did not escalate. Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen traveled to Central America on Wednesday in an attempt to bring Abrego Garcia back to Maryland. At a news conference in San Salvador, the countrys capital, Van Hollen said El Salvadors vice president would neither free Abrego Garcia nor allow him to visit the notorious maximum security prison where he is being held. Why is the government of El Salvador continuing to imprison a man where they have no evidence that hes committed any crime and they have not been provided any evidence from the United States that he has committed any crime? Van Hollen said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the familys legal complaint, ICE officials said in 2019 that all the evidence and intelligence they had on Abrego Garcia being an MS-13 gang member came from the Prince Georges County Police report. _______ In a matter of days, millions of students will be finalizing one of the biggest decisions of their lives: what college they will attend. The choice could prove to be even more daunting for international students hoping to study in the United States, as the Trump administration revokes hundreds of student visas and admonishes colleges that dont adhere to its policy demands, threatening to pull billions of dollars in funding and at least one schools ability to host foreign students. The previous academic year, more than 1.1 million international students enrolled at American higher education institutions a record high, according to a report from the nonprofit Institute of International Education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And foreign students, who are more likely to pay full tuition compared to their American counterparts, bring significant funding to colleges. If they choose to take their dollars elsewhere, it could spell financial trouble for the US colleges that rely on them. A lot of universities are already under financial strain from a variety of reasons (including) the recent efforts by the Trump administration against certain elite institutions to claw back federal aid to those institutions, Stephen Yale-Loehr, a retired Cornell University immigration law professor, told CNN. So a drop in international students will hurt those institutions even more. While its too soon to know whether international student enrollment will decline this upcoming year a clearer picture will emerge beyond May 1, college decision day it seems like a lot of students are more skittish about coming to the United States, Yale-Loehr said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even before college decision day, one company that handles applications says it has seen a slight dip in international applications, and China, which supplies 25% of foreign students, has issued a warning to its citizens about studying in the US. Foreign students are a significant source of revenue for American universities More than 1,000 international students or recent graduates have had their visas revoked or statuses terminated since Trump took office in January some high-profile cases accuse students of supporting terror organizations, while others have involved relatively minor offenses such as years-old misdemeanors. A visa revocation would terminate a students legal status in the US, forcing them to step away from their studies even though some students have already paid thousands in tuition dollars. International students are more likely to pay full tuition at US colleges, in part because most arent eligible for federal financial aid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also, many universities focus their own financial aid primarily on domestic students, Yale-Loehr said, and because of that, international students bring in more dollars per student than the tuition that domestic students pay. Some universities believe their commitments should lie with in-state and American students since their families pay taxes, said William Brustein, a higher education global strategist. Hes served as the chief international officer at several public universities and in top leadership positions for groups supporting international students. Now, for international students, (colleges) felt that they didnt have that same commitment. And to be honest with you, they felt that this could serve as almost a cash cow for many of these universities. If these students were willing, their families were willing to pay two and sometimes three times as much, he told CNN. More than three-quarters of international students primarily fund their education themselves, through their family or through current employment, the Institute of International Education found. Less than one-fifth received primary funding from their US college or university. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And an increase in foreign students at public research universities led to pronounced tuition revenue gains, a research paper published in the American Economic Journal says much-needed gains, the paper found, which helped offset falling state funding appropriations. American universities are already seeing other types of financial pains: This week, the federal government froze more than $2 billion in multiyear grants and $60 million in multiyear contracts at Harvard after the Ivy League university refused to change its hiring and other practices. And on Wednesday, the Department of Homeland Security threatened to strip Harvard of its ability to enroll foreigners if it doesnt turn over records on illegal and violent activities of its current international students. International students make up more than a quarter of Harvards enrollment. While Harvard and other elite schools could suffer financially from a decline in foreign students, others like public research universities with endowments that arent as deep could feel it even more keenly, Brustein said. David Fichter of Cambridge, Massachusetts, a 1973 graduate of Harvard University, leaves a protest against President Donald Trump's administration and against student visas being revoked, at Harvard University in Cambridge on Thursday. - Ken McGagh/Reuters A top driver of international students to the US cautions its citizens One-quarter of international students in the US hail from China, surpassed only by India, whose nationals account for 29% of international students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But amid a massive trade war and what it calls the deterioration of China-U.S. economic and trade relations and the security situation within the United States, China issued a stark warning to its students hoping to study abroad in the US. This month, Chinas Ministry of Culture and Tourism and its Ministry of Education released statements telling Chinese citizens visiting and studying in the United States to travel with caution. Jayson Ma, a 24-year-old Chinese national who has been in the United States since 2016 on a valid student visa, learned his student visa was revoked by the federal government earlier this month. Ma said he learned about it when his school called with the news. But details about the reason for the revocation werent available; his attorney said he hadnt received any official documentation ordering him to leave the United States. Ma has no criminal record or convictions; he has a previous DUI charge that was dismissed in court and expunged from his record after completing a court-ordered course, his attorney said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response to questions about Mas situation, a State Department spokesperson told CNN: We dont go into the rationale for what happens with individual visas. The geopolitical environment over the last 10 to 15 years, particularly with respect to the US-China relationship, has really dampened the prospects for choosing the US, Brustein said, with Covid-19 and its aftermath exacerbating the political climate. In 2020, the US revoked visas for more than 1,000 Chinese students and researchers deemed security risks. When President Joe Biden took office, many of those Trump-era policies were kept in place making it difficult for Chinese graduate students and researchers to secure a visa. American schools saw a 4% drop in Chinese international students enrolled last academic year, according to the Institute of International Education. President Donald Trump holds a chart next to US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick as Trump delivers remarks on tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, DC, on April 2. - Carlos Barria/Reuters/File Will the US see a drop in international students? Wali Khan, a Michigan State University journalism student from Hong Kong and Singapore, came to the United States about four years ago in search of a freer press. He said he fled Singapore after he was interrogated for hours without access to a lawyer after his reporting on accusations of a top university mishandling sexual abuse cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administrations immigration crackdown hasnt changed the 24-year-olds plans he wants to stay in the US after finishing school. And while it hasnt stopped him from reporting, he said hes received worried calls from friends, has considered privatizing his social media accounts and tries to spend more time in public and less in secluded places. Ive built a life here, he told CNN. Ive been uprooted once, and that was difficult enough. So it also feels like this crushing weight. Common App, a college admission platform serving hundreds of colleges and processing millions of applications, reported the number of first-year international applicants for the approaching school year was down 1% as of March 1 compared to the same date last year. That contrasts with a 5% rise in first-year domestic applicants marking the first time since 2019 that growth in domestic applications exceeded international growth, the company said. The recent treatment of foreign students could serve as accelerants for an eventual decline in international enrollment, Brustein said, stemming from concerns hes been increasingly hearing from international families for years: The rising price tag of an American college education combined with increasing reputations of universities outside the US. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The US isnt the shining beacon on the hill here anymore, he told CNN. If you want to get a top-notch education that positions you well for your career, there are other choices now. Some signs point to even US citizens increasingly looking to Canada for their education: Reuters reported at least three Canadian universities had seen an uptick in interest and applications from American students. One official from the University of British Columbias Vancouver campus attributed the spike to the Trump administrations visa revocations and increased scrutiny of their social media activity. This could become just not a trickle, Brustein warned. It could become, if we continue down the road we are today, maybe more of a flood. CNNs Gloria Pazmino contributed to this report. Correction: A previous version of this story misspelled the first name of Stephen Yale-Loehr. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com An American citizen was shot and killed by a passenger Thursday during his attempt to hijack a plane in Belize. The incident occurred aboard a Tropic Air Belize flight with 13 other passengers onboard when Akinyela Sawa Taylor tried to take over the aircraft at knifepoint after it took off from Corozal toward Belize City. He demanded more fuel for the plane and to be taken out of the country, according to police. Taylor had previously been refused entry to Belize and it remains under investigation how he boarded the plane. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the flight circled while depleting fuel, a Belizean passenger carrying a licensed gun shot Taylor in the chest, local police said, according to ABC News. That person remains in critical condition after being stabbed in the back and lungs. Two others also suffered knife wounds in the chaos, though their current conditions are unclear. The plane landed safely nearly two hours later at an airport just outside Belize City, and was moments from running out of fuel, officials said. Earlier today, a Tropic Air flight faced a serious and unprecedented in-flight emergency, Tropic Air CEO Maximillian Greif said in a statement. In the face of incomprehensible pressure, our pilot acted with extraordinary courage and calm, guiding the aircraft to a safe landing. His actions were nothing short of heroic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Belize Commissioner of Police Chester Williams told local journalists the plane was followed by a helicopter in case a quick rescue operation needed to be mounted in the event of a crash. The U.S. Embassy in Belize said it was working with local officials in their investigation. By Matt Spetalnick and Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) - With his campaign promises unfulfilled to quickly bring peace to Gaza and Ukraine, U.S. President Donald Trump has turned to another high-profile challenge that could be just as elusive: curbing Iran's escalating nuclear program. His administration plans a second round of talks with Iran on Saturday in Rome that few thought possible after years of hostility dating back to the Republican president's first term, when he scrapped a 2015 nuclear deal and imposed a "maximum pressure" campaign of crippling sanctions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While no one is ruling out the potential for progress after a meeting in Oman last weekend that both sides described as positive, negotiators are lowering any expectations of a swift breakthrough in the decades-long dispute. Debate on elements of a potential framework nuclear deal is at a very early stage among Trump's aides, said a source briefed on a White House meeting with the president on Tuesday. The two sides could reach an interim deal ahead of a more detailed agreement, said two sources familiar with White House thinking. Adding to regional tensions surrounding the diplomatic effort is Trump's repeated threat to bomb Iran's nuclear sites if a deal cannot be reached. That would mean that Trump, who pledged in his January 20 inaugural speech to be a "peacemaker," could drive the U.S. into a new conflict in the Middle East. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump said on Thursday he was not in a rush to strike Iran, insisting that negotiations were his first option. "If there's a second option, I think it would be very bad for Iran," Trump said during a White House meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. "I think Iran is wanting to talk. I hope they're wanting to talk. It's going to be very good for them if they do." Leading the U.S. negotiating team is Steve Witkoff, a Trump friend and real estate investor with no prior diplomatic experience who some analysts have nicknamed the administration's "envoy for everything." He has been tasked with getting a deal with Iran in addition to ending the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, both of which have raged on. Across the table will be Irans foreign minister, Abbas Araqchi, a shrewd negotiator who some Western diplomats worry will take advantage of Witkoff's lack of expertise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Having to balance Gaza and Ukraine and Iran would be a challenge from a bandwidth perspective for anyone," said Jonathan Panikoff, former deputy U.S. national intelligence officer on the Middle East, of Witkoff's assignment. "But that's especially (the case) with Iran, given the amount of technical details, history, regional geopolitical considerations, and broader complexities," added Panikoff, now with the Atlantic Council think-tank in Washington. Witkoff has one distinctive negotiating asset: his direct line to Trump, which should signal to the Iranians they are getting the president's views from someone he trusts. Whether that will help the administration's effort to secure a deal remains to be seen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement UNCERTAINTY Witkoff's own comments in recent days have injected further uncertainty over Trump's endgame with Iran. Ahead of last Saturday's talks, he told the Wall Street Journal last week that the red line would be "weaponization" of Iran's nuclear program, seeming to back away from Trump's demand for full dismantlement. He then told Fox News on Monday night that Iran could be allowed to enrich uranium at a low level but only with strict verification, before appearing to backtrack on Tuesday, saying in a post on X that Iran must "eliminate" its enrichment program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response, Araqchi said on Wednesday that "the principle of enrichment is not negotiable." Harsh sanctions on Iran appear to have helped draw the OPEC member-nation to the negotiating table. But Tehran, which has long denied Western and Israeli accusations that it seeks a nuclear weapon, has approached the talks warily, suspicious of Trump and doubting the likelihood of an agreement. Since Trump withdrew from the international nuclear accord with Iran in his first term, Iran has far surpassed the 2015 deal's limits on uranium enrichment, producing stocks at a high level of fissile purity, close to that required for nuclear warheads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MIXED DIPLOMATIC RECORD Trump's surprise announcement on April 7 of a resumption of talks with Iran spotlighted Witkoff's central role in the administration's foreign policy. Witkoff's record so far has been mixed. He has had no success securing a deal between Russia and Ukraine, countries at war since Moscow's 2022 invasion of its neighbor. Shortly before Trump took office, he helped secure a long-sought ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas militants, a deal that has since unraveled. Possible U.S. or Israeli military action is keeping the Middle East on edge. Israel, which has severely weakened Iran's regional influence since the Palestinian group Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, has long left little doubt that it could strike Iran's nuclear sites to thwart what it considers an existential threat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Caught off-guard by Trump's decision to negotiate with Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged a denuclearization deal like the one that Libya signed in 2003 - a deal Tehran is considered highly unlikely to accept. Gulf states, nervous about another Middle East war, hope the negotiations continue but are concerned about being left out of the process, Gulf sources said. Some analysts suggest that despite the steep obstacles to an Iran deal, a two-party agreement between the U.S. and Iran still might be less of a long shot for Trump than forging lasting peace between the warring sides in Gaza and Ukraine. "As a party to a nuclear agreement, the U.S. can assert some measure of control," said Laura Blumenfeld, a Middle East analyst at the Johns Hopkins School for Advanced International Studies in Washington. "Both are ready and eager to end nuclear tensions." (Additional reporting by Simon Lewis in Washington, Maayan Lubell and Alexander Cornwell in Jerusalem and Maha El Dahan in Dubai; Writing by Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Don Durfee and Howard Goller) BEIRUT, Lebanon, April 18 (UPI) -- Leadership changes in Syria and Lebanon, driven by the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the weakening of Hezbollah's influence, have created a rare opportunity for the two neighboring countries to repair their relations and move beyond decades of political domination and military interference. The stunning collapse last December of the Syrian Baath regime at the hands of Islamist rebels, led by Ahmad Sharaa -- now Syria's new ruler -- has created a new reality in the country and across the region. Just a month later, Lebanon began to show signs of its own transformation with the election of Joseph Aoun as president and the appointment of Nawaf Salam to lead the new government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The once-powerful Hezbollah, long accustomed to dictating national policy and hand-picking key officials, was forced to compromise and endorse these new leadership choices. Leaders in both countries were quick to offer assurances to one another, expressing a willingness to move beyond their troubled, tense and often hostile past, and to open a new chapter in relations based on mutual respect. The road to recovery will be far from easy, burdened by long-standing and complex disputes, deeply rooted historical grievances and a rapidly shifting Middle East landscape ravaged by years of destructive conflicts. However, the visit by Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to Damascus earlier this week, where he met with Syria's ruler, Ahmad Sharaa, laid the groundwork for dialogue aimed at resolving key points of contention between the two countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The visit marks "a watershed moment" in Lebanon-Syria relations, according to Imad Salamey, a senior Middle East policy adviser and associate professor of political science and international affairs at the Lebanese American University in Beirut. Salamey explained that for the first time, both states are engaging on equal sovereign footing, signaling a departure from decades of Syrian tutelage over Lebanon. "This diplomatic shift recognizes Lebanon's independence and Syria's need to recalibrate its regional posture post-Assad's ouster," he told UPI. The Sharaa-Salam talks, Salamey added, suggest that both parties are now willing to talk as peers, with mutual interests in securing sovereignty and territorial integrity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The emerging approach emphasizes non-interference in each other's affairs, with Syria committing to refrain from aggression against Lebanon and Lebanon ensuring it will not serve as a base for launching attacks against Syria. "This process would pave the way for consolidating stability between the two countries," a well-informed Lebanese source told UPI. Lebanon has suffered from decades-long Syrian military presence, political domination and manipulation that greatly impacted its governance, political life, economy and stability. The Syrian Army first entered Lebanon in 1976 to stop the then-raging civil war and remained until it was forced to pull out after the assassination of Lebanon's former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in a powerful explosion that targeted his convoy in Beirut on Feb. 14, 2005. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Syria, which imposed itself as the main power broker after having been granted guardianship over Lebanon when the civil war ended in 1990, was accused of being behind Hariri's assassination and numerous other such killings during the civil war and in peace. But its influence on Lebanon began to wane rapidly starting in 2011, when anti-Assad peaceful protests broke out and soon turned into a bloody civil war. Syrians, on their part, hold grudges against Hezbollah -- and its patron, Iran -- for siding with the Assad regime and joining the bloody battles against the opposition fighters in 2012. The Hezbollah-Iran involvement in Syria ended with Assad's fall. Last month, three soldiers in Syria's new army and seven Lebanese were killed when clashes erupted near the border town of Al-Qasr in northeastern Lebanon --- one of several key smuggling and supply routes long used by Hezbollah. The fighting ended after two days, with the Lebanese Army deploying in the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "No attacks or smuggling will be allowed from the Lebanese side," the source said. "The army now has control of the border to prevent any drug and weapons smuggling, as well as any cross-border interaction or interference." Smuggling has been a main problem since the establishment of the border between Syria and Lebanon, which extends for approximately 230 miles from the east to the north, with no clear demarcation in many areas. Land and sea border demarcation, security coordination, preventing smuggling, closing illegal crossings, and adopting security and military measures to prevent the recurrence of the cross-border clashes were at the top of the Salam-Sharaa discussions, according to the Lebanese source. He said the discussions also covered gas and oil exploration, boosting trade and potential joint projects that would bring mutual benefits in the fields of economy, agriculture and investment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both countries, he added, agreed to form a joint committee that included the ministers of justice and defense to address lingering issues, such as uncovering the fate of Lebanese detainees and missing persons in Syria, as well as Syrians held in Lebanese prisons. "The committee will also work to shed light on the dozens of political assassinations that took place in Lebanon during the Assad regime's rule," the source said. While historical grievances are "deeply embedded," Lebanon and Syria have a shared interest in securing and demarcating the borders, especially in compliance with U.N. Security Council Resolution 1680, Salamey said. "This provides an achievable starting point," he said. Controlling illegal crossings, which has cost Lebanon some $5 billion annually due to smuggling, per the World Bank's estimates, and halting currency outflows from Syria "are pragmatic, mutually beneficial goals." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Salamey said border control could encourage greater economic cooperation and mutual stabilization, but emphasized the need for international guarantees, technical support and "political insulation from spoilers -- particularly Hezbollah and other non-state actors who benefit from open borders." Encouraged by the recent political shifts, Saudi Arabia stepped in to bring Syria and Lebanon closer, playing a key mediating role in helping the two countries address their long-standing disputes. The Lebanese source revealed that land and maritime border demarcation talks will proceed with the support of Saudi Arabia, which believes that there is "a serious opportunity" for both countries to emerge from their successive crises and embark on a new process aimed at consolidating stability. Besides the disputed territories, securing the return of 1.5 million Syrian refugees from Lebanon represents a major challenge. While crisis-ridden Lebanon can no longer host them, war-ravaged Syria is not yet ready to take them back because of its limited resources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Salamey also noted that their divergent political systems -- Lebanon's consociational democracy versus Syria's Islamist autocratic trajectory -- also pose "enduring risks." He said that without broader regional reconciliation and internal reforms, progress may be limited to "transactional arrangements" rather than leading to "transformational peace." "The road to healing is long and fraught, but the current moment offers a window for engagement that didn't exist in recent decades," he said. Hes losing his mind! New York City cant afford to elect former Gov. Andrew Cuomo as Big Apple mayor because his mental acuity is in decline and residents cant afford a Joe Biden moment at City Hall, a rival for the Democratic nomination said. State Sen. Jessica Ramos made the stunning claim about the 67-year-old Cuomo during a Post editorial board meeting Thursday. State Sen. Jessica Ramos said that New York City cant risk electing ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo as mayor because his mental acuity is in decline. REUTERS I dont think the City of New York can afford a Joe Biden moment. I think that there are real reasons why hes not answering questions, Ramos, referring to the former presidents mental decline in office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Queens lawmaker referenced Cuomos testimony before the House Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, where he was raked over the coals for a controversial administrative edict that ordered nursing homes to accept recovering COVID patients discharged from hospitals and lowballing the deaths of nursing residents. Even when he went before Congress, he just cant remember details about what he did, Ramos, 39, said. Republican lawmakers and other critics accused him of lying, which Cuomo denied. His mental acuity is in decline, Ramos repeated when The Post edit board pressed her to clarify her bombshell accusation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cuomo would be the oldest mayor elected to City Hall since Abe Beame took office in 1974. She surmised that Cuomo having to resign in disgrace as governor in 2021 under the threat of impeachment amid sexual misconduct accusations from a slew of women took a toll on his mental health and memory. Cuomo has denied the harassment accusations. Ramos, a rival for the Democratic nomination said that residents cant afford a Joe Biden moment at City Hall. AP I imagine having to resign in disgrace must have really taken a toll on, at the very least, at the very least, his ego, but most certainly his mental health, Ramos said. Cuomo campaign spokesman Richard Azzopardi, asked about Ramoss claim that the former governor is in mental decline, said, You can quote me rolling my eyes this is a desperate attack from a desperate extreme left socialist who is in debt and polling at 3 percent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Was she sober when she said it?, the Cuomo rep added. Asked if Cuomo would take a mental competency test to prove his acuity, Azzopardi shot back, Fk, off. Despite his baggage, the former thrice-elected governor is the clear front-runner in the Democratic primary for mayor, according to a series of recent polls. The stunning comments were made during a Post editorial board meeting Thursday. Brian Zak/NY Post Left-wing socialist Zohran Mamdani has surged to second place, well behind Cuomo, but ahead of Ramos and all other candidates whove failed to break single-digit support from Democrats in surveys. Ramos also is struggling to raise funds, with a cash balance of $1,039 in her campaign kitty, according to the Campaign Finance Board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The primary election is June 24, preceded by a week of early voting. Ramos insisted theres time for her to breakthrough, noting that polls indicate that about 20% of Democrats have yet to make up their mind in the mayors office. The Iron Workers union earlier this week endorsed her as the number two choice after Cuomo, indicating some support in the labor movement. She chairs the Senate Labor Committee. The second large, portion of the electorate right now is undecided. There are more undecided voters than those supporting the DSA candidate. So I want to say that theres still a very wide lane that someone can take, and Im betting on myself, Ramos said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the issues, Ramos said she is against Mayor Eric Adamss decision to allow US Immigration Customs and Enforcement access to the Rikers Island jail complex to accelerate deportations. Due process is a human right, she said, backing the citys sanctuary law. Ramos defended her defund the police statement from five years ago, and said she would rein in bloated spending on costly overtime and high-tech gizmos like K5 police robots. She said the police crackdown on sex trafficking and other crime and disorder along the Roosevelt Avenue corridor in her district has largely been a bust. Her priority would be going after the gangs and human traffickers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A daughter of Colombian immigrants, she supports dramatically increasing the number of legal permits for street vendors. On education, she opposes legislation to lift the cap on charter school openings in New York City, saying she would focus on improving the traditional public schools and work on a labor contract with the teachers union to promote recruitment and retention as well as accountability. She said making it easier for working class residents to own a home would be a priority in her housing program. Rep. Andy Barr plans to announce next week that he is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by former GOP leader Mitch McConnell, according to two people familiar with his plans and granted anonymity to discuss them. One of those people, a Republican in Kentucky, provided an invitation to a "special campaign announcement" on Tuesday evening in Richmond. Barr, a senior member of the House Financial Services Committee, had been considering a run to succeed McConnell since even before McConnell officially announced in February that he would not seek reelection next year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Lexington Herald-Leader first reported Barrs plans . First elected in 2012 to a Lexington-based seat, Barr will enter a contested primary to succeed the longest-serving Senate party leader in U.S. history. Former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, who announced his campaign in February, had been viewed by many as the heir apparent to McConnell, before a failed bid for governor dented his reputation. Barr, too, is already facing some challenges in the state. The anti-tax group Club for Growth released a TV ad in February attacking Barr for his vote to raise the debt ceiling and casting him as working on behalf of woke Wall Street banks. Barr won a challenging campaign against former Marine Corps pilot Amy McGrath in 2018, solidifying his control over his central Kentucky seat. A Senate run will mark his first statewide campaign, testing whether his appeal stretches to some of the more conservative areas in the eastern and western parts of the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barr raised $1.8 million in the first three months of the year , according to financial disclosures filed this week, and ended the quarter with $5.3 million in the bank. Cameron raised $508,000. Barrs campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment. BOARDMAN, Ohio (WKBN) The Angels of Easter Seals will soon be hosting its spring fashion show and luncheon for the 48th time. Its Thursday, May 8, at Mr. Anthonys in Boardman. The doors open at 10 a.m. Its $65 a person and there are still tickets available. The fashions will be from Chicos, Suzannes and 850 Blues. A highlight are the local celebrities walking with Easter Seal children. WKBN News Anchor Stan Boney be the emcee and will be walking again with Bianca Severino. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More information on how to purchase tickets is available on the Easter Seals 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 WKBN.com. Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 18. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a letter of condolences to Mevlut Cavusoglu, Member of the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye, over the death of his father, Trend reports. "Dear Mr. Cavusoglu, I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of your father, Osman Cavusoglu a profound loss for your family. In this time of sorrow, I share in your grief and extend my deepest condolences to you and all the members of your family, wishing you patience. May Allah rest his soul in peace," the letter reads. OGDEN, Utah (ABC4) On Tuesday night, police removed 152 dogs from a home in Ogden. All those dogs were sent to Weber County Animal Services, putting strain on an already full shelter. However, the shelter is now emptying some of its kennels thanks to some helping hands. A handful of other shelters stepped up and now have more than one-third of those dogs. The shelters will take care of them until they are ready to be fostered or adopted. PICTURES: Volunteers show up to groom, treat 156 animals rescued in Ogden Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While ABC4 was not permitted to film in the area the dogs from the hoarding situation are being held at Weber County Animal Services, the shelter did provide a few pictures of what some of them look like. All are small dogs. Some appear like they may be some kind of chihuahua mix. While dozens are now being taken care of elsewhere, the majority remain at the shelter. Some of its just kind of a waiting game to see what we can do with the dogs, stated Animal Care & Community Outreach Coordinator Bailey May. [Were waiting to see] which dogs we can move and what medical care they need. PREVIOUSLY: 152 dogs rescued from extremely poor conditions in Ogden home Do you know, roughly, how many youve moved so far? ABC4s Kade Garner asked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least 46 for today so far, responded May. South Ogden took quite a few last night but I cant remember the exact number. We should have some more leaving this afternoon or tomorrow. Along with other shelters stepping into help, May said theyve also had people donate their time, including a veterinarian. She emphasized the importance of their volunteers by saying that the shelter would not have opened to the public on time Thursday afternoon if it werent for the people who helped clean kennels all morning. The shelter has also had a huge outpouring of community donations. Our front door was filled with donations this morning, our lobby was filled, and USPS dropped off a ton of Amazon packages this morning, she explained. May said that all donations are welcome, but if a person wants to know what the shelter needs the most, the Amazon wish list on the shelters Facebook page is the best place to look. Even with the help of other shelters, many of the dogs will have to stay put. Some of these hoarding dogs are not ready to go anywhere, May said. They need more care before theyre ready to leave, so fostering the dogs we already have here frees up so much space and we have such amazing dogs right. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That is exactly what brought Kathy Dobrowolski to the shelter Thursday afternoon. They need people to foster so much, Dobrowolski told ABC4. She was there looking to foster a Pomeranian mix named Sparky. She recently fostered a dog, which was adopted two weeks ago, for the first time. It was so rewarding to get her out of the shelter and let her be free and in a home and just decompress, she added. Dobrowolski encourages others to look into fostering as well. Bailey May told ABC4 that every dogs situation is different, so they wont all be up for adoption at the same time. The goal is to have the first dogs ready for adoption by April 21st. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. ANKENY, Iowa Proposed plans for rezoning in northern Ankeny may open up opportunities for a Walmart to go up alongside residential neighborhoods. Residents of the Piper Property neighborhood have been speaking out against a December 2024 proposal that would turn multi-family into commercial property. The plans involved an open area west of Northeast 36th Street and North Ankeny Boulevard. If you introduce a big box retailer right in the middle of a residential area like this, its going to create new noise pollution, new light pollution. Its going to be a lot of trash blowing around. Its going to create a very large new traffic load, said resident Trevor Meeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I live over by 18th Street, and its like a drag race. Its like, its too much traffic, I need to breathe, said resident Anne Lehmann. Walmart, if they build it there, the safety of the kids and residential life. Who would build a house if Walmarts going to be there? Residents of the neighborhood have been voicing their concerns on a public Facebook group. On Tuesday, an open house was held where residents and Walmart representatives gathered to discuss the plans. I didnt count, but somewhere around a couple hundred people from the neighborhood attended that meeting, and I didnt see anyone who was in favor of it coming, said Meeks. So they were there to share their concerns with the Walmart team about what was be going on. Walmart says the meeting was an opportunity to speak with residents about the possible outcomes of a new store in the area. We are having preliminary discussions about the possibility of bringing a new store to serve the needs of this growing area. Were thankful for the opportunity to meet with neighbors their feedback is important in shaping any plan for the future. Anne Hatfield, Walmart Global Communications Ready for business: New industrial park planned in SE Des Moines Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents say the meeting gave an opportunity to speak with Walmart, but some are more concerned with reaching city officials. Well yeah, (Walmart) has a plan, but the city needs to ask the people, said Lehmann. And if they find out theyre going to build a Walmart there, whos going to build and plus the market, house value and trying to resell the house? Oh, theres Walmart, you got the traffic, the lights. Members of the Facebook group have also been messaging the Ankeny City Council and development board with their concerns. The City of Ankeny says they received the application from Piper Properties Plat 2 Condominiums and North Ankeny Blvd LLC, and have since requested a traffic impact survey. City staff requested a Traffic Impact Study, which the applicant is still preparing. The process is on hold until that study is finalized. If and when the request moves forward, there will be a public hearing at a future Plan and Zoning Commission Meeting and at a City Council Meeting. The property must be rezoned before any commercial development can move forward. Amy Baker, City of Ankeny Communications Director The city has given no indication of when the survey will end. In the meantime, residents say they will continue to voice their concerns. Metro news Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. Rep. Alex Andrade, a Republican representing parts of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, speaks to reporters on April 9, 2025. (Photo by Jay Waagmeester/Florida Phoenix) There have been additional resignations at the embattled Hope Florida Foundation, the nonprofit affiliated with Hope Florida, the initiative launched by First Lady Casey DeSantis. Hope Florida Foundation President Joshua Hay announced Thursday that Tallahassee attorney Mohammad Jazil, who had been working with the foundation on completing its delinquent paperwork, had submitted his resignation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I know his name has come up regarding some things but, nonetheless, in my interactions, Ive had pleasurable, nothing short of pleasurable experiences with him working on drafting the documents, getting actions cured, and also just trying to sort of brainstorm it on how we mitigate these instances of noncompliance going. So, thank you, Hay said. Hay was referencing comments made by House Health Care Budget Committee Chair Rep. Alex Andrade that he was flabbergasted to learn Jazil was working with the foundation to produce documents nonprofits are required to produce but that the board had not. The House has been probing the finances and other problems involving the foundation. Jazil is a private attorney who frequently represents the administration of Gov. Ron DeSantis in litigation and also served as an attorney for the political committee Keep Florida Clean, which campaigned against last years pot-legalization proposed constitutional amendment. The committee was run by James Uthemeir, former chief of staff to Ron DeSantis. Uthemeir is now state attorney general. The Hope Florida Foundation received a $10 million one-time donation from health care giant Centene, part of a $67 million settlement reached with the state for Medicaid overpayments. The foundation gave $5 million grants to Secure Floridas Future, a nonprofit tied to the Florida Chamber of Commerce, and Save our Society another political committee. Within days, those groups made contributions to keep Florida Clean. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hay announced Jazils resignation during the second part of a virtual Hope Florida Foundation board of directors meeting. He also announced the resignation of Jake Farmer from the board during the first part of the virtual meeting. Jazil and Farmers resignations followed news that Hope Florida director Erik Dellenback is stepping down in May. The boards virtual meeting was cut short after members of the public participating posted images of Nazi symbols and pornography as well as racial slurs. Unable to control the flow of images and sounds being shared, the board recessed for several hours before reconvening. Hay said during the second part of the meeting that he would discuss with the foundations accounting firm whether there was any illicit use of funds and, if so, look at a potential clawback of those funds. Before the forced meeting recess, Andrade told the board its nonprofit status was in jeopardy because 80% of all the funds the it had disbursed were for political purposes. I believe that will jeopardize your 501(c)(3) status if you as the board do not take the proper steps to recoup those funds, the Pensacola legislator told the group. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The "Hands Off" protest April 5, 2025 at the Ohio Statehouse in downtown Columbus. (Photo by David DeWitt, Ohio Capital Journal.) At least 47 protests of President Donald Trump and his administration are planned in Ohio for on Saturday. Theyll be part of more than 600 events planned nationwide. The group 50501 is organizing the effort after joining dozens of others in sponsoring massive Hands Off! rallies across the country on April 5. It says its mission is to fight to uphold the Constitution and end executive overreach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since his inauguration, Trump has raised numerous concerns in that regard. Hes ignored court orders, tried to gut the independent federal antitrust watchdog, empowered the worlds richest man to fire tens of thousands from the Social Security and Veterans administrations, the Park Service, and numerous other agencies. Trump also is trying to unilaterally alter the status of hundreds of thousands of migrants who are legally in the country and force them back to hazardous homelands such as Afghanistan and Haiti. In addition, Trump is trying to use the government to attack law firms that have sued him and his enemies, and go after a state attorney general who successfully sued him in 2023. Melissa Portala, a leader of Toledo Persist, said that its vital for people to exercise their right to protest to protect all their other democratic rights. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We need people to stand up and show the rest of the public that people are speaking out, she said. If they dont see that, then they feel helpless, and a lot of people do feel helpless until they see other people speaking out Public protest is the only way that people have to be visible. This is how we can have our voices heard. On April 5, millions turned out across the country to protest the actions of Trump and his administration including tens of thousands across Ohio. In Toledo alone, between 3,000 and 4,000 showed up, according to the estimates of organizers who used clickers, Portala said. We started on one side of a bridge, she said. It took 45 minutes to walk across it, the crowd was so big. Portala said she expected smaller crowds this time around for several reasons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group 50501 is the sole national organizer, while dozens of groups were behind the April 5 protests. This one was called with less lead time for local organizers to plan and get the word out. And this Saturdays protests fall the day before Easter, when many have longstanding family obligations, Portala said. Details about the 47 Ohio protests can be found here. A national listing can be found here. Portala said she expects participation in such events to grow in the coming months. I think the population is waking up and saying, Oh my goodness, were in some deep trouble here, we need to actually take some action,' she said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE A grassroots conservation organization devoted to pronghorn antelope will launch Monday with the goal of funding research-driven habitat and migration projects around the West. The North American Pronghorn Foundation grew out of founders affection for pronghorn and the recognition that, between habitat fragmentation, obstacles to seasonal migration, and impacts from drought, feral horses, and development, the continents original ungulate needs advocates and assistance. At least initially, the group will exist as a volunteer-driven entity with memberships, merchandise, and a social media presence, but not as state and local chapters or a paid staff. Instead, the group will aggregate its funding to be used in on-the-ground projects, says co-founder Brock Wahl of Bismarck, North Dakota. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve observed that while theres been an increase in the last few years, historically pronghorn havent gotten the resources and attention and dollars associated with research of other big-game animals, says Wahl. With GPS collars these days you can really get a sense of where animals want to go and how theyre using the landscapes. Wed like to leverage that knowledge with a start-to-finish model where we help fund research to find out what animals need in terms of habitat or removing barriers to migration, then utilizing results of that research to put projects on the ground that benefit pronghorn. The logo for NAPF. Co-founder Randy Routier, a South Dakota outfitter and rancher, said that projects might be as simple as replacing the bottom strand of barbed-wire fences with smooth wire and lifting it up a few inches so pronghorn, which scoot under fences instead of vaulting over them like deer and elk, can pass safely. In some cases, high-quality habitat exists, but pronghorn cant reach it because of a fencing issue, observes Routier. Thats an easy problem for us to identify and fix, to enable antelope to go where they need to go. Founders highlighted helping with local habitat needs, including building or enhancing water sources in the Southwest, contributing to wildlife-friendly highway crossings in key migration corridors, and mitigating impacts of large-scale solar projects. Wahl noted that across their range, pronghorn populations have slipped some 20 percent in recent years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I feel its an American responsibility to safeguard an animal that has such a unique place here, says Wahl. After all, its such a distinctly American animal whose closest relative is the giraffe. Plus, with the increase in Western hunting, with tags harder to draw and with chronic wasting disease on the landscape heavily impacting deer in some places, pronghorn will only get more pressure and attention, so its timely to advocate for the resource thats facing challenges. The groups focus will stretch from Saskatchewan to Sonora. With something like 40 percent of the worlds pronghorns, it would be easy to focus exclusively on Wyoming, where there have been some significant population declines, says Wahl. But Wyoming already has an effective infrastructure for pronghorn conservation, including the Wyoming Migration Initiative, the Monteith Shop, and Game and Fishs pronghorn studies. We want to make sure that other states and areas benefit from similar infrastructure, advocacy, and funding. Advocacy may extend to the policy arena, but Wahl said the group will be judicious about the issues it tackles, and aims to work with industry and other partners on solutions. A map showing pronghorn declines by state from 2021 to 2023. I think you can expect that well submit comments to support the Sublette (Wyoming) Migration Corridor, and well likely be involved in public policies that address the negative impacts of feral horses on pronghorn habitats, and maybe comments on energy infrastructure in the wrong spots, but as a 501c3 were going to pick projects and policies wisely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The North American Pronghorn Foundation is the second high-profile species-specific conservation organization to launch in the last months. The Blacktail Deer Foundation was started by the Mule Deer Foundation in December to advocate for coastal black-tailed deer. Read Next: The New Blacktail Deer Foundation Aims to Conserve These Underrated Deer Subspecies Other groups formed in recent years to advocate for a specific species or landscapes include the Rocky Mountain Goat Alliance, formed in 2011, and the North American Grouse Partnership was established in 1999. The North American Pronghorn Foundation is actually the second conservation group with that name and focus. A previous version, based in Rawlins, Wyoming, has been inactive for over a decade. An anti-woke chief constable has refused to back down on his forces probes into social media posts. Stephen Watson has been praised for his no-nonsense approach to policing since taking up the post of chief constable at Greater Manchester Police (GMP) in 2021. However, earlier this year, the force faced intense backlash after a grandmother was visited by two plain-clothed officers for criticising Labour politicians on Facebook. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although GMP acknowledged no crime had been committed, Helen Jones, 54, was left scared after the ordeal, which prompted national outrage. Now, Mr Watson has vowed to continue looking into similar matters. In an interview with the Daily Mail, he said: We investigate every single report of crime in Greater Manchester. However, if it turns out the allegation isnt valid, we will also drop it really quickly. Helen Jones, 54, was visited by police over a social media post despite no crime having been committed - Zenpix Ltd Mr Watson describes himself as anti-woke having previously spoken out against officers virtue-signalling with rainbow badges and taking the knee. But his comments come amid growing concerns over controversial police responses to social media posts and other trivial matters in which no charges are brought. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a result, several forces have been accused of becoming Stasi-like in their implementation of the law. Last month, two parents from Hertfordshire revealed they were detained by six officers in front of their young daughter for complaining about their childs primary school in a WhatsApp group. Maxie Allen and Rosalind Levine were held in a cell for eight hours, despite Hertfordshire Constabulary concluding, after a five-week investigation, that there would be no further action. Both events followed Essex Police officers arriving at the house of Allison Pearson, The Telegraph columnist, and informing her she was being investigated on suspicion of stirring up racial hatred over a post she had published and then deleted on social media 12 months earlier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation was later dropped. Elsewhere, a mother-of-two was arrested and blocked from seeing her daughters after she confiscated their iPads. Surrey Police held Vanessa Brown for nearly eight hours last month, before eventually concluding she had been entitled to take the devices off her children. Harry Miller, a former police officer who works with the free speech campaign group Fair Cop, said: The police have become agents of a state orthodoxy rather than upholders of the law. They repeatedly overreach and they seem to have taken it upon themselves to become social engineers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That is not their role. GMP was approached for comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. KALAYAAN, Philippines (AP) Dozens of penitents whip their backs to atone for their sins during Good Friday rites in the the southern Philippine town of Kalayaan, as Christians across this largely Catholic country commemorate the passion and sufferings of Jesus. Residents watch as costumed men parade the streets and flagellate themselves using whips made of wood. The ritual is frowned upon by the church. Luis Bautista, 27, says he does this so he can experience the hardships of Christ and also pray for the safety of his family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Penitent Jayve Lorenzo, who has been participating in flagellation rituals for 19 years, says he offers his vow during Holy Week because of family problems and to pray for good health. The penitents, mostly residents, walk under the scorching heat and stop at stations to pray or take a water break. They can be seen dancing as they whip their backs shortly after prayers. Baby Ragaza leaves boiled eggs and water in front of her house for the penitents to take a break. She does this in memory of her late husband and to bring herself closer to God. I am just happy to help and ease their hardships. she says. After going around town, the penitents hike to a small waterfall to wash the blood from their backs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, residents of nearby Paete, a town of 25,000 people, pushed life-size images of Christ and saints during an evening procession around small roads on Holy Wednesday. The following day, a play was performed at the town plaza under the scorching summer heat as part of Maundy Thursday rites. Rowell Ybanez, parish pastoral council moderator of Saint James the Apostle, said the Lenten rituals in their town have been carried on for hundreds of year, attracting tourists to a town known for wood carvings. Ybanez said Paete is one of the most colorful towns in the Philippines because art and faith are intertwined in our town. Various Lenten rituals are practiced all over the Philippines. Some people even hang themselves from a cross, to strengthen their faith in God. April 11-17, 2025 Processions for Holy Week took place around Latin America, including in Brazil, Guatemala and Uruguay. Demonstrators in Venezuela called for the freedom of political prisoners. Supporters of Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa supported his victory in the presidential election in Quito. People lit candles at a makeshift memorial for victims of the Jet Set nightclub roof collapse in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. This gallery highlights some of the most compelling images made or published in the past week by The Associated Press from Latin America and the Caribbean. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The selection was curated by AP photo editor Jon Orbach, based in Mexico City. ___ Follow AP visual journalism: AP Images blog: http://apimagesblog.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apnews X: http://twitter.com/AP_Images BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 18. As many as 68.6 ha of land have been cleared as a result of demining operations in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan's Gazakh district since April 2024, a source in the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) told Trend. During the operations, 929 anti-personnel and 95 anti-tank mines, as well as 48 unexploded ordnances, were found and neutralized. The mentioned areas have both challenging terrain and a high level of mine contamination. A 12.7-kilometer borderline was established between Azerbaijan and Armenia after border delimitation, ensuring the return of four villages, namely, Baghanis Ayrim, Ashagi Askipara, Kheyrimli, and Gizilhajili (6.5 square kilometers) in the Gazakh district to Azerbaijan. The territories of the above villages were taken under the control of the State Border Service of Azerbaijan on May 24, 2024. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel SAN FRANCISCO (AP) A federal appeals court in San Francisco on Friday left in place a lower court's order blocking the Trump administration from ending temporary legal protections for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans. The three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied the Department of Homeland Security's request for an emergency stay as they appeal. The court wrote that the government has not demonstrated that they will suffer irreparable harm absent a stay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. District Judge Edward Chen in March found that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem had unlawfully reversed protections granted by the Biden administration that allow an estimated 350,000 Venezuelans to live and work in the U.S. Those temporary protections were set to expire earlier this month. Noem also had announced the end of Temporary Protected Status for an estimated 250,000 Venezuelans in September and for 500,000 Haitians whose TPS protections are set to expire in August. DOJ attorneys for the government contend that Congress gave the secretary clear and broad authority over the TPS program and that the decisions are not subject to judicial review. "This appeal involves an extraordinary intrusion by a district court into the Secretarys administration of the TPS statute," they wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Congress created TPS, as the law is known, in 1990 to prevent deportations to countries suffering from natural disasters or civil strife. The program grants 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. In blocking the administration, Chen said that hundreds of thousands of people and their families and livelihoods were at risk of severe disruption, as well as the health of communities across the country and the billions of dollars in economic activity generated by Venezuelan workers. He said the government failed to identify any real countervailing harm in continuing TPS for Venezuelan beneficiaries and that plaintiffs will likely succeed in showing that Noem's actions are unauthorized by law, arbitrary and capricious, and motivated by unconstitutional animus. Chen found the governments arguments unpersuasive and said that numerous derogatory and false comments by Noem and by Trump labeling 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, Chen wrote. A Northern Kentucky dentist, who was sentenced to prison last year for prescribing opioids that prosecutors say led to a 24-year-old womans death, will get a new trial after a federal appeals court overturned his conviction. Dr. Jay Sadrinia was sentenced in May 2024 to 20 years in prison after a jury in federal court in Covington found Sadrinia guilty of charges that include distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death. In a rare ruling on Wednesday, a three-judge panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals vacated 62-year-old Sadrinias convictions and sentence. The judges found that while there was sufficient evidence to support the jurys verdict, the trial improperly allowed testimony it said was intrinsic to the offenses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The opinion also states that U.S. District Judge David Bunning, who presided over Sadrinias trial, did not give any limiting instructions to the jury about how that testimony should be considered during deliberations. The case surrounds the death of a patient at Sadrinias surgery practice, who underwent a procedure that Sadrinia performed himself. Court filings state the woman died of an opioid overdose after Sadrinia prescribed painkillers twice in three days. She had three times the lethal amount of morphine in her system when the state medical examiner performed an autopsy. The woman first visited Sadrinias office in July 2020. Court documents say Sadrinia prescribed her at least 30 oxycodone pills before the surgery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the surgery, according to the documents, Sadrinia prescribed even more oxycodone pills, then a few days after that, he prescribed morphine pills at the highest dosage. The pharmacy only partially filled the prescription because the number of pills exceeded state regulations. On Aug. 28, 2020, Sadrinia saw the woman for the last time and prosecutors say Sadrinia questioned whether she had a history of drug abuse. While the appeals courts ruling says Sadrinia didnt prescribe anything during that visit, prosecutors wrote in a presentence filing that Sadrinia did write another prescription, but it wasnt filled. The woman died later that night and she was found lifeless in a patio chair by her family two days later. Police found empty oxycodone and morphine pill bottles inside her home. Jurors heard evidence that the amount of morphine Sadrinia prescribed is typically given to patients for end-of-life care, not pain management in dental patients, and the prescribing exceeded the states three-day supply limit, court documents state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Given that timeline, a rational jury could have concluded that Sadrinia who had practiced dentistry for 30 years knew that the prescription he wrote was beyond the usual course of his professional practice, the appeals court wrote. However, the court took issue with how Bunning allowed the testimony of Sadrinias former employees to be used at trial. Bunning admitted the employees testimony and ruled it was evidence intrinsic to the charged offenses, meaning it could be used as proof of the crimes Sadrinia was accused of, according to the courts ruling. Another dentist who worked at Sadrinia's practice testified that more than a year before the patient's death, he used her prescription pad to prescribe opioids while she was out of the country. His former office manager also testified that she warned Sadrinia that his prescribing was going to kill someone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The appeals court found the testimony was not inextricably linked with the charged crimes and the trial court abused its discretion when it admitted the testimony as intrinsic evidence, the judges decision reads. As part of the courts decision, the case has been remanded to Bunnings courtroom, where Sadrinia will once again stand trial for his patients overdose death. Sadrinia was originally set to be released from federal prison in May 2041. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Northern Kentucky dentist to have new trial in patient death case APPLETON, Wis. (WFRV) A 63-year-old Appleton man has been sentenced to five years in prison after robbing a bank near the Fox River earlier this year. Court records show Martin L. Schiedermayer was sentenced by an Outagamie County judge and will serve seven additional years on extended supervision following his release. Wisconsin man drinks two bottles of vodka in Walgreens bathroom, arrested for theft Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The charges stem from a January 14 incident in which Appleton Police responded to a robbery at the Wells Fargo on South State Street. According to authorities, Schiedermayer entered the bank and demanded money before fleeing with an unknown amount of cash. He was quickly apprehended. Schiedermayers motivation for the robbery was far from typical. According to the criminal complaint, Schiedermayer told investigators he had been fired from his job on January 6 after accumulating too many absences under the companys point system. With no job, no unemployment benefits, and looming eviction, he said he saw no way out. Feeling hopeless, Schiedermayer said he contemplated various ways to get arrested, ultimately choosing a bank because he believed the situation could unfold peacefully. He described the act as punching a one-way ticket back to incarceration, a place he considered safer than life on the streets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the day of the robbery, Schiedermayer drove to the Wells Fargo branch, wrote a note on an island counter, and handed it to a teller. The note read, Be cool, this is a robbery. Count out two-thousand dollars on the countertop. The teller complied, and Schiedermayer placed the money into an envelope before walking out and scattering the note. He then returned to his car, which was parked across the street, and waited to be arrested. I didnt want a police chase, Schiedermayer told investigators. I wanted to get caught. When asked why he requested exactly $2,000, Schiedermayer said he believed it would be in the tellers drawer and didnt want to escalate the situation by demanding access to the vault. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police later confirmed his identity using surveillance footage. He was wearing the same black jacket and white Green Bay Packers cap he described to police, both found in his vehicle alongside the envelope of money. 40-year-old man charged with child abduction of pregnant Wisconsin teenager has bond set at $2 million Though Schiedermayer claimed to be unarmed and never directly threatened the teller, police said passing a robbery note still creates an implied threat. Tellers are trained to treat such situations seriously to ensure the safety of staff and customers. Schiedermayer gave a written statement recounting the robbery and his motive, saying he was panicked and desperate about becoming homeless. His vehicle was impounded and the evidence preserved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. Americans will soon need a Real ID to pass airport security for domestic flights. Real ID enforcement will begin on May 7, following multiple delays. People who don't have a Real ID that day will be subject to additional scrutiny and may be turned away. The longer you wait to apply for your Real ID, the less likely you'll have it by May 7. Arizonans can apply online for the Arizona Travel ID, Arizona's Real ID-compliant state identification, but must complete the process in person. They'll need to make sure they have the required documents for their appointments Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here's when people should apply for a Real ID so it arrives in the mail in time for their flights. How long does it take to get a Real ID? It takes about 10 to 14 days to receive an Arizona Travel ID in the mail after the in-person interview is completed, said Bill Lamoreaux, spokesman for the Arizona Department of Transportation. The ID arrives in a plain white envelope, Lamoreaux said. Applicants should be careful when sifting through their mail to avoid inadvertently throwing it away. What is the last date to apply for Real ID to get it by May 7? The Arizona Department of Transportation said it takes about two weeks for an Arizona Travel ID to arrive in the mail after an application is submitted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That means anyone who wants to get their Real IDs by May 7 should apply by Wednesday, April 23. Allowing more time is suggested in case of processing delays, especially as demand for Real IDs increases. Lamoreaux recommends allowing at least three weeks between applying for a Real ID and your travel plans. How much does an Arizona Real ID cost? An Arizona Real ID costs $25. The news you need to start your day. Sign up for AZ Briefing Is Real ID mandatory? While the Arizona Travel ID is not mandatory for Arizonans, Real ID is mandatory to go through airport security and enter federal buildings such as courthouses. What else is considered a Real ID? Other documents can be used as Real ID, including a passport book or card, military ID, tribal ID or a trusted traveler card such as Global Entry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Where you can fly: All the new flights at Mesa Gateway Airport this spring Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist whos covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republics consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at Michael.Salerno@gannett.com. Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Real ID: Apply by this date if you want yours by May 7 MEMPHIS, Tenn. A Wynne, Arkansas, man has reportedly been arrested in connection with a 2024 shooting that injured a 15-year-old girl in Brinkley. According to Arkansas State Police, 18-year-old Aaron Ishmon was arrested in Jonesboro on Friday, April 11. TN man arrested after making terroristic threats: Police The shooting happened on October 13, 2024, at around 8:15 p.m. ASP says the teen girl was shot multiple times while in her home on New York Street in Brinkley. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Brinkley Police Department reportedly asked ASP to handle the investigation. Ishmon has been charged with first-degree battery and committing a terrorist act. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. HARRISBURG, Ark. The Arkansas police chief who was arrested Wednesday for allegedly allowing his son, a convicted felon, to ride in his patrol vehicle, denies all allegations against him and his son. Harrisburg, Arkansas Police Chief Eric Moore was charged with furnishing a handgun or a prohibited weapon to a felon, and three counts of Arkansas Crime Information Center release or disclosure to an unauthorized person. His son, Brandon Moore, is charged with possession of firearms by certain persons first degree, two counts of criminal impersonation second degree, and criminal impersonation first degree. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arkansas police chief, son arrested after investigation (Left to Right: Eric Moore, Brandon Moore) (Poinsett County Sheriffs Office) WREG spoke to the chief, who is on administrative leave, and he said he is shocked by the charges. He and his son denied the allegations against them and believe they are not guilty. According to the affidavit for Chief Eric Moore, he allowed his son Brandon, who is a previously convicted felon, to ride in the chiefs patrol car along with other patrol vehicles. The investigation began April 4 when the towns mayor raised concerns. Witnesses, including deputies and police officers, reported that Brandon was present in Chief Moores vehicle wearing police gear and accessing sensitive law enforcement resources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Train collides with funeral home limo in Bartlett; 6 injured That all of his officers were going to quit if nothing got done about these complaints, said Mayor Kimble. Not very many people talking about it cause theyre scared of retribution on it, so most people around heres afraid to talk about it, said Keith Lawson, a Harrisburg resident. Both Eric and Brandon Moore are out on bond. They have a hearing on May 30 in Poinsett County. The Little Rock attorney representing the two would only say the matter will play itself out 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 WREG.com. PHOENIX (AP) Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs on Thursday vowed to veto all bills not already on her desk amid a standoff with the Republican-controlled Legislature over funding for a state agency that provides services for some of Arizona's most vulnerable residents. Hobbs is demanding that lawmakers find a bipartisan compromise that would guarantee funding through the end of the fiscal year for the state's Division of Developmental Disabilities, which supports close to 60,000 people with autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, Down syndrome and other cognitive and intellectual disabilities. Before signing off on a funding package, Republicans want to establish guardrails for the program, such as reducing the number of paid hours that parents who care for their children with disabilities can receive per week. Democrats want to approve funding first and discuss reforms later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The strategy of holding back on signing bills isn't new. Hobbs' Republican predecessors also withheld their signatures over budget disputes. Republicans became frustrated after learning that Hobbs was requesting about $13 million more in supplemental funding for the Division of Developmental Disabilities, despite having already released her executive budget proposal. Republicans contend that Hobbs has mismanaged the funds going so far as to convene an ad hoc committee earlier this month to discuss executive budget mismanagement. Rep. David Livingston, chair of the House Appropriations Committee, said during a hearing earlier this week that it was unacceptable for programs within the division to be shut down in early May because of a lack of funding. House Speaker Steve Montenegro in a statement called the governor's veto threat political blackmail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hobbs, who is up for reelection in 2026, claims that Republicans are leveraging the crisis for political warfare. The governor is willing to even veto legislation she supports so long as a bipartisan compromise is not reached, said her spokesperson Christian Slater. We have been waiting for far too long," Slater said in an interview. Families are at the brink. - Govindarao covers Arizona government and politics for The Associated Press, with a focus on women in state government. She is based in Phoenix. 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) Arkansas formally appealed on Friday the federal governments denial of funds to aid recovery from March 14-15 storms and tornadoes. In a letter to President Donald Trump and FEMA Regional Administrator George Robinson, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders asked the administration to reconsider its rejection of her requests for disaster declarations for individual assistance and public assistance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arkansas communities are still recovering from this springs tornadoes, as the sheer magnitude of this event resulted in overwhelming amounts of debris, widespread destruction to homes and businesses, the tragic loss of three lives, and injuries to many others, Sanders said. To relieve the burden on these counties, cities, and towns, I am appealing FEMAs decision to deny Arkansas Major Disaster Declaration request. Sanders originally sought the major disaster declaration on April 2; FEMA issued its denial on April 11. Sanders letter notes that without the support of a Major Disaster Declaration, Arkansas will face significant challenges in assuming full responsibility and achieving an effective recovery from this event. I have determined that the severity and magnitude of these storms exceed the capabilities of the State and affected local governments to respond adequately. As such, supplemental Federal assistance is crucial. The states request includes Baxter, Stone, Sharp, Hempstead, Independence, Randolph, Nevada, Jackson, Clay, Woodruff, Greene, Hot Spring, Izard and Lawrence counties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump earlier this year called the Federal Emergency Management Agency a disaster and suggested it might go away. He said states could take care of disaster responses on their own and convened a group to review the agency and recommended changes. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX LITTLE ROCK, Ark. A bill signed into law on Thursday creates rape of a minor as a death penalty offense. Senate Bill 375 was signed into law by Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders after passing the legislature on April 10, making Arkansas one of the few states in the nation with a law allowing the death penalty for the rape of a minor. Gov. Sanders vetoes two bills on last day of legislative session Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the person committing the rape is over 18, they can receive either the death penalty or life without parole, according to the acts language. If under 18, the mandatory sentence is life with the possibility of parole after 20 years. The law states that if it is found unconstitutional, the capital rape charge reverts to a Class Y felony with a minimum 25 year sentence. It remains rape even if the victim consented, according to the act. In the acts Legislative Findings section, it states: The United States Supreme Court gravely erred in Kennedy v. Louisiana when it held that the Eighth Amendment prohibited imposition of the death penalty for rape of a child when the crime did not result in death of the victim. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two bills on Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders desk would impact school funding, vouchers Kennedy v. Louisiana was a 2008 case where the court found that the death penalty for child rape where the victim did not die was a violation of the Eighth Amendments prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment, overturning a Louisiana law and a similar law in five other states. Lawmakers maintain in the bills findings section that if more states had a capital rape law the Supreme Court would have been less likely to make its ruling. The legislation had 25 sponsors across both chambers. Tontitown church employee arrested after alleged possession of child abuse material Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since the Supreme Courts ruling, Florida, in 2023, Tennessee, in 2024, and Idaho, in 2025, have signed into law provisions to allow the death penalty for rape of a minor. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. The News in Brief Friday, April 18, 2025 Recently released Azerbaijani journalist Afgan Sadigov has accused the Azerbaijani government of extreme repression, claiming the number of political prisoners in the country has reached 400 and that the regime's brutality has "peaked."Speaking at a press conference after his release, Sadigov thanked his supporters, including the Georgian media, international partners, and his legal team. He also referenced the assassinations of Azerbaijani dissidents Huseyn Bakikhanov and Bayram Mammadov in Georgia, stating:"The Azerbaijani authorities should know they may arrest or kill someone, but others will always rise in their place."Sadigov said his family was repeatedly targeted by the authorities:"Each time I was arrested, they threatened to kill my young children. I repeatedly appealed to Aliyev, this is my fight, leave my family alone. But dictators never change."He also drew parallels between the Azerbaijani and Georgian governments, criticizing Georgian Dream party:"This is not the dream of the Georgian people. Living in a dictatorship is not their dream. I urge the Georgian authorities to listen to their people, there's no need to follow Putin or Erdogan. The only right path is to serve the public."Sadigov claimed he remains at risk in Georgia but said he intends to stay and continue speaking out against authoritarianism.Addressing the bail imposed on him, he stated:"I don't accept the bail and won't pay it. Aliyev and Kobakhidze have already bankrupted their countries, I won't contribute to that."The management of Georgia's Public Broadcaster has issued formal warnings to three more employees over alleged "reputational damage" caused by their public criticism of the channel's editorial direction.Those sanctioned include Tukha Kvinikadze, editor of the program Real Space; Ana Abakelia, correspondent of the Weekend Show; and Tamar Jincharauli, the show's executive producer. According to the disciplinary orders, the three are accused of "calling into question the editorial independence and impartiality of the broadcaster through statements disseminated in public space," which management claims resulted in harm to the broadcaster's reputation.As part of the sanctions, the employees are prohibited from publicly criticizing the broadcaster's editorial policy for a period of 12 months. If they "repeat the violation," they risk dismissal.Previously, journalists Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani and Nino Zautashvili were fired for similar criticism. Disciplinary measures have also been taken against four employees. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 18. During a court session on Friday at the Baku Military Court, victim Yashar Ahmadov testified against defendant Madat Babayan. Ahmadov, born in 1956 in Khojaly, shared that he lived there with his family. He recounted that on February 25, 1992, the Armenian army launched an attack on Khojaly, subjecting the city to heavy fire, resulting in the death of a large number of innocent civilians. Ahmadov was taken captive on February 27, 1992. Recalling the defendant Madat Babayan, along with Arkadi Ghukasyan and Bako Sahakyan, Ahmadov said, The members of Madat Babayans group, including him, tortured me. While I was in captivity, Madat approached me, booted me, called me a Turk, and insulted me. Ahmadov also noted that on March 2, 1992, despite being wounded, he was handed over to the Azerbaijani side. The trial continues for Armenian nationals accused of crimes against peace and humanity, including war crimes, terrorism, waging and preparing an aggressive war, genocide, violations of the laws and customs of war, forcible seizure and retention of power, and financing terrorism, among other offenses related to Armenias military aggression. Sen. Bryan King, R-Green Forest, speaks against Senate Bill 354, the $750 million Franklin County prison appropriation, on the Senate floor on Monday, April 7, 2025. (Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate) With one major exception, Arkansas lawmakers gave Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders almost everything she asked for in the 95th General Assembly, and even then it wasnt a total loss. The Legislatures Republican supermajority passed bills addressing Sanders priorities: maternal health, a higher-education overhaul, concerns about the effects of social media platforms on children and restrictions on the influence of China in Arkansas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The big exception: funding for a planned 3,000-bed prison in rural Franklin County on the western side of the state. Senate Minority Leader Greg Leding, D-Fayetteville, told the Advocate Wednesday that hes experienced longer and more challenging sessions since being elected to the state Legislature in 2010, but the 2025 session saw quite a lot of conflict. Much of the controversy arose over efforts by one legislator to dissolve the State Library and its board and another lawmakers efforts to police the use of public restrooms. Then there was a conflict about funding a new state prison. Sen. Greg Leding, D-Fayetteville, attends a legislative meeting about the planned Franklin County prison on Dec. 6, 2024. (Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate) The biggest story is probably the defeat of the appropriation for the prison in Franklin County, especially considering that was one of the governors top priorities, Leding said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A $750 million appropriation bill to support the prisons construction died after five failed votes in the Senate this month. Sanders has pushed for the new penitentiary to alleviate overcrowding in county jails. State officials and residents have fought against the project, citing concerns about transparency, infrastructure and staffing. State lawmakers this week also challenged a separate bill that would have added $250 million to a correctional facilities set-aside fund into which the Legislature placed $330 million during the 2023 legislative session. An additional $75 million appropriated in 2022 for prison expansion has already been allocated to the Arkansas Department of Corrections, which can use the funding to move the project forward. Senate President Pro Tempore Bart Hester, R-Cave Springs, said Wednesday that money will support the hiring of architects and engineers who can help officials get a better understanding of the projects overall cost. Initial estimates set the prisons price tag at $825 million. The state Board of Corrections has already sought proposals from architects and general contractors. Sen. Bart Hester, R-Cave Springs, speaks to his fellow lawmakers on Jan. 13, 2025, the first day of Arkansas 2025 legislative session. (Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate) I would have liked to have funded the entire prison, but the members saw fit to just fund a portion of it, and thats great, Hester said. Were moving in the direction we want to go, just not as fast as we wanted to go. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putting a more positive spin on the rejection of the $750 million appropriation bill, its primary sponsor, Searcy Republican Sen. Jonathan Dismang, told the Joint Budget Committee Monday that the corrections department isnt likely to use all $75 million allocated to the agency before next years fiscal session when lawmakers can again explore options for funding prison expansion in April. If officials need more money before then, they can request lawmakers approval for a temporary appropriation increase, he said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Maternal health Sanders effort to address the states poor maternal health outcomes found bipartisan support this session and culminated with her signing Act 124 into law just two weeks after announcing the policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act changes the states Medicaid program by establishing presumptive Medicaid eligibility for pregnant Arkansans, offering reimbursements for doulas and community health workers and establishing pregnancy-related Medicaid coverage for specific treatments. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announces the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act, which intends to reduce Arkansas high maternal mortality rate. Republican legislators and cosponsors of the proposed legislation, Sen. Missy Irvin of Mountain View and Rep. Aaron Pilkington of Knoxville, are at right during a press conference at the state Capitol on Feb. 6, 2025. (Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate) Arkansas has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the nation, and the third-highest infant mortality rate, according to the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement. Sanders last year convened a Strategic Committee for Maternal Health to develop recommendations for addressing the states maternal health crisis. Sanders efforts have not included support for expanding Medicaid coverage for postpartum mothers from 60 days to 12 months after birth because she said it would be duplicative. Arkansas is the only state that has not taken advantage of this federal option. Rep. Aaron Pilkington, R-Knoxville, and Sen. Breanne Davis, R-Russellville, presented legislation this session that would have provided the extended coverage to qualifying pregnant Arkansans. House Bill 1004 advanced through the House before failing in a Senate committee earlier this month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arkansas Medicaid expansion program, called ARHOME, covers people up to 138% of the federal poverty level. ARHOME covered 237,327 Arkansans as of the end of February, the latest figures available from the Department of Human Services. Regular Medicaid and the Childrens Health Insurance Program covered another 230,058 adults and 421,192 children, for a total 888,577 Medicaid beneficiaries. Since Jan. 1, 2023, Medicaid covers pregnant Arkansans with incomes of up to 214% of the federal poverty level, or about $45,200 for a family of two or $68,700 for a family of four. This coverage expires two months after birth, leaving many postpartum Arkansans to fall through the cracks, Davis told the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee on April 9. We have got to address this holistically, and I think theres been a lot of really good work done, but it has not included this group of women, who do not qualify for Medicaid expansion, she said. Rep. Aaron Pilkington, R-Knoxville, details House Bill 1427, which would establish the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act and invest $45 million annually in improving maternal health outcomes in Arkansas. Sen. Missy Irvin, R-Mountain View, (right) sponsored identical legislation in the Senate. Photographed Feb. 11, 2025. (Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate) The proposal to expand coverage had supporters from both political parties. House Minority Leader Rep. Andrew Collins, D-Little Rock, proposed a similar bill that was never heard in committee. Social media Lawmakers also sent Sanders two bills Wednesday that she said in Januarys State of the State address she hoped would reach her desk during the session. She signed those bills on April 21. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two bills cleared the Legislature on the last two days of business. One new law allows parents to file civil lawsuits against social media platforms if content on those platforms harms their children, and the other amends the states blocked social media age verification law. The Social Media Safety Act of 2023 was the first of its kind in the nation and required social media platforms to verify the age of new account holders in Arkansas. Those under 18 could only access sites with parental permission. A federal judge temporarily blocked the law before it went into effect and permanently blocked it in March. The amendments to the Social Media Safety Act will go into effect in August. They more clearly define social media and apply the definition to more platforms, lower the age of minor users from under 18 to under 16 years old, prohibit social media algorithms from targeting minors, and add a penalty for noncompliance. Sen. Missy Irvin (left), R-Mountain View, asks a question about Senate Bill 611, sponsored by Sen. Tyler Dees (right), R-Siloam Springs, on the Senate floor on Monday, April 7, 2025. (Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate) The other bill Sanders signed would hold social media companies accountable for showing and promoting content to a child without that childs consent if viewing the content leads to significant bodily or cognitive harm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sanders has yet to take action on a third social media regulation bill on her desk, the Children and Teens Online Privacy Protection Act. That bill would ban technology companies from collecting data from Arkansas minors except under specific circumstances, such as for financial transactions. Companies would also be barred from retaining that data and disclosing it to third parties that use the information in advertising targeted to children, and they would be required to provide notice and obtain consent if they are collecting data under permissible circumstances. Ballot measures Sanders signed a slew of bills that place new restrictions on direct democracy, the process by which Arkansans can propose new laws or constitutional amendments and put them to a statewide vote. Many were sponsored by Sen. Kim Hammer, R-Benton, who in 2026 will run for Secretary of State, the office that oversees elections. Hammer and other Republican lawmakers said adding regulations to the process of soliciting and gathering signatures on petitions will protect the integrity of direct democracy and discourage fraudulent behavior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New requirements include but are not limited to: Rep. Ryan Rose, R-Van Buren, presents House Bill 1713 to the House Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate) Democratic lawmakers and members of the public said the restrictions will have a chilling effect on the peoples right to initiate new laws and constitutional amendments. In February, a committee rejected a proposed enforcement agency within the Secretary of States office to investigate the validity of submitted ballot initiative documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, the final day of the session, the House voted down a bill that would have given the Legislature the authority to overturn voter-approved constitutional amendments. The Red Menace The Legislature also took up multiple foreign adversary bills. While the bills technically targeted several nations such as Iran, Russia and North Korea China has been repeatedly mentioned by lawmakers intent on rooting out the Communist countrys perceived influence within Arkansas. Sanders promoted the legislation, saying in press conferences and on social media that Arkansas is the first state to kick China off of our farmland and out of our state. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders speaks with Republican Reps. DeAnn Vaught of Horatio and Blake Johnson of Corning following a press conference announcing an anti-China legislation package on Feb. 26, 2025. (Antoinette Grajeda/Arkansas Advocate) The sessions efforts built off of legislation passed in 2023 and 2024 that limited Chinese businesses from owning land in Arkansas and prohibited them from operating cryptocurrency mining facilities. Many of the bills passed in the last days of the session, such as House Bill 1680, which built on Act 636 of 2023s prohibition against land ownership by foreign adversary-controlled businesses. HB1680 added more prohibitions on such businesses, banning them from holding leases on land or having an interest in agricultural land within 10 miles of critical infrastructure such as dams or power generation facilities. Other foreign adversary bills targeted higher education. Act 473 of 2025 requires extensive screening of individuals being considered for employment by a university or college if the person is from a covered foreign adversary such as China, depending on the role they are being considered for. It also creates a high bar for higher education institutions to enter into research agreements or cultural exchanges with groups from foreign adversary nations, requiring they be rejected unless a strong state interest is identified. Another bill, House Bill 1352, prohibits funding for institutions of higher education that have a Chinese cultural center or a Confucius Institute. A federal government report in October 2023 noted there are fewer than five Confucius Institutes left in the U.S. since Congress restricted federal funding to schools with institutes. Under House Bill 1604, government agencies would be prohibited from buying promotional items such as stickers and mugs from Chinese businesses, while House Bill 1683 would bar government agencies from buying electric vehicles or their components if the vendor could not certify that it was not made using forced labor. HB1683 took particular aim at alleged forced-labor practices in China specifically mentioning alleged human rights abuses committed against the Uyghur people although the importation of goods made with forced labor has been illegal in the U.S. since 1930 with the passage of the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act. The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act of 2021 established that there is a presumption that all goods imported from Chinas Xinjiang region, where allegations of forced labor are concentrated, are produced using forced labor. CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story contained an incorrect date on which the governor signed two social media-related bills. It has been updated. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE An arrest has been made in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred earlier this year, according to the Salisbury Police Department. On February 20, police said they found Emmanuel Houston Jr. with gunshot wounds. He would later die from his injuries. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 18-year-old shot, killed in Salisbury, police say On April 17, police announced that 21-year-old Shykiem Daekwon Verdell had been charged in this case. Daekwon was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. He is being held at the Davidson County Detention Center without bond. VIDEO: 18-year-old shot, killed in Salisbury, police say In apparent defiance of a federal court ruling, a Florida Highway Patrol trooper arrested a Georgia man in north Florida under a new state law that targets undocumented immigrants who enter the state illegally though it turns out the man is a U.S. citizen. Juan Carlos Lopez Gomez, 20, was arrested Wednesday under a new state law that makes it a misdemeanor for an undocumented adult who came to the U.S. without checking in with border authorities to enter Florida, according to a police report. But a federal judge in Miami had already blocked the state from enforcing that law through at least April 18, saying the statute is likely unconstitutional because it infringes on federal immigration authority. There is a state-wide injunction against anybody enforcing that law, said Paul Chavez, litigation director at Americans for Immigrant Justice and an attorney in a federal lawsuit challenging the state law. The court order is very clear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alana Greer, an attorney whose organization Community Justice Project recently joined the federal suit, said any arrests under this statute are unconstitutional. Lopez Gomez was released and reunited with his family on Thursday night after being detained for over 30 hours at the Leon County Jail in Tallahassee. Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez has been released. This is the moment he reunited with his mom. pic.twitter.com/4ODBw8cGDm Jackie Llanos (@LlanosJackie) April 17, 2025 The Florida Highway Patrol, Gov. Ron DeSantis office and state Attorney General James Uthmeiers office did not respond to Miami Herald questions about whether the state has directed police to continue enforcing the law despite the court order. The timing of the arrest, first reported by the Florida Phoenix, raises questions about whether the court order was disobeyed. It also takes place as the Trump administration has wrangled with federal courts that have blocked some of its immigration policies. Uthmeiers office argued this week that the state should be able to enforce the new law. On April 4, U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams in Miami scheduled a hearing for Friday on whether to extend her injunction against the laws enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Absent an immediate pause to enforcement, they will suffer irreparable harm by being placed at risk of arrest, prosecution, and detention under an unconstitutional state statute, Williams wrote in the state-wide injunction. Her order prohibits the state and its officers, agents, employees, attorneys, and any person who are in active concert or participation with them from enforcing the law. Lopez Gomez was arrested Wednesday, according to the FHP arrest report. But even if the law had not been blocked by the federal court, a birth certificate, which was provided to the Miami Herald, shows Lopez Gomez was born in Grady General Hospital in Cairo, Georgia, in August 2004. The FHP officer, identified on the arrest form as Gregory Ah Sam, pulled over the car because it was speeding, the report says. There were three people in the car, and the officer asked them for IDs. Two provided the officer with Guatemalan IDs and Lopez Gomez provided his Georgia ID. I then asked them if they had entered the state of Florida illegally, which all stated yes, they were aware, the officer wrote. He added he arrested Lopez Gomez and the other two passengers for unauthorized entrance into the state under the Florida law. All three were taken to the Leon County Jail in Tallahassee. READ MORE: How Florida is telling highway troopers to hold, detain immigrants wanted by the feds Lopez Gomez was born in the United States but he spent a significant part of his childhood in Mexico, his family members said. His native language is Tzotzil, an Indigenous Maya language. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leon County Judge LaShawn Riggans found that there was no probable cause to arrest Lopez Gomez, according to court records, which also show he was released on Thursday without having to pay bail. The court record also noted there was an Immigration and Customs Enforcement hold, which means the federal agency had asked local authorities to keep Lopez Gomez detained. The ICE request listed Lopez Gomezs citizenship as Mexico and ordered him to be held in local custody. The document says there was probable cause to believe he could be deported because of biometric information in federal databases and because of statements Lopez Gomez had made. ICE did not respond to a Herald request for comment. Its not a situation where there is debate that hes a U.S. citizen. All parties involved are throwing up their hands and letting this blatant violation of the constitution to happen, Greer said. Lopez Gomezs relatives told the Herald he had spent most of his childhood in Mexico before returning to his Georgia hometown. He had worked at the same carpet installation company for four years and was headed to work with two Guatemalan co-workers when they were stopped. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lopez Gomez is the oldest of four children, all born in the United States. One relative, who asked not to be named for fear of retaliation, said the family was afraid they would be treated as undocumented just because of how we look. He did nothing wrong. He was just on his way to work he wasnt even driving and they took him away. I believe its because he looks Hispanic, his relative said. He doesnt deserve this. My understanding of the immunity case was that SCOTUS sent the case back to the lower courts to better define the scope of the presidents official responsibilities, for which he would be immune and also activities outside his official responsibilities for which he would not be immune. It seems this issue is still quite open for the justices to weigh in on given the cases underway. Please provide more information on this question. DWP Hi DWP, This question follows last weeks question about whether the Supreme Court could reverse the Trump immunity ruling on its own initiative. I noted that a new appeal would need to come to the court and that I dont think the current court majority would change its mind on the subject in any event. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Youre correct that the ruling left open issues to be resolved in the first instance by the trial judge, Tanya Chutkan. She started that process after the justices sent the federal election subversion case back to her. But Donald Trumps election win cut that process short. The Justice Department moved to dismiss the case after Trump won the 2024 election, due to its policy against prosecuting sitting presidents. So, its true that Chief Justice John Roberts opinion didnt fully define what presidential conduct is immune, and its also true that the court hasnt had occasion to revisit the issue since the ruling. But that doesnt change the reality that we shouldnt expect the ruling to be reversed anytime soon, even if a new appeal theoretically presents the opportunity. To be sure, the court may still be called on to apply the ruling. One way that could happen is with the presidents pending appeal of his New York state falsifying business records convictions in the so-called hush money case. When the justices, splitting 5-4, rejected Trumps attempt to delay his sentencing ahead of his inauguration earlier this year, they noted that the alleged evidentiary violations at President-Elect Trumps state-court trial can be addressed in the ordinary course on appeal. Its unclear how long that ordinary course would take to reach the justices. But if it does, then the legal question presented wouldnt likely be whether they should reverse the ruling or not; it would likely be a narrower question about whether Trump was improperly convicted based on evidence that the ruling bars. That is, it would be more about what the ruling means than whether it should stand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the end, the court can do whatever it wants with a case before it. But this Trump hush money appeal scenario is much different than, say, the Dobbs case, where it was anti-abortion interests pressing the appeal to the high court and then the question was how far the court would go. In the hush money appeal, it would more likely be Trump pressing the court to say that the immunity ruling helps him. It would be odd if New York prosecutors even tried to get the ruling overturned in that scenario; rather, theyd more likely be arguing that the ruling doesnt help Trump to a degree that requires reversing his convictions. So, again, the bottom line is that the full scope of the immunity ruling is still very much to be determined, but the prospect of overturning it shouldnt be expected anytime soon. Like in the Dobbs case that overturned Roe v. Wade, big changes are more realistically accomplished by changing the courts composition rather than changing the justices minds. Thats why, as Trumps first term made clear, a presidents most lasting accomplishment can be their Supreme Court appointments. Have any questions or comments for me? Please submit them on this form for a chance to be featured in the Deadline: Legal Blog and newsletter. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (ABC4) Scientists at the University of Cambridges Institute of Astronomy have discovered chemical evidence that could indicate the existence of life on a faraway planet. Using data collected by NASA and the European Space Agencys Webb Space Telescope, researchers detected evidence of compounds dimethyl sulfide and dimethyl disulfide in the atmosphere. AUDIO: Provo flight bound for Texas reroutes after dog bites 10-year-old Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Earth, these compounds are only produced by life, so its a really amazing thing that theyve discovered, said local expert on planetary science with Clark Planetarium, Jason Trump. Discovered about 10 years ago, the planet is known as K2-18b and has evidence of dimethyl sulfide and dimethyl disulfide in the atmosphere compounds most commonly found in microbial life on Earth. Trump says the compounds are 10 times more abundant on K2-18b than they are on Earth. These compounds have been produced and replenished over time, he said. Scientists say the presence of these compounds on K2-18b is the best potential sign yet of life on other planets. However, other independent scientists say the discovery is not nearly enough evidence to show the existence of life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement K2-18b is more than twice the size of Earth and has 8 times more mass. Like Earth, it falls in what many astronomers call the habitable zone of its star. This discovery is really leading the charge of looking at evidence of life, Trump told ABC4.com. The Associated Press has contributed to this story. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. The DMV was the place to be this past week with the deadline looming for Real ID. More than 50 people spent their lunch hour Thursday waiting about 15 minutes to get the federally compliant drivers licenses or state-issued identification at the Division of Motor Vehicles in Concord. Twenty years since the Real ID Act was signed into law, about 65% of New Hampshire license or ID holders are already all set. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rest of you have some work to do. Starting May 7, anyone over 18 who wants to board a domestic flight or enter a federal building or nuclear power plant will need a Real ID or a combination of other accepted documents. People across the U.S. have been jamming DMV offices ahead of the deadline. But be warned: In New Hampshire it can take up to 60 days to get your license or non-driver ID card through the mail, and the temporary paper IDs issued by the DMV wont be enough on their own to get you through airport security. So, if your sisters destination wedding is in July, the time is now. People should be prepared if they go to the airport on May 7. Theyre going to see a larger (Transportation Security Administration) agent presence. If you have the Real ID, or you have a passport or you have one of the other documents thats listed on the TSA website (tsa.gov), youre going to be just fine, said John Marasco, the state director of motor vehicles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And if you dont? They are going to do random screening and with that you run the risk of being held up for a period of time, and/or being turned away, Marasco said. Attention New Hampshire flyers: The May 7 Real ID deadline is for real Director of Motor Vehicles John Marasco speaks with a reporter about Real ID at the DMV in Concord on Thursday. The federal TSA handles airport security. For more information, visit dhs.gov/real-id. Marasco said the screening can take up to 45 minutes to get through the TSA checkpoint without a Real ID. Manchesters Cindy Dawson was up for renewal last August, so she opted in for the Real ID. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It took me two tries because I didnt bring all the forms the first time, but they made it clear online. I just didnt read it carefully, Dawson said. If you bring all your forms, it takes no time. She didnt have travel plans when she renewed, but I plan to in the future, so I knew it would make it easier, she said. Alternatives to Real ID Other acceptable forms of identification include a U.S. or foreign passport, permanent resident card, border-crossing card, U.S. Department of Defense ID, and U.S. citizenship or immigration card. For a complete list, visit tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For folks who dont have one of those other one-and-done IDs and wont have a Real ID in time, officials recommend bringing a regular drivers license or state ID that didnt expire more than a year ago and a Social Security card and/or birth certificate. Those might help you get through the extra TSA screening, but youll still be held up until the verification process is complete. The more documents you bring, the quicker the screening might go. Attention New Hampshire flyers: The May 7 Real ID deadline is for real Wendell Bud Durling of Sanbornton gets photo taken for his Real ID at the Department of Motor Vehicles in Concord on Thursday. The deadline to have a Real ID is May 7. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What is a Real ID? After the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the 9/11 Commission recommended national security standards for state-issued IDs, and Congress passed the Real ID Act in 2005. Eighteen of the 19 hijackers that were involved in the 9/11 attacks had multiple licenses and multiple identifications, Marasco said. In addition to Real ID, theres a program called State to State, which connects all DMVs to a database to ensure that every person has only one valid state ID. Even if you live in Florida during the winter and in New Hampshire the rest of the year, you cannot have an active license in each state at the same time. This includes commercial licenses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Who needs a Real ID? Travelers 18 or older flying within the United States. New Hampshire will continue to offer the noncompliant state drivers licenses and IDs for people who dont need the extra level of security for personal or professional purposes. How to tell if you have a Real ID? In the top right corner of a Real ID, theres a gold circle with a star in the middle or if you have the newly designed New Hampshire ID, theres a gold Old Man of the Mountain with a star in the middle. How to get a Real ID Residents can go online and schedule an appointment at their nearest DMV office. The state has 14 locations. To find the DMV nearest you, visit dmv.nh.gov/hours-and-locations. Walk-ins are accepted when its not overly busy, but your wait time will be longer than if you make an appointment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They said 15 minutes, but it was a little longer because there are so many people coming in, Wendell Bud Durling of Sanbornton said Thursday in Concord. A new Real ID costs $10 more than the noncompliant ones or $3 more if its a renewal, Marasco said. To convert to a Real ID, youll need proof of identity, Social Security and residency. For identity, you need one of the following: original birth certificate with a raised seal; certificate of naturalization or citizenship; a passport; a permanent resident card; an I-94 card for asylum or refugee status; or government-issued documentation. All documents must be valid and unexpired. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To prove you have a Social Security number, you must show one of the following: your Social Security card; pay stub with your Social Security number; W-2 tax form with your full Social Security number; or a 1099 tax form with your full Social Security number. For the residency requirement, youll need TWO of the following: an unexpired drivers license or non-driver ID card with your current address; a vehicle title application prepared by a town or city clerk or tax collector; a New Hampshire vehicle registration; a signed lease, rental agreement or deed for your address; a property tax bill from the current year; verification by a parent or guardian; a notarized letter from a property owner or resident dated within the last 60 days; a mortgage statement for your current address; a utility bill for your home; a government check or document issued within the last 60 days; or a payroll document or employment contract dated within 60 days. Marriage certificates But wait, theres more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the most common documents people forget to bring to the DMV is a marriage certificate if their name has changed. The state needs to see proof if your current name doesnt match your other documents. This was a common problem with New Hampshires new voter ID law that gave voters fits in March. For those wondering why you cant just use a Real ID for everything, there are subtle differences for flying and voting. The Real ID verifies someones identity. New Hampshires voter ID law requires verification of citizenship. In a nutshell, you can fly if youre not a citizen, but you cant vote. TSA scanner problems Because the TSA is a federal agency, it uses a different system than the state. TSA has had some issues since New Hampshires new IDs came out this year. I just took a trip to Orlando and they held us up a bit because of the new license. I dont know what they didnt like about it, said Clarke Center of Keene, who was at the DMV Thursday to renew his vehicle registration. Marasco said the feds approved the states new IDs, but TSA is playing catch-up. Those problems appear to be mostly resolved, he said. We issue you the federally compliant credential. What goes on May 7 at the airport, and how theyre going to work with that credential, or any other documents to get on an aircraft, thats outside of our scope, he said. Attention New Hampshire flyers: The May 7 Real ID deadline is for real Seated in front of a Real ID poster, Carol Reid of Keene waits her turn at the Division of Motor Vehicles in Concord on Thursday. The poster is part of an awareness campaign sponsored by the DMV to alert residents of the May 7 federal Real ID deadline. As of that date, Real ID will be required for domestic air travel in the United States. Travelers without it will be subject to lengthy screening and delays. If you dont know by now The DMV launched a large-scale, yearlong advertising and marketing campaign called Reach New Heights leading up to the deadline. The blitz included a video of former New England Patriot Rob Gronkowski. After Real ID enforcement was delayed for several years and disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Marasco said he wanted his team to get the word out in a big way. If you go to Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, youll see our posters that we created in-house a year ago. If youre waiting for your flight, youll see our Real ID information on the monitors. Youll see our posters in the elevators at the airport and the parking garage. Weve done a good job marketing with them, he said. New Hampshire has gone the extra mile to get it out there. I dont think there is anybody who can say I live in New Hampshire and I didnt know I had to get my Real ID. The result is one of the highest percentages of people with Real IDs among the 50 states, he said. I think with the rushes that were having in the lobby right now over the last couple of weeks, I think its likely we could be closer to 70% by the time we get into the beginning or middle of May, Marasco said. dpierce@unionleader.com DESOTO CO., Miss. An attorney is warning DeSoto County families about a problem that he says is happening within the juvenile system. Attorney Henry E. Reaves III, owner and founder of Reaves Law Firm PLLC, says an overwhelming number of African American students are being charged for minor school offenses. In DeSoto County, Caucasians account for about 61% of the population, and African Americans make up about 35%. However, Reaves says those numbers arent being reflected within the DeSoto County Juvenile System. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But when I went inside of that juvenile detention court, it was literally 100% African-American, little Black boys, little Black girls, and I was also extremely shocked when I looked at the age of some of these offenders, Reaves said. Reaves says most were middle school students and their cases stemmed from school incidents, rather than serious criminal offenses. Woman claims she was fired after comments against school board member, says Murphy should resign Hes currently representing a Horn Lake Middle School student who was allegedly defending himself against a classmate who attacked him. Reaves says he has video evidence that proves this narrative; however, he claims the prosecutor is still pressing forward with charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It showed that our person was not even in a confrontation. He kind of got sucker punched. He continued to get attacked, and he swung back, thats literally all he did, Reaves said. Reaves tells WREG the prosecutor allegedly refused to look at the video and told him she has hundreds of other cases to handle. He says the prosecutor also offered probation, but he declined. I want you to understand that probation, even though it sounds like its a slap on the wrist, Reaves said. It sounds like its nothing. But, its step one to getting them into a trap. Reaves says hes heard from other families in DeSoto County who have had similar experiences with the juvenile system. He tells WREG discipline is necessary in certain situations, but it should be conducive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like, do we really wanna criminalize our child at this young age, to make him feel that hes some sort of monster, that hes some type of criminal? Reaves said. Reaves says placing children in the criminal justice system can also create financial and psychological burdens. He wants parents to be aware and enlist legal counsel before agreeing to anything that could significantly impact their child. WREG reached out to the DeSoto County District Attorneys Office and the DeSoto County Juvenile Detention Center for comment, but has not heard back 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 WREG.com. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) LifeWise Academys attorneys are challenging religious release time policy recommendations, warning they could lead to lawsuits for school districts like Columbus City Schools. First Liberty Institute is representing biblical education provider LifeWise in its fight against Neola, the North East Ohio Learning Associates. Neola, an educational policy consultant group, received a letter Wednesday from First Liberty that alleged its sample religious release time policies violate the First Amendment. The letter warned school districts that implement Neolas policies could face litigation. Is 3rd time a charm? Marysville schools puts levy on ballot Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What Neola is doing, and other school districts seem to want to do, is throwing a bunch of tacks in the road for parents to be able to access released time education, and that they cannot do, Jeremy Dys, First Libertys senior counsel, said. Neola provides sample policies and advice to more than 500 Ohio schools, including many in central Ohio. Senior adviser Patrick Corbett said Neola did not require any districts to implement any policy. He said Neola simply offers a variety of suggestions and told clients to be prepared to defend their choices if they choose a more involved RTRI policy. Neola has offered guidance on religious release, or short-term absences for religious instruction during the school day, since 2016, but the need for policy guidance recently intensified in Ohio. As of April 9, all public schools are required to implement policies permitting religious release time instruction. Ohio law requires districts to collaborate with providers to schedule release time, but otherwise leaves district policy obligations fairly open-ended. The law allows districts to require background checks for instructors and volunteers and says boards of education shall determine how those checks are conducted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Corporate greed: Moreno sends scathing letter to CEOs over Chillicothe paper mill closure Dys said there is nothing in Ohio law permitting school districts to take liberties with their policies. However, there is also nothing prohibiting them from doing so. Whether it is materials being sent home through release time education or other levels of bureaucracy that are not mandated under this statute, school districts are taking an inch of authority and turn it into a mile of power to prevent release time education from going forward at all, Dys said. LifeWise voiced concerns with three facets of Neolas sample policy, which have already been implemented in districts like Columbus, Upper Arlington and Worthington schools. In turn, Neola alleged LifeWises legal challenge failed to meet legal requirements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My sense from the latest volley of correspondences is that providers want to tell districts what to do, which is not collaboration, Corbett said. LifeWise alleges policies that ban groups from distributing trinkets, candy or other materials violate the First Amendment by not extending the same restrictions to other groups. Corbett said Neola did not force any schools to implement that restriction but said districts have a right to set policies. New tenants coming soon to Easton, including Princess Polly, burger restaurant On April 10, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost acknowledged districts have freedom to dictate their policies but cautioned against inhibiting any religious groups operations. Yost said banning distribution of materials prevents programs from sending literature, lesson books or Bibles home with students, which could violate the First Amendment if these restrictions are not mirrored for secular organizations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We did not suggest and I dont believe districts are imposing any restrictions on what organizations do within the confines of their programs off campus, Corbett said. Critics of LifeWise have claimed sending candy or toys back with students can be distracting and makes nonparticipating kids feel left out. Dys placed the responsibility to limit distractions back on teachers. This would be second nature to teachers and administrators across the state of Ohio, Dys said. They dont need to resort to censoring otherwise protected First Amendment activity, and thats precisely what Neola has recommended that school districts do. Ohios biggest school district, Neola client Columbus City Schools, implemented a policy banning these handouts in March. At the time, LifeWise CEO and Founder Joel Penton said the requirements would not change parents reasons for sending students to LifeWise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ohio has few laws dictating what religious organizations can and cannot do. Generally, case law says districts cannot make rules that only apply to religious expression. Under those interpretations, districts could only make rules for groups if they also apply to other groups that take students out of the school day with parent permission. Ohio calls out weight-loss drug false advertising LifeWise also voiced concerns about Neolas background check policies, which said a district could refuse to release students to an organization that does not complete a satisfactory background check. Dys said the word satisfactory is too subjective and could allow districts to use the term to stop RTRI participation entirely. Corbett said they included those provisions because the law specifically allowed them to require background checks. He said they based the language off what Neola uses for its employees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LifeWise proposed replacement policies requiring annual confirmation that it has completed criminal background checks and no workers have criminal convictions that would result in a teacher losing their license. LifeWise already completes background checks for all of its volunteers and instructors. However, parents voiced concerns about these background checks last July when NBC4 revealed a LifeWise director had been fired from an Ohio school and surrendered her license after allegedly sexting a minor student. Ohio law prohibits students from leaving during a core curriculum subject course, but districts have some freedom to determine what qualifies. One Neola policy suggestion reads, The Board deems all graded courses to be core curriculum. This could leave lunch or recess in theory, but Dys said it could also be used to stop organizations from operating altogether. Chocolate lovers may see sticker shock due to Trumps tariff tactics Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dys said districts with policies like these on the books should consider the letter to Neola as a warning. They have an opportunity to correct that behavior and open up into the avenues to release time education that the legislature clearly mandated, Dys said. If they choose to do otherwise, then that liability remains. First Liberty requested a response from Neola within 30 days, including a list of all districts that have adopted Neolas policy or received advice from Neola on their policies. Corbett said he did not think such a list existed. NBC4 reached out to LifeWise, Worthington schools and Columbus for comment but did not receive responses. 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 NBC4 WCMH-TV. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 18. Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament Sahiba participated in the Council and 58th plenary sessions of the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS PA) during her official visit to Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation, the parliamentary press and public relations department told Trend. The meetings focused on the activities and initiatives carried out within the framework of the CIS PA, as well as various organizational matters. At the council meeting, Gafarova shared her views on the topics discussed. Members of the Azerbaijani delegation also took part in the plenary and commission sessions of the CIS Assemblys spring meeting, where they delivered remarks and contributed to the discussions. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel A sign for Auburn University seen on August 14, 2023 in Auburn, Alabama. Behind the sign is William J. Samford Hall. Fifteen AU international community members had their visas revoked this week.(Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) Fifteen Auburn University community members had their visas revoked this week, according to university officials. Jennifer Wood Adams, executive director of public affairs at Auburn, said in a statement that the visas were revoked by the Department of Homeland Securitys Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Student and Exchange Visitor Program, not the university. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said the university immediately reached out to those with cancelled visas. The university did not identify the students. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Auburns Office of International Programs immediately contacted each affected individual to provide assistance and support. Our international students and personnel are valued members of our campus community, and we recognize the significant impact that visa or status revocation will have on them, the statement said. The statement also said the university will comply with all laws and cooperate with authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a fluid situation, and the university will monitor it closely and assess its implications, she said. According to the Associated Press, at least 1,024 students at 160 colleges, universities and university systems have had their visas revoked or their legal status terminated since late March. Alireza Doroudi, a University of Alabama graduate student from Iran, was detained in March by ICE. According to the Crimson White, UAs student news outlet, Doroudi was denied bond on Thursday and now faces deportation. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Video shows the moment Austin police detonated a large cache of 'homemade explosives' inside a South Austin home on Wednesday. Authorities say the explosives were manufactured and planted by Steven Aldrich, a repeat offender with at least a decade-long history of making explosives. Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said Thursday that Aldrich, 66, was arrested following the incident and was still on probation at the time. Our SWAT team is familiar with him and his bomb-making shenanigans from the past, Davis said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2018, the American-Statesman reported that Aldrich was arrested by Leander police after explosives detonated in his home, injuring him. During that incident, the APD bomb squad found explosives in his bathroom and laundry room, the American-Statesman reported. At the time, Aldrich was on probation in connection with another explosion that occurred in his backyard. Following that 2015 blast, federal agents found 10 explosive weapons in Aldrichs home, along with several chemicals used to make such devices and an unregistered short-barrel rifle. Aldrich was offered a plea deal and received eight years of deferred adjudication for possession of a prohibited weapon. He was ordered not to use explosives or firearms during his probation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The detonation comes just days after a possible gas-related explosion on April 13 in Northwest Austin that injured several people and damaged more than two dozen homes. Witnesses said they could hear it from 25 miles away all the way in Georgetown. Video: Austin PD detonates 'homemade explosives' inside South Austin home This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Video: APD detonate homemade explosives inside South Austin home AUSTIN (KXAN) In an arrest affidavit, an Austin Police Department detective claims a man who previously made explosives allegedly manufactured more while out on parole. The affidavit, filed Thursday with the Travis County District Court, describes APD officers finding alleged homemade explosives in a south Austin home and the bomb squads decision to detonate some of those materials on Tuesday, leading to an evacuation of those nearby. Suspect in south Austin explosives incident was on parole for related charges: APD The Austin Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) on Wednesday said it safely detonated explosive material found at a south Austin home in the 2400 block of Vintage Stave Road. (KXAN News/Nabil Remadna) Steven Aldrich, 66, faces one felony count of possessing explosive components, according to Travis County court records. He was on parole for a prior conviction of possessing a prohibited weapon, specifically a homemade bomb, KXAN previously reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PREVIOUS: Suspect in explosive material case was on low supervision according to TDCJ Steven Blake Aldrich, 66. (Mugshot: Austin Police Department) Aldrichs 95-year-old mother, who owned the Vintage Stave Road home, gave APD and federal officers permission on Tuesday to search her home, according to the detective. APD Bomb Squad Corporal spoke with Aldrichs mother who stated that Aldrich makes science experiments inside of the house,' the detective wrote in the affidavit. The corporal also had a consensual interview with Aldrich, the detective wrote. Aldrich stated he had experience previously manufacturing TATP, that he previously disposed of some TATP at another property [and] that precursors used to manufacture TATP were currently inside of the residence, the affidavit read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TATP, or Triacetone Triperoxide, is a homemade explosive material that has been used in several bombings, according to the US Joint Counterterrorism Assessment Team. The detective also wrote that another homemade explosive material, Methyl Ethyl Ketone Peroxide, or MEKP, and numerous types of precursors were found in the home. Authorities removed as much of the alleged explosives as they could from the home; however, APD, FBI and ATF technicians determined that the MEKP could not be safely moved, according to the affidavit. That led to the controlled detonation of the remaining material on-site. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Stoneham police have confirmed that they have arrested a man accused of breaking into a Dunkin Donuts. 35-year-old Kelly Desilier is being charged with allegedly breaking and entering Nighttime for Felony and Possession of Burglarious Tools According to police, around 11:55 A.M. on April 15, Stoneham police were notified of a burglary alarm at the Dunkin on 65 Main Street. Officers were dispatched immediately, and upon arrival, they found evidence of forced entry and a break-in, along with cash registers missing money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers were quickly able to identify a suspect and alert other officers in the area of a description. Shortly afterwards, a Stoneham officer spotted a person matching the suspects description, but ran away. The suspect was later located by Wakefield police in Reading. The person was identified as Desilier. Police found in Desiliers possession a crowbar and $400 in cash. Police also determined that Desilier was wanted for an active warrant from Quincy District Court for multiple counts of breaking and entering. Desilier was taken into custody in Reading, booked in Stoneham, then arraigned on April 16 in Woburn District Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I want to thank our partners at the Wakefield and Reading Police Departments for their assistance with this investigation, said Stoneham Police Chief James OConnor. Our officers were able to quickly identify a suspect, and our law enforcement partners were essential in helping us to locate that suspect with evidence still in his possession. This was a great example of the strength that comes from partnership with our neighboring agencies. Stoneham police are also aware of numerous other break-ins at Dunkin Donuts in the area and are actively investigating those incidents. 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 An Avelo Airlines Boeing 737-800 aircraft, taxiing to the gate (Photo: Getty Images/Jon Tetzlaff) Budget airline Avelo will continue operating three bases in North Carolina following plans to partner with the U.S. Department of Homeland Securitys Immigration Customs and Enforcement agency (ICE) to offer deportation flights. Avelo announced earlier this month the airline has signed a partnership for a long-term charter program with ICE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The airline will open a base at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) in Arizona for the ICE operations beginning May 12, according to the airline. Flights will be both domestic and international to support the deportation efforts, which Avelo crews will carry out via three dedicated Boeing 737-800 aircrafts. These charter flights will not include commercial passengers. We realize this is a sensitive and complicated topic, Avelo Airlines Founder and CEO Andrew Levy said. We also flew these charters under the Biden administration. Regardless of the administration or party affiliation, as a U.S. flag carrier when our country calls and requests assistance our practice is to say yes. Its a move thats lead to backlash and protests. More than 30,000 people have signed a petition started last week by the New Haven Immigrants Coalition in Connecticut. Tweed-New Haven Regional Airport (HVN) is the airlines largest operating base. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the aviation industry, a base is an airport at which an airline permanently houses aircraft and crew and operates routes. Low-cost carriers like Avelo tend to operate with a point-to-point network with bases, often at smaller airports to reduce costs. A hub has more to do with an airlines style of operations, as hub airports in the hub-and-spoke model are where airlines choose to connect passengers through more common with full-service, legacy carriers and major airports. Avelos three operating bases in North Carolina located at Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), Concord-Padgett Regional Airport (USA) near Charlotte, and Wilmington International Airport (ILM) will continue to be used strictly for commercial travel, according to the airline. The agreement with ICE will not directly affect operations in North Carolina. The airline, which had previous incarnations as charter carriers known as Casino Express and Xtra Airways was rechristened as Avelo in 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nikki Marin Baena, co-founder and co-director of the immigrant rights advocacy group Siembra NC, said the partnership could make immigrants question whether theyre safe in North Carolina. It just adds to that sense of stress and the sense of fear and not knowing you know whats going to come tomorrow, she said. Spanish-language media outlets have covered the agreement, leading to more worries for Latino immigrants, according to Baena. Between the three airports across the state, Avelo has plans to operate flights for more than two dozen routes from North Carolina. New additions would connect the airports with locations in Michigan, New York, and the Bahamas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Media teams for the North Carolina airports redirected NC Newsline to Avelo. With this, Avelo will open a base at AZA with Avelo pilots, flight attendants and aircraft technicians, as well as appropriate local leaders. We expect to begin hiring locally for these positions immediately. Current Avelo Crewmembers (employees) will have the first option to transfer to our new AZA base, a spokesperson for Avelo told NC Newsline in a statement. The airline did not indicate whether any crew members from North Carolina would move to the Arizona base. Avelo recently canceled six flights out of Concord, WCNC reported on Friday, due to poor performance and low bookings. CLAYTON, N.Y. (WWTI) An award-winning north country winery is going up for sale. In a post from their Facebook page, Coyote Moon Winery has announced that its going up for sale. The post said it was one of the hardest decisions the business has ever had to make. New bill could allow for sale of wine at New York grocery stores The Clayton-based winery first opened 16 years ago in June. In that time, weve hosted too many events to count and shared even more memories with all of you, the announcement said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The post added that Coyote Moon will remain open and continue making and selling your favorite wine with our regular business hours at our East Line Road location. The Christian and the Coyote Tacos & Tings restaurant will also be open from May 30 through the end of September. The winery added that a number of events will go on this summer. The list includes: Sunday Flea Markets (June through September) The Annual Car Show The Clayton Balloons in the Islands Festival Wine & Cheese Boat Cruises through the 1,000 Islands Harvest Festival this Fall Coyote Moon has won a number of awards, including being a three-time New York State Winery of the Year and has won over 1,000 medals and awards for our handcrafted wines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The businesses has supported a number of local charities and causes over the last 16 years as well. The post added thank youtrulyfor the years of love, support, and unforgettable memories. Come visit us this season, raise a glass, grab a bite from Christian, and help us celebrate everything weve built together. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) A Sioux Falls child care worker is in the Minnehaha County jail accused of abusing four toddlers. Chelsea Struss, 38, worked at a day care called NXTgen Kidz. Her photo is no longer included on the business website. According to an affidavit, a coworker heard Struss yelling with anger in her voice on Tuesday during nap time. she entered the room and told the defendant to stop and that she could not be doing that, the defendant told her she was overstimulated and had a lot going on. Affidavit Evidence in the case includes a 10 minute video. Court documents say Struss can be seen abusing four 1-year-olds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When police interviewed Struss, she told them it wasnt intentional and that she feels like a monster. I dont belong working with kids, thats how I honestly feel. Affidavit Struss faces four counts of felony child abuse. Her first court hearing has not been scheduled. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. For the first time, U.S. Air Force B-1B bombers are in Japan for a Bomber Task Force rotation. The deployment to Misawa Air Base comes at a time when the Air Force has six B-2 stealth bombers stationed in Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, for a significant bomber presence across the Indo-Pacific region. You can read more about the B-2 rotation in this previous story. The B-1Bs, from the 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, deployed from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, arriving at Misawa on April 15, immediately after flying a training mission alongside fighters from the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF). The Bones flew over the western part of the Korean peninsula, including Osan Air Base, accompanied by U.S. Air Force F-16s and ROKAF F-35s and F-16s. Initially, two B-1s arrived at Misawa, but more examples may soon join them. Two Dyess B-1s over Osan AB, South Korea , April 15th. Likely to be LOFT11 & 12 caught by TheIntelFrog in his post below [USAF Vid] https://t.co/QnRweqaveMpic.twitter.com/YrVvcMeb2g Saint1 (@Saint1Mil) April 15, 2025 Air Force bombers in Japan are not an entirely new phenomenon, although they have never previously been there as part of a Bomber Task Force deployment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In February of this year, B-1s taking part in a Bomber Task Force deployment to Guam landed at Misawa for hot-pit refueling. The method of hot pitting involves keeping the engines running while the aircraft is refueled by ground crews. Sometimes the crews are also switched out. The tactic is useful for increasing sortie rates as well as rapidly refueling, rearming and swapping out a new crew in combat aircraft to get them back in the fight faster. Shutting aircraft down also invites the possibilities of critical equipment failures upon startup. So, for especially complex aircraft, keeping them running and all systems operating allows for better assurance that the asset will stay in play. A U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer assigned to the 34th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron takes off in support of Pacific Air Forces Bomber Task Force mission at Misawa Air Base, Feb. 20, 2025. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Patrick Boyle In April of 2024, a B-52H touched down at Yokota Air Base in Japan, although in that case it was an unscheduled emergency landing. As for the Bomber Task Force concept, the Air Force introduced this in 2018 to replace the previous continuous rotational deployments of bombers overseas. Involving typically only small numbers of aircraft, Bomber Task Force deployments are of varying lengths, extending from a few weeks up to several months in some cases. These deployments provide theater familiarization for aircrews and aircraft integration opportunities with Allies and partners in different parts of the world. Overall, they represent what the Air Force says is a more unpredictable and flexible approach to pushing strategic airpower forward. A B-1B Lancer assigned to the 9th Bomb Squadron takes off from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, Apr. 14, 2025, in support of a Bomber Task Force at Misawa Air Base, Japan. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Alondra Cristobal Hernandez Bomber Task Force deployments now take place in Europe and in the Indo-Pacific theater. In the latter region, these rotations have been made to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam; Royal Australian Air Force Base Amberley, Australia; and Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory. From these forward locations, missions have been flown over and around critical hot spots and in exercises with allies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement BTF 25-2 showcases the U.S. commitment to deterring threats and maintaining regional stability, explained Lt. Col. Christopher Travelstead, director of operations for the squadron now deployed at Misawa. These missions in the Indo-Pacific ensure our B-1 crews are highly trained and ready to respond anytime, anywhere, to defend U.S. interests and support our allies, securing a stable Indo-Pacific where all nations operate freely under a rules-based order while promoting global peace and prosperity. U.S. Air Force maintainers assigned to the 9th Bomber Generation Squadron prepare B-1B Lancer for take-off in support of a Bomber Task Force at Misawa Air Base, Japan, at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, Apr. 14, 2025. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Alondra Cristobal Hernandez Misawa, which is already home to permanently based U.S. Air Force F-16CJs, comes under the Pacific Air Forces area of responsibility (AOR). From here, the Air Force is expected to project power across 100 million square miles covering this vast area is a much easier task with long-range bombers like the B-1. From Misawa, Air Force assets could find themselves tasked on missions directed toward North Korea or Russia, although the relative proximity to the hotly contested South China Sea or Taiwan Strait is of particular relevance. This is part of a broader Pentagon plan to deter China. Two B-1B Lancers assigned to the 9th Bomb Squadron taxi on the flightline before takeoff to support a Bomber Task Force at Misawa Air Base, Japan, at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, Apr. 14, 2025. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Alondra Cristobal Hernandez This plan, known as the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, or PDI, calls for the establishment of forward-deployed long-range strike capabilities, like the B-1, but also encompasses ground-based cruise, ballistic, and hypersonic missiles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In particular, the U.S. military is seeking to establish more survivable, precision-strike networks along the so-called First Island Chain. The term First Island Chain refers to an area of the Pacific inside a boundary formed by the first line of archipelagos out from mainland East Asia. This broad zone includes the hotly contested South China Sea, as well as the highly strategic Taiwan Strait. Pushing the B-1s into position on the First Island Chain would allow them to react faster to contingencies in the region, but it also makes them more vulnerable to attack on the ground should a major fight erupt. Strategic planning in the Pacific also often takes into account needs within a region defined by a Second Island Chain, the boundary of which stretches between Japan and eastern Indonesia and includes the U.S. territory of Guam. From Misawa in the north of Japan, the long-range B-1s also have access to the Second Island Chain, including as a place to retreat to in a crisis. A map showing the general areas referred to by the terms First and Second Island Chains. U.S. Department of Defense The B-1 also brings a notably potent maritime capability, which is of considerable importance in this region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In particular, the bombers can now be armed with many stealthy AGM-158C Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles, or LRASMs. The introduction of this weapon is part of a tilt toward employing these bombers against maritime threats as they enter the twilight of their career, but with a heavy emphasis on operations during a potential crisis in the Pacific. Time will tell how long the B-1s remain at Misawa and what kinds of missions they fly, and where. Its clear, however, that the first-time deployment has been calculated to very deliberately demonstrate U.S. commitment to the security of the Indo-Pacific region and its allies in the region. Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com Lisa Murkowski, Alaska's longtime U.S. senator, was home from Washington this week, touching base. As part of her rounds, the Republican lawmaker appeared in Anchorage before an annual meeting of tribal leaders and nonprofit executives. Inevitably, the discussion turned to the wrecking-ball presidency of Donald Trump and his autocratic and, frankly, un-American penchant for siccing the government on his political foes. Asked what she had to say to those living in fear, or who represent constituents afraid of today's McCarthyesque climate, Murkowski responded with honesty and bracing candor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are all afraid," she said. She then paused five long seconds, her face a rictus of wonderment and concern, allowing the observation and admission from a sitting member of the United States Senate, no less to sink in. Its quite a statement," Murkowski went on. Another brief pause, then several starts and stops. "But we're in a time and a place where ... I've not been here before," she said. "And Ill tell you, Im oftentimes very anxious myself about using my voice, because retaliation is real. And thats not right. It's a fine pass we've come to when simply speaking the truth and stating the obvious are considered newsworthy, much less an act of courage. But here we are, folks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement America, 2025. Read more: Barabak: He's been an outspoken Trump critic. Others fear the price he and his family pay If you wish to be cynical, there are reasons why Murkowski whose comments Monday quickly ricocheted across the country may be more prepared to speak out against Trump than her timorous Republican peers. Trump easily carried Alaska all three times he ran for president. But his showing the 54% of the vote he received in November was a high mark is a shadow of his blowout victories elsewhere. Trump won Wyoming with 70% of the vote, West Virginia with 68% and Oklahoma and North Dakota with 65% support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His executive order changing the name of North Americas tallest peak, Denali, back to Mt. McKinley has landed among Alaskans with a decided thud. A survey of adult residents found they opposed the switch by more than 2 to 1. In other words, the Last Frontier is not exactly head over heels for Trump. Besides, Murkowski won't face reelection should she decide to run for a fifth term until 2028, when Trump's time in office will finally, mercifully be winding down. Those factors, however, don't take away from the starch in the senator's spine or her willingness to stand up while so many others in her party cower in submission. Give Murkowski her due: She doesn't shrink from a fight. In 2010, she notched a rare write-in victory after losing the GOP nomination to a right-wing "tea party" Republican. In 2021, Murkowski was one of just seven Republican senators and the only one to face constituents in the next election cycle to vote to convict Trump in an impeachment trial for inciting the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her act drew a censure from state GOP leaders and the petulance you would expect from Trump, who urged some Republican, any Republican If you have a pulse, Im with you! to challenge Murkowski's reelection. When Kelly Tshibaka, a 2020 election denier, stepped forward, Trump appeared at an Anchorage rally to lend his support. Murkowski won anyway. She may be the state's most popular living politician, said Amy Lovecraft, a political science professor at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks. "She knows the state," Lovecraft said. "She gets stuff done. She's a doer." She's also outspokenly independent, a rare commodity in today's increasing cult-like GOP. In fact, the whole notion of checks and balances a foundational principle of American democracy has gone out the window, Murkowski suggested in Anchorage. "Right now, we are not balancing as the Congress," she said, expressing concern, as well, over Trump's attempted undermining of the judiciary. Read more: Barabak: The fight over Trump's legal bullying campaign makes for odd alliances Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Murkowski has taken on Trump more than once. She refused to vote for him in 2024 she didn't support Kamala Harris, either and was one of the few Republicans in office to publicly condemn Trump's shameful pardon of the Jan. 6 insurrectionists. She opposed Pete Hegseth's risible nomination as Defense secretary and voted to undo Trump's heedless tariffs on Canada. She's also expressed concerns about Elon Musk's wanton assault on federal employees. "Things are happening so fast through this Department of Government Efficiency, DOGE" the fictive name of Musk's made-up agency "None of us understand the half of it. Its literally piecing it together, Murkowski told those gathered in Anchorage. Speaking on Monday to the Anchorage Daily News, Muskowski recounted conversations with some of those summarily fired in Musk's precipitous purge. Many were in tears. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They thought that they were in a profession they've given so much to and thought that they were doing well," Murkowski said. "And literally, with no notice whatsoever, [they were] terminated and told that their work performance was not satisfactory, which was not true. "These are real emotions. These are real people," she said. "These are real fears and they need to be heard." Indeed. Sadly, for now, Murkowski is one of vanishingly few Republican politicians with the guts to speak up against the party's rogue president a brave, but lonely, voice in the wilderness. Get the latest from Mark Z. Barabak Focusing on politics out West, from the Golden Gate to the U.S. Capitol. Sign me up. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. This article is part of HuffPosts biweekly politics newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Earlier this week, one of the Trump administrations gambits came up against a major stumbling block: the entire institution of Harvard University. The administration had demanded Harvard University follow several directives meant to prioritize President Donald Trumps culture war agenda, including ending diversity programs, promoting right-wing faculty members, and preventing the admittance of students who dont have American values a thinly veiled way of demanding the college prioritize Trump supporters. If the university didnt, the administration threatened, it would withhold $2 billion of federal funding, money that was needed for research on topics like medicine, agriculture and engineering. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was part of a conservative playbook of threatening elite universities in Trumps second term. In February, the U.S. Department of Education demanded that universities comply with its demands over admissions, student activists and diversity programs or else risk losing their federal funding. The Trump administration had made similar demands of Columbia University, threatening to withhold $400 million in funding if the school did not ban face masks on campus and allow the Trump administration to control several of its departments, including programs that focus on the Middle East. Ultimately, the school capitulated. But Harvard didnt. In public statements, the university essentially told Trump no, they would not be caving to his threats. No government regardless of which party is in power should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue, Alan Garber, the president of Harvard, said in an open letter to the community on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For years, the Republican Party has fashioned itself as the party of free speech. They have alleged that diversity of opinion, beliefs and thought was central to their ideology and anyone who disagreed was trying to censor them. And while their protestations always seemed shallow after all, they seem to only be arguing for the right for conservatives to say what they want without repercussions with Donald Trump back in power it seems as if weve entered a new phase in the battle over not just free speech, but the ability to shape the way Americans think in the first place. From trying to exert control over what universities can teach andwhich students they admit, to attempting to defund public media, or deporting college students whose opinions they dont like, the Trump administration is trying to police the thoughts and beliefs of many of Americas major institutions. Its both absurd and dangerous at the same time, Kristen Shahverdian, the program director of campus free speech at PEN America, a nonprofit that promotes free expression, told HuffPost. Hes seeking to control education, the press, law firms, because there are major institutions that serve as the places that speak truth and are doing the work of pushing back, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his second term, Trump isnt just trying to exert control over the entire federal government hes also taking aim at the major institutions that shape public life. If Trump can control what colleges can teach, which news outlets can report on his harmful policies, and what ideas are allowed to be discussed, he can reshape American life as we know it. Authoritarian rulers have strong incentives to control the information environment in order to suppress individuals, ideas and organizations that can enable mobilization against them, Jennifer Pan, a political scientist and professor at Stanford University, told HuffPost. Trumps multifaceted war on information boils down to the need to suppress criticism and opposition. But it also encompasses the need to quash the ability for dissenting ideas to spread to others just last week, Immigration and Customs Enforcement posted on social media that it was their job to prevent illegal ideas from crossing the border. Because the Trump administration also is straight-up going after individuals, and particularly immigrants, with opinions it doesnt like. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Mahmoud Khalil was arrested by Immigration and Custom Enforcement agents last month in the lobby of his apartment building in New York City, his family, lawyers, and wider public wanted to know what the 28-year-old legal permanent resident could have done to warrant his detention. But the government did not say that Khalil had committed a crime. In a court filing, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who had ordered the revocation of Khalils green card, said that his pro-Palestine beliefs do not align with American interests, and thus he could be deported under the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952. Khalil, a graduate student at Columbia University in New York, is heavily involved in the pro-Palestine student movement something that the Trump administration has been trying to crack down on. The foreign policy of the United States champions core American interests and American citizens and condoning anti-Semitic conduct and disruptive protests in the United States would severely undermine that significant foreign policy objective, Rubio wrote, per NBC. Put plainly, Khalil has been detained and is threatened with deportation because of his opinions, in what appears to be a clear violation of his First Amendment rights. He remains in detention while his lawyers appeal a judges decision that moved him one step closer to being deported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Khalil is not alone. The Department of State is canceling hundreds of student visas, leaving international students in a panic about their legal status and their academic futures. Most of them arent guilty or even accused of serious crimes. But Rubio has justified the cancellations, saying that students must prove that they arent acting against national interests, by which he refers to pro-Palestinian beliefs. Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visas, he said last month. In the meantime, many students are suing the government saying they were denied due process. While colleges and universities must decide if they will allow the Trump administration to essentially take control of their academic programs and admissions processes while deporting its students, the media is also facing attacks. Two of the most important channels of information for the public are the education system and media, Pan said. Ensuring that these two channels promote the autocrats views rather than alternative views is crucial, which is why authoritarian regimes censor opposition media and civil society. Trump has been at war with the media for decades, repeatedly calling for any journalism outfit that dared criticize his policies or portray him in a way he didnt personally approve to lose their television license. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are not a News Show, but a dishonest Political Operative simply disguised as News, and must be responsible for what they have done, and are doing, Trump posted to Truth Social after CBSs 60 Minutes aired segments about Russias war in Ukraine and the Trump administrations attempts to buy Greenland. He has also attempted to outright control reporting on his administration: He is currently waging a legal war against The Associated Press for its refusal to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, barring its reporters from covering the White House and defying a court order that the news service be reinstated. And this week, the White House said it is planning on asking Congress to strip funding for NPR and PBS, the two biggest public broadcasting stations in the country, saying that the outlets spread radical, woke propaganda disguised as news. The examples in the White House statement are primarily of content that focuses on LGBTQ stories and examinations of race or discrimination, both targets of the right-wing culture wars. Russ Vought, the director of the Office of Personnel and Management, told Fox News that PBS needed to be defunded because it was putting drag queens in childrens programs, doing documentaries pushing for reparations, and dividing the country on the basis of race. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Conservatives have complained about public media for years, saying its biased toward liberal viewpoints, but their calls to defund it havent really gone anywhere. The resources for PBS and NPR are barely a blip in the budget, and many of their stations serve rural areas and air popular programming like Sesame Street for children. If Congress decides to defund them, hundreds of stations could be forced to shut down. Weve already seen this ideological battle play out in Republican-led states. After Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) won the governors race in 2022, he started a campaign against wokeness, claimingradical leftists were indoctrinating children at school.Now the Sunshine State is home to some of the most repressive laws, including ones that limit discussions about racial justice or LGBTQ+ themes in classrooms and remove books that can help schoolchildren learn the benefits of a multiracial and democratic society. The result has left Florida educators afraid to speak freely in their own classrooms and created an atmosphere of fear among the LGBTQ+ community. . Its a model that could take over the country if Trump and his cronies are successful in their plan to attack all of our public institutions. Trump doesnt just want universities to hire his supporters or for CBS to say nice things about him, he wants the entire country to bend to his will. Its important to note that censorship is one of a bundle of strategies used by authoritarian regimes to hold power, Pan said. Censorship is used alongside cooptation, repression and propaganda, and these elements can be mutually reinforcing. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 18. Speaker of Azerbaijani Parliament Sahiba Gafarova has delivered a speech at 80th Victory over Fascism Ceremonial Meeting of CIS IPA during her working visit to Russia, a source in the parliament told Trend. More than 170,000 Azerbaijani soldiers and officers were decorated with various orders and medals. The 77th, 223th, 402nd and 416th national rifle divisions made up of Azerbaijani recruits and volunteers demonstrated unparalleled heroism and valour in the battles and wrote their names in history in golden letters. Gafarova said that the Azerbaijani divisions had covered the glorious path of combat from the Caucasus to Berlin. They fought for Moscow, Leningrad, Brest, Kyiv, Stalingrad, Simferopol, Odessa and hundreds of other towns and locations. Azerbaijani compatriots were actively involved in the liberation of Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and other countries, and displayed innumerable examples of heroism in the guerrilla movement. According to the speaker, in its struggle against Fascism Azerbaijani people showed heroism not only on the battlefields but also at the home front, where they worked day and night to meet the Armys needs. The Azerbaijani industrial enterprises were making 130 kinds of arms and ammunition in that period. Gafarova proceeded to touch upon the formidable role of the Azerbaijani crude oil in that historic Victory, saying that three quarters of the oil extracted in the Soviet Union as well as 85-90 percent of aviation petrol and high-quality motor oils came from Azerbaijan during the war years. The majority of the tanks and aircraft that played a decisive role in the Victory in the World War II worked on the fuel supplied by the oilers of Baku. The speaker said then that the care of and attention to the WWII veterans remained a priority area in the state policy that is carried into life under the guidance of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. The numerous orders and decrees signed by the President to that end are a vivid confirmation of the heightening care of the war veterans and the strengthening of their social protection. Speaker Sahiba Gafarova recalled the words of the National Leader, Heydar Aliyev: The veterans are the golden fund of our people. All the great victories that nations won thanks to their immense endeavours were, first and foremost, the results of the infinite faith in such a supreme value as justice is, and also of the efforts made to restore justice. Consequently, that faith becomes the main source of inspiration for the Great Victory. The speaker went on to say that Azerbaijan had been able to liberate its territories from the 30-year-long occupation, restore its territorial integrity and sovereignty, and revive those lands due to the Victory won in the 44-day Second Karabakh War of 2020. That was the embodiment of the unwavering faith of the Azerbaijani people of its past and current generations in the prevalence of justice; that was also the peoples resolve to restore justice. As the speaker emphasized, the courage and valour that Soviet Union peoples demonstrated in the years of the WWII should serve a true example of patriotism for the young generation. It is not only a memory of the past; rather, it is also a heritage for the coming generations. The important and extremely necessary initiatives and projects of the CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly serve the cause of preserving the shared memory of that historic victory and of handing it down through the generations. Having remarked that that Victory was a common one for all Soviet Union peoples who demonstrated unimaginable courage and valour for the sake of peace, prosperity and a bright future, Gafarova said that the Victory was the outcome of the representatives of the various peoples having stood side by side to defend the just cause as well as of the unprecedented unity and solidarity of the Soviet Union nations. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Friday, April 18th Update: As of 1:00 p.m. on April 18th, 2025, the wildfire that broke out Thursday afternoon has reached 90% containment, according to Florida Forest Service Public Information Officer Aleese Maples. Fire crews, including 10 ground support personnel, worked alongside aerial drone units to identify and address lingering hot spots. The fire remains at 150 acres, with all containment lines fully established. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maples confirmed that evacuees were allowed to return to their homes at approximately 7:00 p.m. on April 17, 2025. Crews will continue to monitor the area throughout the day to ensure the fire remains under control. Original Story: BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) A joint collaboration between the Florida Forest Service and several other Bay County agencies resulted in a diligent response to a growing blaze. The flames were centered in the area around County Road 2301 and Clayton Road. We have currently 17 ground support resources working this fire, that includes supervisors, mechanics, and dozers, and we have two aerial support working the fire. As the fire grew, we definitely realized that we needed to send more resources. And thats what our incident commander did, Florida Forest Service Public Information Officer Aleese Maples said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A chopper scooped up water from a nearby retention pond and dumped it on localized hot spots. Bay County Sheriffs deputies oversaw necessary evacuations and traffic detours. The Bay County Fire Department protected nearby structures from the fire. Brush fire shuts down traffic in Bay County We had ten to 15 structures threatened during the fire. We had a lot of different collaborations working on structure protection. We had our aerial support. We also had the Bay County fire department here working the fire, Maples said. Maples says its still unclear what started the fire. Theres a lot of heavy blowdown still in this area from Hurricane Michael. So it becomes very challenging to navigate the area with our equipment. So we definitely sent the resources that we needed and heavier equipment, too, Maples added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of 7 pm Thursday, County Road 2301 and County Road 388 were still closed to traffic due to heavy smoke and poor visibility. Firefighters say the fire is now about 50% contained. News 13 will keep an eye on the fire and provide an update on Friday morning. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com. Apr. 18MOSES LAKE Thursday's may have been the biggest job fair Big Bend Community College has held. "About 700 job seekers came through here today, maybe more," organizer Michelle Arceo said about halfway through the four-hour event. Eighty-two potential employers, educational specialists and other recruiters set up tables in the ATEC Building at BBCC for the annual job fair. Many of them were organized by type; there was one aisle lined with health care providers, another with law enforcement agencies. They all shared one goal: to find workers. Judging by the crowd, they were succeeding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's been really good, a fairly good response," said Tressie Eagle, who was recruiting for Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee. "We've gotten a lot of (requests for) job shadows for people to come check out some departments, a lot of interest in our open positions, a lot of fliers given out, a few resumes." Coulee Medical Center recruits a lot of nurses in particular from the Job Fair, many of them coming from the BBCC nursing program, Eagle said. "We're meeting some youth who are interested in potential careers to be an (aviation) mechanic," said Olga Jones, a talent acquisition specialist from AeroTec. "We hired one person that we met last year. So I think I call it a success." It wasn't just students coming out of Big Bend programs like aviation mechanics and nursing who were finding opportunities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We're getting a lot of great, great feedback from folks," said Sebastian Moraga, who represented the Washington Department of Transportation. "We're getting people who are fresh out of college, people from the Job Corps, people who are still in college, people who are back in the job market after a while. And it's really invigorating to be able to say 'Hey, we're here. Check us out.'" "We seem to have really positive results," said James Beck, representing SkillSource. "It's a little bit mixed. Some people are going to find something they're looking for, and some people are not. One of the biggest complaints is that sometimes people will say 'They might not have a job here for my specialty, or in my field.' That going to be one of those things that rises and falls. Some fields are going to be hiring at certain times and others won't." Cruz Vasquez was finding more than he expected to, he said. "I'm looking for a job that could potentially be a career," he said. "The plumbing (Local 538) sounded like a good deal. And there's also jobs like working at a restaurant or something like that I can do for now and wait for a bigger job to come up." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If Vasquez wasn't certain what he was looking for, Ashley Lott was. A newcomer to Moses Lake, Lott was talking with Samaritan Healthcare recruiter Kyrk Taylor about possibilities in human resources. "I was medically retired out of the Army where I served as a human resources officer," Lott said. "And I am looking to continue my career in human resources. I wanted to come to Samaritan because I see their name everywhere and (where I live) we can see the new construction. The PUD wants me to apply to an HR role with them." Arceo had set up a hospitality room with sandwich makings for attendees, and the Department of Social and Health Services had its mobile unit outside to help anyone who needed it with paperwork. Over in the next building, BBCC had a smaller transfer fair going on for its own students who wanted to continue their education with representatives from Central Washington University, Washington State University and Grand Canyon University, among others. "I'm grateful for all of the people who came out and supported (the fair)," Arceo said. "Our volunteers, everyone who made this happen. Because it really does take a village." ROME With a few hours to spare before Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni tackled the thorny issue of defense spending with President Trump, her finance minister announced Italy would hit 2% of GDP this year. Speaking in parliament on Thursday, minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said, We are fully aware, including in light of the current tensions, of the need to increase this spending in the coming years. Across the Atlantic at the White House where she visited Trump the same day, Meloni was able to announce, Italy is honouring its commitments, adding, We are a serious nation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two percent announcement was a last minute face-saving exercise for Italy, which has long been a relative low spender on defense, budgeting only 1.54% of GDP in 2024, according to Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, despite longstanding commitments to NATO to spend more. Getting to two percent was not a given. Italy has little appetite to spend, despite the threat of Russian aggression on its doorstep, with polls showing a majority of Italians do not want to hike defense budgets, while the opposition Five Star party led a march against spending in Rome this month. More challenging for Meloni is that her deputy prime minister and coalition partner Matteo Salvini has also complained that spare cash should go on hospitals not bombs. Clearly however, the pressure from the White House and NATO won out, even if 2% is nowhere near the 5% President Trump has called for, or the figure of around 3% NATO will demand in June when members meet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The next question is how Italy will raise the money. Defense spending has already shot up in recent years, with procurement outlays hitting 9.31 billion ($10.59 billion) last year, almost double the 5.45 billion spent in 2020. But if overall spending reached 29.18 billion euros last year, equaling 1.54% of GDP, then pushing that to 2% now means finding an extra 8.7 billion this year to reach a new total of 37.9 billion. Italian media has speculated the government will try some creative accounting by pushing spending on services like the Coast Guard into the defense category, but one analyst warned against it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats a dead end I dont see any flexibility in the NATO definitions of what constitutes defense spending, said Alessandro Marrone, who heads the defense, security and space program at Rome think tank IAI. Another possibility has been pitched by the European Union, which is offering 150 billion in loans for defence spending by member states. The EU also wants to allow members to exempt defense spending worth up to 1.5% of their national GDP from bloc debt limit rules. Italy clamored for just such a rule for years, claiming that without it there was no way to boost spending. Italy has now obtained the escape clause it has been asking for. There are no more alibis, said Marrone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, on Thursday, finance minister Giorgetti said it was unlikely Rome would use the scheme. If Italy does conjure up more cash this year, the next question is what it will spend it on, with the U.S. likely putting pressure on Rome to buy American kit. Last year, according to Italian government figures, nearly a quarter of Italys defense imports from outside the EU came from the U.S., worth about about 184 million. In 2024 Italy committed to spend 7 billion on 25 F-35 fighters to add to the 90 it is already buying. Italy is also buying Gulfstream aircraft in early-warning, signals-intelligence and electronic-attack versions from the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Italy is meanwhile assembling new tanks and armored vehicles with Rheinmetall while shipbuilding is done in-house by Fincantieri, and new SAMP-T air defense batteries are on order with Europes MBDA. If the U.S. ups the pressure to buy American, the EU is pulling in the other direction, starting with its promised 150 billion in loans for spending. It is possible the EU will ask for two thirds of that money to be spent on European products, which is a balance that could suit Italy, said Marrone. Poland reports two attacks on border guards, one allegedly involving a Belarusian serviceman. Belarus dictator Alexander Lukashenko invites up to 150,000 workers from Pakistan to Belarus amid deepening labor shortage. Director of Russias Foreign Intelligence Service Sergey Naryshkin threatens Poland, Baltic states during a visit to Belarus. Meanwhile, Russia has added 1,200 Belarusians to its wanted list since July, while Belarus brands jailed EU mission staffer as "terrorist." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe to the Newsletter Belarus Weekly Join us Poland reports two attacks on border guards as migration crisis with Belarus intensifies Poland reported two attacks on Polish border guards by migrants over the weekend, with one incident involving a uniformed Belarusian officer throwing rocks at a Polish patrol. Polish guards stopped 115 illegal border crossing attempts, between April 11 and 13, Polish authorities said. Belarus initiated an artificial migration crisis at its borders with the EU in 2021 in response to a package of European sanctions. While Minsk denied Warsaws accusations of orchestrating a hybrid attack, Lukashenko claimed Belarus would not stop (illegal migrants) attempting to cross into the EU. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The migrants attacked a Polish border guard patrol near Mielnik, the village close to the border with Belarus. CCTV footage recorded a Belarusian soldier joining them in throwing rocks at the patrol, the spokesperson for Polish Interior Ministry Jacek Dobrzynski said on X. Another attack occurred on April 12 near the village of Czeremcha, with one guard being struck on the face with stones twice. The migrants are very aggressive when trying to cross the border, the Border Guards department in the Podlasie region said in a statement, adding that the soldier's life and health were not threatened. Polands Internal Minister Tomasz Siemoniak confirmed that Belarusian officers were involvement in direct provocations. Siemoniak characterized the actions as unheard of. If a certain line is crossed here, we will regard it as an attack by representatives of the Belarusian state on our border, Siemoniak told Polish broadcaster TVP Info on April 14. I understand that an employee of the Belarusian special services, probably instructing (the migrants), got carried away. However, we take this very seriously. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Siemoniak, previously, Belarusian secret services kept well back from the border, delivering migrants to the area but not approaching the barrier themselves. Heightened rates of irregular border crossing attempts have also been reported in Latvia, as 179 individuals have tried to cross the country's border from Belarus. Data from EU member states border guards, collected by the independent Belarusian news outlet Pozirk, indicates a drastic increase in illegal border crossing attempts since the beginning of April, to 522 attempts compared to 355 attempts for the entire first quarter of 2025. Lukashenko invites 150,000 Pakistani workers to Belarus amid labor shortages Following an official meeting with Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Minsk on April 11, Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko said he would invite up to 150,000 Pakistani guest-workers to Belarus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Belaruss role in Russias war against Ukraine and Lukashenkos crackdown on mass public protests following the 2020 contested elections, have forced between 300,000 and half a million Belarusians to flee the country. This exodus, combined with downward-trending demographics, has left the country with severe labor shortages. Lukashenkos proposal to take in up to 150,000 Pakistani guest-workers to help address Belaruss deepening labor crisis came amid an array of agreements reached between Sharif and Lukashenko at their Minsk meeting, ranging from military cooperation, to food security, and trade. Were ready to receive (guest-workers) in Belarus and create the necessary conditions for them to work, Lukashenko said. Accepting 100,000, maybe 120,000-150,000 guest-workers would ease the pressure on the labor market of Belarus, which has over 199,000 vacancies among a working population of roughly 4.1 million. The outflow of political exiles from the country is compounding the twin problems of an aging population and a historically low birth rate, which dropped to 6.96 per 1,000 in 2023, comparable to wartime Ukraines six births per 1,000 people. Belarus, which had a population of 10 million at independence, has likely seen it drop below the officially reported 9.1 million. Leaked documents from the State Control Committee suggest that the actual population could be as few as 8.8 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Belarus is hardly an attractive destination for Pakistani workers compared to the job markets of the EU or even Russia, argues Lev Lvovskiy, the academic director of Belaruss leading economic think-tank BEROC. In 2024, the average monthly wage in Belarus amounted to approximately $647, significantly lower than in Europe and barely double Pakistans $294 average. Besides, Belarus is a monoethnic country that lacks the experience of assimilating distinct cultural and religious groups. Meanwhile, RFE/RL political analyst Valer Karbalevich writes that like many other projects of Lukashenko, (this) will probably end in failure. () Even if Pakistanis come to Belarus, they will most likely strive, by all means and without any hesitation, to move on to a better life to Europe. The arrival of hundreds of thousands of Pakistani guest-workers might also ring alarm bells in neighboring EU states tackling weaponized migration on their borders with Belarus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response to European sanctions in 2021, the Belarusian regime created an artificial migration crisis at its borders with Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland all EU member states. Belarus facilitated travel from the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia, including Pakistan, promising easy passage into the EU. Russian Intelligence Service chief threatens NATO nations during visit to Belarus The director of Russias Foreign Intelligence Service, Sergey Naryshkin, threatened NATO states during an April 15 meeting with Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk, saying that Poland and the Baltic states would be the first to suffer if there were any NATO aggression against the Russia-Belarus Union State. Speaking to journalists after meeting Lukashenko, Naryshkin described Poland and the Baltic states as highly aggressive, portraying their defensive measures as saber rattling, state-owned Belarusian news agency Belta reports. In the event of aggression by NATO against (Russia and Belarus), damage will be done, of course, to the entire NATO bloc, but to a greater extent, the first to suffer will be the bearers of such ideas among the political circles of Poland and the Baltic countries, Naryshkin said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Polish President Andrzej Duda, reiterating NATOs defensive role, dismissed Naryshkins remarks as Russian baloney disinformation, typical of the Soviet school of propaganda. Naryshkins visit comes amid preparations for Zapad 2025, large-scale Russia-Belarus military drills set to host up to 13,000 Russian troops in Belarus in September 2025. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys, told Baltic news portal Delfi that the actual scale of Zapad exercises far exceeds the publicly declared scale. Earlier in April, Belarus state-owned news agency Belta reported that three other military exercises Interaction-2025 for the operational response forces, Echelon-2025 for logistical support, and Search-2025 for reconnaissance are scheduled to be held in September in Belarus along with Zapad-2025, with a yet undisclosed number of additional troops to be involved. The drills will occur under the framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a Russia-led military alliance created to an extent as an alternative to NATO, but now weakened by internal rifts. Armenia froze its participation in 2024 as the bloc failed to support it in its conflict with Azerbaijan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amid rising regional security tensions, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland on March 18 withdrew from the Ottawa Convention, banning the use, production, and stockpiling of anti-personnel mines, citing fundamentally deteriorated security in the region. The four states have also been developing a joint Baltic Defense Line on their borders with Russia and Belarus. 1,200 more Belarusians added to Russias wanted list, media report Russia has added another 1,200 Belarusian citizens to its wanted list over the past five months, independent news outlet Mediazona Belarus reported on April 9. Mediazona found that since July 2024, at least 100 Belarusians have been added to the Russian wanted list every month. The largest increase of almost 300 entries came in December 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Currently, the database lists 4,700 Belarusians, including members of the exiled opposition, Belarusian volunteers fighting for Ukraine, journalists, and human rights activists. Included at Belaruss request, those on the list are wanted in both countries. Belarus and Russia are part of the Interstate Wanted Persons Treaty of the Commonwealth of Independent States, a Russia-led political alliance of former post-Soviet countries. In 2022 alone, Russia extradited 16 Belarusians accused of extremism a charge widely used against political opponents of the regime of Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko. International police organization Interpol has stopped executing politically motivated searches requested by Belarus. However, Belarusians in Russia and most CIS countries can be subject to extradition. Belarus brands jailed EU diplomatic mission staffer as terrorist Belaruss KGB has added a former EU diplomatic staffer in Belarus, Mikalai Khilo, who has been sentenced to a four-year prison term, to the list of individuals involved in terrorist operations. The updated list was published on April 9 on the KGBs Telegram channel. Khilo, a local staff member of the European Unions diplomatic service, was arrested in December 2024 for incitement of hatred and calls for actions harming Belaruss national security charges frequently brought against Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenkos political opponents. The EUs External Action Service condemned the decision and reiterated calls for Khilos release. The Viasna Human Rights Center has also designated Khilo as a political prisoner. Created in 2011 to fulfill Belaruss international obligations in combating terrorism, the list of terrorists is now a tool to harass the regimes political opponents in the aftermath of rigged 2020 presidential elections and resulting mass anti-government protests. Currently, 580 of the 1,377 entries on the list are Belarusian citizens, including exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, political activist Pavel Latushka, and jailed protest leader Maria Kalesnikava. The list also includes journalists, human rights advocates and even students. Those listed as terrorists are not permitted to receive money transfers, which deprives them of a major source of support. And for exiled opponents of the regime, being on the list elevates the risk of regime persecution. Nearly 1,200 political prisoners remain behind bars in Belarus. Several demonstrative rounds of pardons last year reportedly saw 258 of them set free, but the pardons stalled soon after the January presidential elections, and regime repression continues. According to Belarusian opposition leader Tsikhanouskaya, 15-20 politically motivated detentions are reported daily in Belarus. Read also: Our readers questions about the war, answered. Vol. 8 Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Apr. 18The tax levy vote that Bellbrook had planned for the May 6 ballot was rejected by the Greene County Board of Elections because of a single wrong number. Now, city officials are trying to find out why they weren't notified of the error until it was too late to fix it. The 2.2-mill public safety levy, which would fund both the city's police and fire departments, was sent to the Greene County Board of Elections before the deadline for the May ballot, but the city said a "failure of notification to the city by the Greene County Board of Elections" left the city with no time to make the correction. A review of public records indicated Bellbrook's ballot language was rejected because of a single incorrect digit, City Manager Rob Schommer said. The first tax collection year was listed as 2025 instead of 2026, which would have been a "very easy" fix, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "When we reached out on the 21st of March to ask, once military and absentee voting started, why our ballot issue wasn't on, at that time they said, 'Well, on March 4th they voted to reject the ballot language' in what they stated to be an executive session meeting," Schommer said. The board did reject Bellbrook's ballot language in open session on March 4, but discussion of the ballot language happened in executive session. It is unclear whether the Board of Elections was legally required to notify the city of the rejection, but Bellbrook is investigating "to see how we can make sure the residents of Bellbrook have open access to the democratic process of an election, to make a very critical decision for their community," Schommer said. "The only reason we were made aware is that I made a phone call inquiring, and was told they were still debating as to whose responsibility it was," Schommer said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Greene County Board of Elections officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment by the Dayton Daily News. City officials said they reached out to the Greene County Board of Elections and the Ohio Secretary of State's Office to have a "clear and concise" definition of the process is it the board's job to notify a taxing agency of a ballot language error, or is it on the city to immediately check the outcome of the board's vote but they said they were unable to get that definition from either. "If we have to follow step by step, day by day, making requests to find out the status, that is what we're willing and able to do," Schommer said. Bellbrook City Council has started the process of putting the same police and fire levy on the ballot for November. The next step is to send the measure to the Greene County Auditor. Jourdan Bennett-Begaye ICT WASHINGTON After a handful of years promoting films that focused on heavy but important issues such as Killers of the Flower Moon and Fancy Dance, actor Lily Gladstone can finally check off romantic comedy on her acting resume. Her role in her new film, The Wedding Banquet, is a rare sighting for any Native person in a mainstream rom-com. Shes intentionally changing that. We belong in every genre of film, Gladstone told ICT recently, referring to a conversation she had with Amber Midthunder about her own recent action-thriller film, Novacaine, that dropped last month. We just need more of that. We add a tremendous amount to any circle that we're in and we belong wherever we are. Gladstone is getting back to her roots with her performance in The Wedding Banquet, alongside Bowen Yang, Kelly Marie Tran, and Han Gi-chan. The Academy Award-nominee co-leads in the reimagining of Ang Lees 1993 film, directed by Andrew Ahn, which is released in theaters on Friday, April 18. I wanted to do something that would feel really grounded and really meaningful, but rooted in love and humor, said Gladstone, who uses pronouns she/they, and is Siksikaitsitapi and NiMiiPuu. And kind of wanted to return to a little bit of my origin, my love of performance. I started in children's theater, which is light and funny. I am just kind of naturally a cartoony, expressive person. Lily Gladstone won a Golden Globe Award for best performance by an actress in a motion picture, for "Killers of the Flower Moon" at the 81st Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 7, 2024. But the British BAFTA awards overlooked Gladstone's performance though "Killers of the Flower Moon" got nine other nominations, including best picture. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) Ahn, director of the film, focused the project on being a reimagining and not a remake, especially since so much of society has changed since 1993 with the legalization of same-sex marriage and now with the new Trump administration. But now that we can get married, the question becomes... should we? Our film explores this question and the even thornier follow up: Should we... have kids? Ahn said. Ahn, a gay Asian filmmaker, first watched the original at 8 years old, and he felt that it started his filmmaking career. The Wedding Banquet helped me envision a future for myself, so it feels so special to update this film for today, Ahn said. Queer stories are constantly evolving. Our cultural and societal expectations are shifting, so we have to check in with these stories, with these characters, and see whats happening to us now. Its also a way of documenting the present moment for future generations to see where we came from, how far weve come. He also co-wrote the new version with James Schamus, who co-wrote the original film with Ang Lee. So there is a through line with the same writer who had been involved in both, easing the pressure for her to try to match the first film. You dont try to calculate something to emulate the specific kind of success that the original film had, Schamus said. Rather, what you want to do is build up an organic community of collaborators, of creators, of just human beings to take that material and run with it and create something thats special and organic to their lives now, their experiences under very different circumstances. This film completely stands on its own while making references to the original, Gladstone said. Theyre their own story, she said. Speaking of her own stories and reimagining, Gladstone gave her character, Lee, depth, including her Indigeneity. After reading the script, Gladstone thought about seizing the opportunity. Her characters original name was Liz and in the script, there was nothing about her ethnicity, culture, or anything about her. Danny DeVito says any role he plays, they're all gonna be short, Gladstone said followed with a laugh. So I like borrowing that. There's not, I wouldn't call it pressure to Indigenize characters that are not Indigenous when they're offered, but it feels like an opportunity. In the film, Lee is a queer individual who wants to be a mother. The characters Indigeneity enriched Lee as a character. Because so much of the story has these deep undercurrents and conversations about gentrification, about culture, about identity, and just my experience spending so much of my life in Seattle and so much of my life living in Duwamish lands and Suquamish, Muckleshoot, Tulalip, being a Plains Indian coming to a coastal setting, you kind of get a sense of the neighborhoods where all the Natives are, Gladstone said. They decided the family would live in Ballard, up the hill from one of the more prominent Duwamish longhouses that had been burned down during colonization, she said. It seems like an insignificant detail but it gave more weight to Lee and Angs situation. Lee wants her own child, with her egg and a donor. Gladstone asked herself, What would be a driving force behind that over choosing to adopt a child, for example? And for me, it was about that continuity of lineage. And then also, why is it? She told Ahn that she wanted Lee to have a grounded presence. What drives the stakes up higher to hold on to this house? It's meaningful for anybody to have a family home passed down, she said. It's like, how can we deepen that? How can we get really into the roots of the land? And then also bring some representation where we don't see it. I think it's really rare. I can't think of when I've seen Duwamish mention a representation in a film. Another personal touch of Gladstone was renaming Liz to Lee. Short for Angeline and after Chief Seattles oldest daughter, Princess Angeline, whose real name was Kikisoblu. One of the daughters friends thought she should let settlers know she was the daughter of a chief, so she called her Princess Angeline, according to the Duwamish Nation. There's all of these beautiful archival photos of her and just the local community talks about it a lot, how Princess Angeline didn't leave Seattle. There's photos of Seattle being built around her log cabin, her home, right on the waterfront, right in Pike's Place Market, Gladstone said. So that idea of continuity of place and of belonging to the land that I wanted to lend to my character Lee. Princess Angeline, ca. 1886. (State Library Photograph Collection, 1851-1990, Washington State Archives. Original images held at the Washington State Archives, Olympia, WA.) Before the movies release, Gladstone had a conversation with several people from the Duwamish Tribal Council about this happening in the movie and received their blessings, said Ken Workman, who is a Duwamish Tribe council member. When she did that and mentioned Duwamish, it's because she grew up here, Workman said. Everything that she did, doing all of these permissions and asking and even the representation of an under-represented people, it's exactly right. Duwamish Tribal Chair Cecile Hansen, who is celebrating her 50th year as tribal chair this month at the same time of this films release, told ICT, Its a great honor to her, and wonderful to be rightfully acknowledged. We are still here! Workman and the tribes executive director Kristina Pearson both noted that Gladstones work to shape her character around Duwamish lands means a lot, despite the tribe not having federal recognition. They are still fighting for it. As a leader in Seattles matriarchal tribe, it is truly touching to be given this nod from the first Native American woman to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress, Pearson said. For Lily to use her platform in this way cements my steadfast belief that people are mostly good and that the Duwamish Tribe is making our mark, recognized or not. Its a mark that Gladstone definitely wanted to make. We belong in our ancestral lands, even if the government's trying to push you out of it and telling you you have no claim to it, Gladstone said. It was definitely a choice that I made to make a point that Angeline is Indigenous and had a place in the story The story is stronger for it and more well-rounded, more inclusive, and has a much deeper meaning for me anyways. In another meant-to-be moment, when Gladstone changed her characters name to Angeline, she did see that her partner in the film is Angela. Gladstone thought it was funny because it happens a lot in same-sex couples, borrowing or having the same name. Gladstone imagined she would be called Lee after 10 years went by in a relationship. The renaming also gave them a gift from the film gods because when both names are shortened and it's their ship name, then its Ang Lee, the director of the original film. Kelly Marie Tran, Lily Gladstone, Han Gi-Chan and Bowen Yang in "The Wedding Banquet." (Photo courtesy of Luka Cyprian Bleecker Street) While Indigeneity has a quiet but rooted presence in Lee and the film, there are many other themes that make the film very nuanced, such as queerness, belonging, family, challenging cultural traditions, same-sex marriage, and building a family. Of course, each of these themes is an entirely separate story, but the one that made Gladstone hesitant on accepting the role was her character experiencing in-vitro fertilization and the challenges of it. I wanted to be really respectful and careful about the journey of IVF because it's such a personal choice that a woman makes about her family and her body, Gladstone said. And it's so stigmatized that I didn't want to wade into waters where I had no business. So you never want to walk into a character feeling like you're going to fall short of something so sensitive that means so much to so many people. In-vitro fertilization is a procedure that involves fertilizing an egg with sperm in a laboratory dish, according to Yale Medicine. It forms an embryo which is then transferred to the patients uterus. The procedure has been done for more than 40 years and more than 10 million babies have been born from it around the world. The procedure helps people with different forms of infertility. Of course, there could be complications and issues with it. To increase chances of pregnancy, IVF may need to be done several times. In 2009, research showed that one cycle of IVF was approximately $12,500. That cost is higher today with increased healthcare costs. If the patient is older than 35, the chances decrease. So Lee having her own biological child, her flesh and blood baby on Duwamish land, that helped anchor it, Gladstone said. She does acknowledge that the role gave her a deeper empathy and understanding of what that journey could be like. That included the feelings that came up while in character. One thing that surprised me and is not a feeling you necessarily seek out when you're in a scene because it's uncomfortable is the shame, she said. Like the level of shame that's cast on women choosing to have families at a certain age. And just how poorly funded any sort of meaningful research about women's reproductive health and bodies is. So how much stigma a Western medicine system like you operate within and then particularly with in-vitro, there's just a whole other mountain of stigmas to confront there. R to L: Bowen Yang and Han Gi-Chan in "The Wedding Banquet." (Photo courtesy of Luka Cyprian Bleecker Street) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gladstone also made space for women in her life who struggled having children, such as her mom. Her mom lost a child late in her pregnancy before Gladstone was born. Her mom would talk about the baby boy, August, she was pregnant with and Gladstone said she was raised knowing the older brother she wouldve had if he had been born. There was kind of this sense of who he could have been, who he would have been that I carried with me my whole life, she said. And then one day we're watching Saturday Night Live together like in 2018 and mom sees Bowen [Yang] and she's just like, That's him. That's August. That's my baby. That's my son, Gladstone recalled. That's totally what's like that spirit that we always sort of dreamed of felt like to me too. So then for years, Bowen was just kind of like my brother, just as a joke. He was my star brother in our house. Gladstone told Ahn and then he told Yang. She was embarrassed, Gladstone said. But Bowen loved it, so now we just call each other star brother, star sister, she said. He's just the most beautiful soul. Watch The Wedding Banquet in a theater near you starting April 18. 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. Ben Affleck is weighing in on the flight of film and television productions from Hollywood. The actor and filmmaker took on Californias production crisis in an interview with the Associated Press at The Accountant 2s red carpet premiere at L.A.s TCL Chinese Theatre on Wednesday. I think part of the problem with California is they came to take this industry for granted a little bit, Affleck said, noting that other jurisdictions offer more favorable exchange rates and tax rebates. More from The Hollywood Reporter Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Affleck pointed out that California Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed a major increase to the states cap on its tax incentives program for the film and television industry. But, he said, its not in enough to stem the tide of film and TV sets fleeing California and the U.S. in general for savings. The percentage you get back in terms of actual budget doesnt compete with places like England, which is why you see a lot of these big, huge movies shoot in the U.K. Affleck also mentioned that attractive incentives from states like Georgia, New Mexico, Louisiana, Texas, Massachusetts and New Jersey have drawn projects out of state as studios and streamers chased cost savings in the post-Peak TV landscape. Georgia and New Mexico, for instance, have no annual cap on their incentives programs. The filmmaker further raised the specter of one of the states hallmark attractions for productions its crew talent leaving the state altogether. Its really the technicians and the crew that make or break your movie, he said. You need the best people, you need good people. I, as a director, know that to be true. And so if people move away, you know, that really hurts the industry. Despite the barriers that he laid out, at least a couple of Afflecks recent projects have notably invested in local production. The Gavin OConnor-directed Accountant 2 shot at least partially in Los Angeles and Santa Clarita. Affleck is also currently filming his upcoming Netflix project Animals, in which he is directing and starring, in the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On-location shoot days and levels of soundstage occupancy in Los Angeles have nosedived in recent years, with ramifications for L.A. businesses and crew communities. The downturn has sparked a movement to return production to its cultural home in the U.S. called Stay in L.A. and a legislative effort in Sacramento to expand Californias current tax incentives program. At The Accountant 2 premiere, Ben Affleck said California took the industry for granted. pic.twitter.com/drTufwPeFh AP Entertainment (@APEntertainment) April 17, 2025 Best of The Hollywood Reporter Sign up for THR's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont said his message of money out of politics resonates across the political spectrum. (Keila Szpaller/The Daily Montanan) How strange that due to the disastrous policies of their president, Montanas all-Republican Congressional delegation and governor are now too scared to even face Montanans in town halls. And yet Bernie Sanders flies into Missoula on his national Fighting Oligarchy tour and draws thunderous applause and standing ovations from an over-capacity crowd of 9,000 Montanans on an afternoon in the middle of the week. Why? Because people know Bernie is telling the truth about whats going on in this nation, not fabricating excuses and downplaying the very real damages taking place while they hide under their MAGA hats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes also correctly calling out the fact that both Republicans and Democrats are responsible for the on-going tragedy that sees American democracy, once the envy of the world, turning into an oligarchy of billionaires whose greed knows no bounds or even a scintilla of concern for the little people. Nor was Bernie speaking from a bullet-proof cage surrounded by nasty looking thugs with sunglasses and earbuds to ensure no one gets close to him. Quite the opposite top Republicans nowadays dont dare do what Bernie did walk out into the overflow crowd of thousands to shake hands and talk directly to the people who couldnt get in. The few Republican politicians who dare venture into the realm of we the people are being met by angry crowds whose interests and hope for a better future they have so grievously betrayed. Just ask 91-year old GOP Senator Chuck Grassley, who was bluntly told his people in supposedly red state Iowa are now really pissed because he wont stand up to dictator Trump. In an astounding contrast, theres no denying that Bernies huge crowds are showering this 83-year old dynamo with love and hope, many with tears in their eyes because his words go straight to the challenges they are experiencing and they want to believe that somehow we can overcome the insulated and isolated billionaires and return our government to the people, not the 1 percenters who want ever more, no matter the cost to the rest of us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats part of the reason Bernie Sanders is the most popular Senator in the nation. In his own words from his Missoula speech: We can either have extreme wealth inequality, with the toxic division and corruption that it requires to survive, or we can have a fair economy for working people along with the democracy and freedoms that uphold it. But we cannot have both. Speaking truth to power, Bernie laid it out: We dont accept this blue statered state nonsense. We are the United States of America, not red states, not blue states. I believe honestly that I speak for conservatives, moderates and progressives, for the overwhelming majority of the American people, who understand that there is something fundamentally wrong in our campaign finance system where billionaires can buy elections. Apparently that rankled Montanas millionaire governor, Greg Gianforte, who posted: Bernie Sanders and AOC are in Montana pushing their farleft agenda but Montanans rejected them and their puppet Joe Biden after four years of failed policies. The people have spoken. They arent feeling the Bern. I got news for the gov who has never drawn anything close to Bernies crowds or approval ratings. Bernie won the Montana Democratic primary election in 2016 because he, not Hillary Clinton, spoke to Montanans concerns. They felt the Bern then and obviously are feeling the Bern again. Why? Because theyre feeling burned by Gianforte, our do-nothing congressional delegation, and by the eternally lying fool in the Oval Office. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 18. The Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, received a delegation led by the Commander of the Turkish Naval Forces, Admiral Ercument Tatloglu. The Turkish delegation is on an official visit to Azerbaijan, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. First, the delegation arrived at Victory Park and laid a wreath at the Victory Monument. Then the guests visited the graves of the National Leader of Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev and prominent ophthalmologist, academician Zarifa Aliyeva in the Alley of Honor and honored their blessed memory. In the Alley of Shehids, the guests also visited the graves of Martyrs, who sacrificed their lives for the independence and territorial integrity of the Motherland, and the Turkish Martyrs' Cemetery, laying wreaths and flowers. Welcoming the guests, the Minister of Defense expressed satisfaction at seeing them in Azerbaijan. The Minister emphasized that the current Azerbaijani-Turkish cooperation, as well as friendly and fraternal relations, are based on mutual trust and support. Colonel General Z.Hasanov expressed pleasure with his visits to the brotherly country and meetings held there, commended the organization of international exercises conducted in the Republic of Turkiye and the professionalism of servicemen. Admiral E.Tatloglu, in his turn, thanked for the sincere welcome and hospitality, expressing his satisfaction with the visit to Azerbaijan. The high-ranking guest also highlighted the positive impact of Azerbaijani-Turkish military relations, which have reached the strategic alliance level, on the development of Naval Forces of both fraternal countries. The meeting discussed the current state and issues of further expansion and development of cooperation in the military and military-educational fields, as well as opportunities and prospects for cooperation between Naval Forces of both countries. Then a meeting was held with the Adviser to the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Bahtiyar Ersay. At the meeting, conducted in an atmosphere of sincere dialogue, a broad exchange of views on the positive results of the work on bringing the Azerbaijan Army in line with the model of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Turkiye took place. At the end, the Turkish delegation visited Azerbaijan Naval Forces. The Acting Commander of the Naval Forces, 1st grade Captain Shahin Mammadov met with the guests and exchanged views with his Turkish counterpart on mutual interest issues. A Beverly man faces charges, including an OUI charge, in connection with a pursuit across Worcester County early Friday morning, Massachusetts State Police said. Saul Joseph Jr., 26, faces charges of failure to stop, negligent operation of a motor vehicle and operating under the influence (drugs), State Police said in a statement. After 4 a.m., State Police at the Holden Barracks received several reports of a wrong-way driver on Interstate 290 driving east in the westbound lane at mile marker 27.2, the statement read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Troopers arrived in the area, found the car and attempted a traffic stop, State Police said. The car continued driving on Route 85 in Marlborough, driving in the right direction. State Police initiated a pursuit, which stopped once the car drove onto Technology Drive in Hudson, State Police said. Local police were notified. The car returned to Route 85, where local police were staged, and entered a parking lot on Washington Street in Hudson, the statement read. Without incident, State Police arrested Joseph. More local crime stories Alex V. Cipolle MPR News When the Metropolitan Museum of Art opens The Magical City: George Morrisons New York on July 17, it will mark the first solo exhibition of Morrisons work at the Met seen by many as a milestone for both the artist and the states art history. This will be the first time many will learn Morrisons New York story. Everyones looking at it as a big Minnesota moment in New York, says Brenda Child, the Northrop Professor of American Studies at the University of Minnesota. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Child, who helped found the George Morrison Center for Indigenous Arts, wrote a piece for the exhibition about Morrison that will appear in The Met Bulletin, a journal for the museum. The Minnesota Museum of American Art (also known as The M) in St. Paul is a major partner on the exhibition, sending two of Morrisons sketchbooks and 11 works on paper to New York. The Met curator is Patricia Marroquin Norby, who has a doctorate from the University of Minnesota and is on the board of the The M. The St. Paul museum holds one of the largest collections of Morrisons work in the world. The M is super excited to be partnering with The Met on this exciting exhibition really highlighting one of Minnesotas most notable artists, George Morrison, says Kate Beane, director of The M. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beane explains that Morrison is an amazing Ojibwe Modernist whose work is seen all over the world and whose work is also quite often visible throughout the Twin Cities. Morrison, a Grand Portage Anishinaabe artist, is considered one of the great Abstract Expressionists and Modernists. He is perhaps most famous for his brightly abstracted works that meditated on the idea of the horizon, directly inspired by his time living on the shores of the big lake, or Gichigami/Lake Superior. Many of these works will appear in the exhibition. But the main thrust of the show will be Morrisons time living in New York, how it shaped him and how he shaped the art world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Morrison moved from Minnesota to New York City in the 1940s to study on a scholarship at the Art Students League. Here, he made friends with fellow Modernist all-stars, Willem de Kooning, Louise Nevelson, Jackson Pollock and Franz Kline. He moved back to Minnesota, with artist and former wife Hazel Belvo, in 1970. The Met says the exhibition explores how Morrisons aesthetic inspiration and future trajectory drew from his love of New York, which he called a Magical City. Child says in Minnesota, we tend to underestimate Morrisons impact outside the state. Its really essential that we acknowledge that George Morrison was at the center of the American Abstract Expressionist movement at mid-century and that he did spend this important part of his career in New York City, said Child. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beane agreed. Its really, really important for people to understand not just the impact that other places have on Minnesota artists, but the impact that Minnesota artists have outward towards the rest of the country and the rest of the world, Beane said. He was a game changer. He was ahead of his time, and I think what he represents is incredibly important for the public at large to know and see in terms of thinking about Minnesota artists. The exhibition will run through May 31, 2026. Attendees hold signs during a rally at the University of Michigan Diag on the school's Ann Arbor campus in protest of various executive orders from the Trump administration on April 17, 2025 | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols Updated at 11:20 a.m. It is the Trump administrations strategy to pick off individual schools one-by-one, pulling research funding and threatening student visas until institutions are beaten into submission, supporters of a resolution to establish a Mutual Defense Compact for Big Ten universities said during a University of Michigan Faculty Senate meeting Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The hope is that creating an alliance between the 18 universities in the Big Ten Conference to defend academic freedom, institutional integrity, and the research enterprise, as the resolution reads, will make schools stronger together. Just this week, the faculty senate at fellow Big Ten school Michigan State University adopted such a resolution, as have Indiana University and the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Schools are already seeing the negative impacts of President Donald Trumps divisive rhetoric and threatening executive orders, Sandra Levitsky, a professor of sociology and law at the University of Michigan said Thursday during the faculty senate meeting. The universitys administration quickly folded to Trumps demands to shut down diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, policies, shuttering the doors of the schools DEI office, Levitsky said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The University of Michigan abandoned DEI in-part to avoid the wrath of Trump and most schools, not just ours, have been cowed into this kind of preemptive capitulation. Most schools, not just ours, have gone silent, just when we need them to speak up, Levisky said. Hoping that our university is going to step out of this defensive crouch is not going to be enough, because the reality is, this is an existential moment for higher education and most schools, not just ours, are genuinely terrified about what might happen next. U-M-Motion-to-establish-alliance The United States is on the cusp of an authoritarian administration, Associate Professor of History and Gender Studies Yi-Li Wu said during the faculty senate meeting, and everyone must look themselves in the mirror and determine what they will do as democratic institutions like higher education are attacked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And silence or eager compliance are not survival strategies, Wu said, noting that Columbia University, which has had hundreds of millions of dollars of federal funding pulled and several Pro-Palestinian students arrested, is a prime example of the reality that compromising on core values will not save schools from Trumps wrath. In reflecting on U of Ms smothering of the DEI office, Wu said it would appear the administration is trying to play a quiet game to stay out of the spotlight, but it wont work. They apparently think that the best course is to work behind the scenes with lobbyists and to avoid making any public noise that might draw attention to us. They apparently think that do it to the other guy, not us, is a viable strategy for survival, Wu said. But we have seen that complying and silence do not work. The universitys faculty senate will have until Sunday to vote on whether to adopt the resolution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The resolution is a mutual suicide pact, physics professor Keith Riles said, urging his colleagues to vote against the the Mutual Defense Compact Thursday. Its important to choose battles and allies wisely, Riles said, and after years of the university disregarding anti-discrimination laws, faculty members have provoked the understandable anger of voters for whom Donald Trump is a vehicle for retribution. Many of you have deluded yourselves into thinking that discrimination against whites and Asian Americans, especially males, is somehow magically permissible, Riles said. The Trump administration is, yes, its attacking this university, I understand that, but the university has much to answer forYou brought this on all of us. Though the Thursday meeting of the faculty senate was in large part called in response to the universitys recent decisions on DEI policies, Fred Terry, a professor of electrical engineering and computer science, said the stakes are much higher and broader. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What the Trump administration has set into motion is a regime where any research area, public discourse or curriculum that the president disagrees with will be gutted, with universities risking severe consequences if they dont give in to Trumps wishes, Terry said. This defies academic freedom and defiles the universitys mission to serve the state and the world through research and cultivating citizens for the betterment of the future. But that doesnt mean that banding together will protect schools, Terry said, but the cost of not trying presents a greater danger. I do have to observe that with a unified effort, we may not win, particularly in the near term. This is not a low stakes game. There may be real suffering by many in our community. We cannot engage in this fight lightly, but we cannot give up without giving up our intellectual integrity. Measures like motion one are clearly our best hope, Terry said. Following the faculty senate meeting, Democratic elected officials gathered at the Diag on the Ann Arbor campus to rail against the Trump administration cancelling student visas in recent weeks at schools across the country, including U of M and MSU. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its two weeks until graduation at plenty of Michigan schools, U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Ann Arbor) told a small crowd at the Diag Thursday, and Democrats in Congress are demanding answers about why this crackdown on visas is happening just before students are about to have their hard work rewarded on the graduation stage. U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Ann Arbor) speaks at a rally at the University of Michigan Diag on the schools Ann Arbor campus in protest of various executive orders from the Trump administration on April 17, 2025 | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols Im here to make this promise to all of you. We are demanding answers. No one will silence my voice. Do not let them silence yours, Dingell told students on campus, affirming the crowd that diverse students and diverse perspectives are what makes campuses and the dialogues that can happen richer. After announcing his campaign Thursday morning for the 2026 race for the open U.S. Senate seat to represent Michigan, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed joined the rally on campus to encourage students to fight back against Trumps fear tactics. Trumps policies prey on peoples pain, El-Sayed said. By coercing his followers into cynicism about the economy and creating divisions between people groups, El-Sayed said Trump has won back the White House where he is implementing policies that will help his billionaire friends like Elon Musk, while leaving the middle class worse off than before. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If were not willing to protect our democracy, if were not willing to go back to back working with one another to protect what it means to be an American, the question we have to ask ourselves is, who will, El-Sayed said. Democratic U.S. Senate Candidate for Michigan Abdul El-Sayed speaks at a rally at the University of Michigan Diag on the schools Ann Arbor campus in protest of various executive orders from the Trump administration on April 17, 2025 | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols While Trump has used his power to pardon January 6 protestors who vandalized the U.S. Capitol and assaulted law enforcement in support of him in 2021, hes calling for the arrest and deportation of students who speak out against his policies, U of M Junior and member of the College Democrats group Amber Henson said. The First Amendment rights of students are on the line, and as college campuses have long been the stage of social movements throughout American history, threats to these rights must be answered, Henson said. Leading up to Thursday, as the U of M College Democrats were organizing the rally, Henson said there was one student in the group who was concerned that their visa status would be revoked if they attended. As the daughter of Polish immigrants and as an International Studies student, the pull to protect international students and speak against federal acts to attack them is strong. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Young people have a lot to lose right now for speaking out, Henson said, but they also have a lot to gain as they face what decades of ramifications of this current administration could mean for their lives. This story was updated to denote there are 18 teams in The Big Ten Conference. Michigan state Rep. Jason Morgan (D-Ann Arbor) speaks at a rally at the University of Michigan Diag on the school's Ann Arbor campus in protest of various executive orders from the Trump administration on April 17, 2025 | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols Michigan state Rep. Jason Morgan (D-Ann Arbor) speaks at a rally at the University of Michigan Diag on the school's Ann Arbor campus in protest of various executive orders from the Trump administration on April 17, 2025 | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democratic U.S. Senate Candidate for Michigan Abdul El-Sayed speaks at a rally at the University of Michigan Diag on the school's Ann Arbor campus in protest of various executive orders from the Trump administration on April 17, 2025 | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols Democratic U.S. Senate Candidate for Michigan Abdul El-Sayed speaks at a rally at the University of Michigan Diag on the school's Ann Arbor campus in protest of various executive orders from the Trump administration on April 17, 2025 | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols Democratic U.S. Senate Candidate for Michigan Abdul El-Sayed speaks at a rally at the University of Michigan Diag on the school's Ann Arbor campus in protest of various executive orders from the Trump administration on April 17, 2025 | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols An attendee listens to speakers during a rally at the University of Michigan Diag on the school's Ann Arbor campus in protest of various executive orders from the Trump administration on April 17, 2025 | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Ann Arbor) speaks at a rally at the University of Michigan Diag on the school's Ann Arbor campus in protest of various executive orders from the Trump administration on April 17, 2025 | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Ann Arbor) speaks at a rally at the University of Michigan Diag on the school's Ann Arbor campus in protest of various executive orders from the Trump administration on April 17, 2025 | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Ann Arbor) speaks at a rally at the University of Michigan Diag on the school's Ann Arbor campus in protest of various executive orders from the Trump administration on April 17, 2025 | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols The faculty senates in the Big Ten Academic Alliance are creating a mutual defense compact to fight against President Trumps ongoing attacks on higher education. The faculty senate of Rutgers University began the initiative, passing a resolution April 6 to establish the compact among the Big Tens 18 universities. Be it resolved that, the Rutgers University Senate urges the President of Rutgers University to formally propose and help establish a Mutual Academic Defense Compact (MADC) among all members of the Big Ten Academic Alliance, the resolution said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The resolution says it is in response to the Trump administrations legal, financial and political attacks on academic freedom and the missions of universities. Rutgerss resolution has since been joined by at least four faculty senates at other Big Ten schools, with Michigan State University becoming the latest Tuesday. In the Rutgers resolution, it says schools that participate should be willing to make legal counsel, experts and public affairs offices available to any institution that is facing pressure from the Trump administration. A fund would also be created to provide immediate and strategic support to universities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senators have a moral and ethical responsibility to review matters that are impacting anything related to university level, academic freedom, curriculum, policies, etc, and if they see any kind of dangers of infraction on those fronts, then its the [university] senates responsibility to collect that information and have a pretty robust conversation about it, and then take a vote on it and bring it to the [university] presidents attention, Lucille Foster, chair of the Rutgers senate, told The Hill. Resolutions by faculty senates are nonbinding, but Foster argues at universities you want to start on a micro level and then work your way up. The administration is in support of our starting on a micro level with the Big 10 senates, Foster added. I think very few successful things happen on a macro level, right? I think, if youre in charge, if youre a CEO or a president, you can make very sweeping motions, but that isnt the way most universities want to work. You really want to start on a ground level. The University of Nebraska, Indiana University and the University of Massachusetts Amherst have also adopted the resolution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But there has been some hesitation from other universities out of fear of retaliation from the administration, with some pointing out it could be more difficult for those in red states to participate. Rutgers will be hosting a meeting in May and encouraging anyone with hesitations to come and ask questions. Its an unrealistic bar to think that you will get 100 percent support, right? Thats unrealistic. But I think that, quietly, there were a lot of schools that had contacted me and said, I dont know if we can sign on, but wed love to participate in the conversation, and that, to me, is successful. Foster said. I think as long as youre in the room and you feel like you have a voice and youre being heard, and I, again, both sides Im looking for bipartisan support. Im not just looking for one side of the conversation, she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has made colleges and universities a prime target of his second administration, going after their federal funding, seeking to purge diversity programs and seeking to deport an unknown number of international students. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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's tariff war with China is most often seen through the lens of the economy. But to many economists, the bigger threat is that Trump's global trade gambit will erode the United States main source of global authority: the long-term geopolitical relationships it has cultivated over nearly a century. Trump argues steep tariffs will bring manufacturing jobs back to the United States from places like China as well as Mexico and Canada. But experts fear his radical turn from decades of trade practices and his erratic policy announcements will upend the balance of world power and leave the U.S. in a weakened position. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement American dominance was based on being at the center of an incredibly close set of alliances, not based on the unilateral power of the United States, said Jason Furman, professor of the Practice of Economic Policy at Harvard Kennedy School and former chair of then-President Obamas Council of Economic Advisers. As Chinas economy and manufacturing might have mushroomed in recent decades, U.S. dominance depended to a greater degree on its historic allegiances. The nation's economy came out of the pandemic recession stronger than many other rich nations and remains a dominant force in technology, innovation and finance. But the economy is also much different from what it was a generation ago when the U.S. was more of a manufacturing giant, and many are skeptical of Trump's promise to bring back those days. Twenty years ago, the United States was big enough relative to any other economy, Furman said. Now were basically the same size as China, depending on how you look at it. So this gets at the core of American power. After World War II, the U.S. played a key role in setting up a rules-based international monetary system. More than 40 nations gathered in Bretton Woods, N.H., in 1944 to agree on fixed exchange rates and lower tariffs, to promote global stability and cooperation. Important figures at the U.N. Monetary Conference at Bretton Woods, N.H., gather for a photo on July 3, 1944. From left are Camille Gutt of Belgium; M.S. Stepanov of Russia; Henry Morganthau Jr. of the U.S.; Arthur de Souza Costa of Brazil; and Leslie G. Melville of Australia. (Abe Fox / Associated Press) For the architect now to tear it all down so quickly irrespective of what happens from here on, I think its already been a very dramatic set of events that has no parallel in recent times, said Jayant Menon, a research fellow at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute who previously served as lead economist at the Asian Development Bank. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A global trade war or even just a war between the U.S. and China would likely undermine efforts to build international consensus on a variety of non-economic issues, from eradicating global disease and climate change to the war on drugs. It could also threaten world peace. Its hard to see how it doesnt spill over international security more broadly, Furman said. A world where the United States and China have fewer mutual interests is a world in which the costs of war have gone down and the benefits of war have gone up. Stan Veuger, a senior fellow in economic policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, a center right think tank, described the Trump administrations tariff rollouts as an "embarrassing implosion of the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its just such a dumb, self-inflicted injury, he said, noting the response in Canada has been one of anger and incredulity. You see this most in the countries that have always been closest to us. You cant throw these kinds of hissy fits and expect people to forget about them, he said. Trump backers reject those concerns, saying the president is right to try to reduce a trade imbalance with China, which has long limited its markets to U.S. goods. They also believe his tough talk will force countries to negotiate with the United States for trades that will better benefit Americans. But it's unclear whether such concessions will materialize; some trading partners have expressed outrage at Trump's behavior. Many U.S. allies expected Trumps second term as U.S. president to be disruptive after his stream of pronouncements on Ukraine, Europe and trade on the campaign trail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But still many have been astounded by the speed with which his administration broke from decades-long defense policies. In February, Trump and Vice President JD Vance caused shock waves across the world when they publicly berated Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelensky, at a televised meeting in the Oval Office, accusing him of being ungrateful of U.S. support. Vice President JD Vance, right, speaks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, left, as President Trump listens in the Oval Office at the White House on Feb. 28 in Washington. (Mystyslav Chernov / Associated Press) "You dont have the cards," Trump told Zelensky, a U.S. ally whose country is being invaded by Russia. Youre gambling with the lives of millions of people. Youre gambling with World War III. Some historians stress that eight decades of historic alliances are unlikely to be reversed in just a few months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The United States will still have strong allies around the world, Furman said. But just as economic matter, I dont think any country in the world is going to be willing to count on the United States to the same degree. If Trump does not reverse course, the next U.S. president could find it difficult to undo the tariffs. Once you start down that path, its hard to change it, Furman said. Businesses will have made very, very painful adjustments to figure out how to operate in the new high-tariff world. Its not going to be so easy for the next president to just come in and agree to drop it off. In the short term, Veuger said, the worst-case scenario is that the U.S. gets another stock market plunge, investment falls off the cliff, and we enter "the most unnecessary recession in living memory. In the longer term, the U.S. could lose some of its relative power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It probably becomes less central to the Western military alliance, Veuger said. You would think that some countries would start to pivot back to China a bit, certainly for economic relations. This week, it emerged that the European Union is giving top officials burner phones and laptops before they travel to the United States because of security concerns. Thats not a great place for friends to be, Furman said. It remains unclear where the China trade war is heading. Last week, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent singled out China as "bad actors" in global trade. China is the most unbalanced economy in the history of the modern world," he told reporters, "and they are the biggest source of the U.S. trade problems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the same time, China is seeking to take advantage of faltering U.S. alliances by positioning itself as a stable partner shaking hands rather than shaking fists, as one Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson put it. Vietnam's Communist Party General Secretary To Lam, right, and China's President Xi Jinping, left, leave after their meeting at the Office of the Party Central Committee in Hanoi on Monday. (Nhac Nguyen / Associated Press) This week, President Xi Jinping is touring Southeast Asia in a bid to bolster economic alliances with countries such as Vietnam, Cambodia and Malaysia. The people are waiting for him to show up because they feel so not just betrayed, but let down by the U.S., Menon said. The U.S. is also an important partner economically to this region, but now they feel all that has changed, and they need to start looking at ways in which they can guard against a huge loss in income that will come from the U.S. basically turning away. But while some nations would be driven into a China block, Furman said he did not expect most to gravitate to China. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rather, he said, Trumps tariffs would further the fragmentation and multi-polarity of the world, because there will not be a respectable, dominant alternative to the Chinese approach. Still, Menon was stunned to see the role reversal between China and the U.S., especially as Xi stressed the importance of openness and rules-based order and multilateralism. You sometimes pinch yourself and say, Is this China? Menon said. Isnt this what the U.S. is supposed to be saying and doing? Its completely switched. 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. A display of banned books A display of banned books (Photo courtesy of San Jose Public Library via Flickr | CC-BY-SA 2.0/The Daily Montanan). Sometimes, you have to wonder what century it is that some of our state lawmakers inhabit. For a classic example of how detached from reality some have become, check out a new proposal advancing in the legislature to establish censorship boards in every school district charged with banning books that quote include descriptions of sexual activity or are quote pervasively vulgar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First of all, the definitions are impossibly vague and will invite all kinds of destructive meddling from people who are no more skilled in evaluating literature than they are at teaching physics or chemistry. But even setting aside the offensiveness of establishing government-run censorship boards, the notion of banning books of all things because they discuss sex in a society in which most kids are regularly online and vast numbers while away their days playing hyperviolent video games, would be laughable if it werent so sad. If only kids could be inspired to read books. The bottom line: Appointing censorship boards to ban books has always been a bad idea. In 2025, its downright ridiculous. For NC Newsline, Im Rob Schofield. Sen. Chris Elliott, R-Josephine, speaks to a colleague on the floor of the Alabama Senate on Feb. 4, 2025. The Alabama Senate Thursday approved a bill sponsored by Elliott, who attacked Archives for sponsoring a program on LGBTQ+ history, that would restructure its governing board. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) A bill to restructure the Alabama Department of Archives & History Board of Trustees passed the Senate 26-5.. SB 5, sponsored by Sen. Chris Elliot, R-Josephine, would remove the boards appointing authority and increase its membership by one, from 16 to 17 members. The governor would be the appointing authority for most seats, including members from each congressional district, with eight at-large appointments coming from the speaker, president pro tempore, and the minority leaders of the House and Senate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What this bill does is make those appointments not self-appointments, where they may continue to appoint themselves or their friends, but rather appointments from other elected officials that are accountable to the people of the state of Alabama, Elliot said on the floor. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The Department of Archives & History did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Currently, the Alabama Department of Archives and History has two trustees from each congressional district and two additional at-large members, plus the governor or their designees. The Senate must approve each appointment, which Elliot kept in the proposed bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elliot said when introducing the bill that while the governor gets a majority of appointments, he tried to ensure geographical diversity and kept standard diversity language to assure that the membership of the board is inclusive and reflects the racial, gender, geographic, urban and rural and economic diversity of the state. Senate Republicans killed debate on every bill Thursday, and Democrats did not have a chance to speak on the board legislation. After the Senate adjourned, Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, said that this is all about DEI and that the board has not done anything wrong to warrant the restructuring. This is a board that allowed someone, a third party, to come in to be able to utilize their facilities to be able to do history about gay and lesbians in this state. Thats what this is all about, Singleton said. Elliot was one of several Republicans who attacked the Archives Department for hosting a presentation on LGBTQ+ history in Alabama in June 2023, claiming the board is not accountable to elected officials, calling it a unicorn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elliott then introduced a bill in the redistricting special session in mid-2023 to strip Archives of $5 million, which did not pass. He also introduced a similar bill for the 2024 legislative session that would have given state officials and legislative leaders the power to appoint board members, while keeping the board size the same. The bill passed the Senate and a House committee but did not reach the House floor. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) Rep. Timothy Hills House Bill 1278 passed through the House Finance Committee on Thursday. The bill would allow counties to use some of Gov. Bill Lees disaster relief funding for the interest on loans that local governments had to get to rebuild infrastructure following Hurricane Helene. The senate version of the bill, Senate Bill 0646, is sponsored by Johnson Citys Rusty Crowe, and currently sits in the Finance Ways and Means Committee. Hill added an amendment allocating a portion of the funds to cover the administrative fees that otherwise would be covered by local taxpayers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What this does as amended, it allows for loan charges, which thats the origination fees, the application fees, appraisal fees, things like that, to be included in the fund, Hill said. So counties can include that in their application process. The bill would also provide $3.7 million to Unicoi, Johnson and Washington counties, $5 million to Carter County, $3 million to Greene County, and $500,000 to Sullivan and Hawkins counties. Washington County Mayor Joe Grandy said he sees that portion of funding as a way to take some of the tax burden off of the county residents. We havent seen the rules, but we believe it can be used to offset some of the administration cost, Grandy said. We know that the expectation is FEMAs going to cover 25% of the cost. The states going to pick up another 20%, which leaves a 5% gap. So this may be a way that we can take that burden off of local taxpayer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill is scheduled to be brought to the floor for a vote on Monday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. Title changed Details added: first version posted on 15:01 SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, April 18. Representatives of the accredited diplomatic corps in Azerbaijan have visited Shusha city, which is a symbol of Azerbaijan's history and culture, Trend reports. Aydin Karimov, the special representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, briefed the delegation on the city's history, its condition during the occupation, and the ongoing construction work. He noted that during nearly 30 years of Armenian occupation, historical buildings, mosques, and monuments in the city of Shusha were subjected to vandalism. After the liberation of the city from occupation, large-scale restoration and construction works began. Along with the construction of infrastructure, Shusha is undergoing the restoration of its original historical appearance, as well as the monuments of history and culture. The diplomatic corps representatives were familiarized with the construction work being carried out on Karabakh Street in the city of Shusha. They were informed that within the framework of public-private partnership projects, the construction of 10 buildings with different purposes is underway on this street. These include a hotel, offices, food service facilities, and the building of the Shusha Reserve Administration. The construction work is being carried out in accordance with the overall appearance of the city. The delegation then visited the Ashaghi Govhar Agha Mosque. It was informed that the restoration work on the Ashaghi Govhar Agha Mosque, which had been subjected to Armenian vandalism during the occupation of Shusha, has been completed. The Ashaghi Govhar Aga Mosque, created in the 19th century by architect Kerbela Safikhan Garabagi, is considered the first mosque built in Shusha by Ibrahim Khan's daughter, Govhar Agha. The Ashaghi Govhar Agha Mosque is one of the historical and architectural symbols of the city. During the visit, foreign diplomats also got acquainted with the conditions created in the first residential complex in the city of Shusha. It was noted that the opening of the residential complex, whose foundation was laid in 2021, took place on May 10, 2024. All the houses are built in the traditional architectural style of the city of Shusha. The residential complex, consisting of twenty-three buildings, provides all the conditions for comfortable living. 15:01 SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, April 18. Representatives of the diplomatic corps visiting Azerbaijan's Karabakh have started their visit to Shusha after Khankendi city, Trend's Karabakh bureau reports. The delegation has arrived in Shusha. The guests were welcomed in the city by Aydin Karimov, the special representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. He provided the guests with detailed information about the city. The delegation will get acquainted with the construction, restoration, and reconstruction work carried out here. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BINGHAMTON, NY (WIVT/WBGH) Theres a new effort to find answers to who shot and killed 12 year-old Aliza Spencer on Binghamtons Eastside three years ago. Aliza Spencer Friendship Day honors legacy of murdered Binghamton student Binghamton Police have announced an increase in the reward being offered for information that would lead to a conviction in the homicide case. The reward now stands at $50,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aliza was walking with her father and brother on Bigelow Street near their home shortly after 10 p.m. on April 21, 2022 when a shot came from an unknown direction striking the 6th grader in the chest. Binghamton Police have been assisted by the FBI and New York State Police with the investigation into Spencers death. Binghamton Captain of Detectives Cory Minor says hes convinced that someone heard something, saw something or knows something. To this date, we have handled well over 200 leads. We have followed leads out of the state. Leads are still coming in, we are working this. This case is solvable. $50,000 is out there. There is somebody in the community that knows what happened to this little girl and they need to come forward and tell us, Minor said. Funding for the initial reward of $32,000 was supported by a GoFundMe campaign. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Binghamton Detectives at 607-772-7080. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34. The United States has presented its own proposals to its European allies for a "peace deal" between Russia and Ukraine, which, in particular, envisage easing sanctions against Russia should a lasting ceasefire take place. Source: European Pravda, citing Bloomberg Details: European sources told Bloomberg that the US presented its plan during a series of meetings in Paris on 17 April. The proposal suggests a de facto freeze on the war, with Ukrainian territories currently occupied by Russia remaining under Moscow's control, the sources said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The US plan also includes easing sanctions against Russia and excludes discussions on Ukraines aspirations to join NATO, Bloomberg reported, noting that the sources declined to provide further details. An official speaking on condition of anonymity told Bloomberg that the plan would not constitute a "final settlement" and emphasised that Ukraine's European allies would not recognise its occupied territories as part of Russia. The officials also stressed that the talks would be futile unless Russia agreed to stop fighting and underscored the importance of providing Ukraine with security guarantees to secure any agreement. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! US officials attending a meeting in Paris have told their European counterparts that they intend to push for a complete cessation of combat actions in Ukraine in the coming weeks as part of a new diplomatic effort. Source: Bloomberg, as reported by European Pravda Details: Talks were held in Paris on 17 April, with the main topics discussed being the early achievement of a ceasefire in Ukraine and the establishment of a lasting peace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The meeting was attended by French President Emmanuel Macron, US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and representatives of the Ukrainian side. Bloomberg was informed of this by sources familiar with the discussions who wished to remain anonymous. According to these sources, the negotiators expressed support for Donald Trump's key foreign policy priority of ending the war as soon as possible. The American delegation stressed that it expects to see significant progress in this direction in the near future. All parties to the meeting agreed to strengthen coordination to achieve this goal. In addition, the European representatives expressed interest in Washington's intentions if the Kremlin does not make concessions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They also sought to persuade the US to take a tougher stance against Russia, including the possibility of a robust package of sanctions which, according to them, Donald Trump had already considered. Background: The day after the Paris meetings, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the US was ready to abandon efforts to achieve peace in Ukraine if it saw that this goal was unattainable. Earlier, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot called the meetings in Paris on Thursday 17 April a diplomatic success for France which had brought Americans, Europeans and Ukrainians together at the same table. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Joshua Haiar/States Newsroom As members of the Board of State Canvassers met on Friday to consider petition language for a proposed Constitutional amendment requiring proof of citizenship to vote, discussions between the language of the proposal and its merits frequently shifted to debates about voters rights and concerns about noncitizen voting. After a number of revisions to the summary language, the board, which is made up of two Democrats and two Republicans, voted unanimously to approve the proposal language and the form. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The final language approved by the board reads: Constitutional amendment to: add requirement to verify citizenship by showing a birth certificate, passport and/or other documents for voter registration; eliminate affidavit alternative for those without photo ID when voting; add requirement to provide photo ID or drivers license or partial social security number to receive our vote in absentee ballot; require Secretary of State to review voter rolls to verify citizens and remove non citizens using documents and government records; prohibit counting ballots from voters without citizenship documents and photo ID unless voters show documents within six days after election; require hardship program for obtaining required documents at state expense. The proposed amendment mirrors an effort introduced by state Rep. Bryan Posthumus (R-Rockford) after a Chinese citizen attending the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor cast a ballot in the previous election.When Posthumus proposal was put forth in December, an organization called the Committee to Protect Voters Rights launched a website proposing a petition drive to get an amendment on the ballot if lawmakers do not take up the proposal. While Posthumus reintroduced the proposal in January, the effort has yet to come up for a vote on the House floor, with Democrats calling its provisions akin to a poll tax. Meanwhile, the Committee to Protect Voters Rights has moved forward with a ballot proposal effort. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In order to appear on the 2026 ballot, the committee must gather 446,198 signatures within 180 days and file them with the Secretary of State. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX During the meeting, the boards Democratic members as well as representatives from several voting rights groups argued the initial summary, as well as edits proposed by the group sponsoring the proposal, failed to capture the full impact of the amendment. Alongside concerns that the proposal would disenfranchise married women, low-income individuals, seniors, people living in rural communities and people who are homeless and cannot access the documents needed to prove their identity, board members and opponents raised concerns about how the proposal would impact individuals who have signed up to vote absentee in every election, as well as what documents could be used to prove citizenship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrat Mary Ellen Gurewitz, the boards vice chair, specifically raised concerns about birth certificates being listed in the summary, as married women who change their names would be required to submit both a birth certificate and a marriage license to verify their identity, though Committee to Protect Voters Rights attorney Charles Spies said this process was not unique to voting alone. Mary Ellen Gurewitz, vice chair of the Michigan Board of State Canvassers during an April 18, 2025 meeting | Screenshot. Gurewitz further argued that the proposal would strip voters of their rights, pointing to Proposal 18-3 and Proposal 22-2, where Michigan residents voted to expand voting rights to include no-reason absentee voting, nine days of early voting, use of a photo ID or signed affidavit to verify their identity, placement on a permanent absentee voter list and access to ballot drop boxes. However, Spies argued the proposal was not removing any right, but rather was protecting the rights of Michiganders to not have their votes diluted. While noncitizens are not eligible to vote in federal, state or most local elections, some municipalities do allow them to vote in their elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instances of noncitizen voting are exceedingly rare, with Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson issuing a press release on April 3, noting that the state saw 16 credible cases of noncitizen voting in the November 2024 election out of more than 5.7 million total votes cast, though several members of the public who spoke up at Fridays meeting argued that any instance of noncitizen voting watered down their right to vote. Charles Spies, attorney for the Committee to Protect Voters Rights at the Michigan Board of State Canvassers April 18, 2025 meeting. | Screenshot Paul Cordes, one of the boards Republicans members, also argued that any number of voters cast illegally within the state is a problem with the system. Heather Cummings, the other Democrat on the board, concurred with Gurewitz, arguing that characterizing the proposal as an effort to protect voter rights is misleading. She later questioned how the proposal would impact the ability for Michigan residents to register to vote online. Charles Thomas Jr., the founder of the voter rights organization When You Vote I Win, testified on his own behalf pointing to discrepancies between his and his fathers name on his birth certificate, his name on his drivers license and his name on his passport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im a junior. I love the fact that you know, you all asked me to spell my name. On my birth certificate. I found that my fathers name is spelled C, H, A, R L, E, Y. My name is spelled C, H, A, R, L, I, E. On my license is C H A R L, E, S. I got a passport, C, H, A, R, L, E, S. Im not sure which one would count if I had to produce information to say who I was in order just to be able to obtain the right to vote, Thomas said. Erica Peresman, the Senior Advisor for Promote the Vote, which successfully backed both the 2018 and 2022 voting rights amendments, told the Michigan Advance that these difficult-to-correct discrepancies should not be a barrier to voting. While the proposal would have the Legislature craft a program to ensure citizens facing hardship have the documents needed to cast their ballot, the way that program would operate remains up in the air, Peresman said, predicting that state officials would not be the ones helping residents from out of state retrieve their birth certificates from the place where they were born. Theyre just going to pay the cost of it, the legwork and dealing with the bureaucracies in these various states, that all has to be done by the individuals.Our concern is always that people might just give up. They might not have the time, the energy, the resources to be able to run down all of these things, even if the actual cost of the document itself is being covered by the state, Peresman said. During another repatriation, Ukraine brought back the bodies of 909 of its defenders killed in action from the Bakhmut, Kurakhove, Pokrovsk and other fronts, as well as from Russian morgues. Source: Ukraines Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War Quote: "The fallen defenders were brought back as a result of the joint work of the Coordination Headquarters, the Joint Centre under the Security Service of Ukraine, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Office of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, the Office for Missing Persons in Special Circumstances, the State Emergency Service, and other structures of the Security and Defence Sector of Ukraine." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: The Coordination Centre reported that the fallen defenders were brought back from Kurakhove, Pokrovsk, Bakhmut, Vuhledar, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy and Kharkiv fronts, as well as from morgues in the Russian Federation. The headquarters reported that the International Committee of the Red Cross helped to bring back the bodies of the deceased. The Coordination Headquarters also reported that the Armed Forces of Ukraine ensured the transport of the bodies of repatriated defenders to specialised state institutions. There, the deceased will be handed over to law enforcement and forensic experts. Investigators are working to identify the soldiers together with experts from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) The body of a Sioux City man missing for more than five months has been found, according to local officials. The Sioux City Police Department and Woodbury County Sheriffs Office said in a Friday release that a body was discovered in a field in rural Woodbury County on April 9. The Iowa State Medical Examiners Office in Ankeny identified the body as that of Joshua Eldridge, 51, of Sioux City. Eldridge was reported missing on Nov. 3, 2024 after having last been seen on Oct. 31, 2024. Police put out another call to find Eldridge in December 2024, asking for any information no matter how small it may seem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After discovering the body, the Woodbury County Sheriffs Office investigated the scene. Authorities have no further information on the case, including the cause of death or circumstances surrounding the discovery. Overnight storm damages Storm Lake community Anyone with information about Eldridges disappearance or what happened leading to his death is asked to contact the Sioux City Police Department, the Woodbury County Sheriffs Office, or the anonymous tip line at 712-258-TIPS (8477). 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 SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. UPDATE: As of noon Friday, the Coast Guard reported that it had suspended its active search and rescue operations for the missing boaters off Neah Bay, adding that it was suspended after an extensive search that covered an area of roughly 850 square nautical miles over 28 hours. The 64-year-old female from the boat was recovered Thursday, April 17, and pronounced dead. The two males, ages 63 and 69, remain missing. PREVOUS COVERAGE: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The body of a woman has washed up on the shoreline between Neah Bay and Sekiu in Clallam County, and it is believed that she is one of three boaters who went missing. On April 16, three boaters, two men and a woman, launched from Makah Marina around 7 p.m. Just after midnight on April 17, their capsized 15-foot boat was found at Koitlah Point, which is near the westernmost point of Washington, but there was no sign of the three people who were on board, the Coast Guard said. The womans body was found around 2 p.m., not far from where the capsized boat was found. The two men have not been found. Its believed all three were between the ages of 62 and 68. The United States Coast Guard will be searching the area with boats and an airplane in an attempt to locate additional victims. A Boeing jet at the companys completion plant in China flew back to the U.S. on Friday, according to reports. The new plane was supposed to be delivered to a Chinese airline, however, it was never handed over. Earlier this week, the Chinese government reportedly told airlines not to buy new jets from Boeing and to get permission before accepting any planes it had already ordered but hadnt been delivered yet. A brand-new Boeing jet is caught up in the trade war between China and the U.S. The plane arrived at Boeings China facility in Zhoushan, but had to return to the U.S. shortly after, according to trade publication The Air Current. With the U.S. and China locked in a trade war that pits the worlds two largest economies against each other, companies like Boeing that do business in both countries find themselves caught in the crosshairs. Earlier this week, Bloomberg reported Chinese government officials had instructed domestic airlines not to order any new aircraft from Boeing and to seek approval before taking any already ordered planes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plane that reportedly returned to the U.S. from the completion plant in Zhoushan is one of three 737 Max jets that arrived since March, according to Reuters. At its Zhoushan facility in eastern China (about a three and a half hour drive from Shanghai), Boeing applies the finishing touches to already constructed aircraft, installing seats and painting the exterior. The fate of the other planes located at the Zhoushan facility was not immediately clear. On Thursday, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Peoples Republic of China told reporters they were not familiar with the reports of a stop to Boeing orders. Even before being reportedly targeted by the Chinese government, Boeing faced potentially crippling cost increases from the U.S.-China tit-for-tat tariffs. With one of the most complex supply chains in the world, input costs in the U.S. risked soaring because of tariffs on any of its imported parts, of which there are many. At the same time, Chinas retaliatory tariffs of 125% on U.S. goods meant Boeings planes would be prohibitively expensive for Chinese airlines. In an address to employees in Marcha month before President Donald Trump announced his sweeping tariff policyBoeing CEO Kelly Ortberg had warned they could drive up costs and disrupt the companys complex, carefully managed supply chain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At a Senate hearing earlier this month, Ortberg reiterated the damage that widespread tariffs could have on Boeings business. Ortberg emphasized that Boeing sourced parts from around the world and sold the vast majority of its planes abroad. Boeing risked being doubly harmed by tariffs as its own costs would rise while its sales would fall. Free trade is very important to us, Ortberg told the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee this month. Its important that we continue to have access to that market and that we dont get in a situation where certain markets become closed to us. Boeing did not respond to Fortunes request for comment. As one of the fastest-growing air travel markets in the world, China represents a lucrative opportunity for Boeing. In September 2023, Boeing forecasted that over the next 20 years China would account for 20% of the worlds air travel and double its fleet of commercial planes to roughly 9,600 jets. In 2018, when Boeing opened its Zhoushan facility amid a previous trade skirmish between the U.S. and China, executives had touted aviation as a bright spot of trade between the two countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But virtually no companies have been spared during this round of the U.S.-China trade warleast of all industrial giants. Boeings stock fell 17% in the two days immediately after Trump introduced his tariff policy on April 2. Its stock has mostly recovered since that initial hit. However, it fell 2.5% the day it was reported China had ordered a halt on orders of new planes. Working in Boeings favor is its role as a genuine American manufacturing powerhouse, the exact sort of business the Trump administration claims it is intent on protecting. The Trump administration cant ignore Boeing, wrote Bank of America aerospace analyst Ronald Epstein this week. So far that appears to be true. Boeings reported issues with Chinese deliveries caught the presidents attention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China just reneged on the big Boeing deal, saying that they will not take possession of fully committed to aircraft, Trump wrote in a social media post on Tuesday. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com Scranton resident Bob Bolus entered the legal fray over the filling of a Lackawanna County commissioner vacancy. Bolus filed a lawsuit April 10 in Lackawanna County Court against Democratic Lackawanna County Commissioner Bill Gaughan that seeks to bar him from having county-paid legal representation in pending litigation over the vacancy of former Commissioner Matt McGloin. Gaughan and the county initiated litigation last month seeking to remove the Lackawanna County Democratic Committee from the process of replacing McGloin, a Democrat who resigned in late February. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The vacancy litigation pits Gaughan/the county against the Lackawanna County Democratic Committee over whether the vacancy should be filled pursuant to the countys Home Rule Charter or a state court rule. The charter process had the Democratic Committee picking three candidates to forward to county judges, who then would select one to fill the McGloin vacancy. The Gaughan/county challenge to the charter process claims it is trumped by Pennsylvania Rule of Judicial Administration 1908 of 2019, which says the county court not a political party shall receive applications from any interested candidates for the position. Lackawanna County Senior Judges Carmen Minora, Robert Mazzoni and Vito Geroulo sitting as a panel will hear oral arguments Tuesday in the vacancy litigation. The lawsuit by Bolus, a Republican, raises arguments similar to those of Republican Lackawanna County Commissioner Chris Chermak mainly that Gaughan acted unilaterally and if he wants to pursue the litigation, he should do so individually, with his own personal attorney and pay for his own legal bills. County Comissioner Chris Chermak listens to commissioner Bill Gaughans comments at the conclusion of the Lackawanna County commissioners meeting at the Lackawanna County Government Center in Scranton on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bolus has been a vocal critic of Gaughan for years and has portrayed him as a cartoon skunk on a tractor-trailer festooned with political messages. Bolus filed his lawsuit on a pro-se basis, meaning without an attorney, and as a tort against Gaughan, and not as part of the vacancy litigation. Seeking a judgment in excess of $50,000, Bolus also filed on April 11 a companion petition for a preliminary injunction to stop Gaughan from using taxpayer funds to litigate the vacancy issue. By the time a civil case is litigated, the tax payer funds will have have been spent already, Bolus petition for an injunction says. As of Thursday afternoon, the court had not taken any action on Bolus injunction petition. Whether he has legal standing to pursue such a lawsuit or whether it follows rules of civil procedure, or whether it might be rendered moot if the vacancy dispute is resolved first, all remain to be seen. Gaughan also had not yet formally responded in court to Bolus lawsuit. In a phone interview Thursday, Gaughan said: I did receive it and I had a very, very good chuckle, a good laugh. I dont take Bob Bolus seriously at all. Hes a fruit fly. Hes a nuisance to society and this will most likely get dismissed, like almost every other lawsuit hes had. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bolus argues he has legal standing to pursue the lawsuit as a property owner, resident and taxpayer in the county. Last week, the panel of judges did not allow the Democratic Committees top candidate, former county economic development Director Brenda Sacco, to enter the vacancy litigation as an intervenor, ruling that she has no legal standing in the matter and her interests are adequately represented by the committee. The Democratic Committee also contends that Gaughan and the county lack legal standing to pursue the vacancy litigation. But Gaughan and the county reject that claim, citing law giving municipalities and their officials standing to challenge the constitutionality of actions affecting their government functions and interests. Representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Azerbaijan visit Khankendi and Shusha (PHOTO)(Update) FUZULI, Azerbaijan, April 18. Representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Azerbaijan visited Khankendi and Shusha cities, Trend reports. The delegation was accompanied by Assistant to the President - Head of the Department of Foreign Policy Affairs of the Presidential Administration Hikmat Hajiyev. The delegation first arrived at Fuzuli International Airport. Then, representatives of the diplomatic corps will visit the city of Khankendi and meet with students of Garabagh University. During the visit, Hikmet Hajiyev provided information on the historical roots of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Karabakh conflict, including the war crimes committed by Armenia in the occupied territories. He emphasized that Azerbaijan, following international principles, had restored its territorial integrity and sovereignty, ushering in a new phase of development in both Karabakh and East Zangazur. In a speech, the rector of Garabagh University, Shahin Bayramov, discussed the achievements in education and the universitys future goals. Elchin Yusubov, the Presidents Special Representative in the city of Khankendi and in Aghdara and Khojaly districts, highlighted large-scale reconstruction and development projects in the liberated territories. He noted the ongoing construction of new modern roads, railways, and air routes, as well as efforts to provide residents with electricity, drinking water, and natural gas. The region is also seeing the creation of green spaces, and Khankendi is becoming a hub for entrepreneurs, with around 12,000 residents now living in seven newly populated areas. Emin Huseynov, Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan in the Aghdam, Fuzuli, and Khojavand districts, updated the delegation on demining operations and construction activities in the newly liberated areas. Following the visit to Khankendi, the diplomatic representatives continued their trip to Shusha. The representatives of the diplomatic corps then visited Garabagh University, where they toured the educational building, library, auditorium, laboratory, and exhibition hall. They were also treated to musical performances by faculty and students from the Faculty of Arts. Following their visit to the university, the diplomats explored the central area of Khankendi and took a commemorative photo in front of Victory Square. After concluding their visit to Khankendi, the diplomatic delegation continued their trip to Shusha. Aydin Kerimov, the Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan in the Shusha district, shared the city's history, its condition during the occupation, and the ongoing reconstruction efforts. He highlighted the damage caused to historical buildings, mosques, and monuments during nearly three decades of Armenian occupation. Since Shushas liberation, large-scale restoration projects have been underway, aiming to restore the citys historical and cultural landmarks. The diplomats toured the construction work on Karabakh Street in Shusha, where ten buildings are being erected as part of public-private partnership projects. These include a hotel, office buildings, food establishments, and the building of the Shusha Reserve Directorate. The ongoing construction is designed to preserve the citys historical character. The delegation then arrived at the Ashaghi Govhar Agha Mosque, where it was reported that restoration work, which had been delayed due to the Armenian vandalism during Shushas occupation, has now been completed. Built in the 19th century by architect Karbalai Safikhan Garabaghi, the mosque is regarded as the first mosque in Shusha, constructed on the initiative of Ibrahim Khan's daughter, Govhar Agha. This mosque stands as one of the citys key historical and architectural symbols. Shusha historically consisted of 17 upper and lower quarters, with the Ashagi Govhar Agha Mosque being named for its location in the lower part of the city. Additionally, the foreign diplomats were also introduced to the first residential complex in Shusha as part of the visit. The opening of the complex, whose foundation was laid in 2021, took place on May 10, 2024. The homes were designed in a traditional architectural style typical of Shusha, and the 23-building residential complex has been equipped with all the necessary amenities to ensure the comfort of the city's residents. 09:56 Representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Azerbaijan have begun visits to Khankendi and Shusha cities, Trend reports. The delegation is accompanied by Assistant to the President - Head of the Department of Foreign Policy Affairs of the Presidential Administration, Hikmat Hajiyev. The delegation first arrived at Fuzuli International Airport. Then, representatives of the diplomatic corps will visit the city of Khankendi and meet with students of Garabagh University. Trump White House border czar Tom Homan stood by the administration's position on the return to the U.S. of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Salvadoran national the Justice Department said was erroneously deported to a prison in his home country, and waived off responsibility for the migrant's status in an interview with ABC News. Homan spoke with "This Week" co-anchor Jonathan Karl in an interview that will air this Sunday about the case and repeated the Trump administration's allegations that Abrego Garcia is an MS-13 member and a violent threat to the public. "We removed a public safety threat, a national security threat, a violent gang member from the United States," he alleged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abrego Garcia's attorneys and family members have denied that he is a member of MS-13, and the gang allegations are being disputed in court. Watch more of Jonathan Karl's interview with Tom Homan on "This Week" at 9 a.m. Sunday on ABC. However, much of the evidence that has been cited by President Donald Trump and his allies, such as clothing they argue symbolizes gang membership, has not been brought up in court since the current administration began litigating this case. The Supreme Court unanimously ordered the administration to "facilitate" Abrego Garcia's return to the U.S. for a trial. As of Friday, the administration has not taken active steps to do so. PHOTO: White House 'Border Czar' Tom Homan speaks with ABC News while appearing on 'This Week.' (ABC News) MORE: Timeline: Wrongful deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked by Karl about the order, Homan claimed the Trump administration does not have the right or ability to bring Abrego Garcia back to the U.S. and argued Abrego Garcia is under the authority of the El Salvador government. "I understand that 'facilitate,' but he's also in the custody -- he's a citizen and a national of the country of El Salvador. El Salvador would certainly have to cooperate in that," Homan said. "But again, I'm out of the loop on that. I'm not an attorney. I'm not litigating this case. We'll do whatever the law says we have to do, but I think and I stand by the fact [that] I think we did the right thing here," he said. Homan also joined Trump and other Republicans in their criticism of Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., who traveled to El Salvador this week and met with Abrego Garcia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "You know, what bothers me more than that is a U.S. senator traveled to El Salvador on taxpayer dime to meet with an MS-13 gang member, [a] public safety threat, terrorist," Homan said, without providing evidence that Van Hollen is using taxpayer money for the trip. When ABC News reached out to Van Hollen's office for comment on how the trip was funded, his office replied, "the Senator traveled in his official capacity with bipartisan approval to follow up on the case of a constituent and conduct oversight of U.S. foreign assistance programs. He did fly commercial." Abrego Garcia has never been convicted of a crime in the U.S., and his wife, Jennifer Vasquez, told ABC News on Wednesday that her husband has "never been convicted for anything." PHOTO: White House 'Border Czar' Tom Homan speaks with ABC News while appearing on 'This Week.' (ABC News) MORE: As Kilmar Abrego Garcia's deportation battle continues, differing pictures of him emerge Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Homan accused the senator of not taking time to meet with victims of MS-13 gang members in his state and inaction under the Biden administration to address border concerns. "What concerns me is Van Hollen never went to the border the last four years under Joe Biden. ... What shocks me is he's remained silent on the travesty that happened on the southern border. Many people died, thousands of people died," he said. Upon returning to the U.S., Van Hollen told reporters his trip was about more than Abrego Garcia's case. "This case is not only about one man, as important as that is," Van Hollen said. "It is about protecting fundamental freedoms and the fundamental principle in the Constitution for due process that protects everybody who resides in America." Border czar Tom Homan argues US justified in removing 'public safety threat' Abrego Garcia to El Salvador originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Border czar Tom Homan didnt have an answer when asked about whether President Donald Trumps idea to deport United States citizens to foreign prisons is legal, saying its a question for the Department of Justice, not him. I dont deport U.S. citizens, Homan told CNNs Kaitlan Collins on Thursday when asked if he believes it would be legal to send American prisoners to foreign prisons. I think what [the Trump administration is] talking about is either extradition or prisoner transfer. Thatd be a question for the DOJ. Border czar Tom Homan said the legality of sending American citizens to overseas prisons is "out of" his "lane." Andrew Thomas / Middle East Images / Middle East Images via AFP Homan said Collins should ask Attorney General Pam Bondi. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, when Bondi was asked the same question by Foxs Jesse Watters on Tuesday, she also did not say whether it is legal to send U.S. citizens to a foreign prison. These people need to be locked up as long as they can, as long as the law allows. Were not going to let them go anywhere, and if we have to build more prisons in our country, we will do it, Bondi told Watters. Under U.S. law, Bondis Department of Justice and U.S. Marshals Service are the government agencies that oversee transferring U.S. prisoners to another country or extracting them from one. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement handles deportations, a term that applies to people who are not U.S. citizens. Homan said Thursday that prison transfersof citizens are out of my lane. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a border czar, I will not remove a U.S. citizen, he told Collins. However, the Trump administration has publicly used the term deport when referring to sending U.S. citizens to El Salvador. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that Trump is exploring pathways to deport U.S. citizens. The president has said if its legal, right, if there is a legal pathway to do that. Hes not sure, [and] we are not sure if there is, Leavitt said earlier this month. Its an idea that he has simply floated and has discussed very publicly in the effort of transparency. In March, Trump himself also teased the idea of sending those accused of vandalizing Teslas to El Salvador. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perhaps they could serve them in the prisons of El Salvador, which have become so recently famous for such lovely conditions! he wrote on Truth Social. The idea of sending U.S. citizens to prisons in El Salvador came up again during a meeting between Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele and Trump on Monday, when the U.S. president said he was all for it. Trump went on to praise the notorious prisons and offer to pay for expansions to hold Americans. The homegrowns are next, Trump said. Related... U.S. Border Patrol agents in Orange County seized more than 90,000 Xanax pills Wednesday during a traffic stop on the 5 Freeway near Camp Pendleton. Around 4:50 p.m., agents from the San Clemente Station, part of the San Diego Sector, pulled over a black pickup truck traveling north and interviewed the driver. A drug sniffing dog was requested to the scene, which alerted them to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle, authorities said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A search revealed 11 boxes containing packages labeled as Farmapram, the equivalent of Xanax sold in Mexico. Xanax is a Schedule IV controlled substance used to treat anxiety and panic disorders and can be dangerous when misused for recreational purposes, officials said. Agents took the driver into custody and transported the vehicle and the recovered narcotics to a nearby Border Patrol station for further investigation. Photos from U.S. Border Patrol San Diego Sector shows a cache of illegal Xanax pills that were recovered during a traffic stop near San Clemente on April 16, 2025. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection) Photos from U.S. Border Patrol San Diego Sector shows a cache of illegal Xanax pills that were recovered during a traffic stop near San Clemente on April 16, 2025. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection) Photos from U.S. Border Patrol San Diego Sector shows a cache of illegal Xanax pills that were recovered during a traffic stop near San Clemente on April 16, 2025. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection) Border Patrol officials said the boxes contained 90,090 pills with an estimated street value exceeding $600,000. The driver, whose name was not released, was turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration along with the vehicle and narcotics. They faces possible state charges for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This seizure sends a clear message: we will not tolerate dangerous drugs on our streets, said Jeffrey Stalnaker, acting chief patrol agent of the CBP San Diego Sector. This is a significant win, but our work continues. The investigation remains ongoing and anyone with information regarding suspected smuggling of drugs, humans or other illegal material are urged to call 911, or contact CBP San Diego Sector officials at 619-498-9900. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BOSSIER CITY, La. (KTAL/KMSS) A locally owned bar and restaurant in Bossier City, The Hangar Taphouse & Kitchen, may be forced to close permanently due to five months of licensing delays and mounting debt. To prevent closure, theyve launched a fundraiser, asking the community for support. According to Jason Bogard, the business owner, they signed the lease in July 2024 and immediately got to work renovating the business themselves to transform the space into something special for the community. Bogard said while the city processed their licenses, they still had to pay $16,000 a month for rent. The Hanger Taphouse opened for business in December. Unfortunately, on March 26, 2025, they announced their temporary closure until they pay back the rent or ideally, raise enough to buy the building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bogard says they are asking for help, whether its $5 or $500, every donation helps us get closer to reopening The Hangar, bringing back jobs, and continuing to serve this amazing community that we love so much. Shreveport Greek restaurant owner of 28 years dies in Greece, fundraiser Last year, we took a leap of faith and followed our dream: to open a locally-owned bar and restaurant right in the heart of Bossier City, Louisiana. We found the perfect space in the East Bank District, a beautiful building full of potential. We planned to open in September, but unexpected delays in city licensing held us back. While we waited, the bills didnt stop. Without a source of business income, we still had to pay $16,000 a month just for rent, and we did everything we could to stay afloat. By December, we finally opened our doors. Winter is always a slow time in the restaurant industry, and being the new kid on the block made it even harder. But we didnt give up. We fine-tuned our team, brought in a talented marketing expert, listened to our customers, and adjusted. And then something incredible happened: the community started to notice. February was better. March was amazing. We saw the spark, the momentum, and we knew this dream could work. But unfortunately, the weight of those early months caught up with us. Because we fell behind on rent during the delays, we were recently forced to close our doors unless we can pay the back rent or, ideally, raise enough to buy the building and secure our future for good. This restaurant was never just a business to us. It was a gathering place, a family-friendly spot where people came together. My own 5-year-old daughter still asks why we dont go to the restaurant anymore. It breaks my heart every time. The Hanger Taphouse & Kitchen, Jason Bogard. According to GoFundMe, their fundraising goal is set at $125,000. 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 KTALnews.com. A Missouri resident attending college in Boston has been arrested for allegedly firebombing a Tesla dealership using Molotov cocktails in Kansas City, Missouri while home for spring break, federal authorities said Friday. Owen McIntire, 19, of Kansas City, Missouri, made an initial court appearance in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts on Friday to face federal charges, the Department of Justice said in a statement. UMass Boston on Friday confirmed that McIntire is a student there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the criminal complaint, filed in the Western District of Missouri and unsealed Friday, McIntire is charged with one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device and one count of malicious damage by fire of any property used in interstate commerce. Let me be extremely clear to anyone who still wants to firebomb a Tesla property: you will not evade us, Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement. You will be arrested. You will be prosecuted. You will spend decades behind bars. It is not worth it. Boston college student arrested for firebombing Tesla dealership in Kansas City during spring break Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crimes have consequences. The people behind these violent and dangerous attacks on private property will face decades in prison we will not make deals and we will not negotiate, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement. FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement that this is the second arrest this week of a suspect charged with targeting Tesla, adding that the arrest is more proof that the FBI will not stand for these destructive acts. #BREAKING: #FBI Boston & @FBIKansasCity special agents & our partners at the ATF have arrested Owen McIntire, a college student in Boston, for allegedly launching a Molotov cocktail at a Tesla facility in Kansas City, MO, while home on spring break. https://t.co/csDfvwav6H pic.twitter.com/egcpuyFHaD FBI Boston (@FBIBoston) April 18, 2025 These actions are dangerous, they are illegal, and we are going to arrest those responsible, Patel said. We will work with our partners at the Department of Justice to hold accountable anyone who commits such crimes. I commend our FBI teams in Kansas City and Boston for their work. Federal agents and forensic experts recovered and analyzed key evidenceincluding Molotov cocktailsused in this deliberate and dangerous arson attack, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Acting Director Dan Driscoll said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This wasnt vandalism it was a violent criminal act, Driscoll said. Thanks to the relentless work of ATF special agents, and our close coordination with the FBI and local law enforcement, we now have a suspect in custody. I am committed to ensuring ATF continues to stand on the front lines of public safety. ATF will not tolerate those who incite political violence in our communities. Boston college student arrested for firebombing Tesla dealership in Kansas City during spring break According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint, on March 17, at approximately 11:16 p.m., an officer with the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department in the vicinity of the Kansas City Tesla Center saw smoke coming from a grey Cybertruck parked in the KC Tesla Center parking lot. The officer also saw an unbroken suspected incendiary device near the burning Cybertruck. Police officers recovered the unbroken incendiary device, also known as a Molotov cocktail, federal officials said. The fire spread from the Cybertruck to a second Cybertruck in the lot. The Kansas City Fire Department responded to the scene to extinguish the fire. The Cybertrucks had sale prices of $105,485 and $107,485, officials said. Additionally, two charging stations were damaged by the fire, each of which is valued at approximately $550. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Foley and Trey Alford for the Western District of Missouri and Trial Attorney Patrick Cashman of the National Security Divisions Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case. The FBI Kansas City and Boston Field Offices, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department are investigating. 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 man enrolled at a Boston college was charged in connection with two Cybertrucks at a Tesla center in Kansas City, United States Attorney Leah Foleys office said. Owen McIntire, 19, of Kansas City, was charged with one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device and one count of malicious damage by fire of any property used in interstate commerce. Let me be extremely clear to anyone who still wants to firebomb a Tesla property: you will not evade us, Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement from Foleys office. You will be arrested. You will be prosecuted. You will spend decades behind bars. It is not worth it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At around 11:16 p.m. on March 17, a Kansas City police officer in the area of the Kansas City Tesla Center saw smoke coming from a Cybertruck in the centers parking lot, Foleys office said. The officer approached and saw an unbroken suspected incendiary device, determined to be a Molotov cocktail, near the Cybertruck, Foleys office said. The fire spread from one Cybertruck to another in the lot. After Kansas City firefighters arrived at the scene, they extinguished the fire, the statement read. Through an investigation by forensics experts, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and local law enforcement, we now have a suspect in custody, Acting Director Dan Driscoll of the ATF said in Foleys statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the second time that federal agents have arrested a person in connection with a fire at a Tesla center, FBI Director Kash Patel said in the statement. An Albuquerque man was charged in connection with a fire at a Tesla showroom and the Republican Party of New Mexico headquarters in Albuquerque, according to the Department of Justice in a statement on Monday. More local crime stories Photo by iStock / Getty Images Plus A legal challenge against an Arizona law that gives fetuses rights has been dropped, putting the law back on the books despite an overwhelming majority of voters who agreed last year to make abortion a constitutional right in the Grand Canyon State. Whether it is ever enforced, or even can be legally because of that election, remains to be seen. On Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge Douglas Rayes dismissed the multi-year lawsuit and dissolved a previous order blocking the fetal personhood provision from ever being enforced. Rayes order came after both sides involved in the litigation said that the passage of Proposition 139, which enshrined abortion in the state constitution, made their disagreement moot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legal landscape regarding abortion care under the United States and Arizona Constitutions has shifted throughout the pendency of this matter, reads the joint stipulation of dismissal. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A look back at the legal back and forth Four years ago, the Republican-controlled legislature passed a law banning abortions performed because of a fetus genetic abnormality. Providers found in violation of that mandate faced a class 6 felony, which carries with it a prison sentence between four months and two years. That same 2021 law also ascribed all the rights of an Arizonan citizen to an unborn child from conception onward. But the fetal personhood provision, which abortion advocates warned would outlaw virtually all abortions, has never been in effect, as Rayes swiftly issued an order blocking it on the grounds that it conflicted with an existing personhood definition already in state law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Tuesdays decision toppled that order, making the personhood provision enforceable, at least in theory. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, who would be in charge of enforcing the 2021 law, has vowed never to take any abortion provider to court. And an executive order from Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs centralized the prosecutorial authority for abortion law violations in Mayes office, preventing any of the states 15 county attorneys from enforcing the law. The litigation around the fetal abnormality abortion ban has been more fraught. Just months after being signed by then-Gov. Doug Ducey, Rayes blocked the law under the auspices of Roe v. Wade. But less than a year later, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the federal right to abortion in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization in 2022 and also allowed the genetic abnormality ban to go into effect. A bid by reproductive rights groups to revive the injunction was rejected, and, since 2023, it continues to restrict how abortion providers can care for their patients, even as Mayes has promised never to take them to court over it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, 62% of Arizona voters cast their ballots in favor of amending the state constitution to include abortion as a guaranteed right. But that didnt automatically nullify the fetal abnormality abortion ban, its fetal personhood provision or the dozens of other anti-abortion laws that still remain in state law. There are only two paths to striking down those laws: via legislative repeal or court challenges. And, so far, neither path has borne any success. The GOP majority isnt inclined to alienate its pro-life base and reproductive rights groups have been hesitant to embark on the costly court strategy. Who won? And is fetal personhood now the law? Both abortion advocates and proponents of the 2021 law touted the dismissal as a victory. Civia Tamarkin, the president of the National Council of Jewish Women Arizona, which helped lead the challenge against the law, attributed the dismissal to the passage of Prop. 139. This dismissal is because of the constitutional amendment that now makes this lawsuit unnecessary, she said in a written statement. The people of Arizona have spoken loudly and clearly last November: decisions about pregnancy must remain with individuals, not politicians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tamarkin told the Arizona Mirror that the lawsuit was a stopgap measure meant to delay the laws effective date until Arizonans had a chance to weigh in on the legality of the procedure. Now that abortion is a fundamental right, she said, the legal challenge isnt needed anymore because Prop. 139 has rendered the law unconstitutional at the state level. The federal lawsuit alleged that the 2021 law violated the Due Process clause of the U.S. Constitutions 14th Amendment because it was too vague for providers to comply with. Abortion rights groups argued in court that providers could potentially infer the reasoning behind an abortion during the initial consultation, when ultrasounds are administered. And while the fetal abnormality abortion ban may still need a direct legal challenge to remove it from Arizona law, Tamarkin said her organization believes the fetal personhood provision is as good as dead in light of Prop. 139. We dont believe that it would be enforced against a provider because the amendment guarantees access to abortion, she said. Implicit in that is that, not only can a patient be guaranteed access, but that a provider can present those services to the patient. It just seems implicit and obvious. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prop. 139 explicitly protects the rights of both women and health care providers to seek and perform abortions, and it bars the state from adopting, enforcing or passing any policy that punishes abortion providers. But supporters of the 2021 law disagree. An attorney for Alliance Defending Freedom, the Scottsdale-based Christian legal advocacy organization that represented GOP legislative leadership in the court challenges against the law when Mayes declined to defend it, said in its final filing in the case that the law can and should be enforced. Republican Senate President Warren Petersen, who is mounting a bid to challenge Mayes in 2026, echoed that stance in an emailed statement. The plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed their own case, which is a victory for us. The lawsuit is over. The law remains valid and enforceable, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Richie Taylor, a spokesman for Mayes, acknowledged that the dismissal means the law remains in place and unfrozen, but said the Democrat believes its invalid because of the right afforded by Prop. 139. Although the laws are still currently on the books after the stipulated dismissal, as previous public filings in the case have indicated, Attorney General Mayes continues to believe both the Interpretation Policy and Reason Ban laws are unconstitutional, Taylor said, using the monikers given to the fetal personhood provision and the genetic abnormality ban to differentiate the two in legal filings. Last-ditch attempt to extend the lawsuit killed by judge Rayes rejected a bid to keep the legal challenge alive, and he declined to consider the question raised by Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys about who can decide whether the 2021 law is unconstitutional. In a supplemental briefing filed the same day the joint agreement to dismiss the lawsuit was submitted, Kevin Theriot, senior counsel for the legal organization, argued that Prop. 139 should have no bearing on the case. The new state constitutional amendment is irrelevant to Plaintiffs federal unconstitutional claims, he wrote. This case is a federal lawsuit before a federal judge alleging federal constitutional claims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because the opponents of the 2021 law based their legal challenge on the argument that it violated the U.S. Constitution, the passage of Prop. 139 shouldnt affect the lawsuits outcome or Rayes final determination, Theriot argued. Instead, the only way for the 2021 law to be invalidated by Prop. 139 is via a lawsuit initiated at the state level. To date, no such lawsuit challenging the laws continued existence has been filed. Arizonas state constitutional amendment protecting abortion doesnt affect the federal vagueness claims, Theriot wrote. And the amendment doesnt prohibit enforcing the challenged laws unless and until a state court determines that there is no compelling state interest for the laws. Indeed, the amendment doesnt repeal any Arizona abortion laws, all of which remained in effect after the passage of the amendment. Its unclear why Alliance Defending Freedom was attempting to continue the legal challenge. In his brief, Theriot urged Rayes to declare that the accusations of vagueness made against the fetal abnormality abortion ban and the fetal personhood provision were unfounded. If the case had survived the dismissal agreement, its possible a petition could have landed at the U.S. Supreme Court. But Rayes shot that down by approving the joint dismissal instead, and making no reference to the extra filing which Tamarkin said was filed days after the legal team for Alliance Defending Freedom had already signed onto the dismissal, in an apparent and confusing reversal of the organizations agreement to end the legal challenge. Whats next? Both the fetal abnormality abortion ban and the fetal personhood law remain in effect, and while, for now, Democratic leadership guarantees neither will ever be used against a provider, the future is uncertain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And reproductive rights groups continue to be silent on what their next steps might be. A spokeswoman for the Arizona branch of the American Civil Liberties Union, which helped challenge the 2021 law in court, celebrated the news of the dismissal but did not respond to follow-up questions on whether the organization plans to take it to court over conflicts with Prop. 139. Tamarkin said a state-level challenge over constitutionality would first need to identify people who are being negatively impacted by the law, and added that the National Council of Jewish Women Arizona is still figuring out its future legal strategy. Any specific challenges in the light of the state constitution, would be made by other plaintiffs, she said. We just got this stipulation granted on Monday. What any next legal steps may be have not yet been determined. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE PHOENIX, Arizona (ABC4) Lori Vallow Daybell, the Idaho mother convicted of killing her two children, has finished her second week of trial for her husbands murder in 2019. Both the prosecution and defense have rested their cases, and a trial date has been set for Vallow Daybells attempted murder case. Last week, jurors heard from family members and even a woman who testified she and Vallow had a date the evening before Charles Vallow was killed. Also on the stand were first responders at the scene of Charles Vallows death on July 11, 2019. Vallow Daybell was previously sentenced for murder and conspiracy to murder her children, Joshua JJ Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ashlyn Ryan, 16. She was sentenced to prison and is currently serving five life sentences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This week, Deputy Maricopa County Attorney Treena Kay called several witnesses who testified regarding Vallow Daybells actions following her husband, Charles Vallows, death. The court learned about Vallows autopsy, Vallow Daybells calls to the insurance company, and where she went in the 40 minutes between Vallows death and the 911 call. RECAP: What happened during Lori Vallow Daybells first week on trial Day Five I know he owes a lot of people money, and I was worried if I got money, theyd be coming after me for money now I will be with none. The state called Dr. Derek Bumgarner, a medical examiner with Maricopa County, to the stand. He performed the autopsy on Charles Vallow following his death on July 11, 2019. Treena Kay brought up photos from the autopsy, and Bumgarner described what he observed when he performed it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Treena Kay asked if the toxicology report found any drugs or alcohol in Vallows system. Bumgarner testified that Vallow did not test positive for drugs or alcohol. He confirmed that he determined the cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds. Lori Vallow Daybell then began her cross-examination. She asked about the drugs that the toxicology report tested for. Vallow Daybell briefly questioned him about the logistics of shoring. Bumgarner testified that he had never seen a shored wound caused by a t-shirt. DAY FIVE: Phone calls, police interview footage shared during Lori Vallow Daybell murder trial Mark Saari, a special agent with the Social Security Administration, was then called by the state. He is responsible for investigating fraud, waste, and abuse cases involving Social Security. In 2020, he was assigned a fraud investigation into Vallow Daybells Social Security payouts from Vallows death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Saari confirmed that when Vallow Daybell married Chad Daybell, her mother-in-care benefits would have ceased, while JJs benefits would have continued. He testified that Vallow Daybell did not notify Social Security of her new marriage. Robin Smith Scott, a claims representative with Banner Life Insurance Company, was then called to the stand. She testified that Charles Vallow had a life insurance policy worth $1 million. Scott stated that Vallow Daybell was the beneficiary until Feb. 26, 2019, when the beneficiary was designated as Vallows sister, Woodcock. Vallow Daybell contacted Scott to discuss a letter she received stating that she was not the beneficiary on Vallows life insurance policy. During the call, Scott confirmed that the beneficiary had been changed and stated that she couldnt divulge much information. Im trying to figure out what he was doing since we have five kids and weve been married for 15 years, Vallow Daybell says during the recording. I know he owes a lot of people money, and I was worried if I got money, theyd be coming after me for money now I will be with none. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vallow Daybell stated she had no questions for the cross-examination, and Scott stepped down. CASE HISTORY: A complete timeline for the Daybell, Vallow murders Jeff Moberg then went on the stand. He is a forensic scientist with the Arizona Department of Public Safety in the Firearms and Toolmark Unit. Moberg described how forensic investigation of a gun is completed. He identified the firearm as a Springfield Armory XDM 45 caliber semi-automatic pistol and testified that the two bullets at the scene were fired by that pistol. Cassandra Ynclan, a police detective with the Chandler Police Department, was called to the stand by the state. She responded to the scene of Vallows death on July 11, 2019. Ynclan recalls seeing Vallow Daybell parked across the street with Tylee after she arrived. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just kind of appeared to be having this, kind of, ordinary interaction with Officer Krautheim, Ynclan said of Vallow Daybell that day. Kind of ordinary and nonchalant. Clips from the police interview between Vallow Daybell and Ynclan are then played for the courtroom. Its all these threats on my phone all the time hes always mad at me and he doesnt want a divorce, but I dont like him, Vallow Daybell says when asked about Vallow on the recording. Idaho mom who killed 2 of her kids goes on trial over husbands death Vallow Daybells cross-examination centered on the interview of her daughter, Tylee. She asked about what was said during that interview, but those questions were sustained as hearsay, and Ynclan did not answer. Judge Beresky broke court for the evening. Day Six The idea that one could in 12 minutes go to a Burger King, get their order, drive seven miles one way, seven miles back seems unlikely to me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cassandra Ynclan, a police detective with the Chandler Police Department, returned to the stand. Vallow Daybell continued her cross-examination. Vallow Daybell asked more about what Ynclan witnessed about her and Tylee on the day of Vallows death. She asked if her demeanor at the scene which Ynclan described as nonchalant and ordinary was abnormal for someone in that situation. Ynclan testified that she had not personally been in a situation where her husband was murdered in her home. Day 6 of Lori Vallow Daybell trial: Surveillance footage shows she went to Burger King after shooting Detective Ariel Werther with the Chandler Police Department was then called to the stand. Werther is a subject matter expert on cellphone records, especially map and GPS data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Werther went to the scene of the shooting on July 11, 2019. The following day, he called Vallow Daybell to obtain JJs contact information. She informed Werther that she had Vallows wallet and hotel key. The school is approximately seven miles away from the house. So the idea that one could in 12 minutes go to a Burger King, get their order, drive seven miles one way, seven miles back and arrive in that amount of time seems unlikely to me, Werther testified. The 911 call had been placed at 8:36 a.m., and Vallow Daybell was captured on police bodycam at 8:48 a.m. Werther compiled a PowerPoint presentation of evidence collected from Vallows cell phone on July 11, 2019, which was in Vallow Daybells vehicle after she left the house with JJ and Tylee. He used GPS data and personally visited the locations to corroborate the evidence collected. Vallows phone is seen in the area of the hotel where he was staying before traveling to Vallow Daybells home. The last text message sent from the device before Vallows death is at 7:37 a.m. At 7:50 a.m., the phone leaves the home, and it pings again near Burger King after 7:52 a.m. Vallow Daybell can then be seen in surveillance footage at the drive-through window. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lori Vallow Daybell given 5 life sentences in prison for murder of her two children Vallow Daybell is captured on surveillance video entering Walgreens at 8:17 a.m. and purchasing two pairs of flip flops. According to location data from Vallows phone, she then dropped JJ off at school. As she was leaving, around 8:35 a.m., Alex Cox placed the 911 call. At 8:49 a.m., Vallow Daybell is captured with Tylee on police bodycam at the scene. Werther testifies that the timeline established that either the shooting happened a while before the 911 call, or Vallow Daybell was not present for the shooting. Vallow Daybell completed her cross-examination. The prosecution objected to many of her questions, and the judge sustained the objections. She mainly asked about what was located in the hotel room, and what information was found on Vallows cell phone. Day Seven It will be interesting if it got changed after he had two bullets in his chest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nathan Duncan, a detective with the Chandler Police Department in the robbery and homicide unit, was the only witness for the day. He was sent to the scene of the shooting on July 11, 2019. Duncan reviewed iCloud extractions from Vallows phone. He also reviewed emails that were located in the iCloud account, notably from kkwalker75. Duncan testified that although the name on the email was Karen Walker, it was connected to an old phone number that belonged to Vallow Daybell. Chad Daybell found guilty on all counts in doomsday murder case Vallow had saved an email sent by kkwalker75 to Chad Daybell. The email appeared to be from Vallow, asking him to come to Arizona to help ghostwrite a book. Vallow who was in Houston at the time confronted Vallow Daybell about this email and an affair, according to Duncan. Vallow also contacted Chad Daybells late wife, Tammy Daybell, about the email. Duncan testified that police uncovered multiple messages speaking about Ned, a name for the demon she believed was living in Vallows body. Messages between Vallow Daybell and Alex Cox revealed that they had been discussing Ned. On July 9, 2019, a text message sent from Vallow Daybell to Alex Cox reads, Im going to need you to stay close to me the next couple days. Mel too. She cant go to Utah. They are planking some kind of intervention but want Mel out of the way so I am left alone its all coming to a head this week. I will be like Nephi I am told! And so will you. Messages between Vallow Daybell and several family members her mother, Janis Cox, her sister, Summer Shiflet, and her niece, Melani Boudreaux show that they were working to keep her apart from Adam Cox on July 10, 2019. They knew that Adam Cox and Vallow were planning an intervention. After Vallows death on July 11, 2019, Duncan testified that romantic messages were exchanged between Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell. Before that event, no obviously romantic messages had been exchanged. Long chains of romantic messages are then shown to the courtroom, including a romantic story Chad Daybell wrote about how he and Vallow Daybell met, swapping out their names with James and Elena. Mom convicted of killing kids in Idaho pleads not guilty to Arizona murder conspiracy charges Hmm. It will be interesting if it got changed after he had two bullets in his chest, Chad Daybell wrote to Vallow Daybell after finding out that Vallows life insurance beneficiary had been changed several months before his death. Vallow Daybell told him she couldnt change it after his death. During her cross-examination, Vallow Daybell walked through what Duncan saw at the scene and how the investigation was handled. She asked if he was familiar with Nephi and whether he was aware that there could have been a different Nephi in The Book of Mormon that she was referring to. Treena Kay completed her redirect examination and then rested her case, meaning that the state has no further witnesses to provide testimony or evidence to show. Judge Beresky asked if Vallow Daybell would be calling witnesses or if she had any evidence. Vallow Daybell rested her case as well. The judge told her that if she rests her case, she is not able to change her mind about testifying. Vallow Daybell asked if she could have until Monday to decide whether she will testify. The next step in the trial will be jury instructions. Jury hears tearful victim impact statements at Chad Daybells sentencing Day Eight The jury was not in court this morning as the defense, prosecution and judge reviewed jury instructions. Vallow Daybell confirmed that she is not planning of presenting any evidence or calling any witnesses. Jury instructions are guidelines for the jury while they engage in deliberation, explaining laws and proceedings for the jury to apply. The jury instructions were standard for the Arizona court. There were some adjustments made because Vallow Daybell is representing herself. Vallow Daybell confirmed that the witnesses she had subpoenaed could be released. Jury instructions were finalized, and the plan for Monday was discussed. Judge Beresky then set the trial for Vallow Daybells case of attempted murder against Brandon Boudreaux, the ex-husband of her niece, Melani Boudreaux. The trial will begin May 30 at 10 a.m., and the last day will be June 30. There will be a final trial management conference on May 14. Vallow Daybell will be back in court on Monday for her conspiracy to murder Vallow case. Latest headlines: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. PARIS, Ky. (FOX 56) The case against Christopher Taulbee, a 19-year-old from Carlisle whos accused of killing the mother of his child and a man believed to be her boyfriend, is heading to a grand jury. Court documents filed on Wednesday, April 16, show that Taulbee will be transferred to the Woodford County Detention Center and held on a $2 million bond as he awaits further court proceedings. RELATED: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to court records, the case will be presented to a grand jury. Taulbee is accused of the April 3 shooting death of his childs mother, 20-year-old Dixieana Brainard, and the stabbing and beating of 24-year-old Charles Chuck Callaway. Investigators noted in an arrest warrant that they believed Callaway and Brainard were in a dating relationship. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Taulbee was arrested in Carter County when deputies found him naked and covered in blood in a Chevrolet Equinox with a flat tire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He pleaded not guilty 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 FOX 56 News. Gov. Mike Braun announced Thursday a new partnership between state law enforcement agencies to crack down on violent crime at bars and nightclubs. Under the plan, the Indiana State Police will collaborate with the State Excise Police "to address the issue of public safety around bars that tend to attract crime, drugs, and disturbances," according to a news release from the governor's office. The excise police enforce the state's alcohol and tobacco laws on behalf of the Indiana Alcohol & Tobacco Commission, whose four members are appointed by the governor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So-called nuisance bars present a serious public safety threat, becoming hubs for crime, drugs, and violence that make our communities more dangerous and drive down nearby property values," Braun said in a statement. "This partnership between the Indiana Excise Police and the Indiana State Police will make for safer streets and stronger communities. Braun said the state will also hire a new excise police superintendent to replace Matt Strittmatter, who has led the agency since 2011. The circumstances of Strittmatter's departure weren't immediately clear. The governor's office did not provide any details and Strittmatter declined to comment. His LinkedIn profile says he recently retired and is looking for a new position in law enforcement leadership. The new superintendent "will work with the Indiana Association of Chiefs of Police and the Indiana Sheriffs Association to communicate the role of Indiana Excise police to local departments and identify ways to collaborate with local law enforcement," according to the governor's office.The announcement comes a week after lawmakers in the House declined to hear a proposal that would have given state alcohol regulators more power to shut down bars and clubs if certain crimes such as murder, drug dealing or sex crimes occur on the premises. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Sen. Ron Alting, a former New Orleans nightclub owner, proposed the measure in response to a 2023 IndyStar investigation that identified more than 600 reports of violent acts tied to Indianapolis bars, nightclubs and event centers since 2016. The violence left at least 49 people dead and more than 150 others wounded in shootings or stabbings. Reporters found that bars with lengthy histories of violence were allowed to continue operating despite multiple shootings and even the arrest of their owners. The persistent violence vexed Indianapolis police, who said they were powerless to shut down bars and clubs because of a decades-old state law that prohibits cities from regulating alcohol businesses. Lax enforcement by the state alcohol commission compounded the problem. Read IndyStar's investigation: 49 killed, 154 shot or stabbed: How Indiana law protects bad bars In response to criticism, the Alcohol & Tobacco Commission emphasized that it lacked emergency suspension or revocation authority under state law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alting said his legislation was intended to remove that barrier. "They didn't have any power to pull a license immediately," he told IndyStar in January. "If you had a shooting in a bar, you couldn't even close it down until there was a meeting scheduled at the ATC." The measure, Senate Bill 260, passed the Senate but never got a hearing in the House. IndyStar reached out to Rep. Ethan Manning, the Logansport Republican who leads the House committee that handles alcohol legislation, but he did not immediately respond. Annual public nuisance violations issued by excise police have increased 34% since 2019, according to the governor's office. The violations include instances of shootings, stabbings, and drug related activity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Indiana law enforcement does an excellent job of keeping Hoosiers safe," the news release from the governor's office said, "and this partnership will bring together the expertise of the Excise Police with the tactical skill, resources, and footprint of the Indiana State Police to address crime and drug activity centered around these types of establishments." Contact IndyStar reporter Tony Cook at 317-444-6081 or tony.cook@indystar.com. Follow him on X: @IndyStarTony. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Braun announces 'crack down' on violence at bars BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 18. The delegation of the Air Force of the Republic of Kazakhstan visited the Azerbaijan Air Force, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. The meeting was also attended by representatives of the Azerbaijan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the State Civil Aviation Agency, the Foreign Intelligence Department, and the Azeraeronavigation Air Traffic Control (AZANS) Department of Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC. At first, a representative of the Azerbaijan Air Force welcomed the guests during a meeting held at the headquarters. During the meeting, a wide exchange of views took place on many issues of interest within the topic Coordination and organization of interaction in emergency flights and answers were given to the questions of the meeting participants. At the end, a photo was taken and gifts were presented to the guests. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) Months after the November presidential election, were getting new insight into how Californians voted, including breakdowns by cities, congressional districts and more. The results show that in Kern County, Republican messaging appealed greatly to voters, regardless of party. This is a reflection of the nationwide trouble Democrats had in reaching their target base. Kern County was overwhelmingly for Donald Trump. It doesnt surprise people to think of us as a red county, but were not that red, said Central Valley Political Analyst, Tracy Leach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After every election, Californias Secretary of State offers a detailed breakdown of how voters voted. California may vote blue, but President Donald Trump won Kern County with nearly 60% of the vote. Democratic opponent Kamala Harris received 38%. There were a lot of [Democrats] and Independents who chose to vote for Donald Trump, because he beat the registration here, noted Leach. From the election in November to now, voter registration in Kern increased as did GOP registration. This all matters because how a county votes for president often indicates how down ballot races will go for Congress, State Legislature, County Supervisors, City Council. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Five people arrested for allegedly possessing rifle, fleeing from deputies: KCSO Take the 22nd Congressional District, represented by David Valadao, who was just reelected. It leans Democrat and is majority Latino, yet a Republican holds the seat. This voter base went for Hillary Clinton by about 15 points in 2016 and Joe Biden by about 10 points in 2020. Despite all that in 2024, Trump won CD-22 by about 6%. It is a tell that again that Democrats nationally, the kinds of ads theyre running, the kind of issues theyre focusing on just do not resonate with most average people, said Leach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent weeks, Democrats have criticized Valadao for voting for a GOP budget aimed at cutting federal spending, which could include cuts to programs like Medicare and Medicaid. He cant always go with the Republican majority. He needs to get some accommodation from them because his district is different, Leach pointed out. Valadao and 11 other House Republicans on Wednesday signed yet another letter to House leadership writing that as Members of Congress who helped to deliver a Republican Majority, they cannot and will not support a final reconciliation bill that includes any reduction in Medicaid coverage for vulnerable populations. Leach further noted that given the unique nature of CD-22, Valadao, has not been and cannot be your typical Trump republican. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CD-22 is so competitive the battle to flip it blue in 2026 is already underway. Progressive Democrat Randy Villegas announced his campaign. In addition to the county, President Trump won Bakersfield. But the city of Bakersfield, even when you break it down granularly, went for Trump, Leach pointed out. Bakersfield voter registration also has leaned more Republican in recent months. Trump won all county supervisorial districts, other than District 5, represented by the only Democratic and Latino supervisor Leticia Perez. Kern County has Democratic lawmakers at the state level too State Senator Melissa Hurtado and Assemblywoman Dr. Jasmeet Bains. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet, Trump won Hurtados district by nearly 9 percent and Harris won Bains district by just 0.4 percent. Very interesting trends, added Leach, while saying that because politics changes on a dime, well have to see which candidates present themselves come 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News. BRISTOLVILLE, Ohio (WKBN) Trailing by 1 (2-1) entering the bottom of the fifth, Bristol posted 7 runs over the next two innings to garner an 8-2 victory over the visiting-Mathews Mustangs. Diesel Williams and Ronald Imhoff each had a pair of singles. Imhoff scored twice and drove in 2 RBIs. Brock Pierce finished with 3 RBIs and a single. Williams tossed a complete game; struck out 5 and permitted 5 hits while not allowing an earned run. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday, the Panthers will host Chalker. Jake Petak led Mathews offense with two hits, including a double. On Friday, the Mustangs will meet East Palestine. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The question What is a woman? has haunted politics on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean for a decade. In Britain, where I live, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has given a range of tortured answers, before eventually settling on an adult female. This week, the countrys highest court has endorsed that view. Interpreting Britains flagship civil-rights law, the Equality Act of 2010, the Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that the concept of sex is binary, a person is either a woman or a man. By unanimous decision, the five justices hearing the case decreed that the terms man, woman, and sex used there refer to biological sex. They also stressed that their ruling applied only to interpreting anti-discrimination law, and was not a wider judgment on the validity of transgender identities. In everyday life, many Americans and Britons, including me, are happy to use peoples chosen names and pronouns, and take their asserted identities at face value. But in some situations covered by the Equality Act, individuals biological sexa matter of verifiable factis more relevant than the gender with which they identify. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This weeks ruling most immediately affects women-only services, such as domestic-violence shelters, single-sex hospital wards, and prisonsplaces where womens dignity, privacy, and physical safety are paramount. Men could already be legally excluded from such services. The implications of the ruling also extend into other emotionally fraught situations: Is a rape victim entitled to request a forensic examination by someone of the same biological sex? Are lesbian dating meetups allowed to exclude trans women without risking a legal challenge? The court now says yes. [Adam Serwer: The attack on trans rights wont end there] At the same time, the court was keen to stress that transgender people have their own legal protections. If a trans woman is discriminated against by someone who reads her as a woman, that can be sex discrimination. And if she is discriminated against simply for being trans, then that falls under another protected characteristic in the Equality Act, gender reassignment. Critics of the British ruling have focused on the fact that trans women will be denied access to certain womens facilities. However, the ruling enhances the rights of trans men, who have reassurance that they can sue for pregnancy and maternity discrimination based on their biology. The U.K. judgment shows that society can separate out the distinct forms of discrimination faced by biological females and trans women, without denying that either group has a valid claim to protection under the law, or that trans women may deeply feel themselves to be women. It is not the role of the court to adjudicate on the arguments in the public domain on the meaning of gender or sex, the ruling states, nor is it to define the meaning of the word woman other than when it is used in the provisions of the EA 2010. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more than a decade, the LGBTQ movement has argued that trans women are women and that no attempt should ever be made to treat the two groups differently. But are women discriminated against because of their biology, or because of what the trans theorist Julia Serano has termed femmephobia? One definition would apply to trans women, and the other would not. The British gender-critical feminist movementwhich maintains that sex should take precedence over gender in lawhas argued that biology, rather than identity, is what stops employers from hiring women in their 30s, because bosses are worried about having to pay for maternity leave. Biology is why no woman can run a 100-meter race as fast as Usain Bolt. Biological males commit the overwhelming majority of sexual and violent offenses. The research on gender identity and criminality is limited, but the most relevant study found that trans women followed a pattern more typical of males than of females. In Britain, unlike in America, the debate about whether and when gender matters more than sex has not been strictly a matter of right versus left. In the United States, the debate is divided in a more classically partisan way: the best-known critics of trans inclusion include the swimmer Riley Gaines, who attended the signing of one of President Donald Trumps executive orders on gender; Representative Nancy Mace, who demanded that her trans colleague, Sarah McBride, not use womens bathrooms at the Capitol; and the conservative influencer Matt Walsh, who made a 2022 documentary called What Is a Woman? As a result, liberals and leftists approach the issue with extreme trepidation. Many try to dodge it altogether, as Kamala Harris did in the 2024 election, without acknowledging that there are legitimate grounds for disagreements. The U.S. debate has been shaped around the analogy between gay rights and trans rights for the purpose of civil-rights legislation. Any mention of bathrooms is also more fraught, because it evokes a time when Black citizens were denied the right to use whites-only facilities. [Helen Lewis: What the left refused to understand about womens sports] Here in the U.K., however, the earliest high-profile proponent of the gender-critical movement was Julie Bindel, a radical feminist lesbian whose background is in campaigning for women in prison, and whose partner is a human-rights lawyer. Many of the women who have won employment-tribunal cases over harassment and dismissal for their gender-critical views were employed at NGOs, at universities, or in social workall left-leaning sectors. Every major party of the left has a gender-critical caucus, such as the Labour Womens Declaration and Liberal Voice for Women. True, the question What is a woman? has become a reliable gotcha for right-wing newspapers and TV channels in the U.K. But the gender-critical feminists who celebrated outside the court this week were mostly lifelong left-wingers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The question of who counts as a woman reached Britains highest court thanks to a relatively minor issue. In recent years, the left-wing, pro-independence Scottish National Party has made transgender inclusion one of its flagship issuesevidence that it is more liberal and enlightened than its counterparts in England. In 2018, Scotland passed a law to encourage 5050 gender representation for nonexecutive positions on public boards. The SNP defined women to include anyone living as a woman. Wait a minute, said the grassroots feminist group For Women Scotland. Did that mean a company could have a gender-balanced board that was composed of 100 percent biological males? Yes, said the Scottish government. For Women Scotland then launched a crowdfunded legal challenge, to which the author J. K. Rowling contributed 70,000. The groups appeal reached the Supreme Court in Octoberand ended in victory this week. From a British perspective, one thing that has been immediately striking is how broadly this weeks judgment has been accepted across the political spectrum. This is a dramatic reversal. To obtain a gender-recognition certificate in Britain, an applicant needs a medical diagnosis of dysphoria and assessment by an independent panel. Ten years ago, almost all the main British partiesLabour, the Conservatives, the SNP, the Liberal Democrats, the Greenssupported changing this to a policy of self-identification of gender, which would have eliminated the need for outside review. Today, only the Liberal Democrats and the Greens support self-ID. The Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who took strongly gender-critical positions when she was in government, described the ruling as a victory for all of the women who faced personal abuse or lost their jobs for stating the obvious. Labours Keir Starmer did not interrupt his Easter vacation to make a statementin keeping with his longstanding aversion to getting involved with this issuebut his minister for women and equalities, Bridget Phillipson, said the ruling brought clarity and confidence. So great is Labours reversal on this issue that the leader of Scottish Labour, Anas Sarwar, even incorrectly claimed he had always been in favor of single-sex spaces. (In 2022, he whipped his party to vote for the Scottish bill that would have made gender a matter of pure self-identification. The law passed, but was blocked by the British government.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most notable of all, the left-wing SNP, whose legislation led to the judgment, also accepted the ruling. Under its former leader Nicola Sturgeon, the party disdained gender-critical feminists, to the point that some left for a rival pro-independence party. However, the SNPs current leader, John Swinney, has taken a more conciliatory approach and said the new ruling will now underpin his governments approach to gender. [Helen Lewis: The party whose success is a problem] LGBTQ organizations have responded more strongly, with Stonewall expressing deep concern about the rulings implications. What activists really fear is that the judgment will license MAGA-style attacks on the trans communityor that it is the first step toward banning legal gender changes altogether. (Under the Trump-friendly autocrat Viktor Orban, Hungary has done this, along with passing a suite of other anti-LGBTQ measures.) I fear this will be the beginning of a maximalist agenda to further undermine and often insult trans people, and their status in society, the podcaster Lewis Goodall wrote on Substack. With Trumps victory, the ideological winds are finely attuned to this purpose. But the courts careful judgment in London is a world away from recent executive orders from Washington. Liberal Americans who are tempted to depict the British court ruling as another outrage from Rowlings coven of witches on TERF island should note this difference. The adoption of a gender identity inconsistent with an individuals sex conflicts with a soldiers commitment to an honorable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle, even in ones personal life, declared Trumps executive order on the militarya statement that amounts to calling all trans people deliberate liars. By contrast, the first paragraph of the British judgment states that the trans community is both historically and currently a vulnerable community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That seems right to me. It is entirely possible to condemn the language and overreach of Trumps executive orders on gender while also supporting the judgment in London. Women face discrimination, and so do transgender people of both sexes, and the law can recognize that. At times, their rights must be balanced. This careful ruling has done exactly that. Article originally published at The Atlantic DENVER (KDVR) A jury reached a guilty verdict on Thursday afternoon in the case where a Broomfield man was accused of murdering his wife after sending texts under the identity of one of her ex-boyfriends, referring to her loser husband and that she was being watched. Daniel Krug was charged with first-degree murder, stalking and criminal impersonation. In the fall of 2023, Kristil Krug received a text from a number claiming to be her ex-boyfriend, which stated he wanted to hook up while he was in her town. She did not respond, but was sent several messages afterward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Denver man in Florida ICU after waterslide spinal injury Several weeks after the first text message was sent, Kristil was found dead in her home in Denver after being stabbed and beaten. Investigators later determined that the texts had not come from the ex-boyfriend, and were able to trace them back to the husband of Kristil, Daniel Krug. He was arrested on Dec. 16, 2023, which was two days after his wife was found in the garage of their home by a police officer. Police said there were several inconsistencies that led to the presumption of Daniel as a suspect. He made a call to police asking for a welfare check while he was at work at the state health department because his wife had not been responding to his text messages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the investigation, Kristils mother said that she had three security cameras installed at the home due to the stalking threat. During the time of her killing, none of the cameras were recording, and the one in the garage had tape over the lens, according to the arrest affidavit. Investigators looked at neighbors security cameras and said that the cameras did not show any unknown person entering the home in the hours leading up to her death. The affidavit said Kristil had previously contacted police about the text messages sent to her and they performed an IP address trace, which led to the workplace of Daniel. Daniel also allegedly used a burner phone that was purchased with a gift card bought under his name. Timing, totals, impact of mid-April rain and snowstorm in Denver Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the window where the killing could have taken place, the ex-boyfriend, purported to have sent the texts, was an eight-hour drive away in Utah and was not considered to be a suspect. Kristils mother told police that the relationship between Kristil and Daniel was not good and that Kristil was seeking divorce and full custody of their three children. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. Levee Johnston A man and his brother in western Tennessee deployed a clever system to save their family home from devastating river surges triggered by a catastrophic storm earlier this month. As the Washington Post reports, farmers Tucker Humphrey and his brother Justin constructed levees with an excavator that saved the house from flooding. Dazzling aerial footage of the flood shows the home and its surrounding rectangular property virtually untouched by the brown floodwater that has engulfed everything else in the region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The idea of constructing a levee, a technique that humans have known about and deployed for many thousands of years, was passed down from the two brothers' father, who died several years ago, according to WaPo. "Just normal things around here," Tucker Humphrey told the newspaper. "Doing what we have to do to save the house." https://twitter.com/foxweather/status/1912445873788797332 Paul Wall To protect the home, the pair constructed a barrier up to nine feet tall in certain places. And as it turns out, the artificial embankment was sorely needed. In just hours, the Obion River, which runs adjacent to their hometown of Bogota, rose nine feet at the beginning of April. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around 100 people had to be rescued in the area. The storm itself, which tore through much of the South, killed more than 30 people. The Humphreys have no plan to move away from the flood-prone area, and are ready to construct even higher barriers. "Ill build it 30 feet tall if I got to," Tucker told the WaPo. More on floods: Flood Wreaks Havoc on NASA Spacecraft A fire broke out at the Wawa gas station currently under construction in Brownsburg just after 11:30 a.m. Friday. Crews were able to get the blaze under control quickly and no injuries were reported by the Brownsburg Fire Territory. As responding firefighters were on their way to the scene, they spotted a column of smoke rising from the lot near the intersection of North State Road 267 and East County Road 700 North. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smoke and fire were coming from the rooftop by the time Brownsburg Fire Territory crews arrived. As first responders cleared the interior of the building, they learned that there was a person still stuck on the fiery roof. That person was soon rescued using ground ladders and was unharmed. A fire engine was able to bring the blaze under control after about eight to 10 minutes, according to a news release. Two additional firetrucks helped with water supply and fire suppression. Fire departments from Washington Township, Avon, Pittsboro and Wayne Township helped respond to the call. More: Wawa opening multiple stores in central Indiana in 2025. See where they are. Firefighters battled a blaze at a Wawa under construction on April 18, 2025 in Brownsburg, Indiana. Photographs taken at the scene show thick smoke pouring from the partially-built convenience store, with pieces of singed insulation visible near the building's entrance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Brownsburg store is one of at least seven stores Wawa plans to open in Indiana in 2025. The chain did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The fire remains under investigation with the Brownsburg Fire Territory Fire Marshals Office. Ryan Murphy is the communities reporter for IndyStar. She can be reached at rhmurphy@indystar.com. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Firefighters extinguish blaze at Wawa construction site in Brownsburg An 18-year-old Brunswick woman on Thursday was ordered to serve three years in prison for stabbing a teen girl she used to be friends with. Sophia Karrina Judd pleaded guilty on April 8 to one count each of first-degree assault and reckless endangerment for stabbing the other girl, who was 16 years old at the time of the attack on Nov. 18, 2024. The Frederick News-Post previously reported that the stabbing followed an altercation about text messages that were exchanged between the teens earlier that day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Originally, Judd was also charged with one count of attempted second-degree murder in connection with the stabbing. Prosecutors agreed not to prosecute her on that charge in exchange for her guilty plea. For the first-degree assault charge, Frederick County Circuit Judge Joanmarie Raymond Brubaker sentenced Judd to 25 years in prison. For the reckless endangerment charge, Brubaker sentenced Judd to five years in prison. For both counts, Brubaker suspended all but 18 months of the sentence. She ordered that Judd serve the two 18-month sentences consecutively. Judd will receive credit for time she has spent in the Frederick County Adult Detention Center since Nov. 19, 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During Judds sentencing hearing on Thursday, Assistant States Attorney Samantha Slattery said what happened was not a momentary lapse in judgment or some deranged act of self-defense. She said the girl who was stabbed three times will have scars on her body for the rest of her life as a result of Judds actions. In a victim impact statement, the girl who was stabbed said she felt sorry for Judd. The teen said Judd had a bright future, and she hoped Judd did not ruin it. The girl told the court that, if things had gone differently, she and Judd might have been able to work through their issues and reconcile later on. She said she forgave Judd, who she once considered family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kush Arora, Judds defense attorney, noted that Judd has no criminal history and that she has already taken advantage of the counseling and programs available to her in the detention center. Arora clarified that he was not arguing the stabbing was self defense. But he said there was unsavory behavior from both girls, who were planning to meet up and fight one another. He said Judd took it to another level by bringing a knife. Speaking on her own behalf, Judd said this entire situation weighs very heavy on my heart. She said she was in a state of turmoil at the time of the stabbing and that she regrets putting her family through the ordeal. Both girls parents also spoke on their daughters behalf during the sentencing hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judds father said his daughter was adopted from Guatemala when she was 7, and went through public school without any disciplinary problems. He said Judd struggled at times with her identity as an adoptee, but was generally well-liked by her peers. He said the stabbing was totally out of character for the Sophia we know and love and described Judd as fundamentally, a good person. The mother of the girl who was stabbed said her daughter felt betrayed by Judd, who she had been friends with for a long time. The girls mother said she was enraged to see Judd enter the courtroom with a grin on her face, with no evidence or sign of remorse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While handing down the sentence on Thursday, Brubaker said Judd appeared the most upset while listening to her father rather than her former friend speak about the impact of her actions. Brubaker said she hopes Judd will think about her fathers comments the next time she gets angry and wants to lash out. Upon her release from prison, Judd will be required to serve five years of supervised probation. She will also be required to undergo mental health evaluation and treatment, and to attend an anger management class. While she is on probation, Judd will not be allowed any contact with the girl she stabbed. This is a really sad case, Brubaker said. I hope both families are able to heal at this point. FUZULI, Azerbaijan, April 18. Representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Azerbaijan visited Khankendi and Shusha cities, Trend reports. The delegation was accompanied by Assistant to the President - Head of the Department of Foreign Policy Affairs of the Presidential Administration Hikmat Hajiyev. The delegation first arrived at Fuzuli International Airport. Then, representatives of the diplomatic corps will visit the city of Khankendi and meet with students of Garabagh University. During the visit, Hikmet Hajiyev provided information on the historical roots of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Karabakh conflict, including the war crimes committed by Armenia in the occupied territories. He emphasized that Azerbaijan, following international principles, had restored its territorial integrity and sovereignty, ushering in a new phase of development in both Karabakh and East Zangazur. In a speech, the rector of Garabagh University, Shahin Bayramov, discussed the achievements in education and the universitys future goals. Elchin Yusubov, the Presidents Special Representative in the city of Khankendi and in Aghdara and Khojaly districts, highlighted large-scale reconstruction and development projects in the liberated territories. He noted the ongoing construction of new modern roads, railways, and air routes, as well as efforts to provide residents with electricity, drinking water, and natural gas. The region is also seeing the creation of green spaces, and Khankendi is becoming a hub for entrepreneurs, with around 12,000 residents now living in seven newly populated areas. Emin Huseynov, Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan in the Aghdam, Fuzuli, and Khojavand districts, updated the delegation on demining operations and construction activities in the newly liberated areas. Following the visit to Khankendi, the diplomatic representatives continued their trip to Shusha. The representatives of the diplomatic corps then visited Garabagh University, where they toured the educational building, library, auditorium, laboratory, and exhibition hall. They were also treated to musical performances by faculty and students from the Faculty of Arts. Following their visit to the university, the diplomats explored the central area of Khankendi and took a commemorative photo in front of Victory Square. After concluding their visit to Khankendi, the diplomatic delegation continued their trip to Shusha. Aydin Kerimov, the Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan in the Shusha district, shared the city's history, its condition during the occupation, and the ongoing reconstruction efforts. He highlighted the damage caused to historical buildings, mosques, and monuments during nearly three decades of Armenian occupation. Since Shushas liberation, large-scale restoration projects have been underway, aiming to restore the citys historical and cultural landmarks. The diplomats toured the construction work on Karabakh Street in Shusha, where ten buildings are being erected as part of public-private partnership projects. These include a hotel, office buildings, food establishments, and the building of the Shusha Reserve Directorate. The ongoing construction is designed to preserve the citys historical character. The delegation then arrived at the Ashaghi Govhar Agha Mosque, where it was reported that restoration work, which had been delayed due to the Armenian vandalism during Shushas occupation, has now been completed. Built in the 19th century by architect Karbalai Safikhan Garabaghi, the mosque is regarded as the first mosque in Shusha, constructed on the initiative of Ibrahim Khan's daughter, Govhar Agha. This mosque stands as one of the citys key historical and architectural symbols. Shusha historically consisted of 17 upper and lower quarters, with the Ashagi Govhar Agha Mosque being named for its location in the lower part of the city. Additionally, the foreign diplomats were also introduced to the first residential complex in Shusha as part of the visit. The opening of the complex, whose foundation was laid in 2021, took place on May 10, 2024. The homes were designed in a traditional architectural style typical of Shusha, and the 23-building residential complex has been equipped with all the necessary amenities to ensure the comfort of the city's residents. 09:56 Representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Azerbaijan have begun visits to Khankendi and Shusha cities, Trend reports. The delegation is accompanied by Assistant to the President - Head of the Department of Foreign Policy Affairs of the Presidential Administration, Hikmat Hajiyev. The delegation first arrived at Fuzuli International Airport. Then, representatives of the diplomatic corps will visit the city of Khankendi and meet with students of Garabagh University. Originally appeared on E! Online Bryan Kohbergers case is moving forwardwith some eye-catching conditions. As the 30-year-olds trial for the 2022 murders of University of Idaho students Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin approaches, a presiding judge has denied his legal teams motion to exclude references to bushy eyebrows, according to court documents obtained by NBC News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Specifically, Ada County judge Steven Hippler ruled that one of the two surviving roommates in the November 2022 attackreferred to as D.M. in the docswill be allowed to testify about the physical detail, as it is highly relevant to the case, he said. D.M. is the only eyewitness to the intruder responsible for the homicides, Hippler wrote in his ruling, per the Idaho Statesman. It is the jurys task to determine whether (the) defendant is that person. The judge also sided with prosecutors by permitting the use of the words murder or murderer in describing Kohbergerwho has pled not guilty in the caseas well as permitting the use of his Amazon purchase history in evidence. During a previous court hearing, Hippler heard arguments from Kohbergers attorneys as to how his autism diagnosis could influence a jury as prosecutors seek the death penalty in the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Due to his ASD, Mr. Kohberger simply cannot comport himself in a manner that aligns with societal expectations of normalcy, his defense lawyers argued at the April 9 hearing, per NBC News. This creates an unconscionable risk that he will be executed because of his disability rather than his culpability. While a decision on whether to strike the death penalty has not yet been made, prosecutors did agree not to bring up Kohbergers autism diagnosis as an aggravator to help arguments for capital punishment, NBC News reported at the time. More from E! Online Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, some of Kohbergers motions were granted, including his request that the words psychopath and sociopath not be permissible in court. The judge also partly granted the defenses request not to use the Kohbergers autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis and characteristics as evidence against him. Ted S. Warren-Pool/Getty Images During a previous court hearing, Hippler heard arguments from Kohbergers attorneys as to how his autism diagnosis could influence a jury as prosecutors seek the death penalty in the case. Due to his ASD, Mr. Kohberger simply cannot comport himself in a manner that aligns with societal expectations of normalcy, his defense lawyers argued at the April 9 hearing, per NBC News. This creates an unconscionable risk that he will be executed because of his disability rather than his culpability. While a decision on whether to strike the death penalty has not yet been made, prosecutors did agree not to bring up Kohbergers autism diagnosis as an aggravator to help arguments for capital punishment, NBC News reported at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jury selection in the case is set to begin in July. In the meantime, keep reading for more details on the murders. (E! and NBC News are both part of the NBCUniversal family.) Who Were Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle? Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and her boyfriend Ethan Chapin, 20, were University of Idaho students who lived in an off-campus apartment. On Nov. 12, 2022the night before their bodies were foundGoncalves and Mogen were at a nearby sports bar, while Kernodle and Chapin were at the latters fraternity party. By 2 a.m. on Nov. 13, the four roommates and Chapin were back at the three-story rental house. Goncalves was a senior majoring in general studies at the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences. She was expected to graduate in December before heading to Austin, Tex., for a job at a marketing firm, her friend Jordyn Quesnell told The New York Times. Mogen, who was studying marketing, was best friends with Goncalves since the sixth grade. She had plans to move to Boise after graduation, family friend Jessie Frost shared with The Idaho Statesman. Kernodle was a junior majoring in marketing, the University said at the time. She and Chapinwho majored in recreation, sport and tourism managementhad been dating since the spring, the roommates neighbor Ellie McKnight told NBC News. Were There Any Survivors? Two roommates, Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke, had been home at the time of the murders. In text messages that were unsealed March 6, 2025, Mortensen and Funke tried contacting their roommates on Nov. 13 after the former saw a masked man moving through the house, according to documents obtained by E! News. "No one is answering," Mortensen texted Funke at 4:22 a.m. "I'm rlly confused rn." She continued to reach out to their roommates, urging them to respond. "Pls answer," she texted Goncalves at 4:32 a.m. and again at 10:23 a.m. "R u up??" At 11:58 a.m., a 911 call was placed after Kernodle was found unresponsive, per an additional motion obtained by E! News. A woman named A1 in the transcript described the current situation to the operator. "One of the roommates who's passed out and she was drunk last night and she's not waking up," she said on the phone. "They saw some man in their house last night." Who Is Bryan Kohberger and How Was He Found? Bryan Kohberger, who has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder, was a doctoral candidate at Washington State University. Over one month after the bodies of Gonclaves, Mogen, Kernodle and Chapin were discovered, Kohberger was taken into custody Dec. 30 in Monroe County, Penn. He was extradited to Idaho Jan. 4. As for how authorities connected him to the killings? DNA was found on a knife sheath that was left at the crime scene, prosecutors revealed in June 2023 court documents, per NBC News. When the DNA didn't match anyone in the FBI database, authorities ran the DNA through public ancestry websites to create a list of potential suspects, according to the filings. After learning that Kohberger had driven to his parents' home in Monroe County, local officials then went through their trash and found DNA that tied him to that found on the sheath. What Is Kohbergers Defense Arguing? At the moment, a motive for the attack has not been detailed and a gag order prevents many involved in the case from speaking publicly, NBC News reported. However, the unsealed documents provided some insight into their arguments. Kohberger's attorneys argued in a motion obtained by E! News to strike the death penalty that Kohbergerwho could face the death penalty if found guilty on all counts, a judge ruled in November 2024has autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and that executing him would violate the Eighth Amendment's prohibition on "cruel and unusual punishment." His defense argued that Kohbereger "displays extremely rigid thinking, perseverates on specific topics, processes information on a piecemeal basis, struggles to plan ahead, and demonstrates little insight into his own behaviors and emotions." "Due to his ASD, Mr. Kohberger simply cannot comport himself in a manner that aligns with societal expectations of normalcy," the motion said. "This creates an unconscionable risk that he will be executed because of his disability rather than his culpability." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Where Does the Case Stand Today? Kohberger had a judge enter a not-guilty plea to the first-degree murder charges on his behalf after remaining silent at his May 2023 arraignment. Although his trial was set to begin Oct. 2, 2023, Kohberger waived his right to a speedy trial in August 2023. His new trial datewhich will take place in Ada County, more than 300 miles from Latah County, where the killings took placeis set to begin Aug. 11, 2025. Latah County Judge John Judge ruled in favor of the transfer request made by Kohberger's defense in September 2024 based on "presumed prejudice" if the trial remained in Latah County. Ada County Judge Steven Hipplerwho is now presiding over the casedenied the defense's request to suppress key DNA and other evidence, including cell phone and email records, surveillance footage, past Amazon purchases and DNA evidence in the trial. For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App The president of El Salvador staged a cheerful photoshoot on a restaurant patio to prove that the man mistakenly deported by the Trump administration is in good health. Nayib Bukele published Thursday night the first photos of Kilmar Abrego Garcia since he was wrongfully shipped off to an El Salvador prison under President Donald Trumps massive deportation blitz. The odd setting was an apparent jab at Democrats and others in the U.S. who had speculated wildly for days that Abrego Garcia may have been hurtor killedduring his incarceration in the countrys infamous CECOT mega prison complex. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kilmar Abrego Garcia, miraculously risen from the death camps & torture, now sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador! Bukele said in a post on X. Now that hes been confirmed healthy, he gets the honor of staying in El Salvadors custody. Now that hes been confirmed healthy, he gets the honor of staying in El Salvadors custody https://t.co/2xVt4SNOGn Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) April 18, 2025 A series of photos showed a freshly shaved Abrego Garcia donning a Kansas City Chiefs cap and a checkered top with jeans as he spoke with Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen, who earlier flew to El Salvador to meet the deportee. They met in what appeared to be a restaurant patio, where a table held two wine glasses with salted rims and cherries on top. Abrego Garcia had a cup of coffee on the side. Van Hollen, for his part, ignored the showmanship of the photo-op and said he was just grateful to see Abrego Garcia alive and seemingly healthy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar. Tonight I had that chance, Van Hollen said on X. I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return. I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar. Tonight I had that chance. I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return. pic.twitter.com/U9y2gZpxCb Senator Chris Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen) April 18, 2025 Hes alive trended on X Thursday night as people reacted to the proof-of-life photos. Van Hollen flew to El Salvador on Wednesday to check on Abrego Garcias well-being at CECOT, where he was detained after being taken from his family in Maryland. The Democratic senator said he was initially denied entry to CECOTeven though conservatives like Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and West Virginia Rep. Riley Moore were allowed inside to take photos in front of cells packed with inmates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Todays purpose was just to see what his health condition is, Van Hollen said in a video on Wednesday. As you can see, theyre (soldiers) letting other cars go by but they stopped us because theyre under orders not to allow us to proceed. We were just denied entry into CECOT the notorious prison in El Salvador where Mr. Abrego Garcia is being illegally held. We were there for one simple reason: to check on his well-being, which his family and lawyers have not been allowed to do. We wont stop fighting. pic.twitter.com/yG2b7N6Nvn Senator Chris Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen) April 17, 2025 In a meeting with President Donald Trump on Monday, Bukele rebuffed calls to bring back Abrego Garcia to the U.S. How can I return him to the United States? Bukele asked the press. I smuggle him into the United States or what do I do? Of course, Im not going to do it. The question is preposterous. The Supreme Court agreed unanimously that the Trump administration must facilitate Abrego Garcias return to the U.S. after the government admitted that it deported him due to an administrative error. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet Trump officials have ignored the calls to bring back Abrego Garcia, arguing that he is a member of the international criminal gang MS-13. Based on the sensationalism of many of the people in this room, you would think we deported a candidate for Father of the Year, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt scoffed at reporters in a fiery press briefing. But not even the courts have been convinced of Abrego Garcias ties to MS-13, which were based on him wearing Chicago Bulls merchandise and a confidential informants claim that he belonged to the gangs clique in New York despite never having lived there. The Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit said evidence of those allegations was thin, to say the least. Two people suspected of stealing clothes from a downtown Burlington store face charges of aggravated assault after they injured a police officer while trying to escape. Burlington police said an officer in a marked cruiser noticed the pair around 4:15 p.m. Thursday. They were walking quickly away from Church Street Marketplace carrying a large amount of clothing, much of it still on hangers. At around the same time, the officer was notified of a reported retail theft from a Church Street business. When confronted by the officer, the two people identified as Richard Hammond, 37, Kyla Leduc, 32, both of Colchester started to run off in different directions with the clothing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The officer chased Hammond in to Pearl Street, where they fell to the ground, police said. Leduc then allegedly joined the fray, punching the officer as they tried to gain control of Hammond. Leduc allegedly pulled the officers arms, freeing Hammond. The officer was able to grab Hammond again, but police say Leduc continued to assault the officer until a concerned bystander pulled her away. Police say Leduc then picked up the clothing and began to walk away. She was taken into custody after a brief foot pursuit, police said. The Burlington Fire Department transported the officer to University of Vermont Medical Centers Emergency Room for treatment of undisclosed injuries. The officers condition is unknown. Hammond and Leduc were jailed on $5,000 bail. They were due in court Friday morning on charges of aggravated assault, hindering an arrest, impeding a police officer, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and possession of stolen property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44. Republican political consultant Karl Rove marked the forthcoming 100-day milestone of President Donald Trumps second term with a Wall Street Journal column warning of the Trump fatigue that many Americans already feel. In his Wednesday column for WSJ, Rove, who previously served as Senior Advisor and White House Deputy Chief of Staff under George W. Bush, wrote of Trumps second term, Americans are already exhausted. Theyve had way too much thrown at them. While Rove noted that Trump has, in his MAGA supporters eyes, followed through on his border promises, he critiqued the president for failing to properly address Americans economic needs, promoting a confusing global tariffs plan and adopting a scattershot approach to policy-making. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every week the White House throws its weight behind a new issue that went largely or entirely unmentioned during the campaign, Rove wrote, referencing Trumps renaming of the Gulf of Mexico and his comments about acquiring Greenland and Canada. Roves remarks come at a time when Trumps policies are receiving significant pushback from Wall Street, Congress and the American people. The Republican Partys resolve is, consequently, being tested at a high rate and intensity. Amidst all of the ongoing governmental chaos, Rove observed that Trump doesnt avoid drama; he relishes creating it, and he blasted the president for focusing too much on getting revenge on his political enemies. Theres way too much retribution. Most of the presidents revenge attempts will end badly for him, the political consultant wrote. Republicans could rue the day they set a new justification for retaliation from Democrats. Rove called out how Trumps actions over the past three months have helped parties in foreign countries that oppose him, citing renewed liberal popularity in nations like Canada and Australia. Unfortunately, Rove believes those hoping for a positive shift in the coming weeks, months and years will likely be disappointed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His policies will almost certainly continue to be a mixture of deliberately planned, well-executed ideas and those concocted on the fly, Rove predicted, adding that the Oval Office and Mar-a-Lago will continue to feel like Ancient Romes Colosseum, without the bloodletting and lions. The longtime Republican noted that all of this has had an adverse effect on Trumps approval ratings, but nonetheless posited, Things will get worse before they get better. The post Bush-Era Advisor Karl Rove Predicts Trump Antics Will End Badly for Him: Americans Are Already Exhausted appeared first on TheWrap. A law intended to protect law enforcement by shielding their home addresses and phone numbers from disclosure has sparked several legal challenges, but police are defending the law. (Photo by New Jersey Monitor) A coalition of businesses and the states biggest police union are sparring over a New Jersey law meant to protect prosecutors, judges, and cops by shielding their home addresses and phone numbers from disclosure. Businesses that use data for things like real estate, lending, fraud detection, background checks, and credit reporting say changes legislators made in 2023 to strengthen the law instead allowed data privacy companies to profit by suing and seeking damages from companies that dont remove personal information from the internet. The businesses recently formed the Public Safety Information Protection Coalition to fight the state statute, known as Daniels Law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement John Molinelli, a former Bergen County prosecutor, is the coalitions spokesman. Daniels Law serves a noble purpose, but the law is broken, Molinelli said in a statement last week. A group of businesses asked a federal judge last June to declare Daniels Law an unconstitutional, impermissibly broad violation of the First Amendment (Molinelli is not the plaintiffs counsel). The judge rejected that challenge, and last month the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to review the judges ruling. The New Jersey State Policemens Benevolent Association wrote an open letter Wednesday to Molinelli, accusing him of falling prey to the data industrys latest ploy to avoid accountability for putting public servants in harms way. The letter, signed by state PBA President Peter Andreyev and 43 leaders of other PBA chapters statewide, said members of the data business coalition pretend to be advocates for Daniels Law while secretly seeking to undermine and weaken it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They would rather spend millions of dollars spreading misinformation and lies than simply comply with a law meant to keep us and our families safe, the letter says. New Jersey enacted Daniels Law in 2020. Its named after federal Judge Esther Salas son, Daniel Anderl, who was slain at the judges home that year by a gunman who wanted to harm Salas. Since state legislators passed the law soon after Anderls death, they have expanded it several times to protect additional public workers, including child welfare investigators. Lawmakers amended it in 2023 to establish mandatory monetary damages for violations, among other things. The following year, Atlas Data Privacy Corp. filed 118 class-action lawsuits on behalf of law enforcement officers against data brokers accused of ignoring requests to remove the officers data from various websites. Molinelli had called such lawsuits predatory, accusing Atlas of engineering the 2023 legislative amendments so that it could sue violators and reap the profits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The PBA officials defended the lawsuits, saying the data brokers and businesses Molinelli represents continue to violate Daniels Law by selling law enforcement officers private information despite the ongoing litigation and officers pleas to them to stop. What you call predatory lawsuits we call a fight to protect ourselves and our families from predators who seek to cause us harm, the PBA officials wrote. PBA officials have cited a leaked conference call, first reported by Politico earlier this month, during which data brokers and industry groups plotted how to weaken the law. Molinelli, in a statement from a spokesman, said the PBAs letter fails to address how best to protect public officials who do not want their personal information published. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many of those who signed this letter are friends of mine and I respect them greatly for what they do. Their misplaced efforts to attack me for wanting Daniels Law to work as intended are regrettably shrouded by the financial plans of Atlas Data Privacy Corporation, he said. Daniels Law has inspired similar legislation in other states, even though it has prompted several legal challenges here. Still, legislators aim to expand it further. One bill now in the Statehouse pipeline would extend privacy protections under Daniels Law to court administrators and deputy court administrators, while another would allow people protected under the law to use a post office box or address other than their home address on their drivers license or other official identification cards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Salas has recently said judges and their families have received unsolicited pizza deliveries from unknown persons a signal, she says, that the people know where the judges live and some of them are sent using her late sons name. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX KEITHVILLE, La. (KTAL/KMSS) Caddo Fire District Four conducted live fire training in two vacant structures that were donated by the community. Were able to just go in here and really hone in on our search and rescue skills. Number one is us being able to get inside, find a potential victim if there are any in there, and to make sure thats number one priority. And then you know second comes saving property as well, said Nick Morton, a firefighter paramedic with Caddo Fire District Four. Firefighters with the district say the way buildings burn and the way fire moves is ever changing, so training is vital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Joshua Gamble, a firefighter paramedic with Caddo Fire District Four and lead for the training said, this gives them a different layout theyre not used to and things like that. You get to see a little bit of different fire behavior, the building breathe and the way it reacts to the fire itself and gives a good opportunity for new guys and our old guys to spice up training a little bit. The burning site served as a training ground for thermal cameras which were aquired by a Firehouse Subs Grant. Caddo Fire District Four says they are one of the only regional areas that gives a camera to every fireman in the department. Those are an indispensable tool to help us with finding the fire itself, the heat that were involved in, and actually making rescues for our community, it makes us a little bit faster and a little bit more productive because were able to see through that smoke layer and see that heat and see those victims early on, said Gamble. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the training, firefighters erased the color. The color yellow on the thermal cameras meant 300 degrees and red meant well over 500 degrees. Were able to see where the hottest parts of that fire, or what the hottest room is, and how to best effectively cool that. You know the faster that we can get water directed into a hot atmosphere, it rapidly cools the environment as a whole, said Morton. The thermal cameras also allowed firefighters to see smoke and fuel that can be above 300 degrees. Caddo Fire District Four was joined by Caddo Fire District Three for mutual aid training. When that fire comes, today, tonight, next shift, whatever it may be, its second nature to us at that point knowing the fastest, best, most effective way to get in there and hopefully rescue somebody and hopefully be able to put the fire out, said Morton. 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. SAN FRANCISCO California voters have grown so frustrated with the blue states failure to reduce homelessness that well over a third of the electorate now supports local laws that allow police to arrest people camping outside if they refuse shelter. About 37 percent of voters support arresting homeless people if they refuse to accept shelter, according to a poll from POLITICO and UC Berkeleys Citrin Center that surveyed registered voters as well as political and policy professionals for the first time about the contentious approach to the homelessness crisis. Another 24 percent of voters surveyed somewhat agree with that approach, and 38 percent oppose the idea. If I were a policymaker, I would read this as people expressing frustration that homelessness hasnt decreased in absolute terms, said Jason Elliott, a veteran Democratic consultant and Gov. Gavin Newsoms former deputy chief of staff. Californians are right to be frustrated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The poll also found that addressing housing and homelessness was far and away the biggest shortcoming of state government and the most pressing issue facing California, which has the nations largest homeless population and notoriously high housing costs. The finding on encampments comes as a handful of cities pursue more aggressive policies, including a proposal by San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, a moderate Democrat, that would allow the Bay Area city to arrest people who repeatedly decline shelter. Even cities with less draconian ordinances, including San Francisco and Sacramento, have seen a sharp uptick in the number of homeless people arrested for refusing to move their camps. Such arrests have surged in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling last summer, Grants Pass v. Johnson, that granted local officials broad powers to outlaw public camping, including by jailing people. But that openness to more hard-line tactics isnt shared by many of the states political elite, including policymakers driving the statewide agenda in Sacramento. Nearly half of the states policy influencers or 45 percent oppose using law enforcement to detain people sleeping on sidewalks and in other public spaces. Much of the states Democratic establishment, including Newsom, have resisted such measures, even as they ramp up encampment sweeps instead favoring voluntary offers of shelter and conservatorships for those with severe drug addictions or mental illnesses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement City leaders whove pursued more aggressive anti-campaign laws complain that voluntarily urging people to accept shelter hasnt been enough. That includes Mahan and officials in Fresno and Fremont, a Bay Area suburb that previously outlawed "aiding and abetting" homeless residents as part of its camping ban (though the city later reversed itself amid threats of litigation). Many of us in local government are realizing that the only tool we have for bringing severely addicted people in from the streets and giving them a shot at benefiting from treatment is our court system, Mahan said. Since the Grants Pass decision, which Newsom supported, the governor has urged cities to clear encampments. Many local governments refuse to routinely clear tents which Elliot, who still advises Newsom on an informal basis, said is a more pressing concern than a polarizing debate over arrests. He added, There are still jurisdictions in this state that are taking no action at all. That, to me, is a question that needs to be called. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The survey found that a plurality of male voters and the vast majority of Republicans support arresting homeless people who decline shelter; Democrats are far more likely to oppose such policies 50 percent oppose it while 21 percent are in favor of it. Independent voters were more evenly divided. California lawmakers have been reluctant to adopt any statewide policies on public-camping ordinances, even as other blue states like Oregon have imposed limits for cities. This session, however, state lawmakers are considering a bill that would ban heavier-handed homelessness policies. The proposal from state Sen. Sasha Renee Perez, a Los Angeles County Democrat, would prohibit civil or criminal penalties, including jail, for any act immediately related to homelessness or any act related to basic survival. While the poll from POLITICO and UC Berkeleys Citrin Center suggests a disconnect between many voters and the states political elite around policing encampments, it found both groups view the crisis as the top issue in California. According to the survey, 58 percent of voters view housing and homelessness as the area where the states government needs to make the most improvement, an opinion shared by 65 percent of political influencers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jack Citrin, a University of California, Berkeley political science professor who directed the survey, said it shows voters are growing increasingly frustrated that the state hasnt moved the needle on homelessness after spending tens of billions in taxpayer money to address it. Its a highly visible issue, Citrin said. You cant completely avoid homelessness if you live in a big city. The survey was conducted on the TrueDot.ai platform from April 1-14 among 1,025 California registered voters and 718 influencers. Its questions were put to two distinct survey groups: California registered voters and a selection of policy influencers. To generate the influencer sample, the survey was emailed to a list of people, including subscribers to California Playbook, California Climate and POLITICO Pro who work in the state. Respondents in that sample included lawmakers and staffers in the state Legislature and the federal government. Verasight provided the registered voter sample, which included randomly sampled voters from the California voter file. The modeled error estimate for the voter survey is plus-or-minus five percentage points. California will sue the Trump administration for dismantling AmeriCorps while ramping up its efforts to recruit people for its own state equivalent, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom. The federal government laid off thousands of AmeriCorps members this week as part of an ongoing effort to downsize federal agencies. AmeriCorps members respond to natural disasters and partake in community projects, usually in yearlong stints. Newsom called the firings illegal and said AmeriCorps members had been instrumental in helping 26,000 households recover from this years devastating wildfires in Los Angeles by packing 21,000 food boxes and distributing supplies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve gone from the New Deal, the New Frontier, and the Great Society to a federal government that gives the middle finger to volunteers serving their fellow Americans, he said in a statement. In addition to filing a lawsuit, which was not yet available as of Thursday evening, Newsom said his administration would recruit more people to join the California Service Corps program. The AmeriCorps lawsuit is the second suit this week his administration has filed after he and Attorney General Rob Bonta asked a federal judge to stop Trumps tariffs Wednesday. Josh Fryday oversees the program as state Chief Service Officer. These (federal) actions will dismantle vital lifelines in communities across California, he said in a statement. AmeriCorps members are out in the field teaching children to read, supporting seniors and helping families recover after disasters. AmeriCorps is not bureaucracy; its boots on the ground. KHANKENDI, Azerbaijan, April 18. The organization of familiarization tours for the foreign diplomatic corps to Azerbaijan's liberated lands, as directed by President Ilham Aliyev, is ongoing, Trend reports. More than 100 representatives of the diplomatic corps and international organizations accredited in Azerbaijan, who are on a visit to Khankendi, first visited Garabagh University. Here they were met by the Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Khankendi city, Aghdara and Khojaly districts Elchin Yusubov and the Rector of Garabagh University Shahin Bayramov. Over 100 diplomats and military attaches from 33 countries and seven international organizations accredited in Azerbaijan are taking part in the visit. The objective of the engagement is to acclimate international diplomatic representatives with the rehabilitative and reconstructive initiatives executed in Khankendi, as well as the conducive environments established for the scholars of Garabagh University. Representatives of the diplomatic corps got acquainted with Khankendi and were given information about the city. Then the guests visited the Faculty of Arts of Garabagh University, where they were given information about the faculty. They listened to the music performed by the band in the concert hall of the faculty. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Call 4 Action inundated with complaints on NYs CDPAP system BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) Our Call 4 Action team has been inundated with complaints from families looking for help on the states CDPAP system. This has been a statewide issue for weeks ever since the state overhauled its home care system. For those who havent heard of CDPAP, it stands for Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program. Its run through the states Medicaid program. CDPAP serves people who are chronically ill and physically disabled. It allows those people to receive home care services from friends, family or another caregiver. Last year, state law was changed due to fraud and abuse within the CDPAP system. The state made it so there would no longer be multiple administrators of the states CDPAP system, and instead there would be just one. That company is called Public Partnerships, LLC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On April 1, PPL took control of the system and since then families have had online technical issues, many personal care aides have not been paid and many families have not gotten calls back to answer their questions. The problem is now the way that its administered, you have to go through this PPL company instead, you cant choose your local place like we used to have choices and then if you had a bad experience with a company you could pick a different company now you have no choice, said Robin Chapo of Niagara Falls, who lives with diabetes and has mobile issues. Public Partnerships says its call volume has increased, the company has added more call takers and that theyre working overtime, seven days a week to help families. An update from the state Health Department says roughly 80,000 personal assistants who have started their registration still are not ready to be paid. Public Partnerships has sent us a link that offers in-person office visits for families. The nearest PPL location is in Rochester. There are virtual registration sessions as well. The federal government is reviewing the states CDPAP system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is an ongoing lawsuit on the CDPAP mess thats being heard in federal court in New York City. The states Health Commissioner has been sued over complications with CDPAP. A judge has ordered that the state make sure personal care assistants are being paid and to do everything it can to get personal care assistants registered with PPL. According to the state, an agreement in federal court requires consumers to complete registration with PPL by May 15 and June 6 for workers. The state has released a statement saying: The $10 million dark money campaign by shady business groups has failed to stop New York States much-needed CDPAP reforms, which will protect CDPAP for people who need it and put an end to runaway bureaucratic spending in this taxpayer-funded program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This agreement supports the states ongoing CDPAP transition and ensures our reforms will proceed in full. The proposed agreement will have no impact on hundreds of thousands of consumers and workers who have already completed registration with PPL. It provides a limited window for additional consumers and workers to complete their registration with PPL. The Department of Health will continue working with all stakeholders to ensure that CDPAP consumers and workers receive the care and support they need. Last month, Republicans in the Assembly called for a delay in the states CDPAP system. New York Legal Assistance Group, who represents the CDPAP participants who lost services, provided the following resources for participants who are facing challenges with the transition: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CDPAP Transition Hotline can be reached at (833) 947-8666. The Department of Health CDPAP Transition Team can be reached via email at StatewideFI@health.ny.gov. NYLAG can be reached at (212) 946-0359 or via email at cdpaplawsuit@nylag.org. For more information about options under the Engesser v. McDonald Preliminary Injunction, click here. Updates on the class action lawsuit and ongoing court proceedings can be found here. Latest Local News Jeff Preval is an award-winning anchor and reporter who joined the News 4 team in December 2021. 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 News 4 Buffalo. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A neighbors security camera captured a man killing his girlfriend and then driving off in a stolen car, eventually leading to his arrest in Mexico after a two-year search, according to documents the 8 News Now Investigators obtained. Oswaldo Nate Perez-Sanchez, 27, is accused of killing his girlfriend, Tabatha Tozzi, 26, on April 22, 2023, outside a west valley home near Alta Drive and Cimarron Road. A relative of Perez-Sanchez lived in the home, police said. Tozzi died two days later from her injuries. Mexican authorities arrested Perez-Sanchez on Tuesday in Northern Mexico, the 8 News Now Investigators first reported Tuesday evening. Perez-Sanchez was in the United States on a visa that prohibited him from leaving the [U.S.], Tozzi told a family member, according to police. Two sources with knowledge of the investigation described Perez-Sanchez as a dreamer, an undocumented immigrant brought into the United States as a child. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the shooting, Perez-Sanchez carjacked Tozzis friend and drove off, police said. A witness told police that right before the shooting, she heard a woman say, I want my keys back, get out of my car. Tabatha Tozzi, 26, was shot in the head on April 22, 2023, outside a west valley home near Alta Drive and Cimarron Road. Police later identified her accused killer as Oswaldo Nate Perez-Sanchez, now 27, her boyfriend. (KLAS) As part of their investigation, detectives located a neighbors outdoor camera, which they said captured the entirety of the incident. The 34-second video begins with Perez-Sanchez standing outside a car. A second later, the camera recorded the sound of a gunshot, according to police. Several seconds later, Perez-Sanchez attempts to remove Tozzi from the car, police said, describing her as non-responsive. Perez-Sanchez then approaches another car and carjacks Tozzis friend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police interviewed witnesses, including the friend Perez-Sanchez carjacked. That person told police Perez-Sanchez had a tattoo of Tozzi on his shoulder and had the work performed before even meeting her. A second person close to Tozzi said Perez-Sanchez has held her at his house and would not let her leave. The witness told police Tozzi was planning to break up with Perez-Sanchez, but that Perez-Sanchez told Tozzi, There is no breaking up. Tabatha told [the friend] that Nate does not let her breathe in the relationship, police said. She described this as basically being around her all the time. The night before the shooting, Tozzi told Perez-Sanchez information involving another close guy friend, documents said. Tozzi later told another person that Perez-Sanchez pulled his gun on her and its bad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shooting happened several hours later, according to police. As part of their investigation, police interviewed a person with the same last name as Perez-Sanchez, who they said was inside the family members home at the time of the shooting. That person told police he did not know Perez-Sanchez. Mexican authorities arrested Perez-Sanchez on Tuesday in Northern Mexico, the 8 News Now Investigators first reported Tuesday evening. Perez-Sanchez was in the United States on a visa that prohibited him from leaving the [U.S.], Tozzi told a family member, according to police. (FGJE Sonora) Perez-Sanchez has no local or out-of-state criminal history. Investigators suspect he was in Mexico within days of Tozzis death. A task force, including the FBI and the U.S. Marshals, had searched for Perez-Sanchez in Mexico. A United States treaty with Mexico dictates how the extradition process works. According to federal documents, the treaty calls for criminals arrested in Mexico, should they be convicted in the U.S., not to face the death penalty or a life sentence. The process can take years and will likely be delayed, if it happens at all, because Perez-Sanchez faces accusations of a second murder in Mexico. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lacerda will hold a celebration of life for Tozzi at Craig Ranch Park on April 24 from 2-5 p.m. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, leaving an abuser is the most dangerous time for a victim of domestic violence. For more information, including resources, click this link. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. TOPEKA (KSNT) A group at Washburn University is raising awareness about sexual assault, held a candlelight vigil on Thursday. Guest speakers, professors, experts, and survivors joined in. They said their goal is to show students they are never alone. That sense of safety and you are not alone, Parker Whaley, the Event Organizer, said. And they you know, these people are getting through it. I can get through it or I can talk to them about it and we can get through it together. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kansas school halts electric bus use over student safety concerns The event has grown in size over the past four years and the organizers expect it to continue growing. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. Massachusetts State Police and Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryans office are asking for the publics help with a five-vehicle crash on Interstate 93 in Medford, Ryans office said Friday. At around 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, a crash between a Toyota Camry, a Subaru Forester, a Ford Explorer, a Honda Odyssey and a Ford F350 truck with a trailer, Ryans office said in a statement. The Toyota Camry may have been operating erratically prior to the multi-car crash, the statement read, citing preliminary information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver of the Ford F350, Fredis Saravia-Corvera, 34, died after his truck rolled over as a result of the crash, State Police said in a previous statement. A passenger in the Honda Odyssey was also hurt and hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, Ryans office said. Everyone else in the crash remained in the area. As part of the ongoing investigation into the cause of the crash, investigators are asking anyone who witnessed the crash, or any activity of these vehicles prior to the incident, to contact the Massachusetts State Police Barracks in Medford at 781-396-0100, Ryans office said. The crash prompted a closure of the northbound side of the highway for two hours, State Police said. All lanes reopened just before 11 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The crash continues to be under investigation. Other similar stories UPDATE: The roadway is now open, and the scene is clear, an Alabama Law Enforcement Agency official said. PREVIOUS REPORTING: CONECUH COUNTY, Ala. (WKRG) One lane of I-65 northbound in Conecuh County is blocked after a single-vehicle crash involving a commercial motor vehicle, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Two-vehicle crash closes I-65 northbound lanes near Creola: ALEA ALEA officials said the crash happened around 5:56 a.m. on Friday, April 18. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the ALGO Traffic map, the vehicle is overturned near the 95-mile marker, which is before Exit 93 at US 84. Highest bidder at Five Rivers Delta Resource Center auction revealed Troopers with ALEAs Highway Patrol Division are continuing to monitor the incident. This story is developing. News 5 will update this article 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 WKRG News 5. UNITED NATIONS (AP) The highest-ranking U.S. representative now at the United Nations told Congress two years ago that Russia's invasion of Ukraine was unprovoked" and unjustified, urging U.N. members to condemn Moscows aggression and demand an end to the war. In February, it was the same career diplomat, Dorothy Shea, who voiced the Trump administration's extraordinary decision to split with European allies and refuse to back a U.N. resolution blaming Russia for its invasion on the third anniversary of the war. While it is typical for diplomats to stay on as U.S. presidents and their political parties change, Shea's interim role has unexpectedly made her a face of the stunning U.S. transition on the world stage, with President Donald Trump's America First approach increasingly upending the post-World War II international order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shea will be in place longer than expected after Trump's unusual decision last month to withdraw his nominee for U.N. ambassador, Rep. Elise Stefanik, from consideration because of a slim Republican House majority. I would say (Sheas) position is unique. It is probably particularly unique in that because of the extraordinary change, not just from one administration to another, but really an era of U.S. foreign policy, even when there were nuanced differences," said Phillip Reeker, the former acting assistant secretary of state for Europe. "The change in the vote that took place at the U.N. on the Russia-Ukraine war was really an inflection point in U.S. policy. A UN vote changes US messaging on Ukraine On Feb. 24, the U.S. joined Russia in voting against a European-backed Ukrainian resolution demanding an immediate withdrawal of Moscow's forces. A dueling U.S. resolution noted the tragic loss of life and called for a swift end to the conflict, but it didn't mention Moscows aggression as the Trump administration opened negotiations with Russia on a ceasefire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Continuing to engage in rhetorical rivalries in New York may make diplomats feel vindicated, but it will not save souls on the battlefield, Shea, 59, said at the time. Let us prove to ourselves and to our citizens that we can come together and agree on the most basic principles. Let us show one another that the bold vision of peace that once pulled us out of hell can prevail. The message was a shocking retreat for the U.S. in the 193-member U.N. General Assembly, whose resolutions are not legally binding but are seen as a barometer of world opinion. It also reinforced the fears of some allies about what a second Trump presidency could mean for longstanding transatlantic partnerships and whether the U.S. could remain a bulwark against aggressors like Russia. For Shea, it was another day at work. She has spent the last 30-plus years serving as a diplomat under both Republican and Democratic presidents from Bill Clinton to Trump carrying out their policies even if they were a departure from longstanding U.S. positions. I dont know what her personal views are on things. But administrations change, policies change. And your job as a diplomat is to advocate for those policies, said a former colleague and deputy U.S. ambassador, Robert Wood, who recently retired. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. mission to the U.N. declined to comment. The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The roots of a diplomat Shea's work has included stints in South Africa, where she witnessed Nelson Mandela become the first democratically elected president, and Israel, where she worked on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Shea grew up in the suburbs of Washington her father a World War II veteran and her mother active in the local Japanese American friendship society. The experience of Japanese exchange students staying with her family over several summers and wanting to understand world events propelled her into international relations at the University of Virginia. After graduation, she scored a job offer with the U.S. Foreign Service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She worked her way up and in 2019 was tapped to be Trump's ambassador to Lebanon, where the soft-spoken diplomat made headlines for her criticism of the Hezbollah militant group. A Lebanese judge banned local and foreign media outlets from interviewing Shea for a year, saying her criticism of Hezbollah was seditious and a threat to social peace. In 2023, Biden nominated Shea to become No. 2 at the U.N. The top US role at the UN for now It is unclear when Shea will hand off to a Senate-confirmed political appointee. Stefanik went through a confirmation hearing, but her nomination was pulled last month because her vote to advance Trump's agenda remains crucial to Republicans in the House. The GOP congresswoman was the fourth Trump nominee not to make it through the confirmation process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has made no mention of whom he would nominate to replace Stefanik and fill his last remaining Cabinet seat. Until then, Shea is at the helm at a critical moment for U.S. foreign policy, selling big changes to dealing with both allies and adversaries and defending the administration's slashing of foreign assistance. The White House recently proposed additional drastic cuts to the State Department, which would include eliminating funding for nearly all international organizations, such as the U.N. The proposal is highly preliminary but reflects the administration's isolationist view, which, along with funding uncertainties, poses a major challenge to the mandate and work of the U.N. By Wa Lone TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney said that China is one of the largest threats with respect to foreign interference in Canada and is an emerging threat in the Arctic. In a debate Thursday night ahead of the April 28 election, Carney replied "China," when asked to name Canada's biggest security threat. Asked to elaborate at a news conference in Niagara Falls on Friday, Carney said Canada has to counter Chinese foreign interference threats. He also criticized China for being a partner with Russia in the war with Ukraine and said it is a threat to broader Asia and Taiwan in particular. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carney said China is the biggest threat "from a geopolitical sense." "We're taking action to address," he added. The Chinese embassy in Ottawa did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Carney's Liberal Party is leading polls as the campaign enters its final stretch. Canada is also locked in a trade war with its long-term ally the United States. Canada has imposed retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods in response to U.S. tariffs on Canadian autos, steel and aluminum, and goods that do not comply with a North American Free Trade deal. Carney said Canada would not try to match the U.S. dollar for dollar in retaliation, but said the entire global trading system is being reordered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "That level of shared values with the U.S. is shifting, so our level of engagement will shift," he said. There were opportunities for Canada to engage beyond the United States and China, the world's two largest economies, he said. "There are huge opportunities in Europe, in ASEAN, Mercosur, other parts of the world where we can further deepen, and we should, and I think we will," Carney said. (Writing by Caroline Stauffer, Editing by Franklin Paul) MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. (WNCT) The Carteret County Chamber of Commerce will host their annual Business After Hours Expo on Tuesday, Apr. 29. 2025. This event will take place from 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Crystal Coast Civic Center. It will feature local businesses, nonprofits, service providers, and people from the community looking to network. It is also open to the public with the entry fee being $5 per person. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Expo is like a Business After Hours on steroids, Director of Membership Services, Julie Naegelen said. It has all the fun and fellowship of a regular networking event, but with the added energy of a full-blown trade show. Here are some new things offered at this years event: Free Professional Headshots made possible by the Small Business Center at Carteret Community College, with Bob Mackowski of Open Aperture Photography. BuzzCuts Ribbon Cutting Tour, celebrating meaningful milestones with home-based Chamber Member businesses. Connect Carteret, the Chambers Young Professionals group, will be hosting Speed Networking. This is a way for participants to make quick, meaningful introductions in a fun, low-pressure environment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There will also be complimentary drinks and food, opportunities to win prizes, and a 50/50 drawing. The Expo is designed for our small business ecosystem, Director of Programs & Marketing, Taylor McCune said. Face-to-face connection is everything here. With fewer than 70,000 residents and more than 2,000 businesses in the county, visibility matters. You wont find a more efficient way to get in front of potential customers, partners, and community members. Here is the schedule: 4:00 pm: Doors Open; Headshot Photo Booth Opens 4:30 pm: Speed Networking Session 1 5:15 pm: Speed Networking, Session 2 5:30 pm: BuzzCuts Ribbon Cutting Tour 6:00 pm: Speed Networking Session 3 7:00 pm: Prize Drawings; Best Booth Contest Winner Announced; Photo Booth Closes Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To reserve a booth or learn more about the Business After Hours Expo, visit here or call 252-726-6350. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. When the Lyrid meteor shower reaches its peak, it will be spring's first chance to see shooting stars. The Lyrids have surprised skygazers in the past with as many as 100 meteors per hour, but it's not predicted to be as active this time around. During Tuesday morning's peak, expect to see around six meteors per hour, said Thaddeus LaCoursiere, planetarium program coordinator at the Bell Museum in St. Paul, Minnesota. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The waning crescent moon will be 40% full, meaning a decent level of visibility under clear and dark conditions. Viewing lasts until April 26. Heres what to know about the Lyrids and other meteor showers. What is a meteor shower? As the Earth orbits the sun, several times a year it passes through debris left by passing comets and sometimes asteroids. The source of the Lyrids is debris from the comet Thatcher. When these fast-moving space rocks enter Earths atmosphere, the debris encounters new resistance from the air and becomes very hot, eventually burning up. Sometimes the surrounding air glows briefly, leaving behind a fiery tail the end of a shooting star. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You dont need special equipment to see the various meteor showers that flash across annually, just a spot away from city lights. How to view a meteor shower The best time to watch a meteor shower is in the early predawn hours when the moon is low in the sky. Competing sources of light such as a bright moon or artificial glow are the main obstacles to a clear view of meteors. Cloudless nights when the moon wanes smallest are optimal viewing opportunities. And keep looking up, not down. Your eyes will be better adapted to spot shooting stars if you arent checking your phone. When is the next meteor shower? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The next major meteor shower, the Eta Aquarids, peaks in early May. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content. MercyOne Medical Center in Des Moines is part of Catholic Health Initiatives-Iowa Corp. (Photo via Google Earth) Catholic Health Initiatives-Iowa has dropped its argument in a medical malpractice case that the loss of an unborn child does not equate to the death of a person for the purpose of calculating damage awards. The nonprofit, tax-exempt entity is one of several defendants in a Polk County malpractice case involving the death of an unborn child. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last month, attorneys for CHI and MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center argued an unborn child should not be considered a patient for purposes of calculating damages in the case. They also argued that finding an unborn child to be a person would lead to serious implications in other areas of the law. That position appeared to clash with CHIs mission statement and ethics guidelines, both of which are based on the concept that human life begins at the moment of conception. In Iowa, court-ordered awards for noneconomic losses stemming from medical malpractice are capped at $250,000, except in cases that entail the loss or impairment of mind or body. Initially, CHI and MercyOne argued the cap on damages applied in cases where the loss was that of a fetus or an unborn child. However, during a court hearing on Friday, an attorney for CHI and MercyOne, Christine Conover, informed the court it was withdrawing from the motion to cap damages in the case on that basis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are a Catholic hospital and obviously the Catholic faith believes that life begins at conception, Conover told Polk County District Judge Scott J. Beattie. To be honest, I had wondered about that stance, Beattie told Conover, referring to the hospitals previously filed motion seeking to cap damages. It seemed like kind of an odd stance, he added, noting that it seemed to contradict the position that CHI had taken in other legal matters. In a written statement issued Friday, Bob Ritz, president and CEO of MercyOne, stated we are heartbroken that our belief that human personhood begins at conception would ever be called into question. As a Catholic health system, the sanctity of life is not just a belief we hold; it is the foundation of every action we take. While the motion (to limit damages) was accurate from a purely legal standpoint, it has caused confusion and concern. That is why we have asked our counsel to withdraw the motion with respect to MercyOne. No courtroom argument should ever cast doubt on the deeply held Catholic values that guide MercyOne. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At MercyOne, our Catholic identity is not something we set aside. It is central to who we are. It shapes how we serve and care for people in their most sacred and vulnerable moments. We are more than a health system. We are a health ministry. Our commitment to respect the dignity of every human life, from the very beginning, is unwavering. And it will continue to guide us in everything we do. The question of whether the cap on damages would apply in the case is still an issue for other defendants in the case, including Pella Regional Health Center. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Lawsuit stems from 2021 incident The lawsuit involves the treatment provided to Miranda Anderson of Poweshiek County. Anderson was 34 weeks pregnant when, on April 13, 2021, she arrived at Pella Regional Health Center for evaluation due to elevated blood pressure, headaches and edema. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Citing concerns that she was experiencing preeclampsia a condition that can lead to serious complications for both mother and baby and may require early delivery Anderson was transferred to MercyOnes Obstetrics Emergency Unit via ambulance. According to the lawsuit later filed by Anderson and her husband, Landen, Miranda Anderson was discharged after two days of monitoring and testing. After further evaluations over the course of the next several days, she was again discharged to her home until, during an April 21 evaluation, her doctor was unable to detect any fetal heartbeat. The next day, she underwent a cesarean delivery of a nonviable baby girl, Eloise. The Andersons lawsuit seeks damages for negligence, alleging CHI, MercyOne and its physicians failed to recommend early delivery of the baby while it was still viable and Anderson showed evidence of preeclampsia. The defendants have denied any wrongdoing. Citing the states $250,000 cap on noneconomic damages in malpractice cases a cap that was approved by state legislators in 2017 the defendants have argued that while the cap on damages includes an exemption for cases that entail the loss or impairment of mind or body, that exemption should not apply to a case where a fetus or unborn child is lost. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They argue the Iowa Legislature did not intend for the loss of a baby prior to delivery to be included within the exemption. As evidence of this, they cite the fact that in 2023 two years after the Anderson pregnancy state lawmakers explicitly added loss of pregnancy to the exemption on the cap for damages. Attorneys for Anderson argue the 2023 change was enacted merely to clarify the scope of the 2017 statute, not to expand the exemption on the caps for damages. The case is scheduled for trial on May 12, 2025. At Fridays hearing, Beattie indicated he will rule on the question of damages, as well as other unresolved pretrial disputes, as quickly as possible. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE KHANKENDI, Azerbaijan, April 18. Public and educational life in Khankendi city has truly returned to its natural course despite a short time having passed since its liberation, Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan Birol Akgun told Trend. He said that the social scene in Khankendi is back in full swing. "We visited the university. The students there were lively, dynamic, and excited. There were 1,200 students. We were happy to be there and to see the work done by the Azerbaijani government in this region. We visited the Faculty of Fine Arts. We listened to the students' presentations. I congratulate them highly. In a short period, they have already raised very successful students. The students are studying in specific fields such as engineering, but they also speak English very well. This means that in the upcoming period, successful individuals will emerge from the Karabakh region, as well as from Khankendi and Shusha. This has been achieved thanks to the great foresight, effort, and support of President Ilham Aliyev. I congratulate everyone who contributed to and worked on all of this. As Turkiye, a brotherly country, we are very pleased to see Azerbaijans achievements, especially the development happening in Karabakh. We came here and saw success. We hope that even better things will be done in the future. The development and restoration work continues with great leaps. We saw the roads, buildings, electrification, and schools. We witnessed all of this and were happy," he added. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel PLATTSBURGH The Clinton County Industrial Development Agency took a major step toward addressing the regions housing shortage at its monthly board meeting earlier this week. By unveiling the findings of a county-specific housing feasibility study and adopting updates to its Uniform Tax Exemption Policy to include new incentives for housing and green energy development, progress has been made. The housing feasibility study conducted by Camoin Associates and fully funded by the CCIDA evaluated more than 30 potential development sites across the county. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It identified five priority locations as financially feasible for new residential development, including a mix of market-rate, affordable, senior and workforce housing concepts. The study confirmed that while demand for housing is high, development costs and financing gaps continue to pose significant challenges for private developers. Todays presentation provided a data-driven look at the depth of our housing needs, Trent Trahan, Chairperson of the Clinton County IDA, said. We cant grow our economy without places for people to live. These new policy tools will help bridge the gap between what it costs to build and what people can afford. Following the presentation, the CCIDA unanimously approved changes to its UTEP, expanding eligibility for property tax exemptions to residential projects that include attainable housing options. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These updates build on the IDAs existing ability to offer sales and mortgage recording tax exemptions, making Clinton County a more attractive and viable location for housing developers. This study confirms that the demand is real, the need is urgent, and the path forward is actionable, Molly Ryan, Executive Director of the Clinton County IDA, said. By introducing incentives that help make residential development more financially viable, were not just addressing housing were supporting workforce attraction, business retention, and long-term economic development in Clinton County. In addition to housing-related updates, the CCIDA also approved new green energy incentives to support projects that incorporate renewable energy, energy efficiency and sustainable design. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The housing feasibility study is a direct outcome of the CCIDAs proactive approach to community development and underscores the agencys commitment to tackling housing challenges as part of its broader economic development strategy. Beth Gilles, Executive Director of the Lake Champlain-Lake George Regional Planning Board, whose organization previously recommended that counties explore this kind of analysis, praised the CCIDAs initiative. Im incredibly excited to see the progress the Clinton County IDA is making in addressing workforce housing challenges in the North Country, Gilles said. Our regional housing study found that many workers and their families are being priced out of the places they work, and employers are struggling to retain employees because of a lack of housing. The completion of this countywide strategy will help further the development of attainable housing for the regions workforce, and we look forward to continuing to work with the IDA in supporting workers, businesses, and their families. As development pressures grow and workforce housing demand increases, the CCIDAs policy changes are designed to foster partnerships and unlock housing opportunities across Clinton County. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) The new Clark County School District superintendent said money is key to boosting student outcomes. Jhone Ebert had a one-on-one interview with 8 News Now on Thursday where she addressed several things including new security measures, cell phone signal pouches, diversity and equity, and state and federal funding. The conversation has been edited for clarity. 8NN: One of the things we wanted to talk about was during your interview for superintendent back in February, you shared this very powerful story about growing up in a single-parent household, with your young mother. And so I want you to talk a little bit about that. Youre the first woman superintendent. The first, Asian as well, about how your story, how you can use your experience to connect with children who Im sure here in the school district maybe can relate to your childhood. Ebert: Thank you. Joshua. Yeah. There are many children in our school district that have a similar setting as I did growing up and I was very thankful. You know, my mom was 18 when I was born. My sister was born 18 months later. And when you think about a 21-year-old with two kids on our own, she leaned in on services that were made available, and she made sure that we went out. I shared during the interview we went to free cultural events, made sure that we went to the museum, the Los Angeles Museum of Art, and that we were exposed to the community. And I think our community right now is not aware of all the opportunities that are available. I would say years ago we didnt have as many opportunities, quite frankly. But now we are growing as a community. And then also to the educators, thats why Im just so very passionate about education because the teachers didnt look at what I was wearing. They didnt care that I was free and reduced lunch. They said, here is a child that we can ignite her spirit. We can make sure she has the resources and we will challenge her. Sometimes people feel sorry for children that are food insecure. You know, they go to this place of, well, theyre food insecure, so they might not, you know, have a place to study. They cant learn. That is that is so opposite of what we know about human nature, that if humans are provided, our children are provided opportunity, they will grow, they will flourish. And if we as the adults believe in them and believe in our families and our entire community, we will grow and we will flourish together. 8NN: So what Im getting from that is just recognizing the different cultures and the diversity within the school district. Ebert: We are an extremely diverse school district. When I started, it was not diverse. At that time, probably 70, 80%, white identified and then all the other races. Now we know thats completely flipped. Whats happened in our community happened so very fast. And so were all learning hundreds of thousands of newcomers. And so as a Southern Nevada community, were learning how to melt together and lift each other up. And our schools are a great place to start with our children and value all of our differences and understand that, we have many different religions, we have beliefs. We have our culture, our food, how we signal to each other. You know, in some cultures, you look people in the eye when youre talking. In other cultures, its disrespectful to look people in the eye. And, you know, we need to understand those things about each other, so that we can meet each other where were at. 8NN: Do you think that CCSD is going to be able to get more money or is the budget going to be flat? Ebert: Thats the crystal ball question. I mean, we have the [Republic Governor Joe Lombardos] proposed budget. Right now, its $2, more per kid for the pupil-centered funding plan. And then it is it increases the second year. We know the legislature is looking at that. We also have the economic forum coming up, because what is transpiring nationally will affect us locally. So all of those pieces moving right now is, something that we are keeping our eye on. The constant communication with our legislators because money does make a difference. Ive said that before. Were going to demonstrate that with our student outcomes. This last year, were already trending up. We see that happening. Are we there yet? No. But we do see positive trends with those additional funds that are made available. We need to continue that, and we need to continue to monitor. But I also think this is where I need the business community to come in and partner with us, with parents, I think there are efficiencies that can be gained within the school district right now at this moment in time. And we also need to change, which weve been working on at the state level. The Nevada Portrait of a Learner, right? How we are educating our children, making sure that were involving our parents, and families in the education system, that theyre welcoming environments and that again, going back to my own learning, that children know they can become, you know, a news anchor go out and video, you know, whatever they choose. We just need to communicate and help them get their. 8NN: So theres a potential that, that Nevada might lose federal money. But do you think if thats the case, theres enough in the State Education Stabilization account to get through? Ebert: So we have the State Education Stabilization account, and thats really there for those types of crises that we had during the pandemic, when we had to have special session right to cover those gaps. I think its a little too early to call whether will receive less funding from the federal government. I know theres a lot of talk about it. And this is where, you know, in my role, making sure our elected officials are aware of the Title funds. Title one, title two, title three. For those fundings, [the Trump Administration] has been talking about block-granting them. And, so which isnt always a bad thing, right? Theyre actually then providing the funds to the state and then the state making the determination on how theyre used. Instead of saying you must use specifically, you know, title one in this way. Title two in this way, theyll group those funds and then the state can make a determination. So there absolutely will be a change. We know that the [Education] Secretarys been very clear. The [President Donald Trumps] been very clear. There will be a change, but Im not sure, at this moment in time of what that change will look like. And we as Nevadans need to make sure we track, and our having those conversations with the [Trump Administration], that those funds have made a difference as we move forward. 8NN: The district introduced cell phone pouches, whats take thought of them? Have any success? Are you going to continue with it, expand it? Ebert: Yeah. I love the idea. Ive heard great things from teachers, from students even themselves saying they are more focused during class time. What Id like to do, and I actually had asked the staff earlier, is are we conducting research? You know, have we invited UNLV, UNR, the Nevada System of Higher Education to actually research and look at the outcomes of the pouches? But, you know, through conversations, Ive heard nothing but positive. Excuse me. Ill back that up. Some of the students would like to have access to their phone during, you know, English 1. English 2. But they also know that they are more focused when theyre not distracted by their phone. 8NN: Your predecessor [Dr. Jesus Jara] had wanted to do all these safety upgrades, like metal detectors. I know some have been introduced. Are you looking to expand that or continue some of the safety measures put in place? Ebert: Yeah. So the safety measures that have been put in place, the alerts, right? We know every faculty member now does have access to the alert system as well as a single point-of-entry. Those types of things are best practice. And we will continue making sure that we finish out the work at the middle level and continue at the elementary level as well. Weve completed all of the high schools. And so yes, that work does need to continue. 8NN: I overheard you talking to another reporter over the phone about it, but the guidance from the Trump Administration with diversity and equity. I know I previously reported CCSDs budget and staff, but, are you looking at maybe eliminating that. Or, I mean, how do you respond to the Trump Administration. Theyre giving you all this sort of direction. Ebert: Right. So again, we need to follow the law. Number one, Ive been on the ground now for days. So, Im meeting with the team to evaluate where we are. The administration has not given us, you know, specific this is what DEI is, and this is what DEI isnt. And so within what weve heard and know, we are going to use that framework. Also working again with higher education, we know that theyve spent a lot of time researching, and, looking at how to support. I will tell you that, inclusion is, back to the beginning of our conversation, making sure that were valuing our entire community, that we see each other. That we know what were doing. That we have a space. I was in the visually impaired classroom, our one classroom. Thats inclusion. Thats one example that our visually impaired students have access and our integrated into the learning environment. And so I dont think we want that to go away. I think we want that to be expanded. And so, we will continue to support all of our children, moving forward. And well look forward to what, the law states is and isnt. 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. NORMAL, Ill. (WMBD) The Humane Society of Central illinois is preparing for Furchella, a spring adoption festival. There are about 90 animals available for adoption, including dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rabbits and birds. Visitors can enjoy live bands, a facility tour, the Easter bunny, food trucks and more than 20 local vendors. This is the first year for the Furchella event. Event coordinator Nicole Monson, event coordinator, said they hope to foster a better relationship with the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We do not have any sort of federal funding or state funding that we get. Its all community-based donations, said Monson. And so we like to have these events for the community for free because we want to be front of mind when youre looking for a pet, but also just to support all the other awesome things happening in the community. So were excited for this event. Furchella is on April 19 from noon until 3 p.m. at the Humane Society of Central Illinois, located at 423 N Kays Drive in Normal. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com. Whenever a customer pulls up to the drive-thru at the Mini Sturbridge Coffee House, owner Pia Dowd always gets excited. The cafe, located at 195 Charlton St. in Sturbridge, officially opened on April 14 and is the second Sturbridge Coffee house opened by Dowd. The original Sturbridge Coffee House at 407B Main St. is still open and has been serving customers for 18 years. Every time she hears the beeping sound signifying that someone is at the drive-thru, Dowd is thrilled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im like, Eeek! Someones at the the drive-thru, Dowd said. Its really exciting. Dowd told MassLive that she always wanted a drive-thru for her business, noting that other coffee shops have drive-thrus of their own. At the original Sturbridge Coffee House, customers come into the building and sit down for coffee. Dowd said that business at her main coffee house has been going well but she also wanted to do something different. I wanted something else, Dowd said. I didnt want another place where you would come in and sit for hours. An opportunity arose when a new gas station, Noble Gas Station, opened in March 2024. The gas station is located in the eastern part of the town, while the main location is located in the west. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of my managers wrote to one of the owners and within a couple of days, we got our answer and we were getting ready to sign a lease, Dowd said. So far, most of the promotions for the coffee shop have been done online. Dowd says there is no signage advertising the coffee shop yet but so far, the business has managed to do well for its first five days. Its actually working out, Dowd said. The internet has been carrying us very well. The original Sturbridge Coffee House was opened in 2007, according to Dowd. The cafe was inspired by her mother, who used to work at Red Barn Coffee Roasters in Upton. One time, when she was visiting her mother, Dowd noticed that people were standing in the rain just to have a cup of coffee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I go, Mom, theres people outside standing in line for coffee, said Dowd. She goes, people love it and I was like, this is amazing. Inspired by her mother, Dowd opened Sturbridge Coffee House. The cafes coffee comes from three distributors: Saccuzzo Coffee from Newington, Connecticut, the Massachusetts-based Brilla Coffee and Red Barn Coffee Roastersthe same distributor her mother worked for. Aside from hot and iced coffee, both cafes serve lattes, espressos, tea and smoothies, according to the cafes menu. Both locations also offer food, although the Mini Sturbridge Coffee Houses menu is more limited. All the food is made from scratch by her professional chef, Dowd told MassLive. Offerings include acai bowls, breakfast sandwiches and lunch items such as BLTs and burgers, according to the menu. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have the coffee, we have the espresso but its everything else we have, she said. We do taco Tuesday. We sell hundreds of them and they are all made from scratch. Dowd notes, however, that the price of her coffee is likely to increase. She learned from Red Barn that the price of coffee has gone up 117% in the last year. As a result, Dowd said she would have to raise prices by a few cents. Still, this does not mean she is closing her business. I cant close my business because that happened, she said. We thrive on it and we just have to go forward. The current hours for the Mini Sturbridge Coffee House are 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to its website. Once the cafe is fully staffed, hours will be from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The store is open seven days a week, according to Dowd. More Worcester Stories Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormicks campaign has almost no money in its coffers after it raised a miniscule amount during the first three months of the year. The incumbent was vastly outraised by a little-known Democratic primary challenger, Elijah Manley. In the two months after announcing his candidacy in early February, Manley raised $273,389 more than 18 times the $14,875 Cherfilus-McCormick raised during the entire quarter. And Manley reported significantly more cash in his campaign bank account as of March 31 than the incumbent. He had $161,394. She reported just $3,937 in cash on hand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fundraising numbers contained in reports filed with the Federal Election Commission dont necessarily mean Cherfilus-McCormick is in danger of losing her seat, but the totals are extraordinary. Even a Republican candidate who has virtually no chance of victory in Floridas most overwhelmingly Democratic district raised slightly more than Cherfilus-McCormick. Manley crowed about the results, asserting they show that the people are saying loud and clear enough with out-of-touch incumbents. Cherfilus-McCormick said there was no cause for alarm and that everything was going according to plan. Sean Foreman, a political scientist at Barry University, said the incumbents fundraising was really unusual. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These are not good signs for a sitting congressperson because they are usually very well equipped in their fundraising early on to help them keep their seats, Foreman said. If thats all shes raised so far, that puts her at a disadvantage compared to other incumbents. Cherfilus-McCormick Cherfilus-McCormick raised just $875 from individuals, plus another $14,000 from political action committees, from Jan. 1 through March 31. Incumbents running for reelection routinely report exponentially higher fundraising, even when the election is far off, hoping their large campaign bank accounts will dissuade potential challengers. I would think shed be raising money to scare off primary challengers, Foreman said. The campaign reported spending $16,360. Incumbent members of Congress usually report much higher spending well in advance of elections as they build and maintain their campaign operations. Related Articles Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other South Florida Democratic incumbents raised and spent much more during the quarter and had significant bank balances on March 31: U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel raised $269,000 in the quarter and ended with $494,350 in cash. U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz raised $169,000 in the quarter and ended with $392,500 in cash. U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz raised $312,300 and had $1.1 million in the bank. Frankel, Moskowitz and Wasserman Schultz represent districts in which Republicans are much more competitive than Cherfilus-McCormicks districts, so their financial situations arent completely comparable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, its a remarkable change for Cherfilus-McCormick, who put seven figures of her own money into her campaign in 2021 and 2022. She won a special congressional primary in 2021 for the nomination to succeed the late U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings by just five votes. She won a full term in 2022. In 2024, she was the only Florida member of Congress returned to office without facing a primary or general election after no Democrat or Republican came forward to challenge her. Manley Manley raised $273,389 during the quarter. Manley, who has unsuccessfully run for office several times before, announced his candidacy on Feb. 4, which means his money came in over the course of 56 days, which works out to about $4,882 a day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As is often the case with candidates who arent well known, he spent heavily to raise money. Manleys campaign spent $111,490 during the quarter, with much of the spending going to activities related to fundraising expenses. The vast majority of his contributions 89% came from small, unitemized contributions of less than $200. And as often happens with candidates whose fundraising is powered by online contributions, lots of it comes from a broad national base, not locally. At least 80% of the contributions listed on his finance report came from people with addresses outside Florida. He ended the quarter with $161,390 cash on hand. Campaign debt Cherfilus-McCormicks campaign reports it has $4.3 million in debts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The vast majority $3.7 million is previously reported loans from Cherfilus-McCormick to her earlier campaigns, mainly the 2021 special primary election that led to her first victory, and the 2022 primary that led to her winning her first full term. Many of those loans were for amounts in five figures; some were six-figure loans. During the most recent quarter, the report shows three loans from Cherfilus-McCormick to her reelection effort for $700, $200 and $354. Entries for the 2026 amounts list her occupation as CEO of Trinity Health Care Services even though she has said she left that job at her family-owned company during the course of the 2021 campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its unclear if Cherfilus-McCormick has the resources to personally fuel a competitive race the way she did in the 2021 and 2022 primaries. Her most recent financial disclosure, filed last year with the clerk of the House, reported assets for 2023 worth between $1,001 and $15,000 and assets belonging to her husband between $65,002 and $150,000. A 2022 filing reported that at the end of 2021 she and her husband had combined assets worth from $1.4 million to $5.9 million. Members of Congress arent required to provide complete details about their assets and liabilities, which are reported in broad ranges, making it impossible to figure out a lawmakers net worth. Expensive investigations The campaign finance report shows the cost of ongoing ethics investigations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Office of Congressional Ethics referred its findings of multiple campaign transactions and official government office activities that its investigators said may have violated House rules and federal law to the House Ethics Committee. Its unknown when the office started its examination; the referral was in September 2023. In December 2023, the Ethics Committee formed an Investigative Subcommittee. Cherfilus-McCormick has said that the review does not indicate any violation has occurred and in January said that she was continuing to collaborate with the subcommittee. That has proven costly. At the end of the quarter, the campaign had outstanding legal bills totaling $550,000 with the Elias Law Group in Washington, D.C., a prominent national election law firm. The campaign incurred $66,000 of those charges in the first quarter of 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The campaign also owes $56,000 to Kaiser PLLC, another Washington, D.C., law firm. One of Kaisers main practice areas, according to its website, is congressional investigations. Another creditor, owed $46,354, is Angerholzer Broz Consulting for Fundraising and Compliance Consulting Fee. Outstanding bills to the Washington, D.C., firm as of March 31, including $20,481 incurred in the first three months of the year, the report said. Firm partner Randall Broz is Cherfilus-McCormicks campaign treasurer. These are debts incurred from responding to the ethics filing fueled by the opposition. Complaints aimed at one goal: draining my campaign financially to stop us from doing the work we need to do. But let me be clear: The fight to protect, defend, and stand in the gap for the constituents will continue. It must, Chefilus-McCormick said in her emailed statement. New complaint On April 7, the Campaign Legal Center, a nonprofit government watchdog organization, said it filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission alleging violations of federal campaign finance law from her first election. Also named in the complaint are business entities associated with her family, political organizations, and political consultants. Relying largely on information contained in 2023 Office of Congressional Ethics referral made public in January, the Campaign Legal Center said the congresswoman appears to have violated federal campaign finance laws by transferring or directing over $250,000 in soft money funds that do not comply with federal contribution limits, source prohibitions, and reporting requirements. Cherfilus-McCormick downplayed the groups complaint: These are the same set of circumstances, they keep flipping and changing. Theres nothing new here. Every opponent has pushed the same line and narrative, but the district sees through it. There is one goal behind these attacks: Financially drain my campaign to stop the work Im doing for the people of D-20. Political outlook Cherfilus-McCormick said raising money hasnt been her focus this year. Ive been spending most of my time fighting in the community, hosting town halls, listening sessions and roundtables, dealing with the crisis in Middle East, dealing with deportations and TPS challenges for Haitians and Venezuelans, dealing with the escalating crisis in Haiti, fighting back the tariffs that are affecting both ports in Palm Beach and Port Everglades and fighting to preserve veterans Social Security and Medicaid benefits, Cherfilus-McCormick said via email. She said she has always planned to implement an aggressive fundraising strategy in the second quarter. Our opposition has been solely focused on filing complaints, trying to ignite investigations, trying to distract us from effectively fighting for our constituents, she said. Stephen Gaskill, a political communications consultant and former president of the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus, said he is sure (that) when the campaign kicks in to gear the congresswoman wont have trouble raising the money she needs to be reelected, especially in what we are expecting to be a Democratic year. Manleys communications efforts are somewhat biographical as he introduces himself to potential donors, and have criticized what President Donald Trump and Republicans who control Congress have been doing. Hes also been pummeling Cherfilus-McCormick, and did so again in his response to her campaign finance report. While my opponent is mired in campaign debt and scandal, our campaign is earning the support of working-class Democrats across South Florida and the country, Manley said in a statement. Voters are ready to replace a corrupt healthcare CEO with a working-class teacher and organizer who will fight for them. Manleys prospects are uncertain. Hes 26, and has already made several unsuccessful bids for office. Manley ran for Broward School Board in 2018, receiving 18.6% of the vote. Hes also run three times in Democratic primaries for state representative: in August 2020 (30.1% of the vote), January 2022 (25.1%), and August 2022 (29.2%). Foreman said a candidate with higher name recognition would likely have a better chance at defeating an incumbent. But, he added, you never know. Politics is about being in the right place at the right time. If Cherfilus-McCormick has a lot of negative publicity toward her campaign, that could help her opponent no matter who it is. Cherfilus-McCormick said she is taking his challenge seriously. I take every opponent seriously, it could be anybody. Why? Because I take the job I do seriously. Especially during this time when theres so much to fight for, she said. Anyone who is trying to interfere with the fight, disrupt or interrupt the American people, we take them very seriously. This is a moment when we should be unified, not fighting each other. The district The 20th Congressional District takes in most of the African American and Caribbean American communities in Broward and Palm Beach counties. It includes much of central Broward, including all or parts of Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Lauderdale Lakes, Plantation, Lauderhill, North Lauderdale, Sunrise and Tamarac. It also takes in a large swath of the Everglades and goes north to the Glades communities near Lake Okeechobee and extends back east to include parts of Royal Palm Beach, West Palm Beach and Riviera Beach. The partisan voting index from the Cook Political Report rates the district as D plus 22, which means it performed 22 points more Democratic than the nation during the past two presidential contests. That makes it the most Democratic district in Florida and one of the most heavily Democratic in the nation. It is so overwhelmingly Democratic that the winner of the August 2026 primary is all-but-guaranteed to win the November election. Still, Republican Rod Joseph has filed paperwork to run. Joseph came in fourth in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in 2024. He soon switched parties and endorsed U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., for reelection. Joseph reported raising $16,847 in the quarter, spending $12,517, and finishing with $4,330 in the bank on March 31. Anthony Man can be reached at aman@sunsentinel.com and can be found @browardpolitics on Bluesky, Threads, Facebook and Mastodon. The launch of the Leadership Academy of West Central Indiana will usher in a new era of leadership development in the Wabash Valley, the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce announced Thursday at a press conference. The program was founded in 2014 by Rachel Leslie and Susan Turner, who called it the Wabash Valley Leadership Institute and saw 166 graduates. Randolph Brennan Randolph, president of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, introduces the newly revamped Leadership Academy of West Central Indiana on Thursday at the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The COVID-19 pandemic derailed the program for a while until development of the new Leadership Academy of West Central Indiana was commissioned by the Chamber, with Jennifer Templeton and Amy Demchak of Momentum Consulting Partners recruited to develop new curriculum. Since the pandemic, the needs of our community have changed, said Brennan Randolph, president of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, which is offering three credit hours to those who go through the Academy. The reason we are here today is to launch this totally revamped program. The needs of participants have changed, agreed Jonathan Eilbracht, director of Strategic Programming for the West Central Indiana Partnership. Spending a whole week in an immersive program was not what theyre looking for today. Instead, the program will offer one day of training on a monthly basis from September to May at a variety of locations throughout the region. Training will take the form of a variety of learning formats, including case studies, site visits, workshops, seminars and hands-on leadership training. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trainees will enjoy opportunities to network with regional leaders and local and state elected officials and business and community leaders. Templeton said she and Demchak researched for a year what the community needed and looked at other programs offered throughout the state. We did it though the lens of the participant and what businesses need to help leaders become more proficient, she said. What they found, Templeton said, was that businesses wanted, First and foremost, soft skills. How do I demonstrate empathy as a leader? How do I motivate people as a leader? How do I effectively delegate to get a team rowing in the same direction? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Can I get my team to engage in productive conflict so that we can commit to great ideas and move forward with accountability? Those were the key areas that we heard were needed in this community. Josh Alsip, vice president of regional engagement with the West Central Indiana Partnership, said this flagship program is based on five pillars leadership, communication, productive conflict, effective teamwork and critical and strategic thinking. The Chamber will take over the programs day-to-day administration, Eilbracht said. For more information, visit bit.ly/3Rkwm8X. Deadline for applicants is May 15, and those selected to participate will be announced June 15. Tuition is $2,500 for members of any regional Chamber of Commerce or $3,000 for non-members. URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) A Champaign County Sheriffs deputy is facing a felony charge accusing him of misusing funds from a police support nonprofit he runs. The Illinois State Police announced on Thursday that agents from its Criminal Investigation Division issued a notice to appear to 40-year-old Matthew Stuckey. The investigation into Stuckey started in November, when State Police learned of allegations regarding the misuse of funds made to the 10-78 Foundation, also called Back the Blue Champaign County. WCIA previously reported that Stuckey helped establish the foundation in 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After a thorough investigation, special agents found evidence of transactions consistent with personal use by Stuckey, State Police said. As a result, Stuckey is charged with theft of property between $10,000 and $100,000, a Class 2 felony. The notice to appear set his appearance for May 22. Documents reveal complaints against PBL teacher, coach accused of inappropriate touching In a statement to WCIA, Sheriff Dustin Heuerman said Stuckey is on administrative leave, pending an administrative investigation by the Sheriffs Office. State Police handled the initial investigation into Stuckeys alleged conduct. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To our knowledge, no Sheriffs Office or Champaign County resources have been used in support of any criminal activity and no crimes were committed while on duty with the Sheriffs Office, Heuerman said. Every person is entitled to due process in both administrative and criminal proceedings. We encourage individuals to let those established processes play out as intended. State Police said the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Illinois State Police Zone 5 Investigations at 217-278-5000. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. No one really knows exactly what they want when they walk into a cheese shop. But this never deterred visitors from Say Cheese, a gourmet shop in Silver Lake where customers have come to expect high-quality samples of cheeses like Vacherin Fribourgeois and Roquefort Papillon from the hands of charming owner Glenn Harrell. The days of stumbling into the cozy neighborhood shop and being guided to your perfect block of fromage will soon end as Say Cheese which also sells gourmet sandwiches and goods is set to close permanently after nearly 53 years of business. Wednesday, April 23, will be its last day open to the public. "Ive had the privilege of seeing your children grow up, graduate, marry, and start families of their own," Harrell wrote in a letter that he taped to the shop's front window. "I have witnessed the power of community and how food whether cheese, wine, or something simple can bring people together in the most meaningful ways." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: 16 of the best cheese shops in SoCal for saying 'I love you' Harrell, who purchased the shop in 1999, has been on a month-to-month lease since 2021, when new landlords approached him with the first right of refusal on a rent increase to $9,000 per month, plus operating expenses, amounting to about $12,000 a month. At the time, his monthly rent was $3,950. I know the numbers, said Harrell. Say Cheese cant support that rent. Its beyond impossible. In February, the landlords, Talia Kaloostian and her husband, Paul, informed Harrell that they found a new tenant, a bread company. Say Cheese's lease will officially terminate on April 30. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kaloostians did not respond to requests for comment. Say Cheese was opened in 1972 by Jack and Esther Goldstyn, who ran a deli at the nearby Hub market. After 17 years, the Goldstyns sold Say Cheese to Julie Noyes and her partner Jerri Woods in 1989. Under Noyes, the shops footprint expanded to include a cafe. Harrell's first day working at Say Cheese was Oct. 17, 1996. Previously, he had been in senior restaurant management at Nordstrom, but after traveling for three months across Europe, he found a new love in cheese. Upon returning to Silver Lake Harrell has lived in the neighborhood nearly his entire life he immediately visited Say Cheese, wearing a pressed suit and with a resume in hand. The owners initially found Harrell overqualified, but agreed to hire him after he promised to stay on through the holiday season the shops busiest time of year. Three years later, Noyes retired and sold the business to Harrell, who has further refined Say Cheeses offerings and service over the past 26 years. During the holiday season, Harrell had a tradition of giving away Champagne and caviar samples. In addition to offering an array of cheeses, Say Cheese also boasts a cafe menu with salads and sandwiches. (Jessica Miller / For The Times) Theres something special about his store and what he offers, said Erika Kaiser, a longtime Silver Lake resident and "customer-friend," as Harrell calls his regulars. Hes the kind of guy who can show you new flavors and open your world. Its not like going to Trader Joes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He gets to know all of his customers, said Meg Williamson, Harrells wine vendor turned close friend. Especially in L.A., things are so in-and-out, and hes just a people person. In some ways, Harrell says the closure comes at a good time, as President Trumps proposed tariffs would have undoubtedly affected Say Cheese as a buyer of European goods. Harrells 15-year employee and friend, Garvin Dunn, also died unexpectedly in February, and Harrell has had to continue business while managing his grief. Read more: Will tariffs kill your favorite affordable wine? One L.A. expert unravels where we stand Despite the recent hurdles, and the shop's general decline in business when Harrell first took over, he said he had as many as 12 employees and 17 during the holiday season; 26 years later, he has two, including himself Harrell sees the increased rent as the primary reason for the cheese shop's closure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harrell said he had a wonderful relationship with his previous landlord, but the building went through conservatorship, and around five-and-a-half years ago, was listed for auction. Harrell was outbid by the Kaloostians for ownership. A treasure trove of cheeses are displayed in the case at Say Cheese. (Jessica Miller / For The Times) Harrell experienced a wave of emotions when the 30-day notice to vacate arrived on Feb. 28 the same day as Dunn's wake. How do you say goodbye to people in 30 days? he said. You cant. It wasnt until sharing the news with a close friend that Harrell learned that he was owed more than 30 days to vacate. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation last September that went into effect on Jan. 1, 2025, that widens protections for commercial tenants. In Harrells case, he should have received a minimum of 60 days to vacate. Harrell said his landlords did not immediately respond to his appeal for 60 days, but ultimately granted the mandated extension. Needless to say, I had a few sleepless nights, Harrell said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Papa Cristo's is closing, joining growing list of struggling longtime restaurants in L.A. Locals are mourning the loss of Harrell as much as the shop itself. Glenn is a proprietor in the sense that he would sit down and chat with people much in the way the European owners do, said Sarah Pia Anderson, another customer-friend who has known Harrell since 2002. I looked forward to those conversations that we had at his cafe table because they were as meaningful and as deep as any friendship Ive ever had. Hes one of those people where hes always there, said Kaiser. Its not just his store. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kaiser has a daughter who attends nearby Ivanhoe Elementary and is the Girl Scout troop leader of the schools Daisies. Recently, Harrell let the troop sell cookies in front of his store; the girls wrote thank-you cards that Harrell quickly laminated and hung up in the window. There isnt much I want to take physically from this business, but I feel like when I get older those will mean a lot to me, said Harrell, starting to tear up while glancing at the door. Say Cheese is the cheese, one note read. You are the best in the [world] Glenn, another said. Locals see Say Cheese as an example of the mom-and-pop stores that make Silver Lake special. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Youre drawn to Silver Lake because you like the uniqueness of it, Kaiser said. But now even when you drive down Sunset, youre like, Oh, thats another chain. Moving forward, Harrell said he is looking forward to spending time with his ailing parents and grandmother. Read more: Contributor: My L.A. neighborhood won't be the same when Say Cheese closes I have always been taken care of and I know I will be taken care of, he said of his future. On the shops last day, Harrell will host an open house from 6 to 8 p.m. for close friends and customers to come say farewell. [Say Cheese] has a wonderful history and he can be proud he carried it for so long, said Noyes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "What I have learned is community," said Harrell. "Ultimately, in a word: community." Sign up for our Tasting Notes newsletter for restaurant reviews, Los Angeles food-related news and more. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. EDITORS NOTE: A video that was previously attached to this article has been removed because it contained incorrect information. We apologize for the error. CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) Officials at Chesapeake Regional Medical Center say a former nurse improperly reused needleless syringes while giving IV medications to patients, in violation of training, hospital policy and regulatory standards. The hospital, the Food and Drug Administration and other regulatory agencies are investigating, and the hospital said the nurse no longer works there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It happened at the post-anesthesia care unit between July 24, 2023 and Jan. 20, 2025. Hospital officials said there are no known patient illnesses, and said it had no direct information that the nurse reused a syringe on any individual patient. The hospital said they deeply regret the incident and are taking necessary steps to support anyone affected and prevent it from happening again. The Virginia Department of Health and the hospital, as a precaution, has recommended all patients who have been contacted to test for bloodborne pathogens. Chesapeake Regional Medical Center is offering free testing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (ECNS) -- Successive U.S. tariff hikes on Chinese goods have sparked concerns about the export trade of Yiwu, a globally renowned hub for small commodities known as the "world's supermarket." Could these tariffs affect Yiwu's global sales? Many local business owners have stated that their exports remain unaffected. Let's listen to them! BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 18. Azerbaijan is moving forward with the development of a master plan for the city of Khankendi, said Elchin Yusubov, the Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the city of Khankendi and Aghdara, and Khojaly districts, Trend reports. Speaking during a meeting with diplomatic representatives in the city of Khankendi, Yusubov elucidated the historical framework underpinning the region. "Armenians, during the occupation years of Azerbaijani territories, destroyed cultural, religious, and historical monuments and cemeteries belonging to the Azerbaijani people in Khankendi and surrounding settlements. In contrast, Armenian churches and cemeteries in Khankendi are now under the protection of the Azerbaijani state. The Armenian population lives here in peace and safety," Yusubov said. He noted that the reconstruction initiatives are comprehensive, featuring substantial infrastructural undertakings currently in progress within the recently liberated territories. "New modern roads, railways, and air routes are being constructed, and essential services such as electricity, drinking water, and natural gas are being provided. The government is also focusing on creating green spaces, while Khankendi and surrounding towns are being transformed into hubs for business development. To date, 439 businesses have invested approximately 30 million manat ($17.6 million), creating nearly 1,900 jobs, with that number expected to exceed 3,000 by years end. In addition to infrastructure, the government is building new schools, medical centers, and other social facilities for the returning population as part of the 'Great Return' program. As part of security measures, foreign experts have been brought in to assist with demining operations, which are enabling construction to proceed in previously hazardous areas. Regarding the master plan for Khankendi, around 12,000 people are now permanently residing in seven settlements across the Khankendi, Aghdara, and Khojaly districts. He also provided updates on the resettlement process, including the relocation of 136 families (660 residents) to Ballija village in Khojaly, 70 families (238 residents) to Hasanriz village in Aghdara, 180 families (592 residents) to Sugovushan village, and 20 families (90 residents) to Talish village. By the end of the year, the return of people to another 24 historical Azerbaijani villages is planned, with construction and restoration works already underway in 16 of these villages and project preparations being carried out in the remaining eight," he concluded. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel The Chicago staffers of the U.S. Department of Labors federal contractor oversight agency were put on paid administrative leave this week, along with workers in most other regions of the country. The staffers put on paid leave are employees of the agencys Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, which investigates federal contractors to ensure they comply with nondiscrimination laws. Employees in the OFCCPs national enforcement branch and staff throughout five of the agencys six regions were notified they were being placed on paid administrative leave, according to a Wednesday email to staff from OFCCP Director Catherine Eschbach, who was appointed to the role at the end of March. Bloomberg Law first reported on the email, which the Tribune reviewed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brent Barron, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 648, which represents OFCCP employees in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and Wisconsin, estimated that 20 to 25 Chicago-based employees of the agency are affected, around a dozen of whom are in the unions bargaining unit. Most of those workers had already agreed to take early retirement or deferred resignation offers that would have ended their time on the job Friday, Barron said. Those put on paid leave include investigators, clerical employees and regional office staff, Barron said. Their primary function was to go out and investigate the contractors and their hiring practices to make sure that when they hired somebody they werent discriminating against anybody, Barron said. Now, Barron said, there is no one left in the Midwest to perform that work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its open season out there for all these contractors, he said. The Wednesday email said employees were being placed on leave pending further compliance with an executive order from President Donald Trump that significantly reduced the scope of the agencys work. That executive order, titled Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity, rescinded the 1965 executive order from former President Lyndon B. Johnson that established much of the agencys authority to oversee federal contractors. This agency now has a significantly reduced scope of mission, Eschbach wrote in the Wednesday email. This action is consistent with the iterative process to right-size and optimize the agency, consistent with its current statutory functions. Staffers in the agencys Southwest and Rocky Mountain region and in certain branches of the Washington, D.C., office were not impacted, according to the email. Neither the Labor Department nor the White House responded to requests for comment. The Chicago staffers worked out of the Kluczynski Federal Building at 230 S. Dearborn St. When the Chicago Board of Education recently overruled the school districts plan to fire an employee with a long history of alleged threats and harassment against her co-workers, it was the first time in a decade that the school board had gone against administrators recommendations on such personnel matters without justification. For years, Chicago Public School officials would send dozens of names of problematic employees to monthly board meetings for their dismissals to be signed off on. That all changed in late February, when members of the new partly elected school board decided to do things differently. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At a Feb. 27 meeting, the board bucked the districts guidance to fire a cook at Marquette Elementary School in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood who allegedly waved a knife in the face of a fellow employee, used offensive language on school property and failed multiple times to follow the direction of her supervisor, CPS documents show. Rejecting the districts decision to terminate the cook is one example of the changing dynamics at CPS, where previous boards typically went along with school administrators on personnel and other matters. But this years shift to a 21-member, partly elected/partly appointed body has led to greater probing of district policies and decisions, underscoring emerging divides between members aligned with Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Teachers Union, those who are not and those whose alliances are less clear. Consequently, split decisions in recent months on policies ranging from charter school closures to high-level pension disagreements have generated a more layered dynamic, which will be increasingly complicated as the board continues to tackle the districts financial and operational challenges in coming months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have new perspectives on the board, people who are asking questions, questions that I dont think were asked under previous boards, said board member Ed Bannon, who was appointed by Johnson, a former CTU organizer, and represents District 1 on the citys Far Northwest Side. The Board could be held liable Schools chief Pedro Martinez recommended a cook at Marquette be terminated after a dismissal hearing on Jan. 17, according to documents received through a Freedom of Information Act request. The board voted against firing her at the Feb. 27 board meeting and she was reinstated on March 19. The Tribune has withheld her name because she has not been charged with a crime and is employed by CPS. After the vote, CPS attorney Ruchi Verma sent an email warning the board of the potential legal repercussions of going against the districts recommendation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If (the cook) engages in similar conduct in the future (even if the misconduct is outside (her) scope of employment), the Board could be held liable for failing to take the appropriate action to prevent the misconduct from reoccurring, Verma wrote in the email obtained by the Tribune through a source close to the board. Additionally, if another employee is later terminated for misconduct similar to (the cook), that employee could bring a claim arguing they were treated differently for a variety of reasons, such as their membership in a protected class. According to district officials, CPS has recommended termination for approximately 40-50 employees per year less than 1% of all district employees to the school board. There is a long firing process for employees who are recommended to be terminated. The school boards Law Department will draft charges and the employee will have a dismissal hearing. Then the districts chief executive officer gives the final stamp of approval before the decision is passed to the board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In closed session a month before a personnel vote, board members go over personnel issues with CPS legal staff what has been recommended and how the employee got to this point in the termination process. Several board members who attended the closed session confirmed to the Tribune that no questions were raised about the cook when her case came up. CPS did not comment further about the reinstatement vote. Complaints and caustic kitchen culture The cooks lunchroom colleagues had been complaining about her alleged temper and verbally abusive outbursts for years, according to investigative reports obtained by the Tribune through a Freedom of Information Act. She received a written reprimand on Feb. 2, 2022, for allegedly waving a knife in an employees face because that woman messed up the rice, according to employees testimony. On April 14, 2023, she received a three-day suspension for her alleged continued confrontational demeanor in the kitchen area, quickly losing her rationale and yelling at others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In mid-October 2023, one employee, whose name was redacted from the report, alleged that the cook told her to lay down and die after she questioned the preparation sausages to the lunchroom manager. Im literally afraid every time I step foot in the kitchen, the employee said in the report. I dont want her to lose her job. Im just afraid of her now. A week later, district records state that the cook allegedly called a different employee a fat pig and said she was tired of looking at the crack of (his) a . She allegedly said to another employee that she must be on (her) period. Several lunchroom employees have left Marquette due to the cooks behavior, according to the reports. However, the reports show that other Marquette staff members defended the cook, saying everyone has their flare-ups and that she does not curse more than any of the other kitchen employees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to employment testimony from the cooks dismissal hearing, she denied the allegations against her, and said she had endured bullying from others in the kitchen. This is part of kitchen culture and will be heard/found throughout the CPS kitchens, said Unite Here Local 1, the union that represents cafeteria workers in a statement attached to the dismissal hearing report. The union is open to alternate methods of addressing the issues raised against (the cook), such as the exploration of a different school assignment/location. Unite Here Local 1 did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the reinstatement. Jennifer Reger, the districts executive director of the Office of Administrative Hearings, wrote in the dismissal hearing report that after (the cook) was specifically warned and disciplined for similar misconduct, she continued to violate board policies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CPS cannot function properly with the disarray and chaos that occurs when staff members threaten other staff members, loudly use profanity during the school days and hurl insults at their co-workers, Reger wrote, and recommended the cooks termination. Asked for comment Monday, neither the lunchroom manager nor the cook responded. We want to change things Of 19 board members voting at the Feb. 27 meeting, 10 opted to reinstate the cook, with one abstention. Asked why board members voted to reinstate the cook at Marquette, Ebony DeBerry of District 2A on the Northeast Side, said the school board is looking at hiring and firing decisions with more scrutiny and engaging in thoughtful conversations before voting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 10 board members who voted against firing the cook were appointed by the mayor or backed by CTU. We have board members now who have lived experience with work, hardship, leadership and relationships that weve never had before, she said. Weve watched previous boards just rubber stamp, but we want to change things. But Matt Lyons, CPS chief talent officer from 2015 to 2021, who oversaw similar discipline conversations with previous boards, said the decision to reinstate the cook seemed unusual. In his time with the district, he saw several disagreements between board members and CPS about employee firing decisions, but the decision to terminate the cook was cut and dry, he said. Serving Chicago Public School students and families is a privilege. And anyone whos not acting in accordance with that really should not be there, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There have been conversations between board members about the demographics of people that we see being reprimanded or fired at CPS, said Che Rhymefest Smith, an independent elected member from the South Sides District 10. When we look at principals who are reprimanded or investigated by the (Office of Inspector General), we see that they are overwhelmingly principals of color, he said. The vote to reinstate the cook, he said, came out of nowhere. It happened on the spot and shocked a lot of us, he said. Board members interviewed by the Tribune pointed to Karen Zaccor, who is aligned with CTU and Mayor Johnson, as the leader of the directive to reinstate the cook. Indeed, Zaccor texted member Norma Rios-Sierra to let her know that some of us are going to vote no on dismissing one of the support staff, but added up to you. The text was obtained by the Tribune through a Freedom of Information Act request. Reached for comment, Zaccor responded to the Tribune over text: Im not going to make comments about personnel matters because I dont want to cross any boundaries of confidentiality. CTU-backed, elected school board member Aaron Jitu Brown, who voted for the reinstatement, said the members who voted to reinstate the cook followed Zaccors directive because she was a classroom teacher for many years and she has a level of expertise that we value. Its really about creating a culture of democracy were learning this process, he said. Its going to be messy. Angel Gutierrez, a non-CTU elected board member from District 8, pushed back: Is that the right precedent to set, without really engaging in a very robust and thoughtful conversation around a particular topic? FLORENCE, Mass. (WWLP) The Childrens Advocacy Center of Hampshire County is hosting a series of events this month to mark Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month. Local surgeons and doctors host open discussion about equal access to care Locals say they continue to fight for childrens rights. At the event on Thursday, more than 3,000 luminarias were lit to represent the number of child abuse survivors that the center has served. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We need to work together to make sure, as adults, were taking care of kids and making sure we keep them safe, says Kara Mcelhone, executive director of the Childrens Advocacy Center of Hampshire County. According to the center, 25% of those they serve are under 7 years old. 80% of those they work with are sexual abuse survivors. We stand together to protect children so they feel safe in this world. Unfortunately, there are children who need help feeling that way. People abuse them and treat them horribly. They need to be empowered, says Willow with Bikers Against Child Abuse. If you would like to learn more information about the center, click here. 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. BEIJING (Reuters) - China and Cambodia have agreed to build safe and stable supply chains together and to strengthen cooperation in transportation infrastructure, they said in a joint statement released by China's foreign ministry on Friday. The two countries also signed a deal on the construction of a major canal Cambodia hopes will transform its economic fortunes, though the investment and scale of the project have been apparently trimmed. The agreements came at the conclusion of Chinese President Xi Jinping's three-nation tour of Southeast Asia that included stops in Vietnam and Malaysia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The trip was part of Beijing's effort to consolidate economic and trading ties with close neighbours in the face of China's tariff standoff with the United States. "China supports Cambodia in building the Funan Techo Integrated Water Conservancy Project in accordance with the principles of feasibility and sustainability," the joint statement said. The canal project, which was previously estimated to cost $1.7 billion - nearly 4% of the country's annual gross domestic product - and stretching 180 km (112 miles), is now valued at $1.16 billion with a length of 151.6 km, the Cambodian government said in a separate statement on Friday. It will be financed through a public-private partnership, the statement showed, with Cambodian investors holding a 51% stake and Chinese investors holding 49%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China also commended Cambodia's efforts in cracking down on illegal online gambling and telecom fraud in the joint statement, with the two countries agreeing to further strengthen law enforcement cooperation. Before Xi's visit, the Cambodian government said it had deported to China a number of "Chinese criminals", including people from Taiwan, in a move that angered Taipei and was praised by Beijing. The two countries also said they had agreed to establish ministerial dialogue between their foreign and defence ministers to facilitate coordination on major strategic issues. (Reporting by Beijing Newsroom; Editing by David Goodman and Emelia Sithole-Matarise) BEIJING (Reuters) - China's foreign ministry dismissed as "groundless" on Friday an accusation by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that the country had been supplying weapons to Russia. Despite maintaining close economic ties with Russia during Moscow's three-year war in Ukraine, China has sought to project an image of neutrality and denies any involvement in the war. Friday's disclaimer followed Zelenskiy's remarks at a press conference the previous day that China was supplying weapons and gunpowder to Russia, while also accusing it of producing weapons on Russian territory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China has never made lethal weapons available to any party to the Ukraine crisis, ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told a regular news conference. "China's position on the Ukrainian issue has always been clear," Lin said. "It has been actively committed to promoting a ceasefire and ending the conflict, as well as encouraging peace talks." China opposes groundless accusations and political manipulation, he said, adding that Ukraine had said publicly that most of the components in weapons imported by Russia came from the United States and other Western nations. (Reporting by Liz Lee; writing by Ryan Woo and Ethan Wang; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Clarence Fernandez) PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) Chinese President Xi Jinping capped a three-nation Southeast Asia tour in Cambodia on Friday, promoting Beijing's reliability as the region faces economic uncertainty due to U.S. President Donald Trumps tariff proposals. China has been strongly increasing its influence in the region over the past decade, largely by exercising its substantial economic leverage. Beijing is now presenting itself as a source of stability and certainty as Trumps tariffs threaten the regions export-oriented economies whose largest market is generally the United States. Cambodia faces among the highest reciprocal tariff rates proposed by Washington. In addition to Trumps universal 10% tariff, it faces the threat of a 49% tariff on exports to the U.S. once his 90-day pause expires. For the other nations visited by Xi, Vietnam 's tariff would be 46%, and Malaysia 's 24%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Xi's trip gained impact from reaction to US tariff proposals The timing of the visit is extraordinarily auspicious for China, falling just in the wake of the announcement of Trumps tariffs that have caused managed consternation in Cambodia and Vietnam ... and upset in Malaysia," Astrid Noren-Nilsson, a senior lecturer in the Study of Contemporary South-East Asia at Swedens Lund University, said in an email interview on Thursday. Xi Jinping can now carry out the tour equipped with the moral authority and goodwill of a singularly constant friend and reliable trading partner. In Vietnam and Malaysia, Xi emphasized strengthening ties, particularly in trade and investment, and underscored the need to oppose unilateralism and protectionism and uphold the multilateral trading system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A summary of the visit issued Friday by Cambodias Foreign Affairs Ministry barely mentioned the trade crisis, focusing instead on bilateral relations, though China's state Xinhua news agency said Xi had discussed the same trade issues as on his previous stops. Cambodia-China relations already on a firm footing This milestone visit not only reaffirmed the unwavering commitment to the ironclad friendship between Cambodia and China, but also further strengthened and deepened the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and win-win cooperation between the two countries, said the Cambodian statement. During his stay, Xi was granted a royal audience by King Norodom Sihamoni and held meetings with Prime Minister Hun Manet and Senate President Hun Sen, who is Hun Manets father and predecessor as prime minister. The visit was Xis first to Cambodia since 2016. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Xi and Hun Manet also presided over the signing of 37 documents covering investment, trade, education, finance, information, youth work, agriculture, health, water resources, tourism, womens affairs and other subjects. Details of the biggest deal were announced Friday, the signing of a public-private partnership contract to fund Cambodia's ambitious $1.156 billion Funan Techo Canal project, which was launched last year but work stopped soon after groundbreaking. The 151 kilometer (94 mile)-long canal would link a branch of the Mekong River to a port on the Gulf of Thailand. China has been Cambodias largest trading partner for 13 consecutive years, with two-way trade in 2024 reaching $17.83 billion, though greatly in Chinas favor. It has also been Cambodias largest source of foreign investment for 13 consecutive years, as well as a major aid donor and its biggest creditor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China's position on climate and aid contrasts with US Referring to social and development issues, the Foreign Ministry's statement implicitly made a contrast to positions held by the United States, saying both sides acknowledged the global threat posed by climate change and committed to strengthening environmental protection (and) advancing clean energy collaboration. It mentioned as well Chinas help in dealing with Cambodias problem of clearing land mines left over from armed conflicts decades ago, and cooperation in the health sector. The Trump administrations foreign aid cuts have affected those and other sectors. The statement also declared that both sides agreed to further strengthen the cooperation mechanism between the armed forces of the two countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beijing helped fund an expansion of the Ream Naval Base on Cambodias southern coast, raising worries it could become a strategic outpost for the Chinese navy in the Gulf of Thailand. The statement did not mention the base issue. Cambodia has repeatedly denied any agreement granting China special privileges or the establishment of a foreign military base. Cambodia has stated that warships from all friendly countries are welcome to dock at its new pier, provided they comply with certain conditions. Japan announced on Tuesday that two of its minesweepers will visit the Ream base this weekend in the first foreign navy visit since the expansion project was completed. ___ Peck reported from Bangkok. (NewsNation) A top U.S military commander warned lawmakers over Chinas significantly increased military activity near Taiwan, calling the actions a rehearsal for an impending invasion. Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, gave testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee last week over his concerns about Chinas growing operations off of Taiwans waters. In 2024, the Peoples Liberation Party demonstrated growing capabilities through persistent pressure operations with military pressure against Taiwan increasing by 300%, Paparo testified. Chinas increasingly aggressive actions near Taiwan are not just exercises, they are rehearsals, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement US tariffs on China will push countries to follow suit: Analyst Paparo said the U.S can no longer sit back amid unprecedented aggression and military modernization by the nation. The Chinese military conducted large-scale drills in the waters and airspace around Taiwan earlier this month that included an aircraft carrier battle group. The exercises involved navy, air ground and rocket forces and were meant to be a severe warning and forceful containment against Taiwan independence, according to Shi Yi, a spokesperson for the Peoples Liberation Armys Eastern Theater Command. No operational name for the drills was announced nor previous notice given. U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Commander Admiral Samuel Paparo delivers his speech during an international military conference organized by the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, in Manila, Philippines. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) What Chinas military posturing means for the US In his testimony, Paparo warned that Chinas military production is now outproducing the United States in air missile, maritime and space capabilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said China is producing fighters at a rate of 1.2 to 1 over the U.S., which can lead to weakness in the high ground in the event of an attack. The nation is also building combatants at a rate of 6 to 1.8 to the United States. I remain confident in our deterrence posture, but the trajectory must change, he said. We dont want to be in a situation where we want to win a war over Taiwan. We would stop it from happening. The commander also noted Chinas deepening cooperation with Russia and North Korea has put several neighboring nations on alert. How big is Chinas military compared to the US? China has more manpower in terms of military strenght but still not at the level the U.S. is in terms of techonogly and machinery, reported The Economist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, China is already on track to surpass the U.S., the outlet reported. Chinas navy is the worlds largest, and when it comes to design and material quality, many Chinese ships are comparable to Americas, according to the outlet. While American warships and air force tend to be larger and better armed, China is catching up in an effort to modernize and outproduce the U.S. Why is China fighting against an independent Taiwan? China considers Taiwan a part of its territory, to be brought under its control by force if necessary, while most Taiwanese favor their de facto independence and democratic status. Any conflict could bring in the U.S., which maintains alliances in the region and is legally bound to treat threats to Taiwan as a matter of grave concern. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Paparo testified, saying that while China attempts to intimidate the people of Taiwan and demonstrate coercive increase, these actions are backfiring, drawing increased global attention and accelerating Taiwans own defense reparations. Taiwan has reportedly bolstered its own supply chains for combat drones and increased foreign orders from the U.S. to counter action from China, saying they are in agreement with Paparo, the Taipei Times reported. The Associated Press contributed to this story. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. BEIJING (Reuters) - China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned Global South nations that "unilateral bullying" was hurting a rules-based world, as Beijing kept up the diplomatic pressure on U.S. President Donald Trump to roll back his punitive trade tariffs. Power politics and unilateral bullying were undermining international rules and creating divisions and confrontations, Wang told a roundtable of developing country diplomats and scholars, according to a statement released by the foreign ministry on Friday. In a written speech delivered to the event on Thursday, Wang also said the world was at a critical crossroads, and urged countries to oppose "unilateral protectionism". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He did not name the U.S. directly in his comments. Trump on April 2 announced "reciprocal" tariffs on many U.S. trading partners, with China taking the biggest blow. While levies on many countries have since been postponed for 90 days, Trump did not relent on the 145% tariffs he added on Chinese imports, prompting Beijing to punch back with duties on the U.S. China has also taken the lead in lobbying other countries to resist Trump's tariffs, with President Xi Jinping this week on a visit to Southeast Asia personally urging Vietnam and Cambodia, hit with U.S. tariffs of 46% and 49% respectively, to oppose "unilateral bullying". Next week, China is planning an informal United Nations Security Council meeting to accuse the U.S., the world's biggest economy, of bullying. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A note inviting all 193 U.N. member states to attend the April 23 meeting in New York specifically criticises the United States for imposing tariffs. Some countries, such as Japan, have already started to reach out to Washington to seek a reprieve over the tariffs. But China remains adamant that the U.S. should show respect before any talks can take place. Trump on Thursday signalled a potential end to the tit-for-tat tariff hikes between the U.S. and China, saying "at a certain point" people would not want to buy things. "So, I may not want to go higher or I may not want to even go up to that level. I may want to go to less because you know you want people to buy and, at a certain point, people aren't gonna buy," he said. (Reporting by Ryan Woo and Beijing Newsroom; Editing by Tom Hogue and Kate Mayberry) China on Friday rejected accusations levelled by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky who claimed that Beijing has provided weapons to Russia. China rejects false accusations and political manipulation, spokesman for the Foreign Ministry Lin Jian said. China has never supplied lethal weapons to either party in the conflict, he stressed, adding that all goods which can be used both for civilian and military purposes are subject to strict checks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelensky on Thursday said that Ukraine has "general information from the SBU intelligence service and reconnaissance" suggesting that China is supplying Russia with "gunpowder and artillery." He also claimed that representatives of China are producing weapons on Russian territory. The Ukrainian president said he plans to reveal further details next week. Ukraine has been defending itself against a full-scale Russian invasion with Western support for over three years. China, considered the most important partner for Moscow, has consistently emphasized its neutrality in the conflict, stressing that it wants a peaceful solution. Zelensky had previously accused Beijing of approving the recruitment of Chinese citizens for the Russian army in China. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 18. The Agency for State Support to Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) of Azerbaijan has evaluated 3,965 project proposals submitted by local NGOs for grant competitions, approving and funding 2,214 of them, said the Executive Director, Aygun Aliyeva, Trend reports. Speaking at a press conference dedicated to the agencys fourth anniversary, Aliyeva noted that over the past four years, Azerbaijani NGOs supported by the Agency have taken part in international events on 80 occasions and have organized conferences across 36 countries. In total, 22 million manat ($12.9 million) have been allocated to support Azerbaijani NGO initiatives over the past four years. The Executive Director also highlighted that the Agency, in line with the decrees and orders of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, achieved an instruction implementation rate of 76 percent in 2022, 87.5 percent in 2023, and 97.3 percent in 2024. She noted that the number of directives under the Agencys responsibility, within the framework of State Programs and National Action Plans, increased fourfold in 2024 compared to 2022. Aygun Aliyeva further emphasized that the most recent grant competition marked a record high in NGO participation, with the Agency reviewing a total of 915 project applications. "The quality of projects has improved significantly over the past two years, and in 2023, the establishment of new rules for the Agency's grant competitions and the introduction of new electronic services created a breakthrough in this area. Since 2023, the institution has launched an electronic services portal to increase transparency, accountability, and efficiency in its activities, as well as to enhance the quality and accessibility of services provided to NGOs," she added. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel China's Foreign Ministry on April 18 dismissed President Volodymyr Zelensky's accusation that Beijing is supplying weapons to Russia, calling the claim "groundless," Reuters reported. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian rejected the claims at a regular news conference, saying China has never made lethal weapons available to any party in the war. The denial came a day after Zelensky publicly said for the first time that China was supporting Russia's war effort by delivering arms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Today, we have general information from the Security Service (of Ukraine), from intelligence about gunpowder, artillery," Zelensky said at a briefing in Kyiv on April 17. The president also noted that the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the intelligence agencies had evidence of Chinese involvement in weapons production on Russian territory. Lin responded that Beijing "opposes groundless accusations and political manipulation" and maintained that China is committed to promoting a ceasefire and encouraging peace talks. Join our community Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight. Support Us Though Beijing has long denied supplying arms, multiple reports have suggested otherwise. In summer 2024, Zelensky said China had assured Ukraine it would not deliver weapons to Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While officially claiming neutrality, Beijing has deepened economic ties with Moscow, supported Russia against Western sanctions, and emerged as a top supplier of dual-use goods that feed the Russian defense sector. Earlier this month, Ukrainian forces captured two Chinese nationals fighting for Russia in Donetsk Oblast. One of the captured soldiers reportedly told Ukrainian troops he had paid 300,000 rubles (roughly $3,500) to a middleman in China to join the Russian army in exchange for citizenship. Zelensky later said that "several hundred" Chinese nationals were fighting on Russia's side. China has denied any direct involvement in the war and claimed it has urged its citizens to avoid armed conflicts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: US may drop Russia-Ukraine ceasefire efforts unless progress is made, Rubio says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Beijing has denied providing lethal weapons to any party in the war in Ukraine after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated he had intelligence indicating that China was supplying arms to Russia. Source: Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, as quoted by Agence France Presse and The Guardian Quote: "The Chinese side has never provided lethal weapons to any party in the conflict (China officially refers to Russias war on Ukraine as a 'conflict' ed.) and strictly controls dual-use items." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: On Friday, Beijing reiterated that its "position on the Ukraine issue is consistent and clear". "We have always actively made efforts for a cessation of hostilities and peace talks," Lin said. Previously: During a briefing on 17 April, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated, citing intelligence, that China is supplying Russia with artillery and gunpowder and is involved in manufacturing certain types of weapons on Russian territory. China continues to position itself as a "neutral party" in Russias full-scale war against Ukraine, despite criticism from Western countries that its close ties with Russia provide Moscow with crucial economic and diplomatic support. Background: On 8 April, Zelenskyy reported that Ukrainian troops had captured two Chinese nationals who were fighting as part of the Russian forces. Zelenskyy instructed Ukraines foreign minister to immediately contact Beijing and determine how China was going to respond. The two citizens of the Peoples Republic of China were captured in eastern Ukraine by soldiers from the 81st Separate Airmobile Slobozhanska Brigade of the Air Assault Forces and the 157th Separate Mechanised Brigade. The president emphasised that Ukraine is willing to exchange the captured Chinese nationals only for Ukrainian soldiers held in Russian captivity and a corresponding message had been sent. On 11 April, Zelenskyy stated that "at least several hundred Chinese citizens are fighting as part of the Russian forces", which, he said, means that Russia is attempting to prolong the war even at the cost of Chinese lives. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! China has stopped purchasing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States following the imposition of a 15% tariff on US LNG imports on 10 February. Source: The New York Times (NYT), as reported by European Pravda Details: Ship tracking data indicates that Beijing is continuing to distance itself from the US economy. China's imports of LNG from the United States plummeted to very low levels between November and January, according to Chinese customs data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, Beijing has increased its purchases of Russian LNG, with Moscow supplying four times more LNG to China last year than the United States. Only two US LNG cargo ships were en route to China at the time Beijing imposed a 15% tariff on US fossil fuel imports, retaliating against a 10% tariff imposed on Chinese goods by US President Donald Trump. Belgian energy firm Kpler reported that one of the ships managed to unload its cargo before the tariffs came into force, while the other was diverted to Bangladesh to avoid the new charges. Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, European countries largely stopped buying Russian natural gas, causing Russian gas prices to drop. Meanwhile, European companies are paying significantly higher prices for LNG from alternative sources, including the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This has allowed Chinese companies to purchase large volumes of Russian gas at a lower cost than American LNG. LNG supplies from the United States to China surged after Beijing and Washington signed a trade agreement in January 2020, which included a pledge by China to increase purchases of US gas, though not necessarily for domestic use. However, these volumes dropped sharply in 2022, as American LNG was redirected to Europe, where it fetched higher prices after European countries halted purchases of Russian gas. According to China's customs agency, US gas accounted for just 3% of Chinas total natural gas imports last year. Background: Meanwhile, European Commission officials have abandoned plans to include a ban on Russian LNG in the latest sanctions package against Moscow. Instead, the Commission intends to develop a new roadmap to end the EU's dependence on Russian energy by 2027. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! QUEENS, N.Y. (PIX11) Two men are accused of forcing a Chinese woman into prostitution at a Queens brothel after she came to New York City last fall, according to prosecutors. Xu Cheng Sun, 30, and Jingchao Zhang, 29, were busted for sex trafficking when an undercover officer answered an online ad that led him to the brothel on 162nd Street in East Flushing on Jan. 31, according to court records. Man accused of raping woman at knifepoint on Queens street Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zhang allegedly let the officer in, and Sun allegedly pointed to 10 women, telling the cop sex with each of them would be $120, prosecutors said. When police moved in on the brothel, Sun jumped out the window and ran off before he was arrested on April 8 during another undercover sting at the brothel, authorities said. One of the women, 43, at the brothel told investigators she landed at JFK Airport from China in November 2024. She and three other women were picked up in a black car and taken to an unknown house and locked in a room, according to court records. The 43-year-old woman was then taken out of the house and forced into sex work in locations in Brooklyn and Queens. She was beaten and feared she would be sold for $8,000, prosecutors said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim was eventually sent to work at the brothel on 162nd Street in mid-January, where Sun allegedly kicked her and Zhang allegedly threatened her with a gun when she refused to comply, according to court records. These defendants are charged with treating a woman as if she were property and forcing her to engage in prostitution, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said. The men were charged with sex trafficking, promoting prostitution and criminal possession of a weapon, prosecutors said. Sun was additionally charged with assault. The defendants have pled not guilty. Their attorneys could not immediately be reached Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mira Wassef is a digital reporter who has covered news and sports in the NYC area for more than a decade. She has been with PIX11 News for two years. 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. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) Chocolate lovers may be in for a bit of sticker shock next time their sweet tooth calls. As President Donald Trumps tariffs impact industries across the nation, from car dealers to farmers, the price of chocolate is also increasing. Its been intense, Lisa Boyle, owner of the Chocolate Cafe in Columbus, said. What to know about geese nesting in central Ohio that can be prone to aggression Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boyle said that at first, the price of eggs started going up because of the bird flu. They were affected not by $5, $10; it literally was a case went from $40 to $120, she said. Once she was able to get a handle on those prices, tariffs hit and the price of buying chocolate in bulk went up 35%. The name of this business is Chocolate Cafe, so its like is it temporary? Is it not? Nobody knows, Boyle said. Boyle said the price hikes go beyond her business bottom line; it is about balancing how much people are willing to pay with sustaining her business. You, maybe, raise 50 cents or just a dollar, she said. Its better to sell it than to not sell it at all. It weighs on your brain, without a doubt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Family-owned Columbus pizzeria opens in former Mikeys Late Night Slice While businesses from chocolate stores to car dealerships and farmers work through this, Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) continues defending Trumps tariff tactics. Reciprocity, Moreno said. Were going to do business with any country, whether its Canada, Mexico, India, the European Union, you name it, if they tariff us, were going to tariff them. Moreno said the long-term benefits to the country will outweigh what Ohioans may be feeling right now. Were going to have fair and reciprocal trade, which is what President Trump wants, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am used to peaks and valleys, but this one, Im thinking I have no clue, Boyle said. State leaders like Ohio Senate President Rob McColley (R-Napoleon) agreed with Moreno and said its about the bigger picture. Franklin County deputy accused of fleeing officer at speeds over 100 mph We have been getting taken advantage of in the trade imbalances we have been seeing in this country, McColley said. I do support what President Trump is doing at the end of the day. As businesses hope for some sort of predictability, even state leaders are not sure that it will come any time soon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said the tariffs could impact how much money the state has to spend in its two-year operating budget, which is being worked on right now. Well, certainly our budget always depends on how much money is coming in, DeWine said. Unlike the federal government, we have to actually balance our budget, which we think is a good thing and so, if we have a downturn in the economy, if thats what happens, then certainly that is going to impact our budget. Ohio House leaders said they are going to focus on working with the information they have one day at a time. North Linden drug house with history of criminal activity shut down Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I know a lot of the tariffs that President Trump put on in his first term, they started off and then they started making exceptions, so it may change next week, it may change six months from now, Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) said. The tariffs definitely have an impact, as we see businesses start to scale back, that means that people are losing jobs, businesses are struggling to get their goods sold and making money and all of that has an impact on our state revenue that comes in, Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) said. The state will know how well the economy is fairing in mid-June and what all can actually be spent in the budget. Overall, though, DeWine said he is confident that the state will fare well. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. An adviser to interim U.S. Attorney in Washington Ed Martin had a message for a Democratic strategist over a recent MSNBC appearance: Careful son. Choose your words wisely. The message on X from Michael R. Caputo was to Andrew Bates, the former Biden White House deputy press secretary who now has his own political strategy firm. More from Deadline Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the MSNBC segment, Bates criticized Martin for firing FBI agents and prosecutors because they investigated January 6th criminals. He also attacked Martin as someone who presented an award to a neo-Nazi who stormed the Capitol, and said he was an extraordinary leader. Careful, son. Choose your words wisely. Michael R. Caputo (@MichaelRCaputo) April 16, 2025 In an email response to Deadline about what he meant by his warning to Bates, Caputo sent a Websters Dictionary link to the word defamation. Caputo later repeated his warning to a post from another Democratic strategist, Chris D. Jackson. Bates also is advising a group of prosecutors who oppose Martins nomination to be confirmed to the U.S. attorney post, in what already is a contentious battle. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, has urged its chairman, Sen. Chuck Grassley (D-IA), to hold a hearing on the nomination. Among other things, Durbin wrote that at a Trump Bedminster Club ceremony last fall, Martin gave an award to Janaury 6th defendant Timothy Hale-Cusanelli and called him an extraordinary man, an extraordinary leader. Democrats also have posted video of Martins remarks at the event. In the January 6th case, prosecutors described Hale-Cusanelli as a Nazi sympathizer with a history of antisemitic remarks. A spokesperson for the U.S. attorney did not immediately return a request for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More recently, Durbin has cited reports that Martin did not disclose 150 appearances on Russian state TV in a Senate questionnaire. A Martin spokesperson later told the Washington Post that Martin disclosed all the identified links in a supplemental letter to the Senate. Caputo is a longtime Trump ally who described himself as a smashmouth politician, in a Politico profile, which detailed his battle with throat cancer. Martin told the New York Times this week about Caputos hiring, Because Michael has known President Trump for over 40 years, hes uniquely positioned to help us make America great again. As interim U.S. attorney, Martin has fired off letters to various lawmakers and institutions on topics ranging from their diversity, equity and inclusion programs to Elon Musks DOGE. In February, Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) appeared on CNN to talk about how Democrats could challenge Elon Musk, and said, What America wants is for us to bring actual weapons to this bar fight. This is an actual fight for democracy. Martin sent Garcia a letter, asking him to clarify his comments and warning we take threats against public officials very seriously. Garcia responded, So if you criticize Elon Musk, Trumps DOJ will send you this letter. Members of Congress must have the right to forcefully oppose the Trump Administration. I will not be silenced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Martin also has taken part in defending the administration against the Associated Press after Trump officials banned the news organization from the pool because its style guidance did not switch the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. That drew criticism that Martin was acting as the presidents personal lawyer rather than an official with the Justice Department. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Superman was born Kryptonian, raised Methodist and sketched into existence by two Jewish teens in 1930s Cleveland. Faith and morality are his DNA. There are no overt religious references in Superman comics. But over eight decades, hes been viewed as a divine entity, a savior figure his sacrifice Christ-like, his will to lead as strong as Moses parting the Red Sea, and his compassion akin to a bodhisattva, an enlightened being who guides Buddhists on the spiritual path. While scholars, comic book writers and fans alike are struck by the religious undertones in Superman comics, they say what separates Superman from the ever-growing pack of superheroes is his singular ability to bring hope in a hopeless world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement James Gunn's Superman sparks conversation As fans celebrate Superman Day on Friday, marking the 87th anniversary of the original superheros birth, they are also eagerly anticipating James Gunns film Superman set for release on July 11. This version starring David Corenswet, the first Jewish actor to play Superman in a major film, promises a return to a version of a vulnerable Man of Steel who is rooted in values espoused by most faiths goodness, compassion and hope. The film has sparked a conversation about the place of Superman in the world and his personal code of ethics after several recent depictions of superheroes as anti-heroes. Corenswet said in a recent interview to Fandango that what captivates him about Superman is how he chooses to see good in people and not dwell on the negative. Why think about all the terrible things when we can focus on the good things we did today? he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the same interview, Gunn said his Superman will reinforce the characters core value of preserving life at any cost. He believes that the sanctity of life is of the utmost importance, Gunn said, noting the contrast with Supermans archnemesis Lex Luthor, who values scientific advancement over life. Symbol of hope and positive masculinity It was precisely this benevolent, hopeful version of Superman that inspired Robert Revington, who teaches at the Vancouver School of Theology at the University of British Columbia, to go skydiving in a Superman costume on his 28th birthday. And yet Revington, a Christian, balks at Christ-like portrayals of his favorite superhero. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I like Superman and I like Jesus, he said. I dont necessarily want to conflate the two. To me, the best depiction of Superman is as a symbol of hope. Revington also sees Supermans relevance today as an example of positive masculinity. Hes this version of strong, but compassionate masculinity, which several prominent figures dont necessarily embody, he said. Revington and many others beloved iteration of Superman appeared in All-Star Superman, a 12-issue series published by DC Comics between 2005 and 2008. The superhero saves a young person who is about to take their own life with the endearing message: You are stronger than you think you are. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grant Morrison, who wrote those comics, has said his view of Superman was shaped by Giovanni Pico della Mirandolas Oration On The Dignity of Man, which argues that humans ought to be more virtuous than angels. Superman speaks to our better angels Humans, Morrison said in a 2008 interview, become what they imitate, which is why he made Superman an inspirational character. We live in the stories we tell ourselves, he told Newsarama, a comic book website, and can choose to be the astronaut or the gangster. The superhero or the super villain. The angel or the devil. Its entirely up to us. As a result, said Matthew Brake, founder and editor of Pop Culture and Theology, Superman is an idea that can inspire us to be our best selves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Supermans character is also shaped by his upbringing as a Kansas farm boy, raised by kindly parents Jonathan and Martha Kent. They are portrayed as Methodists in the comics. Superheroes, in recent decades, have received less-than-flattering treatment. In The Boys, a comic book turned Amazon Prime series, the Superman-like character, Homelander, is a government-sponsored hero whose smiling exterior conceals the heart of a sadist. Invincible, a comic turned television series from Robert Kirkman, author of the Walking Dead, features Omni-man, a Superman-like character who turns out to be an alien invader bent on conquest. The main character, Invincible, is Omni-mans son, and must choose between protecting the Earth or taking his fathers side. Dune, the famed sci-fi book adapted into blockbuster movies, warns of superheroes' frailty Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heroes are painful, superheroes are a catastrophe, Dune's author Frank Herbert once wrote. The mistakes of superheroes involve too many of us in disaster. A relatable superhero But Superman has cemented his place in pop culture not just as a beacon of hope, but also as a character relatable to many, regardless of race or ethnicity. Gene Luen Yang, who has written several Superman comics, is best known for his 2020 graphic novel Superman Smashes the Klan, a story about a Chinese American family moving to Metropolis in 1946 and facing discrimination from the Klan. The story follows the Lee family as they confront the white supremacist group with Supermans help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yang sees his own experience as a Chinese American mirrored in Supermans story. The idea that you have to hide who you are or that youre caught in between cultures, he said. Superman has two names Kal-El, his Kryptonian name and Clark Kent, his American name. I had a Chinese name at home and an American name in school. So even though Im a practicing Catholic, I was more drawn to his Jewish roots because thats where I could relate more. Yang sees Superman as the original superhero who inspired almost religious fervor in the geekdom, featuring cosplayers who reenact scenes as a Christian might reenact biblical episodes around Christmas or Easter. A trip to a comic convention is like a pilgrimage where followers collect original art and all kinds of relics. Stories in pop culture also draw from older storytelling traditions, often rooted in religions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In some ways, you can think of religions as communities that are built around stories that last centuries, Yang said. The idea of self-sacrifice, the idea that you do good deeds without the desire to gain recognition. Thats the whole point of secret identities. While his Catholic faith is an important facet of his life, Yang said he never forced religion into his Superman comics. I write more about my life and my lived experience of faith, with the doubts and the ragged edges, he said. Characters like Superman, while not themselves religious, provide a portal to the sacred through the profane, said A. David Lewis, a Boston-based graphic novelist and comic book writer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I love that people take something from popular culture and find some level of spirituality or find a greater connection to some divine source through it, he said. But I would never say Superman is just of the Jewish or Christian people. Like some of the best narratives out there, Superman gives us access to something transcendent. Superman's strong Jewish roots Samantha Baskind, professor of art history at Cleveland State University, is Jewish; she sees numerous parallels between Supermans story and the history of Jews. Supermans solitary flight from Krypton in a little spacecraft is reminiscent of how Moses mother placed him in a papyrus basket and left him on the Nile, seeing it has his best chance of survival. Some also compare Superman's backstory to the Kindertransport, she said, referring to a rescue program that transported nearly 10,000 children, mostly Jewish, from Nazi-controlled territories to Great Britain in 1938 and 1939. In Supermans Kryptonian name, Kal-El, chosen by his original Jewish creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, the El in Hebrew connotes God. In DC Comics, Superman also frequents the Bottle City of Kandor, a Kryptonian city shrunk down and placed in a bottle, representing a fragmented piece of Kryptons history. Baskind said to her it is reminiscent of how diaspora Jews visit Israel. Theres also the thinking that Siegel and Shuster created Superman because they were these two, skinny, young Jewish men who couldnt go out and fight Hitler, but Superman fought Nazis on the cover of their comic books, she said. In some early editions, Superman held Hitler by his Nazi uniform as he begged for mercy. Appeal to the religiously unaffiliated Despite the religious undertones, Supermans appeal to those growing religiously unaffiliated remains strong, said Dan Clanton, professor of religious studies at Doane University in Nebraska. He says its because Supermans story truly encapsulates American civil religion. This idea that there are practices and beliefs that provide all, regardless of religious identity, with a sense of being part of something bigger than themselves, he said. Neal Bailey, a contributor for over a decade to Superman Homepage and an atheist, believes Superman at his best is a philosophical pragmatist solving the most complex problems with the least amount of harm. He actually goes beyond religion to see our commonalities, he said. Superman wouldnt care about people's religious beliefs. He would care more about whether they are living up to their human potential. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. - This version corrects the last name of of Invincible creator Robert Kirkman. The Christian Warrior channel on YouTube is hosted by former police officer Keith Graves. (Kansas Reflector screenshot) After the fatal shooting of a priest in Seneca two weeks ago, I searched online to learn more. On YouTube, I found a video covering the shooting with three times as many views as any other reporting. As of Friday, the video has 128,000 views. The 13-minute video, titled Murder of Kansas Priest Shows Growing Threat to Churches: Why Kansas Churches Should be on Alert was posted on the Christian Warrior channel on YouTube. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The channel, created and hosted by former police officer Keith Graves, has more than 180 other videos. While some videos describe recommended training for church security teams, others focus on recent violence at churches across America. Gunshot Victim Hides in Church During Gathering Church Security Volunteer Dies Shielding Kids from Gunfire How to Protect Your Church From Imminent Terror Attacks The channels description reads, If you love Jesus and you love guns, youre in the right place. The Christian Warrior is focused on giving you the knowledge and skills to protect your church. We do this by giving you shooting drills, qualification standards and training ideas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As I prepared to interview Graves this week, I reflected on how these words create vertigo when set next to my life in Christian churches. Warrior? Guns? Shooting Drills? Training? I wondered whether Gravess reaction was another sprouting of aggressive American gun culture. I braced for him to lecture me on right-wing conspiracy theories and the virtues of concealed carry. The conversation was something else entirely. * My childhood was spent in the white-walled sanctuaries of Presbyterian churches in Pennsylvania and suburban Chicago. My sister and mom in matching seersucker dresses with ruffles. My mustached dad in a suit with a starched white button-down collar. The gentle melody of an Easter hymn wafting out the windows on a spring Sunday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the dark-wood pews of those churches, my biggest worries were whether I was singing in tune and whether I could keep from fidgeting during the epic sermon. With that experience in my rearview mirror, I felt a clash of worldviews with Gravess security stance in his Seneca video and elsewhere on his channel. Churches have to remain spiritually grounded while also elevating their tactical awareness, Graves says near the end of the Seneca video. He advises parishioners to find a local police officer, an ally on the inside who will give the honest truth about what is happening in town. The implication? There might be something dangerous hidden from your church. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coupled with the imagery of guns on almost every YouTube preview, the alarm that I sensed as coming from Graves is foreign to my Sundays at church. His warnings about church security in Kansas were also disturbing. There is a lot of crime against Catholic churches in Kansas specifically over the past month, Graves said. And if you are in the Kansas area, you need to know about it. This is what my contacts are telling me. He described recent vandalism at a Catholic church in Wichita and the protest at the Kansas statehouse by satanists, which led to arrests. In the video, Graves continued: Officers in the area are watching these patterns carefully. Its possible that this recent murder is connected to the escalating anti-Christian trends. But we dont have a motive confirmed yet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Should we be as concerned as Graves, I wondered, or is this a moral panic fueled by his reaction to headlines about church violence? After all, every kind of apocalyptic news travels easily into our social media feeds. * Graves started his Christian Warrior YouTube channel after he retired after years of law enforcement work in Oakland and Berkeley, California. I could not do any of this until I retired, Graces told me in our interview. Because cops dont have a First Amendment right. We cant speak publicly about anything. Since then, his videos (with 139,000 YouTube subscribers) and weekly newsletter (with 40,000 subscribers, he said) have documented church violence, along with security tips to prevent it. Alerts to his inbox arrive each morning after crawling the web for keywords like Church shooting or Church stabbing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Obviously, the violent things that happen at churches are the ones that get views, Graves said. And I hate that. I absolutely hate it. Since starting the channel, Graves said he has mostly moved away from his previous consulting as a speaker on narcotics law enforcement. Now, from his home in Idaho, he records himself, microphone in the foreground and framed firearms in the background. He uses a social media forum, with 50,000 certified law enforcement officials in it, to research the latest church crimes. He would not share the social media platform during our interview. I will pray before I do every video, Graves said. And pray that I say the right things, because I dont want to cause panic, right? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Graves sees the world as a precarious place for Christians in 2025 the most dangerous atmosphere for Christians in modern American history. I do think that there is a cultural movement to have some hate against Christians. Then you look at the Christian faith, you see less and less people coming to church over the last couple decades for sure. Graves said that he monitors terrorist chats online, and that hes never seen them be so fervent about their hate towards Christians when you look at the jihadi side. He compares the level of threat to America before the attacks of September 11, 2001, and worries about attacks coordinated by ISIS and Al-Queda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Graves connects the hostility that he sees toward police officers and Christians. Being a police officer, I know there are people that dislike me so much they would love to kill me, Graves said. But there are people that hate Christians and Jews so much that they would like to see you dead. And I dont think people have ever thought about that before, because they just lived a fortunate life. The dire tone is hard to square in some ways with the cultural and political power that Christians hold in America. Graves sees the atmosphere as nonetheless threatening. I told Graves how including warrior sounds a lot like vigilantism to me. I explained my worry of Christian militias seeking justice in the name of church security, armed with guns and tactical vests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Youre trying to make the name warrior this bad name, Graves said. People have been using (the word) sheepdog forever in the church security field. And Im like, Im not a sheepdog. Im a warrior. Im here to protect my people. Im here to keep evil away from them. And warrior isnt a bad name. Im a Christian, Im a warrior, and Im here to protect the people that are within the church. Does that mean Im going to go on the offense and start hurting people? Absolutely not. True vigilantism, taking the law into your own hands, we all know its wrong, right? he continued. Its biblically wrong. Its criminally wrong. Theres everything wrong about it. I dont know why anybody would want to go that route to begin with. It firmly goes against scripture. * Halfway through the interview, Graves and I circled back to my central question: Is his YouTube channel addressing a substantial threat to religious people in America or is it overreacting to shocking headlines? Heres the problem, if you dont report (on church violence), then people continue thinking that theres not going to be a problem, he said, adding: You just have to look at whats happening and realize that its a possibility. You just have to realize its minimal. Its just not zero. It took me that long to remember that my family is proof that the threat is not zero. Eleven years and one week ago, my wife and two children were barricaded in a bathroom at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City. My 9-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son were still wet from their swimming lessons with friends. Staff from the community center ordered them into the womens locker room. The lockdown kept them there for more than an hour. Outside, an anti-semetic gunman killed a grandfather and his grandson in the parking lot of the facility before killing another woman at a nearby retirement community. What if the Christian Warrior channel had existed in 2014? Would it have helped to have Gravess review of the shooting and the law enforcement response? Ive thought about that all day whether these Christian Warrior videos scoot us closer to being a more secure land of churches with well-trained security teams. Or whether they turn up the flame of panic and militarism under an already boiling pot. Like so many religious questions, I think your answer is a personal matter of faith. DES MOINES, Iowa A bill that was asked for by school districts, county attorneys and parents has made it through both chambers with not a single vote against it. The bill is a fix to the chronic absenteeism law passed last year. Iowa House lawmakers passed it unanimously on Thursday afternoon. The bill adds exemptions to what is considered an excused absence, including military exemptions, funerals and weddings. It also drops the mail notice that had school staff working hours that they didnt expect, with each certified mail notice costing around $10. Those mail notices are what would occur when a student hits a 15% absent rate for one grading period. At 10%, according to the new bill, parents/guardians would only have to meet with school staff if those absences are negatively impacting a students academic progress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Twenty percent is when charges will be filed by the county attorney in truancy court. This bill also requires the Iowa Department of Education to create a model policy for the Iowa County Attorneys Association to follow when filing charges. A Drake Relay Homecoming for star runners Schweizer and Houlihan Another bill passed by the Iowa House on Thursday impacts high school students by adding another requirement in order to graduate. The bill passed along party lines on Thursday afternoon. It requires students to pass a United States Civics test in order to receive a diploma. A student will have to complete a 100 question, multiple choice test, getting better than a 60% in order to have it completed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Republicans argued that this is needed to make sure that Iowa students will be involved and informed citizens post graduation. The civics test that immigrants take to become a U.S. citizen has the same questions, but the test Iowa high schoolers have to take will be a little different. The difference is this is a multiple choice test, what is given to immigrants is an open-ended test and they are under the pressure of only getting to do it once. They (students) can do it lots of times, said State Representative Robert Henderson (R), District 2 from Sioux City. House Democrats argued on the debate floor that while the party understands the push to have students be educated citizens, having a student regurgitate answers on a multiple choice test wont do what is aimed to be done. I dont this billwill create sustainable change, but mainly it wont help students feel and connect to this country, said State Representative Ross Wilburn (D), District 50 from Iowa City. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Students will also have access to the test questions and the answers before taking the test to study. Both of these bills are now sent over to Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds desk to be signed into law. Iowa News: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 18. Azerbaijan's Baku will host the founding conference of the Global South Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) Platform on April 28, said Aygun Aliyeva, Executive Director of Azerbaijan's Agency for State Support to NGOs, Trend reports. In a statement made during a press conference marking the fourth anniversary of the activities of the agency, Aliyeva recalled that during the COP29, with the support of the Agency, a free conference hall was made available for local NGOs in the Green zone, where 54 conferences were held. Over 2,500 NGO representatives participated in these events, with more than 70 percent being foreign NGOs involved in COP29. Furthermore, the Agency organized five international conferences for NGOs within the framework of COP29, including a conference for Non-Aligned Movement countries on climate diplomacy, a forum for NGOs of Turkic states, and forums for the participants of COP28, COP29, and COP30. Additionally, there was a forum dedicated to the ecology of the Caspian Sea. "It is a great honor for the Agency that, as part of COP29 in November 2024, during the Non-Aligned Movement NGO conference on South-South cooperation, foreign NGOs participating in the discussions agreed to establish the Global South NGO Platform. Over 1,000 NGOs from 137 countries joined the statement supporting the initiative of the Azerbaijan National NGO Forum. As a continuation of this process, the founding conference of the Global South NGO Platform will take place in Baku on April 28," said Aliyeva. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel The Montana State Capitol in Helena on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. (Photo by Mike Clark for the Daily Montanan) A bill to create an exemption for cigar rooms from the Montana Clean Indoor Air Act is headed to the House floor and legislation to strengthen the Act by including e-cigarettes and vape pens in the definition of smoking is headed to the governors desk. Senate Bill 150, sponsored by Sen. Wylie Galt, R-Martinsdale, is an attempt to help the hospitality and tourism industry in the state by allowing places where cigar aficionados can legally smoke indoors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Galt said cigar bars are legal in many states, and a supporter representing the hospitality industry said the lack of an exemption here means Montana is at a competitive disadvantage. In a statement Friday, Galt said hes pleased with the progress the bill has made. Adults over 21 years of age would have the option to enjoy a cigar in a contained location that meets proper ventilation requirements separate from an established bar or restaurant, Galt said. Opponents of the bill argue it undercuts an agreement made decades earlier among legislators, some health advocates and the Montana Tavern Association to put the Clean Indoor Air Act in place in 2005 but allow four years for bars to comply. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Department of Public Health and Human Services describes it as one of the most important public health policies in state history. Montana Tavern Association spokesperson John Iverson could not be reached for comment Friday. However, at a hearing in March, Iverson told the House Committee on Business and Labor that his board had a robust debate about the bill and didnt support it because it undercuts the Clean Indoor Air Act. It does that by exposing employees to smoke in their workplace, Iverson said. For a long time now, our employees have not been exposed to smoke in their workplace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Iverson said the organization would support the bill if it was amended to prohibit employees from entering the room where patrons are smoking and the room had separate ventilation. This week, the committee voted on an amendment that changed the venue from cigar bar to cigar room and said employees cant enter the room while smoking is taking place unless theres an emergency. As currently drafted, the bill would allow smoking of premium cigars in cigar rooms, separate enclosed spaces on premises that have a license to serve alcohol. Patrons wouldnt be able to smoke anything but premium cigars in those rooms, as the bill is written. So no marijuana or cigarettes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill requires a cigar room to be enclosed and have a solid door and a ventilation system that doesnt send exhausted air to nonsmoking areas. Thursday, the committee approved the bill on a 12-8 party line vote. In a phone call Friday, CB Pearson, a public health advocate, said the legislation is worse than originally drafted for the health of workers. It is the biggest intrusion into the Clean Indoor Air act and the biggest threat that we have faced over the last 20 years, Pearson said. Pearson said one reason he believes the current draft is worse is the original bill required a cigar bar to be a separate, standalone structure, and the amended version allows for a separate room in a building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But he said rooms leak toxic particulates, such as when someone opens a door. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers position is that even when all practical means of separation and isolation of smoking areas are employed, adverse health effects from exposure in non-smoking spaces in the same building cannot be eliminated. It also means an employee who enters the room after hours to clean is exposed to particulates because they fall on the floor and stick to the walls, Pearson said. There is no way to have a facility that can protect workers if they have to go in and clean up or attend to a site, Pearson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before it was amended, Galt told the House committee he had been running a version of the cigar bar bill since he first started in the legislature in the House. We have continued working on it, trying to tweak it where we can, Galt said. Friday, Galt said the idea the bill is worse for public health than when it started is incorrect because it bans employees from entering those rooms. During the legislative process, the bill was amended to be contained to a single room in which employees arent permitted to enter, Galt said. While this wasnt my original language, it is the result of the legislative process, and I am glad to see it one step closer to becoming law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill will head to the House floor as amended. Another bill that affects the Clean Indoor Air Act is Senate Bill 390, sponsored by Sen. Willis Curdy, D-Missoula. It regulates vapes and e-cigarettes. It passed out of the Senate on Tuesday on a bipartisan 34-16 vote after being amended in the House. Rep. George Nikolakakos, R-Great Falls, carried the bill in the House, and he said hes generally a fan of vices. However, he said he believes theres a social contract that needs to be honored when it comes to freedom and vices, and the deal includes regulation. He said Montanans support the Clean Indoor Air Act a poll said as much as 89% and Montana has the second highest rate in the nation of vape use, and four times the rate of smoking among adolescents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement E-cigarettes came into the market just after we passed the Clean Indoor Air Act, so honestly, they probably would have been included had this been on the market at the time, Nikolakakos said. The Governors Office did not respond to a question Friday about whether Gov. Greg Gianforte would sign SB 390, which is headed to his desk, or if he would have any concerns about an exemption to the Clean Indoor Air Act in SB 150. CUMBERLAND A driver who allegedly struck a pedestrian in late February in the area of Seton Drive and Bishop Walsh Road and then drove away was arrested Thursday by Cumberland Police and C3I detectives. Michael Joseph Wempe, 36, was charged with obstruction of justice, two counts of providing false information to police and more than a dozen hit-and-run related charges. He was granted pre-trial release after posting $10,000 bond set by a district court commissioner. The Feb. 27 incident occurred just before 3 p.m., police said. The victim was treated at the scene by Cumberland Fire Department ambulance personnel before being taken to UPMC Western Maryland for further treatment. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) The City of Oklahoma City is hosting a hiring event on May 6, 2025. According to the City, visitors can interviews for positions like: Crew worker II Construction Equipment Operator I Construction Equipment Operator II LOCAL NEWS: OKC National Memorial & Museum 30th anniversary ceremony moved indoors The event is being held at 3738 SW 15th St., building 3, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Those interested will need to apply by May 4 or on-site the day of the event in order to test, interview and complete drug testing and a physical exam. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To learn more at OKC.gov/careers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Apr. 18LIMA Lima residents received a notice from AEP on Thursday warning that the city's electrical aggregation contract with Dynegy is set to expire May 1. City officials said Lima City Council is set to discuss authorizing a consultant to negotiate a new price for residents at its next meeting and that it will continue to have an electrical aggregation program. "We are aware that the current electric aggregation program's pricing expires in May 2025," Lima Public Information Officer Jessica Begonia said. "There is communication to Lima City Council on the docket for Monday, April 21, authorizing Trebel to negotiate a new price on behalf of Lima residents." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the city's previous council meeting (bit.ly/4jCwJHJ), a representative from Trebel shared that rates are set to increase by June 1 and suggested the city agree to a three- to five-year program while allowing the company to watch the market on its behalf. Councilman Jon Neeper proposed agreeing to a guarantee to keep prices lower than AEP rates. On the city's Facebook page Thursday, Mayor Sharetta Smith stood by the program. "Through this program, we've been able to save Lima residents more than $2.4 million in total that's about $500 per participant in savings," she said. "It's just one way we're using city government to help drive down costs where we can." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A letter dated April 25 from the city to customers on the Ohio Public Utilities Commission website (bit.ly/3RSrRlY) warned of the rate increase and said the city negotiated the community's aggregation rate with Archer Energy proactively to mitigate it. The letter said current participants are automatically enrolled in the program unless they opt out, and there are still no fees, something reiterated by Begonia. "Once new pricing is finalized, we'll notify residents," she said. "As with the previous aggregation program, there will be no cost for enrollment, no switching fee and no early termination fee to leave the program at any point in the future." Featured Local Savings (FOX40.COM) The City of Sacramento is launching a new interactive tool and a series of events in recognition of Arts, Culture and Creativity Month, according to city officials. Video Above: New Crocker Art Museum director on his vision for the Sacramento institution The Arts, Culture and Creativity Month is a statewide effort, organized by California for the Arts, to showcase how the arts contribute to community connection, well-being and civic life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said the theme of Health, Healing, Hope highlights how the arts support collective recovery and reinforce the message that Art Work is Real Work.' The new online tool, Public Art GIS Map, launched by the Office of Arts and Culture, allows the community to explore Sacramentos public art collection as it continues to grow. Google reveals Californias favorite Easter candy Were excited to offer this new way for people to discover the breadth and vibrancy of Sacramentos public art, said Art in Public Places Manager Donald Gensler. This tool makes it easier to experience the citys cultural assets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The interactive map shares information about artwork throughout the city and aims to make it easier to access the public art inventory, according to officials. Additionally, the third annual California Arts and Culture Summit will bring together artists, advocates, cultural leaders, and policymakers from across the state to Sacramento on April 22. Officials said Arts Advocacy Day takes place the following day at Capitol Park. The interactive map can be found on the GIS public art map website. More information about the summit can be found on the events 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 FOX40 News. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) The city of San Diegos newly released draft budget proposes several cuts to libraries, arts and recreation to close the $258 million budget deficit. Arts and culture programs are facing a 10% cut to their funding, which comes as the city celebrates arts, culture and creativity month for the second time since 2019. Some may say the museums, music, arts, and culture is what makes San Diego a top tourist destination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What would this world be without art and culture? said Makeda Cheatom, the founder and executive director of the World Beat Cultural Center. Whether its to enjoy the sounds of a local concert or visit the beauty of Balboa Park, its clear visitors enjoy the culture San Diego offers. People come and visit San Diego because of our cultural offerings, said Christine Martinez, the director of Arts and Culture San Diego. Following the release of the 2026 draft budget, the proposed cuts could quite literally be a show-stopper. It seems like theres a bit of an attack on the arts, Martinez said. Cuts on the federal level and now from the local government mean the World Beat Cultural Center could have to host fewer shows or even eliminate local festivals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city was the first to recognize us, and we needed that money to keep going on before we went to the federal level, so these cuts really hurt, Cheatom said. The city of San Diego plans to cut arts-and-cultural-related funding from $16.1 million in 2025 down to $13.8 million in 2026. Whenever theres an issue a deficit, the first thing to go happens to be these programs, Martinez said. Cultural affairs will take the biggest hit, losing $837,516 in funding, and this could be just the start. If costs go up because of tariffs and that causes people to spend less so our revenues go down, we may be in a position a few months from now where well have to recommend additional cuts, Mayor Todd Gloria said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gloria says sacrificing the arts saves the funding to maintain public safety, address the housing crisis, and fix city roads, but Cheatom says those arent the only things that are important to the community. If we start cutting out these things that make us happy and make us peaceful then were gonna be in trouble, she said. The curtain hasnt officially closed just yet. This is just the draft budget, so residents still have time to give their feedback before the city council officially adopts a finalized budget in June. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, with fist raised, stands with co-counsel Troy Jones, far right, and family members of David Batts and Daevon Saint-Germain, both of whom died after altercations with Knox County law enforcement. (Photo: Angela Dennis) Civil rights attorney Ben Crump visited Knoxville on Wednesday to discuss lawsuits against Knox County and the University of Tennessee Medical Center over the deaths of two Black men following encounters with county law enforcement officers. Crump, who is representing the families of Daevon Saint-Germain and David Batts, compared the death of Saint-Germain to that of Breonna Taylor, who was killed during a police raid in Louisville, Ky, in March 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is Knoxvilles Breonna Taylor, Crump said. The killing of an 18-year-old high school senior. There are so many unanswered questions as to why he was shot nine times, and no video footage exists to explain why this young man was killed that morning. Saint-Germain was shot and killed on Jan. 3 by Knox County Sheriff SWAT deputies during an early morning raid at his familys south Knoxville home. The Knox County Sheriffs Office (KCSO) says deputies were carrying out a search warrant when Saint-Germain allegedly showed a firearm, prompting officers to open fire. The warrant was reportedly issued based on social media activity that investigators claimed linked Saint-Germain to drug sales, including marijuana and THC products. But the details of what happened during the raid remain murky. SWAT officers involved were not wearing body cameras, a fact that has fueled growing concerns over transparency and accountability of the KCSO. Saint-Germains family, who were inside the home at the time, deny the allegations about him. David Batts family members hold a portrait of Batts, who died in UT Medical Center after being tased and beaten in a Knox County detention facility. (Photo: Angela Dennis) Despite the absence of body camera footage, Crump expressed confidence in his legal teams path forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With eyewitness accounts, physical evidence, and strong expert testimony, we believe we can bring a successful 1983 civil rights wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of Daevons family, he said. In March after a petition circulated calling for answers and police reform, Sheriff Tom Spangler expressed regret at the lack of body cameras but defended the actions of deputies. Spangler announced at a community meeting that he directed his SWAT team members to begin using body cameras after discovering they were not equipped with them during the raid. They did not have cameras. I wish they had, but they didnt and thats it. But, with that said, they are already in place now, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crump also attributed the circumstances surrounding delivery of the warrant to racial bias. This was a kid with no criminal history, said Crump. And we are talking about an alleged social media post about marijuana. Can you imagine if they started kicking in everyones door in violation of the fourth amendment because of marijuana? Sadly this only seems to happen to Black people in this country, he said. David Batts needed help. Its troubling so many times when a Black person in America is having a medical crisis or mental health crisis, it is not treated as a medical issue. Ben Crump Five days after Saint-Germains death, 46-year-old David Batts died on Jan. 8 following a violent encounter with law enforcement at the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility. Batts was arrested the day before after causing an alleged disturbance at the Knoxville Area Transit center and was initially taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center. There, he was accused of assaulting two nurses, which led to his transfer to the county jail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Within minutes of his arrival at the facility, deputies attempted to force Batts to change into a jail uniform. When he did not comply, officers pepper-sprayed him, used a Taser on him four times, and struck him repeatedly. The blows to his face were so severe that family members later said he was nearly unrecognizable. Batts was found unresponsive the next day and later pronounced dead at the hospital. Crump said that Batts was in need of care, not violence. David Batts needed help. Its troubling so many times when a Black person in America is having a medical crisis or mental health crisis, it is not treated as a medical issue, he said. It is treated as a criminal issue, and it is met with excessive force and brutality. According to the KCSO, Batts was non compliant, which prompted officers to use force. Body camera footage released by the sheriffs office shows Batts struggling to follow commands during attempts to check his vital signs. Batts was taken back to UTMC where he died in the hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Knox County District Attorneys Office reviewed the incident and concluded that Batts death was caused by meningitis, not by the actions of law enforcement officers. Based on my review of the body camera footage and the Medical Examiners preliminary findings, I have concluded that the officers involved responded to Mr. Batts assaultive and resistive behavior with appropriate force under the circumstances, District Attorney Charme Allen wrote in a statement. Crump, along with co-counsel Troy Jones, a Knoxville lawyer, said the legal team will file dual suits one for medical malpractice against the University of Tennessee Medical Center and a federal civil rights wrongful death suit against the Knox County Sheriffs Department. Crump also urged Knoxville community members to stay vigilant and continue raising awareness about the deaths of Batts and Saint-Germain. He acknowledged the challenge of mobilizing in a city where only 17 percent of the population is African American, but emphasized that justice requires persistence even without overwhelming numbers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I believe when you have truth on your side, you have a moral majority, he said. And so I want the community to remain engaged and have the same convictions they have with all these other cases across the country. Crump has represented families of other men and women who died following altercations with law enforcement, including Taylor, Tyre Nichols of Memphis and George Floyd, the Minnesota man whose killing launched nationwide protests in 2020. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX President Donald Trump and members of his administration have long used allegations of anti-Christian discrimination as a rallying cry for supporters, arguing that policies and laws on issues like school prayer and LGBTQ+ rights threaten Christians right to express their beliefs. Weeks into his second term, Trump took action, signing an executive order on Eradicating Anti-Christian Bias. The order vowed to protect the religious freedoms of Americans and end the anti-Christian weaponization of government by identifying anti-Christian conduct and recommending policy changes. In mid-April, Secretary of State Marco Rubio instructed employees in the State Department to report any incidents of such bias that occurred during the Biden administration. Many critics contest claims of widespread discrimination against Christians in U.S. society, given that Christians are the countrys largest faith group and benefit from associated privileges. Consider how Christmas is recognized as a federal holiday, whereas other faiths major holidays are not. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As social psychologists, we were curious who claims of anti-Christian bias appeal to, and how those claims are perceived. Hats for sale at a campaign rally for Donald Trump in Vandalia, Ohio, on March 16, 2024. AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski Our 2024 research, as well as other scholars work, suggests that peoples beliefs about anti-Christian discrimination are tied with their attitudes about race. These studies suggest that when politicians talk about anti-Christian bias, it does more than signal a concern and commitment to Christians it can also serve as a signal of white solidarity. A changing America Even though they remain the largest religious and racial groups, white Americans and Christian Americans have both declined as a proportion of the U.S. population. Over the past two decades, the percentage of Christian Americans has decreased from 78% to 63%, and the percentage of white Americans has decreased from 69% to 60%. White Christians now account for less than 50% of the country. Many scholars have argued that, at the root, some white and Christian Americans feel threatened by these demographic shifts. Increasing secularization and other cultural changes have added to some white Christians sense that their identity is under attack. According to FBI data, however, only 3% of hate crimes over the past five years targeted Christians. In comparison, 14% targeted Jews, Muslims or Sikhs groups that make up just 3% of the population. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Public Religion Research Institute found that 55% of white Americans believe discrimination against white people is as much of a problem as discrimination against minority groups. Meanwhile, 60% of white evangelicals say that Christians in the U.S. face discrimination. In his executive order, Trump echoes these perceptions of threat, painting a picture of embattlement for Christians. The executive order provides examples of charges brought against Christian pro-life protesters and alleges that Democrats failed to respond to attacks on churches. The executive order criticizes the Biden administration for policies that it says force Christians to affirm radical transgender ideology against their faith, including for potential foster parents. Testing views Historically, white people and Christians were often treated as the quintessential Americans meaning race and religion are tightly connected in U.S. culture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sixty-two percent of white American adults identify as Christian, and 61% of American Christians identify as white. Marchers protest school integration in Little Rock, Ark., in 1959. One of their signs says Please save our Christian America. Bledsoe/Library of Congress/Interim Archives/Getty Images In our four experiments, published in Psychological Science in March 2024, we tested these connections between views of race and religion, focusing on claims about anti-Christian bias. First, in two online experiments of about 3,000 participants, we randomly assigned white and Black Christians to one of four groups. One group did not read anything, while the other three were each given a brief blurb about discrimination. Each blurb summarized a different groups fears that bias against them was increasing: white Americans, Black Americans and Christian Americans. Afterward, we asked all the participants to assess how much bias they think those groups actually face. Compared to white Christians who did not read anything, white Christians who read the blurb about anti-Christian bias perceived greater anti-white bias. Black Christians who read the blurb about anti-Christian bias, however, did not perceive greater anti-white bias than Black Christians who did not read anything. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thus, it appears that the white Christians mentally linked anti-Christian and anti-white bias. In our other two experiments, we randomly assigned about 1,000 white and Black Christians to read an interview excerpt from a fictional local politician who was asked about the most pressing issue in their community. The politician either voiced concern about anti-Christian bias, anti-white bias, religious freedom or the economy. Afterward, we asked participants several questions about the politician, including whether they thought this figure was liberal or conservative, and whether they thought this figure would be concerned about bias against white people. Black and white Christian respondents believed the politician who voiced concern about anti-Christian bias was also more likely to fight for the rights of white people, relative to the politician who discussed the economy. We also asked participants whether they found the politicians interview offensive. Both Black and white Christians viewed the message about anti-Christian bias as less offensive than the message about anti-white bias. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Importantly, these effects held regardless of whether participants believed the politician was conservative or liberal. Taken together, these findings suggest that expressing concern for anti-Christian bias can be interpreted as signaling allegiance to white people without the social cost of being accused of racism. Instead, allegations of anti-Christian bias can be presented in a positive way as issues of religious freedom, a core American value. Whether intentionally or not, it seems that rallying around anti-Christian bias can serve as a dog whistle signaling support for people concerned about changes in Americas racial makeup, as well. 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: Rosemary (Marah) Al-Kire, University of Washington; Clara L. Wilkins, University of Washington, and Michael Pasek, University of Illinois Chicago Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Michael Pasek receives funding from the Russell Sage Foundation. Clara L. Wilkins and Rosemary (Marah) Al-Kire do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. CLEARFIELD, Pa. (WTAJ) The Clearfield Borough Council was set to vote Thursday night on a new ordinance that would require businesses to apply for a license to operate Pennsylvania Skills Game machines. However, the council decided not to vote on anything at the meeting, as not enough members were present to form a quorum. Four members of the council were present out of the eight seats, but only six of the seats are currently filled. The ordinance would require owners and vendors of the machines to first apply for a license from the borough and pay a $750 fee before they can be put into operation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, business owners like Jason Holencik, who owns The After Dark down the street, will have to wait for the councils decision. He said that hes spoken with other businesses and theyd not been told anything about the potential new ordinance before it was put on an agenda. Get the latest news, weather forecasts and sports stories delivered straight to your inbox! Sign up for our newsletters. They havent they actually blindsided a lot of the local business owners that have the machines, Holencik said. It is a blindsided reaction and theyre a lot of them that we do talk to on a daily basis or weekly basis where that is actually a life line to them because of the rising costs and everything. And to take another portion of that they need for their businesses to survive is kind of asinine. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. KANSAS CITY, Mo. A Henry County, Missouri jury found a Clinton woman guilty of seventeen charges in a sex trafficking case. The Henry County Prosecuting Attorney says the jury found Kimberly Olivia Gray, 46, guilty of six counts of first-degree sexual trafficking of a child, seven counts of first-degree sodomy, and one count of incest. FBI Director announces charges in Kansas City Tesla dealership fire Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The charges came from an investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, which led to multiple search warrants of Grays residence and devices of her and her boyfriend. During that investigation, MSHP found multiple photos and videos of child pornography, including several videos appearing to be of Gray and her boyfriend with a child under the age of nine. While Gray denied her involvement, the FBI was able to identify Gray by her hands in footage obtained through the investigation. The trial in Grays case began on Monday, and the jury reached its verdict on Thursday afternoon. Gray awaits sentencing, which will take place on June 5, 2025. The punishment for first-degree child sex trafficking in Missouri is life imprisonment, without eligibility for probation or parole, until the offender has served at least 25 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, April 18. Representatives of the accredited diplomatic corps in Azerbaijan have visited Shusha city, which is a symbol of Azerbaijan's history and culture, Trend reports. Aydin Karimov, the special representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, briefed the delegation on the city's history, its condition during the occupation, and the ongoing construction work. He noted that during nearly 30 years of Armenian occupation, historical buildings, mosques, and monuments in the city of Shusha were subjected to vandalism. After the liberation of the city from occupation, large-scale restoration and construction works began. Along with the construction of infrastructure, Shusha is undergoing the restoration of its original historical appearance, as well as the monuments of history and culture. The diplomatic corps representatives were familiarized with the construction work being carried out on Karabakh Street in the city of Shusha. They were informed that within the framework of public-private partnership projects, the construction of 10 buildings with different purposes is underway on this street. These include a hotel, offices, food service facilities, and the building of the Shusha Reserve Administration. The construction work is being carried out in accordance with the overall appearance of the city. The delegation then visited the Ashaghi Govhar Agha Mosque. It was informed that the restoration work on the Ashaghi Govhar Agha Mosque, which had been subjected to Armenian vandalism during the occupation of Shusha, has been completed. The Ashaghi Govhar Aga Mosque, created in the 19th century by architect Kerbela Safikhan Garabagi, is considered the first mosque built in Shusha by Ibrahim Khan's daughter, Govhar Agha. The Ashaghi Govhar Agha Mosque is one of the historical and architectural symbols of the city. During the visit, foreign diplomats also got acquainted with the conditions created in the first residential complex in the city of Shusha. It was noted that the opening of the residential complex, whose foundation was laid in 2021, took place on May 10, 2024. All the houses are built in the traditional architectural style of the city of Shusha. The residential complex, consisting of twenty-three buildings, provides all the conditions for comfortable living. 15:01 SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, April 18. Representatives of the diplomatic corps visiting Azerbaijan's Karabakh have started their visit to Shusha after Khankendi city, Trend's Karabakh bureau reports. The delegation has arrived in Shusha. The guests were welcomed in the city by Aydin Karimov, the special representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. He provided the guests with detailed information about the city. The delegation will get acquainted with the construction, restoration, and reconstruction work carried out here. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel At a town hall in South Carolina, veteran congressman Jim Clyburn emphasized that Democrats are limited in what they can do in the minority in Congress, urging attendees to speak out and vote to help tip the scales and the balance of power. The friendly crowd peppered long-serving Democratic lawmaker with questions about taxes, Social Security, tariffs and the Constitution with concerns about how the Trump administration is handling all of those issues and more. Its obvious the Trump administration has no use for the Constitution whatsoever, one attendee said, asking Clyburn about the Trump administrations immigration efforts and suggesting he feared US-born citizens could be next. What can Congress do to put a stop to this nonsense coming out of the White House? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clyburn gave a lengthy response, including reading out the 14th Amendment and emphasizing the importance of hosting congressional town halls and speaking to voters across the country. The congressman then asked the crowd to pray that the US will not allow itself to go the way of Germany in the 1930s. All we can do is share with you what were doing and ask for your prayers that this country will not allow itself to go the way of Germany in the 1930s when people stood by, he said. After reading out the famous First They Came quote from German Lutheran pastor Martin Niemoller, the congressman said, we remember what happened to the Jews, referencing the six million Jewish people who were murdered in the Holocaust by Hitlers Nazi regime during World War II. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, were going to have to speak out. Weve got to break our silence. And this is not about Democrats and Republicans. My parents were Republicans. My mother and father were Republicans. I love them. I dont hate Republicans. I do hate liars, he said prompting cheers from the crowd. Asked by CNN after the town hall if he is truly afraid the country is sliding into autocracy, Clyburn said, I absolutely am. Theres no question about that. The congressman reflected on his history of civil rights activism and his fears over the current political climate. I told the members of the Congressional Black Caucus, I think it was three weeks ago, I said to them, when I was sitting in the Orangeburg County jail, the Richland County jail back in the sixties, I never feared. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I knew that I would be found guilty, I knew that I would get a sentence. But I also knew that if this gets to the US Supreme Court, I would be exonerated. Not today, not today. This Supreme Court, I dont think would exonerate me for wanting to get out off the back of the bus. For wanting to be able to walk into a Five and Dime store and spend my money at a lunch counter. These kinds of things, those indignities we suffered back in the Sixties I think we would be found guilty today for standing up against them. And I think the Supreme Court, this Supreme Court would sustain that. A number of Democratic lawmakers have faced contentious exchanges and criticism that their party and its leaders are not doing enough to stand up to President Trump at recent town halls. But the town hall with Clyburn did not feature disruptions or an unruly crowd. The congressman said at the outset of the event that he would not talk over anyone or yell and hoped that everyone would display good manners. CNNs Sylvie Kirsch contributed. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Departments Alcohol Beverage Control Unit searched a west Charlotte arcade and found several violations. CMPDs ABC Unit has been conducting an extensive investigation into Stars Arcade on Brookshire Boulevard since late 2024, officials said. The department executed a search warrant on April 9 and found 136 gaming machines inside the arcade to be in violation of North Carolina gambling laws, according to CMPD. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement READ: Body found at north Charlotte park Investigations also revealed several unlicensed armed individuals providing security services for the unauthorized gaming arcade, officials said. The investigation also uncovered two 9mm handguns, one .40 caliber handgun, one AR-15 rifle, about 36.6 grams of suspected marijuana, and $132,077. Three unlicensed, armed security guards were arrested and two patrons were cited for misdemeanor gambling violations, according to officials. CMPD said charges against Stars Arcade owners and managers are forthcoming. CMPDs ABC Unit was assisted by CMPDs SWAT Team, Logistics Division, and officers from the North Tryon, Independence, University City and Metro Divisions, officials said. WATCH: Body found at north Charlotte park CNNs chief data analyst Harry Enten on Thursday pointed to a big change in Americans stances on immigration policy between 2016 and now. Enten said a majority of Americans have gotten much closer to President Donald Trump, noting that 56% of registered voters in 2025 favored a government effort to deport all 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States, per a poll by The Washington Post. This marks a double-digit percentage increase from 2016 when just 38% of Americans indicated that theyd back such an effort. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think thats a big part of the reason why Americans are increasingly saying the country is on the right track when it comes to immigration policy and why Donald Trumps net approval rating on that issue is in the positive, Enten told CNNs Kate Bolduan. Moments earlier, Enten pulled up figures showing the presidents net approval rating on immigration leaped from -12 points in April 2017 to +1 point this month. He went on to add that a big reason why Trump has kept a focus on immigration is due to how Americans view his handling of immigration compared to former President Joe Biden. Enten turned to data from December showing that 14% of Americans considered the U.S. to be on the right track when it comes to immigration while 62% of others considered the country to be on the wrong track. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked how the U.S. is faring on immigration this month under Trump, 45% of Americans found the country to be on the right track while 42% indicated that it was on the wrong track. Entens analysis comes as Trump officials face increased pushback on immigration this week as his administration defies a Supreme Court order to facilitate the return of a Maryland man mistakenly deported to a Salvadoran prison. A federal judge, in a separate case this week, said theres cause to hold Trump officials in criminal contempt for ignoring his orders to turn flights around that carried Venezuelan migrants to the prison known for its brutal conditions. H/T: Mediaite Related... Coca-Cola is under fire because one of its representatives visited a proposed site for an industrial park in India after villagers were assured an alternative location was under consideration. What's happening? As detailed by Munsif News 24/7, Coca-Cola is among the companies expected to set up shop at a proposed 203-acre industrial park near Ramagiri Khila, a historic site in the Peddapalli district in the state of Telangana. Residents of Ratnapur village in Ramagiri Mandal have protested the move, as they have already surrendered significant portions of land for a separate project by Singareni Collieries Co. Ltd. and infrastructure projects including a national highway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They argue that the government skirted its obligations to obtain consent to acquire land through village assemblies. Following the villagers' outcry in February, Information Technology and Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu promised them that officials would look into acquiring other land for the industrial park. However, a Ratnapur site visit by Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corp., a Coca-Cola representative, and other officials on March 18 reignited tensions. Why is this important? While the state government argues the industrial park will boost economic development, the project would require the acquisition of 165 acres of privately owned plots, including agricultural land. Villagers say losing more cultivable land would leave them without their livelihoods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More broadly, the continued loss of agricultural land can have unintended ripple effects. As Investopedia notes, the world's most populous country is the second-largest food producer. Like other nations around the world, though, India has experienced disruptions to food production as a result of rising global temperatures, threatening food security at home and in countries that depend on its exports. What is being done about this? Coca-Cola says on its website that it sustainably sources 64% of its ingredients, adding that it is important to ensure "ingredients are produced in a way that respects farmworkers and their communities while also protecting ecosystems." While the industrial park is a different endeavor, given these stated values, increased awareness about the plight of the residents in Ratnapur combined with public pressure could move Coca-Cola to use its immense influence to advocate for another site or perhaps repurpose an existing structure to avoid new construction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ultimately, the iconic soft-drink maker has taken positive strides toward its sustainability goals, from upgrading to clean, non-polluting solar power at select facilities to reducing the need for virgin plastic (derived from dirty fuels) in its packaging. However, it is impossible to ignore that government policies are directly linked to the for-profit company's decision-making. Munsif News 24/7 reported that the villagers are standing firm in their opposition to the project and may force the government to relocate the project. The outcome could set a precedent for how the state handles future land disputes. 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. BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Friday ordered the suspension of a military offensive against a faction of what was once the armed Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in order to make headway on peace talks with the rebel group. The suspension follows the expiration earlier this week of a bilateral ceasefire agreement between the government and the FARC-EP group. An extension was expected to be agreed upon, but failed to be settled in time. The new order, made by government decree, will be in effect until May 18. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the decree, the decision was made to guarantee security conditions along transit routes near where the FARC-EP operates and to ensure agricultural production in the area. The ceasefire had been in effect since December 2023 and had been extended several times. The government said earlier this week that its expiry did not imply the end of peace talks with the group. Talks with this branch of the FARC, with around 1,500 members, are part of Petro's efforts to end a six-decade-long armed conflict that has left more than 450,000 people dead. Still, his government has made little progress since he took office in 2022. (Reporting by Luis Jaime Acosta in Bogota; Editing by Matthew Lewis) DENVER (AP) A Colorado man was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Friday for stalking his wife while posing as her ex-boyfriend and then murdering her, acts that the woman's father said were pure selfish evil that have robbed the couple's three children of their parents. The mandatory sentence came a day after jurors found Daniel Krug, 44, guilty of first-degree murder for killing Kristil Krug shortly before Christmas in 2023, as well as criminal impersonation and stalking that had made her fear for her family. The couples children are now being raised by Kristil Krugs brother and his wife, with help from their extended family, including her father, Lars Grimsrud. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our entire family will never be the same again, Grimsrud told Judge Priscilla Loew before the sentence was imposed. With his marriage to Kristil Krug falling apart, prosecutors said Daniel Krug decided to play puppet master by scaring his wife and then trying to win her back by protecting her from the fake stalking, uniting them against a common threat. Kristil Krug kept a log tracking the increasingly threatening texts and emails that suggested she was being watched. As police investigated the messages, prosecutors said Daniel Krug began to realize that he could face criminal charges and started plotting how to kill his wife to silence her and because she didnt want to be with him anymore. Prosecutors said he waited for her to return to their suburban Denver home on Dec. 14, 2023, after taking two of their children to school, attacked her from behind and knocked her unconscious before stabbing her in the heart. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time of the killing, the ex-boyfriend was an eight-hour drive away in Utah, where he was living, according to investigators. The defense stressed there was no physical evidence or DNA linking him to the violent killing, noting that there was no blood found in his car or his clothes. Kristil Krug, a biochemical engineer who also was a talented dancer, was described by family and friends as fiercely smart, funny and creative. Her cousin, Becky Ivanoff, said Friday that Daniel Krug had ripped a gaping hole in the hearts of everyone who loved her. The depths of depravity, the manipulation he displayed in torturing Kristil and her children knew no bounds, and the terror he inflicted on her and her children is unimaginable, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the request of prosecutors, Loew found that Daniel Krugs crimes were acts of domestic violence. In addition to the life sentence imposed for the murder conviction, Loew also added another 9 years to his sentence for the stalking and criminal impersonation convictions. District Attorney Brian Mason said the motive was control, saying Daniel Krugs actions were an example of depravity. Krug chose not to speak before he was sentenced. His older brother Jeremy Krug was the only person to address the judge from his side of the family. Jeremy Krug said the family had held out hope that someone else was responsible for what happened and did not learn of the evidence linking his brother to the crimes until the trial. He expressed grief for the couple's children and said he hoped his own children would be able to see their cousins. We love him and God forgive him what hes done, he said. Columbia University cut ties with Columbia Journalism Review executive editor Sewell Chan on Friday, less than a year after he took the job at the media-focused magazine and website. Chan was named the executive editor in June 2024 and officially started in the position last September. His biography on CJRs website already refers to his eight months running the outlet in the past tense. Sewell Chan served as executive editor of the Columbia Journalism Review from 2024 to 2025. Previously, he was editor in chief of the Texas Tribune from 2021 to 2024, during which the nonprofit newsroom won its first National Magazine Award and was a Pulitzer finalist for the first time, his CJR bio now reads. His exit was first reported by The Washington Post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prior to being the boss at Texas Tribune, Chan was the deputy managing editor and the editorial page editor at the Los Angeles Times from 2018 to 2021. He has also worked for The New York Times and Washington Post in his career. CJR did not immediately respond to TheWraps request for comment on Chans exit. CJR dean Jelani Cobb, in an email obtained by The New York Times, told staffers Chan was no longer with the outlet, without offering further details. More on this Columbia Journalism School dean Jelani Cobb said in an email to staff today that Sewell Chan was "no longer with Columbia Journalism Review." "We are most grateful to the CJR staff for their resilience and dedication," he wrote. https://t.co/OSZVHtpVcp Katie Robertson (@katie_robertson) April 18, 2025 Chan has not been active on social media much lately. His X account noted he is No longer active on X in his bio, with his most recent post being a repost of a CJR story from February criticizing Jeff Bezos revamping of his paper. Chans X bio says readers can find him on BlueSky, where his most recent post was from a month ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His last story for CJR came earlier this week, with an April 15 story on the upcoming shutdown of The Houston Landing, a nonprofit newsroom that launched in 2023. The post Columbia University Cuts Ties With CJR Executive Editor Sewell Chan appeared first on TheWrap. The Big Apple is backing Columbia University in its war to keep its gates shut. Attorneys for the city said the Ivy League school should be allowed to block the public from a beloved community space on its Morningside Heights campus after outraged locals sued to get access. This has always been private property, Rachel Moston, senior counsel for the city Law Department, argued in court this week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the heart of the legal battle is College Walk, a once bustling footpath on West 116th Street that allows pedestrians to cut across the schools campus instead of being forced to walk around the six blocks that Columbia takes up. Attorneys for Columbia University and the city of New York say the institutions quad is not public property. LP Media Members of the Morningside Heights Community Coalition are fuming over Columbias decision to close the gates to the walkway a closure that went into effect during last years chaotic student protests over the Israel-Hamas war. Its been a great public space, Dave Robinson, the neighborhood groups president, told The Post. It really enriches the lives of the students [and] it enriches the lives of people in the community to have those interactions, Robinson said. Our kids played on the campus. After-school groups come there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its been a very important public space for people who live in the community and thats sort of obscured by the arguments about safety, which safety is important, but its not the only thing. The closure only permits those with a valid Columbia ID to enter the main campus, which extends from West 114th to West 120th streets. Locals can apply for a pass, but the disgruntled neighbors argue its a convoluted process for aging seniors and leads to long wait times and congestion on the street. It just shows that Columbia is a bad neighbor, said local Philippe Auffray, who is suing the university for access. Robert Miller After submitting petitions and an open letter demanding the reopening of the campus to the public, Morningside Heights resident Philippe Auffray alongside three other gray-haired locals sued the university in January, The Post previously reported. [Columbia] is part of the community theyre not the community, Auffray told The Post, adding that his 97-year-old mother can no longer go about her daily activities since the closure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone who is trying to go to the subway or to the buses, all those people are being disenfranchised, and it just shows that Columbia is a bad neighbor. Among the locals arguments is that the stretch of quad space on West 116th Street was intended to remain public after the city sold it to the private institution decades ago. Columbia which is believed to be the largest private landowner in the Big Apple reportedly paid the city $1,000 in 1953 to take over the stretch of West 116th Street. Plaintiffs, their attorneys and members of the Morningside Heights Community Coalition were in Manhattan Supreme Court this week. Nicole Rosenthal/NY Post The deal mandated an easement over a proposed pedestrian walk to be constructed by the university, according to a City Planning Commission report from that year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The language of the citys agreement particularly whether the pedestrian walk is public, or private, property was at the center of oral arguments for Auffrays case in Manhattan Supreme Court on Tuesday. Attorneys for Columbia pointed out that the section of West 116th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue doesnt even exist as a road on city maps and the campus has closed without issue for graduations and other instances, such as the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks, without issue. In a perfect world, wed all like to return to pre-Oct. 7, 2023, but thats not the world we live in today, an attorney for Columbia said in court. An attorney for the Big Apple noted that the stretch of West 116th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue doesnt even exist on city maps. NYC DCP The university is trying its best to move in that direction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even Moston, the citys lawyer, agreed, telling the court the easement simply grants the city the ability to make hydrant and manhole repairs. But Toby Golick, the attorney for the plaintiffs, had a vastly different interpretation of the citys agreement with the elite institution and argued there would have been massive community opposition at the time if the deal really allowed the portion of West 116th Street to be converted into a private passage. The agreement unambiguously creates a pedestrian easement, Golick said, adding that closing off the campus to the public creates a burden on the community [that] is very significant. Golick recounted horror stories from the cases three other senior plaintiffs, including 92-year-old Barbara Griffiths longer trips to the grocery store and how Mary Allen, 86, had lost a lifeline to the rest of her community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Allen] loved to just sit there and watch the students, theres often rehearsals and parents with their toddlers, it was a lively place, Golick previously told The Post. And now its sort of a dead place. Mary Allen, 86, loved to just sit there and watch the students, her attorney previously told The Post. It was a lively place. And now its sort of a dead place. GHI/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Judge David Cohen, who denied the plaintiffs request to temporarily re-open the gates Tuesday as the case progresses, concluded there were valid arguments on both sides and neither side carries the day. The schools motion to dismiss the case will be heard next month. Columbia first closed campus access to the public after an Oct. 7, 2023, protest and again last April and has kept its gates shut, despite a September notice from the school saying it anticipated them to reopen in a matter of weeks, not months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The University evaluates Morningside campus access on an ongoing basis, a rep from Columbia told The Post. Students setting up tents on Columbia Universitys campus quad in support of Palestinians on April 17, 2024. Michael Nagle for NY Post In response to input from many stakeholders, in February we implemented changes to access protocols that streamline access for alumni, our Morningside Heights and West Harlem neighbors, family of faculty, and university guests, the statement said. We continue to communicate regularly with our neighbors and the local community regarding these and other modifications to campus access. Still, members of the Morningside Heights Community Coalition said Columbia has created a barrier for the community, and wrongfully shuttered a treasured space enjoyed by children and seniors alike. Aside from any legal consideration, this is a moral and community-centered issue, said Dan McSweeney, a resident of West 111th Street who is part of the local group. This is ridiculous and its not making anyone safer, he told The Post. Its causing a lot of problems not only for older people, but disabled people or anybody who lives across the avenue. Why should that be the case if this has been a publicly accessible walkway for over 70 years? Sign up for CNNs Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. When a new comet appears in the sky, there is often excitement. But things dont always end well for the ancient celestial objects, made of ice, frozen gases and rock, as they near the sun and an untimely demise appears to hold true for Comet C/2025 F2 (SWAN). All signs suggest that the celestial object, which resembled a fuzzy green patch, has disintegrated in the last couple days, said Qicheng Zang, a postdoctoral fellow studying small body astronomy at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The latest ground-based observations from telescopes do seem to imply the comet has fallen apart, said Dr. Karl Battams, a computational scientist within the Solar and Heliospheric Physics Branch at the US Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC. Additional observations will help confirm whether disintegration is the true cause of the comets apparent outburst and dimming. Theres a remnant dust cloud that should continue to be telescopically visible for a few more weeks, but its spreading out and fading, Zang said. Sky-gazers in the Northern Hemisphere can see the comets remnant in the early morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prior to the disintegration, part of the hype around the comet was the fact that it was only recently discovered, and the comets closest pass of the sun on May 1 would present a once-in-a-lifetime viewing opportunity, likely not reappearing for hundreds of thousands of years or leaving the solar system all together. Now, sky-gazers can essentially see the comet remnants final passage. The object takes its name from the Solar Wind ANisotropies, or SWAN, instrument on the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, or SOHO, spacecraft, a joint project of the European Space Agency and NASA. Amateur astronomers Vladimir Bezugly from Ukraine, Michael Mattiazzo in Australia and US-based Rob Matson each independently spotted and reported the object, known as Comet SWAN or SWAN25F, while looking through images taken by the SWAN instrument at the end of March. The Minor Planet Center officially designated it as C/2025 F2 (SWAN) on April 8. The three astronomers noticed a faint smudge, indicative of a comet, that seemed to move across the sky over a period of a few days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since no comet was known to be in that part of the sky at that time, they correctly assumed it to be a new discovery, Battams said. Battams is also principal investigator for the Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph instrument suite, a set of three telescopes on the SOHO spacecraft that takes images of the suns atmosphere. Battams recommends looking low to the northeast horizon an hour or two before dawn to see the remnant. It will only be visible from the northern hemisphere until very early May, and then will gradually rise in the southern hemisphere skies, Battams said in an email. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just remember to look low toward the horizon, rather than high in the sky, to see it. The fragmenting of a comet Some reports had shown that the comets initial brightness faded slightly within the last few days, Battams said. Now, astronomers recognize that this slight dimming was likely a sign of the comets fate. Its now likely the surge in brightness after the comet was discovered was actually the comet beginning to disintegrate, Zang said in an email. When they initially break apart, it exposes all the ice in its interior to the Sun, causing them to turn to gas (which we saw as the green glow that made the comet bright) all at once. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the ice runs out, gas gradually stops being released, and the comet dims, he said. It looks like were now pretty much at the point where the ice/gas is just about all gone, so all thats left is the dust. Astronomers suspect the comet came from the Oort Cloud, a reservoir of icy bodies thought to exist at the edge of our solar system far from the warm reach of the sun. Every now and then, an Oort Cloud comet will get gravitationally nudged out of this reservoir and will begin to fall in towards the Sun, Battams said in an email. We think this comet has been heading inwards for about 35,000 years, although its difficult to be too precise about those numbers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement EarthSky has reported that recent observations suggest the comet completes one orbit around the sun every 2.1 million years. As comets approach the sun, our stars heat causes them to release gas and dust, which provide their signature tails. Bigger comets, which are heavier, dont tend to disintegrate as they near the sun. But its more common for smaller comets because as they release their gases, the celestial objects spin rapidly until they fly apart, Zang said. The extreme solar radiation was more than this comet could handle, Battams said. Scientists are still trying to work out the specifics of what drives fragmentation like this. It is almost certainly a combination of factors or processes, but fundamentally its all due to a comet with a very volatile surface/composition getting too close to the Sun. It is definitely not uncommon, and Im honestly not at all surprised this one in particular appears to be doing so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last October, the Halloween comet disintegrated during its closest approach of the sun. The object, also known as Comet C/2024 S1 (ATLAS), was discovered on September 27 and quickly earned its nickname following speculation that it might be visible in the night sky near the end of October. But as the comet neared the sun, it broke apart into chunks until it finally evaporated, according to NASA. C/2024 S1 was a sungrazer, a comet that passes within a distance of about 850,000 miles (1,367,942 kilometers) from the sun. Sungrazers often vaporize due to the intense, hot solar atmosphere. Comet C/2025 F2 (SWAN) was expected to pass within 31 million miles (50 million kilometers) of the sun in May. How to spot the fragment The remnant will appear within the constellation Andromeda in the northeastern sky a couple of hours or so before sunrise, Zang said. Then, the dust cloud will reappear in the night sky toward the end of April. A new moon on the evening of April 27 will make the comet easier to see. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The remnant will be easier for those in the Southern Hemisphere to see in May, according to The Planetary Society. The celestial object will appear near the constellation Taurus above the western horizon after sunset and appear higher in the sky each night in May. Discovering a new comet The SWAN instrument wasnt designed to pick out comets in the night sky, but it has contributed to the discovery of 16 comets to date, Zang said. Its a unique instrument designed to map out hydrogen in our solar system by looking at a certain type of light that gets scattered by neutral hydrogen atoms, Battams said in an email. But comets happen to be a very rich source of hydrogen primarily by water of water-ice being vaporized by the Sun and so they often glow quite brightly in the SWAN images. Another observation of the comet was made on April 11 by the Virtual Telescope Project. - Gianluca Masi/Virtual Telescope Project. Zang first observed the comet on the morning of April 2 and has seen it twice since then. He took images of the part of the sky where the comet was said to be, based on coordinates shared by those who found it using the SWAN data, and spotted the celestial object. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Battams said that Zang was the first to observe it from the ground after the amateur astronomers made the SWAN discovery, and his observations were crucial for allowing other astronomers to point their telescopes at the correct location. Astronomer Gianluca Masi also observed the comet twice using a telescope in Manciano, Italy. Masi runs The Virtual Telescope Project, which offers views from remotely controlled robotic telescopes online. CNNs Taylor Nicoli contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Photo: The Ministry of Investments, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, April 18 The Ministry of Investment, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan hosted a meeting with a delegation from the Ankara Chamber of Industry, led by Deputy Chairman Mete Caglayan, Trend reports, citing the Ministry of Investments, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan. The meeting addressed organizational matters related to the upcoming 8th session of the Uzbekistan Turkiye Joint Intergovernmental Commission and the Business Forum, scheduled to be held in Tashkent this May. Additionally, the Uzbek side presented a range of promising investment projects to the Turkish delegation, focusing on priority sectors such as agriculture, pharmaceuticals, metallurgy, leather production, jewelry, construction materials, and furniture manufacturing. Caglayan expressed his commitment to supporting efforts in attracting potential investors for the successful implementation of the proposed projects. Meanwhile, the trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Turkiye reached $418 million from January through February 2025. Data from Uzbekistan's Committee on Statistics shows that the figure fell 4.3 percent in a year that saw turnover total $436.3 million. Founded in 1964, the Ankara Chamber of Industry serves as a pivotal nexus for more than 100 enterprises spanning 67 distinct industrial verticals. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Farmers sound off on policy changes Don Bustos calls farming a "life calling." His family has been farming the same 5 or so acres of land known as Santa Cruz Farm since the 1690s. It's a year-round operation, with one of Bustos' greenhouses already bursting with fresh lettuce and other vegetables. Outside, the fields at Santa Cruz Farm are springing back to life. But in addition to the new growth, this year's planting season has brought extra uncertainty for Northern New Mexico farmers and ranchers, as they grapple with rapidly changing federal policies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local producers and their allies said Trump administration policy changes have halted some grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture; altered some agricultural research funding; and strained the ecosystem and economy in which farmers work, making an already labor-intensive industry with razor-thin margins subject to even more variability. "All of the changes that are taking place with the new administration definitely have a big impact on how agriculture moves from the upper watershed to the consumer," said Manny Encinias, executive director of the Santa Fe Farmers' Market Institute. Governor's race gets more crowded With more than a year before the primaries and a year-and-a-half until the general election, the field of candidates in the race for governor of New Mexico is starting to take shape. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the Democratic side, two well-known politicians are off and running. Deb Haaland, the former Interior Secretary under the Biden administration, has already raised about $3 million for her bid. She will face Sam Bregman, the Bernalillo County district attorney who made his candidacy official earlier this month and is signaling he will run as a more moderate alternative. Meanwhile, former Las Cruces mayor Ken Miyagashima is still mulling a run. And on the Republican side, Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull became the first declared candidate last week. The race is drawing national attention already, both due to Haaland and Bregman's high profiles as well as being a DA Bregman is father of Boston Red Sox star Alex Bregman and as a microcosm of the battle between more progressive and moderate factions in a Democratic Party still struggling to find its way forward in the wake of a second presidential loss to Donald Trump, who did notably better in New Mexico than any other recent Republican presidential candidates. Earth Day Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's Earth Day on Tuesday, an annual holiday established in 1970 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. Pick up Sunday's paper to find out more about how some local organizations are marking the occasion and what it means to them in 2025. 041825 jw chimayo pilgrimage 8.jpg Parishioners from the Prince of Peace Catholic Church stop for prayer along the scenic route to visit the Santuario de Chimayo on Friday, April 18, 2025, during the annual Good Friday tradition. Easter in Santa Fe And Sunday is Easter, the holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ that has been celebrated by Christians worldwide for almost 2,000 years. It's arguably a bigger deal in Northern New Mexico than in many other parts of the Christian world, with the Santuario de Chimayo being commonly regarded as the biggest pilgrimage sites in North America for Good Friday. On Sunday, find out more about what some local churches are doing to mark the day. One notable wrinkle is that this year, April 20 marks Easter both for Western-rite churches and for Eastern ones. Nationwide, more than 60% of the water we use comes from rivers, streams and lakes. For example, New York City gets 90% of its water from the Delaware Basin. Philadelphia gets almost 60%. These waterways are continually under threat from pollution, development and climate change. To illustrate this, CBS News' environmental correspondent David Schechter, photographers Chance Horner and Justin Sherman and producer Laura Geller spent one week traveling down the Delaware River from upstate New York to the Bay by kayak, canoe, car and foot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rivers are getting warmer. That's bad for fish and the people who make a living trying to catch them The Delaware River begins in New York's Catskill Mountains. On a tributary called the Beaver Kill, the water temperature is rising. That's a problem for the fish and people like Brian Sheppard. Sheppard said learning to fish saved his life. Now, as a fishing guide on the Beaver Kill, he shares his passion for flyfishing with clients. But as climate change makes the river warmer, he's not sure how much longer he'll be able to do that. "I would say that there's a ticking clock of 5 to 10 years where we're gonna have to start to branch out and find other water, so I don't necessarily know that it's a long-term thing," Sheppard said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Flyfishing is a $750 million industry in the U.S. As the climate continues to change, one study found 87% of rivers studied in America and Europe are warming 70% are losing oxygen, which is threatening fish and the environment and economies that revolve around them. "The insects are triggered by different temperatures as well, and so if the water temperature climbs too high, the bugs don't hatch, the fish aren't there to eat them, so it affects the whole chain of events that goes on to the eagles, the ospreys, the bears, the rest of the life that we have up here," Sheppard said. Jeff Skelding, executive director of Friends of the Upper Delaware River, said helping the fish also helps the people. His organization is trying to help restore the flow of the water by removing sediment and clearing old dams. This cools down the water and makes it more hospitable to the fish. "This is not just a story about fish, it's also a story about people. ... All kinds of recreational activities, increasingly, are supporting the economies of these communities," Skelding said. "So, these small tributaries are the lifeblood of the whole system. We've got to keep them clean to keep everything else clean." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We need rivers, but some are under threat Adam Shellhammer is one of the leaders of the non-profit American Rivers, an organization that brings attention to the threats waterways face in our country. As Shellhammer paddled down the Upper Delaware River with CBS News environmental correspondent David Schechter, he explained how rivers and waterways are essential. "Our base-level needs are food, shelter, water, and rivers provide, in this area, drinking water to over 17 million people, this river alone. So, from a very basic survival need, we need to protect our waterways," Shellhammer said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement American Rivers puts out an annual list of the country's most endangered rivers. This year, it includes the Mississippi for poor flood management and the rivers of southern Appalachia where extreme storms destroyed critical infrastructure. The Upper Delaware was on the list in 2007. But through the restoration work of American Rivers and other groups, today it is far healthier. "It's a lot of dedicated work that goes into it, so it's also inspiring when you see that it can be fixed," Shellhammer said. When Native American tribes protect the environment, we all benefit To the Lenape Indian Nation, the Delaware River is their ancestral home, and many members dedicate their lives to protecting it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's why they fought against a dam that would have flooded the river and fought to ban fracking in the Delaware Basin. Now they're organizing efforts to stop the proliferation of giant warehouses under construction along the river. "(Activism) is central to everything it means to be Lenape, to live in harmony with everything around you," Lenape Chief Adam Waterbear DePaul said. DePaul and his mother, Clanmother Shelley Windamakwi DePaul took CBS News' David Schechter for a paddle down the Delaware to see why a healthy river is so important and what they're doing to protect it, for all people. As they approached the Delaware Water Gap, where the mountains close in and the river turns, Clanmother Windamakwi DePaul explained they always sing an honor song to their ancestors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think that's the spot where you can really feel the ancestors in the sacredness. Once you (are) between those two mountains ... It's where I do my prayer, it's my church," she said. Reflecting on the importance of the tribe's activism, Chief Waterbear said, "If we collaboratively fail not to sound romantic, but all of this is going to be gone." The Delaware River has cultural significance, and also historical significance Rivers played a major role in the development of this nation because that's how people and goods got around. Alex Robb is a re-enactor who interprets history for visitors at Washington Crossing Historic Park. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Robb said George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River, and subsequent attack of the British camped in Trenton, New Jersey, in 1776, was critical to the founding of the United States. "If that moment does not happen, there is no America," he said. "There's no way you can underestimate the significance, the importance of that moment." To prevent disasters, governments buy and demolish flood-prone homes. But some people don't want to leave Steve Rodriguez lives in a flood plain. His home in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, near Neshaminy Creek which feeds into the Delaware River, has been hit with six catastrophic floods in the last 30 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In that time, the state has bought and demolished nearly 3,000 homes because of flooding. While Rodriguez was offered a buyout, which many of his neighbors took, he turned it down. "I'm rooted in," he said. "It's like a big oak tree. I ain't going nowhere." An estimated 40 million Americans live in floodplains. Instead of having empty land to absorb the water, it ends up in people's houses. Critics say allowing this kind of development is dangerous and fiscally irresponsible. Incomplete buyouts, when not everyone leaves, make neighborhoods vulnerable to flooding and the repeated costs of rebuilding, which are usually paid for with tax dollars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "That sad story is going to be repeated over and over and over again and that is not fair to anybody," said Maya van Rossum, an activist for responsible development practices who is known as the Delaware Riverkeeper. For more on flooding and the people impacted, click here to see the full story. Raw sewage releases into waterways disproportionately impact disadvantaged communities, CBS News analysis shows In Philadelphia, the Delaware widens out to accommodate ships and urban development. Just like in cities across the country, pollution is a problem. Jerome Shabazz runs a nonprofit in Philadelphia that advocates for protecting nature in urban spaces. He showed CBS News' David Schechter Cobbs Creek, a tributary of the Delaware, where his organization picks up trash. "We're making a difference. I mean, if we go back and look at the before and after shots, you'll see that just the short period of time that we were here is going to make a difference," Shabazz said. But it's more than just trash that's causing problems. In these older cities, sewage and rainwater run through the same pipe, on the way to a water treatment facility. When there's too much rain, the pipes can overflow into local rivers and streams, sewage included. Now, we have heavier downpours from climate change that old sewer systems were never designed to handle. Nationwide, there are over 7,000 of these combined sewer overflow locations, where raw sewage is flowing into local waterways. A CBS News data analysis shows more than half of those locations are in communities where people are marginalized, underserved, and disproportionately burdened by pollution. The analysis of the now-archived Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool and the overflow locations also found lower income, minority communities are twice as likely to have sewage dumping into a river or creek. "We really can't accept this on a basic human level as being normal," Shabazz said. Water that Americans rely on for drinking and irrigation under threat from taint of saltwater Between New Jersey and Delaware, the river gives way to the Delaware Bay, where the water is salty. There lies a growing problem. Rising sea levels from climate change are forcing salty water further into farmer's fields, a phenomenon called saltwater intrusion. It's already happening on Paul Cartanza Jr.'s farm, along the Delaware Bay, where some of his soil is getting too salty to grow corn. "We went to irrigate, two days later we noticed we had an issue because it means that the corn started to turn brown, started to die when you put salt on it. It started to die," Cartanza said. A major new study from NASA found salty seawater will infiltrate drinking and agricultural water supplies in about three out of four coastal areas around the world, including America's coasts, by the end of the century. Scientists are studying Cartanza's farm and developing ways to plant more salt-tolerant crops, as soils change. "I just want to know what is happening in the soil and how fast the intrusion is coming in," Cartanza said. Kate Tully, a researcher from the University of Maryland, has found salt-tolerant plants in a patch of field bordering the farm, indicating the salt is coming in and trying to turn the farm into a marsh. "The plants are telling you the story, even though we're doing all this chemistry to try to figure out what's happening in the soil, the plants are telling you the story. All you have to do is look at these plants and say, oh, these do not belong on a farm," she said. Some solutions include switching to salt-tolerant crops or enrolling in programs that pay landowners to convert farmland to wetland habitat. A study from the University of Delaware estimates saltwater damage to farmland could exceed $100 million dollars. In order to keep farming, Cartanza has mowed buffer zones between the marsh and his corn. "God has only made so much land. And if we keep losing land to a lot of different things, it's going to be hard to feed people," he said. White House responds to judge who found cause to hold Trump administration in contempt Why are mortgage rates climbing to the highest level since February? Rep. Mike Levin slams potential firing of Jerome Powell as "executive overreach" SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) People across the state celebrated the 250th anniversary of Paul Revere`s Midnight Ride. Springfield opens new mental health clinic addressing community needs In Springfield, the event took place Friday afternoon at the Wood Museum of Springfield History on Chestnut Street. The event included the hanging of two lanterns. Its a symbolic gesture echoing the famous signal hung at Bostons Old North Church on the night of Paul Revere`s ride. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State and city elected officials commemorated Paul Reveres midnight ride. They hung two lanterns representing the famous signal when lanterns were hung at Bostons old north church, warning that British soldiers were moving westward towards Lexington. The city of Springfield states that communities across Massachusetts will hang two lanterns in public spaces as a uniting call to action to commemorate and remind ourselves that our history is about working together for a better tomorrow. Springfield State Rep. Carlos Gonzalez told 22News, The lanterns are a message that we need to fight for democracy, its a message of hope with the divisiveness that we have in this country, we need to celebrate a message of unity and community. Lanterns were hung in communities across the state in remembrance of the 250th anniversary and to honor those who made sacrifices to build the dream of the United States. 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, Ill. (WMBD) Suzie Sturm, brought the Washington community together to honor donors and families for National Donate Life Month. Sturm is an ambassador for Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network. She received a life-saving liver transplant in 2016. This is the first year Sturm organized the gathering. The liver recipient said the square was the perfect place, since it signifies community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Washington went through a pretty terrible tornado several years ago. And Washington Strong is not a fallacy, the ambassador said. Washington is strong. And so, being a small business owner here, as well as a resident, I feel I can, with my platform and my story, I can help save the lives of others by showing the importance of organ and tissue donation and honoring those families that have lost. According to Sturm, Tazewell County has one of the highest percentages of donor families per population, with more than 50 in Washington. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Tonight, youre invited to an evening of soul-stirring poetry and signature teas curated to celebrate Ashford Tea Companys 7th anniversary. The event is called, Poet-TEA. Its a partnership between Brandywine Public Relations and ATC. Click the arrow in the video box above to watch our interview. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV. KANSAS CITY, Mo. Another Kansas City resident is coming forward after their vehicle was illegally towed seven months ago. Sherrie Johnson lives in the citys southside with her boyfriend and daughter. After moving into their apartment last September, Johnson said she legally parked her vehicle outside, but when she went out her door the next morning, it was gone. KCPD investigating deadly shooting near 55th, Euclid Avenue Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its been nothing short of a nightmare trying to get her 2002 GMC Yukon back from Downtown Towing and Recovery. Since September, until now, we have been fighting to get it back. They were supposed to return it, but no return. Johnson said her apartment complex had a contract with Downtown Towing at the time her vehicle was illegally removed. However, the company has since refused to tell her why it towed the vehicle in the first place or even let her near it. I have the registration, all of our belongings, my mothers ashes and [my boyfriends] mothers ashes, my childs stuff is in there; we have very personal stuff that cant be replaced in that vehicle that proves that its ours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite going to the Northland-based company several times, Johnson told FOX4 that she had been cursed at and told to get off the property. The last communication she had with them happened in January when the owners told her she needed to contact their attorney. Again, she did, but nothing ever came of it. I would like for them to get shut down, because its not fair to us as legal residents to keep going through this. Johnson said Kansas City police told her they have dealt with this particular towing company for a while and that she needs to go through the city and the prosecutors office to try to get her vehicle back. She did both of those things, but explained that it was nothing but red tape. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I understand that if your vehicle is not registered correctly or if you got a flat tire, but that still doesnt give them the right to come and take it and not give you any information on how to retrieve it. Family holds vigil, urging police to do more months after Kansas City man killed On Thursday, Johnson explained that her apartment complex had entered into a new agreement with a different tow company: Metro Tow & Transport. In fact, around six in the morning, Johnson saw that the company was putting stickers on residents vehicles and even towing some of them. Metro Tow & Transport may sound familiar. Just this week, new charges were filed against that companys owner and his mother after several people claimed they were victimized by the company. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court records show that Lannette Adamson and her son, Donald Adamson, who owns Metro Tow & Transport, are charged with six felonies each: three counts of first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle and three counts of forgery. The mother and son already face nine felonies in Jackson County, Missouri. Court records show three separate instances in which Metro Tow & Transport illegally towed someones vehicle, received payment from the owners to get their vehicle out of the tow lot, and forged signatures on documents related to the tows. The instances range from February to April 2025. This comes as detectives with the Kansas City Police Department are now looking into predatory towing. The department announced on Facebook that an email address is available for people to contact: predatorytowing@kcpd.org. Police said if you have experienced issues with a towing company in the city since January 1, you can send an email and property crime detectives will email you a form to complete. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. A group of community activists wants to see change after saying kids are put in danger too often when theyre simply trying to get to and from school. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] This comes two weeks after 18-year-old Alfred Hale, a Dunbar High School student, was shot and killed near the RTA hub in downtown Dayton while transferring buses. Since then, there has been blame thrown around, but not many agreed-upon solutions have been heard since then. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Community activists said that it has to change. TRENDING STORIES: We really need to come together and get all stakeholders involved in solutions, Jamica Garrison, co-founder of Neighborhoods Over Politics, said. Garrison was joined at a press conference Friday by representatives of Black Lives Matter Dayton and Racial Justice Now. As reported on News Center 7 at 5:00, the groups believe Daytons adult leadership is failing and young people are paying the price. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its going to take everyone to come up with evidence-based strategies and practices that these children deserve, Zakiya Sankara-Jabar, with Racial Justice Now, said. Hale was shot and killed on April 4 on his way to school. Its not the only recent gunfire near the spot where thousands of high schoolers transfer. On April 1, a shooting at Main and Fourth Streets injured a 46-year-old man, and last October, another man died after a shooting in front of the Boost Mobile store next to the RTA hub. City and state leaders held a news conference after the shooting, proposing changes because they believe the hub is not the right place for high school students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The activists said this is too important to rush. When it comes to what were trying to accomplish, we do want a coalition of stakeholders from the city of Dayton, Carlos Buford, founder of Black Lives Matter Dayton, said. RTA leaders said theyve tried to help in a situation they didnt expect to be put in. We even put extra buses out every afternoon to make sure we can handle the rush of students, but, you know, we cant be a solution to a schools transportation needs, Bob Ruzinsky, CEO of Greater Dayton RTA, said. Dayton Police Department data showed that calls for service in the area of the RTA hub increased by almost 1,000 since 2022. It was in August of that year that Dayton Public Schools (DPS) began using RTA to bus high school students to their schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Assistant Dayton Police Chief Eric Henderson said it only takes a few misbehaving teens or badly-intentioned adults to create a dangerous mix. I think thats what we need to try to deal with to try and limit the interactions of our youth with adults when they should focus on going to school, Henderson said. Dayton City Manager Shelley Dickstein told News Center 7 that in 2022, neither they nor RTA leaders were given a heads up that DPS would start putting students on RTA buses downtown. As reported on News Center 7 at 6:00, Dickstein said the safest transportation for high school students is traditional yellow buses. She also said that hundreds of unsupervised teens being dumped in the middle of the citys business district makes it tough to attract and retain companies in the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You know, this is our economic engine and it needs to be strong and healthy, Dickstein said. She also said the central business district generates the revenue to pay for 75 percent of city services for every neighborhood. Dickstein still believes the city, school, and RTA leaders can find a solution for everyone. One of those might be using RTA limited service routes to bus high school students. Routes open to the public, but they were specifically designed to better meet the needs of school transportation, Ruzinsky described. So they went more from schools to neighborhoods. City leaders said there have been exploratory talks with RTA and school district representatives about a limited service model that would avoid downtown for transfer, but it has not materialized into a solid plan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement School board leaders have said finances are an issue since the state of Ohio requires them to transport all charter and private school students as well. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] CONCORD, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) An airline thats recently expanded its services in the area is removing several flights at the end of the month. Avelo Airlines shared that it will end its routes out of Concord-Pagett Regional Airport to the following destinations: Albany, New York Nashville, Tennessee Washington, D.C.-Dulles Lakeland, Florida Detroit, Michigan Unruly passenger storms cockpit on AA flight from JFK Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Avelo officials say those routes saw poor performance indicators and were not being booked to their standards. The Houston-based airlines flights to several other northeastern cities will continue, and crew members will remain based out of Concord. The Nashville and Daytona flights were just launched on April 4. The airline began service out of Concord last May, starting with a flight to New Haven, Connecticut. Avelo has made waves recently by being tapped to transport people being deported for Immigration Control and Enforcement (ICE). It comes after the airline signed an agreement for a long-term charter program flying for the federal agency. The operations will begin on May 12 and come with the opening of a new base at the Mesa, Arizona, airport. We realize this is a sensitive and complicated topic, Avelo Airlines Founder and CEO Andrew Levy said in a statement. After significant deliberations, we determined this charter flying will provide us with the stability to continue expanding our core scheduled passenger service and keep our more than 1,100 Crewmembers employed for years to come. The airlines noted that it also flew these charters under the Biden administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Regardless of the administration or party affiliation, as a U.S. flag carrier, when our country calls and requests assistance, our practice is to say yes. We follow all protocols from DHS and FAA, honoring our core value of Safety Always. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ATHENS, WV (WVNS) Concord University announced the Universitys next president. According to a press release, Dr. Bethany Meighen was chosen to be Concord Universitys 13th president by the Concord University Board of Governors. Concord University Esports ends fifth year with a record-breaking season The press release stated that the board voted on April 15, 2025 at a meeting, and that Dr. Meighen accepted the position. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Meighen was the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs at the University of North Carolina System, and was the chief student affairs officer as well as an important liaison between the UNC System Office and its 17 constituent institutions. Dr. Meighens strong background in higher education administration and her experience shaping policies related to admissions and student support services position her to strengthen and cultivate the strategically sound foundation President Kendra Boggess has built over her tenure. The Board of Governors is grateful for the work the Presidential Search Committee has done over several months leading up to this decision, and we look forward to what the future brings. Dave Barnette | Board Chairman According to Concord University, Dr. Meighen received her bachelors and masters degree from the University of Charleston, and her Ed.D. from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Leadership roles that she held in the past include being the Director of Alumni and Parent Relations, Director of Marketing and Alumni Relations, and Dean of Student Life, all at the University of Charleston. During her prior leadership roles, Dr. Meighen helped watch over a variety of student organizations, as well as the student code of conduct and Office of Student Life budget, and alumni, parent, and student engagement. Dr. Meighen moved to North Carolina with her family, and she was the Director for Student Development and Advisor to the UNC System Association of Student Governments as well as being the vice president for academic and student affairs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Concord University joins Concord Cousins for the Concord250 Patriots Day in Massachusetts Concord University is making a meaningful difference in the lives of its students, the surrounding communities, and beyonda mission Im eager to use all my energy and experience to support and advance. I look forward to working collaboratively with the faculty, staff, students, and the entire campus community to build on the universitys strong foundation and help shape its future in the years to come. Dr. Meighen Dr. Meighen is a collaborative, data-driven decision maker dedicated to making higher education more accessible and enhancing the student experience at Concord. I look forward to working with her and supporting her as Concord Universitys 13th president. President Boggess The press release stated that President Boggess will stay at Concord University for one month as a presidential consultant to help with the change when Dr. Meighen starts on July 1, 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 WVNS. ATHENS, WV (WVNS) Students at Concord University are being recognized for their academic commitment as the schools annual Research Festival returned the week of Friday, April 18th, 2025. Hosted each spring by the universitys Department of Social Sciences, the event gives students an opportunity to display their research in a discipline of their choosing. Concord University professor, Karen Griffee says the festival offers a great opportunity for students to gain valuable experience that can benefit them as they continue their education or move into the professional world. Part of the idea too is it gives them a chance to get that on their resume, Griffee told 59News. It can really help with students who are wanting to get into grad school or go into a career in a particular field to say that theyve done this. This years festival also featured a distinguished guest speaker, Dr. James Ingram, an Assistant Professor for the Department of Educational Specialties at North Arizona State University. As part of his keynote speech, Ingram touched on equitable outcomes for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the valuable experience of this years Research Festival under their belts, Concord students will have an additional edge as they continue their journeys toward success. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. 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. NEW YORK (PIX11) The cameras are expected to stay on and opponents of congestion pricing in New York City are headed back to court. It has been another week of developments regarding congestion pricing. More Local News This weekend is the deadline imposed by the U.S. Department of Transportation to revoke approval of congestion pricing. The date on Sunday is expected to pass and the cameras will remain operational. The MTA filed suit against President Donald Trumps administration to prevent the deadline from taking effect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court paperwork indicates the parties have agreed to take up the issue during the case and set a timeline for hearings in the fall. More Congestion Pricing News A federal judge on Thursday dismissed some of the cases brought by opponents, including a coalition of neighbors known as New Yorkers Against Congestion Pricing Tax and a trucking association. The groups argue that the state did not follow proper procedure to set up the system. They plan to take their case to state court. Opponents have been fighting the program even before it began on Jan. 5. Obviously, the federal government is on our side, and we are mystified why the judge is ruling in our case. It is really playing with the lives of working-class people, and its time for it to end, said Valerie Mason, who is with New Yorkers Against Congestion Pricing Tax. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The federal government has vowed to continue the fight and the review of transit funding after the April 20 date. Supporters say economic development studies are positive, and congestion pricing is raising revenue for transit improvements. Transit ridership is up more than 7%. Congestion pricing is the law of New York State, and federal approval has happened too. It will continue, said Lisa Daglian, the executive director of the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA. Congestion pricing continues to be a topic of discussion on the sidewalk. A store employee along Lexington Avenue in Manhattan said she noticed fewer customers. A pedestrian said she wanted to see fewer cars and safer streets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The program charges fees for most vehicles to travel south of 60th Street in Manhattan. Most passenger cars pay $9 during peak times and $2.25 during off-peak times. There are exemptions, including for travel through tunnels. The MTA has said transit ridership is up and traffic volume has decreased. The program is raising about $50 million a month. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) Two Republican members of the U.S. Congress were in the Syrian capital Friday on an unofficial visit organized by a Syrian-American nonprofit, the first by U.S. legislators since the fall of former Syrian President Bashar Assad in December. Also Friday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa in his first visit since Assads fall and since the beginning of the Syrian uprising-turned-civil-war in 2011. Rep. Marlin Stutzman of Indiana and Rep. Cory Mills of Florida visited the Damascus suburb of Jobar, the site of a historic synagogue that was heavily damaged and looted in the civil war, and the Christian neighborhood of Bab Touma, where they met with Christian religious leaders. They also were set to meet al-Sharaa and other government officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration has yet to officially recognize the current Syrian government, led by al-Sharaa, an Islamist former insurgent who led a lightning offensive that toppled Assad. Washington has not yet lifted harsh sanctions that were imposed during Assads rule. Mills, who sits on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told The Associated Press that it was very important to come here to be able to see it for myself, to be with various governmental bodies, to look at the needs of the Syrian people, to look at the needs for the nation for stability. Mills said he expected discussions with al-Sharaa to include the issue of sanctions, as well as the governments priorities and the need for the transitional administration to move toward a democratically elected society. Ultimately, its going to be the presidents decision to lift sanctions or not, he said, although Congress can advise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Congress members came at the invitation of the Syrian American Alliance for Peace and Prosperity, a nonprofit based in Indiana that describes its mission as fostering a sustainable political, economic, and social partnership between the people of Syria and the United States. Syrian Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Hind Kabawat, the only woman and only Christian serving in the transitional government, joined the congressional team on a visit to Bab Touma, which she said was very important to Syrians. The U.S. State Department, meanwhile, issued a statement Friday reiterating its warning against U.S. citizens visiting Syria. The statement said the State Department is tracking credible information related to potential imminent attacks, including locations frequented by tourists. Palestinian leader visits as Israeli troops remain in Syria Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Palestinian official news agency Wafa said that Abbass visit, his first since 2007, was aimed at strengthening Palestinian-Syrian relations and discussing pressing regional developments. Abbas and al-Sharaa discussed the ongoing war in Gaza and international efforts to move forward long-stalled efforts to reach a two-state solution to the to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and agreed to form joint committees aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors, it said. Syria has a population of about 450,000 Palestinian refugees. The Yarmouk refugee camp outside Damascus was once widely considered the capital of the Palestinian diaspora before it was largely destroyed in the war. Palestinian refugees in Syria have never been given citizenship, ostensibly to preserve their right to go back to the homes they fled or were forced from during the 1948 creation of the state of Israel. But in contrast to neighboring Lebanon, where Palestinians are banned from owning property or working in many professions, in Syria, Palestinians historically had all the rights of citizens except the right to vote and run for office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Syria does not have diplomatic relations with Israel. While the new Syrian authorities have said publicly that they are not interested in entering a conflict with Israel, the Israeli government regards the Islamist former insurgents now in power in Damascus with suspicion. Israeli forces seized a U.N.-patrolled buffer zone inside Syria after the rebels toppled Assad and have launched an extensive series of airstrikes on military facilities in Syria. Israeli officials have said that they will not allow the new Syrian military south of Damascus. Abbas arrival in Damascus was delayed after Israeli authorities denied permission for a helicopter to land in Ramallah that was supposed to arrive from Jordan to take the Palestinian president, said a Palestinian official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly. Israeli officials did not respond to a request for comment on the incident. Sewell reported from Beirut. A sign shows how many Americans are on Medicaid at U.S. Senate Democrats press conference on Feb. 19, 2025. (Photo by Shauneen Miranda/States Newsroom) Idaho Medicaid allows people with disabilities to live their most independent lives, makes preventive care accessible, helps ensure safe deliveries of healthy babies, assists seniors when they are most vulnerable, and saves families with medical emergencies from financial ruin. Thats why its alarming that Congress is considering $880 billion in Medicaid cuts. This staggering figure puts health care at risk for more than 340,000 Idahoans half of whom are children. By cutting $364 million from Idahos health care system, it would force Idaho into an impossible bind: slash critical health services or raise taxes. U.S. Sen. Mike Crapos recent statements opposing health care cuts are heartening. Its imperative that our entire congressional delegation take a thoughtful, bipartisan approach to keep Medicaid whole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Proponents justify these cuts with claims about reducing fraud, waste, and abuse. But lets be clear: Fraud is rare and usually involves deliberate billing schemes by corporations, not patients gaming the system. Waste often means system inefficiencies, such as avoidable emergency room visits or lack of care coordination, that are best solved through smarter care models, not blanket cuts. Abuse can refer to overbilling, administrative errors, and regulatory gray areas which call for oversight, not slashed funding. These terms are often used to create political cover for cuts that hurt people. In truth, 95% of Medicaid dollars go directly to pay for health care rather than administration. This is a much higher rate than any private insurance company can claim. With as lean and efficient as Medicaid is, there is not $880 billion worth of fraud to eliminate only critical services that keep our health system functioning. Rural Idaho would be disproportionately impacted. One in five rural residents depends on Medicaid. When funding drops, clinics close, providers leave, and health care access disappears. This makes our existing health workforce shortage, already severe in 43 of 44 counties, much worse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Proposed nationwide work requirements are also harmful. Most working-age Medicaid enrollees already work, or cant due to illness or caregiving responsibilities. Previous experiments with work requirements led to thousands of people losing coverage, not because they were ineligible, but because of bureaucratic red tape. These policies are costly to administer and serve only to push people off care, doing nothing to assist with employment. Furthermore, cuts to Medicaid dont save money; they just shift costs in harmful, expensive ways. When people lose coverage, they are forced to roll the dice: sometimes delaying care until its less effective, costlier or too late. They may end up with emergency room bills they cant afford. When hospitals absorb the costs of uncompensated care, everyone pays higher insurance premiums and health care costs, while health outcomes worsen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead of rushing to slash the backbone of our health care safety net, lets press pause and assess the consequences for Idaho. Congress should focus on smart, targeted reforms: Strengthen fraud prevention by investigating the companies that are bad actors. Lower prescription drug prices. Expand provider access in rural areas. These real solutions dont jeopardize peoples lives or Idahos economy. We must stop the gutting of health care benefits for our neighbors, veterans, cancer survivors, seniors in nursing homes, and people living with disabilities. Congress is on recess and back in Idaho this week and next. We hope Sen. Crapo, Sen. Jim Risch, Rep. Mike Simpson, and Rep. Russ Fulcher will hear from Idahoans on how important it is to protect Medicaid for future generations. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WPRI) A Massachusetts congressman is demanding answers from the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice after the recent arrest of a Guatemalan man in New Bedford, raising concerns about the federal agents use of force. U.S. Rep. Bill Keating sent a letter Thursday questioning the circumstances surrounding 29-year-old Juan Francisco Mendezs detention on April 14. A now-viral cell phone video, recorded by Francisco Mendezs wife, Marilu Domingo Ortiz, shows ICE agents using a large tool to break through the couples rear car window. In the video, the couple can be heard telling agents in Spanish they were waiting for their attorney to arrive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement BACKGROUND: ICE agents shatter car window during New Bedford arrest, attorney says Some of the questions included in Keatings letter ask why ICE and FBI officers were in New Bedford that day, what probable cause led to Francisco Mendezs detention, and whether the violent destruction of the car window complied with federal use-of-force policies. There is no excuse for how the Mendez family is being treated they deserve answers, they deserve to be reunited, and they certainly should not live under the threat of their husband and father facing deportation to a country that the United States has already recognized as unsafe for them to return to, Keating said. An ICE spokesperson said Francisco Mendez refused to comply with officers instructions, defending the agents actions. However, immigration attorney Ondine Galvez Sniffin argued that the wrong person was detained, saying both Francisco Mendez and his wife are lawfully in the U.S. and have no criminal record. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Massachusetts Rep. Jake Auchincloss also criticized the agents conduct, saying, They claim theyre going after gang members, but theyre the ones acting like thugs. Meanwhile, former Bristol County Sheriff Tom Hodgson, a prominent supporter of former President Donald Trumps immigration policies, defended the agents. At some point you have to react as a law enforcement officer, Hodgson said. You dont know whats going on in that car. You dont know if that persons got a weapon hidden in there or whatever. What is the reason why you would not comply, unless you were planning on resisting, for whatever your reason is? MORE: ICE defends agents who smashed car window during New Bedford arrest Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Keating, Domingo Ortiz and the couples 9-year-old son were granted political asylum in 2023. Francisco Mendez applied for derivative asylum status last October and is still in the process of securing it, according to Sniffin. Sadly, the ax that shattered Francisco and Marilu Mendezs car window in New Bedford is another tangible example of the Trump administrations cruelty-first approach that is focused on tearing apart families and causing fear in the immigrant community, Keating continued. He also said it is of utmost importance that Francisco Mendezs asylum application be reviewed on an expedited basis and that no removal action be taken until a determination is made. Keating requested that Francisco Mendez be reunited with his family in New Bedfordabsent a criminal recordand asked that the agencies respond by Monday, April 21. Francisco Mendez has a virtual hearing scheduled for May 8, even though his attorney noted that no criminal charges have been filed against him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They really dont have anything on my client, Sniffin said. He has no criminal background. He has no prior immigration violations. His wife, Marilu Domingo Ortiz told 12 News she still cant believe what happened. I never imagined agents would go to that extreme, Domingo Ortiz said. I told the official, with all due respect, youre taking my husband unjustly. He told me, I dont care. So, what else could I have told him? When they detain someone, it should be the person theyre looking for, who are a danger she continued. We are not all criminals and we also have rights. Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking 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 WPRI.com. ANDERSON, S.C. (WSPA) Congresswoman Sheri Biggs announced that she will host a telephone town hall event on Monday. Congresswoman Biggs will share updates on her work in Congress and hear concerns and priorities from those who attend. Attendees will also have the opportunity to ask questions. Upstate billboard accuses congressman of being AWOL Congresswoman Biggs will also share her thoughts on key issues such as border security, the economy, veterans care, protecting constitutional freedoms and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For those interested, call in directly on Monday, April 21, at 6 p.m., using the dial-in line at (833) 380-0737. You can also watch it live on 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 WSPA 7NEWS. A Connecticut physician is seeking an immigration attorney after the Department of Homeland Security ordered her out of the country via email. It is time for you to leave the United States, read the threatening message that Dr. Lisa Anderson received last week, she told NBC affiliate WVIT on Wednesday. Anderson, 58, was born in Pennsylvania and lives in Cromwell. Unlike two Massachusetts immigration attorneys and U.S. citizens who have received similar emails, Anderson has nothing to do with immigration. Except for now, as shes looking to hire just such a lawyer, confused as to what landed her on Homeland Securitys radar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I really have no idea how my email ended up on that list unless someone else was using that as a false email, Anderson told WVIT. I dont have anything to do with immigration and I never thought that I would have needed the services of an immigration attorney either, and thats where I find myself. The two immigration attorneys who got the same email also thought it odd that DHS had their addresses, since clients must supply their own when communicating with the federal agency. But their emails were at least on paperwork related to their cases. Last week, Boston-area immigration attorney Nicole Micheroni was told to leave the U.S. or the federal government will find you. Days later, a second immigration attorney in the Boston area, Carmen Bello, was also told by DHS to self-deport, WBTS reported Tuesday. Both were told their immigration parole was expiring, but that doesnt apply to either of them. The parole is part of a program that allows migrants to stay and work in the U.S. for up to two years while they wait for their case to be heard a program the Trump administration has effectively terminated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Homeland Security said in a statement that it emailed Micheroni in error, the attorney told WVIT that she has not been able to reach DHS officials to clarify the situation. She emphasized that such an email does not constitute a deportation order but advised recipients to seek legal counsel. Anderson, whose attorneys have advised her to carry her passport at all times, says shes rattled. The language seemed pretty threatening to whomever it might actually apply to, she told WVIT. It does make me concerned therere a lot more people out there like me who probably also thought this was spam, who probably didnt realize, I have a problem. _____ The past few days have seen a dramatic escalation in the Trump administrations brawl with universities in general and with Harvard in particular. According to multiple reports, the IRS has begun planning to revoke the universitys tax-exempt status. Losing exemption from income taxation would be disastrous for Harvard. Not only does exemption save universities enormous amounts of money that would otherwise be taxed; it is also essential for fundraising, because it allows donors to take charitable deductions. What is the rationale for the IRS revisiting Harvards exemption status? A theory is needed, because section 501(c)(3) of the federal tax code says that an organization shallnot maybe exempt from taxation if it meets criteria listed in the statute. One of those criteria is for an institution to be organized exclusively for educational purposes. The Trump administrationwhich shoots first and theorizes laterhas not said much. But an intellectual agenda has been building recently to challenge the exempt status of universities and other organizations viewed as left-leaning. (You can see that momentum gathering steam on the Wall Street Journal editorial page here, here, and here.) The unifying theory of this movement is to make expansive new use of a 1983 Supreme Court decision, Bob Jones University v. United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Rose Horowitch: What Harvard learned from Columbias mistake] Bob Jones was (and is) a conservative-Christian university with a history of racial discrimination, which the university once claimed was rooted in biblical principles. After a long and tangled back-and-forth, the IRS revoked the universitys tax-exempt status in the 1970s, and the university challenged that revocation. In a fascinating and elusive 81 decision, the Supreme Court upheld the IRS decision as consistent with the tax code and the Constitution. Why? Because, notwithstanding the language about educational purposes, the Court held that, to qualify for the exemption, an organization must show that its activity is not contrary to settled public policy. The Court purported to deduce support for that standard from the overall purpose of the tax code. Strikingly, the IRS has made virtually no attempt to wield this seemingly expansive public policy restriction in the years since Bob Jones was decidedand the Supreme Court has therefore had no occasion to clarify the bounds of its fuzzy doctrine. This is all for good reason. Conservatives, in particular, should be wary of far-reaching claims of administrative authority to decide what is within settled public policy and what is not. One reason is the simple potential for tit-for-tat reprisal. Donald Trump and his allies are not the first to call for expanding Bob Jones. Some left-leaning scholars have argued for applying the precedent to organizations that discriminate on the basis of other traits, such as sexual orientation and gender identity. Traditionally, therefore, religious organizations have been particularly concerned with the vague contours of the Bob Jones case. In the oral argument over same-sex marriage, for example, Justice Samuel Alito asked whether establishing it as a constitutional right might put organizations that opposed it in jeopardy of losing their tax-exempt status. Its certainly going to be an issue, the solicitor general conceded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This worry was evident in the Bob Jones decision itself. In a memorable concurrence, Justice Lewis Powell drew attention to the element of conformity that the majoritys opinion might produce. The provision of tax exemptions to nonprofit groups, he observed, is one indispensable means of limiting the influence of governmental orthodoxy on important areas of community life. A broad public policy limit is especially concerning because, in a pluralistic society that cares about individual rights, fundamental public policies inevitably conflict. Principles of antidiscrimination are obviously fundamental. But so are principles of free association and religious liberty. How should we reconcile them, and who should decide? Traditionally, conservatives have been reluctant to give federal administrators more discretion in this domain. Hand-wringing about pluralism and what some hypothetical future Democratic administration could do might seem naive in the age of Trump. But there is a second reason conservatives should fear the expansion of Bob Jones: Its just a terrible case for modern textualists. [Thomas Chatterton Williams: Trumps Harvard whiplash] The lone holdout in that lopsided 81 Bob Jones result was none other than William Rehnquist, an early hero to the modern conservative legal movement. Rehnquists dissent makes a point that should still resonate with todays conservative majority on the Court: Aligning the tax code with national policy goals is Congresss jobnot the Courts, and not the executive branchs. Bob Joness discriminatory practices might have been odious, but the school was also obviously an educational institution under the plain language of the statute. That statute, moreover, was not the kind of document that oozed with administrative discretion. It was, as Rehnquist put it, the kind of law in which Congress itself explicitly defined the requirements for exempt status. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rehnquists language would be easy to update for todays conservative majority. A free-floating agency discretion to decide what is or isnt in the public interest, where the stakes are no less than the functional destruction of organizations that have depended on exemption? That begins to sound a lot like the kind of major question that Congress intended to keep for itselfnot fob off to bureaucrats or fence off from the oversight of an independent judiciary. Despite its practical obsolescence, of course, Bob Jones still remains the law of the landlying around like a loaded weapon for an executive branch willing to overlook its flaws. But there are good reasons that it has never been picked up before. Conservatives, more than anyone, should oppose its impetuous new use. Article originally published at The Atlantic A federal appeals court on Thursday excoriated the Trump administration for its conduct in the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the man who was wrongly deported from Maryland to a notorious prison in El Salvador. The administration is asserting a right to stash away residents of this country in foreign prisons without the semblance of due process that is the foundation of our constitutional order, wrote Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson in an opinion for a panel of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals. Further, it claims in essence that because it has rid itself of custody that there is nothing that can be done, he wrote. This should be shocking not only to judges, but to the intuitive sense of liberty that Americans far removed from courthouses still hold dear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wilkinson, a Reagan appointee who has been on the bench for 41 years, is one of the nations most prominent conservative appellate judges. His seven-page opinion is the latest and most scorching judicial rebuke of the Trump administrations aggressive moves to sidestep court orders in high-profile immigration cases. Earlier this week, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg found probable cause to hold administration officials in contempt for defying an order to halt deportations of people deemed alien enemies. And U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis scolded the administration for having done nothing to comply with her order to facilitate Abrego Garcias release from El Salvador. Wilkinson and the two other judges on the 4th Circuit panel rejected the administrations appeal of an April 10 order from Xinis directing the administration to take all available steps to facilitate Abrego Garcias return to the U.S. as soon as possible. Wilkinson zeroed in on the Justice Departments admission that it had mistakenly deported Abrego Garcia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why then should it not make what was wrong, right? Wilkinson wrote. Abrego Garcia was detained and quickly flown to El Salvador last month despite a 2019 court order that barred the government from deporting him there because of the risk that he could be targeted by a local gang. The Supreme Court said his deportation was illegal in a decision upholding Xinis directive requiring the U.S. to facilitate his release. But the administration has apparently taken no concrete steps to bring him back. Instead, Trump administration officials have claimed they have no power to do so now that he is under the jurisdiction of El Salvador. On Tuesday, Xinis ordered an intense two-week inquiry into the administrations defiance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wilkinson warned of a dangerously slippery slope on the horizon. If today the Executive claims the right to deport without due process and in disregard of court orders, what assurance will there be tomorrow that it will not deport American citizens and then disclaim responsibility to bring them home? he wrote. And what assurance shall there be that the Executive will not train its broad discretionary powers upon its political enemies? And he chided the administration broadly for its contemptuous attitude toward the judiciary, noting its calls for the impeachment of judges and exhortations to disregard court orders. In this environment, he wrote, the executive and judiciary branches are coming too close to grinding irrevocably against one another in a conflict that promises to diminish both. This is a losing proposition all around. Welcome back, Deadline: Legal Newsletter readers. The Trump administration has still failed to facilitate Kilmar Abrego Garcias return to the United States, despite orders from judges at every level of the court system. Its far from the only pressing story in Donald Trumps second term, but the Abrego Garcia case does well to capture his administrations disdain for the law, serving as a symbol for the moment were in and where were headed. Its not just Democratic-appointed jurists calling out the due process disaster. Leading the way this week was appellate Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III, a Reagan appointee who was in the running for a Supreme Court seat during the George W. Bush administration. The government is asserting a right to stash away residents of this country in foreign prisons without the semblance of due process that is the foundation of our constitutional order, he wrote for a three-judge panel on the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Backing the latest order from U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis, the panel declined the Trump Justice Departments invitation to, as Wilkinson put it, micromanage the efforts of a fine district judge attempting to implement the Supreme Courts recent decision. And what about that recent SCOTUS decision? Coming from the Republican-dominated Roberts Court, it wasnt exactly a partisan hit job, either. That didnt stop Trump adviser Stephen Miller from wrongly calling the high court order a win for Trump. In fact, while the justices cited the deference owed to the executive branch in foreign affairs, they told officials to facilitate Abrego Garcias release from custody in El Salvador and to ensure that his case is handled as it would have been had he not been improperly sent to El Salvador. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And yet, there he is and here we are. And while were here, lets address the administrations suggestion that none of this due process stuff matters because Abrego Garcia is, in its view, a bad guy. First and foremost, whether someone is perceived as good, bad or in between is irrelevant to whether theyre entitled to legal protections. Were it otherwise, we wouldnt need warrants, juries, trials, appeals or other guardrails that bolster the American legal system. Second, the bad guy case against Abrego Garcia featuring, among other things, his vaguely alleged MS-13 gang ties is not ironclad. But even if it were, this second point is less important than the first. Remember, a judge previously ruled that Abrego Garcia couldnt be removed to El Salvador, the very country to which the government not only sent him but deposited him into a notorious prison without having been convicted of any crime. That he could eventually be deported properly upon his U.S. return isnt an excuse to avoid legal compliance in the meantime if anything, that potential conclusion to this sordid saga makes it even more foolish for Trump to trash the Constitution over it. As Judge Wilkinson put it: [T]he government has conceded that Abrego Garcia was wrongly or mistakenly deported. Why then should it not make what was wrong, right? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why, indeed. But if the government keeps failing to heed that question, then Chief Justice John Roberts and his colleagues will have to issue a stronger order if the case comes back to them. The ultimate showdown could be the resolution of a seemingly inevitable standoff between Roberts and Trump on court order compliance, a danger thats been building over the past few months but hasnt yet truly come to a head. Sen. Chris Van Hollen met with Kilmar Abrego Garcia in El Salvador on Thursday. The Maryland Democrat is pushing for Abrego Garcia's return after the Supreme Court last week ordered the Trump administration to "facilitate" his release. The contempt issue moved forward in a separate (but similar) case this week, stemming from Trumps summary removal of alleged Venezuelan gang members under the wartime Alien Enemies Act. The Supreme Court previously overturned U.S. District Judge James Boasbergs orders that halted the deportations, but there was still the separate matter of whether Trump officials violated his orders. In a lengthy ruling Wednesday, Boasberg said theres probable cause to find they did. So now what? Boasberg actually posed the question toward the end of his ruling, which I appreciated because I was wondering about that as I read it. He gave the administration an April 23 deadline to either 1) purge its contempt (meaning try to fix it), or 2) if it declines to purge, identify the people who knew about his order in the class action lawsuit but chose not to halt the transfer of class members out of U.S. custody on March 15 and 16. If the government goes the latter route, the judge could wind up referring people to the DOJ for contempt prosecutions. But the Trump DOJ wouldnt do that! Yes, well, heres where things could get interesting: Under federal criminal procedure rules, judges can appoint independent lawyers to prosecute contempt. Possible problem solved, right? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not necessarily. The issue made its way to the Supreme Court a couple of years back, when the court declined to take up a legal challenge to judge-appointed contempt prosecutions. But Trump appointees Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh dissented from the denial, calling the practice unconstitutional and presaging a potential hitch in any Boasberg-appointed efforts. But first, well have to see how the next contempt steps play out, as the DOJ tries to appeal Boasbergs latest ruling in a challenge that could also reach the justices. Meanwhile, the high court was supposed to wrap up the terms hearings this month, with the final two-week session set to start this coming Monday, featuring important disputes over religion in schools. But on Thursday, the justices added a rare May session involving Trumps bid to curb birthright citizenship protections. The court usually publishes the terms final rulings by late June, but it sometimes goes into July and, in fact, has done so more than once in recent years with Trump-related cases. Last term, the presidential immunity ruling in Trump v. United States was among the final decisions on July 1. Now that hes back in office (thanks partly to the justices letting him run again), Trump is still testing the courts and the country. The courts are standing up, but we still dont know how this all ends in the Abrego Garcia case and other pending and looming legal battles. On that note, Ill give Judge Wilkinsons soaring opinion the last word, where he wrote, The Executive may succeed for a time in weakening the courts, but over time history will script the tragic gap between what was and all that might have been, and law in time will sign its epitaph. Yet, the judge ended on a more hopeful note that it is not naive to believe our good brethren in the Executive Branch perceive the rule of law as vital to the American ethos. This case presents their unique chance to vindicate that value and to summon the best that is within us while there is still time. Have any questions or comments for me? Please submit them on this form for a chance to be featured in the Deadline: Legal Blog and newsletter. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Students with learning differences can benefit from text-to-speech technology. (Maskot/Getty Images) Headphones on and intently staring at his screen, Hayden sat at his table reading about ice cream. He was totally engrossed in the tests content, his lips moving silently with the narrators voice. Some of my 5th graders sat at single desks to better focus as they read, others wore unplugged headphones to block out noise, and still others like Hayden readied their text-to-speech (TTS) settings on their devices to begin their read-along sessions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each student had the tools and options they needed to be successful in this most important task: reading. When I walked by to check on Hayden, he gave me a thumbs up as he began answering explicit and inferential questions, a tough skill for any 5th grader. Students like Hayden with learning differences make up about 23% of all students in Arkansas. Once theyve put in the work to learn how to use tools like TTS, the results are remarkable. Texthelp tools like Read&Write and Equatio, which are provided by the Arkansas Department of Educations Division of Elementary and Secondary Education, help bridge the learning and literacy gaps for students in grades 3-12. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Research shows that students with learning differences demonstrate increased comprehension scores when using text-to-speech technology on reading tests. This includes students with a range of learning differences, including dyslexia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism and vision impairment. The Arkansas Teaching, Learning & Assessment System (ATLAS), which is administered each spring, was designed to assess students on state standards for math, science, reading, language, and writing. Cohorts of teachers vetted the assessment prior to its adoption in the 2023-24 academic year to ensure its alignment with Arkansas standards and rigor in the question types. However, assistive technology that is part of daily instruction in a classroom like mine is not allowed on state testing for students on Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) like Hayden. As of 2023, 30 states allow for text-to-speech access on state testing for students with documented disabilities who use such resources in their daily learning. Arkansas should join these states so every student has the opportunity to consistently use the same assistive technology across their daily tasks and the state test that measures what they know and can do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Providing this crucial learning tool to Arkansas students on the ATLAS test would boost their reading confidence and reduce stress associated with high-stakes testing. For example, one of my students uses speech-to-text to capture his ideas on longer writing assignments, thereby overcoming the negative impacts of dysgraphia, a neurological condition in which someone has difficulty turning their thoughts into written language. He is able to bridge this neurological barrier and successfully express himself. Students like Hayden find success in my classroom by leveraging the tools and resources available to them, which rewards their effort and fuels their desire to succeed. By removing the barrier for Hayden to decode words, I can evaluate what he comprehends in the writing he produces and adjust my instruction accordingly. I can also support Hayden in improving his decoding skills through individualized reading interventions, so that he eventually wont need the text-to-speech tool. Having consistency in students use of assistive technology also helps teachers like me, who rely on assessment data to adjust instruction and implement interventions and supports. I spend time using this data to understand the strengths and weaknesses of incoming students each fall. If TTS is allowed on state testing, we can ensure our instructional shifts are effective and efficient from year to year. With the support of TTS, Hayden is growing more and more confident and is able to answer complex questions at grade level. All students should have the opportunity to demonstrate their learning in a way that does not create feelings of inadequacy and failure. Giving students access to these tools on state tests would empower them and help them reach their full potential. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 18. A high-level China-Azerbaijan Industrial and Investment Promotion Conference, supported by Azerbaijan's Ministry of Economy and organized by AZPROMO, the Azerbaijani Trade Representative Office in China, and the International Cooperation Center of China's NDRC, convened in Beijing, Trend reports. The conference, themed "Bridge of Development: Expanding Industrial and Investment Cooperation," served as a key platform for enhancing bilateral economic collaboration and promoting strategic investments. Approximately 250 government officials, investors, and business leaders engaged in dialogue aimed at fostering trust and long-term partnerships. The event's objectives included showcasing Azerbaijan's attractive investment climate and opportunities, highlighting the support provided by Azerbaijani institutions to foreign investors, facilitating direct engagement with Chinese investors, and laying the groundwork for sustained industrial cooperation and capital inflows. The target audience comprised Chinese companies and investment firms exploring international ventures, government agencies, and trade associations. Azerbaijan's Ambassador to China, Bunyad Huseynov, underscored the strategic importance of the relationship, noting the friendly and cooperative spirit. He highlighted the previous year's Joint Declaration on strategic partnership between Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Xi Jinping and pointed to ongoing efforts to broaden cooperation across energy, transport, and logistics, industry, agriculture, and other sectors. Emphasizing that Azerbaijan is China's largest trading partner in the South Caucasus, the diplomat added that China is Azerbaijan's 4th largest trading partner and the largest source of imports. He noted Azerbaijan's early support for the Belt and Road Initiative and its significant contributions through transport and infrastructure projects, establishing efficient and secure routes between China and Europe. The Middle Corridor's growing importance in the current geopolitical landscape was also highlighted. Jiang Hua of China's NDRC emphasized Azerbaijan's historical significance on the Silk Road and the enduring friendship between the two nations. She stated that the Belt and Road Initiative presents new avenues for economic and trade growth and stressed the importance of encouraging Chinese companies' involvement in Azerbaijani industrial and infrastructure projects. Yusif Abdullayev, Executive Director of AZPROMO, noted the positive trajectory of bilateral economic and trade relations, highlighting joint projects in automotive, industrial, ICT, transport, logistics, and other sectors. Azerbaijan's Trade Representative in China, Teymur Nadiroglu, emphasized that the conference was a direct outcome of the 2023 Framework Agreement on production capacity and investment cooperation. He emphasized Azerbaijan's political and economic stability, strategic location, and favorable business climate as key advantages for Chinese investors seeking a regional hub and production base. Nadiroglu highlighted Azerbaijan's crucial role in the Belt and Road Initiative through its strategic geography and modernizing infrastructure, positioning it as a vital center for integrating production and trade. He encouraged Chinese companies to establish operations in Azerbaijan's industrial parks, economic zones, and the Alat Free Economic Zone, offering various incentives and access to both local and neighboring markets, citing existing successful ventures. The Trade Representative also noted the role of Azerbaijani trade houses in several Chinese cities in promoting Azerbaijani products, investment opportunities, and tourism potential. Presentations were delivered by Valeh Alasgarov (Alat Free Economic Zone), Orkhan Mammadov (KOBIA), Fariz Jafarov (4SIM), and representatives from the Azerbaijan Renewable Energy Agency, SOCAR, Azerbaijan Investment Holding, AZPROMO, and Azerbaijan Railways, showcasing over 15 investment projects across various sectors including heavy industry, mining, agriculture, light industry, and green energy. Representatives from Chinese companies with existing or planned investments in Azerbaijan shared their project details. Officials from Tianjin's Wuqing District and the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area also shared their experiences. The event culminated in the signing of 13 cooperation and investment agreements between institutions from both countries. The conference venue featured informational displays on Azerbaijan's economy, business climate, the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor, AZPROMO's investor services, the Trade Representative Office, the Economic Zones Development Agency, the Alat Free Economic Zone, KOBIA, the Karabakh and East Zangezur Economic Regions, 4SIM, the Agrarian Credit and Development Agency, the State Oil Fund, SOCAR, and Azerbaijani trade houses in China. A dedicated session facilitated direct dialogue between Chinese investors and Azerbaijani state representatives on large-scale cooperation, investment terms, and strategic priorities, followed by B2B meetings. SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) Theres some exciting news for Siouxlanders: the Big Sioux Pedestrian Bridge that will connect Iowa to South Dakota has officially resumed construction. The project was delayed due to the June flooding of the Big Sioux River, as well as some permitting issues. With construction underway, the pedestrian bridge in Sioux City is planned to be just north of Interstate 29 and will connect approximately 50 miles of recreational trails once complete. 18th Street in Sioux City to temporarily close Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Matt Salvatore with Sioux City Parks and Recreation told KCAU 9 that he was upset by the projects delay, but is excited that its back on track. Yeah, it was disappointing last year due to flooding, due to some permitting issues, that we had to shut that project down last year Salvatore said. But its awesome to see the progress right now with the old bridge going away and the crews on site, currently cranes on site, and were seeing lots of progress. Thats going to be a huge addition to connect the trail networks of Sioux City and Dakota Dunes, South Dakota. Completion of the Big Sioux Pedestrian Bridge is currently set for Sept. 10. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. One of the most important insights of public policy is the understanding that most laws are predicated upon a (stated or unstated) quid pro quo. Take, for example, the roiling months-long debate about President Trumps immigration enforcement agenda. Think back to the arrest and initiation of removal proceedings against Mahmoud Khalil , the green card-holding pro-Palestinian organizer at Columbia University. Critics said that Khalil never committed an actual black-letter crime and perhaps he didnt. But the government has argued he supported the foreign terrorist organization Hamas and contributed to a hostile campus environment for Columbias besieged Jewish students. Doing so could abuse the terms of his noncitizen legal permanent residence and forfeit his right to be here. We might view it this way: If Khalil violated his implicit quid, he lost his corresponding quo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many similar examples abound throughout our legal fabric. Consider also Section 230 , the 1990s-era technology law: In exchange for helping to offer a forum for a true diversity of political discourse, as the statute aims to do, a given social media platform will not be treated as a publisher for purposes of defamation law. But Big Tech has repeatedly violated the quid (suppressing perspectives for political reasons), and now a change to the statutory quo is appropriate. This same prism can explain the ongoing , and rapidly escalating , standoff between Trumps administration and Harvard University and Trumps ambitious agenda to rein in the fiscal and cultural excesses of elite American higher education, more generally. For decades, American institutions of higher education have benefited from extraordinary taxpayer largesse. Federal government grants and other forms of direct taxpayer subsidizations of universities are legion, not to mention tuition revenue from federally backed student loans. Capital gains of major university endowments are also taxed at the minuscule rate of 1.4% a fraction of the taxation rate to which the endowments would be subject were they operating as any other type of business or investment fund. This favorable governmental treatment of higher education is the back-end quo. But policymakers predicated that quo, long ago, on the corresponding quid: American universities, in educating young Americans and instilling in them a love of their faith traditions, their nation and God, conduce to the common good and deserve direct public support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The basic problem with this argument, in the year 2025, is that quite simply it is indescribably and laughably out of touch with reality. American higher education, viewed as a whole, no longer conduces to the common good. Indeed, it has not done so for a very long time now. William F. Buckley Jr., the founder of National Review, published God and Man at Yale, a prominent cri de coeur against the liberal educational establishment, seven and a half decades ago. The rise of the Frankfurt School and rampant cultural Marxist indoctrination soon followed. The problem of institutions of higher education churning out not godly patriots but decadent ingrates has been with us for a very long time. But for too long, the higher education quo of extra-generous taxpayer treatment stayed constant despite the collapse of the onetime quid. Trump, in seeking to condition federal taxpayer grants to elite universities like Columbia and Harvard on the universities bare-minimum compliance with the nations civil rights laws, is taking the smallest step possible to recalibrate the discombobulated quid pro quo that has defined the taxpayer-university relationship for decades. American universities retain full 1st Amendment rights to speak, instruct and promulgate however they would like but they cannot do so on the taxpayer dime when they engage in flagrant racial, ethnic or religious discrimination against applicants and students in violation of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. There is also always the Hillsdale College option like Michigan-based Hillsdale, any other school can simply opt out of federal funding. Perhaps they should! Many notable Democrats, such as former President Obama, have lined up to defend Harvard the Trump administrations most recent and outsized funding target. Truly, it is remarkable. The onetime party of the working-class lunch bucket Joe, as former President Biden was once known has transmogrified into the leading partisan proponent of a status quo in which working-class men and women nationwide subsidize not necessarily the local technical training school, but the distant Ivy League ivory tower. Democrats may not win back the Rust Belt any time soon, but they can at least bank on the Harvard and Yale faculty lounges. And maybe theyre OK with that. I know I am. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Josh Hammers latest book is Israel and Civilization: The Fate of the Jewish Nation and the Destiny of the West. This article was produced in collaboration with Creators Syndicate. @josh_hammer If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Corey Lewandowski has reportedly used his close relationship with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to wield significant influence at the agency, despite having no formal position, according to a Wall Street Journal report. Lewandowski - a 2016 campaign manager for President Donald Trump - has served as an advisor to the secretary, providing counsel as she meets world leaders, and advising on personnel decisions and agency contracts. People familiar with the inner workings of the department told The Journal that Lewandowski is often the only person attending meetings alongside Noem. Having gone to El Salvador, Mexico and Colombia alongside the secretary, and having advised her on policy and personnel, some DHS staff call Lewandowski the de facto chief of staff or the shadow secretary, according to The Journal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He initially wanted to formally be named the chief of staff, but the White House was reportedly uncomfortable with that setup because of allegations reported by outlets such as the New York Post that Lewandowski and Noem had a relationship - something they have both publicly rejected. Almost three months after Trumps second inauguration, Noem has yet to appoint a chief of staff. Corey Lewandowski arrives for a Make America Wealthy Again trade announcement event in the Rose Garden. According to a report, he is serving as de facto chief of staff to Kristi Noem (Getty Images) The Department of Homeland Security was created after the 2001 terror attacks, and Lewandowski told The Journal that he chose to work at the department as the husband of a 9/11 widow. He added he had been briefed by ethics lawyers on what he can do as a special government employee. The title also means he doesnt have to give up his private sector salaries and investments. As the husband of a 9/11 widow, the mission of DHS and securing the homeland is of utmost importance to Mr. Lewandowski, a DHS spokesperson told the paper. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lewandowski told the paper that he doesnt have any private business in connection with the department, but didnt share whether he has any private clients. Some aides to the president have become worried about Lewandowskis significant role at the department, particularly when it comes to contracts, due to his business interests. Some officials in the White House have become concerned as they arent aware of what private interests he could be representing, since his status as a special government employee means that he doesnt have to share such information. There are also worries about his rising authority within the agency in light of his reportedly close relationship with Noem, The Journal noted. Lewandowski and Noem are both married, and Lewandowski denied having an affair when speaking to The Journal. A DHS spokesperson told the paper that the department doesnt waste time with salacious, baseless gossip. Some aides to the president have become worried about Lewandowskis significant role at the department run by Noem (POOL/AFP via Getty Images) He began advising the future secretary in 2019 after they took part in a fishing trip put together. With Lewandowskis help, Noem created a national profile, and he brought her into Trumps circle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As both of them tried to remain in Trumps inner circle during the 2024 race, campaign aides told The Journal that Noem often delivered messages to the then-candidate sounding much like what Lewandowski had been saying. The paper also reported that Lewandowski pushed for Trump to select Noem as his running mate. After failing to convince the president and his advisors, he urged him to select Noem for the role of Homeland Security secretary. Lewandowski, however, rejected any notion that he was a part of Noems selection. The president makes his own decisions, he told The Journal. A California City man found dead Wednesday night died from being struck by a vehicle, the Kern County coroner's office reported Thursday. The body of 68-year-old David Earl Mackey was discovered at 9:30 p.m. along eastbound California City Boulevard just east of Kenniston Street, the agency said in a news release, adding he died from his injuries after being hit. Apr. 17ST. PAUL The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, will hold an informational meeting to introduce the public to its ongoing work in the areas of Pools 4 through 7 of the Upper Mississippi Area on May 6, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. A presentation will begin at 6 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Wabasha Kellogg High School, located at 2113 Hiawatha Drive East. Parking will be available in the rear of the school due to ongoing construction. Multiple Corps staff members from across the organization will be available to provide information and address specific questions. Topics discussed will include lock and dam operations and upcoming projects, dredged materials management program, shoreline management and other environmental activities, recreation activities, environmental engineering and flood risk reduction projects and water management activities in Pools 4 through 7 of the Upper Mississippi River. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The meeting will be posted on the district's YouTube channel, http://www.youtube.com/usacemvppao . People needing special accommodations for the meeting should contact 651-290-5807 or cemvp-pa@usace.army.mil no later than April 25. The Civil Works programs include water resource development through flood risk management, navigation, recreation, and infrastructure and environmental stewardship. The Corps plans, constructs, operates, and maintains a broad range of water facilities to meet the nation's evolving needs. DISCLAIMER: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. BOSSIER PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS) Local authorities have arrested and terminated a corrections officer on alleged criminal charges related to his employment at the Bossier Parish Correctional Facility. Corrections Officer Colton Davis was hired by the Bossier Parish Sheriffs Office on October 23, 203, according to the news release. BPSO states that Davis was arrested for two counts of malfeasance in office and two counts of introducing contraband into a correctional facility. (Courtesy of the Bossier Parish Sheriffs Office) The BPSO inmate catalog notes Davis is 19 years old. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The actions of this individual are not representative of the men and women who serve in this office with honor and integrity. We hold our employees to a higher standard and will not tolerate unlawful activity. Mr. Davis has been terminated from the Bossier Sheriffs Office, said Sheriff Julian Whittington. Davis was taken into custody and transported to the Bossier Maximum Security Facility for processing. This case is still under investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com. CELJE, Slovenia (Reuters) - A Slovenian court on Friday brought the first-instance ruling to acquit Janez Jansa, a three-time prime minister and the key opposition figure in the Alpine country, and two alleged accomplices on charges of abuse of office and corruption. Jansa, the president of the largest opposition Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS), had dismissed the indictment as an attempt to remove him from politics ahead of a general election due in 2026. "Despite the fact that it was a clear and visible farce from the very beginning, the prosecutor requested two years in prison," Jansa told his cheering supporters after leaving the court. "This victory today is in quotation marks, our fight here is not over." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hundreds of his supporters gathered outside the court in the eastern town of Celje, waving Slovenian flags and carrying banners accusing the judiciary of being corrupt and biased. Jansa, a 66-year-old right-wing populist, was indicted on charges of abuse of office in a property sale in 2005, when he was serving his first term as prime minister. The case also involved the directors of two companies who were involved in a series of transactions related to the sale of a plot of land owned by Jansa in an alleged exchange for the purchase of an apartment for him in the capital Ljubljana. Jansa, who championed Slovenia's bid for independence from the then Yugoslavia in 1991 and served three times as Slovenia's prime minister, was sentenced to two years in jail in 2013 for bribery in a 2006 deal with Finnish defence group Patria while serving his second term as premier. He had denied all charges. (Reporting by Borut Zivulovic, writing by Daria Sito-Sucic; Editing by Kirsten Donovan) A new ruling from Europe's highest human rights court has shed long-overdue light on one of Italy's most devastating environmental tragedies and delivered a major push for long-awaited action. What happened? The European Court of Human Rights recently ruled against the Italian government for failing to protect millions of residents in the region near Naples long known as the "Triangle of Death" from the mafia's toxic waste dumping, according to The Associated Press. This area, made up of 90 towns and home to nearly 3 million people, has seen soaring cancer rates over the past two decades. Despite government awareness of the issue since the 1990s, officials failed to take meaningful action. In some cases, ministers even blamed the illnesses on residents' lifestyles. Now, after years of heartbreaking losses including many children 41 residents, among them grieving parents like Marzia Caccioppoli, brought their case to court. The court sided with them, citing a clear denial of their "right to life," according to the Guardian. Why is this ruling important? This moment is more than symbolic it could finally force real change. For decades, criminal groups like the Camorra profited from illegally burying and burning toxic waste, sometimes with the help of corrupt officials. The pollution poisoned farmland, drinking water, and air contributing to health crises like rare childhood cancers, tumors, and respiratory diseases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 2023 report from Italy's higher health institute revealed that people living in this area face a 9% higher death rate than elsewhere in the region. Residents and doctors alike have watched patients especially children stream into hospitals like Naples' Santobono Pausilipon, which treated 108 new cancer cases in 2024 alone. What's being done about it? The ruling gives the Italian government two years to implement a strategy, which must include public transparency, an independent monitoring body, and tangible cleanup efforts. While authorities have promised action before, residents are now hoping the legal mandate will spark long-overdue change. For those outside Italy, this story is a powerful reminder of how pollution affects public health and how everyday people can demand accountability. Supporting clean energy, researching your community's air and water quality, and pushing for environmental transparency are simple ways to take action. As environmental activist Alessandro Cannavacciuolo put it to the Guardian: "We don't want press releases. We want facts." And now, there's hope those facts will lead to a healthier future. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, April 18. President Serdar Berdimuhammedov received credentials of the newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Turkmenistan, Amer bin Ali Al-Shehri, Trend reports, via Turkmenistan's MFA. In the course of the meeting, the sides exchanged views on the current state and prospects of bilateral cooperation in the trade and economic sphere. It was noted that trade turnover between the countries continues to grow annually, and there are ample opportunities for further intensification of purposeful interaction. The key areas of further cooperation between Turkmenistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were identified as the fuel and energy complex, trade, investment, transportation and communications, chemical industry, textiles, and agriculture. Expressing confidence in the continued development of bilateral relations for the welfare and prosperity of both countries and their peoples, the President of Turkmenistan extended his best wishes to the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Turkmenistan. Following the meeting, the diplomat once again expressed gratitude to President Serdar Berdimuhammedov for the warm hospitality and assured that he would make all efforts to further strengthen the traditionally friendly relations between the countries. Earlier in April, President Berdimuhammedov met with Saudi Arabias Minister of State, Emir Turki bin Mohammed Al Saud. During that meeting, the leaders discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations, particularly in trade, economy, and energy. This dialogue was consistent with Turkmenistan's broader economic strategy to modernize and attract foreign investment. Federal judges have ordered immigration officials to temporarily restore the legal status of three people from India who came to Texas on student visas. Manoj Mashatti, Chandraprakash Hinge and Akshar Patel are among more than a thousand students nationwide whose permission to be in the U.S. was revoked. International students have been discovering in recent weeks that their immigration status was marked as terminated in a database used to keep track of international students known as the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, or SEVIS. Mashatti obtained an F-1 student visa to pursue a masters degree in business analytics at the University of Texas at Dallas. He graduated in May 2024 and then applied for and received authorization to work as a full-time data engineer, according to his lawsuit. UT-Dallas informed him his status was terminated on April 2 based on a prior arrest for driving while intoxicated. He had completed probation for that charge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court documents provide fewer details about Hinge and Patel. Their attorney said they were both students at the University of Texas at Arlington and have graduated. Hinge came to the U.S. in 2020 to get a graduate degree. Patel was an undergraduate student who says his immigration status was terminated from SEVIS solely because of a November 2018 arrest for reckless driving. That case was dismissed. Both their LinkedIn profiles indicate they still live and work in North Texas, Hinge as a thermal engineer and Patel in the computer science field. Steven Brown, the immigration attorney representing the students, filed separate lawsuits for each one against Todd M. Lyons, acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in federal courts in Washington, D.C. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judge in Hinges case said ICE had offered conflicting positions in both its court filings and oral arguments about what effect its actions had on Hinges visa. The judge wrote in his order that the students legal status should remain unchanged. Brown said none of his three clients have left the country. He added that he may be bringing more lawsuits against ICE on behalf of other international students in Texas and across the country whose legal immigration status has been revoked. Brown said the way ICE is targeting students appears to be arbitrary and capricious. Thats also how four UT Rio Grande Valley students who have sued the Department of Homeland Security have described federal immigration officials actions. Those students attorney, Marlene Dougherty, declined to comment to The Texas Tribune on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The federal government has said it is targeting people who have committed crimes or participated in protests it views as antisemitic. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, said in a statement to the Tribune that it regularly reviews whether visa holders are complying with requirements to remain in good standing. SEVIS terminations may occur for various reasons, the statement said, including if they stopped going to school or working. When it finds violations, the agency added, it notifies the Department of State, which may consider revoking the students visa after considering their criminal history and other national security concerns. This process is nothing new and is part of a longstanding protocol and program, a senior DHS official said. Individuals who remain in the U.S. without lawful immigration status may be subject to arrest and removal. If a SEVIS record is terminated or a visa revoked, the individual will be notified and typically given 10 days to depart the country voluntarily. The safest and most efficient option is self-deportation using the CBP Home app. A Department of State spokesperson said the agency does not comment on ongoing litigation and its actions in specific cases for privacy reasons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Consulate General for India could not be immediately reached for comment on Friday. International students across the country are asking federal judges to temporarily block the government from changing their legal immigration status. In this week alone, judges in at least five states have granted their requests, according to CNN and Reuters. The Texas Tribune partners with Open Campus on higher education coverage. Disclosure: University of Texas - Arlington and University of Texas - Dallas have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. Tickets are on sale now for the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival, Texas breakout ideas and politics event happening Nov. 1315 in downtown Austin. Get tickets before May 1 and save big! TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) Utah Governor Spencer Cox has clarified that lawmakers will convene for a special session in May, but the agenda is still a bit up in the air. Speaking about an emergency drought declaration that his administration decided to wait to issue because of a COVID-era law that requires the legislature to reauthorize those every 30 days, Cox said lawmakers werent planning to meet in April, which is why they decided to wait. We are going to have a special session, Cox said at his monthly PBS press conference with reporters. With a May session coming up, that gives us an opportunity to work closely [with the legislature] to issue a drought declaration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Governor Cox also signed some bills that he and the legislature agreed needed to be fixed because of what he saw as unintended consequences. Those include a bill to make some sensitive election records public and a bill to change some county and city council seats. They also plan to reallocate $3.5 million that was supposed to go to Sundance. Im always open to looking at if we need to add else [in the session], then we could, but those conversations are ongoing, but theres no negotiations to prevent a veto override session in exchange, Cox said when asked about that possibility. But it is possible that you could see something from a veto where theyve agreed to fix something that we didnt like about a bill, and they just didnt want to wait a year to do that. Lawmakers have been polling members to see if theres support for any of the six vetoes to be overridden. A special session called by the governor would be separate from a veto override session. Theres also the possibility that lawmakers could call themselves into session; the criteria for that would be if two-thirds of the bodies each agree that theres an emergency in the affairs of the state. I think its fairly unlikely that well have a veto override [session], but it wouldnt surprise me if they did, Cox said when asked about the possibility of veto overrides. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Governor also discussed whether lawmakers could change H.B. 267 to fend off the referendum effort by public labor unions, who just announced they gathered nearly double the amount of signatures needed to put it on the ballot at 320,000. More than 320k Utahns sign referendum to appeal labor union bill, double the required amount Right now, Ive not had any discussion about re-addressing that issue, Cox said. But he did say he would be supportive of it if the legislature were. I said from the beginning, I didnt like the bill, Cox said. He also said that he told lawmakers that the UEA was not effective on Capitol Hill, and this effort could strengthen them. Cox went on to congratulate the unions on the effort, saying he wasnt surprised by the amount. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im not surprised, its called organized labor for a reason. Theyre actually organized, Cox said. But he wasnt as sold that the numbers meant there would be broad public support for the repeal if it made it on the 2026 ballot. Lawmakers will be gathered on Utahs Captiol Hill on May 21 for their first interim meetings ahead of the 2026 legislative session. A request to the Governors office on whether that would be the date of the session went unanswered. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Boats can be seen at anchor at the Wahweap Marina in Lake Powell near Page, Arizona on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch) With drought conditions worsening in southern Utah, Gov. Spencer Cox says hes working on issuing an emergency declaration. Despite northern Utah seeing average snow this year, counties in the south are exceptionally dry. Cox said hes currently working with local officials on the declaration, which could extend to a handful of counties in the southwestern corner of Utah that have seen a meager snowpack this winter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We feel really good about where we are, Cox said about water conditions on Thursday during his monthly PBS Utah news conference, calling it a pretty normal year for most of the state. However, I will say it wasnt a great year for all of the state. And southern Utah, especially southwestern Utah, was well below average and they are seeing some elevated drought conditions there. I would say, yes, there is a very real possibility; in fact, were working on it right now, of an emergency declaration, the governor said. Statewide, the snow water equivalent which is basically the amount of water currently in the snowpack is at about 78% of normal, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, or NRCS, which tracks the snowpack at sites around the state. Much of northern Utah is between that or higher, with Snowbirds site at 96%, and a site in Big Cottonwood Canyon at 115%. But many NRCS sites in southern Utah are below 50% of the median snow water equivalent, some with just 1%, even 0%. Much of Washington and Iron counties are currently in extreme drought, according to the Utah Division of Water Resources, while swaths of Beaver, Millard, Juab, Tooele, Uintah, Grand and San Juan counties are in severe drought. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rest of the state is either in moderate drought or abnormally dry, except for a sliver of northwestern Box Elder County and the high elevation portions of Salt Lake, Utah, Morgan, Wasatch and Summit counties. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The Drought Response Committee has been meeting more regularly to address concerns in drought-impacted areas, said Candice Hasenyager, Utah Division of Water Resources director, in a statement Friday. Many state agencies are coordinating their response to drought conditions that will likely intensify heading into summer. Hasenyager reminded Utahns to hold off on irrigation until your landscape needs it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most of northern Utah can hold off on irrigating until Mothers Day or until temperatures are in the mid-70s for several days, she said. The states reservoirs somewhat mirror the snowpack, with northern Utah looking good and southern Utah falling behind. In the north, the larger lakes and reservoirs Strawberry, Bear Lake, Jordanelle, Flaming Gorge, Utah Lake, Deer Creek, Starvation and Pineview are all above 75% capacity, with some hovering just below 100%. But south of Price, all but five reservoirs Huntington, Joes Valley, Otter Creek, Quail Creek and Sand Hollow are above 75%. Some, like Yuba Reservoir or Panguitch Lake, are below 50%. The outlook is particularly bad for the countrys second-largest reservoir, Lake Powell, which is federally controlled by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. As of Friday, the reservoir was at about 32% capacity. Glen Canyon Dam holds back the waters of Lake Powell near Page, Arizona on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch) According to the Utah Rivers Council, Lake Powell is about 70 feet above the minimum level for the Glen Canyon Dam to generate hydroelectric power. That level will continue to decline into the summer and fall, the council said, pointing to an increasingly dire runoff future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The countdown can start on Utah having to cut its portion of Colorado River water, said Zach Frankel, executive director of the Utah Rivers Council. Other states in the basin are putting odds on how soon that will happen and its definitely coming, alongside the shutdown of Glen Canyon hydropower. During the news conference on Thursday, Cox said he is always worried about Lake Powell, and has been for years, with the Colorado River plagued by drought and decreased flows. The good news is that Lake Powell, that water going into Powell does not come from the southwest side of the state, said Cox, referring to the source of the Colorado River, which is in alpine areas of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming. The water content in the mountains is a little bit better there. The governor can declare a state of emergency in response to natural disasters or public health threats. However, after tension brewed between the Legislature and former Utah Gov. Gary Herbert over his response to the COVID-19 pandemic, lawmakers passed a law in 2021 limiting emergency declarations to 30 days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Legislature could extend that emergency declaration if lawmakers pass a joint resolution. Cox hinted that lawmakers could convene in May for a special session so if he issues an emergency declaration this month, hell have the opportunity to work with legislators to extend the declaration, since its likely drought conditions will worsen during the spring and summer months. Although he didnt elaborate on what the order will entail, Cox issued executive orders related to drought in 2021 and 2022. Both orders allowed drought-effected communities and agricultural producers access to state and federal emergency resources. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE EMPORIA (KSNT) Sheriffs deputies and state troopers responded to a crash on Highway 50 near Emporia on Friday. The Lyon County Sheriffs Office reported on social media at 9:30 a.m. on April 18 that a crash resulted in an increase in law enforcement and Kansas Department of Transportation personnel on Highway 50. Westbound Highway 50 was closed between Overlander Road and County Road G. The Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) later issued a report on the crash, stating that it was first reported around 8:30 a.m. on April 18. A Kenworth semi-truck was traveling west on Highway 50 in the left lane when the crash occurred. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement $80 million plan approved for KBI to move out of problematic area in Topeka to new home The KHP said the semi-truck was hauling a large articulating boom lift on a trailer that collided with the northbound Kansas Turnpike bridge. The lift became detached from the trailer and came to a stop in both the west bound lanes of Highway 50, resulting in its closure. The drive of the semi-truck, a 62-year-old man from Andover, had minor injuries. 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. The investigation continues into a Tuesday evening collision involving an ambulance and an electric bike in Terre Haute that left one girl dead and another badly injured. Autumn Poulter, 13, was a loving, caring, outgoing teenager who was taken too soon, Michael and Michelle Poulter wrote on social media. At a car wash and bake sale at Baeslers Market to raise money for the two girls, a half-dozen cars were lined up more than 15 minutes before the event was to begin at 5 p.m. Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kids held signs reading Justice for Autumn and Journey and #forever 13. More than 50 people turned out to remember Autumn. Cookies and other baked snacks and pizza were available on a string of tables. Candles in glass jars with a photo of Poulter and reading, Justice for Autumn were also on sale. A woman driving down Poplar Street stopped her SUV before the teens and slipped one of them some money before resuming her journey. Other vehicles honked at the activity, including a logging truck. Michael Poulter, Autumns father, declined to sit for an interview during what he called a family event, adding, Im just overwhelmed by it all. Ive just had two seconds all day of no one talking to me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michael said he had attended a demonstration outside Trans-Care Ambulance earlier in the day. MET 041725 POULTER GERDINK Deanna Gerdink, 14, a student at Woodrow Wilson Middle School, holds up a sign to show support for her injured friend during a fundraiser Thursday in the parking lot between The Meadows and Baeslers Market on Poplar Street. Friends and family described Autumn as sassy. Cassie Hinkle, Autumns aunt, said, She was lively, she was sassy. She had a lot of friends she was very loved, and shell be very missed. She always loved to go down to the park that we used to live next to and she made friends with everybody no matter who it was. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hinkel was gratified by the turnout. Its really great, she said. Theres a lot of donations theres a lot of cars. Deanna Gardink, Autumns cousin, said, Shes always been supportive of me, shes always been there for me, shes always been a great human being in general. Breanna Tomlinson was holding half of a large sign touting the young women. I came out here to support Autumn and Journey and to show my respect for them, she said. I knew Autumn because we grew up together. I knew Journey through Autumn. Autumn was sassy, she was nice, Tomlinson added. She would just basically be sassy all the time. Sometime she had bad days, and sometimes she had the best days. She was just smart. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tomlinson said she found out about Autumns death at school Wednesday and spoke with one of the counselors the school provided. They sent me to go home, she said. Trinidey McCowen Robins, a friend of Autumns, said, She was a wonderful, wonderful girl. She would speak her mind about anything if she didnt like you, shed tell you. She was very blunt about things. If she didnt like something, shed be super-sassy about it. MET 041725 POULTER HARRIS Jacob Harris, 8, helps wash a car during a fundraiser Thursday in The Meadows shopping center parking lot for the victims of a Tuesday accident. She added, She was always real like, she was really sweet if you got to know her. She had a big heart. She was a trouper. She would go out of her way to help somebody if they needed help. Shes was such a kindhearted person thats the main focus on her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The accident The Terre Haute Police Department said the accident occurred about 7:15 p.m. Tuesday at South 13th Street and Wheeler Avenue. A Trans-Care ambulance was responding to an auto accident-with-injuries call in Vigo County when it and the electric bike collided. Two girls were on the bike. Police officers arrived to find ambulance personnel already treating the girls, THPD said. One died of injuries, while the other was airlifted to Indianapolis. THPD to date has not released details of the accident. Lt. Justin Sears, the departments spokesman, on Thursday said the accident investigation is still in progress, including work being done by detectives and reconstructionists. THPD will release more information when that probe is complete, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sears said the department would not be releasing the identities of the girls, as they are juveniles, and the department does not believe it is THPDs place nor duty to reveal such information. By way of phone calls and an emailed public records request, the Tribune-Star sought from the Vigo County Coroners Office the preliminary death information regarding the girl who perished. It appears some of that information such as identify of the individual, location where body was found, and probable cause, manner and mechanism of death is public information under the sections of state code governing the publics access to records and the duties of the coroner. Vigo County Coroner Travis Norris said considering the police and death investigations still underway, he was seeking guidance from the Vigo County Prosecutors Office on what information he should or should not release. It might be Friday before he has an answer, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jessica Bolin, one resident of the neighborhood where the accident occurred, said there are frequently young kids playing in the area. Trans-Care is located nearby, at 1299 Voorhees, and neighbors including Bolin said they are concerned about instances in which Trans-Care vehicles drive fast and may not always have their sirens activated until they reach Margaret Avenue. Michael Poulter told WTWO-TV Channel 2, This is not my daughters fault. No 13-year-old girl should get struck in the road trying to be a kid, out riding a bike. Just the fact that they rolled through here with no sirens and in such a hurry. Trans-Care statement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an emailed statement, Trans-Care Ambulance called the collision a tragic accident and said its two medics who were in the ambulance and later an additional nine medics deployed the highest level of prehospital care. Trans-Care said it has worked transparently and cooperatively with local officials over the past two days, including giving up possession of the unit involved so that it can be moved to a lockup for examination by data experts, and has also provided other data points including onboard video recordings. The company said its personnel were traveling emergently to an unrelated motor vehicle accident and used emergency lights consistent with common practice. Moments into their emergency response, the incident happened at an intersection where the ambulance had no stop sign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a provider to emergency services, we recognize and share the grief families are having. Our prayers continue to be with all those affected by this tragedy especially to the family who lost their loved one. At the time of this release, we do not have official notice for the second bike rider condition but believe and pray for her continued recovery. NEW BERN, N.C. (WNCT) During a board meeting held on April 17, the Craven County Board of Education approved the appointment of Richard L. Stout, Jr., as the districts Interim Superintendent, effective May 1, 2025. Stout brings over 32 years of educational leadership experience, having served in various capacities across seven school districts. His notable roles include Superintendent of Onslow County Schools (20132018) and Scotland County Schools (20092013). In 2016, he was honored as Regional Superintendent of the Year and previously served as President of the North Carolina Association of School Administrators (20052006). Stout will serve as Interim Superintendent while the Board of Education conducts a comprehensive search for a permanent superintendent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT. Following George Floyds death at the hands of police in Minneapolis in 2020, the U.S. has undergone a national reckoning over crime prevention and police reform. Across the country, calls went out from activists to rethink the scope and role of the police. Some on the left vowed to defund the police. Others on the right promised to instead back the blue and maintain or increase police funding. This rhetorical tug-of-war unfolded while many cities across the country grappled with spiking crime rates during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Blaming crime on Democratic city leaders was a centerpiece of Donald Trumps 2024 presidential campaign. He repeatedly made claims about crime spikes in recent years without evidence or context. More recently, Republican congressional leaders have called several Democratic mayors from across the country to testify before Congress about their sanctuary city policies that are aimed at protecting noncitizens from deportation. These congressional politicians have asserted that these Democratic mayors Brandon Johnson of Chicago, Mike Johnston of Denver, Michelle Wu of Boston, and Eric Adams of New York have created a public safety nightmare in their cities by allowing immigrants without legal authorization to stay there. Journalists and politicians on both sides of the aisle have claimed that local election results over the past four years in places like San Francisco and Los Angeles reflect a widespread frustration with Democratic policies on crime in cities. Under this argument, Democratic city leaders need to change their approach on crime to satisfy voters. Its become a political axiom of sorts that policies championed largely by Democratic city leaders over the past half decade have resulted in rising crime levels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As researchers of politics and public policy, we wanted to figure out if that was true. A New York Times headline from June 8, 2022, linking crime rates and the Democratic Party. The New York Times Neither party does a better job As any student of introductory statistics learns, correlation doesnt imply causation. Looking at increases or decreases in crime rates in Republican or Democratic cities and claiming either party is to blame would be making exactly this error: confusing correlation with causation. We put to the test the argument that one side or the other is better at fighting crime in our research published in January 2025. By employing three decades of data on mayoral elections from across the country, we were able to disentangle city leaders partisanship from other features of cities. Contrary to much of the political rhetoric and media coverage aimed at most Americans, our results show that neither party is doing a better job at actually causing crime to decrease. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Dallas, Mayor Eric Johnson has claimed that Democratic leaders arent taking public safety seriously and that the Democratic Party is with the criminals. Johnson switched from being a Democrat to a Republican in 2023 and attributes his decision at least partially to this partisan difference on crime and policing and the seriousness with which he takes this policy issue. But our research shows that Johnsons and others claims about Democratic cities becoming more dangerous just arent true: Mayors from the Democratic Party arent making cities any more or less dangerous than mayors from the Republican Party. Nor, it turns out, is there any support for claims by some progressive Democrats that they would reduce the role and enormous budgets of police departments in cities across the country. When we examined the number of sworn police officers in cities and how much money those cities spend on the police, Democratic and Republican mayors alike have had surprisingly little influence on police department budgets or sizes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In other words, Democrats arent cutting police budgets, nor are Republicans increasing police budgets. Most cities have increased police budgets in the past few years, possibly due to pressure from police unions. Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson speaks during the second day of the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on July 16, 2024. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images Crime is nonpartisan It turns out that campaign promises from both sides of the partisan aisle about crime and policing have little bearing on whats happening on the ground in most cities and police departments across the country. Neither party is doing a better job at reducing crime. Nor is either party actually addressing the ballooning financial cost of local police forces in the U.S., nor the long-term reputational costs from police misconduct for trust in the police and government more broadly. As others have said: crime is nonpartisan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crime has decreased across the U.S. during the past three decades overall, and the isolated cities where crime has increased recently can reverse these temporary trends. Partisan blame narratives do little to actually lower crime and make neighborhoods safer, though. There are real evidence-backed policies that reduce crime such as youth jobs programs in Chicago and Boston. Other policies reduce racial disparities in the criminal justice system such as alternative 911 response programs that use unarmed behavioral health workers to respond to some types of emergencies. These policies and interventions might not be as slogan-worthy as defund the police or back the blue. Nor is implementing these policies as politically convenient as blaming sanctuary city mayors. But research shows that they work and can move cities toward the shared goal of improved public safety for their residents. 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: Justin de Benedictis-Kessner, Harvard Kennedy School and Christopher S. Warshaw, George Washington University Read more: Justin de Benedictis-Kessner has previously received funding from the Bloomberg Center for Cities, the MIT Election Data + Science Lab, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, and the Boston Area Research Initiative. Christopher S. Warshaw receives funding from the MIT Election Data + Science Lab, the Russell Sage Foundation, and Democracy Fund. When Sir Keir Starmer visited the White House in February, he stoutly rejected JD Vances claim that free speech is increasingly restricted in Britain. Weve had free speech for a very, very long time in the United Kingdom, retorted our Prime Minister, and it will last for a very, very long time. This was of course reassuring to hear. Unfortunately, however, the Home Office appears to have missed the memo. Because it has just barred a French author from entering the UK to give a speech about the dangers of mass immigration. Renaud Camus, 78, argued in his 2011 book Le Grand Remplacement (The great replacement) that unchecked immigration in Western European countries is part of a deliberate plot by the powers-that-be, which will ultimately lead to these countries indigenous inhabitants being replaced by people of other cultures. Does the Home Office deem this to be an unacceptable line of thought? I can only infer that it does. Because in an email seen by the Telegraph, officials informed Mr Camus that his presence in the UK was not considered to be conducive to the public good. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is an intriguing claim. Not least because Im reasonably confident that there are at least some members of the British public who subscribe to Mr Camuss theory. Does this mean that the presence of these British people is not conducive to the public good, either? If so, what do our authorities propose to do with them? Should those British people be banned from Britain, too? At any rate, I fear that the Home Offices decision to bar Mr Camus is liable to backfire. Such a draconian intervention will only reinforce his supporters belief that hes right, and that those who rule us are conspiring to silence him. Indeed, news of the ban may well lead lots of people who had never previously heard of Mr Camus to take an interest in his theories, too. Better, surely, just to let the man speak, no matter how horribly problematic his opinions may seem. After all, how many people in this country would even have known about his proposed talk, if the Home Office hadnt prevented him from making it? Still, perhaps some British voters will look on the bright side. How exciting, they will think, that the UK authorities have finally found a foreigner who they believe should not be granted automatic entry into our country. Nigel Farage could even call for a new bank holiday, so that, each year, the public can commemorate this historic occasion. As for Mr Camus, I dont know whether he still wishes to visit. But if so, has he considered eschewing the Eurostar in favour of a dinghy? Then the authorities would welcomed him with open arms. And if, before setting sail from Calais, he remembers to bin his passport, hell be able to stay for as long as he likes. The caring side of the firing squad Could the American public turn against capital punishment? A leading US academic believes so. Writing for the Guardian, Austin Sarat a professor of political science at Amherst College in Massachusetts notes that some US states have recently gone back to using firing squads to execute condemned criminals. This, he argues, represents a defeat for death penalty supporters because the firing squads will act as a vivid reminder of the brutality of state killing, and thus undermine the pro-capital-punishment narrative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Is he sure? Personally, I find it hard to imagine many ordinary Americans saying, I used to be in favour of executing this mass-murdering paedophile. But only in a soft, wholesome, lovely way, such as gently smothering him in his sleep with a bundle of kittens. Now Ive discovered that executing people isnt necessarily very nice, Im firmly against it. Id hate to think that this mass-murdering paedophile might suffer. In any case, American firing squads can be surprisingly thoughtful. In 1996, John Taylor a child-killer from Utah was due to be executed by this method. On the appointed date, he requested, for his last meal, a pizza with everything on it: sausage, pepperoni, ham, mushrooms, hot peppers and extra cheese. Having wolfed down his pizza, however, the child-killer complained that he had an upset stomach. What happened next was so blackly comic, it could have come from the pages of Joseph Heller. Because the guards went and fetched him some antacid. This was wonderfully kind of them. After all, they could have said: Um, sir, were about to shoot you dead. Literally minutes from now. So dont worry if your tummys a bit queasy. It wont be hurting much longer. What a load of rubbish Birmingham bin strike activists, we learnt yesterday, are planning to cause a political earthquake. Feeling let down by Labour, they want to form a real workers party which would comprise Left-wing trade unionists, environmentalists and Free Palestine activists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I wouldnt have expected to see this final group included in a real workers party if only because none of them seem to have jobs. During normal working hours, Free Palestine activists tend to be far too busy vandalising buildings and blocking traffic. Thus preventing real workers from getting to work. Way of the World is a twice-weekly satirical look at the headlines aiming to mock the absurdities of the modern world. It is published at 6am every Tuesday and Saturday 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. Pauly Denetclaw ICT Bill Tripp, Karuk, has been a cultural fire practitioner nearly his entire life. He remembers being four years old, cracking acorns as he waited for his great-grandmother to wake up so they could talk in the mornings. Eventually he turned his attention toward the woodstove and tried to build a fire. His great-grandmother heard him and joined him in the main living area. She came out and she told me, If you're going to be playing with fire, you're going to do something good with it, Tripp recalls. SUPPORT INDIGENOUS JOURNALISM. CONTRIBUTE TODAY. She took him outside underneath the black oak trees, and told him to burn a straight line. Tripp was left with a small pack of matches and good weather for a slow-burning fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I remember laying on my belly using those matches, he told ICT. I could at least get a light, but I couldn't get it to burn completely, you know? I started doing different things, arranging the fuels different, lighting in multiple places, and using heat to draw together just with little four-inch flame links. I learned a lot that day. He went back inside to tell his great-grandmother. I used every last match, but I did it, and I was just so proud of myself, he said. And she said, Okay, I'll teach you. So she started telling me the stories. I'm just so grateful that I passed that test that day, because I might not have learned anything if I hadn't. Tripp has been a cultural fire practitioner ever since. He still uses cultural fire to care for the land around his home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, hes also the director of natural resources and environmental policy for the Karuk Tribe in northern California. For years, the tribe has worked toward decriminalizing cultural fire and creating legal protections for cultural fire practitioners in the state. In late February, in the aftermath of the devastating Los Angeles fires, the tribe signed a first-of-a-kind agreement with the state to remove bureaucratic barriers for cultural fire practitioners. The agreement comes at a time of growing recognition that Indigenous knowledge of land stewardship could reduce the amount of undergrowth that fuels wildfires in California, according to Indigenous activists, scholars and cultural fire practitioners. Its time, Tripp said, to shift the focus to using cultural fire, or good fire. Hot, dry conditions Ash, grief and loss are the remnants of the recent fires in Los Angeles, the deadliest and most destructive wildfires in Californias history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 11,500 homes were burned across 60 square miles, and 30 people lost their lives as of April 15. It will likely take months for the debris to be cleared and years for the area to recover, according to research from the Urban Institute. Even then, affordable housing could be drastically reduced, the National Low Income Housing Coalition reports. The fires also have drawn attention to the fact that Californias ecosystem is largely fire-dependent, having relied on fires over the centuries to kill out undergrowth that can fuel the spread of wildfires. Climate change has modified the dynamics, however. Starting in 2020, the state experienced a severe drought that ended in December 2022, when the first of nine so-called atmospheric rivers dumped huge amounts of water from the tropics onto the West Coast. The Karuk Tribe uses cultural fire to take care of its homelands, which require burning to maintain a healthy ecosystem rich in cultural and medicinal plants. (Photo by Colleen Rossier, courtesy of the Karuk Tribe) The dramatic increase in rainfall over the next two years encouraged the growth of vegetation and resulted in a wildflower superbloom. Record-breaking heat then returned with reduced levels of precipitation that led to dry conditions again in late 2024, turning the lush vegetation into a tinderbox. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The hot, dry weather increased the intensity of the wildfires by six percent and made them 35 percent more likely to occur, according to a report from the World Weather Attribution. On Jan. 7, the first of the Los Angeles fires erupted, with stronger-than usual Santa Ana winds accelerating their spread. Carrying on traditions For thousands of years, Indigenous people across the world have used cultural fire to bring vital nutrients back to the soil, promote the growth of cultural plants and clean the land. In the area now known as California, cultural burning goes back centuries, according to Jessa Calderon, the land, water, and climate justice director at Sacred Places Institute for Indigenous Peoples in Los Angeles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is documentation from the Spanish diaries that talked about an area near San Pedro, and they called it the Bay of Smokes. What was happening at that time was traditional burning, Calderon said. When the Spanish made their way back, what they described was a place that was like an untouched paradise, she said. But it, in fact, had been very manicured, because the peoples have always carried on that tradition of taking care of the land, preventing disease with fire, allowing new growth and new shoots with fire. It's important to keep those traditions. For more than 150 years, however, the state of California explicitly banned the use of cultural fire. Article 10 of an 1850 law called Government Protection of Indians, stated, If any person or persons shall set the prairie on fire or refuse to use proper exertion to extinguish the fire when the prairies are burning, such person or persons shall be subject to fine or punishment, as a Court may adjudge proper. The lands shown here, known as Katimiin and Ameekyaaraam, located in Humboldt and Siskiyou counties in California, are central to the Karuk Tribe's history, religion, traditions and identity. (Photo courtesy of the Karuk Tribe) The law contained 20 articles, which are legal rules, and it didnt apply to white people. Its main purpose was to remove Indigenous people from their land, Indigenous children from their families, and impose forced, indentured servitude to white people, according to a report by the California Research Bureau. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As late as the 1930s, Indigenous people were killed for using cultural fire to take care of the land, said Karuk Chairman Russell Attebery. Despite this ban, Karuk people would still work secretly to put fire to land. I know from speaking with elders, that they would know that an area needed to be burned, and they would go out and jerry rig something that would ignite when they were back in town, Attebery told ICT. (The fire) would burn off an area where they knew needed to be burned to reduce the high brush, and the fuels for the fires. They couldn't use their cultural burning ways. Fire was essential to growing the beargrass needed to weave their baskets, and Karuk people risked their lives to maintain this practice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The threats caused some Native people, however, to lose their knowledge of cultural burning, Tripp said. Some individual families have been able to maintain the practice at smaller scales, close at home, but to manage our food, fiber and medicinal groves out there across the landscape, we just simply haven't been able to do that without, back 100 years ago, getting potentially killed, or in more recent years, being cited fines for arson, Tripp said. Fire reduced plant material such as dead leaves, fallen pine needles or dry grass that can fuel wildfires allow beneficial native plants to grow. For the plant life, it is a blessing, Calderon said, because there are a lot of plants that we utilize that actually need fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Melinda Adams, San Carlos Apache, a cultural fire practitioner who is also a scholar and researcher, said she tapped into Indigenous knowledge and the history of cultural burning while enrolled in a doctoral program at the University of California-Davis. I have learned from my own tribe how we placed fire to the landscape for our cultural medicines, for ceremonial ways, Adams told ICT. We have the tribes in California that placed fire purposely for ecological benefits and, from what I've learned, they call it cleaning up their forests. The use of fire, however, can be heavily restricted in some areas, Adams said. Fire restrictions are very prevalent within our fire management systems, Adams said. As a fire practitioner, it's really hard to get fire on the ground in fire-prone communities and fire-prone places such as Southern California. Good fire More than 80 percent of the Karuk Tribes cultural and medicinal plants are reliant on fire, according to a report, Good Fire II, co-authored by Tripp that was released by the Northern California tribe in March 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of the medicinal plants are acorn-bearing oak trees, natural tobacco, hazel tree, and beargrass. Karuk people have been using fire to enhance our traditional food, fiber and medicinal resources since time immemorial, Tripp said. We've gone more than a century now without being able to freely practice this at meaningful scales. Cultural fire is different from prescribed burns, according to practitioners. Cultural fire is given to the land in a spiritual and holistic way that aligns with an Indigenous nations cultural values. Prescribed burns lack any cultural connection or element. The Karuk Tribe has been at the forefront of defending tribal sovereignty when it comes to cultural burning and protecting cultural fire practitioners. Although cultural burning by Indigenous people was outlawed in 1850, private landowners were able to apply for burning permits but not without heated debate. At the turn of the century, there was huge controversy over the use of good fire, even on private land. The U.S. Forest Service, in 1905, formally adopted the policy of fire exclusion meaning all types of fire, prescribed and natural, would be banned, prevented or suppressed, according to a 1999 book, Prescribed Burning in California Wildlands Vegetation Management, by Harold H. Biswell. The Red River Lumber Company in Shasta, California, advocated for the use of good fire but faced pressure to stop in 1913 and ultimately complied. In 1924, the California Department of Forestry adopted the same fire exclusion policy as the federal government. By 1945, the negative impact of these policies on the fire-dependent California ecosystem prompted the state to allow private landowners to apply for burning permits. Unfortunately, the permit system had one weakness: It left landowners with the bill for any fire suppression costs or damages caused by escaped fires, which are prescribed burns that go out of control. The California Department of Forestry continuously reminded landowners of this, partly, as a scare tactic. The fear of paying fire suppression costs, coupled with the boom in housing development, effectively stifled the use of prescribed burns by private landowners. The prescribed burn provisions required tribes to apply with the state for permission to conduct burns on their lands, in the same way that private landowners could apply. The Karuk Tribe saw that as diminishing tribal sovereignty and never used the process. We've had to establish partnerships with other entities that are covered under the state and dont have sovereignty, Tripp said. They've agreed to help us protect our sovereignty by being applicants for the permits. This historical wrong was corrected last year. On Sept. 27, 2024, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the Cultural Burning bill. For the first time in California history, the state recognized and affirmed tribal nations' inherent right to oversee cultural burnings. The only caveat was that the tribes had to reach an agreement with the California Natural Resources Agency and local air quality officials first. The Karuk Tribe worked with the agency and air quality officials to become the first Indigenous nation to use the new law to form a sovereign-to-sovereign agreement with the state to oversee and manage its own cultural burnings. I feel a little bit anxious because we're not getting out there and getting more done fast enough, Tripp said. I've known the benefits all my life, growing up in my traditional village and getting out there and burning with my family at four years old. Hes seen first hand the benefits of cultural fire on the land, and is excited to see the benefits put to use in coming years. I remember some of the early lessons of burning underneath the white oak trees that hadn't burned in 10, 15 years, Tripp said. The next year you had trilliums, you had wild ginger, you just had all these other [plants] you never saw before coming up, and it didn't take a lot of fire. Despite the historic agreement, damage to the land has already been done and there is a lot of work ahead, said Calderon, who is Tongva, Chumash and Yaqui. Within that time of it being outlawed, there were invasive species that Europeans had brought with them that started to become rampant, Calderon said. Our own traditional plants, along with these plants, are now becoming mass fuel for any fire that would come through. So you've got all of this land that stopped being cared for and tended to by outlawing our culture and traditions, and it just becomes a devastation. Adams said the public should learn that fire can be beneficial. For so long, the public narrative of fire has been one that's rooted in fear, one that's only connection to fire is sources of destruction, of loss, Adams said. Perhaps by changing our interrelationship with fire, how we think about it, how we interact with it, to a more stewardship view that there are ecological benefits, cultural benefits, relational benefits that fire presents. Incorporating Indigenous practices Cultural fire could be an important tool to help mitigate the devastation and intensity of wildfires in California and beyond, but Indigenous people have to be at the forefront of the conversations. The traditional homelands of the Chumash people were along the Malibu coast and went nearly 200 miles north to Paso Robles, California before they were forcibly displaced by the state. Those who were able to stay did menial labor on farms and ranches. Today, there are many Chumash people who still call this coastline home. Tragedy sometimes provides opportunities to revisit past decisions that need updating, and it is important that Indigenous communities be heard on that, Chumash elder Toni Cordero, said in a statement to ICT. We can try to make sure any rebuilding is in appropriate places and done appropriately. Cordero, a member of the Coastal Band of the Chumash Nation, said the California Environmental Quality Act statute and guidelines cannot be overlooked in the rush to rebuild after the Los Angeles wildfires. The 40-year-old law established a state policy to ensure that people and nature can exist in harmony to fulfill the social and economic requirements of present and future generations. We now have a chance to ensure that rebuilding along the Malibu coast is more consistent with public access, exempting rebuilding from environmental laws like CEQA, without a chance for public [comment] on that, and it suggests that the public may be overlooked in the race to help fire victims rebuild, Cordero said. Of course, we acknowledge that we sympathize with people who have lost their homes, but it would be compounding the tragedy to just repeat past poor decisions. The Los Angeles area wasnt designed to be fire resilient. The urban landscape is filled with homes that arent built with fire-resistant material and the close proximity of homes allows fire to jump from one home to another. The county underutilizes prescribed burns because of public opposition. That is slowly changing. Since Newsom was elected, the state has invested $2.5 billion to implement the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan, and the number of prescribed burns more than doubled in the state from 2021 to 2023, according to his website. Newsom recently signed a bill that would allocate an additional $170 million to clearing brush, thinning forests, creating fire breaks and conducting prescribed burns. The state will provide $10 million in funding to build a fire resiliency center for the Karuk Tribe. Since the Los Angeles fires, the county has conducted two prescribed burns on the lands it manages, burning a total of 16.6 acres, according to CAL FIRE Fuel Reduction Projects. These two burns were about an hour north of Los Angeles. Near the city, fuel reduction projects tend to focus on manual removal or thinning of vegetation. Freddie Romero, a member of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, understands the benefits and positive effects of cultural fire on his traditional homelands in the Malibu area. The absence of Indigenous peoples when it comes to prescribed/cultural burning planning, although this is beginning to change, it still is a slow process Indigenous peoples have used fire for thousands of years to steward these lands and promote sustainable development and growth, and this is not only for themselves, but for all of the earth's ecosystem, Romero, a Chumash elder, said in a statement to ICT. The devastating Los Angeles wildfires brought together crews from Indigenous nations from as far away as Arizona to assist in fire suppression and, once the fire was contained, in recovery efforts. We respond to these incidents like the Eaton and the Palisades fire, said Ralph Tovar, assistant fire chief for the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. Knowing that people are experiencing tremendous loss, not only for themselves, but for their community, as firefighters, we're sympathetic to that fact. Man, we feel for these people, and we really think about them in this time of need, and we do our best to try and help them. Looking ahead In October, the U.S. Forest Service halted all prescribed burns on federally-managed lands in California for the foreseeable future in an effort to preserve staff and equipment for fighting wildfires making the agreement with the Karuk Tribe even more important. The tribes traditional homelands are located in what is now known as the Klamath National Forest. Attebery is excited about the future of the Karuk Tribe with the agreement in place. The tribe already has planned a number of wildfire prevention projects that include prescribed burning but also logging. The hope is to once again have clean forests. Our job is what it was thousands of years ago. It's to protect the lower areas, create a better snowpack, food security, our culture items that we need, water for our rivers and our fish, Attebury said. Decades of advocacy by the Karuk Tribe to gain oversight over cultural fire has come to a close, but the next battle is funding for wildfire prevention projects. This is something that tribes have been doing for thousands of years, we need the opportunity to take the lead. We need the opportunity to access the funding that's coming in, Attebery told ICT. Our goal is to work hard and use the knowledge that we have, but (were) adamant that tribes need to take the lead. *Update: This story has been updated to correct a typographical error in the secondary headline. 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. The official opening ceremony of Peerstack Academy, established through a partnership between NEQSOL Academy (part of NEQSOL Holding), the Education Development Fund, and Technology SNI, has taken place in Baku, Azerbaijan. Peerstack Academy introduces the globally recognized education programs of Qwasar Silicon Valley, a US-based tech education provider, to Azerbaijan. The Academy aims to train internationally qualified professionals in the field of information technology. It operates in a state-of-the-art learning facility located on the campus of Azerbaijan Technical University. The Academy offers intensive full-stack programming training based on international standards, with a strong focus on project-based and practical learning. The curriculum, developed in accordance with Qwasar Silicon Valleys methodology, reflects real-world industry workflows. During the course, students gain hands-on experience with technologies such as Ruby, JavaScript, React, PostgreSQL, and REST APIs, and graduate with two internationally accredited diplomas and a portfolio of production-ready applications. NEQSOL Holding covers 70% of the tuition fees for students. This support not only makes the program more accessible but also contributes to the development of the tech sector in the country. Students selected through a nationwide admission process launched in 2024 have already begun their studies. Speakers at the event included Jamal Rzayev, Director of Peerstack Academy; Vilayat Valiyev, Rector of Azerbaijan Technical University; Imran Ahmadzada, Head of NEQSOL Holding Azerbaijan; Meric Tunc, Chief Human Capital Officer at NEQSOL Holding; Rasul Hashimov, Head of the Project Management Department at the Education Development Fund; and Kwame Yamgnane, CEO of Qwasar Silicon Valley. Peerstack Academy is a long-term investment in the digital future and part of our broader strategy to support innovation, education, and human capital development in the region. By bringing young talent together with global-standard education and advanced practices, we are laying a strong foundation for the next generation of engineers, professionals, and entrepreneurs, said Yusif Jabbarov, Chairman of NEQSOL Holding. At the Education Development Fund, we believe that investing in innovative and high-quality education is essential to our countrys development. Peerstack Academy is a clear example of how strong partnerships can make globally competitive skills more accessible and help build the workforce of the future, said Elnur Nasibov, Chairman of the Board of the Education Development Fund. Speakers emphasized Peerstack Academy as a successful example of a strategic partnership that bridges the gap between education and labor market demands. The innovative learning environment, cutting-edge programs, and Qwasars advanced teaching approach were particularly highlighted. NEQSOL Holding representatives also noted the growing demand for skilled IT professionals in the country and the gap between supply and demand, positioning Peerstack Academy as a response to this need with graduates potentially joining companies within the Holding. For more information and applications: Website: peerstack.tech Facebook: facebook.com/peerstack.tech Instagram: instagram.com/peerstack.tech LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/peerstack-academy NEQSOL Holding is an international group of companies operating in 11 countries across telecommunications, energy, construction, and high-tech. The Education Development Fund is a public legal entity that supports the development of Azerbaijans education system and helps modernize the infrastructure of public educational institutions. Qwasar Silicon Valley is a US-based technology education provider offering intensive, project-based training programs in software engineering, full-stack development, data science, artificial intelligence/machine learning, and DevOps. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) People around the Las Vegas valley were shocked to see viral video of a man throwing a dog into a dumpster. The man has not been identified, and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is asking for the publics help in finding him. Now, pet owners around Las Vegas are raising thousands of dollars to reward whoever finds him. That includes Daniel Sherbondy, when he saw it was a chihuahua that was hurt, it hit close to home. He has a chihuahua named Sparky. Metro police are asking for help identifying a man accused of throwing a dog into a dumpster. (LVMPD) The man, wearing red shorts and no shirt, got out of his vehicle, grabbed a small dog by the neck, and forcefully threw it into a dumpster, investigators said. (LVMPD) The man was seen driving away in this vehicle. (LVMPD) It just killed me to think if somebody were to throw him in the trash can, when I love this guy so much, and it just brought us to tears, Sherbondy said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes offering $2,000 of his own to whoever helps find the man, and people around him are joining in. Las Vegas police seek help finding man who threw dog in dumpster I started my reward, and then my friends jumped on, Sherbondy said. My employer jumped on, so now its up to $5,000. Just for the arrest of the guy, not even a successful prosecution. Add on another $1,000 from Jorge Gomez, who has a check ready to go. I just think its really important for us to do what we can to bring this man to justice, Gomez said. And I think that if we could give a little bit of money or contribution for a reward, it would help somebody think about, you know, turning this guy in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gomez wants to see the man behind bars. Id like to see him prosecuted. Id like to see him thrown in a dumpster. You know, do some jail time, some prison 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 KLAS. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Friday recommended that the Senate, which he tightly controls, adopt the Houses voucher plan, forgoing a negotiation between the two chambers and clearing the way for the Legislature to finally approve school vouchers after years of falling short. Ive fought for school choice for my entire legislative career, Patrick wrote on social media. I am recommending the Senate concur with Senate Bill 2, the largest school choice launch in American history. The Senate voted out its version of a voucher plan, which differed slightly from the House plan, in February. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Voucher bills a priority of Patricks and Gov. Greg Abbott had failed repeatedly in the House in previous sessions, with a coalition of rural Republicans and Democrats banding together to sink each proposal. But after Abbott successfully forced out a number of anti-voucher Republicans ahead of this years legislative session, in addition to an 11th-hour pressure campaign he waged on wobbly lawmakers, the House on Wednesday approved a plan for parents to use tax dollars for their childrens private school tuition. Patricks recommendation to adopt the Houses bill paves the way for its final passage and allows lawmakers to avoid a negotiation process that would necessitate another vote in both chambers. And it smooths the bills path to Abbotts desk, securing one of the biggest political victories of the governors career. Ready to sign this bill into law, Abbott said in a social media post Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The chambers proposals largely aligned, but differed in key areas like how much money participating students should receive, which applicants should take priority and how the program should accommodate students with disabilities. The House version of Senate Bill 2 would initially put $1 billion in taxpayer dollars toward education savings accounts that families could use for private-school tuition and other school-related expenses, like textbooks, transportation and therapy. The bill would tie the voucher programs per-student dollars to public education funding so the amount available to each participating student would increase when public schools receive more money and dip when public education funding declines. Most participating families would receive an amount equal to 85% of what public schools get for each student through state and local funding roughly somewhere between $10,300 and $10,900 per year for each child, according to a recent legislative budget analysis. Children with disabilities would be eligible for the same funding as other students, plus up to $30,000 in additional money, an amount based on what the state would regularly spend on special education services for that student in a public school. Home-schoolers could receive up to $2,000 per year. Almost any school-age child eligible to attend a public school including those already enrolled in a private school could participate in the program. However, lawmakers recently approved a change to the bill that would allow only U.S. citizens or people lawfully in the country to receive vouchers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposal would limit the state to spend no more than $1 billion on the program during the first biennium. If public demand exceeds the funding available, the bill would give priority eligibility to students with disabilities and families it considers low income. It would also limit funding for people without disabilities or from wealthier households defined as a family of four making about $156,000 or greater to 20% of the programs total budget each year. Those additions have indicated a desire by top Republicans to appease their rural colleagues feeling pressure from their communities to oppose vouchers or who have been on the fence about whether to vote for the bill. The proposal would also prioritize students who exit public schools over those already enrolled in private schools. Budget experts estimate that about 24,500 public school students, out of the states 5.5 million, would leave for private schools in the first year. Participating students would begin enrolling during the 2026-27 school year. Unlike public schools, which are generally required by law to educate every child in their community who seeks admission, the bill would not require private schools to accept certain students who do not meet their admissions standards. That means private schools can still deny any child the state places first in line for eligibility. Higher-income families whose children were already attending private schools have primarily benefited from the large-scale voucher programs enacted in other states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SB 2 does not require that participants take the same state standardized tests administered to public school students each year the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR. Some voucher critics and school officials have said that distinction creates an unfair playing field because the state often uses those exams to judge the effectiveness of districts and their teachers. The voucher bill does require that participating students take a nationally recognized exam. It also mandates an annual report from the state that would include data on participating childrens demographics, testing results, and preparedness for college, career and the military. Studies in multiple states have shown that vouchers do not consistently lead to improved scores for low-income students, the group many Texas lawmakers say they want to help most. Such programs have even resulted in steep academic declines. Three academics in 2017 wrote in the Journal of Economic Literature that some evidence suggests that as competition from voucher programs increases, test scores in public schools slightly improve. But, they said, more research was needed to fully understand the programs impact. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Voucher advocates often note that the benefits of the programs are best measured through parental satisfaction. Tickets are on sale now for the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival, Texas breakout ideas and politics event happening Nov. 1315 in downtown Austin. Get tickets before May 1 and save big! TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase. Get the data and visuals that accompany this story WILLIAMSPORT A Danville man will spend 30 years in prison after being sentenced in federal court on April 15. The United States Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Anthony D. Bressi, 53, of Danville, was sentenced to 30 years imprisonment by Chief United States District Judge Matthew W. Brann for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute. According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, from 2016 through June 2019, Bressi manufactured more than 150 kilograms of fentanyl at a lab in East Buffalo Township, Union County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bressi would then distribute fentanyl and fentanyl analogues to two distributors, Terry Harris, in Philadelphia, Pa., and Damonico Henderson, in the Cleveland, Ohio area, according to investigators. Bressi, Harris and Henderson developed their drug conspiracy in federal prison where Bressi had been serving a 20-year sentence for manufacturing methamphetamine and explosives, according to the U.S. Middle District. Bressi was convicted by a jury on Nov. 4, 2024, after a week-long trial, authroities said. Harris and Henderson previously pleaded guilty to their role in the conspiracy. Both Harris and Henderson were sentenced to 10 years in prison. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant United States Attorneys Geoffrey MacArthur, Jeffrey St. John, and Alisan Martin prosecuted the case. DARLINGTON, S.C. (WBTW) The Darlington Police Department has requested that the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division look into an officers mishandling of evidence after he was relieved of his duties, according to a letter written by Chief JC Davis Jr. According to online jail records, Mark Hayes was arrested by SLED on Thursday and booked into the W. Glenn Campbell Detention Center on breach of trust with fraud intent and misconduct in office charges. He posted a $6,000 bond and was released the same day. Davis letter says he was informed on March 23 of actions by some off-duty officers. The next day, he requested SLED to look further into the matter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the actions of the off-duty officers were being investigated, the officers resigned from the department, the letter reads. The State Law Enforcement Division has informed me that this case has been closed with only DPD policy violations discovered. While that investigation was happening, Davis said a new allegation was made that another officer had mishandled evidence. The State Law Enforcement Division was also requested to investigate this matter. Once their investigation started, Officer M. Hayes was placed on administrative leave, the letter reads. Earlier today (4/17/2025), Officer M. Hayes was relieved of his duties with the Darlington Police Dept. No further information was immediately available. News13 has reached out to SLED. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Count on us 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. * * * 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. ST. LOUIS A bizarre chapter in St. Louis history came to a close on this date 76 years ago, when a teenage boy believed to be possessed of demonic forces was reportedly freed, following weeks of exorcism rituals performed by Jesuit priests. On April 18, 1949, a 14-year-old boy known by the pseudonyms of Robbie and Roland Doe reportedly awoke free from possession after experiencing a vision of St. Michael the Archangel, a revered figure in Catholic tradition. The real-life case later inspired the 1971 novel and 1973 film The Exorcist, and it remains one of the most documented accounts of alleged demonic possession in modern history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three new sinkholes rattle St. Louis neighborhoods As described in Joe Sondermans 2024 book, This Day in St. Louis History, the exorcism involved horrifying and violent afflictions and a range of unexplained forces. Priests kept detailed records of the boys case that were recovered in 1978, nearly three decades after the exorcism concluded. According to 2019 report from Saint Louis University, a team of Jesuit priests spent weeks performing the Catholic rite of exorcism, a spiritual cleansing process used only in rare cases to expel what the Church believes are evil spirts. The boy, who lived near Washington D.C., began exhibiting strange behavior shortly after the death of his aunt, who had introduced him to a Ouija board. His family initially turned to medical professionals, but his strange behavior persisted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to St. Louis University and other accounts, the boy experienced a series of alarming events, such as undefinable scratches on his body, speaking in unknown languages and reacting violently to religious objects. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News As disturbing symptoms escalated, the boys family turned to a local clergy, which recommended more intensive spiritual intervention. This led them to Jesuit priests in St. Louis, where the Church ultimately agreed to conduct an exorcism, a practice reserved for the most extreme cases. After the ritual concluded, the boy was said to have returned to a normal life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The boys identity remained a mystery for decades until December 2021, when the Skeptical Inquirer reported his name as Ronald Edwin Hunkeler. He reportedly died in 2020 after living a quiet and private life. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Apr. 17MITCHELL Davison County approved purchasing a nearly $65,000 dive rescue boat on Tuesday, signing off on the purchase via 3-1 vote. Davison County Emergency Management Director Jeff Bathke said the boat will be used by the county's Search and Rescue unit, which is made up of local volunteers of an eight-member dive team and overseen by the Emergency Management department. It will replace a 14-foot inflatable boat with a 25-horsepower motor. The Davison County Commission approved the purchase on Tuesday, April 15 during its regular meeting at the Davison County North Offices. Commissioners Mike Blaalid, John Claggett and Chris Nebelsick voted in favor of the purchase, while Commission Chairman Randy Reider voted no. Commissioner Denny Kiner was not present. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reider said the city of Mitchell already has purchased a rescue boat, which is used by the Mitchell Fire/EMS Department. The division purchased a similar-sized boat model in 2024 and the Mitchell Fire Department is one of a few professional firefighting staffs in South Dakota that is water-rescue trained. "The city of Mitchell has one of these, which when I asked there, they said we can borrow it," Reider said. "It just seems like there are a lot of boats in this area. I know we're on the (James River) and I get why Yankton has two (boats) but I noticed in the proposal that search and rescue would go out and assist other counties. Wouldn't Yankton do that for us if we used it?" Bathke said Search and Rescue is one of a handful of agencies that gets called for training exercises and emergency responses. "Whenever we have an exercise, there's multiple agencies on the scene," Bathke said. "There's multiple counties, South Dakota (Department of Criminal Investigation), the sheriff's office, fire departments are there." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "For me, it's about having as much as we can for all of your training exercises. We've been a promoter of those events and this will be part of that," Claggett said in support of the purchase. The boat and trailer cost estimate is $64,930 for a 16-foot double-hull boat with a 60-horsepower motor from RescueOne Connector Boats, which makes boats geared toward emergency response teams. It's being purchased from a seller in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Bathke said he believes he can save on the shipping costs of the boat by driving to Michigan and picking it up and returning it to Mitchell. The county's share of the costs will be much smaller, coming out at around $24,500. That's because the proposal has $40,280 covered by federal Department of Homeland Security grant funding. This is not the first time there's been overlap in local resources between Search and Rescue and the Mitchell Fire Department. In 2024, there was a dustup between Search and Rescue and the Mitchell Fire over firefighters and EMS being able to use one of the county's two utility task vehicles (UTVs). Search and Rescue balked at letting fire personnel keep a UTV at the fire hall to take with them on calls, instead requiring Search and Rescue to be additionally called to respond. The two entities couldn't come together on sharing equipment and the issue was dropped at the county level when Mitchell Fire/EMS raised funds to purchase its own UTV. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bathke said the Search and Rescue unit has about $100,000 in training and equipment into it, and "about 98% of it has been funded by Homeland Security." He said the current inflatable boat is used about eight times a year, mostly for trainings. "I don't think the county has paid anything on our dive teams, aside from my training and training for (Deputy Administrator Karen Wegleitner)," Bathke said. Bathke said the last notable searches that the dive team was involved in were both in the James River. They included a 2023 Beadle County search for Rachel Cyriacks, who has been missing since 2013, and the 2024 drowning of a Hutchinson County boy near Parkston. In the latter case, search teams from Yankton, the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks and a specialized dive team from Canada joined. "The more agencies you get to respond, the quicker you can get the job done," said Bathke. Bathke said he requested permission for the dive rescue boat in 2024 and that funding was approved at the Homeland Security level for partial funding. He's pursuing another $4,000 grant that, if approved, would help cover the county's cost of the boat. On April 18, 1775, U.S. patriot Paul Revere began his famous ride through the Massachusetts countryside, crying out "The British are coming!" to rally the minutemen. File Image courtesy of the Library of Congress April 18 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1506, the cornerstone was placed for St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. In 1775, U.S. patriot Paul Revere began his famous ride through the Massachusetts countryside, crying out "The British are coming!" to rally the minutemen. In 1906, an earthquake estimated at magnitude-7.8 struck San Francisco, collapsing buildings and igniting fires that destroyed much of what remained of the city. Researchers and historians concluded that about 3,000 people died in the quake and its aftermath, and roughly 250,000 were left homeless. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1912, three days after the sinking of Titanic, her survivors arrived in New York City aboard the RMS Carpathia. On April 18, 1949, the Republic of Ireland formally declared itself independent from Britain. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI In 1923, the original Yankee Stadium opened in New York. The stadium was demolished in 2010 after it was replaced a year prior by the new Yankee Stadium. File Photo by Monika Graff/UPI On April 18, 1923, the original Yankee Stadium opened in New York. File Photo by Monika Graff/UPI In 1942, Lt. Col. James Doolittle led a squadron of B-25 bombers in a surprise raid against Tokyo in response to the Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. In 1945, U.S. journalist Ernie Pyle, a popular World War II correspondent, was killed by Japanese machine-gun fire on the island of Ie Shima in the Pacific. A U.S. Army Air Forces B-25B Mitchell bomber takes off from the USS Hornet aircraft carrier to take part in the first U.S. bombing of Japan on April 18, 1942. File Photo courtesy NARA Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1949, the Republic of Ireland formally declared itself independent from Britain. In 1968, McCulloch Oil Corp. paid $2.24 million to buy London Bridge, which was sinking into the Thames under the weight of 20th century traffic. The oil company rebuilt the bridge bloc by block over Lake Havasu in Arizona. Horse-drawn vehicles make their way up Market Street after the April 18, 1906 earthquake and fire in San Francisco. File Photo courtesy the National Archives In 1980, Rhodesia became the independent African nation of Zimbabwe. In 1983, the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, was severely damaged by a car-bomb explosion that killed 63 people, including 17 Americans. In 1992, an 11-year-old Florida boy sued to "divorce" his natural parents and remain with his foster parents. The boy eventually won his lawsuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2002, former U.S. Sen. Bob Kerrey, D-Neb., revealed that at least 13 civilians were killed by his U.S. Navy unit in a Vietnamese village in 1969. File Photo by Ezio Petersen/UPI In 2007, more than 125 people were killed in a suicide car-bomb explosion near a Baghdad market. In 2014, an avalanche on what is known as a particularly dangerous route to the top of Mount Everest in the Himalayas killed 16 Sherpa guides. In 2018, the first movie theaters in Saudi Arabia opened with a public screening of Black Panther. In 2024, police arrested more than 100 protesters at Columbia University for refusing to leave a large pro-Palestinian encampment on campus. The incident sparked more protests at the school and other campuses across the country. Apr. 17A Dayton man who was accused of sexually assaulting and strangling his girlfriend will get probation. Victor Rene Ramirez, 33, was sentenced by Montgomery County Common Pleas Court Judge Richard Skelton to up to five years of probation for strangulation and domestic violence. The charges stem from July 10, 2023, when police were called to Elsmere Avenue for a woman reporting she was sexually assaulted by her boyfriend and child's father, identified as Ramirez, according to an affidavit filed in Dayton Municipal Court. The woman said that during the assault she was choked and that Ramirez repeatedly bit her on the arm and hit her on the leg. Ramirez was present when police arrived and was taken into custody. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) A D.C. man was sentenced to 58 months in federal prison Thursday for a repeat illegal firearm possession charge, according to the United States Attorneys Office (USAO) for the District of Columbia. Tre Enrique Jackson, 31, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and is ordered to serve three years of supervised release after his sentence. According to court documents, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives executed a search warrant for Jacksons home on Sept. 18, 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Latest: 2 people killed and at least 6 wounded in Florida State shooting There, officers located a backpack containing a Glock-style Privately Manufactured Firearm, also known as a ghost gun. Police say DNA evidence traced Jackson to the firearm. Police say the gun was chambered for 9mm ammunition and loaded with one round in the chamber and 12 rounds in a 17-round capacity magazine. Court documents say Jackson was on supervised release in the D.C. Superior Court for a prior gun conviction, and he was taken into custody. The incident was investigated by D.C. 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 DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. To protect the District of Columbia, it might be necessary to eliminate the District of Columbia and merge it into the neighboring state of Maryland. Its an idea that many people think makes eminent practical sense in the name of running the city. Yet its only in the air right now because of dramatic political reversals in the age of Donald Trump. Exactly four years ago this week, the House of Representatives passed a bill to make D.C. Americas 51st state, bringing the nations capital tantalizingly close to a civil rights-era dream. Today, by contrast, the city is reduced to begging Congress for permission to spend its own money to balance the books. Mayor Muriel Bowser this week announced plans for drastic budget cuts. It was just the latest humiliation. Since January, Trump has mused about a takeover and Hill Republicans have sought to end democratically elected local government altogether. Desperate to preserve some shred of home rule for their 700,000 citizens, D.C.s leadership has placated the GOP on everything from ripping up a Black Lives Matter street mural to investigating anti-DOGE graffiti as a hate crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fear is epic: When the president posted a bizarre AI video depicting a Trumpified Gaza, one city source told me, colleagues worried theyd be next. In this environment, no one is talking seriously about statehood. Or, at least, theyre not talking about 51st statehood. But the alarm over democracy and self-government has spurred a taboo-breaking and weirdly refreshing conversation about returning the 68-square-mile federal city to the 7th state: Maryland, which ceded the land to the fledgling United States back in 1790. Retrocession, as the idea is called, would be a 21st-century version of something that happened in the 1840s, when the rest of the original District of Columbia rejoined Virginia. Today, those 30-odd square miles are known as Arlington and Alexandria. And their fully enfranchised residents never have to worry about culture warriors from Georgia or Utah screwing around with their traffic rules, abortion rights or school budgets. For years, rejoining Maryland has been taboo among local die-hards. According to dogma dating back to the Civil Rights Movement, statehood is the one true way to rectify the mistreatment of a historically disenfranchised city and snag a couple of Senate votes, too. But the current sense of crisis is such that one of the Houses foremost Democratic D.C. supporters recently shocked the local establishment by pronouncing himself retrocession-friendly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I saw Mayor Bowser and I said if you guys want to think about coming back to Maryland for this period, you will definitely be safer in the Free State than you will be under the brutal thumb of MAGA colonialism, Maryland Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin, a D.C. native and longtime statehood proponent, told me last month. Coming from a progressive icon, it was a jarring departure. How big a departure? Up to now, the people who championed retrocession were usually Republicans trying to slow the march to statehood. Hardline conservatives like former Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert embraced the idea. South Dakota Republican Dusty Johnson sponsored a retrocession bill in 2021, which not coincidentally was when the Democratic-led House OKd statehood. Johnsons bill was given short shrift by Democrats, who derided it as evidence of how close they were to actually making D.C. a state. Raskin said Bowser took [his suggestion] under advisement, and said its up to locals to decide their strategy. The mayors office told me this week that she still thinks D.C. should become its own state. That keeps her in line with the overwhelming majority of District officials. The Trump-era atmosphere of capitulation doesnt yet include openly compromising on the eternal dream. I strongly oppose this approach, D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton said in a statement. Unlike retrocession, D.C. statehood has strong support. Retrocession has no constituency in Maryland or in D.C. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats too bad. Like Nortons preferred solution, retrocession would end the cycle of paralyzing budget impasses by ejecting attention-seeking national pols from hometown decision-making. But the idea might also be better than statehood when it comes to the day-to-day interests of those same residents once the feds are out of the picture. Its about services, not symbolism: Would you rather live in a place that has to create a real university system or judiciary based on a population only a bit larger than tiny Vermont or Wyoming or join a decently sized state that does that stuff pretty well already? Dont take it from me. Take it from one D.C. local whos been quixotically banging the Maryland drum for ages: David Krucoff, a third-generation Washingtonian and onetime doomed GOP candidate for a city council seat. Krucoff, who calls himself a centrist political reformer and blasts his own partys meddling with local affairs, says the lack of support for a Maryland merger is a function of Democratic pathologies. At the national level, he thinks the party is obsessed with using D.C. as a vehicle to add a pair of Senate seats. And locally, he says, activists have been so focused on the symbolic prize that they shun a much more achievable alternative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The orthodoxy in the Democratic Party is about going for what they consider the great, as opposed to what many perceive as the good, and in the process getting nothing, he said. Not that Krucoff thinks merging with the state next door is just a second-best option. Its the only way we get economies of scale that would save city taxpayers from having to stand up a prison system or fully replicate state functions. D.C. has about 90 agencies within its government, and most of them do functions that states do, as opposed to what cities do, he said. Cities and counties mainly work on schools and public safety. So if we had to do less things that states do, wed save some money. And of course Maryland would benefit from D.C. taxpayers, who are very well off, contributing to the Maryland economy. According to 2022 data from the D.C. Policy Center, per capita revenue in the District is about $30,000 a head, while local and state revenue in Maryland comes to just over $14,000 a head. Those numbers would change a bit if the capital stopped being federal territory, and Washington will always have much higher spending needs. But they still make the city a pretty attractive acquisition for a neighboring state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To hear Krucoff tell it, a Vatican-like federal district would continue to exist after the merger, pared down to just the unpopulated monumental core around the National Mall. The rest of the city would follow the path Virginia D.C. took nearly 180 years ago: First, Congress would pass enabling legislation. Then, District voters would OK it in a referendum. Finally, the state government would formally accept the new territory. Just like that, he says, D.C. would become Douglass County, Maryland named for the Maryland-born abolitionist who became one of Washingtons most revered residents. No one in this new county would have to worry again about federal budget mishaps interrupting local garbage collection. There are, of course, a few obstacles, even beyond the old establishment that has spent a generation imagining D.C. as the first urban state. For one, theres Congress. Republican enthusiasm for getting D.C. off the federal books tends to wane as the danger of statehood recedes. Tellingly, none of the old enthusiasts for retrocession have introduced measures to do so this year, with a GOP trifecta in place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For another, theres Maryland. State Republicans, who have a hard enough time carrying the deep-blue state, see adding a heavily Democratic city as a non-starter. But the idea also isnt very popular with Maryland Democrats. Baltimore-area pols, already concerned about the balance between their region and the Washington suburbs, worry that adding D.C. would further erode their power base. Just about any ambitious elected official who imagines becoming a governor or a speaker or a senator doesnt want to import a new source of competitors. Theres a reason political mergers between countries, counties or even villages are so rare. Everyone with power has something to lose. In the case of D.C., that would include large chunks of the District bureaucracy, whod understandably worry that their state-level jobs would become redundant. And it might even include me. I think what Raskin and Krucoff say makes a lot of sense. But as a D.C. native, I still cringe when I imagine myself driving around with Maryland tags. Its an irrational and stupid impulse and just the sort of personal emotion that causes political movements to rise and fall. Maybe we can get a special carve-out, Krucoff said. We can get a tag that says Douglass County or something. The initials would still be D.C. KINSHASA, Congo (AP) The death toll from a boat fire and capsizing in Congo earlier this week rose to 148 with more than 100 people still missing, officials said Friday. About 500 passengers were on board. The wooden boat capsized Tuesday after catching fire on the Congo River in the country's northwest, leaving at least 148 people dead and dozens missing, officials said. The catastrophe began when a fire started as a woman was cooking on board the vessel, Competent Loyoko, the river commissioner, told The Associated Press. Several passengers, including women and children, died after jumping into the water without being able to swim. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dozens were saved, with many of the survivors badly burned. The search for the missing included rescue teams supported by the Red Cross and provincial authorities. The motorized wooden boat caught fire near the town of Mbandaka, Loyoko said. The boat, HB Kongolo, had left the port of Matankumu for the Bolomba territory. The death toll among the 500 passengers on board was extremely high, said Sen. Jean-Paul Boketsu Bofili of Equateur province Friday. As we speak, more than 150 survivors suffering from third-degree burns are without humanitarian assistance. Deadly boat accidents are common in the central African country, where late-night travels and overcrowded vessels are often blamed. Authorities have struggled to enforce maritime regulations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Congos rivers are a major means of transport for its more than 100 million people, especially in remote areas where infrastructure is poor or nonexistent. Hundreds have been killed in boat accidents in recent years as more people abandon the few available roads for wooden vessels packed with passengers and their goods. Our magnificent Congo River and the lakes our country abounds in have become huge cemeteries for the Congolese people. This is unacceptable, said Bofili. DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) A Decatur man was sentenced to 16 years in prison after he beat a man to death in 2023 over drug payments the victim owed him. 34-year-old Eric Hardy was in court on Thursday to be sentenced for a charge of second-degree murder. He was originally charged with first-degree murder, but the charge was downgraded as part of a plea deal he reached with prosecutors last month. 14-year-old arrested by Urbana Police for drug possession on school property Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Decatur Police said in a complaint against Hardy, asking for an arrest warrant, that 53-year-old Marvin Meyer was a customer who bought crack cocaine from Hardy each week. Meyer eventually fell behind on his payments and owed Hardy approximately $400. Meyers roommates said that on Sept. 1, 2023, Hardy arrived at their home on Wood Street and got into a fistfight with Meyer over the debt. Police were called and Meyer was taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries that initially appeared superficial. As they treated Meyer, doctors discovered that he sustained severe internal injuries a hemothorax, a collapsed lung and a lacerated liver. Meyer was rushed into emergency surgery but did not survive. He died in the operating room six hours after the assault. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Champaign woman arrested after standoff with police Before he passed, Decatur Police said Meyer identified Hardy as the assailant and said why he did it. His roommates also identified Hardy. An arrest warrant was issued for Hardys arrest, and he was found in Tennessee a week later. On Thursday, Judge Thomas Griffith heard victim impact statements from two people Meyer knew and a statement from Hardy. His attorney asked for probation at a minimum, but Griffith found this sentence would deprecate the seriousness of the crime. He sentenced Hardy to 16 years in prison, four years shy of the maximum sentence allowed by Illinois law for second-degree murder. He was given credit for the two years hes served in custody since his extradition to 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 WCIA.com. WILMINGTON, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 03: New Nissan cars are driven onto a rail car to be transported from an automobile processing terminal located at the Port of Los Angeles on April 3, 2024 in Wilmington, California. The Japanese automotive maker is being impacted by President Trumps new 25 percent imported automobile tariffs. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) Im old enough to remember when hundreds of thousands of Buicks, Mercurys, Oldsmobiles, Plymouths and Pontiacs rolled off the assembly lines every year in Flint, Dearborn, Lansing, Detroit and Pontiac, the respective hometowns of these storied brands. The problem is that too many other people, including influential policymakers, also wistfully recall those days and somehow believe they can be resurrected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mercury, Oldsmobile, Plymouth and Pontiac ignobly landed in the junkyard of automotive history decades ago. There hasnt been a Buick built in Flint, the brands former hometown and birthplace of General Motors, since 1999. Buick still exists but sells only a small fraction of the approximate 800,000 U.S.-produced vehicles it shipped to dealers annually in the late 1970s and early 1980s. President Donald Trump says hes determined to restore U.S. auto manufacturing through stiff tariffs that will force domestic and foreign automakers to build all the cars and trucks they sell to American consumers here. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While he has repeatedly flip-flopped on tariffs for other goods, such as smart phones, Trump is holding steady (at least as Im writing this sentence) on 25% tariffs for foreign-built autos and parts. Those include many vehicles built outside the U.S. by Detroit automakers. (Whoops. The president said hes considering pausing tariffs to give the industry more time to build plants in the U.S.) Foreign automobile industries, bolstered by unfair subsidies and aggressive industrial policies, have expanded, while U.S. production has stagnated, Trump said on March 26 in announcing his own aggressive industrial policy. Trump sees a hermetically sealed U.S. auto industry as the centerpiece of his plan to create a golden age of America. And his hyper-loyal lieutenants charged with implementing the tariffs couldnt be more delusional in their support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (W)e want the tires made in Akron. We want the transmissions made in Indianapolis. We want the engines made in Flint and Saginaw. And we want the cars manufactured here, said Trump trade advisor Peter Navarro. Trump puts the blame on the decline of the U.S. auto industry squarely on free trade. Trade deficits with other countries have led to the hollowing out of our manufacturing base, distorted supply chains and threatened national security, he said. His common refrain is countries that run a trade surplus with the U.S. are ripping us off. (Side note: popular Chinese-built Buicks saved the brand from extinction, although Buick and other non-Chinese automakers are struggling there as of late.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some economists agree that globalism has destroyed millions of blue-collar factory jobs in the U.S. Prominent among them is Susan Houseman, director of research at the Upjohn Institute for Employment Research in Kalamazoo. Houseman has been widely noted for her eye-opening finding that liberalized trade with China in 2001 was the root cause of the staggering loss of U.S. manufacturing jobs. Other economists insist the decline in manufacturing employment has been a result of increased productivity made possible by the proliferation of factory robots. What you see is that the real story in the auto sector is automation, Jason Miller, a Michigan State University business professor, told CNN Business. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Surprisingly, there are more automotive assembly jobs in the U.S. then there were in 1994, the year the much-maligned North American Free Trade Act took effect, according to Labor Department data cited by CNN. (There are about 183,000 fewer auto parts jobs than at the start of NAFTA.) Its a different story in Michigan because of something we dont like to talk much aboutthe precipitous competitiveness decline of the Detroit Three automakers. Except for monster pickup trucks and gargantuan SUVs, American consumers generally prefer Asian and European brands not built in Michigan. Thats tough to say for someone like me, who grew up in a mostly GM family. Ford, GM and Stellantis (formerly Chrysler) sold just 5.4 million cars and light trucks in the U.S. last year, down nearly 60% from the more than 12 million cars they sold in 1999, according to a University of Michigan economic forecast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Overall, 15.8 million cars and trucks were sold last year in the U.S., dominated by foreign brands. Forecasting sales this year is a nightmare because of Trumps 25%, confusing tariffs on foreign-built cars and parts. But higher prices resulting from the tariffs could cuts sales by 700,000 vehicles this year, according to auto analytics firm Cox Automotive. In February, before the auto tariffs were enacted, U-M economists predicted the Detroit Threes U.S. market share would fall to a record-low 32.7% by 2026 following decades of declining sales. Less market share means less need for assembly plants, parts and workers. It shouldnt be surprising then that auto manufacturing employment in Michigan has plunged from its most recent high of 91,000 in 2000 to about 49,000 in February. They key to reversing that trend is for the Detroit Three to build more vehicles that appeal to American buyers lost to Honda, Hyundai and Toyota. Tariffs wont save them. Speaking to France's National Assembly on April 11, Russian opposition leader Vladimir Kara-Murza did not petition Europe for the Kremlin's total military defeat. Yet, while answering one of the many questions posed to him, he talked about how a colleague supposedly learned that ethnic Russians find it "psychologically difficult" to kill Ukrainians because they are so "similar." "They say we are alike, these are very closely related peoples, as everyone knows: almost the same language, the same religion, centuries and centuries of shared history But for someone from another culture, allegedly, it's easier," Kara-Murza said, recalling the words reportedly spoken to him by a colleague at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I had never thought of it this way before. For me, the reasons (for Russia's ethnic minorities to fight in Ukraine) were primarily economic, but after she told me this yesterday, I began to think about it as well," he added. Kara-Murza's remarks triggered a wave of online criticism, not only from Ukrainians but also from members of Russia's ethnic minority groups. He later claimed that his comments had been deliberately taken out of context and insisted that they contained no "imperialistic sentiment." The backlash stems from a debate that gained a greater sense of urgency after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine the debate over the movement to decolonize Russia. While some critics both within and outside the Kremlin's orbit view it as a threat to the sovereignty of the Russian Federation, advocates argue it is a necessary confrontation with Russia's centuries-long imperial legacy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Decolonization is, first and foremost, about getting rid of imperial thinking," exiled Buryat activist and journalist Alexandra Garmazhapova told the Kyiv Independent. "Many ignore the key point that racism and the treatment of ethnic minorities in Russia are directly linked to Russia's war against Ukraine, which is based on the same arguments." Does the Russian opposition support decolonization? The movement to decolonize Russia is subject to different interpretations, but according to historian Botakoz Kassymbekova, a specialist in Russian imperial history who teaches at the University of Basel, it primarily entails "parting with imperial structures, identity, and forms" of the Russian state. "National self-determination (of Russia's ethnic minorities) is not simply about the ability to speak one's language, but about deciding about one's own societies' political structures and futures," she told the Kyiv Independent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It is about becoming a nation and letting others exercise national rights. I interpret it as a process of democratization." The underlying factors driving the demand for decolonization stretch back through centuries of tension between Russia's ruling elite and the communities that have existed on the country's periphery. "It is not (just) a discourse but a political practice," Alexander Etkind, a professor at Central European University, added. "Historically, it has usually been a result of multiple wars and revolutions." Russia is home to over 190 ethnic groups spread across the country. However, many ethnic minorities have faced systemic racism in their daily lives, and the country's republics home to certain minority groups and distinct from oblasts and krais are autonomous in name only. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On paper, these republics have their own constitutions and official languages alongside Russian. However, the Russian government has taken steps over the years to consolidate power and diminish the autonomy of its republics, including passing an amendment to its education laws in 2018 to make the teaching of non-Russian languages voluntary rather than compulsory. In late 2022, the Republic of Tatarstan voted to change its constitution, banning the title "president" for its leader a clear sign that in Russia, there is only one president Vladimir Putin. This change followed a 2021 law that required all regional leaders to adopt the more generic title of "head." People gather to mark the 1100th anniversary of Volga Bulgarias adoption of Islam in Bolgar, Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, on May 21, 2022. (Sefa Karacan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Participants perform Friday prayer before a mosque foundation ceremony in Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, on May 20, 2022, marking 1100 years since Volga Bulgaria adopted Islam. (Sefa Karacan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Though the title change may seem symbolic, it was just another example that showed how far local authorities would go to placate Moscow. Russia's federal constitution also prohibits any republic from officially seceding, and historically, attempts to do so have led to violence, such as the wars that erupted in the Chechen Republic in the 1990s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From exile, the Russian opposition has appeared to mostly sidestep the social and historical grievances fueling calls to decolonize Russia, often conflating the decolonial movement with an existential threat to the integrity of the Russian Federation itself. "Navalnaya showed the whole world (with her comment) that she has no genuine interest in grappling with Russian colonialism and therefore no genuine interest in democracy, humanism, and justice." At the Bled Strategic Forum in early September, opposition leader Yulia Navalnaya said that those who call for the decolonization of Russia "can't explain why people with shared backgrounds and culture should be artificially divided. Nor do they say how this process should even take place." Yulia Navalnaya, widow of Russian opposition figure Aleksei Navalny, is surrounded by media after voting at the Russian Embassy in Berlin, Germany on March 17, 2024. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images) "Navalnaya showed the whole world (with her comment) that she has no genuine interest in grappling with Russian colonialism and therefore no genuine interest in democracy, humanism, and justice," Kassymbekova said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The outright rejection of the idea "proved that Russian colonialism is not simply about Putinism, but a more general part of the political imagination and ambition of the metropolitan political groupings, liberal or illiberal." In a December 2024 interview with the American news outlet Vox, Kara-Murza dismissed the decolonization movement as "an amazing gift to Putin's propaganda," arguing that it allows the Kremlin to reinforce the narrative that the West fundamentally "hates Russia," thereby rallying domestic support for its policies. "Frankly, it is really damaging, really shortsighted, and really counterproductive to hear," he said. Opposition leader Ilya Yashin, released together with Kara-Murza in early August following a U.S.-brokered prisoner exchange, acknowledged at an event in Warsaw on Oct. 7 that any new Russian federal treaty should include the right to secession. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Yashin later clarified that his stance was grounded in principle rather than a perceived necessity. "We need a new federal constitution, one written from scratch, that includes these mechanisms. I don't see any signs of this happening (as a result of such an inclusion), though. I don't believe Tatarstan or any other republic truly wants to secede. But these mechanisms must be clearly spelled out. In every federation Canada, Germany, and others the right of regions to leave the federation is clearly defined," Yashin said. At the same event, Yashin also said that Moscow "must share powers" with the republics and that there is "nothing wrong" with republics choosing their regional leader or teaching their languages in schools. Russian opposition politician in exile Ilya Yashin attends an anti-war demonstration organized in Berlin, Germany, on Nov. 17, 2024. (Axel Schmidt/Getty Images) "Unlike Putin, I am not afraid of this," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dismissing the prospect of independence among Russias republics risks erasing the struggles of local pro-democracy activists many of whom have also faced repression under the Kremlin and rendering their political agency invisible, Kassymbekova cautioned. But if Yashin and other Russian opposition leaders begin to engage more openly with them and help to elevate their causes, "then will we see signs of reorientation," she said. The Kyiv Independent reached out to Yashin for comment, but as of the time of publication, he has not responded. Are Russia's ethnic minority groups pushing for decolonization? For members of Russia's minority groups, the path to dissent begins with a growing recognition of how Moscow had systematically impoverished their republics, eroded fundamental freedoms, and pursued policies to erase their cultural identities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Garmazhapova, her sense of identity was shaped by her grandfather, who always spoke to her in Buryat. The discrimination he faced for doing so in public opened her eyes to how deeply Russification had permeated life in Buryatia, attempting to erase the local identity. "Once, at the medical clinic, he asked in Buryat who was last in the waiting line. A woman replied: 'Why are you chatting in your village language? Speak Russian!' And it still makes me angry when I think about how he must have felt at that moment," she said. Located in Russia's Far East, Buryatia is one of the country's most impoverished republics. With a population of just under one million, according to the country's 2021 census, it has become totally politically and economically reliant on Moscow and a source, along with other republics, of recruitment for Russia's war in Ukraine. The Free Buryatia Foundation, co-founded by Garmazhapova in the wake of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine in 2022, is dedicated to making Buryatia "free and prosperous" through a commitment to "the values of freedom and democracy." The foundation helps Buryats who do not want to take part in the war with legal assistance and help those who fled Russia as a result of the war. For that, the Russian government has branded the Free Buryatia Foundation as well as its founders a "foreign agent" and an "extremist" organization. After giving an anti-war interview to a Ukrainian news channel, Garmazhapova was also placed on an international wanted list by Russian authorities and sentenced in absentia to seven years in prison. All this sometimes makes it difficult to carry on with their work sometimes, according to Garmazhapova. However, the notoriety brought on by the Kremlin has also raised the foundation's profile within Buryatia. The need to promote democratic initiatives in Buryatia has grown more urgent since the onset of the full-scale invasion, as Moscow increasingly exploits Russia's poorest regions with financial incentives to sustain its war effort in Ukraine. Centuries of Russification have also left the local population in these ethnic republics more vulnerable to state propaganda and manipulation. "Not only the language but also the consciousness (of people in Buryatia) has been Russified. Many Buryats perceive themselves as part of Great Russia. From a psychological standpoint, it's understandable it is more pleasant to be part of something big and strong," she said. Under both the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union, Buryats fought back to preserve their cultural identity from Russia's imperial machine over the decades, only to be met with fierce repression. Buddhist monks walk near a temple in Ulan-Ude, capital city of Buryatia, Russia, on July 31, 2008. (Dmitry Kostyukov/AFP via Getty Images) A Buddhist monk sits next to a drum as he and other monks prepare to pray at the Ivolginski Datsan temple in Buryatiya, Russia, on Feb. 16, 2002. (Oleg Nikishin / Getty Images) Buryats were among the victims of the Stalinist purges in the Soviet Union in the 1930s. The intelligentsia were rounded up, and those who weren't immediately killed were sent to work camps. Among those shot were some of Garmazhapova's own family. The Soviet authorities also changed the script of the Buryat language, first to Latin and then to Cyrillic. A somber joke among old people back then was that they "became illiterate three times over," according to Garmazhapova. Religious figures have also been entirely co-opted by the Russian regime, with Damba Ayusheyev, the leader of Russian Buddhists, claiming that Buddhists are fighting for the "Russian world" in order to preserve their Mongolian heritage. However, the Kremlin's attempts to coerce Buryats and other ethnic groups into believing they share equal status with ethnic Russians fail to align with the realities of daily life in modern-day Russia. Valentina Matviyenko, Chairperson of the Federation Council, said in March 2025 that universities in Russia's capital cities should scale back admissions of students from the regions, arguing that the country must "shift (their) focus to regional universities: born there, needed there." For proponents of decolonization, the path to overcoming Russia's entrenched institutional inequalities lies in fostering grassroots initiatives to strengthen their republics and reduce the Kremlin's grip on them. "It is important to build institutions and a system of checks and balances in the regions," Garmazhapova said. "Simply having autonomy partial or complete does not guarantee the establishment of a democracy." For Garmazhapova, the best-case scenario would be that if Russia's republics advocated for federalization through a referendum, it would be carried out under the watch of international observers. "The future of Buryatia should be determined by the residents of Buryatia themselves," she added. "But there must also be a leader who will take responsibility for the future of the new Buryatia. I don't see any such leaders yet." Why does decolonization discourse matter? While the Russian opposition in exile downplays decolonization, harmful discourse about the country's republics persists. In an interview with a Jesuit publication in late 2022, Pope Francis attributed the worst Russian war crimes committed in Ukraine to non-ethnic Russians. "Generally, the cruelest are perhaps those who are of Russia but are not of the Russian tradition, such as the Chechens, the Buryats, and so on," he said. The Bucha massacre carried out during the early stages of Russia's full-scale invasion while Kyiv Oblast was under occupation, has been widely linked to Buryat soldiers even though investigations suggest that only some of the Russian soldiers in Bucha were Buryats, others, including the leadership were ethnically Russian. Nonetheless, Russia's ethnic minorities find themselves "the face" of Russia's war machine, even though some like the Chechens of the Dzhokar Dudayev Battalion are fighting on the side of Ukraine to defeat Russia. A member of the Siberian Battalion from Buryatia, with the call sign Buryat, takes part in military exercises with the International Legion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine at an undisclosed location in Ukraine on Oct. 24, 2023. (Andrew Kravchenko / Bloomberg via Getty Images) Some argue that the Russian opposition has power in the West to influence how the world sees its country, including its ethnic minorities. "Russian political prisoners regardless of their actual views acquire not just sympathy and solidarity (which is natural), but also prophetic-like qualities (in the eyes of others) simply by surviving hell," exiled Russian artist and writer Katia Margolis wrote on April 13 on Facebook following the controversy surrounding Kara-Murza's comments. "Their opinions carry special weight, even when they sprout imperialism, chauvinism, the myth of 'good Russians,' or things completely at odds with historical fact and current reality." There was "naive hope" that the Russian opposition would find ways to work more closely with activists from Russia's minority groups and engage with decolonization discourse, according to Kassymbekova. "However, their imperial reactions toward the colonized suggest they will attempt to retain Russia's imperial status and privileges and continue to ignore the colonized," she said. Another reason for the Russian opposition's apparent unwillingness to engage with the decolonization movement could be due to "lack of political imagination," according to Etkind. "All these people are Muscovites," he said. "What would Moscow do without Siberia? All of them still want something like greatness." "Russia will be decolonized along with all other empires. We should all facilitate this process by various means." Note from the author: Hi there, it's Kate Tsurkan, thanks for reading my latest article. Decolonization is a long and painful process, regardless of which empire we're talking about, so I understand that there is a heated debate on the topic. Yet, I hope this article helps you understand a little better some of what people from Russia's republics and those who actively support them feel about it their opinion on this topic is what matters the most. It you like reading about this sort of thing, please consider supporting The Kyiv Independent. Read also: No redemption for empire a review of Sergei Lebedevs Lady of the Mine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Joe Kasper, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths chief of staff will leave his role in the coming days for a new position at the agency, according to a senior administration official, amid a week of turmoil for the Pentagon. Senior adviser Dan Caldwell, Hegseth deputy chief of staff Darin Selnick and Colin Carroll, the chief of staff to Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg, were placed on leave this week in an ongoing leak probe. All three were terminated on Friday, according to three people familiar with the matter, who, like others, were granted anonymity to discuss a sensitive issue. The latest incidents add to the Pentagons broader upheaval in recent months, including fallout from Hegseths release of sensitive information in a Signal chat with other national security leaders and a controversial department visit by Elon Musk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Caldwell, Carroll, Selnick and Kasper declined to comment. Two of the people said Carroll and Selnick plan to sue for wrongful termination. The Pentagon did not respond to a request of comment. Kasper had requested an investigation into Pentagon leaks in March, which included military operational plans for the Panama Canal, a second carrier headed to the Red Sea, Musks visit and a pause in the collection of intelligence for Ukraine. But some at the Pentagon also started to notice a rivalry between Kasper and the fired advisers. Joe didnt like those guys, said one defense official. They all have different styles. They just didnt get along. It was a personality clash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The changes will leave Hegseth without a chief of staff, deputy chief of staff, or senior adviser in his front office. There is a complete meltdown in the building, and this is really reflecting on the secretarys leadership, said a senior defense official. Pete Hegseth has surrounded himself with some people who dont have his interests at heart. This weeks terminations follow a purge of top military officers in February, including former Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. C.Q. Brown and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti. There probably will be more chaos," said a third defense official. It certainly reinforces the fear factor, awareness that no one's job is safe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other officials wondered what this would mean for Hegseth, a still inexperienced Pentagon leader who has just lost many of his top advisers. The front office has some really first-rate uniformed military staff, but theres only so much they can pick up in an organization that big, said a former Trump administration official. That kind of dysfunction compounds. Democrats pointed to the firings as another example of Hegseths inability to lead the agency. "Everyone knew that Pete Hegseth did not possess the leadership qualities, background, or experience to be Secretary of Defense, said Chris Meagher, who served as assistant Defense secretary for public affairs during the Biden administration. Everything weve seen since then the firing of several American heroes because of perceived lack of loyalty, the sloppiness of Signalgate, the complete lack of transparency, and now several political staff being shown the door has only confirmed he doesnt have what it takes to lead. In the throes of postpartum depression, the incision site from her Cesarean section still tender, a U.S. Navy veteran in Indiana learned she had been dropped by her health insurance. Some 500 miles away, in Lees Summit, Missouri, Air National Guard member Cortney Frazon was trying to check in for a 20-week ultrasound when she discovered her doctor no longer accepted her insurance. Faced with a crushing out-of-pocket cost, she left. In Kansas City around the same time, at least two medical providers were telling Audrey Simmons they couldnt see her because of ongoing negotiations with her insurance, leaving her with limited options during her high-risk pregnancy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The women were all supposed to be covered by the militarys health insurance program called Tricare a lifelong benefit promised to many who serve, but one that has been plagued by widespread disruptions to service members, their families and the physicians who accept the insurance following a change in contracts that unleashed a cascade of unanticipated consequences. Audrey Simmons with her husband and their three children at their Kansas City, Mo., home in April. Top leadership with both the Navy and Air Force have warned that the Tricare upheaval could create enormous problems for service members and their families, from canceled appointments and a shrinking network of doctors to snafus that prevent those who are insured from accessing necessary health care. Thats going to have detrimental effects to our family, to our family readiness and possibly to our military readiness, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy James Honea testified last week during a congressional hearing on quality-of-life issues for members of the military. Do you have a news tip youd like to share about issues affecting service members and veterans? You can message Melissa Chan on Signal: MelissaChan.70 or contact NBC News securely here. This chaos is particularly urgent and damaging for new and expectant mothers, when health experts say medical and mental health care is crucial. Four women who recently faced issues with Tricare that disrupted their medical care told NBC News that the stress overshadowed their excitement about their pregnancies. It has caused them to question a health system meant to take care of members of the military and their loved ones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its just so stressful, said Simmons, who is four months pregnant. I feel like the military acts like theyre very family-focused, but I feel pretty abandoned. The Defense Health Agency, which runs Tricare, said it could not comment on individual cases, citing federal privacy laws, and would not confirm whether the problems detailed by the women were caused by the larger Tricare disruptions. The uniformed service members and their families deserve the best health care available and anytime there is a shortfall of any kind we take it seriously and strive to correct it and reduce the chances of it happening in the future, the agency said in a statement. Cortney Frazon, an Air National Guard member, rests at home in Lee's Summit, Mo., in April. With little to no out-of-pocket costs depending on the plan, Tricare is billed as a major perk to those who join the armed forces, especially in the U.S., where the inability to pay for health care and medicine recently hit a new high, a recent survey found. Health care costs are only growing. In 2024, the national average annual health insurance premium for an individual was nearly $9,000, according to KFF, a nonprofit research organization formerly known as the Kaiser Family Foundation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Military members who serve at least 20 years, or those who retire for medical reasons, can keep their coverage for life, and so can their spouses. Their children can also stay enrolled until age 21, or 23 if they attend college, said Eileen Huck, acting director of government relations for the National Military Family Association, which advocates for service members and their families. Tricare serves about 9.5 million people, including active-duty service members, National Guard and Reserve members, military retirees and their families. About a third are active-duty service members or their loved ones, according to the latest data. In a March news release, Tricare extolled its maternity care benefits and its newly expanded childbirth and breastfeeding support services. In addition to routine doctor visits, ultrasounds and deliveries, Tricare also pays for unlimited doula care during birth, prenatal and postpartum physical therapy, breast pumps and even a third dental cleaning in a 12-month period. It is a very valuable benefit, Huck said. It is definitely an incentive to join the military and stay in the military, knowing that you and your family will have this health care coverage. Simmons is due to give birth to her fourth child in about five months. Simmons, 30, her three young children and her husband, a Missouri Air National Guard member, have been covered for the last three years. She found out in mid-January that she was pregnant, and when she called to make a doctors appointment, she was told her OB-GYN couldnt see her because of ongoing insurance negotiations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her concerns grew when her endocrinologist said the same thing, and the hospital where she was initially referred also wasnt an option. She tried to find a provider she could see. Within 50 miles of her home, only one facility came up a hospital where she used to work and where she said she and her family had negative experiences. It was a big change from her previous pregnancy, when she had no trouble finding and booking appointments with in-network providers. Im having to fight with insurance constantly and feeling literally like I have nowhere to go when theres a problem, Simmons said. I almost feel like we dont have insurance. Simmons' husband, Sgt. Brandon Keeton, is a member of the Missouri Air National Guard. She vented on BabyCenter, a pregnancy-support app with an online forum, and learned she was not alone. About 20 miles away in Lees Summit, Frazon wrote on the app that she was also frustrated by the health care system and heartbroken to lose her trusted doctor, too. Frazon, 35, a heavy equipment operator with the Air National Guard, didnt know that her OB-GYN had left the network until she arrived for her 20-week ultrasound in February, she told NBC News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats like the first one they do when you get to see the baby, she said. I was super excited about it. After two miscarriages, Frazon hoped the ultrasound, a scan of her babys anatomy that shows growth and development, would ease her nerves. But when she checked in for her appointment, she said the receptionist told her shed have to pay out of pocket for the visit because the office no longer accepted Tricare. (The health care provider told NBC News its working to finalize an agreement with a new Tricare contractor.) Frazon, 35, has served for about four years. I had to have them tell me multiple times because I wasnt processing it, Frazon said. She chose not to pay out of pocket or come back. She said it hurt to lose a physician she had built a five-year relationship with, who understood her health history and prior complications, but she could not afford the full costs. Frazon said she called Tricare for a list of other providers within 30 miles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They gave me two, she said. Frazon booked with one and had the scan done. Eight months pregnant, Frazon prepares the nursery in her home. The Defense Health Agency outsources Tricare operations, relying on two companies to manage health care benefits in its two U.S. regions. Much of the wider trouble began Jan. 1, when a company called TriWest Healthcare Alliance took over West Coast management and took on six additional states that were once part of the East Coast region managed by a different contractor, Humana Military. Tricare is honoring referrals made under the previous contractor through the end of June, the Defense Health Agency said in a statement. And providers, including hospitals that were considered in-network under the last contractor, are being treated as in-network until then. The transition was a huge undertaking, but the Defense Health Agency said it took painstaking steps to limit potential interruptions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new contract was meant to improve health care delivery, quality, and access for U.S. beneficiaries, the agency said. Thats not what has happened. About 16,000 health care providers on the East Coast went unpaid from December 2024 until at least March due to a data error, Humana said. That forced many to drop Tricare patients altogether, reduce their hours or even consider closing their clinics. On the West Coast, federal officials said beneficiaries have been struggling with long wait times at call centers and delays with processing new referrals for outpatient specialty care. A letter from TriWest Healthcare Alliance, the new contractor for the West Coast region, sits on Frazon's table. Humana said it fixed the data issue in March. TriWest referred questions to the Defense Health Agency. Civilian providers are increasingly critical to Tricares network, after funding shortages reduced availability at military facilities. The longer the disruptions go on, the more concern grows that civilian providers may drop off, Honea, the senior Navy leader, said during his House testimony last week. The Defense Health Agency confirmed to NBC News that providers have left the West Coast region but would not say how many. In the meantime, theres been finger-pointing, with providers telling some of the pregnant women that Tricare issues were to blame and the Defense Health Agency saying some providers were failing to honor the referral waivers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another issue is Tricare demanding repayment of previously paid claims. In Nevada, a Navy veteran and his wife said Tricare had rescinded over $100,000 in medical claims it had approved and paid years ago. While officials still have not said what prompted the reversals, the couple said Tricare resolved the issue after NBC News published an article about their plight in March, ensuring they did not owe anything. Frazon expressed her frustrations with Tricare on a pregnancy-support app in January. The disruptions meant that Marine Corps Sgt. Savannah Harper, 27, had trouble getting prenatal care in January after she transferred from a California base to one in Hawaii. When she went to a new medical center for prenatal care, she said she was told she didnt have a referral on file and couldnt be seen. Harper said she repeatedly called Tricare for help, enduring wait times of up to 90 minutes with no resolution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By early February, she was a full month overdue for her 20-week ultrasound. I could feel her moving, so I knew she was OK generally, but I didnt know what limbs she had, she said. It was very, very nerve-wracking. Desperate, she said she tried to see an Army OB-GYN at a military hospital. After 30 minutes of waiting, she said they told her to call her insurance. Harper said she stormed up to the hospitals labor and delivery unit and burst into tears. My emotions were everywhere, she said. She said providers there gave her an ultrasound and a referral to get further care off-base. She said she called a list of civilian physicians and took the first one who had an opening. Its been very scary, said Harper, who is due in mid-May. Early and consistent health care during pregnancy is critical and can help prevent complications for both the mother and the fetus, according to Dr. Noha Ahmed, a resident OB-GYN at MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. Each step matters, as does the timing. Blood tests done around 10 to 13 weeks of pregnancy can detect chromosomal abnormalities, while a 20-week anatomy scan, a major milestone, identifies whether the fetus and its organs are growing adequately, Ahmed said. Around 25 weeks, a screening can determine risks for gestational diabetes. In the last trimester, Ahmed said, weekly visits are recommended. Pregnancy is not a benign condition. It takes a really big toll on the mother, Ahmed said. On a list she keeps on her refrigerator, Frazon outlines more than a dozen tasks she still has to do before the baby arrives. The Navy veteran from Indiana who found out that Tricare had dropped her after she gave birth had no problem enrolling last year in the maternity program run by Humana. In an email reviewed by NBC News, a case manager welcomed her to the program in September, when she was six months pregnant. She delivered the baby on Christmas Eve. The health care was a bright spot in an otherwise troubling end to her service. She had retired from the military in 2017 because of post-traumatic stress disorder, developed after she said she was raped by another sailor. Her certificate of release from active duty, which NBC News reviewed, shows she was honorably separated under disability retirement so she was eligible for Tricare. The one consolation I had walking away was at least I have my health care so I can start over, the woman said. NBC News is withholding her name because she said she was a victim of sexual assault. I feel robbed. In January, when she went to a local military office with her marriage certificate, separation papers and her babys birth certificate to add her newborn daughter as a dependent, she said she was told she was no longer eligible for insurance, over what she believes was a recordkeeping mistake. She insisted she should get health care coverage; she had a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs, which NBC News reviewed, confirming she had a permanent disability connected with her military service. Soon after, she said she got a call canceling her six-week postpartum appointment because the doctors office had been notified that she was uninsured. She also had to cancel her mental health appointments to treat her postpartum depression and anxiety and begin to ration the medication she had left. She got what she thought was norovirus vomiting, chills and fatigue but didnt see a doctor. And she struggled with breastfeeding, as many new mothers do. Under Tricare she would have had access to breastfeeding counseling and a dozen other postpartum services. I feel like I have failed her, she said of her baby girl. This anxiety is worse than it had to be. Its constant. Amid all this, Tricare sent a series of letters, which NBC News reviewed, requesting more than $15,700 in refunds from her medical providers for 66 claims from February 2024 until after she gave birth. The letters said the providers were responsible for repaying Tricare, and should there be a need for the beneficiary to make a payment, you will be contacted directly by your provider. Shes waiting to hear if shell need to pay. In its statement to NBC News, the Defense Health Agency suggested the veteran reach out to customer service. But shes long past that. She cobbled together temporary insurance for her baby under a separate Veterans Affairs program, and her husbands regular enrollment period opened recently, allowing them all to get coverage under his civilian job. The benefits kicked in on April 1. The first thing she did was book appointments: one for her babys four-month check-up, one to see about the painful lumps at her incision site, and another to address her deteriorating mental health. Simmons and Keeton say they struggled with finding a health care provider to help her through a high-risk pregnancy. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com NEW YORK (AP) A jury will resume deliberations Monday in the bribery case brought against Nadine Menendez after a prosecutor told a jury that she was a critical participant in a five-year fraud with her husband, former U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez. The jury began considering the charges against the 58-year-old Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, resident in mid-afternoon on Friday in Manhattan federal court. Jurors went home nearly two hours later without reaching a verdict. Bob Menendez, 71, a New Jersey Democrat, is to report to prison in June to begin an 11-year sentence. He stepped down from his Senate post after his conviction last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a closing argument Thursday, Nadine Menendezs lawyer, Barry Coburn, argued that the evidence was insufficient to result in a conviction. In a rebuttal argument on Friday morning, Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Richenthal urged the jury to convict Nadine Menendez, saying they would have to believe that over $450,000 in cash and gold bars worth hundreds of thousands of dollars more that were found by the FBI in their home were gifts rather than bribes. They weren't gifts, he said. They were bribes. He called the evidence against her consistent and overwhelming and described her as an active participant, a critical participant in the bribery scheme. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Born in Lebanon of Armenian descent, Nadine Menendez began dating the senator in early 2018 when she was known as Nadine Arslanian. Prosecutors said she soon joined a bribery scheme involving three New Jersey businessmen. The couple was married in the fall of 2020. Bob Menendez, whose Senate career began in 2006, carried out the bribery scheme while he held powerful positions on the influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was forced from the committee after he was charged in the case. The trial for Nadine Menendez was postponed last year after she was diagnosed with breast cancer and required surgery. Foreign exhibitors are gathering in Haikou, south China's island province of Hainan, for the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo, hoping to seize more opportunities for business cooperation in the Chinese market. Come and take a look ASTANA, Kazakhstan, April 18. As part of the official visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Benin, Adjadi Bakari, to Kazakhstan and his meeting with Kazakhstan's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Murat Nurtleu, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed, outlining political and diplomatic consultations between the foreign ministries of the two countries, Trend reports. The visit, representing a seminal event in the annals of bilateral relations, emerged as a pivotal milestone in the evolution of cooperative dynamics, catalyzing a renewed impetus for interaction between the two nations. During the negotiation process, the stakeholders engaged in a comprehensive dialogue encompassing a diverse array of topics, addressing critical domains of synergy, including geopolitical, economic, and socio-cultural humanitarian partnerships. Particular attention is given to transport connectivity. Kazakhstan ensures 90 percent of the land transit from China to Europe, while Benin plays a key role as a gateway to West and Central Africa through the Port of Cotonou. In this regard, the interlocutors advocated for the development of connections within the framework of the 'One Belt, One Road' initiative and the Middle Corridor, including negotiations between the transport ministries and logistics companies of the two countries, the Kazakh Ministry reported. The ministers additionally concentrated on amplifying synergies in pivotal domainscommerce, logistics frameworks, and digital transformation initiatives. In this context, the commitment to enhance the legislative architecture and escalate engagements across multiple tiers was substantiated. "In the new geopolitical conditions, Kazakhstan's economic policy towards the African continent prioritizes equal and mutually beneficial partnerships. We are interested in developing cooperation with Benin in promising areas such as agriculture, transport and logistics, finance, digitalization, and telecommunications," emphasized Nurtleu. The head of Benin's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for his part, tipped his hat to Kazakhstan, expressing that he was truly taken aback by the country's achievements on both the home front and the global stage. "Kazakhstan's achievements are the result of the effective work of the government and the personal contribution of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Our countries share common values, and it is on this foundation that we strive to build strong, dynamic, and productive relations," he stated. To note, by the conclusion of 2024, the bilateral trade volume between Kazakhstan and the African continent exceeded $700 million. To enhance collaborative synergies, the Kazakh authorities articulated their willingness to deploy a trade delegation to Benin. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel A Delray Beach Police officer was arrested Thursday, accused of taking $1,500 from the departments Vice Intelligence Units investigative funds. Officer Matthew Cusson was arrested by Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office deputies and booked into the jail on Thursday on one count of grand theft, jail records show. A supervisor recognized that the money was missing from the units fund and took immediate action, Delray Beach officials said in a news release Friday afternoon. The city did not provide further information about the investigation or the allegations against Cusson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court records were not available Friday. Cusson has been placed on administrative leave while the criminal investigation and an internal investigation are pending. He was sworn in as a member of the police department in February 2020, according to a post on the police departments Facebook page. Apr. 17DIXON An out-of-district Democratic congressman conducted a town hall meeting in Dixon over the weekend. U.S. Rep. Sean Casten from Downers Grove, who represents Illinois' 6th Congressional District, led the town hall Saturday, April 12, at Sauk Valley Community College to discuss concerns from Sauk Valley-area residents about national events. While Dixon is in the 16th Congressional District, represented by Peoria Republican Darin LaHood, Casten said he decided to set up meetings in the 12th, 15th and 16th districts in "some of the deepest red areas of Illinois" so that Illinois residents could talk about their concerns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "When I found out that Darin LaHood, who's a friend, has not had a town hall since before I got elected, that felt problematic to me," Casten said. The Illinois Democratic County Chairs' Association is partnering with Casten to host the series of town halls. [ Casten, Democratic organization to host town hall meetings throughout Illinois ] Casten answered questions from the Dixon crowd about concerns over Social Security, tariffs and civil rights. "I'm here today to answer whatever questions you've got," Casten said. "Not to convince you that I'm right, but I want you to understand what's going on in Washington, and you can make your own decision." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One woman asked Casten how he plans to protect Social Security. Casten said that protecting Social Security requires two main steps, fixing its long-term funding and improving agency operation. He said that currently, people only pay Social Security taxes on income up to about $190,000, meaning high earners such as Elon Musk pay the same amount into the system as middle-income workers. "Let's take this progressive program and stop funding it with a regressive tax," Casten said. "So what John Larson's bill has done is to say we don't want sticker shock right away, so let's reimpose the FICA tax for all income above $450,000, and then over time as that $190,000 inflates, we'll close the gap but we're not squeezing people right in the middle immediately and that largely solves the long-term solvency of both Social Security and Medicare." Casten said he believes Congress needs to step up its oversight role, but that Republican leadership is blocking the necessary hearings and votes to make that happen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is a solvable problem as long as we're serious about making sure that Congress is going to do its job and defend its status as a co-equal branch of government," Casten said. Another attendee expressed his concerns over the president's recent tariff exchanges. "Shouldn't Congress be responsible for setting tariffs instead of the executive branch," the audience member asked. Casten explained that while tariffs are traditionally the responsibility of Congress, past laws provide the president broad power to impose them during a declared emergency. He said that while that power shift was likely a mistake, it was legal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "However, the Emergency Powers Act says that if the White House declares an emergency, Congress can file a motion to declare that the emergency is over and if Congress votes within 30 days to declare the emergency over then you can't do it anymore," Casten said. "So, the authority that Trump has used to issue these tariffs is declaring that there was an economic emergency. There's not one, but they declared one." Casten criticized the move, calling it "stupid" and "cowardly," going on to say that if Congress believes the emergency is real, then they should vote on it. "So the answer is, we have ways to restore the tariffs but we need the House to agree to vote on repealing the emergency," Casten said. One attendee asked what people would need to vote if the Trump administration's proposed Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act passes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The SAVE Act would require people to provide proof of U.S. citizenship before registering to vote in federal elections. Acceptable documents would include a U.S. passport, a birth certificate, versions of the Real ID and naturalization paperwork. However, some people fear the SAVE Act could make it harder for married women to vote, especially if their married name no longer matches the one on their birth certificates. "The first problem is that 84% of married women in America do not have a last name that matches the name on their birth certificate, and the legislation makes no provision for how that would be addressed," Casten said. "Second, a number of people who have been victims of domestic violence will have their name changed or otherwise be hiding their identity, and there's no provision to address those issues." During a news conference last Friday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt accused Democrats of "fearmongering" the bill, referring to the act as a "common sense measure." She went on to call concerns about the SAVE act impeding women at the polls as "a complete fallacy." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, the House of Representatives voted 220-208, to pass the SAVE Act and the measure is now moving to the Senate. One attendee from the LGBTQ+ community expressed fear that the Trump administration's legislative actions could impede her civil rights. "For the first time in my life, I'm afraid," the attendee said. "I've never had to be afraid before. In fact, I'm enough afraid that when I watched people walk into this room with Trump shirts and MAGA hats I seriously questioned whether I could get up here and ask my question safely." Despite admitting that he could not remove her fears, Casten did his best to reassure her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The best hope I can give you is that most people who yell on Facebook are not most of the people," Casten said. "Number one, don't judge somebody for the shirt they're wearing or the sign in their yard. Give them that decency before you judge who they are. And for those of you who've got some love and tolerance in your heart, be a little louder." One Trump supporter wearing a MAGA hat asked Casten if he thought the recent tariffs could help bring back American jobs. "It's like taking a chainsaw into a cabinet-making shop," Casten said. "It is a saw, you can use it to cut wood but it's massively oversized for the job." Other topics discussed during the event included concerns over freedom of speech and national security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The evening ended with a plea from Casten for continued community engagement and tolerance. "Our families teach us love, our tribes teach us loyalty, but only the village teaches us tolerance," Casten said, quoting an article from The Atlantic. "We need to create those moments where we can tolerate each other, learn from each other, come out a little bit smarter, a little bit challenged, and it's the only way we move forward." Apr. 17U.S. Rep. Emily Randall, a Democrat who represents the Tacoma and Olympic peninsulas in Congress, will host a town hall in Spokane Friday evening along with state Democratic Party Chair Shasti Conrad and others to discuss "illegal and damaging actions by Trump, Musk, and their allies," according to a news release. The town hall, which will be held in the Spokane Community College Lair Student Center at 5:30 p.m. Friday, April 25, is open to the public. Attendees may bring signage. Those hoping to attend are encouraged to RSVP, as seating is limited to 350, with around 100 seats already reserved. The RSVP form is available on the Spokane County Democrats website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to Randall and Conrad, Spokane County Democrats Chair Naida Spencer and Spokane Public Schools Board Member Jenny Slagle will participate; Mayor Lisa Brown will deliver opening remarks. The event is meant to let local voters voice their concerns about the federal government, Washington Democrats spokesman Stephen Reed said in a brief interview. Spokane's Republican congressman, Rep. Michael Baumgartner, hosted town halls in Ritzville and Spokane last month. The one in Spokane was particularly disruptive, and he criticized some of the attendees for their behavior. Reed noted that the state Democratic party would do "everything possible" to elect Democrats across the state in 2026, including in what has become a historically uncompetitive Eastern Washington district. Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct the town hall will take place on April 25. Senator Chris Van Hollen has finally met with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the mistakenly deported Salvadoran father Donald Trumps administration is fighting to keep inside a brutal El Salvador jail. The senator from Maryland traveled to El Salvador this week to ensure Abrego Garcias safety and help secure his release. After he was initially denied a meeting or a chance to speak with the Maryland father, the senator posted a photo on social media late Thursday night that shows him sitting with Abrego Garcia at a table in what appeared to be a dining room. I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar. Tonight I had that chance. I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return. pic.twitter.com/U9y2gZpxCb Senator Chris Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen) April 18, 2025 I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar. Tonight I had that chance, the senator wrote. I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement El Salvadors president Nayib Bukele appeared to mock the meeting, and said Abrego Garcia would remain inside his Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT, which human rights groups have labeled a tropical gulag and concentration camp. Kilmar Abrego Garcia, miraculously risen from the death camps & torture, now sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador! Bukele wrote. Now that hes been confirmed healthy, he gets the honor of staying in El Salvadors custody. Kilmar Abrego Garcia, miraculously risen from the death camps & torture, now sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador! pic.twitter.com/r6VWc6Fjtn Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) April 18, 2025 Abrego Garcia has spent more than a month inside the prison despite a court order that prevents his removal from the U.S. for humanitarian reasons. He fled the country as a teenager and is now a sheet-metal apprentice in Maryland, where he has been living with his wife and 5-year-old child, both U.S. citizens. The couple is also raising two other children from a previous relationship. Kilmar Abrego Garcia has been imprisoned in a brutal El Salvador jail since March 15 after he was deported due to an administrative error (AP) The White House and government attorneys have repeatedly admitted that his removal was due to an administrative error. But the administration has refused to seek his return and officials are instead fighting in court to continue his imprisonment as an alleged member of MS-13, which is designated a foreign terrorist organization. Administration officials argue that supersedes any court order against his removal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, the Supreme Court ordered the administration to facilitate his release from custody in El Salvador, noting that officials agreed sending him there was illegal. On Thursday, a three-judge federal appeals court panel in Washington, D.C., denied the Trump administrations emergency request to block a court order to enforce the Supreme Courts ruling. A blistering order written by Ronald Reagan-appointed appellate judge J. Harvie Wilkinson stated that the government is asserting a right to stash away residents of this country in foreign prisons without the semblance of due process that is the foundation of our constitutional order. While the Supreme Courts order notes a deference to the presidents authority to conduct foreign policy, that ruling does not allow the government to do essentially nothing, Wilkinson wrote. Facilitate is an active verb, he added. It requires that steps be taken as the Supreme Court has made perfectly clear. (Photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom) The first campaign finance reports of the year are in and Republican incumbents appear to be gearing up for expensive races, as their majority in the U.S. House may hinge upon protecting multiple seats in the Keystone State. U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-1st District) raised more than any U.S. House candidate in Pennsylvania in the first three months of 2025. From the beginning of January to the end of March, Fitzpatrick raised $1.22 million and spent just under $275,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fitzpatrick, a Republican from Bucks County serving his fifth term in Congress, also holds the most cash on hand of any incumbent candidate in the commonwealth. Campaign finance records show he entered April with $5.37 million, a significant amount more than other GOP lawmaker who will likely face high-priced reelection bids. At this point in the previous cycle, Fitzpatricks campaign had just $1.91 million cash on hand. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Four of the top five fundraisers in the commonwealths congressional delegation in Q1 are being targeted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) as seats to flip in 2026. Pennsylvania is the only state that the DCCC is targeting more than 3 GOP held seats in its initial list of targets for the next election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans, who hold a narrow majority in the U.S. House, flipped two seats in Pennsylvania during the 2024 election. Berwood Yost, the director of the Franklin & Marshall College Poll, told the Capital-Star its no surprise Republican incumbents are among the leaders in fundraising for Q1, since they are the most competitive seats in the state. They will attract the most interest, particularly to hold the Republican majority, Yost said. I mean, if you lose those four seats, youve got issues nationally. While Democrats are placing a high priority to be on offense in Pennsylvania, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), did not include any Democratic held seats in its initial 2026 target list. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan (R-8th District), who defeated incumbent Democrat Matt Cartwright for the seat in 2024 by roughly 1.5 points, raised the second highest in the states congressional delegation for Q1. The GOP freshman raised just under $835,000 from the beginning of January to the end of March, while spending $170,000. Bresnahans campaign entered April with $715,000 cash on hand. Another Republican freshman member of the states congressional delegation finished Q1 with the third highest haul. U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-7th District), who unseated incumbent Democrat Susan Wild in 2024 by 1 point, raised just under $675,000 from the beginning of January to the end of March and spent roughly $165,000. His campaign entered April with $615,000 on hand. Rep. Scott Perry talking to reporters at the Capitol Sept. 19, 2023 (Jennifer Shutt/ States Newsroom) U.S. Rep. Scott Perry (R-10th District), who is coming off of his closest race for reelection since winning a seat in the U.S. House in 2012, raised $565,000 from the beginning of January to the end of March and spent just under $95,000. Perrys haul was the fifth highest in the states congressional delegation. Perrys campaign entered April with slightly less than $555,000, which is more than he had at this point in the previous cycle when his campaign had just over $360,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yost said he imagines that theres going to be ample donors for challengers in those competitive seats, since it is being targeted by the DCCC. Its a little too soon to make any judgments about Democrats interest or enthusiasm, simply because you dont really have candidates doing that fundraising yet, Yost said. The normal ebb and flow is the incumbents are going to do what they can to solidify their donor base if they are expecting a challenge, Yost said. And well know more about how competitive those races will be once we have declared candidates with the infrastructure that they need to report the fundraising. The only Republican in the states congressional delegation to not raise more than every Democrat is U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-16th District), who raised just over $125,000 from the beginning of January to the end of March. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although the 2026 midterm elections are 21 months away, national ratings outlets indicate that the races Democrats are targeting in the state should be competitive. The Cook Political Report rates Mackenzie and Perrys bid for reelections in the 7th and 10th Congressional Districts, respectively, as toss-ups. They also rate Bresnahans bid for a second term in the 8th Congressional District as lean Republican, and Fitzpatricks quest for another term representing parts of suburban Philadelphia as likely Republican. The only Democrat on the radar of that national ratings outlet is U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-17th District) a race they describe as likely Democratic. Deluzio raised just under $250,000 in Q1, which is more than any other Democratic incumbent in the states congressional delegation. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Democrats begin lining up for competitive House races While the primary election for the House is still one year away, a few candidates have already entered the 2026 race. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bucks County Commissioner Bob Harvie, a Democrat, announced earlier this month that hes seeking his partys nomination to face Fitzpatrick. Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure, a Democrat, declared his entrance into the race against Mackenzie for the 7th Congressional District in February. As of April 18, no Democratic candidates have filed to run for the 8th and 10th Congressional Districts to challenge Bresnahan and Perry, although rematches for both races could happen. Cartwright told the Scranton Times-Tribune in January that he might run for the 8th Congressional District again in 2026, while Janelle Stelson, the Democrat who lost to Perry by 1.2 points last year, said last month that she is seriously considering a second run for the 10th Congressional District. Yost said its too soon to tell how these races are going to shape up, but said he thinks we can probably suggest that the Democratic candidates will be pretty well funded in all of these races, as well as the Republican candidates, unless a weak candidate makes it through the primary election. Due to the potential implications of the majority of the U.S. House being on the line, Yost thinks Democratic donors from across the country could weigh in on these battleground races. Evans future? U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans (D-3rd District) is the only member of the states congressional delegation to raise less than $100,000. The Philadelphia Democrat raised just under $40,000 from the beginning of January to the end of March. His campaign spent about $50,000 in Q1, which is more than it brought in during that time period. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Evans is also the only member to have less than $100,000 in his account. Entering April, his campaign had just under $65,000 on hand. The next lowest is U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser (R-9th District), a potential candidate for governor, who has $206,000 on hand. U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans (D-3rd District) Evans suffered a stroke in May 2024 and was reelected to another term in November. Following his illness, he did not vote for several months as he recovered. Multiple Democrats, according to a Philadelphia Inquirer report in December, would be interested in running for the seat, should Evans not seek reelection in 2026. The names the Inquirer mentioned as potential candidates included state Sen. Sharif Street, Pennsylvanias Democratic Party chair, state Rep. Morgan Cephas, the Philadelphia Delegation chair in the Pennsylvania House, and state Rep. Chris Rabb (D-Philadelphia). Dave Oxman, a physician, has already filed to run for Pennsylvanias 3rd Congressional District. Rabb set up an exploratory committee in October 2023, but decided against joining the race. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The link to donate to Rabbs exploratory committee is still active on ActBlue, although he told the Capital-Star that he set it up for the 2024 election cycle based on persistent rumors that Rep. Evans might not run for reelection. When his name appeared on the ballot, I had no desire to run against him. When asked by the Capital-Star if he was actively considering a run for the seat in 2026, he said it was too soon to say. A spokesperson for the Evans campaign told the Capital-Star on Friday that he has every intention to run for re-election at this time and is working hard at fundraising and plans for a successful Q2. Evans, after a long tenure in the Pennsylvania General Assembly, defeated indicted incumbent Congressman Chaka Fattah in the Democratic Party primary in 2016 to win a seat in the U.S. House. Hes coasted to reelection since winning a seat in Congress and according to national ratings outlets, represents a safe Democratic district. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yost said since its not a competitive district, the impetus for him to raise money is not the same as it is for, say, Fitzpatrick or these other candidates that are in competitive districts. Thats just the reality, Yost said. Fetterman posts lowest quarter since entering Senate U.S. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), raised an impressive $73.9 million during his successful 2022 campaign over Republican Mehmet Oz. Although hes not up for reelection until 2028, his campaign raised the lowest amount in a full quarter since he declared for the seat in February 2021. Fettermans campaign raised just over $395,000 from the beginning of January to the end of March and spent a little more than $415,000. In 2024, Fetterman raised $1 million in two-consecutive quarters to end the year. His lowest haul last year was $881,000 in the first three months of 2024. Prior to this past quarter, Fettermans lowest total for a three-month stretch was $720,000 from the beginning of April to the end of June in 2023. U.S. John Fetterman during an interview from his home on Friday, July 21, 2023 in Braddock, Pa. (Jared Wickerham/for Pennsylvania Capital-Star) Over the past few months, Fetterman has faced pushback from Democrats and other progressives over a number of his statements, votes, and positions, including backing multiple cabinet selections in President Donald Trumps administration. But, he holds a positive approval rating, according to data from early this year. Yost said theres no doubt that there are a number of Democrats who supported Fetterman in 2022 that have soured on him due, in part, to some of those recent votes. Since Fetterman isnt up for reelection until 2028, Yost believes hes got plenty of time to raise money, but you cant ignore the pushback hes receiving from some in his own party. Maybe this is an early sign that he could have trouble raising money from traditional Democratic sources, Yost said. Its worth following that to see if its just a blip, or if this is an early indicator that he may have trouble raising money like he did in 2022. Fetterman entered April with $2.29 million on hand. April 18 (UPI) -- Democrats in Congress are renewing a call for legislation to ban members from trading stocks and securities following a flurry of trades during the April market slump. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., disclosed 38 trades made between April 2 -- when President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on most imports -- and April 9 -- when Trump paused many of the tariffs, according to Insider Finance's Congress Stock Tracker. The tariff announcement sent the stock market into a tailspin, bringing down prices during this time period. "This is a great time to buy!" Trump posted on social media on April 9. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Greene traded 10 stocks on April 9 and 10 on April 8. Most of her reported trades were purchases valued at between $1,001 and $15,000. She sold off a U.S. Treasury bill valued between $50,001 and $100,000 on April 8. Rep. Rick Larson, D-Wash., disclosed two trades on April 9. Otherwise Greene is the only other member of Congress to have disclosed trades during that time. Members of Congress have up to 45 days to disclose their stock market activity in accordance with the 2012 STOCK Act, so more disclosures could come in the following weeks. A MAGA hat hangs near a board on the floor of the NYSE showing the Dow down over 1,000 points after the opening bell on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Wall Street on April 3 in New York City. The Dow Jones Industrial Average opened down over 1000 points as U.S. stocks continued to be volatile due to trade-war worries from President Donald Trump's tariffs. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., has joined the calls to ban members from trading stocks. In an appearance on MSNBC, Jeffries alleged that Greene acted on inside information to profit from the dip in the stock market. Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Nev., shared similar concerns during a congressional hearing on tariffs with U.S. trade representative Jamieson Greer on April 9 as Trump pulled back many of the tariffs. Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., speaks at a press conference following the weekly Senate policy luncheon in the US Capitol in Washington, DC on Feb. 19. Merkley introduced a bill to end congressional stock trading in 2023. File Photo by Annabelle Gordon/UPI "Is this market manipulation?" Horsford asked of Trump's use of tariffs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "No," Greer responded. President Donald Trump arrives to announce new reciprocal tariffs against US trading partners at the White House in Washington, D.C., on April 2. Photo by Jim Lo Scalzo/UPI "Why not?" Horsford said. "If it was a plan, how is it not market manipulation?" "It's not market manipulation, sir," Greer said. Kedric Payne, vice president, general counsel and senior director of ethics at the Campaign Legal Center, told UPI that whether Congress members are actively engaged in corrupt activities by trading stocks or not, the appearance of corruption has the same effect on the public's trust in the government. "In the situation where you have members of Congress disclosing that they're making trades in stocks, it can appear as though they're not focused on what the public needs during these volatile times in the stock market," Payne said. "But they're more focused on their personal profit. And that diminishes public trust in government." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Talk of a ban on congressional stock trading is not new, according to Payne. It has been discussed as long as members have traded stocks. The issue is raised because of the potential for lawmakers to have a direct influence on a stock's value and having access to information that the general public doesn't. In a 2023 survey by the Program For Public Consultation, 86% of respondents said members of Congress and family members who live with them should be prohibited from trading stocks in individual companies. This includes 87% who identified as Republicans, 87% who identified as Democrats and 81% independents. About 87% of respondents agreed that the president, vice president and Supreme Court justices should be prohibited from trading stocks. Stock trading remains common in Congress. According to campaign financial disclosure reports in 2023 and 2024, 61% of new members of Congress owned stock. Forty-two of 71 new members owned both stocks and widely held investment funds, the Campaign Legal Center reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Members of Congress were only required to disclose their trade activities once a year until the STOCK Act was passed. This increased transparency and, for a time, deterred some members from engaging with the stock market, according to Craig Holman, government affairs lobbyist for Public Citizen. Holman has drafted legislation for lawmakers to ban stock trading in Congress. It is an issue he said he has worked on for many years. After the STOCK Act was passed, he led a study into its impact, looking at congressional stock trading in the three years prior to its passage and the three years since. Holman found that stock trading activity declined by two-thirds after the STOCK Act was passed. "The STOCK Act was necessary legislation to get transparency in stock trading activity," Holman said. "Quite frankly, I thought that would be enough to stop stock trading by members of Congress simply because of the pitfalls for scandal. But as we've seen during the pandemic and once again today, that many members of Congress just don't seem to care. So we need to take this a step further and just ban stock trading activity altogether by members of Congress." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Holman referenced the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, when congressional disclosures revealed dozens of lawmakers -- Republicans and Democrats -- made hundreds of moves in the stock market, some related to stocks that would be directly affected by the pandemic. "The problem with insider trading still exists. We saw it in full color during the pandemic," Holman said. "And then we're seeing it again today." Despite broad support from the public and some on both sides of the aisle on Capitol Hill over the years, a congressional stock trading ban has not been adopted. "Inevitably with any kind of major reform of Congress, it requires the public to actually embarrass Congress into doing the right thing," Holman said. "Congress doesn't want to impose these types of restrictions that deny them the means of cashing in. They eventually do impose these types of restrictions when it becomes a very public issue and the public basically pushes Congress into acting." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Legislation to ban stock trading in Congress has seen a few iterations in recent years with some level of bipartisan support. In 2023, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., sponsored the Bipartisan Ban on Congressional Stock Ownership Act, seeking to force members to divest from stocks, bonds, commodities, futures or any other securities within 180 days of its enactment. This also applied to the spouses of members. Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., introduced a bill to end trading and holdings for members of Congress in 2023. It passed the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee in July. The proposal prohibits members of Congress, the president and the vice president from purchasing stocks and cryptocurrencies. The prohibition extends to these individuals' spouses and any dependent children in 2027. "The public doesn't think we should profit from having information that they don't have, and we shouldn't," Merkley said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jordan Libowitz, vice president of communications with Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, told UPI his organization supports a ban on congressional stock trading but would prefer Congress go a step further. "Banning stock trading in Congress is helpful. Banning stock ownership, banning the ownership of individual company stock is what's truly needed," Libowitz said. "Because as long as members own stocks, even if they're not looking to quickly profit by selling them, they can sit on a committee hearing and craft a bill that helps someone testifying from a company they own stock in." Libowitz adds that CREW supports a ban that would move all congressional stock holdings to a blind trust. The Merkley legislation would ban lawmakers from holding stocks in a blind trust, marking a significant difference from previous versions of such legislation. "The average member of Congress outperforms the market and outperforms hedge funds and professional investors with their assets," Libowitz said. "Something seems off about that. When the general public hears these kinds of stories it's an easy ask for them. It shouldn't be a tough decision. Public service is a sacrifice." A Greene County middle school is getting demolished in order to build a better facility for students and staff. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] I actually live across the street from where theyre tearing it down, Samuel Feerer said. I dont really experience much noise, but Im just saying that if you do live next door, maybe turn the TV up a little bit more. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Feerer and neighbors say the beginning of the demolition of Baker Middle School has not created any issues, and many of the kids that live nearby enjoy watching the building come down. Its during the day, like appropriate hours. I dont think that the noise is inappropriate because its not late at night, I mean a little early in the morning, but not like preventing sleep, Feerer said. The districts website says construction starts at 7 a.m. and crews work until it gets dark. Its for a good cause. I dont see why anyone would really gripe about them furthering things to promote, like good buildings for students, Feerer said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Feerer is a student at Wright State and grew up in Middletown. He says he has experienced moving into a brand new school before. Im really happy about the new renovations, the new experiences students get to have, because I know it was a great experience for me, Feerer said. Baker Middle School was the only school in the district without air conditioning. News Center 7 has previously covered the school releasing students early to avoid sitting in the heat. Feerer says having students in a temperature controlled building could improve learning. When you get somewhere youre comfortable, its easy. Its a good learning experience, Feerer said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The district has not specified when bricks from the schools demolition will be available for pick-up. They say they wont be available until the crews begin demolition of the front of the building. At that point, the bricks will be placed out by 10 a.m. and will be on a first come, first served basis. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] DENVER (KDVR) Denvers business leaders are joining other U.S. cities in fighting against organized retail crime. The Downtown Denver Partnership and the International Downtown Association participated in the Capitol Hill Fly-In in Washington, D.C., where advocates shared concerns about crime, housing and office vacancies with Senator Michael Bennet, Senator John Hickenlooper, Rep. Jason Crow and Rep. Diana DeGette. School Finance Act passes Colorado House despite state budget constraints Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DDP spokesperson Britt Diehl tells FOX31 retailers need support at a time when Denver is experiencing tremendous growth. This is an increasing challenge for downtowns, for cities across the country, she said. The DDP joined leaders and advocates from more than 30 other cities to support the Combatting Organized Retail Crime Act, introduced in the House of Representatives on April 10. The measure, which provides support under the Department of Homeland Security, provides training and assistance to help reduce shoplifting and other crimes. We need tools at the local state and federal level to be able to address these crimes as they increase and organized crimes specifically, said Diehl. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 2024 National Retail Federation study found that between 2019 and 2023, retailers experienced a 93% increase in shoplifting. Dueling approaches: Aurora and Denver clash over homelessness strategy Derek Friedman, owner of Sportsfan apparel shops on Federal and the 16th Street Mall, told FOX31 his businesses have been hit hard by shoplifters, resulting in six-figure losses. It has a dramatic impact on what we can pay our employees, whether or not theyre going to get bonuses or whether or not we can do things like expand, said Friedman. Friedman said retailers will benefit from any effort to crack down on shoplifting, including increased public awareness of fines and sentencing. 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. The Supreme Court blocked the Trump administration from deporting a second wave of Venezuelan immigrants under the Alien Enemies Act after lawyers rushed to the court and alleged that the administration was about to send dozens or hundreds of detainees to El Salvador in defiance of an earlier ruling by the justices. In a brief order released at about 1 a.m. Saturday, the court directed the administration to temporarily halt any plan to deport a group of Venezuelan nationals who have been detained in northern Texas and have been designated as "alien enemies." Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented. Alito indicated he would issue a fuller statement later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The high courts order followed hours of frantic litigation involving courts in Texas, Louisiana and Washington, D.C., as lawyers from the American Civil Liberties Union battled to stave off what they said appeared to be imminent deportations of Venezuelan men the administration has gathered at an immigration detention center just north of Abilene, Texas. The men had been given terse deportation notices and were being loaded on to buses, presumably headed to the airport, the ACLU lawyers wrote in an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court on Friday evening. President Donald Trump has deployed the Alien Enemies Act a war power last invoked during World War II to summarily deport foreign nationals he has labeled members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, which Trump has designated a terrorist organization. Last month, in the first wave of deportations under the act, he sent more than 130 Venezuelan men to a notorious prison in El Salvador with little or no due process. In an April 7 ruling, the justices said that anyone labeled an alien enemy by the Trump administration must be given notice and a meaningful opportunity to contest their deportation in court. ACLU lawyers wrote on Friday that, by preparing a fresh wave of rapid deportations, the administration was defying the Supreme Courts command in its earlier ruling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At an emergency hearing Friday evening before U.S. District Judge James Boasberg in Washington, a Justice Department lawyer said he had spoken with Homeland Security officials and was told that they were not aware of any current plans for deportations Saturday. But the lawyer, Deputy Assistant Attorney General Drew Ensign, added: Ive also been told to say they reserve the right to remove people tomorrow. Notably, Ensign was the same lawyer who told Boasberg last month that he was unaware of any plans to deport Venezuelans under the Alien Enemies Act even while two planes carrying deportees were en route to El Salvador. Around the same time that the ACLU filed its emergency appeal at the Supreme Court, it filed a similar motion asking Boasberg to block the deportations himself. I do not think that the Supreme Court anticipated that its ruling would be ignored like this, ACLU attorney Lee Gelernt told Boasberg during the hearing held Friday evening by videoconference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boasberg said he was deeply troubled by the deportation notices that were given to Venezuelan nationals detained in Texas. Those notices, he said, do not appear to comply with the Supreme Courts requirement that detainees be given meaningful due process. But Boasberg declined to issue a restraining order to halt any deportations over the weekend. He said he had no authority to do so under a different part of the Supreme Courts April 7 ruling, which mandated that challenges to the deportations under the Alien Enemies Act must be filed in the jurisdictions where the individuals are detained. The Department of Homeland Security on Friday denied that it had any plans to defy the courts. We are not going to reveal the details of counterterrorism operations, but we are complying with the Supreme Courts ruling, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement issued Friday afternoon, referring to the high courts April 7 ruling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The extraordinary and fast-moving developments come as Trump has made deportations to the Salvadoran prison the highest-profile piece of his immigration policy. El Salvador President Nayib Bukele has welcomed the deportations to his country, and he has helped Trump sidestep orders demanding due process for those delivered to his maximum-security anti-terrorism confinement center. Bukele has directly mocked U.S. judges as theyve attempted to elicit details of the administrations deportation plans, and he has amplified calls by Trump allies to impeach judges who stand in his way. Democrats, legal scholars and some judges have warned that the nation may be nearing a constitutional crisis stemming from the administrations attempts to evade court orders related to deportations particularly its refusal to facilitate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador last month. Meanwhile, lawyers and outside experts have found that there is scant evidence of any gang affiliation for some of the people targeted by the Alien Enemies Act. There are serious questions about whether the people already deported who are being held incommunicado in Bukeles prison will ever have a chance to challenge their confinement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Trumps first round of deportations under the AEA on March 15, the administration quickly whisked two planes carrying deportees out of the country. Lawyers tried to halt those deportations in an emergency lawsuit before Boasberg. The Trump administration did not comply with Boasbergs order that day to turn the planes around, and Boasberg earlier this week ruled that there is probable cause to hold administration officials in criminal contempt for what he called a willful disregard of that order. The administration appealed Boasbergs contempt-related ruling. And on Friday, a panel of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals issued an administrative order putting the ruling on hold while the appeals court considers the issue further. Several other lawsuits have emerged across the country in recent days, including in Texas, Colorado, New York and California, with Venezuelan nationals saying they fear being deported in a matter of hours without a chance to challenge the administrations designations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration agreed not to deport the individual immigrants who brought those court actions while their cases were pending but declined to agree to any halt covering broader groups of detainees. Thomas and Alito, the justices who dissented from the Supreme Courts one-page order, did not immediately explain their views, but the court indicated that Alito would issue a statement soon laying out his position. The courts order was issued at about the same time that a panel of the New Orleans-based 5th Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed an emergency effort by lawyers for the Venezuelan men to block the summary deportations. Giselle Ruhiyyih Ewing contributed to this report. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 18. Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR has provided the breakdown of oil products exports via its Kulevi terminal in 2024. The company told Trend that the volume of ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) of Azerbaijani origin transported via the terminal reached 90,800 tons, marking an increase of 19,500 tons compared to 2023. In addition to ULSD, several other Azerbaijani-origin oil products were successfully exported through Kulevi in 2024: Oil Product Export Volume (tons) Methanol 484,900 Vacuum gas oil 215,800 Diesel 25,500 Liquid pyrolysis tar 89,700 Fuel oil (mazut) 24,900 Heavy pyrolysis tar 10,600 Naphtha 8,600 Pyrolysis gases 3,200 The Kulevi Terminal and Sea Port, which has been operated by the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan since its launch on May 16, 2008, plays a pivotal role in the transportation and transshipment of hydrocarbons and petrochemical products. The terminal provides a comprehensive range of services, including the receipt of goods via rail, transportation to storage tanks, safekeeping, loading onto vessels, and the overall operation of port facilities. Follow the author on X: @Lyaman_Zeyn Deputies with the Kern County Sheriff's Office arrested five people and seized an AR-15-style rifle, ammunition and body armor Tuesday in Lamont. A KCSO news release Thursday said deputies from the agency's Lamont Substation were dispatched at 12:45 p.m. to the area of Palm and Myrtle avenues to followed up on a report of people with a rifle inside a black Mercedes Benz. The release said they found the vehicle in the 8900 block of Hall Road and, after they conducted a traffic stop, four suspects fled into a nearby apartment complex. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputies soon apprehended Jorge Guzman, age 23, Julieanna Nunez, 19 and Enrique Prieto, 21, KCSO reported. Joel Cruz, 21, reportedly hid nearby but was later arrested along with Anthony Guzman, 20. A search of the vehicle turned up a loaded, .223-caliber short-barrel AR-15-style rifle and additional ammunition, Thursday's release said. It noted that a search warrant allowed deputies to find still more ammunition, a handgun magazine and body armor. KCSO said Cruz, Jorge Guzman, Nunez and Prieto were arrested on suspicion of having an assault weapon, resisting arrest, conspiracy and participating in a criminal street gang. It said Anthony Guzman is suspected of resisting arrest, accessory and conspiracy. The agency asked that anyone with information about the case call KCSO at 661-861-3110 or the Secret Witness Hotline: 661-322-4040. A company is facing over $166,000 in fines after two of its employees were badly burned while inspecting a propane tank that exploded twice. On Aug. 22, 2024, a resort on the Kitsap Peninsula hired Des Moines-based Calhoun Tanks & Services Inc., to inspect an 18,000-gallon underground propane tank to determine if it could be put back into use. When the two employees cut open piping to the underground tank, propane leaked, which caused flammable gas and vapor to spread throughout a fenced area where above-ground tanks sit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The gas and vapor activated a battery in the vaporizer, which caused it to explode. No one was hurt in this explosion. According to the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), the owner of Calhoun looked at the vaporizer but did not modify settings. Work continued with no changes and a second explosion happened two hours later, this time, seriously injuring two employees. One worker was hospitalized with burns to 30% of his body and spent more than a month in the intensive care unit. The other suffered burns to his arms and was treated and released from the hospital the same day. Exposure to hazards of this nature can lead to serious injuries involving permanent disability, death, or chronic irreversible illness, the citation from L&I said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In total, Calhoun has been told to pay $166,423 in fines for willful serious and serious workplace injuries. The money collected from the claims will go to a workers compensation supplemental pension fund. L&I claims: Employer did not evaluate predictable hazards while conducting pre-entry operations for permit-required confined space entry Employer did not eliminate or control all sources of ignition while working in a liquid propane tank storage area where flammable gases/ vapors may be present Calhoun has said it will appeal L&Is decision. It didnt just happen once. The employer knew the risks and allowed it to happen again, said Craig Blackwood, assistant director for L&Is Division of Occupational Safety and Health. These workers will carry those scars the rest of their life because their employer ignored commonsense rules to keep them safe. TALLAHASEE, Fla. (WFLA) Governor Ron DeSantis made a statement addressing the shooting that took place at Florida State University on Thursday. In a video posted to X, Gov. DeSantis showed his support for the university and those affected during this difficult time. Casey and I stand in solidarity and are praying for the entire Florida State community, Gov. DeSantis said. Were mourning the two individuals who lost their lives in this tragic attack, and we wish well on those who are currently recovering in the hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He then expressed that the person responsible will be brought to justice under the full extent of the law. The Florida governor ended the video by thanking those in law enforcement who risked their lives to apprehend the shooter. We are all Seminoles today, DeSantis said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered flags to fly at half-staff after a gunman opened fire on the campus of Florida State University on Thursday. Police in Tallahassee said a 20-year-old gunman, who is the stepson of a sheriffs deputy, killed two people and wounded six others in the attack. 2 food service employees killed in FSU shooting In a memo, DeSantis instructed U.S. and State of Florida flags to fly half-staff in memory of the lives lost in this tragedy and to recognize the bravery shown by the first responders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two people killed were identified as food service employees. A spokesperson for Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare said in a statement Friday that two of the six injured patients are expected to be discharged from the hospital. Three shooting victims conditions are improving, while another remained in fair 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. A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives. On April 18, 1906, the deadliest earthquake in U.S. history struck San Francisco, followed by raging fires across the city. More than 3,000 people are believed to have been killed by the quake, which was estimated to have reached as high as 8.3 magnitude on the Richter scale. The fourth EXTRA! edition of the Deseret News on April 18 told the story: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement EARTHQUAKE, PANIC, DEATH, FLOOD, FIRE. Photos accompanied the coverage from a variety of locations. Some of the Deseret News headlines that week included: Day of doom and disaster: Frightful calamity comes to San Francisco in the early morning hours Violent vibration clear across continent Disaster grows as reports come in Salt Lakers on the coast: Salt Lake relief All hope of saving San Francisco abandoned A quarter million of a people homeless and destitute Congress gives sufferers $1,000,000 Day dawns on desolate scene (Latter-day Saint) Church gives $10,000 Among the worst quakes in the nation, California has had more than its share. Big temblors in the state, located on the Ring of Fire, include the 6.7-magnitude quake centered in Northridge in 1994, the 1992 Landers earthquake, a 7.3-magnitude blast, and the October 1987 and 1989 quakes in Northern California. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2019, the Ridgecrest earthquake on July 4 measured 6.4 magnitude, followed by a 7.1 magnitude quake on July 5. Other big quakes in California have occurred in 2010, 2009, 2003, 1991, 1980, 1971, 1964, 1952 and 1933. The worst California earthquake in magnitude may have been the Fort Tejon/Kearn County blast in 1857, which measured a 7.9 on the Richter scale. What happened The foreshock began at approximately 5:12 a.m., per reports, with the main quake beginning 20 to 25 seconds later. The silty ground underneath the city liquefied. Buildings collapsed; gas lines, water mains and power lines snapped. An unknown number of people were killed or trapped in the rubble. Broken gas lines and overturned kerosene lamps sparked fires that continued for three days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On April 22, President Theodore Roosevelt issued a statement that relief efforts would be coordinated by the Red Cross, headed by Dr. Edward Devine, and that $2.5 million had been appropriated by Congress for the relief effort. The front page of the Deseret News on April 20, 1906, as reports of devastation following the huge earthquake came in from San Francisco and surrounding California communities Here are some stories from Deseret News archives about the earthquake and those who experienced it: 1906 San Francisco Earthquake 1906 quake schoolmaster to Saints; Disaster was severe trial, but fortified testimones Commemorating 1906 earthquake Oldest survivor of San Francisco earthquake of 1906 dies USU team studying stresses inside San Andreas 1989 quake rattled even the calmest minds in S.F. Where did Utahs earthquake rank among others? The Trump administration is embracing its legal fight over the fate of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a man accused of gang membership who was deported to El Salvador last month, stating he is not coming back despite repeated judicial orders directing the administration to return him. The case has fueled concern among Democrats and legal scholars that President Trump is increasingly willing to disregard U.S. courts. But the White House has leaned in further to the case in recent days, jumping on a messaging opportunity to pin Democrats as weak on immigration as popular opinion on deportations and the border shifts toward the right. Nayib Bukele, El Salvadors president and an ally to Trump, took part in that effort on Thursday when he allowed a Democratic senator, Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, to meet with Abrego Garcia far from the confines of the maximum security prison where he is being held. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cocktails were even served garnished with cherries and salted rims in photos of Abrego Garcia and Van Hollen that were released by Bukeles office. But the festive drinks were not ordered by the table. Instead, they were delivered in the middle of their meeting by a Bukele aide. The El Salvadoran president then posted on social media that the comfort on display was evidence that Abrego Garcia was in good hands. Kilmar Abrego Garcia, miraculously risen from the death camps & torture, now sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador! Bukele wrote on X. Now that hes been confirmed healthy, he gets the honor of staying in El Salvadors custody. The episode was the latest play in a messaging war over Abrego Garcias case that is unfolding outside of the U.S. court system, which remains insistent that the Trump administration work to facilitate his return to the United States. Bukele, in a subsequent post, suggested he viewed the crisis as a game, writing, I love chess. Read more: Trump officials' defiance over Abrego Garcia's deportation is 'shocking,' appeals court says Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The series of images from Van Hollens visit also provided the White House with the split screen it was looking for in its argument that Abrego Garcias case is not a matter of personal liberty, but of immigration enforcement and national security issues where President Trumps policies remain popular with the American public. Emphasizing the point, the White House posted another photo from the meeting contrasted with an image of Trump with the mother of Rachel Morin, a Maryland woman who was raped and killed by an undocumented migrant from El Salvador in a case unrelated to Abrego Garcias. Our messaging strategy is giving the American people the truth, the facts, which many in the media have refused to do and instead pushed a false story about an innocent, Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, told The Times. He is anything but that. Abrego Garcia has acknowledged in court filings that he entered the country illegally, and was found by two immigration courts to have likely ties to MS-13, a brutal gang that started in the Los Angeles area in the 1980s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first finding, issued by a judge in 2019, found that a confidential law enforcement source provided "sufficient" evidence to draw the conclusion he was a gang member, and noted that Abrego Garcia "failed to present evidence to rebut" the assertion. A second judge affirmed the initial ruling. But a third court put a hold on his deportation out of concern for his safety should he be sent into El Salvadors prison system. President Trump, shown Friday in the Oval Office, called Kilmar Abrego Garcia a "very violent person." (Will Oliver / EPA / Bloomberg / Getty Images) It is that third order that the Trump administration said it mistakenly ignored when deporting Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national, back to his country. It is refusing to correct the error. Despite multiple subsequent orders directing the administration to facilitate his return, including from the Supreme Court, the White House said Thursday, hes NOT coming back. This man is, according to certified statements that we get, is a very violent person, Trump said Friday. And they want this man to be brought back into our country where he can be free, and to stay as a happily they call him the Maryland man. Hes a Maryland father. No. He's a violent person. Democrats now find themselves in the politically precarious position of defending a basic constitutional predicate that all persons within the jurisdiction of the United States, regardless of their status, must be afforded due process in the specific case of an individual whose record appears to show association with an unseemly past. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Public opinion on immigration has taken a sharp rightward turn in recent years, a phenomenon fueled in part by Trump, who has declared an invasion at the U.S. southern border. Polling shows more Americans want to curb migration than at any point since 2001. The desire to decrease immigration has risen among Democrats as well as Republicans. Read more: Abrego Garcia court documents A tough stance on immigration is generally a winning issue for Trump and is much more popular with voters than other Trump policies, such as tariffs. An AP-NORC poll published last month found that immigration remains Trumps strongest issue, with roughly half of Americans supporting his policies on deportations and the border a higher number than his overall approval rating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The government asserts that Abrego Garcia is a terrorist and a member of MS-13. Perhaps, but perhaps not. Regardless, he is still entitled to due process, a three-judge panel from the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals wrote on Thursday, rejecting the Justice Departments effort to appeal a lower courts demand that the administration document efforts to return him. The unanimous opinion was written by James Harvie Wilkinson III, the chief judge of the court appointed by former President Reagan. It is difficult in some cases to get to the very heart of the matter. But in this case, it is not hard at all, the court continued. The government is asserting a right to stash away residents of this country in foreign prisons without the semblance of due process that is the foundation of our constitutional order. Further, it claims in essence that because it has rid itself of custody that there is nothing that can be done. This should be shocking not only to judges, but to the intuitive sense of liberty that Americans far removed from courthouses still hold dear. Read more: What is stopping Trump from exiling you to a foreign prison? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After his meeting with Abrego Garcia, Van Hollen wrote that the main purpose of his trip to El Salvador was to meet with Kilmar. Tonight I had that chance. I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love, the senator wrote another comment that drew ire from Republicans, who accused the senator of sympathizing with the alleged gang member. On Friday, after arriving back in the United States, Van Hollen told reporters that the Trump administration was attempting to change the subject from a constitutional crisis over due process. Van Hollen said that Abrego Garcia told him he has been unable to speak with his wife, as well as his attorneys a violation of international law, the senator said although he had recently been moved out of El Salvador's most notorious prison to a better facility. Other Democrats praised Van Hollens visit. Hillary Clinton, the former secretary of State, New York senator and Democratic presidential nominee, wrote that Van Hollen was standing up not just for Kilmar Abrego Garcia but for every American who believes in due process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We can't stop speaking out until he's home and this administration stops its horrific practice of kidnapping people without charge or trial, Clinton wrote. Still, other Democrats worry that the party is falling into a political trap set by the president and his allies. This is a perfect test case for them, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, said in an interview published Tuesday with Brian Tyler Cohen, a YouTube personality. They do think this is a broader distraction, and they think it's the perfect argument for the Democrats to get trapped into, because it goes to the immigration issue. Then, somehow, were defending someone they have not provided any evidence is a member of MS-13. And somehow it gets all caught into that, and conflated into that broader issue of him being tough on crime, Newsom continued. Thats why they, on this one, are being even more defiant than they normally would be. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Times staff writer Kate Linthicum in Mexico City contributed to this report. Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter. Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond, in your inbox twice per week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. President Donald Trumps administration has consistently doubled down on refusing to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Salvadoran father based in Maryland whom it had been mistakenly sent to El Salvador - it is a move that is costing him in the polls. Trump and his team believe that the president has public opinion on their side for both Abrego Garcia and their plans to send alleged criminals to El Salvador. He campaigned on conducting mass deportations and he won many counties along the U.S.-Mexico border that historically voted Democratic in the wake of an influx of migrants during the Biden administration. But a new poll shows his support is cracking. Echelon Insights, a Republican polling outlet, released a survey of Trumps approval rating on various policies and it showed that Trump is losing support on immigration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The poll revealed that Trumps approval rating on immigration fell from a net score of plus-18 points to a net score of plus-10 points, a drop of eight points in just weeks. Echelon is one of the most respected polling firms on the Republican side. The firms founding partner, Patrick Ruffini, has written extensively about Trumps appeal among working-class voters. Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen met with Kilmar Abrego Garcia this week after the Trump administration refused to bring him back to the United States. Trumps immigration positions are starting to cost him in the polls (X account of El Salvador's Presi) The Trump administration and the Department of Homeland Security has alleged that Abrego Garcia is a member of MS-13 and that he engaged in human trafficking, but has refused to provide concrete evidence. The White Houses top counterterrorism official Sebastian Gorka went so far as to say that people who accused Abrego Garcias supporters with aiding and abetting. The fact that Echelon shows that Trump is bleeding support -albeit he is still above water - on his signature issue reflects a larger dissatisfaction with his administration by voters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are also signs that Democrats are starting to hit Trump not only where hes weak, but also where he is strong. On Thursday, Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland posted a photo of himself with Abrego Garcia and saying that he had called Abrego Garcias family. Van Hollen traveled to El Salvador earlier this week given the fact that Abrego Garcia has a wife who is an American citizen and resided in Maryland. The Supreme Court had ruled unanimously that the Trump administration must facilitate Abrego Garcias return. The Trump administration has responded not by trying to return Abrego Garcia but with Trumps signature style of never backing apologizing. When Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele visited the White House on Monday, Trump said he would not return Abrego Garcia. Trumps stance on immigration has long helped his overall approval numbers, but now that is starting to shrink (AP) But its not just the Echelon poll that shows Trump taking a hit on immigration. Quinnipiac University also released a poll earlier this month showing that 50 percent of Americans disapprove of his immigration policy. Tellingly, 51 percent of independents also disapprove of his policies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the longest time, Trumps immigration policies have propped up his approval ratings that have been otherwise meager for any other president in the first 100 days of their presidency. While his numbers were higher than they were his first term, buoyed by his winning the popular vote and the implosion of the Democratic brand, hes comparatively unpopular when measured up against other presidents. But it does not look like the Trump administration will show any signs of letting up on immigration. Rather, in response to Van Hollens visit with Abrego Garcia, the White House posted on X that Abrego Garcia is never coming back. The administration remains defiant in legal proceedings to try and bring Abrego Garcia. But being too defiant might come off as opposing the rule of law and eroding the very trust that Trump built on immigration. Satellite imagery obtained by The War Zone shows substantial damage at the Houthi-controlled port of Ras Isa in Yemen from Thursdays U.S. airstrike. However, no vessels seem too badly damaged in the attack, based on the photos, although what could be an oil slick is seen emanating from the shore. You can read more about the strike in our initial story here. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said Thursdays strike was intended to cut off the Houthis fuel supply because the Iranian-backed group uses it to sustain their military operations, as a weapon of control, and to benefit economically from embezzling the profits from the import. The images we obtained, taken April 18, show several oil storage tanks totally destroyed, a jetty cratered and fuel truck parking areas and other groupings of smaller objects hit. PHOTO 2025 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION PHOTO 2025 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION PHOTO 2025 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION Image taken on April 18 and an image taken on April 8. PHOTO 2025 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Video taken today shows a ground view of the devastation at the port. You can see the fuel storage tanks as well as numerous fuel trucks destroyed. Aftermath of American strikes on Yemens Ras Isa port in Al-Hudaydah. pic.twitter.com/ymRmR2rHrz Clash Report (@clashreport) April 18, 2025 Ships, however, appear to have gone unscathed. The Ambrey maritime security firm told us that it received a report from a vessel anchored at Ras Isa, Yemen, stating that multiple explosions occurred in the port at 11 p.m. local time. The Master confirmed no damage to any vessels in the area, and port authorities have instructed all vessels to remain at anchorage. Ambrey provided us with several photos of the attack taken from a ship in port at the time. That vessel was not a company client. Ambrey Ambrey Ambrey Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ambrey Video also emerged taken aboard the Galaxy Leader, a Bahamian-flagged vehicle carrier that the Houthis hijacked during a daring helicopter raid in the fall of 2023. This video was filmed from the Galaxy Leader, the hijacked cargo ship. Location: 6JMQ+W42, Al Jazirah, Yemen. Oil trucks appear to be on fire, and a large explosion is visible on Kamaran Island. The Houthis claim that U.S. airstrikes on the Ras Isa oil port killed 20 people. https://t.co/QVpv81IKVL Christiaan Triebert (@trbrtc) April 18, 2025 Despite CENTCOMs stated objective, one Middle East analyst told us that the facilitys tanks had no fuel because Israel had gone after the facility before. The IAF launched its first attack on Yemen last June, hitting the oil storage facility a day after the Iranian-backed group carried out its first lethal strike on Israel in Tel Aviv. Since the IDF strikes, they emptied all the storage depots, Mohammad Al-Basha of the Basha Report claimed. In addition, he said that Houthis have built up fuel reserves elsewhere in the wake of the Israeli attacks. The explosions and flames seen in videos and still images are the result of fuel tank trucks being hit, he posited. Those vehicles link up directly with ships, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We cannot confirm this assertion at this time and there were three seemingly intact large storage tanks at the facility before yesterdays strike destroyed them. Al-Basha also claimed that in addition to striking the fuel storage facility, CENTCOM was targeting Houthi Navy Commander Mansour Ahmed Al-Saadi, also known as Abu Sajad. He reportedly survived once again, though he was wounded and hospitalized following the second attack, Al-Basha claimed on X. His repeated survival is now elevating him to a near-mythical status among his soldiers and Houthi loyalists, reinforcing his image as a resilient and unshakable figure within the movement. The War Zone cannot independently verify these claims either. CENTCOM declined comment. Two Yemeni sources confirmed to @BashaReport that @CENTCOM targeted Houthi Navy Commander Mansour Ahmed Al-Saadi, also known as Abu Sajad, in another strike on Hudaydah. He reportedly survived once again, though he was wounded and hospitalized following the second attack. His https://t.co/TUjjHfp0oT Basha (@BashaReport) April 18, 2025 The strikes on Ras Isa are part of a renewed aerial offensive against the Houthis that President Donald Trumps administration launched March 15. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has previously said that the campaign will be unrelenting until the Iranian-backed Yemeni militants cease their attacks on commercial vessels and foreign warships in and around the Red Sea. U.S. Naval Forces, including two American aircraft carriers and cruise missile-armed warships, as well as land-based fighters based in the region and B-2 stealth bombers forward deployed to the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia, have been taking part in the operation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thursday airstrikes killed 74 people and wounded 171 others, the Houthis claimed on Friday, marking the single-deadliest known attack under President Donald Trumps new campaign targeting the rebels, according to The Associated Press. The war in Yemen, the wire service added, was further internationalized as the U.S. alleged a Chinese satellite company was directly supporting Houthi attacks, something Beijing declined to directly comment on Friday. SCOOP US says Chinese satellite company with military links has been providing the Houthis with imagery to help them target American and allied warships & international cargo vessels. Company is Chang Guang Satellite Technology. #USChinaScoophttps://t.co/R0OVBQ1lwK Demetri (@Dimi) April 17, 2025 Meanwhile, despite U.S. actions designed to stop Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping and Israel, the Yemen-based group continues to carry them out. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said Friday that it intercepted a missile launched from Yemen. In addition, the French Navy released a new video on Friday showing one of its frigates firing on what it says are Houthi aerial drones. The video shows the Aquitaine class FS Languedoc frigate using its 76mm Super Rapid deck gun, destroying at least one Houthi drone. Another one appeared to fly by the ship unmolested. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is unclear at the moment exactly when or where this engagement took place or which vessel was involved. Weve reached out to French officials for answers. If they come, we will update this story. Mer rouge | Interception par une fregate dun drone aerien en provenance du Yemen, menacant le trafic maritime. Vigilance permanente pour garantir la liberte de navigation et la surete maritime de Suez a Ormuz. pic.twitter.com/gP7eY7Nnp1 Armee francaise Operations militaires (@EtatMajorFR) April 18, 2025 The action was carried out by the French Navy and not the European-led Operation Aspides, created to help protect Red Sea shipping. A spokesman for Aspides told us that the last time one of its warships defended against a Houthi attack was Nov. 18, 2024, when an Aspides asset engaged and destroyed a UAV posing a threat to the freedom of navigation. The new U.S. campaign against the Houthis has not changed the operations mission, said Maj. Socrates Ravanos. We would like to stress that Aspides posture remains the same, regardless of the airstrikes made by the US forces, he explained. EUNAVFOR Aspides is a purely defensive operation that acts according to International Law and contributes to the Freedom of Navigation without conducting any strikes on land. Furthermore, the operation is monitoring the situation in its Area of Operation, making daily assessments and providing critical information to the shipping community Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. campaign against the Houthis comes amid an ongoing civil war in Yemen. Militants in that country opposed to the Houthis are planning a ground offensive against the group in an attempt to take advantage of a U.S. bombing campaign that has degraded the militant groups capabilities, Yemeni and U.S. officials told The Wall Street Journal earlier this week. The Yemeni factions are sensing an opportunity to oust the Houthis from at least parts of the Red Sea coast they have controlled in the decade since they took power over much of the countrys northwest, the officials told the publication. Private American security contractors provided advice to the Yemeni factions on a potential ground operation, people involved in the planning said. The United Arab Emirates, which supports these factions, raised the plan with American officials in recent weeks, the U.S. and Yemeni officials said. Exclusive: Yemeni militias are planning a ground offensive against the Houthis, Yemeni and U.S. officials say https://t.co/CWGAvmQh7r The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) April 15, 2025 If such an operation were put into effect and was effective, combined with the U.S. strikes, it could severely degrade the Houthis capabilities further. This would be a loss to Iran who is the Houthis benefactor and has supplied them with weaponry and know-how throughout the decade-long fight in Yemen. Its worth noting that the Arab coalition led by Saudi Arabia tried to dislodge the Houthis for years, but were unsuccessful. A major blow to the Houthis would come after a horrible year for Irans proxy forces abroad, with Syria falling, Hezbollah gutted, and Hamas severely degraded. All this is taking place against the backdrop of ongoing talks between the U.S. and Iran over the Islamic nations nuclear program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, Trump said he was in no rush to approve strikes on Irans nuclear facilities. Those comments, made during a White House press conference, came a day after a New York Times story claimed Trump had quashed an Israeli proposal for a joint attack next month. Trumps partial confirmation of the Times report came as Iranian and allied officials prepared for a second round of talks with the U.S. on Saturday aimed at reaching a diplomatic agreement surrounding the Iranian nuclear program, the Times of Israel reported on Friday. Oman confirmed on Thursday that the talks would take place in Rome, putting to bed earlier Iranian claims that the talks would again be held in Muscat. The world is watching nervously as these negotiations take place. A U.S. strike against Iran, which has been avoided at all costs for decades, would send the region into unprecedented turmoil. In the meantime, clearly the U.S. is escalating its air campaign, with yesterdays bomb damage to show for it. Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com SENECA (KSNT) New information has come to light Friday in the case of a Kansas priest who was shot at his church rectory earlier this month. 27 News obtained court documents from the Nemaha County District Court revealing new details about the investigation into the deadly shooting of Father Arul Carasala in early April. Gary Hermesch, 66, of Tulsa, Oklahoma was arrested and later charged with first-degree murder following the shooting. Gary Hermeschs mugshot. (Photo Courtesy/Jackson County Sheriffs Office) Sheriff Richard Vernon with the Nemaha County Sheriffs Office said he was told a shooting had been reported at 2:50 p.m. on April 3 near the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church church located at 411 Pioneer Street and that a possible suspect may be at the sheriffs office. Vernon then went outside and encountered Hermesch outside the sheriffs office, according to court documents. Vernon reports Hermesch arrived at the sheriffs office near its north employee door. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Four-year sentence issued to man involved in shooting death of 23-year-old in Topeka Hermesch approached Vernon and reportedly told him he needed to be arrested. A deputy asked Hermesch for a reason why he needed to be placed under arrest and Hermesch allegedly responded by saying he had just shot Carasala, according to court documents. Vernon then said Hermesch told him Carasala was in front of the parish. Vernon found Carasala laying on the ground in front of the rectory with blood coming from his head from an apparent gunshot wound, according to court documents. Carasala, who was still alive, was then rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment where he later died. Father Arul Carasala. (Photo By: Robert Hughes) (Photo By: Robert Hughes) Hermesch allegedly told deputies a firearm was inside of his vehicle. Law enforcement later obtained a search warrant to Hermeschs vehicle, finding a revolver with three spent rounds in it, according to court documents. A witness told investigators she saw a man shoot Carasala three times before driving away from the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why legalizing weed in Kansas isnt working For more crime 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. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 18. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the ASEAN Infrastructure Fund (AIF) have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) aimed at strengthening collaboration on infrastructure initiatives across the ASEAN region, Trend reports via the AIIB. The signing ceremony took place on April 10 during the launch of the AIF Action Plan 20252028, held in conjunction with the 12th ASEAN Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting (AFMGM) 2025. The LOI establishes a framework for cooperation in financing high-impact infrastructure projects in ASEAN, including initiatives linked to the ASEAN Power Grid (APG), the ASEAN Catalytic Green Finance Facility (ACGF), and other regional development priorities. The partnership will emphasize joint dialogue, project development and structuring, co-financing opportunities, technical cooperation, and knowledge sharing. Key sectors of focus include transportation, digitalization, and energy. This initiative reinforces AIIBs expanding role in Southeast Asia and highlights its strategic commitment to enhancing regional connectivity and sustainable development. AIIB and ADB will continue working together to identify and support projects that deliver long-term economic and social benefits for ASEAN member states. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) Housing developer DGA Residential has opened a new affordable housing community with 96 units in Knoxville and they are planning to open at least two more complexes with more than 200 units combined later this year. The ribbon was cut at Riverside at Holston Wednesday morning. The new housing community has 48 two-bedroom and 48 three-bedroom units, and is located across the street from Holston River Park off of Holston Hill Road Man indicted after camera found in womens restroom at a Farragut park Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Construction began in December 2023, and the finishing touches are expected to be complete in May 2025. One of the buildings is complete with 20 units already occupied, and it is expected 48 more units will be occupied in the next 36. The remaining units are expected to be full by mid-June. The new development includes a clubhouse, a playground, a business center, fitness center, and on-site management. Additionally, it also offers residents a protected view of Holston River Park, which has a playground, picnic tables, a canoe launch, paved trails, two fishing piers and a two-acre PetSafe dog park. Evictions on the rise in Knoxville with median rental listing price up 56% since 2020 The proximity to downtown as well and everything going on in downtown and Old City, South Knoxville, theres just so much investment going on and opportunity in this part of town. So were right here, kind of central to all that, said Craig Cobb, DGA Residentials vice president of affordable housing. The demand here in town is off the charts, so 96 units is great. Were really proud of it, but there needs to be a lot more because if we had 1000 units today, we could probably fill 1000 units. So its a huge need and were glad to help (WATE) (WATE) (WATE) (WATE) (WATE) (WATE) (WATE) (WATE) (WATE) (WATE) Cobb said rent for the two-bedroom units is $1,200. For the three-bedroom units, rent is set at $1,400. As it is an affordable housing community, it is also important to note that applicants can only make up to 80% of the Area Median Income, which is about $64,000 for a family of two and up to $86,000 for a family of five in Knoxville. The Riverside at Holston also accepts tenants with vouchers, such as Project-Based Vouchers and Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Knox County Schools to vote on price increase for meals The new affordable housing community was made possible through a $750,000 investment by the City of Knoxville through its Affordable Rental Development Fund. Cobb added that DGA Residential also got some of its financing through Tennessee Housing Development Agency and HUD finances. Cobb also shared that DGA Residential has multiple other housing communities under development, including the 184-unit Grosvenor Square community that will be opening off of Merchants Drive in August, and a 47-unit Bluegrass Landing community that will be next to Blue Grass Elementary School in June. The second, he said, would be going online in June. Additionally, the development company is also planning to break ground on at least two more housing communities later this year, with one in Hardin Valley and the other off of 5th Avenue. Cumulatively, those two communities will also have more than 200 units. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side. TYLER, Texas (KETK) Each East Texas Representative except for one, voted to pass Senate Bill 2. At the end of a long night on the Texas House floor, East Texas lawmakers help pass the school voucher bill 85-63. East Texas school leaders respond to passage of private school voucher program Here is how your representatives voted: State Rep. Daniel Alders (R) Tyler Yes State Rep. Trent Ashby (R) Lufkin Yes State Rep. Keith Bell (R) Athens Yes State Rep. Jay Dean (R) Longview Yes State Rep. Cody Harris (R) Palestine Yes State Rep. Cole Hefner (R) Lindale Yes State Rep. Brent Money (R) Greenville Yes State Rep. Joanne Shofner (R) Nacogdoches Yes State Rep. Gary Vandeaver (R) New Boston No The vote came after 10 hours of deliberation on the House floor; a vote finally took place around 3 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lot of relief, joy, and just really excitement for the parents and students of Texas, State Rep. Brent Money said. In 2023, the school voucher program was amended from the previous education package, but a big step was made to make education savings accounts a reality. Its just a fundamental right of parents to be able to make the choice that best suits their family. This is just another tool in the toolbox, State Rep. Cole Hefner said. This is a historic bill, which approved $1 billion of taxpayer funds for families to use to pay for private school tuition or homeschooling. Rep. Money said many students in his district are homeschooled. He believes the $2,000 allotted can help those students with resources they need and allow students to be homeschooled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If they need a little bit of financial assistance to help them get curriculum, computers, supplies and things like that, theyll have access to ESAs to be able to do that, Rep. Money said. State Rep. Jay Dean from Longview was a big opponent of school vouchers and voted against it in 2023. He changed his vote early Thursday morning. My reaction is this bill was going to pass with or without my vote, we knew this was a priority for the Governor from last Session. Once it was clear the votes were there, I worked to make it the best deal all around for HD 7 that I could. I am proud to have stuck with the negotiations, late into the night, working alongside pro-public education groups and other rural Republicans, to make the bill better, said Rep. Dean. Dean continued to explain why he decided to vote yes, My responsibility as State Rep is to make the best decisions I can to improve lives of HD 7. This was going to pass. I could vote no, and lose a lot for HD 7. Or I could sit at the table, work, and vote yes for a better bill for HD 7. Thats why I worked so hard and why I ultimately voted yes. No, its not the bill I would have written. But thats not how this place works. Its not always my way or the highway. There is give and take and ultimately this is a better bill because of my work on it and thats better for East Texas, Rep. Dean said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dean acknowledged that some may be disappointed in his decision, but he believes it was the best vote for the people in House District 7. Reactions after Texas House passes education savings accounts program The school choice bill is not automatically implemented. The House will amend the Senates bill and that version will need to be agreed upon by the Senate before it heads to the Governors desk. Theres not a lot of daylight between the two, so I foresee a pretty amenable process of coming together and settling on a bill and then send it to the governors desk in the coming days, Rep. Hefner said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Representative Cody Harris Reaction to the vote: This is a huge victory for students and families in the State of Texas. We are educating our future leaders and it is imperative to give families the resources they need so that students are not merely getting by, but getting ahead. This is an exciting time for our educational system and I firmly believe that we do not have to choose between supporting public education and offering choices for families. We can and will do both. As a result, our children will reap the benefits as they reach new levels of excellence in the classroom. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Each year on Earth Day, celebrations meant to draw attention to the planets environmental issues and natural resources, as well as climate change, take place across the globe. But did you know there are technically two Earth Days? If youre in the United States, you probably celebrate Earth Day on April 22. If you live elsewhere, there's a chance you might celebrate it on March 21. So, what gives? Which day is the real Earth Day? The First Earth Day The first Earth Day celebration was proposed by peace activist John McConnell at a UNESCO conference in 1969, to be held on March 21 of the following year. The date was selected to coincide with the vernal equinox, a day marking the start of spring. The vernal equinox is also when night and day are of equal lengths. The group eventually endorsed the proposal, creating a new global celebration meant to honor the planet. Earth Day In The United States Just one month after the UNESCO proposal, U.S. senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin proposed that a day be set aside for Americans to focus on similar issues. In the senators own words, he wanted the nation to, Wake up and pay attention to the most important challenge the human species faces on the planet. How Was The Date Decided? The Senators office worked to form a grassroots movement to launch the new celebration. They assembled a team of college students, paid by fundraised money, who planned the inaugural Earth Day celebration. They selected a time that they thought was at the perfect intersection of fair springtime weather and suitability for a college students semester schedule. (MORE: Why You Should Shop Eco-Friendly Products For Earth Day) The date the group proposed for the first Earth Day in the U.S.? April 22, 1970. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The planning group thought that more students were likely to be on campus in the middle of the week, which is why the first Earth Day was on a Wednesday. However, the date stuck, and Earth Day is now celebrated on April 22 every year, regardless of the day of the week. Earth Day Turns Into A Huge Success On April 22, 1970, roughly 20 million Americans came together and celebrated the Earth by raising awareness of environmental issues, community projects like picking up trash and various other events. People young and old enjoyed the day, including students at some 2,000 colleges and 10,000 schools. By 1990, the event had gone global, engaging as many as 200 million people in over 100 countries, according to the organizing group EarthDay.org. Now, the event may mobilize as many as 1 billion people each year. When Is Earth Day 2025? Earth Day in 2025 will be celebrated on April 22 as it is each year. April 22, 2025, occurs on a Tuesday, much like the original planning team had in mind. Still, Americans across the country will participate in celebrations of environmentalism. AUSTIN (KXAN) The Texas House of Representatives gave final approval to Senate Bill 2 Thursday, the legislation that could create a universal education savings account program in Texas. The program would allow families to use taxpayer dollars to pay for private school tuition. The final vote was 86-61. All but two Republicans voted for the bill. Two others Rep. Dade Phelan and Rep. Gary VanDeaver joined all Democrats who were present to vote against. Three Democrats were absent from the vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The consequences were dire: Republican lawmaker alludes to political pressure over school choice vote Use our interactive map and list below to see how each representative voted. The bill now goes back to the Texas Senate to determine whether state senators will accept an amendment to the bill that was approved by the House. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. A New York City judge denied Sean Diddy Combs request to delay his federal trial by two months on Friday, determining that his multiple legal teams provide ample experience and manpower to maintain the original start date. Jury selection will begin on May 5 ahead of opening statements on May 12. Diddy has been charged with five counts of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pled not guilty to all charges. It is unclear why there isnt sufficient time to prepare, Judge Arun Subramanian said in his ruling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The disgraced rapper appeared in court for Fridays hearing, where his team argued they need more time to review discovery due to prosecutors allegedly being slow with the evidence. The U.S. Southern District Court of New York ultimately ruled against Combs, a year after the Department of Homeland Security first raided his properties in Los Angeles, New York and Miami in March 2024. He was subsequently arrested that September. The update also comes a day after Combs team asked that CNNs video footage of the music mogul brutally beating his ex-girlfriend Cassie in a hotel be excluded from evidence. They claim the network edited the surveillance material, making it altered or manipulated and, therefore, unreliable. There is no longer any dispute that the CNN footage from March 5, 2016, at the Intercontinental Hotel, offered by the government at three separate bail hearings, is wholly inaccurate, having been altered, manipulated, sped-up and edited to be out of sequence, his lawyers wrote in a Thursday motion. As indicated below, CNN paid [redacted] for footage, copied that footage in unknown ways, presented that footage out of order and destroyed the original. Accordingly, all the footage from CNN is inaccurate and inadmissible as well. Combs will remain incarcerated at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn after many failed attempts at bail. The post Diddy Trial to Proceed as Planned as Judge Denies 2-Month Extension appeared first on TheWrap. LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) Thousands of Michigan-based federal workers are caught in the crossfire as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) continues to slash government spending. The Senate Labor Committee held a special hearing Thursday, where several displaced Michigan workers shared their experiences with mass terminations. Sean Egan with the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity was the first to speak at the hearing. Egan explained federal cuts have resulted in the loss of federal mediatorsnecessary for important services like negotiating union contracts. Egan worries this could lead to worker strikes and ultimately hurt critical industries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A few displaced workers from Michiganincluding Nicole Rice, who worked at the NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab in Ann Arboralso testified. Rice says she was terminated in February after receiving a recent promotion with a probationary period that she says left her vulnerable to these cuts. After being fired, my access to healthcare quickly vanished with no information provided on how to secure interim coverage, said Rice. I wasnt given the paperwork required to file for unemployment. My income, my healthcare, and my dignity were stripped away without warning and without cause. These federal jobs dont just represent paychecks, they represent public value. They safeguard our environment, ensure accurate weather forecasting, protect our food supply, and support our emergency response. When these employees are silenced or fired, when their missions are derailed, Michigan suffers. Leslie Desmond from the Department of Housing and Urban Developmentwho was also fired in Februarytestified to the committee as well. These past few months have caused me unnecessary turmoil and stress, said Desmond. Ive lost paychecks. Ive started bartending to feed my kids. Ive taken loans from family members, and I worry about losing my house that I worked so hard for. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Desmond predicts these DOGE cuts will affect the availability of safe and affordable housing and programs for housing assistance. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News. The Trump administration is all but eliminating the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), firing nearly 90% of its employees, according to several reports. About 1,500 of the agencys 1,700 workers will be let go, Fox Business (FOXA) reported. Employees started receiving layoff notices on Thursday. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau identified your position being eliminated and your employment is subject to termination in accordance with reduction-in-force (RIF) procedures, said an email to a CFPB employee obtained by the Associated Press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The CFPB, a watchdog agency meant to protect U.S. consumers from financial fraud and abuse, was created in the wake of the 2008-2009 financial crisis. It has helped consumers obtain $20 billion in financial relief in the form of canceled debts, compensation, and reduced loans. On Wednesday, the CFPBs chief legal officer sent a letter to its employees explaining that the agency would be reallocating resources from enforcement that can be done by the states, according to a Wall Street Journal reporter. The move is the latest by Trump and Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency to cut federal spending by eliminating jobs. The administration has already eliminated or is in the process of eliminating tens of thousands of roles, including 10,000 jobs in the Department of Health and Human Services, 1,300 roles in the Department of Education, 10,000 positions in the U.S. Postal Service, and 80,000 jobs in the Department of Veterans Affairs. The National Treasury Employees Union asked a federal judge to stop the CFPB layoffs in a letter on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is unfathomable that cutting the Bureaus staff by 90 percent in just 24 hours, with no notice to people to prepare for that elimination, would not interfere with the performance of its statutory duties, to say nothing of the implausibility of the defendants having made a particularized assessment of each employees role in the three-and-a-half business days since the court of appeals imposed that requirement, the union wrote. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who helped form the CFPB, said in a statement that Trump was preventing the agency from doing its job of helping Americans who get scammed by big banks and giant corporations. She referred to the move as yet another assault on consumers and our democracy by this lawless administration, adding we will fight back with everything weve got. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) The Department of Justice reports over a dozen people were indicted in federal court in San Diego for allegedly distributing meth, fentanyl and heroin across the United States, resulting in the seizure of over 120 pounds of drugs. The U.S. Attorneys Office, Southern District of California, reports four indictments were unsealed in federal court on Thursday, charging 16 people in San Diego County with distributing large amounts of methamphetamine, fentanyl and heroin, and laundering the drug-trafficking proceeds. DOJ: 22 charged for role in drug trafficking organization linked to Beltran Leyva Cartel Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 115 federal, state, and local law enforcement officials worked together on Wednesday to arrest 10 people and execute three search warrants in the Nestor, Palm City, and Encanto neighborhoods in the City of San Diego. As of Friday, six defendants were still being searched for by law enforcement. According to the DOJ in Southern California, throughout the investigation, law enforcement seized the following: 26.8 kilograms of powdered fentanyl 5.7 kilograms of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl (estimated to be 57,000 pills) 25.7 kilograms of methamphetamine 1.5 kilograms of cocaine 1.1 kilograms of heroin ketamine MDMA more than $40,000 in U.S. currency a Maserati Ghibili 9 firearms, including an AK-47 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the indictments, the defendants are accused of distributing the drugs throughout the country, including in Ohio and Kansas, on behalf of a San Diego County-based drug trafficking organization. The investigation also uncovered the use of shell companies to gather and launder the proceeds of the drug trafficking enterprise from other states, including Colorado, Minnesota and Nebraska. Dangerous drug trafficking ring shut down in Southern California The charges are the result of a 16-month investigation that included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, undercover agents, and confidential sources, according to the DOJ. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The indictments unsealed today paint a picture of an organization responsible for trafficking dangerous drugs into our communities drugs that are killing Americans daily, said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher, IRS Criminal Investigation, Los Angeles Field Office. These indictments should send a clear signal to drug trafficking organizations that where theres money, theres a trail, and IRS-CI is the best in the world at finding and following those trails. We are proud to partner with fellow law enforcement agencies to flush out DTOs that put our communities at risk. The DEA, Oceanside Police Department, IRS Criminal Investigation, San Diego Police Department, San Diego County Sheriffs Department, Carlsbad Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service and U.S. Bureau of Land Management collaborated on this investigation. This investigation is part of Operation Take Back America, and the result of ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) A Honduran national was sentenced Friday to more than 11 years in prison after a witness who testified in a federal racketeering trial against MS-13 members was kidnapped and assaulted in 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The DOJ said Bayron Wuifredo Santos-Recarte an MS-13 member who entered the U.S. illegally was sentenced on Friday, April 18 to 135 months for kidnapping, retaliating against a federal witness, and unlawful possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, 27-year-old Santos-Recarte and other associates of La Mara Salvatrucha 13 better known as MS-13 kidnapped a former federal witness at gunpoint in the parking lot of a Nashville laundromat on Nov. 5, 2023. The witness was reportedly kidnapped because he had testified in a trial eight months earlier that MS-13 members tried to shoot and kill him on two occasions over a drug dispute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PREVIOUS: Man arrested in Antioch after allegedly tying up, assaulting witness in trial Officials said the victim was held in a truck for hours while Santos-Recarte and others assaulted him with a gun, hammer, and machete; questioned him about why he testified against MS-13; and threatened him with death. After the victim was finally able to escape and call for help, the DOJ said he was treated at a local hospital for serious injuries, including fractured bones, internal bleeding, and damage to his kidney. The defendant, an MS-13 member, kidnapped a former federal witness and tortured him with a machete, hammer, and gun. This violence and obstruction of the American legal system is core MS-13 conduct and exemplifies why MS-13 has been designated a foreign terrorist organization, said Matthew R. Galeotti, head of the DOJs Criminal Division. The Department remains focused on eliminating this organization. There is more to come. Thank you to the prosecutors, ATF, and our local law enforcement partners for their relentless pursuit of justice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee We will do whatever it takes to protect witnesses from harm, said Acting U.S. Attorney Robert E. McGuire for the Middle District of Tennessee. If a witness is retaliated against, our office will bring the full might of federal law enforcement to bear on holding those responsible accountable for their crimes. On numerous occasions, individuals are silenced from speaking out due to threats, intimidation, or the risks of serious harm, said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason Stankiewicz of the Nashville Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). In this case, the victim/witness was kidnapped, terrorized, and physically assaulted by relentless, gang-affiliated criminals. Witness intimidation is a serious federal offense and anyone who retaliates against a government witness will be held fully accountable under the law. ATF remains committed to working alongside our state, local, and federal law enforcement partners to reduce violent crime and diminish the presence and influence of these dangerous and deadly criminal organizations in the communities that we serve. When Santos-Recarte was identified as one of the kidnappers and confronted by law enforcement, he admitted to driving the truck used in the kidnapping, knowing that the witness testified against MS-13 members during a trial, helping others force the witness into the truck at gunpoint, and being present while others assaulted the victim, according to officials. In addition, he reportedly had an assault rifle in his possession when federal agents arrested him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 50 kilograms of cocaine, more than $250K in cash seized following arrest outside Nashville hotel The DOJ said Santos-Recarte pleaded guilty in December 2024 to kidnapping, retaliation against a federal witness, unlawful possession of a firearm by an illegal alien, and conspiracy charges. After serving his sentence, the Honduran national will be deported from the U.S. The case which was investigated by the ATF, with some help from the Metro Nashville Police Department was prosecuted by trial attorneys Matthew Hoff and Christopher Matthews of the Criminal Divisions Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ahmed Safeeullah from the Middle District of Tennessee. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (KCAU) Dollar General donated more than one million pounds of food to Feeding America partner food banks in Iowa and Nebraska in 2024. The nationwide general store gave almost 750,000 pounds of food to two food banks in Nebraska. One of them is the Food Bank for the Heartland, which covers 77 counties in Nebraska, including all of northeast Nebraska, along with 16 western Iowa counties. Company officials said Dollar General also donated more than 280,000 pounds of food to three food banks, one of them being the Food Bank of Iowa. The non-profit covers many counties in Iowa, including 12 northwestern counties in the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said in 2024, Dollar General donated a total of more than 28 million pounds of food from its stores and distribution centers across the U.S. At Dollar General, we understand the challenges our neighbors may face in accessing affordable, nutritious food to provide themselves and their families. With more than 47 million people in the U.S. currently facing hunger, we are committed to being a part of the solution through our partnership with the Feeding America network of partner food banks. Dollar General is also thrilled to celebrate this milestone of providing more than 50 million meals in our hometown communities, and we look forward to furthering our impact, said Denine Torr, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility and Philanthropy at Dollar General. As the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States, Feeding America is committed to providing solutions to end hunger. We are delighted to partner with Dollar General, whose commitment through generous product donations and financial support fuels our mission to ensure everyone has access to the food and resources they need to thrive, said Erika Thiem, Chief Supply Chain Officer with Feeding America. Dollar General has donated more than $4 million and more than 50 million meals, equal to more than 66 million pounds of food, through the companys in-kind food donation program to Feeding America partner food banks. The program was piloted in 2019 and formally announced in 2021. 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. DOTHAN, Ala. (WDHN) A Dothan man and former drivers license office employee has been hit with new charges while already in the county jail. Public court records reveal that John Watson Jr. was charged with six counts of porn possession on Thursday, April 18. Houston County District Attorney Russ Goodman says that during a bond hearing this week, it was revealed that investigators found around 200 illegal pornographic images on Watson Jr.s electronic devices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When these new charges were brought, Watson Jr. was already in the Houston County Jail, facing four counts of dissemination of child pornography. He was initially arrested on Thursday, April 10. Dothan man accused of sending suspicious letters with child porn to Alabama governor State investigators claimed they tied Watson to four letters sent to Alabama House of Representatives members and Governor Kay Iveys Office on Wednesday, April 9. Those investigators said the letter contained a number of pornographic images. A release from ALEA reveals Watson was a former Driver License Examiner with ALEAs Driver License Division and was placed on leave the day before his arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watson resigned from the department before he was fired, state agents say. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com. ST. LOUIS Universities around the St. Louis area report that dozens of international students have had their student visas revoked. I have received countless calls. Maybe 10 days ago is when it started, immigration attorney David Cox said. So far, at least 18 students at Webster University and another nine at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville are affected. There is nothing normal about what has taken place in the last several weeks for students who have had their status revoked. The pace, the numbers, the reasons are all unique to this moment, Cox said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A senior DHS official told FOX 2 News, This process is nothing new and is part of longstanding protocol and program. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News That same official says there are several reasons a visa could be revoked, including suspension or expulsion, failing to maintain status, or not enrolling in a full course load. But Cox and fellow immigration attorney Dan Rhoads say the reason for some recent revocations hasnt been made clear yet. It has left some to speculate it could be related to student protests and speech related to the Israeli Palestinian conflict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You cant lose a right based on something you said or a point of view that you hold. The difficult part about these cases is it is not clear how immigration and First Amendment laws are to be read and applied together and thats an issue, its going to have to be decided by the supreme court, Rhoads said. Cox is taking on very few of these cases, feeling they are nearly impossible to win. I dont think its fair for me to charge money and file a reinstatement claim with the same authority thats been told to start this problematic cycle to begin with, Cox said. DHS says affected students will typically be given 10 days to leave the country voluntarily. 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. Almost 200 people are on trial in connection with the protests following the arrest of opposition politician Ekrem Imamoglu in Istanbul last month, including eight journalists. The 189 defendants are accused of violating the ban on demonstrations and gatherings. Among the journalists is a photographer from the French news agency AFP, the Turkish lawyers' association MLSA wrote on X on Friday. A demand by the lawyers at the start of the trial for an immediate acquittal was denied. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court decided to separate the case of the journalists and some lawyers from the main proceedings. Many of the defendants are students. Countless demonstrators were detained during the protests. The arrest of Imamoglu, who was mayor of Istanbul, and who is Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's most prominent political rival, plunged Turkey into its biggest domestic crisis in years. Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets in mass protests against the government, despite a ban on demonstrations and gatherings in many cities. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has opened an investigation into Newton-Wellesley Hospital after numerous reports of staff members diagnosed with brain tumors. 25 Investigates reported earlier this month that 6 staff members were identified as having a benign, non-cancerous brain tumor. As of April 1, 2025, 11 staff members with ties to the labor and delivery unit had spoken with investigators surrounding the diagnoses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, a DPH spokesperson confirms their Division of Radiation Control Program (RCP) visited the hospital and performed some confirmatory measures. The details of that investigation werent immediately available. OSHA conducted a site inspection of the hospital on Wednesday with a focus on the conditions on the labor and delivery floor. OSHA had received its own complaint about the working conditions and were responding accordingly, a DPH spokesperson said. The Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) says their own investigation into the hospital remains ongoing. We are glad the hospital, DPH and OSHA are looking into this situation, they said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, a spokesperson for Newton-Wellesley Hospital said theyre happy to have an agency involved and think this can quell concerns about their own investigation, which the MNA had previously expressed doubts about. The health and wellbeing of our staff, clinicians, and patients is our top priority and we have conducted a thorough investigation into our environment after reports of brain tumors in individuals who have worked in our labor and delivery and post-partum care units at some point over the past 23 years, a spokesperson for Newton-Wellesley said. Based on these findings, we are confident that no environmental risks are linked to these cases. We continue to support our colleagues...To be clear, our rigorous investigation has not identified any environmental trigger at Newton-Wellesley Hospital that causes brain tumors. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW CHENEY, Kan. (KSNW) The heat that moved into the Sunflower State is having an impact on Kansas wheat production. KSN spoke with a producer about the negativity the weather is having on the wheat. Agronomist Seth Tracy says that wheat with a blue or gray appearance is an indicator of the stress the drought is causing. He says he saw that Thursday afternoon. Scouting is necessary to determine the source of the plant stress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is your flag leaf. This is where like 50 to 60% of your photosynthesis comes in, Tracy said. Tracy grows wheat in Sedgwick and other counties in Kansas and Oklahoma. If we peel this back, this is going to poke through the top of this flag leaf here, Tracy said. Some Kansas wheat suffering drought stress Officials with the Kansas Wheat Association say the wheat crop is showing signs of drought stress. If we could have an inch of rain every week or two, it would be perfect, Tracy said. The association says the wheat-growing country has not seen any significant moisture in nearly five months. Despite some rain on Wednesday, Tracy is hopeful for more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the next week or two, but thats going to be your finished product, itll look pretty good if you get some moisture, Tracy said. Its not just drought, but the drastic temperature swing this week could further stress the crop. But Tracy remains optimistic. The Kansas Wheat group says its newest report on the crops current conditions shows it is rated 43% good to excellent. So this upcoming rain potentially can keep this looking good, Tracy said. It calls that a significant drop from 51% the week before. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (KRON) Multiple printed license plates and drugs were found in a stolen SUV after a shoplifter was caught stealing at Macys, according to the San Mateo Police Department. On Wednesday, around 9:24 p.m., San Mateo officers responded to Macys for the report of an uncooperative shoplifter in custody. The suspect was identified as Tommy Lee Walter III. Police said they found a black sticky substance, which was discovered to be heroin, and pepper spray on Walter. Walter, according to police, was on parole for weapons charges and probation for possession of a stolen vehicle. He also has two warrants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A programmable vehicle key fob was found on Walter. The key fob, according to police, was linked to a black Acura MDX, which was stolen out of Oakland. Police searched the Acura, which was parked in the Hillsdale Mall parking lot. Sheriff: 10-year-old Calif. girl kidnapped by man she met on Roblox, Discord Police said officers found several scanned and printed license plates that were the same as legitimate license plates in size, shape, and coloring. After further investigation and a records check of the license plates, it was discovered that the plate numbers were stolen from dealerships in Southern California. MDMA and methamphetamine were found in the SUV, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Walter was arrested and booked for multiple violations into the San Mateo County Jail. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. Police in Riverside have shed more light on the arrest of a driver involved in a multi-vehicle crash that claimed the life of one man and injured six others. The crash happened around 6:20 p.m. on Market Street, the Riverside Police Department said. Four vehicles were found at the scene, including a black Dodge Challenger that appeared to be responsible for the violent collision. One person was killed and six others were hospitalized after a multi-vehicle crash in downtown Riverside on April 16, 2025. (OnScene.TV) The driver of the Challenger, 19-year-old Isaac Isaiah Villalba of Redlands, attempted to flee and resisted police as they tried to detain him at the scene, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators believe that Villalba was driving at high speeds and was under the influence of drugs when he crashed into the back of a Honda Civic, before colliding with another vehicle. The driver of the Civic, 37-year-old Christian Barragan of Riverside, suffered major injuries and was transported to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead. Six others, five in other cars and Villalba, suffered injuries that ranged from minor to severe. One person was killed and six others were hospitalized after a multi-vehicle crash in downtown Riverside on April 16, 2025. (OnScene.TV) Villalba was transported to a local hospital for treatment and was evaluated by a Riverside Police Department drug recognition expert, who determined there was enough evidence to conclude he was under the influence at the time of the crash. After being cleared from the hospital, Villalba was taken into custody and booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside. He faces possible charges for murder, felony hit and run, suspicion of being under the influence of drugs and causing injury of death, and resisting arrest with violence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation remains ongoing and anyone with information is urged to contact RPD Detective Matthew Parrish by email or by calling 951-353-8177. Comments on social media suggest that several people may have witnessed the black Dodge Challenger driving erratically prior to the collision but have not yet come forward, the Police Department 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. AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) A new report is reigniting debate over how to best address homelessness across Colorado, highlighting vastly different strategies from the cities of Aurora and Denver. The Common Sense Institute, a conservative-leaning research organization, recently released findings that claim Denvers Housing First initiative is spending roughly $69,000 per year per homeless individual, while the overall number of people experiencing homelessness continues to rise. Aurora: Twice as many encampments removed in first 3 months of 2025 than last year Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response, Aurora leaders unveiled plans for a new facility grounded in a Work First model. Their upcoming Regional Navigation Campus will include over 200 temporary housing units, available only to individuals who are working or actively pursuing employment. The city says the approach reflects a form of tough love, aimed at long-term self-sufficiency. This is a very tough-love approach to helping people, said Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman. The evidence is that the housing-first model is just not working. Coffman said he recently brought the citys plan to Washington, D.C., sharing the approach with members of the Trump administration. Meanwhile, Denver leaders are pushing back, not only against Auroras strategy but also the data used to support it. City officials questioned the accuracy of the CSI report and stood by their existing model, which prioritizes getting people housed first. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres never been a bad idea out of Washington, D.C., said a spokesperson for Denver Mayor Mike Johnstons office, responding to news of Coffmans visit. How are you going to stabilize your life if you dont have a place to sleep that night? the spokesperson added. Auroras mayor questions why Tren de Aragua impacts have been felt less in Denver Both cities agree that the homelessness crisis is worsening, but remain deeply divided on how best to solve it. While Auroras new facility is slated to open in November, Denver officials say their focus remains on expanding supportive housing and regional coordination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FOX31 will continue to follow developments on both fronts as cities across the metro area seek solutions to one of Colorados most urgent challenges. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, April 18. Kyrgyzstan's state postal operator, Kyrgyz Post, and China's YTO Express Group discussed key areas of cooperation to strengthen logistics links between the countries and the region in general, Trend reports via Kyrgyz Post. The talks, led by Marat Cherikchiev, CEO of Kyrgyz Post, and the management of YTO Express Group in China, discussed joint logistics projects aimed at improving the processing of international items and modernizing postal infrastructure. Kyrgyz Post expects the partnership to open new opportunities for Kyrgyzstan in international logistics, enhancing the country's global trade position and customer service. The collaboration is seen as a step toward digitalizing and growing cross-border trade, offering Kyrgyz entrepreneurs new ways to access international markets and ensuring efficient global deliveries. Founded in 2000, YTO Express Group is a private Chinese logistics company headquartered in Shanghai. It operates courier services in major cities across mainland China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. (WBRE/WYOU) State police announced DUI checkpoints will be placed across various roadways in Pennsylvania during the Easter weekend. According to Pennsylvania State Police, sobriety checkpoints and roving patrols aim to deter drinking and driving. Police say they are operating with a zero-tolerance enforcement policy. Police say checkpoints and roving patrols will be placed on roadways experiencing high rates of DUI-related traffic violations and DUI-related crashes. The known counties participating in the DUI checkpoints are as follows: Berks County Lebanon County Schuylkill County Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PSP did not give details on the areas where the patrols will be conducted. Seven charged during DUI checkpoint Troopers said they will be targeting DUI, aggressive driving, tailgating, seatbelt usage, speeding, and other violations. State police encourage those who are out and choose to consume alcohol to not drive a car. Officials warn drivers that Pennsylvanias DUI laws issue a legal limit of .08% blood alcohol concentration (BAC). DUI offenses can range from a $300 fine with six months of probation, all the way up to fines of $5,000 with prison sentences of up to 5 years. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com. NORTH PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) A North Providence man is accused of driving drunk and causing a serious crash that sent multiple people to the hospital. Dino Colaluca, 29, was arrested following the crash Thursday night on Mineral Spring Avenue. According to North Providence police, Colaluca was driving eastward around 7:45 p.m. when he crossed into the westbound lane and hit another vehicle head-on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least two people were taken to Rhode Island Hospital with serious, but not life-threatening injuries, police said. Colaluca is facing charges of driving under the influence and refusal to submit to a chemical test. 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. CATLETTSBURG According to an indictment in Boyd County Circuit Court, the man operating a dump truck that slammed into the front of a house and injured a woman in October 2024 was driving drunk. Doyle T. Bonzo, 57, was indicted on several charges stemming from an incident that occurred on Oct. 18, 2024, when his dump truck smashed into a residence at 812 Bellefonte Princess Road. It was a Friday evening after 5 p.m. Kitty Osborne, an 82-year-old, was in that portion of the house when the truck crashed into her home, according to the Boyd County Sheriffs Department. She sustained injuries that linger, according to Boyd County Sheriff Jamie Reihs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The residence, which sits off of Route 5/Bellefonte Princess, remains damaged. No repairs have been made. Bonzo was indicted on the following charges: first-degree assault, second-offense DUI, operating without a commercial drivers license, failure to produce an insurance card and driving without license/negligence in accident. Bonzo was in Boyd County Detention Center on a $100,000 bond as of Thursday. According to jail records, Bonzo was not listed as an inmate on Friday. An indictment is a formal accusation and is not necessarily an indication of guilt. Anyone named in an indictment should be presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The following people were also indicted by a Boyd County grand jury: Jeffrey A. Hurn, 40, of Ashland, was in the detention center on a $100,000 bond. As of Friday, he is not listed as an inmate. He was indicted on charges of first-degree wanton endangerment of a police officer (two counts) and fleeing/evading police, first degree. Horn was also indicted on these charges: meth possession, tampering with prisoner monitoring device and third-degree escape. Christopher J. Stamperd, 38, of Fort Gay, West Virginia, is in jail on a $100,000 bond. He was indicted on these charges: tampering with physical evidence, marijuana possession, trafficking in meth (greater or equal to 2 grams) and operating a motor vehicle with one headlight. Tabitha S. Harrison, 45, of Ashland, has been indicted on charges of possession of burglary tools, third-degree burglary, first-degree possession of fentanyl (first offense) and receiving stolen property $10,000 or more. Harrison was jailed with a $75,000 bond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Andrew C. Whittington, 39, of Ashland, was indicted on a first-degree criminal abuse charge. Gregory P. Hall, 39, of Olive Hill, was indicted on a charge of first-degree meth possession. Carol D. Stamper, 49, of Ashland, was indicted on the following charges: theft of motor vehicle registration plate/decal, operating on a suspended/revoked license, expired registration and failure of owner to maintain required insurance. Kavanna D. Conn, 32, of Olive Hill, was indicted on the following charges: inadequate silencer, operating a motor vehicle under the influence of a controlled substance, drug paraphernalia buy/possess, first-degree possession of meth, expired registration and failure to produce an insurance card. THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) Dutch centre-right leader Pieter Omtzigt announced Friday evening he is quitting both the fragile four-party ruling coalition and national politics. Citing his mental health, the 51-year-old said in a social media video that he is unable to recover from burnout in the current political climate. It was a huge honor and privilege to be a member of parliament for more than 21 years," Omtzigt said in the surprise move. But the toll has been quite high. That is why I am choosing to put my family first for the first time and to choose my own health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His New Social Contract party, founded just two years ago, is the fourth largest in the Dutch parliament and formed part of the ruling coalition after months of negotiations last year. The government seemed on the brink of collapse over spring budget talks this week. In the previous nine months, it has nearly toppled after the resignation of the finance state secretary over what she saw as denigrating comments on immigrants and the refusal of the immigration minister to sign off on honors for volunteers who worked with refugees. Known for his sharp tongue and fiery anti-Islam rhetoric, the hard-right leader Geert Wilders, who helms the largest party in parliament, was considered too controversial to lead the country but often dominates political negotiations. Omtzigt leaves the party in the hands of his deputy Nicolien van Vroonhoven, who took over in September when he was on medical leave. His fall departure was the second time he had stepped back from his duties for his mental health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof wished Omtzigt well. The Hague is losing a passionate and dedicated MP, a true representative of the people. I thank him for his efforts and our collaboration in recent times, Schoof said on social media. A former member of the center-right Christian Democrats, Omtzigts new New Social Contract party immediately rocketed up opinion polls thanks to his reputation as a tireless crusader for whistleblowers and victims of government scandals. His key policy platform was reforming the Dutch political system that has been tarnished in recent years by scandals including the countrys tax office wrongly labelling thousands of child welfare recipients as fraudsters. He became a sensation during drawn-out talks to form the last Dutch coalition government when one of the negotiators was photographed carrying papers that included the text: job elsewhere next to his name. It was widely seen as a sign that the established political order wanted to be rid of a man who had long been a thorn in their side. It only served to bolster Omtzigts popularity. A Dutch veterinary nurse has been bombarded with death threats in Egypt after a video of her punching and chasing a boy for whipping a donkey went viral. According to animal rescue nurse, Joke van der Post, 47, the 19-year-old Egyptian was whipping the donkey for fun to impress some young girls in the neighbourhood when she told him to stop. In response, he called her a wh--e and continued to beat the donkey, which belonged to his neighbour. Ms van der Post claims she ran over to make him stop, only for him to raise the hand with the whip to her. It was a matter of self-defence, she says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The incident which took place earlier this month, was filmed by a fellow animal rights activist from Germany who was there to document rights abuses around the pyramids. Credit: Instagram/goodkarmasanctuary I dont think fighting violence with violence is the smartest thing to do but its the only thing I could do at that moment, she tells The Telegraph of the incident. Hes taller and stronger than me and old enough to know right from wrong. Ms van der Post shared the video, taken near the Giza pyramids, and says she was not expecting such a high degree of coverage for abuse which, compared to the brutality against horses she sees on a daily basis, was very light. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the dramatic footage has caused uproar in Egypt where nationalists have called for her deportation, and hundreds have given her death threats by phone, email and in person. According to van der Post, these have included statements such as dont leave your house, we know where you are and you racist, we will make sure you get killed or deported but you wont be allowed to walk on Egyptian soil. She said the incident has been hijacked by a radical minority with its own agenda: Its not about nationalism. Its about animal welfare and I was just stepping in to stop abuse, its about me standing up for a donkey. I cant leave home alone now, its not safe, she said, after hiring security for both the Good Karma Sanctuary which she founded in 2023 to provide assistance to sick and injured horses in Egypt, and her home in Cairo, where she has lived for over two years. After the video went viral, the teenager filed a complaint against the activist claiming psychological damage. Both he and van der Post were arrested last Wednesday and held at the Al Haram Police Station for two days while police investigated the case. The teenager demanded 200,000 in compensation, claiming her actions brought shame to both him and his family in Egypt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I earn 400 a month, but they see foreigners and think money, money, money, says van der Post. I will go to jail if a judge decides thats my punishment but I wont pay money to an animal abuser. Egyptian prosecutors eventually decided that there was no criminal case, but the teenager has now filed a civil case against van der Post, which is still being evaluated. Ms van der Post founded Good Karma Sanctuary in 2023 to provide assistance to sick and injured horses in Egypt - Joke van der Post Since the video Ive had more donations than usual for the sanctuary and people have come forward offering help for legal fees but its the same people donating for the horses and I dont want to take the money away from the horses, she explained. If all this raises awareness to their cause, I would say sitting in jail for a year is worth it. Millions of tourists visit Egypt every year to see the countrys iconic pyramids in Giza, often being offered horses to ride as part of the experience. According to van der Post, these horses often suffer from open saddle-sores which never get treated, with others made to carry tourists while lame. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tourists are causing this mistreatment, she explained. Theyre riding on these terribly wounded horses. Its the same thing as riding elephants in Thailand now. We need to get the same awareness as what happened there. Last October, animal charity Petas report on animals used at the ancient Egyptian landmark said sick, injured or starving horses and camels are often abandoned by carriage operators who treat them like disposable tools. Ms van der Post seen caring for a donkey in a post from her Facebook account - @joke.vanderpost.7/Facebook A new, animal-free transportation system is being planned with electric buses under the National Programme for the Care and Protection of Horses, Camels, and Pets at Archaeological Sites, but has been met with a backlash from locals, who rely on the animals for a living. This programme could mark a positive change, although its too early to tell whether it will be truly impactful or merely a response to pressure, Petas statement said. It followed the groups 2019 investigation into top Egyptian holiday spots in Giza and Luxor. It found that workers whip exhausted horses forced to haul tourists in carriages and camels who were used as photo props. The group said horses are constantly hungry and tired and are denied veterinary care for wounds and injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the possibility of change and new legislation, the Dutch activist said she hopes deportation will not be an option. Id hate to be deported because we are on the cusp of possible change, thanks to minister of tourism and antiquities, Sherif Fathy, and minister of agriculture and land reclamation, Alaa Farouk, and the new programme. I still feel I have so much to do here. 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. BOSTON (WWLP) A man from Duxbury was arrested and charged on Monday with distributing child pornography. Nearly 65,000 fentanyl pills found after man arrested in Massachusetts for immigration violations The Department of Justice states that 34-year-old Daniel Debreczeni of Duxbury distributed three videos containing child pornography by posting the videos on a file sharing site between November 29th and December 12th of last year. In the three videos, the children appeared to be between approximately two, three, and eight years old. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Debreczeni was arrested on Monday and was charged with one count of distribution of child pornography. He was arrested at his place of employment and made his initial appearance in federal court in Boston. He is being detained pending his detention hearing on Wednesday. The charge of possession of child pornography, and distribution of child pornography, is a sentence of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. This case was part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. This initiative was launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. 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. AUSTIN (KXAN) Eanes Independent School District is looking into ways to reward teachers who are going above and beyond in the classroom through the Texas Education Agency (TEA) Teacher Incentive Allotment program. It does help reward teachers for the very hard work that we know they do every day in our classroom, said Eanes ISD Superintendent Jeff Arnett. Jarrell ISD teachers awarded thousands for top performance Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This week the district applied for the program. If approved, districts can identify and designate outstanding teachers based on student growth and classroom observation. In March, top performing educators were awarded for their phenomenal work with nearly $170,000 divided up and given to 15 teachers at Jarrell Independent School District campuses, according to the district. It was all possible through the TIA program. There are three designations which deciphers how much a teacher can make, the designations include Recognized, Exemplary and Master. Each of those three levels comes with an additional amount of compensation, in our case it would be $3,000 for the earlier level, up to $12,000 for the highest level, Arnett said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said Eanes ISD looked at applying five years ago, but they decided not to after discussion with teachers. It does not apply to every teacher in our school district, [every teacher] would not be eligible for that money unfortunately, Arnett said. You have to designate the teachers and the subject area. Texas school closing due to lack of state funding, says district Teachers eligible to receive extra funding would be English and language arts, as well as math teachers in grades fourth through eighth grade. Most recently there are very strong signals coming from the legislature that any future funding for teacher compensation may be contingent on a district being a member of the Teacher Incentive Allotment program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TIA funding was built into Texas state law as part of House Bill 3 during the 86th Texas Legislature. That bill provided more money for Texas classrooms and increased teacher compensation. Some feel like it introduces competition among teachers, Arnett said. We feel like the real motivation for us to be a part of it is we can no longer afford to leave money on the table when it comes to how we compensate our staff. Districts must spend at least 90% of the allotment on teacher compensation on the campus of the designated teacher, while up to 10% can be used to support the local designation system according to the TIA website. Erica Pauda contributed to this report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) Upgrades for the lobby elevator in East Lansing City Hall will begin Monday, April 28, originally scheduled to start a week earlier. The maintenance project is expected to be completed on Thursday, May 22. The city says upgrades to the elevator control unit are necessary to bring the elevator into compliance with the states ASME A17.3 elevator safety code. (WLNS) During the course of the project, the elevator will be completely out of service, disconnected from power, until the State of Michigan completes an inspection. The city will provide accommodations for those who need assistance to seek services from the following departments located on the second floor: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Building and Code Administration Housing and University Relations Community and Economic Development Planning and Zoning Police Administration Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Human Resources If you need assistance from the City Managers office, the city says you should direct your inquiries to the City Clerks office. Public meetings usually held in Conference Room A or other rooms on the second floor will instead be held in the Hannah Community Center. The courts will operate on a remote docket as much as possible via Zoom, but preliminary hearings and bench/jury trials will continue to be held in person. If you receive a notice to appear in court, contact the court and your attorney within three days if accommodations are needed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court conference room on the first floor will serve as an alternate meeting location for the probation department and other court needs. If you need to fill out applications through the Planning, Building and Development department, such as building permits, rental housing licenses, special use permits, or rezoning and zoning variances, you can do so online. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News. CHEROKEE COUNTY, Texas (KETK) An East Texas man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for running a nationwide counterfeit meth-laced pill operation from his rural property in Cherokee County. Sock found filled with meth during traffic stop, Mabank man arrested According to a release from U.S. Attorneys Office of the Eastern District of Texas, Robert Jessie Martin, 47 of Alto, was sentenced to 18 years and four mounts in prison on Thursday. Photo courtesy of the Cherokee County Sheriffs Office. Photo courtesy of the Cherokee County Sheriffs Office. Photo courtesy of the Cherokee County Sheriffs Office. Photo courtesy of the Cherokee County Sheriffs Office. Photo courtesy of the Cherokee County Sheriffs Office. Martin reportedly distributed five kilograms or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of actual methamphetamine, according to the evidence presented in court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As part of the operation, Martin allegedly set up multiple rotary tablet presses on his 75-acre property near Alto, where he produced hundreds of thousands of fake pills lace with meth. These pills were then trafficked across the United States for profit. In July 2023, federal agents arrested Martin after executing a search warrant on his property. During the search, authorities seized five firearms, five pill presses, 111 grams of meth, along with large quantities of both meth-laced substances and pure methamphetamine. Following his conviction, Martins 75-acre property was forfeited to the federal government as part of the 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 KETK.com | FOX51.com. TYLER, Texas (KETK) School leaders in East Texas share their opinions following the Texas Houses passage of the private school voucher program early Thursday morning. 19 measles cases reported in Upshur County, heres what we know The Texas House and Senate have each passed different versions of the bill and will now need to negotiate a compromise. Once an agreement is reached, the final version will be sent to Gov. Abbotts desk. Kingdom Life Academy Joel Enge, Director of Kingdom Life Academy, is a vocal advocate for the proposed bill, which he believes empowers families with greater educational choice .Parents now have the opportunity to choose, Enge said. They have educational freedom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kingdom Life Academy, a project-based micro-Christian school in Tyler, sees education savings accounts as a game-changerone that could open doors for more students to access schools like theirs. Education savings accounts are going to allow students to attend schools like Kingdom Life Academy at a minimal or no cost, Enge said. He added that this kind of support could also inspire the creation of more innovative schools across East Texas. Teachers are going to have the opportunity, theyre going to have the financial support to step out of the traditional educational system, Enge said. Lindale ISD Others were disappointed by the news, like Lindale ISD Superintendent Stan Suratt, who said its embarrassing, its terrible leadership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These are wealthy families sending their kids to private schools where theyre going to get most of the money, Surratt said. Thats just not right, its not a conservative principle and its not fair to public schools. VIDEO: Firefighters rescue cat stuck inside wall in Tyler home He believes lawmakers have embarrassed Texas. Most of the people in Texas are against it, Suratt said. Most of the representatives and senators are against it, but theyre too scared politically to vote against the governor. Surratt believes this wont have a big impact on his district, adding that most East Texans do not have access to private school education. Now, both school leadersalong with many educators across Texasare awaiting the final version and how it will impact their classrooms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, April 18. Tajikistans Minister of Transport Azim Ibrohim, South Koreas Ambassador Jeong Song Sik and KOICA country director Kang Seung Hun outlined cooperation plans for 2025, Trend reports via the Tajik ministry. The sides also discussed progress on joint projects, including two completed in 2024: the first stage of the preliminary study on a metro system in Dushanbe and a logistics development project. They also reviewed an ongoing feasibility study for a 51-km railway line between Jaloliddini Balkhi and Nizhniy Pyandzh, considered a strategic regional project. A future feasibility study for the Dushanbe metro is also planned. During the talks, Ibrohim emphasized the importance of expanding rail and road infrastructure to transform Tajikistan into a regional transit hub. He noted that the countrys landlocked status makes transport development a top national priority. In turn, South Koreas ambassador welcomed the growing partnership and confirmed Koreas interest in supporting the Dushanbe metro project beyond the feasibility stage. Both sides expressed readiness to deepen cooperation and achieve new milestones in 2025. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX) 71-year-old Jeffrey Root made his initial appearance in Eau Claire County Court on charges of arson with intent to defraud. According to the criminal complaint, Root was investigated after a 2021 fire at his business, Danas Bar and Grill. Law enforcement says EMS could smell gasoline on Root and found two gas cans inside the bar. A $10,000 signature bond was set. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MADISON An Eau Claire man was sentenced to 110 months in federal prison for meth trafficking. Corey Hobbs, 39, received his sentence Thursday, as he had pleaded guilty to the charge on Jan 7. The sentencing comes after Hobbs sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant on three occasions in November and December 2023, according to a Department of Justice press release. During his largest buy on Dec 6, he sold 261.09 grams of meth to the informant. Hobbs was later arrested on December 31, 2023, as authorities discovered $10,610 in cash after searching his vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the sentencing in Madison, Chief U.S. District Judge Peterson highlighted a lengthy criminal history that he said showed a sustained pattern of drug dealing. Peterson also emphasized the pounds of methamphetamine attributed to Hobbs as relevant conduct. The charges against Hobbs were the result of an investigation conducted by the West Central Wisconsin Drug Task Force, the Chippewa County Sheriffs Department, and the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Remington and Colleen Lennon prosecuted this case. Hobbs was already incarcerated at the New Lisbon Correctional Facility, DOJ records show. He was convicted in November of fleeing or eluding an officer in St. Croix County Court and was given a one-year jail sentence. Hobbs also was convicted of manufacturing heroin in Chippewa County Court in 2020; he had an address of Woodbury, Minn., at the time of his arrest. Hobbs already has a prior conviction in Eau Claire County Court where he will be on extended supervision for 10 years upon release from prison. While on extended release, he must maintain absolute sobriety and cannot possess any type of weapons. He also is barred from having any contact with known drug users or dealers unless it is in a therapy session. NEW YORK New York City Mayor Eric Adams delivered a diatribe against perceived critics and the media in a speech Friday morning at the African American Mayors Association, warning politicians in attendance a similar fate could befall them. Particularly if you are the first or second Black mayor, you inherit those who are part of an institution who say: 'We are going to wait you out,' said the mayor, referring to city bureaucrats he believes are deliberately sabotaging his agenda. You inherit those who have their own agenda, who have long relationships with the media that they can leak and slip information and make calls on you. In his speech, Adams accused social service providers of relishing the poverty and poor education in low-income communities because it provided them with lucrative municipal contracts. And he said he was criticized by whom, it was unclear for hiring a diverse set of top aides. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mayor went on to lambaste critics who have called the city chaotic despite his accomplishments that he says include Covid recovery, managing the massive influx of asylum-seekers and instilling confidence in bond rating agencies through sound fiscal management. The goal we must do as Black mayors, we must identify our own communication mechanism," Adams said, pivoting to a desire to circumvent traditional media. "We can no longer be defined by the eyes of those who have no desire to see or report on the success we have accomplished. Adams sought to cast his experience atop the nations largest city as a cautionary tale for Black mayors across the country. But many attendees have not had similarly scandal-scarred tenures. Adams made no explicit mention of law enforcement probes that enveloped his administration, including a five-count bribery indictment federal prosecutors hit him with in September. He is still grappling with the political and financial fallout from that case, which President Donald Trump's administration pushed to get dismissed. That and other corruption cases involving his closest aides many of whom have left helped tank his polling numbers as he runs for reelection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mayors dyspeptic speech also quoted late comedian Joan Rivers signature line, Can we talk? and contained allusions to the deep state, a theory that longtime government employees undermine elected officials they are supposed to serve. Adams has begun to refer to the so-called deep state since promoting Government Gangsters, a book by FBI Director Kash Patel. He held up the memoir at a press conference the day a judge dropped his case and urged all New Yorkers to read it. He subsequently refused to denounce some of the most controversial parts of the book, including Patel's belief that the committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot was a sham. Patels book alleges a liberal cabal within the Department of Justice has repeatedly targeted GOP officials to help Democrats mainstream MAGA thinking and conspiracy theory to Democrats. The mayors claim of political persecution has been undermined by the timing of the investigation and the party affiliation of a former federal prosecutor who briefly led the case. Danielle Sassoon, a Republican and former acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District in New York, called the DOJ's move to dismiss Adams' case a quid pro quo and resigned in protest. The mayor has denied her allegations. President Donald Trumps contemptuous view of the courts was bound to lead to bring the country to this: A federal judge writing, The Constitution does not tolerate willful disobedience of judicial orders. D.C. Federal Judge James Boasberg, in a nearly-50-page opinion, explains why hes reaching for a nuclear option: potentially holding federal officials in contempt for their violations of his order instructing them to turn planes of El Salvador-bound detainees around after Trumps recent invocation of an 18th-century wartime power to remove them. Its incredible that under three months into the administration, we seem headed for the constitutional courts versus executive showdown that democracy observers have long pointed to as the real, final stress test of our constitutional system by a president that has seemed hell-bent on destroying it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thankfully this judge, unlike Congress, is unwilling to allow his power to be usurped freely without a fight. Any other party that had engaged with the court in the manner that the administration has would have faced contempt long ago. The second a private lawyer told a federal judge that his oral orders carried less weight somehow than written ones and that they would not answer questions about the very basic facts of the case, they would have been instructed to make arrangements for any kids or pets and come back to court with a toothbrush. That this hasnt happened is only because the courts have traditionally given some deference to the executive and generally assumed that it and its officials and lawyers are acting in good faith. It seems long past time to acknowledge that, unfortunately, this is not true. This administration in particular has no interest in complying with the law or acting in ways that uphold traditional separation of powers, due process reasoned governance, equal protection or any of the other deep-seated principles that despite imperfect application have long undergirded our system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyve made this clear by all but daring the courts to do something about it, hoping to call a bluff. In the separate case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland father illegally sent to the CECOT mega-prison in El Salvador, the administration has gone from acknowledging that they made a mistake to insisting that they will not only not comply with Maryland Federal Judge Paula Xinis order to take steps to facilitate his return but will in fact detain and remove him again if he somehow ever finds his way back. This is after the Supreme Court ruled 9-0 that the government had to comply with Xinis directives; now the White House press secretary and Trump himself are mocking the very idea that they would. The Justice Department fired a career lawyer for daring to candidly answer the judges questions as opposed to fully adopting the administrations stance of aggressive pushback. The federal judiciary, starting with trial judges like Boasberg and Xinis and up through the Supreme Court, must show that their authority is not a bluff, and that there will be consequences for flouting it. The administration is already appealing, and will no doubt try to weasel out of responsibility. It shouldnt be allowed to do so. If that includes holding specific officials in contempt, up to and including fines and prison time, then so be it. ___ The Education Department announced Friday it was requesting records from Harvard University over allegations of inaccurate foreign financial disclosures, the latest in a series of administration moves against the prestigious school, which has refused to bow to White House demands. The federal agency said the Ivy Leagues foreign reports show incomplete and inaccurate disclosures. As a recipient of federal funding, Harvard University must be transparent about its relations with foreign sources and governments. Unfortunately, our review indicated that Harvard has not been fully transparent or complete in its disclosures, which is both unacceptable and unlawful, Education Secretary Linda McMahon said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Department of Education wants Harvard to turn over a list of all gifts and grants from all foreign sources, information regarding all expelled foreign students since 2016, information regarding all faculty affiliated with or from a foreign country and those involved in the expulsion of foreign students, among other things. Universities are required under Section 117 of the Higher Education Act to disclosure financial gifts valued at more than $250,000 annually. A spokesperson for Harvard said its reports include information on gifts and contracts from foreign sources exceeding that limit, including contracts to provide executive education, other training, and academic publications. Throughout Harvards history, support from alumni and donors at all levels has been essential to our continued excellence in our research and teaching mission, which in turn enables Harvards critical impact in the world by helping to address societys most pressing issues, the spokesperson added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The records request comes after the Trump administration has made multiple moves against the Ivy League for rejecting its demands to change the schools policies around diversity, equity and inclusion, leadership organization and student disciplinary procedures, among other things. In addition to this measure, the federal government paused $2 billion in federal funding, threatened to revoke Harvards tax-exemption status and floated taking away the Ivy Leagues ability to admit foreign students. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Migrants wait throughout the night on May 10, 2023, in a dust storm at Gate 42, on land between the Rio Grande and the border wall, hoping they will be processed by immigration authorities. (Corrie Boudreaux for Source NM) The Bible says pain and agony engulfed Jesus Christ in the final hours before his death, while fear of the future gripped his followers. Fear once again is prevalent in churches as Christians gather for Easter. This time it is because roughly one in 12 Christians in the United States are vulnerable to deportation or live with a family member who could be deported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats according to a new report, One Part of the Body: The Potential Impact of Deportations on American Christian Families, published by a coalition of Christian organizations. Many American Christians, we suspect, have not realized that among immigrants at risk of deportation, the vast majority four out of five are fellow Christians, the reports introductory letter said. The reports purpose is to invite American Christians within our congregations and within the halls of governmental power to recognize that, if even a fraction of those vulnerable to deportation are actually deported, the ramifications are profound for those individuals, of course, but also for their U.S.-citizen family members and, because when one part of the body suffers, every part suffers with it, for all Christians. Four South Dakotans with government power who could make a difference are U.S. Senators John Thune and Mike Rounds, U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Government action, or inaction as the case may be, is the source of great distress in churches today. There is just a strong emphasis on fear, among parishioners, said The Very Rev. Kristopher Cowles, vicar for Hispanic ministry in the Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls. He also serves Our Lady of Guadalupe church in Sioux Falls. They dont know from day to day what is going to happen. Cowles is featured prominently in the report, which said that 80 percent of all of those at risk of deportation are Christians. Sixty-one percent of those at risk of deportation are Catholic, 13 percent are evangelical and 7 percent are adherents to other Christian traditions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report notes that President Donald Trump said during his campaign there were as many as 20 million deportable immigrants present in the U.S. How many will be targeted for deportation is unknown. Noem, who said in a 2021 Newsmax interview that our faith is everything we love the Lord, has been the tip of the spear in deporting immigrants. The report quoted Cowles saying government policies often cause the problem. So many of our laws make it nearly impossible to have a course forward even if they want to do so legally, he said of immigrants. He wished there was more empathy among elected leaders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I wish lawmakers would understand the sacrifices that so many people have gone through, and what so many of them are running from, he said in the report. Some are just looking for a better life and some are looking to just survive. Most people, the report said, want violent criminals and those with final orders of deportation to be the priority for immigration enforcement. But they dont want blanket deportation. Reforming the immigration system must be a priority. Congress, which largely created this humanitarian problem, has the power to solve it. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thune, Rounds and Johnson all say religion is central to their lives. Thune has said his faith in Christ is the foundation for pretty much everything I do. Rounds, in an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network, reflected on faith and his job. I think part of it goes back to asking for wisdom and asking for the ability and the help to do whats right, to make the right decisions. A lot of decisions are not black and white. Its a matter of making the right decision long term. That saves lives. I think thats something that all of us as Christians should be doing. Johnson has said faith, family and freedom are pillars of our nation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Given their faith, and their powerful political positions and ability to influence this issue, they should not sit on the sidelines. It shouldnt be that hard to sway Congress when 87% of voting members say they are Christians. Cowles reminded everyone that Jesus was an immigrant. He made his way from Galilee and Judea into Egypt to flee the persecution of Herod. He pointed to the Catholic Churchs position on immigration. It says people have a right to migrate to sustain their lives and the lives of their families. It acknowledges that a country has a right to regulate its borders but that it should regulate them with justice and mercy. That is the issue we are running into right now, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cowles added that Jesus would stand with the immigrants because he understands the persecution of people. As Christians gather in churches this week and gaze at the image of Christ nailed to the cross, the authors of the One Part of the Body report have one wish. We hope that you will prayerfully ask the Lord what part you should play at a time when so many of your brothers and sisters are fearful of the impacts of deportation. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE CLEARFIELD COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) The Shapiro Administration has announced that three more federally-funded charging stations for electric vehicles are opening in Pennsylvania, and one is in Clearfield County. In total, Pennsylvania now has 11 stations that have been funded by the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program. Since opening, the stations have provided over 13,000 charging sessions, which powered 1.5 million miles of driving for those cars. Its estimated that Pennsylvania has reduced CO2 emissions by over 700,000 pounds. Drivers of hybrids, electric vehicles will see new charges in Pennsylvania Heres where you can find the new stations: Kwik Fill in Kylertown, Clearfield County along Interstate 80 (Exit 133), Pilot Flying J Travel Center in Mill Hall, Clinton County along I-80 (Exit 173), Loves Travel Stop in Mifflinville, Columbia County along I-80 (Exit 242). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Governor Shapiro has set a clear directive to get things done for Pennsylvanians, and the PennDOT team is meeting that, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll said. Weve been a national leader in the NEVI program, and we will continue to get stuff done for the people of Pennsylvania. Get the latest news, weather forecasts and sports stories delivered straight to your inbox! Sign up for our newsletters. The 11 stations exist due to a $7.2 million investment in the states EV charger network. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) clashed with CNBCs Sara Eisen on Thursday after the host pressed her over her opposition to President Donald Trumps on-again, off-again tariffs. What evidence are you pointing to that this is a corrupt policy? Eisen asked Warren during her appearance on CNBCs Squawk on the Street. Warren a top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee argued that Trump rolled out his tariffs with no exceptions only to later exempt iPhones from his import taxes, noting that the president has acknowledged that he talked with Apple CEO Tim Cook and made a great deal available to him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eisen responded, Its a great deal for Americans who have to buy iPhones. Warren, who moments earlier had noted that Cook personally donated $1 million to Trumps inaugural committee, shot back. No. Its a great deal for one company, Warren stressed. On Thursday, Warren joined dozens of Democratic lawmakers in signing a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer that described the presidents tariffs as part of a corrupt scheme. Democrats declared that the tariffs also invited corruption not only through quid-pro-quo arrangements but also through officials personal investments as his lack of a concrete policy opens the door to rampant insider trading. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elsewhere on the program, Eisen told Warren that Trump ultimately has the authority on tariffs, a claim that the senator tore apart. Well no, he does not. He does not have the authority if Congress does not let him keep this authority. We can take this away, said Warren, noting that Trump declared a national emergency when he pushed his tariffs. Later, after Warren spoke on the Trump administration freezing over $2 billion in funding to Harvard University, Eisen echoed pro-Trump arguments for the move by asking how the institution can be held accountable for failing to protect Jewish students before broadly characterizing the political leanings of its faculty. You know what, instead of just mouthing off about what you think is happening, actually present some evidence, said Warren while advising the Trump administration to go to court with its claims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You dont just get to lip off and say, And therefore the king gets to wave his magic wand and say, off with your head. That is not how it works in a democracy. Related... The acting commissioner of the IRS, who was installed by Elon Musks DOGE and is best known for blowing the whistle on Hunter Biden, has been forced out of his role before he even had time to get started. Gary Shapley will be replaced as the interim head of the service after just 72 hours on the job, sources told The New York Times on Friday. The deputy secretary of the Treasury, Michael Faulkender, is expected take over at the IRS in an interim role. Gary Shapley / Win McNamee / Getty Images The leadership swap is the latest to roil the IRS, which has had a conveyor belt of temporary leaders in MAGA 2.0. The change comes just three days after taxes were due for the majority of Americans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shapley, 47, was pushed out by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the Times reported. Sources said Bessent complained to President Donald Trump that Shapley was installed without his knowledge and at the behest of billionaire Elon Musk. A peeved Bessent, 63, claimed Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency acolytes had done an end run around him to convince the White House to hire Shapleydespite Bessent being the boss of whoever runs the tax collection service. U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent reportedly pushed Gary Shapley out of his role as interim head of the IRS. / Agustin Marcarian / REUTERS Shapley, a longtime IRS agent, appears to have gotten the boot simply because he was hired without Bessents blessing. The Times does not list any specific actions that led to him getting sacked, and he was spotted in the IRS commissioners office as recently as Friday morning. A source told The Wall Street Journal he will remain at the IRS as a senior official in its criminal investigation division. Shapley was the third acting IRS executive of Trumps presidency. In the role before him was Melanie Krause, who resigned this month in opposition to migrants tax info being shared with ICE. She had replaced longtime IRS official Douglas ODonnell, who CNN reports retired after weathering weeks of chaos and cutbacks at the agency. Gary Shapley (center) testifies during a House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing. He accused the DOJ and a Delaware district attorney of slow-walking its probe into Hunter Bidens finances. / The Washington Post / The Washington Post via Getty Im Shapley became a MAGA darling in 2022 and 2023 when he and an IRS colleague derided the Department of Justice and a Delaware district attorney for allegedly slow-walking its probe into the finances of President Joe Bidens son Hunter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He testified to Congress that federal prosecutors in Delaware were shielding the then-president from scrutiny in the case and had gone as far as tipping off his family ahead of a storage unit search in Northern Virginia tied to their probe. Among the alleged obstruction, Shapley claimed, was prosecutors refusing to grant access to files from Hunters abandoned laptop, blocking them from speaking to some in the first family, and vetoing a request to search a Biden guest house. Hunter Biden, 55, was eventually indicted on accusations he failed to pay at least $1.4 million in taxes. He pleaded guilty to all federal charges in the case in September, but was pardoned by his dad before his sentencing hearing. Musk's SpaceX facilities might be taking some flak from protestors lately, but it's nothing compared to the mass mobilization of demonstrations that have given his Tesla dealerships a black eye. That could change with his latest concept: a bid to build Donald Trump's "Golden Dome" missile defense system, for which the billionaire's SpaceX has emerged as a frontrunner, according to Reuters. Musk's company is leading a coalition of tech corporations in the bidding, including the surveillance platform Palantir and the drone builder Anduril. The current plan is to pitch the Pentagon on a "subscription-based" missile service, where the US pays for access to armaments owned by the tech companies instead of actually owning and ultimately controlling the system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under Musk's vision, the three companies would pool their talents to launch between 400 to 1,000 satellites to circle the globe, likely surveilling foreign ballistic installations for signs of action. Meanwhile, Reuters sources say a fleet of 200 attack satellites themselves armed with either missiles or anti-missile lasers would bring missiles down once detected. The Pentagon contracting out military operations is nothing new, though as Reuters notes, this deal would be a massive boost for Musk a Silicon Valley company has never owned an armament of this size outright. It's a major departure for the Pentagon as well. One source suggested that Musk's commercial involvement is bought by his role in DOGE, noting that "there's an attitude that the national security and defense community has to be sensitive and deferential to Elon Musk because of his role in the government." Though we have the richest man in the world to thank for the missiles-on-demand pitch, the bizarre push for missile spending is the brainchild of Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an otherwise lackluster executive order from January 27, the president warned that enemy missile attacks are the "most catastrophic threat facing the United States," parroting an ancient talking point held by everyone from Ronald Reagan to the Heritage Foundation. Disregard the fact that an enemy missile has never been launched against US soil, and the US' own history of indiscriminate missile strikes on foreign lands. As of January, the US owns 1,419 strategic warheads second only to Russia, which has 1,549. Meanwhile, remember that this is the same guy who brought us the Cybertruck, a luxury vehicle held together by glue. And his non-defense spacecraft have a nasty habit of falling out the sky. "It remains to be seen whether SpaceX and these tech companies will be able to pull any of this off," as a source familiar with the discussion told Reuters. Hell, bombs away. More on military contractors: NASA Caught Purchasing Controversial AI Surveillance Software Apr. 18Waves of students and job seekers walked the rows of the Northwest Montana Job and Opportunity Fair on Thursday featuring over 100 businesses and a chance to connect and explore professional opportunities. Levels of urgency varied when it comes to hiring across industries with some employers expressing extreme hiring concerns and others finding themselves in a better place than in previous years. The event at the Flathead County Fairgrounds was hosted by the Daily Inter Lake, Job Service Kalispell, Flathead Valley Community College, Discover Kalispell Chamber and WorkForce Flathead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We're hiring a little bit of everything right now," said Nomad GCS project manager Shean Gross, sitting at the Flathead Valley manufacturer's booth at the entrance to the job fair. Last year Nomad added around 100 employees to its local workforce, interim manager Candance Zumalt, said. "We're constantly growing so we're constantly hiring," she said. A list of current openings included quality assurances inspectors, engineering leads, assembly technicians, software engineers and human resource positions. Logan Health is also hiring across the board, according to the hospital's talent acquisition partner Amy Quinn. The hospital is also experiencing more stable employee numbers than in years past. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the hospital has utilized a travel program that recruits medical staff for weeks at a time. The hospital is eliminating the program as a result of adequate local staffing, Quinn said. "That's why we're hiring right now too, to keep those good numbers up," she said. The hospital is looking to fill vacancies, including imaging specialists, pharmacists, nurses, lab technicians and administrative positions. Nurses are in demand also, Quinn said. The goal is to show that working at Logan can appeal to everyone, Quinn said. She highlighted the hospital's certified nursing assistant program, where people as young as 16 can earn their Montana CNA license. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The job fair consisted of a morning session for highschoolers and an afternoon session open to the general public. A pig lung sat on the Logan Health table, a chance for kids and patrons to watch a lung inflate, as well as other goodies including candy and pens. Other booths were also interactive. The company behind Redneck products had a bucket of smoked sausages and the United States Marine Corps recruiting station boasted a pull-up bar for people to try. The Spot, a Kalispell coffee and doughnut shop, had a wall of doughnuts for visitors. While some companies report solid employment numbers, others find it trickier to lock down employees. The nonprofit Community Action Partnership of Northwest Montana, which provides social services assistance, reported a need for more employees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's been stagnant it seems, the applicant pool," Valerie Camp, a project manager for the agency said. She recounted a slow start to staffing last year as well. Kevin Connors, a career transition specialist with Job Corps, noted that the trade industries are also always in need of more employees. Job Corps, through the U.S. Department of Labor, gives young people an opportunity to train in various career fields including forestry conservation, firefighting and urban forestry. The fields range beyond natural resources, with entrances into manufacturing, carpentry, welding, culinary arts and facilities management. At the job fair on Thursday, Plains High School senior Isaiah Paseman said he wants to pursue a trade after graduation and took the opportunity to speak to employers about the opportunities in the trades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's cool to see all of the different job opportunities laid out, but I know I want to go into something more trade based," he said. Spring is the time when many businesses are adding additional staffing to prepare for the busy summer tourist season. "For the most part, we're in a good spot. Right now, we're approaching our busy season, so we're prepping with that in mind," said Amber Stafford, a district manager with Town Pump. Glacier National Park Lodges, a Xanterra company, is 94% staffed as of Thursday for the summer season, according to Victoria Nix, the company's human resource director. Seasonal jobs are posted in October and usually fill up with little issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reporter Kate Heston may be reached at 758-4459 or kheston@dailyinterlake.com. Students from Hot Springs High School play a drone operator simulation with Staff Sgt. Justin Kjos and the U.S. Army National Guard recruiting station at the Northwest Montana Job and Opportunity Fair on Thursday, April 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake) Casey Kreider Sean Sandersan, a senior from Libby High School, plays an oversized game of Jenga with Alyssa Smith and Harley May from the clothing retailer Buckle at the Northwest Montana Job and Opportunity Fair on Thursday, April 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Casey Kreider Wesley Adams, from Hot Springs High School, does chin-ups for a T-shirt with Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Steward at the Marine Corps Recruiting Station at the Northwest Montana Job and Opportunity Fair on Thursday, April 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake) Casey Kreider Several dozen empty trailers that drew squatters and sparked a legal battle in Los Angeles County are now creating a major headache for neighbors and officials in Riverside County. The roughly 70 trailers being stored in a vacant lot in the city of Wildomar were removed earlier this year from another empty vacant lot in the City of Industry while Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies supervised the eviction. The trailers attracted squatters who converted the lot into a makeshift homeless encampment. While the Black Series trailers are no longer a problem for City of Industry and Los Angeles County authorities, Wildomar officials say the trailers are now a nuisance for them. Wildomar authorities say the owner of the trailers did not obtain the necessary city approvals to place them on an empty lot that sits near several homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city of Wildomar is in the process of obtaining a warrant to remove the trailers after trying to work with the owner, Wildomar Mayor Ashlee DePhillippo said in a statement. The trailers violate the city's zoning and fire code, she said, adding that the matter is an ongoing code enforcement case. Read more: 'I'm going to resist': Protesters who seized state-owned homes five years ago prepare for eviction battle Wildomar officials notified the trailer owner Tuesday that the trailers must be moved within 48 hours or the city would do it and charge the owner for the costs. DePhillippo said while the city put the trailer's owner on notice and is seeking a warrant, the trailers may not be removed before the end of the week. "I want to be clear, the issuance of the warrant may not line up with a 48-hour notice, and we must wait for the proper warrant to be in place before we can enter the property," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday, two letters were posted on a chain link fence surrounding the trailers in the 20700 block of Palomar Street, according to neighbors. Notices dated April 15, 2025, from the city of Wildomar give the owner of the dozens of Black Series RV's 48 hours to remove them. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) The letters were addressed to Hongwei Qiu and Zihan Feng, according to copies of the letters shared online. Qiu, who owns Upland-based Black Series RVs, did not respond to requests for comment about the trailers after the city issued its order for removal. The trailers parked in disrepair on the Wildomar property are listed on the Black Series website from $44,000 to $50,000 each. In an interview with CBS News, Qiu apologized to residents and the city. He said that he wasn't aware that the trailers were violating the city's code and understands residents are worried that the empty trailers might attract squatters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are sorry ... for the feeling, because they read the news. Of course they are concerned that the same safety issue may happen to their neighborhood," he said. Read more: L.A. County's first safe parking for homeless people living in RVs opens in Crenshaw Wildomar resident Jessica Hume began to notice the Black Series trailers being brought to the property at the end of 2024. The trailers from the City of Industry may have begun arriving to Wildomar near the start of 2025. Hume confronted a man who was dropping off a trailer. She said he handed her his phone and Qiu tried to explain that he was not aware of the city's zoning codes. His recent apology to the community feels hollow, she said. Residents walk past dozens of Black RV's. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) "He apologized and then brought in more trailers," she said. "That's manipulation." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, Hume watched as a person attempted to rip down a chain link fence and try to access the trailers. She told them not to do that because it would be illegal. "I'm a little Irish woman and I feel like I'm out there policing the property," Hume said. Wildomar Code Enforcement Manager Raul Berroteran updated the city council on April 9 that the property owner where the trailers are located is attempting to evict Qiu. Just two days before the meeting, Berroteran said he witnessed a Black Series employee park another trailer on the property. He notified a company representative about the zoning violations and the company then followed up to ask for an extension on the timeline to remove the trailers. 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. During the post-9/11 wars, the US military came as close to perfecting near-immediate trauma care on the battlefield as the chaos of combat would allow. No matter how a soldier was injured, if a medic was nearby, the odds were in their favor. Air superiority, MEDEVAC helicopters, Combat Support Hospitals, and Forward Surgical Teams meant combat casualties had a good chance to meet the golden hour the race to get a trauma patient into an operating room within 60 minutes. But as the wars dragged on, evidence came in that perhaps the Golden Hour wasnt the ideal measure. A case study published in the Journal of Special Operations Medicine Spring 2019 issue found that 95% of early deaths resulting from traumatic injuries may have been prevented if the patient had undergone damage control surgery within 23 minutes of injury, not a full hour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the Golden Hour created the infrastructure of the modern U.S. militarys battlefield medical doctrine, its era is likely over. In future conflicts, medical evacuation is aiming to be much faster more like 20 minutes or less or in a war without air superiority and no access to higher care, much longer. You may have previously heard a discussion of the Golden Hour, Brigadier General Anthony McQueen told Task & Purpose as the commander of the Armys Medical Research and Development Command. Were moving more to a golden window of opportunity. In this weeks Task & Purpose video, Every Second Counts, stand-up comedian and Army veteran Thom Tran walks through the U.S. militarys evolving approach to combat medical care, evacuation and why the Golden Hour is really about 20 minutes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each week, on Tuesdays and Fridays, Task & Purpose will be bringing in military veterans to host segments on different topics. These will range from breakdowns of tactics and doctrine to explainers on new tech and weapons systems, but each will be researched, reported and reviewed by the journalists on the Task & Purpose team. As with the stories we cover on the website, these videos will look at these topics from a rank-and-file perspective. This means theyll aim to answer questions such as: Why does this matter to a junior service member about to deploy to [name a country], or who will have to use [name a weapon system] or deal with [name a problem or threat]. If you enjoyed this weeks video, please hop on over to our YouTube channel and follow the team there. And if you have suggestions for future topics our video team can cover, please hop in the comments and let us know. The latest on Task & Purpose Homeowners in New England are at risk from a devastating scam that could destroy their financial security. Massachusetts-based officials from the FBI recently sounded the alarm about the crime, urging people who own property to be on the alert. "Folks across the region are having their roots literally pulled out from under them and are being left with no place to call home," Jodi Cohen, special agent in charge of the FBI's Boston Division, said in a release on April 1. Don't miss Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The scam that residents are falling victim to is known as quitclaim deed fraud, home title fraud, or home title theft. It has been on the uptick in the New England area, and it is devastating because it targets what is, for most people, their most valuable asset: their home. Here's how the scam works, and what you can do to avoid it and keep your own home secure. New England homeowners are suffering big losses Home title fraud can take different forms, but it often starts with forged documents. Scammers use those documents to show that ownership of a property has changed hands. Once they appear on paper to be the owner of the home, scammers may sell the property or vacant land, rent out the property, or take out a mortgage on the property and walk away with the funds without making payments. Often, the homeowner is none the wiser about any of this happening if they don't live in the house full-time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the FBI, scammers called title pirates usually look through public records to find property that is not mortgaged or that is vacant. In other situations, people target their own family members since they already know details about the property. The scammers sometimes involve unsuspecting real estate agents who sell the home without knowing they aren't dealing with the real owner. Meanwhile, when the real owners eventually find out, they're forced to go to court to try to recover what's theirs. While it may seem far-fetched that someone could steal a property by changing some paperwork, the reality is that this happens far too often and cases are on the upswing in the New England area. The FBI's recent warning to homeowners provided details on just how often home title fraud is happening, and the numbers are shocking. Between 2019 and 2023, for example: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 262 Maine victims lost $6,253,008 to home title fraud. 1,675 Massachusetts victims lost $46,269,818. 239 New Hampshire victims lost $4,144,467. 224 Rhode Island victims lost $4,852,220. Nationwide, during this same period, there were a total of 58,141 victims that reported $1.3 billion in losses. And, things may be even worse than they seem, as not every victim reports it or even realizes theyve been scammed. And, it's not just homeowners who suffer from these crimes. If a defrauded buyer purchases a property that an illegitimate owner sold, they don't get to keep the house once the issue is discovered and they may never recover their funds from the scammer who sold the property to them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: The US stock markets fear gauge has exploded but this 1 shockproof asset is up 14% and helping American retirees stay calm. Heres how to own it ASAP How to protect yourself from quitclaim deed fraud The FBI has some tips for owners and realtors to try to avoid this type of fraud and protect their assets. Specifically, homeowners should: Monitor online property records to make sure no changes to the deed occur. Sign up for title alerts with your county clerk's office, if they're offered. Regularly drive by properties you own but dont living in, or hire a managing company to do the same Ask neighbors living near vacant land or property to notify you if they notice suspicious activity If you stop getting utility bills, contact the providers and find out why Meanwhile, real estate professionals are advised to do in-person identity checks, and request copies of documents only the true homeowner would have (like original surveys) and send a certified letter to the address of record on the tax bill when buying or selling properties. Agents should also call to verify if a public notary actually signed documents and they should avoid remote closings when possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By following these best practices, you can help avoid becoming one of the thousands of victims of quitclaim deed fraud who end up suffering huge losses and dealing with a ton of financial stress and hassle in trying to recover them. What to read next This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) Mexican officials confirmed, Cesar Hernandez, the convicted killer who escaped prison custody from Delano in December, was arrested by Mexican security forces during an operation Thursday night. Cesar Hernandez / Photo: CDCR Multiple media outlets in Mexico reported Hernandez, 35, was captured during the operation in an area just east of Tijuana. Hernandez was unarmed when he was taken into custody, according to those reports. No one was injured during Thursday nights incident. WATCH: Convicted killer Cesar Hernandezs getaway captured on video Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baja California officials said the operation involved state forces AEI and special forces from the Mexican military. The Attorney General of Baja posted images of the suspect targeted in the Thursday raid. He was identified as Cesar N. Courtesy: Fiscalia General del Estado de Baja California / Facebook Courtesy: Fiscalia General del Estado de Baja California / Facebook In a statement, the Baja California State Attorney General Maria Elena Andrade Ramirez said Hernandez was responsible for the killing of Mexican police officer Abigail Esparza Reyes, 33. Reyes was killed during an operation on April 9 in the Colonia Barcelona neighborhood of Tijuana, about 30 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border. Reyes was an officer in the Baja California security force, FESC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said Hernandez was involved in the shootout between him and multiple Mexican security agencies that left Reyes dead. Hernandez was able to avoid capture after the incident. Hernandez escaped custody from California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officers as he arrived at a courthouse in Delano for a hearing on Dec. 2, 2024. Hernandez was able to get loose from his handcuffs, punch an officer and run off. Still image of cellphone video shared with KGET of Cesar Hernandez making his escape from CDCR officers on Dec. 2, 2024. A botched operation: The international manhunt for escaped inmate Cesar Hernandez Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood said it was likely Hernandez used a self-made key to break free from the shackles to make his escape. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A multi-day manhunt followed in Delano, effectively shutting down the city and keeping many indoors as California law enforcement searched block-by-block and the surrounding area for any sign of Hernandez. A $35,000 reward was offered for Hernandezs capture. 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 KGET 17 News. An escaped California inmate who was wanted in connection with the death of the leader of an elite Mexican police unit was arrested after a weeklong manhunt, officials said. Cesar Hernandez, who was serving 80 years to life for first-degree murder before escaping from custody in December, was arrested Thursday evening in the northern city of Tijuana. He was wanted for the shooting death 33-year-old Abigail Esparza Reyes, the leader of the unit known as "Gringo Hunters," which dedicates itself to arresting U.S. suspects who are fugitives in Mexico. She was the head of the unit at the northern border state of Baja California. Esparza Reyes died during a shootout on April 9 in Tijuana while the unit was trying to arrest Hernandez. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mexican news outlets, including El Universal, reported that video surveillance showed Hernandez managed to escape while running almost naked through the streets before ducking under a tarp that was covering a vehicle. He emerged dressed in a fluorescent green uniform similar to ones used by local traffic police before walking away. Members of the State Security Agency escort U.S. citizen Cesar Hernandez, who allegedly shot and killed Abigail Esparza Reyes, 33, a top Mexican state police officer from the elite "These actions reflect the outstanding intelligence and investigative work carried out by personnel from the State Attorney General's Office, whose coordinated efforts, tactical analysis strategies and data collection made it possible to accurately locate the person arrested today," the Baja California prosecutor's office said in a statement on social media Friday. Officials in Mexico said Hernandez is facing criminal proceedings and "his legal situation will be determined in accordance with the law." Hernandez, 34, was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to 80 years to life in prison, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. He was on his way to Kern County Superior Courthouse for an appearance before a judge on Dec. 2, when he jumped out of the van and evaded staff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Esparza Reyes had led the regional team of the unit for eight years, carrying out more than 400 operations aimed at arresting U.S. fugitives who had fled to Mexico, Reuters reported, citing Mexican authorities. According to a profile on the group by the Washington Post, Esparza Reyes grew up in Tijuana and secretly wanted to be a police officer. White House responds to judge who found cause to hold Trump administration in contempt Facebook Marketplace drives shift towards e-commerce FSU student shares his experience following deadly campus shooting Senator John Horhn has dedicated over three decades to serving the people of Central Mississippi, consistently delivering results that strengthen our economy and communities. His proven leadership, commitment to economic growth, and vision for a vibrant Jackson make him the clear choice to lead our capital city forward. John Horhn understands that a thriving economy starts with opportunity for all. His experience in building partnerships, fostering job creation, and promoting Jackson as a cultural hub will bring new energy and prosperity to our city. Im confident he will lead with integrity and deliver the change Jacksonians are ready for. I urge my fellow Jacksonians to vote for John Horhn for mayor in this upcoming Runoff Election on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) For the second straight year, an East Tennessee State University student has won the prestigious Harry S. Truman Scholarship. ETSU junior and Community Health major Leah Loveday was chosen as the recipient of the scholarship. Investigation active after autistic child walks away from school, found by mom The Truman scholarship is among the most competitive and prestigious awards a student can receive in the U.S., ETSU stated in a news release. It recognizes future public servants by awarding recipients $30,000 to put toward tuition at a graduate school of the students choice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her work in the public health sphere has aimed to address Tennessees high rates of adolescent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections through comprehensive sex education, ETSU stated in a news release. Being able to define a public issue that I cared about, and that for me is sex education, Loveday said. So I work in the community as a sex education facilitator with a local nonprofit, Rise Healthy for Life, and basically being able to describe the issues that Tennessee has in terms of sexual health on paper to people that might not know about whats going on in our state or in our region. Loveday told News Channel 11 in an interview that she was surprised to find out she had received the scholarship. Last week, she went into what she thought was going to be a meeting only to be surprised with a celebration. There are not many people from public health or in terms of our area that have gone on to do the Truman, and so it was something that I did not expect for myself. I was quite pessimistic about it before I walked in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among the people waiting to surprise and congratulate Loveday were ETSU President Brian Noland and the universitys mascot, Bucky, as well as numerous people who have supported her over the years. Overall, in the Truman, most people go on to be lawyers or public servants in different ways, she said. There are very few people that go on to do public health thats not centered on being a doctor. And in public health, I dont want to be a doctor. I want to work in a health department or a house as a health educator. Thats not something that was common in the Truman world. Seeking the Truman scholarship is a daunting task, according to Loveday. However, she will now be given mentorship opportunities and have the chance to work alongside a nonprofit or agency of her choice. Loveday, a Sevierville native, has co-authored an article in a reputable public health journal and also took home third place in the 2023 ETSU Elevates pitch competition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trumans going to support me in continuing to be able to educate people, Loveday said. So I work with middle schoolers, high schoolers, students information, as well as college students. And I think its important to me to bring that to light in the state of Tennessee, too, just to be able to talk about and acknowledge the issue itself. Last year, ETSU student Trent White won the Truman scholarship. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Europe must be prepared to sanction Iran over its nuclear programme, America has warned. It comes as a new report is expected to announce that Tehran is dangerously close to having nuclear weapons. Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, said that Europe has a decision to make when it comes to Irans nuclear ambitions. I believe we should all anticipate that theyre about to get a report from the IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency] that says not just Iran is out of compliance, but Iran is dangerously close to a weapon, closer than theyve ever been, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the Europeans, they have an important decision to make very soon on the snap-back of sanctions because Iran is clearly out of compliance with the current deal. As you saw, the IAEA was in Tehran yesterday, issued public statements saying Iran is as close as its ever been to nuclear weapons. The presidents made clear Iran will not have a nuclear weapon. That is not going to happen. Were hoping that talks continue and that theyre fruitful and that they can lead to something. We would all prefer a peaceful resolution and a lasting one. It has to be something that actually not just prevents Iran from having a nuclear weapon now, but in the future as well, not just for 10 years with some sort of sunset provision or the like. Marco Rubio (left) has warned that Iran is very clearly out of compliance with the its current nuclear deal - Julien de Rosa/AFP An IAEA report from February found that Iran had been enriching uranium to 60 per cent, not far off the 90 per cent needed to be classed as weapons-grade. The country has also been improving its ballistic missile systems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rafael Grossi, the director general of the IAEA, was in Tehran this week and said: Iran does not currently have a nuclear weapon, but it is very close to reaching that point. The latest report is expected soon. Mr Rubios comments come ahead of a second round of nuclear talks between the US and Iran in Rome on Saturday. Abbas Araqchi, Irans foreign minister, said on Friday that he will attend the indirect talks in Rome, while clarifying that Oman, not Italy, will mediate the talks. Both Tehran and Washington said the first round of talks in Oman were positive, but Iran reacted fiercely to a comment by Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy, this week who said that the countrys nuclear programme must be eliminated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Irans enrichment is a real, accepted matter. We are ready to build confidence in response to possible concerns, but the issue of enrichment is non-negotiable, Mr Araqchi said in response to Mr Witkoffs comments. Iran has been enriching uranium and improving its ballistic missiles systems - Vahid Salemi/Associated Press Mr Grossi warned on Thursday that both the US and Iran are running out of time to secure a deal. We are in a very crucial stage of these important negotiations. We know we dont have much time, this is why I am here to facilitate this process, Mr Grossi said during a press conference in Tehran with Mohammad Eslami, Irans atomic energy agency chief. Donald Trump reiterated his warning to Iran on Thursday that a military solution to its nuclear programme is still on the table. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iran has a chance to have a great country, and to live happily without death, and Id like to see that. Thats my first option, Mr Trump said during a press conference at the White House with Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister of Italy. If theres a second option, I think it would be very bad for Iran, and I think Iran is wanting to talk. I hope theyre wanting to talk. Its going to be very good for them if they do. Iran cant have a nuclear weapon. Its pretty simple, he added. US airstrike on Ras Isa oil port in Yemen has reportedly killed 38 people - Houthis Al-Masirsah/Shutterstock As Iran prepared for Saturdays talks in Rome, Irans proxy group in Yemen fired another round of ballistic missiles at central Israel on Friday morning, sending millions of civilians into bomb shelters. The Israel Defense Forces said it intercepted the missile, which was launched by Houthi rebels hours after a US airstrike targeted Ras Isa oil port in Yemen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attack reportedly killed 38 people, marking one of the deadliest US attacks in Yemen since Donald Trump took office in January. The US Central Command issued a statement following the strike, saying the Iran-backed Houthis had been using fuel to sustain their military operations, as a weapon of control, and to benefit economically from embezzling the profits from the import. Parade of Iranian armed forces in celebration of Irans national army day - Anadolu Ras Isa, the statement continued, is strategically important for the Houthis as the group profits from illegal sales of fuel supplied by ships through the port. The Houthis, their Iranian masters and those who knowingly aid and abet their terrorist actions should be put on notice that the world will not accept illicit smuggling of fuel and war material to a terrorist organisation, the Central Command added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iran was on Friday celebrating its national army day, with parades of troops and weapons across the country. A foreign ministry spokesman condemned the US strikes on Houthis as barbaric. 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 Board of Education for Evanston Township High School District 202 moved forward at its April 7 meeting with plans to expand the high schools Arts & Innovation wing. The board approved awarding $2.5 million in construction contracts for the first phase of renovations and upgrades to the Arts & Innovation wing. Construction is scheduled to begin over the summer. The renovations to the Arts & Innovation space include a new orchestra space, a black box style theater and an extended hallway for the first phase of approved bids. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bulley and Andrews, a Chicago-based construction group, is overseeing the bidding process and construction. In a letter from Bulley and Andrews Senior Project Manager Antonia Winfrey to the districts Chief Financial Officer Kendra Williams, Winfrey recommended that the board approve 11 bids for the first phase of construction. Winfrey recommended an additional five bids for general trades, wood flooring, drywall, electric and excavation go out to bid again to ensure a fair and competitive bidding process and for the project to keep on schedule. Per the letter, the district has chosen to postpone accepting further bids for an orchestra addition, seating for the theater, a hallway extension and portable recording equipment before the May Board of Education meeting. Construction for the expansion and other upgrades to ETHS are being funded through the Evanston Township High School Education Foundation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Throughout the school year, ETHS has been celebrating the 100 year anniversary of its move to its current location near Church Street and Dodge Avenue in Evanston. The foundation has solicited and received big donations in the last year. In January, the Board of Education approved a $7 million gift, to be paid in installments, from an alumnus, Leonard Schaeffer, to upgrade the high schools auditorium. And in February, the board approved a $2.5 million donation from the Lewis-Sebring Family Foundation to upgrade the schools facilities, infrastructure and learning spaces. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, April 18. Uzbekistan and the US companies signed agreements on critical minerals, Trend reports. The news follows a meeting between a delegation from the Ministry of Investment, Industry, and Trade (MIIT) of Uzbekistan, led by Minister Laziz Kudratov, and the US companies. The MIIT delegation presented tailored investment proposals and highlighted the favorable business environment in Uzbekistan. Several US companies praised the countrys ongoing reforms and expressed interest in expanding their operations in Uzbekistan. The discussions led to the signing of agreements in the field of critical minerals that include investments in exploration and mining, construction of high-pressure grinding (HPGR) complexes, adoption of advanced technologies, and value-addition of critical raw materials. These agreements also include plans to upgrade the skills of Uzbek specialists. Moreover, deadlines were set for the implementation of new projects in Uzbekistans tourism sector, specifically the construction of hotels, further enhancing the country's hospitality infrastructure. The agreements are supported by formal contracts, with dedicated project managers assigned to oversee the successful implementation of each initiative. The MIIT delegations visit continues, with further efforts to solidify partnerships between Uzbekistan and the US. CONNECTICUT (WTNH) Eversource wants to help customers save money on their electric bills this summer. Lawmakers propose bill that would reduce cost of electricity in Connecticut As temperatures rise, most people will be cranking up the air conditioning. On average, customers use 35% more electricity in the summer than the spring. Eversource says there are options like the low income discount program or you can request an energy efficiency audit to save on your bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A professional will come to your home, Steve Sullivan, Eversource president of Connecticut Electric Operations, said. Review your home. Look for ways to lower your energy usage and therefore, lower your energy bill. There could be good news about your bill. Eversource says it looks like both the controversial public benefits charge and summer supply rates could both be dropping in the next few months. The final decision is up to PURA. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. John Pigsley, Keolis Commuter Services former assistant chief engineer, was sentenced to over five years in prison for stealing over $8.5 million intended to operate the MBTA commuter rail system and defrauding the Internal Revenue Service of over $2.6 million, United States Attorney Leah Foleys office said. Pigsley, 59, was also sentenced to three months of supervised release and ordered to pay $8,580,311 in restitution to Keolis and $2,689,206 in restitution to the IRS, Foleys office said in a statement. He was also ordered to forfeit three real estate properties and pay a $7,687,083 money judgment, Foleys office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pigsley pleaded guilty to five counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, six counts of tax evasion, one count of filing a false tax return and four counts of structuring financial transactions to evade reporting requirements in January. Keolis has operated the MBTA commuter rail system since 2014, the statement read. Piglsey worked in his role between 2014 and November 2021, and was responsible for the maintenance of MBTA Commuter Rail Facilities and their engineering operations. He and co-conspirator John Rafferty were both charged in April 2023, Foleys office said in a statement. Rafferty also pleaded guilty back in June 2023. Pigsley also ran a separate construction company called Pigman Group and was the general manager of LJ Electric, Inc., an electrical supply vendor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While at Keolis, Piglsey, along with Rafferty, took over $4 million through a fake LJ Electric invoicing scheme, Foleys office said. Rafferty bought vehicles, construction equipment and other items for Pigsley, Pigman Group and others. Pigsley told Rafferty to recover the cost of these items by turning in fake invoices from LJ Electric to Keolis. Rafferty spent over $3 million on items, including at least $1 million in home-building supplies and services and a $54,000 camper, the statement read. Pigsley directed Keolis to buy copper wire that he then stole and sold to scrap metal businesses in order to keep the cash proceeds for himself. Wire orders were delivered to Pigsleys home in Beverly before he took the wire to scrap yards, which he traded for a total of $4.5 million in cash, Foleys office said. Pigsley also defrauded the IRS by not paying federal income taxes received from the LJ Electric invoicing scheme and from scrapping copper wire, Foleys office said. He also filed a fake tax return for the tax year 2016 and deposited over $1.9 million in cash into his bank accounts between 2014 and 2021. Pigsley structured some of his deposits to evade the currency transaction reporting requirements used by financial institutions. More local crime stories Cox's Bazar Beach, one of the world's most important nesting grounds for olive ridley sea turtles, is in crisis. In just a few weeks, more than 100 of these vulnerable turtles have been found dead in Bangladesh, raising warnings from conservationists who say that human activity is pushing the area's wildlife to the brink. What's happening? Each year between October and April, olive ridley sea turtles migrate to Cox's Bazar to lay their eggs. But this breeding season, over 100 dead turtles have washed ashore, many entangled in nets or showing signs of injury. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wildlife researcher Shital Kumar Nath from the Community Development Centre told Mongabay that a mix of factors, including illegal fishing nets, rapid hotel development, and heavy foot traffic from tourists, disrupt the turtles' ability to nest and survive. Although large fishing nets are officially banned within 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) of the beach, enforcement is weak. Meanwhile, the area's booming tourism industry, which draws up to 35,000 visitors daily, continues to reshape the coastline. "As the situation is deteriorating day by day and it has been damaging nature and ecology, we will talk to the tourism sectors along with the other relevant departments to come to a solution soon," Nath said. Why is the turtle crisis important? Sea turtles play a critical role in marine ecosystems, keeping coral reefs healthy and balancing marine food chains. When they disappear, the ripple effects can reach humans, too. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roughly 1.6 million fishers in Bangladesh rely on fishing for their livelihoods. A healthy turtle population helps maintain the coastal ecosystems that support this way of life. The tourism industry also relies on the area's natural beauty, which becomes harder to market when wildlife begins to vanish. Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. What's being done about the turtle crisis? Several conservation groups including the Nature Conservation Management, CODEC, and the Arannayk Foundation are working to protect turtle eggs and hatchlings. Last year, they incubated nearly 37,000 eggs across 12 hatcheries. They also run local awareness campaigns to educate fishers, tourists, and residents on how to protect the turtles and their beach habitats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Governments have backed some conservation efforts, such as a multimillion-dollar project to save the Great Barrier Reef, but experts say more enforcement and coordination are urgently needed. Local solutions, like coordinated rescues by nonprofits and authorities in Florida, have helped protect vulnerable sea turtle populations and support their recovery. There are also ways for people to help: choose eco-friendly travel options, reduce plastic use, and support wildlife protection groups. 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. April 18 (UPI) -- Animal rescuers in Philadelphia responded to an unusual situation when a resident found a wandering peacock on their front step. ACCT Philly said on social media that rescuers were called out Thursday on a report of a loose peacock in the city. "This fabulous feathered friend was spotted strutting through the city like he had brunch reservations and no time to waste," the post said. "You know it's going to be that kind of day when your morning meeting gets interrupted by a wandering peacock on your front step." The group said the peacock was safely captured and brought back to the rescue. ACCT Philly did not say whether the bird's owners had been identified. Claim: An image authentically depicts the headline of an article published by The Atlantic, titled "A Rise in Sexual Assaults By Migrants is a Price Worth Paying to End Racism." Rating: Rating: Fake Claims circulating on social media in early 2025 purported to show an authentic screenshot of an article published by the politics and culture magazine The Atlantic, titled "A Rise in Sexual Assaults By Migrants is a Price Worth Paying to End Racism." The article in question was allegedly written by an author named Debbie Goldstein. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The image of the article shared on social media showed the headline along with a secondary headline that read "Quasi-consensual encounters between refugees and white western women may help with assimilation, says one Harvard academic," with no further text or hyperlink to the full piece. The image circulated primarily on X (archived), with a variety of users (archived, archived) commenting on (archived, archived) the alleged article. (@theblackspiderm/X) However, the image was a fake. There was no evidence The Atlantic published this article, nor that Goldstein exists. The Atlantic itself has declared the image fraudulent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is fake; it is not a screenshot of an actual Atlantic article. We have published no such thing. We have reported this as fake and as a trademark infringement," The Atlantic told Snopes via email. The magazine also published a public response on X (archived) condemning the fake headline. "For those who are sharing this image: it's remarkably easy to verify if something is real or not by visiting The Atlantic and searching our site." An image is circulating with this fabricated headline. The Atlantic did not publish an article with the headline "A Rise in Sexual Assaults By Migrants is a Price Worth Paying to End Racism." pic.twitter.com/8FAi4YVlQg The Atlantic Communications (@TheAtlanticPR) April 17, 2025 Rather, the fake image appeared to have been first posted to X (archived) by the user @Nero, an account belonging to far-right figure Milo Yiannopoulos who was, at one time, banned from X (then known as Twitter). The bio section of @Nero's X page links to a website for Earhart Turner, which describes itself as a "boutique advisory firm," of which Yiannopoulos is listed as a senior partner. The original post had nearly 2,000 reposts, 14,000 "likes" and over 1.2 million views as of this writing. Snopes reached out to Yiannopoulos via email and he declined to comment on the fake headline. The user responded to others commenting on the misleading post, including one response to a comment calling the purported news "insane," to which @Nero replied (archived), "I thought that when I made it up." Additionally, the user responded to a since-deleted post that, from context, appeared to evoke questions about the alleged author, Goldstein, writing (archived), "That might prove challenging, as I made her up 15 minutes ago." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indeed, a search for Debbie Goldstein on The Atlantic's website and Google yielded zero relevant results. More extensive searching did reveal a fiction author of cozy mystery novels named Debrah Goldstein, but she does not cite publication in The Atlantic on her official website. Further, a search for the alleged headline on The Atlantic's website and Google also yielded no relevant results. For these reasons, we've rated this image purporting to be an authentic headline from The Atlantic as fake. The Atlantic was founded in 1857 and the magazine's website describes the publication's "core principles" as "reason should always guide opinion; ideas have consequences, sometimes world-historical consequences; the knowledge we have about the world is partial and provisional, and subject to analysis, scrutiny, and revision." Sources: Debra's Bio - Debra H. Goldstein. 17 Apr. 2016, https://www.debrahgoldstein.com/bio/, https://www.debrahgoldstein.com/bio/. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Atlantic." The Atlantic, https://www.theatlantic.com/search/?q=Debbie+Goldstein+&search-sort=&tab=1. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025. "---." The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2016, https://www.theatlantic.com/search/?q=A+Rise+in+Sexual+Assaults+By+Migrants+is+a+Price+Worth+Paying+to+End+Racism. Turner, Earhart. "Earhart Turner." Earhart Turner, https://earhartturner.com/who-we-are. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025. Claim: Jennifer Vasquez Sura the wife of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man wrongfully deported to El Salvador filed a protective order against her husband alleging he committed domestic violence. Rating: Rating: True Context: Jennifer Vasquez Sura sought a temporary civil protective order against Kilmar Abrego Garcia in 2021 for alleged abuse, but she did not show up to a court hearing, which stopped the matter from proceeding. In an April 2025 statement, she said she "acted out of caution after a disagreement" due to her previous experience surviving domestic violence, that Abrego Garcia has "always been a loving partner and father" and that the pair went to counseling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amid public backlash in April 2025 for the wrongful deportation of Maryland father Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security publicized what appeared to be a temporary protective order filed against him by his wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura. "Kilmar Abrego Garcia had a history of violence and was not the upstanding 'Maryland Man' the media has portrayed him as," DHS claimed in an April 16, 2025, X post. "According to court filings, Garcia's wife sought a domestic violence restraining order against him, claiming he punched, scratched, and ripped off her shirt, among other harm." Kilmar Abrego Garcia had a history of violence and was not the upstanding Maryland Man the media has portrayed him as. According to court filings, Garcias wife sought a domestic violence restraining order against him, claiming he punched, scratched, and ripped off her shirt, pic.twitter.com/FpSV0k3i90 Homeland Security (@DHSgov) April 16, 2025 The allegation quickly spread on X and Facebook. News outlets reported on the claims, with headlines such as "Abrego Garcia's wife issues statement on domestic violence protective order." Snopes readers asked about the protective order and his supposed history of domestic violence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vasquez Sura did, in fact, file a temporary civil protective order against Abrego Garcia for alleged domestic violence in 2021; as such, we rate this claim true. But Vasquez Sura, who has vocally supported her husband amid his mistaken removal to a Salvadoran mega-prison, said in an emailed statement that she dropped the court case and the pair worked through the situation through counseling. It is worth noting that a civil protective order is not the same as a criminal conviction for domestic violence and has a lower burden of proof. Abrego Garcia has no criminal convictions for domestic violence, nor have Vasquez Sura's allegations in her protective order been proven in criminal court. From a legal standpoint, the 2021 order has no bearing on whether U.S. President Donald Trump's administration must return Abrego Garcia to the United States; the courts have repeatedly ruled he must be brought back. As of this writing, Abrego Garcia is still incarcerated in El Salvador; Maryland Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen met with him on April 17, confirming he is still alive. The protective order Evidence of Vasquez Sura's protective order filing is available through Maryland's judiciary case search system; a PDF of the case information provided by the system can be found here. The dates and case number listed align with the document posted on X by DHS, and Vasquez Sura has not denied that the DHS' document is authentic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The order, filed May 5, 2021, alleges Abrego Garcia "punched and scratched" Vasquez Sura, "ripped off [her] shirt" and "grabbed and bruised" her. The "case type" listed on the Maryland judiciary search system for her civil case against Abrego Garcia is "domestic violence." But Vasquez Sura said she filed the order "out of caution" as a survivor of domestic violence from a previous relationship and that the situation "did not escalate." Here is her full statement, first reported by Newsweek on April 16 and independently verified by Snopes via her media representative on April 18: After surviving domestic violence in a previous relationship, I acted out of caution after a disagreement with Kilmar by seeking a civil protective order in case things escalated. Things did not escalate, and I decided not to follow through with the civil court process. We were able to work through this situation privately as a family, including by going to counseling. Our marriage only grew stronger in the years that followed. No one is perfect, and no marriage is perfect. That is not a justification for ICE's action of abducting him and deporting him to a country where he was supposed to be protected from deportation. Kilmar has always been a loving partner and father, and I will continue to stand by him and demand justice for him. ABC News also reported that Vasquez Sura wrote a statement within her petition for protection that alleged Abrego Garcia "punched and scratched her eye," causing her to bleed. These 2021 documents also reportedly list two past incidents where Abrego Garcia allegedly hit Vasquez Sura in 2020. These particular filings do not appear to be readily available online; we reached out to Maryland's courts to request them and will update this story if they respond. The temporary order barred Abrego Garcia from contacting her and directed him not to contact, harass or abuse her; violation of a protective order in Maryland is a crime, per the document. There is no indication Abrego Garcia violated the order and the matter was dismissed on June 17 after Vasquez Sura did not appear for a subsequent court hearing, as she stated above. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Snopes previously debunked Vice President JD Vance's claim that Abrego Garcia is a "convicted MS-13 gang member." Sources: Alvarez, Priscilla. "Abrego Garcia's Wife: 'Stop Playing Political Games with the Life of Kilmar.'" CNN, 15 Apr. 2025, www.cnn.com/2025/04/15/politics/video/kilmar-armando-abrego-garcia-wife-court-hearing-jennifer-vasquez-sura-arena-digvid. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025. Charalambous, Peter, et al. "As Kilmar Abrego Garcia's Deportation Battle Continues, Differing Pictures of Him Emerge." ABC News, 18 Apr. 2025, abcnews.go.com/US/kilmar-abrego-garcias-deportation-battle-continues-differing-pictures/story?id=120910642. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025. Garcia, Armando, et al. "Wife of Kilmar Abrego Garcia Says Seeing Photo of Him Alive Is 'Very Overwhelming.'" ABC News, 18 Apr. 2025, abcnews.go.com/US/wife-kilmar-abrego-garcia-photo-alive-overwhelming/story?id=120941345. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maryland Judiciary Case Search. 5 May 2021, media.snopes.com/2025/04/jennifer_vasquez_civil_protective_order.pdf. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025. Mesa, Jesus, and Billal Rahman. "Exclusive: Kilmar Abrego Garcia's Wife Responds after Restraining Order Revealed." Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025, www.newsweek.com/exclusive-abrego-garcias-wife-responds-after-restraining-order-revealed-2060718. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025. U.S. Department of Homeland Security. "Kilmar Abrego Garcia Had a History of Violence and Was Not the Upstanding 'Maryland Man' the Media Has Portrayed Him As. According to Court Filings, Garcia's Wife Sought a Domestic Violence Restraining Order against Him, Claiming He Punched, Scratched, and Ripped off Her Shirt, among Other Harm. This MS-13 Gang Member Is Not a Sympathetic Figure." X (Formerly Twitter), 16 Apr. 2025, x.com/DHSgov/status/1912567112733753563. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025. Van Hollen, Chris. "I Went to El Salvador Hoping to Meet with Kilmar & Check on His Well-Being, and I Had the Chance to Do That Last Night. Our Courts Have Been Clear: This Was an ILLEGAL Abduction. I'm Speaking Now about My Meeting with Kilmar & Our Work to Bring Him Home": X (Formerly Twitter), 18 Apr. 2025, x.com/ChrisVanHollen/status/1913325124394090873. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025. Claim: The family of 17-year-old Karmelo Anthony, who is accused of the fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf, also 17, used funds donated to them to buy a house and a new car. Rating: Rating: False In mid-April 2025, social media users spread a rumor that the family of Karmelo Anthony, a Texas 17-year-old accused in the fatal stabbing of another teenager, purchased a house and a new car using crowdfunded donations sent to support them during the legal case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The claim spread on X and Facebook; one X post tying the donations to a "$900k home" and "brand new car" received nearly 60,000 likes and was reposted by Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, who received 38,000 more likes. Why the hell does someone raise a half million dollars for committing murder? https://t.co/JjnwaemRCm Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) April 16, 2025 Snopes readers also searched the website for information on Anthony supposedly purchasing a new house or car; some specifically asked whether Anthony bought a Cadillac Escalade. Anthony's family has a legitimate donation page on Christian fundraising site GiveSendGo, which has raised nearly $500,000 as of this writing but they have not withdrawn any money from this fundraiser, a fact stated by the family and confirmed via an email to Snopes by GiveSendGo co-founder Jacob Wells. Furthermore, allegations that the family bought a new home or car are not supported by credible evidence. Thus, we rate this claim false. Witness statements allege Anthony stabbed 17-year-old Austin Metcalf once in the chest with a knife during a verbal dispute at a track meet in Frisco, Texas, a suburb north of Dallas. Anthony supposedly confessed to the slaying, asked whether Metcalf would be OK and claimed he harmed Metcalf in self-defense, according to his arrest-warrant affidavit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Metcalf's father opened a GoFundMe fundraising page for his family. No money withdrawn yet In an April 17 news conference hosted by social justice group Next Generation Action Network, Kala Hayes, Anthony's mother, said in an emotional statement that the claims her family used the donations for personal enrichment were "completely false" (emphasis ours): And let me be clear, the claims, the claims that were used about the public donation, to buy a home or anything else are completely false. We have not received a single dime from the GiveSendGo fundraiser. And the co-founder has stated that clearly. In reality, we were just notified yesterday that we could begin to withdraw funds, and it still takes several days to receive those funds once the request is made. A full video is available on Next Generation Action Network's Facebook page; the quote above begins at 37:20. Indeed, as first reported by TMZ on April 16, GiveSendGo's co-founder and chief financial officer, Jacob Wells, confirmed that Anthony's family has not withdrawn any money from the donation page yet. Snopes independently confirmed this via an April 17 email from Wells, which said: "The Anthony family has not yet received any funds from their campaigns." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are some reports that Anthony's family also had fundraisers on GoFundMe and it appears at least one GoFundMe for Anthony, which appeared to have been taken down, shows up in a Google search but as of this writing, a search for Anthony's name on GoFundMe showed no fundraisers for him. However, in a statement sent via email, the company made it clear that Anthony's family would not have been able to withdraw any of these funds before the fundraiser came down. "GoFundMe's Terms of Service prohibit fundraisers for the legal defense of violent crimes. Consistent with this long-standing policy, any fundraisers for the legal defense of someone charged with a violent crime are removed from the platform and fully refunded," the company said. (GiveSendGo's policy says it does not allow campaigns benefiting "groups that support violence" which, in practice, is debatable but Wells told TMZ the organization allows fundraisers for those accused of violent crimes because suspects still deserve due process and presumption of innocence.) While funds may not have been withdrawn as of this writing, the Anthony family did explicitly note on their GiveSendGo page that the money will not be used solely for his legal defense (emphasis ours): While legal defense is a critical part of this journey, we want to make it clear that this fund is not solely dedicated to legal expenses. The funds raised will also support a range of urgent and necessary needs that have emerged as a result of this situation, including but not limited to the safe relocation of the Anthony family due to escalating threats to their safety and well-being, as well as basic living costs, transportation, counseling, and other security measures. Hayes said in the news conference that her family has been the victim of "lies and misinformation" that have put her, her husband and her three younger children in danger. As Anthony is Black and Metcalf was white, the case has attracted attention from white nationalists like Nick Fuentes who "have exploited the incident to spread hateful, extremist narratives about 'Black-on-white' violence," according to the Anti-Defamation League, a nonprofit founded to combat antisemitism and other forms of discrimination. The ADL also said the case sparked demonstrations from white supremacist groups such as White Lives Matter and Patriot Front. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim's father, Jeff Metcalf, asked the public not to speculate, politicize the case or "turn this into a racial thing" during an April 3 appearance on Fox News (see this video at 1:15). Claims about family buying a new house, car are not credible Allegations made about the family buying a new house and car appeared to originate with an April 16 Daily Mail story that claimed Anthony's family received a "parade of deliveries" while "holed up in an exclusive gated community in a $900,000 house despite claiming to have limited financial means." The story does not explicitly say Anthony used the donation funds to buy the home, but said an unidentified neighbor "questioned why the Anthonys would be asking for public donations while maintaining the lifestyle everyone in that community has." The Daily Mail also said Anthony's family is renting the home, which appears to be where the claim that Anthony's family "purchased" the home comes from. An address listed for Anthony in court records reviewed by Snopes was in a neighborhood mentioned in the Daily Mail's reporting, and real estate listing websites estimated its value as being above $850,000. (Snopes is not publishing the address because of the family's safety concerns.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was not possible to verify that a reporter for the Daily Mail, a British tabloid criticized for printing unreliable stories, visited the family's home and was able to legitimately report that Amazon packages, a new car and other supposed lavish purchases had arrived there. The tabloid also did not disclose the names of any of the neighbors it spoke to. The Daily Mail's reporter on the story, MaryAnn Martinez, did not immediately respond to an emailed request for more information about how she reported this story. Attorney requested bond be lowered Reputable news outlets like CBS News reported that Anthony's defense attorney requested his client's bail be lowered from $1 million to $150,000 during an April 14 court hearing due to his lack of prior criminal history. Anthony's father also reportedly testified that he could not afford a $1 million bond and that he could not access the GiveSendGo money; defense attorneys said the family needs those funds to get by because Anthony's father is on leave from work. In response, the judge lowered Anthony's bail to $250,000 and required him to wear an ankle monitor and stay at his parents' house should the family be able to post bond. Court records show Anthony posted bond April 14. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We reached out to Anthony's defense attorney for more information and will update this story if we receive a response. Sources: Anti-Defamation League. "Extremely Newsletter." ADL, 9 Apr. 2025, www.adl.org/resources/article/extremely-newsletter. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025. Brown, Briauna. "Karmelo Anthony's Bond Reduced, Granted House Arrest in Fatal Frisco Stabbing Case." Cbsnews.com, CBS Texas, 14 Apr. 2025, www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/karmelo-anthony-frisco-stabbing-austin-metcalf-bond-reduced-house-arrest/. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025. Colombo, Madison. "Grieving Texas Father Speaks out after Son Was Stabbed to Death at High School Track Meet." Fox News, 3 Apr. 2025, www.foxnews.com/media/grieving-texas-father-speaks-out-after-son-stabbed-death-track-meet. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Frisco Police Department. Arrest Report. Frisco Police Department, 2 Apr. 2025, static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/04/karmelo-anthony-arrest-report.pdf. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025. Jackson, Jasper. "Wikipedia Bans Daily Mail as 'Unreliable' Source." The Guardian, The Guardian, 28 Nov. 2017, www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/feb/08/wikipedia-bans-daily-mail-as-unreliable-source-for-website. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025. "Karmelo Anthony Gofundme - Google Search." Google.com, 17 Apr. 2025, www.google.com/search?q=karmelo+anthony+gofundme&oq=karmelo+anthony+gofundme+&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIPCAEQABgKGIMBGLEDGIAEMgYIAhBFGDsyBwgDEAAYgAQyCAgEEAAYAxgKMgYIBRBFGDwyBggGEEUYPDIGCAcQRRg80gEINjM0NWowajeoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025. Life, Distinctive. "Austin Matthew Metcalf Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information." Austin Matthew Metcalf Obituary, Distinctive Life Cremation and Funeral Services, 16 Apr. 2025, www.distinctivelife.com/obituaries/austin-metcalf/#. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Martin, Saleen. "Teen Accused of Fatally Stabbing Texas Track Athlete Released after Posting $250K Bond." USA TODAY, 15 Apr. 2025, www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/04/15/karmelo-anthony-released-on-bond-track-stabbing/83097673007/. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025. Martinez, Maryann. "Teen Killer Karmelo Anthony Receives Parade of Deliveries at Family's $900k Gated Community Home..." Mail Online, Daily Mail, 16 Apr. 2025, www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14615607/Teen-killer-Karmelo-Anthony-900k-gated-community-home-crying-poor-jail-Austin-Metcalf.html. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025. Next Generation Action Network. "Next Generation Action Network (NGAN) Previously Recorded | for the First Time, the Parents of Karmelo Anthony Will Speak Publicly Regarding Their Son's Case. Join Us as They Address the Falsehoods, Hateful... | by next Generation Action Network | Facebook." Facebook.com, 17 Apr. 2025, www.facebook.com/NextGenAction/videos/570364715500816. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025. "Nicholas J. Fuentes on X: "Nobody Wants to Say It, but the Majority O." Archive.ph, 17 Apr. 2025, archive.ph/xRNan. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Olmstead, Molly. "The Texas Track-Meet Stabbing Shows Where Right-Wing Influencers Are Headed." Slate Magazine, Slate, 15 Apr. 2025, slate.com/life/2025/04/austin-metcalf-karmelo-anthony-stabbing-case-texas.html. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025. Patel, Vinay. "Here's Why Karmelo Anthony's GoFundMe Campaign Was Deleted and Where People Are Sending Money Instead." International Business Times UK, 14 Apr. 2025, www.ibtimes.co.uk/heres-why-karmelo-anthonys-gofundme-campaign-was-deleted-where-people-are-sending-money-instead-1732670. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025. Staff, TMZ. "GiveSendGo Cofounder Defends Karmelo Anthony Fundraiser." TMZ, 16 Apr. 2025, www.tmz.com/watch/2025-04-16-041625-jacob-wells-2007643-391/. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025. The Anthony Family. "Help Karmelo Official Fund." GiveSendGo, Apr. 2025, www.givesendgo.com/HelpKarmelo. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025. "Update: Frisco Police Investigate Fatal Stabbing, Suspect in Custody." Frisco, TX, Frisco Police Department, 2 Apr. 2024, www.friscotexas.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2343. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 18. Iran's Pars Special Economic Energy Zone (PSEEZ) exported $11.2 billion worth of products, totaling around 24.6 million tons, during the last Iranian year (from March 20, 2024, through March 20, 2025), the head of the Customs Administration of PSEEZ, Jafer Vanda, told reporters, Trend reports. Vanda explained that the main exports from the zone included butane, propane, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), light and heavy polyethylene, urea, ammonia, and naphtha. He also noted that the products were primarily exported to China, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the UAE. KANSAS CITY, Mo. Thursday marked six months since 35-year-old Jonathan Rodgers was killed near the intersection of E. 6th Street and Monroe Avenue in northeast Kansas City. Im grieving, but Im not, his mother Zelpha Rodgers told FOX4. I cannot fully mourn, at times, I will start to break. And I just stop, take a deep breath, cause I cant. I cant do it, especially looking at the babies. KC man pleads guilty to federal gun charge from Chiefs Super Bowl parade shooting Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelpha described Jonathan as an outdoorsman and a caring father. His number one priority and in things was his three children. He loved his kids; he would do anything for these kids. That was his number one, she said. Zelpha said its been tough for the three, ages 5, 6 and 17, to come to terms with what happened. Theyd say this is the worst Thanksgiving ever, this is the worst Christmas ever. We want daddy! In the six months since Jonathans death, Zelpha said Kansas City police havent done enough. Theres been no progress, she said. The only thing Im being told is, oh, calm down, its still an open case, we havent closed it. Theres been no arrest, no questioning, no nothing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said shes even brought information about the case to detectives. I feel as if it were their child, they would have someone in custody, she said. Why arent they doing more? Why arent they doing something? The night of Jonathans death, Zelpha said he called her asking to live with her full time. He had lined up a job that he wouldve started the following Monday, and had even made arrangements to go to an inpatient rehab facility. He was he was ready to get everything under control, she said. And that that happened that night. Hes not just a homeless drug addict, I mean even if he was, cmon theyre human and have a life and have family somewhere. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KCPD investigating deadly shooting near 55th, Euclid Avenue She said there are people who know what happened to Jonathan, and they need to tell the police. He had three beautiful children. Let them have peace please, she begged. Please, before it happens to you or someone you love, call in, do something, please. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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) Two law enforcement officers in Mississippi were indicted on manslaughter charges in connection to the 2022 shooting death of Jaylen Lewis. Lewis, 25, died after a shooting incident involving Capitol police on September 25, 2022. He left behind three chidlren. A Hinds County grand jury indicted Steven Frederick, Jr., and Michael Rhinewalt in March 2025. Hinds County Circuit Court Judge Winston Kidd set Rhinewalts bond at $100,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two Capitol police officers indicted in Jaylen Lewis death Rhinewalt was previously indicted, along with Jeffrey Walker, on two counts each of aggravated assault. The two were accused of using excessive force after a traffic stop on August 14, 2022, in Jackson. I think the indictment needs to be amended to second-degree murder. You know, Im saying if he convicted on other charges, then the indictment needs to be amended to habitual offender. Thatll make the time mandatory. You know manslaughter in the state of Mississippi law, that guy can do three or four years, and hell be out, said William Drake, the father of Jaylen Lewis. According to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety (DPS), Frederick resigned in March 2023 shortly after being involved in a traffic accident while off duty. They said Rhinewalt has been on administrative leave without pay and has not been actively employed with the agency since January 2025. Jaylen Lewis (Courtesy: Arkela Lewis) Michael Rhinewalt (Courtesy: Hinds Co. Sheriffs Office) Well I dont want to say how I feel about those guys. I am a man of God. I was raised not to talk out against other people or not to assassinate other peoples character. Jaylen was that kind of guy. He was raised like that. But they have been a detriment to my household. My household has taken a major loss, and they have to deal with God on that, stated Drake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bailey Martin, press secretary for the Mississippi Department of Public Safety (DPS), said the department has made several improvements regarding officer misconduct to ensure greater professionalism and accountability. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. A 52-year-old Farmington man accused his wife of cheating on him and then repeatedly stabbed her at their home on Tuesday, according to attempted murder charges. Farmington police officers were sent to the home in the 19000 block of Goldfinch Drive about 8:30 a.m. on a report of domestic assault. Dispatchers told officers a woman was screaming that she had been stabbed and couldnt move, according to a criminal complaint filed Thursday in Dakota County District Court charging Mehdi Badaoui with one count each of first- and second-degree attempted murder. When officers arrived at the home, a witness and Badaoui were standing in the garage. Officers took Badaoui into custody, noting he had blood on his hand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The witness led officers to a bedroom, where the woman was lying on her side in a pool of blood. Officers applied a tourniquet to stop one of the wounds on her arm from bleeding. Later, hospital staff told officers she had 10 stab wounds, lost a lot of blood and needed emergency surgery. A laceration to neck/shoulder area and a wound to her armpit were considered the most serious, the complaint says. At the home, officers recovered a bloody pocketknife on the kitchen counter. Officers were able to speak with the woman, who said Badaoui is her husband and that he believes she is unfaithful to him. She reported he has beaten her and threatened her with a knife multiple times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The witness, who also lives at the home, told police she woke up that morning to yelling and saw Badaoui stabbing the woman. She also saw him drag the victim through the kitchen and into a bedroom. The witness pleaded with (Badaoui) to stop, but he stated he was going to kill (the victim) and go to jail, the complaint says. The witness told police Badaoui has choked the victim and threatened to kill her several times before. In an interview at the police station, Badaoui said he suspected his wife was cheating on him. He admitted to placing a GPS tracking device under a seat in her car and that several times in recent months he had waited outside her workplace for her to come out. On the day of the stabbing, Badaoui told police, he noticed that she was somewhere other than work. He went there and confronted her and they argued. Later, at home, they argued more. He said picked up a knife and began hitting her with it after she tried to scratch him in the face. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Badaoui said he thought he stabbed his wife three to four times, and admitted he was angry with her while doing so and that she was screaming for the witness during the attack, the complaint says. Badaoui had a first court appearance on the charges Thursday, where he remained at the Dakota County jail in lieu of $1 million bail or $750,000 with conditions. The court also issued a domestic abuse no-contact order, prohibiting Badaoui from having any direct or indirect contact with the woman. His next court appearance is scheduled for May 1. The facts in this case are shocking and the terror the victim endured is unthinkable, Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena said in a statement. Im grateful to the Farmington Police Department and the first responders who provided life-saving aid. My thoughts continue to be with the victim as she recovers. Badaoui does not have a criminal record beyond three parking tickets and a speeding violation, Minnesota court records show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Help for victims of domestic violence is available through the Day One hotline by calling 866-223-1111 or texting 612-399-9995. Related Articles KANSAS CITY, Mo. A Kansas City father and son have been charged in connection to a fatal dog mauling that took place last year. John R. Thibeaux II and John R. Thibeaux I both face one count of first-degree involuntary manslaughter and one count of second-degree assault in connection to the death of 46-year-old Chris Culbertson. Download WDAF+ for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson announced the charges Friday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Owning animals comes the responsibility of properly securing them. When owners neglect their duty to maintain adequate fencing or ignore warning signs of aggression, they put innocent lives at risk and could face serious criminal charges, Prosecutor Johnson said. According to court records, Kansas City police were sent to the area of East 80th Street and College on Nov. 2, 2024, and found numerous dogs attacking the victim. The dogs were chased away by officers using air horns and sirens, and they fled through gaps in a chain-link fence to Thibeaux IIs yard. According to the prosecutors news release, the fence was improperly installed, allowing the dogs to enter and exit the yard. The victim, who suffered severe wounds, died days later, according to court documents. Another person was also bitten while trying to stop the attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement View the latest headlines from Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas at fox4kc.com The prosecutor said surveillance video showed the dogs behind the fence in Thibeaux IIs yard before the attack. One of the dogs was outside the fence and began attacking the victim. The other dogs crawled under the chain-link fence and joined in on the attack. According to court documents, investigators also found that Thibeaux II was a dog breeder, based on posts on social media about puppies for sale. Thibeaux II also allegedly admitted in texts that one of his dogs had bitten him while he tried to break up a fight between his dogs, just months before the fatal attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KC Pet Project issued the following statement on Friday: KC Pet Project echoes the Jackson County Prosecutors call to action for all pet owners to keep their dogs secured, provide proper care, and immediately report any dangerous dog encounters to KC Pet Projects Animal Services Division. Allowing dogs to roam freely, regardless of their training or temperament, puts the entire community at risk. We remain heartbroken and outraged by the circumstances of this case. KC Pet Project is steadfast in its commitment to public safety and the humane treatment of animals in Kansas City. We will continue to advocate for accountability among dog owners and support stronger ordinances to identify and impound dangerous dogs before harm occurs.3. KC Pet Project impounded 4 dogs related to the Thibeaux case. After further investigation by the Kansas City Police Department and authorization from the same, and Jackson County Prosecutors Office, KC Pet Project euthanized all 4 dogs involved in the attack on the Thibeaux property. Public safety was KC Pet Projects main priority in coming to the decision of euthanasia and the dogs impounded posed an unacceptable risk to the community. We will continue to work toward a community where such incidents never happen through education, stronger enforcement of dangerous dog ordinances, and a collective commitment to responsible pet ownership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Tensions continue to rise as the high-profile killing of a Texas teen continues to divide the nation. A final press conference was held ahead of Karmelo Anthonys trial, where hes been accused of fatally stabbing another teen. But things took an emotional turn when an unexpected guest showed up to the conference. Jeff Metcalf, the victims father, was seen walking into the building just before the press conference was set to begin on Thursday (April 17). While wearing sunglasses, Metcalf didnt say a word to anyone except when he was spotted talking on his phone, according to CBS News. Given the nature of the case, the grieving fathers unexpected appearance was not on the scheduled program. In fact, Minister Dominique Alexander, president of the Next Generation Action Network (NGAN), called Metcalfs actions a disrespect to the dignity of his son. Alexander said, He knows that it is inappropriate to be near this family. But he did it. He continued saying, Actions speak louder than words. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alexander even delayed the event held at NGAN until Metcalf left the building. But about 40 minutes after the scheduled start time, Dallas police showed up and asked the father to leave. Video taken from the incident shows police confronting him before finally escorting him out of Anthonys family news conference. Dallas Police have arrived and Austin Metcalf's father is leaving news conference where Karmelo Anthony's parents are scheduled to speak publicly for the first time. pic.twitter.com/SKd4jQwR9C J.D. Miles (@jdmiles11) April 17, 2025 As The Root previously reported, 17-year-old Anthony was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. The charge stemmed from an April 2 altercation between Anthony, Austin Metcalf, 17, and his twin brother, Hunter, during a track meet. According to police, the brothers confronted Anthony about sitting under a tent designated for athletes, and thats when things escalated. Anthony allegedly told Austin, Touch me and see what happens. Thats when witnesses say a scuffle ensued, sparking the fatal stabbing. Austin died in his brothers arms as Anthony fled the scene. The 17-year-old claimed self defense to arresting officers. He was later released on $250,000 bond after Collin County District Judge Angela Tucker lowered his bond from $1 million. Since then, the high-profile tragedy has been fueled by public outrage coming from both sides. During the press conference, Anthonys mother, Kayla Hayes, addressed misinformation concerning her family. Whatever you think that happened between Karmelo and the Metcalf boys, my three younger children, my husband and I didnt do anything to deserve to be threatened, harassed and lied about, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hayes went on to claim the lies and the false accusations, such as the family buying a new lavish home, purchasing new cars and even hiring security, are without merit and have put her family in danger. I dont know why we are being targeted and discriminated against before a fair trial, she continued. Our son deserved the same rights under the law that everyone is afforded to. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. OAK HILL, WV (WVNS) A Fayette County man pleaded guilty to a federal drug crime involving methamphetamine. According to a press release, on Thursday, April 17, 2025, 41-year-old Phillip Gray, of Oak Hill, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. South Carolina man arrested and charged after driving through accident zone in Greenbrier County The press release stated that according to statements made in court, Gray revealed that he worked with other people to gather and distribute methamphetamine from around November 27, 2022 to around December 6, 2023 in southern West Virginia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gray and a co-conspirator sold 446 grams of methamphetamine on November 27, 2022 to a confidential informant at a trailer park in the Oak Hill area of Fayette County for $2,600. Gray and another person sold 443 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant at a- trailer park near Oak Hill on February 2, 2023. The press release stated that Gray acknowledged his involvement in both sales as part of the guilty plea. Grays sentencing is scheduled for August 8, 2025, and he faces ten years to life in prison, a minimum of five years of parole, and a $10 million fine. According to the press release, Gray is one of four people indicted by a federal grand jury on charges that alleged their involvement in the drug trafficking conspiracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former War police chief and son die in car accident in McDowell County, arrest warrant issued 43-year-old Leondus Whittenburg, of Beckley, pleaded guilty on March 3, 2025, to distribution of five grams or more of methamphetamine. 39-year-old John Gray, of Oak Hill, pleaded guilty to distribution of a quantity of methamphetamine on September 24, 2024, and both await sentencing. The indictment against co-defendant 39-year-old Daemien Thompson, of Oak Hill, is pending, and indictments are only allegations, and the people involved are believed to be innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston, who thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Central Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force for their work on the investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS. KANSAS CITY, Mo. A 19-year-old from Kansas City has been arrested and charged in connection with an arson attack at a Tesla dealership, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). This comes after two Tesla Cybertrucks were damaged in what the FBI says was an arson attack at a Tesla dealership in Kansas City, Missouri. Missouri Attorney General sues city of Kansas City over Sunshine request Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FBI Director Kash Patel took to X to announce the charges, which stem from the incident on March 17. This is our second Tesla-related arrest this week as our FBI teams continue our aggressive work to crack down on domestic terrorism cases like this one. @AGPamBondi has given us the support to pursue these cases, and we are acting accordingly, Patel wrote. The press release says the 19-year-old charged, identified as Owen McIntire, is a Kansas City resident who attends college in Boston. Hes accused of committing arson while he was back in Kansas City for spring break, the release says. A photo of the Tesla dealership and the suspect. Photo courtesy of the FBI McIntire is being charged with one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device and one count of malicious damage by fire of any property using in interstate commerce. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The charges allege that McIntire used a Molotov cocktail to damage the dealership and vehicles. Let me be extremely clear to anyone who still wants to firebomb a Tesla property: you will not evade us, said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. You will be arrested. You will be prosecuted. You will spend decades behind bars. It is not worth it. US has 800 measles cases and outbreaks in several states. Heres what you should know On March 17 around 11:15 p.m., a KCPD officer noticed smoke coming from a Cybertruck at the dealership and an unbroken Molotov cocktail near the truck. According to records, the fire from the first truck spread to another before KCFD arrived to extinguish it. A photo of the Molotov cocktail observed by KCPD. Photo courtesy of the FBI The release also claims that two charging stations were also damaged in the fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McIntire made his first court appearance on Friday, April 18, in the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Most people who use online dating apps are aware of the risks involved. As they swipe left and right, online daters could potentially expose themselves to the dangers of sexual harassment, cyberstalking and romance scams. Dating scams are nothing new, but the methods that scammers use to bilk money from innocent victims continue to evolve. Take pig butchering, for example. Don't miss Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This particular scam reportedly originated in China and its name refers to how farmers strategically fatten pigs up before theyre slaughtered in order to render more meat from the hogs. With the pig butchering scam, criminals attempt to fatten their targets up with romance, making them emotionally vulnerable before conning victims into transferring large amounts of money or investing in cryptocurrency schemes. This scam has quickly become one of the worlds fastest-growing forms of crypto fraud, with scammers taking millions of dollars from innocent victims. But theres good news to share: the FBI recently seized $8.2 million in cryptocurrency that was reportedly connected to the pig butchering scam. And while the bust is noteworthy, the method that authorities used to track down the stolen funds is considered a breakthrough that could lead to more crypto fraud busts in the future. How the FBI broke the case While Interpol has called for the term pig butchering to be replaced with "romance baiting," the reality is whatever you call it, these types of scams can be devastating. The FBI's Internet Crime Report revealed 17,823 complaints in 2023 that were related to romance/confidence scams, resulting in an estimated $652,544,805 in stolen money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With most online romance scams, the stolen money disappears for good. Thats why the FBIs $8.2 million seizure in crypto funds which reportedly came from more than 30 victims is considered one of law enforcements most significant actions against romance scams in U.S. history. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Ohio began the process by filing a civil forfeiture complaint that highlighted the scam back in February, arguing that funds had been taken illegally and should be recovered. The complaint cited many examples of wrongdoing, including one instance where a woman in Cleveland liquidated her retirement savings and transferred more than $650,000 in digital assets after being convinced she was making a legitimate investment. According to TRM Labs, "The FBI used blockchain intelligence to trace the flow of funds across multiple platforms and networks from centralized exchanges, to Ethereum and TRON, through DeFi protocols, and into final storage wallets." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once the FBI found the three wallets where the cryptocurrency had landed, the bureau seized all of the assets. And with the success of this investigation, the U.S. Department of Justice says it will use this breakthrough to continue probing into similar romance scams, which the department suspects may involve additional victims and broader fraud networks, according to Newsweek. Read more: The US stock markets fear gauge has exploded but this 1 shockproof asset is up 14% and helping American retirees stay calm. Heres how to own it ASAP How romance scammers prey on their victims A romance scam is essentially a long con a long-running scam in which a swindler repeatedly interacts with its targets and earns their trust, convincing them that a legitimate relationship is being formed. The communication typically takes place online, with the scammer often pretending to be someone they aren't in order to establish a close friendship or romantic relationship with the target. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After they've earned the targets trust, the swindlers will convince the victims to give them money to invest typically in cryptocurrency by talking about their own success with their investments. Unaware that theyre being scammed, the victims will then send real money to the scammers without realizing what theyve done until its too late. Unfortunately, these scams often result in victims losing large sums of money, as the scammers typically try to convince their targets to keep investing more and more money over time. How to protect yourself from romance scams Romance scams can be tough to spot as scammers often prey on a victims vulnerabilities, particularly their loneliness. Dating can be tough, and the allure of receiving attention from a viable suitor can be enough to lure potential victims into letting their guards down. The FBI, however, has a few tips for online daters that could protect them from scammers, or even help them sniff out a scam before its too late. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Protect your information: Limit the information that you share online to avoid making yourself a potential target. Do your research: When you meet/match with someone, search their name online to confirm their identity. Look for photos and social media accounts that prove your match is legitimate. Keep initial communication on the dating app: Try to avoid ditching the app and taking the conversation to text message too quickly. Avoid financial discussions: Be wary of anyone who starts to ask questions about your finances or investments. Such discussions shouldnt take place until you have confirmed your potential suitor is legitimate and an earnest relationship has begun. Meeting in person: You should be very suspicious of anyone who seems apprehensive about taking the relationship offline. If your potential suitor seems to make excuses to avoid seeing you in person, that could be a red flag. Never send money: Never, under any circumstances, send money to someone you've met online and have not met in person. If you suspect youve been scammed and have lost money, report the fraud to your bank and law enforcement immediately. The quicker you report the fraud to your bank, the easier it may be for the bank to reverse the fraudulent transactions. Same thing with law enforcement the quicker you report the crime to local police and the FBI, the easier it may be for authorities to trace, seize or freeze the stolen money. What to read next This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. CONWAY, S.C. (WBTW) The FBI is continuing an investigation that led authorities to question a former Horry County Councilman at his Conway home earlier this year, but the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division has ended its role in the case. FBI spokesman Kevin Wheeler told News13 on Thursday that the investigation is still ongoing but said no other updates were available. On Friday, News13 received a status report from SLED dated Feb. 10, which indicated that the agency was ending its role in the public corruption case involving threatening letters. The document said no further assistance [was] needed and that the case was being submitted for closure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bellamy, who is also a former Atlantic Beach interim town manager, told a News13 reporter outside his home in January that agents requested information from him, which he provided. He didnt elaborate on the nature of the information. Wheeler said in January that agents presence at Bellamys home on the 1200 block of 13th Avenue in Conway was part of an ongoing matter but did not elaborate. Bellamy served a four-year term on the county council that ended when he lost his bid for election in June 2022. He was fired in November from his job as Atlantic Beachs interim town manager amid an ongoing controversy surrounding the towns November 2023 mayoral and council elections. Town leaders cited a dereliction of duty in their firing of Bellamy and attorney Dwayne Green. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * * * Dennis Bright is the Digital Executive Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 deadly E. coli outbreak linked to romaine lettuce quietly spread through 15 U.S. states in late 2024, causing one death and hospitalizing 36 people, including a 9-year-old boy who nearly died of kidney failure. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) never publicly disclosed the outbreak, according to an internal report obtained by NBC News. The FDA traced the outbreak to romaine lettuce through genetic sequencing and confirmed 89 cases, yet did not name the company involved or issue any public warning. The internal report noted that there were "no public communications" because the contaminated product was no longer on the market by the time investigators confirmed the source. Critics, including former FDA and USDA officials, are sounding alarms over the lack of transparency. They argue that consumers have a right to know the source of contaminated food, regardless of whether the product is still available. It is disturbing that FDA hasnt said anything more public, said Frank Yiannas, a former FDA official. Food safety attorney William Marler added, If the gutted CDC and FDA can no longer do the job, we will step up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administrations sweeping cuts to federal health agencies are also being blamed for weakening the infrastructure needed to investigate and communicate food safety risks. Taryn Webb, who lost her job in the purge, warned that the U.S. has lost crucial mechanisms to prevent future outbreaks. The E. coli strain involved 0157:H7 is particularly dangerous and can cause severe organ damage. In Missouri and Indiana, school children were sickened after eating salad at school events. One victim, Colton George, was hospitalized for two weeks with hemolytic uremic syndrome and still suffers from lasting effects. Although the FDA says it only names companies when there is actionable advice, critics argue that transparency, even after the fact, is essential for accountability and public trust. Related: People Voluntarily Drank E. Coli Water to Get Traveler's Diarrhea for Science BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 18. Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will hold discussions to address certain issues that have been raised between the parties, Behrouz Kamalvandi, the Deputy Chairperson of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), told reporters, Trend reports. According to Kamalvandi, high-level technical talks are planned for the next two weeks during the visit of the IAEA's Deputy Director-General to Tehran. The official indicated that there are persistent challenges that consistently manifest in IAEA reports yet have not substantively facilitated the progression of technical objectives. Consequently, these challenges have precipitated augmented stressors on the Iranian geopolitical landscape. Kamalvandi emphasized that the aim of these discussions is to better manage the cooperation between the IAEA and various countries, moving forward in an effective and constructive direction. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel The Food and Drug Administration is reportedly planning to end most of its routine food safety inspections. Thats a move that raises questions about the future of food safety across the U.S. and under the Trump administration and following a worrying E. coli outbreak tied to McDonalds onions that killed one person and sickened more than 100 others. Each year, federal health officials estimate 48 million people get sick and 3,000 die from foodborne diseases. The plans have not been finalized, CBS News reported Friday, citing multiple unnamed federal health officials. However, the Department of Health and Human Services says the claim is false. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson told The Independent that the FDA is actively working to ensure continuity of operations during the reorganization period and remains committed to ensuring critical programs and inspections continue. One former official told CBS News that FDA employees have been working on a possible shift of the agencys food efforts to states for years, which could give the department the room to focus on higher priority and foreign inspections and help tackle case backloads. The Food and Drug Administration is reportedly planning to end most of its routine food safety inspections. The plans come after a report highlighted multiple problems with inspections (FDA) "There's so much work to go around. And us duplicating their work just doesn't make sense," one former FDA official, who worked on the plans before leaving the agency and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said. Notably, some inspections are already outsourced. The FDA says it may conduct inspections using state partnering agencies and that they also can be conducted by foreign countries with whom we have Memoranda of Understanding or similar agreements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State inspectors who conduct inspections are trained by the FDA to ensure consistency across state and federal efforts. State partners and the FDA share findings from their inspections. The FDA prioritizes inspections using a risk-based approach that takes into account todays global food supply and markets and focuses on issues of food safety that may affect public health, it says. It remains unclear what would happen in states that dont have contracts with the FDA to conduct inspections. Recent layoffs at the Department of Health and Human Services are also a factor. The department initially let go some 10,000 across agencies. With fewer staff members, come fewer inspections that can be done. CBS News previously reported that the FDA is planning to hire contractors in an attempt to fill that gap. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A report released by the Government Accountability Office earlier this year found that the FDA had not met its domestic and foreign inspection targets since 2018 although the Covid pandemic was a big hurdle. The FDA currently uses state and territory partners to conduct inspections. It remains unclear how changes would impact the states and those who dont partner with the agency (Getty Images) The office said the FDA had conducted an average of 8,353 domestic inspections per year and an average of 917 foreign inspections between 2018 and 2023. The report said FDA officials had already cited limited workforce capacity as the FDAs primary challenge to meeting inspection targets, and that the agency had not identified and implemented additional procedures for minimizing incidences where investigators attempt but are unable to complete an inspection. "In theory, relying on states to do more routine food inspection work could lead to better food safety," Thomas Gremillion, director of food policy at the Consumer Federation of America, told CBS News. "So far, this administration has acted with reckless disregard for how its policies will affect the detection and prevention of foodborne illness, and any plans to replace federal food inspectors with some other workforce deserve suspicion," he said. You may soon be on your own when it comes to avoiding contaminated food and foodborne illnesses. The Food and Drug Administration is suspending a quality control program for its food testing laboratories due to staffing cuts, according to an internal email seen by Reuters. The proficiency testing program of the FDA's Food Emergency Response Network is designed to ensure consistency and accuracy across the agency's network of about 170 labs that test food for pathogens and contaminants to prevent foodborne illness. The program will be suspended at least through Sept. 30, Reuters reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Unfortunately, significant reductions in force, including a key quality assurance officer, an analytical chemist, and two microbiologists at FDA's Human Food Program Moffett Center have an immediate and significant impact on the Food Emergency Response Network (FERN) Proficiency Testing (PT) Program," says the email sent on Tuesday from FERN's National Program Office and seen by Reuters. Since President Donald Trump's inauguration and the confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the new secretary of Health and Human Services, as many as 20,000 employees of the Department of Health and Human Services have been fired or left HHS agencies. The FDA was also forced in early April to suspend an effort to improve its testing for bird flu in milk, cheese and pet food due to staffing. Jim Jones, director of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's food division, resigned earlier in April after nearly 90 of his 2,000 staff were fired, according to the New York Times, citing the indiscriminate layoffs and disdain displayed for qualified workers. Kennedy, known for his controversial views on widely discredited theories such as vaccines causing autism, Wi-Fi causing cancer, fluoride in public water systems causing bone cancer and IQ loss, and antidepressants linked to school shootings, has sharply criticized the agency now under his control. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sweeping reductions come as the FDA was already struggling with massive shortages in inspectors and regulators in an industry that has seen widespread outbreaks in just the last few months of salmonella, listeria and E. coli. All of this may mean that consumers will need to take more of a role in protecting their own safety from foodborne illnesses. Federal health officials estimate that nearly 48 million people are sickened by food contaminated with harmful germs each year. Here are some steps you can take to avoid it. Trying to eat healthy? FDA has a couple of changes to make it easier. What to know How to prevent foodborne illness at home The FDA recommends four easy steps to prevent the spread of most foodborne contagion: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clean: Wash hands and surfaces often, especially after handling uncooked eggs, raw meat, poultry or fish and their juices Separate: Don't cross-contaminate, keep raw meat and poultry separate from cooked foods or other foods that will not be cooked later in the process. Cook: Always cook your food to a safe minimum internal temperature, which you should measure with a food thermometer. This will ensure any harmful bacteria in your food has been killed before you eat it. Chill: Keep perishable foods at a safe temperature: below 40 degrees. Follow the two-hour rule and do not leave perishable foods at room temperature for more than two hours (or one hour if the food is sitting in temperatures above 90 degrees). Plan to use or freeze leftovers within four days of when you first cooked them. When you do eat leftovers, reheat them to 165 degrees. How to handle produce to avoid foodborne illness Food processing is monitored at local, state and federal levels, but sometimes things get through, especially with produce and raw meat. Produce can be contaminated by animals, harmful substances in the soil or water, poor worker hygiene and problems with distribution, storage and food preparation. Choose produce that isn't bruised or damaged and keep pre-cut items refrigerated, cut away any damage or bruising that occurs after you buy it Wash your hands for 20 seconds with warm water and soap before and after preparing fresh produce Thoroughly rinse fruits and vegetables under running water before eating or preparing them, especially if they won't be cooked. Gently rub produce under the water soap or a produce wash are not necessary and use a clean vegetable brush to scrub firm produce, such as melons and cucumbers Dry produce with a clean cloth or paper towel to further reduce bacteria that may be present Remove the outermost leaves of a head of lettuce or cabbage Store perishable produce in the refrigerator at or below 40 degrees Avoid eating raw sprouts such as alfalfa, clover, radish, and mung bean Drink only pasteurized or shelf-stable fruit and vegetable juices How to handle raw meat to avoid foodborne illness Separate raw meat, poultry, and seafood from ready-to-eat foods in your grocery shopping cart, refrigerator, and while preparing and handling foods at home and consider placing them inside plastic bags in your grocery shopping cart to keep the juices contained To prevent juices from raw meat, poultry, or seafood from dripping onto other foods in the refrigerator, place these raw foods in sealed containers or sealable plastic bags Wash hands thoroughly with warm water and soap before and after handling raw meat, poultry, and seafood. If possible, use one cutting board for raw meat, poultry, and seafood and another one for fresh fruits and vegetables. If two cutting boards aren't available, prepare fruits and vegetables first, put them safely out of the way and wash the cutting board thoroughly with soap and hot water. Then prepare the raw meat, poultry, or seafood, and wash the cutting board again. Replace cutting boards when they get old or develop hard-to-clean grooves Wash dishes, utensils (including knives) and countertops with soap and hot water after they come in contact with raw meat, poultry or seafood Never taste uncooked marinade or sauce that was used to marinate raw meat, poultry, or seafood, and don't reuse it on cooked foods unless you boil it first Don't use the same plates for serving cooked food that you used to prepare raw meat, poultry, or seafood Cook your food to safe minimum internal temperatures such as 145 degrees for beef, pork and seafood, 165 degrees for chicken, etc. FoodSafety.gov has a chart of common foods and their safe cooking temps. If you have a weakened immune system, avoid hot dogs and deli meats unless they are reheated to 165 degrees or streaming hot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also avoid unpasteurized milk (so-called "raw milk") or milk products, as they may have been contaminated with high levels of bacteria from the animals that produced them, their waste or their environment. The pasteurization process kills pathogens that cause disease. Cook eggs thoroughly. Safety tips for seafood Floridians love their seafood. But they can be a powerful vector for foodborne illnesses. Only buy fish that is refrigerated or displayed on a thick bed of ice, ideally in a case or under a cover Fish should smell fresh and mild, not fishy, sour, or ammonia-like A fishs eyes should be clear and shiny, and fish should have firm flesh that springs back when pressed and red gills (if whole) or red bloodlines with no discoloration or drying around the edges (if filleted) Shrimp, scallops, and lobster flesh should be clear with a pearl-like color and little or no odor Look for tags or labels on packages of shucked shellfish for certification numbers Tap clams, oysters and mussels to see if they close and don't buy them if they don't. Throw out any with cracked or broken shells Watch for leg movement on crabs and lobsters to make sure they're alive, as they spoil quickly after death Don't buy frozen seafood if the package is open, torn or crushed and avoid packages with signs of frost or ice crystals. Frozen fish should be hard, and not bendable What temperatures should I keep meats, poultry, seafood and other foods? To keep all meats, poultry and food in general safe, your refrigerator should be kept at 40 degrees and your freezer at 0 degrees. Place a refrigerator thermometer in the refrigerator and check the temperature periodically. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FDA has more tips on storing food safely here. Reuters contributed to this story. This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: FDA suspending food safety quality checks. Here's how to protect yourself SOUTHWICK The owners of two homes appeared at the Select Board meeting Monday asking for help to find a solution on how to protect themselves from a resident of a group home on Klaus Anderson Road who has been escaping and putting their families in fear. Its not that hes leaving the home, said Jake Thibault, one of the homeowners who spoke about their experience over the last 10 months. Its that when he does theres a real and imminent threat to the community. Thibault said incidents involving the man, who is unidentified, started about 10 months ago and has occurred on three separate occasions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The man lives in a group home directly across the street from Thibault and Darcie Rock. During the first one, he said, the man walked directly into our house without knocking or announcing himself. He only left after my dogs chased him out, Thibault said. The police were called but no meaningful action was taken action to prevent this happening again, he said. Several months later, at 4:45 a.m., the man tried to get into the house through the front door, he said. The last time was a couple of weeks ago on a cold, rainy night where the man, barefoot and without a jacket, aggressively tried to open my front door, Thibault said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said after the second incident, the staff at the group home told him that systems had been put in place to ensure the man could longer leave the home unsupervised. Even with the plan in place, he was still able to leave the home unnoticed by staff and return to my home, he said. The man has been described by the police, Thibault said, as having violent tendencies, and breaking windows and damaging the inside of home. And from what I understand the staff cannot control him when it escalates, he said. That level of volatility adds an even greater layer of danger to an already alarming situation, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said the staff at the group home has shown it cannot guarantee the safety of its residents or the surrounding community. At an absolute minimum, he needs to be rehomed to a facility that can provide the services and care he clearly requires, Thibault said. Rock said she had multiple encounters with the man where he had walked into her garage and was coming at me in my driveway. On one occasion, she said the staff of the home chased the man down and wrestled him to the ground. Rock added that another resident has also gotten out of the home several times while unsupervised. She said when she approached the staff about trying to get the man under control, they jeered at meand told me to shut the [expletive] up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its an extremely dangerous situation, Rock said, adding that she carries a firearm. It needs to stop because something bad is going to happen, she said. Thibault asks the Select Board to formally request a state investigation into the home, press for emergency intervention to protect the residents and the neighbors, investigate and confirm the current licensing and operational status of the home, and provide a written response outlining the specific actions the town intends to take. Select Board member Diane Gale said she was shocked when she read Thibaults letter. Its chilling, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gale said action would be taken but there was nothing the town could do that, but they would do what they could. The name of the group home and whether its existence is known by state agencies is something of a mystery. The Westfield News contacted officials with the states Department of Mental Health, which has a satellite office in Springfield. An official there said there was no record of a group home operating on Klaus Anderson Road. However, the official said a staff member that works at a satellite office in Westfield had forwarded the YouTube link of the meeting on Tuesday, and was already aware of the situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was no record of a group home operating in multiple documents on the website of the states Department of Public Health. The town building inspector didnt know about the home, nor did the Board of Healths director. The town clerk said there was no business certificate listed for the home. According to the towns GIS site, the house is owned by Wasserman Holdings LLC, and its agent, according to state corporate filings, is Adam Wasserman, who has an address in New Jersey. Attempts to contact him were unsuccessful. The house was purchased by the holding company in 2013, according to the Registry of Deeds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Westfield News previously published a story about neighbors concerns regarding a female resident of the home in March 2014. According to the story, the home was leased to Becket Family of Services at the time. Calls to various Becket offices found on its website were not returned. On the Becket Family of Services website there is no information that it operates a group home in Massachusetts. There are, however, three group homes listed on the website. All are in Maine. DALLAS, TEXAS - MAY 17: Ammunition hangs from a gun during the National Rifle Association (NRA) Annual Meeting & Exhibits at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center on May 17, 2024 in Dallas, Texas. The National Rifle Association's annual meeting and exhibit runs through Sunday. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) The University of Minnesota, where a graduate student was detained and stripped of his student visa late last month, is the countrys only university actively contracted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, having leased its gun range to the agency since 2022 according to public federal spending data. A Minnesota Reformer analysis of ICE contracts also found that a gun range jointly owned by the cities of Cottage Grove and Woodbury holds one of the largest contracts for gun range leasing to ICE in the country, while a manufacturer in Anoka, Minn. provides more ammunition to the agency than any other contractor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Overall, contractors in Minnesota receive less in ICE contracts than those in states like Virginia and Texas, which each have had over $400 million in contracts since Jan. 2024, compared to Minnesotas $7 million. Still, the data shows the two ways that Minnesota stands out: in producing ammunition and leasing gun range facilities to the agency. The findings come at a time when the Trump administration has been actively ramping up its immigration enforcement tactics, which have included a flurry of executive actions and what legal experts deem a legally questionable expansion of ICEs reach. Immigration enforcement is becoming notably more aggressive in higher education, with hundreds of foreign students, including five from Minnesota State-Mankato, getting their visas revoked in recent days. Students and faculty nationwide have responded with protests against ICE, including at the University of Minnesota, where the existence of the gun range contract seems largely unknown. University of Minnesota leases gun range, making it ICEs only existing contract with a university The University of Minnesota has received $17,395 since 2022 to lease its Rosemount gun range to federal immigration enforcement for training, according to the spending data. The currently active contract, which ends in May, amounts to $18,867 to be paid over twelve months. Apprehension around immigration enforcement is high at the university, where Turkish graduate student Dogukan Gunaydin was arrested and stripped of his student visa on March 27 for a 2023 drunken driving conviction, the New York Times reported. University president Rebecca Cunningham called the arrest, whose reasons were initially unknown, deeply concerning in a statement the day after. Elected officials quickly responded on social media, and activists organized a protest in downtown Minneapolis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an email, university spokesperson Jake Ricker confirmed that the campus police department manages a firearm range on university property, which ICE, along with other law enforcement agencies, has reserved and used for several years. As a public university, decisions about reviewing space requests are required to be made in a viewpoint neutral manner, Ricker added. The last time another educational institution received contracts from ICE was when the Vermont State Colleges provided leadership training to the agency in 2023, according to the spending data. Johns Hopkins previously received over $1 million in ICE contracts, which, after a year of campus protests, were ended in September 2019 though the school has since signed contracts with Customs and Border Protection, according to a Mother Jones report. The larger University of Minnesota community seems unaware of the agreement. Luisa Gaona, president of the universitys chapter of Mujeres Activas en Letras y Cambio Social, an organization that helped circulate a petition to support immigrants and non-citizens on campus, said she was surprised to hear about the contract. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I just dont know why the university is collaborating, Gaona said. I dont see the point there. Gaona said that the contract will likely diminish trust in campus police among already-wary students. In her statement, university president Cunningham noted that campus departments do not enforce federal immigration laws, and our officers do not inquire about an individuals immigration status. Their focus remains on public safety, fostering trust and maintaining strong relationships across the University community, Cunningham wrote. Still, Ricker previously told the campus newspaper that the university cannot ignore federal court orders or subpoenas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration has rescinded prior protections from immigration enforcement in schools and is detaining international students with no charges. ICE had largely been targeting students who have expressed criticism of U.S. support of Israel in the Israel-Gaza war. The decision to arrest and jail Gunaydin for an old DWI signals a worrying expansion of ICEs authority, according to immigration lawyers. Twenty miles away from the university gun range is HERO Center and Shooting Range, a gun range jointly owned by Cottage Grove and Woodbury, Minn., that has received over $290k in contract payments from ICE since 2020, according to Cottage Grove spokesperson Phil Jents. Thats the second highest of active agreements ICE has with gun ranges, according to the spending database. In February alone, ICE spent $5,292 using the facility, Jents said. In other cities, contracts with ICE to use local training facilities have been controversial. In September 2019, Portland, Ore., police terminated a two-year contract to lease its training facility to immigration enforcement following criticism. Minnesota leads in ammunition manufacturing for ICE Minnesota is also the top producer of rifle ammunition for immigration enforcement, with over $28 million in contracts since 2020. That number is driven largely by the Kinetic Group, formerly Vista Outdoors, a Czech-owned ammunition manufacturer based in Anoka, Minn. with over $6 million in active contracts with ICE. A 2023 press release confirms that one of the companys brands received a contract from the Department of Homeland Security for ammunition made exclusively for law enforcement and at our Anoka, MN headquarters, though the press release did not give a dollar amount. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The companys most recent contract was signed in February for over $500k of ammunition and lists the principal place of performance as Fort Benning, Ga., a U.S. Army post where, as of 2019, ICE had plans to build a hyper realistic urban combat training facility modeled after a city in Arizona. A spokesperson for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and a spokesperson for the Kinetic Group both declined to comment on the contract. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) Hundreds of employees have been fired from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service (NWS) as the Trump administration cuts the federal workforce. In the meantime, 300 employees are expected to take the latest federal buyout offer by Thursdays deadline. Corporate greed: Moreno sends scathing letter to CEOs over Chillicothe paper mill closure Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, those firings and departures could impact central Ohio during severe weather season. Experts worry the cuts could have severe consequences, especially in instances like this weekend when there is the potential for dangerous storms. It seems to me that the individuals in charge of these decisions dont really understand the negative consequences of the decisions that theyre making, and they dont have a full picture of how all of these pieces work together, Ohio State associate professor of meteorology Dr. Jana Houser said. Houser worries forecast confidence could decrease. The cuts leave NOAA nearly 20% smaller than it was when Trump took office. A White House official said an extensive process was conducted before the NOAA layoffs to ensure mission-critical functions werent compromised. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New tenants coming soon to Easton, including Princess Polly, burger restaurant Some of our offices were already understaffed by 50% or so, so pulling out additional employees means many of these offices are operating with four meteorologists instead of ten, Houser said. NOAA oversees the NWS, the federal agency thats responsible for generating weather forecasts on the local level as well as all weather warnings. Regardless of where you get your weather, the data comes from NOAA-based weather models. We rely on those weather warnings to help us take shelter and to seek safety, Houser said. If were not getting those warnings, either because theyre being issued in a manner thats untimely or because theyre not being issued at all, we have a serious problem here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Houser said this means human lives could be at stake. Growing fast, Teays Valley asks voters to approve bond issue Weve already seen two very active severe weather outbreaks and in some cases, one forecast office is issuing 20 or more tornado warnings, basically all active at the same time, she said. The NWS also announced the reduction of its weather balloon observations. Twice a day, every day, the balloons are launched into the atmosphere, traveling higher than airplanes, allowing scientists to gather critical data used to help predict severe storms. When we start to eliminate those observations, we are not sampling the atmosphere very accurately, Houser said. Its kind of like trying to, you know, pull out individual pieces of the puzzle and then create a picture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tornado damage surveys are also feeling the impact. The surveys help show when and where tornadoes occur, but due to staffing, Houser said, experts often have to rely on pictures. Chocolate lovers may see sticker shock due to Trumps tariff tactics When we dont have sufficient on the ground eyes to determine what all of those characteristics are, we might end up with a false rating of the tornado, and thats going to affect an overall climatology of how intense tornadoes are, Houser said. A reduction-in-force plan is on the horizon with a goal to cut another 10% of the agencys workforce. A NOAA spokesperson would not comment on the layoffs. 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 NBC4 WCMH-TV. Aerial shot of the NIOSH campus in Bruceton, Allegheny County. (Photo from the CDC) Most Americans learned what an N95 mask was during the COVID-19 pandemic. But what many still dont know is that every one of them was certified by a single, government-run lab in Bruceton, Allegheny County in Pennsylvania. Its called the National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory. The name N95 actually comes from their certification standards. The lab, near Pittsburgh, is operated by the National Institute of Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH) and is the only facility in the country that is capable of offering the agencys stamp of approval. The same lab certifies a host of other protective masks and respirators used by firefighters, doctors, painters, factory workers, coal miners, pharmaceutical manufacturers, welders, chemical plant employees, construction crews and others. Many American employers are statutorily required to provide them to workers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An estimated 5 million Americans workers are required to use respirators at their place of employment. But according to a dozen current and former NIOSH employees and union representatives who have worked at or with their personal protective equipment division, that lab has halted almost all of its regular work and is preparing to shut down in June. Thats because of the most recent announcement of layoffs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The agency, run by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has announced plans to lay off 10,000 employees across its various divisions. Hundreds of those cuts are in NIOSH, the division that studies and recommends ways to prevent workplace health and safety hazards. Its kind of the sabotage of guide rails that have been set up for industry to help keep workers safe, said Jonathan Szalajda, a lab employee and former deputy director of the National Personal Protective Technology Lab. Its a situation where were leaving workers defenseless, and I think its certainly a step back from what weve done to protect workers over the last half century. A worker at a fracking facility wears a NIOSH-approved respirator. (Image provided by the CDC, 2016) Since the beginning of mass layoffs at federal agencies overseen by the Trump administration and Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), virtually every employee at the National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory has taken a buyout or early retirement offer, been put on administrative leave, or received a notice that their job is subject to whats called a reduction in force and that their last day will come in June. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not clear if the impending layoffs will hit every remaining employee because, according to workers and union officials, leaders at the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control have not been answering questions. Moreover, almost all of the labs supervisors have been placed on administrative leave, along with their HR contact. The reduction in force notices are confusing as well. Some sent out to individual employees note that layoffs will happen in their division, and they may or may not be subject to them. But another sent to the union that oversees the bargaining unit employees at the National Personal Protective Technology Lab said all of their jobs would be eliminated. Virtually every lab employee that isnt part of that union has already been placed on leave or told their position will be terminated in June. Given the lack of communication, and the sweeping layoffs that have hit other parts of the federal government, including NIOSH itself, employees at the personal protective equipment division are expecting the worst. Already, the labs workforce has shrunk from 120 to 70 this year, and the remaining employees are facing layoffs that the Department of Health and Human Services says will come in June. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention referred questions to the Department of Health and Human Services, which did not respond to multiple inquiries from the Capital-Star. NIOSH is a research agency within the CDC, which is a part of the Department of Health and Human Services. We have no idea what were supposed to do, said one remaining lab employee who spoke under condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation. We have no idea what to tell the manufacturers. This is so important, we just feel theres no way this can be real. Szalajda said the lab has stopped accepting requests from manufacturers to certify new respirators. The remaining lab employees who werent laid off have shifted their focus to preparing for the lab to be shut down. New research has also stopped because of time constraints and a freeze on federal employee credit cards that has made it impossible to buy necessary materials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, workers are finalizing research projects that are near completion, and preparing them for publication. Someone will have to own the travesty Szalajda and others have said they expect the labs closure to result in the market being flooded with substandard masks. Along with certifying new products, lab employees regularly inspect respirator manufacturing plants and test masks that have already been approved to ensure theyre still being manufactured to NIOSH standards. That work, however, has stopped, largely because of a freeze on approval of employee travel reimbursement. According to Szalajda, the lab has also stopped sending out contractors because theyre not certain theyll ever be paid given the rapid changes. Szalajda worries about a Wild West scenario where respirator manufacturers are free to cut corners in production, and no one will be there to catch them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The American public, if youre buying a respirator or a mask to do home improvements or hobbies or anything, youre going to be at the mercy of those companies to not become lax, said Linda Chasko, a NIOSH employee who was speaking in her capacity as vice president of the federal employees union that includes the Allegheny County NIOSH campus employees. The potential closure has also alarmed industry members, who have spent significant time and money ensuring their respirators meet NIOSH standards, and rely on the certification for new products. The closure of the lab could also cede the respirator market to foreign companies whose products are tested according to their own governments standards. NIOSH certification, however, had often been referred to as a gold standard, Szalajda said. During the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, KN95 masks were often billed as an alternative to N95s, which were at times difficult to find. The primary difference is that KN95s were certified in China. However, issues were found with a number of certified KN95s, which led to numerous recalls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is also a fear that counterfeit masks will spread. Part of the Personal Protective Technology Labs mission was to find and study respirators with fake NIOSH-approval stamps, and work with distributors to stop their spread. One of the last research projects that lab employees are working to finalize is a comprehensive study on the efficacy of counterfeit masks. They found that virtually all of them failed to consistently meet NIOSH standards for filtering air particulates. Between an HHS communications freeze and uncertainty that the report can be finalized before the lab closes, its unclear if the report will ever be released to the public. Were expecting there could potentially be an influx of counterfeit equipment, said Chasko. Whats at stake is the respiratory health and overall health of all the workers in industries that use equipment reliant on NIOSH standards. The labs closure could also cause problems for certain industries, like coal, where companies are statutorily required to provide NIOSH-certified respirators for miners. Its unclear what will happen if NIOSH is no longer able to provide that certification. Two N95s and a N100-type masks (photo from the Centers for Disease Control) For example, every underground coal mine is required by law to provide specialized respirators called closed-circuit escape respirators. Theyre for the worst case scenario: escaping a deadly and low-oxygen environment where something has likely gone very wrong. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those respirators are not just approved by NIOSH, but regularly audited by the lab to ensure they still work after being stored in harsh underground conditions with heavy dust exposure. The same masks are also required in certain Navy ships. We have found failures, one employee said about their regular audits. Personal protective equipment researchers in Morgantown, West Virginia, the other NIOSH office where research on respirators and protective gear is done, were also hit with layoffs. One Morgantown NIOSH employee who worked with the personal protective equipment team on firefighter safety recommendations was notified on April 1 that they would immediately be placed on administrative leave. That will end with their termination on June 1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, theyre hoping the decision will be reversed, and requested anonymity for fear of being targeted in the event that some employees are brought back. We were told it was just going to be a consolidation that the scientists would not be let go, the employee said about the layoffs, which have affected almost everyone at the Morgantown NIOSH campus. But the scientists went in the first round. Cathy Tinney-Zara, president of the federal employee union that represents the Morgantown NIOSH employees, said almost all work at the division has stopped, with almost everyone put on administrative leave ahead of terminations in June. You wouldnt believe how confusing its been, Tinney-Zara said. She said leaders at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have not been communicating with union officials. She cant even provide an exact number of workers who have been told theyre being laid off. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mostly, she gets updates through the news like everyone else. Most recently, U.S. Rep. Riley Moore, a West Virginia Republican, said some of the layoffs at the Morgantown facility, which does extensive work on coal miner safety, were made in error. But Tinney-Zara hasnt been able to confirm that or find out where he got that information. Its a real tragedy, Szalajda said about the labs closure and cuts at NIOSH. For people who work in this business, its not just the paycheck. Its a lifestyle. People who have been involved within our division, they work there because of a mission, the attractiveness of doing something that makes a difference in peoples lives. But Szalajda is hopeful that HHS may still reverse course. He and other employees are waging something of a pressure campaign by reaching out to lawmakers, industry partners and media. Moreover, he believes that even if the lab, or most of NIOSH, is shut down now, one day it will be replaced. But it may be a hard learning curve for whoevers brought in to get it running. He expects many of the most experienced people on staff now, would not return. Its just kind of a recipe for disaster, Szalajda said. It may not be something that happens right away, but there will be some sort of incident that will show the void of whats been left from stepping away, and someone will have to own the travesty that comes after that. Pennsylvania Capital-Star is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Pennsylvania Capital-Star maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Tim Lambert for questions: info@penncapital-star.com. Students and professors at Northwestern University and the University of Illinois Chicago held events Thursday as part of the National Day of Action for Higher Ed, a nationwide effort to protest the Trump administrations cuts to education funding and changes to policy. President Donald Trump promised to pursue federal cuts to education and eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs on the campaign trail, to stamp out curricula he deemed inappropriate. The Trump administration confirmed last week that it froze $790 million to Northwestern and the school received stop-work orders on roughly 100 federal grants.. However, the universitys president, Michael Schill, said in an email to faculty Thursday that Northwestern would continue to fund research that is subject to stop-work orders. Schill did not specify how. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some doctoral students and professors said Thursday the university hasnt done enough. As one of five planned events on Northwesterns campus, members of the universitys graduate school union held a news conference in Deering Meadow, the site of an encampment that sprang up last spring. They held signs urging the university to preserve research funding and help create a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace. Postdoctoral researchers or research coordinators could soon find themselves out of a job, said Peter Cummings, a doctoral student studying behavioral medicine who has spent two years working on a project examining the care of transgender individuals at the university. Cummings is unsure if federal funding for his research will continue to be available. The censorship that unfolds as a result of funding freezes is going to create a chilling effect where people arent going to be able to continue to do cutting-edge research in areas that need to be discussed, Cummings said. Were fending for ourselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some Northwestern professors pointed to Harvards public defiance Monday of the Trump administrations efforts to limit activism and free speech there, but recognized that it has more leeway as the university with the largest endowment in the nation. The future of (Northwestern) is more than just the money, said Jorge Coronado, a professor of Latin American and Andean literatures who attended Thursdays news conference in Deering Meadow. Its how you allow teaching and research to flourish, how you treat people who are in the university, how you listen to them and take into account. Northwestern is one of seven universities targeted in recent weeks for allegations of antisemitism tied to pro-Palestinian protests that spread across campuses in spring 2024. The other Ivy League institutions that have also been targeted have taken different approaches to respond to the funding freezes. In early February, Northwestern was placed under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education for what the federal agency called widespread antisemitic harassment. The university released a progress report in early March. It outlines mandatory antisemitism training, changes that the university has made to its student code of conduct and rules for enforcing violations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But conflict is still simmering on campus. Early Monday, a group of students vandalized several buildings at Northwestern, according to a statement on the universitys website. The graffiti was immediately removed. Antisemitic acts cannot and will not be tolerated at Northwestern, nor will vandalism or other violations of our policies on displays, demonstrations, or conduct, said Schill in the online statement Monday. Northwestern is working on identifying the people responsible, Schills statement said. He wrote that if they are students, they would be immediately suspended and face full disciplinary proceedings under University policies, as well as criminal charges under the law. The proximity of the graffiti incident to Trumps announced cuts was probably not a coincidence, according to Sari Eisen, the universitys student president of the Jewish organization Hillel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This (also) happened during Passover, which is a time when were supposed to come together and celebrate as a community, she added. As a Jewish student who witnessed the protests that spread across campus last spring, Eisen said she believes the university has made progress in combating antisemitism. Considering that its been such a quiet year, it was definitely kind of a shock to the student body. At the University of Illinois Chicago Thursday, organizers held a rally on the lawn outside an administrative building, calling on the university to fight relentlessly against the Trump agenda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jane Miglo, a sixth-year pharmaceutical doctoral student, said shes witnessed firsthand the attacks on science and research at the hands of the current administration. Its a pretty scary time, Miglo said. Its important to fund science. NIH funding fuels a lot of the economy, and I dont think people understand that. Cuts have also delayed research assistants and graduate students job offers, said Kasi Woods, a political sociology doctoral student at UIC. Typically released 45 days before their start date, Woods said Friday will mark 30 days before summer classes begin, and students have yet to hear back about their appointments. Some people still dont have their job offers even though theyve been told by the university that they will be teaching a class. That particularly affects international workers, Woods said. They are so afraid of having their visa status having some kind of lapse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A high-ranking official at U. of I., who did not have permission to speak on the record, told the Tribune last week that 19 students had their visas rescinded. UIC fourth-year English major Alicia Ribeiro said students have not been satisfied with the universitys response and want to ensure students who organized in support of Palestinians arent targeted like Mahmoud Khalil, who helped lead last springs protests at Columbia University and now faces possible deportation despite facing no criminal charges. Its really scary, Ribiero said. Not everybody has the same privilege as I do to be able to speak without certain retaliation. Im lucky to have citizenship, so I feel more comfortable sharing and speaking out than maybe noncitizen students, so I try to use that. UIC professor Xochitl Bada said there is a campaign of intimidation to avoid dissent on university campuses. As the Trump administration threatens cuts to funding research, Bada said she finds it belittling that conservatives believe students are unable to form their own judgments. (Photo: Getty Images) Early this month, the U.S. Department of Education issued an ultimatum to K-12 public schools and state education agencies: Certify that you are not engaging in discrimination under the banner of diversity, equity and inclusion, or risk losing federal funding including billions in support for low-income students. The backlash was immediate. Some states with Democratic governors refused to comply, arguing that the directive lacks legal basis, fails to clearly define what constitutes illegal DEI practices, and threatens vital equity-based initiatives in their schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After lawsuits from the National Education Association teachers union and the American Civil Liberties Union, the Department of Education agreed to delay enforcement until after April 24. But states across the country, both liberal- and conservative-led, are worried about losing other aid: the pandemic-era money that in some cases theyve already spent or committed to spending. The Department of Education has long played a critical role in distributing federal funds to states for K-12 education, including Title I grants to boost staffing in schools with high percentages of low-income students, and emergency relief like that provided during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conservative-led states particularly Mississippi, South Dakota and Arkansas rely the most heavily on these funds to sustain services in high-need districts. North Carolina is also among the most reliant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 15 states with the highest percentage of their K-12 budget coming from federal funding in fiscal year 2022 the latest year with data available from the National Center for Education Statistics voted for Trump in the 2024 presidential election. Similarly, 10 of the 15 states receiving the highest amounts of Title I funding in fiscal year 2024 also voted for Trump. Mississippi and Kentucky have sent letters to the Department of Education expressing concern over halted pandemic aid. The clash over federal funding comes even as the future of the Department of Education is murky, given President Donald Trumps pledge to dismantle the department. DEI-related cuts In letters to the Department of Education, state officials and superintendents in Illinois, New York and Wisconsin pushed back against the DEI directive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New York officials said they would not provide additional certification beyond what the state already has done, asserting that there are no federal or State laws prohibiting the principles of DEI. Illinois Superintendent Tony Sanders wrote that he was concerned that the Department of Education was changing the conditions of federal funding without a formal administrative process. Wisconsin Superintendent Jill Underly questioned the legality of the order. New York State Department of Education Counsel and Deputy Commissioner Daniel Morton-Bentley noted that the federal departments current stance on DEI starkly contrasts with its position during Trumps first term, when then-Education Secretary Betsy DeVos supported such efforts. Colorado and California also confirmed they would not comply with the Department of Educations order. While some states with liberal leaders are gearing up for legal battles and possible revocation of funding, conservative-led states such as Florida have embraced the federal directive as part of a broader push to reshape public education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Florida, anti-DEI laws have been in place dating back to 2023. In fact, many school districts and the state education department say they plan to follow the federal departments directives, noting the similar state laws. Pandemic aid cancellations In March, the Department of Education abruptly rescinded previously approved extensions of pandemic-era aid, ending access to funds months ahead of the original March 2026 deadline. When the Massachusetts governors office voiced concern over that decision, the federal departments reply on social media was blunt: COVID is over. Sixteen mostly Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia filed a federal lawsuit against the Department of Education and Secretary Linda McMahon, challenging the abrupt rescission of previously approved extensions for spending COVID-19 education relief funds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But backlash against abrupt federal cuts to education has not been limited to blue states. Mississippis Department of Education warned the cuts would jeopardize more than $137 million in already obligated funds, slated for literacy initiatives, mental health services and infrastructure repairs. The impact of this sudden reversal is detrimental to Mississippi students, state Superintendent Lance Evans wrote in a letter to McMahon. The letter also outlines the states repeated but unsuccessful efforts to draw down millions in approved funds since February. Shanderia Minor, a spokesperson for the Mississippi education department, told Stateline the agency is awaiting next steps and direction about the funds and federal directives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Kentucky, state Education Commissioner Robbie Fletcher told districts which stand to lose tens of millions in pandemic aid that abrupt federal changes leave them in a difficult position, with schools already having committed funds to teacher training and facility upgrades. According to Kentucky Department of Education spokesperson Jennifer Ginn, the state has about $18 million in unspent pandemic aid funds left to distribute to districts. And districts have about $38 million in unspent funds, for a total $56 million that could be lost. Lauren Farrow, a former Florida public school teacher, told Stateline that schools that receive Title I money are already underfunded and the federal threat only widens the gap. Florida is pouring billions into education but where is it going? Because were not seeing it in schools, especially not in Title I schools, said Farrow. I taught five minutes away from a wealthier school, and we didnt even have pencils. Teachers were buying shoes for students. Why is that still happening? Effects in the classroom Tafshier Cosby, senior director of the Center for Organizing and Partnerships at the National Parents Union, a parents advocacy group, told Stateline that while most families dont fully understand the various school funding systems, they feel the impact of cuts in the classroom. Cosby said parents are worried about the loss of support services for students with disabilities, Title I impacts, and how debates about DEI may deflect from more urgent needs like literacy and teacher support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve been clear: DEI isnt the federal governments role its up to states, she said. But the confusion is real. And the impact could be devastating. Today, as a consultant working with teachers across Floridas Orange County Public Schools one of the largest districts in the country Farrow says many educators are fearful and confused about how to support their students under changing DEI laws. Teachers are asking, Does this mean I cant seat a student with glasses at the front of the room anymore? Theres so much fear around what were allowed to do now. Theres no one giving teachers guidance or even basic acknowledgment. Were just left wondering what were allowed to say or do and thats dangerous. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This report was first published by Stateline, which like NC Newsline, is part of the national States Newsroom network. Amanda Hernandez contributed to this report. Stateline reporter Robbie Sequeira can be reached at rsequeira@stateline.org. In a February 2025 Truth Social post, President Donald Trump declared a Golden Age in Arts and Culture. So far, this golden age has entailed an executive order calling for the federal agency that funds local museums and libraries to be dismantled, with most grants rescinded. The Trump administration has forbidden federal arts funding from going to artists who promote what the administration calls gender ideology. Theres been a purge of the board of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, with Trump appointing himself chair. And the administration has canceled National Endowment for the Humanities grants. Suffice it to say, many artists and arts organizations across the U.S. are worried: Will government arts funding dry up? Do these cuts signal a new war on arts and culture? How do artists make it through this period of change? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As scholars who study the arts, activism and policy, were watching the latest developments with apprehension. But we think its important to point out that while the U.S. government has never been a global leader of arts funding, American artists have always been innovative, creative and scrappy during times of political turmoil. A rocky relationship with the arts For much of the countrys early history, government funding for the arts was rarely guaranteed or stable. After the Civil War, the Second Industrial Revolution facilitated massive concentrations of wealth, in what became known as the the Gilded Age. Private arts funding soared during this period, with some titans of industry, such as Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller, seeing it as their duty to build museums, theaters and libraries for the public. The heavy reliance on private funding for the arts troubled some Americans, who feared these institutions would become too exposed to the whims of the wealthy. In response, Progressive Era activists and politicians argued that it was the governments responsibility to build arts spaces accessible to all Americans. The Federal Theatre Project was shuttered after a production of Revolt of the Beavers in 1937. Heritage Art/Heritage Images via Getty Images Efforts to fund the arts expanded with the election of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932, as the country was reeling from the Great Depression. From 1935 to 1943, the Works Progress Administration provided jobs with stable wages for artists through the Federal Art Project. However, Congress famously terminated the program in response to a 1937 production of The Revolt of the Beavers, which conservative politicians denounced for containing overt Marxist themes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nonetheless, over the ensuing decades, the federal government generally signaled its support for the arts. Congress established the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities in 1965 to fund arts organizations and artists. And since 1972, the General Services Administration has commissioned public art for federal buildings and organized a registry of prospective artists. The NEA gave US$8.4 million in direct funding to artists in 1989 via fellowships and grants. This might be considered the high-water mark for unrestricted government funding for individual artists. Andres Serranos Piss Christ spurred calls to restrict public funding of the arts. Fairfax Media/Getty Images By the 1980s, sexuality, drugs and American morality had become hot-button political issues. The arts, from music to theater, were at the center of this culture war. Pressure escalated in 1989 when conservative leaders contested two NEA-funded exhibitions featuring work by Andres Serrano and Robert Mapplethorpe, which they deemed homoerotic and anti-Christian. In 1990, Congress instated a decency clause guiding all future NEA work. When Republicans regained control of Congress in 1994, they slashed direct funding for the arts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With direct funding to artists largely eliminated, todays artists can indirectly receive federal government support through federal arts agency grants, which are given to arts organizations that then dole out a portion to artists. Local and state government agencies also provide small amounts of direct support for artists. The stage of democracy Artists and arts organizations have a long legacy of persistence and strategic organizing during periods of political and economic upheaval. In the pre-Revolutionary colonies, representatives of the British government banned theatrical performances to discourage revolutionary action. In response, activist playwrights organized underground parlor dramas and informal dramatic readings to keep arts-based activism alive. William Wells Brown wrote antislavery plays in the antebellum period. Hulton Archive/Getty Images Activist theater continued into the antebellum period for the purposes of promoting the abolitionist cause. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These dramas, often organized by women, would take place in living rooms, outside of public view. The clandestine staged readings the most famous of which was written by one of the earliest Black American playwrights, William Wells Brown seeded enthusiasm and solidarity for the antislavery cause. These privately staged readings took place alongside public performances and lectures. Craft the world you want Dozens of experimental schools like the Highlander Folk School in Tennessee and Commonwealth College in Arkansas were founded in the 1920s and 1930s to train activists. Supporting adult learners of all ages but specifically young adults they initially focused on arts-based techniques for training workers in labor activism. For example, students wrote short plays based on their experiences of factory work. In their rehearsals and performances, they imagined endings in which workers triumphed over cruel bosses. Many programs were residential, rural and embraced early versions of mutual aid, where artists and activists support one another directly through pooling money and resources. Tuition was minimal and generally provided directly from labor organizations and allies, including the American Fund for Public Service. Most teachers were volunteers, and the learning communities often farmed to cover basic necessities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although these institutions faced perpetual threats from local governments and even the FBI, these communal schools became testing grounds for social change. Some programs even became training sites for civil rights activists. Curate the world you need Black artists have long created spaces for community connection and career development. The Great Migration brought many Black American artists and thinkers to New York City, famously spurring the Harlem Renaissance, which lasted from the end of World War I through the 1920s. During this period, the neighborhood became a fountain of culture, with Black artists producing countless plays, books, music and other visionary works. This legacy continued at Just Above Midtown, or JAM, a gallery and arts laboratory led by Linda Goode Bryant from 1974 through 1986 on West 57th Street in Manhattan. At the time, arts organizations primarily supported artwork by white men. In response, Goode Bryant launched JAM to create a space that supported and celebrated artists of color. JAM provided arts business workshops, cultivated collaborations and launched the careers of Black artists such as David Hammons and Lorraine O'Grady. Linda Goode Bryant attends the opening reception of an exhibition honoring Just Above Midtown at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City on Oct. 3, 2022. Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for The Museum of Modern Art The future is now Whether or not they realize it, many artists and arts organizations today are integrating lessons from the past. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent years, theyve promoted the unionization of museum workers and created local mutual aid networks such as the Museum Workers Relief Fund, which was one of many groups fundraising for arts workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Theyre building networks of financial support to share space and money with other artists and arts organizations. And theyre forming cultural land trusts, which create land cooperatives where artists can work and live with one another. Whats more, new philanthropic models are reshaping arts funding by elevating the perspectives of artists, rather than those of wealthy funders. CAST in San Francisco helps arts organizations find affordable gallery and performance spaces. The Community and Cultural Power Fund uses a trust-based philanthropy model that allows artists and community members to decide who receives future grants. The Ruth Foundation for the Arts makes artists the decision-makers in giving grants to arts organizations. While the current challenges are unprecedented and funding threats will likely reshape arts organizations and further limit direct support for artists were confident that the arts will persist with or without government support. 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: Johanna K. Taylor, Arizona State University and Mary McAvoy, Arizona State University Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. April 18 (UPI) -- The federal government on Friday released the first tranche of approximately 50,000 pages of classified documents related to the investigation into the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy in 1968. Friday's release consists of around 10,000 pages of documents that are now available on the National Archives. Last month, President Donald Trump's administration released approximately 80,000 documents related to the November 22, 1963, assassination of former President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Texas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After taking office in January, Trump signed an executive order to release tens of thousands of classified documents related to the assassinations of both Kennedy brothers and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard's department was charged with collecting and digitizing the unredacted documents, which have been stored in several federal facilities. Fridays release consists of around 10,000 pages of documents related to Robert F. Kennedy's death, that are now available on the National Archives. File Photo by UPI "The DIG partnered with The National Archives and other agency officials to manually scan and upload over 10,000 pages, for online viewing by the American people, to fulfill President Trump's maximum transparency promise," Gabbard said in a statement on her department's website. Further documents related to the Robert F. Kennedy assassination will be made public once they are processed. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbards department was charged with collecting and digitizing the unredacted documents, which have been stored in several federal facilities. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI Kennedy's son, current U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., applauded the news. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Lifting the veil on the RFK papers is a necessary step toward restoring trust in American government," Kennedy, Jr. said in the DIG statement. In January, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to release tens of thousands of classified documents related to the assassinations of both Kennedy brothers and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI "I commend President Trump for his courage and his commitment to transparency. I'm grateful also to Tulsi Gabbard for her dogged efforts to root out and declassify these documents." Hardly any of the documents related to King's April 4, 1968, assassination in Memphis, Tenn., and Robert F. Kennedy's death in Los Angeles had been catalogued, scanned and digitized, instead sitting in boxes in federal warehouses in different locations. Sirhan Sirhan, a Palestinian-Jordanian national, was found guilty of murder in 1969 in the death of Robert F. Kennedy. File Photo by UPI A large number of files related to John F. Kennedy's assassination were identified and ordered released following the federal government's passing of The President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992. The Act mandated the release of the JFK records, many of which carry heavy redactions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has ordered their unredacted release and Gabbard on Friday applauded the president's pledge to adhere to "maximum transparency" in all three cases. "Nearly 60 years after the tragic assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, the American people will, for the first time, have the opportunity to review the federal government's investigation thanks to the leadership of President Trump. My team is honored that the President entrusted us to lead the declassification efforts and to shine a long-overdue light on the truth. I extend my deepest thanks for Bobby Kennedy and his families' support," Gabbard said in Friday's statement. Robert F. Kennedy was shot while celebrating a victory in the California presidential primary at a Los Angeles hotel. A 12-member jury in 1969 found Sirhan Sirhan, a Palestinian-Jordanian national, guilty of murder and sentenced him to death. His sentence was commuted to life in prison and the now 81-year-old remains incarcerated at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in California. Despite the conviction, the circumstances around Kennedy's death in a crowd have sparked conspiracy theories that Sirhan did not pull the trigger, leading to ongoing calls to declassify government records related to the assassination and subsequent investigations. On Nov. 20, 2020, Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the 27th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting via video link in Beijing and delivered an important speech. In his speech, he quoted a Malay proverb "bukit sama didaki, lurah sama dituruni", which means to climb the hill together and go down the ravine together. It aptly captures the spirit of our Asia-Pacific family. China and Malaysia have been close neighbors for thousands of years, sincere partners for common development, true friends connected by hearts, and important forces for maintaining peace. Year after year, people from all walks of life in both countries have practiced the spirit of win-win cooperation in China-Malaysia relations. Looking ahead, China is ready to work with the Malaysian side to build a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future, so as to usher in a new "Golden 50 Years" for bilateral ties. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 18. Iran considers Russia's position on its nuclear issue important and significant, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi said at a press conference with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Moscow today, Trend reports. According to him, Iran hopes that Russia will continue to play a supporting role in reaching any new agreement. Araghchi said that Iran is constantly informing the Russian and Chinese sides about the processes related to the Iranian nuclear issue. Today, detailed talks were held with Lavrov on Iran's nuclear program. "Iran is ready to find a solution to the misunderstanding that has arisen regarding the peaceful nuclear program," he noted. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel A federal judge handed The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints a major legal victory on Thursday, dismissing a lawsuit in which nine people sought the return of hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations they gave the church across a quarter of a century. Judge Robert J. Shelby dismissed the case with prejudice, meaning the nine plaintiffs cannot try again. The church issued a statement through a spokesman, Sam Penrod. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tithing donations made by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are an expression of faith and allow the church to fulfill its divine mission, Penrod said for the church. These donations are carefully used and wisely managed, under the direction of senior church leaders. The legal claims brought against the church were rightfully dismissed by the court. During a January hearing, Shelby challenged the attorneys for the nine plaintiffs. He asked them repeatedly to help him understand why he should believe they had filed their claims within the time allotted by the statute of limitations. He also asked them over and over whether their complaint outlined the basic legal elements required by Utah fraud laws. What Shelby appeared to identify as potential weaknesses to the case in January became fatal flaws in his ruling on Thursday. Attorneys for the church argued in filings and in the January hearing that the legal clock began ticking on the statute of limitations in December 2019, when the Deseret News and more than a dozen other media outlets published stories about the release of a whistleblower report alleging wrongdoing by the church and Ensign Peak Advisors, an affiliated investment arm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first of the nine plaintiffs filed a lawsuit in late 2023. The others filed in two later complaints. Eventually, the courts consolidated the three cases. It strains credulity that reasonably diligent individuals who had donated substantial sums of money to the church and were otherwise interested in church affairs would not have learn[ed] of matters described in the report at or near the time of its release, Shelby wrote in his 44-page decision. ... And yet plaintiffs filed the earliest of the individual suits underlying the present multidistrict litigation in October 2023, approximately three years and 10 months after the whistleblower report was published. Church attorneys also argued that the plaintiffs claims didnt meet the legal standard for fraud. The court agrees with the church that plaintiffs claims are barred by the statute of limitations and are not adequately pled, Shelby ruled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ruling marks the second time in three months that the Church of Jesus Christ has won a court victory protecting tithing and other donations. On Jan. 31, a panel of 11 judges of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a unanimous ruling that dismissed James Huntsmans lawsuit seeking the return of $5 million he donated to the church. But Thursdays ruling did not go as far as the church might have liked. The attorney who argued on behalf of the church in January, former U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement, said then that the No. 1 reason Shelby should deny the claims by the 13 plaintiffs was because of a legal precedent known as the church autonomy doctrine or religious autonomy doctrine. Shelby ruled that he could not consider it. Indeed, the judicial canon of constitutional avoidance requires the court to focus on nonconstitutional failures before reaching the church autonomy doctrine, he wrote. Ultimately, the court does not reach defendants church autonomy doctrine arguments here because the pending motions compel dismissal of plaintiffs consolidated complaint on other grounds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The majority ruling on behalf of the church by the 9th Circuit Court panel in California also declined to consider the church autonomy doctrine. That doctrine could become a central part of a final tithing case now pending before the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Colorado. In that case, three former church members accused the church of propounding false beliefs and misrepresenting its history and practices to defraud members of donations. Shelby also heard the case. He dismissed most of the case, but the defendants, including Laura Gaddy, appealed to the 10th Circuit. A panel of three judges heard oral arguments in September. They have yet to issue a decision, but they indicated they saw barriers to the suit in church-autonomy precedent. The nine plaintiffs in the case dismissed Thursday had asked Shelby to turn their claims into a class action lawsuit and appoint a special master to oversee the churchs tithing distribution. The plaintiffs were Daniel Chappell, Masen Christensen, John Oaks, Mark Wilson, Joel Long, Brandall Brawner, Kevin Risdon, Gene Judson and Michelle Judson. Their complaint said they collectively donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to the church, but they did not specify how much of that they provided in tithing or fast offerings or other donations, Shelby wrote. Currently, international students in Georgia can go to school and work without fear of being deported. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] A federal judge is expected to grant a temporary restraining order after the Trump administration terminated dozens of student visas. None of these students did anything that would make them removable from the United States, said attorney Charles Kuck. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both immigration and attorneys for the government went head-to-head inside a federal courtroom on Thursday. TRENDING STORIES: A newly filed lawsuit accused U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) of illegally revoking the immigration status of dozens of international students in Georgia without due process. Everyone, no matter what their immigration status is, is entitled to the protections of the U.S. Constitution, said one advocate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suit alleges ICE used the student and exchange visitor information system to terminate the students statuses. We know ICE has AI, and they said, hey AI, heres all the students, check it against every database, Kuck told Channel 2s Audrey Washington. Inside the court, the attorney for the government requested a list of student names and information to determine the status and legality of the student visas. Kuck, who represents the students, agreed to provide additional documents. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] The judge is expected to grant the temporary restraining order on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It says youre OK. You cant be deported. You can go back to work, Kuck explained. This is going to create a tremendous psychological stress, retired Emory University professor Tara Doyle told Washington. Theyre terrified. Our students are so scared. I mean, theyre already nervous, Doyle explained. Washington reached out to ICE for comment, but did not hear back. A preliminary injunction hearing is scheduled for next Thursday. Sebastiana Gomez-Perez puts her arm around her son, Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez, after his release from Leon County Jail on April 17, 2025. (Photo by Jackie Llanos/Florida Phoenix) A federal judge brought up the arrest in Leon County of Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez, a U.S. citizen born in Georgia, during a hearing Friday in which she extended her block of the new Florida immigration law until April 29. U.S. District Court Judge Kathleen Williams expressed frustration about the arrests of Lopez-Gomez and others, said an attorney representing the immigrants and groups suing the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At issue is Williams April 4 order temporarily barring enforcement of a law passed during a special session earlier this year making it a first-degree misdemeanor to illegally enter the state as an unauthorized alien. A Florida Highway Patrol troopers arrest of Lopez-Gomez on Wednesday prompted national attention following Florida Phoenixs reports that he was set to remain in jail because U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement had placed a 48-hour hold on him even after a Leon County judge determined there had been no probable cause for the arrest. Lopez-Gomez was released from Leon County jail on Thursday evening. The 20-year-old held his mother in a tight embrace and wept when they reunited. We appreciate that the federal courts have seen through this blatantly unconstitutional law, but the reality is that, without enforcement, it seems that local law enforcement and Florida Highway Patrol are continuing to ignore the judge and order, said Miriam Fahsi Haskell, an attorney for Community Justice Project representing the plaintiffs, in a phone interview with the Phoenix. The reality is that once a person is arrested under SB 4C and booked into jail, that person risks then having an ICE hold on them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Community Justice Project, the ACLU of Florida, and Americans for Immigrant Justice attorneys are representing the plaintiffs: the Florida Immigrant Coalition, Farmworker Association of Florida Inc., and two women without permanent legal status. David Matthew Costello, lead attorney representing Attorney General James Uthmeier, declined to comment, and a spokesperson for the attorney generals office did not respond to the Phoenixs questions. The other defendants are the statewide prosecutor and state attorneys. Binding? During the hearing at the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of Florida in Miami, attorneys representing the state argued that law enforcement is not bound by Williams order, Fahsi Haskell said. Another hearing is set for April 29. The Court enters a [temporary restraining order] prohibiting Defendants and their officers, agents, employees, attorneys, and any person who are in active concert or participation with them from enforcing SB 4-C, Williams order states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two other men were with Lopez-Gomez when the trooper stopped the car because the driver was going 78 mph in a 65 mph zone, according to the arrest report. The driver, Estiven Sales-Perez, and another passenger, Ismael Sales-Luis, were also charged with illegal entry as unauthorized aliens. The driver was also charged with driving without a license. ICE has taken custody of Sales-Perez and is holding him in a Tallahassee field office, according to the online detainee locator system. Florida Highway Patrol will continue to work willingly with our federal partners to engage in interior enforcement of immigration law, a spokesperson for the agency wrote in a statement to the Phoenix. Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried called the arrest a kidnapping. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Where does the lawlessness of this administration stop? If this can happen to an American-born citizen, it can happen to any of us, she said in a statement. Correction: Florida Legal Services is not a part of the suit. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, part of the Catholic Diocese of Bismarck, sits on Raymond Street on Sept. 18, 2024. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor) A North Dakota federal judge ruled this week that a group of Catholic employers do not have to follow new federal regulations meant to protect workers access to abortion and fertility treatment, and to shield LGBTQ employees from discrimination. The order, released Tuesday by Judge Daniel Traynor, relates to two documents issued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission last year. One is a rule implementing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and the other updated non-binding guidance on Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlaws workplace discrimination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Diocese of Bismarck and the Catholic Benefits Association took issue with both of the regulations, arguing in an August federal court complaint that they force Catholic employers to go against their religious beliefs. Bismarck Diocese Bishop David Kagan said in a statement the diocese is thankful for the verdict. The Court has upheld our religious freedom rights and that is all we ever wanted, he said. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, signed into law by President Joe Biden in 2022, requires employers to provide workplace accommodations for pregnant and postpartum mothers like food, water and bathroom breaks, reduced physical labor and medical leave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The EEOC was tasked with implementing the law through an administrative rule, which was finalized last spring. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act does not specifically say employers must accommodate employees who seek abortions or infertility treatments. The rule does, however which prompted the Diocese of Bismarck and Catholic Benefits Association to sue. The plaintiffs alleged that in including protections for employees who seek abortions and infertility treatments, the EEOC went against the will of Congress. They also called the rule a violation of their religious freedoms, since the Catholic Church opposes abortion and certain kinds of fertility procedures. The EEOCs rule doesnt include blanket exemptions for religious employers, though the agency has said religious exemption claims will be addressed on a case-by-case basis. Laura Bakst, an attorney for the Department of Justice, said at a September federal court hearing that this allows the federal agency to handle cases more fairly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plaintiffs argued its unfair for employers to only be able to request an exemption when theyre already facing enforcement action. The lawsuit also took aim at updated workplace harassment guidance published by the EEOC last year. It states that harassment based on reproductive health care decisions including abortion, fertility treatments and contraception as well as sexual orientation and gender identity may now be considered sex discrimination under Title VII. It lists refusing to use transgender peoples preferred pronouns or not allowing them to use bathrooms that align with their gender identity as examples of possible discrimination, for example. Plaintiffs claimed this guidance would restrict them from following the Catholic Churchs religious teachings on reproductive and LGBTQ issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The guidance effectively requires Catholic employers to use false pronouns, to avoid speaking the truth regarding human sexuality around certain employees, and to permit opposite-sex employees to intrude into private spaces reserved to those of the other sex, their complaint states. Title VII does include an exemption for religious employers, but the Diocese of Bismarck and Catholic Benefits Association said the new guidance flouts this exemption. Employers who dont comply with the regulations can face enforcement action from the EEOC. They can also be sued by their employees. At the September hearing, an attorney for the plaintiffs argued his clients will be forced to choose between accommodating practices they consider immoral or being accused of workplace discrimination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were living in fear that well go through thousands of enforcement actions, Andrew Nussbaum said during the hearing. The EEOC has said that it considered public comment, the intent of Congress and guidance from the courts in writing the regulations. It also rejected the notion that either the rule or the guidance would infringe on employers ability to practice their faith. Traynor last fall temporarily blocked the EEOC from requiring Catholic Benefits Association members to comply with the challenged portions of the regulations. Tuesdays ruling made those exemptions permanent. In his September order, Traynor found that the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act rule and the Title VII guidance place a substantial burden on the plaintiffs ability to practice their religion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also wrote that the federal agency did not show it has a compelling interest in leaving the regulations in place, or that the rule and guidance sufficiently minimize the burdens they place on religious organizations. Traynor was appointed a federal judge in 2020 by former President Donald Trump. He served on the board for the North Dakota Catholic Conference from 1999-2001, according to a questionnaire for judicial nominees. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Attorney Charles Kuck speaks with reporters following a hearing on students' immigration status being revoked. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder This story was updated at 8:20 a.m. on April 19. UPDATE: U.S. District Court Judge Victoria Calvert issued a temporary restraining order Friday that will allow 133 international students and recent graduates studying around the country, including 26 in Georgia, to continue their coursework in the United States for at least the next two weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The administration of President Donald Trump revoked the students access to a program that allows international students to maintain their visa status. The students say they were given no forewarning and were not told why their status was being revoked. Some said they were ordered by the government to leave the country voluntarily or face mandatory deportation. Calvert found that the students are likely to show that the termination of their status was not lawful and was an arbitrary and capricious use of power. The judge also disagreed with the governments argument that the students had suffered no harm from the decision and should reapply to the program or consider transferring credits to universities in their home countries. Plaintiffs fear that they will abruptly have to leave behind family, cancel marriage plans, and abandon their communities in order to avoid detention or being labeled a national security or foreign policy threat, she wrote. Many Plaintiffs are mere weeks away from attaining their degrees. The loss of timely academic progress alone is sufficient to establish irreparable harm. Additionally, all Plaintiffs report high levels of stress and anxiety resulting from the uncertainty around their futures. If Plaintiffs cannot work or study, they cannot remain in the United States legally and will therefore be subjected to removal proceedings or forced to return to their native countries on their own. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The order also compels the government to agree to a protective order promising not to disclose the identity of the students participating in the case and not to use their identity for any purpose other than the litigation. The court has scheduled another hearing on Thursday to consider granting more permanent relief. Read the original story below: Over 100 international college students and recent graduates who say their immigration records have been abruptly revoked may soon have some temporary relief. In an Atlanta courtroom Thursday, U.S. District Court Judge Victoria Calvert said she is inclined to grant that relief. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I just need to figure out the contours, she said. In the suit before Calvert, 133 students from universities around the country including 26 from Georgia said the administration of President Donald Trump and U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement improperly cut off their Student and Exchange Visitor Information System records, or SEVIS. When it was originally filed last week, the case included 17 students and recent graduates, seven from Georgia. They attend schools including the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, Emory University and Kennesaw State University. Attorney Charles Kuck, who represented the students, said SEVIS was created after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks to track international students. Losing SEVIS status would effectively end an international students ability to keep studying in the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SEVIS is kind of like the Big Brother for foreign students, and if you violate any term in that, you get terminated, he said. But also, apparently, you get terminated when you dont violate any terms in it, according to the new theory of ICE. Kuck said the students werent told the specific reasons for their terminations. Many of his clients have had minor run-ins with the law, including traffic offenses like speeding or driving with an expired license, a DUI charge that was reduced to reckless driving or in one case, a domestic violence charge that was later dropped for lack of evidence. Some said they have no criminal or traffic history. Kuck said none of his clients have been accused of any infraction that would result in loss of SEVIS under federal rules, and he believes the government flagged his clients and others en masse using AI without any judicial review. An Inside Higher Ed analysis found that as of Thursday, over 240 colleges around the country have reported 1,480 international students and recent graduates who have had their legal status changed by the State Department. Federal judges in other states have already issued orders to temporarily reinstate students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement International students make up about 8% of the nearly 346,000 students enrolled in Georgias public colleges and universities. The revocations have sparked protests, including at Georgia campuses. Kuck said many of the students are close to graduation, and some have job offers they stand to lose out on, including one as a Georgia Tech professor. He said one of the plaintiffs has attempted suicide and many of the others are terrified. A lot of our clients are so fragile mentally, emotionally, they dont know what to do, theyre very concerned about if ICE is going to knock on their door, I mean, theyre panicked. And so weve spent a lot of time, unfortunately, calming them down, saying relax, its going to be okay, weve got your back, youre not going to get picked up, and this is all going to work out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attorney David Powell with the U.S. Attorneys Office argued that the students had not shown any evidence that they have suffered permanent harm. He said students should reapply for their SEVIS status and suggested that they could transfer credits and complete their studies in their home countries or in Canada. He requested that any relief be narrowly tailored to allow students to finish semesters they had already paid for but not to include recent graduates who are in the country performing optional practical training, a program which allows them to work in the country while waiting in the lottery for an H-1B visa a foreign worker visa that allows foreign citizens with specialized skills to work in the U.S. or make other plans for the future. The government has until midnight Friday to file a motion in the case, and Calvert could issue temporary relief shortly afterwards. Calvert, who was appointed to the bench in 2022 by former President Joe Biden, scheduled a follow-up hearing April 24 to consider more permanent relief. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Just four months ahead of their criminal sentencing for operating a $577 million cryptocurrency mining Ponzi scheme, the two Estonian founders of HashFlare were seemingly mistakenly ordered to self-deport by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) an instruction that directly contradicted a court order for the men to remain in Washington state until they are sentenced in August. In a joint letter to the court last week, lawyers for Sergei Potapenko and Ivan Turogin told District Judge Robert Lasnik of the Western District of Washington that both men had received disturbing communications from DHS ordering them to leave the country immediately. It is time for you to leave the United States, an email to Potapenko and Turogin dated April 11 read. DHS is terminating your parole. Do not attempt to remain in the United States - the federal government will find you. Please depart the United States immediately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The email, included with the letter filed last week, threatened both men with criminal prosecution, civil fines, and penalties and any other lawful options available to the federal government if they stayed in the country. It resembles emails that undocumented immigrants and U.S. citizens alike have received over the past few days. Ironically, Potapenko and Turogin are not in the U.S. of their own volition they were extradited from their native Estonia at the request of the U.S. Department of Justice in 2022 on an 18-count indictment tied to their HashFlare scheme. Though they initially pleaded not guilty to all charges, in February they both pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and agreed to forfeit over $400 million in assets. They have both been in the Seattle area on bond since last July. Although there is nothing Ivan and Sergei would want more than to immediately go home, they understood that they are also under Court order to remain in King County, wrote Mark Bini, a partner at Reed Smith LLP and lead counsel for Potenko, wrote in the pairs joint letter to the court. In his letter, Bini said DHSs emails had caused both Potapenko and Turogin "significant anxiety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We and our clients have all seen recent news. Immigration authorities make mistakes, and individuals who should not be in custody end up in custody, sometimes even deported to places where they should not be deported, Bini wrote. Reached for comment by CoinDesk, Bini added that Potapenko was "in a bind caught between two opposing instructions from the U.S. government." "DHS told him in no uncertain terms to deport immediately or he would be committing a crime, but DOJ has told him that he must stay and cant leave the Seattle area," Bini told CoinDesk. "Sentencing will show that there was no financial harm in this case, and we hope that at that time the Court will permit Sergei to return home to his family in Estonia immediately. Six days after Binis letter to the judge, the DOJ filed its own letter with the court saying that prosecutors had coordinated with DHSs Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) division and secured a year-long deferral to the self-deportation order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This should provide ample time for the sentencing to take place, the prosecutions letter said. DHS did not respond to CoinDesks request for comment. Potapenko and Turogin are slated to be sentenced on August 14 in Seattle. Their lawyers have said that they will request to be sentenced to time served, meaning no additional time in prison, and to be sent home to Estonia immediately. The Trump administration plans to reissue the final environmental impact statement for a long-delayed land swap that would hand over Oak Flat, a site considered sacred to Apache peoples and other Native peoples, to a copper mining company no earlier than June 17, according to a filing with the U.S. District Court of Arizona. The government issued the notice on April 17 even as the U.S. Supreme Court continues to deliberate over accepting a 4-year-old court case filed by grassroots group Apache Stronghold to prevent the 2,200-acre site from being obliterated by a copper mine. It's the latest twist in a more than 20-year-old struggle over the fate of Oak Flat, between the Native communities who hold the site sacred and Resolution Copper, which wants access to one of the country's remaining large copper deposits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the leaders of the opposition, the court filing confirmed their worst fears. The U.S. government is rushing to give away our spiritual home before the courts can even rule just like its rushed to erase Native people for generations, said Apache Stronghold leader Wendsler Nosie. This is the same violent pattern we have seen for centuries. We urge the Supreme Court to protect our spiritual lifeblood and give our sacred site the same protection given to the holiest churches, mosques, and synagogues throughout this country. "The feds are barreling ahead to give Oak Flat to Resolution Copper, even as the Supreme Court considers whether to hear the case, said Luke Goodrich, vice president and senior counsel at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, a nonprofit legal organization that works to protect religious rights and practices. This makes the stakes crystal clear: If the court doesnt act now, Oak Flat could be transferred and destroyed before justice can be served. Sacred lands: Indigenous people find legal, cultural barriers to protect sacred spaces off tribal lands Case has bounced between Congress, courts Oak Flat, or Chichil Bidagoteel, "the place where the Emory oak grows," is at the heart of a dispute over what should happen to the land. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In December 2014, Congress authorized the U.S. Forest Service to trade the 2,200-acre site, currently a campground about 60 miles east of Phoenix, for parcels of environmentally sensitive private land owned by Resolution Copper, a subsidiary of British-Australian mining companies Rio Tinto and BHP. To obtain the copper ore, Resolution would use a method known as block cave mining, in which tunnels are drilled beneath the ore body, and then collapsed, leaving the ore to be moved to a crushing facility. Eventually, the ground would subside, leaving behind a crater about 1,000 feet deep and nearly 2 miles across where Oak Flat and its religious and environmental significance stand. The U.S. Forest Service published the final environmental impact statement and draft decision for the copper mine and land swap five days before the end of the Trump administration in January 2021. The land deal could have been finalized within 60 days of that action. Apache Stronghold filed its lawsuit in January 2021 in federal court to stop the land swap, citing religious rights guarantees under the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Becket accepted the case and, along with a group of private attorneys and law professors, has represented Apache Stronghold, which includes Apache and other Native peoples and their allies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Biden administration rescinded the environmental impact statement in March 2021 for further consultation with tribes. That consultation is ongoing. Resolution was granted permission to join the lawsuit in 2023. After being turned down by the federal district court and the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Apache Stronghold appealed to the Supreme Court. Priorities: Trump says reliance on imported copper leaves U.S. vulnerable, orders review of policies What happens if the Supreme Court rules? The filing by the administration acknowledged that Apache Stronghold's petition is pending at the high court: "The disposition of that petition may affect the timing of when Federal Defendants proceed with publication of any FEIS and Draft Record of Decision," the attorneys wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They said in the filing that if the Supreme Court denies Apache Stronghold within the 60 days given by the notice, the Forest Service will proceed with the deal. If the high court agrees to hear the case, or if the court is still considering hearing it by the June 17 deadline, the administration said it will reevaluate how to proceed. Resolution Copper said the news was a positive step forward. "The Resolution Copper mine is vital to securing Americas energy future and infrastructure needs with a domestic supply of copper and other critical minerals," said Vicky Peacey, Resolution Copper's general manager. She said the mine would add $1 billion a year to Arizona's economy and create thousands of local jobs in the Copper Triangle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Resolution made major changes to the mining plan after consultation with tribes and other communities to "preserve and reduce potential impacts on cultural interests, and this ongoing dialogue will continue to shape the project," Peacey said. The Center for Biological Diversity, which would be a partner in reviving a lawsuit filed by it and other environmental groups when the new environmental impact statement is released, had a different take. Trumps decision to launch the Oak Flat land exchange shows his complete disdain for religious liberty, Native American rights and the protection of public lands," said Russ McSpadden, Southwest conservation advocate for the organization. "Oak Flat is central to the spiritual and cultural practices of the Apache people and other tribes in the region." He said it is also a biological gem, home to rare desert ecosystems, springs and wildlife. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Destroying it for the profit of foreign mining corporations is a moral, cultural and environmental catastrophe of historic proportions. Weve been fighting this project for decades and we wont stop now. Debra Krol reports on Indigenous communities at the confluence of climate, culture and commerce in Arizona and the Intermountain West. Reach Krol at debra.krol@azcentral.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @debkrol. Coverage of Indigenous issues at the intersection of climate, culture and commerce is supported by the Catena Foundation. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Feds moving ahead with land swap for copper mine at Oak Flat in AZ BOSTON (SHNS) While policymakers wait for Washington to make crucial Medicaid funding decisions, the Trump administration has already signaled it will allow another Medicaid-related state funding stream one that supports an array of programs in Massachusetts to expire without extension. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services informed state Medicaid directors on April 10 that it does not intend to extend existing requests, or approve new requests, for federal matching funds used for certain state programs deemed not to be a prudent federal investment. CMS took aim at designated state health programs (DSHP) and designated state investment programs (DSIP), which the agency described as state-funded health programs that, without creative interpretations of section 1115 demonstration authority, would not have qualified for federal Medicaid funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The decision does not freeze or revoke already-approved funding. Instead, it signals that the Trump administration will not support continuation of some spending agreements beyond their expiration dates. In Massachusetts, federal funding for DSHP programs is authorized through Dec. 31, 2027, the end of the current 1115 demonstration period, according to a MassHealth official. The Bay State has about 30 programs that are DSHP-eligible, totaling more than $826 million in expenditures after adjustment. However, the amount Massachusetts can claim is capped at $647.5 million, which the official said could generate up to $310 million in federal matching funds over the five-year waiver period. Programs on the approved list include peer-to-peer recovery services, home care case management and administration, grants to local councils on aging, and family resource centers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The official, who agreed to communicate only on background, stressed that the states combined Medicaid and Childrens Health Insurance Program Administrator at the moment plans no changes in response. Drew Snyder, CMSs deputy administrator and director, told state officials in a letter that DSHP programs lead to increasing costs to the federal government without a proportional state contribution and are neither integral to a section 1115 demonstration nor a prudent federal investment. For example, one states approved DSHP includes grants to a labor union for the purpose of reducing the cost of providing health insurance, dental and vision benefits to certain child care providers, which does not appear integral to the states section 1115 demonstration supporting increased access for Medicaid beneficiaries, Snyder wrote. In another states demonstration, DSHP funds a telehealth infrastructure grant program for healthcare providers to purchase equipment, high-speed internet access, and other infrastructure. DSHPs were funded without Medicaid dollars before CMS gave approval for the programs to receive federal matching funds, according to Snyder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a result, the state uses the freed up state dollars as a non-federal share source for its Medicaid demonstration or for other state purposes. In other words, these demonstrations can effectively function as a technique to reduce states overall funding obligation by allowing federal funds to supplant existing state funds for services not otherwise covered by Medicaid, Snyder wrote. Further, unlike traditional Medicaid matching funds, which are generally tied to claims for specific services provided to Medicaid beneficiaries, federal matching funds provided to support DSHP and DSIP have not necessarily been tied directly to services provided to Medicaid beneficiaries. The Trump administration and congressional Republicans have been pursuing significant federal spending cuts, which if enacted could create key decisions for state officials who rely heavily on federal health care funding. MassHealth is the largest spending category in the states annual budget bill, and Gov. Maura Healeys proposal forecast federal reimbursement for Medicaid spending would rise to $14.2 billion next fiscal year. However, Republicans are weighing significant Medicaid cuts as they push for tax relief, and any changes they make could eat away at federal dollars flowing toward MassHealth. 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. Gov. Bob Ferguson is seen during a media availability on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (Photo by Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero/Washington State Standard) Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson balked at Democratic lawmakers latest tax package on Thursday, calling it too risky given the budget tumult that actions by the federal government could trigger. At a time of great economic uncertainty and assaults by the Trump Administration on core state services for working families, raising $12 billion in taxes is unsustainable, too risky and fails to adequately prepare Washington state for the crisis that looms ahead, Ferguson said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We must ensure Washington is in the best possible financial position to weather more cuts and damaging economic policies from a Trump Administration that weaponizes funding to punish those it disagrees with and forces them into compromising their values, he said. Ferguson did not cite any specific taxes he dislikes in the proposals that House and Senate Democrats viewed as the linchpin for completing their negotiations on an operating budget that overcomes a projected $16 billion shortfall over the next four years. Democrats have already slimmed their tax ambitions, discarding a set of hikes Ferguson previously came out against that could have raised as much as $21 billion over four years. Absence of further guidance from the governor on what hed like to see threatens to slow, even derail, their progress and could drive the Legislature into overtime when the regular session ends April 27. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Special session is certainly not our Plan A for us, House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon, D-Seattle, said. Ferguson, who was in Seattle on Thursday, released the statement 20 minutes before he met virtually with Democratic leaders of both chambers. That conversation touched broadly on spending reductions and revenue raising. The governor did not spell out his preferences on taxes or how large a tax package is acceptable in the meeting. I think there are some proposals he is warmer to and some proposals he is cooler to, Fitzgibbon said. We have a lot to talk about in terms of options for paths forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ferguson has said repeatedly he wants to see a balance of progressive revenue and spending reductions. His staff provided options to some members this week. We have said that if the revenue number is too high, as he said in his statement, that we need more suggestions than they have provided so far, Fitzgibbon said. House Speaker Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, said in a statement, that House Democrats share Fergusons belief that a balanced approach combining progressive revenue and spending reductions is the right way to meet the needs of our state. She said her caucus appreciates all viewpoints and the governors preferences are taken into account as they look to ensure residents have shelter, food, access to health care, and strong public schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two Republican senators applauded Fergusons critique of the Democrats latest tax plan. If we truly want our state to be ready for any sort of fiscal turbulence, lets have a new budget that avoids tax increases completely whether theyre progressive or not, Sen. Chris Gildon, R-Puyallup, the Republican lead on the Senate budget committee, said in a statement. Sen. Nikki Torres, R-Pasco, assistant budget leader, said To us, any new taxes would be risky. The question now is whether the Democrat legislators will heed the governors words or continue going back and forth with him. Democrats in the House and Senate jointly released a smorgasbord of tax proposals on Tuesday, including higher taxes on big businesses, hiking the rate on capital gains above $1 million and allowing a 1% annual limit on property tax growth to rise up to 3%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyve pitched other hikes as well, such as an expanded tax on nicotine products like Zyn and a new sales tax on rented self-storage units. And theyre seeking to have some large businesses make a one-time pre-payment of sales tax owed to the state, a maneuver that would suck more tax revenue into the 2025-27 budget that otherwise would have been due the month after it ends. Thursdays conversation isnt deterring Democrats from pursuing the new tax bills, yet. At the moment, I think we need to keep our options open and keep our bills moving, Fitzgibbon said. Earlier this month, Ferguson rejected tax plans from the House and Senate that leaned heavily on a tax that wouldve applied to residents with certain assets worth more than $50 million. The governor and others are not confident that tax would survive an expected court challenge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ferguson lauded the Legislature in his statement Thursday for moving on from the so-called wealth tax. A couple hours before lawmakers met with the governor, Jinkins told reporters she hoped to hear things that he likes and things that he doesnt like. Ive been waiting to hear some things that he likes, she said. Asked if she had heard him cite anything that he likes in any proposal, she joked in response, Have you? BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 18. Iran and the US could reach an agreement through indirect talks, said the Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, Trend reports. Speaking at a press conference in Moscow today with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, Araghchi stated that Iran cannot engage in direct discussions with the US due to ongoing threats and Washington's maximum pressure policy. Araghchi noted that the seriousness of the other side was evident during the first round of discussions in Muscat, Oman. He emphasized that a deal could be reached as long as there were no unfulfillable demands from either side. The Iranian Foreign Minister articulated his readiness to engage in a comprehensive dialogue, indicating an openness to assimilate the fundamental stances of the counterparty in the imminent second phase of negotiations, slated for the morrow. Iran, he articulated, persists in its dedication to attaining a resolution devoid of irrational or impractical stipulations. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Catholics in the Philippines marked Good Friday with gory re-enactments of the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus Christ, including one grandfather nailed to a cross for his 36th time, amid warnings of temperatures reaching dangerous levels. Churches nationwide were also packed with devotees attending Masses and prayers, while others joined various religious processions despite temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius in places. In over a dozen areas in the country, penitents were nailed to wooden crosses while others whipped their backs bloody as an annual ritual for thanksgiving, penance and prayers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The most popular site of the crucifixions is the village of San Pedro Cutud, about 60 kilometres north of Manila, where thousands of visitors gathered to witness the extreme acts of faith. Ruben Enaje, 64, took the lead role in the tradition in San Pedro Cutud and was nailed to the cross for the 36th time after carrying a wooden cross weighing 27 kilograms for nearly 2 kilometres. The grandfather of seven said he had to make adjustments to the cross he carried to make it lighter from the original weight of 37 kilograms. Unfortunately, I am getting weaker with age, he said ahead of the ritual. The cross has become too heavy for me to carry so I had to shave off 10 kilos. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I will try to still take part in the ritual next year, but if not, I know someone will take my place and continue the tradition, he added. In the nearby village of Sta Lucia, 60-year-old Joselito Capili was nailed to the cross for the 20th time. Capili, a part-time construction worker, said he started being crucified in 2002 to pray for healing of his father who was diagnosed with cancer. While his father died one year later, he continued the vow to seek protection for his family. We are all healthy, my wife, two children and my six grandchildren, he said. We have a good life but Im afraid I wont be able to do this much longer. I already get dizzy because Im old. Maybe I can continue only for a few more years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Catholic Church does not encourage the extreme acts of faith, but does little to stop the practice. Good Friday is a solemn Christian observance that commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ; it falls during Holy Week and leads up to Easter Sunday, in which the faithful celebrate his resurrection. Easter week is the most important religious event in the Philippines, where more than 85% of the population is Catholic. Most of the week had been declared public holidays to allow Filipinos to visit their home provinces or take vacations. Government offices, private companies and commercial establishments are closed. A new Filipino restaurant in Tacomas McKinley neighborhood starts serving all-day breakfast, pancit and adobo fried rice Friday. Lechon Loco opens at 11 a.m. at 3511 McKinley Ave. It replaces Ruca Latin Asian Fusion, which longtime Tacoma restaurateur Willy Ceria operated until earlier this year. Gerold and Rhymalynne Castro have honed their Filipino American breakfast chops at their West Hill Deli in Auburn. The menu there features modern favorites like toasted coconut waffles, ube pancakes and pandan chicken alongside fried eggs with longanisa, tocino and smoked bangus, a prevalent milkfish species in the Philippines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of those dishes will carry into Lechon Loco, but the Tacoma concept intends to offer a fuller experience encompassing breakfast, lunch and dinner. Signatures include a house adobo with pork belly or chicken and java rice; Palabok-style pasta with shrimp, lechon and hardboiled eggs; and the lechon belly, marinated overnight in lemongrass, garlic and spices before slow-roasting as a roll, Cebu-style, in the oven. Its served with pork adobo rice and a sunny egg. Lechon Loco is the second restaurant for chef Gerold Castro, who bought Ruca Latin Asian Fusion from longtime Tacoma chef, Willy Ceria. Chef Gerold Castro has been cooking since he was 19, not long after his family emigrated to the Seattle area. He led the kitchens at several hotels in King County, including Hilton and Marriott properties and the Arctic Club. In the late 2000s, he simultaneously ran his own place, Kawali Grill, in Hillman City. West Hill Deli opened in 2021. I wasnt looking it happened, said Castro of his accidental search for a second restaurant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ceria, who has served Tacoma a blend of Mexican, Filipino and Hawaiian fare since 1991 first at La Fondita in Freighthouse Square and then Proctor had used the McKinley space for his Ruca food truck. In 2023, he sold the truck but kept the kitchen and quietly opened a sit-down restaurant. His wifes health led him to list it for sale last year, he said. He appreciated Castros vision of a restaurant that honors his Filipino heritage as well as the blending of cultures in Mexican American cooking. Willy and I talked. I shared my plans, and he said, Why dont you buy the place? recalled Castro this week, adding that he saw an opportunity in the area for Filipino food with Latin influence. This is an homage to all of the people that Ive worked with. Castro, his family and team and have worked on the space since March, bringing warm colors and Filipino-inspired artwork. Levi Mott, whom he met more than 15 years ago, will join him in the kitchen and in the front-of-house. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of Rucas memory will live on in the form of chicken mole enchiladas, a carne asada platter and mahi mahi tacos. Lechon Loco will also offer pollo ala parilla (Inasal-style chicken enhanced by calamansi, lemongrass, vinegar, garlic and annatto), seared salmon ginataan with braised taro leaves and amarillo rice, and lumpia. To drink, theres a full bar, including a couple of draft beers and bottled options; cocktails are on the way. Of course there will be coffee as well as refreshers like calamansi or mango iced tea and ube horchata an ideal pairing with the croissant-loaf ube French toast. LECHON LOCO 3511 McKinley Ave. (enter on Harrison), Tacoma, 253-327-1797, lechonlocorestaurant.com Starting hours: Wednesday-Friday 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Details: new Filipino restaurant with all-day breakfast, plus Filipino and Mexican-inspired lunch and dinner; full bar, all-ages opening April 18 AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP) 22News is working for you with a list of Easter egg hunts held in various communities across western Massachusetts. Easter always falls on a Sunday during March or April, and it is determined by the first full moon that falls after the first day of spring (March 20th). This year, Easter is on Sunday, April 20th. Photos with the Holyoke Mall Easter Bunny Saturday, April 19 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dont forget to bring a basket! If you have an event that you want listed, email reportit@wwlp.com. 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. Authorities in Shakopee say 10 structures that house retail shops and food vendors at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival were destroyed in large fire Thursday evening. The Shakopee Fire Department said crews from 10 fire departments were called to fight the blaze, which was reported around 6 p.m. It took 14 minutes for the first fire engine to arrive, by which point there was an extensive fire the shops that were connected on the grounds. Firefighters were also hampered en route to the scene by "unlit, minimally maintained gravel roads, recent rainfall, and challenging terrain not designed for large emergency vehicles," the department said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lack of water supply in the area forced fire crews to shuttle water from hydrants that were "nearly eight minutes away." According to fire officials, there were no injuries reported and the fire was mostly extinguished by 8 p.m. However, a firefighter was temporarily sidelined after being struck by a fire hose, though he was able to return to duty. The cause of the fire is under investigation and claims on social media that it was caused by lightning have not been confirmed. SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY) An elementary school in northern Suffolk was damaged by fire Thursday, Suffolk Fire & Rescue said. The custodial closet next to a set of restrooms at Creekside Elementary School on Bennetts Creek Park Road sustained moderate fire damage, and there was some water and smoke damage as a result of the fire. There were no reports of injuries, and the building was unoccupied at the time of the fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (Photos Suffolk Fire & Rescue) Fire crews responded to what was initially reported as a commercial fire alarm at 6:07 p.m., and when they arrived, they found an audible fire alarm sounding and smoke inside the building, and the incident was upgraded to a commercial structure fire, according to Suffolk Fire & Rescue. Crews found the fire in a custodial closet next to a set of restrooms, and the schools fire suppression system activated three sprinkle heads that kept the fire to the custodial closet and the mezzanine, Suffolk Fire & Rescue said. Once the fire was extinguished, they started to ventilate the school, and the fire was declared under control at 6:56 p.m. Suffolk Public Schools has contacted a restoration company, and the removal of water began Thursday evening, according to Suffolk Fire & Rescue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Suffolk Fire Marshals Office is investigating the fire, and school officials are assessing whether operations at the school will be impacted. Public schools in Suffolk have been on spring break this week. Suffolk Public Schools said Creekside Elementary School would open Monday, April 21 on a 2-hour delay. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SNEEDVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) A historic building in Sneedville that served as the Hancock County Jail for more than a century was destroyed by a fire on Monday. Sheriff Brad Brewer said the fire is considered suspicious at this time. Multiple fire departments responded to 120 Jail Street in the early hours on Monday, April 14. The building is considered a total loss. Officials ultimately decided to knock down what remained of the structure due to safety issues. This is the worst road I think in Tennessee: Hit-and-run death underscores dangers of Harriman Highway Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brewer said that the fire is considered suspicious and the sheriffs office is conducting a joint investigation with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. The building was constructed in 1860 and housed inmates until 1995. It listed on the National Register of Historic Places and housed the Hancock County Historical Society. Brewer said that some artifacts were recovered but most were destroyed 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 WATE 6 On Your Side. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Clark County fire crews were at the scene of an east Las Vegas motorcycle dealership on Thursday after at least 50 motorcycles were on fire. It happened shortly before 2:30 p.m. in the 6300 block of Boulder Highway near Russell Road. Clark County fire crews were at the scene of an east Las Vegas motorcycle dealership on Thursday after at least 50 motorcycles were on fire. (Clark County Fire Department) The motorcycles were found at the rear of the business. The Clark County Fire Department had multiple units at the scene to assist and said crews had the fire knocked out shortly after 3:30 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There were no reports of the fire impacting any nearby structures, and the cause of the fire remained under investigation Thursday afternoon, according to Clark County. Fire damages are estimated to be more than $250,000. 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 KLAS. Wildland firefighters engage in cold trailing while mopping up around the West Mountain Complex fires in Idaho on Aug. 26, 2024. Cold trailing is a method of controlling partly dead fire edges by carefully inspecting and feeling an area for heat, by hand. (Courtesy of U.S Forest Service/ InciWeb Information System) A wildfire preparedness event hosted by the Valley County Fire Working Group will be free and open to the public on May 3 in Donnelly. The event, which features family-friendly activities, firewise vendors and local fire management organizations, will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Donnelly Fire Department, 244 W. Roseberry Road. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Organizers said in a flyer that the event aims to teach Idahoans how to protect families, property and communities from destructive wildfires. Literature, vendor booths, fire engine displays, kids games and a visit from Smokey Bear from 11:30 a.m. to noon are all part of the planned activities. The Donnelly Fire Department will provide free hot dogs for attendees, and free firewise plants will be available while supplies last. For information, go to the Valley County Fire Working Group Facebook page or go to the Valley County Wildfire Mitigation website. To secure a burn permit for your property, required from May 10 through Oct. 20, go to burnpermits.idaho.gov. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX House Democrats are demanding the White House preserve the independence of the Smithsonian Institution after President Donald Trump signed an executive order in late March that directed federal agencies and the Smithsonian to eliminate what the order calls "anti-American" and "improper" content from the vast network of museums and national parks. The top Democrat of the House Administration Committee, Rep. Joe Morelle, and other Democrats who have oversight of the Smithsonian Institution sent a letter, first obtained by ABC News, to Vice President JD Vance, who serves as a member of the Smithsonian's Board of Regents. "We urge you to reject any effort to effectuate the goals of the Proclamation and to preserve the 175-year tradition of curatorial independence that has come to define the Smithsonian Institution," the lawmakers wrote, raising concerns over Trump's order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The order, entitled "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History," directs Vance to eliminate what it claims are "improper ideology" from all areas of the institution, which consists of 21 museums, 14 education and research centers and the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. "Unfortunately, we now stand at the brink of seeing the Smithsonian at its worst: shaped solely by the views and ideology of one individual as a means of expanding his political power," the letter states. The letter is the latest effort by Democrats to push back on one of several actions taken by the White House to roll back diversity, equity and inclusion efforts across the federal government. The order also directs Vance and Secretary of Interior Doug Burgum to restore federal parks, monuments, memorials and statues "that have been improperly removed or changed in the last five years to perpetuate a false revision of history or improperly minimize or disparage certain historical figures or events." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If this Proclamation were to be implemented, the Smithsonian's curatorial independence and excellence would be eliminated, and 175 years of this tradition would end," the lawmakers warn. Trump, in the order, singled out the National Museum of African American History and Culture which he said perpetuated "race-centered" and "divisive" ideas. "This flagrant attempt to erase Black history is unacceptable and must be stopped. The attempt to paper over elements of American history is both cowardly and unpatriotic," the letter states. The Smithsonian Institution was first established by Congress with funding from British scientist James Smithson. First to ABC: House Dems urge JD Vance to preserve Smithsonian independence originally appeared on abcnews.go.com For 20 years, fertility clinics in the Netherlands failed to comply with sperm donation guidelines, resulting in at least 85 mass donors each fathering between 26 and 75 children. Between 2004 and 2018, regulations limited each donor to a maximum of 25 offspring. Since 2018, the cap has been reduced to 12. This widespread breach came to light following the launch of a national sperm donor registry in April, offering the first comprehensive overview of donations since the 2004 Artificial Insemination Donor Data Act banned anonymous contributions. The Professional Association of Gynecologists (NVOG) has confirmed these findings, including evidence that some donors were active simultaneously at multiple clinics. The poor oversight of specialized clinics, along with the existence of the 85 mass donors, was revealed by the television program Nieuwsuur on the public broadcaster NOS. On Monday, the NVOG issued a statement acknowledging that in some cases, the previous limit of 25 children, and then 12, per donor has been exceeded. NVOG admitted that the new registry uncovered an additional issue: donated sperm had been exchanged between clinics without any exchange of donor data possibly due to privacy concerns. The NVOG emphasized that, prior to the establishment of the national registry, fertility centers had no means to cross-check donor usage across different clinics. Once irregularities were detected, the clinics ceased using the affected donors. In the Netherlands, sperm donation is unpaid, with donors receiving a maximum of 40 to cover travel expenses. The Donorkind Foundation, which helps donor-conceived children and siblings connect, condemned the conduct of fertility specialists. All of this has happened for two reasons: because of the money these clinics receive for their treatments, and because the impact of mass donors on the lives of mothers, their children, and the siblings of these children has not been taken seriously, said Donorkinds president, Ties van der Meer, in a phone interview. He believes the actual number of children fathered by the 85 donors may be underestimated. There could be thousands of children who have more than 25 siblings and half-siblings, he said, calling the situation incomprehensible. Van der Meer criticizes how fertility doctors have framed donor-conceived relationships. The problem is that the doctors at these assisted reproduction centers present the family bond resulting from sperm donation as a simple genetic fact, he said. The donor is not a father, and neither are the other potential siblings, and the importance of the basic truth that a family is more than just DNA is diminished. As both a donor child and a donor himself, Van der Meer indicates that the government has realized the importance of informing families about the details and scope of sperm donations. He adds that the families of the 85 donors will be informed shortly and asks those affected to contact the foundation which is run by volunteers because we already know that some families are in favor of the government funding any psychological help they may need. With a population of 18 million, the situation raises further concerns: Donor children, if they enter into a relationship, will have to undergo a DNA test to rule out possible blood ties, said Van der Meer. Until April, the 2004 Artificial Insemination Donor Data Act maintained a registry of donors physical traits, such as eye and hair color. Children could access this information from age 12, and from age 16, they could also request the donors name, date of birth, and place of residence. However, donors were not legally obligated to establish contact with their offspring. Since April, information on both donors and mothers is now collected in a centralized, national registry rather than by individual clinics. The registry is retroactive to 2004 and allows authorities to track how many children were born from each donor. Mothers can now find out how many other families used the same donor. On Monday, the NVOG urged mothers, donor-conceived children, and donors to contact fertility clinics if they seek more information. The shortcomings of the Dutch assisted reproduction system have already led to several high-profile scandals. In 2023, Dutch courts imposed precautionary measures on Jonathan Meijer after a mother filed a complaint. Meijer had falsely claimed he had fathered no more than 25 children, despite having donated at 11 fertility clinics between 2007 and 2017 and fathered 102 children. Although he was banned from donating in the Netherlands in 2017, he continued offering his services internationally via online platforms. He is now believed to have fathered up to 550 children across several countries, including Spain. Another notorious case is that of gynecologist Jan Karbaat, who died in 2017. He is now credited with fathering at least 105 children after secretly using his own sperm to inseminate patients at his clinic in Rotterdam. Karbaat operated the clinic for four decades, during which his patients believed they were receiving sperm from anonymous donors. In 2021, it was revealed that gynecologist Jan Wildschut had fathered at least 40 children between 1981 and 1993 while working at a hospital in Zwolle. Then, in 2022, it emerged that a third gynecologist, Jos Beek, had fathered at least 41 children using his sperm between 1973 and 1998 at a regional hospital in Leiderdorp. Beek carried a hereditary disease that could be passed on if the mother has the same gene, according to FIOM, the national foundation specializing in the freedom of choice in cases of unwanted pregnancies and the right to information about paternity. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Former Kentucky Chief Justice Laurance Van Meter, left, administers the oath of office to Justice Pamela Goodwine. With Goodwine are her husband, Lee A. Padgett Jr., and great-grandson, Beckham Mourning. (Photo by Mark Cornelison/Administrative Office of the Courts) FRANKFORT Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Pamela Goodwine the first Black woman elected to the high court was officially sworn into office Friday to cheering and clapping in the packed Frankfort chamber and the two overflow rooms. Goodwine reflected on her life of overcoming obstacles when speaking Friday, and promised to carry the importance of faith and education and perseverance with her in the future. I always say I dont give up on my dreams when life gets hard, I simply work harder to make my dreams come true, she said. If there is one philosophy and action I would like to be known for and for you all to recognize and live by as well, that is it. No matter what life brings your way, keep dreaming, keep working for your goals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Goodwine spent time in foster care as an infant and was later adopted by her foster parents, the Lantern previously reported. The Youngstown, Ohio, native and high school valedictorian gave up a college scholarship to support her adoptive father who was dying of lung cancer. About six months after her father was diagnosed, he died. After his death, his brother killed her mother. At 24, she was diagnosed with Crohns disease, an incurable bowel inflammation condition that can be painful and disruptive to life. After that diagnosis, she spent two months hospitalized and had to re-learn how to eat and walk. She began working in the courts as a legal secretary and court stenographer. She earned undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Kentucky and in 1994 entered private practice with the firm Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs until her appointment to the district court bench in 1999. Goodwine won her circuit judge seat in 2003. She became the first Black woman to serve on the Kentucky Court of Appeals after being elected in 2018. I have often been called a trailblazer, Goodwine said. More important than achieving any individual accomplishment, I have always believed that it is each of our responsibility to live and serve in ways that make the world a better place for generations that follow us. Kentucky Supreme Court members applaud their newest colleague, Justice Pamela Goodwine, during an investiture that had been scheduled for January but was delayed by a winter storm, April 18, 2025. (Photo by Mark Cornelison/Administrative Office of the Courts) Praise for Goodwine During her investiture, Goodwines fellow justices praised her for her tenacious character and long career of firsts. They also applauded her for making history yet again in officially donning her Supreme Court robes and inspiring broader trust in the court Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Justice Angela McCormick Bisig said race and gender arent usually part of the discussions justices have about cases on their docket. But, she said, for this court to do that very important work, it is best to have all lived experiences and points of view at the table, because we can all strive to be compassionate and understanding, but we really cant know what its like to be someone else. Gov. Andy Beshear said Goodwines win is a cause for celebration but its also a reminder of our reality, that nearly 250 years into the history of this great country, we are still recognizing firsts. Because of Justice Goodwines tenacity, pushing through personal tragedy, struggle and, yes, discrimination that still exists in our world, we are closer to the promise of our country that every child no matter their circumstances can dream of being a Kentucky Supreme Court justice, Beshear said. Id like to thank her for making us a little bit better here in the commonwealth today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chief Justice Debra Lambert called Goodwines presence a gift to our court and a reminder that the court should be principled and deliberate and deeply human. While judicial races are nonpartisan, both Goodwine and her opponent received partisan support. Democrat Beshears political committees contributed $510,000 to help Goodwine win. Her donors also included former Democratic Govs. Steve Beshear and Paul Patton, as well as some Democrats in the legislature. Goodwine won her race for the 5th District seat in November, becoming the first woman and fifth person in history to serve at every level of the judiciary. The Kentucky Supreme Court also has a majority of women now, for the first time ever. Goodwines investiture was originally scheduled for January but was delayed because of weather. During the ceremony, Fayette County District Judge Melissa Moore Murphy led the crowd in singing Lift Every Voice and Sing, the Black National Anthem. Justice Michelle M. Keller, right, and Justice Pamela Goodwine behind the bench of the Kentucky Supreme Court in the Capitol in Frankfort, April 18, 2025. (Photo by Mark Cornelison/Administrative Office of the Courts) SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Apr. 17MORGANTOWN For the people who work as first responders across the Mountain State, it's all about the numbers. And not just the 911 number called after that bad wreck on the interstate or when a loved one is slumped over the kitchen table. "Right now, we need everybody we can get, " Christopher Starkey, a paramedic and lieutenant with Lewis County Emergency Medical Services, said Tuesday night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They need to understand: If we lose one more program in this state that puts out medical providers, we're in really bad shape, " he said. Starkey made the hour-long drive from Lewis County on Tuesday evening to attend a meeting of the Monongalia County Board of Education, which is currently responding to a medical-related circumstance of its own. He was among the crowdmany of them first respondersthat filled the meeting room and milled in the hallway of the board and school district's central office in Sabraton. Starkey wasn't there on behalf of his employer, he said. He was there for his brothers and sisters who do what he does. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He's the creator and administrator of his "WV Calvary EMS " Facebook page, which advocates for those first responders out on calls every day. Pulling the plug ? Mon's board is considering whether to eliminate the emergency medical services program at the Monongalia County Technical Education Center. MTEC has long been lauded for its turning out of nurses, operating room technicians and the like. Due to declining revenues, however, Mon Schoolswhile being relatively more prosperous than its Mountain State neighborsis still operating with about $4 million less in its coffers than it normally has budgeted this time in the academic year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That means, as Schools Superintendent Eddie Campbell Jr. said last week, making the hard decisions of what to cut outand what to leave in. One program the district might have to reluctantly let go, he said, is the EMS program at MTEC. Students sign up, the superintendent said, but many drop out due to its academic rigor. The program takes in everything from biochemistry to human anatomy and neuroscience. Rigor, though, is what first responders need to effectively render aid, Starkey said. In nearly two decades as a full-time, licensed paramedic and emergency medical technician, he's responded to the full multitude of calls, from cardiac arrests"I'll never forget that first one "to toddlers spiking dangerous fevers in the middle of night, with their anxious parents looking on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Keeping the (ambulance) lights on The trouble is, he said, there are way more calls than there are people willing to take the time to answer them. Last year alone in West Virginia, some 1, 000 EMTs and 800 paramedics responded to nearly 2 million emergency calls requiring an ambulance, he said. This is in a state, he said, which has seen at least 26 independent ambulance services fade away in recent years, due to lack of money and people. "Most of the EMS agencies out there aren't funded by the state, " he said. "They're not funded by the municipalities, they're not funded by the counties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "A lot of them survive on what they bill from calls. And if you don't have the people to run the calls, you don't stay open." A full recovery MTEC, meanwhile, has a proven record of producing such professionals, said Chelsea Hayes, who directs its EMS program. "Our kids absolutely have jobs when they graduate, " said Hayes, herself a paramedic. And, she said, they're already saving lives. One 17-year-old student of the program who works part-time at a local restaurant, recently performed CPR on a patron who had suffered a medical emergency, Hayes told the school board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That patient left the hospital, fully recovered, three days later, she said. Hayes urged the board to consider that, while mulling its decision. She urged board members to consider what will happen when they call 911 today, next week or next month. "EMTs and paramedics are the only clinicians trained to make life-of-death decisions with no labs, no imaging, no backupjust a gut, a brain and a flashlight, " she said. TOPEKA (KSNT) Locals wont have to wait much longer to eat burgers and fries at Topekas newest fast-food chain addition. 27 News reached out to Whataburger this week to find out if the opening date for the companys new location in south Topeka is ready to be released yet. A Whataburger spokesman said a tentative opening date is set for this summer, but it may shift depending on staffing, equipment availability and other reasons. The company spokesman said that, currently, the new Whataburgers opening is set for 11 a.m. on Monday, June 16. Youll be able to find the Whataburger at 3251 Southwest Topeka Boulevard. What is the new restaurant coming to west Topeka? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Customers can expect to find shakes and malts, burgers, fries, breakfast platters, chicken sandwiches and more. The posted menu for this location, which you can view by clicking here, includes the following: Whataburger. Bacon & cheese Whataburger. Whatachickn sandwich. Spicy chicken sandwich. Whataburger patty melt. Onion rings. Pancake platter. Taquito with cheese. Biscuit & gravy. A photo of Topekas new Whataburger location. This is the first Whataburger to open in the Topeka area, joining the growing list of other Kansas locations. (Photo By: Tim Schoepflin) New Panda Express opening in Topeka, what to know Whataburger, which celebrated its 75th anniversary this year, only recently expanded to the Sunflower State, breaking ground on its first Kansas location in Overland Park in 2021. Now, there are numerous locations open for business in Lawrence and the Kansas City area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Topekas Whataburger has been in the works for months, slowly being pieced together on the spot of the former Wild Horse Saloon. Chick-Fil-A also opened a new spot in the same area late last year. The company spokesman said the new location will employ anywhere from 60 to 85 people. You can check out job openings with the company by clicking here. You can learn more about what Whataburger has to offer by visiting its website. $80 million plan approved for KBI to move out of problematic area in Topeka to new home For more local eats 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Students sit on blankets on Florida State University's Landis Green on Dec. 31, 2024, with Landis Hall in the background. (Photo by Jay Waagmeester/Florida Phoenix) Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered flags to be flown at half-staff through Monday to honor Florida State University. Thursday, a gunman killed two people near the FSU student union and six people were hospitalized. Law enforcement has 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, son of a Leon county sheriffs deputy, in custody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeSantis ordered flags at half-staff in memory of the lives lost in this tragedy and to recognize the bravery shown by the first responders. Thursday, DeSantis said that this killer must and will be brought to justice to the fullest extent of the law, calling it a tragic attack. Authorities responded almost immediately, and engaged, neutralized, and apprehended the shooter, Tallahassee Police Department Chief Lawrence Revell said during a press conference Thursday afternoon, joined by officials from the FBI, FSU Police, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and university administrators. Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare said two patients from the shooting are expected to be discharged Friday, while three are in good condition and another remains in fair condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FSU canceled classes Friday and sporting events until Sunday. Lawmakers and university officials from across the state have flooded social media with statements in support of the FSU community following the shooting. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A man busted for starting a fire that damaged three Staten Island homes and threatened the life of an elderly woman told authorities the blaze started when he tried to burn sex toys in his backyard, documents reveal. I started the fire. I was in the backyard at my house and I lit two sex toys on fire, Harry Torres, 37, told investigators, according to a criminal complaint against him. The fire, which authorities initially called suspicious, started around 3 p.m. Wednesday at a home on North Burgher Ave., and quickly spread to two neighboring buildings, which were then extensively damaged, according to FDNY officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This was a heavy, deep-seated fire that necessitated the use of three alarms, FDNY borough commander Deputy Assistant Chief David Simms said. A woman in her 80s who lived in one of the houses that caught fire was forced to flee after the blaze reached her home, her adult children told the SI Advance. She had lived in the home since 1987, her children said. There were no injuries reported in the fire, which also damaged two vehicles, according to the complaint against Torres. It was not immediately clear how or why Torres set fire to the sex toys, which included a rubber vagina, according to a police source. Torres is charged with arson and reckless endangerment, according to the FDNY. PUNTA GORDA, Fla. (WFLA) The fisherman threatened by a charter captain in a viral video earlier this month is speaking out for the first time. NBC affiliate WBBH spoke with Gage Towles, the fisherman who posted a viral video of the moment Charter Captain Brock Horner of Tarpon Coast Fishing stormed his boat. The 22-year-old said hes on the water every day, but a normal fishing day on the Peace River is now one that he will never forget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Towles was out fishing on April 1, the video showed Horner threatening him and eventually getting on his boat. See full viral video of encounter between Florida charter captain, fisherman Ultimately, he did slowly pull his boat up to me, and when he jumped on my boat, thats when it went from me just brushing this guy off to now fearing that I was going to die, Towles told WBBH. Towles told the news station that he had a gun on his boat, but didnt use it because he didnt feel like anyone deserved to lose their life that day. He said the situation shook him to his core, but it wont stop him from fishing in the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ill still be chasing the fish every single day, he said. I love to fish. Its my passion. Its everything. Its what motivates me to get through life. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Gov. Ron DeSantis has called for flags across Florida to be lowered to half-staff Friday, April 18 to Monday, April 21, after a mass shooting on the campus of Florida State University. "In memory of the lives lost in this tragedy and to recognize the bravery shown by the first responders, I hereby direct the flags of the United States and the State of Florida to be flown at half-staff at all local and state buildings, installations, and grounds throughout the State of Florida," a release from the governor's office said. The shooting on April 17 left two people dead and six injured. The shooter, identified as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, is the son of a Leon County sheriff's deputy and an FSU student. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The gunfire left the university in limbo and closed through the weekend. Makeshift memorials were started on the campus the evening of the shooting with flowers, letters and teddy bears. The university plans to hold a vigil for the victims at 5 p.m. April 18 at Langford Green in front of the "Unconquered" statue. The FBI set up a tip line for anyone with information about the shooting. Anyone with video or audio media related to the incident, can upload it here. Alaijah Brown covers children & families for the Tallahassee Democrat, a member of the USA TODAY Network Florida. She can be reached at ABrown1@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter/X: @AlaijahBrown3. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: DeSantis orders flags to half-staff after deadly FSU shooting Patricia Trivino Rodriguez, 53, has spent most of her life caring for family members affected by Fragile X syndrome. Her two sons, Harold and Helmer; two of her sisters, Maria Julieta and Rosaura; and her nephew Ronald Gabriel all suffer from this genetic mutation, which is the most common inherited cause of intellectual disability in the world. They live together in a cement house in Ricaurte, Valle del Cauca, a small town in western Colombia that has the highest rate of this condition anywhere on the planet. Globally, it is estimated that the syndrome affects one in every 5,000 men and one in every 8,000 women. In Ricaurte, however, it affects 48 out of every 1,000 men and 20 out of every 1,000 women. Located just a few miles from Cali, the mutation is 343 times more prevalent in men and 226 times more prevalent in women than internationally recognized rates, according to the book Fragile X Syndrome in Ricaurte, Colombia, a compilation of research and scientific articles by Colombian geneticist Dr. Wilmar Saldarriaga. For decades, people in the region have disparagingly referred to Ricaurte as the little town of fools. Of the approximately 1,200 people who live in Ricaurte today, some are healthy, some carry the Fragile X premutation, and others have the full mutation. Saldarriaga, who discovered three decades ago that the disease was the cause of the towns health problems, explains that the syndrome is caused by an abnormal repetition of the CGG triplet (cytosine-guanine-guanine) in the area of the X chromosome, where the FMR-1 gene is located. A typical person has between 30 and 44 CGG repetitions; those with the premutation have between 55 and 200 repetitions; and individuals with the full mutation have more than 200. The problem, he says, is that when there is an excess of this repetition, a protein essential for brain development is not produced. Saldarriagas doctoral thesis in genetics confirmed the high prevalence of the disease in Ricaurte. After years of collecting and analyzing blood samples from nearly all of the towns residents, he obtained surprising results: 22 men had the mutation and five the premutation, 11 women had the mutation and 22 the premutation. Today, this small town nestled between the Western Andes and the Cauca River surrounded by thousands of acres of sugarcane fields is the largest geographic and genetic cluster for studying the origin, symptoms, and potential treatment of Fragile X syndrome. Its significance for science is comparable to that of Yarumal, in Antioquia, which has the worlds highest concentration of genetic Alzheimers cases. Argemiro Rengifo, a Fragile X patient, observes a dog on a street in Ricaurte, in March 2025. Jair F. Coll Elongated faces, large ears Men with the full mutation can be easily identified by their physical features. Some walk or drag themselves along the few streets of Ricaurte. Many of those affected beg for money outside the church or sell raffle tickets to bring a bit of money home, even if they cant count or add. Others drink beer and coffee at the establishments surrounding the main square. Sometimes they work in the fields picking fruit. They have elongated faces, wide foreheads, large hands, and abnormally large ears and testicles. Some also have macrocephaly, scoliosis, loose joints, and flat feet. All have severe intellectual disabilities, struggle to maintain eye contact, and display repetitive behaviors characteristic of the autism spectrum. They have difficulty holding a fluid conversation. They understand what is asked of them and make themselves understood with few words or signs. They often know their name, but cant remember when they were born, what they did the day before, or what the date is. In women with the full mutation, the physical features and intellectual disability are less noticeable and less severe, because the other, typically healthy, X chromosome helps to compensate and reduce the effects of the condition. However, they have a higher probability of carrying the premutation and face various related health complications. The most serious include premature ovarian failure, which causes menstruation to stop before age 40, and a kind of tremor in the extremities that prevents them from walking and moving properly. The biggest problem is that a woman of reproductive age may not have any symptoms but have the premutation without knowing it, says Saldarriaga as he drives his pickup on the route from Cali where he lives and works as a professor and gynecologist to Ricaurte. He visits the town every last Tuesday of the month to check on all the patients with Fragile X syndrome. He always travels with Dr. Julian Ramirez Cheyne, also a professor at Universidad del Valle and a doctor in genetics. The premutation in mothers can be inherited and spread with a high probability to their children, who in most cases are born with the full mutation, says Ramirez Cheyne. Geneticists Julian Ramirez Cheyne (left) and Wilmer Saldarriaga pose for a portrait in one of the laboratories at the University of Valle in Cali, on March 28. Jair F. Coll Thats the case for Patricia Trivino and many other women in Ricaurte who had their children while they were still healthy and unaware that they were carriers of the premutation. Today, their greatest concern is who will care for those now-adult men and women who have the cognitive abilities of small children once theyre no longer around. A few blocks from Patricias house, up a steep street lined with fruit trees, lives her 88-year-old aunt, Mercedes Trivino. Mercedes has a small cement house with two rooms, where she sleeps alongside her four children with Fragile X syndrome: Jair, 64; Victor Manuel, 62; Hector Fabio, 52; and Johana, 42, who, in addition to having Fragile X syndrome, also has Down syndrome. The house has a small kitchen where every morning Mercedes prepares coffee and agua de panela (sugarcane water). They live in poverty, illness, and neglect like most of the people in Ricaurte but are thankful for the doctors monthly visits. Its a blessing from God that you come, says Mercedes. Health and medical care brigades After nearly three hours of driving from Cali, doctors Saldarriaga and Ramirez arrive at the small health center in Ricaurte. Its an unfinished house with three rooms and very few medical supplies: a couple of examination tables, blood pressure monitors, a stethoscope, a thermometer, and little else. Medical records are handwritten on sheets of paper and in notebooks. Lucy Trivino Garcia, a health promoter and nurse, greets them warmly. A young doctor completing his rural service is also there; he comes a few days a week to handle emergencies in Ricaurte. Each month follows a similar routine. Lucy gives a brief summary on the health status of Fragile X patients, they identify priority cases, and begin house-to-house visits. This time, Mrs. Aleida Gordillo, over 70 years old and living with Fragile X, beat them to it she was already waiting at the health center. Its Tuesday, March 25, and the heat is suffocating for both the doctors and patients. Aleida doesnt speak clearly, but she manages to communicate that she has been feeling ill for the past few days. She has lost weight, has difficulty walking, and has experienced dizziness and chills. Saldarriaga reviews her medical history and fears a heart problem. He knows that the only way Aleida can get the tests she needs is for him to take her to the nearest hospital, in the municipality of Bolivar. Aleida Gordillo, a patient with fragile X, undergoes an electrocardiogram at the Santa Ana Hospital in Bolivar. Jair F. Coll Aleida happily climbs into the backseat of Dr. Saldarriagas truck. During the ride, she briefly shares that one of her older sisters, who lives in Bolivar and also has Fragile X, is in critical condition. At the hospital, they check Aleidas vital signs and perform an electrocardiogram. The doctors also take the opportunity to visit the home of Aleidas sister and niece. Its also home to Andres Felipe Gordillo, one of the youngest Fragile X patients in the area. Hes 16 years old, enjoys drawing with colored pencils, and spends many hours watching videos on his Aunt Milvias phone. Milvia has to take care of both her bedridden mother and her sick nephew. The doctors examine them, tend to minor wounds, and provide prescriptions for essential medications. Andres Felipe has a spinal problem, one side is longer than the other his back is starting to curve, says his aunt Milvia. The doctors recommend physical therapy and an urgent appointment with an orthopedic specialist, but there are no therapists or orthopedists in any nearby towns. They would have to travel to the city but they dont have the money. The doctors return to Ricaurte, and the house visits continue with several families affected by multiple cases of Fragile X. In every home, there is a small altar dedicated to the Divine Ecce Homo an image of a seated Jesus that is displayed in the towns church and draws thousands of tourists seeking miracles. In every home, the two doctors, whose services are unpaid, are welcomed with joy and gratitude. According to Colombian law, Fragile X patients are entitled to special protection by the state as sufferers of an orphan disease, but in reality, they survive on their own and often lack even the basic means to eat three meals a day. Neither contaminated water nor witchcraft Before Dr. Saldarriaga discovered Fragile X in Ricaurte, the town had a brief moment of notoriety because the writer Gustavo Alvarez Gardeazabal, in his 1980 novel El Divino, wrote that there were many intellectually disabled people living there. For decades, it was assumed that the high prevalence of intellectual disability was due to environmental factors. Some thought it was caused by drinking magnesium-contaminated water from the mountains. Another theory claimed that women used witchcraft to charm their husbands, accidentally overdosing them with love potions, which supposedly led to children being born with disabilities. A final theory suggested that people in Ricaurte drank milk and ate meat from goats that had fed on a common hallucinogenic plant found in local pastures, and that this caused the disabilities in children. Only a few in town suspected a hereditary issue, noting that many of the sick shared the same last name. Saldarriaga leaned toward that final explanation. With the guidance of a genetics professor and the reference images in textbooks on genetically inherited intellectual disabilities, he traveled to Ricaurte. It was the late 1990s. One of the children looked exactly like the one in the textbook image that illustrated Fragile X syndrome, Saldarriaga recalls emotionally. He told his professor what he had seen, and they decided to run serotype tests which show fragile sites on chromosomes to confirm whether it was the disease, which no one in Ricaurte had heard of. We took samples from five patients who had similar physical features, processed them in the universitys lab, and all tested positive for Fragile X. The child who made the diseases identification possible was Ronald Gabriel, Patricia Trivinos nephew, who still wanders alone down the streets of Ricaurte to this day. Lucy Trivino, a health promoter and nurse, takes the blood pressure of Mercedes Trivino, a patient with the syndrome. Jair F. Coll This was followed by numerous investigations, academic awards, and publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals until, two decades later, Professor Randi J. Hagerman reached out to him. Hagerman is the director of the Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute at the University of California and the worlds foremost expert on these types of mutations. She invited Saldarriaga to Sacramento, California, and offered him the financial and technological support he needed to continue his research. Hagerman has an H-index of 105. A Nobel Prize winner has around 120. I have an H-index of 11. The top researcher in Colombia has 70, says Saldarriaga, to emphasize the scientific importance of his collaborator, who co-authored the book Fragile X Syndrome in Colombia. Saldarriaga told her that ideally, they would perform molecular tests on the entire population of Ricaurte to identify carriers and, based on those results, offer genetic and reproductive counseling to prevent new cases. Thats the real long-term impact we could have. Tubal ligation and ancestry studies Hagerman and her team donated the molecular tests. Saldarriga and other doctors at the Universidad del Valle collected the blood samples and mailed them to the United States. There, they processed them and returned the results. With the information, they conducted a new census in Ricaurte, constructed family heredograms or family trees with information about the disease, and began visiting each home to share the findings. Saldarriaga visited each person who had the Fragile X mutation or premutation. He provided genetic and reproductive counseling, explaining the risks of having children if the mother or father had the premutation. Ultimately, 12 of the 13 women with the premutation who were of reproductive age decided to have their tubes tied to avoid pregnancy. The hospital and the doctors donated the procedures. The woman who said she didnt want birth control had a child months later, the youngest case of Fragile X in Ricaurte. Hopefully its the last, says Saldarriaga. Dr. Ramirez Cheyne used those results, along with other genetic tests, to conduct a study proving that the syndrome had been present in Ricaurte since the towns founding a phenomenon in science known as the founder effect. In 2024, he published a scientific article in the American Journal of Medical Genetics. In the paper, Ramirez confirmed that all the affected individuals in the town shared the same haplotype meaning a group of genetic variants that tend to be inherited together in a block. The human genome is a sequence of letters; theyre like the building blocks of DNA. Our genome has 3 billion of those letters organized in a set way. A mutation occurs when one letter is replaced by another, Ramirez explains. The letter that was scrambled is surrounded by a sequence of letters, both forward and backward. That block is the haplotype. The study found that the Fragile X patients in Ricaurte shared millions of identical letters in both directions, proving they came from the same ancestor. Thats the founder effect, says Ramirez. The scientific investigations were complemented by interviews with many local residents to reconstruct the history of the disease. We identified three family nuclei that started to merge into a single family going back to the beginning; they had the same lineage. Oral traditions were combined with a review of old archives, public deeds, and church-kept birth records. The scientists were able to establish that the town was founded in the late 18th century and that, in the early 19th century, the owner of a large plot of land sold it to 10 families who already lived there. Among those, three families are the most likely to have introduced Fragile X syndrome to Ricaurte. The next step, say Saldarriaga and Ramirez, is to conduct an ancestry study to determine whether the origin of the mutation is Indigenous, African, or Spanish. We have indications that it came from Spain, but we need to verify it molecularly, says Saldarriaga. If any European researcher wants to help us, theyre welcome, he adds with a laugh. The Trivino family in their home in Ricaurte, Mercedes Trivino (center-left) had eight children, of which five were born with Fragile X syndrome. Jair F. Coll Today, after many years of scientific research, the families with members affected by the disease in Ricaurte are calling for a change in the language used to describe them, one that removes the stigma and promotes positive effects in the care and treatment of patients. We are not the village of the fools, says Patricia Trivino before we say our goodbyes. She insists: Dr. Saldarriaga discovered that we are sick, not fools. Patricia knows that her relatives have a disease that reduces their cognitive abilities, causes severe learning limitations, and creates difficulties in interacting with others. But she also knows with absolute certainty that they are not fools. We need a foundation specialized in Fragile X that helps us, offers physical therapy and speech therapy, teaches young people different activities, and launches productive projects. Today we are alone, abandoned by the state. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Florida lawmakers are used to facing crushing deadlines when the two-month legislative session lurches toward the finish line. But prospects of meeting this years scheduled May 2 finale may already be dead in the water. Blistering personal attacks between House Speaker Daniel Perez and Gov. Ron DeSantis, both Republicans, are enflaming an already massive money divide between the House and Senate. But Perez said he is committed to working on finalizing a state budget and tax-cut plan in the sessions closing two weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think we have the same mission. We just have different ways of getting there, Perez told reporters. But we will find a way to get there. And even if were not there today, I have all the faith in the world that we will get there eventually. Perez kept the door open on overtime or even a special session before next years budget takes effect July 1. Dollar differences are mountainous The House spending plan is $4.4 billion smaller than the Senates $117.4 billion budget and the Senate just rolled out a $2.1 billion tax cut package that is eclipsed by the $5.4 billion reduction promoted by Perez and the House. The tax-cut bottom lines are different, but so too is the approach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the House would cut the states 6% sales tax to 5.25%, the Senate relies more on sales tax exemptions and a handful of sales-tax holidays. Neither plan matches what DeSantis outlined in his February budget recommendation, when he called for $2.2 billion in cuts, including eliminating the business rent tax, which neither the House or Senate does. He has since also floated the idea of a $5 billion tax cut through sending $1,000-checks to homesteaded property owners. Neither the House nor Senate has embraced that. But dollars are only one of the divides. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (left), House Speaker Daniel Perez. Dollar divide enflamed by Hope Florida probe Perezs House is investigating Hope Florida, the social services assistance organization close to First Lady Casey DeSantis. Hope Florida funneled $10 million last fall from an unreported settlement to political committees helping the governor fight a marijuana ballot measure, which House leaders say may have been illegal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats antagonized DeSantis, fueling a clash with the House that began in a combative trio of special sessions on immigration before the regular session began in March. DeSantis has since attacked the Houses tax-cut plan and accused Perez of siding with Democratic-leaning trial lawyers on a host of insurance issues. Dueling tax cuts amid souring economy... Florida GOP tax cut feud erupts as state, national economies teeter on edge DeSantis tees off on House budget... DeSantis slams state House budget cuts to state troopers during Fort Myers visit DeSantis now is also ridiculing the House budget proposals limits on law enforcement spending, saying Perez and others are out to defund the police. It's all a charade. It's really a pathetic agenda, DeSantis said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perez responded by saying the governor was choosing to either spew lies or not to read the bills or look at (the House) budget. DeSantis 'choosing to be an enemy,' Perez says "He is choosing to be an enemy, Perez said. I do not want to be his enemy. For his part, Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, is casting himself in a different role as the session winds down. The idea of brokering peace and building win-wins, those are my expectations of the Senate, said Albritton, who opened recent remarks to reporters with a biblical citation: Blessed are the peacemakers. Even if lawmakers are somehow able to settle their vast differences by May 2, DeSantis looms. The governor could veto much of their work and call them back into a special session to come up with something closer to what hes been demanding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But whether an on-time adjournment is met or not, it looms as a milepost in the continually changing relationship between DeSantis and Republican lawmakers. Perez, now in the opening months of his two years as speaker, says hes only beginning to examine the DeSantis administrations performance and its compliance with state laws, agency oversight and campaign spending. The House is definitely trying to restructure and rewrite the way that Tallahassee functions today, Perez said. Anything and everything is on the table on what can come before the House in the next year-and-a-half. John Kennedy is a reporter in the USA TODAY Networks Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jkennedy2@gannett.com, or on X at @JKennedyReport. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Clock ticks: Will DeSantis, House brawl derail legislative deadline? She didn't see the gunman or hear the shots but knew what was happening. As a young man carried out a deadly shooting Thursday at Florida State University, Stephanie Horowitz looked out at the sprawling campus and saw a dreadful reminder that brought her back to when she was a teenager at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School during the Parkland massacre seven years ago. You could almost see the silence. There was not a soul in sight and belongings left behind like open laptops and bags," Horowitz said in an interview with The Associated Press. "I knew what that meant, because Ive done this before. I know what the aftermath of a school shooting looks like. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Horowitz, a graduate student at Florida State University, is among a small group who were in the traumatizing midst of both the massacre in Parkland and now the shooting at the college in Tallahassee, inexplicably forced to endure a second school shooting in the early stages of their adult lives. You never think its going to happen to you the first time, you certainly never think its going to happen to you twice, said Horowitz, 22. This is America. Two people were killed and six others were injured after a 20-year-old man, identified by police as Phoenix Ikner, opened fire around lunchtime Thursday near a student union building on the Florida State University campus. The suspect, a student at the university and the stepson of a sheriffs deputy, was hospitalized with injuries that are not considered life-threatening, police say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Florida State student Logan Rubenstein was in eighth grade when he was forced to shelter in place at his middle school during the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre nearby. "What we went through, we made it our mission to ensure this could never happen again, said Rubenstein, 21. And Im sorry that we werent good enough because now this is the second shooting that Ive had to go through. The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting was one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history, with 17 people killed and 17 others wounded on Valentine's Day in 2018. Jaclyn Schildkraut, who leads a gun violence research group at the Rockefeller Institute of Government in New York, said that experiencing multiple school shootings could prolong a person's emotional healing process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its like all of that progress that you've made seemingly goes away and you're right back at the starting line, she said. Lori Alhadeff, whose daughter, Alyssa, was killed in the Parkland shooting, said she felt a wave of panic wash over her when her son Robbie texted her that there was an active shooter at Florida State, where he is a student. Its never the message that you want to get, that theres a shooter at your childs school, Alhadeff said. Your brain just really starts to spin, and its traumatizing and obviously very triggering to me and my husband and my son. She said her son was in the student union about 20 minutes before the shooting but left before the gunman arrived. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I pray for the families that lost somebody yesterday, but this should not be normal, said Alhadeff. This should have not been my sons second experience with a school shooting. We need to do better. ___ Izaguirre reported from Albany, New York. Matat reported from West Palm Beach, Florida. AP journalist Mingson Lau contributed from Wilmington, Delaware. The son of a Florida sheriffs deputy is suspected to be the gunman in an attack at Florida State University Thursday morning that killed two and injured six. "All classes on the main Florida State University campus in Tallahassee are cancelled Thursday, April 17 and Friday, April 18 due to a shooting at the Student Union," FSU said in an alert Thursday evening. "Employees should check with their supervisors to determine if they are essential personnel and for further reporting instructions." It also added the Student Union and the surrounding area is still considered an active crime scene, asking the public and campus community to avoid the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are heartbroken. We are grieving with the families, friends, and loved ones of those who were lost," FSU President Richard McCullough said in an open letter. "We are holding close those who are injured, and we are standing by everyone who is hurting." Dear FSU community, Today, we experienced a tragic and senseless act of violence at the heart of our campus. At lunchtime, an active shooter opened fire at the Student Union. Two were killed. Six others were injured. We are heartbroken. We are grieving with the families, FSU President Richard McCullough (@PresMcCullough) April 17, 2025 Here's what we know about the shooting as of Friday, April 18. See live updates: Vigil planned to honor victims of FSU shooting. Here's how to get lost belongings Where is Florida State University located? Florida State University is located in the state's capitol, Tallahassee. It is found in the middle of the Panhandle between Jacksonville and Pensacola. The main campus of Florida State University is officially located at 600 W College Ave, Tallahassee, FL 32306. When, where did the FSU shooting occur? A gunman, later identified by police as Phoenix Ikner, opened fire at the FSU Student Union at 11:50 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The university sent out an alert to students and faculty at 12:01 p.m. as law enforcement quickly descended on the campus. "An active shooter has been reported in the area of Student Union. Police are on scene or on the way. Continue to seek shelter and await further instructions. Lock and stay away from all doors and windows and be prepared to take additional protective measures," the initial alert read. Ikner was eventually shot by law enforcement and taken to the hospital. He is believed to have acted alone, according to Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell. Who is Phoenix Ikner? What to know about suspect in FSU shooting Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil said the shooter was a 20-year-old FSU student and the son of a Leon County deputy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Unfortunately, her son had access to one of her weapons, and that was one of the weapons found at the scene. We are continuing our investigation as to how that weapon was used and what other weapons perhaps he may have had access to," McNeil said during a press conference. Ikner attended Lincoln High School and was a long-standing member of the 2021-22 Leon County Sheriff's Office Youth Advisory Council as a high school junior. According to USA TODAY, students who knew Ikner were horrified but "weren't shocked given things he had said publicly." What was the motive behind Phoenix Ikner's shooting? Ikner's motive is still unknown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The suspect invoked his rights not to speak to us," Revell said at the press conference. Who were the victims of 2025 Florida State University shooting? McNeil confirmed during a Thursday press conference that two people were dead and six others were hospitalized. As of Friday, law enforcement has not identified the victims but said the two killed were not students. The surviving student victims were listed in fair condition. Ikner was also shot and taken to a local hospital. Which FSU buildings are still closed after the shooting? How to get belongings "The following buildings are currently CLOSED: Student Union, Bellamy, HCB Classroom Building, Rovetta A&B, Moore Auditorium, Shaw, Pepper, Strozier and Dirac Libraries, Hecht House and Carraway. Individuals should not return to these buildings to retrieve personal property at this time. Individuals are free to move about other areas of campus," an alert for FSU said late Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The campus community will be able to retrieve personal belongings from select campus buildings between 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, April 18. Be prepared to produce a photo ID to claim your belongings. If your belongings were left in another campus building not on this list, or if you are unable to retrieve your belongings on Friday, please call 850-644-4444 between to 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to schedule assistance. Where can FSU students go for counseling, support after shooting? The university will open a Support Center at the Askew Student Life Center from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, April 18. Counseling and Victims Advocate services will be available, and staff will be on hand to answer questions and provide assistance. Vigil planned for FSU shooting victims Friday, April 18 Florida State University will hold a vigil for the victims at 5 p.m. Friday, April 18, at Langford Green in front of the Unconquered Statue. FBI announces tip line for anyone with information, videos of FSU shooting The FBI has set up a tip line for anyone with information about the shooting that happened at FSU. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with video or audio media related to the incident, can upload it here. Contributing: William Hatfield, Arianna Otero, Jim Rosica, Jeff Burlew, Ana Goni-Lessan, Alaijah Brown, Tallahassee Democrat This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU shooting: What we know about Phoenix Ikner, victims so far FSU shooting suspect Phoenix Ikner was known for his controversial views and as a student who espoused so much white supremacist rhetoric. The suspect in a mass shooting yesterday at Florida State University opened fire on the college campus at 11:50 AM local time, but according to his classmates, he had crossed the line before. After officials identified the shooter as the son of a sheriff, Phoenix Ikner, 20, who killed two and left six injured in the melee, his classmates are speaking out to fill in the picture of who he was. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ikner, who changed his name from Christian Gunner Eriksen to Phoenix Ikner in 2020, was known by some as a normal college dude, according to NBC News. However, others, including FSU senior Reid Seybold, claim Ikner espoused white supremacist ideals. Seybold knew Ikner from a political debate club at Tallahassee State College, where he attended for two years before transferring to FSU. He told the outlet that Ikner espoused so much white supremacist rhetoric and far-right rhetoric, as well, that he was ultimately asked not to return. Another member of the group and current president, Riley Pusins, confirmed to NBC that Ikner supported President Donald Trumps political agenda and often touted white supremacist ideals even though the club was nonpartisan. Pusins added how many in the club considered the suspect a fascist. He said that after the meetings, the suspect would often make more inappropriate comments. According to the current club president, Ikner would go up to the line in meetings and then cross the line in discussions later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ikner was known for his controversial views inside the classroom as well. I got into arguments with him in class over how gross the things he said were, Lucas Luzietti, a politics student who shared a class with Ikner, told USA TODAY. According to Luzietti, Ikner lauded right-wing conspiracy theories and hateful ideas. He reportedly pushed theories like former President Joe Biden gained the office illegally, Rosa Parks was in the wrong and Black people were ruining his neighborhood. I remember thinking this man should not have access to firearms, Luzietti told the outlet, adding, What are you supposed to do? His mother was a cop and Florida doesnt have very strong red flag laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Red flag laws, currently on the books in 21 states and the District of Columbia, can enable someone who is worried about a gun owner posing a danger to themselves to others to have the authorities seize the weapons. In January, a week before the inauguration, Ikner was quoted in FSUs student newspaper in a story about anti-Trump protests happening on campus. January was also the last time he attended the debate club. The rally, organized by Tallahassee Students for a Democratic Society, called for an end to the war in the Gaza Strip and racist attacks on immigrants, according to the article. These people are usually pretty entertaining, usually not for good reasons, said Ikner, who was listed as a political science major, according to an archived online report from FSUnews.com. I think its a little too late, hes [Trump] already going to be inaugurated on Jan. 20 and theres not really much you can do unless you outright revolt, and I dont think anyone wants that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the shooting on Thursday, the student newspaper removed Ikners quote from the article at the decision of our editors to maintain ethical journalistic standards and avoid amplifying the voice of an individual responsible for violence. While speaking to NBC News, despite what Seybold did know about Ikner, he was still trying to wrap his head around why his classmate opened fire yesterday afternoon. I dont know why he would have done something like this, Seybold said. I dont know where it would have come from, but Id sure like to find out. More must-reads: The suspect in the Florida State University shooting on Thursday is the stepson of a local sheriffs deputy, according to law enforcement officials, and some of his classmates said he had espoused white supremacist and far-right views. Authorities said Phoenix Ikner, 20, opened fire near the student union on the Tallahassee campus, killing two people and injuring six others, and was believed to be a current student at FSU. He used a handgun that belongs to his stepmother, Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil said Thursday. The suspect, McNeil said, was steeped in the Leon County Sheriffs Office family, engaged in a number of training programs that we have, so its not a surprise to us that he had access to weapons. He was also a longtime member of the Leon County Sheriffs Office youth advisory council, McNeil said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ikner was hospitalized with serious but not life-threatening injuries, Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell said Thursday night. Authorities have not announced a motive in the shooting. Some of Ikners classmates said he harbored white supremacist views. FSU senior Reid Seybold, the former president of a political discussion group at Tallahassee State College, where the suspect initially enrolled, told NBC News that Ikner had repeated so much white supremacist rhetoric and far-right rhetoric and was told not to return to the group because of his views. FSU junior Lucas Luzietti, who said he shared a government class with Ikner at Tallahassee State College, told NBC News that the suspect had made racist comments and denied the results of the 2020 presidential election. He espoused the election denialism belief that Joe Biden was not the legitimate president, Luzietti said. He said that Rosa Parks was in the wrong. He also talked about how Black people are ruining his neighborhood and Stonewell was bad for society. He would also talk about how multiculturalism is dangerous. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everyone [in the class] would just look at each other like, Did he really just say that? Speaking in the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump told reporters that the shooting was a shame but suggested he wouldnt do anything to strengthen gun laws. These things are terrible, but the gun doesnt do the shooting the people do, Trump said, acknowledging that its a phrase thats used probably too often. As far as legislation is concerned, this has been going on for a long time, he added. I have an obligation to protect the Second Amendment. I ran on the Second Amendment, among many other things, and I will always protect the Second Amendment. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com The 20-year-old man suspected of killing two people and wounding six others in a shooting at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Fla., on Thursday was identified by authorities as Phoenix Ikner, the stepson of a local sheriffs deputy and student who classmates say had expressed far-right views. Ikner was shot by police and taken into custody. He was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Authorities have yet to disclose a motive for the shooting. Phoenix Ikners stepmother was identified as Jessica Ikner, a Leon County sheriffs deputy who has worked with the department for over 18 years. A former service weapon that belonged to her was recovered at the scene. She was allowed to purchase her former service weapon for personal use, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her service to this community has been exceptional, Leon County Sheriff Walter McNeil told reporters Thursday. McNeil said Phoenix Ikner was a long-standing member of the sheriffs youth advisory council who engaged in numerous training programs and was steeped in the Leon County Sheriffs Office family. So its not a surprise to us that he had access to weapons, McNeil said. Tumultuous childhood Phoenix Ikner. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photo: Instagram) According to court documents obtained by ABC News, the alleged gunmans biological mother, Anne-Mari Eriksen, was arrested in 2015 on a kidnapping charge for taking him to Norway when he was 10 years old. Per ABC, Phoenix Ikner is referred to in court documents as Christian Gunnar Eriksen. He changed his name to Phoenix Ikner in 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to an affidavit for Eriksens arrest, she told his biological father that she would take him to South Florida for spring break in March 2015. Instead, she fled the country with him in violation of their custody agreement, taking him to Norway, per the affidavit. Eriksen was arrested in July 2015 at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and booked in the Leon County Jail on charges of kidnapping a minor child and removing them from the state. She pleaded no contest and was sentenced to 200 days in prison, 170 of which she had already served, followed by two years of community control and two more years of probation. In October 2015, Eriksen filed a lawsuit alleging slander and libel against her sons father, his stepmother Jessica Ikner and two other relatives. The emotional and psychological harm done to the minor child will be evident for years, the lawsuit said. The suit was later dismissed. History of far-right views The FSU student union building is seen behind a law enforcement vehicle on Thursday. (Gary McCullough/AP) Reid Seybold, a student at FSU, told CNN that he knew the suspected shooter from a political discussion group at nearby Tallahassee State College. Seybold said that Ikner was asked to leave the group because he continually made people uncomfortable by espousing white supremacist rhetoric. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He had continually made enough people uncomfortable where certain people had stopped coming, Seybold said. He talked about the ravages of multiculturalism and communism and how its ruining America. Another former classmate, Lucas Luzietti, told USA Today that he often got into arguments in class with Ikner, who he said routinely expressed hateful ideology. I remember thinking this man should not have access to firearms, Luzietti said. Ikner is a registered Republican, according to Florida voter registration records. In January, he was quoted in FSUs student newspaper in a story about protests ahead of President Trumps inauguration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These people are usually pretty entertaining, usually not for good reasons, said Ikner, who was described as a political science major by the paper. I think its a little too late, hes already going to be inaugurated on Jan. 20 and theres not really much you can do unless you outright revolt, and I dont think anyone wants that. An Instagram account appearing to belong to Ikner was taken offline shortly after police identified him as the suspect. His bio included a biblical quote that read: You are my war club, my weapon for battle; with you I shatter nations, with you I destroy kingdoms. The Palm Beach County School District is the nation's 10th largest school district and one of Florida's best. Unfortunately, the quality county parents have come to expect from their public schools could be in jeopardy, thanks to proposed budget cuts pending before the Florida Legislature that will cost our schools up to $47 million. State lawmakers are proposing cuts to popular college and career coursework like Advance Placement and industry certification programs. Although their budget proposals contain a record appropriation for K-12 education, the bulk of the $800 million in new money is going to pay for "school-choice" programs. State funding follows the student. So, the fewer students attending public schools, the less money Florida's 67 school districts have to work with. Lawmakers will insist that they aren't trying to dumb down public education. State budget projections beginning in the summer of 2026 call for a revenue shortfall of almost $7 billion. The cuts have to come from somewhere, but it shouldn't be borne by the almost 3 million students currently attending Florida's public schools. Instead of talking cuts, the legislature should find ways to fully fund public education even if it means raising new revenue to do it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Editorial: Trump's government cuts will stifle Florida food banks, expand hunger crisis Finding other options to spending cuts to public schools may amount to political heresy for the crowd at the state capitol. But, it's a better alternative to losing viable educational programs in order to balance the state budget. A robust public education is an investment in Florida's future that is a wise one. Unfortunately, state lawmakers seem poised to continue to pursue spending cuts that will ultimately undermine the education of our children. State cuts just the latest budgetary hits to Florida's public schools The Florida Legislature is grappling with a new budget that calls for cuts to public school funding. Up until now, Florida's budgetary outlook was, well, rosy. Once buoyed by billions in federal funding to avert the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican-dominated legislature spent lavishly on partisan priorities and political pablum (like small tax breaks) with relative ease. Universal school vouchers was one of those priorities. But it's now a $3.9 billion program that has expanded eligibility to allow more parents to use more public school funding to pay for private schools and offset homeschooling expenses. As the federal funding wound down, the belt-tightening concerns started to grow. Last month, the Florida Revenue Estimating Conference updated its general revenue projections and cited weaker state and national economic variables. The revised forecast, Amy Baker, coordinator of the Legislatures Office of Economic & Demographic Research, said comes with a strong caveat that the greatest risks going forward are all to the downside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration's trade policies and disruption of government services haven't helped either. Fewer federal dollars mean fewer resources and limited access to key programs. It takes money to provide updated textbooks and technology, not to mention the educators and support staff to run key programs, whether its career and technical education, college preparatory courses, special education or extracurricular activities. The bottom line? Deep cuts to schools ultimately undermines student achievement and narrows their opportunities as young adults. Opinion: Florida politicians want to restrict voters' rights to amend our Constitution So now, Florida's school districts must grapple with potential cuts to AP courses, International Baccalaureate, dual enrollment, and Advanced International Certificate of Education diplomas that allow students to get college credit and compete for scholarships while in high school. It also will become harder to administer industry certifications that many believe are fast tracks to technical career opportunities and a viable alternative to a four-year college degree. For a state that typically punches well below its weight in educational spending, this new round of budget cutting means more hitting below the belt. Public schools shouldn't be rushed to the chopping block when the economy sours, but that's been the state's go-to. State lawmakers face a challenge. Simply penny pitching isn't the solution. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: FL lawmakers shouldn't take money from public schools | Editorial Teocaltiche is a municipality in rural Jalisco, with a population of just under 40,000, near the border with Aguascalientes and Guanajuato. Its a town that thrives on farming and, in the last decade, increasingly on the monthly remittances sent back home by residents who emigrated to the United States. Teocaltiche is also one of the lands where the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) has established its roots, producing bodies dumped in the streets, subservient authorities, and social terror. Teocaltiche has been abandoned to its fate, ignored by the government of Pablo Lemus of the Citizens Movement (MC) in Jalisco, as well as by President Claudia Sheinbaum, residents denounce. Desperate residents are threatening to organize a self-defense group and take the laws they have been denied into their own hands, an old formula already practiced for decades in the neighboring states of Michoacan and Guerrero, which has only contributed to adding fuel to the arsenal of the Mexican countryside. On Tuesday, a group of hitmen in a pickup truck pulled up alongside the car of the municipal commissioner, Ramon Grande Moncada, and opened fire on him. It was 8 p.m., and the police chief was driving with his wife. Grande Moncada died; his wife, wounded, survived. It was the latest episode in an escalation that has given gravediggers more work than usual in recent months. The event, narrated this way, is not unlike the executions of police officers, politicians, businessmen, or workers witnessed daily in every corner of Mexico. In Teocaltiche, however, the state Security Secretariat took control of the local police force in the face of the violence that erupted and suspicions that the CJNG was trying to control the towns agents. Since February 18, the state police have maintained a special surveillance operation. That day, eight police officers and one civilian, their driver, disappeared while traveling to Guadalajara to undergo a routine security check. A day later, the bodies of four of them were found on the side of the road that connects Teocaltiche with Jalostotitlan, a 25-mile stretch. The bodies had been dismembered to the extent that the remains of four people were scattered in 13 different black plastic bags. Nothing has been heard of the remaining five kidnapped people. The police found a cell phone belonging of one of them and the van in which the officers traveled to Guadalajara, in a neighborhood of Teocaltiche. Investigations suggest this was a settling of scores by the CJNG, because a sign was left next to the bodies accusing the officers of collaborating with the Sinaloa Cartel. Over the following months, state supervision in the town didnt seem to change much. On April 9, a few days before Chief Grandes murder, hitmen arrived early in the morning at the home of another police officer, Luis Ernesto Chavez Regino, 31, pointed their pistols at him, forced him into the yard of the house in the El Tanque neighborhood, and emptied their magazines. Before the state police arrived, on February 2, Officer Sugey Areli Lopez Guzman died after an on-duty shooting. Two other officers were wounded. The bullets havent only hit the police force. The civilian population has also suffered casualties. On April 7, four people three men and an elderly woman were gunned down in a house in the El Barrio neighborhood. Residents heard shouts, an argument, gunshots, and, finally, saw a group of men fleeing the scene in a pickup truck. Its estimated that some 20 people have been killed since the state police arrived in the municipality in February. Before that: massacres in bars, soldiers ambushed, killings between armed groups... Violence has thus become routine, but the murder of the commissioner on Tuesday seemed to cross a line. The municipal administrations Facebook account made a desperate plea for help: The people of Teocaltiche cannot continue living amid fear, violence, and pain. Today we raise our voices with profound helplessness and indignation over the tragedies that have repeatedly struck our community. Enough of the deaths! Enough of the suffering of our families! Enough of being ignored! the letter began. We demand clear and forceful responses from the State and the Federation. We demand real protection for our people. We demand that peace, security, and dignity be restored to our homes, it added. Residents of Teocaltiche protest in front of the Jalisco state government headquarters to demand security, in May 2021. Fernando Carranza Garcia (Cuartoscuro) The commissioners murder struck a chord in the city council that the killing of Juan Pablo Diego Alonzo Estrada, spokesperson for the Teocaltiche Front for Our People collective, had not touched. On the night of March 30, a group of hitmen broke into his home and riddled him with bullets. They also wounded his sister. The activist had participated that same month in roundtable discussions with the Ministry of the Interior to address the CJNGs control of the municipality. State Governor Pablo Lemus blamed Alonzo Estrada for his own death because, he claimed, he had a record for hydrocarbon theft. It was completely ruled out, said Lemus, that he had been killed for his political activism. The Teocaltiche Front for Our People organized protests this week against the string of murders. On Wednesday, they had called a press conference in the town square to announce the creation of a neighborhood self-defense group in response to the unstoppable wave of violence that is hitting us and the indifference of the federal authorities. However, the event was not held due to pressure from the police, who surrounded the square to prevent residents and the press from entering. The state police once again demonstrated that they have dirty hands and that they have a lot to hide by not allowing us to share our testimonies, the group denounced. The Front also attacked Lemus for pointing out the victims as criminals and argued that Jalisco has become a state ruled by infamy, impunity, and violence. Teocaltiche and other municipalities are proof of this. Terrorism, injustice, and fear reign in our communities. Months earlier, Mayor Margarita Villalobos, of the Institutional Revolutionary Party, had distanced herself from the violence, asserting that the issue was not her responsibility, but rather the responsibility of the Attorney Generals Office, and that her jurisdiction was limited to making sure that the municipality has water and that the garbage is collected. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The issue of cellphone use in classrooms is complex. Finding the right balance between reducing distractions and supporting students' needs will require thoughtful, evidence-based decisions (Getty Images). In math class, Emmas phone buzzes again, pulling her away from the lesson. Its just one of the 273 notifications the average teen receives daily, according to Common Sense Media. Her focus fades and learning stalls. A United Nations study found that it can take up to 20 minutes to regain concentration after such an interruptionmaking the cost of distraction cumulative, not momentary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Students spend an average of 43 minutes on their phones each school daynearly a full class period. Over the course of a school year, that equals roughly 130 hours of missed instruction. Missouri students cannot afford these losses, especially when more than a third of the states fourth- and eighth-graders score below basic proficiency in reading, with similar concerns in math, as reported by the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Research from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development shows that even the mere presence of a phoneor being seated near onecan negatively impact academic performance, particularly in math. A recent survey found that 53% of school leaders believe phones harm academic progress, while 73% report they diminish students attention spans. This distraction doesnt just affect individual students; it erodes focus throughout the entire classroom. Several St. Louis-area districts have adopted stricter cellphone bans after previous attempts failed to curb phone use in class. These early successes offer a practical roadmap for schools statewide, proving that focused classroom environments are possible with clear phone policies. If we are serious about raising achievement and closing learning gaps, we must prioritize focusbeginning with limiting phone use during class. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The February 2025 SLU/YouGov Poll found that 70% of likely Missouri voters support banning phones during class across all K-12 schools. Nationally, 53% of adults favor similar restrictions for middle and high schoolers, and 83% of National Education Association members back a full school-day phone ban. Teachers, parents, researchers, and voters are all aligned in this rare moment of consensus on the need for change. Banning phones promotes equity by addressing the digital divide. Not every student has access to the latest devices, and phone use in class can exacerbate inequalities. Students with ADHD, learning differences, or trauma histories are especially vulnerable to digital distraction. Well-defined policies level the playing field, fostering more focused, inclusive classrooms. Some families raise safety concerns, particularly in light of school shootings. However, experts recommend structured communication systemsnot student cell phones. In a crisis, phones can spread misinformation, jam emergency lines, and prevent students from hearing or following safety instructions. The Missouri House recently advanced a school safety bill that includes provisions for limiting cellphone use, reflecting ongoing discussions on how to address distractions in schools. This bill is one approach among many that seek to balance safety and learning environments, and it has garnered significant attention for its potential to create clear, student-centered policies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While some schools have implemented phone restrictions, the lack of a statewide policy creates inequities for students, families, and teachers. A consistent framework at the state level would ensure that all schools, regardless of where they live, can create environments that support learning. Schools dont need to start from scratch. Many districts already use effective tools like wall-mounted phone caddies, magnetically sealed pouches, or classroom tech agreements. The goal is to create classroom norms that promote learning. With clear guidance and local flexibility, districts can implement practical, age-appropriate policies supported by staff and families. Missouri wouldnt be going it alone. Currently, at least 19 states have laws or policies banning or restricting cellphone use in schools or recommending local districts adopt similar measures, according to an Education Week analysis. Additionally, another 16 states have introduced similar legislation this year. The issue of cellphone use in classrooms is complex. Finding the right balance between reducing distractions and supporting students needs will require thoughtful, evidence-based decisions. The stakes are high for student engagement and success, and thoughtful, evidence-based decisions will be key to shaping effective policies moving forward. This article was originally published in Daily Montanan. Two graduate students at Montana State University are asking a federal court to stop the Trump administration and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from terminating their foreign student status, which could allow officials to immediately deport them. Officials with Montanas largest public universities last week announced that four foreign students had their F-1 visas revoked and their F-1 statuses cancelled, meaning they could be subject to immediate deportation. Their cases mirrored hundreds of other cases across the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The American Civil Liberties Union of Montana filed the motion in court on Monday on behalf of two of the four students, who are anonymous in court filings. Laywers said that both students were sent identical form letters which said their status had been revoked because of criminal status, although neither has been convicted or charged with any crime, leading to confusion and panic. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter The identity and status of the other two students mentioned by MSU are not publicly known. The Department of Homeland Security has not just revoked the F-1 visa, which is a document that allows a student entry into the United States, it has apparently wiped out their F-1 status, which allows a student to remain lawfully and allows them to be employed in certain jobs, like teaching assistant positions or research. By cancelling the status, the lawsuit argues, the Trump administration has made it impossible for the students to keep employment or be paid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit also points out that cancelling an F-1 visa is not necessarily cause to revoke the students entire status. The ACLU of Montana says the actions of the Trump administration violate the U.S. Constitutions guarantee of due process, which extends to residents who are not U.S. citizens, but still lawfully in the country, like the students. According to court documents, neither student has been convicted of a crime, and neither student has participated in protests or demonstrations. The court documents also shed light into the inner workings of the moves by the Trump officials to boot foreign-born students. For example, officials did not appear to give either the students or the universities any advance warning. The four students in Montana learned of the changed status after officials with the university system were doing a routine check of the database on April 10. It is unknown when the change was made, and the lawsuit said the university system officials have had no communication explaining the status change. However, with both the F-1 visa and the F-1 status being changed, the court filing said theres little to stop an immediate deportation, and officials worry about due process rights being protected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This policy appears to be primarily targeting African, Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim and Asian students, the court brief said. The court filings say that both students fear that years of work and research could be abruptly ended with the decision. The ACLU has asked for emergency relief for the two unnamed students so that they couldnt be immediately deported, and to have their status restored. Moreover, the lawsuit asks federal court Judge Dana Christensen to prohibit the administration from arresting, detaining or transferring the students from beyond the Montana federal courts jurisdiction without providing adequate notice to contest any action. Students who come to the U.S. under an F-1 status must maintain a full course of study, and have limited options for income, usually related to that field of study. One of the MSU students is a doctoral student in electrical engineering and physics, with a completion date around December, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He has never been convicted of a crime in the United States or elsewhere, the court filing said. He does not understand why his visa was revoked and his (foreign student) record was terminated. Neither the government nor MSU has provided any additional details or explanation for the change in (his) status or the revocation of his F-1 visa. In addition to placing his entire doctorate in jeopardy, the students sister is a graduate student at the University of Colorado. He financially supports her, and according to the lawsuit, the sudden status change has threatened both of their ability to support themselves. The second graduate student from MSU is studying microbiology, and she has never been convicted of a crime in Montana or her native country. This has placed her in an extremely difficult financial and academic position, as her teaching assistantship is not only her only source of income, but also a core component of her masters training, the suit said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to violating the Administrative Procedures Act, the lawsuit said, terminating their status already violated the guarantees of the U.S. Constitution. Plaintiffs were not afforded the most basic of notice nor opportunity to heard that was owed to them before having their F-1 student status terminated, the lawsuit said. The letter did not include any further information as to why (their) F-1 status had been revoked, or how they might seek further information about their specific situations, or even of any available procedures they could follow to challenge the termination. The court filing also says that without the federal court taking immediate, emergency action, the students will continue to be at risk, not just of deportation and financial hardship, but that they will have their study interrupted unfairly. (Their) due process rights are being impaired, the court filing said. (They) face the imminent risk indeed, likelihood that they will be unable to complete their graduate studies, that they will be unable to earn an income, and support their families, the suit said. (They) also current face the serious risk of immediate arrest and detention for deportation because they no longer have lawful status to remain in the United States. Daily Montanan is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Daily Montanan maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Darrell Ehrlick for questions: info@dailymontanan.com. The U.S. Forest Service is looking to hire hundreds of permanent wildland firefighters ahead of the 2025 fire season, according to the USDA. The Pacific Southwest Region of the Forest Service is in the process of hiring 1,100 permanent firefighters to help battle blazes in national forests and grasslands in California. The Forest Service manages more than 190 million acres of public land and supports conservation on hundreds of millions of acres across the country. It also maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. U.S. Forest Service firefighters take a break from battling the Rim Fire at Camp Mather on August 25, 2013 near Groveland, California. (Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) The USDA also plays an important role in maintaining the nations urban forests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These new hires will fill myriad positions including aviation officers, pilots, engine operators, dispatchers, hand crew members, smokejumpers and hotshots. Those hired will help the Forest Service with wildfire preparedness and prevention, forest management, and respond to wildfire emergencies. Applications are open now through April 24. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or nationals that are at least 18 years of age. Because its a direct-hire process, USDA says the typical veterans preference and rating and ranking procedures will not apply. Additional information, including resume preparation guidelines, including webinars and step-by-step tips, can be found online. 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. One man has been arrested, and another is wanted by police for a forgery scheme bilking businesses in Los Angeles out of at least $10,000, investigators announced. The suspects, identified by the Los Angeles Police Department as Gabriel Garcia Sevilla, 45, and Rafael Gomez Zepeda, 42, were captured on a check-cashing stores surveillance cameras in February attempting to cash a counterfeit check, detectives said in a news release. Recognizing the checks were counterfeits, the store clerk called police, leading to the arrest of Sevilla. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zepeda, according to police, fled the area but has since been positively identified and a warrant for his arrest has been issued. Rafeal Gomez Zepeda, 42, and Gabriel Garcia Sevilla, 45. (LAPD) Detectives say that between Nov. 2024 and Feb. 2025, the duo has victimized several other check-cashing businesses in the Hyde Park and Jefferson Park communities of L.A., often using the aliases Juan Nabarro and Raul Medina. Police open fire, kill driver in chaotic Southern California pursuit LAPDs Commercial Crimes Division and Metropolitan Finance Section are alerting other businesses to the forgery scheme and asking for any additional check-cashing stores that may have been victimized by the two men to come forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An investigation into the check counterfeiting operation remains ongoing. Anyone with information about the investigation or who might have been a victim is urged to contact LAPD Commercial Crimes Division Detective Juan Campos at 213-486-5995. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-222-8477 or leave tips online at www.lacrimestoppers.org. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (WGN) A former elementary school nurse in Arlington Heights now faces a civil lawsuit in connection with accusations of misusing prescription drugs intended for students. Lawyers representing the nine families seeking damages say Tory Eitz, who formerly worked at Westgate Elementary School in Arlington Heights, and the district should be held accountable. Authorities charged Tory Eitz with one felony count of official misconduct, one felony count of forgery, and one misdemeanor count of endangering the life or health of a child. Arlington Heights School District 25 utterly failed to support medically vulnerable children, said Michael Holden, partner at law firm Romanucci & Blandin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former school nurse in Arlington Heights accused of mishandling students medications According to Holden, the suing families believe Eitz manipulated them to keep the medicine for herself, telling parents, medicine was missing, fell down the sink, fell on the floor, or for some reason was miscounted, and that she needed more. The lawsuit accuses School District 25, school principal Ann Buch, and district superintendent Brian Kaye of being aware of the concerns and failing to take action. Attorneys with Romanucci & Blandin say theyve found emails dating as far back as 2021, indicating parents were complaining about Eitzs mishandling of prescriptions. Attorneys add that they also received text messages from 2024, allegedly between a parent and Kaye, who was assistant superintendent at the time. Screenshot of text exchange shown by lawyers Screenshot of text exchange shown by lawyers Kane allegedly apologized to the parent about the troubles, saying, Nobody deserves this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elementary nurse in Arlington Heights under investigation for alleged misuse of students prescription drugs The Arlington Heights Police Department started investigating the school nurses actions nearly a year ago. The school district fired Eitz last May. Authorities later arrested Eitz in August as a result of the police departments investigation. Romanucci & Blandin partner Michael Cerada said not receiving the proper medication for conditions like ADHD affected the children and, in some cases, led to bullying. Each of these children had special health conditions that they were dealing with during the school day, he said. The manipulation of their medication, the missing of their medication, and the swapping of their medication had profound impacts on their learning environments and their home environments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The families believe administrators had enough evidence to report Eitz sooner and decided to file suit as a result of the long-term effects the misuse of prescription drugs had on their children. Other parents report that their child is extremely fearful to ever go back to the nurses office again, Holden said. And they carry their own band-aids in their backpack, in case they get hurt. Westgate Elementary School Arlington Heights school nurse fired amid probe into misuse of student prescriptions Arlington Heights School District 25 sent out a letter to families responding to the lawsuit, saying, in part, Like you, we were deeply disappointed and shocked by this significant breach of trust by a licensed healthcare professional. We sincerely regret the pain and disruption this incident has caused to the families impacted and our school community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The letter states that the district implemented stricter guidelines to prevent this from happening again. Among those guidelines is the schools decision to no longer maintain more than a 30-day supply of students medication. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Easter is just around the corner, and with it comes food, family gatherings and, of course, the Easter Parade. Many American families go to church on Easter Sunday, or gather for dinner while the kids hunt for Easter eggs around the house. Some go to the nearest parade wearing their Sunday best (or dress their pets up in flashy outfits). Others simply like to take advantage of the general springtime mood of the holiday by traveling to another country, or simply get together with friends for an Easter brunch. Although it began as a Christian holiday, Easter is now celebrated in a non-religious way by many, not only in the United States, but around the world. What is Easter? Easter, also called Pascha, is a Christian holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. The New Testament describes its occurrence on the third day of his burial after the crucifixion. It is also the culmination of the Passion of Jesus Christ, which is preceded by Lent. When is Easter? Easter 2025 will fall on April 20 for both Western and Eastern Christians. Easter and its related holidays do not fall on a fixed date. The date is determined by a calculation known as computus in Latin. Determining this date requires a correlation between the lunar months and the solar year, while taking into account the month, date, and day of the week of the Julian or Gregorian calendar. This is a complex algorithm because it is necessary to associate the date of Easter with the date of the Jewish Passover, a feast that Christians believe to be when Jesus was crucified. Easter eggs Easter eggs are decorated on the occasion of the Easter holiday, being one of the main traditions of the celebration. Its origins date back to the first Christians in Mesopotamia, who adopted the custom of decorating eggs from the Persian tradition. They dyed them red in remembrance of the blood of Jesus Christ, shed at his crucifixion. Some symbolically relate the opening of Easter eggs to the empty tomb of Jesus Christ. Later, the Christian Church adopted the custom and the eggs were considered a symbol of the resurrection of Jesus. The Roman Ritual, one of the liturgical books of the Catholic Church, contained the Easter blessings of foods, with one for eggs. Easter eggs also have their origin in the prohibition of that food during Lent. At Easter, they are blessed and people can eat them again. Nowadays, Easter eggs are used in different customs and traditions around the world. A girl walks along a catwalk at the Bonnet Festival in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral, March 31, 2024, in New York. Andres Kudacki (AP) Easter Parade The Easter Parade, unlike other famous parades in the United States, is an informal and unorganized event, with and without religious significance. Traditionally, people dress up in new and flashy clothes (among which hats stand out). Now it is even common to see mascots in outlandish costumes. The most popular Easter Parade is the one that takes place on New Yorks Fifth Avenue, but parades are also held in other cities. The New York Parade began as a spontaneous event in the 1870s, and grew each year. In 1947, it attracted more than a million people. Since then, its popularity has waned, but it continues to attract hundreds of thousands of people. Where is the New York Easter Parade held? The New York Easter Parade takes place on Fifth Avenue (around 49th to 57th Streets) in Manhattan from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Easter Sunday. Anyone can participate. TV and live broadcasts The New York Easter Parade does not have an official television broadcast, but people can watch it through the various news networks that cover it. There are several YouTube channels that stream the event live. One of them is The NYC Walking Show, where you can see more of the parade. ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP) Tidjane Thiam, a former Credit Suisse CEO, won a near-unanimous vote to represent the Democratic Party of Ivory Coast in an upcoming presidential election, the party announced. Thiam won 99.5% of the vote and ran unopposed for the nomination. He is the current president of the party. He previously resigned from his position as CEO of Credit Suisse after a corporate espionage scandal rocked the company. An external report found that Thiam had no knowledge of the espionage. It isn't known who will run against him, but the current president, Alassane Ouattara, has indicated that he may run again. Ouattara won in 2020 after a disputed election left dozens dead and opposition candidates boycotted the election. Ivory Coast is set to hold the vote in October. The News Tidjane Thiam, the former CEO of Credit Suisse, will run for president of Cote dIvoire in Octobers election. The countrys main opposition Democratic Party of Ivory Coast (PDCI) overwhelmingly endorsed the 62-year-old after his only rival, the countrys former trade minister, pulled out of the race. Its not yet clear who he will face from the ruling party but President Alassane Ouattara, 83, is expected to seek a fourth term at the helm of Francophone West Africas largest economy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thiam served as a planning and development minister in Cote dIvoire until a 1999 military coup. He then worked overseas for around two decades for firms including McKinsey, Aviva, Prudential, and Credit Suisse, eventually resigning from the Swiss bank over a spying scandal. In February, Thiam gave up his French citizenship in order to stand in the election. A former executive of Milwaukee Bucks player Pat Connaughton's company is suing, claiming he was retaliated against by Connaughton and others at the company after attempting to increase financial transparency. Derek Taylor, former chief operating officer at Three Leaf Partners, filed the complaint in late February. His attorney, Jesse Kibort, claims in a complaint that Taylor left a lucrative law practice to join Three Leaf Partners after "promises of creating generational wealth." The complaint says Taylor tapped into his network and built a team that executed significant real estate, private equity and numerous other business ventures for the company. "As a result, Taylor brought millions of dollars of profit to the firm," the complaint says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for Three Leaf Partners released a statement April 18: "We have reviewed Mr. Taylors complaint, and it is without merit. While we dispute his allegations, we will address them and our counterclaims through the proper legal process. "This issue will not impact and further solidifies our longstanding commitment to putting culture first and delivering value to our investors, team members, and partners." Taylor's attorney argues that once he tried to "increase the financial performance" of the company, he encountered a lack of financial transparency at the company, including that Connaughton and another executive, Matthew Burow, were using company resources for their non-company business and personal purposes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "When Taylor made efforts to increase financial transparency at the company and sought to hold Burow and Connaughton for their non-TLV uses to TLV resources, Burow and Connaughton started to freeze Taylor out of TLV," the complaint says. Burow and Connaughton removed Taylor as COO without any notice or explanation, locked him out of the company, and denied him access to the company's books and records, contrary to the written operating agreement, according to the complaint. "They even denied Taylor access to his own personal files and records, including information that Taylor needs to update and renew his law licenses," the complaint says. According to the complaint, Connaughton and Burow were "persistent" in getting Taylor to join the firm and offered him a little more than 5% in ownership of the company. In December 2024, Connaughton posted on social media that his real estate development firm already had amassed more than $550 million in assets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2023, Taylor began to organize the company's finances, according to the complaint, and reached an understanding that bonuses should be given to the company employees, but Burow and Connaughton rejected the idea. "Taylor did not understand at the time why bonuses would not be given despite TLV's success in 2023," the complaint says. Taylor's attorney argues that Burow and Connaughton began engaging in "accounting practices when necessary to satisfy their need to show profitability by overstating project costs," which Taylor objected to. According to the complaint, Connaughton was using company resources in the construction of his private residence and employee time for the Pat Connaughton Foundation, among other actions. When Taylor opposed the practices, Connaughton and Burow "secretly engaged lawyers to begin the process of forcing Taylor out," the complaint says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Jan. 24, Taylor went to a meeting with Connaughton, Burow and attorneys. He believed it was an annual compensation review but instead was told he had been removed as COO of the company and his laptop was confiscated, the complaint says. Shortly thereafter, he was removed from the Three Leaf Partners website. Taylor seeks access to his personal files and compensation for the "defendants' wrongful actions," the complaint says. His attorney didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on April 18. Connaughton, Burow and other defendants have until May 20 to respond in court to the allegations. The dispute was first reported by the Milwaukee Business Journal. This story was updated to add new information and update the headline. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Former executive sues Pat Connaughton's real estate company Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt said Trump's research cuts could hurt competition with China. Schmidt characterized Trump's policies in his second term as an "attack on science." "This madness will eventually end because it's too stupid not to fix," Schmidt said at a recent summit. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt says the United States could fall behind China in the race to superintelligence if President Donald Trump keeps on keeping on the way he is. Since taking office in January, the Trump administration has tightened immigration controls, cut funding for government grants and research, reduced staffing and funding at NASA and NOAA, and targeted universities for their DEI-related programs and pro-Palestinian protests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In March, Columbia University agreed to a series of conditions stricter protest policies, a bolstered campus security force, and oversight of its Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies Department after the administration threatened to withhold $400 million in funding. This week, the Trump administration froze $2 billion in funding to Harvard University after school leaders refused similar demands, including changes to Harvard's admissions process that would force it to coordinate with immigration officials. Schmidt said these kinds of efforts from the Trump administration could chill tech development in the United States just as competition from China is ramping up. At the AI+Biotechnology Summit, hosted last week by the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology, Schmidt said the government has leveraged education funding to "falsely attack science." Schmidt graduated from Princeton University and has spoken highly of the school in other appearances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the conference, an interviewer asked Schmidt for his reaction to the Trump administration's suspension of university research programs and cuts to government science programs. "This looks like a total attack on all of science in America," Schmidt said. "We're up against China that is pouring a trillion dollars into this, and we're screwing around with funding the core people to invent our future." Schmidt was also asked about international students choosing not to come to the United States, or tech workers looking for work in other countries, because they worry they could face problems with immigration. He said he knew people who planned to return to London because "they don't want to work in this environment." While many tech leaders, like Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who both attended and helped finance Trump's inauguration, have struck a conciliatory tone with the administration, there appears to be dissent among the ranks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last month, Meta's Chief AI scientist, Yann LeCun, said Trump had started a "witch hunt in academia, moving to cancel the green card of some folks and expel them based on their speech." Schmidt said that "everything that has happened in American exceptionalism" has come from the understanding that universities create exceptional innovators who can create strong "science and technology-generated" business opportunities. "If you think that this sounds like me being a Democrat, let me remind you that fracking, which is hugely successful in America, made us independent of oil and gas, made us the largest exporter, followed the same path," Schmidt said. Schmidt said many universities are now under "hiring freezes" because they are "so scared of this administration, which appears to be withholding hundreds of millions of dollars from them." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This madness will eventually end, because it's too stupid not to fix, but there's damage occurring already, and I want everyone to understand it's real damage," he said. Read the original article on Business Insider A former high-ranking Keolis employee has been sentenced to more than five years in federal prison for stealing more than $8 million intended to operate the MBTA commuter rail system and for defrauding the IRS of over $2.6 million, the U.S. Attorney said Friday. John P. Pigsley, 59, who formerly worked as Assistant Chief Engineer of Facilities for Keolis Commuter Services, was sentenced Thursday in federal court in Boston to 70 months in prison with three months of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said in a statement. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani also ordered Pigsley to pay $8,580,311 restitution to Keolis and $2,689,206 to the Internal Revenue Service, forfeiture of three real properties and a $7,687,083.70 money judgment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pigsley pleaded guilty in January to five counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, six counts of tax evasion, one count of filing a false tax return and four counts of structuring financial transactions to evade reporting requirements. Pigsley and John Rafferty, the ex-general manager of a Massachusetts-based electrical company, were charged in April 2023. Prosecutors said Pigsley pocketed millions of dollars in cash by stealing and scrapping copper wire bought by Keolis as part of an elaborate scheme. Since 2014, Keolis has operated the MBTA commuter rail system under an annual contract of $291 to $349 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Between 2014 and November 2021, Pigsley worked as Keolis Assistant Chief Engineer of Facilities. He responsible for the maintenance of MBTA Commuter Rail Facilities and their engineering operations, including repairs. He also ordered materials and approved his subordinates orders of electrical supplies from outside vendors for Keolis. Pigsley also ran a separate construction company called Pigman Group. Rafferty was the general manager of LJ Electric Inc., an electrical supply vendor to which Keolis paid over $17 million between 2014 through 2021. Between July 2014 and November 2021, Pigsley and Rafferty defrauded Keolis of over $4 million through a false LJ Electric invoicing scheme, prosecutors said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Specifically, Rafferty bought vehicles, construction equipment, construction supplies and other items for Pigsley, Pigman Group and others, and Pigsley directed Rafferty to recover the cost of these items by submitting false and fraudulent LJ Electric invoices to Keolis, prosecutors said. Rafferty spent more than $3 million on items for Pigsley and others, prosecutors said, including: at least nine trucks; construction equipment including at least seven Bobcat machines; at least $1 million in home building supplies and services; and a $54,000 camper for which Keolis paid Rafferty more than $4 million based on false LJ Electric invoices. In addition to the false invoicing scheme, Pigsley directed Keolis to buy copper wire which he then stole and sold to scrap metal businesses, keeping the cash proceeds for himself, prosecutors said. To hide the theft, Pigsley personally picked up the copper wire orders from vendors or had the orders delivered to his Beverly home, prosecutors said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pigsley then personally took the wire to scrap yards where he traded it for thousands of dollars in cash several times a month and sometimes more than once a day, prosecutors said. Pigsley obtained more than $4.5 million in cash by stealing and scrapping the copper wire. In addition, Pigsley defrauded the IRS by failing to withhold and pay federal income taxes on income he received from the LJ Electric invoicing scheme and from scrapping copper wire, prosecutors said. Pigsley also filed a false tax return for the tax year 2016, prosecutors said. He deposited over $1.9 million in cash into his bank accounts between 2014 and 2021 and structured some of those deposits to evade currency transaction reporting requirements applicable to financial institutions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rafferty pleaded guilty in June 2023 to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Rafferty is scheduled to be sentenced on May 15. 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 SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO) A former massage therapist, who is accused of inappropriately touching some of his customers, will stand trial. Thursday a Minnehaha County judge denied Kurt Smits request to have the charges of sexual contact without consent dropped after another day of testimony. There are no rules that govern what a massage therapist can or cant do, according to Smit. Thor Thonvold, who is a licensed massage therapist and a member of the board of massage therapy in South Dakota, testified today on behalf of the prosecution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But it should be more of a morality issue, what does the person want, should you be touching it, should you not, we kind of leave that up for everyone to decide, but common sense hasnt been so great lately, Thonvold said. A split Supreme Court finds partially for a hurt worker Last month, we interviewed two of Kurt Smits clients when he worked at Massage Envy. They testified on behalf of the state, talking about how Smit touched their breasts and other parts of their body and made them feel uncomfortable. Don Jorgensen: But you did tell him to stop at one point. Debbie: I did, Don Jorgensen: When? Debbie: When he was working his hands up my thighs, my inner thigh toward my private area. Don Jorgensen: You said he got too close. Debbie: He got too close. Don Jorgensen: And that made you uncomfortable? Debbie: Very uncomfortable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thonvold testified about techniques massage therapists use, including whats called draping; using sheets to cover private areas. Typically with sheet draping like that, that should be a line of do not cross, Thonvold said. Both alleged victims told us they never gave Smit consent to touch in those intimate areas. He can back himself up if he has documentation that they gave it to him if they signed anything, so its a case of he said she said and what documentation does he have that proves he could work on those areas, Thonvold said. Under cross examination, Smits attorney, Clint Sargent, asked Thonvold if his hands ever slipped or grazed an area that he wasnt supposed to be working on, he replied no. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judge says theres probable cause that Smit acted outside the scope of his practice and denied the defenses motion to have the charges dismissed. Smit will have to stand trial twice; once for each alleged victim. The dates for those two trials are Oct 9th and 10th and November 13th and 14th. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Getty Images Earlier this week, Vice President JD Vance hinted at the United States securing a "great" trade deal with the U.K. due to President Donald Trump's strong relationship with the Royal Family. Trump has been a longtime fan of the monarchy and has met with the late Queen, The King, Prince William and other royals on numerous occasions over the years. Melania Trump has even claimed that she exchanges letters with King Charles. But when it comes to Vance and Trump's recent remarks, a former royal butler says the palace is unlikely to "mind." When discussing a trade deal with the U.K., Vance said (via the Guardian), "Were certainly working very hard with Keir Starmers government. The president really loves the United Kingdom. He loved The Queen. He admires and loves The King. It is a very important relationship." Advertisement Advertisement The vice president added that while Trump is "a businessman and has a number of important business relationships in" Britain, he also has "a real cultural affinity" for the United Kingdom. "I think theres a good chance that, yes, well come to a great agreement thats in the best interest of both countries," Vance said. Speaking on behalf of Spin Genie, The King's former butler Grant Harrold said that the remarks should come as a positive for Buckingham Palace. Donald Trump raised a glass to King Charles at a dinner during the president's 2019 state visit to the United Kingdom. | Credit: Getty Images Queen Elizabeth met Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump for tea when the couple visited Windsor Castle in 2018. | Credit: Getty Images "So Trump has often said he's got a great relationship with the Royal Family, and the royals PR team are not going to mind that at all," Harrold said. "They will not mind a president of the United States of America saying he's got a great relationship with the royal family, if anything it's perfect PR." However, he added that "you would certainly never have The King turning round and saying 'oh yes me and Mr Trump are great friends.' He's just too diplomatic for that." Advertisement Advertisement Instead, the monarchwho is "very careful with his words," per Harroldwould be "more likely to say, if he would say anything, something officially about the great relationship between the U.S. and the U.K." The former butler explained that while Queen Elizabeth "had a great relationship with Ronald Reagan and the Obamas," she never spoke about it "explicitly" and let former prime minister Margaret Thatcher "talk about her great relationship with Reagan." As for The King inviting the U.S. president to come to the U.K. for an unprecedented second state visit, Harrold said that any comments made by Trump or Vance would not "do anything" to impact the trip. The former butler added that "it would be a PR disaster" to "revoke that invitation." CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) Russell Laffitte, a former South Carolina banker and accomplice to convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh, pleaded guilty to a slew of financial charges Friday in a federal courtroom. Laffitte was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, bank fraud, wire fraud, and three counts of misapplication of bank funds, all of which he pleaded guilty to during Fridays hearing. He will be sentenced after paying $3,555,884.80 in criminal restitution. It is likely that Laffitte will be ordered to serve 60 months in prison, based on his agreement to plead guilty in the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Laffitte also agreed that he is prohibited from controlling or participating in the conduct of any federally insured bank or credit union, and he cannot serve as a director or officer of any such bank or credit union without permission. Prosecutors and the defendants team agreed that the appropriate sentence would be five years in prison. It was also agreed that the government would not file any additional charges against Laffitte. As of today, Russell Laffitte, Alex Murdaugh, and Cory Fleming have all pled guilty and taken full responsibility for their crimes in federal court. As we have said many times, these crimes would not have happened without Alex Murdaugh, but they could not have happened without Russell Laffitte and Murdaughs other enablers, said federal prosecutors after Fridays hearing. We are hoping that the admissions that Laffitte made here today, and the significant prison time that he will be serving, can bring the victims some semblance of closure. Laffitte was sentenced in 2023, nearly seven months after he was found guilty of helping convicted murderer and ex-attorney Alex Murdaugh steal from clients. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time, he served as the CEO of Palmetto State Bank and allegedly used his position to carry out the crimes. Laffitte was fired from the role in early 2022. A court of appeals overturned his sentence in November 2024. A judge vacated the sentence and sent the case to the U.S. District Court for further proceedings. Documents show the decision was based on what the ruling described as juror errors during the original trial that violated Laffittes Fifth Amendment rights. Before the vacate, he was initially sentenced to seven years in federal prison and ordered to pay the same amount in restitution. 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. A former St. Francis school resource officer has pleaded guilty in case where he was accused of recording a teen girl changing in his office. As part of a plea agreement, Dimitri Kamolov pleaded guilty April 18 to one felony count of invading privacy with a surveillance device of someone under 18 years old, according to online court records. A second felony count of attempting to capture an intimate representation of someone under 18 years old was dismissed but read in as part of the plea negotiations, records said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kamolov will be back in court on June 5 for sentencing. According to the complaint: In September 2024, after a 17-year-old female student at St. Francis High School came into the principals office saying the school resource officer secretly filmed her changing, the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigations was called in to investigate. At the time, Kamolov was employed as a part-time certified law enforcement officer with the St. Francis Police Department. He was assigned to the high school as its resource officer. Kamolov had invited the girl into his private office for a surprise a shirt hed brought from Brazil. He told her to try two on to see which fit better, drew the blinds and left. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The student began changing and while still wearing a tank top she noticed a cellphone propped up and recording her. Kamolov, who was placed on administrative leave following the incident, provided the St. Francis Police Department with his phone which included a video showing him setting up the phone to record and capturing the 17-year-old taking off her hoodie to try on the shirts. The review of his cell phone revealed (Kamolov) emailed or texted himself the video of (the student) four separate times and one time he edited it to crop the video and slowed it down, the complaint said. Kamolov had been employed with the St. Francis Police Department for 31 years his last four as school resource officer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Contact Erik S. Hanley at erik.hanley@jrn.com. Like his Facebook page, The Redheadliner, and follow him on X @Redheadliner. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Former St. Francis officer pleads guilty to recording teen changing FORT SMITH, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) A Fort Smith couple is facing multiple charges after a toddler reportedly overdosed on THC and four of their children tested positive for the cannabinoid, according to court documents. Kelli Casey, 31, and Roy Casey, 31, were arrested on April 8 on first-degree endangering the welfare of a minor and maintaining a premises for drug activity charges. Both have pleaded not guilty to those charges. Kelli Casey, 31 (Courtesy: Sebastian County Detention Center) Roy Casey, 31 (Courtesy: Sebastian County Detention Center) A probable cause affidavit said that on Feb. 7, Fort Smith police officers were contacted by a hospital regarding an unresponsive toddler who was flown to Arkansas Childrens Hospital in Little Rock. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fort Smith man accused of possessing CSAM, possibly having sexual relationship with 15-year-old Hospital staff determined the child had acute respiratory failure and secondary THC poisoning due to overdosing on THC, according to the affidavit. THC is the main ingredient in marijuana that produces the psychoactive effect, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. FSPD later interviewed the Caseys. Kelli Casey said she was getting ready for work on Feb. 7 when she noticed something was wrong with her toddler. She said the child was acting lethargic and bleeding from his nose, so she took him to the hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kelli Casey told FSPD that she and her husband consume THC, but [there] was no way the child couldve gotten into it because they keep it locked up in a closet. Fort Smiths new superintendent discusses plans for future of school district Roy Casey said there was no THC in the home when the child was taken to the hospital. The affidavit said officers searched the home and found 11 grams of marijuana, 20 THC liquid vape cartridges and two bongs with THC wax residue on the kitchen counter. There was also a film of wax residue on multiple items in the home. DHS investigated the case and did follicle tests on the five children in the home. Four of them tested positive for THC in their systems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Caseys were released from the Sebastian County Detention Center on a $10,000 bond. Their trial is set for the week of Sept. 2 and has a plea deadline on Aug. 13. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. This is the third time Freddy Castiblanco has tried to save Terraza 7, his bar and social project that has brought together New Yorks Latin American and Hispanic diasporas since 2002. Its something in keeping with the city, but, paradoxically, strange and rare. The mitigating factor is that now, in one of the most direct crises affecting the migrant population in the United States and New York, Castiblanco has been unable to do anything about the excessive rent increase, which will rise from $7,500 (the price hes been paying since the end of the pandemic) to $12,000. A business in this industry, bars and restaurants, should theoretically pay around 10% of its net sales. So I should be paying around $6,500 monthly, maximum. So, $7,500 is already beyond that limit, he asserts. Whats happening is that a huge effort has been made over so many years, and communities have been created that come to see the music... its an economic miracle for a struggling neighborhood, where purchasing power is low. In 2000, when the Colombian arrived in Queens, to the Jackson Heights-Elmhurst area, known as the most diverse in the world, he found that all the areas immigrants were still in their own countries. Peruvians in Peru, Colombians in Colombia, Mexicans in Mexico, Ecuadorians in Ecuador... And no one crossed borders. Along that avenue, Latin America replicated itself as it knew how. And there was a lack of a space where appreciation for others was promoted. The goal with Terraza was to have a place of appreciation for this artistic and cultural diversity, he says. His venue features groups and bands from Central and South America, the Caribbean, Spain, North Africa, and India. Cuban cumbia and rumba were the founding rhythms. Each performance was a review of the history and concerns that explained these sounds: how they emerged, where they came from, where they had gone, and how they were here now. And so, I understood that migrants were the ones who built the musicalities of the Americas, of all of them, Castiblanco concludes. Then came the music of Morocco, Andalusia, New Orleans, and Veracruz. Afro-Peruvian and Afro-Brazilian sounds, candombe, tango. And in the midst of it all, and always among it all, there was jazz. I invited cajon masters, marimba masters, and Cuban rumba masters to play and improvise jazz around their traditional instruments. The improvisational elements of jazz allowed for that playfulness. So there was a very flexible way to express those immigrant memories and somehow construct a musicality that was truly local and not limited to recreating tradition, he explains. The pandemic years were decisive for Terraza 7s future. What affected the majority ended up benefiting them. They used the front of the bar for performances. There was music almost daily, never stopping. They had up to three concerts a day. We had a wonderful explosion, says the Colombian. We had a different big band once a week, which was repeated every month: we had Pedro Giraudos, influenced by contemporary tango; Samuel Torres with Colombian influences; Emilio Soyas, influenced by tango; and now Manuel Valeras, with Cuban influences. And yet, that same fortune brought trouble. At the end of the pandemic, the owner of the establishment notified Castiblanco that he would raise his rent; the argument was that there were too many people outside. At the time, he intended to charge him $10,000, which he managed, through negotiation and advocacy, to lower to $7,500. Everything was going well until March of last year, when the landlord notified him that he had to start paying $12,000 in rent and retroactive payments for the rent reduction he had given him at the end of the pandemic. His argument, again, was the outdoor space: its very large, and he wanted to get more money out of him. Then he took me to court and charged me for everything, Castiblanco says. Until December 2024, that everything totaled $150,000. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez during a visit to Terraza 7 in Queens, New York. CORTESIA A cultural and political space Terraza 7 isnt just another bar on the verge of collapse due to rising New York rents. The point is that its closure would be another victory for the current political ecosystem, in which any celebration or enshrinement of otherness seeks to be extinguished. Castiblancos work has been intentionally political. In New York, many know him as the owner of Terraza 7, but many more recognize him as a leader. A physician by profession, he has testified before the United States Congress, the Mayors Office, and the City Council in all cases, always defending the rights of citizens and immigrants: ensuring access to decent wages and healthcare. Understanding the complexity of migration has been a responsibility. Right now, under attack from the Donald Trump administration, we are a flag that exposes and educates about the complexity of migration. And a home, a refuge, because many spaces are dissolving out of fear and everything thats happening, the Colombian asserts. People like New York State Senator Jessica Ramos, renowned percussionist Bobby Sanabria, and activist leader Ana Maria Archila have joined the #saveterraza7 campaign, aiming to raise money to postpone the hearing dates for the eviction order against the venue. So far, Castiblanco has raised $17,000, which has been used to postpone the hearings. The judge said it cant be postponed any longer; the trial will be in April. The future of Terraza 7 doesnt appear to lie on Gleane Street in Queens. Unlike previous campaigns, in which Castiblanco was able to negotiate to remain there, this time it seems that wont happen. The best option for the project is to relocate to a new space. I see it as an opportunity, he notes. In fact, when the Ford Foundation supported me during the crisis we experienced in 2016, one of the conditions was that part of the funds be used to establish its own nonprofit. The mission, vision, and even the logo were designed from that time. It's called Acoustic Memories, and it would be the foundation that would manage all the programming, the entire artistic essence of Terraza. But that takes time, money, and public support. The ultimate goal of the #saveterraza7 campaign is to attract customers to the upcoming events in that space, raise funds for the relocation, and develop a new location. Perhaps one where one of those old factories typical of the area used to be; one that can accommodate more than the 70 people that the current site can hold; one where it's possible to dance, read poetry, hold workshops, allow for social and political gatherings... Bringing a lot of people together, which is what it's all about. Terraza 7 is a place where culture is created, where experimentation is created, where there is an intimate interaction with the people who live in the community and those who visit us. And that interaction is what shapes art. The difference is that art is created here, Castiblanco maintains. For the activist, it is essential to be able to have the restaurant and bar, to have that income, and not depend on donations. His goal is for Terraza 7 to be able to survive on its own. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition UPDATE: 9:19 p.m. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) The Salt Lake City Police Department has confirmed that they have received confirmation that a missing person has found is confirmed to be safe. Mr. Viliami Hemaloto, 33, was initially reported missing by police, but since has been found safe and according to his family, is safe. Original Article SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) Salt Lake City Police as seeking assistance from the public in locating a man in need of urgent mental health needs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SLCPD are currently searching for 33-year-old Viliami Hemaloto, who is described in a post to X, formerly known as Twitter, as diabetic, walking with a cane, and has both feet amputated. According to police, Hemaloto was last seen April 16 around 1:14 p.m., near 3300 South and 700 West. He was seen by security cameras getting off at the Millcreek TRAX Station wearing a red hoodie, dark shorts, and white shoes. After disembarking from the train, police say he may have gotten on a bus and could be near the Jordan River Trail. He is described as being around 59, about 300 lbs, with black hair and brown eyes. Police are saying that has urgent mental health needs, and anyone with information should call 911 immediately. This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. WASHINGTON, D.C. (WJW) An Iranian national, the alleged founder of an online marketplace that sold illegal drugs across the world, including in Ohio, was indicted on charges, the U.S. Department of Justice announced on Thursday. The investigation, handled in part by the FBI Cleveland Division, led a federal grand jury to charge 36-year-old Behrouz Parsarad, of Tehran, with founding and operating Nemesis Market. The Department of Justice described Nemesis Market as a dark web marketplace for illegal drugs and criminal cyber-services, such as stolen financial information, fraudulent identification documents, counterfeit currencies and computer malware. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Parsarad allegedly launched Nemesis Market on the dark web in March 2021. The online marketplace went on to process more than 400,000 orders through 2024, the indictment said. Man found shot multiple times in Maple Heights backyard: Police Of those orders, more than 55,000 were categorized as stimulants such as methamphetamine, cocaine and crack cocaine. More than 17,000 orders were categorized as opioids such as fentanyl, heroin and oxycodone. According to the indictment, Nemesis Market saw more than 150,000 users and more than 1,100 vendor accounts internationally at its peak. Undercover investigators secretly purchased drugs from the marketplace and lab results confirmed the products contained mixtures of fentanyl, heroin and other substances, the Department of Justice said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In March 2024, U.S. authorities worked with German and Lithuanian officials to shut down Nemesis Market and stop the drugs from coming into the U.S. and other countries, investigators said. Last month, the U.S. Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control issued sanctions against Parsarad for his role as the administrator of Nemesis Market, the Department of Justice said. The OFAC determined that Nemesis Market facilitated the sale of almost $30 million worth of drugs. Nemesis Market, through the darknet, was a borderless powerhouse of criminal activity that not only fueled the drug epidemic, but also a multitude of illegal acts with the capacity to harm our citizens and destroy our communities, said FBI Cleveland Acting Special Agent in Charge Charles Johnston in a press release. The FBI stands firm in its commitment to identify and investigate unlawful individuals and dismantle their networks operating with criminal intent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I thank the Lord: FSU student describes escape from campus shooting Parsarad is charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, distribution of controlled substances and money laundering conspiracy. If convicted, Parsarad faces a minimum 10 years in federal prison and a maximum life sentence, prosecutors said. Anyone who tries to profit from the sale of illegal drugs whether its on the streets or online will face consequences. Whether you sell or help others sell these dangerous drugs, you will be held accountable, Acting U.S. Attorney Carol Skutnik for the Northern District of Ohio said in the release. I want to acknowledge the excellent investigative work of our federal agency partners here in Ohio who helped us to bring the charges in this case. Together, we remain committed to keeping our neighborhoods safe and our streets free from illegal narcotics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Drug Enforcement Administration and the IRS Criminal Investigation is helping FBI Cleveland with the 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 Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. BISSAU (Reuters) - Four foreign nationals convicted of trafficking 2.63 metric tons of cocaine in Guinea-Bissau last September have been transferred to the United States to face another trial there, the U.S. Justice Department said on Friday. Ramon Manriquez Castillo, a dual U.S. and Mexican citizen; Mexican citizen Edgar Rodriguez Ruano; Fernando Javier Escobar Tito from Ecuador and Anderson Jair Gamboa Nieto from Colombia were charged with conspiring to distribute cocaine through Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico, the Bahamas and Guinea-Bissau between November 2023 and September 2024, the statement said. The four men were each sentenced in January in Guinea-Bissau to 17 years in prison following a record bust known as "Operation Landing". They were convicted alongside Brazilian Marlos Balcacar, who died at Simao Mendes Hospital in the capital Bissau on March 3, according to authorities in the West African country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They appeared in court in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Thursday, charged with distributing large quantities of cocaine while using a U.S. registered airplane with an American citizen on board, the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Southern District of Florida said. If convicted in the U.S., they could face from 10 years to life in federal prison, the statement said. They were transferred on Wednesday to a U.S. prison under a mutual agreement with the U.S., Guinea-Bissau's President Umaro Cissoko Embalo told reporters on Thursday. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), which has met with Bissau-Guinean authorities several times since January, requested the transfer of the detainees for security reasons, a source in the Guinea-Bissau government told Reuters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The reason for the transfer of the traffickers is that Guinea-Bissau does not have high-security prisons," Embalo said. "Moreover, this transfer is proof that Guinea-Bissau is no longer a narco state." Guinea-Bissau does not have an extradition treaty with the U.S., but Embalo said that even Bissau-Guinean nationals subject to international arrest warrants would be handed over to the U.S. if requested. In one of the country's largest drugs busts, Bissau-Guinean police in September seized 2.63 metric tons of cocaine on a Gulfstream IV aircraft that arrived from Venezuela at Bissau's main airport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Agents confiscated 78 bales of drugs, the police said in a statement at the time. Drug smugglers often use West African countries as a transit point to ship cocaine from South America to Europe. (Reporting by Alberto Dabo in Bissau and Ayen Deng Bior in Dakar; Writing by Portia Crowe and Ayen Deng Bior; Editing by Andrew Heavens) The caiman has been handed over to experts at the RSPCA until a decision can be made on its future - Essex Police Police carrying out a drugs raid at a house in Essex discovered a four-foot-long caiman in the property. The reptile, native to Central and South America, was found by officers during a search of an address in Aveley, near Grays. After the animal was captured and secured, it was handed over the RSPCA, which will care for it until a decision can be made on its future. Essex Police said officers also recovered a significant haul of cannabis and several weapons, including knives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 36-year-old man, from Purfleet, was arrested on suspicion of the production of cannabis, possession of an offensive weapon and contravention of the dangerous wildlife act. A 35-year-old woman was arrested for the same offences as well as on suspicion of possession with intent to supply drugs, Essex Police said. Both have since been released under investigation. The caiman was found at an address in Aveley, near Grays, in Essex - Essex Police Inspector Dan Selby, from Essex Police, said: Drugs cause misery in our communities and we work hard to tackle their production and sale. We know this matters to the public and we value our neighbourhoods so these issues matter to us. We are also ensuring the welfare of the caiman and have left it in the hands of the RSPCA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Black caiman can reach up to five metres in length, and while generally docile as juveniles, they can become extremely aggressive when fully grown. They usually feed on small amphibians such as frogs and fish. While they can be kept as pets in the UK, owners must obtain a special licence. 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. St. Paul police and school staff have found four guns inside or near two high schools in a weeks span, the police department said Friday. Two of the cases happened Thursday: At Humboldt High School on Baker Street, a 13-year-old was located with a gun; and outside Harding High School on East Sixth Street, police arrested a 15-year-old who had a gun and whod made threats against the school, said Sgt. Toy Vixayvong, a St. Paul police spokesman. Last Friday, April 11, police found two guns in a students backpack inside Harding, Vixayvong said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There had been no previous instances of guns found on St. Paul Public Schools property this school year; last school year five guns were discovered, said school district spokesperson Erica Wacker. St. Paul police and the school district provided this information about the recent incidents: Harding On Thursday, just before 2:10 p.m., police received a report that a student might be armed outside Harding. He had not been on school property but he made threats to show up at the school with a gun, Vixayvong said. Police searched and found the 15-year-old student, who had a gun, in a wooded area near the Harding Arena, Vixayvong said. He was arrested. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier Thursday, at about 9:40 a.m., police were told that a different Harding student made a video with a gun and sent it to another student as a threat, said Alyssa Arcand, a St. Paul police spokeswoman. Police checked the student and found no gun. Additional security measures were taken at the school on Thursday, Principal Tony Chlebecek wrote to parents. Last week at Harding, the school notified police about 9 a.m. April 11 that a 15-year-old student had posted himself on social media holding a gun, Vixayvong said. Staff brought the student to the office and searched him, but did not find a gun. They checked surveillance video and saw hed handed a backpack to a female student. A search of the female students locker turned up a backpack with two guns inside, one of which was stolen, Vixayvong said. Police arrested the 15-year-old male. The other student said she didnt know there were guns in the bag. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No threats were made and no one was injured, Chlebecek wrote in a letter to parents about that case. Humboldt Related Articles Police were notified around 3 p.m. Thursday about the situation at Humboldt. Earlier, staff searched a students backpack and found an empty holster, and they dismissed him for the day, Vixayvong said. Staff received a tip that another student, a 13-year-old, had the gun and they found it in his backpack, according to Vixayvong. Police arrested him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The other student had reportedly asked the 13-year-old to hold onto the gun for him. The 14-year-old turned himself in to police Thursday night, Arcand said. Humboldt Principal Valerie Littles-Butler wrote to parents that there had not been threats made in the case. Both she and Chlebecek also wrote: I cant stress enough for all members of our community to say something if you see or hear any safety concerns. If you have any weapons in your home, make sure they are safely stored and not accessible. In what's becoming an increasingly common and concerning occurrence, a wild animal entered a suburban neighborhood, leading to a dangerous encounter, WCVB reported. A fox in Dedham, Massachusetts, attacked a young boy and two pets in broad daylight, serving as a stark reminder of how the changing relationship between humans and wildlife is bringing potential hazards closer to home. From urban raccoons to backyard bears, our everyday environments are starting to blur the line between wild and residential. What happened? A 9-year-old boy in Dedham is recovering after being attacked by a rabid fox outside his home on Sandy Valley Road. Patrick Morrison was playing in his yard when the fox "appeared out of nowhere" and lunged at him. "I tried to run away and kick it," he said, "but it just kept running back at me." The attack resulted in scratches and a trip to the emergency room, where he received multiple rabies shots. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His older brother witnessed the incident, and neighbors stepped in to scare off the animal. The fox also injured the family's two dogs, which have since received post-exposure rabies treatment. According to Dedham Animal Control, the fox was tested and confirmed to be rabid. Why is this concerning? While isolated, such attacks reflect a broader trend: increasing interactions between humans and wildlife as development encroaches upon natural habitats. Shrinking green spaces and shifting seasons both influenced by global environmental change are pushing animals into unfamiliar and often densely populated areas. Research has shown that warmer temperatures and less consistent winters can lead to higher rabies infection rates in fox populations. When wildlife loses access to food or shelter, it often turns to human environments in search of resources. That not only increases the risk of injury and disease for people and pets but can also result in animals being euthanized due to public safety concerns a cycle that hinders long-term conservation efforts. What's being done about it? Authorities acted quickly to contain the incident, confirm the rabies case, and issue public warnings. But long-term solutions go beyond individual cases. Conservationists and public health agencies are working to monitor wildlife disease outbreaks, expand educational outreach, and promote coexistence strategies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the local level, communities can reduce risks by securing garbage bins, keeping pets vaccinated and leashed, and never feeding wildlife. On a broader scale, protecting natural habitats and supporting conservation-focused organizations such as The Nature Conservancy and local wildlife agencies can help ensure animals thrive in the wild instead of wandering into our neighborhoods in search of survival. 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. APPLETON, Wis. (WFRV) Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month is celebrated annually each May, and this year marks the 50th anniversary of Hmong refugees resettling in the United States. The Fox Cities Performing Arts Center hosted a celebration of Hmong culture on Thursday evening to get the party started early. Appleton International Airport unveils completion of new concourse expansion ahead of NFL Draft Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The event was assisted by multiple Hmong organizations, including the new Hmong American Immersion School (HAIS), which opens this Fall. Dr. Thai Xiong, the Impact Director for HAIS, said its a Charter School in Appleton to teach the language and history of Hmong culture in the core curriculum. Dr. Xiong said that Hmong culture has made its mark on the community over the past 50 years, exemplified by the arrival of HAIS. Longtime member of Blue Man Group and Oshkosh North alum honored in ceremony Culturally, back then, little was known, Dr. Xiong said. Right now, in the present, were having the first Hmong charter school in northeast Wisconsin, 50 years after the Hmong people settled in the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The AAPI Month Community event kicked off at 5 p.m., featuring multiple ways to pay homage to the culture and history through performances, music, food and stories. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. KANSAS CITY, Mo. Here are the top four stories FOX4 viewers clicked on from April 14 to April 18 on fox4kc.com. Download WDAF+ for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV Two major drug arrests were made over the weekend in Clay County, Missouri, after officers found fentanyl and other controlled substances. Wilbert Etier of Kansas City, Missouri, and Joseph Eismont of Gladstone, Missouri, are facing charges related to these incidents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Clay County Prosecutors Office stated that the amount of fentanyl seized was enough to cause 1,800 people to overdose. Both Etier and Eismont have a criminal history, with Etier being previously arrested for first-degree murder and domestic battery and Eismont for drug-related crimes. A Kansas City woman, Tkia Hill, reported that she was a victim of a local tow company now at the center of serious criminal allegations. The companys owner, Donald Adamson, and his mother, Lannette Adamson, each face nine felony charges for allegedly stealing cars across the area. Police allege the Adamsons were taking advantage of people and consider them dangerous. Court documents say Donald and Lannette Adamson were hiding behind their tow business to steal cars and harass customers who tried to get their vehicles back. Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelces steakhouse, 1587 Prime, is set to open this summer at the Loews Hotel in Kansas City. The modern American steakhouse will feature private dining rooms, a world-class chefs kitchen, and a jaw-dropping meat display. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The street-level entrance will be designed to emulate a stadium tunnel walk, and the tabletops will have red marble accents. The restaurant will have two levels and 238 seats, including a 20-seat central bar, a private dining room, and a semi-private dining room. More than 400 patients have filed a class action lawsuit against the University of Kansas Health System, Lawrence Memorial Hospital, and Epic Systems Corporation after a physical therapist allegedly accessed private information, including potentially nude clinical photographs, without detection for over two years. The lawsuit alleges that the physical therapist had no connection to the patients and was not authorized to access their records. The lawsuit seeks stronger safeguards around patient data and accountability for those who failed to protect 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 FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. The Washington State Auditors Office delivered a report about a lack of oversight on contracts in Franklin County this week, but elected officials there have very different interpretations of what they were told. The county commissioners came away with the impression that the state was placing the blame on the sheriffs office, while Sheriff Jim Raymond detailed in a public post how he said his staff has repeatedly flagged the issues in recent years. The areas the state auditors office looked into were troubled finances at the HAPO Center, a jail commissary contract and the jails medical contract. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The county sent out a news release Tuesday claiming the sheriff was responsible for the jail contract problems, painting the issue as a nearly $2 million error. Raymond shot back in a news release of his own that these were known issues and should have been reviewed regularly by the commissioners and County Auditor Matt Beaton. Raymond said they are responsible for contract oversight and blamed the dispute on long-standing vendettas. As recently as this month, Commission Chairman Clint Didier abruptly recessed a commission meeting during an argument with the sheriff. The Tri-City Herald obtained the two audit reports totaling nearly 150 pages from state officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While plenty of blame is being spread around, the reports ultimately indicate that the county failed to properly monitor its contracts and finances over a period of several years after significant turnover. That turnover is largely the result of very public instability and infighting. The county did not dedicate sufficient resources to ensure accurate reporting of its financial statements, said one report. As a result, their financial statements contained errors. State auditors told commissioners the county needs to review their financial and contract policies, provide better oversight and attempt to reconcile areas where the county was unable to provide documents to support revenues and spending. The Franklin County Corrections Center is on North Fourth Avenue in Pasco. Jail commissary issues The Franklin County jail entered into a contract with a vendor in 2018 to provide commissary services for the facility. The agreement included a profit-sharing provision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At some point the agreement stopped automatically sending quarterly payments to the county. The error was caught last year when a new jail commander began reviewing the facilitys contracts, Raymond said. That resulted in the county receiving nearly $1 million in back payments. That was discussed extensively in public sessions and reported by the Tri-City Herald last fall during the countys budgeting cycle. The recouped payment helped the county at a time when they were facing a multi-million budget shortfall. While the county auditors office routinely reviews contracts and payments, its unclear why that wasnt flagged sooner. Jail medical contract The second major issue in contention is the jails medical contract. The audit found that the county approved and paid $1.2 million more than contracted between 2020 and 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Raymond said this issue was flagged to the county commission regularly as the cost of medical services continued to rise. Franklin County is one of the fastest growing areas of the state. Raymond said that he wanted to be clear that the contractor, Western Medical, has done nothing wrong. The extra costs are the results of increased medical needs at the jail, not services being incorrectly billed, he explained. Part of that cost comes from inmates needing to be taken to outside providers when medical staff isnt available at the jail. The jails medical costs are reviewed at least annually during the countys budgeting process. HAPO Center turnover The HAPO Center financial concerns were less clear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State auditors reviewed a period from 2022 through 2023, when the center was under three separate management teams. They did not specify which groups they were referring to during the presentation. The center was being managed by county employees until mid-summer 2022, when the entire team quit, followed by the county administrator weeks later. At that point their caterer, Simmons Venue Management, stepped up to help with a temporary contract. The following year, the county abruptly moved to replace them, and another county administrator was hired and quickly forced out. State auditors said they found no indication that any financial controls were bypassed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, they said the county was unable to provide sufficient supporting documentation to match revenues and expenditures reported by management groups. The county experienced turnover in the county administrator position three times during the period, which led to a lack of contract oversight for the HAPO Center operations, the report said. The audit said that because of the countys internal control deficiencies, state auditors found the county: Overstated revenue and expenditures by $5 million. Misclassified $1.5 million of governmental expenses in the American Rescue Plan Act funds as social service expenditures. Incorrectly reported tax revenue of $6 million in debt service funds. This revenue should be reported in special revenue funds. Did not identify nearly $2 million as funding passed through to subrecipients on the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The American Rescue Plan Act fund payment discrepancies stemmed from the county not ensuring 10 contractors were eligible to participate in federal programs. State auditors recommended during the meeting that the county strengthen its oversight of contracts and seek outside help in determining if any other costs were still owed and need to be recouped. Exterior of the HAPO Center at 6600 Burden Blvd. in Pasco. Dispute with former vendor The countys response, included in the audit, said that it created a new debt service fund related to the HAPO Center for the 2024 budget, but did not retroactively apply it to 2023 financial statements. The county claims it engaged the former vendor for the documentation needed to do so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The discrepancy here appears to stem from the county no longer having immediate access to bookkeeping from the former contractor after abruptly moving to replace them mid-year. They do not appear to have been reviewing their financials at all during the time the vendor ran the center, according to the state report. The county is only now in the process of implementing proper contractor oversight, the report said. The county did not ensure the contract terms were followed and instead allowed the management company to manage all the financial activity and only provide profit and loss statements throughout the year, the report said. The countys contract with a new management company resolved most of the control issues, but state auditors said the county still was not able to show that it was properly monitoring the new contract, according to the reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The county was also unable to provide evidence that it was monitoring financial activity at the HAPO Center for either of the two contracts in place during the period. State auditors said staff in the county administrators office was responsible for monitoring these contracts. The county lost its previous administrator the same month as the entire HAPO Center staff. SVM then stepped in to help run the center during that time. When a new county administrator was hired, he flagged several contract issues at the HAPO Center and engaged a consulting company to review the countys policies and processes. He soon left the position after being made a whistleblower in an investigation into suspected misconduct toward the vendors. In emails to the county, during a criminal investigation into whether commissioners and the auditor improperly demanded the administrator manipulate payments, the previous management group offered to let the county review all of its finances during a dispute in which the county held onto reimbursements for more than six months. The emails were obtained by the Tri-City Herald as part of a public records request. A Snohomish County prosecutor assigned to review the case ultimately decided not to pursue charges against Commissioner Rocky Mullen and Beaton due to a lack of evidence. The prosecutor noted at the time that they chose not to pursue a charge against Mullen for lying to investigators because of a lack of resources. The prosecutor described Mullen and Beatons actions as concerning, irregular, and odd. Didier was never publicly named as a suspect in the investigation, though Beaton did say during a secretly recorded meeting that he was acting to block a payment at Didiers request. During Wednesdays meeting commissioners said they had recently sent a certified letter making a request for the contractors finances. It is unclear why they did not move forward with the review when offered by SVM last year, though Beaton said in recordings that he wanted to request outside audits of the finances. The county has also been working to implement better financial controls after the review by a consulting group showed they lacked key financial policies. One of the major issues the county ran into was event contracts, typically used to rent the HAPO Center for a weekend, being used for multi-year commitments. Raymond said in his news release that if a thorough review of HAPO Center finances indicated any kind of embezzlement, the sheriffs office would investigate it. The state audit report does not imply any crime may have occurred. In our Reality Check stories, Tri-City Herald journalists seek to hold the powerful accountable and find answers to critical questions in our community. Read more. Story idea? News@tricityherald.com. The Palencia Benavides family havent slept properly for a month, the same amount of time they havent heard from Brayan, the second son of Amine Este, from Colombia, and Erly, from Venezuela. The last news about the 24-year-old came in the form of a list: his name was among the 238 migrants deported by the United States to El Salvador, accused of being part of Tren de Aragua, the transnational criminal gang of Venezuelan origin that U.S. President Donald Trump has declared a terrorist organization. The parents, who have been living for several years in a humble neighborhood in northern Bogota, Colombias capital, are clear: Our son has nothing to do with any gang. He is innocent, and we are asking Trump to release him. Before being sent to El Salvador, Brayan lived a life like any other person, says his older brother, named Erly like their father. They both worked in the construction and remodeling business. We did deliveries and thats how we were able to buy our motorcycles, he says. Still, it wasnt enough: Brayan had the additional responsibility of providing for his daughter, now six years old. In 2023, he decided to migrate to the United States. He traveled by way of the Darien Gap, the jungle that separates Colombia from Panama and has for years become the most traveled route for people trying to reach North America He hurt his knee on the way, but thank God it wasnt a big deal. The hardest part was further up, in Honduras: they robbed him, they took everything from him, says Erly Jr. In Mexico, Brayan got a job at an auto repair shop while he waited for his appointment with CPB One, the now-suspended U.S. program for migrant entry. After a few weeks, he decided to enter illegally, crossing the Rio Grande into Texas. U.S. authorities detained him but released him a few days later. He spent a year working in construction in Miami, Florida, with an uncle of ours. Thats where he started to get ahead, Erly Jr. continues. On January 30, Brayan was finally scheduled to appear before a court in Los Angeles, California, to determine his immigration status. He was detained there and spent a month in jail. Amine Ester Benavides shows a photo of her son in the United States before being deported. Diego Cuevas Erly Sr. says the last time he spoke to Brayan was on March 13, three days before he was sent to El Salvador. He had told us they were going to deport him, but he was sure they were going to send him to Venezuela. That was the big lie they fed him, he says. After a couple of days without news from him, the family began to grow suspicious. When we learned they had sent some planes to El Salvador, I suspected he was on one of them, but we werent sure until [we saw] the list, says Erly Sr, in reference to the list published by CBS News on the March 20. There he was, at number 151: Palencia-Benavides, Brayan. The Trump administration carried out the deportations under the Alien Enemies Act, a wartime law enacted in 1798 that provides for the expulsion of individuals without judicial review. Although a judge had issued an injunction to temporarily block its enforcement, the Supreme Court ruled last week that the administration could proceed. Multiple errors have since come to light. The U.S. government admitted to wrongfully deporting a Salvadoran man who had legal protection, and a legal battle is now underway to bring him back. According to the program 60 Minutes, 75% of those deported 175 people have no criminal record. So why was Brayan deported? His family insists he had no ties to criminal circles, nor did he have a criminal background in Venezuela or Colombia. The only explanation they can think of is his tattoos. He has them, and he does them too. He tattooed his chest and arm with images of his daughter and our mother also flowers and some names. Thats why theyre linking him to Tren de Aragua, says his brother. A lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), one of the most prominent civil rights organizations in the U.S., claims that detainees are being targeted based on an arbitrary profiling system. The criteria? Being over 14 years old, being a Venezuelan citizen, and lacking U.S. citizenship or legal residency. If a person also has tattoos as common as a clock, a crown, or a star, suspicion of gang affiliation increases. Brayan has a tattoo of a clock on his right arm. The Palencia Benavides family doesnt know the exact reasons behind Brayans deportation. What they do know is that hes now imprisoned in the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) the mega-prison built by Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele. The facility is notorious for its harsh treatment of inmates and is under scrutiny by human rights organizations for alleged human rights violations. More than anything, the family just wants to know how to get him out. So far, they havent been able to contact Brayan, nor have they seen him in the photos or videos released by Bukele and the Salvadoran government when the deportees first arrived. Family members don't know if Brayan was deported to El Salvador because of his tattoos. Diego Cuevas For now, the family continues to wait. Their most tangible hope for Brayans release lies with a law firm hired by the Venezuelan government. The firm, Bufete Grupo Ortega, has petitioned El Salvadors Supreme Court to transfer the detainees to immigration detention centers and to ensure they are provided with basic rights healthcare, food, and communication with their families while their legal situations are clarified. Brayans father says that Amine Ester has been in a state of shock for the past month. You ask her something, and she doesnt speak she freezes. I try to talk to her, to calm her down, telling her we need to take care of our granddaughter, he says. The little girl believes her father is away on a work trip and is simply too busy to call. Before Brayans arrest, they spoke nearly every day. What [Trump] is doing isnt justice, says Erly Sr. What hes achieving is making everyone go on the warpath because hes leaving them no other way to act. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) Hampton Roads residents will be able to ride for free on all Hampton Roads Transit services on Earth Day. According to a release, on Tuesday, April 22, all HRT services, including bus, light rail, ferry, paratransit and OnDemand ridesharing services, will be free in order to celebrate Earth Day. In addition to the free fares, various members of HRTs governing board will be hosting round-trip rides to meet with the public. The schedule is as follows: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chesapeake Councilman Les Smith Meet at Robert Hall Transfer Center on Robert Hall Blvd at 10:40 a.m. for 11 a.m. departure will return by 11:36 a.m. Hampton Councilwoman Hope Harper Meet at Hampton Transit Center at 2 W Pembroke Ave at 10:20 a.m. for 10:47 a.m. departure will return by 11:26 a.m. Newport News Councilman Marcellus Harris III Meet at Newport News Transit Center at 150 35th St at 10:20 a.m. for 10:45 a.m. departure will return by 11:35 a.m. Norfolk Councilwoman Mamie Johnson Meet at Downtown Norfolk Transit Center at 434 St Pauls Blvd at 10:15 a.m. will return by 11:30 a.m. Portsmouth HRT Commissioner tony Goodwin Meet at County and Crawford at 601 Crawford St at 10:10 a.m. will return by 11:34 a.m. Virginia Beach Councilwoman Dr. Amelia Ross-Hammond Meet at Tidewater Community Colleges Virginia Beach campus at corner of Student Ave and Michael Labouve Blvd at 10:20 a.m. will return by 11:24 a.m. For more information or to plan a trip, click here. Continue to check WAVY.com for updates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. (WHNT) Several communities are mourning the loss of three men who died Wednesday in a boat crash on Lewis Smith Lake. Joey Broom of Snead and John Kelly Clark of Cullman were two of the three men who were killed. Friends and colleagues of Broom and Clark tell News 19 these two men were kind and special. Starstruck: 40 years since the Stars fell on Huntsville Broom is a familiar name to many people in his hometown of Snead, and one people say wont soon be forgotten. News 19 was told that everyone knew him, and he was the kind of person to go out of their way to help others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Greg Ogles was Brooms childhood friend. Hes like a brother to me, just been a part of my life, Ogles said. He says the first thing youd notice about Broom was his smile, and that smile had a way of making even bad circumstances seem better. Dont matter about the situation, how bad the situation is, he always finds a positive side to everything, he said. Get breaking news, traffic and weather alerts directly to your smartphone. Download the News 19 App After they grew up together, Ogles and Broom found themselves serving their community together from the town hall. When we have a council meeting, hes always the light of the room, Ogles said. Everybody just wants to be around him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ogles said that Broom leaves behind a wife, four children, and ten grandchildren. Those who work at Sneads Town Hall are asking for prayers for Brooms family and for the community. Clark, who went by Kelly, was a native of the Cullman area, a father of four and a grandfather. He worked in the poultry industry and was a part-time realtor. Clarks friend and colleague Stephanie Buchanan said he was special, saying: Kelly was a great guy, honest, always smiling, always laughing and joking around. If you ask anyone who knew him, theyd probably tell you he was their best friend. He was just one of the good ones. Its going to be hard to fill his spot in some areas of peoples lives. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency told News 19 on Thursday that investigators are still working to piece together how this crash occurred, and no further details were available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) Two food service employees were identified as the people killed when a gunman opened fire on the Florida State University campus Thursday. We are heartbroken to confirm that an Aramark employee was among those killed at FSU yesterday in that senseless act of violence, a spokesperson for the food service provider said in a statement Friday. We are absolutely shaken by the news and our deepest sympathies are with the family and our entire Aramark community. Police search for motive in deadly shooting at FSU Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Aramark employee was identified as Tiru Chabba, a 45-year-old father of two. He was a resident of Greenville, South Carolina, according to his familys attorney. The campus dining employee was identified by family as Robert Morales, who was originally from Miami-Dade County. He was also a FSU alum. You deserved better, Robert. Thank you for being in my life, a man claiming to be Morales older brother wrote in a post on X. The Morales brothers father, Ricardo Morales, was a Cuban exile turned CIA operative in South Florida with the nickname Monkey. Ricardo Morales Jr. describes his fathers work as a contract agent for the CIA in the forthcoming book, Monkey Morales: The True Story of a Mythic Cuban Exile, Assassin, CIA Operative, FBI Informant, Smuggler, and Dad, which is expected to be published later this year. Dubbed The Monkey for his disruptive and unpredictable escapades, Morales grabbed headlines for decades as tales of his bombings, arrests, assassination attempts (both those he executed and those he suffered), and testimony constructed a real-life spy adventure unlike anything brought to page or screen, reads promotional material from publisher Simon & Schuster. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The elder Morales was fatally shot in a bar brawl in 1982 at the age of 43. A spokesperson for Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare said in a statement that two of the six injured patients are expected to be discharged from the hospital on Friday. Three shooting victims conditions are improving, while another remained in fair condition. According to detectives, the accused 20-year-old shooter, identified by police as Phoenix Ikner, was injured by police in a shootout. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) We are one Florida State University. We are just different locations, but were all Seminoles. And when one of us hurts, all of us hurt, FSU Panama City Associate Dean Irvin Clark said. FSU Panama City united in the face of tragedy on Thursday. Hours after the shooting at the FSU Tallahassee campus, students at the Panama City location organized a candlelight gathering to show their support for their fellow Seminoles. Event organizers say they wanted to provide the FSU community with an open forum to connect with one another and share their concerns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think a lot of people are worried. Concerned like that could have been me type of mindset. I think a lot of things that we try to push as FSU people are just that we are a family, were a community. Well stick together no matter what, event organizer Bryanna Morgan said. Bill introduced to rename stretch of Highway 90 after fallen WCSO deputy FSU PC is providing counselors during this time, and other staff and campus police officers offered their support to students. Officials say they werent surprised their students stepped up to organize the event. It shows that theyre human and that they seek out answers from a higher authority. And thats where my lord and savior, and so its magical stuff. Is stuff that you cant teach in the classroom is something that youre born with, Clark said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Administrators postponed a block party carnival event that was supposed to take place Thursday night. FSU PC classes will continue as scheduled on Friday. FSU PC was on a soft lockdown Thursday afternoon, but officials quickly determined the campus was safe. 12 FSU PC students were on the Tallahassee campus during the shooting, but they are all safe. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) The Florida State University Community continues to mourn Thursdays deadly shooting in Tallahassee. On Friday, FSU Panama Citys campus attempted to return to normal while providing support to its students. Thursday evening, students hosted a candlelight gathering in solidarity with their fellow Seminoles. FSU PC classes continued as scheduled on Friday, with in-house counselors speaking with students. Officials want students to know there are mental health resources available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gov. Ron DeSantis announced flags flown at half-staff for FSU victims Immediately, immediately, when we heard the news, we sent the message out to our students, not only to our students, but to our faculty and staff, because people know a lot of people in Tallahassee, but specifically for our students. But we do have our own in-house mental health counselor, specialist, FSU PC Associate Dean Irvin Clark said. Our priority is the safety and well-being of our students, our FSU family. So having those services available is a critical part of processing and of healing from whats gone on. You look at these things happening nationwide, but when it hits in your backyard, I think students are feeling a sense of grief, a sense that its really close to home, FSU PC Director of Student Affairs Tim Kessler-Cleary said. FSU PC is also in the process of hiring a second mental health counselor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com. Phoenix Ikner, the Florida State University student who opened fire on campus Thursday, killing two people and injuring six, didnt always go by that name. He was born Christian Gunnar Eriksen, the son of a Tallahassee man and a Miami woman who had dual Norwegian citizenship. The couple lived together with their son for more than three years before splitting. In 2019, when Ikner was a 15-year-old student at Lincoln High School, his father filed a petition in Leon Circuit Court seeking to change his sons name. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The request came at the request of the boy, who hadnt had contact with his mother since 2015, when she took him to Norway away from his father and against court orders. Ikner later called that a tragic event in his life. His mom was arrested in connection with that incident on a charge of removing a minor from the state during a custody proceeding, according to Leon Circuit Court records. She pleaded no contest in 2016 and was sentenced to 200 days in jail and two years of probation. She was ordered to stay away from her son, except as allowed by family court, and ordered to pay $31,000 in restitution. 'He chose the name Phoenix because of its representation of rising from the ashes anew' Not long after that, Ikner, then known as Christian Eriksen, decided he wanted to change his name, Administrative Magistrate James Banks wrote in a report recommending the court grant the name change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beginning around 2017 he decided he wanted a fresh start in his life and a new name was part of that fresh start, Banks wrote. He chose the name Phoenix because of its representation of rising from the ashes anew and the name of Ikner because that is his fathers name. The report said the boy saw no reason to keep his former name because it was a constant reminder of the 2015 tragedy he suffered through and of his mother who he has not seen or spoken to since 2015. The magistrate said that Ikner attended counseling to help him cope with these past events. His mother, however, vehemently opposed it, leading to one of many court clashes between his parents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ikner went by his new, chosen name for several years before asking for the name change. He testified before the judge about his desire to cast off his old name. This court found him to be a mentally, emotionally and physically mature young adult, who was very articulate, quite intelligent, very well spoken and very polite, Banks wrote. He is a 10th grader A/B honor roll student ... and came to the hearing dressed in his NJROTC uniform." Leon Circuit Judge J. Layne Smith adopted the magistrate's report in October 2020, making the name change official. According to FSU records, Ikner was a junior majoring in political science. He enrolled for the spring 2025 semester after transferring from Tallahassee State College, where he earned an AA degree in the fall of 2024. He graduated from Lincoln in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ikner is the stepson of Jessica Ikner, a Leon County sheriffs deputy and a beloved school resource officer at Raa Middle School. Earlier reports described her as Ikner's mother. Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@tallahassee.com at 850-599-2180. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Phoenix Ikner changed name as high school student after 'tragic event' TAMPA, Fla (WFLA) Tallahassee police identified the suspect in Thursdays shooting at Florida State University as Phoenix Ikner, the stepson of a local deputy. In an afternoon press conference, FSU police Chief Jason Trumbower said the 20-year-old suspect was the gunman responsible for the deaths of two people at the university. Six other people were also hospitalized. I thank the Lord: FSU student describes escape from campus shooting Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At approximately 11:50 a.m. Thursday, April 17, a gunman opened fire on the main campus of Florida State University in Tallahassee, shooting multiple individuals in the vicinity of the Student Union Building, Trumbower said. FSU police responded immediately, engaged, neutralized, and apprehended the shooter. According to Tallahassee police Chief Lawrence Revell, officers challenged the alleged gunman. When the student did not comply with their commands, the law enforcement officers shot him. Phoenix Ikner was taken to a hospital after the shooting, the chief said. Who is Phoenix Ikner? Phoenix Ikner was believed to be a student at the university, according to Trumbower. An FSU article on anti-Trump protests quoted the student and said he was a political science major. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the article, he was quoted as saying, These people are usually pretty entertaining, usually not for good reasons. I think its a little too late, hes [Trump] already going to be inaugurated on Jan. 20 and theres not really much you can do unless you outright revolt, and I dont think anyone wants that. Ikners quote has since been removed from that article, with FSU News saying they removed him from the article to maintain ethical journalistic standards and avoid amplifying the voice of an individual responsible for violence. Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil said the 20-year-old was the son of one of his deputies. However, records show that the deputy is actually his stepmother. Deputy Ikner has been with the county sheriffs office for over 18 years, McNeil said. She has a tremendous job that shes done. Her service to this community has been exceptional. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the sheriff, the suspect got access to one of his mothers weapons, which was found at the scene. He was also said to have a shotgun with him, but it is not yet known whether he used it on any victims. We are continuing that investigation into how that weapon was used and what other weapons perhaps he may have had access to, McNeil said. Revell said the weapon in question was a gun the deputy used to use before transitioning to a new service weapon. This was a handgun that that deputy used prior to them transitioning to a new handgun, and so it was her personal handgun, Revell said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Phoenix Ikner was also said to be a long-standing member of the sheriffs offices Youth Advisory Council before the shooting. He has been steeped in the Leon County Sheriffs Office, family, engaged in a number of training programs that we have, McNeil said. So its not a surprise to us that he had access to weapons. Revell said Ikners motivation for the shooting is not yet known, as he has refused to speak to police. The FBI is requesting anyone who witnessed the shooting and posted about it on social media to upload their tips to www.fbi.gov/fsushooting. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. TAMPA, Fla (WFLA) Tallahassee police identified the suspect in Thursdays shooting at Florida State University as Phoenix Ikner, the son of a local deputy. In an afternoon press conference, FSU police Chief Jason Trumbower said the 20-year-old suspect was the gunman responsible for the deaths of two people at the university. Six other people were also hospitalized. I thank the Lord: FSU student describes escape from campus shooting Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At approximately 11:50 a.m. Thursday, April 17, a gunman opened fire on the main campus of Florida State University in Tallahassee, shooting multiple individuals in the vicinity of the Student Union Building, Trumbower said. FSU police responded immediately, engaged, neutralized, and apprehended the shooter. According to Tallahassee police Chief Lawrence Revell, officers challenged the alleged gunman. When the student did not comply with their commands, the law enforcement officers shot him. Phoenix Ikner was taken to a hospital after the shooting, the chief said. Who is Phoenix Ikner? Phoenix Ikner was believed to be a student at the university, according to Trumbower. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil said the 20-year-old was the son of one of his deputies. Deputy Ikner has been with the county sheriffs office for over 18 years, McNeil said. She has a tremendous job that shes done. Her service to this community has been exceptional. According to the sheriff, the suspect got access to one of his mothers weapons, which was found at the scene. He was also said to have a shotgun with him, but it is not yet known whether he used it on any victims. Rapper Azealia Banks says she regrets Trump vote We are continuing that investigation into how that weapon was used and what other weapons perhaps he may have had access to, McNeil said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Revell said the weapon in question was a gun the deputy used to use before transitioning to a new service weapon. This was a handgun that that deputy used prior to them transitioning to a new handgun, and so it was her personal handgun, Revell said. Phoenix Ikner was also said to be a long-standing member of the sheriffs offices Youth Advisory Council before the shooting. He has been steeped in the Leon County Sheriffs Office, family, engaged in a number of training programs that we have, McNeil said. So its not a surprise to us that he had access to weapons. Revell said Ikners motivation for the shooting is not yet known, as he has refused to speak to police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FBI is requesting anyone who witnessed the shooting and posted about it on social media to upload their tips to www.fbi.gov/fsushooting. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/Getty Images A few Augusts ago, the day after a hurricane passed through the area, I drove through lush, green Tallahassee, past Florida State University. I had been interviewing local students and residents, mostly at Florida A&M University, the historically Black college nearby. Local classes were cancelled because of the storm, and as I rolled by FSU buildings saw the porches were filled with students that couldve been pulled from a Bama Rush TikTok, the portrait of a stereotypical white college experience. Following yet another school shooting, this time at FSU on April 17, a 20-year-old junior who witnessed Phoenix Ikner open fire told NBC News that the shooter was a normal college dude. Two people were killed and six injured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To that student's point, the alleged gunman is a quintessentially American school shooter: a radicalized, young white male who, classmates told NBC News, espoused white supremacist rhetoric. The son of a longtime local sheriffs deputy, according to NBC, he used one of his mothers guns to commit the shooting. At the sheriff departments press conference about the shooting, Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil told media that Ikner was a longstanding member of the offices youth advisory council, and that, due to his training, it was not a surprise to us that Ikner had access to a gun. Stay up-to-date with the politics team. Sign up for the Teen Vogue Take So, just to sum up the state of things in this country: The American government is so hostile to immigrants and those sympathetic to Palestine that it is deporting them, snatching them off college campuses, and separating them from their families. Meanwhile, the real threat to college campuses are people like the FSU shooter, who, a fellow student told NBC, had been kicked out of a campus debate club over his white supremacist views. Per NBC, Ikner was a registered Republican, and in a January story in the school newspaper, FSUNews.com, he ridiculed anti-Trump, pro-Palestine protesters. "These people are usually pretty entertaining, usually not for good reasons," the gunman said of those protests in the story, which NBC reported has since been removed by the student paper to maintain ethical journalistic standards and avoid amplifying the voice of an individual responsible for violence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Florida not its residents, but its politicians breeds mass shootings, to the extent that multiple past shootings in the state haunted yesterdays violence. The shooting resulted in the cancellation of a memorial scheduled for that day for FSU senior Maura Binkley, who was killed in a 2018 Tallahassee shooting by a man with a history of misogyny. Survivors of the 2018 Parkland shooting were also on FSUs campus as the shooting shut down school grounds. FSU, Im so sorry our government has failed you, Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL) the first national organizing director of March for Our Lives, the anti-school shooting group that formed after Parkland posted on Bluesky in response to the news. Meanwhile, Trump, who was president during Parkland, responded, Its a horrible thing. Its horrible that things like this take place, adding, The gun doesnt do the shooting, the people do. Insert here that Onion headline about this being the only country where this regularly happens, I guess. While I was on that reporting trip in 2023, three people were shot and killed in Jacksonville. At a protest on that trip, Florida organizers argued that the issues they were confronting were all connected: suppression of campus protests and overzealous policing; the arrests of students protesting Governor Ron DeSantiss anti-diversity equity and inclusion (-DEI) pushes in higher education, five of whom faced felony charges (later dropped); the states efforts to disenfranchise Black voters and erase Black history and LGBTQ+ people. That summer, the NAACP issued a travel warning to the state for those populations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Back then, Florida students and organizers asked me to tell readers that what was happening in Florida was coming for America it was only a matter of time. With Trumps reelection, weve seen the adoption of so many of the policies piloted in states like Florida, including the dismantling of DEI programs and legislation targeting trans youth, some having been orchestrated by right-wingers like conservative education activist Christopher Rufo, creator of the anti-critical race theory panic. Instead of meeting the moment or even identifying these problems as the threats they are weve got the New York Times hosting Rufo on its tentpole daily podcast, and Democrats begging for a left Joe Rogan to regain young white men voters rather than actually protecting the marginalized communities in their base. I think of those idyllic campus porches at FSU, crowded with kids celebrating, then think of the footage of the abductions of Rumeysa Ozturk and Mahmoud Khalil, both of whom expressed support for Palestine as students, and now remain in custody. I think of police rushing to FSUs campus to stop a shooter allegedly trained by cops to shoot, then think of 20-year-old Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez, a US citizen who, CNN reported, was detained for entering Florida from Georgia while commuting to his job in Tallahassee. (Gomez was released Thursday night after a night in jail.) FSU student Reid Seybold knew Phoenix Ikner from a school club where they discussed politics a club Ikner was ultimately asked to leave, Seybold told CNN: He had continually made enough people uncomfortable where certain people had stopped coming. The shooter, Seybold claimed, would make comments beyond conservatism and about the ravages of multiculturalism and communism and how its ruining America. Seybold, who was the clubs president, told NBC News, He espoused so much white supremacist rhetoric and far-right rhetoric. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seybold was on campus working on a class project when the shooting began, and had to enter lockdown in the classroom. I was texting everybody I loved, letting know that I loved them. I was getting ready to die, which was harrowing, he told NBC. I dont know why he would have done something like this. I dont know where it would have come from, but Id sure like to find out. Another former classmate, Lucas Luzietti, was unsurprised when he learned Ikner was the shooter, given things he had said publicly, reported USA Today. Luzietti told the outlet that the gunman espoused right-wing conspiracy theories and hateful ideas, claiming I got into arguments with him in class over how gross the things he said were. Luzietti told USA Today further: I remember thinking this man should not have access to firearms. [But] what are you supposed to do? His mother was a cop and Florida doesnt have very strong red flag laws. According to the New York Times, authorities have not yet revealed a motive for the shooting. Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue News and Politics: Mid Hero In this story, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Salvadoran migrant mistakenly deported to his native country despite having a court order prohibiting his removal from the United States, is David, and Goliath, the Donald Trump administration. Justice is on Abrego Garcias side, with the Supreme Court having ordered his return to American soil. But in this version of the biblical tale, it is far from clear that the young man will be able to defeat the giant Republican administration, which, after several court defeats, has decided to employ a new attack strategy in a case that has shaken the country. Now it seeks to portray Abrego Garcia as a monster. The government has released a series of documents intended to justify Abrego Garcias deportation, after admitting that it was carried out due to an administrative error. After refusing for weeks to provide evidence in its case against the Salvadoran, the files released by the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security are an attempt to substantiate its claim that Abrego Garcia is a violent and dangerous criminal, a member of the Salvadoran criminal gang MS-13, in order to validate his deportation to El Salvador along with other alleged gang members. The release comes after two federal judges reprimanded the White House for these deportations. Among the documents released Wednesday by the Justice Department is a Maryland police file detailing how officers assessed Abrego Garcia as a member of MS-13 during a 2019 arrest. He had no criminal record at the time, which is also noted in the report, and his lawyers and family have strongly denied that the 29-year-old Salvadoran is a member of any criminal gang. In the file titled Gang Field Interview Sheet, dated March 28, 2019, the Prince Georges County Police Department describes how they approached Abrego Garcia along with three others for loitering in a Home Depot parking lot in Hyattsville, Maryland. Abrego Garcia later said in a court filing that he was there looking for work as a laborer. ICE agents detain a man outside a Home Depot store in January 2025, in Tucson, Arizona. Rebecca Noble (REUTERS) The officers identified him as a criminal based on the clothing he was wearing. He was wearing a Chicago Bulls cap and a hoodie with rolls of money covering the eyes, ears, and mouths of presidents of various denominations. Officers know that such attire is indicative of Hispanic gang culture, the statement reads. The officers asserted that such insignia, which represent see, hear, and be silent, proved that Abrego Garcia was a member of MS-13, something they confirmed with a reliable confidential source. This source also told them that, within the group, the man held the rank of Check, with the nickname Chele. After that encounter with the police, Abrego Garcia was handed over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Later that same year, an immigration judge barred him from being deported back to El Salvador, ruling that he had proven his life would be in danger if he returned to his home country, where his family had been victims of extortion by local gangs when Abrego Garcia was just a child. In fact, the Salvadoran immigrant emigrated to the United States illegally in 2012 to escape gangs, when he was 16 years old. With the judges order, he was able to remain in the United States and receive a work permit. He had no further run-ins with immigration authorities until this year, when he was detained by ICE agents in mid-March and, three days later, placed on a flight back to El Salvador. Abrego Garcia was one of more than 200 Salvadoran and Venezuelan immigrants deported without due process by the Trump administration on March 15 to an infamous prison built by the Central American countrys president, Nayib Bukele, where numerous reports of poor conditions, mistreatment, and human rights violations have emerged. For the expulsions, the Trump administration relied on the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which has only been used three times in history, and always in the context of war. Kilmar Abrego Garcia wearing a Chicago Bulls cap, one of the items of clothing that immigration agents have associated with gangs. Abrego Garcia Family (via REUTERS) In Abrego Garcias case, the Supreme Court ordered the Trump administration a week ago to facilitate his return to the United States. The government, however, maintains it lacks the authority to do so because he is imprisoned in a foreign country. And the Salvadoran president asserted Monday during a visit to the White House that he has no intention of releasing him because he is a terrorist. He is not coming back to our country. President Bukele said he was not sending him back. Thats the end of the story, Attorney General Pam Bondi insisted at a press conference on Wednesday. Even if El Salvador wanted to return him to the United States, Bondi added, the government wouldnt accept him and would deport him again. If he wanted to send him back, we would give him a plane ride back. There was no situation ever where he was going to stay in this country. None, none. The courts, however, arent buying any of the governments arguments. This Thursday, a federal appeals court said the Trump administrations claim that it can do nothing to free Abrego Garcia should be shocking. In another judicial setback for Trump, a three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the Republican administration is asserting a right to stash away residents of this country in foreign prisons without the semblance of due process that is the foundation of our constitutional order. The judges thus refused to stay the decision of the judge overseeing the case, Paula Xinis, to order Trump administration officials to testify under oath to determine whether they complied with her instruction to facilitate Abrego Garcias return. At a hearing Tuesday, Maryland District Judge Xinis demanded that the government provide information and evidence within the next two weeks about what it has done or failed to do to bring Abrego Garcia back. Meanwhile, another federal judge, James Boasberg of Washington, threatened Wednesday to hold the Trump administration in criminal contempt for willfully disobeying an order he issued on March 15 to halt deportation flights to El Salvador that included Abrego Garcia. Protesters gather during a hearing in the Abrego Garcia case at the U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, Maryland, on April 15. ANNABELLE GORDON (EFE) Kilmar has always been a loving partner and father Another document the government released Wednesday was a copy of a protection order that Abrego Garcias wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, filed against her husband in 2021. Kilmar Abrego Garcia had a history of violence and was not the upstanding Maryland Man the media has portrayed him as. According to court filings, Garcias wife sought a domestic violence restraining order against him, claiming he punched, scratched, and ripped off her shirt, among other harm. This MS-13 gang member is not a sympathetic figure, the Department of Homeland Security wrote on X when publishing the report. The complaint alleges that Abrego Garcia punched and scratched Vasquez Sura, ripped off her shirt, and grabbed and bruised her. At the time, the court ordered Abrego Garcia to have no contact with Vasquez Sura, to vacate her home, and to stay away from another relatives house. The case, however, was dismissed in June 2021 after the woman failed to appear for a final hearing, and the couple moved back in together. Vasquez Sura has come out to defend her husband against the governments accusations that he is a violent and abusive husband. Speaking to the press, she clarified that she requested the protection order as a precautionary measure, following a disagreement with Abrego Garcia, because she had already survived a previous instance of domestic violence with another partner. However, the issue with Abrego Garcia did not escalate, and the woman decided not to pursue the case. We were able to work through this situation privately as a family, including by going to counseling. Our marriage only grew stronger in the years that followed. No one is perfect, and no marriage is perfect, Vasquez Sura said. That is not a justification for ICEs action of abducting him and deporting him to a country where he was supposed to be protected from deportation, she added. Meanwhile, Vasquez Sura and her husbands lawyers continue their legal battle for the return of Abrego Garcia, who has already spent a month in the Cecot prison in his home country. Kilmar has always been a loving partner and father, and I will continue to stand by him and demand justice for him, his wife maintains. Several members of the Democratic Party have also joined their fight. Hillary Clinton, former Secretary of State under the Obama administration and onetime presidential hopeful, posted on social media this week calling on Americans of conscience to demonstrate against the Salvadorans deportation. If they can ship Kilmar Abrego Garcia to a foreign prison accused of no crime, with no trial they can do it to anyone, she warned. Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen traveled to San Salvador on Wednesday to push for the migrants release. This Thursday, he managed to meet with him, the first person to have direct contact with the prisoner since his expulsion. The Democrat shared a photo of the two together with a brief caption: I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar. Tonight I had that chance. I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return. Despite the governments offensive, there are still new chapters to come in this story. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The Florida State University community is reeling and police are searching for a motive after a gunman opened fire on the Tallahassee campus on Thursday, killing two and injuring six. Tallahassee police have laid out how the shooting unfolded. PHOTO: Students hold a vigil near the scene of a shooting near the Florida State University student center on April 17, 2025 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/Getty Images) MORE: Grad student shot at FSU recounts harrowing moment gunman reloaded as she played dead The suspect, 20-year-old FSU student Phoenix Ikner, arrived at a campus parking garage at about 11 a.m. and stayed in the area for around an hour, moving in and out of his car, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ikner left the garage at 11:51 a.m., police said, and then between 11:56 and 11:57 a.m. he started firing a handgun, police said. The shooting was reported to 911 by 11:58 a.m., police said. At noon, Ikner was shot by officers and taken into custody, police said. He's expected to survive and remains hospitalized as of Saturday morning. "When I heard what had happened, I was frantic -- thought he might be the one hurt. And then when I found out it was him I just collapsed at work," Ikner's biological mother, Anne-Mari Eriksen, told ABC News on Friday in her first comments since the shooting. "There's so much that needs to be said about this, but I just can't talk without crying. We need time to process all this." PHOTO: Police investigate the scene of a shooting near the student union at Florida State University on April 17, 2025 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/Getty Images) One slain victim was identified as Tiru Chabba, a 45-year-old husband and father of two who was an employee of a campus vendor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Chabba's family is going through the unimaginable now," their family attorney Bakari Sellers said in a statement. "Instead of hiding Easter eggs and visiting with friends and family, they're living a nightmare." PHOTO: Florida State University shooting victim Tiru Chabba. (Chabba family via Storm Law Firm) MORE: FSU student survives shooting after losing sister in Parkland: 'Something has to change' The other victim was identified as Robert Morales. Morales was formerly an assistant football coach at Leon High School, where he demonstrated "dedication, integrity, and a true passion for mentoring young athletes," Leon High Athletics said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "His commitment to the game and to shaping the lives of his players extended far beyond the field," the statement said. "His legacy of leadership, compassion, and service will forever remain a part of the Leon Lions tradition." PHOTO: Florida State University shooting victim Robert Morales. (Courtesy of the Morales Family) Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare officials said the hospital received six patients, all in good condition. One patient has been discharged, the hospital said Saturday. All six are expected to make full recoveries and two of them may be released on Friday, officials said. Officials revealed that the suspect's stepmother, Jessica Ikner, is a current deputy with the local Leon County Sheriff's Office. While authorities identified Jessica Ikner as the suspect's mother, court documents indicate she is his stepmother. PHOTO: Students hold a vigil near the scene of a shooting near the Florida State University student center on April 17, 2025 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/Getty Images) MORE: FSU student who saw gunman fire first few shots recounts harrowing shooting Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Phoenix Ikner had access to one of his stepmother's personal guns, which was one of the weapons found at the scene, Sheriff Walter McNeil said. He is still in the hospital and will not be charged or arraigned until he is discharged, police said. He's also invoked his right to remain silent. Jessica Ikner -- who was on duty as a school resource officer at a middle school at the time of the shooting -- has taken an indefinite personal leave of absence, the sheriff's office said. The sheriff's office said it's launched an internal investigation, but so far has not found any signs that the veteran deputy violated any policies. PHOTO: Police investigate the scene of a shooting near the student union at Florida State University on April 17, 2025 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/Getty Images) MORE: What to know about Phoenix Ikner: Alleged FSU gunman and stepson of sheriff's deputy Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement to the Florida State University community, President Richard McCullough called the shooting a "tragic and senseless act of violence." FSU canceled classes and sporting events through the weekend, but said classes and business operations will resume Monday. "Our hearts are heavy after the tragedy that took place April 17," McCullough said in a statement Saturday. "We are grieving with the families and friends who lost someone they love. And we are with all those who were injured and are now recovering. This has shaken all of us, and I want you to know: We are here for you." The university said it was offering mental health support services and other counseling services for students and employees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Donald Trump said Thursday he has an "obligation to protect" the Second Amendment when asked by a reporter in the Oval Office if he sees anything "broken" with America's current gun laws. "Look, I'm a big advocate of the Second Amendment. I have been from the beginning. I protected it, and these things are terrible, but the gun doesn't do the shooting. The people do. It's a phrase that's used probably too often," Trump said. "I will tell you that it's a shame," he said of the shooting. ABC News' Alex Faul, Faith Abubey and Fritz Farrow contributed to this report. FSU shooting latest: Victims identified, police release timeline originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Another horrific mass shooting. Parkland, Pulse, and now FSU again. In 2014, Florida State University was the scene of gun violence when a 31 year-old graduate of the school opened fire outside of the Strozier Library, wounding two students and a library employee. This time, two were left dead and six others wounded before police subdued the gunman, a 20 year-old student and son of a sheriff's deputy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The response is all too familiar, too. Anger and anguish ringing throughout the campus and the wider Tallahassee community, followed by shock, outrage and ample of amounts of well-intended thoughts and prayers. Two people died at FSU. What will likely happen next is discouraging. It's what's likely to happen next that is so discouraging. As many mourn the FSU shooting, state lawmakers, a little more than a mile away, continue to push bills that weaken, not strengthen, gun safety laws in Florida. Our View: Parkland anniversary: Thoughts and prayers wont stop these mass shootings The Florida House has already gone on record, with a 78-34 floor vote, for HB 759, a bill that would roll back a key reform coming out of the 2018 Parkland massacre at the old Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. The bill would reinstate the gun-buying age for buying rifles and other long guns back to 18 from the current 21 year-old requirement. There's also still support for open carry, a policy that would allow gun owners to brandish weapons in public. Gun-rights advocates have a friend in Gov. Ron DeSantis on that one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State leaders can find ways to support the Second Amendment without neutering sensible gun safety policies, like background checks, red flag laws, registration and training, and bumper stock restrictions, if not outright bans on military-style assault weapons. Better data collection of gun violence that identify trends and lead to new solutions would help, too. Expect to hear this after Florida State shooting: 'Now is not the time' Florida State University students and other visit memorials set up near the student union the morning after a shooter killed two and injured six, Friday, April 18, 2025. Officials are still trying to explain and understand the tragedy at FSU, leaving some to admonish that now is not the time to talk politics around changes to gun laws. The refrain goes something like this: "Now is not the time!" We respectfully disagree, and we'd like to believe that our state leaders can walk and chew gum at the same time by acknowledging the Second Amendment and supporting gun safety. Our elected officials in Tallahassee have the means to protect both gun rights and gun safety. What's still missing is the will. In the meantime, an all-too familiar aftermath and ineffectual response continues to unfold. Join the Conversation: The Palm Beach Post is committed to publishing a diversity of opinions. Email us at letters@pbpost.com. Letters are subject to editing, must not exceed 200 words and must include your name, address and a daytime phone number to confirm the letter is for publication. We only publish names and cities with the letters. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: FSU shooting kills two victims. Enough is enough | Editorial (NewsNation) The injured suspect in Thursdays shooting at Florida State University is the 20-year-old stepson of a local deputy who obtained a handgun from his stepmothers possession, according to authorities and information confirmed by NewsNation. Who is the FSU shooting suspect? The suspect, identified as Phoenix Ikner, was also a member of the Leon County Sheriffs Offices Youth Advisory Council and was engaged in a number of training programs that we have, Sheriff Walt McNeil said at a news conference Thursday. Another official who spoke at the news conference, FSU Police Chief Jason Trumbower, said the shooting suspect is a current student at the university. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FSU student in student union during shooting: This isnt right The handgun Ikner obtained from the deputy was her old service weapon that she had purchased from the sheriffs department, Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell said. The deputy has been a member of the Leon County Sheriffs Office for more than 18 years, McNeil said. Florida State University students wait for news amid an active shooter incident at the schools campus in Tallahassee, Fla., Thursday, April 17, 2025 (AP Photo/Kate Payne) Florida State University students wait for news amid an active shooter incident at the schools campus in Tallahassee, Fla., Thursday, April 17, 2025 (AP Photo/Kate Payne) Florida State University students wait for news amid an active shooter incident at the schools campus in Tallahassee, Fla., Thursday, April 17, 2025 (AP Photo/Kate Payne) Florida State University students wait for news amid an active shooter incident at the schools campus in Tallahassee, Fla., Thursday, April 17, 2025 (AP Photo/Kate Payne) Her service to this community has been exceptional. Unfortunately, her son had access to one of her weapons, and that was one of the weapons that was found at the scene, the sheriff said. Although officials initially identified Ikner as the officers son, NewsNation has learned the suspect is the deputys stepson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its possible the suspect had a second weapon, a shotgun, officials said. An eyewitness who saw the gunman begin shooting told NewsNation the shooter first fired a shotgun before reaching into a vehicle for a pistol. After being wounded and taken into custody by police, the gunman refused to speak to investigators, Revell told reporters. FSU suspect known for hate speech: Classmate FSU student Reid Seybold said he knew Phoenix Ikner from a political talk group at Tallahassee State College. Seybold said Ikner had espoused what he described as white supremacist views. He was known for espousing white supremacist and alt-right rhetoric, to the extent where we had to ask him to leave, Seybold told NewsNation. Its my understanding that at some point he was allowed back after I came to Florida State, where he continued to push white supremacist rhetoric. Is the suspects deputy mother in legal jeopardy? The potential legal culpability for the suspects stepmother isnt immediately clear, legal analyst Misty Marris told NewsNation Now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The thing is, youve got an adult, youve got a 20-year-old, she said, referring to the suspect. Wed be having a way different conversation if you had someone who was 15 or 16 years old. Wed be talking about potential culpability for failure to keep those guns in a safe and secure manner in violation of Florida law. Thats your worst nightmare as a law enforcement officer that you lose your weapon or lose track of your weapon and then it ends up in a shooting like this, let alone your own child using the weapon to commit violence like this, former FBI assistant director Chris Swecker told Elizabeth Vargas Reports. 2 killed, 6 injured in Florida State University shooting Two people were killed and eight were injured in the shooting on Florida State Universitys campus in Tallahassee. The two who died were not students, according to authorities. Oklahoma City bombing survivor recalls the day ahead of the 30th anniversary Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shooting began around 11:50 a.m. local time near FSUs student union building, authorities said. The gunman was eventually shot by responding police officers, officials said. The suspect was taken to the hospital. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 suspect in the Florida State University shooting that left two people dead and several others wounded is the stepson of a sheriffs deputy and Trump supporter who harbored white supremacist views and had a troubled childhood, officials and classmates said Friday. Phoenix Ikner, 20, who is believed to be an FSU student and was arrested in the aftermath of Thursdays shooting, was treated for multiple mental and physical health issues as a child and was at the center of a years-long custody battle, court documents from 2015 obtained by NBC News revealed. Ikner allegedly used one of his stepmothers weapons a handgun to wreak havoc on the campus, police have said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said that Ikners mother had purchased her former service weapons and that it was her personal property at the time of the shooting. Police said the gunman also had a shotgun but have not yet confirmed whether it was used. A motive has not been identified. "There does not appear to be any connection between the shooter and again, even one of the victims," Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell told reporters Friday. It was not a surprise that Ikner had access to a weapon, Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil said earlier, as he was a member of the sheriffs offices citizen advisory or youth advisory council. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Leon County Sheriffs Office described the council as a means to provide an open line of communication between the youth of Leon County and local law enforcement in a news release announcing its 2021-22 class. Students are escorted out of the Florida State University Student Union after a mass shooting occurred, in Tallahassee, Fla., on Thursday. The gunman opened fire near the student union around 11:50 a.m., FSU Police Chief Jason Trumbower said. He shot multiple people, killing two, before FSU police were able to engage, neutralize and apprehend him. One of the victims was identified Friday as 57-year-old Robert Morales. Morales was working as FSUs dining coordinator and worked in the student union center. "The suspect continues to receive treatment at one of our local hospitals," Revell said. "He did receive significant injuries in this event, and will require a significant amount of time in that facility. Once he is released from that facility, hell be taken to a local detention facility where he will face the charges up to and including first degree murder." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A student who witnessed the gunman approach campus and begin opening fire said the shooter pulled up to campus in an orange Hummer and got out, holding a rifle and shooting in her direction. I think he was shooting and he missed. So he goes back into his car and grabs a pistol, then he turns and shoots the lady in front of him. Thats when I just started running, McKenzie Heeter, a junior at FSU, told NBC News. Heeter described the shooter as a normal college dude. In June 2020, Ikner changed his name to Phoenix Ikner from his previous name, Christian Gunner Eriksen, an FBI official told NBC News. Classmates say suspect had white supremacist views Ikner is a registered Republican, according to public voter records. He registered in 2022, midway through President Joe Bidens term in office, records show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reid Seybold, a senior at FSU who was around the corner from the shooting when it unfolded, said he knew Ikner from a political discussion group at Tallahassee State College, where he spent the first two years of his education before he transferred to FSU. Seybold, the groups president, said Ikner was asked not to return to the group because of views that Seybold said aligned with white supremacy. He espoused so much white supremacist rhetoric and far-right rhetoric, as well, Seybold said. Since then, Seybold said, he has seen Ikner only a couple of times in passing. The current president of the same club, Riley Pusins, said that at meetings, the suspect advocated for President Donald Trumps agenda and often promoted white supremacist values, even though the club was nonpartisan and was about debate and political discourse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pusins said many people in the club had labeled the suspect, who attended regularly as recently as last semester, as a fascist. After the meetings, Pusins said, the suspect often made more inappropriate comments. He would go up to the line in the meeting and then cross the line in comments made after the fact, Pusins said. Evacuees watch law enforcement on Florida State University campus after a shooting on Thursday. Seybold said he was working on a group project when he heard about the shooting. He said he immediately locked down in the classroom where he was working as he heard gunfire nearby. I was texting everybody I loved, letting know that I loved them. I was getting ready to die, which was harrowing, Seybold said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont know why he would have done something like this, Seybold said. I dont know where it would have come from, but Id sure like to find out. Lucas Luzietti, a junior studying political science, shared a national government class with Phoenix Ikner in 2023 at Tallahassee State College. He recalled how Ikner shared hateful comments about minorities and denied the 2020 election. He espoused the election denialism belief that Joe Biden was not the legitimate president, he said that Rosa Parks was in the wrong, he also talked about how Black people are ruining his neighborhood and Stonewell was bad for society. He would also talk about how multiculturalism is dangerous, Luzietti told NBC News Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everyone [in the class] would just look at each other like, Did he really just say that? Luzietti recalled. I got into an argument with him over the legitimacy of the 2020 election because I felt that one was especially dangerous to the fabric of our democracy. In that class, Ikner had spoken about having a gun. He would joke about mass violence. I dont remember specific quotes but I know he would laugh about violence against minorities. And he did talk about how he used guns and had access to them, Luzietti said. In January, Ikner was quoted in FSUs student newspaper in a story about anti-Trump protests that took place a week before the presidential inauguration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rally, organized by Tallahassee Students for a Democratic Society, also called for an end to the war in the Gaza Strip and racist attacks on immigrants, the article says. Evacuees on Florida State University campus after a shooting on Thursday. These people are usually pretty entertaining, usually not for good reasons, said Ikner, who was described as a political science major, according to an archived online report from FSUnews.com. I think its a little too late, hes [Trump] already going to be inaugurated on Jan. 20 and theres not really much you can do unless you outright revolt, and I dont think anyone wants that. After Thursdays shooting, the student newspaper removed Ikners quote from the article at the decision of our editors to maintain ethical journalistic standards and avoid amplifying the voice of an individual responsible for violence. Custody battle and health problems Ikner, according to the court documents, was treated for multiple mental and physical health issues as a child and was at the center of a years-long custody battle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His biological mother, named in a sheriffs affidavit as Anne-Mari Eriksen, is a U.S.-Norwegian dual national. She was charged with removing a minor from the state contrary to a court order after taking him from Florida to Norway. It had been agreed that Eriksen would take her then-10-year-old son to South Florida for spring break, the court filing says. Instead of staying in South Florida, the defendant allegedly fled the country with him in violation of their custody agreement, the court filing says. The filing added that the boy had developmental delays and has special needs that his father, Christopher Ikner, feared would not be properly dealt with without access to doctors in the U.S. These conditions included a growth hormone disorder and ADHD, the filing says. Eriksen then failed to return Ikner to his father at the agreed-upon time in March, staying in Norway for several more weeks, according to the filing. On April 21, 2015, the court ordered his biological mother to return to the country with Ikner after the father had filed an emergency order, The pair returned to Florida at some point after that. A separate document from June 2015 indicates that Eriksen pleaded no contest to the charge and was sentenced to 200 days in prison, of which she had already served 170 days, followed by two years of community control and two years of probation. Eriksen was also ordered not to contact the family or her sons school for the length of the sentence. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Editors note: The video previously included with this story had to be removed because of copyright concerns. (NewsNation) The gunman accused of killing two and injuring six at Florida State University allegedly used his mothers former service weapon shes a sheriffs deputy but legal experts say its too early to know if she will face charges. I think its going to depend on what the mother knew, how much she knew, whether or not she knew he was dangerous, where exactly that weapon was left, former Judge Elizabeth Scherer, who presided over the Parkland High School shooting trial in 2022, told NewsNations Leland Vittert on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police identified the shooter as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, the son of Leon County Sheriffs Deputy Jessica Ikner. FSU shooting suspect described as 20-year-old student, deputys son Unfortunately, her son had access to one of her weapons, and that was one of the weapons that was found at the scene, Sheriff Walter McNeil of Leon County said during a press conference. Though not common, parents of school shooters have been charged in the past, most notably Jennifer and James Crumbley, whose 15-year-old son killed four students and injured seven others at a Michigan high school in 2021. Former US marshal: FSU shooting location indicates gunmans motive Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scherer said the fact that Ikner was an adult could make this case different as far as the parents potential liability. As a parent, youre responsible for your child, and you have a bigger responsibility to take part and protect the community from your childs behavior, Scherer said. Legal analyst Misty Marris agreed with that point. Certainly could be a legal issue for the mother, but the thing is you have an adult, Marris told NewsNations Connell McShane. Wed be having a way different conversation if you had someone who was 15 or 16 years old. Police are still in the early stages of the investigation and have not said how Ikner acquired the weapon. Watch the interview with Elizabeth Scherer in the 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 NewsNation. (NewsNation) The gunman accused of killing two and injuring six at Florida State University allegedly used his mothers former service weapon shes a sheriffs deputy but legal experts say its too early to know if she will face charges. I think its going to depend on what the mother knew, how much she knew, whether or not she knew he was dangerous, where exactly that weapon was left, former Judge Elizabeth Scherer, who presided over the Parkland High School shooting trial in 2022, told Nexstars NewsNation on Thursday. Police identified the shooter as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, the son of Leon County Sheriffs Deputy Jessica Ikner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unfortunately, her son had access to one of her weapons, and that was one of the weapons that was found at the scene, Sheriff Walter McNeil of Leon County said during a press conference. FSU shooting suspect described as 20-year-old student, deputys son Though not common, parents of school shooters have been charged in the past, most notably Jennifer and James Crumbley, whose 15-year-old son killed four students and injured seven others at a Michigan high school in 2021. Scherer said the fact that Ikner was an adult could make this case different as far as the parents potential liability. As a parent, youre responsible for your child, and you have a bigger responsibility to take part and protect the community from your childs behavior, Scherer said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Legal analyst Misty Marris agreed with that point. Certainly could be a legal issue for the mother, but the thing is you have an adult, Marris told NewsNation. Wed be having a way different conversation if you had someone who was 15 or 16 years old. Police are still in the early stages of the investigation and have not said how Ikner acquired the weapon. Former US marshal: FSU shooting location indicates gunmans motive Investigators say Ikner opened fire around lunchtime at the schools student union, killing two men and wounding at least six others. Officers quickly arrived and shot and wounded the shooter after he refused to comply with commands, said Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities have not yet revealed a motive for the shooting. 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. (NewsNation) A shooting on FSUs campus killed two and injured eight Thursday, despite police arriving within minutes. Authorities released a timeline of the shooting and the emergency response, revealing how the situation unfolded. At approximately 11 a.m. ET, the suspect arrived at an FSU parking garage and spent about an hour moving in and out of his vehicle. FSU student in student union during shooting: This isnt right Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At 11:51 a.m., he left the garage. Between 11: 56 a.m. and 11:57 a.m., the suspect fired the first shot, walking in and out of buildings and green spaces firing a handgun. By 11:58 a.m. there were multiple 911 calls reporting an active shooting on campus and nearby officers began responding. At 12 p.m., the suspect was shot by responding officers after refusing to obey commands and was taken into custody. Police identified the alleged shooter as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, who is the stepson of a Leon County Sheriffs deputy. He is believed to have used her former service weapon, which she purchased as a personal firearm, in the shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FSU lecturer finds broken doors in building after 2-hour shooting lockdown Ikner had been a member of the sheriffs offices youth advisory council, and authorities said it was not surprising he had access to weapons. A fellow FSU student said that Ikner had been kicked out of a political club on campus for espousing white supremacist views. The shooting is still under investigation and authorities are continuing to interview witnesses and collect photos and videos taken during the shooting at www.fbi.gov/fsushooting. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. TALLAHASSEE Just around the corner from where lawmakers gathered Thursday at the Florida Capitol, sirens began to sound. News of an active shooter at Florida State University rippled through the Capitol soon afterward. The shooting would leave two dead and six others wounded. Law enforcement confirmed 20-year-old suspect used a service revolver belonging to his mother, a longtime Leon County sheriffs deputy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unlike in 2018, when 17 students at a high school in Parkland were killed in a school shooting while lawmakers were in session, the attack at FSUs campus seems unlikely to affect legislation this year. Several proposals to weaken Florida gun laws this session, including those favored by Gov. Ron DeSantis that would expand access, had failed to gain traction before the shooting Thursday. And new legislation in response to Thursdays deadly incident appear just as unlikely this year. Sen. Jonathan Martin, R-Fort Myers, chairperson of the Senates criminal justice committee, said it would be inappropriate to legislate before understanding the full situation. Anybody whos proposing a solution right now from any side needs to sit back and wait Martin said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, has said this isnt a time for politics. Heres what to know about the gun legislation discussed this year and where it stands. Rifle buying age For the third year in a row, the Florida House passed a law that would allow 18-year-olds to buy a rifle. Lawmakers raised the rifle buying age to 21 in 2018 after the Parkland shooting. But in the years since, some Republicans, including Gov. Ron DeSantis, have called the change unconstitutional and pushed to undo it. But the bill faced opposition in the Florida Senate under former Senate President Kathleen Passidomo. This year, Albritton, a National Rifle Association lifetime member, also hasnt embraced the push to undo the law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Albritton became teary when recounting touring the high school building in Parkland where students were shot and killed. Though he has declined to explicitly rule out the change passing in the Senate, this upcoming Tuesday is the last day for committee meetings, according to a Senate spokesperson. The bills that would allow the rifle purchasing age to be lowered are not on the agenda and are stalled. Campus carry Florida law currently bans people from carrying firearms on college or university campuses, whether the firearm is concealed or not. This year, Republican Sen. Randy Fine, now a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, put forward a bill that would have let students have guns on campus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But in an extremely unusual move, the bill didnt get past its first committee hearing after receiving more no votes than it did yes votes. One Republican, Sen. Ileana Garcia, R-Miami, joined three Democrats in voting against the bill. On social media since the FSU shooting, Fine thanked law enforcement for their quick response, but said he wondered if the outcome would have been different if students were able to be armed. Fine criticized Garcia for voting against the bill, too, calling her a so-called Republican. But even if she hadnt voted against the bill, the policy change was unlikely to move forward. The legislation did not have a House companion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some members of Floridas higher education community have also expressed opposition to guns on campus, including former FSU President John Trasher. On social media, Garcia, responding to Fine, said his suggestion that students should defend themselves by carrying firearms on campus, along with the idea that a bill lacking a house companion would have made any real difference, is misguided. Red flag laws and open carry This year, DeSantis has also said he wants the states red flag law to be repealed. The red flag law also was part of the post-Parkland bill package. The laws goal is to allow courts to temporarily disarm people who pose a risk to themselves or others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeSantis said he thought the law violates peoples rights and put the burden on the individual to prove theyre not a danger. But like some of his other requests for gun rule change, lawmakers are unlikely to take away the red flag tool this year or next. The statute creating the red flag law hasnt been changed since it was passed in 2018. Law enforcement officers across the state have filed nearly 10,000 petitions since mid-2022 and have supported it as a public safety tool. No legislation filed this year attempted to undo the law. Both Albritton and House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, also voted for the 2018 bill that brought the red flag law into place. And despite DeSantis support for it, lawmakers this year also arent considering any legislation that would allow the open carrying of firearms. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) Two people were killed and six others were injured when a gunman opened fire at Florida State University, sending students fleeing from the student union and putting the Tallahassee, Florida, campus under lockdown. Authorities have identified the shooter as Phoenix Ikner, a 20-year-old Florida State student who is the stepson of a sheriffs deputy. He began firing with his stepmothers former service weapon before he was shot and wounded by officers when he refused to comply with commands, investigators said. Authorities have not yet revealed a motive for the shooting, which began around lunchtime Thursday just outside the student union. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials have also not identified the victims who died. A family member said that university employee Robert Morales was one of those who were killed. Attorneys for the family of the second victim identified him as Tiru Chabba, a food service vendor executive. Here is what we know about Morales and Chabba. Robert Morales Robert Morales was a university dining coordinator who had worked at Florida State since 2015, according to his LinkedIn profile. Today we lost my younger Brother, he was one of the victims killed at FSU, Ricardo Morales Jr. posted on social media late Thursday. He loved his job at FSU and his beautiful Wife and Daughter. Im glad you were in my life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Morales had studied criminology at the school in the early 1990s, according to the LinkedIn profile. The profile also said he was CEO of Black Bean Food Group, though state records show that the business was dissolved a decade ago. Morales developed innovative menus, especially Cuban food, and was a former assistant football coach at nearby Leon High School, Kyle Clark, a senior vice president at FSU, said Friday afternoon at a vigil. He didnt just do a job. He lived the job, Clark said. He was a stellar person." The Morales brothers' father, Ricardo Morales, was a Cuban exile turned CIA operative in South Florida with the nickname Monkey. Ricardo Morales Jr. describes his father's work as a contract agent for the CIA in the forthcoming book, Monkey Morales: The True Story of a Mythic Cuban Exile, Assassin, CIA Operative, FBI Informant, Smuggler, and Dad, which is expected to be published later this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dubbed The Monkey for his disruptive and unpredictable escapades, Morales grabbed headlines for decades as tales of his bombings, arrests, assassination attempts (both those he executed and those he suffered), and testimony constructed a real-life spy adventure unlike anything brought to page or screen, reads promotional material from publisher Simon & Schuster. The elder Morales was fatally shot in a bar brawl in 1982 at the age of 43. Tiru Chabba Tiru Chabba was working for food service vendor Aramark when he was killed on the Florida State campus, said Michael Wukela, a spokesperson for attorneys hired by the family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A LinkedIn profile listed Chabba as a regional vice president of Aramark Collegiate Hospitality who had worked for the company for more than two decades. The 45-year-old Greenville, South Carolina, resident was a married father of two children who had earned an MBA from The Citadel in South Carolina. "Tiru Chabbas family is going through the unimaginable now, Bakari Sellers, one of the attorneys hired by the family, said in a statement. Instead of hiding Easter eggs and visiting with friends and family, theyre living a nightmare where this loving father and devoted husband was stolen from them in an act of senseless and preventable violence. ___ This story clarifies that the alleged shooter is the stepson of a sheriff's deputy. Two people are dead and six hospitalized after a shooting at Florida State University on Thursday. NBC News is reporting that the suspect is the 20-year-old son of a sheriff's deputy who had access to the deputy's weapon. Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo / Getty Images As the aftermath of the shooting unfolded, an FSU student called out two people in particular during an interview. The clip has three million views on X. "Im gonna call on like, you know, Governor Ron DeSantis, the president, Donald Trump, for you know this stuff keeps going on right?" the student posed. On the scene at the FSU shooting this Florida State University student calls out Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis:"Im gonna call on Governor Ron DeSantis [and] Donald Trump. This stuff keeps going on. Were praying every day. Praying is good. Spirituality is good. But prayers pic.twitter.com/YoX7Gs1O4G Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) April 17, 2025 WCTV / Via Twitter: @EdKrassen Advertisement Advertisement "But were you know, praying every day...prayers good ...spiritualitys good, but, you know, prayers dont do much right?" "So, you know, its good for the soul, but is it still happening? I think it is, so, you know, we need to make some gun reforms." Under Florida state law, guns are not allowed on college campuses. In response to the video, people applauded the student. "God bless this kid for speaking truth," this person said. "Thoughts and prayers are neither a policy nor a strategic solution... we're lacking moral courage from leaders like Trump and DeSantis," this person asserted. Advertisement Advertisement "other countries have less gun deaths than us because they have competent laws. look at canada," this person pointed out. A lot of people discussed the kinds of reforms they'd like to see. "Start charging the parents equal to the charge the kid gets," this person suggested. "I'd propose slowing down access for people under 25," this person said. And many other people expressed frustration. "Then vote for people who will make some gun reforms," this person said. Advertisement Advertisement "another mass shooting... will this ever end in America?" this person asked. Reporters asked Donald Trump about the shooting, and he said, "These things are terrible. But the gun doesn't do the shooting, the people do." The Washington Post / The Washington Post via Getty Images "I have an obligation to protect the Second Amendment. I ran on the Second Amendment, among many other things, and I will always protect the Second Amendment." The Washington Post / The Washington Post via Getty Images Governor Ron DeSantis said on X that. "Our prayers are with our FSU family." Advertisement Advertisement In a video, also on X, he said, "This killer must and will be brought to justice to the fullest extent of the law." What do you think about the situation? Let us know in the comments. (NewsNation) The suspected gunman in Thursdays shooting at Florida State University was removed from a political club at his former college due to white supremacist views, according to a student who said he knew him. Reid Seybold, a senior at FSU, said the suspect, identified by authorities as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, was a member of a political group under Seybolds leadership at Tallahassee State College. He said Ikner was known for espousing white supremacist, alt-right rhetoric to the extent that he was asked to leave. Its my understanding that at some point, he was allowed back after I came to Florida State, where he continued to push white supremacist rhetoric. Hes known for doing this, Seybold said. This is nothing new. This isnt anything thats foreign to Phoenix. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FSU gunman switched weapons before shooting woman: Eyewitness Seybold said he never thought Ikner would be violent. There wasnt anything that would truly indicate that he would do something this heinous, he said. FSU eyewitness walked past gunman as shooting started Before learning Ikner was the suspect, Sebyold said he sheltered in place with other students at FSU as word of the shooting spread across campus. He said he texted loved ones while fearing for his life. I texted the extended family group chat first, and then immediately my boyfriend, because he was just off campus and he was freaking out, and I completely understand, Seybold 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 NewsNation. In a world defined by economic uncertainty, supply chain disruption and rising demand for advanced manufacturing, Utah is not standing still we are stepping up. For years, leaders have talked about reshoring jobs and rebuilding domestic production. In Utah, we didnt just talk. We got to work. While others were drafting plans, Utah was laying track, building infrastructure and forging partnerships that are now transforming our economy. Over the past two years, the Utah Inland Port Authority (UIPA) has launched 12 project areas across the state each one a catalyst for growth, innovation and opportunity. These are more than freight hubs. They are engines of possibility, designed to power next-generation manufacturing, connect rural and urban communities to global markets, and deliver good jobs that support communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Salt Lake City, Stadler Rail is proving whats possible. Its expansion is more than a facility its a commitment to Utahs workforce, a bet on long-term innovation and a blueprint for how public-private partnerships can reshape entire industries. In Iron County, BZIs RailSync facility is already moving millions of pounds of steel and lumber through the states first rural inland port. But the real story is what comes next: a 2,500-job innovation park thats redefining what economic growth can look like in rural Utah. In Box Elder County, Lakeshore Learning Materials is building a massive 1.2 million square foot distribution center and bringing 500+ jobs with it. Why did they choose Utah? Because we offer what the future demands connectivity, talent and momentum. In Beaver County, Unitech Manufacturing is expanding operations in UIPAs Mineral Mountains Project Area the first of what will be many rural investments that blend infrastructure, innovation and local leadership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Across the state, from energy in the Northwest Quadrant to agriculture hubs in Central Utah, a powerful message is ringing out: Utah is not just participating in the global economy we are shaping it. We are building deliberately. We are acting boldly. We are betting on ourselves and its paying off. Yes, the world is unpredictable. Trade policies shift. Markets fluctuate. But Utah thrives in uncertainty because we think long-term, act with purpose and lead with confidence. This moment isnt just about seizing opportunity its about creating it. Its about restoring American manufacturing strength. Its about preparing our people for the future. Its about making sure every Utah family, in every corner of the state, has a shot at prosperity. We dont wait for opportunity to knock. We build the door. And its wide open. Utah is ready. Utah is rising. And for companies looking to expand, invest and lead come build the future with us. Two people with warrants out for their arrest, including a fugitive wanted in multiple states, were arrested in a restaurant in West Haven on Thursday. The West Haven Police Department received a phone call around 12:40 p.m. from an out-of-state bail enforcement company alerting officers that an interstate fugitive was at Nicks Luncheonette with his girlfriend, according to police. The fugitive was identified as Nathan Schaeffer, who was believed to be with Catherine OSullivan, police said. Police noted that Schaeffer had multiple felony warrants from various states out for his arrest and has a history of carrying dangerous weapons and illegal fireworks. OSullivan was found to have felony warrants out for her arrest stemming from Connecticut. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers responded to the restaurant and located a Kia with Pennsylvania license plates that bail enforcement agents said Schaeffer and OSullivan were believed to be using to get around, according to police. The vehicle was not occupied. Inside the restaurant, police said they found Schaeffer and OSullivan at a table with a juvenile. According to police, the pair tried to get up and leave and were taken into custody. A search of Schaeffers rental car revealed a large quantity of illegal fireworks, according to police. Once at the police department, he reportedly gave a fake name and was found with an out-of-state debit card. Schaeffer was charged with possession of illegal fireworks, identity theft, criminal impersonation, second-degree forgery and fugitive from justice. He was held on bond and is awaiting extradition, police said. OSullivan was transported to the police department that had a warrant out for her arrest. Police said the juvenile was turned over to her legal guardian. Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) criticized Florida Attorney General James Uthmeiers (R) efforts during his tenure as Gov. Ron DeSantiss (R) chief of staff to stop a ballot measure that would have legalized recreational marijuana in the state. In a post on social platform X, Gaetz referenced a column by retired Florida Supreme Court Justice Alan Lawson on the political news outlet Florida Politics, in which Lawson argues Uthmeier did not partake in any wrongdoing in using funds from a settlement between Centene, Floridas largest Medicaid managed care provider, and the state Agency for Health Care Administration. At question is a $10 million payment to the Hope Florida Foundation, which is tied to first lady Casey DeSantiss welfare assistance program Hope Florida, as a part of the settlement. After receiving the funds, the foundation then made grants to the nonprofits Secure Floridas Future and Save Our Society from Drugs. Those groups received the grant money while they were making donations to Keep Florida Clean, a political action committee headed by Uthmeier. Keep Florida Clean was involved in the fight against Amendment 3, which would have legalized recreational marijuana in the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawson argued in the column that nothing about Uthmeiers actions or conduct during the campaign against Amendment 3 was illegal or even scandalous. Hope Floridas Board made its own decisions about awarding grants. And the grantees also had their own boards and rules that governed their decisions, Lawson wrote in the column. Uthmeier did not direct or ask for those donations. But I am sure that Uthmeier and all those opposed to Amendment 3 were very glad those donations were made, the former state Supreme Court justice argued. Gaetz said in his post Thursday that Lawsons essay is a shocking admission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The core argument Lawson is making is that we are LUCKY the now-Attorney General used his power as then-chief-of-staff to syphon money away from Floridas medicaid program to fund political ads against a marijuana amendment, Gaetz said in his post, adding that he publicly opposed the amendment. They arent saying: James didnt organize a scheme to launder $10 million from a managed care provider to his PAC to fund ant-weed ads. Instead theyre saying: Its a good thing he did! he continued. Gaetz concluded that the Florida state House of Representatives could move to impeach Uthmeier. The comments come amid a widening probe into the Hope Florida Foundations receipt of $10 million as a result of the settlement. On Tuesday, the foundations chair said under oath during a state House Health Care Budget Subcommittee that mistakes were made with the foundations record keeping. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Florida lawmakers, including state House Republicans have floated subpoenaing top DeSantis officials including Uthmeier as apart of the probe. DeSantis has accused state House Republicans of working with Democrats and the news media to attack Hope Florida. To have Republicans in the Florida House leadership colluding with these people, when theyre doing that and theyre not cutting your property taxes, theyre not fixing the condo crisis, theyre not doing the things that voters want them to do, make no mistake about that, DeSantis said this week. They are stabbing you in the back. They are refusing to do their jobs. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. An MS-13 member who admitted to kidnapping a court witness at gunpoint in Nashville was sentenced to more than 11 years in prison, court records show. Bayron Wuifredo Santos-Recarte, 27, pleaded guilty to charges of kidnapping, retaliation against a federal witness, unlawful possession of a firearm by an undocumented person and related conspiracy charges in December. He was indicted in January 2024. U.S. District Judge Eli Richardson sentenced Santos-Recarte to 135 months incarceration, four years supervised release and a $500 special assessment at his sentencing hearing April 18. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Santos-Recarte, along with others, kidnapped the victim in November 2023 in the parking lot of a laundromat in Antioch because eight months before, the victim had testified against several other MS-13 gang members in a sweeping federal criminal trial in Nashville. Santos-Recarte was not a defendant in that case. The kidnappers assaulted the victim for hours with a firearm, hammer and machete, according to a news release from the Department of Justice. The victim escaped to a hospital with fractured bones, internal bleeding and an injury to his kidney, the DOJ states. Santos-Recarte admitted to driving the truck used in the kidnapping and helping force the victim into the truck at gunpoint, the DOJ states. He also admitted to being present while others assaulted the victim. Santos-Recarte, from Honduras, will be removed from the U.S. after his sentence is completed, according to the news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We will do whatever it takes to protect witnesses from harm, said Rob McGuire, acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee. If a witness is retaliated against, our office will bring the full might of federal law enforcement to bear on holding those responsible accountable for their crimes. Have questions about the justice system? Evan Mealins is the justice reporter for The Tennessean. Contact him with questions, tips or story ideas at emealins@tennessean.com. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Gang member sentenced for kidnapping witness in Nashville OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) According to the United States Department of Justice, a Garvin County woman has been sentenced for sexually abusing a minor. Officials say on May 4, 2021, Amanda Stowers, 40, was charged with three counts of sexual abuse of a minor. Public records show in April 2020, the Stratford Police Department began investigating possible sexual abuse involving a child. The investigation revealed Stowers assaulted the victim between April 20, 2017, and April 19, 2020. LOCAL NEWS: Three additional arrests made in Enid teen homicide Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stowers pleaded guilty on September 10, 2024, and admitted to the assault. According to U.S. Dept. of Justice, Stowers was sentenced on April 15, 2025, to 180 months in federal 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 KFOR.com Oklahoma City. Strikes at Gatwick Airport have the capacity to disrupt travel over the Easter weekend, with those taking part in the industrial action warning of delays. Walkouts are also expected at other key holiday destinations across the UK and Europe. Find out everything you need to know about the Gatwick Airport strikes below. When will the strikes take place? The strikes at Gatwick Airport will take place over the Easter weekend between Friday April 18 and Tuesday April 22. Which airlines will be affected? Staff who work for Red Handling, a firm that provides baggage handlers, check-in staff and flight dispatchers for the airlines Norwegian, Delta, TAP and Air Peace, will be on strike over the Easter weekend at Gatwick. It is possible that passengers flying on these airlines may be affected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unite, the union is warning of flight delays, cancellations, long queues at check-in and baggage delays. If you are due to fly with one of the above airlines, check for updates ahead of travelling, and leave plenty of time to pass through the airport. Why are Gatwick Airport staff striking? A statement from Unite says that staff are striking as a result of issues with incorrect or missing pension payments. A spokesperson said the firm is routinely paying their employees late, something which has happened three times over the last year with some staff workers waiting for wages for up to two weeks. Despite putting staff at risk of financial difficulty, Red Handling has failed to agree to a contractual late payment of wages reimbursement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is also a health and safety issue due to Red Handling workers not being able to take adequate breaks so they can rest between shifts and we urge the company to take this seriously, the spokesperson said. In response, Red Handling said: We have inherited a complex pensions scenario which has resulted in a small number of delayed payments for a small number of staff. We have committed to ensuring that all those payments are resolved by May 10, with staff concerned aware of these timescales. We are working with all the stakeholders and feel confident on finding a resolution. We are also confident on our contingency plans to support safe and timely travel over the Easter weekend. What to do if your flight is delayed or cancelled If your flight is delayed or cancelled due to strike action, contact your airline immediately. Airlines are obliged to offer assistance such as food and drink or accommodation for extensive delays due to industrial action. Your airline is also obliged to place you on the next available flight. Or, if the delay lasts for more than five hours, you can withdraw from your flight and ask for a refund. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For flights that are cancelled outright, whether you are entitled to compensation depends on if the strike is considered to be something the airline could control. If so, you will only be entitled to compensation if your carrier informs you your flight is cancelled less than 14 days from the date youre due to fly. But in the case of European air traffic control strikes, this wouldnt be seen as the airlines responsibility. Check that your travel insurance covers you in the event of strike action. But be aware that once the industrial action has been announced, even without precise dates, you will not be able to buy cover for strikes. For more information on what to do if your flight is delayed or cancelled, read our comprehensive guide here. 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. (WBOY) West Virginias Gauley River was recently named the 10th most endangered river in the United States by American Rivers, a clean water advocacy group. American Rivers puts out yearly lists of the countrys most threatened rivers, but this is the third time in a row that a West Virginia river has made it onto the list; the Blackwater River was included in 2024 due to the possible impact Corridor H construction could have on the area, and the Ohio River was included in 2023 due to pollution and discharges of toxic chemicals. A crew celebrates with a paddle salute after running a rapid on the Lower Gauley River near Summersville, W.V., April 26, 2000. During the traditional fall rafting season, the Gauley flows at about 2,800 cubic feet per second. (AP Photo/Jon C. Hancock) This year, the Gauley River was included due to a South Fork Coal Company mine operation that American Rivers has said poses a significant threat to water quality in the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since 2019, the company has released heavy metals and sediment exceeding legal limits by up to 900 percent into the Cherry River on at least 80 documented occasions, the report says. In addition, the company is trucking over 100,000 tons of coal annually from the more than 1,100-acre Rocky Run Surface Mine across the Monongahela National Forest each year an action that plainly violates federal law. The Rocky Run Surface Mine is located in the southern part of the Monongahela National Forest, which is technically outlawed by the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act, and American Rivers has said the mine doesnt have the rights necessary to operate in the area. For the full report on all 10 rivers highlighted in 2025, you can visit the American Rivers website here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com. JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) President of the Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) Bruce Martin passed the gavel to incoming president Gee Ogletree on April 17. The term for a board president is one year. The opportunity to serve as president of this board has been a highlight of my tenure as a trustee, Martin said. This is a challenging time in higher education, in Mississippi and across the country, and I am proud of the work this board has done in the past year. Super Bowl champion A.J. Brown named Ole Miss Commencement speaker Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Martin is an insurance executive in Meridian. He was appointed in 2018 by former Governor Phil Bryant to represent the First (Central) Supreme Court District. His term will officially end in May 2027. Ogletree, an attorney in Ridgeland, was also appointed by Bryant in 2018 to represent the First (Central) Supreme Court District. His term will also expire in May 2027. Pictured left: Incoming President, Gee Ogletree. Pictured Right: Outgoing President, Bruce Martin (Courtesy: IHL) Ogletree will chair his first meeting as president of the board on May 15, 2025. 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. KOFU, Japan - People planning to visit Mt. Fuji will be required to wear appropriate climbing gear, the local government hosting the mountain's most popular trail said, as it begins accepting reservations next week. As part of the online reservation process set to begin Thursday, visitors must agree to terms including wearing warm clothing and appropriate footwear, Yamanashi Prefecture said, adding that access to the Yoshida Trail may be denied for noncompliance. The new measure comes amid a rise in foreign visitors and growing concerns about overcrowding, with many lightly dressed climbers seen on the mountain last year. Local governments are seeking to address these issues ahead of the climbing season starting in early July. Climbers of the 3,776-meter peak will also be required to agree to rules such as not littering and not straying from designated trails, the prefecture said Thursday. Reservations can be made on the official website with an advance payment of 4,000 yen ($28). Shizuoka Prefecture, which manages the other three trails, will require climbers to review rules and etiquette through its registration system, with the process set to begin in early May. The local government will also start collecting a 4,000 yen fee this summer. Mt. Fuji was designated a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 2013. It attracts hundreds of thousands of climbers yearly during its official climbing season through September. Related coverage: 4-stage ashfall response plan compiled to prep for Mt. Fuji eruption Climbers of Mt. Fuji to face 4,000 yen fees amid overcrowding concern The Niagara Gazette and the Lockport Union-Sun & Journal are weighing their legal options in light of Niagara Countys continued insistence that the news outlets pay costs associated with scanning, redacting and copying public employee timesheets requested in electronic form as part of a Freedom of Information Law request filed in February. In a letter dated April 10, Niagara County Legislature Chair Rebecca Wydysh, R-Lewiston, denied the newspapers appeal of the countys FOIL request response dated March 14. In the countys response, human resources director Peter Lopes identified 1,129 pages as potentially responsive to the newspapers request for timesheets submitted by attorneys working for the public defenders office between Jan. 1, 2023 and Feb. 10, 2025. In his letter, Lopes indicated that the county could make the documents available at a cost of $356.83. Lopes also proposed a less expensive option, estimated at $282.25, that would allow a reporter to conduct an in-person inspection of physical copies of redacted timesheets. The second option included a requirement that the reporter be accompanied by an assigned county employee, at the newspapers cost, during the in-person inspection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An employee will sit with you while you inspect the records, Lopes wrote. If time exceeds 120 minutes, you will be charged for that employees time at their hourly rate. In an appeal sent to Wydysh on behalf of the newspapers, attorney Michael Higgins from the law firm Ernstrom & Dreste in Rochester argued that the county has no legal right under state law to charge by the page for copies of documents requested in electronic form. He also suggested the countys purported inability to scan documents without making physical copies stretched the bounds of credulity. Higgins appeal also asserted that the countys attempt to charge fees for administrative time to prepare photocopies of records is prohibited under state law and that it is improper to charge the newspapers to allow a reporter to inspect records and to have those records redacted. Niagara Countys attempts to charge for prohibited items and to unnecessarily copy documents to induce a charge is a transparent attempt to frustrate (the newspapers) FOIL request and avoid its obligations under the Freedom of Information Law, Higgins wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In her response, Wydysh restated the countys position that it is necessary to make physical copies of the requested documents so they can be redacted and scanned because some of the attorney timesheets may reflect medical or sick leave that is protected under HIPAA and exempt from FOIL disclosure. In addition, Wydysh argued, as Lopes did before her, that based on the volume of records, the human resources department would have to attach each pay period to a separate email, which would require staff time that the county would need to be reimbursed by the newspapers. Public Officers Law requires an agency to send records electronically so long as the effort to effectuate that does not exceed the effort necessary for an alternative method of responding, Wydysh wrote. Because of the necessity of reviewing the timesheets for compliance with HIPAA, and redacting portions of records that contain protected information, before scanning, it would be more labor intensive to scan the timesheets. In that circumstance, an agency is not required to provide the records electronically. Wydysh, citing a section of New Yorks Public Officers Law, argues that the county is permitted to charge a fee based on the cost of the storage medium used, as well as the hourly salary of the lowest paid employee who has the skill needed to fulfill the request. Wydysh noted that the county advised the newspapers that the rate in this case would be $40.17 per hour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As to the in-person inspection option, Wydysh indicates that the county would make available copies of the timesheets at a cost of 25 cents per page but would not allow a reporter to take pictures of the records. She also noted that it is the countys position that a staff member would need to sit in on the records inspection and that the newspapers would be charged any time over two hours. The human resources department was still willing to satisfy your clients preference to receive records electronically, but your client would be charged for the time associated with copying, reviewing, redacting, scanning in the records and attaching, Wydysh wrote in her letter denying the newspapers appeal. The newspapers can file an Article 78 proceeding in court to challenge Wydyshs denial of their appeal to the countys initial FOIL response. WHITFIELD COUNTY, Ga. (WJBF) The GBI is investigating the death of a Tennessee man after he allegedly carjacked someone in Whitfield County, Georgia. The GBI said that 35-year-old Robert Smith of Cookeville, Tennesse, was wanted for Aggravated Assault out of Nashville. On Wednesday, April 16th, Smith drove to Georgia and abandoned his car in Atlanta. Smith was then driven by a person back North. When the two stopped at a convenience store, the person ran inside to hide and asked employees to call 911. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Calhoun Police Department officers arrived and attempted to talk with Smith. He then fired a gun once towards the officers, carjacked a customer and drove the car north on I-75. After he shot at officers, the Calhoun Police Department put out a BOLO on the stolen car. Whitfield County Sheriffs Office deputies spotted the car and attempted to stop him. Smith fired a gun toward the deputies while he was driving. They attempted to stop him, but he shot himself and crashed the car. The suspect was pronounced dead on the scene. Smiths body will be taken to the GBI Medical Examiners Office where an autopsy will be performed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No officers fired any shots during the incident. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF. (NewsNation) A growing political divide is emerging among Americans under 30, as more young voters are shifting toward the Republican Party, according to a new poll. If the trend continues, it could significantly reshape the future of U.S. politics. While younger voters have traditionally leaned Democratic, Gen Z played a crucial role in re-electing President Donald Trump in November 2024. A new Yale Youth Poll, affiliated with the Yale Institution for Social and Political Studies, found that voters aged 18 to 21 now favor Republicans by 11.7 points, challenging the common perception of Gen Z as uniformly progressive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Who is the future of the Democratic Party? Among Republicans, Vice President JD Vance emerged as the most popular figure, with a net favorability rating of +65 overall and +54 among Republican voters under 30, according to the poll. More than 53% of Republicans (50% under 30) said they would support Vance in the 2028 GOP primary. On the Democratic side, former Vice President Kamala Harris led with 27.5% of the partys voters saying they would support her if the 2028 primary were held today. She also held a strong +60 favorability rating. However, attracting voters wont be plain sailing for Republicans. A CNN poll found that 56% of respondents disapprove of the way Trump has handled the economy since returning to office, while 44% say they approve, and 1% say they dont have an opinion on the matter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What to do if you dont receive your Social Security payment Politicians often promise things to young voters and reach out to young voters, but they cant do that if they dont have an understanding of what young voters believe and where young voters are, said Jack Dozier, deputy director for the Yale Youth Poll. Thats why polls like this are really important because they provide insight albeit imperfect insight, but insight nonetheless into what young voters believe. The Yale Youth Spring 2025 poll surveyed 4,100 voters from April 1 to April 3, including an oversample of 2,204 voters aged 18 to 29. It covered a broad range of issues, from foreign policy to gender identity, with three themes standing out: views on protest rights, universities roles in politics, and taxing wealthy university endowments. The polls margin of error was 1.9 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 Queen City News. GENEVA Members of the Geneva Police Department were honored on Monday evening during a city council meeting. Michael Smith, who joined the department in 2022, was named Officer of the Year and commended for his work making traffic stops in the city, Geneva Police Chief John Camper said. He said Smith also received the Ashtabula County Safe Communities Officer of the Year, as well. Brittany Brantley received the Dispatcher of the Year award, and was honored for her work in communicating information to other departments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lynn Gersper was honored as part-time Officer of the Year. She has been on the department since 1975, Hamper said. He commended all the members of the department. You guys have been very easy to work with, he said. Hamper discussed his hopes that the canine unit will be up and running by August, with Smith as the potential canine handler. City Councilman Jeff Griffiths asked Hamper to provide a full budget for the proposed program. Geneva City Manager Joseph Varckette said the details of the program are still being decided, and council will have a chance to approve the program before it is finalized. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Camper said he believes a canine unit is needed in the city. He said many city residents have asked him about a canine unit, which was discussed as a possible addition to the city during a 2019 levy campaign that passed by four votes. Camper said the department is more or less at full staff, but still struggling to keep employees. He said the department will soon need a radio system update, new Tasers and body cameras. Signs stating "Opposing DEI is nothing new" were held at a committee meeting on April 17 at George Mason University. (Photo by Nathaniel Cline/Virginia Mercury) Virginia colleges and universities are feeling federal pressure to end diversity, equity and inclusion policies that promote representation from various backgrounds, and George Mason and Old Dominion Universities are the latest to make or propose changes that align with President Donald Trumps Jan. 21 executive order to end DEI efforts within the public sector. The University of Virginia was among the first in the state to respond to the rollbacks, and the Board of Visitors voted to dissolve the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Community Partnerships March 1.Gov. Glenn Youngkin praised the move and asserted that DEI is done at the University of Virginia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump wrote in his order that illegal DEI and DEIA policies violate civil rights laws. The federal government is charged with enforcing our civil rights laws, the executive order states. The purpose of this order is to ensure that it does so by ending illegal preferences and discrimination. The federal government has also warned ODU and other universities and colleges to end race-based decision making, or they would lose federal funding. After renaming DEI office and axing related staff positions, George Mason considers more changes On Thursday, GMUs Academic Programs, Diversity and University Community Committee considered a plan recommending the Board of Visitors adopt a resolution to comply with Trumps order by eliminating all programs, training and processes not specifically required by federal or state law and, if necessary, scrapping staff positions within 30 days of the resolutions approval. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, student and faculty representatives challenged the effort at Thursdays meeting, emphasizing the importance of DEI for inclusivity and student success. Solon Simmons, president of the universitys Faculty Senate, said at least 90% of faculty members are opposed to the resolution. He also said more time is needed to debate the proposed clauses and that the proposal appears exclusive, opposite of the universitys culture. The thing that stuck to me was this idea that at Mason, we want people to belong, and then theres a compliance piece, which I think is really important for the board to do, but if we want everyone to feel like they belong, things like this probably are not going to help that, Simmons said. Bryan Caplan, an economics professor at the university who was invited to speak by committee chair and Youngkin appointee Lindsey Burke, supported the idea of the committees dissolution. He compared DEI to McCarthyism, an era of political persecution for progressive Americans and alleged communists in the 1950s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Renaming McCarthyism would not have removed the threat it posed to freedom of thought on campus, and renaming DEI does not remove the threat it poses to freedom of thought on campus, Caplan said. GMUs DEI has never done anything to me personally but this has to be done to protect GMU from all the witch hunts that were going to see in the future (if) we dont do the right thing, right now. The resolution also proposes to dissolve the universitys Bias Incident Response Team, designed to mitigate or prevent bias occurrences, and the Access to Research and Inclusive Excellence program, which is responsible for examining university practices in identifying bias. The university has also recently renamed the DEI office to the Office of Access, Compliance, and Community (OACC), provost and executive vice president Jim Antony and committee members highlighted, and eliminated certain positions, to ensure compliance with new executive orders. Anthony said the Board of Visitors was scheduled to receive a comprehensive report from faculty on the university changes related to DEI in February, but the board tabled the presentation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement GMU staff did share that two vacant positions in the former DEI office were eliminated, the Antiracism Inclusive Excellence initiative was dissolved and inclusive excellence plans have been excised from the university presidents goals. Staff also recommended the committee engage in more dialogue before passing any resolution, to ensure it aligns with the universitys values and goals after finding a few contradictions between the proposed DEI resolution and the boards antisemitism resolution that passed in February. Cameron Harris, faculty representative to the committee, said the antisemitism resolution invites OACC to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Working Definition for training and education. However, it is not allowed in the proposed resolution. The resolution seems to limit education, training and most importantly, the valuing of our diversity, Harris said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Burke criticized DEI at the meeting, linking it to critical race theory, and suggested it undermined merit-based admissions and academic excellence. She also mentioned that other school leaders are dissolving DEI initiatives at institutions like the University of Virginia, James Madison University, VCU and Virginia Tech. She expects an updated resolution to be ready for the Board of Visitors May 1 meeting. Our job on this board is to make sure we are complying with the law and not jeopardizing the federal or state funding that may be received, Burke said. Federal funding is a privilege, not a right. Old Dominions quiet DEI changes Unlike Mason, Old Dominion University made several changes to its DEI initiatives that remained unknown to the public for weeks. The Virginian-Pilot first reported the changes last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the major differences: ODUs Institutional Equity & Diversity webpage was renamed Talent Management and Culture, with the banner now stating Equity Compliance, Respect and Community. The original banner stated equality, diversity, respect and inclusiveness for all. The new webpage excludes links to ODUs Monarch Task Force for Inclusive Excellence, Monarch Plan for Inclusive Excellence 1.0, John R. Broderick Diversity Champion Award and it no longer states Celebrating 85 Years of Diversity. The task forces status is unclear, with its page now leading to a 404 page not found error. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The nine-member Diversity and Inclusive Excellence staff page was removed from the institutions website. The webpage now reads access denied. Most of the staff appears to have remained under the new office, Institutional Equity and Culture, except for an office manager position. The remaining positions cover training, community relations, outreach, and Title IX regulations. One of the staff members is Veleka Gatling, previously the associate vice president for equity and inclusive excellence under the Institutional Equity & Diversity office. Gatling is now the associate vice president for community relations in the Community Engagement and University Events office. September Sanderlin was also listed under the directory as vice president for human resources and DEI in the human resources office. Her title is currently vice president for talent management and culture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ODU did not explain the changes in response to the Mercurys questions about them. Other clues preceded ODUs departure from DEI. Stanley Goldfarb, also a Youngkin appointee, asked about DEI in the universitys medical school curriculum and requested to meet with the schools dean before he was removed fromODUs Board of Visitors by Senate Democrats in May. Goldfarb, who recently spoke on Fox & Friends Weekend about his departure, did not specify why he wanted to see the curriculum or why he wanted to meet with the dean, which he attributed to Secretary of Education Aimee Guideras recommendation. Goldfarb chairs an organization called Do No Harm, which he said represents physicians, nurses and medical students, patients and policymakers and is dedicated to keeping identity politics out of medical education, research and clinical practice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We think all patients should be treated the same, that this should be a colorblind environment, that physicians should be the best individuals that are available to practice medicine and care for all patients, Goldfarb said on Fox & Friends Weekend. And as far as Im concerned, it has nothing to do with the proper practice of medicine. Several studies have revealed implicit bias which DEI policies can counteract plays a role in Americas health care system. A 2016 UVA study found a substantial number of white medical students and residents hold false beliefs about biological differences between black and white people (e.g., black peoples skin is thicker; black peoples blood coagulates more quickly) that could affect how they assess and treat the pain experienced by black patients. Bias can also influence how artificial intelligence applications in health care exacerbate existing disparities, research shows. Virginias legislature passed bills this session that would require medical professionals to complete unconscious bias training before renewing their licenses. Youngkin amended the measures, removing the mention of cultural competency and unconscious bias in the original wording, a change lawmakers rejected. The bill now awaits the governors approval as-is or veto. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD)In just a few days, the Georgetown County Museum will be open to the public, educating the people about the rich history of the waterfront district and how the area shaped one of the greatest Revolutionary War heroes. Francis Marion was a native South Carolinian. He was born in Berkeley County in 1732, and when he was 3 to 4 years old, his family moved to Georgetown, so his boyhood and teenage years were spent here. He called Georgetown his home, and were going to educate the people who do not know about Francis Marion and let them know he is a premium hero of the area, said Francis Marion, the chairman of the Francis Marion Interpretive Center. Georgetown County was selected by the South Carolina 250 Commission, an organization dedicated to celebrating the anniversary of the American Revolution, to be the home of the new center telling the story of the patriot whose knowledge of the Lowcountry earned him the nickname the Swamp Fox for leading American troops through marshes that the British couldnt navigate. His passion was to recapture Georgetown from the British. It took him a long time, and they were planning to evacuate anyway, but he finally captured Georgetown. We are very proud of our rich heritage, and we support Francis Marion, said Corinne Hoch, a member of Georgetown County 250. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Organizers said they hope that when visitors come to the museum, they will appreciate history and those who made the ultimate sacrifice, like Francis Marion, to give us the freedom we have today. Officials welcome the public to join the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday at 120 Broad Street in Georgetown beginning at 10 a.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2. Protesters gather to demand freedom and due process for Fabian Schmidt a German-born New Hampshire man being held at the Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls, Rhode Island, on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Left foreground, Zack Mezera of Working Families Party speaks to the crowd with Fr. Jarrett Kerbel of Saint Lukes in East Greenwich at bottom right. (Photo by Michael Salerno/Rhode Island Current) Fabian Schmidt, a German-American man living in Nashua, was returning home from a visit to Luxembourg on March 7 when he was detained by immigration officials at Boston Logan International Airport in early March and taken to a detention center in Rhode Island, according to his attorney. Schmidts family said that, upon his detainment, Schmidt was stripped naked, placed in a cold shower, and violently interrogated, according to a press release from attorney David Keller. He was also reportedly being denied his medications for anxiety and depression, and being given little food and water as officials pressured him to relinquish his green card. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His mother, Astrid Senior, told NBC News that she doesnt know why her son was being held. I feel helpless, absolutely helpless, she told the news broadcaster. Schmidt has lived in the U.S. since he was a teenager and has legal permanent resident status, according to the family. Court records in California, where he previously lived, show that he faced misdemeanor charges for possession of a controlled substance and driving under the influence in 2015 and 2016, respectively, among other minor charges. However, his family said those issues had been resolved in the courts and are no longer ongoing. Officials with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security which includes Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection have not provided a justification for Schmidts detainment. They have, however, denied the allegations that he was violently interrogated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These claims are blatantly false with respect to CBP, Hilton Beckham, assistant commissioner of public affairs for Customs and Border Protection said in a statement to the Bulletin. When an individual is found with drug-related charges and tries to reenter the country, officers will take proper action. Schmidt has a court date scheduled in June in Boston. Ive been very disturbed by the reports that Ive read about this case, U.S. Rep. Maggie Goodlander, who represents New Hampshires 2nd Congressional District and Schmidts Nashua, said. We have been in close communication with Fabian Schmidts family, and we are working to get as much information as we can and to support in every way that we can. U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan said her office, in collaboration with Sen. Jeanne Shaheens office, has inquired within DHS and spoken with Schmidts family. She declined to speak on the issue during an event Monday, and said she is honoring the wishes of the family and their legal advisers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are in touch with Homeland Security and Mr. Schmidts family, but we are also respecting their privacy, Hassan said. Theres ongoing litigation about it, so we will respect the privacy but we continue to be in touch with them. She would not say whether she knows the justification for his detainment. Gov. Kelly Ayottes office did not respond to requests for comment. Part of a broader Trump administration strategy Schmidt is not the only legal U.S. immigrant to be part of a high profile legal battle over their immigration status. President Donald Trump, who made cracking down on immigration and mass deportation central tenets of his campaign in 2024, and his administration have launched a public campaign of deportations and detainments that have been decried as illegal and unethical after being reported by the press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In one of the highest profile immigration-related incidents, Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student and an Algerian citizen with permanent legal resident status in the U.S., was arrested by ICE officials in his New York City apartment on March 8, one day after Schmidt was detained. Khalil, who was born to Palestinian parents in a refugee enclave in Syria before ultimately immigrating to the U.S. and marrying a citizen, was an organizer of protests on Columbia Universitys campus against the Israeli occupation and military action in Gaza. The State Department is currently attempting to revoke his legal status in the country and deport him as punishment for his role in the protests, a move that has generated an uproar among progressives and immigration advocates who believe Khalil has a protected right to free speech. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Khalil engaged in antisemitic protests and disruptive activities, which foster a hostile environment for Jewish students in the U.S. On Friday, a judge in Louisiana ruled that the State Department can deport Khalil. A federal court in New Jersey is expected to hear further appeals in the case. Several other university students who protested Israels war in Gaza have also been targeted by the Trump administration. Tufts University Ph.D. student Rumeysa Ozturk, from Turkey with a student visa, was arrested by ICE agents on March 25 in Somerville, Mass. Video of her arrest, which shows six agents in plain clothes, some of whom were obscuring their badges or wearing hoods or face coverings, went viral online and sparked furor. While federal officials have not publicly provided justification for her arrest, Ozturk was the author of a 2024 op-ed in the universitys student newspaper calling for the university to acknowledge the Palestinian genocide and disclose its investments and divest from companies with direct or indirect ties to Israel. Hamas was not mentioned in the op-ed. Another Columbia University student, Yunseo Chung, an undergraduate student who has lived in the U.S. since she was 7 and is a permanent legal resident, was another target of ICE after the administration attempted to deport her over her involvement in the pro-Palesintian protests. However, the administration has been so far unsuccessful in deporting the woman, who was born in South Korea, amid a legal battle. Rubio, in a press conference last month, said the Trump administration has revoked over 300 visas of students who have engaged in pro-Palestine protest activity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration has also moved to purge Venezuelan and other Latin American migrants from the country under the auspices that they have connections to the violent Tren de Aragua and MS-13 gangs. In March, the Trump administration flew 238 men to El Salvador with no due process. There, they are being detained in a notorious mega prison called the Terrorism Confinement Center, known for brutal conditions and under the control of Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, who has described himself as worlds coolest dictator. The administration reportedly used some of the mens tattoos and clothing as the sole evidence of their gang affiliations. However, an analysis of those deportees by CBS News found no criminal records for 179, or roughly 75%, of them. That includes Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran citizen whos lived in Maryland for 15 years. Even after admitting in court it deported him due to administrative error, the Trump administration refuses to bring Abrego Garcia back to the U.S., saying it is up to Salvadoran officials to decide his fate. This is despite the Supreme Court ordering the Trump administration to facilitate his return to the country. In an appearance at the White House Monday, Bukele said he would not return Abrego Garcia, calling the idea preposterous and asking, How can I smuggle a terrorist into the United States? Those deported also include a makeup artist who immigrated from Venezuela to California in August named Andry Hernandez Romero. He had no criminal record, no known gang affiliation, and was undergoing the asylum process after fleeing his country over fears he would be persecuted for being gay and his political beliefs, according to his lawyers. Trump invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act in these Salvadoran deportations. The move has been criticized for refusing to give the men due process and for its brutality. Rubio said Sunday that another 10 people have been sent to El Salvador. On Friday, Trump authorized the military to take control of land along the southern border. His announced plan is to station military troops there to detain immigrants traveling into the country from Mexico. He has also previously declared a national emergency arguing Americas sovereignty is under attack and that the border is overrun by cartels, criminal gangs, known terrorists, human traffickers, smugglers, unvetted military-age males from foreign adversaries, and illicit narcotics that harm Americans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This story 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 TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Friday he wants to see "specific progress" in bilateral tariff negotiations with the United States, as the next round of ministerial talks is expected by the end of April. Ishiba said he understood that the just-ended first round of negotiations had been "frank and constructive," following a direct briefing from Japan's chief negotiator Ryosei Akazawa, who had just returned from Washington. "I instructed (Akazawa) to accelerate preparations and coordination within the government so we can make specific progress in the next round of negotiations," Ishiba told reporters. In Washington, Akazawa met with U.S. President Donald Trump and negotiated with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Japan has been urging the United States, its close ally, to rethink its tariff measures, questioning whether they align with World Trade Organization rules and a bilateral trade pact. Higher U.S. levies on imports such as cars, steel and aluminum, along with the so-called reciprocal tariff, have fueled concerns over their potential impact on the export-reliant Japanese economy. Akazawa said Trump's decision to meet with him indicates that the United States is eager to reach a deal quickly. The initial round of negotiations gave him a rough idea of the key "themes" for the U.S. side. Trump told the Japanese delegation he wants to reduce the U.S. trade deficit to zero, a Japanese government source said, quoting him as expressing frustration that not enough U.S. cars and agricultural products are entering Japan. According to Japanese government data, the country had a trade surplus of around 9 trillion yen ($63 billion) with the United States, one of its major trading partners along with China, in the year ended this March. U.S.-bound shipments hit a record 21 trillion yen, with cars among the main exported items. "All I can say is that we will continue to negotiate flexibly, considering what is the best and most effective from the viewpoint of national interests," the economic revitalization minister told a press conference. "As is the case with all negotiations, nothing is agreed until everything is agreed," Akazawa said, adding that he will aim for a "win-win" deal for both Japan and the United States. The talks could drag on if the two sides take up defense and foreign exchange rate issues, analysts say, as Trump sees the bilateral security pact "one-sided" and a strong dollar problematic. Ishiba has said a "gap" remains between Japan and the United States in terms of their overall positions. Related coverage: New U.S. envoy arrives in Japan, vows cooperation to counter China Security issues "separate" from U.S. tariffs: Japan defense minister Japan PM aims to meet Trump in U.S. over tariffs when appropriate A 40-year-old doctor practicing palliative medicine in Germany has been charged with killing 15 of his patients and is suspected in another 95 cases, NBC News reported. Of the 15 deaths hes been charged with, patients between the ages of 25 and 94, investigators said they occurred between September 2021 and July 2024. All the alleged victims used a nursing service that the doctor worked with and made house calls. Germanys privacy laws prohibit the doctor from being identified, but according to NBC News, he was arrested in August last year on a warrant that the Berlin Public Prosecutors Office said had to be repeatedly amended to add additional counts of murder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time of his arrest, there were only four known cases. Investigators say the 40-year-old reportedly gave the victims an anesthetic and a muscle relaxant without their consent or knowledge and that their deaths likely occurred within minutes as their respiratory muscles experienced paralysis from the narcotic cocktail, causing respiratory arrest. Man, 31, suspect in multiple sexual assault cases in Southern California Among the gruesome allegations, the 40-year-old is also accused of starting fires in some of the victims homes to cover his tracks. Prosecutors also allege that in July last year, the doctor killed two people, a 75-year-old man in his apartment and a 76-year-old woman in her apartment, both in a borough southeast of Berlins center, just hours apart. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities in Berlin have examined 395 deaths and confirmed suspicion of the doctors involvement in at least 95 of the cases, NBC News reported, adding that there are still another 75 deaths waiting to be investigated. VIDEO: Police open fire, kill driver in chaotic Southern California pursuit At least a dozen bodies have been exhumed, with five of those cases now included in the indictment, German investigators said. While the 40-year-old has not made any public statements and a defense attorney has yet to be named, NBC News reported that along with a conviction, prosecutors are seeking preventative detention, a form of incarceration that can last as long as a person is considered dangerous and a lifelong professional ban. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. A German politician who quit the countrys Green Party over its crazy position on gender has revealed she kept her own transgender identity a secret for decades. Valerie Wilms reveals in her new autobiography that she was born a man and transitioned to being a woman in the 1990s, at the age of 41, while married with two children and working as a mechanical engineer. Despite spending eight years in the Bundestag as a Green MP, her position on trans identity is closer to many of her former partys conservative critics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reality is that we have two biological sexes: male and female. Despite my transition, I am and remain biologically a man, she said, describing transexuality as an illness. Ms Wilms told the Berliner Zeitung newspaper that she was inspired to make her trans identity public in her book, titled My Two Lives: Born a Boy a Woman in the Bundestag, due to Germanys radical trans self-identification reforms. Reforms could lead to gender hopping Germanys self-determination law, passed under the outgoing administration, allows people aged 14 and over to change their gender simply by making a declaration to a registry office. This can be done once a year. It is similar to the gender recognition reform law that the Scottish Parliament tried to pass in 2023 before it was blocked by the UK Government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The law prompted Ms Wilms to quit her party over fears it would lead to what she describes as gender hopping, allowing people to change their gender every year without fully adapting. Thats no longer understandable to normal society. People like me lose acceptance as a result, Ms Wilms said. She added that the trans community had shot itself in the foot and demanded that Germanys self-determination act be repealed when it was reviewed next year. We need to return to the time when facts and biology mattered, not just feelings, she said. Revealing her decision to keep her identity a secret throughout her time in the Bundestag, Ms Wilms said she did not want to be reduced to her transsexuality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ms Wilms also criticised her former partys irrational climate panic, labelling them drivers of a woke cultural revolution. She claims to have been described as a Nazi by Green Party members due to her views on gender. The party currently has two trans MPs in the Bundestag, both of whom were elected in 2021. The Green Party has been contacted for comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Germany's outgoing Economy Minister Robert Habeck is set to switch his focus to foreign policy in opposition, his Green Party said on Friday. Habeck is due to step down from his role in May when the new coalition between Friedrich Merz's centre-right bloc - made up of the Christian Democrats (CDU) and the Bavaria-only Christian Social Union - and the Social Democratic Party is set to take power. The coalition agreement must still be approved by SPD members in an online ballot and by the CDU in a small party conference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Habeck, who has also served as deputy to outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz, is now expected to join the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Bundestag, Germany's lower house of parliament. "We are currently constituting the parliamentary group, and Robert Habeck, in consultation with us, is going to take the lead on the relationship between Germany and the United States," said Green parliamentary group leader Britta Hasselmann. "The importance of this relationship is obvious," she added. The statement contradicts recent media reports that Habeck intended to step down from the Bundestag in the summer. "No, we cannot confirm that," said Hasselmann. "We have always told Robert Habeck that we would be delighted if he remains part of our parliamentary group." Wisconsins big April court election was many things. A rebuke of Elon Musk. A red flag for President Donald Trump. A sign that Democratic voters are on fire. An astounding case study in voter turnout. But more than anything else, this election was the most powerful signal yet of the transformation of judicial politics in Wisconsin. . Liberals now enjoy something close to a vise grip on the state Supreme Court. For conservatives, control is increasingly out of reach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Big spring elections have become a nightmare for Republicans, who have lost four of the last five court races. And the underlying ingredients driving comfortable liberal victories in 2018, 2020, 2023 and 2025 seem likely to shape the elections to come in 2026, 2027 and 2028. What are the broader forces behind this political transformation? Why is the election math in April so different from the election math in November? Why do court elections in the Trump era look so different from court elections in the decades before? From 2000 to 2016, conservatives won seven of nine contested elections for state Supreme Court. But since 2018, they have only won one out of five, and that 2019 victory came by less than 6,000 votes. The four liberal wins have all come by double digits, including Susan Crawfords 10-point victory over Brad Schimel April 1. Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Susan Crawford speaks at her election night watch party Tuesday, April 1, 2025 at the Best Western Premier Park Hotel in Madison, Wisconsin. She defeated Brad Schimel in a race that drew national attention. Throughout this century, Wisconsin has remained an extremely competitive and evenly divided state in big fall elections. But spring judicial elections have changed quite dramatically. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I see four broad and overlapping factors at work here: One, liberals and Democrats have become better than conservatives and Republicans at waging judicial campaigns, whether its fundraising, strategy, mobilization or candidate quality. Two, the partisan realignment of the Trump era is helping Democrats in spring elections. The GOP coalition now includes a lot of sporadic voters who turn out only for presidential races. The Democratic coalition includes a growing share of highly engaged, college-educated voters who can be counted on to vote in lower-turnout spring contests. Three, outrage over Trump has been highly motivating for Democratic voters. Trump was in the White House for three of the four big liberal court victories (2018, 2020 and 2025), and the other (2023) came after the U.S. Supreme Court, with three Trump appointees, overturned Roe v. Wade, making abortion the central issue in that race. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Four, the transformation of nonpartisan court races into highly partisan and increasingly nationalized political battles has worked in combination with the first three factors to advantage Democrats, especially in maximizing their vote in the big blue counties of Milwaukee and Dane. In effect, Democratic voters are behaving in the spring more like they do in the fall. That is less true of Republican voters. A good way to illustrate this is to look at how regional voting patterns have changed in judicial races. That story starts with the states two biggest counties, Milwaukee and Dane. They exemplify how Democrats have mobilized their urban and suburban base in these campaigns. And because of their size, they have played the leading role in the liberal ascendancy on the court. But the spring voting histories of these two counties are also quite different. Of the two, Danes contribution to the election performance of liberal court candidates is a more familiar story: a growing electorate, ultra-high turnouts and eye-popping margins. How Milwaukee has helped transform spring elections The contribution of the city of Milwaukee and its inner suburbs is a much newer and underappreciated story. In some ways it is even more consequential because it represents such a departure from the past. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reliably Democratic city of Milwaukee used to be the prime example of liberal underperformance in statewide court races. The way that Milwaukee voted in April bore little resemblance to the way it voted in November. Judicial elections werent as partisan as they are today. They were often dominated by the issue of crime, which helped conservatives. And they typically saw a massive drop-off in Democratic turnout in the city compared to the fall, including among voters of color. In fact, conservatives won the city of Milwaukee in the 2000 and 2003 state Supreme Court races and almost won in 2007. This began to change in the late 2000s, when liberal court candidates started to carry the city by 20 points or more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But those margins have truly exploded in just the past two elections of 2023 and 2025, when liberals won the city of Milwaukee by 64 and 67 points. Not only is liberal performance in the spring no longer lagging far behind Democratic performance in the fall, but it is exceeding it (measured by point margins). Turnouts have risen, too. Milwaukee has never turned out like Madison. Few cities do. But in this last race, Milwaukees turnout grew significantly more than it did in the state as a whole. The effect of this on the statewide vote is substantial. Liberal court candidates carried the city by an average of 6,000 votes in the 2000s and by an average of 27,000 votes in the 2010s. But on April 1, Crawford carried the city by more than 103,000 votes. That equals 4.4% of the total statewide vote, which means the city of Milwaukee generated almost half (4.4 points) of Crawfords 10-point winning margin statewide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a new and big development in judicial politics in Wisconsin. How has it happened? That probably deserves its own analysis. But it reflects in part the success of Democratic organizing and turnout efforts. And I think it also reflects the growing partisanship of court races. The fact that the states biggest city now votes in court elections more like it votes for president or governor is an important part of the leftward shift of state Supreme Court races in Wisconsin. Milwaukee suburbs also contributing to shift The rest of Milwaukee County is also playing a role. Milwaukees inner suburbs and nearby small cities have gotten far bluer in both fall and spring races. Collectively, suburban Milwaukee County voted for the conservative court candidate by an average of 12 points from 2000 to 2016. In the five races since 2018, it voted for the liberal candidate by an average of 21 points. On April 1, Crawfords winning margin across these communities averaged 30 points. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suburbs north of Milwaukee with high shares of college-educated voters help illustrate how the education divide has boosted Democrats in lower-turnout races. In the village of Shorewood, which Crawford carried 88% to 12%, turnout equaled 82% of the total 2024 presidential vote, an astonishing figure for a spring election. Turnout exceeded 80% of the presidential vote in Bayside, Fox Point and Whitefish Bay and fell just shy of 80% in Wauwatosa, which all backed Crawford overwhelmingly. The same combination of sky-high turnout and huge liberal margins was the story in Dane County, the Democratic Partys other geographic base. Crawford carried it by 181,746 votes, a bigger raw vote margin than any presidential candidate has ever achieved in Dane County other than Kamala Harris last fall. The city of Madison voted for Crawford 90% to 10%. Turnout in one small Madison suburb, Shorewood Hills, was roughly 85% of its presidential vote. Turnout in Dane County as a whole was 78% of its 2024 presidential vote, tops in Wisconsin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here are three other takeaways about Danes ongoing and massive role in judicial elections: Crawfords winning margin of roughly 182,000 equals about 8% of the total votes cast statewide, meaning Dane County essentially added a net 8 points to the statewide liberal vote. That is roughly the same impact Dane has had in the past five court races dating back to 2018. It is a very big deficit for conservatives to make up in the rest of the state. Dane is playing a bigger role in these races than Milwaukee County, which gave Crawford a 150,000-vote margin. But Milwaukee County has arguably played a bigger role in the transformation of court elections from conservative preeminence to liberal preeminence. Thats because liberals have made bigger gains in Milwaukee. Put another way, Dane has gone from giving liberals huge margins to giving them even huger margins. Milwaukee County has gone from voting against liberal court candidates to voting for them by huge margins. It is a testament to the size of the four liberal court victories in 2018, 2020, 2023 and 2025 that the liberal candidate would have won each one without Dane County (you can look it up). Meanwhile, 'red Wisconsin' has been underperforming in April elections So, what about the other side of the political equation? How have spring voting patterns changed in red Wisconsin? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The short answer is that Republican areas now produce smaller point margins in the spring than they do in the fall, which is the opposite of the old pattern. The high-turnout outer suburbs of Milwaukee that used to boost conservative court candidates have gotten less Republican. And rural areas that have gotten much redder in recent years havent swung behind conservative court candidates the way they have swung behind Trump. Lets take the suburban part of the story first. Taken together, the high-turnout WOW counties of Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington used to vote for conservative court candidates by 30 to 60 points. In the past two court races, those margins fell to 18 and 17 points. Schimel won Ozaukee County by just 3 points; in the big 2011 court race that preceded the recall fight over Gov. Scott Walker, conservative David Prosser won Ozaukee by 43 points. In Waukesha County, Schimel lost the city of Waukesha and the village of Elm Grove. He carried the city of Brookfield by less than 2 points and the village of Menomonee Falls by 1 point two large suburbs that in past decades generated conservative landslides. Its not that the WOW counties are performing dramatically worse for Republicans in the spring than the fall (Trump only carried the WOW counties by 22 points last November). Its that they arent as red as they used to be. What about the GOPs rural base? Here, the differences between the spring vote and the fall vote are much bigger. In big partisan elections, Republicans have offset Democrats gains in the Milwaukee and Madison metro areas by making huge inroads with voters in western, central and northern Wisconsin, especially in rural counties. But that hasnt happened in April court races. Take the western Wisconsin media market of La Crosse, which covers 12 counties. In presidential races, the La Crosse region has gotten much redder. It went from voting Democratic by 10 points in 2012 to voting Republican by 5, 5 and 8 points in the three Trump elections. But in April court races, the La Crosse market has supported the liberal candidate in the last seven contested elections. Crawford won the region by 7 points over Schimel. In the larger 16-county TV market of Green Bay, Trump has carried the region by 16 to 18 points in his three races. But conservatives have won the Green Bay market by an average of just 5 points in the past three court races.In the northern Wausau TV market, Trump won by 19 points last fall, but Schimel beat Crawford by just 10 points. These margins arent nearly big enough to compensate for the growth of the liberal court vote in metropolitan Madison and Milwaukee. The Schimel campaign understood it had to get more Trump voters to turn out in the spring. And it did boost the conservative vote, but not by nearly enough to match what was happening on the other side. There are many campaign factors that may be contributing to the new April election math, including money and candidates and messaging and organizing. Perhaps crime is no longer as potent an issue in court races as it used to be, or perhaps liberals and Democrats have gotten better at defusing it. Abortion certainly overtook crime as an issue in 2023 and maybe again in 2025. Elon Musks central role in the 2025 campaign boosted turnout on both sides, but probably mobilized more Democrats than Republicans. The Trump era has produced blow-outs for liberals in court races But there are also broader forces at work than the campaigns themselves. The Trump realignment has produced two very narrow Republican presidential victories in Wisconsin when turnout is maximized and Trumps advantage with less habitual and less engaged voters has been critical. But it also has produced a slew of blow-out court defeats in April when fewer voters go to the polls. These defeats have occurred not just in low-turnout court races like 2018, when 22% of voting-age adults voted. But they also have occurred in high-turnout court races like 2023 and 2025, when 40% and 50% of voting-age adults voted. Turnout in the Crawford-Schimel race approached the levels of a November midterm. With Trump in power, Democrats have typically been more energized than Republican voters in non-presidential races. And partly because of that, Democrats have been benefiting more than Republicans from the fact that voters overwhelmingly view these races now through a partisan lens. Wisconsin has court seats currently held by conservatives on the 2026 and 2027 ballots, and a seat currently held by a liberal on the 2028 ballot. That means 2028 is the earliest opportunity conservatives will have to win the court back. But they must win each of the next three races to do so, which seems improbable based on recent history. These races wont simply be reruns of the one-sided victories that have produced a liberal court majority in Wisconsin. They will feature different candidates and maybe different issues. But they will likely share the underlying dynamics of a Democratic electorate energized by anger and outrage over Trump and an education divide that has favored them in spring contests. Those wont be easy challenges for conservatives to overcome. Craig Gilbert provides Wisconsin political analysis as a fellow with Marquette University Law School's Lubar Center for Public Policy Research and Civic Education. Prior to the fellowship, Gilbert reported on politics for 35 years at the Journal Sentinel, the last 25 in its Washington Bureau. His column continues that independent reporting tradition and goes through the established Journal Sentinel editing process. Follow him on Twitter: @Wisvoter. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin liberals have made spring elections a Republican nightmare CHICAGO Attendees arrived at Holy Name Cathedral hours before its Good Friday observance. It was just one of many Holy Week events taking place across the Chicago area. Cardinal Blase Cupich was even in attendance at Holy Names Good Friday observance. Earlier in the day, churches in Chicagos Pilsen neighborhood observed Good Friday with a live reenactment of the 14 Stations of the Cross, representing the story of Jesus crucifixion. The cherished tradition attracts thousands of people each year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the first time ever, the opening scenes started on a stage located at 18th & Halsted Streets, moving its traditional start inside of a church. Dozens of people helped portray Jesus final days, including the Last Supper and crucifixion. WGNs Emmy Victor asked those who gathered at Holy Name Cathedral why they decided to arrive hours before the observance. Jesus death was at three. We came to pray for his death. He suffered for all of us and I feel like we take that for granted, Camila Rubio said. We came to say thank you. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. The first time a young Christian from Afghanistan heard music at a church service where he understood at least some of the language, it was Christmas at Apostles Church in Raleigh, North Carolina. It was amazing. I was telling myself, Wow, it was beautiful, he recalled in an interview with The Dispatch earlier this week. The man, whom well call Ahmad to protect his family remaining in Afghanistan, recounted how before that Christmas service in 2023, he was only able to quietly worship in Afghanistan with a small number of other believers. Ahmads conversion to Christianity after attending a university in Afghanistan led to his imprisonment by the Talibanwhere he said he was beaten and tortured via electric shockbefore fellow Christians were able to ransom him from Taliban captivity. The same Christians who got Ahmad out of prison then got him out of Afghanistan by helping him travel to Brazil. Ahmad traversed on foot the Darien Gap that connects Central and South America for three days and ultimatelyafter presenting himself at the southern U.S. border seeking asylummade a home for himself in Raleigh. I cannot think of going back to Afghanistan. The Taliban soldiers, the leaders, they somehow think they are serving God if they can kill Americans, if they can kill Christians. I will not survive. Ahmad In North Carolina, Ahmad found a job at a restaurant (as parole granted to him legally allowed him to do), improved his English, and has become an integral member of his congregation. But his days of worshipping freely and without fear at Apostles Church may have come to an end after Holy Thursday services last night, when Christians around the world commemorated the Last Supper before Jesus was betrayed and then crucified the next day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ahmad, like some other Afghans legally living in the United States, received a letter from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) telling him he must leave the country by Good Friday. Your parole will terminate 7 days from the date of this notice, reads the April 11 DHS letter to Ahmad. If you do not depart from the United States immediately you will be subject to potential law enforcement actions that will result in your removal from the United States unless you have otherwise obtained a lawful basis to remain here. You will be subject to potential criminal prosecution, civil fines, and penalties, and any other lawful options available to the federal government. The letter was shocking news to him and roughly two dozen fellow Afghan Christians who attend Apostles Church and are now also at risk of deportation, he said. Its not clear precisely how many Afghans legally in the United States received the letter telling them that they must self-deport. The Afghans receiving the leave immediately/7-day notifications in the past week seem to be those who entered with [humanitarian] parole at the port of entry from Mexico, Matthew Soerens, vice president of advocacy and policy at the evangelical charity World Relief, told The Dispatch. Soerens said he was anecdotally aware of a number of cases of Christians who were not prioritized for evacuation in 2021 who made their way, often through networks of missionary connections, to the Western Hemisphere and then made their way up to the U.S.-Mexico border, where after waiting for a [Customs and Border Protection] One app appointment they were generally paroled into the U.S. Contacted by The Dispatch, the Department of Homeland Security did not provide precise figures on how many Afghan parolees were told to leave the country but confirmed that at least 9,000 Afghans in the United States will lose their legal status, known as Temporary Protected Status (TPS). The executive branch may grant that classification to categories of migrants from countries that are subject to armed conflict, natural disaster, or other extraordinary temporary conditions. On March 21, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem determined that Afghanistan no longer continues to meet the statutory requirements for its TPS designation and so she terminated TPS for Afghanistan, DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin told The Dispatch in an email. Those Afghans who worked for the U.S. government and were granted Special Immigrant Visas have not had their legal status revoked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement World Reliefjoined by partners like the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention and the National Association of Evangelicalshas urged the administration to reconsider these revocations of temporary legal protections, Soerens told The Dispatch. Weve also urged Congress to pass legislation such as the Afghan Adjustment Act, a bill that would allow most Afghans to apply for permanent legal status after undergoing additional vetting, and which has enjoyed very broad bipartisan support but never received a vote. The Trump administrations revocation of TPS for more than 500,000 migrants from Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Haiti has been enjoined by a lower court ruling, and a similar legal fight over revoking TPS for Afghans will likely occur after the Department of Homeland Security formally publishes a notice revoking their status. Ahmad has no plans of self-deporting to face the Taliban and still hopes his asylum claim will be granted. I cannot think of going back to Afghanistan, he told The Dispatch. The Taliban soldiers, the leaders, they somehow think they are serving God if they can kill Americans, if they can kill Christians. I will not survive. Hayes Thielman, a pastor at Apostles Church, told The Dispatch that the congregation, which is predominantly white and leans politically conservative, is rallying behind the Afghan members of the congregation now living in fear of being deported to a country where they would be persecuted or killed. Were raising money to get immigration lawyers, said Thielman. He noted the bitter irony that on the day Jesus was crucified, Christians who were fleeing persecution are being sent out of our country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Andre Mann, a member of Apostles Church in Raleigh and an American who worked with military contractors in Afghanistan from 2006 to 2011, was involved in an underground railroad that helped more than 1,400 Afghans flee the Taliban following the fall of Kabul by getting them to any country that would take them. Mann believes, based on his personal interactions, that there are many Christians who are among the Afghans being told to leave the country. Their lives were in danger. They were getting hunted. They didnt want to leave Afghanistan, but they had to flee, Mann told The Dispatch. Its unknown whats actually going to happen, whether this letter is just kind of to scare them and see if theyll leave or whether, come Friday, someones going to show up at their doorstep because [federal agents] have their addresses because theyve legally been here. Mann said he hoped the Trump administration would reverse course after realizing just how vulnerable of a population Afghan asylum seekers are: As an American, I would hope that the U.S. would be the last place that someone whos fled religious persecution is afraid for their life. 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. SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) Its Good Friday, a day when Christians mark the day Jesus was crucified. Final Easter egg hunts in western Massachusetts this weekend It falls on the Friday before Easter Sunday and is a day of solemn remembrance and reflection on Jesuss sacrifice for humanity. Traditionally, Good Friday is a day of sorrow, penance, and fasting for many Christians. The National Day Calendar states that the day goes by other names such as Holy Friday, Black Friday, and Great Friday. While Easter has now become a traditional celebration in the secular world, Good Friday has remained a holy and spiritual observance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, several churches within the Springfield Diocese will host living Stations of the Cross, including at St. Jerome Parish in Holyoke at noon, Blessed Sacrament and All Souls Parishes in Springfield at noon, St. Mary Parish in Westfield at 2:00 p.m., and Holy Cross Parish in Springfield at 7:00 p.m. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. The News Some Republican Harvard University alumni in Congress would be just fine with the IRS revoking their alma maters tax-exempt status. If Harvard continues refusing to create a safe environment for their Jewish students, I fully support their tax-exempt status being revoked, House Foreign Affairs Chair Brian Mast, R-Fla., told Semafor. A spokesperson for GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik said the New York member supports a potential attempt by the Trump administration to rescind the schools tax-exempt status, after the Education Department announced it would freeze $2.2 billion in grants to Harvard. Democrats who went to the school are calling the latest escalation unlawful. President Trumps attempt to revoke Harvards tax-exempt status is yet another dangerous power grab by an administration dead set on weaponizing the federal government to force Americans to bend to its will, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., told Semafor. Updated at 2:42 p.m. ET on April 18, 2025 Republicans are considering a tax hike on the wealthy, and Grover Norquist is beside himself. Its an incredibly destructive idea economically, and very foolish politically, the longtime anti-tax activist told me this week. The concept was once unthinkable in the GOP, yet many Republicans are signaling that the party might just break the first commandment of conservative politics. Norquists opinion used to matter in the Republican Party. Maybe it still does. Before President Donald Trump came along, Norquist was the nations most powerful enforcer of GOP orthodoxy, at least when it came to taxes. He is the keeper of the Pledgethe written vow taken by a large majority of Republican officeholders in state and federal government to never back a tax increase. For decades, whenever a GOP member of Congress so much as flirted with the idea, Norquist was there to remind themand votersof their promise, and the threat of electoral defeat if they broke it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Norquists telling, the Pledge has had a perfect record over the past 35 years. In the House or the Senate, no Republican has voted for a rate increase since 1990, he told me, referring to the year George H. W. Bush signed a bipartisan budget deal that reneged on his promise to eschew new taxes. But Trump, not Norquist, is now the heavy in GOP politics, and the president has discarded one Ronald Reaganera shibboleth after another in his second term. Earlier this month, Trump reportedly told Republican senators that hes open to the idea of letting taxes go up on the wealthy, in part to offset cuts for working-class Americans. Meanwhile, Trumps tariffs, which the president has framed as a way to restore blue-collar manufacturing jobs, have perturbed the GOPs free-traders, including Norquist, who for years has denounced tariffs as a levy on consumers. [Read: Buy, borrow, die] More than in his first term, Trump seems open to proposals that match his populist rhetoric. The reality is that the constituency and base of the Republican Party is shifting, the GOP economist Oren Cass told me, and there is rightly and deservedly much more focus on the concerns of working families and much less on what corporations and the highest-income households want. He added, We are definitely in a new world. Cass, a former adviser to Mitt Romney who founded the think tank American Compass, has denounced the GOPs commitment to lower taxes no matter the fiscal or political cost, making himself a bete noire of Norquists. Their dispute is intensifying as Republicans in Congress negotiate legislation to extend Trumps first-term cuts, which are set to expire at the end of the year. As a matter of good economic policy, tax cuts are not getting the job done, and they havent for some time, Cass said. Trumps 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act slashed rates across the board; the highest earners saw their income rate fall from 39.6 to 37 percent. These were incredibly expensive, Cass said. They certainly do not pay for themselves, and they do not provide the sort of investment incentives and, therefore, growth that their supporters want them to have. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To Norquist, Casss critique is blasphemy. Raising taxes on the rich, he told me, is for Democrats. And, as Norquist was quick to note, Trump has repeatedly promised to make permanent his 2017 tax cuts, including those for the top income bracket. The president campaigned on not doing this. The lady running against him campaigned on doing this, Norquist said. I dont think that Trump is going to adopt Kamala Harriss policies at this point. GOP leaders in Congress dont love the proposal either, but they havent ruled it out. The party is struggling with the enormous cost of extending the tax cutswhich would add about $5 trillion to federal deficits over the next decadewhile also fulfilling Trumps promises to erase taxes on tips, overtime work, and seniors Social Security benefits. Some in the party dont want to pay for any of it and have proposed just adding the tally to the nations already enormous tab. In the Senate, Republicans have even changed their budget baseline to obscure the fact that extending the tax cuts would explode the deficit. Cass called the tactic pathetic, embarrassing, and outright cheating. Some conservatives would rather cover the cost by reducing spending, but even the most aggressive proposals would cover only a fraction of the tax cuts. [Read: Trump passed the tax cuts. Now hes undermining them.] Thats where soaking the rich comes in. Late last month, a senior White House official told Axios that the administration was considering a hike on top earners to offset the cost of eliminating taxes on tips. And in the House, Republicans are reportedly drafting a proposal that would create a separate income bracket for millionaires. Either plan would make Trumps one big beautiful bill at least slightly more palatable to the GOPs deficit hawks, and they could help Republicans blunt accusations from Democrats that they are the party of billionaires and big business. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That these ideas are even being considered seems to represent a significant concession by some top Republicans: At least for now, Democrats have won the argument over taxing the rich. Polls have repeatedly found strong public support for raising taxes on the wealthy and on corporations. Even Norquist framed his opposition not as a defense of the rich but as a way to protect small-business owners, many of whom file taxes as individuals. It is a declaration of war on Main Street, not Wall Street, he said. The idiot staffers at the White House dont know any economics. They think that only high-income individuals pay that rate. Norquist blames the GOPs swerve in part on Cass, who Norquist said has talked privately about advising Vice President J. D. Vance. (I dont comment on private conversations with policy makers at any level in either party, Cass told me.) Steve Bannon, the first-term Trump strategist, has also publicly advocated for raising taxes on the wealthy. At some point, you have to make changes, Bannon told me, and those changes are to not extend the tax cuts for the upper bracket. He said that because major spending cuts are not on the horizon, raising taxes is the only way to accomplish the Trump administrations goal of reducing the deficit. Grover Norquist and that crowd are lazy, and theyre arrogant, Bannon said, and they refuse to look at the reality of the situation were in. Norquist, for his part, thinks that Bannon is jeopardizing Trumps legacy. For years, Norquist has cited the first President Bushs about-face on tax hikesBush had pledged, Read my lips: No new taxes as a candidateas a cautionary tale for Republicans. His tombstone doesnt say, Won Cold War. It says, Lied and Raised Taxes, Norquist told me. Trump, he said, wont allow Mr. Bannon to stick that on him like a tattoo. (As it happens, Bushs tombstone doesnt have an epitaph, but his New York Times obituary describes his role in ending the Cold War well before it notes that he increased taxes.) Bannon wasnt particularly worried: The times are totally different. What century is he living in? he said. His tax pledge is irrelevant. He doesnt move anything in this city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like Trump, Norquist has a tendency to exaggerate. Although its true that Republicans have not expressly voted to raise taxes in decades, dozens of GOP lawmakers backed legislation in 2013 that allowed taxes to go up for individuals earning more than $400,000 a year. That deal, however, emerged from negotiations with a Democratic president, Barack Obama; Republicans are now considering a similar policy when they control the White House and both chambers of Congress. [Read: The case for a millionaire tax] Trump 2.0 has not been all bad for Norquist. The man most famous for saying that he wanted to make the government small enough to drown it in the bathtub has seen Trump slash the federal bureaucracy faster than any president in history. But reducing spending has never animated Norquist as much as cutting taxes. The coming months will test his assumptions about the political risk of raising them, and determine whether he retains enough clout to deter Republicans. This is not going to happen, he assured me. Im talking to everybody. Before and after my conversation with Norquist, his spokesperson pointed me to statements from Newt Gingrich, Larry Kudlow, a coalition of 90 trade associations, and others opposing a tax hike. But Norquist knows that the Republican whose opinion matters most is Trump. If the president wants to shift the partys position on taxes, as he has on tariffs, Norquist will likely be powerless to stop him. To that end, he wouldnt say whether he and the organization he founded, Americans for Tax Reform, would lobby against a bill that includes a rate increase for the wealthy. When I asked whether he could get Republicans in Congress to oppose Trump if he pushed the idea, Norquist was similarly equivocal. I dont think it comes to that, he replied. I couldnt tell whether he was making a prediction or a wish. This article originally misidentified the GOP proposal that Oren Cass called pathetic. Article originally published at The Atlantic TOKYO - Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has decided not to visit the war-linked Yasukuni shrine, a site that has long been a source of diplomatic friction with Japan's neighbors, during its spring festival next week, sources familiar with the plan said Thursday. Ishiba will instead offer a "masakaki" ritual offering to the shrine, the sources said, as he did during its autumn festival when he and his entire Cabinet refrained from visiting. Yasukuni honors the souls of Japan's more than 2.4 million war dead, but the country's wartime leaders, convicted as war criminals by a post-World War II international tribunal, are also enshrined there. The decision apparently reflects Ishiba's desire to avoid worsening ties with China and South Korea, which view the shrine as a symbol of Japan's past militarism. Japan invaded large parts of China before the end of World War II and colonized the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945. The spring festival, which runs from Monday to Wednesday, comes at a time when Japan's ties with China and South Korea -- long strained over wartime history and territorial issues -- have been improving. Ishiba's two predecessors also refrained from visiting the shrine during its festivals. When then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited in December 2013, it drew sharp rebukes from China and South Korea and prompted the United States, Japan's key postwar ally, to express disappointment. With this year marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, Ishiba has emphasized the importance of reflecting on what led Japan to war and drawing lessons from it. He is not expected to issue a new Cabinet-approved war anniversary statement, breaking with the tradition set by his predecessors on the 50th, 60th and 70th anniversaries. Related coverage: Japan PM Ishiba sends offering to war-linked Yasukuni shrine NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Governor Bill Lee appointed the states first-ever Chief Immigration Enforcement Officer Thursday. Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts Ryan Hubbard, the governors appointee, was commissioned as a Special Agent with the states Office of Homeland Security last month. Previously, he had been a U.S. Border Patrol agent in Arizona and a Special Agent with the U.S. Immigration and Neutralization Service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tennessee has a long track record of stepping up to secure our Nations borders, and we stand ready to be a willing partner as the Trump Administration strengthens public safety by enforcing immigration laws on the books, Lee said. Ryan Hubbard is a dedicated public servant with decades of experience in immigration enforcement, and I am confident he is the right person to oversee this new division. Hubbard will oversee the Chief Immigration Enforcement Division, which was established through legislation passed by the General Assembly during a Special Session this January. The division is meant to work with local and state law enforcement agencies and pursue agreements that allow designated local officers to enforce parts of federal immigration law. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com This office is about protecting Tennesseans from those who are already known threatspeople with final deportation orders or serious criminal convictions who remain in our communities,Commissioner Jeff Long said. Ryans extensive experience makes him the right leader to build strong partnerships with local agencies and deliver results. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. The Tennessee General Assembly approved $65 million of Gov. Bill Lee's $100 million ask for projects to support regional water utility partnerships in Middle Tennessee and conserve the Duck River, pictured in May 2024. (Photo: John Partipilo) The Tennessee General Assemblys 2026 budget trimmed $35 million from a funding bucket intended to support ongoing efforts to preserve North Americas most ecologically diverse freshwater river while serving the growing Middle Tennessee populations water needs. The Duck River, a scenic treasure according to Gov. Bill Lee, provides water to an estimated 250,000 Middle Tennessee residents. Its water levels reached concerning lows in 2025, and an increase in dead mussels signaled the rivers health is in peril, scientists say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lees budget proposal originally earmarked $100 million to create a regional water supply strategy that will solve this problem once and for all, he said in his 2025 State of the State Address. The $59.8 billion budget approved by the Tennessee General Assembly on Wednesday allocated $65 million to projects involving the river. House Majority Leader William Lamberth, a Sumner County Republican, said in a Thursday news conference that when viewed as a whole, 98% plus of the budget was almost exactly what the governor proposed. Rep. Jody Barrett, a Dickson Republican, represents Hickman County, which is bisected by the Duck River. While his constituents concerns about the river are mostly environmental for now, residents of neighboring Maury County are looking toward the Duck as a saving grace for water shortages, he said. Certainly $35 million is going to have some practical impact. As far as how that money was going to be used, Im not exactly sure, so I dont know that it will be a considerable immediate impact, Barrett said. But obviously its an emergency situation, depending upon where you are along the river. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barrett said he understands part of the reasoning behind the funding redirect was a lack of specificity on how the funding will be used. Lees November executive order to conserve the Duck River tasks the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) to evaluate large-scale engineering projects for cost and feasibility. TDEC Commissioner David Salyers in March referred to the proposed $100 million as incentive money to encourage partnerships among regional utilities. Salyers chairs the 19-member advisory group created by Lee to make recommendations to the governor and state lawmakers. He told lawmakers last month that the funding could be put toward a potential pipeline from the Cumberland or Tennessee rivers to really solve the problem of drinking water access. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Salyers also acknowledged that a full solution will likely require hundreds of millions of dollars over the course of several years. While we are disappointed by the reduction in funding by $35 million for the Duck River projects, we recognize that conservation requires sustained commitment over time, not just in moments of opportunity, Harpeth Conservancy CEO Grace Stranch, also a member of the governors advisory group, wrote in an email to Tennessee Lookout. I am honored to serve on the Duck River Planning Partnership and look forward to working with partners across the region to identify sustainable, collaborative solutions for protecting one of Tennessees most vital natural resources. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Gov. Bob Ferguson said Thursday that House and Senate Democrats latest revenue proposal, which would raise roughly $12 billion over four years, is too risky. The governor said in his view, the new plan fails to prepare Washington for an impending crisis as the administration of President Donald Trump continues to make sweeping cuts to federal funding, programs and jobs. I thank legislators for their hard work as we balance a budget with a $16 billion shortfall, he said in an April 17 statement. While our budget situation is currently challenging, it may soon become dire with additional cuts and chaos from the Trump Administration. We must defend Washington in the face of that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this month, Ferguson said he wouldnt sign off on House and Senate lawmakers initial budget proposals because of their over-reliance on added tax revenue. Washington Democrats this week revealed an updated tax pitch. Although Ferguson had shot down their initial untested wealth-tax measure a key component of their initial budgets the new revenue proposals still target the states wealthiest residents by pushing to make capital gains and estate taxes more progressive. Their budget plans also include other tax ideas, including some focused on increasing business and occupation and property taxes. Republicans have long insisted that the budget problem could be fixed without more taxes, and business leaders argue that the majority partys proposals would drive out innovation and jobs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But progressive-revenue supporters contend that the states tax code is at once archaic and unfair. They say that the tax burden should be shifted from the shoulders of the working class onto those of the states richest residents. Ferguson said Thursday that 28% of Washingtons budget is composed of federal funds, including billions of dollars for K-12 education, Medicaid, disaster recovery, child welfare and more. Funding continues to be denied, frozen and canceled by the presidents administration and special government employee Elon Musk of the Department of Government Efficiency, he said. Just last week, the Federal Emergency Management Agency denied Washingtons federal-aid request to help repair damages cause by Novembers bomb cyclone, he noted. The federal department didnt give a reason for the denial, even though the state met the criteria. He also cited the Trump administrations attempt to slash $160 million in public-health dollars, as well as impose tariffs, which Ferguson said will hit trade-dependent Washington particularly hard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We must ensure Washington is in the best possible financial position to weather more cuts and damaging economic policies from a Trump Administration that weaponizes funding to punish those it disagrees with and forces them into compromising their values, Ferguson said in a statement. We need a balanced approach, using a reasonable amount of progressive revenue and adopting solutions to reduce our spending. Ferguson did offer lawmakers a bit of encouragement, though. He said theyve made progress in their new pitches and worked to shift the states regressive tax system, and he acknowledged that theyve stepped away from the original wealth-tax proposal. But Ferguson remains tight-lipped about which, if any, tax ideas hed support. He also hasnt said if theres a revenue number, ostensibly one lower than $12 billion, for which they should aim. Both Democratic and Republican leadership also seem to have been kept in the dark. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier on Thursday afternoon, House Speaker Laurie Jinkins said that she hadnt spoken with the governor or his office about the Democrats tax plans, but that they had a meeting scheduled for later. So I expect Ill hear about it from him then, the Tacoma Democrat said. My hope is that he has things that he likes, things that he doesnt like. But Ive been waiting to hear something he likes when it comes to revenue, so Id love to hear some. Senate Minority Leader John Braun of Centralia said Thursday morning that Ferguson hasnt indicated where hed land on the tax proposals in talking with Republican leadership: Hes really not telling us anything privately that hes not saying publicly. Braun said it isnt clear to him that the governor is comfortable with the level of taxation the Democrats put forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I cant say where the governor will come down eventually, Braun said. Senate Republican budget leaders agree with Fergusons calculation that the $12 billion tax package is still too large. Sen. Chris Gildon of Puyallup, Senate Republican budget leader, said in a statement that that would be the case regardless of whos president. If we truly want our state to be ready for any sort of fiscal turbulence, lets have a new budget that avoids tax increases completely whether theyre progressive or not, he said. Gildon added that his caucus proposal, the $ave Washington budget, is the best answer to Fergusons concerns, in part because it doesnt hike taxes while also preserving the states rainy-day fund. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Assistant Senate Republican budget leader Sen. Nikki Torres called Fergusons remarks right on time. She respectfully disagrees, however, that progress has been made on Washingtons regressive tax system, noting Democrats suggested property- and sales-tax increases. To us, any new taxes would be risky, the Pasco Republican said. The question now is whether the Democrat legislators will heed the governors words or continue going back and forth with him. There are 10 days left in the 2025 legislative session. Lawmakers will need to pass a revenue package and underlying budget before adjourning April 27. CLEVELAND (WJW) Gov. Mike DeWine has ordered U.S. and Ohio flags on public grounds throughout some of the state be flown at half-staff. The move is meant to honor Tri-Community Fire District Firefighter John Saunders, who tragically died while fighting a fire in Willard, Ohio, Wednesday. Two dead, multiple people hospitalized after gunman opens fire at Florida State University DeWine said the flags in around the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus and also Huron County should stay at half-staff until sunset of the day of Saunders funeral, which has not yet been announced. American flag at half-staff. (Photo By Getty Images) All other public buildings and grounds throughout the state may fly the flags of the United States and the state of Ohio at half-staff at their discretion for the same time period, DeWines office said in a press release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The coroners office has not yet released a cause of Saunders death. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. Apr. 17GRAND FORKS Gov. Kelly Armstrong says North Dakota's energy reserves gives it the power to push back against "liberal ideology" in the major tech firms that want to set up data centers in North Dakota. Tech demand for North Dakota energy means the state can change tech companies' attitudes toward fossil fuels, socially conscious investment and other issues that "started on Slack chats from employees in Silicon Valley," Armstrong told attendees at an event at the University of North Dakota. "We can help reset that narrative, because when they need you to make their next billion dollars in profits, their ideology will change real quick," Armstrong said to the Grand Forks Herald when asked to clarify his comments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Armstrong delivered a wide-ranging address to UND's Memorial Union on Wednesday night before answering questions from students and Grand Forks residents. He expressed concern about the decline of Americans' Fourth Amendment rights protection from unreasonable searches and seizures in the digital era and said people need to have more empathy and understanding for those who disagree with them. "I'm going to let you in on a little-held view," he said. "Fifty percent of the country isn't evil, and 50% of the country isn't stupid." Armstrong visited UND at the behest of the university's chapter of Turning Point USA. The group's national arm is well-known for its combative attitude against liberal or left-wing ideas, and advertises itself as empowering Americans to "rise up against the radical left." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked about the group's politics, Armstrong said he believes in respectful debate and that many of his best friends are liberals. "I think it's OK to fight for your ideology. I think how you do it is important," he said. Armstrong returned to North Dakota's energy industry, particularly its oil and gas sector, throughout the evening, praising it for saving a "dying" western North Dakota. He praised lignite coal as "cheap" and "reliable" and alluded to long-considered plans to sue Minnesota for its law requiring its energy suppliers to be 100% carbon-free by 2040. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Right now, we're suing them," Armstrong said in his remarks. "They're telling us how to produce the energy they need to keep the lights on in Minneapolis. My response? Just say 'thank you, go produce your own.'" Armstrong spokesperson Mike Nowatzki later told the Herald in a text message that North Dakota had not filed a lawsuit against its eastern neighbor, but "have warned (Minnesota) that its carbon-free standard is unlawful." Energy demand posed by artificial intelligence data center projects the state hopes to attract is expected to exceed the state's entire production capacity, the Forum reported Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement last year. Around 55% of North Dakota's energy generation comes from burning coal, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, with 36% coming from its next-largest source, wind power. Armstrong has extensive ties to the oil and gas industry, ProPublica and the North Dakota Monitor reported last year, with the governor telling reporters that oil and gas was the source of almost all of his personal income. Attendees repeatedly raised questions of federal policy with the governor throughout the evening. Armstrong pointed out he has little sway over Congress or the executive branch as a state official, but weighed in on several issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response to one atmospheric sciences student's concerns about cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Weather Service, Armstrong said "disruptions have to happen" for the U.S. to address its national debt. Armstrong said the state would fund three rural projects that had a combined $20 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency grants pulled as part of Trump administration cost-cutting. He characterized the projects as another example of government waste, though, saying that a federal agency "that was here to help Grand Forks in '97 after the flood now all of a sudden is handing out grants to build lagoons," referring to a proposed $1.9 million wastewater lagoon in Fessenden. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said North Dakota would "help in any capacity we can" to deport undocumented immigrants, but told another attendee he would support congressional efforts to keep humanitarian parolees from Ukraine in North Dakota from being deported. He said dismantling the U.S. Education Department was "a good thing for North Dakota," saying states would be better served by receiving federal education funding directly. Armstrong indicated, as he has previously, his support for school choice legislation in North Dakota but noted he has "two kids in public school and I think they do a fantastic job." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He did not directly answer a question about whether he would sign a bill requiring school and public libraries to hide materials with "obscene" content from minors legislation that some have characterized as censorship but said he is a "free speech absolutist" and "fan of the First Amendment." "I don't pretend to know what the next literary masterpiece is, but I want it in a library," he said. KANSAS (KSNT) Governor Laura Kelly is criticizing the Republican-led State Legislature for its modifications to the State General Fund (SGF), which Kelly says will cause an $800 million deficit in the coming years. The updated Consensus Revenue Estimates (CRE) were released on Thursday, April 17. State expenses are expected to exceed the tax revenue by $700-800 million over the next several fiscal years, according to a press release from the Office of the Governor. Todays Consensus Revenue Estimates could be seen as positive news, but in reality, they underscore the seriousness of the financial predicament ahead. The bizarre and irresponsible budget gimmicks used by the Republican-led Legislature spend more than the state takes in by nearly $800 million PER YEAR. Ultimately, this will lead to a historically large budget deficit, rivaling the worst of the Brownback years. It comes at the same time the Legislature has guaranteed large tax cuts for wealthy individuals and corporations, instead of the property tax relief they promised Kansas families. Kansans need to demand their legislators restore fiscal sanity and fairness when they return in January. Governor Laura Kelly Kansas school halts electric bus use over student safety concerns Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republican Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins issued the following statement following the April CRE report: This year, the legislature took on the budgeting process to get a better handle on how your tax dollars are being spent. We funded essential government services while reducing the total budget by 5.4%- $42.3M less than the Governor proposed. We also took responsible measures to lower the cost of living for all Kansans with additional tax relief to what was passed last year. Be wary of those who want to make political hay by invoking the budget boogeyman and screaming that the sky is falling. These positive consensus revenue estimates reaffirm were headed down a smart and sustainable path as we continue to monitor all fiscal data as its available. House Speaker Dan Hawkins (R-Wichita) According to the memo from the Kansas Legislative Research Department (KLRD): The overall estimate for FY 2025 and FY 2026 was increased by a combined $377.5 million. The revised estimate for FY 2025 was increased by $157.9 million. The revised estimate of $9.89 billion represents a 2.5% decrease from the final FY 2024 receipts. The revised estimate for FY 2026 is $10.06 billion, an increase of $219.6 million or 2.2% above the previous estimate. K-State team breaks rocketry world record The KLRD reports that a more detailed memo will be available soon which contains the economic forecast for Kansas that new estimates are based on. The governor and the legislature determine the SGF revenue using the CRE. The Consensus Revenue Estimating Group meets once in the spring and once in the fall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. DES MOINES, Iowa (KCAU) Gov. Kim Reynolds has issued a disaster proclamation for four Iowa counties in response to severe weather that hit the state on Thursday, April 17. According to a release, the proclamation is now in effect for Buena Vista, Fremont, Page and Plymouth counties. It will expire on May 18, 2025. Among the communities most affected was Storm Lake, where storms led to a citywide power outage and large hail caused significant property damage. A tornado also went through Page County in southwest Iowa, damaging houses and barns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By issuing the proclamation, state resources are available to help recover from the storms, and the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program and Disaster Case Advocacy Program were activated. Storm Lake officials warn of post-disaster scams as community cleans up from storm damage Through the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program, households with incomes up to 200% of the federal poverty level can request grants for up to $7,000. The grants can be used for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food, and temporary housing expenses related to storm recovery. The original receipts are required. Those interested have up to 45 days to submit a claim and apply. Instructions and the grant application can be found on the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Disaster Case Advocacy Program also helps those impacted by disasters. The program provides advocates to help create a disaster recovery plan and provide guidance, advice, and referrals to obtain a service or resource. There are no income eligibility requirements for this program. The program closes 180 days from the date of the proclamation. For more information about the program, click here. For a report of damages to Storm Lake, click here. For hail and rain totals in Siouxland, click here. Additionally, Storm Lake residents can drop off debris from the storm at one of three collection sites. Wesley Thoene contributed to this report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) Governor Ron DeSantis announced on Friday that flags would be flown at half-staff all across Florida in honor of Florida State University. On Thursday, April 17, a gunman opened fire on Florida State Universitys campus, leaving five people injured and two dead. The Latest: 2 people killed and at least 6 wounded in Florida State shooting In memory of the lives lost in this tragedy and to recognize the bravery shown by the first responders, I hereby direct the flags of the United States and the State of Florida to be flown at half-staff at all local and state buildings, installations, and grounds throughout the State of Florida until sunset on Monday, April 21, 2025, DeSantis 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 mypanhandle.com. Michigan's largest universities spend about $1.4 million a day on supplies and services to fuel their massive research operations. Much of that spending is done in Michigan, providing an economic boost to the state. "Whether by purchasing equipment, hiring contractors or training early career researchers, universities are a source of everyday economic and social benefits to communities in every congressional district in the country," said Jason Owen-Smith, a sociology professor at the University of Michigan who also serves as vice president for research-institutional capabilities. Michigan State University graduate student Simon Sanchez performs surgery on a locust in the university's biomedical engineering laboratory on Jan. 5, 2023. Owen-Smith runs the Institute for Research on Innovation and Science (IRIS), a consortium of 32 research universities that's housed at the U-M. The institute was started in 2015 to collect data on research spending to help schools document the economic impact of their work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That data is important as some of that spending could be at risk because of proposed cuts to the way the government reimburses universities for research-related overhead. That's things like debt, maintenance and utilities on lab buildings, lab equipment, as well as some administrative costs like accounting. Those expenditures are crucial to research, said Tyler Theile, vice president and director of public policy at the Anderson Economic Group in Lansing. "I think they've been attacked with a lack of knowledge about how they work and how the facilities operate," she said. "You can't just set up the facility the day that you realize an innovation has been realized or an experiment should be conducted. The facility has to be staffed and updated and maintained with capital investments year after year over a long period of time for that trajectory to be there."' The Trump administration announced in February that it was capping at 15% the reimbursement rate on grants from the National Institutes of Health. The universities had negotiated rates often above 50% on those grants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michigan universities estimate the proposed cuts could cost them collectively more than $200 million. The announcement prompted 22 state attorneys general, including Michigan's Dana Nessel, to file a lawsuit to prevent the cuts. Last week, the government announced similar caps on grants from the Department of Energy. U-M spent the most of any research university in Michigan, more than $332 million last year, on goods and services related to federally funded research. Michigan State spent about $110 million and Wayne State spent about $75 million, the most recently available figures. The spending goes to companies across the country but also those based in Michigan on things like custom lab equipment, software and other necessities. U-M spent almost $67 million in Washtenaw County, where its main campus is located. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Every federal dollar invested in U-M research generates ripple effects across the country, creating jobs, supporting businesses and preparing the skilled workforce our nation needs to stay competitive," said Arthur Lupia, U-M's interim vice president for research and innovation. "This impact is a powerful reminder that research is not an expense it's an investment in our shared future." Theile said the university spending on goods and services is important but the real economic impact of the university research is much larger. The schools draw researchers, students and investment capital from around the globe to Michigan. Some of the people who come here end up staying here, joining local businesses or launching their own. "The economic impact of research and development from our (research) universities ... is probably a top three most important economic driver of development in Michigan," she said. Theile said that while spending on goods and services is measured in millions, the full economic impact of university level research is in the billions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "When we look at their federal research and development, very conservative with careful multipliers, the direct impact of that is $1.6 billion and the indirect is another almost $3.2 billion in Michigan's economy," she said. She said keeping the research, and the people who conduct it, in Michigan is vital to the state's economy. At a time when Michigan is battling population loss, they represent a prized demographic for economic development, highly skilled young people. "Michigan really leads among our research universities in medical degrees conferred and in advanced manufacturing," she said. "Losing those graduates could really have grave consequences on where this type of innovation goes." Contact John Wisely: jwisely@freepress.com. On X: @jwisely This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Government cuts threaten Michigan's research spending TOKYO - Japan on Friday enacted a revised law to allow municipalities to authorize "emergency shootings" by hunters when dangerous animals enter populated areas amid a rising number of bear attacks. The revision to the law on wildlife protection and management will enable a quicker and more effective response compared with current measures, which only allow dangerous animals to be shot when people are in immediate danger. The government aims to enforce the law by fall when bears start to become active, with ordinance designating brown bears, Asian black bears and wild boars as dangerous animals subject to the emergency shooting. Brown bears live in Hokkaido, northern Japan, while black bears live in 34 of the country's 47 prefectures, according to the Environment Ministry. Sightings of bears coming down to populated areas in search of food have been on the rise amid a decline in human activity in mountainous areas and an increase in abandoned farms as a result of the aging and shrinking rural population. Under the revamped law, which cleared the House of Councillors, local governments will be able to ask hunters or officials to shoot a bear when it is feared it will enter a residential area or it is deemed an urgent response is necessary to prevent a human being harmed. The law also states certain conditions must be met before an emergency shooting is authorized -- for example, it is deemed the animal cannot be captured quickly without the use of a firearm and there is no risk of people being caught in the line of fire. Municipal chiefs will be able to restrict traffic and issue evacuation orders to secure the safety of residents when an emergency shooting is carried out. Local governments will provide compensation if a building is damaged by bullets. A record high 219 casualties, including six deaths, from bear attacks were reported in the country in fiscal 2023 through March 2024, according to the ministry. Related coverage: Japan gov't OKs emergency animal shooting bill amid bear attacks Bear found under heated table in Japan home is captured Japan to revise law for emergency animal shootings amid bear attacks Apr. 18GRAND FORKS The bronze statue in Grand Forks' Northern Valley Law Enforcement Memorial was recently vandalized, and it's unclear who is responsible, according to the Grand Forks Police Department. Dedicated during a May 2023 ceremony, the piece is located in Optimist Park at 4601 Cherry St. More than $415,000 was raised for the memorial, which honors fallen law enforcement from northeast North Dakota, northwest Minnesota and Manitoba, Canada. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is a large crack in the bronze rose that the statue man is holding. Grand Forks County Commissioner Bob Rost told the Herald that it appears as though someone kicked the rose, attempting to break it apart from the statue. The act of vandalism was reported Sunday, April 15, but it is unclear when it occurred, according to GFPD Lt. Andrew Stein. No suspects have been identified, and no witnesses have come forward as of Thursday afternoon, April 17, Stein said. Anyone who may have witnessed the act, or has any other relevant information, can contact the police department either by phone at (701) 787-8000 or by submitting a tip on the agency's Facebook page, website or via the Tip411 app. GRAND HAVEN, Mich. (WOOD) A project to bury power lines on a stretch of road in downtown Grand Haven is expected to make service more reliable and the city more visually appealing, the citys Board of Light and Power said. The process of burying electrical lines along Harbor Drive in downtown Grand Haven, from Columbus Avenue to Howard Avenue, began in March, according to the Grand Haven Board of Light & Power. Crews will pause work from Memorial Day through Labor Day for tourist season and then pick back up in the fall to finish by December 2025. Consumers Energy says theres a strong need for line workers Electrical lines along Harbor Drive in downtown Grand Haven. (Courtesy Grand Haven Board of Light & Power) The 13.2 kilovolt overhead distribution electrical lines along the road have reached the end of their useful life, according to Rob Shelley, BLP general manager. But the burying of these lines is a project thats been in the works for years. Back in 2018 when Harbor Drive was reconstructed, underground conduit was placed to prepare for the eventual burying process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This replacement project will not only be a significant enhancement for the reliability of the downtown electrical circuit but will also serve to enhance the visual appearance of our downtown area, Shelley wrote in a BLP news release. Poles and overhead wire will be removed and in their place, two new underground three-phase circuits, pad mount switchgear, sectionalizing cabinets and underground secondary conductors will be installed. Kent Power will carry out the work, BLP said. These improvements not only help with reliability, but they also add significant value to the communities we serve, wrote Mike Westbrook, chairman of the BLP. Grand Haven has a fantastic downtown and this project will significantly enhance the visual appeal of our community for both residents, businesses and visitors. Any updates to the project will be released at BLPs website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. tazewell, va. The Tazewell County Board of Supervisors are seeking public input on a state grant application for a planned flood control project. If the state funding is approved, the project would allow the county to take steps now to prepare for future flooding and other disasters. The board has set a public hearing for April 29 at the Cedar Bluff Town Hall to receive input on a Community Development Block Grant application for the project, Tazewell County Administrator Eric Young said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Young said there is $5 million available statewide in Community Development Block Grant funding, but in order to qualify for a potential grant award, a public hearing must be held first by the county. The project envisioned for Tazewell County is comprehensive, and would involve the Richlands, Doran, Raven, Bandy and Cedar Bluff areas, according to a legal advertisement in the Daily Telegraph. The project involves a monitoring of water levels along the Bluestone and Clinch Rivers and the purchase and installation of generators for water pumps and stations, which would help to power community shelters and water pump stations in the event of another disaster or outage. Tazewell County has experienced several floods in recent years, including the Feb. 15 storm and the Memorial Day 2023 flood. But when the remnants of Hurricane Helene slammed into the county last September, thousands were left without power for more than a week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Young said the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development recently announced a one-time state-wide urgent need flood relief grant program. There is $5 million available statewide, Young said of the grant funding. The application process requires a hearing. We are applying for generators to help power community shelters and water pump stations. Young said power outages across the county were widespread after Helene last fall. Our strategy of deploying mobile generators to those pump stations had problems, Young said. First everywhere was without power. So we did not have enough generators. Second we could not access the pump station sites due to trees in the roads. This grant would assure that we had new generators at each pump station. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Having generators installed at pump stations will ensure that citizens wont run out of drinking water in the event of another major storm or disaster, Young said. The project also seeks to add telemetry beacons. The beacons are cellular based, Young said. They would report water levels in tributaries of the Bluestone and Clinch. Hydrological modeling and AI would then tell us how much time we had before the river left its banks down stream. This would be critical in determining where and when to deploy rescue crews. Another part of the project involves rental assistance for those displaced by the February floods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They were primarily in the western end of the county, Young said of individuals displaced by the Feb. 15 flood. That is why we decided to have the hearing in Cedar Bluff. But anyone who was displaced would be eligible. Young said the board is hopeful that it will be approved for funding. There is only $5 million available statewide, so we are not sure how much funding we will get from this round, Young said. Last week the governor announced a separate round of flood funding this summer of $50 million. We will apply for that as well when the application period opens. Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com GREENWOOD, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) A Greenwood man has been arrested on child sexual abuse material (CSAM) related charges. Joel Newberry, 28. (COURTESY: Sebastian County Sheriffs Office) Joel Newberry, 28, was arrested on Tuesday, April 17, by the Sebastian County Sheriffs Office on charges of distribution, possession and viewing of material depicting sexually explicit conduct involving minors. Newberrys bond was set at $100,000, and he remains on the Sebastian County inmate roster as of April 17. Affidavit On Dec. 16, 2024, the Arkansas State Police (ASP) received a report from NCMEC indicating that Kik had flagged nineteen images suspected to be CSAM, uploaded between Dec. 5 and Dec. 11, 2024, according to a probable cause affidavit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cyber tip included the email address associated with the offending Kik account, newberry606@gmail.com and the username llamaboy67. According to court documents, two videos uploaded from this account on Dec. 5 depicted prepubescent girls being sexually abused by adult males. A third video, uploaded on Dec. 8, showed a girl, another prepubescent, being assaulted by two men. Memphis man sentenced to 20 years in Arkansas for fentanyl-related charges An administrative subpoena linked an IP address to a Wave Rural internet account registered to a Greenwood, Arkansas, resident. The email on the account matched one used on a Kik account involved in the uploads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Based on this evidence, police obtained a search warrant and searched the residence on March 14, 2025, seizing an iPhone 14 belonging to Joel Newberry. Forensic analysis showed the phones number matched the Wave Rural account and confirmed it was at the residence during the Dec. 8 upload. Investigators also found a Kik account on the phone using the same username as the one that uploaded the content, along with a Gmail address tied to the case. According to court documents, Newberry admitted the email and internet account were his but denied responsibility for the uploads. Newberrys court appearance is set for April 23. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. Yet another immigration attorney originally from Massachusetts was told to leave the country by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), becoming at least the third known American to receive the letter last Friday. Pamela Rioles Saeed, 28, is a lawyer with Goldman & Goldman Immigration Law, a firm based in Tucson, Arizona. Saeed was born and raised by two American parents in Jamaica Plain in Boston, and moved to Arizona in 2018. Saeed received the letter in her email from DHS on April 11, at 12:34 a.m., which began with the same line as the others, It is time for you to leave the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was the same day two other immigration attorneys who practice in Boston Nicole Micheroni and Carmen Bello said they received the letter, which told the lawyers, DHS is now exercising its discretion to terminate your parole. Saeed provided a copy of the letter to MassLive and said she feels frustrated the government was so careless to send the letters to people who are U.S. citizens. She has no plans to leave the country or give any more energy than this carelessness deserves. This email shows either gross incompetence or willful indifference from DHS, Saeed said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It only serves to instill fear and disorder for those who received it. It offers no real notice to anyone because it was sent to citizens and noncitizens alike, without regard for their actual immigration status, she said. Saeed added she hadnt received any follow-up communication from the government. On Sunday, DHS gave a statement explaining that Customs and Border Protection is sending notices about parole termination for people who do not have lawful status to remain. Some notifications are going to American citizens in instances where an immigrant provided federal authorities with an attorneys email address, the statement said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Notices may have been sent to unintended recipients, DHS said. CBP is monitoring communications and will address any issues on a case-by-case basis, the statement read. Last week, the Trump administration began canceling the parole for migrants who were allowed into the country using the CBP One app since January 2023, the Associated Press reported. While its unclear how many beneficiaries would be affected, the government urged migrants to self-deport immediately. The CBP One app allowed migrants to schedule appointments at legal ports of entry instead of crossing the border illegally to seek asylum, according to NPR. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A federal judge said on Thursday she would prevent the Trump administration from ordering more than 500,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela with temporary legal status to leave the country later this month. More News ASHVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) Ohios primary election is just weeks away, and people served by the Teays Valley school district will have the chance to vote on a 3.26 mil bond issue. District leaders said the bond is needed to keep up with growth in the district. Teays Valley Local School District is the largest district in Pickaway County. According to current predictions, the district is anticipating a 20 percent increase in enrollment over the next 10 years. District leaders said they need to build new schools to keep up with the projected growth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Is 3rd time a charm? Marysville schools puts levy on ballot We have 4,750-plus students, Teays Valley Local School District Superintendent Kyle Wolfe said. Weve enrolled over 150 students this year alone. And our biggest challenge is capacity issues. The district is fairly large, stretching 156 square miles and currently housing four elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school. We have two buildings which are over capacity, one building thats at capacity, so just having enough facilities to educate our kids and do it in the way in which our community expects is difficult when youre out of space, Wolfe said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In March 2024, the district presented a $96 million bond issue to the community. The plan was to build two new intermediate school buildings to houses grade fourth through sixth, convert all existing elementary schools to preschool through third grade, and repurpose the current midddle schools for seventh and eighth grades. Voters rejected the measure 75% to 25%. Corporate greed: Moreno sends scathing letter to CEOs over Chillicothe paper mill closure That told us some things about that issue that they didnt like, Wolfe said. Real estate appraisals happened in Pickaway County. All of our voters saw an increase of anywhere from 25 to 47% in taxes. That was last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than a year later, Teays Valley is back on the ballot. This new proposal is a similar but revised plan of the last one the new total cost would now be a little over $74 million. The district is putting $10 million into the bond issue, which brings that bond issue down to $64.39 million dollars, Wolfe said. So we went back, listened to our voters and came back to them with something different. The plan still includes the construction of two intermediate buildings. However, the buildings will house fifth and sixth graders, with space for future expansion. On social media, some voters have expressed concern, saying property taxes have been slowly on the rise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How federal cuts may hamper Ohio severe weather warnings According to the Teays Valley website, property taxes would rise $4.38 per month, or $52.50 per year per $100,000 of assessed property value. For our household, that comes down to about a large pizza a month, and thats a price that we feel comfortable contributing towards a strong learning environment and a strong Teays Valley, parent Kim Miller said. Miller has two children in the district and is a supporter of Citizens for Teays Valley Schools. Miller grew up in a community that had overcrowded schools. Its not a safe learning environment, she said. Its not a healthy learning environment. It definitely impacts the learning and just the experience that those kids get to have inside the classroom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As election day draws near, Miller said she wants residents to know that the overcrowding problem isnt going to just go away. Chocolate lovers may see sticker shock due to Trumps tariff tactics Even if we dont vote on it this time, were still going to be overcrowded and were going to have to come back and ask again, Miller said. Wolfe said if the bond issue does not pass, the cost to add more modular classrooms to accommodate the projected growth, which could cost about $20 million over ten years. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. BILOXI, Miss. (WKRG) A Gulf Breeze, Florida, man is accused of robbing a gas station in Biloxi, Mississippi, according to local police. Highest bidder at Five Rivers Delta Resource Center auction revealed According to a Biloxi Police Department news release, Chad Michael Bordelon, 49, was arrested Thursday and is accused of robbery. Chad Michael Bordelon. (Biloxi Police Department) Bordelon was arrested after a robbery occurred at the Clarks Oil Shell Station at 856 Beach Blvd. in Biloxi, News 5 has learned. He allegedly used force to take money from a gas station employee who was at the businesss cash register. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspect then allegedly left on foot, and police later located him in the 800 block of Howard Avenue, where he was arrested. Newsweek names Pensacola, Fairhope hospitals among top maternity facilities According to BPD, he is being held at the Harrison County Adult Detention Center on a $250,000 bond. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5. TOKYO - A UNESCO committee on Thursday did not list a collection of photos and videos depicting the devastation in Hiroshima after the August 1945 atomic bombing on the UNESCO documentary heritage program for 2025. The collection, comprised of 1,532 photographs and two videos, was one of the two nominations Japan had recommended to the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's Memory of the World Register. The committee did not bring up the collection during a meeting to discuss the listing in Paris. The reason was not immediately clear. The photos and videos were taken between Aug. 6, 1945, when the bomb was dropped, and the end of the year. The materials depict the mushroom cloud, wounded people, and scenes of destruction near the hypocenter, and were taken by citizens and photographers from newspapers and Domei News Agency, the predecessor to Kyodo News and Jiji Press, as well as the then Imperial Japanese Army. The city of Hiroshima, along with the two broadcasters and newspapers Chugoku Shimbun, Asahi Shimbun and Mainichi Shimbun, had sought the recommendation for UNESCO listing. "It is very unfortunate that it was not registered this time. We are confident that (the collection) will become even more important from here on out in paving the way toward international peace," Chugoku Shimbun said, expressing its intention to recommend the materials again. However, the committee registered the Japanese government's other submission, a sutra repository at Zojoji, a Buddhist temple in Tokyo, assembled by the first Tokugawa shogun. Made up of around 12,000 documents, the repository is considered rare as it exists almost completely in its original form. Calls for nominations to the Memory of the World Register occur every two years, with each country able to submit up to two entries each time. Related coverage: Japan recommends ancient capitals in Nara Pref. for UNESCO listing Japan governors push to have hot spring culture recognized by UNESCO Japan sake-brewing added to UNESCO intangible heritage PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) An annual art show that showcases the talent of students at a local college is back on display, and you can view it all for yourself beginning on Friday, April 18th. On Friday, Gulf Coast State College in Panama City will host an opening reception for their Student Art Show in the Amelia Center Gallery from 5 to 7 p.m. There will be a variety of artistic mediums on display, including paintings, sculptures, photographs, and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This specific display continues to make a return to the college each and every year because it serves as a great send-off to some of the graduating students. Haney Tech Colleges welding program offers training and job placement Its kind of a culmination of what the students learned over the course of the year, said Gulf Coast State College Visual & Performing Arts Professor Pavel Amromin. For some students, its the last show they have here before they move on to another university or whatever they do next with their art. So its really special and it shows the growth over the year. If you cant make tonights opening reception but want to view the gallery for yourself, you can stop by on Mondays through Thursdays between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. or on Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The exhibit is completely free to view whenever it is open and will be up until May 2nd. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The News High-level diplomacy within the Middle East and beyond is ramping up ahead of US President Donald Trumps expected visit to the Gulf next month. On Thursday, Qatars emir met with Russias president in Moscow, and Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman the crown princes brother visited Tehran for talks with Irans supreme leader, the highest-level visit by a Saudi royal to the Islamic Republic this century. Discussions in Moscow focused on Gaza, future cooperation in Syria, and economic ties between Russia and Qatar. The meeting follows a visit by Syrias president to Doha on Tuesday, which also included a previously undisclosed sit down with Iraqs prime minister. A deal was also signed: The Russian Direct Investment Fund and Qatar Investment Authority agreed to start a joint $2 billion fund to invest in technology, minerals, and health care projects in Russia. Prince Khalid delivered a written message from his father, the Saudi king, to Irans leader. The kingdom wont be a conduit in any fashion towards an attack on Iran, Saudi commentator Ali Shihabi told the Financial Times. Riyadh supports Trumps efforts to find a diplomatic solution to the nuclear crisis, and doesnt want a war. MEMPHIS, Tenn. A recent arrest at a South Memphis school shows that gun thefts continue to be a serious issue in the city of Memphis. Alvino Johnson, 19, and Marco McGhee, 20, are currently booked in the Shelby County Jail. Alvino Johnson (left) and Marco McGhee (right) According to a report from Memphis Police, officers responded to a suspicious person call at George Washington Carver Academy on Pennsylvania Street at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday. An officer reportedly spotted two men standing in the schools parking lot. Police say one of the suspects, who has been identified as McGhee, was wearing a ski mask on top of his head. Memphis Police say Johnson had a black hoodie draped over his shoulders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to police, the officer tried to frisk both of them, but Johnson tried to run away. Police say the officer brought Johnson to the ground and detained both suspects. The officer reportedly found guns on Johnson and McGhee. Police say the weapon Johnson was carrying had been reported stolen. Johnson has been charged with carrying a weapon on school property, evading arrest, theft of a firearm worth less than $2,500, and unlawful possession of a weapon. Two charged with carrying guns at South Memphis school McGhee has been charged with carrying a weapon with intent on school property and unlawful possession of a weapon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the Memphis Shelby Crime Commissions 2025 quarter 1 report shows crime of all kinds down across the board, recent gun theft data is still alarming. Statistics show that 2,868 guns were stolen in Memphis last year, and 56% of those were from stolen cars. Riverside closed, Tom Lee Park closing for month of events There are nearly 70,000 registered gun owners in Shelby County. MPD reported in 2023, 40% of guns used in crimes were stolen, but it is unclear how many of those weapons were involved in violent crimes. Memphis is currently ranked eighth in the country in murders per 100,000 people. Im excited to see us not at the top of this list for murders. Lets get out the top 10, said Jerri Green, Memphis Councilwoman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McGhee and Johnson are scheduled to be in court next week. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. TALLAHASSEE, (WFLA) Florida State University students in Tallahassee woke up ready to head to class and go on with their normal day, but the events that occurred on campus Thursday morning were anything but normal. Inside the Florida State University student union, abandoned backpacks, spilled drinks, forgotten phones, and yellow caution tape. The aftermath of a very emotional and overwhelming day for FSU students. 2 dead, 6 injured in Florida State University shooting, police say Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The student union, a gathering place for many on FSUs campus. Students and staff normally gather every day between classes on the lawn to catch up with friends or enjoy a bite to eat, but after the tragic events that unfolded today, Students say they will never be able to forget the intense and disturbing scenes that took place here on campus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The accused shooter, Phoenix Ikner, was reportedly found near the Student Union as Tallahassee Police Officers confronted him. Investigators say officers opened fire when he refused their commands. FSU students shared their tragic stories after witnessing it all. I heard yelling, and we saw like, a girl being legit, carried out by cops and placed onto a stretcher in the ambulance, said FSU student Shayna Nickvarz. One was sitting in the back of a police truck with blood coming out of his side, and in that moment, my heart dropped because it was just like, this is real. What to know about the shooting at Florida State University University students Shayna Nickvarz and Elizabeth Norton shared their frustrations after Thursdays events. How is he just able to just park right here. You know where it says no parking, in a fire lane, and just walk right on campus? said Nickvarz. There had to have been red flags or signs, somehow, some way, shape or form, and it just is really sad that nobody really kind of saw them, and I dont know. Its just its not real. It does not feel real. Two Freshman FSU students, Colin Reynolds and Briam Hernandez, were sitting in their usual weekly philosophy class when campus alarms started to ring, warning everyone to shelter in place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My twin brother, who is our roommate, he is at the union every day at this time for his online classes, said Reynolds. But by chance, Reynolds brother overslept, something that may have kept him out of harms way, and that realization hit hard for both students. This is the two of our second school shootings together in the same room, said Reynolds and Hernandez. Horrible thing: President Trump gives remarks on FSU shooting Both students shared with 8 On Your Side that theyve lived through a similar lockdown before, back in high school when a shooter was reported nearby. It happens at every single time were together, in the building right next to it or in the room right next to it, shared Reynolds. The one during our senior year of high school, we were in the auditorium. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both Reynolds and Hernandez shared that as they left campus Thursday afternoon, they were grateful to have made it through yet another school shooting. It just feels like theres a lot of really close calls, like really, really close calls, said Reynolds. Students dont understand why or how such a heartbreaking incident could happen on campus, especially being so close to graduation and the end of the school year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. SAYRE, P.a. (WETM) Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital partnered with the Center of Organ Recovery & Education to host a ceremonial flag raising to celebrate National Donate Life Month. Through the partnership, Guthrie has a team in place that facilitates organ donation based on the wishes of the deceased or their family members. The ceremony started by honoring two men whose lives were saved after receiving organs from selfless donors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive got a better chance at a good, healthy life and get to see my daughter grow up where a few years ago I didnt know if that wouldve been possible, said Jim Olmstead, kidney transplant recipient. Jims donor was a stranger who turned out to be a match. The two now share a bond that goes beyond friendship. The feeling that you have after doing that is indescribable. Its something that I think about every morning when I wake up. Im glad that I did it and I would do it again a hundred times, said Chris Taft, Jims living kidney donor. Easter: Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Donate Life America, today, more than 100,000 patients are awaiting transplants. My story started about ten years ago, when I started having cold-like symptoms like difficulty breathing. I ended up going to the hospital where they told me that my heart was pumping at 15 percent and it needed to be at eighty-six percent, said David Webster, heart transplant recipient. After a heart catheter, they found nothing and I was sent to the Cleveland Clinic and placed on the very long transplant list, he said. David had an allergic reaction to a medication that was given to him at the hospital, which caused blood clotting. He was then given emergency surgery. My family was called in and told that I have one week on the ventilator. I was on all life support machines, and after that, I was to be taken off the machines, but three days after that, my miracle came in, said Webster. When I met my donors mother, you could see the comfort she gave me as she listened to her sons heartbeat for the first time, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elmira Community Kitchen to serve Good Friday and Easter meals Guthrie is dedicated to raising awareness for organ, tissue, and cornea donation to bring hope and happiness to families with loved ones on the list. National Donate Life Month is an opportunity to reflect on the lifesaving impact of organ and tissue donation and to honor the donors who make this possible, said William Osterman, Vice President of Nursing at Robert Packer Hospital. It is also a chance to think about all of the people waiting for their donor, he said. Guthrie is dedicated to raising awareness for organ, tissue, and cornea donation to bring hope and happiness to families with loved ones on the list. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We think of the families who have faced unimaginable decisions amid grief, and yet chose to honor their loved ones selfless wish to give someone a second chance at life, said Joseph Sawyer, President of Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital. If you would like to register to become a donor or would like more donation information, please check out the Donate Life America 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 WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. HAGERSTOWN, Md. (DC News Now) A Hagerstown teenager pleaded guilty to making swatting calls to multiple police departments across the country, threatening violence against schools, a casino, and an airport. Swatting is a form of criminal harassment, during which people falsely report an emergency to public safety to get emergency personnel to respond somewhere, despite no emergency existing. The U.S. Attorneys Office (USAO) said that 19-year-old Owen Jarboe helped create an online group known as Purgatory. The group coordinated and planned swatting activities through social media, and discussed swats they conducted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attorney General sues owner, property manager of DC apartment buildings over uninhabitable living conditions Jarboe and the others in the group often used shared scripts to obscure their phone numbers and identities. According to his guilty plea, Jarboe and his co-conspirators placed swatting calls from December 2023 through mid-January 2024. During that time, they reportedly threatened to shoot a teacher and students at a Delaware high school; threatened to shoot people at a home in Georgia; and made bombing and shooting threats toward Albany International Airport and an Ohio casino. Court documents said that, in one instance, Jarboe placed a phone call from Hagerstown to the Houston County Sheriffs Department in Alabama, during which he said he was a father who shot his son in a local trailer park, planned to burn down the trailer park, and that he would kill himself and any law enforcement officials who responded Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jarboe pleaded guilty to conspiracy, cyberstalking, and threats to damage or destroy by means of fire and explosives, as well as other charges. His sentencing is scheduled for July 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 DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. Apr. 18Despite efforts by the Trump administration to revoke the legal status and therefore, work permits of many Springfield-area Haitian immigrants, local employers say they continue to reliably come to work. By and large, Haitian workers in the Springfield-area manufacturing industry do not appear to be leaving their jobs in Clark County and surrounding areas, said Bud Downing, co-owner of employment agency Express Employment Professionals. Downing is also involved in immigrant business and employment efforts as part of the Haitian Coalition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Viles Dorsainvil, president of the Haitian Community Help and Support Center, said employers have come to him with concerns related to employing a workforce at risk of deportation. "For the (Haitian immigrants), they would normally be willing to continue to work, but the employers sometimes don't see any future to continue to invest on some folks, or working with having some employees that are at a risk of deportation," Dorsainvil said. Haitian immigrants make up an estimated 10% of the workforce at McGregor Metal's three plants, human resources manager of the Leffel Lane location Summer Garrett said Tuesday. She described them as a "dedicated workforce," with many having been employed for several years. The plants are not experiencing a large loss of workers, Garrett said. She estimated the Leffel Lane Campus has about 145 employees, Yellow Springs Street has about 72 and there are about 65 at the Innisfallen Avenue location. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the work environment being more family-oriented, Garrett said she speaks with individual employees often and hears concerns from Haitian employees related to immigration changes and uncertainty. When Haitian immigrants apply, they must provide their Social Security number and work authorization document, which includes information about the person's status, said HR generalist at the Yellow Springs Street location Emily Bolton. This gives businesses an idea of how many their employees may be impacted by immigration changes. KTH Parts Industries in St. Paris is planning for Trump administration immigration orders and the impacts on its workforce, Belford said. The company is not currently seeing workers leave. "It's all a what if, because if it doesn't come into fruition, you have to have that idea or plan to make up for it," Belford said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The auto parts manufacturer employs several Haitian immigrants, many as part of their temporary program but others are permanent, Jennifer Belford, senior recruiter, said. Dole Fresh Vegetables employs several Haitian immigrants locally, but declined to share specific information. A representative said the company does "not expect negative impacts on our ability to deliver product from Springfield." The News Hamas on Thursday rejected Israels offer of a ceasefire deal, calling instead for a complete end to the war. The Israeli government had proposed a 45-day truce in exchange for the release of 10 of the remaining hostages taken in the Oct. 7 attack: 59 remain unaccounted for, and 24 are believed to still be alive. Hamas said it would only return all the hostages in exchange for a permanent end to hostilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel resumed its military campaigns in Gaza a month ago after ceasefire negotiations stalled, and has since blocked all humanitarian aid from entering the enclave. SIGNALS The war in Gaza is increasingly unpopular in Israel Sources: France 24, Haaretz, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal Hamas rejection of the deal comes as more Israelis are opposed to a war that many see as no longer motivated by [the countrys] security interests, France 24 noted: 69% of Israelis in a recent poll said they supported a deal to end the war for the hostages return, and more than 1,000 Israeli army reservists signed a petition calling for an immediate end to the conflict. A lack of faith in the wars righteousness [...] is undermining the core justification for inflicting harm on innocent civilians, the left-leaning Haaretz argued. Still, the renewed offensive has failed to galvanize [Israels] political left, a former diplomat wrote, and the government seems prepared to take a risk on the hostage issue to achieve what is sees as the critical goal of removing Hamas from power, one analyst said. Israels buffer zones are expanding Sources: Le Monde, Breaking the Silence, The Economist Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel says the renewed offensive in Gaza is to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages but the current operations have turned into a redrawing of Gaza, foreshadowing complete [Israeli] control of the Strip, Le Monde wrote: Israel has extended its buffer zone within the enclave from 300 to 1,500 meters wide by deliberately, methodically, and systematically [annihilating] whatever was within, an Israeli NGO of IDF veterans wrote. Netanyahus government is politically in love with the idea of taking over territory, a retired IDF general argued: Israel has also captured land in the West Bank, Syria, and Lebanon. For Israels hard right the goal is not merely to protect the country but to expand it, The Economist wrote. International pressure on Israel has waned Sources: The New York Times, Bloomberg, Al Jazeera, Chatham House With US President Donald Trumps silence in the face of Israels renewed military offensive in Gaza, and European leaders distracted by Trumps trade war, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces fewer restraints on Gaza than ever, The New York Times wrote. Though Frances new plan to recognize Palestinian statehood exemplifies the growing tension between Israel and some of its closest allies, Bloomberg wrote, it could simply turn into another empty gesture to save face, a former Palestine Liberation Organization adviser argued in Al Jazeera. An Arab peace plan agreed in March creates more questions than answers, while a Chatham House analyst argued that only Washington can force Netanyahu to negotiate again. TOKYO - New U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass, arriving in Tokyo on Friday, vowed to work with Japan to counter China's assertiveness in the region and to ensure that the bilateral alliance remains a "force of peace." The 64-year-old, whose business acumen has been touted by President Donald Trump, also said he is "extremely optimistic" that a deal will be reached between the United States and Japan in negotiations over U.S.-imposed tariffs. Speaking to reporters after landing at Haneda airport, Glass touched on the severe regional security environment and stressed the need to "push back against a country like China." "We sit with Japan in a very tough neighborhood. You have Russia, you have China, and you have North Korea," Glass said. In a statement issued by the U.S. Embassy in Japan, he also said he is committed to "growing our extraordinary partnership even further and to ensuring that our alliance continues to be a force of peace, prosperity, and progress at the heart of a free and open Indo-Pacific." The Japanese government welcomed the new ambassador, with Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya telling a press conference that he hopes to work closely with him to "further strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance and expand and develop economic ties." Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told a separate press conference that he expects Glass to serve as a "bridge" between the two nations. Glass, a businessman from Oregon with a background in investment banking and real estate, was confirmed as ambassador to Japan by the U.S. Senate last week. He served as envoy to Portugal during Trump's first presidential term between 2017 and 2021. Trump, who returned to office in January, has agreed with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to enhance bilateral defense cooperation amid security challenges related to China and North Korea. But he has also shaken trade relations with his aggressive tariff policies, targeting not only the key Asian ally but also other countries around the world. The United States and Japan have recently held their first ministerial talks in Washington on the U.S. tariffs, which Trump views as a means to rectify imbalanced trade, while the Japanese side urges their reconsideration. During a Senate confirmation hearing in mid-March, Glass pledged to push Japan to increase market access for U.S. imports and raise defense spending. At the time, Glass said he was ready to have "tough conversations on tariffs and reducing our trade deficit with Japan." Following the new ambassador's arrival to Japan, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a news conference in Beijing on Friday that the role of diplomats should be to promote friendship between countries, not to "smear" others or "incite confrontations." Related coverage: George Glass confirmed as U.S. ambassador to Japan U.S.-Japan ties strong despite blocked Nippon Steel deal: ambassador Trump taps ex-investment banker Glass as U.S. ambassador to Japan Apr. 17Robert Spottedhorse could spend more than 16 years in prison after a plea deal took a murder charge off the table. The Butler County Prosecutor's Office and Spottedhorse's attorney, David Washington, worked out a deal to reduce the charge to involuntary manslaughter, a first-degree felony. A murder conviction could have resulted in an indefinite term of 15 years to life; instead he faces a maximum of 16 1/2 years. On May 8, 2024, there was an incident in the 200 block of Ross Avenue, and the Butler County Coroner's Office ruled Roger Douglas Cole Jr. died of a stab wound. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police say Cole allegedly stole the vehicle after its owner told 911 dispatchers he started the car and turned around to say goodbye to a friend. The caller did not indicate there was an altercation with Cole. However, Hamilton police told the Journal-News there was an altercation involving Cole, saying he had been stabbed during his attempt to steal the vehicle. Spottedhorse turned himself in to authorities, and his bond was set at $1 million for the murder indictment. He entered a not guilty plea, but changed it on Thursday, pleading guilty to the amended charge. A pair of felonious assault charges, both second-degree felonies, were dismissed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roger Cole, the victim's father, told the court on Thursday, "I don't think this man's responsible for my son's death." "I'm looking in his eyes right now," he continued. "I don't think he is." However, he also said he planned to sue Spottedhorse, and while he said it wasn't a threat, the elder Cole said, "Now you're going to face my family and friends in prison. I'm a career criminal. I'm not threatening. I'm trying to get this resolved. I want the person that did it." The prosecutor's office said it's confident the right man is answering for the May 8 crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Washington said his client's decision was made "in good faith." "This is the decision that's been made," he said. "Today's the day he accepted responsibility." Sentencing is scheduled for 9 a.m. May 19 in Judge McElfresh's courtroom. Sarah Hinger (center), deputy director of the ACLU Racial Justice Program, takes questions from reporters after oral arguments in a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of New Hampshire seeking to block the Trump administration from requiring public schools to end DEI programs on April 17, 2025. (Photo by Ethan DeWitt/New Hampshire Bulletin) In February, the Trump administration sent a letter to all state education departments with a broad message: diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in public schools must come to an end. Every public K-12 school and university must stop policies related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, or face a potential loss to their funding, the letter stated. This month, a New Hampshire federal judge is grappling with whether to stop the government from enforcing the letter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A group of organizations the National Education Association, the National Education Association of New Hampshire, and the Center for Black Educator Development have sued the U.S. Department of Education in the U.S. District Court of New Hampshire to block enforcement of the letter. The suit is being litigated by the American Civil Liberties Unions Racial Justice Program and the American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire. On Thursday, Judge Landya McCafferty presided over oral arguments in the lawsuit. Shes weighing whether to issue a preliminary injunction. The requirement is not immediate; after an extension agreed to last week, state education agencies have until April 24 to certify that the states schools have agreed to the conditions in the letter. But plaintiffs are hoping McCafferty issues the injunction sometime next week to halt enforcement before that deadline arrives. Plaintiffs argue that because the letter threatens financial repercussions against school districts that allow for DEI programs, it could in turn force schools to drop support for NEA and CBED teacher diversity programs. And the NEA says the vagueness of the letter will push its teacher members to take defensive measures and avoid teaching certain topics if they think there will be professional consequences for doing so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the government says plaintiffs are overreacting to the letter, which they say simply warns school districts not to fall afoul of Title VI, a federal statute that prevents discrimination in public programs based on race or national origin, and promises investigations and potential withholding of federal funding for those districts that do. The letter that kicked off the dispute, known as a dear colleague letter, presents a stark portrait of public schools. Educational institutions have toxically indoctrinated students with the false premise that the United States is built upon systemic and structural racism and advanced discriminatory policies and practices, the letter reads. Proponents of these discriminatory practices have attempted to further justify them particularly during the last four years under the banner of diversity, equity, and inclusion The letter relies on Students for Fair Admissions Inc v. President and Fellows of Harvard College, a landmark 2023 U.S. Supreme Court decision in which the court held that the race-based admissions policies at Harvard and the University of North Carolina had violated the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And it says the Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights would vigorously enforce the law and that institutions that failed to comply with federal law may face potential loss of federal funding. The Department will no longer tolerate the overt and covert racial discrimination that has become widespread in this Nations educational institutions. The law is clear: treating students differently on the basis of race to achieve nebulous goals such as diversity, racial balancing, social justice, or equity is illegal under controlling Supreme Court precedent. To the U.S. Department of Justice, the letter is not an official agency rule; rather, it is an interpretive guidance. That means it cant be struck down by a court the way a rule can, they argued. Abhishek Kambli, a U.S. deputy associate attorney general who traveled to Concord to argue the case Thursday, said the letter is simply articulating existing law preventing school districts from classifying students according to their race. Kambli pointed to the Students for Fair Admissions decision, and said the dear colleague letter is simply trying to stop K-12 schools from that kind of discrimination, Kambli told the court Thursday. Already, U.S. case law has established that schools should not make distinctions on the basis of race or other characteristics except in rare circumstances, Kambli argued. And he said those circumstances must face a legal test of strict scrutiny to pass. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plaintiffs hardship, Kambli said, is due to self-censorship based on a misunderstanding of what the dear colleague letter says. Kambli added that the government does not claim diversity, equity, and inclusion itself is illegal; rather, it claims that schools that are already breaking the law by classifying students by race should not use the concept of DEI as an excuse to do so. And he said despite the colorful language in the letter, any decision by the federal government to withhold funding to a school could come only after an investigation, and would include the possibility of an appeal. Its a lengthy process, he said. But plaintiffs say the governments characterization understates the impact and scope of the letter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The letter creates the possibility of consequences for teachers because of its threat to punish school districts, who directly employ those teachers, Sarah Hinger, deputy director of the ACLUs Racial Justice Program argued Thursday. And she said the letter contains pronouncements that are hard for teachers to apply to their instruction. Every day, today, tomorrow, they go to work and they are tasked with following the dear colleague letter, along with all their other obligations, Hinger said. They are chilled now in their ability to speak They are uncertain of what practices they can engage in. Hinger also pointed to the Trump administrations swift move to withhold funding from Columbia University and Harvard University, suggesting that the administration could move quickly to block funding to public schools if it decides to. The chill from that is happening now, and plaintiffs are not required to wait until they are hauled into court in order to challenge an unconstitutional law, she said. McCafferty appeared sympathetic to plaintiffs, asking Kambli questions about how teachers could cover periods of American history like Reconstruction or the Jim Crow South without worrying they were improperly teaching that America has structural racism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case bears similarity to another lawsuit alleging that New Hampshires 2021 banned concepts law prohibiting public school teachers from advocating for certain topics around race and gender is unconstitutional. In 2024, the U.S. District Court of New Hampshire agreed with plaintiffs and struck that law down; the decision is currently being appealed in the First Circuit Court of Appeals. But Kambli said those lawsuits were different because they involved state laws that directly affected teachers. The dear colleague letter should not have a direct effect on the topics that can be taught, he argued. It goes toward how they treat students, he said. It doesnt go toward what they teach. And Kambli argued the suing organizations are not linked directly to the Department of Educations enforcement action, and lack standing to bring a case in the first place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawyers for the ACLU are attempting to add a handful of New Hampshire school districts as parties to the case, in order to make additional arguments about how the letter would unfairly affect them. But the government argued it needs more time to file a motion countering those arguments, and McCafferty has not yet approved the districts inclusion to the case. For now, the parties are expecting McCafferty to issue a ruling on the injunction before next Thursday. Lawyers for the government asked her to issue a narrow injunction that affects only the named plaintiffs if she must issue one; lawyers for the plaintiffs urged a nationwide injunction. Under the agreement reached last week, any New Hampshire school district that signs a letter certifying that they will comply with the letter will not be bound to that letter until April 24, meaning that if the court enjoins the letter before then, the district will not be subject to it. As of Thursday, 165 New Hampshire school districts have signed on, according to the Department of Educations website. At a press conference after the hearing, Hinger said she hopes McCafferty will act quickly. I think that the government has shown a track record of avoiding and ignoring careful due process, moving swiftly against institutions and using the full power of its authority against individuals in the education sector and beyond, she said. A New Hampshire woman was ejected from her vehicle and killed in a crash on a Massachusetts highway early Friday morning, authorities said. Troopers responding to a report of a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 84 near Exit 5 in Sturbridge just before 3:45 a.m. found a car that had spun 180 degrees in the middle travel lane, according to Massachusetts State Police. "The body of the deceased operator was not in the passenger cabin," state police said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim was identified as 59-year-old Beth Wittenberg, of Rochester, New Hampshire. The highway was closed for about three hours after the crash, backing up traffic for miles. The cause of the crash 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 A 59-year-old woman was killed Friday morning when she was thrown from her car on Interstate 84 in Sturbridge, Massachusetts State Police said. State Police responded to a single-vehicle crash at around 3:40 a.m. near exit 5 on the highway. Troopers found the womans vehicle had spun 180 degrees and came to rest in the middle travel lane, Tim McGuirk, a State Police spokesman, said in a statement. The body of the woman, identified as Beth Wittenberg, of Rochester, New Hampshire, was not in the passenger cabin, McGuirk said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The highway was closed for roughly three hours after the crash to allow an investigation. More News Apr. 18Hannaford Supermarkets is reviewing its dairy supply chain for possible worker and human rights violations following years of criticism by activists who say the company's milk is partially sourced from farms with substandard working conditions. The review, part of a multiyear plan the grocer's parent unveiled in 2020, began the first week of April, said George Parmenter, a former Hannaford employee who is currently consulting for the company. A third-party auditor, Enact, is overseeing the investigation, he said. The idea of the report "is to get a credible assessment from a third party that doesn't have any stake," Parmenter said. "The straight scoop on what are the conditions on the ground?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He estimated that the final report would be available in the late summer at the earliest. Hannaford's review began just days before a farm worker advocacy group filed a human rights complaint against its parent company, Ahold Delhaize, on April 7. Organizers with Migrant Justice, a Vermont-based farmers' rights group, attended the parent company's annual shareholder meeting in the Netherlands, where they announced that Migrant Justice had filed a complaint with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, or OECD, a Paris-based intergovernmental group founded in 1961. The multigovernmental organization analyzes government, trade and business policies and offers standards designed to "level the playing field" among nations, according to its website. Both the Netherlands and United States are member nations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though the OECD does not have enforcement authority, it can open an investigation, issue recommendations and act as a mediator between Ahold Delhaize and Migrant Justice, said Will Lambek, a staff member with Migrant Justice. He cautioned that an OECD investigation would likely take months to complete. "This will be a long process. But our hope is that this complaint won't be necessary, and that Ahold will avoid the expense and the reputational risk of an international human rights complaint by sitting down with workers in good faith," Lambek said during a phone call from the Netherlands, where Lambek said he and other advocates attended Ahold Delhaize's annual shareholder meeting. Lambek said Hannaford's assessment "is a very positive step," but he said workers would not be satisfied with any review unless it leads to a meaningful change in Hannaford's practices and on-farm conditions. View this document on Scribd Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hannaford credited Migrant Justice with raising the issue of workers' rights. "Frankly, in retrospect, we appreciate the fact that Migrant Justice raised this issue for us, and that it became an opportunity to shine a light on the industry and our supply chain, so that we can learn what may or may not be happening," spokesperson Ericka Dodge said in an interview. Even so, Hannaford representatives repeatedly emphasized the company's commitment to human rights in an interview, and they also stressed that the Scarborough-based chain is several layers removed from the farms that produce its milk and has little to no direct contact with individual farms. Hannaford operates more than 180 stores and employs more than 30,000 associates, according to Ahold Delhaize. "It's like we're caught in the middle without any real, credible knowledge of what's happening in our supply chain. And that's what the human rights impact assessment is meant to address. So for us, we think it's a watershed event," Parmenter said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Parmenter said it was too early into the process to say what, if any, enforcement mechanisms Hannaford could use to address bad actors. He said the review depends on mutual trust between Hannaford, its suppliers and its upstream farms, and that discussion of corrective actions could undermine the process. "What we can commit to unequivocally is whatever that report says, there will be an action plan in place to address those things," Parmenter said. YEARS IN THE MAKING For years, Migrant Justice has charged that farms across New England, including some in Hannaford's supply chain, violate workers' rights. The complaint before OECD alleges inadequate living conditions and privacy among workers, forced labor, discrimination, and unsafe working conditions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group has called upon Hannaford and dairy consumers to join its Milk with Dignity program, opting into a third-party code of conduct that requires farm owners to properly record and pay overtime, provide healthy and safe conditions, and to offer time away, among other commitments. Though the group lists more than 50 member farms, that's a fraction of the total number of dairy farms in New England, Parmenter said. Hannaford's milk is processed by HP Hood, which sources from several farm co-ops, which themselves deal directly with hundreds of farmers, he said. New England is home to roughly 800 dairy farms, according to industry group New England Dairy. Both Hannaford's impact assessment and the OECD's investigation into Migrant Justice's complaint will take months to complete before any findings or recommendations can be reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Meanwhile, Hannaford continues to work with its suppliers to assess farms within its supply chain and to ensure continued compliance with Ahold Delhaize's Standards of Engagement," Dodge, the Hannaford spokesperson, said in a written statement. Those standards include requiring suppliers to "ensure that all workers are treated fairly, with respect and dignity," that workers log no more than 48 regular hours each week and that they are paid at least minimum wage and given overtime differentials when appropriate, among others. The latest draft, implemented in January 2024, allows Ahold Delhaize to sever any relationships until violations are resolved but suppliers themselves are charged with investigating and correcting any issues, and it is their responsibility to inform Ahold Delhaize of any potential issues. Additionally, if Ahold Delhaize receives any complaints about a supplier directly, those issues "will be communicated to the supplier to be addressed and remediated." Lambek argued that Ahold Delhaize's policy relies too heavily on individual farm owners who may themselves be the subject of complaints to hear, report and address grievances. "Simply put, standards without enforcement are meaningless," Lambek said. Copy the Story Link Alexander Hamilton described the judiciary as "the least dangerous branch" of the federal government because it holds neither "the purse" nor "the sword." Rather, the federal courts have "merely judgment." In fact, the judiciary "must ultimately depend upon the aid of the executive arm even for the efficacy of its judgments." But what happens to our constitutional order if the executive loses in court and then refuses to give efficacy to the judgment? What happens when presidents defy court orders? This is no mere academic query. Over the past week, President Donald Trump has inched ever closer to openly defying an order of the U.S. Supreme Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On April 10, the Supreme Court ruled that a federal district court order "properly require[d]" the Trump administration "to facilitate" the "release from custody in El Salvador" of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a man whom the Trump administration admits that it unlawfully deported to a Salvadoran prison because of an "administrative error." The Supreme Court further ordered the administration "to ensure that his case is handled as it would have been had he not been improperly sent to El Salvador," and to "be prepared to share what it can concerning the steps it has taken and the prospect of further steps." To put it mildly, the Trump administration has not faithfully followed this judicial order. Rather, Trump officials have egregiously misrepresented what the order actually said while taking zero steps to facilitate Abrego Garcia's return to the U.S. And things may soon get worse. So let's assume the worst. Assume that the Trump administration just flat out disobeys a direct Supreme Court order. What then? There are certain punitive measures available to the Court in such circumstances, such as sanctioning individual members of the administration over their specific complicity. The Court may also impose new injunctions aimed at specific individuals, departments, or agencies to stop them from participating in the lawlessness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But at some point it all comes back to Hamilton. The judicial branch "may truly be said to have neither FORCE nor WILL," he wrote, "but merely judgment." Think about it like this. In Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas (1954), the Supreme Court declared racial segregation in public education to be "inherently unequal" and therefore unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause. It is among the most famous decisions in American legal history. Brown is justly revered today. Yet it was highly controversial in certain quarters at the time. There were cries of "judicial tyranny" in response to the decision, as well as calls for the impeachment of Chief Justice Earl Warren. And some elected officials took their objections past the point of legality by openly defying the Court's decision. Perhaps the most well-known example of that is provided by Alabama Gov. George Wallace, who used the power of the state to, in his words, "resist any illegal court order, even to the point of standing at the schoolhouse door in person, if necessary." As the chief executive of a state, Wallace had numerous government forces at his disposal, and he unleashed them in a concerted effort to violate Brown and keep segregation in place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brown was a landmark opinion, but it was not enough, by itself, to stop a figure like Wallace from doing great damage for a time. The Court's unanimous decision had "merely judgment," as Hamilton would say, while Wallace had "the sword" of executive power. But the Court's judgment also had its own kind of power, the kind of power that persuades and convinces, the kind of power that compels people to take political action so that a mere judgment has its efficacy in the end. Today, Brown stands as the law of the land. And Wallace, to the extent he is remembered at all, is remembered as a disgrace. So, like Wallace, Trump may spurn court orders and find success for a time. But at the same time, there is a price to be paid. "The Executive will lose much from a public perception of its lawlessness and all of its attendant contagions." Those words appeared yesterday in a remarkable decision by Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit. It is a decision that every American ought to read, for it spells out exactly what is happening in the Abrego Garcia case, and exactly why the Trump administration deserves to lose it. "The Government is asserting a right to stash away residents of this country in foreign prisons without the semblance of due process that is the foundation of our constitutional order," Wilkinson observed. "Further, it claims in essence that because it has rid itself of custody that there is nothing that can be done." Such actions "should be shocking not only to judges, but to the intuitive sense of liberty that Americans far removed from courthouses still hold dear." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like all presidents, Trump is entitled to whine when he loses in court. But the American people will not, I think, look kindly on a loser who tried to wreck the constitutional order in a vain attempt to undo his well-deserved legal defeat. The post What Happens When Presidents Defy Court Orders? appeared first on Reason.com. DES MOINES, Iowa In 1935, the little place on Forest Avenue got tossed onto its ear. It was a cafe owned by a woman named Peggy Fleming, says current owner, Annie Baldwin. When she died, her husband Harlan Boots Fleming turned it into a bar and named it after his wife. Peggys Tavern was born that day on the Drake campus and its seen only minor changes in the 90 years since. People dont want it to change, says manager John Han. They want it to look the way they remember it looking when they were at Drake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peggys added mixed drinks and expanded into the former Dick Pharmacy in the late 1990s, but has mostly kept the rest of its weathered, storied interior intact. The mural was painted in 1959, says Baldwin, who purchased the bar from Mark Graziano in the last decade. The beer steins, booths, and bar go back nearly that far. Wed never want to change those. Ankeny neighborhood faces possible rezoning, plans for Walmart Next week, the tiny bar will erect a giant tent and spill into is rear parking lot. Thousands of Drake students and alums will pack every inch to buy 30-50 kegs worth of beer over five days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It pretty much pays the bills for the whole year, Han says of Relays week. Baldwin says the traditional Peggys Relays cup will get a special twist for this years 90th birthday celebration. Weve ordered 12,000 of them, she says. Well break them out on Thursday, and by Saturday at 9pm theyll be gone. Every one of them. Baldwin says for many Drake alums, Peggys has been a part of their story. They tell me how they met their husband or wife, here, she says. And nearly every year, someone gets down on a knee and proposes here. Weve actually had a wedding in a tent out back. Those returning to Peggys this year will certainly relive some of their happy stories of college. They certainly wont find any reason to fear it wont continue to be a part of those stories for another 90 years. Metro News: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. Gary Belille Jr., 33, a Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe tribal member, thought hed be safe from harassment while spearfishing on his tribes reservation in northern Wisconsin. He, his cousin, and another group of tribal members set out from a boat landing near Anchor Bay on the reservation to spear for walleye on Lac Courte Oreilles Lake the night of April 7. Coming back to shore about 10 p.m., they found the tires of their pickup trucks had been slashed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They (the vandals) were definitely non-tribal people because this happened last year to other spearers near the same area, Belille said. But I never expected this to happen on the reservation. Being a victim of this, Im at a loss for words. Were not bugging anyone. A speard Walleye by Joe Bates on High Lake Monday April 26, 1999. He said they reported the incident to tribal police, who are implementing a plan to try to catch the perpetrators. Earlier that day, Gov. Tony Evers released a statement warning against this kind of harassment. Its our responsibility to help uphold agreements and honor treaty rights, protect against harvesting harassment and to call out anti-Native hate and racism when we hear it, Evers said in a video message on social media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other officials released similar statements. The (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources) agency fully supports legally protected Ojibwe treaty rights and tribal sovereignty, said DNR Secretary Karen Hyun. We will swiftly act on incidents of violence and harassment against tribal citizens. The states top prosecutor weighed in, as well. Tribal members must be able to safely exercise their right to hunt, fish and gather in the Ceded Territories without unlawful interference, said Attorney General Josh Kaul. Despite these warnings, incidents of harassment against Ojibwe spearers still occur annually more than 30 years after the Walleye Wars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many of these incidents go unreported, but when perpetrators are caught in incidents that do get reported, they often face little to no penalty from non-tribal courts. In 2021, a hate crime charge was dropped against a St. Germain man who the previous year had fired his gun as Ojibwe spearfishers boated on the lake near his home. James Kelsey, then 62, pleaded no contest to using a gun while intoxicated and had to pay a $343.50 fine and serve no jail time, a Vilas County judge had ruled, to the ire and frustration of tribal members and their supporters. Its basically 300 and something dollars to shoot at us as we practice our treaty rights to fish, Greg (Biskakone) Johnson told the Green Bay Press-Gazette at the time of the ruling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ojibwe tribal members have the treaty rights to hunt and fish off-reservation and off the state-designated harvest season. These treaty rights were made with the federal government in the mid-1850s in exchange for the government taking millions of acres of Ojibwe land in northern Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigans Upper Peninsula collectively known as the Ceded Territories. State governments had ignored these treaty rights until federal courts affirmed them in the 1970s. This eventually led to Ojibwe spearers harvesting in the early spring in Wisconsin lakes, which drew large angry protests from many non-tribal members around the country. Some of these protests grew violent during a period known as the Walleye Wars in the 1980s. Rocks were hurled at tribal members; boats were rammed into their boats; racial slurs were yelled at them. The memories and effects of that time linger in the Northwoods. Many non-Indigenous residents unfairly blame tribal members for declining walleye populations, despite tribal fish hatcheries stocking many more walleye into Wisconsin lakes than tribal members harvest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Critics contend Ojibwe overfish walleye. Thanks to tribal fish hatcheries, it's not even close. In addition, ecologists with the DNR set safe walleye harvest limits for tribal members for each lake. The harvests are then counted by creel clerks waiting on shore. Also, there are about 500 tribal spearers in Wisconsin compared to about 2 million non-tribal anglers, according to DNR officials. The Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, which helps manage natural resources in the Ceded Territories, encourages tribal members to remember the four Cs if being harassed while harvesting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These are to create distance between the perpetrators, confirm their location for authorities, call 911 and check in with the Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission. Belille said the incident wont deter him from practicing his treaty right to feed his family and his tribe. Were getting tired of it throughout the years of this happening to us, he said. Its all hate is what it is. More: Tribal spearfishers continue practice for food sovereignty, culture despite claims of harassment in northern Wisconsin Sign up for the First Nations Wisconsin newsletter Click here to get all of our Indigenous news coverage right in your inbox Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Frank Vaisvilas is a former Report for America corps member who covers Native American issues in Wisconsin based at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact him at fvaisvilas@gannett.com or 815-260-2262. Follow him on Twitter at @vaisvilas_frank. Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe tribal members had their tires slashed while spearing for walleye in northern Wisconsin on April 7, 2025. Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe tribal members had their tires slashed while spearing for walleye in northern Wisconsin on April 7, 2025. This story was updated to add a video. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Harassment against Ojibwe spearfishing continues in northern Wisconsin VANCOUVER, Wash. (KOIN) Miranda Moe was the leasing manager of the Vancouver Mall during the time multiple women accused a skincare store of using aggressive sales tactics to pressure women into spending tens of thousands of dollars. At the same time, she said Hai Baranetz the tenant of the skincare store intimidated, threatened, and harassed her about renewing his lease for BH28 Skincare Consultants. Aggressive skin care sales tactics leave Vancouver women out thousands Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vancouver police confirmed she filed a police report against Baranetz for harassment on December 19, 2024. Moe resigned from her managerial position a month later because she said her superiors didnt properly intervene when Baranetz (who also uses the alias Baranes) was harassing her. Tracy Peters, senior general manager at Vancouver Mall, declined to comment on Moes resignation, citing confidentiality laws and a desire to respect the employees privacy. Clark County court records show she filed for an anti-harassment protection order against him and detailed his behavior. Baranetz would constantly call me, text me, FaceTime me, follow me around the mall. He stopped me in front of the office and put his arm around my neck and whispered in my ear that he will ruin my life if I dont get his lease renewed, Moe told KOIN 6 News. He told me he was in Anunnaki, that he has special powers, that he was in the Israeli military and trained in hypnosis, and that he has all of these friends in the Israeli army that he could send to do his dirty work, basically, for him and that I need to stay on his good side. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said she was terrified of him and his scare tactics. When he started threatening me, telling me that he would release all of these supposed deep fake videos and audio that he created of me in an attempt to get me fired and ruin my life, I was definitely afraid, she said. Baranetz denied harassing Moe and contested the request for a protection order, leading the two to tell their stories to a Clark County Judge. He cornered me in front of my office and one of my coworkers had to come out and help me get away, Moe told the Judge. So I went straight into my office and told my boss. She mentioned that I had many complaints, that is not true, Baranetz said in his response. Everything she said since the beginning of court is a lie. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baranetz told the court that Moe would flirt with him and that she used witchcraft to cast a spell on the malls general manager. He described the restraining order as nonsense, and said it was intended to prevent him from telling her boss information that would supposedly get her fired. Meanwhile, Baranetz wifes declaration accused Moe of trying to marry her husband saying she was desperate for their money, but immediately contradicted herself by claiming Moe was staunchly antisemitic. The judge questioned Moe about the claims from Baranetzs wife and she denied them under oath. Another tenant at the mall testified supporting Moes complaint saying that Mr. Baranes and his employees are overly aggressive in their interactions with mall customers as they walk by their store, and that shes seen Mr. Baranes on four or five occasions over the last few months, yelling loudly at the petitioner Mirada Moe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After reviewing the evidence, the judge sided with Moe and issued a restraining order against Baranetz in February. He is no longer allowed to come within 250 feet of her, and the court ordered him to delete any fake social media, pictures, video and audio he had of Moe. Weve reached out to Baranetzs attorney for comment, hes yet to respond. The other court case That wasnt the only legal trouble Baranetz was facing at the time. While Moe took Baranetz to court for harassment, KOIN 6 News broke the story that Vancouver police arrested Baranetz for attempting to steal $50,000 from a 75-year-old skincare customer. A week after his arrest, police served a search warrant at his store to obtain his business records. Vancouver bank teller saves woman from $50K skin care trance Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A few days after the KOIN 6 News investigation into their sales tactics, we confirmed the BH28 Skincare shop and kiosks shut down. Hai Baranetz in his first court appearance in Clark County, January 15, 2025 (KOIN) Theyll catch you at the kiosk but once they get you in that back room, youre done, Moe said. I know that I talked to multiple people who spent some anywhere between $16,000 to $50,000. Customers told KOIN 6 News they went to Moe with complaints about BH28 Skincare Consultants, that they were pressured into buying products for thousands of dollars on to later learn there is a strict no refund policy. Skincare stores close following KOIN 6 News investigation Even after I left the mall, I had talked to a few of the women that had issues with him and that he had taken advantage of, she said. I definitely feel so bad for them because they should not have gone through that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, Tracy Peters, the senior general manager at the Vancouver Mall said: Mall management has fully cooperated with the efforts of local law enforcement as they conducted a criminal investigation into the activities of a former tenant of the mall. We appreciate the efforts of the Vancouver Police Department as they work hard to help keep the Vancouver community safe. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. TOKYO - A Tokyo museum presenting Japan's perspective on its territorial disputes reopened Friday after renovations, hoping to draw more young visitors. The National Museum of Territory and Sovereignty features exhibits on the Northern Territories -- Russian-held, Japanese-claimed islands off Hokkaido known in Russia as the Southern Kurils -- as well as the South Korea-controlled islets in the Sea of Japan, called Takeshima in Japan and Dokdo in South Korea. The exhibits also include the Tokyo-controlled, Beijing-claimed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea. The museum had previously relied heavily on text-heavy panels but has introduced new exhibits to attract younger visitors, including an immersive theater featuring computer-generated images of the Northern Territories, Senkaku Islands and Takeshima projected on the walls, floor and ceiling, allowing visitors to feel as if they are flying or underwater. "I hope that (the museum) creates an opportunity for visitors to deepen their understanding of Japan's territorial sovereignty," Manabu Sakai, the minister in charge of territorial issues, said at the reopening ceremony. South Korea's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it strongly opposes the reopening and has requested the museum be shut down, adding that Japan's claim over Takeshima is not conducive to the future-oriented direction of bilateral relations. Related coverage: FIFA exhibit marks 44th anniv. of Japan manga "Captain Tsubasa" Renowned art museum in central Japan to temporarily close for repairs Smithsonian exhibition including Japan A-bomb photos delayed to 2026 It appears things are finally looking up for Harvey Weinstein, who recently scored another legal victory after last year's successful appeal. The disgraced film producer pushed to get himself transferred out of Rikers Island prison over allegations of horrific living conditions and the mismanagement of his health issues. His demands didn't end there, with talks of a $5 million compensation. Although the monetary compensation has not been granted, Harvey Weinstein's legal team successfully earned him his freedom from prison. Harvey Weinstein Will Be Transferred To Bellevue Hospital ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA According to new reports, a judge signed off on Weinstein's pleas to be transferred from Rikers Island to Bellevue Hospital until his upcoming retrial hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legal umpire granted him temporary freedom on Thursday, April 17, thanks to the film producer's attorney, Imran Ansari, and his Prison Consultant and authorized New York State healthcare consultant, Craig Rothfeld. Weinstein will remain at the medical center pending his hearing, which is scheduled for April 24 at 2:15 PM ET. His 2020 rape conviction in New York was overturned following a successful appeal, resulting in the upcoming retrial hearing. TMZ reported the jury selection for the upcoming hearing in New York City began earlier this week. Weinstein fell from grace in 2017 with dozens of women accusing him of sexual abuse, rape, and harassment. These allegations sparked the #MeToo Movement and the "Weinstein effect" as more powerful men in the industry were accused of similar crimes. The Miramax Co-Founder Asked For $5 Million In Compensation ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA The Blast covered Weinstein's petition to be transferred from Rikers Island to Bellevue Hospital, reporting that his legal team demanded $5 million in damages from the medical center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite having a history with the hospital, which treated him repeatedly in the past year, Weinstein listed them as part of the offenders in his transfer petition. He slammed them for releasing him back to prison before he had fully recovered. The $5 million compensation also affected the City of New York and its relevant agencies, with Weinstein arguing that he suffered physically and psychologically over his "horrific" treatment in prison. He blamed Rikers Island for health-damaging living conditions. Inside Weinstein's Alleged Health Complaints MEGA Weinstein's lawyers stressed that he must be transferred to the medical center because Rikers lacked the necessities to treat him. They claimed the prison had grossly mismanaged his already deteriorating health, accusing the medical staff of failing to provide him with proper healthcare. Weinstein's legal reps accused Rikers' medical staff of several problems, including misdiagnosing at least one condition. The film producer's attorney, Imran H. Ansari, echoed similar sentiments in a statement, implying the mismanagement of his client's alleged ailments could have fatal consequences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The list of problems plaguing Weinstein included cancer, diabetes, extensive coronary artery disease, and chest pain due to lowered levels of blood flowing to the heart. His ailments continued with obstructive sleep apnea, thyroid issues, obesity, chronic lower back and leg pain, anemia, hypertension, and more. The Weinstein Company Co-Founder Allegedly Suffered Behind Bars RCF / MEGA According to Weinstein's attorney, Rikers Prison's poor living conditions did a serious number to his health. He alleged his client lived in "freezing" temperatures without clean clothes, which worsened his declining health. The aftermath saw Weinstein suffering from COVID-19, double pneumonia, and a recent surgery to alleviate the fluid buildup in his heart and lungs. Ansari also took shots at NYC officials, noting they played a part in his client's pain. The legal rep explained that he tried to get Weinstein transferred from Rikers to Bellevue Hospital. However, his repeated pleas were brushed aside as NYC officials allegedly ignored him. Ansari doubled down on the transfer being crucial to Weinstein's life, insisting it could prevent his premature death. Harvey Weinstein's Rep Blamed His Weight Gain On Prison Conditions Eric Kowalsky / MEGA Weinstein's alleged problems behind bars first made waves following a complaint from his rep, Juda Engelmayer. The media personality's spokesperson claimed the convicted sex offender had gained significant weight since his incarceration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rep noted he gained over 25 pounds since his transfer from Bellevue Hospital, with nearly 19 pounds gained in the past month. Engelmayer stressed that this wasn't a small problem because of Weinstein's existing diabetes and heart issues. Engelmayer's complaints about Rikers' poor living conditions continued with claims that Weinstein had suffered severe tongue inflammation. This condition worried the rep because it allegedly affected his ability to swallow, sparking choking concerns. Given Harvey Weinstein's recent streak of luck, can he score his $5 million compensation demand? Harvey Weinstein in a Manhattan court on April 15, 2025. - Credit: Sarah Yenesel-Pool/Getty Images Harvey Weinstein will be allowed to stay in a New York City hospital, instead of jail, during his retrial on sexual assault charges in New York City, The Associated Press reports. Weinsteins lawyers requested the hospital transfer earlier this week, and on Thursday night, April 17, Judge Paul Goetz approved the move. Weinstein, who was previously incarcerated at Rikers Island jail, will be allowed to stay at the prison ward at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan. More from Rolling Stone Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In their request, Weinsteins lawyers cited the deplorable conditions at the jail and said the disgraced producer was being consistently mistreated for serious infections and other ailments. Weinstein was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, a type of bone marrow cancer, in October 2024. Because of this mistreatment, he has been worn down considerably health-wise, and now faces the stress of trial in this condition, which may very well lead to serious health complications, even death, his lawyer, Imran H. Ansari, wrote at the time. Jury selection in Weinsteins retrial began this week and is set to continue Monday, April 21. Nine jurors have been selected so far, meaning three more jurors, plus six alternates, still need to be seated. Weinstein is being retried in New York after his 2020 conviction was overturned. The producer was originally convicted on two out of five charges against him, one for a felony sex crime, and the other for third-degree rape. The charges related to two victims: Former production assistant Miriam Haley, who accused Weinstein of assaulting her in 2006 (the sex crime charge) and actress Jessica Mann, who said Weinstein raped her in a hotel in 2013 (the rape charge). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison, but last spring an appeals court overturned the conviction, saying that prosecutors should not have been allowed to let some of Weinsteins other accusers, whose allegations were not related to the charges he faced, testify. Ahead of the retrial, prosecutors brought one new sex crime charge against Weinstein, with an anonymous woman accusing him of sexually assaulting her in a Manhattan hotel room in 2006. Weinstein has pleaded not guilty to the new charge and repeatedly denied all other allegations against him. Along with the New York case, Weinstein was also convicted of rape and sexual assault, and sentenced to 16 years in prison, in a separate California case. Hes filed an appeal in that case, as well. Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. NEW YORK (AP) Harvey Weinstein has been moved to a New York City hospital after a judge approved the ailing ex-studio bosss request to stay there rather than in jail when hes not in court for his #MeToo retrial. Judge Paul Goetz late Thursday ordered that Weinstein be immediately relocated from the citys notorious Rikers Island jail complex to the prison ward at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan so he can receive necessary medical treatment. Weinsteins lawyers lobbied for the move as jury selection got underway this week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They argued in court papers that being locked up in a sometimes freezing jail cell was exacerbating the Oscar-winning producer's health issues, which include chronic myeloid leukemia, diabetes and walking difficulties that require a wheelchair to get in and out of court. Goetzs order will remain in effect at least until next Thursday, when he is set to hold a hearing to discuss the matter further. A different judge, Curtis Farber, is presiding over Weinstein's retrial. The case will resume Monday with more jury selection after nine jurors were picked this week. In all, 12 jurors and six alternates need to be seated. Weinstein is being tried again on rape and sexual assault charges after New Yorks highest court, the Court of Appeals, last year overturned his 2020 conviction and 23-year prison sentence and ordered a new trial, finding that improper rulings and prejudicial testimony tainted the original one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weinstein has pleaded not guilty and denies raping or sexually assaulting anyone. Weinstein has been back and forth numerous times to Bellevue in recent months for treatment of various maladies. At a pretrial hearing in January, he railed against his treatment at Rikers, telling Farber he wanted to get out of this hellhole as quickly as possible. Weinstein's lawyers filed a legal claim against New York City last November, alleging he was receiving substandard medical treatment in unhygienic conditions at Rikers. The claim, which seeks $5 million in damages, argues that Weinstein has been returned to Rikers each time before fully recovering at the hospital. The troubled jail complex has faced growing scrutiny for its mistreatment of detainees and dangerous conditions. Last year, a federal judge cleared the way for a possible federal takeover, finding the city had placed inmates in unconstitutional danger. Children at The Playing Field, a Madison child care center that participates in the federal Head Start program. (Courtesy of The Playing Field) Federal payments to Wisconsins Head Start programs in the first three and a half months of 2025 are half what they were a year ago, exacerbating worries about the future of the program that provides child care and early education to low-income families. The Office of Head Starts payments to Wisconsin program operators from Jan. 1 through April 15 of this year were down by $35 million from the same period in 2024, Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin) said this week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nationwide, Head Start program operators have received $943 million less during that period this year compared with the period a year ago, according to Sen. Patty Murray (D-Washington), who published a table of calculations comparing disbursements for every state in a press release. The table shows Wisconsin disbursements of $34.5 million as of April 15, compared with $69.5 million in the 2024 period. Baldwin contrasted the potential impact with the pledge by the White House and the Republican majority in Congress to extend tax cuts enacted in 2017 during Trumps first term. The idea that the president is actively working to give the biggest corporations and wealthiest Wall Street guys a new tax break while taking away preschool and child care from Wisconsinites is beyond the pale, said Baldwin, vowing to fight actions of President Donald Trump she described as defunding Head Start. The calculations in Murrays table are based on Head Start disbursement data that Senate Democrats pulled from the Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While most states in Murrays table had lower disbursements compared with a year ago, Alabama, Delaware, New Jersey, Rhode Island and the District of Columbia all showed increases. The calculations put the big-picture numbers on funding disruptions that Head Start providers have been experiencing in the last three months, said Jennie Mauer, executive director of the Wisconsin Head Start Association. Those disruptions first surfaced after Trump took office, with delays of up to two weeks in late January and early February for Head Start programs seeking authorized payment for their expenses. More recently, the disruptions have continued as providers who have submitted the required documents for payment have been confronted with unexpected demands for more information Mauer said Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The [federal] administration is really messing around, pulling out the foundational blocks of grant operation, Mauer said. In order to get approved for a grant, recipients must provide a detailed accounting of how it will be spent, she said. To get payment, providers must submit detailed documentation that the expense it covers has already been incurred. This is a highly regulated system, Mauer said. Theres a very rigorous initial grant application process, and then on an ongoing basis grantees are demonstrating, We told you what were going to spend the money on. Now based on what I told you, Im asking for that money. The disclosure of the drop in Head Start funding comes a week after a published report raised the possibility that Head Start will be zeroed out of the next federal budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It also comes as some providers wait for information about their upcoming grant replenishments, Mauer said. Head Start grants are provided under multi-year contracts signed with providers. The money itself, however, does not come to providers in large lump sums but in smaller amounts paid upon the submission of documented expenses, Mauer said. Every six months, an allotment from the providers grant is made available, she said. Those funds are not paid directly to the provider, however. The money is set aside for the provider to draw on after submitting expense documents through the federal online payment system. Providers grant cycles start on the first of the month. In Wisconsin, providers whose grant cycle started Nov. 1 have now received confirmation of their next grant allotment for the six months starting May 1, Mauer said Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But with the previous funding access problems and then the sudden closing three weeks ago of half of Head Starts national offices, including the Chicago Region 5 office that served Wisconsin and five other states, providers were apprehensive. The level of uncertainty and chaos is so dramatic, Mauer said in contrast not only to the Biden administration, but also the previous Trump administration. Until this year, these kinds of questions and uncertainties didnt exist. Three providers whose grant cycle started Dec. 1 are waiting to learn whether their next allotment will become available starting June 1 as scheduled. Mauer said the Senate Democrats calculations appear to be showing the cumulative effect of the access to HHS funding streams by the team working for DOGE, an agency directed by billionaire and Trump ally Elon Musk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DOGE is the acronym for the Department of Government Efficiency, although the office is not a cabinet department, and many of its claims of government savings have been questioned. The hold-up on information is having a tremendous negative effect on our programs and its alarming, Mauer said. When we think of what are the impacts of Region 5 closing and that we continue to have very, very minimal and slow communication from the Office of Head Start they need to start communicating with grantees in a much more substantive way. The Wisconsin Examiner contacted the federal Department of Health and Human Services using the HHS website for journalists inquiries and has not yet received a response. This report will be updated when a response is received. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX HONOLULU (KHON2) As you pack your bags and lei to head to the Merrie Monarch Festival, heres a reminder that rules are in place to restrict the movement of ohia plants from the Big Island. The quarantine rule has been in place since 2015 for ohia plants and plant parts such as flowers, leaves, seeds, stems and more due to the risk of fungal plant disease rapid ohia death. Akamai Arrival takes off: Ag declaration form goes digital Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Department of Agriculture said the plant disease is devastating to native forests. Officials added that even the act of harvesting ohia can spread the disease, as the spores can be carried in soil, harvesting tools, shoes, clothing and more. To prevent ohia material from leaving the Big Island, PQB inspectors will be stationed at airports in Hilo and Kona, where it will be collected and returned to the native forests. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You Those who are caught attempting to transport the plant may be charged with a misdemeanor and fined up to $10,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If a second offense is committed, violators can face fines up to $25,000. Questions regarding inspection information can be directed to HDOAs Plant Quarantine offices: Hilo: (808) 961-9393 Kona: (808) 326-1077 Honolulu: (808) 937-8413 Maui: (808) 872-3848 Kauai: (808) 241-7135 Check out more news from around Hawaii For more information on rapid ohia death, visit the HDOAs website or the UH College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources 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 KHON2. Apr. 17WASHINGTON Charlie Pase considers himself "unusually lucky." He was just 17 when he joined the Marine Corps in 1943, hoping to help free his older brother, a prisoner of war in Japan. In the years that followed, he survived the battles of Tarawa, Saipan, Tinian and Okinawa despite being a machine gunner "right in the middle of it" and stayed in Japan once World War II ended as part of the force that occupied Nagasaki after the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the city. When he arrived on the National Mall on Thursday, now 99, Pase was the eldest of the 94 veterans who spent the day visiting memorials to those who have served in the U.S. military. He said the experience helped him reflect on his own life and the lives of his fellow veterans and their fallen comrades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It takes us back and gives us a sense of what this was all about. I think that, perhaps, is the most important thing," Pase said. "I'm amazed at the friendship, and it makes you realize that it's all been worth it and nothing is ever free." The trip was organized by Inland Northwest Honor Flight, which charters a plane from Spokane to the nation's capital each year for scores of veterans who travel free of charge and volunteer "guardians" who accompany them. Tony Lamanna, who founded the nonprofit in 2009, said he and his team have organized about 50 of the trips, which began by taking smaller groups on more frequent commercial flights. Thursday's group included two World War II veterans, seven Korean War veterans and 85 veterans of the Vietnam War. The nonprofit gives priority to veterans of earlier wars and those with terminal illnesses. At the World War II Memorial, Pase met Bill Beckstrom, who was also 17 when he joined the Navy in 1944 and served in the Battle of Okinawa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now 98, Beckstrom said he had never been to the eastern half of the United States and wishes he had made the trip sooner. "I should have done it before," he said. "I wasn't going to come at all, but everyone wanted me to come so I finally said, 'OK, let's see how it goes.' And I'm glad I did. It's been wonderful." Norval Figy, 93, was one of the Korean War veterans who made the trip. He said he didn't want to miss the chance to see the memorials for the first time in his life. His son Dan Figy, a fellow Air Force veteran, was one of the guardians who accompanied the veterans along with the nonprofit's board, six medics, a comfort dog named Isaac and his handlers. Mike Jones, a Navy veteran from Spokane Valley who has returned for multiple trips as a guardian since he benefitted from an Honor Flight himself, recalled taking a fellow Vietnam veteran a year earlier to the wall that bears the names of those who died in that war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "He had a lot of trauma," Jones said. "He left a lot of pain at that wall, like a lot of the vets do. It's a healing time." As Beckstrom and Jones left the World War II Memorial and walked to their bus, they passed through a cheering group of students that applauded and waved signs that read "Thank You Veterans." When the group disembarked at its next stop, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, some of the younger members remembered receiving a different welcome when they returned home from a war that much of the public opposed. Gray Wolf, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians who also goes by Joseph Parker, grew up on the Qualla Reservation in North Carolina and joined the Army when he was 18. Staring at the thousands of names on the memorial wall, he said that in nearly eight years in Vietnam as a sniper and Special Forces soldier, he witnessed the deaths of so many of his comrades that he wasn't sure which name to look for first. The experience left him with severe post-traumatic stress disorder, he said. The attitude many Americans had toward Vietnam veterans made his return to the country he had left as a teenager even harder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "People just don't realize how much it rips somebody apart," he said. "And then getting back here and getting called all kinds of names, spit on." As Gray Wolf stood in front of the wall, several children stopped to thank him for his service. After he thanked them in return and they moved on, he said the gesture touched his heart. "It makes me feel a little bit better that some people care, but there's still a lot of people that don't give a crap about a Vietnam vet," said Gray Wolf, who lives in Airway Heights. Then, watching families strolling in front of the memorial, he said quietly, "I wish I could be as normal as they are." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also at the wall, Joe Hemmerich struggled to stand up from his wheelchair with the help of his son, Aaron. The Navy veteran, who lives in Colville, stretched to touch the name of Lloyd G. Howie, a friend whose story Hemmerich said he hadn't told until that day. In 1970, Hemmerich was working as a radar operator on the USS Bon Homme Richard, an aircraft carrier off the coast of Vietnam. Howie, who would chat with the younger Hemmerich in the combat information center, was flying a patrol mission in his F-8 Crusader that turned disastrous when he couldn't safely land on the carrier's deck and ran out of fuel, crashing into the sea. When he recalled seeing his friend's remains, Hemmerich broke down. Now battling advanced cancer that he believes is connected to his exposure to the herbicide Agent Orange, the Navy veteran said the trip was an opportunity to reconnect with that formative part of his life. Orion Donovan Smith's work is funded in part by members of the Spokane community via the Community Journalism and Civic Engagement Fund. This story can be republished by other organizations for free under a Creative Commons license. For more information on this, please contact our newspaper's managing editor. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) Blake Leonard is a first-year student at Florida State University. He said, what started as a forgotten coffee, ended in a harrowing escape. Two people were killed, six were injured, and a suspect was taken into custody after an active shooter was reported at Florida State University. 2 dead, 6 injured in Florida State University shooting, police say The reported shooter was located Thursday in the area of Student Union, where a Tallahassee Police spokesperson said officers confronted him and opened fire after he refused their commands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspect, identified as 20-year-old Pheonix Ikner, the son of a Leon County deputy, was then taken into custody and transported to a hospital. Leonard said Thursday started out like any other day. He explained that, around lunchtime, he was at the Thagard building when he realized he forgot his coffee at the Student Union. So, he turned around, just 500 feet away from the Union. Moments later, Leonard said he was running for his life. I heard about 12 shots go off, and I looked behind me to make sure Im hearing what Im hearing and its not like construction or something, he explained. I started hearing people leave the union, like sprinting out of the union, just trying to get to safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leonard said, within seconds, he was sprinting too. VIDEO: Police respond to active shooter at Florida State University Im running too, because Im not trying to get, he said. I dont know where the shooter is going to be going; I dont know where he is specifically, I just know I heard shots, and I see people running away. News Channel 8 reporter Nicole Rogers asked Leonard, At what point did you know they were gunshots? I know what gunshots sound like, and in my head Im like, those are gunshots, he explained. But I know construction goes on all the time. So, when I looked backwards in the area where I saw gunshots from, when I saw people running out, I was like, theres no question, those were gunshots, Leonard continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He explained to 8 On Your Side, this is something he never thought would happen to him. Its just so surreal, and everyone in distress, Leonard described. Thats really the only way I can describe it. Its crazy, like something youd see out of a movie, he continued. Its so surreal. You see on Instagram and everything of other schools and everything, but you never think its actually going to be your school, Leonard explained. That it would actually be FSU. Now, Florida State students are moving forward. With a vigil planned for Saturday evening, Leonard said, the shootings impact on Tallahassee is far from over. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People are terrified, he said. As I got back on campus, people were packing their bags, leaving. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Apr. 18SOAP LAKE The Soap Lake Civil Service Commission convened Monday for a meeting addressing the contested termination of former Soap Lake Police Department Chief Ryan Cox, who is challenging his dismissal following a disciplinary investigation. Cox was terminated by city officials Feb. 13 after being placed on paid administrative leave for 13 weeks while an investigation occurred on Cox's alleged misconduct. "(The termination) was unexpected and is being actively challenged through the appropriate appeals process," Cox wrote in a statement to the Columbia Basin Herald previously. "I strongly disagree with this decision and believe it to be unjustified. I am committed to seeking a fair resolution and will continue to pursue all available options to overturn this outcome. I would like to express deep appreciation for the opportunity to serve the citizens of Soap Lake since 2013. It has been an honor to dedicate my time and efforts to this community for over a decade. I remain committed to its well-being. At this time, no further statements will be made until the appeals process is complete. I appreciate the support from colleagues, supporters, and the community during this time." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the latest April 14 meeting, the commission discussed procedural logistics and set a pathway forward. A motion was made concerning the upcoming hearing dates. Discovery will be due July 1. Deposition is to be completed Aug. 22. Then Sept. 23 through the 26 will be the actual hearing. During a March 25 meeting, Soap Lake City Attorney Julie Norton presented a motion to recuse Commissioner Raymond Gravelle from the hearings, citing alleged violations of the "appearance of fairness" doctrine. "We are not seeking removal, just recusal," Norton said. "If he is not recused, there's a substantial risk that the proceeding will be invalidated." Concrete allegations of improper communications before and after Cox's appeal were detailed, with Norton emphasizing that Gravel's prior interactions with the former chief could create bias. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Norton identified several instances of ex parte communications that could disqualify Gravel's participation. "Some occurred before the appeal, while others came after, violating the rules that mandate impartiality." She cited Gravel's public comments characterizing Cox's actions as "slanderous" and "wrongfully accused." Such statements were flagged as detrimental to maintaining an unbiased hearing. Commissioner Fred Slipper echoed concerns about the potential for bias, underscoring the necessity of adhering to the rules governing civil service proceedings. "We need to ensure that all decision-makers appear impartial to avoid any future appeal," he said. The commission, after recusing Gravelle, will be two commissioners John Spencer and Slipper. CORNELIUS, Ore. (KOIN) A community is mourning as questions remain about the death of a Cornelius mom and her three children discovered at their home last week. The Washington County Sheriffs Office has now confirmed to KOIN 6 News that it is a homicide investigation but there is still no suspect, nor has anyone been charged with a crime. The investigation is still ongoing, officials said. Last week, the sheriffs office said its Violent Crimes Unit was assisting with the investigation. Missing kayaker IDd, family truly devastated Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On April 8, Washington County Sheriffs deputies responded to the home near 300 N 15th Ave. after receiving a call from someone who found the family. When deputies arrived, they found a woman dead, along with three children, ages 2, 5 and 7. The woman was later identified as 37-year-old Hong Phuong Le. The incident has since left the Cornelius community shaken. On Thursday, a candlelight vigil was held to spread love to our community. It began at 7 p.m. at Cornelius Elementary School, where the two older children were students. School and community leaders spoke during the vigil, where about 100 people quietly grieved and handed out kindness rocks to spread a message of love and unity during this devastation. Kindness rocks are at a vigil for a Cornelius family found dead. April 17, 2025 (KOIN). Flowers and candles are gathered at a vigil for a Cornelius family found dead. April 17, 2025 (KOIN). Tori Eaton speaks during a candle light vigil for a Cornelius family that was found dead. April 17, 2025 (KOIN). Cornelius community members gather at the Cornelius Elementary School for a vigil for a family of four found dead. April 17, 2025 (KOIN). Cornelius community members gather at the Cornelius Elementary School for a vigil for a family of four found dead. April 17, 2025 (KOIN). Cornelius community members gather at the Cornelius Elementary School for a vigil for a family of four found dead. April 17, 2025 (KOIN). Its really hard to imagine what happened. We dont want to imagine what happened, but its really important that that family keeps going and they are part of us. Theyre in our heart. They are part of our family, here at Cornelius, said Cornelius Elementary School Principal Angella Graves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When tragedies happen, instead of going against one another, were here and were supporting each other and were showing up and that means everything, added Cornelius City Council President Angeles Godinez. 3 men posed as DEA agents, comitted robbery People recalled the family as being an important part of the community that interacted daily with others at the school. Many expressed the great loss rippling through the tight-knit town. KOIN 6 will continue to follow this story and report on any developments 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 KOIN.com. JERUSALEM, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement on Friday that he is committed, along with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and all parties, to leading a "clear course of action" to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Katz noted that when appointed defense minister in November last year, he pledged to achieve two main goals: preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and winning the multi-front war. "The military is currently fighting for victory in all arenas," he said, adding, "We will not allow threats of annihilation against Israel." His remarks echoed a Thursday statement from Netanyahu's office, which insisted that Israel would not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons. The Israeli rhetoric came ahead of the second round of nuclear talks between the United States and Iran, which will be held this weekend in the Italian capital of Rome. The first round of indirect talks was held in Oman's Muscat last week, with both sides describing the talks as "constructive." COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCBD) Leaders across South Carolina are reacting to the deadly accident involving a Lexington County school bus that killed one person and injured many others. A bus carrying roughly 35 students and several adults from Pine Ridge Middle School was traveling along Interstate 77 in Chester County around 2 p.m. Thursday when a tire blew, causing it to hit a guardrail and overturn. The Chester County Coroners Office confirmed Friday that one person a 13-year-old eighth grader died in the crash, according to Nexstar affiliate WJZY. 28 other individuals were taken to the hospital to be treated for injuries and are reportedly in good condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bus was one of three Lexington County School District Two buses returning from a field trip in Charlotte, North Carolina. The other two buses were not involved in the crash. South Carolina leaders quickly took to social media and other platforms, offering condolences to the families affected by the tragedy. Read their responses below: Governor Henry McMaster Todays school bus accident in Chester County is a tragedy no family should ever have to endure. Peggy and I are heartbroken. Please join us in praying for the victim, their family, a speedy recovery for those injured, and the entire Lexington Two community. All of South Carolina is with you. State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver Our hearts are broken by the tragic bus accident in Chester County this afternoon. Our entire state is mourning alongside the Pine Ridge Middle School families, friends, classmates, and educators. Please join me in praying for the Lexington Two community. Attorney General Alan Wilson Devastated to hear about the school bus crash in Chester County. My heart goes out to the students, families, and the entire Pine Ridge Middle School community. South Carolina is praying for you. U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson South Carolinas 2nd Congressional District As we continue to monitor the situation, my thoughts and prayers go out to the families and students affected by the Pine Ridge Middle School bus accident. Senate Democratic Caucus Our hearts are heavy this evening following the devastating school bus accident involving students and staff from Pine Ridge Middle School in Lexington County. We are closely monitoring reports, and are grateful to the emergency responders, hospital staff, and all those working to ensure the safety and care of the injured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To the families affected know that the thoughts and prayers of the entire Senate Democratic Caucus are with you. We are standing in full support of the Pine Ridge community during this incredibly difficult time. We also want to commend the swift action of Chester County emergency personnel and the South Carolina Highway Patrol. Their courage and professionalism make a difference when seconds matter most. As we await further details from investigators, we urge the public to keep the students, families, and school staff in their prayers. We are committed to ensuring a full review of the circumstances surrounding the crash and to supporting all efforts to provide healing and accountability. State Sen. Tameika Isaac Devine (D-Richland) Praying for all the students and teachers involved in the Lexington County School District 2 school bus crash. State Rep. Hamilton Grant (D-Richland) Devastating news coming from yesterdays tragic accident. Our prayers are with this grieving family and community. May Gods loving arms comfort all who are bereaved. State Rep. Micah Caskey (R-Lexington) Absolutely heartbreaking. State Rep. Russell Ott (D-Calhoun) Our Pine Ridge Middle School family experienced a tragedy today. Families in our community are hurting and there are no words that will be able to ease that pain. I want to thank first responders at the scene and everyone who has come together to ensure parents could be unified with their children quickly and safely. As we continue to sort through the details of the accident be assured all involved are working to make sure every resource is available to those affected. State Rep. Sarita Edgerton (R-Spartanburg) This is just devastating. My heart is broken. State Rep. Jackie Terribile (R-York) As a mother, my heart goes out to the students, staff, and families in Lexington County School District Two following todays tragic school bus accident. Im keeping everyone affected in my prayers and am grateful for the swift response from first responders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This page may 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 WCBD News 2. As we approach the 100-day mark of Trump 2.0, we see, Lord knows, much to worry about. But one reassuring development has been that, by and large, the judicial branch has stood tough against the administrations lawlessness. Federal judges James Boasberg and Paula Xinis are early heroes of the second Trump regime. Im sure there are more whove escaped my notice. Im old enough to remember when the name J. Harvie Wilkinson III made me shake. He was elevated to the federal bench by Ronald Reagan, was affiliated with the Federalist Society, and he always, on lists of possible Supreme Court nominees, occupied one of the hard-right slots. But now Wilkinson too has become a voice of sanity, writing the three-judge ruling handed down Thursday night that rebuked the Trump administration in the Kilmar Abrego Garcia case. The ruling is unequivocal and, as we shall see, went out of its way to alert Americans to the constitutional threat the administration poses. But it does something more important: It returns the spotlight to the Supreme Court, and specifically to Chief Justice John Roberts, pressuring them to stand up to this madness. And so, one of the key controversies roiling our democracy, from this case to others, is this: What will Roberts do? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Well return to that. But first, lets review Wilkinsons judgment. Here are the money quotes: It is difficult in some cases to get to the very heart of the matter. But in this case, it is not hard at all. The government is asserting the right to stash away residents of this country in foreign prisons without the semblance of due process that is the foundation of our constitutional order. This should be shocking not only to judges, but to the intuitive sense of liberty that Americans far removed from the courthouse still hold dear. The government asserts that Abrego Garcia is a terrorist and a member of MS-13. Perhaps, but perhaps not. Regardless, he is still entitled to due process. If the government is confident of its position, it should be assured that position will prevail in court. Now the [executive and judicial] branches come too close to grinding irrevocably against one another in a conflict that diminishes both. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Notice in that first quote the use of the word residents. Not citizens. This is a clear recognition that the language of the Fourteenth Amendmentspecifically the due process clauseextends protections not to citizens but to persons. Abrego Garcia has constitutional rights. Period. His character and his immigration status are totally irrelevant. The Wilkinson opinion will inevitably toss the matter back to the Supreme Court, which ruled on April 10 that the Trump administration must facilitate Abrego Garcias return to the United States. The courts order was pretty mealy-mouthed. The key sentence reads: For its part, the Government should be prepared to share what it can concerning the steps it has taken and the prospect of further steps. Now the court will be compelled to take a stronger stand. Can the nations highest court possibly allow this situation to continue? The government of the United States admits Abrego Garcia was deported by mistake and then says its powerless to return him, that only El Salvador can do that; and El Salvador says its powerless to return him, that only the United States can. If the courts six conservative justices have any shred of dignity and respect for the role theyre supposed to play in this democracy, they cannot let this stand. Its a fundamental issue. Other equally fundamental issues are headed the courts way. It is weighing what to do about Trumps ability to fire executive agency heads unilaterally. Just recently, the court blocked the reinstatement of two executive agency officials Trump had firedbut it did so only temporarily, while the court considers whether Trump had the authority to fire them. Still, that order was a temporary win for Trumpand was written by Roberts himself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And just Thursday, we learned that the court will hear arguments on birthright citizenship on May 15. A decision will likely follow in June or July. This, again, would seem on the surface to be as open-and-shut as the Abrego Garcia matter, and for much the same reason: The Fourteenth Amendment says persons, and it states quite plainly in its very first sentence: All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. We seem not to be confronted with legal questions. Those are settled. As U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman recently ruled, in deciding against a Trump administration motion, No court in the country has ever endorsed the presidents interpretation. There remain only political questions, the chief one being: What feat of originalistunitary executive legerdemain will the courts conservatives perform to jam the square peg of Trumps goals into the round holes of the United States Constitution? Whether they will do so is up to Roberts. Once upon a quaint old time, the chief justice would cajole his colleagues into consensus on matters of historical import. Earl Warren made sure that the ruling on Brown v. Board was 90, because he wanted the country to see that the court was united on this great historical question of segregation versus integration. One doubts 90 is possible on these major cases today, with these two guys hanging around. But Roberts at least should have the power to steer a majority to uphold the ideas that words mean what they say and that this is not a nation of one-man rule. Robertss name will live in history, either alongside brave jurists like Boasberg and Xinis or in infamy, alongside Roger Taney and, well, Clarence Thomas. This article first appeared in Fighting Words, a weekly TNR newsletter authored by editor Michael Tomasky. Sign up here. By Ali Sawafta and James Mackenzie AL-MUGHAYYIR, West Bank (Reuters) -Fatima Abu Naim, a mother of five, lives in a hillside cave in the occupied West Bank, under increasing pressure from Jewish settlers who, she says, try to steal her family's sheep and come by regularly to tell her and her husband to leave. "They say, 'Go, I want to live here'," she said. The same stark message from settlers has been heard across the West Bank with increasing frequency since the start of the war in Gaza 18 months ago, notably in the largely empty hillsides where the Bedouin graze their flocks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a report last week by the United Nations humanitarian agency OCHA, nearly half of over 40 settler attacks documented at the end of March and early April hit Bedouin and herding communities, "including incidents involving arson, break-ins, and destruction of critical livelihood sources". The Israeli police did not respond to requests for comment. The West Bank, an area of some 5,600 square kilometres that sits between Jordan and Israel, has been at the heart of the decades-long conflict between Israel and the Palestinians since it was seized by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war. Under military occupation ever since, but seen by Palestinians as one of the core parts of a future independent state, it has been steadily cut up by fast-growing Israeli settlements clusters that now spread throughout the territory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israeli settlements are deemed by most countries to be illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this. Ministers in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing government talk openly about annexing the area completely. Sparsely populated areas in the Jordan Valley, near the south Hebron hills or in central upland areas of the West Bank have come under increasing pressure from outposts of settlers who have themselves begun grazing large flocks of sheep on the hillsides used by Bedouin and other herders. According to a joint report last week by Israeli rights groups Peace Now and Kerem Navot, settlers have used such shepherding outposts to seize around 78,600 hectares of land, or 14% of the total area of the West Bank, harassing and intimidating nearby communities to expel them. "The Jordan Valley or southern areas are where there used to be big meadows for Palestinians, and this is why these areas were targeted," said Dror Etkes, one of the authors of the report. "But if you look at a map, the outposts are everywhere. They keep constructing more and more." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report quotes documents from the attorney general's office to show that around 8,000 hectares of West Bank land have been allocated for grazing by Israeli settlers in such outposts, who receive significant funding and other material support including vehicles from the government. "The Bedouin communities are in may ways the most vulnerable," said Yigal Bronner, an activist on the board of Kerem Navot who has monitored settler abuses for years and who says the problem has become more severe since the war in Gaza. Without being able to graze their animals, many Bedouin cannot afford to maintain their flocks, leaving them with no way of earning their living, he said. "People are really, really struggling to make ends meet." "THIS IS OUR LAND" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The windswept hillside where Abu Naim's family lives in an encampment set up around two rock caves just outside the village of Al-Mughayir, is typical of the rugged terrain along the spine of the West Bank. The family has already been forced to move from the Jordan Valley, where Bedouin communities have faced repeated attacks by violent groups of settlers who run flocks of their own. Now living in their third home this year, she says they have once again faced aggression from intruders who she said recently killed six of her family's sheep and forced her husband to keep them penned up. "The problems with the settlers started a year and a half ago, but we've only been really harassed for two months now. The goal is to get us out of here," she said. "The sheep stay in the enclosure. They don't let them out or anything." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abu Naim's husband, who has confronted the settlers, was arrested this week for a reason she is unaware of. Palestinian and Israeli rights groups say there is effectively no legal redress for the herding communities and the bitterness of the Gaza war has hardened attitudes further. "This is our land," said 65 year-old Asher Meth, a West Bank settler who was enjoying an outing at the springs of Ein al-Auja, in the Jordan Valley that the nearby Bedouin community is prevented from accessing. "And if the state of Israel would wake up, and say 'Actually, do take the land' and say 'This land is now part of Israel', the Arabs will understand better and move back from trying to kill us." A few hundred metres from the spring, in a large Bedouin encampment, 70 year-old Odeh Khalil, has heard the message. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ever since losing 300 sheep to a raid by settlers last August, he has kept his remaining animals in an enclosure but for the moment, says he is determined to hang on. "People cannot live without sheep. If we leave, it will be all gone," he said. "They want to deport us and say this is Israeli property." (Additional reporting by Joyce Zhou in Ein al-Auja; Editing by Peter Graff) BEIRUT (AP) The leader of Lebanons militant Hezbollah group said on Friday that its fighters will not disarm as long as Israeli troops remain in southern Lebanon and the Israeli air force regularly violates Lebanese air space. Naim Kassem addressed supporters in a speech broadcast on Hezbollahs television station. Kassem took over Hezbollah after Israeli airstrikes killed longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah, his successor Hashem Safieddine and other top Hezbollah figures last year, decimating the group's leadership. Kassem said Hezbollah had implemented its commitments related to the U.S.-brokered ceasefire that halted the fighting in Hezbollahs latest, 14-month war with Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since the ceasefire went into effect in late November, Israeli airstrikes have killed scores of people in Lebanon including civilians and Hezbollah members. Israel says its targeting Hezbollah holdouts in southern Lebanon. On Tuesday, the office of the U.N. high commissioner for human rights said that at least 71 civilians, including 14 women and nine children, have been killed by Israeli strikes in Lebanon since the ceasefire took effect. Hezbollah launched its own attacks on Israel a day after the Israel-Hamas war erupted on Oct. 7, 2023 with the Palestinian militants attack on southern Israel, saying it was doing so to ease the pressure on Gaza by keeping part of the Israeli military busy along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon. In response, Israeli troops pushed into Lebanon. The 14 months of the Hezbollah-Israel war killed more than 4,000 people in Lebanon and caused destruction that will take $11 billion to rebuild, according to the World Bank. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As part of the ceasefire, Hezbollah was to pull out from parts of southern Lebanon and give up its military positions and weapons south of the Litani River while Israeli forces were to pull back into Israel. The Lebanese army was to take over Hezbollah's positions and guarantee security in the south, along with the U.N. peacekeeping mission. Israel withdrew much of its troops from southern Lebanon in February but kept five posts inside Lebanese territory in what Lebanon says is a violation of the ceasefire deal. Last week, deputy U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus visited Beirut and called on the Lebanese state to assert its control all over Lebanon and not only in the south along the border with Israel south of the Litani River. We will not allow anyone to remove Hezbollahs weapons, Kassem said. These weapons gave life and freedom to our people." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kassem spoke hours after two separate Israeli drones killed two people in southern Lebanon. The Israeli military said it killed two Hezbollah members in the strikes. Does anyone expect us to discuss a national defense strategy as warplanes fly over our heads and there is occupation in south Lebanon, Kassem asked. These are not discussions. This is surrender. Let Israel withdraw first and stop its flights in the air. HIGH POINT, N.C. (WGHP) A High Point police officer is now facing a battle for his life. Doctors diagnosed Officer Nick Coleman with a rare form of cancer, but that is not stopping him. Captain Christopher OToole said they were scared and devastated when they first heard about Colemans diagnosis, but they are supporting, encouraging and praying for him. Thats why a black bracelet stays on OTooles wrist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a bone cancer awareness bracelet, but I purchased them for my team, OToole said. Thats how the High Point Police Department is reminding Coleman they are in this journey together. One of his last days working before he had to go into treatment .. everybody on the team had one on When he walked in, and I gave him his, and I said I just want you to know that every time we look at this bracelet, we are going to pray for you and think of you, and every time you look at yours, you just need to know how loved you are by your team, OToole said. Coleman is 26 years old and just started his career in the department four years ago. He was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, which is a very rare form of bone cancer that affects children and young adults. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite battling cancer, OToole says Coleman is still showing dedication and resilience. He actually came to work today on light duty because he just wants to be here Even with his mask on you can see his smile in his eyes, but hes very positive, OToole said. Colemans journey will be tough. It was a very quick and aggressive treatment program. He had a port installed in his chest on Wednesday Friday, he started his three-day chemotherapy session, OToole said. Although this may be physically tough on him, his spirits are staying high. Even though he is not with us every day on the street, you know hes obviously with us in our heart We will never go a moment without thinking about him, OToole said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coleman will continue to serve by doing low-exertion tasks in an isolated environment. His family set up a fundraiser to help with his medical expenses. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP. A New Jersey high school student is celebrating after being accepted into not one, but seven Ivy League universities. Angel Ortiz, a senior at Arts High School in Newark, said he was both shocked and grateful when he learned he had been accepted into Princeton University, where he applied early action, as well as Brown University, Columbia University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania and Yale University. "I honestly did not really imagine getting accepted to all of them," the 17-year-old told "Good Morning America." PHOTO: Angel Ortiz, a senior at Arts High School in Newark, New Jersey, has been accepted at 7 Ivy League universities. (Courtesy of Newark Public Schools) "I never would have imagined it four years ago, so to have this now is incredible," he continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why early acceptance is a strategy for some students Angel said he is waiting to decide which school he will attend until April 30, which just so happens to be his 18th birthday. "I will be making my final decision on April 30, mainly because that is my birthday. So I just want that extra bit of luck," he said. PHOTO: Angel Ortiz, pictured with his parents, says he plans on deciding which college to attend on April 30, the day of his 18th birthday. (Courtesy of Newark Public Schools) Newark Public Schools Superintendent Roger Leon praised Angel's extraordinary achievements in a statement. "Angel's acceptance to seven Ivy League institutions is a personal triumph and a powerful symbol of what is possible for young people in Newark," Leon said. "His story inspires us all. We are incredibly proud of Angel, whose remarkable academic journey is a testament to our schools' strength, our educators' dedication, our supportive parents, and our students' resilience." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At Arts High School, Angel has thrived. He told "GMA" he has taken seven AP courses, including AP United States Government and Politics and AP English Literature and Composition. Along the way, Angel's teacher Sean Kenny told New York ABC station WABC he developed into a "top-notch" student. Arts High School Principal Regina Sharpe also praised Angel's standout presence and dedication. "Angel embodies the spirit of Arts High School. He's creative, driven, and full of purpose," Sharpe said in a statement. "He has worked very hard and taken full advantage of every opportunity, both in and out of the classroom, and the result is something truly historic. We are beyond proud of him and can't wait to see the incredible impact he will make in the world." Nonprofit aims to increase number of minorities in Ivy League schools Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Angel said he plans to study political science in college and hopes to focus on American politics or international relations, both fields of study for which the Ivy League schools are known. "I want to be a lawyer or somewhere in government in the future," the graduating senior said. "A lot of the Ivy Leagues, they had those programs that could help me connect with people who were familiar with the field, as well as learn from very good professors and I know that a lot of well-known alumni have come from those schools, so I just thought maybe I could become one of them one day." As for his advice for fellow students dreaming of getting into an Ivy League school like him, Angel said his suggestion is to stay true to your own passions. "Don't feel pressure to do things simply to impress other people or other institutions," the teen said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If any high school student can take something from me, it's to basically just be yourself," he added. "Don't be like me. I'm a different person. Just be you and things will come eventually." High school senior shocked to learn he was accepted to 7 Ivy League schools originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com After years of festering antisemitism and utilizing policies thatmanyAmericans deemed unconstitutionally discriminatory, today, higher education is at a crossroads: Shape up or lose billions. The federal government is taking steps to condition federal funds on submitting to the administrations interpretation of anti-discrimination statutes. Its most recent target, Harvard University, says this is an attack on theinstitutional independenceof higher education. What did they expect? This is just what happens when,for decades, you make federal funding the cornerstone of higher educations research and educational initiatives. Those seeking to avoid the federal bully-pulpit should learn from schools like Hillsdale College, Grove City, and Christendom College in Virginia, all of whom refuse to take government funds and thus preserve their independence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration has been scrutinizing some of Americas most prestigious academic institutions. First, theycanceled$400 million in federal grants to Columbia University and gave the school a list of demandsto restore funding, including a ban on masks, follow-through on disciplinary proceedings for those who participated in the spring 2024 antisemitic riots, and a crackdown on antisemitism on campus. Columbiacapitulatedto the administrations demands and received their funding back. Now the administration has pulled Harvard Universitys access to federal funding for numerous Title VI violations. The administration provided Harvard with alist of demands, including an order to adopt "merit-based" hiring and admissions policies, to reform programs with an egregious record of antisemitism, and to discontinue DEI programs. Harvardrefusedto capitulate to the administrations demands, arguing that it exceeds their statutory power under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and claiming: "No government - regardless of which party is in power - should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue." The administration responded byfreezing$2.3 billion in federal funds. Unfortunately for Harvard, the federal government likelycancondition federal funding for grants and students based on what is taught, who is admitted, and who is hired. Since the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was signed into law, universities that accept federal funding have beensubject to Title VI, which explicitlyprohibitsuniversities from discriminating against applicants for admission, current students, or those seeking employment based on race, religion, or sexual orientation. Universities that accept federal monies are also subject toTitle IX(which bans sex-based discrimination), theAge Discrimination Actof 1975, and theAmericans with Disabilities Act, which prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities. The judiciary isnt likely to side with Harvard here, as precedent is against them. In 1984, the Supreme Court held inGrove City College v. Bellthat schools that accept federal funds are subject to Title IXs regulations, even private universities. In fact, the Fifth Circuit relied on the Grove City decision to hold that universities that accept federal grantsmust complywith federal anti-discrimination regulations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Translation: The Trump administration is well within its rights to condition access to federal money on compliance with its interpretation of federal antidiscrimination law. Given that the Department of Education gives loans to6.3 million studentsevery year and$30 billionin federal grants for research to universities every year, the administrations broad power over federal funding gives them an immeasurable power over institutions of higher education - making expansive federal control over hiring, firing, curriculum, and admissions logically inevitable. Indeed, anti-discrimination provisions are so potent that, afterStudents for Fair Admissionended affirmative action in 2023, universitiesquickly endedrace-based admissions policies to continue receiving federal funds. Our universities have chosen to surrender their independence for access to federal funds. Universities concerned about losing their independence should take a page from Hillsdale College. Hillsdale has not taken a dime from the governmentsince 1975because it recognized that an administration hostile to its values and curriculum could use federal anti-discrimination law to subvert academic freedom and limit its independence. One would think this has made Hillsdale unaffordable, undesirable, and academically lax. Yet this is not the case. Despite the national average for tuition being$43,505, Hillsdale has managed to keep its tuition below average at$31,780. Hillsdale is also clearly attractive to applicants, as it only has a21%acceptance rate. Finally, it is known for its academic rigor; US News ranked it as#50in national liberal arts colleges. Hillsdale itself hascredited its successto its decision to retain independence by rejecting government funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Surely elite universities like Harvard, which has a$53 billionendowment and tons of wealthy alumni, can stave off the loss of federal funding, like Hillsdale has, to maintain their independence. The Trump administrations actions should wake universities up to a cold, sobering reality: If you want to run your school free from federal oversight,sooner or later, you have to say no to federal funds. Ryan Silverstein is a J.D. candidate at Villanova University and a fellow with Villanovas McCullen Center for Law, Religion and Public Policy. His work has appeared in Fox News, the New York Post, and the Daily Wire. (FOX40.COM) Members of a Hindu temple in Modesto are speaking out after a recent string of break-ins, thefts, and vandalism. This week, they were able to capture footage of a possible suspect and now theyre asking for the publics help to identify the thief or thieves responsible and put a stop to it. Shiu Bhawaan temple has been around for 15 years, and the temples president, Aklesh Prasad, says they have never had any trouble before. But the last 6 months are when things have been taking a bad turn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The temple, located on North Carpenter Road, has been a place of peace and calm for many of the citys Hindu community. Deputies investigating a homicide after missing persons body found Its big. A lot of Fiji Hindu people are here. And all the Hindus are from other countries too; they come to this church, too, said Prasad. But the recent string of break-ins and thefts has members of the temple on edge. Prasad says there have been at least four incidents in the last 6 months. When break-ins happened before, we didnt have the cameras, so after that, after a couple of break-ins, we started putting cameras up, and then last Monday, we caught this guy on our camera, Prasad said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prasad released a video that he says captured the most recent break-in earlier this week. In the video, a man is seen going inside the temple, and in another video, the same man is seen running out a back door. He says these incidents have resulted in stolen instruments, sound system accessories, and at least $18,000 stolen in donations. It goes back to the church, we use it for the utilities and insurance, and all that, we always donate for the funerals, people who need it, needy peoplewe donate, Prasad said. Prasad says they are unsure if the same person in the video might be responsible for all the break-ins and thefts, but they have contacted law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He is hoping that sharing this video with the public might help them get some answers. They are asking anyone who may recognize the person in the video to contact the authorities. Its really annoying, you know, because this is a place of divine worship, Prasad said. People come peacefully here, they socialize here, too, and then we are very much ashamed of ourselves when people from outside come and steal property, steal and damage our property, vandalize this whole property. Its not nice. For now, prasad says they left having to pay for the losses out of their own pocket, along with the help of community donations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its expensive. Those cost thousands and thousands of dollars to replace, Prasad said. Theyre hoping that whoever is responsible for the thefts and break-ins will be caught soon so that their members will have some peace of mind, and they wont be dissuaded from coming back to the temple. The Stanislaus County Sheriffs Office says they have received the report and will be looking into these incidents. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Paul Revere died nearly three decades before pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley and settled in what would eventually become Americas 45th state. However, Douglas McGregor believes Revere's legendary ride through the Boston area the night before the battles of Lexington and Concord ignited the American Revolution historic moments that turn 250 over the next few days and played a significant role in setting off a chain reaction, leading to what Utah is today. "Utah is made up of American citizens, and as Americans we all share the same heritage whether it took place in the 13 colonies or took place in Texas," said McGregor, state secretary and treasurer of the Utah Sons of the American Revolution. "Wherever it happened ... we are all Americans, and that is our heritage; that is our history." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Utah is now commemorating those moments with a series of events at the Utah Capitol Friday night and Saturday morning, the exact anniversaries of the pivotal moments leading up to the founding of the United States. The events are led by Utah chapters of the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution in coordination with America250 Utah, with the first taking place on the Capitol lawn from 8-10 p.m. A pair of Capitol searchlights will shine into the night sky Friday as one of the more than 200 sites across the nation participating in an event called "Two Lights for Tomorrow." The lights will represent the two lanterns used atop the Old North Church in Boston to signal the arrival of British troops. Revere, William Dawes and Samuel Prescott used those lanterns to warn revolutionary soldiers and Massachusetts residents of the British movements. Two replicas of the lanterns used on the night of April 18, 1775, will also be on display, McGregor said, and experts will be on hand to answer all the burning questions history buffs may have. As Massachusetts approaches the 250th anniversary of Paul Revere's ride, the Concord Museum lit a massive lantern Sunday to commemorate the town's key role in the birth of America. | WBZ via CNN Newsource A second event is planned at the Capitol from 10-11:30 a.m. on Saturday, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the "shot heard 'round the world" and the first war battles in the Colonial fight for independence. Military arms that the Revolutionary War soldiers would have used at the time and some of the nation's founding documents will be displayed, as will a "rare" 4-foot replica of the Minute Man statue designed by the same artist behind the iconic statue in Concord, Massachusetts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federal judge and author Ted Stewart will deliver a keynote address, and there will be a performance by the Hope for American Children's Choir. It's the first time Utah will celebrate Patriots' Day after state leaders passed a resolution recognizing the holiday that honors the start of the American Revolution. "Utah has never made this big of a celebration of April 19," McGregor told KSL.com. More to come Many more anniversary events are still to come. The 250th anniversaries of the U.S. Army, Navy and Marines will happen at different points later this year. July is the beginning of a one-year countdown to the nation's 250th birthday, said Ronald Fox, co-chairman of America250 Utah. That's when the commission will start to hold activities and educational opportunities all across the state, ensuring that every county can participate in some way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The celebrations will honor all kinds of state history, including the Indigenous peoples who have lived on the land for thousands of years, as well as the Dominguez-Escalante Expedition, the first European exploration of the area, which also turns 250 in 2026. The semiquincentennial of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026, will be the crown jewel of everything. Its history matters to Utah, even if it came well before the state's pioneer establishment. We have an opportunity to remember why we have freedom (and) why we have liberty, McGregor said. Theres a reason that we do, and its because of what has happened before us. Gov. Katie Hobbs said on April 17, 2025, that she won't sign any bills that aren't already on her desk unless Republicans negotiate an end to the funding crisis that threatens to shut down services for disabled Arizonans. Photo by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy | Arizona Mirror Arizonas Democratic governor has promised to veto every piece of legislation that Republicans send to her until the legislature passes a reasonable, negotiated funding bill to prevent the states Division of Developmental Disabilities from going broke next month. Republicans who control both the Arizona House of Representatives and Senate responded that theyve already introduced proposals in both legislative chambers that would get DDD through the end of the fiscal year on June 30. But Gov. Katie Hobbs, as well as dozens of parents of developmentally disabled people who rely on DDD programs and services, have said the drastic cuts in the Republican bills are untenable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Livingston on Thursday likened Hobbs moratorium on signing legislation to the whining of a child. It doesnt surprise me that she did that, because shes not getting her away. And she will not get her way, he said. Livingston did not mention the thousands of Arizona children with developmental disabilities and their families who wont get their way under the Republican proposal, which could lead to some of them being institutionalized instead of being cared for in their homes by family members. Christian Slater, Hobbs spokesman, told the Arizona Mirror in a statement that Livingston was engaging in political warfare that will directly hurt Arizonans with conditions like autism, cerebral palsy and down syndrome. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is not whiny to stand against Representative Livingstons shameful attacks on Arizonans with disabilities, Slater said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Senate President Warren Petersen told the Mirror in a written statement that the Republican proposal to fund DDD through the end of the fiscal year was working through the legislative process. We just held a stakeholder meeting Wednesday morning, and I anticipate there will be changes to the bills language before it is sent to the Governors Office for signature in the very near future, Petersen wrote. Identical bills advanced through their respective chambers Appropriations committee on April 15, amid outcry from disability advocates and the families who would see their care reduced. Hobbs has said the bill is a complete nonstarter and many advocates for the developmental disability community have called the GOP proposal unworkable. Caught in the middle of this political fight are people like Phoenix mother Jessica Grace, who uses the Parents as Paid Caregivers program that sits at the center of the DDD funding debate. Grace, like many others in her position, cant work outside the home because she cant find alternative care for her teen sons, who have autism and intellectual disabilities and cannot safely be left unsupervised. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The PPCG trains parents and then pays them to provide in-home care to their own children, but only if they require extraordinary care above and beyond typical parenting tasks. That might include assisting a teenager who has cerebral palsy, autism or cognitive disabilities with tasks like bathing, dressing and eating. The program was initially entirely federally funded, but beginning this month, the state is on the hook for around one-third of the cost. The program has expanded over the last year from about 3,000 participants to around 6,000, which came with substantial cost increases, accounting for a large chunk of a $122 million shortfall in the DDD budget. That shortfall threatens to shut down services for disabled people in Arizona at the end of the month, when the division runs out of money to pay its providers, unless the Legislature acts. Since January, when Democratic lawmakers first introduced a supplemental funding bill to fill in the funding gap, Livingston has blamed the shortfall on budgetary mismanagement by the Hobbs administration and has consistently called for deep cuts to the Parents as Paid Caregivers program. He has pointedly accused Hobbs of executive overreach for continuing the program after legislative Republicans refused to allocate funds specifically for it in last years budget. Republicans looking to cut costs for PPCG say they want to see the services that parents are now being paid to do instead be provided by third-party contractors. But parents and advocates say thats just not feasible, as theres been a workforce crisis stretching back more than 20 years because the jobs to provide in-home services are both difficult and low-paying. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During an April 15 House Appropriations Committee meeting, more than a dozen advocates, many of them parents of developmentally disabled people, begged Republicans to continue funding the PPCG program with a 40-hour-per-week cap set to begin in July. The proposal that was ultimately approved that day would require the state to ask for permission from the federal government to cap the PPCG program at 20 hours per week by next June, a change that would devastate some families. In a move that clearly angered some members of their own party, House GOP leaders placed three additional Republicans on the committee just minutes before the meeting began so that they would have enough votes to kill a bipartisan amendment that would have kept the cap at 40 hours per week. He couldnt even pass his proposal through his own committee without stacking it full of political allies, Slater said. Representative Livingston needs to listen to the bipartisan leaders who oppose his shameful political theater, put politics aside and do whats right for the people of Arizona. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After her amendment failed by one vote, Rep. Julie Willoughby, a Chandler Republican and a nurse, broke down in tears as she apologized to the parents and advocates in the room. I choose you as my hill to die on. Im sorry, she said. Im pro-life, and Im pro-life through the entire spectrum of life. House Democrats announced that they voted against every bill that came up for a vote on Thursday in solidarity with Hobbs and the developmentally disabled community. Republicans chided Democrats for voting against unrelated legislation on Thursday because of their frustration with the DDD funding bill. They especially chastised Democrats for voting against Senate Bill 1462, which would expand the states revenge porn law to include AI-generated images made to look like an identifiable person. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In reality, all but one of Democratic lawmakers no votes made zero difference on whether legislation passed or failed on Thursday, and they likely would have voted against some of the proposals anyway. The only proposal that failed in the House on Thursday because of Democratic dissent was Senate Bill 1661, which pertained to broadband expansion programs in small counties. The proposal failed on a vote of 19-39, with 14 Republicans voting against it, alongside Democrats. Both Republicans and Democrats on Thursday continued to release statements accusing one another of playing political games at the expense of people with disabilities. Governor Hobbs decision to hold every bill hostage because she didnt get her way on a blank check is not leadership its political blackmail, House Speaker Steve Montenegro said in a statement. She created this crisis by foolishly expanding the DDD program without legislative approval or funding in place, and now shes throwing a tantrum because the Legislature is doing the responsible thing: funding services while putting guardrails in place to keep the program from collapsing. Hobbs is hardly the first governor to use the veto pen or the threat of it to get the legislature to act on an unrelated issue. In 2021, Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican, said he would veto bills until a budget was passed. And his predecessor, Jan Brewer, also a Republican, issued similar ultimatums in 2012 and 2013. Recall petition On Thursday, some of the parents of people with developmental disabilities who have been pushing for supplemental DDD funding launched a recall effort for Republicans Montenegro and Livingston, along with Reps. Matt Gress and Michael Carbone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As first reported by the Arizona Republic, they will have to collect tens of thousands of signatures by Aug. 15 to put the legislators on the ballot for a recall election. Livingston accused the parents of disabled families of being backed by senior members of the Democratic Party before conceding that it could simply be because his critics are upset he is blocking funding for DDD. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE ISTANBUL, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Istanbul Airport has reached a "milestone" with the launch of simultaneous operations on three fully independent runways, significantly enhancing aviation efficiency in the region, according to authorities. The system, which enables simultaneous takeoffs and landings, was put into operation at 10:00 a.m. local time (0700 GMT) on Thursday. With this system, Istanbul Airport became the first in Europe and the second in the world after the United States to operate with three runways, the semi-official Anadolu Agency reported. Speaking at the launch ceremony, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu highlighted the advanced technology behind the new system, which involves "cutting-edge radar systems, precision navigation aids, and robust air traffic control protocols." The system also includes automated structures designed to predict flight paths and manage traffic flow, playing a crucial role in preventing runway incursions and ensuring safe, efficient operations, he added. A commercial pilot, who requested anonymity, emphasized that the new system is expected to help reduce carbon emissions. "This will improve operational efficiency, make aviation more environmentally sustainable, and enhance customer satisfaction," the pilot told Xinhua. As a major regional aviation hub, Istanbul Airport handled 517,284 flights and over 80 million passengers in the past year, the airport's press office told Xinhua, adding it served 110 airlines and added 27 new routes in 2024, bringing the total number of destinations to 321. Border czar Tom Homan late Thursday defended the White Houses immigration agenda amid a pair of escalating legal fights over the presidents deportation efforts, saying I dont think we did anything wrong. Homan in an interview on CNNs The Source with Kaitlan Collins maintained his view that the administration acted correctly in deporting Kilmar Abrego Garcia and also denied that the White House ignored an earlier judges order to halt deportation flights. [Abrego Garcia is] an El Salvadorian national, he was born in El Salvador, El Salvador has him in custody and El Salvador will decide what will happen to him. I mean, again, the El Salvadoran president made it clear hes not going to release him, Homan said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A federal judge scolded the administration earlier in the week for not providing evidence of efforts to facilitate the release of Abrego Garcia following a Supreme Court order. The U.S. District Court judge said Abrego Garcia was apprehended without legal basis and deported without further process or legal justification. A previous order prevented his deportation to El Salvador due to concerns about his safety. Homan in the interview Thursday night also denied that the administration skirted a different federal judges ruling halting deportation flights for individuals the White House alleges are members of a Venezuelan gang. U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg has moved to hold Trump administration officials in criminal contempt for disobeying his order to immediately halt the deportation flights, which the president previously attempted to authorize by invoking the Alien Enemies Act. I think we followed the judges order. I think well let that litigate in court. You know, [the Department of Justice] is fighting that in court. But I dont think we did anything wrong, Homan told Collins. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think the information shows those planes were already near international waters, as far as I know. So, I dont think we did anything wrong, Homan said, arguing that based on what the judge included in his written order I think we did everything by the numbers. The Trump administration has argued it didnt have to adhere to Boasbergs oral order directing planes to turn around, but said the written order was followed. Homan has previously garnered attention for brushing off court opinions over the administrations deportation efforts. I dont care what the judges think. I dont care, he said during an appearance on Fox Newss Fox and Friends in mid-March, arguing the presidents actions have made the country safer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Trump administration has ordered another American citizen to leave the country immediately. Pamela Rioles Saeed, an immigration attorney in Arizona, received an email from Customs and Border Protection telling her that her parole was revoked and she must leave the United States within seven days, she told KNXV-TV. Rioles Saeed is a Boston-born American citizen and is not on parole. I thought this was for one of my clients, but then I saw that it was addressed only to me, she told KNXV-TV. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rioles Saeed is at least the second American immigration attorney to report receiving an email from the Department of Homeland Security in the last week. On April 11, American citizen and Massachusetts-based immigration lawyer Nicole Micheroni received an email telling her to leave the country immediately or risk being subject to potential law enforcement actions that will result in your removal from the United States. Micheroni also thought the email was meant for one of her clients, she told NBC Boston. The DHS recently sent out a number of parole termination notices in an effort to get immigrants to self-deport as soon as possible, a number of news outlets have reported. Saeed said that another attorney in her chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association had told her other lawyers in his office had received similar notices. Some of the emails may have been sent to unintended recipients, such as lawyers representing those immigrants, by mistake, DHS said in separate statements to NBC Boston and KNXV-TV. Rioles Saeed said she will ignore the statement for now and urged other American citizens who receive the message to do the same. There is a true recklessness coming from the government and shows an intimidating attitude towards our immigrant clients, she told KNXV-TV. The threatening messages come amid the Trump administrations aggressive and unlawful deportation efforts, which include revoking nearly 1,000 international student visas and disobeying court orders to deport more than 200 Venezuelan immigrants to a Salvadoran megaprison. The president has even publicly pondered the possibility of deporting American citizens to El Salvadoran illegal (and terrifying) but increasingly imminent possibility. BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) This week is National Animal Care and Control Week. Communities around the country are taking a moment to recognize individuals who protect animals and serve the public. Animal control officers are often the first line of defense when animals are in distress or become a threat to people. Two dead, multiple people hospitalized after gunman opens fire at Florida State University Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They rescue injured animals, reunite lost pets with their families, and respond to animal abuse and neglect reports. Local animal control officials say a little appreciation goes a long way. A lot of animal control officers dont get the recognition. We do a lot for the animals. What I tell people is we spend more time with our animals here than we do with our own animals at home, Lynn Haven Animal Control Office Supervisor, Courtney Michaud, said. If you know or run across an animal control worker, dont forget to thank them. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com. Heres the thing Ive learned about politics: Politicians sell a story to their constituents. Public servants tell the truth, even when it hurts. And Ive seen a lot more politicking than public service in recent weeks as Statehouse Republicans have finalized their so-called property tax relief bill and Gov. Mike Braun rushed to sign it quietly into law. The fact of the matter is that Senate Enrolled Act 1 defunds essential local services by $1.4 billion and imposes $3.3 billion in potential new taxes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opinion: Make Indiana Healthy Again is about cost-cutting, not wellness SEA 1 isnt just a property tax bill its a total overhaul of the local government tax system without any public input. If Republicans had been upfront with Hoosiers, this is what they would be saying about SEA 1: If you want property tax cuts, then your community will have fewer firefighters. If you want property tax cuts, then some public schools are going to close. If you want property tax cuts, then your community will have fewer police officers. Just earlier this week, fire chiefs in Madison County came out against a provision in SEA 1 that will prevent them from merging three fire departments, which would improve response times and reliability in times of emergency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a deal with the devil that I suspect the vast majority of Hoosiers are not comfortable making. But its the one that Braun and his Statehouse Republican colleagues rammed through nonetheless. This is not the story, though, that Statehouse Republicans have been selling. Theyre calling it a historic tax cut. If Brauns crime is seeking public adoration over good policymaking, then Statehouse Republicans crime is going along with the charade and putting an unvetted, bad bill through a heavy-duty spin cycle. Taxpayers deserve a true assessment of the benefits and tradeoffs of any given law from their elected officials. Indiana public teachers rally during a day of action Monday, April 14, 2025, at the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis. The day of action, organized by the states largest teachers union, focused on a proposed property tax reform bill that would cut funding for public schools and shift those funds to charter schools. The frank explanation of SEA 1 is that it almost certainly will cause a local income tax hike for all Hoosiers while cutting business taxes again via the elimination of current and future taxes on business equipment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A small cut to homeowners bills doesnt truly help anyone, and it ignores the real issue: Every year, your property tax bill is a surprise. SEA 1 has no mechanism to stabilize rates so that families know what to budget for and seniors can age in place. And like I said, youll have worse or shuttered public schools and public safety departments. For years, Republican lawmakers have enjoyed strong state revenue while repeatedly cutting business taxes. But now, with an economic slowdown or recession looming, theyre squeezing local governments to claim theyre giving Hoosiers a break. Thats simply irresponsible. This weeks two-year state economic forecast predicts a slowing economy, with the state projected to collect $2.4 billion less in revenue over the next two years than was predicted just four months ago. This means fewer jobs, slowing wage growth and worse opportunities for Hoosiers. State budget writers must now cut at least $2 billion from the budget we finalize next week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unfortunately, Braun hasnt learned his lesson from his property tax fiasco. After Wednesday's sobering announcement, he blamed Bidenflation and promised that America First policies would spark a boom. Opposition parties love to blame a bad economy on the party in power. But in President Trumps case, the tariffs hes imposed on our critical manufacturing sector are objectively causing these awful forecasts. The message from the Indiana Republican Party on property tax relief and the economy is this: Be grateful. Stop complaining. This is what 20 years of Republican control gets us: tax policy that burdens working Hoosier families while rewarding corporations and political cronies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My colleague, state Rep. Gregory W. Porter commented on Wednesday's revenue forecast that were writing this budget with a blindfold. Hes right. And until Indiana Republicans start being honest with taxpayers, working families wont know were walking off an economic cliff until its too late. State Rep. Carey Hamilton, D-Indianapolis, represents House District 87. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Senate Bill 1 defunds Indiana's local governments | Opinion A Hope Florida board meeting held online Thursday was hijacked by trolls who broadcasted Nazi symbols and pornography during the Zoom video conference on an initiative championed by Florida first lady and possible gubernatorial candidate Casey DeSantis. We apologize for the earlier disruption to the public meeting, the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) wrote in a note posted online after the 10 a.m. meeting was abruptly paused. The Department of Children and Families is actively working to address the incident. The Florida Politics news site reported that the Hope Florida board was allowing public comment on the program when trolls began to bombard the stream with racist and lewd content. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The outlet reported an official said, It looks like some of the public are trying to take over, shortly before the meeting cut out. The meeting resumed shortly after 4 p.m. with added content controls. What is Hope Florida? Hope Florida is a DCF-led program spearheaded by DeSantis and backed by her husband Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) as a conservative alternative to traditional welfare. It aims to connect people with nongovernmental organizations, including faith-based groups, as a front line for assistance. Casey DeSantis explained her vision for the effort in a Wall Street Journal op-ed in 2022. Instead of creating more bloated bureaucracies, we must unite communities and work together to put parents and their children on a path to prosperity, she wrote. In Florida, instead of overrelying on government, were organizing the generosity and goodness of neighbors to help one another. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State employees who work for Hope Florida, called Hope Navigators, link people with charities, faith-based groups and other outside sources, depending on their individual circumstances. For the first time in Florida, we identified a scalable way to activate the states faith and community-based organizations to meet the immediate needs of citizens who might otherwise rely on government, DeSantis wrote in her Journal piece. Scrutiny mounts The welfare assistance initiative has come under bipartisan scrutiny in recent weeks, amid questions about the aligned Hope Florida Foundation and its finances notably a hefty lump sum it received through an unrelated state legal settlement. The foundations executive director, Erik Dellenback, publicly announced his resignation Wednesday, telling the Tampa Bay Times in an email that he accepted a new job last month as the CEO of Florida Family Voice, an influential conservative Christian organization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Health care giant Centene agreed to pay the state $67 million last fall to settle an issue over Medicaid managed care billing. Under the agreement reached by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), $10 million of the settlement went to Hope Florida, the Tampa Bay Times reported earlier this month. Republican state Reps. Alex Andrade and Michelle Salzman have been among the most vocal in questioning the arrangement. But Ron DeSantis has defended the portion for Hope Florida as a cherry on top of the money the state was receiving. When you do settlements, you can try to get as much money as you can, but this was in addition to what they were getting. This is kind of like a cherry on top where they agreed to make an additional contribution, and so we were served well by what AHCA did, DeSantis told reporters at a news conference last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The governor also accused fellow Republicans of trying to manufacture smears to tarnish his reputation as he ends his second term. DeSantis, who unsuccessfully ran against President Trump for the GOPs 2024 nomination, cannot run for reelection because of term limits, prompting speculation that his wife may launch a gubernatorial bid. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. TALLAHASSEE The lawyer for the Hope Florida Foundation said Thursday that he couldnt answer questions about what to do with a $10 million donation until it hired another attorney. During the charitys first public board meeting, attorney Jeff Aaron said he didnt want to answer questions about whether the donation was legal because of allegations against him. Florida officials directed Medicaid contractor Centene to give the charity the $10 million as part of a larger settlement last year over overbilling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The donation and where the money went afterward has been called illegal by some state lawmakers and threatens the future of the Hope Florida program and its charity arm. The program, launched by first lady Casey DeSantis, aims to help Floridians get off government assistance. After the charity received the $10 million, Gov. Ron DeSantis then-chief of staff told two nonprofit groups to each request $5 million grants from the foundation, Rep. Alex Andrade, a Pensacola Republican, said this week. The foundations chairperson approved the two grants after getting legal advice from Aaron. The two organizations then sent $8.5 million to a political committee controlled by the then-chief of staff, James Uthmeier. DeSantis named Uthmeier Florida attorney general this year. Hope Florida Foundation, which was created in 2023, has previously met three times but only recorded minutes from one. It had no budget or bylaws in violation of state law and didnt file its tax returns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thursdays virtual meeting, which was delayed for six hours after being hijacked by racist and pornographic images, was supposed to remedy those issues. The $10 million donation didnt come up until near the end, when board member Stephanie White, a Pensacola adoption attorney and wife to former Republican state Rep. Frank White, asked about it. The elephant in the room is the $10 million settlement, White said. I would like counsels advice as to, was it public money that was used?" She asked whether everything the board did in relation to the money was legal. Aaron said he couldnt discuss it without getting another lawyer because of Andrades accusations against him. Andrade said he would ask Aaron to testify in a House committee next week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In light of those allegations, and in light of the noise around that, I would probably bring in conflict counsel just to keep everything looking good and to avoid any appearance of impropriety" he said. I dont have anything to hide. He said after the meeting that the move to hire an outside lawyer should be made out of an abundance of caution. Andrade said this week that the states use of the money is looking more and more like a conspiracy to use Medicaid money to pay for campaign activity. He said federal prosecutors should be concerned about it. At the beginning of Thursdays meeting, Andrade said the board should ask to recoup the $10 million so it didnt jeopardize its charity status with the IRS, which forbids 501(c)(3)s from spending a significant amount of money on political activities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two groups that received the $5 million grants were Secure Floridas Future, overseen by Florida Chamber of Commerce CEO Mark Wilson, and St. Petersburg-based Save Our Society from Drugs. Both are 501(c)(4)s that dont have to disclose their donors. I believe, based on the information you received from Save Our Society from Drugs and from Secure Floridas Future, that a fraud was committed on yall in order to extract those two $5 million grants, he told the board. Board member Tina Vidal-Duart, executive vice president of major state contractor CDR Maguire, echoed Whites comments and said the board should hire an outside lawyer. I think we should have a legal opinion on that, she said. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) Pornographic images and racial slurs abruptly ended the virtual Hope Florida Foundation meeting Thursday morning. Board members then reconvened later in the afternoon for an hour and 30 minutes. The foundation oversees the Hope Florida charity founded by First Lady Casey DeSantis. Who is FSU shooter Phoenix Ikner, son of Florida deputy? Its her signature welfare assistance program. The first lady is also considering a run for governor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Foundation Board Chair Joshua Hay is looking to avoid further scrutiny over the program from state lawmakers after red flags were raised over a $10 million donation. He told the foundation his plans as chair moving forward. Working with the CPA firm to see what monitoring procedures we can put in place going forward and also from a retrospective standpoint, if theres any illicit use of funds, the potential for callback, Hay said. The board plans to meet monthly. In the next meeting, they are looking to discuss hiring staff, a funding threshold for grant approval, completing an audit, and hiring a new executive director. Executive Director Erik Dellenback announced his resignation to become the CEO of another organization. State Rep. Alex Andrade is leading the Republican-led investigation into Hope Florida. He has found that the Agency for Health Care Administration gave $10 million, from a larger Medicaid settlement, to the First Ladys signature charity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From there, grants were given to two non-profits: Florida Chambers Secure Floridas Future and Saving our Society from Drugs. Andrade said they told Hope Florida the funds would not be used for political purposes. The lawmaker then said records showed those organizations quickly donated money that ended up in accounts for the Florida Republican Party and Florida Freedom Fund Political Action Committee, which was run by recently appointed Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier. The PACs purpose was to fight the citizen-led legalization of recreational marijuana. Earlier this week during a hearing in Tallahassee, Andrade asked Hay about the trail of money meant to help low-income residents. Out of respect for you Mr. Chairman, I dont want to make any opinions on what I believe is appropriate, Hay said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres increasing pressure, from Republicans and Democrats, for Uthmeier to provide answers. Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried held a virtual news conference on Thursday. As the Hope Florida scandal unfolds, we can see the clear pattern of corruption coming out of the governors office. At the center of all of this seems to be our newly unelected Attorney General James Uthmeier, the states chief law enforcement officer, Fried said. Its becoming clear to me that this money-laundering scheme was an organized plot to take down Amendment 3 and advance their political ambitions. Last week, during a news conference in Orlando, the attorney general was asked about Hope Floridas donation controversy. If some of those organizations were already active in the fight to oppose a dangerous constitutional amendment, that wouldve allowed recreational marijuana to be used anywhere, theres also not a problem with that, Uthmeier said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Evan Power, chair of the Florida Republican Party, released a statement Thursday: The Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) has not accepted any contributions from Hope Florida or the Hope Florida Foundation. All contributions received by the RPOF are accepted in accordance with state and federal law and are used to fund RPOF programs and activities as determined solely by the RPOF. Andrede posted on X, Hope Florida should consider taking the two non-profits, that were given millions in donations, to 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 WFLA. TOKYO, April 18 (Xinhua) -- An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5 struck Japan's Nagano Prefecture on Friday night, with no tsunami threat, according to the country's weather agency. The temblor occurred at 8:19 p.m. local time at a depth of 10 km, registering a seismic intensity of lower 5 on Japan's scale in the cities of Omachi, Chikuhoku Village, and Ogawa Village. The Japan Meteorological Agency confirmed there is no tsunami risk associated with the quake. Power outages were reported in parts of Ogawa Village, but no injuries were confirmed by local fire departments as of 9:00 p.m., according to local media. The earthquake also affected transportation. JR East temporarily halted Hokuriku Shinkansen operations between Karuizawa and Itoigawa stations immediately after the quake. The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services said Friday that providers have made employment decisions independently of ODMHSAS, and these cuts did not refer to ODMHSAS staff. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) For the first time, lawmakers can get some answers from the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services on how much money is missing and why. Commissioner Allie Friesen sat before the House Committee on Thursday and started everything off by saying it has been chaotic and challenging times for their department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is a $43 million hole in the budget for the department. Commissioner Friesen said that they found out about a $63 million hole near the end of February but were able to bring that down to $43 million about six weeks ago. OK House announces new investigation into Dept. of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services So the reality of our situation is that its chaotic and it has been, and frankly, we are moving towards a much more stable, confident place as an organization. I respect and empathize, but that may not be the current sentiment that each of you holds. And I hope that we can get to a place where we at least mutually understand where one another is coming from. So it will not be an easy process. It has not been. Its been a very painful and arduous process for our entire leadership team, said Commissioner Friesen in her introduction. Recently, there have been contract cuts to certain providers under their department that caused concern. Friesen on Thursday said that they didnt order the providers to make the cuts, but that the letters they sent out werent worded properly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said that now they are doing everything they can to get some of them back. A Request for Proposal was submitted Wednesday on behalf of the department that was asking for bids on providing services to people in the Tulsa area. Weve got to get some answers before our constitutional deadline, the last Friday in May, said House Speaker Kyle Hilbert (R-Bristow) ahead of the committee meeting Thursday. The room was packed with several lawmakers and several workers within the department, and those affected by the cuts. Personally, as a leader, it is my responsibility to call out my own mistakes and hold myself accountable for them, said Commissioner Friesen at one point. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The department is in the hole around $43 million and more than likely will be asking for a lot more in their budget request. This time around, they are asking for $6.2 million in a supplemental request. An ask that the commissioner said was needed to stop any more cuts. We have made mistakes, and we have tried to quickly own those mistakes as quickly as humanly possible. Some people are no longer with the organization, so the reality of our situation is that its chaotic, said Commissioner Friesen. Commissioner Friesen at one point said that to find the money to make up for the millions missing, she has laid off her staff. She then said that she was willing to cut from her salary. Im happy to pull from my own salary to cover and ensure that people have patient care, said the commissioner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There will more than likely be future cuts, but from where, we dont know. Commissioner Friesen made it clear that core services wouldnt take a hit. The meeting was put on hold after going on for three-and-a-half hours on Thursday. It is set to come back next week, where several others are expected to speak. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) Rep. Reed Ingram (R-Pike Road) said crime has gotten out of hand. He said his bill will do more to curb lawlessness in some Alabama cities. I kind of think of the state being the parent, and the county and the municipalities being the siblings, kind of, said Ingram. He said those siblings need help. His bill allows the governor and attorney general to pick an interim police chief to lead departments in high crime cities. Thats if they find an ongoing threat to public safety. Which means the department is operating at a 30% capacity. Rep. Ingram said this bill would work in cities like Birmingham, where recruitment has been a concern. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lot of times when people leave a job, its not always about money. Its about working conditions. And yes, this will help in Birmingham, Montgomery, Selma, Bessemer, said Ingram. And, bringing up Bessemer its probably one of the highest crimes in the country. Interim chiefs would serve no more than six months. But, Calera Police Chief David Hyche said a change in leadership alone wont bring down high crime. Immigration judge denies bond for Alabama student Alireza Doroudi month after being picked up by ICE agents in Tuscaloosa If you were named interim chief for six months, Im not sure theres much that you could do, he explained. With the crime rates that we have in cities like Montgomery and Birmingham, the causes go far beyond just the chief of police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hyche said more unity is the answer across every department in a county. All the cities in the county, as well as the sheriffs department, police department, with maybe a joint violent crime task force, if everybody would buy into that and work together. But, it would be tough, he remarked. Rep. Juandalynn Givan (D-Birmingham) said she wants to discuss the bill further with Ingram, as far as implementation and who has the powers to appoint the chief. She said there needs to be more transparency when it comes to crime rates. Its just not a good look to be known to be number two or three in the country for violent crime, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ingram said the legislature it united on fighting crime. We want to send a strong message that if youre gonna commit a crime, you need to go to a different state. Were serious about correcting crime, said Ingram. And, were serious about keeping you locked up if you commit the crime. The bill was up for a vote in the House today, but was ultimately carried over. Ingram said he wants to make sure he has the support for it on both sides of the aisle. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Rep. Bob Henderson, R-Sioux City, spoke on the House floor April 17, 2025 on a bill requiring Iowa high school students to pass the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalization civics test to graduate. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch) The Iowa House passed two measures Thursday that would set new educational requirements in Iowas K-12 school system one requiring high school students pass the U.S. citizenship test to graduate and another requiring students in grades 5-12 to be shown fetal development videos and graphics. Senate File 369, sent to Gov. Kim Reynolds, would require Iowa high schools to pass the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalization civics test to graduate, beginning in the 2026-27 school year. Students need to earn at least a 60% to pass, and those who fail will be allowed to take the test as many times as necessary to earn a passing grade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Similar graduation requirements have been implemented in other states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky and Wisconsin. Reynolds has advocated for Iowa to have a USCIS civics test requirement in previous legislative sessions, but the measure had failed to make it to her desk. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Rep. Bob Henderson, R-Sioux City, floor manager for the bill, said the measure ensures that young people have a minimum standard of knowledge about the U.S. government as they become old enough to vote and participate in the countrys government system. Fundamental to the process of running our government is a good knowledge of the framework of our government, Henderson said. We require that someone whos transferring their citizenship from another country to ours offer proof that they know a bit about that framework, after which they are given the privilege of being able to have a say in our countrys government. Why would we not have at least the same requirement of the proof of the knowledge of that framework for someone who now is poised to enter that same responsibility, simply because they have lived to a certain age? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There were several amendments filed on the measure. Rep. Chad Ingels, R-Randalia, proposed increasing the current one-semester requirement for civics instruction to one year, in an amendment he withdrew. Rep. Elinor Levin, D-Iowa City, proposed an amendment to requiring Iowa legislators take the USCIS naturalization civics test and have results published in the daily journal, and another providing students the option to pursue a civics service project as an alternative to the test both of which were voted down. Levin criticized the measure for its emphasis on testing, which she said is not an effective way to make students more civically engaged. Levin, alongside other Democrats, said the bill will place both a new, unfunded mandate on schools and a new hurdle for students seeking to graduate from Iowa high schools. This bill is a bad idea, Levin said. It doesnt meet the moment, it doesnt engage students. Instead, it puts in front of them 100-question multiple choice test that may scare them, because it may stop them from graduating. Levin said at a time when Iowa has just returned to pre-pandemic graduation rates, the new requirement could be the deciding factor for whether a student graduates high school or not. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im worried about the kid whos just planning to graduate high school because their parent had told them that is the one thing they care about, or their grandparents told them that thats the one thing they care about, Levin said. And now theyre going to take the test the first time lets say their sophomore year, right after they finished their civics class and they dont pass it, they get a 54%. And they say, Well, I can either spend the next three years retaking this dumb thing, or next year, when I turn 17, I could drop out, and say sorry, Mom, the state made it impossible for me to graduate.' Henderson said the bill, passed 60-33, should be thought of as an encouragement to knowledge, not a barrier to graduation. Will the knowledge of the heritage and the history and the framework of our country alone make a good citizen? Henderson said. No, but a lack of that knowledge is almost certain to prevent a person from becoming a good contributing citizen. And sadly, there can be found an abundance of examples of that in our current situation. House approves fetal development education bill with ban on material from abortion providers Lawmakers also passed Senate File 175 in a 60-30 vote Thursday. The legislation, passed by the Senate in a 31-13 vote in February, is this years version of the Meet Baby Olivia bill though it does not mention the video developed by anti-abortion group Live Action by name. The bill would require students in grades 5 through 12 be shown ultrasound video and computer-generated rendering or animations depicting the humanity of the unborn child by showing prenatal human development, starting at fertilization in human growth and development classes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Helena Hayes, R-New Sharon, said the measure is not about abortion, but challenges us to see value, beauty and dignity in every stage of human life. Its not teaching about abortion, it brings humanity into the classroom, Hayes said. It allows students to witness human development through high-definition ultrasounds and authentic imagery we have that technology. Its biology, its anatomy, its science. At subcommittee meetings on the bill, critics said it was promoting anti-abortion material in public school classrooms and could lead to the distribution of medically inaccurate information. As the bill was amended by House lawmakers to include a provision banning materials on fetal development to be shown in classrooms from an entity that performs or promotes abortion, or that contracts, affiliates, or makes referrals to such organizations, Democrats argued that many reputable medical organizations would be disqualified. Hayes said this language was included to ensure information on fetal development is coming from sources in line with the requirement in the bill to depict the humanity of the fetus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perhaps some of the entities that perform abortions, promote abortion, affiliate, refer, contract with those that do, I would propose that those are antithetical to the humanity of the unborn child occurs in the womb, Hayes said. In a back and forth with Hayes, Rep. Austin Baeth, D-Des Moines, questioned what organizations would be qualify as the leading professional organizations and agencies with relevant expertise in the field listed in the bill, the entities identified as being able to decide if information is medically accurate and research-based requirements for material that can be shown in classrooms. Hayes mentioned the Mayo Clinic, a health care provider, as one of the potential organizations to be referred to as a leading professional source on this topic. Baeth said his understanding of the amendment language was that material from the Mayo Clinic could not be included in school classrooms on this subject, as the Mayo Clinic performs abortions when necessary to protect the life of the mother. Though Hayes said the state Board of Education will adopt rules to administer and interpret the language in the bill, she agreed with Baeth that the bills language did not include specification on entities that perform elective versus medically necessary abortions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baeth said the amendment would functionally ban material from legitimate research organizations that work on issues related to human gestation. I find it very hard for anyone reading this amendment if theyre going to read it by the letter of the law, should this become law, this will ban the use of information coming from our research institutions, Baeth said. Youre asking for research-based information to be provided that research is done at institutions that have some sort of association with abortions that are at least performed to protect the life of a mother. Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa criticizing the measure in a Thursday news release as a step to further politicizing Iowas classrooms and youth. Iowans do not want their children used as political pawns, but the people elected to represent them continue to steamroll them with deeply unpopular policies like this that undermine our youth and put their futures at risk, Gabriela Fuentes, advocacy strategist manager for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa said in a statement. More than 1,200 Iowans have already spoken out against this bill. Its time our lawmakers listen. And, make no mistake, Iowans will hold them accountable. The measure returns to the Iowa Senate for consideration of the amendment before it would go to the governors desk. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE WASHINGTON Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner told his thousands of federal employees that they can leave work early Friday in honor of Easter and Passover, sending them a brazenly religious message declaring all men are endowed by their creator with certain rights and referencing a time when Jesus broke bread and drank wine with his disciples showing that sacrifice can truly change the world. Turner informed HUD workers in an internal email Wednesday night that they can leave work four hours early Friday to begin their religious rituals. Americas founding fathers proclaimed that all men are endowed by their creator with the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness this declaration rang true as the Jews fled Egypt and found freedom in the Holy Land, and it rang true once again when Jesus broke bread and drank wine with his disciples showing that sacrifice can truly change the world, reads the email sent on behalf of Turner via his chief of staff, Andrew Hughes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He encourages government employees to head into the holy weekend reflecting on the freedoms they have that the world has never known. I hope that everyone at HUD takes a moment to recognize what a privilege it is to live in a country that puts her citizens first, reads Turners message. Not only does the HUD secretarys message blur the line between church and state, but his call on staff to reflect on how how lucky they are to live in a country that puts her citizens first is wildly disconnected from the reality that President Donald Trump is actively looking for ways to deport U.S. citizens, arresting and detaining U.S. citizens, deporting U.S. citizen children with parents who are undocumented and, most alarmingly, defying a Supreme Court order to bring back a Maryland man who was in the country legally but deported to El Salvador due to an administrative error. A HUD spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment on why Turner sent a message to government employees openly celebrating Jesus and Christian beliefs. Instead, they criticized HuffPost for asking the question at all and started talking about unrelated stuff like gangs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Huffington Posts Trump Derangement Syndrome is so severe it is standing up for criminal gang members while standing against the Judeo-Christian values our country was founded on, said the HUD spokesperson. Our constitution says that we were endowed by our creator. Every coin minted and dollar printed is minted with Americas motto In God We Trust. HUD will continue to follow President Trumps leadership in protecting our first amendment right to freedom of religion. (The U.S. Constitution does not say we were endowed by our creator.) HuffPost obtained a screenshot of Turners email to HUD employees, but the image is pretty crappy, so heres a transcript of the full email: Early Release for Easter and Passover HUD Staff, On behalf of Secretary Scott Turner, Im excited to announce there will be a four-hour early release on Friday, April 18, 2025 in recognition of Easter and Passover this weekend. Secretary Turner encourages our HUD workforce to reflect with family and friends as they break bread and celebrate the gift of freedom. Americas founding fathers proclaimed that all men are endowed by their creator with the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness this declaration rang true as the Jews fled Egypt and found freedom in the Holy Land, and it rang true once again when Jesus broke bread and drank wine with his disciples showing that sacrifice can truly change the world. We go into this holy weekend with freedoms that the world has never known, and I hope that everyone at HUD takes a moment to recognize what a privilege it is to live in a country that puts her citizens first. Please see the attached Staff Bulletin with important information on time keeping and instructions for early dismissal. Please note, this early release allows employees to end their workday four hours prior to the end of their scheduled tour of duty. Thank you for your service and God Bless, Andrew Hughes Chief of Staff HUD Secretary Scott Turner said his thousands of government employees could go home early for Easter weekend to reflect on how "Jesus broke bread and drank wine with his disciples showing that sacrifice can truly change the world." via Associated Press Turners email was so overtly religious that some HUD employees contacted the Freedom From Religion Foundation, a national nonprofit organization focused on protecting the constitutional principle of separation between state and church. On Thursday, the group filed a complaint urging the HUD secretary to rescind his message. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This email has made staff extremely uncomfortable, reads the complaint from FFRF staff attorney Samantha Lawrence. We ask that HUD reverse this decision and refrain from officially observing religious holidays going forward, Lawrence said. Easter and Passover are not federal holidays, and these holidays hold significance only for people who practice Christianity or Judaism. It is inappropriate and unconstitutional for a government agency to close in observance of a Christian or Jewish holy day and use official communications channels to promote religion to employees. Turners message to HUD employees to celebrate the gift of freedom also comes at a time when Trump is assaulting Americans freedoms on multiple fronts. The president is trying to suppress peoples freedom of speech, the freedom of the press, womens freedom to choose whether to have an abortion, transgender peoples freedom to exist at all, and the freedoms of a healthy American democracy itself, to name some. HuffPost heard from one Jewish HUD employee who noted the break bread reference in Turners email landed with a thud, as people explicitly do not eat bread during Passover. The Jewish holiday commemorates Israelites liberation from slavery in Egypt, and Jews traditionally eat matzah in place of bread, as a symbol of how hastily Israelites fled Egypt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other HUD staffers made sad jokes on social media about how getting to leave early Friday might mean theyll never come back, as Trump has directed mass firings at HUD. Elon Musk, Trumps billionaire buddy and head of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, has called for firing at least 50% of HUD workers, in some cases illegally. These cuts will disproportionately hurt low-income and elderly Americans. Please diligently check your email all Friday night for your RIF notice, wrote one user on Reddit in a thread about the HUD email. RIF is an acronym for reduction in force. Jesus would never have sent RIF notices on the holy weekend, wrote another user. Still another responded, What about the Antichrist? DOTHAN, Ala (WDHN) A Houston County man is behind bars after investigators say he sexually assaulted, beat, and tried to set a woman on fire before getting in a standoff with deputies. On Friday, Houston County deputies rushed to the 700 block of WG Bond Road after receiving a call about a domestic assault. According to the Houston County Sheriffs Office, when deputies arrived, they found a victim near a wood line from her home, and the suspect in the assault, Franklin Brown Jr., was inside the house. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Houston County Special Response Team and negotiators arrived on the scene and attempted to make contact with Brown Jr., who did not respond. Deputies say that after a multi-hour standoff, Brown Jr. surrendered and was taken to the Houston County Jail. Sgt. Brandon Barnes with the Houston County Sheriffs Office said that after an investigation, it was discovered Brown Jr. had forced himself on her to receive a sexual act and then beat the woman multiple times with his fist and a hammer. In a release to WDHN, Barnes revealed Brown Jr. then placed a pillow case over her head, tied her up using an extension cord, and poured Clorox on her body before attempting to set her on fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The woman was able to free herself and ran from the home. She then called 911. Brown Jr. was charged with kidnapping in the first degree, sodomy in the first degree, domestic violence, and assault in the second degree. Brown Jr. is being held in the Houston County Jail with no bond pending an Aniahs Law Heaing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com. TYLER, Texas (KETK) A Houston man was sentenced to 14 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiring with others to burglarize ATMs in Tyler. According to the U.S. Attorneys Office Eastern District of Texas, Julius Lawan Lockett, Jr., 30 of Houston, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank theft and was ordered to pay restitution of $243,540.85 and forfeiture of $79,850 on Thursday. 2 Smith County men sentenced for possession of child porn Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said on March 28, 2021, Lockett and Jerome Christopher Mayes, Jr. drove from Houston to Tyler to steal money from ATMs in the area. They used a stolen Ford F-250 truck from Smith County, attached chains to the truck and to an ATM at Chase Bank at Southwest Loop 323 in Tyler to pull the ATM open and steal around $159,700. On Jan. 29, Mayes was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison for his role in the ATM conspiracy. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. HONOLULU (KHON2) Those working in the Honolulu Police Departments crime lab believe the job is challenging but rewarding, and theyre offering college students an opportunity to get a sample of what its like. Every crime starts with a police investigation and hopefully ends with a conviction. But to get there, you need evidence. Thats where HPDs Scientific Investigation Section, or SIS, comes in. Honolulu councilmember develops plan to address HPD officer shortage Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We work very tightly with our police officers, but at the end of the da,y I think our role is pretty vital here in the lab, said Amber Caranchini, HPD criminalist. Our crime laboratory will analyze evidence for DNA, the identity of seized drugs, it might be to analyze tire tread evidence, or DNA samples, said Cathy Matsuoka, Honolulu Police Department SIS director. So we really do a lot of forensic disciplines. The lab is looking for potential candidates, offering a summer internship to give college students and recent graduates a two-week, hands-on learning experience. A lot of students who are majoring in science intend to go into healthcare, but we did want them to see another aspect of what they could potentially do with their degree, said Matsuoka. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like Amber Caranchini. Last year, she was a UH Manoa microbiology grad who was one of SISs eight interns. Today, shes a criminalist in the forensic biology unit working on DNA testing. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Kinda wanting to help my community, said Caranchini. And an aspect of the position that Im in is we get to testify in court, which means, we kinda get to see either justice or exoneration come to fruition. Its a good opportunity to help my community and give back and also nurture my love of science in a way thats helpful for other people, said Sara McGhee, HPD intern. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sara McGhee is a UH Manoa student and the Citys Pookela intern. Ive always had an interest in chemistry specifically, but I knew that medical school wasnt for me, so I wanted to see what other areas I could do, said McGhee. Thats exactly who HPD is looking for students with a science background. The deadline to apply for the internship is May 1 and the program is scheduled to start Aug. 1. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You If you have an interest in forensics or not youre welcome to apply because you never know. This has been kinda awesome to do this career, said Caranchini. I didnt know I was gonna end up here and to end up here has been pretty awesome. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement https://www.joinhonolulupd.org/about-the-sis-summer-intership.html Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. An important question is missing as the Supreme Court ruling on the legal definition of a woman sparks more fiery debate. How exactly did this discussion about gender identity and trans rights become so toxic and is Britains ballooning HR empire partly to blame? Given that polls have shown few approach this topic through a hyper-political lens and the most common starting point is one of compassion, its unclear why some HR teams have in recent years decided to turn themselves into activists. Its not as if staff have been begging their HR teams to sack their colleagues with gender-critical views or remove words like mother from policy documents. I have heard people at work complain about a lot of things, but not whether female-specific language in a maternity document is offensive. So how did we get here? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Frustrated HR veterans are happy to privately let loose on this one. One HR boss tells me he thinks too many people in the sector have been leaning on external organisations, such as Stonewall, to tell them what to do in this area. This is because, in his view, they dont have enough confidence to break away from group think. The lack of diversity in the industry has meant nobody has been asking any questions, and instead blindly followed questionable advice with no further thought given. In some instances this has become radical and toxic, resulting in the vilifying of anyone who raises concerns and injecting an unnecessarily confrontational stance into every debate. Women who have raised concerns about womens rights have lost their jobs and been called transphobic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead of calming the debate, employers have contributed to a polarised and toxic narrative that nobody asked for by taking extreme measures against those with a different view. Take the case of Fran Itkoff, a 90-year-old woman from California who had volunteered for a multiple sclerosis charity for over 60 years only to be told last year that her services were no longer required. Why? Because she told a colleague she didnt understand why she needed to add the pronouns she/her to her email signature. In Britain there are plenty of examples of staff members being booted for expressing gender-critical beliefs, and censorship taking place at major organisations. Even the Bank of England once highlighted in its application to be one of Stonewalls top employers how it had replaced the word mother with the term birthing parent in internal policies. Its clear that a lack of diversity in HR and therefore a lack of different ideas has been a big part of the problem here. According to data from HR body the CIPD, 87pc of members are white and 77pc are female. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How would decisions be made differently if these rooms looked more diverse, with more non-white staff, more men and more people from the trans community discussing these sensitive matters in a rational and sensible way, instead of leaning on outside forces or activist individuals? Rory Sutherland , an advertising executive, hinted at the issue on social media last week, when he asked: Do HR departments ever question the gender balance in HR departments?. The answer seems to be no. One person responded: In decades I have never once heard of anyone in HR questioning anything about HR. Thats despite the issue kicking around on chat forum Reddit for some time, with one person writing a year ago that HR is easily the least diverse group in most offices. Another person wrote: My last four HR people have been Jane, Dawn, Sharon, and Pat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The HR veteran I spoke to this week says hes noticed a lack of diversity of thought and safety in the collective. People with a different view can get marginalised quickly. The working from home debate is another example, he points out: If you say people are best coming into the office its Oh you dont trust people, youre a dinosaur. Another HR worker agrees that decision making can be a farce, with people scared to do or say anything until an outside voice agrees. Ive spoken to an executive who was so afraid of saying the wrong thing she hid in her own office to talk on the phone. Weve got a section of HR thats gone completely off the rails, with views you must follow, she said in hushed tones last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its unlikely that any extreme workplace policies ever followed a demand from employees or shareholders. Research commissioned by Lord Ashcroft, the former Tory party treasurer, found in 2023 that just 29 per cent of Scottish voters backed Nicola Sturgeons gender reforms, for example. HR teams never needed to introduce extreme and ill-thought out policies, which as it turns out, has played into a culture war game and has done nobody any good. Its time for HR gurus to start asking questions about their own industry. Polls show that most of the population agree that any prejudice against transgender people is wrong. Most people agree that the workplace should be inclusive, and dont give much further thought to any of this than that. The Supreme Court ruling shouldnt be seen as a victory of one group over another, but a chance to calm and reset the conversation. HR has a lot to answer for. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. China, Cambodia agree to build all-weather community with shared future in new era Xinhua) 08:13, April 18, 2025 Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) PHNOM PENH, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on Thursday agreed to build an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era, and designated 2025 the China-Cambodia Year of Tourism. Xi said the ironclad friendship between China and Cambodia enjoys a profound history, a solid political foundation and a strong internal driving force, adding that no matter how the international situation changes, the two countries have always been at the forefront of building a community with a shared future for mankind. Xi noted that at present, changes unseen in a century are accelerating, saying that deepening the building of the China-Cambodia community with a shared future is fully in line with the fundamental interests of the two peoples. China will, as always, support Cambodia in following a development path that suits its national conditions, support the Cambodian government's successful governance of the country, and back Cambodia in playing a more important role in international and regional affairs, he added. Xi called on both sides to take the building of an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era as a new starting point, build on the momentum, continue to implement a new action plan on building the China-Cambodia community with a shared future, strengthen unity and cooperation, and speed up the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative. He also urged the two sides to deepen political mutual trust at a higher level, expand mutually beneficial cooperation of higher quality, consolidate security guarantees of a higher level, carry out people-to-people and cultural exchanges at a higher frequency, and strengthen strategic coordination of higher standards, so as to bring greater benefits to the two peoples. The Chinese president called for maximizing the role of the China-Cambodia Intergovernmental Coordination Committee, ensuring the strategic dialogues between the foreign and defense ministers of the two countries a success, strengthening exchanges through such channels as political parties and legislative bodies, jointly addressing risks and challenges, and safeguarding the common interests of both sides. The Chinese side, Xi said, is ready to share opportunities and seek common development with Cambodia. He called on both sides to vigorously promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and continuously enrich the "Diamond Hexagon" cooperation framework, so as to inject new impetus into their respective modernization efforts. China, Xi said, encourages more Chinese enterprises to invest in Cambodia, adding that it will open its mega-market to Cambodia and import more high-quality agricultural products from the country. The people of the two countries should enhance mutual understanding and friendly feelings for each other, and promote exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese and Cambodian civilizations, he added. China will continue to offer government scholarships to Cambodia, support the establishment of a dialogue and exchange mechanism for youths between the two countries, and encourage more exchanges at the local level, as well as between media outlets and think tanks, so as to bring the people of the two countries closer and closer, he said. He called on the two countries take stronger and more effective measures to resolutely crack down on online gambling and telecom fraud, and to maintain social stability and the normal order of exchanges among regional countries. Xi said China and Cambodia, important forces in the Global South, should stick to the common values of peace, unity and cooperation. He called on both sides to oppose unilateral bullying, practice true multilateralism, firmly oppose bloc confrontation, strengthen coordination and cooperation within the frameworks of ASEAN and Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, and jointly safeguard hard-won regional peace and development, so as to contribute to promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. For his part, Hun Manet said Cambodia and China have long respected each other and treated each other as equals, hailing China as Cambodia's most reliable and trustworthy friend. He said Xi's visit is of great significance, which will deepen political mutual trust between the two countries and effectively promote the building of an all-weather Cambodia-China community with a shared future in the new era. Hailing China's achievements in economic and social development, Hun Manet said he firmly believes that under Xi's strong leadership, China will achieve the Second Centenary Goal as scheduled. He thanked China for its strong support for Cambodia's economic development and for safeguarding its independence. The prime minister said Cambodia firmly adheres to the one-China policy and supports China in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity, noting that Cambodia is firmly committed to its friendship with China and is willing to maintain high-level exchanges, strengthen strategic and security cooperation, and deepen the ironclad friendship. Noting that China is Cambodia's largest trading partner and the top source of investment, Hun Manet said Cambodia is ready to strengthen cooperation with China in such areas as economy and trade, investment, industrial and supply chains, agriculture and infrastructure, jointly combat online gambling and telecom fraud, strengthen people-to-people exchanges in such fields as education and culture, and ensure the Cambodia-China Year of Tourism a success. He said Cambodia highly appreciates China's active role in international and regional affairs, and supports Xi's vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, as well as the three major global initiatives and the Belt and Road cooperation proposed by Xi. Amid global turbulence caused by unilateralism and shocks to the multilateral trading system, China has played a leading role and provided valuable stability to the world, Hun Manet said, adding that Cambodia is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China to safeguard their common interests. After the meeting, leaders of the two countries witnessed the exchange of more than 30 bilateral cooperation documents covering fields including production and supply chain cooperation, artificial intelligence, development assistance, customs inspection and quarantine, as well as health and news. Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao) Chinese President Xi Jinping and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet jointly witness the exchange of bilateral cooperation documents after their talks in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. Xi held talks with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh on Thursday. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) KABUL, April 18 (Xinhua) -- With the support of the private sector, a dairy center to process milk has been opened in southern Afghanistan's Kandahar province, spokesman for the provincial Directorate of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock Mohammad Hanif Haqmal said Friday. Built at a cost of 8 million afghani (about 112,676 U.S. dollars) in the Arghandab district, the dairy center has a production capacity of 15,000 litres of milk round the clock, the official added. In addition to providing job opportunities for local people and encouraging the locals to breed domestic animals, more than 300 villagers have already begun supplying milk to the center, the official added. Without providing more details, the official said that the Afghan interim government would do its best to create job opportunities and stabilize the local economy to alleviate poverty in poverty-stricken Afghanistan. Apr. 17Hundreds of students, faculty, alumni and locals rallied on the University of New Mexico's main campus Thursday to take part in the National Day of Action for Higher Education. The topics touched on by protesters included the university potentially changing policies to comply with federal guidelines, calls for UNM to cut ties with companies connected to the Israeli military, the graduate student workers union's asks ahead of negotiating a new contract with the school and demanding the protection of international students. The protest began at noon outside Scholes Hall and called for a student walkout. Sofia Tenorio was one of many who obliged, leaving her class early to participate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Our rights as students are getting taken away. That affects our education directly, and so I want to fight against that," Tenorio said. "You just have to stand up for what you believe in and what you want to fight for, and something that's as simple as just showing up, I think, can do a lot." The protest followed a week when multiple UNM students' visas though the university has refused to disclose how many were revoked by the U.S. Department of State. It also comes nearly a month after the university began eyeing changes to four policies to meet the Trump administration's demands, having drawn the ire of the new federal regime along with 44 other campuses for participating in diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. An estimated 400 protesters wore union T-shirts, keffiyehs, or occasionally both, flew pride flags and ones of Palestine and hoisted signs calling on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to leave the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Board of Regents' office is housed in Scholes Hall, and graduate student Mark Campbell wanted to make sure the university's governing body heard the voices of protesters. "When you see crowds like this, it's important to realize that power comes from the masses. Power is not decided in these little offices inside buildings like this. It's not decided by people like Trump," Campbell said. "I'd like to see ICE or (the Department of Homeland Security) try and disappear one of us in this crowd." Alerted of the protest by her teaching assistants some of whom are members of the United Graduate Workers of UNM Anessa Duran decided to attend Thursday's protest. A planetary sciences and archeology major, Duran expressed concerns about funding cuts that are affecting her professors. "A lot of my teachers ... who are working on their Ph.D.s can't conduct any research or go on the trips that they were planning to. So it's just been very disheartening to watch," Duran said. "I think it's good that the university comes out. I feel like, in general, Donald Trump wants to see universities in all of America bend the knee, but we won't." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response to questions, UNM sent comments from a campus-wide letter in which UNM President Garnett Stokes wrote, "At UNM, we believe in building belonging not barriers. This principle guides us as we work to ensure our policies reflect legal compliance and our enduring commitment to inclusive excellence." Toward the end of the protest, Emma Martin, a New Mexico resident of 12 years and UNM freshman, watched the protest on her way home from class. "I think it's cool to see my own school getting involved," Martin said, adding she would've liked to see more people join the protest. ALBUQUERQUE Eric Rodriguez, a first-generation college student attending the University of New Mexico, isnt certain he would have been able to enroll in the school if he had waited to apply until next year. UNM, like higher education institutions nationwide, has made a tough decision to roll back its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives to align its policies with new federal guidelines. Rodriguez, 19, who has family from Mexico, isnt sure he would have been admitted on merit alone. He got good grades in high school, he said, but still benefited from affirmative action policies the school has erased in an attempt to protect federal funding. He also received scholarships designated for Hispanic students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maybe none of this would have happened, he said, adding, Im already in college. But that doesnt mean, like, the next generation of kids will be. Its kind of scary. Watching a protest Thursday outside UNMs Scholes Hall that drew around 400 demonstrators rallying against what they see as the school caving to federal directives while paying lip service to students and faculty with grievances, Rodriguez said he understands why UNM would make the changes. Its a smaller university that would be hit hard by federal funding losses, he noted. I support it, but I kind of dont. Its a weird position, he said. 041725 jw unm protest 2.jpg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Student Jacelyn Hurley leaves behind a message for the university administration during the demonstration. UNM has made the decision to roll back its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives to align its policies with new federal guidelines. Like a few other passersby, he didnt know about the protest before it began or the extent of the administrative changes. He just heard the screaming, he said, while walking through the campus. The protest, organized by a coalition of student groups, graduate workers and the faculty union, was part of a National Day of Action for higher education at colleges and universities nationwide. But the outrage at the UNM event was largely aimed at the universitys administration. While some, like Rodriguez, expressed understanding about the administrations tough position, others said campus trust has been lost in the tradeoff for retaining federal funds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What we want is not just [the administration] saying, Hey, like, we stand together, but say, We are on your side. And this is how we are gonna show you that were on your side, said Steph Flores, 29, chief of staff for the UNM Graduate and Professional Student Association. Whats changed? UNM first announced it would be reviewing its gender, race and ethnicity-based employment and admissions policies March 6 in response to a Feb. 14 directive from the U.S. Department of Education requiring universities to end DEI-based programs, or face the risk of funding losses. The review resulted in initial draft changes, released March 28, scrubbing almost all traces of affirmative action from the universitys policies in effect, removing the consideration of factors like race, ethnicity and gender within admissions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I hear the accusation that the university is capitulating to external pressures, especially in the current political climate, UNM President Garnett Stokes wrote in a campuswide email April 7, addressing feedback on the draft changes. But adapting to new legal frameworks is not submission; it is a mechanism to identify new paths for meeting our mission and achieving our goals while remaining compliant with federal law, she added. 041725 jw unm protest 3.jpg Protesters move closer to Scholes Hall to better hear speakers as hundreds of undergrads, graduate students, staff members and faculty from the University of New Mexico gather Thursday at the Albuquerque campus to protest the university's stance on new federal directives on diversity, equity and inclusion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The presidents email did note, though, that community feedback would push the administration to reexamine its changes. Policies may change, but our culture does not, Stokes wrote in the email. Three days later, another draft of policy changes were released, reinserting mentions of affirmative action but leaving out actionable policies tied to affirmative action, which were in place prior to the first round of changes. To the protesters who rallied Thursday, however, it was not enough of a concession. Struck from the record, for example, was language requiring the university to have an Affirmative Action Plan that measures whether women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are being employed at the expected rate given their composition of the relevant labor pool, and set goals when they are not. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Can UNM take the hit? One speaker at the rally reiterated a statement from Harvard the first, and so far the only, U.S. university to expressly decline the Trump administrations demand to comply with policy changes in admissions and curriculum. The university will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights, she repeated. When she called upon the crowd, asking if UNM can afford to resist, it took an extra beat for protesters to chirp an apprehensive, Yes. It was a sign of the general uncertainty, even among protesters, about UNMs capacity to take the funding hit for standing up for policies like affirmative action especially compared to Harvard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement UNMs endowment hovers around $500 million, which pales in comparison to Harvards endowment of $53.2 billion as of last year. Mark Campbell, 23, co-chair of Students for Justice in Palestine, one group in the coalition holding the protest, had little sympathy for that argument. 041725 jw unm protest 5.jpg Hundreds of undergrads, graduate students, staff members and faculty from the University of New Mexico gather on Thursday around Scholes Hall on the Albuquerque campus to protest the university's stance on new federal directives joining scores of similar demonstrations in a National Day of Action for higher education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement UNM does a really good job pretending to be poor, he said. If you compare it with other public universities, its not as poor as people have the conception of it being and thats not recognized in the student body, he said. Students could be forgiven for thinking so, he said, noting there is unaddressed, long-overdue campus construction and repairs and a lack of support for diversity programs, even before the recent federal changes. Im Mexican, he said, And with my Mexican friends, we joke all the time about how this is a Hispanic-Serving Institution because theres like no actual effect that has on our lives. Theres no support for it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Revoked student visas Campbell, too, criticized UNM for being completely opaque about possibly revoked visas for its international students. They havent been transparent at all. So, we dont know the reasonings behind those visa revocations. We dont know if they were activists for Palestine. While revocations of visas for UNM students have not been confirmed, a small number of students have had their Student and Exchange Visitor Information System records known as SEVIS unexpectedly deleted, according to a UNM announcement issued April 8. Those deletions dont automatically mean visa revocations, but oftentimes they are a precursor. As of Thursday, at least 1,480 international students at higher education institutions have had their legal status changed by the State Department, according to a student visa tracker run by the online publication Inside Higher Ed. According to the tracker, nine New Mexico State University students have had their visas revoked. The New Mexico Institute for Mining and Technology has had one visa revoked, while UNMs tally is unknown. UNM spokesperson Cinnamon Blair wrote in an email Thursday there have been no official updates on these students since the universitys announcement earlier this month nor has the college released information on the students, or the reason behind the deletion of their records, as to safeguard their privacy, Blair wrote. 041725 jw unm protest 4.jpg Hundreds of undergrads, graduate students, staff members and faculty from the University of New Mexico gather Thursday at the Albuquerque campus to protest the universitys stance on new federal directives on diversity, equity and inclusion. Ernesto Longa, a law librarian and president of United Academics of the University of New Mexico, the union representing roughly 1,500 faculty members, said, Theres a real opportunity here, honestly, to work with the administration, and to defend our institution. He continued using the word defend as a justification for protesting to defend students against immigration enforcement activities, to defend the right to assembly and, at large, to defend the university. Also full of the word defend was a letter drafted by the coalition of demonstrators, urging Stokes and other university leaders to defend education from antidemocratic measures. Protesters were unable to deliver such a letter to the university president within the Scholes Hall, UNMs administration building, as the school announced the facility would be locked down a few days before the protest. The administration wrote in an internal communication to occupants of the hall, protest and free expression are valued parts of life at UNM at the same time, we want everyone in Scholes Hall to feel safe and prepared. Periodically theyll issue some statement about something theyre doing, Longa said. And you know, if Im being honest, some of it I appreciate. But theres no real dialogue happening between the administration and the various constituencies who really want to defend our university. STROUDSBURG, MONROE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) For decades, several churches and the faithful in Monroe County have come together to Walk for Christ in observance of Good Friday. Crowds of people cross the street in Stroudsburg, all with the same goal in mind to walk the stations of the cross. In observance of Good Friday, this Cross Walk has taken place in the borough for more than thirty years. Beginning at St. Johns Lutheran Church on North Ninth Street, hundreds make their way to six area churches, hearing scriptures read at each stop explaining events that happened in Jesus life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whether you have been in church for the last 60 years or you dont know anything about church at all, this is an opportunity for you to walk, literally, with some of your neighbors and explore what faith might be, says Rev. Monica Guepet. A new cross guides the group, something that Pastor Liz Koerner says is a good reminder. Even as many things around us change, we can still come together, and the people may change, but the idea of community is always going to stay together. The togetherness shines through the crowd of the faithful coming from all denominations. We do have a similar faith. We have a commonality, and the passion, death, and resurrection is that commonality, says Father Gowe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its just a piece of us, a part of the bigger whole in Stroudsburg here, and being able to celebrate together at all these different churches, it just means so much to us, says Erica Quintero. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) In a letter to Republican House leadership, CD-3 Rep. Jeff Hurd joined 11 other house republican representatives. in calling on leadership to protect Medicaid. The point that we were trying to make was that, balancing the federal budget should not come at the expense of those that depend on these benefits, said Hurd. CD-3 is geographically about half the size of Colorado. About 30% of residents in CD-3 depend on Medicaid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We cant and wont support a final reconciliation bill that reduces Medicaid coverage for children and seniors and individuals with disabilities and pregnant women. Hurd says the protection of Medicaid is vital, acknowledging reform must be made to ensure it is a strong and long-lasting program for years to come. We support targeting reforms that are going to improve Medicaid integrity, reduce proper in-payments and modernize delivery systems. The letter states Cuts to Medicaid also threaten the viability of hospitals, nursing homes, and safety-net providers nationwide. Further adding, Many hospitals particularly in rural and underserved areas rely heavily on Medicaid funding, with some receiving over half their revenue from the program alone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The letter continues, saying providers who lose that funding may be at risk of closure and unable to recover, also stating, it would be difficult for all constituents, regardless of healthcare coverage to get the care they need. Full interview is 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 WesternSlopeNow.com. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A murder trial for the estranged husband of Deborah Lee Atrops has come to a close with the jury determining that he did kill his wife in 1988. Robert Atrops, now 71, was found guilty of second-degree murder in a Washington County Courtroom on Thursday more than 34 years after Deborah was found strangled to death. Ticking time bomb: Oregon lawmakers consider funds for Cascadia-ready Columbia Boulevard bridge Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deborah was killed around Nov. 29, 1988, but the case went cold until the Washington County Cold Case Unit partnered with the Washington County Sheriffs Office to reinterview witnesses and re-examine forensic evidence. David Blunt, who was a Beaverton police officer in the 1980s, was among the first witnesses to take the stand when the trial began on April 1. Blunt found Deborahs body in the trunk of her Honda Accord at a dead end of Murray Road. An autopsy revealed Deborah was strangled to death at age 30. Atrops defense attorney, April Yates, pointed the finger at two other men as possible suspects. Two months after getting Bobs DNA, Heather Feynman from the Oregon State Police Crime Lab found a mixture of DNA from multiple people on a swab, data from Debbies coat, Yates said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KOIN Breaking News Alerts Yates told the jury Deborah was having an affair with at least one of the men, John Pearson. She told the jury Pearson spoke with his family before he committed suicide the week before Atrops trial was originally set to begin Oct. 22, 2024. He told them that he was worried that the police would pin the murder on him, and that he was concerned that his DNA would be everywhere, Yates said. Prosecutors combatted the theory Pearson was involved in Deborahs death. Youre going to hear that John Pearson had an alibi that night, that he fully cooperated with their investigation, and that there was no evidence that he was going to have any plans or contact, prosecutor Allison Brown said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brown, Washington Countys senior deputy district attorney, said the case was successfully prosecuted in part thanks to a grant of nearly half a million dollars that went into the cold case unit to help with 40 unsolved homicides in total, including that of Deobrah. We wouldnt have been able to do this without the grant, said Brown, who helped write the grant. The new evidence made possible because of the increase in funding led to Atrops initial 2023 indictment for second-degree murder. Brown said she was thrilled to get justice for Deborahs friends and family, all these years later. On behalf of Atrops, one of the attorneys representing him sent KOIN 6 News the following statement: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are disappointed by the verdict. Robert Atrops is an innocent man. We will be filing an appeal and we will continue to fight until hes back home with his family. Atrops sentencing will be on May 20, 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 KOIN.com. Corey Lewandowski has taken such an outsize role at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that some employees refer to him as Kristi Noems shadow secretary. President Donald Trumps former campaign manager and senior advisor originally wanted to serve as Noems chief of staff, but Trump and his top advisors were uncomfortable with the arrangement because their relationship has long been a source of tabloid fodder, according to a new report in the Wall Street Journal. For years, the Trump loyalistsboth of whom are marriedhave denied rumors of a romantic relationship. Lewandowski said he wanted to work for DHS because his first wife was killed during the 9/11 terror attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He agreed to sign on as a special government employeea temporary employment status that allows private-sector employees to work within the government without disclosing or relinquishing their other business interests. Officially, the chief of staff job is still vacant, but in practice, Lewandowski has become Noems de facto chief of staff, rarely leaving her side, according to the Journal. Corey Lewandowski speaks as President Donald Trump looks on during a rally in Michigan in April 2018. / MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images He travels with her to meet with world leaders, accompanying her to El Salvador, Mexico, and Colombia. He participates in high-level policy meetings and advises Noem on personnel decisions. He arranges contractor meetings and reviews contracts. And he schedules Noems meetings with DHS officials and lobbyists. Often, he is the only person who accompanies her to meetings, sources told the Journal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked about his unusually active role at the department, he told the Journal, Its astonishing that youre writing a story about a volunteer. Noem (second left) and Lewandowski have long denied persistent rumors of an on-off affair. Both are married to other people. / SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images Earlier this month, the New York Post reported that Lewandowski joined Noem for an Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid and introduced himself to federal agents as chief of staff. DHS later clarified he was an advisor to the department. The two began working together in 2019 after attending a deep-sea fishing trip organized by the late billionaire GOP donor Foster Friess. Lewandowski has helped Noem build a national profile, introducing her to major Republican donors and politicians, and brought her into Trumps orbit. He pushed Trump to choose Noem as his running mate, and when that failed, reportedly encouraged his former boss to make her secretary of Homeland Security despite her limited experience with immigration issues. Lewandowski denied playing a part in Noems selection. The president makes his own decisions, he told the Journal. At a Monday-night Bernie Sanders rally in Nampa, the crowd roared its approval when a speaker alluded to Boise Mayor Lauren McLeans decision to keep flying an LGBTQ+ Pride flag outside of City Hall despite a new state law banning the display of non-official flags. Boise City Hall continues to fly a Pride Flag among its array of flags in downtown Boise, just over a block away from the Idaho State Capitol Building. The Idaho Legislature passed a law this session that bans the flag at government offices. But McLeans move prompted a letter of rebuke from the states attorney general and an influx of complaints to the Ada County Sheriffs Office. McLean told the Idaho Statesman that the city would not take down the Pride flag because the laws lack of an enforcement provision meant that flying it is not a crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That flag, weve flown for nearly a decade. It has not been an issue in Boise, McLean told the Statesman on Thursday. In fact, it is beloved in Boise, because it is a symbol of how we put people first, and everyone in this community matters. Days after the law took effect, the city also hung a second unofficial and therefore illegal flag at City Hall in honor of organ donation month, displaying the flags prominently on social media. The city of Boise on Friday posted a picture on its official Instagram account highlighting that it was flying two non-official flags in violation of a new Idaho law. McLean acknowledged that the city had received letters from Attorney General Raul Labrador and Sheriff Matt Clifford. Cliffords admonished lawmakers for passing a bill without clear direction for enforcement and said his staff was struggling to handle the volume of residents complaints about the flag. Were taking (the letters) into consideration and analysis, McLean said. But at the end of the day, they, too, were clear that this law isnt enforceable, and its not a crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The flags have become a flashpoint amid the longstanding tension between the heavily Democratic city and overwhelmingly Republican state Legislature. Labrador told McLean in his letter that lawmakers were already discussing adding enforcement provisions to the law next year. McLean has also pushed back, to varying degrees, against other bills this year that, she said, specifically targeted Boise. Boise Mayor Lauren McLean. She has pushed back in recent weeks against new state laws that she said targeted Boise and other large cities. After Gov. Brad Little signed into law a bill to ban homeless encampments in large Idaho cities, McLeans office released a statement repeatedly referring to it as the Galloway law, referring to sponsor Sen. Codi Galloway, R-Boise. On Thursday, McLean used the same language, seeking to distance the city from the law, which will require Boise police to double down on patrolling homeless encampments rather than focusing on the other initiatives, such as ticketing speeding drivers, that Boise residents have sought, she said. I want to be clear on that one, she said. Boiseans have demonstrated time and time again that were not going to make the mistakes of other cities. Were going to collaborate, were going to innovate, were going to partner to come up with long-term solutions to prevent and end homelessness. This bill doesnt help us do that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawmakers for years have been at odds with Boise leaders over the citys approach to homelessness, affordable housing and transit, among other issues. Though lawmakers often express support for the idea of local control, they have increasingly sought to curtail local governments powers, limiting local increases to property taxes or minimum wages, and blocking cities from banning plastic bags, the Idaho Capital Sun reported. On Tuesday, Jamie Heinzerling, the director of the city clerks office, offered to speed up a presentation she was giving to Boises City Council about the effects of a new state law moving responsibility for child care licensing in the states hands. Boise, along with several other Idaho cities, does its own licensing and has held city day cares to a more stringent standard than what the state requires. McLean urged Heinzerling to take her time explaining the implications of the law, including laying out the locally popular initiatives to increase child care access that it would end. Oh, you dont need to talk fast, McLean said, to laughter. The public needs to understand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She told the Statesman that its very important that were transparent about the good work we are doing to deliver for our residents, particularly when that is taken away by new bills in the Legislature. I dont want Boiseans to think that Boise doesnt care about licensing and were just giving it up, she added. I want to be clear that this is not our decision. Raul Labrador letter to Lauren McLean 4-15-25 1st of 2 pages Raul Labrador letter to Lauren McLean 4-15-25 2nd of 2 pages Boise is still flying Pride flag. Citing new law, Idaho AG sends warning letter Its a dire time: Bernie Sanders, AOC draw 12,000-plus to Idaho rally Trapped here in hell: Boiseans, officials say camping-ban bill wont help homelessness Police in Idaho released body-worn and security camera recordings Thursday showing officers fatally shooting a knife-wielding, intellectually disabled teenage boy from the other side of a chain link fence, confirming that they made no effort to de-escalate the situation before opening fire. Victor Perez was autistic and nonverbal and had cerebral palsy, though there is no indication the responding officers were aware of that. The 17-year old was removed from life support and died in a hospital a week after the shooting, and a law firm said Wednesday it intends to file a federal wrongful death suit against the city of Pocatello on behalf of his family. Perez was in a confrontation in his fenced yard with family members who tried to get the blade away from him on April 5 when a neighbor called 911, reporting that an apparently intoxicated man armed with a knife Perez, who walked with a staggered gait due to his disabilities was chasing people in the yard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perez had fallen over and was on the ground when officers arrived. Guns drawn, they repeatedly yelled, Drop the knife! but he instead stood up and began to step toward them. Three officers opened fire with their handguns, while a fourth fired a bean-bag shotgun, officials said Thursday. The shots came just seconds after the officers got out of their vehicles. The city's release of the videos included text slides that stressed that Perez was approaching the officers, who were on the other side of a chain link fence from him, while holding the knife, and that he was close to two family members who were behind him. Whether or not Perez had a medical condition or was experiencing a mental health crisis was not provided to dispatch or known to officers, one slide read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shooting has outraged community members who questioned why the officers fired without trying to learn more about the situation, use de-escalation techniques or use less-lethal force. About 200 people attended a vigil Saturday morning outside the Pocatello hospital where Perez died, and another crowd of protesters gathered that afternoon outside Pocatello City Hall, which also houses the police department. Police Chief Roger Schei and Mayor Brian Blad have declined to answer questions about the shooting, citing an investigation being conducted by the East Idaho Critical Incident Task Force. The officers names have not been released. Law enforcement officials say it is not always appropriate for police to use de-escalation techniques, especially when there is danger to the officers or the public or if a subject is not complying with orders. But policing experts who have reviewed cellphone video of Perez's shooting note that there was a fence between the officers and the teen, that they used lethal force instead of Tasers and that they failed to use the basic tactic of backing up to create space between them and Perez. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brad Andres, who recorded video of the shooting on his phone after his son called 911, said the police appeared to be like a death squad or a firing squad. They never once asked, What is the situation, how can we help? he said. They ran up with their guns drawn, they triggered a mentally disabled person to react and when he reacted ... they shot him. Gun wall rack with rifles. Credit: Getty Images In 2018, the Florida Legislature reacted to the mass shooting in Parkland by passing major safety regulations. Chances for a such a response to Thursdays shootings at Florida State University are slim. That doesnt mean legislators are ignoring the politics of guns. Start with Miami Republican state Sen. Illeana Garcia, who joined with three Senate Democrats in a committee vote last month rejecting a proposal sponsored by then-GOP Sen. Randy Fine (SB 814) to allow concealed weapons on college and university campuses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have zero regret, Garcia said on X late Thursday night about that vote, in which she joined with Democratic Sens. Jason Pizzo, Mack Bernard, and Carlos Guillermo Smith in opposing the proposal. Two other Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee were absent for the vote. Proud to have voted against your moronic campus carry bill, that didnt have a house companion, Garcia said, referring to Fine. This decision wasnt about partisan politics; it was rooted in common sense. The incident at FSU was tragic, but the real issue lies not with the firearm itself, but with the factors that led to it. The individual involved was the child of a deputy sheriff and had knowledge of weapon handling, yet chose to act recklessly. Fine noted the vote in a posting on X on Friday, where he included an excerpt of his speech in the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 25. There is no magic force field that keeps guns from coming onto our college campuses, he said. Less than one month ago, in my last bill presentation as a Florida Senator, I attempted to give adults the same right to protect themselves on campus as they have off. My four-minute closing speech is below. For the first and only time in 8.5 years in the Legislature, I failed. By a vote of 3-4, with two absent, the committee voted to keep universities gun-free zones. An offensive name given what happened yesterday. The no vote included all three Democrats plus one so-called Republican. I am incredibly grateful to the law enforcement who ran into the gunfire yesterday to subdue the gunman. But in the time that took, this murderer was able to shoot seven people, two of whom have died. Today, I wonder if one of those seven had been able to defend themselves, the outcome would have been different. In any event, I will continue praying for all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the Parkland school shooting in February of 2018, within weeks the Florida Legislature and then-Gov. Rick Scott came together to pass the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Public High School Safety Act, a comprehensive measure that included numerous provisions regarding firearms and school safety, plus community mental health resources. There have been attempts over the past three legislative sessions to repeal a provision of that law that bans individuals under 21 years of age from purchasing rifles and shotguns, and prohibiting licensed firearm dealers, importers, and manufacturers, from selling them to people of that age. Those measures have passed the House in 2023, 2024, and this year. In the past two years, the Senate did not pass a companion measure, and a similar measure has yet to advance in the 2025 legislative session. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SYDNEY, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Scientists' discovery of strong evidence of ancient, water-rich environments beneath Mars' surface offers new hope in the search for past life on the Red Planet. Using data from NASA's Perseverance rover, researchers discovered two types of crystals in rocks from Jezero Crater, an area believed to have once held a lake, Queensland University of Technology (QUT) said on Thursday. These crystals, made of calcium-sulphate, formed during different time periods -- one mineral layer formed just below the surface, the other at least 80 meters underground -- suggesting multiple periods of water activity, said the international team led by Michael Jones from QUT's Central Analytical Research Facility and School of Chemistry and Physics. "Sulphate minerals exist with different amounts of water in most regions on Mars and allow us to understand how water moved around the planet, which is key to understanding its past habitability," Jones said. To study the crystals, the team used a new method called X-ray Backscatter Diffraction Mapping, which was adapted to the rover's PIXL (Planetary Instrument for X-ray Lithochemistry) instrument, allowing them to examine the structure of the crystals without needing to bring the rocks back to Earth, according to the study published in Science Advances. Since landing in 2021, the Perseverance rover has been exploring ancient rocks, collecting data, and storing samples to assess Mars' habitability for a future mission that may return them to Earth, the study said. CHICAGO, Ill. (WCIA) Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined a coalition of 41 attorneys general pushing Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for better federal and state cooperation to put a stop to human trafficking. On Thursday, Raoul announced that the coalition submitted a letter urging Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for improved cooperation with local law enforcement from the next operator of the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Illinois Attorney General pushing to ban overreach by pharmacy benefit managers Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Law enforcement relies on tips from the public to effectively combat human trafficking, Raoul said. Ensuring that information gets to law enforcement in a timely manner without compromising victims safety can save lives, which is why I am joining with my colleagues on a bipartisan basis to call on HHS to require the next operator of the National Human Trafficking Hotline to do a better job of partnering with local law enforcement and promptly forwarding human trafficking tips. The nonprofit organization Polaris Project (Polaris) has operated the National Human Trafficking Hotline since 2007 with millions of dollars in funding authorized by Congress. Some states, including Illinois, rely on the hotline to forward third-party tips of suspected human trafficking to local law enforcement to arrest traffickers, safely recover victims and uncover evidence of trafficking rings and operations. However, it was recently discovered that, except in limited circumstances, Polaris has failed to forward third-party tips on adult victims to state law enforcement and has also often delayed sharing hotline tips with states for several months. Illinois residents worried about food assistance being cut in a SNAP Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the letter sent by the coalition, Raoul and the other attorneys general said this practice disputes what Polaris advertises, what states and organizations have come to expect from this partnership and what Congress expects from its funding. HHS is currently seeking applicants for a new award for current funding which requires the hotline operator to develop a plan for working with law enforcement. The coalition is encouraging Kennedy to consider applications for the National Human Trafficking Hotline grant that demonstrate a commitment to partnering with both the attorneys general and local law enforcement with timely trafficking tip reports. Additionally, the coalition clarified that they are not asking the hotline to send tips from a victim who does not want their call reported, but from anyone other than a victim. This could include people such as truck drivers, flight attendants or motel desk clerks who notice suspicious behavior. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) The Illinois House is considering legislation, passed by the Senate, that would prohibit law enforcement from issuing students tickets for issues such as truancy. Senate Bill 1519 would amend the Illinois School Code to prevent school personnel from referring a truant student to law enforcement, including the School Resource Officer, or issuing a fine as punishment. In the House, Rep. La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago) is sponsoring the bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We know that anytime young people have to deal with law enforcement as minors, as young people, its a pipeline to the criminal justice system, Ford told The Center Square. It leads to the school-to-prison pipeline by legislating discipline, he said. Theres no reason for a student to be engaging with law enforcement when they break a school rule. Teachers and principals should deal with it by helping correct the behavior, by teaching lessons, not issuing citations with the law enforcement. Our goal should be to keep young people out of the criminal justice system, not introduce them or lead them. Truancy is defined as unexcused absences accounting for more than 1% but less than 5% of the school year. Rockford Public Schools reported a 46% chronic absenteeism rate for 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, RPS recorded a high of 35.4% in 2019. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MOUNT CARMEL, Ind. (WEHT) Indiana House Bill 1008, a bill that explores bringing Illinois secession voting counties into the Hoosier state, is on its way to Governor Mike Braun. And some in Mt. Carmel sitting right on the Indiana Illinois border are open to it. It would be weird to say Im from Indiana, but it would be a welcomed change, said Mt. Carmel resident Chelsea Keepes. Those in favor of the bill say that Illinois laws dont represent whats important to those in rural Illinois. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are affected but we arent included for sure, says Keepes. Illinois Governor Jb Pritzker calls the bill a stunt as it stalls in the Illinois legislature. If the bill is signed into law Braun would have to schedule an Indiana-Illinois boundary adjustment commission meeting by September first of this year to discuss things like economic impact on the Hoosier state. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). By Maya Gebeily and Timour Azhari DAMASCUS (Reuters) -The United Nations Development Programme is hoping to deliver $1.3 billion over three years to support war-ravaged Syria, including by rebuilding infrastructure and backing digital start-ups, its assistant secretary-general told Reuters. Abdallah Dardari told Reuters in Damascus that investing in Syria - hit hard by 14 years of conflict that ended when former leader Bashar al-Assad was ousted by a rebel offensive in December and fled the country - was seen as a "global public good." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Our total plan for Syria over three years is $1.3 billion. This is not just a number, but a comprehensive strategy covering all support aspects," Dardari said. He said that help could include introducing artificial intelligence, setting up social protection programmes and rebuilding infrastructure. He said it would be crucial to mobilise funds from different sources including the World Bank and International Monetary Fund as well as other countries in the region such as Saudi Arabia and Turkey. A roundtable on Syria hosted by the Saudi finance minister and World Bank is set to take place on the sidelines of the annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank in Washington, D.C. next week, sources have told Reuters. "It gives a signal to the rest of the world and to the people of Syria that you have these biggest financial institutions ready to support," Dardari said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reuters reported last week that Saudi Arabia plans to pay off around $15 million in Syrian arrears to the World Bank, paving the way for millions of dollars in possible grants for reconstruction and other economic support to Syria. Sources have since told Reuters that the Saudis made the payments. Dardari told Reuters that pay-off would allow the World Bank to support Syria through its International Development Association which provides funds for low-income countries. "This is a big ticket item for Syria to negotiate with the World Bank. There's also the Special Drawing Rights at the IMF. Again, that's a big ticket item, in addition to all the policy and technical assistance that the Bank and the Fund can provide Syria," Dardari said. Since former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad was toppled last year after a nearly 14-year civil war, his successors have called on the international community to lift sanctions imposed against the country during his rule. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So far, most of those sanctions remain in place, with the United States and other Western countries saying the new authorities still need to demonstrate a commitment to peaceful and inclusive rule. SANCTIONS Syria has $563 million in Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) at the IMF. But using the funds requires approval by IMF members holding 85% of the total votes, giving the United States, with 16.5% of the votes, an effective veto. Syria's finance minister, central bank governor and foreign minister are planning on attending the spring meetings next week, Reuters reported earlier this month. It would be the first visit to the meetings by a high-level Syrian government delegation in at least two decades, and the first high-level visit by Syria's new authorities to the U.S. Assad's fall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Washington has handed Syria a list of conditions which, if fulfilled, could lead to some sanctions relief, Reuters reported last month. Dardari said that sanctions remained "a considerable obstacle" to Syria's growth trajectory. "Syria needs tens of billions of dollars in investments and in technical assistance and so on, and that cannot happen with such heavy sanctions imposed on the country," he said, calling for sanctions "to be lifted in a comprehensive manner." Dardari said UNDP had secured a sanctions exemption from the U.S. Treasury to mobilize up to $50 million to repair the Deir Ali power plant south of Damascus. Three sources familiar with the issue told Reuters the World Bank is exploring hundreds of millions of dollars in grants to improve Syria's electricity grid and support the public sector. Syria's central bank governor Abdelkader Husrieh told Reuters that his country wanted to be compliant with global financial standards but that sanctions were still "blocking the economy from going forward". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We want to be part of the international financial system and hope that the international community will help us to remove any obstacle to this integration," he said. (Reporting by Maya Gebeily and Timour Azhari; Editing by Peter Graff) LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) Three UL Lafayette students were among 13 international students studying in Louisiana who no longer have permission to do so. News 10 talked with an immigration attorney about what this means for international students. Carley Tatman, an attorney who handles immigration cases, says visa revocations arent uncommon if a person may be considered a threat to national security. However, she says the recent visa revocations involving the thirteen international students arent the case. I think its being expressed as a way to enhance vetting or security, said Tatman. Most of these students do not pose that threat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tatman with The Scott Law Firm says the recent visa revocations of international students studying in Louisiana Are being done in an unorganized, unfair and somewhat unlawful way. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KLFY Daily Digest Not only are the students visas revoked, but some could also see their status in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, known as SEVIS, revoked as well. If their status was revoked, they do have a few options, she said. Tatman says a student can go to their designated school official to ask if they could potentially correct the record and get it reinstated. She says another option is to apply for US Citizenship and Immigration Services for reinstatement of their F-1 status. Lastly, she says the student could contact an attorney for legal counsel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An option that weve seen have a good bit of success so far in the past week is litigation, challenging the status revocation, she said. Tatman says if a school is willing to allow a student to continue studying, they should try. If a school is willing to let someone continue studying or finish out a program, while this kind of plays out and we see what the actual effects of this are, then then the student can continue to study, she said. Tatman says students who find themselves facing visa revocation have a right to fight it. She says to make sure documents, and any criminal records are in order and to consult an immigration counsel. Latest news Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com. KANSAS CITY, Mo. A 27-year-old Independence, Missouri man is facing charges in connection to a police chase on Wednesday that ended in a two-vehicle crash. Jackson County prosecutors on Thursday charged Gerald JayQuan Blackmon with aggravated fleeing a stop, endangering the welfare of a child and unlawful use of a weapon. Trial for Kansas City Chiefs rally shooting suspect pushed to 2026 According to court documents, Independence police officers were in the area of U.S. 24 Highway and River Boulevard just after 1 p.m. Wednesday due to a traffic problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An officer was flagged down by a driver of a trash semi-truck who advised he was driving west on 24 Highway, before reaching River Boulevard, when a man in a blue Jeep with a bundle of wood strapped to the top of the vehicle, had just pointed a handgun at him. Afterward, the officer saw the blue Jeep and motioned for the driver to pull over and could see the driver and a female passenger. The driver of the Jeep did not pull over and another officer was able to locate the suspect driver speeding westbound, just past Sugar Creek Boulevard. The officer activated his emergency lights to catch up to the suspect but was unable to due to the suspects excessive speed and traffic conditions, court documents say. Once the officer was behind the suspect, court documents say the suspect began speeding, topping speeds at 72 mph in a 35 mph speed zones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri Court documents say the suspect drove into oncoming lanes to avoid vehicles at U.S. 24 and Winchester and caused a white Ford SUV to pull over the shoulder. Once the suspect turned the wrong way down a one way street, the officers ended the chase. Kansas City police officers monitoring the radio traffic in the area located the suspect vehicle and continued the chase. The chase continued to Blue Ridge Cutoff and Raytown Road where the suspect driver failed to negotiate a turn and was involved in a crash with another vehicle. No injuries were reported at the time of the crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspect driver, identified as Blackmon, was taken into custody by KCPD officers without incident. Also in the vehicle was a female passenger and a 5-year-old juvenile passenger. Officers noted that there wasnt a child restraint inside the vehicle. Court documents say while at the scene, officers could see a handgun in plain view, with an extended magazine, sitting on the floorboard underneath the drivers seat of the Jeep. The firearm was not reported stolen. Police then contacted the driver of the trash semi-truck for a statement. The driver stated he was driving a company roll-off-dumpster truck westbound on U.S. 24 Highway and Dickinson Road through a construction zone behind another company dumpster truck. He stated around Dickinson Road the suspect cut in front of him in or near the construction zone. Later on, the suspect quickly turned into the parking lot of a shopping center and waited for the trucks to pass before turning out behind them near Noland Road. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver of the trash truck said further down the road, the suspect threw themselves in front of him, a second time, passing his truck on the right. To avoid a collision, the driver of the trash truck had to slam on his brakes and honked his horn. Court documents say moments later, the suspect displayed a firearm out the drivers windown and pointed it in the direction of the trash truck driver. Blackmon stated he and the two passengers were on their way to see if their electricity had been turned back on. He stated it had been turned off due to non-payment and they had been living in a motel in Kansas but were on their way to Raytown to meet someone to get food stamps so they could sell them and pay his electricity bill. Blackmon also said he noticed the police officer wanting him to pull over but didnt because the gun he had wasnt registered to him and he didnt know if it was stolen because he bought it from a local friend a few months ago and didnt know anything about where the gun came from. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked about not having a car seat for the child, he said the child had a seat belt but told the child to unbuckle and sit in the middle of the back seat. Blackmon said once he went head on with the other vehicle, he was able to catch the child so he wouldnt go through the windshield. Lawrence PD searching for suspect near elementary, middle schools Court documents say detectives interviewed the female passenger who stated throughout the chase she was yelling at Blackmon to stop, however he ignored her and mostly stayed quiet until the crash. Blackmon is currently being held in the Jackson County jail on a $30,000 cash only bond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. PHILADELPHIA, N.Y. (WWTI) The Indian River Central School District is marking the Month of the Military Child. The district held three separate events at its different schools to commemorate the occasion. IRCSD recognized Purple Up Day, which is an annual event celebrated in the middle of the month to honor and support military children and their families. Indian River reveals new Wolves mascot and logos Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 70 soldiers from Fort Drum lined the sidewalk outside Calcium Primary School to welcome students as they got off the bus on Tuesday, April 15. Calcium students received purple leis in honor of Purple Up Day. Service members and their families enjoyed a special moment together before the children went into school for the day. Afterward, the service members went inside for a light breakfast and encouraging words from IRCSD Superintendent Troy Decker. Youve got our backs wherever you happen to be, domestically or across the globe in some fashion. While youre doing that, weve got your back right here with your kids. Indian River Central School District Superintendent Troy Decker Theresa Primary School invited service members with children attending the school for a lunchtime Purple Up event on Tuesday that included coloring and activities, purple cookies, and a short video of students describing why they love being a military kid. Theresa Principal Brenda Leddy led the event with a thanks to families and celebration of their military families. Antwerp Primary School held a special surprise for its students on Thursday, April 17. A Blackhawk helicopter flew past classroom windows and landed in the playground field. Piloted by the father of Antwerp second-grader Ian, the helicopter was open for students to climb inside, and the crew answered questions about the aircraft, their missions, and the best parts of being an Army aviator. Month of the Military Child events at IRCSD have provided many meaningful moments of gratitude and celebration for military students, their families, and everyone in the community. The recognition highlighted the districts appreciation for military families and the unique role their children play in the community. Students and families at Theresa Primary School celebrated Purple Up Day with a daytime event (photo courtesy Taylor Dean/CiTi PR) More than 70 Fort Drum service members welcomed Calcium Primary School students with leis, hugs, and high fives on April 15 (photo courtesy Taylor Dean/CiTi PR). Antwerp Primary School students look at a Blackhawk helicopter that landed in their school field to celebrate Month of the Military Child (photo courtesy Taylor Dean/CiTi PR). 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. Cosmo Energy Holdings, the third-largest oil refiner in Japan, is beginning to produce sustainable aviation fuel and working toward full-scale production. It will supply the fuel to Japanese airline companies for a cleaner alternative to traditional air travel. As Reuters reported, Cosmo planned production at its Osaka-based Sakai refinery earlier this year. It aimed to produce 30,000 kiloliters of sustainable aviation fuel per year by April. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company supplies eco-friendly fuel to Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways. This commitment is significant because it is Japan's first domestically produced green fuel for airlines. Cosmo's sustainable fuel is made from cooking oil and is the first large-scale production of its kind in the country. The refiner worked with two other companies to produce it but declined to provide details about the fuel's price and volume. The news from Japan is encouraging worldwide because of how sustainable aviation fuel can reduce the harmful air pollution associated with traditional plane travel. The aviation industry is responsible for about 2% of global energy pollution. This contribution impacts our planet's overheating and leads to public health risks and extreme weather events. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In other parts of the world, sustainable aviation fuel companies like LanzaJet have been creating millions of gallons of alternative fuel to offset air travel pollution. That company's fuel is made from low-carbon intensity ethanol, or grain alcohol, using corn. Another company, OXCCU, has been creating jet fuel from air pollution using renewable energy and a combination of hydrogen and carbon dioxide. As a traveler, you can look into flying on planes powered by sustainable fuel and support airlines' efforts to embrace fuels with lower carbon impacts. For example, Delta has been actively working to use sustainable fuels to reduce the environmental impact of its flights. Until sustainable fuel flights become more readily available, you can change the way you travel by embracing train travel and vacationing close to home in places that don't require a flight. When you do fly, consider eco-friendly travel destinations to help minimize your adventures' overall environmental impact. 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. GUANGZHOU, April 18 (Xinhua) -- In spite of intensified trade protectionism and geopolitical tensions, China's products and market are still appealing to foreign business people. A record-breaking 65 Fortune Global 500 companies and industry leaders are participating in the ongoing fifth China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in the tropical island province of Hainan in south China. Meanwhile, the Canton Fair, which kicked off on Tuesday in Guangzhou, south China, drew 64,530 overseas buyers on its opening day, an 8.9 percent year-on-year increase and a record high for the first day. This event in Guangdong Province features major international retailers, including Walmart and Target from the United States, Carrefour from France, Tesco and Kingfisher from the UK, and Germany's Metro. According to Niu Huayong, a professor at the International Business School of Beijing Foreign Studies University, the success of this year's CICPE and Canton Fair highlights that trade and cooperation remain key drivers of global development. All countries benefit from globalization, he said. Amid current global trade turbulence, international buyers attending the Canton Fair still consider Chinese products highly attractive and even irreplaceable. Dinova, a retail company headquartered in France which finds most of its suppliers at the Canton Fair, has made China the core of its global sourcing strategy, according to its general manager Sonia Ben Behe. "We have explored alternative countries, but no other region matches China's maturity for our product category. That's why, as part of a global sourcing strategy, China remains at the core," she said. According to Chris Arthan, an exhibitor from the United States, despite the impact of tariffs, China's role in the global supply chain remains crucial and widely respected. In addition to the strong appeal of Chinese products to global buyers, international brands also have confidence in China's consumer market. For this year's CICPE, top producers from around the world eagerly flocked to Hainan. The UK, as the guest country of honor at the 2025 event, is occupying an exhibition area of more than 1,300 square meters, displaying 53 brands across the fashion, beauty, homeware, health and jewelry industries, and doubling its 2024 presence. "I have seen the tremendous innovation and growth taking place within China's economy in recent years, not least in digital technologies, life sciences and green energy," said Douglas Alexander, minister of state of the British Department for Business and Trade, while also emphasizing the UK's commitment to deepening economic ties with China. Notably, the expo has managed to draw an array of top-tier global luxury brands. Richemont's TimeVallee debuted as an independent exhibitor, while LVMH and Kering Group brands made appearances -- reflecting confidence in China's premium consumption growth. "Luxury consumers in China are significantly younger than those in many overseas markets, and that presents a major opportunity for us," said Nancy Liu, president of luxury travel retailer DFS China. The company has introduced tailored services to cater to the expectations of emerging consumer groups. Global trade uncertainties and growing supply chain disruptions have not prevented foreign investors from remaining optimistic about the Chinese market. China's market size, rising consumer demand and supportive policies continue to offer unique and strong appeal, helping to retain investor confidence. According to Yao Zhenguo, global senior vice president of Siemens Energy, the development of the Hainan Free Trade Port is unlocking new opportunities for openness. He noted that Siemens will continue to strengthen collaboration across the full industrial chain, drive innovation, and support Hainan Free Trade Port's international, green and law-based growth. Yao said Siemens has deeply felt the momentum of China's reform and opening up, a view echoed by many exhibitors. They believe that amid a challenging global economic climate and rising trade protectionism, China's firm commitment to high-standard opening up delivers much-needed stability and certainty, injecting confidence into the world economy. China's total goods imports and exports in yuan-denominated terms expanded 1.3 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2025, demonstrating stable growth and strong resilience despite external headwinds, customs data showed. U.S. tariff increases on Chinese products will exert some pressure on China's trade and economy in the short term, but won't alter the Chinese economy's long-term positive trajectory, said Sheng Laiyun, deputy director of the National Bureau of Statistics. Zhang Yansheng, an economist with the Academy of Macroeconomic Research, told Xinhua that based on the trade events in Guangzhou and Hainan, the resilience of China's foreign trade against the backdrop of growing protectionism in the world is evident. "We can see that foreign business people continue to seek opportunities in China." "China is a country with a large population, a big economy and a huge scale of opening up," he continued. "At a time when the sentiment of anti-globalization grows, China will stick to the path of opening up at a high level, and promote economic globalization, as well as trade and investment liberalization." Families of infected blood scandal victims are facing huge inheritance tax bills despite promises that the compensation would be tax-free. The Government set aside 11.8bn for the infected blood scandal, in which 30,000 people contracted HIV and hepatitis C through contaminated blood products in the 1970s and 1980s. Bereaved families were told the payments would be exempt from income tax, capital gains tax and inheritance tax. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But many could still end up losing 40pc of their compensation to the tax office because the exemption only applies to the first time the compensation is inherited. For example, someone could pass on their compensation to a beneficiary after death without incurring an inheritance tax charge. However, the Government has taken so long to pay compensation that many of these bereaved relatives are now in their later years. This means they risk leaving their families with a huge inheritance tax bill if they die soon after the payment is made. At least 3,000 people died after being infected with HIV and hepatitis, leaving behind parents, siblings and partners. Affected persons such as bereaved relatives can also receive compensation in their own right. The amount of compensation owed to an affected person, like the relative of a victim, is generally much lower than the amount they could inherit from the estate of an infected person. These payments are likely to be over 1m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Telegraph spoke to one woman in her late 60s with multiple health problems. Her brother died in the 1990s after contracting HIV through tainted blood products. She is set to receive at least 1m in compensation from his estate. But her family could end up losing 400,000 of this if she passes away soon after the payment is made. It destroyed my life as well She said: This is so completely morally wrong. Because of the length of time its taken to get compensation, there are so many people in the same position as me who will be hit with inheritance tax. She said her brothers illness and death had a profound impact on the family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My mother and I cared for him for 14 years. He required 24-hour care. I had no relationships during that time. It destroyed my life as well. I just want to get the full amount of money owed to him and pass it on to the next generation my nieces and nephews. Adam Fleming, of BTMK Solicitors, said: Many of the families that I have spoken to have waited for decades to receive any form of compensation for the losses they suffered as a result of this scandal. That means many of those who stand to receive the compensation are now themselves in the later years of their lives. This means they could receive the compensation shortly before their death, only for it to be taxed by the Government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added: The Government does not appear to have considered this, or to have considered this to be unfair in any way. If you take an example of an elderly widow now finally receiving compensation for the death of her husband in the 1990s but passing away shortly thereafter, then potentially up to 40pc of that compensation could have to be paid back to the Government. The children are victims too Labour MP Leigh Ingham has raised the inheritance tax issue in Parliament and asked if a solution can be found for these families. She said in February: In Stafford, Eccleshall and the villages, I have a constituent, Janet, who is in her 80s. She tragically lost her first and second husband to infected blood, and she is due to receive compensation as their next of kin. She would like to ensure that she can pass the payments on to their children, who, as the Minister rightly said, are victims, too. However, she has been advised that if that happened, it would constitute a secondary transfer and be subject to inheritance tax. We are talking about people who lost their father and stepfather to this issue. Will he meet me to explore whether a solution can be found in these cases? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nick Thomas-Symonds, Paymaster General, said in response he would look into the constituents case. However James Murray, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, appeared to stand by the rules when asked about the same issue. He said: This ensures victims receive full compensation without tax burdens whilst maintaining fairness in the tax system and protecting the public finances. Theres no forever exempt Des Collins, of Collins Solicitors, which has worked with victims of the infected blood scandal, said the Government had oversimplified the tax position of the compensation. Its commonly referred to as exempt from inheritance tax. So that leads to a view being taken by individuals that it is going to be ring-fenced forever. But of course its not if theres a second transfer, inheritance tax bites. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He continued: If you take financial advice you will be told this. But some elderly victims will think that its forever exempt because it hasnt been fully explained to them. Inheritance tax is charged at 40pc on the value of an estate worth more than 325,000. Homeowners get an additional 175,000 allowance, and couples can share their allowance, allowing them to pass on up to 1m without incurring a tax bill. The compensation payments due to families vary depending on several factors, but can be over 1m for the estates of those who died of HIV. Recipients could give the money to their family during their lifetime. However lifetime gifts will usually be subject to the seven-year rule. This means if the person dies within seven years of making a large gift, it will still count as part of their estate for inheritance tax purposes. The Infected Blood Inquiry is holding additional hearings next month amid growing concerns about the compensation scheme. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Campaigners have said the Government is taking too long to pay out compensation. The Infected Blood Compensation Authority said it aims to process the majority of infected individuals claims by the end of 2027, and affected individuals claims by the end of 2029. The Telegraph recently reported that bereaved siblings and children risk missing out on the payments because the deceased either did not leave a will or wrote one decades ago before the compensation scheme came into being. Mr Collins said this was just one of the endless problems with the scheme that were beginning to emerge. The money ends up with someone who is not an appropriate recipient, such as the wayward son who will only gamble the money away, when the deceased would never have contemplated putting the money into that persons hands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said this could result in a surge in so-called restitution claims as families take legal action in pursuit of their fair share. The Chancery will be log-jammed with them. A government spokesman said: The victims of this scandal have suffered unspeakably. After decades of delay, it has fallen to this government to act. We have paid over 44m so far in compensation, over a billion pounds in interim payments, and set aside 11.8bn to compensate victims. While no amount of compensation will make up for the suffering people have endured, we are committed to delivering compensation as swiftly as possible. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. A Kern County jury convicted a 53-year-old man Wednesday of two felony counts involving an attack on a fellow inmate at Kern Valley State Prison in Delano. Ricardo Mathews was found guilty of assault with a deadline weapon and being an inmate in possession of a weapon. The court found that Mathews had prior felony convictions for robbery, intimidating a witness, assault causing great bodily injury and criminal threats, all of which fall within California's three strikes law, the Kern County District Attorney's Office said in a news release Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court additionally determined he planned the crimes, used a weapon, engaged in behavior indicating a serious danger to society, that he has served prior prison terms and that his earlier performance on probation was unsatisfactory, the release added. The DA's Office reported Mathews exited his prison cell on Nov. 29, 2022, and used a self-made slungshot to beat an inmate for 28 seconds, causing a broken nose and lacerations requiring sutures. Mathews, who had been scheduled for release in 2030, faces up to an additional 25 years to life in prison when he is sentenced May 14 by Kern County Superior Court Judge David R. Zulfa. A Minnesota high school is instilling a deep love of the outdoors in younger generations through hands-on activities like hunting, fishing, camping, and community cleanups. As detailed by The Minnesota Star Tribune, the Waconia High School Conservation Club is extending its program as it enters its 18th year. After starting with six members who wanted to experience nature, it has blossomed into a 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit, hosting trips to adventure destinations like Montana's Glacier National Park and the North Star State's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The high schoolers also get younger students involved, along with the support of its boosters, who provide an annual operating budget of $5,000 to $10,000. In January, for example, the club held an ice-fishing extravaganza for fifth-graders at Southview Elementary School. "This is what we do in Waconia. We take every kid fishing," said science teacher Michael Jensen, who helped build the high school's outdoors club from nothing. Experiencing nature firsthand also helps create powerful memories that spark a desire to protect Earth's delicate ecosystems relied upon by so many for recreational enjoyment and survival. "None of this stuff happens unless you take care of your natural resources," Jensen added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Waconia high schoolers who participate in the club are eligible to earn a letter an honor given for excellence in school activities and programs in the United States. This year, in addition to community cleanups, members will participate in a day of learning at the University of Wisconsin, River Falls, and actively take part in a spring forest renewal project at Bayview Elementary, providing muscle to remove debris and fallen timber after professionals remove dead or unwanted trees, like the invasive and ecologically damaging buckthorn. After the area is cleared, the students will help plant desirable native species which are as much a boon to the environment as they are to city and household budgets alike, as they require significantly less maintenance than species not adapted to local conditions. The hope is that the forest restoration, which includes a revitalization of walking trails, will also discourage residents from littering on the property all while maintaining the spirit of fun and wonder that has made the Waconia conservation club so popular. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "These kids just come out by the dozens wanting to make a difference and to be relevant," Jensen told the Star Tribune. "This is something that's going to last." 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. On the campus of The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Graham Stokes for the Ohio Capital Journal. Republish photo only with original story.) The Trump administration has recently revoked the visas of more than 1,300 foreign college students detaining some and launched immigration enforcement actions on college campuses across the country. This has raised concerns among the more than 1.1 million international students studying at U.S. universities. Headlines are filled with perspectives from immigration and civil rights experts, but one aspect of the story often goes overlooked: the tremendous economic impact international students have on local communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although the actual impact on enrollment wont be known until the next academic year, interest from foreign students in pursuing graduate-level education in the U.S. fell sharply in the early days of the Trump administration, one analysis showed. If these global scholars stay home, thats bad economic news for cities and towns across the United States. A $44 billion economic impact Higher education is Americas 10th-largest export, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. (Yes, even though students are coming into the U.S. for their education, economists consider it an export.) Last year, U.S. colleges and universities attracted international students from 217 nations and territories, including one student from the island nation of Niue in the South Pacific. Their economic contributions added up to more than the value of U.S. telecommunications, computer and information services exports combined. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the national impact is impressive, the effects at the local level are even more important. After all, nearly every city across the U.S. has at least one institution of higher learning. The average international student brings a wallet stuffed with about $29,000 to spend on everything from tuition to pizza. As these students rent apartments, buy books and order DoorDash delivery to fuel all-nighters, theyre pumping money into the local community. This money translates into American jobs. On average, a new job is created for every four international students enrolled in a U.S. college or university. In the 2023-24 academic year, about 378,175 jobs were created. And thats just counting jobs that are directly supported by international students, such as local business hiring to staff retail shops and restaurants. If you count those jobs indirectly supported by international students, such as employees at a distribution center, the number is even higher. A boon to local economies In any of the 50 largest American cities, youll find at least one college or university with international students on campus. For these communities, global learners bring a most welcome financial aid package. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Consider Boston. Greater Boston hosts more than 50 colleges and universities, including Boston University, where I teach multinational finance and trade. The citys economic gains from the more than 63,000 international students attending these schools are huge: about $3 billion. Prestigious private schools are a draw, but hands down the biggest pull for international students are state universities and colleges. Of the nations top schools enrolling these students last year, 29 were state colleges and universities, attracting over 251,300 students. In the top three of those public institutions alone Arizona State University, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the University of California, Berkeley international students contributed nearly $1.7 billion, supporting over 16,800 jobs. Expand that to the top 10 the University of California system takes four of those spots and the numbers pop up to $4.68 billion and 47,136 jobs. Bringing the world to Mankato Yet international students arent just boosting the economies of major university towns. Consider Mankato, a small city of 45,000 about 80 miles from Minneapolis that hosts a Minnesota State University campus. In the 2023-24 academic year, about 1,716 international students called Mankato their home away from home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those students brought an infusion of $45.9 million into that community, supporting around 190 jobs. There are dozens of similar campuses in cities and towns like Mankato across the country. It adds up quickly. !function(){use strict;window.addEventListener(message,(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[datawrapper-height]){var e=document.querySelectorAll(iframe);for(var t in a.data[datawrapper-height])for(var r=0;r